2 Out Of 3

ew

Oldfield is the odd man out for me.

Zappa Wyatt

infocat wrote: Oldfield and Wyatt yesZappa no (sorry!)

hahahaha lol that reply of yours seems like your profile pic is saying that hahaha lol love that Grumpy fluffy cat hahaha!! xx

Oldfield by a very long way.

King Crimson776 wrote: Oldfield and Zappa I've never been that big on solo Wyatt, and Rock Bottom in particular has little appeal to me.

Of the three, I only really consider myself to be a big fan of Robert Wyatt. I like the other two, and love various music by Zappa, but neither of them have touched me like Robert Wyatt. 

Hearing Rock Bottom was a music-changing. experience for me, and I also love his debut, and his other albums.  I find Rock Bottom so poignant especially.  And despite Wyatt's very unfortunate condition (his fall, hospitalisation and paralysis), I find it life-affirming.  Well, it's silly, charming, and yes, sad,  yet I find it hopeful.  Harrowing, but hopeful.  Wonderful album, and I find the story behind it quite remarkable (though much of it was conceived before the accident).  For those that just find it okay, I wonder if it would mean more if they could imagine themselves in Wyatt's shoes at the time of recording and quite fresh out of hospital, partially paralysed, and getting a lot of musical support from his friends, and having thought of music for it while in hospital.

Even if, as he said, the musical themes did not result that directly from the accident (the album title sure evokes it), I sure can't distance it from that time in his life.

What I love about Wyatt's "solo" music  generally is that the writing comes across as so personal and often intimate.  There's whimsy, but also an earthiness and down-to-earthiness quality.  I'd much sooner imagine him in a smoke filled little club than playing some arena.  Imagine watching ELP in a stadium with all the theatrics and screaming fans sporting Love Beach style male camel-toes , now think Wyatt calmly playing horn and gruffly singing from his wheelchair while you enjoy a good pint of draught for contrast. I would choose the latter. I love so much of his stuff: from his solo albums to Matching mole and Soft Machine and various collaborations/ albums he has worked on. 

Rednight wrote: Compared to Zappa, the other two are also-rans.

Strange, I guess I'm the only one who plays all three one after the other.


Nah! Just kidding.  Zap and Old for me, so no vote.


Edited by SteveG - September 23 2014 at 18:53

Anything but Oldfield. Tubular Bells are so boring, awful and infantile to me! Should be forgotten forever and long time ago. Zappa and Wyatt out of these three for me, please.

Saperlipopette! wrote: Logan wrote: Of the three, I only really consider myself to be a big fan of Robert Wyatt. I like the other two, and love various music by Zappa, but neither of them have touched me like Robert Wyatt.  Hearing Rock Bottom was a music-changing. experience for me, and I also love his debut, and his other albums.  I find Rock Bottom so poignant especially.  And despite Wyatt's very unfortunate condition (his fall, hospitalisation and paralysis), I find it life-affirming.  Well, it's silly, charming, and yes, sad,  yet I find it hopeful.  Harrowing, but hopeful.  Wonderful album, and I find the story behind it quite remarkable (though much of it was conceived before the accident).  For those that just find it okay, I wonder if it would mean more if they could imagine themselves in Wyatt's shoes at the time of recording and quite fresh out of hospital, partially paralysed, and getting a lot of musical support from his friends, and having thought of music for it while in hospital. Even if, as he said, the musical themes did not result that directly from the accident (the album title sure evokes it), I sure can't distance it from that time in his life. What I love about Wyatt's "solo" music  generally is that the writing comes across as so personal and often intimate.  There's whimsy, but also an earthiness and down-to-earthiness quality.  I'd much sooner imagine him in a smoke filled little club than playing some arena.  Imagine watching ELP in a stadium with all the theatrics and screaming fans sporting Love Beach style male camel-toes , now think Wyatt calmly playing horn and gruffly singing from his wheelchair while you enjoy a good pint of draught for contrast. I would choose the latter. I love so much of his stuff: from his solo albums to Matching mole and Soft Machine and various collaborations/ albums he has worked on.  Lovely post, Logan. Listening to Rock Bottom feels like listening to someone's life or a life experience. Mostly Robert's I guess but also my own, Alifie and perhaps even people I know and care about. That probably came out a little strange and I don't know if I actually managed to write what I trying to get across, but its not just an album. Its so much more.

I get what you're saying.

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 It's a personal album that also hits me on a deeply personal level.  It's something that I personally can really relate to while at the same time relating it to Robert, Alfie, and people I cherish.  It's such a meaningful album to me.  And like good art, we aren't hit over the head with a  message, but we can bring our own meaning and experiences to it.

I expect that many who are into Prog (especially those who like arena rock oriented stuff) would not be impressed by it because they're wanting flash.  Like other Wyatt albums, it's a much humbler work than what is often classically thought of as Prog.  It's not about showing off, it's about relaying an experience.  It's not about being larger than life, it is about life.  It's intimate,poetic,  thoughtful, whimsical, and emotional in a good way.  There's such humility and humanity to the album, I feel.  Such poignancy amongst any absurdity.  Rock Bottom is so special.