Pompous 70's art rocks bands that you enjoy listening to

[Mike Daniels]

Yes, I know that art rock has been used to describe various forms of music and some people will say that Bauhaus, Can, Gong, David Bowie and Roxy Music (for example) at one point or another have been described as art rock.

I'm referring to the classic rock dinosaurs that incorporated classical themes, 30 minute songs, and/or and mastabatory soloing into every one on their albums while some vocalist/eunuch sang about the cosmic rays of the sun and or some other polysylabic nonsense.

My list:

Genesis (Gabriel era) Beautiful arrangements, great story-songs, and of course Peter Gabriel. Never all that indulgent musically either.

Jethro Tull - only ones that could make a song last a whole side much less an album and not make you want to turn it off midway through. Something about flute as lead instrument on about half the songs as well.

Moody Blues - Songs were weak but the melodies are occasionaly beautiful and it's good chill out music.

King Crimson (the most evil-sounding of the art-rockers and the only ones who have managed to adapt to the times)

All of these still maintain something that justifies their existence and continued sales.

ELP and Yes, however, just plain suck.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Well, I happen to like Yes. So there!

:P

[MissMillie]

3. I do too!!! In fact

Last month we went to a record signing, and we won front-row seats to their show!

Here we all are!

[XNASA]

8. Holy Crap! What happened to Steve Howe???

He must have made a deal with the Devil....the ability to play guitar almost better than everyone on the planet for his youth.

Squire and Anderson still look pretty good.

[MissMillie]

10. Yeah, he looks old

But he's still an amazing guitar player..... he makes it look easy.

[bbernardini]

13. Let's face it...

Steve Howe has never been a pretty man.

[MissMillie]

15. Close your eyes and listen

He's beautiful! :-)

[SiouxJ]

20. OMG! He looks like he's dead!

Yeah, Jon Anderson - be still my heart. Always had somewhat of a crush on the little guy.

[Westegg]

18. Sweet mother of Mercy! Howe looks like my (dead) grandad!

...But to the larger point, as a child of the '70s, I am still wowed by the best of that era, including much "Prog Rock." To say nothing of Led Zeppelin. Sure, early Genesis rocks, up to and including "Lamb Lies Down..." As for King Crimson, "Lark's Tongue..." is many, MANY years ahead of its time. And Yes's "Fragile" and "Close To the Edge" and indeed even "Relayer" are on heavy rotation chez moi, and I'll say the same for ELP's "Brain Salad..." and "Trilogy." I could do without "Tarkus," however...

Bottom line: People who dismiss this music on general principles are missing the point, and probably aren't musicians.

[Beware the Beast Man]

2. King Crimson

Just discovered some of their stuff recently. Good band.

[dawg]

4. Yes!

One man's meat is another man's poison, and vice-versa. I think Yes was and is one of the most talented bands to come out of the 70's.

[Droopy]

5. Rush

I think they kicked ass in their prime.

[flamingyouth]

6. Definitely Can, Bauhaus, Roxy Music (Eno period only)

I agree with your hatred of ELP and Yes, however. I just can't stand them, but my mom is a big fan and I've had to listen to them for a long time. They're not my cup of tea.

[Mike Daniels]

16. Actually I used to like Yes and ELP during my classic rock phase

which was in high school during the early to mid 80's.

The ones I still like always had a melodic and emotional sense (*) that overrode their indulgences. Yes and ELP seemed be mostly about flash and technique which is why they no longer hold the appeal.

* Crimson excepted

[bif]

7. Yes is about the only band you mentioned that I can still listen to

the rest of them just haven't held up that well. Okay, some of the King Crimson still sounds pretty decent.

[bbernardini]

9. ALL Genesis, Yes, Crimson, ELP, Gentle Giant

Genesis did some great stuff after Gabriel left. I really prefer Crimson from 1981 and beyond, but the old stuff's great too (especially "Red").

[Loonman]

11. Yeah, ELP is self-indulgent wankery

Prime offenders.

[MissMillie]

12. Moody Blues.... pompous??????

you're kidding, right?

[Mike Daniels]

17. The spoken intros and exits that bookended the albums

were the pompous element.

The Simpsons had the Moody Blues do a great spoof of the exit from "Days of Future Passed" in the Las Vegas episode.

MB #1: "Cold hearted Homer leaving his wife
MB #2: While ancient Ned runs for his life
MB #3: Chips of red and blue and white..."
MB #4: "Can the rhyming guys, it's ass whupping time"
MB #5: "I've got fatty"

[4_Legs_Good]

14. I never thought Genesis was pompous

but I see what you mean.

How about Blind Faith? Traffic? More folk rock, really.

Hey, when's my DTS Lamb due out??? I thought it was May.

david

[TrogL]

19. I should probably point out

That I've got a drawer full of ELP memorabilia and I've shaken their hands.

[Jabbery]

21. KANSAS

They still rock.

[alarcojon]

22. Gotta weigh in in Yes's defense

Sure, they had some excesses.....but the musicianship was always there. And Steve Howe was no pretty boy, but can you say "Mood for a Day"?

Also, where is the love (or hate) for Pink Floyd?

[patcox2]

23. The pretentious art rock supergroup: ASIA

One guy from Yes, one from ELO, one from King Crimson, I think, and one from another pretentious band I forget.

Fah.