Ranking the Studio Albums: Arena
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- Join hosts Pete Pardo & Steven Reid as they rank the studio albums of longtime British progressive rock act Arena. #arena
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Thank you for your Ranking the albums of Arena!!🎤🎸🎵🥁
The way Pete's shelves line up on screen almost makes it look like him and Steven are in the same room.
You're right it does!
I thought they were, making me feel a bit embarrassed even if the distance between them in that case would have been OK I guess. Then I heard Steven's accent lol. He could of course live close to Pete's home but I assume he does not. :)
True. He could live close to Pete. I don't know where Steve is from originally. His accent sounds like either a Scottish or a Geordie accent. The Geordie accent is spoken in the Northeast part of England. The lead singer of AC/DC, Brian Johnson, has a strong Geordie accent.
@@gemini2012100 Scottish is my guess, but the accent reminds me of both Robert Carlyle as he sounds in Trainspotting, and another Geordie, Jimmy Nail. But I'm certainly not an expert, being a Swede my accent is closer to the Swedish chef in the Muppet Show. :)
A clarification: With "another geordie" I'm referring to Brian Johnson, not Robert Carlyle who was born in Glasgow, like Angus, Malcolm and Stevie Young.
Fantastic band! I love all their albums, studio and live. I’ve been a big fan ever since «Welcome to the Stage» came out in 97. Impossible to rank, but «The Visitor» is my absolute favorite. I own everything they’ve released, and there’s not one weak album!
Steven, you are informative and entertaining. Well done every time you’re on.
Thanks for that Kevin. Hugely appreciated!
@@TranquilityFireReid Hi Steven, the guitarist's name is Keith More, not Kevin. Sadly he has got a terminal illness and he has set up a CZcams channel for posterity which includes loads of information about his career. If any of you SoT guy's have never heard his Guitar Stories CD, then you should check it out as it is fantastic. I briefly met him at the NEC when he was playing on a demo stand and bought the CD then (late 90's) it is a brilliant instrumental album. He's a lovely guy and deserves his music to be listened to, as like much other music, it got lost in the ether at the time. Cheers.
@@m.b-ee8815 Apologies, I must have had a brain meltdown there. Sorry to hear about Keith's illness. Thanks for the head's up on his Guitar Stories CD I'll give that a listen. Thanks!
@@TranquilityFireReid Cheers Steven, I think he's a fellow Scotsman too.
Pete, you alongside Steven Reid do a great job with these rankings and reviews. You're both knowledgeable, articulate and passionate about the bands and the music. Steven's analysis and thoughts really perfectly complement your takes on the catalogues as well. I really enjoy the banter and discussion. These are particularly great when Steven is on with you and you've made some of the best Sea of Tranquillity videos with him. I look forward to Haken!
Brain Stormer Agree 100%!
Thank you Brain Stormer!
I will never forget the impact the first album had. Absolutely classic. Note: Mr Reid is my favorite co-host! Such a nice guy and he sure knows his stuff.
Thank you for the support!
@@TranquilityFireReid Note2: as co-European, I do enjoy your view on music. SoT is my favourite channel but the American view and perception on certain music is clearly different than 'ours'. (Power Metal and neo-prog in particular). Keep up the good work! Grtz from somewhere in Belgium.
@@TranquilityFireReid It's Keith More Stephen, not Kevin. Talking of which, if you get a minute please check out Keith's CZcams channel which he has created as a legacy, as he has very sadly got a terminal illness. The channel is called how to alternate pick and much much more czcams.com/channels/En1_CE6UKUdF2CEaSGVwNQ.html. I met Keith in the 90's at a guitar exhibition (NEC I think) where he was playing on a demo stand. Not only was a very nice guy, but he was playing tracks from his cd Guitar Stories and it was absolutely fantastic and I bought a copy from him there and then. If any of the SoT guy's haven't heard it, then they need to If they like great instrumental guitar music. He has put the whole cd on there and loads of other info about what he did after and before arena. He suggests a donation to a charity which he has put links to, if you have enjoyed the content. Cheers mate.
Good show, listening to arena now! Because of you chaps, thanks for the show.
One of the best band ever. Looking forward to this a long time, not a weak album. 1: The Visitor, 2: Immortal, 3, Double Vision, 4: Contagion, 5, Pepper’s Ghost, 6 The Seventh Degree of Seperation, 7: The Unquiet Sky, 8, Pride, 9, Songs from the Lions Cage
1. Songs from the Lions Cage
2. Pride
3. The Visitor
4. Immortal
5. Pepper's Ghost
6. The Seventh Degree of Seperation
7. The Unquiet Sky
8. Double Vision
9. Contagion
The reason bands like this are unknown is because of Radio.
It's shows like this where you can still discover this music.
Contagion is my favorite followed by Immortal? and then The Visitor. The rest flip flop constantly. Really good catalog.
I have had a jones for Fish era Marillion for a while. I know what I'm going to be checking out on CZcams and will have my credit card fired up to purchase some new music (to my ears anyway). I have to say that that this program and the Alter Bridge one have been the most enjoyable programs that you have produced. You and Steve acted like you were having a ball and it was very infectious to me. Great great content. Cheers.
Thanks Scott. Great to hear that it looks like we are having a ball doing these... because we are!
My favorite prog band for a long time now ( together with Mystery & Pendragon) and I agree with you Pete. They did fill the gap Marillion did leave behind in the 90's for me as well. Funny that I do agree and disagree with both of your rankings. It will show in my list:
1. Contagion ( my favorite album of all time maybe)
2. The Visitor
3. Welcome to the Cage
4. Immortal?
5. Pepper's Ghost
6. Pride
7. Double Vision
8. The Unquiet Sky
9. The Seventh Degree of Separation
Not a bad album in their catalogue ( same as Threshold and I agree with you Steven about how Damian will fit into Arena!)
Superb...you two are great reviewers!!
Keep up the good work👍🥁
Pete and Steven - yet another great show and thumbs up on the opening duet. Another band for homework time and looking forward to that by starting with the top two from each of you. Thanks again and looking forward to your next show together.
Great Prog band! Steven Reid is enthusiastic and well-informed as always 🤘Hope you guys do a show on Jadis as well. My Arena Ranking:
1- Contagion - Their Best, all killer no filler
2- Pride - "Empire Of A Thousand Days" is an excellent track with great lyrics about religious extremism.
3- The Seventh Degree Of Seperation - Paul Manzi is killing it on vocals
4- The Visitor - "The Hanging Tree" is one of their Best tunes
5- The Unquiet Sky
6- Pepper's Ghost
7- Immortal?
8- Double Vision - Paradise Of Thieves 🔥🔥🔥
9- Songs From The Lions Cage (still some good tunes here and there on their Debut - "Valley Of The Kings" is a killer track)
You forgot to put your ranking :P
@@isaacgabrielvalbuena2896 😂😂😂 I just edited it 😉😉😉
@@LuchaLibertaria lmao
Yes indeed! I just received the DVD Arena XX , 2015 with vocalist Paul Manzi. Posting this on December, 29th 2022 I'm a late fan however this unit is Very impressive but yes I absolutely love the first 2 and The Visitor.
I found about Arena by chance. Browsing through CDs at the music store I saw an interesting cover, the Pepper's Ghost limited edition booklet. Had a quick listen and liked it very much. Not easy to find in Portuguese record stores, so I didn't got any other album, only now with the help of CZcams and Spotify I'm descovering their other albuns. Because Pepper's Ghost was the first thing I heard from Arena, I'm having trouble enjoying the records that aren't with Rob Sowden on vocals. I'll keep trying :)
Great show! I enjoy ranking the albuns very much! And do tend to rank my albuns in a very similar way as Steven does! So if Steven puts an album at number 1, I'm sure I'll enjoy it!
I've only just found this video! It's great to hear what other Arena fans think of their albums. I also discovered them with the Classic Rock CD! A Crack In The Ice 🧊 completely blew me away!! It still does today and The Visitor is my number 1 album of their's! I don't have 7th Degree yet (not sure why!) And I MUST get Contagion Max!! Both to be added to my collection at some point! I'm really looking forward to the new album and fingers crossed, their tour in October after 2 cancellations! I was gutted Paul Manzi left the band, he was my favourite! 😔 But it'll be interesting to hear what Damien Wilson has to offer! I need my Arena fix!!
Here is my ranking:
1. Contagion 2003
2. Immortal? 2000
3. The Unquiet Sky 2015
4. Pepper's Ghost 2005
5. The Visitor 1998
6. The Seventh Degree Of Separation 2011
7. Pride 1996
8. Songs from the Lion's Cage 1995
9. Double Vision 2018
To me, Contagion is a very close 2nd to The Visitor. Very unique and outstanding music.
Great ranking, very interesting thougths on some albums! :) Please do a Frost ranking - they didn’t record too much (3 studio albums), but all this stuff is oustanding!!! I’ m very interesting what you are thinkig about this band :)
First heard this band about 8 years back Peppers Ghost album, which is still my favourite, although saying that th is is a hard ranking.
2. The Visitor, 3. Immortal? , 4. Contagion, 5.The Unquiet Sky, 6. Double Vision, 7. Seventh Degree of Separation, 8. Pride, 9. Songs from the Lions cage.
Love this band, who also have some excellent live albums and dvds.
Around the same time as I got into Arena, I also discovered Threshold and enjoyed that ranking show, and another new band to me at that time was Ten with their Babylon album, another band with a strong consistent catalogue that's ripe for a ranking show.
Peppers Ghost has my all time favorite Arena song, Tantalus.
@@louvegas1048 Great song.
Great show gentlemen, I've just discovered these guys recently and picked up "Songs from the Lions Cage", I'm absolutely smitten with that record definitely can't wait to discover the rest of their discography.
Thanks for Arena Pete. Your ranking is spot on but I’d put Visitor as my No. 1. How about ranking Clive Nolan’s other band, Pendragon?
Thomas Beck Exactly!
Great to see someone else has `Pride` at number 1. Nice one Pete! The first thing I heard by Arena was `Sirens` which I caught by accident whilst walking past a radio at work. It was the Alan Freeman show and it really caught my ear!(Thanks Alan!) Saw them at the London Astoria promoting `The Visitor` album which was a really good gig. Had a nice quick chat with Mick Pointer on another night at the same venue though I can`t remember exactly but it might have been a Pendragon gig? I know many fans love it but I`ve always struggled to get into `Immortal?`. Think it was because I heard `The Butterfly Man` on a free music sampler first and really liked it. Unfortunately for me it turned out to be the strongest track on the album so felt a little let down with the rest of the songs on that one. Oh well. Best to worst..
1.Pride
2.Songs From The Lions Cage
3.The Visitor
4.Contagion
5.Peppers Ghost
6.Immortal?
I only have those six but from the listens I`ve had so far on you tube etc I`d put the next three like this..
7.The Unquiet Sky
8.Double Vision
9.The Seventh Degree of Separation
Hugh Syme designed both Immortal? and The Visitor. He definitely has his own style. Worked with him at my old ad agency. Nice guy and gave me some cool insight to the covers of both Moving Pictures and Signals was cool.
Just picked up Pepper Ghost today, it's a fantastic album. It even got a third and fourth listen.
Finally got all the arena albums, brilliant thanks to Steve and Peter for doing this show, still can't believe I missed this band! Thanks 👍
Contagion is a solid masterpiece.
Pete...I never heard of Arena, so I’m in heaven right now. I’m really loving this band. By the way wondering why they keep changing singers. The singer on Double Vision is phenomenal. Really the only album I’ve heard so far so I’m missing this singer already.. Glad to have a new Prog band to explore.....thanks
Arena are now a band I simply can't stop listening to. not one duff album and at least one track on each album that reduces me to hair-swaying blubbering wreck. Insanely fantastic!!!!!
Thanks for the head’s up! Arena sounds great! I’ll be putting in a lot of time listening to them. 🎸
I saw Arena last year in Aschaffenburg a small city close to Frankfurt. Great Concert underrated band.
Saw Arena with John Mitchell at the Borderline in Soho, London must have been 2014. Paul Mansi singing. John Mitchell had two broken fingers on his left hand (something about letting a cat out?) and he was still amazing
Thank you Pete, based on my love for Pendragon and Clive's keyboard work on a flyer I chose the Double Vision album and I love it. Very dark and atmospheric. Love the vibe and the vocals of Paul Manzi. I actually had a FB chat with Clive and he recommended The Visitor and Seventh Degree to order next.
Only got into Arena with the release of Double Vision, so that's my favourite, followed by Lion's Cage and Seventh Degree. Was hoping you guys would give me a really clear idea of which one to hit next, but it sounds like I'm just gonna have to check out all of 'em, oh well!
As I said in my comment, you can't go wrong with any or all of them.My top two are The Unquiet Sky and The Visitor.
Wonder if you should’ve held off until we see what Damian Wilson does with them. Interesting combination.
1.) The Visitor
2.) Immortal?
3.) Contagion
4.) Pepper’s Ghost
5.) Double Vision
Can't argue with that Eric. I hope it all comes together magnificently for them with Damian.
Nothing better than Fish Era Marillion Style. Favorite. Mosley & Pointer are among my favorite drummers
Excellent, Pete. I'm a drummer and played live with Clive Nolan two times when he came to Argentina with Caamora and without musicians. He is such a good player. By the way, really looking forward to seeing you ranking IQ studio albums. That should be interesting. Stay safe!
I've seen Arena live a number of times over the years and for me they are one of the best bprog rock bands to come out of Britian and they keep on getting better with every listen. Thanks for ranking these albums, you did a great job as always and keep up the good work
1.The Visitor
2. Double Vision
3. The Unquiet Sky
4. Contagion
5. Pepper's Ghost
6. The Seventh Degree Of Separation
7. Pride
8. Songs from the Lion's Cage
9. Immortal?
Just listened to contagion. Great album. Where did that Arena go? Also Mitchells solo at the end of the song The Visitor is still one of my fav guitar solos of all time. Time for an IQ ranking chaps!
1. Pride
2. The Visitor
3. Songs from the Lion's Cage
Saw them live with both Pauls and Rob, very different styles but all excellent.
Saw Paul Manzi with The Sweet earlier this year - absolutely knocked it out the park, really really good.
My list from least favorite to favorite:
8. Pepper's Ghost
7. The Seventh Degree of Separation
6. The Unquiet Sky
5. Pride
4. Contagion
3. Imortal?
2. The Visitor
1. Songs from the Lion's Cage
It pains me to place Pride at 5 because I love that disk. But the Arena discography is so strong, and the two before it are so good, that I cannot justify placing it in the 3rd spot.
Love Arena. The Butterfly Man gives me chills. I'm going to have to start paying you royalties for the Ilium shirt Pete :)
All their albums are great. The only ones I don't have are Immortal? and Double Vision, the ones with the worst covers, lol.
Saw them for the first time last year (they opened with Welcome to the Cage) and they're just as good live.
In relation to something you mentioned, it was only a small venue (Academy 3, Manchester UK), which was good because I got to see them up close (& at a reasonable price), but on the other hand they deserve to be playing bigger places (but that's not up to me).
My ranking :
1. The Unquiet Sky.
2. The Visitor.
3. Songs from the Lion's Cage.
4. Pepper's Ghost.
5. Contagion.
6. The Seventh Degree of Separation.
7. Pride.
8. Immortal?
9. Double Vision.
But you can't go wrong if you get any or all of them.
B)
Pete and Steve: Actually, I am curious how Damian will fit into this band. I prefer Damian in the neo-prog camp. His work with Landmarq was very good. He fits the style very well. For a preview try "The Vision Pit". "Infinity Parade" I do not have.
Updates: I just nearly finished listening to Landmarq's "The Vision Pit" again. Honestly, gentlemen, if Damian performs as well with Arena as he does here, he will fit into that band just fine. I like Damian in this role. I always thought his voice in Threshold was painful due to my tinnitus. I do not have a problem with his voice on this disk--and his performance here is stellar!
The only thing I've heard y these guys is "Pride". It's not my go-to genre of music, but I'm always looking for something new (new for me, that is) to listen to.
Thanks, Pete & Steven!
My stuff is still packed away from moving, but I think I only have up to The Visitor. Man, I need to revisit this catalog.
My favourite 3 are The Visitor, Contagion and Songs From the Lions' Cage.
Mick Pointer is such a fantastic drummer. He's sort of 1-2-3/10 of a second off which takes it to another and higher level.
Hi - Question: Is it possible to read Pet‘s rankings from the different bands on any webpage?
9. Unquiet Sky
8. Lion's cage
7. Pepper'sGhost
6 Double Vision
5Contagion
4 Pride
3 7th Degree
2 Immortal
1 the Visitor
I enjoyed this video a lot as someone who has ignored Arena for much too long, as well as other "neo-prog" bands.
How about you and Steven doing a top 20 neo prog albums to help put the output of these bands into context.
Even better would be an extended series of top 5 prog albums of the year, starting in the late 60s.
I share the belief of others that the channel has become too focused on metal at the expense of prog, although I appreciate there's a crossover section that is too loud for me.
Keith More has Guitar clips of his best highlights on youtube, he talks about what it takes to become a disciplined guitarist.
When I went to Athens Greece, I went inside a record store and they had CDs of every Prog Neo-Prog bands, I almost bought the Contagion (2003) then I realized I needed to by their early albums and really listen to their catalogue. Excellent rankings keep it up! Will you rank I.Q. as well?
Yes, Steven and I will be doing IQ soon!
I’ll be looking forward to IQ. Really wonder what was going to happen after Orford left, but man they’re just getting better. Last year’s Resistance was incredible and easily my favorite from last year. Spoiler: Subterranea will probably be number 1.
1) The Visitor
2) Pepper’s Ghost
3) Contagion
4) Immortal?
5) Pride
6) Songs from the Lion’s Cage
7) The Unquiet Sky
8) The Seventh Degree of Separation
9) Double Vision
Hey Pete, this is a suggestion of some bands to be ranked sometime in time: Little Feat, The Band, Fleetwood Mac, Spirit, Roxy Music, Pretty Things, Steve Miller Band, Focus, Bob Seger, Manfred Mann E. B., Hot Tuna, Bad Company, Mott the Hoople, Johnny Winter, Transatlantic, Foreigner, Toto, Weather Report ...
Toto has already been done. Foreigner, MMEB, Mott, Weather Report, FM, Focus, Roxy Music, Transatlantic, and Bad Company will all be coming at some point.
Just found this video...very interesting discussion! My rankings are more in line with Steven's list, Contagion, The Visitor, Pepper's Ghost and Immortal are my favourite albums!
I haven't listened to the newest album much because, unfortunately for me, I don't enjoy Damian Wilson's singing and I don't think he fits Arena.
My order.
9.
8. Double Vision
7. Pepper's Ghost
6.Immortal?
5. Seventh Degree of Separation.
4. Contagion
3. The Visitor
2. Songs from the lions cage
1. Pride
9. The unquiet sky
Maybe I have missed it... but I have never heard you talk about IT BITES. In 2006, I saw 'It Bites' live in Cumbria with John Mitchell standing in for the great Frankie Dunnery. Anyway... It Bites's 'Eat me in St Louis' is as good as it gets!!!!
This band is quite near and dear to me much like an IQ, but thank you so much for giving these guys a look.
Also, I’m so excited for Damian Wilson at the mic helm! Pretty cool.
Hi Pete, just wanted to let you know, Symphony X 25th Anniversary show at the Chance May 16th, 2021. With Primal fear and Firewind.
My brother and I have tickets for the NJ show that's already been rescheduled to 2021. Same place where we saw Sons of Apollo earlier this year.
Very cool! I’ll see you there!
Maybe I’ll go to both shows! 👍
How 'bout ranking the albums of Knight Area?
I remember these guys from my Fish/Marillion days along with IQ, and a couple others. Really liked them but kind of lost touch. Will have to dive back in. Thanks
Is it possible to subtitle the guy at the left?
According to me, the first three are the best, in the right order.
I love your show and I love Arena. Would also love to understand what steven is saying 😑
A great band. A pity they never played Wales. Don’t know why.
Talking about similarities and such. I'm a huge fan of Arena (especially of the pre-Manzi albums), but I'm not a fan of Gabriel's Genesis (like it but not love it, furthermore I like Collins's era more, lol) and I'm quite indifferent to Marillion. So, go figure.
Arena has done festivals in the states, why doesn’t this incredible band ever do a full blown tour in the states.
Money probably. Even if they don't expect to make mega£££$$$ they probably can't afford to lose £££$$$.
Have you done Pendragon?
Pride and The Visitor are tied for #1. Paul Wrightson was their best singer as heard best on The Visitor. Its a real shame they fired him.
Very inappropriate the disregard and disrespect to Pointers drumming from Fish etc. Calling him a trash drummer, Fish is out of his mind. He is fantastic on the drums
I wonder if Arena will get the same negativity that Saga got when they brought in a different sounding singer?
We shall see. Earlier in his career Damian fronted Landmarq. Check out "The Vision Pit". He does this style quite well. I believe he just might surprise some people. Talking about a unknown band worth hearing, Landmarq is such a band. Even with Tracey Hitchings they were brilliant.
I know a good vocal coach who could probably help both of yee lol.
Paul Manzi is a good singer, but I think the albums with him are far less good.
informative ranking ...... please never sing, again lol