Prog Bands You've Ignored

In regards to the Italian prog, I agree that I don't think that racism is particularly behind the ignoring of this genre.  I know that many members of PA are more interested in the musical output than the lyrical output, but I tend to listen to the lyrics as much if not more than the music (not a musician, although I have always enjoyed time signature changes and what to my ears sounds like complicated music).  I enjoy instrumental music, but I tend to like it the way that Rush does it, where they add one or two instrumental songs to their albums.  I have a hard time listening to an album of nothing but instrumentals.  I tend to lose interest along the way.  I feel that the Italian Prog would have the same effect since I would have no idea what was being sung. 

Hi Darqdean: 

rushfan4 wrote: Hi Darqdean:  Do you recall a couple weeks back in a poll regarding the best songwriters Ivan brought up that Peter Sinfield was commissioned to translate a non-English language band's lyrics into English and he completely re-wrote the lyrics.  Was this for one of these albums?

I feel that the Italian Prog would have the same effect since I would have no idea what was being sung.

Rushfan4, certainly I don't think you're racist to answer your question.  But you should reconsider this statement after giving 4 or 5 Italian classics a fair dozen spins or so.  What you will find is that after you get "used" to the sound of the language, it quickly just becomes another instrument in the band, but a lead instrument.  Eventually, it blends with the music and you hear only the quality and the passion of the vocal, you won't care than you can't understand the lyric.  I'm a huge Italian fan and I speak only Engish.  It's not a problem.  In fact, I almost enjoy foreign language music more now because I'm not distracted or hung up on content.  I'm enjoying the music and not worrying about the lyrics say. 

It will take a little work, yes.  You won't love it on your first play.  But once you get over the language thing, you open up a whole new world.  Any of us sell ourselves short in a big way if we only listen to music in our native language. 

Finnforest wrote: I feel that the Italian Prog would have the same effect since I would have no idea what was being sung. Rushfan4, certainly I don't think you're racist to answer your question.  But you should reconsider this statement after giving 4 or 5 Italian classics a fair dozen spins or so.  What you will find is that after you get "used" to the sound of the language, it quickly just becomes another instrument in the band, but a lead instrument.  Eventually, it blends with the music and you hear only the quality and the passion of the vocal, you won't care than you can't understand the lyric.  I'm a huge Italian fan and I speak only Engish.  It's not a problem.  In fact, I almost enjoy foreign language music more now because I'm not distracted or hung up on content.  I'm enjoying the music and not worrying about the lyrics say.  It will take a little work, yes.  You won't love it on your first play.  But once you get over the language thing, you open up a whole new world.  Any of us sell ourselves short in a big way if we only listen to music in our native language.

I'd like to add that sometimes understanding the lyrics can be a definite drawback. This is one of the reasons why I've never been too much into Italian prog - the lyrics tend to be a bit on the overwrought side, though of course this is not the case for each and every band. The Seventies band Pholas Dactylus are musically very good, very much in the KC vein - yet, I can't listen to their "Concerto delle Menti" without laughing because of the lyrics. Micky knows what I'm talking about... He's seen my expression often enough whenever he puts on that album!

Gentle Giant.

I am gonna get quite a few rocks thrown at me for this...

As much as I've loved almost all I've heard from RIO/Avant/Zheul I'm laregely ignorant to the vast amount of styles and bands in PA.

Drakk wrote: As much as I've loved almost all I've heard from RIO/Avant/Zheul I'm laregely ignorant to the vast amount of styles and bands in PA.   I have, however, loved: Koenjihyakkei Henry Cow Frank Zappa SGM Hoyry-Kone Discus Estradasphere Mr. Bungle Fantomas X Legged Sally Univers Zero Akineton Retard John Zorn   Yet there's always more.

Re : "I have loved" ... does that mean you no longer like them -