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Topic Closed3rd Rd. Classics: Aja v. The Alphabet Album
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Poll Question: pick one.. if you can
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
34 [56.67%]
26 [43.33%]
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micky View Drop Down
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Points: 46843 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 3rd Rd. Classics: Aja v. The Alphabet Album
    Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:06
Starting off the 3rd round classics with a bang.. even if the bands are not the most explosive out there.

One of the Vegas pick 'em's and expected to go to the last votes

In the near corner.. Steely Dan!!! 



and in the far corner... Harmonium!!!



may the most popular album win! LOLClap
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Points: 10281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:24
First vote for Harmonium Heart Why do you call it "The Alphabet Album"? Tongue
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micky View Drop Down
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Points: 46843 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:26
if I have to cut and paste the album title everytime I reference it... it earns that moniker LOL
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micky View Drop Down
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Points: 46843 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:28
2nd vote for Aja..   a no doubter for me..  it transcends being a great mere prog or progressive rock album... it is simply one of the best  almost letter perfect... albums ever made.
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Points: 6451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:30
Asia > Quebec
Magma America Great Make Again
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Points: 10281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:32
That makes sense LOL I think it's also called "Les Cinq Saisons", I saw that title many times... it's much shorter Tongue
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Points: 12859 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:40
Si On Avait Besoin d'une Cinquième Saison for me. Yeah, Micky, typing it is a chore. LOL
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Points: 1759 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:46
"The Alphabet Album" comes way out front. Utterly unique and gorgeous, plus Harmonium single-handedly helped me ace my French speaking exam. So in return, here's a vote! Thumbs Up
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Points: 8052 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 08:49
First listen to Aja. I wish I could say I hated it to create more drama but I don't. It's immaculately executed fusion with an emphasis on real instruments and sits somewhere between Joni Mitchell's forays into jazz and what Bill Bruford would be going for a couple of years later. Reminds me a little of Songs in the Key of Life at times. If The Rotters Club and Aja were crisps, Aja would be like the Rotters Club crisp with all the flavour licked off by a cat (nb. I know cats that do this).

I can't say I'm terribly fond of the vocals (nothing ventured, nothing gained), the musicianship is really fine stuff but split between excellent execution of extraordinary parts (that pair of solos on Home At Last is *wonderful*) and excellent execution of completely safe parts.

I'll be giving it more time and attention in the future, certainly. I warmed to it as I went and felt the second half was way stronger than the first if still prone to dipping its toes in the cliché pool but I'm not sure the dynamic here was ever really going to sit with me like a proper band line-up would.

Now, I think Si On Avait Besoin D'Une Cinquieme Saison might be the best (and honestly, other than the Strawbs and Pentangle prog folk is largely in the realm of affectation rather than real influence) prog folk album we have on the site and will make an argument for that in my next post.
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Points: 1376 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 10:11
Aint fan of Harmonium, but I'am going with them.
- From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
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Points: 14436 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 10:35
Harmonium by several seasons.
"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"

"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN
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Points: 10213 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 11:14
Aja
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Points: 8644 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 12:37
Harmonium
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Points: 20697 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 14:39
Aja.......and I can't believe that people are voting for some Frenchies over the Dan.
Are you serious...?
 
 
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
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Points: 8617 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 17:45
Two of my favorites.
Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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Points: 3659 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2015 at 18:09
Aja...simply flawless.
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Points: 8052 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2015 at 13:02
Si On Avait for me. Extraordinary piece of work, and one I completely didn't appreciate at first. I liked bits of Steely Dan but a bit too toothless.
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Points: 4574 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2015 at 13:10
Not a fan of either but my vote goes to Steely Dan. Harmonium is boring to me, sorry.
A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!
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Points: 21559 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2015 at 13:26
Harmonium quite easily, SD does nothing for me.
Ian

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Points: 23112 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2015 at 13:50
If we ever need a fifth season....and quite easily too. I dig Steely Dan's Countdown to Exstacy plus a couple of other ones but have never been able to get into Aja. I miss some balls whenever I pop it on. It just flows by me without notice.
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams
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