The IQ Thread

[lonestar]

Yep, that'd fit the pattern. Been a fan since the Menel days, and they've had at least 3 years between albums since then. I know for the band it's a tremendous undertaking since they all have day jobs and are scattered all over the UK. I saw one post from Mike that just to get them in the same place for recording cost a few thousand in travel alone.

[Fritzinger]

Don't they usually perform (nearly) finished songs live (and maybe work on them a bit more) before releasing them on albums? I remember hearing For Another Lifetime before Resistance came out.

[RoeDent]

So it looks like the 4 - 9 - 4 - 9 - 4 pattern will continue.

[SwedishGoose]

Don't they usually perform (nearly) finished songs live (and maybe work on them a bit more) before releasing them on albums? I remember hearing For Another Lifetime before Resistance came out.

That happens, yes. I heard two of the songs from Resistance in 2017, nothing unreleased either in 2019 or 2023 though.

[ProfessorPeart]

Been slowly moving through my IQ discovery journey and have had Frequency in my car for a couple of weeks now. What a fantastic record. This is up there with Bones for me. It's funny, the drums felt different to me and I was right. This is the one album Andy plays on. I also noticed the keys seemed more diverse and I see it was the only album with Mark on those. Anyway, great album with not a dud on it for me.

I'm not going in order either. Jumping all around. So far, I have heard Bones, Dark Matter, and Resistance along with Frequency.

[lonestar]

Frequency is always in the discussion for best IQ album for me, along with Subterrenea and Ever. Just a great disc, got so lucky at Progstock to see them play Closer.

[Mladen]

I got into IQ this year and Frequency is also my number one. It's heavy, beautiful, accessible, complex, dark and cheerful at the same time. Some of my other favorites include Ever, Dark matter and the debut. I prefer the newer stuff overall, though, from 2000s onwards.

[jammindude]

Subterranea took a long time to click with me, but when it did OH BOY!

Seventh House is climbing my charts. Dark Matter is the only one I’m a bit lukewarm on. Sacred Sound is amazing but it kind of falls off a bit after that and Harvester of Souls is my least favorite of all their epics.

[lonestar]

Harvest of Souls is a trip, amazing beginning and ending but it loses me in the middle. It just pales so hard compared to Seventh House, Province, or Narrow Margin.

[The Letter M]

Oddly enough, for me, when I discovered IQ, Dark Matter was their latest album, and I was instantly hooked. Love "Harvest of Souls", despite having some clear "Supper's Ready" inspirations (though perhaps that why I grew to love it and the whole album when I first began my prog journey.

As it stands, I love DM, TSH, and Ever, but have had trouble getting into Subterranea, and Frequency, though their last two have been easier for me to digest/get into.

Over-all, I think I enjoy most of their albums to varying degrees, and I don't think they've mad a single out-right BAD album, though I haven't listened to the two Menel albums very much to form a big opinion on them.

-Marc.

[jammindude]

Oddly enough, for me, when I discovered IQ, Dark Matter was their latest album, and I was instantly hooked. Love "Harvest of Souls", despite having some clear "Supper's Ready" inspirations (though perhaps that why I grew to love it and the whole album when I first began my prog journey.

As it stands, I love DM, TSH, and Ever, but have had trouble getting into Subterranea, and Frequency, though their last two have been easier for me to digest/get into.

Over-all, I think I enjoy most of their albums to varying degrees, and I don't think they've mad a single out-right BAD album, though I haven't listened to the two Menel albums very much to form a big opinion on them.

-Marc.

The Menel albums have moments that are right up there with IQs finest material. I think that personal preference comes down to which albums “pop singles” you dislike the least. Both albums have a couple of jabs at “80s pop” and I often find myself really enjoying the pop songs from AYSC whereas I quite dislike the pop songs from Nomzamo.  But there are varying opinions on this.

Most of the best stuff from the Menel albums has been performed live by Nichols. Falling Apart at the Seams from AYSC being a particular highlight.

[jammindude]

Anyone pick up the new CD release of Subterranea Live?  Mine came in the mail earlier this week and I’ve been spinning it ever since. What a fantastic performance!!

[ProgMasterMind92]

107

[jammindude]

107

The amount of times you’ve spun it since you’ve got it? The number of hours you’ve spent listening to it?

[ProgMasterMind92]

107

The amount of times you’ve spun it since you’ve got it? The number of hours you’ve spent listening to it?

 

[romdrums]

Bringing this over from Jamesman's roulette thread!

My first experience with them was Subterranea. I bought it not long after it came out, and I tried to get into it, but I couldn't.  It just didn't feel dangerous enough for me, particularly in the keyboard sounds.  It wasn't until I heard the title track to The Road of Bones nearly 20 years later that I gave them a second chance, and that album clicked with me in a major way.  I've gone back and purchased all of the studio albums, and I'm glad I did.  I still don't like the two Paul Menel albums, but everything else is great.  Subterranea makes more sense to me now, and I really do like a lot of the songs on it.  My favorite album of theirs is Resistance, followed by The Road of Bones, Ever and Frequency.  It's interesting to me that they've gotten heavier, darker and more progressive as they've gotten older.  I'd also say that they've become better musicians and songwriters as they've aged as well!

[lonestar]

My faves are Ever, Frequency, and Seventh House.


It's a tight call between Seventh House and Province for favorite song, they're both so damn good.

[jammindude]

Subterranea took a very long time for me to get into, but the brand new Live release is really making it click big time.

[lonestar]

Interesting that both of you struggled with it, that album clicked hard for me on the first spin.

[romdrums]

Interesting that both of you struggled with it, that album clicked hard for me on the first spin.

For me, I was just 20 in 1997 when it came out.  I think my biggest issue with it was that I didn't find any of it to be "Prog" at that time.  I was listening to a lot of Tool, Porcupine Tree and Radiohead at the time, so this album felt a bit safe in comparison.  In particular, the mix and the sound choices felt safe and tame, especially in the keyboards. Martin Orford's basically playing presets, and the 90's organ patch he used was especially lacking in balls. Same with the guitar tone.  There was no weight to it.  Also, given their comparisons to Marillion, they came off as, "what if Fish came back after Holidays in Eden?" So, I gave up on the album and sold it back to the record store I found it at. 

I kept track of the band, though, and I think in 2017, I ended up finally giving them another chance and bought The Road of Bones, the 2-disc version of it.  I'd heard the title track a few years earlier and liked it, but it still took me a while to get around to buying the whole thing. That album basically clicked immediately with me. I ended up getting everything else, and was super stoked to hear A Missile in early 2019. 

[jammindude]

For me, it’s just that it was SO MUCH. I liked bits of it and I could tell that there was a lot going on, but it was a 100 minute concept album to digest from scratch.

That being said, I do think the live version is a lot punchier and in your face. It’s definitely adding to my enjoyment.

[SwedishGoose]

Still waiting for the delivery of my CDs of the Subterranea live.


Can anyone confirm that this is the same concert as the one on the BlueRay from the Archive Collection Artbook?

I still don't understand why they sat on that video recording for so long. It was worth the price of the artbook on it's own.

I am a huge fan of Subterranea....was a backer of the movie back in the day. Got the movie, got the soundtrack of the movie. Got the original live DVD and the later live recording o BlueRay.

Can't wait to get this live release of the album.

[jammindude]

Still waiting for the delivery of my CDs of the Subterranea live.


Can anyone confirm that this is the same concert as the one on the BlueRay from the Archive Collection Artbook?

I still don't understand why they sat on that video recording for so long. It was worth the price of the artbook on it's own.

I am a huge fan of Subterranea....was a backer of the movie back in the day. Got the movie, got the soundtrack of the movie. Got the original live DVD and the later live recording o BlueRay.

Can't wait to get this live release of the album.

It does say it’s from the IQ30 performance.

At this moment, I’m chilling in bed before lights out and the CD is in my car, but I’ll repost tomorrow with an exact date.

[The Letter M]

Still waiting for the delivery of my CDs of the Subterranea live.


Can anyone confirm that this is the same concert as the one on the BlueRay from the Archive Collection Artbook?

I still don't understand why they sat on that video recording for so long. It was worth the price of the artbook on it's own.

I am a huge fan of Subterranea....was a backer of the movie back in the day. Got the movie, got the soundtrack of the movie. Got the original live DVD and the later live recording o BlueRay.

Can't wait to get this live release of the album.

https://www.discogs.com/release/21501214-IQ-The-Archive-Collection-2003-2017
This says it the BD is the concert from October 22, 2011.

https://www.discogs.com/release/28181944-IQ-Subterranea-Live-At-De-Boerderij-October-22-2011

The 2CD set released earlier this year appears to be the same concert.

Of course these are different than the 2CD and VHS/DVD sets they released in 2000, which were recorded in April 4, 1999.

https://www.discogs.com/release/2504482-IQ-Subterranea-The-Concert
https://www.discogs.com/release/2514627-IQ-Subterranea-The-Concert

-Marc.

[lonestar]

The band just posted an update, with Cookie saying that while they're rehearsing for the Xmas bash, they're also working on new material for the upcoming album.....

[jammindude]

The band just posted an update, with Cookie saying that while they're rehearsing for the Xmas bash, they're also working on new material for the upcoming album.....

I remember the days when waiting 3 years for an album was an ETERNITY!!! But somehow it seems hard to believe that it’s been almost 5 years since Resistance!

[lonestar]

Right? That was a rough fucking 5 years too... thankful I got my Show of Resistance shirt to commemorate it. For the tour dates on the back it just says TWENTY TWENTY

[SwedishGoose]

Feel like high time to get another IQ masterpiece

[The Letter M]

Ever since the gap between Frequency and The Road Of Bones, I've accepted a five year wait between IQ albums. Hopefully the next one is actually out before 2024 ends!

-Marc.

[lonestar]

IQ opened their show today with The Narrow Margin, closed it with Seventh House, and dropped a new song as well, Plinth.




I fucking hate that I'm so far away from their shows.

[Nekov]

That is a sick setlist! Where are they touring?

[lonestar]

They're doing a weekend series in England, two shows with completely different sets. Another different new track tonight, I'd say last night's set was better, but they pulled out Last Human Gateway as an encore tonight.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/iq/2024/the-met-bury-england-63acae73.html

[jammindude]

Love Human Nature!!

[lonestar]

And opening with Dark Matter in it's entirety is so epic.

[ProfessorPeart]

And opening with Dark Matter in it's entirety is so epic.

Just noticed this is its 20th anniversary. I smell a special live release.