YTSEJAM Digest 5495 Today's Topics: 1) Re: CD-R problems by Adam Pye 2) Re: Star Wars Tribute by Andrew Coutermarsh 3) Xmas CD again by Steffen Barabasch - The Mirror 4) Re: YTSEJAM digest 5494 by email_address_removed 5) Re: YTSEJAM digest 5494 by Scott Hansen 6) Recardo Testa by Angelo Lombardi 7) Re: YTSEJAM digest 5494 by email_address_removed 8) Re: Christmas CD Track List *SPOILERS* by email_address_removed 9) Ricardo Testa by email_address_removed 10) Dick Head!! by "Paul Tadday" 11) getting back to dream theater!! by Waseem 12) whammy on my mind by Dan Costello 13) our resident Italian wonder by Dan Costello 14) The Caped Crusader and his faithful sidekick, Sparky the Wonder Dog, strike again by Dan Costello 15) Whats up with that? by email_address_removed 16) Re: Getting rid of hum... by email_address_removed (Steve Chew) 17) Re: My Bungle doing "Existential Blues"... by email_address_removed (Steve Chew) 18) Re: Beethoven's 9th and Ode to Joy... by email_address_removed (Steve Chew) 19) Re: New Kansas by email_address_removed (Steve Chew) 20) Re: Carpe Diem by email_address_removed (Steve Chew) 21) Re: Getting rid of hum... by Andrew Coutermarsh 22) Symphony X-V + Iron Maiden reviewed by =?iso-8859-1?Q?Bj=F8rnar?= Bevolden 23) CD's for Sale by Greg Hall 24) Re: YTSEJAM digest 5494 by "Ricardo Testa" 25) [Fwd: [fateswarning] some "disconnected" thoughts... ***SPOILERS***] by Michael Kizer ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 19:47:08 -0400 From: Adam Pye To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: CD-R problems Message-ID: At 04:31 PM 5/30/2000 -0700, you wrote: >Well, my error here. I knew before that there are older CD-Players not >able to play any CDR. But AFAIK there are no newer models that won't play >a CD-R, unless you use cheap media. I've found it to be more a specific brand that won't play in a certain CD player than "cheap" media. For example, I've got a CD player here that will play anything except Verbatim CDs. I used to have a burner that would burn on anything except Memorex CDs. I've used everything from the very expensive brand names to the generic and very cheap, and I've found that the cheap perform just as well as the expensive. I don't consider longevity a factor in "performance." I expect I just won't give a damn if my CD fails in 30 years instead of in 40. I'll either have made another copy by then, or just burned everything to DVD. :) Take care all... Adam _________________________________________________ Adam Pye alpine1(-at-)mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~alpine1 ^^ Above URL for tape/cd list w/ setlists __________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 19:55:00 -0400 (EDT) From: Andrew Coutermarsh To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Star Wars Tribute Message-ID: On Tue, 30 May 2000, D. Frantz wrote: > >I think it was confirmed some time ago, that it really is. Can't remember > >the title anymore thou'... > > i believe it's The Binary Sunset if memory serves me correct Well, yes and no. The theme is USED in The Binary Sunset, but it's not actually that theme. The theme itself is part of the Rebels' Theme, and is played at the end of the movie in its entirety as part of the credits, but it is NOT the "Binary Sunset" theme; it is the "Rebel" theme. ------------------------------------------------- Andrew Coutermarsh email_address_removed http://cout.dhs.org/ Cloak on IRC ICQ: 2513441 ------------------------------------------------- If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 02:11:45 +0200 From: Steffen Barabasch - The Mirror To: Ytsejam Subject: Xmas CD again Message-ID: >I was lucky enoug to get the 2nd chance to >get the CD, I know its coming, you guys know its coming. Its coming, Oh >oooh yeah its cumming ............. Yeah. That's the actual reason why some of you got wet packages back then... >Can anyone tell me where I can find a track listing for all the Christmas >CD's? Thanks. Try http://www.dreamtheater.net! (Right, Mark? ;-)) Steffen -- Steffen Barabasch (mailto:email_address_removed) THE MIRROR - German Dream Theater Fan Club (http://www.dtifc.com/themirror) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 20:42:07 EDT From: email_address_removed To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 5494 Message-ID: Whoever had the recording of Ricardo Testa on one of the earlier jams, drop me an e-mail. I would love to hear it. I think it would be great for comedy relief. Thanks a bunch!! Thanks for not being "conceded"!!!! Stay aware... Regards, Ultraking ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 17:47:27 -0700 From: Scott Hansen To: Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 5494 Message-ID: on 5/30/00 4:34 PM, ytsejam@torchsong.com at ytsejam@torchsong.com wrote: > Unlike Ricardo Testa, I'll offer you several different choices for > buying my albums -- even as .MP3! Here is the price list (in US dollars, > of course): > cassette 8-track CD vynil MP3 Heh heh! ROTFLMAO! So ummm......where's the reel-to-reels??? Scott ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 20:55:58 -0700 From: Angelo Lombardi To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Recardo Testa Message-ID: > ======================================== > > "I'm not conceded, I am aware!" > - Ricardo Testa > > __________________________________ Who the fuck is this asshole??? Hey, Ricardo, who do you think you are? I usually don't post, unless something really bothers me and this has gone too far. Why don't you prove to us all how fucking great you claim to be!!! Let me guess... you're better than all of Dream Theater, Rush, Queensryche, ...ahh.... Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven, right? Oh... of course you are, because you're Ricardo Testa! You conceded piece of shit!!! Angelo NP: the skin flute, along with Ricardo Testa, his wife, & whoever wants to join in! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 22:32:20 EDT From: email_address_removed To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 5494 Message-ID: In a message dated 5/30/00 6:29:40 PM Central Daylight Time, ytsejam@torchsong.com writes: << Laugh all you want. THINK I'm a JOKE???!!?!?!? >> Why does it take this joker so long to respnd to what people say sbout him? If he really is all that, wouldn't he be clearing up his name a few days faster??? Or is he too busy playing Yngwie's skin flute? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 22:56:22 EDT From: email_address_removed To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: Christmas CD Track List *SPOILERS* Message-ID: In a message dated 05/30/2000 7:29:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ytsejam@torchsong.com writes: << Can anyone tell me where I can find a track listing for all the Christmas CD's? Thanks. >> Rainer, go to the following page on UACM and scroll all the way to the bottom: http://www.dreamtheater.net/fanclubs.htm You'll find the track listings for the first 3 fan club CD's (1996-1998). I don't think the 1999 track list has been posted on the site yet, so here it is: Don't Look Past Me To Live Forever '91 To Live Forever '94 Eve Raise the Knife Where Are You Now? The Way It Used To Be Cover My Eyes Speak To Me Hope this helps... Matt T. NP: Stratovarius "Infinite" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 23:03:35 EDT From: email_address_removed To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Ricardo Testa Message-ID: Hey Ricardo, how about providing us with some sound files (full songs or at least song clips) of your playing so we can give a listen for ourselves? Rather than take your word for it of how great you are, I'm sure there are many of us who'd like to hear it for ourselves. Also, where can somebody buy your CD's? Are they listed in any online CD store? - Matt T. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 13:03:34 +1000 From: "Paul Tadday" To: Subject: Dick Head!! Message-ID: <001d01bfcaac$d490ac60$393536cb@user> > ======================================== > > "I'm not conceded, I am aware!" > - Ricardo Testa Shouldn't that be "conceited"? Paul. N.P: Dio - Live In Ventura (2000) -------------------------------------------------------- "I wave my private parts at your Aunties." - Monty Python -------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 20:46:00 -0700 From: Waseem To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: getting back to dream theater!! Message-ID: well, lets try something that shouldnt be so difficult here folks. lets just start from scratch and post some dream theater stuff here. ..ok....starting ...NOW ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 23:36:25 -0400 From: Dan Costello To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: whammy on my mind Message-ID: > A good brand to tried would be Sally Hansen's Hard As > Nails. Personally I haven't tried it. I just buy new > washers. :) I tried putting the plumber's tape underneath the washers and it worked like a charm. Perhaps I'm just a tad uncoordinated, but I had a heck of a time getting those li'l buggers off, they kept spinning... -Dan. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 23:41:06 -0400 From: Dan Costello To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: our resident Italian wonder Message-ID: > Now the sad thing is that almost everyone thinks I am some joke and (or) not > for real, but this jerkoff (having the balls to call me a jackass) BELIEVED > me about getting oral pleasure from my wife while typing. THIS PART WAS A > FUCKING JOKE, JACKASS!! now, I don't suppose any of you more technically astute DT fans could possibly trace Mr. Testa's e-mail address / IP (if you can get it) to find out who and where he actually is... Not that I'd suggest that anybody perform any illegal or distasteful activities once they found him........ :-) -Dan. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 23:56:58 -0400 From: Dan Costello To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: The Caped Crusader and his faithful sidekick, Sparky the Wonder Dog, strike again Message-ID: > > "I'm not conceded, I am aware!" > > - Ricardo Testa > This has got to be the lamest thing I've seen in years. He > actually quotes himself in his signature! I'm stunned... HAHA!!! LOL!!! That's so conceited it's funny! Oh, here's a tip to all you musicians out there: If, by some twist of fate, you have to move back in with your parents 1000 miles away, don't leave your gear with some dumbass friend who'll leave it at his loose-bladdered-dog-loving girlfriend's house. It's such a warm feeling you get when you pick up your amp head and realize that slimey liquid on the side of the amp that you stuck your hand in isn't grease.... :-}b I've cleaned the damn thing 3 times and it still smells like piss. He's lucky it didn't hit any of the electronics or I'd be puttin' the smackdab on his ass. -Dan. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 00:28:12 -0400 (EDT) From: email_address_removed To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Whats up with that? Message-ID: Hey JAMmers! I'm not even sure where to start with this post so I'll just begin here. What the fuck are all these investment opportunities about? How do they get into the JAM in the first place, and has anyone else besides me clicked on to the unsubscribe link only find out that mail cannot be sent to that address(at least not from my account anyway) ?Is this another joke? I say ANOTHER because of the Testa thing (which I think is the most hilarious thing I've seen in months, much thanx to the responsible party) However if you ARE real Mr. Testa, you may consider this. First there are so many talented musicians on this list that you are quite out of place ranking yourself as top dog before you even have a chance to hear someone else's music! (your not the only one to see the inside of a studio)Secondly, unless I missed a prior post you began with an attitude before anyone had a chance to flame you to begin with (BORING) I mean do you expect to make friends that way. I know you don't need other musicians, but if your not on the JAM for camaraderie, then what the Hell are you doing here 'cause I sure as fuck don't NEED another smartass in my life. BUT enough slamming from me, and on a more friendly note, I do AGREE w/you about supporting ALL music. and if your serious about having some good stuff out drop me a private line. I would really like to hear/buy (maybe) some. Finally, on a more DT related subject,I am also looking for merchandise, Particularly baseball caps. (I'm running out of Rogaine & I hear Propecia has sexual side effects, if I aint gettin' none on the side it affects me adversely:-) Also I'm thinking about joining one of the fanclubs, any suggestions as to which one and what I can expect would be greatly appreciated. (please pardon my ignorance on this matter) Sorry 'bout the length this time. PEACE! Billy. Put some lotion on it! Joe (my drummer) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 00:32:42 -0400 (EDT) From: email_address_removed (Steve Chew) To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: Getting rid of hum... Message-ID: >Subject: To Live Forever - Live in Tokyo recording > >Well, after several botched attempts to upload the file, I finally got the >NEW and IMPROVED version of TLF uploaded to my website; this one sounds >MUCH better (without the nasty 60-cycle hum), and is encoded at a higher >bitrate (it's at highest-quality VBR, which puts it at about the same file >size as it was when it was encoded at 192 Kbps, if actually a little bit >smaller). > So how did you get rid of the hum? Steve ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 00:41:29 -0400 (EDT) From: email_address_removed (Steve Chew) To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: My Bungle doing "Existential Blues"... Message-ID: > ><prog rock?>> > >I have an mp3 I got off of a friend of a live concert of Mr Bungle doing >"Existential Blues". Has anyone heard this song? If there was a definite >opposite of mainstream, that song would be it. :-) > I haven't heard the Mr. Bungle version, but the original by T-Bone Burnett is hilarious and has some cool acoustic guitar in it. Dr. Demento would occasionally play it. Speaking of Dr. Demento, has anyone heard "Spliceway to Heaven"? It's a very amusing "cover" of "Stairway to Heaven" which is actually a bunch of other songs' vocals spliced together along with parts of the original song to create the "Spliceway to Heaven". For example, the word "lady" in "there's a lady who's sure" is from Styx's song "Lady". I find it fun. I have a crappy recording of it from about 15 years ago and I've always wanted to get a decent sounding copy of it. Dr. Demento said it was by the Splice of Life Faculty but never went to print (probably for copyright reasons). It doesn't seem to be on any of the Dr. Demento collections. Anyone out there have it? Steve ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 00:56:10 -0400 (EDT) From: email_address_removed (Steve Chew) To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: Beethoven's 9th and Ode to Joy... Message-ID: > >> > Beethoven's 9th has vocals >> >> They were added later to the main theme, weren't they? I don't think he >> wrote the words to "Ode to Joy." > >The lyrics were written by Friedrich Schiller, who is as famous as Goethe >(and a friend of his too). I believe he wrote them BEFORE Beethoven wrote >his ninth, and he immediately incorporated them into the music. > Yes, Beethoven created much of the 9th symphony around the poem by Schiller. From a web page: http://ficus-www.cs.ucla.edu/project-members/geoff/prognotes/beethoven/nameday.html "When Beethoven was a young man, one of the most respected writers in Germany was Friedrich Schiller, dramatist, poet, and philosopher. Beethoven revered Schiller's works, and as early as 1793 he had begun thinking about setting a favorite poem, An die Freude (better known as the ``Ode to Joy''), to music. It would take almost twenty years for him to act on the idea, and another decade for it to come to fruition as the famous last movement of the Ninth Symphony." For those of you who enjoy Beethoven, you might like the movie "Immortal Beloved" which is about him (though much of it is fictional). Steve ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 00:59:27 -0400 (EDT) From: email_address_removed (Steve Chew) To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: New Kansas Message-ID: > >I was searching for info of the new Kansas album, and found this page: >http://music.crosswalk.com/news/display/0,1676,2517,00.html > >a dream come true for me (and probably lots of other folks too.....) June >can't come too early! (raped Spock's Beard quote :) > You can also hear some samples at www.magnacarta.net. I've already got tickest for the Yes/Kansas show on July 5th here in Pittsburgh. :-) Steve ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 01:08:25 -0400 (EDT) From: email_address_removed (Steve Chew) To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Cc: email_address_removed Subject: Re: Carpe Diem Message-ID: Well said. :) It's easy to forget to try to enjoy something each day... I think I'm gonna put on a DT CD right now. :-) Steve email_address_removed > > Maybe I'm horribly over-tired, maybe I'm overly-stressed, maybe it's the >Hell-Raising Maine weather, who knows...but these past few days, as >Graduation Day comes closer and closer, I've been getting worse and worse. >I'm a Junior right now, and I *might* be graduating next year. I kind of >screwed off my Freshman and Sophmore years, and half of my Jr. year as well, >and now I'm doing the big rush to graduate on time. But all aside, I have a >very large amount of Senior friends who will be leaving, and tonight at the >Performing Arts Award Ceremony at my school, it really started to kick in >that I have about 4 months left with some of the greatest people to ever join >my life, before they leave to start their individual lives. > >I suppose my point is, take everything in life for granted. Everything is so >damn precious and a lot of times nobody even realizes it. I find myself >thanking God everynight as I pray for everything I have in life. I mean, my >parents are the best role-models in the world, my grades still suck, I'm >currently job-less, but I'm still an incredibly happy and lucky person. I >always think, "It could be worse, I could have none of what I have now...." > A lot of times I don't have enough time in the day to look back on the >day and take it all in, which is saddening because I have so much that I want >to grasp. Each and every second I spend with my girlfriend I never want to >forget, I don't think I'll ever meet someone as perfect as her, she's made me >happy and she's made my life so much better than anyone or anything else ever >has, I just want to hold it all in for as long as possible, but I know that >someday, these memories will fade, and regardless if she's in my life or not, >(people around me have decided she's my soulmate before even I did....), >those memories will still be gone. > I think a problem people face in daily life is that we forget that it's >okay to enjoy things, and we don't absolutely have to be straight faced >serious all the time. We get to caught up in the throw of things, bills, >taxes, jobs, school, parents, kids, illness and etc. If people would just sit >back and relax for a while I don't think so many damn people would be killing >other people. > >If there were only more time left in our lives....more time in the >day....they just don't make it yet... > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 02:57:58 -0400 (EDT) From: Andrew Coutermarsh To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Getting rid of hum... Message-ID: On Tue, 30 May 2000, Steve Chew wrote: > >Well, after several botched attempts to upload the file, I finally got the > >NEW and IMPROVED version of TLF uploaded to my website; this one sounds > >MUCH better (without the nasty 60-cycle hum), and is encoded at a higher > >bitrate (it's at highest-quality VBR, which puts it at about the same file > >size as it was when it was encoded at 192 Kbps, if actually a little bit > >smaller). > > So how did you get rid of the hum? Just like I said I would: I recorded it at home, where, for whatever reason (wiring, most likely), I don't get the ground loop problems, and so no hum. The only problem was that at home I didn't have the high-speed connection, and so it took me FOREVER to upload the file, whereas at school it would have taken a matter of seconds; that's the only reason I wanted to get it done at school. ------------------------------------------------- Andrew Coutermarsh email_address_removed http://cout.dhs.org/ Cloak on IRC ICQ: 2513441 ------------------------------------------------- The only stupid question is the one that is never asked, except maybe "Don't you think it's about time you audited my tax return?" or "But officer, isn't it morally wrong to give me a warning when, in fact, I was speeding?" ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 13:54:54 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Bj=F8rnar?= Bevolden To: "ytsejam@torchsong.com" Subject: Symphony X-V + Iron Maiden reviewed Message-ID: Hello! Exclusive update at Barcode this week! Reviews: Iron Maiden- Brave new world Symphony X- V Samples:=20 New, direct download feature. Two samples by each of the abovementioned bands has been added. The samples can be downloaded directly from the reviews!! Go to: http://zap.to/barcode Another update will be up in a couple of weeks! All the best, Dylan and Bj=F8rnar Bj=F8rnar NP: Angel Dust- Enlighten the darkness --=20 Writer for: Barcode: http://zap.to/barcode Easy earned extra income?? http://xtradinero.com/ Accesscode: bbev Dowload my cd-list. Over 2000 titles. Lots of rarities available=20 for cdr trades: http://home.no.net/bbevolde/cd-list-text.zip ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 07:32:36 -0700 (PDT) From: Greg Hall To: ytsejam@torchsong.com, freaks@torchsong.com Subject: CD's for Sale Message-ID: I have more CD's for sale to finance my NEARfest trip. Sales to US only. Please email to check on availability: http://www.geocities.com/sz1f4v/index.html Thanks, Greg Hall Waterford, MI email_address_removed __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 16:35:05 CEST From: "Ricardo Testa" To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 5494 Message-ID: Miguel admits: >Now that Ricardo has come out of the closet, I've decided that it is a >good time for me too. WHAT??? You are a homosexual???!!?? Someone posted: >>...MP3s should be outlawed!!> > >HOLY SHIT! Lars subscribed to the jam. Sorry dude your last 4 release >were weak. Lars only wished he could play drums as good a me!! ..And someone else wasted time by typing: >Mr Testa, I know you certainly don't NEED and other musicians, I never said that I do not need other musicians, I said that I CHOOSE not to have other musicians. >...but if for the sake of experimentation you want a few guys to play >on >your 5th opus, may I suggest God on keys... God on keys?? Little do you know that I AM GOD! >might want to reconsider your stance on mp3's . After all, they are a
>great way for UNKNOWN musicians to get exposure.
I am pretty well known in Italia and throughout Europe! But this is a good point, I DO need exposer in the USA. >Ricardo Testa , real or fictional, is a joke either way.
Care to explain WHERE is the joke???? Andreas posted: > > "I'm not conceded, I am aware!" > > - Ricardo Testa > >This has got to be the lamest thing I've seen in years. He actually quote= >s >himself in his signature! I'm stunned... The only "lame" thing here is YOU, Andreas! Just because I KNOW my talents and is not afraid to express it, does not make anything lame. All I have been is nice to you all, and all that you all do is "rip" me apart. You all say that I have an attitude, BUT no one can pinpoint where it is. All you guys do is say I am some joke, BUT, again, no one can point out where the joke is. If anyone out on this YtseJam list would know I am for real. I can play multiple instruments, and am pretty good at it. I am not saying that I am blind, deaf, mute, and paralyzed AND can play; I am just saying that I CAN PLAY (period). Ciao, Ricardo Testa ======================================== "I'm not conceded, I am aware!" - Ricardo Testa ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 07:32:32 -0700 From: Michael Kizer To: Ytsejam Subject: [Fwd: [fateswarning] some "disconnected" thoughts... ***SPOILERS***] Message-ID: Well, I just got back from a long drive to California to do some apartment hunting (moving to San Diego in a couple of weeks), and got to listen to Fates Warning's latest album, "disconnected" quite a few times (Thanks Tracy, you rule! ;-). Here is my review: OMFG! ;-) Perhaps I should elaborate a bit and try not to tease you too much with this info... Read no further if you wish to be surprised when the album comes out next month (for Europeans, July for USA). In general sound and direction, the best way to describe this album is as a much more "guitar heavy", up tempo album than that of APSOG (although it still contains some definate references to that "sound" and "feel" and seems like a natural progression from that album). Since the guitar is moreup front on this album, the keyboard is a little more subdued, but still around to complement the songs nicely. The recording on this is great, the instruments sound strong and tight (I really like Jim's guitar sound on this album), Joey has some really choice bass playing going on here too, Mark's drumming is as good as ever although it sounds a little different (perhaps due to his trimming down of his kit?), and then there is Ray (hold your breath Sue). Ray is definately singing incredibly on this album as you would expect, with the more up tempo tunes letting him stretch out a bit more than the moody / introspective vibe of APSOG. I can also hear a bit of his Engine-ness sneaking in on occasion. I don't want to give away too much of the initial listening experience, and since I don't have the lyrics for this yet, I couldn't properly judge the album. Just let me tell you that this seems to be a "theme" based album, not a concept album like APSOG, but you must listen to this album initially in one sitting to get the full effect and really soak in the thematic threads running through it. So... set aside an hour when you get it, dim the lights and turn up the volume, the first few seconds will definately suck you in... ~Michael Kizer < email_address_removed > < ICQ # 2070538 > "Enter ivory gates through midnight skies..." ~ http://www.ivorygate.com >>> Fates Warning ~ Island In The Stream <<< >>> Dream Theater and Kevin Moore "Unofficial" Song Books <<< >>> Underground Internet Radio at: http://www.ytseradio.com <<< ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Failed tests, classes skipped, forgotten locker combinations. Remember the good 'ol days http://click.egroups.com/1/4053/6/_/17205/_/959705737/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ email_address_removed home: http://www.egroups.com/group/fateswarning Fates Warning ~ Island In The Stream ~ http://www.ivorygate.com/fw ------------------------------ End of YTSEJAM Digest 5495 **************************