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Yorkie X 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 04 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 1049
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 Posted: June 25 2008 at 01:25 |
hmmm just makes you think .... prog can be anything we trick ourselves into believing 
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peskypesky
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 25 2005
Location: Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 359
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Posted: June 24 2008 at 22:22 |
 The Whistler wrote:
I don't know too much The Flaming Lips or Animal Collective, but the Lips is a band that I've meant to get into for a while now. I think you've given me my next conquest. |
I highly recommend the Flaming Lips' "Soft Bulletin" :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_Bulletin
You might also want to check out Sufan Stevens:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufjan_Stevens
especially this album:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_on_Feel_the_Illinoise
Both of these albums have some very prog traits. And they're both great.
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The Whistler
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 30 2006
Location: LA, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 7113
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Posted: June 24 2008 at 15:07 |
Crap, you go get wasted off your ass ONE NIGHT, and this is what happens...stupid threads that people actually post in...
Okay, some notes on the posts, as best I can. First off, if Panic is a pretentious Fall Out, then My Chem is a pretentious those dudes. I think of the lot of 'em (and they hate being lumped together, but everyone does it), MCR is the most talented.
I don't really know too much about 30 Seconds to Mars, other than they had a killer music video (if memory serves) of the boys in the band kung fu fighting in samurai gear.
I think it's pretty interesting that so many proggers are rallying behind Vida (and, yes, I DO think that Brian Eno is THAT good of a producer (the man wrote "Backwater," remember? He must be a genius). Coldplay definitely had talent before (I say this only knowing the stuff on the radio), but they just needed an extra...oomph, ya know? Eno got 'em into the right mood to make radio singles about lost love and fallen empires, rather than how much they dig this chick).
Classic Rocker: I don't know too much The Flaming Lips or Animal Collective, but the Lips is a band that I've meant to get into for a while now. I think you've given me my next conquest.
Moatilliatta: That sounds pretty good then, your prediciton about the new Death Cab album, but one thing that I liked about "I Will Possess Your Heart" is that it has that early art rock feel, where it's just a band in a studio trying to just jam their way into prog rock, without any tricks or gimicks (albums like The Yes Album, Strange Days and Minstrel in the Gallery all fall under this category, although I think on the latter two that was intentional. To a certain extent, some of the Decemberists stuff sounds like this too).
I really like that sound; the MCR album (The Black Parade) and the Coldplay album both fail the mark for that sound, just because Coldplay has Brian Eno, who instantly makes 'em sound professional; MCR sounds a little more like it, but they actually know how to play their instruments, so they can sort of skip that stage and sound fairly professional. I don't mean that they're the Mars Volta or nothin', but they know their way around a weird song well enough not to sound like kids in the studio.
Edited by The Whistler - June 24 2008 at 15:09
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"There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson
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SoundsofSeasons
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 08 2007
Location: Arizona -- USA
Status: Offline
Points: 221
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Posted: June 24 2008 at 14:08 |
Um guys, if your curious about 'Viva La Vida', you can listen to the whole album in its entirety on last.fm.com if you didn't know that already. Thats what i did, and usually do if its available, instead of buying an album and ending up hating it.
As for the album, i listened to the whole thing last night and although im not exactly sure if i liked it, it was definintely high-quality pop music. There weren't as many songs that stuck with me, its not really that kind of album, but the atmosphere and the production was really nice.
A few other albums available in their entirety on Last.fm that i know of:
Porcupine Tree- In Absentia, Deadwing
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum- Natural History
Unexpect- In a Flesh Aquarium
Riverside- Out of Myself
*edit*- (oh and) Opeth- Still Life  ... and the special edition with 5.1 surround sound just came out so if you end up liking it, you can get that and a re-mastered version of the album for a regular album price.
... and for sure there are more, but those are the ones from bands ive taken the time to search for so far.
Alright good luck guys! Keep.... Art-poppin'?!?!?!.....
Edited by SoundsofSeasons - June 24 2008 at 14:57
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1 Chronicles 13:7-9
Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005
Location: Love Beach
Status: Offline
Points: 5872
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Posted: June 24 2008 at 13:25 |
"Violet Hill" is amazing song (and video too). It owns my last week's LastFM top actually. Haven't heard the album yet, but now going to
chamberry wrote:
Even their first single for the album had the same chord progression as Clocks! |
I thought I was the one to notice Speed of Sound is Clocks' (self)rip-off 
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Froth
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 19 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 461
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Posted: June 24 2008 at 13:12 |
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i have only heard the single so i cant really comment. cold play to me though are a relic of a bygone era,and this new record is an attempt to look hip and experimental. there are other groups in england like late of the pier and foals that are experimental in ways cold play couldnt even imagen.the're also far more enjoyable.
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VariousArtist
Forum Newbie
Joined: June 09 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 11
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Posted: June 24 2008 at 13:05 |
The Whistler wrote:
...It’s just that whenever people (here particularly) think that prog rock is dying, they seem to be missing the point. Prog isn’t a sound; it’s a way of doing things. Or rather, it’s an ideal.
...And I guess what that point is, is that as long as people in popular music are trying to be musically deep, or lyrically intellectual, or get produced by Brian Eno, or have to be chopped up by coke-stained radio execs, there will always be some form of progression in music. It might not have the pipe organs and flute solos and twelve minute guitar/sax jams of the golden past, but it’s still the same in spirit.
So the rules have changed a little, and the game is “art-pop” instead of “prog-rock” some of the time. So what? It’s still music that seeks to break beyond the two-minute pop standard, or move away from chicks and cars just a bit. In other words, it’s music that CHALLENGES; challenges the artist, and challengers the listener. And that’s all that matters to me...oh yeah, and melody and stuff. |
Great post! I do believe that I completely get what you are saying...
The old sounds of early Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, are forever ingrained in me, but there's a lot of music out there that I like that goes beyond that stuff too. And when I examine these other songs from other genres I, too, find that there is a common theme -- and it's definitely something "progressive", even if not really "progressive rock".
I could name a number of artists that have done songs that I feel have some merit, but that would make many fellow progressive rock fans run for the hills. I would try to say that it's not the artist that I care for, but rather a particular song that is something out of the ordinairy -- and invariably I discover later that there was a different producer or musician or writer involved. Unfortunately many of us can't get past accepting a certain artist and will therefore not listen to anything by them with open ears.
And as much as I love Genesis, i think we'd all agree that they've done the opposite to us on occasion (for me, it's a song like "Anything She Does") where they fell short of using their aptitude for something more interesting and...progressive. So the converse argument applies too. And sometimes I find that even stuff that is characterized as true progressive rock leaves me wanting -- I'm sure others feel the same way too.
My band, Evolve IV, has a real progressive rock heritage and there's no doubt that we like to write and play in that vein, sometimes with longer pieces. Often though we'll have a shorter song but we inevitably and unwittingly will throw quirks in there that make it something more than just your ordinairy short song.
And don't underestimate the power of production in all of this -- just as the original post alluded to, a different producer can totally re-shape the sound in ways that can pull in your progressive rock sensabilities even if the material would not normally be thought of in that genre...
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SilverAnubis
Forum Groupie
Joined: March 27 2007
Location: Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 47
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Posted: June 24 2008 at 04:23 |
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Add Coldplay to PA? buffff... If it happens, after having added David Bowie, all people kills everyone xD
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Yorkie X
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 04 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 1049
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Posted: June 24 2008 at 01:38 |
I thought it was just OK nothing special. 
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E-Dub
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: February 24 2006
Location: Elkhorn, WI
Status: Offline
Points: 7910
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 22:35 |
el böthy wrote:
E-Dub wrote:
Viva La Vida is the best album of the year, IMO.
E
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Ok, what twilight reality is this and what has become of ProgArchives...?
...but I think I will check the album out...
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Not my thread, so why single out my one and only post? E
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1800iareyay
Prog Reviewer
Joined: November 18 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2492
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 22:04 |
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I have to agree with those calling the album of the year. I've been so disappointed with the prog releases this year. Watershed, Trisector, Ayreon's new album (haven't picked up the new Kayo Dot or Sigur Ros yet) were all letdowns, and yet Coldplay, a band I've erstwhile loathed, put out an album I can not only stomach, but love. This has been a strange year.
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Man With Hat
Collaborator
Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team
Joined: March 12 2005
Location: Neurotica
Status: Offline
Points: 166178
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 21:58 |
Interesting.
I love coldplays "A Rush Of Blood To The Head". Excellent album almost all the way through. Got their debut was disappointed. Some good, some bad. X&Y was really a let down for me and I really haven't listened to them since.
Maybe, just maybe, if I find it for cheap I'll have a looksie...or a listensie.
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Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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peskypesky
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 25 2005
Location: Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 359
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 21:51 |
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I totally agree with you. I never cared for Coldplay before. In fact, I kind of actively disliked them. But then I heard a song off "Viva La Vida" and I was like, "Whoa, that is pretty damn good." So I decide to take a chance and get the album, and guess what? The whole album is pretty damn good! I'm finding myself in this weird position now where I'm the one raving about Coldplay and trying to get people to listen to it.
Is Eno really that good of a producer? I mean, I know he's a great producer, but how did he turn Coldplay into this? It's freaking alchemy.
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el böthy
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 27 2005
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 6336
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 20:53 |
E-Dub wrote:
Viva La Vida is the best album of the year, IMO.
E
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Ok, what twilight reality is this and what has become of ProgArchives...? ...but I think I will check the album out...
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"You want me to play what, Robert?"
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Moatilliatta
Prog Reviewer
Joined: December 01 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3083
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 18:06 |
I like Coldplay a lot. Parachutes in particular is one of my favorite albums. I was pleasantly surprised by the new album as well.
Way to point out that progressive isn't a sound. That's something I say all of the time. It's true.
About those other bands you named. I like Death Cab a lot, but I didn't get into the new album too much, surpringly. I like that they were trying out some new ideas, but as a whole the album lacks the emotional power of their previous album. It is a transitional album to be sure, and the next one should be great.
Panic, as I see it, is a pretentious Fall Out Boy. But it's empty pretension. They try too hard to make their music sound sophisticated after they write the songs. The songs, when you shed all of the studio fluorishes are mediocre pop songs with lyrics that try too hard to be clever. I'll be darned if some of their melodies aren't catchy, but Fall Out Boy manages to be more catchy, emotional and sophisticated without all of the pomp. They're both pop bands without exception, and their songs reflect that, what with the formulaic structures and simple music, so I can't listen to much of them, but I can enjoy some songs on occasion.
Edited by Moatilliatta - June 23 2008 at 18:14
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www.last.fm/user/ThisCenotaph
 
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ClassicRocker
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 02 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 894
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 18:02 |
Great blog!  You definitely informed me about Panic! and Death Cab (both of which I've always been very opposed to); it's nice to hear that some bands I thought were the 2-3 min pop standard have some lengthier/(at least a little bit) different songs. In the vein of the "challenging art pop" that you characterize as some of today's modern music, do you have any comment on Animal Collective or Flaming Lips (I think my spam count for them is up to the double-digits by now  ). Those two bands define "challenging art pop" for me in the last decade (ok, well in the case of the Flaming Lips... not so challenging) and really stand out as something special. I'd consider them more interesting and original than other "modern prog" bands, such as Porcupine Tree, TFK , etc...
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Rivertree
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions
Joined: March 22 2006
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 17628
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 17:45 |
Yes, I like their first album too - and 'Spies' is my favourite - much proggieness and melancholy  Have to check out the new one in any case ...
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The Quiet One
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 16 2008
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 15745
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 17:02 |
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I like very much X&Y to sleep or also Rush of Blood to the Head(?). Parachuttes leaves me cold with some boring stuff.
Viva la Vida seems very different. The cover, the name of the album, etc.
I've no respect to the band now, since I read an article(interview) with the band that they said that they took ideas from bands and then turned them into their own songs, kinda of rippers.
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chamberry
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 24 2005
Location: Puerto Rico
Status: Offline
Points: 9008
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 16:54 |
Great post sir! As a fan of the band I've always found some of their songs to be very "artsy" specially the ones on their debut. Spies is my favorite song from them, they reminded me about those shoegaze, dream pop artists on their debut. But when you look at their first single from that album, Yellow, it sound as if it was cleansed from all the things that made the album good just so it could be fit for the radio. Their second album was bit colder (no pun intended) because of the clearer production and there were even more of those radio friendly songs. But apart from it their sound was still quite epic like the opener and A Rush Of Blood To The Head. Their third album was horrible. Too generic and clean. The music sounded formulaic too. Even their first single for the album had the same chord progression as Clocks! Viva La Vida was a pleasant surprise! Ever since I saw that Eno was going to produce their album I had high expectations for it. The music on it sounds well elaborated and very different from what you would normally hear on the radio or even on their past albums. The songs reminded me of a "lite" or a "diet" version of prog with all the string arrangements, song structure, shifting time sigs and all, but less prominent and poppier. And even then you can hear them going all at it in songs like 42, Death And All His Friends, and Yes. I applaud Coldplay for making such a wonderful and highly enjoyable album while at the same time trying to move pop music one step farther from conventionalism. (not saying good = prog, by the way) Coldplay isn't the only band like this. You mentioned a few of them and I could also add 30 Seconds To Mars to it from my personal experience.
E-Dub wrote:
Viva La Vida is the best album of the year, IMO.
E
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So far it's one of my favorite album of the year for me. A top 3 for sure!
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King Crimson776
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 12 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2779
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Posted: June 23 2008 at 16:34 |
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Haha, that was pretty good, I love the Radiohead bit. Although I wouldn't say that a band adding orchestral codas and ripping off Sgt. Peppers and getting produced by Brian Eno and "trying to be arty" means that there is still progression going on in music, it just means that bands are trying to put out that image.
Btw, I think Coldplay's old stuff is way catchier, Clocks owns the new stuff.
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Coldplay, Vida la Vida, Progiest Album of the Year
