Envy of None (Alex Lifeson) - Stygian Waves - SDE Atmos Blu-Ray #35 (Mar. 14, 2025)

[JulesRules]

Tempting, but I couldn't get into the first album enough. Didn't feel that Alex was a major force in the music, could have been any guitarist based on what I was hearing. [I'm also a Rush fan] Putting Alex's involvement aside, the songs, singing, musicianship are all fine just not in my personal wheelhouse. I suspect some of the hype helping to support the band is Alex's involvement and not the astounding character of the music or members themselves.

This is a nice release by SDE regardless, anytime they can get a 'known' act for a new surround release is a good sign they have some momentum in the music space.

I felt the same about what I heard from that first album. But it is curious to see just how enthusiastically Paul is announcing this - and given that this will sell out anyway, he wouldn't need to do that for marketing reasons. So at least he seems very convinced.

 

[Highlander]

It is mixed by Alex Gamble, who I’m not familiar with. Anyone know of his mixing style; i.e, conservative vs. adventurous?

 

[SomethingAnything]

With all the hype from SDE, the urge to buy this straightaway sure was there! But then why only 1,000 units? I listened to some of the first album (quite a bit, trying twice). Yep, not for me. I recommend others make sure you do the same in case it's not for you either. I personally don't think it lives up to Sinclair's enthusiastic description. But that really could be just me. I wasn't much of a fan of Garbage either, who he compares them to.

 

[Perp]

I heard the first album when it first came out and I tried listening to it the other day and found it to not be for me. However, I listened to the new single and kind of liked it. I really don’t want to take a chance on this particular SDE if going only by one track.

 

[HenkG]

I heard the first album when it first came out and I tried listening to it the other day and found it to not be for me. However, I listened to the new single and kind of liked it. I really don’t want to take a chance on this particular SDE if going only by one track.

Here you find three tracks: https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/envy-of-none-stygian-waves-on-sde-exclusive-blu-ray/

 

[Perp]

So far, I don’t hear anything unique about Envy of None that I haven’t heard before. All their songs sound so similar, I could group them together as one long track and still be bored. Nothing memorable here. Hard pass!

 

[4-earredwonder]

So far, I don’t hear anything unique about Envy of None that I haven’t heard before. All their songs sound so similar, I could group them together as one long track and still be bored. Nothing memorable here. Hard pass!

DITTO, Perp! Also passed on WHO'S NEXT SDE series with the still missing multitracks!

IMO, EJ's Diamonds set a new standard for what can and should be included on a single Pure Audio ATMOS BD~A .... 48 Dolby ATMOS TRACKS and 3 bona fide Stereo bonuses ..... all too often, valuable space is wasted on BD~A discs which are capable of holding so much more than we're currently getting!

And for the $45+ charge for a single disc [incl s/h to the States], I just procured 4 UHD4K discs with Dolby ATMOS soundtracks!

WON'T GET FOOLED ....AGAIN!

 

[esimms86]

DITTO, Perp! Also passed on WHO'S NEXT SDE series with the still missing multitracks!

IMO, EJ's Diamonds set a new standard for what can and should be included on a single Pure Audio ATMOS BD~A .... 48 Dolby ATMOS TRACKS and 3 bona fide Stereo bonuses ..... all too often, valuable space is wasted on BD~A discs which are capable of holding so much more than we're currently getting!

And for the $45+ charge for a single disc [incl s/h to the States], I just procured 4 UHD4K discs with Dolby ATMOS soundtracks!

WON'T GET FOOLED ....AGAIN!

I hear you Ralphie but if 48 tracks in Dolby Atmos is the new standard then you’re setting yourself up for serial disappointment in the future!

 

[4-earredwonder]

I hear you Ralphie but if 48 tracks in Dolby Atmos is the new standard then you’re setting yourself up for serial disappointment in the future!

Yes, Mr E, perhaps I'm overreaching but so many recent box sets contain RBCDs in 44.1/16 that could easily be accommodated on a Pure Audio BD~A in 24b resolution and dispense with the WASTE!

 

[madscot]

Never heard this band before but knew of them due to Lifeson, I was more interested because of Andy Curran’s involvement as I was a massive fan of Coney hatch, but having played all the songs I cound find on youtube i’m giving this a miss, sounds like average pop music to me!

 

[cdheer]

Ugh, just heard about this and the BD-A is sold out. Sadface

 

[stoopid]

Saw this on my Facebook feed and it reminded me of this thread, in addition to how almost all the times I see Envy of None mentioned the "featuring Alex Lifeson of Rush" tagline is inserted (probably 90+% of the time, which may be conservative). Based on the overall mixed enthusiasm (or lack of) by Rush fans, I'm not sure this endorsement amounts to anything more than bait and switch.

 

[stoopid]

And to head off the "that site posted that, it's not always mentioned"... I turn one's attention back to the original post and link to SDE's announcement. At some point they're either a band worth paying some attention on their own merits, or Alex's vanity side project(?). Can't tell you why this sort of thing is a turnoff, maybe it's amplified a bit here by how unrelated Alex/Rush and this band objectively are. Maybe he'll start selling face cream and lose interest. "Rub the wrinkles out of your Temples with Alex Lifeson of Rush's 'Syrinx Hydration Mask'."

 

[Wagonmaster_91]

Don't buy Envy Of None if you are expecting Rush 2.0. Alex stated from the beginning of forming EON that it was not going to be guitar driven. He wants this band to be different than Rush. A bit like Eric Clapton creating Derek & The Dominoes to indicate that project was not going to be like Cream or his solo albums. Both guitarists expressed a desire to "just be the guitar player" in the group. Alex accomplishes that more than Eric did.

I like the first EON album and EP. Glad I order the new BD.

 

[stoopid]

Don't buy Envy Of None if you are expecting Rush 2.0. Alex stated from the beginning of forming EON that it was not going to be guitar driven. He wants this band to be different than Rush. A bit like Eric Clapton creating Derek & The Dominoes to indicate that project was not going to be like Cream or his solo albums. Both guitarists expressed a desire to "just be the guitar player" in the group. Alex accomplishes that more than Eric did.

I like the first EON album and EP. Glad I order the new BD.

I definitely agree on all accounts, but it begs the question -- why mention him? It's clear (to me) they need his name dropped, or no one would care based on the music alone.

 

[Wagonmaster_91]

If David Bowie (RIP) was the sax player in your new band, don't you think you would mention that to at least get people to give a sample listen to your music? Mentioning Alex is obviously a marketing tool by the label and to ignore the fact would not be a wise business move. I freely admit it made me curious to see how they sounded...and it worked. I purchased.

 

[stoopid]

I freely admit it made me curious to see how they sounded...and it worked. I purchased.

We know it works (in some cases), that's why they did it/continue to do it. But it's not a good look. You understand what I'm getting at, right?

 

[stoopid]

... At some point they're [either] a band worth paying some attention on their own merits...

How many albums do they need to make or sell before Alex's name is dropped? Or should they just change the name of the band to "Envy of None featuring guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush". I also find it funny they have to mentioned Rush and Alex, as if mentioning 'guitarist from Rush' or 'Alex Lifeson' alone is insufficient for name recognition/cha-ching effect. These are all subtle curiosities to me.

 

[cdheer]

We know it works (in some cases), that's why they did it/continue to do it. But it's not a good look. You understand what I'm getting at, right?

It's an incredibly common method of marketing, and tbh I consider this pretty mild compared to a lot of marketing nonsense.

 

[Wagonmaster_91]

I do understand where you are coming from, but like CDheer said, it's mild compared to some other releases. I did notice the different ways they want to note Alex. Pick a slogan and stay with it...lol.
How long to plug it? 'Til that "break though album happens I guess.