Best prog band ever

  "They've never been alone, after getting a radiophone." Right on, Verse. Good to see you nudge Genesis ahead of (the also fantastic) Yes! Genesis have more discs in my "top ten classic prog recordings" list than Yes (by one), and have moved me more emotionally over the years as well. Enjoy Selling England, but please, give another unbiased listen to the lovely "More Fool Me." Before Phil was a latter-day blue-eyed soul megastar, he was an excellent drummer and backing vocalist. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the song, and I'm sure you'll come to realise that with time.

The troubadour addresses his inconstant lady-love, a timeless theme! The track also serves as a sort of "breathing space" on the album, and provides a break in the intensity. Before we had "skip" buttons and remotes, we just used to get up and get another beer..... Don't skip tracks on these old classics! (If nothing else, think of "More Fool Me" as the price of admission to the "Cinema Show.")

 I'm with Jim and Shark on this one -- their argument about Crimson still being a serious prog force is quite right, and you can never deny the huge impact that "COURT" had on the development of progressive rock. You don't need to like their music the best to vote for them!

lucas wrote: Sorry, but 90125 features great songs and is one of my favourite Yes albums. Beautiful keyboards, fine drumming, great backing voices and bombast. Moreover, Yes recorded for this record one of their best instrumental tracks : cinema.

90125 is a fairly good pop album ('Owner of a Lonely Heart' was a well deserved hit). But there's no excuse for 'Open Your Eyes'. And I know there's an excuse for 'Union', but it still is a dissapointment.

I should also say that I like many tracks from 'Invisible Touch', but it's maybe nostalgia for my early teeneger days.

Marcelo wrote: The question is: why a band is great? I think 3 options: One, wonderful music; two, brilliant musicians, and three, number of imitators (or influenced bands) in the last 30 years. In three cases, Genesis era Gabriel don't admit competition. My vote for it.

I agree with the 3 options Macelo gives. But I shold say that maybe Yes could fit also.

One can also add a fourth rule: Not falling into crap recods for an important part of their career. Now things start to get complicated...

Anyway, I voted for Camel. Just because I wanted them to have at least one vote (and, besides 'The Single Factor', most of their records are above average. Maybe because they jumped the 80s and became independent in the 90s)

i vote genesis love their early stuff (1969 - 1975)!

Perry wrote: 2 Joren Floyd? You right. It's my fault, I shouldn/t forget them. But others. I don't think Magma deserve to stand among this bands. Rush - they appeared too late, Soft Macchine - too psychedelic for classical prog.  and Focus? Well, they are good, but still not enough.

Maybe you're right about Soft Machine, Rush and Focus, but Magma is very special. They're not my favourite, but their music is incredible, mixing minimal music with jazz and rock!