iamthemorning - The Bell (2018-2019)

New album from iamthemorning The Bell is being released on August 2nd.

I enjoyed Lighthouse from 2016, and it won a lot of "Prog" awards or awards/recognition from many end-of-year lists.

And I ordered the Vinyl.

The truth is though, I only listened to it a handful of times, and now with the time passing, I still lean towards the previous record Belighted over it.

I guess we'll see, I never got around to hearing the recorded-live (outdoors with no audience, ala Pink Floyd's Live at Pompeii) album Ocean Sounds from 2018, but it included "Blue Sea" which is shown below.

PREORDERS Link

The Bell - iamthemorning’s 2019 studio album - delivers a contemporary fusion of Rock, Classical and Folk influences.

Inspired by 19th Century song cycles - a style established by Schubert - the album cohesively tells 10 individual stories of pain caused by human cruelty. The lyrical imagery draws on themes from Victorian England's art and culture, with its prevalent fixation with death.

The artwork, created by Constantine Nagishkin, portrays the once popular 'coffin bell' used as an alert system to indicate that a person had been mistakenly buried alive (a terrible phobia commonly held by Victorians). 

The engineering and mastering was handled by Vlad Avy, and recorded in March 2019 across Russia, the UK and Canada in several studios: Mosfilm in Moscow; Lendoc and Red Wave in St Petersburg; Noatune in London; The Studio at Sunbeams, Penrith; and Union Sound Company in Toronto.




1. Freak Show [7:09]
2. Sleeping Beauty [3:42]
3. Blue Sea [3:08]
4. Black And Blue [3:58]
5. Six Feet [3:56]
6. Ghost Of A Story [3:58]
7. Song Of Psyche [3:20]
8. Lillies [4:28]
9. Salute [7:27]
10. The Bell [5:04]

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets @ Orpheum Theatre 4/3/19

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets played at The Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on Wednesday night April 3rd, 2019.

I have never seen Pink Floyd, nor David Gilmour or even Roger Waters live (I hung out and listened to his show outside a couple of times though, after failing to get a cheap ticket).

And it's pretty well documented my love for Pink Floyd's music and especially a lot of songs and albums released before The Dark Side of the Moon (both Syd and Dave).

I have seen the Australian Floyd a few times and witnessed the local MN band Soap play the complete Animals twice.

But to finally being able to see Nick Mason and his band Saucerful of Secrets, was well anticipated.

And his band included Guy Pratt on Bass and Vocals. Pratt who I maybe think of 1st for his performance on the S/T Toy Matinee album, but also among a large discography, some live Floyd (Delicate Sounds and Pulse), and The Division Bell, On an Island, Rattle That Lock and The Endless River.

Gary Kemp, yes, of Spandau Ballet, who Sang many of the lead vocals and rhythm guitar parts.

The lead Guitarist and Keyboardist I had not heard of, but both made great impressions.

The performances were probably better than I would expect. Nick still can play and it was noted how this was the 1st time he had played in Minnesota since the 1994 concert at The Metrodome, which I still regret missing (I could only see 1 show that Spring, and it was Rush).

Nick joked "We're not the Australian Roger Waters" (or "The American David Gilmour Band"?).

Many of the songs had a lot of punch and volume to them. Some jams included like Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun of course. Lucifer Sam, Childhood's End, which 20 years ago would have been an even bigger thrill for me. I still enjoy it, but maybe not as much as when I 1st discovered my love for OBC.

Still, the version they played of that tune was both like it, but also faster or heavier I suppose, And the keys added something new to it.

Atom Heart of course was a big deal as well, even if it was kind of abridged and the keyboard part I love was only present in spots.

Nick also had intermittent video clips in the background, which were shown over a large wall with the Saucerful of Secrets tour logo. I wonder if it was intentional to try and capture the distorted/limited  at-the-time, in-and-out clips that overlay-ed that backdrop artwork.

In other words, the clips were seen, but not all that clearly.

And some of the tunes of course have official videos (Arnold Layne and See Emily Play come to mind), but were not shown/used.

As far as a set list? I can't deny, while a bunch of tunes I favor, they did do (Remember a Day, Childhood's End, Atom Heart..even without an Orchestra of course), there are a handful of tracks I would love to see. And by some chance they do another tour of the States and come to MN of course, maybe they could play

(Summer'68, Cymbaline, Apples and Oranges, Paint Box, Pillow of Winds, The Gold It's in the..., Wut's the deal, Flaming, Julia Dream, Corporal Clegg... these along with others may need to go on a Top 10-30 Floyd songs list; also I should plan to make a list of Artists/Bands I enjoy who have a clear Floyd influence).

also a bit of good karma: I bought a "Syd" t-shirt and ended up losing it after the show. It was in a plastic bag on the floor in front of me, but nowhere to be found after the concert. But the security people found it or another one in the same size and gave it to me. For someone whose lost shirts (Ours and dredg hoodies, Pain of Salvation shirt, and even a couple of hats; Vennart and Genesis) including a Local Natives shirt when I bought 2. Leaving the show with a shirt I paid for and lost, was a huge relief.

Set List

Interstellar Overdrive
Astronomy Domine
Lucifer Sam
Fearless
Obscured by Clouds
When You're In
Remember a Day
Arnold Layne
Vegetable Man
If
Atom Heart Mother
The Nile Song
Green Is the Colour
Let There Be More Light
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
See Emily Play
Bike
Childhood's End
One of These Days

Encore:
A Saucerful of Secrets
Point Me at the Sky

New Videos: ALBUM RATINGS: Dream Theater and Pink Floyd

New Video series I'm trying out.

I will try and do some of the more popular bands/artists 1st as I mention, it seems that is what people like/want/click-on.

I may try doing them all in chronological order, or ratings order (less likely).

The point being, they are specific and not too long. And may create a little contraversy, assuming they reach enough people.

And as I mentioned maybe a year or 2 ago, if these work out, I may also try another new series for the Retro Albums of the Year. But like these, I don't anticipate at least initially going through the trouble to show physical copies. But just verbally going through them.

I do have an idea though which may be not so time and financially consuming, of Printing 10x10 (or 8 1/2 x 11) Paper Images of Album Covers and put them in like those sleeves in a large 3-ring binder to get at Staples or Office Max, etc.

And just pull them out when needed to do a Top 10+ albums list from a year from the past.

I'm not sure, if it may help/work and avoid the hassle of finding the physical vinyl or cd and/or having to edit-in those images into the videos and have it take twice as long to edit+finish, etc.

I dunno, it may not work, but it's an idea. And the Top 10 albums of year could be a really fun video series to make; given I have the time of course.

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets NA Tour March/April 2019 (INCL. MINNEAPOLIS!)

Man, I would LOVE to see this, and April 3rd in Minneapolis at The Orpheum...between this and Fates and of course SAVING MONEY FOR A HOUSE RIGHT AROUND THIS TIME.

But this is Nick doing mostly Pre-Dark Side stuff..like from Obscured by Clouds and Atom Heart among others....

I can't see missing this sucker unless the tickets are through the roof (over $80, which I'm sure, but hopefully not all).

I've never seen ANY member of Pink Floyd live sans for hanging out in the hallway at the X listening to Roger Waters once or twice.

And this material would mean a ton to me to see.....

 
Saucerful Site

03/12/2019 Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
03/13/2019 The Paramount, Seattleon
03/15/2019 The Masonic, San Francisco
03/16/2019 The Wiltern, Los Angeles
03/19/2019 Comerica Theatre, Phoenix
03/21/2019 Paramount Theatre, Denver
03/24/2019 Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory, Dallas
03/25/2019 Jones Hall, Houston
03/27/2019 The Fillmore At The Jackie Gleeson, Miami Beach
03/29/2019 Tabernacle, Atlanta
03/31/2019 Stifel Theatre, St Louis
04/01/2019 Riverside Theater, Milwaukee
04/03/2019 Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis
04/04/2019 Chicago Theatre, Chicago
04/05/2019 The Old National Theatre, Indianapolis
04/07/2019 Palace Theatre, Columbus
04/08/2019 Civic Center, Akron
04/09/2019 The Fillmore, Detroit
04/11/2019 Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo
04/12/2019 Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford
04/13/2019 Orpheum Theatre, Boston
04/15/2019 Place des Arts, Montreal
04/16/2019 Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, Toronto
04/18/2019 Beacon Theatre, New York
04/22/2019 DAR Constitution Hall, Washington


United Kingdom
04/29/2019 St David's Hall, Cardiff
04/30/2019 Friars, Aylesbury
05/01/2019 Corn Exchange, Cambridge
05/03/2019 Roundhouse, London
05/04/2019 Roundhouse, London

Band/Artist and What Album-Generation Fan Are You? (Pt 1)

I was thinking about this in a discussion with the wife about her generation of being a fan of The Monkees. How she came along when The Monkees hit MTV and Nick at Nite in the mid 80's ('86-87) and the new studio album at that time was Pool It! for her.

It's not exactly a "1st Generation, 2nd Generation, 3rd Generation" (or 1st, 2nd or 3rd Wave, etc) exactly, but more based on the newest album released.

The 1st new album that comes out either after you become a fan, or I suppose it works best, before if it is relatively recently.



There were some fans that reacted to The Monkees album Good Times! in 2016 as being not nearly as good as Justus, which it was based on partially at least, Justus was the new/1st/most-recent album from The Monkees at-the-time they became a fan.

Mind you, some actually did or do prefer Justus, but my wife and many others thought that album sucked. And many like her and myself really liked Good Times!.



And she also likes Pool It more than Justus, maybe a lot of it just based on how much she likes the music, but also she says based on nostalgia for when it came out around the time she became a fan.

So she's a Pool It!-generation fan of The Monkees. Maybe consider 3rd generation or wave by some, but it seems easiest to just label per the album that was out or came out around the time she became a fan.




So I'm gonna make some more of these entries per time/discipline, etc. But here's 10 artists and the Generation I fall under.

Off the top of my head, I think only 2 or 3 artists I would be in the 1st release/album generation (The Dear Hunter, Kimbra, Janelle Monae kind of..and a few others..Hotel of the Laughing Tree).

Oddly enough though, I told her the whole nostalgia for the new/most recent when I got into the artist doesn't always work for me. Open Your Eyes and Calling All Stations are 2 perfect examples of that. 2 of my least favorite albums from those artists.

Kevin Gilbert: (2004) The Kaviar Demo-generation
Marillion: (1995) Afraid of Sunlight-generation
Fates Warning: (1995) Inside Out-generation
Rush: (1992) Roll the Bones-generation
Dream Theater: (1995) Awake-generation
King's X: (1996) Ear Candy-generation
The Dear Hunter: (2007) Act I: The Lake South, the River North-generation
Yes: (1996 or 1997) The Open Your Eyes-generation
Genesis: (1997) Calling All Stations-generation
Pink Floyd: (1991 or 1992) A Momentary Lapse of Reason-generation

Kai Danzberg - Pop-Up Radio (2017-2018)

So per Jellyfish and most recently Beck's band, Roger Joseph Manning's post on Facebook about this guy

Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery, so w that in mind...thank u Kai Danzberg

I discovered the video below, and despite the blatant references, as a Jellyfish, Beatles, Pink Floyd fan, etc, it kind of hit home. And it does sound like a JF track.

So naturally I went to check out the album the track "Welcome to the Show" comes from, Pop-Up Radio, which was released on January 1, 2018.

So Kai Danzberg's music, at least on this song is rather power-pop-ish. I couldn't help but be reminded of Jellyfish or even the likes of Bend Sinister and Timmy Sean in some ways.

This guy I guess is from Germany, and this is his debut album I guess. Although he put out an EP titled Unacceptable last September which is catchy, but also has a New Jack Swing element to it. And he mentions Michael Jackson among the music he's inspired by, Which I actually hear a bit of sElf in the stuff on there.

At any case, I'm going to try and check this whole album out more (I've listened to maybe 2/3 of it, but there wasn't much time at work today = new job, etc), but it's great hear someone new doing proggy Power-Pop.

And that video: I wonder how he did it/how much time, money, etc it took.

Kai Danzberg on Facebook




1. Overture 00:42
2. Welcome To The Show 03:47
3. Yes We Can 03:38
4. Just Listen To Me 02:59
5. You're The One 03:02
6. Puppet On A String 03:45
7. Stranger 05:37
8. How Can You 03:01
9. Too Late 03:35
10. What The F 03:50
11. Sophie 03:28
12. I Should Try 04:22
13. Sleep (Tell Me) 04:08

Video + Podcast: DISCLAND + Marvel's RUNAWAYS

Sculptured - The Spear of the Lily Is Aureoled [CD] Pink Floyd - Obscured By Clouds Pink Floyd - More Sega Genesis Games: MLBPA Tony LaRussa Baseball Lakers vs Celtics




Brian K Vaughan: Y: The Last Man Marvel's RUNAWAYS Kevin (Probably) Saves the World Fjokra - Evening Lights Bend Sinister - We've Heard it all Before

The Year 1979 Albums Calendar and Rankings

1979, I guess the late 70's I don't think of for being as fruitful for my taste overall, but at the same time, some of the other years around 1979 seem to have a bit more depth.

1979 now researching it, was quite thin, especially with favorites from Artists.

So, Led Zeppelin's In Through the Out Door, while not loved by many fans, I do consider on par with their other classic albums, even as different as it is. However, I guess I don't think of it as an Album of the Year kind of record exactly. Maybe a Top 10 I guess.

And some of the others I ranked below from 1979, are good, or spotty, but not amazing really. The Wall, I put 2nd, but good lord, I find it maybe 1 of the most overrated albums of all-time, let alone just in the Floyd catalog. It has some wonderful music on it, but at least 1/3 of it is not stuff I revisit, nor is the whole story/concept all that much.

But I guess compared to everything else I know from this year, by default, it finishes 2nd.

Supertramp I guess I can say, may have made their best record with Breakfast in America, which if I actually knew it and spent more time with the whole thing, I would have no problem putting it higher.

But of course I haven't.

And of course like most years from more distant past, there's a handful I know or have read enough about, my opinion and ranking them would happen. But, I haven't. What I guess is in there, is a lot of Jazz/Jazz-rock and Pop, and Power-Pop. This band/artist Bram Tchaikovsky kind of was random, but per the way this Calendar was shaping out to be, I figure why not.

1979: maybe the most thin year since the mid 60's. Thankfully, I don't think too many others that came after were.

What I was a little surprised to not find (on the rym Chart) is a bit more notable Metal/New Wave of British Heavy Metal. But Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, etc are absent from this year. I guess a lot of that stuff didn't start showing up for another year or 2.

1. Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
2, Pink Floyd - The Wall
3. U.K. - Danger Money
4. Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
5. Supertramp - Breakfast in America
6. The Police - Regatta de Blanc
7. Bruford - One of a Kind
8. Various Artists - Music from the Soundtrack of the Film Quadrophenia
9. XTC - Drums and Wires
10. Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings
11. Van Halen - Van Halen II
12. Renaissance - Azure d'Or
13. Jethro Tull - Stormwatch






Scorpions - Lovedrive
rel January 15, 1979


George Harrison - George Harrison
rel February 20, 1979


Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!
rel March 5, 1979


Van Halen - Van Halen II
rel March 23, 1979


Supertramp - Breakfast in America
rel March 29, 1979


Bram Tchaikovsky - Strange Man, Changed Man
rel March 1979


Dixie Dregs - Night of the Living Dregs
rel March 1979


Sparks - No. 1 in Heaven
rel March 1979


U.K. - Danger Money
rel March 1979


Pat Metheny - New Chautauqua/
April 1979


Anthony Phillips - Sides
rel April 1979


Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Armed Forces
rel May 5, 1979


David Bowie - Lodger
rel May 18, 1979


Electric Light Orchestra - Discovery
rel May 31, 1979


Bruford - One of a Kind
rel May 1979


Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings
rel May 1979


Kansas - Monolith
rel May 1979


Michael Nesmith - Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma
rel May 1979


The Who - The Kids Are Alright
rel June 8, 1979


The Cars - Candy-O
rel June 13, 1979


Dire Straits - Communique
rel June 15, 1979



Queen - Live Killers
rel June 22, 1979


Robert Fripp - Exposure
rel June 1979


Robert Palmer - Secrets
rel June 1979


Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Rust Never Sleeps
rel July 2, 1979


AC/DC - Highway to Hell
rel July 27, 1979


Chic - Risque
rel July 30, 1979


Talking Heads - Fear of Music
rel August 3, 1979


Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
rel August 10, 1979


Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
rel August 15, 1979


XTC - Drums and Wires
rel August 17, 1979


Kool and the Gang - Ladies Night
rel September 6, 1979


Brand X - Product
rel September 14, 1979


Jethro Tull - Stormwatch
rel September 14, 1979


Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage (Act 1)
rel September 17, 1979


Cheapo Trick - Dream Police
rel September 21, 1979


The Eagles - The Long Run
rel September 24, 1979


U.K. - Night After Night
rel September 1979


The Police - Regatta de Blanc
rel October 2, 1979

Various Artists - Music from the Soundtrack of the Film Quadrophenia
rel October 5, 1979


Tony Banks - A Curious Feeling
rel October 8, 1979


Styx - Cornerstone
rel October 19, 1979


Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
rel October 19, 1979


Prince - Prince
rel October 19, 1979


Motorhead - Bomber
rel October 27, 1979


Stevie Wonder - Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants"
rel October 30, 1979


Toto - Hydra
rel October 1979


Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage (Act II and III)
rel November 19, 1979


Mike Oldfield - Platinum
rel November 23, 1979


Pink Floyd - The Wall
rel November 30, 1979


Godley and Creme - Freeze Frame
rel November 1979


Steve Howe - The Steve Howe Album
rel November 1979


The Clash - London Calling
rel December 14, 1979


Christipher Cross - Christopher Cross
rel December 1979


Bruford - The Bruford Tapes
rel 1979


Cafe Jacques - International
rel 1979


Larry Coryell - Tributaries
rel 1979


Bela Fleck - Crossing the Tracks
rel 1979


Stephane Grappelli - Young Django
rel 1979


John McLaughlin with the One Truth Band - Electric Dreams
rel 1979


Annette Peacock - The Perfect Release
rel 1979


Renaissance - Azure d'Or
rel 1979


The Rubinoos - Back to the Drawing Board!
rel 1979