Audio CD review:
Van Der Graaf Generator - World Record

Van Der Graaf Generator - World Record

Band: Van Der Graaf Generator Title: World Record Rating: Release Date: 23 September, 1992 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: When She Comes 2: Place to Survive 3: Masks 4: Meurglys III (The Songwriter's Guild) 5: Wondering

Customer Reviews Psychic Rock I think it's a precise introduction to progressive rock's hallmarks: time signature changes, song lengths, etc, while remaining rooted in some kind of pastoral soul music. When I first bought the CD in 2003, I admired the jams, and enjoyed the hard fifths of the saxophones. Essentially it's a very solid collection, musically. Then, in this order, I fell in love (When She Comes), moved around the world to be with the girl, had doubts and lost the will to go on, almost (Place To Survive), and whimpered pathetically to my friends about it (Mask). Those who've listened to World Record will know quite well that these events are exactly what the first three songs on the album are about, in that order. I also played a lot of guitar in my room (Meurglys III). I want Wondering to be played at my funeral. So, yeah the lyrics turned out to be spot on also. Funny, that. Go on, it's worth your ten bucks. That's, like, four bucks for Meurglys III, and a buck-fifty for the other four!. Actually, one of their most accesible albums In a way. . it definitely is their hardest rocking album. And like H to the He it has lots of memorable hooks and melodies. however, hammill then does things like meuryglis III and it goes as long as a plague, but doesn't say as much. a confused, confusing album, worth having for all the strong stuff on every song. For the Completist Newbies should pick up "Pawn Hearts," then "The Least We Can Do. I love this band and wish more people would get into them or at least remembered them, but this is just not one of their better records. . . ," "Godbluff" and "Still Life," great albums all. For the already converted, or the classic-era prog fan completist, there is still much to enjoy here. "Meurglys III" is one of their best-ever epics until that long and pointless faux-reggae jam. Adventurous and gutsy? OK, maybe, but did they have to tack it so artlessly onto the end of an already great piece of music that has nothing to do with reggae? The closing "Wondering" is a pretty and stirring little number. VdGG did this sort of thing especially well. Elsewhere Peter Hammill was playing a lot of guitar and they rocked a bit harder than they had previously. In taking prog rock in a more raw and metallic direction, "World Record" bears a certain kinship with King Crimson around that time. Those not steeped in progressive rock or VdGG's music would be wise to start elsewhere though. Oh yeah-nice cover art on this one, I've always liked it!. . You can see a complete list of all Van Der Graaf Generator discography, or go back to the Van Der Graaf Generator tabs