The Official Flying Colors Thread

[smegolas]

So, Peaceful Harbour is pretty great.

I agree, that is fantastic.

I think its up there with Stairway to Heaven!

Also Is There a Place in Your World and Cosmic Symphony...wow.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

So, Peaceful Harbour is pretty great.

I agree, that is fantastic.

I think its up there with Stairway to Heaven!

wat

[hefdaddy42]

Slow down there buddy

[jingle.boy]

Just finally got my copy from Amazon yesterday, and had a couple more go rounds with this.  Right up there as a top 5 AOTY for me.

[hefdaddy42]

I'm still trying to absorb all of it, but I am pretty much loving the hell out of it right now.  Good Lord, those last three tracks!

[Jaq]

Decided to give this a spin on Spotify, which was how I tried the first album (which I was less than impressed with), got to the end of Open Up Your Eyes and ordered it off Amazon. Last one never really clicked with me, this one clicked instantly.

[rumborak]

So, Peaceful Harbour is pretty great.

I agree, that is fantastic.

I think its up there with Stairway to Heaven!

Listening to music, you are doing it wrong.

[Mindflux]

Listening to music, you are doing it wrong.

How do you listen to music wrong?  Rating music wrong, sure.. listening? Is that even possibru?

[Jaq]

Listening to music, you are doing it wrong.

How do you listen to music wrong?  Rating music wrong, sure.. listening? Is that even possibru?

You're new to the internet, aren't you? 

[RoeDent]

To me, the band seems more gelled together on this album. Like a proper band, rather than just a bunch of musicians cobbled together with no chemistry.

Side point: the snare drum at the beginning of Cosmic Symphony makes me think of She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals. From a distance, perhaps. Just thought I'd put that out there.

[02T]

This has my favorite Steve Morse playing of all time. Melodic, soulful, damn near perfect. A lot of his stuff where he's the sole composer feels really stiff to me. This is the Steve I saw on tour with Satriani last year. Love it.

[Tom Bombadil]

Right up there as a top 5 AOTY for me.

I agree

[The Letter M]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fSeyo-nxlQ&feature=youtu.be

Looks like they're recording/filming in Switzerland this time around instead of the usual Holland. Hoping it'll be a great show for them on the 12th!

-Marc.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

It would be nice to have Casey (or any other besides Portnoy) making the announcements for a change.

Nevertheless, such good news we're getting another DVD.

[Jaq]

...okay I get why people praise the hell out of Peaceful Harbor. Glorious.

[KevShmev]

Side point: the snare drum at the beginning of Cosmic Symphony makes me think of She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals. From a distance, perhaps. Just thought I'd put that out there.

Hmmm, that never occurred to me.  My first impression was that it sounded sorta like the beginning of Rush's Secret Touch. 

[RoeDent]

Looks like they're recording/filming in Switzerland this time around instead of the usual Holland. Hoping it'll be a great show for them on the 12th!

-Marc.

Probably straying a bit off-topic here, but why do bands always seem to film live shows in Tilburg? It seems everyone does it.

[Nick]

Tilburg always seems to have a good crowd, and obviously seems set up well for filming.

[The Letter M]

Tilburg always seems to have a good crowd, and obviously seems set up well for filming.

I agree. Between Neal Morse, Roine Stolt and Mike Portnoy, I have SO MANY shows filmed in Tilburg at the 013!

-Marc.

[goo-goo]

I have not clicked with this album at all. The only song that I LOVE is Peaceful Harbor. The rest of the album feels to me a bit too proggy, like Transatlantic 2.0.  Even though the production on the first one was really bad, I enjoyed most of the songs..They were different, catchy and poppy with the prog tuned down. This one is almost quite opposite. The first track sounds like a track from Transatlantic, even with the Neal Morse signature keyboard tone and part. The rest of the album kind of picks up for me and gets a bit better after Open your Eyes, but it still feels disappointing. One thing I have to give credit is the production and Casey's vocals. Dave's tone sounds awesome and Steve Morse's solo on Peaceful Harbor is nothing short of beautiful.

[nobloodyname]

Two tickets in unreserved seating (which appears to be sold out) for sale for the London show on 13 October. Will accept £40 for the pair (a saving of £18 in itself) and will throw in special delivery. Can ship today if needed (Friday). Please PM if interested.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't understand any of the comparisons to Transatlantic other than certain parts of Open Up Your Eyes.

This album is certainly a different kind of album than the first (probably somewhat due in part to self-producing this one vs. working with a producer on the debut).  But it is fantastic.  This is almost what I would have expected the first album to sound like (although I was pleasantly surprised by what the first album turned out to be).

I think this album is much more consistently good than the first one.  I love it.

[King Postwhore]

Loving this album.  Playing the crap out of it in the air and in airports this week.

[ariich]

I don't understand any of the comparisons to Transatlantic other than certain parts of Open Up Your Eyes.

Agreed, Open Up Your Eyes is the only song that really has anything to do with TA-style prog. I do think that the fact that it opens the album might affect a lot of listeners though, as it sets a tone for the album.

[hefdaddy42]

I think people hear "prog" music, see Neal and Mike on the roster, and immediately say "Transatlantic!" when Steve and Dave are just as prog as Neal and Mike.  They are OG prog/fusion, totally badass.

I would just like to say that Steve's guitar work on the second half of Cosmic Symphony is just gorgeous.

[Nick]

I don't understand any of the comparisons to Transatlantic other than certain parts of Open Up Your Eyes.

Agreed, Open Up Your Eyes is the only song that really has anything to do with TA-style prog. I do think that the fact that it opens the album might affect a lot of listeners though, as it sets a tone for the album.

For the most part I found this album to be nothing like TA, and very little like most NM solo, despite reading many comments here first and going in expecting to hear it. So I really don't understand where those comments are coming from. Even the other epic on the album sounds nothing like either of the aforementioned bands.

[Jaq]

I don't understand any of the comparisons to Transatlantic other than certain parts of Open Up Your Eyes.

Agreed, Open Up Your Eyes is the only song that really has anything to do with TA-style prog. I do think that the fact that it opens the album might affect a lot of listeners though, as it sets a tone for the album.

The only part of this album that sounds like TA is the intro to Open Up Your Eyes. The rest of it barely sounds like TA. Hell, other than the longer song lengths compared to the debut, most of it is barely progressive rock.

[KevShmev]

I'm glad to see that most are realizing this, as well.  I knew I wasn't crazy.

[Mindflux]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQmfWxGnCis

"A place in your world" video premier.

[ytserush]

This has my favorite Steve Morse playing of all time. Melodic, soulful, damn near perfect. A lot of his stuff where he's the sole composer feels really stiff to me. This is the Steve I saw on tour with Satriani last year. Love it.

I think seeing the show at the Keswick last week ruined the album for me so far.

The show was pretty amazing (given how tired the band was from travel) and Steve Morse was on FIRE and Neal Morse seemed like he was having the time of his life (he seems to really enjoy just playing and not having to be in charge of everything.)

Because of the Mascot snafu I just got the album  yesterday (with a bonus tour pick) and only have listened to it once.

Based on that one listen I have to ask where the hooks are.  I also think it's a sonic disaster (again.)  Hopefully this grows on me, but this album really sounds hurried.  The musicianship is awesome and is just incredible live, but I'm just not feeling it yet.

Hopefully I'll be brave and try to take out Steve Rothery's Live in Rome out of the CD player and get more familiar with Second Nature this weekend.

[Mosh]

Based on that one listen I have to ask where the hooks are.  I also think it's a sonic disaster (again.)  Hopefully this grows on me, but this album really sounds hurried.  The musicianship is awesome and is just incredible live, but I'm just not feeling it yet.

The album is growing on me but this is my main problem with it. Pop music really relies on hooks and a lot of the songs don't have any. So it's missing a lot of the pop aesthetic that would really distinguish it even more from other NM prog projects. The first album did this and it was great for that. This one has lost that a little.

[jingle.boy]

I'm glad to see that most are realizing this, as well.  I knew I wasn't crazy.

Same.

[YtseJamittaja]

I have to say I just can't get into this record. I just don't feel it. The biggest disappointment of the year. 

[Mindflux]

Footage for new DVDs being shot tonight!

[Dr. DTVT]

I don't get the Transatlantic comparisons either, except as noted on Open Up Your Eyes.

The album is kind of hit or miss for me though.  Peaceful Harbor will be a strong contender for my favorite FC song, but I don't think this album will make a push for my top 10 of the year in what is shaping up to be a pretty weak and disappointing year.