25 bands I like. Choose a least/less liked by you

richardh wrote: Yep. Force Majeure is one of the 2 albums they did around that time with a real drummer (Klaus Krieger)

What? A TD album with live drums?!??! This has to be heard to be believed. I'll take a listen later today!

^ Don't Go  (and who cares if you don't like Romantic Warrior) 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - May 30 2024 at 11:33

^ I'd completely forgotten about KC & the Sunshine Band's "Please Don't Go", which is surprising considering I much prefer KC & the Sunshine Band over KC & the Robert Fripp Band. 

progaardvark wrote: Greg, by all means don't leave. I have always found your posts engaging and entertaining, plus a way for me to discover more music. There are quite a few bands you and I both like. I don't always contribute to your posts mostly because of time commitments that don't allow me enough time to interact at this conversational level. My visits to the forum tend to be often, but usually brief. Maybe in five or so years after I retire, I can spend more time conversing on a larger scale, provided this site is still here. Logan wrote:  If I could find try-to-be positive open-minded warm and tolerant people with various similar music interests locally, I would love to meet. Well, I say that, but, while you would not know if you met me, I have bad social anxiety and a part of me dislikes being in the company of others (I can only take being around people in doses as it exhausts this introvert). That said, despite being introverted and non-sociable, I still care about trying to connect with people from an emotional and musical angle, and I find such inquiries have helped with bonding with some even if those perceptions of bonding are ultimately very superficial and just perceptions. Others just seems to have a very different approach and mindset to mine and I think I will never really find a sense of synchronicity with and we will always have to question the intent of each other instead of accepting and enjoying the ride, so to speak. Something inside me told me I should respond to the above paragraph because we're probably very close on the personality type scale. I, too, have social anxiety. I don't like crowds. I'm only comfortable in small groups where I don't have to interact a lot. Being around people for a long time exhausts me. I always looked forward to the end of the work day where I could be alone and re-center myself. When I have to be in a large group, I like to blend in the background and find escape routes so that I can discretely disappear from the group when it seemed appropriate to do so. I can play along and look outgoing when I need to, but I find the exercise tiring. My group of friends has always been small, but close-knit, and I tended to hang out with more "geeky" people that were intellectually interesting and also introverts. People wouldn't know this when they met me, but I'm awkwardly shy. I have gotten better at not showing it. I also don't "read" people well and don't pick up on subtle signals or whatever you want to call them. Like you, I'm fortunate to have a wonderful wife and one that understands my introversion. She carries some of my traits in that both of us always look for ways at finding early exits from larger social gatherings. We're together all the time. I feel strongly that we were meant to be together and I consider myself extremely lucky to have her in my life. Prior to our fortunate meeting, I seemed to keep attracting stalkers. Well, maybe not legally stalkers, but obsessive "secret admirer" types. Three different times: one in junior high, one in college, and one after college. The latter one lasted for around 10 years. Being the kind of introvert I am, these were especially difficult for me to deal with. I still don't understand how I attracted these people to me. I believe my wife scared away the last one, even though we were just friends at the time. I don't have any data to support this, but anecdotal evidence seems to suggest (at least to me) that many people that like the music we all share in common here have a tendency of leaning towards being introverts. Some more than others. I'm not saying that extroverts don't also like prog, just that the tendency seems to lean more to the introvert part of the scale. I could be wrong. Perceptions vary. Just know that you're not alone. I'm sure there are others here than can relate to this. Also, sorry for the digression away from the main topic.

Wow, thank you so much for sharing, and sorry not having responded sooner. A post like this is very worthy of recognition. That is so eerily similar to me, including the attracting stalkers. I can seem outgoing in a crowd and comfortable in front of an audience. Sometimes when the exhaustion really hits me has been once I'm finally alone, I can breathe, and stop performing / being on / entertaining and listening. My family never really seemed to understand this. And I do register on the autism spectrum when taking tests, although I never have been formally diagnosed with it (one of my children has been). I wish I could read people better and pick up better on signals, and I may overcompensate for that.... Like I'm overanalysing, or being too detail oriented when trying to understand. And I have OCD, which can be lovely actually for passion. I can get really obsessed with an album, a song, a film, at TV show, a novel, and unfortunately some might say, something like a poll series (I loved doing those song playlist ones before because I could fully indulge my obsession with music)


Having been a bartender and a teacher did help me in front of people (and I knock the crowd dead when delivering eulogies).

It's nice to have some nerdy friends to hang out with, but I got to the point of avoiding old friends, which is unfortunate.   

Very lucky with the wife who also has introvert qualities. She used to have a huge number of friends, but she is happier in smaller groups and just with me and the kids.

I really appreciate yours, and others, words. Sharing a piece of yourself like you have I find can be hard depending on the reaction. Like if you bare your soul and it meets with indifference and deflection. Your words are very meaningful to me. One thing for me that has been stressful (moderating and finding that balance between expectations can be very stressful and confusing to me) is feeling like I'm not being understood, that people can be hostile when I mean well (misinterpretation). Despite what I said to Mira, there is stress being here, and stress comes to me with interacting with crowds and not connecting as I would wish too. I desire acceptance, but I can be a jerk at times (people are complex and I exhibit different traits at different times, and I have been called a punk ass bitch by someone here before -lol). I at least hope that none here continue to bear any grudges against me. Sometimes it's just my awkward humour and not mean like people assume (I'm used to kidding around with friends and family) and sometimes I have had bad days, or just been busy, and being a little less thoughtful than people.

As we find ourselves in forum spaces, a lot of are on the introverted side, maybe socially awkward, and it's comforting to realise that many of those struggles I deal with (like having dealt with anxiety and depression) are shared by others. It gets worse for me when I have multiple sleepless nights. While being stand-offish sometimes, I do have deep desire to understand and connect with people more. and a little warmth goes a long way with me.

By the way, I have had too much time on my hands one might say, so my forum participation can seem obsessive. My work from home and lack of getting out did give me a lot more space.

A recent video by drummer Andy Edwards on yt suggested that all prog fans are 'on the spectrum'. It was obviously a tongue in cheek comment but there may be a small grain of truth in it.

Where's the 'All of the above choice?

Top 5 likes:-

Many of these bands are near the bottom of my PA likes list.  My vote was for Godspeed.  When I first joined PA, they were "all the rage" so I decided to check them out.  Found them to be about as boring of a band as I have ever heard.  One of my biggest PA disappointments.  

RockHound wrote: I love nearly all of these bands, and the ones I don't know I obviously should explore. The only one that leaves me flat is Magma-I just don't find them interesting.

Out of curiosity, have you listened to the debut? While I love lots of Magma, to me it peaked with its double-album debut. I find that album very interesting and quite eclectic with its jazz, folk, rock and classical qualities.   It still sounds fresh, vibrant and exciting to these ears at least.

Edited by Logan - June 02 2024 at 10:07

^ I've only ever given a 1-star rating to around a dozen albums in total over the years and three of those albums were all by the Swans, which goes some way towards explaining why they're at #2 on my "most disliked" list.