Your Prog Rock Hot Takes

Big Sky wrote: The Big 6 of Prog should be: 1) Yes 2) Genesis 3) Pink Floyd 4) ELP 5) Rush 6) Kansas They are the best known Prog bands by the general public that listens to classic rock, who all had success releasing actual Prog albums that went on to be certified either Gold, Platinum or Multi-Platinum while headlining tours and filling arenas. King Crimson was ground breaking, but they did not come close to the above bands success. Tull had the success but, I don't think was as Proggy as the above bands. That's my hot take.

Frets N Worries wrote: ^Out of curiosity, who are these 'Big Six of Prog' I've never found a clear list. Not saying I agree there should be a list or not, I'm just wondering what people consider those Big Six

Cristi wrote: Big Sky wrote: The Big 6 of Prog should be: 1) Yes 2) Genesis 3) Pink Floyd 4) ELP 5) Rush 6) Kansas They are the best known Prog bands by the general public that listens to classic rock, who all had success releasing actual Prog albums that went on to be certified either Gold, Platinum or Multi-Platinum while headlining tours and filling arenas. King Crimson was ground breaking, but they did not come close to the above bands success. Tull had the success but, I don't think was as Proggy as the above bands. That's my hot take. Let's not start with this Big this and big that, it does not help anyone with anything.

Cristi, The thread was about Hot Takes. Not one thing was said "except for not to be included." That's my hot take. Don't care what you think should be posted in a thread.

Big Sky wrote: Cristi wrote: Big Sky wrote: Cristi wrote:   Let's not start with this Big this and big that, it does not help anyone with anything.  Cristi, The thread was about Hot Takes. Not one thing was said "except for not to be included." That's my hot take. Don't care what you think should be posted in a thread. I wasn't tell you what to post and what not to, just that a big 6 conversation on this thread is not a good idea (not a good idea in general if you ask me, but anyway...).  It's a thread about "Hot Takes." In general a thread on such a subject might not be a good idea. One member called Rush "trite" and "uninspired" when they attempted to play Prog. That's a take that could get the hackles up on big Rush fan. I disagree with the take as I think Rush's best stuff was when they went all out Prog. So be it. That's his take. I could have said Neil Peart is overrated as a drummer, David Gilmour is not much more than an average guitarist who gets rated highly because he has a decent melodic sense and good tone and that any rock guitarist who is said to be the greatest would purely on technical ability get dusted by a third year classical guitar student at say Juliard or Peabody.

Big Sky wrote: Cristi wrote:   You tell me how the big 6 of prog is an important helpful concept/idea, how is it helping listeners of prog, and I'll admit I am in the wrong here.  Cristi, I don't CARE whether you think the big 6 is an important or helpful concept idea. Really, I don't. And I could care less if you admit you are wrong or not. Frankly, I was not looking for you to say you are in the wrong. But, to play along, it might be just a guide for those not up on progressive rock as a starting place. Going with a band they may have heard of instead of "hey check out Gentle Giant, Happy the Man or National Health" who, unless you are a big Prog fan, couldn't be picked out of a lineup if you had an arrow pointing at them. Instead "hey, who are some prog bands I should check out"? "Let's start with with some of the big boys. Have you heard of Kansas, Rush or Yes"? Nothing more than that. Since I brought up classical guitar in my prior post, there is a big three of classical guitar: Andres Segovia, Julian Bream and John Williams. If someone asked where to start, it probably would be with one of these three playing a popular piece from Bach, Tarrega or Barrios. Of course, Ana Vidovic, David Russell or Sharon Isbin would be good choices too.

These hot takes are about personal, unconventional opinion, I don't find that there is much of global or generally inherent, intrinsic value here. It's fun to see our differences and discuss those.

I accept what is commonly termed as the big five, (that being Yes, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd) from the classic 70s years. I would think of the big six as that plus Jethro Tull, and then VdGG and Gentle Giant. Then maybe PFM and Magma (not Can only because I consider it a different beast).

So here is my take that is magma hot, and also kool as Kreühn Köhrmahn: I would rather see Magma in a top list than Kansas. Kansas has sold more, but Magma is the progenitor of an accepted subgenre of Prog, Zeuhl. And Magma, and Zeuhl generally, is considered by the cool progressive rock cognoscenti and hepcats of different stripes to be totes hundin! But don't take just my wurdah for it.

And let's face it, France just come out with stuff that is hipper than Kansas (give me a Parisian buttery croissant over a Topeka tart any day). And Kobaia seems a way more interesting place than Kansas.



Edited by Logan - November 28 2023 at 13:49

Logan wrote: And let's face it, France just come out with stuff that is hipper than Kansas (give me a Parisian buttery croissant over a Topeka tart any day). And Kobaia seems a way more interesting place than Kansas.

This is a snarky offensive reply for me, Greg. Shame on you! I live in Kansas and you're wrong. I'll show you around when you get here.

What French band is hipper than Kansas?

Edited by Grumpyprogfan - November 28 2023 at 18:57

Logan wrote: These hot takes are about personal, unconventional opinion, I don't find that there is much of global or generally inherent, intrinsic value here. It's fun to see our differences and discuss those. I accept what is commonly termed as the big five, (that being Yes, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd) from the classic 70s years. I would think of the big six as that plus Jethro Tull, and then VdGG and Gentle Giant. Then maybe PFM and Magma (not Can only because I consider it a different beast). So here is my take that is magma hot, and also kool as Kreühn Köhrmahn: I would rather see Magma in a top list than Kansas. Kansas has sold more, but Magma is the progenitor of an accepted subgenre of Prog, Zeuhl. And Magma, and Zeuhl generally, is considered by the cool progressive rock cognoscenti and hepcats of different stripes to be totes hundin! But don't take just my wurdah for it. And let's face it, France just come out with stuff that is hipper than Kansas (give me a Parisian buttery croissant over a Topeka tart any day). And Kobaia seems a way more interesting place than Kansas.

Logan,

Your sentences in the first paragraph are spot on. There is no intrinsic value to be found in such a thread but, it is interesting to see individual unconventional takes.

As for Magma. I didn't know they were hip and cool. In fact, I don't think hip or cool applies to Prog. Also, I will take Kansas City BBQ over a French croissant any day of the week.

My top hot takes: