Author Topic: Dr. DTVT's 50 Underappriciated bands v. Better than the Loch Ness Monster (Read 56621 times)

yorost · « **Reply #35 on:** March 18, 2012, 09:25:23 PM »

Cynthesis just doesn't click as well as Zero Hour, if you ask me. For any Zero Hour fan, I'd be cautious on making purchases without hearing some samples first. They just seem more... normal. I think that hurts some of their magic. Maybe if I'd never heard 7ero Hour before I would love Cynthesis.

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #36 on:** March 18, 2012, 10:27:52 PM »

46. It Bites - The Tall Ships

Genre: Neo-prog
For fans of: Frost*, Marillion

It Bites has been around a while, but I have to admit I only have this album and my interest in this band revolves around guitarist/singer/songwriter John Mitchell, who was brought in for this album. If the name sounds familiar, that's because he guitar player in Frost*, which is a pretty popular band on DTF. It Bites sound is much closer to Frost* than Marillion's, and the songs range from energetic and uptempo to more somber and everything in between. I'm really looking forward to their upcoming album.

Tracks to try: Oh My God, Playground, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Fahenheit

Nick · « **Reply #37 on:** March 18, 2012, 10:29:52 PM »

Awesome album. Started a thread on the band a year or two back because I picked this album up, some truly fantastic songs on it.

pain of occupation · « **Reply #38 on:** March 18, 2012, 10:32:39 PM »

Quote from: yorost on March 18, 2012, 09:25:23 PM

Cynthesis just doesn't click as well as Zero Hour, if you ask me. For any Zero Hour fan, I'd be cautious on making purchases without hearing some samples first. They just seem more... normal. I think that hurts some of their magic. Maybe if I'd never heard 7ero Hour before I would love Cynthesis.

ya, i see where youre coming from, yorost.

since towers is my favorite zero hour album, i was quite excited circa a year back to hear what they'd do getting back together with eric rosveld...but i was left on the disappointed side of things after a few spins, and the album kinda fell by the wayside as i was checking out so much other stuff at the time.

however, i've been giving it a second chance with some recent spins and digging it a lot more than my initial impression.

wolfking · « **Reply #39 on:** March 19, 2012, 05:04:29 AM »

I just ordered;

Zero Hour - Towers of Avarice
Eumeria - Rebel Mind

I am going to be flat broke at the end of this list.

Elite · « **Reply #40 on:** March 19, 2012, 05:11:37 AM »

Quote from: wolfking on March 19, 2012, 05:04:29 AM

I just ordered;

Zero Hour - Towers of Avarice
Eumeria - Rebel Mind

I am going to be flat broke at the end of this list.

Same, goddamn you CD prices

yorost · « **Reply #41 on:** March 19, 2012, 07:37:43 AM »

...the Zero Hour ranks are swelling.

Quote from: pain of occupation on March 18, 2012, 10:32:39 PM

Quote from: yorost on March 18, 2012, 09:25:23 PM
Cynthesis just doesn't click as well as Zero Hour, if you ask me. For any Zero Hour fan, I'd be cautious on making purchases without hearing some samples first. They just seem more... normal. I think that hurts some of their magic. Maybe if I'd never heard 7ero Hour before I would love Cynthesis.
however, i've been giving it a second chance with some recent spins and digging it a lot more than my initial impression.

Yeah, I might have to give them another chance, eventually. Maybe since Zero Hour hasn't been around for awhile I'll be able to not let that bother me and just appreciate Cynthesis for what it is.

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #42 on:** March 19, 2012, 09:48:48 AM »

I just said "Fuck it" and ordered the Cynthesis CD.

I'll be broke at the end of my own list

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #43 on:** March 19, 2012, 08:45:01 PM »

45. Kaddisfly - Set Sail the Prairie

Genre: Cross-over progressive-indie rock
For fans of: The Dear Hunter, Manchester Orchestra

Kaddisfly might be higher after I get my hands on their previous album, which I finally got around to remembering to buy. The fact that I discovered them after they disbanded made it harder to remember to get the back catalog because there was no new albums to look forward to. That said, Set Sail the Prairie is fantastic and fun. The music is energetic and lively, which fits the concept of the album. The album is about a journey around the world, with 12 songs each describing one month at a particular location, with the two solstices getting a brief interlude. In addition to the up-tempo and cheerful feel, the lyrics themselves are quite witty and playful, for instance the first verse of "Waves" is alphabetical, with each successive word starting one letter after the last one not counting ands and yeah's (Apostolic beliefs conjure divine Earthly faith...) It's the kind of album I'm still discovering new stuff about it after numerous listens.

Tracks to try: Campfire (Junio), Waves (July), Birds (Septembre), Silk Road (Pharvarì)

Nick · « **Reply #44 on:** March 19, 2012, 08:56:56 PM »

Kaddisfly was pretty damn popular here at one point, not sure if I'd call them underappreciated. In any case, great album.

yorost · « **Reply #45 on:** March 19, 2012, 09:33:08 PM »

Yeah, Kaddisfly I've seen a lot of recommendations for here.

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #46 on:** March 19, 2012, 09:36:55 PM »

Then there should be discussion of this album then

I know they broke up 5 years ago, but I didn't see a thread for them and I haven't seen them discussed much in the last 3 years.

wolfking · « **Reply #47 on:** March 19, 2012, 09:40:54 PM »

Hmmm.

DTVT - 6
Me - 0

lonestar · « **Reply #48 on:** March 20, 2012, 01:19:58 AM »

Quote from: wolfking on March 19, 2012, 09:40:54 PM

Hmmm.

DTVT - 6
Me - 0

Ditto, and I don't see any hope for the rest of the list either for me.

Nekov · « **Reply #49 on:** March 20, 2012, 04:03:41 AM »

Quote from: lonestar on March 20, 2012, 01:19:58 AM

Quote from: wolfking on March 19, 2012, 09:40:54 PM
Hmmm.

DTVT - 6
Me - 0

Ditto, and I don't see any hope for the rest of the list either for me.

Add me to the list.

wolfking · « **Reply #50 on:** March 20, 2012, 04:43:40 AM »

At least it's not just me.

Elite · « **Reply #51 on:** March 20, 2012, 05:20:44 AM »

DTVT - 5
Me - 1

Who's in this club?

jingle.boy · « **Reply #52 on:** March 20, 2012, 05:37:48 AM »

Quote from: Elite on March 20, 2012, 05:20:44 AM

DTVT - 5
Me - 1

Who's in this club?

Moi.

Nick · « **Reply #53 on:** March 20, 2012, 06:37:03 AM »

4 for 6 so far.

yorost · « **Reply #54 on:** March 20, 2012, 07:06:29 AM »

3-3 so far, ilm bagging bands in the back of my mind to criticize DTVT over ih he doesn't include them.

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #55 on:** March 20, 2012, 08:23:48 AM »

If I don't have something on here it will fall into one of three categories:

1) I don't own it.
2) I thought it was liked well enough here already.
3) I like these albums/bands more.

yorost · « **Reply #56 on:** March 20, 2012, 10:10:21 AM »

I wasn't trying to be insulting, so sorry if it seemed so. Quite frankly, I hope you list has more bands I love. Your one post on Zero Hour probably got more people to check them out than I've managed to on these forums in the last five years. ...and they are a band I will actively promote given the oppurtunity. Heck, I even submitted them to obscure's roulette partly because I figured her posting them would do more for them than I ever could here.

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #57 on:** March 20, 2012, 11:19:36 AM »

I wasn't insulted, I just thought I'd clarify. What happened with Zero Hour is ideally what would happen with every album/band on the list. Hell, I'd like to see your list you have in mind (PM, don't post - want to keep potential suspense up).

For everyone else - I know the nature of this thread means there will less discussion than normal lists, but if you're following drop a line so I know how big (or small) my audience is.

And of course discussion is always welcome.

pain of occupation · « **Reply #58 on:** March 20, 2012, 11:29:31 AM »

in related-to-zero-hour predictions, i sense a power of omens presence in this thread's future.

unrelated to zero hour, it bites' "the tall ships" has me intrigued.

lonestar · « **Reply #59 on:** March 20, 2012, 11:53:55 AM »

Being my weekend, I should have time to check out some of these bands and give you a bit of feedback, I see things like "like Marillion" and "like DT" a lot, which intrigues me. Also, I am in desparate need of more roulette weapons, I am getting killed on my lack of inventory.

Nick · « **Reply #60 on:** March 20, 2012, 01:30:24 PM »

Quote from: DTVT on March 20, 2012, 08:23:48 AM

If I don't have something on here it will fall into one of three categories:

1) I don't own it.
2) I thought it was liked well enough here already.
3) I like these albums/bands more.

Well thank you captain obvious.

TAC · « **Reply #61 on:** March 20, 2012, 06:03:43 PM »

Quote from: pain of occupation on March 20, 2012, 11:29:31 AM

in related-to-zero-hour predictions, i sense a power of omens presence in this thread's future.

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #62 on:** March 20, 2012, 07:46:05 PM »

44. Eternity X - Mind Games and The Edge

Genre: Prog Metal
For fans of: Old school Queensryche, DT

Back when I was first cutting my teeth on progressive metal, I was a member of an online community where members routinely posted album reviews and had a very active online chat room. There were five bands that everyone seemed to love at that site: Dream Theater, Queensryche, Fates Warning, Savatage, and Eternity X. And that is how I was introduced to this band who never really broke through in the world of progressive music. For every hater of this band there seem to be four or five complete devotees, and while I wouldn't quite put myself in the latter group, at one time I would have been and still largely enjoy these two albums (note: what ever you do, DON'T listen to Zodiac first. Just don't.) The brainchild/guitar player/singer of this band is Keith Sudano, and while he lacks JLB's raw power and range, he still has decent pipes and infuses much of his singing with emotion, and among the haters his singing is usually the cause of dissatisfaction. For being progressive, there is little wankery for better or worse, and while the sound may sound low budget at times (because it was), the talent and songwriting really come through. Mind Games is a good album with songs that range from chaotic, to violent, to subdued ballads. The Edge is generally considered their masterpiece, a concept album about a variety of people pushed to, and in some cases, over the edge and into madness. While a concept album, the songs are not linked in any way and stand on their own just fine. Since these albums have been OOP for a while, many of the songs can be found on youtube, uploaded by Keith himself, so there shouldn't be any guilt in checking them out. While he removed himself from the music business some 12 years ago, it seems like he is planning a comeback of some kind, so we might not have heard of the last of this band.

Tracks to try: Mind Games, The Savior and the Disease, Despair, The Confession*(start here), A Day in Verse, The Edge Part 3

WindMaster · « **Reply #63 on:** March 20, 2012, 07:51:55 PM »

Dammit, DTVT! Now I have almost no chance of going to sleep tonight because of this amazing list! Gotta check all these bands out.

wolfking · « **Reply #64 on:** March 20, 2012, 08:24:11 PM »

Great band Eternity X is. I only have the Edge so I'll have to check out Mind Games, but The Edge is an amazing piece of progressive metal. Recommended.

jingle.boy · « **Reply #65 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:21:46 PM »

No comment. Just showing up to make you feel better.

1 for 7. Oh, and that 1 band I did know will be on WPaPU tomorrow.

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #66 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:30:29 PM »

I feel this picture of me is appropriate for this thread.

lonestar · « **Reply #67 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:36:36 PM »

0 for 7, let's see if I know this 25 year old band, probably the only one I got a shot on.

Dr. DTVT · « **Reply #68 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:43:08 PM »

You don't have a shot in the world at it lonestar.

That will be a lot funnier tomorrow.

lonestar · « **Reply #69 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:46:52 PM »

Fine, I'll wait....

So I'm probably going 0 for 50 then. Do I get a prize for doing that? Besides 50 bands to check out I mean.

News: Track-by-track video for Untethered Angel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Co1_h0GtAw

Author Topic: Dr. DTVT's 50 Underappriciated bands v. Better than the Loch Ness Monster (Read 56621 times)