YTSEJAM Digest 5141
Today's Topics:
1) My first reaction to the new DT album was...
by Bernd Basmer <basmer@med-rz.uni-saarland.de>
2) 1980 - 1992 Uncool ??? Horrible ???
by "Vandenabeele, Hein" <Hein.Vandenabeele@um.be>
3) Re: SFAM etc.
by Matej Grginic <izolit@siol.net>
4) Re: Jens Johansson, stratovarius
by "Phil Carter" <phil@usefulware.com>
5) My thanks to the Band!!!!(spoilers if you care)
by Steve Godbout <godbouts@videotron.ca>
6) AW: My thanks to the Band!!!!(spoilers if you care)
by Michael Pruchnicki <mlpruchnicki@computec.de>
7) About the live rendition of SFaM...
by Steve Godbout <godbouts@videotron.ca>
8) new DT...
by Chris Jerolamon <ckj@UDel.Edu>
9) Best album in the world!!!
by "Lauzon, Gary: #IHAB-NGR - AAI-RND" <Lauzon.Gary@ic.gc.ca>
10) 1978-1992
by "Christopher Ptacek" <someone@digitalrodent.com>
11) Just CHecking
by Chris Jerolamon <ckj@UDel.Edu>
12) The new Dream Theater cd on Seismic Radio!
by "Dennis Leefl@ng" <dl@xs4all.nl>
13) re: JLB singing
by Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com>
14) I'm not as disappointed in James as I thought.
by Matt Birskovich <mattb@primenet.com>
15) Re: YTSEJAM digest 5137
by "sK@RRe" <sdts@home.se>
16) Out of the Lurkness: SFAM
by "pika pi" <phairgirl@prodigy.net>
17) Re: Just CHecking
by Rogerio Brito <rbrito@iname.com>
18) Re: A Memorable day
by Gary Cleghorn <gary@tequila.demon.co.uk>
19) Re: JLB singing
by Gary Cleghorn <gary@tequila.demon.co.uk>
20) SFAM story (submitted for approval)
by Chris Oates <coates@objy.com>
21) Re: Tuonela
by "Jyrki Takalo-Kastari" <deadhead@nic.fi>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 09:44:28 +0200
From: Bernd Basmer <basmer@med-rz.uni-saarland.de>
To: ytsejam@torchsong.com
Subject: My first reaction to the new DT album was...
Message-ID: <4.1.19991026093358.0095e600@krzsun.med-rz.uni-sb.de>
"Holy shit..."
I got the album already over a month ago and I can only say that nothing
else had a chance to enter my CD-player since then.
If any member of this incredible band reads this: Congratulations to you
all. This is just the best music I have heard since we put out Younique.
Hehehe. :)))) Kidding of course. :) Honestly I think that there is no better
music around at the moment and hasn't been since a very long time.
Finally somebody has found the key again to create real interesting
AND enjoyable music.
I'm happy that something like this can still happen.
Greetings
Bernd
----------------------------------------------------
Bernd Basmer
Guitar - Superior
For info about Superior have a look at
http://www.free-minded.de/
----------------------------------------------------
It's only work if somebody makes you do it.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 16:10:08 +0200
From: "Vandenabeele, Hein" <Hein.Vandenabeele@um.be>
To: "'ytsejam@torchsong.com'" <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: 1980 - 1992 Uncool ??? Horrible ???
Message-ID: <F999CB08F9C7D21195E30008C70D350681CCE2@julia.um.be>
<Umm, I think its pretty obvious why kids nowadays dont like JLB's voice.
<Being only 17 myself I know the difficulty that goes into liking a band
that basically
<sounds like they are from the 80s.
<I don't know if you realise 1978-1992 is a seriously uncool period in time.
In
<fact its horrible. And rightly so. I mean how can you justify bands like
Poison,
<Devo, Gary Glitter etc.
Ever heard of bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Slayer and
hundreds of other nice metal bands... If you are only seventeen, they are
maybe a little unknown to you. Just check them out !!!
HeinV
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 06:19:42 +0200
From: Matej Grginic <izolit@siol.net>
To: ytsejam@torchsong.com
Subject: Re: SFAM etc.
Message-ID: <38152BDE.86F1B7F7@siol.net>
>I just wanna know where you slovenian guys bought the album! I was just in
>the music store and asked for it and the guy said that he doesn`t know when
>will it come... damn! I said that i`ll drop by at the end of the week, just
>in case. I think it took 2 weeks before new Queensryche arrived here...
>damn, i hate living here sometimes!
The MC store on Miklosiceva got the first 5 copies, bought all by me
for various friends :)
>anyhow... Matej, have you taped Petrucci`s clinic at Friday? What`s our
>acoustic like? :-))) Have you played it yet?
Yeah I taped it, but sorry guys, I promised I won't share or sell it.
John is very against bootleg and I intend to respect that.
The guitar is beyond everything I've ever played before and I tried
some very highend stuff.. It plays/sounds/looks just wonderfully :)
Matej
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 10:29:29 -0400
From: "Phil Carter" <phil@usefulware.com>
To: Scenes From a Ytse <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: Re: Jens Johansson, stratovarius
Message-ID: <4.1.19991026101811.009c9ac0@pop.usefulware.com>
Greetings ye 'jamanoids...
Adriano sez:
>I remember that a few days ago somebody posted some comments
>about Derek's departure from the band, and said he'd like
>to have seen an ex-Malmsteen keyboardist take over DT's
>keys ... But, assuming that the guy he was talking about
>was Jens Johansson, I've only 2 words to say about that: Fuck yeah!!!!
>I know Jens is on
>this list, and I remember reading somewhere he was one of the guys who
>auditioned to replace KevMo, if I'm not mistaken...
You're not mistaken. Jens has the full story on his website at
http://www.panix.com/~jens/parse.cgi/faq-dt.par
It's a bit too long to post here, but very entertaining. Check out the rest
of his homepage while you're there; Jens is a nutcase -- albeit a very
intelligent and talented nutcase. :)
Paul D. wants to know:
>I was under the impression that the violins (really old antiques - worth a
>packet) were called Stradivarius...so the strat in Stratovarious is some
>sort of power metally play on words kind of thing...
>anyone confirm this??
Yanked from the Stratovarius FAQ at http://www.stratovarius.com/ :
****
3.2 What does "Stratovarius" mean?
It doesn't mean anything per se, but it is a cross between the words
Stratocaster, which is a well known model by the guitar manufacturer
Fender and Stradivarius, which is a famous violin type.
****
No DT for me yet. Gotta wait till after work. Consoling myself by playing
LTE2 at high volume. :)
cheers,
Phil
================================================
Phil Carter -- Usefulware Production Department
phil@usefulware.com / 770-424-2525 ext. 207
Visit http://www.usefulware.com/ for ConnectionMagic for ISPs
"I never should have written all those tank programs."
-- Kevin Flynn, "Tron"
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 11:02:21 -0400
From: Steve Godbout <godbouts@videotron.ca>
To: YTSEJAM Mailing list <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: My thanks to the Band!!!!(spoilers if you care)
Message-ID: <3815C27D.551A09D9@videotron.ca>
Mike, John, John, James and Jordan,
Let me join my E-voice to the already crescending chorus of those
already doing so on the Jam. I beleive that we ytsejammers are a bunch
of very very very lucky people. I can't assume to know this is exactly
true but as far as I am concerned, there is NO OTHER BAND on this planet
that is as in touch with the pulse of its fans as Dream Theater is. Over
the last two years, people on this list have voiced opinions and
preferences, likes and dislikes concerning FII, directions of DT's music
and band members. Given, that's what fans do. Even if sometimes, the
respect we owe these guys was not returned.
All the while, at least Mike Portnoy (which is the only confirmed band
member reading this list) was sitting at home, taking notes!!! Now, to
me that is pretty amazing!!!!! I, for one, was missing greatly the old
DT font, did not like the work of Kevin Shirley, could have gotten used
to Derek but missed the complexity and beautifulness of KM's keyboard
parts as well as the then scarce interplays between JP's guitar and the
keys... FII was, to me, a "bottom of the ladder" album for DT, mainly
due to the too frequent repetitions whithin songs bringning substantialy
down the overall complexity. I said so on this list and got my fair
share of flames for doing so. And before today, was hoping to one day
get to hear Met II and maybe a concept album from OFB. Now, time has
come to make amends and give credit where credit is due...
Guys, we now have it all!!! Derek is now gone and a truely amazing
keyboard player has replaced him. Jordan adds a new, beautiful and even
more complex dimension to DT. We now have in our hands a concept album
based and the Metropolis story line. Metropolis II is now a reality and
is 77 minutes long!!!!! And man is this album beautiful! The story is
gripping and complexe and I do not think I have ever heard that much
emotion comming from 4 instruments and a voice. The album is well
balanced with many kickass and cruchy parts, entertwined with truly
emotionally gripping slower parts... I've actually felt sorrow for
Victoria and also felt Nicholas's anguish. I have now listened to the
album in its entirety 7 or 8 times and will probably get this number up
to 30 before the weekend kiks in... Guys, we truely have ourselves one
amazing band, in touch with its fans in a way that is almost
unveleivable. Over the next few months, we'll have the chance to tear
this album apart bit by bit and put it back together again and I'm sure
that new and wonderful things will always be found. In my opinion, DT's
music has come back to it's pre-FII status in regards to emotional
content and progressive complexity I had come to expect and relish.
After my first audition of SFaM, I thought I had died and gone to
heaven. DT has given us on hell of a gift and I for one, am more
greatful than can possibly be expressed with mere words on a computer
screen.
Mr Portnoy, let me thank you once again for this gift to your fans. I
feel privileged to be amongst them and I truely appreciate the talents
of every guy on the band as well as he band's aptitude at writing and
playing music that stirs my soul to the core. Never in my life has ANY
music from ANYONE brought out so much contentment, happyness and
enjoyment as yours has done for me for the last six years. I could not
be more proud to bear the Majesty logo tatooed on my left shoulder in my
own small way of paying tribute to the musicians and the music that have
been SIGNIGICANT parts of my life. Thank you! Thank you, Thank you...
Steve Godbout
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 17:13:30 +0200
From: Michael Pruchnicki <mlpruchnicki@computec.de>
To: "'ytsejam@torchsong.com'" <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: AW: My thanks to the Band!!!!(spoilers if you care)
Message-ID: <A1205194D0DAD2119B05006097B4030801E478@Mail.computec.de>
> I could not
> be more proud to bear the Majesty logo tatooed on my left shoulder in my
> own small way of paying tribute to the musicians and the music that have
> been SIGNIGICANT parts of my life.
Well, that's not true for me *yet*, but this album will make this tattoo
thing happen!
> Thank you! Thank you, Thank you...
Where do I sign? Oh yeah, right. Here! :)
- Mike P. (the other one)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 11:17:43 -0400
From: Steve Godbout <godbouts@videotron.ca>
To: YTSEJAM Mailing list <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: About the live rendition of SFaM...
Message-ID: <3815C617.86BEACD0@videotron.ca>
That being said...
Now, I beleive that we have gotten everything we have asked for for
christmas so I ask the generous givers not to take this as a request but
simply as joyful speculation on the heels of the excitement brought
forth by SFaM...
Now, ytsejammers, whats your take on the SFaM tour? I have not had the
chance to see either Genesis's "Lamb lies down on broadway" or STYX's
"Killroy was here" live, but I've seen a local band
called Musical Box do a tribute of Genesis's show that was so true to
the real thing that critics and genesis fans were floored. I also saw
Killroy was here on videotape. Now, would'nt it be a blast to get some
kind of theatrical rendition of the Metropolis story line on stage all
through the show? I seriously do not know what OFB has in mind for us on
this tour and I would be VERY happy to get a regular show whith the
whole album played from start to finish (if that is physicaly possible)
but would'nt be fraggingly incredible to get a theatrical show? After
all these guys are the Dream Theater no? So, a fan can dream can't he?
In any case, I look forward to seing the SFaM tour in ANY form
in Quebec City!
Just my 0,03$ worth (hey, I'm Canadian (shrug))
Steve Godbout
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 12:08:13 -0400
From: Chris Jerolamon <ckj@UDel.Edu>
To: Ytsejam <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: new DT...
Message-ID: <3815D1ED.BDD91978@udel.edu>
SFaM is kicking my ass all over the room as I write this. I think my
neighbors are enjoying it too...
-- Chris Jerolamon ckj@udel.edu------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 12:17:31 -0400 From: "Lauzon, Gary: #IHAB-NGR - AAI-RND" <Lauzon.Gary@ic.gc.ca> To: "'DT'" <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Subject: Best album in the world!!! Message-ID: <199910261641.JAA28450@fugazi.torchsong.com>
This album has surpassed my all time favourites.. such as Images and Words and Heispheres from Rush... holy shit they really outdid themselves.. but the heck is with the last 2 minutes.. could someone email me personally or something to explain this.. or someone who really understands the story!
thanks in advance
Mr. ProG who just can't believe his ears... WOW!!!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 11:49:04 -0500 From: "Christopher Ptacek" <someone@digitalrodent.com> To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Subject: 1978-1992 Message-ID: <002d01bf1fd2$03d8db40$013ca8c0@madstation>
> From: "mikel@alphalink.com.au" <mikel@alphalink.com.au> > Umm, I think its pretty obvious why kids nowadays dont like JLB's voice. > Being only 17 myself I know the difficulty that goes into liking a band that basically > sounds like they are from the 80s. > I don't know if you realise 1978-1992 is a seriously uncool period in time. In > fact its horrible. And rightly so. I mean how can you justify bands like Poison, > Devo, Gary Glitter etc. > Unfortunately the power of self-image outweighs the power of music and so > kids won't even prod something that could be from the 80s with a ten foot long > stick.
Explain bands like KoRn, Pantera, Metallica, Sting, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, Van Halen, Beastie Boys, etc who always seem to chart well. It has more to do with what radio forces down your throat and what MTV forces down your throat than ANYTHING else, as I know, because when I was a little younger than you, they had me LIKING bands like Poison, Warrant etc. Anything with a hook + enough repetetive listens, will make you remember the song. When you least expect it, you will even start liking the songs. And for what it's worth, I can guarantee you that in 10 years, people will be making fun of people who wore big pants ("Big Pants, Bigger Loser" - AC) the same way they made fun of bell bottoms, floods, and spandex. That's one reason I wear clothes my size. :) You are living within the grasp of a trend. You don't see, nor did I when I was your age, nor do most of your classmates, that it will end, and as soon as something new is labeled this year's "Winger" (It'll probably be something like Metallica or Pantera) people will shed their treasured self images faster than a snake in old skin, hoping to maintain the illusion of "coolness." It's like a 90210 viscious cycle, but it's nothing new... just about every decade goes through that nonsense. I just wont stand to have the 80's disparaged that plainly. 1978-1992 defined all that is modern rock guitar, in any format. That means if some kid likes Limp Bizkit, Primus, the Goo Goo Dolls... it means nothing to me which band you choose, without the work that was completed in the 80's there would be no such thing. If you're one of the few who likes DT and shred guitar, you should just sit there quietly wishing you could have been old enough to realize what people were doing in the 80's and early 90's. Trends are built on top of trends. No target audience is immune.
- Chris
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 12:56:56 -0400 From: Chris Jerolamon <ckj@UDel.Edu> To: Ytsejam <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Subject: Just CHecking Message-ID: <3815DD58.7FD594BE@udel.edu>
Okay, great album...but I have one question for all of you. Does everyone else's CD end in static? I wasn't sure if that was a defective CD or some kind of artistic statement. Please let me know just in case I have to run back to the store and exchange it. Thanks,
-- Chris Jerolamon ckj@udel.edu
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 19:17:53 +0200 From: "Dennis Leefl@ng" <dl@xs4all.nl> To: "Ytsejam" <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Subject: The new Dream Theater cd on Seismic Radio! Message-ID: <004d01bf1fd6$0c224c60$729c6dc2@xs4all.nl>
Hey there!
I just wanted to let you all know that on my show "StiX MiX" I'm doing for Seismic Radio on wednesday 27 oktober (3-5 PM Eastern American Time/9-11 PM Central European Time) I will be playing the entire new Dream Theater cd in one spin. So tune in and listen! After that you're able to request songs in the #seismic IRC channel (irc.forestnet.org).
For more info check out www.seismicradio.com . Simply go to the website and click "Listen"!
Hope to see you there!
Dennis
============================================= dennis@seismicradio.com Dennis Leeflang's DrumWeb: http://www.xs4all.nl/~dl/ Sun Caged: http://www.xs4all.nl/~dl/suncaged/ Seismic Radio: http://www.seismicradio.com/ ICQ: 21285351 StiX on IRC (irc.forestnet.org, channel #seismic) =============================================
"All I know about life is... Every time you yank a hair out your nose... you sneeze." ~ David Letterman
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 10:34:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Brian Hansen <bhansen10@yahoo.com> To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: re: JLB singing Message-ID: <19991026173400.25888.rocketmail@web107.yahoomail.com>
"mikel@alphalink.com.au" <mikel@alphalink.com.au> wrote:
> I don't know if you realise 1978-1992 is a seriously uncool period in time.
ROTFLMAO! That was funny on so many levels!
Here's how it works... Styles get very popular. Then people get sick of it and it becomes very uncool. Then enough time passes and people like it again (nostalgia). Lather, rinse, repeat.
> I mean how can you justify bands like Poison, Devo, Gary Glitter etc.
Yep, when a style gets very popular, a lot of real bad stuff gets released. It's the gravy train. Record companies will back any shit "artist" if it's the current style and they think they can make some money. Popular styles breed a lot of crap at the time. That's just the way it works.
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 17:40:44 +0000 (GMT) From: Matt Birskovich <mattb@primenet.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Subject: I'm not as disappointed in James as I thought. Message-ID: <Pine.BSI.3.96.991026173730.1469A-100000@usr07.primenet.com>
Well, I've listened to teh albom a lot more recently. Though I am still not as utterly thrilled as the rest of you, I have changed my negative view of James. I think, actually, he did the most experimentation with his voice of any albom. All the different accents and timbre changes are very cool. On the second track, he really gives the impression of a young girl, and I'll never forget the time he says, "You're only given one shot." Hello Dave Guilmore! I still see very little thematic and story parallel to Met. I, though, as I say, the albom is slowly growing on me. Maybe some day, I'll really dig it. Be well. Matt B
Notice the new email address. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mattb __ __ ____ ___ ___ ____ mattb@primenet.com /__)/__) / / / / /_ /\ / /_ / / / \ / / / / /__ / \/ /___ / -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 19:46:05 +0200 From: "sK@RRe" <sdts@home.se> To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 5137 Message-ID: <3815E8DD.C1EBB0A6@home.se>
This seems a bit obsessive. Definite psychotic stalker material ;o)
Andreas Skarin Svenska Dream Theater Sallskapet http://sdts.cjb.net - mailto:sdts@home.se
Guido Mercati wrote:
> Metropolis II:Scenes from a memory is definetely the BEST album ever made= > by someone on this Earth. > I've got no words to review this INCREDIBLE album. It's absolutely= > unbelievible. > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!= > > GUITAR CHEF > c/o Guido Mercati > via Ilario Tabarri,5 > 47100 - Forl=EC (FO) > Italy - Europe > http://auditorium.it.fortunecity.com/strumento/4
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 13:02:22 -0500 From: "pika pi" <phairgirl@prodigy.net> To: "ytsejam" <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Subject: Out of the Lurkness: SFAM Message-ID: <000401bf1fdc$40a22ea0$c02d0b18@dubuq1.ia.home.com>
My first post, possibly my only post, as I figure I'll say just about everything I need to say.
A bit of an introduction: I discovered Dream Theater in '92 on Headbangers Ball (ahhh, the good old days of MTV). I have since found approximately 3 people in my hometown here in the middle of nowhere Iowa who have heard of Dream Theater, and only one of them was without my own personal intervention. It's scary out here, folks. Anyway, since then, they've been my Favorite Band Of All Time, taking a backseat here and there as I discovered new stuff, but always coming back up to the top.
I must also say that this is the first time I've ever purchased the newest DT release ON THE RELEASE DATE. I don't buy magazines, and like I said, nobody here listens to DT. For some ungodly reason, I hadn't subscribed to the jam until this past month, and I never check websites, so for the first time I'm not in the record store shouting "WHY AM I ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW???" I'm a die-hard Kevin Moore fan, but that's really neither here nor there. I've been happy with damn near everything DT has produced, before or since his departure.
I have a very wide range of musical tastes, very few of them prog simply because I've been spoiled early on by Yes and DT and find so much of the rest of the genre to be such a step down that I don't bother. My main influences are DT and Liz Phair, if this paints a fairly accurate picture of what I'm trying to say here.
Anyway, I've been driving everybody nuts at work eagerly awaiting "Dream Theater Day." They're gonna hear SFAM more times than any human should.
As far as the new album goes... I figured I'd make this good.
First of all--I was utterly taken aback at how POWERFUL this album is. There's no other way to describe it, really, except utterly powerful. Even with its quieter moments, there's such a power to it that doesn't let go. Considering I'm not necessarily one of those people who needs loud shredding in order to be intrigued, I found a lot of beauty in the intricasies of the less-heavy moments of the disc. Of course, it never hurts to have my metaphorical balls ripped off, either, and there was plenty of that abound.
As far as individual "songs" went... I found "Strange Deja Vu" and "Fatal Tragedy" to be incredible... there was some kick-ass musicianship at work on there. I kind of got a little lost during "Beyond This Life," my mind started drifting away... it just got kind of monotonous. However, hearing "Home" for the first time in a quality nicer than 11kHz 32kbps simply made the song all that more incredible. But I do have to say... "Finally Free" had my jaw on the floor through the entire song. I don't remember ever being so utterly enraptured and caught up in a song like that... it made my heart beat fast, I couldn't even look down to read the lyric sheet :) Utterly amazing.
Musicianship... I ADORED "Overture 1928" and "Dance of Eternity"... Rudess' choices of sounds might be kind of unique at times and not necessarily fitting what a regular listener would say "fits" DOE, but it adds a character that is highly interesting. The ragtime-ish break in the song was a breath of fresh air. And as far as the female vocals on "Through Her Eyes" that so many people have been bitching about... they didn't necessarily fit all that well (some LYRICS for the poor girl to sing might have helped this out a bit... "oh," "yeah," and "mmm" was kind of stupid), but overall it didn't detract fromt he song. Portnoy's drums are AMAZING on this disc, something I never noticed on any of the other albums, something I don't usually notice on ANY album. LaBrie sounds almost reserved on this disc, which was kind of disappointing. I wish he would cut loose more... there's nothing nicer than hearing him shred.
Writing... lyrically, the album was rather weak, but that's to be expected on something of this magnitude. You have to sacrifice for continuity's sake, but at least it's not cheesy. The lyrics are CERTAINLY better than what The Who put together for "Tommy".
As far as continuity with MetI and thematically... Honestly, if I would have heard 30 of the 74 minutes simply being rehash of a song recorded 7 years ago that I've heard countless times, I would have been really upset. I find it fascinating that so many people weren't happy with this aspect... I'm also happy that the songs on this disc can stand alone, but are much better as a whole. There are very vague themes, which may be seen as negative by some, but personally I don't want half the album fighting to mimic the other half of the album. There was just enough to tie it together musically, although a little more may not have hurt, it's not something that stood out in my mind.
Influences... there's a hell of a lot of Pink Floyd influence on the quieter moments of this disc. "The Spirit Carries On" gave me flashbacks to The Wall, there was some severely nearly-ripping-off going on there, from what I can tell, almost dangerous copyright infringement treading ground in the first verse. I saw a lot less Yes influence and a lot more of a unique sound, though. There's very little else which this can be compared, and that's ALWAYS great.
On the topic of MetIII... I'm not sure if you people were listening to the same disc that I was, but I don't see a conceivable possibility for a storyline for a MetIII. Besides, what the hell do you do for an encore to a full album of MetII? A six-disc set?
I know I sound like I'm singing and dancing over this album, which I generally don't mean to do, because I am highly critical of music in general and never like to fully praise something. But then again, if it's earned... yeah.
I'm still bitter that I got the kids I used to babysit "back in the day" into DT, and those little rich brats have been carted to no less than 6 DT concerts out of town, whereas I just now have a car decent enough that might make the 4-hour trek to see them. Bleh! This time around, I'm seeing them anytime they're in a 3-state radius :)
Anyway... it's been nice hearing everyone's comments, and hopefully everyone is as happy as I am with this disc. Pretty soon, my 87-year-old neighbor will know all the lyrics by heart.
United Love In Music, Summer
HOE e'zine: http://www.hoe.nu Homepage: http://phairgirl.tripod.net Contact: phairgirl@hoe.nu Find me on Efnet #ezines
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Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 15:05:03 -0200 From: Rogerio Brito <rbrito@iname.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Subject: Re: Just CHecking Message-ID: <19991026150503.C1813@iname.com>
On Oct 26 1999, Chris Jerolamon wrote: > I wasn't sure if that was a defective CD or some kind of artistic > statement.
The best quote in the Ytsejam in recent years... :-)
[]s, Roger...
-- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Rogerio Brito - rbrito@iname.com - http://www.ime.usp.br/~rbrito/ Nectar homepage: http://www.linux.ime.usp.br/~rbrito/opeth/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 19:19:45 +0100 From: Gary Cleghorn <gary@tequila.demon.co.uk> To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: A Memorable day Message-ID: <RYUgmGABDfF4Ewjs@tequila.demon.co.uk>
In article <4956f7ef03graham@picsel.com>, Graham Borland <graham@picsel.com> writes > >Pleasant surprise of the day, no. 1: >Walking into a record shop, here in the UK, to discover literally dozens >of SFAM CDs on the *day of release*. Completely unprecedented! Yes but how much did you pay for it ?
I got it for 11.99 in Newcastle, not bad considering HMV and Virgin charge way more for new releases.
>Pleasant surprise of the day, no. 2: >The album cover, and the good old DT font.
Yeah, glad to see it back.
>Pleasant surprise of the day, no. 3: >The album. It didn't move me at all on the first listen, but now it's >woken up and given me a right good kick up the arse. Incredible! :-)
I felt the same, couldn't quite understand why, but i think it gets better with time (i felt the same with "Mindcrime")
>Pleasant surprise of the day, no. 4: >The new-look web site. Well done, Mark.
Clever bloke that Mr B :-)
-- Gary Cleghorn
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Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 19:11:37 +0100 From: Gary Cleghorn <gary@tequila.demon.co.uk> To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: JLB singing Message-ID: <oZC+GDAZ7eF4Ew0c@tequila.demon.co.uk>
In article <38154FD9.7AC9CDB8@alphalink.com.au>, mikel@alphalink.com.au <mikel@alphalink.com.au> writes > >> > >Umm, I think its pretty obvious why kids nowadays dont like JLB's voice. >Being only 17 myself I know the difficulty that goes into liking a band that basically >sounds like they are from the 80s. >I don't know if you realise 1978-1992 is a seriously uncool period in time. In >fact its horrible. And rightly so.
Ha ha you have absolutely no idea how stupid you sound , were you going to see bands during this time?
>I mean how can you justify bands like Poison, >Devo, Gary Glitter etc.
They all have their fans even though i think they all stink its all down to personal taste of which you have only but started to explore your own. Wait until you are in your 30's and some 17 year old starts dismissing a period in your life as if it has no worth at all ,only then will you understand. > Unfortunately the power of self-image outweighs the power of music and so >kids won't even prod something that could be from the 80s with a ten foot long >stick. Yes, you're right, that's because you're 17 but it doesn't make you right.
You will come to understand one day, but not soon it seems.
-- Gary Cleghorn
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Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 11:45:39 -0700 From: Chris Oates <coates@objy.com> To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: SFAM story (submitted for approval) Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19991026114539.009d2540@objypop>
Yeah, spoilers for those who don't have the new album yet.
So, after 1.5 listens (currently playing at work) here's my take on what the story is. I'm not going to post quotes to back up my ideas, but I can. Juat would take too long at this point.
The "past" story
Victoria and Julian are lovers. He has a drug problem, and she goes to his brother Edward for consolation, and Ed starts to fall in love/lust with her. She finally more or less breaks it off with Julian, who leaves for parts east (India?) He cleans up his act, realizing that Victoria is more important to him than anything else, but finds that she and Edward have married in his absence. He still loves her, and she still loves him. They start to have an affair. Victoris decides to leave Edward so she can finally be with Julian, but Edward kills both of them and plants the note on Julian to make it look like a mnurder-suicide.
Simple enough. Probably got some details wrong.
The Nicholas story:
Nick has weird dreams about people he doesn't know (Met part 1 can be seen as an early abstract dream concerning the themes in part 2) -- He goes to a hypnotherapist to regress him. He is the reincarnation of Victoria, and he sees fragments of her life, but cannot figure out exactly how she died. He first believes it is just the murder suicide as Edward wanted it to be seen, and goes home and plays an old record, but something isn't right. He then sees that Edward killed both Victoria and Julian. The hypnotherapist wakes him. He has been regressing the whole time.
Open for comment / debate / corrections.
~Chris
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Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 21:05:30 +0300 From: "Jyrki Takalo-Kastari" <deadhead@nic.fi> To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Subject: Re: Tuonela Message-ID: <034f01bf1fe7$1a142ee0$cc63ec3e@masiina>
----- Original Message ----- ]From: Amanda Rosenblum <mildew@ucla.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@torchsong.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 5:00 AM Subject: Re: Tuonela and free servers
> > As for Tuonela.. I listed to the verse in the title track where they say > "Tuonela". They say it "Two-nuh-LAH" but the first syllable is long. > It's almost as if someone snuck another syllable in there so it sounds a > bit like "Two-uh-nuh-LAH". i gotta stop taking these linguistics > courses.
Actually it's not like that. I'll try to explain it.
TU is same as to. O is like o in origin NE like NE in Netherlands and finally LA like it's said in large.
I think that it could be pretty hard to pronounce for a english speaker.
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End of YTSEJAM Digest 5141 **************************
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