SR XV: Massive Magma spill threatens PA coast

The Sleepwalker wrote: Well, that was an odd comparison... a poppy and commercial album like 90210 over a classic prog masterpiece like Fragile is not the same as a relatively succesful album like FOABP over whining and pseudo-psychedelica. Hah, there, I said it!

I'm sorry, but lyrically FoABP is terrible. How can you call psych-era PT 'whining' when FoABP is full of said lyrics? I know that's what SW intended to do, and I fully understand the concept, but I really think it's all a bit... average. Oh, and I'd consider any PT album made after Stupid Dream to be commercial. The pop-arcs are obvious, this does not make them bad albums, but just brings SW's songwriting style to the forefront. I just can't help but feel that PT's latter works aren't as daring as his earlier ones. If you want to hear proof that SW is recycling themes, it's not hard to hear. There's a certain magic he had in his youth, that is not lost on his later work, but just feels constrained by something.

Well, we could argue over subjective opinions all day, but that won't get anywhere.

Since In Absentia, I've got the feeling that Wilson has tried to please everyone with his content. This might sound strange, and I know he would disagree, but I honestly think that he has made a concerted effort to develop the 'ultimate PT' album with each new release. When, I think he needs to be more focused in style (as per TSMS or Signify).

- Deadwing was their heaviest album, featuring several 'immediate' tracks that were quite shallow listens. There were also some epic moments that helped the album be quite impacting generally. Wilson could have made it much more poppy, or much more expansive, either way he alienates a fanbase.

- FOABP is in theory a great album with several really good moments. But in an effort to bridge the gap between songwriting and progression, again he mixes several styles that are attempts to keep everyone happy.

- The Incident is more of the same, although I much prefer this album to the previous one. It's a lot more expansive and follows a more interesting path. Lyrically much better. Again, I still feel that he is trying to prove that you can write accessible 'structures' into progressive rock without alienating listeners.

I just don't think that the last few albums are *that* special, I enjoy them generally, but it just strikes me that SW is trying to have too much of his own cake.


Edited by Any Colour You Like - May 25 2010 at 05:16

I'm not advocating PT should release TSMS clones for the rest of their career, or turn into a off-the-wall Avant band. But rather that the progression towards the sound they desire isn't paved by songs like Lazarus and Way Out of Here. I guess my whole argument is that I lament the loss of lush, psychedelic PT. It's still there, but it has been hidden under distortion and slightly strange angsty lyrics. If I want catharsis, I'll listen to something heavier and more aggressive, and if I want something more calming and subtle - well, there's always early PT.

UndercoverBoy wrote: #5 was the hardest I laughed in a long time.

I want to see more of the #1 song - hilarious

Over the course of the next couple of days I will be taking a journey through From Genesis to Revelation through Calling All Stations.  A band that I grew up disliking as a result of their popularity during the 80's whose pop songs kind of grew on me turning me into a fan of the band during the 90's.  Although I didn't like the songs in the 80's I guess that I heard them enough that there was a certain nostalgia in hearing them in the 90's while they were no longer constantly on the radio.  At any rate, I am a PA oddity in that I prefer this 80's pop music over their 70's prog music, which I arrived at Johnny Come Lately and have never really had a great appreciation for.  Maybe this time through will be the time where Peter Gabriel-led Genesis finally clicks for me. 

Edited by rushfan4 - May 25 2010 at 11:54

rushfan4 wrote: Over the course of the next couple of days I will be taking a journey through From Genesis to Revelation through Calling All Stations.  A band that I grew up disliking as a result of their popularity during the 80's whose pop songs kind of grew on me turning me into a fan of the band during the 90's.  Although I didn't like the songs in the 80's I guess that I heard them enough that there was a certain nostalgia in hearing them in the 90's while they were no longer constantly on the radio.  At any rate, I am a PA oddity in that I prefer this 80's pop music over their 70's prog music, which I arrived at Johnny Come Lately and have never really had a great appreciation for.  Maybe this time through will be the time where Peter Gabriel-led Genesis finally clicks for me.

 

Since Lala will be closing soon I'm trying to listen to as much as I possibly can. Out of curiosity I am listening to Opeth.

Which Opeth album?

And speaking of Opeth, I am currently introducing myself to Katatonia via their most recent album Night is the New Day. Sounds like a mix of doom metal and gothic rock with slightly depressive male vocals (all clean). Sounds like pretty good stuff, and I love how there's synth/piano backdrop through a lot of the music.

I want to make it rain.