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What's your least favorite album from giants?

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Topic: What's your least favorite album from giants?
Posted By: antonyus
Subject: What's your least favorite album from giants?
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 08:36
Hi All,

After releasing several masterpieces, prog.rock giants dramatically changed their direction and we'd facing these kind of albums in 80s or later. I just wondering; what is your least favorite album?

my vote goes to Yes Cry



Replies:
Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 08:41
i'm probably the only person on this planet that thinks The Final Cut is a masterpiece

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"I know one thing: that I know nothing"

- SpongeBob Socrates


Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 08:49
I'll be honest, of the five of these titles listed that I own (the first five, but not the Tull or Rush album), I actually really enjoy them all. Good tunes, good playing - all good!

And yeah, I'm with you, Walton, `The Final Cut' is absolutely superb. A career best vocal from Roger on it is just one of the standout things about it   


Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 08:58
Abacab, Under Wraps and Beat are weak albums, but not the worst in their respective bands' discographies.  
The Final Cut is Roger Waters solo album, with Gilmour and Mason as sidemen.  
Big Generator is, actually, not too bad at all - not prog, but still a fairly decent symph. 

I am not familiar iwth the remainder of the listed albums .  


Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 09:01
I haven't heard Test for Echo, but I pretty much like (maybe not love) all the other albums listed.  But of the BANDS listed, my least favorite album from any of those groups is probably Calling All Stations - though even that one is just beginning to grow on me.


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Posted By: Libor10
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 09:47
In fact JT Under Wraps I consider as weakest from those above. So JT is "winner" here for me. I don't know Camel's The Single Factor though.


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Posted By: floflo79
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 09:47
The Final Cut is really great (you're not alone Walton Street), Beat is good, and the others have some good moments. It was between Big Generator and Under Wraps... Big Generator. 

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Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 09:55
No vote. I am not familiar with most of these albums.

I have no problems with The Final Cut. Abacab is mediocre, but it has a few good songs.

Jethro Tull's Warchild and Rush's Roll the Bones are two albums that I would give a one star rating. In the case of Rush, it was reason enough for me to avoid their albums until Snakes and Arrows.


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Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 09:59
probably take a proper progish album any day to Yeswest---which hasn't held up to the test of time for me.


Posted By: O666
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 10:11
Yes - Big Generator.
 I think KC's Beat is a great album and I can't understand why you put that in this list!! I know about different opinions and ... but I really like to know your reference or reason to put BEAT in this list. Thanks


Posted By: King Only
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 10:17
For me, the most disappointing albums by one of my favorite bands were the Doors 'Waiting For The Sun' and 'The Soft Parade'. I like their other four albums much better.

Also, 'Le Parc' by Tangerine Dream was really disappointing.


Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 11:03
Originally posted by O666 O666 wrote:

Yes - Big Generator.
 I think KC's Beat is a great album and I can't understand why you put that in this list!! I know about different opinions and ... but I really like to know your reference or reason to put BEAT in this list. Thanks

I'd go even further: why are Camel and Rush giants? 

Nothing against them, but you can't call every great prog band a giant; this makes the category meaningless. There should be some metrics and criteria; let's say top 5? If the PA Top 100 albums list is anything to go by, I'd say Yes, Tull, Genesis, PF and KC should qualify for the "giants" tier, while Rush, Camel, PFM, Anglagard, VdGG etc. would follow closely be the next tier (sub-giants, maybe?)   


Posted By: Mormegil
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 11:06
This list is a little cringe-worthy. Yes, some of these albums had some good tracks, but overall "meh".
I'd have to go with Big Generator if I had to pick.


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Posted By: hellogoodbye
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 12:39
I enjoy Beat, I could live some lives furthermore without the others. 


Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 12:39
The Final Cut.  It barely qualifies as music in many ways.  I find it more of a collection of poetry than anything else.  The lyrics are great, I will give it that, but it is more melodramatic than melodic between Waters' whispering and barking and the sound effects, as well as the unnecessary bursts of sound.  Some of this is used to good effect but it becomes tedious quickly to my ears.  I consider the rest of the list to be decent if substandard with the exception of Test for Echo which I find to be quite good.

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The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty"


Posted By: Xonty
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 12:52
Big Generator, but there's loads of others worse than these albums.


Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 13:06
King crimson – Beat


Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 13:10
Originally posted by Progosopher Progosopher wrote:

The Final Cut.  It barely qualifies as music in many ways.  I find it more of a collection of poetry than anything else.  The lyrics are great, I will give it that, but it is more melodramatic than melodic between Waters' whispering and barking and the sound effects, as well as the unnecessary bursts of sound.  Some of this is used to good effect but it becomes tedious quickly to my ears.  I consider the rest of the list to be decent if substandard with the exception of Test for Echo which I find to be quite good.
to me its an Opera about Armageddon
never once thought to question if it was music or not


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"I know one thing: that I know nothing"

- SpongeBob Socrates


Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 13:18
Originally posted by Progosopher Progosopher wrote:

The Final Cut.  It barely qualifies as music in many ways.  I find it more of a collection of poetry than anything else
And it barely qualifies as Pink Floyd


Posted By: digdug
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 13:22
arrrrggh

I selected my fave from the list   ( Test for Echo  )

before realizing we were supposed to pick the worst

would have gone with  The Final Cut
or other  :      Love Beach


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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 13:49
I voted for The Final Cut. I know there are those who think it's "Floyd's" finest moment (a fair few on this very board), but I'd quite frankly rather listen to Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music instead.

Beat and Abacab are two albums I really dig though. They don't deserve the bad rep imo (then again people are saying the very same about Final Cut right about..............NOW....no wait a minute....there it is: now).


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- Douglas Adams


Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 13:49
The Single Factor is absolutely the worst Camel album, and also Big Generator was the worst Yes albums until the recent one, but I donět understand why I'm the only one who have voted for Abacab which I have to confess I've never listened to entirely because I get bored of it quite soon. The Final Cut is far from being a masterpiece but I think it's still a solid 3 stars album, despite the absence of Rick Wright.

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I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution


Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 13:55
The Final Cut


Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 14:01
Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

I voted for The Final Cut. I know there are those who think it's "Floyd's" finest moment (a fair few on this very board), but I'd quite frankly rather listen to Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music instead.

Beat and Abacab are two albums I really dig though. They don't deserve the bad rep imo (then again people are saying the very same about Final Cut right about..............NOW....no wait a minute....there it is: now).
 
 
Abacab makes me want to punch my hand through a wall :)


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"I know one thing: that I know nothing"

- SpongeBob Socrates


Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 14:09
The 80's incarnation of Crimso is my least fave and my least fave of their 80's album is Beat Wink

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Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 14:40
Haven't heard it, but I would imagine the Jethro Tull entry is pretty poor against the seven or so competing entries. Call it a gut feeling.


Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:18
I like Test For Echo!

Big Generator is a car crash, the Final Cut and Under Wraps are poor and Abacab and The Single Factor are dreadfully substandard for Genesis and Camel respectively.

But Beat is desperately bad for King Crimson and I don't even like their "better" stuff much, so I'm going for that.


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A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.


Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:22
Early eighties KC has always been a struggle for me so I voted for that even though from an intellectual point of view BG is a heap of dung by Yes standards. Trouble is though I can listen to it and even enjoy it. Damn.


Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:24
who the hell put Camel in the Giants???  LOL

yes they beat ELP... twice Angry... I'll give you that.  But 'giant'  sorry man...  'Giants' are bands even non prog fans have HEARD of...  hell  there are likely prog fans out there that haven't heard them.  4th division prog groupman...with a bit of a cult following here. pfff LOLClap


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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:25
Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

i'm probably the only person on this planet that thinks The Final Cut is a masterpiece


Perhaps not a masterpiece, but a much better album than A Momentary Lapse of Reason for sure. Actually, I don't dislike any of the albums listed (I have never heard The Single Factor), though I think Under Wraps is possibly the weakest of the lot. 


Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:28
I listened to The Final Cut only once. Same for Big Generator. Same for Beat. Same for...

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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:30
yeah....  I'll second that. weakest...of a group known for them. Yeah, that is bad..


AMLoR wasn't simply a bad album... it was worse.. it was nothing than a poke in the eye of Roger and we all played the fool by buying into it and what was left of Floyd laughed all the way to the bank. A cash grab  and a bad album...  perhaps the worst excuse for a rock album since... hmmm...  EVER!!!! LOL




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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:33
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

who the hell put Camel in the Giants???  LOL

yes they beat ELP... twice Angry... I'll give you that. 
 
I think you've answered your own question. Wink


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The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty"


Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:34
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

who the hell put Camel in the Giants???  LOL

yes they beat ELP... twice Angry... I'll give you that.  But 'giant'  sorry man...  'Giants' are bands even non prog fans have HEARD of...  hell  there are likely prog fans out there that haven't heard them.  4th division prog groupman...with a bit of a cult following here. pfff LOLClap

I was quite grateful that ELP were not in this poll to be honestLOL


Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:47
Originally posted by Raff Raff wrote:

 Perhaps not a masterpiece, but a much better album than A Momentary Lapse of Reason for sure. 
In what way? 


Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:48
Originally posted by Progosopher Progosopher wrote:

Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

who the hell put Camel in the Giants???  LOL

yes they beat ELP... twice Angry... I'll give you that. 
 
I think you've answered your own question. Wink


bah... AngryLOL


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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:49
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

who the hell put Camel in the Giants???  LOL

yes they beat ELP... twice Angry... I'll give you that.  But 'giant'  sorry man...  'Giants' are bands even non prog fans have HEARD of...  hell  there are likely prog fans out there that haven't heard them.  4th division prog groupman...with a bit of a cult following here. pfff LOLClap

I was quite grateful that ELP were not in this poll to be honestLOL


it would have been a poll they would beaten Camel in at least .. and likely won outright LOLClap


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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:53
Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

Originally posted by Raff Raff wrote:

 Perhaps not a masterpiece, but a much better album than A Momentary Lapse of Reason for sure. 
In what way? 


In my opinion, of course... Much more interesting and emotionally charged, while AMLOR feels flat and contrived, though formally impeccable and more melodic. All in my opinion, of course. If you (like a lot of other people) think AMLOR is superior, that's OK with me.


Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:22
Originally posted by Raff Raff wrote:

Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

Originally posted by Raff Raff wrote:

 Perhaps not a masterpiece, but a much better album than A Momentary Lapse of Reason for sure. 
In what way? 


In my opinion, of course... Much more interesting and emotionally charged, while AMLOR feels flat and contrived, though formally impeccable and more melodic. All in my opinion, of course. If you (like a lot of other people) think AMLOR is superior, that's OK with me.


bah...  you are too diplomatic darling. 
The Final Cut was a Pink Floyd album.. or so the cover says..LOL what it really was a Roger Waters solo album with the Pink Floyd name attached to it. Waters has assumed control. The others, were along for the ride. but it is what it was and didn't pretend to be anything but what it is. I didn't like it and I am a huge Waters fan.   It was not a bad album.. it just wasn't a 'Floyd' album


....  LOL which brings us to the sh*t stain on the world of music that AMLoR was.  It tried to be 'Floyd' more to prove TO Roger that Floyd could live without him. It was the final and most public act in that bitter custody fight,  and unlike The Final Cut .. it did pretend to be what it was not.  Cool MTV videos aimed to cash in a reputation that was earned a decade earlier, marketed to teens too young to catch the group in their early 70's heyday. That is what it tried to do .. and what it did.. was SUCK SO BADLY I threw the godamned CD out of the car window after the first listen right into the middle of traffic on I-95.

hah....LOL


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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: LearsFool
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:26
Think I'll nominate Love Beach.

ELP certainly was a giant, and they fell FAR from their grace when they were forced to cut that.

But the cover... there is no way they didn't agree to that. Confused Good Lord.


Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:27
Originally posted by Lear'sFool Lear'sFool wrote:

Think I'll nominate Love Beach.

ELP certainly was a giant, and they fell FAR from their grace when they were forced to cut that.

But the cover... there is no way they didn't agree to that. Confused Good Lord.


the fact the Carl Palmer was still smokin hot at least makes the cover easier on the eyes... LOL


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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:29
^ it may be interesting to note that the vox PApuli rated AMLOR barely above 3 stars, making it the lowest-ranking album in the PF studio discography. I am somewhat interested in finding out why. 


Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:34
Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

^ it may be interesting to note that the vox PApuli rated AMLOR barely above 3 stars, making it the lowest-ranking album in the PF studio discography. I am somewhat interested in finding out why. 


the short answer....many people must , like me, think it SUCKS!!! LOL

more power to those that like it. Smile

I always did want to review it, but it would have meant buying it (no problem since for old times sake I'd like to throw it this time from the top of the next tall building I'm working on) but it would mean listening to it again.

then again... I am Micky... with super powers that I have.. I suppose I could review it based on fond memories of my powerful reaction to it.. even though it has been.. now. what..almost 30 years ago. Jesus...


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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: silverpot
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:51
I love AMLOR. Especially when played live. Wink
The Final Cut is too much of Waters' rantings. Not one good melody in there imo.


Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:53
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

^ it may be interesting to note that the vox PApuli rated AMLOR barely above 3 stars, making it the lowest-ranking album in the PF studio discography. I am somewhat interested in finding out why. 


the short answer....many people must , like me, think it SUCKS!!! LOL

more power to those that like it. Smile

I always did want to review it, but it would have meant buying it (no problem since for old times sake I'd like to throw it this time from the top of the next tall building I'm working on) but it would mean listening to it again.

then again... I am Micky... with super powers that I have.. I suppose I could review it based on fond memories of my powerful reaction to it.. even though it has been.. now. what..almost 30 years ago. Jesus...

Memories of the times you once had, silly little memories of the way you were. LOLLOL


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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.


Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:56
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

who the hell put Camel in the Giants???  LOL

 
Someone with taste.


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A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.


Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 18:03
Originally posted by Hercules Hercules wrote:

Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

who the hell put Camel in the Giants???  LOL

 
Someone with taste.


LOL ... ahhh.. yeah... that must be it,,, sure. Wink

my guess would be one whose fanboyism has overridden any sense of objective thought and has zero comprehension of just what the notion of a  musical giant is...  confusing it with being a PA's cult favorite.LOL


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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 18:06
Originally posted by tszirmay tszirmay wrote:

Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

^ it may be interesting to note that the vox PApuli rated AMLOR barely above 3 stars, making it the lowest-ranking album in the PF studio discography. I am somewhat interested in finding out why. 


the short answer....many people must , like me, think it SUCKS!!! LOL

more power to those that like it. Smile

I always did want to review it, but it would have meant buying it (no problem since for old times sake I'd like to throw it this time from the top of the next tall building I'm working on) but it would mean listening to it again.

then again... I am Micky... with super powers that I have.. I suppose I could review it based on fond memories of my powerful reaction to it.. even though it has been.. now. what..almost 30 years ago. Jesus...

Memories of the times you once had, silly little memories of the way you were. LOLLOL


Clap

I'll tell ya brother.. when that day comes when Micky is drooling and pissing upon himself in some rest home... it will at least be done with a smile on my face remembering the wild great days of youth! LOL


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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 18:11
Well, I'll give ya a hint.....I could have cried when I first saw this crap. 




Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 18:13
Originally posted by Finnforest Finnforest wrote:

Well, I'll give ya a hint.....I could have cried when I first saw this crap. 




LOL


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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip


Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 18:20
A lot of crap here.
 
Yes just over Camel and Genesis.


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Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.


Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 18:33
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

 which brings us to the sh*t stain on the world of music that AMLoR was.  It tried to be 'Floyd' more to prove TO Roger that Floyd could live without him. 
What should have Floyd done instead - trying to sound like Luciano Pavarotti? The Foggy Mountain Boys? The Boswell Sisters? 
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

SUCK SO BADLY I threw the godamned CD out of the car window after the first listen right into the middle of traffic on I-95. 
You got lucky this vigilanta wasn't around, or she might have lobbed an LP version of a Richard Wagner's opera into your car:  




Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 19:03
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:



....  LOL which brings us to the sh*t stain on the world of music that AMLoR was.  It tried to be 'Floyd' more to prove TO Roger that Floyd could live without him. It was the final and most public act in that bitter custody fight,  and unlike The Final Cut .. it did pretend to be what it was not.  Cool MTV videos aimed to cash in a reputation that was earned a decade earlier, marketed to teens too young to catch the group in their early 70's heyday. That is what it tried to do .. and what it did.. was SUCK SO BADLY I threw the godamned CD out of the car window after the first listen right into the middle of traffic on I-95.

hah....LOL

I felt sick listening to it.  It was like how Seth Brundle described the steak that they put through the transporter in The Fly. It looks like steak, it was technically steak, but the flavour was wrong .. blah. A poor imitation.
It proved to me that although he other musicians of PF are incredibly proficient, Waters was the soul of the band.

Oddly enough though - somehow they did get it back with the Division Bell.... as if they solved the puzzle somehow.


as far as Final Cut goes ... i don't care if it was a One Direction/Celine Dion collaboration  .. i love every second of it.


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"I know one thing: that I know nothing"

- SpongeBob Socrates


Posted By: Michael678
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 20:28
i think The Final Cut is what i'll go for from all the stuff here that i heard already.

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Progrockdude


Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: January 08 2015 at 20:29
As Tull is my favorite, Under Wraps was astoundingly annoying. Next, I'd say the Final Cut. As for the rest of the albums on the list, I stopped caring about the bands (like Yes and Genesis) before the albums you listed, as they had already headed for banality.

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Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 00:34
Beat has 6 votes and The Single Factor has a single vote?ConfusedUnhappy


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Magma America Great Make Again


Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 05:00
Originally posted by The Dark Elf The Dark Elf wrote:

As Tull is my favorite, Under Wraps was astoundingly annoying. Next, I'd say the Final Cut. As for the rest of the albums on the list, I stopped caring about the bands (like Yes and Genesis) before the albums you listed, as they had already headed for banality.

I think you hit it squarely on the head .. most of the albums, listed in this poll, simply failed to produce an emotional response in me :)

But The Final Cut irritates me on several levels. #1: Too much poetry and almost no music. When I want poetry, I open a Fripp-damned poetry book. #2. Waters' social and political observations had evolved into tunnel vision, and his convictions - into fixations. I'll stop here, so as not to offend anyone. 

And it does stand out, because I rate all post-Barrett PF albums before The Wall and after The Final Cut at least 3.5 stars.  
   


Posted By: Flight123
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 05:10
With the possible exception of Rush, the other albums have their merits but I went with Yes - that really was the album that broke our hearts and that's when I stopped buying Yes albums as they were released.


Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 05:13
Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

Originally posted by The Dark Elf The Dark Elf wrote:

As Tull is my favorite, Under Wraps was astoundingly annoying. Next, I'd say the Final Cut. As for the rest of the albums on the list, I stopped caring about the bands (like Yes and Genesis) before the albums you listed, as they had already headed for banality.

I think you hit it squarely on the head .. most of the albums, listed in this poll, simply failed to produce an emotional response in me :)

But The Final Cut irritates me on several levels. #1: Too much poetry and almost no music. When I want poetry, I open a Fripp-damned poetry book. #2. Waters' social and political observations had evolved into tunnel vision, and his convictions - into fixations. I'll stop here, so as not to offend anyone. 

And it does stand out, because I rate all post-Barrett PF albums before The Wall and after The Final Cut at least 3.5 stars.  
   
I think I can understand why TFC irritates you, as what you mention are effectively its defects, but if you go back to 1983 and look at it not as a Pink Floyd album but just for its own qualities (or defects), I think it's not that bad. It's surely better than Pros and Cons and of most of the rubbish released the same year. Two Suns in the Sunset is a great song and there's still some Gimour. The passage from scream to sax in The Gunner's Dream is excellent and it's not the only good thing. I have to add that this album did something to me at subliminal level. I have listened to it for the first time before going to sleep and I remember dreaming about sentences listened only once.


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I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution


Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 08:43
Of that list Yes-Big Gen but Love Beach- ELP  is worse than all of those.

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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin


Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 09:27
Originally posted by Lear'sFool Lear'sFool wrote:

Think I'll nominate Love Beach.

ELP certainly was a giant, and they fell FAR from their grace when they were forced to cut that.

But the cover... there is no way they didn't agree to that. Confused Good Lord.
I'm starting feel some ELP bias toward the OP now! LOL

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Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 09:46
Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

Originally posted by Lear'sFool Lear'sFool wrote:

Think I'll nominate Love Beach.

ELP certainly was a giant, and they fell FAR from their grace when they were forced to cut that.

But the cover... there is no way they didn't agree to that. Confused Good Lord.
I'm starting feel some ELP bias toward the OP now! LOL
But Renaissance's Time Line is even worse, and also the cover art is not better than Love Beach


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I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution


Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 09:50
Originally posted by octopus-4 octopus-4 wrote:

Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

Originally posted by Lear'sFool Lear'sFool wrote:

Think I'll nominate Love Beach.

ELP certainly was a giant, and they fell FAR from their grace when they were forced to cut that.

But the cover... there is no way they didn't agree to that. Confused Good Lord.
I'm starting feel some ELP bias toward the OP now! LOL
But Renaissance's Time Line is even worse, and also the cover art is not better than Love Beach
 
never saw the Renaissance cover before - had to google it.
It looks like the cover from a Bonnie Tyler album.
 
That and Love Beach just scream prog don't they :)


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"I know one thing: that I know nothing"

- SpongeBob Socrates


Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 09:59



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I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution


Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 10:34
Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

i'm probably the only person on this planet that thinks The Final Cut is a masterpiece
No, you are not.

Roger was working so hard on it, really emotionally draining everyone around him, and this is how we repay him.


Posted By: Imperial Zeppelin
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 10:39
Originally posted by octopus-4 octopus-4 wrote:


That looks horrible just by looking at itDead


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"Hey there, Dog Man, now I drink from your bowl."


Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 11:08
Originally posted by Dayvenkirq Dayvenkirq wrote:

Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

i'm probably the only person on this planet that thinks The Final Cut is a masterpiece
No, you are not.

Roger was working so hard on it, really emotionally draining everyone around him, and this is how we repay him.



I love the construction of the Final Cut album.  It seems to breathe history and the sparse feel, often quiet and acoustic, work brilliantly to make the album intimate.  It also seemed entirely unconcerned about "fitting in" to the 80s commercial sounds that other prog giants seemed to be chasing with sometimes less than awesome results.  Final Cut is just playing music to suit the personal themes and I think Waters made some great choices.


Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 11:13
Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

i'm probably the only person on this planet that thinks The Final Cut is a masterpiece

Nope...there's at least 2 of us Wink


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https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987


Posted By: Friday13th
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 11:58
The only one I've sat through is Beat. Probs their worst but it's still okay.


Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 12:59
Hi,
 
I was thinking that the album that I would always enjoy the least, will always be one that PA has everyone gushing over!
 
Evil Smile
 
Clown


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Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com


Posted By: dave-the-rave
Date Posted: January 09 2015 at 13:09
After the fairly commercial, hard-rocking sound of 'The Wall,' 'The Final Cut' was incredibly disappointing. It sounded like all the slow parts of The Wall strung together for 40 minutes. But a few years ago, I figured something out.

The key to enjoying 'The Final Cut' is to put on the headphones and imagine that you are listening to a Broadway show, that is, the telling of a story through music and the spoken word.  It's a musical, for crying out loud. That's what occurred to me, and turned me from a hater to someone who could at least appreciate what Roger had created. (Still doesn't rock, though.)


Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 10 2015 at 02:35
Originally posted by dave-the-rave dave-the-rave wrote:

After the fairly commercial, hard-rocking sound of 'The Wall,' 'The Final Cut' was incredibly disappointing. It sounded like all the slow parts of The Wall strung together for 40 minutes. But a few years ago, I figured something out.

The key to enjoying 'The Final Cut' is to put on the headphones and imagine that you are listening to a Broadway show, that is, the telling of a story through music and the spoken word.  It's a musical, for crying out loud. That's what occurred to me, and turned me from a hater to someone who could at least appreciate what Roger had created. (Still doesn't rock, though.)

basically a Roger Water's solo album then


Posted By: FragileKings
Date Posted: January 10 2015 at 02:40
I only know three of these: Test for Echo (which I like better than Hold Your Fire), The Final Cut (which is more of a Roger Waters solo album with PF members present and an album I rather like as well), and Big Generator (which I honestly struggle with except for two songs).

So, based on this list I will say Big Generator, though I did try to listen to the Jethro Tull album in bits once and decided right away I wouldn't buy it.


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I used to be a fan of particular bands like Rush, Yes, and Deep Purple. Now I travel the Proglands, exploring a little bit of everything. I have become a Prog Voyager.


Posted By: Greg W
Date Posted: January 10 2015 at 08:30
Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

i'm probably the only person on this planet that thinks The Final Cut is a masterpiece


I agree.


Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: January 10 2015 at 12:37
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

who the hell put Camel in the Giants???  LOL

yes they beat ELP... twice Angry... I'll give you that.  But 'giant'  sorry man...  'Giants' are bands even non prog fans have HEARD of...  hell  there are likely prog fans out there that haven't heard them.  4th division prog groupman...with a bit of a cult following here. pfff LOLClap

Given that every Camel album from Mirage thru tationary Traveller (in 1984!) made the UK charts, I think they must have had some non prog fans.  Gentle Giant, suprisingly not included here among the "Giants", would be a group that had NO non prog fans.  But anyway, who cares what non prog fans think, if indeed they do  Sleepy


Posted By: aglasshouse
Date Posted: January 10 2015 at 13:03
I would nominate maybe Giant for a Day? Embarrassed

And hem, I think Hold Your Fire is FAR worse than Test for Echo.


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http://fryingpanmedia.com


Posted By: Walton Street
Date Posted: January 10 2015 at 13:26
Originally posted by Greg W Greg W wrote:

Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

i'm probably the only person on this planet that thinks The Final Cut is a masterpiece


I agree.

i have that mcdonald and giles album - your picture of it is the only other time i've seen it


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"I know one thing: that I know nothing"

- SpongeBob Socrates


Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: January 10 2015 at 15:20
Test for Echo is awful and uninspired IMO. I also love the Final Cut.

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A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!


Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: January 10 2015 at 16:02
Originally posted by dave-the-rave dave-the-rave wrote:

After the fairly commercial, hard-rocking sound of 'The Wall,' 'The Final Cut' was incredibly disappointing. It sounded like all the slow parts of The Wall strung together for 40 minutes. But a few years ago, I figured something out.

The key to enjoying 'The Final Cut' is to put on the headphones and imagine that you are listening to a Broadway show, that is, the telling of a story through music and the spoken word.  It's a musical, for crying out loud. That's what occurred to me, and turned me from a hater to someone who could at least appreciate what Roger had created. (Still doesn't rock, though.)

Judy Garland and SHOW-tunes!


Posted By: uduwudu
Date Posted: January 13 2015 at 02:49
I went from disliking Final Cut to enjoying. Took a long time but it was when getting a disc of the video EP that I realised it does have some nice tunes. A fair stack of DG solos. It's not really a rock album though; no problem. It approaches the concept of war, as a prequel to The Wall rather than a sequel. I think after the appeal of Comfortably Numb and perhaps with the exception of Sorrow the lack of a similar follow up and conforming to audience expectations has ensured alot of later Rog and PF music to exasperation.

It's still very austere like most of Roger's later work which is concealing the heart of this album.

Some albums have such a bad rep that I've avoided them - I mean I have to find time to play music I like never mind find stuff I might not.

Love all 80s and Beyond Crim, everything Yes, Genesis but did not like Test For Echo much - thought Rush were trying to be grunge. Uh uh. Still not heard Love Beach largely because buying anything with that cover (is it on CD?; not sure I've seen it) but it seems like buying gay porn to me. Not ideal... plus it has less than a high rep.

Big Generator has a truly awful cover (the turquoise version being slightly less awful than the yellow / pink but I found this project fine. Obviously nothing sounds like Heart of the Sunrise (why should it) it's a new band with an established name for sales purposes.

Hard to find too many albums that don't have something good on them somewhere though I recall being a bit appalled at the blandness of Camel's Breathless. Still, it's not on the list so... probably Test For Echo. But it's not that bad and I'd listen to it constantly compared to some certain mindless mainstream I hear from time to time.

Maybe not everything's classic on this list but nothing to get too over emotional over.









Posted By: Moogmoods
Date Posted: January 13 2015 at 03:06
No you're not the only one. I also think it's plain brilliant. This is Rogers soul laid bare. His most powerful lyrics ever. And Michael Kamen's orchestration is spot on. A dark album I agree, but plenty food for thought on it.

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The purpose of life is a life of purpose - Athena Orchard


Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 04:49
Under Wraps from the list.
The Single Factor is Camel's weakest album indeed, but I don't think it's a bad album.

In the Hot Seat by ELP comes to mind
last album of Yes (what a disappointment that was for me)
Invisible Touch is much worse than Abacab
Beat by KC is not bad at all

The Wedge by Pallas, un-listenable for me




Posted By: sublime220
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 12:59
I loved Test For Echo and Abacab so that's off the list. I always thought that Stationary Traveller was much worse than Single Factor. Under Wraps was pretty bad but it wasn't terrible. The Yes and Crimso albums are fine. That leaves TFC which I voted for just because of the perfection of their past 11 albums.

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There is no dark side in the moon, really... Matter of fact, it's all dark...


Posted By: ProgCandles
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 13:55
Genesis – Abacab

PS. Other:
Yes - 90125


Posted By: TeleStrat
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 14:07
Jethro Tull - Under Wraps


Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 21:59
I don't know all the albums from this list, but it seems to me that this shows just how great Pink Floyd is/was. I would actually consider The Final Cut a good album... even if it's not even close te being among my favourites from them. At least Big Generator and Abacab are indeed some really weak albums, the other ones I don't know, but for their reputation, I guess I wouldn't like Under Wraps much more, Beat I believe might be somewhat good though (it's King Crimson, after all), and Test for Echo I have no idea.


Posted By: tamijo
Date Posted: March 31 2015 at 08:08
Originally posted by someone_else someone_else wrote:

No vote. I am not familiar with most of these albums.
I have no problems with The Final Cut. Abacab is mediocre, but it has a few good songs.
Jethro Tull's Warchild and Rush's Roll the Bones are two albums that I would give a one star rating. In the case of Rush, it was reason enough for me to avoid their albums until Snakes and Arrows.
I just love Warchild - some great tunes. But we are all diffrent, and that not a bad thing.  
 


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Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours


Posted By: Volcanic-lighnings
Date Posted: April 05 2015 at 16:05
Yes – Big Generator


Posted By: Green Shield Stamp
Date Posted: April 06 2015 at 03:37
Abacab is a very good album - better than the three subsequent Genesis albums anyway. The Final Cut is a great album - better than some of Floyd's earlier albums (Ummagumma for instance) and better than the Division Bell. Test for Echo is a strong album. Rush have never released a bad album. Camel have produced a few great albums but compared to the other bans on this list they are quite mediocre. The Single Factor is no more mediocre than many of their other albums. However, Under Wraps is a real stinker with no redeeming features. It is tuneless, bland, horribly produced and tedious.

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Haiku

Writing a poem
With seventeen syllables
Is very diffic....


Posted By: Pastmaster
Date Posted: April 06 2015 at 12:11
Out of these I've heard, The Final Cut. I actually really like Test for Echo, never understood the hate. 


Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: April 06 2015 at 23:46
Left out Love Beach???

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Posted By: sublime220
Date Posted: April 07 2015 at 00:06
^It would've skewed the results. At least we have a close race right now.

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There is no dark side in the moon, really... Matter of fact, it's all dark...


Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: April 07 2015 at 21:06
Floyd's The Endless River.
Yes' Heaven and Earth.
Moody Blues' Octave.
Genesis' Calling All Stations.
Tull's Under Wraps.
ELP's In The Hot Seat.
Rush's Test For Echo.
se
All wretchedly bad. Crimson's Beat is their weakest, but miles ahead compared to the worst of the other former giants. I agree that Camel should not be included.
 
I think a more interesting idea would be to ask which of these former supergroups has the biggest drop-off in quality comparing their best to their worst (and which personnel are to blame!)
 


Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: April 07 2015 at 21:39
You think Heaven and Earth is worse than Open Your Eyes? I think not.^^^^


Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: April 07 2015 at 22:27
^Open Your Eyes starts off with what I think is a most underrated "New State of Mind", an enjoyable title track, and a serviceable "Universal Garden" before going off the rails.
 
Heaven and Earth has only Subway Walls, which overstays its welcome after the pretty much unmitigated dreck preceding it.


Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: April 08 2015 at 01:28
^I like Heaven and Earth More than Open Your Eyes and Test For Echo is a long way from being Rush worst album which for me would be Presto or Hold You Fire ( However Rush are one of the most consistent bands in rock/prog history , not many real down moments). I agree with the ELP and Genesis ones though. A couple of truly unlistenable albums if ever there were ( and the joke was they were supposed to be commercial radio friendly stuff).
ELP's Love Beach has been the source of some good discussion recently. For me it has about 60% decent material and the rest could be binned ( A Taste Of My Love , Canario and the last half of Memoirs) . It could have been a decent commercial radio friendly prog album in the same vein as Duke but didn't quite make it.
 
Biggest drop off in quality. Many would say ELP yet many will say ELP were not that good in the first place. However to go from Brain Salad Surgery (1973) to Love Beach ( 1978) is a bit sad to say the least so I guess ELP are the ones to win this 'award' and perhaps dear Greg and his mate Pete should be lead to the gallows!


Posted By: Cactus Choir
Date Posted: April 08 2015 at 02:59
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:


ELP's Love Beach has been the source of some good discussion recently. For me it has about 60% decent material and the rest could be binned ( A Taste Of My Love , Canario and the last half of Memoirs) . It could have been a decent commercial radio friendly prog album in the same vein as Duke but didn't quite make it.
 


I agree about Love Beach being a precipitous drop from Brain Salad Surgery, but actually like the three tracks you singled out for culling. The March at the end of Memoirs is good and would have been great if the sound had been beefed up IMHO, the undercooked production being one of the main problems with Love Beach. I would list the other problems but don't have all day. Canario is an excellent track and Taste of My Love should be retained for its (unintentional) comedy value. All I Want is You is the one I 'd definitely drop, a thoroughly undistinguished slice of AOR. Remember my heart slumping when I saw them do this on Top of the Pops.


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"And now...on the drums...Mick Underwooooooooood!!!"

"He's up the pub"


Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: April 08 2015 at 15:27
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

^I like Heaven and Earth More than Open Your Eyes and Test For Echo is a long way from being Rush worst album which for me would be Presto or Hold You Fire ( However Rush are one of the most consistent bands in rock/prog history , not many real down moments). I agree with the ELP and Genesis ones though. A couple of truly unlistenable albums if ever there were ( and the joke was they were supposed to be commercial radio friendly stuff).
ELP's Love Beach has been the source of some good discussion recently. For me it has about 60% decent material and the rest could be binned ( A Taste Of My Love , Canario and the last half of Memoirs) . It could have been a decent commercial radio friendly prog album in the same vein as Duke but didn't quite make it.
 
Biggest drop off in quality. Many would say ELP yet many will say ELP were not that good in the first place. However to go from Brain Salad Surgery (1973) to Love Beach ( 1978) is a bit sad to say the least so I guess ELP are the ones to win this 'award' and perhaps dear Greg and his mate Pete should be lead to the gallows!
 
We'll agree to disagree about Yes' and Rush's worst respective efforts, agreeing that all mentioned are sub-par.
 
Love Beach continues to garner interest in the same way an auto pile-up does. It was never going to be good, but there was promise of less-than-awful in a couple of places. Perhaps "Memoirs" could've amounted to something with another co-writer.
 
I agree that ELP takes the cake on plummeting quality, although Yes from Fly From Here to Heaven and Earth is close, as are the Moodies from Seventh Sojourn to Octave.


Posted By: aglasshouse
Date Posted: April 08 2015 at 19:23
Big Generator by far.

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http://fryingpanmedia.com


Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: April 08 2015 at 19:47
I'm gonna go ahead and say Nursery Cryme. 

Besides the opener and closer, the album is a dud. 



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Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.



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