Jethro42
04.23.22 | We slowly but surely approach the Elimination rd. Meanwhile, voting ends April 30th.
Have fun! |
bgillesp
04.23.22 | Looking forward to it |
e210013
04.23.22 | The last two. The last, but not the least. As I voted earlier in this journey and there was no doubt about the next two competitors, I already gave a spin on both albums. Despite I liked both, I think I've a clear favourite in this moment. Let's see that it will be confirmed in the next week.
Great last journey in this phase to all of you guys. |
Divaman
04.23.22 | Very good. |
Jethro42
04.23.22 | Both albums are really different. I had to wait for the very last moment to kinda manage to do a matchup with the whimsical Present. |
e210013
04.23.22 | Yes, true. |
Jethro42
04.23.22 | One of your rare presences in the week-end, bro! |
e210013
04.23.22 | It's again true. But you know it already. The weekends are for my family. And in this hour is even more rare to can talk with me. I'm already on day 24 at 00:40. So, I'm going to bed right now. So, you can whish me good night my friend. Lol. |
Jethro42
04.23.22 | When the music's over,
turn out the lights
turn out the lights
turn out the lights |
e210013
04.23.22 | Thanks, bro. We see us around here next week. |
Donchivo
04.24.22 | Stoked for present... As I gather there are quite some German speakers here, I am sharing this link with 2 interesting reviews of the album including quite some background info: http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/index.php?albumId=10216&content=review
That said: very curious to hear your opinions on Green Eyed God! I really like this album! |
kalkwiese
04.24.22 | Nice, I don't always agree with BBS reviews, but I like to read their opinions nonetheless, because they really are independent (I'm looking at you, metal.de ...) |
kalkwiese
04.24.22 | That's where I found Polis too actually |
Zig
04.24.22 | I was so close to choose Present's Le Poison Qui Rend Fou as my knight. Looking forward to this round!
Good luck to you both, Don and Porc ! |
Jethro42
04.24.22 | @Zig, don't expect any similarities between both. It's a bit like if early Deep Purple would meet Univers Zero. |
zakalwe
04.25.22 | Summers Child from Dons entry is song of the tourney for me so far.
Gentle guitar strum accompanied by wistful flute is all I need. |
Friday13th
04.25.22 | These two have been on my need-to-listen list for years. Exciting! |
bgillesp
04.25.22 | Jamming 2 now. Thanks for the Drive link porc. That YT upload was awful |
Divaman
04.25.22 | Gonna give them each at least another listen, but I'm already pretty sure which way I'm going in this match. |
porcupinetheater
04.25.22 | Lmao Diva, given our discrepancies in prog taste reckon you’re clocking in at the Steel Mill? |
Divaman
04.25.22 | Very likely. The cover art for Present feels to me like it matches the music - very busy and hectic. And I've always liked the psychedelic stuff, which also gives Steel Mill a advantage. But I'll give Barbaro at least one more chance to win me over. |
Jethro42
04.25.22 | I'm impressed by Barbaro. As a nightmare, it's full of suspense that builds and builds. |
zakalwe
04.25.22 | Another case of the quality that doesn’t quite fit the bill compared to the jarring noise that’s all over the place.
I’m doing another early vote on this one. Steel Mill has a bit of Wishbone Ash, Sabbath and all sorts going on and if it wasn’t for the flute and the odd foray it wouldn’t fit my guidelines for the prog element but thankfully it does enough so it gets my vote because as an album I have to say it’s absolute class!
Barbaro I’m sure will hold a special place for a few people, I just didn’t have the patience for it I’m afraid. |
bgillesp
04.26.22 | Ooh, I like some Wishbone Ash so I'm excited to check 1. I loved 2 on first listen but need a few more to really digest it |
kalkwiese
04.26.22 | Another super strong round. 1 is laid back and just very nice to listen to while being super cool. 2 is a dark, majestic beauty |
Jethro42
04.26.22 | 1:0
zak
|
Mythodea
04.27.22 | 1's attitude was calm and explorative, some mysterious vibes here and there, and the word ''eclectic'' is appropriate enough with the oh-so many soundscapes we find on it. Wouldn't have been too surprised if it was paired up with mine, since I think it shares this airy and loose approach with Axis (and the jazz finishes, of course)
Next up: Barbaro! |
e210013
04.27.22 | I agree, Mythodea. There are some common points between both.
About Barbaro, it's a completely different beast. You'll see. |
e210013
04.27.22 | After the usual 4 listenings, here I am analyzing the last two knights of this phase.
Steel Mill - Green Eyed God
This is a great discovery. It's one of the most obscure releases from England in the 70's made by a very obscure prog band. It's a pity this guys only made this piece. This is a hard rock/fusion album with several influences but were the fusion influences aren't too heavy. It represents a culmination of the bluesier side of the heavy psych rock and the proto-prog. This is a very melodic and beautiful album, really.
Present - Barbaro
This is clearly to me one of the best albums and one of the great discoveries of this tournament. This is an album whitout weak points and with an amazing ballance. It's amazingly performed and recorded compositions that are both intricate and complex in the same vein of Anglagard, All Traps On Earth and, of course, Univers Zero. This is probably one of the possible definitions of 21st century prog music.
Green Eyed God rated with 4.0.
Barbaro rated with 4.5.
I really liked both albums. They have pratically nothing in common, except they're both prog works. Green Eyed God is a very bautiful and melodic album in the classic vein of the 70's. Barbaro is a barbarity, in a good sense. It's more similar to the modern classical music than the progressive rock music. But, this is RIO. And as its name indicates, this is a different side of rock. It would have been nice to see my All Traps On Earth against Barbaro. It would have been mythical.
So, according to my ratings, I must chose Barbaro. This is a different kind of beast. |
Jethro42
04.27.22 | 1:1
zak
e21
Good write up, e21, dude. I know, guys, I haven't chose my match ups correctly all the time. It's not obvious. In the next tournaments, I'll choose all of them from the get go. |
e210013
04.27.22 | This isn't a critic to you bro. I know it's very hard to made the couples to the tournament. To do it the best way possible you needed to check them several times, probably 3 or 4 times. Mathematically, it would means 60 or 80 listenings. That is an impossibility and absurdity. If you did that you would never begin the tournament. For me, you made an amazing work. In the end is easy to talk. Lol.
Cheers bro and thanks. I repeat, you have been a great host, a great substitute, I think the best, of Friday. |
Jethro42
04.27.22 | Thanks for your kind words, my friend. The thing is, I sometimes put aside some match ups too quickly and blindly. So it ended up reducing the possibilities for my other match ups, mistake I won't do again. |
Jethro42
04.27.22 | Spidermilk and A Drop Of Light are a good example of that; I matched them up since the debut. But there were obviously some other possibilities for them both. I have to consider it in the future. |
e210013
04.27.22 | No problem bro. We learn with time and time brings to us the experience. But it has been a great tournament. |
Jethro42
04.27.22 | Word of wisdom :) |
Mythodea
04.27.22 | Jethro you've done an amazing work so far, buddy, you are the tournament's saviour, so the only thing we could do is praise you 😍
What could be done in the future, is either give the organizer some more time to listen and pair the albums, or have two users do the matching, or even add a genre tag and a ''For fans of...'' within the short description, to better guide the organizer |
e210013
04.27.22 | Lol. |
e210013
04.27.22 | "What could be done in the future, is either give the organizer some time to listen and pair the albums, or have to users do the matching, or even add a genre tag and a ''For fans of...'' within the short description, to better guide the organizer"
Wisdom words, Mythodea. |
Jethro42
04.27.22 | Yes Myth, it would be practical :) Thanks a lot! It's nice of you. |
bgillesp
04.27.22 | Personally I've never cared much about if the matchups are similar, so you've done a great job by my book. More often then not, making the matchups very similar results in some rounds where I want both to stay and some rounds where I want both to leave |
Jethro42
04.27.22 | Lol. Good opinion/analysis bgillesp, dude. And thanks for the compliment. |
porcupinetheater
04.27.22 | Yeah, you’re doing wonderfully Jethro, and we all’s appreciate the hell out of your work to get this prog shit proggin’
Agree with bgill, too, feel like close sound pair ups make for really interesting tough rounds and some slog rounds if you have strong sub-genre preferences. Like I love all that post-Crimson evolutions, RiO, Zeuhl type stuff, but most of the symphonic prog puts me to sleep |
Donchivo
04.27.22 | All hail the Jethro! Seriously, you are doing a great job!
I actually agree with bgillesp: I don't think it should be obligatory to pair similar albums. It could even be random pairings.
|
Jethro42
04.27.22 | Thanks for your kind words, porc. I can hear you. Regarding symphonic prog, it's my personal favorite along with ecclectic prog. Generally, symphonic prog gets enough majestic elements throughout to keep you awake :)
[edit] Thanks a lot Donchivo! Your pairing is a good example of a difference! |
Divaman
04.27.22 | Getting ready for the last listens of the round. |
SlothcoreSam
04.27.22 | Going to have to go with Steel Mill, might be my favourite so far. |
Jethro42
04.27.22 | 2:1
zak
Sloth
e21
|
Divaman
04.27.22 | As expected, I'll be voting for Steel Mill. Their brand of psychedelic prog is much more up my alley. I really liked the Native-American-sounding flutes on this one.
I will say that I've liked Barbaro a little better each time I've heard it. It's a very busy album, though, and certainly not a natural fit for my tastes. |
Jethro42
04.27.22 | 3:1
zak
Sloth
Diva
e21
Both Steel Mill and Present are consistently good. I'm usually not a big fan of eccentric albums, but Present makes an exception. I dig the light, yet continuous tension that builds and builds.
Steel Mill exploits an heavy psychedelic bluesy prog close to stoner rock and got enticing melodies and clever instrumental interplays. I can't choose a favorite up to now.
|
Mythodea
04.28.22 | So, I'm not that sold on either album. I feel both are very good, perhaps even awesome at times, however I feel they're lacking something to make me really appreciate them and dive deep. In GEG's case, it's that it feels very loose, even if there are distinct ideas, a rich palette of sounds, and it doesn't feel like the single, one-off album by a band (it sounds way more professional than that). In Barbaro's case, I think like I've tasted already what they offer, even if it's majestically cooked, and it's a dish I'm not particularly fond of for some years now.
So, I'm going with Green Eyed God with this one!
(Also, I can't believe this tournament is already almost over, really passed by in the blink of an eye) |
kalkwiese
04.28.22 | I am curious about the next few rounds, now that we've listened to all albums. I have massively enjoyed both albums so far, but I need further listens |
TwigTW
04.28.22 | Finally, we get the zeuhl album I've been waiting for. My vote goes to Barbaro. |
Sabrutin
04.28.22 | Turn the Pages Over from Green Eyed God almost has a late Beatles feel |
Jethro42
04.28.22 | 4:2
zak
Sloth
Diva
Myth
e21
Twig
People still hesitate between both...I feel it's gonna be another tight one.
|
MrSirLordGentleman
04.28.22 | I'm familiar with Steel Mill. Great stuff
Let's see how Present is |
bgillesp
04.29.22 | back half of 1 definitely brought a lot more of the protoprog. Nice record. Gonna try to jam both again today. It has been less convenient because neither is on spotify (at least in US) so I am a bit behind schedule |
porcupinetheater
04.29.22 | Green Eyed God is pre nice nice nice
Voting for Present ofc, genre and personal rec biases beat all, but this is a neat matchup and props to Don, love being a part of it. Long love Barbaro |
Divaman
04.29.22 | I'm already getting ready for next week, as I'll be at sea again. |
wham49
04.29.22 | 1 for sure
I find albums from 1972 any genre very cool and rewarding to listen to. I think it is the mix of what had been going on in all genres the last 7 years prior |
Jethro42
04.29.22 | 5:3
zak
Sloth
Diva
Myth
wham
e21
Twig
porc |
Jethro42
04.29.22 | I like both. Present is a side project from Univers Zero. Their music is hard to absorb and based on suspense. It's more like ''intellectual'', robotic music treated with pressure and emotion. ''Jack the Ripper'' is quite faithful to the original from Univers Zero. Music is almost chaotic, always nervous and hard to follow, but well done, breathless music.
Steel Mill is an easy listening, scattered with psych, heavy rock, prog rock and roll. A mix of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Jimi Hendrix. The only ordinary song is the title track. Music aged well for an obscure, heavy psych album of 1972. Album is consistently good, and it gets my vote, by a thin marge. |
Jethro42
04.29.22 | 6:3
zak
Sloth
Diva
Myth
wham
Jethro
e21
Twig
porc |
Donchivo
04.30.22 | Spinning the Green eyed god vinyl again, my vote unsurprisingly (but rather narrowly) goes to Steel Mill.I am just a sucker for proto prog and the blues rock roots counterpointed by the woodwind just has me...
Barbaro is an amazing album thou. Its brooding and menacing chaos left me in awe on first listen and was close to a hostile takeover of my vote. But the one thing it didnt' accomplish for me was to kind of settle in a bit more upon repeated listens. It stayed at the (admittedly very high) level it had for me upon first listen. Thanks for that discovry, porc! |
Sabrutin
04.30.22 | Green Eyed God may not change your life but the rocking (with Deep Purpley and Beatlesy vibes here and there) sound with proggy/pastoral parts works very well.
Barbaro is a beast in its own right, bringing back the Shub-Niggurath sound to the tournament.
In the end I vote for Steel Mill for a simple enjoyment case, as I found Present's album a bit heavy to chew. |
Zig
04.30.22 | Barbaro gets my vote; waaaay more interesting listen than easy-going Green Eyed God. |
kalkwiese
04.30.22 | I want to listen to both a third time, but I got a strong tendency atm. Gonna vote today |
Jethro42
04.30.22 | 8:4
zak
Sloth
Diva
Myth
wham
Jethro
Donchivo
Sab
e21
Twig
porc
Zig |
kalkwiese
04.30.22 | My vote is for Present. That shit is just what I craved atm. Steel Mill was awesome too though. In this round there are only losers tbh, both are some of the best material in this tourney |
bgillesp
04.30.22 | This is another tough round in just the style I like it. 2 very different albums with different merits and I have to decide which I value more. I am leaning towards Present right now, but will give another listen to steel mill today before deciding. Then I think I'll have all my rankings settled except for needing to remind myself about Pekka |
hansoloshotfirst
04.30.22 | I'm voting for Present, dug both of them a lot. |
Jethro42
04.30.22 | 8:6
zak
Sloth
Diva
Myth
wham
Jethro
Donchivo
Sab
e21
Twig
porc
Zig
kalk
hansolo |
MrSirLordGentleman
04.30.22 | I'll go with Steel Mill. I really like the first two tracks on Barbaro, specially the piano, but it looses a lot of steam on the closer for me |
bnelso55
04.30.22 | Here's one for Present! |
Jethro42
04.30.22 | 9:7
zak
Sloth
Diva
Myth
wham
Jethro
Donchivo
Sab
SirLord
e21
Twig
porc
Zig
kalk
hansolo
bnelso |
Divaman
04.30.22 | Still pretty close. |
Jethro42
04.30.22 | bgillesp, Shark and Friday are left. We lost soldier Scheumke, it seems. |
bgillesp
04.30.22 | I regret getting behind on these two. It’s the closest matchup for me since M3 which was basically a coin flip |
bgillesp
04.30.22 | Whichever one of these wins will be my number 4 pick for the elimination round, so I’m very happy with either. Gonna trust my gut and go with Present though because the chaos is pretty cool and unique among our entries |
Friday13th
04.30.22 | As an unabashed Univers Zero fan, Present gets my vote. |
Jethro42
04.30.22 | What I did to choose Steel Mill is pick up which I value more, and which I'd listen to the most in the future. It could be either way, I confess.
Here we go...neck and neck! Shark could be the tie breaker...
9:9
zak
Sloth
Diva
Myth
wham
Jethro
Donchivo
Sab
SirLord
e21
Twig
porc
Zig
kalk
hansolo
bnelso
bgillesp
Friday |
Divaman
05.01.22 | Geez, here we go again. |
SharkTooth
05.01.22 | fuck a tiebreaker |
SharkTooth
05.01.22 | 1's vocalist reminds me somewhat of ozzy |
SharkTooth
05.01.22 | Give me some time I can't figure out which one I prefer of the 2 |
Divaman
05.01.22 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyv905Q2omU |
TheIntruder
05.01.22 | Green Eyed God is a very good album with almost all the great things of the 70's prog. Barbaro is a very savage album, very avant-garde showing some of the best things of the modern prog.
I prefer Barbaro who gets my vote. |
Jethro42
05.01.22 | Yesterday, I was searching for a tiebreaker, and Intruder was a volunteer. So it's technically a win from Present. |
e210013
05.01.22 | This means that we can consider Present to the next round? |
Jethro42
05.01.22 | Yes, Present got the win. |
Jethro42
05.01.22 | 9:10
zak
Sloth
Diva
Myth
wham
Jethro
Donchivo
Sab
SirLord
e21
Twig
porc
Zig
kalk
hansolo
bnelso
bgillesp
Friday
Intruder |
Jethro42
05.01.22 | Bravo, porc. Big struggle, Donchivo. Bravo to both. |
e210013
05.01.22 | Yeah, bravo to both. |
Donchivo
05.01.22 | Congrats to Porc and to Present. Barbaro definitely deserves to be in the elimination round! |
Jethro42
05.01.22 | So were you, Don. Most of the Steel Mill songs were excellent. If I could enter both albums, I would do! |
Mythodea
05.02.22 | Wow, I didn't expect yet another table-turn |
Jethro42
05.02.22 | Yes sir! Another unpredictable reversal! |
zakalwe
05.02.22 | Steel Mills is the best I’ve seen go out before the knockout stages. |
Jethro42
05.02.22 | If Still Mills passed for the Elimination Rd, I would have had a spot for it as well. |
Divaman
05.02.22 | Me too. |
Donchivo
05.03.22 | @ Diva: Sooo close to break that curse... |