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Quinino 
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Joined: June 26 2011 Location: Portugal Status: Offline Points: 3654 |
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 Posted: July 02 2019 at 14:40 |
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Let's put some order in here, shall we !! Starting with the letter A - you'll surely enjoy: Airbag Anathema Anekdoten (For each band follow the albums ratings as a good hint for quality IMO)
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: July 02 2019 at 14:13 |
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Everybody keeps trying to get me to appreciate Hybris, but I don't know... it seems like prog-by-numbers to me. Maybe that's not fair, but I'm not really into it. It has some cool sounds and lines though. All Traps On Earth - Too dark for me, not my style. It reminds me of parts of King Crimson that I don't really like, which is probably super appealing to other listeners! Wobbler - I just can't get into this newer stuff. Nope, sorry. It's like... on paper it seems like it should work, but on listening it just turns me off, if that makes sense. The end of the list was always going to be trickier on my ears, haha, but you gave great suggestions! Thanks!
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: July 02 2019 at 13:30 |
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Oh, I can't believe I forgot to mention that I just bought the soundtrack to Chariots of Fire on vinyl for $1 on Sunday. I know it almost became cliche because of the movie, but I really like it.
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: July 02 2019 at 10:22 |
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So many suggestions to explore! :) IQ - Ok, this is very impressive. "The Last Human Gateway" is really great. If I wanted to insult them I would say this is a Genesis knockoff, but honestly this is better than what Genesis became, haha. Eloy - I do love the keyboards, but I don't really like the drum sound and some other 80's-style aspects of the sound. I tried listening to Ocean as well, to see if their 70's material sidestepped that issue, but I actually found Time to Turn a more interesting album overall. I don't know - they don't seem to do it for me. Par Lindh Project - Wow, what a mix of impressions (so to speak, haha). I love some of the classical-style parts, like Dresden Lamentation (the intro is incredibly strong) and Green Meadow Lands. But I absolutely couldn't stand the drums or vocals on Iconoclast. The Cathedral didn't do it for me either. But then Gunnlev's Round plays... lovely vocals. But Night on Bare Mountain, I think not a good cover. Still, good stuff there!
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: July 02 2019 at 08:27 |
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Ah, interesting you feel the same about Tubular Bells. And yeah, I think Vangelis is great for sure, I just need to explore. I definitely really like the Blade Runner soundtrack (great movie in general). Thanks again for the suggestions!
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richardh
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Joined: February 18 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 28029 |
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Posted: July 02 2019 at 00:11 |
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Ommadawn is indeed fantastic. Actually I'm with you totally on Tubular Bells and it barely would figure in my Mike Oldfield top ten. Hergest Ridge was a massive step forward although Incantations would be a 'desert island' disc for me. Vangelis - I'm a massive fan. You have to bear in mind with him that he has crossed more genres than any other single artist I can think of. He didn't even use synths (the thing he is most famous for perhaps) on his first 6-7 albums. Heaven and Hell was his first (with synths) and scored a hit in the UK and Europe perhaps a bit on the back of Wakeman who was massive at this time (both were on the R&A label). Vangelis moved to Polydor in the late seventies and arguably had his most creative period from China (79) through to Mask (85). He also did the Blade Runner and Antarctica's soundtracks in this time both highly recommendable. After 1985 he moved back to Greece from England and there are several excellent albums my favourites being Direct and Voices. I'm sure you will find something there you like! I'm on less solid ground with Tull as I am also playing 'catch up' to some extent but I do like Songs From The Wood and Thick As A Brick the most so I think you are on the right lines! |
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: July 01 2019 at 11:47 |
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I have to admit that I don't really like Tubular Bells. The beginning gets my interest, but it doesn't really take me anywhere. I didn't really give Oldfield much of a listen because of that, but the feeling of Ommadawn is doing it much more for me. Very uplifting and tons of atmosphere! Good suggestion, thanks. I like Vangelis, but this album isn't doing a lot for me. Kind of a similar feeling as with Tubular Bells. I know he's got a lot that I should explore though, and I'm sure I'll find plenty to like. Jethro Tull - Yes, definitely like them. I thought they were boring at first strangely enough. Then I only liked Aqualung (the track) (actually just got the album on vinyl for $2 yesterday - nice!). But then Thick As a Brick clicked and I started to really appreciate them more. I actually am partial to the album Benefit, but I can't say I know every track well. I can't say I really appreciate A Passion Play yet though! I also have Songs from the Wood in my library, so I must have appreciated something from this at some point too. Do you have a favorite track or two?
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: July 01 2019 at 09:10 |
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Much appreciated - certainly a lot to explore here, and I'm looking forward to it! If only there were more hours in the day...
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richardh
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Joined: February 18 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 28029 |
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Posted: June 30 2019 at 02:34 |
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ELP were admittedly a bit naughty in the respect. A lot of the songs on their Pictures At An Exhibition album are credited to the famous writing team of Emerson, Lake, Palmer and Mussorsgky . The composer didn't even receive top billing!! However the most famous example must surely be Procal Harum's Whiter Shade Of Pale. Always amused me that they had such a massive squabble over royalties for a song that would have been nothing without the original classical source! Edited by richardh - June 30 2019 at 02:35 |
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richardh
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Joined: February 18 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 28029 |
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Posted: June 30 2019 at 02:25 |
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I think they nailed it totally. Not easy to write an epic song about America , in fact nearly impossible but they did it!
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moshkito
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Joined: January 04 2007 Location: Grok City Status: Offline Points: 17510 |
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Posted: June 29 2019 at 01:50 |
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Not questioning your skills or knowledge. I was merely making suggestions that MIGHT help add more to it. The more esoteric and unusual things in the progressive listings that are not major knowns to everyone are the groups that made the whole thing go forward into the future. However, without a bit of history around these things, and the social/political stuff that brought all of these things up and around, a lot of music gets brought down to just a song on a top of the pops, and that ends up bringing down what is known and understood to be "progressive" ... they are that because THEY ARE different, and the attitude towards its presentation is so much more varied and attached to other arts, that sometimes makes it difficult to appreciate, since it does not sound like ... just a song ... another rap thing, so to speak. An example: FAMILY ... a lot is said about the early stuff and its fun material ... little is heard or said about the album ANYWAY, which was one that really put them on the map, with Roger Chapman blowing out microphones and stages .... and audiences going ... Joe Cocker gone crazy! After that the albums are excellently put together rock material, and by the time they became STREETWALKERS, the music had a rhythm and blues kind of feel, but Roger Chapman was at his best vocally, with incredibly good work, and a truly fantastic guitar work and design in a lot of their material. Oddball 1 and 2: Incredible String Band ... folk gone total poetry and who cares about format and what it is ... and it was originally thought that it would work better in a theatrical design, which they even did at WOODSTOCK at 3 or 4 AM, when everyone was asleep, and of course ... no one even listens to it. But the band got better and the rest of their albums are superb ... EARTH SPAN is a superb and magnificent album at a time when they were 2 guys and 2 women singing and a couple of more folks ... and this band has roots in THE FOOL, a famous underground band that did poetry and some theater (I think ... have to recheck) that was crazy, and also included a lot of art work they did ... which THE BEATLES connected to of a wee bit later! Edgar Broughton Band ... the total odd ball, because some of the vocals are appear very rough, but if you listen to the lyrics, you will find that they are very intelligent and important for the time and place ... they even had their own FOREIGN SON (CCR's) which was a bit of a hit in a lot of free shows in the late 60's where the band made its name amidst a few others, and listening to it in their ROCKPALAST show (almost 30 years later), you go ... wow ... this was smart stuff and still stands up and makes sense. But we can't handle things like ROCOCCOCOOLER, because its lyrics say exactly ... what you are reading ... and some folks not (seemingly) understanding. Of the early material, see TONITE WE ALL LOVE IN LONDON ... I think there is one version that is longer than the other, and look at the actors, artists and other known folks hanging around the music and talking about the time and place ... and you get the feeling that Soft Machine's 3 (and the famous 1,2,3) took place in that same room that John Lennon caught the white wall with a dot on it only (Yoko's design!) ... which I think got some attention to their music as well ... they really did not "kick off" until SM3, as I see it. Also valuable, and hard to figure out all around, is ITCOTCK by King Crimson, with a piece about some of the megalomaniac dictators around the time, a song about hippiedom that words float in the wind and no one notices them or hears them. A true Epitath that is about VietNam and the Irish issues at the time with all the bombs and such ... and a final song about the court ... the thoughts of which I will leave to you. AND very importantly, in that album is that GREG LAKE does not really sing as much as he makes sure that the words are heard more as poetry. Lastly, a literary example ... reading Allen Ginsburg is nice and all that, but the words don't jump at you as much ... and when you listen to him in TONITE ... all you can say is WOW ... and for all of us, that is the source of what became "progressive". I could go on and tell you that "krautrock" was also connected to theater, film and literature and a lot of artistic things ... but sadly that is a topic that often is considered boring for most rock loving listeners. Guru Guru did not tear down the wall in Berlin, but they had a song in the album TANGO FANGO that pretty much explained the sentiment of that generation of "kids" and what they wanted to hear and appreciate ... It depends on your level of attention and care ... not me. I'm only showing you how so much stuff is different, and sometimes why ... your studies in classical music and even jazz should have given you a good ground on that, I would think! Good luck!
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Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com |
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I prophesy disaster
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Joined: December 31 2017 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 4779 |
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Posted: June 28 2019 at 09:53 |
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Also, The Barbarian is basically Béla Bartók's 1911 piano piece Allegro Barbaro. |
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No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: June 28 2019 at 09:28 |
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I'm just gonna go ahead and quote this one more time because where has Song for America been all my life? I got goosebumps.
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: June 28 2019 at 09:22 |
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Thanks! Ah, I didn't mention ELP? Silly oversight. Though honestly I don't love them, but I do like them. Their versions of classical works, like Pictures at an Exhibition, don't really cut it for me (the Mussorgsky-Ravel orchestrated version of the piece is just too good, I think). They just feel like carbon copies. It also annoys me when artists use (let alone sample) other people's works and don't give them prominent credit. For instance, Knife-Edge is a cool song, but the source of the music for it (Janacek's Sinfonietta) is not given its due (and is a much more substantial and interesting work anyway, I think). But all this said, I really like "Lucky Man" and parts of Tarkus and Brain Salad Surgery are very cool. UK - I think I responded to this suggestion already. I don't love them, but they're fun! Listening to In the Dead of Night right now. :) Aphrodite's Child - Great suggestion, for sure. I'm only really familiar with The Four Horsemen and It's Five O'Clock (which I really like). Can't argue with Vangelis, and I really like the vocals too. Actually, I just like it in general. Definitely adding them to my library, thanks! Kansas - Another great suggestion. Listening to the opener on their s/t album is pulling me in. I don't love the drums, but the violin and vocals are doing it for me. Really digging the violin actually. Adding to the library! Oh wow, the title track on Song for America is amazing. I have a feeling this is going to end up having been one of the best recommendations so far (I don't remember having the same reaction to Leftoverture, but I probably just didn't give it enough time yet). I'm going to post this now before my browser somehow loses all this text, haha. Looking forward to checking out the rest of your list, thanks!
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: June 27 2019 at 13:46 |
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Catapilla - Great, I really like the vocals! And the funky sound. The extended jams I can take or leave, but apart from that it is very interesting. Good suggestion. Family - I was expecting to enjoy this one more than I did, based on the description. I don't know, I didn't really like the vibe of it that much, or the vocal effects, though there are interesting aspects for sure. Quella Vecchia Locanda - Super super interesting. I love the violin in this. In fact, I'd just say that I really like it overall. :) I would love to have this on record for those beautiful warm acoustic sounds. Haken - I don't really like the affectations of many modern vocalists, and this is true here. Or the clipped/harsh nature of much modern drumming, also true here. Sorry, this one really doesn't do it for me. Gabriel - Ah, don't really like the production of Up. My favorite solo Gabriel album is his first, which I just think is so strong. I've come to like a couple of tracks from So though - Rick Beato video on In Your Eyes actually got me started on that, and I also really like Don't Give Up (I like Kate Bush's earlier stuff too, so it is cool to hear them together). Great suggestions, much appreciated, thanks!
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Icarium
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VIP Member Joined: March 21 2008 Location: Tigerstaden Status: Offline Points: 34055 |
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Posted: June 27 2019 at 12:55 |
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I will always reccomend Gnidrolog, raw, wooden, bluesy and a spessial treet. Like a chantarell it becomes better when enjoyd with a pale ale.
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: June 27 2019 at 12:46 |
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Ok, on to the end of your very nice list! Twelfth Night is just not for me at all. I was really hoping to like their cover of Eleanor Rigby, but oh well! Pendragon isn't my usual cup of tea, but they are definitely fun! It's funny, because I couldn't stand the first track on The Jewel (the drumming particularly), but the second one, The Pleasure of Hope, is very appealing. Thanks again for the suggestions! Some nice new additions to my virtual library.
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AKDiamond
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Posted: June 27 2019 at 09:54 |
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I don't know why, but I just can't get into much "fusion," despite enjoying jazz, rock, and other music that is blended into this mix. Somehow I feel like the combination can dilute, rather than strengthen. Not sure if others feel this way. Brand X - I've tried a couple times, but I can't get into them so far. I'm not into the busy drumming, or the kind of jamming/riffing feeling to it (though it's actually tightly composed). I don't know. Nova - Haha ;) - Yeah, I find their first album to have a bit more interest for me, but mostly I feel a similar way as with Brand X. The Enid - This definitely deserves a proper listen at some point. I can tell that this has a lot of substance but, like a symphony, isn't something you can really split up into tracks. Would love to get their early works on vinyl. First album seems strong. The Long Hello - This is nice, but I must admit to wanting Hammil's voice to come in at many points! Haha. I like the edge he brings, though these guys clearly know how to build a mood.
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AKDiamond
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Joined: May 23 2019 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: June 26 2019 at 14:19 |
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Darn, I got an error when I tried to post my reply. Anyway, the summary is that I have listened to these two so far, and have very much enjoyed them! Stackridge has great atmosphere. I'm enjoying listening to Mr. Mick, which sort of makes me think of a weird Beatles and Moody Blues combo. I kind of like The Slater's Waltz. Do you have a favorite track or two by them? Greenslade has a really nice groove to them - have been listening to their second album and really enjoying the first couple of tracks. I could see a couple of their tracks getting a lot of play actually! Do you have a fave of theirs too? I'll get to the rest of your list soon. Thanks!
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AKDiamond
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Posted: June 26 2019 at 09:33 |
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I'm on a prog rock forum asking for prog rock recommendations... If you want to know, I'm more partial to Thelonius Monk, especially his album Solo. Or if we want to go classical, we could talk about the various revisions of Stravinsky's Petrushka. And is Stravinsky the best conductor of Stravinsky, or not? Or perhaps, do you prefer Taras Bulba or Sinfonietta by Janacek? Or do you want to discuss the progression of music from classical to jazz (with all the inputs of ragtime, spirituals, work songs, blues, music recording technology, etc), and figures such as Gottschalk, Scott Joplin, and Jelly Roll Morton? Or Harry Partch's musical explorations and inventive instruments? We are all complete beings, exploring just an aspect of music (let alone life) through these forums. You should get to know me before you judge! My name isn't "this guy." ;)
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richardh wrote:
