chaos001 Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) I agree that On Air & Into the Light are among the best musical offerings (book & program-wise) that Phantom has done since 2000. On Air is THE most listened to Drum Corps show on my iPhone. I'll go further & rate the music books & programs from 2000 forward (From a Music-Only perspective)- and you will see the Hill-era shows all grouped in one area that I can't ascribe to coincidence! In addition to music book arrangement, I do wonder if it's also brass teaching that is a problem. Very different brass staff than mid 2000s when you had very different specialists that came in & worked with the corps to pull out incredible power & passion. 2008 is the last year I thought the brass line was stellar (though the LOW brass were stellar in 2011 for Juliet). I also think the change from King after 2008 is a huge problem. 1. 2007 - On Air (Truly under-rated program, IMO) 2. 2003 - Harmonic Journey 3. 2000 - Masters of Mystique (Visual Mess, but delicious music) 4. 2010 - Into The Light 5. 2005 - Rhapsody 6. 2006 - Faust 7. 2008 - Spartacus 8. 2004 - Apassionada 874 9. 2011 - Juliet 10. 2001 - Virtuoso 11. 2009 - Red Violin (music was NOT the problem with this mess) 12. 2002 - Heroic Sketches 13. 2012 - Turandot (Incredible visual show, music underwhelming) GAP - nothing is close to these bottom 2 in terms of uninspiring, dry, and simplistic. 14. 2014 - Swan Lake 15. 2013 - Triumphant Journey I dearly hope that the staff & members do something special & my thoughts on 2014 change by end of season. I'm still pulling for my adopted favorite corps!!! Harvey As far as brass teaching, they are continuing the Breathing Gym technique that has been used for many years; however, I do think the teaching these days seems to be more about cleanliness than the edgy sound that JD used to be able to get out of them (and others before). I also think a lot of their sound issues have to do with arrangements and poor quality of instruments. If you listen to their version of Shostakovich 11, Mvmt 4 from last year vs. Boston's from this year, you can tell a huge difference in the arrangements (Ryan George by miles!). Jupiter still sucks! Edited July 16, 2014 by chaos001 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POSITIVenrgy Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 GeneralTsosChicken is the opposite of Positive Energy? ...just going by his signature. I am the last person to try to stir anything up. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralTsoChicken Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 I do think the teaching these days seems to be more about cleanliness than the edgy sound that JD used to be able to get out of them (and others before). That is the most politely put way to say, "They no longer play with confidence or sound like the corps in contention for medals." I've ever read. Every time I see this group, I see the state of Texas. They sound like Texas marching band (which is an awesome sound, just in a pretty little box). They march like a Texas group (super rigid, herky/jerky body movement). Their drill looks like a Texas group (controlled responsibilities and flowing). Not that any of the above qualities are necessarily bad, but I do not think they put you in a position to succeed in DCI. I also get that there isn't a huge Texas contingent at Regiment, but the similarities are striking, intentional or not. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cappybara Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 I agree that On Air & Into the Light are among the best musical offerings (book & program-wise) that Phantom has done since 2000. On Air is THE most listened to Drum Corps show on my iPhone. I'll go further & rate the music books & programs from 2000 forward (From a Music-Only perspective)- and you will see the Hill-era shows all grouped in one area that I can't ascribe to coincidence! In addition to music book arrangement, I do wonder if it's also brass teaching that is a problem. Very different brass staff than mid 2000s when you had very different specialists that came in & worked with the corps to pull out incredible power & passion. 2008 is the last year I thought the brass line was stellar (though the LOW brass were stellar in 2011 for Juliet). I also think the change from King after 2008 is a huge problem. 1. 2007 - On Air (Truly under-rated program, IMO) 2. 2003 - Harmonic Journey 3. 2000 - Masters of Mystique (Visual Mess, but delicious music) 4. 2010 - Into The Light 5. 2005 - Rhapsody 6. 2006 - Faust 7. 2008 - Spartacus 8. 2004 - Apassionada 874 9. 2011 - Juliet 10. 2001 - Virtuoso 11. 2009 - Red Violin (music was NOT the problem with this mess) 12. 2002 - Heroic Sketches 13. 2012 - Turandot (Incredible visual show, music underwhelming) GAP - nothing is close to these bottom 2 in terms of uninspiring, dry, and simplistic. 14. 2014 - Swan Lake 15. 2013 - Triumphant Journey I dearly hope that the staff & members do something special & my thoughts on 2014 change by end of season. I'm still pulling for my adopted favorite corps!!! Harvey Did you just put turandot in 12th for MUSIC!? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaos001 Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) That is the most politely put way to say, "They no longer play with confidence or sound like the corps in contention for medals." I've ever read. Every time I see this group, I see the state of Texas. They sound like Texas marching band (which is an awesome sound, just in a pretty little box). They march like a Texas group (super rigid, herky/jerky body movement). Their drill looks like a Texas group (controlled responsibilities and flowing). Not that any of the above qualities are necessarily bad, but I do not think they put you in a position to succeed in DCI. I also get that there isn't a huge Texas contingent at Regiment, but the similarities are striking, intentional or not. At first I was going to disagree, but then again what you said is true. They sound like it because that's what Don's written for during most of his years. It's also where their visual caption head teaches. I'm not sure who all else Jamey writes for. There are a few Regiment members from Texas. Edited July 16, 2014 by chaos001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lincoln Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 I agree that On Air & Into the Light are among the best musical offerings (book & program-wise) that Phantom has done since 2000. On Air is THE most listened to Drum Corps show on my iPhone. I'll go further & rate the music books & programs from 2000 forward (From a Music-Only perspective)- and you will see the Hill-era shows all grouped in one area that I can't ascribe to coincidence! In addition to music book arrangement, I do wonder if it's also brass teaching that is a problem. Very different brass staff than mid 2000s when you had very different specialists that came in & worked with the corps to pull out incredible power & passion. 2008 is the last year I thought the brass line was stellar (though the LOW brass were stellar in 2011 for Juliet). I also think the change from King after 2008 is a huge problem. 1. 2007 - On Air (Truly under-rated program, IMO) 2. 2003 - Harmonic Journey 3. 2000 - Masters of Mystique (Visual Mess, but delicious music) 4. 2010 - Into The Light 5. 2005 - Rhapsody 6. 2006 - Faust 7. 2008 - Spartacus 8. 2004 - Apassionada 874 9. 2011 - Juliet 10. 2001 - Virtuoso 11. 2009 - Red Violin (music was NOT the problem with this mess) 12. 2002 - Heroic Sketches 13. 2012 - Turandot (Incredible visual show, music underwhelming) GAP - nothing is close to these bottom 2 in terms of uninspiring, dry, and simplistic. 14. 2014 - Swan Lake 15. 2013 - Triumphant Journey On Air would not make my top 10 Phantom shows. I loved the opening keyboards but to this day, I just hope I never have to hear Firebird again. As for 2009, they could have had a wonderful visual program and I would still not like the music they chose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaos001 Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 That is the most politely put way to say, "They no longer play with confidence or sound like the corps in contention for medals." I've ever read. Every time I see this group, I see the state of Texas. They sound like Texas marching band (which is an awesome sound, just in a pretty little box). They march like a Texas group (super rigid, herky/jerky body movement). Their drill looks like a Texas group (controlled responsibilities and flowing). Not that any of the above qualities are necessarily bad, but I do not think they put you in a position to succeed in DCI. I also get that there isn't a huge Texas contingent at Regiment, but the similarities are striking, intentional or not. After listening to Hill's arrangement for BA last year, it sounded at about the same level as how he writes for PR. Too many long chords that just sit there. Not a lot of emotional development either. It's too clean and neat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatbrassboy Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 "And the winner of the 2014 Backyard Brawl is...... The Cavaliers: $52,985.38 Phantom Regiment: $32,407.85 Even if we didn't win the battle, both corps have won with more than $230,000 raised for our organizations over the past three years. THANK YOU to all who donated!" ####. Spanked again. The Cavies have some great donors. What's keeping Regiment from getting $ like that? Maybe because the Cavies have an awesome alumni program and always have? Hopefully PR is slowly learning that this would be a good thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNModdison Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 2007 Phantom Regiment has the best musical ending in Drum Corps history. I can listen to it over and over again. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajlemm Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 2007 Phantom Regiment has the best musical ending in Drum Corps history. I can listen to it over and over again. +1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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