Best Gentle Giant Album
Printed From: Progarchives.com
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Forum Name: Prog Polls
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99255
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Topic: Best Gentle Giant Album
Posted By: Xonty
Subject: Best Gentle Giant Album
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 02:17
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Haven't seen this poll so thought I'd do it myself. Just wondering which is your favourite GG album? Lots of great albums but it's got to be "The Power And The Glory" for me - absolute masterpiece  Thanks for any feedback!
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Replies:
Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 02:24
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Free Hand followed closely by In a Glass House. ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: hellogoodbye
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 02:24
 THREE
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 02:29
| TPATG |
Posted By: Kirillov
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 02:45
| Acquiring The Taste |
Posted By: JesusisLord
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 03:52
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Octopus ------------- And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Phillipians 2:11 |
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 04:01
-------------  
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Kirillov wrote:Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 04:30
| Same as last time this poll was done - Free Hand. |
Posted By: Kazza3
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 04:33
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In A Glass House I can see why people prefer some of the others, but this was my first Giant album and I love every little melody and riff and moment, it's brilliant. |
Posted By: LSDisease
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 04:46
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Freie Hand
------------- "Du gehst zu Frauen? Vergiss die Peitsche nicht!" |
Posted By: PrognosticMind
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 05:22
| The Power And The Glory. |
Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 05:42
| I think this is gonna be quite spread over several albums. Personally I voted for Power and the Glory, closely followed by Glass House and Free Hand. |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 06:08
Exactly this. ------------- 
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Posted By: PrognosticMind
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 06:34
I was going to say Freehand then In A Glass House, myself
 . |
Posted By: Imperial Zeppelin
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 07:27
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The ship's rising up from the sea to the sky, cry, heeeeyyyyyy hold on.
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 08:13
| Freehand, followed closely by The Missing Piece. |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 08:28
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There isn't a single GG album I love all the way through, but overall I'd say my favorite is Power and the Glory, followed by Octopus. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 08:35
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Acquiring The Taste, then
Three Friends ------------- This night wounds time. |
Posted By: progmatic
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 08:49
Three Friends. I love the lyrics, the poignancy of the album's theme, and of course, the music. It is also the first GG I ever heard. I also love Power & Glory, In A Glass House, Acquiring the Taste, Octopus, Freehand and s/t. Other than that I don't care for the band at all. Actually my all-time favorite GG album is Playing the Fool. No foolin'.------------- PROGMATIC |
Posted By: frankbostick
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 09:28
| Acquiring the Taste for me. |
Posted By: Libor10
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 09:50
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Frankly I don't know. Probably Octopus with Three Friends behind it.
------------- 
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Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 10:50
Interesting, I feel the same way, I haven't given any GG albums 5 stars just because none for me are strong all the way through despite the fact i'm so impressed with these guys. Three Friends followed by Acquiring The Taste. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 10:58
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Three Friends today, but ask me again tomorrow and it'll probably be Free Hand. ------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: m2thek
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 11:30
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In a Glass House The Power and the Glory Octopus I've never understood the love for Free Hand ------------- Matt |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 11:35
Free Hand is a fantastic album and compared to what followed, it's their last truly great effort IMHO.
------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 11:37
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The Power and the Glory for me. ------------- A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!! |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 12:29
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The Power and the Glory for executing a universal concept so magnificently.
------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 12:36
| I would almost go with any of the first 8 albums. Voted Three Friends |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 12:45
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Even though I have almost all of their albums I have always found them somewhat difficult to absorb.
Along with VDGG they can be challenging.
I do enjoy the first and Acquiring The Taste. as far as accessibility ..after that I suppose Octopus , Free hand , and Power though for me all of those later ones are so similar it's hard to say. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Olape
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 13:38
In A Glass House.
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Posted By: genbanks
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 14:14
| Octopus followed by In a glass house |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 15:04
Slowly becoming more of a favorite after owning it for about a decade. But still Acquiring The Taste for me.
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 15:06
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Probably Octopus. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 15:06
This
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Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 15:18
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ATT still my fave. ------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 15:26
| Three Friends all the way. The title track still blows me away. And the album is so consistent, thoroughly enjoyable. |
Posted By: akaBona
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 17:28
This! |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 17:31
 ------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 18:47
| I've consistently enjoyed Free Hand over the years from beginning to end---so Free Hand. |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 18:59
------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 21:12
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In a Glass House, followed by Octopus. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: ProgMetaller2112
Date Posted: August 10 2014 at 22:03
I don't know  . I am fine with any album from AtT through Interview as I could pick any of these. I guess it depends on my mood 
------------- “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” ― George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four "Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk Hand in Hand"- Neil Peart |
Posted By: digdug
Date Posted: August 11 2014 at 07:28
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Three Friends for me but I love em all
------------- Prog On! |
Posted By: Justamops
Date Posted: August 11 2014 at 09:47
| Free Hand, followed by Three Friends. |
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: August 11 2014 at 10:04
| The Power And The Glory (1974) |
Posted By: CosmicVibration
Date Posted: August 11 2014 at 10:24
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eight pussies... Octopus
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Posted By: proggman
Date Posted: August 12 2014 at 11:36
Octopus.------------- When he rides, my fears subside. For darkness turns once more to light. Through the skies, his white horse flies. To find a land beyond the night. |
Posted By: Relayer71
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 13:23
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Easily In A Glass House for me. Free Hand would probably be a runner up but I've been listening to Interview a lot and think that album is criminally underrated. I avoided it for so long because everything pointed to that album as being the beginning of their decline but have had it for about 2 years and the more I listen the more I think this album is so misunderstood. Their sound was beginning to change a little but it's still just as strong as the 3 albums before it and it's still very clearly Gentle Giant. Now, Giant For A Day is another story altogether. Those are my top 3 :) |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 13:47
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Octopus followed by the Power & the Glory. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Fearabsentia
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 14:27
| Free Hand, Octopus, and In a Glass House are my three favorites |
Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 16:13
| They're pretty much the same to me all around all around all around all around. |
Posted By: hellogoodbye
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 16:27
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Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 16:34
| Overall it's 'Glass House, but for the most classic prog by the band, it's Three Friends. |
Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 17:33
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It chances from time to time but right now it's The Power & the Glory ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 17:39
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Probably In a Glass House followed closely by Three Friends. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 17:51
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completely enjoy the earlier stuff with Phil Shuman. The band lost something in their sound when he left. that sense of space and atmosphere where the music breathed. 3 Friends.. mainly for Schooldays which never fails to bring tears of sentimentality to my eyes when I think of all the old friends I've lost over the years. Such an incredibly beautiful and touching song. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 18:30
Absolutely agree regarding Interview.This is one of those polls that is so misleading its ridiculous. Did the band fall off the end of a cliff after Freehand? Nope.
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Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: October 27 2014 at 22:46
| I like Free Hand as a perfect GG album. |
Posted By: Prog_Traveller
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 00:32
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One of the greatest tragedies in all of progressive rock is not that this band broke up but that they never reformed(never had a proper full band reformation anyway). I think their first is definitely their most under rated but I voted for Octopus. I like Free Hand and Three Friends a lot too. I think In a glass house is a bit over rated and maybe the same goes for Power and the Glory. I like all their stuff quite a bit though(at least up to and including Interview).
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 06:03
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Sadly, they abandoned their stated mission after Freehand... ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 13:53
Call me ignorant on that one but what was their 'stated mission' ?
 ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 14:00
Playing obscurant, difficult music on albums that were virtually unsellable, of course. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 14:02
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Now, now..."Giant for a Day" was as unsellable as anything they put out. ;) |
Posted By: Michael678
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 14:03
as for any of their studio albums by the looks of things. ------------- Progrockdude |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 14:22
Just how is Interview* not part of that "stated mission"? Its certainly as obscurant, difficult and virtually unsellable as their former seven releases. If anything its probably more of all that than their first four albums. (*an album I personally prefer to both Power and the Glory and Free Hand) |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 14:27
 I must have nissed that somewhere in all the articles about them. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 14:29
Like they held a "stated mission" press conference. |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 14:36
My, my! Obscurant! Look at you! |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: October 28 2014 at 15:06
they didn't
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Posted By: danyboy
Date Posted: October 29 2014 at 04:54
| Octopus |
Posted By: ebil0505
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 01:03
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I-I can't . . . *mind snaps into two hemispheres* ------------- "I like to think oysters transcend national barriers." - Roger Waters |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 13:49
 From the album cover for Acquiring The Taste - "... It is our goal to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of being very unpopular. We have recorded each composition with the one thought - that it should be unique, adventurous and fascinating. It has taken every shred of our combined musical and technical knowledge to achieve this. From the outset we have abandoned all preconceived thoughts of blatant commercialism. Instead we hope to give you something far more substantial and fulfilling. All you need to do is sit back, and acquire the taste."
Hint hint - Giant For A Day
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 18:22
| ^ Interview was still prog. After that.. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 19:56
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^The Missing Piece is a fantastic album. |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 20:00
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^ Giant For A Day is excellenté. ------------- |
Posted By: Friday13th
Date Posted: October 30 2014 at 22:03
| GG is hard to rank. I think Octopus wins just by a hair. It rocks, has great instrumental parts like "Boys in the Band", and has probably their most signature experimental song in "Knots." Acquiring has an impressive variety of sounds, but I think it may be too mellow overall and they're still finding themselves. In A Glass House is the most serious and instrumental, but I think that loses a bit of their charm. Power and Free Hand are the most accessible maybe to a fault with the overly funky stuff, though "On Reflection" is probably my favorite GG song. |
Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: October 31 2014 at 05:34
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By the polling it is safe to say that you can buy all albums from Acquiring the Taste up until Free Hand and you won't be disappointed. |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: October 31 2014 at 09:57
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Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: October 31 2014 at 12:07
What the poll doesn't say - is that their debut and Interview are equally safe buys. Both solid four star-albums imo.
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Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: October 31 2014 at 12:31
Right on! |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: November 01 2014 at 05:04
too true
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 01 2014 at 16:05
I have always liked the first one quite a bit and listen to it more than several later ones that people seem to think are far better. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |