Progressive Rock

[LifeDuringWartime]

anybody else like prog? at the moment im on a heavy king crimson binge. i already had "in the court of the crimson king," and then got Discipline, Beat, Three Of A Perfect Pair, THRAK, The ConstruKction of Light, Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With, and The Power to Believe for christmas.

Yes is a favorite of mine as well. I've heard a little Dream Theater, but i did NOT like what i heard at all. any suggestions?

[jpgray]

1. Get Larks' Tongues in Aspic and Red

All the Crimso fanboys I know love those two. I don't care for prog myself.

[kaitykaity]

2. I like prog, but don't know enough about it yet.

I like Dream Theater, but I like the side project Liquid
Tension Experiment better. It's more instrumental. (I don't
care for the singer's voice in DT.)

So I guess I'm not much help.

[Tikki]

3. King Crimson has an amazing..

on-line fan site. Elephant-Talk.com
I perused it looking for more info about this 'prog' genre.

I do remember hearing some from "in the court...." and that was 30 years ago. yes/no?
and it seems like I have been aware of Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp at some level for almost that long.

Saw listings to quite a few "Progressive" on-line stations, I'll rack 'em up this week and give a listen.


Tikki

[ProfessorGAC]

4. One of My Favorite Bands Ever

I'm particularly partial to that later period, between Discipline and Thrak. Those guys took the music to an edge that was seldom seen.

No real interest in commericality, just a musical tightrope walk. I saw them live twice in that period. Absolutely amazing performances.

Also, a big Yes fan. A suggestion might be to look into some of the fusion stuff of the 70's. The drummer's often rocked those pretty hard, but the musicianship is off the scale in some of those groups. (Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, et al) It's also very adventerous stuff, and lacks some of the "classical" pomposity of many prog bands. But, it's almost all instrumental, so if you like the layered voices thing in bands like Yes and Rennaissance, then you'll miss that.

Also, look into 70's Genesis, Rennaissance, Leviathan, and PFM.
The Professor

[Donailin]

7. Oh, Rennaissance

My God. I had two of their albums, "live at Carnegie hall" and. . Mother Russia? Something like that.

I loved that band when I was younger. Real quality, there. Voice of an angel, that singer

"See the Carpet of the Sun.. "

[realisticphish]

5. Dream Theater Uber Alles

well, maybe not uber YES, but other than that. it depends on what album you listen to; the early ones SUCK, but "scenes from a memory" is one of the best concept albums ive ever heard


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Donailin]

6. Opeth.

IMO, they are unstoppable. The cream of the crop in terms of metal. The standard on which I judge all other prog bands. Their sense of melody juxtaposed against metal is remarkable, really. I consider them the Pink Floyd of the millenium. Unfortunately, because the music industry is utterly commercialized, they will never be fully critically acclaimed as they should be here in the states until after they're long gone, in the manner of Mozart. One should mention they ARE critically acclaimed in Eurpope.

Even if one despises the screeching of death metal, give Opeth a listen: preferably to their Damnation CD -- start with "ending credits" then on to "Hope Leaves" and "WindowPane" and you'll be hooked. Then carefully adjust yourself to "Deliverance" on the Deliverance CD or "Drapery Falls" on the Blackwater Park" CD. Their music should be used as librettos, they're just that good. Powerful. Brilliant. Heavy, soft and lyrics that could pass for quality poetry.

[LifeDuringWartime]

8. blackwater park is a masterpiece

probably the only metal band id want to see at the moment

[Donailin]

9. saw them last winter in DC

but I prefer watching Lamentations DVD just the same. I don't think they'll be touring for awhile. At least not here.

[Maestro]

10. Another Vote for Opeth

but I also like Dream Theater as well.

[Donailin]

15. We have a lot of DT here, my son is a drummer

so it goes without saying that epic groups that employ the doublebass drum are playing at some time or another in this house.

[Maestro]

11. Check out Porcupine Tree

They've been around in Britain for 10-12 years but just now starting to make waves here. Porcupine Tree

[kaitykaity]

12. Any particular song you'd recommend?

Or album to start with? If they've been around a while,
I don't want to scattershoot it.

[Maestro]

13. Check out

In Absentia

On this album listen to "Blackest Eyes"

[kaitykaity]

14. All right.

Gracias.

I downloaded an Opeth song, I've got some Nightwish, and
now this. I should have a good compilation ready to go
here shortly.

Cool.

[Donailin]

16. Nightwish

isn't that the group with a feamle soprano? If you like them, you'd also like Blind Guardian.

[Donailin]

17. This band is really good

Michael (Opeth) Ackerfeldt helps them with arrangements and tours, no?

In any case, I appreciate any band that breaks the mold that you have to have a frontman singer. Good musicians can stand on their own.

[Hun Joro]

20. Ditto to Porcupine Tree

I love everything by this band, but I have to say my least favorite is In Absentia. I would recommend Stupid Dream or Lightbulb Sun for starters. If you can find it - and you'll probably have to search ebay or someplace to do so - Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape is wildly experimental and quite interesting, even if one of the songs does sound remarkably like Pink Floyd's Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun in places.

Pink Floyd is my favorite prog rock band, though. And I guess you could call Radiohead prog as well - also brilliant!

[kaitykaity]

21. With you totally on Pink Floyd in the Waters era..

I think everything after The Wall pretty much
sucks.

Like Radiohead as well -- OK Computer, Bends --
but a little goes a along way. Wasn't too impressed
with Kid A, esp. after all the raves it got.


Thanks for the recommendations on Porcupine
Tree.

:)

[Hun Joro]

24. I dunno...for the most part I agree, but

I kind of like The Division Bell. It's surely not in the same league with the Waters-era stuff, but if you can forget for a minute that it's Floyd, it has some nice tracks on it.

I haven't gotten into Radiohead's Kid A either, although it may be that I haven't listened to it enough. I quite like Hail to the Thief though.

[Maestro]

18. How about Gordian Knot

Really cool stuff.

[Cooley Hurd]

19. King Crimson's"Discipline" is one of my top 10 favorite albums...

...of all time.

"Indiscipline"

I do remember one thing.
It took hours and hours but..
by the time I was done with it,
I was so involved, I didn't know what to think.
I carried it around with me for days and days..
playing little games
like not looking at it for a whole day
and then.. looking at it.
to see if I still liked it.
I did.

I repeat myself when under stress.
I repeat myself when under stress.
I repeat myself when under stress.
I repeat myself when under stress.
I repeat..
The more I look at it,
the more I like it.
I do think it's good.
The fact is..
no matter how closely I study it,
no matter how I take it apart,
no matter how I break it down,
It remains consistant.
I wish you were here to see it.

"Elephant Talk" and "Thela Hun Ginjeet" are also GREAT!:thumbsup:

[FreepFryer]

22. King Crimson, Yes, ELP, UK, Jethro Tull, Zeppelin, Genesis and Zappa.

Generally the earlier the better, but mid-70's is a safe bet.

Fave Albums:

King Crimson:
- Court of the Crimson King
- Red
- Discipline
- Three of a Perfect Pair
- Lark's Tongues in Aspic

Yes
- The Yes Album
- Fragile
- Close to the Edge
- Tales from Topographic Oceans
- Relayer

ELP
- Pictures at an Exhibition
- Brain Salad Surgery

UK
- Night After Night (Live)
- Danger Money

Jethro Tull
- Thick as a Brick
- Songs from the Wood
- Aqualung

Led Zeppelin
- II
- IV

Genesis
- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
- Abacab
- A Trick of the Tail

Frank Zappa
- Apostrophe
- Overnite Sensation

Also - listen to Brian Eno and David Byrne's "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts".

[LifeDuringWartime]

25. Yessongs

have you heard Yessongs? i believe it was released after CLose to the Edge. its very good.

who are ELP and UK?

[Hun Joro]

23. Sigur Ros, anyone?

In my opinion, their second album, Agaetis Byrjun, is possibly the finest work ever recorded. Of course, their other albums, Von and ( ) are also excellent.

[sans qualia]

26. Yes yes yes yes YES

Um, I'm a fan, as you can probably tell from my avatar. :D I think I actually liked ( ) more than Agaetis Byrjun, although the latter is probably more accessible. Both are jaw-droppingly fantastic, nevertheless.

[Systematic Chaos]

27. My namesake!!

Gentle Giant were one of the most experimental of all the progressive bands, and CERTAINLY the most underrated. They recorded 11 studio albums from 1970 - 1980, plus there are a number of official live albums and bootlegs circulating around.

They attempted to go commercial on their last two LP's, "Giant for a Day" and "Civilian" and while "GfaD" is probably their weakest album (not to say it's bad in general, just weak by their previous standards), I think the angular style of "Civilian" is wonderful.

For starters, I would recommend "Octopus" and "In a Glass House". Also, "The Power and the Glory" is a highly political album that should appeal to progressive progrockers. :D

Check out their website here: http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/

I also agree wholeheartedly with Dream Theater, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis and Renaissance.

Also, ELP is (Keith) Emerson, (Greg) Lake and (Carl) Palmer. They recorded from 1971 to 1978 and then regrouped for two albums in the early 90's. Everything in their catalog is outstanding except for 1978's "Love Beach" and their final studio album "In the Hot Seat".

UK is a band that existed for only 3 years, but in that time they released two OUTSTANDING studio albums, as well as a live album that I believe is one of the best live albums of all time.

http://www.wedgeworld.com/music/uk/

Any other questions? I might not be the absolute top authority on prog rock on DU, but I bet I come pretty close and I LOVE talking about it! My handle before we were allowed to change them last year was Progrocker69 for a reason (but I dropped it because even though '69 is my birthyear and thus my reason for putting it at the end, I decided that it wasn't worth it because of the sexual connotations).

[Maestro]

28. This might be more Art Rock than Prog

but The Mars Volta is very good, experimental and definitely unique.

[DeepGreen]

29. Check this out,,,

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bobspencer
You might like it. A mix of prog and blues.

[Maestro]

30. Thanks

[DeepGreen]

31. Your Welcome !

:toast:

[Donailin]

32. Opeth Fans

Two new songs off their upcoming (Occult themed) CD, "Ghost Reveries" have been officially released today. You can find them at UltimateMetal and scroll to Opeth in the forum section. "The Grand Conjuration" which is the next to last track was copied off sirius and spread online about a month ago. the quality was obviously lacking despite the fact the the song is relatively good (very reminiscent of Deliverance but a bit repetive). The official release might be for no other reason than the overwhelming positive response to the song. And "Ghost Reveries, " which I have only heard twice tonight and have not formed a qualified opinion except to say that it is one complex arrangement. Mike's clean vocals sound a bit strange in some parts so it might take some getting used to. The new CD will be released August 30th.

And speaking of CD's my son's Joe and Rick of Knorwood are recording at this time and their demo will be out shortly and available at their website Knorwood.TK (Gotta plug the kids)