Mike Oldfield vs. Mikael Åkerfeldt

If it's just the looks, I give it to Akerfeldt, but quite frankly he looks like a stuffed-shirt so full of himself he can't see past his moustache, and I'm being nice when I say it that way.  I rather like the contemplative, rainy day look of Oldfield on the Ommadawn cover.  M.J. just looks freaky.

 

If it's the music, that's another thing altogether.  And shouldn't a progger be ashamed to vote on basis of looks anyway?

 

I think the line drawn here will be mostly between fans of metal and fans of what the Archives calls Crossover Prog.  Presence on the top 100 is little different than any other such list - it is a matter of current popularity and nothing more.  Mariah Carey now has more #1 singles than the Beatles.  Does this make her better?  And she is certainly better looking than any of the Beatles, although Akerfeldt seems to think he's prettier.   I have heard nothing by Akerfeldt and Opeth that is nearly as visionary as what Oldfield has done.  If we want to list instruments and what not, Oldfield has it by a mile.  Here is the simplified list from Amarok: guitars of various kinds and styles, bazouki, mandolin, ukelele, glockenspiel, marimba, bagpipes, percussions, penny and other kinds of whistles, spoons, kalimba, bass, piano, occasional synths.  This is not to mention the vocals he has performed elswhere, or his composing and song-writing.  He had to hire extra musicians to finish Tubular Bells because he had so many edits of his own perfermances the master tape fell apart.  He has gone through many stages as an artist; Opeth has evolved somewhat, but not that much.  Everybody should listen to what they enjoy, no problem there, but in this poll, Oldfield is the man.