Lazland playlist

Colin Mold is an exceptional artist and perhaps one of the finest voices in prog. Glad you love it, Steve and excited by your upcoming review! 

There have been some really good posts on this particular part of the thread, so thank you everyone for your contributions.

You know, the points made re the post punk era took me back to those heady days of the 1980's, and I spent a fair bit of last night listening to some of the stuff from Manchester that dominated the more intelligent aspects of such rock music.

A salutary lesson, I suppose, is that it is always good to appreciate other forms of music, and not get so parochial that we instantly assume that Prog is the only musical truth and joy.

Whilst I enjoyed listening to some old The Smiths especially, I did think, after listening to Morrisey's last couple of solo albums his lunchtime, that the "joke just isn't funny anymore". In fact, I find him rather grating nowadays. Is that an age thing, or is it simply the case that he was a product of his time, and would be better off left there?

Anyhow, I am listening to Colin Mold's new album again tonight, and an utter joy it is, too. Extremely well written and performed melodic Prog rock, with more than a slice of folk sensibilities to boot. A very favourable review will follow as soon as I have the time.

^I think that there's a lot to said for post punk, Ian. And you seem to capture the words perfectly.

Edited by SteveG - January 12 2015 at 08:13

Thanks Steve 

and New Wave, although quickly became for a big part dreadful synth pop, originated as an underground experimental movement which wanted to follow the steps of Kraftwerk. The pity is, their experimental side involved only the sonic aspect (and the visuals), but compositionally they chose for simplicity (because I'm afraid few if any of them were actually good musicians who could play a traditional instrument). It was the return to simplicity also shown by Punk but instead of with the old-school electric guitars and basses and drums, throwing those away and replacing them by synths which at the time was a quite experimental thing to do (no fan of New Wave at all, mind you).

lazland wrote: Oh well, for my first blog of the New Year (and a jolly happy, prosperous, and healthy one to all of you kind enough to read my meanderings), I thought I would set to the electronic equivalent of paper a thought I just had in the shower. Be patient, friends. I have lots of good thoughts in the shower, some of my finest ones, indeed The thought was prompted by an amusing exchange on the "Does Miles Davis Belong on PA" thread. My thoughts have nothing to do with that, per se, but got me thinking about different eras of popular music, and, in particular, about the present and the 1970's, which were, most here would state, the classic Prog rock era. You see, I think there is a very distinct commonality between those halcyon days of some forty years ago, and the period we are living in now, as exemplified by pop music and Prog. Then, as now, the majority of chart hits were led by seriously manufactured acts, or variations on a particular type of "yoof" movement. The optimism of the free thinking 1960's, when most kids seriously believed that they could, and would, change the world had given way to an extremely depressing decade for my country. Then, as now, a set of incredibly poor politicians, with little or no scruples and true principles, were at the mercy of market forces well beyond their control. Then, it was the oil crisis, now it seems to be a crisis of capitalism itself. Popular music, in the early part of the decade, was exemplified by glam rock. The charts were full of it, with even a bunch of old skinheads like Slade joining in the fun. Top of the Pops (the music show of choice for all right minded kids) was full of such cerebral gems such as Mud, Bolan, and The Sweet (who my wife still loves). In contrast, the cool and clever kids listened to Prog and art rock, watching the icon of geek, Whispering Bob, on Old Grey Whistle Test. It really was a heady time to be into music that all the girls loathed and thought was, well, simply bloody awful! Glam gave way to the ridiculous punk and "new wave" movement, just as the seventies were reaching their depressing peak. Punk started off genuinely enough as an underground movement, but anyone old enough to remember those days will, I think, accept that the majority of it was simply created in order to satisfy the manufactured rebellious spirit of the times, this certainly being the case by 1977. The Pistols? Bunch of t**sers, basically. Rotten ended up advertising made up butter and appearing on a bloody awful celebrity jungle challenge show. Pah! In the present decade, we have the even more manufactured, and God-awful, stuff pedalled by the likes of Simon Cowell on his TV programmes, and the giant record corporations, who seem to have given up all pretence of nurturing genuine new talent. Witness also the daft and depressing fact that all now seem to ape the urban black culture which, again, started off as a genuine street movement before being hijacked by Music Corp Inc. For serious culture and music fans, of all ages, where is there to turn to? Of course,there is still classical music, timeless in its beauty and inspiration. But for the rock fan? Well, Prog. Prog is making a huge comeback in terms of cultural impact on those who take the time to consider such matters. No, Prog will never, ever, be the monster record selling behemoth it was in days of yore, but, as those who follow this great site will know, in terms of new music and creativity, this genre is going through a massive purple patch, and, in fact, I, for one, am more excited about the state and future of the genre than I have ever been. I think the similarities between the two decades are too apparent to be a coincidence. What do you think? So, it is nice to start 2015 off on a positive note, certainly as far as the prospects for progressive rock are concerned. There are many out there who continue to innovate, and push the boundaries. Long may they continue. I think we could do without the economic and political similarities, though!

Chris S wrote: School's Out, 18.......whew flashback early 70's right there

This is an outstanding track by Alice Cooper really, have a listen hugs Alice Cooper - I'm Eighteen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXZcJojTucg

Well my good friend, I find your thoughts hit me like a nuclear weapon. Full of impact and quite explosive. You certainly leave quite a good impression on me because I really understand where you are coming from and how you tie generational similarities together to describe our current music state and growth with just a hint of political and social economical thought topics. :)
Thank you for sharing this because I do identify strongly with one part of your New Years posting, and that is the present state of progressive rock. I believe as well, that it is in terrific shape and that the music of today in the prog world has my enthusiasm, loyalty and support. Most of all, I do get what you are driving at and I don't what to get too wordy and bore ya with simple reiterations of your own thoughts, but again I do appreciate your analysis from a generational standpoint, especially your critique on and about, the 'New Wave.' Yikes!!
I don't think my ears can take any glam rock/metal seriously enough to have a lasting impression on me. However, I do like the Ramones but I don't find myself running to put on one of their albums and keep revisiting their sound. Same with Alice Copper. I respect the art form but the music doesn't stay with me. However, progressive rock either old or new stays with me. I can honestly say with open arms that a lot of new Prog that I have discovered I will be listening to for many many more years to come. Prog is timeless. Other than classical music it is the most poignant and artful expression music has to offer. :)

Happy new year to you. Now. Lets get ready for 2015.
Arena and Iron Maiden should kick things off nicely.

Oh well, for my first blog of the New Year (and a jolly happy, prosperous, and healthy one to all of you kind enough to read my meanderings), I thought I would set to the electronic equivalent of paper a thought I just had in the shower. Be patient, friends. I have lots of good thoughts in the shower, some of my finest ones, indeed

The thought was prompted by an amusing exchange on the "Does Miles Davis Belong on PA" thread. My thoughts have nothing to do with that, per se, but got me thinking about different eras of popular music, and, in particular, about the present and the 1970's, which were, most here would state, the classic Prog rock era.

You see, I think there is a very distinct commonality between those halcyon days of some forty years ago, and the period we are living in now, as exemplified by pop music and Prog. Then, as now, the majority of chart hits were led by seriously manufactured acts, or variations on a particular type of "yoof" movement. The optimism of the free thinking 1960's, when most kids seriously believed that they could, and would, change the world had given way to an extremely depressing decade for my country. Then, as now, a set of incredibly poor politicians, with little or no scruples and true principles, were at the mercy of market forces well beyond their control. Then, it was the oil crisis, now it seems to be a crisis of capitalism itself.

Popular music, in the early part of the decade, was exemplified by glam rock. The charts were full of it, with even a bunch of old skinheads like Slade joining in the fun. Top of the Pops (the music show of choice for all right minded kids) was full of such cerebral gems such as Mud, Bolan, and The Sweet (who my wife still loves). In contrast, the cool and clever kids listened to Prog and art rock, watching the icon of geek, Whispering Bob, on Old Grey Whistle Test. It really was a heady time to be into music that all the girls loathed and thought was, well, simply bloody awful!

Glam gave way to the ridiculous punk and "new wave" movement, just as the seventies were reaching their depressing peak. Punk started off genuinely enough as an underground movement, but anyone old enough to remember those days will, I think, accept that the majority of it was simply created in order to satisfy the manufactured rebellious spirit of the times, this certainly being the case by 1977. The Pistols? Bunch of t**sers, basically. Rotten ended up advertising made up butter and appearing on a bloody awful celebrity jungle challenge show. Pah!

In the present decade, we have the even more manufactured, and God-awful, stuff pedalled by the likes of Simon Cowell on his TV programmes, and the giant record corporations, who seem to have given up all pretence of nurturing genuine new talent. Witness also the daft and depressing fact that all now seem to ape the urban black culture which, again, started off as a genuine street movement before being hijacked by Music Corp Inc.

For serious culture and music fans, of all ages, where is there to turn to? Of course,there is still classical music, timeless in its beauty and inspiration. But for the rock fan? Well, Prog. Prog is making a huge comeback in terms of cultural impact on those who take the time to consider such matters. No, Prog will never, ever, be the monster record selling behemoth it was in days of yore, but, as those who follow this great site will know, in terms of new music and creativity, this genre is going through a massive purple patch, and, in fact, I, for one, am more excited about the state and future of the genre than I have ever been.

I think the similarities between the two decades are too apparent to be a coincidence. What do you think?

So, it is nice to start 2015 off on a positive note, certainly as far as the prospects for progressive rock are concerned. There are many out there who continue to innovate, and push the boundaries. Long may they continue.

I think we could do without the economic and political similarities, though!

Edited by lazland - January 05 2015 at 16:49