KILL3R TR4CKS (The Debating Chamber).
 

George Orwell said "all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others". Well, it applies to the soup that is music.

So what are the "more equals"?

Rush - Freewill

Alex said his best solo was on "Kid Gloves", but the metal-sculpting on this track more than equal it. It's amazing the man had any fingers left (frankly).

Try to limit posts to 1 track at a time (so we pick holes in it more readilly). :D

The best thing about Freewill is the rhythm (though I think I vaguely remember a very similar track by some 70s prog group (Gentle Giant?)).

Talking about guitar wank mastery:

King Crimson - Fracture

I have no problems with any of Alex's guitar solos. They are what made GUP and Power Windows great as well as Hemisperes, Signals, P.Waves, MP, etc.

Surprisingly, I'm not very familiar with King Crimson.

Joe Satriani - Flying In A Blue Dream

I have the feeling most Rush fans don't know much real prog. :p

Jethro Tull, Yes, Genesis (both Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins), Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Dream Theater: I'm familiar with.

Marillion, Spock's Beard, Flower Kings, Symphony X, etc.: I'm not.

Verdict?

Van Der Graaf Generator? Soft Machine?

Seems to explain why I haven't heard of them, either. I think I know what your "verdict" is. :blah:

"Fracture" is 11 minutes of pleasure (thanks gaekwad). :up: It meandres like La Villa Strangiato, but it's darker/heaver, there's a sense of gravity at play. Nice menacing guitar sound.

Joe Satriani - Flying In A Blue Dream
I'm not convinced. Yes the man can play, but it's a manufactured sound, every note in its correct place. It doesn't sound very "organic"?

Speaking of organic:

Ellen Allien - Open

There's something about indie electronic that makes the likes of Autechre/Warp + 50 sound limp. :( Perhaps the germans are just better at electronic music?

I wouldn't call the last few Autechre records limp (other Warp acts however (Bores Of Canada)...)

It's when you compare the British/German model the limpness becomes exposed.

I know you shouldn't generalise about these things, but I've heard so much electronic music over the last 3 years it's becoming quite evident.

I'm not saying Autechre/Warp+50 are crap, but they'd benefit from stepping out of their sterilized world every now and then.

That sterility is part of their appeal though (and lots of German techno is at least as sterile).

When I have enough of it I switch to Polysics*.

*fully aware that Polysics are essentially The Hives for hipsters

True, but they've developed a whole rafter of genres that don't exist (or at least no longer exist) over here.

Polysics just kick ass.....