Is prog archives for the lost and lonely

 

If this was a British site, i do believe it would take a less convincing argument to portray these bands as non prog. However as it's global and mainly North American, where all music needs to be pigeon holed, anything slightly off mainstream appears to be prog.

 

In all my years of following prog rock, very few bands from NA or other countries, with the exception of europe, actually had prog rock. It seems to be in recent years that, groups that failed to be catogarised were swept into the prog arena, and in my opinion wrongly.

 

The prog rock term was used way back in 1970, and following the NME and Melody Maker only Europe held any kind of swathe in the prog pigeon hole. I've read many books circa 1980+, but it only seems since the arrival of internet on masse, that music appears to have move it's boundaries. from where i am standing to suit the masses and allow sites like prog archives to grow, whilst not being guilty of lying. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, whether it is true or not

 

The Americas crave the creation of all music, but singularly fail to provide prog rock with any decent real bands, too many turned to commercial gain or stadium rock to be bothered where they fitted in. Some even went as far as to do complete album covers, then turn around and say that they are prog,

 

Appaling and pathetic at times the bands who are masquerading around this site as prog. i've read a few reveiws bought the albums and then put them straight in the bin, because they are deinitely not prog.

 

Discussion or binned..........i do believe prog archives has lost its way big time.

 

Before the games begin, are you referring to the sub genres (Metal, Rio, zeuhl etc..) or bands ?

We live in a world that LOVES to justify itself by putting labels on everything and sadly, everybody. I hate the process because the parameters are arguable. But the truth is that if you don't like 456 channels on your TV you can always skip (or deprogram) the ones you dislike. Believe me there are still place where you can only get 5 channels and lots of snow.  Come to think of it , it may be better than constantly surfing! What's important is to follow YOUR tastes and enjoy your styles . Prog is the most complex pot-pourri of various mutations in music , bar none. Our revered sinkadotentree once described prog as an endless buffet of different aromas, textures and tastes , all there to peruse, discard, digest or even vomit. Its your world , who cares what others think, say, feel or do? Its not as if we have any social , political, emotional, religious, artistic or judicial solidarity anyway! As far as nationalism , there is no more capitalism or communism just COMMONISM , evryone in the same weary boat. I travel all over the world, I know. I see the same crap everywhere. That's why prog, in whichever guise, is my road to inner bliss. What's yours?

 

Boy howdy - you ferners shore do talk funny.  Why, we even has somthin' called progressive bluegrass heyah in the south.  What in thundah is that?

 

You speak of American bands turning to pop or stadium rock for commercial gain.  But I thought Genesis was a British band.

 

It's not all laid out for me in black and white where something is either prog or it's not.  It's a spectrum with shades of gray, or really lots of colors, in between.  I could make a good case that King Crimson's "Red"  or "Lark's Tongues in Aspic, Part IV"  are heavy metal pieces.  Black Sabbath's "Supertzar" has all the elements of prog. 

 

Speaking of pigeonholing, we recently took one of those personality seminars at our office where we get coded so that others can understand us better.  Most of these are done with a letter code, but this particular technique simplified it into four colors. The gist of it was that some people need to see things in black and white and others need to see things in shades of gray.  It takes both kinds to get anything done.

 

But i'll stick with my shades fo gray if you don't mind - or even if you do.

What do you define "prog" as? Is it the movement that began in Europe (primarily Britain)? Or is it the constant searching and experimenting of the limits of musical expression?

 

If it is the first, as it seems the OP defines it as, then we have bands like Pink Floyd who experimented with sounds much in the way the Beatles did, we have bands such as King Crimson who added bits of jazz and metal into their compositions, and we have bands such as Genesis and Yes who no doubt shaped the symphonic movement. And then what......we have a site focusing solely on old bands from the 70s, and an assortment of crappy retro prog bands such as The Flower Kings and The Tangent. And as much as I'd hate to say it, since I have a love hate relationship with the genre, Neo-progressive would also fit under the crappy retro umbrella. (for those of you thinking about combating my use of the term 'crappy', read on first)

 

If it is the second, then take the qualities embodied by the 70s bands, and apply it to today. We have bands such as Tool, such as Dream Theater, such as Ephel Duath, such as SGM, such as Anekdoten, such as The Red Masque, etc who are breathing new life into music, increased complexity of composition in grunge, increased virtuousity in metal, jazz influences in metal, avant-garde advancements, etc. These bands are the true meaning of progressive rock!

 

To illustrate my point, take Yes, Jethro Tull, The Flower Kings, and Marillion. Yes and Jethro Tull WERE two of the most progressive bands in the 70s. Now however, they should NOT be considered progressive. Sure, we can say they are progressive rock, in the exact same way we say The Flower Kings and Marillion are progressive rock, but they are not progressive. Yes and JT are taking the genres they have created and making music based on that. It has the same qualities as their music from the 70s, and I stress this point: if their current output was created in the 70s, it would be progressive. However it is coming out NOW, at a time when these qualities lose their progressive nature.

 

The Flower Kings and Marillion in the 90s and 00 are NOT PROGRESSIVE AT ALL! (I kind of don't like using Marillion as an example, because I do believe that their 80s output WAS somewhat progressive but I know them the best out of the neo-prog movement, so for sake of argument, pretend they are one of the less inspired neo bands.) They are taking ideas created by Yes and Genesis and making crappy reiterations of it (commericalizing it even!).

 

Bands such as Tool, such as Dream Theater, such as Ephel Duath, such as SGM, such as Anekdoten, such as The Red Masque, etc ARE PROGRESSIVE whether you like it or not. If a band is experimenting with music, they deserve your (as a music fan) respect, they do not deserve to be called "post/math/ metal nonsense".

 

I don't have a conclusion, but so yeah there you go I owned your ass.

Can't be Dream Weaver by Gary Wright , yes from the USA but not listed as prog either.

Must be Dream Theater , they are American,they are listed and they are prog. Whether you like it or not!

 

So much anger  

 

 

Being polite with non-useful people is the most important part. Crudely flaming them just gives them the reaction they're trying to get. I'm enjoying the serious reactions to this thread, too, because it's funny to see people get so worked up over nothing. Yes, it's an annoying waste of space, but if you ignore him, he won't come back.