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Member since: 2/3/2007 • Forum posts: 12171 • Last visit: 5/22/2013 8:09:10 PM EST
Location: 1950s Suburbia

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RPI. Rock Progressivo Italiano. Yes, it is a real sub-genre.

"So it's an established fact that in Italy during the period between 1971-1974, a music movement existed where bands would challenge each other to see who could be the most imaginative, who could create the album for the ages. They were all painters and sculptors just as in Renaissance Italy." [Tom Hayes]

You will never regret discovering the Italian progressive rock scene of the 1970s. It's been a pleasure to help a few of you do just that.

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I'm a proud midwestern boy from the heartland USA. I grew up in an amazing time and place that the country will not see again unfortunately. I'm into vintage photography and can thank my Grandfather for that. He loved to drive around as a young man and had a knack for snapping interesting photo of places. I'm also into writing about family and the observations of my life. I like to volunteer my free time to help assist elderly folks with the chores of daily life, to allow them to stay in their single-family homes as long as possible. The trend toward boxing people in high density housing is sad to me.

Aside from the Italian prog mentioned above, I'm also a huge fan of vintage Americana, roots rock, alternative rock, classic rock, pop, post-punk, some folk, some new wave. If you look at my review list, you'll see I love most all music. I'm a project manager/engineer in real life. I share a modest, cozy rambler with my better half (who works in children's cancer research) and our esteemed feline companions. I'm so grateful for all I have been blessed with.

A special thanks to my Mom and Dad. I miss you Dad and will see you again.

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Music is an important passion, thrill, and escape from our troubles. Our world is in such a dire place. We've turned our backs on the common sense of our peak era, squandered what we were given by the "greatest generation." We've seen a significant collapse of character, wisdom, and humility in the 50 years since. In the 1950s and early 60s we celebrated family, faith, individualism, and achievement. Every era had its problems and that one was no different, but it got so much more right than wrong. We aspired more than we envied. We built things up rather than tearing things down. We expressed being grateful more than exclaimed what we're "entitled" to. We didn't have much money but we had neighborhoods full of optimism, character, and joy.

Being poor (as both sides of my family were) was a challenge to work through, not an excuse for bad behavior. People would use their time to improve their situation and neighborhood, despite their problems, rather than whining about everything. In the decades since we've been sold a list of "enlightened" falsehoods that have us "circling the drain" as a nation. Look around you, and compare this culture with what we used to enjoy. How much more evidence do you need that the distortions of academia and media have snowed us? I do hope young people rediscover the positive aspects of that bygone era. But they will have to do it on their own, because their dreadful, politically-correct education system will not tell them the whole truth.

"Take me back
To a world gone away"

As the Chicago song goes....

After more than 6 years of service and 1000+ reviews to the ProgArchives database I have retired from collaboration to pursue other interests. It was a great experience overall, despite certain frustrations, and I hope that some of my work here will be of benefit to our music fans. I also encourage you to get involved with the site if you have a good knowledge of progressive rock. You can have an adventure here if you commit to working hard and sharing your love of music.

Best wishes and luck always,
Jim

Sub-genre Nb of reviews Avg rating 1 Rock Progressivo Italiano 297 3.34 2 Crossover Prog 119 3.03 3 Symphonic Prog 105 3.23 4 Prog Related 94 3.02 5 Psychedelic/Space Rock 61 3.25 6 Jazz Rock/Fusion 53 3.30 7 Heavy Prog 43 3.23 8 Prog Folk 43 3.44 9 Proto-Prog 40 3.58 10 Eclectic Prog 37 3.35 11 Neo-Prog 34 2.94 12 Progressive Metal 30 3.13 13 RIO/Avant-Prog 24 3.46 14 Experimental/Post Metal 24 3.21 15 Canterbury Scene 13 3.23 16 Post Rock/Math rock 8 3.38 17 Krautrock 7 3.14 18 Progressive Electronic 7 3.14 19 Tech/Extreme Prog Metal 5 3.20 20 Various Genres 4 2.75 21 Zeuhl 4 3.75 22 Indo-Prog/Raga Rock 4 2.00