WTF? Surprising, incongruous tracks f/ Prog bands
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Topic: WTF? Surprising, incongruous tracks f/ Prog bands
Posted By: Logan
Subject: WTF? Surprising, incongruous tracks f/ Prog bands
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 12:19
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"Stink so good. Come on baby let it stink so good. Sometimes prog don't feel like it should. They make it stink so good [or just plain bad]" (John Mellonscramped). Not sure if this has been done before, but try to mention the most incongruous track from a prog band or prog artist off of one of their albums (studio album preferably) -- the one that you think is the least representative of their work, and preferably baffles, amuses, or surprises you that they would have released such a thing. Bonus points if the song is a real turkey, and not a successful, particularly speaking as a prog-lover, stab at another style. Please mention the album it's off too. Please try to search for a media sample so that you can share it with those that don't know it, and we can all revel in the WTF?itude. Additionally, if you can, when making your choice (and hopefully, if possible, providing media content), please comment on one of the other choices as that will aid discussion. I shared it not long ago, but I'll start with this opening track from Magma's Merci album: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6remm_01-magma-call-from-the-dark-ooh-ooh_music - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6remm_01-magma-call-from-the-dark-ooh-ooh_music Incidentally, this is not intended as a hate topic, but more for amusement, bad entertainment, befuddlement yadda yadda. Bring an open mind, but you might want ear-plugs. EDIT: I'm not really sure that this is the best forum for such a topic, so feel free to move wherever this topic is thought to fit best. ------------- "Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself" (The Prisoner, 1967). |
Replies:
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 13:05
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Good post. I'm sure there are many, but the one that has always stuck in my craw is Genesis Whodunnit from Abacab. Quite the most unrepresentative piece of tosh I have ever seen or heard. I hated it then, and I hate it now, and I speak as a huge fan of both eras of the band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XJ3kXUBIAQ is the link in all its glorious unglory.  ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 14:56
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Haha. Nice one, lazland! That's a good bad pick for the topic. The lyrics are sheer poetry. Incidentally, I actually find it kind of fun, and perversely enjoy the performance. ------------- "Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself" (The Prisoner, 1967). |
Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 15:11
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Although it wasn't on an album and quite obviously done for fun, The King Crimson Barber Shop comes to mind. It's available as a bonus track on the reissue of Three Of A Perfect Pair. I like it though  !! |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 15:28
That's priceless.  Thanks Stooge. I hadn't heard it. I like it too! Lovely. It certainly put a smile on my face.------------- "Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself" (The Prisoner, 1967). |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 16:13
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I love Whodunnit...always have, always will. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: KingCrimson250
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 18:03
| I always think of Dream Theater's Another Day being a bit of a surprising track for me. It has a very strong adult contemporary vibe, I think, which is a bit incongruent |
Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 18:35
Same here. Makes you wonder what direction the band would've went had this been the more popular single (instead of Pull Me Under).  |
KingCrimson250 wrote:Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 19:04
Love Whodunnit....
Worst prog incongruity........................hmmmm Mike Oldfield's Earth Moving
or most ELP post BSS ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 19:20
Seconded, Whodunnit was the first thing that came to my mind as well and frankly, I was glad that it was posted so quickly. I'm also a fan of every album except "From Genesis to Relevation" and have always thought Whodunnit was awful. I've never liked "The Quiet Man" by Dream Theater off of Awake. Neven thought it was remotely proggy. ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 19:32
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Lightning Strikes off of The Ladder by Yes is one horrible tune that is really shocking and embarrasing IMO. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 20:36
| I am sure there are hundreds, but the only one I can remember now is "Down on the Farm" by Camel (or, more accurately, by Richard Sinclair) - a track many people hate, but which I find oddly infectious. Indeed, it does sound much more like one of the quirkiest items on Caravan's back catalogue than like anything Camel ever did. |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 22:35
You beat me to my main choice in the original post, though I'm sure it's the most deserving of being mentioned...definitely Magma's only chance of being in a corny 80s movie though. Other mentions...the last few Gentle Giant albums, in general.  Man do they give up nearly everything I like about the band.------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 12:10
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^ I think Magma's has all of these beat in terms of sheer badness combined with incongruity (course the focus is not badness but incongruity). I was searching youtube for a particularly bad turd off Giant Turd for a Day yesterday. I'm liking the choices. Pablo: I'm quite enjoying this live version of "Lightning Strikes". Raff: Oh, yes, very definitely a Caravan-style song than Camel that Sinclair wrote. Suffice to say, I like it. It's got that lovely Caravan whimsical charm. Shame that so many people don't enjoy it. I might have expected that Sinclair did write it during his Caravan days but it was not used, ------------- "Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself" (The Prisoner, 1967). |
Posted By: DJPuffyLemon
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 12:25
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well camel and caravan sound very similar at points so it shouldn't be too surprising. and actually, the song mentioned sounds very much like something from Nude...minus the vocals. also i love lightning strikes as for my contribution, i can't think of anything at the moment. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 19:48
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I'm going to chime in as one of the defenders of Whodunnit. I do think it is hands down the silliest songs they've done. Now Misunderstanding, that one I'd kick to the curb.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 04:02
| The whole album Tormato by Yes. Coming immediately after GFTO, which has great songs like "Turn of the Century," "Parallels," and the forever classic "Awaken," it just makes you shake your head and say: "WTF were they thinking?!?" |
Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 04:08
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Sorry, but I can't agree here. Tormato was hardly stellar, but the only track that represented a real break from what Yes had been doing up to that point was Circus of Heaven, which is my first nomination. The title track for Going for the One is my second suggestion. It was completely different from anything that Yes had done before and nothing they have done since really approaches it either (except maybe for Don't Kill the Whale in spots.) ------------- 
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Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 06:04
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how about the title track of VdGG's "Aerosol Grey Machine"?
-------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 07:25
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I'm amazed nobody mentioned More Fool Me yet
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Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 17:47
-------------
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Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 17:49
Nah! Harlequin suits Nursery Cryme perfectly, while More Fool Me doesn't fit SEBTP at all, while not necessary a bad song. |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 18:09
The song "east river" on The Brecker Brothers' otherwise briliant 'heavy metal be bop'.
 ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: St.Cleve Chronicle
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 07:34
Great to see I'm not the only one! That one is just awesome in it's ugliness. |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 09:00
 ). I know there was a practical reason for it and all (played live, gave Gabriel a rest and room for costume change, plus there were fans of Collins' voice even early on), but as a kid just kicking along listening to great Genesis records and knowing the music only through the vinyl, yes I thought it was incongruous. -------------  Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: KingCrimson250
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 10:22
More Fool Me was possibly Genesis' greatest moment of brilliance. Because the vinyl had to be stopped and flipped over halfway through, this gave album listeners a sort of intermission - a chance to go to the bathroom, grab another drink or comment on what they've already heard, all without having to miss any of the music. CDs, obviously, do not have this feature, however in a stroke of uncanny genius, Genesis managed to predict this situtation and include More Fool Me just before the end of side 1. Now those of us who are from the CD generation can also enjoy the aforementioned intermission while this song plays. I also disagree about Harlequin. There isn't anything surprising or incongruous about it. It may not be the band's shining moment, but it does work pretty well on Nursery Cryme. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 10:23
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^Agreed! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 10:35
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Sorry, what was that?, I was in the bathroom. Good one KC250.
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Posted By: -Radioswim-
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 00:47
I was actually going to say Down on the Farm... it's off one of my favorite albums (aside from that song obviously) 'Breathless', which doesn't get much praise from my fellow droogies. It's just a Timless listen for me, After so many years, it's still consistantly listened to by me. Featuring also my most beloved Camel track "ECHOES" :D ------------- 
Dust in the Kitchen |
Posted By: -Radioswim-
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 00:52
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I have to mention the ending of 'Lucy had a Dream' (about 20 or so seconds) off "Paradox Hotel" by Flower Kings. At the end of this completely moodey, unfunny song, here it cuts to a recording of a parody commercial that was made for Delta Airlines. To me it was just a small cut that turned into a scar on what is otherwise a magnificant album. -------------
Dust in the Kitchen |
Posted By: -Radioswim-
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 00:56
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BALETED!!! -------------
Dust in the Kitchen |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 07:24
!! Whew, now that is hilarious, to me anyway. Come to think of it, skip "to me anyway." Anyone want to defend it (the track, not Magma)? Can anyone top it? Not I. ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: -Radioswim-
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 09:44
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Off "On the Sunday of Life" the song Linton Samual Dawson...
If I could find a link for you all I would give you, but I dont. Let me just say, even now as I'm looking at words telling me that Steve Wilson wrote this song, I still can't believe it... his worst song in history. -------------
Dust in the Kitchen |
Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 10:47
Lots of talk about Down on the Farm, which in all its weirdness I really like, but how about Remote Romance from I Can See Your House From Here?  That's the most obvious choice from any band that I can think of. Perhaps it's an outtake from the first ever Depeche Mode rehearsal that somehow got mixed on a Camel album, I don't know.------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA! 
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Posted By: -Radioswim-
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 14:01
Oh! I almost forgot about that song. That beats them all. Completely ugly. -------------
Dust in the Kitchen |
Posted By: The Pessimist
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 15:45
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There are two very incongruous tracks by Meshuggah off their True Human Design EP called Friends Breaking and Entering and Quant's Quantastical Quantasm. They aren't even metal, but a type of electronic music.
------------- "Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg |
Posted By: A Person
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 00:30
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Am I the only one that feels that Cat Food is out of place on In the Wake of Poseidon? Golf Girl from Caravan seems to misrepresent the rest of the record, so does Love to Love You although I love that song for some reason. |
Posted By: dver
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 16:08
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Im absolutely amazed noone even mentioned Invisble Touch or Owner of a Lonely Heart yet, Those songs have the most proggy lyrics and weirdest time sigs ever ! ever! |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 17:33
------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 18:49
I like that song! It's catchy!  |