I cannot stand Gentle Giant

Frenetic Zetetic wrote: I honestly cannot reasonably expect everyone to enjoy this band's level of intricacy...and I'm not even arguing that "the more tech the better". Gentle Giant is/was its own entity. What an amazing 10 year period that band's existence was!

This. They were legendary. I'm perplexed on how many others cite The Power and the Glory as a go-to album. Advice? Delve into In a Glass House with a fury, allotting more than just a couple listens for this masterpiece.

Alright after reading these comments, I’ll give Aquiring the Taste a listen

Edit: well I’m 4 songs in... and I actually like this one, like someone said, it’s more melodic. Well I’ll listen to the rest after work, post invalid?

Edited by dougmcauliffe - July 30 2019 at 07:31

dougmcauliffe wrote: Well I apologize in advance to gentle giant fans... I’ve really tried with these guys but I’m just not hearing what everyone else is. The only song that doesn’t give me a headache is proclamation. When I’m listening I realize their music is very unique but overall I just think... it’s bad. I’ve listened to power and the glory, octopus and in a glass house and free hand all a couple times now and I just can’t get into it. I can usually get into most prog, I hated van der graaf on first listen but now that’s a favorite, but with them I feel there is plenty of movement in their songs, with gentle giant I feel like they play 2 riffs a song and then do some uncomfortable vocal harmonies. I think so sincere may be one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard. Spock’s Beard and Neal Morse imitating gentle giant is more enjoyable then gentle giant to me Does anyone else have a similar experience with other popular artists?

GG is one of my favorite bands of all time, and I totally understand why they are NOT most people's cup of tea. It's not easy music to get into. It almost requires being obsessed with complexity to some degree. As others have said, perhaps an Acquired Taste is an accurate statement.

Try the version of So Sincere on the Playing The Fool live album.

Actually, I started getting into GG and VdGG at the same time. I ordered 4 Generator albums at once (the best rated ones) and Playing the Fool from GG. Without having heard them first. At first I thought I had finally gone too far with this choices... but I did end up loving VdGG. GG took me more, I just couldn't get into that album, and I had heard The Power and the Glory on YouTube and didn't do much for me either, so since Playing the Fool was supposed to have some of their better songs, I didn't expect to try any further... yet, somehow I was convinced to give their first albums a try, and I got their first 4 ones, which I did like better... speically their very first two I did come to love. Perhaps you could give those ones a chance, they are more melodic, and for me, charming. After that they started getting gradually less melodic.

dougmcauliffe wrote: I hated van der graaf on first listen but now that’s a favorite

Hah, same. Also couldn't get into VDGG and GG, but now VDGG is one of my all-time fave bands.

I listened again to GG discography this winter, in another attempt of "getting" them, and that was my most successful one - loved quite a lot of songs actually! I'd suggest you focus on the debut LP (my fave one), their most "conventional" prog record, and also try later-days LPs which are not fully prog... but that's where they become enjoyable for me Check this track out, for example, my mom LOVES it:



Also later-day GG freakin ROCKS! And yes, check these live versions especially:



Enjoy!

It's all about taste. Typically if you like one band in a certain subgenre you will like others.Then again there are people who like Genesis but not Yes and vice versa. If someone does not like GG I would advise them to steer away from bands who are just as unconventional(ie RIO/avant)if not more so. You might come around to it at some point; then again you may not.

It's all kind of like your palate for food.  If you don't like it when you're six, try it again at 16 and it might surprise you and then 60, if you're lucky enough to get that far.  Or not.  I like Tapfret's and Grumpyprogfan's posts here...I have to say the same, some that my ear doesn't care for now may be much more listenable in the future, I'll give it another try, especially if people keep recommending it whose other recommendations I've enjoyed (get to know your reviewers), when introduced by them.  I think it's commendable to at least try!

Edited by Snicolette - July 29 2019 at 10:31