Last great albums before the great simplification |
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Rick1
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Posted: May 22 2020 at 06:28 |
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The great simplification of the late 70s meant that many of our favourite bands started to reduce song length, simplify song structures, made lyrical subject matter more accessible and less esoteric, etc. Prog. was also discredited by the media - anyone who lived through the period 77 - 82 will testify. Prog bands responded (many not listed here) by producing commercial, radio-friendly material and some were unable to sustain their livelihoods (Hugh Hopper formerly of Soft Machine famously drove a taxi for a while...) I also stopped buying their records on release as I was often disappointed (Steve Hackett's 'Cured' being a case in point). While this list is not exhaustive, what do you think the last, great progressive album was?
Edited by Rick1 - May 22 2020 at 07:16 |
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Rick1
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Whoops - the Yes entry should be 'Going for the One'!!
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Logan
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Love various album there -- Western Culture, Udou Wudu, Of Queues and Cures, Red and Animals are my particular favourites. I actually prefer Magma's subsequent Attahk to Üdü Ẁüdü, but it doesn't have an "epic" and I can see why you would go with the earlier Üdü Ẁüdü. Attahk is simplified and a change of direction.
I might want to look at release dates to make my final choice (the latest of my favourites from your choices), though I definitely do lean towards Western Culture. Henry Cow ended on what I consider to be their most challenging album. I've actually heard "War" from In Praise of Learning on the radio. EDIT: I knew Western Culture was first released in 1979, but couldn't remember when National Health's was released (November 1978). Anyway, my vote is indeed Western Culture as I thought it would be by various metrics. Unlike others here, Henry Cow didn't simplify, and their final album was HC at its most challenging, one might say. Edited by Logan - May 22 2020 at 07:03 |
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Logan
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You should be able to edit your poll. |
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Nogbad_The_Bad
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I'm pretty sure there is a concensus that Henry Cow - Western Culture is the last great first wave prog album.
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Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
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siLLy puPPy
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Consensus? I dunno 1979 included Henry Cow - Western Culture Univers Zero - Heresie Pekka Pohjola - Visitation Arachnoid - Arachnoid Laurent Thibault - Mais on ne peut pas rêver tout le temps Embryo - Embryo's Reise Art Zoyd - Musique pour l'Odyssee Art Bears - Winter Songs Ma Banlieue Flasque - Ma Banlieue Flasque there are many MANY more highly complex prog albums from that year and all throughout the 80s I
understand what you're going for with this thread but prog never
really simplified, it just went underground while the more popular acts
went more commercial but you need to be more specific about what you
mean here. Last great albums before the great
simplification for me would imply the albums around 1975 or 76 before
punk and disco really took control. There have always been outliers of
prog even in the so-called desert 80s. Not
really sure how to answer this one. There are examples of prog albums
that were BOTH simple and complex like Kansas - Leftoverture Edited by siLLy puPPy - May 22 2020 at 07:29 |
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Rick1
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Polls are conversation starters - and I am discussing the more popular prog acts. That UZ album, for instance, is fantastic, but on release it's impact was limited. In the UK for instance, I don't think I ever saw any UZ or Art Zoyd albums on the shelves. I also agree that many of these acts you mention remained 'underground' and remained genuine innovators.
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geekfreak
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Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake."
Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
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SteveG
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Animals as Floyd should end the era!
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dougmcauliffe
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Bubu.... national health... rush...eloy.... sbb... Jethro Tull... all making great, complex stuff in the last years of the 70s
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The sun has left the sky...
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Nogbad_The_Bad
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Animals would absolutely be my second choice.
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Ian
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Grumpyprogfan
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NH for me.
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Rick1
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someone_else
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The last great album before the great simplification would be UK's Danger Money, which is not on this list.
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Lewian
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I go with Animals on the mood of the day, but in fact I love a good number of these.
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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I was expecting to see relayer since GFTO was mostly shorter songs.
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Tom Ozric
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Cow, Floyd and National Health - can’t choose.....
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Rick1
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'Awaken' swung it for me...although I realise that this is a moot point...
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Rick1
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UK are a funny one - I always considered their two albums as 'projects' - the sudden shift in personnel between albums reinforced that view.
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Logan
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It wasn't the album cover? I don't swing that way, but respect to those who do. |
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Two Tracks Per Many of My Fave Acts: A Youtube Playlist
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