Gentle Giant- The Boys in the Band (First Listen)
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- Опубликовано: 20 янв 2025
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Song Link: • The Boys in the Band -...
Now you’re talking! I adore this song. Tied with Zappa’s Peaches in Regalia as my favorite prog instrumental. I love the complexity of it. The unique sounding instruments, the bass and drum groove, the keyboards. It’s just the right strangeness (Never go full Strange). My only very tiny nit pic is the repetitiveness of the final descending riff? Three is my usual limit before I say to myself. “Come on, let’s get this thing going”
I like the rest of the album as well....River/Think of me.../Dog’s life (of course). I think the second side of the album pushes it over the top for me.
Ps, Spock’s Beard has many similar types of songs. They are complex, musically at least. But, and it’s a big but, they find that accessible groove /melody. IMHO they have just the right amount of strange. The Beatles, The Stones, Genesis, Yes, GG, Kansas,PF, Moody Blues, Tull....all had this unique/strange/melodic quality of musical greatness.
Steven Wilson, Big Big Train, IQ, Haken....are carrying on that tradition. They stand on the shoulders of Giants ;).
Ps, You need to sit on one of those giant inflatable balls. Supposed to be quite good for your posture and core strength....and it’s funny. 😄. You’ve probably got one in the back of your closet...then you’ve got to find the pump. And for God’s sake, don’t throw that at anyone’s head...unless you’re making a “whacky” video.
The main riff is Avant Gard/ jazz fusion but breaks down at the end to a mariachi rhythm with the brass at the end. So cool.
I'm enjoying the GG journey, too. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The greatness of GG reaches the live stage performances as well as studio production, always awesome to listen and watch
I enjoy all Gentle Giant, and when I don't, I have found it is because I need to give it a few more listens, and I learn to appreciate it. It's always me that needs to catch up, not them.
That was my exact experience as well. Headphones and repeated listenings solved it though. So damm good
Enjoyed that, totally agree about the perfect piano and slow bluesy guitar bit that comes from nowhere. It's sublime, and then it's gone.
This idea comes back in only one other Giant place I can think of, No God's a man on The Power and the Glory at 2:41.
The guitar, following the piano section that you mention, plays a melody that is almost absurd in the note selection, but it is truly sublime and complete. At first listen it might sound like a simple solo until you realize what you heard. I've listened to this song maybe thousands of times, and I just can't imagine coming up with it. Even if I did, I wouldn't recognize it's significance because it would be out of context.
Saw these guys live at Civic Auditorium in LA way back when. Was just a great show!
I'm REALLY glad you got to Gentle Giant and that you dig it so much. I know many fans love this album but for me Glass House, The Power and The Glory and Free Hand are their apex. Anyway keep up the explorations.
Agree, also like Three Friends and Interview more than this one, still great though.
Ty Robert :)
Love it !! Very Zappaesque. You could have sneaked this onto the "Grand Wazoo" album by Zappa and I would have barely noticed.
@@HippoYnYrEira ... It was written and recorded during Zappa's period of convalescence after being assaulted in December 1971 in London, UK. It was released November 1972.
Such a bold, fun way to kick off side 2! I love the chuckle and coin spin at the start - especially when you know the track it just builds the anticipation for when the whole band come crashing in with that crazy riff.
Glad you're still enjoying the GG ride. 3 more to go!
Great start to it! Ty David!
Those wacky boys in the band.
Good work! Face B of Octopus have very rewarding moments ! Keep going! You can dig into GG'S catalogue! They have interesting music! In my opinion 8 albums from 1970 Gentle Giant to 1976 Interview. After that, they tried to get more attention and...call it a day.
LOVED this song! Had not heard it. I don't know why I did not get into Gentle Giant back in the day. I was "aware" of them, and remember seeing their album covers, but just was not exposed to their music, that I remember.
Your reaction and analysis was fun, as usual!!!
Ty! Glad you liked it :)
My favorite cut from Octopus so far!
Wouldn't say its on my Gentle Giant playlist...but a nice display of their musical command. If Im not mistaken, the next tune is Think of Me with Kindness...which, to me, is an absolute treasure. Funny how so many are commenting on the Zappa similarities....while Zappa was notoriously critical of other progressive bands in his time...he mentioned these guys as a standout, stating their originality tied with their musical prowess.
Actually it’s the chamber music-informed “Dog’s Life,” but you’re close... “Think of Me With Kindness” follows, one of the band’s most beautiful songs, sung to perfection by keyboardist Kerry Minnear.
The coin spinning is to me like a crescendo. It starts Gentle and builds in intensity until it becomes unbearable, and then BANG! the monster opening riff begins.
Yes! Didn't even really think about it like that
I love the opening. It builds so much anticipation and then right before the coin stops the song just explodes. Suits the song well.
The next 2 songs are like love songs written by and sang by other members in the band. The coin spinning at the start is like a sign saying that this is a fun and enjoyable song basically the band having fun. This side of the album features the bands progressive and sort of hard rock side
The coin spin is so cool. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs, amazing stuff.
The coin spin is the perfect build of tension so when the band bursts in it's a really strong dynamic release.
We are on the same page when it comes to this album, it seems. "That sounds like a song." Exactly!
Thanks for the review. I liked that. Pure PROG if ever I heard it. :)
Definitely :)
Exactly "perfect". The middle section. The synth sound with the funky bass. I SO AGREE, after the complex opening phrase. Yes, the solid funky melodies. The return to the cake is sometimes too early. I want more of the funky middle section.
Great stuff! This is actually fun way to listen new album.
Great vid!
Glad you got to Gentle Giant.
Live version is brilliant and the whole album is one of the best live albums ever.
Playing the Fool.
And any live vids you can see are also very worthwhile.
You can see how much they jump around to each others instruments.
Also, their "drum solo" actually involves the whole band!
Also, check out On Reflection from Free Hand.
Mind breaker.
I’ve not been able to find a live version of this tune. It’s probably my favorite GG tune!
Such a mix of styles.. it's a lie back and listen to... even after all this time
Freaking epic instrumental man!
Yes it is!
@@JustJP if you listen to the live "Excerpts From Octopus" Gary and Ray rearranged this instrumental as an acoustic guitar duet. Absolutely bonkers rendition! I 💘 Gentle Giant so much.
@@jimhardiman3836 interesting, I'll look for it. Ty
Liked this one more than the first one you did from these. As for synth sounds, have you heard Tomita? ( Early synth pioneer who did classical music on a moog, Snowflakes Are Dancing is lovely).
Hmm, no they dont sound familiar to me
The base line from 2:34 to 2:44 is sooo beautiful. Check it out. And the overall drumming!
Amazing album! My favorite song it's River, the last one. Sure you will surprise a lot. Thanks for the reactions.
Thanks for watching Martin!
Happy you like it. My favorite track on the album. But weird volume sound mix ! so much change in volume, especially at the beginning. Not the way I used to hear that track! Perhaps it's my headphones :-)
P G No, not your headphones, it was quite noticeable. Probably a You Tube upload. Some of those can be a little, or a lot, off.
Not on your side. This clip sounds really strange. Sometimes even ultra compressed, ...
I think it is only picking up one of the channels probably the right
Sorry about that! I'll look into it
I noticed this with some songs. At the cell phone I could hear only one channel, when the phone is connected to external speakers I can hear the full mix.
Excellent review.....LOVE GG. Please do Camel's Freefall or Lunar Sea.
Ty! I have more Camel on my list to get to
Very Zappa-esque. Love it. Also has a bit of Steely Dan flavor to it
Stef Vanstiphout : Steely Danish? I prefer the cheese Danish.
I think You would also enjoy listening to HAPPY THE MAN , more specify their 1st release
I don't know if you've heard of Tortoise, But they would switch instruments often live. And you like "square wave" sounds on keyboards. The best from this album so far.
Once you get through Octopus I HIGHLY RECOMMEND listening to Excerpts from Octopus from the live album Playing the Fool. You will be happily floored methinks especially hearing the instrumental intensity and talent of these fellows. Cheers.
Gentle Giant don't do simple.
It is very interesting the fact that each album has a particular objective in the overall composing, even if it is not a conceptual one (that's the case here): the album is called Octopus exactly due to the fact that are eight songs that are not related to each other in any possible way (lyrics, style of singing, instrumentally cohesive, etc). The next, Dog's Life, is one of the most strange songs of them by the way.
Very true; getting a lot of different flavors from them
Check out I lost my head. My favoritt GG track.
This is my favorite song by GG
I heard you say David Sylvian is your favorite singer. Have you heard Rain Tree Crow? If not they are Japan in disguise playing Prog.
I have :D I haven't listened to them as much as I have David's solo effort and Nine Horses though
JustJP what about Fripp/Sylvian Damage(live)and The First Day?
@@shyshift nope, not yet. On the list lol
JustJP Gone To Earth?
@@shyshift One of my favorites :)
I sometimes thought the coin was like a counting into the song. As soon as the coin stops, everyone hits their intruments.
Just love gg
I love the entrance to this song. They were looking for music outside the standard instruments and rhythms and integrate them in what they were doing. This is not the only example. There are introductions as shattered glasses that turn into a rhythm they take up or the sound of one of the oldest computer games - somewhat like tennis. In some pubs you could find a small table you could put a coin in and that offered only this game for two persons at the same time. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away it was exciting to play such futuristic games. In this context their beginning of another song with snipping fingers seems rather conventional. But things like this are some of those that make them them.
maraboo72 Spock’s Beard did that with a growling dog that turns into a guitar sound in ‘Time Has Come’. I love creative use of sound efx.
ruclips.net/video/K9T9Cflecns/видео.html
Ps, Ms Packman!
They know how to groove! And then move in completely other directions!
This is a fun song. Not something to listen to every day, but enjoyable.
Oxopus?
Lwize : Yes, it’s a mutant cross between a beast of burden and an extremely intelligent sea creature. Similar to the “sharktapus” or “sharkasaurus”. Si Fi channel shows that shit all the time.
@@sidecardog5244 I pictured an octopus with easy grip tentacles.
Lwize : Yeah, good thought. It wouldn’t leave any nasty hickies.
Check out this octopus vs shark video. ruclips.net/video/Q36_8s5z6S8/видео.html.
The coin scrape on the desk makes me shudder like chalk on a blackboard does for some people.
Lol, totally understood!
Yeah more prog rock!
There's something Frank Zappa about this.
I was primed to be annoyed by another song with wacky vocals. Pleased that it was an instrumental but I wasn't crazy about the fast opening. I had to check if I had the video sped up. I liked it once it slowed down. Still not sold on GG, but definitely still interested.
That's the thing about them; they're definitely great at getting your attention
echolyn - the cheese stands alone..
Glad all my "show us your ass" comments finally paid off.
Lolol
Some interesting moments, just a little too out there for my liking and chances of me ever having an urge to play this song for personal listening is extremely slim.
I agree only I’ll say the chances are zero. I can appreciate the amount of work and the complexity involved in its creation and execution but it does nothing for me.
As a side-opener, it does a good job getting your attention with the opening riff. It boldly shouts “we’re here, so listen up”, just like the Simpsons theme tune. The single bar of four amidst the bars of thees throws us off balance, makes us focus to solve the time signature puzzle. Once focused, they throw in the confusing quirky section, as if to challenge us if we dare to come along for the ride. Then, the hit us with unexpected simplicity, a steady groove, a nice predictable bass line, soothing instrumentals. They are giving us a break here, and they keep this groove going for some time. This song is a grower. It eventually eats its way into your head and nags you in a positive way. This kind of opener was a good choice because the two following songs are relatively simple and gentle. I agree this is not a “playlist song” for me or a playlist album. This is an album I listen to once or twice annually and have done so for 20 years. It’s like instant noodles for me. Definitely not something I want to have regularly, but I always enjoy it on the rare occasions I decide to indulge.
Well, was it heads or tails?
Ps, good choice for a totem. I guess we now know it’s not a dream....”Inception “ joke.
Pps, “Manners maketh a Man” (sorry, just felt I had to say that in light of the previous comment). Carry on.
Haha, did it stop or keep going? We'll never know!
Bassist is special. Maybe even better than Chris Squire.
Heresy
Sounds like some Frank Zappa. 🖒
That was my first thought too.
:)...I've known both groups (FZ & GG) for decades... This song does indeed sound like an FZ song...But Frank has a more Guitar involved in his music...Giant is more Bass and keyboards...But; I can see how it reminds you of something Zappa would have done...God rest his soul! edit; Sounds like something off Overnite Sensation...
There was an interview with Frank Zappa where he was asked what bands he listened to, and Gentle Giant was one of them. Likewise, Gentle Giant liked Frank's music.
Love Gentle Giant, but can't help but feel you picked one of the weaker albums in their catalog. You like this album, you would flip over Power and the Glory, In a Glass House, Acquiring the Taste or Three Friends. All those albums are much stronger than Octopus. Still, kudos for reacting to Gentle Giant, not many reaction channels will touch them.
Oh, I don’t know if I can agree that Octopus was weak. I think it was a real game-changer for the group...of course I’m biased, as I love pretty much everything from 1970’s debut through 1976’s In’terview equally....which one I choose on a given day depending on mood.
weaker albums? wth lol
Those Steven Wilson remixes are bloody awful.
If you listen from the cell phone you can listen only one channel so you can't judge by this