Wil1972

Wow. Not at all close for me. It isn't horrible sounding at all. Just a real left turn after 4 slick Sam Taylor-produced discs. Overtime, I am used to it. But at the time, I remember thinking it was way too raw, and with no lead vocals from Ty on the album, it came across as a little ordinary, by KX standards. Now I really like it, albeit with a few exceptions. Black the Sky, Go to Hell, Sunshine Rain and Human Behavior still do nothing for me. And Shoes is meh. But it is still a great album, because the rest of the songs are so strong. And it was time for them to modernize -- Sam Taylor was producing their albums as if it was still 1988. Dogman sounds like a 90s album. So there is that. I think that is why I like Ear Candy so much. It seemed to balance the raw grunginess of Dogman with the more ethereal Beatle-esque moments of the earlier albums. And Ty is all over Ear Candy. Having Ty singing helps break things up on a KX album. I like that about them. Two completely different styles of singing, but it works. :goodone: Sums up how I feel...you explained it better than I would. I think the lack of Ty vocals and that balance is the main drawback on Dogman for sure. Well, the songs don't really stick with me either. I still really like Cigarettes though, and the title track. It's funny that Ty didn't sing lead on any of the tracks because he wrote about half the album. Have you heard his demos? it's pretty cool and somewhat hysterical to hear him singing stuff like Complain and Dogman after hearing Doug belt those out for all these years. Check this out: https://www.facebook.com/TyTaborFanPage/videos/39319833257/

What is it specifically? Curious, I know for myself, songs like Pleiades, Summerland, Over My Head and Mission are amongst my favorite tracks. There are a few I tend to skip - Send a Message and Fall on Me - but overall I find it to be topnotch.

That is the album most folks consider their best. I put it at #2 on my list, but I just like Ear Candy so much. But Gretchen is a good one for sure.

Wow. Not at all close for me. It isn't horrible sounding at all. Just a real left turn after 4 slick Sam Taylor-produced discs. Overtime, I am used to it. But at the time, I remember thinking it was way too raw, and with no lead vocals from Ty on the album, it came across as a little ordinary, by KX standards. Now I really like it, albeit with a few exceptions. Black the Sky, Go to Hell, Sunshine Rain and Human Behavior still do nothing for me. And Shoes is meh. But it is still a great album, because the rest of the songs are so strong. And it was time for them to modernize -- Sam Taylor was producing their albums as if it was still 1988. Dogman sounds like a 90s album. So there is that. I think that is why I like Ear Candy so much. It seemed to balance the raw grunginess of Dogman with the more ethereal Beatle-esque moments of the earlier albums. And Ty is all over Ear Candy. Having Ty singing helps break things up on a KX album. I like that about them. Two completely different styles of singing, but it works.

The first 6 are the best. Just be prepared for the sudden shift in sound on Dogman after the first four albums. It's jarring.

My money is on the documentary.... Not Neil's travelogues?

Interesting. I'll have to dig though my old bootleg collection and piece out my King's X stuff. I was heavy into trading back then...I must have some Tape Head shows. You saw them in 2006 also? Yes and in 2003, right after BLS came out. That show was a bit of a bummer, cause while it was great to hear them, they were promoting BLS, and that album is just junk. I think they played about 7 songs from that album. So a good chunk of the show featured material I didn't really care for. But the 2006 show was good cause Ogre Tones had just come out and they were really stoked about that album and played every song from it! Not in order though... they would play a couple of songs, then throw an oldie into the mix. But they played them all. It was cool.

Yes it was for TH - Galactic Cowboys opened for them. I was excited cause the setlist was basically a greatest hits show: Over My Head, King, Black Flag, Lost in Germany, Dogman, Fade, Looking for Love, Summerland, We Were Born to Be Loved. I was bummed they didn't do It's Love. But Ty was in a weird state of mind. I didn't post it but I have a pic of me with Ty from that night and he looks like he doesn't really want to be there. He was very quiet. I think this was about the time he and Wanda got divorced, so that might have something to do with it. Because when I saw them later he was much more upbeat and personable and friendly. But that night, not so much.

These are the crappy b/w scans I have ... still haven't found my 2006 color pics of Ty and Jerry yet. Give me time. Me and Jerry Gaskill and Doug Pinnick, Nov 11, 1998, Atlanta - notice I have my T4E shirt on:

Why Between the Wheels? Maybe they've never seen it life I have seen it live. Still nothing.

Why Between the Wheels? I dunno that song just never did anything for me. Always felt it was the weakest on that album. That and Afterimage.

10 worst ... Faithless Anagram (for Mongo) Good News First You Bet Your Life Dog Years Bravest Face I Think I'm Going Bald Between the Wheels Red Tide Tai Shan

It been a long while since I've listened to some of the earlier-mid albums like Ear Candy...then I'm reminded of the track list. Pretty much every song is a gem in my book. I think it's my #1 now also. A box is one of the best pop/rock songs ever, IMO. Mick Playing it now...oh boy I think Ear Candy is one of those albums that I love a lot more than I ever remember! Yes this could easily top the first three albums. I think I confuse this one with Tapehead. I found that one unmemorable. I still plan to collect every album. Tape Head was a grower for me. It is now one of my favorite ones. I think it was the last great KX album. Everything after it has been patchy. Although Ogre Tones is pretty close to recapturing the glory. Tape Head is really strong in my view. I'm such a huge fan of Ear Candy and Bulbous...so I feel that things got patchy (good word) Manic Moonlight forward. It probably didn't help them keep focus while putting out a ton of solo/side projects. Yea the solo projects I never really got too much into, with the exception of Ty - I love Moonflower Lane and Safety.

Very cool. As someone who also uses a wheelchair, I can relate to obstacles out in a public setting that can seem so small but they can really limit access. From all I've ever heard or read about Dug, Ty, and Jerry...I can see they really connect with their fans. Yes they do - I have some pics too I will have to find, some from 1998 that my friend took -- my friend kept the originals but I have b/w scanned copies. :| I have a couple of me with Ty and Jerry from 2006 too, and they are the originals. I will have to find those and post them as well. They are good guys.

It been a long while since I've listened to some of the earlier-mid albums like Ear Candy...then I'm reminded of the track list. Pretty much every song is a gem in my book. I think it's my #1 now also. A box is one of the best pop/rock songs ever, IMO. Mick Playing it now...oh boy I think Ear Candy is one of those albums that I love a lot more than I ever remember! Yes this could easily top the first three albums. I think I confuse this one with Tapehead. I found that one unmemorable. I still plan to collect every album. Tape Head was a grower for me. It is now one of my favorite ones. I think it was the last great KX album. Everything after it has been patchy. Although Ogre Tones is pretty close to recapturing the glory.

I use a very similar comparison when I defend liking KISS. I love a little cheesecake from time to time. But you can't live on it. Gimme a steak and potatoes (RUSH) any day!

I really enjoyed Ogre Tones. That one will be revisited often! That is a good album. Gets a little saggy in the 2nd half, but the first half is perfect.

Concerning "Freedom", I heard that Doug was a huge fan of that song and always felt it deserved more than B-side status. So he talked Ty into remaking it and putting it on a proper album. With "Goldilox", Doug said that Michael Wagener liked the song and wanted to produce his own version of it. So they did it for him. Good info there. I forget some of the finer details over the years. :D Wasn't the original "Two" a B-side also? They redid it for Black Like Sunday...I love both versions, just heavy! I think "Two" was a Japanese bonus on TH ... I might be wrong there, but that is my recollection. But yes, the one true great one on BLS.

Concerning "Freedom", I heard that Doug was a huge fan of that song and always felt it deserved more than B-side status. So he talked Ty into remaking it and putting it on a proper album. With "Goldilox", Doug said that Michael Wagener liked the song and wanted to produce his own version of it. So they did it for him.

My understanding as well. He didn't pull the plug, he fulfilled his obligation Well, it's all in how you view it, isn't it? If Neil typically relents an agrees to tour extensions, one might be inclined to look at the fact that he held fast this time as "pulling the plug". We'll never know for sure. Curious though, that Geddy at least seemed to be thinking that there was a possibility that the tour would be extended. Perhaps they took him for granted? Maybe? Doesn't sound like something we want to admit. It's possible Could be a case of the Pratt who cried "Wolf" -- Neil has hated touring for decades. He has threatened to give up the road for about 20 years. Maybe they figured he was just blowing smoke like all the other times?

My problem isn't the sound, I like nineties alt rock more than many here it seems, but I disliked the songs. Maybe it's a grower though.. Yea I liked the 90s bands as well, but it was a bit of an aural shock after what came before. Wasn't expecting that sound. Actually I had secretly hoped they would get heavier, but it was so raw, that it was a little too far in that direction. I think Ear Candy and Tape Head struck a better balance. Loose and heavy, but not too raw.

Dogman was a tough nut to crack - that rough edged production after 4 slick albums ... I really like that album now but it took a little time.

Welcome to the forum, Wil. We're close in what we favor in the KX catalog. It's cool to see how much others like Ear Candy. I thought it would get more lost in the middle of the pack after the more celebrated albums. Looking back, I think Tape Head gets a little underrated..."Fade" is one of my favorite songs. Groove Machine, Ocean, Cupid, Higher than God...great tracks. Thanks! I don't know why Ear Candy resonated with me the way it has. Maybe it's the utter honesty and personal openness in the lyrics. Not that they didn't already write great lyrics. But that album worked for me. I think TH is underrated too.

Vapor Trails is amazing. The remix is what the wimps wanted. I dunno I understood the criticisms, I had a few myself. I loved the album, but had a hard time with it when originally released. The remix, I love.

I didn't take the time to read every page but here are my personal opinions that are probably quite unpopular here: *It took me almost 20 years to get into Hemispheres (the song, I didn't hate it, but I had to really be in the mood for it, and that was rare. I have listened to it more lately, though.) *I don't care for Between the Wheels. Always felt it was the weakest track (along with Afterimage) on GuP. *I like Superconductor. *I like VT. Although I know it has it's fans here, in general it seems to be reviled. I liked it even more after the remaster. Solid late period album to me. *I think most of SnA is phoned in.