Think back -- Your Top 3 from Gentle Giant

[MasterCylinder]

The House, The Street, The Room

On Reflection

So Sincere

[Rae]

"Think of Me With Kindness" x3!

~Rae

[3LB]

never got into these guys

[MasterCylinder]

never got into these guys

I can understand -- another one of those prog-fusion-bands that can go from brilliant to boring in 10 seconds........but I love what Gentle Giant wrote on the inside of their second album, 1971's "Acquiring The Taste": "It is our goal to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of being very unpopular."
That pretty much sums up this band, never achieving big commercial success in their 10 years together but not really caring either, as long as they made great music, and on their own terms. And, at times, they did.
BTW, I got to see them live in 1976 and thought their concert was outstanding.

[Rae]

Ah, that quote comes off as kind of preemptively hedging and a little arrogant to me-- sort of the "you can't fire me, I quit!" argument (they're not the only ones guilty of that sentiment; I thought the same thing when I recently read a similar statement from Glenn Branca-- whom I have a high opinion of-- saying "I'd sell out if I could only find someone who's buying"). It seems like the annals of rock history have relegated Gentle Giant to "very forgotten" status more than "very unpopular"... and I actually like 'em!

~Rae

[MasterCylinder]

Ah, that quote comes off as kind of preemptively hedging and a little arrogant to me-- sort of the "you can't fire me, I quit!" argument (they're not the only ones guilty of that sentiment; I thought the same thing when I recently read a similar statement from Glenn Branca-- whom I have a high opinion of-- saying "I'd sell out if I could only find someone who's buying"). It seems like the annals of rock history have relegated Gentle Giant to "very forgotten" status more than "very unpopular"... and I actually like 'em!

~Rae

Maybe I should have provided the entire quote.............

"...It is our goal to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of being very unpopular. We have recorded each composition with the one thought - that it should be unique, adventurous and fascinating. It has taken every shred of our combined musical and technical knowledge to achieve this. From the outset we have abandoned all preconceived thoughts of blatant commercialism. Instead we hope to give you something far more substantial and fulfilling. All you need to do is sit back, and acquire the taste."

[Rae]

Ahh, I still think the same thing.

"Our music is important, and if the masses don't get it, that's their fault maaaan."

But it makes me smile nonetheless. The hubris of youth!

~Rae

[3LB]

I think its their Canterbury style that I find a tad tiresome. Caravan is another much beloved prog band that I can listen to only two or three songs for the same reason.

[bobsticks]

Maybe I should have provided the entire quote.............

"...It is our goal to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of being very unpopular. We have recorded each composition with the one thought - that it should be unique, adventurous and fascinating. It has taken every shred of our combined musical and technical knowledge to achieve this. From the outset we have abandoned all preconceived thoughts of blatant commercialism. Instead we hope to give you something far more substantial and fulfilling. All you need to do is sit back, and acquire the taste."


What a bunch of sanctimonious drivel.

I remember the band having a tight rhythm section capable of some wet-bag-of-noodles experimentation but, c'mon, writing vocal lines that are a step off the major key, flatted, and don't end on the tonic is hardly "substantial" or "fulfilling". It's an endeavor specifically designed to be caustic and dissonant, a mathematical exercise. They didn't reinvent the wheel.

[MasterCylinder]

They didn't reinvent the wheel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With that, there is no disagreement.
The same is true of every musician since J. S. Bach.

[bobsticks]

They didn't reinvent the wheel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With that, there is no disagreement.
The same is true of every musician since J. S. Bach.

Absolutely.

And that's not to say that nobody since old Johann has been relevant or even that these guys didn't have talent of a sort---it's just that purposely creating sounds that work mathematically well enough to just avoid sounding like nine chickens on crack and claiming to pioneer uncharted territory is the height of ...well, something.

[Rae]

it's just that purposely creating sounds that work mathematically well enough to just avoid sounding like nine chickens on crack and claiming to pioneer uncharted territory is the height of ...well, something.


youthful hubris

Can we get back to how awesome Gentle Giant is when they are succeeding, though? I'm sure you've got three songs you can stick in this thread!

~Rae

[MasterCylinder]

Absolutely.

And that's not to say that nobody since old Johann has been relevant or even that these guys didn't have talent of a sort---it's just that purposely creating sounds that work mathematically well enough to just avoid sounding like nine chickens on crack and claiming to pioneer uncharted territory is the height of ...well, something.

Again sticks, no disagreement...............I post these threads to try to generate discussion and I enjoy your input.

[bobsticks]

Can we get back to how awesome Gentle Giant is when they are succeeding, though? I'm sure you've got three songs you can stick in this thread!

~Rae

Rae, I lol'd...literally...very nice.

"Proclamation"

"Memories of Old Days"

the first minute or so of "In A Glass House"

...all selections contingent on the circumstance that I'm in a mood that day to say words like "kernoodle" or "kerfluff" or phrases like "vagabond wandering" or "Needs more MOOG"

[dean_martin]

"Needs more MOOG"

or Therimin, or Hammond B3, but certainly not cowbell. But I don't know this band.

[Rael Imperial Aerosol Kid]

I'm Turning Around
I lost my head
Memories of Old Days

Great band that I haven't listened to in far too long.