View Full Version : Album recommendations, no genre
hippypants
11-08-2012, 09:56 PM
I thought I'd start a thread on album recommendations. The can be prog, rock, jazz, blues, gospel, folk, country, spoken word, whatever--new or old. It would be nice if you just listed one per day, and also nice if you can say a bit about the album--why do you recommend it? Did it mean a lot to you or remind you of happy times, were you dating someone, or just because it's rockin'?
The first one I'll recommend is: George Harrison's Dark Horse from 1974. I'd never heard it before, and I found it at my brother's house so picked it up and played it. For one, it has a pretty cool cover, and I do remember the song Dark Horse from when it was played on the radio. It's one of his better albums, along the lines of All Things Must Past, as it's around the same timeframe. There's a little bit of experimentation on it, one side (he has the vinyl copy) starts off with an instrumental, and there's also a cover of the song, Bye Bye, Love on it. Also Tom Scott & the LA Express plays on it along with the guitarist Robben Ford, and Alvin Lee. If you enjoyed the album, All Things Must Past, you ought to seek out this album as well. I think you would enjoy it.
Birdy
12-18-2014, 08:36 PM
I thought I'd start a thread on album recommendations. The can be prog, rock, jazz, blues, gospel, folk, country, spoken word, whatever--new or old. It would be nice if you just listed one per day, and also nice if you can say a bit about the album--why do you recommend it? Did it mean a lot to you or remind you of happy times, were you dating someone, or just because it's rockin'?
The first one I'll recommend is: George Harrison's Dark Horse from 1974. I'd never heard it before, and I found it at my brother's house so picked it up and played it. For one, it has a pretty cool cover, and I do remember the song Dark Horse from when it was played on the radio. It's one of his better albums, along the lines of All Things Must Past, as it's around the same timeframe. There's a little bit of experimentation on it, one side (he has the vinyl copy) starts off with an instrumental, and there's also a cover of the song, Bye Bye, Love on it. Also Tom Scott & the LA Express plays on it along with the guitarist Robben Ford, and Alvin Lee. If you enjoyed the album, All Things Must Past, you ought to seek out this album as well. I think you would enjoy it.
Close To The Edge
Birdy
12-18-2014, 08:37 PM
:rofl
nosebone
12-18-2014, 08:59 PM
Lamb
notallwhowander
12-18-2014, 09:51 PM
Sam Cooke's Night Beat
This is some of the best R&B I've ever heard, and Sam had the prettiest man-voice ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR5sua82dN8
The liner notes say that these sessions were recorded around 3am in an empty club, just to get the right feel. Whatever the truth, the feel of the album is spectacular. It's a gem of a recording, the band is simple, minimal, and hit all the right notes. Sam's voice just soars.
Progbear
12-18-2014, 10:23 PM
Carrying on in the R&B vein from the previous post: Come to My Garden by Minnie Riperton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1kDd6yBQZ4
Minnie spent the tail end of the 60s in a Chicago mixed-race vocal group called the Rotary Connection, a sort of hipper, more explicitly psychedelic answer to the Fifth Dimension. Producer Charles Stepney decided her phenomenal soprano voice required a solo spotlight, and that’s this album. Backed by the Ramsey Lewis Trio and featuring dreamy orchestrations from Stepney, this is a very sophisticated pop-soul album in the vein of Dionne Warwick’s work with Burt Bacharach, but lusher, dreamier and with Minnie’s expressive, impossibly high-pitched voice chirping and cooing all over. Some of the tunes (mostly co-written by Stepney and Riperton’s husband Richard Rudolph) tend to be a bit sugary, but Minnie’s sincerity pushes these tunes over the edge. “Expecting” was reportedly inspired in part by Minnie’s as-yet unborn daughter, actress/comedienne Maya Rudolph.
Shadow
12-18-2014, 11:02 PM
MO - Vision of the Emerald Beyond - First concert I went to
Antonio de Cabezon(1510-1566).Spanish composer, blind since youth.Wrote beautiful music for brass, strings, organ, harpsichord.This budget priced box has a wealth of wonderful compositions by de Cabezon.
https://www.ccr.com.tw/GIMG/286/5028421943466_v097.JPG
This clip is from this box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vraK4dfVK1s
Sturgeon's Lawyer
12-19-2014, 11:17 AM
Red Elvises - Your Favorite Band Live. Not great art but the most fun album in my collection.
miamiscot
12-19-2014, 01:02 PM
All the way back in 1999, DC indie band The Dismemberment Plan released their masterpiece - Emergency And I.
Highly recommended.
mogrooves
12-19-2014, 01:20 PM
Nico - The Marble Index. Avant before the avant! Her death & destiny words and voice and creeped-out harmonium; John Cale's tortured soundscapes. No "Prog" collection that aspires to representativeness would be without it.
bill g
12-19-2014, 01:21 PM
'Say It In Slang' by M Coast.
Very intelligently written, indie 'pop' with some prog tendencies and influences. Great melodies, interesting chord changes, surprising twists, some psychedelia, and when I think 'who does this sound like', I can't think of anyone. Maybe just a touch of XTC? A great summer album, and woefully neglected. Should have been way, way more popular. 3 members, (2 male, 1 female) who take turns doing vocals pretty equally. Unfortunately, only the opening song is available for listening on youtube.
I dug out Steve Winwood's 'About Time' recently for the first time in years- I remember ordering this for around £1 several years back!
I remember playing it quite a bit around 2008/9 but hadn't listened to it much since. That's a shame, as it's a very good record- would that other 'rock legends' could cut latter-day albums as relaxed and yet assured as this. It definitely has more of the feel of early 70s Traffic than his 80s solo stuff did- for a start, I don't recall there being any synthesisers on it, just Hammond organ.
rcarlberg
12-19-2014, 03:23 PM
Leo Kottke - 6- and 12-string Guitar
This album has been in nearly constant rotation in my house for, what, 45 years now? I've never gotten tired of it. Can't think of anything else in my collection I can say that about.
Recorded in one afternoon, in exactly the order on the album, without edits or overdubs. Most were first takes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv_ffps5J1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oupOlponNjQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBHZNteVNK8
Magic Mountain
12-19-2014, 04:06 PM
Muddy Waters - Folk Singer. This is an acoustic blues album that features both Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy. The album's title was an attempt to cash in on the folk movement at the time. This is a great headphone album.
proggosaurus
12-19-2014, 04:08 PM
from one of the better female rock bands to ever take the stage....Phantom Blue's Built To Perform
co founder and guitarist Michelle Meldrum passed away in 2008 from a growth on her brain
vocalist Gigi Hangach won a date with Kato Kaelin in a Playgirl magazine contest
drummer Linda McDonald is a founding member of The Iron Maidens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVITBvRo8k4
Jay G
12-19-2014, 04:09 PM
Chicago Live Japan 1972. IMO the best live Chicago release.
Superfly
12-19-2014, 10:09 PM
Simply one of the BEST surf bands ever...and this one is a masterpiece of verb-twang.
4718
señormoment
12-20-2014, 09:47 AM
I would recommend "Middle Cyclone" by Neko Case. I enjoy her voice and songs, and the musicians are excellent. Garth Hudson plays on some the songs. For me, the music defies genre, which is even better. I expect I prefer this particular record over Neko's others for personal reasons; like what was going on with a friendship at the time. Regardless, a very good album.
nosebone
12-20-2014, 10:17 AM
Totem - s/t (1971)
Catchy Spanish proto prog with a great vocalist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOyrEoR_CGI
ronmac
12-20-2014, 10:28 AM
This is some of the best R&B I've ever heard, and Sam had the prettiest man-voice ever.
That title would go to Smoky Robinson, IMO. But, man could Sam Cooke sing!
Chicago Live Japan 1972. IMO the best live Chicago release.
A great one!
My recommendation would be Mountain "Flowers of Evil."
Side one is studio with a nice blend of blues, protest and, yes, prog. Side two is live with some of the best jamming you'll ever hear. A desert island disc for me, without doubt.
No Pride
12-20-2014, 10:39 AM
Lyle Workman - Purple Passages
Lyle is an L.A. session guitar player and film scorer who has contributed to some classic albums many of you have heard like Jellyfish's "Spilt Milk" and Kevin Gilbert's "Thud." He's made three instrumental solo albums so far and they're all great, but I think his first one, "Purple Passages" is the best, despite the fact that all of the drum tracks are a machine (it IS some of the most ambitious drum programming you'll ever hear, but it's still a machine). But that doesn't negate the fantastic guitar playing and composing throughout this album. If I had to categorize it, I guess I'd call it "prog/fusion," but whatever; I think it's just great music! Here's the only two tracks from it that I could find on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8E1NFGWaf8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsliPdht_-c
bill g
12-20-2014, 12:36 PM
Simply one of the BEST surf bands ever...and this one is a masterpiece of verb-twang.
4718
Wow, never heard of that one. Will check this out!
rcarlberg
12-20-2014, 12:46 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxWSykgLAP4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT-vgBPi0w4
Mt. Pleasant Farm
12-20-2014, 01:02 PM
When I listen to music, it is prog at least 90% of the time. That other 10% has to be something that really wins me over. The one cd that comes to mind is........Keith Richards "Talk Is Cheap". There is some really, really good tunes on there. And The X-Pensive Winos are really tight. They actually toured with the cd and I was fortunate enough to see them in Philly. I will mention that I am not the world's biggest Stones fan. But absolutely love this cd.
No Pride
12-20-2014, 01:49 PM
Leo Kottke - 6- and 12-string Guitar
I enjoyed those tracks; thanks! I've known of Leo forever, but wasn't that familiar with his work.
If you like solo acoustic guitar, you might enjoy Tommy Emmanuel if you're unfamiliar with him. He does all sorts of different covers, but on his album "Only," he does just his own tunes, these are some of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB3iqb93xOc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0XZcEN-qwE
JKL2000
12-20-2014, 02:36 PM
Lamb
Deffo Lamb
Superfly
12-20-2014, 05:04 PM
Wow, never heard of that one. Will check this out!
Another Bambi Molesters worth checking out is 'Sonic Bullets -13 from the hip", flat out excellent surf.
This is by no means an endorsement of 'Lady In Red', but Chris De Burgh's 'Spanish Train And Other Stories' is a great album. He's unafraid of melodrama- that, coupled with the rather macabre humour of things like 'Patricia The Stripper' and 'The Painter' means it's quite a heady brew. But the majestic 'Lonely Sky', the religious undercurrent of 'Spanish Train', 'Just Another Poor Boy' and 'A Spaceman Came Travelling', plus the anthemic 'I'm Going Home' are marvellous. Recommended to fans of Al Stewart and The Strawbs' 70s albums.
I also wonder if anyone here has heard the Marvin Welch and Farrar albums. Two members of The Shadows alongside Australian John Farrar (who gained more fame later for work with Olivia Newton John) ditch the instrumentals and go in a harmony-led, soft-rock direction. Wonderful tunes and singing...think, as you'd expect from the name, Simon and Garfunkel, CSNY, plus a bit of 'Abbey Road'
3LockBox
12-20-2014, 07:50 PM
I second Talk Is Cheap by Keith Richards - great album and one of the few rock albums from the '80s not drenched in reverb.
I'll recommend Masque of Shadows by Yoke Shire (1999). '70s style hard rock sprinkled with just a hint of prog. Not of duff tune on it and even includes a longish suite. Killer production as well.
Rufus
12-20-2014, 08:35 PM
Close to the edge
jkelman
12-20-2014, 09:18 PM
I've actually started a "Rediscovery" series on social media (including the Progressive Ears Facebook page) that does just this, stimulated by my new audio setup, which is the best system I've ever had in my life.
I will be moving it to All About Jazz as a daily feature this weekend and, while it will be predominantly jazz it will not be strictly so...today, for example, was Hatfield and the North's Rotter's Club and I've plans for everything from Prog to singer/songwriter to blues and roots music and more. So i'll be posting the link to,the pieces as they're published, and hope folks will check it out. I will be starting a single "Rediscovery" thread here and post all new entries to it, but would love if of folks would comment AT All About Jazz, as I am trying to drive some conversation traffic there.
Funny how you asked for this though, hippypants, as it's been exactly on my mind as well,
Anyway, hope folks will check it out. The writing will be relatively minimal (though I went to town with Hatfield), usually no more than a paragraph or two.
Right now I am literally rediscovering so much music because I am hearing things I've never heard before on this new setup, and I thoght I'd share a little of my excitement and the thrill of hearing albums with a whole new set of ears.
Dusty Chalk
12-20-2014, 11:47 PM
Welcome to Earth - Apoptygma Berzerk -- synthpop at its finest -- it's not just a bunch of attempts at pop singles, but gets quite experimental at points...but don't get me wrong, the singles are there, and they're probably the finest most anthemic synth-pop singles one will ever hear.
hippypants
12-21-2014, 01:14 PM
Jason Vieaux was a classical guitarist I discovered on NPR. I have one album by him (title escapes me, have to find it), which is fine, but probably not his best effort. Anyway I like how he gets his clean sound.
http://youtu.be/Kf_Lolpumi4
mogrooves
12-21-2014, 01:29 PM
It's rare that the Pulitzer committee gets it right; this year they did:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGva1NVWRXk
hippypants
12-21-2014, 01:32 PM
Jazz, latin, samba music by Karrin Allyson--don't know much about her, but she does nice vocals:
http://youtu.be/kXVWtePwWyE
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51peYGyW2WL._SY300_.jpg
A different performance of the title piece for cello, bass, and guitars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo85fR68A5k
Rarebird
12-21-2014, 02:15 PM
More acoustic guitar: Harry Sacksioni.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj6xS1MdQsU
Irving Fine(1914-1962).American composer,strongly influenced(who wasn't?) by Stravinsky.Fine's magnum opus was his Symphony(1962),which used serial techniques but doesn't sound like your "typical" serial composition.A powerhouse work,that stands on a par with the greatest American symphonies of the 20th century.
http://www.apesound.de/out/pictures/master/product/1/fineirving.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyZKhGoJE9o
Chain
12-21-2014, 04:19 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV1LgLQofzk
Progbear
12-23-2014, 10:30 PM
I enjoyed those tracks; thanks! I've known of Leo forever, but wasn't that familiar with his work.
Believe it or not, I discovered Leo’s music via the B-movie Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid! Even though my viewing pre-dated Mystery Science Theater 3000, it remains one of the worst films I have ever seen. It has one amazing saving grace and that is Leo’s stupendous acoustic guitar soundtrack. How it wound up in this unfunny dog of a “comedy” film is something I’ll never know.
Progbear
12-23-2014, 10:41 PM
I also wonder if anyone here has heard the Marvin Welch and Farrar albums. Two members of The Shadows alongside Australian John Farrar (who gained more fame later for work with Olivia Newton John) ditch the instrumentals and go in a harmony-led, soft-rock direction. Wonderful tunes and singing...think, as you'd expect from the name, Simon and Garfunkel, CSNY, plus a bit of 'Abbey Road'
Also Shadows/Cliff Richard-related and worthy of your interest are the three Tarney/Spencer Band albums. Mind you, I have yet to hear the debut, but Three’s a Crowd and Run for Your Life are both brimming with great pop melodies and they do a great job of sounding like a full band even though it’s only two guys (though I believe they got a bit of a boost from the Climax Blues Band on Three’s a Crowd. Run for Your Life is definitely just the two of them, though).
Alan Tarney had a hand in making the first Charlie Dore album, Where to Now? That one’s also a worthy pick, she (Charlie) had a superb “folkie” voice, but the style was modern (for 1979) pop-rock.
Shadow
12-23-2014, 11:14 PM
Carl Hupp - Hyper Statue
Carl is a friend of mine and I was just blown away that someone I knew could write and record such an incredible album.
rcarlberg
12-24-2014, 07:21 PM
Believe it or not, I discovered Leo’s music via the B-movie Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid! Even though my viewing pre-dated Mystery Science Theater 3000, it remains one of the worst films I have ever seen. It has one amazing saving grace and that is Leo’s stupendous acoustic guitar soundtrack. How it wound up in this unfunny dog of a “comedy” film is something I’ll never know.I believe the Leo tracks were all needle drops, I.e. pre-existing recordings.
Progbear
12-24-2014, 08:54 PM
I believe the Leo tracks were all needle drops, I.e. pre-existing recordings.
That would not surprise me one bit.
hippypants
12-24-2014, 09:28 PM
I like Leo Kottke too, and have many by him, including the 6 & 12 album. One of my favorite albums by him is Greenhouse.
klothos
12-24-2014, 09:51 PM
Frontline Assembly - Tactical Neural Implant
If a person has ever decided to try techno-industrial music, this is probably one of the best albums that represents the genre....What makes this album special is that it came out in 1992 but it was embracing a relatively new concept in recording and mastering: the digital domain...It should be noted that many engineering techniques that can be found and heard on a lot of today's music can also be heard here on this 21-year-old album....it was way ahead of its time
Bootsy Collins - The One That Giveth, The Count Taketh Away
Chock full of Bootsy's "lead bass" lines.....Make no mistake, Bootsy is the Jimi Hendrix of bass...Lots of creativity here between the effects on his bass guitar (several songs have multi-tracked bass parts with many emulating other instruments) and his blues-inflected basslines
the winter tree
12-25-2014, 12:45 PM
I would like to recommend David Sylvian mid--80s albums GONE TO EARTH and SECRETS OF THE BEEHIVE. GTE is a double album, the first disc is very atmospheric and song orientated while the second is ambient instrumentals. People tend to love or hate his voice, but his music is sublime.
SOTB is a much quieter organic work and with a very special vibe. IMHO his best work. He has since released many interesting and experimental projects since but has never topped these amazing two albums.
Nijinsky Hind
12-25-2014, 12:58 PM
Three albums I would recommend to you guys would be ...
Shriekbacks "Care" (1983)
Aztec Cameras "High land, hard rain" (1983)
The beautiful south "welcome to the beautifu south"
amazing records.
Acoustic(Spanish) guitar, piano(and some synth),one track with electric bass, drums, flute.Influenced by flamenco, Spanish classical composers(DeFalla), a hint of Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.Exquisite musicianship combines with inspired compositional skill to produce a remarkable cd.
Feliu & Joan Albert.http://www.rermegacorp.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/feliu%20i%20joan%20albert.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL3uKLMFkWo
arabicadabra
12-25-2014, 01:14 PM
This.... is a fanTAStic idea for a thread. I'll chime in with the one and only Vertu album (Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, guitarist Richie Kotzen, violinist Karen Briggs and .... I always forget the keyboard player's name! Rachel Z? And in another universe entirely, Everything Will Be Alright In The End by Weezer - is an album FULL of ear worms, sneer and giant leaps (for them, IMHO) of imagination. Cannot get the songs out of my head - and I LIKE it!
hippypants
12-25-2014, 08:45 PM
[QUOTE=No Pride;348411]I enjoyed those tracks; thanks! I've known of Leo forever, but wasn't that familiar with his work.
If you like solo acoustic guitar, you might enjoy Tommy Emmanuel
I like him even though, I'd never heard of him. What type guitar is it he's playing in the top video? I can make out the head stock. Just curious.
hippypants
12-25-2014, 08:52 PM
I've always enjoyed this one:
http://youtu.be/XQbk2C4ZmsE?list=PL263210ECD78933B2
hippypants
12-25-2014, 08:53 PM
I still get in the mood for The James Gang's second lp ever so often too:
http://youtu.be/patMZhRgv-Q
hippypants
12-25-2014, 08:54 PM
Another one from the late 60-ish period:
http://youtu.be/Rqz4QTwYa6M
hippypants
12-25-2014, 08:59 PM
http://youtu.be/4qCzwQ9EQmg
proggosaurus
12-25-2014, 09:11 PM
This.... is a fanTAStic idea for a thread. I'll chime in with the one and only Vertu album (Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, guitarist Richie Kotzen, violinist Karen Briggs and .... I always forget the keyboard player's name! Rachel Z? And in another universe entirely, Everything Will Be Alright In The End by Weezer - is an album FULL of ear worms, sneer and giant leaps (for them, IMHO) of imagination. Cannot get the songs out of my head - and I LIKE it!
yea, the keys were Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo better known as Rachel Z
3LockBox
12-25-2014, 10:03 PM
Steven Miller - Singing Whale Songs in a Low Voice was never was released on CD, which is a shame because it deserves a proper CD release. I inadvertently purchased this album thinking it was that other Steve Miller but wound up liking this one. I wore out my cassette a long time ago, but a rather generous PE member made me a CD-R copy of his vinyl (and it sounds superb).
More of an engineer and producer than performer, he did write, produce and perform upon a couple of his own titles. 'Singing Whale Songs In A Low Voice' is listed as avant-garde jazz, but it isn't really that adventurous, more like '70s fusion and contemporary jazz. Here, Miller performs on several different instruments including keyboards and guitar as well as composing - very well I might add (this release does include several other performers as well). It has its moments of intricate fusion, such as Dreams Passed By Pts 1-4 as well as Forgotten Parkland and Truffles In Transit, all of which could have fit nicely on a Weather Report or Return To Forever album. By the same token, the beautiful, minimalist Simple Song could rival Bob James or Dave Gruisin's best efforts and Little Bird (passarihno) is as catchy and ebulant as anything Spyro Gyra ever did. A very engaging album. Sadly, this being a sort of personal project, it never really received much of a push, being on Miller's own small Hip Pocket label. Thus it was never released on CD, which is ironic given that Miller was one of the industry's earliest champions of digital recording technology and served as a board member to the RIAA for its Compact Disc division. Very well recorded as one might expect, it did embrace the technology of the day (1883) so the sound is a tad dated at times. Still, this is one of the '80s better jazz releases and just begs to be released on CD. One can only hope that if Mr. Miller is still with us, he might get around to doing just that.
rcarlberg
12-25-2014, 11:21 PM
Singing Whale Songs in a Low Voice always reminds me of Pat Metheny.
progeezer's ghost
12-26-2014, 03:29 AM
I have my collection arranged alphabetically, and believe it or not the first album to pop into my head is the first one alphabetically: Abigail's Ghost- Selling Insincerity (my album of the year in '07).
I highly recommend it to any (even casual) fans of Riverside, late-period P. Tree, or the 'alt-prog' subgenre in general. They hail from Louisiana, and while there sophomore release d_letion ('09) leaves a lot to be desired, their debut delivers the goods (imho). While the song structures might be slightly more simplistic than some of the more avant-garde fans care for, they do thank Steven 'frowns a lot' Wilson (nickname theirs, not mine) in the liner notes. Not to mention, they did play either Rosfest or Nearfest some years ago, so hopefully that's enough for at least a little 'prog cred' here.:)
Progbear
12-26-2014, 03:33 AM
Aztec Cameras "High land, hard rain" (1983)
I love this album so freaking much. Right in the middle of the synth-pop era comes this fantastic acoustic guitar pop album! Roddy Frame was never so brilliant as he was here.
This.... is a fanTAStic idea for a thread. I'll chime in with the one and only Vertu album (Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, guitarist Richie Kotzen, violinist Karen Briggs and .... I always forget the keyboard player's name! Rachel Z?
Wow, I thought I was the only one who still listened to this! A fine fusion disc.
Steven Miller - Singing Whale Songs in a Low Voice was never was released on CD, which is a shame because it deserves a proper CD release. I inadvertently purchased this album thinking it was that other Steve Miller but wound up liking this one. I wore out my cassette a long time ago, but a rather generous PE member made me a CD-R copy of his vinyl (and it sounds superb).
Not the same guy who played on Caravan’s Waterloo Lily, surely. I know he had that half-album The Story So Far...Oh Really! with Lol Coxhill on the other side.
Very well recorded as one might expect, it did embrace the technology of the day (1883)
Wax cylinder? :lol
Nijinsky Hind
12-26-2014, 10:11 AM
I love this album so freaking much. Right in the middle of the synth-pop era comes this fantastic acoustic guitar pop album! Roddy Frame was never so brilliant as he was here.
Yeah progbear, this album has always held a special place in my collection. I consider it a masterpiece, and aztec camera never topped it. Deep and obscure, even haunting, lyrics... Finely crafted and unusual acoustic guitar. This one got swept under the radar by many.
Rene Lussier-Le Tresor de la Langue(1989)
Canadian(Quebecois) guitarist Rene Lussier recorded this superb work,which transforms language into music/music into language.It probably helps a bit if you speak/understand French(i don't) but that lack won't keep the music from knocking your socks off.It sure 'nuff blew me away..still does.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-AcMduzTA0E/hqdefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcGTIiSf6FQ
klothos
12-26-2014, 12:41 PM
the one and only Vertu album (Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, guitarist Richie Kotzen, violinist Karen Briggs and .... I always forget the keyboard player's name! Rachel Z? And in another universe entirely, Everything Will Be Alright In The End by Weezer - is an album FULL of ear worms, sneer and giant leaps (for them, IMHO) of imagination. Cannot get the songs out of my head - and I LIKE it!
Cool. Thank You for the recommendation: Now on my "To Do" list
No Pride
12-26-2014, 01:08 PM
[QUOTE=No Pride;348411]I enjoyed those tracks; thanks! I've known of Leo forever, but wasn't that familiar with his work.
If you like solo acoustic guitar, you might enjoy Tommy Emmanuel
I like him even though, I'd never heard of him. What type guitar is it he's playing in the top video? I can make out the head stock. Just curious.
It's a Maton. They're made in Australia, where Tommy's from. He's got his own signature model, of course!
There are tons of Tommy Emmanuel videos on YT. You should watch a half dozen or so to start getting an idea of how much ground he covers musically. He comes from the Chet Atkins school of jazzy country music, but he crosses multiple genres between all of the covers he does and his own tunes. I've seen him play a two hour show and it never got boring for a second. Besides being an amazing player, he's a great entertainer too!
JKL2000
12-26-2014, 01:26 PM
I'll recommend Masque of Shadows by Yoke Shire (1999). '70s style hard rock sprinkled with just a hint of prog. Not of duff tune on it and even includes a longish suite. Killer production as well.
The first track on that is killer, and seems like it could've/should've been a hit, the same way that Metallica's Enter Sandman was.
interbellum
12-26-2014, 01:27 PM
Carl Hupp - Hyper Statue
Carl is a friend of mine and I was just blown away that someone I knew could write and record such an incredible album.
Recommended also to fans of Happy The Man; Stanley Whitaker is one of the guitarists. There's also a nice cover of Bruford's Five G on it.
I had some brief contact with Carl and he was so kind to sent me a t-shirt (which I only use to sleep in, because it's so big ;-) ).
The album came with a DVD with interviews and in-the-studio-recordings.
http://carlhupp.com/
interbellum
12-26-2014, 01:35 PM
Lyle Workman - Purple Passages
Lyle is an L.A. session guitar player and film scorer who has contributed to some classic albums many of you have heard like Jellyfish's "Spilt Milk" and Kevin Gilbert's "Thud." He's made three instrumental solo albums so far and they're all great, but I think his first one, "Purple Passages" is the best, despite the fact that all of the drum tracks are a machine (it IS some of the most ambitious drum programming you'll ever hear, but it's still a machine). But that doesn't negate the fantastic guitar playing and composing throughout this album. If I had to categorize it, I guess I'd call it "prog/fusion," but whatever; I think it's just great music! Here's the only two tracks from it that I could find on YouTube:
I love all his albums. When the second one was released I tried to order this Purple Passages through CDBaby.com. I got a personal note from Lyle. He offered me a personal copy. He sent it to me including four signed plectrums, which I arranged nicely into the jewel-case (an idea Lyle liked very much). Well, of course I told him I was very much impressed by the drum programming. He replied with a smile that most of the compliments he got was on that programming, as if his guitar-playing didn't impress too.
He also worked with singer-songwriter Tom McRae (http://www.tommcrae.com/), who's first album I recommend strongly, and with Dutch singer Ilse DeLange (http://www.ilsedelange.com/).
No Pride
12-26-2014, 02:30 PM
There are tons of Tommy Emmanuel videos on YT.
Full concert here if you've got the time and inclination:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRrL0T5H5XE
I love all his albums. When the second one was released I tried to order this Purple Passages through CDBaby.com. I got a personal note from Lyle. He offered me a personal copy. He sent it to me including four signed plectrums, which I arranged nicely into the jewel-case (an idea Lyle liked very much). Well, of course I told him I was very much impressed by the drum programming. He replied with a smile that most of the compliments he got was on that programming, as if his guitar-playing didn't impress too.
I've actually heard that before! :D Well, he went from drum machine on his first to getting some of the best drummers in the biz; Vinnie Colaiuta and Simon Phillips are on his third, "Harmonic Crusader."
rcarlberg
12-26-2014, 04:12 PM
Not the same guy who played on Caravan’s Waterloo Lily, surely. I know he had that half-album The Story So Far...Oh Really! with Lol Coxhill on the other side.
Not that guy (Phil Miller's brother). Not the guy that did "The Joker" either.
Chain
12-26-2014, 10:46 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-6lJrHfd4k
3LockBox
12-27-2014, 12:27 AM
Wax cylinder? :lol yes, how did you know? ;)
I guess I should correct that, but maybe not
hippypants
12-27-2014, 02:10 AM
Never heard of this synth album before, but sounds freaky. Nice cover by Giger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYBLp7GUglU
hippypants
12-27-2014, 02:12 AM
I like the synth music behind this selection of Sci-Fi movies. The music is by legowelt or Danny Wolfers. It has an older Berlin school sound to it that appeals to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFD2cS28zQ4
Progbear
12-27-2014, 03:36 AM
Never heard of this synth album before, but sounds freaky. Nice cover by Giger.
Joel was the mastermind behind Brainticket. He lived (maybe still does) in Switzerland, which I guess explains the Giger cover.
EDIT: he apparently lives in Mexico now!
Rarebird
12-27-2014, 01:46 PM
Recommended also to fans of Happy The Man; Stanley Whitaker is one of the guitarists. There's also a nice cover of Bruford's Five G on it.
I had some brief contact with Carl and he was so kind to sent me a t-shirt (which I only use to sleep in, because it's so big ;-) ).
The album came with a DVD with interviews and in-the-studio-recordings.
http://carlhupp.com/
I have this CD, don't know if I got it to write a review, or for translating a review.
Rarebird
12-27-2014, 01:48 PM
Talking about synthesizer-albums:
Johan Timman - Trip into the body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-UNMViZN9Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf6GhnrJJWg
interbellum
12-28-2014, 07:58 AM
I have this CD, don't know if I got it to write a review, or for translating a review.
Carl asked me to translate a review, which was originally posted in the Dutch magazine iO Pages (you surely know):
CARL HUPP PROJECT
Hyper Statue
(LONG POINT RECORDS LP-010262-1)
Those who watch the interview on the DVD which is added to Hyper Statue, will have a bit of trouble to imagine that shy looking Carl Hupp has managed to stimulate more than 20 first class musicians to deliver a smashing album. Tony Levin for example bangs his Chapman Stick in an old fashion way over a drum-pattern that sounds like Rush’ Mystic Rhythms in the title-track and Stanley Whitaker from Happy The Man plays in the exuberant jazz-rock/fusion tracks Revenge Of The Chair People, Skeleton Crew and Riff Raff in the style of one of his inspiration-sources, Allan Holdsworth, while the influence of Jeff Beck (and in smaller degree Neil Schon) turn up in the beautiful guitar-ballad The Better Angels Of Our Nature. By the way, these sources of inspiration are being called in the introducing clips, which are present on the DVD, in which is also showed a shot of the recording-sessions as well as an overview of the bands in which they have performed and by whom they have been influenced. The DVD also contains a video-clip from the solid Skeleton Crew, which has a drum-solo, that portrays Hupp as an excellent drummer, who hasn’t got his mega drum-set just for the show, but who can play with it very tasteful and versatile. He presents himself on this CD not only in jazz-rock, but also in genres like blues-rock, jazz, Latin and progressive rock, not seldom incorporated in one track. This variation manifests itself also very good in the instrumentation, in which everything is being coloured by amongst others sharp playing horn-players, a tearing harmonica-player and various percussionists. Finally there have been recorded two covers: Five G from Bill Bruford’s One Of A Kind and Billy Cobham’s Quadrant 4 (from Spectrum), complex compositions, that show, just like the rest of the songs, the first rate of the musicians.
Rarebird
12-28-2014, 08:22 AM
Carl asked me to translate a review, which was originally posted in the Dutch magazine iO Pages (you surely know):
I know the magazine, but I didn't work for it at that time. I was fired earlier.
hippypants
12-29-2014, 02:01 PM
I have that Argo Vaughan Williams CD, yes, excellent pick.
Johan Timman - Trip into the body--this synth album is unknown to me, rather poppy, but pretty cool. Thanks.
hippypants
12-31-2014, 08:44 PM
Eire Apparent were a psych band produced by Hendrix
http://youtu.be/A8yB63BeMMo
I have a collection of John McCormack called "Songs of My Heart" released by EMI Classics 4762
but couldn't find it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFHAJ0EB3og&list=PLvagNQYy7EmxQ3qt8Ix0ApZIrz_7MH3VP&index=3
miamiscot
01-02-2015, 01:58 PM
Canadian label Arts & Crafts first signing not associated with the great Broken Social Scene was The Most Serene Republic and all three LP's from them are HIGHLY recommended examples of "nerd rock." Bookish, slightly precious but brimming with towering musical ideas, TMSR are sadly neglected even within the Indie crowd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_8XxBdhaIA
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