Should ProgArchives turn into ProgMusicAr

we all just like a nice talk now and then

KeleCableII wrote: Why does it seem like everyone here is always so melodramatic?

I'm sorry, the Beatles had a greater influence on progressive rock than Cream and Jimi. That doesn't necessarily mean they shouldn't be here, it's just an observable phenomenon. However, the Who should probably be added, Proto would seem the best place.

I think that when it already went to the point that the have a prog-related category and we have the bands like The Beatles, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Queen and more recently Radiohead and Muse than it is really unfair NOT TO HAVE bands like The Who, Cream or Jimi Hendrix Experience which were LOT MORE INFLUENTIAL on prog music than the most of the above mentioned bands. Take The Who for example. Someone said that "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" (i'd personally add "Sell Out" which was psychedelic so proto-prog) was progressive but that was all, nothing more in their catalogue. But what about The Beatles then? "Sgt. Pepper", "MMT", "Abbey Road" and... that's all. And what about "Please Please Me", "Help" etc.? Pretty straightforward pop. Of course, they were innovative and influential, but The Who wasn't? C'mon, they were the first to trully explore the concept of rock-opera, which later became one of the main features of prog. Take "The Lamb..", "The Wall", "Operation:Mindcrime", or more recently "Scenes from a Memory" or "The Human Equation". They're all influenced by "Tommy". So, let's be fair. They deserve the addition as much as all the above mentioned bands.

But...

The other thing is if this should be taken into account for the Top 100 ranking? My opinion is - SURELY NO! It'd be better to create a seperate prog-related section and put all these bands there, and maybe make a seperate Top list of the prog-related albums? That'd be a good idea, because I also find it strange to see Deep Purple, Iron Maiden or The Beatles's albums on the list...

I have to say I think the owners (and Admins, too) often get it right and have made some good, tough calls. It is correct to include the Beatles here, and would be incorrect to include Cream. imo.








Edited by Atavachron - June 21 2007 at 18:27

Atavachron wrote: the name ProgArchives doesn't need to change in order to be more inclusive... the word 'rock' isn't in the name anyway, and the site is already rather inclusive and open-minded, which is why we get debates over certain bands.

That's what I think too -- change it from "THE ULTIMATE PROG ROCK RESOURCE" to give it more general progressive music parameters (and rewrite other areas to note the scope).  Problem is, "Prog" is commonly used as an abbreviated form of "Progressive Rock" rather than just "progressive".  Others use "Prog Rock" specifically as the abbreviation for "Progressive Rock".

I'd rather use prog to mean progressive music, and indeed the ratings guide for albums state:

Essential: a masterpiece of progressive music (17%)

Excellent addition to any prog music collection (33%)

Good, but non-essential (44%)

Collectors/fans only (6%)

Poor. Only for completionists (0%)

note the small p in "prog" and "progressive music" (progressive and prog can act as an adjective rather than a noun in a true genre sense).


Edited by Logan - June 21 2007 at 17:49

the name ProgArchives doesn't need to change in order to be more inclusive... the word 'rock' isn't in the name anyway, and the site is already rather inclusive and open-minded, which is why we get debates over certain bands.

The site is fine as it is. If it encompasses wider range of  music than the prog rock content (for which it was originally started) then the site would (to me) be diluted too much and not hold any worth to me.

Less focus should be on proto-prog and prog-related and more should be on prog itself.

If any changes should be made to the site I think it should be that proto-prog and prog-related by merged into one category and some bands be removed that do not fit the merged category.

I also would suggest that the Top 100 (and other Top (enter number here) lists) include only one album per artist so these lists aren't swamped with just one artist, not giving other artists equal exposure. I also think that the Top 100 should be more decided on rating than the number of reviews (but not by much just not 50/50 -  I assume it is).




Edited by progismylife - June 21 2007 at 17:19

salmacis wrote: Erik, IMHO it is best not to take these inclusions to heart, to be honest. There are some inclusions here that I don't agree with as well but it matters very little in the long run. Prog Archives remains the best resource for the genre, imho.

There shouldn't be a prog-related section in the first place, that is why expanding it would be a problem.