For me it's The High Llamas. It's got lush and interesting chamber pop orchestration, thoughtful harmonic material, things when reading about the band sound like exactly something I'd go crazy for. I f-ing love the Beach Boys, too. But I just can't get into it High Llamas and can't really say why. I've tried multiple times. Something about feeling pastiche, and a little soul-less in songwriting. Fluffy. It's like they took the timbral elements of latter 60's Beach Boys without writing any really memorable songs. Sean O'Hagan's voice has never been marvelous, but I'm really not that picky about singers if the songwriting is there. (thoughts on them as well?)

Most of all, I was curious about if any of you have had similar experiences when you think, yeah this has got everything I like, but something in you doesn't quite click. It's puzzling.

Comments

Paragon8384 t1_jebk63a wrote on March 30, 2023 at 8:35 PM

#2,499,724

I'm a huge prog rock/prog metal nerd and have gone through so many bands that had a bit of a spark, but one or 2 nitpicky things about them just didn't do it for me: Opeth, Riverside, Rush, Uriah Heep, Big Big Train, The Pineapple Thief, Ayreon, Anathema, Gazpacho, Bent Knee, the list goes on for miles.

DevinBelow t1_jeblh19 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 8:43 PM

#2,500,025

Replying to Paragon8384 (#2,499,724)

Also came to say Rush. My love of prog rock love comes more from King Crimson, The Move, early Genesis, Pink Floyd, a little ELP, but even as a Canadian, there was just something I could never get into with Rush. I don't want to argue with Rush fans, but to me, their music just lacks any soul. It's techinically precise which is impressive, but it just doesn't hit me emotionally at all.

BrazilianAtlantis t1_jebmuu0 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 8:52 PM

#2,500,335

The Move. Type of band I'd like but I don't like anything they did. Even "Brontosaurus."

KrasnyRed5 t1_jebq8jf wrote on March 30, 2023 at 9:14 PM

#2,501,131

Replying to Paragon8384 (#2,499,724)

I have a lot of respect for Rush, but I don't like their music. I think it's primarily I don't like Geddy Lee's voice.

Paragon8384 t1_jebyr34 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 10:10 PM

#2,503,172

Replying to DevinBelow (#2,500,025)

Mine comes from more post-2000s prog: Haken, Leprous, BTBAM, Steven Wilson, Thank You Scientist. I've come across a lot of prog bands who don't have my particular happy medium of technicality & emotion, a lot of bands who I thought were decent and I would enjoy it if I heard their music somewhere, but not enough to the point where I needed to come back to them or add their music to my catalog.

Paragon8384 t1_jebz64b wrote on March 30, 2023 at 10:13 PM

#2,503,271

Replying to DevinBelow (#2,500,025)

thegreensea t1_jedq6g5 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 7:34 AM

#2,519,642

Radiohead. I come from the 80s post-punk/alternative scene. I love interesting lyrics, off-kilter singing, non-'rock'n'roll' guitars, non-standard song structures... In theory, I should love Radiohead (and I've had lots of friends that do), but they just leave me cold.

[deleted] t1_jedxil8 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 9:22 AM

#2,521,278

Rock guy but just cannot groove with QOTSA. I've tried and tried but can't do it.

Ash_LLR t1_jee3uy8 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 10:47 AM

#2,522,742

Also a huge fan of the Beach Boys, and of psychedelic pop in various forms, and I remember feeling much the same way when I listened to The High Llamas.

Grizzly Bear are another example of this for me. There's nothing I dislike about them, they have some very good songs, and have obvious things in common with a lot of music I do like, but I've just never quite warmed to them.

This experience has become more common with age, alas... There's a lot of "new" music that I quite like but could never get excited about the way I might have done in my teens & twenties

Ash_LLR t1_jee3zni wrote on March 31, 2023 at 10:49 AM

#2,522,772

Replying to KrasnyRed5 (#2,501,131)

You should look up some of the tribute bands performing those songs with female vocalists - YY Not comes to mind but I think there are others.

Kvothetheraven603 t1_jeeol1f wrote on March 31, 2023 at 1:53 PM

#2,529,562

Replying to Paragon8384 (#2,499,724)

I feel this…. I’m a big prog rock and metal fan but prefer clean vocals (I like some harsh but not majority harsh). You’d think Haken would be right up my alley but, so far, I haven’t been able to get into them. But I’ll be damned if I don’t keep trying every so often haha

Paragon8384 t1_jeerzr9 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:17 PM

#2,530,628

Replying to Kvothetheraven603 (#2,529,562)

Dunno if you saw, but Haken released a new album a few weeks ago and it quickly became my new favorite from them. Maybe give it a try if you haven't already.

Kvothetheraven603 t1_jeeva4n wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:39 PM

#2,531,846

Replying to Paragon8384 (#2,530,628)

I’ve only listened to the fist track and thought it was decent. I think what I need to do is put it in while I’m running and see if it will grab ahold through osmosis lol

Paragon8384 t1_jeevpy7 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:42 PM

#2,531,998

Replying to Kvothetheraven603 (#2,531,846)

Taurus is good, but it's my least favorite track on the album. Elephants Never Forget is a fantastic epic on there. Best song of the year so far.

Kvothetheraven603 t1_jef2zle wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:30 PM

#2,534,510

Replying to Paragon8384 (#2,531,998)

Alright, I’m going to throw the album on for todays run and see what happens!