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Frenetic Zetetic 
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Joined: December 09 2017
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 Posted: January 12 2018 at 17:32 |
 YESESIS wrote:
Mortte wrote:
I recommend to start in "We´re Only In It For the Money". I think it´s his best (well, not hear all his albums). Really has lots of great, melodic stuff. But if you´re not a lo-fi guy, then you can start for example Bongo Fury (my seventies favourite). |
Two great recommendations, especially the first one(absolutely ESSENTIAL Zappa).. Though it is heavy on the humor and silly stuff(I think it's his funniest album), so he might not like that. And the second one has a fair amount of that stuff as well.
My biggest recommendation would be The Grand Wazoo. You might not like the first song.. but the 4 songs after it are all REALLY good(and as I remember almost no 'stupid stuff'). I can't imagine you not liking it.
Hot Rats is another good album with almost no stupid stuff. And One Size Fits All is great, but does have some stupid stuff(not a whole lot though). |
I second Grand Wazoo. Give it a listen or two and it will hit you. If you have a penchant for jazz already it will click faster. Lots of brass, but easier to get into than Waka/Jawaka. One Size Fits All is my favorite Zappa record. "Evalyn, A Modified Dog" will turn a lot of listeners off real fast LOL.
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"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021
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YESESIS
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Joined: July 26 2017
Location: Maine
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Points: 2215
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Posted: January 12 2018 at 16:58 |
Mortte wrote:
I recommend to start in "We´re Only In It For the Money". I think it´s his best (well, not hear all his albums). Really has lots of great, melodic stuff. But if you´re not a lo-fi guy, then you can start for example Bongo Fury (my seventies favourite). |
Two great recommendations, especially the first one(absolutely ESSENTIAL Zappa).. Though it is heavy on the humor and silly stuff(I think it's his funniest album), so he might not like that. And the second one has a fair amount of that stuff as well.
My biggest recommendation would be The Grand Wazoo. You might not like the first song.. but the 4 songs after it are all REALLY good(and as I remember almost no 'stupid stuff'). I can't imagine you not liking it.
Hot Rats is another good album with almost no stupid stuff. And One Size Fits All is great, but does have some stupid stuff(not a whole lot though).
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Mortte
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Joined: November 11 2016
Location: Finland
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Posted: January 11 2018 at 22:52 |
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I recommend to start in "We´re Only In It For the Money". I think it´s his best (well, not hear all his albums). Really has lots of great, melodic stuff. But if you´re not a lo-fi guy, then you can start for example Bongo Fury (my seventies favourite).
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Dellinger
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Posted: January 11 2018 at 20:50 |
Oh my, I'm slacking at my homework. Remind me which album(s) might be the best to get started. Including (in case you know) live albums that include a good selection of his best songs. You know, the more melodic ones, and best if it doesn't have those "funny" things or "humor" that might ruin the songs.
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YESESIS
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Joined: July 26 2017
Location: Maine
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Points: 2215
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Posted: January 11 2018 at 17:04 |
Dellinger wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
I just listened to Focus 3 all the way through. By far my favorite Focus album so far! Answers Questions Questions Answers was sublime. Wasn't wild about the second last song, and then the last song went on a bit too long.. But all in all a really, really good album imo. |
Great. I guess I should be giving their discography a spin again... it's been a long while. |
Ok now.. you're supposed to be listening to ZAPPA ok. 
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Dellinger
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Posted: January 10 2018 at 20:36 |
YESESIS wrote:
Dellinger wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
I listened to Hamburger Concerto and Moving Waves today and.. well.. I liked the first song on Moving Waves. Was jamming out to that(yes I've certainly heard it before on the radio), but umm.. and the first album didn't really get good until like the second half of it. A lot to wade through before that though.
Maybe they're an acquired taste. For a very long time I considered Zappa stupid and obnoxious, so you never know. On the plus side though, I've been liking VdGG a lot more lately(they're finally starting to click for me). And that other band you recommended Logan, Tangerine Dream I like a whole lot.. awesome to meditate to. Oh and Cardiacs, I like what I've heard so far from them a lot. Can't win 'em all I guess. Thank you both for your input though. |
Yeah, Hocus Pocus is great. It is surely a song that could be shown, and perhaps even liked, to non proggers... even though it's totally prog and totally weird... but that riff... however, perhaps you should focus on the Hamburger Concerto suite. If you love those classic prog epics from the british bands, you should end up loving that one too. |
I just listened to Focus 3 all the way through. By far my favorite Focus album so far! Answers Questions Questions Answers was sublime. Wasn't wild about the second last song, and then the last song went on a bit too long.. But all in all a really, really good album imo. |
Great. I guess I should be giving their discography a spin again... it's been a long while.
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YESESIS
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Joined: July 26 2017
Location: Maine
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Posted: January 10 2018 at 20:16 |
Dellinger wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
I listened to Hamburger Concerto and Moving Waves today and.. well.. I liked the first song on Moving Waves. Was jamming out to that(yes I've certainly heard it before on the radio), but umm.. and the first album didn't really get good until like the second half of it. A lot to wade through before that though.
Maybe they're an acquired taste. For a very long time I considered Zappa stupid and obnoxious, so you never know. On the plus side though, I've been liking VdGG a lot more lately(they're finally starting to click for me). And that other band you recommended Logan, Tangerine Dream I like a whole lot.. awesome to meditate to. Oh and Cardiacs, I like what I've heard so far from them a lot. Can't win 'em all I guess. Thank you both for your input though. |
Yeah, Hocus Pocus is great. It is surely a song that could be shown, and perhaps even liked, to non proggers... even though it's totally prog and totally weird... but that riff... however, perhaps you should focus on the Hamburger Concerto suite. If you love those classic prog epics from the british bands, you should end up loving that one too. |
I just listened to Focus 3 all the way through. By far my favorite Focus album so far! Answers Questions Questions Answers was sublime. Wasn't wild about the second last song, and then the last song went on a bit too long.. But all in all a really, really good album imo.
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YESESIS
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Joined: July 26 2017
Location: Maine
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Points: 2215
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Posted: January 09 2018 at 16:04 |
Catcher10 wrote:
My four artists on my ultimate Mount Rushmore of Prog? Rush Genesis Yes Marillion
Main reason is the size of these bands catalog and the albums I like. Easily I could have listed Pink Floyd or King Crimson instead of Marillion, but in each catalog I like more Marillion albums than the other two. |
I like Marillion better than Floyd or KC myself.
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YESESIS
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Location: Maine
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Points: 2215
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Posted: January 09 2018 at 16:02 |
Argos wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
Argos wrote:
For me it would be Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Genesis and Wishbone Ash. |
If Wishbone Ash counts then.. they happen to be my favorite band so. But I believe on here they are listed as 'Prog Related.' So I feel a little funny about putting them on my "Mount Rushmore of Prog." They definitely have some proggy elements to some of their stuff, for sure. But then, over the course of their discography, they have elements of a lot of things. They're probably the most eclectic band that I know of(a big part of what I love about them). Anyway, awesome to see them on someone's list here though.. And welcome!
Cool avi btw. |
Maybe they're not exacly Prog through and through, but I consider Argus one of the most important prog albums ever.
Thanks for the welcome by the way. Didn't have internet for the past two days so couldn't reply. |
We actually had a whole thread on this lol. You might find it interesting.
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Catcher10
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Posted: January 09 2018 at 10:59 |
My four artists on my ultimate Mount Rushmore of Prog? Rush Genesis Yes Marillion
Main reason is the size of these bands catalog and the albums I like. Easily I could have listed Pink Floyd or King Crimson instead of Marillion, but in each catalog I like more Marillion albums than the other two.
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Argos
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 06 2018
Location: Albania
Status: Offline
Points: 113
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Posted: January 09 2018 at 10:04 |
YESESIS wrote:
Argos wrote:
For me it would be Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Genesis and Wishbone Ash. |
If Wishbone Ash counts then.. they happen to be my favorite band so. But I believe on here they are listed as 'Prog Related.' So I feel a little funny about putting them on my "Mount Rushmore of Prog." They definitely have some proggy elements to some of their stuff, for sure. But then, over the course of their discography, they have elements of a lot of things. They're probably the most eclectic band that I know of(a big part of what I love about them). Anyway, awesome to see them on someone's list here though.. And welcome!
Cool avi btw. |
Maybe they're not exacly Prog through and through, but I consider Argus one of the most important prog albums ever.
Thanks for the welcome by the way. Didn't have internet for the past two days so couldn't reply.
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YESESIS
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 26 2017
Location: Maine
Status: Offline
Points: 2215
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Posted: January 08 2018 at 17:28 |
mlkpad14 wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
mlkpad14 wrote:
I guess I am a little late to the party.
Bands (going with 5): Genesis Van Der Graaf Generator Riverside Gong Soft Machine
Solo Artists (6 this time, if that is okay): Steve Hackett Peter Hammill Robert Wyatt John Petrucci Robert Fripp Steven Wilson |
Yeah, some good selections there. Right on. |
I agree with the bolded bands. My two favorite prog bands are Genesis and Van Der Graaf Generator by far. |
Can't argue with that. Genesis is one of my two favorites as well, and I'm starting to like VdGG more and more lately.
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mlkpad14
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Joined: January 23 2017
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Points: 665
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Posted: January 08 2018 at 17:20 |
YESESIS wrote:
mlkpad14 wrote:
I guess I am a little late to the party.
Bands (going with 5): Genesis Van Der Graaf Generator Riverside Gong Soft Machine
Solo Artists (6 this time, if that is okay): Steve Hackett Peter Hammill Robert Wyatt John Petrucci Robert Fripp Steven Wilson |
Yeah, some good selections there. Right on. |
I agree with the bolded bands. My two favorite prog bands are Genesis and Van Der Graaf Generator by far.
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https://gamecrazyprofessional.weebly.com/
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YESESIS
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Joined: July 26 2017
Location: Maine
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Points: 2215
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Posted: January 08 2018 at 17:16 |
Dellinger wrote:
Yeah, Hocus Pocus is great. It is surely a song that could be shown, and perhaps even liked, to non proggers... even though it's totally prog and totally weird... but that riff... however, perhaps you should focus on the Hamburger Concerto suite. If you love those classic prog epics from the british bands, you should end up loving that one too. |
Yeah, I really want to like this band. I'll take your advice and just concentrate on that and maybe try to find some other stuff that I like from them as well. Sometimes that works, if I can find a bunch of things I like then I can go back and sort of put the pieces together from there. Thanks.
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Dellinger
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Joined: June 18 2009
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Posted: January 07 2018 at 21:22 |
YESESIS wrote:
Dellinger wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
Dellinger wrote:
OK, only faces... Robert Fripp, Peter Gabriel (with his flower costume), Rick Wakeman, and Ian Anderson, I guess. For a fifth one... perhaps Keith Emerson, or Frank Zappa as you have said so much, or Roger Waters. |
Hey we have two that are the same, Zappa and Gabriel. Right on. |
Well, those one I wrote there weren't so much because of how much I like their music, but rather because of how iconic their looks are for the prog world  |
I really think you should give Zappa another chance man. Listen to One Size Fits All, or Hot Rats, or The Grand Wazoo.. I'd be shocked if you didn't like those albums. |
Yeah, I have been up to giving him a fair chance for some time now, I just haven't gotten to it. I mean, it's one of the most important prog artists on the US (and there aren't so many of them, at least not from the 60's / 70's, compared to the british ones that did hit big), and I guess he should be considered among the first artists doing prog, perhaps even before King Crimson themselves.
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Dellinger
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Posted: January 07 2018 at 21:19 |
YESESIS wrote:
I listened to Hamburger Concerto and Moving Waves today and.. well.. I liked the first song on Moving Waves. Was jamming out to that(yes I've certainly heard it before on the radio), but umm.. and the first album didn't really get good until like the second half of it. A lot to wade through before that though.
Maybe they're an acquired taste. For a very long time I considered Zappa stupid and obnoxious, so you never know. On the plus side though, I've been liking VdGG a lot more lately(they're finally starting to click for me). And that other band you recommended Logan, Tangerine Dream I like a whole lot.. awesome to meditate to. Oh and Cardiacs, I like what I've heard so far from them a lot. Can't win 'em all I guess. Thank you both for your input though. |
Yeah, Hocus Pocus is great. It is surely a song that could be shown, and perhaps even liked, to non proggers... even though it's totally prog and totally weird... but that riff... however, perhaps you should focus on the Hamburger Concerto suite. If you love those classic prog epics from the british bands, you should end up loving that one too.
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Dellinger
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Joined: June 18 2009
Location: Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 12816
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Posted: January 07 2018 at 21:15 |
Logan wrote:
Dellinger wrote:
Logan wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
Logan wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
HackettFan wrote:
Genesis
Frank Zappa
Jade Warrior
Focus |
Genesis and Zappa, that's right! The other two though.. I don't know ANYTHING about lol. I'll have to run straight to Wikipedia and do some research here. |
Focus is, imo, utterly essential. You might have heard "Hocus Pocus" before on classic rock radio. I love the first four albums, and but both Hamurger Concerto and Moving Waves I think you should check out pronto. It was my favourite band at one time, has exciting, beautiful, majestic and humorous music. Amazing band. I think someone who digs Zappa, Gentle Giant, ELP and various symphonic music could potentially really fall for it. Yeah, I think you need to hear it. I'm playing Moving Waves right now, been too long. and I've called Hamburger Concerto a meaty masterpiece. |
Yeah, that Focus Hocus Pocus sounds really familiar(I mean hearing those words together, not sure about the actual song yet). Ok, definitely sounds like a band that I need to check out quick, fast, and in a hurry. If they're a former favorite band of yours then.. I'm thinking they have to be good. Thanks for the input man. |
I've got some out there tastes, and most I would not recommend, and some music I like that even I don't think is good, but Focus is one that I love that I really believe is genuinely great and you might love too. They have chops, huge beauty, a sense of fun -- got it all going on. Focus 3 I really love too. Which of the first four I love most depends on the day. It's also one of the few bands that I've continued to love over many years. Later ones are really good too, imo. Happy listening (methinks excessive excitement can be a turn off so I'm trying to reign it in). Just didn't know you didn't know it yet, would have recommended it before. I think of Focus as a really big name in Prog, but it's not (so called second tier I think, or third maybe) and it doesn't come up much around the forum any more. It used to get mentioned a lot around here in various discussion threads. |
I second the Focus recommendation... really wonderful band. For me, check out Hamburger Concerto first. Yeah, they might have lost an edge with the change of drummer (Van der Linden was just wonderful... I guess the chance could be compared to when Yes lost Bruford and replaced him with White), but the album as a whole is my favourite from them. Moving Waves is another great one too. Well, I guess every album up to Hamburger Concerto should be checked out. |
Very good analogy with Bruford. Hamburger Conerto is an, imo, mesmerising album even if the drumming lost some creativity. They wanted more of a straight rock drummer for it and maybe that approach does fit the music and concept more (the rock take on more classical style music).
I would also check out Hamburger Concerto first -- it's the album that made me a fan and is definitely the ones I have turned to the most over the years. "The Hamburger Concerto" suite is just one of the most glorious moments in prog, in my opinion. I've had goosebumps from it, but the whole album is great, including the "Hocus Pocus" like "Harem Scarem" (the riffs of which remind me very much of Miles Davis "It's About That Time" off In a Silent Way).
Incidentally, the title is a pastiche of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos (a favourite of mine as child), a bit of a P.D.Q. Bach thing to do, and the title track is based on Variations on a Theme by Haydn by Johannes Brahms. I grew up with classical music, and my Dad's favourite composer was Brahms. He would have hated Hamburger Concerto, but then he loathed rock music, but I got more out of with my background growing up with classical music. That said, one doesn't need the background to appreciate it. Great album.
I do think that there's some later really good Focus music too even on low rated albums such as Mother Focus (I love Bennie Helder and the title track), but for me the first four are all essential. Hamburger, then Moving waves, then the more jazz Focus 3, and then the first, I think. Hopefully you'll be hooked. Although Focus is a well-respected band in prog circles, it's one that I think deserves a wider audience. On classic rock radio they referred to the band as one hit wonder (for Hocus Pocus) -- I think both Sylvia and House of the King also got a lot of radio play (and House of the King was the theme song of a British comedy I like very much starring Steve Coogan called Saxondale. Just a bit of trivia.
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My new Prog Rushmore (that name has stuck with me). This time by band:
Area
Art Zoyd
Can
Popol Vuh
I would have included Focus, but I opted to focus on some others. |
I do like Harem Scarem, but somehow when I listen to it I end up wishing I was listening to Hocus Pocus instead. From Hamburger Concerto, the song that I love most besides the title track is Birth.
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Thatfabulousalien
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Joined: October 27 2016
Location: Aussie/NZ
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Posted: January 07 2018 at 15:56 |
Mt Rushmore? idk.
King Crimson is the philosophers stone though
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Classical music isn't dead, it's more alive than it's ever been. It's just not on MTV.
https://www.soundcloud.com/user-322914325
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Lewian
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 09 2015
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 15175
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Posted: January 07 2018 at 15:10 |
If I didn't miss anything, I'm still the only one who nominated a woman. 
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YESESIS
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 26 2017
Location: Maine
Status: Offline
Points: 2215
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Posted: January 07 2018 at 14:06 |
Dellinger wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
Dellinger wrote:
OK, only faces... Robert Fripp, Peter Gabriel (with his flower costume), Rick Wakeman, and Ian Anderson, I guess. For a fifth one... perhaps Keith Emerson, or Frank Zappa as you have said so much, or Roger Waters. |
Hey we have two that are the same, Zappa and Gabriel. Right on. |
Well, those one I wrote there weren't so much because of how much I like their music, but rather because of how iconic their looks are for the prog world |
I really think you should give Zappa another chance man. Listen to One Size Fits All, or Hot Rats, or The Grand Wazoo.. I'd be shocked if you didn't like those albums.
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Mount Rushmore of Prog
