Gentle Giant
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=112497
Printed Date: April 16 2024 at 06:14
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Topic: Gentle Giant
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Subject: Gentle Giant
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 18:09
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I've bounced on and off ProgArchives for some years now as a visitor, and I understand GG can be one of the more polarizing prog bands in terms of fan fare. I must say, as a long, long time listener and connoisseur of progressive music, Gentle Giant very well may be the best band on the planet Earth. I'm trying really hard not to use hyperbole here! There's so much to be said about this band. They appear to, in my honest opinion, exemplify all of the best elements of progressive music nearly flawlessly. Take the best parts of Yes, Genesis, ELP, and pretty much any top-tier prog band you can think of, and Gentle Giant somehow takes that to the next level. Ray Shulman should be a household name along Squire's in terms of precision, tightness, creativity, and expression. Derek Shulman's vocal intensity and choice of harmony and melody challenges the likes of Peter Gabriel's best performance. Gary Green is a flawless guitar player. I really can't say enough good things about this man's style. John Weathers is a master and honestly I can't compare him to anyone because instead of needless complexity for the sake of it, he holds the songs together with precision timing and groove. Kerry Minnear is arguably the most creative keyboard player in prog. He gives Wakeman and many others a serious run for their money. I apologize if this comes off as a "this dude just joined and made a GG rant thread", but I know so few who can enjoy and appreciate the beauty, complexity and intricacy of this incredible band! What are your thoughts?
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Replies:
Posted By: Larkstongue41
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 18:23
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A much beloved band here on PA's and deservedly so. I'm personally not too crazy about them but their inventiveness and musicianship skills are undeniable. Welcome to the forum! ------------- "Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Chaffinch brains. Jaguars' earlobes. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while they're hot. They're lovely. Dromedary pretzels, only half a denar." |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 18:39
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As witnessed in your avatar, you know your 'Giant well. Their best. ------------- "It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 18:53
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At age 15 I had a ticket to see Yes on their '75 tour at the Cow Palace in SF (technically it's in Daly City, but you get the picture). They had an opening band none of us had ever heard of called Gentle Giant. The day after the show, virtually all my friends scraped together enough cash for a trip to the record store and came home with their 1st of many Gentle Giant albums - I bought Free Hand... They're definitely in the upper echelon of prog bands for me and I still frequently spin everything up through The Missing Piece  And welcome to PA, we need all the Gentle Giant fanatics we can get  ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 19:07
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I love Giant, but while there is plenty of originality, fire, musicianship, and outright weirdness, I don't hear the same level or amount of sheer beauty one encounters so often with Yes or Genesis. I think GG are more head than heart, most times. It is telling that they are very polarizing and will drive non prog fans from the room much sooner than most other classic prog bands do. GG are NOT for the faint of heart! (They are much like Van Der Graf Generator, in that regard -- it harder to acquire a taste for them.) Still, I love them (see my reviews), and I understand your passion for them.  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: YESESIS
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 19:29
1000% agree with this. There are a few bands I'm slightly uneasy about putting them ahead of, *cough* Yes *cough* Genesis.. But if anyone puts GG at the very top I will not argue with them.. they're that %$#% good.
Oh I can appreciate it lol, to me they're one of the very best Welcome and.. way to join and make an immediate impact! Hats off to you Sir. |
Frenetic Zetetic wrote:Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 19:42
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and even better than the mighty Crim. ------------- |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 20:17
| Great band. They apparently are on the cover of the latest edition of PROG magazine. I hope that that gives them exposure to a wider(and younger)audience who is currently slobbering over Opeth and Steven Wilson. |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 20:18
About the same for me. I like both a lot but probably prefer VDGG and Camel to either one.
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 20:44
| I like Gentle Giant well enough, but mostly their first 2 albums, and after Phil Shulman left I just lost them. Actually, the first album I bought from them was the live Playing the Fool (since it's got such flawless reviews, and I often buy live albums first to get a good overview of the bands songs up to that point, without the risk of repeating the exact same songs (in the exact same version) in case I decide to start buying albums from them. However, I just couldn't (and still can't) understand Playing the Fool, and I thought I just wouldn't be able to get into them... I just couldn't find the beautiful melodies or hooks I wanted on an album. But somehow I was persuaded to give them a second chance, and I went for their first 4 albums (I remembered hearing Octopus on Youtube, and finding it promising, and from Playing the Fool, the one song I did like a lot was "Funny Ways", from the first album. However, I ended up loving their first 2 albums, but 3 friends started showing the aspects that I did not like on PtF (and had less of the aspects I did like from the first 2), and Octopus does have some songs I like, but also is not at the same level as the first 2. However, I don't expect to go further into their discography, and given a few listens I have given to some of the albums from after Phil left, I don't expect to change my mind. |
Posted By: Walkscore
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 20:49
| I think the point about GG being "more head than heart" has some relevance. I think as they innovated in the early 1970s they attempted to take music farther than it had yet gone, and in doing so wrote some complex music that worked sometimes but not other times, and indeed, veered into the pretentious at times. When I listen to their discography I see a kind-of arc. They began very musical but less complex, became more complex and innovative but often less musical (the pinnacle of this is Octopus), and then gradually became more musical again, culminating (for me) with their most musical album, Free Hand (more musical, but perhaps less ground-breaking than Octopus, Glass House, etc). |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 21:10
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I like Acquiring the Taste the most, but I do enjoy GG's first eight studio albums. Gentle Giant and Premiata Forneria Marconi were my favourite bands when I joined this site as I recall. At one time I thought GG greater than I now do, but at that time I hadn't explored much "progressive" music/styles outside of Symphonic Prog, and the more music I explored the less I thought so. Anyway, I think GG was a good stepping zone for me to readily get into Rock in Opposition bands, Zeuhl and other music. ------------- theultimateprogressiveartexperimentalmusicresource.org: the ultimate progressive, art, experimental music resource dot org |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 22:46
Gentle Giant have been / always will be, one of my long time favourite Prog bands. Cannot rave on enough about them !! Any ‘ranting’ is welcome 
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: December 20 2017 at 23:52
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When one prises John Weather it really strengthen my will to ahil the late drummer Martin Smitt whom played on the debute and Aquired the Taste, whom ile like to admit is one of the slickest drummers. Whom to me had more jazz flair and floated very well. Whom seemlesly floated on technical songs like The House the Room the Street. Not eluding Malcolm but Smidt is overly overlooked and out of respect zoom into hes slickness of playing. -------------  
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 00:10
| ^ Well said, Chris !! |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 02:22
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WOW this thread blew up! Thank you all so much for your kind words and welcome! Honestly, I waffled on making this thread; good thing I did!
Thank you sir. I've recently received the Steve Wilson/Alucard remasters after years of terrible rips and non-official copies kicking around. They've all been on repeat for some time now. In a Glass House is arguably the best track on said record, and it MIGHT be the single-best GG track of all-time. Dat groove riff!
1000% agree with this. There are a few bands I'm slightly uneasy about putting them ahead of, *cough* Yes *cough* Genesis.. But if anyone puts GG at the very top I will not argue with them.. they're that %$#% good.
Oh I can appreciate it lol, to me they're one of the very best prog music artists ever. I mean on a REALLY short list. Welcome and.. way to join and make an immediate impact! Hats off to you Sir. Lol thank you good sir! As I said I was a bit hesitant but maybe my personal passion and love for GG transferred well to my prog brethren here on PA!
About the same for me. I like both a lot but probably prefer VDGG and Camel to either one. It's very hard to top CC, but I think GG just might be that ONE BAND that manages to do so. VDGG is godly prog rock of the upper echelons.
I find myself enjoying the stuff with Phil more and more these days. His input on Octopus, both vocals and sax, are immense. I love his lines during "River"; "…And the rain that's caught in its flow…"
Interesting view point! I think their complexity, especially on later albums like TPATG and Free Hand, beliles their creativity. There's just so much going on that it's actually not any less musical, it's just harder to hear where it all "lines up". The massive time changes aren't for the feint of heart for sure! It's interesting to hear people praise Octopus for being groundbreaking when I always felt In a Glass House through Free Hand is where the real magic happened! |
Posted By: Frankh
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 04:00
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Had the incredible pleasure of catching Gentle Giant twice live, about months apart in what I believe was late 1976 and mid - 1977. The first show, opening for Annie Haslam and Rennaissance. Prior to this my friends laughed at my predilection. They inquired delicately, "What the hell is this!?" Demanding and derisive. The first record that fell into my hands was The Power And The Glory and even I, myself initially doubted. Next was Freehand. Then, In A Glass House, procured through my connection at the record store, because at that time it was only available in Europe. Doubts dissipated. Playing The Fool. It was one thing listening to the warped little 2 and a half minute studio piece So Sincere, and completely another thing the epic 13 minute monstrous live version. This was where the true genius of the band lay hidden. In order to fully comprehend, you had to see them. You had to catch them live. It took their roadies about forty minutes to set up all the instrumentation the band were to employ that night, and one had to remind oneself that this was the OPENING BAND. What they did that night I don't think they could do these days. Openers are not given this kind of leeway. They aren't supposed to blow the headliner off the stage, nor are they to be afforded the opportunity. The set list was Freehand era and resembled very much the content of Playing The Fool, less the Interview material and sadly no So Sincere. But, I will never forget this show. Highlights were Kerry Minnear's vibes on Funny Ways(a blur!), actually Kerry Minnear on everything. Cello. And especially the keys, firing chords off like he was typing a letter 250 words a minute. Probably the best keyboard player I have ever or will ever witness. Ray's violin, but especially his bass. You were so right about these two. All of them less JP singing On Reflection. JP so solid and somehow funky behind the kit. My friends never had sport with my predilection, again. The second show was hot, too but not as much as that first. They headlined with Dr. Feelgood opening. Poor, lovely Annie Haslam. She and Rennaissance never knew what hit them. She showed alot of class as people shouted, "GIANT!!!" at her for the rest of the night. Unforgettable. And now, 41 years ago. It had to have been unforgettable for me to recall any of it, now all these decades and all those drugs later. ------------- Perhaps finding the happy medium is harder than we know. |
Posted By: Frankh
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 04:01
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Error, lol. See above ^ ------------- Perhaps finding the happy medium is harder than we know. |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 09:52
| Frank H, I find it odd that GG were opening for Renaissance at that time. However, I see you are from upstate NY and if you were there at the time I can sort of understand it because apparently Renaissance were very big up there back then. I even mentioned this to Annie when I met her once and she confirmed that. For whatever reason they had a big following up there. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 10:18
| Amazing post Frankh, thank you for sharing! |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 11:01
| It's interesting how someone on another thread on here was suggesting that Gentle Giant were not that influential or important in the seventies and that they seem influential now just because of the internet. It turns out the person who said this is apparently from the UK so I'm guessing that they weren't that big in their home country. Still, I can't see how anyone can think they "weren't that important." |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 11:22
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it seem like The Zombies, Gentle Giant cought more believrs and fans after their active periode, while Thr zombies lied down ther oars after 68 have found new strength now in the 2017s they are healthier then ever. -------------
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 11:35
| Big Gentle Giant fan here; I have all of their albums, and like every one of them. Though not structurally like Triumvirat, they formed and disbanded at around the same time, and despite that, continue to turn heads with their initial second tier popularity helping them to ride the tide, despite all those years! |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 13:05
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Dellinger said: "I like Gentle Giant well enough, but mostly their first 2 albums, and after Phil Shulman left I just lost them. Actually, the first album I bought from them was the live Playing the Fool (since it's got such flawless reviews, and I often buy live albums first to get a good overview of the bands songs up to that point, without the risk of repeating the exact same songs (in the exact same version) in case I decide to start buying albums from them. However, I just couldn't (and still can't) understand Playing the Fool, and I thought I just wouldn't be able to get into them... I just couldn't find the beautiful melodies or hooks I wanted on an album. But somehow I was persuaded to give them a second chance, and I went for their first 4 albums (I remembered hearing Octopus on Youtube, and finding it promising, and from Playing the Fool, the one song I did like a lot was "Funny Ways", from the first album. However, I ended up loving their first 2 albums, but 3 friends started showing the aspects that I did not like on PtF (and had less of the aspects I did like from the first 2), and Octopus does have some songs I like, but also is not at the same level as the first 2. However, I don't expect to go further into their discography, and given a few listens I have given to some of the albums from after Phil left, I don't expect to change my mind." I have to agree with this ....and while I own the first 8 (and do play them from time to time...) , the first 2 are still my favorites. Very talented musicians with clever arrangements but imho missing some heart on many tracks that end up coming off as accomplished but ultimately unsatisfying. It seemed to me at times that they almost went out of their way to be eclectic and quirky to impress people but missed the fact that that could also turn people off. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: December 21 2017 at 17:01
| The Power And The Glory is my favourite by them. Precision musical engineering! The early albums have some beautiful moments but they don't really hang together that well for me. It's a bit like comparing ELP's debut to Brain Salad Surgery. I prefer it when ELP went up a gear and the same is largely true of how I feel about GG. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 22 2017 at 02:21
I'd consider them essential to a well-rounded prog diet  They are indeed from Scotland, so IDK how popular this music is there, but in the UK you'd think they'd have SOME following back in the day. I can see the internet helping them now more than ever; it honestly just proves their art is timeless and transcends generations. As someone who also plays fretless bass in several fusion outfits, I can say that bands like GG, YES, KC, etc all really prove their prowess through how limited recording techniques were back then. You HAD to be tight or no go. Time = $$$!!!
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: December 22 2017 at 09:48
Just meant to say GG are like Triumvirat, in being around at the same time, being sort of initially second tier in popularity, and still having a loyal fan base. |
Posted By: Blaqua
Date Posted: December 22 2017 at 12:49
| I appreciate them for their whimsical and unique sound. They put their own eccentric signature to the history of prog. Octopus and Acquiring the Taste are by far my favorites. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 22 2017 at 13:06
Perhaps they didn't miss the fact that they could turn people off. In their first, or first 2 albums, they had a stetement written... I don't remember it exactly, but it was something like they tried to be very innovative (or whatever) at the risk of being highly unpopular. So they knew what they were getting into. |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: December 22 2017 at 16:46
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Gentle Giant - this is the band I gave tried so hard to get to understand and like. I also bought Live - Playing the Fool when it came out in the late 70s and tried to find that spark to take me into their wide discography - but never did at the time, despite enjoying the old tune here and there. The 'head' v 'heart' argument is an interesting one and I do find more to draw me in these days - but back in the 70s when my £1 pocket money needed to be spent on sure-fire likes, it's a shame that Gentle Giant just didn't make it on my buy list for vinyl - and no friends had them to loan to me to tape them either. I have a lot of respect for those who find deeper aspects to Gentle Giant (the same as with some eras of King Crimson as well) and I still hope for that 'Eureka' moment with repeated listening (I now hear so many echoes of them in some stuff by Spock's Beard). I just fear I won't fully - although more so than Zappa and the Grateful Dead I hope - who are still closed books to me, sadly. ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: YESESIS
Date Posted: December 22 2017 at 17:43
Me too!
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Posted By: YESESIS
Date Posted: December 22 2017 at 17:44
Great analogy!!!
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Posted By: Frankh
Date Posted: December 23 2017 at 08:10
"It is our goal to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of being very unpopular. We have recorded each composition with the one thought - that it should be unique, adventurous and fascinating. It has taken every shred of our combined musical and technical knowledge to achieve this. From the outset we have abandoned all preconceived thoughts of blatant commercialism. Instead we hope to give you something much more substantial and fulfilling. All you need to do is sit back, and acquire the taste." This wasn't always my favorite album from the band (Acquiring The Taste). It is only in the last ten or fifteen years that I settled on it, fully. It isn't perfect. Kind of ebbs off toward the end. Plain Truth, not their finest hour. But, so good. So unique, such a singular listening experience. So much here that cannot be found anywhere else! Can you tell? I love this album. The House, The Street, The Room. Pantagruel's Nativity. They really don't make 'em like this anymore. They may never have. ------------- Perhaps finding the happy medium is harder than we know. |
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: December 23 2017 at 10:02
I double down. Great analogy!
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 23 2017 at 12:49
Thanks, I was lazy to look for the whole quote  And indeed I believe they achieved their goal.
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 23 2017 at 20:57
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I wonder if Giant ever played this live when they needed a pick me up.... ;) ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: December 23 2017 at 22:29
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Looks like Renaissance were a little more popular than GG in US, based on Billboard Chart time GG did have 7 albums in the top 200 with 4 in the top 100 and 1 (Freehand) in the top 50. Their albums spent a total of 56 weeks in the charts Renaissance had 8 in the top 200 of which 5 made the top 100 and 2 (Scheherazade, Novella) made the top 50. Their albums spent a total of 101 weeks in the charts Both had a live album in the charts (Playing the Fool for GG and Live at Carnegie Hall for Renaissance) Interestingly, both were much more popular in US than UK. Gentle Giant never charted in UK(!), whereas Renaissance did chart with 2 albums, one of them, A Song for All Seasons, quite successfully (#35), but largely due to an unlikely, though brilliant, hit single, "Northern Lights" (#10). |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 00:03
You'd kind of have to expect that given GG had a far less accessible sound than Renaissance (or Yes/Genesis/JT for that matter). Of the well known prog rock bands, only VDGG was as or even less accessible. Also KC during the Wetton phase but even they had ballads like Lament or Fallen Angel. Love the band, though. I agree with the opinion that they were more head than heart but that goes for a lot of prog anyway. And at least based on what footage I have seen of them, boy, Renaissance must have had their hands full following up GG. Real nightmare for any headliner! Only JT or ELP could have pulled it off in terms of sheer energy level.
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Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 01:58
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There are lots of GG tracks I describe as "clever, clever" but there are also lots GG, which are truly mindbogglingly brilliant! Of all the polarizing prog bands (e.g. VdGG, KC, GG, etc) GG were the only ones who in my opinion, consistently rocked...you can't really find anything that rocked in KC's catalogue...or am I wrong? You can even dance to some GG tunes...well, I tried and succeeded (I think!). I have never been able to dance to either KC or VdGG for that matter! |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 07:15
| So happy to see this thread gaining such traction! You guys/gals are all awesome. It warms my soul to know there are so many GG fans and critics in one place! |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 07:44
| I really love the Phil Shulman albums, not that what came afterwards wasn’t great. Even Civilian is a decent effort for the time. Would’ve been interesting to see where they could’ve gone had they not packed it in forever....... |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 08:13
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Just out of curiosity.....anyone know what they are doing these days...other than being retired.....assuming thy are still alive and well...? ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Magnum Vaeltaja
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 08:24
Yeah, I can definitely admire that about Gentle Giant; it probably helps that they kept strong blues influences, especially on the early albums. As far as King Crimson songs that rock, what do you think about these ones?
To name a few... ------------- when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 08:56
Derek became CEO of Roadrunner Records and I think he signed Slipknot. Ray did some scores for movies/shows/games I think?
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Posted By: Dopeydoc
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 15:24
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If I have to retire one day on a desert island with only one band discography, it would be GG. I cannot get bored listening them again and again. |
Posted By: Daysbetween
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 17:03
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Have always enjoyed GG. I have played the Steven Wilson mix 'Three Piece Suite' many, many times since release and it will be in my top 10 for 2017. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 17:48
I thought some of them were touring as "Three Friends" some years ago. I don't know if they are still, touring, though. |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 19:30
Here's some cool info from their website...definitely sounds like they put on a fun show Three Friends were named after the eponymous third Gentle Giant album, Three Friends were formed in 2009 when prog keyboard legend Kerry Minnear joined fellow former Gentle Giant members, drummer Malcolm Mortimore and guitarist Gary Green to play a series of gigs in Europe and Canada. Minnear has since left, his place at the keyboards now taken by session musician and composer Neil Angilley. The lineup is completed by bassist Jonathan Noyce (Jethro Tull), multi-instrumentalist Charlotte Glasson, and vocalist Mick Wilson (10CC). Three Friends is about bringing Gentle Giant’s eclectic and highly original music back to the live stage, where it belongs. The repertoire is drawn from all the classic albums up to Interview, including many songs that were never played live by the original band. ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 24 2017 at 22:59
| ^ Oh, what a sight they would’ve been (Three Friends is my ‘special’ one) |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 25 2017 at 03:13
My thoughts exactly. I can listen to In a Glass House (the title track, especially) endlessly. In fact, sometimes in the car, I warm up vocally with that track!
Ah, that might be the case. |
Posted By: Crimsonsnowdog
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 14:54
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I really like Gentle Giant, and I appreciate their talent, complexity, and their brilliance. They rank right up there with King Crimson, Yes, and Genesis, but it would be difficult to argue which band is the most talented. They're all incredibly talented! Though Gary Green said in an interview that they were not the virtuoso musicians that fans thought them to be. While they were skilled playing their main instruments, when it came to playing things like the recorded quartet, they took the time to learn the part for the song. I wish I had a chance to see them live when they were around.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 16:41
| Gary Green is right they really weren't the best at their instruments(I'm sure we can all think of better keyboardists than Kerry, better bassists than Ray, better drummers than John Weathers etc). However, what they excelled at was playing well in unison. You could say that probably more so than just about any other prog band that the whole was greater than the sum of their (individual) parts. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 17:45
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I'm probably biased but I'd consider GG not only criminally underrated, but misunderstood in how good those guys actually were on their instruments, despite the humbleness they appear to display. I agree that their cohesion was larger than the sum of its parts, but honestly the ability to compose on an instrument and add that level of complexity mixed with melody completely transcends the idea of virtuosity. Gentle Giant as a band is like one big instrument that nobody else can play. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 17:55
Well, it's not that they weren't virtuosos. Of course they were. They just knew how to show restraint and didn't play super fast all the time. They knew how to play in a way that served the composition and not just show off. I used to actually think that they were showing off but I no longer think that was the case. Yes, there was complexity involved but I don't think it was just for it's own sake. I think they were seriously inspired by medieval and renaissance music and fugues and that is why a lot of their music sounds the way it does.
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 18:02
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^Absolutely. I might have a different interpretation of virtuosity; I typically associate it with superfluous, unnecessary stuff. Everything GG does serves a purpose IMO, and nobody adds the minstrel sound like those dudes did! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 18:38
| I used to think that too but I think because it's often associated with classically trained guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen. |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: December 29 2017 at 08:38
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Gentle Giant are in the top tier for me (which includes Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, ELP, Jethro Tull, Kansas and Rush.) People refer to a Big 6 but I've always had a Big 9. Besides the dreadful Giant For A Day, every GG album was awesome!!! To those looking for beauty in their music I will submit "Think Of Me With Kindness" for consideration. QED
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 29 2017 at 10:24
That was later. He started out as record executive then became president and CEO of Atco. Derek was actually the one responsible for signing not just Bon Jovi but also Dream Theater. Roadrunner came later.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 29 2017 at 10:26
That's cool but for me personally I don't extend it far enough to include GG even though I think they were great and as good as the others. If I did then I'd also have to include Camel and VDGG and maybe even Nektar. :)
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 29 2017 at 19:00
Also Slipknot and *GASP* Nickelback if IIRC! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Michael P. Dawson
Date Posted: December 29 2017 at 19:23
When I saw them in 1977, it was Renaissance opening for Gentle Giant. It was in fact the only time I ever saw GG as headliners, having previously seen them supporting Yes (1976) and Strawbs (1975). ------------- Buy this thing! https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/MichaelPDawson" rel="nofollow - https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/MichaelPDawson |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 29 2017 at 19:32
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Damn, Yes and GG must have been nuts to see together. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: scruffydragon
Date Posted: December 31 2017 at 07:40
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Years back I phoned up a mail order company looking for something a little more challenging to listen to. The nice people at GFT suggested I try a few Gentle Giant albums. The album I purchased was a double album with Live Playing the Fool on it. That album I loved at first hearing. Soon I had all the studio albums I could obtain. Incredible band and I love the medieval/renaissance influences in their music. My favorite albums remain Freehand and In A Glass House. You just cannot ask a band for anything more........perfection.
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: January 01 2018 at 02:59
Awesome comment! I'm turning 30 in three weeks so I'm a tad younger, but I was still around for mail order stuff in the 90's/early 2000's from record stores. I can't imagine the excitement of the 70's and 80's. I'm in that sweet spot where I'm old enough to still understand the appreciation of HAVING TO WAIT FOR PHYSICAL MEDIA TO COME OUT vs just downloading. I still get tingles when I pick up discs! GG is the supreme prog outfit! Cheers! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: January 01 2018 at 12:06
------------- "It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: January 03 2018 at 02:23
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Phil Shulman was a vocal master IMHO. Acquiring The Taste might be my favorite featuring his work. Anything with Phil on vocals is magic across all four records he's featured on. Black Cat might be my favorite off AtT, and most of that is due to his vocal delivery. Hell, even A Dog's Life off Octopus gets stuck in your head! His vocals on River are some of my favorite parts on that entire record.
"...And the rain that's caught in its flow..."  ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |