Musical maschocism - hit me with your rhythm stick

I felt an overwhelming desire to investigate prog around 1971. I mostly enjoyed a prog album upon first listen. That is unfortunately a person that I used to be. It's a very sad situation when you dig around endlessly for music and after making the purchase, you end up enjoying 50% of while others are getting that hundred. I try to listen to Univers Zero occasionally and I some solid enjoyment out of that. But how often can that be when the person we are talking about here has been following the band and their music for 30 years? I sometimes listen to Decibel or the music of George Crumb. I've always had a hard time enjoying a wide variety of bands who are obviously influenced by Yes, KC, Genesis, Jethro Tull etc. If it's Anthony Phillips or Steve Hackett sounding like Genesis, it is more than exceptable to me. If it's the 2ND wave of prog bands like Pulsar, Edhels, The Enid, Happy The Man it's exceptable as well. However it takes a special mood for me to relate to the artists mentioned above due to the vast amount of times I've heard their catalogs. I like Karda Estra and early White Willow as far as new music goes. I am sick and tire of the musical formulas that have been used over and over again for decades. Their are a lots of bands that emulate the sound of Univers Zero and many other late 70's period bands and it gets very tired.

I just had a thought here - last year I rented the Minor Threat DVD. It includes any and all video material that could be found, even stuff when they played in basement clubs or parties. I was curious to see what this band was about. I will eventually get their compilation. And believe me, the sound quality on some of this stuff doesn't "prettify" this raw aggressive music.
I also rented the Marillion "Brave" DVD. An album I love. Didn't care much for it.
 
But over the years my approach of a fair but not unlimited repeated listens has allowed me to discover much great music. I'm sure that there is some music that if only I had given the album another listen or ten, that I might have found something there that I loved. But that would have meant that I would have missed out on many albums or groups that I have come to enjoy, because at a certain point, there is only so much time. Indeed, there is more great & good music out there that no one will ever be able to get through in one or more lifetimes. Because there is always new music coming out, old music rediscovered, a few hundred years of music history, a massive catalogue of recorded music even if we just count what has been releases in our generation. Even if you whittle it down to widely defined genre or three, you're still not going to be able to hear everything.
So admit the reality that even if you had the time & budget ($$$), you could still give each and every semi-interesting act or album a listen and not get to every one that would actually capture your ear from the get go (unpleasant / mainstream ./ melodious / noise et al other descriptions of your choice) .

So you make a choice - I will risk missing out on a few great albums or groups because I want to make absolutely sure that this album is not going to be enjoyable for me before I move on to another. Or, you say, I gave it a fair shot (whatever that means to you) and on to the next possibility.
The more you get to hear, the better the chances of coming across something that will keep you coming back regularly over the years.
Unless the ultimate goal is not to find music that you enjoy , eh

Originally posted by mono After more than a few years of listenning to prog, if this still happens to you (I don't like it the first 5 listens then I adore it...), then you have missed out on something important. If with some experience, you can't "like with your mind" before really being taken by the music, then I'm not sure prog is the genre for you, or you choose music that doesn't match your taste. This hasn't happened to me since I've listened to Tales (from Yes) 5 years ago... Prog should be as easy to appreciate by progheads than mainstream pop music by... mainstream pop listeners.

please explain .. it seems like you're saying that it's impossible for a true prog fan to dislike any prog album if they really give it a listen ????

the only music that should be easy to appreciate is music that you like or love. How you get to that point is not a mystery - something (they used to say "in the grooves") draws you in, whatever it is.
Genres may help narrow the search or guide someone to what they may like. And many a music fan does focus on their preferred genre(s). That some would want to insinuate that there is a problem with someone's tastes or their reasons for listening to music leads me back to an earlier point ...

Maybe you need a hug ...


Edited by debrewguy - October 27 2009 at 16:58

I have found myself 'trying to like' albums before. I force myself to listen to it several times, thinking that a few spins will Stockholm Syndrome it into one of my favourites. 

agreed on all points except the last.

If a group is able to consistently deliver music that i  enjoy, I keep picking up each new release. I don't see that as limiting. It is just a case of  those acts having a track record of putting out music that I will like or love (i.e. get regular play over the years). Which is my only goal - to find music that I will enjoy. I've found something that keeps me coming back. Some acts change over the years, some don't.

That doesn't mean that I don't try new bands. I have the same goal in mind when I make those purchases - finding music I will enjoy. Those "searches" are guided by reviews, samples (streaming, myspace, radio , friends recommendations - anything but paid advertisements no matter where they're found).

So Los Lobos gets my money withing a week of an album's release. Rush, I now would check out the music before I buy. A highly rated album by a group that I do not know, but in a genre that I've had luck with, I'll take a chance on .  Outside my comfort zone (knowledge wise), I regularly check out samples often to see if anything catches my ear. Univers Zero was one of those. H era Marillion was due to some great reviews from people at PA that I respect (albums like Brave). The Drive By Truckers are one act that I buy everything they put out. Half the time, a new release doesn't catch on right away. But over time, there's only been one release (A Blessing & A Curse) that hasn't really gotten much play. And I still play it once every few months, cause there's something there that draws me back, topped with my experience of the other albums gradually becoming favourites over time.
Not by forcing myself. I did that with Rush's output from Power Windows to Presto. Gave up, sold / traded them all. Borrowed & gave one listen to  Counterparts, Roll the Bones, Test for Echo. Took a chance on Vapor Trails. Bought Snakes because of VP. Now back to ignoring future releases

SO I still end up with a fair share of old & reliable, new & unknown et al. But then, I've got a great local Second hand indie record shop. A great local music store with knowledgeable staff. In a town with a decent & active music scene. Add to that alternative mags like Exclaim, sites like PA, music newsletters like Bob Lefsetz', and I've got many sources to tap into. Too many really. So I make choices.

And I still prefer to have ten albums that I like or love, with one or two bummers, than 5 that I'm working on, 3 that I love, and two that I use as coasters.

Trout Mask Replica - i tried...

Originally posted by chopper Still can't listen to Trout Mask all the way through but ok in small doses.

I play that album to people when they start talking about the "weird" music they like.

I agree with A Person that you shouldn't force yourself to listen to albums, but only listen to it again so you can find things that you can like in it.  One band that doesn't make much sense to me is Gong, because I think they are too silly.  But after some advice, I can understand why people would enjoy it, but I won't waste my time if I can tell that I will never get that kind of enjoyment from the band.

Originally posted by gottagetintogetout I agree with A Person that you shouldn't force yourself to listen to albums, but only listen to it again so you can find things that you can like in it.  One band that doesn't make much sense to me is Gong, because I think they are too silly.  But after some advice, I can understand why people would enjoy it, but I won't waste my time if I can tell that I will never get that kind of enjoyment from the band.

You are of course speaking about Daevid Allenses' Gong.   The silliness is part of the charm.  If you prefer your music more serious, you might want to try some of Pierre Moerlen's Gongses.


Edited by Slartibartfast - November 16 2009 at 09:10