Bracket: Remember The Future vs Recycled

**strawberrybrick** · 03-20-2017

**Scrotum Scissor** · 03-20-2017

RtF contains better themes and even wins for the disco tune on side 2 alone. It never fails to get my breasts swingin' around while I dance and tote my umbrella drink.

I never warmed to side 1 of Recycled, but the flip is great fun. "Moses" or wuzzizname was always my single fave song of theirs. Some disco on that album too, IIRC. Been a while since I pulled this one out; I tend to prefer their rawer earlier space-rock/heavy progressive stuff the most - Tab and such. Blistering guitars galores all over, of course.

Solid band, this.

**strawberrybrick** · 03-20-2017

For me, and I'm sure I'm the outlier here, but Down To Earth is hands down my favorite by the band.

**miamiscot** · 03-20-2017

Remember The Future!!! (Recycled and A Tab In The Ocean are close behind.)

**Scrotum Scissor** · 03-20-2017

Originally Posted by strawberrybrick

I'm the outlier here, but Down To Earth is hands down my favorite

That's interesting, because I always felt this to be their single most underrated disc as well... From the "classic" era, that is. I once had a lengthy talk on this topic with some dudes at a Prog festival here in Oslo, where it suddenly occurred to me that the main reason for DtE being held in somewhat less regard was simply and exclusively that it contains "songs" rather than purported "works". Which is all the more telling, seeing as their longer structures were usually basically merely medleys anyway (albeit awesome ones!), rather than integrally arranged, unified pieces. I'd certainly agree that the "song form" actually fit them quite well and that DtE indeed has some of their most compellingly melodic material.

**Sturgeon's Lawyer** · 03-20-2017

Gotta go with Recycled, one of the few albums that has consistently worked for me for over 40 years.

**moecurlythanu** · 03-20-2017

Originally Posted by strawberrybrick

For me, and I'm sure I'm the outlier here, but Down To Earth is hands down my favorite by the band.

Yeah, that's definitely an outlier viewpoint. I bought that album back in the 80s, and it was the first Nektar album I bought. Put me off checking out their other work for years.

**kenschwartz** · 03-20-2017

oh, good god, this is a tough call - restricting my comments to the 2 disks in the title not the rest of their output.

so, RtF is better, in my opinion. but i *like* recycled better since i can't help but give this album the credit as *the* album that made me a prog fan.

how's that for staying on the fence?

**Camelogue** · 03-20-2017

Remember the Future.

Where is the whole bracket?

Was there play in games (contests)?

**moecurlythanu** · 03-20-2017

Originally Posted by Camelogue

Was there play in games (contests)?

There were, but they were all non-Prog-Rock albums, and were easily dispatched by the high seeds.

**bobert** · 03-20-2017

Remember The Future is my favorite album by Nektar , it was my introduction to the band and I love it , but... I think Recycled is the better album .

**Jubal** · 03-20-2017

Originally Posted by strawberrybrick

For me, and I'm sure I'm the outlier here, but Down To Earth is hands down my favorite by the band.

You're one of them. I'm probably the other one. At one time, Remember The Future was my fave. But over time, Down To Earth has taken over. Recycled is one of my least favorites.

**Jerjo** · 03-20-2017

Remember the Future (but A Tab in the Ocean is their definitive work).

**hightea** · 03-20-2017

RTF

**Supersonic Scientist** · 03-20-2017

RtF...or...Recycled????........I have to flip a coin. It's THAT close for me...................as the other poster stated: A Tab in the Ocean is their definitive work.

For the Statistician who is keeping score, please give a point to each side.

**Casey** · 03-20-2017

RtF.

However.... when Recycled was released, I thought that this band was finally going to make it big time.

**flowerking** · 03-20-2017

RTF by far.

**Progbear** · 03-20-2017

Recycled. It actually took a while for RTF to grow on me, but I loved Recycled immediately. Love both of ’em now, but still love Recycled more.

**ronmac** · 03-20-2017

A Tab in the Ocean.

**ronmac** · 03-20-2017

Seriously, though, it is a tough call. One of my favorite bands. I love every release. But, my fave is Tab. I would probably give the edge to Recycled. Larry Fast brings it to a different level.

I actually like RTF part 2 better than part 1. I think the melodies are better. Either way, a magnificent piece.

I also love "...Sounds Like This." A bit rough around the edges. Playing like a very hungry band at the time.

Best part of Nektar is that every release is different. A vastly underrated (or, at least, under-appreciated) pioneer of Progressive Music.

The thing that really hurt them was releasing DTE after RTF, when they already had Recycled in the can. People got hooked on RTF and expected longer pieces and got a "songs" album. (Mick, please correct me if I'm wrong.) But, I think if they saved DTE until after Recycled, they could have benefited.

Then Roye quit not much later.

**chalkpie** · 03-20-2017

Do I get a yellow or red card for never hearing Recycled?

**SteveSly** · 03-20-2017

Tough one……I love both albums, but would probably have to give “Remember The Future” the nod.

**markowitz** · 03-21-2017

RTF and Tab were my introduction to Nektar. I do like Recycled, but the second part of RTF hits it right on the spot for me.

I don't hear much disco although there is what I would call funk in the second part (Let it Grow). I could see some people thinking the second side of Recycled has disco sounding parts though. I think Larry Fast makes Recycled a close competitor to RTF. Great arrangements on both.

The lyrics of both albums are particularly strong but I think RTF beats out.

Easier to compare these two than to DTE since these are more epic suites.

Like a lot of Nektar heads have already said, each album is so different from the other and this befuddles a lot of the critics and categorizers but I loved them for it.