Why are prog fans such music snobs?

hey! there are too many bloody avatars here!

 

I notice a lot of bickering on here over preferences regarding the same type of bands ie:YES fans don't like ELP & so on...I really can't get my head around that at all.

You can give me virtually any prog outfit wether it be Prog/Jazz,Jazz/Fusion or just plain old Prog,i'll love it all.

But what get right up my arse are these newer bands passed off or self labled as prog,this is when i start getting the big all mighty head on.If find them a total mis fit to the whole progressive scene damning them to death as i would any commecial,dance,rap sh*t  etc.

Early prog in my view is the greatest form of music,for the greatest minds...be said.

 

Edited by Karnevil9

Arteum wrote: Prog listeners are intellectuals, and intellectuals do not mix up with riff-raff and imbeciles -- all intellectuals are more or less snobs. I am more

Intellectuals don't claim to be intellectuals.

Let's not forget Prog is looked down upon by purist Jazz and Classical music fans/snobs, since, in a way, we dilute they're music.

I like most types of music but I am still defensive of my opinion.  I listen to mostly experimental type music and that is looked down upon so I get really defensive. It really annoys me when someone says that an entire genre is complete crap (except for a lot of the mainstream genres.  There are a lot of problems there, but still some good) when they haven't even researched the genre (we don't really need to research most of the mainstream genres, as we are exposed to enough to formulate a logical opinion).  I will admit that I am very arrogant but  I feel as if the people I am surrounded by at school are completely ignorant and don't really understand music.  For example, I saw a video someone filmed for cinematography class of this local Armenian metal band called Medaugh or something.  I was watching it with this (ignorant stoner) guy I know and he turns to me, unprovoked and said "I bet none of your crap bands could do that" as the guitarist goes into a guitar solo that is basically the same crap over and over and over for ten minutes.  So, I went into defense mode, which I so often do, and told him that I like long songs but they are simply not doing anything. I then proceeded to explain to him that the bassist was a worthless piece of sh*t and he had been doing the same thing since the beginning of the whole bland ordeal.  He then told me that I don't understand music and that basically set me off. I had another discussion with him (this time, I provoked it ) and I told him that Slipknot sucks, which they do (I've told this guy many times that Slipknot is crap and he always argues with me and gets shot down.  It's so fun!)  He then proceeds to tell me that I am a conformist for saying so and I just shot back and told him that 1) it is impossible to be completely nonconformist and 2) He shouldn't be telling me what conformity is when he listens to a chart topping band, which led him into saying that I listened to the Beatles, making me conformist, which was beside the point since  I didn't really care.  So I just told him that the Beatles deserve all the credit they get and they influenced a lot of music, even metal (Helter Skelter anybody).  So  to get to my point, I am arrogant and I think a lot of us are but that's because we are surrounded by closeminded sh*theads.  Thank you for reading my rant!

Wanting to develop a rational explanation for an essentially emotional response is a very human pastime. It's also pretty damn pointless, but I won't let that stop me.

mirco wrote: Fantômas wrote: Well, prog fans usually thinks their tastes is better than anyone's. It seems to me  that any person thinks that his taste is  the best.

Wrong, I think. I can say "Sex Pistols is better than Genesis", that's a question of preference. But I can't say "Genesis is better than Sex Pistols. Dude, you must clean your ears! God, your tastes are awful!". Of course, everybody thinks that like the best stuff, otherwise they would not listen to it!


Edited by Fantômas

Well, prog fans usually thinks their tastes is better than anyone's. This is simply pathetic. There's nothing in the music that tells me that Genesis is better than Sex Pistols, you wanna know why? Because there are no parameters to point who is the best (there are to point who's more technical, but not who's the best). In fact, just one exists: Musical preferences. And this is totally subjective, by all means, you can't say that progressive is musically superior. It's an arrogant thinking. If the progressive were superior, the fans wouldn't think this way.

Oh, I was almost forgetting: To say that progressive is music and punk no is not a question of taste. It's stupid. You really can do better than this, boys.

James Lee wrote: But I'm attached to it now.  Oh, very well...in the name of bygones being bygones...

Just replace t**ser with t**t.that'll do

Edited by Karnevil9

I'm enjoying the responses to this thread. Keep them coming.

I don't play an instrument, but I don't think that has impeded my ability to enjoy Prog. What really sets us apart from the mainstream is our desire to ask questions; our desire to explore; and our desire for perfection in music. Progressive Rock offers that. I'm not afraid to ask questions. I always want to try to understand something that is foreign to me in music. That's why I've joined these forums.

The grammar argument doesn't really hold up. Many albums are grammatically incorrect. The ConstruKction of Light?

I'm not afraid of showing off my musical tastes to those who would say that it's overblown and pompous. I actually relish in mentioning the music I enjoy, and then getting a snide remark by those individuals. It bestows a sense of uniqueness knowing that I'm part of a handful of people who listen to music not part of the norm.

I agree that Prog is album oriented. The way I see, us Proggers get more bang for our buck. Not only do we have ten plus minute tracks, but we also have concept and double albums to choose from. Pop gives you no more than four minute songs with a few (and that's stretching it) hit singles on each album. Maybe ten minutes of worthwhile music on each album to those who listen to it.

It's difficult for me to accept the argument that Pop music is just a much a valid form of music as Progressive Rock is. Call me close minded, but I cannot go back to MTV.