Hark the Herald Comus Sings

While Neil's version has its merits, it is way too far into the season to vote in support any version of any of the dozen or so of these holiday "classics" we have been subjected to for the last few weeks.  Thus, it is with relish, aplomb, and unbounded joy that I cast my vote for Comus.   Besides, it is by far the better song.

It will not happen often that I vote in favour of Comus against Neal Morse because I find some of their output disgusting at the least, but The Herald wins this one hands down for me. While this rendition of a Christmas carol has some good elements (like the guitar solo), I prefer the pastoral sound of The Herald with its eeriness hidden under the surface.

Morse, I never got into Comus.

Todd wrote: I can never cast a vote in favor of Comus.

I was going to say that's a shame, but I really don't know enough about your tastes as we've rarely intersected in PA discussion (* checking reviewer page, I see that you are fonder of Neal Morse than I* and I can see that our tastes are quite different).

As an acid folk lover, I find Comus to be essential. I can understand that the creepiness and disturbing qualities of First Utterance particularly could be really off-putting to some. Even for me, and I grew up watching some pretty disturbing horror films and reading horror novels, I find F.U. a little hard to stomach at times (not so much really gross ones, but disturbing). I never had a problem with The Herald, though, which I find eerily beautiful. The concept/ story, and particularly certain imagery of First Utterance can be quite yucky, and the music itself, especially with Wootton's singing contrasted with Bobbie Watson's innocent, yet I find strangely harrowing, sounding vocals intensifies it. Some people, especially some Christians I have known (don't know if you are religious) have I think found it an affront to their beliefs, and I think were morally indignant or felt dirtied by it.. To me it's telling a story, and a story-teller can delve into dark things, and by reading, listening to, or watching such things, it doesn't make me uncomfortable in myself. I've written a few horror stories (mostly mixed with comedy so not so unrelenting) with some pretty vile protagonists, and although I would never do such a thing as the worse characters do, and it was more about exploring my fears, I guess some might say that it paints a bleak picture of my psyche. I think the character of Comus trumps any of my writings.

Somehow I associate it's pagan-like story-telling to watching the Wicker Man, which is a film I love.

I wonder had you started with To Keep From Crying, which is more mainstream and isn't an eerie horror story type concept album if you would still have the same negative, visceral reaction to Comus. I think a lot of people have developed a sort of Comus phobia due to the disturbing qualities of First Utterance in particular -- people who loathe everything Comus due to reactions to that one album in particular (I know of many people who hate Comus who haven't really explored beyond that album as it put them off for good).

That First Utterance can provoke such a strong reaction in people tells me that this is indeed powerful, and dare I say uncompromising, stuff. I think maybe music is for many a more powerful tool to get under your skin than film and books. I knew someone who could watch intense horror films, ones that would make me squeamish, but First Utterance was more disturbing. Music is a powerful medium for telling stories and musical expression. I also think maybe a lot of people aren't used to musicians telling stories of a disturbing nature so are less forgiving of a song-writer who writes a song about murder than, say an author of books, or screenplay who writes about a murderer, and think that because a song-writer tells that story they automatically condone the action.

A lot of the best folk music for me tells a story, and a lot of it is quite disturbing in nature (stories of hangmen are popular). Sorry for such a long response to such a quick comment. You're hardly alone in your feelings, and especially if you are religious I could see one finding it harder still to take.

Edited by Logan - December 13 2016 at 10:55

Logan wrote: Todd wrote: I can never cast a vote in favor of Comus. I was going to say that's a shame, but I really don't know enough about your tastes as we've rarely intersected in PA discussion (* checking reviewer page, I see that you are fonder of Neal Morse than I* and I can see that our tastes are quite different). As an acid folk lover, I find Comus to be essential. I can understand that the creepiness and disturbing qualities of First Utterance particularly could be really off-putting to some. Even for me, and I grew up watching some pretty disturbing horror films and reading horror novels, I find F.U. a little hard to stomach at times (not so much really gross ones, but disturbing). I never had a problem with The Herald, though, which I find eerily beautiful. The concept/ story, and particularly certain imagery of First Utterance can be quite yucky, and the music itself, especially with Wootton's singing contrasted with Bobbie Watson's innocent, yet I find strangely harrowing, sounding vocals intensifies it. Some people, especially some Christians I have known (don't know if you are religious) have I think found it an affront to their beliefs, and I think were morally indignant or felt dirtied by it.. To me it's telling a story, and a story-teller can delve into dark things, and by reading, listening to, or watching such things, it doesn't make me uncomfortable in myself. I've written a few horror stories (mostly mixed with comedy so not so unrelenting) with some pretty vile protagonists, and although I would never do such a thing as the worse characters do, and it was more about exploring my fears, I guess some might say that it paints a bleak picture of my psyche. I think the character of Comus trumps any of my writings. Somehow I associate it's pagan-like story-telling to watching the Wicker Man, which is a film I love. I wonder had you started with To Keep From Crying, which is more mainstream and isn't an eerie horror story type concept album if you would still have the same negative, visceral reaction to Comus. I think a lot of people have developed a sort of Comus phobia due to the disturbing qualities of First Utterance in particular -- people who loathe everything Comus due to reactions to that one album in particular (I know of many people who hate Comus who haven't really explored beyond that album as it put them off for good). That First Utterance can provoke such a strong reaction in people tells me that this is indeed powerful, and dare I say uncompromising, stuff. I think maybe music is for many a more powerful tool to get under your skin than film and books. I knew someone who could watch intense horror films, ones that would make me squeamish, but First Utterance was more disturbing. Music is a powerful medium for telling stories and musical expression. I also think maybe a lot of people aren't used to musicians telling stories of a disturbing nature so are less forgiving of a song-writer who writes a song about murder than, say an author of books, or screenplay who writes about a murderer, and think that because a song-writer tells that story they automatically condone the action. A lot of the best folk music for me tells a story, and a lot of it is quite disturbing in nature (stories of hangmen are popular). Sorry for such a long response to such a quick comment. You're hardly alone in your feelings, and especially if you are religious I could see one finding it harder still to take.