Prog Nerd Poll

[ibanezmonster]

For a poll like this, I almost wish there were a prog band named Banana!

Dave should add Banana to the 5 B's in his signature.

[NorthNYMark]

King Crimson and Genesis for me, though Van der Graaf Generator, Yes, and Tull are not far behind.  Karl, I would second Dave's recommendation of VdGG, perhaps starting with their Pawn Hearts album, if you get the chance. They combine the dark angularity of KC with the twisted theatricality of Genesis.

For some reason, I am one of the relatively few prog fans who doesn't care for either Floyd or Rush. I find the former too bluesy/bad-trippy and the latter a bit too antiseptic (or perhaps lacking in melody and atmospherics) for my tastes.

[Mirror Image]

King Crimson and Genesis for me, though Van der Graaf Generator, Yes, and Tull are not far behind.  Karl, I would second Dave's recommendation of VdGG, perhaps starting with their Pawn Hearts album, if you get the chance. They combine the dark angularity of KC with the twisted theatricality of Genesis.

For some reason, I am one of the relatively few prog fans who doesn't care for either Floyd or Rush. I find the former too bluesy/bad-trippy and the latter a bit too antiseptic (or perhaps lacking in melody and atmospherics) for my tastes.

It's funny I find Van der Graaf Generator to be lacking in melody and I find the vocal work of Hammill to be a major distraction. I dig the brooding quality of their music, but I find it really hard to tune Hammill's constant garbling out. I hear plenty of melody in Rush. I'm always surprised to hear someone say they don't hear melody in their music because this is what I think have helped them secure a place in prog history.

You can't tell me this lacks melody:

https://www.youtube.com/v/aalJT3GS_m8

Or this:

https://www.youtube.com/v/EYYdQB0mkEU

[snyprrr]

It's funny I find Van der Graaf Generator to be lacking in melody and I find the vocal work of Hammill to be a major distraction. I dig the brooding quality of their music, but I find it really hard to tune Hammill's constant garbling out. I hear plenty of melody in Rush. I'm always surprised to hear someone say they don't hear melody in their music because this is what I think have helped them secure a place in prog history.

You can't tell me this lacks melody:

https://www.youtube.com/v/aalJT3GS_m8

Or this:

https://www.youtube.com/v/EYYdQB0mkEU

I think we could point to 'By-Tor and the Snow Dog'. But by Permanent Waves they had solved that problem.

'Time Stands Still' is a nice song.

BIG MONEY GOES AROUND THE WORLD!

[71 dB]

King Crimson!
Tangerine Dream is a "synth band" but they have rocky stuff (e.g. 'Rockoon' and '220 Volt Live')



I can't say I care about the others in this poll... 

[71 dB]

The King Crimson albums?

The following (and, maybe more!):

Discipline
Beat
Three of a Perfect Pair
THRAK
B'Boom (Live in Argentina)
Vrooom Vrooom

The Power to Believe
The ConstruKction of Life

[Henk]

Genesis and Van Der Graaf Generator.

I'm a bit done with Pink Floyd. Their work lacks continious quality. Made some very good songs, however, the crême de la crême of prog. "Wish you were here" and "Dark side of the moon" are very good albums.

Must say I'm not finished with exploring prog. This is just my opinion for the moment.

[mn dave]

Dave should add Banana to the 5 B's in his signature.

HEY!

[mn dave]

It's funny I find Van der Graaf Generator to be lacking in melody and I find the vocal work of Hammill to be a major distraction. I dig the brooding quality of their music, but I find it really hard to tune Hammill's constant garbling out.

I think his voice is very expressive and great. It's the Yes vocalist that turns me off. He sounds like a Muppet.

[Mirror Image]

I think his voice is very expressive and great. It's the Yes vocalist that turns me off. He sounds like a Muppet.

I've always liked Jon Anderson's voice. Well, anyway, different strokes for different folks.

[NorthNYMark]

It's funny I find Van der Graaf Generator to be lacking in melody and I find the vocal work of Hammill to be a major distraction. I dig the brooding quality of their music, but I find it really hard to tune Hammill's constant garbling out. I hear plenty of melody in Rush. I'm always surprised to hear someone say they don't hear melody in their music because this is what I think have helped them secure a place in prog history.

You can't tell me this lacks melody:

https://www.youtube.com/v/aalJT3GS_m8

Or this:

https://www.youtube.com/v/EYYdQB0mkEU

Some good points.  As soon as I wrote "lacks melody" I realized that was probably not a fair description, because relatively little music outside of certain forms of electronica or perhaps hip-hop truly lack melody.  And, as it so happens, the Rush music I've heard that appealed to me the most came from the two albums you pulled your examples from.  I guess it isn't that the vocal melody is lacking in Rush, but I feel like their melodicism is often subordinated to a kind of chugging rhythm, mainly in the guitar, that leaves me sort of cold (and I can hear it in the examples you posted, though I think both songs are pretty nice).  So really, it is probably more  the lack of atmospherics that keeps me from getting onto them more--I can't imagine them doing something like "Seven Stones" (Genesis) or "Starless" (King Crimson), for example.  I enjoy them for what they are, but they just don't move me the way so much 70s-style prog often does. 

As for melody and VdGG, have you heard tracks like "Refugees" or "The Undercover Man"?  Of course, it sounds like your main issue with them is Hammill's vocal style, which I can understand.  I was a bit put off by him when I first heard them, though, like a lot of acquired tastes, the very features that at first seem the most repellant sometimes  become the most interesting over time.

[Mirror Image]

Some good points.  As soon as I wrote "lacks melody" I realized that was probably not a fair description, because relatively little music outside of certain forms of electronica or perhaps hip-hop truly lack melody.  And, as it so happens, the Rush music I've heard that appealed to me the most came from the two albums you pulled your examples from.  I guess it isn't that the vocal melody is lacking in Rush, but I feel like their melodicism is often subordinated to a kind of chugging rhythm, mainly in the guitar, that leaves me sort of cold (and I can hear it in the examples you posted, though I think both songs are pretty nice).  So really, it is probably more  the lack of atmospherics that keeps me from getting onto them more--I can't imagine them doing something like "Seven Stones" (Genesis) or "Starless" (King Crimson), for example.  I enjoy them for what they are, but they just don't move me the way so much 70s-style prog often does. 

As for melody and VdGG, have you heard tracks like "Refugees" or "The Undercover Man"?  Of course, it sounds like your main issue with them is Hammill's vocal style, which I can understand.  I was a bit put off by him when I first heard them, though, like a lot of acquired tastes, the very features that at first seem the most repellant sometimes  become the most interesting over time.

We could talk about bands that lack melody or at least a hummable melody all day long like Henry Cow or Thinking Plague, but even their music contains melody but in a completely abstract form. Rush leave many people divided. I've never met anyone who was on the fence about them because they do tend to polarize audiences. This said, they were love at first listen for me. I've never had a problem with Geddy Lee's vocal work aside from their really early albums which he is unnecessarily aggressive and tries too hard. His voice started becoming a lot more natural sounding around A Farewell To Kings. Anyway, Rush's 'synth period' is a heavily textured era for them, so there's a lot more atmosphere and layers in the music during this time. I think the thing to realize with Rush is they're not Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, or Pink Floyd, they're Rush. Only Geddy, Alex, and Neil could have created this sound.

As for Van der Graaf Generator, I wouldn't say I hate the band as if I tune Hammill's voice out, Godbluff is a great record but the thing is he is a distraction to me and I've tried for years to love this band, but I can't. I think the music itself is interesting, but the lack of a guitar and the fact that Hammill grates on my nerves keeps this band from becoming a favorite. Many people are put off by Gentle Giant for example, but I love the band and think Three Friends and Octopus are prog rock masterpieces, but, like with anything, it's all subjective from person to person. I don't think VDGG are a bad band, but they're just not my cup of java.

[mn dave]

I've never met anyone who was on the fence about them because they do tend to polarize audiences.

If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice. 

[Karl Henning]

Technically, John is right, as we've never met    I neither love nor loathe Rush.  They're certainly quite an accomplished trio, and there is some material of theirs I like to go back and listen to, from time to time.  I've never taken keen interest in them, as I have with (e.g.) Jethro Tull and King Crimson.

[Bogey]

Genesis and Rush.

[Karl Henning]

Apart from Moving Pictures, Bill, what album would you chiefly rec?

[mn dave]

Apart from Moving Pictures, Bill, what album would you chiefly rec?

Not Bill says:
Hemispheres
Permanent Waves
A Farewell to Kings
2112

[North Star]

Not Bill is right.

I voted for Pink Floyd & King Crimson, but could have voted for Genesis instead of either one.

[mn dave]

Not Bill is right.

I voted for Pink Floyd & King Crimson, but could have voted for Genesis instead of either one.

Where do you stand on the VdGG issue?

[North Star]

Where do you stand on the VdGG issue?

I haven't heard enough, and not any for a good while, to make a stand.