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HolyMoly 
Special Collaborator
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Joined: April 01 2009
Location: Atlanta
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Points: 26133
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 Posted: August 24 2014 at 08:28 |
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I feel like I should like The Mars Volta. I bought "Deloused" and "Frances" and put them on from time to time, but I can't handle it for very long. I can dig the complexity, I can dig the experimental strains, and I can even dig the punky energy, but something about the way the albums are mixed is just unpleasant to my ears. It feels like everything is either in the red all the time, or really quiet. As good as the music is, the band's sense of dynamics just isn't my style.
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My other avatar is a Porsche
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.
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irrelevant
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Honorary Collaborator
Joined: March 07 2010
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 13382
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Posted: August 24 2014 at 08:35 |
 HolyMoly wrote:
I feel like I should like The Mars Volta. I bought "Deloused" and "Frances" and put them on from time to time, but I can't handle it for very long. I can dig the complexity, I can dig the experimental strains, and I can even dig the punky energy, but something about the way the albums are mixed is just unpleasant to my ears. It feels like everything is either in the red all the time, or really quiet. As good as the music is, the band's sense of dynamics just isn't my style. |
I know what you mean. They can sound like a total mess when not in the right mood. The sound effects and overproduction do them a disservice quite often methinks.
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ProgMetaller2112
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 08 2012
Location: Pacoima,CA,USA
Status: Offline
Points: 3145
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Posted: August 24 2014 at 17:58 |
Mirror Image wrote:
I 'don't get' and all IMHO -
-Any Soft Machine album -Most Canterbury bands (esp. Caravan, Matching Mole, National Health) -Robert Wyatt in general does nothing for me (Rock Bottom has to be one of the most overrated prog rock albums of all-time) -Most Neo-Progressive bands with the exception of Marillion and IQ -Magma (horrible, horrible band) -The whole RIO movement (noise pollution to my ears) -Roxy Music -Hawkwind -Eloy (such hideous vocals that butcher the English language) -Steve Hillage -Gong -Steven Wilson in general, although I do like some of Porcupine Tree albums -I can tolerate some progressive metal like Fates Warning and Dream Theater, but, in general this genre leaves me cold
I have a love/hate relationship with Gentle Giant and I'm starting to come around to Jethro Tull. I LOVE A Passion Play!
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 Oh my how things change
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“War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four
"Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk Hand in Hand"- Neil Peart
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Mirror Image
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 13 2011
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2111
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Posted: August 24 2014 at 17:59 |
HolyMoly wrote:
I feel like I should like The Mars Volta. I bought "Deloused" and "Frances" and put them on from time to time, but I can't handle it for very long. I can dig the complexity, I can dig the experimental strains, and I can even dig the punky energy, but something about the way the albums are mixed is just unpleasant to my ears. It feels like everything is either in the red all the time, or really quiet. As good as the music is, the band's sense of dynamics just isn't my style. |
I never have liked nor understood what the big attraction was to The Mars Volta. Their music lacks clarity, structure, coherency, and, as you said, dynamics. One giant chaotic mess.
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“Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov
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Mirror Image
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 13 2011
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2111
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Posted: August 24 2014 at 18:02 |
ProgMetaller2112 wrote:
Mirror Image wrote:
I 'don't get' and all IMHO -
-Any Soft Machine album -Most Canterbury bands (esp. Caravan, Matching Mole, National Health) -Robert Wyatt in general does nothing for me (Rock Bottom has to be one of the most overrated prog rock albums of all-time) -Most Neo-Progressive bands with the exception of Marillion and IQ -Magma (horrible, horrible band) -The whole RIO movement (noise pollution to my ears) -Roxy Music -Hawkwind -Eloy (such hideous vocals that butcher the English language) -Steve Hillage -Gong -Steven Wilson in general, although I do like some of Porcupine Tree albums -I can tolerate some progressive metal like Fates Warning and Dream Theater, but, in general this genre leaves me cold
I have a love/hate relationship with Gentle Giant and I'm starting to come around to Jethro Tull. I LOVE A Passion Play!
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Oh my how things change |
Indeed! This was written before I gave them a real proper listen. I just listened to a few songs and thought "What the hell?" But when I got Ocean, I ripped it to one of my iPods, and put my headphones on and really enjoyed the music much more.
Since writing this, I have more of a admiration for Gentle Giant than before and I'm definitely not coming around to Jethro Tull. Just can't get into them and the only part I actually liked in A Passion Play were the Forest Dance I & II sections. That's about it!
Edited by Mirror Image - August 24 2014 at 18:04
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“Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov
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Polymorphia
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 06 2012
Location: here
Status: Offline
Points: 8856
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Posted: August 24 2014 at 18:11 |
irrelevant wrote:
HolyMoly wrote:
I feel like I should like The Mars Volta. I bought "Deloused" and "Frances" and put them on from time to time, but I can't handle it for very long. I can dig the complexity, I can dig the experimental strains, and I can even dig the punky energy, but something about the way the albums are mixed is just unpleasant to my ears. It feels like everything is either in the red all the time, or really quiet. As good as the music is, the band's sense of dynamics just isn't my style. |
I know what you mean. They can sound like a total mess when not in the right mood. The sound effects and overproduction do them a disservice quite often methinks. |
Feels I know. There's a distinct mismatch between the intensity of the band and the vocals/lyrics that make the whole thing seem hammy in a bad way. I blamed it all on Cedric for a while, but it just doesn't seem like the band is always creatively in sync with each other.
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PrognosticMind
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 02 2014
Location: New Hampshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1195
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Posted: August 24 2014 at 21:43 |
HolyMoly wrote:
I feel like I should like The Mars Volta. I bought "Deloused" and "Frances" and put them on from time to time, but I can't handle it for very long. I can dig the complexity, I can dig the experimental strains, and I can even dig the punky energy, but something about the way the albums are mixed is just unpleasant to my ears. It feels like everything is either in the red all the time, or really quiet. As good as the music is, the band's sense of dynamics just isn't my style. |
Don't know how I missed this one, but I agree completely. This was a band that I felt "obligated" to be into since I'm a huge progressive rock connoisseur, but they just never clicked for the reasons you've mentioned here.
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"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?"
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richardh
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 26131
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Posted: August 25 2014 at 02:30 |
PrognosticMind wrote:
HolyMoly wrote:
I feel like I should like The Mars Volta. I bought "Deloused" and "Frances" and put them on from time to time, but I can't handle it for very long. I can dig the complexity, I can dig the experimental strains, and I can even dig the punky energy, but something about the way the albums are mixed is just unpleasant to my ears. It feels like everything is either in the red all the time, or really quiet. As good as the music is, the band's sense of dynamics just isn't my style. |
Don't know how I missed this one, but I agree completely. This was a band that I felt "obligated" to be into since I'm a huge progressive rock connoisseur, but they just never clicked for the reasons you've mentioned here. |
I feel a little bit the same but Amputecture seems a little more accessible to me.
Some bands are just 'difficult'. I couldn't stand Gentle Giant for a number of years is one example.
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Kazza3
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 29 2009
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 557
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Posted: August 25 2014 at 06:27 |
I know that The Mars Volta aren't everyone's cup of tea, some people will have tried it and decided it's not their thing, and that's fine, but as a gigantic TMV fan...
HolyMoly wrote:
I feel like I should like The Mars Volta. I bought "Deloused" and "Frances" and put them on from time to time, but I can't handle it for very long. I can dig the complexity, I can dig the experimental strains, and I can even dig the punky energy, but something about the way the albums are mixed is just unpleasant to my ears. It feels like everything is either in the red all the time, or really quiet. As good as the music is, the band's sense of dynamics just isn't my style. |
Deloused is nearly brickwalled with compression, for sure, (Noctourniquet is worse, and several of the others aren't much better) which will always give that effect. I'd tend to blame the mix/master more than the band for that, but it is true much of their music isn't sitting in the middle of the dynamic range a lot of the time, especially on Deloused and Bedlam. Frances has plenty of range.
Polymorphia wrote:
Feels I know. There's a distinct mismatch between the intensity of the band and the vocals/lyrics that make the whole thing seem hammy in a bad way. I blamed it all on Cedric for a while, but it just doesn't seem like the band is always creatively in sync with each other. |
This is an interesting comment. I have no idea where you get that from, but it's interesting. Are you saying that Cedric is less intense than the rest of the band?? The creatively in sync comment is also interesting given that it's all more or less Omar's creative vision + Cedric's vocals & lyrics.
Mirror Image wrote:
I never have liked nor understood what the big attraction was to The Mars Volta. Their music lacks clarity, structure, coherency, and, as you said, dynamics. One giant chaotic mess. |
I have great difficulty seeing how anyone interested in music could not hear any dynamics at all, or any structure at all (most of their songs are verse chorus with some slightly extended section), or coherency or the like. But there you go.
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Pawn Hearts. I love many of their other albums, but A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers, now there's a 'giant chaotic mess'! Well, maybe not that bad, but still.
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Luna
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 28 2010
Location: Funky Town
Status: Offline
Points: 12794
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Posted: August 25 2014 at 06:36 |
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I don't find much in neo-prog because I already have all of Genesis's albums
Edited by Luna - August 25 2014 at 06:36
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PrognosticMind
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 02 2014
Location: New Hampshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1195
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Posted: August 25 2014 at 09:02 |
richardh wrote:
PrognosticMind wrote:
HolyMoly wrote:
I feel like I should like The Mars Volta. I bought "Deloused" and "Frances" and put them on from time to time, but I can't handle it for very long. I can dig the complexity, I can dig the experimental strains, and I can even dig the punky energy, but something about the way the albums are mixed is just unpleasant to my ears. It feels like everything is either in the red all the time, or really quiet. As good as the music is, the band's sense of dynamics just isn't my style. |
Don't know how I missed this one, but I agree completely. This was a band that I felt "obligated" to be into since I'm a huge progressive rock connoisseur, but they just never clicked for the reasons you've mentioned here. |
I feel a little bit the same but Amputecture seems a little more accessible to me.
Some bands are just 'difficult'. I couldn't stand Gentle Giant for a number of years is one example. |
I find it interesting that I can digest Gorguts Obscura without batting an eye, yet the sonic chaos of The Mars Volta just doesn't click with me.
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"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?"
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Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin
Joined: January 22 2009
Location: Magic Theatre
Status: Offline
Points: 23098
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Posted: August 25 2014 at 09:22 |
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Most folks I know who don't enjoy TMV have a distaste for pineapple or they're left-handed.
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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PrognosticMind
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 02 2014
Location: New Hampshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1195
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Posted: August 25 2014 at 09:52 |
Guldbamsen wrote:
Most folks I know who don't enjoy TMV have a distaste for pineapple or they're left-handed. |
I'm left-handed and I love pineapple  .
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"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?"
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Old King Cole
Forum Newbie
Joined: March 31 2015
Location: Reykjavik
Status: Offline
Points: 38
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Posted: April 01 2015 at 10:42 |
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There was an album by King Crimson I didn't like that much, I don't remember the name, I felt it was too repetitive for my taste.
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justin4950834-2
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 08 2013
Location: Cobb
Status: Offline
Points: 329
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Posted: April 01 2015 at 12:06 |
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Soft Machine Third, the sound quality is terrible I like moon in june but the songs are just ok.
Amon Dull 2 Yeti, I kind of like it there are a couple really good songs, but the long songs like Yeti (imporvisation) seem like one long filler.
Eloy Oceans, fantastic intrumental stuff, but I get really turned off when he starts singing.
Hatfield & The North debut, I kind of like I just don't think its great
any of Third Ear Bands stuff, I just don't get it.
I really want to like these albums. I hate it when theres a classic prog album I don't like.
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Polymorphia
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 06 2012
Location: here
Status: Offline
Points: 8856
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Posted: April 01 2015 at 13:11 |
Darkspace is another band that I should be into, but I'm not. I guess I never found their atmosphere as evocative as I thought it would. I find myself a little underwhelmed.
Kazza3 wrote:
Polymorphia wrote:
Feels I know. There's a distinct mismatch between the intensity of the band and the vocals/lyrics that make the whole thing seem hammy in a bad way. I blamed it all on Cedric for a while, but it just doesn't seem like the band is always creatively in sync with each other. |
This is an interesting comment. I have no idea where you get that from, but it's interesting. Are you saying that Cedric is less intense than the rest of the band?? The creatively in sync comment is also interesting given that it's all more or less Omar's creative vision + Cedric's vocals & lyrics. |
8 months later... In inverse order of intensity: Cedrics lyrics (the five syllable words tend not to translate intensity well) < Cedrics vocals (I find myself wanting the punk shouts of At the Drive-in pretty often, especially when they tune his vocals to a crisp; he had some of this on Deloused, not as much on later albums) < the music Deloused more or less feels right to me. It just feels they lost something as they went on. Especially as they tuned and doctored Cedric vocals more and more. Plus, I find their ballads a little formulaic. I like Deloused but just find the rest of the albums not as creatively refreshing.
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sublime220
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 21 2015
Location: Willow Farm
Status: Offline
Points: 1563
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Posted: April 01 2015 at 18:21 |
King Crimson - LTIA (Only liked Pt. 1) VdGG - Godbluff (H to He and Pawn Hearts are much better) Genesis - TLLDOB, ATTOT, W&W (I found them OK, but not anything special at all)
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There is no dark side in the moon, really... Matter of fact, it's all dark...
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Upbeat Tango Monday
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 10 2015
Location: Buenos Aires
Status: Offline
Points: 1189
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Posted: April 14 2015 at 15:31 |
Albums: King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic Gryphon - Red Queen to Gryphon Three Focus - Moving Waves
Bands: Hawkwind, Magma, Asia and Marillion
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richardh
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 26131
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Posted: April 15 2015 at 01:54 |
Old King Cole wrote:
There was an album by King Crimson I didn't like that much, I don't remember the name, I felt it was too repetitive for my taste. |
Beat I suspect I'm supposed to like Discipline but its like nails on chalkboard to my ears. I have a real problem with this minimalistic approach but Fripp is a genius yadda yadda..
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snowsnow
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 09 2011
Location: Belper, England
Status: Offline
Points: 555
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Posted: April 16 2015 at 12:47 |
Albums IQ - Subterranea (double concept from a band I love what could go wrong) Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother (popular no1 smash that sounds to me like they are making it up as they go along VDGG - Godbluff - love so much of their stuff - Pawn Hearts being a top 10 - but Godbluff is just a so-so album for me...
Bands
king Crimson - I've tried so hard and now have just thrown the towel in...
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