Classic Rock (Phil Collins lives, run for the hills)

[blueparrot]

Presumably you’d need to pick an album you think most would not have listened to before?
That could be difficult for my age group, unless like yourself you are savvy to some new stuff.

Maybe, but it could be an album that is by an older lesser known group or artist, or even an album that is often overlooked by fans of a band. Maybe an album a lot of fans don't really like but you think is actually good.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Maybe, but it could be an album that is by an older lesser known group or artist, or even an album that is often overlooked by fans of a band. Maybe an album a lot of fans don't really like but you think is actually good.

Hmmm. Interesting.

 

[RobMCFC]

Just a little idea, to be honest I've stolen it but anyways. Thought I 'd start of a weekly thing called Album homework.
The idea is post an album either new or obscure that you like a lot and think will interest other posters. Then we take a week for people to listen to and review. Hopefully we find new things to listen to.
So I'll start then next Monday nominate one of the reveiwers to post next.

So my choice is the 2017 album Legends of the shire (not LOTR territory) a slight departure from them, after a string of good albums.
Threshold are a progressive metal band, formed in Surrey, England in the late 1980s.

Threshold (band) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Threshold

www.thresh.net

Here's a youtube link to the whole album but you'll find it on itunes or spotify too.
Interested in your thoughts

I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover and the same is probably true of albums.
However, there is no doubt that a good album cover can get you in the mood before the music starts and the cover for Legends of the Shires is an exceptional piece of art.

Initial impressions - nice Acoustic guitar and a decent voice on short intro track, then "Small Dark Lines" starts hard and heavy but has a soaring melodic chrous. "The Man Who Saw Through Time" moves through a number of different phases and changes of pace as it spools its way through an 11-minute-plus running time. It's slower passages, grand keyboard stages and intricate guitar solos make for an engaging listen. You even get a few jazz chords thrown in for good measure.

But as the tracks progress, you realise that for all the undoubted great musicianship on show, you are yearning for something a bit different. I like melodic rock, but I found that after a while, all the tracks started to sound the same. If I'd listened to any of the songs in isolation, I'd have enjoyed them because I do enjoy longer songs that go through various transitions and changes of gear - and there are certainly plenty of gearchanges on show here.
But much as I like syrup sponge and custard, after two bowls with an extra jug of syrup and four lumps of sugar, I'd probably be screaming for a bag of smoky bacon crisps.

Whilst there are signs of a guitar being plucked in the various parts of "The Shire", I miss the twang of stringed instruments, something that would throw a bit of earthiness into the mix. The vocals are good, and there was a bit more variety in the second half of the album ("Lost in Translation" is impressive), but I found the melange of keyboards and electric guitars a bit overbearing at times. Plus, 1 hr 22 running time is way too long for any studio album by any artist ever.

By way of a yardstick, somebody on another forum recommended a band last year: All Them Witches - their 2020 album Nothing as the Ideal is a recent example of a hard rock album that I like because it has that bit of grit thrown into the mix.

In summary, it's okay, but not really my thing anymore. It's better than a lot of music out there, but I don't think it's anything special.

 

[blueparrot]

I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover and the same is probably true of albums.
However, there is no doubt that a good album cover can get you in the mood before the music starts and the cover for Legends of the Shires is an exceptional piece of art.

Initial impressions - nice Acoustic guitar and a decent voice on short intro track, then "Small Dark Lines" starts hard and heavy but has a soaring melodic chrous. "The Man Who Saw Through Time" moves through a number of different phases and changes of pace as it spools its way through an 11-minute-plus running time. It's slower passages, grand keyboard stages and intricate guitar solos make for an engaging listen. You even get a few jazz chords thrown in for good measure.

But as the tracks progress, you realise that for all the undoubted great musicianship on show, you are yearning for something a bit different. I like melodic rock, but I found that after a while, all the tracks started to sound the same. If I'd listened to any of the songs in isolation, I'd have enjoyed them because I do enjoy longer songs that go through various transitions and changes of gear - and there are certainly plenty of gearchanges on show here.
But much as I like syrup sponge and custard, after two bowls with an extra jug of syrup and four lumps of sugar, I'd probably be screaming for a bag of smoky bacon crisps.

Whilst there are signs of a guitar being plucked in the various parts of "The Shire", I miss the twang of stringed instruments, something that would throw a bit of earthiness into the mix. The vocals are good, and there was a bit more variety in the second half of the album ("Lost in Translation" is impressive), but I found the melange of keyboards and electric guitars a bit overbearing at times. Plus, 1 hr 22 running time is way too long for any studio album by any artist ever.

By way of a yardstick, somebody on another forum recommended a band last year: All Them Witches - their 2020 album Nothing as the Ideal is a recent example of a hard rock album that I like because it has that bit of grit thrown into the mix.

In summary, it's okay, but not really my thing anymore. It's better than a lot of music out there, but I don't think it's anything special.

Cheers, thanks for taking the time, and really well written review, completely agree with the running time critisicsm I'll give All them witches a listen. Though you may want to hold fire on that in case I nominate yourself to provide next weeks album.

 

[RobMCFC]

Cheers, thanks for taking the time, and really well written review, completely agree with the running time critisicsm I'll give All them witches a listen. Though you may want to hold fire on that in case I nominate yourself to provide next weeks album.

Thanks. I like the idea of this once-a-week "homework" to run alongside BlueHammer85's thread.
However, I may have to dip out for a couple of weeks whilst I'm on holiday, so I'll take my turn some time in September if that's OK.

 

[OB1]

I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover and the same is probably true of albums.
However, there is no doubt that a good album cover can get you in the mood before the music starts and the cover for Legends of the Shires is an exceptional piece of art.

Initial impressions - nice Acoustic guitar and a decent voice on short intro track, then "Small Dark Lines" starts hard and heavy but has a soaring melodic chrous. "The Man Who Saw Through Time" moves through a number of different phases and changes of pace as it spools its way through an 11-minute-plus running time. It's slower passages, grand keyboard stages and intricate guitar solos make for an engaging listen. You even get a few jazz chords thrown in for good measure.

But as the tracks progress, you realise that for all the undoubted great musicianship on show, you are yearning for something a bit different. I like melodic rock, but I found that after a while, all the tracks started to sound the same. If I'd listened to any of the songs in isolation, I'd have enjoyed them because I do enjoy longer songs that go through various transitions and changes of gear - and there are certainly plenty of gearchanges on show here.
But much as I like syrup sponge and custard, after two bowls with an extra jug of syrup and four lumps of sugar, I'd probably be screaming for a bag of smoky bacon crisps.

Whilst there are signs of a guitar being plucked in the various parts of "The Shire", I miss the twang of stringed instruments, something that would throw a bit of earthiness into the mix. The vocals are good, and there was a bit more variety in the second half of the album ("Lost in Translation" is impressive), but I found the melange of keyboards and electric guitars a bit overbearing at times. Plus, 1 hr 22 running time is way too long for any studio album by any artist ever.

By way of a yardstick, somebody on another forum recommended a band last year: All Them Witches - their 2020 album Nothing as the Ideal is a recent example of a hard rock album that I like because it has that bit of grit thrown into the mix.

In summary, it's okay, but not really my thing anymore. It's better than a lot of music out there, but I don't think it's anything special.

This review saves me a fair bit of work and is far more eloquent then I could manage.

I did play the full album but a fair bit of that was in the background; although having listened to the first five songs carefully (albeit just once), the rest did seem to be more of the same. The latter comment is just an observation, lots of albums are like that. However, at the running length of Shires, it is an issue.

This is one of those albums that if I bought it, I would keep it; not that I often get rid of albums I have bought but I will if it has no hope of being played again in part of whole. However, I won't be going out and buying this album.

Nothing on the album jumped out and grabbed me and I found the sound a bit harsh and strident, it lacked the warmth of the older stuff that I love. Also, the metal parts were a bit on the thrashy side and, with the odd notable exception, I am not a thrash metal fan. The vocals are often a melodic counterpoint the the harder music on the album though.

They reminded me a bit of Dream Theater but just not as good; although I've not listened to them for ages or bought their most recent albums although they sit on my Amazon wish list.

I did spot last night by chance that the guys at Melodic Rock rate the album highly.

If they had fashioned a good old fashioned 40 - 45 minute l.p. out of the best bits, we might be having a slightly different conversation.

 

[chesterbells]

Thought it was better to put this here, as it’s not strictly transfer related? ;-)
What would you put in your top 3
(Or top 5 if that’s easier) Maiden tracks? @Manx Blue

 

[Manx Blue]

Thought it was better to put this here, as it’s not strictly transfer related? ;-)
What would you put in your top 3
(Or top 5 if that’s easier) Maiden tracks? @Manx Blue

Okay....it depends what day of the week it is. I prefer their earlier stuff.

Phantom (lucozade daley Thompson ad in 1983/4)
Running Free
Number
Run to the Hills
Wasted Years
Evil that men do
Can I
Fear of the dark
Infinite Dreams....to name but a few.

I like Rush too, and a lot of other HR/HM, Plus indie, soul, classic like Mozart...

 

[chesterbells]

Okay....it depends what day of the week it is. I prefer their earlier stuff.

Phantom (lucozade daley Thompson ad in 1983/4)
Running Free
Number
Run to the Hills
Wasted Years
Evil that men do
Can I
Fear of the dark
Infinite Dreams....to name but a few.

Yeah, I’m good on their output up to 88. After that I’ve still seen them live two or three times, but didn’t keep buying the albums. I bought Book of Souls recently; thought it was decent but don’t play it much tbh.
My current 5, in no particular order would be…

Dance of Death
Phantom of the Opera
Caught Somewhere In Time
Bring Your Daughter …
Hallowed Be Thy Name

(live after death has versions which are better than the studio versions for me).
But as you suggest, so many great tracks, it can easily change.

 

[Manx Blue]

Yeah, I’m good on their output up to 88. After that I’ve still seen them live two or three times, but didn’t keep buying the albums. I bought Book of Souls recently; thought it was decent but don’t play it much tbh.
My current 5, in no particular order would be…

Dance of Death
Phantom of the Opera
Caught Somewhere In Time
Bring Your Daughter …
Hallowed Be Thy Name

(live after death has versions which are better than the studio versions for me).
But as you suggest, so many great tracks, it can easily change.

Getting into a band via album is good, but with Rush, I bought the live albums and bought their stidio material from there.

Live after Death is magnificent, even Live at Donington in 92 is pretty fucking decent too.

I haven't seen Maiden since 1990, and hope to see them again. I reckon with Bruce having had tongue cancer, this may be the last.