Horrifically Bad Progressive Albums.
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=52828
Printed Date: February 21 2025 at 05:49
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Horrifically Bad Progressive Albums.
Posted By: faceofdoomness
Subject: Horrifically Bad Progressive Albums.
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 16:45
|
As I listened to the awesomness that is Gentle Giant's Playing the Fool. (My god they're so amazing live I really wish I could have seen them back in the day. D:) I had a really spontaneous thought. As long as I can remember I have been getting really good Progressive Albums.. or so what the critics and others say about the album. (But I don't judge the album with its rating. I usually read three or four reviews about the album with contrasting ratings to see what the album's like.) Since I've immersed myself with really good progressive music I wondered what a terrible progressive album / band may sound like. Its random but I just want to see the ugly side of prog and how I may react to it. Just post a few bands or albums that you think are perhaps the worst progressive bands/ albums ever. But be warned I am a pretty easy going guy with music. I love Mr. Bungle and actually have fallen asleep to their Disco Volante and had a really good night's sleep. It may be tough to actually suggest me a horrible prog album/ band. But I'll see how this will go. ------------- "To fully appreciate Music, one must have an open mind." -Someone... |
Replies:
Posted By: souio
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 16:54
|
Well, you better head to the Unsigned Bands section! I'm kidding  |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 17:44
|
Corollary to this: an album that has lower than a 3 on Allmusic that is not: a minor album from a famous band (Obscured by Clouds) or obviously atrocious music (Katy Perry).
This is generally true. If you can't even get the most obscure label to sign you...
Or you could just go to neo .;-)
I can't think of really terrible prog (other than, like, Love Beach), as I filter for my interests very heavily. And the ones that I would say are extremely mediocre (Porcupine Tree, The Flower Kings, Symphony X, etc.) still have some very ardent fans. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
souio wrote:Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 17:44
|
I've yet to meet a prog album that I didn't at least like. That doesn't include, of course, bad albums put out by good prog artists, but they are primarily bad because they aren't prog, usually commercial pretensions...
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
|
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 18:10
| Torman Maxt is a horrible bad band. Download their free debut album and do not succumb to your urge to self-harm. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 18:13
|
oh there is one... damn.... can't remember the name of it.. but a recommendation of a SC that ...well.... sucked ass. I paid the hard earned jack for it.. and now is using to stabilize my CD shelves, jammed underneath them. Was some Russian symphonic regressive group... Little Tragedies... think that was the name.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 18:24
|
Ekseption. I have problems taking them serious. It is like a mix of supermarket-music and ballet dancing elks in a field of rhubarbs. |
Posted By: meptune
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 18:48
|
One man's trash is another man's treasure. Honestly, I would much rather talk about what I like and risk being insulted, than what I don't like and risk insulting. ------------- 
"Arf, she said" |
Posted By: Takeshi Kovacs
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 19:32
|
Well, there are some turkeys out there, sure enough, and like the previous contributor suggested, it's better to praise the great aspects of prog rather than criticise it's low points...but I was especially disappointed having shelled out some of my hard earned to buy Calling All Stations by Genesis. I think one listen was enough. Maybe repeat listens over time will prove me wrong. -------------  Open the gates of the city wide....
Check out my music taste: http://www.last.fm/user/TakeshiKovacs/ |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 19:39
| said it before, I'll say it again; there's nothing worse than bad Prog. Radiomobel's Tramsebox is surprisingly awful, not just the music but the performance, recording, everything. |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 19:45
|
I wish I could remember their names, but there was a period when I was really into Dream Theater clones and all sorts of hyper standard progressive metal. Most of them sounded about the same, but there were some of the most ill-conceived riffs I've ever run into, some of the weakest song structures, and some downright painful vocals. It didn't help matters that the bands had no desire to claim their own unique sound, either.
------------- 
|
Posted By: Takeshi Kovacs
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 19:45
I have it and will make a point of listening at breakfast tomorrow to confirm your assertion! ------------- Open the gates of the city wide....
Check out my music taste: http://www.last.fm/user/TakeshiKovacs/ |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 19:47
|
^ OK but I'd wait an hour after eating |
Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 19:51
|
I'm suprised people consider Sky to be prog rock, sounds like easy listening to me, and I don't mean cool lounge exotica type easy listening either.
Being an old fart from way back, I can remember most of us who liked the original prog rock bands could not stand all the wannabes that came out in the mid-70s, but I'm not going to mention any names ... yet. I have this jazz fusion record, Gregory James - 'Madagascar' (I actually own two copies) that I call the worst jazz fusion record ever. I like to play it for my friends, they usually can't take more than a few minutes. I have a big record collection and bad music has it's own section, for instance politician Sam Ervin's talking version of Bridge Over Troubled Water or this cover band trying to do the Deep Purple version of Hush. I love listening to the kybdst try to imitate Jon Lord, he just sounds confused. P.S. I have this religious record where this band tries to sonically potray the preacher's words with really bad avant-prog rock. |
Posted By: Turion
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 20:21
|
'Horrifically Bad Progressive Albums'
Have you tried any neo prog ? ------------- ?: ( |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 20:34
|
instead of bashing a whole genre why not cite specific albums, as per the thread starters request |
Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 20:54
Torman Maxt is possibly the peak of crappiness. We even dedicated about 50 pages of the Velvet Room insulted the band and their album.. what was it called? The Problem with Pain, I think. ------------- 
|
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 21:55
|
Like Slartibartfast says, a lot of bad 'prog' albums are bad because they aren't really progressive, but instead resulted from legitimate artists losing their way over trends or money: Love Beach, Big Generator, Jethro Tull's Under Wraps and Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen being some of the more glaring examples. As far as technically 'legitimate' prog - it's a little obscure, but the FInnish band Apollo's http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=9868 - self-titled album is one of the worst pieces of toe jam I've ever heard. And for some reason Warner actually felt the need to reissue it a few years back so an entire new generation could be turned off on prog music. Read the reviews - there's no point rehashing their insights here. ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 23:15
|
Oh yes, I forgot, Torman Maxt paid mailto:M@x - M@x good money to let us know that they are the worst prog metal you'll ever hear. And that they read CS Lewis. Most amusing.
I would nominate In This Life by Thinking Plague as the worst Avant-prog, and probably one of the worst albums of prog in general. Maybe their other albums are better, but this album sounds like a regular rock band that isn't allowed to play any consonant harmonies or play in 4/4, with a singer who desperately wishes she could sound like Dagmar. That is not what prog is about. That they appear to think they are the best avant-prog band in the world doesn't help either. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: russellk
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 23:50
Interesting viewpoint. Myself, I find SKY's first two albums to be quintessential prog, and very good to boot. What's not to like about Monkman's 'Where Opposites Attract'? Or 'Sahara', 'El Cielo', FIFO or 'Scipio' from Sky II? The production is lush and melodic, with absolutely no hard edges, so I suppose one might define that as 'easy listening', but those forst two albums are by no means 'rock classical' or 'muzak' as I've heard them described. But it's good to hear differing opinions! |
Posted By: Hawkwise
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 23:51
|
anything by Kansas ............................................ runs away laffing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, hides behind the sofa.......... chuckling like a loon
------------- 
|
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 00:04
I say the same thing about Gentle Giant ------------- |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 00:18
|
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 01:05
Fartcattle, er Starcastle
Can you say "blatant ripoff," boys and girls?  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Kestrel
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 01:11
| I dunno, I guess I haven't really heard any. Like another poster said, there are some bands I consider mediocre (like Dream Theater, the Flower Kings and Spock's Beard) but I'd still rather listen to them than a lot of other music. The problem (well, not really a problem since it's a benefit in the long run) is that I normally will only check out an album if it has some kind of positive review. I don't interact with prog like I do with stuff that's on the radio where what you listen to is out of your conrol and you're subjected to whatever. If I listened to some prog radio on the internet I'm sure I'd come across some atrocious stuff. |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 01:52
|
I'm a little afraid to voice my opinion on this matter. Some of what I find to be the most horrible progressive is actually rated fairly high here (3 or better). I'm afraid I might get excommunicated. ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 01:58
I go with that one.
Ivān ------------- 
|
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 02:09
Kansas?
One of my top 5
Iván -------------
|
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 02:21
I'm afraid this is quickly going to become nothing more than a bashing thread ....Being very selective in my purchases, I have rarely come across a REALLY bad prog album - even though, of course, there are many that just don't do anything for me. That doesn't mean they're bad at all.. It's just to do with personal taste. However, I remember that Russian band, Little Tragedies, with something close to horror... They were deadly boring (the worst musical sin in my book), and anything but original. |
Posted By: Alberto Muņoz
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 02:31
|
i remember to slam about a Edhels album.. that was Oriental Christmas.
-------------  |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 04:12
|
As Raff says, this thread is in danger of simply becoming a succession of posts bashing a band, an album or a genre.
Let's keep any critisim constructuve and avoid being insulting.
|
Posted By: ShW1
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 04:13
Because the list may be too long
 Seriously, I cannot relate to specific band or album, because if its to bad I tend to forget it immediatly, but I could say that prog to be carful with is: too monontonious, without something interesting in it, too bombastic with no real feeling, and bad vocalists, that could ruin any music. Be carful with that kind of prog.
|
Posted By: big.mo
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 04:32
|
I find something good, even a spot, in every prog band.
I usually dig in and listen to anything before I discard it. And it is very difficult for me to discard a band thoroughly. The light can be found behind every corner...
Of course there are bands I listen to every day with more than psycological and physical pleasure but other times I wip myself with strange stuff, such as Brazilian prog bands or new new progressive, trying not to be prejudiced towards them thus giving them a chance to get into my mood. I confess that sometimes it's too tough even for a good chap like me, but I don't give up. Mainl when I listen to them for the first times (up to 10 to 12 before expressing a sentence!).
Thanks to all for being so sincere. ------------- Prog Doc |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 04:45
That's very precise. There's other albums and tracks I really enjoy by them. Moonsongs from 87 (both early years and original versions) is pretty amazing, but doesn't sound like This Life at all. I like a lot of his music but, some Dave Kerman related bands and projects has that forced weirdness/complexity/unatural feel that great Avant/RIO doesn't have. Acqua Fragile is the worst Genesis ripoff among quite a few awful ones. Umemorable songs and a Peter Gabriel soundalike but with a serious constipation problem (pressing the words out) a bad accent and very silly lyrics. There's some even worse Zucchero-soundalike (also with the constipation) vocalist, in a band from Mexico I can't remember their name right now. Their music was cheesy, thin symphonic anno 1981 (that's neo, I guess) ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 15:13
|
Not horrible by any means, but incredibly boring and dull is Fleur De Lisīs Facing Morning... but itīs not bad music, itīs just very uninteresting... Torman Maxt, that is pretty crappy... jejeje I like it how they have some possitive reviews in their Myspace site that seem almost written by themself. I canīt imagine a true progger really lovinī it... Also, not horrible (I think I donņt really have a very horrible album) is Maldororīs l`arbre cimetiere. I canīt point out my finger why that is. But the music is just so, again, uninteresting ------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
|
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 15:36
|
Gentlemen, let me present: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=3718 - http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=3718 ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 19:00
|
I've only come across two albums that I would consider particularly bad. Quensrychs Operation: Mindcrime II and Supertramp's Even in the Quietist of Moments. Both strugle for a two star rating from me.
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
|
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: October 26 2008 at 03:51
Now after reading this thread I want to hear Torman Maxt. 
------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: October 26 2008 at 04:43
Disco Volante is a great album ... I don't see the point. If by "horrifically bad" you simply mean "very experimental/unusual" then maybe you should rename the thread.  ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to: 
|
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: October 26 2008 at 04:50
Stoney, it only has a 1.62 rating because you gave it a 1 star rating as a Prog Reviewer...
3 other forum members rated the album, one saying its a masterpiece, and the other two labelling it 'Good but non-essential'. Although I've never heard the album, don't you think you were being a trifle harsh??
 On the subject of these threads, I really don't think they add much to this forum by way of constructive analysis, but from a personal level, it will probably be a very long time behore I hear anything quite as poor as 'Into The Electric Castle', 'Universal Migrator' or 'Star One: Space Metal'...words cannot really describe just how awful I find these albums to be...  ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
) Gentlemen, let me present:Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: October 26 2008 at 05:23
Now, if I was convinced that "prog rock" was truly everything listed in these archives, then I'd have to name Protest the Hero's "Fortress" as the genre's lowlight - but I am not that deluded. ;P Instead, my vote's for Marillion's "Fugazi", doubly disappointing for being such a drab, predictable album by the band who were meant to be *thee* revivalists.
ah, that's a shame, I've enjoyed everything I've heard by Thinking Plague and always thought that, of all the american Draky/Kermanish bands, they were one of the ones who least suffered from painful elaboration... ------------- FREEDOM OF SPEECH GO TO HELL |
Posted By: faceofdoomness
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 03:27
:B I was merely providing an example of how wide my range of musical taste is... I love Disco Volante as well as other Mr. Bungle releases as well as a crapload of other subgenres of the ever growing progressive rock.... scene? Well, from a quick read through of this thread I have a list of albums or bands that were considerd to be the worst from you guys. Torman Maxt (the most suggested... now I'm really curious to know how they sound like. It'll be really ironic if I found this album to be even enjoyable seeing as how people dismiss their album!) Little Tragedies (even the name somewhat suggest that listening to them will result in little tragedies of my ear drums crying. Strange that their albums have somewhat of a good rating. But never judge a book by the cover as many would say.) Apollo's Apollo (as I look at their band picture I can't help my self but chuckle... they look ridiculously silly and uncomforatble in those costumes. <( O)-(O )> ) and Fleur de Lis's Facing Morning. In a way I feel excited for some reason to be venturing on to the ugly sides of progressive rock and it feels like it may be a bit of good ear training for any future albums that I may listen to that may be terrible. When such a record comes, I shall be ready for it. >:{D Of course I shall have to check out Calling All Stations by Genesis and the infamous Love Beach by Emerson Lake and Palmer. And perhaps I should checkout some of Rush's albums that cames out in the nineties (my friends say those are some of the wort prog that they have heard... but we'll see) If I am to come back from the journey alive, afterwards I shall listen to nothing but the good stuff.. or what I consider to be the good stuff. Hopefully my ears won't be too dead from their traumatizing experiences. Also others may proceed to continue to suggest to me (in their opinion with a valid reason) the wosrt/ horiffic progressive band/ album ever. As for the ones I skipped, I shall check them out later. Especially Ayreon. Only heard their Human Equations album. ------------- "To fully appreciate Music, one must have an open mind." -Someone... |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 03:37
|
Just a quick comment on a couple of the points you made in the above post... Neither Micky nor I said that Little Tragedies are objectively bad - just that they aren't our cup of tea. Yes, they are instrumentally proficient and all that, and their album will send lovers of retro-symph prog into fits of swooning delight... The trouble is, the kind of music they produce is, to our ears, trite, hackneyed, and way too long-winded. On the other hand, I love The Mars Volta, and found their latest release very enjoyable (though far from perfect), while there are people on this board who hate their very name. As regards '90s Rush, I do enjoy those albums quite a lot, and gave 5 stars to Counterparts (possibly my favourite album by them). I would even be so bold as to say that I prefer latter-day Rush to what they did in the Seventies. That said, their '90s output is not really prog as we mean it, with some remarkable exceptions (namely their instrumental tracks) - so, if you expect those albums to sound like A Farewell to Kings, you'll be sorely disappointed. |
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 03:43
Anything with Mars Volta or Porcupine Tree makes me run like hell, two of the worst bands i ever come across, desaster all the way. Specialy De loused.... from Mars and In dementia from Porcupine are for me real bad albums with nothing to offer.
|
Posted By: faceofdoomness
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 03:55
That's the impression I kinda got off of when I read few of the comment regarding Little Tragedies... but perhaps I should have read those posts a bit more clearly or read them when I'm in a better state-of-mind. (I hate being tired. >:[ ) But didn't mean to sound like as if I was already criticizing them for their bad sound just because I thought that people told me that they were absolutely terrible... hmm I guess a thread name change is in order... in a way. :P Also I love the Mars Volta, and also found their newer release to be a bit lacking but still energetically refurbished... in my opinion. As for Rush, I like their counterparts album.. when I was speaking about the Rush of the 90's I was more reffering to their Vapor Trails release which supposedly is their worst but I have yet to listen to it along with Test for Echo and (though not really 90s) Presto, Hold Your Fire, Roll the Bones and Power Windows. And lets please refrain from bashing specific bands that many people may really like. (I like Porcupine Tree too by the way... I like their Fear of a Blank Planet release though) of course without a strong... reinforcement of such bashings? I dunno... I may not be a mod but I can still at least try to lessen any possible conflicts in this thread. Perhaps go a bit less on the blunt comments... right? ------------- "To fully appreciate Music, one must have an open mind." -Someone... |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 05:45
I got a little carried away. Its far from one of the worst albums of prog I know. Very far. I'm just not very fond of In this Life, and find most of the tracks totally unmemorable for the same reasons as Plainview. But Moonsongs, is which I mentioned is here. Still great but when I got this, I already had it on two other albums (but it seems my preferred version actually appeared here first. Oops). I prefer 5'uu's, especially Regarding Purgatories to most of Thinking Plague. ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 08:48
Ha! In Absentia would probably be in my top 20 of all time!
I dont think I've heard any really terrible prog albums, but I guess everything I've heard by Dream Theater, I would describe as predictable and uninspired, but not 'horrifically bad' by any means. |
Posted By: Bunburyist
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 09:12
|
Warse pwog wobblay be QUASAR -LORELI.
Tis beyund debate, Jimmehs.
(List ter dis an' yew gits aw' th' cliches plus sum troolay 'ginormouslay 'orrendoously mellerdramaterk skirt-singin'.)
.............
Dutch label SYM-INFO pit oot sum reel champion gubbins pwog ban's innae '80s.
...
Plaise note: Wallace, Prince o' Eagles informs yews dis WIFFOOT ewer huvin' 'eeard ainny Mars Volter.
|
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 09:16
Newbi, in what language do you wrote here, or is a new one and I'm behind with the news
|
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 09:29
|
Whatever you say newbie, i guess you listened to much Magma , sorry if I'm rude
|
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 09:38
Maybe I'm the only one who gets only few words from this , anyone feel the same??/ And is bad to the eye to read in such manner.
|
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 09:55
No b_olariu, you're not the only one, I too am confused. What a load of gobbledegook nonsense. The best bet might to be ignore it and he might go away
 . |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 09:59
|
funny, I understand every word. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Alberto Muņoz
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 11:41
Maybe Should open a horrifically bad writing thread... ------------- |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 12:14
Well maybe I'm exaggerating, I haven't heard it in quite a while. But lappy isn't annoyed by any level of repetition so we are coming from different perspectives. But yes, 5uu's is much better, which is funny since 5uu's don't have a very high reputation in the RIO Room. Or at least the RIO Room's surviving members. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Alberto Muņoz
Date Posted: October 27 2008 at 12:36
I agree with Mike in this one
------------- |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 28 2008 at 16:54
Regarding Purgatories is excellent, though I'm rather more of a James Grigsby fan than Dave Kerman. I really like Motor Totemist Guild, but U Totem still was more revelatory for me than 5UU's and Motor Totemist Guild. I like Thinking Plague the most for A History of Madness. I think it's excellent, and I much prefer it to In Extremis (that was a disappointment for me). |
Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: October 28 2008 at 16:56
|
I don't remember hearing any horrifically bad prog albums (lucky me, I guess), but I've had the disprivilege of hearing plenty of unmemorable, tame,
insipid albums that fail to trigger any kind of emotional response from
me. As far as I'm concerned, that's a crime far more serious than just being 'bad'. ------------- 
|
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 02:45
. I'm sitting this thread out because..... well because.------------- |
Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 03:28
a bit surprised to see "Mars Volta" and "Porcupine Tree" cited as bad Prog - i would say bad prog would be a band that musically and stylistically took everything from existing works but added nothing of their own (there are hundreds of bands on PA which have done this and seem to have got away with it) - the aforementioned bands are certainly not guilty of this, as their unique style and creativity have even developed into a unique style of their own, even breeding a new generation of copyists! 
-------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
|
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 04:17
| I agree with Steve. Though it's not easy to point out really 'horrifically bad' prog albums (as I said in an earlier post, I tend to agree with Jimbo's point of view that boring is much worse than actually bad), I am afraid some posters here confuse 'bad' with something they dislike. For instance, I have never been able to get into Dream Theater, but I'd never bring any of their albums as examples of bad prog. |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 04:30
U Totem's selftitled is fantastic and so is MTG's City of Mirrors, but the other albums I've heard by these two bands have been mildly disappointing. ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 12:01
No.  It's not "kill me now" bad. It's "give me one good reason why I would listen to this" bad. ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 12:20
|
Hmm. I actually have that Sinister Street album. I think that I won it for less than a $1 in an eBay auction. I'll have to pull it out and give it some listens to see what kind of review I might come up with. I don't recall it being a 1 star album, but it also isn't all that memorable, so probably at best in would be a 3 star. ------------- 
|
Posted By: Philéas
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 16:59
| Only one album come to my mind. I've heard loads of albums I though were fairly boring, but few that I really thought of as bad. Anyway, the band in question was called Tyburn Tall, and so was their album. German, I think, but I'm not sure. Some obscure 70's group anyway. Words cannot describe this album, the only way to understand how bad it is is to hear it (to my surprise I encountered a CD-reissue a while ago!) |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 17:55
WHAT? -------------   
|
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 18:07
|
I don't know if I would say there are any horrifically bad progressive albums. There are certainly albums and bands that are not to my taste, but that doesn't mean they're horrifically bad. I've heard some prog that I thought wasn't the greatest thing I've ever heard in my life (usually because I either thought they were trying too hard or weren't trying hard enough), and might classify as bad, but not horrifically bad. Oh, wait, there was In the Hot Seat by ELP, but then that really wasn't prog. ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 18:39
Yeah, and Steve Walsh insists "In the Spirit of Things" is his favorite Kansas album too, but I'm no more sure that's because of its progressive nature than is Barre's reason for loving "Under Wraps".
And you're right - we should really know better than to get drawn into a discussion like this
.------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: October 31 2008 at 02:15
I'd comment on this...if only I could somehow find my way back into my chair!!!!!!  ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 10:51
I too love the first two Sky albums... it's hard to know how to classify them as they were a prog/classical/AOR/easy listening cross-over combo.... it's interesting that they seemed to lose their progginess after the departure of Monkman. Strange that. ------------- Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused? |
Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 10:52
|
Oh yeah... maybe not strictly prog, but I find Roger Water's 'Pros and Cons' album to be pretty well unlistenable (i.e. awful).
------------- Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused? |
Posted By: el dingo
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 03:35
Yeah, I agree. I love Floyd to termination but don't rate Pros and Cons at all. I remember buying it blind years ago expecting something awesome. Oh well, can't win 'em all.
I've tried to resist posting on this topic because any choice is down to personal taste, but as I'm here... my nomination would be Topgraphic Oceans. No valid musical reason, it just sends me to sleep.
------------- It's not that I can't find worth in anything, it's just that I can't find worth in enough. |
Posted By: Yorkie X
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 07:50
|
As a Kansas fan which I am I`m going to create a badge to ware on my overalls or maybe on my straw hat it shall say "I`m A Kansas Fan Kick me"
|
Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 14:30
I'm glad I'm not the only one - in the whole of the Floyd canon of group & solo albums, it's the only one I've totally disliked, but having said that I've never heard either of Nick's 'solo' efforts, nor 'Identity' by Rick Wright and Dave Harris. Seeing that the latter has never had a CD release (to my knowledge), I'm not likely to be able to make a judgement on it. ------------- Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused? |
Posted By: Axe/Hatchet/Saw
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 23:57
| Anything by Dream Theater and its clones. |
Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: November 04 2008 at 12:21
Well I think that might just sir up a little controversy. ------------- Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused? |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: November 04 2008 at 13:24
you mean a lot of controversy, right? -------------
|
Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: November 04 2008 at 15:05
|
The Moody Blues "Octave" is pretty unbearable. Agree completely regarding Roger Waters, Calling All Stations and Love Beach, although in regard to the former, I think "Radio KAOS" is even worse. I'll have to find a copy of "In The Hot Seat", but I'm not expecting to disagree regarding that either. We could start a bad covers thread too. My personal favorite (?
 ) is Jeronimo Road's version of "Starship Trooper". Enough cheese to block a sewer, which is what it reminds me of. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 03:50
I know the one you are referring to, featured on the Magna Carta Yes tribute (which is otherwise not bad - I have even reviewed it). If I am not wrong, it's a somewhat 'accelerated' version of the original. |
Posted By: el dingo
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 03:51
Yeah, go for the bad (or good) covers thread, seems a good 'un!!! Start it off and I bet you'll get loads of interesting input. Just a couple to start off with (or in case you don't start the thread!):
BAD: Kentucky Woman (Deep Purple) tambourines and maraccas, oh please; The Rock 'n'Roll medley off Uriah Heep Live - gross; You Keep Me Hanging On (or whatever Motown track they murdered) by Vanilla Fudge - it just goes on and on and on. And on.
GOOD: Every Little Thing (Yes) nice work Pete Banks; I Saw Her Standing There (Pink Fairies) as ragged as you'd expect and all the better for it; Black Sheep of the Family/Still I'm Sad off the first Rainbow offering - both awesome live, as I remember, too.
Go on, start the thread!!! ------------- It's not that I can't find worth in anything, it's just that I can't find worth in enough. |
Posted By: el dingo
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 04:10
I guess you've heard it, but in case you haven't, the second disc of Ummagumma features four solo offerings that are, er, um, very individual. As you'd expect Gilmour's is okay, but as for the rest... check out Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict and you'll get the general idea! ------------- It's not that I can't find worth in anything, it's just that I can't find worth in enough. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 08:08
How about Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade's horrid live version of Floyd's 'Animals'?? Terrible sound quality, extremely shaky playing... horrid, absolutely horrid. Paid bloody good money for that, too...
And... Eeeer... 
 ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 12:43
|
el dingo, yes I'm very familiar with the studio sides of Ummagumma... Roger's section is probably the most satisfying to listen to, closely followed by Dave's and Rick's... Nick's opus on there is pretty much unlistenable, unless you like electronic drum solos that is.
------------- Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused? |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 12:51
|
although I really enjoy my Prog Metal, I do have an 'Academy for the Overrated', containing bands which other people love, and I either just can't get into or frankly don't understand why....
My longstanding list consists of:
Ayreon
Opeth
Savatage
King Diamond/ Mercyful Fate
Rhapsody (although the last one was reasonably restrained)
Coheed & Cambria
they have recently been joined by a new object of complete bewilderment to me:
The Mars Volta... ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: Queen By-Tor
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 12:57
|
I certainly agree with you on King Diamond there, Jared. Although are
they listed as prog? I hope not. Caught one of their videos on tv the
other night and laughed myself to sleep. The rest I don't really agree with you on, but we knew that .
Although I do find Opeth, and The Mars Volta to be hideously overrated.
Even if I like both bands.But we all know that, secretly, 01011001 is your album of the year
|
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 13:11
 ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: el dingo
Date Posted: November 08 2008 at 03:48
|
STONEBEARD
Love the Obama graphic, where did you source it?
(Apologies for this post having nothing to do with music!) ------------- It's not that I can't find worth in anything, it's just that I can't find worth in enough. |
Posted By: Jake Kobrin
Date Posted: November 09 2008 at 13:23
|
Any album ever made by Rush...
------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Neil-Kobrin/244687105562746" rel="nofollow - SUPPORT MY FATHER AND BECOME A FAN Jacob Kobrin Illustration |
Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: November 10 2008 at 16:15
|
Do tell--don't fret, I'm no fanboy. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 10 2008 at 16:42
Right click on the image to get the location. You'll find it under properites. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
|
Posted By: Gamemako
Date Posted: November 10 2008 at 20:33
Hum. Let's see. Kayo Dot: Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue, Pain of Salvation: Scarsick, everything ever classified as Zeuhl...  And hey, I almost forgot, BLIND GUARDIAN.  ------------- Hail Eris! 
|
Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: November 11 2008 at 08:41
Couldn't agree more - on all of those! You really nailed it - good on ya!
|
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 11 2008 at 09:05
|
I can't think of anything I've heard that's really bad, I tend to reserve my 1 and 2 star reviews for releases that imo are badly done e.g.
Focus - Focus The Greatest Hits - cheapo package with no information on the origin of the tracks.
Be Bop Deluxe - Postcards from the Future - a band with too many similar compilations
Yes - Topography - not sure who this is aimed at. Another band with too many compilations.
ELP - Reworks. dodgy trance remixes of ELP tracks
Probably the biggest disappointment was the second Karfagen CD "The Space Between Us". I had high hopes for them but they then produced an album of new age lift music.
|
Posted By: Jake Kobrin
Date Posted: November 11 2008 at 15:30
There's not much of an explanation, just that my ears categorize their music under the "Horrifically Bad" category. ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Neil-Kobrin/244687105562746" rel="nofollow - SUPPORT MY FATHER AND BECOME A FAN Jacob Kobrin Illustration |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 11 2008 at 15:35
|
Based on the above response my answer is anything that Jake Kobrin's ears find to be "horrifically good". Explanation is self-explanatory. -------------
|
Posted By: Zeranna
Date Posted: November 11 2008 at 18:26
|
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos It is disgusting IMO ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Zeranna-/?chartstyle=basicrt10"> 
|
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: November 11 2008 at 18:35
Not sure if he actually nailed it. The thread asks for "Horiffically Bad PROGRESSIVE albums", and as far as I know, Under Wraps, Big Generator and Love Beach are nothing more than average/mediocre pop albums. If the question would have asked Horiffically Bad Albums by Prog bands, well then yeah I agree he nailed it. |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: November 11 2008 at 18:53
The entire original post:
------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: el dingo
Date Posted: November 12 2008 at 03:16
Thanks for that -  ------------- It's not that I can't find worth in anything, it's just that I can't find worth in enough. |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: November 12 2008 at 03:47
that's a really bright way for a n00b to win friends and influence people on this forum... ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |