Van der Graaf Generator

Arrrghus wrote: Vdgg is my favorite band. I love every album I have of theirs (I'm only missing World Record and Still Life). I love Peter's emotions and (somewhat) terrifying lyrics, Banton's bizarre organ playing, Jackson's atmospheric saxes, Evan's virtuostic drumming, their lack of any consistent guitars or basses...   Also, one doesn't need to see these guys live to love them (I was born a decade after they broke up for the final time until present). However, the video of "A Plague..." on youtube.com provided a glimpse of their live stuff (didn't care at all).

bhikkhu wrote: Fassbinder wrote: Sean Trane wrote:   both VdGG and GG must be experienced visually to undertstand who does what in the band,   more so for VdGG >> to know how these aggressive sounds are born >> the DVD was definitely a click for me.   On the other hand, there are plenty of people who doesn't need to see either VdGG or GG to like them... (audio experience is enough for them)... Right you are. I have nevever seen any video of VDGG, and only a small clip of GG. I love both bands.

Tony Fisher wrote: I have just spent an evening listening again to Pawn Hearts and Godbluff, trying to work out why I never got into this band, hoping enlightenment would come. At the end, all I have concluded is that Hugh Banton is a very fine keyboards player, that Guy Evans is a talented drummer but that I really cannot stand the band's music at all and that Hamill's vocals are probably the worst of any prog singer I've heard. So what DO the band's fans see in them??? I'm missing it completely.

Edited by Jmoog - July 18 2006 at 22:13

Sean Trane wrote:   both VdGG and GG must be experienced visually to undertstand who does what in the band,   more so for VdGG >> to know how these aggressive sounds are born >> the DVD was definitely a click for me.

I love this band. I never had problems getting into Pawn Hearts. I had more problems with Still Life at the first 3-4 spins. It was my first second phase VDGG album and it sounded less captivating than their previous  efforts. Now I like it, but still prefer the first era. My two  fave albums are Pawn Hearts and H to He who am the only one. Actually, Pawn Hearts is definitevly in my all-time top 5, a "desert island classic".

When have we ever synced up? 

Actually, we both believe the intro to Man-Erg is beautiful.

Ah but Stonie, the sax is there for a reason.  The music is supposed to be dark and brooding and the subject matter is not cheery.  The sax portrays the desperation perfectly, in my opinion.  It's not cringeworthy to my ears!  It's as beautiful as the piano intro.

Re: Pawn Hearts,

Tony Fisher wrote: I have just spent an evening listening again to Pawn Hearts and Godbluff, trying to work out why I never got into this band, hoping enlightenment would come. At the end, all I have concluded is that Hugh Banton is a very fine keyboards player, that Guy Evans is a talented drummer but that I really cannot stand the band's music at all and that Hamill's vocals are probably the worst of any prog singer I've heard. So what DO the band's fans see in them??? I'm missing it completely.

I love the band.  Hammils voice is full of emotion and I like this.  So are his lyrics, though far out at times, which I enjoy also.  The rest of the band are extremely talented.  I like dark music at times.  The world isn't always full of happiness, joy, and light.  Sometimes I need to relate to the pain in my life and songs like "A House With No Door" really do it for me.  I actually get a positive release of pent up emotions or deppresion.  This is not to say its the only reason I listen to them.  I truly love their music and enjoy them.  The keyboards are awesome and so is the sax and flute.  What a band.  I'd stop trying to like them.  It sounds like you've given them well enough of a chance.  There's plenty of prog bands I don't like.  As you I gave them plenty of chances.  A band that comes to mind is Marillion.  I bought three of their Fish era albums and gave them many spins only to dislike them more and more.  I never listen to them now and that's ok.