Brand new to Prog Rock

I hate to double post but its impossible to find cd's in the stores tod ay i looked for

ELP
Jethro Tull
King Crimson
Hawkwind
Porcupine Tree

Do you order your cd's in off the internet (amazon) or orden them from cd stores?

fender101 wrote: I hate to double post but its impossible to find cd's in the stores tod ay i looked for ELP Jethro Tull King Crimson Hawkwind Porcupine Tree Do you order your cd's in off the internet (amazon) or orden them from cd stores?

Have you checked out any libraries? I have ordered records only from Europe, so it's difficult to say anything about Australian vendors. How about second-hand shops? Try to ask from the shops, if they could order you something they don't have in the shelf. Atleast records of ELP, Tull and KC are distributed by big record companies, so some of their albums should be found quite easily.

Ok I think I've worked out that I'm gonna buy them of amazon (or the australian equivalent) at least to start with because I want to buy a few.

Im planning to get

ELP - Tarkus
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
King Crimson - In the court of the Crimson King
Porcupine Tree - The sky moves sideways
Hawkwind - Warrior at the edge of time

I figure because I like Pink Floyd i will like other space rock/psycedelic bands

Im not to sure about gentle giant, I think that perhaps they might be for a bit later.

Is there anything blatantly obvious that I'm missing?

Im thinking rush (but which album? I love guitar solos)

Edited by fender101

As a noobler, best resource is on the front page of the Archives. Check out the top 100, you can't go too wrong following it. The Top 20-30 are pretty bang on in terms of 'popularity' (i.e. you should like most of what you hear...)

Try downloading mp3's from this site of artists you'd care to investigate. 'Tis what they're there for.

As for what to buy, opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one. Here' s mine

START WITH THE BASICS!

Get the 'Big 5' from RUSH:

- 2112
- A Farewell To Kings
- Hemispheres
- Permanent Waves
- Moving Pictures

Get everything from 1970-1976 from GENESIS

- Trespass
- Nursery Cryme
- Foxtrot (you already have)
- Selling England By The Pound
- The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
- A Trick of the Tail
- Wind & Wuthering
- Seconds Out

YES is a prog staple, and always a rewarding listen. Again stick with their big masterpiece albums to start with:
- The YES Album
- Fragile
- Close To the Edge
- Relayer

KING CRIMSON can be 'hit and miss'. They are absolutely excellent, but NOT for everyone. So try out these two to see if you like:
- In the Court of the Crimson King
- Red

ELP are mandatory listening, but...um...an 'acquired taste', so try one or two of the following to see if you can handle them:
- ELP (self titled debut)
- Tarkus
- Trilogy
- Brain Salad Surgery

JETHRO TULL's main two are mandatory:
- Aqualung
- Thick as a Brick

SUPERTRAMP's 'Crime of the Century' and 'Breakfast in America' are very popular 'lite' prog.

And also I demand you to complete your FLOYD collection! Yes that means ALL 20-30 studio/live/compilation/early/later albums. Some of the best Floyd music, you've probably never heard yet.

Then maybe try some Marillion, Camel, Caravan, Porcupine Tree, Van der Graaf Generator. (Skip Hawkwind) If you find a band that you really enjoy from the classic bands, investigate their back catalogues further!

After that basic Intro to prog, you'll be about 500 Aus$ lighter and ready to try and tackle the 'tougher' artists like Mr. Zappa, Gong, Magma and the like.

Most important, if you come across something you hate, don't give-up. Plenty of disappointments out there, but even more 'gems' waiting to be found!


Edited by Cluster One

I really like ELP and the first album I think is worth your attention.

About King Crimson, as somebody pointed out every stage of the Crimson King is showing  a different way to do music

If you liked the first ('69), than go to the third ('73) which is often recognised as one of the most popular among fans. I would suggest you the first of the trilogy, Lark's toungues in Aspic.

Than if you like live albums you can get a very good picture of what is the fourth ('80) and fifth stage ('90) with the live B-Boom ( I always enjoy it) or perhaps Vrooom Vrooom both double cd with a set which include songs from the '80 and from Thrak. If you like it than you have four studio albums to chose what pick up!

If you aren't tired get back to the '71, a big difference in sound, with Islands.

Of all the stages there is a huge amount of live recordings, which often conteints improvised music, revised versions of the classic  and some amaizing visions. It will take time for you to explore KC, and is very rewarding. I consider that KC is at their best as a live band, and  the sound quality of the old recordings of the '70 is good.

I like Rush and I begun with Exit...stage left live album. It conteints very good songs from studio albums recognized among their best. I'm not  very satisfied of the sound mix but it is fair.

Enjoy it

 

Hey Fender,

Judging from what you have said here is what I would recommend:

CLIFFORD T's TEN STEPS TO A BEGINNER PROG COLLECTION

1. KING CRIMSON - You have Court, now check out some of their other phases...get Red and Discipline next.

2. KANSAS - Although some may recognize it prog lite, there is some good Kansas to be found.  If you don't mind hearing "Carry On Wayward Son" again, then check out Leftoverture.

3. RUSH - By All means check out Hemispheres and Moving Pitcures

4. GENESIS - Selling England By The Pound or Wind & Wuthering would both make excellent choices.

At this point, I am going to break from the pack and recommend some stuff a little more on the adventurous and slightly more difficult to find side.  You can try any of the albums below to get a taste of the more exotic side of prog...as such they should be considered stepping stones in your exploration.

5. ITALIAN PROG - If you can get past not understanding the lyrics, there is a huge amount of great prog from Italy  There is a mediterranian feel to much of this music.  Here are 5 recommendations:
    1) LOCANDA DELLA FATE - Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Piu: If you find that you like the pastoral side of Genesis or Crimson, this may appeal to you.   
    2) BALLETTO DI BRONZO - YS: This will rival some of the most demanding Masr Volta songs...in fact the bands remind me of each other a great deal.  Very chaotic.  If you have heard 21st Century Schizoid Man by KC (or Gates Of Delerium by Yes) think of the heaviest bits in those songs, and amp it up ten-fold.  That is Balletto Di Bronzo.
    3) AREA - Crac!: Italian prog with a jazzy twist.  Very ecclectic but accessible.
    4) MUSEO ROSENBACH - Zarathustra: Widely considered a classic of italian prog.
    5) BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO - Biglietto Per L'Inferno:  Another classic with a slightly Tull-ish sound.
 As I said, there are literally hundreds of bands from Italy.  www.italianprog.com is and excellent resource.  I should also note that I didn't mention two great bands: Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso (Banco) and Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) since they were already mentioned.  You can't go wrong with any of the first three albums by either of these bands.

6.  FRENCH PROG - Again a language barrier, but some excellent bands are found here as well...however the French vocalists tend to be rather dramatic.  A few recommendations:
    1) ANGE - Au Dela Du Delire: Very dramatic and well performed.  Sorta similar to Genesis but not really.
    2) ARACHNOID - Arachnoid: Very angular and reminiscient of King Crimson's Red period with touches of Van Der Graaf Generator.
    3) PULSAR - Strands Of The Future:  Very firmly in the Pink Floyd side of the house, but perhaps a touch more electronic.  A grower.
    4) UNIVERS ZERO - Heatwave: Technically a Belgian band I believe, but a wonderfully dark instrumental band in the Zuehl/RIO style.  This album is a good introduction into this neglected sub-genre of prog.  Probably unlike anything you have ever heard.
    5) MAGMA - Take the comments I made about Univers Zero and amplify them, then add that the vocals are sung in a language created by the band that sounds like a cross between German and Klingon opera.  You will either love them or hate them.

7.  SCANDINAVIAN PROG - There doesn't seem to be a great language barrier with groups from the part of the world...I will hope I get the countries right:
    1)  THE FLOWER KINGS - Stardust We Are: If you like epic songs, you may find this group interesting...very symphonic.  From Sweden, lyrics in English.
    2)  WHITE WILLOW - Ex Tenebris: Female vocals in Crimson inspired Gothic Prog.  From Finland, lyrics in English.
    3)  OPETH - Damnation: A fantastic album, dark and moody.  From Sweden with English lyrics
    4) ANGLAGARD - Hybris: A sinister album inspired by Crimson.  Sweedish lyrics.
    5) ANEKDOTEN - Nucleus: Another radical take on Crimson from Sweden...I can't recall if the lyrics are in English.

8.  THE LESSER ENGLISH GROUPS - There are a wealth of prog groups from the UK that we not in the Top-3/Top-5:
    1) VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR - Pawnhearts:  Another love it or hate it affair, mainly due to Peter Hammill's over the top vocal style.  You've read about them in Mojo, and I don't care what that magazine says--Pawnhearts is their masterpiece.  This is not an easy album to digest, but if you have the patience to sit through it 4 or 5 times it will open up.  I recommend listening to mp3s of the band before purchasing.
    2) GONG - You: A stone classic of space-rock.  One part psychedelic Floyd, one part Jazz and some insane playing...you just need to keep in mind the timeframe it was made.  A veryy hippy album.
    3) MARILLION - Misplaced Childhood: This album should very greatly determine how much you would like Neo-Prog, as it is arguably the masterpiece of that sub-genre.
    4) KATE BUSH - The Dreaming:  A very different side of prog!
    5) NEKTAR - Journey To The Center Of The Eye: As spacy as Floyd but a harder rocking band.
Honorable mention to the self-titled album by the band U.K., but there are so many others!
Gentle Giant is also a must, and I recommend Freehand to start.

9.  THE AMERICAN GROUPS:  There were several that go unnoticed:
    1) HANDS - Hands:  Texan prog!  Elements of Kansas style and maybe U.K. as well.  An excellent album
    2)  SPOCK'S BEARD/TRANSATLANTIC: I won't mention a specific album, though my fave is The Light.  Spock's Beard is one of the bigger US prog groups of recent years, and Transatlantic is a supergroup featuring members of Spock's, Marillion, Flower Kings, and Dream Theatre.
    3) MR. BUNGLE - California:  A good example of avant prog-metal.  This is the album that brought me back around to prog after a long time away.  Featuring the amazing vocals of Mike Patton, I highly recommend this one.
    4) FRANK ZAPPA - You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Volume 6 - The Helsinki Concert:  A fantastic introduction into the bizarre and virtuosic world of Zappa.  Beyond compare!
    5) THE RESIDENTS - God In Three Persons:  The world's most bizarre band (except maybe for Gwar!) This is a good introductory album.  Again, be prepared for something unlike anything you have ever heard.  This one requires multiple listens to get into.  Then, when you decide that you hate it, grab a Foster's Lager and listen with headphones on while in a dark room with just enough light to read the lyrics.  I also recommend Eskimo.

Honorable mention goes to the self-titled album by Touch.  Although usually lumped into the psychedelic genre, this album has all of the hallmarks of a great prog album comparable to King Crimson's debut, Sgt. Pepper, and Pink Floyd's Piper At The Gates Of Dawn.

I am sure that several here find my exclusion of Dream Theatre troubling.  Sorry, I don't see anything progressive about them, although they are damn fine musicians.

10.  OTHER UNUSUAL FINDS:  A few more miscellaneous albums that may appeal:
    1)  KLAATU - Klaatu/Hope:  I have this listed as the 2 album on one disk version which I have.  The first album is known either as Klaatu or as (if I recall correctly) 8:59 Gregorian Earth Time (or something like that).  The 2nd album is Hope.  Ignore any other albums by this band.  At one time it was believed that Klaatu was actually The Beatles reunited under a different name.  This was not the case, as they were a trio from Canada.  The groups sound though is a cross between The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and (to me) Queen.
    2) SPLIT ENZ - Mental Notes:  From New Zealand.  Although they always had progressive overtones, they are widely considered a pop band.  Even the mid-80s album Time And Tide had some very proggy moments, but not as much as this debut album...not prog in the Yes/Genesis style though.
    3) CANARIOS - Ciclos: An out and out masterpiece of a record!  This is a prog interpretation of Vivaldi's Four Seasons and flat rips!  If you like ELP you will love this one.  I believe they are from either Spain or The Canary Islands.
    4) ISLAND - Pictures:  A difficult  but rewarding album from Switzerland.

You may be wise to avoid Hawkwind and Soft Machine (especially Third) for awhile...until you become acclimated.

A few extra points since it's football season:
1.  Be careful buying from EBay as there are a great deal of pirated Russian and Korean disks and mocked up CD-Rs floating around out there.  There are some very reputible dealers to be found including Wayside Music (at the Cunieform Label), Big Baloon Music, and Laser's Edge.
2.  Have patience when listening to a new disk.  Give it five spins before you draw a conclusion...and when you think you've reached a conclusion, spin it five more times.  Porg can sometimes take a while to open up.
3.  Research before you buy.  Go to any and all forums that you can find and read reviews.
4.  Get a better paying job.  I don't care how much you make now, it doesn't matter...it won't be enough!
5. You should now be totally confused.  Welcome to prog!

for pink floyd's soul you can listen :

PORCUPINE TREE - recording

NEGATIVE ZONE

OZRIC TENTACLES

 

Try the major bands like: YES, ELP, KING CRIMSON etc first, then narrow into more under-profiled bands etc.