Unusual?

SouthSideoftheSky wrote: But. Let me just try this thought out on you. I think that what is called Prog Folk here on PA is actually two very different genres that one might call "Prog Folk" and "Folk Prog" respectively. ...

Lizzy wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: Why are you so sure the Tullboys were "clean"?  I know Ian was clean, not sure about the others. There was a band policy in the early years in this respect as a matter of fact, not sure if it lasted throughout the band's career. And since Anderson was the mastermind behind the compositions, it's him we should focus on when it comes to the outcome of his efforts. (I can also relate to him, because I'm pretty much the same - act stoned, but I'm perfectly sober.)

I give you the credit Lizzy, I know squat about Tull except for their music. Interesting info.

Lozlan wrote: There was a thread on here a short while ago that was asking why Tull were listed as prog folk instead of as eclectic prog.  I think the admins ultimately stated that Tull's contributions to the genre pf prog folk were far too considerable to move them into another category.

That was me actually who posted that, but I take it as a compliment

Lozlan wrote: However, I think this might answer your question: Tull are musical chameleons, almost moreso  than any other band I can think of.  Loving both Aqualung and Catfish Rising, or Minstrel In the Gallery and Under Wraps, is the sign of a true Tull fan.  The styles on each of these releases are totally dissimilar, but somehow Tull always sounds like Tull.  It's a somewhat inexplicable trait that they share with Queen.

Agreed

Textbook wrote: I've been a hardcore Jethro Tull fan for years. And I mean HARDCORE, I've got all 20 studio albums, the four Anderson solos, two B-side/rarities collections and a few hours of self collected rarities. They're probably my favourite band of all time if I had to call it. And yet I don't really like prog-folk and listen to virtually nothing else in the genre. I would listen to any other PA sub-genre (with the exception of my bugbear neo-prog) more than I do prog-folk   Is this wierd, to just love ONE band from a genre?   (I suppose this could be a problem not with prog-folk but with a possible misclassification of JT. Fans have noted before that it's odd how JT are almost always described as folk rock when their folk period is really only three albums and that after their commercial heyday.)

You love a band.  The genre (sub genre, supragenre, whatever) is just a label.  You can't take it too seriously.

Not unusual at all, especially for the prog folk genre. I love Tull to, but the only other prog folk group I've really taken to is Gryphon-- and they're not even Tull-esque, more baroque prog

They have to be put in some genre of Prog. At the beginning they could have be classified as Blues Prog if such a catagory existed.

Great to see Carmen being mentioned. I really love this band and their Fandangos In Space album is a true masterpiece. Totally unique in sound and approach and great from start to finish.

Through bassist John Glascock, they even have a relation to Jethro Tull so we're even on topic!

Textbook wrote: I've been a hardcore Jethro Tull fan for years. And I mean HARDCORE, I've got all 20 studio albums, the four Anderson solos, two B-side/rarities collections and a few hours of self collected rarities. They're probably my favourite band of all time if I had to call it. And yet I don't really like prog-folk and listen to virtually nothing else in the genre. I would listen to any other PA sub-genre (with the exception of my bugbear neo-prog) more than I do prog-folk   Is this wierd, to just love ONE band from a genre?   (I suppose this could be a problem not with prog-folk but with a possible misclassification of JT. Fans have noted before that it's odd how JT are almost always described as folk rock when their folk period is really only three albums and that after their commercial heyday.)

My previous post about there being (at least) two quite different genres within what is here known as 'Prog Folk' (progressive Folk music, on the one hand, and Prog with folky influences, on the other hand) was meant to lead up to the following hypothetical question: If Jethro Tull is the only band in this subgenre that a person likes, maybe he or she haven't heard the right ones?

Let me offer some further recommendations that fall on the Prog-with-folky-influences side:

Horslips (Irish band, occasionally similar to Jethro Tull but with a unique sound of their own). Best albums: The Tain, Book Of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony

Tempest (US-based, multi-national, proggy Folk Rock band not to be confused with the British Heavy Prog band). Best albums: Turn Of The Wheel (with a certain Keith Emerson guesting on one track!), Balance

Red Jasper (UK band that mixes Folk Rock with Neo-Prog, totally brilliant!). Best albums: A Midsummer Night's Dream (a masterpiece!), A Winter's Tale

Carmen (already mentioned above by others). Best albums: Fandangos In Space (a masterpiece!), Dancing On A Cold Wind

Strawbs (needs no comment I guess). Best albums: Hero And Heroine (a masterpiece!), Ghosts

Fairport Convention (Prog Related). Best albums: Jewel In The Crown, Full House

Steeleye Span (Prog Related). Best albums: They Called Her Babylon, Commoner's Crown

Grace (Neo-Prog with many Jethro Tull influences). Best albums: Pulling Strings And Shiny Things, The Poet, The Piper And The Fool

Legend (Hard edged Neo-Prog with superb female vocals and folky influences). Best albums: Triple Aspect (a masterpiece!), Second Sight

Haze (Neo-Prog with folky influences). Best albums: The 30th Anniversary Shows (excellent double live album)

Cruachan (Irish Folk Metal band that mixes Celtic Folk with Heavy Metal and on some albums Black Metal - not on PA. Yet!?). Best albums: Folk-Lore (totally brilliant, I gave it 4,5 on Metal Music Archives), Pagan

Kamelot (Prog-Metal). Best albums: The Fourth Legacy (Symphonic Power Metal with some Celtic Folk and World-Music influences, quite good)



Edited by SouthSideoftheSky - October 15 2010 at 13:04

harmonium.ro wrote: It's understandable, I guess. Did you try Phoenix? They have a heavy Tull influence, mixed with kraut, psyche, rock'n'roll and classic metal.

I would like to back up this recommendation, I"m hooked on Phoenix at the moment rather like Textbook is hooked on Jethro Tull.  I agree that be JT would best be suited to to the eclectic category.  They are a very flexible band that has adopted new influences from the music scene in a progressive way.  I know quite a few people who although don't really listen to Folk Prog listen to JT a lot and I don't find this particularly unusual due to the eclectic nature of the band.

I'm also a huge Folk Prog fan, and seek out and collect albums from this genre.  I would also like to add a couple of bands to the above list by SouthSideoftheSky which Textbook might enjoy

Smell of Incense (Norwegian band also with strong psychedelic influences) Both albums are good.

Sad Minstrel, "Flight of the Phoenix"  Some elements of Heavy Prog.

Amanita, "L'oblio " 

Talitha Qumi, Despre Cuvinte.  Romanian band, produced one excellent album.  Difficult to get hold of, but well worth it.

Ougenweide.  Personally I like all their albums

The Morrigan, "Masque" and "Hidden Agenda"  Very eclectic band from the UK mainly celtic folk but with plenty of other interesting influences mixed in.

WyrDGeneS.  Traditional Northumbrian melodies reworked on synthesizer and electric guitar with quite a heavy feel to it.

Aria Palea, "Zoicekardia"

Sfinx, "Zalmoxe" Plenty of symphonic Prog in this one.

Salem, "Salem"  Very Tull-ish, not on this site but ought to be!

I could go on, but that's enough -  my apologies if it's a bit off topic!

SouthSideoftheSky wrote: Hi, cacha71 It would be nice if you could provide links to those bands that are not on PA Thanks!

No problem
Salem (Canada) : http://lightyear10.tripod.com/salem/  They have released one album.  Obscure - not much information available. also http://www.bajaprog.com/salem.htm

Stepan Project (Project of Ilie Stepan, bass guitar player of Progresiv TM and Pro Musica, both of which are on this site).  There used to be a website, but it seems to have disappeared.  I have found some Youtube videos.   A Google search reveals some more, but I don't know if the sites are legal so I won't post them.
Two albums have been released, Undeva în Europa and Sensul Vieții.  These form two albums of a trilogy, and the third is expected but the release date is as yet unknown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS8kbHqUqnA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHAxoqfgI7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS3n5l0paww&feature=related

You can  find two Марфа и Таджики albums here.  They can be downloaded free and legally.

http://www.jamendo.com/en/artist/Artist_%2896%29/fans



Edited by cacha71 - October 15 2010 at 15:46

Textbook wrote: I've been a hardcore Jethro Tull fan for years. And I mean HARDCORE, I've got all 20 studio albums, the four Anderson solos, two B-side/rarities collections and a few hours of self collected rarities. They're probably my favourite band of all time if I had to call it. And yet I don't really like prog-folk and listen to virtually nothing else in the genre. I would listen to any other PA sub-genre (with the exception of my bugbear neo-prog) more than I do prog-folk   Is this wierd, to just love ONE band from a genre?   (I suppose this could be a problem not with prog-folk but with a possible misclassification of JT. Fans have noted before that it's odd how JT are almost always described as folk rock when their folk period is really only three albums and that after their commercial heyday.)