New IQ Archive Collection Release

[Ridge]

I can't believe I just read these three pages of people talking about their tracking.

I don't like to extend the conversation but....

I was about to send a message on the IQ website, through their "contact IQ" option/button. As I was writing the message I open another tab to check something on the same website and noticed this headline on their store page:

The UK post office have announced that they are not accepting packages to be sent outside the UK and that this situation could last 2 to 3 weeks. Unfortunately, this means presales and new orders will be delayed. We’re sorry if this affects your order - we’re in daily contact with the post office and your orders will be sent as soon as possible.

Hadn't seen it before. I would like to know if any of you saw this and has it been up for a while?

I ended up not sending my message.

[Garyhead]

It's been on their Facebook page for a few days.

[JKL2000]

I hadn't heard about this ransomware attack on the UK postal service! That's not a good look. Also, they don't want to piss off the prog community. Wait till they get a taste of Peter Renfro whuppass!

[Ridge]

It's been on their Facebook page for a few days.

Thanks for the reply.
I'm not on Facebook, so I appreciate you letting me know.

[The Czar]

It's great that you are getting into IQ now. They are one of my favorite bands - definitely my favorite non-70s band. Since you just bought all their studio albums, you should know that a couple of them are not like the others. In the late 80s, IQ had a different singer for 2 albums - Paul Menel. He was good, but not as great as Peter Nichols in my opinion. But those 2 albums also went in a slightly different direction. The 2 albums are Are You Sitting Comfortably and Nomzano. They each have some really good trackes, some of which they still play live, but many of the other tracks are pretty much pop songs. So these 2 albums are at the bottom of my IQ favorites. But you might feel differently.

The first 4 I bought in 2022 were The Wake (May) Subterranean (September-birthday gift from my friend) J'ai Pollett (November) and Nomzano (Dec 10th)
On Dec 19th my order of 9 more studio albums arrived from Laser CD!
Then just recently I got IQ40 which is the only live album that I own so far.

Although I think Paul is a good singer, it's just not the same as having Peter.
The thing that impresses me the most about Peter as a vocalist is the fact that it's been 40 years and his vocals are still amazing. It also helps that it always sounds like he's staying within his own comfort zone and not pushing his range to the limit, and he can still sing early songs as well as newer songs.
I don't remember why I had not listened earlier, but better late than never, and it's not like I missed out on them touring the US, since I don't think they have done any shows except the odd festivals.

[SteveSly]

The first 4 I bought in 2022 were The Wake (May) Subterranean (September-birthday gift from my friend) J'ai Pollett (November) and Nomzano (Dec 10th)
On Dec 19th my order of 9 more studio albums arrived from Laser CD!
Then just recently I got IQ40 which is the only live album that I own so far.

Although I think Paul is a good singer, it's just not the same as having Peter.
The thing that impresses me the most about Peter as a vocalist is the fact that it's been 40 years and his vocals are still amazing. It also helps that it always sounds like he's staying within his own comfort zone and not pushing his range to the limit, and he can still sing early songs as well as newer songs.
I don't remember why I had not listened earlier, but better late than never, and it's not like I missed out on them touring the US, since I don't think they have done any shows except the odd festivals.

Agree, on Peter's voice. I think he has actually become a much better singer as he has gotten older. On some of the earlier live recordings he gets off key quite a bit and you never hear that anymore.

[cpuglise]

I don't like to extend the conversation but....

I was about to send a message on the IQ website, through their "contact IQ" option/button. As I was writing the message I open another tab to check something on the same website and noticed this headline on their store page:

The UK post office have announced that they are not accepting packages to be sent outside the UK and that this situation could last 2 to 3 weeks. Unfortunately, this means presales and new orders will be delayed. We’re sorry if this affects your order - we’re in daily contact with the post office and your orders will be sent as soon as possible.

Hadn't seen it before. I would like to know if any of you saw this and has it been up for a while?

I ended up not sending my message.

Thanks — this explains why my package hasn’t moved since being dropped off on Jan 5. I did send an email asking if perhaps they could share .mp3 for download with those of us in a perpetual state of waiting here …. Fingers crossed …

Take care,
Chris

[JKL2000]

Although I think Paul is a good singer, it's just not the same as having Peter.

Although I first got into IQ when I read a cover story in Kerrang! when one of the Paul Menel albums was released, the first album I bought and listened to was Tales from the Lush Attic. I went on to buy other IQ albums including the two Menel albums, but I never really got around to giving either of them a good listen. I had just become too attached to Nichols' voice to consider another singer as anything but a blip. Which is strange since I was a pretty big Marillion fan before Fish left and I remained a fan forever. I guess that's because for me Nichols' vocals are the main draw, whereas with Marillion it was the whole band, but also mainly Rothery. If Rothery ever was replaced I'd have had a hard time giving the replacement an unbiased listen.

Anyway, I have yet to really dive into either Menel album, so I suppose one day I ought to give them each a listen! Also, have to tried Lush Attic yet? "The Last Human Gateway" is my favorite IQ song. Since Lush Attic was my first album, and TLHG became my favorite song of theirs, I explored the band's albums more slowly and casually than some people have. My only real recommendation aside from listening to "Ever" is to make sure to listen to "The Last Human Gateway," and check it out live on YouTube. It's such a great neo-prog song - one of the best, IMO. It goes on forever, ending and ending over and over... Like this post!

I'm going to say once more to check the band out on YouTube or on a DVD/Blu-Ray, because as with many bands, it helps to see the band performing at least once to see who's doing what. I just put on a DVD, and it's hit me again how talented they all are.

If you can find a copy of this deluxe 2013 remix of Lush Attic, grab it, the DVD has a live show from 2011 (or most of a show - all of the album I think) and a bunch of other content. I like Mike Holmes' "Dr. Wu" t-shirt!

[mozo-pg]

Does anyone have an opinion after listening the the new IQ album?

[SteveSly]

Does anyone have an opinion after listening the the new IQ album?

I assume you are talking about the live album and not the most recent studio? The live album is excellent.

[SteveSly]

Although

Anyway, I have yet to really dive into either Menel album, so I suppose one day I ought to give them each a listen!

To my ears "Nomzamo" is an excellent album and ranks right up with the best of the Nichols era stuff. "Are You Sitting Comfortably" was the band's attempt at shooting for commercial success and in my opinion suffers from it. I think about half the tracks are really good, but the other half are sub par. It is my least favorite overall IQ album, but does have it's moments.

[mozo-pg]

I assume you are talking about the live album and not the most recent studio? The live album is excellent.

Yes, the new release.

[The Czar]

Watching the live Blu-ray scrape across the sky. They are so good live!

[Garyhead]

IQ announced today on their FB page that ALL of their releases are / or will be shortly available on Bandcamp.
Can’t find the direct link but it is under Giant Electric Pea (their record label). I’m sure someone more tech savvy will post the proper link. 🤪

[Progatron]

IQ announced today on their FB page that ALL of their releases are / or will be shortly available on Bandcamp.
Can’t find the direct link but it is under Giant Electric Pea (their record label). I’m sure someone more tech savvy will post the proper link. ��

https://iq-gep.bandcamp.com/music

[rickawakeman]

I have every one of those and more!

[Garyhead]

https://iq-gep.bandcamp.com/music

Back up one page to get the link to the Archive Collection. I don't know why they are on a separate page.