Love or Hate?

Trollheart · 06-01-2015, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micco

Uh oh, you'll probably hate it then if you don't like The Rat Pack lol. It's not general jazzy Kick In The Head Type stuff, entirely Italian love ballads. Here's hoping to you'll love it, I gotta say it's beautiful stuff.

No no, I don't hate the Pack, but I have a special dislike for Martin, not sure why: something to do with his drinking maybe. And I love ballads, so that may in fact be a decent fit. We 'll see. They're not sung in Italian are they? Not that it matters but I just wondered...

**Frownland** · 06-01-2015, 05:06 PM

Waits fan dislikes someone because of their drinking. Does not compute.

Micco · 06-01-2015, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

No no, I don't hate the Pack, but I have a special dislike for Martin, not sure why: something to do with his drinking maybe. And I love ballads, so that may in fact be a decent fit. We 'll see. They're not sung in Italian are they? Not that it matters but I just wondered...

It's mostly english with Italian lines and themes thrown in.

And it it makes you like him any more according to daughter and those he worked with Dean never actually drank on stage or even that much, as it was really just his gimmick, whenever you see see him in public or in video with a glass it's generally supposedly just apple juice to keep his character going.

Trollheart · 06-03-2015, 06:01 AM

Title: Olias of Sunhillow
Artiste: Jon Anderson
Genre: Progressive Rock
Familiarity: Some; I know Yes, have heard some Anderson solo material but am not as versed in either as I would like.

Track 1(Love) So this is Anderson's debut solo album huh? Excellent start with what sounds very like Vangelis influences. Great intro.
Track 2(Love) Bit more uptempo and now we get Anderson's unmistakable vocals. More Vangelis style keys (surely he worked on this, though he denies it?) Plenty of overdubs on the vocals of course.
Track 3(Love) Bit of an oriental feel to this, at least at the beginning; I don't know what instrument that is doing the glissandos but it sounds like a harp. Seems this is totally Anderson's project, with nobody else (other than, possibly, the V-Man) involved. Most of this is instrumental, then a spacey sort of very later-Yes-style piece on which Anderson brings in the vox again.
Track 4(Love) Lovely ambient passage, again very Vangelis, again instrumental other than some sort of chanted vocals in the background, quite Indian sounding, then it breaks into a kind of native tribal dance rhythm, getting a lot more intense with some pretty sweet sitar. Returns more or less to the ambient theme that opened the track right at the end.
Track 5(Love) Probably the closest the album comes to having a potential single, very catchy and simple with Anderson's by-now-familiar “hope for the world” motif. One thing I have to say about this guy: he almost always sounds happy. Even when singing about darker themes like Bonnie and Clyde on “Shoot high, aim low” from Big generator or “Shock to the system” on Union.
Track 6(Love) Speaking of darker, this is another ambient piece but much moodier and bleaker, with a sort of ominous organ line that builds as the track advances along till Anderson comes in with a powerful vocal and exits on a strong choral passage attended by keys with a final flourish of darkness right at the end.
Track 7(Love) The longest track on a short album, just over twelve minutes. Starts with the sound of thunder and then another tribal chant into which come Anderson's vocals in an almost angelic way. Some fine flute here, and that feeling of hope and optimism and joy continues to permeate the album like sunlight filtering through heavy clouds. In the fifth minute it becomes a keyboard instrumental, soft and gentle before Anderson comes back in with a choir of his own voice multi-tracked and with a certain Genesis feel to the melody. Soft little flute pasage then before acoustic guitar takes over, very beautifully, and we head into the eighth minute. Then a complete pause for about three seconds before another slow ambient keyboard piece takes us towards the conclusion, with wind sounds and a sort of vibrato choral vocal, very low.
Track 8(Love) An uptempo acoustic guitar brings in a joyous vocal from Anderson as the album wraps up, more sitar coming in with some fine squiggly keyboard, leaving a final flurry from the flute before the big finale on keys and choral vocals.

End result: I didn't expect to anything but really like this album. I'm not a fan of 70s Yes, though I really haven't heard enough to make that decision, but I've always enjoyed Jon Anderson's voice, whether he was with Yes, Vangelis or Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, so this album is no surprise to me, but a very pleasant confirmation that when it comes to innovation and storytelling, as well as superb singing talent, there are few can compete with him.

So, Love or Hate? Obviously, Love

Chances of a full review: 9/10

**Frownland** · 06-04-2015, 08:05 AM

Wolves in Sheepskin - Knuckle in the Mud

**Goofle** · 06-04-2015, 08:06 AM

Best WIS.

Machine · 06-04-2015, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofle

Best WIS.

I actually prefer Lizard Of Ox

Plankton · 06-04-2015, 08:23 AM

https://ironheart1.bandcamp.com/album/revolution-calls

**Frownland** · 06-04-2015, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofle

Best WISK.

ftfy

And thank you sir. My favourite is A Van Per Oven.

YorkeDaddy · 06-04-2015, 09:24 AM

Oh what I would give for multiple people to have a "best DS"

and i dont mean these:

06-01-2015, 05:06 PM	#532 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Waits fan dislikes someone because of their drinking. Does not compute. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

06-03-2015, 06:01 AM	#534 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: Olias of Sunhillow Artiste: Jon Anderson Genre: Progressive Rock Familiarity: Some; I know Yes, have heard some Anderson solo material but am not as versed in either as I would like. Track 1(Love) So this is Anderson's debut solo album huh? Excellent start with what sounds very like Vangelis influences. Great intro. Track 2(Love) Bit more uptempo and now we get Anderson's unmistakable vocals. More Vangelis style keys (surely he worked on this, though he denies it?) Plenty of overdubs on the vocals of course. Track 3(Love) Bit of an oriental feel to this, at least at the beginning; I don't know what instrument that is doing the glissandos but it sounds like a harp. Seems this is totally Anderson's project, with nobody else (other than, possibly, the V-Man) involved. Most of this is instrumental, then a spacey sort of very later-Yes-style piece on which Anderson brings in the vox again. Track 4(Love) Lovely ambient passage, again very Vangelis, again instrumental other than some sort of chanted vocals in the background, quite Indian sounding, then it breaks into a kind of native tribal dance rhythm, getting a lot more intense with some pretty sweet sitar. Returns more or less to the ambient theme that opened the track right at the end. Track 5(Love) Probably the closest the album comes to having a potential single, very catchy and simple with Anderson's by-now-familiar “hope for the world” motif. One thing I have to say about this guy: he almost always sounds happy. Even when singing about darker themes like Bonnie and Clyde on “Shoot high, aim low” from Big generator or “Shock to the system” on Union. Track 6(Love) Speaking of darker, this is another ambient piece but much moodier and bleaker, with a sort of ominous organ line that builds as the track advances along till Anderson comes in with a powerful vocal and exits on a strong choral passage attended by keys with a final flourish of darkness right at the end. Track 7(Love) The longest track on a short album, just over twelve minutes. Starts with the sound of thunder and then another tribal chant into which come Anderson's vocals in an almost angelic way. Some fine flute here, and that feeling of hope and optimism and joy continues to permeate the album like sunlight filtering through heavy clouds. In the fifth minute it becomes a keyboard instrumental, soft and gentle before Anderson comes back in with a choir of his own voice multi-tracked and with a certain Genesis feel to the melody. Soft little flute pasage then before acoustic guitar takes over, very beautifully, and we head into the eighth minute. Then a complete pause for about three seconds before another slow ambient keyboard piece takes us towards the conclusion, with wind sounds and a sort of vibrato choral vocal, very low. Track 8(Love) An uptempo acoustic guitar brings in a joyous vocal from Anderson as the album wraps up, more sitar coming in with some fine squiggly keyboard, leaving a final flurry from the flute before the big finale on keys and choral vocals. End result: I didn't expect to anything but really like this album. I'm not a fan of 70s Yes, though I really haven't heard enough to make that decision, but I've always enjoyed Jon Anderson's voice, whether he was with Yes, Vangelis or Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, so this album is no surprise to me, but a very pleasant confirmation that when it comes to innovation and storytelling, as well as superb singing talent, there are few can compete with him. So, Love or Hate? Obviously, Love Chances of a full review: 9/10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-04-2015, 08:05 AM	#535 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Wolves in Sheepskin - Knuckle in the Mud __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

06-04-2015, 08:23 AM	#538 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,766	https://ironheart1.bandcamp.com/album/revolution-calls __________________ See location...