Ryth
is one to watch around this place
*insert meme here*

Well, I don't know a lot about Genesis, because the only album I have on CD is Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I have some others from my father's collection on LP, but I rarely listen to them.

From what I remember, a few albums after "Lamb" were still progressive, but lacked Peter Gabriel's darker, yet more creative influence, and eventually even that petered off. By 1980 at the latest (but probably earlier), Genesis were pretty much a commercial rock band, and that material is bad.

Early Genesis is better, though I've heard their first 1969 album lacks their usual sound.

I'm really not sure what Selling England By the Pound is like myself, but there are reviews for all the Genesis albums here. So if you want other people's opinions, just click the link and pick an album.

Originally Posted by Ryth

I really enjoyed Poseidon myself (namely Cat Food and Cadence And Cascade, excellent tracks).

My favourite parts of Poseidon were "Pictures of a City" "Cadence and Cascade" and "Cat Food," so yeah, I agree it had some great moments. Other than those tracks, the rest of the material was mediocre, except for "the Devil's Triangle" which personally I thought was just dissonant noise.

I don't think it's a bad album, but I don't think it's spectacular either. I think it's quite similar to "Court," and that basically did everything better.

Originally Posted by Ryth

I've been meaning to check out ELP and my dad said he had some Zappa albums, and said he'd dig it up for me sooner or later. So I'm sure to hear some Zappa sooner or later.

Frank Zappa's music is highly rewarding, but also very difficult to get into. If you listen to the wrong album, you might get scared off at the sheer expirimentality and wierdness of it.

Personally, I recommend starting with any of the following:

Hot Rats (for a prog fan, especially one who likes jazz influenced prog this is the very best place to start; it's his best album IMO)

The Grand Wazoo( his second best album, with a large band and catchy music)

One Size Fits All/ Over-nite Sensation (two of his more commercial albums, but also still with exprimental aspects)

If you start with another album, there are probably only three possibilities. One, you might hate it. Two, you might not like it right away, but with a few listens you'll start to like it. (For example, when i listened to Uncle Meat, I was appalled at first, but eventually it became one of my favourite Zappa albums.) Three, you might actually love it right away.

Zappa changes a lot from album to album, and I mean that he changes so much that you wonder how it can be the same person writing it!

So don't base you opinion of him just on one album. I hate certain albums of his, love others, and some I only like parts of.

As for Ayreon, I'm downloading a couple of their tracks to test them out. I'll tell you what I think after I've listened to a few.

Oh, and if you do try out Genesis, I recommend "the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" as their best. You liked the Wall, and this album is a lot like it. It's a concept album, it's a double album, it has an interesting and sometimes philisophical storyline, and there are many re-emerging musical themes.

Interestingly enough, the band broke up a short time after this album, like Pink Floyd after the Wall. Genesis reformed a few albums later, but it was a completely different band with a different sound.

I have Court of the Crimson King, In the Wake of Poseidon, Lizard and Islands. I really enjoyed Lizard (which is my personal favourite) and "Court" as well, which comes in a fairly close second. I was somewhat dissapointed with "Poseidon" and Islands, but they were still pretty good.

I'm, also a big fan of Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Yes, Frank Zappa, Harmonium and more. From the bands you listed, I would recommend to try out Emerson Lake and Palmer (ELP), Harmonium, Genesis, and Return to Forever next (especially ELP.)

So you like King Crimson's Lizard, do you? Then you deserve a usernote from me. I'm a heavy duty prog rock fan; I've spent hundreds on my collection and I'm forever buying more to augment it. You may have already seen me link to this site, but in case you haven't, it's really a great reference for prog fans:

Here it is.

I've set the link on King Crimson right now, but if you use the search you can get extensive info on any prog rock band in existence, from new bands like Tool to old classic groups like Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Pink Floyd.

Don't mock me, woman. Now make me some pah.

We meet again. Those usernotes from waaaaaaay back...I laughed so much. xDDDDD

What kind of jackass likes Monopoly anyway?

I don't know why you let those people post in your usernotes. Want me to ban 'em? They're all evil.

Hey bren how come your saying your captain basch when you don't have FF12 yet hah *points finger and laughs at you*!?

By the way Pimp Master Ryth you know your a sexy beast and I can't help my feelings anymore... i just wanted you to know that...... I..... I..... I LOVE YOU! Your my favorite pimp master you know!

Hey buckethead, I'm Captain Basch fon Rosenburg ( 10th person )