One more time for the M. Traveller -- with You Tube emphasis...I expect more
One more time for the M. Traveller -- with You Tube emphasis...I expect more
I second the Second Wind suggestion. It's proggy pop, some of it...
Yeah, I really liked a lot of Second Wind.
But then, I like almost everything Todd has done, so...
Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?
To me, the thing about Utopia (pre- and post-Ra) was that they didn't really sound like anyone else at the time. For that matter, there aren't any bands I can think of now who sound like them either.
Their records weren't always consistent, but every single one of them had material on it that I've enjoyed quite a lot of the years. Even the much maligned Oops! Wrong Planet has some great songs, IMO.
Rtf for sure
Why the hate for musicmagic
A different album for rtf but some damn tasty fender Rhodes work
I've been on a Utopia binge for the past week or so and I just gotta say...
what the heck happened to them after that first album!?!?!
That fist album is such an amazing work of Prog. Freak Parade, Utopia, The Ikon... WOW
it's a huge step down to Another Live and then another big step down to Ra. Is there any reason as to why they abandoned those long Prog Fusion style compositions in favor of the shorter song structure? I dont figure anyone knows for sure, so I guess the question is rhetorical
Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?
The lineup changed a few times between the first Utopia record and Ra. I think when the lineup solidified and it was down to the four guys — Rundgren, Sulton, Powell, and Wilcox — they played more to their strengths. They all wrote their own songs, and they all had to sing. But they didn’t just go “completely pop” either. There were still weird elements even if the songs were shorter and more direct. Listen to a song like “Back On The Street” from Oops Wrong Planet, for example.
From my perspective, they never fully abandoned the artistic approach. They made art-pop/rock music through their own filter, with their own idiosyncrasies, and no one else really sounded like them IMO.
Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?
Since it was 1977, probably Utopia. RTF had lost half the band by Jan. 77 (both Al Di Meola and Lenny White left) and Musicmagic was inferior to 1976's splendid Romantic Warrior.
"And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision."
Occasional musical musings on https://darkelffile.blogspot.com/
If we were in 1977 it would be a real dilemma.
But today (I think both bands are still touring in a form or another) It would all depends on your (personal) definition of what prog is. RTF was never considered as a "prog" band but jazz-rock/fusion with some prog elements scattered here and there (mainly in Romantic Warrior). Today they are all old very accomplished jazz musicians but don't expect any "prog" (and even less rock) in their current repertoire. If you don't like (or are not receptive to) virtuosistic Jazz better to pass...
TR's Utopia produced one (and a half) album which is closer to the (usually accepted) "prog" definition and their music was more experimental and adventurous (TR's signature). I have no idea about the current musicians line-up and what repertoire they play today but this looks a much more interesting (but risky) option to me, though the musicians probably don't have the pedigree and technical abilities of RTF.
Take the Clean and safe or risky way ? The choice is yours...
Last edited by Mr.Krautman; 09-18-2018 at 04:27 PM.
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