I'm quite enjoying Remember the Future. Here are my impressions after a week or so with the album.
The packaging was quite unexpected. I figured it'd be one of those clamshell things that Esoteric usually uses for these types of boxes. Nope. Slide out tray with each disc in own sturdy sleeve. Haven't had a chance to read through the booklet, but it looks nice. Including a tour poser is always a welcome addition especially given how beautiful the artwork for the album is. (T-shirt? Man, I'd like to have a t-shirt with that art on it.)
The first two discs are the studio album. The first disc is remastered; the second is remixed. Remix is definitely my preference, and I probably won't give much more than another cursory listen to the remaster.
Surround mix was not overwhelming. Nothing really jumped out. But I've found I really need to inhabit an album for a while before I can fully appreciate a surround mix.
The live albums are rough. They're not bad, but don't expect anything pristine. Perhaps a little too jammy for my tastes, but I can't offer much more than that. I need to invest more attention.
Not quite space rock or, at least, not of the farther-than-far-out Space Ritual variety. Not a criticism, for sure, and certainly not a view everyone will agree with, but I'd be hard pressed to call this anything other than classic rock with prog elements and even that doesn't seem to make complete sense in my head. Let's try some comps. Definitely has that post-Syd but pre-Dark Side Floyd feel to it. Perhaps a more proggy Man would be a good way to describe it, or maybe a more rough and tumble Camel. Another band I keep thinking of is Rarebird but after Fields left when the band became a more traditional guitar/keys/bass/drum four-piece. I.e., very solid classic rock with prog elements (ok, I guess I'm buying my own first impression). I love music like that! It's always easy to spin and won't send my wife running out of the room (always a plus).
I went ahead and ordered the Esoteric release of Sounds Like This from Wayside. Hopefully I'll have a chance to dig into the live show in the box before it arrives. I think tonight I'm going to give the 5.1 a properly LOUD listen tonight. Wife is out of town so who is going to stop me? Not the dog! Not the neighbors! Not even common sense!
Anyway, I guess I'm a Nektar fan. Huzzah!
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Originally Posted by polmico
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