Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 15,16,17: Maiden, Priest Dream Theater

Mosh

Mosh

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So I decided that for the rest of the month, I'll be writing a bit about various releases of 2011 once a day. This can be studio albums, live albums, best of's, etc. I selected 31 of these to do, but sadly I forgot to start this last night, so tonight I'll be doing 2. So here it goes, feel free to post your own thoughts of any of these, or anything else that was released this year.
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Megadeth-Thirteen

As many of you know, I did not have very high hopes for this one. But upon listening, I found that it was really good, even better than Endgame, it features some really good thrash, and very catchy material. This album also got me motivated to listen to other Megadeth albums, and I found some really good material in albums I haven't previously heard before. The only problem I have with this album really, is the title. I also don't have a problem with the artwork as much as others seem to, but I get that it isn't up to quality with covers like the ones on Rust in Peace and Peace Sells

Overall, a really good album that surprised me quite a bit. Definitely one of the best releases of 2011 releases. 10/10

Highlights: Public Enemy #1, Who's Life (Is it Anyway), Guns Drugs and Money, Wrecker, Black Swan
Low Points: Millennium of the Blind, Never Dead

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Metallica and Lou Reed-LuLu

Probably the most controversial release of the year. I wasn't really sure what to think of any of it, from the announcement of Metallica collaborating with Lou Reed, to actually hearing a song off the album. At first I was against it, but as I thought about it, I kind of warmed up to the idea. LuLu is an experiment, they wanted to find out what Lou Reed's lyrical/vocal style would be like with Metallica's music in the background. And we found out. This double album is made up of extended jams, odd lyrics, and guitar feedback solos. Yes I did listen to both discs. Twice. There are some decent pieces throughout the album but it's more representative of Lou Reed, than of Metallica. I probably won't play it much at all in the future, but still, it will be interesting to see how this ages. And also, it's about time a band as big as Metallica spawns an internet meme (I AM THE TABLE). It gets an "A" for trying something new and experimenting, but that's about all I can give it. 4/10

Highlights: Brandenburg Gate, Iced Honey
Low Points: The View
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

Haven't heard Th1rt3en yet and only disc one and few tracks from disc two from Lulu. But The View is Lulu's only low point? It's bad, but not the only low point from the album.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

It's not the low point. Just the one that jumps out when I think, low point. Most everything else was forgettable.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

Even though TH1RT3EN is musically better, I appreciate Lulu more. TH1RT3EN is going on the same path, no risks at all to talk about, standard 2000s Megadeth (which I find nothing special) album. Lulu is incredibly interesting and even though the song qualities are not so good, the album flows pretty good. TH1RT3EN is just another Megadeth album, average, Lulu will be considered an avant-garde classic in years to come.

Both are 5/10 in my case. But like I said, Lulu's importance is beyond musical quality.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

You listened to thirty-one new albums this year? :o I think I only listened to eight!
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

Nice initiative but this specific part...

Mosh said:
feel free to post your own thoughts of any of these, or anything else that was released this year.
Click to expand...

...was already featured in CD reviews topic created by Onhell, so that feels a bit double.

At least, I can't imagine that new releases are not featured there.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

Black Wizard said:
You listened to thirty-one new albums this year? :o I think I only listened to eight!
Click to expand...
Spotify is an amazing thing.  :D
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

Oh, I don't use that. I've just been buying albums by bands I already like.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

Black Wizard said:
You listened to thirty-one new albums this year? :o I think I only listened to eight!
Click to expand...

4 (5 if you count Fear to Eternity), and bits of another 2. And honestly, can only remember 1 of them.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

Fear to Eternity counts. It's on my list.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 1&2: Thirteen and LuLu

Can't wait to see this list mosh!
 
Re:

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Pink Floyd-Why Pink Floyd

As a big Pink Floyd fan, I was very excited when these were announced. I won't go into the details about the background of these, but you can do so yourself here. Note that I am only talking about the discovery editions in this, I do not have any experience or immersion editions. I was especially excited, because these seemed to be a lot like the Beatles remasters, which were very good, sound, packaging, everything was great. These however, are a step lower in quality. Lets start with the packaging. The mini-LP type package is mostly the same as the ones for The Beatles, but with some minor differences, there are also no historical/recording notes found on these, which is a shame, I enjoyed reading the Beatles ones. There also aren't any mini-docs, which didn't surprise me, none were mentioned. When you aren't comparing these to the Beatles remasters, then they aren't disappointing at all.

Now for the music. I didn't notice anything too special about the sound of the remasters, apparently the Dark Side of the Moon remaster is the exact same as the 30th anniversary edition. And as I listen to the original CD version of Animals, I find that there isn't a real need for them to be remastered, where the Beatles albums were in serious need of being remastered. That said, they do sound good, it isn't like certain other bands who have released inferior remasters. And this campaign has also made the albums much easier to find, which is good. So for fans that don't have the albums yet, this is a great way to get started. If you already have the albums, then these might not be required. I am not disappointed by this release campaign, but I'm also not completely blown away either. 7/10.
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Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events

Dream Theater has gotten quite a bit of attention in the metal community over the past year. After the departure of Mike Portnoy, really the band's main man. Nobody was sure about what would happen to the band. They found a replacement (Mike Mangini) and quickly came back with this spectacular album. The band needed to prove that they could go on without Portnoy, and they sure did. This album is really their best since 2002's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. perhaps even better. The production is great, the songs are great, the vocals are even great. James La Brie hasn't sounded this good in a very long time. Mike Mangini's drumming is exceptional, but given that he did this after not knowing the songs for too long, I didn't expect anything spectacular. Also John Myung's bass can finally be heard clearly in the mix, and he even got his first lyric credit since Fatal Tragedy on Scenes from a Memory.

There are some minor flaws, the drums are a bit low in the mix for example. But there isn't much to complain about. There isn't a bad song on there either. Also, many negative things about past albums have disappeared on this album. Overlong songs like A Nightmare To Remember and Endless Sacrifice are nowhere to be found here. Some recent material was also starting to get too heavy for my tastes, and there wasn't anything like that on this album.

Something else that should be addressed is the allegations of the band using old charts from Images and Words. Some songs carry striking similarities to Images and words. Here are those songs:
On The Backs of Angels=Pull Me Under
Lost Not Forgotten=Under A Glass Moon
Outcry=Metropolis
This is the Life=Another Day
Breaking All Illusions=Learning To Live

Personally, I heard many of these on first listen, OTBOA included, back when it was put out in July. At first I decided I was just crazy but went on the DT forum and sure enough, there was a discussion about it. But some don't hear it. Also, Beneath the Surface in a way is John Petrucci's Space Dye Vest. Which I think is brilliant... if it was by design.

Overall, immensely good album. One of their best in years, and one of the highlights of 2011. 10/10

Highlights: Bridges in the Sky, Lost Not Forgotten, Outcry, Breaking All Illusions
Weaker Moments: Far From Heaven, This is the Life
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 4:Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events

Mosh said:
cover_5124132962011_r.jpg

Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events

Dream Theater has gotten quite a bit of attention in the metal community over the past year. After the departure of Mike Portnoy, really the band's main man. Nobody was sure about what would happen to the band. They found a replacement (Mike Mangini) and quickly came back with this spectacular album. The band needed to prove that they could go on without Portnoy, and they sure did. This album is really their best since 2002's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. perhaps even better. The production is great, the songs are great, the vocals are even great. James La Brie hasn't sounded this good in a very long time. Mike Mangini's drumming is exceptional, but given that he did this after not knowing the songs for too long, I didn't expect anything spectacular. Also John Myung's bass can finally be heard clearly in the mix, and he even got his first lyric credit since Fatal Tragedy on Scenes from a Memory.

There are some minor flaws, the drums are a bit low in the mix for example. But there isn't much to complain about. There isn't a bad song on there either. Also, many negative things about past albums have disappeared on this album. Overlong songs like A Nightmare To Remember and Endless Sacrifice are nowhere to be found here. Some recent material was also starting to get too heavy for my tastes, and there wasn't anything like that on this album.

Something else that should be addressed is the allegations of the band using old charts from Images and Words. Some songs carry striking similarities to Images and words. Here are those songs:
On The Backs of Angels=Pull Me Under
Lost Not Forgotten=Under A Glass Moon
Outcry=Metropolis
This is the Life=Another Day
Breaking All Illusions=Learning To Live

Personally, I heard many of these on first listen, OTBOA included, back when it was put out in July. At first I decided I was just crazy but went on the DT forum and sure enough, there was a discussion about it. But some don't hear it. Also, Beneath the Surface in a way is John Petrucci's Space Dye Vest. Which I think is brilliant... if it was by design.

Overall, immensely good album. One of their best in years, and one of the highlights of 2011. 10/10
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call Portnoy, DT's "main man," not for a long shot. Sure he was a cofounder of the group, but from the start DT has been a collaborative band, unlike Megadeth or Iced Earth where Mustaine and Schaffer run the show respectively. Those bands would be nothing without them because they ARE the band. DT has great musicians but they survived Moore's departure and didn't think twice about firing Sheradin or whoever it was to get Rudess on board. John Pertucci has done the overwhelming amount of writing in the last 3 albums or so, thus losing Portnoy while shocking and saddening... I don't miss him. I caught them live on their last U.S show last night and they were FANTASTIC. fucking awesome show, Mangini fit like a glove.

Also what may be "over long songs" to some, are just fine to others. I think the two you mentioned are just fine. You could've mention SDoIT as a better example, but DT rarely makes a long song that goes nowhere and in the last albums I haven't seen that issue.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 4:Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events

Mike Portnoy acted as a band leader. I don't miss him either, but I don't find it too hard to call him the main man.

Also, I have no problem with the length of SDOIT. Nightmare is the biggest offender to this long song problem I think. It's an amazing song up to the Beautiful Agony section, but after that it just takes a nosedive. It didn't need to be 16 minutes. Endless Sacrifice has too long of a middle section. It could've been shortened a ton.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 4:Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events

'The Count of Tuscany' is nineteen minutes and sixteen seconds too long.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 4:Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events

Black Wizard said:
'The Count of Tuscany' is nineteen minutes and sixteen seconds too long.
Click to expand...

Blasphemy!!!
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 4:Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events

Endless Sacrifice has an awesome instrumental section IMO.
 
Re: Mosh Presents: 2011 Music Releases Day 4:Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events

Onhell said:
John Pertucci has done the overwhelming amount of writing in the last 3 albums or so...
Click to expand...

John Petrucci has co-written every Dream Theater song except "New Millennium" from 1996.
 
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