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Most Epic, Bombastic, Triumphant Prog Bands/Albums |
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ankhora ![]() Forum Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: May 13 2022 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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e.g.
Triumvirat - Spartacus Rick Wakeman - The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table |
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Grumpyprogfan ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: July 09 2019 Location: Kansas City Status: Offline Points: 10197 |
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A few that I believe meet the criteria.
The Aristocrats - Culture Clash Pat Metheny Group - The Road to You Allan Holdsworth - I.O.U. Steely Dan - Aja, The Royal Scam Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins - Sluggo! Kansas - Leftoverture National Health - Complete Rush - 2112, A Farwell to Kings, Moving Pictures... Bruford - One of a Kind Big Big Train - English Electric Part One Mirthkon - Snack(s) Gentle Giant - Free Hand Frank Zappa - The Grand Wazoo, One Size Fits All Echolyn - The End is Beautiful Sanguine Hum - A Trace of Memory Dream Theater - Images and Words Haken - Visions Marco Minnemann - My Sister Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior Dixie Dregs - Unsung Heroes Izz - Don't Panic I could go on. But for now, that's good. ![]() |
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presdoug ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: January 24 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 8251 |
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Spartacus sure qualifies!
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Progosopher ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: May 12 2009 Location: Coolwood Status: Offline Points: 6402 |
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ELPs first four albums define epic, bombast, and triumphant.
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The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty"
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Jaketejas ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: March 27 2018 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1969 |
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When I think of epic, I don’t think of Bill & Ted going “epic, dude!” I think of an epic. In ancient literature, there is the Epic of Gilgamesh. LOTR nerds would cite The Silmarillion. The Four Ancient Books of Wales …
etc. etc. In that sense, I don’t know of too many real epics in Prog Rock music. I’m sure there are many that exist of which I am unaware. But, two bonafide epics I know about … which come crashing through with triumph … are Cygnus X-1 … Book 2 from Hemispheres by Rush, and the first half of Feel the Fire by Barnabas, including Prelude, The Dream, and Breathless Wonderment. I must have listened to both at least a thousand times. The first was released in 1978 and the second in 1984, a timeframe which spans the pinnacle of refreshing fearlessly creative music. I say that because these folks were unafraid of taking real risks. Unfortunately, CDs tend to chop up these masterpieces, while tapes and lps allow one to experience the entire epic in one sitting without abrupt stops that ruin the listening. |
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yogev ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: February 09 2021 Location: Israel Status: Offline Points: 396 |
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To me, it's definitely Frank Zappa's Grand Wazoo. Its big, its huge, its a celebration of sounds, and its a very fun listen.
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Dervish D ![]() Forum Newbie ![]() Joined: October 03 2019 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Definitely Spartacus.
Then there is ELP’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’p. A little different: Phillip Glass’s ‘Koyaanisqatsi’. Perhaps Vangelis’ ‘Heaven and Hell’? |
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ankhora ![]() Forum Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: May 13 2022 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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Symphony X - The Odyssey
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Sean Trane ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 19739 |
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that would be most ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Another choice is anything written & composed by Lucassen ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Edited by Sean Trane - May 18 2022 at 08:50 |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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ankhora ![]() Forum Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: May 13 2022 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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@Sean Trane... Arjen Anthony Lucassen?
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ankhora ![]() Forum Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: May 13 2022 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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People seem so divided with Rick Wakeman solo.... unless it was when he was doing stuff with Yes.
Reminds me of the love/hate for Yngwie Malmsteem... |
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Cristi ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() ![]() Crossover / Prog Metal Teams Joined: July 27 2006 Location: wonderland Status: Offline Points: 41763 |
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Depends, most people respect Yngwie for his 80s and 90s work, but he's got a big ego, gave up on collaborating with any vocalists and he started singing and he's just not good. His music is also predictable, he's doing the same thing over and over, and not in a fun way like Motorhead and AC/DC did. At least those guys didn't take themselves so seriously...
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essexboyinwales ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() Joined: April 27 2015 Location: Bridgend Status: Offline Points: 4559 |
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Ayreon - THE, ITEC and TTOE😎😎😎
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HolyMoly ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() ![]() Retired Admin Joined: April 01 2009 Location: Atlanta Status: Offline Points: 26133 |
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Pink Floyd The Wall jumps to mind. It begins and ends as bombastically and dramatically as possible. Arguably in a parodic way.
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My other avatar is a Porsche
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
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verslibre ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: July 01 2004 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 15429 |
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After years of reading putdowns directed at Rick on various message boards, I concluded the derision is due to the likelihood that most listeners are unfamiliar with the majority of his solo discography (it's huge, and Rick has released some questionable fare, but when he's on, he's on). His most recent (all-instrumental) outing, The Red Planet, is excellent.
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Duddick ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() Joined: August 02 2014 Location: Newport, Wales Status: Offline Points: 350 |
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - I can never understand why “bombastic” is used as a positive adjective by many prog fans. My view of the word has always been that it’s a negative and this is confirmed by the the Oxford English Dictionary which describes it as “high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.” Hardly a recommendation to me……..
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Jaketejas ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: March 27 2018 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1969 |
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To the mainstream, I think the word bombastic is correctly used to describe much about prog. And, it does have a negative connotation. But, prog rock folks are a funny lot. They like what the mainstream considers bombastic. To them, what the mainstream considers bombastic is interesting. The prog people are often nerds, and by nerds I mean that in a positive way. But, sometimes the mainstream misconstrues them as being dorks. What mainstream person is going to care about the story behind Cygnus X-1 by Rush (with the signature Rush chord ... F# major pattern with the high strings left open). No, they are going to think it is bombastic drivel written for dorks. But, it is actually quite interesting, entertaining, and based on mythology. It is really written more for esoteric nerds (again, positive connotation). So, I think the "bombastic" part is a matter of perspective. |
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Atavachron ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() ![]() Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 30 2006 Location: Pearland Status: Offline Points: 64700 |
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HolyMoly was clear it was an observation not necessarily an endorsement, and then affirms that with the use of 'parodic' . Besides, the Wall is quite often bombastic and not always in a sophisticated or fun way. Let's face it: it is one of the all-time classic Angry Young Person albums . |
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"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy
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BrufordFreak ![]() Collaborator ![]() ![]() Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 25 2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 7999 |
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Bombastic prog is synonymous, for me, with Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
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Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
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nick_h_nz ![]() Collaborator ![]() ![]() Prog Metal / Heavy Prog Team Joined: March 01 2013 Location: Suffolk, UK Status: Offline Points: 6737 |
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You seem to be under the impression that people don’t know the definition. It is entirely possible to recognise that bombast can be pleasurable to hear. Most people can recognise bombast in prog, and this bombast is either seen as a good or a bad thing. Synonyms for bombastic include overwrought, convoluted, pompous, pretentious, ranting and blathering. These seem pretty good adjectives to describe a lot of prog, particularly some of the albums that have been mentioned so far on this thread. Is “The Wall”, as someone has already said, bombastic? Well, it’s certainly overwrought, convoluted, pompous, pretentious, ranting and blathering - and I love it. Thus, I can recognise that the bombast (which usually would have a negative connotation) is part of what makes “The Wall” such an enjoyable listen. Do I know bombastic has negative connotations? Yes. Have I used it before in reviews as a positive attribute? Also, yes. While I suspect there may well be some out there who don’t know the dictionary meaning of the word bombastic, having perhaps seen it only in prog reviews, I am sure the vast majority of people who use the word DO know what the definition is. It is rather patronising and condescending to assume that those who use it do not know what it means. |
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