12 classic prog bands' first album in the 2000s

A very simple and much more limited poll this time with no multiple choice.* I decided on seven classic Progressive Rock bands and the first album they released in the 2000s (with Magma I prefer 2009's E-Re to 2004's K.A).

Camel - A Nod and a Wink (2002)
Eloy - Visionary (2009)
Focus - Focus 8 (2002)
Gong - Zero to Infinity (2000)
Kansas - Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000)
King Crimson - The ConstruKction of Light (2000)
Le Orme - Elementi (2001)
Magma - K.A (2004)
Premiata Forneria Marconi - Serendipity (2000)
Rush - Vapor Trails (2002)
Van der Graaf Generator - Present (2005)
Yes - Magnification (2001)

Feel free to vote with limited familiarity. You need not actively compare them all and I'm not asking for best. Simply choose an album of these seven that you know and like or even choose based on the tracks below -- I don't tend to like, nor do contests.

As this is in Prog polls, here is the longest track off each album for those that might want to check out some music.

Camel - "A Nod and a Wink"



Eloy - "Mystery (The Secret, Part 2)"



Focus - "Blizu Tebe"



Gong - "The Invisible Temple"



Kansas - "Myriad"



King Crimson - "FraKctured"



Magma - "K.A III"



Le Orme - "Il vento, il cielo e la notte"



Premiata Forneria Marconi - "L'immenso campo insensato"



Rush - "Secret Touch"



Van der Graaf Generator - "Architechtural Hair (did not find it alone on yt)



Yes - "Dreamtime"



Please leave a comment and say something about your choice. Thanks.

* Simple perhaps, but I still felt the need to redo this three times due to omissions. We all have our off days, oh and happy thanksgiving Sunday to those in Canada from this turkey.

1) Kansas

Edited by richardh - October 13 2024 at 23:19

Its funny, I usually agree with Richardh when it comes to these types of polls, but I couldn't be more different here?!

Camel out of these. 

Cristi wrote: Camel out of these.

Camel - A Nod And A Wink

Magma > Gong, King Crimson

While it's not my favourite Magma album (that would be the debut) even of the more modern Magma (E-re does it for me), I still give it to K.A. I have complained that it is too Magma-Prog by numbers, and maybe even made to be too accessible for more "mainstream-prog" audiences, it is a fine album and gained many new fans. I had wished that it would be more jazzy and classical (to use the general music term) and less rock before, but I do like it.

I wish to thank Ian for noticing that I missed King Crimson in the poll before and especially to Jared for suggesting several acts that I strongly feel should have been thought of by me and included. That made a way better poll (and thanks for your great commentary). Some times I stand by what I do and am happy with the results even if others are not, and sometimes I am not. Took a few tries, and some advice, but I like how this turned out. Tangerine Dream is one I thought of at first but I didn't feel fit.

I had heard most of these in full. One thing with Le Orme's track that I mentioned (I have the album but have not listened in full for many years -- first Italian Symphonic Prog band I got into) is that I like how it brings to mind Contrappunti's Maggio (one of my favourite tracks; bombastic). I do like the classic run of Collage, Uomo di pezza, Felona e Sorona (masterpiece imo), and Contrappunti much more. That Gong is one of my favourites from this list, in my discussions with others, I liked this much more than they did.

Happy Thanksgiving Monday, Canada! Please be kind to turkeys everywhere.

Logan wrote: Happy Thanksgiving Monday, Canada! Please be kind to turkeys everywhere.

Edited by Jared - October 14 2024 at 12:56

1. YES - Magnification

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - October 15 2024 at 10:16