Five best albums for someone brand new to prog

Logan wrote: ^ I cannot agree with "Well, Swans and Magma would be more disliked by a prog noob than those you dislike" as surely it depends on the noob.

I'm living proof as I was a fan of Swans (and The Residents) long before VdGG and Camel. I wrote off the latter band as safe and boring for the longest time, simply didn't connect with the former - and Gentle Giant came across as too precious and quirky. Weird in the wrong sort of way. But I loved Univers Zero immediately.

A few years ago, I introduced a guy in his late teens - whose father was into jazz - to Art Zoyd, Gong, Can... He loved all that stuff but found Genesis and the likes corny and cringe (like an anachronism). Most people actually do. Had I tried with Spocks Beard, Dream Theater, Marillion and Kansas - I would have lost all credibility. But luckily for me I don't like any of them.

To me there's also a difference with "someone brand new to prog" and a "prog noob". The former is more of a blank slate and might just as well react like the guy I described (it's really not that uncommon outside of the PA-universe), while I think of the latter as someone in PA's "Introduce Yourself" section. Someone you at least know is somewhat predisposed to enjoy Prog Rock.

Edited by Saperlipopette! - June 19 2025 at 23:52

Logan wrote: This should be my last post at PA for a long while (promised my wife I would try to stop posting and visiting here)

You'll be missed - but it's a good thing that the people in your offline life wants your attention and presence:)

Saperlipopette! wrote: Logan wrote: This should be my last post at PA for a long while (promised my wife I would try to stop posting and visiting here) You'll be missed - but it's a good thing that the people in your offline life wants your attention and presence:)

Agreed, you’ll be missed, try not to stay away forever🙂

essexboyinwales wrote: Saperlipopette! wrote: Logan wrote: This should be my last post at PA for a long while (promised my wife I would try to stop posting and visiting here) You'll be missed - but it's a good thing that the people in your offline life wants your attention and presence:) Agreed, you’ll be missed, try not to stay away forever🙂

I have not even lasted a day, yet, well I did manage a day at least before that (after resigning my position). I read a comment and felt I had to respond for the honour of my old art rock comrades. I am a loyal person. I did promise the wife I would try -- hopefully life will settle down a bit and deal with some issues. I really appreciate the kindness of both of your posts. It is a wonderful community that I still care about deeply. After being a forum member so long and putting so time into this site, it would be painfully abhorrently sad to think that no one would miss me at all. And of course I'd miss people, even people who likely would not miss me.

And happy to be attending my son's high school graduation event today, who is off for computer engineering in uni in September. I am so proud of him and wish I felt comfortable sharing his piano performances on youtube of his compositions publicly here. It's in large part due to him that I want to focus more on my family and generally de-stress (being an admin here could be very stressful for me and that stress was coming into my family life and family life stress has been following me here). To think that he had not even been conceived when I joined this site and is now off to uni. Working with this site has been a very significant piece of my life, and it has been enjoyable and rewarding in large part.   

Edited by Logan - 20 hours 4 minutes ago at 07:59

Congratulations Greg, to you, your son and family. You will be missed. I hope you are not aeay too long. I feel a bit guilty for my comment. I hadn't made any real comments for a while. I had only sporadically bern visiting this site for the past few months and just voting and commenting in polls.

I found this topic interesting.

Thinking out loud… I wonder if there is such a thing as a prog Noob? Since the 70’s many of the albums mentioned have been played on typical FM radio. YES certainly got lots of airplay, Genesis was always on. ELP had a good roster of songs being played. Peter Gabriel, the who’s Tommy, Procol Harum had hits on air… Supertramp everywhere on Radio. So it’s been heard out there…. Maybe the question should be how we would introduce new prog (2000’s and up) to those who seemingly have no interest. And that’s a very hard thing to do considering a few factors…

1. The current popular music climate (today it’s Miley & Beyoncé)
2. The age averages of many new band members
3. The lack of marketing capabilities
4. The undeniable fact that much of what’s new in Prog sounds so
      Much like what is old in Prog.

YES is great but very very old news. And the new material isn’t getting through to many.
I played King Crimson for my daughters and they just shook their heads.
Same with Porcupine Tree.   A 2:50 minute jerkoff pop song is all they have time for it seems.

Classical Music!!!?? No way on earth!!!

I remember my dad trying to sell me on Duane Eddy… “listen to that guitar” he said. Lol

I looked at my 5 picks and realized these are all 60 years old!!’ Lolol! Who am I trying to kid!
Sadly, It just may be over for good!

A good album that incorporates a prog vibe with today’s listening sensibilities is TRENCH by 21pilots… and the way the industry is moving they are even old news.


Edited by Valdez - 16 hours 56 minutes ago at 11:07

4. The undeniable fact that much of what’s new in Prog sounds so       Much like what is old in Prog.

This isn't entirely true. The «new» progressive rock catalog that the older people gravitate towards is designed to sound deliberately old school, eg. The Flower Kings, Karmakanic, Nuova Era, Viima and so on. But there is also the, let's call it, "new new" progressive rock, that is more contemporary at the core. Acts such as Plini, Vylet Pony, glass beach etc.

I’m not saying Trench and Veckatamist are Prog but they are close and something different. They both ARE art-rock and could be inroads to a re-vitalization of genre…. And there must be Many others like them I’m sure. Not exactly groundbreaking but very cool. They got a lot of college kids attention when first released.

The way I steer away from “metal” is also a handicap, I admit.

Edited by Valdez - 15 hours 42 minutes ago at 12:21

I think it'll always depend on the person. Music is so subjective.

Here are some that'll work when the right person comes along.
North Sea Radio Orchestra - I a Moon
Tarentel - From Bone to Satellite
Can - Monster Movie
öOoOoOoOoOo - Samen
Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

Congratulations, Greg.
Ee hope you come back very soon. We’re going to miss you~

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Obviously, it all depends on the person. In my case, these 5 albums are the ones I would recommend to a classmate with a relatively open mind:

Serú Girán – La Grasa de las Capitales
Peter Gabriel – Melt
Los Jaivas – Alturas de Macchu Picchu
La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros – Películas
King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King

It’s a list meant for an Argentine teenager who is probably already familiar with some of these artists. If I had to make a more general list, I’d lean toward classic albums (a very unoriginal list):

King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
Genesis – Selling England by the Pound
Yes – Drama
Rush – Moving Pictures
Van der Graaf Generator – Godbluff