Why old prog - for me - is better than new prog

Guldbamsen wrote: Well the thread is called 'why old prog - for me - is better than new prog'

Guldbamsen wrote: My dad feels that way about his beer. He's a Tuborg man - just like his dad was. Give him any other beer spanning from all over the globe - pilseners, ales, stouts you name em, he'd still rather have a 'grøn Tuborg' (green Tuborg). It's not that he doesn't appreciate good beer, but he just can't seem to shake his first love. My first real musical love was Pink Floyd, but instead of captivating me in a craving for a particular sound it's continued to push me into new and untried areas of music: electronic because of Rick Wright, avantguarde and Krautrock because of Ummagumma, metal because of the riff from In The Flesh, folk and all of it's compatriots because of albums like More and Obscured by Clouds.  In fact, I see my own history with music like a tree with huge and intricate branches - all of it starting out in the roots where Floyd resides.  ....and because discovery more than often leads to new discoveries, this tree will likely see space before I snuff it.

Gerinski wrote: The issue for me is, I rarely find the inspiration and brilliance of ideas which the old classics had in their prime. I mean, when I listen to songs like The Grand Parade Of Lifeless Packaging, The Lamia, Trilogy, Long Distance Runaround and tens or even hundreds of others... it's not the analog sound or the technical wizardy which captivates me, it's just that I think "how the hell could they come up with something like this?!". It's the mix of originality and straight brilliance of the compositions which really amazes me, then as the icing in the cake comes that those guys were excellent players and the sound is natural and warm, but these are only accessories. It's the inspiration they had which amazes me.

Cristi wrote: ^ I'm definitely gonna look for Moraine and Backhand (I skimmed through a few songs on youtube).

yeah... Backhand might be one of those best appreciated live. Phil Naro on stage is a god... and I did love the belt buckle haha.

Now Moraine.  A group of the nicest people you could ever meet....on a label headed by one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.  Even if we hadn't become good friends with them I still would heartily recommend their music. That new album is chock full of killer sh*t man. 

 Any group that reaches into the untapped gold mine of Chinese folk for inspiration is definitely keeping the progressive rock spirit alive. That  earns serious Micky points there. A very unique sound and style. A killer band live, and just as good IMO on album.  fwiw  I acutally read and completely enjoyed Dennis' book on his time in China.  What an interesting man he is.

^ I'm definitely gonna look for Moraine and Backhand (I skimmed through a few songs on youtube).

ok, thanks!

It's not that I don't look for new music to listen to, but I still discover bands from the 70s (prog and non-prog), which is great. I haven't listened to any new prog bands lately but I will try to listen to the two bands you've just mentioned.

haven't heard of any of those bands, I'm clueless
I give up

^ ahaaa, I meant no offense, I was curious if I knew the band or if I don't I would look it up, try to listen, that's all.

As for genre classifications, I don't care that much, I've always got in "trouble" talking about that.

^ what band are talking about? just curious

Skullhead wrote: I don't have an issue with what bands do.  It's their music, and I'm sure they are all doing what they think is best for their music. But I do wonder if there is interest from the prog community in music made in the tradition of the 1970's.  Clearly the 70's prog is going to be at the top of any best of prog list.  I just don't understand why it is so difficult to re create that vibe in the music?  But my feeling is that if a band actually did that, they would be panned by the prog community for being out of touch, out of time, outdated etc.  But the same people who would write them off still love all the old stuff.

I have to disagree with you on the bolded part. A lot of prog fans are firmly stuck in the past (no offense intended), and will rave about anything that sounds like the classics. Those who, like me, actually want the genre to move forward (as its original name implies) are in the minority.

Anyway, I agree with what David wrote in his post. It seems to me that you (and the others who agree with you) have already decided that no prog produced after the '70s will match anything from that era. Therefore, offering suggestions becomes a bit of a pointless exercise.

Personally, as much as I love the classics (and I grew with them, like many others on this board), I realize that era is gone and will never come back, so I have developed a keen appreciation of the new directions progressive rock has been taking in the past few years. However, I realize we are all different, and that everyone has a right to his/her own tastes - even if this "living in the past" attitude may well mean the end of this vibrant modern scene.