Steven Wilson Vs. Roine Stolt

cabalaska wrote: It's rather ironic that SW comments in other interviews about his latest solo album as being greatly influenced by his mixing the King Crimson albums and how he tried to capture that spirit--even by adding saxophone. How is what he did with this latest album anymore about the future than what other prog bands have done, i.e. the ones he deprecates???

freyacat wrote: I cannot agree that  "The newer generation have a much larger palette that they can draw inspiration from." When the early progressive acts were drawing on Classical, Jazz, and Folk traditions, this was the widest musical palette possible, developed over centuries in the case of Classical, spanning many cultures in the case of folk, and including a variety of styles (rag-time, boogie-woogie, swing, cool, modal, and free) in the case of jazz.   These influences brought such a variety of approches to melody, instrumentation, rhythm, song structure, and sonic texture.  To compare these to the difference between metal and alternative rock strains credibility.   The truth is, today's rock musicians largely lack the background of listening and training that enriched the classic-rock heroes they learned from.  That's why the music today is less interesting.   Just because Roine Stolt continues along a line of inquiry which began in the late 60's, does not make him less progressive than Steven Wilson.  I think that some of his work with the Flower Kings has been the most exciting music going on at the time.  They only fall flat when they succumb to the theory that arena-rock guitar cruch equals relevance.   There is a reason my 13-year-old friends understand Porcupine Tree right away.  It is not that different from the other music they listen to.  It plays by basically the same rules, and has a very narrow range of possible variations that might surprise or confuse the listener.

Edited by Mirror Image - August 20 2012 at 12:11

darkshade wrote: ^ The only thing younger musicians lack is writing abilities. Sure they can play circles around the older guard, but that don't mean a thing if you can't write interesting music. I sometimes sense it is because they feel everything that can be done has already been done; but sometimes these are the same people that just haven't heard enough music to understand what CAN be done with music, and how to do new things with it.

Mirror Image wrote: If a musician hasn't heard enough music, then it's their own fault, which is why pop music exists. These "musicians" lack the ability to play their instruments and are more concerned with money.

This is utterly ignorant. For one thing, all progressive rock is pop music. For another, I think you vastly underrate the artistic integrity of just about anybody who writes their own music. Very few pop musicians who write their own music are concerned with money more than their music. Those that don't write and only interpret other people's music for a living... well. that's another thing.

And of course, a lack of ability to play your instruments doesn't necessarily stop you from making good music and technical incompetence is very rare in any kind of music that is actually popular anyway.

I believe this thread has officially ran it's course. I have nothing more to add other than that opinions are like a****les, we all have them. Isn't that right, HarbouringTheSoul?

Edited by Mirror Image - August 20 2012 at 15:39

stonebeard wrote: Oh gosh. A musician came across a bit self-righteous in an interview? Stop the presses. That's my opinion on this non-thing.

HarbouringTheSoul wrote: Mirror Image wrote: I believe this thread has officially ran it's course. I have nothing more to add other than that opinions are like a****les, we all have them. Isn't that right, HarbouringTheSoul? Absolutely right and absolutely irrelevant. We might as well cease all discussion about anything by that logic. Hey, how about we all just say our things and never reply to another post?

Edited by Mirror Image - August 20 2012 at 15:56

HarbouringTheSoul wrote: Mirror Image wrote: If a musician hasn't heard enough music, then it's their own fault, which is why pop music exists. These "musicians" lack the ability to play their instruments and are more concerned with money. This is utterly ignorant. For one thing, all progressive rock is pop music. For another, I think you vastly underrate the artistic integrity of just about anybody who writes their own music. Very few pop musicians who write their own music are concerned with money more than their music. Those that don't write and only interpret other people's music for a living... well. that's another thing. And of course, a lack of ability to play your instruments doesn't necessarily stop you from making good music and technical incompetence is very rare in any kind of music that is actually popular anyway.

Progressive rock is only "pop music" in the very loosest definition of the term.  If you're using "pop" in the way I think you are, that is, in it's literal sense where it refers to all popular music, you could definitely call Rush or Yes "pop music" but you couldn't say the same thing about RIO or Zheul or any of the more obscure prog music that doesn't have any traits or sights set on popularity or mass appeal. 

I would imagine that most people who write their own music start off with a desire to do what they love and that money is a secondary concern for them.  But, once you taste fame and fortune, it's hard to resist it.  Money can corrupt artistic integrity and basically anything else.

Technical incompetence is not rare in popular music, in fact it's quite common in top 40 pop music.  A lot of singers in top 40 pop music cannot actually sing well and were only chosen by the record companies for their charisma and sex appeal.  There are talented people in this style of music, but there are also those, like Katy Perry and Brittany Spears, who are relatively untalented singers and rely on vocal manipulation and lip-synching to make their vocals sound good.

Mirror Image wrote: HarbouringTheSoul wrote: Mirror Image wrote: I believe this thread has officially ran it's course. I have nothing more to add other than that opinions are like a****les, we all have them. Isn't that right, HarbouringTheSoul? Absolutely right and absolutely irrelevant. We might as well cease all discussion about anything by that logic. Hey, how about we all just say our things and never reply to another post?    Yet another post from PA's biggest a****le.

Please tell me again exactly what HTS said to you that made you refer to him with such a vulgar synecdoche?

The fact that someone disagrees with you does not make them an "a****le."

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: Mirror Image wrote: HarbouringTheSoul wrote: Mirror Image wrote: I believe this thread has officially ran it's course. I have nothing more to add other than that opinions are like a****les, we all have them. Isn't that right, HarbouringTheSoul? Absolutely right and absolutely irrelevant. We might as well cease all discussion about anything by that logic. Hey, how about we all just say our things and never reply to another post?    Yet another post from PA's biggest a****le. Please tell me again exactly what HTS said to you that made you refer to him with such a vulgar synecdoche? The fact that someone disagrees with you does not make them an "a****le."