Loudersound's Ten Essential 80s Prog albums

verslibre wrote: Logan wrote: I was rather surprised at first to see those Asia, Yes and Pink Floyd albums listed in the list as I had not thought of those as generally highly regarded (or the ELP actually, never heard it myself, and AWBH...). I would rather things like Art Zoyd, Univers Zero, Present, Shub-Niggurath, Eskaton, Dun, Swans for Children of God (if it counts), Thinking Plague, Cardiacs, Jean-Paul Prat, Talk Talk, Kate Bush if it counts... Of course not only does it depend on familiarity and interest (and those choices are one's guy's opinion in an article who clearly has very different tastes to mine, thought at first it might have been a group of contributors to the publication), but also one how one defines Prog. I think many would sooner see that Asia album as AOR and pop-rock than progressive rock, and as more related to prog via personnel than the music itself being of a progressive nature. I'm no expert by any means on the kinds of music in the poll... I skewed lazy and went with the choices in the poll. I think Clutching at Straws is much better than Misplaced Childhood. I'd sooner revise my list to include Tangerine Dream, Kenso and Goblin, but it was an absolutely bonkers day at work yesterday.

I may not be that big on Marillion, but I agree with you. I still went with that Marillion because it's there and seems quite sensible still, and the Rush and an other vote for Discipline (not because I like it actually, but because I think it a sensible one for such a list).

I was rather surprised at first to see those Asia, Yes and Pink Floyd albums listed in the list as I had not thought of those as generally highly regarded (or the ELP actually, never heard it myself, and AWBH...). I would rather things like Art Zoyd, Univers Zero, Present, Shub-Niggurath, Eskaton, Dun, Swans for Children of God (if it counts), Thinking Plague, Cardiacs, Jean-Paul Prat, Talk Talk, Kate Bush if it counts... Of course not only does it depend on familiarity and interest (and those choices are one's guy's opinion in an article who clearly has very different tastes to mine, thought at first it might have been a group of contributors to the publication), but also one how one defines Prog. I think many would sooner see that Asia album as AOR and pop-rock than progressive rock, and as more related to prog via personnel than the music itself being of a progressive nature. I'm no expert by any means on the kinds of music in the poll...

Edited by Logan - April 26 2025 at 08:42

Well, there's no way I could vote for 90125 over ABWH. I suspect those who voted for 90125 and not ABWH have either not heard ABWH or are on this site by accident and are not real prog fans. :p I also voted for Misplaced Childhood and Moving Pictures.

From the choices:

Emerson, Lake & Powell
Moving Pictures

Other:

King Crimson – Discipline

I'm so glad the Emerson, Lake, & Powell album is among the choices! Such a surprisingly good album!

Big Sky wrote: From the List: 1) Rush 2) Yes 3) ABWH Just missing: Asia Not on the list albums I like and would would have considered: Yes (Drama), Rush (Permanent Waves), Jethro Tull (Crest of a Knave) and Saga (Worlds Apart).

Yeah, to be honest I'm kind of surprised that Drama was not listed. It almost seems as though this is a list of the most well known or biggest selling albums except for maybe It Bites or World Trade that is.

While my top ten would be totally different, I will vote for the two in the list that make the most sense to me from a mainstream Prog perspective which are the Rush and Marillion albums. For another, despite not being a much-liked album by me, the biggest omission does seem to be King Crimson's Discipline.

Enjoyment wise, I prefer Rate Your Music's top ten Progressive Rock albums list:
https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/1980s/g:progressive%2drock/ which has Eskaton's 4 Visions at number six (love the album), two Cardiacs albums and Camberwell Now at number 10 if one includes subgenres, otherwise another Cardiacs album is at ten. and I like the Los Jaivas albums. It's not a very trad prog kind of list.

My personal list going with what is in PA would be RIO/Avant Prog heavy. Loudersound's looks AOR/ melodic rock heavy.

King Crimson - Discipline

Yes
Marillion
Supertramp

very honorable mention - ELPowell

Edited by Cristi - April 25 2025 at 06:27

from this list, way above all:

Brother Where You Bound

well below:
Moving Pictures
ELPowell

alternate choice: Script For A Jester's Tears (Childhood is.... misplaced )

The rest is not worthy of a "best of" list, unless 2380's.



Edited by Sean Trane - April 25 2025 at 02:51