The Prog Rock Album Club

Trollheart · 03-15-2014, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Yes but that's not constructive criticism though, that's a just casual slag off of the album

What I meant was to actually stand back a bit from the album and examine why you don't like it and tackle it from that angle, I did it on my own journal with the Ozzy album and found it a lot more demanding than doing a positive review.

I think you can do a bad review well, and a good review well. For examples of the former, look at my reviews of Britney and Pixie Lott's albums, and of course for the latter, well I've done plenty of good reviews but I'm particularly proud of "Script" and also "The war of the worlds", but there are loads. The point is, you can use humour in either a good or bad review but you don't have to laugh at a bad album to review it. I took apart 19ADD's "Dead river" a year or more ago; nothing whatever good to say about it but it was actually so bad that I created a new section ("The Plague Ship") in order to allow me to review it in context. Then there's the review of "Arbeit macht frei" above. Not liking an album shouldn't stop you from reviewing it: some of the albums I've hated/been disappointed in most hav turned into some of my best reviews. Hell, I even reviewed Justin Bieber! But you shouldn't just say "this is crap" of course: you should say why you believe that, and in so doing you can give others a fresh insight maybe into the album, you, or both.

There should, if you're a good enough writer, be no such thing as a bad review. There can be a good review of a bad album or a good review of a bad album. The important point is that you approach every review, even the bad ones, the same way, doing your best to take the pros (if any) and cons and weigh them against each other, taking care not to be influenced too much by bias against the artiste. A fair, balanced, well-researched and unbiased review, whether the result is positive or negative, will always be a good review, or should be, if you have the talent and the insight.

Unknown Soldier · 03-15-2014, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I think you can do a bad review well, and a good review well. For examples of the former, look at my reviews of Britney and Pixie Lott's albums, and of course for the latter, well I've done plenty of good reviews but I'm particularly proud of "Script" and also "The war of the worlds", but there are loads. The point is, you can use humour in either a good or bad review but you don't have to laugh at a bad album to review it. I took apart 19ADD's "Dead river" a year or more ago; nothing whatever good to say about it but it was actually so bad that I created a new section ("The Plague Ship") in order to allow me to review it in context. Then there's the review of "Arbeit macht frei" above. Not liking an album shouldn't stop you from reviewing it: some of the albums I've hated/been disappointed in most hav turned into some of my best reviews. Hell, I even reviewed Justin Bieber! But you shouldn't just say "this is crap" of course: you should say why you believe that, and in so doing you can give others a fresh insight maybe into the album, you, or both.

There should, if you're a good enough writer, be no such thing as a bad review. There can be a good review of a bad album or a good review of a bad album. The important point is that you approach every review, even the bad ones, the same way, doing your best to take the pros (if any) and cons and weigh them against each other, taking care not to be influenced too much by bias against the artiste. A fair, balanced, well-researched and unbiased review, whether the result is positive or negative, will always be a good review, or should be, if you have the talent and the insight.

Yes professor, but what I was really getting at, is that given the choice between doing a constructive positive review or a negative one, for most people I'd say the positive one would be easier to write. For the simple reason when people write about something that they don't like, they have a greater tendency to go for the jugular very quickly without really analysing why they really don't like it.

Neapolitan · 03-15-2014, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Yes but that's not constructive criticism though, that's a just casual slag off of the album

What I meant was to actually stand back a bit from the album and examine why you don't like it and tackle it from that angle, I did it on my own journal with the Ozzy album and found it a lot more demanding than doing a positive review.

Well it seem to me stating how you feel whether the opinions are positive or negative to be the same. I believe the challenges come elsewhere, like how involved you would like to be in articulating your opinion. Also how much you put into it, like watching videos of interviews and reading articles on the band - I think of it as R&D for a review.

You opened you Ozzy album review by revealing how many people you know love the album. I guess writing pros/cons review you feel like you are letting them down or disappointing them. There's almost a psychological factor there. Maybe you felt an unconscious disapproval from all those who think highly of the album, and felt they might not like your review. And conversely a positive review can be just as challenging especially if you are writing to an audience who hates the album or band. I read your review and also listen to the album. Not being a big Ozzy fan I could see where you were coming from, and thought that it was a reasonable way for to look at it because what you express in the review wasn't too far from my sentiments. So I wouldn't think it that difficult, but maybe it was.

Unknown Soldier · 03-15-2014, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

You opened you Ozzy album review by revealing how many people you know love the album. I guess writing pros/cons review you feel like you are letting them down or disappointing them. There's almost a psychological factor there. Maybe you felt an unconscious disapproval from all those who think highly of the album, and felt they might not like your review. And conversely a positive review can be just as challenging especially if you are writing to an audience who hates the album or band. I read your review and also listen to the album. Not being a big Ozzy fan I could see where you were coming from, and thought that it was a reasonable way for to look at it because what you express in the review wasn't too far from my sentiments. So I wouldn't think it that difficult, but maybe it was.

Well you've covered how I wrote it or better said how I approached it and the hard part was actually narrowing down what I thought were the actual flaws of the album. For example I didn't think the songs were bad or the music but the whole thing kind of reminded me of a scruffy guy wearing an expensive suit.

Btw you've still got time to do a review for the Area album, as I'm interested in what others think, as no album so far has had two ratings so far apart

Anteater · 03-15-2014, 09:29 PM

Album Title: Arbeit macht frei
Artiste: Area
Nationality: Italian
Year: 1973
Subgenre: Rock Progressivo Italiano with a free jazz flavor
Player(s): Demetrio Stratos (Vocals, Organ, Steel Drum), Giampaolo Tofani (Guitars, Synth), Patrick Djivas (Bass)Guilio Capiozzo (Drums), Eddie Busnello (Sax), Patrizio Faraselli (Piano)
Familiarity: A smidgen. I've heard Caution Radiation Area before.
Favourite track(s): Probably 'Consapevolezza'
Why? It has some nice keyboards here and there, plus a really nice sax solo.
Least favourite track(s): None in particular
Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? None really. Troll didn't like it, which told me there was probably a lot of horns and some Rock In Opposition-style craziness here and there.
Factoids you'd like to share? Nothing really.
End impression: Interesting, but doesn't hold a candle to guys like Pharaoh Sanders or the big players in the Canterbury Scene as far as jazz goes.
Comments: While it is true that I do in fact love jazz in every form (particularly jazz fusion and the contemporary "smooth" stuff), a byproduct of this appreciation is that I'm also very, very VERY picky when it comes to what I revisit or add to my collection. Area are one of those early prog/jazz crossover bands that have a pretty good sound in studio, but they're nowhere near Magma, Return To Forever, Soft Machine, etc. compositionally. Still, 37 minutes is relatively brief for an album in this vein so I give it serious points for remaining pretty fun for atleast half that time. I dunno why horns and stuff give you the heebie jeebies so much Trolly ol' chum, but that dissonance is part of the charm on any "super serious" jazz release. If this album turned you off, I dunno how you'd handle anything from Sun Ra, Coltrane or their ilk.

Rating: 3.5 As I said, pretty solid stuff but not sure why its regarded as a classic of its era.

Trollheart · 03-16-2014, 07:48 AM

I honestly can't say why I hate overuse of horns so much. I mean, I like a sax solo as much as the next guy, and I can listen to trumpet or trombone music for a while, but when the brass goes all high and squeaky and sounds like it's screaming I just run for the door. Maybe it's like dogs, y'know, where certain sounds are outside human hearing but drive them mad? I don't hate horns per se, I just hate it when they go all wild and unfettered, it just drives me mad.

This is probably why a lot of jazz doesn't/won't appeal to me, and yet as I said a few days ago my first experience of Miles Davis was very pleasant, surprisingly so. Of course I know nothing much of jazz so he could be the exception, or an example of a subgenre or division within jazz...

Anyway, to get back to Area, yeah I don't see why it's regarded as a classic either, nor Ian Anderson's, but remember this is not official: it's just one guy's personal favourites list so maybe it's not really a classic in the truest sense of the word. It's definitely not for me, but as US points out, it's probably the most polarising album so far and has generated the most debate of any we've reviewed here.

Unknown Soldier · 03-16-2014, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Anyway, to get back to Area, yeah I don't see why it's regarded as a classic either, nor Ian Anderson's, but remember this is not official: it's just one guy's personal favourites list so maybe it's not really a classic in the truest sense of the word. It's definitely not for me, but as US points out, it's probably the most polarising album so far and has generated the most debate of any we've reviewed here.

So here's hoping for some more polarising albums from the list.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 03-16-2014, 05:54 PM

I'm pretty sure I could manage to listen to one prog album a week I think i'll tag along when the next album is announced and hope that it's not Marillion or Genesis again

Trollheart · 03-16-2014, 07:33 PM

Cool. We are honoured. As long as you're not secretly working to bring down the club from within.. You're not, are you? Working to bring down the club from within? Secretly?

Trollheart · 03-16-2014, 07:41 PM

Well it's technically Monday (it is here anyway) so time to try to get this thing back on track. Selections Monday, reviews up by coming Sunday please if everyone can manage it.

And the number is 188
which gives us...

Don't bloody believe it! There IS no 188! It's blank! Oh dear: to quote the name of a recent prog band on the other list I've been listening to, Not a good sign!

Let's go again then.
This time we get 138
and that equates to

Erpland by Ozric Tentacles

Could be interesting. I have heard nothing from them.
So, that's our pick then for the coming week. Anyone who still wishes to get reviews in for Area is free to but please try to make sure your reviews for this album are in by this coming Sunday, March 23.
Thanks.

03-16-2014, 07:48 AM	#706 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,971	I honestly can't say why I hate overuse of horns so much. I mean, I like a sax solo as much as the next guy, and I can listen to trumpet or trombone music for a while, but when the brass goes all high and squeaky and sounds like it's screaming I just run for the door. Maybe it's like dogs, y'know, where certain sounds are outside human hearing but drive them mad? I don't hate horns per se, I just hate it when they go all wild and unfettered, it just drives me mad. This is probably why a lot of jazz doesn't/won't appeal to me, and yet as I said a few days ago my first experience of Miles Davis was very pleasant, surprisingly so. Of course I know nothing much of jazz so he could be the exception, or an example of a subgenre or division within jazz... Anyway, to get back to Area, yeah I don't see why it's regarded as a classic either, nor Ian Anderson's, but remember this is not official: it's just one guy's personal favourites list so maybe it's not really a classic in the truest sense of the word. It's definitely not for me, but as US points out, it's probably the most polarising album so far and has generated the most debate of any we've reviewed here. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-16-2014, 05:54 PM	#708 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	I'm pretty sure I could manage to listen to one prog album a week I think i'll tag along when the next album is announced and hope that it's not Marillion or Genesis again __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

03-16-2014, 07:33 PM	#709 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,971	Cool. We are honoured. As long as you're not secretly working to bring down the club from within.. You're not, are you? Working to bring down the club from within? Secretly? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-16-2014, 07:41 PM	#710 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,971	Well it's technically Monday (it is here anyway) so time to try to get this thing back on track. Selections Monday, reviews up by coming Sunday please if everyone can manage it. And the number is 188 which gives us... Don't bloody believe it! There IS no 188! It's blank! Oh dear: to quote the name of a recent prog band on the other list I've been listening to, Not a good sign! Let's go again then. This time we get 138 and that equates to Erpland by Ozric Tentacles Could be interesting. I have heard nothing from them. So, that's our pick then for the coming week. Anyone who still wishes to get reviews in for Area is free to but please try to make sure your reviews for this album are in by this coming Sunday, March 23. Thanks. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018