Knots/ Cancer of the Band/ Newton avait Raison

This is an extension poll of one I did the other day on Et Cetera Vs. Interview.  As expected, few people knew Et Cetera and so the poll quickly died.

Might have done "On Relection" by GG, for instance, but I chose these songs because of the vocal-work AND because they can be streamed at this very site.  People who have not heard/ do not own these songs off Gentle Giant's Octopus album, Et Cetera's Et Cetera, and Yezda Urfa's Sacred Baboon can listen to the streaming mp3s of the songs listed in the poll for comparative purposes.

"Knots" can be found on this page --> CLICK
"Cancer of the Band" can be found on this page --> CLICK
"Newton Avait Raison" can be found on this page --> CLICK

Of course, I welcome song suggestions from other bands that you think would fit (hopefully links to the songs can be found so I can add them to the poll). 

Thank you. In Prog we trust,
Logan

Edited by Logan - September 06 2006 at 15:21

Thanks.  I have the first eight GG studio albums too (favourites of mine) -- I wisely never bothered to buy the more recent ones (concert albums excepted).  Anyway, I agree with your points.

Et Cetera is a Gentle Giant clone, in essence, but what a great, if unoriginal, effort it is!  Still, they put their own stamp -- a lovely Quebecois one -- on their music.

Yezda Urfa clearly, I think, owes quite a bit to Gentle Giant with that, and other songs.

Not that Gentle Giant was altogether original (as you say in your own words anyway), they borrowed from others, as does everyone (the troubadour style for instance), but they were very innovative.  "Knots" is definitely the more innovative of the songs.  And I find it more energetic and powerful too.

However, taking these songs alone, I do believe that I like "Newton" as much as "Knots," and "Cancer' considerably less than both. (I still prefer "On Reflection" to the excellent "Knots," and "Design" is another great GG vocal work).

"Newton" has a certain je ne sais quoi factor that I can't explain -- love the female French singing spin.  I've heard a number of Gentle Giant original 'tribute' tracks, but I've never found another song that emulates Gentle Giant's style to be so satisfying.  As a GG admirer, and an admirer of Quebecois Prog, I love it, and get a kick out of it.




Edited by Logan - September 06 2006 at 21:46

I always liked Knots, but considerably less than GG's other songs. Considering this, it was fairly easy for me to find one of the two others better than it - and it happened.

Even though it's the first time I listen to Cancer of the Band and Newton Avait Raison, I can easily say I like the former more than Knots. Newton Avait Raison, though... I... don't know why, but it just doesn't click. I guess that being a frenchie negates the plus lyrics in another language often brings (I find Et Cetera's kind of poor...).

Vote to Cancer of the Band. I'll have to go back to that song now and then... it's nice.

"Knots".


There is a German band --> Epidermis, another clone of Gentle Giant

Cancer of the Band, one of the greatest tunes in prog. The bass and drum break about halfway through is when it really turns on. The vocal work after that point is very exciting.