Bored?

It seems to me that one of the major complaints about Prog Rock is that is boring. It's a strange point, seeing a prog has more creativity than most other genres of music. What's with the boredom?

Perhaps it's just fear of the unknown. For just about anyone born after 1975, Prog rock is a fairly underground genre that you discovered only by checking out bands that sound like Pink Floyd. Most people are used to 4/4 pop trite. This may very well dull the response to prog simply because it's too different and causes dissonance. In effect, trying prog becomes like trying an exotic food, and often it takes many tries to get rid of the shock with the experience. Many people may simply not have that kid of patience.

Or, alternatively, what about the length? Once again, most people grow up with 2 to 4 minute pop songs. Trying to break into Progressive rock might be a challenge for them, seeing as it takes a lot more mental effort to truly appreciate a 20 minute work over a 3 minute sugar coated piece of pop. This same effects hurts classical and jazz, too. Length is taboo?

Ultimately, I suppose that for Progressive rock to appeal to the masses, there would need to be a critical shift in the perception of music. An avant garde revolution, similar to the perception of visual arts around 1910, would need to occur. Possible, yes, likely, no.

Klause Schulze- X

I'm tackling a triple album for the first time ever. A member of Tangerine Dream in its earliest incarnation, then with Ash Ra Temple, Kaluse Schilze has some serious Prog Electronic chops before he made his solo debut in 1972. Just 6 years later he had hit his 10th. It's a semi-concept album, wherein six lengthy tracks are supposed to represent famous Germans. Most of the works run close to one half hour long, eons in the vinyl era.

The album begins with a work called "Friedrich Nietzsche" after the great philosopher. Like the implications of the man's work. the song is sterile. The high pitched twang of some keyboards leads the music along for 24 minutes of a ghoulish pace. There's some heavily distorted organic sounds (vocals and an orchestra) layered down deep within the music, and there is a lot of drum machine. Georg Trakl follows, and it is less creepy but just as minimalistic. Schulze really digs into the Berlin School of near ambient music. There are a couple of 10-14 minute pieces that contain some nice synth waving, but the true gem is the 29 minute "Ludwig II Von Bayern", one of the most incredible prog-electronic works of all time. It combines the orchestra with ARP synthsizers to go fll circle, enfusing the classical traditions with the fururisim that progressive rock truly embodies.

Scenic. Ethereal. Breathtaking. Too damn long. Grade: A-

Pink Floyd- Obscured by Clouds

Having previously worked with French Film Director Barbet Schroder, The Floyd made another for the film La Vallé. The 1972 soundtrack became their seventh studio album, and their last before really hitting it big with Dark Side. It is some of their least active and most droning work.

There is a continuous mood of air, space, and eternity over the album's tracks. There's not too much merriment, although the work does have some lighter moments. The duo of David Gilmour's guitar and Rick Wright's keyboards sets the main instrumental makeup of the record. In all honesty, this record may have the nicest vocal performances of any Pink Floyd record. Highlights include the wistful "Wot's.... Uh the Deal", and the rainy "Mudmen". The problem with this album is it lacks any sort of wow factor. It does competent prog rock, but it lacks the philosophical bent of later prog works to make a huge staying mark.

A dress rehersal for better days. Grade: B.

Jukebox #1

Hey, friends. My life is very swamped with schoolwork and sending out college applications, so until further notice I'm switching over to a 4 articles a month schedule instead of 5. However, I'm going to start linking in music for you to enjoy every month, rather than just writing about it, which will take up that 5th spot. Enjoy!