GIANT ON THE BOX

This is the first Gentle Giant I've listened to. At first, I thought it was really good, just the recording was bad (FYI, I wasn't quickly aware that it was a live album, since I had it in audio). Then I started listening to more albums and quickly found out that this was a actually a live album. I was starstruck, this had to be the best prog live ever made. Ever... It is composed with all the classic GG work, but better. More aggressive and faster, but not too aggressive, just in a perfect way. Seriously people, every song sounds so much better. It seems that Kerry Minnear, the keyboardist, replaced the original Hammond Organ with an awkward Moog lead. You can hear the difference in the live versions of Cogs in Cogs and The Runaway. I would also add that the performance of the band on video is also perfect, the band just fucking cool. You can actually see the band playing with all these crazy instruments you wish you played. Only problem is the crowd, these guys are kinda stiff. First song, Cogs In Cogs is made in a much more aggressive way, the drums are faster and the vocals much cooler. Also I might want to add that the raw production of this live album makes the song much better. Second Proclamation off the same album as Cogs. Still better than the original, sure it's shorter, but there's a much better lead presentation. Then we have the best remake off the album: Funny Ways, starts off with an amazing violin solo, I mean it's perfect, then they remake the song with it's faster, and really better. You really hear the trumpet, and there's also a sweet xylophone solo, just bliss. Then my personal favorite The Runaway, the raw production then again makes it better, and the sound is just crazy mayhem! Minnear's moog gives it a second bass, that he constantly keeps playing all the time. Then the song finishes with the main riff off Experience. I would also like to add that it was a great idea to make Derek Shulman the lead singer of all the songs. Nothing really to add on this one, except that it just sounds better. Then there's the crazy Features From Octopus, primarily featuring the song Knots, off Octopus. And a killer acoustic guitar solo. These guys can really play everything. The two last songs don't have much special addition, they just sound better because of the Hammond -> Moog replacement. But just Advent of Panurge has an insane flute solo, and So Sincere has a crazy five minute drum solo ending.

So yeah, this is a remarkable album, a must have. Anybody that is new or even if they've known them for ever. This is their best.