Classic Rock's "Prog Rock" Magazine

Raff wrote: OK, yesterday I found the mag's latest issue (#6, if I'm not mistaken) at Borders in downtown DC. Since I had run out of reading material to keep me company during my commute back home, I bought it (and a cookbook I found for $4!), and started browsing through it when I sat down to have some tea before my lesson started. Unfortunately, I have to say this time I was positively underwhelmed - even if the central feature on 'prog art' is not a bad idea at all. The usual suspects covered (i.e. Mostly Autumn, Marillion, DT, PT, yadda yadda), the usual bloopers (omitting Thursaflokkurinn from a feature on Icelandic prog was unforgivable, and the guy who reviewed Jakko M. Jakszyk's The Bruised Romantic Glee Club had clearly not read the liner notes), a slew of reviews of albums chosen with heaven knows what criteria - and plenty of condescension towards non-British bands. In particular, some of the remarks included in the reviews of Jacula and Il Bacio della Medusa were unpleasantly patronizing. I am really not sure I'm going to part with more of my hard-earned cash in the future to get something so biased.

Raff, it is rare that we disagree on the forum, but I still really enjoy reading the magazine, although I do, of course, bow to your superior knowledge, certainly as regards prog outside the UK,

Have you considered writing to the magazine and let them know your feelings? The majority of them have been active rock journalists in the UK for many years. There are still some from Sounds heyday in the late 1970's! They pride themselves on understanding the genuine rock fan's point of view, and I am sure that they would listen to the type of constructive criticism you would have to offer.

lazland wrote: Raff, it is rare that we disagree on the forum, but I still really enjoy reading the magazine, although I do, of course, bow to your superior knowledge, certainly as regards prog outside the UK, Have you considered writing to the magazine and let them know your feelings? The majority of them have been active rock journalists in the UK for many years. There are still some from Sounds heyday in the late 1970's! They pride themselves on understanding the genuine rock fan's point of view, and I am sure that they would listen to the type of constructive criticism you would have to offer.

I chopped off my own quotation because I hate quote pyramids. Anyway, Steve, thanks for the 'superior knowledge', which I don't really believe I have... The thing is, you enjoy the kind of prog they are pushing much more than I do, and you also have the opportunity to see those bands live if you want. However, my beef is not that they feature Marillion, Transatlantic, DT and PT every single issue - if that sells, I can understand why they do it, since they're not running a charity - but rather that they seem to dismiss other bands much too easily. And then, the content-wise, it has been going downhill for some time. I'd like to see many more reviews and less rather uninvolving features like the ones they had this time. I read practically the whole of the mag today, while going to work and then back home, and that had never happened before.

As to writing them, I've thought about it, but I believe I will pass this one up. You see, it's not the first time I see slurs against Italian prog (I subscribed to Classic Rock for a number of years, and bought every issue in the years before I decided to take out a subscription), and protesting would not change anything. They are steeped in prejudice, and losing one reader would not make any difference - especially one from a country they seem to despise so much. I just wonder why they don't avoid reviewing Italian prog, if they have such a poor opinion of it. They may be experienced reviewers (and I know that, since many of them used to review for Kerrang! in the Eighties), but they sure are experienced in alienating readers as well.

^I agree. I find that they write about the more salacious aspects of rock music, boasting about their conquests, and which rock stars they did drugs with back in the 70s, etc. I'd rather they wrote about the music, which is what I care about. 

Thanks for letting us know . I'll be going out to pick up my copy this morning.

How do I feel? It's the readers' votes, and they have the right to vote as they see fit. Obviously, I don't agree with practically any of the results, but if their main audience feels that way, more power to them. What I object to, as I said before, are other things - first of all, the patronizing attitude towards music coming from non-English-speaking countries, and then the less than informative content of some reviews.

As to the bands they cover, they're mainly from the UK, and this is the reason why they're pushing them so hard. ProgArchives is a very different entity, with an international membership and much broader outlook, so you should not be surprised by the differences. 

Raff wrote: How do I feel? It's the readers' votes, and they have the right to vote as they see fit. Obviously, I don't agree with practically any of the results, but if their main audience feels that way, more power to them. What I object to, as I said before, are other things - first of all, the patronizing attitude towards music coming from non-English-speaking countries, and then the less than informative content of some reviews. As to the bands they cover, they're mainly from the UK, and this is the reason why they're pushing them so hard. ProgArchives is a very different entity, with an international membership and much broader outlook, so you should not be surprised by the differences.

         THANKS DUDE.....THAT EXPLAINS WHY, IN THEIR COVERAGE OF THE ITALIAN SCENE,
            THERE PICK FOR BEST PFM ALBUM WAS CHOCOLATE KINGS, AND WHY THE
            ARTICLE ON FRENCH PROG DIDN'T EVEN MENTION HARMONIUM (HARMONIUM IS
              FRENCH RIGHT, OR AM I AN IGNORANT FOOL ?

         P.S. - I LOVE FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN, AND BOC......BUT CULTASAURUS
                           ERECTUS IS THEIR MOST UNDER-RATED ALBUM !!!!!!!!

I'm very impressed by Classic Rock Presents Prog. I expected it to be very condescending, and full of only the most popular prog rock bands, as you would expect from a mainstream magazine. Instead I got impressive articles, a surreal Wakeman column, and interviews with Ian Anderson and Comus! That's a win in anyone's books.

I got the new issue today. Main feature is a good interview with Gabriel, which concentrates virtually wholly on the new Scratch my Back LP, with a look at his solo career by associates and collaborators. There is also an interesting interview with Rabin, who will probably upset most purists, but I found it quite open & honest.

(BTW, there is a news story in there speculating about a Anderson, Waken, Bruford & Rabin LP).

Also featured is an interview with the newly solo Heather Findlay, a Twelfth Night feature, and a look at Dutch prog, amongst other features (haven't had time to read it all yet).

On first impression, those like me who enjoy the mag will continue to really enjoy this issue, but those who do not find it to their taste or eclectic enough will probably hold the same opinion.

I've really enjoyed the latest issue! Still to have a listen to the cover mount, but I liked the Peter Gabriel feature aswell as the articles on IO Earth, Panic Room and Heather Findley - all of which were interesting, IMO!

Well in on the North Atlantic Oscillation review as well - The band are from my neck of the woods so it's great to see them covered in it!

lazland wrote: (BTW, there is a news story in there speculating about a Anderson, Waken, Bruford & Rabin LP).

Also, we don't seem to get the new mags in Aus for ages... it's making me rage