Ruminations - September 7, 1999
by Stephanie Sollow



Following Up The "Masterpiece" (Or Well Received Album)


As we've also mentioned in the news section this week, we've a host of reviews on tap. This week's Progressive Music Review selection includes the latest, excellent progressive instrumental disk from Ars Nova, The Book of the Dead, Timothy Pure's latest opus, Island Of The Misfit Toys and a review of the first State-side issuance of The Lonely Bear's self titled album... plus more.

A lone review this week in Progressive Voice, as we take another aim at Symphony X's Twilight In Olympus.

In working on this week's reviews, I re-read Larry D's review of Symphony X's Twilight, and a point he made there, is something I'd like to comment on here. I'm also throwing this question out onto the message board (which after a month still looks very bleak).

So often, when a band releases a well received, well reviewed and well thought of album, the expectations for the next release are high - perhaps inflated. This isn't just true for music, of course. We get the same in movies as well. So few sequels live up to the promise of the first film.

But, many of us rarely look at each album in and of itself. It's always compared to the previous release. Is Radiation as good as This Strange Engine; is that as good as Afraid of Sunlight; is that as good as Brave... (to pick Marillion as an example). Well... they're different. Certainly Radiation is vastly different from Brave, but what were the factors going in to the writing and recording of each? Can we, as Larry asks, expect the masterpiece with every release? No.

Certain factors must come together at just the right time. Something happens in the songwriter's (or songwriters') life that motivates them to write - whether that something is vicarious or not (as was true with Brave, the concept inspired from a news item). The musicians have discovered just the right mix of notes and chords and rhythms. And, in the studio, these to things converge. And, what happens is a masterpiece. Or maybe it doesn't, maybe it's mediocre. Or a piece of... well, you know.. Or some point in between. But, those elements, good or bad, will never happen in that combination again.

So no, maybe Marillion haven't created another Misplaced Childhood or Brave (or whatever one considers is their masterpiece)... but, maybe when all is said and done, when they've given up, and we're looking back on their career, maybe the album they made long after those two will be the masterpiece... maybe the right things haven't even converged yet. By the way, I'm using Marillion as an example because they've taken so much flak (and some praise) for Radiation (and yes, I checked my review to see if I'm being hypocritical - I think no).

But should we be disappointed that that their lastest album isn't the same as their previous? Or their previous best? No. Shouldn't we instead look at the album under consideration in and of itself - ask the questions as to whether this one is good, or bad. Well played, or not. Reference past albums, of course, as, hopefully, the artist is trying something new. Hopefully you can say, "unlike album X, band A have dispensed with S, and have instead gone with N. N is / is not effective..."

Of course, one other factor that may not play to much into progressive music, but certainly in pop is the pressure to produce product. Get that album out, bust those buns, and turn a buck or two. Nevermind that your new hit is exactly the same as your old hit - it has new words. (Anyone ever notice that Chuck Berry's "Hail Hail Rock N' Roll" and "No Particular Place To Go" is guilty of that? Not prog, I know, but even down to the title the rhythm's the same).

I'll be interested to see your thoughts...









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Published on: 1999-09-07 (2184 reads)

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