What am I missing about this album?

Trollheart · 06-28-2015, 04:46 PM

From time to time, we've all bought or listened to albums that for some reason or another we assumed would be great. Maybe it was our favourite band, we were recommended it, everyone seemed to like it or whatever, but for some reason it just did not click.

I'd like to propose that anyone who is in that situation with an album they just can't get into, and would like to, could ask for help here. Just drop in the album and if necessary a link, and someone can take it up, listen to it and explain what they got out of it, perhaps show you something you missed or give you a better idea of how good, or bad, the album is.

Few rules: no generally dismissive comments, such as "piece of crap, wouldn't bother" etc.

Only those who have an interest in the artiste or genre should really get involved, in other words, there's little point in Batty telling me why Marillion's new album sucks, or me trying to explain why 50 Cent's latest blows.

Be constructive. Don't do people down. Help if you can.

If you also don't like the album, you can say so but don't enter into a discussion about why it sucks. That's not really what this is about.

Either one or a group of people can take each album on, but anyone who does should either listen to it or have listened to it (no pre-judging please) and anyone willing to take one on should say so in the thread, so the person looking for help knows someone is going to try.

Probably be a lot harder than most other threads, as this really requires some time and work. But it would be nice if it got some interest.

Anyway, with that in mind, here's one I have trouble with.

Can't Look Away --- Trevor Rabin

It's odd, because I like later Yes, but I just can't see much in this. I like the title track, "Hold on to love" and "Sorrow (Your heart)" to a degree, but the rest, no. Possibly a guitarist might have a better view of it? Anyway, if anyone wants to listen to it and tell me what they think, perhaps you can change my mind about it, perhaps not.

Thanks.

Oh, anyone else who wants to post an album can do so at the same time; you don't have to wait till this one is sorted. If you care.

**Goofle** · 06-28-2015, 05:00 PM

I think you probably just don't like it that much mate.

Plankton · 06-29-2015, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Anyway, with that in mind, here's one I have trouble with.

Can't Look Away --- Trevor Rabin

It's odd, because I like later Yes, but I just can't see much in this. I like the title track, "Hold on to love" and "Sorrow (Your heart)" to a degree, but the rest, no. Possibly a guitarist might have a better view of it? Anyway, if anyone wants to listen to it and tell me

I skimmed through it, and from what I can tell, this is just Trevor Rabin in his comfort zone, with little or no influence from the sources that were around him at that time, save for any lingering effects of the songwriting process from being in Yes, which are prevalent throughout. Big, bombastic soundscapes, and overly saturated guitar were at the forefront in 1989, and he was cashing in. He was a big name in the industry, and probably had some pressure from his backing people to do a solo effort. A lot of times, a guitar player will take certain familiar practice riffs, and generate a motif from them, which they then string a few of these together to form a complete song. No real purpose, or cognitive effort to create something that stirs any emotion other than the writers sense of accomplishment. This, to me, seems to be the approach here, and although it sounds good to the creators ear, will mostly fall flat at the end-user experience. I don't know if I could persuade you to like it anymore than you already do, or don't as is the case, but there's a little bit of perspective from another guitar player.

Trollheart · 06-29-2015, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plankton

I skimmed through it, and from what I can tell, this is just Trevor Rabin in his comfort zone, with little or no influence from the sources that were around him at that time, save for any lingering effects of the songwriting process from being in Yes, which are prevalent throughout. Big, bombastic soundscapes, and overly saturated guitar were at the forefront in 1989, and he was cashing in. He was a big name in the industry, and probably had some pressure from his backing people to do a solo effort. A lot of times, a guitar player will take certain familiar practice riffs, and generate a motif from them, which they then string a few of these together to form a complete song. No real purpose, or cognitive effort to create something that stirs any emotion other than the writers sense of accomplishment. This, to me, seems to be the approach here, and although it sounds good to the creators ear, will mostly fall flat at the end-user experience. I don't know if I could persuade you to like it anymore than you already do, or don't as is the case, but there's a little bit of perspective from another guitar player.

Thanks for that Plank. I was hoping to get a guitar player's perspective as I said. So maybe it isn't that good. Mind you, I'm told the title track was a song about his native South Africa and the injustices practiced there, so there was some thought put into it. Just maybe, not enough.

Plankton · 06-29-2015, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Thanks for that Plank. I was hoping to get a guitar player's perspective as I said. So maybe it isn't that good. Mind you, I'm told the title track was a song about his native South Africa and the injustices practiced there, so there was some thought put into it. Just maybe, not enough.

I did only skim through it, so that's just my knee jerk assessment of it. I'd need a few attentive listens to really get to the heart of it. I'm not a fan of the 80's arena rock stuff so, it'd take a small miracle for that to happen.

Chula Vista · 06-29-2015, 12:03 PM

It was a good assessment.

For me Trevor's shining hour was on Big Generator.

Trollheart · 06-29-2015, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

It was a good assessment.

For me Trevor's shining hour was on Big Generator.

I would definitely agree with that. Excellent album. Solo on "Shoot high, aim low"?

**Frownland** · 06-29-2015, 01:33 PM

Why is my negative opinion of this album wrong and how can I have the right opinion about it?

Cheekiness aside, I never got the big whoop about this one.

Trollheart · 06-29-2015, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Why is my negative opinion of this album wrong and how can I have the right opinion about it?

Cheekiness aside, I never got the big whoop about this one.

As someone who just discovered he loves In Rainbows and may be a Radiohead, um, head, I'll give it a listen and see what I think, if you like. Fresh ears, you know?

Justthefacts · 06-29-2015, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

As someone who just discovered he loves In Rainbows and may be a Radiohead, um, head, I'll give it a listen and see what I think, if you like. Fresh ears, you know?

I thought you weren't into "doing the same artiste twice" huh? Sucking on that Frown cock I see

06-28-2015, 04:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	What am I missing about this album? From time to time, we've all bought or listened to albums that for some reason or another we assumed would be great. Maybe it was our favourite band, we were recommended it, everyone seemed to like it or whatever, but for some reason it just did not click. I'd like to propose that anyone who is in that situation with an album they just can't get into, and would like to, could ask for help here. Just drop in the album and if necessary a link, and someone can take it up, listen to it and explain what they got out of it, perhaps show you something you missed or give you a better idea of how good, or bad, the album is. Few rules: no generally dismissive comments, such as "piece of crap, wouldn't bother" etc. Only those who have an interest in the artiste or genre should really get involved, in other words, there's little point in Batty telling me why Marillion's new album sucks, or me trying to explain why 50 Cent's latest blows. Be constructive. Don't do people down. Help if you can. If you also don't like the album, you can say so but don't enter into a discussion about why it sucks. That's not really what this is about. Either one or a group of people can take each album on, but anyone who does should either listen to it or have listened to it (no pre-judging please) and anyone willing to take one on should say so in the thread, so the person looking for help knows someone is going to try. Probably be a lot harder than most other threads, as this really requires some time and work. But it would be nice if it got some interest. Anyway, with that in mind, here's one I have trouble with. Can't Look Away --- Trevor Rabin It's odd, because I like later Yes, but I just can't see much in this. I like the title track, "Hold on to love" and "Sorrow (Your heart)" to a degree, but the rest, no. Possibly a guitarist might have a better view of it? Anyway, if anyone wants to listen to it and tell me what they think, perhaps you can change my mind about it, perhaps not. Thanks. Oh, anyone else who wants to post an album can do so at the same time; you don't have to wait till this one is sorted. If you care. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-29-2015, 12:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chula Vista Toasted Poster Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: SoCal by way of Boston Posts: 11,332	It was a good assessment. For me Trevor's shining hour was on Big Generator. __________________ “The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”

06-29-2015, 01:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Why is my negative opinion of this album wrong and how can I have the right opinion about it? Cheekiness aside, I never got the big whoop about this one. __________________ 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 Last edited by Frownland; 06-29-2015 at 01:40 PM.