It had to happen... Prog Wars!

Screen13 · 05-23-2012, 06:52 PM

While I respect the talent in Yes, in a way I find Anderson the stop to fully enjoying their music. He can write some good lyrics, and has a good voice most of the time (Sometimes those high notes can grate on me, though) but his peaceful mystical style was not really my preference. Close to the Edge is understandably the highlight of Yes for a lot of their listeners, but I'm more with Fragile (now if that was the competition, I may have a harder time deciding).

The anger and doom in Animals is far more to my listening compared to Close to the Edge. The seriously epic Dogs and the aggressive Sheep are my favorites, with the latter featuring some of the strongest guitar riffing on a Floyd album. This is where I think Roger Waters is at his best.

Screen13 · 05-23-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

Pile another vote on Close to the Edge. I've never understood the insane hype for Animals-- yeah it's a good album but it pales in comparison to Pink Floyd's more well-known stuff and even, I'd argue, Meddle. I don't find it very memorable, but CttE is just insanely fun to listen to. You've got a group of some very groove-oriented, very technically-skilled musicians all jamming together on three epic tracks-- every time I listen to the album I focus on a different musician and discover something new and titillating.

In Animals' defense, Waters' lyrics are much more engaging than Anderson's abstract(nonsensical) narratives.

My guess is that in Animals, Pink Floyd created an album that was angry but with sharp wit and good observations that was not a radio favorite - you know how people like to choose the albums without the over-played songs (no matter how good those are). Also, taking a historical look, it was a very surprising album for the time that was really good. The challenge to be bolder and more relevant was there, the Floyd took it, and succeeded with that album in my opinion. Although Punk shove Prog and Metal out of the picture, it was Animals that surprised a lot of people enough for some to give the Post-Syd Pink Floyd a second look.

Also, the bite of Waters' lyrics (no pun intended) is pretty sharp and perfect with the music.

I'm still more of a Syd era listener, and after that time I can say Meddle is still a favorite of mine (Still possibly my favorite Pink Floyd album, due mainly to "Echoes" and for sounding more of a group effort) but I think that Animals was a major rebound from Wish You Were Here. Possibly the last real solid Pink Floyd album (I like The Wall and The Final Cut, but...)

Mrd00d · 05-23-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

Pile another vote on Close to the Edge. I've never understood the insane hype for Animals-- yeah it's a good album but it pales in comparison to Pink Floyd's more well-known stuff and even, I'd argue, Meddle. I don't find it very memorable, but CttE is just insanely fun to listen to. You've got a group of some very groove-oriented, very technically-skilled musicians all jamming together on three epic tracks-- every time I listen to the album I focus on a different musician and discover something new and titillating.

In Animals' defense, Waters' lyrics are much more engaging than Anderson's abstract(nonsensical) narratives.

Animals is one of the handful of albums that can bring tears to my eyes. That's why I shout from rooftops about it. Because it touched me... especially the lyrics, but the instrumentation is perfect as well. Dogs does it for me, the rest is bonus. Animals is one of the most important albums made as far as I'm concerned. But yeah I don't know what everyone else's reasons are...

Guybrush · 05-24-2012, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrd00d

But yeah I don't know what everyone else's reasons are...

I find it hard to describe in words the genius of Close to the Edge. Composing and making the music was a highly collaborative community effort by the whole band who basically made up the songs as they went along and recorded them. It should've been a chaotic mess, but it turned out one of the most beautiful rock albums ever made. The dynamics of the music, the harmonies, the coming and going of musical themes with slight changes .. it just has so much of interest going on in it. With that much stuff going on musically and considering the subject matter, it's an incredibly ambitious album and when hearing about it, one might think it juggles too many things at once, but they actually managed to get it all together beautifully. When asked in an interview, Bill Bruford (drummer at the time) claims he still doesn't understand how they managed to get that album made.

Not my favourite prog album of all time, but definetly way up there.

As a side note on Yes and their other albums, I actually prefer The Yes Album over Fragile.

Howard the Duck · 05-24-2012, 10:11 AM

bummer - my fave Yes album against my fave PF album

it's a tie

so i'm not voting

The Batlord · 05-24-2012, 11:55 AM

Alright, I don't really listen to prog, and I am not participating in this battle, but I'm idly reading it, and if you make a vote, update it in your post or it becomes confusing who is winning. So, at this point I think it's...

Close to the Edge - 5
Animals - 4

Unknown Soldier · 05-24-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Alright, I don't really listen to prog, and I am not participating in this battle, but I'm idly reading it, and if you make a vote, update it in your post or it becomes confusing who is winning. So, at this point I think it's...

Close to the Edge - 5
Animals - 4

That's right, prog is too complex for you.

Electrophonic Tonic · 05-24-2012, 02:05 PM

I enjoy Close to the Edge as an album more than Animals. But when the battle is based on prog, no one beats Close to the Edge. It is THE prog album. The reverb on the 'Get up, get down' section in the title track and the first transition in 'And You And I' are some of my favorite moments in prog.

Close to the Edge- 6
Animals- 4

Trollheart · 05-24-2012, 04:17 PM

Okay well, CttE is edging (sorry!) ahead, and I think if it gets another four votes (and Animals doesn't get any more) I'll declare it the winner. So let's have your votes to wrap this up, as I have a very interesting choice for the second battle...

Trollheart · 05-26-2012, 05:59 AM

Current standings, with no votes in the last day or so, as follows:

Yes --- Close to the edge --- 6 votes
Pink Floyd --- Animals --- 4 votes

It's hardly conclusive, but if there are no further votes I'll take this as a result, and move on to the next battle. I'll give it a few hours, but if there's nothing by this evening we'll move onto the next one.

05-24-2012, 04:17 PM	#39 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Okay well, CttE is edging (sorry!) ahead, and I think if it gets another four votes (and Animals doesn't get any more) I'll declare it the winner. So let's have your votes to wrap this up, as I have a very interesting choice for the second battle... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

05-26-2012, 05:59 AM	#40 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Current standings, with no votes in the last day or so, as follows: Yes --- Close to the edge --- 6 votes Pink Floyd --- Animals --- 4 votes It's hardly conclusive, but if there are no further votes I'll take this as a result, and move on to the next battle. I'll give it a few hours, but if there's nothing by this evening we'll move onto the next one. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

05-23-2012, 06:52 PM	#31 (permalink)
Screen13 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,388	While I respect the talent in Yes, in a way I find Anderson the stop to fully enjoying their music. He can write some good lyrics, and has a good voice most of the time (Sometimes those high notes can grate on me, though) but his peaceful mystical style was not really my preference. Close to the Edge is understandably the highlight of Yes for a lot of their listeners, but I'm more with Fragile (now if that was the competition, I may have a harder time deciding). The anger and doom in Animals is far more to my listening compared to Close to the Edge. The seriously epic Dogs and the aggressive Sheep are my favorites, with the latter featuring some of the strongest guitar riffing on a Floyd album. This is where I think Roger Waters is at his best.

05-24-2012, 02:05 PM	#38 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	I enjoy Close to the Edge as an album more than Animals. But when the battle is based on prog, no one beats Close to the Edge. It is THE prog album. The reverb on the 'Get up, get down' section in the title track and the first transition in 'And You And I' are some of my favorite moments in prog. Close to the Edge- 6 Animals- 4