A classic case of musical wanderlust
Every now and then I get a little stir crazy in my musical tastes. There's a band, a style, or an album I've just got to listen to. Maybe I've heard a sound sample or the album cover looked interesting. Or maybe the band has a cool name. Anyway, I'll zero in on a band and start checking out their back catalog.
One such band is Van der Graaf Generator, early 70s art rockers named for a doohickey that makes your hair stand on end. Their lineup was weird (sax/organ/drums/vocals) and their music was even weirder. Imagine HR Giger set to music (Giger really shoulda album cover art for VDGG instead of of Emerson Lake & Palmer), and you have a good idea of this band's sound. Suffice it to say lead singer and main songwriter Peter Hammill was likened to "an art-rock Richard III" (they're talking about his vocal style, folks, NOT his personal conduct).
VDGG also recorded wistful ballads, always tinged with a bit of gloom. Robert Fripp guested on VDGG's two greatest records, H to He Who Am the Only One and Pawn Hearts. Of the two, H to He is my personal favorite, because it's got the two greatest songs the band ever recorded, "Killer" and "House with No Door." I've got most of their records by now, with maybe one or two standouts. Hammill's solo catalog will be the next to get the great reissue treatment. Can't wait for that.
The band reunited last year for a record and some shows. Here is a neat little piece on the band with comments from organist Hugh Banton.
With VDGG established in my CD collection, I'm now checking out Family, an early '70s British rock band that straddled the worlds of Joe Cocker and art rockers and produced such alumni as Rick Grech (Blind Faith/Traffic) and John Wetton (King Crimson/Roxy Music/Asia). I find it hard to type the words "John Wetton" as I have to mention the Asia connection. Come to think of it, other Crimson alums include Ian MacDonald (founding member of Foreigner) and Pete Sinfield (lyricist for Celine Dion and Barry Manilow). Sheeeeeeesh! What is it about Robert Fripp that turns Crimsonites into AOR/MOR wussies?
When not hunting down Family, I'm also trying to give freak-folk a listen. Freak-folk is supposed to be folk that is, well, freaky. Examples include Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, and Cocorosie. A little weirdness is always good, if you ask me.
A lot of this interesting, eclectic stuff, by the way, is on emusic. Forty MP3's a month for $9.99 a month. All to download to your little heart's content. Wheeeeeee!
One such band is Van der Graaf Generator, early 70s art rockers named for a doohickey that makes your hair stand on end. Their lineup was weird (sax/organ/drums/vocals) and their music was even weirder. Imagine HR Giger set to music (Giger really shoulda album cover art for VDGG instead of of Emerson Lake & Palmer), and you have a good idea of this band's sound. Suffice it to say lead singer and main songwriter Peter Hammill was likened to "an art-rock Richard III" (they're talking about his vocal style, folks, NOT his personal conduct).
VDGG also recorded wistful ballads, always tinged with a bit of gloom. Robert Fripp guested on VDGG's two greatest records, H to He Who Am the Only One and Pawn Hearts. Of the two, H to He is my personal favorite, because it's got the two greatest songs the band ever recorded, "Killer" and "House with No Door." I've got most of their records by now, with maybe one or two standouts. Hammill's solo catalog will be the next to get the great reissue treatment. Can't wait for that.
The band reunited last year for a record and some shows. Here is a neat little piece on the band with comments from organist Hugh Banton.
With VDGG established in my CD collection, I'm now checking out Family, an early '70s British rock band that straddled the worlds of Joe Cocker and art rockers and produced such alumni as Rick Grech (Blind Faith/Traffic) and John Wetton (King Crimson/Roxy Music/Asia). I find it hard to type the words "John Wetton" as I have to mention the Asia connection. Come to think of it, other Crimson alums include Ian MacDonald (founding member of Foreigner) and Pete Sinfield (lyricist for Celine Dion and Barry Manilow). Sheeeeeeesh! What is it about Robert Fripp that turns Crimsonites into AOR/MOR wussies?
When not hunting down Family, I'm also trying to give freak-folk a listen. Freak-folk is supposed to be folk that is, well, freaky. Examples include Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, and Cocorosie. A little weirdness is always good, if you ask me.
A lot of this interesting, eclectic stuff, by the way, is on emusic. Forty MP3's a month for $9.99 a month. All to download to your little heart's content. Wheeeeeee!
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