Any Gentle Giant fans out there? Several things about this band appeal to me greatly. They did their music on their terms. This meant commercial suicide, of course, but they left us with some incredible music to listen to. Several extremely talented musicians, who swapped instruments during the course of their shows. They wrote and played extremely complicated music, with elements of rock/jazz/classical/Celtic. They played electric guitars, acoustic, cellos, violins, keyboards, drums, xylophones, recorders, etc. I so loved their song Peel the Paint I named my blog after it. Here they are doing excerpts from what many consider their best album, Octopus:
Gentle Giant Octopus Features 1975 Long Beach (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLPA7F7SRx8#)
Quote from: Illoman on February 07, 2012, 11:06:57 PM
Any Gentle Giant fans out there?
YES! I love the first album, Acquiring the Taste, The Power & The Glory, and Free Hand. Octopus was my first of their albums and that's the one I usually hear is people's favorite, but to me, it didn't work as well as a cohesive album. The songs were too different from each other...which, I think, is exactly why so many of their fans like it. I don't think it's a bad album, just not my favorite.
Quote from: Illoman on February 07, 2012, 11:06:57 PM
...They did their music on their terms. This meant commercial suicide, of course, but they left us with some incredible music to listen to...
I agree that they did their music on their terms except for the last three albums (The Missing Piece, Giant for a Day & Civilian) which seem to be trying to grab that same commercial success that Genesis was experiencing at the time. I actually like a couple of songs on The Missing Piece and Civilian is a pretty good album, but Giant for a Day wasn't my thing. I think the real commercial suicide was releasing those last three records.
Quote from: MrZero on February 11, 2012, 05:53:35 PM
YES! I love the first album, Acquiring the Taste, The Power & The Glory, and Free Hand. Octopus was my first of their albums and that's the one I usually hear is people's favorite, but to me, it didn't work as well as a cohesive album. The songs were too different from each other...which, I think, is exactly why so many of their fans like it. I don't think it's a bad album, just not my favorite.
I agree that they did their music on their terms except for the last three albums (The Missing Piece, Giant for a Day & Civilian) which seem to be trying to grab that same commercial success that Genesis was experiencing at the time. I actually like a couple of songs on The Missing Piece and Civilian is a pretty good album, but Giant for a Day wasn't my thing. I think the real commercial suicide was releasing those last three records.
MrZero, the way i understand it was the record company was pushing them into "pop" music territory. They wanted a return on their investment, i.e. a hit single. Being a business I can understand this, but Giant was never a "singles" band. They made wonderful, complicated music that is a pure joy to listen to.
As far as favorite albums, yes, Octopus is one as well as In A Glass House, Free Hand and the Power and the Glory. Their dvd's are incredible to watch!
Oh, I didn't know that the label pushed them into recording more commercial music on those last three albums. That would make sense though. I've never seen any of the DVDs, but I think I have most of that footage on old VHS bootlegs.
I listened to some of their early stuff - like fans say - they are an acquired taste... but, man, can they play!!
Quote from: Unknown Primate on February 11, 2012, 07:39:50 PM
I listened to some of their early stuff - like fans say - they are an acquired taste... but, man, can they play!!
UP, you got that right!! It was not uncommon for each member to play three to four different instruments at each show!!! They have a great song called So Sincere, where at the end all five members are playing drums, then xylophones, then back to drums!!!
Gentle Giant - So sincere (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIaG8a9ACYY#)
8)
Okay, I'm dating myself here, but back in the early 80's I wanted to be a fantasy paperback book cover artist REAL bad. I tried to combine my love of music and fantasy art, and this came out:
(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc311/illoman/PeelthePaint1.jpg)
It's about 2'x3' oils on masonite. It was painted in 1983. Sigh....
Just saw this over on Enlistee's Art Gallery and immediately thought, GENTLE GIANT! You caught the GG vibe perfectly! Now that I think about it, I've been craving some new music - need to get me a GG cd or two!