Gentle Giant
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8457
Printed Date: November 26 2024 at 22:42
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Topic: Gentle Giant
Posted By: Zagnut
Subject: Gentle Giant
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 00:14
| I downloaded the Gentle Giant tracks from this website and I'm blown away. I've heard the name, I just never thought of listening to it. They sound so much like early Genesis and I can't wait to buy some of their music. Any follow-ups on this? Are they really this good? |
Replies:
Posted By: AtomHeartMother
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 00:28
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yes they are. The first time i was listening to Octopus i was blown away, it was so crazy but i couldn't stop listening to it. ------------- "http://tinypic.com""> 
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Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 00:31
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A truly great prog band, one of the best they get better every time Octopus, In a Glass House, and Interview are my favorites they are all pretty good though 1970-1976 ------------- 
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Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 00:36
I recommend Free Hand (my personal favorite by them), but In a Glass House and Octopus are also very good. I got Playing the Fool in the 'ole headphones right now, really good. ------------- 
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Posted By: herbie53
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 00:56
| Three Friends (1972) is my prefered album, but In a Glass House (1973) is amazing too... |
Posted By: nousommedusolei
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 02:00
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I bought "Three Friends" a while ago and I love it. I can't wait until I get more of their stuff. ------------- I don't believe in demons I don't believe in devils I only believe in you |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 02:19
| I've heard most of the songs off 'The Power And The Glory' and they are all top notch,so that would be my recommendation. |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 04:20
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In a Glass House is the one to start with but every album from Gentle Giant to Interview is a masterpiece. ...I'm a little hurt by your Genesis comparison though!   |
Posted By: Gentle Ronnie
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 04:34
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IAGH is not the perfect album to start with, and it ain't their best either. But yeah, GG is the greatest band in prog, if not the greatest band to grace the Earth. ------------- 
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Posted By: boo boo
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 05:09
| their debut album is very underrated, their song giant is one of my favorite gentle giant songs...octopus is great too. |
Posted By: Gentle Ronnie
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 05:48
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Yeah, the first 4 tracks on the s/t are unbeatable. -------------
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 08:56
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I love Acquiring The Taste and Octopus, and I think Three Friends is very good too. I just bought In A Glass House yesterday at an Internet shop, bonus tracks and all (together with Focus' Hamburger Concerto and Caravan's In The Land Of Grey And Pink), and I'm excited because I expect it to be very good. |
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 09:03
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In a Glass House is probably the best starting point if you liked the tracks on this site, then get Octopus and Free Hand ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: felona
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 09:15
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I have recently Acquired the Taste for this wonderfully playful, funky group ... I have Glass House, Free Hand, Octopus, Three Friends with Acquiring the taste & Power & Glory on their way... then Interview when the problems are corrected (see below) . My fave track so far is "On Reflection" from Free Hand - gorgeous harmonies - but the faves keep changing because there's so much complexity to take in at once ... you'll find more to discover with each listen. Be warned .. you may also find their songs get stuck in your head ... I had "Free Hand" going around my head for ages ... there's something about their melodies which seem to dig deep into the brain ... ... does anyone else think so too? Has anyone bought the defective remastered Interview disc ? ... apparently it was mastered in mono by mistake ------------- I was never really sure what I was waiting for. When the moment came I was looking away ...... The Church "After Everything Now This" |
Posted By: felona
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 09:18
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Another question ... what albums are best to get if I really enjoy the type of harmonies & melodies such as "In Reflection" and "three friends" tracks? ------------- I was never really sure what I was waiting for. When the moment came I was looking away ...... The Church "After Everything Now This" |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 09:23
Yes, for me Pantagruel's Nativity, Black Cat and Raconteur Troubadour. No bad tunes to have in one's head |
felona wrote:Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 09:26
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Octopus. Just listen to Knots. The title says it all. Very knotty voices.
-------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: felona
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 09:26
I have the Caravan ... its very good & so very "english" ... Golf Girl is sooo sweet! Please let me know how the Focus one goes ... I was wondering about getting that one .... ------------- I was never really sure what I was waiting for. When the moment came I was looking away ...... The Church "After Everything Now This" |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 09:30
| I say Octopus and Free Hand are their best works, but you can't put a foot wrong until around 'Interview', which isn't bad but not a patch on their earlier work. From then on, they sailed dangerously close to AOR. |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 09:45
I'll let you know! I really like Moving Waves and Focus III. My rock encyclopedia wasn't overly excited about later albums, but on ProgArchives a lot of people were really excited about the Hamburger Concerto so I thought: I can't go wrong with that one. |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 10:15
Cor! Three of my favourite albums! Nice work, Moogy! |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 10:19
Ooh yeah, Gentle Giant songs are HIGHLY catchy. One of my favourite things about them is how despite being very complex and odd their work was still very memorable and brilliant to sing along to! They're full of little contradictions like that, another example being that they never "show off" and spend hours soloing despite being masters at it. |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 12:04
I must say I'm proud of myself too for having such a good taste
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. Really looking forward to hearing them. I hope I'll get them soon. I took the Gentle Giant and Caravan versions with bonus tracks. I used to buy the cheapest versions of albums, but I don't do that anymore. I don't want to be sorry afterwards, and I have heard too many cd's with great bonus tracks, so...Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 12:10
| Besides, in the case of Gentle Giant the bonus is a LIVE bonus, and I never heard them live before. I'm curious about that too. |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 12:32
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Gentle Giant wished they were Genesis, at least 77-80 they are proof that maiking strong pop like Genesis is not as easy as it appears. -------------
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Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 12:34
yes all three are matserpieces, Especially the focus one. -------------
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Posted By: FishyMonkey
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 12:46
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I love GG, but they don't do anything spectacular for me..at least not
on In a Glass House. Like I said in my review of that album, it's just
good prog, nothing more, nothing less. It's creative, good songwriting,
great usage of instruments, but there's nothing on In a Glass House
that distinguishes it from other great bands.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/FishyMonkey/?chartstyle=artists"> 
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Posted By: Infinity
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 12:59
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3 Friends, In A Glass House and Octopus...former 2 are particularly great... Can't wait to here more!
------------- I can't remember what I said I lost my head. __________________________ |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 13:00
Except a unique approach to arrangements, pushing the envelope by recording a song with just vocals and tuned percussion, mind-blowingly tight performances and a general sense of sheer craftmanship. Oh, and very memorable tunes. Yeah, nothing special about that album at all, is there? |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 13:02
Live Gentle Giant is amazing. Utterly amazing. Get Playing the Fool and Giant on the Box asap and enjoy some of the most powerful, mind-boggling and entertaining live prog you will ever see/hear! ...IMO, obviously.  |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 13:04
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FishyMonkey, listen to the GG over and over and evetually it'll click and you'll go This is (one of) the greatest bands ever. -------------
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Posted By: Lyzarrd
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 13:35
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The first GG I heard was Nothing at All and I was absolutely floored by
it. Its very true to say that pracitcally everyone one of their albums
is a masterpiece (at least from the 70s). I personally recommend
Octopus to start but In A Glass House is just as good. That haunting bass on Advent of Panurge is AMAZING. ------------- Can you tell me where my country lies... |
Posted By: Gentle Ronnie
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 13:51
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Well, they disbanded in 1980, so there is nothing to check by GG after Civilian. Every album from the s/t to Interview is incredible though.
-------------
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Posted By: aegis
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 14:13
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Definitely. Listen a few times and you are singing along to the most complex riffs. Great!
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 17:35
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I WAS considering buying those. That's right, both items. But I'm still doubting if the rest of my birthday money will go to a Gentle Giant or an ELP live document. There's this interesting ELP DVD that came out this year, but well... Gentle Giant IS Gentle Giant... Still thinking |
Posted By: felona
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 17:41
It is quite strange how first impressions are not always the last with GG. When I first heard GG a few years ago I actively disliked the sound (maybe because I wasn't listening to so much prog back then). But now they are one of my favourites . OK, Trouserpress (or anyone else who can help) I'd like your esteemed opinion on why our tastes change ... what exactly is it that "happens" in the brain to change ------------- I was never really sure what I was waiting for. When the moment came I was looking away ...... The Church "After Everything Now This" |
into 
????? Answers please!!!!!Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 17:50
I really had to get used to Octopus. Now it's one of my favorite albums. In fact, listened to it tonight and was blown against the wall once again. It IS an acquired taste for some, so keep trying, all you GG - try-outers |
. Although I did like Acquiring The Taste already the 1st time I heard. Still my fave GG-album, until now, that is.Posted By: felona
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 17:57
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yes, it was Octopus that first hooked me in & wrapped me up with its tentacles .... ------------- I was never really sure what I was waiting for. When the moment came I was looking away ...... The Church "After Everything Now This" |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 18:03
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^ for me, strangely enough, Interview was the first one that I REALLY liked, the others I thought were only OK. Since then, man, GG is easily in my top 10, maybe top 5 bands.
-------------
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Posted By: felona
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 18:12
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I haven't listened to Interview yet ... seems to divide the fans a bit? ------------- I was never really sure what I was waiting for. When the moment came I was looking away ...... The Church "After Everything Now This" |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 18:56
Yeah, but you'd love it Felona! Imagine the Free Hand album, only a little more extreme. As for why our tastes change... I think it's a case of simple maturity. The more one's exposed to progressive music the higher one's appreciation for it becomes. It's not an easy genre to get into, and for most people it's a slow process, but once you're in you're in and there's no turning back! Oh and Moogy - If I were you I'd got for Gentle Giant. The DVD's a cracking package, GG put on an amazing show and you'll see songs performed in very different ways than the studio albums. ELP were a bit style-over-substance if you ask me. |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 19:06
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^ but what entertaining Style it was! -------------
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 19:12
At times... I love their epics and more energetic moments. Greg Lake can get stuffed though. "Still... you-" "OH SHUT UP!!" |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 19:13
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I discovered Gentle Giant very early, age 9 or so, but then I listened
to prog more or less all my life My brother, who is 10 years older than
I am, started collecting prog when he was 16.
------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 19:18
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ha ha ha so true, but the band needed the contrast, it was nice hearing an acoustic instrument once in a while. It's funny without these, ELP would have been a cult band most likely, not on the huge scale they were. They only had one bona fide prog hit, Karn Evil 9, and Fanfare (which isnt very good) I still hear on the radio -------------
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 19:22
I have a lower "cheese" threshold than you though, I think.
Anyway, I stick by my assesment that ELP had many good moments but
these are outnumbered by their bad ones, unfortunately. Gentle Giant
however... 9 prog classics all in a row! That's gotta count for
something, right? |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 19:27
my assement of ELP 4 masterpieces (BSS, ELP, Tarkus, Trilogy), 2 good albums (Works 1, Pictues), the rest is pure sh*t yea I don't mind pop that much, I prefer it to reaaaaallllllly weird prog wait wow it is 9, I just counted, I always knew those albums were good but never made the connection that its 9 straight albums that's amazing! -------------
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 19:34
My assesment - BSS, Tarkus, Trilogy all quite good albums with some filler. The rest I can do without altogether. And yep 9 straight classics. And I think The Missing Piece has some great material too, though I realise that this isn't such a popular opinion. |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 09 2005 at 00:15
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^ Missing Piece could have been could, its like they gave up halfway and said f**k it! -------------
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 09 2005 at 03:57
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Well, I'm very curious about live footage of both Gentle Giant and ELP, so in the end I see myself buying both. As for GG and ELP: I think Trouser is a bit right: the GG albums I own have no weak tracks, and some of the ELP albums I know do have weak spots, but... I really do like the ELP highlights very very much. And I mean VERY much I think ELP's 1st (eponymous) album and BSS have no filler at all. And the Tarkus Suite is a work of pure genius. For me the latter is the best piece of music I ever heard, apart from Yes' Awaken. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 09 2005 at 04:55
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ELP generally recorded much longer tracks than GG who seemed content to stay with songs at around 5-8 minutes long .I've found GG quite a struggle to listen to.I am a fan of bombast in prog and love to hear great hammond rifts and fast 'technical' drumming so GG's understated music is quite strange to my ears.I've only had the 2 CD compilation up to now but I've just ordered In A Glass House and Power And The Glory and I'll see how I get on with those.Certainly an intriguing band at the very least. BTW I've got the 'Giant On The Box' DVD ..an absolute must for every prog fan whether a GG fan or not!
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Posted By: Odd24
Date Posted: August 07 2005 at 17:29
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I wanted to say this for some time and I think this is the right place to say it: Give it back - Gentle Giant ok I'm completely astounded that no one has said anything about this song! wow....this is the best REGGAE SONG I've ever heard in my f**king life. Bob Marley, eat your heart out
That interview cd of Gentle Giant really has some stunning surprises...
Wow, I was blown away by this song, just had to say it...these guys are so incredibly amazing... ------------- Right down the line |
