Which self-indulgent album is your favourite? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

RockHound wrote:

I have trouble thinking of any kind of published work as self-indulgent. It makes no sense.

That's a good point, self-indulgent suggests the artist had little pride in their work or thought toward the listener. But in fact most releases the artist does deems worthy (and therefore not self-indulgent). Also it depends--- was Pink Floyd self-indulgent? What about Prince? Tangerine Dream? Snoop Dog? I think the answer is Yes to all.

Edited by Atavachron - August 22 2022 at 17:15

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy

I have trouble thinking of any kind of published work as self-indulgent. It makes no sense. Perhaps if nobody at all buys or uses the work it could be called self-indulgent.

That’s clearly not the case for what is being discussed, especially since many of these works are loved by many and have sold like hotcakes.

Edited by RockHound - August 22 2022 at 13:48

Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar could probably be described as 'self-indulgent' and I love it. So I guess I'll vote for that.

Tales and Passion Play tie for 1st. Works I would be next. I adore all three.

Progishness wrote:

WJA-K wrote:

Ronstein wrote:

Mine is what I believe to be the original and best self-indulgent album of all time, Tubular Bells!

Great choice!

I'd argue that 'Pros and Cons of Hitch-hiking' is one of the most self indulgent albums I've ever heard - I'm generally a fan of Waters' output whether solo, or his Floyd era stuff, but Pros and Cons I still cannot work out what it's supposed to be about - no wonder it was rejected by the rest of the band when they chose The Wall instead.

It's a dream, so it's not supposed to make sense, really.

Jon Anderson's Olias of Sunhillow.

"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno

Manuel wrote:

A Passion Play and Tales top my list, and I really love them.

They're the two I really love. I seem to out of synch with most others who prefer TAAB and CTTE.

Atavachron wrote:

Cactus Choir wrote:

Neu!mann wrote:

"A frequent criticism at the time was of 'self indulgence'. In practice, when you let rip this is always a risk. In principle, to consider acting in accordance with one's musical sense-of-rightness as indulgent is a terrifying commentary upon the extent to which our culture has become aberrant in its values and out-of-touch with its innate humanity. Young musicians of the time who were self-indulgent were not, as far as my perception went, playing what was true for them but what they believed to be in fashion."

--Robert Fripp, 1992

So is he saying that the Golden Era of Prog was young musicians playing 'self-indulgent' music they didn't believe in just because it was fashionable? That's what I understand from it anyway, and in my idealistic mind I'd like to believe that wasn't true much of the time.

Maybe, but I took it as him saying it wasn't the progressive artists by definition that were being indulgent, but rather it was the ones taking the easier & quicker way to making a living.

...thus be it ever in rock & roll! Examples of "follow the leader" abound in rock history, including prog.

However, I view indulgence in prog more a result of "pushing the envelope" and experimenting with newfound skills & instruments. Steve Howe acknowledged being criticized for playing guitar "too fast" on the LP "Relayer," and his response was "It makes me want to play even faster!" LOL

I think the explosion of double albums in the early 1970s was the height of prog indulgence....TFTO is the textbook example, but I'd put "The Lamb" in the pile as well. For all their warts, I quite love them!

I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!

Atavachron wrote:

probably Tales from Topo, but there are many-- Meddle, Passion Play, SRtS.

What a glorious time for music.

Yes probably Tales. Plus side three sounds like Mr. Peabody and Sherman are somewhere in it.

Guldbamsen wrote:

Self-endulgent? Playing with yourself and hopefully conjuring up something interesting. Can of course also be a negative, where the accolade simply means X artist staring way too deep into the more boring parts of their belly-button. Can work both ways.
Anyhoo Atom Heart Mother, The Lamb and X could all be described as such..and I love them all.

I will say this though. More often than not it’s the actual music that ends up turning me off. Not necessarily the deeper thought or indeed ideas behind. Put another way: I love Dave Grohl. Love his drumming and his whole persona. Seems like such a nice guy and furthermore knows a thing or two about rock music. In fact he tends to say all the right things. He even have some deeper thought running through some of lyrical content which I rather like…but the music and delivery simply falls flat on it’s face to me.

Same thing with Danish rock semi-deity Tim Christensen who says all the right things and has a multitude of seriously interesting ideas and influences from all over the map…he even plays a mean guitar…yet musically I’m bored out of my mind.

I feel exactly this way about Brian Eno, Ornette Coleman's Harmolodics and much of Miles Davis' fusion material

Post Reply	Page 12 3 4 >