Color Theory

[~spi]

I recently attempted to buy all 4 CDs from Color Theory, as my luck would have it CDstreet sent my Liquid Fiction instead of Sketches in Grey. Here are my thoughts on a few songs off of the 3cds I have.

Tuesday Song -
Just Who I Am - The beginning piano sets the scene for this amazing song. Then the song jumps into a nice electronic beat with the piano still
prominent in the background. The mix bettween piano and synth is amazing. The jumps from slow piano to the more upbeat parts makes the song. This song has a mix of everything.
Entirely - A slow melodic song. Which has very interesting programming. I love the background beat carried throughout the song.
My Gift To You - All I can say is Wow. That is one fine piece of singing. fits perfectly in this song.

Perfect Tears
Stare Out The Window - Very haunting song. I love this course on this song.
Ordinary & Free - Very awsome programming an very good song. I love how Brian uses other instruments in his songs.
Souvenir - Cool song. The synths come out in this song. And Brian's singing is again amazing.

Life's Fairytale
Hold you - I like the beginning on this song. Interesting synth work and then the vocals kick in and the song begins amazing.
I Felt The Pain - An absolutely amazing cover. I cannot get over how great this cover is. I absolutely love it. Every time I hear it I have to
stop and listen to the whole thing. Its so insanely awsome!!!

I can definately see the progression from the early work to Brian's later music. The last album is alot more synth heavy with a lesser amount of piano. Don't get me wrong the music is still heavily driven by the piano but it isn't quite as prominant as it is in the early works.

Great music highly recommended. The lyrics on all of these cds are so full of meaning its almost like listening to a story. I still need to get the 1st cd, and am looking forward to it.

overdosed on Color Theory,
-steve

[~interface2x]

Yeah, I'm all about Color Theory. I've talked off and on with Brian for a couple of years now and he's an awesome guy as well.

My favorite tracks are "The Perfect Song" (WOW!), "Now I know", "For Good", "Wishing I had an Umbrella", "My Gift To You", and "Fade So Fast".

"Sketches in Grey" is definitely my least favorite of his albums (the least realized of the four), but it has some awesome songs like "Snowing" and the live versions of "Heart Like a Doll" (SOOO much better than the album version) and "Unrehearsed".

Colin

[Synthpopalooza]

Color Theory ... one that I really need to check out. I admit the only two songs I know of his so far are the two most well known ones, "EVerything I Thought I Had to Be" and the legendary track "Ponytail Girl" which led to his song being mistaken for a DM Exciter bonus track on a bootleg CD (that's an unusual bit of flattery eh?). Would Life's Fairytale be a good starting point for a novice just getting into Brian's music?

[~interface2x]

I'd say that the best intro to Color Theory would probably be "Perfect Tears", but I wouldn't say "Life's Fairytale" would be a bad choice. PT just has a good mix of electronics and piano, which is more representative of his other works.

I'll be interested to hear the next album, "Something Beautiful". As far as I know, there will be no synths on this album - it's all real instruments! It's costing a fortune to make, as well.

Brian once told me he had an argument with some guy on Napster because the guy had downloaded a Color Theory song and "knew for a fact that this was Martin Gore singing!" heh heh ...

Colin

[~cliffwalk]

Color Theory is one of my new favorites. Great voice and unique arrangements.

"Wishing I had an Umbrella" is beautiful. They're my next purchase. Great stuff. Also, when hell freezes over and I actually finish my CD I'm thinking about having him master it, he really has some serious engineering talent.

Dave

[~glo]

Originally posted by spi


The mix bettween piano and synth is amazing. -steve

yes, yes it is. that's the kind of music i make. well not really. I use piano, but for all my songs, i want to add synth...and that's why i plan on recording my demo at Mr. Hazard's studio!!!

He's amazing...he's inspired by tori...who wouldn't be amazing !!! haha


glo

[~ModeMan101]

While standing in line waiting for a wristband to buy DM tickets at Anaheim Pond last year, a girl was handing out free CD-R promos of Color Theory. I noticed that it had the "Ponytail Girl" track on it, which I'd heard about but refused to download on the principle that Martin Gore would never make up such a title. I have to say that I wasn't impressed with the CD at all (particularly the aforementioned song... how anyone could have confused his voice for Martin's is beyond me... yes, there are vocal harmonies but it stops there) and threw it away not long afterwards. Ho hum!


MM101

[~cliffwalk]

hah! He doesn't sound anything like Martin Gore. But he sings quite well and his arrangements are spot-on. Not for everyone, I guess... I think it's my attraction to Music Theatre that makes me like his stuff... he has some of that going on..

Also, the Tori Amos simularity. Or maybe Ben Folds. A sound I've gone for on a few of my new songs since I finally picked up a decent Piano module and can play real piano tracks again. Love it. Wish it had more popularity, why there isn't BETTER demonstration of solid keyboard playing vs. programming in Synthpop sometimes surprises me. I just can't understand NOT wanting to atleast play one or two of the tracks live. I need the tactile.

Wow... how many self-serving tangents could I possibly drive this conversation in.

Either way. I love his stuff. That's all I wanted to say. Talented artist. How he was mistaken for DM by someone is beyond me. WAY beyond me. It's not an insult by any stretch but talk about two entirely different timbres as far as vocals go. And the writing style/chord choices/chord VOICINGS are way different.

Strange anecdote.

Dave

[~dayo]

I should pick up some Color Theory. I loved the one track that was on the original Mix, Rinse, and Spin comp, but I haven't really heard much else. I get a little bored if it gets too mellow, but I like well played piano-y type stuff. Ie, some of the Stromkern instrumentals, Leiahdorus, etc. Think i'd like it?

Best album to start out with?

dayo

[~cliffwalk]

I haven't bought any yet :) I already maxxed out my CD fund this month. Have to wait until next fund.

But.... listen to the tunes on here. It's a good sample.

Yes, there are Leiahdorus simularities instrumentally.

Dave

[~spi]

If you really want Leiahdorus simularities listen to the newest Leiah-D beside "Technology" of the Indigent single and you will see how similar the two are.

Though after listening to most of Brians work I have to say his music is a little lighter and the lyrics are totally different. Brian seems to have fewer songs with really catchy choruses. Brian is also a little lighter on the synths and hard hitting songs. I love the mix though something of everything.

I would say Life Fairtale isn't a bad place to start, but if you have none of the CDs go and buy his 4 cds for only $36 off his website. A great deal if you like his music.

-steve

[~jetjaguar15]

To all of you who say you need to buy a Color Theory Cd: Yes, you do. Do yourself a favor. You won't regret it. I think I would recommend "Perfect Tears" as a starter, but Brian has yet to put out a bad album. Personally I even love "Shades Of Grey"...

[~And_Juan]

I like "Tuesday Song" because it's depressing.

I like "Life's Fairytale" because it's not as depressing as Tuesday Song.

Why am I even offering my opinions. People will say stupid ¤¤¤¤ anyway.

[~Bornslippy]

I onced saw him play at this cafe in Huntington Beach.. He was promoting "Tuesday Song" . Very good songs if your on analog overdose.

[~COloquialist]

I heard a couple of Color theory's stuff, and then a friend of mine burned me a copy of two of Color Theory's albums I was amazed - I loved it: different from the norm. Different in that VERY GOOD way though.
So when I went to synthcon that was the first thing I bought: all four of the albums. and plunked down my cash for it. I must say like everything I've heard.

~The wishing well broke, so I just threw my quarters in the toilet.
~Brian D.

[~spi]

I just got Shades of Grey from Brian yesterday(for free non the less!!). Thanks Brian! I have to say its very good for being a debute album.

Some of my favorite songs:
Snowing - One of my top Color Theory songs ever its an amazing song!!
I Never Realized
Monastery. This is a really different song with it acoustic guitar and all. I love it!!!
Something Here - A poppy song. Its pretty amazing. You are totally missing out if you don't hear this song. The piano really isn't prominant in this song.

-steve