VDGG vs Gentle Giant vs Soft Machine

Tough choice between Gentle Giant and Soft Machine, but I think the latter has ultimately been more important for me as a person and a musician, even if their discography isn't overall as consistent as the Giant's.

Gentle Giant 

VDGG

VDGG
I like gentle giant a lot
not a Soft Machine fan

Three bands that have been absolute favourites of mine.

I have always liked quirky music and music that seems different, and bands that offer contrasts, and these three qualify. Often those with more "conventional" melodic Prog tastes have had problems with all three of these. I might posit that for many who totally dislike all three bands, they have not spent enough time getting to know and acclimate to the discographies. Bu then I could say that of a huge amount more. These are all tastes I'm glad that I acquired.

When I joined here, I was especially into Gentle Giant, but over the years it is Van der Graaf Generator that I have returned to the most. I understand that Hammill's vocals -- "hammy" as one might uncharitably put it" -- might be off-putting to many. The albums I have returned to the most over the years are Pawn Hearts and The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each to Each Other. "House With No Door" off He to He.. and Man-Erg off pawn Hearts were the first tracks I heard by VdGG and it was love at first listen. To me A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers is a true masterpiece. An album like Godbluff has been harder for me, but I really like albums that follow Pawn hearts as well as the Least We Can Do to pawn hearts run of albums. This is one of my VdGG faves:



With Soft Machine, I like music off the first few albums a lot. Third and the second are the two that I have returned to the most. I was obsessed with "Moon in June".



With Gentle Giant, I especially like the early albums. Were I to choose just two, I would keep Acquiring the taste and Three Friends. The music can be a by fussy and precious I think and I rarely listen to the band now but still love the early albums. Go me there is real beauty playfulness that comes through on those albums and the music is warmer on the earlier albums and feel less like an exercise in trying to impress to me on the whole (sorry, I could phrase that much better).

Giving my vote to VdGG. 

Edited by TheGazzardian - March 19 2024 at 16:25

^The hate on VDGG

Van Der Graaf Generator gives me goosebumps at their best. Hammill is one of the best vocalists in prog imo. The more I listen the more I like.

^^ I still get the "bumps" from VdGG. Like TheGazzardian, Still Life is a favourite, and is the one that has been getting the most spins from me of late (the Least We Can Do, He to He and Pawn hearts trilogy have got the most spins over the years). While Gentle Giant was my favourite band at one time (then surpasses by PFM, which was surpassed by....) and I got to know VdGG at the same time, I did largely tire of GG, whereas VdGG is like the gift that keeps on giving for me (rather like what is said of VD). I still return to music off Three Friends and Acquiring the Taste sometimes, mostly. I'm not as into post-Octopus stuff.

For music to appeal and resonate can depend so much on what you are into now, I have found, and your history with music. But so much of it is not just down to exposure and situational elements, but also one's "innate" personality/ traits.
There is popular music in PA that I don't think I'll ever be into even if I can appreciate the music to some extent, such as Spock's Beard on the whole from my listening. It does not resonate or speak to me -- feels alienating to me.

Edited by Logan - March 19 2024 at 18:22