Popular Prog Bands that you just can't get into

BaldFriede wrote: Snow Dog wrote: BaldFriede wrote: Rush. I never understood all the fuss about them. Good musicians, though not as exceptional as their fans try to make them, but the music is nothing special at all. I notice you added this as an edit. Not only is it churlish.....after all, did I or anyone criticize Magmas musicianship? Not only that, but what makes YOU...........a better judge than Rush fans? Excuse me? I fully stated they are good musicians. I just don't buy that Neil Peart is the überdrummer who is miles ahead of any others. He is a very good drummer, but there are several other drummers who are equally good. This is what I want to put into perspective, and nothing else. Many bands have great musicians, not just Rush; that is all I wanted to state. Got it now?

StyLaZyn wrote: akamaisondufromage wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: Camel, Caravan, and Gong...boring blah!   Ok so you don't like them but that knife turning at the end!  To say GONG are boring (Cotton Buds needed) NEVER boring NEVER conventional (Unlike most modern prog and a lot of old).     (Does Rick Wakeman count?  ) I have tried so hard to give all of them a chance over and over. Camel I can somewhat get into but it would never be a play for enjoyment. And there is boring unconventional music. Gong happens to be one of those.

Let's see, the Flower Kings are a pretty obvious choice. I don't see their genius, they seem pretty standard to me.

StyLaZyn wrote: akamaisondufromage wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: Camel, Caravan, and Gong...boring blah!   Ok so you don't like them but that knife turning at the end!  To say GONG are boring (Cotton Buds needed) NEVER boring NEVER conventional (Unlike most modern prog and a lot of old).     (Does Rick Wakeman count?  ) I have tried so hard to give all of them a chance over and over. Camel I can somewhat get into but it would never be a play for enjoyment. And there is boring unconventional music. Gong happens to be one of those.

I found that I really like Camel's debut and Moonmadness is pretty good too.  I haven't heard Mirage except for a couple of songs.  I find that Snow Goose has a couple of really good moments, but mostly falls under the boring.  I've only listened to a little bit of Gong, but what I have heard was too strange for my tastes.  Still, if I happen across any of their other albums in the used section I'll probably be sure to check them out.

And I concur with the others before me as Rush has never appealed to me in the slightest. Great musicians with great chops, no doubt, but their albums leave me completely unmoved. Different strokes, I guess.

There are quite a few that I'm just not into anymore.  It's common for music to pall over time for me.  With Rush, some of the music clicked in a big way, but I never developed much appreciation for the band (some albums I certainly enjoyed).  Really, I haven't put much effort into trying to get into bands.  If an album doesn't have quick appeal, I don't force the album or band's stuff on myself.  I like what I like and don't expect others to have the same tastes (of course there are those who share similar tastes to mine), and I don't expect to like what others really like (unless I already know that we share similar tastes).

I can't think of cases where I took to a band only after making an effort (sometimes one may start with the wrong album, or piece of music....). The appreciation comes quickly for me with ones I really like, it's just that with some the appreciation deepens over time.

Actually, there was one that I felt I misjudged at first, but can't remember what it was -- not a favourite, anyway.  Oh yeah, Radiohead.  Mea culpa, I didn't know enough of the music and had some misconceptions, but I didn't make an effort, I just happened to hear more material that immediately appealed. 

EDIT: Sorry for digressing from the topic, but for me I see little point in trying hard to get into bands and certain types of music when there is already such a  huge amount of music that will appeal (fit my tastes).  I still like to explore outside my comfort zone, and may find at some time that music that would not appeal to me at this stage in my musical journey may appeal at a later time (it can take musical steeping stones to get there).  But I'm lazy.... If I'm not intrigued at the least, to start with, by the music, then it's unlikely that forcing myself would make me appreciate more (might even make me hate it more). 


Edited by Logan - June 12 2009 at 16:23

Hercules wrote: VDGG, King Crimson, all the Krautrock I've heard without exception, Can, Gong, Magma, Zappa, The Mars Volta, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum; anything dark or avant garde. I used to include Gentle Giant and Strawbs in this group, but I now love both these bands. ELP are also just beginning to grow on me after years of indifference.

You are missing out on all the good stuff.

Pink Floyd

BaldFriede wrote: Hercules wrote: VDGG, King Crimson, all the Krautrock I've heard without exception, Can, Gong, Magma, Zappa, The Mars Volta, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum; anything dark or avant garde. I used to include Gentle Giant and Strawbs in this group, but I now love both these bands. ELP are also just beginning to grow on me after years of indifference. You are missing out on all the good stuff.

I think it's a good job you and I don't live in the same house! I suspect our tastes are diammetrically opposite.

I have to add, almost any music that is simply weird, like GSYBE. If it doesn't have a decent melody, it's just not an enjoyment. I guess I'm not artsy fartsy enuff.