Zander's Hair Thread 2.0: Also controversial musical opinions

[MasterShakezula]

Peter Gabriel's solo stuff is better than any old-school prog band (including PG Genesis) excluding Rush.

I've only heard So, so I can't compare PG's discography to my favorites like Yes and KC, but I like it more than the Genesis albums I've heard. 

Rush's fans need to stop idolizing the 70s output of the band and realize that the synth era is really fucking good.

Oh, god, fuck yes! 

Most new prog bands (read: most Inside Out bands) need to stop emulating Genesis/Yes/ELP.  It sounds dated and cheesy, and the keyboards are the worst part.  At some point they have to notice the most popular and beloved ones don't do that stuff and blaze their own trail.

The same thing goes for new prog metal bands and Dream Theater/Queensryche.

Yes and yes. 

[The King in Crimson]

I agree with you about Decon, Gadough :O

Neon Bible is Arcade Fire's best album.

Peter Gabriel's solo stuff is better than any old-school prog band (including PG Genesis) excluding Rush.

Rush's fans need to stop idolizing the 70s output of the band and realize that the synth era is really fucking good.

Gojira is really fun for a few songs, but on FMTS (the only album I have so far) the songs seem to run together after a while.

H-era Marillion is way better than Fish-era and would not be around after the early 90s had they stuck with their proto-Genesis sound.

Most new prog bands (read: most Inside Out bands) need to stop emulating Genesis/Yes/ELP.  It sounds dated and cheesy, and the keyboards are the worst part.  At some point they have to notice the most popular and beloved ones don't do that stuff and blaze their own trail.

The same thing goes for new prog metal bands and Dream Theater/Queensryche.

Early Fates Warning is unlistenable for me. 

Ki by the DTP is one of the coolest albums I've ever heard.  There's nothing out there quite like it.  Its also one of the heaviest albums I've ever heard.  I could rant about it for 5 pages, but I won't.

The White Album is pretty meh overall. 

Concept albums include "thematic albums," rock operas, and albums with a narrative, and people shouldn't be so anal about terminology.

A concept album, however, is NOT an album with one long song and then a bunch of unrelated songs.  Every critical mention of 2112 ever, you are on notice.

I object, none of this is really that controversial.

[Zantera]

I think this is pretty controversial, but Grace For Drowning is one of my favorite SW-albums (all projects included), maybe even number one. I just love it from start to finish really. "Deform to Form a Star" is one of the best songs he has written, "Raider II" is epic, "Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye" is beautiful, and add to that other amazing songs like "Index", "Postcard" etc.

[Jirpo]

I agree, its probably my fave SW related album though FOABP is close. My favourite songs are probably No Part of Me and Index.

[ReaperKK]

I think this is pretty controversial, but Grace For Drowning is one of my favorite SW-albums (all projects included), maybe even number one. I just love it from start to finish really. "Deform to Form a Star" is one of the best songs he has written, "Raider II" is epic, "Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye" is beautiful, and add to that other amazing songs like "Index", "Postcard" etc.

This I can't understand, I mean GfD is good but largely forgettable. IMO SW has done much better work, anyway if you like it that's what matters.

[WindMaster]

I agree with your definition of the concept album, ninja.

[Sigz]

Most new prog bands (read: most Inside Out bands) need to stop emulating Genesis/Yes/ELP.  It sounds dated and cheesy, and the keyboards are the worst part.  At some point they have to notice the most popular and beloved ones don't do that stuff and blaze their own trail.

THIS

[Nick]

A concept album, however, is NOT an album with one long song and then a bunch of unrelated songs.  Every critical mention of 2112 ever, you are on notice.

people shouldn't be so anal about terminology.

[skydivingninja]

Except the difference is between an album (like 2112 or Aqualung) that clearly isn't a concept album, compared to albums that could conceivably be called concept albums (Sgt Pepper, DSOTM, or Power Windows, for example) that I think is a pretty clear boundary of when the term "concept album" can be used or not (i.e. the story/theme/concept runs through the whole album).  If there's a set line in when something can be called a concept album or not, that seems to be the best and most literal definition IMO.  2112 was just mentioned because every article about Rush ever calls it a concept album when, in Ian Anderson's words, "a few songs does not a concept album make."  Also, trying to split up concept album discussion into "rock operas," "thematic albums," etc. is when things get anal and unnecessary.  You can refer to certain albums as such, sure, but there's no need to call Tommy a "rock opera" INSTEAD of a concept album, if that makes sense.  That's what my whole bullet point there was referring to.

Also, its pretty ironic that you're probably the one person on this board who is/was the biggest stick in the mud about that kind of terminology on this forum and you're calling me out. 

[Nick]

No doubt I'm anal about it, no question. But you are being anal about it in a different way, and even though I agree with that point it's still inconsistent to say people shouldn't be sticklers and then have your own sticking point.

[Ħ]

I think this is pretty controversial, but Grace For Drowning is one of my favorite SW-albums (all projects included), maybe even number one. I just love it from start to finish really. "Deform to Form a Star" is one of the best songs he has written, "Raider II" is epic, "Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye" is beautiful, and add to that other amazing songs like "Index", "Postcard" etc.

For casual fans of PT, that's probably controversial, but most SW fanboys really like it.

[Sigz]

I like it, but it's not among his best releases overall.

[Heretic]

No way is GfD anywhere close to FOABP, Deadwing, or In Absentia. Deform to Form a Star is one of his best songs ever, but the majority of the album is good, not great, at least in my opinion.

[skydivingninja]

No doubt I'm anal about it, no question. But you are being anal about it in a different way, and even though I agree with that point it's still inconsistent to say people shouldn't be sticklers and then have your own sticking point.

The difference is I didn't put up a sticky thread to make an internet forum try to abide by my definitions.   

But really, its just a little pet peeve of mine ( Its like saying Awake is a concept album because of AMBI), and I'll continue to be marginally annoyed by it, but content with my knowledge that half of an album does not equal a whole concept album and that Ian Anderson (creator of one of the best non-concept albums and one of the best concept albums ever) agrees with me. 

[PuffyPat]

I've got nothing against Arcade Fire.  I've got Funeral lying around on my computer, but I've not really bothered listening past the first four songs.  That's more me having a short attention span than anything else; the songs I've heard are good.  I remember back when I did a roulette, someone sent in a tune off of Neon Bible, and thinking about it, I could see myself really digging its 80s U2/Springsteen type vibe.

That said, I prefer Vampire Weekend.  

People are entitled to their own opinions, but this is just...

I thought The Suburbs was a good album, but I haven't been able to get into anything before that.

They're overrated as all fuck, but Arcade Fire are one of the few Indie Rock bands that can make an entire albums worth of songs that don't put me to sleep.

Also, The Suburbs is their best album.

People who say the Arcade Fire are overrated really piss me off. They aren't overrated at all. All of they're music is high quality. Better than pretty much anything else that I listen to.

[Sigz]

I dunno, I've listened to The Suburbs multiple times, and I just don't get it. There was simply nothing interesting about the music *shrug*

[Ravenheart]

The more I listen to Sigh, the more I'm convinced that they're the best thing that ever has and ever will happen to avant-garde metal.

Not sure if that's controversial, but come at me.

[Sigz]

Not really, they're fucking amazing.

[Ravenheart]

[PuffyPat]

I dunno, I've listened to The Suburbs multiple times, and I just don't get it. There was simply nothing interesting about the music *shrug*

I guess they're just not for you. There are bands that other people feel the way that I do about Arcade Fire and I can't see why, so I have an idea where you're coming from. If that makes any sense.

[Zantera]

The more I listen to Sigh, the more I'm convinced that they're the best thing that ever has and ever will happen to avant-garde metal.

Not sure if that's controversial, but come at me.

They're really good, though I've only heard In Somniphobia. However, I wouldn't go as far as your statement. I'd probably say that DIR EN GREY are my favorite Avant-Garde Metal band. (Uroboros and DUM SPIRO SPERO ftw) There is some other awesome Avant-Garde as well, but I don't count neither Kayo Dot or Maudlin as metal though, they both have some metal elements (maudlin more than Kayo) but still more avant-garde than metal.

[pain of occupation]

here's the controversial GraceForDrowning opinion:

GFD could easily be porcupine tree material. each song on the album probably has a similar counterpart that can be found in the ptree discography, or at least sections of songs.

[Jirpo]

here's the controversial GraceForDrowning opinion:

GFD could easily be porcupine tree material. each song on the album probably has a similar counterpart that can be found in the ptree discography, or at least sections of songs.

Care to show the counterparts?

[Big Hath]

here's the controversial GraceForDrowning opinion:

GFD could easily be porcupine tree material. each song on the album probably has a similar counterpart that can be found in the ptree discography, or at least sections of songs.

Care to show the counterparts?

here you go

[Zook]

EVH's solo in BEAT IT is pretty mediocre.

[BlobVanDam]

EVH's solo in Bad is pretty mediocre.

Your opinion is wrong.








No really, it's factually wrong.

[Zook]

Your face is factually wrong.

[BlobVanDam]

I thought we agreed you wouldn't bring that up again.

And I was actually being serious, not just disagreeing with you.

[Zook]

Subjective!

[BlobVanDam]

Well no, it's pretty objective, as he didn't even have a solo in that song. You can figure out the rest.

[Zook]

Oh balls, you knew I meant Beat It.

[BlobVanDam]

Yes, I did, although it's hard to take your opinion seriously when you can't even get the name of the song correct (or even a song on the same album).

[Zook]

Well... Well I was JOKING THE WHOLE TIME ANYWAY!

Yeah.

[BlobVanDam]

I don't think EVH actually likes that solo. I think it was basically his first take of noodling, and he didn't intend for it to be the finished solo. I love the solo, but it even sounds like a first take. But it still sounds like an EVH first take, which still makes it awesome!

[Zook]

My store played the song the other day and I made sure to pay attention to the solo and it just sounded like random nonsense like he didn't really give a fuck. I think you're right about it being a first take wam bam thank you ma'am. Glad you like the solo, but me thinks it's crap.