Has prog lost its way?

The best part of 70's prog bands was that they were all very different from each other and everyone else. Unfortunately it seems that all that ingenuity all these years later have only helped to create guidelines for what progressive music is allowed to be. With bands like Glass Hammer sounding more like a tribute band than an original band. To me that isn't progressive at all. Perhaps they are more interested in selling records than pushing the boundaries of music. I understand that after all that has come to pass it is more difficult now-a-days to create something "brand new" and still be interesting, but the lack of effort to even try, to me, is a very disappointing thing in all of music especially prog.

^ nor do we need to worry about corruption of the truly progressive today.  Many of those bands, like Jack O' the Clock, do NOT consider themselves prog, associate themselves with prog or any kind of movement, and any attention given to them by 'prog fan' is just gravy man. They are out there playing to ... music fans.. who could give a sh*t about tags and labels.  Again.. as has been noted by myself and other forward thinkers. The music and those making it has come back full circle to the late 60's/early 70's. They just take their influences and make music..  who cares about what some reviewer/website tags it as. Progressive Rock as it once was, has come back.

Prog Rock?  Dying for years..  sure some still make music that harkens back to the stylistic and sonic standards of the past... but the only people interested in that are old farts and those militant 'prog fan'. Those are dying off just as much as the bands themselves.. be it old age.. or lack of a wider audience. The bands that are thriving today appeal to those who like music..and want something different... not just to 'prog fan' who has, beyond any doubt ...Nearfest?.. shown ZERO real interest in supporting the genre beyond nostalgia bands.. and current nostalgia themed bands.

^^^^ What can I say? Maybe problem is in me, but you are right  

Edited by progresssaurus - July 12 2015 at 09:07

I think there is a big difference between "Progressive" and "Prog"; progressive being more an innovative way to write music, trying to push the boundaries of a particular genre, mixing beat and rhythms, etc. Where as prog is more a genre based on the music created by the progressive bands of what is know the "Classic Era", meaning mostly long pieces, odd meters, a lot of instrumental parts, etc.

GKR wrote: What annoys me is the "Comparison game". We are always comparing somthing with another thing. Maybe thats the sickness of our time. We are always look behind.

Yes i agree it is the band's that can't reasonably be compared to others that seem to be doing something right. Sadly you have dig pretty deep to discover those bands.

It's a valid point, this argument, but I've always believed for the past 15 or so years, bands have become to expand their sounds to include different genres, to the point where the lines between rock and prog and metal are so easily blurred, and because of that, artists and bands don't really care about "genre", as it's all music. Same notes, same instruments, just played differently.

Granted, there's obviously a "nostaglic" level that needs to be considered when talking about 60's and 70's prog, but because that was a signature sound, we have so many different prog sub-genres to sort of distinguish themselves from the lot. It all has to do with our innate need to categorize and describe things that ordinary people would find indescribable.

Personally, that's why I enjoy discovering new modern "prog" bands, mainly because they make whatever the hell kind of music they want to make, which is usually a conglomeration of multiple styles, some prog and some not. It's a natural, cyclic progression. Psychedelic rock was all the rage when the kids of the day got sick and tired of the same ol' rock 'n roll. Less than 10 years later the genres was virtually extinct. Music is constantly changing, and always will. It adapts to the trends of the listening populace, and sometimes repeats itself more than once.

So to truly answer the question, no, I don't think prog has necessarily lost its way, it's just started using the iPhone and tablet and shaved off its hippie hair.

Wicket wrote: It's a valid point, this argument, but I've always believed for the past 15 or so years, bands have become to expand their sounds to include different genres, to the point where the lines between rock and prog and metal are so easily blurred, and because of that, artists and bands don't really care about "genre", as it's all music. Same notes, same instruments, just played differently. Granted, there's obviously a "nostaglic" level that needs to be considered when talking about 60's and 70's prog, but because that was a signature sound, we have so many different prog sub-genres to sort of distinguish themselves from the lot. It all has to do with our innate need to categorize and describe things that ordinary people would find indescribable. Personally, that's why I enjoy discovering new modern "prog" bands, mainly because they make whatever the hell kind of music they want to make, which is usually a conglomeration of multiple styles, some prog and some not. It's a natural, cyclic progression. Psychedelic rock was all the rage when the kids of the day got sick and tired of the same ol' rock 'n roll. Less than 10 years later the genres was virtually extinct. Music is constantly changing, and always will. It adapts to the trends of the listening populace, and sometimes repeats itself more than once. So to truly answer the question, no, I don't think prog has necessarily lost its way, it's just started using the iPhone and tablet and shaved off its hippie hair.

This is an exceptional post

Absolutely knowing, and absolutely spot on.

Disparate Times wrote: The best part of 70's prog bands was that they were all very different from each other and everyone else. Unfortunately it seems that all that ingenuity all these years later have only helped to create guidelines for what progressive music is allowed to be. With bands like Glass Hammer sounding more like a tribute band than an original band. To me that isn't progressive at all. Perhaps they are more interested in selling records than pushing the boundaries of music. I understand that after all that has come to pass it is more difficult now-a-days to create something "brand new" and still be interesting, but the lack of effort to even try, to me, is a very disappointing thing in all of music especially prog.  I do enjoy what Jack O The Clock is doing, I just hope that all the attention from the prog community doesn't corrupt them too.

I completely agree! 
The thing is that it's the way people see music that has changed... It's not about the music anymore.. it's about facebook likes, shows, the image of the bands, views on youtube, beards, clothes... of course there are exceptions but unfortunately they are not enough. Prog is not a music that could have endured this change. The classics long live and prosper because of the huge gift they gave to the world, but the way today's musicians work, I think it would be very difficult to create something as wide as the 70s music. I mean look at today's music.. do you think that if Close to the Edge, an album with three songs, the first one being longer than a tv show episode would gain the publics' liking? I highly doubt it... We are the remnants of an older time.. I myself am a young musician, and I struggle to write original , real music...it's not that easy when you know that there are few who will appreciate it for what it is. 
Unfortunately I think that the golden age of Prog and music in general is going towards it's dusk... All we can do is preserve the memory and prolong it's fading life as much as we can :)

dr wu23 wrote: Never knew that prog had a 'way'.

sure it does.. 20 minute epics.. stupid lyrical concepts, often done to death in 80 minute musical death marches. loads of mellotron and a Rickenbacker bass..

you know.. Prog Rock.. the genre...  dying off thankfully.. replaced by real progressive music. Creative stuff man.

The path of prog is not preordained - there is no "way" to lose.