"Lucky Man" is probably the song that epitomises, more than any other, what I dislike about ELP.
Yup, these are three of the most obvious bands that I can think of
Don't know of H17, but I know someday, I will have to investigate early Human League and Ultravox, becauseI may be in for a surprise, like I was for another electro-pop/synth/new wave band called Spilt Enz...
In all four cases, I can't hate their early stuff worse than their "classic period" stuff..
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
Sorry but I have to disagree. Tank takes 6:40 of time, and Palmer's drum solo was 1:10 of the song, which is 17% of the total song. Moonchild, however, was 12:15 in length, of which 9:54 (79%) was ambient noodling. Anxiously waiting for them to return to the "song," only to listen to it fizzle out.
I think I understand textures, ambience and improvisation rather well. For me, this is noodling. Palmer's minute long drum solo is at least entertaining, rather than boring like most drum solos. As for Lucky Man (from another post), that was an add-on, true, but it was pleasing, a welcome respite from the energy of the rest of the album, and a pioneering use of the Moog...
Amazing how the very mention of ELP brings the daggers out in some...
Ian Beabout
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That's fair. It'll always come down to whether or not an improv "works" for you or not. To me, the "Moonchild" improvs (the vibes followed by the handdrums/guitar/bells) definitely enhance the tune into something completely different, and positively so I'd say.
BTW, there was a French trio called Pataphonie whose first album contains only two lengthy, almost silent pieces, both sounding like a strange continuation of the "Moonchild" improv parts - until relistens prove one third of it to be very carefully arranged textures. Taking in that album actually rendered the "Moonchild" piece more enjoyable than to begin with.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Can't think of anyone whose later work I prefer! Leonard Cohen, maybe. 'I'm Your Man' is a masterpiece, 'The Future' isn't far behind.
I'd agree, and I'm not mad about all the rambling organ stuff on 'The Three Fates' either- the last part with the ensemble playing is very good, but individual showboating I can never be doing with. This was a debut album and they were obviously short on material then, though.
'Moonchild' has grown on me over the years...particularly after thinking there was something 'wrong' about that chopped-down one on Steven Wilson's version!
Last edited by JJ88; 06-12-2014 at 04:38 AM.
Agree. When i think of King Crimson's improvs, however, I think of Fracture and Starless and Bible Black, Asbury Park and other great improvs on The Great Deceiver. I actually categorize Moonchild as ambient music as a genre. it fits well with Fripp and Eno's Equatorial Stars and other ambient works, which is fine for me. When I was 14, however, all I could say was WTF?!?
fracture is composed.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
[QUOTE=cavgator;265556]Well, Mo, considering on another thread, the debut was the only album you liked by them, I suppose I got mixed signals...
I guess "mixed signals" is appropriate given...Originally Posted by mogrooves
....but I'd insist that "daggers" is disproportionate to the relatively mild criticisms rendered.
Hell, they ain't even old-timey ! - Homer Stokes
^^ I think it's possible to love Revolver and Sgt Pepper and not the white album or Abbey Road. I am proof of that.
But you didn't see them on Ed Sullivan when you were 5-6 years old. I know, it's become a cliche, but it is the absolute truth. Our lives were changed the first time we saw them. Factor in that we saw them on film that same year. A Hard Day's Night really made an impact on us. AHDN is probably my favorite Beatles album (at least from the pre-psychedelic era). There are no cover versions on AHDN, all original songs. No question about it for me, I say without hesitation that I have always preferred the early stuff more than Pepper and everything that followed.
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