Thoughts on my taste?

 

dfle3 wrote:  Commercial FM music here is a reflection on what is popular.

Not really.  

Going on that, Prog is just not popular..

I'm not arguing that (although many of the big acts have sold millions of copies and yes Rush gets airplay in the US), and I don't even care if you don't like prog very much because your troll-worthy opinion is that it's too pleasant and easy listening and From Genesis to Revelation is your favorite Genesis album. The only thing I am trying to say is that it is an objective fact that there was an enormous number of well regarded and popular albums released in that time period that are not prog. I'm not making a list because I've already wasted enough time on this, but if you ever truly believed that 1969 to 1976 is The Dead Zone of music that is an opinion that can only be born of ignorance, not preference.   

Edited by Henry Plainview - April 10 2011 at 03:46

re:

"The years from 1969 to 1976 have some of the highest concentrations of critically acclaimed and popular rock music of all time, it's impossible to believe you are being sincere when you say things like this"

and:

"Nobody cares about the radio. ".


I live in Australia. I listen mainly to the stations that play classic rock/hits...some sort of "classic...." format. Not sure how to convince you that I've NEVER heard King Crimson played on these stations. or ELP...MAYBE one station MIGHT play Fanfare...can't vouch for it. Yes never get played, unless it's "Owner of a lonely heart".

Sure, an album can be critically acclaimed...but popular? I can only speak for Australian commercial FM stations...if this prog moment in music history was popular, you'd think it would get played, yeah? Over here, Dark Side is the earliest Floyd music you'll hear.

Commercial FM music here is a reflection on what is popular. Going on that, Prog is just not popular...Floyd is pretty much the exception to that rule...but, like I've said, they're more accessible and mainstream. Bands like Rush are unplayed here too. You just don't hear these acts...whether you find me impossible to believe, that's another matter. I'd find it hard to believe that the UK or US would have much prog rock played on commercial FM radio...MAYBE acts like Rush are more mainstream in the US? Here they have virtually no presence...very underground.

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re

"They might become more memorable if you listen a few more times. Prog songs can be incredibly catchy and fulfilling once you take the time"

and

"Not the point. And if they are anything but memorable (complex, inaccessible?) a lot of the time for you, how could it be easy listening?".


A track like "The court of the Crimson King" I liked straight off but after a few listens considered it a classic. Meddle does a have a bit of a lost classic on it, I think...something that SHOULD get aired on commercial FM radio...but, the fact I can't remember it's title speaks of how 'memorable' it is....I have no trouble remembering how good Floyd songs like "Flaming" and "Remember a day" are...neither of which gets played over here in Australia.

I see no contradiction in an uncatchy song being unmemorable...the arrangements are easy on the ear...it's the difference between a catchy easy listening song and a forgettable easy listening song. I remember finding Genesis' debut my favourite, but I don't remember any specific songs off it though. I don't usually think of the music as being "complex" or whatnot...I'll just note that it lacks a pretty melody or lick or hook. Gabriel's lyrics could be very unpoppy - i.e. no verse/chorus/verse structure) but he sings it in an easy listening way nonetheless.


Edited by dfle3 - April 10 2011 at 03:38

 

dfle3 wrote: I'm sure that there are heaps of fans of death metal who think that certain bands or songs are absolute greats, but most people would not sure that view...so, for the guys who think that what I term the Dead Zone of music is wrong, are there songs that you REALLY believe SHOULD be played from them because they just deserve to be heard?

The years from 1969 to 1976 have some of the highest concentrations of critically acclaimed and popular rock music of all time, it's impossible to believe you are being sincere when you say things like this.

Nobody cares about the radio. 

Edited by Henry Plainview - April 10 2011 at 03:20

re comments like:

"I'm finding it impossible to understand why anyone would think 1969 to 1976 is "The Dead Zone" of music"

and

Just the fact that there's so few memorable songs...like I said I LOVE "The court of the Crimson King" (song), but there's really not a whole stack of songs I feel that strongly in 'real' prog music...a band like Pink Floyd are way more mainstream than King Crimson and I would LOVE to hear songs like "Flaming" and "Remember a day" on the radio.

That you don't suggests that the music is not mainstream nor killer/memorable.

A lot of the 'real' prog albums I've heard are nice enough...easy listening to my way of thinking, but they don't really contain songs that you feel mainstream FM stations SHOULD be playing.

I LOVE Zappa's "Help, I'm a rock" but I get why it doesn't get played on mainstream FM radio.

I'm sure that there are heaps of fans of death metal who think that certain bands or songs are absolute greats, but most people would not sure that view...so, for the guys who think that what I term the Dead Zone of music is wrong, are there songs that you REALLY believe SHOULD be played from them because they just deserve to be heard?

And if you think that "Thick as a brick" deserves to be heard on the radio, then I think we are coming from completely different positions...it might be appropriate on a station devoted to prog rock, but the kind of songs I love are the kind of songs that I think SHOULD be played on mainstream FM stations...personally, I can't understand how "The court of the Crimson King" is NOT played there...I feel robbed...can't really say I feel that way for most prog music...is pleasantly easy listening, but nothing more.

 

dfle3 wrote: One other thing...I've heard "Kind of blue" but never really thought of it as 'progressive'...so I'd have a question mark on that album on this forum's list too.

Miles Davis is included for his fusion work, but PA's policy has always been to includes entire discographies. Per album genre tagging would be a herculean endeavor at this point, and individual album tags that would exclude them from the top lists would be the only solution. So we're stuck with this situation because Kind of Blue is a good album so people will rate it highly, even though it is not rock. This also happens on a smaller scale with some of the subgenres.

Is this forum part of a publication or something? How big/mainstream is it? Just curious.

Well we're the top hit for Progressive Rock on Google after Wikipedia. I'm not sure how much the rest of the internet cares about us, most music forums are dire and I avoid them.

What's your top 10 prog albums? For the albums in my list which you think are legitimate, do you think I got the order mostly right or mostly wrong?

I hate music, you don't want to hear my opinion. 

dfle3 wrote: Hmm...noticed Thick As A Brick is #1...not a fan of that song on their compilation, and the album is just basically one long song, yeah? Sort of sounds like a joke on Tull's behalf...like you'd have to be thick as a brick to buy it?

Edited by Henry Plainview - April 10 2011 at 02:42

One other thing...I've heard "Kind of blue" but never really thought of it as 'progressive'...so I'd have a question mark on that album on this forum's list too.

Is this forum part of a publication or something? How big/mainstream is it? Just curious.

dfle3 wrote: Henry, can you give a link to the list you mention? I'm assuming that there are a lot of such lists on this site...I'll check it out some time when I have time. Thanks.

It's right on the front page... No Red Hot Chili Peppers here. ;-)

dfle3 wrote: In that other thread I mention here, here are some of the albums in my list which makes this forum's list:   http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46093

That is people's favorite albums overall, not favorite prog albums. Also, only a relatively small number of currently activemembers participated in that because it was 3 years ago and a tremendous hassle. Look at the PA top 100 and top from each genre for a more representative list, although that still varies considerably from many members. 

I'm finding it impossible to understand why anyone would think 1969 to 1976 is "The Dead Zone" of music  

Well, I'll admit to having mainstream tastes...I've gone out of my way to explore certain genres and acts that were out of my comfort zone...be it Black Sabbath, or Cream or early punk etc.

I do plan on checking out more prog...give Yes and ELP a burl.

However, in my defence, I did see many acts or albums which I included in my list appear in another thread here, concerning the most highly regarded prog albums based on how people voted for them or something..

Have found some gems in my explorations even for albums that I don't rate highly. E.g. for punk, if I hadn't of taken a punt, I wouldn't have discovered Stiff Little Fingers great debut album. And even though I'm not a big fan of thrash metal, I think Metallica has some absolute classics like "Fade to black" or "Welcome home".

That's basically my issue re prog music...it doesn't really get FM play here in Australia and I think that's because the music isn't really memorable or catchy. Having said that, I think songs like "The court of the Crimson King" deserves to be a classic rock staple, and I'm very partial to Floyd songs like "Remember a day" and "Flaming".

I've given many 'real' prog albums on my list a good score, but I'm not sure that most of them have truly memorable or 'killer' songs...to my tastes at least. That's the reason I find that period in music in a Dead Zone.