YTSEJAM Digest 4070
Today's Topics:
1) Symphony X
by Eric Heisserer <erich@apqc.org>
2) Re: Re digest 4062 (NDTC)
by Al Balkiewicz <balkiewi@umdnj.edu>
3) Re: Re digest 4062 (NDTC)
by "Brian Hayden" <hayd0029@tc.umn.edu>
4) Re: Magellan...
by Steve Chew <schew@tis.com>
5) Re: Re digest 4062 (NDTC)
by TheCowGod <dmc@dreamt.org>
6) Re: Official word on new DT live CD
by TheCowGod <dmc@dreamt.org>
7) Re: Symphony X
by Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
8) Re: Re digest 4062 (NDTC)
by Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
9) About next DT live-CD
by "Mr. Bubbelgum" <neider@hotmail.com>
10) SX, Magellan, Diseases
by Chris Oates <aspect@tinagh.org>
11) Re: About next DT live-CD
by Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
12) re: Symphony X, DT and lyrics
by Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com>
13) re: Symphony X
by "Neil Evans" <NEVANS@us.oracle.com>
14) RE: Non-Prog Music
by "Frank Benenati" <fmb@emeraldlink.com>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 13:27:11 +0100
From: Eric Heisserer <erich@apqc.org>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Symphony X
Message-ID: <l03020900b1d24d3bf062@[205.219.25.54]>
No flames here. It's fine that you can't stand Symphony X. Like you said,
that's your opinion. Usually when posting "IMO"-style messages you're also
looking for some input from others, so here I go.
When I first heard Sym X, I thought much the same as you regarding their
lyrics and subject matter. I thought, "it's the Castlevania soundtrack
done by some Queen wannabes!"
Then I played DWoT again, and it grew on me. I played it a third time, and
some of the songs stuck to me like very right-sounding tunes do. Now, it
seems I have to have a daily Sym X fix or I go into withdrawals.
That's most what I respect about these guys. Their melodies stick with me,
and have a definite form to them that makes it great to (try and) sing
along with Russ in the car on the way to work.
Next is that they have a strong identity all their own, and, unfortunately,
the "Dungeons & Dragons"-style lyrics contribute to that. However, the
more they veer into literary references (love to see them write an epic for
"The Iliad") the more respectable they get.
Regarding musicianship, I think Romeo is cleaning his act up from whatever
"sloppiness" you might be hearing in DWoT. I've listened for a slurred
style but can't hear what you're calling bad form. Maybe we're just from
two different schools.
What brings it home for me is -- does the band get along well, like playing
cohesively? Answer: hell yes. Pinnella and Romeo are big buds, who seem
to get energy off each other (hence the constant guitar-keys-guitar
tradeoffs) and they're not so much interested in solo efforts because --
why? -- they want to strengthen the Sym X name.
I like that. Makes me feel good about them when I listen to them. I
couldn't stand to listen to Bangles tunes just because I knew the members
were at each other's throats between sets, and in my twisted brain that
paints a picture I can't erase.
Lastly, I think Russ Allen is the best damned vocalist I've heard in years.
Whenever I hear "Phoaroh" (sp) I just run and hide! :-)
------------
Eric Heisserer
APQC
erich@apqc.org
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 14:37:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: Al Balkiewicz <balkiewi@umdnj.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Re: Re digest 4062 (NDTC)
Message-ID: <Pine.HPP.3.96.980715143130.1346E-100000@njmsa.UMDNJ.EDU>
On Wed, 15 Jul 1998, Simon Wilkins wrote:
> 2. "Its just like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease"
<Snipping boring, but rather impressive diatribes on the two disease.
The one thing I learn is that no one really gives a shit how smart you
are on here unless it's about music - plus when you base your intelligent
conversation on something taken totally out of context>
> So they are not the same.
>
No shit, they're not the same DISEASE. What he meant by
saying "it's just like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's" is
that the reason behind the naming is the same in that
they attach a person's name to make the disease either
easier to say or more noticeable and "human".
sorry for the flame, but this is all IMHO anyway :)
plus, I feel like shit, so I'm immune to any punishment or
retaliation.......... :)
-Al
=====================================================================
b l i n d l a b o r s t h e b l i n d a n d I a m
u n w i l l i n g t o u n c o v e r m y e y e s
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
balkiewi@njmsa.umdnj.edu OR sigma982@yahoo.com OR theprof@bigfoot.com
HOMEPAGE:http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Towers/9280/index.html
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 13:37:23 -0500
From: "Brian Hayden" <hayd0029@tc.umn.edu>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Re: Re digest 4062 (NDTC)
Message-ID: <35acf6e329ca015@mhub3.tc.umn.edu>
Responding to the message of
<19980715181704.20348.rocketmail@web2.rocketmail.com>
from ytsejam@ax.com:
>
>
>
> KorgX3 wrote...
>
> about Lou Gehrigs disease etc.
>
> A few points to clear up.
>
> 1. Lou Gehrig was not technically an athlete (sorry I forgot who
> posted that) neither was he "Some dead runner...", he was infact a
> baseball player.
Um, since when is a baseball player not an athelete?
> 2. "Its just like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease"
>
> ALS is a fatal neurological disorder...
> Alzheimer's (or dementia) is a physical disease...
> Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain...
> So they are not the same.
>
> End of medical corner
You didn't need to waste your time. The whole thing obviously went straight over
your head. Nobody said the effects of the diseases were the same; he said that
they all have a common name seperate from the technical name, and all of these
common names happen to be people who were associated with the disease early on.
-Brian
________________________________________________________________________________
Coleridge on IRC Web: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~hayd0029
________________________________________________________________________________
NOW PLAYING ON A LIVE REALAUDIO STREAM:
Ytsejam Radio. Anti-Corporate, Anti-MTV, Anti-Decency.
Info: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~hayd0029/ytseradio
________________________________________________________________________________
"Baseball is like church -- many attend, but few truly understand." - Martin Cox
________________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 14:31:16 -0400 (EDT)
From: Steve Chew <schew@tis.com>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Cc: fivengrok@village.uunet.be
Subject: Re: Magellan...
Message-ID: <199807151831.OAA12055@clipper.hq.tis.com>
>Subject: A couple of questions about Magellan
>
>This may be somewhat off-topic but I'm gonna ask anyway.
>I recently bought Magellan's "Test Of Wills", and I was wondering if
>this is the band's first album or if they've done anything before
>that. Also, I'd like to know if there's a Magellan FAQ, so I can
>stop asking these stupid questions on the 'Jam.
>
"Test of Wills" is Magellan's third album. Their first
two are "Hour of Restoration" and "Impending Ascension". I like
them all quite a bit. "Test of Wills" is a somewhat heavier than the
first two, but they all have good melodies and cool rhythm and
time changes.
"Hour of Restoration" is especially hard to find. But, you
can still buy it from the Magna Carta web page:
http://www.magnacarta.net
Trent Gardner (the main creative influence for Magellan)
has put together a project called "Explorer's Club" with a CD
called "Age of Impact" that has been talked about here on the Jam.
It's supposed to be great and I'm looking forward to it. It should be
out at the end of July, I think.
I don't know if there's a Magellan FAQ, but you can find
out more about them on the Magna Carta web page.
>
>Other Prog Content: check out The Quest "Change", it's brilliant !!!
>
Sounds interesting, but can you give a more detailed
description?
Steve
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 14:39:19 -0400
From: TheCowGod <dmc@dreamt.org>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Re: Re digest 4062 (NDTC)
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19980715143919.006b7d7c@mail.clemson.edu>
>2. "Its just like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease"
>
[long explanation snipped]
>So they are not the same.
Actually, i'm pretty sure he was referring to the fact that they are named
after a well known person who suffered from it as opposed to forcing people
to refer to them by their proper medical names. In fact, i think i'm almost
quoting him in that. He wasn't saying that the diseases themselves were
similar. Moo.
*** END OF TRANSMISSION ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 14:40:52 -0400
From: TheCowGod <dmc@dreamt.org>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Re: Official word on new DT live CD
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19980715144052.006b797c@mail.clemson.edu>
>>Also, It looks as if we might have an accompanying video as well...
>>More details as I have them.....
>>
>>Mike Portnoy
>
>Looks like I'd better go buy a VCR now !!!
relax, if it's as hard to find as LiT, you have time. :) I looked for over
a year before finally finding LiT in some little music store in indiana.
Heh. Moo.
*** END OF TRANSMISSION ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 11:59:40 -0700 (PDT)
From: Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Re: Symphony X
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980715115241.22976B-100000@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
On Wed, 15 Jul 1998, Eric Heisserer wrote:
<about band members getting along...>
>I like that. Makes me feel good about them when I listen to them. I
>couldn't stand to listen to Bangles tunes just because I knew the members
>were at each other's throats between sets, and in my twisted brain that
>paints a picture I can't erase.
>
Me too... I like DT a lot because they all seem to be really great
friends. Same with old Metallica (pre AJFA), and pre-ego Pink Floyd
(right around DSotM ^_^). It does give a different energy -- cooperative
as opposed to competitive. It shows in the albums, usually.
>Lastly, I think Russ Allen is the best damned vocalist I've heard in years.
>Whenever I hear "Phoaroh" (sp) I just run and hide! :-)
>
That song is the single best song on the album, IMnsHO. The beginning
rocks, and the bass work is just cool. The song reminds me of Ptolomy off
of Blue Murder's self-titled release. Cool stuff. I drool every time I
hear the "groove" section as Russ singe, "Awakened by intruder souls"
This song's lyrics rock more than the others -- fewer vague cliches and
some cool imagery ("the jackyl screams as my stone gods behold descrators
of RA!") make this the coolest egyptian-themed song since Powerslave.
Maybe even better!
--Matt (Desecrators of RAAAA!!)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"..." --James LaBrie, "Hell's Kitchen"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 12:03:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Re: Re digest 4062 (NDTC)
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980715120027.22976C-100000@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
On Wed, 15 Jul 1998, Brian Hayden wrote:
>Um, since when is a baseball player not an athelete?
I think George Carlin could explain this best... ^_^
>You didn't need to waste your time. The whole thing obviously went straight over
>your head. Nobody said the effects of the diseases were the same; he said that
>they all have a common name seperate from the technical name, and all of these
>common names happen to be people who were associated with the disease early on.
It didn't go over his head, more to the side... ^_^
I had to reread the message a few times before I realized the guy was
talking about common names, etc. I actually didn't know that there was a
Mr./Ms. Alzhiemer or a Mr./Ms. Parkinson.
And your line width is too wide. Shirnk it to 75, please.
>"Baseball is like church -- many attend, but few truly understand." - Martin Cox
Is that Catholic church or Protestant? ^_^
--Matt
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"..." --James LaBrie, "Hell's Kitchen"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 12:37:01 PDT
From: "Mr. Bubbelgum" <neider@hotmail.com>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: About next DT live-CD
Message-ID: <19980715193701.28509.qmail@hotmail.com>
Tjena = Hello, in swedish
I read about the new live-CD that Dream Theater will release.
One of the song "Puppies on acid", I never heard before. The song is not
on a DT CD...I think. Is there someone who have some info about it??
I hope that metropolis part.2 will be released in the same time...
Thanx for now / Mr.Bubbelgum
..by the way.... Brazil is still the best soccer-team in the world.
Sweden played equal(1-1) to France, 1 month before World Cup.
It wasn´t France, who played well...It was Brazil who played like a bag
of rotten potatoes.... , end of letter to day.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 13:24:14 -0700
From: Chris Oates <aspect@tinagh.org>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: SX, Magellan, Diseases
Message-ID: <199807152027.NAA29679@cats.ucsc.edu>
Symphony X:
I have all four of their CDs (don't listen to the first one much) and I'd
have to fall halfway inbetween the reviews. I do think their lyrics are
cheesy for the most part. Looking at the credits, IO think THat
ROmero/Pinella are the better lyricists, as they did most of Divine Wings
(the song) which is their best Lyrical work, IMO. However, some fo the
wicked instrumental stuff they do is worth it for me to ignore the swissy
lyrics, and actually feel that they work well in the song. I shudder to
think of a song like "Into the Dragon's Den" with the typical grungy "Oh, I
miss you, I'm a loser, think I'm gonna go shoot up" sort of lyrics.
One criticism: I don't like the new lead sound that Pinella uses on most
of the first half of Twilight... It sounds too thin. I much prefer the
thicker elad synth sounds, even if it is a generic Moog-y sound.
Magellan: THey have 2 albums prior to Test of Wills. "Hour of
Restoration" and "Impending Ascension" -- both on Magna Carta. though the
first one is only available through Mail Order (or in a used CD shop, where
I found my copy) -- There are some differences between the first 2 and the
third, as thery added a real drummer and lost their bassist between albums,
and they do less historically inspired lyrics on Test of Wills. Some of
the older songs read like a History book. Still, pretty cool music from a
prog standpoint, if you like LOTS of time sig changes that don't always
mesh 100% cleanly.
Diseases: I think when the original poster said "Just like Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's" I think it meant that the name was after the first famous
person to get it, and not that the diseases were the same. My assumption,
so feel free to spank me if I'm wrong (and you're a cute blonde female ;)
Er ... Can't wait till Oct. 1. :) (DTC)
~Chris
__ /\ __ Chris Oates: aspect@tinagh.org
__\/__\/__ +----
\_||_/ | "Still awake, I continue to move along, cultivating my |
/__||__\ | own nonsense" -Dream Theater, "Trial of Tears" |
// \ | \\ ----+
\| http://www2.ucsc.edu/people/aspect/
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 13:34:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Re: About next DT live-CD
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980715133216.10985A-100000@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
On Wed, 15 Jul 1998, Mr. Bubbelgum wrote:
>
>Tjena = Hello, in swedish
>
>I read about the new live-CD that Dream Theater will release.
>One of the song "Puppies on acid", I never heard before. The song is not
>on a DT CD...I think. Is there someone who have some info about it??
>I hope that metropolis part.2 will be released in the same time...
Tjena!
Puppies on Acid is the live name for the beginning music of The Mirror
(until right before the lyrics start). It is traditionally used to open
for a song like Take the time. It used to intro another song, but I can't
remember it right now... hope this helps!
>
>Thanx for now / Mr.Bubbelgum
--Matt
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"..." --James LaBrie, "Hell's Kitchen"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 13:36:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: re: Symphony X, DT and lyrics
Message-ID: <19980715203618.14163.rocketmail@send1b.yahoomail.com>
On the subject of Symphony X:
>> But I can talkabout Cliche X, err I mean Symphony X. Yes, this band
is talented, but I feel
>> they represent pretty much everything that is wrong with the
progressive/power
>> metal genre.
>I'd say (this is IMHO, of course) that SX (from the one disc I have)
is
>probably the best heavy power/progmetal band I've heard.
When I first heard them, I liked them for their similarity to Yngwie.
But after listening to TDWoT for a while, I really like it now. It's
growing on me the way that Queensryche and DT did.
>> The lyrics sound like they came out of a Castlevainia video game.
They use the
>> word, "t'was" on numerous occasions.
>I dunno, I actually kinda like the medieval-ish sounding lyrics. They
>have a cool feel that differentiates them.
Well, enjoying lyrics is SOOO subjective. So IMHO, I really like S-X
lyrics. "Cool" is a good word. For me, it's not always the subject
matter that's important, it's the WAY in which the lyrics are written.
It has to be "cool" or "clever" or "imaginative" or have a great
"flow". Of course this is all very subjective.
The opposite of this is "cheesy", which other bands lyrics have been
called before. Not necessarily based on content, just the wording and
flow.
I really like Kevin Moore's lyrics on Chroma Key. They're somewhat
minimalistic, but they are "cool", and can evoke moods.
>If you look, some of DT's
>older stuff is sorta similar (but to a much less degree).
You're right, the older DT had some D&D style (exp. Metropolis). One
of the things I loved about I&W and Awake was that I had found a band
where I loved all of the lyrics. They were ALL "cool".
> I even read
>an article where Derek Sherinian said one of the biggest differences
>in the new DT material is that the lyrics aren't as "Dungeons &
Dragons"
>as the older stuff.
OK, let me commit some blasphamy here. The biggest problem I have
enjoying FII is the lyrics. IMHO, the only song on FII that lives up
to previous DT LYRICALLY is Lines in the Sand. New Millenium isn't bad
at all, it's a little different, but good.
But Hollow Years, Peruvian Skies and TAMP really don't work for me
lyrically. They remind me of later lyrics by QR's DeGarmo, which I
didn't like either. Stories about little girls and what not. Maybe I
just can't relate to them. The lyrics aren't as "clever" and don't
"flow" as well as previous songs. Maybe they work better for other
people. Then again, some people may not care about the lyrics at all,
and focus on the music instead.
my $.02, BH
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: 15 Jul 98 13:20:54 -0700
From: "Neil Evans" <NEVANS@us.oracle.com>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: re: Symphony X
Message-ID: <199807152049.NAA20632@mailsun2.us.oracle.com>
Isaac wrote, regarding Symphony X:
>Michael Romeo
>is superfuckin'fast on his axe. But his articulation, phrasing, and
>accentuation are horrible. Not to mention the songwriting is weak.
I couldn't disagree more with this part of Isaac's post. While I will grant
that the lyrics and song titles certainly ascribe to a "Castlevania-esque"
theme (which doesn't bother me), I think Romeo's guitar work is outstanding.
In my opinion, this is what Yngwie SHOULD be. This is Neo-Baroque
ProgMetal with the thickest, chunkiest, most interesting riffs I've heard.
I love the guitar work, both rhythm and solos, throughout the "Divine Wings
of Tragedy" and "Damnation Game" albums. Articulation is the ability to
make notes sound clearly and distinctly- I hear NO problem with
articulation, even on lightning fast runs. Your observations on phrasing
and accentuation will be entirely subjective, so there is little use in
debating that - it's one opinion versus another.
I also think the songwriting is very strong, and the vocals are fantastic
for this genre - I sometimes have a problem with ProgMetal vocalists, but
Russ Allen is awesome and quite versatile. By songwriting I am referring to
all the music and lyrical melodies. As far as the lyrics, well, I haven't
paid much attention. The music kicks too much ass to be reading the booklet
while it's playing, and frankly I don't care what the hell is being sung, it
sounds great.
>/me puts on flame retardent suit
No flames, just some hefty disagreement. If you listen to any Yngwie and
don't mind the "cheese" factor, you had best be checking out Symphony X.
-Neil.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 17:33:33 -0400
From: "Frank Benenati" <fmb@emeraldlink.com>
To: "Jacob's ytsejam" <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: RE: Non-Prog Music
Message-ID: <003101bdb038$3762c940$6a88abc7@fmb_newsalert.newsalert>
>I'm wondering what you jammers listen to besides prog rock
I Might as well jump on this bandwagon:
Van Halen (Please remove VHIII from that, though -- Ed made a big mistake
kicking Sam out)
Journey
Night Ranger
Styx
Queen
Ten
Ted Nugent
Mr. Big
Tall Stories
Extreme
Tyketto
Whitesnake
White Lion
Billy Joel
Chicago
Basically, If it's AOR rock -- I listen to it....
See Ya,
M O J O M A N
****************************************************************************
******************************
Yankees will stomp on all that is baseball...end the season now!.....Bring
on Atlanta......
****************************************************************************
******************************
------------------------------
End of YTSEJAM Digest 4070
**************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Apr 01 2004 - 18:09:08 EST