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Progerial 
Forum Newbie
Joined: April 17 2005
Location: Sweden
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Points: 30
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 Topic: van der graaf generator..
Posted: April 18 2005 at 10:19 |
i've never heard them but i've heard great things about them, and judging by the bio page on this site i think i might like em. anyway, i found two of their albums, vital and first generation, for GREAT prices on a site. and i wonder which one of those you think would be best to start out with. first generation is a compilation album right?
and also, how would you describe their music? thanks
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Snow Dog
Special Collaborator
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Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
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Points: 32995
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 10:26 |
Ive got H to He I bought it in a HMV sale about a year ago. I cant get into it at all no matter how many times I try  . If someone can show me the errors of my ways?
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maani
Special Collaborator
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Joined: January 30 2004
Location: United States
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Points: 2632
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 11:03 |
Progerial:
Vital and First Generation are "later" albums, and are probably more "listenable" than earlier stuff. However, they are also not as "good," or as representative of what VDGG, and Peter Hamill, were. Admittedly, the earlier stuff is more "difficult" to listen to, as Hamill wears his angst on his sleeve (indeed, shouts it to the world!), and it can get emotionally draining.
Still, if I were you, I would consider hearing them at their earliest first, so you know what they were about before they "softened up." Try (in chronological order) H to He, Pawn Hearts, and Godbluff.
Happy listening!
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Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
Status: Online
Points: 19675
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 11:03 |
It took me years to get into VDGG, mostly because the Hammill vocals are too harsh. His voice was a complete turn off for me until I started listening to his early solo albums - up to Over in 77.
Unlike Henry cow , VDGG and Gentle Giant are acquired taste that do happen in a normal human lifetime.
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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VLADO
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 06 2005
Location: Slovakia
Status: Offline
Points: 136
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 11:12 |
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start with godbluff and still life period
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...and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make...
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Joren
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Joined: February 07 2004
Location: Netherlands
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Points: 6667
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 11:20 |
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I think maani is making a mistake here, by calling FIRST GENERATION a late album. It's actually a compilation of early material, and very good. So I'd suggest you buy First Generation instead of Vital. But the best thing to do is probably to buy "H To He". (that's what I did anyway)
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Snow Dog
Special Collaborator
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Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 11:25 |
But Ive got H to He abd I never want to listen to VDGG again 
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Progerial
Forum Newbie
Joined: April 17 2005
Location: Sweden
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Points: 30
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 11:30 |
thanks all. i might end up getting one of their earlier instead. they all cost >11$ at this one place so i get a good deal anyway
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Man Erg
Special Collaborator
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Joined: August 26 2004
Location: Isle of Lucy
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Points: 7456
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 11:52 |
 maani wrote:
Progerial:
Vital and First Generation are "later" albums, and are probably more "listenable" than earlier stuff. However, they are also not as "good," or as representative of what VDGG, and Peter Hamill, were. Admittedly, the earlier stuff is more "difficult" to listen to, as Hamill wears his angst on his sleeve (indeed, shouts it to the world!), and it can get emotionally draining.
Still, if I were you, I would consider hearing them at their earliest first, so you know what they were about before they "softened up." Try (in chronological order) H to He, Pawn Hearts, and Godbluff.
Happy listening! |
Sorry Maani,but First Generation is NOT a later album but a compilation of tracks from The Least We Could Do...H to HE...and Pawn Hearts.
Progerial:
It(First Generation)is worth picking-up but I maybe it's better to wait a month and get the remasters of the original albums as mentioned above.
Vital is good but not essential if you haven't heard VdGG yet.It's a live album by a transformed VdGG ie Van Der Graaf.It includes 'punkier'(A sign of the time it wsa recorded)versions of their classic tracks.I would call it a bit of a curate's egg.By the way.I was at the same gigs that Vital was recorded at.
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 Do 'The Stanley' otherwise I'll thrash you with some rhubarb.
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Cesar Inca
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 13:06 |
Starting with "The Least We Can Do" and "H to He" is, IMO, the most careful thing to do when it comes to getting started with VdGG.
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Peter
Special Collaborator
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Joined: January 31 2004
Location: Canada
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 13:17 |
Snow Dog wrote:
But Ive got H to He abd I never want to listen to VDGG again |
Very "difficult" band! They are certainly not for everyone -- I didn't like them as a teen prog fan, but like them now. (But I have to be in the right mood!) Like black coffee, an acquired taste that you may NEVER acquire, but then, you don't NEED to like black coffee, or VDGG.
We need to learn to walk and feed ourselves -- we don't need to learn to enjoy all art. To each his/her own! As we are all different, so are our artistic tastes.
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
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NetsNJFan
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 12 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3047
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 13:33 |
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Start with "H to the H", it is my fav by VdGG - excellent prog band!! Vital isn't quite that good.
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gdub411
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 24 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3484
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 14:56 |
Pawn Hearts...waste no time with the others until you have heard this masterpiece. Take the plunge if you dare!
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AngelRat
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 14 2004
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 1014
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 15:55 |
They are often called difficult. For me it was love at first hearing. 'First Generation' might be a great starting point. Just for getting some of the best songs of the first 4 albums. It is better though to start with either 'Least', 'H To He' or 'Pawn Hearts'. Those albums work as a whole.
'Godbluff' is my personal favourite.
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Seyo
Special Collaborator
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Joined: May 08 2004
Location: Bosnia
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 16:26 |
I think Least We Can do is Wave to Each Other is good way to start, but you can give it a try with a compilation of early period 1969-71. I have been listening VDGG since my teens in beginning of 1980s but nowadays I get to appreciate them even more than ever before! Not an easy task for newbies but if you are patient enough, it is a blessing!  
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NetsNJFan
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 12 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3047
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 16:58 |
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Pawn Hearts is hard to begin with
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The Hemulen
Special Collaborator
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Joined: July 31 2004
Location: UK
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Points: 5964
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Posted: April 18 2005 at 17:06 |
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Van Der Graaf Generator are an important band, and they're well worth
getting to know. For many they're the bridge between symphonic prog and
its more avant garde bedfellows, and when it "clicks" you'll thank
yourself that you gave them a sporting chance.
Hard as it might be, Pawn Hearts would be my recommended starting
point. It has all the grandeur and pseudo-classical pomp of Yes or
Genesis with an added sense of anger and madness, making it all the
more exciting. Agreed, it's not the easiest of listens, but whack on a
pair of headphones, lock the doors for 45 minutes and let it take
hold... You'll wonder what you've been missing all these years.
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bluetailfly
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 28 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1383
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Posted: April 19 2005 at 13:14 |
Cesar Inca wrote:
Starting with "The Least We Can Do" and "H to He" is, IMO, the most careful thing to do when it comes to getting started with VdGG.
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I agree. I started with "The Least We Can Do" and at first was slightly disappointed, but repeated listenings have brought me around, and now I find myself choosing it often. I really like Pete Hammils vocals (He reminds me of a more sophisticated Ronnie James Dio, who btw I also like (e.g., "Riiiiide out, protectors of the realm.... <-----awesome stuff!)
I plan on purchasing "Pawn Hearts" soon. I'm familiar with "Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" so I suspect I'll like the rest.
If you like the more contemplative type of prog rock, I think you'll find "The Least" a good place to start.
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"The red polygon's only desire / is to get to the blue triangle."
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Man Overboard
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 07 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Status: Offline
Points: 3830
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Posted: April 19 2005 at 13:16 |
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I'm in LOVE with Van der Graaf Generator. I was listening to Pawn
Hearts (my one and only VdGG album) and one of the few and far between
guitar parts struck me as sounding like my idol, one Mr. Fripp...
I thought "no waaaay" and looked into it, and lo and behold, t'was the
only man I'd fear in a dark alley himself, Robert Fripp...
The album itself is amazing, the addition of Fripp propels it to the status of a masterwork... *swoons*
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator
Jazz-Rock Specialist
Joined: April 19 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 12802
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Posted: April 19 2005 at 13:34 |
Seyo wrote:
I think Least We Can do is Wave to Each Other is good way to start, but you can give it a try with a compilation of early period 1969-71. I have been listening VDGG since my teens in beginning of 1980s but nowadays I get to appreciate them even more than ever before! Not an easy task for newbies but if you are patient enough, it is a blessing! |
Peel playing tracks from this album on his radio show - 5 years before he thought 'prog was all bollocks' (the most radio friendly album????), lead to me buying this album first, I wasn't disappointed by the whole.
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van der graaf generator..
