opeth C or D

It's fun to imagine Iron Mike saying it:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153966086531299&set=p.10153966086531299&type=3&theater

lol punksishippies you wasteman even phil fr33man thinks opeth are real metal

punksishippies doesn't like anything the imaginary square living in his head wouldn't hate.

"the wilde flowers" rules. opeth going full prog is still totally mindboggling, like motorpsycho-, decemberists-, his name is alive-, and enslaved-level amazing imho

Nah I keep frustratedly waiting for the shouty bits. D since Ghost Reveries pretty much.

That's not entirely fair of me, there have been some decent tracks.

But it's the tension between the pretty sections and the punishing sections that made them interesting to me. The pretty sections are pretty on their own, but somewhat inert.

No you're absolutely right. I wouldn't mind that Opeth went straight prog if they were any good at it, and they're not particularly "pretty" anymore anyway

To clarify, I meant they went off after Ghost Reveries. GR is excellent.

An important Facebook page:

"The Same Picture of Mikael Åkerfeldt Every Day"

https://www.facebook.com/SamepictureMikael

I don't know much about these guys, as people, but Mikael seems pretty cool. And to be honest, more than most rock guys I kinda feel like learning he was an asshole would totally bum me out. Anyway, this is entertaining:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPRCNGE9H9Y

Like the last few, the new one is unapologetically prog, pomp and cheese and all, modestly heavy at times but kind of awesome at all times.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the new one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xedYz1vZWsA

That's awesome.

The addition of keyboard to Opeth really underscores the Van der Graaf influence. I've never heard of Univers Zero, where to begin? Also reminds me that I've never really listened to Jethro Tull, but it might be too late, because there are too many Jethro Tull albums.

I'm liking this so far. Maybe a little more focused than the last couple ones. Sorceress was pretty good though.

I've never heard of Univers Zero, where to begin? Also reminds me that I've never really listened to Jethro Tull, but it might be too late, because there are too many Jethro Tull albums.

Univers Zero - 1313 or Heresie
Jethro Tull - Aqualung or Thick as a Brick I guess?

lol at Mikael on Opeth covering Gershwin: "I think it might be a good idea if we don't"

The new one is the heaviest of the prog-era albums, but it's also really beautiful. "Ingen Sanning är Allas" is one of the most Floyd-ish things they've ever done (with some OK Computer thrown in, weirdly enough) and it's fantastic.

Have all the albums been released in English and Swedish? I've only heard the new one in English, I should listen to the Swedish version, might (er) cut the cheese a little. (Which of course is a joke, this album is awesome.)

Really good video but I just cant respect the crazy collector stuff at the end. Had a similar feeling with Geddy Lee collecting signed baseballs.

Geddy also collects wine and, apparently, guitars!

At least Mikael collects, you know, music. I saw some other interview with him that suggests he's taking these collectors items away from other people, but he defends it by saying actually he buys multiple copies of stuff to give as gifts to friends who have never heard his favorite albums. Like Robin Hood!

I have the Geddy Lee bass collection book, it is absolutely bonkers, hundreds of pages of rare basses. I would be super psyched if I owned one bass like that.

Presumably Geddy tries out the bass guitars and uses some of them and drinks the wine. But all those baseballs?

It would be nice if Mikael was gifting his multiple copies but would he really say he owns all these multiple copies if he is gifting them?

Have all the albums been released in English and Swedish?

No. This is only the third time they've recorded in Swedish at all (they've done Swedish-language covers on the deluxe editions of Watershed and Pale Communion).

export No, I mean, apparently Geddy collects guitars, too! Like, six-strings.

https://www.mecum.com/auctions/las-vegas-2019/collections/a-boutique-selection-from-the-geddy-lee-guitar-collection/

That '59 Les Paul alone could very well go for over $250k.

I read an interview where Mikael says he writes in Swedish and then translates to English.

Probably their best since Heritage and my favorite since Ghost Reveries

Listening to the Swedish version now, it's fascinating how in English my ear goes right to the lyrics, rising out of the music, but in Swedish it all sounds very much of an equal-tiered piece.

Really like this

I love listening to Mikael talk about music he likes. That "Whats in My Bag" makes me want to go out and listen to all of those records.

I shot this video with him back in 2012, when I worked at Roadrunner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgbEajT3TnE

Probably their best since Heritage and my favorite since Ghost Reveries

Same. Hoping they do all their future records in Swedish as well.

this album just didn't do anything for me on first listen, and I've really liked their stuff since Ghost Reveries or so. Will give it another shot.

North American tour dates!

Feb 13 - Cleveland, OH - The Agora Ballroom
Feb 14 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
Feb 15 - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
Feb 17 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
Feb 18 - Montreal, QC - Mtelus
Feb 19 - Toronto, ON - Rebel
Feb 21 - New York, NY - Apollo Theater
Feb 22 - New York, NY - Apollo Theater
Feb 23 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
Feb 25 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
Feb 26 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
Feb 28 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
Feb 29 - Dallas, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Mar 1 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
Mar 2 - Denver, CO - The Mission Ballroom
Mar 4 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium

Also, there's a non-album track streaming on Decibel's site.

I gotta admit that having never been to the Apollo Theater, the idea of going there for the first time to see Opeth feels a little weird.

I bought Ryman tickets. Unless something comes up it'll be my first Ryman show and it's definitely an odd feeling.

opeth are playing the ryman? that fuckin rules

They're hitting so many classic venues on this tour.

Another good one, includes embarrassing drunk Steve Wilson story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjV8JYcbtFw

I love his honesty and shamelessness. Such a soft-spoken dork, he seems like he's the best.

Blackwater Park remains tough to find at a good price.

20th anniversary this year, perhaps a reissue is imminent.

It really went out of print?!

Nah, it seems like it is still in print; Music For Nations is under Sony/BMG now.

but I can't help listening to this stuff and sometimes really wishing they'd throw in a really awesome techno breakdown

The other day I went out to rake the leaves, and I felt like listening to Opeth, but not their early growly stuff or their more recent stuff, something in the mid-catalog Steven Wilson sweet spot. My instincts told me "Damnation," but for the life of me I couldn't remember where it fell on the Opeth spectrum (getting old). So I took a gamble, and yep, jazz/folk/prog/Radiohead Opeth hit the spot.