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|   Okay proggers, it's your turn. Rank these 5 albums.. | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 6:32 AM | | Following on Darius's post from below, let's do the same for these prog classics in order of quality. I'll post my ranking later.
1. ELP: Brain Salad Surgery
2. Genesis: Selling England by the Pound
3. Gentle Giant: The Power and the Glory
4. King Crimson: Red
5. Yes: The Yes Album
I know this has beeen debated before on this board, butI don't consider Pink Floyd prog. Also, while Thick as a Brick could be considered a prog album, I don't generally think of Jethro Tull a a prog band, so I disqualified them. You could debate including Gentle Giant since they are clearly the least well known of this list, but to me at least they were one of the best prog bands around.
There is one band in my list that I personally don't much care for, but I think they need to be included because of their significance in the prog movement in the '70's. You'll see who I mean when I do my ranking later. |
| Well I can rank three of them... | Ex-Lion Tamer
Feb 28, 2003 7:07 AM | | I don't have any GG albums, and the only KC album I have is <i>In the Court of the Crimson King</i>, so I'll have to sub it in for <i>Red</i>. Here's my ranking....
Genesis
Yes
ELP
King Crimson
Genesis is an easy choice at the top of the list, unlike the two at the bottom, it holds up the best today. Not overwrought or with production that sounds in any way dated (see ELP or KC). And the songs are very good, top to bottom.
Unlike other Yes albums I've heard, and I'm no expert, this one ROCKS.
Like the Genesis album, the songs are all good, but I think it suffers from dated sounding production, but I'm picking nits here big time.
EL-P Karn Evil 9 saves this album, and keeps it playing with the big boys on this list.
This is fun, can we do '80s albums next? Hmmm...
The Queen is Dead
Setting Sons
Remain in Light
Disintegration
Skylarking
Mark |
| Let's do '80's albums - nt | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 7:17 AM | | |
| I think you just admitted to being a progger... | Stone
Feb 28, 2003 7:26 AM | | What do you have to say about that???
Regarding the 80s albums, here's my list (although it's hard because they're all damn good):
(1) The Queen Is Dead - If someone said "Pick one 80s album to buy," this would likely be the pick. Just a classic, in my mind.
(2) Remain In Light - What makes this a solid #2 for me is the rhythm of it. And it's a fun album too.
(3) Setting Sons - I think this may actually be a 70s album, but it's just a great album. I'm not overly fond of the "Heat Wave" cover though and thus its spot at #3.
(4) Disintegration - If you had listed <i>The Head On the Door</i> or <i>Boys Don't Cry</i>, we would probably have a different #2 or at least #3. I like this album a lot, but it is a step down from #1-3 in this list.
(5) Skylarking - I find this album very enjoyable, and find it better than a lot of 80s albums (and albums in general), but it never clicked with me like it has with many other people. I bought it right when it came out (I originally bought the cassette version before "Dear God" was added) and I feel like I should absolutely love this album. Instead, I merely think it's very good.
Stone |
| Back in the day, I definitely was... | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 7:43 AM | | these days, with a handful of exceptions, prog doesn't get many spins at Chez Grblgrbl. |
| Ooops... | Ex-Lion Tamer
Feb 28, 2003 8:13 AM | | I actually meant to type Sound Affects not Settings Sons which, I also think is a '79-ish release.
Progger? Moi? Not really a progger, but I do have my share of albums from the likes of Pink Floyd, Genesis, Strawbs, J-M Jarre, Eno and the like. Doesn't make me a progger, just makes me well rounded :-)
I like your ranking of 80s albums...mine would go like this;
Queen is Dead
Skylarking
Remain in Light
Sound Affects (if it were Setting Sons, I might have it ahead of Remain in Light)
Disintegration
Mark |
| Don't feel ashamed to admit it... | Demetrio
Feb 28, 2003 8:21 AM | | You should be proud of yourself for being a progger!! :-)
Demetrio. |
| Be ashamed! Be ashamed! | Stone
Feb 28, 2003 8:26 AM | | Just kidding.
Hey, Demetrio, I haven't been exposed to much prog, and the little I have heard didn't really do much for me. I tend to like the more rocking stuff of what I've heard (and no, I don't remember what that was specifically). Do you have a comp you could set me up with so I can get some more exposure to it?
Stone |
| Don't be ashamed you too!! | Demetrio
Feb 28, 2003 8:31 AM | | Hey, Stone, e-mail me privately informing your address, I'll make a such comp for you this weekend, okay?
Demetrio
progger@terra.com.br |
| Don't be ashamed you too!! | Demetrio
Feb 28, 2003 8:33 AM | | Hey, Stone, e-mail me privately informing your address, I'll make a such comp for you this weekend, okay?
Demetrio
progger@terra.com.br |
| This one is easy (for me) | MasterCylinder
Feb 28, 2003 7:17 AM | | 1. Yes: The Yes Album
2. King Crimson: Red
3. ELP: Brain Salad Surgury
4. Gentle Giant: The Power & the Glory
5. Genesis: Selling England By the Pound
The top 3 were all very influential for me as a young music student. Yes receives the top spot due to its greater impact upon my generation of listeners.
Genesis gets the last spot because of 2 reasons:
1) that particular release is not my fav from Genesis
2) they are the only band listed here that (arguably) "sold out" |
| Wow, I can't let the comment on Genesis go... | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 7:23 AM | | First of all we are ranking the albums, noit the band. Genesis didn't sell out until 5 or 6 albums after Selling England, and it was after their most important member, their creative force hasd left the band.
Secondly, i would argue that, except for King Crimson, all of the others sold out:
ELP: Love Beach
Yes: 90125
Gentle Giant: Civilian |
| Forgot about LOVE BEACH | MasterCylinder
Feb 28, 2003 7:28 AM | | oops -- my bad.
That is why I qualified it with "arguably".
GG is not capable of a sell out.
Yes actually came back to the fold after dumping Trevor.
As for Genesis, my fav release is TOTT, which by your calendar is post sellout.
Oh, well. |
| Forgot about LOVE BEACH | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 7:38 AM | | GG definiteloy did sell out with Civilian, a lame attempt at late '70's pop. I actually like TOTT a lot and would consider it pre-sell out (I said 5 or 6 years which would put it at ATTWT or Duke).
Yes may have come back to the fold, but they've been terrible ever since. |
| and Giant For A Day. | BradH
Feb 28, 2003 7:58 AM | | I think
i Civilian
was a
i successful
attempt at pop music where
i Giant For A Day
was not. That was a distinction lost on proggers who thought all pop sucked anyway. |
| Don't Care for "THE LADDER" ? | MasterCylinder
Feb 28, 2003 9:32 AM | | .......what about the studio tracks on the KEYS TO ASCENSION discs ?
Even though many think all of the Trevor era was a sellout, I really do love "TALK". The writing and the DDD sonic production are both top notch.
My all-time best YES CD is a Japanese mini-LP 20-bit version of "RELAYER" -- it will rock your socks. |
| I have the Japanese Relayer... | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 10:02 AM | | It does rock. As far as later Yes...I liked everything they did through Going for the One and nothing since. |
| Okay, I will play the game, but of my way... | Demetrio
Feb 28, 2003 7:24 AM | | First I would rank the albums you listed this way:
1. Genesis: Selling England by the Pound
2. King Crimson: Red
3. Yes: The Yes Album
4. ELP: Brain Salad Surgery
5. Gentle Giant: The Power and the Glory
Now let me rank the list I would submit myself:
1. PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon
2. GENESIS - Selling England By The Pound
3. CAMEL - Moonmadness
4. KING CRIMSON - Red
5. YES - Close To The Edge
Demetrio. |
| Demetrio, I defer to you in all things prog, but... | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 7:32 AM | | I just don't see how people consider Pink Floyd prog. I debated with myself in the choice between The Yes Album and Close to the Edge. It's pretty much a toss-up to me. I';m surprised by Moonmadness - a very good album, but I prefer Mirage, and I really like GG much better than Camel. |
| I think they are prog in their own way... | Demetrio
Feb 28, 2003 8:18 AM | | I have seen other people arguing the same, that Pink Floyd can't be classified as prog, and so on. Personally I consider them prog, like I do consider Porcupine Tree prog too (Dusty Chalk disagrees totally with me on this matter).
I think it's a matter of personal viewpoint. See the case of the British band Caravan, they are accepted as a prog band, no question (including myself), but listen to their albums and some of their songs will make you ask yourself if that band can be considered really prog.
Agree with you that Mirage is surely one of the best CAMEL releases, and must say I am always doubtful about which one is better (if Moonmadness or Mrage). Being a huge Camel fan myself, and not enjoying Gentle Giant at all, I could never choose GG over Camel, right :-)
Cheers
Demetrio. |
| I'm very surprised you don't like Gentle Giant | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 9:04 AM | | Have you given them enough of a chance? What have you heard. I'll admit they are an acquired taste, but, given your love of prog, this surprises me. |
| ditto | MasterCylinder
Feb 28, 2003 9:38 AM | | GG was the original attempt at DREAM THEATER.
By that, I mean the similar music school educated rockers. |
| Yeah, maybe I didn’t listen to the right one yet... | Demetrio
Feb 28, 2003 9:43 AM | | Out of mind I can recall to have already tried only these: <b>Three Friends, In A Glass House</b> and <b>Free Hand</b>. I have to admit, none of these rang any bell on me, so I didn't want to give anything else a try anymore.
Demetrio. |
| Hmmm...those are all pretty good, actually | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 10:08 AM | | My favorites are The Power and the Glory, Octopus, and In a Glass House. I will say though that GG definitely is not a band that will grab you. It tends to be pretty off-putting at first, but after repeated listenings it really blossoms. i hater The Power and the Glory the first time I lheard it. |
| The Crim and GG spoil the batch | Dave_G
Feb 28, 2003 7:25 AM | | Genesis
Yes
ELP
KC
GG
Is how I would rank them but I don't care for GG or that old school KC. I would replace the Crim with Tulls' Aqualung and GG with Kansas's first album.
Dave |
| Old School Crim | MasterCylinder
Feb 28, 2003 9:41 AM | | .......from everything they did, RED is the best.
With the exception of the improv piece, RED is excellent from start to finish.
Some of the best work you will ever hear between Bruford & Wetton. |
| re: Okay proggers, it's your turn. Rank these 5 albums.. | Mr MidFi
Feb 28, 2003 7:53 AM | | 1. Yes - TYA
2. Genesis - SEbtP
3. ELP - BSS
4.& 5. The other ones
I believe Floyd & Tull ARE prog, so here is my reworked list, in rank order:
1. Dark Side of the Moon
2. Trick of the Tail
3. Fragile
4. Aqualung (or Thick as a Brick)
5. Brain Salad Surgery
Have a nice day. |
| re: Okay proggers, it's your turn. Rank these 5 albums.. | Troy
Feb 28, 2003 7:56 AM | | 1. Selling England. Marvelous production and stunning melodies make this a true classic of the genre.
2. The Yes Album. Ever hear people say that Yes can't rock? Play this album for them. Powerchord city.
3. Brain Salad Surgery. Solid album with lots of jazz overtones, especially on side 2 (the part no one ever listens to). I LOVED this album as a teenager. Yeah, it's dated now, but stuff like "Toccatta" was way ahead of its time. Pretty sure that's the first time I had ever heard synth drums. One of the great album covers and band logos ever.
4. Red. Even more dated. Title track is still a shocker, especially as performed by the current band. In fact, the modern arrangement only accents the production shortcomings of the Red album. Discipline would land much higher on this list.
5. Power and the Glory. Not familiar with this album but I've rcvd several GG comps over the last couple of years and the band just doesn't do anything for me. They seem fussy and noodly and just weird for weirdness's sake. |
| re: Okay proggers, it's your turn. Rank these 5 albums.. | BradH
Feb 28, 2003 8:17 AM | | Some of these aren't the best these bands have to offer, I think, but here goes...
1. The Yes Album - Everything you need to know about them is in this album.
2. Red - If all prog was this raw there might not have been any punk rock. Maybe.
3. Selling England By The Pound - Following Foxtrot couldn't have been an easy task but they did it, overall. Somebody said this was well produced but I think Genesis suffered bad production all the way until Trick of the Tail. Their own members have admitted as much.
4. The Power and the Glory - All of the GG stuff from this period was great but I always gave a slight edge to Free Hand or Octopus. The band always liked this one because it was their first time at full artistic strength after Phil's departure.
5. Brain Salad Surgery - I used to swear by this one as a teenager but now it seems uneven and overwrought.
If I had to pick the best from the bunch it would be this:
ELP - Tarkus
Gentle Giant - Octopus
Yes - Close to the Edge
King Crimson - Red
Genesis - hmmm, the eternal question... |
| Haven't heard Gentle Giant... | DustyChalk
Feb 28, 2003 9:10 AM | | ...so I'll just leave that out.
ELP -- a favourite from way back. Nice variety.
Genesis -- a classic. Not a weak track. Might take #1 on a different day.
Yes -- never did totally dig Perpetual Change -- every guitarist I ever knew was trying to learn that one, so I heard it way too often. But it's not something I'd switch the channel on.
King Crimson -- sublime album, four of the best rock-and-roll tracks, ever. But I really hate that one improv piece. So much so, that I burned myself a copy of FractuRED -- basically, Red with that one piece replaced by "Fractured". |
| March 31st 1971 | skewiff
Feb 28, 2003 10:14 AM | | I saw YES at Wolverhampton Civic Hall(England) on this date.
The YES album had just come out, the band all wore white,Yours is no disgrace is one of the great tracks ever, the encore was Paul Simon's America.
So The Yes Album.
Selling England.
I don't care about the rest.
Tony |
| My rankings | Grblgrbl
Feb 28, 2003 10:37 AM | | Here's how I would rank them personally:
1. Selling England by the Pound: This is one of my 2 favorite albums of all time (the other being Neil Young's On The Beach). It's just nearly (except for More Fool Me) a perfect album. Firth of Fifth is a masterpiece of a song. I actually think this is pretty well produced.
2: Red: My favorite KC (Larks Tongues is a close second). This is not a standard prog album, it has a real edge to it. Contrary to some of the other posters, I think this has aged very well. Starless is an amazing song.
3. The Yes Album: Yes hasn't aged as well for me as Genesis or King Crimson, but most of you got this one right - it's proof positive that Yes could rock. This is also one of the few Yes albums that in which the melodies are more dominant than the instrumental pyrotechnics.
4: The Power and the Glory: I almost put this at #3. GG still transprots me. This is a very difficult album to get into (lots of angular start-stop melodies), but once you do, it's amazing.
5. Brain Salad Surgery: This is a way distant 5th for me. I never really liked ELP very much and to me their stuff sounds tohe most dated. Ia also find them to be really sterile and pretentious. |
| Tough call between,,,, | Javier
Feb 28, 2003 4:06 PM | | Yes and genesis but;
Yes yes album great album beggining to end with starship trooper and perpetual change signaling the birth of the true Yes sound.
Genesis SEBTP well this one has firth of fifth and cinema show two of the greatest pieces on prog period.
gentle giant those guys were innovative but i prefer their first albums up to octopus.
ELP brain salad surgery flashy pompous bombastic, that is great it is prog isn't it.
King crimson i haven't listenes to red never mi collection of KC includes ITCOCK, In the wake of poseidon and lizard very influential of course. |
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