YTSEJAM Digest 4974
Today's Topics:
1) Neil's reviews volume 439
by "Gallop, Neil" <nga@software-ag.de>
2) Re: YTSEJAM digest 4972
by "Miguel Farah F." <miguel@antonia.webhost.cl>
3) re:Internet Radio
by Michael Zachariadis <mzahar@cc.uoa.gr>
4) DREAM THEATER MERCHANDISE***
by "trsgroup" <sales@trsgroup.com>
5) re: Jethro Tull
by Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com>
6) re: Mergers and CDNow
by Paul Fini <fini@engineering.ucsb.edu>
7) re: Jethro Tull
by "TheCowGod ." <cowgod77@hotmail.com>
8) Re: Mullmuzzler...
by Steve Chew <schew@tislabs.com>
9) Re: Mullmuzzler correction...
by Steve Chew <schew@tislabs.com>
10) re: Mergers and CDNow
by Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com>
11) MP Video in the Fall...
by Dave Ware <dave.ware@walker.com>
12) Re: Mullmuzzler...
by Steve Chew <schew@tislabs.com>
13) Spock's Beard live?
by CyberDuke <duskob@mol.com.mk>
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 15:26:01 +0200
From: "Gallop, Neil" <nga@software-ag.de>
To: "'ytsejam@ax.com'" <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Neil's reviews volume 439
Message-ID: <005355AD0596D211B4F30000F81B0D32B85B78@daemsg01.software-ag.de>
Hi all
lots of reviews coming along in a minute, but first a
few words from me about my ratings. Some people have
written to me, asking why I mostly give 8s and 9s, with
an occasional 10 or 7: why do I never trash anything?
The reason is simple - I only review stuff that I buy,
and I won't buy anything I'm not convinced of. This also
applies to promos that I receive from time to time. OK,
now on to the fun.
LEMUR VOICE - Divided (Telstar-Sky TCD 20002-2)
I still remember the first time I listened to the track
"Aksasha Chronicles" from the band's first album - I had
rarely been so impressed by a new band (well, new to me)
so I was naturally apprehensive about my first
impression of "Divided". From the moment Marcel Coenen's
crunching guitar jumped in on the opening track, I knew
I would not be let down. This is everything the first
(and excellent) album was and more. The production is
much better, clearer and crisper. Gregoor van der Loo
has improved a lot as a singer, and fortunately he
doesn't make the mistake of trying to sing above his
natural range. Barend Tromp shows what a Chapman stick
can do in competent hands. Drums and keyboards are very
polished - and then comes the guitar work! Wicked riffs
to fox and fool the most accomplished air guitarist,
very chunky and crunchy stuff topped with some great
solos. Good progressive songs with a nice portion of
heaviness, some very interesting and surprising twists
and turns, lots of depth. Sometimes the hard riffing and
weird rhythms remind me of Meshuggah on valium. The only
thing I'm not too keen on is the sax on "Divided". It's
hard to pick a favourite on an album with so many great
songs, but "Lethe's Bowl" stands out for me. And watch
out for the surprising and amusing cover of Michael
Jackson's "Beat It"! Now all the guys have to do is come
to Germany. 9/10
MADDER MORTEN - Mercury (Misanthropy Records 019)
If you like The 3rd And The Mortal and you want more
music like this without listening to a clone, then get
Madder Morten. This is how this album was recommended to
me, and it's how I'll recommend it to you. Mercury
features all of the aspects that makes The Mortal so
fascinating to me - sometimes heavy, often etherial,
very experimental, melancholy and searching. Creative
use of samples, multi-layered guitar parts, and the
haunting voice of Agnette Kirkevaag combined with the
ability to write unusual but catchy tunes make Madder
Morten a band with a future. My favourite here has to
be "Remnants", a track based on a simple bass riff in
which the vocals and guitars drift in and out, giving
you tantalizing glimpses of what you think might be
there. 8/10
MASTERMIND - Excelsior! (InsideOut IOMCD 033)
OK, call me ignorant, but I'd never heard of Mastermind
until now, and I can only say if the rest of their stuff
is even remotely as good as this little beauty, then
I've been missing a lot of good music. As far as I know,
the band consists of the brothers Bill Berends (guitars,
midi guitar), and Rich Berends (drums), supported by
various guest musicians. In this case, it is our very
own Jens Johansson from Stratovarius on keyboards. Cold
beer in hand (courtesy of Uli's Musicland, the best
CD dealer in Germany http://www.ulismusic.de/) I popped
the CD into the player and had absolutely no idea of
what to expect. I was grabbed from the very beginning
and didn't land again until I'd listened to the whole
album in a trance-like state. Try and imagine Mahavishnu
Orchestra playing their early stuff with the heaviness
and technology of the late 90s - that's what this album
is about. Prog metal meets jazz fusion. Everything fits
together perfectly. The drums are a real instrument, not
just percussion, the interplay between guitar and keys
is spot-on, and the guitar work is so like McLaughlin
it's almost scarry. What do I mean "like McLaughlin"?
Perhaps "inspired by" would be better, because these
tunes aren't rip-offs. Complex structures, solos big
enough to sink the Titanic, and everything tighter than
Graham Borland's wallet (don't forget he's Scotish). I
can say now that this will be one of my top 5 albums of
the year, regardless of what is still to be released. I
can't recommend this one strongly enough. The sounds of
the midi guitar and the guitar synths took me back to
my youth, when I grew up listening to stuff like this.
For me, "Sky Dancer" is the outstanding track, with the
drums playing a driving "tribal" melody on which the
keyboards and guitar can gyrate and pirouete about each
other. Having listened to this album I can tear up my
prescription for Viagra. I hate to do this to you Jens, but 10/10 hardly
says enough about what I think of this album.
SUNDOWN - Glimmer (Century Media 77250-2)
Mathias Lodmalm created Sundown when he disbanded
Cemetary. Their first effort, "Design 19" which featured
Johnny Hagel from Tiamat, didn't quite live up to its
expectations, even though it went a long way towards
combining traditional gothic with metal. The new album
continues on this path, adding industrial and
stoner elements in combination with some good samples
and overlays to produce a sound that is cold, dark, hard
and threatening. This is the bastard child of Rammstein,
Die Krupps and Nine Inch Nails. Very well arranged and
produced, the overall feel of the album is experimental,
with Lodmalm's voice seeming to come from hyperspace
where is it distorted just as much as the midi guitar
that is used extensively. Techo beats pump out of the
speakers only to be trodden on by the driving bass and
the heavy riffs. Metal/gothic or gothic/metal? Who
cares, I like it and I'm prepared to give it a well
earned 8/10.
TESTAMENT - The Gathering (USG Records USG 1033-2)
Grind, grind, grind, thrash, thrash, thrash. Nuff said?
OK, I'll elaborate a bit - one of the best thrash metal
bands ever is back, and as Emperor Caligula said "this time it's no more Mr.
Nice Guy". This album is an ugly son of a bitch - if it were a baby, its
parents would
only take it out with a bag over its head (and at
night). 45 minutes and 11 songs of full speed thrash.
No finesse, no niceties, no long wanky songs, just
power, raw, hard power. That's not to say that the
musicianship suffers - on the contrary, some of James
Murphy's guitar solos are simply excellent, and Dave
Lombardo's drumming can be positively sick, especially
his double bass work on my favourite song "Legions Of
The Dead". Put the cat out, warn the neighbours, turn
it up and party! Why do I have images of Beavis and
Butthead head banging in my mind when I listen to
this album? File next to Machine Head and Slayer. 9/10
WELTENBRAND - Der Untergang Von Trisona (MOS Records
MOS030 CD)
The contrast to Testament could hardly be greater. This
album is very dreamy gothic/darkwave that has a very
strong medieval feel to it. Very heavy on the keyboards,
you won't find any guitars here. What you will find,
however, are two lady violinist, one female and one
male singer, and some very majestic, rich and flowing
music. WeltenBrand have also managed to avoid one of
the pitfalls so common to this type of music - it isn't
in the slightest bombastic, just atmospheric. A couple
of the tracks are instrumental ("Manes Ed Lapidem", with
its obvious Celtic influences and which could easliy
have come from an album by Loreena McKennitt,
being worthy of particular mention), while the other
tracks tell folk stories from the imaginary land of
Trisonia. Highly musical, very varied and very
relaxing. The vocal arrangements are often in the form
of dialogs, with the male and female parts singing
more to each other than to the listener. A special note
worth mentioning is the guest appearance of Liv Kristine
from Theatre Of Tragedy on the last track. 9/10
That's all from me for now. Comments, feedback or
questions about these reviews and albums welcome
(especially from Marcel and Jens).
stay safe and happy listening
Neil Gallop (nga@software-ag.de)
Currently playing: PALE FOREST - Transformation Hymns
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 10:01:07 -0400 (CLT)
From: "Miguel Farah F." <miguel@antonia.webhost.cl>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 4972
Message-ID: <199907151401.KAA30152@antonia.webhost.cl>
>
>Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999 18:00:02 EDT
>From: MusicSnob@aol.com
>To: ytsejam@ax.com
>Subject: Mergers and CDNow
>Message-ID: <8c605321.24be6262@aol.com>
>
>
>A common victim of Darwinian Capitalism is competition. At first a large
>entity comes onto the scene (you could use the example of Best Buy) and sells
>a similar product (in this case cds) for a lower price than the smaller
>competition (Kemp Mill, Camelot, whoever). The consumer, seeking to get the
>best deal, then buys all his cds (in our case, mostly domestic-release cds)
>at Best Buy due to superior price and selection. Next thing you know, the
>competition goes under (this process took a few years in the case of Best
>Buy) and the prices go up; way up.
Upto here, you're right.
>To apply this lesson to CDNow, their prices are superior to any other online
>vendor (especially with the $x-off deals). CDNow has swallowed up its major
No, they're not. CD Universe and CD connection are both cheaper than CD
Now. As a matter of fact, my first option is CD Universe, UNLESS I get
hold of a CD Now coupon - and then, not in every case CDN prices beat
CDU.
>competitor (Music Boulevard) and now a merger with the only other major
>mail-order cd vendor, the cycle is about to be complete. Will CDNow's prices
>go up? I have to believe they will. What can we, the buyer do? Not much.
>In a market where price is king, this is the way of the world, and we can
>only hope another CD "gas station" opens on the next corner. The idea that
>distributors may be owning sales outlets, while helping them, is disturbing
>to the consumer because another gas station, so to speak, may not be able to
>get its gas at a reasonable price. We better hope there is a counterweight
>or else cd prices are going to go up...
I'll worry if CD Now merges with Amazon.com, not before. Besides, if
prices DO go up, they'll reach a point where it be economically feasible
to set up a new store to compete with it.
-- MIGUEL FARAH // miguel@webhost.cl #include <disclaimer.h> // http://www.webhost.cl/~miguel <*> "Trust me - I know what I'm doing." - Sledge Hammer------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 17:51:43 +0300 From: Michael Zachariadis <mzahar@cc.uoa.gr> To: Ytsejam List <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: re:Internet Radio Message-ID: <378DF57E.2B42BCD5@cc.uoa.gr>
Hi there A good source for Progressive music on the internet is Spinner. Go to http://www.Spinner.com, download the spinner plus, install it. There are many different channels among others, rock, metal ,progressive......just check it out.
Later Mike
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 10:36:14 -0400 From: "trsgroup" <sales@trsgroup.com> To: "YTSEJAM" <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: DREAM THEATER MERCHANDISE*** Message-ID: <006901beced7$95457440$914cd6d1@vaiman.mindspring.com>
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_000B_01BECEAD.DCC4C660 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hey,
Check out the cool DT merchandise at: =20
www.trsgroup.com
see you there!
www.trsgroup.com
------=_NextPart_000_000B_01BECEAD.DCC4C660 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD>
<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.2106.6"' name=3DGENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ceffff> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2> Hey,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2> Check out the = cool DT=20 merchandise at: </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20 size=3D2> &nbs= p; <A=20 href=3D"http://www.trsgroup.com">www.trsgroup.com</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>see you there!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20 size=3D2> &nbs= p; <A=20 href=3D"http://www.trsgroup.com">www.trsgroup.com</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 16:18:09 +0000 (GMT) From: Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: re: Jethro Tull Message-ID: <19990715161809.18280.rocketmail@web129.yahoomail.com>
Someone asked:
> hey .. i'm not sure why but i've still yet to pick up a jethro tull or > moody blues cd
Jethro Tull - Aqualung.
It's considered one of their best albums. It's sort of a concept album, with many great songs. If you don't know anything about Tull, it's 70's style, lot's acoustic guitar and flute, but it also have it's share of 70's style electric guitar (which isn't very heavy in today's terms).
BH
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 09:27:19 -0500 From: Paul Fini <fini@engineering.ucsb.edu> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: re: Mergers and CDNow Message-ID: <4.1.19990715092055.0094e850@ecimail.ucsb.edu>
Kevin wrote:
>To apply this lesson to CDNow, their prices are superior to any other online >vendor (especially with the $x-off deals). CDNow has swallowed up its major >competitor (Music Boulevard) and now a merger with the only other major >mail-order cd vendor, the cycle is about to be complete. Will CDNow's prices >go up? I have to believe they will. What can we, the buyer do? Not much. >In a market where price is king, this is the way of the world, and we can >only hope another CD "gas station" opens on the next corner. The idea that >distributors may be owning sales outlets, while helping them, is disturbing >to the consumer because another gas station, so to speak, may not be able to >get its gas at a reasonable price. We better hope there is a counterweight >or else cd prices are going to go up...
I used to order quite a bit from CDNow (and occasionally from Music Boulevard) since they often had good deals, especially with coupons such as those often advertised on the 'jam. But then I started ordering from smaller vendors such as CDConnection (www.cdconnection.com) and Pentagon Records (www.pentagon.net), which may not have the slick interface of the big hitters, but definitely they compete price-wise. I've been particularly impressed with Pentagon's selection, since I've had a hard time "stumping" them on harder-to- find CDs.
So as far as I'm concerned, competition is alive and well on the web, and with enough support from price-conscious consumers, it'll stay that way. Long live the small guy!
p.
-.-- -.-- --.. -.-- -.-- --.. -.-- -.-- --.. -.-- -.-- --.. -.-- -.-- --.. Paul T. Fini U.C. Santa Barbara fini@engineering.ucsb.edu Materials Dept. voice (805)893-8869, fax (805)893-8971 MOCVD group -.-- -.-- --.. -.-- -.-- --.. -.-- -.-- --.. -.-- -.-- --.. -.-- -.-- --..
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 12:37:28 AST From: "TheCowGod ." <cowgod77@hotmail.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: re: Jethro Tull Message-ID: <19990715163729.61919.qmail@hotmail.com>
>From: Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com> >Subject: re: Jethro Tull > >Jethro Tull - Aqualung. > >It's considered one of their best albums. It's sort of
i dont see why. it's good, but not nearly as good as Thick as a Brick, i think. i guess it's just a matter of differing opinions, but especially as a prog fan, i find Thick as a Brick much more enjoyable. For those that don't know, the album is essentially one 45-minute song. I would definitely reccomend thick as a brick before aqualung. moo.
*** END OF TRANSMISSION ***
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 13:21:21 -0400 (EDT) From: Steve Chew <schew@tislabs.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Re: Mullmuzzler... Message-ID: <199907151721.NAA03277@clipper.gw.tislabs.com>
> > As the subject says....Anyway I remember someone posting a link to >some radio site or something with a song called "His Voice" off Mullmuzzler >and was wondering if they could post it again as well as links to anything >else off this album. >
Hi, You can find the Mullmuzzler sample at the URL below. Try the NV2.2 sample to hear it:
http://musicsojourn.com/Playlists/Night_Vision/NV_SG.htm
The quality isn't that high, but it sounds like it will be a cool song!
Steve
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 13:41:10 -0400 (EDT) From: Steve Chew <schew@tislabs.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Re: Mullmuzzler correction... Message-ID: <199907151741.NAA04157@clipper.gw.tislabs.com>
> > As the subject says....Anyway I remember someone posting a link to >some radio site or something with a song called "His Voice" off Mullmuzzler >and was wondering if they could post it again as well as links to anything >else off this album. >
Correction on that last Mullmuzzler message. The sample you want for the Mullmuzzler is Program NV-2.6. The URL was right:
http://musicsojourn.com/Playlists/Night_Vision/NV_SG.htm
Steve
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 20:30:56 +0000 (GMT) From: Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: re: Mergers and CDNow Message-ID: <19990715203056.12491.rocketmail@web108.yahoomail.com>
]From: MusicSnob@aol.com
> A common victim of Darwinian Capitalism is competition... > Next thing you know, the competition goes under... and the prices go up; way up.
> To apply this lesson to CDNow, their prices are superior to any other > online vendor (especially with the $x-off deals). > Will CDNow's prices go up? I have to believe they will.
>The idea that distributors may be owning sales outlets, while helping them, is > disturbing to the consumer because another gas station, so to speak, may > not be able to get its gas at a reasonable price.
---
Yes, prices will probably go up with CDNow in the future. Another thing you have to consider is the "getting ready to sell the business syndrome". Many business owners will offer deep discounts to make their business look better (in terms of numbers of sales, volume, and customer base) right before they sell. This is probably the case with CDNow, where it seemed that they were losing money on many of those deals (coupons). After the sale (or merger) the new owners raise prices to make more (or start to make) profits.
Lucky for us, it's fairly easy for new competition to pop up against CDNow. Anyone could start selling over the web tommorrow.
It's the distributors and record companies that can get together and raise prices, since they basically have a monopoly. (Unless some artist decides to do it all themself, like Kevin Moore did with Chromakey).
my $.02, BH
_________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 15:32:39 -0500 From: Dave Ware <dave.ware@walker.com> To: "'ytsejam@ax.com'" <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: MP Video in the Fall... Message-ID: <63E392974AF3D211A88600104B93BD8B02D845@bham-xchg>
Hey guys, Just followed a link from MPs site to Hudson Music (http://www.hudsonmusic.com). They are doing a Video with Mike slated for Fall 99, this is what it says... "We will videotape Mike in the same studio in Upstate New York that Dream Theater has just recorded its latest album in. The plan is to show Mike playing his drum parts along with the master tracks from the new album, with the actual recorded drum tracks mixed out-a first class "music-minus-one" lesson. He will then break down and slowly demonstrate his drum parts for each tune and discuss the ideas behind their development" Oh baby, does that sound good or what, I see all the Drummers on the list (including myself) will be buying more than just the new Album when it comes out. Dave (a UK Jammer - currently in Alabama). NP : It Bites - Once Around The World.
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 16:57:13 -0400 (EDT) From: Steve Chew <schew@tislabs.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Re: Mullmuzzler... Message-ID: <199907152057.QAA12406@clipper.gw.tislabs.com>
Does anyone know when James LaBrie's Mullmuzzler CD is due out? I listened to the sample (see previous messages for URL) a couple times today and I want that CD! ;)
Steve
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 12:47:42 +0200 From: CyberDuke <duskob@mol.com.mk> To: "ytsejam@ax.com" <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: Spock's Beard live? Message-ID: <378DBC4E.C8149158@mol.com.mk>
Does anyone know if SB do tours in Europe? Which cities? Are they big enough to do world tours? Still don't own any album of the dudes, but I gotta see them live, judging from jammers gig reviews and some songs I heard from SB! :)
Any news on the Vai new stuff yet? :( -- CyberDuke ________________________________________
"Lisa, get away from that jazzer!" - Simpsons ________________________________________
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End of YTSEJAM Digest 4974 **************************
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