Divisive Prog Albums - Progressive Rock Music Forum

King Crimson's 'Discipline' is pretty devisive. Obviously "Tales". 'Trout Mask Replica' and 'Weasels Ate My Flesh' I feel are just misunderstood. A lot of people think 'Islands' is too slow, but I think it's OK.

Edited by Boi_da_boi_124 - May 26 2023 at 07:37

Gerinski wrote:

I forecast that Mirror to the Sky is going to be a divisive album as well...

The Astonishing by Dream Theater. People either rank it up with the best or hate it with a passion. I love it! One of the most beautiful albums ever recorded. I’ve listened to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway more times but that is fading.

David_D wrote:

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

I agree. I should've chosen Discipline instead. Embarrassed

New Wave Prog? Big smile

But I can't really say, as I've only listened to the first couple of tracks - it was too challenging. Then, I saw a live video

with Bruford in coconut outfit and dancing some kind of calypso, and that was reeaally challenging

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opiUajt1_S0&t=590s ). LOL

Edited by David_D - May 27 2023 at 06:34

quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond

SMSM wrote:

...

if not abused, "Divisive" it could be applied to two categories

1. Those who consider the recording a masterpiece (often because of it's non commerciality, going against the grain) vs those who consider consider the recording badly written, badly produced etc

To me Gentle Giant's In a Glass House, for example, fits this category

2. Those who judge recordings based on whether they are progressive rock or not vs those who judge the recordings alone

To me, Gentle Giant's or Genesis' latter "pop" recordings, for example, fit this category

I like/agree with your categorization categories... and the fun ones to me are the first category, where an established artist goes against the grain to produce something new instead of "Smash Hit Album II: The Sequel."

While not a prog band by any stretch, the classic example of this for me was Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" album, coming on the heels of their huge breakthrough "Rumours."

I try to rate as fairly as possible. Albums such as Gentle Giant's Free Hand which I personally don't enjoy, still gets a 3.5. Same Goes for Yes Tales of Topographic Oceans... I can hear that the stakes are high, their honest investment in the ideas and concepts they've trying get across. I can hear that the artistic quality is high, and I think I can hear why these albums is loved by others. Regardless of my lack of enjoyment which isn't always relevant. So while I do think of these two as divise, you couldn't tell form my ratings.

I was recently listening to VDGG's Pawn Hearts and it occurred to me that this is one you can add to the list also.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - June 05 2023 at 15:49

cstack3 wrote:

I posit that ALL prog albums are "divisive," otherwise they wouldn't be progressive.

And I'd posit that not all prog albums are progressive.

Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me.

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

I was recently listening to VDGG's Pawn Hearts and it occurred to me that this is one you can add to the list also.

With all respect for the really many lovers of PH, I think of it as a messy H to He on its way to Godbluff, while I'm very fond of the other two albums - or not least therefore.

quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond

The Quest would appear to be a strong contender for one of the most divisive prog albums, bearing in mind I Love it and almost everyone else here prefers to Leave Well Alone. Tongue