I'm falling for it..

Everyone has them; the weak spots. Elements of progressive music that grap you instantly. If progressive music has these certain 'personal'characteristics I'm less critical towards the whole product. I'm just falling for it.

I'm interested wat makes you fall for it. I'll give an example of what musical elements make music easy for me to acces:

- jazzy drums (almost always works for me)
- bravery (doing the unexpected, daring performance)
- psychedelic moods/crazyness (exploiting artistic freedom)

What about you?

Edited by friso - January 20 2011 at 02:13

friso wrote: Everyone has them; the weak spots. Elements of progressive music that grap you instantly. If progressive music has these certain 'personal'characteristics I'm less critical towards the whole product. I'm just falling for it. I'm interested wat makes you fall for it. I'll give an example of what musical elements make music easy for me to acces: - jazzy drums (almost always works for me) - bravery (doing the unexpected, daring performance) - psychedelic moods/crazyness (exploiting artistic freedom) What about you?

If you mean by 'jazzy drums' a drummer who interacts dynamically with the other musicians and whose playing becomes an inseperable part of the composition, (and doesn't just identify the underlying pulse of the music and lay down a rawk beat) then yeah bring it on baby...

In addition:

Middle Eastern, North African and Eastern European scales or modes (when used sparingly)
Portamento and filter effects used on synth solos
Guitarists who think carefully about their parts (when not soloing) and try to enhance the song accordingly
A firm grasp of when it is appropriate to play very little or precisely squat: less is more
Lyrics that deal with secular subject matter e.g. real people in the real world who are denied access to a spaceship
Certain instruments 'play' me: hammond organ, piano, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, Moogs (and I also love bands who cast their textural net wider by using real strings, real brass and assorted ethnic thingies from time to time
A bass and drums axis that have the nous to realise they are the anchor, not the sail. (c/f some Jazz Rock mutineers)
Anything post 1989

Two things mainly: a strong keyboard (preferably hammond organ) background and one or several crescendos involving multi-layered male-female vocal harmonies. Presses my buttons every time.

Jazz, blues, world or folk influences, with some very refined interplay are the things that really get me, and I fall for it easily.

The occasional Bach-style contrapuntal classical quote always goes down well too. [/QUOTE wrote: I forgot to mention the classical influence. When tastefully done, alway

when a song makes you feel something. that's enough for me.

it makes me cry, makes me think, makes me sleepy, makes me depressed, makes me get philosophical, etc.

also, i fall for the "i never heard something like this before" feeling some songs create.

ever listened to Black Lake Nidstang by Agalloch? that song is unique.

Prog folk with unusual  folklore, medieval or ethnic influences.  Obscure, poetic and  cryptic lyrics.  Changes in mood and tempo where you least expect it.

I like pretty much all types of music but the stuff that really captivates me is really emotional.

Cello, Violin, Clarinet, acoustic guitar, roaming bass lines, melodic drumming, female vocals, operatic female vocals, unique vocals, awesome drumming, quirky humour (Gong), weird sounds (avant prog), Classical references, drama, concepts, unusual instrument groupings, musical-style vocals (where each voice is a character), and I'm sure i could think of more. Let's face it, there is just too much in music out there that is good. XD

The common thing here is drums.