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Posted by Shemp on 02-02-2003 at22:01:

Fearful Sym

as i was cleaning my kitchen floor today, listening to DAmb It, my 6 year old said to me, "..what do the real ones sound like?"

I said "You've heard them Jake, jus not like this though..."

He looked at me with a dazed look so I said "Here, I'll put on some "real" DA."

For some uknown reason I was compelled to go to the archives (thats a place in my basement where a box exists that houses hundreds of cassettes, forever lost and rarley listened to). As I dug, low and behold there was Fearful Symmetry. I do not have it on CD, thus had not listened to it in years (for shame). Crying

As I listened, it dawned on me that not one single song from this epic made it onto the DAmb It! Even in the samples that Mark and I did contained no FS bits. Shocked

We Dambers tend to gravitate to the classics (which it is nice to see Motorcycle getting the latest kudo's), But FS deserves some recognition.

Side 1:
A Sigh For You - I wonder who did the whistling?
The Pool - Oh my God... I forgot how cool that one was
Sleep Silent Child - Classic DA psudo-darkness
Neverland Ballroom - I found myself dancing again (was that my hip cracking?)
Strong Points, Weak Points - Rocking Bass, anyone for chinese?

Side 2:
Instruction Thru Film - Very cool trumpet... sounds confused
When Moonlight Sleeps - DFBB-esque. Again very cool bassline.
Sudden Heaven - I stopped what I was doing and sat down to listen. They got through again those doggon lyrics.
Shadow Catcher - Backmasking triumph! I wish TST would do that again in some of his stuff.
Beautiful One - Wow. Yep, the tears welled.

If you have not listened to FS in a while, do so. Lets give credit where it deserves.

Big Grin

Posted by Scrimshaw Nick on 02-02-2003 at22:15:

mucho appreciado

Thanks Shemp for your story and for Jake's dazed look that prompted you to dig out Fearful Symmetry. It is such a good album, but I have to admit, that it's once of the ones that I listen to the least. Needless to say, it's going into the player next. Right now I'm playing Dvorak and you just can't interrupt him. Big Grin

Thanks again to you and Jake. Keep training him right.

Posted by dorfsmith on 02-02-2003 at23:43:

Did I mention that my wife got a copy for me for Christmas signed by the band Big Grin

Posted by arcticsunburn on 02-03-2003 at01:32:

I had forgotten that I have actually listened to most if not all of those songs. I have a couple on my mp3 playlist.

The one that always comes on when I put the list on random (especially when I feel convicted), is "Shadow Catcher." I didn't understand why, but I didn't ask any questions. I felt that God was trying to tell me something. Now I understand. Having just read the lyrics, I feel that this song applies to my life in so many ways.

Shadow Catcher

His eyes, make pictures when they close
He follows, pure breezes where they blow

The earth and ocean seem to sleep
In one another's arms and dream
He does not fear this haunted keep
But swims the shimmery boundless stream

Chorus:
Shadow catcher
Shadow catcher
Shadow catcher

His hands, turn shadows into gold
Three wonders, the spirit wind unfolds

Shapes that haunt thought's wilderness
These are the world's rejected guests
Glass darkly shades the final rest
Still He will surely past this test

(Chorus)

Here the wind will sigh and weep
And all the world is drowned in sleep
Yet His eyes do watch and keep
And the Spirit guides his feet, shadow

He prays, the Lamb of God descends
He seeks, a kingdom without end

Comes the hour of his distress
When temptations do oppress
But each sin he does confess
Embracing now his Unseen Guest

Shadow catcher

Posted by jiminy on 02-03-2003 at08:21:

THERE ARE A FEW

Shemp-
good observation. I was going to list which works got the most "airplay" and did notice none from FS. None of Shotgun Angel..(though snippets appear, thx to you.)
I think it is worth analyzing,and first guesses are for DFBB,Vox Humana-or Doppleganger.-I intend to sit down and give it a closer look.
I actually enjoy FS alot-listened to it a few weeks ago..and my daughter always equates "Beautiful One" with "Across the Universe"-
Not similar in theme, or even melody really- they just sound hauntingly similar.

DAMBit.the REAL glass onion.

jiminY

Posted by Shemp on 02-03-2003 at08:52:

quote:

Originally posted by jiminy
DAMBit.the REAL glass onion.

jiminY

Posted by Captain Pedantic on 02-03-2003 at13:59:

FS was my first DA.

Wow when I first head "A sigh for you" i was astounded.

Then came "The pool" and I realised I'd never heard anything like this before

"Sudden Heaven's" style got my attention like a basball bat to the head - softening me up for "Beutiful One" the song to be played at my funeral

Posted by Joey T. on 02-03-2003 at15:29:

One of my least favorite DA albums to tell the honest truth....... Shocked

that's not saying it's not good! Wink

Posted by Mark on 02-03-2003 at15:54:

quote:

Originally posted by Shemp
As I listened, it dawned on me that not one single song from this epic made it onto the DAmb It! Even in the samples that Mark and I did contained no FS bits.

Sorry Shemp, but I DID include a FS song on The Wacky Fan Letter. The Pool is inbedded in it. It fit in well with my water theme of Corpus Christi. Listen again and you'll hear it. It is one of my favorite DA songs. Big Grin

Posted by Dr Rich on 02-03-2003 at16:22:

quote:

Originally posted by dorfsmith
Did I mention that my wife got a copy for me for Christmas signed by the band Big Grin

you suck!

Posted by dorfsmith on 02-03-2003 at23:15:

Big Grin

Posted by brdhsnyrsoul on 02-04-2003 at13:09:

It's the one that got me hooked on DA.

Posted by Mark on 02-04-2003 at19:42:

I love Fearful Symmetry.

Posted by brdhsnyrsoul on 02-05-2003 at00:20:

and it loves you.

Posted by Author of the Post on 02-05-2003 at09:07:

Just to pipe in my Two Cents. Feaful Symmetry and Doppelgänger are probably my two favorite early DA albums )early being pre-Kalhoun.) I got Darn Floor, Big Bite soon after it was released and then found Fearful Sym a month or two later (both original CD releases!!) Fearful Sym is the album that made a DA fan causing me to spend hundreds of dollars over the next decade and more trying to buy everything that I can find DA and TST related!

Fearful Symmetry rocks especially for #2 The Pool (second only to "Author of the Story"), #4 Neverland Ballroom (a funky dance song about hell? HELL YEAH!!), and #6 Instruction Thru Film (the song is just too nada cute and funny.)

I _was_ surprised to not see any FS songs on dämb it. Perhaps on Volume II?!?! I think a piano version of "Beautiful One" would be a beautiful one.

Speaking of "Neverland Ballroom", I may post the lyrics to that song on my discussion group for the night class I'm taking on "Literary Representations of Hell." We're basically looking at different cultures, different religions, and different time periods to see how the concept of hell, the devil, and the afterlife are similar and different. It's fascinating so far.

I think that Fearful Symmetry as an album has a lot of Strong Points and very few Weak Points. If you don't own this CD then I'll shed A Sigh for You. And I'll hope that tonight you Sleep Silent Child.

-- aotp

Posted by Shemp on 02-05-2003 at10:40:

quote:

Originally posted by Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Shemp
As I listened, it dawned on me that not one single song from this epic made it onto the DAmb It! Even in the samples that Mark and I did contained no FS bits.

Doh!

I'm sorry, my ears suck due to sitting too closley to the speakers at concerts. I'll give it another listen.
Big Grin

Posted by Mortal Coil on 02-05-2003 at10:46:

Just remember to keep Jesus number one!

Posted by J-Gob on 02-05-2003 at10:49:

Ya! Ya! Yo!

Dis album be SCHLAMMIN'!!! Vagnerian, even! Und der lyrics oof "Ven Der Moonlight Schleeps" remind me of my beloved Gerrteh!!!

But fer der fearful symmetry, nutTING beat me und my homies ven ve vere kings of der hood! Not even dat poser Schtalin!!! Ve VER der triumph of der VILL, after all, you schillies!

Posted by Mark on 02-05-2003 at11:30:

William Blake

Posted by Gabriel Syme on 02-05-2003 at11:53:

FS & Neverland Ballroom

Fearful Symmetry & Doppelganger were my top two until Mr. Buechner's Dream landed under the Christmas tree. (I never warmed up to Darn Floor Big Bite. I'm not sure why.) DA released FS when I was in a difficult place in my life, & the sheer beauty & hopefulness of its message carried me over a number of really rough times.

I would love to hear how the class reacts to 'Neverland Ballroom.' I'm sure it would be unlike any other example.