The Worst Prog Rock Album Title

Worst album title (without competitor): "Arbeit Macht Frei" by Area. Unless I am greatly mistaken, this album does in no way directly deal with the Nazi regime (in which case I would have accepted the title as ironical). It may have been meant to be ironical here too, but it falls absolutely flat, in my opinion. Maybe I am overreacting because I am German, but one shouidn't toy with Nazi slogans.


Edited by BaldFriede - February 03 2009 at 04:18

I've no doubt that that Area title is ironic, Friede. A quick check into the political leanings of the band should surely confirm that. Having said this, I don't personally think it was a particularly clever thing to call the album and it does little to help their cause. The music itself on that album is superb, IMO, so I find it easier to forgive them than you might!

There are a lot of awful titles out there, but my personal bugbear is bands who simply number their albums. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.

BaldFriede wrote: Worst album title (without competitor): "Arbeit Macht Frei" by Area. Unless I am greatly mistaken, this album does in no way directly deal with the Nazi regime (in which case I would have accepted the title as ironical). It may have been meant to be ironical here too, but it falls absolutely flat, in my opinion. Maybe I am overreacting because I am German, but one shouidn't toy with Nazi slogans.

I agree with you on that last part. However, I think you are aware that Area were dedicated left-wingers (once Micky had as a sig a picture of them on stage with raised fists), so I can state with absolute certainty that the use of the title was ironical.

Edit: Trouserpress posted while I was still writing, and said the same things in a much better way.


Edited by Raff - February 03 2009 at 05:51

On the Soft machine albums, the way the number is presented is part of the title. And one Third (which is the name, not 3) , 4 and 5 it quite beautifully done, and says something about the music. Its not just a number:

What the heck is a "Relayer" in the first place? A competitor in a relay race? A person that switches electrical relays? Someone who relays a message? Yes are the only band who not only have incomprehensible lyrics, their album titles are incomprehensible too, even if they consist of one word only. It is a wonder that "Fragile" actually seems to mean what it says.

I think you're overanalysing the whole "Relayer" thing. Jon Anderson's lyrics were always as much to do with sound as they were meaning. "Relayer" is a lovely-sounding word, (to my ears, at least) and it slots in quite nicely amongst the music on that album.

"Tales From Topographic Oceans" however, is pure bilge.

Topography is the science of drawing maps.

^ Agreed. Though it sounds good, "Topographic Oceans" is a nonsense. 

Toaster Mantis wrote: I also forgot Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica... it's a stupid album title because the guy on the cover is wearing a CATFISH mask.

You are missing the point! Of course it is a catfish mask, but then it is a replica, and trout was out when it was made, so he had to settle for catfish!


Edited by BaldFriede - February 03 2009 at 10:22

BaldFriede wrote: Toaster Mantis wrote: I also forgot Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica... it's a stupid album title because the guy on the cover is wearing a CATFISH mask. You are missing the point! Of course it is a catfish mask, but then it is a replica, and trout was out when it was made, so he had to settle for catfish!

Is that the Captain's official explanation?