Micshazam's weekly self torture thread
 

I was thinking that I'd like to challenge myself a bit, so I came up with this. Every week, I'll choose a genre and try to get into it. It can also be a specific artist I guess. I don't know what would work best. But I'll basically choose a genre/artist, then find some albums that the internet (or MB) says that one should listen to when getting into this genre/artist. Then I'll write step-by-step about my experiences, I guess? That could be more fun than the usual review format.

For this week (and the next, since this one is almost over), it's all about progressive rock. Right now I'm listening to yes, because they seem like the prog genre ambassadors, for better or worse.

Let me know if this is a stupid idea or I should do it a bit differently.

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THIS WEEK: Progressive rock.

Right now I'm listening to the Yes album Fragile. I consulted a couple prog websites and they both placed this album high.

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/full/CS609353-01A-BIG.jpg

I'm 5 tracks into so far and I'm not feeling much about it. Some nice musical ideas here and there and a singer that I think I'm going to get tired of after a while. The album seems fairly restrained as far as progressive rock goes, so I'm not grinding my teeth yet.

Yes might be the most successful of the prog bands (and yes, they're damn good-check out The Yes Album in particular), but King Crimson is probably the best of the prog bands. If you want something a little mellower, I guess you can go with Peter Gabriel era Genesis.

But Yes is a good place to start.

King Crimson albums aren't really up on Youtube and Spotify, so I couldn't start with them. I'll swing past some Genesis too.

Genesis is absolutely not the place to start for anyone who already doesn't like prog. Everything you hate about prog Genesis does twice.

That's actually what I kind of expected Yes to be. I'm not judging the genre on one band in any case. Any other bands I should make sure to listen to? They don't have to be big bands - just ones that unquestionably play music that is progressive rock to the core.

Rush 2112

The full album is in playlist form here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...mAAprHwcxAJl8T

Thanks. That makes it easier. I know in advance that Geddy Lee's chipmunk vocals annoy me, but I'll try to listen to it with a neutral mindset.

Think of him as just a falsetto style singer, since that's pretty much what he is.

I haven't heard a lot of their stuff, maybe one or two tracks, but maybe Gentle Giant could be one to check out. Also, I know Marillion had a pretty good fan base. One guy I knew was really obsessed with them. Hawkwind, if I remember, is pretty spaced out. You might be able to get into them (Have to listen to them again myself; I remember really liking them).

Never really listened to Hawkwind. I seem to remember there was some kind of connection between that band and Lemmy. I assume he played bass for them at some point.

Not sure about their history. I can only go by their music (listening to them now actually). I remember them sounding pretty spaced out though.

He was kicked out of the band for doing the wrong drugs.

I think he played guitar.

Listening to Hawkwind's debut album. Yeah, these guys are fantastic.

That's actually funny.

He plays bass like a guitar, so I guess that makes sense.

Yeah get some Hawkwind in your life.

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention - One Size Fits All
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Focus - Hocus Pocus (you only need that one track tbh)
Van der Graf Generator - Pawn Hearts

I second Hawkwind and think you should also check out Relayer and the Yes Album if you want to explore Yes more.

Thanks, there's some good stuff to work with there.

Ok, so I got through that yes album and am currently following Rubbersouls lead by listening through Hawkwind's debut album.

Some thoughts:

Yes - Fragile
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....TL._SX355_.jpg
Didn't actually make me feel much at all. Strange experience. I'm even a slight bit drunk, which usually makes me way more willing to absorb new impressions, but this album just kinda slips off my brain like water off a duck's back. Didn't make me feel a thing. The last track, America, did have some energetic guitar work and it was nice to hear something with a familiar melodic sensibility, even if it was basically some kind of country rock and I'm not really into country (yet).

Shrug. Hopefully I'll like Yes better if I go through another album a bit later.

Hawkwind - Hawkwind
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....BL._SY355_.jpg
These are not reviews, but reactions, so I might post the same cover several times to add some more thoughts. I'm about halfway through this album so far and it is leaving a waaaay bigger impression on me already than that Yes album did. This album is really atmospheric and sonically interesting to listen to. Some tracks even felt pretty trippy. This band just oozes with personality when placed right next to Yes, but of course this is still early impressions.

America is actually a cover of the Simon and Garfunkel song off Bookends, probably my favorite song off that album. Yes, Yes' version is pretty good too.

So I liked Yes best when they weren't playing their own music? Yikes. That does not bode well for future listens to their music.

Tales From Topographic Oceans is my favourite as it's the most dynamic, but it's a lot to chew through on your introduction to the group.

That's fine, as long as it's not boring.

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Real talk: What do all you people think about the singer of Yes? Come on, be honest. He's a bit "just kind of there" isn't he?

He does a lot of interesting things melodically but his voice isn't anything to write home about. At least he complements the music well.

I think I better try to just think of him as another keyboard or something instead of hanging on to his voice like an anchor. He's got this really limited way of expressing himself that makes wish he'd change his approach once in a while.

Basically. He's about as much a focus of the music as the vocalist to a tech death band.

Jon Anderson was a fair vocalist, nothing earthshaking.

He sounds like a gay frog, but I like that.

Listening to Topographic Oceans right now. I am getting a sort of Kermit vibe.

Seventies Yes doesn't do it for me, but if you're looking to get into them then their best and most highly rated album is Close to the Edge. Personally, I didn't get as much out of it as I thought, and for me, the likes of Big Generator, 90125 and Union, as well as the solo album (as it were) from Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe is where it's at.

Marillion/Genesis, hard to say. If you like seventies Genesis (Trespass/Nursery Cryme/Foxtrot etc) you will probably like early Marillion, but both bands changed to a different sound in the 80s (Genesis) and 90s (Marillion). Also, if by some chance you find yourself liking 70s Genesis try Big Big Train. You might also dig The Alan Parsons Project - lots of different vocalists in there. Let me know if you want any recs for them.

There are a whole lot of different types of Prog Rock bands - you might enjoy ELP but hate Rush, or like Yes but hate Genesis - so it can be a bit of a crap shoot. Probably best to have some idea of what you're looking for in terms of music before you go in.

I second that Van der Graaf album, by the way, but be warned: one of the songs is over twenty minutes long! :laughing: Worth it, though. You could also try Pendragon, IQ and Pallas, but again these are only suggestions.

Edit: Don't forget Electric Light Orchestra.

Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning
Ambrosia - Ambrosia
Camel - Mirage
Mr. Sirius - Barren Dream
Caravan - If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You

All good prog albums that go outside the box. Renaissance should be particularly up your alley because Annie Haslam is a great songstress.

Cool. I've got a lot of stuff to check out during the following week.

Decided to jump in the deep end this evening, so I'm currently listening to the Genesis album Selling England by the Pound.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ingEngland.jpg

The first track on the album starts off like it was written specifically to drive me up the wall. The only thing about it that's not confirming my worst expectations about progressive rock is that I don't think Peter Gabriel is being an awful singer right now.

Ok, so some parts are nice enough. Basically, when they slow down and get all mellow and atmospheric, it's endurable. Even kinda good. But then when they get all everything-and-the-kitchen-sink, I'm clawing at the walls for an escape route.

I'm somewhere in the second track now and it's just cheesy on a less offensive level, but not exactly to my liking. I don't like the part with the flute much in particular.

At least it seems like it's gonna be a musically varied album, so I'm sticking around. More interesting than Yes, that's for sure.

As you know, it's not my favourite. You could try A Trick of the Tail or Wind and Wuthering, even And Then There Were Three or Duke if you're still interested after you've got through this, which I wouldn't guarantee you will be.

Since this isn't an album review thread per se, I'm gonna allow myself to play fast and loose. I'm totally gonna drop the current album and check out one of these instead.

This little challenge of listening to a bunch of progressive rock is turning out different that I expected so far. I thought it would most likely be a rollercoaster of cool moments that I could get excited about and annoying moments that would get me all bothered, but so far, I'm overwhelmingly feeling just... unmoved. In one ear, out the other. It's kind of like if I listen to some AOR or the more dull end of pop music. I just don't feel anything at all.

Does any progressive rock band have an actually interesting singer? Gabriel/Collins/Anderson/Stewen Wilson seem like the prototypical models for prog vocalists: Measured, kinda sugary and mostly just not very expressive or interesting.

I'd like to hear some progressive rock that's either actually expressive or musically interesting. So far, it's almost strange to hear all that complex music fly by without anything registering or having any impact at all. This genre is shooting blanks :(

You're focusing too much on the vocals. This isn't pop music.

That said: King Crimson.

No, I'm listening to everything. I just complained about the vocals extra much because I'm noticing some boring tendencies in prog vocalists.

I've obviously still got mountains of things to listen to, so I can't say anything final about even any one band. But I'm definitely leaning towards the opinion that Yes and Genesis can **** right off.

King Crimson don't make their **** available, so that's too bad. I'm resorting to ELO right now instead.

Because they're not the focus. Listen to punk if you want an expressive vocalist.

"We're out of salt, so I'll just use cyanide."

KC is above and beyond. Worth the paranoia of your ISP coming down on you for downloading music.

Like I told you, go listen to Renaissance. I'd make the argument that practically every female singer-songwriter you enjoy, including Kate Bush, can trace their style back to them.

I love King Crimson and Yes and Gentle Giant as much as the next proghead, but you need to start with a band that at least crosses over somewhat into music you already like. Everyone needs a gateway artist.