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Cardiolan 
Forum Newbie
Joined: April 18 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 3
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 Topic: THE contemporary prog genius
Posted: June 09 2007 at 06:41 |
These gentlemen have demonstrated exceptional talents in almost every aspect of the art of music. Brilliant composers and lyricists, skilled multi-instrumentalists and vocalists, and in most cases very competent producers, they have amazed me with masterpieces and concepts over the past two decades. Thus, the choice is very hard for me. Morse has always fascinated me as a musician; Daniel with his voice(s), emotions and lyrics; Arjen with his fantastic production and ideas; Devin with his creativity and crazy energy; but as a best all-around artist I have to choose Steve Wilson.
If you have another favourite please bear in mind that this man has to have as multi-faceted talents as the others and his work has to be after 1990s. I expect your thoughts on the matter  .
P.S.  Please take the term "genius" in its lighter meaning - more like "mastermind". After all these are times of musical constipation  - NOT the era of Bach, Mozart or Beethoven. And the poll is for individuals, as opposed to the more collective efforts from bands like Tool, The Mars Volta, Radiohead, Dream Theater or Opeth.
P.P.S. Some of the "other" popular choices which I can't include at this time in the poll are:
- Roine Stolt
- Mikael Åkerfeldt
- Fabio Zuffanti
- Mike Patton  - Thom Yorke
- Matthew Parmenter
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
- Maynard James Keenan
- Kevin Gilbert
Edited by Cardiolan - June 30 2007 at 05:07
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fuxi
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 08 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 2459
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 07:03 |
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No offense - but there's no one in prog who sounds like a true genius to me!
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005
Location: Love Beach
Status: Offline
Points: 5777
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 07:20 |
Matthew Parmenter of DISCIPLINE/solo The Man! 
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Psychedelia
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 27 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 238
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 07:21 |
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I voted for Arjen Lucassen but i think that Thom Yorke of Radiohead deserves a place (although admittedly he isn't wholly progressive).
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Another emotional suicide, overdosed on sentiment and pride
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Kotro
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 16 2004
Location: Portugal
Status: Offline
Points: 2809
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 07:45 |
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You forgot Roine Stolt.
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Bigger on the inside.
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R_DeNIRO
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 17 2005
Location: Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 431
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 08:28 |
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Gildenlow by far.
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We were always be much human than we whish to be.
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prog4evr
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 22 2005
Location: Wuhan, China
Status: Offline
Points: 1455
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 09:55 |
 Kotro wrote:
You forgot Roine Stolt. |
Agreed, so I voted for Morse. Sure would like to see another Transatlantic collaboration again (not sure it will ever happen though...)
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Walker
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 20 2005
Location: Atlanta
Status: Offline
Points: 824
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 10:26 |
Morse... his last 3 discs are all in my top ten for this decade. Having said that, I will agree that every man in this poll (plus Stolt) have done SO MUCH for modern prog and all will have a special place in my heart. 
fuxi wrote:
No offense - but there's no one in prog who sounds like a true genius to me! |
No offense taken, thats your personal opinion, and you have a right to it. 
In my view though, all of these guys are every bit the musical genius, as much as anyone you could pick from the classic era.
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Mandrakeroot
Forum Senior Member
Italian Prog Specialist
Joined: March 01 2006
Location: San Foca, Friûl
Status: Offline
Points: 5851
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 10:30 |
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Rocket_Bob
Forum Groupie
Joined: June 05 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 48
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 10:58 |
A true genius will create current trends not conform to them so in my opinion Nobody on the list . Great list though I admire all mentioned. I`m not a tool fan in fact I`m not a fan at all but I think their main song writer deserved to be mentioned because he thinks outside the square and thats a sign of genius in my book.
Edited by Rocket_Bob - June 09 2007 at 11:01
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MajesterX
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 30 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 513
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 11:12 |
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Mikael Akerfeldt.
Without a doubt he has created some of the best progressive music, in my opinion, since the late 70's.
Steven Wilson is the only one up there who's music I don't find cheesy at points, but he's a little bit more alternative than Mikael when it comes to writing.
Opeth manages to perfectly mix mood, atmosphere, raging moments and softer ones together, this is coming from a person that isn't the biggest Opeth fan and is a DT "fanboy".
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Philéas
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 14 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 6419
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 11:14 |
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Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler Zavala.
Edited by Philéas - June 09 2007 at 11:14
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Tony R
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: July 16 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 11979
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 11:16 |
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I'm a PT fanboy so it 's obvious where my vote was cast...
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Cardiolan
Forum Newbie
Joined: April 18 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 3
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 11:49 |
Kotro wrote:
You forgot Roine Stolt. |
Well, I really respect Roine, but I feel that his music (and youth, as a man over 50) belongs to that classic 70s era, hence not exactly contemporary  .
As for Mikael Åkerfeldt, I agree - but I think that he's yet to show his full potential.
And ... Omar Rodriguez-Lopez OR Cedric Bixler Zavala  ?
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TerLJack
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 18 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1001
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 11:59 |
What about John Mitchell, who's been involved with several of the prog groups everyone's been talking about over the last couple of years?
Arena, Frost, Kino, "The New" It Bites...
Terry
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EliasMisael
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 16 2006
Location: Venezuela
Status: Offline
Points: 142
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 12:37 |
I believe that the best All-around is Steven Wilson, also Neal Morse and Arjen Lucassen are brilliant!!!
But with vocals and lyrics Mikael Akerfeldt and Daniel Gildenlöw are marvelous!!! and wonderful guitar players too!!!
It's a though decision but my vote goes to Steven Wilson.
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"...Basic temperamental filters on our eyes Alter our perceptions Lenses polarize..."
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Rocktopus
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 02 2006
Location: Norway
Status: Offline
Points: 4202
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 12:52 |
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No one here's even close.
I'll choose Thom Yorke or Mike Patton (or Joanna Newsom) over them, but they are probably not really geniuses either. Let's wait and see. Maybe its someone japanese? They sure make a lot more interesting prog over there, than any of the guys in the poll are capable of.
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Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
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andu
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 27 2006
Location: Romania
Status: Offline
Points: 3089
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 12:53 |
Eugen Nuţescu (Oigan)
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Odyssey
Forum Groupie
Joined: May 16 2007
Location: Serbia
Status: Offline
Points: 66
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 13:01 |
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Neal Morse
Not a genius but close enough.
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Speesh
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 21 2006
Location: NJ / VT
Status: Offline
Points: 435
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 13:26 |
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I think Steven Wilson's a better composer, but Neal Morse is also great and in my opinion is much more progressive.
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THE contemporary prog genius
