THE PRODIGY: more than meets the ear - documentary - part 1 of 4

[9ner]

I write music the same exact way. Forcing creativity is horrible, and can really be frustrating and feckless. The best time to write music is when you're at a higher emotional state.

[PufuletiSiBenzina]

well i wasnt expecting this.it s great to find another Rob Ager review

[chunkymilk]

That genre swapping sounds like Ween.

[dieMilliarden]

lol- around 1:40 the guy in the upper right corner (is it Liam?) wears a shirt stating "ich bin scheiße" (meaning: I am shit)..

[smallpbigandas]

You talk about Fuel My Fire like it is a Prodigy track, you should really point out that it is an L7 cover. Also,Mr. C isn't the creative impetus behind The Shamen. At the time of En-Tact that would have been Will Sin and Colin Angus, Mr C not actually joining the band until the third album. Also, the guitar on Make It Mine isn't sampled, The Shamen were a psychedelic rock band on the albums before En-Tact and Colin Angus played those guitar parts - he also played guitar live.

[robag88]

@smallpbigandas As stated in the opening captions the vid is a condensed version of an article on my site, which includes details like L7. There are lots of online sources citing Mr C as joining The Shamen to make En-tact, but neither he Sin or Angus appear to be listed by their original names in the album credits. As for who was the creative impetus that depends on which albums you consider creative. The guitar being a sample I meant as in recorded in the studio then dropped into the track.

[ClassicCult]

this documentary is giving me creative juices. wow. 

[TheFuzziestKitty]

I really enjoy your ability to find imagery in very latent details, in this and your other analyses. I still have a lot of fun in the US putting on Fat of the Land for all my friends, which they've all heard, and then immediately following it up with The Prodigy Experience. I'm still impressed that FotL is the only electronic album ever to top the charts here.

[robag88]

@TheFuzziestKitty Yeah you folks in the US never took to Music For The Jilted Generation, which was massive in Europe.

[S2Cents]

@robag88 Me and some of my buddies in the U.S. did. Alabama/ Gulf Coast actually. We were very into electronic music in the early to mid 90s. Just sayin'. But I also had friends and knew lots of people that HATED "techno". They considered it "fake", not real music. Shit "made with computers". The anti-disco backlash of rock fans was being attempted with techno. I find the closed mindedness disgusting

[S2Cents]

Hey Rob, have you by chance read Lipstick Traces by Greil Marcus? I just purchased it (it's presumably being shipped now) and there is similar subject matter -is why I ask.

[robag88]

@S2Cents Not read that.

[fleetwoodsucks]

what song by the shaman do you use at 3:55 ?

[robag88]

@fleetwoodsucks Make it mine - but the whole album is excellent

[fleetwoodsucks]

@robag88 thanks, I will have to get it, I only have the boss drum album

[thumminxy]

This was a real treat!

Nice one Rob!

[theawecabinet]

@ronag88

I'm guessing you've heard of vigilantcitizen, right? If not you might find his site interesting.

Anyway, great video(s). Loved it.

Side note> People REALLY need to be educated about difference between authentic and inauthentic bands/ 'artists' etc. eg many people think GaGa is the saviour of pop (or even Art!). They can't see that she is just being branded as such. Or that 'fame monster' = 'corporate sell out'. The most dangerous thing for arts is not corporations, its ignorance! ;)

[kaptaintrips]

WOW! And this is only part one!

[slayerareawesome]

@robag88 When i say childhood i mean early childhood!!

[BLKHOLE8MYBABY]

I must admit that when you post new videos it's like Christmas for me. Brilliant video, Rob! I hope to see more like it some day.

[Nic33rd]

Well, this was unexpected! So exciting!

[FilipM1]

Another analysis up already! I LIKE IT! ;D

[BENBOBBY2]

Love your analyses. Always very interesting and in-depth.

By the way have you ever thought about applying for YouTube partnership? Guess it might be a bit difficult due to the copyrighted film clips you include, but if you could it would be good way for us subscribers to see more of your work without having to buy it from your site but it could still help support yourself ;)

[robag88]

@BENBOBBY2 Youtube has made a mess of a lot of things in recent years like removing the old star rating system that allowed us to know before clicking on a video if it's previous viewers liked it or not, but at least they now allow us to register 'fair use' claims for copyrighted material in educational vids. I'm content with selling the DVD sets for now and get a lot of repeat customers. The increased sales have freed up my time, which is why I'm currently posting vids more frequently.

[baskinator]

I could listen to you talk all day.

[slayerareawesome]

This is great! I was brought up with "The Fat Of The Land" such a great album! somthing is abit wrong with you when you remember "Smack My Bitch Up" as one of your soundtracks to your child hood! Never served me badly though!

[robag88]

@slayerareawesome you wanna try my shoes. I grew up with their first couple of albums before FOTL. The crazy old school videos when Keith had long hair - that was my teens!

[gumbo1973]

@robag88 I can top that :p I heard the original Liam demo before “Experience” and several bootlegs of them live (90'ish). At the time I was playing guitar in a Thrash band. The Prod sound really blew me away and I used some recent redundancy money to buy a sequencer, synth and sampler. Played at a ton of local raves over a 5 year period. Good times! Awesome documentary btw

[Gravastars1]

Keith Flint used to go to my old school!

[BLKHOLE8MYBABY]

@revengeguy Why on earth would you assume they wouldn't [take it seriously]?

[revengeguy]

@BLKHOLE8MYBABY because its a degree level analysis of a childish rave band. Its bizarre.

[killo90210]

This is sick!

[killo90210]

@killo90210 I mean in a good way, Rob

[robag88]

@killo90210 Thanks :)

[StormingSheep]

i hate the prodigy

[robag88]

@StormingSheep Then go watch something you do like.