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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Gentle Giant appreciation
« on: November 13, 2010, 10:29:33 AM »
*appreciates*  :hefdaddy

The best vocal harmonies in rock IMHO. I'll rank their albums(Interview and before):
1. Free Hand 10/10
2. In A Glass House 9/10
3. Octopus 9/10
4. Three Friends 8.5/10
5. s/t 8/10
6. Acquiring the Taste 8/10
7. The Power And The Glory 7/10
8. Interview 6/10
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Offline LudwigVan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2010, 03:02:50 PM »
Appreciates.  It took me awhile though.. so quirky and almost geeky-sounding, the definition of 'inaccessible prog'.   I have all the albums on your list.  My favorites are In A Glass House and Octopus, but quite honestly, I haven't even digested it all.
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Offline jsem

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2010, 03:32:48 PM »
I haven't gone through it all, but from what I've heard of gentle giant... I appriciate.
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Offline dethklok09

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2010, 03:37:08 PM »
Quote from: jsem on November 13, 2010, 03:32:48 PM
I haven't gone through it all, but from what I've heard of gentle giant... I appriciate.
this
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2010, 11:03:45 PM »
Quote from: LudwigVan on November 13, 2010, 03:02:50 PM
Appreciates.  It took me awhile though.. so quirky and almost geeky-sounding, the definition of 'inaccessible prog'.   I have all the albums on your list.  My favorites are In A Glass House and Octopus, but quite honestly, I haven't even digested it all.
Yeah, they sure are a hard to digest band. But once you digest it, it's quite amazing.
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Offline splent

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2010, 11:09:08 PM »
I'm in a gentle giant tribute band.  We haven't practiced in months, and performed in almost a year, because our schedules are all so super busy and the demand just isn't there in the economy.  We do have a few videos on youtube.
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2010, 11:11:37 PM »
Quote from: Splent on November 13, 2010, 11:09:08 PM
I'm in a gentle giant tribute band.  We haven't practiced in months, and performed in almost a year, because our schedules are all so super busy and the demand just isn't there in the economy.  We do have a few videos on youtube.
Nice. :) Can I get a link to the channel?
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Offline splent

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2010, 11:39:38 PM »
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Offline The Letter M

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2010, 11:43:51 PM »
I have wanted to get into this band for YEARS now, knowing what a great influence they are on one of my favorite bands ever, Spock's Beard.

Which TWO albums would you suggest to me, as a newcomer to their music with little to know expectations about their sound? I've seen titles like Octopus and In A Glass House thrown around a lot, but I want a couple more suggestions from others before making any commitments. GG is one of the few classic-era prog bands I've yet to digest (along with VDGG, Caravan, and Camel).

-Marc.
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2010, 09:56:28 AM »
Quote from: The Letter M on November 13, 2010, 11:43:51 PM
I have wanted to get into this band for YEARS now, knowing what a great influence they are on one of my favorite bands ever, Spock's Beard.

Which TWO albums would you suggest to me, as a newcomer to their music with little to know expectations about their sound? I've seen titles like Octopus and In A Glass House thrown around a lot, but I want a couple more suggestions from others before making any commitments. GG is one of the few classic-era prog bands I've yet to digest (along with VDGG, Caravan, and Camel).

-Marc.
Personally, if you're starting out, I'd avoid In A Glass House, The Power and the Glory, and Free Hand. Their sort of style is a lot more present in the albums before. To start out, I'd probably go with Octopus and Three Friends, but that's my opinion.
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Offline Mladen

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2010, 10:52:20 AM »
Go by discography.  :tup
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Offline The Letter M

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2010, 11:00:38 AM »
Quote from: Mladen on November 14, 2010, 10:52:20 AM
Go by discography.  :tup

I've thought about that, considering they only have less than a dozen studio albums, but when I first try to get into a band, I got for two of the more well-known, widely-accept and most critically acclaimed albums... then again, I got VdGG's Godbluff and Still Life before Pawn Hearts and H to He, Who Am The Only One...

-Marc.
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Offline Mladen

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2010, 12:08:32 PM »
I usually go by discography because that way you can really experience the development and change in their sound. If you listen to my advice, do not give up if you don't like their first album.  ;D But then again, if you really want to start with one of their better known works, most people will tell you to go with Octopus, even though I'm not a huge fan of that one...
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Offline The Letter M

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2010, 10:09:47 PM »
Quote from: Mladen on November 14, 2010, 12:08:32 PM
I usually go by discography because that way you can really experience the development and change in their sound. If you listen to my advice, do not give up if you don't like their first album.  ;D But then again, if you really want to start with one of their better known works, most people will tell you to go with Octopus, even though I'm not a huge fan of that one...

It's funny, I started with Dream Theater's first album, and found out not long after that that was the only album with their original vocalist, so I pushed forward and discovered more about them, so I know all about hearing less-than-spectacular debuts - I've come not to expect so much when it comes to debuts of older bands.

-Marc.
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Offline Nekov

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2011, 01:07:38 PM »
So, I was about to start a thread but I found this old one. Hope nobody minds I want to appreciate Gentle Giant. They are such a great band. And their live performances are just crazy. The musicianship these guys have is very unique.

APPRECIATE!
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #15 on: January 10, 2011, 01:33:33 PM »
Quote from: Nekov on January 10, 2011, 01:07:38 PM
So, I was about to start a thread but I found this old one. Hope nobody minds I want to appreciate Gentle Giant. They are such a great band. And their live performances are just crazy. The musicianship these guys have is very unique.

APPRECIATE!
Indeed. There will never be another band like them. :tup
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Offline Orbert

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #16 on: January 10, 2011, 01:58:59 PM »
I started with Free Hand and the live album from that tour, Playing the Fool.  Between those two, I was absolutely hooked and ended up getting the entire discography. 

What's especially cool is hearing the differences between the studio and live versions of songs.  They rearranged things, took parts out, and added other parts, because they were constantly messing around with the songs.  They view live albums as a document of how they played the songs at that particular point in time.

I always recommend Free Hand as a starting point because it has all the GG trademarks, but is also relatively accessible and has some killer tunes.
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Offline rumborak

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #17 on: January 10, 2011, 02:14:28 PM »
GG for me hit the right mark of hardcore prog without being pretentious. Van der Graaf Generator never (IMHO) managed that fine line,  they often came across as "trying too hard".

rumborak
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #18 on: January 10, 2011, 02:34:14 PM »
Quote from: rumborak on January 10, 2011, 02:14:28 PM
GG for me hit the right mark of hardcore prog without being pretentious. Van der Graaf Generator never (IMHO) managed that fine line,  they often came across as "trying too hard".

Yeah that's understandable. They are pretty in-your-face. :P
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Offline rumborak

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #19 on: January 11, 2011, 11:03:27 AM »
Man, listening to Pantagruel's Nativity. Such a cool song.

rumborak
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Offline ScioPath

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #20 on: January 11, 2011, 04:16:59 PM »
Heard Octopus, fell in love, heard the debut, fell in love again, bought entire discography.
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Offline darkshade

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #21 on: January 11, 2011, 04:37:05 PM »
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on November 14, 2010, 09:56:28 AM
Quote from: The Letter M on November 13, 2010, 11:43:51 PM
I have wanted to get into this band for YEARS now, knowing what a great influence they are on one of my favorite bands ever, Spock's Beard.

Which TWO albums would you suggest to me, as a newcomer to their music with little to know expectations about their sound? I've seen titles like Octopus and In A Glass House thrown around a lot, but I want a couple more suggestions from others before making any commitments. GG is one of the few classic-era prog bands I've yet to digest (along with VDGG, Caravan, and Camel).

-Marc.
Personally, if you're starting out, I'd avoid In A Glass House, The Power and the Glory, and Free Hand. Their sort of style is a lot more present in the albums before. To start out, I'd probably go with Octopus and Three Friends, but that's my opinion.

i started with Free hand and fell in love with the band, so idk what you're talking about

EDIT: Octopus, TPaTG, and IAGH are my favorites, the rest of the albums are great too, though i could never get into the debut as much as the others
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #22 on: January 11, 2011, 04:38:31 PM »
Quote from: darkshade on January 11, 2011, 04:37:05 PM
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on November 14, 2010, 09:56:28 AM
Quote from: The Letter M on November 13, 2010, 11:43:51 PM
I have wanted to get into this band for YEARS now, knowing what a great influence they are on one of my favorite bands ever, Spock's Beard.

Which TWO albums would you suggest to me, as a newcomer to their music with little to know expectations about their sound? I've seen titles like Octopus and In A Glass House thrown around a lot, but I want a couple more suggestions from others before making any commitments. GG is one of the few classic-era prog bands I've yet to digest (along with VDGG, Caravan, and Camel).

-Marc.
Personally, if you're starting out, I'd avoid In A Glass House, The Power and the Glory, and Free Hand. Their sort of style is a lot more present in the albums before. To start out, I'd probably go with Octopus and Three Friends, but that's my opinion.

i started with Free hand and fell in love with the band, so idk what you're talking about
Yeah, actually Free Hand probably wouldn't be that bad. The other two, though...
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Offline snapple

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #23 on: October 15, 2011, 03:53:31 PM »
I am bumping this thread because Gentle Giant has become one of my favorite bands. They are truly fantastic and I love all of their music. Too bad they're not around anymore and there isn't much more live videos. I wanted to see the song Giant live :(
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Offline Pols Voice

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #24 on: October 15, 2011, 04:17:27 PM »
Pantagruel's Nativity and The Advent of Panurge are such kickass songs. :hefdaddy

I liked Gentle Giant right off the bat, and I started with the debut!
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Offline snapple

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #25 on: October 15, 2011, 04:23:53 PM »
Quote from: Pols Voice on October 15, 2011, 04:17:27 PM
Pantagruel's Nativity and The Advent of Panurge are such kickass songs. :hefdaddy

I liked Gentle Giant right off the bat, and I started with the debut!

The Advent of Panurge is pure musical genius. From beginning to end it has me rocking my head and my mind is literally cumming every half second. ATT still leaves me acquiring. I love it, but compared to Gentle Giant-Free Hand, it has been the weakest link. I do like Interview. But you can tell that the first 6 or so albums were the absolute best.
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Offline Pols Voice

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #26 on: October 15, 2011, 04:27:41 PM »
I love Acquiring the Taste, but it is pretty weird...even weirder than usual for GG, I guess. The guitar solo in The House, The Street, The Room is one of my favorite GG moments.
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Offline snapple

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #27 on: October 15, 2011, 04:30:34 PM »
I think Yankee Doodle in every Advent of Panurge performance live has to be one of the coolest things ever.
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Offline Orbert

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #28 on: October 15, 2011, 07:43:06 PM »
Quote from: snapple on October 15, 2011, 03:53:31 PM
Too bad they're not around anymore and there isn't much more live videos. I wanted to see the song Giant live :(

If you're in the Chicago area, try to see Gende's Giant, the GG tribute band some time.  That's their opening song, and they sound great.  Splent is their singer, so as  a bonus, you get a chance to meet a fellow DTFer.
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Offline GentleTheater

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #29 on: October 15, 2011, 07:45:21 PM »
who would believe me now that my hands are free, that my hands are free~
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Offline Nekov

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #30 on: October 16, 2011, 06:35:29 AM »
I recently started going through their discography again. Octopus rocks!!  :metal
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Offline snapple

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #31 on: October 16, 2011, 08:07:34 AM »
Quote from: Orbert on October 15, 2011, 07:43:06 PM
Quote from: snapple on October 15, 2011, 03:53:31 PM
Too bad they're not around anymore and there isn't much more live videos. I wanted to see the song Giant live :(

If you're in the Chicago area, try to see Gende's Giant, the GG tribute band some time.  That's their opening song, and they sound great.  Splent is their singer, so as  a bonus, you get a chance to meet a fellow DTFer.

I have family in the Chicago area, so I'll have to visit  ;D

And Octopus is probably my favorite. Think of Me With Kindness is a masterpiece. And of-fucking-course Knots.
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #32 on: October 16, 2011, 10:40:48 AM »
Quote from: GentleTheater on October 15, 2011, 07:45:21 PM
who would believe me now that my hands are free, that my hands are free~
Love that song. It's so catchy it's insane.
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Offline snapple

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #33 on: October 16, 2011, 10:42:23 AM »
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on October 16, 2011, 10:40:48 AM
Quote from: GentleTheater on October 15, 2011, 07:45:21 PM
who would believe me now that my hands are free, that my hands are free~
Love that song. It's so catchy it's insane.

I think Just the Same is catchier.

See me, what I am, what I was, what I'll be :)
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Gentle Giant appreciation
« Reply #34 on: October 16, 2011, 10:52:19 AM »
Gentle Giant is just a catchy band in general. Amazing how they can be so complex yet so catchy at the same time. The second half of In a Glass House especially. The riff is one bar of 7/8, one of 10/8, and one of 12/8 and repeats that yet it's so amazingly catchy, as are the vocals over top.
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