Friday13th: Summer of Prog Discovery M8

Friday13th 07.17.18	Voting ends next Monday, and then we'll start really rolling!
Papa Universe 07.17.18	oh man, I loved Strawbs' Grave New World, so this'll be a treat.
TwigTW 07.17.18	hello 70s!
Jethro42 07.17.18	Really, Uni? That's cool. You might enjoy Hero and Heroine as well. I'm not familiar with your choice, Friday. Sounds interesting from the little I heard of it. ''Life Auction'' from 2 is so p/
e210013 07.17.18	For the second time on this tourney I'm going to have a lighter week, as happened with the first one, due I know perfectly well "Ghosts" since the 70's. And I love it. But, by the other hand, from what I listened till now, "Erwartung" is also an excellent album, too. So, we are in presence of two great proposals from the 70's. It seems to me that it will be another very tight and emotional prog journey. Great. Have a nice prog journey, guys.
Divaman 07.17.18	I'm always surprised when we find one that you weren't previously familiar with, Jethro.
TwigTW 07.17.18	^so true!
Divaman 07.17.18	Giving the Eden album a second listen now. It's an unusual mixture of things. There are times it almost reminds me of a Broadway musical, like "Godspell" or "Hair", mixed with the various prog elements and classical elements. (There are also two distinct spots where they stole a riff, the first from King Crimson, and the second from The Moody Blues. Did you guys hear them? The King Crimson one is at roughly the 23 minute mark, and the Moody Blues one is about a minute after that. Naughty, naughty, Eden.)
wham49 07.17.18	Great, my first tourney appearance I went up against 801, what I thought was the best album of that tournament, second time I go up against THE man, I will take all pity votes But I think Ghosts has a strong chance in its own,
Divaman 07.17.18	Listening to "Ghosts" for a second time now. I never listened to the full album before this tourny, but I am familiar with several of the tracks from the Strawbs compilation albums I own. "Lemon Pie" is one of those totally goofy songs that I just love.
Jethro42 07.17.18	''I'm always surprised when we find one that you weren't previously familiar with, Jethro.'' Hahah well, Progland is pretty large. I confess I'm familiar with a big half of bands/albums found in the actual tourney, and I happen to know lots of bands from the 70s, but I'm not much in contact with the more obscure of them since I don't have Last.fm anymore. That site managed to provide me bands I didn't even know of their existence. I'm unable to make it work again. Progarchives helps me to discover new bands thanks to both the ''misc'' section, and the reviews I read there. I also have a personal bank of prog bands, a ''to listen to'' list. Diva, I've noticed the wink to The Moody Blues this morning, and bravo for King Crimson's call, it's obvious indeed, but it's surely voluntary.
Sabrutin 07.17.18	I didn't realize that Ghosts is Strawbs' highest rated album on RYM, though it does have half the ratings of FtW and GNW. Curious to check
Divaman 07.17.18	>but it's surely voluntary. I think that's my problem with it.
e210013 07.17.18	@ Diva I've noticed this morning King Crimson's riff, but only now I saw The Moody Blues' riff too. I don't know what to think. But I think, as Jethro, that it was voluntary. It seems to me too much stupid to a band do a plagiarize of two of most known riffs in prog in those times.
Friday13th 07.18.18	@Divaman yeah I definitely heard the Court lift, but I never noticed the Nights in White Satin lift until you mentioned it. Both are very brief but it is a bit shameless! haha it's the third prog song I've heard that rips off the chorus of Court.
Friday13th 07.18.18	@wham don't worry. I've never won and I've rarely come close. The only time I felt my album had a good chance of winning was the Phoenix Transylvania album, which got pretty far that tournament.
Divaman 07.18.18	Well, I guess if you have rip something off, rip it off from the best.
Jethro42 07.18.18	Erwartung is really a quality album with awesome arrangements and majestic parts. Every musicians have the occasion to demonstrate their talent. I wish I'd see them playing live. Great vocal harmonies, brillant instrumental breaks, apparently good production too. Good blend of prog folk and symphonic prog. The closest thing I've heard similar to that is the first Ingranaggi Della Valle album called In Hoc Signo (available on Spotify). Ghosts is an album I enjoy a lot too, it contains some of the best Strawbs songs. I'll have to revisit couple of times. I expect to have problems in choosing a winner.
Divaman 07.18.18	I hear some Tull in Eden also, although that's more just an influence than it is borrowing a riff. But I'm especially fascinated by that "Godspell"/"Hair" influence. That was unexpected. It's nice, though.
Jethro42 07.18.18	I'll go and try to connect with Godspell and/or Hair on youtube or something. Speaking of that, I personally thought about Jesus Christ Superstar sounding at some places. But again, like I just mentioned, In Hoc Signo represents a good pairing with Eden.
e210013 07.18.18	Definitely I need to check that album, Jethro, since I'm a great fan of your previous choice for these tourneys, "Warm Spaced Blue". Thanks for the reference.
Jethro42 07.18.18	@e21; In Hoc Signo is really different compared to Warm Spaced Blue. The latter is dark and is a beast much harder to approach. In Hoc Signo is featuring another singer and is more immediate and is full of lovely violin. It's more a prog folk oriented album than a symphonic prog this time, with brillant instrumental passages sometimes close to jazz prog. I could definitely see you digging it. Cheers!
Divaman 07.18.18	It's some of the vocal parts that remind me of "Hair"/"Godspell", Jethro. They just wander closely enough into that hippy/flower child realm to bring those two musicals to mind for me. (I think that some of the album's religious themes also bring up "Godspell" for me.
Jethro42 07.18.18	Gotcha, Diva...Gonna take a look after a few more Eden's listens.
Divaman 07.18.18	I'm going to go ahead and vote early for this one. As is my custom, I've given them three listens each. This is a clear-cut choice for me. Eden is good band. I like the way they bring different elements together that are somewhat unexpected, and while I definitely enjoy the darker side of music, sometimes it's nice to have an album as bright and upbeat as this one. There are quite a few albums in the tournament I would have voted for this ahead of. Unfortunately for Eden, though, Strawbs falls right in the sweet spot of my musical taste. This is the one album that I dreaded my own knight coming up against in the first round, and it has turned out to be my favorite album of the tournament to date. While I hadn't listened to this particular album before, I was familiar with about half of the material from various Strawbs comp albums that I own. I love this band's folk-prog mix, and I've always been a big fan of Dave Cousins' voice. Therefore, my vote is obvious. I vote for 2.
wham49 07.18.18	13 just F'ing around as I hope you know, your album is very interesting the first time I half paid attention to it while doing work around the house as is my ritual, looking forward to giving it the attention
Divaman 07.19.18	Saw Yes tonight (the Steve Howe version). I'll type up a list to write about it later tonight or tomorrow. Setlist can be found at https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/yes/2018/nycb-theatre-at-westbury-westbury-ny-2beb8082.html
TwigTW 07.19.18	Nice!
Sabrutin 07.19.18	It would be great if the Rabin-related band played something off Talk. I believe they play I Am Waiting sometimes but why not choosing the Endless Dream suite instead (the Silent Spring intro is honestly one of my favorite Yes moments ever), or at least that beauty of Where Will You Be.
Friday13th 07.19.18	This match is still a tough one for me. I've owned 2 on vinyl for a while, and every time I am impressed by the title track and most of side 2. Some of the best stuff by Strawbs. However, some of the songs sound a bit too much like a simplistic version of Genesis or Family. Eden's Erwartung, on the other hand, is consistently interesting, and a very cohesive effort. The weakness may be the spoken word parts, but I think it is infrequent and tastefully done. Like some have mentioned, you can distinguish the influences (a couple melodies a bit too obviously), but overall I think the sound is quite unique. The singing is a treat and the flow makes for a consistently interesting album. So, it is by a thin margin that I vote for Eden! 1:1 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1
TwigTW 07.19.18	I need to get on these. The weeks almost up and I haven't even started. :-/
TwigTW 07.20.18	I don't think I'd have noticed the Godspell/Hair/JCS influence if you guys hadn't mentioned it, But It's definitely there, so I'm glad you did... On the other hand, that Moody Blues riff jumped right out and slapped me in the face.
Divaman 07.20.18	Me too. I was sitting there minding my own business, when I heard the "Court of the Crimson King" bit. Then like a minute later, it was like, "What the hell?!" At first, in my skepticism, I assumed that because these guys were in Germany, they figured they'd get away with it and no one would be the wiser. But it was probably meant more as a tribute to a couple of fellow prog bands that they admired.
wham49 07.20.18	I have to go with 2, one of my more favorite finds of the last couple of years. Always thought they were a pop band or something, but read an article about them found Ghosts and blew me away, like the first time I spun banquet, or 2112. I got lost in space
Jethro42 07.21.18	Both albums are full of win, I can't decide yet. Well, I have my little idea.
TwigTW 07.21.18	This is the first week where the record production is the problem for me. I really like the songs on the Strawbs album, but the recording is so thin and trebley. It really interferes with my enjoyment of them. On the other hand, the Eden album is nicely produced, open and airy with full range from base to treble, so it sounds so much better to my ears ... This is going to be a tough choice.
Sabrutin 07.21.18	Anyone else having problems with Spotify?
Divaman 07.21.18	I was listening to both on YouTube.
Jethro42 07.21.18	@Sabrutin; Not me, in any case. To make an easier choice, I asked myself which album I'd like to see live. Ghosts is the album that concludes the golden era of Strawbs and band already embraced poppier and light rock songs instead of downright folk songs as found in their prior albums. In Ghosts, mastermind Cousins' singing is powerful with lots of expression as usual. We can find some classic Strawbs material such as the folk prog opener and the folkish ''Lemon Pie'', and the haunting, symphonic prog one ''The Life Auction'' (my favorite of this round), but I wish there were more songs like these. The rest is rather good, but too often, it lacks any depth. Erwartung is something I'd really like to see live. Good mix of folk prog, symphonic prog with a good flair for classical music. It's busy, challenging and accessible at the same time, well balanced with seducting vocal lines, top notch instrumentation. ''Erwartung'' the song is probably my fave there, followed by ''Eden 1 Teil'', most of the closer epic one, and finally a good portion of the opener. Both albums are very melodic with good hooks, and I was first determined to choose Ghosts for I'm a great fan of the band, but Erwartung moves me and speaks to me the most. So it's Eden for me.
Jethro42 07.22.18	^In my third line, I meant * downright folk prog songs* ...and also not to forget that Strawbs have always excelled in composing haunting symphonic prog...
Divaman 07.22.18	I got to see Strawbs live once about 10 years ago at the University Cafe on the campus of SUNY Stonybrook. And I've seen John Ford of Strawbs live numerous times - he lives on Long Island.
Divaman 07.22.18	Btw, you guys may have been aware of this, but I wasn't. King Crimson released yet another new live album this past April, called "Live in Vienna". It was recorded at the end of 2016. I just added it to the site's King Crimson page.
TwigTW 07.22.18	@Sabrutin: I was having trouble with the Spotify search function yesterday. It couldn't find anything for me. When it told me there were no albums by David Bowie, I gave up.
Jethro42 07.22.18	@Divaman, I never saw Strawbs even if they came to Montreal couple times. I didn't know that John Ford lives in the USA now. Was he still into folk and/or folk prog? Or maybe poppish stuff (I think I've heard about that option)? And thanks for KC's news.
Divaman 07.22.18	Last I heard him, he's still into folk and folk prog. He put out an all instrumental about 2 years ago, and I saw on his website yesterday that he's working on a second album along that line. He's a talented man.
Jethro42 07.22.18	For those of you who don't know the epic song ''Blue Angel'' first released on Dave Cousins' solo album Two Weeks Last Summer and recaptured on Strawbs' Blue Angel album into a more commercial version. Here is the original version. It's really delightful from start to finish. I consider it like a strong classic Strawbs song; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_KB0Ow4fVo
Divaman 07.22.18	Great song!
Sabrutin 07.22.18	I'm a bit torn in this round. 1 is solid and there definitely was a consistent effort behind, but it doesn't really ignite me, I'd call it a solid offer of progressive rock but not more for my tastes. 2 does capture me, even in its poppier tracks (except Where Do You Go that annoys me a bit), but it's less consistent. I will probably vote for Strawbs but I'm not 100% sure.
Friday13th 07.22.18	2:2 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1
Jethro42 07.23.18	I understand it can be hard to make a choice, but people are slow to vote compared to past tournaments...
tmthycnnlly 07.23.18	This was real close for me. 2 gets my vote but I agree that I found it inconsistent. I'm gonna go back and give the rest of the Strawbs discography a listen to see if I can find an album that clicks with me more
Friday13th 07.23.18	2:3 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2
Divaman 07.23.18	Check out "Grave New World" and/or "From the Witchwood" tmthy.
Divaman 07.23.18	Apologies again for interrupting the voting (you guys are gonna vote, right?). But for those who enjoy progressive-ish folk rock (like Strawbs and Jethro Tull), I saw Blackmore's Night live tonight. I'll be posting a list about it shortly (and on the list, eventually, a link to a fuller write-up). Setlist can be found @ https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/blackmores-night/2018/the-paramount-huntington-ny-63ebd26f.html .
BallsToTheWall 07.23.18	Bookmarked
TwigTW 07.23.18	This is a squeaker for me. As I've already said, they both have their strengths and weaknesses in the production and songwriting departments. When I add them up, the pluses and minuses cancel each other out. It really is a tie for me. Having a hard time finding a deciding factor...
Papa Universe 07.23.18	without a doubt, this is the hardest and strongest round so far. but i will have to vote for Eden, for they still had an ever so slightly bigger punch.
Friday13th 07.23.18	3:3 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2 Universe: 1
Sabrutin 07.23.18	I'm handing it to Strawbs. @Diva: speaking of Jethro Tull... I'm seeing Anderson tonight with the 50th anniversary tour. Excited!
hansoloshotfirst 07.23.18	that match-up was a real corker. Eden wins it by a thin margin for me. Enjoyed both thoroughly.
SCREAM! 07.23.18	@Sab Enjoy man! Let us know what you think! The guy still has tons of charm and charisma on stage
Friday13th 07.23.18	4:4 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2 Universe: 1 Sabrutin: 2 hansolo: 1
e210013 07.23.18	Eden - Erwartung: "Erwartung" is an excellent album and represents a great surprise for me. I never knew about the existence of it, till now. It seems Eden was one of the first Christian progressive rock bands in Germany. The album has a very interestng prog mix between the symphonic and folk styles. The album is very well ballanced, as we can expect from any conceptual album. It has also great vocal male and female harmonies. The final result is very captivating. This a truly great prog obscure album of the 70's. So, my rating is 4.0. Strawbs - Ghosts: By the other hand, "Ghosts" has no secrets for me. I have my old vinyl record and my new CD version, too. It always was one of my favourite albums of Strawbs. Besides, I always loved Strawbs. They're my second favourite prog folk band of the 70's, after Jethro Tull. It's on my top five of the band, by this order: "Grave New World", "Hero And Heroine", "From The Witchwood", "Ghosts" and "Bursting At The Seams". It represents also the last real classic album of the band. So, as you can imagine, I realy love it. So, my rating is 4.0. So, I like both albums and I gave to them the same rating. But, I must to chose one of them. Maybe due to my heart and because I'm very used to Strawbs album, I need to chose "Ghosts" without any doubt.
Divaman 07.23.18	Very cool, Sabrutin. Have a great time.
Friday13th 07.23.18	4:5 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2 Universe: 1 Sabrutin: 2 hansolo: 1 e21: 2
Jethro42 07.23.18	@Sab; You will be witness of a great, generous showman. Enjoy!
Jethro42 07.23.18	Ghosts is a lot of fun to listen to, but Erwartung has a much better flow. Both have equally enjoyable material. I've listened a ton of times to Erwartung before seeing the light. I confess that my favorite songs are more to the Strawbs side, probably cos i'm used to them. Eden is a grower and now I get all its essence.
e210013 07.23.18	Maybe you're right, Jethro. But I continue thinking that "Ghosts" is an album with much more "life" and less dated in our days, despite be less ballanced. I don't know why, but that is what I feel, right now.
bgillesp 07.23.18	Shoot. I know voting ends today, but is there any chance I could get another day. Still haven't jammed 2 yet cuz life has been busy this week
Frippertronics 07.23.18	Numero Uno, please
Papa Universe 07.23.18	oh damn, this is going to be a tough fight
Jethro42 07.23.18	I hear what you say, e21 friend. I think Ghosts loses meat when they hit ''Starshine/Angel Wine'' and ''Where Do You Go''. The latter could easily be a Cat Steven song but it's too poppish for classic Strawbs standards, mainly given that their famous prog song ''The Life Auction'' follows. Songs don't fit together. ''Don't Try to Change Me'' could be an ELO or a CCR song and again, it is not a good companion for ''The Life Auction''. In fact, most of the songs could figure into Dave Cousins' solo material (and it's not a bad thing, for sure). Anyway, there is not really a bad song at all.
Friday13th 07.23.18	5:5 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2 Universe: 1 Sabrutin: 2 hansolo: 1 e21: 2 Fripper: 1
Friday13th 07.23.18	@bgill it looks like it's staying neck-n-neck (check out those alternating votes), so we might have to wait for you.
TwigTW 07.23.18	I'm voting for Eden. The Strawbs is great, and I'll be playing it more in the future, but I like the Eden a hair better.
Friday13th 07.23.18	6:5 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2 Universe: 1 Sabrutin: 2 hansolo: 1 e21: 2 Fripper: 1 Twig: 1
e210013 07.23.18	I agree, Jethro. But as you said. There isn't really a bad song at all on it. Even those songs are great.
TheIntruder 07.23.18	I am very busy too. I do not know if I can continue participating in this tourney. We will see. Meanwhile, here is my decision for this journey. This is a very tough fight, neck-n-neck, even for me. I love both albums but I think the album of Eden is more prog and of my taste. So Eden it is.
Friday13th 07.23.18	7:5 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2 Universe: 1 Sabrutin: 2 hansolo: 1 e21: 2 Fripper: 1 Twig: 1 Intruder: 1
SCREAM! 07.24.18	Sorry for the lateness guys. It's going to be Eden for me too. Ghosts is great but it doesn't hold on to the momentum it has when it first starts.
Friday13th 07.24.18	8:5 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2 Universe: 1 Sabrutin: 2 hansolo: 1 e21: 2 Fripper: 1 Twig: 1 Intruder: 1 SCREAM: 1
bgillesp 07.24.18	My vote incoming in an hour or so
bgillesp 07.24.18	Also @TheIntruder, the listening phase is mostly over unless you don't remember which ones you liked. All the rounds now will be matchups from the winners of these rounds
bgillesp 07.24.18	Aaaaaaahhhhhhh. I really like both of these. I feel like 1 is better, but 2 sounds like Genesis and marillion had a baby and I love marillion more than any other prog rock band, so it's hard
bgillesp 07.24.18	Gosh darn just give the vote to 1. You made almost every round a near tie for me Friday. That was mean.....
Friday13th 07.24.18	@bgill I aim to enrage and befuddle ;) 9:5 Divaman: 2 Friday: 1 wham: 2 Jethro: 1 tmthy: 2 Universe: 1 Sabrutin: 2 hansolo: 1 e21: 2 Fripper: 1 Twig: 1 Intruder: 1 SCREAM: 1 bgill: 1 Alright, I'm gonna call this one for Eden
Sabrutin 07.24.18	This tourney I kind of feel like everytime I love something it gets taken away from me. haha As for Ian Anderson, indeed he was a showman. The backing band didn't impress me too much (sweet bass though!), but definitely a great show. Really cool that they showed fotage of many past members and where they are today (of course the crowd applauded for Iommi). This was the setlist: https://goo.gl/afZ7PJ
e210013 07.24.18	Nice setlist. You're a truly lucky guy. I never had the opportunity to see Jethro Tull or Ian Anderson on a real live show. My compliments Sab. I felt the same as you. But, let's go to the next stage of Friday's tourney.
Sabrutin 07.24.18	It was my first time. His voice isn't excellent but it's serviceable. If you can catch this tour, I definitely recommend it.
e210013 07.24.18	Ok and thanks, bro.
Jethro42 07.24.18	Nice setlist Sab. i've seen Ian Anderson twice under the Jethro Tull moniker around 2005-2007. I see that Doane Perry (drums) and Jonathan Noyce (bass) are no longer with the band. Both were great. In fact, except for Ian, there is no remaining members since I saw them, save maybe the keyboardist. @e21; Get yourself the DVD Living With The Past released in 2002, if you don't have yet. It can't make up for a live show, but the setlist is very good, and it has good footage.
e210013 07.24.18	Thanks for the tip, Jethro. No, I don't have that DVD. Actually, the only DVD I have from them is "Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970".
Jethro42 07.24.18	You're welcome bro! I saw Nothing is Easy on youtube. I'd like to own it big time! What a document!!! Musicians are all in fire. Clive Bunker is no Barriemore Barlow but he shines in there.
Divaman 07.25.18	Nice setlist. Of all the things, one of the only two songs Blackmore's Night didn't perform the other night that I wish they had was "Pastime With Good Company", but I see that Ian did it last night instead. Oh well. Glad you enjoyed the show. Btw, for those who are interested, I see that Martin Barre is touring again over the next few months.
Sabrutin 07.25.18	Gotta say I wasn't prepared to hear 5 songs off This Was. Weird choice though it was somewhat justified with the celebration of the band's line-up changes. Anyway I got both title tracks off SftW and HH so I'm happy.
Friday13th 07.25.18	@Sabrutin yeah sounds like a killer show. TAAB and My God back-to-back would nearly give me a heart attack!
Sabrutin 07.26.18	Sadly he played like three minutes of it, but at least I heard him say "to be thick... as a brick" live.
Jethro42 07.27.18	Oh, really, 3 minutes?? The live Bursting Out version is shortened to 12 or 13 minutes and it leaves us on our appetite. Good version there, nonetheless...