Win The Batlord Over to Prog

**Frownland** · 12-30-2014, 06:24 PM

You guessed correctly on my recs Batlord. But I should let you know that miRthkon boils down to Zappa worship with a variety of other influences thrown in.

**Goofle** · 12-30-2014, 06:26 PM

I don't really like prog much but here's a few of the albums I enjoyed when I heard them. Also, these are regular prog albums, not Avant-Rock stuff like mirRthkon or Normal Love (both highly recommended):

Machine · 12-30-2014, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I'd also like to know what recs would fall under "prog for prog's sake", and what is progressive in the sense of being truly experimental. I imagine anything Frownland suggests is probably gonna be pretty unique and innovative, and I'd be extra interested in stuff with that kind of intent, rather than just Yes worship. I intend to give that kind of stuff plenty of attention regardless, but I also don't want to just explore a bunch of genre stereotypes. That would kill my enthusiasm real quick.

I know a lot, if not all, of kraut rock is considered prog (I've definitely heard Amon Duul and Can referred to as prog bands). I've seen Boo Boo be pretty free with his definition of prog, even calling Radiohead prog (although if he was actually calling them prog or just saying that they embodied the experimental spirit of prog more than bands like Dream Theater I don't remember). Not that I'm looking to explore Radiohead in this thread (already listened to quite a bit of them anyway), but I'm just interested in getting a wider range of bands, even if pedantic prog purists might scoff at their being called prog.

I'm not all that well versed in prog, but for the weird side defiantly check out 80's King Crimson, Tool, some early Primus stuff like Pork Soda and Tales From The Punchbowl. Wankery would include Yes, Genesis, Dream Theater, and a bit of the Rush catlouge (although there is some weird **** there to).

The Batlord · 12-30-2014, 07:47 PM

Rush - Hemispheres

Figured I'd go with some more Rush. I think Trollheart's recs killed my patience, as I threw this on last night and wasn't having it. Now I'm digging it much harder. As I'm a riff man, they're definitely the main thing I notice, and whoever the **** their guitarist is has got some killer ones. I've actually noticed quite a few that wouldn't sound out of place on a Sabbath album. Even when the guitar work isn't particularly heavy it's usually catchy and dynamic. Rush has an energy that keeps me far more engaged than a lot of what I've heard from other bands.

Also digging the more developed sound than on 2112. As cool as it was, the title track seemed like some of the bits were being forced to fit together, whereas the eighteen-minute epic on this album, "Cygnus X-1 Book II Hemispheres" feels more organic. Still know **** all about song structure, but I digs it.

There's also a sense of light-hearted fun to their sound. They don't seem to be pretentious or taking themselves to seriously. Unlike Marillion. Thinking I actually like Rush now. Too lazy to say anything else.

Machine · 12-30-2014, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Rush - Hemispheres

Figured I'd go with some more Rush. I think Trollheart's recs killed my patience, as I threw this on last night and wasn't having it. Now I'm digging it much harder. As I'm a riff man, they're definitely the main thing I notice, and whoever the **** their guitarist is has got some killer ones. I've actually noticed quite a few that wouldn't sound out of place on a Sabbath album. Even when the guitar work isn't particularly heavy it's usually catchy and dynamic. Rush has an energy that keeps me far more engaged than a lot of what I've heard from other bands.

Also digging the more developed sound than on 2112. As cool as it was, the title track seemed like some of the bits were being forced to fit together, whereas the eighteen-minute epic on this album, "Cygnus X-1 Book II Hemispheres" feels more organic. Still know **** all about song structure, but I digs it.

There's also a sense of light-hearted fun to their sound. They don't seem to be pretentious or taking themselves to seriously. Unlike Marillion. Thinking I actually like Rush now. Too lazy to say anything else.

Yep that's what I think hasn't aged well about 2112 was the break between each part, whereas Hemispheres all flows together like it's a song that just happens to be long. I'm glad you're liking Rush they were my first prog band I ever heard, and liked.

Chula Vista · 12-30-2014, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Unlike Marillion.

Dick.

**Frownland** · 12-30-2014, 08:22 PM

Ja you jerk how dare you have good taste.

The Batlord · 12-30-2014, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

Dick.

Have you told your wife you're gay yet? I think she has a right to know.

The Batlord · 12-30-2014, 08:46 PM

miRthkon - Vehicle

You know, I think it actually helps that I have a short attention span and little appreciation for complexity, or else I'd probably be confounded by this. As it is I just kind of listen to what's going on right now and don't think much about it, so it all kind of goes by in a fun, stream-of-consciousness blur. I might have very little idea what the **** I just listened to, but I was still entertained. I dig how the percussive, stop/start nature of the music gives it a sort of playful edge, like the band is ****ing with me and letting me know it.

Obviously as a metalhead I'm gonna notice the guitar parts, and it's also pretty cool how they often contrast simple, alt metal riffing by playing it over oddball passages using saxophones and other weird **** that somehow rhythmically sync up. About two thirds of the way through "Zhagunk" they even throw a guitar solo that delightfully makes almost no sense when paired with those riffs.

In all honesty though, as fun as this is, unless they went in a completely different direction with their next album, I don't know that I would have any need to listen to it. Vehicle is just too random for individual songs to make much of an impression on me for the most part. I could probably just throw this on and tune in and out and not even be able to definitively say that I'd even heard this part or that song before.

Machine · 12-30-2014, 10:24 PM

^
I think I need to hear that album soon the way described it.

12-30-2014, 06:24 PM	#71 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	You guessed correctly on my recs Batlord. But I should let you know that miRthkon boils down to Zappa worship with a variety of other influences thrown in. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

12-30-2014, 08:22 PM	#77 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Ja you jerk how dare you have good taste. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

12-30-2014, 10:24 PM	#80 (permalink)
Machine moon lake inc. Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Detroit Posts: 2,125	^ I think I need to hear that album soon the way described it. __________________ boost my ego listen to me stroke my delay pedal ever wanted to hear death grips songs... but they're acoustic? me neither.