I heard Steven Wilson’s solo stuffbefore I ever picked up an album from Porcupine Tree. A shape-shiftingprog rocker, Wilson is the singer-songwriter and guitar player behind this band and its massive catalog of 34 years, a solo artist with a formidable catalog of 26 years, and has become a kind of wizard studio engineer who,Continue reading “#837: P is for Porcupine Tree”
Tag Archives: progressive rock
#835: P is for The Polyphonic Spree
Some of us remembera band from the early to mid 90’scalled Tripping Daisy. They had a hit called “I Got A Girl,” a super silly but super catchy post-punk, grunge-adjacent tune rightalong the lines of The FlamingLips’ “She Don’t Use Jelly.” This was their only hit. I likedthe song but never bought the album. IContinue reading “#835: P is for The Polyphonic Spree”
#832: P is for The Pineapple Thief
Progressive rock, at its worst, becomes all about the enormous chopsof each member of the band. For me, at its best, those chops are coupledwith and secondary to great songs, memorable melodies, strong pop hooks, and smart lyrics. The Pineapple Thiefhas found the perfect prog rock recipefor me. Bruce Soord is an accomplishedsongwriter, has aContinue reading “#832: P is for The Pineapple Thief”
#794: M is for The Mars Volta
I don’t know what to makeof these guys. I have three of their records, one of which I love, the other two of which I have very mixed feelings about. They seem to be a band thatdeliberately eschews accessibility, even down to their artier-than-thoucover art, which typically includeslittle or difficult to decipher identifyinginformation, and inContinue reading “#794: M is for The Mars Volta”
#777: K is for King Crimson (81-03)
It would be seven years between Redand the next album from King Crimson, the cover of which would be red, adorned in the center of the jacketwith a silver Celtic knot, bearing the title Discipline. It was the first King Crimson album I would ever hear, the first King Crimsonrecord I would ever buy, theContinue reading “#777: K is for King Crimson (81-03)”
#776: K is for King Crimson (72-74)
After making five albums with Yes, Bill Bruford, drummer extraordinaire, migrates in 1972 to King Crimson, John Wetton joins on bass guitarand vocals, and a new lyricist showsup, one Richard Palmer-James, the guy who would eventually co-foundthe supergroup Supertramp. On their first outing together, the strangely titled Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, it appears that RobertContinue reading “#776: K is for King Crimson (72-74)”
#775: K is for King Crimson (70-71)
There are certain recordsI have bought, entire collectionssometimes, in boxes no less, costing hundreds of dollars, of music that I have never heard, but nevertheless feel compelled, not only to hear, but to hold, to own, to possess. The literary equivalent: I’ve never read Moby Dick, say, but believe I should have, and vow toContinue reading “#775: K is for King Crimson (70-71)”
#774: K is for King Crimson (1969)
In the 80’s, there was an SNLknock-off on ABC called Fridays. On one episode, the musical guestwas a band called King Crimson. I don’t remember if, at the time, I had any awareness of this bandor if I was hearing the name for the first time, but I do know thatthis was the first timeContinue reading “#774: K is for King Crimson (1969)”
#771: K is for Kansas
It may be a kind of cursefor progressive rock bands to have big hits. “Carry OnMy Wayward Son” is arguablyone of the greatest and most catchy prog rock songsin history, rivaled only by maybe “Roundabout” from Yes. But what’s also clearis that after Leftoverture and Point of No Return anda sequence of a couple ofContinue reading “#771: K is for Kansas”
#761: J is for Jethro Tull
Sitting on a park bench. Snot dripping down his nose. Both of my Jethro Tull albumsare used acquisitions, Aqualungstill has a price tag on it of $1.99. Aqualung, my friend, don’t you start away uneasy. You poor old sod, you see, it’s only me. And I want to know who has a friend namedafter aContinue reading “#761: J is for Jethro Tull”
