Mellotronists

MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums  - (With my commentary)

40.  Aphrodite's Child - 666
39.  Once Again - BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
38.  Phaedra - TANGERINE DREAM (Wow... This wasn't their best, was it?)
37.  In Search Of The Lost Chord - MOODY BLUES (Ya but what about TOCCC ?)
36.  Dance Of The Lemmings - AMON DUUL II
35.  Flying Teapot - GONG
34.  Hatfield And The North - HATFIELD AND THE NORTH
33.  All Together Now - ARGENT (ya, Hold Your Head High)
32.  Moontan - GOLDEN ERRING (ya, Radar Love)
31.  Roxy Music - ROXY MUSIC (This had some 'tron didn't it?
ya...Ladytron!)
30.  Music In A Doll's House - FAMILY
29.  Five Bridges - THE NICE
28.  L - STEVE HILLAGE
27.  Agaetis Byrjun - SIGUR ROS (I remember this one...NOT)
26.  Pampered Menial - PAVLOV'S DOG
25.  A Night At The Opera - QUEEN (why not QUEEN II ?)
24.  Moving Waves - FOCUS
23.  Moonmadness - CAMEL (Was this their best album?)
22.  Larks' Tongue In Aspic - KING CRIMSON (Where is Lizard, Islands,
ITWOP ?)
21.  Lateralus - TOOL (modern day encroches on the Prog Rock past)
20.  Third - SOFT MACHINE
19.  In The Land Of The Grey And Pink - CARAVAN
18.  Francis The Mute - THE MARS VOLTA (MOJO describes them as Zep
meets Yes meets Floyd)
17.  Misplaced Childhood - MARILLION
16.  Octopus - GENTLE GIANT (The Boys In The Band! A classic)
15.  The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other - VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR
14.  The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway - GENESIS (Great...but where's
Selling England ?)
13.  Hot Rats - FRANK ZAPPA (a serious classic)
12.  The Yes Album - YES
11.  Wish You Were Here - PINK FLOYD (What about Meddle?)
10.  OK Computer - RADIOHEAD (Why?  Something about 'tron choir)
9.   Tubular Bells - MIKE OLDFIELD (redone in 5.1 surround - amazing)
8.   Space Ritual - HAWKWIND (there ya go Andy!)
7.   Aqualung - JETHRO TULL

6.   A Farewell To Kings - RUSH (I like Rush, but do they belong on
this list?  I say no!)

5.   Brain Salad Surgery - ELP (What about Trilogy?)
4.   In The Court Of the Crimson King - KING CRIMSON (There ya go Rick!)
3.   Close To The Edge - YES (Yes!)
2.   Foxtrot - GENESIS (Great...but where's Selling England ?)
1.   The Dark Side Of The Moon - PINK FLOYD (no surprise)

Clay

The whole idea of a top 40 prog albums list is kind of absurd. There 
are so many good albums on this list and a whole lot more that are 
missing. By what criteria is one better than another?

Bernie


--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "ceccles_ca" <clay123@r...> 
wrote:
> MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums  - (With my commentary)
> 
> 40.  Aphrodite's Child - 666
> 39.  Once Again - BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
> 38.  Phaedra - TANGERINE DREAM (Wow... This wasn't their best, was 
it?)
> 37.  In Search Of The Lost Chord - MOODY BLUES (Ya but what about 
TOCCC ?)
> 36.  Dance Of The Lemmings - AMON DUUL II
> 35.  Flying Teapot - GONG
> 34.  Hatfield And The North - HATFIELD AND THE NORTH
> 33.  All Together Now - ARGENT (ya, Hold Your Head High)
> 32.  Moontan - GOLDEN ERRING (ya, Radar Love)
> 31.  Roxy Music - ROXY MUSIC (This had some 'tron didn't it?
> ya...Ladytron!)
> 30.  Music In A Doll's House - FAMILY
> 29.  Five Bridges - THE NICE
> 28.  L - STEVE HILLAGE
> 27.  Agaetis Byrjun - SIGUR ROS (I remember this one...NOT)
> 26.  Pampered Menial - PAVLOV'S DOG
> 25.  A Night At The Opera - QUEEN (why not QUEEN II ?)
> 24.  Moving Waves - FOCUS
> 23.  Moonmadness - CAMEL (Was this their best album?)
> 22.  Larks' Tongue In Aspic - KING CRIMSON (Where is Lizard, 
Islands,
> ITWOP ?)
> 21.  Lateralus - TOOL (modern day encroches on the Prog Rock past)
> 20.  Third - SOFT MACHINE
> 19.  In The Land Of The Grey And Pink - CARAVAN
> 18.  Francis The Mute - THE MARS VOLTA (MOJO describes them as Zep
> meets Yes meets Floyd)
> 17.  Misplaced Childhood - MARILLION
> 16.  Octopus - GENTLE GIANT (The Boys In The Band! A classic)
> 15.  The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other - VAN DER GRAAF 
GENERATOR
> 14.  The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway - GENESIS (Great...but where's
> Selling England ?)
> 13.  Hot Rats - FRANK ZAPPA (a serious classic)
> 12.  The Yes Album - YES
> 11.  Wish You Were Here - PINK FLOYD (What about Meddle?)
> 10.  OK Computer - RADIOHEAD (Why?  Something about 'tron choir)
> 9.   Tubular Bells - MIKE OLDFIELD (redone in 5.1 surround - 
amazing)
> 8.   Space Ritual - HAWKWIND (there ya go Andy!)
> 7.   Aqualung - JETHRO TULL
> 
> 6.   A Farewell To Kings - RUSH (I like Rush, but do they belong on
> this list?  I say no!)
> 
> 5.   Brain Salad Surgery - ELP (What about Trilogy?)
> 4.   In The Court Of the Crimson King - KING CRIMSON (There ya go 
Rick!)

> 3.   Close To The Edge - YES (Yes!)
> 2.   Foxtrot - GENESIS (Great...but where's Selling England ?)
> 1.   The Dark Side Of The Moon - PINK FLOYD (no surprise)
> 
> Clay

Mattias wrote:
> I see what you mean...
> 
> No Script for a jesters tear ? No Asia ? No Wakeman 80´s solo
> albums ? No Abacab ? No Fish solo albums ? No momentary lapse of
> reason ?
> 
> Non of these gems made it top 40 ?
> 
> To try to pick out a top 40 of prog is like standing in manure
> factory trying to pick out the non smelly parts...And believe me
> I've contributed with a fair deal of crap to the genre.
> 
> Mojos readers are usually fairly interested in music ( as is really
> new music, Moody Blues reissues and bootlegs don´t count ) that is
> released now. I think that is why Mars Volta, Tool and Sigur Ros
> made it so high.
> 
> well anyways...
> 
> // Mattias
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- *From:* ceccles_ca
> <mailto:clay123@...> *To:* Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com 
> <mailto:Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com> *Sent:* Sunday, August 28,
> 2005 4:50 PM *Subject:* [Mellotronists] MOJO magazine - top 40 prog
> albums
> 
> MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums - (With my commentary)
> 
> 40. Aphrodite's Child - 666 39. Once Again - BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST 
> 38. Phaedra - TANGERINE DREAM (Wow... This wasn't their best, was
> it?) 37. In Search Of The Lost Chord - MOODY BLUES (Ya but what
> about TOCCC ?) 36. Dance Of The Lemmings - AMON DUUL II 35. Flying
> Teapot - GONG 34. Hatfield And The North - HATFIELD AND THE NORTH 
> 33. All Together Now - ARGENT (ya, Hold Your Head High) 32. Moontan
> - GOLDEN ERRING (ya, Radar Love) 31. Roxy Music - ROXY MUSIC (This
> had some 'tron didn't it? ya...Ladytron!) 30. Music In A Doll's
> House - FAMILY 29. Five Bridges - THE NICE 28. L - STEVE HILLAGE 
> 27. Agaetis Byrjun - SIGUR ROS (I remember this one...NOT) 26.
> Pampered Menial - PAVLOV'S DOG 25. A Night At The Opera - QUEEN
> (why not QUEEN II ?) 24. Moving Waves - FOCUS 23. Moonmadness -
> CAMEL (Was this their best album?) 22. Larks' Tongue In Aspic -
> KING CRIMSON (Where is Lizard, Islands, ITWOP ?) 21. Lateralus -
> TOOL (modern day encroches on the Prog Rock past) 20. Third - SOFT
> MACHINE 19. In The Land Of The Grey And Pink - CARAVAN 18. Francis
> The Mute - THE MARS VOLTA (MOJO describes them as Zep meets Yes
> meets Floyd) 17. Misplaced Childhood - MARILLION 16. Octopus -
> GENTLE GIANT (The Boys In The Band! A classic) 15. The Least We Can
> Do Is Wave To Each Other - VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR 14. The Lamb
> Lies Down On Broadway - GENESIS (Great...but where's Selling
> England ?) 13. Hot Rats - FRANK ZAPPA (a serious classic) 12. The
> Yes Album - YES 11. Wish You Were Here - PINK FLOYD (What about
> Meddle?) 10. OK Computer - RADIOHEAD (Why? Something about 'tron
> choir) 9. Tubular Bells - MIKE OLDFIELD (redone in 5.1 surround -
> amazing) 8. Space Ritual - HAWKWIND (there ya go Andy!) 7. Aqualung
> - JETHRO TULL
> 
> 6. A Farewell To Kings - RUSH (I like Rush, but do they belong on 
> this list? I say no!)
> 
> 5. Brain Salad Surgery - ELP (What about Trilogy?) 4. In The Court
> Of the Crimson King - KING CRIMSON (There ya go Rick!) 3. Close To
> The Edge - YES (Yes!) 2. Foxtrot - GENESIS (Great...but where's
> Selling England ?) 1. The Dark Side Of The Moon - PINK FLOYD (no
> surprise)
> 
> Clay

I have the issue. It's a good read. While I might quibble over the
exact "cosmic 40" (and the further listening 40), it's a very good
list of records aimed at two groups of people: those that were fans
of the "big 6" and a few other prog groups back in the 70s, and the
growing fanbase of bands like Radiohead, The Mars Volta, Sigur Ros,
etc., who are looking to expand their musical horizons.

Without getting into lint-picking I think their recommendations are
solid, some of them are outstanding, and provide a good springboard
for investigation -- even if I'd have come up with another list
entirely! :-) If the issue does well at the newsagents with the
not-necessarily-progger-music fans maybe they'll come back with a
volume two.
-- 
Cheers,
SDM -- a 21st century schizoid man
Systems Theory internet music project links:
soundclick <www.soundclick.com/systemstheory>
garageband <http://www.garageband.com/artist/systemstheory>
"Soundtracks For Imaginary Movies" CD released Dec 2004
"Codetalkers" CD coming end of 2005
NP: nothing



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Sadly...
 
As I've  got older I've realised that Prog. Music is pretty  awful in the 
main with a few distinctive albums justifying the whole tedious  genre.  There 
are so many terrible albums with just a few shining  examples that are worthy of 
longevity.  Prog. is basically a  schizophrenic music form where rock 
musicians attempt jazz,  classical, ethnic or whatever in an inferior way to the real 
 exponents.  There have never been any classical prog. compositions  that 
resemble in any way the genius of the great classical  composers  The modern take 
on Prog. is even worse where tunes are  abandoned in favour of short blasts 
of musical non-sequitors showing  technique over content, although this trait 
existed to a lesser extent early  on.  To sum up, I find prog. rock depressing 
in the main and reel at  the fact I actually believed it ever meant anything.  
Crimso, Genesis and a  few others really did do something worthy but wading 
through musical settings of  Jon Anderson's inane and utterly empty headed 
ramblings never did anything for  me then or now.
 
Gawd help me!
 
Martin
 
STREETLY ELECTRONICS - All things Mellotronic
_www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 

US  East Coast Agent - Jimmy Moore 
_JMoore6397_ (mailto:JMoore6397) @...
US West Coast Agent - Paul  Cox _pjc56@..._ 
(mailto:pjc56@...)

You can say the same for almost any style and genre of music. There are
always exceptions. History (time) weeds out the crap with the great music
standing the tests of time. There were crappy classical composers that we
have not heard of due to their music not lasting the test of time.

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of tronbros@...
  Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2005 9:50 AM
  To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums


  Sadly...

  As I've  got older I've realised that Prog. Music is pretty awful in the
main with a few distinctive albums justifying the whole tedious genre.
There are so many terrible albums with just a few shining examples that are
worthy of longevity.  Prog. is basically a schizophrenic music form where
rock musicians attempt jazz, classical, ethnic or whatever in an inferior
way to the real exponents.  There have never been any classical prog.
compositions that resemble in any way the genius of the great classical
composers  The modern take on Prog. is even worse where tunes are abandoned
in favour of short blasts of musical non-sequitors showing technique over
content, although this trait existed to a lesser extent early on.  To sum
up, I find prog. rock depressing in the main and reel at the fact I actually
believed it ever meant anything.  Crimso, Genesis and a few others really
did do something worthy but wading through musical settings of Jon
Anderson's inane and utterly empty headed ramblings never did anything for
me then or now.

  Gawd help me!

  Martin

  STREETLY ELECTRONICS - All things Mellotronic
  www.mellotronics.com

  US East Coast Agent - Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@...
  US West Coast Agent - Paul Cox pjc56@...


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I hate these "definitive" lists. the fact that's it's mojo this time & not q 
or uncut or the wire or even (heaven forbid) rolling stone, makes no 
difference than if it was channel four or channel five carrying a tv version with the 
same old rent-a-quotes being wheeled out, most of whom weren't paying attention 
at the time either because they were too young or too trendy.

a "prog-rock" fan from the get-go (well, 1972, when I first heard hawkwind, 
floyd & elp), I dislike the notion of being pigeonholed by taste as much now as 
I did then, which is why I don't buy these mags. the peer-group pressure one 
experienced at school, especially during the rise of punk music..... these 
polls are perpetuating the same "we're cooler than you are" bullshit. don't 
believe for a moment that the results are any more than slightly influenced by real 
votes. I work at mtv- I know how these things are done.

with music being as important in my life as food, drink, sleep &c, I find 
that my own personal preferences change depending on my mood. I can no more 
decide what order to put my musical favourites in than I can decide which finger to 
cut off.
I have over half the stuff on the list, including the aphrodite's child 
(where's vangelis, btw?), the tool, the family, the hawkwind, the rush, the tull. 
luckily, I also have a ton of stuff that didn't make it onto mojo's cool-wall & 
so I can feel safely distanced from their office-bound smuggery. get thee to 
a gig, guys, & I don't mean the executive boxes at the local enormodome.

I have two of these 400-disc cd jukebox things hooked together. they are both 
full. my favourite trick is to put them both on shuffle & so that they 
crossfade into each other after 90 seconds. the idea is to recognise the 
randomly-selected minute-&-a-half before it runs out & without looking at the players' 
displays.

the invisible jukebox was the best thing to come out of these mags. these 
polls are the worst.

still, interesting list, & if it makes anyone listen to any of the records 
again, fair enough.

duncan/1098, wishing the tapeframes could be randomly shuffled too.

In a message dated 28/08/2005 20:23:53 GMT Standard Time,  
tron@... writes:

I don't  think you can. The silliness and conceit of a rock musician who
suddenly  thinks that - just because he has been ham-fistedly ripping off
the bits of  classical music he can understand for the last ten years -
he can write an  erzatz concerto is only beaten by the sheer drudgery of
listening to his  eventual effort. What makes progressive rock risible
thus is because you  don't tend to find that hopeless level of idiot
aspiration in other musical  styles.

The only thing that makes these unusually irritating people get  by is
the fact that their audiences wouldn't actually know what a sonata  was
if it drove over their heads in an eighty seater coach with with  the
word 'sonata' written on it. Having grown up with people like this  I
always found that deep down they were really wanting to hear a 4/4  jam
in E as much as anyone else, but that they felt secretly guilty about  it
and chose instead to pretend to like music about hogweed and  lighthouse
keepers, artifically stuffed into 9/8 by someone who would  probably have
been happier doing the 4/4 in E as  well.



YES!!!
 
STREETLY ELECTRONICS - All things Mellotronic
_www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 

US  East Coast Agent - Jimmy Moore 
_JMoore6397_ (mailto:JMoore6397) @...
US West Coast Agent - Paul  Cox _pjc56@..._ 
(mailto:pjc56@...)

> 40.  Aphrodite's Child - 666

Strangely nuts, yet strangely wonderful. What's the name of the Greek
actress doing all the heavy breathing orgasm-a-thon on the last side?

> 38.  Phaedra - TANGERINE DREAM (Wow... This wasn't their best, was it?)

It probably was. Maybe 'Ricochet'.

> 31.  Roxy Music - ROXY MUSIC (This had some 'tron didn't it? ya...Ladytron!)

The presence of one Mr Eno is more interesting that the Mellotron.

> 26.  Pampered Menial - PAVLOV'S DOG

'JOOOOOOOO-LEEE-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A......'.

It's not really all that 'prog', when you listen to it, but it does have
some -really- good songs on it. Steve Scorfin tells an interesting story
about when they were trying to audition vocalists whilst David Surkamp
was only playing bass. After they all tried and failed Surkamp said
'oh...I'll have a go...'. As Scorfina says '...and then all of a sudden
THAT THING comes out of his face...'.

> 25.  A Night At The Opera - QUEEN (why not QUEEN II ?)

'Opera' is probably more polished and generally likeable. For all its
strengths (ie, Freddie's songs) the rest are pretty much tortured dreck
of the lowest order.

> 22.  Larks' Tongue In Aspic - KING CRIMSON (Where is Lizard, Islands,
> ITWOP ?)

One could argue that LTiA was the one album they produced that actually
'progressed' somewhere the most. (I'd say that ther live work was *much*
more progressive anyway)

> 13.  Hot Rats - FRANK ZAPPA (a serious classic)

True, but hardly 'trad prog', is it?

> 4.   In The Court Of the Crimson King - KING CRIMSON (There ya go Rick!)

I wonder how many of its devotees ever listen to 'Moonchild' very often?
I know that I have probably only ever played it right through about four
times and I've had the album since I was fourteen.

> 3.   Close To The Edge - YES (Yes!)

Just about the only Yes record I can stand the sound of. The rest of the
list veers between the mediocre and the downright appalling.

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/

> You can say the same for almost any style and genre of music.

I don't think you can. The silliness and conceit of a rock musician who
suddenly thinks that - just because he has been ham-fistedly ripping off
the bits of classical music he can understand for the last ten years -
he can write an erzatz concerto is only beaten by the sheer drudgery of
listening to his eventual effort. What makes progressive rock risible
thus is because you don't tend to find that hopeless level of idiot
aspiration in other musical styles.

The only thing that makes these unusually irritating people get by is
the fact that their audiences wouldn't actually know what a sonata was
if it drove over their heads in an eighty seater coach with with the
word 'sonata' written on it. Having grown up with people like this I
always found that deep down they were really wanting to hear a 4/4 jam
in E as much as anyone else, but that they felt secretly guilty about it
and chose instead to pretend to like music about hogweed and lighthouse
keepers, artifically stuffed into 9/8 by someone who would probably have
been happier doing the 4/4 in E as well.

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/

Couldn't agree less with you on this issue Mike.  Elitism, hubris, 
arrogance and self loathing knows no genre in my limited experience.


Fritz   M400#1697....doesn't know squat

-----Original Message-----
From: tron@...
To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 20:18:29 GMT
Subject: [Mellotronists] Re: MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums

   > You can say the same for almost any style and genre of music.

I don't think you can. The silliness and conceit of a rock musician who
suddenly thinks that - just because he has been ham-fistedly ripping off
the bits of classical music he can understand for the last ten years -
he can write an erzatz concerto is only beaten by the sheer drudgery of
listening to his eventual effort. What makes progressive rock risible
thus is because you don't tend to find that hopeless level of idiot
aspiration in other musical styles.

The only thing that makes these unusually irritating people get by is
the fact that their audiences wouldn't actually know what a sonata was
if it drove over their heads in an eighty seater coach with with the
word 'sonata' written on it. Having grown up with people like this I
always found that deep down they were really wanting to hear a 4/4 jam
in E as much as anyone else, but that they felt secretly guilty about it
and chose instead to pretend to like music about hogweed and lighthouse
keepers, artifically stuffed into 9/8 by someone who would probably have
been happier doing the 4/4 in E as well.

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/




Yahoo! Groups Links

In a message dated 8/28/2005 5:48:53 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
fdoddy@... writes:

Couldn't  agree less with you on this issue Mike.  Elitism, hubris, 
arrogance  and self loathing knows no genre in my limited  experience.



Yeah, me too Mike.
 
Frank Doddy (I mean Stickle)

It all comes down to artistic integrity. If the artists use the medium to
express ideas, then who is to say if its good or bad? I just finished
listening to Van de Graf Generator's H to He, and it is damn good. Sounds a
little dated, but pretty expressive lyrically and musically.

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of fdoddy@...
  Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2005 2:48 PM
  To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums


  Couldn't agree less with you on this issue Mike.  Elitism, hubris,
  arrogance and self loathing knows no genre in my limited experience.


  Fritz   M400#1697....doesn't know squat

  -----Original Message-----
  From: tron@...
  To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 20:18:29 GMT
  Subject: [Mellotronists] Re: MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums

     > You can say the same for almost any style and genre of music.

  I don't think you can. The silliness and conceit of a rock musician who
  suddenly thinks that - just because he has been ham-fistedly ripping off
  the bits of classical music he can understand for the last ten years -
  he can write an erzatz concerto is only beaten by the sheer drudgery of
  listening to his eventual effort. What makes progressive rock risible
  thus is because you don't tend to find that hopeless level of idiot
  aspiration in other musical styles.

  The only thing that makes these unusually irritating people get by is
  the fact that their audiences wouldn't actually know what a sonata was
  if it drove over their heads in an eighty seater coach with with the
  word 'sonata' written on it. Having grown up with people like this I
  always found that deep down they were really wanting to hear a 4/4 jam
  in E as much as anyone else, but that they felt secretly guilty about it
  and chose instead to pretend to like music about hogweed and lighthouse
  keepers, artifically stuffed into 9/8 by someone who would probably have
  been happier doing the 4/4 in E as well.

  Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
  The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
  Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/




  Yahoo! Groups Links











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> It all comes down to artistic integrity.

I hear that phrase used a lot, and it effectively means nothing at all.

> If the artists use the medium to express ideas, then who is to say if
> its good or bad?

That's a bizarre thing to say. If you are going to make music that no
one can say is good then why make it at all?

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/

In a message dated 8/29/2005 7:33:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
tron@... writes:

That's a  bizarre thing to say. If you are going to make music that no
one can say is  good then why make it at all?




Interesting question, Mike. I ask myself that all the time.
 
Frank

Is it better for an artist to make music that someone else thinks is 
good, but the artists thinks it sucks, or is it better for an artist to 
make music that they think is good and everyone else thinks  sucks?


Fritz

"Hip is a herd mentality" - Joni Mitchell

-----Original Message-----
From: lsf5275@...
To: tron@...; Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:25:20 EDT
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums

        In a message dated 8/29/2005 7:33:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
tron@... writes:
 That's a bizarre thing to say. If you are going to make music that no
one can say is good then why make it at all?


 Interesting question, Mike. I ask myself that all the time.
  
 Frank


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what do you mean with "better for an artist"? it would definite be
better for my finances if I made music that everyone likes...of
course. I always wonder when i hear for an example Jessica Simpson,
does she really like her crap version of "take my breath away"? or
does she just laugh at her way to the bank....I really hope she laugh.
For me in an artistic way i think it´s more important that i like
it...then i of course hope more people likes it so i can get
motivation to make and record more music....but this is no news...or
is it?



--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, fdoddy@a... wrote:
> Is it better for an artist to make music that someone else thinks is 
> good, but the artists thinks it sucks, or is it better for an artist to 
> make music that they think is good and everyone else thinks  sucks?
> 
> 
> Fritz
> 
> "Hip is a herd mentality" - Joni Mitchell
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lsf5275@a...
> To: tron@b...; Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:25:20 EDT
> Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: MOJO magazine - top 40 prog albums
> 
>         In a message dated 8/29/2005 7:33:47 P.M. Eastern Standard
Time, 

> tron@b... writes:
>  That's a bizarre thing to say. If you are going to make music that no
> one can say is good then why make it at all?
> 
> 
>  Interesting question, Mike. I ask myself that all the time.
>   
>  Frank
> 
> 
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In an email dated 30/8/2005 7:31:03 pm GMT Daylight time, "jonasodhner" <jonasodhner@yahoo.se> writes:

>what do you mean with "better for an artist"? it would definite be >better for my finances if I made music that everyone likes...of
>course. I always wonder when i hear for an example Jessica Simpson,
>does she really like her crap version of "take my breath away"? or
>does she just laugh at her way to the bank....I really hope she laugh.
>For me in an artistic way i think it´s more important that i like
>it...then i of course hope more people likes it so i can get
>motivation to make and record more music....but this is no news...or
>is it?

I would have to agree that, first and foremost, I would have to be pleased with any piece I've written, regardless of genre, before even exposing it to anyone else and having the expectation that someone else might like it (and admittedly I have written my fair share of shit over the years as we all have, admit it or not), none of which anyone has heard for that reason.  I also recognize the possibility that something I think is pure doo-doo might tickle the fancy of someone else (again, one man's poison being another's medicine)  Financial gain?  I've made some small compromises in composing without having to compromise my "artistic integrity", whatever in hell that can be defined as -- perhaps as artistic objectivity, at least as much as one can generate toward a self-creation.  Would I sell out?  Let me relate one of the times I attended a West Coast ASCAP meeting in the 70's -- Shortly after meeting Bruce Johnston, who had just won a Grammy for "I Write The Songs" (perhaps a good example of the type of composition we're referencing), I was engaged in conversation with a group of L.A. people who were trying to sell me on their 'fantastic' project and wanted me to do the arrangement.  I was highly interested and thought it had the potential to be a highly lucrative venture (i.e., backing, contacts, exposure, etc.) -- until they told me the specifics: Remember, this is the '70's now -- a disco version of "Eleanor Rigby".  My only response before walking away was, "Sacrilege!"  I never regretted that decision.

Frank 1