Van Der Graaf Generator needle and thread

One of the greatest bands ever. The best??? well, that´s a matter of taste. At least they did what Genesis should have done: they split up! A killer band that never was lost. BTW, not only did they lack a guitar player but a proper bass player too!! (for the most of their carreer) Some of the bass lines are slightly out of time. I wonder what Pawn Hearts could have sounded like had the excellent Nic Potter been there with his bass. 

Ok, I must admit I have not been able to gent in to VdGG yet. But a few years ago I couldn't get into Gentle Giant and now.....it's pathetic. Where does one start? Is there any album that is going to overwhelm you with it's awesomeness from note one as say "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" does for Genesis. (My first early Genesis experience and for the most part first prog experience beside "Roundabout" and Floyd)

Very Good band, but best ever???

Oh god, this is what happens to me when speaking about favorite VDGG song, I've just changed my favorite moment in the count of two posts

Edited by AlexUC - October 21 2008 at 12:47

OK. Thanks for the responses. Going to vent my fanboyism a bit here with a couple of more detailed posts on individual parts or lyrics later.

For now:

Orb's favourite bits of VDGG

Vocals - A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers
Hammill's biggest appeal to me is that he expresses emotions which I've not really even heard other singers attempt. Complex emotions, not just angry or sad or happy, but hesitant, uncertain anger, lonely and increasing sadness, joy gradually coming out from pain and grief, coming from a sense of purpose. This track is the real peak of that, in my opinion.

Saxophone - Sleepwalkers
I do so enjoy seeing an essentially fairly harmless jazzy instrument being used to pull off guitarish licks with extra grit and verve, trading blows with an organ. Pure rock, unique sound and a stunning performance. Equally, I defy anyone not to be moved by the sax solo on My Room (Waiting For Wonderland)

Flute - Out Of My Book
I can't quite explain this one so well, but the ethereal flutes really convey a sort of drifting, uncertain background, the answers floating away. Absolutely love that melody.

Drums/Percussion - House With No Door
Easily the most difficult choice, since I'm less good at listening for these. Maybe, actually, House With No Door. Love it when a drummer can fit his own style neatly into a soft song rather than simply waiting before the big explosion at the end.

Bass - Pioneers Over c
Directional, energetic, and able to take a lead role without feeling either drowned out or redundant. Incredible force, catchy hooks. Everything.

Acoustic Guitar - Killer
Short, sweet melodic additions, giving something incredibly beautiful in the midst of such a dark song, yet only really intensifying the feeling and leaving behind a sort of drowning feeling... the sense of the loss of that brief melody.

Organ - Pioneers Over c
The rock organ performance, in my opinion. Gradual, developing force, modulation of distance, love the way it's phrased. Energetic in the lead, and shining in the background.

Piano - Still Life
Again, the complex expression thing. That particular song is life without a sense of meaning, sort of going through the motions but in a worn out way. Idyllic, yet at the same time unexpectedly flawed. The piano on it is so full of loss, of hesitation and of gradual settlement.

Electric Guitar - Meurglys III
Can't really explain this one yet. Will find a way, eventually.

So... a mixture of comprehensible and incomprehensible reasons. If I'm being productive/skiving off team work tomorrow, I'll get out something about that solo on APOLK.

There are so many best bands ever for me, so it's hard to be sure, though VdGG are definitely my favourites when it comes to prog.

Yeah, David Jackson still blows my mind. For the most part, saxophone is an uninteresting and overused instrument except when he is strangling one. His wild soloing at the apocalyptic outro of White Hammer might be one of my favorite musical moments 

tszirmay wrote: febus wrote: Not even in my top 50   Sadly, I must admit the same. I just can't get into their zone ...... , and ya got to get in .... to get out

That makes the three of us.

I can't say Best, but I say UNIQUE
They have something special, their sound is peculiar
and they can easily be a 'love/hate' band because of
their 'eclectic' elements.

I adore Godbluff, still need to get into the rest...

Without answering the question all I can say is that the one who wrote most of the music and all of the lyrics should get most attention.