Your Prog Sampler

Fripp is just so hit or miss.  But I will continue my journey with him, because I've yet to find an album with no redeeming qualities.

JayDee wrote: I once gave a friend a CD-R which had the following songs: 1. The Messenger (5:12)- Dead Soul Tribe 2. Winning A War [edit] (6:24)- Pain of Salvation 3. The Pot (6:26)- Tool 4. Leaders (4:00)- Katatonia 5. Bug Eyes (4:21)- dredg 6. Fragile Dreams (5:33)- Anathema 7. Charm Offensive (7:19)- Oceansize 8. Panzer (7:03)- Amplifier 9. Another Perfect Day (4:43)- Fates Warning 10. Windowpane (7:44)- Opeth 11. The Sound of Muzak (5:01)- Porcupine Tree 12.  Three of a Perfect Pair (4:11)- Between The Buried and Me's cover of a King Crimson classic 13. I am The King (4:38)- Jelly Jam 14. Saturnine [Live, semi acoustic version] (4:54)- The Gathering Modern, more on the prog metal side.

Most of those I don't know.  Maybe you should send one to me. 

Ok, with the task of 'bringing in new listeners' in mind, I chose mostly newer shorter songs with a few older songs for posterity's sake.

1)  Blackest Eyes - Porcupine Tree (catchy, easily obtainable with lyrics that will grab the attention of today's youth)
2)  Black Light Machine - Frost* (incredibly upbeat song, once again, the intro loop makes you want to listen)
3)  Roses - RPWL (once you pulled them in with the first two drop the tempo a bit, let them mellow out to Ray Wilson's earthy voice)
4)  The Colors Changed - Sylvan (Here's where you break their heart, make sure that the CD indicates this is part of an epic piece with an intriguing storyline.)
5)  June - Spock's Beard (one of my least favorite Beard songs yet one of the most accessible)
6)  Panic Room - Riverside (Wake them back up, heavy guitar riffs, lush keys and Mariuz Duda's voice, I've taken the last minute of the song, the self portraits bit out for time)
7)  Dark Star - Fish (should be a James Bond theme, terribly majestic)
8)  Cinema Show / Aisle of Plenty - Genesis (2008 mix)  (ok, now that we've carried them along this far, here's a throw back into more serious prog.  The new recording should help this sound on par with the rest of the sampler).
9)  Misunderstood - Dream Theater (After Cinema Show we go back to something more accessible.  I'm also dropping out the last three minutes for time and because it kills the whole accessibility bit).
10) I am the Sun, Part 2 - The Flower Kings - I'd drop the last five minutes or so, just the 'baby elephant bit and the minute or two after that, very accessible, makes you smile and making people fee good makes them want more).
11)  Guiding Light - IQ (Great song, easily accessible vocal theme, wonderful instrumental section followed by the perfect ending, the ending works very well but it is so abrupt that it leaves you wanting more).

With the cuts I'm pretty close to 80 minutes, with enough finagling you could get this list onto a 80 minute CD.

Last minute cuts included 'Wish You Where Here' - Vanden Plas and 'Schism' - Tool.  Wanted to include a few harder items but just ran out of space.

Enjoy


Edited by Roland113 - November 01 2008 at 14:43

King Crimson - Fallen Angel (absolutely has to be first)
Henry Cow - War
Gentle Giant - Just the Same (or at least I think that's what it's called)
Comus - Diana
Robert Wyatt - Last Straw
Mr. Bungle - The Holy Filament
Area - Cometa Rossa

etc etc etc, the idea being to introduce people to non-AOR Radio prog in this case.

-20th century schizoid Man....King Crimson  7mns

rushfan4 wrote: Good list Roland.  I just might have to make that into a compilation album.  My one suggestion along the same thinking would be to add a song from Pure Reason Revolution, although I'm not quite sure which one, and I'm not sure which song I'd replace since I like all of them that you listed.

Thanks Rushfan, Actually, the first iteration did have 'Goshen's Remains' from the Pure Reason Revolution on it (along with 'Solid as the Sun' of Neal Morse fame). 

Slightly off subject, I picked up the Pure Reason Revolution CD from a used shop based on someone's recommendation from the forums here.  I forget who it was that mentioned it, probably either you (Rushfan) or E-Dub as my tastes seem to mimic both of yours.

Nonetheless, who ever it was, Thanks, I really enjoy the CD

^I think there's to few genres and nationalities represented. A typical english/american dominated list. 

febus wrote: -20th century schizoid Man....King Crimson  7mns -Nights in White Satin............Moody Blues     7mns -Heart of The Sunrise............Yes                     7mns -The Barbarian........................ELP                    5mns -Firth OF fIFTH.........................Genesis            8mns -Robert Wyatt...........................Alifib                   6mns -Astronomy domine................Pink Floyd         4mns -my God....................................Jethro Tull         7mns -Surrounded by the stars.......Amon duul 2.....7mns -Birds of Fire              ...............Mahavishnu Orchestra            5mns -Refugees           ......................Vdgg.                  6mns -Ork alarm..................................Magma              5mns -Impressione di setembre......PFM                   5mns -In the court of the CK..............King Crimson..8mns   Voila! it clocks at around 80mns..........this is NOT my best of, but the one i would put out if i were a record executive..............accessible, yet representing a wide horizon of what prog can produce!

I adore Alifib. I would never dare to put it as a sampler for new prog listeners (and I experienced that with my ex-wife many years ago).

omri wrote: I adore Alifib. I would never dare to put it as a sampler for new prog listeners (and I experienced that with my ex-wife many years ago). My idea would be to put melodic songs and rock songs that are a bit more complicated and show that such music can be much more enjoyable than the regular radio staff. I'll avoid any tough Krautrock, zeuhl or Avant-garde. I guess most of my list will be from the 70's cause I know these much better.   1. Deep purple - blind 2. Moody blues - Melencholy man 3. Kansas - Miracles out of nowhere 4. Camel - Rhayader 5. Caravan - Winter wine 6. Genesis - Get'em out by friday 7. Pink floyd - Shine on your crazy diamond pt 1-5 8. Jethro Tull - Locomotive breath 9. King crimson - I talk to the wind 10. Renaissance - Mother Russia 11. Strawbs - The hangman and the papist 12. Spirogyra - Love is a very funny thing 13. Jefferson airplane - Wooden ships 14. Talking heads - Listening wind 15. Magma - Troller tanz (ghost dance) 16. Amon duul II - Henrietta Krotenshvanz.   None of them is my favorite but they are all very good songs to start with IMO.