Most overrated albums

I guess Theo is a classical music listener and I can imagine he'd be more interested in structure.  I had heard a fair bit of 'progressive' world music before I got to prog rock and I also do not consider the song structures of many DT songs all that complex.  Yeah, sure...Octavarium or Change of Seasons but not particularly so as far as prog rock epics go.  I am interested in structure or in the development and exploration of a given mode (or raga, as applicable).  I am not saying rhythmic complexity is not complexity but it wouldn't attract my attention quite as much as those above aspects.  And above all, I am more interested in creativity rather than complexity.  I am all ears for bands or artists who produce textures that express a lot.  Purely from a metal standpoint, DT might be texturally interesting but in a general sense, not so remarkable in that aspects.  There are some other prominent holy cows of prog rock too who are not that amazing texturally, but that's another discussion.

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: By the way, Geoff, what song does that particular section occur in?

It's at the very beginning of "Learning to Live" off of Images and Words.  I've never been able to get beyond the keyboard and guitar parts and figure out exactly what's going on with the bass and drums - too many layers for me to figure out, so I eventually just sat back and enjoyed the music.  At one point I thought the bass was a simple 3/8, but if you listen carefully he changes it up, and with the other parts on top I just can't isolate him enough to figure out what he's doing.

dtguitarfan wrote: rogerthat wrote: [QUOTE=dtguitarfan] Yeah..I bet you think there's neither much skill nor much brain or math in the Discipline album of King Crimson, for just one example. I've never said anything about King Crimson.  I've never been able to get into KC, but that is only because of sound - I just can't put my finger on it, but for some reason I'm not crazy on their sound.  Are they complex?  From what I've heard, absolutely.

The point is, complexity is so normal in a prog rock context it is hardly a convincing argument against calling a band or album overrated. 

Complexity itself gets overrated in many instances.

Talking Heads' Remain in Light. There are some good songs on it, but I just can't get into it as much as More Songs About Buildings and Food and Fear of Music.

deliriumofthethrush wrote:   However, when I think of the complexity and dynamic range of style, tone and texture on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, I don't see how SEbyP can challenge it.

Well put and I agree, particularly with the mention of texture.  There was more thrust on the sound part of 'sound of music' in Lamb when compared to SEBTP, imo.

Ancient Tree wrote: dark side of the moon,most overrated,but it deserves it

Dayvenkirq wrote: deliriumofthethrush wrote:   However, when I think of the complexity and dynamic range of style, tone and texture on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, I don't see how SEbyP can challenge it. Could you please name one complex song off of "The Lamb"?

Crap.  I just typed out my entire response and lost it to a backspace...  I'll paraphrase.

"Pound" is a steady, flat journey for me, offering the same approach and feel for the majority of the album.  "Lamb," has clear waves of emotion and moves through sections like the driving force of Fly on a Windshield and it's eastern tinged "epic" build and plateau through Melody of '74 right into the poppy and laid back expression of Cuckoo Cocoon.  The songs alone don't offer much in terms of progressive emotions, but when they are tied together in the album structure they provide a listening experience that, to me, is richer than the sum of "Pound."

Again, follow the smooth rock groove Lilywhite Lillith into the eerie, abstract nature of The Waiting Room - the beginning almost makes me as uncomfortable as sitting in a waiting room pending unknown exams and procedures.  Waiting Room then breaks into a spacey jam that solidifies before giving way to the quirky, curious Anyway with serious strength.

Lamb may be poppier, and challengingly longer at times, but I feel like the band puts their best diversity as songwriters forward on this album.  After all, the thread is about albums, not songs.