Van Der Graaf Generator |
Post Reply |
Author | |
Ghandi 2
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 17 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1494 |
Topic: Van Der Graaf Generator Posted: April 22 2006 at 14:47 |
Ok, well I borrowed the Godbluff DVD from a friend, and my first thought was "Damn, these guys are weird! [but still not as weird as Magma ;-)]" Anyway, I really like Theme One and parts of A Plague... I can't make out most of the lyrics because it's semi-live, (and I can't make out ANY of the Godbluff lyrics, although admittedly I haven't listened to that section a whole lot, as I have always listed to A Plague... first, and then after that I can't stand to hear much more VddG and saxophone. What's-his-name is an excellent player, but the dominant saxophone is tiring for the unitiated. Soon I'll listen to it on its own, although I do like what I've heard of Sleepwakers. I don't like what I've heard of the other songs all that much though, which is why I haven't listened to Godbluff all that much yet) and I don't care all that much for the chaotic sections, and I wish that Hammill had used a real piano instead of that electric one.
I also laugh whenever he starts shouting, especially at "I DON'T WANT TO GO!" Is that a bad sign?
However, I see that Pawn Hearts is now $14 on Amazon; (the psychological difference between $14, $15, and $16 is truly amazing) so I must ask you: from what I've said do you think that I'll like Pawn Hearts?
Other things I like are:
Pre-Wall Floyd (especially Animals and WYWH, but it's really all good. Even Ummagumma Studio and More) TAAB and, to a lesser extent, APP
Jazzy Frank Zappa
Relayer (but not so much CTTE)
other stuff which escapes my memory
Off-Topic, but I'm also planning on getting Foxtrot because of its high praise, and I am starting to really like SEBTP; (I still don't see the fuss about Cinema Show, but perhaps with time I'll like it. I also don't understand the hatred of The Battle..., although I must admit that it's not quite worthy of being the longest song of the highest rated album on PA) and I think I'm going to get Birds of Fire because Zappa has interested me in the wonderful world of Jazz-Rock. Edited by Ghandi 2 - April 22 2006 at 16:45 |
|
retuow
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 24 2005 Status: Offline Points: 163 |
Posted: April 22 2006 at 14:53 |
The remastered version of Pawn Hearts includes Theme One, so that's an added bonus for you.
I personally don't mind the dominant saxes at all. I might suggest you take a look at The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other, the saxes are less dominant on that album IMHO. Good luck with VDGG, they're worth it |
|
Human beings were created by water to carry it uphill.
|
|
Ghandi 2
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 17 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1494 |
Posted: April 22 2006 at 15:09 |
I don't mind the sax; I quite like it actually, as it's very unique. But I'm kind of tired of it when I'm listening to the Godbluff material right after A Plague...
Yeah, Theme One on the remaster is another thing which drew me to it. Yay for extras that are actually worth something, unlike some other bands like, oh I don't know, Yes. I have not listened once to my studio run throughs of Siberian Khatru and Gates of Delirium.
|
|
Man With Hat
Collaborator Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team Joined: March 12 2005 Location: Neurotica Status: Offline Points: 166178 |
Posted: April 22 2006 at 15:10 |
I think you should try it, Even though its alittle chaotic at the end of Lemmings. You said you liked what you heard out of A Plague...and Theme One is a good bonus track. Definitly worth the try at least
|
|
Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
|
retuow
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 24 2005 Status: Offline Points: 163 |
Posted: April 22 2006 at 16:46 |
I completely agree. All the VDGG remasters are worth the buy. The bonus tracks on H to He, for example, are excellent. Squid 1/Squid 2/Octopus is a real gem. Edited by retuow - April 22 2006 at 16:48 |
|
Human beings were created by water to carry it uphill.
|
|
Zargus
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 08 2005 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 3491 |
Posted: April 22 2006 at 19:28 |
The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other, is the best VDGG album for beginers and one of my personal favorites it often seem to be a litle forgoten but its realy a fantastic album, a litle lighter then the rest. And it was the first album i bought by em and i culdent think of a beter way to start your VDGG collection.
|
|
|
|
Bj-1
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 04 2005 Location: No(r)Way Status: Offline Points: 31157 |
Posted: April 22 2006 at 22:56 |
Try Pawn Hearts, if you don't like it, get H to He.
Edited by Bj-1 - April 22 2006 at 22:56 |
|
RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!
EXERIOR Experimental tech/death/progmetal from Norway! |
|
Ghandi 2
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 17 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1494 |
Posted: April 23 2006 at 00:08 |
Hmm, I'll have to consider that. As the highest rated album is not always the best to start with, as I saw with CTTE.
|
|
Zoso
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 29 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 501 |
Posted: April 23 2006 at 00:10 |
My basic first reaction as well. |
|
|
|
Paul K.
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 26 2006 Location: Russian Federation Status: Offline Points: 197 |
Posted: April 23 2006 at 09:09 |
It seems that we have some sort of conspiracy here, and eventually VDGG's threads would seize forum and turn it to VDGG's church
|
|
Weasels ripped my flesh
|
|
retuow
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 24 2005 Status: Offline Points: 163 |
Posted: April 23 2006 at 09:43 |
Damn, you're onto us. You realise that you will need to be annihilated, so we, the VDGG nutcases, can continue our evil plot for forum domination And in the end there beckons more and more clearly TOTAL ANNIHILATION |
|
Human beings were created by water to carry it uphill.
|
|
bucka001
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 16 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 864 |
Posted: April 23 2006 at 14:27 |
Don't judge Godbluff by the DVD. It's probably their best album, but the DVD suffers from crap camera work (where's Hugh Banton? Can we have just one more close-up of Jaxon and/or Hammill - probably not, there's already a million of them) and a generally claustrophobic feeling overall (there's not one shot of the entire band performing). The Godbluff album/CD, however, is brilliant. Takes some work, though... You have to listen about five times and then it's the best thing you ever heard. And don't worry about laughing during parts of 'Lighthouse'! The band themselves were cracking up when they listened back to it... sometimes things are just so dark and bizzare that you have to crack out laughing! I often find that some of the darkest things in rock can also have me laughing (and I don't mean in a camp or cheesey way); it's just, "how much more f**cked up can this be?" You mentioned Magma, and I find them to be the same way. A lot of Van der Graaf music has moments like that - it's not the self-consciuosly humorous vibe of a Genesis tune ('Battle of Epping Forest'), it's more subtle than that.
|
|
jc
|
|
Ghandi 2
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 17 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1494 |
Posted: April 23 2006 at 22:17 |
Yeah, I was ignoring the camera work and mainly listening to the music anyway.
After reading some other threads (and the reviews of Pawn Hearts) I'm considering getting H to He... instead, despite the psychological $1 difference. What do you guys think about that?
|
|
Zac M
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 03 2005 Status: Offline Points: 3577 |
Posted: April 23 2006 at 22:23 |
H to He is one of their best albums and a great place start.
|
|
"Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression."
-Merleau-Ponty |
|
Post Reply | |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |