the Soft Machine vs Weather Report - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Soft Machine gets my vote.

Weather Report were proper jazz virtuosi from the start, and their first few albums are often dazzling, but after a certain point (Heavy Weather or 8:30) they became increasingly formulaic. Live and Unreleased shows that even the later line ups could still find the spark on stage, though.

The Softs evolved into a fusion band, and by the time Karl Jenkins took the helm they boasted a similar level of virtuoso musicianship, but they have a greater stylistic range than Weather Report, and their music is more enjoyable.

I'm listening to Third right now.

'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'

Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom

It’s the Softs.

"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno

I was going to say Softs but then thought about the recent 5 cd boxset I got from Weather Report. I used to only really dig their first three albums but am now getting into the Jaco-leg of their journey. Still..nothing with Jaco beats those two first records. I Sing The Body Electric is a masterpiece imho.
Both I guess.

“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams

Weather Report, no contest.

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021

I prefer Weather Report for their albums up to Sweetnighter, especially the first two and the Live in Tokyo double-set - peak spacy fusion with a great blend of electric Miles and the Third Stream tradition.

But as a whole - I'd go with the Softs. Never a bad album, to me - love every Mach of the band.....can't say that about Weather Report.

I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there.....

'Best' jazz fusion......? To me they are both talented bands....I really like the first 6 or7 Soft lps and the first 6 or 7 Weather lp;s......hard to choose in that they are fairly different from one another in style.

Both..?

One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin

Hi,

An interesting comparison, but a sad one ... SM came out of an era that was exploring a lot of different things, and it went on to improvise a lot, although it became a bit more formulaic AFTER the advent of Robert Wyatt ...

Weather Report was way much more "American" in that it was much more song/composition oriented, with various small amounts of expression in between, be they the bass, the drums or anything else.

It's hard to "define" which is better, because they were a part of a time that was so different ... if they both had been in London, or NY, I would say that this was a good try, but it was quite a few years apart, and completely different scenes altogether that created the music they did.

I will abstain, although I know in my heart that I can hum along with one or two pieces by Weather Report, and I know I can not do that with SM. And yes, SM3 is an album that I lived with a long time ... like right since 1972 or so ... when there was no Weather Report.

It's a very strange poll for me, because you are asking which is better ... Beethoven or Stravinsky ... and I'm not sure that is representative of anything except someone that does not look at music in a didactic and learned look, to see why there are differences. It makes this look like just a bunch of songs from the same day and time ... and they are different because THEY AREN'T.

A favorite is like saying that you like Bardot better then Lollobrigida or Loren!

SILLY!

Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com

Def Soft Machine... now if you had put them up against the Mahavishnu Orchestra, then my answer would be different.

Argo2112 wrote:

Jaco, Shorter, Zawinul, Erskine.... Tough to beat that lineup so Weather Report.

What about Jaco, Shorter, Zawinul, Thompson (Chester Thompson). Either way Weather Report gets my vote.

My favorite Weather Report line-up is the Zawinul, Shorter, Vitous line-up of the early albums. I especially enjoy I Sing the Body Electric and the debut.

I first heard WR with Jaco as it came very highly recommended, but it didn't appeal much to me. I became a fan of Weather Report after hearing the early albums (they're more my taste).

Anyway, much as I really like early Weather Report, it's still an easy vote for Soft Machine from me. I especially love the first few albums, and Third has remained one of my very favourite albums for many years.

Just a fanboy passin' through.

Poll Question: Which created the best jazz-fusion in yout opinion
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
the Soft Machine	39	[58.21%]
Weather Report	20	[29.85%]
both	8	[11.94%]
You can not vote in this poll

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