Ayreon: The Human Equation V’s Yes: GFTO

^^^ I was lent 'Into The Electric Castle' a few years ago by a guy who went to the CRS gigs in Rotherham, which I didn't like very much for the reasons I have given (Rock Opera my foot)....but I recently gave them a 2nd chance and The Universal Migrator is even worse, if that's possible....

Also, I realise that GFTO isn't a Sacred Cow, but I also remember saying to you before, that if anyone asked me to pick one single track to explain to someone why I loved prog, it would be Awaken...it's quite possibly my all time fave...which is why I just can't believe its being bashed in favour of Ayreon!!!

fandango wrote: lovecraft wrote: These lists are just plain crazy really Comparing long standing classic GFTO with anything by the cheesemeister Ayreon is surely a joke and so on ...bravo..someone with a bit of common sense in this thread!

I find your attitude surprising! I thought you were above this kind of bashing Fandango. You don't like them so ergo, they are rubbish.

Exactly what I thought!! You don't like simple rock'n'roll and single hits, do you?

But try to think about them in this way: GFTO starts as straightforward rock'n'roll, which was their intention because everyone described Yes, especially Jon as "pompous" - but in the end they deconstruct this scheme, esp. thanks to Rick's keyboards. Parallels - clever use of pipe organ makes very powerful sound and it rocks!! It's the use of non-rock instrument to create rock power!! And great author David Macan (Rockin' the Classics) give "Parallels" as epitome of polyphonic harmony (it's seven voices, incl. all instruments), along with masterpieces of Moody Blues and Gentle Giant. And "Wondrous Stories" is lovely short song, wonderfully played and great intro to "Awaken".

Now give me similar examples from T.H.E. (Day Two, in which Arjen copies "On The Run" by Pink Floyd does not count).

nimrodel wrote:  Human Equation is better. there is only one or two good songs in goin for the one. my opinnion.

The point is, it is quality of songs that matters in prog, and I believe I share the common view, that single Awaken, which is special, beats thousands of progressive songs, including everything on T.H.E. and many other Ayreon's songs.

And I don't agree that there is only few good songs on GFTO. Name the weak ones.

 Human Equation is better.

there is only one or two good songs in goin for the one.

my opinnion.

Progmetal is a trend, which brought fresh power to progrock, thus enriching it. T.H.E. is a real masterpiece, a real gem.

However, respecting the right to have subjective opinions about music, I think we should agree, that bunch of English progressive bands from the 70s (Pink Floyd, JTull, Genesis, Yes, ELP and many others) created the genre called as progressive rock and has earned right to due respect. Therefore I suggest we should agree that all their good albums are our classics, since they created something what we may call "progressive idiom". Otherwise our discussions would be nothing but anarchy.

Therefore I see no contradiction in liking T.H.E. very much and at the same time "worshipping" GFTO as a good YES album (not as great as CTTE or Relayer of course, but there is no argument like that "I'd rather listen to T.H.E. because GFTO is not the best Yes album. It's not logical). And for those who like prog metal and do not like YES: there is no account about tastes of course, but IMO Yes is prog itself, and you are making yourself blind to one of the most important aspects of prog.

A bit complicated, but I'm starting a legal job on Monday.