Top 10 Symphonic Prog Albums

Here's the latest poll update with Frenetic Zetetic's votes added:-

 

1. YES - Close to the Edge (125 points)

2. GENESIS - Foxtrot (80 points)

3. GENESIS - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (60 points)

4. HARMONIUM - Si on avait besoin d'une cinquieme saison (59 points)

5. ANGLAGARD - Hybris (40 points)

6. YES - Relayer (35 points)

7. CRESSIDA - Cressida (32 points)

8. DISCIPLINE - Unfolded Like Staircase (31 points)

 

Ah, that explains it then.

2. Yes-CTTE

3.Yes- Yes Album

4.Genesis- SEBTP

5. ELP- 1st

6.Kansas- Leftoverture

7.Camel- Moonmadness

8.Wobbler-Rites At Dawn

9.Greenslade-Bedside Manners

10.IQ- Frequency

yes..I know KC and IQ aren;t in the SP genre...too bad...

Ok so only being able to choose one album per artist makes this difficult, otherwise YEs and Genesis would have a few entries in my list, but anyway:

1. Yes - Close To The Edge

2. Genesis - Selling England By The Pound

3. Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura

4. Spocks Beard - V

5. E.L.P - Brain Salad Surgery

6. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind

7. Kansas - Masque

8. Wobbler - Rites At Dawn

9. Camel - Moonmadness

10.Magic Pie - Circus Of Life

I spent almost two hours  coming up with this list. It helped me realize how vast and colorful is this Symphonic Prog category. So many fantastic albums to consider, perhaps the "strongest" lineup of any subgenre here - at least on par with Eclectic Prog I say. Also, I've found many of my favorite releases are already getting dozens of votes, so they don't really require more attention.

To celebrate the amazing variety of Symphonic Prog, I decided to only choose albums that are NOT featured in Top 20 Symphonic Prog Albums by Progarchives. I'm also avoiding the biggest names in the business, just to give some love to slightly underappreciated bands. In other words, I left out the following:

One of the treasured finds of my teenage years. Always enjoyed the rich textures, lovely piano/mellotron parts and respectable vocals, much better than your average, niche progressive rock band of modern era. They really got everything right, be it the epic, autumnal Into the Dream suite, edgy Canto IV opener or endlessly nostalgic Before the Storm. Bonus points for never being sappy and saccharine (well, almost).

I don't know how it stacks up to their later releases, but I'm very impressed. Crafty combination of fantasy themes and sounds mixed with refreshing, jazzy prog of the highest order. It's like, take a bit of Gryphon, Beardfish, Pat Metheny and perhaps some Caravan, mix it together and watch it brew. This is beautiful. Worthy representative of modern prog.

Criminally underrated album. Although the predecessor, Aurum Nostrum, already had a plethora of intriguing moments (and a pretty album cover), I feel Cirkus is more mature and concise. If you're not familiar with the band, imagine listening to Änglagård - sudden mood changes, thumping basslines, angular guitar licks, ominous Hammonds coupled with flutes and cellos... unmistakingly Swedish atmosphere of the time. They sometimes lack in ideas and production, but God, if you are an Änglagård junkie like me (or a Landberk, Anekdoten fan), give this LP a chance please.

Oh God these guys had all the chops to become big! I think Refugee's debut could rival any ELP release, it's so groovy, virtuosic and lyrical. I won't even single out any song since they all require your attention. While you're at it, check out MAINHORSE as well - less refined, but still a Moraz bonanza.

Roine Stolt is a brilliant man. I don't know how it's possible to compose approximately ~421 hours of quality prog and still get forgotten about on Progarchives, but he pulled it off. I, for one, am not the biggest Flower Kings fan on Earth, but this man really deserves the praise, even if double albums, a new release every other year and side projects become weary after a while. In any case, The Flower Kings at their very best - I happen to think it's somewhere on this album, most likely the final piece - are infinitely melodic, inventive and fun. I wish Roine was better at auto-censorship - I believe he'd have a bunch of 4.40 albums by now!

This selection is also a shout out to my Dad, who is always looking out for quality prog and digged up Flower Kings for us in late 1990s. Great job, Pap! 

Not much to say. It's a terrific record with myriads of interesting licks, very laid back atmosphere, the Rule of Cool, Mr Wakeman and his best perhaps. One of my go-to albums when I crave progressive rock but feel a little tired with heavyweights. I just think it should be a part of any rock collection, I always get good vibes and pure pleasure.

If Voyage of the Acolyte is a lost Genesis album, well, this its Yes counterpart. Almost a perfect record with crisp production, jazzy elements, wonderful basslines and tons of creativity. I never could decide if it edges out Rick Wakeman's debut, but here I'll give it a nod - just because it feels more like a 'band' effort.

I'm cheating here a bit since there should be no "heavyweights" included, and Änglagård are maybe the biggest name in 1990s prog - deservedly so. Or rather, not the biggest (I see 90s as times of Arena, Pendragon and co.), but the most impressive and unequivocally revered. The only reason why Epilog is less talked about is that, instead of throwing eye melting riffs and passages in your face for 50 minutes straight, it sometimes takes a foot off the pedal... and fills the air ominous atmosphere. Another crazy masterpiece.

Cheerful Insanity of Thijs van Leer & Akkerman's Convoluted Thought Patterns was the proposed title, but the manager persuaded them to go with much more subtle Hamburger Concerto, even though it has nothing to do with beef nor Deutschland. Anyways! If you happen to know a prog initiate thinking all ingenuity is reserved for the likes of Genesis and Pink Floyd, MAKE HIM listen to this album. Most prog outfits would kill to come up with a single song as potent as Birth, Harem Scarem or Hamburger Concerto coda.

1 Genesis - Live

2 Renaissance - Live at Carnegie Hall

3 Karda Estra - Eve

4 Camel - Moonmadness

5 Anyone's Daughter - Adonis

6 Novalis - Flossenengel

7 After Crying - De Profundis

8 Yes - Relayer

9 Stern Meissen - Reise zum Mittelpunkt des Menschen

10 Grobschnitt - Jumbo