Meaningful Songs: Savatage - Chance (+Circle II Circle Acoustic)

Savatage - Chance

So I recently saw a live Acoustic version shared on Social Media the other day, and I've decided to share it in here.

Chance has been and probably always will be my favorite track from Savatage (who have many, probably many others could find the "Meaningful Songs" category).

It's a masterwork in studio tracking multi-layered vocals. And Zak Stevens along with hired-gun Alex Skolnick create some of the most perfected kind of progressive metal.

Or think like Queen doing prog metal in some ways.

The dynamics are so well crafted. The emotion just cries out throughout.

I know some if not purely the inspiration came from the loss of the great Criss Oliva, and I know the Handful of Rain album did and was kind of Savatage at their darkest or bleakest point.

But of course with sadness can come some of the greatest art work.

I really can't say enough things about this piece, which has totally stood the test of time some nearly 25 years later.

If you have never heard it or Savatage, it may well be totally worth your time.

Bohemian Rhapsody the Movie and FREDDIE MERCURY

So there's a long hyperbolic entry here coming, given I finally did see the long awaited Freddie Mercury/Queen Biopic that came out initially in November.

Won the Golden Globe and Rami Malek won for best actor.

Okay, a year ago, 3 years ago, even 10 or more years ago, I was not too excited about this given I felt Sascha Baron Cohen would not be a good choice to play Freddie.

And then a few years ago with the news about the dude from Mr.Robot playing him, I was still very skeptical.

And then the information and eventual reviews talking about how inaccurate the timelines were about events and when music was written. When Freddie was diagnosed with AIDS, etc.

I still had low expectations, even after initially being impressed by the Trailers.

So I saw it on Saturday/Sunday per Redbox, and while knowing those things would factor in, I actually really liked it.

Rami, while his performance and way of speaking/tone/personality at times was a little subdued and subtle, I think it worked really well.

I now have no problem with it winning Best Picture at the Globes and Rami getting Best Actor.

And the Academy Awards nominations and if it wins, also I will have no problem with.

I was actually in tears, really fighting them back after watching the end of it on Sunday morning, especially seeing the Live AID Wembley recreation.

So I should also add something about Freddie Mercury.

I have felt, and seeing this film and then habitually watching interviews on YouTube about the guy, I am magnetically drawn to him for some almost unexplainable reason.

There is something intrinsically unique about his personality, his way of speaking.

His humor
His god-given voice and songwriting
His imagination
His warmth


I think it even goes beyond his ability as a musician.

He's like Michael J Fox as among others, Alex P Keaton or Marty McFly. He's inherently LIKE-ABLE and enjoyable to hear speak.

And it's impossible to not get wrapped-up in loving him and appreciating his story.

His struggle is very sympathetic.

He's like a puppy dog I can't avoid being drawn to.

So naturally seeing this movie and Rami's performance brings tears out.

And it may already kind of have changed my feeling about Malek as well, maybe in sort of a Nicholas Cage or Renee Zelwegger kind of way. I may have to start watching Mr.Robot now, or at least look for movies he does in the future. At this point, I am cheering for him this weekend at the Oscars.

oh, 1 other point I suppose is with Queen. My NOSTALGIA with them is in the early 90's and Wayne's World their Greatest Hits cds did. I of course didn't know much classic rock other than The Beatles a few other groups until I was 14. But Bohemian Rhapsody the song and KQRS kind of got me into that.

And then really about 2000, 2001, 2002 I dove into their albums, although I don't know them religiously, I might want to revisit and visit for the 1st time some of them, especially after seeing this, I kind of have a renewed/new sense of love for them and Freddie.

Maybe I'll do a Top 10+ Queen songs too before/during or after that reviewing of their albums (the 80's and 90's especially).

I'm not sure I get the sense about him with many others just from seeing footage.

Meaningful Songs: Queen - The Prophet's Song

Queen - The Prophets Song

Probably their most progressive-rock like tune (sorry Bohemian Rhapsody) and also their greatest achievement with Vocal layering and Vocal harmonies.

The way the verses get overdubbed just blows my mind every time.

And now I know, now I know, now I know, now I know....

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

893 Essential Songs (89.3 The Current) TOP 10

Well my prediction was correct

But one other thing that crossed my mind about this, in thinking about the likely, pretty eye-rolling list that I anticipate, is that in 2016 it was 893 albums, 2017 893 Artists, so in 2018 it might be 893 songs, if they haven't already done one for Songs (I somehow think they did, but maybe it wasn't in this so called voting process? I can't remember).

https://cloud.connect.mpr.org/essential_songs

893 Essential Songs

Submit your Top 10 Essential Songs — your favorite songs of all time!

Use this form to submit your 10 essential songs and enter the 893 Essential Songs giveaway between Tuesday, April 3 at 2 p.m. CDT and 11:59 p.m. CDT Monday, April 16, 2018.

One (1) winner will receive one (1) gift certificate redeemable at Amazon.com for $893.00. Winner must provide a signed prize acceptance and a W-9 before receiving prize. Three (3) back up names will be drawn.

Items with a red asteristk (*) are required.

Same deal as last year; per I don't pay attention nor listen to 89.3 for obvious reasons, I didn't realize they were doing another 1 of these for these dates, although per last year it began on April 4th, I suppose that would have been something to remember/plan.

So for 2019, it'll probably be April 1st or April 8th 2019 which are both Mondays. But Albums, Artists, Songs. 2019???? Career Discographies? Live Albums? although Career Discographies is basically the same thing as Artists.

I still think the thing to do is my idea posted last year. 89 minutes and 30 seconds for people who win a contest. Hell, even just 1 listener, although that doesn't occupy more than 1 day and just an isolated amount of time for that matter. If it were like 10 winners or more, than it could at least be done for those 90 minutes once-a-day. It would give reason to tune in then. Their issue would be, 24 hours in the day, and only 1.5 for the special reason to tune-in. Which might suggest more than once-per-day. Say like 10 times per day, and like 100 winners or something, lol.

Maybe that sounds far-fetched, but I know i would be interested in those playlists.

I suppose though if they are doing the Pledge Drive, the winner might get 89 minutes of music or even time for their own, per they would have to talk and beg for money they do during the Pledge Drive. Although I dunno if they could do it where the winners would have their 89 minutes AFTER THE PLEDGE DRIVE IS OVER, etc.

Anyway, that all being said, like the previous submissions, none of my songs or artists likely will end up in their 893 list. Well, not sure, but the only ones would be the obvious classic rock names, but the songs I picked, there's next to no chance for, other than maybe Zeppelin and Queen.

Link for MY list (below)

0. Judy Garland - Somewhere Over the Rainbow 

1. Rush - Cygnus X-1: Book Two: Hemispheres
2. Yes - The Gates of Delirium
3. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
4. Marillion - Grendel
5. Genesis - The Cinema Show
6. Dream Theater - Scarred
7. Fates Warning - Still Remains
8. Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element
9. Queen - The Prophet's Song
10. Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand


11. Toy Matinee - Last Plane Out
12. Ours - The Worst Things Beautiful
13. dredg - The Canyon Behind Her
14. The Dear Hunter - His Hands Matched His Tongue
15. Oceansize - The Frame
16. Pink Floyd - Dogs

edit: Gonna publish this now and then Edit in more later I think per time right now.

edit 2:
So I suppose 1 idea as a Reaction-To the list of 893 Songs that I'm sure less than 30% will be
a) Songs I like
b) Artists I even think are okay or like

So what I may do is come up with I dunno, 500 SONGS let's say, with the interest to never repeat an Artist Twice. Although I suppose if I struggle to find 500 Artists with 1 song, which now thinking about it, shouldn't be all that hard, just time-consuming of course, I may consider more than 1 song per artist.

I kind of suspect 89.3 will do more than 1 song per artist, especially if they truly use the Voting results, which I'm pretty sure they do not 100%.

But as far as my vote, honestly I just threw it together to not invest hours upon days on it up until the deadline next week. Are those 10 or 15 songs above MY DEFINITIVE TOP 10 OR 15 SONGS??? HELL TO THE NO. But they certainly are 10 or 15 songs I love, and if I ever really made as close to a definitive Favorite Songs List, all of them would be very high.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow has been and likely always will remain my favorite song of all-time, largely pure childhood sentimentality and nostalgia. But I didn't vote for it per it probably will get more than enough votes to make it anyway. And it kind of goes into a different category for me, more like most cherished childhood song, etc.

The others though, and the rankings?..meh, I just threw them down and the numbers don't really mean a lot. Hemispheres over Gates of Delirium? lol..why maybe if I ever make a close-to definitive list, it'll just be UNRANKED or tiered or something. Will the React-To be THAT close-to-definitive list? Unlikely.

I suppose maybe 2 lists, if somehow time permits it. 1 being the 500+ Songs with only 1 artist? and the other is just honestly? taking as many favorite artists and puting 5-25 songs in a hat and see where the number goes. And then the whole issue of artist who have 1 amazing song, or 2 amazing songs, etc like Under the Influence of Giants or Aviatic or whatever.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" Film casts Rami Malek (per November 2016)

I know this is kind of old news as I alluded to from the copied/pasted forum post I made a bit ago.

But this guy, Rami Malek is going to play Freddie? I guess if it got the Queen guys approval...I mean they are having Adam Lambert as well (and Paul Rodgers a few years back), so I guess a skeptical casting can't be shocking.

And I imagine it can't be any worse than Penn Badgley playing Jeff Buckley.

But, it goes back to, if you're going to do it, get the right person for the role. And they obviously waited for many years here given how long Sacha Baron Cohen was attached to this thing. 10 years maybe or more.

Blech.

I suppose I don't want to fully judge a book by its cover. I may not care for him in Mr.Robot (which honestly, has become more popular than Psych probably, which is baffling. At least from an Awards standpoint. Probably because it's a drama. But it has Christian Slater even, a guy who seemed cursed with tv shows for many years. They always got canceled. Emmy/Globe? lol..never. But only since Tony Shaloub and Monk, has a  USA Network show/actor received so much attention, whereas year after year it seemed Psych and Roday deserved recognition and NEVER did.).

And he has a somewhat prolific career that goes back to Glmore Girls in 2004, so maybe this will surprise me.

But on the surface, I still wonder if there was someone else who would make more sense.

Maybe they won't fuck up the Syd Barrett and Keith Moon biopics that are also long overdue.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727824/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1

just saw Rami Malek,  the lead actor from USA Network's show "Mr. Robot" on Stephen Colbert. And I know it's kind of old news (November), but they talked about him starring as Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody" the Freddie biopic; the one that Sacha Baron Cohen was attached-to for a long time, but ultimately dismissed.

I honestly am not all that crazy about this casting, really, not any more than Sacha Baron Cohen. I suppose his height might be closer to Freddie's (SBC was WAY too tall), but he doesn't look all that much like Freddie (loosely, his dimples and facial expressions I guess I can see); I guess once they show some production pics, maybe that could help. 

But I'm still skeptical as I don't find Rami Malek all that amazing in the clips I've seen from Mr.Robot and some of his other work (Short Term 12, I honestly didn't find his character all that memorable in just revisiting some clips online).

Over the Conlfuence of Giants (Queen+Steely Dan+ S Miller+UtIoG)

I wondered what happened to this, as I recall finding it on Under the Influence of Giants myspace page back around 2006 or 2007.

The only thing is, I don't recall the rapping nor even the Steve Miller, although I'm not surprised by that.




Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Steely Dan - Do It Again
Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle
Pat Metheny Group
Common (the Rapping)

Random Artist Feature: Queen (incl Part 2)

8/23/16 7:16PM

Part 2

Sort of spotty given I do own these, but am only luke warm about most of them sans for The Flash Gordon Soundtrack



-A Day at the Races
-News of the World
-The Game
-Flash Gordon

not shown but discussed:
-Jazz


7/12/16 4:31PM


I said "Bohemian Rhapsody" being the best or favorite Queen album, of course I meant A Night at the Opera.

Otherwise, 1st 4 albums, I also forgot to show my copy of Queen II, but oh well.

Queen
Queen II
Sheer Heart Attack
A Night at the Opera

Random Artist Feature: Ours

This video, as a 2nd attempt, came out good in length (11 mins, relatively). It was a 2nd draft per say, largely because on the 1st attempt I gave more details about the backstory, etc.

That is kind of the issue or 1 of some issues with making these, as there's a lot to tell, details, anecdotes, etc.

Anyway, it did get me thinking of wanting to do just album feature videos at some point, which some might be rehash, some may not. I dunno. I often get the sense with doing just an album, I don't have a lot of specifics to talk about with each song, beyond 1 or 2 words, but that may all that is needed, even if it's an amazing, favorite song, etc.

But I do plan to continue to just make these for awhile now, and once I've sort of gotten through a lot of my favorites, I may then restart doing videos and try and do album reviews specifically. But not likely in series per say. I dunno, I guess I'll see.

Vinyl Update 3/23/16 Part 1 of 2, 13 mins

As I mentioned, I'm splitting up or waiting to make another vinyl video once I pickup the record that's at the post office currently.

In this video:


Kevin Gilbert - Thud (Kashmir EP)
Transatlantic - SMPTe
Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever
Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray
The Tea Party - The Edges of Twilight
Kerry Livgren - Seeds of Change
Queen - A Kind of Magic

Vinyl Update Video 2/2/16 (18 minutes)

The 1st of some new videos. I'm battling a cold as I included in the description. Why did I make this then? time I suppose as I had the time being laid up at home.



The Making of the True Book (Kevin Gilbert)
Neverending White Lights - The Grace
Us - Us (Greg Herriges and John Wright, 1989)
Jack Lancaster and Robin Lumley - Marscape (Brand X members, incl. Phil Collins)
Rush - Presto
Black Mountain - Into the Future
The Police - Wrapped Around Your Finger 12'
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Jeff Buckley / Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People 7'

2015 Black Friday Record Store Day Preview (per Bull Moose in Maine)

Another Record Store Day coming up and another video from the gentleman from Bull Moose a popular record store in Maine.
I only have 1 or 2 things on the  2015 Black Friday RSD List I'm looking to pickup in the Queen 12' Bohemiaqn Rhapsody and the Jeff Buckley Sly and the Family Stone cover "Everyday People" 7'

But there's a couple other items I want to find that may be there, like that Rush Presto 180g and possibly Black Mountain LP if I and my fiancee end up going to The Electric Fetus (not the 1st place we plan to go to like last year).

She on the other hand, has 3 or 4 items she wants, including the Paul McCartney "Say Say Say" (feat. Michael Jackson) single, The Cardigans and the Alan Parsons Project single (with the "Games People Play" edit) included.

FTR: I already own a signed copy of the Jaco DVD per my contribution to the Pledgemusic Campaign. Review? Maybe I'll do both a written and video review soon.

And possibly shoot some video on BF RSD if possibly at Breakfast and at the stores.



It was very cool of the guy from this store, Bull Moose, to list in the description everything:

1:00 RUN-DMC
3:06 Soundtracks
High Fidelity
4:35 True Detective
5:00 Love & Mercy (Brian Wilson)
5:25 Color of Noise
5:49 Sons of Anarchy
6:12 Transformers

LPs and 12" singles - Part I
7:40 The Zombies
9:50 Zappa
10:20 Ween
10:33 Vitamin String Quartet - Modest Mouse
10:50 The Sword
11:25 Sunn 0)))
12:00 Schooly D
13:47 Linda Ronstadt
14:55 Rockabye Baby - Fleetwood Mac
15:15 The Revolutionaires
15:35 Queen
16:00 Pujol
17:20 Nine Inch Nails
17:40 Mighty Mighty Bosstones
17:50 MGMT
18:05 Wes Montgomery
18:47 John Cougar Mellencamp
19:19 Megadeth
19:30 Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (with props!)
20:30 Eric Matthews
21:20 Dave Matthews
21:49 Jaco Pastorius
25:50 Mass Mental

7" singles:
26:45 Link Wray
27:15 S.O.D./The Deftones
27:30 Rich Robinson
27:55 Shooter Jennings/Lukas Nelson
28:10 Otis Redding
28:25 Shuggie Otis
28:40 The Pharcyde
29:05 The Kinks (x2)
29:15 Batman
29:37 Carissa Johnson (part I)
31:30 Eazy-E
31:45 Phil Collins (with stand-in, not Chester Thompson either)

LPs part II
32:30 Lush
33:48 Jesus & Mary Chain, B-52s, Buzzcocks
33:58 Nick Lowe/Los Straightjackets
43:40 Judas Priest
34:50 Waylon Jennings
35:11 Joan Jett (delayed)
Carissa Johnson (part II)
Local artists
36:50 Jay Electronica
37:21 International Submarine Band
37:43 Roscoe Holcomb
37:55 John Lee Hooker
38:21 Ben Harper
38:48 Glitch Mob
39:10 Garbage
39:24 Neil Finn & Paul Kelly
39:40 Deerhook (with stunt double)
39:51 Damnation A.D.
40:10 Coheed & Cambria (with another stunt double)
40:20 Cardigans
40:31 Bowie
40:42 Behemoth
40:55 Jeff Beck
41:10 Beck (Hansen)
41:46 Animals as Leaders
42:00 Terry Adams/NQBQ

On KFAI Radio's "In Your Ear" 6/12/14

should be available (STREAM and DOWNLOAD) until June 26th until 1:59AM
RIGHT CLICK "SAVE AS" to DOWNLOAD
http://kfai.org/archive


The Family Crest - Beneath the Brine - Beneath the Brine - Tender Loving Empire
Anathema - Ariel - Distant Satellites - Kscope
Forest Park - Golden - Forest Park [EP] - S/R
Miracles of Modern Science - Dear Pressure - MEEMS - S/R
Queen - March of the Black Queen - Queen II - EMI
sElf - Ordinaire - Gizmodgery - Spongebath Records
Bruce Peninsula - Steamroller - A Mountain is a Mouth - Outside Music
Shadow Gallery - Floydian Memories - Room V (Special Edition) - Insideout Music
Time of Orchids - All I Ever Wish - Sarcast While - Tzadik
Time of Orchids - Whim - Sarcast While - Tzadik
Team Me - Show Me - To the Treetops - Propeller Recordings
Jazzkamikaze - Bring Back Spring - Supersonic Revolutions - SevenSeas Music
Foals - Spanish Sahara - Total Life Forever - Transgressive Records

background
*Shels: various clips from Plains of the Purple Buffalo

Good show. Just me. In some ways easier for me, but who knows how much that has to do with it.

The Midnight-2AM thing on a weeknight? who knows when the next time will be.

Significant Albums: Jellyfish - Spilt Milk (1993)

This album. I can't recall the exact time, even year exactly, but it had to have been in the mid 90's, possibly 1996 or 1997, when I would guess Mike Portnoy had dropped the name Jellyfish in 1 or more interviews I read. Per Metal Edge or maybe even on the old "Under a Cyber Moon" Dream Theater website.

But I distinctly remember checking this album and Bellybutton out, and finding both for not a lot, likely at Cheapo. And the truth was, I wasn't crazy about them. Maybe it was the title "Spilt Milk" or the girl on the cover, but it didn't jump out at me.

So, they both remained in my cd collection, and I think the next point their name came up was when I was at KFAI around 2000, interviewing of all bands, local prog metal/Queensryche-like band Conditioned Response. And one of those guys on the air mentioned that he was listening to Jellyfish.

So, at that point I recall re-checking them and those cds I had out. And I do remember liking them, actually Bellybutton more.

And in the coming years, with listening to both albums more, and also seeing Mike Portnoy and some others online use their name more and more, I became pretty won over by them.

And I'd say over the last 7 or 8 years at least, maybe more, they have stood out more and more as being ahead of their time in a lot of ways.

Now with this album compared to Bellybutton, I came to see them as about equal, but in the past 4 or 5 years, I've given in to the fact this is their finest work. It just works so well on a production level, and on a flow or track-2-track level.

I recall once thinking and telling people about them as being like The Beach Boys doing progressive rock, which in a vague sense still makes some sense. But I also hear a ton of Beatles influence, as well as Queen, XTC and even groups like ELO. Along with sharing some qualities with some of their contemporaries like King's X, Galactic Cowboys and even Faith No More to a small degree. And Toy Matinee even I would later come to hear/agree with.

Even people like local Minnesota songwriter/popstress Jenny Case and Jimmy Gnecco of Ours have spoken about their love of Jellyfish and this album.

They just found a way to combine power-pop with a classic rock feel, that somehow sounded really clean and modern. When you listen to Jellyfish, and Spilt Milk specifically, you think it was music made in the 70's, but like it was remastered or something, because the recording sounds very hot and almost glitzy and layered.

To not name some of my favorites would be silly. Songs like "New Mistake" and "Sabrina Paste and Plato" are just so catchy and ear-worm like, they are impossible to not love, the more I hear them.
"So serene, Sabrina makes me feel..dah dah dah dah dah dah dahhhhhhhhhh"

"Joining a Fanclub" is a great sort of track to kickstart this album off, which I always think of Andy Sturmer and Roger Manning being in some Beatles fanclub.

Andy Sturmer, not only is an incredible drummer, but his voice is 1 of the biggest reasons I think Jellyfish stands out. It is just so crisp and the little raspy element makes it sound so distinct.

I have always felt the 1st half of this album has this amazing energy, which has only seldom been matched, so much so, I always look for, but rarely find other albums that have that.

Also the lyrics seem to stay with me frequently,

like from Ghost at Number 1:

 "how does it feel to be the only one that knows that you're right"

That certainly is a line that I can and have related to in many ways.

I'm sure there are a ton of points I am not remembering at this very moment about this album, that I may or may not try and edit in eventually. But the thing about Jellyfish and Spilt Milk is, it was clearly to me ahead of its time, and frankly. there has not been a band to make a record as good or quite like it since in this sort of progressive power-pop. Combining similar if not the same influences. Some have tried like The Wondermints or recently The Pillbugs (or even Bleu), but it hasn't happened. I guess I keep waiting for it to happen. The New Pornographers and The Apples in Stereo are sort of the closest thing to modern bands who have made power-pop I enjoy a lot (or getting a bit looser, stuff like Self, The Dissociatives, Bend Sinister and many others), but neither have come close to matching either JF LP, and this being their Swan Song thus the 1 to think of.

A reunion would be a miracle at this point as Roger and Andy can't stand each other I guess, so their likely is a better chance I join 1 of them live or in the studio, but I guess I still keep a small fraction of hope it could happen before I die.

If only I had been a fan and been old enough to go, I probably would have seen them at First Ave supporting this album in '93 (or '94).

The thing is, when Jellyfish came out, they were such a contrast to the whole Grunge movement, that it probably was as big of a reason they ended. Why a band like Dream Theater didn't go by the wayside, and they did? I dunno, maybe personalities. But the 90's pop and alternative music really doesn't compare to them in so many ways. A band like Weezer for example, were around not long after, but because they had enough of a garage sound, I think made it.

It's kind of a shame, but also likely a case where had Jellyfish continued on, their music may have suffered. So in that sense, their legacy never got tainted.

It is also definitely worth mentioning how this was their Swan Song, after 3 years from Bellybutton their debut album. Spilt Milk does not include the work of singer/songwriter Jason Falkner, who was on Bellybutton. Why this album is as good as it is may speak to why Jason left, i.e. he wasn't getting enough of his songwriting involved with the band. Of course there's no way to know what this or other work may have been like with him, but it may have ultimately been for the benefit of both JF and Jason.

Marillion - The Carol of the Bells (Single)

7 minutes, 35 seconds (or 6 minutes and 15 seconds depending how you consider the ending) Not exactly like Savatage/Trans Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24," nor the yet released but awesome arrangement Greg Herriges has put together with this tune (live, as I've heard him play it a few times).

This is more like a Queen thing in some ways, with Marillion's own stamp. The Steve Rothery guitar solo included.

Mysterious video in some ways, including the footage of the band I'm presuming, in costumes, 1 walking while playing a flute. The message "Marillion will return in 2014" has I'm sure most fans curious. A new album? I would love it, but suspect it may be a bit early for them, unless they had some material that didn't make it on to Sounds That Can't Be Made.

However, there's an 2013 interview in 3 or 4 parts linked on other videos from their official account, that I don't recall watching, which may add some answers to the curiosity.

edit: actually I think I did watch it, as it was back in June. O well, it still may answer a question or two I don't remember at this point.

The Orion Experience - NYC Girl

This band was recommended to me by a friend of mine on twitter/facebook/lastfm named Sara. She is responsible for some other gem suggestions like Timmy Sean and Emanuel & the Fear among others.



Well, this song "NYC Girl" is catchy as all fuck. Unfortunately it's a couple of years old, coming off an an EP from 2011. And now this band The Orion Experience seem to be doing some different things in the vein of Rocky Horror Picture Show as more of a theatrical/live performance art almost, sort of focus.Although even with the teaser and website below, and a little turnover in membership? I don't know enough about them to know exactly if they are just doing this live spectacle, or still looking to record stuff like the music on the site and trailer, or NYC Girl and the other tracks on that EP.

They are from NYC anyway, which I don't think it's much of a coincidence, so many of these electro/artsy/dramatic/theatrical groups seem to be based there. And they also formed around the time many of the others I know did in 2005. Their 1st LP Cosmic Candy is quite different though, more straight Power-Pop; kind of similar to groups like The Apples in Stereo, The New Pornographers or even Fountains of Wayne, all of which do not come from NYC ironically.

None the less, I do like this band and will try and keep tabs on them. I just wonder if their future for recording music may not be as important as this "off-broadway" show of theirs which unless it tours nationally, I doubt I'd ever be able to see.

http://theorionexperience.com/