tdmooring

I like that something like this causes so much angst that the reviewer feels a need to “not… pull punches” Doesn’t make it the truth BUT it is funny and silliness breaks a little of the monotony. I also must admit that I do feel a little happier knowing something like this makes someone so open about their opinions that readers will know not to take the reviewers thoughts with anything more than a smirk and a good little chuckle. So here’s to YOU kid! "Good job!"

Maybe this is a piece they stayed away from because of his connection. And maybe they are doing it now as a way to say thank you?

Spending time on un-judged choreography and music at the beginning of shows did not hinder top corps the last few years. I would think that this new addition would not have any major impact on those same corps.

Sometime when I'm home alone I like to lay down in the middle of my floor, pretend that I am a vegetable and wait until someone comes home to visit me in my garden. Today I was broccoli...

Has anyone mentioned Strawberry Soup? But really, I don't mind being the 234th person to suggest Strawberry Soup... Pretty please Madison...

And the hits just keep coming...

This is from Phantom's site. From their posted listing it seems that about 35-40 members aged out with about 10 of those being guard members... Phantom Regiment Class of 2010

Electronics: I feel a great many fans are drawn to drum corps for the music and drum corps' unique and distinct sound. I can debate all day about the level/influence and balance between the visual and musical components but at the end of the day there have always been a changing handful of corps that emphasize their music in any given year irregardless of placement and those are the shows that I enjoy and support through donation and/or purchase. Unfortunately, the addition synthesized sound and samples have GREATLY diminished my enjoyment in listening to shows. I have always loved live music and felt that live music has a greater emotional and more powerful impact opposed to heavily processed studio music. This is where I found enjoyment musically and this is where I fell in love with drum corp. This years shows (with all the great music) stands out. I absolutely loved the music from the Bluecoats and the Blue Stars but I felt (for me) that the synthesized additions to their individual show didn't add anything special to them and I would personally have greatly loved to hear an acoustical version if each show. To me, if SCV were to do Miss Saigon today we most likely would not hear the imaginative and powerful effects that made that show so enjoyable and memorable. Today we would find corps simply adding "canned" audio effects instead of exploring, experimenting and learning the musical evolution of a show/concept. I am continually amazed at the level of musicianship and physical ability of today's members and to me the addition of synthesized audio and effects cheapens this high level of accomplishment. Drum corps had a powerful acoustical element to their shows long before I (and many others) became fans so I don't necessary buy the argument that this where Drum Corps NEEDS to go in order to continue and be successful. I don't "hate" or "despise" the idea of synthesized audio/effects, I simply don't enjoy it and there are a great many fans that feel the same. I'm sure some corps will continue to find creative and interesting ways to use this new tool however that is not a product that I will particularly look for. Ultimately if this is the direction the DCI decides to go, then that is their choice. Fans that feel as I do will simply find other musical avenues to enjoy and the individuals that prefer the processed audio and effects in drum corps will be the ones left. But to saying that drum corps NEED to move in this direction is like saying athletes NEED steroids to help keep sports entertaining.

1. Faust – Dark and powerful with a suspenseful ending. Gorgeous. 2. Harmonic Journey – Most beautiful arrangement and and so much emotion from the musician. 3. Spartacus – No quite as strong musically however, their best overall package top to bottom 4a. On Air – very underrated, powerful and a joy to listen to. 4b. Into the Light - Beautiful. Will be viewed by many as underrated after a few years 5. Rhapsody – Fun, but different (this is a successful example of Phantom stepping out of the box) 6. Virtuoso – Very good music. Strong, powerful ending! 7. Apasionada 874 – Very technically interesting music, first half not a strong as the second half. 8. Masters of Mystique – Have found myself listening to this show on a far more regular basis than initially. 9. Heroic Sketches – Just not very well put together. 10. Red Violin – (this is a disastrous example of Phantom stepping out of the box). I find myself listing to all but the final two shows on a regular bases, depending my mood or company I am with. If the final two shows were burnt to CD's, I would use them as a coaster. The musicians did everything they could for those two shows and I applaud them however design of the shows themselves are not something I enjoy.

Same here... On both IE8 and Firefox all the downloads stop/stall/freeze whenever I try to download any of them.

It's really sad that it is so predictable...

1. Bluecoats 2. Phantom 3. Cavaliers 4. Madison 5. Carolina Crown 6. Blue Stars 7. Blue Knights 8. Cadets 9. Boston Crusaders 10. SCV 11. Glassmen 12. Blue Devils

I believe that if certain corps were to “magically” switch shows with other corps (and switch the execution/performance level at the same time) that they would still be ranked higher. The only thing that would change would be the “justification” for ranking them higher. I don't consider this corps specific, I feel this would be true with a few corps...

Phantom is not getting the credit they deserve from the judges...

Phantom 6th in music and 4th in drums!?!?!?