That's it!
 

It's the structure. Perfect analysis, Jim. Thank you for nailing it down, sometimes I have trouble putting subjective thoughts into objective phrases.

I have the same problem with Anglagard. 3-5 minute intro, discordant repetition, buildup, fade.

there is my dark brooding side
 

and so i acquiesce to these kinds of compositions...bravo, jim you broke it down concisely.

Bingo
 

Jim and Rick, you are hitting exactly what the press' #1 critique of Godspeed is. Here's a quote from AllMusicGuide's review of "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven":

"The main complaint voiced by critics of Godspeed's music is that their works just repeat the same pattern: start out sparse and slow, build-build-build, crescendo. While there are certainly crescendos, there is no such predictable pattern repeated among the works on Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven — it's loaded with dynamics, unexpected sections, strong emotions and beauty.
The album opener, "Storm," is a leap for GYBE! that, alone, makes this release worth getting."

Another track from that album, "Antennas to Heaven," is perhaps the hardest to listen to because it's 6 minutes of ambience, then the "unexpected section" that's really loud, then about a 6 minute build/crescendo, then 6 more of ambience. Although I like it, that's the kind of piece that I think you are hearing, Rick. "Storm," "Static," and "Sleep" are the three that have less of an emphasis on crescendos, but there still are some there. AllMusicGuide doesn't put GYBE! in the prog section, but the "Post-Rock/Experimental, Indie Rock, Space Rock, Experimental Rock" section. I think the Post-Rock and Experimental Rock tags are appropriate, rather than a "pure" prog tag. Although I would make the case that GYBE! is one of the more progressive of the Post-Rock bands (along with Billy Mahonie, Mogwai, Tortoise, Tarentel, Fontanelle, Pele, etc...).

Like Jim, I'm loving this discussion (especially since it's 'my fault' :D ).

Peace out.

hit me where it hurts!
 

I have an aversion to music reviews from those sources, so to be compared really stings!

The lack of vocals too can keep the "sameness" tag on a band. Last night, after the California Guitar Trio show, a guy says "I was expecting them to sing some" - I had to laugh, since that person probably thought they were bland, too (which of course, they're not). I have some neat little anecdotes from the show which I may post later.

I was trying to stay away from the purely subjective aspect of a critique, but I must say even in the loud parts, I don't like the music.

Again, I'll still try them again. If Mikey can try life cereal, I can listen to some skinny fists.

My time again......
 

GSYBE have always reminded me of 2nd division Tangerine Dream.

Sorry Yesspaz, I know how you feel about this band but that's just my opinion.

You may say that what I say is nonsense but that is what i feel at this moment. I WILL request some more when I know I'm going to be around to hear it played. I may change my mind..........IT'S BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN!

I, too, like this discussion.

Spazz, my man, you seem to generate more discussion than most!!!!! What IS your secret???? :)

Re: My time again......
 

Sparkling personality :D

no, supplying AM with BAD bands....:D :D :D
;) ;) ;)

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cruel!!!!

BAD bands
 

yeah, I happen to think that:

Billy Mahonie, Tarentel, Iona, Godspeed, The Letter E, Pink Floyd, Turing Machine, Don Caballero, The Appleseed Cast, Annie Moses Band, Journey, Mike Oldfield, Neal Schon, Tony Palacios, Unwed Sailor, American Football, Adiemus, Geddy Lee, King Crimson ProjeKcts 1-4, P.O.D., Rush, Steve Howe, and dozens of individual tracks..

ALL SUCK!

You don't want me to go through that list, do you??????

Opinions, opinions, opinions.

My high school basketball coach used to say opinions are like anuses. Everybody's got one and they all stink.

Confused
 

Are you saying you supplied Aural Moon with Rush, Geddy Lee, and Pink Floyd?

Hackneyed
 

What no assume quote too?

Re: Confused
 

Yesspaz donated Relics, Obscured By Clouds, the More soundtrack, the Zabriskie Point soundtrack, and a bunch of rare to pretty rare Pink Floyd; Geddy Lee's "My Favorite Headache", and he tried to donate Rush "Vapor Trails", though coincidentally I had acquired it elsewhere.

Yesspaz's sense of music is intact. His sense of humor is hurting, though, if he thought I was serious with my "bad bands" comment...

Though I wish he'd stop with the Mike Oldfield. I'm not adding any more Oldfield until Amarok is cut down to size
;)

Doh!
 

My sense of humor is as refined as, well, something you refine. I knew that the bad bands thing was a joke, but so was my "these bands must suck" post. I thought I was obviously being over the top. Sorry. I guess some of my humor is just too subtle... :rolleyes: :cool:




PS, What?!! Not adding Tres Lunas and Songs of Distant Earth because of Amarok?!! Say it ain't so Jim, say it ain't so! BTW, I agree with cutting Amarok into thirds or fourths. In fact, I saw a thing where Oldy himself had timed out where his logical breaks were, because he obviously recorded it in chunks and edited it together. I'll try to track that down.

Spaz, I'm just a bit burnt out on Mike after hearing Amarok three times in the last two weeks. Tres Lunas and Distant Earth will probably be added in entirety. Just gotta get excited about it...

Eureka!
 

I found it!

Hey Jim, here's your Amarok breakdown.... Now you can edit Amarok into three 20 min chunks or four 15 min chunks. Although it would be painful, I'm sure you could listen to Amarok one time and follow along with this and find the best breaks and chop it up. Better yet, I'll buy Amarok and do it myself and send it to you(it's on my list anyway, but I'll bump it from way down to "next").
It'll be a while though. Why not just delete it from the playlist for now, and then replace it with my edit when I get it to you? Hey! Now that's a plan.


0:00 Fast Riff Intro
2:32 Intro
5:46 Climax I - 12 Strings
6:18 Soft Bodrhan
7:20 Rachmaninov I
8:35 Soft Bodrhan 2
9:29 Rachmaninov II
9:56 Roses
10:42 Reprise I - Intro
12:45 Scot
13:16 Didlybom
15:00 Mad Bit
15:56 Run In
16:11 Hoover
18:00 Fast Riff
19:57 Lion
21:57 Fast Waltz
23:42 Stop
24:33 Mad Bit 2
24:46 Fast Waltz 2
25:06 Mandolin
26:07 Intermission
26:23 Boat
29:27 Intro Reprise 2
32:07 Big Roses
33:13 Green Green
34:24 Slow Waltz
36:04 Lion Reprise
37:05 Mandolin Reprise
37:47 TV am/Hoover/Scot
39:50 Fast Riff Reprise
42:22 Boat Reprise
43:32 12 Rep / Intro Waltz
44:12 Green Reprise
44:46 Africa I: Far Build
48:00 Africa I: Far Dip (**)
48:46 Africa I: Pre Climax
49:32 Africa I: 12 Climax
50:24 Africa I: Climax I
51:00 Africa II: Bridge
51:17 Africa II: Riff
51:34 Africa II: Boats
51:52 Africa II: Bridge II
52:10 Africa II: Climax II
54:22 Africa III: Baker

HEALTH WARNING
This record could be hazardous to the health
of cloth-eared nincompoops. If you suffer from this
condition, consult your Doctor immediately.

Project Amarok
 

PDJ, I just bought Amarok on half.com. Soon you will have an edited version of Amarok.



We now return you to your regulary scheduled Godspeed discussion:

Let's see, how to restart the discussion? Hmm... Ok:

"Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven" is the best prog-rock double album since ______?"

What about..............
 

"Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven" is NOT the best prog-rock double album since ever!"

That honour goes to (at this moment in time) "Tales from Topographic Oceans"

Misunderstading....
 

I have been misunderstood yet again!!!

That's a fill-in-the-blank type question. For example...

Guy 1 - "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven" is the best prog-rock double album since Tales From Topographic Oceans.

Guy 2 - "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven" is the best prog-rock double album since The Wall.

Guy 3 - "No, you're both wrong. 'Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven' sucks like a Hoover vacuum."

Guy 4 - "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven" is the best prog-rock double album since ___________."