The Dreams of Men

The Dreams of Men Artist: Pallas
Label: Inside Out U.S.
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 693723485522
EAN: 0693723485522
ASIN: B000AY9OUS


Release Date: 2005-10-27

The Dreams of Men


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Categories | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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Categories | Rock | Styles | Music
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Categories | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
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Categories | Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

  1. The Bringer Of Dreams
  2. Warriors
  3. Ghostdancers
  4. Too Close To The Sun
  5. Messiah
  6. Northern Star
  7. Mr. Wolfe
  8. Invincible
  9. The Last Angel

Similar Items:

  1. Second Life Syndrome
  2. Photoplay
  3. Paradox Hotel
  4. The Cross & The Crucible
  5. Milliontown

Album Description

The Scottish band Pallas are one of the best representatives of sophisticated British progressive rock. Their releases are always something really special. They create in their own studio, located in the heart of the beautiful countryside of Aberdeen, stunning songs with impressive lyrics. On their new opus, the lyrics are about everyone's dreams but due to people's social background they vary. The Dreams of Men, on the whole, stands for this variety. The new Pallas album is a demonstration of contemporary progressive rock with a powerful and modern sound!

Album Details

The Scottish Band Pallas is One of the Best Representatives of Sophisticated British Progressive Rock. Their Releases Are Always Something Really Special. They Create in their Own Studio, Located in the Heart of the Beautiful Countryside of Aberdeen, Stunning Songs with Impressive Lyrics. On their New Opus, the Lyrics Are About Everyone's Dreams but Due to People's Social Background They Vary. `the Dreams of Men', on the Whole, Stands for this Variety. The New Pallas Album is a Demonstration of Contemporary Progressive Rock with a Powerful and Modern Sound!

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Self condolences.......2007-03-02

I am truly sorry I bought this CD after the travisty that was the last one I bought. I apologize to myself. There, there.

3 out of 5 stars Dreams of Men somewhat of a nightmare.......2006-08-18

When I refer to nightmare, I don't mean that in a good way either. This album tries to accomplish too much at the same time. There are moments of poetic beauty, especially the opening suite. These sadly are short-lived. The album never quite finds a direction, though it desperately tries, leaving you in a realm of confusion and frustration. Just when you think they're getting it together, they meander in a meaningless direction. That is not to say this album does not have some good qualities to it, but it comes off more as a work in progress than a satisfying finished product.

5 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece!!!!!!.......2006-04-23

This is a magnificent work of art. The result is a delight to my senses. What an amazing sound. Undeniably, it should be purchased by all progressive fans. The combination of keyboards, drums and guitar is amazing. BUY IT!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars PALLAS - INVINCIBLE NEO.......2006-02-18

Scotland's Pallas were once part of the U.K. art-rock scene of the early 80's along with Marillion,IQ, Pendragon and Twelvth Night, and return here with one of the top records of 2005 in the often called 'neo-prog' genre. Four years has passed since their excellent 'Cross & The Crucible' album from 2001, and although Pallas releases are few and far between, it is often worth the wait.

'Dreams Of Men' continues in the more symphonic direction they embarked on when they first returned to active service in 1998 with their 'Beat the Drum' album, and here they waste no time making up for lost time with a solid- though lengthy- 70+ minutes of cinematic and melodic rock which goes through many moods and textures ranging from dramatic orchestral washes to heavier, almost prog-metal guitar bite. This is modern Neo with some meat on the bones, and though this lengthy disc is filled to the end with music, it's solid and still merits repeat listenings. Lyrically, 'Dreams' has a loose concept about, well, the dreams of mankind- what drives us, our hearts desires, our darkests fears and anxieties. Cheery stuff, I know, and occasionally preachy, but the songs stand alone, so any linking thread can be irrelevant. The album starts off powerful, but the best material is towards the end.

The line-up remains the same as ever: guitarist Niall Mathewson, keyboardist Ronnie Brown, drummer Colin Fraser, Graeme Murray playing some fine Chris Squire-esque bass and of course vocalist Alan Reed. The artwork is excellent, though that one band photo is a bit eerie. The songs:

THE BRINGER OF DREAMS: An orchestral intro opens the circus of dreams, finally breaking through with powerful guitar, and drags you through ten minutes of prime Pallas. All the trademarks of their last album 'Cross & The Crucible' come to the table here, a solid opener and a good taster for what both this album and Pallas are about.

WARRIORS: Rush-like guitar opens this rocker about the dreams of the fanatical 'holy warrior', the type who would, say, ram a hijacked plane into a building of innocents who never saw it coming. A more guitar-driven track.

GHOSTDANCERS: a violin opens this sombre track about the New World told from the point of view of first the immigrant and later, the Native American. With guest violin, some of this track has a distinct sound of American proggers Kansas. Powerful lyrics, though the chanting and gunshot sound at the end may have been an overdone cliche.

TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN: This one is a progressive rock lover's dream, going through some tasty instrumental flavors and changes. Special mention must go to the nice Emerson-style synthesizer bits from Ronnie Brown. I gather this song is about our natural flair for going too far in pursuit of our dreams and the inevitable consequences. 'Don't fly too close, the wax may melt'.

MESSIAH: A shorter and almost funky rock track similar to an earlier Pallas track called 'Dinosaur'. Murray's bass also reminds me of 'The Messenger' from Yes' 1999 album 'The Ladder'. I hear some Squire in there. I think this track is a dig at George Bush. There's guest female vocals at the end too.

NORTHERN STAR: a beautiful instrumental with nice guitar and atmospheric keyboards. Being an often vocal/lyric-oriented genre, there are precious few neo-prog instrumental moments, with the exception of some Pendragon and early IQ material. This is a reflective calm from the stormy songs around it, and a pleasant track indeed. No words are needed to convey that this track is meant to be about your(you the listener)own dreams and desires. When you wish upon a star...

MR. WOLFE: another shorter track(six minutes is short for Pallas)with a somewhat Gothic feel with use of some organ. This is probably about the selfishness of those whose dreams are material gains at the expense of others. This theme moves into the next track as well.

INVINCIBLE: the last two tracks on this album are astounding. This one is the longest and most involved track, separated into 'movements', and going through many dramatic sections. The sound of a machine-like percussion pattern repeats its way around Alan Reed declaring 'It's my life, and YOU CAN'T HAVE IT!'. This is not too unlike something from IQ's 'Seventh House' in places. Basically this one's about how we're all expected to be numbers, living robotic lives endlessly working and pumping money into our credit cards while chasing unattainable goals and going along with whatever corporations feed us. Yet invincible if we dare to break out.

THE LAST ANGEL: an emotional anthem closes this disc, one with all the trademarks of some of the best melodic Neo elements. It starts as a mellow almost Peter Gabriel-like slow theme(think Biko, but that's stretching it), and goes through a Hackett-like guitar bit, an Arena-like dark section, and a powerful anthemic close with additional female vocals. A powerful closer, play this one loud. I believe this may be about an Angel who comes to help mankind, only to find nothing worth saving. However this album is worth saving for your collection, and stands with Arena's 'Pepper's Ghost', Pendragon's 'Believe' and Kino's 'Picture' as best Neo albums of 2005.

Also- the 'special edition' comes with a second disc, also stuffed to the guts with 70+ minutes of music, which features remixes of some album tracks, instrumental tracks(very tasty) and another version of 'Fragments Of The Sun' from the 'Beat The Drum' album. Of course get the two disc version and enjoy.

5 out of 5 stars

Music Album:

  1. Amused to Death ~ Roger Waters
  2. Hunters & Collectors ~ Hunters & Collectors [Collection]
  3. In the Fishtank, Vol. 11 ~ The Black Heart Procession , and Solbakken
  4. Escape from Rubbish Island ~ The Wonder Stuff
  5. Absolutely-Story of a Girl
  6. The Manfred Mann Album/My Little Red Book of Winners ~ Manfred Mann
  7. The Best of Hot Tuna ~ Hot Tuna
  8. Empire Builders ~ Jason Ringenberg
  9. Akron/Family & Angels of Light ~ Akron , Family , and Angels of Light
  10. Bad Vibes ~ Lloyd Cole

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

What Is Hip?: The Tower of Power Anthology ~ Tower of Power

Cat's Cradle ~ Mary Dipaola-Davis

Tropicana Nights ~ Paquito d'Rivera

Hamburg V.1 ~ Hot Jazz Meeting

Jamba ~ Jack Wilkins, Phil Woods

Live in New York ~ Archie Shepp, Roswell Rudd

Africa on the Move ~ Obo Addy & Kukrudu, Dumisani Maraire & Minanzi III, Suleyman Faye, I.K.

Hits of Spain ~ Various Artists

World Trance

Uchu No Kodomo ~ Hiroko Taniyama