Author Topic: The Galactic Cowboys Thread  (Read 10003 times)

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Offline contest_sanity

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The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« on: May 13, 2011, 08:43:40 AM »
Seeing the new King’s X thread reminded me that I needed to finally make this thread.  While I’ve seen the Galactic Cowboys mentioned here and there, I’ve never seen a proper thread for them.  I was introduced to them when I saw them open for King’s X back in 1998.  They were incredible live, nearly surpassing King’s X (even though I didn’t know any of their songs yet).

It was like they took some of my favorite aspects of King’s X – the heaviness, the technicality, and the vocals/harmonies – and took it up a notch.  Someone once described them as “the Beatles meets Metallica,” and I can definitely see that on their first couple of albums.  While their later sound began to get a little less heavy and throw in a little more punk and pop, all of their albums are brilliant in their own way.

Favorite Albums: Space In Your Face, At The End Of The Day, The Horse That Bud Bought

Favorite Songs: Speak To Me, You Make Me Smile, Mrs. Leslie, If I Were A Killer, 9th Of June, Feel The Rage, Mona Lisa, Tomorrow, Just Like Me, Ants, Shine, Life And Times, Disney’s Spinnin’

So let’s discuss this fantastic and underrated band:

Offline wkiml

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2011, 09:50:36 AM »
I only own Space in Your Face and The Horse That Bud Bought, but love them both.

Would highly recommend them to anyone who loves harmony vocals
Quote from: senecadawg2 on July 17, 2012, 10:54:32 PM
In defense of peanut butter...

try getting the neighbor's dog to lick your balls with a spoonful of chummus.

Offline contest_sanity

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2011, 10:29:44 AM »
I only own Space in Your Face and The Horse That Bud Bought, but love them both.

Would highly recommend them to anyone who loves harmony vocals
Definitely seconded on the harmony vocals; some of the best I've ever heard (and a lot of times with 4 people singing).  You should get the rest of their stuff.  Machine Fish is their heaviest and At The End Of The Day has a similar sound to Bud but is slightly better.

Offline wkiml

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2011, 10:39:38 AM »
I only own Space in Your Face and The Horse That Bud Bought, but love them both.

Would highly recommend them to anyone who loves harmony vocals
Definitely seconded on the harmony vocals; some of the best I've ever heard (and a lot of times with 4 people singing).  You should get the rest of their stuff.  Machine Fish is their heaviest and At The End Of The Day has a similar sound to Bud but is slightly better.

I'll have to look for them this weekend..been meaning to get back into some older stuff
Quote from: senecadawg2 on July 17, 2012, 10:54:32 PM
In defense of peanut butter...

try getting the neighbor's dog to lick your balls with a spoonful of chummus.

Offline ytserush

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2011, 03:09:37 PM »
I saw them open for Dream Theater (more than once I think) and I have all of their albums, but sadly I don't listen to them all that much.

It's probably been more than a year since I've put one of their albums on.

The similarity to Kings X was why I got into them in the late '80s/early '90s.


Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2013, 03:49:52 PM »
MAJOR BUMP!!!

Apparently, the boys are playing a 25th anniversary show in Texas on Sept 13th.

Maybe they will freakin *RECORD IT* this time???   I was really ticked that the big reunion bash from a few years back wasn't compiled into SOME form of live album/DVD....

Here's a funny video they made to promote it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg01nMuI-Ms
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Offline WildeSilas

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2013, 08:45:06 PM »
One of my favorite bands. I'm a HUGE King's X fan, and these guys are like a heavier version. I don't understand why they haven't come back on a smaller label to record some more. The very last album was really weak, but everything else was stunning.
No light at the end of the tunnel due to budget contraints

Offline SoundscapeMN

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2013, 09:37:05 PM »
funny video. I wish I could attend that show, but I don't live nearby, not to forget it's the night before Yom Kippur.

and I agree, they should try and write and record something new. Maybe this reunion show (along with the one's from a few years ago) would inspire them to soon. I suppose time and $ still factor in, but as far as putting it out, they could even just release it digitally per Bandcamp or Spotify, etc.

And actually, over time, I grew to enjoy a lot of Let It Go, even as odd/different/experimental as it was at times.

on a sidenote: Wally Farkas recently got to see The Monkees live and meet Michael Nesmith along with his King's X-fan (and GC-fan son/touring member Christian) along with Dug Pinnick of King's X
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201890771454866&set=a.1177640325106.27728.1351068518&type=1&theater

Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2013, 12:12:45 AM »
One of my favorite bands. I'm a HUGE King's X fan, and these guys are like a heavier version. I don't understand why they haven't come back on a smaller label to record some more. The very last album was really weak, but everything else was stunning.

 :(


Wow....I thought THTBB was just OK....and ATEOTD was an improvement.   But I thought Let It Go *was their masterpiece*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Absolutely my ALL TIME favorite GC album!!!   Cannot get enough of that album...absolutely perfect start to finish.     That is GC's "Sgt. Pepper"....
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

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Offline Woodworker1

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2013, 06:13:35 AM »
Huge Galactic Cowboys fan here.  I agree, Let it Go is their best album.  Anyone else like "Hey Mr"?
« Last Edit: August 26, 2013, 06:06:12 AM by Woodworker1 »

Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2013, 09:29:05 AM »
Huge Galactic Cowboys fan here.  I agree, Let it Go is there best album.  Anyone else like "Hey Mr"?

DAT RIFF!!!!!
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

The Jammin Dude Show - https://www.youtube.com/user/jammindude

Offline contest_sanity

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2013, 08:19:20 PM »
Need a dvd of this something bad. They need to record another album, too. Still some of the greatest music in existence even if I am not as much in this scene as I used to be.

Offline Basekick

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2013, 09:53:55 AM »
I have a few of their albums, and while I should go back and give them some more potent listens, the only song that stuck out for me was Psychotic Companion.

That is a mighty fine song though.  :metal :metal  Do they have any other songs in particular that kick ass as much as this one?
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Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2013, 06:32:33 PM »
I have a few of their albums, and while I should go back and give them some more potent listens, the only song that stuck out for me was Psychotic Companion.

That is a mighty fine song though.  :metal :metal  Do they have any other songs in particular that kick ass as much as this one?

Sea of Tranquility
Captain Krude
If I Were A Killer
All About Mrs Leslie
The Struggle
Idle Minds
The Buzz/Tomorrow
My Life
The "Machine Fish Suite" from At the End of the Day (tracks 4-10)
T.I.M.
Disney's Spinnin
Hey Mr
Internalize

Just to name a few.   There are actually more.....this is just off the top of my head.
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

The Jammin Dude Show - https://www.youtube.com/user/jammindude

Offline Pelata

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2013, 09:07:52 AM »
I love Galactic Cowboys...I wish they'd do another album...even if self-released.

Offline SoundscapeMN

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #15 on: August 28, 2013, 12:26:11 PM »
another small sort of related note: if people do a search for their name, they may run across a band called "The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra." They are not the same band.

However, they are an excellent band none-the-less.

Lisi Wright of TGCO has mentioned to me many times they've received hate-mail for their name and not being Galactic Cowboys. But Lisi and other members of TGCO are actually big fans of Rush and even King's X (they even did a sweet cover of "Groove Machine" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW3Pa27IvEs ).

Offline JayOctavarium

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #16 on: August 28, 2013, 03:14:02 PM »
Just listened to their first album...

My reaction:

WHY HAVE I NEVER LISTENED TO THIS BAND BEFORE?

So much awesome.
I just don't understand what they were trying to achieve with any part of the song, either individually or as a whole. You know what? It's the Platypus of Dream Theater songs. That bill doesn't go with that tail, or that strange little furry body, or those webbed feet, and oh god why does it have venomous spurs!? And then you find out it lays eggs too. The difference is that the Platypus is somehow functional despite being a crazy mishmash or leftover animal pieces

-BlobVanDam on "Scarred"

Offline Mindflux

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2013, 03:21:54 PM »
Just listened to their first album...

My reaction:

WHY HAVE I NEVER LISTENED TO THIS BAND BEFORE?

So much awesome.

Can get their whole discog pretty cheap on a couple of used sites.  Might have to do just that.

Offline contest_sanity

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2013, 08:29:56 PM »
Just listened to their first album...

My reaction:

WHY HAVE I NEVER LISTENED TO THIS BAND BEFORE?

So much awesome.

JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO SPACE IN YOUR FACE

Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #19 on: August 28, 2013, 08:59:51 PM »
RANKING TIME!!!!

To me, Space in Your Face has extremely high "highs", and several "meh" moments as well.  (I've never cared for Blind, No Problems or Circles in the Fields...the rest is fantastic)

1. LET IT GO
2. At The End of the Day
3. Galactic Cowboys
4. Space In Your Face
5. The Horse That Bud Bought
6. Machine Fish

They just have not made a bad album at all.   The top 3 are absolutely STUNNING (with the top 1 being freaking PERFECT), and the bottom three are simply "really great"...
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

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Offline Woodworker1

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #20 on: August 29, 2013, 09:05:30 AM »
My ranking:

1.  Space In Your Face
2.  Let it Go
3.  Galactic Cowboys

not deserving of a rank
The The Horse That Bud Bought
Machine Fish


Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #21 on: August 29, 2013, 02:22:07 PM »
My ranking:

1.  Space In Your Face
2.  Let it Go
3.  Galactic Cowboys

not deserving of a rank
The The Horse That Bud Bought
Machine Fish

Oh man...there are some GEMS on those CD's.

And, have you heard At the End of the Day?
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

The Jammin Dude Show - https://www.youtube.com/user/jammindude

Offline SoundscapeMN

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #22 on: August 29, 2013, 09:33:57 PM »
agreed, although I do think there was something special with Dane Sonnier on those 1st 2 records, I really dig a lot of the stuff on Machine Fish especially.

Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #23 on: August 29, 2013, 09:39:15 PM »
I have decided that the next episode of "The Jammin Dude Show" will be the first in an intermittent of "Unsung Heroes" that just reflects on a particular band that does not get enough recognition.

The first entry in this series will focus on the Galactic Cowboys in celebration of their upcoming reunion show.

Coming soon to a video website near you....
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

The Jammin Dude Show - https://www.youtube.com/user/jammindude

Offline ytserush

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #24 on: September 01, 2013, 02:55:11 PM »
My ranking:

1.  Space In Your Face
2.  Let it Go
3.  Galactic Cowboys

not deserving of a rank
The The Horse That Bud Bought
Machine Fish

Oh man...there are some GEMS on those CD's.

And, have you heard At the End of the Day?


I just listened to At The End Of The Day last week after stumbling on this thread.

I was planning pulling The Horse That Bud Bought of of the shelf the next time I want to enjoy some Galactic Cowboys.

Offline ytserush

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #25 on: September 01, 2013, 02:58:18 PM »
another small sort of related note: if people do a search for their name, they may run across a band called "The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra." They are not the same band.

However, they are an excellent band none-the-less.

Lisi Wright of TGCO has mentioned to me many times they've received hate-mail for their name and not being Galactic Cowboys. But Lisi and other members of TGCO are actually big fans of Rush and even King's X (they even did a sweet cover of "Groove Machine" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW3Pa27IvEs ).

Sounds like I need to become more familiar with these guys.....

Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #26 on: September 02, 2013, 11:06:54 AM »
The Jammin Dude Show has a new episode up in honor of The Galactic Cowboys 25th Anniversary show....check it out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3WMzRSC0PE&feature=youtu.be
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

The Jammin Dude Show - https://www.youtube.com/user/jammindude

Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #27 on: September 02, 2013, 12:34:29 PM »
Ben Huggins personally commented on my video!  (and yes...I'm sure it's him.  It's the same account the official ads have been coming from)

I'm pretty stoked!!    :metal
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

The Jammin Dude Show - https://www.youtube.com/user/jammindude

Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #28 on: September 02, 2013, 02:09:52 PM »
OMG!!!   I can't believe it!   Look what Monty Colvin just did!!!   :metal :metal :metal

"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

The Jammin Dude Show - https://www.youtube.com/user/jammindude

Offline SoundscapeMN

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #29 on: September 02, 2013, 08:15:40 PM »
that is very cool of those guys to chime in!. Nice tribute Ben not Ben, lol.

Offline Mindflux

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #30 on: September 02, 2013, 09:25:33 PM »
I just ordered most of the GC discography off Gohastings, I had a coupon for $10 off so I got everything but "Let it go" For under 6 bucks shipped. (all used)

If anyone is looking for "At the end of the day", hastings has it NEW for 1.73 + 96c shipping:

https://www.gohastings.com/catalog/product.jsp?departmentName=POPMUSIC&sku=32932289


If I had seen that I would have opted for it over the used disc for 1.44 or whatever.. but oh well.


Offline ronrule

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #31 on: September 03, 2013, 02:20:49 PM »
My second favorite band after King's X. I've seen them twice and they were amazing live. I hope they record another album. And since they've had trouble in the past with drummers, maybe they should call everyone's favorite free agent!?  ;)

Offline Mindflux

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #32 on: September 06, 2013, 10:32:19 AM »
Started listening to "At the end of the day", the first used disc that showed up in my mailbox from GC. It was ok until Bright Horizons came on.. then I just about puked.

What the hell?

Offline ronrule

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #33 on: September 06, 2013, 11:01:25 AM »
They can get cornball with their vocals and melodies. It's part of their charm? :)

Offline jammindude

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Re: The Galactic Cowboys Thread
« Reply #34 on: September 06, 2013, 11:19:32 AM »
Started listening to "At the end of the day", the first used disc that showed up in my mailbox from GC. It was ok until Bright Horizons came on.. then I just about puked.

What the hell?

You do understand that it is 1) only a minute and a half long and 2) part of a suite that is telling the story of their brief brush with fame.    (there's also a "call back" in the lyrics to their first video/single "We're Not Amused")

I think it really fits in the scope of the longer piece. 

My favorites from that album are Young Man's Dream, It's Not Over, Through, Nothing to Say, and the entire "Machine Fish Suite" which I think it brilliant.
"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world.
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled." - Neil Peart

The Jammin Dude Show - https://www.youtube.com/user/jammindude