Prog Superthread

Mushy

OK so I thought I'd start this thread for some discussion on the program side of music. I know there's a lot of fans around here, but hopefully can get some more going. Any band recommendations, general chit-chat, as I don't think individual threads get enough going consistantly.

Two bits of news lately that tickle my fancy of late are, firstly, Mike Portnoy resurrecting the Progressive Nation concept....except this time as a 4/5 day cruise around the Caribbean. Seems like a cool idea, albeit expensive.

http://www.progressivenationatsea.com/

Bar the high cost, and having to get to Miami first, I'm kinda hoping to be on it. Some cool bands playing that I'd really like to see anyway.

More interesting news from Mr. Prog himself Steven Wilson is that he has written some new music for the first time in an age. He says he only hopes to start recording next summer, so its a long way off for an album. On top of this he has Blackfield IV coming out, although more as a contributor. Then he has remixes(not just remasters as he explains) of Yes, XTC, King crimson, and Jethro Tull.

Passenger

I'm definitely more than partial to a bit of Prog alright. Can't say that Prog has a particularly substantial fanbase in Ireland though as it appears to receive little in the way of gigs compared to other Rock/Metal subgenres.

Lithium93_

I've only ventured into Prog via Dream Theater, so hopefully this thread will throw up some quality bands

GLaDOS

Lithium93_ wrote: »

I've only ventured into Prog via Dream Theater, so hopefully this thread will throw up some quality bands

If you like Dream Theater I'd recommend Circus Maximus and Symphony X.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsBQ1v_CeFg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzmZtXDI22M

Delphi91

Mushy wrote: »

...More interesting news from Mr. Prog himself Steven Wilson is that he has written some new music for the first time in an age. He says he only hopes to start recording next summer, so its a long way off for an album. On top of this he has Blackfield IV coming out, although more as a contributor. Then he has remixes(not just remasters as he explains) of Yes, XTC, King crimson, and Jethro Tull.

Sounds like Porcupine Tree is put on the back burners....:(

Somnus

Mushy wrote: »

More interesting news from Mr. Prog himself Steven Wilson is that he has written some new music for the first time in an age. He says he only hopes to start recording next summer, so its a long way off for an album. On top of this he has Blackfield IV coming out, although more as a contributor. Then he has remixes(not just remasters as he explains) of Yes, XTC, King crimson, and Jethro Tull.

That's a bit of an exaggeration considering his latest solo album came out this year and Storm Corrosion came out last year!

I think I read a while back that the new stuff he's writing is for another solo album with the same band as on Raven. Which is great news to me as I absolutely loved Raven that Refused to Sing.

Mushy

Delphi91 wrote: »

Sounds like Porcupine Tree is put on the back burners....:(

Yeah it is alright, but he has his reasons so fair enough. If he churns out more albums like his last then I dont care.

Mushy

Dr.Poca wrote: »

That's a bit of an exaggeration considering his latest solo album came out this year and Storm Corrosion came out last year!

I think I read a while back that the new stuff he's writing is for another solo album with the same band as on Raven. Which is great news to me as I absolutely loved Raven that Refused to Sing.

Well nearly a year he said. So thats a long time for this guy. Id hope its the same band, but expectations would be through the roof!

keith16

Decent Polish prog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ2CtdEV57k

Lightbulb Sun

Gavin Harrison plays on this, has a nice pop edge to it. He's an American musician called Randy McStine.

PattheMetaller

It's a pity more Prog bands don't come here but it obviously isn't viable for them. At least there's Queensryche in October.

I was at a couple of great Prog gigs in Glasgow earlier this year: Riverside / Jolly / Dianoya and Spock's Beard / Beardfish / Sound of Contact and not forgetting a certain trio from Toronto by the name of Rush. All great nights with music supplied by great bands and musicianship. Unfortunately though its down to sales. I was speaking to Ted Leonard from Spock's Beard after the gig and he would love to play Ireland but it isn't feasible for them.

120_Minutes

I strongly recommend checking out the Karnivool/Tesseract thread for some good examples of Australian Prog.

seachto7

Can anyone recommend a Jethro Tull or King Crimson album to me? I'm not into prog enough to get way into their back catalogue, so even a compilation/best of would do.

Trouble is, there are so many compilations of both bands, not sure what a good one would be to start with...

Passenger

seachto7 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a Jethro Tull or King Crimson album to me?

Aqualung is certainly the one Jethro Tull album to have and In the Court of the Crimson King is the definitive King Crimson album.

GLaDOS

1+ on both albums, absolute classics.

seachto7

Excellent. Nice one! Tomorrow's listening sorted then.

seachto7

ham_n_mustard

Yay, a prog thread!! Like a few others I got into the prog side of things through dream theater. From there, I started to listen to spocks beard and transatlantic, from there I found out about the flower kings. Also a lad I knew gave me a listen to a symphony x song..... And from there I was hooked.

It's a pity not a lot of bands gig here, but as was said above, it's just not feasible. Good excuse to get to London for a day or two though!

Passenger

ham_n_mustard wrote: »

It's a pity not a lot of bands gig here, but as was said above, it's just not feasible. Good excuse to get to London for a day or two though!

If there's a dearth of one particular type of gig in Ireland, it's Prog gigs for sure. Who was the last Prog band to perform here anyway?!

ham_n_mustard

i havent been to a gig here in years. last one i think would have been to in ireland would have been dream theater in vicar street on the six degrees tour

endacl

Can't be a 'prog' thread with only 20 odd posts. Has to be long and rambling, and preferably packaged up in a gatefold sleeve!

In the interests of progging up the thread, I offer...

seachto7

hmm, what about Zappa, which album would be considered his masterpiece....

Mushy

Passenger wrote: »

If there's a dearth of one particular type of gig in Ireland, it's Prog gigs for sure. Who was the last Prog band to perform here anyway?!

Well Steve Hackett was here recently in Vicar St. Porcupine Tree played in 2010, but I'm fairly sure there's been a few in between....and by a few, I mean a few.

My entry to program was originally through some Rush(2112), but more in earnest with Dream theater. Then the good folks of this forum suggested PT, and from them I've discovered more bands than I thought existed.

Lightbulb Sun

seachto7 wrote: »

hmm, what about Zappa, which album would be considered his masterpiece....

No idea I'm afraid. I like Joes Garage though.

GLaDOS

Devin Townsend Project qualifies as prog in my eyes, played earlier in the year.

Mushy

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Devin Townsend Project qualifies as prog in my eyes, played earlier in the year.

Definitely does. So there are a few, just not as many as we would like, or by who we would like.

If I won the euro millions I'd love to put on a one day prog gig. Rush, Steven Wilson, Anathema, Karnivool, Riverside, and one or two other local bands. It'd be a fine day.

Passenger

Mushy wrote: »

Well Steve Hackett was here recently in Vicar St. Porcupine Tree played in 2010, but I'm fairly sure there's been a few in between....and by a few, I mean a few.

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Devin Townsend Project qualifies as prog in my eyes, played earlier in the year.

Ah, yes. I've attended all of the above but wasn't really equating PT or Devin as Prog though technically they would fall into that subgenre.

GLaDOS

I was devastated Rush didn't come back for the current tour

Mushy

ScienceNerd wrote: »

I was devastated Rush didn't come back for the current tour

Yeah but I don't think they would have got the same size crowd as last time. Hopefully on the next touring cycle, as it will definitely be overdue then.

Passenger

ScienceNerd wrote: »

I was devastated Rush didn't come back for the current tour

Mushy wrote: »

Yeah but I don't think they would have got the same size crowd as last time. Hopefully on the next touring cycle, as it will definitely be overdue then.

I was kinda half surprised with the size of the crowd they drew for the gig in the 02. Though it was only their first gig so that fact probably created a hunger for the public to see them.

Rented Mule

seachto7 wrote: »

One of my favorite Frank compositions.

I was fortunate enough to see two DZPZ shows over the weekend in Urbana and Milwaukee (both about an hour and forty five minutes from me). OUTSTANDING shows. They really blew me away with their performance. They haven't performed 'Sleep Dirt' yet, but maybe one of these days.


As far as the previous question about "Frank's Masterpiece". That's a rough call. The man released such a large volume of music in a few different genres. Zappa fans will argue this to death. I do have to say that Hot Rats still blows me away every time that I hear it. It has to be considered as one of his best.

black_frosch

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76329884

Mushy

So Porcupine Tree released audio of their first ever live song as a live band today. Voyage 34 in Wycombe, nearly 20 years ago. Oh so very tight sounding. Its on sound cloud, I'm on mobile but will try get a link.

http://soundcloud.com/steven-wilson/porcupine-tree-voyage-34-nags

RayCon

Mushy wrote: »

Yeah but I don't think they would have got the same size crowd as last time. Hopefully on the next touring cycle, as it will definitely be overdue then.

Im not sure we'll see Rush tour Europe again ... maybe festivals ... I was at their Berlin show in June and there were quite a few seats unsold ... a mate was at Manchester and reported the same.

Mushy

RayCon wrote: »

Im not sure we'll see Rush tour Europe again ... maybe festivals ... I was at their Berlin show in June and there were quite a few seats unsold ... a mate was at Manchester and reported the same.

I think they will, bar retirement. It may just take a bit longer. They seem to play the same venues in the same cities, so that will have an effect.

Tis similar to DT.

Delphi91

Was looking at the new version of iTunes recently and it does streaming radio.

Some good prog stations available on there.....

steveone

Camel, Music inspired by the snow goose..., and thick as a brick (pt1)- jethro tull..
if this is prog rock...and not sumat else.....

rainbow kirby

Any suggestions on how to convince my OH to go see Dream Theater at Wembley Arena with me for Valentines? :pac:

GLaDOS

Well you could pull the oul "I thought you loved me..." trick.

Failing that, I have access to chloroform.

Passenger

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Any suggestions on how to convince my OH to go see Dream Theater at Wembley Arena with me for Valentines? :pac:

Anybody who needs to be convinced to like DT aren't worth your time. You need to break up with them asap. It's the only logical option.

Or chloroform as ScienceNerd suggested.

the incredible pudding

Passenger wrote: »

In the Court of the Crimson King is the definitive King Crimson album.

Definitive? Can't say i agree with that, given that Crimson are really 3+ different bands depending how you count them, each with a very different style (the band didn't have the same personnel for two albums in a row until Beat, which was their 9th album), with only one guy (the great guitarist Robert Fripp) being there throughout.
They've 3 main periods (or at least most celebrated anyway) -

The first (psychedelic folky prog), where as mentioned In the Court of the Crimson King is probably the best album. Pretty much the whole band changed album to album here and most the albums here are inconsistent bar the aforementioned one, though there are good tracks to be found on each.

The heavier early-mid 70s period where they get Bruford and co. in.
Most accessible album there is probably Red (good introduction to Crimson in general), though my favourite album is Larks' Tongues in Aspic; which is very dark and indulgent (as all good prog should is ).

Then in the 80s they change personnel again and take in a huge talking heads influence due largely to, well the 80s, and new guitarist/vocalist Adrian Belew, who kind of started taking over the group in a way while he was playing with them. They made about 6 albums or so, with a good bit of time between most of them.

Think i read somewhere recently that Fripp is reforming them as a 7 piece for a new album for next year..

TLDR -
Crimson evolved very differently than most bands, 3 main eras.
Check out Red, In the Court of the Crimson King and Discipline to get a good introduction to them.

KyussBishop

Progressive rock, mainly Pink Floyd, have been some of the few types of albums to grow on me enough, that I still listen to them regularly almost a decade later without them losing any of their effect.

Recently found Dream Theater's Metropolis Pt.2; thought it good but nothing special, but now it's doing that thing all of the best albums I've heard do (particularly progressive rock/metal), and is slowly growing into a better and better album on each listen Really love when I find music/groups good enough to do this.

PickledLime

KyussBishop wrote: »

Progressive rock, mainly Pink Floyd, have been some of the few types of albums to grow on me enough, that I still listen to them regularly almost a decade later without them losing any of their effect.

Recently found Dream Theater's Metropolis Pt.2; thought it good but nothing special, but now it's doing that thing all of the best albums I've heard do (particularly progressive rock/metal), and is slowly growing into a better and better album on each listen Really love when I find music/groups good enough to do this.

Get "Images & Words" and "Awake", they both blow "Metropolis" away (IMO, of course!). Honorary mention to "A Change Of Seasons", it dates from when they could keep your attention for 20 minutes.

Also, if Dream Theatre float your boat, you need everything by Rush from "2112" to "Moving Pictures" (you should have them anyway :P) as they were a massive influence.

Richy06

PickledLime wrote: »

Get "Images & Words" and "Awake", they both blow "Metropolis" away (IMO, of course!). Honorary mention to "A Change Of Seasons", it dates from when they could keep your attention for 20 minutes.

Also, if Dream Theatre float your boat, you need everything by Rush from "2112" to "Moving Pictures" (you should have them anyway :P) as they were a massive influence.

I'd say start with Fly By Night and go from there but don't dwell on Caress Of Steel too much.....
Hemisphere's is the mothafackin' blueprint. Rush out-Rush'd themselves on that one.

PickledLime

FBN kinda fails a bit in its second half for me, agree about Caress Of Steel though, possibly my least favourite of theirs (it does have Bastille Day at least!).

I'm having a Rush morning, just started with A Farewell To Kings

KyussBishop

PickledLime wrote: »

Get "Images & Words" and "Awake", they both blow "Metropolis" away (IMO, of course!). Honorary mention to "A Change Of Seasons", it dates from when they could keep your attention for 20 minutes.

Also, if Dream Theatre float your boat, you need everything by Rush from "2112" to "Moving Pictures" (you should have them anyway :P) as they were a massive influence.

Indeed, I've got the lot of those minus the 'Awake' album - will check that out (and the other albums mentioned) I actually found Images and Words hard to get into (beyond Pull Me Under/Take The Time), but will start giving the full album a proper listen now.

PickledLime

KyussBishop wrote: »

Indeed, I've got the lot of those minus the 'Awake' album - will check that out (and the other albums mentioned) I actually found Images and Words hard to get into (beyond Pull Me Under/Take The Time), but will start giving the full album a proper listen now.

Yeah, I had trouble with Images & Words originally too. If Pull Me Under and Take The Time float your boat, the most similar song to them on it is Metropolis Pt. 1.

Ah, Awake. It is (again, all IMO!) hands down the best thing DT have ever recorded. They rapidly went downhill for me after Kevin Moore (the unsung hero of DT) left, and Awake was the last thing they did with him. It was also before LaBrie ruined his vocal chords. Personal highlights from it are prog masterpiece Scarred, instrumental workout Erotomania and the more digestible Caught In A Web.

Mushy

Awake is an absolute stomper of an album, I easily see it as their best work by now. Don't think theres a bad song per sé on it, although Space Dyed Vest is somewhat odd. Wouldn't mark the album down on it, 10/10 for me!

PickledLime

Yeah absolutely a 10/10 album!

Space-Dyed Vest is great for me because of how atypical it is of their other material, but it still has great hooks. That also sums up Kevin Moore's position in the band for me perfectly; Rudess is a beast of a keyboard player, but he just can't write good songs.

GLaDOS

Space Dye Vest is an amazing song, probably one of my favourite from DT.

Agree with the Kevin Moore love in. Rudess is technically brilliant, but his music has no soul imo.

Passenger

Space Dye Vest is easily one of my favourite DT songs and it's one of the few DT songs that carries some pathos as Moore wrote it after he broke up with his girlfriend. Oh and you should watch this flawlessly performed cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C6zbACGGU4

As for Rudess, I've said it here many times before and it echoes ScienceNerd's post.