Transatlantic Virus

fuxi wrote: If I can add my two cents, it's worth listening to BANTAM TO BEHEMOTH by Birds and Buildings, the latest project of Dan Britton (keyboard virtuoso behind Deluge Grander): ambitious, highly inventive prog, predominantly instrumental and with all the restless fury of "The Gates of Delirium". I mean, let bands like Spock's Beard or Marillion compromise as much as they want to (IF that really is what they're doing), there still are first-rate North American bands out there, taking ideas from classic British prog to new levels!

Nice one Salmacis, well said!

Oh I like the Transatlantic albums, don't get me wrong!  Am less enthused about Neal Morse's solo output, though- he's another one that seems to be repeating himself now IMHO.

Transatlantic, though not groundbreaking, produced some of progressive's most memorable music in the past 10 years, in my opinion. What you have is sturdy prog music that stands the test of time. Then again, I'm not one of these over-thinkers who has to find meaning in every guitar chord or tom fill. I simply like what I hear.

The comments about Marillion simply slay me (as many of you could surmise). This band is constantly re-inventing themselves and trying new things to keep their music fresh. There's nothing stagnant or complacent about Marillion. The critique strikes me as being preconceived and ill-informed, but it shouldn't take away from what the band has done to re-establish themselves in the past 8 years.

I think it's abundantly clear that Marbles became one of Marillion's best...including anything from the previous administration. It's music that I haven't heard previously and many consider it a masterpiece. If people didn't "get it", then that's not Marillion's fault.

E

This is an interesting thread. It makes sense to me.

A know a classical composer who has listened to various bits of prog.....from ELP,Yes,Crimson,Tool,PF,DT..............he states, "its not proper music, its just an overlong pop song, or a combination of seperate songs bolted together, it doesn't go anywhere, just one big jam". I didn't understand that comment at the time.

That seems to be the essence of it........prog is just a re-hash of other music styles bolted togeter........thats why this thread exists. These bands are not progressive at all !

The real innovation is in the 3 minute pop song, not just the one you hear on the radio, the underground stuff, otherwise only classical music is really is progressive.

Thats not to stop anyone enjoying prog, immerse and enjoy I say and be aware that the lack of true progression is actually the nature of prog..........its actually regressive music. When metal bands happened then progsters welded that modern sound into the musical tapestry and continue to weld more bits as they become popular in the mainstream

You misunderstood my comments.

I can quite happily live with any amount of outside influences in music, its the tag 'progressive' that I think is wrong, it probably always was. There are probably very few truly progressive bands around that take music to another level, most of those would be found in the true (eventualy mainstream) pop culture.....rap, reggae, soul, hiphop, dance etc, metal. Those influences find their way into 'progressive' bands, so you have to wonder what is truly progressive. I would suggest (and interviews with band members back this up) that most 'prog' bands regard themselves as simply 'rock'.

Your assertion that progressive bands borrow from the past can hardly be seen as innovative which is exactly my point........borrowing from the past is regressive. It is why these bands all have similar elements without one strong theme emerging, its the theme that is innovative.

Classicals heyday might be over but the classical music scene is far from dead........and its not my particular interest either. Take a look through the contemporary classic releases over the last few years, the music is pretty challenging !!

Again, remember I listen and love Tool, DT,Riverside, Opeth and cut my teeth in the heyday of prog which I lived and breathed.......ELP, Amon Duul, KC,VDG,PF,Genesis,PFM,Gentle Giant,Pete Sinfield,Yes,Nice,Moody Blues Hawkwind, BackDoor and many others. That was the days when  'progressive' was tabbed and back then it was a springboard from the bands of the day, the sound was different. These days that sound has simply been welded to other genres and though it is interesting its far from new......ie progressive.

Okay, add The Tangent to my list of complaints:

wikipedia wrote: ....n 2002 by keyboardists Andy Tillison and Sam Baine of Parallel or 90 Degrees and Flower Kings guitarist Roine Stolt, bassist Jonas Reingold, and drummer Zoltan Csörsz.

Oh god! Roine Stolt ruins music!