Popular Prog Bands that you just can't get into

infandous wrote: Logan wrote: ^ I have yet to delve into the Argentinian Magma. PT hasn't really done it for me either -- I don't really mind the band, though. I find it mostly harmless. You know, I saw Magma live twice.  Loved it.  Listened a half dozen albums, just couldn't get into any of them.  Hai Live was probably the one that I came closest to enjoying.  But this isn't all that unusual for me.  I can really enjoy bands in a live setting that I would normally not enjoy just listening to their music at home (Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum is another example of this for me). As to PTree, I disliked them for several years (except for Sky Moves Sideways, which I've always liked).  But one day, they just suddenly clicked and now I can't get enough of their music. Aside from Magma, the band on this site that I've tried hardest to like but just can't is Glass Hammer.

I think I rather burnt myself out on Vander's Magma.  I have more albums of theirs than any other band, and it was such a staple in my musical diet for so long....  Still love to see the band live, and hope that new studio album gets a release. Live/Hhai is one of my favourites of theirs.

Never got into Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, but probably if I'd seen them live it would be different (it's rare for a band in RIO/Avant not to really appeal to my tastes).

As for PT, I do quite like The Sky Moves Sideways.  Quite a good band that just never enthralled me.  Haven't put much effort into it.  These days I think I'm moving farther away from so-called Prog (like I've exhausted it having listened to so much of it over the last years).  I need to hear something that sounds really fresh/ unique/ quirky to my ears to catch my interest.  I think I'll be looking to more Eastern music for fresher experiences, and take a break from rock related music..


Edited by Logan - August 09 2009 at 01:50

Logan wrote: ^ I have yet to delve into the Argentinian Magma. PT hasn't really done it for me either -- I don't really mind the band, though. I find it mostly harmless.

You know, I saw Magma live twice.  Loved it.  Listened a half dozen albums, just couldn't get into any of them.  Hai Live was probably the one that I came closest to enjoying.  But this isn't all that unusual for me.  I can really enjoy bands in a live setting that I would normally not enjoy just listening to their music at home (Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum is another example of this for me).

As to PTree, I disliked them for several years (except for Sky Moves Sideways, which I've always liked).  But one day, they just suddenly clicked and now I can't get enough of their music.

Aside from Magma, the band on this site that I've tried hardest to like but just can't is Glass Hammer.

Ok, some of you will wish me H1N1 after this, but I could never got into Yes... I don't know why, but never cared too much about the band. The Gates of Delirium used to excite me, but I don't know... Just don't feel anything... am I cursed?

I find myself skipping through Porcupine Tree songs like i'm in a daisy field, which is sad because my friend really likes them. I enjoy Arriving Somewhere and trains, but the rest is probably too spacey for me.

I can understand the problems with magma though. I sat around bored until Transformacion kicked my ass

ELP -  I've tried to digest them several times. With all my good intentions.

Sorry, in my opinion, it just get's nowhere. Nothing special or brilliant, except maybe "Karn Evil 9".

For me, ELP is the ultimate proof, that the the sole virtuosity isn't just enough to produce some excellent prog music.

harmonium.ro wrote: Thanks for the thorough reply. Just to clarify this, I wrote my post from the position of someone who did the same (asking for the Magma albums known by those complaining and, as a second step, recommending KA) for a couple of times, but soon got tired

No problem, and thanks, I remember now. Sorry.  And I sympathise, my tongue (), or more specifically fingers (need fingers typing emoticon, but this will do ... edit: finger sucking emoticon not working ), also get tired at times, but I remain mostly enthusiastic.  It has its limits.


Edited by Logan - August 02 2009 at 20:16

harmonium.ro wrote: Logan wrote:   Out of curiosity, which Magma albums have you heard?  Wow, did you count how many times you've wrote that question? I really admire your dedication

Even my tenacity has limits.  I have OCD, though. I need a kind soul to reel me in every now and then.

To be honest, I haven't counted.  I did ask you before, didn't I?  Truth be told, if I did, i can't remember how you responded.  Been so busy with work, but not too busy for some Magmatizing on the side (despite that I mostly dropped Magma myself for a while in favour of various jazz/ jazz fusion artists.  Seems no one's discussing their problems with appreciating Miles Davis, Hancock etc., however, that I've seen, so Magma it is!  And why aren't there more people who have problems with Art Zoyd?  This is getting repetitive.

I think it's a reasonable line of enquiry, and a reasonable question for generating conversation for such a thread, though.  This is about bands that people put genuine effort into trying to like, but failed.  It makes sense to me that people may have tried the wrong things (I don't know how effort has been put in).  I've seen quite a few people's opinions change as they were exposed to new stuff.

I just hope not everyone has followed my repetitive questioning as closely as you have (I mean, I doubt everyone has read the whole thread before posting).

Cheers,
-Greg


Edited by Logan - August 02 2009 at 19:54

Hope you enjoy it, other than that, Retrospektiw 1-2 gets the most regular playtime from me from Magma.

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Incidentally for Magmatics.  Just found an interesting video about Magma's tour to Japan:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEgYARe43UA
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COnVPWfiSJs&feature=related
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KJduqWyFcg&feature=related

Other than Merci, I think that Udu Wudu and Attahk are my least favourite Magma studio albums.  I still like 'em considerably, though, and the tracks "Udu Wudu" and "Lirik Necronomicus Kanht" were two of the first tracks I heard of the band that got me into Magma.  Being a jazz guy (particularly these days), it's Magma's first two albums that get played the most.

Edited by Logan - August 02 2009 at 18:26

Gustavo Froes wrote: progvortex wrote: Le Orme and Magma. Le Orme bores me to death, Magma just seems so childish and even comical at times (is that the point?). Seconded(the magma part).

I like both of those groups considerably. My favourite Le Orme album is Contrappunti, and my favourite Magma album is Kobaia

Yes, Magma purposefully has some comical parts, I'm sure.  Out of curiosity, which Magma albums have you heard?  Do you have KA?