The Official Flying Colors Thread

[TL]

For first week sales, I have to wonder how the pre-order system effected the numbers. I pre-ordered my copy through their official thing, and my copy came from the Netherlands. It would be interesting to see how many Americans bought the album without it counting as an album sale in the US.

[Nick]

The CD debuted at:

#81 on the Billboard 200
#24 on the Rock Album chart
#9 on the Hard Rock Album chart

So... A-Mob wins?   

Well it is possible that A-Mob sold less but charted higher (due to week to week variations and no sales number shown), chances are that A-Mob outdid Flying Colors.

[Nick]

For first week sales, I have to wonder how the pre-order system effected the numbers. I pre-ordered my copy through their official thing, and my copy came from the Netherlands. It would be interesting to see how many Americans bought the album without it counting as an album sale in the US.

I think all pre-orders count towards first week sales, but I could be wrong.

[Priest of Syrinx]

The CD debuted at:

#81 on the Billboard 200
#24 on the Rock Album chart
#9 on the Hard Rock Album chart

So... A-Mob wins?   

Well it is possible that A-Mob sold less but charted higher (due to week to week variations and no sales number shown), chances are that A-Mob outdid Flying Colors.

IIRC, A-Mob sold ~6600 the 1st week.

There's no accounting for taste, I guess...

[Nick]

Yeah, AMob was 6,000, I was just saying there was no number posted for this.

[contest_sanity]

One minor critique- I'm not super in to Casey whatshisname's vocals.  I was never blown away by Neal's vocals before but on this album whenever he comes in with a lead vocal part I'm like "yay!" 

I know you're not the only one who's having some problems with Casey's voice, but to me it's one of the things that takes this album to the next level. 

SO EMOTION; SO FEELINGS!!!

[Pols Voice]

Casey does a great job.

[Priest of Syrinx]

I like Casey's vocals for the most part, and I enjoy when Neal comes in.  Had Neal been the primary vocalist, FC would have been labelled as YANA (Yet Another Neal Album).

[Ryzee]

One minor critique- I'm not super in to Casey whatshisname's vocals.  I was never blown away by Neal's vocals before but on this album whenever he comes in with a lead vocal part I'm like "yay!" 

I know you're not the only one who's having some problems with Casey's voice, but to me it's one of the things that takes this album to the next level. 

SO EMOTION; SO FEELINGS!!!

Yeah I think it's more just because Neal's vocals are familiar to me and I'm still getting to know this album.  I had to think of a critique so I didn't just sound like a gusher  .  Ok here's another-  I think at this point Portnoy's drumming is beginning to feel very "been there, done that" to me.  Just kind of predictable to the point of being boring.  Probably my fault since I spent a few years of my life basically only listening to music that he drummed on  .

I like Casey's vocals for the most part, and I enjoy when Neal comes in.  Had Neal been the primary vocalist, FC would have been labelled as YANA (Yet Another Neal Album).

Very true.

[contest_sanity]

I enjoy MP's drumming on FC because, for the most part, it fits with the music and doesn't sound like he's overplaying or playing to draw attention to the drums.  Whether or not it's super-original, I'll have to trust better ears than mine.  I'm not one who's really able to discern things like "MP's been playing the same stuff since 2002." 

[Nick]

I'm not one who's really able to discern things like "MP's been playing the same stuff since 2002." 

You can't discern what's not there anyway, so don't feel bad.

[TL]

For first week sales, I have to wonder how the pre-order system effected the numbers. I pre-ordered my copy through their official thing, and my copy came from the Netherlands. It would be interesting to see how many Americans bought the album without it counting as an album sale in the US.

I think all pre-orders count towards first week sales, but I could be wrong.

What I'm saying though is that if someone in the US buys the album, but it turns out that they're buying it from the Netherlands, it won't count toward the US sales total.

[Orbert]

I like Casey's vocals for the most part, and I enjoy when Neal comes in.  Had Neal been the primary vocalist, FC would have been labelled as YANA (Yet Another Neal Album).

True.  It is still regarded by many as a Neal Morse side project, but by having someone else do most of the lead vocals, it deflects a lot of that away from him.  Plus, I'm sure Neal doesn't mind just focusing on keys sometimes and not having to worry about the vocals.

[Nick]

For first week sales, I have to wonder how the pre-order system effected the numbers. I pre-ordered my copy through their official thing, and my copy came from the Netherlands. It would be interesting to see how many Americans bought the album without it counting as an album sale in the US.

I think all pre-orders count towards first week sales, but I could be wrong.

What I'm saying though is that if someone in the US buys the album, but it turns out that they're buying it from the Netherlands, it won't count toward the US sales total.

True, but I don't think that's going to be a statistically significant number of people.

[TL]

Ordinarily I would agree, but with Flying Colors' first week number in the US (6,300), and the much higher ratio of pre-orders on a project like this, I think it could have had an impact.

Ultimately, it isn't all that important. At the end of the day, the most important sales figure for them is the overall number, which would be the same either way. It's just something to think about.

[rumborak]

Having Casey as the singer did wonders to the album, I agree.

rumborak

[skydivingninja]

So AMob, a band that's been promoted very heavily by Eddie Trunk, MP, and other metal magazines, sold what, 6600 in the first week?  Flying Colors, which has had relatively little promotion (especially in news outlets beyond the members' own facebook pages), sold 6300 copies in the first week.  Pretty darn good, I'd say.

[ariich]

So AMob, a band that's been promoted very heavily by Eddie Trunk, MP, and other metal magazines, sold what, 6600 in the first week?  Flying Colors, which has had relatively little promotion (especially in news outlets beyond the members' own facebook pages), sold 6300 copies in the first week.  Pretty darn good, I'd say.

I don't think the two are particularly comparable, but we're playing that game then you should also factor in that Flying Colors have well established members from a number of different well-known bands, and so have a wider variety of existing fan audiences to be tapping into. Whereas AM basically just has Portnoy and Allen. But regardless, I don't think opening week sales mean anything.

Having Casey as the singer did wonders to the album, I agree.

rumborak

Yeah I think he does a really good job.

[Nick]

Rich hits the nail on the head. I personally think for a debut album this did rather well, but in either case people have either overvalued this, or they've undervalued the draw of Adrenaline Mob.

I hope the first week sales are enough to have them do a more extensive tour.

[obscure]

I don't know whether somebody else got the same vibe or mentioned it before but I taste a lil Supertarmp at Love is What I'm Waiting For along with Queen....

wow... loads to find out about this album....

[The Letter M]

I don't know whether somebody else got the same vibe or mentioned it before but I taste a lil Supertarmp at Love is What I'm Waiting For along with Queen....

wow... loads to find out about this album....

Yep! Felt that vibe a LONG time ago, but it's still awesome.

Also, still discovering more Yes-moments on the album in addition to the ending of "Everything Changes" and the organ-part near the end of "Infinite Fire" which starts with just organ solo, then guitar and drums come in roaring. Reminds me of something Yes would've done post-CTTE.

-Marc.

[obscure]

wow yes!

never would have thought I'd dig so many ballads on an album... they obviously nailed it!

always nice reviews Marc!

[Gorille85]

Just listened to Kayla and holy damn the mix was bad. Really bad. The song was OK I guess.

[Pols Voice]

So AMob, a band that's been promoted very heavily by Eddie Trunk, MP, and other metal magazines, sold what, 6600 in the first week?  Flying Colors, which has had relatively little promotion (especially in news outlets beyond the members' own facebook pages), sold 6300 copies in the first week.  Pretty darn good, I'd say.

I don't think the two are particularly comparable, but we're playing that game then you should also factor in that Flying Colors have well established members from a number of different well-known bands, and so have a wider variety of existing fan audiences to be tapping into. Whereas AM basically just has Portnoy and Allen. But regardless, I don't think opening week sales mean anything.

John Moyer from Disturbed did join Adrenaline Mob, even though he's not on the album. That may have created some interest.

[The Letter M]

Anyone think a Flying Colors Survivor would be cool? I know they JUST released their debut album, but I'd like to do one sometime in the coming weeks if there's enough interest in it.

-Marc.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Anyone think a Flying Colors Survivor would be cool? I know they JUST released their debut album, but I'd like to do one sometime in the coming weeks if there's enough interest in it.

-Marc.

I'm down for it.

[Nick]

Can we all just agree now that The Storm wins?

[theseoafs]

You want us to agree that a song inferior to Infinite Fire wins?

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Can we all just agree now that Blue Ocean wins?

[Nick]

You know, if that, Kayla or The Storm wins I would be happy. Infinite Fire is great, but not as good as those.

[The Letter M]

Awesome. I'll do the survivor on the first of May, giving everyone at least 4-5 weeks with the album. I think that'll be enough time for everyone to absorb the songs.

-Marc.

[The King in Crimson]

Can we all just agree now that Blue Ocean wins?

[Heretic]

I'd be rooting for Everything Changes, Kayla, and The Storm, personally, but to be honest this is such a solid record I'd be okay with any of the songs winning.

[Ben_Jamin]

I already know the outcome

Kayla will be 1
SCW or All Falls Down bottom 2

I would be happy if All Falls Down gets higher, That song is the perfect length.

[KevShmev]

Serious question: During the verses in Kayla, is that a vocal effect or auto-tuning?  I am pretty sure it is a vocal effect, but either way, it seemed unnecessary.  Why not let him sing that melody with his natural voice and without any help?

Also, there is no way that Kayla is better than at least four or five of the songs from this, although I suspect the catchiness of it will make many think otherwise.  And I say that while recognizing that "better" is completely subjective.