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gok22us 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 19 2005
Location: United States
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 Topic: Van Der Graff Generator: which album?
Posted: July 09 2005 at 15:08 |
i have heard absolutely nothing by them. I'm interested though, lots of talk about them here. So.....which of their albums is the best introduction to their music?
thank ye :)
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BaldFriede
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Joined: June 02 2005
Location: Germany
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 15:31 |
Very difficult to answer. I don't know what kind of music you like. Perhaps "Godbluff", but it may very well be I give you the wrong advice and turn you off of Van der Graaf Generator forever.
Get the remastered version though; it was just released. And prepare yourself for an adventure. Peter Hammill is an excellent singer, but he uses his voice in a very aggressive way. It is certainly not to everybodies liking, and it took me a while to get used to it. I am an avid fan though now, and we have all records of VdGG and PH at home.
Oh, and this man can be aggressive by whispering only, as you will see at the beginning of "Godbluff".
Edited by BaldFriede
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 BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
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Dragon Phoenix
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Joined: August 31 2004
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 15:32 |
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For me it was Pawn Hearts that won me over.
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BaldFriede
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Joined: June 02 2005
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 15:50 |
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From what I have read about the re-mastered "Pawn Hearts", it is even more extreme now (I haven't heard it yet; it is on our wish-list and will be bought on our next trip to the record shop). Perhaps not the best to start with.
Edited by BaldFriede
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BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
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gok22us
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 19 2005
Location: United States
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Points: 219
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 16:47 |
 BaldFriede wrote:
Very difficult to answer. I don't know what kind of music you like. Perhaps "Godbluff", but it may very well be I give you the wrong advice and turn you off of Van der Graaf Generator forever.
Get the remastered version though; it was just released. And prepare yourself for an adventure. Peter Hammill is an excellent singer, but he uses his voice in a very aggressive way. It is certainly not to everybodies liking, and it took me a while to get used to it. I am an avid fan though now, and we have all records of VdGG and PH at home.
Oh, and this man can be aggressive by whispering only, as you will see at the beginning of "Godbluff".
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heh heh thank you. I personally enjoy Yes, Muse, Tool, Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, and King Crimson. those are a few of the bands i adore....but ill purchase "Godbluff."
And I'll go for Pawn Hearts if i like that one, thank you to both of you 
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BaldJean
Prog Reviewer
Joined: May 28 2005
Location: Germany
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 16:57 |
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As Friede already mentioned, we have all albums by VdGG and PH, which even in our rather large collection is a significant percentage, since those are some 50+ albums.
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 A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
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con safo
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 17 2005
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Points: 1230
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 17:00 |
I'd say H To He is a good starting point, the song meanings are more
literal and the music is a little less extreme. From there i'd get Pawn
Hearts, Godbluff and Still Life, all excellent albums. I'm getting
Still Life in the mail anytime now... can't wait 
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BaldFriede
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 02 2005
Location: Germany
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Points: 10266
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 17:50 |
BaldJean wrote:
As Friede already mentioned, we have all albums by VdGG and PH, which even in our rather large collection is a significant percentage, since those are some 50+ albums. |
Yes, and some of these albums can be VERY weird. Just to mention a few by Peter Hammill:
Loops and Reels
Sonix
Spur of the Moment (with Guy Evans)
The Appointed Hour (with Roger Eno)
The Fall of the House of Usher (a really weird opera, the 1999 version is better than the 1990 one and also the only one available now. PH was not satisfied with the 1990 version, so he reworked it completely.)
The Union Chapel Concert (with Guy Evans; I wish we had been there)
To name just the weirdest of the bunch.
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BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
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MikeEnRegalia
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 18:47 |
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I started with H to He ... no problem. If you already know some extreme bands, VdGG really aren't that much of a problem. Listen to "Killer", it's available as mp3 on progarchives.
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Bj-1
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 18:48 |
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My first VDGG album was Pawn Hearts, but i think Godbluff is a better starting point.
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RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!
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BaldFriede
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 02 2005
Location: Germany
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 19:22 |
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
I started with H to He ... no problem. If you already know some extreme bands, VdGG really aren't that much of a problem. Listen to "Killer", it's available as mp3 on progarchives. |
You may be right about VdGG, but some PH solo albums or cooperations with others ARE a problem, even to those who know some extreme stuff. And I'm not sure everybody would like the 2nd disc of the new VdGG album, because this is definitely VdGG being whacky. I like it though (as I like the whole album). It's great they are back. And I am definitely looking forward to the live album of the RFH gig, which will be published later this year. Maybe I'll recognize my own screams in the applause. 
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BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
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Moogtron III
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
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Points: 10616
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 19:25 |
Still Life is not a bad starting point either.
13 days to go and I hope to see them LIVE. YEAH!!!
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BaldJean
Prog Reviewer
Joined: May 28 2005
Location: Germany
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Posted: July 09 2005 at 19:46 |
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Friede is right about the 2nd disc of "Present" being whacky, but the
band obviously had fun recording it, which is especially evident in
"Double Bass", where Peter Hammill suddenly goes "Oh yeah!"
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A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
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Heimdall
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Joined: July 10 2005
Location: Brazil
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Posted: July 10 2005 at 19:04 |
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"The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other" and "Pawn Hearts", are really great albuns, especially Pawn.
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Van Der Graff Generator: which album?
