Nov 30 & Dec 1 - Defining Moments

[Extended Play]

Well, I thought I'd return to active duty again after last week's show, but completely forgot about thanksgiving. Oh well, I don't think we'll have TOO many complaints about this one. Heh.

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I. The Flaming Lips released their latest and greatest album 'Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots' in the latter half of 2002. Blending their pop sensibilities with more experimentally synthetic noise presents quite a stunning entry in their discography. This comes off as a more cohesive albm than their previous 'The Soft Bulletin', presenting linked themes and a more consistent feel throughout. To me, this feels like Beach Boys melodies with a modern edge like Radiohead. This one stands out of the pack.

The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (@ Allmusic.com)[list=1][*]Fight Test (Flaming Lips) - 4:14 [*]One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21 (Flaming Lips) - 4:59[*]Yoshimi Battle the Pink Robots, Pt. 1 (Flaming Lips) - 4:45 [*]Yoshimi Battle the Pink Robots, Pt. 2 (Flaming Lips) - 2:57 [*]In the Morning of the Magicians (Flaming Lips) - 6:18 [*]Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell (Flaming Lips) - 4:34 [*]Are You a Hypnotist?? (Flaming Lips) - 4:44[*]It's Summertime (Flaming Lips) - 4:20 [*]Do You Realize?? (Flaming Lips) - 3:32 [*]All We Have Is Now (Flaming Lips) - 3:53 [*]Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon... (Flaming Lips) - 3:09 [/list=1]
II. In the wake of Kevin Moore's departure, Dream Theater spent time searching for his replacement. Returning to the studio, they reworked an older concert pieve with new keys and laid out their defining sound in 'A Change Of Seasons'. Rather than let the album end there, Warner Brothers suggested that the band flesh out their recording from just an EP to a full album. So, Dream Theater recorded several tracks at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London that appear after A Change Of Seasons. These help showcase the band's influences, all the way from Elton John to Led Zeppelin and the Dixie Dreggs

Dream Theater - A Change Of Seasons (@ Allmusic.com)[list=1][*]A Change of Seasons (Dream Theater/Portnoy) - 23:06
a. The Crimson Sunrise (Instrumental)
b. Innocence
c. Carpe Diem
d. The Darkest of Winters (Instrumental)
e. Another World
f. The Inevitable Summer (Instrumental)
g. The Crimson Sunset[*]Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding (Elton John) - 10:49[*]Perfect Strangers (Deep Purple)- 5:33 [*]The Rover/Achilles Last Stand/The Song Remains The Same (Led Zeppelin) - 7:28 [*]The Big Medley - 10:34
a. In The Flesh? (Pink Floyd)
b. Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas)
c. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
d. Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin (Journey)
e. Cruise Control (Dixie Dreggs)
f. Turn It On Again (Genesis)[/list=1]
III. Departing from his familiar session buddies, Steve Vai formed the band Vai. The resulting 'Sex & Religion' ('93) defied fans, the public, and even Steve Vai who underwent a spiritual cleansing after the album. Rather than write this off as a rather pedestrian entry in Steve Vai's catalogue of music, I think this is just the harder edge of Vai. It may be more predictable at times, but it still presents the raw emotion in music that he has slways drawn in fans and casual listeners with.

Vai - Sex & Religion (@ Allmusic.com)[list=1][*]An Earth Dweller's Return (Vai) - 1:03[*]Here and Now (Vai) - 4:47 [*]In My Dreams With You (Child/Greenawalt/Vai) - 5:00 [*]Still My Bleeding Heart (Vai) - 6:00 [*]Sex & Religion (Vai) - 4:24 [*]Dirty Black Hole (Vai) - 4:27[*]Touching Tongues (Vai) - 4:33 [*]State of Grace (Vai) - 1:41 [*]Survive (Vai) - 4:46 [*]Pig (Townsend/Vai) - 3:36 [*]The Road to MT. Calvary (Vai) - 2:35 [*]Down Deep into the Pain (Vai) - 8:01 [*]Rescue Me or Bury Me (Vai) - 8:25[/list=1]

[Rick and Roll]

Flaming lips I saw open up for Stone Temple Pilots? Weird.....

[teermin8r]

Glad to see the Flaming Lips being played. A great Oklahoma band.

Tommy,

As always an interesting show!!!! It really got the Shouters going I can tell you. The general concensus of opinion though was NO MORE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The DT was the worst album I've heard you play. The only thing I liked about it (apart from the end) was ......hell I can't think of anything.

Pretty much the same for the Steve Vai I'm afraid.....not for me.

The Flaming Lips, however, were another kettle of fish.

Great melodies and great quirky lyrics. A definite addition to the KW collection that one.

BTW: I still think that the opening track on the "Lips" album is a straight lift from Cat Stevens' record 'Father and Son'

[Extended Play]

I heartily disagree about the Dream Theater, but they are definitely a band that polarizes listeners. The Vai I can definitely understand, this wasn't his best album for AM play (but it's one that influenced me personally, bad decision, lesson learned). There is much more progressive work by him out there, The Ultra Zone springs readily to mind.

Glad The Flaming Lips went over well. That's been a favorite of mine for a few months now. FYI, they also have an EP that came out after Yoshimi called Flight Test. That one's a lot of fun. The Soft Bulletin, previous to Yoshimi, is good excepting Wayne's vocals which are much harder to listen to.

And remember, any replay shows you hear like this one are listener selected from now on . . . (so if you wanna know who it was, look through the old anniversary thread).

Tommy

[Rick and Roll]

who is ok with Dream Theater as is - I'm not very polarized on them it's just they play too techically and lose the feel of the music - sometimes.

When I saw the Flaming Lips, they made a racist comment for really no particularly good reason. But they still put on an interesting show.

[Bob Lentil]

Originally posted by Keith Waye
The DT was the worst album I've heard you play. The only thing I liked about it (apart from the end) was ......hell I can't think of anything.

I'm a Dream Theater supporter, but I think A Change of Seasons is probably their weakest album. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the worst thing Tommy's played, since his play lists are of consistently high quality. By the way, have we heard Scenes From A Memory Yet?

[Rick and Roll]

it runs out of steam. Probably if it was an earlier release I'd appreciate it more. Playing it live in its entirety was a bit too much too.

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Originally posted by Rick and Roll
it runs out of steam. Probably if it was an earlier release I'd appreciate it more. Playing it live in its entirety was a bit too much too.

Yeah, A Change Of Seasons itself is quite nice, but It definitely doesn't have the pace of a full album (still love the live covers though). Ahh well, too late for changes. I just wish they would have added the Siberian Khatru/Starship Trooper jam with Petrucci and Steve Howe.

Tommy

[Rick and Roll]

I was commenting on "Scenes From A Memory". The "Change" record is pretty good, actually.

[Extended Play]

Originally posted by Bob Lentil
I'm a Dream Theater supporter, but I think A Change of Seasons is probably their weakest album. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the worst thing Tommy's played, since his play lists are of consistently high quality. By the way, have we heard Scenes From A Memory Yet?

Yes, Scenes played some time back. It may come up again in a repeat or a totally new playlist.

[Yesspaz]

I love the last two tracks of that album, though, the Zep medley and the prog rock medley. that's solid rock....