Gentle Giant - On Reflection - First Time Reaction

[@markdrechsler5660]

An utterly unique band. Their first 8 albums are essential prog rock. The “Free Hand” album makes an excellent introduction. Keep blowing your mind!

[@BertJamesMcKinney]

There is no one like Gentle Giant. Every song is unique!

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

If this is anything to go by, I can totally see it!

[@mikemicrael5749]

@@MusicForTheSoulReactions Every song from Giant is unique and indescribable. They are not for everyone due to their complexity and perhaps because the vocalist, Derek Shulman, can be hard for some to take. But they are all geniuses who will take up a lot of your listening time for the rest of your life.

[@markjohnson4217]

Gentle Giant are completey mad. They are a musician's band in many ways. I would have recommended the opening track from this album, 'Just the Same' or tbe title track, 'Freehand', just because their rocking power is showcased in otber tracks. But what they have done with syncopation and counterpoint, their ability to switch instruments during songs without breaking a sweat is unmatched. I would dive into 'Octopus' it is one of their best albums. It is from 1972 I think. Check out 'Advent of Panurge' and 'Racontuer Troublador'

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

Ah good, I'm glad to receive more recommendations for these. My interest is totally peaked after that! Appreciate the comment

[@juandesalgado]

Give a try reacting to a live performance of these guys. The display of musicianship is off the chart.

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

Sounds like a good idea to me!

[@Pcrimson1]

Mark Johnson's comment is spot on. All I can add is you need to view live videos of them. These guys can do it all and do it all live. This is one band that got away from me seeing live. I had the chance, but thought I'd see them later, never did, I could kick myself...More GG please! US Roadie 1signing out.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

I saw GG 4 times in the 70s in Toronto. They were brilliant and live as good as anyone and better than most. Thankfully, they have lots of videos to enjoy 🎶🙏🎶

[@thomasdevries8558]

The live version is COMPLETELY better in effect on the end part. Its by far the superior version and competes as my favorite song of theirs. You owe it to yourself to listen and react!

[@Rolling_Ronnie]

Absolutely. It's only live that you see the true multi-instrumentalist nature of their talent, Their creativity and musicianship is off the scale. Only early Genesis comes anywhere close.

[@TechGuyBloke]

Here's the live version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGe6hH99atdgracsi=BLWoHeWYPc8Bskju

[@CaryOn11]

Gentle Giant rules. Most original prog band of all time.

[@maraboo72]

Gentle Giant's genre is Gentle Giant. Means they accept no borders defined by genres.

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

@@maraboo72 love it, great description!

[@mikemicrael5749]

Hi there, one of your roadies here. You played a couple of my suggestions and I'm very happy to listen to Gentle Giant with you. Gentle Giant is where the serious music fan goes to test his prog chops. And they are all nice guys! You will enjoy their live videos. Love your channel!

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

@@mikemicrael5749 I've loved your suggestions so far, so thanks once again. Yeah I can tell these guys are going to test my musical chops for sure!

[@mikemicrael5749]

@@MusicForTheSoulReactions All your roadies and your new musicforthesoulmates have long, long lists of recommendations for you, especially we older guys. You must have a long list, but I urge you to move Peter Gabriel's live performance of "In Your Eyes" from the 1994 Secret World Live DVD. It will change your life. Cheers!

[@Llydrwydd]

I'd recommend you forget about 'genres' and just listen to this music that's new to you without trying to pigeon hole everything. A lot of creative changes were happening from the late 60s into the 70s and different musical forms and ideas were often combined. If it worked and sounded good that was all that really mattered. The Beatles led the way and the word 'prog' never existed until the word 'progressive' was banded about by the music press so that they could get a handle on things completely new to them. Good that you've an open mind and are listening to this music that my generation grew up with. I saw Gentle Giant back in the day and can confirm their talent was prodigious!

[@archetypo]

My mother used to sing Madrigals, and this is what it sounds like. Of all the prog rock groups, GG is the most transparent about the influence of Early Music (like from hundreds of years ago) on the genre. I grew up listening to these guys, a timeless classic.

[@erikahlander3489]

I think I recommended Gentle Giant on a list of what you had to experience. You will always go back to them, since you will never get bored. Next step is Zappa. "Inca roads" is a good introduction (or an entrance to another universe).

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

Well thank you for getting involved with the channel and for the recommendation! Appreciating the help to broaden my musical mind!

[@Rowenband]

Completely agreed with Zappa, and the choice of Inca Roads for a starter.

[@brucemcewing7564]

"This is different." Oh, indeed! :) Hopefully you have a chance to try a few others. Watching them play live (vid) is quite something too.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

No apologies needed. I hope the flies tasted good😊. I saw GG 4 times in the 70s in Toronto stunningly brilliant. They opened for YES many times. Fusion prog is how I think of GG. So Sincere live is a good second touch 🍁✨️🎶✨️🍁

[@bauertime]

From chamber music to Black Sabbath hardness in one song is Gentle Giant.

[@davidpickford1301]

It's me again heads up for a new band Big Big Train - East Coast Racer this track is about the steam train the Mallard which holds the record for the fastest steam train at 126mph which was set in the 1930's it is modern prog rock track of 15mins

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

@@davidpickford1301 as always I appreciate the recommendations, added to the list. Look forward to it!

[@chucksmusicaldebris3536]

Great tune! You should check out “The Wreck” by them. Another band that is heavily influenced by Gentle Giant is Haken. They are a prog metal band. I suggest reacting to “Cockroach King” that has similar vocals. If you check out their official video. Do the extended version for the whole song. All I can say about the official video is that Queen meets the muppets.

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

@@chucksmusicaldebris3536 well that last sentence has certainly peaked my interest!!! I'll add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestions

[@Rowenband]

Wow. I'm so glad you do this. Now I'm curious how you will react… Now youcan experience the live version to see how incredible they are and how many instrument they each are touching. Each GG song is unique. They surprise you with complex music and intrications of melodies. In case you want to try another piece by them, there are lots I would advice (and I wouldn't choose the same tomorrow for sure). Today I'd go for the same album, a more rock one, the title track: Free Hand. By the way, this is prog at it's peak.

[@TerryKrysinski]

Some prog fans went to the most extreme with King Crimson,BUT-- Gentle Giant inserted more melody to their abstact brand of incredible music! Enjoy, T

[@TerryKrysinski]

Extreme prog rock with hints of medieval influences along the way. Try 'Just The Same Way' and 'Playing The Game' for a tad more 'straight up' approach from these guys. But be prepared...your mouth will always hang open in amazement. lol Hope you're able to join the Gentle Giant fan club!

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

@@TerryKrysinski appreciate both comments here. It's a shame King Crimson immediately blocked my reaction video when I checked them out the other week, would like to have seen more of them. Gentle giant seems to be a very suitable replacement however!

[@TerryKrysinski]

@@MusicForTheSoulReactions No fan would ever say that GG is 'easy on the ears'. BUT..maybe compared to King Crimson. lol "Just The Same' or 'Playing The Game' are cool pics..T

[@chrisnash6992]

If you like "different" music, try "Bathed in sound" by Cosmo Sheldrake - and he's recorded many more tracks which incorporate sounds from nature.

[@MusicForTheSoulReactions]

@@chrisnash6992 loving thr new suggestion, I'll add it to the lost. Thanks

[@tomjohnston1220]

Gentle Giant were not very popular. Bjut they came ouy of Simon Duptrr's Big Soumd, who had a huge hit in the 60s with KITES.

[@berthazopp1]

This was remastered back in the nineties and a horrible one at that! The relatively recent mastering by the incomparable Steven Wilson is far superior to this one!

[@klausheckendorf649]

So true - a catastrophe even compared to the original CD-version. To proof that they left out the drumfill at the end of "Mobile" too.

[@wolandbegemotazazello]

Clearly you aren’t particularly familiar with the history of polyphony, monophony, and homophony. Of course, those who actually might want to know something about the history of such musics would do some reseearch before jumping into the social media abyss. But that would mean actually doing something sensible I guess.