Modern Prog: First Album

Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear

It's a three way tie for me, between Marillion, Spock's Beard and Porcupine Tree

We’ll this has turned into an epic thread!!!

I may have missed it, but how did you come up with the list of acts? I’m interested to know why there’s no It Bites? Or RPWL?….

Surprised at low score for IQ. And I guess I should try listening to Anglagard…

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote:  1982: Talk Talk - The Party's Over - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kvjRb0tFuvjJ6xHAMWBV6zgsrTcegA-QA   The Party's Over for Talk Talk's excellent debut, but the party's just beginning for Synth Pop, as this is a real classic from the era and The Last Time you'll hear an album as good as this from Mark Hollis & Co.  Is it "writing outrageous things day" today? Is it "baiting day'? What's going on?  It's Such a Shame there isn't more love shown here for Tallk Talk's classic Synth-Pop debut...

Psychedelic Paul wrote: I'll avoid that problem altogether in the second Modern Prog poll by simply not listening to or rating any of the experimental Avant Prog albums by the Cardiacs, Guapo, Present, Swans or Thinking Plague, as they clearly have zero appeal for me. That way, we'll both be happy.

Jared wrote: Logan wrote: By the way, maybe I will try listening to the earliest Mostly Autumn song, I'm sure it wont make me decide to swear of everything that I or others might label Prog Folk (or I guess for the analogy, perhaps "more conventional, melodic music" would make more sense since Mostly Autumn's is labeled Prog Folk), but then I have the advantage of being into a lot of Prog Folk. I haven't explored Mostly Autumn music, but should it come up in a chat with someone who I appreciate such as Paul and he recommends some that he thinks would fit my tastes, I'd be sure to check it out. Greg, like many bands on PA, Mostly Autumn's 'Folk' tag comes from the first three albums, which have a different sound from anything off Passengers onward, which would probably fit the Crossover box more appropriately. They gradually lost the Folk label when Bob Faulds left after the 2nd album, taking his violin with him, Troy's pipes ended up spending more time in the Nightwish camp and Angela's flute started playing 2nd fiddle to her keyboard. It was a shame because they were unique, but I'd imagine it's difficult composing to keep an 8 piece of this sort together and happy, so they morphed into more of a Prog/Classic rock band with 'Pink Floyd' style guitar over the next few albums. If you'd like to hear them at their best from the early years, try Mother Nature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTUjHlNfZhY

That's a wonderful, informative post, thanks Jared. :D Seems as with many acts, they change style and approach, have different line-ups, across discographies and even a sole album will often have diversity, so judging, especially, a long-lived band by one album, let alone one song, often won't lead to much insight.   I have listened to that a couple of times now and do appreciate it This still would not be enough for me to now how to rate the song, let alone the band obviously, as my brain often needs to become accustomed to new-to-me music, this is pretty different from my usual fare, and I was listening to "trip hop" right before it the first time. I also did check out some other Mostly Autumn music before your post (curious) from the debut and had expected it to be folkier still. As for "Mother Nature", I like how it starts off quite melancholy and pretty -- it then moves into Neo-Proggish Genesis-like qualities, and then changes... She has quite a pretty voice, not as keen on his, but that might be an acquired taste. The guitar playing can be quite reminiscent of Gilmour and it rather reminds me of Fleetwood Mac? in part.

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I find this quite insipid, but I have wanted to mention this Swans cover of Blind Faith's Can't Find My Way Home off what is sometimes called the band's sell-out album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-3omU6SZjY Not bad, just a quite bland, mediocre cover from a mediocre album to me. Regarding Filth, I don't mind it, but I do like more contrast and beauty (sometimes brutal is what I want -- release the Gimp!* I still wouldn't classify it as Avant Prog (since Paul has used that term quite a few times in connection to it) even if it is a kind of experimental rock.

*a Pulp Fiction reference.

Edited by Logan - April 19 2022 at 07:06

Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: I have checked out a couple of Mostly Autumn albums based on Paul's adoration. Personally they are not a style that appeals to me. (See how easy that was)

And did you listen to those albums in their entirety? It seems from the comments here you should not rate an album unless you hear it all.

Edited by Grumpyprogfan - April 19 2022 at 06:37

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Only from the point of view that a 1-star rating and thumbs down from me is likely to be taken as a recommendation when it comes to experimental Avant Prog. Conversely, I very much doubt if anyone's going to listen to Mostly Autumn simply because I've given all of their albums a 5-star rating.  You giving mostly autumn's entire discography 5 stars might spark someone's curiosity and also make some people suspicious.   For all we shared together on ProgArchives, our tastes in music couldn't be more different, but you might like this song from Mostly Autumn's first album...

I have checked out a couple of Mostly Autumn albums based on Paul's adoration. Personally they are not a style that appeals to me. (See how easy that was)

Logan wrote: By the way, maybe I will try listening to the earliest Mostly Autumn song, I'm sure it wont make me decide to swear of everything that I or others might label Prog Folk (or I guess for the analogy, perhaps "more conventional, melodic music" would make more sense since Mostly Autumn's is labeled Prog Folk), but then I have the advantage of being into a lot of Prog Folk. I haven't explored Mostly Autumn music, but should it come up in a chat with someone who I appreciate such as Paul and he recommends some that he thinks would fit my tastes, I'd be sure to check it out.