Many IQ albums sound the same.

It's true, IQ have remained very consistent both in composition style, sound as well as in quality level for many years, making it difficult to have consensus on a "clearly best album". I have not heard Road of Bones yet but even Frequency was pretty consistent with their former style and sound, I would say that it is less dark than Subterranea (which remains probably my favourite).

You're certainly not alone in that theory ProgSword.  Ever through Dark Matter have a lot of similarities to my ears not to mention the obvious Genesis similarities.  I did a review at one point comparing Dark Matter and Foxtrot.

Yeah, this is a totally understandable thing with IQ.  Frankly, with just about all the neo-prog I've heard (which, admittedly, is probably just scratching the surface, but it was enough).  IQ was the fist neo-prog I heard (I guess aside from Marillion, who basically started the whole thing, or were at least the most popular of the original "neo" bands), so maybe that is a factor for why I actually like them.

However, I do find that unlike a lot of bands I really enjoy, I can't really recall much after an album is over.  Usually only remembering that there was some nice acoustic intros and some "Apocalypse in 9/8" type sections in there.  That said, I usually really enjoy listening to them when they are playing, so I've continued to buy their albums.

I can't even really say I have a favorite, though I would be inclined to say "The Wake", which was fairly different from what they've done since "Ever".  Like Roland above, I really like Road Of Bones, which kind of surprises me as I was not even sure I wanted to buy it............which, come to think of it, is how I've approached ever IQ album since "Ever".  There IS something different about this one, though it's hard to put my finger on.  The "bonus" CD is quite good though.

For some reason, Dark Matter has always stuck out as my preferred album from "Ever" until now, not really sure on why.  I guess it's just well structured and programmed (track wise).  Of course, maybe that is just because it's laid out like Foxtrot? ;-)  Anyway, basically yeah, they do all sound extremely similar, if not the same.  Sometimes I don't mind that, like in this case (or just about everything Neal Morse has done, as another example).

Isn't this the trend of many bands, not just those in Prog. Every band finds a comfortable niche that they get attached to. Is it really Progressive then? Oh, Iain, where are you friend? And bring your usually sharp wit.   

Edited by SteveG - August 08 2014 at 16:22

I guess it's not totally a bad thing, but I think a shakeup every now and then is nice (which they did on the AMAZING Road of Bones).

Edited by ProgSword - August 08 2014 at 20:45

Get one or two that are highly recommended on here and move on.  I kind of feel the same way about Ozric Tentacle.  I think I bought more that I really needed.  The DVD is a lot of fun though.

Gerinski wrote: It's true, IQ have remained very consistent both in composition style, sound as well as in quality level for many years, making it difficult to have consensus on a "clearly best album". I have not heard Road of Bones yet but even Frequency was pretty consistent with their former style and sound, I would say that it is less dark than Subterranea (which remains probably my favourite). Is it a good or a bad thing? well I don't know, the songs while following a trademark style and sound have been all consistently good and different enough for me, IQ have the gift of being able to construct very strong melodies. But maybe by now they are indeed getting close to draining the formula.

Probably, but isn't amazing how great they sound after 30+ years.
That, in itself, says something.

I think you mean "all neoprog albums sound the same"

richardh wrote: Ever possibly their greatest album.

It's certainly my favorite, followed by The Wake. I haven't heard TRoB yet. The other albums are good, but IMHO they haven't topped Ever. And Subterranea was like a salad that was much too large, and you kept waiting to get to the meat.

richardh wrote: Don't really agree with the OP but here's my tuppence worth on the subject First of all there were and will still continue to be a strong link to Genesis and Yes with a lot of neo prog bands. That is not a problem. Are all IQ albums the same? I would say obviously not but you can perhaps group some albums together thus Tales From The Lush Attic The Wake both these have that early neo prog sound a bit rough and ready with a slight hint of punk. Nomzamo Are You Sitting Comfortably? New vocalist and an eighties sheen IQ took a bit of a break before getting back together in tribute to Geoff Mann as I understand it. They then took that early style and reinvented it with a modern leaner approach on Ever possibly their greatest album. Now what I find really puzzling is to how anyone would think that the next release Subterranea is like Ever? Do I need to even justify or explain how different these 2 albums are? Following that arguably IQ made perhaps their most 'generic' album The Seventh House and that is where I am in slight agreement with the OP. This reminds me of prog bands in the mid seventies taking stock of their career to date and summarising it in one musical statement (like Yes did on Going For The One). This is perhaps the only album that fits the OP criteria though imo. After that Dark Matter is an album that perhaps is the most praised of their discography. The similarites with Genesis are very obvious (but see my first comment on this) but what it does have is a more symphonic feel and that familiarity is like a trip down memory lane for many. That's why I think its so popular. Frequency represents a major move into the more modern style of neo. Less messing about more direct and more emotional. I like it a lot. The jury is out on the current album for me. I think it has highs and lows and disc one does admittedly sound like a retread of other IQ albums but Disc Two is perhaps more challenging and hardly typical of anything else they have done.

You need not to justify the differences between EVER and SUBTERANEA with me, my friend.
Well said once again