van der Graaf Generator

Hmm...you shouldn't have ordered The Pleasure Dome...not very good. Definitely their weakest lp aside from The Aerosol Grey Machine.

Pawn Hearts is simply a 5 star masterpiece...but NOT easy to get into. Give it several listens and be patient. Do not let the dark weirdness scare you away.

You should have ordered Still life or H To He... or even The Least We....

Well the Pleasure Dome has its high points but overall a weak attempt to be more pop. I have heard they were forced into this line of thinking by their record company and that could have very well been the reason why it is their last studio lp. It also didn't help Hugh Banton and, more importantly, David Jackson were not present on that lp....

well David was , but just a small part on a song or two.

This is the inner sleeve picture of Pawn Hearts....the same as my avatar.

gdub411 wrote: To answer your question directly Garion...I would say Still Life closely resembles Godbluff the most.

Ok will check that out Gdub.  Thanks

That is my introduction to them.  If you feel somethin is better than that let me know.  I respect your opinion on this band very much.

Garion81 wrote: gdub411 wrote: To answer your question directly Garion...I would say Still Life closely resembles Godbluff the most.   Ok will check that out Gdub.  Thanks   That is my introduction to them.  If you feel somethin is better than that let me know.  I respect your opinion on this band very much.

I would get the material from their 1st period....ignore the very 1st lp and get The Least We Can Do...,H To He Who Am The Only One and Pawn Hearts....those are tops to me!

gdub411 wrote: Well the Pleasure Dome has its high points but overall a weak attempt to be more pop. I have heard they were forced into this line of thinking by their record company and that could have very well been the reason why it is their last studio lp. It also didn't help Hugh Banton and, more importantly, David Jackson were not present on that lp.... well David was , but just a small part on a song or two.

The Pleasure Dome is a pretty good album taken on its own terms. It was actually quite ahead of its time - new wave and post punk acts like Magazine and PIL would start making very similar music in the early 1980s. It is a disappointing VDGG album, but an interesting product of its era.

Rob The Plant wrote: I just ordered my first van der Graaf Generator albums, Pawn Hearts, and The Quiet Zone. Unfortuneately I have to wait 3-4 weeks before they arrive! Until then I was wondering if I could get some opinions as to what I can expect. Reviews are mixed for The Quiet Zone, and Pawn Hearts seems a sure buy. PS- I tried, but couldn't order Focus 3! What's wrong with this freaking world!

I think Godbluff is a great album. Sleepwalkers is one my favoutire VDGG songs.

BTW, you can order Focus III from www.amazon.co.uk But there is apparently only 3 left in stock. Better get in there quick, before I do

Blacksword wrote: Rob The Plant wrote: I just ordered my first van der Graaf Generator albums, Pawn Hearts, and The Quiet Zone. Unfortuneately I have to wait 3-4 weeks before they arrive! Until then I was wondering if I could get some opinions as to what I can expect. Reviews are mixed for The Quiet Zone, and Pawn Hearts seems a sure buy. PS- I tried, but couldn't order Focus 3! What's wrong with this freaking world! I think Godbluff is a great album. Sleepwalkers is one my favoutire VDGG songs. BTW, you can order Focus III from www.amazon.co.uk But there is apparently only 3 left in stock. Better get in there quick, before I do

Godbluff is an excellent album...and my heart would want to give it 4 stars, but logically it deserves only 3. 3.5 stars actually. Too short.

P.S....I love Sleepwalkers as well....especially the cha,cha part.