Mike Keneally
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=86891
Printed Date: April 26 2024 at 05:07
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mike Keneally
Posted By: Zombywoof
Subject: Mike Keneally
Date Posted: May 14 2012 at 20:05
|
Calling all Keneally experts ... where do I start and why? Help me prepare for the show this June! ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Replies:
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 14 2012 at 20:16
|
I second ZombyWoof's inquiry. Being such a fan of Frank Zappa, Ive been meaning to check out Keneally's stuff for a long time now. I will be watching this thread. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
|
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 14 2012 at 20:30
|
Certainly an interesting, highly talented and creative musician. ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 14 2012 at 22:13
|
What a coincidence -- I'd pulled out a bunch of my Keneally stuff just today. Here's a quick capsule review of the ones I have -- "HAT" - the debut. Mike at his wackiest. Lots of Rundgren and XTC influence mixed in with a few complex guitar instrumentals. Some of his most ridiculous and childish songs can be found here. I get the feeling he was trying to make his own hybrid of "A Wizard a True Star" (Rundgren) and "Sheik Yerbouti" (Zappa) here. "BOIL THAT DUSK SPECK" -- Similar, but darker and more serious. His father died around this time. 30 or so songs. More instrumentals this time, and a bit of metal in there too. "SLUGGO" -- This one integrates the complexity into more elaborate songs. No more short joke tracks for the most part, and the insane compositions are a lot more subtle and complex. Credited to Mike and Beer For Dolphins. "NONKERTOMPF" -- Absolutely stunning. If you're interested in pure instrumental progressive rock in a multitude of styles, this is the on. Recorded/overdubbed entirely by himself - piano, guitar, bass, drums, everything. "DANCING" -- Similar to Sluggo, another elaborate Beer for Dolphins effort "WOODEN SMOKE" -- haven't heard this one much, but it seems a bit like a "normal song" album for him. Just him showing he can play it straight too. "THE UNIVERSE WILL PROVIDE" -- electric guitar plus orchestra, music composed by Keneally. Got great reviews but I don't really get it yet. Recommendation to start: If you're into absurd humor and eclectic insanity, Hat is a real hoot. If you're more into complex rock songs, try Sluggo. If you love instrumental stuff, Nonkertompf. ------------- 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. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: May 14 2012 at 23:06
|
^ A good summary. If you want something along the lines of what he'll most likely play at Nearfest the best bets are Bakin' @ The Potato, Sluggo, Dancing. For me, the best albums are The Universe Will Provide, Nonkertompf and Boil That Dust Speck. ------------- 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: Evolver
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 06:26
|
I'd say HolyMoly's assessment is fairly close to my own. ------------- Trust me. I know what I'm doing. |
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 06:42
|
I appreciate the help so far. Quite honestly, I'm interested it ALL of them, which is a good sign that I'll probably enjoy the show next month! I'm thinking of getting Universe will Provide, because the orchestral samplings in the videos grabbed me. I'm also a huge fan of "Duke of Orchestral Prunes" (a song Zappa did with much the same instrumentation (screaming guitar and epic orchestral). If not, I'll definitely pick it up at the show... ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 09:01
|
Every time I've seen Mike, I've been amazed! His guitar chops are unreal, he can play damn near anything (I heard him play some parts from "Tarkus" on an acoustic guitar once!), and he has a wild stage presence! As a Zappa alum, he brings that "controlled chaos" to the stage. You'll have fun!
|
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 09:08
|
^^ I have an early live VHS release from him (forgot the title, but it's a weird title). Just a power trio lineup, but does some unbelievable things with a guitar, even on stage. He really works up a sweat too -- one of the more animated players you'll see. Of course, that was 20 years ago, I don't know how animated he is these days.
------------- 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. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 11:03
|
HolyMoly, Your descriptions of those albums make me really want to check them out. Did you list them in chronological order? If so, I may just check them on that way. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 11:31
Yes, I believe they are chronological. Curious to hear what you think! ------------- 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. -Kehlog Albran |
darkshade wrote:Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 11:38
Well... Hat, Boil That Dusk Speck, Wooden Smoke Asleep, Dancing, and Wine and Pickles are all on Spotify. I'll check some of those out soon enough. He's on James LaBrie's second Mullmuzzler album? I didn't know that, nor do I have that one. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 12:11
Please let me know what you think! ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 12:43
|
It figures that the 2 albums that appeal to me most based on HolyMoly's descriptions (SLUGGO and NONKERTOMPF) are not on Spotify. Dancing is there, which he said was similar to Sluggo, is this a good place to start, or should I just start at the beginning? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 13:11
|
The beginning IMO. ------------- 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: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 13:13
Geez, I dunno... flip a coin I guess.  BTW, both Sluggo and Dancing begin with very poppy tracks, so don't let that scare you off. Also, Hat has a very high geek-quotient, so don't let that scare you off either. Maybe Boil That Dust Speck is the best place to start, come to think of it. A little of everything, and lots of it. edit: OK, Man With Hat says do "Hat" first. The guy knows his hats, so follow his advice. ------------- 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. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 13:14
|
What do you mean by 'high geek-quotient'?
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 13:22
Hard to explain. Have you ever seen Zappa's concert film "Does Humor Belong in Music?" To me, those performances have a pretty high geek quotient. Lots of jokey interjections on the band's part (exhibit A: "Tinsel Town Rebellion"), mugging for the camera, and generally being a clown. Not anything wrong with that (on the contrary! I love it), but some people would just rather hear the serious music without all the goofiness. If that film doesn't bother you, then "Hat" won't either. ------------- 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. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 13:28
|
Oh, ok. I like goofiness, as long as it works within the context of the music (ie, most of Zappa's work)
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 13:29
|
You're good to go then. And get ready to laugh! edit: Looking over the "Hat" track list again, I really only spot 4 or 5 complete songs that would qualify as "joke songs", so perhaps I overstated the humor aspect. But musically, it jumps around so much it's comically eclectic. ------------- 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. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 13:34
Well, I'm just about finished with the entire Lather album by Zappa, so I'm up for some humorous proggy stuff. 
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 15:50
|
Just started playing Hat on Spotify, I'll give you my opinions soon/
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 15:56
Well it definitely has that 80s Zappa feel, mostly in the guitar, and I hear some John Zorn influence too, this is some wild music 
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 16:04
|
Wow, I can hear where Beardfish got some of their influence from. I always knew they were influenced by Zappa, but I also hear influence from Keneally, I'm noticing it on Spearmint Pup (listen to Beardfish's Sleeping In Traffic Pt 1 to hear what I'm talking about)
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 15 2012 at 16:44
|
Alright. Hat was cool, there was some cool moments, but a lot of it just wasn't doing it for me. Sort of like the first Steve Vai album - very Zappa influenced and such, with some good songs, but the overall package doesn't work for me. But seeing that you guys alluded to the fact that it gets better after Hat, I will continue to check out Mike's stuff. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: Suedevanshoe
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 06:55
| I'm a seasoned Keneally novice, but I was directed to start with Hat which is great and then I acquired "The Universe will Provide" and it is even greater. I've since listened to a couple other of his solo and Beer for Dolphins--he's consistently creative--enjoy |