Rickter Scale Show 194 - Martians, Derivations, Demians,and Mood Swings

[Rick and Roll]

airing Sunday, September 14 from 8-11 PM EST and Monday, September 15 from 1-4 PM

Sifting through some of the many purchases from my 3RP and Progday haul:

Eccentric Orbit - "Attack of the Martians" (2004)

Star Power
Sputnik
Attack of the Martians
Part 1: Flying Saucers & Little Green Men
Part 2: The Face on Mars
Part 3: Martians Everywhere!
Forbidden Planet
Part 1: The Arrival (Innocence Lost)
Part 2: The Krell
Part 3: The Tempest / The Departure
The Enemy of my Enemy

Acting on a tip from NorCalKurt, I bought this - and it kicked my ass AND took my name. No guitar - all played on bass, drums, and 2 keyboards. Just like Violent Silence, Eccentric Orbit shows you don't need guitar to rock. The bassist, Bill Noland, writes the songs and plays some thunderous bass lines. I think this is their only disc out so far. Good stuff.

Steve Morse - songs from "Major Impacts 2" (2004)

Wooden Music
Cool Wind: Green Hills
Organically Grown
Abracadab
Air on a 6 String

My favorite guitarist, Steve Morse has a wonderful way of taking any type of music and putting his indelible stamp on it. On the Major Impacts duo, he salutes his influences, by crafting songs that sound just like something those artists would do, yet it's unmistakeably Morse. Like a fool I bought this one first - no matter, we'll hear the music influences by CSN, Celtic sounds, ELP (a dead ringer for Tarkus), Genesis (I wonder which song), and some dude named Bach.

Demians - music from "Building An Empire" (2008)

The Perfect Symmetry
Shine
Sapphire
Unspoken
Temple

Steven Wilson approved, this was referred to me at Progday. It had the dynamic swings normally associated with the newer bands. It's a bit too much for me over a full CD, so I decided to play about 1/2 hour on the show. All done by Nicolas Chapel, it is definitely a demanding listen.

Ty Tabor - a few from "Safety" 2002

Tulip (Your Eyes)
Funeral
Room For Me
I Don't Mind

Awesome songwriter, singer, and guitarist Ty Tabor saved some of his writing from his other projects (King's X, Jelly Jam, Platypus) for this record. It's dark emotionally, but musically not so much. He was in a difficult period and almost did not release this. Bandmate Jerry Gaskill drums, but everything else is Ty.

Riverside - "Rapid Eye Movement" (2007)

Beyond the Eyelids
Rainbow Box
Panic Room
Schizophrenic Prayer
Parasomnia
Through the Other Side
Embryonic
Cybernetic Pillow
Ultimate Trip

Typically intense offering from the Polish Powerhouse. They will be at the NJ Proghouse and FMPM this week, so I figured this would be a good opportunity tp spin this one.

[NorCalKurt]

Good one Rick.. thanks for reference too.

[mailotron]

good selection from our Spider from Mars