What you think?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

 infandous wrote:

This is interesting, I've read similar things before about artists not listening to other music much, or even at all.  Steven Wilson seems to listen to a pretty fair amount of music (though not much prog, by prog archives standards anyway) and he seems able, at least on his latest album, to come up with very interesting and original music.

I'm an amateur musician myself, and have been playing for 25 years or so.  Yet I'm able to find quite a bit of modern prog (and other genre's as well) that I love as much, and in some cases more, than the 70's stuff.  To be honest, I find I can't really listen to most of the "big" 70's prog bands anymore because I've heard their albums so many times I can hear them in their entirety in my head with every nuance in place (except Gentle Giant, I still pull them out and listen to their stuff and still keep finding little things I'd not noticed before).  I still do pull things out occasionally, but find that my mind wanders.  They just don't have the impact on me they used to, while I find newer stuff that does (and, thanks to this site, some very old stuff I never heard before that does as well).

I could give examples I suppose (Altair actually listed a couple earlier in the thread), but I'm not sure it matters.  You've likely heard of them if you are a regular here, and probably don't like them.

I understand the idea that people don't think there is anything anywhere near as good as the bands from the 70's were able to do.  I used to think that myself.  Luckily for me, tastes and attitudes change, and I keep finding stuff that moves me in exactly the same way as when I first discovered Yessongs or Tarkus.  Lucky me, I guess. 

Actually, it is quite common for gigging & professional musicians to eschew listening to much new music, to avoid being influenced!  Fripp once told John McLaughlin that "he avoided listening to Mahavishnu Orchestra because he didn't want to be seduced by it."  I understand the sentiment.  

In my case, I'm a very casual listener, and if I hear something that is particularly interesting, I gravitate towards it.  I found NeBeLNeST to be absolutely brilliant in their Chicago gig, back in 1999, and I seek out obscure gems like "Self Contained" by Peter Banks (he shames Steve Vai!!  Not bad for an old foggie!!).   Ozric Tentacles is somewhat interesting, and Ray Bennett's newest work with Flash (someday, to be released I hope) has a fresh approach to an old soound.   I also like Blackmore's Night, and believe that this is a very progressive approach to some old musical styles.   

However, for the bands that seem to excite folks on PA, I don't see the attraction.....it's just me, I'm sure these bands have much talent & excite their many fans.  But, I hear no Bill Bruford in the mix, no Patrick Moraz, no Bob Fripp....and I'm still waiting!!  

Edited by cstack3 - November 01 2011 at 16:33