Neo-Prog ==> Melodic Progressive

Dean wrote: The name "Neo Prog" has historical significance, even if it was seen as derogatory by many. New Prog is (at present) journalistic laziness since non-Prog bands like Elbow, Coldplay, 30 Seconds to Mars and Doves also get tagged with this epithet because they get a bit "diverse" and use string arangements in their productions - the "problem" for me is seperating those bands from those we recognise as being Prog if we subject them to a nebulous categorisation based upon lazy journalism rather than musicological definitions. For me, Melodic Prog would be far to board a category to be of any practical value, since that would encompas too many existing Prog subgenres, such as Symphonic, Crossover, Eclectic, Prog Folk, Electronic and Neo Prog - all of whom have melodic bands in their number.

Edited by kenethlevine - October 21 2012 at 18:48

firstlensman wrote: With the advent of "New Prog" (Radiohead, Mars Volta, et. al.), should this site consider changing the name of the category "Neo-Prog" to "Melodic Progressive" in order avoid confusion for new aficionados of Progressive Music?

Whose gonna confuse either Radiohead or The Mars Volta with Marillion or IQ?

What is melodic prog ? a mix of prog and AOR ? I remember once I was in a record store, and I started discussing with someone about Jorn lande's project, Ark. The guy tried to convince me that "progressive" is synonym of "melodic"...

I don't think the two terms are synonymous so I would say No, although I understand your intention

Melodic Prog Rock (or Melodic Prog, though I prefer the former) would be better, since some might argue that a lot of the music is not really progressive (I use progressive by itself in an adjectival sense).  It would still lead to confusion since, say, Symphonic Prog (which is also a misleading term) is commonly melodic.  So I'd just keep it as is unless there was a really descriptive title (and that is not intended an invitation to "colourful" (i.e. derogatory) language describing Neo Prog).

I was confused with the term Neo-Prog about ten years ago as I first thought it equalled something like all Post-classic Prog, but people who don't know the categorisation Melodic Rock might also be confused.  As for New Prog (aka Nu Prog), I have suggested that as a possible category or designation here before and practically got flamed for it (I still think it a useful designation, if not as a  category proper, but just generally so).

Edited by Logan - October 12 2012 at 13:23