Prog Starter Kit!

So I've been thinking about what albums I should give all of my musically inclined friends that think they might like progressive rock. And it got me thinking... what would you consider the best set of albums for introducing someone to prog or who is recently converting to prog? You could account for various musical tastes and sub-genres as well, such as someone who likes more alternative sounding music might like Radiohead or Porcupine Tree and the likes; a metal head might get into Symphony X, Riverside, Opeth, or Dream Theater or something of the sort. Now I wouldn't simply throw masterpiece albums at them; I'd think about what albums might make a transition to their musical taste into the right frame of mind. What do you consider the perfect prog "starter kit?"

I like this question (though I think it's been done)  ..hard to know whether to appeal to their tastes or yours, I did play my mom Tarkus recently and she really dug it (but she already likes jazz and classical), I played a friend Tortoise's Standards which he loved, and I've played musician friends really complex stuff which they always appreciate   ..I think I generally try to get a sense of the person and the moment, and chose something appropriate

laplace wrote: I've had good results with giving Can or VdGG albums to fans of indie rock. They'll already know Radiohead and GY!BE in many cases, and let me tell you that they won't be convinced when you claim their prog status. ;) Just in general, don't try to tempt anyone into the genre with Art Bears or Gentle Giant. They seem to be great turn offs. :(

So I noticed, GG seems to sound really annoying to most non-proggers, and even some hardcore proggers like me at first. I guess they're just too weird for most people, as is a lot of the more eclectic prog. I love them now though.

^ yeah those would excellent starters

I agree that probably the best way to bring someone into ProgNation is through the border crossing of their non-prog musical tastes.  i.e. Metal to Prog Metal; Jazz to Jazz-Fusion; Classical to Symphonic; etc.. 

One thought would be to reel them in via the "progressive hits".  See separate thread for discussion regarding these, although some are fairly obvious.  Depending on your target, this could be either beneficial or detrimental.  If the person likes Owner of a Lonely Heart or Lucky Man, et al, then they might be interested in exploring those bands further and discover the good stuff, which may or may not be a shock to their systems.  On the other hand, they might laugh and say if all prog sounds like Owner of A Lonely Heart or Invisible Touch, I don't want to have anything to do with it.

a great album to give to techno freaks is "The White Zone" by the Psychedelic Warriors, who are actually no-one else but Hawkwind under an alias name



Edited by BaldJean - January 23 2008 at 19:09

sean wrote: I personally started off with Rush. Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures could be a good way to convert the musically inclined hard rock fans. for metal heads I agree DT is a good starting point. for classic rock fans, I'd go with Rush, Kansas, Yes, that sort of thing. I'm actually surprised that some people mentioned VdGG. They just don't seem to me to be the type that would appeal to the non prog crowds.

depends on what you play to them. the live album "Vital" might appeal to a punk fan

BaldJean wrote: sean wrote: I personally started off with Rush. Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures could be a good way to convert the musically inclined hard rock fans. for metal heads I agree DT is a good starting point. for classic rock fans, I'd go with Rush, Kansas, Yes, that sort of thing. I'm actually surprised that some people mentioned VdGG. They just don't seem to me to be the type that would appeal to the non prog crowds. depends on what you play to them. the live album "Vital" might appeal to a punk fan

I think my problem is that I want to play them what I think is best so I end up playing Pawn Hearts.

Dream Theater's Images and Words got me, and I didnt even listen to metal before I heard that.

Draith wrote: laplace wrote: I've had good results with giving Can or VdGG albums to fans of indie rock. They'll already know Radiohead and GY!BE in many cases, and let me tell you that they won't be convinced when you claim their prog status. ;) Just in general, don't try to tempt anyone into the genre with Art Bears or Gentle Giant. They seem to be great turn offs. :( So I noticed, GG seems to sound really annoying to most non-proggers, and even some hardcore proggers like me at first. I guess they're just too weird for most people, as is a lot of the more eclectic prog. I love them now though.