Are you saying that you like Music From Another Dimension? If so, I do too. I just haven't played it in a while cause I got more new cds.Originally Posted by Prehensile Pencil
Are you saying that you like Music From Another Dimension? If so, I do too. I just haven't played it in a while cause I got more new cds.
I feel the same way. My only grip is that they should've ditched the Billy Bob Thorton song. I like it, but I just wanted a few more Larry songs.
Thomas Dolby's Map of the Floating City was possibly the best album of 2011. And it's probably his best album ever.
There are artists out there who are still very interesting. Most, however, are not.
Here are some thoughts.
1. Why aren't my favorite bands as good as they were?
Because they aren't. You'll have to get over it. Yes's Fly From Here was adequate, but it's no Close to the Edge. Why? Well, because these guys have already given their best. It's that simple. Go write a song yourself. Then write another one. And another. And another. At one point, there's an end. I like Yes, even nowadays, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect them to do what they did back in 1972. The thing is not to lament their current form, but to embrace what they already achieved.
2. Why do people want just the old stuff?
They don't. The old stuff is just what they know, and if they like the band, that's what they'll be going for. But I know of very few progressive rock fans who aren't willing to listen to new material. There'll be a caveat, though: the new stuff should be good, too. In general, it very often isn't. See 1.
3. Why are all the old bands repeating themselves?
Hasn't that been answered yet? Because they think it sells. Because that's always worked for them. Because they've run out of ideas. All these things, I suspect. It's also because they never realized why exactly their successful stuff was, actually, successful - as such, it's a formula they can blindly repeat, but not reinvent. And, of course, rule 2 sets in: they repeat themselves because that's what their fans seem to want. A bit of a vicious circle, really.
There have always been bands that continue to change. King Crimson was one of the best examples. Nowadays, Van der Graaf Generator springs to mind. And there have always been bands that simply continue to be interesting on more or less the same footing, such as Magma. By and large, though, you can't reasonably expect a band to be both what it was in, say, the 70's, and different now, and equally good in both eras.
"Audiences want the well-known songs and don't want new albums,", the OP said. I don't think that's true at all. I think they'll settle for the old, just because the new isn't all that great.
In the end, it's why music progresses.
Last edited by Andrathion; 12-07-2012 at 12:45 AM.
I've only Echoes by Pink Floyd to judge their final release but apart from High Hopes it seems pretty poor material. Genesis' Calling All Stations would perhaps have been far more successful had it been released now as it seems more like modern day Marillion and It Bites as well as Porcupine Tree circa Lightbulb Sun. Yes recent release sounded better than anything they've done in a long while.
Nothing will ever beat The Golden Age of Wireless for me, but I'll definitely put MotFC at #2.
Progtopia is a podcast devoted to interviewing progressive rock, metal, and electronic artists from the past and present, featuring their songs and exclusive interviews. Artists interviewed on the show have included Steve Hackett, Sound of Contact, Larry Fast, Circus Maximus, Anubis Gate, Spock's Beard, and many more. http://progtopia.podomatic.com See you in a land called Progtopia!
Well, the latest album by Bap, a group I bought the first albums in the 80's, is better (more mature) than the old albums I have on vinyl.
Heinz Rudolf Kunze is an artist I just discovered a few years ago and his latest stuff is at least as good as his early stuff.
I have to admit, both artists are not prog.
Darktown is just effin amazing!!!!!!!
The album sounds like an incredibly overused formula to create stale progressive rock where cliches abound and originality is devoid. If others want to hear more Yes, the more power to you. I'll would likely buy a new release out of blind loyality and play it once or twice and then leave it in the collection.
There are lots of examples, already mentioned, where older bands release stellar material. King Crimson and TPtB is the best example.
Last edited by mozo-pg; 12-08-2012 at 01:11 PM.
Don't you mean gripe and not grip?
Well, as ever, different people have different tastes because I can think of many far better examples than the decline of Crimson's last few albums!
Henry
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
The dB's, Falling Off The Sky
Little Feat, Rooster Rag
Bonnie Raitt, Slipsteam
Joe Walsh, Analog Man
Heart, Fanatic
Dead Can Dance, Anastasis
Focus, X
Mickey Dolenz, Remember
Donald Fagen, Sunken Condos
Alvin Lee, Still On The Road To Freedom
Leonard Cohen, Old Ideas
Oregon, Family Tree
Dr. John, Locked Down
America, Back Pages
Glen Campbell, Ghost On The Canvas
Booker T. Jones, The Road From Memphis
Paul Simon, So Beautiful or So What
Robbie Robertson, How To Become Clairvoyant
Uriah Heep, Into The Wild
The Smithereens, 2011
To name a few from the past couple of years
I saw Ian Hunter last night in Toronto. What a great performance! The voice is in terrific shape and the songs off of When I'm President were excellent, especially the title track. It was nice to see someone who feels compelled to perform for the love of it. It was really small venue, Lee's Palace, maybe 500 enthusiastic people. I'm buying the new album next week.
Don't know how I forgot Ian!
Used to listen to Styx up until Kilroy. Went to their site, and much to my surprise, they are still touring. Don't know about recording. The sad thing is that their band page doesn't mention Dennis DeYoung. They may hate him but at least acknowledge his existence. He did write most of your songs.
Anyway, back to the original thread, some of the old guys can still bring it. Just don't expect them to match their career best and you are good to go. Some that I find their new releases enjoyable are, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, Doobie Brothers, David Gilmour (another one please), Peter Gabriel. Elton John as released a handful of very good albums since 2000 with another coming in February. Yes FFH was OK. Tangerine dream has some very good tracks scattered among the half dozen releases they make EACH year!
FFH is not bad. Nothing new, of course, kind of crossover album for them. Like a mix of Yes with Asia. Not bad, but not great either.
How is it?
Latest radio interview with Geoff Downes confirms Yes recording next year.
Henry
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
Fish's "13th Star". The album is several years old by now but it's his most recent studio album.
Really good, and he dared to build a concept album around his struggle with Alzheimer's. The version of Guided by Voices "Hold On Hope" will choke you up...Parts are still quite uplifting, though.
Poignant, moving... sad to realize it's his last
The title track written by one Paul Westerberg
Yes.
I'll believe that when I hear it. It seemed like FFH came out a long time after Yes announced that they wanted to record a new album. Wasn't it stated in several interviews that was the purpose of hiring Benoit? Of course, many things(like the Asia Omega album and tour, and Chris's leg surgery) got in the way.
David was hired initially to tour and I don't recall the band saying otherwise. There was vague talk of doing an album at some point for some time, but serious work towards a new album began In late 2009, with writing through 2010, and then into the studio late 2010.
The question now is where are we in that cycle? I'd guess we're at the equivalent of autumn 2010, which would imply a release in autumn 2013.
Henry
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks