My copy arrived yesterday. The CD and BluRay Mediabook version. I’ve already been listening to the Apple download on iTunes and so far so good. It really is very good. In about a week I’ll have digested all the lyrics, photographs, credits, artwork and other graphics in the 24 page mediabook and I’m looking forward to that.
Just saw them live tonight in New Jersey. Im still in anazement of what i experienced. One of THE best live shows ive seen. The album is absolutely fantastic! And....Alberto is amazing! ☮️💜
Y'know Alberto is a great singer, but when the singles were released I wasn't too sure about him in this band, but I gotta say bravo. I don't think they could've gotten anyone better. I also gotta say, that synth solo in Breathe the Masts, I personally don't think they're too too many times where you can call synthesizers "soulful" but that solo was beaming with soulfulness. Absolutely brilliant.
Thanks for the review. I have only just begun to listen to the album, but on first reflection your comments seem spot on. New vocalist adds a different sound, but he fits in well to the BBT style. I like the acoustic elements, which makes BBT a little different to others - the violin and the 4 piece horn section. However also lots of electric guitar and keyboards. A good mix. Potentially one of their best
wanted to let you know that the dixie dregs are playing the egg on may 19th with the warm up band- steve morse band. on keys is jordan rudess for the dregs!!
It'll be a great show no doubt! A chance to see one of THE best living guitarists while you still can (he's only 69 but has had some health issues=arthritis). I believe the Dregs are featuring this lineup (in addition to Rudess): Morse/Andy West/Rod Morgenstein/Allen Sloan - this actually matches their lineup all the way back in '73. At least that was the plan for their April shows. For SMB looks like it's: Morse/Van Romaine/Dave LaRue
Nice to see these guys sold out their Ft Wayne show! (Im about 40 miles north of there!) Great reviews as always Pete will have to check these albums out eventually!
Without further ado - this is definetely a strong contender for the "album of the year" ! There is so much feeling, heart and virtuosity in the music of this new record, that i got goosebumps now and then while listening to it... This band is on a similar level with Genesis, Renaissance or Steve Hackett and i can recommend the CD to all that love intelligent and melodic progressive rock music !!!
One of their best … and live also excellent - strong composition and brilliant execution. It benefits from most of the core band being physically in the studio in Trieste together. Mostly in the past they beavered away in their own studios and sent their contributions in. Everyone brought their A game to this - all aware of how important it was to score with this one. I for one felt a great sense of relief when I went to their first official gig with the new line-up at Aylesbury to hear old and new tracks being delivered beautifully. I also saw the last U.K. tour and they smashed it!
This album is SO GOOD! BBT has hit a new high with this one! Maybe a top contender for prog album of the year. Plus we also got Moon Safari, Steve Hackett and so many others and it’s just February.
One live track featuring Alberto at the end of INGENIOUS DEVICES - which is a great one for those new to BIG BIG TRAIN as it revisits and remixes some of their best material but also show in the live track from Aylesbury (I was there!) that they are as great as ever. They did however drop lots of UA-cam videos prior to the album release which may have given you that impression.
New stuff (a slow week): Honeymoon Suite/Alive - new one from these Canadian vets, not bad 'New'/Archival: Daisuke Kunita/In My Life - from 2014, still working on beefing up my Japanese fusion collection Birth Control/Live Harmonie Bonn - from 2018, great prog band Earl Jordan/Jordan - 1972 Soul Stuart Hamm/Hold Fast - from last year, not that great but one or two worthwhile tracks Max Merritt & The Meteors/Out Of The Blue - mid 70's R&B, good band Keith Emerson/Boys Club: Live From California - late 90's & find of the week, features Glenn Hughes/Marc Bonilla. Their cover of Gregg Allman's "Dreams" is excellent John St. Field/Control - 1975 folk/rock, this is a Jackie Leven band. I believe their only album. Ties to bands like Big Sleep, Eyes Of Blue, The Neutrons, Man. Good stuff Doll By Doll/Grand Passion - early 80's, another Leven project, kinda new wave-ish Barry Miles/Sky Train - pretty good mid 70's fusion Airwaves/New Day & Next Stop - late 70's pop/rock, really good vocals. Lotsa great pop hooks & smart songwriting - deserves to be heard by more people. Also has ties to The Neutrons & Spring, as well as Sam Apple Pie, Help Yourself, Deke Leonard's Iceberg
My copy arrived yesterday. The CD and BluRay Mediabook version. I’ve already been listening to the Apple download on iTunes and so far so good. It really is very good. In about a week I’ll have digested all the lyrics, photographs, credits, artwork and other graphics in the 24 page mediabook and I’m looking forward to that.
Just saw them live tonight in New Jersey. Im still in anazement of what i experienced. One of THE best live shows ive seen. The album is absolutely fantastic! And....Alberto is amazing! ☮️💜
Y'know Alberto is a great singer, but when the singles were released I wasn't too sure about him in this band, but I gotta say bravo. I don't think they could've gotten anyone better. I also gotta say, that synth solo in Breathe the Masts, I personally don't think they're too too many times where you can call synthesizers "soulful" but that solo was beaming with soulfulness. Absolutely brilliant.
This album gonna be a Classic. Sooo Beautiful album!
Thanks for the review. I have only just begun to listen to the album, but on first reflection your comments seem spot on. New vocalist adds a different sound, but he fits in well to the BBT style. I like the acoustic elements, which makes BBT a little different to others - the violin and the 4 piece horn section. However also lots of electric guitar and keyboards. A good mix. Potentially one of their best
IM GOING TO CHECK IT OUT TOMORROW, THIS WILL BE MY 1ST TASTE OF THIS BAND, I REALLY LIKE THE SONG LOVE IS THE LIGHT, THANKS FOR THE REVIEW.
Cannot wait for my Vinyl to arrive! RIP David 🙏
Cheers for the review Pete, waiting form my copy to arrive!
Just got the vinyl copy yesterday, it’s sooooo good I almost want to buy it again. Absolutely brilliant.
Can't wait to hear this one. Loved the singles. I also agree with some of the comments below that Borknagar's Fall is great.
wanted to let you know that the dixie dregs are playing the egg on may 19th with the warm up band- steve morse band. on keys is jordan rudess for the dregs!!
It'll be a great show no doubt! A chance to see one of THE best living guitarists while you still can (he's only 69 but has had some health issues=arthritis). I believe the Dregs are featuring this lineup (in addition to Rudess): Morse/Andy West/Rod Morgenstein/Allen Sloan - this actually matches their lineup all the way back in '73. At least that was the plan for their April shows. For SMB looks like it's: Morse/Van Romaine/Dave LaRue
How cool wish I lived nearby!
Eric Porter and I will be there!
presale code dregs!
Nice to see these guys sold out their Ft Wayne show! (Im about 40 miles north of there!) Great reviews as always Pete will have to check these albums out eventually!
Can't wait to hear it. Getting used to the new lead vocals.
Please review the new Borknagar album. It is fantastic, album of the year for me, and i think this album will be hard to beat...
Without further ado - this is definetely a strong contender for the "album of the year" ! There is so much feeling, heart and virtuosity in the music of this new record, that i got goosebumps now and then while listening to it... This band is on a similar level with Genesis, Renaissance or Steve Hackett and i can recommend the CD to all that love intelligent and melodic progressive rock music !!!
Great review of this album Pete.I have to check it out.
4.5. Ok. Homerun. Thx once again Pete 👍💯
Yes, didn't have any of that stuff as a kid and teenager. Thank God!!
Just picked it up. Fine addition to modern Prog.
One of their best … and live also excellent - strong composition and brilliant execution. It benefits from most of the core band being physically in the studio in Trieste together. Mostly in the past they beavered away in their own studios and sent their contributions in. Everyone brought their A game to this - all aware of how important it was to score with this one. I for one felt a great sense of relief when I went to their first official gig with the new line-up at Aylesbury to hear old and new tracks being delivered beautifully. I also saw the last U.K. tour and they smashed it!
This album is SO GOOD! BBT has hit a new high with this one! Maybe a top contender for prog album of the year. Plus we also got Moon Safari, Steve Hackett and so many others and it’s just February.
Thanks just bought the vinyl
A fantastic album,David is sorely missed but Alberto has really stepped up to the plate
Those first 2 songs that they released as videos. Just that alone is making it an album of the year for me
I love Beneath The Masks. Great song.
Off topic but I would love to see an album war between Martin Popoff and Steve kealer vs Alo and Pardo for "never say die" whose side are You on?
Pete Cosmic heart reminds me that Ace makes rnr! felt like goin to work in 78 with Angel or ratt in the player that song books
Don't know if you got the new Borknagar album yet Pete but it's a early AOTY contender I know your a fan
It's waiting for me at home!
@peterpardo7563 some of the best melodic music to come out in a long time of course with the blackened elements
have i missed something? I thought they had done a number of albums featuring the new singer after David's sad passing.
Nope.
One live track featuring Alberto at the end of INGENIOUS DEVICES - which is a great one for those new to BIG BIG TRAIN as it revisits and remixes some of their best material but also show in the live track from Aylesbury (I was there!) that they are as great as ever. They did however drop lots of UA-cam videos prior to the album release which may have given you that impression.
Please review the outstanding new Dokken album Heaven Comes Down 🤘
New stuff (a slow week):
Honeymoon Suite/Alive - new one from these Canadian vets, not bad
'New'/Archival:
Daisuke Kunita/In My Life - from 2014, still working on beefing up my Japanese fusion collection
Birth Control/Live Harmonie Bonn - from 2018, great prog band
Earl Jordan/Jordan - 1972 Soul
Stuart Hamm/Hold Fast - from last year, not that great but one or two worthwhile tracks
Max Merritt & The Meteors/Out Of The Blue - mid 70's R&B, good band
Keith Emerson/Boys Club: Live From California - late 90's & find of the week, features Glenn Hughes/Marc Bonilla. Their cover of Gregg Allman's "Dreams" is excellent
John St. Field/Control - 1975 folk/rock, this is a Jackie Leven band. I believe their only album. Ties to bands like Big Sleep, Eyes Of Blue, The Neutrons, Man. Good stuff
Doll By Doll/Grand Passion - early 80's, another Leven project, kinda new wave-ish
Barry Miles/Sky Train - pretty good mid 70's fusion
Airwaves/New Day & Next Stop - late 70's pop/rock, really good vocals. Lotsa great pop hooks & smart songwriting - deserves to be heard by more people. Also has ties to The Neutrons & Spring, as well as Sam Apple Pie, Help Yourself, Deke Leonard's Iceberg
So much music, so little time...
Muito bom raríssimas banda
One of the lamest bands classified as prog…..which is an insult to the genre
Why is that? They sound very good to me.
Tell us how you really feel!!!😅