The Prog & Fusion Album Club

dankrsta · 08-03-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

I consider the most classic prog album to be Yes' Close to the Edge from 1972. Are there any regular or would-be participants who have not given that one a decent two-three listen-throughs yet?

I've heard it a couple of times a long time ago and didn't like it. But I'm willing to give it another chance and see if it fares better now. Or I can try to understand what exactly I didn't like.

I'm looking forward to Robert Wyatt. I youtubed a couple of songs and I have a feeling it's a great album. 'Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road' - what a song.

Guybrush · 08-05-2010, 11:29 AM

Alright, then Close to the Edge will be my suggestion this time and unless we get some other ideas, that will be next week's homework!

philster · 08-06-2010, 06:09 PM

Yo guys,

Aight, let it be Yes. I've been annoyed by the singer earlier, but still listened to it a couple of times. Just now I gave it another try and it is actually a quite nice album (besides the voice).

philster · 08-07-2010, 03:31 AM

Hi,

I'm not really happy with Wyatt, not my taste at all, and maybe a bit overrated - at least the lyrics are hilarious.

It's a bit funny that you made a prog AND fusion forum, since I start to understand now that they are quite different genres. I seem to have problems with prog, including Yes, Caravan and Gentle Giant, although I am beginning to like it, especially Gentle Giant (guess it's like that with everything one listens to a lot). I'm however still interested to hear more, since the bands are obviously quite different from each other. One thing I'm especially upset about is, that everything I hear about in terms of prog bands (and also some jazz rock bands mentioned in this forum) is from Canterbury. Are there no other places than this incestuous Canterbury producing quality prog? Or is it a Canterbury phenomenon? Guess I should read the Wikipedia entry!

But! Since we have a classic prog album for people who start to get into this (after Wyatt), I'd like to suggest a classic and influential fusion album for later listening and discussions. I'm thinking Miles Davis' Tribute to Jack Johnson (1970), which is praised as one of the first and most influential fusion albums. It is in line with Davis' Bitches Brew (also 1970), which might be too long to listen to for a review club like this, but also strongly recommended. Both albums sound strongly drug influenced and have a more spheric and dirty sound than some later fusion bands, like e.g. Chick Coreas Return to Forever, who sounds very thought through, composed and a bit "sterile" compared to Bitches Brew or Jack Johnson. So check it out if you have time!

Guybrush · 08-07-2010, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philster

Hi,

I'm not really happy with Wyatt, not my taste at all, and maybe a bit overrated - at least the lyrics are hilarious.

It's a bit funny that you made a prog AND fusion forum, since I start to understand now that they are quite different genres. I seem to have problems with prog, including Yes, Caravan and Gentle Giant, although I am beginning to like it, especially Gentle Giant (guess it's like that with everything one listens to a lot). I'm however still interested to hear more, since the bands are obviously quite different from each other. One thing I'm especially upset about is, that everything I hear about in terms of prog bands (and also some jazz rock bands mentioned in this forum) is from Canterbury. Are there no other places than this incestuous Canterbury producing quality prog? Or is it a Canterbury phenomenon? Guess I should read the Wikipedia entry!

No! It is definetly not a Canterbury phenomenon. Canterbury bands only make up for a tiny slice of the prog and fusion out there .. but you are right! Canterbury has gotten a lot of attention here so far (Henry Cow, Gilgamesh, Robert Wyatt), but they are not what you'd call the most famous of the prog or fusion bands. Nor are they the most celebrated by progheads. The most famous prog bands of old are bands like King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull and, of course, Pink Floyd. None of these are actually Canterbury bands.

I have a thing for Canterbury, hence my Henry Cow suggestion, and so I was also pleased to see others suggesting Canterbury stuff, but .. I wouldn't want this to turn into the Canterbury album club. Maybe we should keep that in mind

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philster

But! Since we have a classic prog album for people who start to get into this (after Wyatt), I'd like to suggest a classic and influential fusion album for later listening and discussions. I'm thinking Miles Davis' Tribute to Jack Johnson (1970), which is praised as one of the first and most influential fusion albums. It is in line with Davis' Bitches Brew (also 1970), which might be too long to listen to for a review club like this, but also strongly recommended. Both albums sound strongly drug influenced and have a more spheric and dirty sound than some later fusion bands, like e.g. Chick Coreas Return to Forever, who sounds very thought through, composed and a bit "sterile" compared to Bitches Brew or Jack Johnson. So check it out if you have time!

Brilliant

I'll do my best to remember your suggestion!

Guybrush · 08-09-2010, 03:50 AM

Discussion thread for Rock Bottom is up!

http://www.musicbanter.com/prog-psyc...om-1974-a.html

Here's this week's homework :

Yes - Close to the Edge (1972)

This is a famous album by english prog band Yes which, at the time of it's creation, was made up by singer Jon Anderson, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and drummer Bill Bruford, all legendary prog rock musicians. The album was a creative effort where the whole band added creatively to the compositions and each of it's three songs is a puzzle with pieces added by the different members.

Close to the Edge is a concept album and the title drack draws inspiration from Hermann Hesse's book Siddartha. According to this interpretation, the song tracks Hesse's character who is close to the edge of a river which is symbolic of life and being close to the past lifetimes of one's soul. Close to the edge of this river, the character has a spiritual awakening. This theme of spiritual awakening, spring, rebirth, rivers, valleys seeps through the album. For example, the title track is birthed out of sounds of birds and running water and fades out much the same way.

Drummer Bill Bruford figured this was as good as Yes would ever get, so he left the band after it's completion to join up with King Crimson. It is indeed largely regarded as Yes' Magnum Opus and as a masterpiece. In short, it is one of the most famous and widely appreciated prog rock albums in the world.

It requires a few spins before it sticks, but it's not particularly hard (title track may be the hardest). So get to it!

edit :

Bear in mind that many versions of this album now contain bonus tracks! There are only three songs on the original album.

debaserr · 08-09-2010, 01:23 PM

i am ready for this assignment!

thomasracer56 · 08-09-2010, 02:36 PM

gonna see what i could do.

Guybrush · 08-16-2010, 01:53 AM

Aaaaight, I've made a discussion thread for Yes' Close to the Edge!

http://www.musicbanter.com/prog-psyc...ge-1972-a.html

Guybrush · 08-16-2010, 01:58 AM

Also, this week's album is Miles Davis' 1970 album "A Tribute to Jack Johnson"!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philster

Miles Davis - A Tribute to Jack Johnson (1971)

But! Since we have a classic prog album for people who start to get into this (after Wyatt), I'd like to suggest a classic and influential fusion album for later listening and discussions. I'm thinking Miles Davis' Tribute to Jack Johnson (1970), which is praised as one of the first and most influential fusion albums. It is in line with Davis' Bitches Brew (also 1970), which might be too long to listen to for a review club like this, but also strongly recommended. Both albums sound strongly drug influenced and have a more spheric and dirty sound than some later fusion bands, like e.g. Chick Coreas Return to Forever, who sounds very thought through, composed and a bit "sterile" compared to Bitches Brew or Jack Johnson. So check it out if you have time!

Check it out and then we'll make a discussion thread for it next monday

Oh, and accepting suggestions!

08-05-2010, 11:29 AM	#62 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Alright, then Close to the Edge will be my suggestion this time and unless we get some other ideas, that will be next week's homework! __________________ Something Completely Different

08-09-2010, 03:50 AM	#66 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Discussion thread for Rock Bottom is up! http://www.musicbanter.com/prog-psyc...om-1974-a.html Here's this week's homework : Yes - Close to the Edge (1972) This is a famous album by english prog band Yes which, at the time of it's creation, was made up by singer Jon Anderson, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and drummer Bill Bruford, all legendary prog rock musicians. The album was a creative effort where the whole band added creatively to the compositions and each of it's three songs is a puzzle with pieces added by the different members. Close to the Edge is a concept album and the title drack draws inspiration from Hermann Hesse's book Siddartha. According to this interpretation, the song tracks Hesse's character who is close to the edge of a river which is symbolic of life and being close to the past lifetimes of one's soul. Close to the edge of this river, the character has a spiritual awakening. This theme of spiritual awakening, spring, rebirth, rivers, valleys seeps through the album. For example, the title track is birthed out of sounds of birds and running water and fades out much the same way. Drummer Bill Bruford figured this was as good as Yes would ever get, so he left the band after it's completion to join up with King Crimson. It is indeed largely regarded as Yes' Magnum Opus and as a masterpiece. In short, it is one of the most famous and widely appreciated prog rock albums in the world. It requires a few spins before it sticks, but it's not particularly hard (title track may be the hardest). So get to it! edit : Bear in mind that many versions of this album now contain bonus tracks! There are only three songs on the original album. __________________ Something Completely Different

08-09-2010, 01:23 PM	#67 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,470	i am ready for this assignment! __________________ Last.FM

08-16-2010, 01:53 AM	#69 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Aaaaight, I've made a discussion thread for Yes' Close to the Edge! http://www.musicbanter.com/prog-psyc...ge-1972-a.html __________________ Something Completely Different

08-06-2010, 06:09 PM	#63 (permalink)
philster Groupie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 6	Yo guys, Aight, let it be Yes. I've been annoyed by the singer earlier, but still listened to it a couple of times. Just now I gave it another try and it is actually a quite nice album (besides the voice).

08-07-2010, 03:31 AM	#64 (permalink)
philster Groupie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 6	Hi, I'm not really happy with Wyatt, not my taste at all, and maybe a bit overrated - at least the lyrics are hilarious. It's a bit funny that you made a prog AND fusion forum, since I start to understand now that they are quite different genres. I seem to have problems with prog, including Yes, Caravan and Gentle Giant, although I am beginning to like it, especially Gentle Giant (guess it's like that with everything one listens to a lot). I'm however still interested to hear more, since the bands are obviously quite different from each other. One thing I'm especially upset about is, that everything I hear about in terms of prog bands (and also some jazz rock bands mentioned in this forum) is from Canterbury. Are there no other places than this incestuous Canterbury producing quality prog? Or is it a Canterbury phenomenon? Guess I should read the Wikipedia entry! But! Since we have a classic prog album for people who start to get into this (after Wyatt), I'd like to suggest a classic and influential fusion album for later listening and discussions. I'm thinking Miles Davis' Tribute to Jack Johnson (1970), which is praised as one of the first and most influential fusion albums. It is in line with Davis' Bitches Brew (also 1970), which might be too long to listen to for a review club like this, but also strongly recommended. Both albums sound strongly drug influenced and have a more spheric and dirty sound than some later fusion bands, like e.g. Chick Coreas Return to Forever, who sounds very thought through, composed and a bit "sterile" compared to Bitches Brew or Jack Johnson. So check it out if you have time!

08-09-2010, 02:36 PM	#68 (permalink)
thomasracer56 Still Crazy Nutso! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: California, USA Posts: 148	gonna see what i could do.