AMA 2005 Show!

[roger]

I had the same thought, teer, except I only have two of the 20, so my bill's going to be much bigger!

great show, Woj! thanks for all the work!

[yorksrvc]

whew!!! I have 5 of the top 20 and voted for 3........including #1 and 2. It goes to show the influence AM has on it's new moonies. The others I've gotten are Neal Morse: ?, Kino, and Pineapple Thief: 10 Stories. Right now Neal Morse is my #1 most listened to. That CD keeps growing on me. My next most listened to are Kino and Blackfield. Now.......the problem.......I will copy the list, go to Amazon and listen to the rest. One question: The samples I've heard of Opeth: Ghost Reveries really turn me off, because of the evil raspy vocals. I CAN'T stand that stuff. Are these vocals throughout the CD? The music sounds great, but the vocals, I've heard, kill it. Please advise on tis. Thanks, Rob

[Rick and Roll]

I also have 9......

but not the same 9 as term lol....

Woj, great job! Love the big letters on the top 2, very cool. You are the man!

Rob,

Here's the deal on Opeth. "Blackwater Park" is an excellent record but all growling. You would not like it because of that. The arrangements and power is undeniable but stay away...there is one non-growler song on it and it's awesome...called "Harvest". "the Drapery Falls" has growling only in a small section. It is so good.

The one you need is "Damnation". No growling. Produced by your man Steven Wilson. I played it on the show in full once. You will eat it up.

I'll cut and paste my review of "Ghost Reveries" from my forum post I did over Halloween. it will be on the next post.

Zvinki. Mossy, and some others who are into them can elaborate more...

they'll be at the Recher in February, but I'll be away. Hell they may have sold out. Hope that helps...

Rick

[Rick and Roll]

For you Rob...and anyone else...

Opeth - Ghost Reveries

This is the latest by the Swedish growlers. This CD has it ALL. The blunt force of "Blackwater Park" combined with the sweetness of "Damnation". This CD is unbelievable.

OK, lets get this out of the way. You will hear on five of the eight tunes the famed, feared, and hated "Cookie Monster vocals" (referred to hereafter as CM). On another tune, it actually works. So we're left with four tunes with the growling. Let the record show that I find it infantile and downright silly. But I'm telling you, this is an absolutely great prog CD. If you don't like the rrrgggggrrraaahhhh portions, I feel your pain. But I'm not going to defend it or discuss it much in chat. It simply is what it is.

1) Ghost of Perdition - My vote for best Opeth tune done to date. This one's an absolute powerhouse. The CM vocals are in the first two verses and also a bit later. Mikael Akerfeldt sings in about 4 different voices, and when he comes in with the regular voice it is jarring in it's depth. The structure is outstanding and ending rocks.

2) The Baying of the Hounds - Again, first two verses have the CM vocals, and again at the end. You get through that and you're rewarded with another 10+ minute powerhouse.

3) Beneath The Mire - A rock and roll beginning, very atypical. The mellotron lead (!) and the crunch of the guitar work so well. And the drumming here is top shelf (all through the record actually).

4) Atomement - no CM vocals, and a Beatlesque Harrison Indian thing going on. Very hypnotic.

5) Reverie/Harlequin Forest - Heavy start to the tune. Here's where the CM vocals work. After about three minutes, melodic bliss! The ending is almost exactly like King's X "Born To Be Loved" (really!)..had to throw a King's X reference in...it's the rules...

6) Hours of Wealth - No CM vocals, very mellow. Nice.

7) The Grand Conjuration - Very heavy, morphs into a Porc Tree sound. Good interplay between CM and regular vocals later on.

8) Isolation Years - Another non-CM tune...very mellow to close out the CD.

there you are Rob, lifted from my post...here's Damnation...

(notice how i changed my mind about "any other disc I wouldn't go near). Played this in the spring

Opeth - Damnation

Windowpane
In My time Of Need
Death Whispered A Lullaby
Closure
Hope Leaves
To Rid The Disease
Ending Credits
Weakness

A great disc. I thought I lost it, it fell out when I was grabbing some others...said "Put me on the Moon". Any other CD by them I wouldn't go near. I find it humorous that these death-metal singers can sound really good when they sing. Lots of mellotron, very moody and dark. Not usually my cup of tea but it's so good. Sort of an Anekdoten Light.