Top 5 Most Dissapointing prog albums

maybe there should be a top 5 most disappointing pop albums thread   ..I can think of a few

rushfan4 wrote: I'm not too fond of VDGG or Gentle Giant, although the latter is growing on me a bit.

Listen to Gentle Giant's In a Glass House - this is what  I call Definitive Progressive.
Hope that  Gentle Giant continues to grow on you
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR is just now beginning to get my attention.

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I heard a flower kings thing once and I hated it inmediately. I don't remember wich one was it, but I won't even try to. Also, I thought they were "Deflower kings" instead of "The flower kings", due to my southern ears... maybe it was that, me expecting a lot of very educated and aristocratic cursing instead of some bland regresive band...

Peter wrote: Thanks for the calm response, Logan. I'll respond to your questions and comments within your post, if that's okay. My responses will be in BLUE.   Logan wrote: Peter wrote: Negative, whining threads like this make it hard to be a reviewer.   Shouldn't this thread be on an ANTI prog site? Don't read reviews then -- listen to everything before you buy.   Better yet, just steal your music. You'll be less "disappointed." And negative, whining posts about such threads can make it hard to be a poster.    Touché! (Point Logan)   Sorry, got to put out my opinion here.  I rather enjoy taking the opportunity to express myself.   Yes -- as do I. I haven't noticed much in the way of whining here.    "Whining" is a little strong, perhaps, but this is a complaining thread, at least, where we complain about prog, and have to find FIVE prog albums to complain about. That struck me as a tad, shall we say, unusual and perhaps even counter-productive, for a prog fan site.   How do you feel about negative reviews?  They're okay as long as they are not whiny, I suppose?   I think there is a fundamental difference. (I've written a few.) This does not apply to all of the posts in this thread, but putting down an album  in the context of a review is one thing, especially if reviewers takes care to specify just what it is about the music they don't like. But criticizing reviews, and other's opinions, as we see here when those are referred to as "hype" is confrontational, and (in my experience) plain hurtful. It's discouraging to find your favourable review, written from the heart, and in a spirit of joy, referred to as mere generic, blanket "hype."   For the record, strongly negative reviews are often some of my favourite to read and write, because they have so much potential for humour (see my sole Styx review, or my one for Renaissance's "Camera Camera.") Still, I think one should avoid attacking the FANS of the album. Their favourable opinions are genuine, and were not likely expressed out of malice, a lack of intelligence, or any self-serving profit motive. Tastes differ. I could easily list prog metal stuff I've seen glowingly praised here, then heard, and didn't like, but what would be the point? I just don't like prog metal, it seems. (And if someone doesn't like Close to the Edge," if it really is one of the "most disappointing" albums they've heard, then I put it to you that that person simply does not like Yes. This is a subjective topic.  (yes) I fail to see why one should be bothered by others sharing their less than enthusiastic feelings.  It's a matter of taste.  I'm as interested in what people don't like here as what they like.  Hopefully reviews and threads strike a balance between the really enthusiastic and really disappointed.   I'm not overly bothered (though it might seem otherwise). I am enjoying this debate. My comments in the thread about the man recently killed by the police taser is an example of me being angry. I just wanted to explain how these types of threads make me feel, and perhaps enjoy a reasoned debate with a smart fellow like yourself. But it's not personal. I attack the argument, not the arguer. (I hope.) Look to the individual posts: This is not anti-prog any more than a review that states that a particular album is poor.  Just because I don't like such-and-such Prog album or band doesn't mean that I don't like Prog.   That's true -- but i can still readily imagine finding such a thread on an anti-prog forum. If a clearly negative thread bothers one, one can ignore it and leave it to those who wish to participate, of course, and don't mean one should.    I often ignore threads I don't like (or don't care about), but I'm not superhuman, either. I felt moved to respond to this one. Mine is just one of the range of opinions expressed here.   It can lead to interesting debate.  Hey, we're all different with different ways of seeing things. And by the way, I can find whiny reviews and threads entertaining, and care naught if someone on line dislikes an album I love or loves an album I loathe.   I like to see those opinions backed up, supported or explained, though. just my two cents, but to each his or her own.  I may not sympathies much with your attitude here, but I do respect your right to express it. Oh, and if you find any typos, it's not easy typing with a child sleeping on my shoulder. Seriously though, it's all good (even when bad)! Rock on!   You too, my friend -- and good luck with the kiddo, Daddio! I fondly remember such days.... I do tend to suggest that people should try to sample the music (through legal means) before buying to avoid much disappointment.  Any mp3 is worth a thousand words as I'm wont to say.  Of course some prefer to discover music in other ways.   Yes -- hearing first is good, and wise.    Peace out! (before) (after)

Very well expressed. Peter.   Thanks, and nothing I really find myself disagreeing with.  Some of what you've said I would have liked to mention too given more time to compose a post -- including blaming positive reviews for purchasing albums that don't personally enthrall.

Warning: aimless rambling alert.

 If one reads a review saying a work is excellent, that person is not wrong, and did not mislead you just because you don't like it.  It's a matter of taste, and reading a wide range of reviews is worthwhile.  If it seems many people think it's a classic of the "genre", and you think it's poor, they're not wrong.  And it's not wrong for the individual not to like it, but believing that it definitively sucks shows limited intellect.

Now if someone who knows me personally (say my best friend) tells me that I should get an album because it's great and I'll love it, and it's not the case, well... oh and he sold me that record for a hundred bucks, told me he wouldn't play it for me cause his record player was broken, but I wouldn't regret it.  Oh, and I found out it was scratched afterwards, and then he ran off with my wife, but that's another chapter.  Well, I'd have to blame myself; not just myself, of course..  Caveat emptor and all that jazz..

I also prefer to see opinions backed up or explained (and one should expect that in a formal review).  In posting, however, I've come to treat it as a more casual and visceral medium --  a place where one might rant and rave and share feelings.  In a review, a certain level of objectivity is expected; whereas on the forum one can be strictly subjective -- intellectual rigour not required.  It can be very difficult to express why an album makes us feel bad or good, but, sadly, sometimes people do mistake those personal feelings for objective truth.

Seems I got into rambling mode.  I'm more one for friendly discussion than debate, and even more one for incontinent digressions.

"It's only rock & roll but I like it."

- Keep on rockin' in the free world, Peter.

P.S.  Was thinking about what you wrote about the shocking Vancouver airport incident as I wrote the last post, interestingly enough.  Now there's something of real import important enough to get upset about.  I've wanted to share my disgust in that thread, but it makes very sad.  Not just what happened, but how it has been handled.

1  ELP the hot seat       pretty bad!!!!

toolis wrote: 1.Porcupine Tree - Deadwing after excellent In Absentia came out this... and i just don't get it... 2. Yes - Tales... i like my prog to be pretentious but this is TOO much... 3. Queensryche - Empire it's not a bad album, it's only ok.. but Rage For Order and Operation: Mindcrime were light years ahead of it.. 4. Rush - Hold Your Fire i hate it while adore all previous efforts of theirs.. 5.Soul Cages - Craft their debut and 'Moments' are monumental, this one blows...

absolutely true, this is quite bad...

Edited by Hamfari - November 21 2007 at 08:29

From what I´ve heard from Scarsick is not as good as PoS best releases.

rileydog22 wrote: Peter wrote: Anyway, maybe the next time I review a "disappointing" album like Close to the Edge, Pawn Hearts, or Nursery Cryme (all got top marks from me) I should include a disclaimer like 'I think this is great, but you probably won't like it" or 'Warning: despite the favourable review, buying this product may still lead to deep feelings of inconsolable disappointment."   i find the use here of words like 'hype" to describe the favourable opinions expressed by individuals in reviews to be rather insulting. "Hype" would seem to imply something underhanded -- some sort of vested interest on the part of the reviewer. 'Hype' would seem to apply to professional advertising, where the aim is to part people from their money, not spread joy. Our reviews are written by unpaid volunteers. Hard work, sincerity, and a desire to praise and share something which gives the reviewer joy go into favourable reviews -- not any desire to deceive people, or make money.   so you don't like every album you've ever bought. Fine. but don't blame that on those who DID like it, and saw fit to say so here. our primary purpose is supposedly to spread a love of prog, and to encourage the reviewing of prog albums -- not to publish lists of those few albums which we bought since coming here, only to be 'disappointed."   Again, I also feel that some naive folks seem to expect popular, highly-praised albums to absolutely "blow them away" and/or radically change their lives or something. It's just MUSIC folks, not religion.   Thanks -- I needed to say that. I like to complain about things here too, see? Not Magma's music.  That's religion too.

Yet another reason to be an atheist.

On topic - how is this thread different from the occasional "most overrated prog band" - thread?

Anyway, pretty much all Genesis albums are disappointing.

These are by no means bad albums, it is I who has the problem because others seem to really enjoy them (I'll keep trying...it's frustrating)...in some cases I do like an album but it just doesn't quite reach the heights that I wanted it to (BSS)