YTSEJAM Digest 2258
Today's Topics:
1) Ream Theater!
by Jim Beavens <jbeavens@ichips.intel.com>
2) Re: Fellow Long Islander
by Taco Belhai <belhai1@gl.umbc.edu>
3) FAQ and missing Digests.
by Erik Stearns <stearns@bga.com>
4) LaBrie Rumors Confirmed FALSE
by The Digital Man <cmerlo@cs.uvm.edu>
5) Fwd: The 1996 Annual Internet Prog Poll (1/2)
by Walter Semerenko <walter@orlinter.com>
6) Fwd: The 1996 Annual Internet Prog Poll (2/2)
by Walter Semerenko <walter@orlinter.com>
7) Re: Range and Tate
by yanos <yanos@netwizards.net>
8) Spock's Beard and other great prog bands
by Walter Semerenko <walter@orlinter.com>
9) Re: Fwd: The 1996 Annual Internet Prog Poll (2/2)
by Carlos Alfaro <calfaro@caribe.net>
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Date: Sat, 08 Feb 1997 23:34:41 -0800
From: Jim Beavens <jbeavens@ichips.intel.com>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Ream Theater!
Message-ID: <199702090730.XAA29923@ichips.intel.com>
> I suggested that we start making porno titles for Dream Theater songs.
This was without a doubt the most vile, offensive, grotesque, immature,
childish post I have ever seen on the ytsejam.
And just about the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life. I need to
log off and go get an oxygen mask, because I honestly cannot breathe
anymore.
I love you guys...
-- Jim Beavens <jbeavens@ichips.intel.com> | If I had a witty remark that MD6 Design Engineer, Intel Corp, Hillsboro OR | would better the lives of my -=(UDIC)=- Subconscious Dragon -=(UDIC)=- | fellow mankind, do you really ** I don't speak for Intel ** | think I would put it HERE?------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 02:42:52 -0500 (EST) From: Taco Belhai <belhai1@gl.umbc.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: Re: Fellow Long Islander Message-ID: <Pine.SGI.3.95.970209024049.6458D-100000@umbc10.umbc.edu>
On Sat, 8 Feb 1997, Heath Augustover wrote:
> Has this happened to anyone else on the jam, just wearing DT stuff and then > some complete stragner start a conversation with you just because you're > wearing some DT stuff?
Yep. I went with my family on a cruise last year. We get to the Islands and the Captain of the boat greets all the paasengers as they get off the boat. Iwas wearing my awake t-shirt and the captain says "Dream Theater! Those guys are great! I have their Live in Tokyo video." I was quite surprised.
Brandon
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Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 02:00:20 -0800 From: Erik Stearns <stearns@bga.com> To: YTSEJAM <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: FAQ and missing Digests. Message-ID: <32FDA034.1B1B@bga.com>
Where is the faq for the jam and I'm also missing jams numbers, 2183 and 2249. Any way I can get them?
Thanks
Erik.
-- An Open mind is the thriving of a society while the closed mind is the downfall of the same. For in Saroks's words, "The spear in the others's heart is the spear in your own. You are he."
-- From the "Freedom" Speech to Larion's Congress
Erik Stearns Starblazer Enterprises Inc. 3201 Duval Road #1422 Austin, TX 78759 (512)719-1252 Fax: (512) 719-1066 mailto:stearns@bga.com http://www.starblazer.com
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Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 03:06:33 -0500 (EST) From: The Digital Man <cmerlo@cs.uvm.edu> To: "Ytse Fuckin' Jam" <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: LaBrie Rumors Confirmed FALSE Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9702090316.B10572-0100000@griffin.emba.uvm.edu>
Hey, folks. I mentioned a couple of jams ago that another "James left" rumor was going around. Well, I asked Mike himself about it, and he had this to say:
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 02:05:05 -0500 (EST) From: Mike Portnoy (xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx) To: cmerlo@uvm-gen.emba.uvm.edu Subject: Re: LaBrie rumors - Please help me sort this out!!
Chris, Fret not! Just bullshit rumours as usual....
----
I hope that puts everyone's mind at ease regarding yet another ridiculous rumor. Hey, everyone, next time you hear another dumb rumor like that, remember - the Jam has the capacity to find out the truth. Question anything that seems unlikely, and together we can get to the bottom of most of this crap.
-d
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Digital Man \|/ ____ \|/ Secretary & Webmaster cmerlo@cs.uvm.edu "@'/ ,. \`@" UVM Comp Sci Student Assn d-man@dreamt.org /_| \__/ |_\ "He won't need a bed http://www.emba.uvm.edu/~cmerlo \__U_/ He's a digital man" - Peart ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maintainer of the Official Dream Theater Frequently Asked Questions List http://www.emba.uvm.edu/~cmerlo/dtfaq.html
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Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 03:59:55 +0000 From: Walter Semerenko <walter@orlinter.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Fwd: The 1996 Annual Internet Prog Poll (1/2) Message-ID: <B0000032960@chicago.orlinter.com>
Hi jammers,=20
I thought that many of you would be interested in seeing what other good prog bands are out there. Some of you have discovered bands like echolyn and Spock's Beard and here's a chance to see what is the cream of the crop. A few things that I noticed: DT was the most overrated band (for some reason a lot of long time prog listeners think so), but James Labrie was voted in as best vocalist and JP as best guitarist. Superior got voted as best newcomer. Deus ex Machina got a lot of best votes. Well, here are the results...
fowarded message ****************************** THE OFFICIAL RESULTS - THE 1996 ANNUAL INTERNET PROG POLL
The annual prog poll on rec. and alt.music.progressive is a tradition from 1992, when Mike Borella first did it. This year, Mike chose not to run the poll, so I volunteered for doing it (although with a feeling of guilt, Mike never answered my request to run it, but I assume he wouldn't mind). Seeing what other people think about the latest year's new albums, performers= labels and concerts, is first and foremost for fun and entertainment, but it can also be an easy way of discovering =91new' groups, or getting aware of new albums, etc.
Here are the results, with my personal comments after. Remember, these are just the comments of any layman, I am not at all educated to give such an analyze of a poll...
NOTE! Due to my limited knowledge to the subject, I did not cancel any= votes in any categories, even though there were several of them that were terribly misplaced and probably never should have been included. Even if I canceled the votes I knew were wrong, there would probably still be votes in there that shouldn't be there, and that would then be unfair. So I just closed my eyes and trusted the voters, and I hope there are not too many mistakes. I also had similar votes appearing in both categories #1 and #3 - best album and best rerelease. I did neither change these, even if it's given that one of them is wrong. Again, if I started changing, there would still be misplaced votes that I wouldn't discover.
NOTE II: I have chosen, because of *many* ties, to only list those that received more than 3 points, that is, what could be accomplished by one vote only. If complete lists or other additional information are wanted, please mail
Okay, here we go.
CATEGORY #1 - 1996's BEST ALBUM
1. Yes - Keys to Ascension 15 2. P=E4r Lindh & Bj=F6rn Johansson - Bilbo 13 3. Ars Nova - The Goddess of Darkness 12 4. Trey Gunn - The Third Star 9 4. Rush - Test for Echo 9 4. King Crimson - THRaKaTTaK 9 4. Porcupine Tree - Signify 9 4. Camel - Harbour of Tears 9 9. Devil Doll - Dies Irae 8 9. The Flower Kings - Retropolis 8 11. Echolyn - When the Sweet Turns Sour 7 12. Cardiacs - Sing to God 6 12. Deus Ex Machina - Diachronie Metronomiche6 12. Glass Hammer - Perelandra 6 15. Cast - Beyond Reality 5 16. Spock's Beard - Beware of Darkness 4 16. Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones - Live Art 4 16. Somnambulist - s/t 4 16. Mastermind - Until Eternity 4
There were all in all 75 albums competing in this category. There were really no big surprises here, maybe expect for Devil Doll, making it that high, since it after all is not a very well-known band. As for the winner, and also a couple of other albums on the list, I strictly personally think that the bands' fame more than the quality of the albums provided the =91victory'. But, =91Keys to Ascension' did after all content= a whole lot of old favorites. It is not very surprising to find King Crimson on the list, however, THRaKaTTaK was not an album that appeared to me to have a significant public appeal. Not saying is was a bad album, heaven forbid, but very. . . . hm .= . . progressive? (Probably why it placed fourth, huh?) It is also interesting to note that Arena's new album, =91Pride', didn't get= a single vote, although it not surprisingly won last year.
CATEGORY # 2 - 1996's WORST ALBUM
1. Rush - Test for Echo 9 2. =C4nglag=E5rd - Buried alive 7 3. Yes - Keys to Ascension 5
There were 14 albums competing in the category. The category with definitely least votes, and the one I'll most definitely skip if I do this next year. Now again, I don't think that all these were that *bad*, that's probably not what caused people to vote for them, but= more the disappointment over this album vs what they've done before.
CATEGORY # 3 - BEST RERELEASE
1. Frank Zappa - Lather 10 2. ELP - Brain Salad Surgery 5 2. National Health - Missing Pieces 5
There were all in all 48 albums competing in this category. As most of you probably discovered, this was one of the categories where people had most suggestions as to which albums deserved to win, and as a result, 47 out of 48 albums were tied with another album, only Zappa's= Lather stuck out. Maybe another category to consider dropping next year? Please let me hear from you if you have views on this or other possible changes. As for ELP's =91Brain Salad Surgery', this was the edition that was released= by Rhino. There were namely two rereleases of this album in 1996.
CATEGORY # 4 - BEST NEWCOMER
1. Boud Deun 7 1. Somnambulist 7 3. Iluvatar 6 3. Superior 6 5. Rachel's Birthday 5 6. Altura 4
There were 38 bands competing in this category. Darn. Another of those categories I definitely need more people voting in= if I'm even bothering to put it up next year.
CATEGORY # 5 - BEST LIVE-PERFORMANCE
1. Magma 15 1. King Crimson 15 3. Deus Ex Machina 10 4. Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones 9 4. Rush 9 4. Boud Deun 9 7. Glass Hammer 7 8. Iluvatar 6 9. Squonk Opera 4
46 bands competed in this category. See comment under previous category.
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Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 04:02:05 +0000 From: Walter Semerenko <walter@orlinter.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Fwd: The 1996 Annual Internet Prog Poll (2/2) Message-ID: <B0000032961@chicago.orlinter.com>
For the following 5 categories, see comment after category # 10. CATEGORY # 6 - BEST VOCALIST
1. Steve Hogarth (Marillion) 22 2. Jon Anderson (Yes) 16 2. Alberto Piras (Deus Ex Machina) 16 4. James LaBrie 6 5. Peter Nicholls (IQ) 5 6. Mr Doctor (Devil Doll) 4 6. Robert Wyatt 4
There were 41 competitors in this category.
CATEGORY # 7 - BEST GUITARIST
1. Robert Fripp (King Crimson) 32 2. Steve Rothery (Marillion/The Wishing Tree) 11 3. Andrew Latimer (Camel) 10 4. Steve Howe 9 5. Alex Lifeson (Rush) 8 6. Steve Hackett 7 7. Shawn Persinger (Boud Deun) 6 7. Steve Vai 6 9. Maurino Collina (Deus Ex Machina) 5 9. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) 5 9. John Petrucci (Dream Theater) 5 9. Roine Stolt 5 12. Bill Berends (Mastermind) 4
There were 41 competitors in this category.
CATEGORY # 8 - BEST KEYBOARDIST
1. Chris Buzby (Echolyn, Finneus Gauge) 15 2. Keiko Kumagai (Ars Nova) 12 3. Rick Wakeman 10 4. P=E4r Lindh 9 5. Tony Banks 8 5. Dave Stewart 8 7. Keith Emerson 6 8. Martin Orford 5 9. Fred Schendel (Glass Hammer) 4 9. Alfonso Vidales (Cast) 4
There were 51 competitors in this category.
CATEGORY # 9 - BEST BASSIST
1. Tony Levin (King Crimson) 40 2. Geddy Lee (Rush) 16 3. Chris Squire 9 4. Matt Eiland (Boud Deun) 6 4. Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones) 6
There were 32 competitors in this category.
CATEGORY # 10 - BEST DRUMMER
1. Bill Bruford (King Crimson) 48 2. Christian Vander (Magma) 15 3. Neil Peart (Rush) 13 4. Rich Berends 6 4. Mattias Olsson (=C4nglag=E5rd) 6 4. Pip Pyle 6
There were 40 competitors in this category.
These were the categories were people agreed the most, a thing you easily= can note (i.e. Bill Bruford having 33 points more than the next on the list, Christian Vander). Nevertheless, a whole lot of single votes were given, too, probably many band-members from not-so-known, local bands. As the poll run by, one of the voters gave me the idea to combine all these= 5 categories to one category, =91Best Instrumentalist'. In such a case, it= would of course be necessary to mention which instrument the candidate plays as well as his name, but nevertheless an idea for next year's poll? Please= mail me if you have views on this.
CATEGORY # 11 - MOST OVERRATED BAND (deserving less)
1. Dream Theater 19 2. Yes 15 3. Marillion 11 3. ELP 11 5. Pendragon 7 6. Arena 6 6. Magellan 6 6. Anekdoten 6 9. Echolyn 5 10. King Crimson 4 10. Porcupine Tree 4
This category contained 30 bands fighting for victory. And, er, I think I have to say *not surprisingly*, Dream Theater took the price once more. =20 As for Yes, I would assume that their album =91Keys to Ascension' was much= to blame for placing so high. 70 percent of those who contributed to this poll, were Americans. That= might explain Marillion's 3rd place, tied with ELP. Marillion is not as big over here as in Europe.
CATEGORY # 12 - MOST UNDERESTIMATED BAND (deserving more)
1. The Cardiacs 6 1. Deus Ex Machina 6 1. Devil Doll 6 1. Glass Hammer 6 1. Rush 6 6. Future Sound of London 5 6. Marillion 5 8. Cast 4 8. Magellan 4
This category contained 57 bands fighting for victory. And most of them I would believe to be local bands without any big international appeal. The most interesting bands to find here, were= probably Rush and Marillion, they are not the kind of bands one immediately connect with =91underestimated'. =20 This category, along with # 4, Best newcomer, is an easy way of finding= =91new' bands that might be worth listening to.
CATEGORY # 13 - BEST PROGRESSIVE LABEL
1. Laser's Edge 23 2. Mellow Records 21 3. Musea 16 4. Magna Carta 13 5. Cuneiform 12 5. Discipline 12 5. Syn-Phonic 12 8. Cyclops 8 9. Giant Electric Pea 6 10. ReR 5 11. One Way 4
25 labels competed in this category.
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTORS:
[names deleted. hey noticed three jammers voted.]
And again, questions, answers, suggestions, and everything else concerning the poll, is mailed to
Kjartan Almenning end of forwarded message ************************
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Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 01:05:13 -0800 From: yanos <yanos@netwizards.net> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Re: Range and Tate Message-ID: <32FD9349.6A5C@netwizards.net>
Going back to the Tate section...yes, he does smoke. I remember reading that same/similar article and somebody later told me that he smokes heavily (whatever that means). Tate inspired me to sing and I too was saddened and shocked upon listening to PL and hearing him live as compared to previous years and earlier material. He has lost a good deal of range and it is a shame he lacks the desire to protect his gift. A great many factors go into the shaping of the human voice and one's "maintainence routine" makes a world of difference. I can only hope LaBrie is smarter than Tate in this respect.
cheers-
Yanos
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Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 05:23:21 +0000 From: Walter Semerenko <walter@orlinter.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Spock's Beard and other great prog bands Message-ID: <B0000032968@chicago.orlinter.com>
D-man wrote: >Next, I just got Spock's two new albums in the mail today: "The Official >Live Bootleg" and "Beware of Darkness" (the follow up to "The Light." >Clever, huh? :) GO GET THIS STUFF!!!!! It's outstanding. You've >already heard a great deal about these guys on this list. If you want >more info, feel free to e-mail me, and I will rave about them at length. >This is by far the best band I have discovered since I discovered DT. >They also have a web page, if you want more info about the band: >http://www.altura.com/jordanz/spocks_beard
I ordered all of Spock's Beard last week and got to listen to the first album _The Light_ many times. The booleg CD is from their performance in ProgFest '95. The new album I only got to listen to once. So many of you have been thinking about getting this CD, but want to know what its like. So..
Spock's Beard is the answer to the now defunct echolyn. They are in the same camp rhythmically as echolyn, but the guitarist uses more effects and sometimes sounds heavy. The keyboardist (actually the lead singer plays keys) has the virtuosity as Chis Buzby (echolyn) and plays a lot of hammond organ, bubbly, flashy keys. A bit of mellotron is used too. The bassist and the drummer are great, heck the whole band is great. They write a long songs and have a lot of slow parts, acoustic parts, abrupt parts and they can really jam. After listening to the songs several times, you will notice that re-develop their melodies. If you like echolyn and can handle their songwriting style, then you will have no problem getting into Spock's Beard.
My favorite track is "The Light" (15:33)
i: the dream this part starts out slow with a piano part and singing. ii: one man things start to pick up here, lot of guitar effects, slightly distorded vocals, and nice background vocals, very progressive songwriting. iii: garden people section that changes and sound very spacey, vocal are distorted and barely heard iv: looking straight into the light. picks up again, nice melodic guitars, flashy keys, grandoise keys at the end v: man in the mountain slows down to a very melodic piano, changes to a spacey, then the upbeat. they unexpectedly the last lyric goes "so they had a party", dynamic keys follow. vi:senor valesco's mystic voodoo dance this part is the *coolest* part of the track. it sounds out of place but is so *cool*. they start playing flamenco and the lyrics are great and something that sticks in your head. follows with hard rock playing with heavy hammonds vii: return of the horrible catfish man distorted vocals, heavy hammonds, great vocals harmonies follow that incorporate the vocals off ii: one man viii: the dream unfortunately this part goes back to slow and is an abrupt change. after the great vocal harmonies i expected the music to be more developed, but it goes to the epilogue as similar to the first part.
"Go the Way you Go" (12:03)
This song starts off like it could be written by echolyn, but with hammond organs. lots of time changes but not so frequent. has a long acoustic guitar passage with chorus singing. The jam in the middle kicks ass and has fast keys and a great bass groove then quickly segues into a brief period of mellotron, then great jazzy piano runs. You gotta listen to this. follows with stronger background vocals well drawn out.
The Water (23:14)
Another track split up as the first one. I won't go an name them all, but one part has distorted vocals, another has longer mellotron playing. The best part is when the singer gets pissed off and start cussing. Lots of fuck you's in there. :)
Well, I guess you get the picture. There is no other way I can describe them. You will have the buy the CD and listen to it. I just have to say that this is one of the most progressive bands of the 90's which use a lot of 70's keys but doesn't sound retro at all.
The new album has a song called "Thoughts" that sounds very Gentle Giant-ish vocally and musically. The songwriting is more laid back in this one. I have only listened to it once, so I can't say which album sounds better. But I recommend starting out with "The Light." Mike Portnoy is credited in the liner notes. MP, D-man, and I love the band, and you should too. :-) So go BUY IT.
Another band I just got is Somnabulist and it features some HEAVY hammond playing that kicks a. Great bottom--bass tone and guitars. Excellent drummer. Lots of mellotron on this one. I can describe them as Anglagard in their heavier moments. Someone decribed them as Anglagard gone punk.
Devil Doll _Dias Irae_ This CD is AWESOME! It is dark, gloomy music that features a soprano vocalist and the strange, unique vocals of Mr. Doctor. This guy voice in one-of-a-kind! He sound like an evil cartoon character and the intense guttural vocals sound strange but very cool. Kinda like an evil incarnation of Ren. The music gets a little heavy sometimes and has a lot of symphonic parts that are melodic. Overall, the music is dark. Great Halloween prog.
Last, but not least, Deus ex Machina. Their live cd _Diacronie Metronomiche_ has been spinning in my CD player often. Hard rock progressive based on fusion with all virtuoso players. Love those violins. Alberto Piras is the best vocalist around. And if you haven't heard him, then you can't argue with me. :-)
Oh yeah one more thing, I ordered from Ken Golden lasercd@aol.com and got all my stuff promptly.
Walter.
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Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 06:53:26 -0500 From: Carlos Alfaro <calfaro@caribe.net> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Re: Fwd: The 1996 Annual Internet Prog Poll (2/2) Message-ID: <32FDBAB6.74CE@caribe.net>
> CATEGORY # 11 - MOST OVERRATED BAND (deserving less) > > 1. Dream Theater 19
whoooooaa this really sucks huh? ...guess we shouldve all voted in this poll...i dont know how people can say DT is an overated prog band..
Increasingly the mathematics will demand the courage to face its implications-Ian Malcolm mailto:calfaro@Caribe.net mailto:ytsekurt@geocities.com http://premium.caribe.net/~calfaro
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End of YTSEJAM Digest 2258 **************************
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