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"Marmite Records"

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Steve Wyzard View Drop Down
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    Posted: June 17 2024 at 12:48
There I was, minding my own business and reading one of those "let's-reassess-a-forgotten-nutty-1980s-album" articles about Thomas Dolby's Aliens Ate My Buick (1988), when I came across the term MARMITE RECORDS.

Unfamiliar with the term, I did some research and discovered two working definitions: 

1) an album that tests even a recording artist's die-hard fans, and

2) a "love-it-or-hate-it" album.

Apparently the term comes from a British sandwich spread that everyone either loves or hates.

Thinking of albums discussed on this site, I immediately thought of:

1) Yes - Tales of Topographic Oceans
2) King Crimson - Lizard
3) Metallica - St. Anger

So what both-loved-and-hated "marmite records" can you think of? 
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 17 2024 at 13:02
YES - Heaven and Earth - I love it but almost everyone else appears to hate it.

And on the flipside of the coin....

Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts - I hate it but almost everyone else appears to love it. Tongue

As for King Crimson's Lizard, I have a new appreciation for that album, ever since discovering that Jon Anderson features on Prince Rupert Awakes. Thumbs Up



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - June 17 2024 at 13:06
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Octopus II Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 02:10
I have always liked ELP's 'Love Beach'. Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote ingridguerci94 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 03:55
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As for King Crimson's Lizard, I have a new appreciation for that album, ever since xxx discovering that Jon Anderson features on Prince Rupert Awakes. Thumbs Up



My first encounter with King Crimson was in 1970. I wore out my older brother's LP, captivated by the cover art and lyrics. Even though I wasn't getting high at the time, I still felt a sense of euphoria. Peter Sinfield truly is a master lyricist, especially during that golden era.



Edited by ingridguerci94 - June 23 2024 at 19:07
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 05:35
Hi,

Strange for me. 

I've never looked at any of the arts as love or hate. It is someone's expression, and deserves respect, and my opinion is incidental and not important.

In this day and age, the Internet has added a way for fans to vent their likes and dislikes, and while I think there is a bit of merit in there, I do think that is not, and should NOT be a part of the work of art at all ... there is always going to be some folks that don't like X, or Y, or Z ... but I'm not sure that venting your frustration is going to define the art .. .EVER ... and in the end, the art is not about you and your reflections ... it's about its creator and their inspiration, thus my reactions are secondary ... 

Sometimes it's kinda silly ... all we're doing is saying that Moby Dick and Crime and Punishment is at least 50% filler, and not worth reading! .... sure ... that's why you are remembered and the writer is in the pantheons of the Gods! Same for these artists. And the truth is that the fans are NOT the art!


Edited by moshkito - June 18 2024 at 05:36
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mirakaze Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 09:11
Trout Mask Replica is probably the most well-known and polarizing album that could be described as such. I think I might be one of the few people who thinks it's just okay...


Edited by Mirakaze - June 18 2024 at 09:12
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Logan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 10:57
Comus' First Utterance and Tangerine Dream's Zeit are two polarizing albums that have elicited strong reactions, both negative and positive. I'm on the positive side even if I have some pessimistic tendencies. :)

And I love Marmite (a yeast extract) on buttered toast. It's good for my tummy (have IBS) and I have it very regularly. I trust that too much Marmite much won't result in a yeast infection. I know someone from PA who'd rather be hit with a Yeast, Cheese, and Jam Infection (a little Marmalade is good for the soul -- yum) than listen to the likes of First Utterance, Zeit and Trout Mask Replica.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Steve Wyzard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 11:07
Thanks to everybody who has participated so far, and for introducing the word "polarizing": that sums  everything up very succinctly!

I somehow knew that ELP's post-Brain Salad Surgery albums would be brought up.

And since someone brought up Tangerine Dream, I thought of another experimental electronic album that deserves a mention: Vangelis's Beaubourg!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Floydoid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 11:13
Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart.
'We're going to need a bigger swear jar.'
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jared Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 14:29
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

Comus' First Utterance and Tangerine Dream's Zeit are two polarizing albums that have elicited strong reactions, both negative and positive. I'm on the positive side even if I have some pessimistic tendencies. :)

And I love Marmite (a yeast extract) on buttered toast. It's good for my tummy (have IBS) and I have it very regularly.

I can handle Zeit personally, it's Electronic Meditation I struggle to warm to...

I also have IBS Greg; it used to be far worse in my late 20's early 30's, but now in my mid 50's, it has calmed down quite a bit, thank goodness... I wish you all the best with that.
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
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hrychu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 14:35
Kyrie Eleison - The Fountain Beyond the Sunrise is a Marmite type record IMO. Whether you love it or hate it depends on whether you can tolerate the bootleg level production and Michael Schuberth's awkward English pronunciation or not.

For what it's worth, I've seen it referred to as the "best Genesis clone" just as much as the "worst Genesis clone".

Edited by Hrychu - June 18 2024 at 14:36
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jared Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 14:37
Going back to the early days of this forum, a band who really divided opinion were The Mars Volta... I personally couldn't cope with it, but there were a lot of fans on here.

I guess if you can find bands/ albums which have a lot of 1 star and 5 star ratings, then its a 'Marmite' candidate...  incidentally, I love marmite, but never for breakfast!
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
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mellotron Storm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2024 at 18:31
I am strangely drawn to Genesis s/t(shapes) record, I mean I love that album. I got nothing, other than it's sentimental for sure, it also takes me to a time in my life long forgotten until I push play and start listening to it. It's magic really.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve Wyzard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2024 at 09:46
Originally posted by Mellotron Storm Mellotron Storm wrote:

I am strangely drawn to Genesis s/t(shapes) record, I mean I love that album. I got nothing, other than it's sentimental for sure, it also takes me to a time in my life long forgotten until I push play and start listening to it. It's magic really.
Yes, that album is very underrated. It's always discredited for the two obvious hit singles/video opportunities, "That's All" and "Illegal Alien", but the rest truly can be described as "magical"!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Logan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2024 at 10:27
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

...Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts - I hate it but almost everyone else appears to love it. 


You don't even like "Man-Erg"?

While I have come across more than you who does not like Pawn Herats, what you wrote reminded of this with Tom Baker as Captain Rum from Blackadder.



Lord Blackadder: I was under the impression that it's common maritime practice for a ship to have a crew?
Captain Redbeard Rum: Opinion is divided on the subject. All the other Captains say it is, I say it isn't.

---------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by Steve Wyzard Steve Wyzard wrote:

Originally posted by Mellotron Storm Mellotron Storm wrote:

I am strangely drawn to Genesis s/t(shapes) record, I mean I love that album. I got nothing, other than it's sentimental for sure, it also takes me to a time in my life long forgotten until I push play and start listening to it. It's magic really.
Yes, that album is very underrated. It's always discredited for the two obvious hit singles/video opportunities, "That's All" and "Illegal Alien", but the rest truly can be described as "magical"!


"That's All" is the first Genesis track I recall knowing as Genesis and I immediately liked it (I was very into music videos at the time). It's one of the songs that stills plays in my head with such clarity when I think of it. It was not until after I heard The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway at the closing party for play in the 90s that I really liked Genesis (although I thought it was a Peter Gabriel released album at the time).

Anyway, it's quite thin and yawn, but nice song. Listened again, yep, still sounds just the same as in my head. It takes me back to watching music videos at a friend's house on Friday nights. I've never paid much attention to the Shapes album.

--------------------------------------------------

For a couple of others that I have seen very polarised reactions: Magma's MDK and Soft Machine's Third. I would expect it more of MDK, and that's not a fave Magma studio album of mine (the debut is awesome, imo, and I prefer live versions of MDK).

--------------------------------------------------

Thanks Jared on the IBS comments. It has become more manageable generally. And I too would not want Marmite for breakfast. Magma slopped over rock-hard stone milled toast for breakfast strangely sounds rather more appealing to me.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2024 at 21:40
not mentioned so far:
Beatles - White Album
Tull - Warchild (where did the prog go)
Genesis - ATTWT (no Hackett/Gabriel no Genesis apparently)
ELP - Works Volume One (their 'White album')
King Crimson - Discipline (I don't like this version of KC with Belew personally)
Camel - Nude (very 'commercial' but has its fans)
Yes - Drama (more because of line up changes but has aged well imo)
Dream Theater - The Astonishing (I like it!)




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jared Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2024 at 23:54
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:


Beatles - White Album Ahead of its time
Tull - Warchild   It's just a patchy, uneven and slightly disjointed affair 
Genesis - ATTWT 
ELP - Works Volume One    The only bits that disappoint are on Lake's side of the album
King Crimson - Discipline  Agreed, could never get into 80's Crimson
Camel - Nude  Love it, significantly better than the previous two and the one after
Yes - Drama 
Dream Theater - The Astonishing  Life's too short....

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
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hrychu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 21 2024 at 01:39
Do you consider the "la marmite cosmique" albums by Arnaud Bukwald "Marmite Records"?
“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong
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