The Album Review Club - Week #194 (page 1303) - Ants From Up There - Black Country, New Road

[FogBlueInSanFran]

To be fair, I think they are but even more so I think they purposely are.

They are grandstanding their education or smartness, as I tried to observe it's their University limerick-ing or whatever I wrote.............

And maybe they should be dinged for that if they're doing that on purpose, since they certainly aren't sending themselves up.

 

[RobMCFC]

Foxtrot, Foxtrot, Foxtrot, where to start ?
....
8/10

Nice review, Bill. Looks like we found a sweet spot for you there. With all the gushing praise I was expecting to see a 10 or at least a 9, so I was surprised by the 8. Still, that's bumped your average score up a bit.
(oh yes, I am tracking all sorts of averages and I think we'll have some "league tables" after 10 albums).

Thanks for the Mellotron videos, I'll have a watch of those later. Apart from a few basic guitar chords, I'm a bit of a musical dunce, but I do enjoy finding out about the different instruments used on records.

I just find this a little (more than a little) emote-less.

Not for the first time, you've hit the nail on the head there for me, Foggy. I like my songs to be about something, sung with passion and soul. It's probably explains my late introduction to music. Whilst everybody at school was listening to cold, soulless, throwaway pop driven by tinny keyboards and supported by comedy hairstyles, I was more into football and films and wondered what all the fuss was about.

I prefer Pink Floyd to Genesis, but neither are among my favourites, although I did enjoy some elements of Foxtrot.

You were doing ever so well, until your last 2 words.

Come on, I think we can all agree that Coldplay are about as useless as a handbrake in a canoe!

 

[Saddleworth2]

Foxtrot, Foxtrot, Foxtrot, where to start ?
I guess at the beginning. I like all the Gabriel prog albums, even Trespass, the one without Collins on drums. When this first came out the sound was lousy, cramming 50 minutes onto an LP meant a decrease in sound quality for us HiFi dweebs, 40 really is the max. But the later releases corrected this especially the re-mastered version.
As soon as I heard the beautiful mellotron intro in Watcher of The Skies, I was hooked. An amazing album, and in my opinion, Genesis' finest hour. The opening song, "Watcher of The Skies" is a bit of an odd track, (and reminds me of Ye's opener on The Yes Album, Yours Is No Disgrace in terms of the way itgallops along) but repeat listens unveil its true brilliance. Rutherfords work in this track is good, his bass riff is immediately catchy. Beautiful washes of mellotron and guitar give this song a lot of character, it stands out as one of Genesis' most adventurous (and rewarding) songs. "Get em Out By Friday" is another killer track with Gabriel playing different vocal roles and showcasing his versatile vocal style. Great organ work by Tony here. Can-Utility And The Coastliners is a great symphonic track that builds to a rich and breathtaking climax, Hackett and Banks' instruments weaving in and out of one another overtop a beautiful orchestral mellotron.
The real treat on this album is the albums centerpiece "Supper's Ready," this magnum opus travels through many different moods and reaches several awe inspiring climaxes. The song blends perfectly the emotion of Gabriel's performance and the power of the band supporting him. Many great parts in this song, and lots of lush instrumentals. Very melodic and rich, the composition flows perfectly through each musical motif. Some standout passages are Hackett's intense solo in the movement "Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men", and Bank's crowning moment "Apocalypse in 9/8". Once the first movement is reprised, you WILL be in utter awe. This album is no less than a masterpiece of Prog and Im surprised it isnt mentioned much in the 10 greatest ever lists (as I think its better than any Pink Floyd album) , and an essential record for anyone who even remotely enjoys progressive music.
8/10

It is in most lists of the greatest prog rock albums. I think Rolling stone has it at 15 or something round that (and they are Yanks ffs) ;-). Thought it was just me that believe Floyd albums are overrated. Only time I felt myself nodding off was at their debut concert for wish you were here (maybe the alcohol and dry ice had something to do with it).
Nice review mate.

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

Nice review, Bill. Looks like we found a sweet spot for you there. With all the gushing praise I was expecting to see a 10 or at least a 9, so I was surprised by the 8. Still, that's bumped your average score up a bit.
(oh yes, I am tracking all sorts of averages and I think we'll have some "league tables" after 10 albums).

Thanks for the Mellotron videos, I'll have a watch of those later. Apart from a few basic guitar chords, I'm a bit of a musical dunce, but I do enjoy finding out about the different instruments used on records.


Not for the first time, you've hit the nail on the head there for me, Foggy. I like my songs to be about something, sung with passion and soul. It's probably explains my late introduction to music. Whilst everybody at school was listening to cold, soulless, throwaway pop driven by tinny keyboards and supported by comedy hairstyles, I was more into football and films and wondered what all the fuss was about.

I prefer Pink Floyd to Genesis, but neither are among my favourites, although I did enjoy some elements of Foxtrot.


Come on, I think we can all agree that Coldplay are about as useless as a handbrake in a canoe!

An 8's not to be sniffed at - Most artists would Kill Bill for an 8............

 

[Saddleworth2]

Fucking hell Bill - have you just managed to harpoon 90% of the planets guitarists and compare Pink Floyd to Coldplay in one foul swoop!?!

Outrageous.............. :-)

just true.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

If we’re doing favourite bits it’s the lead up to and exultant explosion of 666…

Oh Yes!
Legendary.

 

[crublue1]

Nice review, Bill. Looks like we found a sweet spot for you there. With all the gushing praise I was expecting to see a 10 or at least a 9, so I was surprised by the 8. Still, that's bumped your average score up a bit.
(oh yes, I am tracking all sorts of averages and I think we'll have some "league tables" after 10 albums).

Thanks for the Mellotron videos, I'll have a watch of those later. Apart from a few basic guitar chords, I'm a bit of a musical dunce, but I do enjoy finding out about the different instruments used on records.


Not for the first time, you've hit the nail on the head there for me, Foggy. I like my songs to be about something, sung with passion and soul. It's probably explains my late introduction to music. Whilst everybody at school was listening to cold, soulless, throwaway pop driven by tinny keyboards and supported by comedy hairstyles, I was more into football and films and wondered what all the fuss was about.

I prefer Pink Floyd to Genesis, but neither are among my favourites, although I did enjoy some elements of Foxtrot.


Come on, I think we can all agree that Coldplay are about as useless as a handbrake in a canoe!

With respect, that's a massive assumption on your part.
I'm not a Coldplay fanboy, but I can at least acknowledge they have written some great tunes over the years.

 

[chesterbells]

Its a double that should have been a single. Most of the best stuff is on disc 1.

Hang on, are we still discussing Physical Graffiti here? ;-)

 

[Saddleworth2]

And maybe they should be dinged for that if they're doing that on purpose, since they certainly aren't sending themselves up.

and if it was released today they might be 'dinged' for it or maybe not (their musical proficiency would also stand out like a sore thumb in todays market ). However in the UK of 1972 not so much. They were certainly not the only prog band who wrote lyrics that could be mocked. Never mind prog, have you looked at some of Led Zeppelins noodlings?

I realize I’m biased here. My adulation of the technically proficient and complex composition begins and ends with Rush

Why be so restrictive mate? That seems a little closed minded if you don't mind me saying. I really like the complexity of Beethoven but that Mahler gadge can fuck right off ;-)

I just find this a little (more than a little) emote-less.

Adele's new album is worth a listen

I get that you don't much care for the album but trying to persuade those of us that do of its demerits is surely a little futile.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Hang on, are we still discussing Physical Graffiti here? ;-)

Could be mate. (a pattern is emerging!)

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

With respect, that's a massive assumption on your part.
I'm not a Coldplay fanboy, but I can at least acknowledge they have written some great tunes over the years.

This isn't a deep dive but I'll start the bidding that they have written 4 originally likeable songs which since will have been played to death (not necessarily their fault).

And it doesn't help anyone that Chris Martin just happens to have Chris Martin's personality.............. ;-)

 

[Saddleworth2]

With respect, that's a massive assumption on your part.
I'm not a Coldplay fanboy, but I can at least acknowledge they have written some great tunes over the years.

Their early stuff was ok I thought. Some good songs. They put on a pretty amazing arena show as well.

To be fair, I think they are but even more so I think they purposely are.

They are grandstanding their education or smartness, as I tried to observe it's their University limerick-ing or whatever I wrote.............

I don't think they are at all. In that period, they wrote a huge variety of lyrics - from ethereal to out and out comedy and everything in between. Anyone that can write a killer rock song about Hogweed must have some kudos. History and mythology does feature quite a bit in the earlier stuff but to me its no more pretentious than writing a double album about a puerto rican hoodlum in NYC. If they had made music like the Ramones, i think they would have been similarly dismissed because of their background.

 

[Saddleworth2]

This isn't a deep dive but I'll start the bidding that they have written 4 originally likeable songs which since will have been played to death (not necessarily their fault).

And it doesn't help anyone that Chris Martin just happens to have Chris Martin's personality.............. ;-)

There you go mate. Just for you.

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

Their early stuff was ok I thought. Some good songs. They put on a pretty amazing arena show as well.

I don't think they are at all. In that period, they wrote a huge variety of lyrics - from ethereal to out and out comedy and everything in between. Anyone that can write a killer rock song about Hogweed must have some kudos. History and mythology does feature quite a bit in the earlier stuff but to me its no more pretentious than writing a double album about a puerto rican hoodlum in NYC. If they had made music like the Ramones, i think they would have been similarly dismissed because of their background.

To be fair I'm not well versed on their back catalogue but it's how it comes across to me from the album..........

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

There you go mate. Just for you.

Not sure it's even for a couple I was thinking of (granted Coldplay track names aren't my forte).

I can't accept the full 10 just working off number 6......... ;-)

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

I think Genesis Gabriel era is too English for you yanks, seriously, loads of references and Englishness, even the artwork, yes the lyrics are twee, but artfully so and references to nursey rhymes etc.
Now your comment on Wish You Were Here. I myself prefer Foxtrot a hundred times more due to the musical content, its harmonically brilliant, contains contrapuntal passages, varying time signatures, Jazz chord voicings. Its clever.
Pink Floyds music is flat, nearly all a slow 4/4, The long opening on Gminor is nicked....David relies too heavily on pentatonic scales, its easy listening music really with Prog pretensions, its not harmonically adventurous.
Im not saying everybody should prefer Foxtrot, Im speaking personally.
Roger Waters strength is his lyrics. His music is boring. Like Coldplay. LoL

I totally agree……
About Coldplay being boring.

The rest….
Not so much.

 

[BlueHammer85]

Early Coldplay were excellent, loved Parachutes and Rush of blood to head had many good tracks

They should be banned now from making any further music.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

It is in most lists of the greatest prog rock albums. I think Rolling stone has it at 15 or something round that (and they are Yanks ffs) ;-). Thought it was just me that believe Floyd albums are overrated. Only time I felt myself nodding off was at their debut concert for wish you were here (maybe the alcohol and dry ice had something to do with it).
Nice review mate.

Music appreciation isn’t a competition though.
It’s totally subjective, barely objective.
You like what you like and can like both or neither.
I would rate Floyd’s, Wish You Were Here, Dark Side and Animals against anything else I have ever heard including putting them above most Genesis albums that I’ve heard.
And as I wrote earlier the pre Duke Genesis was staple of the music I listened to through the 70s.
I would still prefer Trick of the Tail over Foxtrot and LLDOB pisses on everything else they did in my opinion. It is one album I go back to time and time again.

They were a very English band in the early material, that’s true. But for me music either grabs you or it doesn’t. Sometimes you can’t explain why something hits you emotively but leaves others cold.

I mean I was fanatical about everything Yes did, but what the hell are any of their albums about?
They are soundscapes. The lyrics are purely part of building the right emotive feel and they were brilliant at it. People love/hate Topographic Oceans but certainly the first album is as good as any classical compositions I’ve tried to get into for the emotional heaving that it gave me as a teenager. It swept me along.
Whatever music you choose, good luck to you, I say. Go with it. It’s nobody else’s concern.

Regarding Coldplay though, the clue is in the name.

 

[Bill Walker]

I totally agree……
About Coldplay being boring.

The rest….
Not so much.

That's fine mate, I wouldn't expect you to agree with me.
I have always thought that Pink Floyd music was boring, they aren't technically efficient enough to play Prog. Half their music is slow and dirgelike. Bands like Yes, King Crimson, Gensis are in a different platuea musically and technically speaking....but I wouldn't expect any of the legions fans to agree.
It's my opinion
I forgot to add that they are massive hypocrites.
Us & Them and The Gunners Dream I like though. And Syd Barrett was a genius.

 

[Bill Walker]

It is in most lists of the greatest prog rock albums. I think Rolling stone has it at 15 or something round that (and they are Yanks ffs) ;-). Thought it was just me that believe Floyd albums are overrated. Only time I felt myself nodding off was at their debut concert for wish you were here (maybe the alcohol and dry ice had something to do with it).
Nice review mate.

Ahh yes progressive rock lists, I was talking about greatest rock albums of all time lists.