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Hammar View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 23 2004 at 15:59

I guess you've got the essential albums above, however, I think Acquiring the Taste is Gentle Giants best and most essential album, I love most of what they have done as Gentle Giant is my favourite band.

Corbet:   Don't forget that Kerry Minnear has a wonderful voice as well.

Van der Graaf Generator. I love their own distincitve way of playing progrock and start with Pawn Hearts and The Quiet Zone. I also highly recommend Godbluff, The Least we can do and H to He. Still Life is also very good.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 23 2004 at 18:17

Hammar - As GG are my faves as well...  what by them don't you like?  And Minnear's voice is heavenly! 

 

Sir Jim Garten - Maani is weird, so definitely do not buy their first album, "Gentle Giant" first.  Not all bands emerged fully formed, so to speak, with Yes and GG being prime examples.  If you want a history lesson, that's one thing... but if you want to get straight to the goods, well:

Octopus is the "standard starter" for the band, sort of like Yes' Fragile.  It contains mostly short nuggets that show off all the band's talents, and people typically respond well to it after a few listens.  The song "Knots" is an absolute masterpiece and is probably the track Danbo is being impressed by, choir-wise.  However, this album is also one of the least representative of the rest of their catalog.  In A Glass House is possibly most widely acknowledged as their high water-mark, and for good reason, so you could do no wrong in picking that one up either.  I would liken it to the status Close to the Edge has garnered.

Their most experimental album is, for my money, The Power and the Glory.  If you want to dive head first into their most brain-boggling stuff, this is the place. 

Possibly my favorite GG album is Free Hand.  This surprises a lot of people, because it is considered their most melodic and accessible album, but, musically speaking, I would say it displays them at the height of their powers.  "On Reflection" is, hands down, the most complex vocal arrangement in all of rock music!  And I will firmly stand by the title track "Free Hand" as one of the ultimate prog numbers of all time.  Complex and beautiful beyond all belief.  The following album Interview is their final masterwork, and contains a broad mix of all sides of their musical personality -- some of their most shamelessly experimental stuff, and also some of their most listenable.  And if you like grinding organ riffs the lead-off track has one of my all-time faves!

All the above albums I've listed in chronological order, but I didn't mention their first three releases, Gentle Giant, Acquiring the Taste, and Three Friends.  Like others have said, these albums are all actually equal to their later achievements, but of the three, the only one I would recommend as a possible first purchase is Three Friends.  If you want perhaps the most "easy" entry point to the band's oeuvre, this is the place.  It is melodic, relatively gentle, and honed like a shining jewel... I don't think it has ever let anyone down.  A concept album, to boot.

...

I guess that's not exactly a clear answer to your question!  Basically, I would say you will not be disappointed with any of the following of their core albums first: Three Friends, Octopus, In A Glass House, Power and the Glory, and Free Hand.

 

"Corbet, just PICK ONE!"

 

Okay!!  Well, considering earlier on this thread you recommended Brain Salad Surgery as a starter for one of our fellow progheads, and I know you like King Crimson... I'll follow your lead and say, DAMN THE TORPEDOS,

THE POWER AND THE GLORY!

...

I love this band.

Happy listening!

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 23 2004 at 18:29

Oh, and if you care about buying the releases with the best sound quality (some people do, some people don't... I do!), there's a website dedicated to the subject:

http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/quality.html

The gist of it is: 

One Way Records and Columbia = not as good  /  Road Goes On Forever, Terrapin Trucking = best.

Obviously, GG fans go the distance.

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maani View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 23 2004 at 22:22

Corbet:

"Weird?"  Did you call me "weird?"  Them's fightin' words, pal!  (Or, at least, a fighting word...)

Radioactive Toy: Corbet is apparently two beers short of a six-pack...

Gentle Giant's first album is one of the best debut albums by any band, especially given the kind of music they play.  Indeed, I have always thought that Gentle Giant "sprang full-grown from the head of Zeus."  (In case you don't know, according to the Greek myth, the Goddess Athena literally sprang full-grown from Zeus' head.)  This is not to say that GG did not progress.  And if you read my review of Acquiring the Taste, you will see that I agree somewhat with Hammar - though it is because Acquiring the Taste is a "transition" album that I did not suggest it.

In A Glass House is almost unarguably GG's most accomplished album overall.  After that would come Octopus and Power and the Glory.  Ultimately, Corbet and I agree that you simply can't go wrong with any GG album.

That said, I'm getting worried about all the chuckleheads on these forums...

Peace.

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Hammar View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2004 at 09:02

Corbet said: Hammar - As GG are my faves as well...  what by them don't you like?  And Minnear's voice is heavenly! 

Interview is the last album that is coherent with the past. However, there are a few satisfying moments on The Missing Piece as well. I consider everything before this as God in the religion Progressive Rock.

It's great to see that you really like The Power and the Glory. I think this is GG's most underestimated album.

Acquiring the Taste is anyway, because you're all weird, the most consistent album.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2004 at 10:33

Weird is wonderful!

Actually, I agree with both you dudes, that Acquiring is a total gem... I get odd looks from people when "Wreck" comes on, though.

And as far as The Missing Piece is concerned... I actually love that album quite a bit.  It pissed me off the first time I heard it (I almost threw it out the window), but, once I got over myself, I found it quite rewarding.  Side 2 is PERFECT all the way through, and the first side is really "fun!"

And, go ahead and throw stones at me, but I think Civilian is awesome.  Angry, rocking 80's Giant??  Like, fer sure!

Spread the gospel, my friends.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2004 at 11:33

I agree with Hammar that P&G is GG's most underrated album.  I also agree that ATT is an enormously underrated album.  I also agree that, after wanting to break it in half (the LP, I mean - remember those? ), I grew to love TMP.  And I agree that, after wanting to melt it into sl*g (the LP, I mean - remember those?), I warmed up considerably to Civilian.  (See how "agreeable" I can be when I've had my meds?  .)  In fact, I consider Inside Out one of the most haunting, amazing songs they ever wrote.  (The only album I cannot listen to is GFAD.)

BTW, have you guys ever heard the song "The Power and The Glory" off Giant Steps?  It's fabulous, and I believe should have been included as the final song on the album itself.

Peace.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2004 at 11:34

By the way, guys, uh....mmmm....how did this thread get from 10CC to GG? 

Maybe we should just start a GG thread, huh?

Peace.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2004 at 11:44
"I'm Not In Love" with 10CC, Please continue with the Gentle Giant.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2004 at 12:15

I never thought I would comment Gentle Giant records from after 1977, but as this thread was originated as a 10cc discussion, no harm can be done (sorry all 10cc-lovers).

As Civilian is a huge step forward from Giant for a Day, I really want this album to be good, but I can't. Sorry. One can hear that they really try, but it's just, i don't know..., so desperate. Ok, I agree with Maani, Inside Out is nice. And Giant for a day is terrible, I laugh everytime I hear Spooky Boogie though (not that it is funny, except for the title).

No! Give me Cogs in Cogs or The Boys In the Band and I will cry of happiness...

...and yes, we should discuss this in another thread!! (how did 10cc get that popular???)

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 25 2004 at 02:53
OK Guys,

After thoughtful & careful consideration (i.e. seeing which albums were cheapest on Amazon at the time), I have bitten the bullet & dipped my toe into the waters of Gentle Giant for the first time.....

Hopefully, winging their way to me very soon will be 'Aquiring The Taste' and 'Octopus' - both, it would appear from this thread (apologies to 10cc fans - we seem to have taken over the thread) very well regarded albums & I got both for less than £10.

If you guys are wrong........

I will despatch the assault badgers!

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 25 2004 at 03:46

Back to the original question ''Are 10cc Prog?''. My answer -No, but they are a very good pop group.I even went out of the way to buy a compilation of them once.What do think of the lyrics on the song 'Art For Arts Sake'? It could almost be a dig at prog rock! 

BTW If we are creating sub-genre's of prog then how about ''Punk Prog''.I would put The Stranglers in there.'Nice n Sleazy' has a great Moog solo!

 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 25 2004 at 07:58
To an extent, The Stranglers jumped on the punk bandwagon (as did so many others) - they had been going as a live band since mid 1974 & if you see early shots of them - they all have long hair & Dave Greenfield used to wear (I kid you not) a kaftan on stage

In their heyday, I always saw them as 'The Doors' with attitude - I last saw them 18 months ago & they're still a formidable live force.

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 25 2004 at 20:18

Jim:

I take no blame if you find ATT a little bit "difficult," since it is a "transitional" album on which there is a great deal of experimentation (I would not have recommended it as one of the first two).  Although its wonderfulness may not exactly be limited to GG fanatics, it can be an...acquired taste.  Do all of us GG fans a favor and listen to Octopus first.  It is probably more "radical" than ATT in some ways.  However, it is paradoxically also "easier" to listen to.

Have fun!

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Hammar View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 26 2004 at 06:35

maani:

Acquiring the Taste was my first GG album and one of my first progalbums, I loved it from the very beginning. I think later GG albums are more difficult. OK, Octopus is "easier" to get into. Anyway, Jim Garten, don't throw it away if you don't like it the first time! After ten times you can come and kill me....

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 26 2004 at 13:48
I just introduced a friend of mine to GG, through Playing The Game. He already loves it as much as I do!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 26 2004 at 14:02
Hey Jim, send me yer ATT and I'll send you GTR and a Pavarotti poster.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 02 2004 at 13:13

DAMN THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU..

I LOVE GENTLE GIANT..


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R.I.P. You could have reached infinity....
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 17 2005 at 13:22

I think that 10cc is one of the greatest bands ever!!! In the early days they were progressive pop, I should say, but not alltogether a classic progressive band as Genesis and Yes, but ALMOST, i would say. Sheet music(74) and The original soundtrack(75), though, is just as progressive as anything from Supertramp, IMO.

So, hey folks, those of you who loves the later Beatles, Supertramp, Alan Parsons, Wings, Alex Harvey, Queen and cool stuff like that: Ceck 10CC out at once

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 17 2005 at 15:03

There are sooooo many bands that would fall under this umbrella of "prog-pop".  I'm not a big fan of 10cc but XTC has always seemed to me totally overlooked for the compositional skills.

The issue I see is where to draw the line?  You have a band like A.C.T(not complaining, I love them, but they aren't very prog) on the site, but not Queen?  Do we go as far as someone like Toad the Wet Sprocket?  I mean they are just as much slanted pop as 10cc or XTC.  But, they write a lot of pop-rock songs just like 10cc and XTC.

To me though, this is just like the metal-prog that already is on the site.  99% of it isn't prog at all, at least not by any definition that I grew up thinking "prog" was.  I seriously think that Queen is 20 times more prog than say Opeth if we extend the boundaries.

 

 

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