Now Playing Thread

[Manatee]

OK, I'll bite.  You want provocative, you've got it.     Genesis by a mile (or roughly 1.6 km) BUT...
Genesis had a prime period in which I consider them the best band ever, however that prime didn't last all that long.  Peter Gabriel's departure was the beginning of the end.  They did impress by putting out two excellent albums immediately after he left, then they lost Steve Hackett too.  After that, IMO, they were done with the exception of "Duke," which is very good, although certainly more pop-prog than they used to be.  There's a nice song here and there on the other albums, but overall, they disappoint me.  After a certain point, I just came to expect disappointment.  By the time "Calling All Stations" came out, I wasn't even interested, so I didn't miss it when they didn't record another.  Perhaps that's a bit harsh, but this isn't just anyone we're talking about.  It's Genesis -- I don't just hold them to a higher standard: they are the standard.

As to Yes, I've always liked them but never really loved them.  They've had a lot of line-up changes -- at one point they were sort of the prog version of the Buggles (which was kind of cool, actually).  No, I wouldn't rank Yes up with Genesis (although I'm pretty sure there's at least one of us here who will beg to differ).  Yes may have been more or less "intact" longer than Genesis was -- to be honest, I'm not sure, but for me, their best never reached the heights of Genesis' best.

NP: Joe Jackson - Live 1980/86

[Teunis]

I wonder which side you take: Yes or Genesis.

Easiest question ever .... Genesis! There's only one Yes track I can stand and hear from beginning till the end: Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Their music is making me nervous .

np: Sylvan - Sceneries

[Iggy]

Yesterday I was playing some Genesis albums again.
Man, that stuff still is fresh. It's great music and will always be.

I was also checking what albums were released in the same period and for me Genesis is the winner.
For instance, Yes, always seen as the rival of Genesis at that time, released "Tales From Topographic Oceans" around the same time "Selling England By The Pound" came out.
"Selling England..." obviously is the better one.
Same as "Relayer" and "The Lamb.." in 1974.
"Going For The One" from 1977 is nice, but Genesis released two excellent albums in 1976: "A Trick Of The Tail" And "Wind And Wuthering". I wouldn't trade any of them for that Yes album.
Of course Yes released more albums and I was recently pleasantly surprised by "Fly From Here", which is a really nice album. It's a shame that Genesis never released an album after "Calling All Stations", but I guess they remain a legend. Yes has released a lot of awful attempts in the 90's.

I admit I'm deliberately being provocative. I want to have a bit of a discussion. I wonder which side you take: Yes or Genesis.
I was soooo captured by Genesis' brilliant albums last night.

You would probably be better comparing Album no 1 Yes with Album No 1 Genesis as you seem to be missing the Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge.

With me as you may have guessed it is Yes all the way.

I have revisited Genesis though as I purchased all of their 5.1 surround mixes last year.

Genesis got a little bit wimpy once Steve Hackett left. I would agree that Genesis albums are more accessible though.

CD's have changed the way that I listen to music as with Vinyl you had to decide which side to put on, hence I was more familiar with side 1 of selling England, side 1 of Wish you were here, side 2 of Abbey Road, Side 1 of Close to the Edge but both sides of The Yes Album and Fragile.

After nearly 40 years of listening to both bands I listen to a more varied mix of Yes than I do Genesis (which is limited far more to the Gabriel stuff)  although I listened to post Gabriel Genesis for most of the 80's and 90's.

BTW if you haven't heard it Olias of Sunhillow is an awesome solo effort by Jon.

  No, I wouldn't rank Yes up with Genesis (although I'm pretty sure there's at least one of us here who will beg to differ).

Were you right? 

NP Tales from Topographic Oceans 

[Nicky007]

Played:

Anubis Gate:  Self-titled  (fifth and latest)

Adagio:  Archangels In Black

NP  Amorphis:  The Beginning Of Times

The prog community is really becoming more and more global:  A Danish, a French, and a Finnish group, and all three albums at the cutting edge and intensely gratifying 

And even the French are realising that English is the (main) language of metal 

With me as you may have guessed it is Yes all the way.

Great to see you so talky, Iggy - rare occasion 

Guess it requires an attack on one of yer main icons to get you talkin 

I'm of course with you, Iggy, no surprise here: In a comparison of Genesis and Yes, the latter comes out easily as winner: more edgy, rocky, and groundbreaking, musically and lyrically, the latter thanx to Jon, one of the greatest philosopher-musicians in rock, altho here Peter Gabriel comes close but by no means Phil Collins 

What Genesis (pre self-titled) and Yes have in common is that lyrics and music are totally integrated, equally important and equally demanding - as for any true prog group 

Particularly with Topographic, you go completely amiss if you don't dig into the lyrics. But if you do, then it's a boundless adventure. Ponder on that, Ye(s) critics 

Nicky.

[Iggy]

Great to see you so talky, Iggy - rare occasion 

Nicky.

Indeed 

[Manatee]

JP: Transatlantic - SMPT:e
     Flying Colors - Flying Colors       Some really good music in parts, parts will probably be either growers or shrinkers

NP: Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness    I'd forgotten how good this was.  It should be honorary prog.   

Were you right? 

Obviously.    You were a sure thing.  Nicky surprised me since he's said so much about the greatness of Genesis.  And I agree with Nicky's annoyingly tiny comment about Phil.  Like you, Iggy, I play mostly PG-era Genesis.  I include Trespass in my "core era" Genesis albums.  It's somewhat different from the others, but I like it a lot.  It's pre-Hackett.  Anthony Phillips is also a fantastic guitarist.  If you're in the mood for some great guitar music of the beautiful rather than hard-rocking sort, try one of his solo albums.  He's even got a song that Phil sings on, but Phil behaves himself.   

[Teunis]

Shadow Gallery - Prime Cuts
Damian Wilson - I Thought The World Was Listening

     Flying Colors - Flying Colors       Some really good music in parts, parts will probably be either growers or shrinkers

Now playing this one. Was very curious what the fuss is about, you could call it a 'hype'. Now it's on progstreaming.com. I agree with you, some fine tunes on first listening. And some 'nothing special' ones as well. Will play it again though.

[Nicky007]

Nicky surprised me since he's said so much about the greatness of Genesis.

I do consider Genesis great. They'r in my prog pantheon. I just consider Yes even greater 

And I agree with Nicky's annoyingly tiny comment about Phil.

I just don't like talking badly about people. But something impelled me to say it anyhow 


NP  Anthrax:  Worship Music

Fabulous album, best studio album they'v made imo 

Man, there's just so much great music around these days 

Nicky.

[Iggy]

Now playing this one. Was very curious what the fuss is about, you could call it a 'hype'. Now it's on progstreaming.com. I agree with you, some fine tunes on first listening. And some 'nothing special' ones as well. Will play it again though.

It is a fun CD rather than classic. The musicianship is great and the tunes are good. Something different. 

Easiest question ever .... Genesis! There's only one Yes track I can stand and hear from beginning till the end: Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Their music is making me nervous .

Yep a good description. There is nothing easy about liking Yes.  .

However it is well worth the effort. The live I get up, I get down bit of Close to the Edge is brilliant and Awaken is a fantastic track.

I understand people having issues with Jon Anderson's voice. I had the same problem with Ian Anderson for a while and the guy out of Talking Heads who I think is David Byrne.

[Nicky007]

NP  Opeth:  Deliverance  (title song)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-PaT0Bgj-Y&feature=related

Dunno what suddenly impelled me 

The last 5-minute instrumental passage on this song is absolutely spellbinding 


Next in line: Catching up a bit with The Band, on YouTube. Gotta get one or two of their albums. Just read about Levon Helms passing away, and that brought back loads of fond memories from bygone days 

Anyone else into The Band ?  Greenie ? 

Nicky.

[Bupie]

Sorry but I don't know The Band ...

PP Steve Lukather - Ever Changing Times 
    Steve Lukather - All's Well That Ends Well

I had not played those two for at least a year and playing them I remembered why Toto had been my favorite band for decades.

NP Porcupine Tree - Stars Die
I really, really like this one  I guess that the ambient side of PT is much more to my taste than their heavy side.

[Manatee]

Next in line: Catching up a bit with The Band, on YouTube. Gotta get one or two of their albums. Just read about Levon Helms passing away, and that brought back loads of fond memories from bygone days 

Anyone else into The Band ?  Greenie ? 

Nicky.

Yep, I'm into the Band.  I've got The Last Waltz, Music From Big Pink, Stage Fright, and a best of (from Ye Olde Cheapo Musick Clubbe before I realized I'd want the individual albums).  Also around here somewhere is a cassette of The Basement Tapes on which they play with Dylan.  I got to see them once, though that was after Richard Manuel killed himself. 

I hadn't heard about Levon.     He played at the Philly folk festival I was at last summer.


NP: The Band - This Wheel's on Fire (from Music From Big Pink) as I hoist an iced tea in memory of Levon Helm.  (still morning here)

[Teunis]

I understand people having issues with Jon Anderson's voice.

That's not the point, for me at least. I like the 'Jon & Vangelis' stuff. It's the music in combination with the way he sings, don't know really, but yuk, it won't even click when I'm playing it years in a row .

I had not played those two for at least a year and playing them I remembered why Toto had been my favorite band for decades.

Here's another person with Toto being his favorite band  .

today in the car to and from work: Toto - Kingdom Of Desire

Flying Colors - Flying Colors

[Manatee]

NP: Anathema - Eternity

I really like this album.  Gets better every time I play it.  Maybe I'll burn a CD that just alternates Arena's "Ascension" with Anathema's "Ascension" over and over again until I run out of space.   

I was reflecting on Anathema and what makes them a prog band.  Seems to me it boils down to something very basic: they progress.  Of course, there's an aspect of that that we have to accept, which won't always please us: sometimes a band will keep experimenting with their style until they reach just the right place to appeal to one's taste, and then, they keep right on going past that point to someplace one doesn't enjoy as much.  That's what's happened with Anathema for me.  I very much like where they landed when they phased out doom metal but perhaps still had something of the outlook from their earlier style.  Then, they gradually became what one reviewer called "very life affirming."  The newest albums are pretty music, but they lack the bittersweet edge that I prize from their middle period.  I can certainly understand why some people adore the new stuff and can't wait for more, but I think my favorites from this band have probably already been recorded.

[funkster]

Backspacer by Pearl Jam which is a change from the full on thrash i have been listening to recently.

[Bupie]

Lee Abraham - Black & White

[Nicky007]

Yep, I'm into the Band.  I've got The Last Waltz, Music From Big Pink, Stage Fright

I'm thinking about getting Stage Fright. That's the one that I think I liked best in the olden days. I'l probably get another one too at some point. Greenie, which are your faves with The Band ?

Richard Manuel killed himself. 

I read about that ten years ago. Sad 

It's the music in combination with the way he sings, don't know really, but yuk, it won't even click when I'm playing it years in a row .

Teunis, I can understand such an attitude re the early Yes albums, up to Going For The One. But from Going to Fly From Here, there's so much melody and wonderful passages in their music that I'd think that any rock music lover will be enraptured now and then while listening to it 

Fly with Fly, I'd say. It's really wonderful 


NP  Yes:  Topographic

First time from beginning to end without any breaks. Read the extensive liner notes and lyrics too once more 

But admittedly for the advanced Yessie 

Nicky.

[Teunis]

Teunis, I can understand such an attitude re the early Yes albums, up to Going For The One. But from Going to Fly From Here, there's so much melody and wonderful passages in their music that I'd think that any rock music lover will be enraptured now and then while listening to it 

Fly with Fly, I'd say. It's really wonderful 

Frankly speaking I've given up on this band . But okay, it's you. Do you have a (YouTube) link to a track I must be enthusiastic about? 

Today:
IQ - Frequency
Anathema - Weather Systems

np: InVertigo - Veritas (German neoprog on progstreaming.com. Not bad at all, but nothing shocking ).

[maddox]

Enochian Theory ~ Life ... And all it Entails

[Manatee]

I'm thinking about getting Stage Fright. That's the one that I think I liked best in the olden days. I'l probably get another one too at some point. Greenie, which are your faves with The Band ?

The Last Waltz is the one I play the most.  It's a double live recording of their farewell* concert, and it has a number of guests, including Dylan for several songs.  A lot of their best songs are on it, and I think the whole thing has a little more energy than the studio recordings.  Of the studios, maybe Music From Big Pink.  It's kind of a coin toss, but I'm particularly partial to "This Wheel's on Fire," which it includes.

*As with so many older bands, it turned out not to be farewell forever. 


Last night, I browsed a lot, including checking out several more Mars Volta songs from De-Loused on YouTube.  Think they are growers.

Also:

Van Der Graaf Generator - Godbluff     *click*    earphones help a lot with this band
Opeth - Deliverance    *semi-click*    I can't really say I didn't mind all the growl, but I was able to appreciate the music around it more.
InVertigo - Veritas    I agree with Teunis on this one.  Pleasant enough, but I don't think there's much that's special to find in it.

[PH]

I'm thinking about getting Stage Fright.

Well, best not get into The Band then. They probably end up kicking you out again as soon as touring starts.

[Nicky007]

But okay, it's you.

Teunis

Do you have a (YouTube) link to a track I must be enthusiastic about? 

OK, let's take a nice track from their most recent studio album Fly From Here, cool (and nervewracking) video too:

Fly From Here - Part I - We Can Fly   www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJwXLCnBKs&ob=av2e


and from The Ladder (Magnification didnt grip me that much), nice photoseries here:

It Will Be A Good Day (The River)   www.youtube.com/watch?v=PreNtCKgI0A


and from Talk. In this live recording you can see (a chubby) Jon on vocals, Chris on bass, Alan on drums, all oldies in Yes, Tony Kaye on keys (early Yes too), and the amazing Trevor Rabin, who, one can say, defined the sound of Yes for more than a decade, 1982–1994 (and was the main composer of the song Owner Of A Lonely Heart) :

I Am Waiting   www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOB-t2Et5uM


Teunis, I'm sure that when you (and others) have played these videos thru, your opinion(s) on Yes will have changed 

Well, best not get into The Band then. They probably end up kicking you out again as soon as touring starts.

Iac if I see you in the audience, Paxi. I'l wanna get out before the bomb explodes 

The Last Waltz is the one I play the most.

Yeah, I'l have to get that one. Thanx for the recom, Greenie 

Think they are growers

I can't really say I didn't mind all the growl

I detect a development 


NP  Subsignal:  Beautiful & Monstrous

Wonderful album 

This one we can really share, Teunis 

Nicky.

[funkster]

Gojira - the way of all flesh

[Teunis]

Teunis, I'm sure that when you (and others) have played these videos thru, your opinion(s) on Yes will have changed 

We'll see, or better: hear. Will check them out tomorrow .

NP  Subsignal:  Beautiful & Monstrous

Wonderful album 

This one we can really share, Teunis 

And you can't go wrong with their just released album 'Touchstones' either  .

Today:
Knight Area - Under A New Sign
Wolverine - Still
np: The Lens - Regeneration

[maddox]

Genesis or Yes?

Easy question for me.
In the music-scene there are two singers who just don't do nothing for me. Jon Anderson and Geddy Lee.
While I think music-wise Rush is almost excellent music, Yes is not really my thing although some albums are actually quite good.
Ironically most of these few albums are with Trevor Rabin, with the exception of Close to the Edge, Drama and Fly from Here.
I'm still trying to plunge myself into Yes but with variable succes.
Luckily I was able to buy up a few albums that I don't have from Yes for a very reasonable price (twelve albums for just 35 euro's ) but I'm still trying to 'understand' Yes.

Genesis however is a different story.
After I first heard Mama I was convinced that this was an exceptional band and along with bands like Pink Floyd, Yes and Marillion, I thought at that time that they were the top notch, the dinosaurs of symphonic rock, as I mistakenly called this music.
Later on I got aquintet with King Crimson, who in my opinion are more suitable to be in that Dinosaurs-list than Marillion (no offence, great band but not where it all began) but Genesis, especially the Gabriel-era is undeniably awesome!
After Peter parted Genesis, the band had some good albums with Phil on vox but with variable succes, for I'm concerned.
Albums like A Trick of the Tail, Wind and Wuthering are stunning albums, followed by somewhat lesser albums like Abacab and Duke (though the latter has better moments than Abacab) but what I dislike to some extend is that they tried to create albums that were more and more mainstream.
I still think that that's a shame.

But overall I think that Genesis is a far better band than Yes, especially with all these line-up changes they've done in the past.

NP> Marillion ~ Happines on the Road