bkev Recommends...

Well, since having your own thread is apparently what all cool kids are doing these days, I figured I'd give it a shot myself. On occasion (hopefully a normal one), I'll be recommending stuff to the awesome community that is OT.com. It may be music - it may be TV - hell, it may just be a silly viral video. But either way, there will be recommendations! I may make them short or long, depending on how much convincing I think it'll take to get yall to listen.

bkev said:

Well, since having your own thread is apparently what all

Hey, those things were a long time ago. Having your own thread was soooo last decade.

TV's Frink said:

Your thread title is a tease much in the same way that Gaffer Tape is a tease.

Hey!

I feel bad, for now I'm probably going to remove Cookie Monster's thread and replace it with Timbox's. The point being that these threads have the user's name in the title.

I'll work on that recommendation soon - I for one know that this one will definitely be a hard sell, except to Gaff.

bkev said:

this one will definitely be a hard sell, except to Gaff.

What is with all the sexual innuendo tonight. First Warb in the politics thread and now this!!!

Oooh...yeah. Say it again, 3PX! Say it again!!

bkev said:

I for one know that this one will definitely be a hard sell, except to Gaff.

Hey!

I'm just guessing based on our similar interests.

Oh, I thought you were calling me a slut.  Silly me.

Naw, you're just a promiscuously curious male lesbian!

Well, I lied to Gaff about my first recommendation - and by that, I mean, I changed it if only because I didn't have time and it really will be a tough sell. So, instead, I present to you music.

The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed


What is there to say about The Moody Blues? Well, outside of "Nights in White Satin", the beautiful end piece to this album, they are sadly nearly unknown by my generation. This album is where the albums deemed the "Classic Seven" by the band begins. Previously, the band had attempted R&B - this was a major switch in genre, let alone style (mainly due to a major personnel change). Instead, this album blended orchestral music with rock in a way never seen before 1967. The project started when the Moodies were hired by Deram to record a rock version of Dvorak to prove that stereo could be just as beneficial to other genres as it was classical music. Instead, they produced their own album comprised of songs they had in mind for quite some time.

What makes Days of Future Passed memorable and worth your time? Well, I don't think there's any other album out there like it. The concept revolves around A Day in the Life - or, to better describe it, I quote (yeah yeah, wikipedia, shut your mouths): "tracing an 'everyman's day' from dawn to night, from awakening to sleep." It feels surreal, while also not seeming too far from a beautiful lazy day. Orchestral and rock music have been mixed together in similar fashions since, but never to this extent - at least, not that I can think of. The Moodies, unfortunately, rely on synth for the rest of their albums - granted, the Mellotron is used here too, but nothing beats an orchestra in full force.

Fun fact! In 1978, the album was remixed because the master tapes were deemed too deteriorated to utilize for re-release. The list of changes can be found on wikipedia; as an avid fan of the album, I possess both the new mix and the old. To be honest, other than a few changes, you have to listen really close to notice the difference; however, in general, the album has a more distant sound to it in the original - with some parts lacking clarity, as if they are coming from far away. This was probably intentional, but I'll never know for sure. Check out the original mix first, if you can find a vinyl rip (or the real thing).

On a more personal note, just this evening, I put on Side 2 of the album with my dad. We both recited the poem at the end, although we were kinda muttering to ourselves. I don't normally really connect with him, so this was a special moment. I swear, I actually cried a little bit. If there's one thing we share, it's music.


So, in conclusion, I implore you to check out this album - and maybe some of the Moody Blues' later works, which are quite spectacular in different ways.


See You, Space Cowboy...

I'll definitely be looking for that one next time I drop by my record shop. Hmm, might even make a point to drop by there today.

Ain't it funny that today's apparently Record Store Day? Also, a hint for the anal-retentive such as myself: one way you might be able to tell if you've found an original mix is by looking at the orchestral credits. "Redwave/Knight" would be found rather than... well, just Knight (I think); Redwave was a name the Moodies came up with. Glad my recommendations are being taken seriously - let me know if you find it/end up enjoying the album!

Huh, cool about the record store day thing, I'll definitely be hitting mine up today to see if they participate in it, and to see if I can't get my hands on a copy of Days of Future Past with the original mix. I found a copy of Whipped Cream and Other Delightes there for a few bucks a couple of weeks ago.

Oh, how did that new record player you bought online turn out? Was it any good?

Wow, I've had that for a year already? Can't believe it. Well, hooked up to the stereo it sounds pretty good. However, the files transferred to the computer - the main reason I bought this mind you, my dad's is still in pretty good shape - don't sound the best. There's always a light hum, and it's murder on my ears (which is weird, because I love the pops and cracks on a vinyl). Plus, sometimes I can hear the needle make its rotations... I wish I could explain that better, but I can't. So hopefully it makes sense.