The Official Fates Warning thread v. Elsydeon hasn’t been around

[gazinwales]

Listened to TOF yesterday, very closely and it's okay, nothing great and today I can't remember a single note, melody or anything.
APSOG, now for me this is a classic, almost a masterpiece a word I rarely use when talking about music.

[pg1067]

just saying that PL is more accessible. You named Damaged and I Am I. Well, My Global Mind, Bridge, One More Time -- all more accessible than the songs on APSOG.

I won't disagree with that at all.  APSOG is anything but "accessible."  About the only songs on APSOG that might be reasonably described as "accessible" are IX and maybe XII.

Listened to TOF yesterday, very closely and it's okay, nothing great and today I can't remember a single note, melody or anything.
APSOG, now for me this is a classic, almost a masterpiece a word I rarely use when talking about music.

Exactly.  It's been a while since I listened to TOF, but there really is nothing that sticks for me.  Continuing the DIADL v. TOF discussion, most of the songs are memorable.  Firefly, I Am, Into the Black and Falling Further all have very memorable choruses (along with tons of other elements that are memorable).  Even the extremely proggy And Yet It Moves has tons of memorable passages.  Whenever I listen to it, I tend to have the acoustic guitar/bass intro in my head for days.

[Dublagent66]

Listened to TOF yesterday, very closely and it's okay, nothing great and today I can't remember a single note, melody or anything.
APSOG, now for me this is a classic, almost a masterpiece a word I rarely use when talking about music.

APSOG is a masterpiece.  FW's best album by far.

[Mebert78]

Just received FW's A View From Here DVD in the mail.  I loved seeing all of the music videos in chronological order.  You can really get a feel for the band's evolution.  Also, there were some pretty fun studio clips from the Disconnected era and a great retrospective interview with Frank and Joey about their time in the band.  And I didn't realize that Bernie Versailles of Engine and Redemption was a touring guitarist for FW in 1998.  It was fun watching him perform with Jim and Ray.  I feel like I'm eating, sleeping and breathing FW at this point, lol.  The album can't come soon enough.

[Samsara]

Yeah, for me it's not even close.  To me Darkness is a transitional album.  They kind of went to a heavier and less electronic sound beginning with that album.

Agreed. That's how I'd phrase it too. A "transitional" album. It was also the first time they had recorded with Bobby, so the record had a heavier handed feel to it too, because of that. I remember interviewing Jim during that album cycle and if I recall correctly, he agreed as well, that Bobby certainly brought a more metal feel to the album.

Continuing the DIADL v. TOF discussion, most of the songs are memorable.  Firefly, I Am, Into the Black and Falling Further all have very memorable choruses (along with tons of other elements that are memorable).  Even the extremely proggy And Yet It Moves has tons of memorable passages.  Whenever I listen to it, I tend to have the acoustic guitar/bass intro in my head for days.

See, I think DIADL gets in its own way. The extended version of Firefly and the full version of Falling (Falling Further) are by far and away superior to what exists on the actual album proper. Trust me, I really enjoy this record. One Thousand Fires is incredible, and I love all the songs you named as well. I love the record. I just feel that they hadn't quite NAILED IT until Theories, which to me, is the perfect snapshot of who Fates is as a band.

Obviously, this is all about personal taste and opinion. And Fates hasn't done an album with Alder that I've disliked at all. I like them all and it was hard to even DO that ranking I did on the last page. I sort of just felt DIADL was them trying to really BE a recording artist again, after so many years, and trying to capture who they were at the time, and still nod to their past. And like I said, the edited versions of songs on the regular album was....IMO...a misstep. And on Theories, they just absolutely nailed it.

But there is no BAD Fates Warning record. Not by a long shot.

[SoundscapeMN]

The Light and Shade of Things is HIGHLY memorable.

[jjrock88]

The Light and Shade of Things is HIGHLY memorable.

Point of View and Through Different Eyes are my clear top two songs from Fates Warning......but when I heard this song I stopped and listened......best song from Fates Warning since the early 90s IMO

[Mister Gold]

The Light and Shade of Things is HIGHLY memorable.

Yeah, I still stand by my opinion that it is the best Fates Warning song to date. I remember hearing a small sample of the first half of the chorus when Inside Out released a trailer for the album and not being impressed, only to find a ton of early reviewers RAVING about the song.

Then I got to hear the song for the first time and the second half of the chorus won me over in an instant. Quite possibly my favorite vocal melody to ever come from Ray.

[Cintus Supremus]

The Light and Shade of Things is HIGHLY memorable.

Yeah, I still stand by my opinion that it is the best Fates Warning song to date. I remember hearing a small sample of the first half of the chorus when Inside Out released a trailer for the album and not being impressed, only to find a ton of early reviewers RAVING about the song.

Then I got to hear the song for the first time and the second half of the chorus won me over in an instant. Quite possibly my favorite vocal melody to ever come from Ray.

EXACTLY this. The first half of the chorus (starting with The light and shade of things / The light you held is gone) isn't really memorable on its own, but when it starts to transition out of it (with And I can't understand / How one is more important than / The other) and then lands into the You're nowhere now section...well, that's enough to make me stand up and cheer. It makes me think that what I consider to be the first half of the chorus is actually the pre-chorus. Because maybe it is?

[Mister Gold]

The Light and Shade of Things is HIGHLY memorable.

Yeah, I still stand by my opinion that it is the best Fates Warning song to date. I remember hearing a small sample of the first half of the chorus when Inside Out released a trailer for the album and not being impressed, only to find a ton of early reviewers RAVING about the song.

Then I got to hear the song for the first time and the second half of the chorus won me over in an instant. Quite possibly my favorite vocal melody to ever come from Ray.

EXACTLY this. The first half of the chorus (starting with The light and shade of things / The light you held is gone) isn't really memorable on its own, but when it starts to transition out of it (with And I can't understand / How one is more important than / The other) and then lands into the You're nowhere now section...well, that's enough to make me stand up and cheer. It makes me think that what I consider to be the first half of the chorus is actually the pre-chorus. Because maybe it is?

That would definitely make a lot of sense. And yeah, the transition and flow of the three different sections of the chorus is perfect as a collective whole. I just remember beaming when I heard that bit for the first time!

I'm sorry, but there's not a single moment on DiaDL that matches the hype of TLaSoT's chorus for me. Not that there aren't good songs on that album though!

[Cintus Supremus]

That would definitely make a lot of sense. And yeah, the transition and flow of the three different sections of the chorus is perfect as a collective whole.

Wait. THREE different sections? Which part am I missing?

[gazinwales]

My pre-ordered bundle of CD/Vinyl/shirt has shipped from the USA.
Let's see how long it takes, I have just received a record from Greece to Australia in 8 days, via regular airmail.

[Samsara]

Yep, I received my Metal Blade USA ship notification before 6 a.m. this morning, followed by my Kingsroad European shipment (bought a special vinyl edition) later this morning.

[erwinrafael]

Listening to Long Day Good Night now. Am in the 3rd song, Alone We Walk. Liking it so far. 

[Grappler]

I am really enjoying this album.  Some of the softer songs haven't caught my attention yet, but the heavier, rocking songs are really, really good.  I like the direction that they've taken over the last 2-3 records.

[jingle.boy]

I am really enjoying this album.  Some of the softer songs haven't caught my attention yet, but the heavier, rocking songs are really, really good.  I like the direction that they've taken over the last 2-3 records.

I'm with ya.  I'm just past the 1/2 way mark, and this is really good.  Glad I didn't bother listening to the single that was released (and the shade thrown at it).  As an album, this is exactly what I'd want in a first listen from FW.

[Phoenix87x]

I have loved every FW Alder album up until this new one.

This is the very first one that doesn't really do it for me. I dig Begin Again, When Snow falls and The longest shadow of day kicks ass, but besides that I find the album underwhelming. But more power to everyone that loves it.

[Samsara]

Enjoying my first listen to the record this morning. Only about a quarter through the record, but really like it so far. Folks have remarked that it gets better with subsequent listens, but I'm not sure what's not to like on first listen. So much great stuff, and I'm only just now getting through Now Comes the Rain. 


edit -- now up to The Longest Shadow of the Day. I was vibin' on the first couple of minutes and then it kicks in near the 3 minute mark and its like 

What an incredible intro. Hit the middle, and it slows back down again. So emotional. Crazy to think it takes almost six minutes before you hear Ray, but it works. So proggy, so moody. So Fates Warning. 

okay, so I just finished my first listen. I don't have the lyrics in front of me, but I was trying to pay attention, particularly the latter half of the record. Is this a concept record? Because now after The Last Song concludes, thinking back over the songs, it has that feeling to me. My bundle is supposed to arrive today, and I'll relisten to the record with the lyrics in front of me.

But given the lyrics I was able to process while listening, I think it is. For sure.

[Phoenix87x]

Yeah, Longest Shadow of the Day Rips. Definitely my favorite track on the album and one I'm gonna be enjoying for a long time.

I love the bluesy chill parts as well.

[gzarruk]

Yeah, Longest Shadow of the Day Rips. Definitely my favorite track on the album and one I'm gonna be enjoying for a long time.

I love the bluesy chill parts as well.

Listening to this track for the first time. Really digging the bass lines here

[The Walrus]

Listening now.

Nice of them to take their sweet time for 3 minutes before the actual music starts on the FIRST TRACK. Could've very easily made that a 5 minute track. Prog metal needs to stop, this record is 72 minutes I know I'm probably alone in this but oh well.

[jammindude]

Listening now.

Nice of them to take their sweet time for 3 minutes before the actual music starts on the FIRST TRACK. Could've very easily made that a 5 minute track. Prog metal needs to stop, this record is 72 minutes I know I'm probably alone in this but oh well.

You’re probably one of those guys that think something from nothing drags. 

[The Walrus]

Not at all, but that is funny

[pg1067]

Listening now.

Nice of them to take their sweet time for 3 minutes before the actual music starts on the FIRST TRACK. Could've very easily made that a 5 minute track. Prog metal needs to stop, this record is 72 minutes I know I'm probably alone in this but oh well.

You’re probably one of those guys that think something from nothing drags. 

The first 4 1/2 minutes of SfN is completely skip-worthy (much like a good chunk of that album, including all of the "title tracks").  Much like the first 3:45 of Octavarium.

[The Walrus]

but the start of Octavarium is tight af tho

[jammindude]

I used to be lukewarm on SfN...but once the mood of f the piece really clicked with me, it was non-stop goosebumps. Now I wish there was an extended version.

[kirksnosehair]

Listening now.

Nice of them to take their sweet time for 3 minutes before the actual music starts on the FIRST TRACK. Could've very easily made that a 5 minute track. Prog metal needs to stop, this record is 72 minutes I know I'm probably alone in this but oh well.

I'm guessing that intro may end up being some kind of nugget after multiple spins, but generally I am in agreement with you about the tendency to fill the space because it's there. 


I've only listened once so I'm going to reserve judgement until I hear it a few more times.  Ray Alder is someone I could probably listen to him recite the phone book and enjoy it, but he's in good form on this, that stood out first time through.

[Samsara]

Making my way through my second listen, this time on my car audio system (which is a Fender system with a sub, tweeters, etc.). What came to mind was Ray was up higher in the mix compared to previous records. At least I think so.

Joe Baressi did the mix I believe (my LP will be delivered later today so I can go back and look). I dig it so far.

[TAC]

One listen through. There's a lot to take in. But damn, this album is excellent.

[Mebert78]

In an interview with Progcast on YouTube, Ray said that Jim might not want to write new material for FW after this. Just tour the existing FW material. Skip ahead to the 29:30 mark. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akyefuxFoX0

[Mister Gold]

In an interview with Progcast on YouTube, Ray said that Jim might not want to write new material for FW after this. Just tour the existing FW material. Skip ahead to tbe 29:39 mark. Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7UFUl17SgZQxAHsnuyxnIA

That's not a huge shock for me, unfortunately. The Last Song definitely came across to me as a "coda" for the band when I heard it for the first time yesterday. We'll see if things ever change on that front, I suppose.

As for the album itself, there's a lot to take in. In my two sittings on it so far, I like it a lot, but it's definitely lacking the immediacy that I loved about Theories of Flight. Right now I think my personal highlights are The Destination Onward, Shuttered World and The Longest Shadow of the Day.

[gazinwales]

Hopefully Jim might want to do another Arch/Matheos after this 

[gzarruk]

Hopefully Jim might want to do another Arch/Matheos after this 

If Jim does another A/M album after this, I want Ray to call JP and ask him to make a record together

[WardySI]

...
As for the album itself, there's a lot to take in. In my two sittings on it so far, I like it a lot, but it's definitely lacking the immediacy that I loved about Theories of Flight. Right now I think my personal highlights are The Destination Onward, Shuttered World and The Longest Shadow of the Day[/i].

Agree completely. 

With postal services being what they are my Pre-order will probably take a few weeks to arrive yet so streaming getting a rare thumbs up atm and have given the album a few solid run throughs with plenty repeats along the way 

And yes, my thoughts exactly, not as immediate as Theories but liking a ton of this and would add to those three tracks Alone We Walk and the out of the box Begin Again. Both those have a Darkness In A Different Light / FWX vibe about them and I'm hearing The Way Home is leaning that way too, all those are very welcome.

The song is otherwise great but not yet sure what to make of that chorus in Liar (is it just me or is this record a touch less prog?) and both the pre-release singles are fantastic. Particularly digging Glass Houses too. But of all that, Under The Sun was the one that moved me most on first listen, so go figure 

Certainly hope this isn't the final FW but if so it would definitely make for a strong album to finish with

[erwinrafael]

Damn, Scars sound so much better coming in after Under The Sun.