DrumManTx Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Would you tone down the font? We aren't children here. Just trying to be a little positive. Usually enjoy what you have to say.................jeez. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general_tsos_chicken2 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Personal opinion time. I can understand why some people are really frustrated. From 2003 to 2011, save maybe a show or tow, Phantom placed 4th, 5th, 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 1st, 9th, 6th, 5th. But even 2004, 2009, and 2010, shows with some obvious faults and weaknesses (Guard in 2004, as well as stepping into a place not really associated with Phantom, still a show I like, 2009 the Visual Design, and 2010 the visual cleanliness and guard), still were beautiful in some way, they're still great to listen to, and still up in the top 6 in ways. Every, Phantom was discussed as being beautiful, an amazing hornline, a top tier percussion section, and shows that will be remembered for a long time. Each of those shows had something that really sparkled. The activity got used to that, and it's gone. 2012 is the only show I can think of that still had a little of that magic in there (and no, the hornline sounding really good the back few weeks of the season doesn't count), but the last two and this one have the same problem. They're using themes and music we'd typically associate with Phantom or themes they've already used, and they just have no chance of living up to the original. I think they're trying to capture that old magic in a bottle and it's not working. Count me into the park of people that are dissapointed with this show. Is it an absolute atrocity that I don't enjoy at all? No. Hornline sounds nice, guard is performing well, and the closer overall is pretty good IMO. But overall, it just seems really shallow. With a show about Paris, I wish they would have stayed away from the cliche's and touristy stuff. Does it provide a good smile on first viewing and are audiences reacting to it pretty well? Yeah. Is being competitive with a VERY good BK corps and an improving Cavaliers corps a horrible thing? No. But I can understand why people who have marched and who know people who have marched and who are involved with the corps might be dissapointed. Phantom's not one of the most talked about, favorite, everybody loves it corps anymore. Corps like Crown and Bluecoats have started taking over that role in recent years. Those years are gone. They could very well come back again, but they're not here right now. Honestly this is an "if I haven't marched with Phantom or donated large amounts of money or am close" then I don't know what I'm talking about or don't have room kind of thing. I can understand being frustrated that Phantom's not competitive with the top 5 anymore. After years of becoming used to that, I think I can understand that. Nobody on here is going after the kids, that's fine. That's too far. Do I find some comments about the show being a total train wreck extreme? ABSOLUTELY. Either Phantom needs a big staff overhaul, or more likely, Phantom needs to step into new design territory. Recycling old music in choppier, overly embellished, not as good as the original ways with these recycled shallow themes isn't doing them any favors. That needs to stop NOW. I KNOW Don Hill is a good arranger, this guard staff has talent, Bret Kuhn knows what he is doing (just a lot of good drumlines this year), and I think Jeremy Hunt is an EXCELLENT visual designer. I just think their choice in shows and music is setting them up for disappointment from day one if they want to break into the top 5 again. I have a feeling that's coming from the top, because the staff has obvious talent. The members sure as hell have the talent. They need to do something fresh. Right now they NEED a 2004 - 2005 type show in that it's something we wouldn't typically associate with Phantom, but totally works. Take on some Modern Symphonies, Minimalist Music, SOMETHING new. I guess what I'm trying to say is...............A LOT of people nowadays like Phantom. But that's not okay. They should LOVE Phantom. That magic's not there anymore in my eyes. THIS! ---- also, when phantom did 1000 airplanes in the roof in 2007... that was just awesome. Am I the only one who would love to see phantom do an all phillip glass (or maybe even john adams) show with some very 'not typical phantom' theme? The arranger would need to be a stud to pull that off though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrumManTx Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 THIS! ---- also, when phantom did 1000 airplanes in the roof in 2007... that was just awesome. Am I the only one who would love to see phantom do an all phillip glass (or maybe even john adams) show with some very 'not typical phantom' theme? The arranger would need to be a stud to pull that off though. IMO Don Hill has the goods, he just needs the right music to work with. Phillip Glass and John Adams have TONS of stuff to work with, Bluecoats have shown that kind of music can really work. One composer that I think could really be special for someone like Phantom or Crown, though I know he doesn't let anyone arrange his Band Literature, is Maslanka. Totally fits with a kinda classic vibe that's modern. I could totally hear Phantom using source music like that. Disclaimer, I'm not saying that the past few shows have been terrible by any means, I mean there's a lot of corps that would want to have those problems. Just think they're a move in a new direction away from reinventing themselves. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lincoln Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) Just trying to be a little positive. Usually enjoy what you have to say.................jeez. :( You - who expressed in a user update that you needed to get away from DCP? I can understand that message and it was in a small section of DCP on the side of my screen. I don't need things enlarged to understand someone else's thoughts as if the larger it is the more I will pay attention to it. Edited July 23, 2015 by Lincoln Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdaddy Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 You - who expressed in a user update that you needed to get away from DCP? I can understand that message and it was in a small section of DCP on the side of my screen. I don't need things enlarged to understand someone else's thoughts as if the larger it is the more I will pay attention to it. Haha - yes, this thread is getting to be a drag. I don't know about a Glass-only show, but I'd love to see Glass make another appearance in a Regiment program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lincoln Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Haha - yes, this thread is getting to be a drag. I don't know about a Glass-only show, but I'd love to see Glass make another appearance in a Regiment program. Not a fan of Regiment doing Glass. Did not like 2007. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cappybara Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Not a fan of Regiment doing Glass. Did not like 2007. How can one not like 2007?! Lol totally rhetorical of course. 2007 is one of my favorites. But I have a lot of favorites when it comes to Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lincoln Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) How can one not like 2007?! Lol totally rhetorical of course. 2007 is one of my favorites. But I have a lot of favorites when it comes to Phantom The only thing I loved about 2007 was the keyboard intro Vespertine Formations (sp?). The rest I was not fond of but I know it was well done. And before anyone mentions it - JD and Paul R are gone. Does it take a 12-step program to realize and accept that fact? Edited July 23, 2015 by Lincoln Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cappybara Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 The only thing I loved about 2007 was the keyboard intro Vespertine Formations (sp?). The rest I was not fond of but I know it was well done. And before anyone mentions it - JD and Paul R are gone. Does it take a 12-step program to realize and accept that fact? That doesn't mean that the corps should move away from its identity. The corps makes the identity, not the staff. Phantom should continue trying out classical music (and I say that in the broadest terms possible, as there is a very vast repertoire of music to choose from) because that IS their identity. Don Hill isn't an awful arranger either, it's just that the shows currently being designed aren't giving him much to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general_tsos_chicken2 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 The only thing I loved about 2007 was the keyboard intro Vespertine Formations (sp?). The rest I was not fond of but I know it was well done. And before anyone mentions it - JD and Paul R are gone. Does it take a 12-step program to realize and accept that fact? yes :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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