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

[pg1067]

BTW...where does the GIF in your signature come from?

I made it myself! Think it's Ytse Jam on Live in Tokyo.

I thought so!  Very cool.

I think Terry Brown's work with Ray and the band cannot be understated.

Parallels
A Pleasant Shade of Gray
Disconnected

To this day, I cannot understand why Inside Out isn't held in the same regard as Parallels.

[LudwigVan]

Inside Out is good. Just not quite as epic as Parallels or Perfect Symmetry.

[jammindude]

Inside Out is good. Just not quite as epic as Parallels or Perfect Symmetry.

In fact...that’s the entire issue. It’s a really good album, but it’s kinda sandwiched between several masterpieces. Parallels and PS on one side, and APSOG and DC on the other.

[TAC]

I find Perfect Symmetry a bit choppy, compared to Inside Out. It's more progressive, but Inside Out was a great space for FW.

I still consider APSOG way overrated, and Disconnected is a glorified EP.

[LudwigVan]

I find Perfect Symmetry a bit choppy, compared to Inside Out. It's more progressive, but Inside Out was a great space for FW.

I still consider APSOG way overrated, and Disconnected is a glorified EP.

As usual there’s a grain of truth to your assessments (but just a grain ). Perfect Symmetry takes some work to digest. APSOG hits a sweet spot for the proggier side of FW, but yeah, Matheos might’ve sacrificed pure songwriting for the sake of the album’s concept. And Disconnected feels incomplete... short but sweet, as they say.

[jammindude]

And I feel like DC did the impossible and managed to surpass APSOG.   When Something From Nothing finally clicked, that's what pushed the album over the top for me.  The slow build for that song is unmatched.   I get goosebumps throughout the entire piece.   And then to follow that up with Still Remains?   Flawless. 

[TAC]

But that's just it. TWO SONGS! One is a good song too.

I think I really like 3 parts of APSOG.

[jammindude]

So wait....we call an album with one song an “album” but we call an album with 6 songs an EP? 

But seriously. I love every minute of Disconnected. In fact, if I had to pick a weak link, it would be one of the hard rocking fan favorites “Pieces of Me”. It’s still really amazing, but it’s a bit more singular in its approach, and the other songs are so much more multi layered.

[TAC]

So wait....we call an album with one song an “album” but we call an album with 6 songs an EP? 

 

True!

[Ben_Jamin]

So wait....we call an album with one song an “album” but we call an album with 6 songs an EP? 

But seriously. I love every minute of Disconnected. In fact, if I had to pick a weak link, it would be one of the hard rocking fan favorites “Pieces of Me”. It’s still really amazing, but it’s a bit more singular in its approach, and the other songs are so much more multi layered.

I feel the same way about Pieces of Me. Disconnected pt.2 has an atmosphere thats soothing for me, I actually rank that high, likely behind Still Remains, which is my all time favorite Fates Warning Song.

A Pleasant Shade of Grey is slightly just behind Disconnected.

[TAC]

Disconnected pt.2 has an atmosphere thats soothing for me, I actually rank that high

Huh..other than my first listen to the album when it came out, I don't think I've ever listened to the bookend tracks.

[Ben_Jamin]

Disconnected pt.2 has an atmosphere thats soothing for me, I actually rank that high

Huh..other than my first listen to the album when it came out, I don't think I've ever listened to the bookend tracks.

It's the ambience created by the dissonance of the keys and guitar.

[jammindude]

Disconnected pt.2 has an atmosphere thats soothing for me, I actually rank that high

Huh..other than my first listen to the album when it came out, I don't think I've ever listened to the bookend tracks.

It's the ambience created by the dissonance of the keys and guitar.

Agreed.  Part 1 is a fantastic setup, but too short to be considered a song of its own.   But part 2 is a elaboration on the same idea...but just fleshes it out.   It's seriously amazing.   That's why I consider it to be a 6 song album.  Because Part one is just a teaser for the amazing part two.

[TAC]

They are two NOMAC tracks if you ask me.

[jammindude]

They are two NOMAC tracks if you ask me.

 

Come on.  The NOMAC tracks don't even have any actual music.   Kevin's piano line by itself elevates part 2 above the NOMAC tracks.

[TAC]

OK OK, I'll give it a listen tomorrow.

[Ben_Jamin]

They are two NOMAC tracks if you ask me.

 

Come on.  The NOMAC tracks don't even have any actual music.   Kevin's piano line by itself elevates part 2 above the NOMAC tracks.

Yup, even when the samples hit.

[MoraWintersoul]

OK OK, I'll give it a listen tomorrow.

Lol so THIS is why you think it's an EP 

[TAC]

Well, yeah. It's only 43 minutes after deleting the NOMAC tracks. Pieces Of Me and So are really just OK. I skip them. I like One, and obviously Still Remains and Something For Nothing are fantastic, but even with those, I've edited out some of the long quiet parts.

[Ben_Jamin]

Well, yeah. It's only 43 minutes after deleting the NOMAC tracks. Pieces Of Me and So are really just OK. I skip them. I like One, and obviously Still Remains and Something For Nothing are fantastic, but even with those, I've edited out some of the long quiet parts.

You mean the soothing ambient sections. 

[pg1067]

Inside Out is good. Just not quite as epic as Parallels or Perfect Symmetry.

In fact...that’s the entire issue. It’s a really good album, but it’s kinda sandwiched between several masterpieces. Parallels and PS on one side, and APSOG and DC on the other.

Disconnected is a "masterpiece"?      I'd probably rank it above only FWX and Brocken.

The only arguable low point on IO s Island in the Stream, so in that sense, Parallels might have been a bit stronger, but IO didn't fare at the time (and before APSOG came out), and that's too bad.

[SoundscapeMN]

I think FWX still finds the most underrated category for me.

It's filled with good songs, and it seems so rarely mentioned, yet when it came out in 2004, many people loved it, especially those not all that into the previous 2 records.

[jammindude]

I’ve been an FW fan since I bought The Spectre Within as a new release on vinyl....and Disconnected is my favorite album.

[wolfking]

At first I didn't understand Disconnected at all.  It took a long time but now I think it's absolutely amazing.

[TAC]

OK, I just listened to Disconnected Pt. 2, and damn, that was pointless.

[jammindude]

OK, I just listened to Disconnected Pt. 2, and damn, that was pointless.

You're one of those people that have the Blinkist app instead of reading, aren't you...   

[TAC]

What is a Blinkist app? I don't um..app!

[jammindude]

What is a Blinkist app? I don't um..app!

I was just kidding.   It's an app that summarizes books for you so you don't have to bother reading the whole...long...boring book. 

I was just imagining you at home with a version of the Lord of the Rings movies that was less than an hour long.   

[TAC]

Cliffs Notes FTW!!

[wolfking]

OK, I just listened to Disconnected Pt. 2, and damn, that was pointless.

I really like the album but yeah I guess I never really got that track either.

[pg1067]

OK, I just listened to Disconnected Pt. 2, and damn, that was pointless.

Seriously.  I can't conceive of anyone (who isn't drunk or stoned) actually sitting through that.

[goo-goo]

Disconnected was my 1st Fates album. Absolutely loved it and overplayed the fuck out of it. Jim Matheos is all about setting up the mood for a song or an album. He did that with Disconnected Pt 1 and Pt2, does it a lot with OSI, and he did it in opening and closing tracks in Theories of Flight. His solo album Tuesday the Sky is great if you like post-rock and it's very soundscape oriented.

[JLa]

I don't "get" A Pleasant Shade of Grey and I feel like I'm missing out.  It doesn't strike anything with me, it's just... dull.

Really fond of Disconnected and Theories of Flight though! I remember the first time I listened through "Still Remains" and I was like holy shiiiiiit this is gooooood  why have I not heard these guys before!!

Can't get into their older stuff though. I have Awaken the Guardian and No Exit (some kind of double album release) - I think Guardian has better music but horrible vocals, and while No Exit has better vocals the music is more bland.

I also have Parallels but I can't remember a thing from that album! Should probably give it another spin! 

[wolfking]

I don't "get" A Pleasant Shade of Grey and I feel like I'm missing out.  It doesn't strike anything with me, it's just... dull.

Really fond of Disconnected and Theories of Flight though! I remember the first time I listened through "Still Remains" and I was like holy shiiiiiit this is gooooood  why have I not heard these guys before!!

Can't get into their older stuff though. I have Awaken the Guardian and No Exit (some kind of double album release) - I think Guardian has better music but horrible vocals, and while No Exit has better vocals the music is more bland.

I also have Parallels but I can't remember a thing from that album! Should probably give it another spin! 

I never understood the love for that album either to be honest JLa.  Should get the cd out and spin it again.  It's been a long long time.

[wolfking]

I just remembered I own a Jim Matheos solo album on cd that I have never listened to.  Not even ounce.  Wouldn't even know the name of it, I just know I have it.