It is time to revive this theme that was kicked off my @slobberchops, inspired by #MetalWeekend that @detlev does. The idea is to feature music from outside the mainstream. That will mean different things to different people, but such is the variety of #music.
I was talking to @slobberchops the other day and that prompted this particular post. As a fan of progressive rock I am used to long songs, but some really take it to the limit. Whether that makes for good music is down to the quality of the musicians.
One of the first prog bands I got into was Genesis. Their best know long song may be Supper's Ready. It has lots of parts with a mix of moods. I found this early live version where Peter Gabriel riffs on some surreal themes before the song starts. Dig those multipl e 12 string guitars! I wish I could have seen them back then. The early 70's were full of experimental music.
Supper's Ready - Genesis (Foxtrot - 1972)
Misplaced Childhood - Marillion (Misplaced Childhood - 1985)
In the mid-1980's I discovered Marillion, who I first took to be a sort of Genesis clone, but they had their own thing. I have to say that I have not followed them since Fish left. I saw them on the tour for this album (Birmingham NEC I think). They played various songs and then about half an hour or so Fish announced that the next song would be the last. Happily it was the whole album, which does flow together and so I am counting it here. Kayleigh was the big hit single.
A friend recently shared this old documentary about the working lives of roadies on a Marillion tour.
Milliontown - Frost* (Milliontown - 2006)
Skipping forward a few decades I discovered a new wave of prog bands via the now defunct Dividing Line podcasts. One of those is Frost*. Their epic is Milliontown. I have seen then play this live a couple of times and they just such good musicians. Between songs they like a good laugh.
This version was recorded at the renowned Rockfield Studios.
The Underfall Yard - Big Big Train (The Underfall Yard -2009)
Another band I first heard on The Dividing Line was Big Big Train. I think the first song may have been The Underfall Yard and when I heard it was available as a free download I grabbed it and have since acquired most of their albums. I also thought they had a bit of early Genesis about them, especially when they include some flute. This song is abould Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is named after part of Bristol docks.
Nearly two hours of music in four videos! That should keep your busy.
I have seen all these bands in some form live. I would hope we can get back to enjoying live music again soon.
What are your favourite long songs?
Sorry to say I'm not a fan of any of the above. 😄
Agalloch is more to my taste, they're very good at lengthy tracks. My favourite album of theirs is The Mantle which has two pretty long ones.
I rarely listen to individual songs though, I tend to listen to whole albums.
An American Folk Metal band? That is one strange combination.. I have never heard of them.., long songs you say.. well.. that's a good start.
Agalloch are a bit hard to pin down to one genre. They're sort of a combo of progressive / doom / folk. I find their music very atmospheric and relaxing.
Early Anathema were the doom and gloom boys complete with growls. They are from Liverpool but sound much different now.
Indeed, though Agalloch are quite different from them. I can't explain, you'll have to give them a listen, lol.
I will have a go, ta!
I'm an album listener too. I don't know Agalloch, but I may check them out. We can all like different things and that's fine as more variety makes life more interesting.
Absolutely! I do have a fairly broad taste in music, from Springsteen to Slayer and a whole lot inbetween. Variety is the spice of life and all that. 🙂
Heya Steeve!
Feels like it has been a long time but I have engaged with our buddy Chops recently as well. Glad I stumbled upon this post as I keep the dream alive of having beers with you, chops, and @detlev at a global hive meetup.
Back on target
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N_L8aezOWeE&list=PL0E7QaOzuvuuANMJfVFgQ6bFYRA3VXYEs&index=2&t=0s
My personal guilty alternative pleasure from back in the alternative days is Toadies - Rubberneck hands down. I say guilty pleasure as I am a progressive and classic metal guy and we are not allowed to enjoy alternative. ;)
Hope you are doing well my friend.
I've never heard of Toadies and that's the opposite of a long song, but I like it. I would never say what people are 'allowed' to enjoy. The are elements of just about every genre that I can enjoy. I don't feel guilty about any of that.
I'm well and hope you are too. Have a !BEER.
Doing fantastic and I was joking about not being allowed to. Strict guidelines when you are a card-carrying headbanger you know! ;)
I can't be doing with music purists. I don't even get why people say they hate some music when they don't have to listen to it.
View or trade
BEER.Hey @zekepickleman, here is a little bit of
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BEER.Love Genesis (as you know), and Marillion too, that album was a bit of a masterpiece. I will try and do my own, I did mention to @detlev I would use his #metalweekend though I am far from a metalhead.
There was a Frost track you featured before that stuck in my head, but as a full album with MillionTown I failed to crack the nut. They can be tough to get into.
Big Big Train I still haven't tried out, I do know about them.
30 mins sounds like a raw deal, if I understand correctly. Were the boo's coming in?
I think there may have been some 'aw's, but we knew to expect more. It's a long time ago, but I think there were encores too. I used to have a shirt from that gig, but I think I wore it out.
Wow! That is pretty impressive! It is almost like some of the Jam band stuff that I used to listen to. Phish and Umphrey's McGee. I have only heard of Genesis out of the list you shared. This post makes me think of the Iron Butterfly album I have and how the whole second side is Inna gada da vida.
I don't really know the bands you mention, but I guess we grew up in different cultures with different radio. I got into various British prog in my student days.