| Band
Members: |
Erik Norlander / keyboards, vocals
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Mark McCrite / vocals, guitars
|
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Don Schiff / NS/Stick, Chapman
Stick, bass guitars |
Lana Lane / vocals |
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Tommy Amato / drums |
Greg Ellis / drums and percussions
|
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Lana Lane
/ vocals |
and many other guest musicians
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Disc
One: Looking Backward - The 2007 Sessions (2007):
2007
Sessions CD total running time . . . 76:23
|
Disc
Two: Oblivion Days (1999, remastered in 2007):
Oblivion
Days CD total running time . . . 67:43
|
| Track
Listing: |
1.)- Dark Water Part
One [4:32] - new 2007 recording |
1.)- Dark Water Part
Three: Neptune's Sun [1:46] |
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2.)-Earthbound [6:12] - new 2007
recording |
2.)-Aqua Vitae [6:28] |
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3.)-Picture Show [8:46]
- new 2007 recording |
3.)-Oblivion Days
[7:07] |
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4.)- Pythagoras (Unbound)
[3:54] - new 2007 recording |
4.)- Archimedes [5:38]
|
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5.)-Minstrel Saviour
[7:28] - new 2007 recording |
5.)-Banquo's Ghost
[6:00] |
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6.)-When Sorrow Falls [5:13] -
new 2007 recording |
6.)-Space 1999 [4:38] |
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7.)-Carry Me Home [5:18] - new
2007 recording |
7.)- Escape [10:02] |
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8.)-Escape [10:01] - 2007 remix,
previously unreleased |
8.)-Compass Variation [3:59] -
1999 Japanese edition bonus track |
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9.)-Break the Silence [6:01] -
2007 remix |
9.)-Break the Silence [6:01] |
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10.)- Mariner [7:31]
- Kelly Keeling vocal version from 2003 |
10.)-Dark Water Part
Four: Heavy Water [4:44] |
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11.)- Earthbound Reprise
[2:16] - new 2000 / 2007 recording |
11.)-Wake Me Up -
Live in Tokyo 1999 [6:22] - 1999 edition bonus track |
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12.)-Dark Water Part
Five [6:36] - new 2007 recording |
12.)-Stardust - MM96
Mix [4:55] - 1999 European edition bonus track |
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13.)-Dark Water Part Six [2:12]
- new 2007 recording |
|
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Disc
Three: Brutal Architecture (1995, remastered in 2007):
Brutal
Architecture CD total running time . . . 69:50
|
Disc
Four: Earthbound (1993, remastered in 2007):
Earthbound
CD total running time . . . 57:46 DVD (NTSC Region Free):
Looking Backward (2007):
|
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1.)- Dark Water Part
One [4:12] |
1.)- Earthbound [4:57]
|
| |
2.)-Wake Me Up [5:44] |
2.)-Down Trodden [3:30] |
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3.)-Copernicus [2:53]
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3.)-Picture Show [4:59]
|
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4.)- Brutal Architecture
[6:20] |
4.)- No More Lies
[4:28] |
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5.)-Nether [4:04]
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5.)-Killing Joke [3:46]
|
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6.)-Dark Water Part Two [1:39]
|
6.)-Avalon [4:05] |
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7.)-The Fall of Icarus [6:30]
|
7.)-Welcome to the Machine [4:48]
|
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8.)-Resolution [7:31] |
8.)-Minstrel Saviour [6:09] |
| |
9.)-Rainy Days & Pastel Grays
[7:13] |
9.)-When Sorrow Falls [3:46] |
| |
10.)-Millennium 3
[7:16] |
10.)-Calm Before the
Storm [4:27] |
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11.)-Mariner [11:31]
|
11.)-Pythagoras [0:57]
|
| |
12.)-Stardust [4:57]
- 1996 Japanese edition bonus track |
12.)-Temple of Pain [3:58] |
| |
|
13.)Carry Me Home [4:12] |
| |
|
14.)To the Edge of the World -
1993 Demo [3:42] - previously unreleased bonus track |
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|
|
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LOOKING BACKWARD" Feature [102
min.] -DVD |
DVD total running time . . . approx.
1 hour, 48 minutes |
| |
1.)- Dark Water Part
One |
9.)-Interview segment
|
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2.)-Earthbound |
10.)- When Sorrow
Falls |
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3.)-Interview segment
|
11.)-Interview segment
|
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4.)- Picture Show
|
12.)- Dark Water Part Five |
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5.)-Interview segment
|
13.)Dark Water Part Six / End
Titles |
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6.)-Pythagoras (Unbound) |
|
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7.)-Interview segment |
|
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8.)-Minstrel Saviour
|
|
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DVD
SPECIAL FEATURES: |
|
| |
"AN
AFTERNOON WITH EMMETT CHAPMAN" Featurette [25 min.] |
"A
BRIEF HISTORY OF ROCKET SCIENCE" Candid Studio Footage 1993-2007
[21 min.] |
| |
There are surprises and then there are SURPRISES. I came
home the other day to find a big fat package from the Serge
Entertainment Group on my desk. Wondering what it could be
I tore into the package to discover the latest offering from
the Rocket Scientists. The aptly titled Looking Backward box
set contains their first three releases all superbly remastered,
along with a fourth disc entitled The 2007 Sessions where
the band have taken tracks from each of their earlier releases
and re-worked them in some fashion either extending the track,
or whatever. Then to cap it off the set includes a DVD which
features most of the 2007 session tracks performed “live”
in the studio along with an extended interview where the members
talk about the band’s history going so far as to explain how
many of their compositions actually came together. It’s an
insightful and enjoyable viewing experience. There are also
two shorter films, one entitled “An Afternoon with Emmett
Chapman” where we find out how the “Stick” works and another
film that’s a collection of studio home movies showing the
band in various stages from 1993 to 2007.***
Just in case you’ve been living under a rock or perhaps
are new to the progressive rock genre, let me fill you in.
The Rocket Scientists hail out of California and consist of
Erik Norlander (keyboards), Mark McCrite (guitars, vocals)
and Don Schiff (NS/Stick, Chapman Stick). The trio is supplemented
by Greg Ellis (drums, percussion) and Tommy Amato (drums).
Musically the Rocket Scientists symphonic style doesn’t really
sound like anybody else, although there are times where the
keyboards do have a Keith Emerson ring, and that’s a good
thing. Their compositions run the gamut from short atmospheric
pieces to longer 10-minute songs. If there is anything that
makes their style unique it’s the band’s ability to craft
a powerful melody into all their music, long or short. Add
to this McCrite’s amazing vocals and every track is quite
amazing. There is a nice blend of acoustic and electric guitars,
fat sounding analog synths and incredible bass textures from
the stick. This is music that sticks with you a long time,
and yet for all it’s accessibility the music contains a fair
bit of complex musicianship with the band changing instruments
and structures throughout a piece.***
Now as if that wasn’t enough the set comes with an amazing
64 page full colour booklet featuring all the original CD
images, liner notes and lyrics. These are complemented by
a host of new photos and band information. Here’s a breakdown
of the remastered discs included in Looking Backward:***
Earthbound (1993) – This disc has a running time of 57:46
and includes one bonus track.***
Brutal Architecture (1995) – This disc has a running
time of 69:50 and includes a bonus track from the 1996 Japanese
reissue. ***
Oblivion Days (1999) – This disc has a running time of
67:43 and includes two bonus tracks from previous reissues.***
The 2007 Sessions (2007) – This disc has a running time
of 76:23 and includes 10 new studio versions and 3 remixed
versions of compositions from the band’s past catalog.***
Looking Backward DVD (2007) – This disc’s main feature
runs 102 minutes with two shorter videos, one 25-minutes and
the other 21-minutes.***
As one who only had the Rocket Scientists second disc
Brutal Architecture in the collection the Looking Backward
box set is a real eye-opener to the talent that exists in
this band. I mean we’ve all heard about either the band or
their solo efforts, but having the opportunity to hear each
of these releases remastered and in some cases re-done is
quite amazing. Having the DVD is just the icing on the cake.
This is a no-brainer to add to the collection. Looking Backward
is an amazing set that has been spending a lot of time on
my player and will for the foreseeable future. If you’re into
symphonic prog this set is Highly Recommended.***
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