Comments on: Beginners’ Guide to Mostly Autumn?

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 20:05:50 +0000

Violet Skies is a great song; shame they’ve only played it live a couple of times. Didn’t quite work, and they dropped it from the set before it really had a chance.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 15:32:52 +0000

Oh – I also forgot! My third favourite would be Violet Skies.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 15:31:23 +0000

My favourite is Heroes Never Die, yet Half the Mountain would be my other. I’m quite suprised nobody else has mentioned it yet!

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 17:13:47 +0000

They did play Mother Nature on the Spring 2010 tour when Olivia first took over as lead singer but before the release of Go Well Diamond Heart. They revived “Storms” on that tour as well. Neither song has been played since, sadly.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 15:58:23 +0000

If the listener is receptive to a new sound, and generally has good taste in music, then Mother Nature would be my choice. Its just so atmospheric. Hopefully they won’t lose patience with the longish opening section before the band really kicks in.

Like the title suggests, its a real earthy song and the sounds of rain and thunder intermittently in the background adds something special and dramatic to the song. Musically, its got everything in there that is Mostly Autumn and its a great singalong number as well. But its the closing instrumental starting at 7:30 until the end that’s, for me, MA’s finest hour. Like a meeting at a crossroads of Floyd, Genesis (good Genesis, from the 70s – not Turn It On Again) and MA. I could listen to that bit all night with Iain and the weaving guitars.

Not sure whether the band have played it with Olivia, but they should play it more often. Doesn’t have to be a 20 minute version. I would also recommend that the newbie listens to it on headphones to help focus the mind.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 20:53:16 +0000

Collated results here.

By: Mike Foley

Mike Foley — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 09:31:50 +0000

I agree, For all we shared is underrated. There’s not one particular aspect I like as such, just the overall feel and sound of the song. I find it uplifting.

By: Dave Cooper

Dave Cooper — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 09:27:12 +0000

It’s hard not to go with “Evergreen” of “Heroes Never Die”, purely because they’re so archetypal. I think it’s one of the reasons why they stubbornly refuse to drop them!

“Mother Nature” is a good one for the prog crowd, I think. It’s got a bit of everything the band do best. Personally speaking, ones that have gone over well with non-fans in the past would include “Passengers”, “Storms…” and “The Night Sky”. They all have a great atmosphere and some inspired playing. I think you’d have to have a heart of stone not to be moved at all by “Storms…”, but it might not be the easiest intro.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 08:57:30 +0000

Can you elaborate on what you like about “For All We Shared”?

Underrated song which the band dropped from their live set too soon.

By: Mike Foley

Mike Foley — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:29:17 +0000

Removing tongue from cheek, Evergreen would my choice along with For all We Shared.