Why old prog - for me - is better than new prog

Skullhead wrote: (...) What else we got?

Try "A Peaceful Nicht In Hell" (in four movements) by One Of These Days & Thee Heavy Random Tone Colour Lab, from Spain.

Edited by Svetonio - January 28 2015 at 18:29

Skullhead wrote: This is an excellent post.  I say that because it asks a further question.  WHY? Why are newer bands lacking inspiration?  I think they lack creativity.  Could it be that the new bands are listening to the older bands and say metal also, while the older bands didn't have metal around to be influenced by, but instead were listening more to experimental classical, Bartok etc.. and experimental jazz, Brubeck, Miles, etc?

I've been saying this for a few years. Music can only progress through melody and real melody came from people who were mainly exposed to classical, jazz, folk and late 60s Rock and Rnb. Lots of good melodic ideas there. But today the Jazz and classical influences are less and there are a lot of bad influences come in from other styles from the 80s

Sentiment plays a prominent role, for me, in listening to music. I can plot various events in my life by the music I was listening to at the time (I know someone who can do  the same with football matches). I also like some music now, that I dd not like at the time, for sentimental reasons.

To these ears, many modern progressive rock bands have the instrumental prowess, but are often bland and lack a distinctive lead singer. Thanks to the internet, I can now track down heavy and progressive rock bands, from the seventies, that I missed first time.

Raff wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: Thoughts? I think you've made the same point now for a week.  I hear loads of soul and passion as well as atmosphere in the modern progressive rock I listen to....but then again I don't go looking for prog-by-the-numbers and cry about it not being original. Might as well go fish for sharks in the Sahara. There is so much win in this post that I cannot add anything to it. I only wonder what "modern prog" Skullhead has been listening to, because I hardly hear anything resembling "look at how fast I can play" in the bands I praise.

Thoughts?

presdoug wrote: presdoug wrote: It is a hard question for me to answer why I like old prog more than new in a few words or sentences-I guess because my favourite band split in 1980, my favourite musician died in 1977. There are other reasons, but I can't seem to put it into words, sorry. I have been doing some thinking on this, and I can sum up what I like about old prog, and why I don't listen to much new recordings, that is "Atmosphere". Atmosphere is just about the most important thing that hooks me in music, and allows me to appreciate it and find merit in it. It is not the only thing, but the most important one for me.                   Recordings from the older period have a certain atmosphere (or what some call a "vibe") that is missing from the newer ones.                        Now, some may like the atmosphere created in newer music more than old, and I am ok with that. To each his or her own, I guess.                         In classical music, as well, atmosphere plays a VERY important role in my appreciation of it, and I love Historical recordings (those recorded before 1960) mainly because of the inimitable one created in recordings of the 1930s, 1940s, etc.                       This is my slant on things, and it is just me, and I am no more right or wrong about it than anybody else, I guess.

This is another great post.. again it asks another question.
What is this atmosphere and could it be re created in modern times?

I know to my ears, you just cannot digitally sample a Hammond Organ and Leslie set up.  You can sample the idea, some of the vibrato etc, but it will never be the same.  Drums also are impossible to sample.  Because a good drummer is hitting all around the drum and cymbals.  It's not just sampling 10 levels of loudness, it's all the nuance, the side hits, the way the bead on the stick works.  I just don't understand the obsession with trying to get the perfect sound. 

I have to think most all the older analog synths created a kind of atmosphere. 

This atmosphere thing really hits home with me.

Recently I listened to "No Quarter"  the live version from Song Remains the Same.
Then I listened to their more recent version they played at the reunion thing a few years back.
The new version is so doctored up it's just embarrassing.  No wonder it took Page 4 years to release it etc.
I sounds perfect, not a bad note anywhere, but it is totally lifeless compared to the 70s version.
There is no way I would ever listen to the new version over the older version.

I really don't think it is just a nostalgia trip thing.  I think there is something in this atmosphere idea.
I think Pink Floyd did it better than anyone.  Listen to Meddle's Echoes.  The recording is really terrible, but it just kills with atmosphere. 

Thoughts?

For all those complaining that there is no more good prog, have you forgotten about Swans? There are other good bands too but they aren't on this site.

I can't play anything but a turntable.

jayem wrote: Gerinski wrote: The issue for me is, I rarely find the inspiration and brilliance of ideas which the old classics had in their prime. I mean, when I listen to songs like The Grand Parade Of Lifeless Packaging, The Lamias... "how the hell could they come up with something like this?!". It's the mix of originality and straight brilliance of the compositions which really amazes me, then as the icing in the cake comes that those guys were excellent players and the sound is natural and warm, but these are only accessories. It's the inspiration they had which amazes me. A friend of mine suggested that I pick any chord sequence in a fake (or real) book , pick one or two other, make the first sound quiet, slow pace, the second dramatic and loud, another at faster pace, and it'd feel like Genesis. Try it and let's see if you find a great Genesis-like song...Maybe the wizard in you will reveal itself after all !!