Comments on: 2012 Album of the Year

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:01:14 +0000

When it comes to bonus disks, they can’t win whatever they do. On Heart Full of Sky they probably overreached themselves a bit, committing to delivering a double album then struggling to come up with enough strong material, leading to the whole thing coming out sounding rushed and half-finished.

But that’s a mistake they’ve avoided repeating on subsequent albums. Go Well Diamond Heart ended up having the opposite problem, there was just too much material, although I did feel a couple of weaker songs ended up on the single-album version at the expense of far better song on the bonus disk.

As one who pre-ordered the special edition of everything since “Storms Over Still Waters” I don’t think anyone really has the right to complain if the band decide to reissue currently-unavailable songs from those the bonus disks at some point in the future.

By: PaulE

PaulE — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:17:50 +0000

Following on from Adrianâ€™s comments, a Bonus Disc does have a dilemma attached. If it isnâ€™t up to scratch, people complain and donâ€™t buy the special edition, if it is superb, it sells out quickly and people complain that they can no longer get hold of it.
Personally, I wouldnâ€™t complain if the band wants to re-release some of it at a later date, but I know some people would feel that would diminish the exclusive value of the original. However, I pre-order to invest in the bandâ€™s creativity now, not to try and shift something on ebay in five years time.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:56:16 +0000

You’ll have to ask Bryan that. He has said in interviews in the past that he tries to make each record flow as an album rather than just a collection of songs, and sometimes he can’t make the ordering work including every song they’d like to.

There will be a DVD and presumably a live CD as well, recorded at Zoetermeer, and “Tonight” was in the set. So a version of “Tonight” will almost certainly appear on a retail edition album, much as live versions of “Ice” and “Forever Young” appeared on “Still Beautiful” in 2011.

By: Adrian Beasley

Adrian Beasley — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 17:58:15 +0000

Tim – I have a slight issue with The Ghost Moon Orchestra in that I would have included Tonight , from the limited edition 2nd disc., on the single disc retail release.
I know that they played this song as an encore on the tour to promote the album.
However, I think that many fans, who attended the concerts , would have liked to have been able to hear the song on cd. The same thing happened with Ice from the previous release , which was also played on tour. I know that the live version of Ice appeared on Still Beautiful.

Do you have any insight regarding Bryan’s thinking in this respect ?

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:58:00 +0000

That’s an album that’s grown on me over the course of the year. Seeing the band live several times helped.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 01:55:22 +0000

It was refreshing to see Morpheus Rising on your list. A Superb Band with a Rock solid Album and better-than-the-studio Live Set, jmo. Panic Room, S K I N is a phenomenal Album and I won’t even think about arguing that point! The only bad part I can see is the amount of money it will take me to purchase the Albums I don’t have! Priorities…. oy!

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:22:03 +0000

Look at the whole top 21, and you will fimd Sankara in there http://www.kalyr.co.uk/weblog/tag/2012-end-of-year-list/

By: Pete Wharton

Pete Wharton — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:18:07 +0000

I see no mention of Sankara’s album! I think Skin is is great, .but it’s Guided By Degrees for me, Tim