Will we get a DVD/Blu-ray from the 2013 tour? THE POLL

[JF]

About Guy

[dmg]

Yes, the musical direction was perhaps a little more focussed as a result and had fewer outside influences e.g. other instrumental groups.  Also, I feel now that he feels obligated to use friends on albums and tours and do favours like play on friends albums (or friends wives albums ) when before he would have just focussed on his own music and if he felt an instrument wasn't needed, then he didn't just "accommodate" it because he had used him in the past.

[superval99]

Quote JF
".....but a better songwriter/composer/musician than now..."


Not better, just different!   

[herlock]

Of course Mark and Alan relationship is dead, and that's the difference between Alan and Guy : Alan has revealed with the straits thing that he isn't as nice as Guy, but in term of musical influence, it obvious that he brought a million more ideas than Guy.

I think that it is often the case that an artist isn't a "nice" guy but has a "genius" inspiration, while a nice chap is rarely a talented musician....
IMHO Mark's musical inspiration was far better back in the 70-80ies when he was "dictatorial" (as said in Oldfiled' book), maybe a little bit more arrogant, but a better songwriter/composer/musician than now...

I think that Alan is a not a yes man... just as a funny symbol of this, watch TOL on Alchemy DVD/BR, at the beginning of the song after the intro and the Carrousel Waltz, you see Alan making fun of Mark's singing style behind his back ! I think Alan also stated that he was no too happy with DS muscial during the OES tour and that he would have preferred touring with EC instead... Then at the charity gigs of 2002 Alan was the only boy missing... then "The Straits" thing... sad. Both men grew up in Newcastle upon a Tyne, ther bond must have be strong at the time, too bad that Mark seem to favour "Yes men" to opiniated people. This started with his own brother... David, then Pick, then Hal, then Alan... not even counting Terry, Jack, and more recently Danny, who appear not to have challenged MK's will but just "did not meet the grade" which they use to meet previously; even John, the ideal Yes Man, always there in the DS days, is still a good friend but is left on the sideways - I guess he does not "meet the grade" either and was kept till the end of DS only because of his 200% loyalty to Mark and his partnership in DS, rather than for his (good but by no means exceptional) musical skills.

Oh well...

[JF]

Yes I know the part where Alan "mimes" TOL vocals, but I never thought that he was making fun of Mark, i had ever thought that he enjoyed the moment, and had fun to play the song. You can often see musician miming vocals during songs on stage, it's very usual.

Totally agree about "Mark seem to favour "Yes men" to opiniated people", because he wanted to keep the control on the band.

Superval, I know what you mean, It's of course a matter of taste, but I think many of us share the opinion that his musical inspiration is a little bit decreasing.
I can't speak in term of lyrics beracuse english isn't my native language and I admit that I can't appreciate enough his writing, but in term of music, his songs now are more "standard" than they were in the 7 first years of DS

[superval99]

Yes, it all comes down to personal taste, but these days I hardly listen to DS at all.   I much prefer the solo albums.   

[dmg]

Yes, it all comes down to personal taste, but these days I hardly listen to DS at all.   I much prefer the solo albums.   

Boo.  Don't deprive yourself Val!

[superval99]

Yes, it all comes down to personal taste, but these days I hardly listen to DS at all.   I much prefer the solo albums.   

Boo.  Don't deprive yourself Val!

    I'm not deprived, dmg - I can have it all anytime I want!   

[dmg]

Yes, it all comes down to personal taste, but these days I hardly listen to DS at all.   I much prefer the solo albums.   

Boo.  Don't deprive yourself Val!

    I'm not deprived, dmg - I can have it all anytime I want!   

 

[superval99]

     

[ds1984]

About the DVD, Montreux its not what MK would want. We know he wants to have full control in terms of quality control, so I bet for a full team recording their show hired for that, not the Montreux one.

I really don't think the Montreux Team is the problem for that  nor Mark full control wish. Not to that extend.

[Fieneke2]

Yes, it all comes down to personal taste, but these days I hardly listen to DS at all.   I much prefer the solo albums.   

I wasn't a fan of DS in the past so, although my dear friend Superval and I are in the minority, I have to admit that I also
prefer the solo albums! Mark's voice is more mature and I like folk songs and Celtic music too! Michael and John are a great
addition to the band!

When we talk about playing the guitar, I agree with others, it was better and there were more different and difficult tones in the past!

Fieneke

[Pottel]

and in the end we here, really do not know, anything of what goes on behind the screens.

[sweetsurrender]

and in the end we here, really do not know, anything of what goes on behind the screens.

Oh, So true !!!   All speculations. And that's what keeps the forum alive and active.

[JF]

When we talk about playing the guitar, I agree with others, it was better and there were more different and difficult tones in the past!

I was not talking only about guitar.

To me, the point is not about guitar solos, or so.

What I wanted to point out is that if you listen to solo album, most of songs are "predictable" : melody, chords changes, arrangements, Mark don't tak any risks with his songs in past 10 years, "he stands in the comfort zone" as it was said about his stage attitude.
On each solo album, you can find half songs which remained from other solos songs. I think it's not the case (not in the same way) on DS albums.

musically, Waterline, Skateaway, lions are more "elaborate" than ballads like I'm the fool (I know it's your fav one Fieneke ) wanderlust, or even What it is, and it's not a matter of solo or not.
I like listen to his cletic tunes, but let's face it all are base on same melody/chords structure : hall away / roadrunning / night long ago /.....

when a new album is released, you can bet on which songs you will have :
- a celtic tune
- a blues tune
- a ballad
- a "driving" tune
- another ballad
...


I think there are no "surprises".
in early 80s, when you heard fro the first time TOL or Les boys, it wasn't what you could expect from the same band which released sultans or lady writer just before


I'm an average amateur musician, but when I'm listening to a new MK tune, I can almost find the chords at the first or the 2nd listen, it's quite easy. You "know" what will come after, you know how will sound the chorus at the first note of the song.
but for DS songs, it wasn't the same thing...


don't get me wrong, I like to listen to solo albums too, it's just that I don't fin the "genius" I found on early albums 

and sorry to repeat myself, but I'm not talking about guitar hero vs songwriter, it's just about song structures whether there is solo or not