Van Der Graaf Generator

I know  quite a few people around here are fans, and I looked them up because I kept hearing such good things about them. I've listened to all the samples on this site and I'm leaning towards getting Pawn Hearts as my first album. I just want to know your opinions and if you think that is a good choice, since this community is knowledgeable of such things. Once I get your recommendations then all I have to do is find a store that carries them, which I haven't seen at all. 

Pawn Hearts is a fantastic album, but not such a good choice for the first Van der Graaf Generator album to buy, in my opinion.

If you're looking for high-class musical psychodrama, get something from the first period. Pawn Hearts is the best of these by miles and you won't be disappointed.

Their approach in the second period is, superficially, more stripped down. Incredible, tightly arranged, totally unique songs - that can be every bit as violent and uncompromising as their older stuff - that you'll be listening to for years. Godbluff's my favourite but Still Life and the hugely underrated World Record are five-star efforts too.

Fassbinder wrote: Pawn Hearts is a fantastic album, but not such a good choice for the first Van der Graaf Generator album to buy, in my opinion.   I'd suggest to get first one album from the so-called "first stage" -- either The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other or H To He Who Am The Only One and one from the "second stage" -- either Godbluff or Still Life.   Then, being impressed or unimpressed by these two albums, you might want to buy the other album I mentioned from each pair. And only after that I recommend to begin with Pawn Hearts -- by this moment you'll have much more background to appreciate the grandeur of it.   Remember, however, that this is only a suggestion, and the decisive word is your own one. Good luck with VdGG anyway!   Eugene

bingo... listen to Eugene.... that grandeur to some... is another's disappointing mess   Pawn Hearts is an album you will probably own.. hell most or nearly all of us have it... but if you are interested in the group...  start with another... I'd recommend H to He. You might find Pawn Hearts and it's 'masterpiece' to be the most maddening prog album you own... you may love it.. knowing at heart... it could have been SO much better... or you may find it very disappointing... knowing  ...yep you guessed it...  it could have been SO much better.  Then again.. you may find it to be a complete waste of time.. and miss out on some better.. if not idolized here.. albums. 

My recommendation is to start with Still Life, as I find this the most accessable (others might disagree), and then work yourself through to the others.

Fassbinder wrote: Pawn Hearts is a fantastic album, but not such a good choice for the first Van der Graaf Generator album to buy, in my opinion.   I'd suggest to get first one album from the so-called "first stage" -- either The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other or H To He Who Am The Only One and one from the "second stage" -- either Godbluff or Still Life.   Then, being impressed or unimpressed by these two albums, you might want to buy the other album I mentioned from each pair. And only after that I recommend to begin with Pawn Hearts -- by this moment you'll have much more background to appreciate the grandeur of it.   Remember, however, that this is only a suggestion, and the decisive word is your own one. Good luck with VdGG anyway!   Eugene

 As Fassbinder said H to He and Still Life are good starting points. They contain excellent songs, show quite well what is this band about, and they are relatively accesible.

ProgBagel wrote: Norbert wrote:  As Fassbinder said H to He and Still Life are good starting points. They contain excellent songs, show quite well what is this band about, and they are relatively accesible. All VDGG studio albums are worth having IMHO, each deserves at least 3 stars. Just make sure you can Pawn Hearts after .

well, i've listened to all the samples on PA and from those it's hard to choose an album, as i enjoy them all. however, the songs i liked best are probably "man-erg" and "childlike faith in childhood's end". also, accessibility is not something that really determines how much i like it, and i usually tend to gravitate towards more inaccessible music anyway. i'll probably end up getting whatever the first one i can find in a store is (so far that's proved impossible) or i'll order one from amazon if i go too long with no luck in stores.

Do what most have said, and instead of getting Pawn Hearts first, get H to He, Godbluff or Still Life instead.

Bj-1 wrote: Pawn Hearts was my first VDGG album and it clicked right away, it's one of my favorite albums!   It's their darkest and most avant-garde album so it's a pretty difficult listen. Godbluff and H to He are generally better starting points, IMO. But if you can handle Pawn Hearts well, then go ahead and buy their other albums as well

I think it being the darkest and most avant-garde was why i was liking man-erg so much, although i really liked all the other samples, particularly childlike faith in childhood's end.