Prog Rock

Let us speak of prog in its infinite variety. (Not prog-metal; just prog.)

Favourite prog band would have to be King Crimson. It's not just because they basically started the whole thing, but because they have a real desire to actually progress, not just play weird rock music. Unlike Genesis... GAAAH PHIL COLLINS IS A SELLOUT WHY DID HE DO THAT TO GENESIS.

And to commit heresy, I don't like Yes, due to two elements - Jon Anderson, the human dog whistle, and Rick Wakeman, a bombastic grandstander with a stupid cape. They were better with Tony Kaye than they were with Wakeman, and Bill Bruford was better with King Crimson.

Actually, let's go through the big six!

• ELP - Greg Lake likes his ballads too much, but Emerson is BRILLIANT.
• Pink Floyd - Great, but Roger Waters' ego is too big.
• King Crimson - * head explodes from the brilliance of Robert Fripp *
• Yes - Thoughts on them detailed above.
• Genesis - Peter Gabriel is great, Phil Collins is a stupid sellout.
• Jethro Tull - Haven't listened to much of them yet, but what I've heard is good.

edited 5th Nov '09 4:31:49 AM by Yon Troper

Pink Floyd - Great, but Roger Waters' ego is too big.

YMMV on Rog. I don't find him that egotistic.

Anyway, Floyd is one of the last prog bands I can stand, mostly because it was one of the first bands I got into.

Genesis - Peter Gabriel is great, Phil Collins is a stupid sellout.

I actually liked some of Genesis' Post-Lamb Works(especially Trick Of The Tail). Everything up to Duke was good(and listenable for that matter). Abacab, on the other hand, is boring garbage.

Also looking forward to Rush's new album supposedly going to be released next year

edited 5th Nov '09 8:41:51 AM by iamathousandapples

• Rush - certainly one of my favorite bands
• Yes - have a few classic albums I put on now and then
• King Crimson - love their first one, but not very familiar with the rest
• Jethro Tull - like what I've heard
• Pink Floyd - some classics, absolutely. Although I'm more a fan of Syd Barrett than Roger Waters.
• Genesis - never tried 'em. Probably should.
• ELP - same.

I have some Rush and Yes LP's. Good stuff.

Rush have a new album coming out? Hm, I always preferred their 80's works and later stuff to their classic prog albums. Still, I'll probably get it, since they've maintained their quality pretty well.

And I agree, Genesis' first couple of albums with Phil Collins are quite good (can't stand up to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway though - that's probably my favourite prog album, apart from In the Court of the Crimson King), but when they decided that they should be a radio-friendly pop band... urgh.

I credit King Crimson's Belew-era output for introducing me to New Wave and Synthpop. Three Of A Perfect Pair doesn't get nearly enough love.

There's a reason. It sucks.

YMMV. I've never heard a King Crimson album that sucked, and I've heard all the studio albums.

The Contrukction of Light was probably the weakest.

Jon Anderson's voice isn't shrill, I think you're confusing him with Geddy Lee.

edited 5th Nov '09 3:05:05 PM by The Sanity Assassin

I really need to get more prog rock albums besides King Crimson's Red. For instance, I could try the one they're famous for.

Starless And Bible Black is a good one, though remember when they use the phrase "health food faggot", they're talking about a sandwich. Because they're British.

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is also very good. I think Thrak is probably the best of their later albums.

Get Larks' Tongue in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and In the Court of the Crimson King. Those three and Red would be the definitive King Crimson.

@Sanity Assassin: When you're listening to Yes, Jon Anderson's usually multi-tracked with Steve Howe and Chris Squire. If you listen to his solo album Olias of Sunhillow, it's a lot more noticeable.

I'll be honest. I am not terribly knowledgeable about Prog, i like more by songs than bands. BUT, it is one of the better genres i've come across.

Any suggestions for a prog n00b?

Pink Floyd's Animals, and King Crimson's Red.

Prog Rock sounds like the name of a sanctuary for amphibians.

Pink Floyd's Animals, and King Crimson's Red.

Thanks.

On another note, even though it isn't prog really, does the work of some instrumental hip-hop artists count in a broadly similar vein?

I make instrumental hip-hop myself and it's quite complicated, so does that count or is that an as-of-yet unnamed genre entirely?

Go out and get a copy of Rush's 2112

Seven classics you should probably get:

• King Crimson, In the Court of the Crimson King
• Genesis, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
• Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Tarkus
• Yes, Close to the Edge (this one is head and shoulders above the rest of their albums)
• Rush, 2112
• Jethro Tull, Minstrel in the Gallery (for some reason, I don't think Aqualung is as good)

And some personal reccommendations:

• Focus, Moving Waves
• Family, Bandstand
• Curved Air, Phantasmagoria
• Magma, Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh
• Chris Squire, Fish out of Water

edited 6th Nov '09 5:31:40 PM by Yon Troper

wow suggestions galore, luckily i have last.fm so i'll at least be able to get a sense of the albums if they don't have the full ones.

i fail to understand this... last.fm has none of the recommendations available as on-site plays. Any site recommendations?

PS: any thoughts on my prog hip-hop question?

edited 6th Nov '09 5:36:46 PM by El The Daze

Grooveshark plays songs in full, and I'm not really sure, I've never really heard it been called such.

I know it isn't called that. But it just seems similar. DJ Shadow's early work in particular seems to fit.

edit: thanks for the suggestion.

edited 6th Nov '09 5:55:05 PM by El The Daze

I think Moving Pictures is the best Rush album, though it might not be as "prog" as 2112.

Other than that, what Yon Troper said.

thanks IG.