Huge fan of TSO, and always strange to me how few bands like them there are out there.
But I found this one: Symphony North. I really like them. They have an album out named Father, Christmas. Sounds like it's going to expand, too.
I think you can sample their music here:
www.symphonynorth.com
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Merry all-year Christmas!
(01-10-2018, 06:03 AM)Knight Wrote: [ -> ]Huge fan of TSO, and always strange to me how few bands like them there are out there.
But I found this one: Symphony North. I really like them. They have an album out named Father, Christmas. Sounds like it's going to expand, too.
I think you can sample their music here: www.symphonynorth.com
Merry all-year Christmas!
I just discovered them last year, and ever since, they've become part of my holiday tradition and music rotation. They're really amazing and the story is just wonderful.
I just discovered Symphony North recently. While they get zero points for originality (they're blatantly trying to be TSO), I do like their "Bell Ringer" album. Overall, I think it's a stronger effort than the past couple of TSO albums. My one issue with their songwriting is that it occasionally has a bit TOO much going on, to the point where the song structure sometimes feels a bit random. But the musicianship is excellent, and the singers are all impressive. Nice to hear Jody Ashworth on a few tracks again, too. Since my first TSO album was BLN, he was the guy I associated as the voice of TSO for a long time, despite the fact that I don't think he ever toured with them.
The full album is on Spotify for anyone who's interested in checking it out.
(12-24-2020, 05:54 AM)Mangar Wrote: [ -> ]I just discovered Symphony North recently. While they get zero points for originality (they're blatantly trying to be TSO), I do like their "Bell Ringer" album.
Totally agree here. It sounds so much like a TSO-wannabee. There were a few songs I thought were ok, but this was so unoriginal. I do like Majestica, Gary Hoey and Wizards of Winter Christmas albums though.
(12-24-2020, 06:47 AM)MikeNY Wrote: [ -> ] (12-24-2020, 05:54 AM)Mangar Wrote: [ -> ]I just discovered Symphony North recently. While they get zero points for originality (they're blatantly trying to be TSO), I do like their "Bell Ringer" album.
Totally agree here. It sounds so much like a TSO-wannabee. There were a few songs I thought were ok, but this was so unoriginal. I do like Majestica, Gary Hoey and Wizards of Winter Christmas albums though.
The Majestica album starts out great then goes off a cliff about midway through for me. The Wizards are great. They have improved with each album. The latest album is stellar. Gary Hoey hasn't done a new Christmas album in years either but his stuff is fantastic. You also couldn't meet a nicer guy. I have seen him perform dozens of times.
One issue I'm having with the Symphony North album now is that it's just too long. I posted my previous reply when I was only about halfway through it, but jeez, this thing just keeps going and going! In that sense, it suffers the same problem as Night Castle. Some editing could go a long way to improving both albums. There's some good music, but it starts to get a bit bogged down by all the excess after a while.