The Stranglers???

Although not overly familiar with the band what I've heard never struck me as progressive. Experimental perhaps, complex at times, but not progressive.

But those who know the band better than me can probably (or not?) point out stuff like:

- Multilayered melody lines, with either disharmonic or harmonic tendencies to an extent that separates them from mainstream rock, and used as a common element in their music.
- Influences from jazz, classical or folk.
- Compositional complexities; not following a structure or approach commonly found in mainstream rock bands .
- Or (although I doubt this applies in this case) a highly minimalistic approach to music; combined with psychedelic or spacey tendencies.

akin wrote: For Stranglers addition, depends on the people in charge to evaluate it. If they want to be very flexible, like they are with some additions (citing the site policies), Stranglers may even appear on full-blown prog genres, like Crossover. If they want to be strict, like they are with some additions (citing the site policies), Stranglers will never be added to the site, not even in Prog Related.

I disagree, for the reasons already mentioned. If true polyphony is NOT a sign of prog then nothing is!

For Stranglers addition, depends on the people in charge to evaluate it. If they want to be very flexible, like they are with some additions (citing the site policies), Stranglers may even appear on full-blown prog genres, like Crossover. If they want to be strict, like they are with some additions (citing the site policies), Stranglers will never be added to the site, not even in Prog Related. 

For Jean and me it is no question at all that the Stranglers are prog; we suggested them long ago. They often use real polyphony for their compositions, a very advanced composing technique which is rare even among prog bands. They had been branded "punk" by the music industry for business reasons, but anyone who has ears and listens closely will quickly realize that this was plain nonsense. An album like "Black and White" definitely is a prog album.
Professor Tibor Kneif, who is (or more likely was) a musicologist at the FU (Freie Universität) Berlin mentions them in his book "Sachlexikon der Rockmusik" ("Lexicon of rock music terms") and is also of the opinion that the label "Punk" was put on them wrongly because their music is by far too complex for that.


Edited by BaldFriede - September 17 2008 at 11:32

Metallica the other day,,,,,the Stranglers now...................maybe the Sex Pistols tomorrow

Edited by febus - September 17 2008 at 11:59

The Stranglers - wonderfully inventive and clever tunes, great instrumentation and intelligent song-writing. The whole suite of albums from No More Heroes through to Dreamtime reveal a band who never stood still and were unafraid to enter new territory, showing the world how far you could go with Rock without crossing over into Prog. (Which I believe they purposely avoided)

Where's the connection between Split Enz, David Bowie and The Stranglers on this site?

Personally - alway liked them, never saw them as a punk band; I've said it before & I'll say it again, they struck me more like The Doors with attitude & I maintain they hung on to 'Punk' (hawk, spit) as a flag of commercial convenience.

There is in my opinion a very small argument for their inclusion, but not enough.

Love them as I do - a "no" from me too.

Valdez wrote: Peter wrote: Once again, we see just how inadequate, outdated and all but useless "prog" and "progressive" are as meaningful terms to classify music.    It never ends, and never will end because we need a new word.         I nominate the word CLEVER.

Edited by Peter - September 15 2008 at 23:39

Was a good band, but not a prog band.