XTC, Rod Argent, Garfield

XTC. A glaring omission, IMHO. Could nobody have possibly brought them up until now? They have most certainly influenced artists who are clearly prog, and Colin Moulding has participated in a few tribute albums, and in Billy Sherwood’s Prog Collective. I always thought It Bites had a sound influenced by them, the same unexpected melodic turns. They should at least go into the prog related category, or maybe crossover prog.

Rod Argent. Argent the band is here, but not Rod as a solo artist. His 1978 album Moving Home definitely qualifies, and Red House (1991) follows in much the same vein. Eclectic prog, definitely.

Garfield. Much more obscure, this Canadian outfit, named for the lead singer and songwriter Garfield French. Two albums: Strange Streets (1976, Mercury in the US) and Out There Tonight (1977, Capricorn). They’re both currently available thru Amazon on a single CD from Germany. Eclectic prog or crossover prog.

Ah..XTC...that old chesnut.

ExittheLemming wrote: ^ great band and yes, I adore them hugely but they don't belong here. Their admission has been debated to death over the years, so just before anyone posts to the effect: yeah... but if A is here already then so should B - (2 wrongs don't make a right)

Regarding Rod Argent... of his solo albums ''Moving Home'' (1978) is described as fusion/art rock while ''Red House'' (1988) is tagged as pop. He has also released an album of classical covers (''Classically Speaking'') and various collaborations. The most interesting of these might be the jazz-funk album he recorded with saxist/flautist Barbara Thompson ''Ghosts'' (1982), and there's 1987's ''Wild Connections'' with Gary Moore and Phil Collins. Then there are four albums with Robert Howes, new age/synthpop stuff. Certainly an eclectic artist but not really Eclectic Prog imo. He has also worked on albums by Tanita Tikaram, Nanci Griffiths, Joshua Kadison etc. Unfortunately there are very few relevant YouTube samples for us to check, I've posted a few but have ignored the classical stuff.

^ ^ As a big Argent fan, I was very disappointed by Moving Home. It sounds like a very unsatisfying compromise between jazz inflected soul, rock and (gulp) latin rhythms. I did however enjoy his contribution to the Variations album and he did record a nifty version of one of Satie's piano Gymnopedies


Edited by ExittheLemming - April 18 2013 at 06:03

^ now there's a turnip for the books

XTC started off as a new wave band. I would argue that albums such as Apple were avant grade, which used to qualify, but I can see the argument against.

ExittheLemming wrote: ^ clever pop music (with a nod to Beatles, Brian Wilson, Ray Davies, David Byrne, Psychedelia, Townshend etc) very innovative and unusual chord progressions, the odd odd time sig, angular chromatic stuff like Travels in Nihilon, Complicated Game, their deconstructed All Along the Watchtower, erm... and a 'Tron on Big Express .................... (does not Prog make) Perhaps people are clutching at straws?

I wholeheartedly agree with your points, and maybe it's just me, but your points combined with mine seem to present a convincing argument for putting XTC in PA.

And how would that be clutching at straws?

AreYouHuman wrote: ExittheLemming wrote: ^ clever pop music (with a nod to Beatles, Brian Wilson, Ray Davies, David Byrne, Psychedelia, Townshend etc) very innovative and unusual chord progressions, the odd odd time sig, angular chromatic stuff like Travels in Nihilon, Complicated Game, their deconstructed All Along the Watchtower, erm... and a 'Tron on Big Express .................... (does not Prog make) Perhaps people are clutching at straws? I wholeheartedly agree with your points, and maybe it's just me, but your points combined with mine seem to present a convincing argument for putting XTC in PA. And how would that be clutching at straws?

I think you misunderstand me. I DON'T think XTC should be in PA and those traits I listed above can be found in much Prog but don't of themselves qualify anyone as Prog.
Does that make sense?

seventhsojourn wrote: It doesn't specifically say one suggestion per thread but I think it's implied: ''You have two options for submitting a band/artist for inclusion... collect sound samples and other helpful information... as well as your explanation of why this band/artist should be added to ProgArchives.'' You can probably see how confusing things might get with people simultaneously discussing more than one artist.

I get where you're coming from, but I think your meaning could be made clearer there. Just sayin'.

seventhsojourn wrote: Oh, and I should have said earlier... welcome to PA and thanks for your contributions!

Thanks, I look forward to contributing more.