quote:

Originally posted by pakrbakr:
I am hooked on The Black Keys right now. They are a bluesy, rockish 2 piece that totally blows me away. The production of the CDs is very raw and dirty, and AWESOME.

If you are a Black Keys first timer, I don't think you can go wrong with their latest release, Attack and Release.

I'm betting this is the best CD you'll buy in 2008.

Thanks. Good stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by Henry:


She left me for Jesus

The show I missed...

I'll never listen to Jesus again.

The songsmith's version.

Another bad liver.

quote:

Originally posted by Since69:

I have Ghost Reveries, but I shelved it after a couple of spins. Great musicianship, but I just can't get into the vocals. Are they similar on the new album?

Personally, I'm more into power metal than progressive - Kamelot, Stratovarius, Avantasia - but I also like Symphony X, Evergrey and Dream Theater. What else is good out there?

I would describe the Watershed songs/vocals as follows:

1. Coil / All acoustic number, all clean vocals
2. Heir Apparent / Heavy number, all death vocals
3. The Lotus Eater / Heavy number, 75% clean vocals w/ 25% death vocals
4. Burden/ A ballad, all clean vocals
5. Porcelain Heart / A half-heavy half-mellow number, only vocals in the mellow section all of which are clean
6. Hessian Peel / First half of number heavy with alternating heavy-mellow sections afterwards, all clean vocals in the first half and probably about half and half clean and death vocals afterwards
7. Hex Omega / Mainly a heavy number which I think contains only clean vocals

Overall there are probably less death vocals on this than any Opeth album with the exception of Damnation. Damnation is their mellow album, called an acoustic album at the time. However, Damnation contains plenty of electric playing but virtually no distortion and all of the vocals are clean. The songs follow much more traditional arrangements as well.

Even though Watershed contains fewer death vocals, I would still call it less accessable than Ghost Reveries was just because many of the musical arrangements on it are just way out there. From just completely dissonant stuff to almost funk-like grooves, it's a disc that will likely require a bunch of listens for a person to find any continuity in it.

When recommending Opeth discs, I've always thought someone should start with Blackwater Park, as that is a pretty good representation of all that they do wrapped in a pretty listenable format. Ghost Reveries would probably be my #2 recommendation, so if you don't like that then Opeth is probably not for you. But if you do like the mellow sections of Ghost Reveries, then I would possibly suggest Damnation because you could find that quite enjoyable. Just don't get it mixed up with it's sister-release Deliverance, as that is quite a heavy album.

I listen to some power metal but not a lot. I do have 2 Kamelot discs, 1 Stratovarius disc, 2 Symphony X discs, 2 Evergrey discs and pretty much everything Dream Theater has ever released. But like you with Opeth, I very rarely pull the Kamelot, Statovarius and Evergrey discs off the shelf. Of the Symphony X discs, the only one that I will occasionally give a listen to is The Odyssey. I listen to Dream Theater stuff all the time.

Avantasia is something I've never heard but have been thinking of checking out.

If you like that you might want to consider the new Ayreon disc titled 01011001. It is a double-disc rock opera with multiple guest vocalists which from what I know is similar to the Avantasia projects (although I would suspect the Ayreon stuff would be more proggy then the Avantasia stuff). Russell Allen of Symphony X has appeared on Star One...an offshoot project from Ayreon's creator, and Michael Romeo contributes one guitar solo on 01011001. Evergrey's singer also performs some lead vocals on this recording as well.

Nuts. Sounds like like I wouldn't care much for Watershed. Maybe I'll LimeWire a couple of songs to preview them.

I'll definitely check out 01011001. Thanks for the heads up.

quote:

Originally posted by Since69:
Nuts. Sounds like like I wouldn't care much for Watershed. Maybe I'll LimeWire a couple of songs to preview them.

I'll definitely check out 01011001. Thanks for the heads up.

I don't know what LimeWire is as I really never do any type of downloading (still working on that 56k modem, LOL!).

If you are looking to preview non-Ghost Reveries stuff by Opeth, with the intention of someday buying something, I'd recommend searching for the following tracks:

Blackwater Park tracks:
Bleak
Harvest
The Drapery Falls

Damnation tracks:
In My Time of Need
Hope Leaves

If none of those tracks catch your ear, then Opeth is just not for you.

As far as 01011001, see if you can find the following:
Age of Shadows incl. We are Forever
Beneath the Waves

Also be aware the 01011001 is sold in the following formats:
-standard 2 CD edition
-2 CD + DVD edition
-2 CD + DVD special packaging edition
The special packaging edition is not really worth the extra money unless you are a diehard fan. However, I would recommend getting a copy with the DVD if you are into that sort of thing. If you check out 01011001 and like it, I would be glad to give you further recommendations on the Ayreon catalog.

Here's a little something from a new band...yes, someone that is "related" to me is a member so be nice!

Lost In Zion

quote:

Originally posted by MsPacman:
Here's a little something from a new band...yes, someone that is "related" to me is a member so be nice!

Lost In Zion

In all seriousness, this is the ONLY song linked in this thread that I liked. Once they get signed they'll only be better with better production. That's my kind of music... I could see it listed at two of my favorite music websites..

www.nehrecords.com

www.melodicrock.com

This is my current fav...lyrically powerful...written from the perspective of his father on the day of his wife's funeral while he's standing by her casket... Click the "lyrics" tab for background from the band on the song. Amazing.

BESIDE YOU NOW...by THE FOLD

http://www.myspace.com/thefold

Wow, I like that song, CoP. They've got really smooth vocals. Thanks for the link.

quote:

Originally posted by Brak:

quote:

Originally posted by pakrbakr:
I am hooked on The Black Keys right now. They are a bluesy, rockish 2 piece that totally blows me away. The production of the CDs is very raw and dirty, and AWESOME.

If you are a Black Keys first timer, I don't think you can go wrong with their latest release, Attack and Release.

I'm betting this is the best CD you'll buy in 2008.

Thanks. Good stuff.

pakrbakr...Wondering if you've heard of these guys?... thought you might like them...

http://cdbaby.com/cd/bowesmorley

---Ms. Pacman...Glad you enjoyed that song by The Fold... I'm hooked on it.

quote:

Originally posted by MsPacman:
Here's a little something from a new band...yes, someone that is "related" to me is a member so be nice!

Lost In Zion

Not bad...

Not related, but I like their name. Sheboygan

Nice. Sure can hear the Beatles influence in their music.

If there are any parents of autistic children out there...I offer this song which is as deeply personal to me as any I've ever heard...

The writer wrote the lyrics from his interpretation of how God views us... I interpret this as how I view my 8 year old autistic son. Autistics don't communicate well/easily and this is a plea to get closer and an offer of my lifelong love and support for his betterment...I swear my computer monitor is a barrel of onions everytime I listen to this song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnyE6Cx6X0I&feature=related

If you like smooth vocal talent... This is a LIVE performance of a very haunting ballad...sounds as good as the track from the CD. This kid could've won American Idol with his incredible range and quality...the vocals at the end of the song come from some place strange.

SHORELINE by DEAS VAIL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJrBFx6YpWI

Sounds a lot like Eric Woolfson

That was pretty but it was a bit too smooth for my tastes.

I really did like the vocals in The Fold's song but in general I usually prefer a husky voice with a bit of grit.

Oh, and I really loved the songs you linked by Bowes & Morley. That's more my style and I think I might just buy that CD!

quote:

Originally posted by MsPacman:
That was pretty but it was a bit too smooth for my tastes.

I really did like the vocals in The Fold's song but in general I usually prefer a husky voice with a bit of grit.

Oh, and I really loved the songs you linked by Bowes & Morley. That's more my style and I think I might just buy that CD!

Glad you enjoyed some of that stuff.

Ms. Pacman...based on your tastes... I wonder what you think of this vocalist... if you haven't already heard of him...

JORN...OUT TO EVERY NATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h69Ixpdy4zg

quote:

Originally posted by Hungry5:
An old favorite of mine - NSFW

Along the same lines, but not as explicit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q56pHCGrlc4&feature=related

quote:

Originally posted by Change of Possession:

quote:

Originally posted by MsPacman:
That was pretty but it was a bit too smooth for my tastes.

I really did like the vocals in The Fold's song but in general I usually prefer a husky voice with a bit of grit.

Oh, and I really loved the songs you linked by Bowes & Morley. That's more my style and I think I might just buy that CD!

Glad you enjoyed some of that stuff.

Ms. Pacman...based on your tastes... I wonder what you think of this vocalist... if you haven't already heard of him...

JORN...OUT TO EVERY NATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h69Ixpdy4zg

Well, judging from that song he seems to have a really good voice which is suited to that kind of music. Unfortunately, I'm not real big on metal/hard rock. I don't totally hate it but I don't listen to it very much either.

Stumbled across this group searching for some old favorites... and really like this offering from them...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBAVeceasx0

I'm probably getting too old to appreciate that but the vocals seemed on the verge of being emo to me.

How about this? Love Hurts - Incubus

quote:

Originally posted by Change of Possession:
Stumbled across this group searching for some old favorites... and really like this offering from them...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBAVeceasx0

Do you squat to pee?

quote:

Originally posted by Change of Possession:
If there are any parents of autistic children out there...I offer this song which is as deeply personal to me as any I've ever heard...

The writer wrote the lyrics from his interpretation of how God views us... I interpret this as how I view my 8 year old autistic son. Autistics don't communicate well/easily and this is a plea to get closer and an offer of my lifelong love and support for his betterment...I swear my computer monitor is a barrel of onions everytime I listen to this song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnyE6Cx6X0I&feature=related

Mine is eleven. Don't like the song, but thanks for the offering.

Unsolicited link: www.autismspeaks.com

{EDIT} -- Keeping with the thread, his current favorites are Weezer and Wilco. Not my influence, I promise!

Maybe it's the "W"...