Your attitude towards Neo-prog?

There is music that I think of  high quality in Neo-Prog that has qualities that simply does not personally appeal.

There is music I have discovered that I like inlcuded in every category, including Neo-Prog (music that is not so Neo-Prog by artists included in Neo-Prog), but it seems to me that the qualities that seem to indicate that music is Neo-Prog are not qualities that appeal to my ears.  It doesn't help that I'm not a so-called "melodic rock" fan, and that I'm not a big Symphonic Prog fan.  When I discovered Neo-Prog, I was big on  alot of classic Symph, but my tastes moved in other directions (still like Symph qualities in music).  I tended to gravitate towards more eclectic and avant oriented music (favourite styles in PA include chamber rock/ music, acid folk and kinds of jazz-rock, Kosmische/ electronic/ Krautrock, Canterbury Scene.... I also love musique concrete, Tropica, jazz, experimental generally, psychadelic, folk, and classical music, as well as "world" music.  I like  a lot of pop, erspecially 60's French pop.

For me, my lack of enjoyment wasn't about Neo-Prog being derivative, but being of a style, or referencing styles that don't appeal.  I think it would be very interesting to correlate the music we like with other arts (favourite films, literature, paintings etc.) and with non- so called Prog forms of music we like.

When I discovered this site I used the mp3 lists to discover a lot of music -- I would go through the lists and discovered s much new to music that was great, but Neo_prog did not seem to fit my tastes.

I don't think Neo-Prog is bad, and I don't think what I like is objectively good in large part, but the music does not speak to me -- I am not inclined towards it.  It seems to largely be outside the kinds of music that I am accustomed to or would want to grow into. My ear is not trained to enjoy such music easily.  Ever since I can remember, I've liked "quirky" music (and not because others I knew liked it, but becuase I related to it at some level  - it communicated with me).  If Neo-Prog resonates with some people, great.  I don't think the majority here would like a lot of the music I love.

I know that I have expressed that I think Neo-Prog too unsophisticated before, but I can love simple music and don't consider prog that sophisticated to begin with (though some is quite complex).

To some that will be why it is unappealing, but I had no particular preconceptions about Neo-Prog before trying Neo-Prog music.  I'd never heard of Neo-Prog before checking out music.  Actually, I guess I did have preconeceptions, just not based on what others said, but based on the classic prog I liked and knew already I had certain prog expectations and it sounded watered down to me with AORish (melodic rock) elements and arena rock type characteristics in some music. 

I had big disappointments at the time when trying more modern symph included bands that I had read good things about as well: Spock's Beard (had heard it likened to Gentle Giant which I loved then) and Flower Kings I really disliked and bought albums of without hearing.  Perhaps hearing a lot more negativity about Neo Prog after my dislike from hearing the music reinforced negative feelings I had for the category.

That said, I've listened to scarce few albums, and know that for me it is often best to listen to music that I am unaccustomed to using headphones without distraction to really experience it.  I've said or felt fairly negative things about a few albums that I grew to love which I hadn't listened to properly (in the right conditions, which ideally should include not having the kids yelling at me). For some reason, for instance, I hadn't thought Offering good, but then I really listened to it and loved it.  Can's Tago Mago I initially thought too amateurish-sounding, but with subsequent listens I grew to love it.  Henry Cow's Western Culture took more than one spin to really click etc.  For a category which encompasses the kind of music one is not used to, it can take a while for the brain's wiring to re-adjust before the person can get interested in it.  Often there's good gateway music to help a person on that journey.  When I was new to this forum I asked for Neo-Prog recommendations and got some excellent ones based on my then tastes.  I was recommended Discipline's Unfolded Like Staircase (It was subsequently moved to Symph) as  a good gateway, and it was a good recommendation.  So was The Watch.  An album I like where the artist is included in Neo Prog is Marc Ceccotti's Sometimes Around Saturn (I don't love it, but I do like it, but I don't think it's really Neo Prog itself even if it has some Neo Prog elements.  I quite like Edhels, a Neo Prog band, which features Marc Ceccotti.

Not being a fan of "melodic rock" certainly doesn't help not being a fan of the genre.  I am the opposite and prefer "melodic rock" so I am mainly a fan of symphonic prog (especially The Flower Kings). If repeated listens don't make you a fan than you probably won't ever become one.  I personally don't get King Crimson (except their debut) and Gentle Giant despite numerous listens.  IQ's Frequency took me 5 or 6 listens before I loved it. 

Eloy82 wrote: Noak wrote: Marillion makes me want to puke. I've given the genre many chances, and it keeps failing on me. I don't doubt that there is some Neo-Prog album which I might enjoy, but so far I haven't found it. IQ - Subterranea You're welcome. Oh, and Arena's "visitor" album. You're welcome again.

Slaughternalia wrote: Marillion is awesome, and that's pretty much as far as the genre goes

Incorrect.