CD suggestion of the day

Hey, folks, I have just got an idea (not any original idea, must admit): since we have already a topic about good DVDs & BDs, how about creating this place specifically for us to share suggestions of CDs we think are worth recommending to everybody else?

Any genre, so that we can make this topic the most eclectic possible.

Let’s also try, whenever it’s possible, to give some description of the disc we are recommending, all right? From my part I will try to do my best, in spite of my poor English.

I will start the game suggesting this very beautiful CD, one of my current favorites:

PROJECT LO – Black Canvas

http://www.guitarnine.com/image/blackcanvasmini.jpg

Tracklist:

1. Black Canvas I
2. Mercy Street
3. Rajah
4. Your Mind
5. Tolerance - Acceptance – Transformation
6. Perfection
7. Retribution
8. D.I.E.
9. Black Canvas II

Project Lo is, in fact, a group/project joined by some musicians from LoLoRecords. The project is leaded by guitarist/keyboardist Bon Lozaga (ex-Gong, Gongzilla) and also joined by Brand X bassist Percy Jones, keyboardist J.Hatch, violinist Caryn Lin, vocalist Happy Rhodes, among others.

The music is calm and haunting at the same time, with very beautiful symphonic passages provided by violinist Caryn Lin, and also great performances of Percy Jones in the bass and Happy Rhodes with her haunting vocals, especially in their wonderful rendition of "Mercy Street", by Peter Gabriel (track 2).

Important to mention: this is also one of the best recorded cd’s I have listened to lately.

Details on this link:

http://www.lolorecords.com/project_lo.html

So, anybody else want to play? ;-)

Demetrio.

Linky no worky

If mellow is what is grabbing you lately, then you may like what I picked up not too long ago...

Mark Hollis' self-titled solo CD from '98. You may remember that Hollis is formerly of Talk Talk. This CD is very intimately recorded and sounds gorgeous. Very jazz oriented, yet atmospheric and moody. http://www.myspace.com/markhollisuk the second track is from the CD I mentioned.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...14231ylzsd.jpg

Whether you are a prog head or just love good music, there is no denying this is one of the most astonishing albums ever made. There are moments of extreme craziness and interludes of over-the-edge genius throughout this collection, and Collins, Pert, Goodsall, Jones and Lumley deliver the rundown with infectious glee. These are canny musicians who know their craft, and if you are in the mood for something different, you will like this one very much!

Here's a true musical gem I want to suggest today:

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/OP-OP.jpg

Group: OCTOBER PROJECT
Title: October Project
Year: 1993
Genre: Art-Rock

Tracklist:

1. Bury My Lovely
2. Ariel
3. Where You Are
4. A Lonely Voice
5. Eyes of Mercy
6. Return to Me
7. Wall of Silence
8. Take Me As I Am
9. Now I Lay Me Down
10. Always
11. Paths of Desire
12. Be My Hero

One of the best things which happened in the music scene in the 90’s (that’s what I do think about this wonderful band), OCTOBER PROJECT released only two albums, by Sony/Epic Records (October Project, from 1993, and Falling Farther In, from 1995), before getting dumped by their record company in ‘96, when they simply broke up. Some of the band members formed a short-lived band called November Project, which released an EP of songs entitled A Thousand Days (1999), but they soon reverted back to their former name, releasing a self-produced CD entitled Different Eyes, in 2003.

The debut, self-titled release of the group, though, is the true musical gem I want to talk about here. This is simply one of the most beautiful albums I had the chance to listen to in all my life. It is mesmerizing, it is magical, it is mystical. Kind of vocal dominated symphonic rock, featuring a lush combination of keyboards, strings, percussion and guitars with emotive, gorgeous female vocals.

The lush instrumentation and the rich, pristine vocal harmonies provided by lead vocalist Mary Fahl, with her powerful, deep, mysterious voice, combined with backing vocalist Marina Belica’s sweet voice, are indeed the trademark of the music of October Project. You can dream, you can even cry, you can get totally mesmerized by listening to this wonderful stuff.

I find it hard to categorize or compare October Project's beautiful music, but I would say they sound to me like a mix of Renaissance (akin to their beautiful orchestral textures) with folk-rock à la Clannad, Capercaillie and Steeleye Span, and also some tinge of quiet music in the vein of Enya and Loreena McKennitt.

Demetrio.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Demetrio

Here's a true musical gem I want to suggest today:

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/OP-OP.jpg

Group: OCTOBER PROJECT
Title: October Project
Year: 1993
Genre: Art-Rock

Tracklist:

1. Bury My Lovely
2. Ariel
3. Where You Are
4. A Lonely Voice
5. Eyes of Mercy
6. Return to Me
7. Wall of Silence
8. Take Me As I Am
9. Now I Lay Me Down
10. Always
11. Paths of Desire
12. Be My Hero

One of the best things which happened in the music scene in the 90’s (that’s what I do think about this wonderful band), OCTOBER PROJECT released only two albums, by Sony/Epic Records (October Project, from 1993, and Falling Farther In, from 1995), before getting dumped by their record company in ‘96, when they simply broke up. Some of the band members formed a short-lived band called November Project, which released an EP of songs entitled A Thousand Days (1999), but they soon reverted back to their former name, releasing a self-produced CD entitled Different Eyes, in 2003.

The debut, self-titled release of the group, though, is the true musical gem I want to talk about here. This is simply one of the most beautiful albums I had the chance to listen to in all my life. It is mesmerizing, it is magical, it is mystical. Kind of vocal dominated symphonic rock, featuring a lush combination of keyboards, strings, percussion and guitars with emotive, gorgeous female vocals.

The lush instrumentation and the rich, pristine vocal harmonies provided by lead vocalist Mary Fahl, with her powerful, deep, mysterious voice, combined with backing vocalist Marina Belica’s sweet voice, are indeed the trademark of the music of October Project. You can dream, you can even cry, you can get totally mesmerized by listening to this wonderful stuff.

I find it hard to categorize or compare October Project's beautiful music, but I would say they sound to me like a mix of Renaissance (akin to their beautiful orchestral textures) with folk-rock à la Clannad, Capercaillie and Steeleye Span, and also some tinge of quiet music in the vein of Enya and Loreena McKennitt.

Demetrio.

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Just got this a few months ago and absolutely love it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Auricauricle

Whether you are a prog head or just love good music, there is no denying this is one of the most astonishing albums ever made. There are moments of extreme craziness and interludes of over-the-edge genius throughout this collection, and Collins, Pert, Goodsall, Jones and Lumley deliver the rundown with infectious glee. These are canny musicians who know their craft, and if you are in the mood for something different, you will like this one very much!

---

Not having this one, I spun Unorthodox Behavior this morning. Another killer release by Brand X with about the same review as above.

With titles like Now I Lay Me Down and Bury My Lovely, it's gotta be good!

<img src="http://www.dannybharvey.com/images/new_cd.gif">
<b>13 Cats</b>

The one and only rockabilly super-group, featuring former member of the Stray Cats, Slim Jim Phantom, Danny B. Harvey of the Swing Cats, Tim Wormen of the Polecats and Smutty Smith of The Rockats. So yeah, that basically tells you exactly what it sounds like. Good **** if this sorta thing is your bag. But c'mon, how can you not like a song called Teddy Boy Kung Fu Weapon?

Recently discovered a band from Russia called VESPERO. Bought two of their CD's Rito (2007) & Foam (2008) from Synphonic, their newest release FOAM is actually released on a US label.

I can't stop listening to them both, they are a mix of Psychedelic, Prog and Space rock. Perhaps a blend of Korai Orom and Ole Lukkoye...

Great long songs with minimal cosmic female vocals, awesome percussion, cool guitars, synth's, some ethnic instruments as well.

The DPRP guys review them, but remember they only give 9's and 10's to prog-metal stuff, but they give them a couple some-what decent reviews..
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/v.html

Anyway here is another review:
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=173084

and they have samples up on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/vesperomusic

Oh and they have a bunch of Videos on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0bk3AglPKw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE4_K...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCNrh...eature=related

Today's suggestion:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

Huns & Dr. Beeker – The Middle of Somewhere

Tracklist:

1. A Day Like This
2. Cereal Girl
3. The Dew Drop Inn
4. Ponies
5. You Are the Best
6. Rosie
7. Cry Me a River
8. Second and Main
9. Company Man
10. How Lucky
11. Keeper of the Flame
12. Ghost Town
13. Lucy

HUNS & DR. BEEKER is an American duo from Burlington, WI, joined by Jon Hunsbusher (aka Huns) and Eric Erickson (aka Dr. Beeker).

The Middle of Somewhere, their unique release I know, is one of the most beautiful albums I have listened to in my life. It’s a wonderful combination of acoustic-driven compositions with gorgeous vocal harmonies and lush arrangements.

I came to know this stuff very casually, when I was navigating through internet pages about Chernobyl nuclear accident and suddenly found these two videos and the beautiful song played with them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbfsDAD-Hhk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lleQPaALSLo

I was totally blown away by that song and it touched me so deeply that I wanted to get the disc with it at that same moment. The song title is “Ghost Town”, a haunting tribute to the victims of that terrible nuclear disaster, as you’ll see on the videos above.

Samples of this great album available at these links:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/hunsbeeker

http://www.hunsanddrbeeker.com/music/?id=2

http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-of-.../dp/B0016LUE1W

Cheers,
Demetrio.

Galahad - Sleepers. Heaven on cd. At least to me!

Dave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by unleasHell

Recently discovered a band from Russia called VESPERO. Bought two of their CD's Rito (2007) & Foam (2008) from Synphonic, their newest release FOAM is actually released on a US label.

---

Yeah...I can get into this!

My today’s suggestion:

http://i34.tinypic.com/fvfrbl.jpg

Group: NOSOUND
Title: Sol29
Year: 2005
Genre: Dream Prog

Tracklist:

1. In the White Air (6:57)
2. Wearing Lies on Your Lips (4:20)
3. The Child's Game (2:46)
4. The Moment She Knew (9:38)
5. Waves of Time (2:07)
6. Overloaded (6:13)
7. The Broken Parts (6:24)
8. Idle End (9:43)
9. Hope for the Future (5:57)
10. Sol29 (10:02)

Italian band leaded by multiinstrumentalist and composer Giancarlo Erra, also a former member of Porcupine Tree tribute band Redshift.

It is not a surprise, so, that Porcupine Tree is the main influence in the music of NOSOUND. Very specially the slow, more ambient sound of the early days of Porcupine Tree, of albums such as The Sky Moves Sideways and Up the Downstair. Their music also reminds a lot, of course, the sound of No-Man (another Steven Wilson side project, where he usually explores his more trippy / dream prog vein), featuring also some obvious influences of Pink Floyd, Bark Psychosis and Sigur Rós.

Sol29, released in 2005, was their debut complete album, and it is a great release from start to end. My favorite track in the album is “The Moment She Knew” (track 4), a 10-minute totally instrumental piece where the musical talent of Giancarlo Erra on the guitar (à la David Gilmour) really shines.

You can check a promo videoclip of this album at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y__lfperjSY

And a great performance of the song The Moment She Knew live here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzkd...eature=related

Cheers,
Demetrio.

...try this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOmSXROtzHs

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Auricauricle

Whether you are a prog head or just love good music, there is no denying this is one of the most astonishing albums ever made. There are moments of extreme craziness and interludes of over-the-edge genius throughout this collection, and Collins, Pert, Goodsall, Jones and Lumley deliver the rundown with infectious glee. These are canny musicians who know their craft, and if you are in the mood for something different, you will like this one very much!

---

Uh, what's the disc?

Good call, Finchie! Here ya go....

http://www.last.fm/music/Brand+X/Moroccan+Roll

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/751...zzzzzzz2jr.jpg

Group: PURE REASON REVOLUTION
Title: The Dark Third
Year: 2006
Genre: Progressive Rock

Line-up/Musicians:

Chloe Alper – Vocals, bass guitar
Andrew Courtney – Drums, percussion
Jon Courtney – Vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, programming
James Dobson – Vocals, keyboards, bass guitar, violin, programming
Gregory Jong – Guitars, vocals, keyboards
Jamie Willcox – Guitars, vocals

Tracklist:

1. Aeropause – 5:04
2. Goshen's Remains – 5:45
3. Apprentice of the Universe – 4:16
4. The Bright Ambassadors of Morning – 11:56
5. Nimos & Tambos – 3:44
6. Voices in Winter / In the Realms of the Divine – 6:35
7. Bullitts Dominae – 5:23
8. Arrival / The Intention Craft – 8:53
9. He Tried to Show Them Magic / Ambassadors Return – 13:14


PURE REASON REVOLUTION is a new progressive band from London. They released some EP's (Apprentice of the Universe, in 2004, and The Bright Ambassadors of Morning and The Intention Craft, in 2005) and a mini-album (Cautionary Tales for the Brave, also in 2005) before releasing their debut full length album, The Dark Third, in 2006.

I find the music of PRR very fresh and new, not sounding like any other band specifically, although we can find some sparse elements of Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Timothy Pure, Dredg, Yes e The Beach Boys in their music. Most notably Pink Floyd, as you can infer by the title of the track "The Bright Ambassadors of Morning" (with it’s clear reminiscences to Floyd’s Echoes suite), but fact is that the band manages very well to blend together the old and the new, making this album very modern sounding overall, even appearing to draw some interesting influences from the Indie scene as well (Dredg, Secret Machines, Arcade Fire, etc).

The album opens with "Aeropause", a spacey, trippy instrumental piece in the best Pink Floyd tradition, with Gilmour-inspired guitar work. The whole album flows very nicely and there are absolutely no fillers here, no bad tracks at all, making the experience of listening to this album very enjoyable and refreshing.

The vocals are shared by female and male vocalists, with some wonderful, gorgeous interplay between them. If you also enjoy pristine vocal harmonies, then you’ll also love this album, given that they are in abundance all over this awesome recording.

MySpace of the band:

http://www.myspace.com/purereasonrevolution

Demetrio.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Demetrio

I find the music of PRR very fresh and new, not sounding like any other band specifically, although we can find some sparse elements of Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Timothy Pure, Dredg, Yes e The Beach Boys in their music. Most notably Pink Floyd, as you can infer by the title of the track "The Bright Ambassadors of Morning" (with it’s clear reminiscences to Floyd’s Echoes suite), but fact is that the band manages very well to blend together the old and the new, making this album very modern sounding overall, even appearing to draw some interesting influences from the Indie scene as well (Dredg, Secret Machines, Arcade Fire, etc).

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Well, if you liked that one, wait until you hear the new one!!!


http://www.alltunes.com/covers/p/pur...mnia/cover.jpg
Because all of those influences you just mentioned, especially Pink Floyd and Beach Boys, are non-existent on the new album, Amor Vincit Omnia, which couldn't be more different from Dark Third.

Instead, this is an album more akin to acts like '80s Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, New Order, Tom Tom Club, maybe even Human League to a degree. Yep, they've gone dance ambient on us. I actually like it though. This album wouldn't sound out of place if had been released back in 1985. But I can't imagine a release like this is going to endear them to their original fanbase...imagine if Porcupine Tree followed up their Inabsentia or Deadwing albums with On The Sunday Of Life. Like I said, I like it well enough, but I am remiss that there won't be a real follow-up to The Dark Third.

Hi, 3LB,

Thanks for sharing your impressions about the new Pure Reason Revolution release. Must confess I was really expecting something in the same vein of the brilliant The Dark Third, but no problem at all, I will check it out anyway. ;-)

Cheers,
Demetrio.

Yeah, thanks, 3! Love stuff like this....Where's my Crystal Method: Vegas CD?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Demetrio

Any genre, so that we can make this topic the most eclectic possible.

---

Here's one I pulled out recently that I haven't listened to in years. B-Tribe's Spiritual Spiritual. It's kind of ambient spanish classical guitar music. This album, unlike the other four, is extremely ambient with only one vocal track. If you like Blade Runner, you'll like this. The third track, La Guitarra, is really a spanish classical guitar version of King Crimson's Epitaph.

Don't know how to upload the album cover.

Hey, Barry, I love that B-TRIBE recording! Definitely one of my all-time favorites in the genre!!

Favorite tracks: "Sketches Of St. Antoni", "Matador de Sa Pena", "Sunset in St. Carlos" & "The Sun".

Cheers,
Demetrio.

Hey, nice thread Demetrio with some cool choices coming up. One I'm listening to right now from last year that has turned into one of my most played recent favorites is the band with the silly name Dodos, and the intentionally misspelled album title, Visiter, no wonder this one got kind of overshadowed last year by the emergence of a bunch of other silly named bands. Anyway, I'll admit that I didn't give this one much of a chance last year, not sure why, maybe it just starts out kind of low key, maybe just in a strange mood, who knows? But I do know that it really started to click around the beginning of this year, because it is some very good and eclectic pop music, sometimes very melodic and accessible, other times noisy and adventurous, all the time with a nice sense of song craft, and nothing ever seems to unfold completely so you want to keep coming back. Like so many of the modern bands I like, a very healthy dose of the Kinks, sometimes pushing it toward the sound of that catchy Strokes' debut, but oftentimes more sophisticated, which moves it toward that Richard Davies sound some of us around here love. Fun CD, and nice to see that it actually wound up very high on many best of 2008 lists. Engineered by John Askew, who in his other job as the band Tracker, made a very cool little record a few years ago that I also love called Polk.

But here's one dear to my heart for the ambient crowd, from sometime in the mid 90s, Stalker by Robert Rich and B. Lustmord. Stark and beautiful, but also very dark and desolate. Amazing texture to the landscape. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the mid 90s Robert Rich CDs, they are all great. Seven Veils has that cool middle eastern sound, a little like Vas and Dead Can Dance, maybe Cul de Sac (another hot instrumental guitar and synth band that has made some very cool records with the Eno influence, though with some real appreciation and love for John Fahey too, couple of us often mention Crashes to Light around here), Stalker has the night and the fear, and Fissures with Alio Die is outstanding for its beauty, with both dark and calming passages.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg

Hey, guys, it is so nice to make part of a music forum like this, where big part of the members seem to have quite similar music tastes.

Let’s take the example of the two latest recommendations in this thread: B-Tribe and Robert Rich. I’m a huge fan of this stuff myself too. And must say I don’t have the “Stalker” cd above mentioned yet, so it has gone to my wish list right now.

From Robert Rich I have these:

- Numena / Geometry
- Rainforest
- Gaudi
- Propagation
- Seven Veils
- Fissures (with Alio Die)
- Yearning (with Lisa Moskow)
- Strata (with Steve Roach)
- Soma (with Steve Roach)

My personal favorite from the list: “Seven Veils”.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I love this album. It's soooo ethereal, so mesmerizing...

Kind regards,
Demetrio.

Never heard of him. Thanks for the post.

My today's suggestion:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Group: THE BLUE NILE
Title: Hats
Year: 1989
Genre: Alt-Pop Rock

Tracklist:

1. Over the Hillside
2. The Downtown Lights
3. Let's Go Out Tonight
4. Headlights on the Parade
5. From a Late Night Train
6. Seven A.M.
7. Saturday Night


Led by charismatic vocalist and songwriter Paul Buchanan, THE BLUE NILE has only four albums released to date, despite their longtime career: A Walk Across the Rooftops (1983), Hats (1989), Peace at Last (1996) and High (2004). All them, though, are excellent releases IMO, being this Hats my personal favorite.

This is slow, introspective, mellow rock music at the best. Paul Buchanan's highly emotive, soulful voice, combined with lush arrangements of keyboards, bass, drums and sparse solos of trumpet, plunges you immediately into the mood and, as you can easily infer from the titles of the seven tracks from Hats, the mood of this album is nighttime city life, evoking themes such as melancholy, loneliness, disillusion and hope of love. It sounds like a cinematic urban soundtrack, evoking immediately in your mind romantic landscapes of crowded streets in the night, of empty bars, of lonely lovers, of trains passing by, of coloured neon lights shining all around.

As you may infer from the above description, this is sort of a perfect album to listen to when you want to be alone, maybe watching the city life outside in a raining night, by the window. Just turn your lights off and relax, this is great music to be immersed in.

When I first listened to Hats I was also amazed by the great technical quality of the recording itself. Looking at the technical information of the recording I just discovered why: this album was recorded at Linn Records, a part of Linn Products (a Glasgow-based industry of hi-fi audio & home theater equipments), which makes it recommended for the more exigent listeners as well.

Favorite tracks: "The Downtown Lights", "Headlights on the Parade" and "Let's Go Out Tonight".

Demetrio.

May as well try something completely different from what's been discussed so far:

Andrew Bird: Noble Beast (2009)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...91361qsghf.jpg

This guy has long been a favorite around here, though I didn't care for the albums he put out after the wonderfully quirky Swimming Hour (2001). This guy is a classically trained violinist who plays it in a folky-jazzy style, and is one of the more intelligent and agile lyricists working today. He's also a great vocalist who at times reminds me of David Byrne with his delivery and tone, but has a much broader range. The music is layered and rich without sounding too slick or over produced and can range from quiet and introspective to rollicking and quirky. Some of his stuff even reminds me of solo Adrian Belew musically speaking (Bird is a much better writer though). Armchair Apochrypha from 2007 is pretty good, but this year's Noble Beast is prolly my fave besides Swimming Hour.

I'll try an odd recommendation out for size.

The Tin Hat Trio: Memory is an Elephant (1999)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg

I pull this one out when I don't want Rock, don't want Classical, don't want Jazz, not sure what I want, but want it fun and interesting.

A guitar, violin, accordian trio... with some other instruments tossed in; I think I heard a toy piano. Several things come to mind when I listen. Klezmer, Tom Waits, and Indie Movie soundtracks, picnics, and Astor Piazzolla--although, it's really none of those. It's tow tapping, mysterious, joyful, playful, sometimes brooding, and I can't think of anything else quite similar. This is their debut, and I've never picked up any others by them. I should look into that. I think I picked this one up solely based on the album name. It made me laugh, and this album always makes me smile.

click here for a high-res mp3 of track #3 Big Top. (~10Mb, 320kbps vbr)

Exhumed from the back of the back of the rack to segue from the new Decemberist's release, this has aged much better than I'd have guessed [sniff!]:

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s5846.jpg

Hey, folks, seems like some greaaat suggestions all over here!!!

Thanks
Demetrio.

And let me give you all my today's suggestion as well:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...sL._SS500_.jpg

Group: FLEET FOXES
Title: Fleet Foxes
Year: 2008
Genre: Folk/Indie Rock

Tracklist:

1. Sun It Rises
2. White Winter Hymnal
3. Ragged Wood
4. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
5. Quiet Houses
6. He Doesn't Know Why
7. Heard Them Stirring
8. Your Protector
9. Meadowlarks
10. Blue Ridge Mountains
11. Oliver James


This is the self-titled debut full-length album from the Seattle-based quintet FLEET FOXES, released in 2008, after the edition of two EP’s – "Fleet Foxes" in 2006 and "Sun Giant" in early 2008.

I find it hard to categorize this stuff (Indie or folk rock?). The group describe their owm music as "baroque harmonic pop jams", which doesn’t explain that much to me. What I can say is that the music sounds very fresh to me, featuring that sort of amazing ethereal sound I enjoy so much, with a strong folksy atmosphere, a nice pastoral feel and pristine, breezy vocal harmonies, all that combined with rich, lush arrangements.

The vocal timbre of the main vocalist Robin Pecknold reminds Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips and Sufjan Stevens a lot, but the vocals here are shared almost all the time with other members of the band, in gorgeous vocal harmonies throughout, making this album to sound more in the vein of Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys).

Favorite tracks: "He Doesn't Know Why" and "Your Protector".

Demetrio.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Demetrio

And let me give you all my today's suggestion as well:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...sL._SS500_.jpg

Group: FLEET FOXES
Title: Fleet Foxes
Year: 2008
Genre: Folk/Indie Rock

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Nice choice. I love this album!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn

Nice choice. I love this album!

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In fact, it's spinning right now! Nice lush pop music. Very simple melodies, mostly accoustic sound, but catchy and breezy. Not much in terms of minor chords here.

Great summer backyard deck music.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BarryL

In fact, it's spinning right now! Nice lush pop music. Very simple melodies, mostly accoustic sound, but catchy and breezy. Not much in terms of minor chords here.

Great summer backyard deck music.

---

I have to be honest and say that I'm a little surprised that you like this. Maybe you're cooler than I gave you credit for. :p Okay, so if you like this I'll have to play some Augie March for you. Same kind of feel IMO.

Have you listened to the Muse disks yet?

Ya know FA, I have one Muse disc, Black Holes & Revelations, but I've wondered what the rest of their catalog sounds like.

And as far as that Fleet Foxes disc goes, I'd sayI liked it, but I like the live stuff I've seen on YouTube much better (far less reverb).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 3-LockBox

Ya know FA, I have one Muse disc, Black Holes & Revelations, but I've wondered what the rest of their catalog sounds like.

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Hi, 3LB,

I have "Black Holes & Revelations" too, and also like it a lot. Encouraged by that sort of nice "prog feel" throughout this album, I then ordered another Muse cd, "Absolution", in the expectation that it would sound alike. Must say I was somewhat disappointed with Absolution though. I didn't find in this album anything that could remind me that awesome prog feel of Black Holes & Revelations.

Demetrio.

Yeah, Black Holes & Revelations seems to be the one disc that everybody steers anyone to with regards to Muse. I have read over at PE that there should be a new album by the end of the year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Demetrio

Hi, 3LB,

I have "Black Holes & Revelations" too, and also like it a lot. Encouraged by that sort of nice "prog feel" throughout this album, I then ordered another Muse cd, "Absolution", in the expectation that it would sound alike. Must say I was somewhat disappointed with Absolution though. I didn't find in this album anything that could remind me that awesome prog feel of Black Holes & Revelations.

Demetrio.

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Absolution was my first Muse disk and I really dig it. But I agree that Black Holes is a better disk. Showbiz is also quite good but more like Absolution, so if you don't like that one then don't waste your time on Showbiz. I didn't like their live disk much at all. Great track list but ****ty and inconsistant sound quality.

Hey, proggers, my today's suggestion:

http://cover6.cduniverse.com/CDBABY/...7101408493.jpg

Group: SINGULARITY
Title: Of All the Mysteries
Year: 2007
Genre: Progressive Rock

Musicians:

John Green – Vocals, keyboards
Jamie McGregor – Drums, vocals
Scott Cleland – Electric & acoustic guitars, cello, vocals
Jonathan Patch – Bass, acoustic guitar, flute, vocals

Tracklist:

1. Mongrel – 3:12
2. Smile – 14:50
3. XOT – 6:48
4. Patchquilt – 3:55
5. Kaleidoscope – 3:22
6. Islands – 20:27

Of All the Mysteries, released in 2007, is the third release from Colorado's progressive band SINGULARITY – the other two previous were Color of Space, in 1999 (which is said to be very Rush influenced), and Between Sunlight and Shadow, in 2002 (that is said to remind Porcupine Tree a lot).

In this recording, though, the echoes of Rush and Porcupine Tree are much less evident (one would even say almost nonexistent). Instead, in Of All the Mysteries what we hear is a very nice mix of symphonic prog influences reminiscent of other contemporary prog bands such as Anglagard, Anekdoten, Phideaux and Spock's Beard (and yes, some sparse reminiscences of Porcupine Tree too). The absolute highlight in the album is "Islands" (track 6), a wonderful, 20-minute suite with even some Camel atmosphere and Latimer-inspired guitar work.

All in all, one of the best progressive albums I have listened to lately, definitely worth recommending to everybody else who is also into prog.

The audio quality of this recording is also top-notch, definitely one of the best sounding albums in the genre I know.

Samples available at these links:

http://www.myspace.com/singularityprogrock

http://cdbaby.com/cd/singularitymusic2

Demetrio.

Really. I have the first Singularity disc, Color Of Space- very Rush-like; they even quote titles of Rush tunes in a couple of songs. Very well done though. The second disc though was a disappointment to me. The lead singer from the first album left the band and they didn't have a viable replacement. Between Sunlight And Shadow, the second album, had its moments, but without decent vocals, and decent writing I'm afraid, this album sounded very ameturish, something I term, college prog.

But I have to admit, I am intrigued that they persist. I will agree with you on one account, these discs are superbly produced for what they are, and the sound quality is stellar.