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Topic ClosedDoes this description describe a prog album?

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Poll Question: Does this description describe prog music?
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11 [45.83%]
2 [8.33%]
11 [45.83%]
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SteveG View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Does this description describe a prog album?
    Posted: January 07 2017 at 08:03
"S********k is as progressive as they come. First, it has a short set of 4 tracks. Second, each track is individually lengthy, with the longest track being over 13 minutes. Third and finally, upon it's release, it was practically loathed by the labels. Marketing was practically impossible as radios refused to air it's tracks. Financially, S*********k was a flop. A big flop. But honestly- who cares what the radios think in the end? S*********k  has since then has gained somewhat of a cult following and for good reason. It's influence has stretched quite a way to bands like The Smiths and modern folk/indie band Fleet Foxes." 

A recent album reviewer described the above as grounds for a prog album. The album title has been changed to protect the innocent. Do you agree that this description constitutes what is essential in order to classify the album as a prog album?


Edited by SteveG - January 07 2017 at 08:05
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2017 at 08:34
Yeah. I was just reading this review earlier. Interesting remark about the contractually obliged guest. Not sure that seemed right but the atmosphere of this prog folk classic is superb.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2017 at 09:04
There's not a single word in this review about how the music on the album sounds, unless you count whom it has influenced (and unless there's more that you didn't quote). Lengths of songs and being a flop certainly are not enough. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2017 at 13:18

Length of track and unpopularity does not a Prog album make.  There are many more criteria, and this could apply to a number of different genres and styles.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2017 at 14:02
I'm sorry, I have the flu and am not mentally up to trying to figure out who or what the hell S********k is. Explain please.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2017 at 09:25
It could be any band playing some kind of rock-influenced jam music: some blues-rock musicians can play solos for 10 minutes, that won't make them a progressive rock act.
Anyway, this text sounds more like a short biography than a review. Could it be possible to have some more informations about this band?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2017 at 10:38
I think the message is is that it's not a review of the music it's a bad description of what makes good prog.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2017 at 09:53
Originally posted by Lewian Lewian wrote:

There's not a single word in this review about how the music on the album sounds, unless you count whom it has influenced (and unless there's more that you didn't quote). Lengths of songs and being a flop certainly are not enough. 

exactly.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2017 at 10:16
I thought it was a description of a double-wide box of corkscrew gas.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2017 at 10:23
Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

Do you agree that this description constitutes what is essential in order to classify the album as a prog album?
Not at all.  What it describes is neither necessary nor sufficient for something to count as prog. 

Re not being necessary, prog can consist of short songs that are well-received, including by the artist's record label, that the label knows how to market, and that gets airplay.

Re not being sufficient, while longer songs that get a "wtf?" reaction can be characteristic of some prog, those qualities aren't enough to indicate that something is prog.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2017 at 11:41
No, that could be applied to any kind of album. Lengthy songs are not exclusive to prog, and apart from classic rock radio, the radio rejects playing anything that isn't mainstream pop, rap, or pop-rock/pop-punk.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2017 at 15:02
Sigh....back to that old argument, albeit in a different form this time, as to what makes something prog rock.
Without knowing the actual band or album it's impossible for me to say if that has any merit.
Though there are probably some who have said things like that about old prog rock from the old days as well.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2017 at 15:45
I had to vote "I'm not sure" because the reviewer didn't bring up 16/8 and 7/4! LOL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2017 at 12:58
Originally posted by dr wu23 dr wu23 wrote:

Sigh....back to that old argument, albeit in a different form this time, as to what makes something prog rock.
Without knowing the actual band or album it's impossible for me to say if that has any merit.
Though there are probably some who have said things like that about old prog rock from the old days as well.
Not quite the same old argument Doc. The album in question is Stormcock, and the reviewer stated nothing of a musical description to get that far. Aside from a having lopsided view of Roy Harper in general, let alone the music he created on Strormcock. 

We all have different takes on what constitutes prog, but stating something is prog without some type of musical description is beyond the pale.

For the record, Harper never liked being pigeonholed, and I doubt he would even be impressed that his albums are listed in PA. 

But back to the topic. Perhaps it's time that videos are included with album reviews. Maybe that would help to circumvent the "what is prog and what is not" question. 


Edited by SteveG - January 11 2017 at 13:03
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2017 at 13:01
Originally posted by The Dark Elf The Dark Elf wrote:

I'm sorry, I have the flu and am not mentally up to trying to figure out who or what the hell S********k is. Explain please.
Hope you're feeling better, Greg. Check the last 50 reviews for Harper's Stormcock.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2018 at 02:18
What's "prog"? Cool

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021
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