Worst Album by a Great Prog Band

Pink Floyd's...Meddle

Cristi wrote: noni wrote: Pink Floyd's...Meddle wow, really?

Theres no music.. In fact there's 3 pink floyd albums I don't play because of this.    Their other albums are fine, the classic Pink Floyd sound.

Edited by noni - September 18 2016 at 04:53

What are TFC and AMLOR?

There's a big difference between albums one may dislike and one's that are bad. Two different idea. The first is a preference, the opinion. The second is a judgement - good? Bad? Back it up. As best as you can.

e.g. I'm only in parts keen on VDGG some nice riffs here and there. I do not say they are bad, just what I hear (vocally usually) puts me off. Plus i thought they needed more instruments (guitar) to really get their stuff across. This is what could be called an artistic difference. ;)

Are Radiohead a great prog band? I recall Yorke being worried about such a label as that was before prog rock was the new trendy thing and the fair weather fans could come out of their wardrobes. If R.Head are a great prog band then I nominate OK Computer. To me I found the backing (guitar) for the whining to be poor, unimaginative and all that was worst about alt rock. Progressive rock? Not with Porcupine Tree's Signify, In Absentia and Recordings in leagues ahead in every comparable field, composition, vocal likeability, lyrics and deft, generous and expressive work from his bandmates that, well make P Tree far more prerable to his solo albums. The last P Tree and second post Tree solo album should be, ironically the other way around...

Don't find too much dreadful or not liked among all the usual suspects. I had many years of disliking the Final Cut. Then I had a copy of the video EP (nice little 4 track concept piece) and the tunes Rog had found fresh ears. It's a very austere album and makes no pop or rock concessions. The late 70s / 80s era direct references might cause some to think it's dated; I like to think of these as specific examples of railing against dictatorial authority rather than say a general approach such as Sabbath's War Pigs.

Poor old Tormato. It kind of has A White Album syndrome as the band members had clearly gone seperate ways. I think of this album as something of a compilation of (then) new material unlike the more album orientation of previous releases.

When watching the Wembley concert by Genesis I thought it was all fine and then they went into Los Endos and what a change. The mystery that was Genesis was brought back  - as much as I like most things Genesis 80s this was probably what I liked and wanted to hear most. But Genesis fans never gave the latest Genesis a chance and that spelled the end of that band, Cutting off noses to spite faces perhaps. Like most latter day Genesis releases they are much better when all the material (CAS has about 50 minutes of music not included on the album) and compiling all the tracks gives a different feel to the album - a similar effect with Invisible Touch and Abacab.

Still prog fans are not expected to think outside the box. That would be, well progressive. But Genesis were still fine live. I do think I prefer Phil on drums though.

As for Yes - only Heaven and Earth so far. 90125 Big Generator were fine, energetic affairs - a different beats from Heart of The Sunrise but now capable of putting complex forms inside short formats rather than extended ideas.

Now something I could really have done without is hearing a mono mix of The White Album. This mono idea is quite funny. What is people want? Surround sound? Great stereo? Mono? Really?! This was like listening to this otherwise superbly remastered album through a funnel. The only thing that should be in mono are albums like early Dylan when it's just himself. But a band, orchestra or whatever does not get heard in mono live, AP soundboard or not. It is most unnatural.

I recall Focus Con Proby and Mother Focus to be not quite up to the standard of previous albums.

Oooh, I know. Camel. Great band. Breathless. Uh oh. Oh dear. I recall being massively disappointed with this. In contrast the live version of Snow Goose is one of the in concert greats. Unlike Yesshows, released before Squire had finished this project the result was... lack lustre. In contrast there are many contemporary bootlegs revealing Yes to be right at the top of their game.

Wasn't thrilled with Dot Com from Tull but then I wasn't thrilled with Too Old To Rock And Roll either depite this album being in the middle of an exceptionally long run of exceptionally fine albums. Good, but not great.
This was the worst album by Tull in that 12 year period.

Pink Floyd. This is odd stuff but compilation such as A Collection of Great Dance songs just annoyed me. Unlike the similar Classic Yes the Floyd's material from different albums just did not hang together in this format. The re-recorded Money could be included, along with Embryo (Works) on a new version of Relics. But they haven't. Yet.

ELP, sorry but half or works was overproduced rather dull songs from Greg Lake and some ideas and jams from Carl Palmer. The band material and Concerto are great. I like his concerto, a really positive piece. the maligned Works 2 reveals a versatile and often fun prog rock band.

KC. Bad stuff. Er... um... ah...

Bowie. Prog rocks single greatest artist. If only he had got together with Crim c. 1985... I suppose I'm not that keen on his earliest material (love the Laughing Gnome though). Some of his post Let's Dance material might not have quite the same intensity - his track Underground for example was a tad pallid.

So instead of being negative one keeps one's mind open and a lucky dip approach to these great bands are most likely to mean you pick up a pretty good album. Somethings might not to be one's taste but ... that can change as I have found.

Cristi wrote: ^ what do you mean there's no music?! I don't get it. I understand people's disappointment with TFC or AMLOR, but not Meddle.

Edited by noni - September 18 2016 at 08:09

^  I love AMLOR.

hahahha

Defend away man.  However my point stands...if Wakeman had ditched the Casio or whatever the f**k he was playing on that album and just played a damn Hammond.. you wouldn't need to defend it. That was the only flaw on what was otherwise a great album.. problem was... it was a mighty big flaw.  It took me a long time to get over it.. to the point where it is not as much irratating.. but endearing.

silverpot wrote: ^  I love AMLOR.

hah..  there are some albums I dislike... they are fortunate enough to only become drink coasters at the Palzzo di Prog here.

there is only 1 album.. 1 album I have ever heard I hate.. loathe..detest...

and someday as my swans song to this site... before my lungs, liver, brains or god forbid .. my wit give out.

I will give that album the PA's review it deserves from me.  I have 2 of the greatest reviews this site ever saw...

I will make that one my epitaph to this site...

micky wrote: hahahha Defend away man.  However my point stands...if Wakeman had ditched the Casio or whatever the f**k he was playing on that album and just played a damn Hammond.. you wouldn't need to defend it. That was the only flaw on what was otherwise a great album.. problem was... it was a mighty big flaw.  It took me a long time to get over it.. to the point where it is not as much irratating.. but endearing.

Edited by Son.of.Tiresias - September 18 2016 at 14:04