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41

New Model Army / Re: Do you think NMA's music "speaks" to young Rock/Folk fans?

« Last post by Master Ray on May 07, 2026, 08:29:05 PM »

As much as I hate the way that streaming services like Spotify pay so little to the artists (unless they are in the Taylor Swift level) I have to say that young people these days are far more clued up to the history of music than I was at their age.  My job brings me into contact with people in their late teens / early 20's, some of whom are hugely into their music.  And seeing as they don't have to save up for an album (like us old buggers had to!) but can access anything they want to INSTANTLY then they've got the whole History Of Music at their disposal.  This can be a good or bad thing.  They might have the attention span of a gnat and dismiss classic songs because it didn't grab them in the first 30 seconds.  But also they might be interested in the stuff from before 'their time' and see how it relates to the tunes that are fashionable these days and thus investigate acts that the likes of us are into.

Does NMA's music speak to 'young folks'?  Absolutely if they're interested. Likewise, 'young persons music' might appeal to us oldies... the very fashionable Olivia Rodrigo headlined Glastonbury last year, I saw her set on the BBC and I thought she was excellent, pop / rock with great lyrics and she was a terrific performer, I consider myself a fan!   

Age has nothing to do with it.  Good music is good music and people will find it regardless of age, especially in these days when it's so easy to find.

42

New Model Army / Re: The best NMA album from the 21st century era?

« Last post by Master Ray on May 07, 2026, 08:00:24 PM »

The point I was making was that the Marillion fans I know are well up for listening to different stuff, it doesn't matter what genre... I know people from that prog orientated Forum who are also into punk, folk, dance music, metal, pop and every genre you can think of.  And yes, some of them were blown away by NMA (not all, I hasten to add!).  I also seem to remember that there were some folks around these parts who were into Marillion... but, usually, only the 80's stuff when Fish was still in the band.  And it's a shame, Marillion aren't sounding like the 80's years any more than NMA are.  They're a band with epic soundscapes from diverse influences, great lyrics and so much emotional content.  And, yes, there are many young folks at the gigs, just like NMA, not just there with a parent but who seem to know all the tunes and are hugely enjoying them.

Ah, Amandistan... a regular poster here back in the day, I hope she's still out there and doing well. I seem to remember that at  a Christmas gig at Nottingham Rock City, Shush asked her if she wanted to meet me and say Hello and she declined for whatever reason... and then I saw her at the train station the next day but I didn't want to be weird if she was somehow freaked out by me so I left it. Hey, Amandistan, if you're reading this, let us know if you're OK!

43

New Model Army / Do you think NMA's music "speaks" to young Rock/Folk fans?

« Last post by Guillaume on May 07, 2026, 10:29:14 AM »

Rest assured, this isn't a poll or an attempt to stir up controversy on the forum, lol! I was simply wondering if you knew any young fans (let's say between 15 and 25 years old!) of Rock/Folk music who are lucky enough to know NMA and who really appreciate their music, their recent albums and/or their older ones. I should clarify that I am talking about the music essentially...the melodies, the rhythms, the voice, the instruments...not the lyrics and the production of the albums. I'm writing this because while I sometimes see young people in the audience at NMA concerts (in France -I'm clarifying because I've never been to an NMA concert abroad-) , a good portion of the crowd seems to be in their forties and fifties (as for me, I'm 47 and I first listened to the band in high school, in the mid-90s). In the small Rock concert venue in my smalltown (population under 50,000), it's the same when I go to see indie Rock (and Folk) concerts; both local and foreign alternative bands, the audience is mostly in their forties and fifties. So it's not unique to NMA, but Rock/Folk music seems to "speak" primarily to "old" people 

44

New Model Army / Re: The best NMA album from the 21st century era?

« Last post by Guillaume on May 07, 2026, 10:21:23 AM »

I seem to remember TAC was somewhat well liked but the later stuff was just somewhat preferred because it was more diverse in terms of musical genres, more intricate and, well, more in tune with their tastes.

But rest assured, there is no hatred (or even mild dislike) from those same newbies for T&C and the like.  I've brought three people to their first NMA gig and they loved all of the tunes no matter what decade it came from and have gone onto to see them as often as they can as a must-see whenever the band came to town!

I just started a thread about young lovers of Rock/Folk and NMA music!

https://board.newmodelarmy.org/index.php?topic=10407.0



I was just curious to see if NMA's music, at least from the '80s and early '90s (basically the Robert Heaton years!), resonates with young Rock/Folk fans (let's say 15-25 year olds people in 2026!) who happen to listen to NMA's early albums in 2026... I'm not talking especially about the lyrics and production, but the music itself, its melodies, rhythms, etc. Simply to know if NMA's music transcends decades and generations (when I go to the band's concerts in France, there are a few young people, but mostly people in their forties, almost fifty like me, fifty and older).

When I mention "Thunder and Consolation," it's simply because that album was such a musical and emotional revelation when I first listened to it... but then again, that was in 1995, I was 16... so I was just curious to know if a 16-year-old in 2026, a Rock/Folk lover, could have the same impact and therefore be motivated to listen to NMA's older and more recent albums.

Regarding Marillion, are their fans, even the younger converts, the most likely to appreciate NMA's music? I've listened to two or three Marillion albums from the '80s and early '90s, and it's quite different musically... it's a far cry from the raw Rock of early NMA.

I'm more into the 21st Century stuff and if I was going to recommend an album to a newbie I would probably go with later-era albums.

I remember a young forum member here, "Amandistan" I think, who had listened to the group quite young, starting with HIGH in the late 2000s, and had loved that album (then THUNDER AND CONSOLATION afterwards), he/she said that the first albums were less immediate for the young listener (probably because of the 80s production/sound).  The album I always play first for young (and not-so-young) Rock music fans is THUNDER AND CONSOLATION because of the effectiveness, the beauty of the melodies and the singing (and for fans of music that isn't necessarily Rock music...NAVIGATING BY THE STARS).

For albums from the 2000s, the most immediately accessible for "newcomers" are, in my opinion, HIGH first and foremost, then EIGHT and FROM HERE. I'm always tempted to also play BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF for newcomers, but it's too "unusual" an album for NMA! ​​and it divided their fan base, at least upon its release

45

New Model Army / Re: The best NMA album from the 21st century era?

« Last post by Master Ray on May 06, 2026, 09:04:19 PM »

Holy Resurrection Thread, Batman!   

Dude, it was ages ago, I don't remember fully...  I seem to remember TAC was somewhat well liked but the later stuff was just somewhat preferred because it was more diverse in terms of musical genres, more intricate and, well, more in tune with their tastes.

This may surprise you but the music forum that I got the most interest from in terms of NMA was the official Forum for Marillion.  Shock horror but many Marillion fans are also well into NMA.  The two bands have a lot in common.  Firstly they were both fucked over by EMI.     But they're both bands who have changed their style and yet are still judged by their early material and the public perception of what they're all about (if the public are aware that they're still going).  Marillion aren't all about girls called Kayleigh, stuff that sounds like early Genesis and the occasional Jesters Tear anymore than NMA are about simplistic post-punk tunes with some violin thrown in. 

I have to be honest, I don't listen to the early NMA stuff all that much anymore, not because I dislike it but because I've listened so much to it over the decades that I can pretty much play those tunes in my head at any given point.  I'm more into the 21st Century stuff and if I was going to recommend an album to a newbie I would probably go with later-era albums.

But rest assured, there is no hatred (or even mild dislike) from those same newbies for T&C and the like.  I've brought three people to their first NMA gig and they loved all of the tunes no matter what decade it came from and have gone onto to see them as often as they can as a must-see whenever the band came to town!

46

New Model Army / Re: The best NMA album from the 21st century era?

« Last post by Guillaume on May 06, 2026, 08:58:55 AM »

I know I've said this before, but I've turned a lot of people onto NMA via another bands online forum... and, bearing in mind that these people don't have our nostalgic memories of when we were young, I can confirm that the majority of those music fans prefer everything from 'High' onwards...

What do they think of "Thunder and Consolation," released well before 2007?? It would break my heart to know that young music enthusiasts discovering "Thunder and Consolation" in 2026 find it dated, outdated, unlistenable!  :'( :'(

47

Everything Else / Re: So... tell us a joke!

« Last post by Master Ray on May 05, 2026, 11:04:50 PM »

A conversation between father and son...

'Dad, why did you and Mum name my big sister Teresa?'

'Well, your mother really REALLY likes the Easter holiday, she just loves it so much... and so she called your sister Teresa because it's an anagram of Easter.'

'Wow, Dad, I never knew that!  I'm so glad I know that!'

'No problem, Alan'.

48

Everything Else / Re: what songs are you listening to RIGHT NOW

« Last post by Ghosttrain on May 03, 2026, 10:17:57 AM »

John & Beverley Martyn ''STORMBRINGER'' in memory of Beverley who has recently passed away......wonderful album....

49

Everything Else / Re: Movies that make you grin, smile or laugh out loud...

« Last post by Master Ray on May 01, 2026, 10:44:39 PM »

Aw, so glad you liked it!

50

Everything Else / Re: Dario Argento and others thrillers/horror movies directors

« Last post by Guillaume on May 01, 2026, 08:06:34 PM »

I assume that the german BR 4K release of July 23rd will include at least some extras/features/supplements from the american BR 4K release of Vinegar Syndrome released some time ago:





Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to present THE CARD PLAYER in its world UHD debut, newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative and loaded with a full deck of both new and archival extras.

directed by: Dario Argento
starring: Stefania Rocca, Liam Cunningham, Silvio Muccino, Adalberto Maria Merli, Claudio Santamaria, Fiore Argento
2003 / 103 min / 1.85:1 / English, Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Additional info:

2-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray
4K UHD presented in Dolby Vision High-Dynamic-Range
Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative
Presented in its original English language 5.1 surround soundtrack, as well as its Italian language 5.1 surround soundtrack with newly translated English subtitles
Commentary track with film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
Playing the Game (27 min) - a brand new interview with actress Stefania Rocca
Digital Nightmare (19 min) - a brand new interview with composer Claudio Simonetti
Like in War (10 min) - a brand new interview with make-up artist Sergio Stivaletti
Sharp Cuts (20 min) - a brand new interview with editor Walter Fasano
Watch Me When I Kill (18 min) - an archival interview with director/screenwriter Dario Argento
Taking Risks (9 min) - an archival interview with screenwriter Franco Ferrini
A Chip and a Chair (12 min) - an archival interview with set designer Antonello Geleng
Game Over (8 min) - an archival interview with actress Fiore Argento
Archival behind-the-scenes featurette (9 min)
Reversible sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles





I have the french Blu-ray released two years ago, which is good, but I will probably buy one of these foreign releases for the 4K (the french Blu-ray is a "classic" 2K Blu-ray) and especially for the extras, interviews (with the lead actress, the editor, the screenwriter, etc.).