Show 24 - Iluvatime!

[Rick and Roll]

Our musical journey brings us to a very local band for me, Baltimore's own Iluvatar. I'll be playing their three studio CD's almost completely and a few surprises.

Iluvatar - Iluvatar (1993)

This record passes the torch from Genesis to Marillion to Iluvatar. I was fortunate to see these songs from their humble beginnings, in very small bars. Of course now I can still hear them in very small bars . (with more expensive beer)

I substituted "Funk Massage" from "Sideshow" for "Dream Visage" - same tune, but a completely different rendition. And "Marionette" was skipped in the interest of space. Maybe it can be requested after the show!

Note the stolen "Watcher of the Skies" riff at the outset of song 4, and my personal favorites are "Eagle" and "Exodus".

1) Iluvatar
2) In The Eye (Look Us In The Eye, Blind, Through The Eye)
3) Eagle
4) New Found Key
5) Exodus
6) Wait For The Call
7) Funk Massage (Dream Visage)
8) Emperor's New Clothes

Iluvatar - Children (1995)

My favorite one, this is great to hear all the way through. The songs are more powerful on average and have great depth. Except for "Late of Conscience" (IMHO the best Iluvatar tune), it's hard to pick a track that stands out from the rest (although "Final Stroke" is considered the masterpiece, pardon the pun).

I heard some of "Haze" on a sports talk show a few years back. The host at the time (Spiro Morekas) is the brother of bassist Dean, and snuck it in. One of the co-hosts yelps "what is this, Yes?". It took a few minutes before they read the liner notes to figure it out. They actually agreed that "it wasn't bad". I guess that's a step up from "it doesn't suck".

1) Haze
2) In Our Lives
3) Given Away
4) Late of Conscience
5) Cracker
6) Eye Next To Glass
7) Your Darkest Hour
8) The Final Stroke

Iluvatar demos:

"Favorite Son"
"Le Hungary Moo Moo"

Kindly sent by guitarist Dennis Mullin, here are the only two demos available. Nice stuff! I guess that boxed set will not happen anytime soon.

Iluvatar - A Story Two Days Wide (1999)

This one combines the elements of the first two CD's. "Sojourns" is a GREAT tune. I considered cutting "Indian Rain" but felt my life would be in danger (right Mossy?) if I did.

If we take a mathematical progression (1993,1995,1999) then it looks like we can look for a new CD in 2007. And I've been told that if you want them to play England they'd be happy to - if their way is paid.

Keyboardist Jim Rezek's name is spelled backwards on the CD. I read a review in some magazine and in all seriousness the reviewer singled out "Kezer Mij". Some people just don't pay attention do they?

Anyone going to Rosfest and Nearfest may run into Jim, he usually lends his keyboards to bands.

1) Sojourns
2) Savant
3) Dreaming With The Lights On
4) Holidays And Miracles
5) Better Days
6) Even Angels Fall
7) Indian Rain

Be there!