Split Enz are finally on the Archives!!!!

Yes - nice to see another NZ group make the Archives. Split Enz are quite deserving of their inclusion.

Split Enz early work is unique and quirky and...

'Stranger than Fiction' grabbed me during the seventies and 'Charlie' is sublime.

Terra Australis wrote: Split Enz early work is unique and quirky and... 'Stranger than Fiction' grabbed me during the seventies and 'Charlie' is sublime.

Their first albums are fine. I'd feel better if they were in Prog-Related because their addition in a regular prog genre will lead to many requests that will be undeniable at least prog-related.

Anyway we have some angry collabs to deal with this

I don`t suppose while we are letting a few in we could think about adding Genesis 

What is prog about Split Enz???

proggy wrote: Frippertron wrote: What is prog about Split Enz???   80s NZ Pop! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Maybe there are two things you could consider doing - 1) listen to their 70s output, which you ill find shows definite English music hall influences, beatlesque melancholy & some definite "art rock" attitude; 2 ) their later work, especially moved them into heavier lyrical territory & if you give Time & Tide a serious listen you will hear a "poppish" version of prog that most of the 70s prog pantheon quite indulged themselves in during the 80s. Pay special attention during the 2nd side (Take a Walk to Make Sense of It) & tell me what you think.
I have no problem with Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Rush, Pink Floyd et al and their 80s' work. So the music changed. Can one peruse your closest dictionary to verify the definition of the word "progressive" ?

Frippertronic wrote: Just waiting for Peter, Paul and Mary to be added.   Puff The Magic Dragon.. a Prog classic

Don`t know about Puff The Magic dragon  but I do think the the theme song for H.R. Puffinstuff  deserves a guernsey


Edited by Snakes & Arrows - May 17 2007 at 12:26

It just seems to be there are too many links to Progressive music, which on the whole is not at all prog.

Moogtron III wrote: Frippertron wrote: It just seems to be there are too many links to Progressive music, which on the whole is not at all prog.   Jazz Fusion is not Prog Rock for starters! (Bruford, Soft Machine etc)   Split Enz is pop, I have heard their old stuff, and sorry to say.. still pop.   You could start an argument on why INXS are not there in that case.  Same type of music as Split Enz.   I do like Split Enz btw, but having keyboards and guitar does not always equate to Prog Rock.   I do think Bruford's late '70's / early '80's albums are a prime example of prog rock, even when the albums are a blend with fusion.   Split Enz isn't here just on the archives because of the keyboards / guitars, but because of early albums like Mental Notes and Second Thoughts, which feature several long pieces with quite experimental, yet very melodious passages, which are much closer to prog than to pop. If the earlier albums weren't there, I suppose the argument to get them on PA would be much harder, I admit that much.

Again we're faced with the conundrum of accepting that even "prog" artists in most cases will have their music change over their career. Especially the acts that had or have a long term career. So we don't boot out Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Rush for having moved to shorter more compact & concise songs. We instead focus on the lyrical content which is still more "advanced" than your typical pop hit. & the instrumentation still remains of the highest order. And if we say that we will determine a group's inclusion on more than a few albums or songs, then we can kiss most of prog-related, proto prog goodbye. Can you say Uriah Heep or Deep Purple ? Is Dark Side of the Moon really prog ? There is really only one song that is out there & that is because it consists of synthesizer noodling. The rest are melancholy & darkness put to music, often blues or folk based in nature. King Crimson's 80s work - isn't that really more new wave, kind of Talking Heads sort of music ? Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene - disco synthesizer beats & playing ?
Let's admit that inclusion or exclusion is really a community process arbritrated by Admin, and these two groups being composed of humans using subjective measures means that there willo be some contentious nominations.
True, Split Enz do have a "pop" streak a mile wide. They are able to write excellent melodies sometimes sunny. sometimes dark. They don't write 20 minutes songs, although on Time & Tide they did put together a 4 song suite with intro & all. But if you go through their discography, you will find enough to content most prog fans. Not all, not even 75 %. But for those who were fans of the prog dinosaurs progress over the years, those people can find something to satisfy their prog taste if they listen with an open mind.