Should Gentle Giant have continued after Civilian? |
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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^Yeah, I think maybe they figured if they were going to go in a more mainstream direction they should get some kind of financial reward for it and when they didn't they said "f**k this we're out of here."
Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - February 19 2024 at 20:09 |
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Hercules
Prog Reviewer Joined: June 14 2007 Location: Near York UK Status: Offline Points: 7024 |
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Because they weren't selling any albums, that's why. Critically acclaimed, but never commercially successful. i hated them in the 70s: they were just too weird. It took me 20 years to "get" them and I bought all their albums, but too late to benefit them.
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someone_else
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Maybe. After Giant for a Day, they were on the way up again.
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AFlowerKingCrimson
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 02 2016 Location: Philly burbs Status: Offline Points: 18487 |
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I agree. Of course if they went in the direction of Genesis then people would complain endlessly(like they do about later Genesis) but you can't please everyone and a paycheck is still a paycheck. Anyway, I finally voted and I voted "yes."
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Heart of the Matter
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Yes, any following album would have been better than silence.
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twosteves
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I have Civilian and wasn't really a fan---Interesting that iTunes sells all their music except Civilian.
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dwill123
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Yes. I liked 'Civilian'.
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AFlowerKingCrimson
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 02 2016 Location: Philly burbs Status: Offline Points: 18487 |
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Giant for a day is a bit like open your eyes by Yes in that if it was released by another band nobody would think it was that awful. It's a half way decent pop/pop rock album with maybe some mild prog touches and gentle giantisms but it's a far cry from their proggy past. I actually like a few tracks on it especially the instrumental "spooky boogie." "Word from the wise" has some very good vocal harmonies and there's maybe a few other things too such as the catchy "little brown bag." Most of it is admittedly not that memorable but it's still worth checking out if you are a GG completionist or even a big fan. Just don't expect vintage prog GG. I agree with you about the others. Both are maybe a bit uneven but with some solid moments. It's hard for me to pick one over the other. I possibly prefer civilian but not by much. The band could have gone out with a weaker record. At least this one doesn't have a song called "alien afternoon" on it.
Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - December 24 2020 at 08:02 |
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dougmcauliffe
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I can't be the only one here who thinks most of The Missing Piece and Civilian are pretty solid. I think it still sounds like Gentle Giant, just a little more simple and poppy. Certainly not their best work, but I don't think either of those are offensively bad or anything. (Full disclosure, haven't heard Giant For a Day)
Edited by dougmcauliffe - December 24 2020 at 07:52 |
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DarkTower
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No. Last 3 are so dull, they should have stop after Interview.
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Frenetic Zetetic
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I BET YOU THOUGHT THEY COULDN'T DO IT?!
Lol. GG is one of those bands that could clearly have continued on in whatever style they wanted. I think they did it right letting it be a good solid even 10 year/decade long chapter of, for a good 85-90% of it, being top tier progressive rock IMHO. One of the few bands where the weaker entries don't tarnish their discography IMHO! I just got my 1975 reprint tour shirt in directly from the band's new store in NYC!: Edited by Frenetic Zetetic - December 24 2020 at 00:30 |
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"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
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b_olariu
Prog Reviewer Joined: March 02 2007 Location: Romania Status: Offline Points: 5533 |
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Only if they went back to prog Still they dominate that decade with some spectacular albums, they are legends anyway
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AFlowerKingCrimson
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 02 2016 Location: Philly burbs Status: Offline Points: 18487 |
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^I don't know. I think if Genesis were able to make the transition then I think GG would have eventually been able to make the transition too. The thing is as a band they probably just didn't have the patience to wait that long.
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moshkito
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Hi, AND, I think that a lot of that came out of the record companies not wishing to support stuff that was not making them money ... and GG, in those days, should have gotten COMPLETELY AWAY from the record companies and gotten onto their own ownership of the music and its distribution ... but it was easier to just give up. GG has stated that their this and that were no longer into it, but I think that a lot of the stuff underneath is what caused the problems. This group was not the only one that had issues with a record company ... one well known comedy group decided to "sign" with a record company, and it got a couple of dollars, however, none of their albums were ever heard from again, or their members, which kinda tells you that the record company probably said something like as long as they break even who cares ... right? But, in some ways, it was probably the best ... I doubt that GG would have been able to create new material that was as determined and eccentric as the early stuff, and be able to play it ... and when that happens, it's time to hang up the ballet shoes ... your feet can't handle any more bleeding!
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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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Manuel
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It's sad we never got the chance to see them again, but at least, they left their legacy intact.
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twosteves
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I read they thought they couldn't take it any further than they did....and One of them became a big record executive.
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iluvmarillion
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I voted not sure. The problem wasn't about what Gentle Giant should have done after Civilian. The problem was what's wrong with the music public not liking Gentle Giant.
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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I think it would have been interesting if they went in a more new wave direction while keeping the hard rock elements(like missing persons for example).
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Man With Hat
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Given what they were creating as they ended, probably not.
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Progfan1958
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Absolutely they should have continued. I saw them on the Civilian tour, and they were still in top form. In the end it was the market that broke them, but if they had had a better record company behind the band I think they could have had a very interesting future.
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Progfan1958
"Peace to you all" "La paix est avec vous" "Pax vobiscum" "Al salaam a'alaykum" "Vrede zij met u allen" "Shalom aleichem" |
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