The Prog Rock Album Club

Moss · 04-17-2014, 07:03 PM

Album Title: Pawn hearts
Artist: Van der Graaf Generator
Nationality: British
Year: 1971
Subgenre: Classic Prog?
Player(s): Peter Hammill (Guitars, Pianos and Vocals), Hugh Banton (Keyboards, Bass), Guy Evans (Drums), David Jackson (Sax and flute) --- with guest appearance from Robert Fripp on guitar
Familiarity: Another band I have heard of but never heard. I'm a prog rock noob for sure.
Favourite track(s): "A plague of lighthouse keepers"
Why? It's just so damn epic and really like several songs all in one. Plus, Robert Fripp! This song made me want to add something to the bucket list. Imagine renting a working lighthouse. Sitting up at the top with the light flashing on and off behind you. Try to pick the stormiest night of the year with lightning, thunder, rain slamming against the window, big roiling waves below crashing into the rocks. And you have this song cranking away as you sit there and watch it all unfold. Add beer and pizza and it's just about the coolest thing I could think about doing right now. I liked the ambiguous nature of the lyrics. Did the guy die at the end? Or find enlightenment? Or just go completely mad from the isolation? Personally I think he drowned but who knows? Seem like this is the type of song that could really annoy someone who does not enjoy prog which I thought was me but more on this later.
Least favourite track(s): Well this is where I get confused. Sounds like I should stick to the 3 songs from the original. I actually have a copy with 8 songs on it including one written by George Martin. Pretty much all just noise throwaways. But sticking with the original 3 I guess I would go with Man erg.
Why? I really liked the dissonant sax lines in Lemmings (Courtney love be damned, sax can belong in rock music). And it seems to be about some sort of post apocalyptic revolution or something. Although Man erg does have Fripp!
Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? No. I like the band name and have been pleasantly surprised with albums I did not expect to like so at this point I have a pretty open mind.
Factoids you'd like to share? I thought it was quite interesting that this album was #1 in Italy and they seemed to be huge in that country. Makes you wonder why that was the case. It's like that Sugarman movie where he was so beloved in South Africa and nowhere else.
End impression: Loved it.
Comments: Damn you Trollheart, I'm rapidly becoming something I did not ever expect, a prog-head (is that the correct term?). It's been a genre I have pretty much avoided like the plague but I am finding myself loving 3 of the 4 albums I have reviewed hear so far. I kind of pictured it all to be like "The watch" but so far it's been amazing. The vocals on this record blew me away. Sounded a bit like early Rob Halford or something which I consider a good thing. Lyrics were very dark I thought but matched the music quite well. My only complaint would be lack or ripping guitar but that is my own bias I need to get over and adding Robert Fripp to the mix certainly helped that. I'm always a fan of dissonant saxophone when done right and this album does it right. Once again, can't wait to hear more from these guys.
Rating: My rating system is all screwed up at this point as I don't have enough experience with the genre to know what good vs. great is. But I'm going with a 4.0 on this one in hopes that there are some down the road that may blow my mind even more.

Xurtio · 04-17-2014, 07:30 PM

Album Title: Pawn hearts
Artist: Van der Graaf Generator
Nationality: British
Year: 1971
Subgenre: Progish
Player(s): Peter Hammill (Guitars, Pianos and Vocals), Hugh Banton (Keyboards, Bass), Guy Evans (Drums), David Jackson (Sax and flute) --- with guest appearance from Robert Fripp on guitar
Familiarity: never heard of them before.
Favourite track(s): Man Eng
Least favourite track(s): Lemmings
Why? I liked the timing changes and use of staccato in Man Erg. The transitions flowed and I got the feeling that I was actually progressing through a song. The Lemmings track threw me off because the vocals were way to weird. It also had several mock transitions where it sounds like they're going to go into a new progression, but it's the same progression. I got tired of hearing the same organ technique over and over.
Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? I tend to have great expectations of prog music. I think I tend to romanticize it in my head. And then I'm often disappointed. Because the name of the band is a physics toy, I probably had even higher expectations.
Factoids you'd like to share? Nothing comes to mind.
End impression: Obviously a talented band with a versatile arsenal of sounds, I can't deny that. Mostly it's a matter of taste. The vocals, overall, are not my forte, and the organ use could have been a bit more conservative.
Comments: I was torn about Plague of Lighthouse Keepers. Some of it I really liked, but some of it was too slow for me. And again, I don't really like the vibrato vocal style he implements. He can sign good, but it's like he's trying to be weird sometimes and it's weird uncomfortable, not weird intriguing.
Rating: 3.5

Trollheart · 04-18-2014, 05:15 AM

Thanks guys: you two are really starting to fit in here! Sorry Moss, I know you're being changed into a proghead (correct term yes) sort of against your will, but I hope it's turning out to be a pleasant and unexpected experience.

I'm sort of surprised by Xurtio's dislike of Hammill's voice, considering it was the template for both Gabriel and Fish, but there you go.

Unknown Soldier · 04-18-2014, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Thanks guys: you two are really starting to fit in here! Sorry Moss, I know you're being changed into a proghead (correct term yes) sort of against your will, but I hope it's turning out to be a pleasant and unexpected experience.

I'm sort of surprised by Xurtio's dislike of Hammill's voice, considering it was the template for both Gabriel and Fish, but there you go.

That's really the crux of the matter for most people when it comes to VDGG, they either dig Hammill's voice or not and that usually affects their opinion of the band overall.

jackhammer · 04-19-2014, 07:03 PM

I need to get back involved in this thread as I have some gems to unleash on you all!

JGuy Grungeman · 04-19-2014, 08:22 PM

I'm in. I've been meaning to try Spock's Beard ever since I heard Neal Morse's solo project. He started in Spock's Beard.

Trollheart · 04-20-2014, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I need to get back involved in this thread as I have some gems to unleash on you all!

we would be honoured to have you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGuy Grungeman

I'm in. I've been meaning to try Spock's Beard ever since I heard Neal Morse's solo project. He started in Spock's Beard.

He did. "Momentum" is a pretty amazing album.

And now for this week's selection. Spin on, spin on... ah.
Okay then, it came up on
98
which unfortunately gives us this

Heavy horses --- Jethro Tull

Well, in fairness I've had it good the last few weeks, so it's not too much to expect we'd come up on one I hate. Well, not hate but don't like. Okay then, this is our next selection. Reviews in by next Sunday please.

Also, I've been looking down the list and though it's a good selection this guy has got pretty much mostly the same bands (Genesis, King Crimson, Yes, Floyd, Tull, Gentle Giant etc) with a few albums from each. I'm thinking of taking rostasi's suggestion on that much larger (and therefore more varied) list of the 1000 best prog albums. More scope for more interesting albums perhaps? What do yaz think?

Unknown Soldier · 04-20-2014, 06:59 AM

Hold up some of us have to review the VDGG album and with Easter it hasn't been so easy, mine up today though.

Trollheart · 04-20-2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Hold up some of us have to review the VDGG album and with Easter it hasn't been so easy, mine up today though.

Hmm. Tell me more about this Easter of which you speak!

Okay well if you want an extension (ooeer!) I can do that. Just let me know.
You do know the noobs (to this club that is) are kicking your ass though, don'tcha?

Unknown Soldier · 04-20-2014, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Okay well if you want an extension (ooeer!) I can do that. Just let me know.
You do know the noobs (to this club that is) are kicking your ass though, don'tcha?

Have you been drinking Guinness or something?

04-17-2014, 07:03 PM	#781 (permalink)
Moss Scuttle Buttin' Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boulder Colorado Posts: 972	Album Title: Pawn hearts Artist: Van der Graaf Generator Nationality: British Year: 1971 Subgenre: Classic Prog? Player(s): Peter Hammill (Guitars, Pianos and Vocals), Hugh Banton (Keyboards, Bass), Guy Evans (Drums), David Jackson (Sax and flute) --- with guest appearance from Robert Fripp on guitar Familiarity: Another band I have heard of but never heard. I'm a prog rock noob for sure. Favourite track(s): "A plague of lighthouse keepers" Why? It's just so damn epic and really like several songs all in one. Plus, Robert Fripp! This song made me want to add something to the bucket list. Imagine renting a working lighthouse. Sitting up at the top with the light flashing on and off behind you. Try to pick the stormiest night of the year with lightning, thunder, rain slamming against the window, big roiling waves below crashing into the rocks. And you have this song cranking away as you sit there and watch it all unfold. Add beer and pizza and it's just about the coolest thing I could think about doing right now. I liked the ambiguous nature of the lyrics. Did the guy die at the end? Or find enlightenment? Or just go completely mad from the isolation? Personally I think he drowned but who knows? Seem like this is the type of song that could really annoy someone who does not enjoy prog which I thought was me but more on this later. Least favourite track(s): Well this is where I get confused. Sounds like I should stick to the 3 songs from the original. I actually have a copy with 8 songs on it including one written by George Martin. Pretty much all just noise throwaways. But sticking with the original 3 I guess I would go with Man erg. Why? I really liked the dissonant sax lines in Lemmings (Courtney love be damned, sax can belong in rock music). And it seems to be about some sort of post apocalyptic revolution or something. Although Man erg does have Fripp! Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? No. I like the band name and have been pleasantly surprised with albums I did not expect to like so at this point I have a pretty open mind. Factoids you'd like to share? I thought it was quite interesting that this album was #1 in Italy and they seemed to be huge in that country. Makes you wonder why that was the case. It's like that Sugarman movie where he was so beloved in South Africa and nowhere else. End impression: Loved it. Comments: Damn you Trollheart, I'm rapidly becoming something I did not ever expect, a prog-head (is that the correct term?). It's been a genre I have pretty much avoided like the plague but I am finding myself loving 3 of the 4 albums I have reviewed hear so far. I kind of pictured it all to be like "The watch" but so far it's been amazing. The vocals on this record blew me away. Sounded a bit like early Rob Halford or something which I consider a good thing. Lyrics were very dark I thought but matched the music quite well. My only complaint would be lack or ripping guitar but that is my own bias I need to get over and adding Robert Fripp to the mix certainly helped that. I'm always a fan of dissonant saxophone when done right and this album does it right. Once again, can't wait to hear more from these guys. Rating: My rating system is all screwed up at this point as I don't have enough experience with the genre to know what good vs. great is. But I'm going with a 4.0 on this one in hopes that there are some down the road that may blow my mind even more. Last edited by Moss; 04-17-2014 at 07:10 PM.

04-17-2014, 07:30 PM	#782 (permalink)
Xurtio Brain Licker Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 1,083	Album Title: Pawn hearts Artist: Van der Graaf Generator Nationality: British Year: 1971 Subgenre: Progish Player(s): Peter Hammill (Guitars, Pianos and Vocals), Hugh Banton (Keyboards, Bass), Guy Evans (Drums), David Jackson (Sax and flute) --- with guest appearance from Robert Fripp on guitar Familiarity: never heard of them before. Favourite track(s): Man Eng Least favourite track(s): Lemmings Why? I liked the timing changes and use of staccato in Man Erg. The transitions flowed and I got the feeling that I was actually progressing through a song. The Lemmings track threw me off because the vocals were way to weird. It also had several mock transitions where it sounds like they're going to go into a new progression, but it's the same progression. I got tired of hearing the same organ technique over and over. Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? I tend to have great expectations of prog music. I think I tend to romanticize it in my head. And then I'm often disappointed. Because the name of the band is a physics toy, I probably had even higher expectations. Factoids you'd like to share? Nothing comes to mind. End impression: Obviously a talented band with a versatile arsenal of sounds, I can't deny that. Mostly it's a matter of taste. The vocals, overall, are not my forte, and the organ use could have been a bit more conservative. Comments: I was torn about Plague of Lighthouse Keepers. Some of it I really liked, but some of it was too slow for me. And again, I don't really like the vibrato vocal style he implements. He can sign good, but it's like he's trying to be weird sometimes and it's weird uncomfortable, not weird intriguing. Rating: 3.5 __________________ H̓̇̅̉yͤ͏mͬ͂ͧn͑̽̽̌ͪ̑͐͟o̴͊̈́͑̇m͛͌̓ͦ̑aͫ̽ͤ̇n̅̎͐̒ͫ͐c̆ͯͫ̋ ̔̃́eͯ͒rͬͬ̄҉

04-18-2014, 05:15 AM	#783 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Thanks guys: you two are really starting to fit in here! Sorry Moss, I know you're being changed into a proghead (correct term yes) sort of against your will, but I hope it's turning out to be a pleasant and unexpected experience. I'm sort of surprised by Xurtio's dislike of Hammill's voice, considering it was the template for both Gabriel and Fish, but there you go. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

04-19-2014, 07:03 PM	#785 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I need to get back involved in this thread as I have some gems to unleash on you all! __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

04-19-2014, 08:22 PM	#786 (permalink)
JGuy Grungeman Primo Celebate Sexiness Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 2,662	I'm in. I've been meaning to try Spock's Beard ever since I heard Neal Morse's solo project. He started in Spock's Beard.