Viva Prog Rock

[JETman]

Suggestions needed:

Genesis

What's the best place to start with the Peter Gabriel era? I've actually never owned a single Genesis album.

I'd say "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", but it's a 2 disc set. If you want to start smaller, try "Selling England by the Pound".

[A Lark Ascending]

I'd go for Nursery Cryme and Foxtrot - pre-synthesisers with lots of twelve string in evidence. Both have a Lewis Carroll/Edward Lear type feel in the story-songs (I think their public school English and Classics lessons were being mined). Very strong melodies and the wide palette of sounds that I always enjoy.

'Selling England' disappointed me at the time - the noodling synth and one long track that doesn't really go very far ('The Battle of Epping Forest'). But I've come round to it over the years.

'The Lamb' is wonderful but not typical - still has the great, melodious songwriting but it's much edgier; the recorded sound itself is harsher. More New York than Charterhouse gardens!

[Aggie87]

I'd start with Nursery Cryme & Foxtrot I think, as well, and if you like those check out Selling England and The Lamb.

Also, all of the Gabriel era recordings (with the exception of "From Genesis to Revelation") are coming out as two disc cd/dvda sets shortly I believe. They've already been released as part of the Genesis 1970-1975 box set, but as they did with the later eras, will release the boxes and then follow up with the individual albums.

[A Lark Ascending]

I noticed mention of this on another thread:

Due out in April. Should be interesting. Bruford is always articulate and has a nice sense of distance from the music he's played.

[7/4]

Should be an interesting book. I always enjoyed his bands and drumming. The first Bruford group was my personal favorite "fusion" band.

In other news, I see Yes canceled the rest of their tour with the replacement singer. It seems that Squire had a mysterious operation on his leg.

[Aggie87]

In other news, I see Yes canceled the rest of their tour with the replacement singer. It seems that Squire had a mysterious operation on his leg.

I saw that too. Without Squire, it would have been down to Howe & White on the tour who were actual Yes members.

I wonder if Yes (w/Anderson & RW) have one last album in them. If not, Magnification is probably as good we could possibly hoped for this late in the game.

[Aggie87]

New Steven Wilson solo album "Insurgentes" now on eMusic

(Aggggggggggggggggggggg!)

It's a good one, Buzz - I've had it since November (well, the limited edition version anyway).

Guests include Gavin Harrison, Theo Travis, Jordan Rudess, and Tony Levin.

[connoisseur series500]

Suggestions needed:

Genesis

What's the best place to start with the Peter Gabriel era? I've actually never owned a single Genesis album.

I'd strongly recommend Selling England by the Pound, which stands as their greatest album, imo. Foxtrot would come in second. Nursery Cryme is a bit weaker.

[Jim Alfredson]

Peter Gabriel era Genesis... where to start... hmmmm.

They only made 7 albums with him, you know. I was just listening to "Wind & Wuthering" and "And Then There Were Three..." yesterday. Great fucking records and sans Peter (and the latter sans Hackett). I love Gabriel, though.

"Selling England By The Pound" is probably a good start or "Foxtrot". I really like "Trespass" just because it's so pastoral and you can hear them finding their way. I like "Nursery Crime" too because it's really dark and atmospheric. The thing I really love about Genesis is that each album is quite different from the last, though there are little strands connecting them together.

Speaking of "And Then There Were Three...", the fade-out on "Say It's All Right, Joe" seemed like something that might be on "Selling England By The Pound" for a bit.

[Shawn]

This album is just completely off the hook.

[Shawn]

You guys ever hear of Maserati? I saw them at SXSW last week and they were pretty amazing - with a relentless drummer. They're an all instro band from Athens, GA and very proggy. Here's a good vid of them:

I got their latest album from emusic and really enjoy it, thanks for the recommendation!!!

[Shawn]

Opeth - Damnation

Heard this album for the first time last night and was quite impressed. It was produced by Steve Wilson from Porcupine Tree (who also plays mellotron on it). Very melodic and expertly crafted (no death metal vocals on this album, in fact there's almost no distortion used at all on the guitars).

emusic has it but it's missing a track.

[Use3D]

If you haven't already you must hear Opeth's other album with Steve Wilson, Blackwater Park. I'ts thoroughly excellent, a great prog-metal album. I did have the pleasure of bumping into his solo album, which of course is on a completely different style, I'll definitely be buying the CD when I get around to it, hopefully the special edition, I like the tracks on disc2 very much.

Another one of his projects I've gotten into late it Blackfield, not really prog but has a great feel to it and I'll be listening to that for years to come, haven't digested the first album long enough to delve into the second, but I'm looking forward to purchasing both.

[Aggie87]

Opeth - Damnation

Heard this album for the first time last night and was quite impressed. It was produced by Steve Wilson from Porcupine Tree (who also plays mellotron on it). Very melodic and expertly crafted (no death metal vocals on this album, in fact there's almost no distortion used at all on the guitars).

emusic has it but it's missing a track.

Fantastic album, Shawn! It's got a companion album titled "Deliverance", which is heavier and more typical of Opeth's sound. Steven Wilson produced both of these, along with Blackwater Park, as Use3D mentions.

Ghost Reveries and Watershed are also both well worth checking out, if you like this sort of music.

[Aggie87]

I did have the pleasure of bumping into his solo album, which of course is on a completely different style, I'll definitely be buying the CD when I get around to it, hopefully the special edition, I like the tracks on disc2 very much.

Another one of his projects I've gotten into late it Blackfield, not really prog but has a great feel to it and I'll be listening to that for years to come, haven't digested the first album long enough to delve into the second, but I'm looking forward to purchasing both.

If you're referring to Steven Wilson's "Insurgentes", it's very good. Stylistically it covers alot of ground, but touches on all the aspects of music that he likes and plays in his various bands (Porcupine Tree, No-Man, Blackfield, Bass Communion, IEM). The Special Edition (with the extra tracks on Disc 2) is sold out though, and was never available at retail - only through SW's website. There is a 2 disc version that's available through stores, but it's got the normal album on Disc 1 and a DVD-A of the same material (plus a video documentary thing) on disc 2.

edit - I think there is a Japanese release of Insurgentes that may have the bonus tracks actually, if you're willing to pay bigger bucks.

Edited April 6, 2009 by Aggie87

[Use3D]

Looks like I lucked out and have the Special Edition of Insurgentes on my computer. I'll still buy the CD. Great music.

[Shawn]

Fantastic album, Shawn! It's got a companion album titled "Deliverance", which is heavier and more typical of Opeth's sound. Steven Wilson produced both of these, along with Blackwater Park, as Use3D mentions.

Ghost Reveries and Watershed are also both well worth checking out, if you like this sort of music.

I also watched their Lamentations video which was incredible. I love progressive metal (no shock), but I hate Death Metal style vocals...so I'm slowly easing my way into their catalog. That's why I started with Damnation, because he's got a great voice when he sings clean.

The newer albums (Ghost Reveries, etc), what are the vocals like on those albums?

Also, I recommend checking out a really bizarre experimental band called "YOB", these guys are progressive doom, the vocalist reminds me of a cross between Geddy Lee & the guy from Supertramp. Killer stuff.

Edited April 7, 2009 by Shawn

[Use3D]

I love progressive metal (no shock), but I hate Death Metal style vocals...

I'm normally not a fan of that vocal style myself, but I'm giving Opeth a free pass 'cause I know Åkerfeldt's got the chops. Besides most of the music is so multifaceted and interesting I can hear past the growls.

Also feel like I should mention Mastadon's newest album, Crack the Skye, which is another break from their usual loud, aggressive vocal style to something a little more accessible. I've only listened to it once, it's very dense, and sounds like a huge continuous song from beginning to end. I'll have to give it a few more tires before making a real opinion. Just getting into them.

[Shawn]

Also feel like I should mention Mastadon's newest album, Crack the Skye, which is another break from their usual loud, aggressive vocal style to something a little more accessible. I've only listened to it once, it's very dense, and sounds like a huge continuous song from beginning to end. I'll have to give it a few more tires before making a real opinion. Just getting into them.

See a few posts above...it's a beautiful album (yes, I said beautiful). The production is simply incredible, some of the best guitar tones I've heard in quite awhile. The album title is a dedication to the drummer's sister "Skye" who committed suicide when she was 14. I also highly recommend Blood Mountain, a very impressive album that showed them moving in this new direction.

By the way, iTunes has an exclusive version of Crack The Skye in instrumental form as a bonus.

[Aggie87]

I've Seen All Good People

[rsnd]

Suggestions needed:

Genesis

What's the best place to start with the Peter Gabriel era? I've actually never owned a single Genesis album.

Selling England and Lamb Lies Down On Broadway are, IMO, the best albums that Genesis ever made, so I'd be partial to starting there, although going through their "main sequence" of Peter Gabriel albums (Nursery Cryme through Lamb) in chronological order is a good way to do it as well.

[Shawn]

Thanks for the Genesis recommendations, I'll be checking into those soon.

...and now for something completely different.

[Free For All]

Man, I haven't listened to that in ages. One of my all-time favorites. Thijs Van Leer and Jan Akkerman! Those guys were nuts! Thanks for posting that.

[Aggie87]

For anyone interested in the Yes "In a Word" 5 disc box set, there's a seller (Deep Discount DVD CD) on Amazon offering it for about $15 shipped.

I bought it because there are a couple of exclusive tracks on it. Just like I bought the 3 disc "Ultimate Yes" set. Even though I have all of the original albums. Sigh.

Edited May 28, 2009 by Aggie87

[Matthew]

For anyone interested in the Yes "In a Word" 5 disc box set, there's a seller (Deep Discount DVD CD) on Amazon offering it for about $15 shipped.

I bought it because there are a couple of exclusive tracks on it. Just like I bought the 3 disc "Ultimate Yes" set. Even though I have all of the original albums. Sigh.

Aggie87=Chewy