Show 92 - "Two discs, two years too late"

[Rick and Roll]

This week it's two releases from 2004 that I just bought in the last several months. I make no apologies for my sloth-like introduction to these fine CD's.

Neal Morse - One

I've long been a Spock's Beard fan but haven't heard much of the solo output from Neal Morse until this year. The "?" CD is excellent, and I wondered what else I was missing. Got some great feedback from friends (especially Moses, who gave a good critique of each solo CD). I have Testimony on DVD, and bought the self-titled release. But I have to say this one is superb.

The Creation
One Mind, In A Perfect Light, Where Are You?, Reaching From The Heart
The Man's Gone
Author of Confusion
The Separated Man
I'm In A Cage, I Am The Man, The Man's Gone, Something Within Me
Remembers
Help Me / The Spirit And the Flesh
Reunion
No Separation, Grand Finale, Make Us One

Had to skip "Cradle To the Grave" and "Father of Forgiveness" due to time.

Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle

A fantastic CD. Melds hard rock with progressive elements, great storyline, and stellar guest appearances (except for those two goobers who play "Death"). My cat can growl better than those two.

Will be excited to hear what else Arjen Lucassen has done, as I am an Ayreon novice. Too detailed to go into the concept here, but if you're interested check it out. It's an interesting story. Some great performances by Thijs Van Leer and the eight characters (Fish, Damian Wilson, Edwin Balough, Anneke Van Giersbergen, Jay van Feggelen, Edward Reekers, Sharon Den Adel, and Arjen himself).

The Songs:

Welcome To The New Dimension
Isis and Osiris
Amazing Flight
Time Beyond Time
The Decision Tree (We're Alive)
Tunnel of Light
Across the Rainbow Bridge
The Garden of Emotions
Valley of the Queens
The Castle Hall
Tower of Hope
Cosmic Fusion
The Mirror Maze
Evil Devolution
The Two Gates
Forever of the Stars
Another Time, Another Space

Hope to see you there!

[mailotron]

Rick,
I'm afraid to say that into the electric castle is not from 2004 but from 1998.. but perhaps in 2004 in the USA ?!
Otherwise good programm as usual

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by mailotron

Rick,
I'm afraid to say that into the electric castle is not from 2004 but from 1998.. but perhaps in 2004 in the USA ?!
Otherwise good programm as usual

Wow someone is up late!

I went to the website and it's a great one I must admit, very well-done and full of info, too much to absorb right now.

What I have is the 2004 "special edition" reissue...ooohhhh. It is indeed from 1998 - and I am highly wrong...thanks Mail for the correction!

I was six years off...a bit more than the six hours difference in our time zones, eh?

And illustrates that I am way behind on my Ayreon....

[mailotron]

thx for your answer , yes I'm a little bit insomniac these last weeks

I'm not a Ayreon die hard fan , into the electric castle and the first "dream sequencer' have my preference , other stuff is to metal prog to my taste

but i'm happy he sold a lot of cd's in Germany and Holland and got also large venues ... a good way for metal-fans to get into more real prog .

[Hawksun]

I like Ayreon a lot for two reasons: First, the music/story/mood is great each track having mostly positive vibes(except on The Human Equation or, failing that, sounding really good and well produced. Second, the whole Ayreon saga is inspiring to me, since I read Arjen can't read or write sheet music and yet managed to make album after album of Prog-rock/metal operas that are really well done showing me that effort and dedication sometimes are all what are required to make interesting music.

Glad your show is featuring the "gateway album" for Ayreon rick.

[Rick and Roll]

what's that avatar Hawk? (we had an avatar thread, may be time to bring it back, although I'm thinking it wasn't that long ago)

[Hawksun]

That's the cover to Cryptopsy's second album, which is a painting called Herodias With the Head of John the Baptist by Elisabetta Sirani, an artist from the 17th century (Thanks Wikipedia!).