Personally, Gentle Giant is a band where you really, REALLY have to listen to the songs a lot to get the full effect. On further listens to the song you'll probably start enjoying it a lot more.
I mention that a lot to him...It's really not fair to hear these pieces for the first time and judge them...I remember when I heard it the first time so many years ago, It needs to spread out in your mind... It's not like Hearing Iron Man for the first time and just falling in love...One must Acquire the Taste...:)...You also need to see GG in live videos to see what brilliant musicians they are.
Truth! I hated GG the first time I heard it. I had to learn it first, then recognized the genius. I only listened to it again because I was bored with all the rest of my tapes (yes, tapes) and there was something intriguing about this music. Even though it was horrible!
Interesting you should mention Iron Man. That song took years to grow in me. This album hit me immediately. Octopus, on the other hand, took its time to click with me.
THe albums up to their Prog peak became more refined in the syncopated style but ALL their previous albums have so much going for them as unique works of art in their own right that I cannot compare them as better or worst.
Quirkiness, creativity, groove... they've got it all! Gentle Giant is the peak of prog music. Gods! Unlike Octopus, this is actually a concept album! So, for the "pieces to fit", you have to listen to the whole thing. And for me, any song from the albums "Three Friends" and "In a Glass House" is better than "Advent of Panurge" hahahaha
This freshness of GG is eternal. I have been coming back to their work every six months or so for more than 35 yeras! It is always interesting. So profoundly original.
Oddly enough...and again we're all different...but this tune would fall short of my top 10 on the Gentle Giant landscape...but for the opposite reasons you stated!!...I actually love the middle section...the highlight of the song for me as it displays GGs progressive instrumental chops to the max!!...the verses....not so much....but keep going with this amazing band!...many more musical revelations ahead!
I first got/heard this with the release of the SW mix and I personally fell in love on first listen. I liked all the previous GG albums but this one hit me hardest on first listen, such a thrill ride!
Love Proclamation. Power & The Glory was the first album I bought by them. The 2nd (slow) part is genuine dissonance. I'm a sucker for dissonance. Result of listening to Zappa
Their best song might be "In a glass house". The Power and the Glory is their most complex and challenging album for sure. The more you listen to it, the more you start getting all the bits and pieces as they flow. Theres something so strangely addictive and provoking in their layering of instruments with really groovy beats and complex Rhythms.
The opening keyboard is Fender Rhodes Piano. I agree about Playing The Game but after this song is Aspirations and it’s very slow and serene. Vocals from Kerry Minnear instead of Derek Shulman. Later is Cogs In Cogs which is mind blowing and The Face is astounding as well. By playing the opening track you are poised to do the whole album and I hope you do. I started here in 1974 driving around Sacramento in my VW Bus listening to this on 8 track and turning my friends on to this incredible band.
This is the first song of a concept album. The hail to power section in the middle actually makes a tremendous amount of sense thematically. A pivotal part of the story. Although for me the middle section could be a tiny bit shorter
Gentle Giant isn't a prog band. They're a bridge between prog and avant-garde prog. If you aren't into the avant-garde or experimental, they're perhaps not the band for you, but for someone like me, they're the best rock band that exists! If you want to listen to some avant-prog, Samla Mammas Manna, Eskaton, Shub-Niggurath, Mógil, Behold... The Arctopus!, Renaldo & the Loaf, Ruins, Syzygys, Cardiacs, Major Parkinson, Koenjihyakkei, and Aphrodite's Child are all really good
Octopus, In a Glass House, Power & Glory and Free Hand. Those four (and, to be honest, Interview and Three Friends) comprise some of the greatest prog music ever. Then to see them do it live...beyond great.
I love a song that I don't get right away. Those are the ones I keep going back to. Popular songs catch your ear right away, you learn what's going on and what it's about right away, and by the time you hear it the third time you never want to hear it again. This is the kind of song you can listen to for years. So, my brother gave me this album, and I said "That just a mess! and I threw the tape in a corner and forgot about it. A year later, I'm sick of everything I've got and I said, "Let me try that again". Listened again. Said "That's just a mess, except for that little part right there, that's kinda pretty" And I was hooked, although I didn't know it right away.
I was one of those suggesting this album and so happy to see you get here. IMHO the trio of albums Glass House, The Power and The Glory and Free Hand are their apex. GG is not a band that you can grok in one listening. Keep going with this album please.
Gentle Giant is known as the paradigmatic progressive rock band. With an uncomparable musicianship, they went as far as no one ever did into unexplored grounds in the progressive music, navigating over dissonant 20th-century classical chamber music, medieval vocal music, jazz and rock. The multi-instrumentation capabilities of the musicians gave such dynamic to their music, which set parameters to a whole coming generation up to these very days. They explored Moogs, Mellotrons and Fender Rhodes usage with such majesty! Not to mention other instruments like oboes, violins, cellos and horns among others. The band was able to come across the 70's maintaining an outstanding level on their music, altering their style over the years and keeping the quality as only a few bands were able to do. Among their magnificent discography, all the albums from "Acquiring the Taste" through "Playing the Fool" are essential progressive rock releases (with the possible exception of "Interview"). This portion of the band's career would see a fittingly grand conclusion on the live "Playing the Fool" album. What more is there to say about these masters of progressive music?
I enjoyed the track. Musically I was getting a sarcasm humorous vibe (Jester preforming at the Kings court). I'll have to listen again with the lyrics to see how the words intermingle with the music and sounds.
I was a bit off put by this song when I first heard it. It's probably in my top 5 Gentle Giant songs now though. However, for me, this album is good but I'd probably put at least 4 of their other albums above it. Good reaction though. If you're going through the album then good luck with the next track (So Sincere), it's so weird and dissonant I struggle with it. But I think you'll really like the song 'Playing the Game'.
Alright, people here are recommending one of my favorites of theirs, Playing the Game! Actually So Sincere is also one of my very favorites of their too. Absolutely brilliant chorus. At first the verse seems to me to be just quirky for quirkiness' sake, but as the drums come in you can hear how it fits together fairly well.
I think you might appreciate a lot more "Pantagruel's Nativity", and in general the "Acquiring The Taste" record. This and "Three Friends" are my favorites
I always love your commentary. The middle part of this song might make more sense to you after you hear the last tune on the album "Valedictory" as they revisit those themes in a powerful way for a great conclusion to this album. It's what I like to call a "bookend composition" where some of themes expressed in the beginning get revisited at the end.
If you don't listen to Rachel Flowers doing this and other tunes you have already reviewed, you are doing yourself a disservice. She does all the instruments and vocals and records in her bedroom. Amazing talent.
:)...Great selection...It's nice to hear the studio and them watch them do it live in a video...It shows how great the song is...Minnear And Derek are killers...
Yeah, this isn't an easy first listen, but it's a rewarding one when you put the time in - you could say the same for a lot of GG. I hope you continue with the album in order - plenty of juicy stuff in there, and a few tracks that might be more immediate winners for you. It's definitely a loose concept album, more about exploring a theme than telling a specific narrative, but that gives it a timeless quality. Power, good intentions, corruption... there will never be a time when those concepts aren't relevant.
PS - If you do the full album may I suggest pairing the final track Valedictory with the "The Power and the Glory" which was a single they released at the record label's behest to promote the album, but perversely left off the album itself. Valedictory probably isn't worth a dedicated video for reasons I won't spoil, but if you threw in the single as a bonus track you'd have more to talk about!
This group reminds me of Greenslade - I would personally recommend their "Joie De Vivre" off of their 1974 Spyglass Guest album. There are really good keyboards on this!
I forgot to thank you kindly in those difficult times for the little sunshine that you bring in our lives.You do it with dignity,respect and professionalism.Hopping you and your wife have a safe weekend.Don't let the bugs bite:)
@@JustJP if you do NC that's a great choice and another fav of mine, it contains 2 early Genesis classics The Musical Box and The Fountain of S, the rest of the album is great also, cheers dude.
Kudos to these guys for following their muse and making something that's truly distinct. I do not like the guy's singing, but the band grooves (keyboard is awesome) and I admire their creativity.
Really enjoying your reactions, thanks for sharing:) Proclamation functions as an overture to the rest of the album; motifs and themes that seem randomly introduced here, are echoed and resolved as the piece "progresses": couldn't help myself:D
You just gotta keep listening man! If anything, I think from 'In a Glass House' onwards is where their songwriting tightens up. Those puzzle grooves and rhythmic interplay become a more primary focus and not so much the dynamic episodic compositions like in the early albums. 'Free Hand' and the underrated 'Interview' are my top 2 GG albums. 'The Power and the Glory' is probably 3rd.
I'm new to their catalog except one older song I can't recall the name of, but I get their style. I like your take on the "puzzle pieces. " Restraint is a musical skill. (I've no room to talk.) As a means of expression excess is no less than the mirror of it's equal and too much is also too much.🙃😉
GG was the last of the major prog groups that I learned to like, along with later King Crimson. They keep you off balance and require close attention. In both cases for me it took live performances to "get" them. Mike Oldfield Tubular bells!
oh...as far as better than Panurge??...that's up to your ears Justin...we'll all serve up different answers to that question...a few of mine would be "On Reflection"..."Empty City"...…"No God's a Man"...."Nothing at All"..."Funny Ways"..."Freehand"...and again..Im not saying "better"...but definitely worthy!!
Your puzzle analogy is a good one, pieces that one is uncertain what picture they'll form. Power is a conceptual work like you're coming to a play and the Proclamation is made to introduce the audience to the what that follows so it feels in a way incomplete if the whole play isn't seen. Now Power is NOT a play in the traditional sense, but it does have a particular flow story-wise and musically as if you were flying over a strange land and dropping in here and there on its aspects and Proclamation is the vehicle transporting you to this place, land of an uncertain king. Having said ALL THAT! Power is not my favorite GG album, but it is exceptional as you continue through it (go in song order) and, according to Derek Shulman, GG thought it was their best album. These videos make my day by the way. 👍 Cheers.
May I recommend - Mister Class and Quality/Three Friends both songs lead into each other and their brilliant. And it doesn’t mess about or anything. It’s about as good as Advent of Panurge. And yes there are better songs than Advent but Advent I think is one of their most popular songs and it’s really good too. Edit: I have never heard Proclamation Until Today and I like it.
Though Gentle Giant are my favourites there are some songs with parts I do not really like. On this album I like almost every other song more than this opener. I do not think very often that pieces are too long but here I think that they played some parts too repetitive. So a little bit shorter would probably have been better for me and this song is only very interesting. Of course this is complaining on a high level. But what can I do? I am German. The next song "So Sincere" is great but the live version is different from the studio version and much better. MUCH BETTER. There are some songs I like more than Panurge. My personal fav is "On Reflection" from "Free Hand". Another one is "Mr. Class and Quality" in combination with the following "Three Friends" from "Three Friends". Though they are released as two pieces they belong together and offer one of their greatest sound adventures. Unbelievable. So it is not an option to listen to them as one but an obligation. Other songs that come to mind are "Peel The Paint" ,"Plain Truth", "Nothing at All", "The House, The Street, The Room" including a heavily distorted Hammond Organ.
This song.....Why? Because they can And from that perspective it is just plain fun Makes you laugh and that is never a bad thing these days Thanks Justin
Honestly, Gentle Giant is as "experimental" as my tastes ever got. I can tell you that the only reason why I bought "The Power & The Glory" (the only of their albums I every bought) was because the local University radio station played *Playing The Game* repeatedly, and the best parts of it began to catch my ear in a favorable way. If I had only heard it a single time, I definitely would not have bought it. Having listened to the the album several times, I definitely like multiple parts of it, and I still really like *Playing The Game.* But I also discovered one of my seriously favorite 'darkish' songs on that album, which I definitely recommend to you, Justin: *Aspirations*, which is just an amazing song in my ears. So glad I discovered it. So those are my recommendations to you, Justin, for other songs on this album you should check out: *Playing The Game* and *Aspirations* Both are better than Proclamation, IMO...
Hi Justin: Not to go crazy with comments, but as lifelong Giant lover.....I listened to a lot of Giant, and then bought "In A Glass House." There was a record / music store in Rochester called 'House of Guitars'. They had 1,000s of albums in there. When you walked in, there was a 15 foot high round tower, with the latest 20 great rock albums in bins going all the way around the tower. $3.98 an album, thousands of other records throughout the rest of the store.....BUT, upstairs in locked cabinets with see through doors were the "Imports"....$4.98, or even $5 to $6.98 and album. That's where I found Glass House. The first time I heard it, the sound "popped" off the record. Something about the production quality (fidelity) was different from all of their other albums. I still think so even today. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I appreciate you "going crazy" with comments, its great to read everyone's thoughts/experiences! I'll probably finish Power and Glory first, but ill keep Glass House in mind as well!
The albums up to their Prog peak became more refined in the syncopated style but ALL their previous albums have so much going for them as unique works of art in their own right that I cannot compare them as better or worst. I like them ALL and you don't get it then it's not in your DNA to understand all the puzzle pieces and how they fit together perfectly. Sometimes your reference you mention are typical of a younger person in the present looking back in time.
I agree that Panurge is the best GG song. But there are many close ones that would fit in a top 10: In a Glass House, The Runaway, Aspirations, Peel the Paint, I lost my Head, On Reflexion, Funny Ways, Think of me with Kindness, Wreck. Off the top of my head.
I recommand you a totally forgotten and underrated song from Gentle Giant : "Bringing me down" (so groovy). Meilleures salutations from France. Thank you for your channel.
I’m just discovering them now, and starting with this album. I love it but agree with you about this song. For me it’s that really challenging mid vocals/organ section… it just doesn’t feel good to me. I think all the other changes are so imaginative and surprisingly emotional as well, but then we get this crazy smear of sound. Still, it’s absolutely fascinating and I bow to their incredible courage and musical prowess.
Justin - you asked us for a better song : ok , Low Spark of High Heeled Boys , Empty Pages , Freedom Rider - oops , sorry , those are all Traffic songs Well , give one a shot - think you’ll be most impressed
JustJP lol - I know I’ve been a prog guy for over 45 years - reason I like bands like Yes , Genesis , UK , ELP , Crimson so much is , even when they aren’t making sense I can still make sense of them. GG I have difficulty with I feel I’m almost better off listening to Zappa and his often ‘ well organized chaos ‘. Traffic will be a nice discovery for you - great blend of blues , jazz , rock Just eager to see you get started with them
@@jerrypetrillo2903 I agree - I think Zappa cornered the market on the chaotic jazz progressive rock thing, and GG was perhaps following his lead. Traffic was the master of organized jazz rock - Winwood's been around - I believe he started out in Blind Faith.
@@bobholtzmann Zappa is 'work 'for me , I appreciate the creativity/musicianship but it often makes me tired listening to it if that makes sense ( draining ) Winwood started with The Spencer Davis group in '63 , year I was born - he was 14 years old , a prodigy and had a voice that sounded like a 30 year old -lol Check out ' I'm a Man ' or 'Gimme Some Lovin' by them . Traffic came next , then Blind Faith before he went solo with the very successful ' Arc of a Diver' solo album .
@@jerrypetrillo2903 Thanks for the info Jerry - I rarely listen to Zappa, but he always is interesting. My favorite Traffic album which I listen to often is "When The Eagle Flies", which was something of a post-breakup reunion album.
Love this Album. I absolutely HATED it the first time I heard it. So just relax. When everything else becomes boring, listen to it again. You can't force yourself to like anything before you are ready to like it.
@@JustJP If there's people in the live chat, it'd be great! I guess I'm dating myself here, but back in the day people would hang out and listen to records together!
Thes kind of band can really be appreciated after several listenings, because, in some way they educate your brain. So the "first listening is NOT ENOUGH to really feel it.
They do, a ton of themes on the album play a part in other tracks, played by different instruments usually at a different tempo or with a different arrangement. They're like little easter eggs that you only notice after many, many listenings.
Without reading through the other comments, I was reminded that when I saw them live (wayyy back), the musicians switched instruments every few songs. That added to the quirkiness and unpredictability.
Keep listening/reacting to GG please! “Playing the game” and “Cogs and Cogs” are probably some of the easiest GG songs to get into. They actually have pretty immediately catchy hooks.
Nice one. I really like this song, although I think they have much better on this album. It's a great opener. That "Hail to power and to glory's way" part is so interesting and creative, almost scary. I'm wondering if that's a 5-part harmony; seems like it. I would probably put two songs on this album in my top 5 GG songs: So Sincere and Playing the Game.
Dat funky groove behind Kerry Minnear's tortured medieval counterpoint is pure GG bliss, IMO. I personally prefer Glass House to Power, but really the entire run of albums from Octopus through Free Hand is as good as it gets.
From what you said there I think you should check out songs like Wreck and Black Cat from the Acquiring the Taste album, and Funny Ways from the Gentle Giant debut album. Also, if you check out the Live version of this song, you may get a better appreciation. Cheers!
Love the middle instrumental section with keyboards. Yes, the song is a bit repetitive and as a whole not a 100% satisfying, but I still love it. Parts are extremely “groovy “ and I can really jam out to it. Ps, Spock’s Beard has a similar effect on me, very good grooves but parts of their songs have to be endured (for the first few listens) until they grow on you fully. You gotta work for it. So no, not an easy first listen, but third, fifth, etc pay big dividends.
Oh, and you asked, “what is a better song than Advent of Panurge”? “Better“ is as relative a term as you’d like to make it but “Cogs in Cogs” and “No God’s a Man” are the two best songs from this and they’re up there with Panurge. To paraphrase fictional Lester Bangs from the movie Almost Famous, “With ‘Cogs in Cogs’ it took Gentle Giant 4 minutes to accomplish what it takes Jethro Tull hours.....to NOT accomplish.”
Like some comments below have already mentioned ,you have to listen a couple more times because of the more adventurous and complexity of the piece.However,like I already suggested you and many comments below and that I am starting to discover your ear and taste,the album "three friends "will be much more easy to digest on the first listen.Please do not forget "Tarkus "from ELP.
You ever had a friend that made you listen to his music you didn’t care for but, you did it out of respect so, you could play something of yours he probably didn’t care for in return? Sometimes this music breaks through, while others never do. Hendrix did, King Crimson’s Larks Tongue in Aspic, not really. Love the 80s band though. I get it, it’s complicated and was playing with the new stereo sounds available and possible. I actually didn’t hate it. Vocals were passable. We all can’t be Jon Anderson. If only, imagine the choirs... It sounded a bit West Side Storyish and that might be a good thing. Instrumentally quirky and interesting... Anyway, I got through it and did it out of respect of my friend’s taste in music. As I said, somethings break through (to the other side). Er’body take care, stay strong and safe, Peace and Music
On a different topic, I noticed you don't have any Enslaved reactions. I hope this is because you've already heard and love every song they've put out. But if by some chance you haven't, please get them on the channel. Storm Son and Sacred Horse are both great off a recent album. Nauthir Bleeding and Thoughts Like Hammers are also excellent. If you want something a bit more radio play, try Isa.
Oh yes, lots of better songs then Advent of Panurge : On Reflection, Free Hand, So Sincere, No gods a man, Just the same, the runaway, his lost voyage, interview, i lost my head…
![OhGeesy x Lefty Gunplay - What It Iz [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/L0yzW9t2ixk/mqdefault.jpg)
Personally, Gentle Giant is a band where you really, REALLY have to listen to the songs a lot to get the full effect. On further listens to the song you'll probably start enjoying it a lot more.
I mention that a lot to him...It's really not fair to hear these pieces for the first time and judge them...I remember when I heard it the first time so many years ago, It needs to spread out in your mind... It's not like Hearing Iron Man for the first time and just falling in love...One must Acquire the Taste...:)...You also need to see GG in live videos to see what brilliant musicians they are.
Ty Arbys! Definitely a possibility with them
@@JustJP your initial reactions are perfectly valid. We should accept it as what it is.
Truth! I hated GG the first time I heard it. I had to learn it first, then recognized the genius. I only listened to it again because I was bored with all the rest of my tapes (yes, tapes) and there was something intriguing about this music. Even though it was horrible!
Interesting you should mention Iron Man. That song took years to grow in me. This album hit me immediately. Octopus, on the other hand, took its time to click with me.
This is better than Octopus. Look foward to "Playing the game"!
😁
"Playing the game" is amazing. It's my favorite together with "aspirations"
THe albums up to their Prog peak became more refined in the syncopated style but ALL their previous albums have so much going for them as unique works of art in their own right that I cannot compare them as better or worst.
You're not lying
Quirkiness, creativity, groove... they've got it all! Gentle Giant is the peak of prog music. Gods! Unlike Octopus, this is actually a concept album! So, for the "pieces to fit", you have to listen to the whole thing. And for me, any song from the albums "Three Friends" and "In a Glass House" is better than "Advent of Panurge" hahahaha
Not! 🙂
Haha, maybe one day we'll see
I strongly recommend "Pantagruel´s Nativity" and "In a Glass House". Those are my favourite songs from them!
Thanks Michael!
Great recommendations. For me those two songs are in the same league as Advent of Panurge.
@@JustJP yeah, pantagruel's nativity for sure is a heavy weight in gentle giant
Yeah more prog from the most underrated prog rock band!
This freshness of GG is eternal. I have been coming back to their work every six months or so for more than 35 yeras! It is always interesting. So profoundly original.
Oddly enough...and again we're all different...but this tune would fall short of my top 10 on the Gentle Giant landscape...but for the opposite reasons you stated!!...I actually love the middle section...the highlight of the song for me as it displays GGs progressive instrumental chops to the max!!...the verses....not so much....but keep going with this amazing band!...many more musical revelations ahead!
Which are your favourite GG songs?
I first got/heard this with the release of the SW mix and I personally fell in love on first listen. I liked all the previous GG albums but this one hit me hardest on first listen, such a thrill ride!
Love Proclamation. Power & The Glory was the first album I bought by them. The 2nd (slow) part is genuine dissonance. I'm a sucker for dissonance. Result of listening to Zappa
Their best song might be "In a glass house". The Power and the Glory is their most complex and challenging album for sure. The more you listen to it, the more you start getting all the bits and pieces as they flow. Theres something so strangely addictive and provoking in their layering of instruments with really groovy beats and complex Rhythms.
The opening keyboard is Fender Rhodes Piano. I agree about Playing The Game but after this song is Aspirations and it’s very slow and serene. Vocals from Kerry Minnear instead of Derek Shulman. Later is Cogs In Cogs which is mind blowing and The Face is astounding as well. By playing the opening track you are poised to do the whole album and I hope you do. I started here in 1974 driving around Sacramento in my VW Bus listening to this on 8 track and turning my friends on to this incredible band.
This is the first song of a concept album. The hail to power section in the middle actually makes a tremendous amount of sense thematically. A pivotal part of the story. Although for me the middle section could be a tiny bit shorter
Gentle Giant isn't a prog band. They're a bridge between prog and avant-garde prog. If you aren't into the avant-garde or experimental, they're perhaps not the band for you, but for someone like me, they're the best rock band that exists! If you want to listen to some avant-prog, Samla Mammas Manna, Eskaton, Shub-Niggurath, Mógil, Behold... The Arctopus!, Renaldo & the Loaf, Ruins, Syzygys, Cardiacs, Major Parkinson, Koenjihyakkei, and Aphrodite's Child are all really good
I have the feeling you would appreciate a lot the album Three Friends
🙋♂️🧏♂️🤷♂️
Agreed, Three Friends is their best and probably most accessible.
The 🐐 of the Gentle Giant discography, funky fresh
Octopus, In a Glass House, Power & Glory and Free Hand. Those four (and, to be honest, Interview and Three Friends) comprise some of the greatest prog music ever. Then to see them do it live...beyond great.
Thanks for highlighting another band I never got round to... me gusta! (Speaking of gentle giants, farewell Bill, you legend, RIP).
Anytime!
Thank you for doing this one. Definitely my favorite of their albums. I love all of it.
Simply Great stuff from the Great Gentle Giant ☝️❤️ thanks for the reaction JP ☝️❤️
I love a song that I don't get right away. Those are the ones I keep going back to. Popular songs catch your ear right away, you learn what's going on and what it's about right away, and by the time you hear it the third time you never want to hear it again. This is the kind of song you can listen to for years. So, my brother gave me this album, and I said "That just a mess! and I threw the tape in a corner and forgot about it. A year later, I'm sick of everything I've got and I said, "Let me try that again". Listened again. Said "That's just a mess, except for that little part right there, that's kinda pretty" And I was hooked, although I didn't know it right away.
Relatable!
I was one of those suggesting this album and so happy to see you get here. IMHO the trio of albums Glass House, The Power and The Glory and Free Hand are their apex. GG is not a band that you can grok in one listening. Keep going with this album please.
I would add Acquiring The Taste, and some of the short song of their first album, like Giant, Funny Ways and Isn't It Quiet And Cold?
@@Pjaypt and three friends for me
@@samuelecallegari6117 Oh yes! The closing track is one of the most poetic pieces of music ever made!
@@Pjaypt and must be listened with Mister Class and Quality.
@@samuelecallegari6117 "Peel the paint" from Three Friends might be my favourite song by GG.
Peel The Paint,
Experince,
The Runaway
and the first song on Aquiring the Taste.
Thats some of my candidates that can battle The Advent Of Panurge.
Gentle Giant is known as the paradigmatic progressive rock band. With an uncomparable musicianship, they went as far as no one ever did into unexplored grounds in the progressive music, navigating over dissonant 20th-century classical chamber music, medieval vocal music, jazz and rock. The multi-instrumentation capabilities of the musicians gave such dynamic to their music, which set parameters to a whole coming generation up to these very days. They explored Moogs, Mellotrons and Fender Rhodes usage with such majesty! Not to mention other instruments like oboes, violins, cellos and horns among others.
The band was able to come across the 70's maintaining an outstanding level on their music, altering their style over the years and keeping the quality as only a few bands were able to do. Among their magnificent discography, all the albums from "Acquiring the Taste" through "Playing the Fool" are essential progressive rock releases (with the possible exception of "Interview"). This portion of the band's career would see a fittingly grand conclusion on the live "Playing the Fool" album. What more is there to say about these masters of progressive music?
I enjoyed the track. Musically I was getting a sarcasm humorous vibe (Jester preforming at the Kings court). I'll have to listen again with the lyrics to see how the words intermingle with the music and sounds.
My favourite GG song is ‘why not?’ give it a listen if you haven’t already
I was a bit off put by this song when I first heard it. It's probably in my top 5 Gentle Giant songs now though.
However, for me, this album is good but I'd probably put at least 4 of their other albums above it.
Good reaction though. If you're going through the album then good luck with the next track (So Sincere), it's so weird and dissonant I struggle with it. But I think you'll really like the song 'Playing the Game'.
Alright, people here are recommending one of my favorites of theirs, Playing the Game!
Actually So Sincere is also one of my very favorites of their too. Absolutely brilliant chorus. At first the verse seems to me to be just quirky for quirkiness' sake, but as the drums come in you can hear how it fits together fairly well.
I think you might appreciate a lot more "Pantagruel's Nativity", and in general the "Acquiring The Taste" record. This and "Three Friends" are my favorites
I always love your commentary. The middle part of this song might make more sense to you after you hear the last tune on the album "Valedictory" as they revisit those themes in a powerful way for a great conclusion to this album. It's what I like to call a "bookend composition" where some of themes expressed in the beginning get revisited at the end.
Ty so much Dan!
If you don't listen to Rachel Flowers doing this and other tunes you have already reviewed, you are doing yourself a disservice. She does all the instruments and vocals and records in her bedroom. Amazing talent.
Oh and she happens to be blind.
Look on Soundcloud. Lots of good stuff there.
First time I listened to this I had a huge smile on my face , bloody brilliant prog . Kerry manier is the man.
I loved this song the first time I heard it it’s super catchy!
I like this song a lot, the llive version is even better in my opinion.
:)...Great selection...It's nice to hear the studio and them watch them do it live in a video...It shows how great the song is...Minnear And Derek are killers...
same thing i always say :) thank you for listening to this band
David Bowie "Moonage Daydream" from "Ziggy Stardust"
Yeah, this isn't an easy first listen, but it's a rewarding one when you put the time in - you could say the same for a lot of GG.
I hope you continue with the album in order - plenty of juicy stuff in there, and a few tracks that might be more immediate winners for you. It's definitely a loose concept album, more about exploring a theme than telling a specific narrative, but that gives it a timeless quality. Power, good intentions, corruption... there will never be a time when those concepts aren't relevant.
PS - If you do the full album may I suggest pairing the final track Valedictory with the "The Power and the Glory" which was a single they released at the record label's behest to promote the album, but perversely left off the album itself. Valedictory probably isn't worth a dedicated video for reasons I won't spoil, but if you threw in the single as a bonus track you'd have more to talk about!
This group reminds me of Greenslade - I would personally recommend their "Joie De Vivre" off of their 1974 Spyglass Guest album. There are really good keyboards on this!
Wow Gentle Giant !
I forgot to thank you kindly in those difficult times for the little sunshine that you bring in our lives.You do it with dignity,respect and professionalism.Hopping you and your wife have a safe weekend.Don't let the bugs bite:)
Hey thank you so much for that Elaine! Hope you stay well and safe as well :D
I had to listen to this one a few times because it intrigued me and wasn't sure about it but definitely grew on me.
That's a quality I'm recognizing about GG, they sometimes take a bit to catch on, but when they do...
This is music for people who believe there is a difference between Jackson Pollock paintings and house painters dropcloths.
Now I never heard this one,but what an intelligent and accurate comparison.You know how to listen music.I bow before you and I will remember this one.
Erm ..... I agree !! That's all .... carry on :) PS. Genesis Trespass ... or Nursery Cryme ;)
If you carry on with Trespass, the song's got to be "Visions of Angels" !
NC will likely be my next Genesis album
@@JustJP if you do NC that's a great choice and another fav of mine, it contains 2 early Genesis classics The Musical Box and The Fountain of S, the rest of the album is great also, cheers dude.
Kudos to these guys for following their muse and making something that's truly distinct. I do not like the guy's singing, but the band grooves (keyboard is awesome) and I admire their creativity.
I find the live performances of Gentle Giant much more satisfying than the studio versions in nearly every case.
Really enjoying your reactions, thanks for sharing:) Proclamation functions as an overture to the rest of the album; motifs and themes that seem randomly introduced here, are echoed and resolved as the piece "progresses": couldn't help myself:D
Haha ty Kev!
You just gotta keep listening man! If anything, I think from 'In a Glass House' onwards is where their songwriting tightens up. Those puzzle grooves and rhythmic interplay become a more primary focus and not so much the dynamic episodic compositions like in the early albums. 'Free Hand' and the underrated 'Interview' are my top 2 GG albums. 'The Power and the Glory' is probably 3rd.
I'm new to their catalog except one older song I can't recall the name of, but I get their style. I like your take on the "puzzle pieces. "
Restraint is a musical skill.
(I've no room to talk.)
As a means of expression excess is no less than the mirror of it's equal and too much is also too much.🙃😉
Gentle Giant is a genre unto themselves.
You're not wrong!
@@JustJP Did you listen to the Free Hand album yet? That's my favorite.
I call them Proto-Zolo Avant-Prog mixed with Psychedelic Folk and Neo-Classical elements
GG was the last of the major prog groups that I learned to like, along with later King Crimson. They keep you off balance and require close attention. In both cases for me it took live performances to "get" them.
Mike Oldfield Tubular bells!
oh...as far as better than Panurge??...that's up to your ears Justin...we'll all serve up different answers to that question...a few of mine would be "On Reflection"..."Empty City"...…"No God's a Man"...."Nothing at All"..."Funny Ways"..."Freehand"...and again..Im not saying "better"...but definitely worthy!!
Thank you Steve! Differing opinions are what I'm looking for😁
Is the Steven Wilson mix?
That is one of my fave songs from my fave GG album.
Your puzzle analogy is a good one, pieces that one is uncertain what picture they'll form. Power is a conceptual work like you're coming to a play and the Proclamation is made to introduce the audience to the what that follows so it feels in a way incomplete if the whole play isn't seen. Now Power is NOT a play in the traditional sense, but it does have a particular flow story-wise and musically as if you were flying over a strange land and dropping in here and there on its aspects and Proclamation is the vehicle transporting you to this place, land of an uncertain king. Having said ALL THAT! Power is not my favorite GG album, but it is exceptional as you continue through it (go in song order) and, according to Derek Shulman, GG thought it was their best album.
These videos make my day by the way. 👍 Cheers.
Thanks so much Robert!
May I recommend - Mister Class and Quality/Three Friends both songs lead into each other and their brilliant. And it doesn’t mess about or anything. It’s about as good as Advent of Panurge. And yes there are better songs than Advent but Advent I think is one of their most popular songs and it’s really good too.
Edit: I have never heard Proclamation Until Today and I like it.
Ty Cadan! Glad you liked this one as well
Yesssss! This song is a bit of a meme between me and my partner. We'll start randomly singing the melody at each other
Love it! :D
G G : Great !
Try " In A Glass House " and " Three Friends "
Live, "Playing the Fool" is great!
My first Gentle Giant experience ever. My favorite part was when it got a little funky. I enjoyed keyboards. I'd give them another listen.
Syncopation makes it sound like they're falling backwards.
Hmm, that is true
@@JustJP This is what first attracted me to Yes 50 years ago.
This song got me hooked on GG. You definitely need a second and third listen to get it.
Though Gentle Giant are my favourites there are some songs with parts I do not really like. On this album I like almost every other song more than this opener. I do not think very often that pieces are too long but here I think that they played some parts too repetitive. So a little bit shorter would probably have been better for me and this song is only very interesting. Of course this is complaining on a high level. But what can I do? I am German. The next song "So Sincere" is great but the live version is different from the studio version and much better. MUCH BETTER.
There are some songs I like more than Panurge. My personal fav is "On Reflection" from "Free Hand". Another one is "Mr. Class and Quality" in combination with the following "Three Friends" from "Three Friends". Though they are released as two pieces they belong together and offer one of their greatest sound adventures. Unbelievable. So it is not an option to listen to them as one but an obligation. Other songs that come to mind are "Peel The Paint" ,"Plain Truth", "Nothing at All", "The House, The Street, The Room" including a heavily distorted Hammond Organ.
Thanks for the suggestions and obligations 😄
@@JustJP Always your servant, Sir!
This song.....Why? Because they can And from that perspective it is just plain fun Makes you laugh and that is never a bad thing these days Thanks Justin
Recently, Gentle Giant put a virtual band fan cover of this song on their RUclips channel; you might enjoy it, it's a pretty cool project.
Progressive Greatness ☝️
Honestly, Gentle Giant is as "experimental" as my tastes ever got. I can tell you that the only reason why I bought "The Power & The Glory" (the only of their albums I every bought) was because the local University radio station played *Playing The Game* repeatedly, and the best parts of it began to catch my ear in a favorable way. If I had only heard it a single time, I definitely would not have bought it.
Having listened to the the album several times, I definitely like multiple parts of it, and I still really like *Playing The Game.* But I also discovered one of my seriously favorite 'darkish' songs on that album, which I definitely recommend to you, Justin: *Aspirations*, which is just an amazing song in my ears. So glad I discovered it.
So those are my recommendations to you, Justin, for other songs on this album you should check out:
*Playing The Game* and
*Aspirations*
Both are better than Proclamation, IMO...
Hi Justin: Not to go crazy with comments, but as lifelong Giant lover.....I listened to a lot of Giant, and then bought "In A Glass House." There was a record / music store in Rochester called 'House of Guitars'. They had 1,000s of albums in there. When you walked in, there was a 15 foot high round tower, with the latest 20 great rock albums in bins going all the way around the tower. $3.98 an album, thousands of other records throughout the rest of the store.....BUT, upstairs in locked cabinets with see through doors were the "Imports"....$4.98, or even $5 to $6.98 and album. That's where I found Glass House. The first time I heard it, the sound "popped" off the record. Something about the production quality (fidelity) was different from all of their other albums. I still think so even today. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I appreciate you "going crazy" with comments, its great to read everyone's thoughts/experiences! I'll probably finish Power and Glory first, but ill keep Glass House in mind as well!
The albums up to their Prog peak became more refined in the syncopated style but ALL their previous albums have so much going for them as unique works of art in their own right that I cannot compare them as better or worst. I like them ALL and you don't get it then it's not in your DNA to understand all the puzzle pieces and how they fit together perfectly. Sometimes your reference you mention are typical of a younger person in the present looking back in time.
I agree that Panurge is the best GG song. But there are many close ones that would fit in a top 10: In a Glass House, The Runaway, Aspirations, Peel the Paint, I lost my Head, On Reflexion, Funny Ways, Think of me with Kindness, Wreck. Off the top of my head.
I recommand you a totally forgotten and underrated song from Gentle Giant : "Bringing me down" (so groovy).
Meilleures salutations from France. Thank you for your channel.
Ty Derclaz! Bon Soir!
I’m just discovering them now, and starting with this album. I love it but agree with you about this song. For me it’s that really challenging mid vocals/organ section… it just doesn’t feel good to me. I think all the other changes are so imaginative and surprisingly emotional as well, but then we get this crazy smear of sound. Still, it’s absolutely fascinating and I bow to their incredible courage and musical prowess.
Their best album too. It used to be in my Top 10
I like GG and this album, but I totally agree with your opinion about it being too fussy or disjointed.
Better than the Advent of Panurge - "Schooldays" and "Mister Class and Quality" from the Three Friends album.
Please don't change a single thing about your channel. Not one thing.
Thank you IV! I wont🙂
Justin - you asked us for a better song : ok , Low Spark of High Heeled Boys , Empty Pages , Freedom Rider - oops , sorry , those are all Traffic songs Well , give one a shot - think you’ll be most impressed
Hahaha I meant from Gentle Giant😂
JustJP lol - I know I’ve been a prog guy for over 45 years - reason I like bands like Yes , Genesis , UK , ELP , Crimson so much is , even when they aren’t making sense I can still make sense of them. GG I have difficulty with I feel I’m almost better off listening to Zappa and his often ‘ well organized chaos ‘. Traffic will be a nice discovery for you - great blend of blues , jazz , rock Just eager to see you get started with them
@@jerrypetrillo2903 I agree - I think Zappa cornered the market on the chaotic jazz progressive rock thing, and GG was perhaps following his lead. Traffic was the master of organized jazz rock - Winwood's been around - I believe he started out in Blind Faith.
@@bobholtzmann Zappa is 'work 'for me , I appreciate the creativity/musicianship but it often makes me tired listening to it if that makes sense ( draining ) Winwood started with The Spencer Davis group in '63 , year I was born - he was 14 years old , a prodigy and had a voice that sounded like a 30 year old -lol Check out ' I'm a Man ' or 'Gimme Some Lovin' by them . Traffic came next , then Blind Faith before he went solo with the very successful ' Arc of a Diver' solo album .
@@jerrypetrillo2903 Thanks for the info Jerry - I rarely listen to Zappa, but he always is interesting. My favorite Traffic album which I listen to often is "When The Eagle Flies", which was something of a post-breakup reunion album.
Proclamation is my ring tone!
Love this Album. I absolutely HATED it the first time I heard it. So just relax. When everything else becomes boring, listen to it again. You can't force yourself to like anything before you are ready to like it.
This is their best work the syncopation is impossible
I recommend two Gentle Giant songs that are both super complicated but also have a touching emotional component to them: Experience and On Reflection.
Ever though about doing a live broadcast and listening to an entire album? I'd sit in chat and listen to some Gentle Giant records.
Not for an album listen tbh; I do a lot of re-listening and research afterwards so its be kind of boring lol
@@JustJP If there's people in the live chat, it'd be great! I guess I'm dating myself here, but back in the day people would hang out and listen to records together!
Thes kind of band can really be appreciated after several listenings, because, in some way they educate your brain. So the "first listening is NOT ENOUGH to really feel it.
I agree!
I like it, wondering if some of the parts crop up in other songs on the album since it's a concept album.
They do, a ton of themes on the album play a part in other tracks, played by different instruments usually at a different tempo or with a different arrangement. They're like little easter eggs that you only notice after many, many listenings.
Without reading through the other comments, I was reminded that when I saw them live (wayyy back), the musicians switched instruments every few songs. That added to the quirkiness and unpredictability.
That's ones of the best things about the band and seeing some of their live videos
Keep listening/reacting to GG please!
“Playing the game” and “Cogs and Cogs” are probably some of the easiest GG songs to get into.
They actually have pretty immediately catchy hooks.
Ty!
Nice one. I really like this song, although I think they have much better on this album. It's a great opener. That "Hail to power and to glory's way" part is so interesting and creative, almost scary. I'm wondering if that's a 5-part harmony; seems like it.
I would probably put two songs on this album in my top 5 GG songs: So Sincere and Playing the Game.
when we talk about PROG, we need at least 3 auditions of the same album to reach some conclusion
There is a great filmed live version of this track from 1974 which you should check.
Dat funky groove behind Kerry Minnear's tortured medieval counterpoint is pure GG bliss, IMO. I personally prefer Glass House to Power, but really the entire run of albums from Octopus through Free Hand is as good as it gets.
From what you said there I think you should check out songs like Wreck and Black Cat from the Acquiring the Taste album, and Funny Ways from the Gentle Giant debut album. Also, if you check out the Live version of this song, you may get a better appreciation. Cheers!
Love the middle instrumental section with keyboards. Yes, the song is a bit repetitive and as a whole not a 100% satisfying, but I still love it. Parts are extremely “groovy “ and I can really jam out to it.
Ps, Spock’s Beard has a similar effect on me, very good grooves but parts of their songs have to be endured (for the first few listens) until they grow on you fully. You gotta work for it. So no, not an easy first listen, but third, fifth, etc pay big dividends.
Oh, and you asked, “what is a better song than Advent of Panurge”? “Better“ is as relative a term as you’d like to make it but “Cogs in Cogs” and “No God’s a Man” are the two best songs from this and they’re up there with Panurge. To paraphrase fictional Lester Bangs from the movie Almost Famous, “With ‘Cogs in Cogs’ it took Gentle Giant 4 minutes to accomplish what it takes Jethro Tull hours.....to NOT accomplish.”
Like some comments below have already mentioned ,you have to listen a couple more times because of the more adventurous and complexity of the piece.However,like I already suggested you and many comments below and that I am starting to discover your ear and taste,the album "three friends "will be much more easy to digest on the first listen.Please do not forget "Tarkus "from ELP.
You ever had a friend that made you listen to his music you didn’t care for but, you did it out of respect so, you could play something of yours he probably didn’t care for in return?
Sometimes this music breaks through, while others never do. Hendrix did, King Crimson’s Larks Tongue in Aspic, not really. Love the 80s band though. I get it, it’s complicated and was playing with the new stereo sounds available and possible. I actually didn’t hate it. Vocals were passable. We all can’t be Jon Anderson. If only, imagine the choirs...
It sounded a bit West Side Storyish and that might be a good thing. Instrumentally quirky and interesting... Anyway, I got through it and did it out of respect of my friend’s taste in music. As I said, somethings break through (to the other side).
Er’body take care, stay strong and safe,
Peace and Music
Haha, love the analogy David :D Ty for letting me borrow your ears!
Would love to see more Marillion, how about you cover "This Strange Engine"
On a different topic, I noticed you don't have any Enslaved reactions. I hope this is because you've already heard and love every song they've put out. But if by some chance you haven't, please get them on the channel. Storm Son and Sacred Horse are both great off a recent album. Nauthir Bleeding and Thoughts Like Hammers are also excellent. If you want something a bit more radio play, try Isa.
GG will grow on you over the years. Once in awhile you want that Gari to sharpen your palette.
Oh they definitely have since this reaction :D I've covered several more albums from them and I love Power and the Glory
Listening to some Zeuhl or Zolo or Brutal Prog or Avant-Prog can aid in listening to Gentle Giant
you should check out the song Good Mornign Captain by Slint , or conceptual romance by jenny hval, or Djohariah by Sufjan Stevens !!:)
Oh yes, lots of better songs then Advent of Panurge : On Reflection, Free Hand, So Sincere, No gods a man, Just the same, the runaway, his lost voyage, interview, i lost my head…
Of course there are less fragmented songs. Funny ways (preferably live with vibraphone solo) or Nothing at All. Both from their debut.