As I work tonight, I’m listening to “Close to the Edge” by Yes. I have cranked up the volume and I find myself surrounded by uninhibited on-fire genius. This song by Yes is so well crafted that I’m listening for the third time in a row, and it deserves these replays. Are there any bands out there today who are willing to experiment like this? Is there a modern version of ELP? Are there any modern versions of “Stairway to Heaven”? My sad gut feeling is that far too much of today’s music is crammed into pre-determined tropes. I know there has been crappy music in every decade and that I’m listening to something extraordinary tonight. But does anyone have recommendations of any bands today that are thoughtful, complex, unrelentingly excellent and experimental? Self-consciously uninhibited and not primarily driven to satisfy a mass-market?
That’s a one of a king album Erich, I listen to that a lot in the mid 70’s. Even nowadays I can hear it my head, all it takes is one section to get me started. Seasons will pass me by, I get up, I get down, gets it going. About the only album that even comes close to that is Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland. Far from the same style but parts of it pop in my head and merge right in with Close to the Edge. Most likely because I listened to it a lot and the excitement levels somehow match. Both of those albums were far from cliche’ and full of creativity.
Genius – JS Bach, Cannonball Adderly, Anton von Webern. All others are pretenders.
I would add at least 300 names to that list, Bill. Oscar Peterson, Wes Montgomery, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Lennon & McCartney, . . .
Not sure if you are familiar with Arcade Fire. Songs like Wake up and Here comes the night time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fFAKrIntzY) are worth a try!
Thank you! I’m adding all the recs I get from this post to my ongoing list (Arcade Fire was recommended by someone else too). I’ve also posted on FB, where I received the following recs:
Porcupine Tree
In Absentia
Tales of Topographic Oceans
Rush
Peter Gabriel
Genesis
Marillion
Submerged
Boston Crab
Blue Humans
Ghost – Blue Oyster Cult
Pink Floyd
Procol Harum
Jethro Tull
Origa
Led Zeppelin
Steve Wilson
Turnstile
Big Big Train
Check video: A Classical Composer Listens to Close to the Edge
Relayer
War “City County City”
Radiohead
Rainbows
Arcade Fire
Univers Zero (Belgium)
PFM (Italy)
Gong (France)
Hatfield and the North (England)