Mark’s Quick Review: Big Big Train – Grimspound0 (0)

Mark’s Quick Review: Big Big Train – Grimspound
0 (0)

by | Sep 29, 2017 | Reviews

"Buy

So here were are with the prolific band Big Big Train. So here is a band that I have and am flying to the UK (from chicago) to see. In fact I am seeing them live today, That's how much I think of this band.

On the note of this album however I think that is does not quite live up to the ridiculously good albums of the English Electric I and II and the Wassail EP. That being said I think this album is decent and I will be glad to hear any of it live today.

At its worst the songs are average but there are a few gems out there.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Brave Captain, Meadowland, A Mead Hall in Winter.

[usrlist "PREVIOUS BAND RATING:4" "ACCESSIBILITY:3" "HEAVINESS:2" "MELODIC:3.5" "ARTWORK & PACKAGING:4" "DRAMA:4" "OVERALL RATING:4"]

 

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

"Buy

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Von Hertzen Brothers – Love Remains the Same0 (0)

Mark’s Quick Review: Von Hertzen Brothers – Love Remains the Same
0 (0)

by | Sep 14, 2017 | Reviews

"Buy

This 2008 release shows the steady improvement of this band. The opening track shows a new maturity to their song writing and was the highlight for me at RosFest show.

As I like to say when reviewing their albums I do like the way siblings can harmonize. The siblings have a bit of a "sonic" quality when doing so.

The album Highlights make this album a buy recomendation

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Bring out the Sun (So Alive), Somewhere in the Middle, I Came for You

[usrlist "PREVIOUS BAND RATING:3" "ACCESSIBILITY:4" "HEAVINESS:3" "MELODIC:3" "ARTWORK & PACKAGING:3" "DRAMA:4" "OVERALL RATING:3.5"]

 

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

"Buy
"Buy

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Von Hertzen Brothers – Love Remains the Same0 (0)

Mark’s Quick Review: Europica’s – EUROPICA- part one
0 (0)

by | Sep 12, 2017 | Reviews

"Buy

A new album from Hungary EUROPICA- part one with guest singers Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden, Wolfsbane),Tim Ripper Owens (Judas Priest, Yngwie Malmsteen Band, Iced Earth), Fabio Lione (Rhapsody Of Fire, Kamelot, Angra), Ralf Scheepers (Gamma Ray, Primal Fear), Tomek Horytnica ( Horytnica).

The album consists of 10 songs, which were recorded for nine months in eleven different studios. The cd cover is the artwork of the famous graphic designer Gyula Havancsák, who has already worked for bands Accept, Stratovarius, Destruction, Kreator, Grave Digger.

This album is just a fun romp for fans of albums like Operation Mindcrime or Iron Maiden. No song is longer than 4:07 but when listened to in its entirety you can tell it basically on long song.

For what ever reason I thought it was fun and accessible but not a lot of drama despite the subject matter and the crunchy guitars and great vocals.

Its an album to enjoy for sure but I don't know if I could ever be passionate about this album. Looking forward to part II though.

[usrlist "PREVIOUS BAND RATING:0" "ACCESSIBILITY:3" "HEAVINESS:4" "MELODIC:2" "ARTWORK & PACKAGING:3" "DRAMA:2.5" "OVERALL RATING:3"]

 

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Request Here

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

"Buy
"Buy

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Von Hertzen Brothers – Love Remains the Same0 (0)

Mark’s Quick Review: Musique Noise’s – Dans le Temps qui setire
0 (0)

by | Sep 11, 2017 | Reviews

"Buy

So this album hit my desk last month, and we want to thank them for send it to us.

This release, Dans Le Temps Qui S'Etire, is a bit more avant guard than I usually like but it still struck me on first listen that this is a quality album. The boot leg live track was probably not really good enough quality to add to this release in my opinion.

I think this is a good album for more adventurous prog listeners

[usrlist "PREVIOUS BAND RATING:0" "ACCESSIBILITY:1.5" "HEAVINESS:2" "MELODIC:3" "ARTWORK & PACKAGING:2" "DRAMA:3" "OVERALL RATING:2.5"]

 

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Request Here

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Von Hertzen Brothers – Love Remains the Same0 (0)

Mark’s Quick Review: Galahad’s – Sleepless in Phoenixville.
0 (0)

by | Sep 10, 2017 | Reviews

"Buy

So I am letting the PC pick older albums at random so we don't end up with a bunch of 5 star albums in the collection of reviews.

But the computer is on a little streak of picking some great releases.

This one has a special place for me. I had never heard of Galahad before this introduction by Joel Craig at RosFest. Stu and company just blew us away. I have been a fan ever since. This live album is maybe a good place to start for you too if you never heard of the band.

This live album was in support of the wonderful empires never last album which is another great gateway album for progressive rock.

This band does have an open invitation to get an all expense paid trip to Chicago because of albums like this one.

[usrlist "PREVIOUS BAND RATING:0" "ACCESSIBILITY:4" "HEAVINESS:3.5" "MELODIC:3" "ARTWORK & PACKAGING:3" "DRAMA:4" "OVERALL RATING:4.5"]

 

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Request Here

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists