Author Topic: Big Big Train v. "The Likes Of Us" OUT NOW; European Tour Sept/Oct 2024!  (Read 108478 times)

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Offline wasteland

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #35 on: March 02, 2013, 03:07:15 AM »
I ordered it yesterday! I hope it arrives soon. Until then, I will avoid listening to everything but the first song, which I'm finishing now. :)

Sounds amazing, people. I'm looking forward to speak of this record with all of you! :caffeine:
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Offline ColdFireYYZ

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #36 on: March 02, 2013, 09:57:34 PM »
This album is so good. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think it may be better than Part One. East Coast Racer is a masterpiece.

Here's the link to stream/download again, so its on the second page (in case anyone didn't see it yesterday).
https://bigbigtrain.bandcamp.com/

Offline wasteland

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #37 on: March 02, 2013, 11:31:09 PM »
I know about East Coast Racer, but is the rest of the album on par? Is there a better song? I'd hate to have spoiled myself the best one  :\
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Offline ColdFireYYZ

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #38 on: March 03, 2013, 12:09:24 AM »
I know about East Coast Racer, but is the rest of the album on par? Is there a better song? I'd hate to have spoiled myself the best one  :\
The rest of the album is without a doubt on par with ECR! It's not like Tarkus or anything where the best track is the opening epic, and the rest of the album feels underwhelming. The entire album flows well and there are no low points, just highs.

I don't know if ECR is the best track. Right now I'd say my favorites are The Permanent Way (features a cool throwback to EEP1!) and Swan Hunter, but I really can't pick a favorite. My least favorite is probably Leopards, but even that is a very nice, but short, track.

So yeah, I wouldn't worry about being underwhelmed!

Offline The Letter M

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #39 on: March 03, 2013, 02:09:40 AM »
JUST got my pre-ordered album in the mail today (along with SW's TRTRTS!). Cannot wait to spin it tomorrow (too late for me now - very tired at 4:10 am!).

-Marc.
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Offline wasteland

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #40 on: March 03, 2013, 02:14:08 AM »
JUST got my pre-ordered album in the mail today (along with SW's TRTRTS!). Cannot wait to spin it tomorrow (too late for me now - very tired at 4:10 am!).

-Marc.

I ordered it on Friday... why did I wait so long?  :'(
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Offline The Letter M

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #41 on: March 03, 2013, 02:40:18 AM »
JUST got my pre-ordered album in the mail today (along with SW's TRTRTS!). Cannot wait to spin it tomorrow (too late for me now - very tired at 4:10 am!).

-Marc.

I ordered it on Friday... why did I wait so long?  :'(

Whaaaaa... I placed my order on Jan 18th! I was hoping it'd show up today, too, so I cannot wait to spin it tomorrow!

-Marc.
ATTENTION - HAKEN FANS! The HAKEN SURVIVOR 2023 has begun! You can check it out in the Polls/Survivors Forum!!!

Offline wasteland

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #42 on: March 03, 2013, 02:42:45 AM »
It's because I was torn for a while with decisions and decisions... I wanted to buy too many albums (among those, EE1 and the other one you bought as well), but in the end I took only EE2. :emo:
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Offline wasteland

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #43 on: March 04, 2013, 10:32:34 AM »
Fuck my wallet, I just ordered EE1 too. :caffeine:
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Offline Jaq

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #44 on: March 04, 2013, 04:51:36 PM »
Just got English Electric Part 2....it might be better than part one, though I'm going to need some more listens to make that a definite opinion, but it's still amazing. These guys need more exposure, they're fantastic. My god, the chorus of Swan Hunter is a thing of beauty.  :biggrin:
The bones of beasts and the bones of kings become dust in the wake of the hymn.
Mighty kingdoms rise, but they all will fall, no more than a breath on the wind.

Offline ColdFireYYZ

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #45 on: March 04, 2013, 05:27:29 PM »
Leopards is really growing on me. I love the strings and acoustic guitar.

Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #46 on: March 04, 2013, 05:34:12 PM »
Great band. Gotta be in the mood I find, but they're great. Haven't listened to EE part 2 yet though.

Offline wasteland

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #47 on: March 05, 2013, 06:08:29 AM »
Got EE2 in the mail today! What an amazingly swift delivery, all the way from England to Italy in a weekend!

I'm going to listen to it in the car and after my afternoon class.
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Offline Jaq

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #48 on: March 05, 2013, 06:11:31 AM »
I am massively loving this album. I really love the way they use horns and strings to such good effect. Great band.  :biggrin:
The bones of beasts and the bones of kings become dust in the wake of the hymn.
Mighty kingdoms rise, but they all will fall, no more than a breath on the wind.

Offline Orthogonal

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Re: Big Big Train v. Get on the train!
« Reply #49 on: March 06, 2013, 11:21:33 PM »
The physical album for EE2 is not yet released on Amazon, waiting for that. Just a few more days now.

Offline The Letter M

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #50 on: March 06, 2013, 11:59:44 PM »
Okay, I have been oddly silent about this album since I got it last weekend.

If EE1's high rankings, rave reviews, and amazing critical response from fans around the world didn't already launch this still-not-quite-well-known band into Prog All-Star Status last year, this album will do it. EE1's praise may have amp'd up and hyped up the release of the album's sequel, which came out not long after the completion of the DPRP's famous annual poll, where Big Big Train made many of the tops of lists!

This album has everything on it - amazing vocals from Longdon (as usual), great drumming from NDV (who will be missed in SB, but that's another thread and review lol), and just more fantastic writing/performing by everyone in the band. I'll agree with Jaq above, the use of strings, winds and brass across this album is VERY effective and not over done to the point of sounding monotonous. Tracks 1, 5 and 7 have been stick-out songs for me - the opening epic is another monstrous BBT piece while "Keeper Of Abbeys" has that stunning middle section with the strings! And of course, the closing song is one of THE most beautiful pieces in prog I've heard to date, and one of my favorite BBT songs so far!

I'll be listening to this album for a week or so by itself before I go and listen to both parts of English Electric together to create the FULL effect. Speaking of which, the band themselves plan to release 3 more songs from these sessions that fit in the concept of the (double) album at some point, on an EP, then later on release ALL of the songs in a new full double album (or... at least I'm pretty sure that's what I read somewhere...).

-Marc.
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Offline Lolzeez

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #51 on: March 10, 2013, 01:19:50 PM »
English Electric is amazing.

Offline The Letter M

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #52 on: March 10, 2013, 10:15:29 PM »
Am I the only who has been so very emotionally moved by the power of EE2's last track "Curator Of Butterflies"? It's about as powerful as Marillion's latest last-track "Sky Above The Rain". Why is British prog so damn emotionally moving and beautiful?!

-Marc.
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Offline wasteland

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #53 on: March 11, 2013, 07:43:48 AM »
COB was the one song which left me disappointed at first listen, for being a little underwhelming emotionally. Now I think I know better. So, it's time for our lists? :D
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Offline Leprous

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #54 on: March 11, 2013, 02:05:43 PM »
Part 1 was my second fav album of last year (beaten only by Parallax II's BEAST of a storyline). Part 2 is fucking spectacular, and a definite contender for the top spot this year!
Til the moment comes around, like I've been here once before, and I'm questioning the truth, no escaping déjà vu...

Offline Orthogonal

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #55 on: March 22, 2013, 11:26:12 PM »
Finally got EE2 and gave it a spin. Very pleased overall. It has many similarities to pt 1 obviously, but it also carves out it's own identity. It's not quite as diverse, but it is very consistent.

Offline The Letter M

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #56 on: July 08, 2013, 01:38:18 PM »
Would anyone here be interested in a BBT Survivor? It would include the following releases:
From The River To The Sea
Goodbye To The Age Of Steam
English Boy Wonders
Bard
Gathering Speed
The Difference Machine
The Underfall Yard
Far Skies Deep Time
English Electric (Part One)
English Electric (Part Two)

Then consolation rounds, and lastly Finals. If there is enough interest in doing this here, I will start it up once my Spock's Beard Survivor is over in August, so probably around then or in September.

-Marc.
ATTENTION - HAKEN FANS! The HAKEN SURVIVOR 2023 has begun! You can check it out in the Polls/Survivors Forum!!!

Online King Postwhore

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #57 on: July 08, 2013, 03:26:40 PM »
I've just got into these guys.  I bought English Electric 1 & 2 and I love both.  I need to work backwards now.
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Offline Shadow Ninja 2.0

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #58 on: July 08, 2013, 04:19:08 PM »
:metal

Offline ColdFireYYZ

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #59 on: September 20, 2013, 01:01:00 PM »
English Electric: Full Power and the Make Some Noise EP are being released on Monday! EE: Full Power includes all of the tracks from Parts One and Two (with a different running order), along with 4 new songs. The EP contains the 4 new songs and a few selections from the two English Electric albums, for those who don't want to purchase the albums again. They're both very affordable to download on Bandcamp, and come with a 96 page PDF booklet.

English Electric: Full Power
Make Some Noise EP

They also released a video for the song Make Some Noise. I can't say I love it, but it's a very solid song and has a fantastic solo from Dave Gregory (who is one of the most criminally underrated guitarists).
Make Some Noise video

Can't wait to hear the other 3 new songs!!

Offline Bolsters

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #60 on: September 20, 2013, 09:28:07 PM »
Moar Big Big Train already? :caffeine:

Offline Orthogonal

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #61 on: September 20, 2013, 09:57:50 PM »
Sweet, I'll be getting the EP for sure  :tup

Offline The Letter M

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #62 on: September 20, 2013, 11:48:12 PM »
Uber-fan here, I went ahead and ordered EEFP + MSN EP... yeaaaah, over-kill, but I just LOVE this band so much and their output is nothing short of gorgeous.

-Marc.
ATTENTION - HAKEN FANS! The HAKEN SURVIVOR 2023 has begun! You can check it out in the Polls/Survivors Forum!!!

Offline ColdFireYYZ

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #63 on: September 23, 2013, 08:44:10 PM »
Downloaded the EP and gave it a listen today. Seen Better Days is a fantastic song and the keys are phenomenal!

I'm going to make a playlist of the Full Power running order and listen to it ASAP. Should be interesting hearing the new stuff mixed in with all the tracks that I'm already super familiar with.

Offline Shadow Ninja 2.0

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #64 on: January 03, 2014, 09:56:54 PM »
What's everyone's favorite track from English Electric? (either one, or both :D)

Mine's probably Hedgerow.

Offline Bolsters

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #65 on: January 03, 2014, 10:00:22 PM »
Right now I'd go with Judas Unrepentant. Hedgerow is up there too though, as is Winchester From St. Giles' Hill.

Offline Shadow Ninja 2.0

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #66 on: January 03, 2014, 10:01:53 PM »
Fine choices, each. This Longdon fellow is becoming one of my favorite singers.

Offline ColdFireYYZ

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #67 on: January 03, 2014, 10:03:26 PM »
From Part 1, I'd say Hedgerow, but Judas Unrepentant and Uncle Jack are both up there. And Keeper of Abbeys is my favorite from Part 2.

Offline Shadow Ninja 2.0

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #68 on: January 03, 2014, 10:07:17 PM »
I haven't yet gotten a copy of Part II, so I'm not super familiar with it, but I remember East Coast Racer standing out to me.

Offline ColdFireYYZ

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Re: Big Big Train v. English Electric (Part Two) - NOW OUT!
« Reply #69 on: January 03, 2014, 10:11:20 PM »
East Coast Racer is great and it's probably my second favorite from the album.