Symphonic vs Eclectic.

This is a tough choice for me.

Yes is very important to me, being the band that got me to say, "Wow, what is this? There has to be more music this good." Through them, I was lead down the obvious channels - Genesis, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant, Rush, and from there further bands. I devoured their discography, listened to them countless times, untold bootlegs, etc...

Genesis I love, but I always have felt that their albums are uneven, despite the fact that each has at least one moment that is so great as to make their whole album worthwhile. Supper's Ready and Lamb, to me, are defining moments in my love of prog.

King Crimson I enjoy, but I've never quite loved them. Gentle Giant, on the other hand, I can't get enough of, even if I sometimes feel like I'm not quite grasping everything that's going on (in fact, the breathless feeling that I may reach a higher state of understanding and enjoy it more is part of what I love about them). Van Der Graaf Generator has become very important to me, though, for Pawn Hearts effected me almost the same way that Yes did, being something unique and special, having me think, "There must be more music like this." (Luckily, VDGG has many more albums, and Peter Hamill has been quite prolific in his output).

But ELP ... I loved the idea of Brain Salad Surgery (what a cool album name! What cool album art! Karn Evil 9? A 35 minute song???? With a cool name???), but it just didn't click with me. I've had Tarkus and Welcome Back my Friends waiting for me to listen to them for months now, but haven't got around to it.

And yet, at the end of it all, I can put on any of Yes' classic discs, and think, "Oh yeah, this is why I got into prog." And suddenly, everything else I've discovered since seems less important, for so far there hasn't quite been another Yes.

If this poll was Yes and Genesis for VDGG and Gentle Giant, I'd be completely stumped. But the inclusion of ELP weakens Symphonic's role, while KC is much better in my mind. Giving eclectic the ever so slight nod to victory.

I love both Eclectic and Symphonic. I love Yes, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, and Gentle Giant and like VDGG. I've had more experience overall with Symphonic and fewer but greater moments with Eclectic. Very hard decision but I will go with Symphonic to even the vote, 58 to 58.

^ Sorry, but it started either as Eccletic, Psychedelic or Canterbury, the jury is still out 

The closeness of the Tales vs Brain Salad poll reminded me of this and I'm so happy to see this at a dead heat with 106 total votes.

Edited by TheCaptain - October 09 2009 at 14:38

1. Yes
2. King Crimson
3. Genesis
4. Gentle Giant
5  VDGG
6. ELP

Sympho: 11
Eclectic: 10

Love Symphonic and Eclectic equally much.


Edited by Anirml - September 19 2009 at 18:12

how am i supposed to vote?
i'd rate those bands from top to bottom:
genesis
vdgg
king crimson
elp/yes
gg

guess i'll have to leave out my favorite prog band in this poll and go with KC, VDGG and GG :p

Though I think both VDGG and ELP have their own things going on, and I respect that, neither are among my favorites. I love GG and Genesis, but I prefer the latter because I find them more consistent. Still both are incredible bands!

KC and Yes... Both are among the most important, artistic and brilliant bands of rock history, so you'd think it would be difficult to say which is better. Only if I didn't already know Yes is my favorite band! Symphonic gets my vote, but it's not like it steals this.


Yes > KC > Genesis > GG > VDGG and ELP


Edited by Anderson III - September 19 2009 at 00:17

Both styles are favourites of mine, so:

I would rank the bands,

Holy crap, ninety votes and it's a dead heat.