Also see: Finneus Gauge ~ NEARfest 2000 ~ NEARfest '02
Bookmarks: Cowboy Poems Free ~ Orange-ish Blue
From: "drj_saro" <>
Andrew Embler replied:
>Well, now we're going to have a disagreement. I picked up "as the world"
just this past summer and am still blown away by it. The harmonies, the
intricacies (yet still containing some accessibility), the musicianship of
all concerned. There are very few things I dislike about as the world. What
don't you like about it?
i was _given_ the CD, and in turn after about 3 or 4 complete listens
(and about 10 other failed attempts), gave it away as well, so this is from
what i can remember from however many years ago it was. i may simply have
expected too much from all the hype, but here are my comments about the
points you raise...
1. the harmonies (and other vocal "tricks") are no great shakes when measured
against Gentle Giant (which the band are so obviously trying for - and to my
ears failing).
2. the intricacies are stiff and life-less, it sounds like "student-work". i
_love_ layers of density, but this stuff is layered for no good reason - i
can find no sense or sensibility in it (and if you want to talk about layers,
just ask me about Van der Graaf Generator.)
3. the accessability - it sounds to me that they are trying too hard to throw
in "something for everybody". i've got nothing against "pop
music" in and of itself, but i find it intrusive on Echolyn's work (and i
have the same complaint with Spock's Beard). (while i'm no fan at all of the
band, Supertramp seemed to have a pretty good handle on this kind of thing.)
4. the musicianship - there are parts where the players are just
over-reaching themselves (sometimes this is a _good_ thing and it pushes the
band as a whole to otherwise unobtainable heights, but to my ears, Echolyn
just stumbles), but there are other parts where they are just coasting, not
doing anything to develop anything beyond a "riff". and this is one case
where CD-length is just plain _too_ long, they just go on and on and on (with
nothing really to say (to _me_ ), musically or lyrically).... a carefully
sequenced vinyl album, of about 20-min per side, and i might not judge them
so harshly.
overall, they just don't sound _convincing_ to my ears, they don't sound like
they're "playing together as a band", it's like all of these separate pieces
just crammed together that never really gell into a unified whole. i find a
lot of these same problems with a _lot_ of American "Prog", going all the way
back to the mid-70s with Fireballet, Ethos, Starcastle, Gabriel Bondage right
up to the present with Echolyn, Discipline, and Spock's Beard. One of the
rare Ameri-prog bands that i do like is Happy the Man. didn't write this with
the intention of offending anyone, so sorry if i did, but i am certainly
willing to listen not only to other viewpoints, but to any music that might
prove me wrong about Ameri-prog.
From: Roy DeRousse <>
> i was _given_ the CD, and in turn after about 3 or 4 complete listens
(and about 10 other failed attempts), gave it away as well, so this is from
what i can remember from however many years ago it was. i may simply have
expected too much from all the hype, but here are my comments about the
points you raise...
You dare to question one of the most revered prog albums of the '90s?
Great! I love it! ;) For the record, I do enjoy the
album, yet I agree with a number of your comments. If you haven't heard
it, give _Suffocating the Bloom_ a try. You may find it more to your liking.
It doesn't have some of the elements that you found annoying on As the World,
and it's my favorite Echolyn album. (Of course, finding the CD could be
very tough. Write me if interested.)
> 1. the harmonies (and other vocal "tricks") are no great shakes when
measured against Gentle Giant (which the band are so obviously trying for -
and to my ears failing).
I enjoy the harmonies, yet I think they're overdone. It sounded
like they were trying to sound TOO much like GG at times.
> 2. the intricacies are stiff and life-less, it sounds like
"student-work". i _love_ layers of density, but this stuff is layered for no
good reason - i can find no sense or sensibility in it (and if you want
to talk about layers, just ask me about Van der Graaf Generator.)
I agree. This is my biggest problem with the album. It is
way too dense. They needed to lighten up sometimes!
> 3. the accessability - it sounds to me that they are trying too hard to
throw in "something for everybody". i've got nothing against "pop
music"
I don't agree at all about this. "Accessible" is not a word I'd
use to describe this album. Echolyn made the album they wanted to make.
They did not bow to pressure from Sony or anyone else to make it more
accessible. I do feel that they seemed to "try to hard," though.
The album is too "busy" to my ears.
> and this is one case where CD-length is just plain _too_ long, they
just go on and on and on (with nothing really to say (to _me_ ), musically or
lyrically).... a carefully sequenced vinyl album, of about 20-min per side,
and i might not judge them so harshly.
A valid complaint that applies to a lot of CDs these days. Just
because a CD CAN hold 70+ minutes does not mean that it has to in all cases!
This contributes to the feeling of "too much!" that I get from this album.
From: Preston Kauk <> NP - Echolyn -- cowboy poems free (monsterously good) I just listened to it last night. I gather from what I have read on this list that most people either love 'em or hate 'em. Well, I loved As The World - one of my favorite CDs ever. Cowboy Poems Free is also very good, but didn't make the same incredible first impression as ATW. But that could be because Echolyn was totally new to me at the time. Suffice it to say that if you loved their other stuff, you should get the new one too.
From: "Michael
Ostrich" <> Subject: Echolyn Update.
Funny thing about these echolyn news updates...don't get one for eons and
then they start coming every other day or so. :)
Brett just finished his debut solo release, entitled Orange-ish Blue
(recording nine). Not much is known about the project, but Brett has informed
us that current echolyn members Paul Ramsey and Chris Buzby make appearances
on the disc. Look for an early 2002 release date.
The other "big" news is that we can give you a somewhat timetable on the
release of new (and not so new) echolyn material! The first release will be a
multi-disc compilation set with tracks from the following:
1. Echolyn's 1991 debut release, newly mastered
2. ...And Every Blossom, newly mixed AND mastered
3. When The Sweet Turns Sour, newly mixed and mastered plus much more!
Look for this in Spring 2002.
Additionally, look for the new echolyn disc in Spring 2002. No title is known
as of yet, but to (perhaps) get a feel of the direction, head on over to our
mp3 section.
Happy new year, everyone! - mike,
echolyn webmaster.
From: "Michael Ostrich" <>
Subject: Echolyn Info: Brett Kull's new solo album.
Hey all, wanted to let you know about Brett's new solo disc! "Brett
Kull, guitarist, singer/songwriter for echolyn and Grey Eye Glances has
released on February 14th his first solo album, Orange-ish Blue! This 13 song
CD is a beautiful collection of songs in the singer songwriter vain. With
wonderful instrumentation and well crafted/produced songs this is yet another
progression for Brett. For more information (lyrics, discography, bio, mp3
clips, etc.) check out www.echolyn2000.com