FEATURED ALBUM: IQ - Dark Matter

[smcfee]

Ever is my favorite. A classic of the genre. Subterranea is too repetitive. I could never understand why people rated it so highly. I believe it came out after Ever and it was a huge letdown for me. I suppose if it was condensed onto 1 CD it might be better. IMHO it's a case of decent material stretched way too far.

Always a risk on concept albums that there are tracks that exist mainly to advance the plot.

I liked Subterranea a lot on release but it did fade for me over time. There are still plenty of good parts, particularly on Disc 2 IMO.

[moecurlythanu]

I only wish it also had “Awake and Nervous” as that’s a favorite older IQ track of mine.

I'm pretty sure they did play it on tour for Ever, as I recall hearing it at Progfest '93, if my memory isn't letting me down.

[JJ88]

Well I did play the first disc of Subterranea again and I still feel the same about it really. Too wordy/dense, so the songs don't really breathe.

[aith01]

I'm pretty sure they did play it on tour for Ever, as I recall hearing it at Progfest '93, if my memory isn't letting me down.

Interesting... That would make sense, as it seemed to be one of their popular tunes. At least there’s the live BBC sessions take on the Lost Attic album. That’s a good version.

I really enjoyed when they played “It All Stops Here” at the 3RP show in 2009. That’s a fun song.

[smcfee]

Interesting... That would make sense, as it seemed to be one of their popular tunes. At least there’s the live BBC sessions take on the Lost Attic album. That’s a good version.

I really enjoyed when they played “It All Stops Here” at the 3RP show in 2009. That’s a fun song.

They played "Awake and Nervous" in QC in 1998 as well.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/iq/19...a-bd4b182.html

[chalkpie]

Does listening to this band raise or lower your IQ? Mine is already pretty low so I need to know.

[Duncan Glenday]

Does listening to this band raise or lower your IQ? Mine is already pretty low so I need to know.

The more you know about IQ, the higher your IQ IQ.

[Progatron]

I is very IQ-filled. I is a IQ man.

[infandous]

I missed this one being featured. I think it's possibly still my favorite IQ album, though I don't consider myself a huge fan...even though I have all their albums on CD, lol. They just seem like one of the only bands in "neoprog" genre that appeals to me, though not enough to call them a favorite band. This particular album of course has Supper's Ready.....um, I mean, Harvest of Souls, lol on it. Really, it's not a clone of SR, but it certainly follows the same template. I love the lyrics, and the performance at Nearfest was very enjoyable (even if the band seemed like they weren't enjoying themselves at the time). The other tracks are more "typical" IQ, and I think my favorites are the shorter tracks in between the opening track and Harvest, because they seem to be somewhat more original and are not so much like the usual IQ fair. Anyway, a good album that I haven't pulled out in a while, but that I did enjoy for quite a while after it's release.

[3LockBox]

Well I did play the first disc of Subterranea again and I still feel the same about it really. Too wordy/dense, so the songs don't really breathe.

Subterranea is too repetitive. I could never understand why people rated it so highly. I suppose if it was condensed onto 1 CD it might be better. IMHO it's a case of decent material stretched way too far.

Mirrors my feelings as well. I actually did condense Subterranea to one CD and listened to it that way for a time. It definitely has its moments, as do most IQ albums.

Like I stated before, many of their songs' themes are so similar. It's as if you could mix and match select songs from their last 5 albums and they'd sound like the same narrative.

[Azol]

I was lucky to attend the whole of Subterranea being performed live and it takes the album to the next level. I recommend watching the live DVD first before you spin the actual studio album.

[Paulrus]

I was lucky to attend the whole of Subterranea being performed live and it takes the album to the next level. I recommend watching the live DVD first before you spin the actual studio album.

I did watch the video and agree it clears away much of the ambiguity. But not all of it, which I suppose isn't a bad thing. I still feel that as a musical piece of work it's not IQ's best. It has its moments but they're sandwiched between too much padding or recycled ideas. IMO.

[Czyszy]

I love Harvest of Souls. It's such a well-constructed composition. It's a great example of how a 20+ minute prog epic should utilize leitmotifs and reprises of themes without making it super obvious and distracting.