Comments on: Progressive decline

By: anon

anon — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 17:28:46 +0000

(note to CT admin – new comments aren’t appearing, although the counter increases – sorry for any duplicates)

By: Jimmy Doyle

Jimmy Doyle — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 17:24:07 +0000

Closed Circle not as good, methinks. Plot “twist” blindingly obvious, social commentary ditto (did you realise that mobile phones are ubiquitous?), and I found Coe’s didacticism on Iraq and related matters obtrusive (and I like to think I would have found it so even if I’d agreed with everything he said, which I didn’t).

By: anon

anon — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 17:19:28 +0000

Just picked up a new copy of “Lark’s Tongue” yesterday. … This is interesting. America had no significant prog-rock scene, and currently, the strongest remaining comes from Scandanavia, if I am not mistaken Not only is King Crimson still making new music (so new they refuse to tour with golden oldie retreads like what Yes have become, despite the potential riches on offer), four of the five current members are Americans. Just a data point. Actually, apart from KC’s unique uncompromising vision—or whatever—it seems that whatever impetus there was in “prog rock” as a movement drifted into “world beat”. Could this fact give even more resonance to the original metaphor? Probably not.

By: anon

anon — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 17:11:23 +0000

Just picked up a new copy of “Lark’s Tongue” yesterday. … This is interesting. America had no significant prog-rock scene, and currently, the strongest remaining comes from Scandanavia, if I am not mistaken Not only is King Crimson still making new music (so new they refuse to tour with golden oldie retreads like what Yes have become, despite the potential riches on offer), four of the five current members are Americans. Just a data point. Actually, apart from KC’s unique uncompromising “vision” it seems that whatever impetus there was in “prog rock” as a movement drifted into “world beat”. Could this fact give even more resonance to the original metaphor? Probably not.

By: Jasper Milvain

Jasper Milvain — Sun, 05 Dec 2004 21:35:55 +0000

May be worth noting that the bit quoted is in the voice of a character, Doug; it’s a good parody of a certain sort of British journalism (the used-to-be-on-the-NME school, contemplative branch) as well as an interesting metaphor. I found ‘The Closed Circle’ thin (especially after rereading The Rotters’ Club), but there seems to be a belated attempt going on to defend it. This is from the Independent’s books-of-the-year supplement: http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/story.jsp?story=589075 And this is from the Observer’s: http://books.guardian.co.uk/booksoftheyear2004/story/0,,1366520,00.html

By: Matt Weiner

Matt Weiner — Sun, 05 Dec 2004 18:45:58 +0000

What, Bob? You spit on the mighty legacy of Kansas and Styx?

By: bob mcmanus

bob mcmanus — Sun, 05 Dec 2004 00:11:13 +0000

Down here in Dallas, this old fart saw “Stubb’s” and “Rotter’s Club” and “Progressive Decline” and without following the link bands like National Health and Hatfield & North instantly came to mind. I listen to Canterbury stuff every day. Just picked up a new copy of “Lark’s Tongue” yesterday. “the ‘death of the Socialist dream’ with the extinction of prog-rock.” umm. This is interesting. America had no significant prog-rock scene, and currently, the strongest remaining comes from Scandanavia, if I am not mistaken.

By: Jo Wolff

Jo Wolff — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 20:57:44 +0000

I found the sequel A Closed Circle rather disappointing. I think the consensus is that it is not as good as The Rotter’s Club, but there is disagreement about how far it falls short. For me the charm of The Rotter’s Club is its brilliantly rendered memories of the UK in the 70s. Stories about the last few years don’t stir me in the same way. Others admire the attempt to treat the very recent past and present with historical detachment.