What Music Genre is the opposite of Prog Rock?
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Topic: What Music Genre is the opposite of Prog Rock?
Posted By: Mushroom Sword
Subject: What Music Genre is the opposite of Prog Rock?
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 18:34
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? Rap? Hip hop? Soul? Like, what would you consider to be the exact opposite of progressive rock? Either in terms of sound, or, to me as a musician, the randomness, atonality, and lack of something that makes you want to dance (which i love) the opposite would be, "Tik Tok". Ugh... Your opinions? |
Replies:
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 18:39
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Regressive rock, or as I like to say, gorP. Or for a used "genre", Retro Rock.
------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 18:54
i would say hip-hop, but i realize in GOOD hip-hop, they use poly-rhythms, odd times (occasionally), and Dactylic hexameterhonestly, the opposite would be something by the likes of Katy Perry or something like that ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
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Posted By: Mushroom Sword
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 18:59
Yeah i'd say that... But! "I Kissed a girl" sounds like they stole the rhythm of "I kissed a-" from Cygnus X-1: Book 2. And her band also did like a 30 second cover of that song which is really weird cause that's one of Rush's proggiest songs. |
darkshade wrote:Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 19:00
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My first impulse is to say Folk music. It's usually one guy, with one instrument, playing three chords with an AAAAAAAA...(etc) form. The exact antithesis to the complexity and virtuosity of prog. I know that Prog-Folk is a genre, so I'm sure people will disagree with me. But that's my opinion.
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Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 19:06
| I'd say pub rock. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 19:12
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Regressive water? ------------- 
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Posted By: Mushroom Sword
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 19:16
This man wins the internets. Plan your days accordingly people. |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 19:23
first thing i thought of was folk music too ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: benimaru_nika
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 19:36
| Reageaton?? |
Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 20:18
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progressive rock I guess ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: The Truth
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 20:20
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Alot of people would mistakingly say punk when that's not true... In fact proto-punk almost equals proto-prog at times. ------------- http://blindpoetrecords.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: Stughalf
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 20:27
Not all pure folk fits that description. I'd say the Incredible String Band is a pure folk outfit as it eschews drums or electric instrumentation. Yet the ISB fashioned complex, layered music and suite-like pieces. The harmonies of folk groups are often very complex and sophisticated as well. There is a lot of simple folk music out there, but folk is not necessarily simple at all. And lots of 'folks' like prog and folk- like me.
I'd say the opposite of prog rock would be something very primitive indeed, perhaps some percussive music from a tribe in Africa or something. Certainly not anything with any relation to rock music or its derivatives like funk/soul (from which hip-hop has definite roots). Bottom line: the question is foolish, as there can be no true opposite for something as multifaceted as a genre of music. I've heard folks characterize Dream Theater and Caravan as being opposites based on the wildly different moods they inspire/convey, but both of these bands fall under the prog rock banner.
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Posted By: CloseToTheMoon
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 20:32
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Without a doubt, punk rock. I had this argument with a punk guy when I was in school. In it's purist form, punk is regressive to the simplest, 3 chord rock & roll. I'm not talking about hardcore, or pop punk or proto-whatever. Basic beats. Basic patterns. Unimaginative lyrics. That's the opposite of being progressive. I'm not knocking punk, I like to throw in some Ramones or Buzzcocks once in a wile. But it's true. Most punk bands started only to spite the "dinosaur rock" of prog. ------------- It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen. |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 20:44
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You are knocking punk when you say "unimaginative lyrics". It also suggests you haven't really listened to punk as a big part of the point was that these types of lyrics had never really been sung before so they were anything but unimaginative. Try The Dead Kennedys or Minor Threat for a start off.
And seriously, it's pub rock, end of discussion. Folk and punk and hip-hop require some degree of inventiveness to be considered good/great. With pub rock as in Status Quo or AC/DC it's sort of the POINT that you not do anything interesting.
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 20:53
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i shouldve said this before, but what about.... modern-day rock music???? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: moebius
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 21:15
| Retro prog rock, AKA bands that sound now like other bands sounded 30 years ago and call themselves progressive. |
Posted By: RoyFairbank
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 21:32
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Seriously you got to think. Pop Music (20th Century) >Pop/Rock >>>>Rock >>>>>>>>Prog Alright? Hip hop is in there too so remember that. Now: Folk Music >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>20th Century Folk (sometimes and especially later Pop) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Prior Folk (close to pop or very similar) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Traditional Music (often not poppy) Historical Pop Music >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Pop Music (20th Century) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>.>>Pop Music (other periods [think showtunes]) Historical Classical/Formal Music >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Classical/Formal Music (20th Century) Experimental Music (Mainly 20th Century) Okay? As we all know here Prog is actually somewhat formulaically closer to classical and experimental (like Musique Concrete) than alot of pop, but they are all still quite close. This covers much of historical music, except folk and traditional. Truly, it seems that traditional music like hymns lacks the most of what Prog offers, has many other elements which it lacks (even the lyrics are often refrained and simple) and includes weird stuff like chants. Overall, traditional music is the opposite of Prog, which is an incredibly modern synthesis of all that music has ever had to offer beyond traditional music. Other genres of pop have elements, but just not as full as Prog, which is the vanguard of pop music. ============== Thanks, ROY |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 21:36
| What about Trova? That's some latin music, I think mainly from Cuba, but I'm in no way an expert in that kind of music. It's very basic, just one guy singing and playing acoustic guitar, that's all. He doesn't even have to be a particularly good singer nor guitar player, but it's lyrics are suposed to be somewhat good, I guess Bob Dylan stile? I don't really know. As a matter of fact, Trova is not so very bad, but it can get somewhat boring. I don't really care too much about it. |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 21:40
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the concept of this thread = fail
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: Lozlan
Date Posted: October 04 2010 at 22:12
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Personally I don't really believe that musical genres have polar opposites. I suppose you could refer to a brand of music that specifically developed in response to another variety, but in prog's case that makes the answer sort of obvious.
------------- Certified Obscure Prog Fart. http://scottjcouturier.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - The Loose Palace of Exile - My first novel, The Mask of Tamrel, now available on Amazon and Kindle |
Posted By: rico2010
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 00:57
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should be punk prog kill pop, pop kill prog |
Posted By: Billy Pilgrim
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 03:18
| Yeah I'd say todays pop music lacks creativity and soul, which are to things that make prog in my opinion! |
Posted By: TheClosing
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 03:56
| Conceptually pop music is the opposite of prog. |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 04:12
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Well of course it's true that nouns generally don't have opposites. I mean a teacher is not the opposite of a student. The opposite of a student would be someone who doesn't attend classes to learn. And the opposite of a cat would not be a dog, it would be something that did not have a head, fur, four legs and a tail. So it doesn't really work.
It's just fun to play around with the idea.
And yes, conceptually pop music is the opposite of prog but in practice as I've already said I find it to be pub rock because pop does actually change and evolve and occassionally get some real innovative and creative figures. Pub rock does not. It can't.
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Posted By: Luca Pacchiarini
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 04:19
| cha cha cha? |
Posted By: mono
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 04:30
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Rock itself has no opposite, as it is a defined style. It's like trying to find the opposite of a potato... So I would consider the opposite of progressive music. And that would simply be static or regressive music, because I take progressive here in its more global sense (not in the sense of progressions/complexity/vituosity which is a part that doesn't interest me much). ------------- https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else |
Posted By: ProgBob
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 06:17
I don't think this makes any sense without defining precisely what you mean by 'pop' and 'prog'. Although most pop is crap, there is still room for invention and innovation in a 'poppy' context. Conversely, just because the label 'prog' can be attached to something does not automatically imply it is superior in any sense. It means that it conforms to a particular style but it could still be a turgid, uninspired piece of music. ------------- Bob |
Posted By: Pelata
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 10:02
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Posted By: Evolver
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 10:09
Opeth, perhaps? ------------- Trust me. I know what I'm doing. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 10:34
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I am totaly agree with Textbook, Pub rock seems like the logical choice, bands like Stones, Quo and AC/DC have the oppesite aproach as Progrock. -------------  
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Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 12:12
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Christmas carols.... -------------   
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Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 12:29
| Pub rock, which I tend to dub basic rock and roll. Pop at its best can be every bit as cutting edge and innovative, if not more than, as progressive rock. |
Posted By: Varon
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 13:37
Difficult question ... Maybe russian popmusic???  ------------- Would you catch the final words of mine? Would you catch my words??? |
Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 14:01
| Twirp music. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 14:14
crap 
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 14:28
Slurpyburpfart...u can do better than that, I've seen it...comeoooon!! -------------
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 14:41
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For me, post rock seems to be the opposite of prog rock. For one it isn't really rock, and for two, it seems to be about fitting as few notes as possible into long songs, where prog rock tends to try and fit as many notes as possible. Well that sounds more like speed metal, but I am more referring to, the multi-instruments playing at the same time, with guitar, bass, keyboards, saxophones, violins, etc... whereas, post seems to be just a guitar holding notes or a violin holding notes. My post rock sampling is pretty small, but that is my impression of the genre. It just seems to be the opposite of what I listen to prog rock for. ------------- 
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 14:42
the correct answer is Modern Talking, Aqua, Vengaboys, Toy-Box,  -------------
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Posted By: 40footwolf
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 14:58
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I think if a prog band is doing it right, NOTHING is the opposite of progressive rock. ------------- Heaven's made a cesspool of us all. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 15:00
Like with other forms of music, a lot of Prog is crap to me -- Crap Prog and non-Crap Prog.
What drew me to Progressive Rock had to do with an approach to thematic developments (akin to art music), which I have found in Post-Rock. As for it not really being rock, I think it has more than enough in common with rock to not to be an opposite, and one thing I think important to progressive rock is that it progresses rock away from conventional rock. In a way I'm surprised that progresive rock hasn't progressed farther from its obvious rock roots commonly (evolved from rock sufficiently into barely recognisable forms of rock based music) Still, when I first read this topic I was thinking about writing Minimalism, but there are minimalist composers that I associate with progressive rock. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 15:19
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There's no opposite of Prog Rock, since Prog Rock can encompass anything. Prog can be complex, but also totally minimalistic. Virtually any genre can be associated with prog? SexPistols and punk? They changed the face of music forever. Eurythmics? They revolutionized a fusion between soul and cold synthetic sequences. The thing most remote from prog is some radiophonic, pop-appealing music that is comfortably nested in the middle of the well-accepted subgenre. I would say INXS. That doesn't mean they're a bad band, quite the contrary. ------------- |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 16:09
Yes, but I don't consider prog that is crap to be prog.  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 16:17
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Prog, pop, and punk are all very closely related in sound, if not ethos. In terms of how prog is defined by the big 5, new age and smooth jazz are much further apart.
------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 16:22
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prog is rock music / popular music, so I guess it has to be classical music ? ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 16:34
 It's the other way around. Most prog is rock music / classic music, and not pop. Progressive rock was built off a lack of commercial approach.------------- 
Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: Anirml
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 16:36
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Music that is/were made to sell only and is based on fashion. ------------- 
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Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 16:38
weren't Genesis, KC, ELP and Yes "commercial" during the golden Age of prog rock ? They sold a lot of albums back in those days.
Sorry to disappoint you, but a lot of non-prog artists began to record prog music in the seventies because it sold very well back in those days.
And yes, it belongs to "popular music", as opposed to classical music. It's rock music after all. ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 16:50
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Classical and jazz are two of the biggest influences on progressive rock (hybridisation) and many in PA have adapted it, or composed their own Western Academic/Art music. For an excellent example of progressive rock meets classical style, try William Sheller's Lux Aeterna. Then there are band such as Aranis which are considered Rock in Opposition even if they aren't really rock. Furthermore, a lot of classical music is popular. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 17:03
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^ are you trying to convince me that prog rock is not rock music ? Why do most of the prog bands release pop/rock albums past the seventies ?
It's clear that progsters are people who must be frustrated not to record symphonies or concertos with classical instrumentation, instead they borrow from classical music in order to show that their music is a bit superior than the average rock music. The result is sometimes successful (cf The Enid), but can also be disastrous (cf ELP's pictures at an exhibition). But it remains nonetheless rock music.
------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 17:15
^ Erm, no I'm not. 
------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: TheClosing
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 17:44
I don't find one superior to the other at all. The question that the OP asked is which "genre" is the opposite. The word pop simply means popular but if you look at pop music there are certain traits that bands fall into. Prog has it's own traits associated with it as well. The easiest explanation is one's tendency to be refined and the other's grandiosity. Really most bands that are prog get pigeonholed the same way pop music does. This is why the majority (perhaps) of prog bands aren't truly "progressive", if you know what I mean. To me progressive means there are no boundaries or lines that can't be crossed. A truly "progressive" band can play pop or prog music depending on whatever the song calls for. They're not confined to drawn out structures and virtuosic level of musicianship for every song that the genre is known for.
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Posted By: ProgBob
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 18:33
OK - my apologies for misinterpreting your comment. Having said that, although I think I see what you are saying here, I'm still not sure I follow your argument in terms of how it addresses the OPs question. Hmm.. I'm thinking that the question doesn't really make a lot of sense if we are going to be honest about it. It's probably possible to make some argument for anything as the concept of what a genre means is so subjective. ------------- Bob |
Posted By: Conor Fynes
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 19:04
| If you want to be picky about it, ancient tribal rhythms would be the opposite of 'true' prog; a contrast of past and prospective 'future' music. |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 19:13
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Country music: 3 chords and the truth Prog music: 15 chords and a metaphor (works with punk too) ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 19:28
Genesis, King Crimson, and Yes may have sold well in the 70's, but calling them pop is an enormous stretch. Their 80's output could fit that label though... Just because music is rock doesn't mean it's automatically pop. They're two distinctly different genres. -------------
Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: himtroy
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 20:55
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I'm just going to go with pop music. I hate all pop music, but I'm talking REALLY poppy music here. The music is made for nothing but making money and being catchy, with little to no real value. Whereas really progressive music isn't concerned with how successful it is, how well you remember the chorus (if it exists), and is deeply intricate and musically complex. ------------- Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell? I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 21:21
| Hey, what about Chill-Out? |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 22:56
Prog is a form of pop music, so no. Prog has a lot more similarities with even the poppiest music ever than with new age or smooth jazz or Chinese folk music. Also how do you define "real value" etc. etc. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: October 06 2010 at 02:11
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Prog is its own antithesis.
------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: October 06 2010 at 02:28
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Gorp Kcor. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: October 06 2010 at 02:31
This is not Pub Rock ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: paganinio
Date Posted: October 06 2010 at 10:53
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you're looking for the most conservative type of music probably ancient folk black metal
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Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: October 06 2010 at 15:25
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Hi,
I was gonna say drone music or muzak, but I think that Snow Dog beat me to it. Yeah ... I second his suggestion! Humor et al! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Paravion
Date Posted: October 07 2010 at 06:45
| circular rock? |
Posted By: ten years after
Date Posted: October 07 2010 at 07:07
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I suppose it's either prog paper or prog scissor. |
Posted By: mono
Date Posted: October 07 2010 at 09:42
Best answer yet ------------- https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else |
Posted By: Pelata
Date Posted: October 07 2010 at 10:02
Awesome!
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Posted By: Deleuze
Date Posted: October 07 2010 at 17:12
asian rock 
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: October 07 2010 at 17:19
I disagree. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: October 09 2010 at 07:45
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Trad Arr
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Posted By: Slothz
Date Posted: October 09 2010 at 10:11
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I would have to say "Drone Doom" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYcQT8F58OU - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYcQT8F58OU and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Yo3FJDrbc - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Yo3FJDrbc are not similar at all. ------------- Where's your will to be weird? |
Posted By: thehallway
Date Posted: October 09 2010 at 10:18
| Monophonic Gregorian Plainchant is the least complex music in existence. So if Prog is the most complex (?) then they would be opposites! |
Posted By: thehallway
Date Posted: October 09 2010 at 10:23
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^ It's literally one, unaccompanied voice singing a simple melody (or many voices singing the same melody). And this melody isn't even complex enough to be a major or minor scale; it's a mode (only uses white notes on a piano) and generally only moves in single steps (so no semitones and no big leaps). The only thing complex about it is the fact they're singing in Latin.......
Beat that!
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Posted By: paganinio
Date Posted: October 10 2010 at 02:12
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it's easy to beat that. Windows XP makes a "ding" sound when you click on certain places. Definitely less complex than your acapella music. The genre is called "simple electronic beep music." -------------
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Posted By: thehallway
Date Posted: October 11 2010 at 13:46
Ha! But did you know who wrote that ding??
Robert Fripp!
 ....on vista at least, anyway. This makes it automatically very meaningful and complex.
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: October 11 2010 at 17:09
| Punk -alot of punk rockers throw out the rules in music completely, and alot of them cannot play their instruments, when in alot of really progressive rock, such is not the case |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: October 12 2010 at 04:45
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I second the Asian music thing. I lived in China for years and whatever the opposite of prog is, it's what they listen to. You think American teenagers are bad you ain't seen nothing yet. Imagine a world where Westlife is considered cutting edge visionary brilliance.People who haven't lived there will think I'm being sardonic. The truely scary thing is that I am ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS.
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Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 12 2010 at 11:14
You are right about Asian rock, Asian MUSIC - terribly wrong.
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Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: October 12 2010 at 11:51
Look there! Another Magma basher  Really, ancient tribal rhythms can be so prog!  |
Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: October 12 2010 at 12:01
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I would say commercial techno such as our Belgian Milk Inc is very much the opposite of prog: - no new sonic inventions - no thematic development - nothing but 4/4 beats - very conservative and commercial approach I'll now try to post my first video! |