Laurie Anderson
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25680
Printed Date: February 21 2025 at 07:12
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Laurie Anderson
Posted By: Mandrakeroot
Subject: Laurie Anderson
Date Posted: July 04 2006 at 09:16
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They gave me "Big Science" by Laurie Anderson. That disc... Really Progressive!
Why not still it was included on PA?
Is Laurie anderson an artist for PA? ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: July 04 2006 at 09:27
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I did once a suggestion and was rejected.As much as I would love to see her in the Archives,I very much doubt.
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Posted By: Dragon Phoenix
Date Posted: July 05 2006 at 02:48
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I could see her in prog-related at least.
------------- Blog this: http://artrock2006.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: July 05 2006 at 02:53
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^absolutely not,my friend.She is experimental,she is avant-garde,she is shiny pop,she is abstract and excentric,but nothing prog-related.
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Posted By: Seyo
Date Posted: July 05 2006 at 17:19
| I wouldn't mind her being added here... enough proggy, artistic and experimental stuff. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 13:18
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Ah, I was going to do a Laurie Anderson thread in a non-Prog lounge
(even though I'd like to see her here too under Progressive Electronic,
or perhaps Crossover now). It was the thread on Bjork that
made me think of her. Big Science has been one of my favourite albums since I first heard it in the 80s. She's an amazing, quirky performance artist. She's not really progressive rock of course -- she is an experimental avant garde "art music" artist and a kind of "pop culture" icon. Has been resident artist at NASA I recall and helped with the Athens Olympic ceremonies Not pop music, but she had interesting commentary on culture and development. Big Science was about technological effect. Love to see her here, but could understand the rejection. I lent my Big Science album to someone many years ago and never got it back, but have listened subsequently to many of her songs. Her Big Science (1982 release) album is streaming http://benroubis.blogspot.com/2007/09/laurie-anderson-big-science.html - HERE. After not having heard it for many years, it still stands as a great work, but watching her perform is best since she ties the music in with a visual performance (I'm sure the Blue Man group owe something to her, as do quirky performers such as Bjork, I would imagine. Here's a well-written review of Big Science: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/07/170916.php - http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/07/170916.php On youtube (O Superman, which was something of a surprise hit partially thanks to John Peel's interest, is a great vid): http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Laurie+Anderson&search=Search - CLICK And Laurie Anderson's Big Science has been remastered and re-released for those that don't know (think I'll pick it up though there's an unfortunate lack of bonus material for a 25th anniversary re-release): http://www.laurieanderson.com/ - http://www.laurieanderson.com/ As this site has increasingly progressed from "Progressive Rock", I suspect there now may be more tolerance for truly progressive artists such as Laurie Anderson. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 13:26
Wait a second now! She IS avant-prog. Of course, as far as I am concerned if it's in my collection, it's prog, dagnabit. Even more so if Adrian Belew has put in an appearance. By the way, officially prog or not, the Home of the Brave video is really awesome! ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Ricochet wrote:Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 13:34
 I still want to work on suggesting her to Prog Related. If only I would have more time. -------------
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 13:39
Rico, it would be high time you suggested her to the Admin Team. I know you are very keen on her being added... Hopefully they will respond positively, because I think she deserves to be here too. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 13:41
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I only know Big Science and Home of the Brave, which are both truly awesome albums. To me she is a crossover from Art Rock to Advant-Prog, but more Advant-Art than Prog Rock. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 14:18
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^ Those are her only two albums I know very well too, DarqDean, but
I've enjoyed several videos of her performances. In the 80s she and
Kate Bush were two of my favourite artists (both have a quirkiness that
appeals). Her musical minimalist aspect is rather at odds with the extravagance of much Prog. I tend to think Prog or bust rather than the "compromise category" of Prog Related, but could see her as appropriate to PR (to be another artist lost in that nebulous category). I'm a liitle sorry for reviving this old thread in such a way. I couldn't resist as there was already a Laurie Anderson thread in existence (which I chose not to respond to a year plus ago because even though I would like her here, I wasn't sure how suitable), but really I just wanted to share my appreciation of this fine artist and mention the new re-mastered release which is slightly old news anyway. Hope that "stream" and the other links get a few more people into her music (though she is a well-known artist, of course). I hadn't heard the whole album in many years, and it still sounds fresh even if it has dated. Hope no one minds me posting the stream. An artist that will appeal to many into experimental progressive music, I feel. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 14:59
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Oh I agree, she is a maverick (yah!) and an innovator, two qualities I love in music. (I would add Danielle Dax to your list of quirky female performers). As a performance artist Anderson is without parallel and her music is unsurpassed in bridging minimalism with acceptability. I fully intend to watch the streams later this evening. ------------- What? |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 15:08
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She is for sure an uncommon artist. She speaks more often than sings, which is a bit annoying in the long run, but her music is avant-garde, thus prog. It's a bit disturbing not to see her in PA while so many non-prog artists are already here : stoners like Black Sab, Deep Purple or Led Zep; Iron Maiden, representatives of NWOBHM. ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 15:18
Dude, you have seriously got to check out Bright Red and Life On A String. The latter really reminds me so much of 2001 (and even 9/11), when it was released. Those two I think give her the prog cred more so than her earlier albums...
She has done some more singy stuff, Strange Angels comes to mind. USA live is all talky style but a lot of fun to listen to never the less.  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 18:54
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Her United States performances are supposed to be good.
I only know some of her hit singles, and I know that she once was (still is?) Lou Reed's partner. I like Oh Superman and Language Is A Virus. If I'd check her out, I think I choose a video rather than a cd, because I understood she was really a performance artist.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 21:02
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Thanks Slartibartfast (I considered using Agrajag as my nick here). I'm sure I've heard bits and pieces of both of those albums (more from Bright Red) -- something I''ll definitely look into. I agree with Moogtron's point too. As she is a multimedia performance artist, good to get DVDs. A friend of mine had the Home of the Brave VHS tape, and that was great. I enjoy Laurie Anderson's soundpieces enough to not need the visuals, though, but the visuals are a plus. Darqdean: Thanks for the suggestion of quirky female artist. Danielle Dax's name sounded familiar, but checked out the videos on youtube and now I remember her (though a little vaguely), Lucas: well, of course avant garde music is not necessarily Prog (progressive but not Prog which is short for Progressive Rock -- and a heck of a lot of Prog is very derivative, sadly). Perhaps one day we'll find artists such as Stockhausen, Xenakis etc., but not now. I must admit that I'd like to see artists such as Nyman and Glass here, but wouldn't expect it under the current umbrella. I would like to see this site expand further beyond Progressive rock into other progressive music territories. Anderson is not Prog really, but I still think she could find a place here in revisionistprogarchives (nad not just in that vague, disorderly related category). |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 21:06
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Oh come on, prog related? Eh, eh?
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 21:38
My Talisma and Parallel Mind just came in today. Excuse me while I veg out. Those of you who don't excuse me will certainly be pleased. 
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 16 2007 at 23:39
I just have this Prog Related aversion. I'm thinking Crossover... hmm. |
Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: October 17 2007 at 02:06
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Laurie Anderson is on a Peter Gabriel song called "This is the Picture Excellent Birds".
that's all i've heard of her but sounds interesting.
 -------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 19 2007 at 00:09
I think I visited that site a while ago. It's rather slick now. I like the streaming audio. Looks like the best news is a DVD will be released with the Home of the Brave concert and other video material. I have two really cool VHSs including HOTB. HOTB has Adrian Belew in the band. Also, William Burroughs shows up. And David Van Tieghem is there doing percussion. Not to mention Dolette McDonald and Janice Pendarvis... Also have the Live in the USA CD box set, which is an expanded version of Big Science. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: March 17 2008 at 23:44
| Her newer stuff sounds poppier, but I really should get more Laurie Anderson music. Still think there might be a case for this in Crossover. |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: March 18 2008 at 03:08
Oh....how I've endlessly missed working on adding her, though I said I will..  Well let's see, I still think Prog Related is relatively okay for Laurie, a jump towards Crossover wouldn't be that necessary, but overall let's see to that LA finally gets in PA. Whatever the genre.  -------------
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: March 18 2008 at 07:31
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If there's anything I can do to help...
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: March 18 2008 at 08:33
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I hardly know her music, but what I've heard (Oh Superman, Big Science and some others) I wouldn't call it progressive music, but certainly interesting stuff, can surely classify as Prog related, so who's writing a bio? ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: March 18 2008 at 09:41
I offered, but bumped it heavily... -------------
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Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 23 2008 at 20:58
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she belongs in this site! ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 13:10
Nice to see this revived, ziggy.  . I had rather wanted her in a proper prog category, Crossover, even though I could see definite arguments against it (I am so inclusive when it comes to team categories I don't belong to  ), but would fully support her in Prog Related (but that's the admins call).Dare I say it: because so-and-so is here, she definitely deserves to be here. I really base it on Big Science (the album) primarily, though. Gosh I love that album. For someone like Laurie Anderson, I almost think she needs a new "art" category. One's she in, then Bjork. |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 14:12
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Agreed,hopefully the admins notice this whoever works in the prog related category. ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 17:46
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I'm not letting this go unnoticed,the lady belongs in PA,I've never seen anyone more experimental than Laurie Anderson. ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 17:48
| Tell you what, someone may have already done so, but I'll PM the admin team suggesting her for Prog Related evaluation. |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 17:53
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Great Idea,hopefully they put her in. ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 18:13
Usually takes a while, and in this case it's not so easy when an artist has an extensive discography, and they need samples to evaluate -- especially if they're not that familiar with her now (good thing Dean, who is an admin, knows and likes her).. Studio albums (taken from a very useful reference site: http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/laurie_anderson - http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/laurie_anderson )
I provided some music links on page one, and here are the myspace search results: http://searchservice.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=sitesearch.results&type=Music&qry=Laurie+Anderson&submit=Search - CLICK It could also speed things up if someone would submit the materials/ make the case using the guidelines in the band addition procedure thread http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17363&PN=1 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17363&PN=1 A lot of work goes into evaluations and additions, so the more help suggesters can give them, the better. |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 18:41
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I'll help ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 18:42
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http://www.laurieanderson.com/ - http://www.laurieanderson.com/
------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 18:47
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http://www.laurieanderson.com/library/ - http://www.laurieanderson.com/library/
You'll find a bio at the bottom of the page ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 19:19
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I have taken the liberty of sending an email,consisting of all the criteria now only time will tell. ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 21:30
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As usual I'll be the devil's advocate.
I bought Live at Town Hall NYC with great expectations, and found nothing remootely related with Prog, yes she's far beyond most mainstream artists, yes her music is weird (Mostly because the strange arrangements) but I find a very basic and simple structure.
Later bought "Home of the Brave" and my impression was reinforced. simple music with weird ornaments, nothing else.
I believe it's a mistake to add every weird artist just because they are weird.
Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 22:25
| Here's my two cents: Avant-garde music, electronic music from many era's and minimalist music make up a big part of my record collection, but I have always found Anderson's music to be very shallow and trendy. No offense to some of you who like her, but I think her main skills are in schmoozing the "in crowd" and making sure she is in good with the right people. If there is a genre for networking and social climbing on this site, then she definitley belongs. |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 22:28
 ''Home of The Brave'' is very prog,IMO.
''Big Science'' is really her defining moment and ''Mister Heartbreak''.
She is quite experimental. ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 22:29
=O
------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 22:44
Experimental is not necesarilly Prog Ziggy, if it wa we would had to add REM.
Iván -------------
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 22:53
"O lovely pussy! Pussy my love!What a wonderful pussy you are." |
Posted By: ziggystardust360
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 22:56
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You have a point there Ivan. But I still strongly support her being added to Archives in Prog Related like I requested.''O Superman'' for example has prog elements.And not just that really all of her albums have Prog related qualities. ------------- ''I always had the repulsive need to be something other than human''-David Bowie |
Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: July 25 2008 at 23:11
Nice try Slarti, but my opinion is unchanged, ha ha. Didn't Laurie steal those lines from that Madonna sex book. Apparently Laurie tried to get Don Van Vleit (Beefheart) to guest on one of her records, but he turned her down saying something about beware of women with violins. I don't know what he meant, but I always thought it sounded funny. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 26 2008 at 00:10
I might be wrong, but I think Beautiful Pea Green Boat from Bright Red predated Madonna's book. Never heard about the Beefheart thingy. Was that before or after William Burroughs? By the way fellow Anderson fans, if you look at the collage in my signature, towards the middle, at the top middle of the shelving unit at the bottom, is my box set of United States Live! |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 26 2008 at 00:36
I'll quote a bit of what I wrote on page one when i revived this topic in October (sorry quoting myself but it's easier than rewriting old thoughts).
I'd rather describe her as quirky than weird, but maybe that's because like the word "eccentric" it has more a positive connotation for me. I don't think of her as Prog -- progressive, yes, but not Prog. Structurally, she has something in common with various minimalist composers. I feel she has a place in PA in Prog Related even if she doesn't fit the definition there well. I think she has an approach that partially puts her in the camp of art rock artists, and I think she has something in common with various progressive electronic artists,as well a some in prog related. Not all are complex. I think her compostions can seem deceptively simple. She's also something of an inventor , but that's by-the-by. I wish I still had Home of the Brave. On page one I provided a link to a stream of Big Science -- okay it is simple.. Her songs can build and evolve in interesting ways. I find her approach to composition intriguing. And yes, her quirkiness counts for a lot in terms of my interest. It's far more than simple music with weird ornaments to me. She was also innovative and experimental, which makes her progressiveness, but, no, not really prog. I see the boundaries expanding on what is prog anyway. Okay, she's no Edgar Froese, but interesting in her own right, and I think she could considerable appeal to quite a few of those into progressive electronic, and certain art rock artists. Prog Related feels right to me. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 26 2008 at 01:41
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I'd put the Life On A String album up as exhibit number one of her worthiness of inclusion. It's a little hoakey in parts, yet many brilliant and beautiful moments in it as well. My favorite parts, the violn/cello/bass track Here With You that precedes Slip Away and of course Slip Away, itself: " What's this? A little dust in my eye Well I'm not the type to cry It's four a.m. I'm standing by the bed where you lie Sleeping the sleep of the newborn I put [my] finger to your lips. Warm air. Five a.m. You lift your hand and open it. Then you slipped away. You slipped away. Oh death, that creep, that crooked jerk... He comes, he comes walking. He comes sneaking Down that long irreversible hallway Grabs you in your sleep I walk outside to the parking lot. Bright coins of water on the sidewalk. Big white building where your body lies Stands in the middle of the fields. Icy air. And after all the shocks the way the heart unlocks And ooo we slip away. We slip away. I'm thinking about the way that lost things always come back Looking like something else A fishing pole, a shoe, an old shirt, a lucky day Ooo then they slip away into the remains of the day Ooo they slip away. They slip away. I'm thinking how you taught me how to win And how to loose And how to fight the crippling blues that I was born with Bad dreams and nightmares Ooo they slip away. Ooo they slip away into the remains of the day. I know that sometime I'll stop looking for you. Stop seeing your face every day Bad dreams and nightmares and big bad wolves ... You told me you had no idea how to die but I saw The way the light left your eyes And after all the shocks the way the heart unlocks And ooo then you slipped away. You slipped away." The song Life On A String is interesting too: ".. Some people know exactly where they're going The pilgrims to Mecca The climbers to the mountaintop But me, I'm just looking For just a single moment So I can slip through time..." ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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