Prog Trading Cards

Rob, you lilke Vital Signs, have you tried the band's Signals album? Imagine an album of Vital Signs-like songs...

King By-Tor wrote: Machine Head PS - now you know how us Rush fans feel, Rob . Although you didn't give Moving Pictures a 1... yeah, I disagree with you harshly David, but it's your opinion, so whatever

Hey, hey, it was a low 3... that's not too cruel, and I came up with arguments for it and everything Would probably have been a 2 if I wasn't so fond of Vital Signs. I like Rush when they're clever, emotional, enigmatic or expressive...  on that album, I think they flick on and off between achieving those. And it has The Camera Eye, which I've never been a big fan of, for some reason.

(oh, and Hemispheres, but you'd probably forgive me if you realised how much I liked the original Cygnus X-I)

Machine Head

PS - now you know how us Rush fans feel, Rob . Although you didn't give Moving Pictures a 1...


yeah, I disagree with you harshly David, but it's your opinion, so whatever

Epignosis wrote: MovingPictures07 wrote: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=189549 Expect heaps of hate mail soon. And do entertain us.

Hate mail #1

'Rambling piece of absolute nonsense.'

'Your collection can definitely go without the unnecessarily dramatic vocals of Hammill, the lackluster songwriting, and the uninteresting instrumentation.'

'It comes across as overly emotional and bland to me.' ?!

'though this is again the best track lyrically in that regard (that doesn't say much, however)' ?!

The point... you have missed it

The thing about Van Der Graaf Generator, especially Pawn Hearts and Still Life, is that you have to put something in to get something out. You need to involve yourself with all the little subtleties in the music to enjoy it that much, and I guess you need to feel an emotional link to the pieces to even start doing that. I mean, I can appreciate that they're not for everyone, but that album is extremely clever if you do look at how it achieves its aims. It does everything it wants to do. Probably my eighth or ninth favourite album.

On the production: I think it's meant to create an atmosphere, and to help them express emotional ideas such as confusion or fear, which would be completely undermined by very clean production... Again, not remotely conventional, but that's the fun of it. Fair enough if that's a particular gripe of yours, but I'm fairly confident there really is a reason for what the band are doing throughout that album. If you don't like it, fine, but it really is a lot more than just 'rambling'.

Anyway, I'll try not to be too argumentative here, it's a nice thread... guess I have pretty much the reverse syndrome about some classic Rush (lots of Moving Pictures and Hemispheres, in particular... not emotional/emotive enough for me, lyrically messy, and not doing a lot of the whole 'expression' thing, which is basically what I listen to music for). It's mostly about tastes.

Oh, and, good job on the CTTE review It remains pretty much the definitive prog album for a reason, even if there are three or four I'm slightly fonder of.


Edited by TGM: Orb - November 17 2008 at 14:44

Epignosis wrote: My holdings: The Revealing Science of God Bringing it Back Clear Days Apercu Death of Mother Nature Suite Vermicide At the End of the Day Chris Squire Robby Steinhardt To Be Over The Sound of Muzak Mike Rutherford My Ashes On the Other Side Angels Have Fallen Stay Out of Trouble Tarkus Mellotron Scratch

Hit me up with another card:
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=189556

Epignosis wrote: Well, Alex- This is all can say: Many people since yesterday have tried to tell me I'm wrong for disliking "Moonchild."  It's sonic art, they say.  But I'll pass it every  time. If you loathe The Snow Goose, then I respect and appreciate your opinion.  I won't try to change you with with my opinions. I do hope, though, that someday later, while you're typing a long email, perhaps,  you put this album on and just let it run loose.

And that's the best response I could ask for.

I'm definitely keeping it in my collection.

Epignosis wrote: birdwithteeth11, you got:

Heresy!
And I got Gates of Delirium again. I'm sure someone out there might want it though.

Epignosis wrote: MovingPictures07 wrote: Epignosis wrote: MovingPictures07 wrote: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=189551 Oh!...Oh!...Oh!... *Clutches chest* "I'm coming home to you Elizabeth!  I'm coming home to you honey! Okay, Alex.  I respect you a lot, but I've got to give you the business on this one. I personally don't care much for most instrumentals.  But this album is the most amazing listening music ever.  Don't focus on it.  Play it in the background when your playing WoW.  Or screwing your girl.  Or doing the dishes.  Whatever. But TWO STARS?  Camel's best album is Moonmadness, but I'm not really big on them. Snow Goose is SO boring and uninteresting; I even tried listening to it again just now but it hadn't changed at all on me. Meh. I guess I can appreciate your view.  I didin't think I'd like it, being it's all instrumental and all... But the first time I played it...ohhhhhhhhhhhh.  Beauty. By the way- have you read the story?  That might get you into this album.

I actually love instrumental stuff that's GOOD (i.e. Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tangerine Dream, Ozric Tentacles, etc.), but that album is just meh to me.

I read a synopsis of it, but not the actual story. I've had the album for years now and I was hoping to finally get into it but I think I never will.

MovingPictures07 wrote: Epignosis wrote: MovingPictures07 wrote: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=189551 Oh!...Oh!...Oh!... *Clutches chest* "I'm coming home to you Elizabeth!  I'm coming home to you honey! Okay, Alex.  I respect you a lot, but I've got to give you the business on this one. I personally don't care much for most instrumentals.  But this album is the most amazing listening music ever.  Don't focus on it.  Play it in the background when your playing WoW.  Or screwing your girl.  Or doing the dishes.  Whatever. But TWO STARS?  Camel's best album is Moonmadness, but I'm not really big on them. Snow Goose is SO boring and uninteresting; I even tried listening to it again just now but it hadn't changed at all on me. Meh.

I guess I can appreciate your view.  I didin't think I'd like it, being it's all instrumental and all...

But the first time I played it...ohhhhhhhhhhhh.  Beauty.

By the way- have you read the story?  That might get you into this album.