7 of your most listened to acts over the last year
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Topic: 7 of your most listened to acts over the last year
Posted By: Logan
Subject: 7 of your most listened to acts over the last year
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 10:04
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Similar to some other topics, but I like to hone in on specifics (more detail oriented than some). What are seven (or less) acts that you have been very into over say the last 12 months, and what are your favourite albums by the band, and please mention one, just one hard though that may be, track from each band/artist your mention for me to try to add to a youtube playlist. So this does not get too video heavy, please just type the name of the song or mention it and provide a url link -- preferably to youtube for the playlist. I was going to mention some others, but then since I want to do a playlist, seven tracks per person seems more than enough especially as I want to listen to other people's choices and I hope various others would like to check out music as well. All of mine I have brought up before, which saves some people some time if they wanted to check out my suggestions (and most of those who would want to probably already have). - Swans. Over the last couple of years I have been so into Swans. It's hard to choose one album. I have been very into most from 1987's Children of God up until this years The Beggar. Soundtracks for the Blind, Children of God, The Glowing Man and To Be Kind might be my most listened to albums over the past couple of years. There are many tracks that I would like to mention, but I will go with "Helpless Child" instead of one of the much longer ones ("The Glowing Man", "The Beggar Lover (Three)" and "Bring the Sun / Toussaint L'Ouverture" are awesome imo) or "A Piece of the Sky". "Helpless Child" off Soundtracks for the Blind (1996): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NOc1Gnu18I" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NOc1Gnu18I - Boards of Canada. I have been listening to this Scottish band (duo) a lot recently. I enjoy various albums, but it is Music Has the Right to Children that I have played the most. As a track I was thinking about going with "Everything You Do Is a Balloon", but I will instead go with "Aquarius" which was a song choice of mine for the latest Interactive Poll. "Aquarius" off Music Has the Right to Children (1998) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRcr5hYCxh0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRcr5hYCxh0 - Weyes Blood. Titanic Rising was my favourite album of hers, but now I favour And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow. I also like Front Row Seat to Earth. I was thinking about going with "Grapevine" off And in the Darkness..., "Wild Time" off Titanic Rising, and some others, but I will go with "Do You Need My Love" off Front Row Seat to Earth (2016). I like the song and I get a kick out of the video -- dat bear! "Do You Need My Love" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml_sZOWY6yU" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml_sZOWY6yU - Portishead: I love all their albums (all three studios plus live). I'm going with "The Rip" off Third (2008) (the best Third other than Soft Machine's ;)) as my song choice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBOaLjtR4mw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBOaLjtR4mw - Anna von Hausswolff: I love Ceremony, The Miraculous and Dead Magic, and I like her Live at Montreaux album. Each of those studio albums has been my favourite. The Miarculous may be the one I have played the most despite it generally not being valued quite as highly as those others from what I have seen. Anyway, my choice of track will be "Ugly and Vengeful" off Dead Magic (2018). It still gives me chills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp2VfPAhnOY" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp2VfPAhnOY - Lingua Ignota. I was introduced to her music thanks to a forum topic at PA. This music had a profound effect on me. I value highly both Caligula and Sinner Get Ready particularly (as well as All Bitches Die). My choice of song is "May Failure Be You Noose" off Caligula (2019). Powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbZbP8ijS54" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbZbP8ijS54 (F word warning if playing at Sunday School). - Chelsea Wolfe. I love her albums Apokalypsis, Pain is Beauty, Abyss and Hiss Spin. Pain is Beauty and Abyss are my most listened to. For a song I will go with an early standout for me with "Reins" from Pain Is Beauty (2013). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgcrbE2nzUA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgcrbE2nzUA So please mention up to seven acts, and please try to mention a favourite album and track from each act. Here is the playlist starting with my seven tracks from seven acts . https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4LJBMAZAJBGiJDTO0CoMoQz" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4LJBMAZAJBGiJDTO0CoMoQz Your choices as well as comments on any other people's selections in the topic are appreciated. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Replies:
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 11:02
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I'm focusing on relatively recent music
Sinner Get Ready is my Favorite, but you got this and Weyes Blood already. The Necks. Oh man I love pretty much their full discography. For your playlist, I guess my favorite song of the year Signal should be the one... but it could be just about any. Like this Other than that I think I got Greg Foat. For reccomended listening I'd suggest Symphonie Pacifique and The Mage for starters. This song is quite unrepresentative, but I love it so much: ...and Black Midi has taken me by storm, but I know you know them well. But as they're not known for their beauty, I think this represent that side of them well: I've become a bit of an King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard obsessive too. This is both a highlight and quite representative: I could, maybe should have added Swans, but as for a single album I've must have played this album like fifty times since i discovered her. Her only album is my favorite album. Loner folk they call it: -and Joni, always Joni. I think this has to be my favorite song of hers (but my favorite album is probably Hejira or I don't know. It's all so wonderful from debut to Mingus) If I'm being honest, Ahmad Jamal is probably my most played artist. Favorite album is probably The Awakening, but this might just be my favorite tune of his: |
Logan wrote:Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 12:22
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^ Thanks. I love that Storms that Breed song. I have checked out some of her earlier material, and I recall the name, but I had not listened to it. I knew eventually I would play all of her Weyes Blood music. As for Lingua Ignota, that I knew. In case some others post here and recognise it, that was one of my choices in the Modern/ Contemporary faves poll about a month ago. I really appreciate the introduction. I have heard some Greg Foat, love it. As for black midi, that actually has been one of the bands I really got into especially over this last year and could have been on my list (had I done ten as I though I might, then I surely would have remembered to, and The Necks I also have been getting very into of late, partially because it gets mentioned at PA by you and Nogbad, but I was exploring it at first quite some time ago due to the Swans connection. Very good stuff). I wasn't that big on Hellfire at first, and it was Cavalcade that really won me over, especially for the track "Ascending Forth". Now I love Hellfire cause I can be a bit slow on the uptake (often because I am obsessed with different music at the time). King Gizzard is one I am still getting into -- they are varied from album to album. I am digging that track you posted. That Sibylle Baier is lovely for this loner. Lovely Joni Mitchell track. And I shall bop to the cool jazzy goodness of Ahmad Jamal later..
------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 13:34
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Seven bands I've been into in the last year ... this will be an odd list as it's been an odd year for me! Lots of k-pop girl groups, probably won't be super popular with this audience tbh but it's been nice to have music my wife and daughters enjoy with me for once! Mamamoo - I'll skip their obvious hits and suggest 'Where Are We Now' because I just love the vocal prowess they show on it. Dreamcatcher - Although I love Mamamoo, I missed 'rock', these guys bring a rock/almost metal vibe into their aesthetic and a few of their songs. My favorite is 'Piri' Torres - this is a new discovery of mine female singer/songwriter, I really enjoy the earnestness of her music. 'Thistier' gets me every time. Nothing but Thieves - Good modern brit pop, "Can You Afford to Be an Individual" is searing and incisive Devin Townsend - nothing new year, been a fan of this guy for years, a recent favorite by him is "Borderlands" Major Parkinson - I didn't actually love their newest album as much as the ones that preceded it, sadly, but "Jonah" off of it really hits hard Purple Kiss - back to K-pop, Mamamoos label-mates, my favorite song by them is 'Cursor'
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Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 13:46
| Ok, I'm realizing belatedly I should have skipped Purple Kiss and gone with Leprous and "Castaway Angels" |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 14:24
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^ Thanks, I added your first six mentions and Leprous' Castaway Angels to the youtube playlist. It is all the more eclectic now. A couple of my favourite musician/compsers are Koreans that I have been into over the last year and could have been on my list. One is Gongjoung Doduk/ Mid-Air Thief especially (he makes sort of psych folk/ Indietronica) and the other is Yaya Kim (her art pop/ jazz pop album a.k.a YAYA was one of my favourite albums last year. I know more j-pop (not ashamed to love Kyary Pamyu Pamyu songs) than k-pop. I like that Major Parkinson song.
------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 14:40
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Some of my current faves. Subject to change. Polyphia Haken Marco Minnemann Wippy Bonstack Rascal Reporters Eyeless Owl Mike Keneally Just noticed all artists but Haken are from USA. |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 14:47
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I'm not going to make a list of albums Greg, because they need no introduction, but if I think of the 7 bands I have listened to most over the past 12 months, they would be: Camel - VDGG - Renaissance - Jethro Tull - Pink Floyd - BJH - Mike Oldfield ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 15:00
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Some come and go in waves, others are longstays... -
To kick off with one of my favourite non-prog bands actually (with a
couple of others of course), since more than 10 years: De Staat. I've been presenting tracks here
and there these last couple of years and this is one of those bands I
play regularly. Wonderful musicality, original and often upbeat, fun and dark at the same time. They just have a new album out, so
I've been spinning them regularly lately. No real favourite album; all
have their particularities. From the album O (2016), the track Kitty Kitty (and the video is worthwhile to watch!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWM9DC-31Xo" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWM9DC-31Xo - Dedicated a thread to them lately, a recent discovery: Oiseaux-Tempête. More in the (electronic) post-rock realm with a couple of other musical influences. Their latest album, What On Earth (Que diable) is very good, but I might still prefer AL'-AN ! (2017). From this album the track Baalshamin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiRo6Fgt_f0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiRo6Fgt_f0 - Another band of which I've been presenting some tracks lately, especially from their latest album 4U-9525 that came out a couple of months ago. A great album it is, but I was also quite impressed with their previous one Singes électriques (2013). Not all is on youtube, but - more in the realm of jazz rock, here is Le procès du temps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_0BsgSW9Ys" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_0BsgSW9Ys - An artist I knew since a long time, but I started to explore much more of his later work this last year: Phil Manzanera. Roxy Music of course, but I also had the Quiet Sun album, the 801 Live and his Diamond Head. Some of his later work is up to those standards (I recently dedicated a thread to him). One of my favourite albums of these last two decades is Firebird V11 (2008). From this album the track A Few Minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftHaKOoSnJA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftHaKOoSnJA - A band I'm into since more than 20 years and that I like to listen to regularly, with some regain these last 12 months (and I've mentioned them occasionally here): Die anarchistische Abendunterhaltung (aka DAAU). I like almost all of their albums and almost equally. From their album We Need New Animals (1997), Gin & Tonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlsctPzZwwQ" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlsctPzZwwQ - A band I discovered because they were playing live at the closing party of the Rotterdam Film Festival, in 1993 (I think). They just had their first album our, or it was going to be released, and I was quite impressed with what I heard. Had the chance last year to see them again live, almost 30 years later, and it was excellent, again. I'm talking about Tindersticks. A bunch of good albums, but their first -untitled - remains very special to me. From this album, since we were drinking, Whiskey and Water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKOfnw6rcxA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKOfnw6rcxA - And lastly, more in the corner of contemporary music (musique concrète, electro-acoustic music, field recordings...), a composer I'm into since more than 20 years and also a mainstay: Luc Ferrari. A bunch of very singular works that are hard to describe. One of my favourite compositions is Et tournent les sons dans la garrigue, which I saw once in an exceptional live rendition, even before it was out on cd. Unfortunately, this only exists in an amputated form on the internet, so I won't present that. Instead an other great piece, from the album Programme commun (named after the composition of 1972 that is included, but the album release is of 2013), Les émois d'Aphrodite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bvB0HkxB9M" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bvB0HkxB9M This will make for a long playlist... ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 15:19
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iNFiNiEN - my favorite album of 2022 has received HEAVY play; easily the most played album of mine over the past year. Motorpsycho - I've been deep-dive exploring their extensive discography over the past year or two. Mystery - with Pendragon, this has been NeoProg's finest, most consistent band over the past 20 years: so many of their songs remain on heavy rotation in my most-played playlists. Oiapok - OisoLün is my favorite feel-good album of 2023. The Coniguliaro Brothers (Wippy Bonstack, In-Dreamview, Eyeless Owl, Sun Colored Chair, The Filibuster Saloon) my latest discovery and deep-dive, I have absolutely LOVED researching and hearing all of their backlog of music. Monobody - all three of this Chicago-based Jazz-Rock Fusion band's albums remain on constant rotation within my playlists. ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 15:55
Thanks Will, Jared, Kees and Drew whose post I just saw because I was composing this one as he posted that. And an excellent job with the descriptions, Kees. I may be a pretty detail-oriented guy, but I commonly end up being scant on the descriptions. I want to work on that because my brain does not function adequately anymore and it might help with much needed cognitive abilities or stuff.
Mentioning albums and a track from each artist is not a requirement, but it does add a significant dimension to me (and because I want listen to what people especially like from artists/bands). There's lot of variety to those bands. With Camel, my favourite album is The Snow Goose (and I love A Live Record), but I love lots of Camel. My choice of track likely would be either "La princesse perdue" or "Nimrodel / The Procession / The White Rider", and another person's might be "No Easy Answer" (maybe not so much at a Prog forum). With VdGG, my favourite albums are Pawn Hearts, The Least We Can Do, and H to He. "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" is one of my very favourite tracks, but to be a bit different and a bit shorter I might go with "Darkness" which I also love. With Renaissance, "Song of Scheherazade" and "Ashes Are Burning" are awesome tracks to me, and at one time "Bullet" from the debut was my favourite and the debut was my favourite Renaissance album (Annie Haslam can be bit too nasally for me). With Jethro Tull, I most return to the pre-Thick as a Brick albums. I'd go with "Sossity; You're A Woman" off Benefit. Always loved that song and hardly see it mentioned. With Pink Floyd, I tend to favour the pre-Dark Side of the Moon albums but love all up to and including The Wall. Some favourite tracks are "Atom Heart Mother", "The Embryo", "Echoes", "Fearless", and "Cirrus Minor" I might go with The Embryo from the BBC sessions. Barclay James Harvest I don't know well. With Mike Oldfield, I have heard a few of his albums, but there is no point there in me talking tracks as even if divided into two parts, it is the album. I should give Oldfield more of a try again, it never became a favourite but I know many who I share so much in common with musically who love Mikey O. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 17:54
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I should say in the beginning that the bands/artists I play most are not necessary always those I think are best. In fact there is some more melodic, rhythmic, easy going music that wants to be played again and again and I can't stop it, and some really great stuff needs so much dedication when listening that I don't often manage to do that. But anyway, here goes... Although boring as named by others, Swans are certainly in my top 7, mostly material between Seer and leaving meaning. As I love good live videos, I play this (in fact this is a replacement as the one I wanted to show, Glowing Man live, didn't play): Somewhat embarrassingly (though I'm not really embarrassed), I have played a lot of Nik Kershaw. I have bought Ei8ht a few months ago, he just has ways to make me play his stuff again and again. Probably the first two albums are still best but much later stuff is awesome. If you ever need a song to win someone's heart, use this (even though chances are this is not his best to win progfans hearts  ):Both Mammal Hands albums I have (Gift from the Trees, Captured Spirits) have been played a lot in the last year. It's already two years now that Battlestations won me over, but between then and now I grabbed a good number of their albums. I think Splinters Vol. I: Tremor is still my favourite, but this one is excellent, too: Kong have been in the top 7 several times in my life for sure, and have made a great comeback. One of these bands that just can't get anything wrong for me. I like all their albums, even though some are a bit more equal. I like to recommend their recent one, Traders of Truth. Here's one from FreakControl though (the album is a bit of an outlier as on other albums the heavy guitars rule the electronics whereas here it's the other way round). I think I have played enough Tangerine Dream that they qualify for top 7 (maybe for the first time after 30 years or so). For example I have rediscovered the Dominion album, which is from the tour when I saw them live. Here's something from it. (Favourites still Rubycon & Zeit though.) Some more pop music here; this one, Heiko Stoelzig alias okay blue fish is a guy I got to know personally when I lived in Dortmund very very long ago, another one who has the magic to write the melodies that suck me in. I don't think you can buy any of his albums actually - I don't think he is very interested in distributing them, but a friend of mine sends me his new stuff regularly, and more often than not it will be played to death twice here. He has his latest album on soundcloud. https://soundcloud.com/bluevoice/formelheft" rel="nofollow - https://soundcloud.com/bluevoice/formelheft Actually he has three tracks on youtube, so if you want one for the playlist: He has fewer views than me (which is difficult), so click him!
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 02 2023 at 21:44
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^ Thanks. Lewian. I really like the live version of The Glowing Man on Deliquescence, and I really appreciate that version of The Hanging Man. The Hanging Man is a particular favourite song of mine on leaving meaning.. And my choices are not dictated by what I consider to be best or even good. I just happen to like great music. And not that I listened properly to your selection yet, but I appreciate all of that. I did listen to all of the Nik Kershaw and I really like it. It's quite reminiscent of Cardiacs to me. I could imagine Tim Smith and company performing a version of that. And Mammal Hands is great. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 01:24
Since you've been good enough to share your thoughts so comprehensively, I will expand a little. With all the bands above, I have been listening to if not all, then a large extent of their respective catalogues, several times over... Camel: Of late, the last four studios have been getting quite a bit of attention, hence my recent, mini-poll. In particular, I think Rajaz and Nod/Wink are underappreciated gems. I can't believe it's 24 years since I saw them on their Rajaz tour in Sheffield, but I would choose the glorious closer on Nod, 'For Today' as being my track. VDGG: I would say I have been concentrating more on their post 2005 recordings, after having treated myself to 'Interference Patterns' when it was released. I think Present is very good in parts and Real Time is an absolute gem of a live album, but there is no denying that they lost something when Jackson left (again) with their output becoming more mellow and mainstream. My highlight therefore, rather predictably is 'Every Bloody Emperor' off Present, which you all know, of course... Renaissance: I own everything up to 1979's Azue d'or (which I have to be in the mood for), as I can't tolerate what came afterwards, and it has all had a similar amount of listens. It took me a little longer to invest in their Jane Relph albums however and these are the ones I've been listening to most recently. Their 2nd album is better than this miserable 3.14 it has on PA, and I'd recommend you try 'Golden Thread'. Jethro Tull: I have just about listened to their entire catalogue this year, to get a solid survey on their journey from Folk Rock to 'Dire Straits' sound-alike, which for me has been worthwhile, especially as there were a couple of gaps in their discography which I needed to hear (A, Catfish Rising & the awful Under Wraps spring to mind). I own and going forward, will listen to everything up to Stormwatch and contented with this decision. We all know their strengths and weaknesses, but I'd highlight what a fine album Bursting Out (Live) is and would choose the raw power of the Aqualung - Locomotive Breath - Dambuster's March finale. Pink Floyd: About a year ago, I consolidated things by splurging out on the wonderful 'Oh By The Way' boxset, which I think will be on my shelf until I pass away. Having added Relics and Endless River inside the box, it is all I require (live albums excepting) and has enabled me to concentrate on some of their earlier, more obscure material, esp More and Obscured By Clouds, which I don't think I've ever heard. Recommending any Floyd here would be superfluous to requirement. BJH: I have always had a soft spot for them. Unlike some of the bands above, I've been familiar with all their material from a teenager, although these days I only own everything up to XII (1978), because after Woolly's departure, they lost the mellotron and their sound became a painfully thin pop-rock, suitable for the 80's but not for my ears these days, despite the song writing still being quite bearable on many occasions. Quite by coincidence, I'm listening to 'Mockingbird' off Once (1971) which would be a fine place for you to start... Mike Oldfield: Of course, his 70's output requires no introduction, but he never completely sold out during the 80's and while I've been listening to quite a few of his albums more randomly through his career of late, he is one of the few artists whose 80's work still stands up; at times being very good indeed. If you don't know it, enjoy Taurus II; the whole first side from Five Miles Out (1982). I'm sorry, but embedding videos is still something I don't know how to do; I'm sure there's witchcraft involved.. so you'll have to visit Youtube yourself. I was having a think about what would be the next 7 groups who have occupied my attention over the past year and upon reflection, a couple of them might even have displaced a few of the above... I don't know, I didn't count, but they would in all probability be: Tangerine Dream - Eloy - Hawkwind - Mostly Autumn - Porcupine Tree - Magenta - King Crimson ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 05:20
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Last year, I discovered the music of Steven R. Smith and his
extensive projects released under various names (Ulaan Passerine, Ulaan Khol,
Hala Strana, etc.) as well as his own name. He’s a guitarist/multi-instrumentalist
who also builds and plays his own instruments. All instrumental, his music ranges
in a blend of drone, ambient, psych, post-rock, east European folk, field
recordings, …. He has an extensive catalogue of over 40 releases going back
over 20 years. I digitally purchased his catalogue on Bandcamp and I’ve been
digging through that over the past year. Really hard to pick one album/track. The
album that I first heard was Sun Spar by Ulaan Passerine. Each monicker has a
slightly different flavor. Ulaan Khol I would say tends to be more guitar
dominant. I’ll suggest a track from his most recent album as Ulaan Khol. https://youtu.be/bi7nN2iZDrY" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/bi7nN2iZDrY With a lesser catalogue of only 2 albums is Korean band
Black String. Named after the Korean zither, geomungo, as the lead instrument,
combined with percussion, bamboo flutes, guitar and electronica. The music is a
mix ranging from Korean folk to jazz/rock. Could be considered post-rock.
Mostly instrumental, with a few tracks with vocals (mostly traditional
chanting). I’ve posted tracks by them here before. This is a live performance of
a track from their first album Mask Dance. https://youtu.be/kawOPq0jgOA" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/kawOPq0jgOA Staying on the instrumental side, I’ve been listening to a
good amount of music by SONAR/Stephan Thelen. A lot to dive into. Seems like a
limited selection on YouTube but the name makes it hard to search for. I’ll
suggest the title track from the album Black Light. https://youtu.be/s3nv2jvyO68" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/s3nv2jvyO68 The Tea Club is a band I learned about on PA maybe 6 years
ago or so, starting with the album Grappling, but really took hold with me with
their 2019 album If/When. I saw them as the opening act for Thank You Scientist
and the highlight was the 25+ minute Creature. Too long for a playlist so I’ll
go with Rivermen from that album. https://youtu.be/Xd6WP1_9aLQ" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/Xd6WP1_9aLQ I’ll stop for now as
I got to get back to real life. Ha. A couple of artists that would be
in top 7 have been mentioned above, Swans and Motorpsycho. Also, because Lewian
mentioned and posted some tracks by them in another thread earlier this year, I’ve
been listening to a fair amount of Kong and got their digital catalogue from
Bandcamp. Some longstanding prog groups that are among frequent listens are King Crimson, Yes, Rush, and Marillion. I recently went through attempting to listen to all of Yes’s
releases from the last 40 years and there’s some bad stuff there (first time at Open Your Eyes). Makes the recent
album seem more than okay. It’s all relative, but that just made me listen more to their 70’s
stuff. Kind of like cleansing the palate. |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 06:19
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 07:55
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Wow, the playlist has 52 entries now. Again, not a requirement, but Drew, if you want to add specific tracks (one per album) for your band choices (one track per act), I would love to add those to the youtube playlist I posted and listen to them. I like the added interactivity that sharing specific tracks can bring. I love communal listening room type topics, The Interactive Polls, and I love those recommendation thread type topics where the recommendations are commented on. I know for some, especially audiophiles listening to youtube is not ideal, some like full albums, and some have technical issues with playing videos on youtube. With a topic like this and so much music, I would not expect anyone to listen through the whole playlist and there are no expectations for anyone to check out that music (definitely nice to see the back and forth discussion on the choices, be they the bands, track or albums, when it happens. The usual for discussion threads)... ^^ Thanks very much George. Loved reading through that and I hear-forward (if that is a term) to listening to your selections. ^^^ Thanks, Jared very much. It's quite a bit of effort to respond like that and I appreciate all the people here for taking the time to mention these favourites. I love the insight it gives me into others, and feeling like I am sharing in that experience. I love the kind of communal listening room type topics and ones where I feel people share their passions and experiences in a way that goes beyond just a simple list. I get the fuzzies from this topic, or maybe that's just my furry costume (I'm not a furry; just being silly) Your listing helps to demonstrate the diversity of listening when it comes to those bands (at least to me). I had hoped that some might take the time to comment on other people's selections and mention their own favourites, by the way. I really like Obscured By Clouds and More (which I have argued for as underrated), but a lot who know Floyd's bigger releases will have missed or ignored those soundtrack albums. I have pretty much ignored the post The Wall ones despite Pink Floyd having been my favourite band for several years. Camel's Beyond Today is nice. I have not listened to Camel that much beyond the first four studio albums and A Live Record. And actually I have not listened to Camel much in almost two decades because my tastes were then shifting to more experimental progressive avenues. I plan to return more to Camel again. With VdGG, I have listened to Present once before in full, I think, and that would have been much closer to the times of its release than now. The year that came out is the year I started to get into VdGG in any serious way. It had started with me hearing and loving House With No Door and Man-Erg in 2005. My most listened to album by VdGG surely has been The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other followed by Pawn Hearts (with Plague my the pinnacle of VdGG for me) and then H to H. I have not spent nearly so much time with any of the other albums and those are the only albums that I feel I really have internalised. I have given multiple spins to all up to and including The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure Dome. Present is a rather lowly rated album in VdGG's discography, and of course not one of the best known. Anyway, that track I do rather remember, the name for sure, and having listened again, it is terrific! Really glad to have listened to that so early this morning (thank God for insomnia). Renaissance's Golden Thread: I love this and had not given Illusion the time I perhaps should have. I like the Jane & Keith Relf version of Renaissance. And this immediately has become my favourite Renaissance song. Jethro Tull: Great choice, I had not heard the live album before, but Aqualung definitely has been my most listened to Jethro Tull album. I only included the Dambuster March segment in the playlist sadly. The whole live album is on youtube. Pink Floyd: I'd like to hear that boxset. I like the Relics compilation a lot, and More and Obscured by Clouds, but have not heard Endless River. The first album I ever bought, by the way, was the compilation album Works. BJH: I like that choice of track an awful lot. Very glad to have checked it out. Mike Oldfield: I did not listen to all of Taurus II yet, but I enjoyed it. As for embeds, there's no need. That's why I made the playlist. Hyperlinks are great if one can do it, but it's very easy to search on youtube. Lots of embed videos can make threads really difficult or impossible to load, so I had asked people not to do embeds. No harm in the ones being here that are methinks, but I wanted to minimise it. I have had complaints before with topics with lots of embeds that people can't open them. I have very good internet service (both with Wifi and cellphone) so I had not experienced that, that is until I got an iPhone recently. It was an issue I have since worked out. Again, huge thanks and appreciation to all who have posted here and I do plan to get around to listening to all of the mentions at some time, but I don't expect to comment on all. Just a time factor and that I rarely have much of substance to say. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 11:57
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Yes, this makes for a huge listen. But most of it quite enjoyable. Since you have posted most of your suggestions (or at least other tracks of these bands/artists) before, you already know what I think of most of these, that I mostly enjoy. Dead Magic is for me one of the better albums of the decade... - Regarding Saperlipopette's list, I quite like Greg Foat. I listened to several of his albums these last years but in the end it is his collaboration with Hampshire that I prefer (don't know if you know these albums?). But The Necks, and I'm also thinking about the track you posted very recently in another thread, are really the stand-out for me. I definitely have to explore more of their work, it's wonderful! - Of TheGazzardian, it is the Devin Townsend and Major Parkinson's tracks that I enjoyed the most. - Apart from Haken, which I found rather conventional, all other of Grumpy's suggestions were a great listen, with Eyeless Owl as the stand-out track for me (and the silly video of Mike Keneally quite fun to watch!). - Of Lewian's selection there are several that I like very much, especially Mammal Hands, Battlestations and Kong (hadn't listened to this album yet and it might be something I'd prefer over their other work, which I quite enjoy already). Both Nik Kershaw and okay blue fish are enjoyable listens too! - Regarding Jared's selection, well, they're quite known, but it is nice to see BJH mentioned (there's not much talk about them here on PA) and regarding Mike Oldfield, I rather prefer his 80s works than any other decade, with Five Miles Out being my favourite album, largely because of Taurus II! Haven't listened to Georges selection yet, but that will come...  ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 13:24
This does not overly surprise me as those are the proggiest among the tracks I selected :) My diet is not as prog-filled as it once was.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 14:52
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^ Too much Prog in the diet leads to constipation. My favourites from each are: Saperlipopette!: I didn't add it to the playlist even though I wanted to, I will at some time, but I loved that Weyes Blood track. That said, the Necks, Greg Foat and Sybylle are excellent. black midi has been one of my most played over the last year. I need to get my 50s and 60s cool bop jazz ear tuned a bit more again after so much Indie/art pop/rock over the last few years (although quite a bit of that takes inspiration from jazzy 60s music). TheGazzardian: It was the Major Parkinson that appealed most to me. I had hoped the medication I take would cure me of Progitis. grumpyprogfan: It's between the Rascal Reporters and Wippy "Whip it good, whip it real good" Bonstack, but I really, really like that Rascal Reporters. Excellence. Suitkees: That Gin and Water just ends up quenching my thirst the best right now. Really like it. Had been a while since I listened to Luc Ferrari. I have an album somewhere with his music and I can't recall what the album is named. I used to really like it. BrufordFreak: Oiapok in particular is one that would make my longer list as I have been listening to it over the last year too (as well as more Motorpsycho). Lewian: Pretty sure Mammal Hands would get my vote. Jared: Like with others, lots I like but that VdGG made my very early morning. It's not an album I have listened to much, and later VdGG I have not been so into (I'm a huge fan of early albums), but that one I really like. I know I could get very into much more VdGG, I just have been listening to other things. mathman: Good stuff. Those first three are all equally good to me in their own way. White Out and Black light are most in my wheelhouse despite both being opposites. Well, I mean not musically but colour-wise (no colours, all colours in one way.... Won't get into that). I'll say Black Light because... No White Out... Ha, how very Interactive Poll without the poll. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 15:14
So, you're mixing Gin & Tonic with Whiskey and Water... Be careful!  ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 15:29
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^ A gin and and tonic water can be deadly. Usually I prefer my booze not to be watered down, with tonic water, glacier water, distilled water and shark and piranha infested water. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 16:42
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This is a great idea and at some point I'll take the time to listen to all of these. (There's the summer poll still to go through... too much going on at the same time, but that's of course better than nothing going on.) In the meantime thanks for your comments! |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 19:52
Ha ha! I didn't realize how black and white my selections were. And the second track by Black String. I imagine that the Tea Club serves up a selection of black, white, and even green tea. Maybe some Earl Grey. |
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: August 03 2023 at 20:39
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This is very hard as I spent a lot of listening time exploring so don't tend to focus on any bands on a year to year basis. It's more likely that I've dived in to sub-genre and explored a bunch of stuff. Oh well here goes The Muffins - I got the Cuneiform boxset in the last year and have been trying to absorb that monster so they are probably top of the list. I'll probably go with Zoom Resume from 185. Electric Masada - I've been to the last 2 Big Ears Festivals & both have heavily feature John Zorn so been listening to a bunch of his stuff, will probably go with Kedem black midi - continue to be one of my favorite modern bands, still getting plenty of listening, I'll go with John L from Cavalcade Squid - similarly I've been exploring a lot of post punk recently and these guys resonate. Boy Racer from Bright Green Field. The Comet Is Coming - still my favorite modern afrobeat jazz band, saw them live this year, favorite track - Summon The Fire from Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery Schnellertollermeier - from some reason I just keep coming back to their version of brutal minimalist math rock - Rights from Rights Melt Yourself Down - another bouncy afrobeat London band heavily into this stuff at the moment - Fix My Life from Melt Yourself Down ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: August 04 2023 at 02:44
Thank you Greg, your comments are much appreciated. I'm not naturally one for detailed essays, but make an exception for you occasionally, because I know you always read what I say and often give responses, more meaningful and detailed than my observations deserve...  What I would say, is that I answered your question honestly.... these WERE my personal most listened to acts of the last 12 months. Although I'm not in the position to give you music quite as obscure as many of the other contributors to this thread, I could have given you a list of more recent artists who would have naturally had a smaller fanbase, but they wouldn't have fulfilled your requested criteria! There is a reason for this... over the past 12 months or more, I have taken time out to become more familiar with or at least re-acquaint myself with many of the important foundation bands of 70's Prog... these have fallen into several annoying, inconsistent categories, which I have become determined to straighten out in my mind... a) Some are bands which I grew up with and was familiar with all or most of their prime discography, but for some reason, I just haven't listened to for years.... BJH, Moody Blues, Sky, Alan Parsons, ELP, Eloy, Kansas, early Hawkwind.. b) Some are bands who I have known since a teenager, but my collection was more patchy, knowing some of their albums well, but others vaguely and still a few more of their less popular works, not at all.... Pink Floyd, Renaissance, Focus, Greenslade, Tangerine Dream, Camel, Jethro Tull, Supertramp & Mike Oldfield are all here.... and I have been determined to fill in the gaps and give their discographies the time, repeated listens and understanding they all deserve.. c) A few are bands who I really should have paid more attention to when I was younger and I'm ashamed to say I didn't, for whatever reason... I knew some tracks but not whole albums, which I've now been determined to put right... in particular, I would highlight Caravan and Curved Air. Why I haven't paid more attention to Caravan before is a shameful mystery I'm afraid. Gentle Giant also fall into this category, and they will be up very soon for a detailed listen. d) VDGG stand out in the fact that I've long been familiar with much of their pre 1978 stuff (Pawn Hearts has long been a favourite), but I have never bothered with much of their post 2005 material (other priorities), but Interference Patterns has had quite a bashing since I bought it, however I think I'll always be more fond of them up to 1978, in a similar way to being more fond of King Crimson, up to USA, than beyond... e) Concerning 'traditional' bands I have listened to throughout my life without stopping? To my shame, I'm afraid I can only list Genesis, Yes & Rush here... It would be fair to say that I will move on into pastures new in time, expanding my repertoire, but having significantly increased my appreciation and understanding of the foundation bands beforehand.
------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: August 04 2023 at 06:58
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These are the songs that stood out for me. Thanks to all for sharing. Logan - We live in different musical worlds. The music you posted in this thread is mostly dark and gloomy. Not my pint of brew. That's why I enjoyed Boards of Canada, it has a cool groove, and 'Orange' is not dark. Saperlipopette! - Dig the Sibylee Baier, an exquisite haunting voice, she nails this song. Joni is great also. Gazz - Nothing But Thieves - Hell yeah! Fierce jam (although sounds familiar) with a great singer, kinda Mars Volta vibe. Suitekees - Le procès du temps - A spicy jazzy number. The dog steals the show. Lewian - Mammal Hands - Big sound for that tiny sax. Kong is also groovy yet repetitive. Jared - Going with Tull, VDGG next in line. mathman0806 - Sonor. |
Posted By: Stressed Cheese
Date Posted: August 04 2023 at 07:10
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Here's my 7: -Frank Zappa: He's always there, since he's my favorite artist, and he's got a boatload of music. Finally listened to (and watched) 200 Motels in full this year, but other than that mostly listening a lot to the same albums I always return to (OSFA, Joe's Garage, Orchestral Favorites, etc.). He's got so much stuff that I more get into phases of a specific era of his career instead of just a Zappa phase. Anyway, my favorite Zappa song by far is The Adventures of Greggery Peccary from Studio Tan/Läther. It's in fact my favorite song of all time. https://youtu.be/aymj5wcIhiY" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/aymj5wcIhiY -King Crimson: I first heard ITCOTCK, Lark's Tongues and Red ages ago, but it wasn't until earlier this year that I actually started collecting KC and getting acquainted with some of their other albums. I got their first 7 now, and it's hard to pick a favorite. ITCOTCK and Red have the highest points, but In The Wake of Poseidon might be the most consistently good, as in, it's the only one without any below average moments. Cat Food is an underrated song (from In The Wake Of Poseidon). https://youtu.be/VmnqX4iNBpI" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/VmnqX4iNBpI -Ozric Tentacles: Slowly going through their discography. If you like one album, you'll like them all, so there's plenty to collect. Erpland is my favorite so far, and A Gift Of Wings from that album is one of the many highlights so far. https://youtu.be/uJqPVARfzfk" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/uJqPVARfzfk -King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: I've mentioned this band a lot on this forum already, but I've gone through about half of their discography so far, in the span of about a year. Which is really fast for my standards for a band, but they have so much variety that it doesn't really get boring, and I'd like to be up-to-date at some point so I can get excited for their new releases instead of getting stressed out by them. My favorite KGLW track was already mentioned (Crumbling Castle), so I'm gonna go for a favorite from an underrated album, Honey from K.G. https://youtu.be/ADj2jDqT4uY" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/ADj2jDqT4uY -Brand X: Only heard their first 3 albums so far (2 studio and Livestock), but I already love this band. Born Ugly from my favorite album so far, Unorthodox Behavior, might be their best one I've heard yet. https://youtu.be/_wkSi-ZlOH8" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/_wkSi-ZlOH8 -Todd Rundgren: Another artist I'm slowly going through at the moment. A Wizard, A True Star is the best one I've heard so far, though Something/Anything? and Hermit Of Mink Hollow are also brilliant. I have the boxset that covers his albums until 1982, and I'm saving some of the proggier albums for last. I guess I'd have to be unoriginal and pick I Saw The Light as my favorite track so far. https://youtu.be/N5V5HktI4Kg" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/N5V5HktI4Kg -Pink Floyd: I'm kind of (again, slowly - I go through artists slowly...) going through my Pink Floyd collection again, listening to some albums I hadn't heard (in full) for years. My favorite Floyd era is of course the 70's, but as I'm listening to their 60's stuff a lot lately, I'll single out the Ummagumma version of A Saucerful Of Secrets. https://youtu.be/WcM0q1VIl7Q" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/WcM0q1VIl7Q I'll try to listen to the other selections offered so far later this weekend, but there's a lot of them and I am a bit busy, so...
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 04 2023 at 20:46
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Big Big Train Everything covering the Dave Longdon years, Folklore is my favourite for sure but I can easily take The Underfall Yard through to Ingenious Devices as 'block' Emerson, Lake and Palmer I am as predictable as the day is long. Easily Welcome Back My Friends but also Live At Mar Y Sol with that shorter punchier version of Pictures at and Exhibition. 'Norwegian Prog' a bit of a cheat but I've created a massive playlist for streaming inc the likes of Wobbler, Motorpsycho, Seven Imale and Elephant 9 and will never be bored! IQ Frequency especially is never that far away from my listening Dave Kerzner Still not getting bored of his 2hr 20 minute rock opera New World (Deluxe Edition) Steve Hackett Great recent albums inc At The Edge Of Light. Soulful and expansive prog PFM I adore the first 3 albums, okay so if pressed will go for L'isola Di Niente. If im ever uncertain of what to listen to then its easy, just pop this little beauty on. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 04 2023 at 21:16
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- Kees: I thought my last response to you might have come across as a bit too cheap. I had noticed the similarities in tracks but I am prone to muddled thinking (faulty wiring, but the plumbing is passable), and as it is two boozy tracks, one liquor with regular water and one with tonic water.... Not only have I worked as a cocktail bartender (mixing drinks) and a nightclub DJ (mixing music) in my youth, but things get more mixed up with me in my older years, which makes me a Mixologist of sorts. - Christian: Thanks so much. I appreciate everyone here for taking the time, and for me it is nice to have a diversion right now. - George: As Michael Jackson tells us, it doesn't matter if you're black or white. Your colorful post made me smile. :) - Ian (Nogbad the Bad) : Thanks for that. I could not find the first one on youtube, but here it is on bandcamp: The Muffins - Zoom Resume (off 185, from 1981) https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/track/zoom-resume-2" rel="nofollow - https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/track/zoom-resume-2 By the way, I used be very into The Muffins' Chronometers, but have not heard it in too many years. I could not find Electric Masada's Kedem on youtube and I did not find it on bandcamp. I like Electric Masada and a lot of Zorn music as well. black midi's Cavalcade is what really got me into the band. John L is a very good opener, but it was the last track, Ascending Forth, that most got under my skin. There are some album closers that when it comes to them I want them on repeat, this was one of them. black midi has been one of my most listened to over the past six months and easily could have been listed by me (I knew others would anyway if this topic got any traction). Squid's Bright Green Field is an album I really like. I would not be surprised if Boy Racers is the particularly obvious standout for many, although G.S.K. is the one that first made big impression on me. Love it. I checked out The Comet is Coming before, because of you, or perhaps maybe George? (please excuse the poor memory), very good stuff. Summon the Fire is one I really liked. I very much enjoyed Schnellertollermeier's Rights. The album is called Brutal Prog (I genre which often doesn't seem that brutal to me), but this track is actually super-pleasant to my ears. I like this kind of math-rocky music. Melt Yourself Down's Fix My Life... I liked this a lot too (I could imagine a great collaboration with Urban Sax). I may like gloomy/ down-beat atmospheric music (find it cathartic), but this is really hitting the spot right now. - Jared: I really appreciate your words. I like to write (but not read what I write) but I also have been told that it's nearly impossible to understand a word I say and so I all the more appreciate people trying to respond -- I think the words themselves are mostly fine, it's the way the words are combined that is the real problem. Anyway, I genuinely do like to read what others write, especially if I have asked a question or presented an idea. And of course nothing wrong with listening to more traditional bands. Those are all classics that stood the test of time. I loved listening though your choices. And despite being big names, there were some really happy discoveries for this guy who is lacking in knowledge when it comes to many classics that others take for granted. - Will: Glad you liked the Boards of Canada track. I love to listen to that when driving and cleaning -- it's got such groove and I love groove... Yeah, that's right. It's fun and gets me moving. I do find lots of dark and gloomy music, tv shows, movies, books to particularly resonate with me, which is kind of sad I guess. I find it can be cathartic. That said, like I said, I found that Rascal Reporters track to be excellent. I love it and other music you posted. I've said it before in so many words, but different musical worlds largely but they also intersect because a lot of the kind of music I would associate with Zappa and friends we both like. Hearing Peaches en Regalia on the radio was revelatory to me and had a big effect on my music direction. I like Frogg Cafe, French TV and many others that I find positively jaunty. I have noticed that a lot of music I actually find quite uplifting and life-affirming others just find plain depressing. I'm organising a funeral now and I still get a weird pleasure out of music that some have claimed they would rather perform vile acts on their bodies than to listen to, and/or that it would drive them to self-destruction to have to listen to it. To each their own psyches and tolerance levels, not to mention hyperbolic claims. I have wanted to respond that much as I like the music, I would enjoy testing that proposition rather like in A Clockwork Orange even more. But I digress. - Ian (Stressed Cheese) : Yeah, it's a lot. It's easier for me because I am taking some time from things other than there is lot of stuff to organise which I need some distraction from and I'm happy to take a bit of a break from the music I have most been into of late and delve into some others. In your case I had heard almost all of those before. Really enjoyed hearing that Zappa (such a great track) and the Floyd again. I have not been as into King Gizzard.... (KG&TLW) as I sometimes have felt I should be. I mean I do like plenty of King Gizz music, and probably it has something to do with how prolific the band is. I wanted to say that I really enjoyed the track you posted. - Richard: I love PFM's L'isola di niente. And the jazzy and quite bombastic last track on it, "Via Lumière" is one of my all-time faves. What a fantastic way to end such a great era for PFM imo. Thanks all. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: August 04 2023 at 21:38
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Hi, I can't say that I have listened to some things more than others, since I listen to so many different things ... besides keeping up with the threads by Andrea and Damo. The only thing I can say I have done, is pick up a few of the Klaus Schulze CD's that were released from his early WORKS series, and in getting 5 or 6 of those CD's to add to my list has been quite lovely, and special. It's almost unbelievable that someone can do so many interesting things and still come out with far out stuff with different folks ... a tremendous feat. Other than that, maybe some Tangerine Dream, redoes and remakes in the various series they have ... it seems different and it always satisfies. I'm not much into the "pop culture" that we often find in many works listed here, although I will state that many of them are super nice and very enjoyable. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: August 04 2023 at 22:54
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I can't account for what I've been listening to over the last year, it's quite varied; however, recently I've been on a blues kick, among other things: 1. The first 6 albums of John Lee Hooker from the 50s and early 60s. 2. Johnny Winter's discography from 1968 through 1973. 3. Select anthologies of Skip James from his Paramount years in the 1930s. 4. Albums from Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté together and separately.5. Billy Strings' first 3 albums. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: August 05 2023 at 00:12
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 05 2023 at 14:35
Sorry, I know this was addressed to Pedro, but I thought he might not respond, and wanted to try to look for the correlations for a pop culture that is represented by much of the music that has been mentioned. I do favour going into very specific examples rather than generalising often. I think Pedro tends to favour a sort of deductive thinking whereas I am more inductive (not that I am anywhere near as adept at logical reasoning as I would like to be). Of course there are pop veins running though this, and rock and pop intertwine (and folk etc.) As someone who has checked out most of the music in the playlist, there is such variety that has been mentioned. If pop culture is that significant, then I would say pop cultures. The audience of, say, a K-pop artist might be very different from an audience that listens to avant-garde jazz, experimental rock, neoclassical, Zolo. But actually I think it shows that our PA culture, if it is thought of as a kind of subculture, is into very diverse music. I guess my choices would tend to appeal to a certain more hipster alternative art pop crowd. I love lots of music that gets classified as pop. From really popular classic ones like ABBA and the Carpenters to a lot of music deemed art pop, chamber pop, avant-pop.... From my selection, Weyes Blood would be the most obviously considered to make pop (as genre) music I would think, but Anna von Hausswolff and Chelsea Wolfe also make a kind of art pop. Portishead has been hugely popular and part of pop culture, and Boards of Canada. Lingua Ignota I also put into art pop/ folk pop realms. And Swans has made mainstream sounding folk music and even covered "Can't Find My Way Home" on what I have seen at least person call its sell-out album.. Now TheGazzardian spoke specifically about K-pop girls bands as something he can enjoy with his wife and daughter (my wife has been most hooked on Korean dramas for many years). By the way, Weyes Blood is music, in part, that I have played very often because my wife really likes it and my eldest likes it. It is my most played music in the car when driving with my wife. Most of what I listen to would not be appreciated by my wife. Instead of focusing on the genre tags (from rateyourmusic) of the tracks themselves, here are the albums that contain the tracks for the youtube track playlist choices, or an album that was mentioned as a fave even if a track off a different album was chosen, and for those who mentioned albums but not specific tracks) -- I did not make it that far as it was more effort and time-consuming than I anticipated. So this is just a small sample from the first few people to post, and so not enough to come to good conclusions... whatever conclusion that might be (and one may not like the labels). Logan: - Swans - Soundtracks for the Blind (Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Experimental. Drone, Dark Ambient, Field Recordings, Spoken Word, Sound Collage, Industrial, Post-Industrial) - Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children (IDM, Downtempo. Ambient, Trip Hop) - Weyes Blood - Front Row Seat to Earth ( Baroque Pop, Psychedelic Folk. Chamber Folk, Ambient Pop, Psychedelic Pop, Art Pop, Psychedelic Folk, Singer-Songwriter) - Portishead - Third (Electronic, Experimental Rock. Krautrock, Post-Industrial, Post-Rock, Trip Hop) - Anna von Hausswolff - Dead Magic (Neoclassical Darkwave. Ethereal Wave, Drone, Ambient, Experimental Rock) - Lingua Ignota - Caligula (Neoclassical Darkwave, Death Industrial. Black Noise) - Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty (Darkwave, Ethereal Wave. Gothic Rock) Saperlipopette!: - The Necks - Unfold (Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Improvisation. Post-Minimalism, Ambient) - Greg Foat - The Mage (Cool Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Soul Jazz. Jazz-Funk, Downtempo, Library Music) - black midi - Hellfire (Avant-Prog, Brutal Prog. Jazz-Rock, Art Rock, Vaudeville) - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland (Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock. Space Rock) - Sibylle Baier - Colour Green (Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary Folk) - Joni Mitchell - Hejira (Singer-Songwriter, Folk Rock. Jazz Fusion, Vocal Jazz, Progressive Folk) - Ahmad Jamal - Extensions (Cool Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz. Post-Bop) TheGazzardian: - Mamamoo - Waw (K-Pop) - Dreamcatcher (K-pop, Pop-Rock...) - Torres - Thirstier (Alternative Rock, Indie Rock. Post-Punk Revival, New Wave) - Nothing But Thieves - Moral Panic (Alternative Rock. Pop Rock, Alt-Pop) - Devin Townsend - Empath (Progressive Metal, Avant-Garde Metal. Symphonic Metal, Progressive Rock, Orchestral) - Major Parkinson - Valesa - Chapter I: Velvet Prison (Progressive Pop, Synthpop, Electropop. Synthwave, Progressive Rock, Rock Opera) Grumpyprogfan: - Polyphia - Remember That You Will Die (Math Rock, Trap [EDM]. Math Pop, Jazz Fusion, Flamenco nuevo) - Haken - Fauna (Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock. Djent) - Marco Minnemann - Their Colors Fade (Progressive Rock, Experimental Rock, Jazz Fusion, Jazz-Rock, Art Rock for his general discography) - Wippy Bonstack - 22 (Progressive Pop, Math Pop, Art Rock. Indie Rock, Progressive Rock, Art Pop) - Rascal Reporters - The Strainge Case of Steve (Avant-Prog, Zolo, Progressive Rock for the general discography) I love lots of Zolo, which I should have mentioned in comparing our worlds before as THE key word. I like to recognise the differences while finding, exploring and appreciating the similarities - Eyeless Owl - Murmurations (Progressive Rock. Canterbury Scene, Math Rock, Jazz-Rock, Avant-Prog) - Mike Keneally - The Thing That Knowledge Can't Eat (Art Rock, Progressive Pop. Progressive Rock) Stopping there at least for now cause there is so much listed and this albums approach was not a good one as it is taking me so long... I wanted to try to see if I could grok it more on my own based on the rateyourmusic genre labels to find the commonalities in regards to a pop culture (otherwise it's more vague impressions). Progressive Rock, diverse thought it is, might be seen as a kind of pop, and as a Prog community we might be seen as a pop culture. Lots of bands in PA made popular music, and it is common for bands at PA to make music that is associated with styles of pop. Of course some music included in PA is much more academic, esoteric, has less pop genre attributes and would be considered much less pop than others. And that goes for the music listed in this topic too, be it Prog or not. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: August 05 2023 at 17:54
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I have gone through about half the playlist, mostly listening as I worked, so not completely active. The Tindersticks track does not play for me and stalls out the playlist. All in and all, not a bad track, with of course, some that aren't to my tastes but that's expected. I appreciate everyone who has shared. I like being exposed to different music. Some select comments. Of Greg's tracks, I think I have heard all of these before and my favorites are Swans, Boards of Canada, and Anna von Hauswolff. From Saperlipopette, I really enjoyed the Necks track. That was the standout for me. I am already familiar with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Greg Foat and Joni stood out as well. From The Gazzardian, while not in my wheelhouse, I liked the K-pop, though I wouldn't go out and search for it out. They fit in with the playlist. I've heard both the Devin Townshend and Major Parkinson before and those are good. I agree that the recent Major Parkinson album overall doesn't hold up as well as their previous albums. Of Grumpyprogfan's selection, I have heard a good number of tracks because of posting elsewhere, which is good. I should listen to more Marco Minnemann as I do enjoy his stuff overall. The only album of his many that I have is My Sister. Enjoyed it when it came out, but haven't really listened to it much since. My favorites were the Eyeless Owl and Mike Keneally (another artist who I should listen more of - I have a few of his albums). Then with Suitkees, I enjoyed the La Theorie Des Cordes track, and you already convinced me on 4U-9525 and I had just purchased it digitally on yesterday's Bandcamp Friday. And on De Staat, I really like them. I still recall The Witch Doctor from a distant Interactive Poll. A fun sound and I liked this one. The Phil Manzanera stood out as well. Then stalled out with the Tindersticks. Must be imported whiskey. I did listen to them on the Amazon "cloud" just now. I'll have to pick up on the rest of the playlist starting with Luc Ferrari.
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Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: August 05 2023 at 20:24
Hi, It's not meant to sound bad, since I love many of those things listed. I think my thoughts were that I spend more time listening to new and different things, than things that would otherwise be better known and previously heard. The only thing that "gets me" in many of those, is how familiar some of the things done are, or not. The ones I can not relate to anything, usually, are the ones I like the best. I guess that I like the "improvisational" material a lot more than the other material, a sort of going back to the original force behind "krautrock" which was a free form that also took place in SF, and other places, but we do not have a name for it ... except, many times "psychedelic" and quite often, it is not as psychedelic as it is just simple great work of companionship within a band, and appreciation for the "moment" ... which is not mechanical, or redone, as is the case in many things that might be more pop/rock oriented. Thus, my listening is less commanded by suggestions, and more on the look out for the new experiences, that one does not know or feel, which are difficult for me, when some bands are so repetitive in their own music design ... a format, so to speak. Sort of the less format, the more "person" you can see, instead of concentrating on the mechanics that we might think make this or that better known and appreciated. At this point, more or less, for me, a lot of the music is less about the person than it is an idealistic view of the music and its design. Thus, you can see how something that is improvisation is more interesting than something that tends to repeat itself. AND, often making you believe that this is meaningful. In the "improvised" and free form material there is no telling what it means, and this is very attractive to my imagination. But, it might differ way too much depending on each persons likes and dislikes. I'm used to a lot of different things ... most of them different, not similar in idea and design. This is a by-product of having lived in a house with 40K books of Portuguese, Brazilian and Spanish Literature ... and you gotta see and understand, that almost none of them are anywhere near the other in exposition. And it is the "difference" that makes them attractive. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Octopus II
Date Posted: August 06 2023 at 00:38
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Gentle Giant Arena IQ Pendragon Galahad Big Big Train The Flower Kings
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 06 2023 at 14:16
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^^ Mosh, seems I was quite off-base in my approach to your comment of "pop culture". Never-the-less, I think there is so much variety here. I guess you already are familiar with The Necks, but Unfold (labelled as Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Improvisation. Post-Minimalism, Ambient) is one I would think you would like. ------------------------------------ General comment: It's not a requirement, but it would be great if everyone would highlight some key music (albums, tracks) from the bands/artists that they mention. I would like to add a track from each for the playlist and check it out, and it's interesting to me to see which specific music is particularly appealing to people. Gentle Giant is an old fave of mine, and I always favoured the early albums. I mentioned "The Moon is Down" as a particular favourite recently in another topic from what is I think a really great album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEUTPwgKKdI" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEUTPwgKKdI Here is the playlist for those who might have missed it. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4LJBMAZAJBGiJDTO0CoMoQz" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4LJBMAZAJBGiJDTO0CoMoQz I am tempted to offer another seven with a track from each and make an additional playlist for that. And I invite those who already listed seven to mention more. One album I was listening to a lot over this last year is Fishmans' Long Season. I had meant to include it before. I adore this: I also got more Into Natural Snow Buildings, especially with Daughter of Darkness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hiy3Qbw-oFo" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hiy3Qbw-oFo Definitely one that I have been biggest on this last year is Cocteau Twins. I really like all of its albums up to and including Leaving Las Vegas (great album), but Head Over Heels and Treasure got the most play in the past few months. Again a track I have shared several times, and yes, it is an embed, but I adore this (it's "In The Gold Dust Rush" off Head Over Heels): I also have been very into Godspeed You! Black Emperor this last year (favourite album remains Lift Your Skinny Fists, black midi, still very into Stereolab (love the albums Dots and Loops and Emperor Tomato Ketchup), Broadcast, Pram, and Air (as usual), and Uboa. And I have been very into Dead can Dance, Radiohead (really got into Kid A this last year, already loved especially A Moon Shaped Pool and OK Computer) , Bjork, and Susanne Sundfør (especially The Silicone Veil). That seven criterion seems kind of silly to me, why limit? Except that I thought we might get inundated with what I call laundry lists instead of people maybe focusing on those that have really meant the most this past year. There are dozens that have meant a huge amount to me over the past 12 months. PS. I know all of these tracks I have been sharing in this topic I have shared before in other topics, and that indicates how special they have been to me. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: August 12 2023 at 16:45
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I've been listening to Van der Graaf Generator, Peter Hammill, The Residents, and Snakefinger a lot lately, but below are more recent acquisitions that I've been listening to a lot in recent times. The tracks below are highlights from their respective albums. French TV - Mail Order Quarks iNFiNiEN - Ascent Birth - Cosmic Tears Notopia - Inspire Arachnoid - Toutes Ces Images / Segami Sec Setout Lost Crowns - Sound As Colour Nektar - A Tab In The Ocean ------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 13 2023 at 06:05
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"7 of your most listened to acts over the last year" That would not least be my last purchases which are: Universal Totem Orchestra - Mathematical Mother Voivod - Nothingface Swans - To Be Kind Aesma Daeva - The Eros of Frigid Beauty Goat - Commune De De Lind - Io Non So Da dove Vengo.... Mutantes - Tudo Foi Feito Pelo ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 13 2023 at 08:54
Many thanks Ipd and David.  Lots I knew and liked from your lists.Ipd: That French TV album was a favourite of mine and good to hear music from it again. Infinien is excllent, and very good choice. That Birth song was one of my very favourites in that Interactive Poll. I aloo enjoy to Notopia. Arachnoid is one I got very into a little befoire I joined this site. For a long time I described at as my favourite album included in Prog Archives Symph Prog category. I really love the Lost Crowns track. That Nektar I have not heard in many, many years, so nice to revisit. David: I have heard music from all those albums, and I had discovered Aesma Deva thanks to you (and it was my favourite music listed in an old topic). Of course I love To Be Kind, and I used to be very big on UTO. I'm especially enthused to see Goat's Commune on the list. In fact, I'm very in the mood for that right now and will play that again later on today. And if people want to present a second list, I think that would be great. I limited it for playlist reasons, but I missed out on ones that I feel definitely should have been there as much as any others (I do wish that playlist did not start with Helpless Child, heard it too much, and I am going to change it to another Swans track, maybe Ebbing off the newest album or "Love Will Save You" because that resonates with me particularly right now, and I would think that even a strong-worded Swans hater like Herc would find that more tolerable than sticking needles in his eyes. ;) That said, the beautiful and accessible Blind off the same album is more apt for the stick pins in eyes inclined. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: August 13 2023 at 09:30
Happy to hear that, Greg. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |