Was Genesis the best prog band ever?

Chus wrote: pantacruelgruel wrote: I'll stick my proverbial nose into this & state unequivocally that objectively speaking the "best" prog band ever are Pink Floyd. How can "I" be objective ? Well, objectivitiy should be measurable, i.e. numbers. PF have buried all other prog bands in sales, along with most other "rock" bands & artists. This is just from a numbers viewpoint. Subjectively speaking, John Goaway & the Commebackheres were the best prog group. They were prevented from releasing their symphillitic/espace/sauerkraut/arriere-garde/jazz-confusion/riodejaneiro masterpiece   A "Rock In RIO" masterpiece

Some New York art critics think the group blew its' artistic load on dreaming up the genre's name

P.S. Patti Smith beats Genesis to the rock n roll hall of fame. As Bob Lefsetz (music industry/music critic guy) says, "it's the hall of fame, not the hall of influence". He meant this to denigrate the voting & Smith's admittance ahead of other more deserving acts, that usually turn out to be from elsewhere but New York (except for Kiss, that is).

I don't think so, Genesis are a GREAT band, but there's so many bands. 

you just like saying "Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond"

The Whistler wrote: Nope. The greatest prog band would need a Jimmy Page on guitar, a Doug Ingle on keyboards, a Carl Palmer on drums, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond on bass, and a flautist.   Okay, Genesis? I dunno. I've haven't heard enough, but what I have has been pretty good. I do think of them as one of the best, and certainly one of the most consistently good.

An actual prog (not prog-related) band with J Page ? Although Gary green in GG was said to be a  blues influenced player, I would say that Page "prog" rep is very limited outside of 3-4 songs. Martin Barre, Alex Lifeson, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett and the new Steve on the block - Steve Wilson, would be a better fit for the ultimate prog group depending on the group's style. On keyboards, again, Doug Ingle ? Known for one long song. Gimme Kerry Minnear, Patrick Moraz, Francis Decamps, or the obvious - Tony Banks. Drums - Carl Palmer, probably the one choice that one could debate who would be the best, but no doubt he is up there. And J-HH (er, who), well - Geddy Lee, Ray Shulman, Mike Rutherford, the various bassists in King Crimson, Roger Waters (someone's gotta write the lyrics). Flautist , well there's really just ol' Ian Anderson. He & Roger could fight it out for the words.

For me..without doubts, but it's only a matter of taste.

1. Trespass
2. Nursery Cryme
3. Foxtrot
4. Live
5. SEBTP
6. The Lamb
7. ATOTT
8. W&W
9. Seconds Out

Few bands can achive that plus great music, probably the best lyrics.

Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - March 24 2007 at 01:46

It's all about taste...but if i have to choose one,i've to go with PINK FLOYD:

1 - this band changed leader two times (from syd to roger,from roger to david) without losing the impulse to go on with the show!

2 - the pink floyd in concert are an incredible audio-visual experience,just remember hystorical concerts like pompei,venezia,

the shows made on "the wall tour"......

3 - albums like Piper At The Gates of Dawn,Atom Heart Mother,Meddle,DARK SIDE,WYWH,Animals,The Wall.......WOW!!!!

....without forget that they are one of the first bands to evolve the psychedelia into prog!

Ok,i'm a Floyd fan.......... but i think i tell the truth!!!!!

IMO, PINK FLOYD = N°1
YES  = N°2
KING CRIMSON & CAMEL= N°3
ELP,SOFT MACHINE & GONG = N°4
GENESIS & VAN DER GRAAF  =N°5

for me not even close they sure is good but thire albums never thrilled me in the same way that VdGG, Pink floyd, Yes, King crimson and ELP did i find most of the stuff up untill the lamb quit boring thats how i whuld describe genesis >boring< the lamb is far and away my favorite genesis album and the only one i whuld give 5 star but except for that i think most of the other albums isent very special for me atleast. Sure the 2 albums that came after the lamb was quite good but on the same time yust reapeting the stuff they allready done nothing new realy.

There is no such thing as a The Best Prog Band ever (IMHO). I have always been a fan of their early work ,
which I don't think is boring at all, but their are other prog bands with good albums. 

IMO the answer is NO. But that said, in my universe Genesis (upto Duke and except FGTR) is only surpassed by YES, so they are allmost the best band ever...