The Prog Rock Album Club

Unknown Soldier · 11-04-2012, 03:33 PM

Captain Beyond Captain Beyond 1972

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
It's a compelling listen as always and the band keep the quality up. It always reminds me of a heavier Jethro Tull at times.

2. What did you think of the opening tracks?
I've always thought "Dancing Madly Backwards" and "Armworth" as great tracks.

3. What did you think of the later tracks?
Not as strong as the earlier tracks.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Rod Evan always has the stigma attached to him, as the man that made way for Ian Gillan in Deep Purple. That aside he was always a competant vocalist and passes with flying colours here.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
The album is such a mixed bag of styles and influences at times, but the whole thing is presented in a cohesive feel and yes it greatly appeals to me.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
I always enjoy this album immensely and along with their second album Sufficiently Breathless they two essential listens from the 1970s.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
The album explores the meaning of existence and they do it well.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
One of the strengths of the album, as the band members were in effect 'a supergroup' having already made a name for themselves elsewhere such as in Deep Purple and Iron Butterfly, but I would say that the instrumentals are the highlight of the album.

9. What did you think of the production?
It's a strong production by the band and it has real volume and clarity throughout.

10. How well do you already know the band/artist?
Very well and they only ever put out three studio albums.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?
That's hard but at a push hard rock/progressive rock. The album has rhythm changes and diversity but the songs tend to be short and go against the flow of your typical prog album of that era.

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
This is not an album for a casual listen as you'll miss how refined it is. It's a somewhat complex sounding album due to its influences of hard rock, prog rock, jazz and space rock. Switch off whilst listening and you'll miss its brilliance.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
Dancing Backwards Madly.

14. And the one you liked least?
Some of the later bitty tracks on the B-side.

15. Did the fact that this album is a debut/sophomore/middle period or later period allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
As the band had all been involved in other well known bands and projects before, I don't think this point is overly valid here.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?
This and their second are equally outstanding works.

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?
The album is about existence and I think the band capture this by taking us on a voyage.

18. Did the album end well?
It finished on "I Can't Feel Nothing Part 2" which had the same energy as some of the opening tracks.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Possibly some longer tracks, but on second thoughts no, as it would have changed the style of the album.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
It's cohesive throughout.

Ovarall Album Rating:
9/10 (as it's such a unique piece of work)

Trollheart · 11-05-2012, 04:54 PM

I have got to get it together to listen to this album! Just so much happening right now.
Ok, Wednesday for sure. Or Thursday. Friday at the latest.

Maybe Saturday.

But definitely by Sunday.

Or the beginning of next week.

Unknown Soldier · 11-06-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I have got to get it together to listen to this album! Just so much happening right now.
Ok, Wednesday for sure. Or Thursday. Friday at the latest.

Maybe Saturday.

But definitely by Sunday.

Or the beginning of next week.

It was decided that a maximum of two weeks good be given to each album.

Trollheart · 11-06-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

It was decided that a maximum of two weeks good be given to each album.

So I've still got a week, right? Seems like it's an album you don't want to just rush through, and I'll be up all night tonight....

Anteater · 11-08-2012, 03:02 PM

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Great production, particularly when it comes to how the drum were mixed. Bombastic yet technical: heavy prog. right up my alley!

2. What did you think of the opening tracks?
'Dancing Madly Backwards (On A Sea of Air)' and 'Myopic Void' are both minor classics in early 70's canon: changing time signatures abound, but groovy and even poppy in a sense. If you wanted a couple o' spacy sounding singles for a proto-prog mixtape, you've come to the right album.

3. What did you think of the later tracks?
Nothing stands out quite as much as the two opening tracks in my mind, but the suiteish approach of 'Thousand Days Of Yesterdays' got me grinning like a fool: if I were going to pick a third essential cut from this album to round out the proceedings, I'd pick this sucker.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Rod Evans has a very interesting voice: he's not particularly energetic, but there's a presence to his voice that adds that extra special something to an already trippy sounding record. On top of that, he's fairly flexible and can vary his range depending on the track, which is always a good thing.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
I've owned this record for quite a long time prior to this review, and I most definitely love it. People cite Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin as being heavy metal's biggest precursors in the following decade, but I'd be just as likely to cite this debut as being equally influential in some respects: it certainly sounds a bit different from most of the blues based hard prog. coming out around the same year.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Neither: Captain Beyond is a consistently strong LP from start to finish, and that opinion hasn't changed since my initial listen back in high school.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Appropriate. Nothing mind blowing or life changing mind you, but it definitely works.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Yep, particularly the guitar work in conjunction with the drums.

9. What did you think of the production?
Interesting for the era: you have the drums higher in the mix than your typical rock record while Evans's vocals are pushed a bit further back behind the instruments to emphasize a sense of space. Sounds great overall!

10. How well do you already know the band/artist?
I've owned the debut for a few years now, so I'm decently familiar with the band and it's history.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?
Space Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Proto-Metal...pick a card, any card. xD

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
More. As the saying with fine wine goes...*motions*

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
'Thousand Days Of Yesterdays'.

14. And the one you liked least?
Probably 'I Can't Feel Nothin'. Not because its terrible, but it's very typical of the early 70's.

15. Did the fact that this album is a debut/sophomore/middle period or later period allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
That kind of thing never really plays into my evaluation of any album I've ever listened to. Some bands really hit their stride after a couple of shrug-worthies and others begin their careers guns blazing only to burn themselves out within two to three years. In any case....a fine debut.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?
At some point, yeah. 1973's 'Sufficiently Breathless' is allegedly just as good as this first LP, but I've never sought it out. I shall be rectifying that in the near future, lol!

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?
Captain Planet...he's a hero..gonna take pollution down to zero...?

18. Did the album end well?
I'd say so. 'As The Moon Speaks' was my 4th favorite track, and the percussion that closes out the cut is awesome!

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
More song variety might have been a good thing for this record (a principle that solidified King Crimson's debut as a classic among classics three years prior to this LP). Otherwise, it's fine as it is!

20. Do you think the album hung together well, IE: was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
When you have at least four very strong songs out of eight, that's a mark of cohesiveness in my book!

Overall Album Rating:
8.3/10

Trollheart · 11-10-2012, 11:31 AM

Okay well here's my take on the album. Strap yourselves in, it's gonna be a bumpy ride! No hate mail after this, please...

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? A lot heavier than expected, almost Zep-like. Quite raw I found.

2. What did you think of the opening tracks? Did not like the first one much at all. Second, “Armworth”, and third “Myopic void”, a lot more down my street. The opener had too much of the heavy rock about it, few if any keys, whereas the next few were a little more keys-driven. Nice guitar too, very laidback, slide-ish. Liked it.

3. What did you think of the later tracks? Well then it went into “Mesmerisation eclipse”, which I didn't like at all, followed by “Raging river” which was little better. Sort of got a feeling of Purple's “Highway star” in places on that song. Never really recovered after that for me.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? At first, not really, but as the album wore on I got to accept his style more, though I never got to actually like him as a singer. Initially I thought he was more suited to southern rock or something of that nature. I can see how Purple decided to replace him: couldn't exactly see him singing “Child in time” or “Speed king”...

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? Mostly, but considering there are supposed to be two piano players, I hear very little in the way of keys. It's a bit heavier, raw rock than I would expect from a band labelled as progressive. Even the short instrumental, “Thousand days of yesterday (intro)” was guitar-driven, albeit acoustic. Finally got to hear some piano in “As the moon speaks” but it was quickly brushed aside by acoustic guitar. Nice enough track though. Didn't like the faster ending, however.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)? A lot worse.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content? It was a little hard for me to make out, but I don't think I was sufficiently interested to concentrate really.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? Some, but not all.

9. What did you think of the production? For an album produced in the early seventies it's probably typical of the style but I found it a little muddy, a little heavy-handed in places.

10. How well do you already know the band/artist? Not at all; was not even aware of their existence till now.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to? Heavy rock really; don't see the progressive elements here.

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?n/a as as I only listened to it the once, but probably wouldn't give it a second spin personally.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one? Really don't have one. Maybe the intro to “Thousand days of yesterday”, but even then, not really impressed.

14. And the one you liked least? Probably “Mesmerisation eclipse”, but there were more than one.

15. Did the fact that this album is a debut/sophomore/middle period or later period allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? No. I don't know the band so I had few preconceptions coming to it, except I expected more in the way of progressive rock. The fact that it's a debut here doesn't really enter into it. Evans had been in Deep Purple, the other two in Iron Butterfly and the drummer had been with Johnny Winter, so they're not exactly amateurs coming to this.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist? Absolutely not.

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one? Wasn't interested enough to bother.

18. Did the album end well? Well, it ended!

Thought it was ending well but then that big fretnetic guitar and drum thing at the end, meh, ruined what could have been a decent ending. So no, it didn't end well.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved? Utilise the keys more, have some slower songs/passages. Felt it was very much on the heavy side of heavy rock, not so much of the progressive (I know, I've said that once or twice before).

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss? I have to say, I really don't care enough to answer that question. I was just waiting for it to come to an end so I could put the experience behind me.

Overall Album Rating: 4/10 (sorry US!) Not my thing at all.

Unknown Soldier · 11-10-2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Okay well here's my take on the album. Strap yourselves in, it's gonna be a bumpy ride! No hate mail after this, please...

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? A lot heavier than expected, almost Zep-like. Quite raw I found.

2. What did you think of the opening tracks? Did not like the first one much at all. Second, “Armworth”, and third “Myopic void”, a lot more down my street. The opener had too much of the heavy rock about it, few if any keys, whereas the next few were a little more keys-driven. Nice guitar too, very laidback, slide-ish. Liked it.

3. What did you think of the later tracks? Well then it went into “Mesmerisation eclipse”, which I didn't like at all, followed by “Raging river” which was little better. Sort of got a feeling of Purple's “Highway star” in places on that song. Never really recovered after that for me.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? At first, not really, but as the album wore on I got to accept his style more, though I never got to actually like him as a singer. Initially I thought he was more suited to southern rock or something of that nature. I can see how Purple decided to replace him: couldn't exactly see him singing “Child in time” or “Speed king”...

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? Mostly, but considering there are supposed to be two piano players, I hear very little in the way of keys. It's a bit heavier, raw rock than I would expect from a band labelled as progressive. Even the short instrumental, “Thousand days of yesterday (intro)” was guitar-driven, albeit acoustic. Finally got to hear some piano in “As the moon speaks” but it was quickly brushed aside by acoustic guitar. Nice enough track though. Didn't like the faster ending, however.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)? A lot worse.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content? It was a little hard for me to make out, but I don't think I was sufficiently interested to concentrate really.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? Some, but not all.

9. What did you think of the production? For an album produced in the early seventies it's probably typical of the style but I found it a little muddy, a little heavy-handed in places.

10. How well do you already know the band/artist? Not at all; was not even aware of their existence till now.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to? Heavy rock really; don't see the progressive elements here.

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?n/a as as I only listened to it the once, but probably wouldn't give it a second spin personally.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one? Really don't have one. Maybe the intro to “Thousand days of yesterday”, but even then, not really impressed.

14. And the one you liked least? Probably “Mesmerisation eclipse”, but there were more than one.

15. Did the fact that this album is a debut/sophomore/middle period or later period allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? No. I don't know the band so I had few preconceptions coming to it, except I expected more in the way of progressive rock. The fact that it's a debut here doesn't really enter into it. Evans had been in Deep Purple, the other two in Iron Butterfly and the drummer had been with Johnny Winter, so they're not exactly amateurs coming to this.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist? Absolutely not.

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one? Wasn't interested enough to bother.

18. Did the album end well? Well, it ended!

Thought it was ending well but then that big fretnetic guitar and drum thing at the end, meh, ruined what could have been a decent ending. So no, it didn't end well.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved? Utilise the keys more, have some slower songs/passages. Felt it was very much on the heavy side of heavy rock, not so much of the progressive (I know, I've said that once or twice before).

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss? I have to say, I really don't care enough to answer that question. I was just waiting for it to come to an end so I could put the experience behind me.

Overall Album Rating: 4/10 (sorry US!) Not my thing at all.

Even though I disagree with most of what you've written , it was still a very good review and of somebody looking at the album from a very different perspective.

Not progressive you say, well it has various musical styles and plenty of unusual time signatures. Just because it's heavy doesn't mean it can't be progressive.

I know you haven't the time, but it's an album that needs quite a few listens, I don't remember liking it that much when I first heard it either, then after a few listens it hit me as they say.

Trollheart · 11-10-2012, 12:31 PM

Yeah I think the thing is, cliched as it may be, and even wrong perhaps, I always expect my prog rock to feature a lot of keyboards, long instrumental pasages and definite changes in the melody, which I felt this didn't really show.

Add to that the fact that, since I was working off a YT one-track thing, I had to calculate up each track's time, so that I'd know when one changed to the other, and that took some of the potential enjoyment out of it too. But this sort of more heavy style of prog, if that's what it is, really isn't for me. Definitely felt more like early Purple or Zep, and there's nothing wrong with that, but for prog I prefer the likes of Genesis, Rush, Pendragon, that kind of thing. This didn't fit well within those boundaries, though I understand they're my own personal ones.

I'm sure it's a good album, just as I'm sure load of people love "Dark matter" or "Brain salad surgery": I just couldn't get into it and totally lost interest.

Sorry man!

Unknown Soldier · 11-10-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Yeah I think the thing is, cliched as it may be, and even wrong perhaps, I always expect my prog rock to feature a lot of keyboards, long instrumental pasages and definite changes in the melody, which I felt this didn't really show.

Add to that the fact that, since I was working off a YT one-track thing, I had to calculate up each track's time, so that I'd know when one changed to the other, and that took some of the potential enjoyment out of it too. But this sort of more heavy style of prog, if that's what it is, really isn't for me. Definitely felt more like early Purple or Zep, and there's nothing wrong with that, but for prog I prefer the likes of Genesis, Rush, Pendragon, that kind of thing. This didn't fit well within those boundaries, though I understand they're my own personal ones.

I'm sure it's a good album, just as I'm sure load of people love "Dark matter" or "Brain salad surgery": I just couldn't get into it and totally lost interest.

Sorry man!

Hey, the whole idea of the club if for listeners to write how they really feel about an album with honest opinions. If we all agreed on what what was good, the club would be quite boring.

BTW just to let you know, that if you ever submit a Phil Collins era Genesis album, I'll have the knives out for it asap.

Trollheart · 11-11-2012, 01:45 PM

What, even "Wind and wuthering"?

Nah, I wouldn't do Genesis or Marillion; I always look on this club as being an opportunity to offer up albums you guys may not have heard (of), and what prog fan hasn't heard Genesis or Marillion? Anyway, BBT is up next, after that it's back to me I think... heh heh.

11-05-2012, 04:54 PM	#162 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,971	I have got to get it together to listen to this album! Just so much happening right now. Ok, Wednesday for sure. Or Thursday. Friday at the latest. Maybe Saturday. But definitely by Sunday. Or the beginning of next week. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-10-2012, 11:31 AM	#166 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,971	Okay well here's my take on the album. Strap yourselves in, it's gonna be a bumpy ride! No hate mail after this, please... 1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? A lot heavier than expected, almost Zep-like. Quite raw I found. 2. What did you think of the opening tracks? Did not like the first one much at all. Second, “Armworth”, and third “Myopic void”, a lot more down my street. The opener had too much of the heavy rock about it, few if any keys, whereas the next few were a little more keys-driven. Nice guitar too, very laidback, slide-ish. Liked it. 3. What did you think of the later tracks? Well then it went into “Mesmerisation eclipse”, which I didn't like at all, followed by “Raging river” which was little better. Sort of got a feeling of Purple's “Highway star” in places on that song. Never really recovered after that for me. 4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? At first, not really, but as the album wore on I got to accept his style more, though I never got to actually like him as a singer. Initially I thought he was more suited to southern rock or something of that nature. I can see how Purple decided to replace him: couldn't exactly see him singing “Child in time” or “Speed king”... 5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? Mostly, but considering there are supposed to be two piano players, I hear very little in the way of keys. It's a bit heavier, raw rock than I would expect from a band labelled as progressive. Even the short instrumental, “Thousand days of yesterday (intro)” was guitar-driven, albeit acoustic. Finally got to hear some piano in “As the moon speaks” but it was quickly brushed aside by acoustic guitar. Nice enough track though. Didn't like the faster ending, however. 6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)? A lot worse. 7. What did you think of the lyrical content? It was a little hard for me to make out, but I don't think I was sufficiently interested to concentrate really. 8. Did you like the instrumental parts? Some, but not all. 9. What did you think of the production? For an album produced in the early seventies it's probably typical of the style but I found it a little muddy, a little heavy-handed in places. 10. How well do you already know the band/artist? Not at all; was not even aware of their existence till now. 11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to? Heavy rock really; don't see the progressive elements here. 12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?n/a as as I only listened to it the once, but probably wouldn't give it a second spin personally. 13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one? Really don't have one. Maybe the intro to “Thousand days of yesterday”, but even then, not really impressed. 14. And the one you liked least? Probably “Mesmerisation eclipse”, but there were more than one. 15. Did the fact that this album is a debut/sophomore/middle period or later period allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? No. I don't know the band so I had few preconceptions coming to it, except I expected more in the way of progressive rock. The fact that it's a debut here doesn't really enter into it. Evans had been in Deep Purple, the other two in Iron Butterfly and the drummer had been with Johnny Winter, so they're not exactly amateurs coming to this. 16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist? Absolutely not. 17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one? Wasn't interested enough to bother. 18. Did the album end well? Well, it ended! Thought it was ending well but then that big fretnetic guitar and drum thing at the end, meh, ruined what could have been a decent ending. So no, it didn't end well. 19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved? Utilise the keys more, have some slower songs/passages. Felt it was very much on the heavy side of heavy rock, not so much of the progressive (I know, I've said that once or twice before). 20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss? I have to say, I really don't care enough to answer that question. I was just waiting for it to come to an end so I could put the experience behind me. Overall Album Rating: 4/10 (sorry US!) Not my thing at all. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-10-2012, 12:31 PM	#168 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,971	Yeah I think the thing is, cliched as it may be, and even wrong perhaps, I always expect my prog rock to feature a lot of keyboards, long instrumental pasages and definite changes in the melody, which I felt this didn't really show. Add to that the fact that, since I was working off a YT one-track thing, I had to calculate up each track's time, so that I'd know when one changed to the other, and that took some of the potential enjoyment out of it too. But this sort of more heavy style of prog, if that's what it is, really isn't for me. Definitely felt more like early Purple or Zep, and there's nothing wrong with that, but for prog I prefer the likes of Genesis, Rush, Pendragon, that kind of thing. This didn't fit well within those boundaries, though I understand they're my own personal ones. I'm sure it's a good album, just as I'm sure load of people love "Dark matter" or "Brain salad surgery": I just couldn't get into it and totally lost interest. Sorry man! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-11-2012, 01:45 PM	#170 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,971	What, even "Wind and wuthering"? Nah, I wouldn't do Genesis or Marillion; I always look on this club as being an opportunity to offer up albums you guys may not have heard (of), and what prog fan hasn't heard Genesis or Marillion? Anyway, BBT is up next, after that it's back to me I think... heh heh. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018