Instrumental VS the Singers

What about you?

Do you prefer your prog in full glory, with a singer or singers, or do you prefer instrumental prog, let the music do the talking.

I think lyrics can add an interesting personal dimension to music, when the song writers cant do it merely with music. But if an artist can express themselves without the use of words, its excellent also.

About Jon Anderson i often wonder why he penned lyrics at all, and didnt just sing whichever noise came to mind.

I believe prefer songs with lyrics but a good instrumental once in a while is also great.

What I don't really understand is concept album without lyrics, take Six Wives of Henry the VIII for example, excellent music but we have to believe that Rick did an album about that concept, because except for his word and the art cover could be about almost anything.

Iván

Though I know not much things are able to destroy an impression of music as bad vocal is...

You're right Emperor, take for example Steve Howe's albums, the music is outstanding, but when the guy opens his mouth, the song is almost ruined, he sounds as a bagpipe out of key.

Not so terrible as Howe, but when Ashley Holt sings in Wakeman´s Journey to the Centre of the Earth he makes me wish it was an instrumental.

But when the vocalist is good and the lyrics are intelligent, there's nothing better.

Iván

ivan_2068 wrote: Though I know not much things are able to destroy an impression of music as bad vocal is... You're right Emperor, take for example Steve Howe's albums, the music is outstanding, but when the guy opens his mouth, the song is almost ruined, he sounds as a bagpipe out of key. Iván

Frankly speaking, I still can stand the vocals by Steve Howe - it's rather weak, but nod bad at least. I guess that his THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS is one of the best albums of 90s...

The same thing with Dire Straits: I cannot say that Marc Knopfler has a vocalist talent (his voice is almost nothing in my opinion! ), but no other vocalist would so "in place" for DS's music  

For example, I cannot stand with the vocal by Robert Wayatt, just that's why I don't like Soft Machine so much...

And I really hate the unsincere and unimpressive singing by David Coverdale!  He has very unclear voice and even constantly cannot prononsuate the entire words!  Why the hell Purples has invited him when their bassist Glenn Hughes sang better and even took the most complex vocal parts instead of the lead vocalist?! (Remember the title track of Burn album? )

In BEGINNINGS he sounds worse, I agree. The only track I really like from this album is that instrumental track #5 with strings orchestra and Howe's guitar 

There's also very good Steve's album of 1979, maybe just because Howe sings in 2 tracks only...  But the female singing is awesome!

I like both generally, but it depends who is singing really

Genesis are equally good both with or without vocals, Petes or Phils.

I like Geddy Lees voice, but understand why many dont, and I've found that non Rush fans who think instrumental tracks like YYZ and La villa are good, are generally put off by Geddys voice.

Hawkwind are an example of where the instrumentals are always better than vocal tracks IMO. They have written some good songs, but their instrumentals can be much better with Dave Brocks flat and often boring sounding voice. Tracks like 'Spiral Galaxy..' and 'Opa Loka' from 'Warrior on the edge of time' are great instrumentals, as are 'World of Tiers' and 'Dust of time' from 'Levitation'

Focus are a good example of how a band can exist purely as an instrumental band, without ever boring the listerner - as long as you like Focus, of course.. They achieve this by often playing what could have been the vocal melody on the guitar, flute or organ instead. Tracks like Sylvia, and House of the King, for example have a kind of verse chorus structure that you may expect in a song with words.