Anon La Ply
Diamond Member
That's very true. I guess Neil's extreme popularity over the last 30 years makes him an easy target. I mean, next to Carl Palmer, Peart sounds like Bernard Purdie. Palmer had chops and fit in great with prog rock bands, but he has no groove at all and his time is all over the place. But people focus on what he does well rather than his weaknesses, while Neil seems to experience the opposite.
I agree with this. Seems to me that CP plays best in complex passages. A stark contrast in the Tarkus suite. Carl was dazzling in the highly technical Eruption but did a lame job (by pro prog standards) in the following track, the ballad, Battlefield ("ballad" by ELP standards).
Mike, I disagree. CP was a monster in his prime, even if imperfect. What he did in Toccata was incredible. Also very fine on most of the Tarkus Suite, Karnevil 9, Take a Pebble ... nah, Carl rocked.
But yes, it's the way Neil is so overrated. How often has he been proclaimed best in the world when there are so many more advanced players around? Same syndrome with Travis and Joey.
Not that they'd much care. When enough people say someone's the best - no matter how wrong they are - then that opens the doors for big $$. I wish my suckiness got me a fraction of what their alleged suckiness it got them.
Agree totally with Numberless's comment about our evolution as players. Mind you, I'd be happy to be judged by my playing in the late 80s - I never got back what I lost after my long break in the 90s/00s.