gellio

Actually, I think depending on Phantom and Cavies, BD could be as low as 5th this year. This year could even pan out better than '07 for the top 7.

I can't find the other thread, but agreed (somewhat) with people who said there was no musical impacts until the main push in Simple Gifts. Well, after getting the ADP - wrong, wrong, wrong. It must have been the video/audio quality, because this show is packed with great music and impacts. I love it. Could be my favorite, musically, of the year.

I agree. Honestly, I am having a hard time with Holy Name's arrangement of WSS. For me, it's a matter of 1984 being my first year of drum corps and that show was HOLY CRAP AWESOME. I need to get over the comparisons, but I freaking love the visual package. It's the Cadets I have known and loved all these years - straight forward - awesome marching, playing, drill and guard. I think Crown is for real and is a championship contender this year - this show is better than last years great show. There's no way any of us can speculate because IMO Crown at their best will be as good as the Cadets at their best this year. It should be a fun ride. After seeing the BD video - I think they will both beat BD at finals.

Exactly, and let's look facts in the face - Bluecoats have never, as an organization on a competitive level, achieved what Crown achieved last year. Period. They are not one in the same. Crown proved opening weekend 2009 that they are even better than last year out of the gate. Why does everyone think they are somehow going to let up. They absolutely have the show this year to challenge for the #1 spot. Period. My prediction for them (and HNC): 3rd at lowest.

I like Crown's show a heck of a lot more this year than last year. I thought it was very well done last year, but this year blows my mind and that hornline is incredible. I won't be surprised at all if they are top 3 this year.

That's a great point. IT's so stupid that DCI doesn't have full panels in the beginning of the season. How can they even accurately judge these corps without them. Personally, I feel Crown has the better overall package (slightly). It will be an interesting battle and will probably remain close all season.

Well both corps have great brasslines, great guards, great percussion sections, great visual package and a great musical package. They are even in a lot of respects. It will come down to whom is the cleanest. However, I think Crown's show is slightly more entertaining. I really don't like Cadets from a musical standpoint (even though I think it's a strong book). I think they could very well be the top two corps at the end of the season. Crown is for real, even though people still seem unable to believe it.

I personally love this show - because it perhaps stays closest to the original source material that I have ever heard in drum corps. As a classical music lover, App Spring is my favorite piece by an American composer, and one of my favorite pieces period. This is such an amazingly beautiful show musically. I also think the drill fits the show. I'm not sure how it's going to pan out for SCV. I saw the videos of all those available, and after Crown it is my second favorite show. I think SCV has talent in the brass, guard and drum lines - enough to challenge for the top stop in music, however, I fear the drill will be their downfall because of lack of demand. But, that really doesn't matter to me, because whether 1st or 7th (there's no way in hell it will be lower than 7th), it is a beautiful show.

Crown and Holy Name are freakin' awesome! My top 2 of this bunch. Eagerly awaiting Phantom.

I'm new to Fan Network. How do I even know when these are up and where to find them. I find the user interface not so friendly on the Fan Network. Thanks for the help.

So lame DCI doesn't have a full panel of judges. This is absurd. No guard judge? No brass judge? What's the point? Or, did I miss something?

LOVE IT. They are sounding GREAT!

I predict: 1. Cavaliers, 73.4 2. Phantom, 70.1 3. Bluecoats, 68.8 4. Madison, 64.7 5. Blue Stars, 64.0 6. Spirit, 60.2 7. Pioneer, 53.6 I think I will hit the order pretty accurately, save Madison and Blue Stars - could go either way.

Yes, removed because you are right - it is too strong of word. I edited quickly though I very much dislike the red sash/cape thing. The best Scouts uni ever, IMO, was 2005. I have no idea why they had to change that uni at all - classy, elegant and beautiful. But, we will see. Maybe I will like it more as I get used to it. The guard uni's though - super cool but strange and will take time to get used to - if that makes sense.

Don't like the sash - the guard uniforms are bizarre. Not sure if I like them or not.

i like the guard unis but not the main corps unis. i loved their 2006 look the best.

I like it.

Ok, not to get off topic, but I cannot stop laughing at your signature video. Is that Chris Farley? Where did you get that. It's hysterical.

01> Blue Devils 02> Cavaliers 03> Carolina Crown 04> Santa Clara Vanguard 05> Cadets 06> Phantom Regiment 07> Bluecoats 08> Madison Scouts 09> Blue Knights 10> Blue Stars 11> Boston Crusaders 12> Spirit 13> Glassmen 14> Crossmen 15> Colts 16> Troopers 17> Academy

Again, we can agree to disagree. Whether or not '08 was their first appearance in the top 5 hardly matters, it's the statement that appearance made. A 4th place finish with the highest score ever received by a 4th place corps. That in ONLY due to weaker seasons in terms of competition levels. That's a fact. Re: Crown - I said the same thing in 1991 after Star broke in the top 5 by placing 3rd in 1990. Will Crown win this year? I wouldn't put my money on it, but none of us know. They have the right pieces in place and things are absolutely moving in the right direction. Personally, I'm here because I'd like to see SCV rise again to championship caliber status. I'm definitely a Crown fan, but I dare say I like SCV, Madison and Phantom even more.

Dude, it's not your place to tell me whom I can call elite and whom I can't. Where you get these crazy definitions is beyond me. If I think Crown 2008 was championship caliber, that's for me to think - whether you agree or not. Love the lame brass caption argument - they may have won brass in quarters in '07, but they didn't win brass at finals in '07. Don't like what I have to say - ignore me.

I would not. We are talking championship caliber shows here. 2008 Crown was a championship caliber show, that would have no doubt finished in the top 3 in perhaps every other season. Bluecoats, no disrespect intended, have never put a championship caliber show on the field. Crown is now one of the upper elite - with BD, Cadets, Phantom and Cavies. Any one of these, IMO, could win finals this year. I cannot say the same about Bluecoats. On to SCV - where they've lost it IMO is in passion. I remember SCV through 2000, with a couple misses here or there, putting out extremely passionate shows that told a story and got the viewer emotional involved. Since 2001, with the exception of '04, I feel that passion is gone. I think the musical selections are the biggest problems. To each his own, but I don't understand playing all this post-modern classical music when there is so much great classical music out there is a mistake. I'm glad App Spring is back. As a classical music lover, I believe (at least for me) that post-modern classical music has sucked the passion right out of classical music. I never understood how the members could be passionate about playing a show like 2003. I think App Spring is a great start in getting SCV back to the emotional, powerful and passionate corps that wowed the world.

And my hands are killing me. Will this go away. Those 5's I was throwing have my palms feeling like they are bruised.

I got my rifle today. Yay! I couldn't do drop spins with the strap on to save my life. I haven't used a rifle since 1989 (and I was in the hornline). It's amazing how quickly it comes back. I did a ton of tosses today - hands are killing me. What's the terms for the tosses: single, double, triple, quad, 5's, 6's, 7's and 8's? Is that right? I am super solid on anything up to 5's. I did a bunch of 5's on the deck today - my hands are in pain. I'm afraid to try anything harder than 5's on the deck (too many windows around). Thanks.

Thanks to both of you. What about a strap? Should I get one?