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YESESIS View Drop Down
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Points: 2215 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2017 at 19:29
Originally posted by Frenetic Zetetic Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

Gentle Giant very well may be the best band on the planet Earth.


1000% agree with this. There are a few bands I'm slightly uneasy about putting them ahead of, *cough* Yes *cough* Genesis.. But if anyone puts GG at the very top I will not argue with them.. they're that %$#% good.


Originally posted by Frenetic Zetetic Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

I know so few who can enjoy and appreciate the beauty, complexity and intricacy of this incredible band!


Oh I can appreciate it lol, to me they're one of the very best prog music artists ever. I mean on a REALLY short list.

Welcome and.. way to join and make an immediate impact! Hats off to you Sir.
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Peter View Drop Down
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Points: 9669 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2017 at 19:07
I love Giant, but while there is plenty of originality, fire, musicianship, and outright weirdness, I don't hear the same level or amount of sheer beauty one encounters so often with Yes or Genesis.

I think GG are more head than heart, most times. It is telling that they are very polarizing and will drive non prog fans from the room much sooner than most other classic prog bands do. GG are NOT for the faint of heart! (They are much like Van Der Graf Generator, in that regard -- it harder to acquire a taste for them.)

Still, I love them (see my reviews), and I understand your passion for them.

Edited by Peter - December 20 2017 at 19:09
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
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The.Crimson.King View Drop Down
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Points: 4596 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2017 at 18:53
At age 15 I had a ticket to see Yes on their '75 tour at the Cow Palace in SF (technically it's in Daly City, but you get the picture).  They had an opening band none of us had ever heard of called Gentle Giant.  The day after the show, virtually all my friends scraped together enough cash for a trip to the record store and came home with their 1st of many Gentle Giant albums - I bought Free Hand...

They're definitely in the upper echelon of prog bands for me and I still frequently spin everything up through The Missing Piece Wink 

And welcome to PA, we need all the Gentle Giant fanatics we can get LOL
Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987
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Rednight View Drop Down
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Points: 4812 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2017 at 18:39
As witnessed in your avatar, you know your 'Giant well. Their best.
"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno
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Larkstongue41 View Drop Down
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Points: 1360 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2017 at 18:23
A much beloved band here on PA's and deservedly so. I'm personally not too crazy about them but their inventiveness and musicianship skills are undeniable. 

Welcome to the forum!
"Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Chaffinch brains. Jaguars' earlobes. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while they're hot. They're lovely. Dromedary pretzels, only half a denar."
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Frenetic Zetetic View Drop Down
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Points: 9233 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2017 at 18:09
I've bounced on and off ProgArchives for some years now as a visitor, and I understand GG can be one of the more polarizing prog bands in terms of fan fare. 

I must say, as a long, long time listener and connoisseur of progressive music, Gentle Giant very well may be the best band on the planet Earth. I'm trying really hard not to use hyperbole here! 

There's so much to be said about this band. They appear to, in my honest opinion, exemplify all of the best elements of progressive music nearly flawlessly. Take the best parts of Yes, Genesis, ELP, and pretty much any top-tier prog band you can think of, and Gentle Giant somehow takes that to the next level.

Ray Shulman should be a household name along Squire's in terms of precision, tightness, creativity, and expression. Derek Shulman's vocal intensity and choice of harmony and melody challenges the likes of Peter Gabriel's best performance. Gary Green is a flawless guitar player. I really can't say enough good things about this man's style. John Weathers is a master and honestly I can't compare him to anyone because instead of needless complexity for the sake of it, he holds the songs together with precision timing and groove. Kerry Minnear is arguably the most creative keyboard player in prog. He gives Wakeman and many others a serious run for their money.

I apologize if this comes off as a "this dude just joined and made a GG rant thread", but I know so few who can enjoy and appreciate the beauty, complexity and intricacy of this incredible band! What are your thoughts?
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