EIMA discussion and appriciation thread

[tomskerous]

It's not obligatory to like it.

(But I think we're all trying to resist the normal internet temptation to start huge flame wars because of liking/not liking. And that starts with remembering to present it all as personal opinion and emotional response rather than assuming this messy music stuff can be reduced to 'facts')

[Mickdoo22]

No flames required.  The point is, I DO like it very much.....I just find MYSELF wishing there was a little more clarity in spots to let it breath so I can appreciate some of the individual parts that make it what it is.

[Philip_T]

It does indeed!  My thoughts as I blast through about my 8th spin....

Three absolute killer songs in my book:

Dear Dead Days....I HATE the keyboard intro that sounds like a cheesy video game.....however, this is an absolute killer prog tune in every way.....and again, the chorus is KILLER!

Toys....call it prog, call it rock, call it what you will......I call it just a great song.!

Falling Down....it's impossible NOT to love this one!

I really dig this album!  Least favorite....."Saline".  Just not my thang.

On the plus side.....I think the addition of Dec Burke was brilliant....he adds a whole new dimension and range.  I also think the songs are strong, the production is great, and it falls in my preference of 3-5 minute songs, less wanking, and more ebb and flow.
The negatives?.....the album is overly dense in some places...almost to the point of ripping your face off!    In spots it works, in others, I find myself wishing I could hear the detail of some of the parts a bit more.  I also think the vocals are over effected in spots.  Other than that..........WOW!

After a few days of mass EIMA absorption, I have to say that the solo break in Falling Down is my absolute highlight moment of this album. One of the most powerful, moving, perfect solo breaks I've ever heard. Brilliant!

Initially, I hate to say it, but I was a little let down on my 1st listen. "This is no Milliontown part II" I said to myself, but after getting that out of my head, and really listening to EMIA for what it was, I find myself liking it as much as Milliontown. I think I was expecting another Black Light Machine epic type song to be included.

Also, listening to the instrumentals helped me gain new respect and understanding of the songs. So glad I got the bonus DVD. Well worth the $.

So far, favorite tracks are Welcome to Nowhere, Pocket Sun, DDD, and the afore mentioned Falling Down.

Just can't get enough of this great album right now!

[Ash]

Also, listening to the instrumentals helped me gain new respect and understanding of the songs. !

Mickdoo - did the instrumentals assist you too?

If they didn't, well as per Tom, taste is very personal.  Some people here think GnR were rubbish and others think that Asia are good, some prefer H to Fish??  (etc etc ) Tis what makes us human.

(For the record IMO - GnR great, Asia yuck, Fish 101%)

[mark_kennedy]

Got the 'proper' version yesterday, only had the Play download before and had no chance to digest it previously.

Love it, it has now sneaked up on Happiness Is The Road : Essence, hit it over the head with a large plank and taken it's position as album of the year.

You are all geniuses and I salute you  

[MikeO]

Hey All

Dont know if many of you check out one of the hotspots for Prog on the twinternet called The Dividing Line (http://www.thedividingline.com), but Shawn Bishop (owner and DJ) has put together an extended review/walk through the world of Frost* this weekend. Some will be familiar with Frans Keylard's show on the site (http://www.thedividingline.com/rg.html) which plays Frost* regularly.

Check it out at http://www.thedividingline.com/btl.html - Three hours of Frost*!!!!

Enjoy
Mike

p.s. v.annoyed not to be able to get the gigs this weekend (loving ItBites latest too!)

[JoeHiYo]

Hey All

Dont know if many of you check out one of the hotspots for Prog on the twinternet called The Dividing Line (http://www.thedividingline.com), but Shawn Bishop (owner and DJ) has put together an extended review/walk through the world of Frost* this weekend. Some will be familiar with Frans Keylard's show on the site (http://www.thedividingline.com/rg.html) which plays Frost* regularly.

Check it out at http://www.thedividingline.com/btl.html - Three hours of Frost*!!!!

Enjoy
Mike

p.s. v.annoyed not to be able to get the gigs this weekend (loving ItBites latest too!)

I just got to the part where the guy is RANTING AND RAVING about Jem's decision to not have any toms on the drumkit and how "utterly pointless" of a decision it was, saying that it's limited Andy's abilities for no reason at all. Seriously, I actually muttered something to myself when I heard this that I won't repeat here... but c'mon! EIMA has a very distinct sound because of decisions like these, and I think EIMA's drum track is perfect for the album and sounds great regardless.

In reaction to three different snares: "It's not good enough!!" Well feck off!

Haha and they even praise a particular part of drumming on Milliontown mentioning Andy's genius of using the whole drum kit in an interesting way... yet what are the chances that's just Jem? Or at least Jem's original beat just played by Andy?  :lol:

[JoeHiYo]

LOL, they even think there might be some "bad blood" between Andy and Jem because Jem keeps being very specific about how he wants the drums, and have already begun saying what is or isn't "prog".  :roll:

Everything Jem did on EIMA was targeted directly at people like the one guy who keeps complaining about everything on the album, and constantly mentioning how angry it makes him! Ahhhh I can't take much more of this!  

EDIT: Sorry to keep adding more but... once again, "The guitar solo at the end of Falling Down is the best part of the song"  :lol:

[catherine]

I'm downloading it at present - I plan to listen to it over Christmas in the kitchen while chained to the stove!

[MikeO]

It was amazing how the guy (who must have been a drummer from his views) seemed to think that it was WRONG to do this - Frost is progressive music - i.e. taking it somewhere it wasn't before. Jem wanted to see what it would sound like to put Andy into the no-toms situation, forcing him to be creative through it. So yes it doesn't sound like everything else out there - but isn't that the point sometimes.

Having not see the band live (yet), does Andy use toms in the kit or not? I'd heard for the spocks gigs he was using the headliners kit but what about the Frost headlines...

Anyway - an interesting listen - and as I don't have the album yet (please santa) and the only chance Ive had to listen to it all the way thorugh.
Mike

[RacingHippo]

Having not see the band live (yet), does Andy use toms in the kit or not? I'd heard for the spocks gigs he was using the headliners kit but what about the Frost headlines...

Yes, he does.
For the Peel gig he had just 2 toms:

(As you can see, I was standing in rather a good position to see the master at work! In fact, I was close enough to see the one drip of sweat he excreted throughout the whole performance )

He basically adjusts what exactly he plays to what he has available in front of him.

[WMSheep]

Industry!
Science and Technology!
*plink plink*
Big men, putting screwdrivers into things!
Turning them, and adjusting them!

Finally got to listening to the instrumental version of EIMA (OK, I went too far on the Ipod and couldnt be bothered to put the right album on) and 3 minutes into Welcome to nowhere... Jem, you owe me a new PC monitor as I had a coffee/screen interface incident!!!

ps.  Think I might use that as a sig on a couple of forums I lurk on, if that`s OK.

[tomskerous]

Have you got as far as Wonderland yet then?

[leelustig]

I must admit the first time I heard the Wonderland Instrumental I was high as a kite and it just BUGGED me out. At first I had to ask myself, "is this still frost!? WTH is going on!?" Then I realized what it had turned into and.... yeah absolutely awesome. I like that version better definitely.

[WMSheep]

Have you got as far as Wonderland yet then?

Yeah, still trying to figure all that stuff out.

Strange but fun