cajal

......1990 Star of Indiana And the person below me is listening to.....

The 'inflated scores debate' comes up each year, and usually for only one major reason: when a corps from the west coast has a score higher than any corps from any other part of the country. If the Devils and SCV were scoring 72 and 70 right now, I doubt there would be many posts decrying 'score deflation' It's irrelevant really, as we'll all find out what the judges think in the next few weeks.

04 Blue Devils

88 Blue Devils, easily one of my favorite shows ever.

I'd say my favorite year isn't on the poll either, 1988. First legacy DVD I bought, and probably the only year where I liked every show in finals.

1993 Star of Indiana 1988 Suncoast sound 1995 Blue Devils hard to narrow it down to three, for sure.

I never marched in a corps, but I was in a 'highly competitive' marching band back when BOA was MBA. Same experience? Not even close, I'm sure... as judged by friends of mine who did march corps. The 'we/they(age-related)' argument is sort of nonsensical, because everyone on this board wants DCI (in some form) to continue. In recent years, I enjoyed far fewer shows than I have in the past. That said, there are still enough shows each year that allow me to enjoy the activity. When that is no longer the case, I'll move on to another activity to spend time/money on. Is it drum corps? At the moment, I think it is, with a few exceptions. Would I like to see symmetrical drill and 2-valve g bugles? Not really. I miss the power of those hornlines, but corps are figuring out how to play their newer instruments as (or much more) effectively. It should be interesting to see what DCI becomes in the next five years. Until then, I'll continue buying merchandise from those corps who appeal to my particular taste. Come to think of it, that is the way it has always been. The term 'dinosaur' is often thrown around, and I don't think it means much. Across ages, people have different ideas of what drum corps should be. We'll see where it goes.

I guess I judge shows by how often I will listen to them in the years to come. Phantom '05 will be up there.

The relative scores mean everything, the absolute value is disposable. I think the cadets did a #### of a job musically, but I don't like their show. Should they win? Who knows. Is the demand there? Yes. However.... demand could include jumping through hula-hoops or running up and down the backfield staircases (the boundary rules have to go sometime lol). The kids all did a great job, and maybe the scores reflect that. Regardless, entertainment value is in the crossed eye of the beholder.

The Garfield soloist in '86 (beginning of the show, on the waterfront) was seriously gacked... another recording that was fixed by DCI along with the '89 devils

I have not seen the '05 BD show live. I'm one of those 'listen to it on the CDs' kinda guys for the last half decade.... BD pushed the envelope this year, and they're getting many negative reactions. Personally, I think their show is a waste of very talented musicians. When you're on the 'cutting edge' (whatever that means), you occasionally make mistakes. Hopefully, we'll see something different from the blue crew next year.... minus the narrator. :)

Good luck with the donation campaign. Even though I usually don't post, I truly enjoy reading this site. Thanks for keeping it up and running. B)

The first corps I ever saw was the Steel City Ambassadors in the mid 80s... from there, I started watching the PBS broadcasts of the junior corps shows. An addiction was created.

1991 Phantom Regiment 1993 Star of Indiana 1992 Crossmen

1982 Blue Devils 1984 Garfield Cadets 1988 Velvet Knights

I recall from the 89 broadcast that phantom played on stage with an orchestra or some other performing group during finals week... emphasizing their symphonic sound. Does anyone know who they were playing with? I still prefer phantom of the opera from '88 over '89.

Hm, would that add or detract from their GE score? The world will never know.

I loved the 88 show. The maturation of their hornline was incredible, and layed the groundwork for future success... Medea and Belshazzar's Feast are close (seconds?). I usually listen to the brass preferentially, and the 90-93 brass duel between the Blue Devils and Star was really a fun ride