Gentle Giant vs Frank Zappa
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=125064
Printed Date: April 29 2025 at 11:08
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Gentle Giant vs Frank Zappa
Posted By: Argo2112
Subject: Gentle Giant vs Frank Zappa
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 14:33
| Both artists are unique to say the least. Who would you pick? |
Replies:
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 14:41
| GG for me by far |
Posted By: DarkTower
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 15:19
| This one is very easy. GG |
Posted By: Earl of Mar
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 15:32
| GG all the way. |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 16:34
|
GG ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: The Anders
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 17:54
|
Frank Zappa |
Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 18:47
|
Interesting. I'm a Zappa-phile, so FZ for me. ------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 18:50
|
I'd rather listen to Frank any day. Or night, for that matter. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 22:06
|
FZ ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 22:51
| GG |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: January 05 2021 at 23:50
|
Gentle Giant is like the best band Zappa never had behind him. Gentle Giant all the way, they're the kings of strange/musical challenge for me.
------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: A Crimson Mellotron
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 00:17
|
Hard to choose, will not vote for now. |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 00:41
|
Not an enormous fan of either, but much prefer Zappa. The GG formula irritates me more. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: VianaProghead
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 03:11
|
Gentle Giant. ------------- "PROG IS MY FERRARI". Jem Godfrey (Frost*) |
Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 04:30
| Frank Zappa |
Posted By: Machinemessiah
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 05:11
|
GG is very unique and has beautiful things, vocally also; one of my faves in that sense: 'The Advent of Panurge'. My fave otherwise is 'Playing the Game'. But Zappa I met first, and it has the jazz rock/fusion vein that I so relish in, to the heights of 'Inca Roads' and the 'Apostrophe' album (I also like the rest of OSFA; fave otherwise: Andy). I also love the orchestral works, like Waka Jawaka, with lots of synthesizer. Lastly, I'm a guitar enthusiast and FZ solos are so rich, expressive and unique. A genius, truely. |
Posted By: digdug
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 05:54
|
GG ------------- Prog On! |
Posted By: Spacegod87
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 06:45
|
Obviously I'm choosing GG, but that doesn't diminish my love and admiration for the music of Zappa. Genius in a world of his own. ------------- Levitating downwards, atomic feedback scream. |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 06:51
| I love both, but prefer Gentle Giant. |
Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 07:10
| Wow, I surprised there isn't more love for Frank here. Anyway , he gets my vote. |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 07:14
|
19 comments, but 30 votes. Not cool... surprised Frank Zappa has not got more votes.
 |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 07:26
|
Acquiring the Taste for Burnt Weeny Sandwich I love both, and do count getting into Gentle Giant music easily because I was into various Zappa. “Peaches en Regalia” has a similar joyous feel to “The Moon is Down”. I am more likely to support what is showing to be the underdog, and so the giant of the poll must fall. ------------- "Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself" (The Prisoner, 1967). |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 07:34
I'll do the opposite and comment but not vote. I haven't acquired the taste for either artist, so I'll have to take a raincheck on this poll.
 |
Cristi wrote:Posted By: Gentle and Giant
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 11:04
Gentle Giant of course  ------------- Oh, for the wings of any bird, other than a battery hen |
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 12:52
|
You... you monster... h-how could you... HOW COULD YOU DO THIS! This poll is sacrilege. No vote. HOW COULD I? DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE! I WANT MOMMY AND DADDY TO STICK TOGETHER!
|
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: January 06 2021 at 14:36
|
Zappa.....I can do with out GG if I needed to but couldn't be without Hot Rats . ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: January 08 2021 at 11:33
|
Zappa ZAPPA ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: lark17
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 04:16
|
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 04:23
|
Hi, While GG is really nice ... and enjoyable, in the end Frank Zappa is much more important within the history of rock music and his complete catalogue of so much music and work, will stand up a long time as one of a very special composer ... were it not for the American folks to not appreciate an artist, and always have to think of a star, or a rock song. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 04:25
|
Maybe those three or four first Gentle Giant-albums are closer to my heart than any Zappa-album. But art isn't all about the heart, and Zappa got Waka/Jawaka and some of the most thrillingly enthralling fusion for whenever I'm in the mood for that kind of thing. No vote from me seems the obvious choice. |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 06:09
|
Both artists deserve all the praise and accolades we can give them; truly two of the most progressive acts progressive rock music has to display. I, too, cannot in good conscience offer a vote for one over the other as GG had that unparalelled string of masterpieces (something no other band has achieved) and Zappa had the most prolific output of stunningly innovative and big-time boundary-pushing music over the course of his 25 year career. ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 06:13
|
It says I've already voted, but despite commenting before, I did not mention who I chose. Shame on me. I think I voted for the Gentle Giant.
 |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 06:35
|
Also voted and not commented at the time... Chances are I voted for Zappa, but it's an interesting pairing and they're close on my personal scale. Ultimately Zappa was more adventurous and influential, even though GG weren't too bad on that scale either. |
Posted By: mellotronwave
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 07:03
| GG nevertheless I like a lot but not all of FZ |
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 07:10
| I prefer Zappa...today. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 08:09
|
I'm fond of two albums by FZ and one by GG, but I can't say I have any particular preference. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 08:30
| GG |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: June 07 2023 at 08:47
|
It appears I voted for GG two years ago and would do the same today. Much more needs to be said about nasal hairs in the Anthropocene. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: Octopus II
Date Posted: June 08 2023 at 11:09
|
Gentle Giant by a country mile.
|
Posted By: Necrotica
Date Posted: June 08 2023 at 12:44
|
Gotta go with GG here. When it comes to Zappa, I respect his work more than I actually enjoy it. His influence on rock music is incredible, but I don't really find myself sitting down to listen to one of his albums all that often. GG though? I could listen to them any day of the week ------------- Take me down, to the underground Won't you take me down, to the underground Why oh why, there is no light And if I can't sleep, can you hold my life https://www.youtube.com/@CocoonMasterBrendan-wh3sd |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: June 08 2023 at 14:49
|
Zappa is more important in the history of modern music and I like a lot of his stuff - but for me personal GG has a special place. An esoteric nerd place to sure, but that's why we're here, no? ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Boi_da_boi_124
Date Posted: June 09 2023 at 17:44
| This is tough for me, but GG. Only about half of Frank Zappa's discography I love, but 90% of GG's I do. |
Posted By: barbera
Date Posted: June 09 2023 at 18:23
The Giants for sure. But Zappa an honorable second place 
|
Posted By: Moonshake
Date Posted: June 16 2023 at 12:07
I can't vote in this poll. I've been listening to Zappa since the late 60s, and Gentle Giant since the early 70s, and I still love them both. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: June 16 2023 at 12:47
|
Hot Rats! A poll in which I can't vote, although Frank Zappa will be coming up - eventually - in my Legends of Laurel Canyon blog. Thankfully, that's a Long Long Time away in the future, as Frank will be the next to last artist featured - falling somewhere in-between Townes Van Zandt and Warren Zevon.
|
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: June 16 2023 at 12:50
|
Zappa. He was much more versatile and had a host of insanely talented musicians in his bands.
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to: 
|
Posted By: Big Sky
Date Posted: June 18 2023 at 20:05
Sums up my thoughts. |
Posted By: Rick1
Date Posted: June 19 2023 at 03:25
| Let's compare apples and oranges! |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: June 19 2023 at 03:40
|
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: April 17 2024 at 19:16
| Gentle Giant by nautical mile. |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: April 17 2024 at 19:26
|
Hope all is well, Argo2122. Have to vote Zappa. |
Posted By: Zappastolethetowels
Date Posted: April 18 2024 at 00:03
|
Zappa
|
Posted By: Boojieboy
Date Posted: April 18 2024 at 01:55
|
I'm going with the more-respectable Brit band over the bathroom humor / comedy rock of the American guy. |
Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: April 18 2024 at 05:15
|
Using the personal metric of "how much of the music do I like", it's GG for me but I do appreciate and enjoy me some Zappa. ------------- We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain. My face IS a maserati |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: April 18 2024 at 07:48
|
Hi, In the what I consider sad department, this poll just shows how folks don't look at Frank Zappa as a composer, and then think that Gentle Giant has the best songs. It's an unfair, and sad, comparison, but I imagine that we have to look at the history and how they will stand up. Gentle Giant was outstanding, and even showed it in concert, but Frank Zappa, stood out when he also did a lot of classical material and showed some of his own material in a format that would be considered "classical", which sometimes is the reason why some folks don't like it ... or worse, Frank putting his guitar down and taking on the baton ... because a fan in the front row wanted another solo. Even though, any of us could easily state that Frank would be one of the best soloists ever (a lot of that material is still not released, and some of it was the preshow stuff before a concert with the band warming up, and Frank just being over it all ... which might have helped him define and create new stuff. Gentle Giant, in many ways, was, at the time, the ultimate college/university band, putting together everything they ever learned and knew ... in a very uncompromising way ... that was perfect for the rock music crowd. And their musicianship was special as many of them swapped parts many times in concert. And played a lot of different instruments, which added something else. Both of them were phenomenal in concert ... and that is probably the best way to compare them ... both had enough difficult material that they could easily fall apart at any moment, but never did! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: April 18 2024 at 07:50
| I think that Zappa is the objective winner of this poll when we consider the total musical output and "reach" in terms of influence on musicians. As great as Gentle Giant were, Zappa was bigger, more prolific and more consistent over decades. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: April 18 2024 at 07:51
| ^ Having said that, that does not mean that he should win this poll - some people just don't like him, and GG are much more at the heart of the prog movement than Zappa ever was. |
Posted By: Boojieboy
Date Posted: April 18 2024 at 08:55
|
Another metric is standing up to the test of time. I've enjoyed Gentle Giant, Mothers of Invention, and Frank Zappa solo, but that last one - for me at least - hasn't stood the test of time (for me that's 40 years). GG has stood strong and is still as listenable as from the start, but the novelty of Zappa solo has gotten old, and I rarely ever listen to that any more. Mother's classics like "Uncle Meat" still are strong though. Although having fun, that's more musical and less comedy-desperation. |