The Prog Archives Starter Kit

I know I'm far from the first who's thought of this in one way or another. But the suggestions will differ every time, and I think it's a fun and interesting challenge. Let's say someone quite young and unexperienced in the ways of progressive music ended up on PA while googling this one track or album that they've just stumbled over on youtube or something like that. She or he posts this challenge in the Welcome newbies!-section:

Hi everyone! I found this place while looking for more info on............ after just having heard their amazing track (or song) ............! I've never ever heard of Prog or Progressive Rock until today. And with 12,183 bands & artists, 70,966 albums and over twenty sub-genres it's all a little overwhelming. So how about you "experts" suggest a dozen albums for me that you think will give this total noob the perfect introduction to this Prog Rock-thing? It's even better if you care to explain why, but I'll try giving each and every suggestion a shot regardless.

YES - Going for the One

Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: Tried to cover of 6 essential Big 6 classics then add some diversity across more modern metal, heavy, Italian, electronic, Canterbury & possibly the easiest entry level avant I could think of.

Excellent thread! Here are my dozen of the day. I tried to chose from different decades and balance my list with some modern prog. I added seven others for good measure.

Allan Holdsworth - I.O.U.
Kansas - Leftoverture
Thank You Scientist - Maps of Non-Existent Places
Frank Zappa - One Size Fits All
Bubblemath - Edit Peptide
Rush - 2112
Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up
Wippy Bonstack - 22
National Health - Of Queues and Cures
Frost* - Milliontown
Gentle Giant - Free Hand
Dream Theater - Images and Words

Others...
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
The Aristocrats - Culture Clash
Steely Dan - Aja
Panzerballett - Planet Z
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
Spock's Beard - V
Animals As Leaders - s/t

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Excellent thread! Here are my dozen of the day. I tried to chose from different decades and balance my list with some modern prog. I added seven others for good measure. Allan Holdsworth - I.O.U. Animals As Leaders - s/t

Psychedelic Paul wrote: David_D wrote: Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: Tried to cover of 6 essential Big 6 classics then add some diversity across more modern metal, heavy, Italian, electronic, Canterbury & possibly the easiest entry level avant I could think of. I find this approach very good. The same approach for me too. I made sure to include an album by each of the recognised "Big Six" of British Prog, although  not necessarily my favourite album by each artist. Obviously, I would've chosen The Quest as my favourite YES album, although I realise it's not everyone's favourite (or even anyone's favourite) YES album and is not representative of their work as a whole. In retrospect, maybe 90125 would've been a better choice of album for a PA Starter Kit than Going for the One, as the 90125 album was my introduction to YES.

one of the best lists on MS, it goes beyond a starter kit

For a true newbie:

Edited by Negoba - March 15 2023 at 07:48