Spinal Tap: The End Continues

I'm approaching this with a little trepidation, because I'm not really sure that Spinal Tap are a progressive rock band. But bear with me. Here's my argument.

First, one of the main hallmarks of progressive rock is the long form song. Supper's Ready. Awaken. Thick As A Brick. American Pie. Can't Get You Out Of My Head. All of these are undeniably progressive rock. Spinal Tap are masters of the long form song. It's just that they condense them into short pieces. Stonehenge, for example, is clearly a long form song which has been cut down. There's at least fifteen minutes of material in there.

Third, there are the mythological influences. Just because the reference is to English druids rather than Graeco-Roman gods makes no difference. Stonehenge is the English 'Fountain Of Salmacis'.

And coming at last to the album I'm actually reviewing, let's talk about 'Let's Just Rock Again'. It's 'Final Countdown' keyboard riff is a nod towards one of the gods of Swedish prog rock, Europe. It's final firmly struck piano note is both a nod back to the end of Sergeant Pepper's, the first prog album, and a reference to the hammer blows at the beginning of Beethoven's Fifth Sympathy. Tick, tock, it's not too late to rock. Profound stuff.

And talking of profound stuff, the band are more than willing to 'tap' the wellspring of poetry that flows ceaselessly from band philosopher Nigel Tufnell. You can't fail to moved by opening piece 'Nigel's Poem'.

Sure, they're a bit more rocky in places than, say, Jethro Tull on 'Songs From The Wood' or Genesis in their classic 'Invisible Touch'. But progressive rock is a broad church, and I'm happy to pray at the altar of Tap. Brighton Rock's clear Led Zeppelin influences make me wonder - who actually came first? We know that Tap have been around for a long time. Maybe 'Stairway To Heaven' owes a lot more to 'Big Bottom' than we realise.

I get really mad when people treat this band like a comedy novelty act. This is a great album, and it deserves to be recognised on its own terms. Great singing, and also Derek Smalls does some vocals. Fantastic musicianship. Profound lyrics. Harmonic twists and turns worthy of turning up to 11.
Reasons to listen:

  • You like to hear the rock in progressive rock
  • The fabulous lost McCartney masterpiece 'Cups And Cakes', which harkens back to the heyday of the Beatles, ably supported by Tap - they're not afraid to give a chance to a young, up-and-coming artist
Reasons not to listen:
  • Literally none
  • You're an idiot

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