Extended Play Lounge Episode 7 - Poll (Round 1)

At random for an extended lounge.

Paul t hebert

These are all good choices. It would be cool if you would do a holiday lottery, where people submit suggestions and you pick a couplev

Paul t hebert

Whirlwind is really great. the longest song I've ever heard. The concert video especially

Arpeggio Blues

Really insightful.. also, ya can't forget Emerson, Lake, and Palmer that influenced all these bands that use keyboards. The virtuosity, unmatched.

Arpeggio Blues

For me Marillion is fantastic ,because a 40 years old band is still so creative ,brave and reinvents itself again and again…with new material.. ,,, and the concerts don't have an old classic setlist

christoph ziesecke

I suspect you may also on occasion listen to an artist's entire catalog, in order. ;-)

Can't agree with you more, Richard. A considered approach, from early to later/est makes a lot of sense. How can you listen to, say, Ommadawn or Five Miles Out without listening first to Tubular Bells, just as an example? Or Brain Salad Surgery without, first, the eponymous Emerson, Lake & Palmer?

John Clark

Marillion's last album with Fish, Clutching at Straws, really, really needs a Doug listen, it's the best they ever did with Fish and arguably the best they ever did, ever.

John Clark

Love the lead Transatlantic has, if they hold on it's gotta be The Whirlwind. There are some phenomenal songs on their first two albums, but those would stand up fine out of context on a regular Daily Doug. The Whirlwind *needs* to be experienced front to back, even if Doug's already done Rose Colored Glasses

Bill C

If Marillion wins, please oh please review one of their live performances ... too dramatic to miss!

Rick Morse

Although it's not likely they will win, I would love to hear a rendering of Spock's Beard debut album The Light. New prog at it's best, in my opinion. I loved your views on their At the End of the Day, Doug. The same goes for your rendering of Marillion The new Kings. Although prog/symphonic tend to lose their pizaz along the way, I feel that the opposite applies for Marillion, if you don't compare the Fish era and Hogarth era. So if they win, I'd vote for FEAR. Last but not least, and as I am new here, please forgive me if this is not the place for a shout out, but how about a Supertramp, Ayreon, UK or Michael Nyman review? Some pretty nifty albums come to mind.

First time I heard it I had to pinch myself, like “is that real?!”

Gary Thobaben

The suite is a little meh but Duel and Stranger are unreal

Gary Thobaben

For Transatlantic, I think it would be interesting to play the Whirlwind album.

Fred Beaulieu

I am still voting for Marillion (like I did on the last one). Any of the 4 Fish Era albums would work for me (Script and Clutching being the two I would really choose from). I also much prefer Fish's solo output to most Hogarth Era Marillion. I'm Not a huge Transatlantic fan, although I have seen them live twice. I would probably pick the first one...

Richard Karbowski

Transatlantic's first album, SMPTE, is still their best.

Clay Walnum

NOTE: Bridge Across Forever is wonderfully mixed and provides the “Epic to end all Epics” (N. Morse)…. “Stranger In Your Soul”. Also includes some great Beatlesque material!

I appreciate using a democratic process, but my ideal would be for you to do all of this chronologically, so you can see how things build over time and how streams (like Marillion and Flower Kings and Spock's Beard) merge. (Or further, how they all drew from Genesis, Pink Floyd, and Yes.)

Agree - something like Incubus or Chelsea Monday would be amazing!

Oh this time hardly anything for me, unless Marillion with Fish wins. I don't care for neoprog that much.

Artur Kinal

Love all these bands but the full Snow album by Spock's Beard or Misplaced Childhood by Marillion are a must at some stage... Transatlantic's first album a must too.

Paul Hoyle

If Transatlantic wins, please consider their first album. Even their second album. Their last album was not that great. They are some of my favorite musicians, but when you listen to all of the side projects, Neal Morse Band, Transatlantic, Flying Colors, Spocks Beard, etc, the albums that are most different from each other have the best value.

Frank Katzenberger

I’m voting for Marillion in hopes that it will be a Fish era album. Since Doug is primarily a composer of choral music, I think he’d be fascinated by Fish’s ability to sing the unsingable! Those lyrics are often prose poems which would be a nightmare for most singers, but Fish pulls it off with aplomb.

Nathan-Andrew

We write an endless symphony!

As Spock’s Beard wins I would recommend the album Snow! As that is one of my all time favorite albums for shure haha 😊 you can tell im a fan of Neal Morse’s work 😊

Hey Doug! I really recommend Transatlantic’s album Bridge Across Forever! And especially the last track Stranger in your Soul (preferably the studio version) which for me is my all time favorite! Or as Mike Portnoy said after hitting the last notes recording his drum track on it in the studio: “its the best fucking song ever written” 😊 I agree 😉

I voted for Marillion - because I remember hearing their songs played on the "wireless" in the early 1980s. Misplaced Childhood?

Ian Raine

Transatlantic:The Whirlwind live video is astonishing. I know Doug played the section about roses but that doesn’t represent the entire piece in my opinion. It’s like picking out Rick Wakeman’s organ solo and telling people “Yes that’s what Close To The Edge sounds like.” It should never have been presented to Doug butchered in the first place with all due respect to the person that recommended it. Having said that, if hearing a fraction of it disqualifies the entire suite I would recommend The Absolute Universe because it’s great and their most recent release and the accompanying video is just incredible. Love everything Transatlantic has done and been a fan since day one. Forgive my lengthy monologue please.

Rand Kelly

Bridge Across Forever is the album for this extended play lounge. It’s a modern prog standard which I tend to measure all other albums against. It’s that good.

I am still hoping that we can get Michael Romeo War of the Worlds Part 1 now that Part 2 has been announced. This first album is so good. Well worth a full album extended lounge.

Frank Bernard

Not a fan of any of these, but after hearing Big Big Train last week, they show a lot of promise, so that's my pick.

Richard Moore

Hmm torn between Whirlwind and Visions... okay I decided: The Absolute Universe (extended)

Matt Hardman

Doug if Spock’s Beard doesn’t win, I really think The Great Nothing is worth a Friday of yours at some point. You did say they were possibly your favorite new band, after all. But it’s about 30 minutes all by itself!

Gary Thobaben

Doug Mate! Still hanging out for some Seventh Wonder (mainly The Great Escape)

Casting my losing vote for BBT!!

Richard Rathbun

Transatlantic is the way to go. As for the album to listen to The Whirlwind is a good choice but I believe Doug very recently has reacted to a song from the album already

Ron Swirson

There is no bad choice. Haken is just a better one. :) Either way, really enjoying each selection.

Arrow2theACL

Rush will come back around, for sure...multiple times!

R. Douglas Helvering

At some point, you need to put Rush's Clockwork Angels in the mix. Voting for Marillion this time!

Bill Lee

Agree with aaron c. The Whirlwind for sure.

Jeremy Taylor

I predict we'll be hearing from Pete Trewavas. Maybe add on Edison's Children! 🙂

Garance A Drosehn

Transatlantic: The Whirlwind. It's time, Doug. :D

aaron c

All excellent choices!

Garance A Drosehn