Progressive Rock Appreciation Thread

[Unbelievable21]

Ah. That's just what I'd heard. Like I said, I know almost nothing about the genre, except it's home of the some of the oddest band's I've ever heard.

[Lord_Mhoram]

What Prog is to me:
Bands that push musicality to the extreme, and those that believe in the "Cult of Virtuosity." Lyrics are usually a little more highbrow, with mythological or science fiction imagery and themes.

Favorite Bands:

Yes
Gentle Giant
Queen
Rocket Scientists (not a really well known band, highly recomended)
Spock's Beard
Marillion
Kansas
Pink Floyd
Rush
Illuvatar
Plato's Halo (an unsigned band I found on MP3.com they have an albums worth of DLC for sale at their website)

I like ELP, King Crimson and others, but I tend to like the prog that keeps a stronger connection to melody and hook. The more extreme stuff from Fripp is something I don't mind, but not a huge favorite.

I also see Euro Powermetal as an outgrowth of the Prog attitude. Metal albums that have male choirs instead of bass, or that have harpsichords as a main instrument.... That kind of stuff I find very enjoyable as well.

And I call on others to suggest lesser known bands - I love discussion of Prog because I always find a band or two I didn't really know. Mine are in my above list - but here with links

Plato's Halo

Rocket Scientists
It's their myspace page, but has some music to hear. One of the main guys in this band, Eric Norlander, is the new Keyboardist for Asia featuring John Payne.

[Lord_Mhoram]

Camel

Moonmadness is such a good album.

[kevmaster2000]

I've been a progressive rock fan since my early years, when my dad first introduced me to Yes. Close to the Edge will always hold a place in my heart.
I do sometimes get annoyed with how pretentious some of them tend to be, but it's something I can get past if the music is really good.

Favorite prog bands:

Echolyn (prog fans, check them out!)
Yes
Kansas
Jethro Tull
Gentle Giant
Dream Theater
Spock's Beard
Flower Kings
Opeth
Mastodon
Pink Floyd
Rush
Genesis
Pain of Salvation (despite extreme pretension)
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention
Ayreon (again, really pretentious)

Favorite prog albums:

Yes - Close to the Edge
Echolyn - Mei
Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory
Spock's Beard - Snow
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
Genesis - Foxtrot
Yes - Fragile
Echolyn - The End Is Beautiful
Kansas - Monolith
Opeth - Deliverance

Favorite prog songs:

"Close to the Edge" - Yes
"Mei" - Echolyn
"Thick As A Brick" - Jethro Tull
"Supper's Ready" - Genesis
"At the End of the Day" - Spock's Beard
"A Change of Seasons" - Dream Theater
"Song for America" - Kansas
"Deliverance" - Opeth

Seriously, everyone check out Echolyn.

[NX013]

Favorite prog bands:

10 Pink Floyd
9 ELP
8 Marillion
7 Queen
6 Jethro tull
5 Rush
4 Frank Zappa
3 King Crimson
2 Yes
1 Genesis

Albums:
10 Marillion - script for a jesters tears
9 kansas - leftoverture
8 Queen - queen II
7 Pink Floyd - Animals
6 Jethro TUll - thick as a brick
5 Frank Zappa - hot rats
4 Rush - 2112
3 Relayer - Yes
2 Lamb lies down on broadway - Genesis
1 In the Court of the crimson king - King Crimson

drummers:
5 Phil Collins
4 Neil Peart
3 Carl Palmer
2 Alan Wake
1 Bill Bruford

Bassists:
5 John Wetton
4 Greg Lake
3 Geddy Lee
2 Chris Squire
1 Tony Levin