*Official* The Astonishing discussion thread

[cramx3]

People talk about the "deciiiiiiiide" section, but I've yet to see a comment about the vocal delivery of "And let me bring you back to earth". That one is ... odd, to say the least.

There are a few "odd" vocal deliveries by JLB on this album, but maybe I've just gotten used to them that I enjoy them now, including this one.  I remember on my first listen having a few dumbfounded looks on my face at different spots, this was one of them.  And at the end of Chosen, "Home" just feels so odd, but like the others, I enjoy it now.

[Prog Snob]

I guess my car speakers just suck, because the album sounds pretty clear on my headphones.

With most music (not all), there's a world of difference between listening to music on headphones and a generic car stereo.

How dare you assume my car stereo is generic even though it totally is.

Something I loved about my old car's speakers is that when one blew out, it made Iced Earth's Dante's Inferno sound even more awesome with the enhanced bass, which was just a broken speaker rattling, but it still sounded cool.

Not only did I dare, but I triple dog dared.  I'm surprised my car speakers are still going ten years later. I guess Hyundai Motors makes durable speakers. 

[Tick]

I'm not hearing a mistake.  I am hearing a vocal part that is very soft, almost a whisper, and James drawing out the consonant sound as the drums and other instruments sound.

This. I don't think it's a mistake. I just never noticed it and it sounds pretty awful now that I know it's there.

Unreal, I've listened to this track 20 times and never noticed this.  Now that I know about it its going to bug me, because it is - without a doubt - a mistake.  Yuck!

Not necessarily.  Again, it could just be the way James phrased it.  It is hard to hear exactly what is going on during that vocal transition because of the drum hit and other instruments, so although it sounds like punching in from another take, it may not be that at all.

People talk about the "deciiiiiiiide" section, but I've yet to see a comment about the vocal delivery of "And let me bring you back to earth". That one is ... odd, to say the least.

Yeah, it definitely is.  I was just thinking that again this morning. 

Will you guys stop over analyzing! Its vintage James, in all his glory!

[Zook]

I guess my car speakers just suck, because the album sounds pretty clear on my headphones.

With most music (not all), there's a world of difference between listening to music on headphones and a generic car stereo.

How dare you assume my car stereo is generic even though it totally is.

Something I loved about my old car's speakers is that when one blew out, it made Iced Earth's Dante's Inferno sound even more awesome with the enhanced bass, which was just a broken speaker rattling, but it still sounded cool.

Not only did I dare, but I triple dog dared.  I'm surprised my car speakers are still going ten years later. I guess Hyundai Motors makes durable speakers. 

Funny, my Hyundai Elantra is going on 11 years old. I'm a little behind on maintenance, but I've been told that Hyundais can last quite a long time if taken care of.

[Prog Snob]

I guess my car speakers just suck, because the album sounds pretty clear on my headphones.

With most music (not all), there's a world of difference between listening to music on headphones and a generic car stereo.

How dare you assume my car stereo is generic even though it totally is.

Something I loved about my old car's speakers is that when one blew out, it made Iced Earth's Dante's Inferno sound even more awesome with the enhanced bass, which was just a broken speaker rattling, but it still sounded cool.

Not only did I dare, but I triple dog dared.  I'm surprised my car speakers are still going ten years later. I guess Hyundai Motors makes durable speakers. 

Funny, my Hyundai Elantra is going on 11 years old. I'm a little behind on maintenance, but I've been told that Hyundais can last quite a long time if taken care of.

It's true. They really are built amazingly well. With the exception of tires and breaks being replaced when needed, I haven't had to bring it in for any extensive work.

[bosk1]

I'm not hearing a mistake.  I am hearing a vocal part that is very soft, almost a whisper, and James drawing out the consonant sound as the drums and other instruments sound.

This. I don't think it's a mistake. I just never noticed it and it sounds pretty awful now that I know it's there.

Unreal, I've listened to this track 20 times and never noticed this.  Now that I know about it its going to bug me, because it is - without a doubt - a mistake.  Yuck!

Not necessarily.  Again, it could just be the way James phrased it.  It is hard to hear exactly what is going on during that vocal transition because of the drum hit and other instruments, so although it sounds like punching in from another take, it may not be that at all.

People talk about the "deciiiiiiiide" section, but I've yet to see a comment about the vocal delivery of "And let me bring you back to earth". That one is ... odd, to say the least.

Yeah, it definitely is.  I was just thinking that again this morning. 

Will you guys stop over analyzing! Its vintage James, in all his glory!

Making an observation that an odd delivery is odd is not overanalyzing. 

[SystematicThought]

What's odd about that line? The way he kinda takes a pause before he says earth?

[rumborak]

You really don't hear the oddness? For lack of a better description, it kinda sounds as if he's about to throw up

[Tick]

I'm not hearing a mistake.  I am hearing a vocal part that is very soft, almost a whisper, and James drawing out the consonant sound as the drums and other instruments sound.

This. I don't think it's a mistake. I just never noticed it and it sounds pretty awful now that I know it's there.

Unreal, I've listened to this track 20 times and never noticed this.  Now that I know about it its going to bug me, because it is - without a doubt - a mistake.  Yuck!

Not necessarily.  Again, it could just be the way James phrased it.  It is hard to hear exactly what is going on during that vocal transition because of the drum hit and other instruments, so although it sounds like punching in from another take, it may not be that at all.

People talk about the "deciiiiiiiide" section, but I've yet to see a comment about the vocal delivery of "And let me bring you back to earth". That one is ... odd, to say the least.

Yeah, it definitely is.  I was just thinking that again this morning. 

Will you guys stop over analyzing! Its vintage James, in all his glory!

Making an observation that an odd delivery is odd is not overanalyzing.

My point and I'm joking is James at his best gives some odd deliveries.

[Zook]

You really don't hear the oddness? For lack of a better description, it kinda sounds as if he's about to throw up

By that point, Nafaryus is pretty pissed that not only does he think Gabriel is trying to overthrow him, but he's also making googly eyes with his daughter. The delivery sounds of that of an angry man. I'm sure if Portnoy were still in the band, he would have pushed to growl that section.

[King Postwhore]

You really don't hear the oddness? For lack of a better description, it kinda sounds as if he's about to throw up

By that point, Nafaryus is pretty pissed that not only does he think Gabriel is trying to overthrow him, but he's also making googly eyes with his daughter. The delivery sounds of that of an angry man. I'm sure if Portnoy were still in the band, he would have pushed a medieval growl that section.

FTFY

[Zook]

You really don't hear the oddness? For lack of a better description, it kinda sounds as if he's about to throw up

By that point, Nafaryus is pretty pissed that not only does he think Gabriel is trying to overthrow him, but he's also making googly eyes with his daughter. The delivery sounds of that of an angry man. I'm sure if Portnoy were still in the band, he would have pushed a medieval growl that section.

FTFY

Looks like you broke it to me.

[King Postwhore]

 

Well well.

[mike099]

You really don't hear the oddness? For lack of a better description, it kinda sounds as if he's about to throw up

By that point, Nafaryus is pretty pissed that not only does he think Gabriel is trying to overthrow him, but he's also making googly eyes with his daughter. The delivery sounds of that of an angry man. I'm sure if Portnoy were still in the band, he would have pushed to growl that section.

If portnoy were still in the band this album probably would had never been recorded, unless he had control and the credit.

[bosk1]

You really don't hear the oddness? For lack of a better description, it kinda sounds as if he's about to throw up

By that point, Nafaryus is pretty pissed that not only does he think Gabriel is trying to overthrow him, but he's also making googly eyes with his daughter. The delivery sounds of that of an angry man. I'm sure if Portnoy were still in the band, he would have pushed to growl that section.

If portnoy were still in the band this album probably would had never been recorded, unless he had control and the credit.

I highly doubt that.  If John wanted it to happen the way it did (with only him and Jordan writing), I can pretty much guarantee it would have gone down that way regardless of who was behind the kit.

[SystematicThought]

I just can't imagine MP relinquishing control like that. And I'm not saying that positively or negatively, he just always says he wants control.

[Enigmachine]

Pretty sure that MP's control is a bit exaggerated. Sure he wrote a fair amount of lyrics and helped in arranging, but JR has said that it was himself and JP doing most of the writing.

[bosk1]

And John is a MUCH stronger personality than I think most people realize.  He has a laid back, easy going demeanor.  But make no mistake about the fact that he has ALWAYS had his say in this band.

[KevShmev]

And John is a MUCH stronger personality than I think most people realize.  He has a laid back, easy going demeanor.  But make no mistake about the fact that he has ALWAYS had his say in this band.

So you're saying he actually does like medleys?

[erwinrafael]

Reading through the recent interviews, it is interesting to note that the writing for TA was story - music - lyrics. The lyrics still came in last. JP and JR also wrote the music like a musical score, instead of a bunch of songs. Which I think is why there is a lack of individual playfulness in the songs, but there is more coherence across songs.

[SystematicThought]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LHFswk8K3o

Here's the 2nd Trailer. Is this what the second video was supposed to be?

[Another_Won]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LHFswk8K3o

Here's the 2nd Trailer. Is this what the second video was supposed to be?

Interesting.  I think this one is better than the first.  Also, the world tour will continue into 2017!

[mike099]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LHFswk8K3o

Here's the 2nd Trailer. Is this what the second video was supposed to be?

Interesting.  I think this one is better than the first.  Also, the world tour will continue into 2017!

Just wondering if the world tour will go to Mexico and South America and then back around thru Europe and then back to the US and if it does, would they do the same tour with just TA or a varied set list.  I was hoping for a varied set list if they came to Atlanta later in the year or early 2017.

[cramx3]

I always figured that playing all of TA would be just the first leg (of Europe and N.A.) but maybe the success of the tour so far will lead them to continue? (I'm also assuming the tour has been successful so far, I have not been following the shows).  Seeing 2017 is hopeful though so we know they will at least continue touring into next year. 

[hefdaddy42]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LHFswk8K3o

Here's the 2nd Trailer. Is this what the second video was supposed to be?

No, the second video (of the two on the website) was originally supposed to be the performance video of The Gift of Music.

[devieira73]

Just wondering ichangeworld tour will go to Mexico and South America and then back around thru Europe and then back to the US and if it does, would they do the same tour with just TA or a varied set list.  I was hoping for a varied set list if they came to Atlanta later in the year or early 2017.

JP said in a recent interview for a brazilian magazine, Roadiecrew, that the show's format won't change wherever they play in TA tour.

[SebastianPratesi]

JP said in a recent interview for a brazilian magazine, Roadiecrew, that the show's format won't change wherever they play in TA tour.

Did he happen to mention if there will be a South American tour? (I'm from Argentina, so I'm interested).

[devieira73]

JP said in a recent interview for a brazilian magazine, Roadiecrew, that the show's format won't change wherever they play in TA tour.

Did he happen to mention if there will be a South American tour? (I'm from Argentina, so I'm interested).

Hi, Sebastian!
The interviewer only asked him about a brazilian tour and he answered that there will be one, without mention any dates. So I imagine that there will be another South American Tour, like it's happening the last 10 years. I suppose (JP didn't say that too) maybe that it will be in a fewer cities as the usual, like they're doing in Europe now.

[bosk1]

Faythe wore proper ear protection.  Carol did not wear her safety goggles.  Don't be like Carol.

[King Postwhore]

Faythe wore proper ear protection.  Carol did not wear her safety goggles.  Don't be like Carol.

This is so a Direct TV commercial.

[hefdaddy42]

Faythe wore proper ear protection.  Carol did not wear her safety goggles.  Don't be like Carol.

This is so a Direct TV commercial.

No, it's older than that.

[King Postwhore]

OH!  I can't place it.......

[erwinrafael]

Just finished listening to an audio bootleg of their Berlin concert. WOW.

[BlobVanDam]

OH!  I can't place it.......

Neither could Carol.

[King Postwhore]

OH!  I can't place it.......

Neither could Carol.