Show 4 - Echolyn

[Rick and Roll]

This will be my first full artist show. Even though it's the first, it does not mean they are my favorite band. I just feel that they are right for a spotlight like this.

I've seen them maybe 12-15 times. Seen them do "Close To The Edge" completely and spot on, seen them in a lot of different enviorments. Always a treat.

from "Echolyn" 1991

1) The Great Men
2) Meaning And The Moment
3) Shades
4) The Velveteen Rabbit

This is a really developed record for a debut, although they were still defining their sound. Song 3 has a bit of Gabriel/older Marillion fun in it. Song 4 is a great example of the rustic feel that Brett Kull puts in his songwriting.

from "Suffocating The Bloom" 1992

1) Winterthru
2) Memoirs From Between
3) In Every Garden
4) Suite For The Everyman

This record is most fans' favorite. Two other songs from here, "21" and "Here I Am", show the great melding of styles. Another, "A Little Nonsense" is a very Gentle Giant-like piece.

I have a shirt with the music from "In Every Garden" on it.

The Suite is over 25 minutes, but is very different as the song progresses.

from "...And Every Garden" 1993 (EP)

Ballet For A Marsh

This tune is awesome. The reeds are excellent.

from "God Pounds His Nails" 1997

Aspirations

This is a release from a side project with Brett Kull, Ray Weston, and Paul Ramsey. The band is called Always Almost. Yes this is the Gentle Giant cover! Saw this incarnation with Discipline once.

from "Always Almost"

Strongman

Same three members made this record as the band "Still". A very stripped down record.

from "Cowboy Poems Free" 2000

Human Lottery
Brittany

A return of the full band. This has a more non-prog feel, melding the side projects' rock with Chris Buzby's strong writing.

As The World 1995

All Ways The Same
As The World
Uncle
How Long Have I Waited
Best Regards
The Cheese Stands Alone
Prose
A Short Essay
My Dear Wormwood
Entry 11-19-93
One For The Show
The Wiblet
Audio Verite
Settled Land
A Habit Worth Forming
Never The Same

This is one of my top 5 favorite records. It should have been a classic, but the record company did their typical thing. "Uncle" I first heard without words...thought it was a great tune...then the vocals just added so much. "Best Regards" is a 4 minute tune with incredible depth. All the way down to the beautiful "Never The Same", this is a perfect record.

Enjoy!

[Rick and Roll]

In my haste to complete the thread, I failed to mention their one song CD, "Mei". This was put out a couple of years ago. I have it, but I could not split it up properly for playing. There are four or five distinct parts, and is reminiscent of Thick As A Brick not in the music, but the theme structure.

Echolyn is recording now and hopes to put out a release in the spring. There's also an awsome DVD out called "Stars And Gardens".

[moses]

I'll be checking this one out for sure! I only have 3 of their cds and am interested in checking out the earlier stuff.

[RogorMortis]

Some will say 3 hours of this - oh dear - but not that many now Echolyn that well including myself

I have bought one Ecolyn - Mei from 2002 and I have a feeling that was perhaps not the best place to start.

So it will be with interest to hear R&R's selection

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by RogorMortis
Some will say 3 hours of this - oh dear - but not that many now Echolyn that well including myself

I have bought one Ecolyn - Mei from 2002 and I have a feeling that was perhaps not the best place to start.

So it will be with interest to hear R&R's selection

There are some pretty good reasons why I am playing three hours of Echolyn.......

I'm in the old "Extended Play" slot. Tommy used to play a lot of shows that had the same or similar artists. Some of the themes will be extended play.

This theme will not be very often. If I had to guess, I would say 1 of every 8-10 shows would be all one artist.

I will always play a full CD at the end of each week's show. I strongly feel that this is a missing element in radio. Granted, most of the full CD's will be ones you have or have heard....but I am not interested in playing the Smithereeens "11" for instance even though I love it. Although I will play a lot of not so prog stuff, this still is a prog station.

Keith had expressed his reservations, also. There will be some who will not listen due to the artist, I understand that. But there are some artists that are diverse enough that it will be interesting, which I know Echolyn is. I like the fact Rogor that you will try something even if the initial reaction is suspect. That shows an open mind.

Not sure by your Mei comment if you mean that it's not as good as you thought - if that is so, I agree with you mostly. It is very hard to digest. Personally, I'm not enamored with the first and last 10 minutes of the CD. It is difficult to pull off a one-song CD, there are parts of Passion Play and Thick I can do without. But the center 20 minutes are excellent. I know people who love it and some who say shove it. Also at Nearfest with an orchestra it was kinda cool. Of course I've seen them enough to hear their other songs - most others I think wanted more earlier music.

To your benefit Rogor I am not playing Mei at all. And another thing I think you will like is that the earlier music is more classic prog, and a large chunk of the show is earlier Echolyn.

By the way, hope the time change for the replay (which you initiated) works for you and everyone. We were glad to do it.

Moses - which three do you have? I know Mei is one.

I cant say enough about As The World. If you're able to hear it all the way through I think you'll feel the same.

[moses]

I have As The World, Cowboy Poems Free, and Mei.

Every so often I see that Now and Then (or whatever it's called with their earlier stuff) box set and get really tempted to drop the cash. Your show may be the impetus for that!

[QuantumJo]

Great show. Keep them comming

[RogorMortis]

Rick - I thoroughly enjoyed the 90% of the show I was allowed to hear. You were right about the earlier albums from Echolyn that they seem more accessable as classic prog and I will in time eat my way backwards when I can get them.

I agree with your views of playing a whole CD - it's never done on radio and I think highly of your bravery in playing 3 hours of one artist.

But I await with shaking hands your metalshow playlist. I work in a machineworks and buy metal every day. Too much of it and I'm finished.

Keep up the great work and keep 'em rolling rick

[Rick and Roll]

this is why I do it