Dense Non-Prog Records That Are Their Own Little Worlds

[offwithyerhat]

Thinking of stuff like Van Dyke Parks' "Song Cycle."

Just recently stumbled onto Richard Harris/Jimmy Webb's "The Yard Went On Forever..." and does a similar thing! Big orchestrations, slightly avant-garde, just "slightly off" songs.



What are some of your go-to's?

[pb2015]

Some in a similar vein:

The Neon Philharmonic - The Moth Confesses
Randy Newman - s/t
David Ackles - any of his albums, especially American Gothic
Jack Nitzsche - his self titled album from 1974 (available as part of a Rhino Handmade release)

[Progbear]

Todd Rundgren: A Wizard/A True Star
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: Love’s a Prima Donna
Kate Bush: Hounds of Love
Jane Siberry: The Walking

[Monet]

Scott Walker's "The Drift" certainly fits the bill.



"Clara" (from "The Drift", 2006)









edit: Oh and from the same year, Joanna Newsom's album "Ys" has also to be mentioned!


"Only Skin" (from "Ys", 2006)

[Mascodagama]

We're in over-obvious territory here, but Astral Weeks.

In somewhat different vein, Paddy McAloon / Prefab Sprout's I Trawl the Megahertz.

[neuroticdog]

]In somewhat different vein, Paddy McAloon / Prefab Sprout's I Trawl the Megahertz.

Good callout for Paddy McAloon. I have this but it needs a revisit...I hardly remember it.

...but, as long as you are talking about PS, I think Jordan the Comeback would fit into this dense/own world category.

best
Michael

[thedunno]

Just about any XTC album

[Zeuhlmate]

Kaddish (Towering Inferno album)

Kaddish is a 1993 concept album by English experimental music group Towering Inferno. It reflects on the Holocaust and includes East European folk singing, Rabbinical chants, klezmer fiddling, sampled voices (including Hitler's), heavy metal guitar and industrial synthesizer.[1][2] Brian Eno described it as "the most frightening record I have ever heard".[3] Kaddish was Towering Inferno's debut album. It was released on their own TI Records in 1993, and then globally by Island Records in 1995.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaddis...Inferno_album)

[Mister Triscuits]

We're in over-obvious territory here, but Astral Weeks.

And Forever Changes.

[JKL2000]

Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds
Judge Smith - Curley’s Airships

…for better or worse.

[Digital_Man]

The artists that popped into my head were Brian Wilson and David Axlerod.

[pb2015]

Neil Young's s/t album is another one in the late 60's style most of the posts have mentioned.

[bill g]

Young Dreams - S/T, definitely

[Rick L.]

My Great Uncle Greg plays cello on Song Cycle (and other bad ass albums). Cool record.

Some obvious choices would be Pet Sounds and Smile as well as Curris Mayfield's Superfly.

Of newer bands, I recommend Haed of Femur. Especially their second album Hysterical Stars.

https://youtu.be/aNjaElFdQgc

https://youtu.be/KHFv2C24anw

OK. Bye.

[offwithyerhat]

Yes to (basically) any Prefab Sprout. "I Trawl The Megahertz" hits in a similar way to Robert Ashley's "Private Parts," for obvious reasons.

I'm blown away by that Jack Nietzsche s/t record! No idea how I hadn't heard about it, despite it being unreleased etc etc. doesn't stop me usually! Thanks for the tip.

Also really digging this Steve Harley record—pretty weird and fun. Feels like "A Wizard a True Star" (another great callout). Maybe another good one in that same vein: "Too Rye Ay" by Dexy's. My fav track:

Also god, YES: Randy Newman's first record, produced by VDP. Love all this stuff. Keep it coming!

[Shadow]

Harry Nilsson - The Point
Shel Silverstein - Freaking At The Freakers Ball

[Monet]

I think that "The Original Soundtrack" is an album that fits this thread not only because of "Une nuit à Paris". As a virtuoso sound collage, it's their most wacky record.



10cc "Une nuit à Paris" (from "The Original Soundtrack", 1975)

[Progbear]

Also really digging this Steve Harley record—pretty weird and fun. Feels like "A Wizard a True Star" (another great callout).

That was how it came to my attention: a review that mentioned that Harley was specifically inspired by Todd to make this album.

[ThomasKDye]

Roger Glover's The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast?

[iguana]

FAITHLESS: “no roots”. a "misplaced childhood" for the noughties.

and, just about every album by THE TUBES.

[Progbear]

Skin Diver by Nona Hendryx, a collaboration with Peter Baumann of Tangerine Dream, and probably the only “New Age R&B” album in existence (prove me wrong, folks!).

[Monet]

After their separation from the band, the "better half" of 10cc continued to make challenging to more experimental side of Art Rock, with a knack for superb melodies and arrangement. Thus, Laurence Neil "Lol" Creme and Kevin Godley, in the middle of Punk hysteria, have released a triple-LP concept album titled "Consequences". In the strictly musical sense, the variety of styles stand out; also, they very often use the "Gizmo", an effect device for guitars that creates a very peculiar sound.
Well, I've heard many of weird Art Rock albums in my life, and although I'm not saying "Consequences" is the weirdest one, it's certainly up there.



Godley & Creme "The Flood" (from "Consequences", 1977)











Godley & Creme "When Things Go Wrong" (from "Consequences", 1977)

[noisynoise]

Pat Metheny - Secret Story


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[noisynoise]

After their separation from the band, the "better half" of 10cc continued to make challenging to more experimental side of Art Rock, with a knack for superb melodies and arrangement. Thus, Laurence Neil "Lol" Creme and Kevin Godley, in the middle of Punk hysteria, have released a triple-LP concept album titled "Consequences". In the strictly musical sense, the variety of styles stand out; also, they very often use the "Gizmo", an effect device for guitars that creates a very peculiar sound.
Well, I've heard many of weird Art Rock albums in my life, and although I'm not saying "Consequences" is the weirdest one, it's certainly up there.



Godley & Creme "The Flood" (from "Consequences", 1977)











Godley & Creme "When Things Go Wrong" (from "Consequences", 1977)

Love this album, although I know many don’t.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[offwithyerhat]

After their separation from the band, the "better half" of 10cc continued to make challenging to more experimental side of Art Rock, with a knack for superb melodies and arrangement. Thus, Laurence Neil "Lol" Creme and Kevin Godley, in the middle of Punk hysteria, have released a triple-LP concept album titled "Consequences". In the strictly musical sense, the variety of styles stand out; also, they very often use the "Gizmo", an effect device for guitars that creates a very peculiar sound.
Well, I've heard many of weird Art Rock albums in my life, and although I'm not saying "Consequences" is the weirdest one, it's certainly up there.



Godley & Creme "The Flood" (from "Consequences", 1977)











Godley & Creme "When Things Go Wrong" (from "Consequences", 1977)

REALLY loving this. Thanks for the rec. Very fun and involved!