Battle of the Prog Bands R2D9: Zappa vs. UZ - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

The Quiet One View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: January 16 2008
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 15745

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:59

Triceratopsoil View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 18016

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:54

That dog right above does have style Thumbs Up

The Quiet One View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: January 16 2008
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 15745

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:44

I won't vote since I don't have any UZ albums, though from what I listened from them I'm not keen, especially compared against someone like Frank Zappa, which is my all-time favorite artist.

Though, like I said, no vote.

SaltyJon

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: February 08 2008
Location: Location
Status: Offline
Points: 28772

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:30

beebs wrote:

Anthony H. wrote:

If Zappa doesn't win this, my faith in the human race will be shaken. Ouch

Absolutely. HOW can albums like "Weasels Ripped My Flesh", "The Grand Wazoo", "Overnight Sensation", "Apostrophe", and (my personal favorite) "One Size Fits All" be topped by a newcomer like UZ?

Sorry. In cross-section of listeners who were weaned on the above albums by Zappa and the Mothers, it's gonna be FZ hands-down.

Since when is Univers Zero considered a "newcomer" band? They formed in 1973 and started releasing albums in 1977. Pretty great ones, too.

You forgot one of Zappa's best in your list there - Roxy & Elsewhere. Same with Burnt Weeny Sandwich (and the music portions of Uncle Meat).

I love what UZ I've heard, and I love all the Zappa I've heard (except We're Only In it for the Money, which I don't like much at all). I've heard more Zappa I love than UZ I love, purely because Zappa's released such an ungodly amount of albums. Out of curiosity, have you listened to any Univers Zero? If not, I'm especially disappointed in your immediate dismissal of their ability to compete against Frank.

As a fan of both artists, it's kind of tough for me. I think, though, that I enjoy Roxy & Elsewhere more than I enjoy my favorite Univers Zero album (their debut), but the two are really neck and neck for me.

I think it's kind of funny how several posters in here have such a little ability to deal with people having an opinion different than their own ( Shocked

)...if Zappa wins, GOOD. If Univers Zero wins, GOOD. If there's a tie...GOOD. It's all good, people. What would Zappa have wanted, and what would Univers Zero want if they saw this poll? They definitely wouldn't want you to put someone else down for preferring one band over another, they'd want you to enjoy the music. Plus, I'm absolutely certain that Zappa would want you to actually, you know, listen to both choices enough to be familiar with the opposition before voting.

Thanks! I'll vote later once I've given it some more thought.

Triceratopsoil View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 18016

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:30

Anthony H. wrote:

Zappa is a personal hero of mine and is probably my all-time favorite musician.

Anthony H. wrote:

Exactly. Even some of my favorite bands aren't better than FZ.

Something doesn't add up here

CinemaZebra View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 13 2010
Location: Ancient Rome
Status: Offline
Points: 6795

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:29

Originally posted by Evolutionary Sleeper

Evolutionary Sleeper wrote:

Anthony H. wrote:

Triceratopsoil wrote:

CinemaZebra wrote:

Let me guess: Anthony has never heard a Univers Zero album.

Here's a better guess: Anthony has a Dream Theater album as his avatar and therefore wouldn't be able to properly enjoy such real music as UZ

Wow. The absurd snobiness of some you folks is staggering. I'll admit that I haven't listen to very many RIO bands, but I am a big fan of Zeuhl. I like all faces of prog and you're ridiculous for suggesting that DT isn't "real music."

Zappa is a personal hero of mine and is probably my all-time favorite musician.

Yea, that was rude guys. Thumbs Down

It's one thing to be rude, it's another to vote without hearing both bands. Rudeness > Fanboyism

Evolutionary Sleeper View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: December 30 2008
Location: Berkeley, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 7037

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:27

Anthony H. wrote:

Triceratopsoil wrote:

CinemaZebra wrote:

Let me guess: Anthony has never heard a Univers Zero album.

Here's a better guess: Anthony has a Dream Theater album as his avatar and therefore wouldn't be able to properly enjoy such real music as UZ

Yea, that was rude guys. Thumbs Down

Triceratopsoil View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 18016

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:27

CinemaZebra wrote:

Triceratopsoil wrote:

Zebra that wasn't Anthony though, that was beebs

True, but Anthony quoted Beebs and said "exactly". That's good enough for me.

ah missed that bit. Cheerio

questionsneverknown View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: June 22 2009
Location: Ultima Thule
Status: Offline
Points: 602

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:27

I will add that Clivages is my album of the year so far.

But it's still FZ over UZ.

The damage that we do is just so powerfully strong we call it love

The damage that we do just goes on and on and on but not long enough.

--Robyn Hitchcock

CinemaZebra View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 13 2010
Location: Ancient Rome
Status: Offline
Points: 6795

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:26

Triceratopsoil wrote:

Zebra that wasn't Anthony though, that was beebs

True, but Anthony quoted Beebs and said "exactly". That's good enough for me.

Triceratopsoil View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 18016

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:24

Zebra that wasn't Anthony though, that was beebs

questionsneverknown View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: June 22 2009
Location: Ultima Thule
Status: Offline
Points: 602

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:23

Anthony H. wrote:

If Zappa doesn't win this, my faith in the human race will be shaken. Ouch

You might be surprised, then, to realize how many people who tune in to these here Archives really don't like Zappa much at all.

I'm never entirely sure why this is, but I'm also still surprised by how much ELP is loathed, on a prog site of all places! Of course people are free to have their opinions . . . drone, drone, drone . . . but some people seem to hate the idea of Frank Zappa more than the actual music of Zappa. The British musical press, for instance, has made a doctrine of the idea that Zappa produced only one good album (Hot Rats) and the rest is just childish noodling filled with knob jokes. Even the good papers still drool that drivel (Mojo? C'mon you should know better than that!).

Was Zappa consistent, no, but the volume of quality material shines forth. I don't want to go with the quantity argument, but UZ has, what, eight fantastic albums compared with how many true works of genius by Zappa. So, quantity plus quality.

Please don't get me wrong, I dearly love UZ and I want them to do well, but, at the end of the day for me, Zappa is a giant of music. Hell, if Pierre Boulez and John Adams can agree on this, who am I to disagree?

The damage that we do is just so powerfully strong we call it love

The damage that we do just goes on and on and on but not long enough.

--Robyn Hitchcock

CinemaZebra View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 13 2010
Location: Ancient Rome
Status: Offline
Points: 6795

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:22

beebs wrote:

be topped by a newcomer like UZ?

I wasn't trying to be rude but I don't think it matters because I think this just proved me right.

EDIT: About not hearing anything from Univers Zero I mean.

Edited by CinemaZebra - August 08 2010 at 16:22

Epignosis

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: December 30 2007
Location: Raeford, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 32524

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:21

While I have had limited exposure to either of these, from what I have heard, Univers Zero is better.

Uzed alone is wonderful.

https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays

Triceratopsoil View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 18016

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:20

Logan wrote:

Out of curiosity, though, and I like and have all of those Frank Zappa albums but still voted UZ, which UZ albums do you have?

Same here

The novelty of Zappa's silliness wears out

Edited by Triceratopsoil - August 08 2010 at 16:23

Triceratopsoil View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 18016

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:20

Anthony H. wrote:

Triceratopsoil wrote:

CinemaZebra wrote:

Let me guess: Anthony has never heard a Univers Zero album.

Here's a better guess: Anthony has a Dream Theater album as his avatar and therefore wouldn't be able to properly enjoy such real music as UZ

I said it came out ruder than I intended Ouch

beebs wrote:

topped by a newcomer like UZ?

Logan

Forum & Site Admin Group

Site Admin

Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status: Offline
Points: 35886

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:19

Anthony H. wrote:

beebs wrote:

Anthony H. wrote:

If Zappa doesn't win this, my faith in the human race will be shaken. Ouch

Exactly. Even some of my favorite bands aren't better than FZ.

Out of curiosity, though, and I like and have all of those Frank Zappa albums but still voted UZ, which UZ albums do you have?

Duos for fave acts

Morningrise View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 18 2009
Location: Buenos Aires
Status: Offline
Points: 2766

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:18

Another vote for UZ.

Logan

Forum & Site Admin Group

Site Admin

Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status: Offline
Points: 35886

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:18

A Person wrote:

UndercoverBoy wrote:

Logan wrote:

Univers Zero (especially for the debut).

Oh yes, the debut is a masterpiece. Maybe the best RIO/Avant-Prog album I've ever heard.

I still prefer Ceux du dehors. Tongue

Ceux du Dehors is great too. And UZ's latest rewmains my fave of this year (mind you, it's the only 2010 album I know, but it's great). I like every UZ album, though some are better than others. I'd still vote for Art Zoyd over UZ though, given the chance.

And I'm guessing that Anthony is not a big chamber rock/ music appreciator.

Duos for fave acts

The Sleepwalker View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: February 03 2009
Location: The Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 15141

Posted: August 08 2010 at 16:17

beebs wrote:

Anthony H. wrote:

If Zappa doesn't win this, my faith in the human race will be shaken. Ouch

Newcomer? Huh?

Poll Question: Which of these artists do you prefer?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Frank Zappa	70	[64.22%]
Univers Zero	39	[35.78%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted