Gentle Giant

Trouserpress wrote: Moogtron III wrote: I love Acquiring The Taste and Octopus, and I think Three Friends is very good too. I just bought In A Glass House yesterday at an Internet shop, bonus tracks and all (together with Focus' Hamburger Concerto and Caravan's In The Land Of Grey And Pink), and I'm excited because I expect it to be very good. Cor! Three of my favourite albums! Nice work, Moogy!

I must say I'm proud of myself too for having such a good taste . Really looking forward to hearing them. I hope I'll get them soon. I took the Gentle Giant and Caravan versions with bonus tracks. I used to buy the cheapest versions of albums, but I don't do that anymore. I don't want to be sorry afterwards, and I have heard too many cd's with great bonus tracks, so...

Trouserpress wrote: In a Glass House is the one to start with but every album from Gentle Giant to Interview is a masterpiece. ...I'm a little hurt by your Genesis comparison though!

Gentle Giant wished they were Genesis, at least 77-80 they are proof that maiking strong pop like Genesis is not as easy as it appears.

Trouserpress wrote: FishyMonkey wrote: I love GG, but they don't do anything spectacular for me..at least not on In a Glass House. Like I said in my review of that album, it's just good prog, nothing more, nothing less. It's creative, good songwriting, great usage of instruments, but there's nothing on In a Glass House that distinguishes it from other great bands. Except a unique approach to arrangements, pushing the envelope by recording a song with just vocals and tuned percussion, mind-blowingly tight performances and a general sense of sheer craftmanship. Oh, and very memorable tunes. Yeah, nothing special about that album at all, is there?

FishyMonkey, listen to the GG over and over and evetually it'll click and you'll go This is (one of) the greatest bands ever.

Glass House is a masterpiece.

Lyzarrd wrote: The first GG I heard was Nothing at All and I was absolutely floored by it. Its very true to say that pracitcally everyone one of their albums is a masterpiece (at least from the 70s).

Well, they disbanded in 1980, so there is nothing to check by GG after Civilian. Every album from the s/t to Interview is incredible though.

Trouserpress wrote: Moogtron III wrote: Besides, in the case of Gentle Giant the bonus is a LIVE bonus, and I never heard them live before. I'm curious about that too.  Live Gentle Giant is amazing. Utterly amazing. Get Playing the Fool and Giant on the Box asap and enjoy some of the most powerful, mind-boggling and entertaining live prog you will ever see/hear! ...IMO, obviously.

I WAS considering buying those. That's right, both items. But I'm still doubting if the rest of my birthday money will go to a Gentle Giant or an ELP live document. There's this interesting ELP DVD that came out this year, but well... Gentle Giant IS Gentle Giant... Still thinking

felona wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: Trouserpress wrote: FishyMonkey wrote: I love GG, but they don't do anything spectacular for me..at least not on In a Glass House. Like I said in my review of that album, it's just good prog, nothing more, nothing less. It's creative, good songwriting, great usage of instruments, but there's nothing on In a Glass House that distinguishes it from other great bands. Except a unique approach to arrangements, pushing the envelope by recording a song with just vocals and tuned percussion, mind-blowingly tight performances and a general sense of sheer craftmanship. Oh, and very memorable tunes. Yeah, nothing special about that album at all, is there? FishyMonkey, listen to the GG over and over and evetually it'll click and you'll go This is (one of) the greatest bands ever. Glass House is a masterpiece. It is  quite strange how first impressions are not always the last with GG. When I first heard GG a few years ago I actively disliked the sound (maybe because I wasn't listening to so much prog back then). But now they are one of my favourites . OK,  Trouserpress (or anyone else who can help) I'd like your esteemed opinion on why our tastes change   ... what exactly is it that "happens" in the brain to change    into  ????? Answers please!!!!!

I really had to get used to Octopus. Now it's one of my favorite albums. In fact, listened to it tonight and was blown against the wall once again. It IS an acquired taste for some, so keep trying, all you GG - try-outers  . Although I did like Acquiring The Taste already the 1st time I heard. Still my fave GG-album, until now, that is.

^ for me, strangely enough, Interview was the first one that I REALLY liked, the others I thought were only OK.  Since then, man, GG is easily in my top 10, maybe top 5 bands.