Progressive Rock

[Shaun Ponsonby]

I was just wondering, because I can never talk about Prog to anybody-because not many people I know actually know what the fuck it is.Just my dad and some of his mates. When I play it to MY friends-they hear a 20-odd minute 'Close To The Edge' and go-What the fuck is this?!?!?!?

I love a bit of Yes, or Emerson Lake And Palmer, or Pink Floyd. Actually I've been hearing some great new(ish) bands from Europe like The Flower Kings (first time I heard them-I thought it was Yes) and a great band from America called Spock's Beard (I reccommend their album 'Snow' to all)

[bueno bob]

My faves (no order):

Yes
Shadow Gallery
Fates Warning
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Kansas
Dream Theater
Blind Guardian
Savatage

I can dig it

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Shadow Gallery-I've only heard/got one of their albums (Legacy), but I really like what I've heard-definatley need to get some more.

You heard of Symphony X, Mr Bob?

[bueno bob]

I would suggest "Tyranny", if you can locate it - that was my introduction, and it was great; neat little concept album about a shadow corporation and tech domination, so on and so forth...don't quite remember the details specifically, but it's an awesome album.

I've heard OF S-X, but I haven't yet had an opportunity to hear them, although I've been looking to - maybe I should go download some here today and see what I've been missing...

[Wa Wa Zat]

Oh Yeah, I Love Prog!!!! Kept me going through the Grunge years. Just recently saw Yes & Dream Theater in Concord...Great show!!! Marillion at the Fillmore.........Excellent Show!!!! Missed the Strawbs acoustic show in Berkeley, though........Favorite bands:

70's:

Yes
ELP
Genesis
Kansas
Gentle Giant
PFM
Strawbs
Ambrosia - Yes,THAT Ambrosia
King Crimson
Van Der Graf Generator

80's:

Marillion
Twelfth Night
It Bites

90's to now:

Dream Theater
Spocks' Beard
Ad Infinitum
Ayreon
Magellan
Cairo

Fusion is great as well:

Dixe Dregs
Al Dimeola
Return To Forever
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Billy Cobham
James Murphy
Liquid Tension Experiment

I probably forgot somebody, but that's the brakes.

[secrets]

I love progressive rock.

I recommend the following bands:

Rush

Pink Floyd

Dream Theater

Marillion (Fish era)

Ozric Tentacles

Only heard one track by Spock's Beard but it was great. It was on that Classic rock free CD.

[bueno bob]

Oh, I almost forgot Camel and Opeth in my list

Mucho killer shit!!

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Originally posted by secrets
I love progressive rock.

I recommend the following bands:

Rush

Pink Floyd

Dream Theater

Marillion (Fish era)

Ozric Tentacles

Only heard one track by Spock's Beard but it was great. It was on that Classic rock free CD.

You get 5 votes just for the fact that you KNOW who Ozric Tentacles are. Nobody I know can even pronounce the name. My mate Matt keeps calling them 'Ostrich's Testacles'!!! Do you have the 'Pongmasters Ball' DVD?
Saw them at the LOMAX in Liverpool (recently re-named Carling Academy-like everywhere else) and they were about an hour late opening the doors. Talking to Ed (guitar) after the show and he said the bus broke down. I mean, we were watching the soundcheck.

Spock's Beard aren't as good as they used to be. The mainman,Neal Morse-who used to write all their stuff- has left to become a full-time christian. Actually, his 2 Christian-prog albums are very good. 'Testimony' was a concept about his religeous history and his new one 'One'-I only got today and haven't listened to it yet.
If you want really good Spock's stuff check out 'Snow' or 'V' or 'The Light' or 'The Kindness Of Strangers'-they're the best ones.

Also, Morse was in Transatlantic-a Prog supergroup with Marillion's Pete Trewevas (bass), Dream Theatre's Mike Portnoy (Drums) and The Flower King's Roine Stolt (Guitar). Their 2 albums (SMPTE/Bridge Across Forever) are definately worth getting. Or perhaps you should get the 'Live In Europe' DVD/CD package.

[Mr Badguy]

I love all of that stuff, particularly Rush, Yes and (Fish era) Marillion.

However, one of my favourite Prog albums, and a largely forgotten one, is Jeff Wayne`s "War of the worlds".

Anyone else got it?

You`d never get away with an album like that now.

It`s amazing that you could ever make an album like that back then and it would actually chart.

What the fuck is wrong with music fans these days?

The are totally closed to something that radical.

[secrets]

Originally posted by Shaun Ponsonby
You get 5 votes just for the fact that you KNOW who Ozric Tentacles are. Nobody I know can even pronounce the name. My mate Matt keeps calling them 'Ostrich's Testacles'!!! Do you have the 'Pongmasters Ball' DVD?
Saw them at the LOMAX in Liverpool (recently re-named Carling Academy-like everywhere else) and they were about an hour late opening the doors. Talking to Ed (guitar) after the show and he said the bus broke down. I mean, we were watching the soundcheck.

Thanks Shaun,
You're also the only person here at Roth Army I think who's heard of the Ozrics.
Don't have Pongmasters Ball, but I've got Strangeitude, Jurassic Shift and the new best of CD.

Ed Wynne is a great player.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

I really reccommend the DVD-it's funny to watch the camera guy pull away quickly when Champignan (as he was calling himself at the time-he keeps changing his name, I have no idea what to call him-I just refer to him as Fluteman) lights a splif. On the backstage extra they're lighting them backstage and the director has blurred their hands out-as if you can't tell what they're doing, you know.

And, Mr. Badguy, I do have 'WOTW'-but, I haven't listened to it for AGES. Richard Burton was perfect to narrate that-his speaking voice is spot-on. Did you hear the Spartacus 'sequal' with Anthony Hopkins-cos that sucked. Disappointing. I'd love to hear the whole thing live. Bring David Essex etc in to do their characters again. That would be a great gig, don't you think?

[nosuchluck]

hell yes!
prog rock owns!!
Rush
Yes
Dream Theater
Vanden Plas
Ozric Tentacles
Symphony X
Shadow Gallery
Explorer's Club
Gordian Knot
Transatlantic
Spock's Beard
Platypus
Pink Floyd
Marillion
The Flower Kings
Porcupine Tree
Savatage
Fates Warning
King Crimson!(where it all began)
Kansas
ELP
Blind Guardian
Liquid Tension Experiment
Pendragon
Sylvan
Gentle Giant

i love it all!

[WACF]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
What the fuck is wrong with music fans these days?

The are totally closed to something that radical.

Todays music fans have been dumbed down.....

[Mr Badguy]

Originally posted by Shaun Ponsonby
And, Mr. Badguy, I do have 'WOTW'-but, I haven't listened to it for AGES. Richard Burton was perfect to narrate that-his speaking voice is spot-on. Did you hear the Spartacus 'sequal' with Anthony Hopkins-cos that sucked. Disappointing. I'd love to hear the whole thing live. Bring David Essex etc in to do their characters again. That would be a great gig, don't you think?

Yes, although Richard Burton and Philip Lynott are both dead.

There are maybe one or two bits that are a bit dodgy but the music fits the story perfectly and the ending with the NASA communication from Mars still sends shivers up the spine.

[Golden AWe]

If you ever get the chance, try these two finnish bands: WIGWAM and TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI.

Or, if some of you has the MSN Messenger or a e-mail that can hold up to 5-6 mb of stuff, I could send you a song or two.

You won't be disappointed.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
Yes, although Richard Burton and Philip Lynott are both dead.

You could probably find someone to do their parts for them. Anthony Hopkins narrating, perhaps. And maybe Bono standing in for Phil Lynott.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Originally posted by Golden AWe
If you ever get the chance, try these two finnish bands: WIGWAM and TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI.

You won't be disappointed.

Thanks for the tip.

[Marlowe01]

Pink Floyd is fucking amazing! Also, I like bands like the Alan Parsons Project, too. Prog-rock is good stuff.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Alan Parsons Project-there's a band you don't hear enough of. They are only doing one show in the UK next year-and two last year. Shame-I'd like to see them.

Anyone see The Nice on their reunion tour?

[Wa Wa Zat]

You also do not hear enough of the REAL Journey (The first 3 Pre-Steve Perry Fusion/Prog albums). I just picked up a boot of some unreleased fusion stuff. Now try being a frustrated early Journey fan knowing that they will NEVER go back to that sound.

Same with Ambrosia, I always thought that they were just some top40 Michael McDonald/Doobie Bros. wanna be band.......Then I heard their Prog songs........Cool stuff!!!

[09-02-1984]

Originally posted by nosuchluck
... Pendragon ...

Great band "Nosuch"!

(I think Nick Barrett is an excellent guitarist)

Their new album is due in 2005

Think that list of yours covers it bar one or two ......

Saga
A.C.T

[nosuchluck]

will surely look out for that one!

[DaveIsKing]

FLOYD ARE GODS

PARSONS PROJECT

DREAM THEATER (KICKS ASS)

RUSH

SYMPHONY X

[secrets]

This site is just amazing you'll find free downloads by most of the bands recommended here plus a whole lot more check it out:

http://www.progarchives.com/

[Soul Reaper]

I don't know many prog bands, but from what I've heard it's really cool:

My favs:
Dream Theater
Pink Floyd
Rush
Frank Zappa

I've heard of Ozric Tentacles but are they any good?

Does Muse come under prog-rock?

[Shaun Ponsonby]

I wouldn't put Muse under Prog, although they have had their prog moments.

Ozric Tentacles are very good. They are on tour soon, try and get down there.

I would also recommend YES. They define prog as far as I am concerned. ELP are great. Frank Zappa wasn't really prog. I don't think you could possibly catagorise Zappa.

Symphony X are good if you like your Prog-metal.

Also, Spock's Beard were good before Neal Morse quit, and Neal Morse did a project with (Dream Theatre's) Mike Portnoy, (The Flower King's) Roine Stolt and (Marillion's) Pete Trefdf fyugfu (can't actually spell his surname). And Morse's 'Testimaony' and 'One albums are good as well.

[nosuchluck]

Originally posted by Shaun Ponsonby


Also, Spock's Beard were good before Neal Morse quit, and Neal Morse did a project with (Dream Theatre's) Mike Portnoy, (The Flower King's) Roine Stolt and (Marillion's) Pete Trefdf fyugfu (can't actually spell his surname). And Morse's 'Testimaony' and 'One albums are good as well.

that side project is called Transatlantic - Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt and Pete Trewavas. they made 2 really good albums - 'SMPTe' and 'Bridge Across Forever'. worth checking out.

[Soul Reaper]

Are King Crimson any good?

I hated Robert Fripp's G3 tour stuff, but I heard he's pretty good for King Crimson.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

I knew it was called Transatlantic-I just forgot to put the name. 'Stranger In Your Soul' (from 'Bridge Across Forever') is amongst my favourite prog songs ever.

Seen the Live In Europe DVD?

Kicks ass!!!!!!!!

[Shaun Ponsonby]

King Crimson are very hit-and-miss. They could be as good as they could be bad. 'Court Of The Crimson King' is good (perhaps the first ever prog album)

[nosuchluck]

King Crimson pretty much invented prog rock... Trey Gunn plays for them now (he's awesome - plays on a guitar called the Warr guitar; sounds cool)

i havent seen the Transatlantic DVD - and yeah, 'Stranger in Your Soul' is awesome. so is 'All of the Above' from the debut album.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Get the DVD...it is excellent. Good version of 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' on the extras as well (they did it on the special edition of 'Bridge Across Forever').

[nosuchluck]

cool. as long as it doesnt have Mike Portnoy on vocals:P

[Shaun Ponsonby]

He does some, but Neal Morse does most of them.

[nosuchluck]

bleh. he's an awful vocalist... have u heard him sing 'Strawberry Fields Forever'? - its atrocious.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Is that on 'Live In America'?

[Soul Reaper]

I know Yes are meant to be very very good, but which album is best?

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Yes' best album, erm...either 'Fragile' or 'Close To The Edge', maybe 'The Yes Album'. There is a good compilation, a 35th anniversary special, that is very good.

There is also a VERY VERY good box set called 'In A Word'.

[nosuchluck]

Originally posted by Shaun Ponsonby
Is that on 'Live In America'?

dont know. downloaded it.

[secrets]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
I've heard of Ozric Tentacles but are they any good?

Go here and download the song and see for yourself.

:http://www.progarchives.com/Progress...sp?band_id=281

It's not their best but it's good.
For the first 8 minutes you may be thinking what is this new age?
Then suddenly you're in for a nice surprise.