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Top 120 Neo Prog Albums of All Time
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Gentle and Giant View Drop Down
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Here is my top 11 bands off the top of my head:

1. Galahad
2. Nine Skies
3. Drifting Sun
4. Frost*
5. Pallas
6. Pendragon
7. This Winter Machine
8. IQ
9. Comedy of Errors
10. Collage
11. Marillion
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Originally posted by Gentle and Giant Gentle and Giant wrote:

Here is my top 11 bands off the top of my head:

1. Galahad
2. Nine Skies
3. Drifting Sun
4. Frost*
5. Pallas
6. Pendragon
7. This Winter Machine
8. IQ
9. Comedy of Errors
10. Collage
11. Marillion
We have a match on six favourite bands. Comedy of Errors and This Winter Machine almost made it onto my Top 12 list too.  Thumbs Up
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

In the vast Arena of Neo Prog, this fully updated Top 120 list (courtesy of RYM) has been two years in the making, so let's hope it doesn't turn out to be a Comedy of Errors. Fans of Arena, IQ, Marillion & Pendragon will surely be delighted to see their favourite bands all well-represented here in the Top 30, but I have a feeling fans of Echolyn, The Flower Kings & Spock's Beard are going to be left feeling very disappointed. Confused

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I doubt that is the case Paul as those bands are not Neo Prog and so no one would expect to see them in such a list anyway.

Echolyn, The Flower Kings & Spock's Beard were all prominently featured in Stephen Lambe's book on the history of Neo Prog: Citizens of Hope and Glory. Smile


Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by Gentle and Giant Gentle and Giant wrote:

Paul, do you mean this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Citizens-Hope-Glory-Story-Progressive/dp/1848681909

I've got and read this book and it's not just Neo-prog


Yes, that's the one. It's so good, I read it twice!  Thumbs Up


I ask because this has come up quite a number of times, just to be clear, since I have not read the book, while that book covers more than Neo-Prog, and from what I understood of it, its emphasis was on Symphonic Prog generally, does the book specifically refer to Echolyn, The Flower Kings & Spock's Beard as Neo-Prog? Is it in a section on Neo-Prog?

I don't think many people here at this forum would think of those bands as Neo-Prog, and I have mostly seen that sentiment from you, Paul. This has seemed an old canard that might be best put to rest.
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Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

 does the book specifically refer to Echolyn, The Flower Kings & Spock's Beard as Neo-Prog? Is it in a section on Neo-Prog?

I remember when E, tFK & SB all burst on to the scene around the mid to late 90's, they all came to play for the CRS in Rotherham (I remember seeing the latter two there myself) and at the time, NONE of them were ever put in the same category as the Neo bands who made up much of their programming... even then, they were considered to be under the Symphonic Prog banner, and this has never changed.
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^ They're definitely not "Neo Prog". TFK are what should be called "Prog-Revival", Echolyn are more Art Rock, and Spock's Beard are their own new breed of post-symphonic Beatlesesque Prog. LOL
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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If I were to make my own personalised Top 120 Neo Prog list, it wouldn't differ that much from RYM's list. There's nothing on their list I dislike. Thumbs Up
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Gentle and Giant View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

 does the book specifically refer to Echolyn, The Flower Kings & Spock's Beard as Neo-Prog? Is it in a section on Neo-Prog?


I've just had a quick scan of the book and there is no specific chapter for Neo-Prog or any particular genre. Rather a chapter on the 80s (Marillion, Pallas, Twelfth Night, Peter Gabriel, IQ, Kate Bush etc.). Then a Chapter on the 90s (Glass Hammer, Echolyn, Spock's Beard, Anglagard, Anekdoten, TFKs, etc.), The book is the story of Prog from the 60s to the 2000s.

Edited by Gentle and Giant - October 08 2024 at 09:04
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Originally posted by Gentle and Giant Gentle and Giant wrote:

Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

 does the book specifically refer to Echolyn, The Flower Kings & Spock's Beard as Neo-Prog? Is it in a section on Neo-Prog?


I've just had a quick scan of the book and there is no specific chapter for Neo-Prog or any particular genre. Rather a chapter on the 80s (Marillion, Pallas, Twelfth Night, Peter Gabriel, IQ, Kate Bush etc.). Then a Chapter on the 90s (Glass Hammer, Echolyn, Spock's Beard, Anglagard, Anekdoten, TFKs, etc.), The book is the story of Prog from the 60s to the 2000s.


Thanks for checking. That's the impression I got from reading a little blurb on it.
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I only own four Neo Prog CD's in total and purely by coincidence, they're the Top 4 albums in RYM's list. Smile

  1.  4 stars 1987: Marillion - Clutching at Straws - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdktF-lL0yEZSj97j2ofIKq5xlVB5BKBp
  2.  3 stars 1985: Marillion - Misplaced Childhood - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdktF-lL0yEZBUXGtztXiW6tnNWNsK3bp
  3.  5 stars 1983: Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdktF-lL0yEYO9m_YiZnLF4CPjxkF2Cam
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Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

1. IQ (best album ''Ever'')
2. Magenta (best album ''Seven'')
3. Frost* (best album ''Day and Age'')
4. Marillion (best album ''Seasons End'')
5. Galahad (best album ''The Last Great Adventurer'')
6. Arena (best album ''The Theory Of Molecular Inheritance'')
7. Lifesigns (best album ''Lifesigns'')
8. Mystery (best album ''Delusion Rain'')
9. Pendragon (best album ''Love Over Fear'')
10. Pallas (best album ''The Dreams Of Men'')
11. Barock Project (best album ''Time Voyager'')
12. The Far Meadow (best album ''Foreign Land'')

* 'best' meaning ''preferred''



I’ve noticed that your tastes appear to be somewhat similar to mine Richard, so I may well be tempted to check out those in your list that I don’t have/know.

Although I don’t actually agree with your choices for IQ, Marillion, Pendragon or Frost*!😊

Edited by essexboyinwales - October 08 2024 at 09:52
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richardh View Drop Down
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Originally posted by essexboyinwales essexboyinwales wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

1. IQ (best album ''Ever'')
2. Magenta (best album ''Seven'')
3. Frost* (best album ''Day and Age'')
4. Marillion (best album ''Seasons End'')
5. Galahad (best album ''The Last Great Adventurer'')
6. Arena (best album ''The Theory Of Molecular Inheritance'')
7. Lifesigns (best album ''Lifesigns'')
8. Mystery (best album ''Delusion Rain'')
9. Pendragon (best album ''Love Over Fear'')
10. Pallas (best album ''The Dreams Of Men'')
11. Barock Project (best album ''Time Voyager'')
12. The Far Meadow (best album ''Foreign Land'')

* 'best' meaning ''preferred''



I’ve noticed that your tastes appear to be somewhat similar to mine Richard, so I may well be tempted to check out those in your list that I don’t have/know.

Although I don’t actually agree with your choices for IQ, Marillion, Pendragon or Frost*!😊

Let me guess on Marillion - got to be Marbles or Brave , latter maybe? We both like H era Marillion. I've come to the opinion that all first seven Marillion are credible and important, even Holidays In Eden which is way underrated imo. After that it gets patchy (bit it does with most bands). I love the atmosphere of Seasons End, perhaps not their greatest songs but it just has something and seemed to capture my general feelings about things at the time. 
IQ don't put a foot wrong once they get to the 90's but I know we disagree on one album Wink
Pendragon is not a band i've explored that much but Love Over Fear is special to me. Again it's a feeling thing rather than 'best songs' or best playing thing.
Jem Godfrey is a modern genius for me. Never quite sure why they are classed as 'Neo' , not sure I hear that. In truth they are more 'crossover' but hey ho..
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Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Jem Godfrey is a modern genius for me. Never quite sure why they are classed as 'Neo' , not sure I hear that. In truth they are more 'crossover' but hey ho..


Frost* are definitely Crossover.... there's nothing Neo in their material. But then Magenta are Symph, not Neo and I don't really hear any Neo in Subsignal either... there are a number of bands that get squeezed into the category that really shouldn't be there imho.
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essexboyinwales View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Jared Jared wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Jem Godfrey is a modern genius for me. Never quite sure why they are classed as 'Neo' , not sure I hear that. In truth they are more 'crossover' but hey ho..



Frost* are definitely Crossover.... there's nothing Neo in their material. But then Magenta are Symph, not Neo and I don't really hear any Neo in Subsignal either... there are a number of bands that get squeezed into the category that really shouldn't be there imho.


I certainly don’t hear any neo in Frost* either!
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essexboyinwales View Drop Down
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Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Originally posted by essexboyinwales essexboyinwales wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

1. IQ (best album ''Ever'')
2. Magenta (best album ''Seven'')
3. Frost* (best album ''Day and Age'')
4. Marillion (best album ''Seasons End'')
5. Galahad (best album ''The Last Great Adventurer'')
6. Arena (best album ''The Theory Of Molecular Inheritance'')
7. Lifesigns (best album ''Lifesigns'')
8. Mystery (best album ''Delusion Rain'')
9. Pendragon (best album ''Love Over Fear'')
10. Pallas (best album ''The Dreams Of Men'')
11. Barock Project (best album ''Time Voyager'')
12. The Far Meadow (best album ''Foreign Land'')

* 'best' meaning ''preferred''



I’ve noticed that your tastes appear to be somewhat similar to mine Richard, so I may well be tempted to check out those in your list that I don’t have/know.

Although I don’t actually agree with your choices for IQ, Marillion, Pendragon or Frost*!😊


Let me guess on Marillion - got to be Marbles or Brave , latter maybe? We both like H era Marillion. I've come to the opinion that all first seven Marillion are credible and important, even Holidays In Eden which is way underrated imo. After that it gets patchy (bit it does with most bands). I love the atmosphere of Seasons End, perhaps not their greatest songs but it just has something and seemed to capture my general feelings about things at the time. 
IQ don't put a foot wrong once they get to the 90's but I know we disagree on one album Wink
Pendragon is not a band i've explored that much but Love Over Fear is special to me. Again it's a feeling thing rather than 'best songs' or best playing thing.
Jem Godfrey is a modern genius for me. Never quite sure why they are classed as 'Neo' , not sure I hear that. In truth they are more 'crossover' but hey ho..



Marillion - it’s either Brave, Misplaced Childhood or Clutching At Straws - 3 fantastic albums, and I do love a concept or themed album! Seasons’ End is not far off (and was their first that I bought) but Marbles I find very patchy.

IQ - as someone who became a fan in the late 80s, I actually don’t think they put a foot wrong until Resistance. So many of their albums could be my favourite, but it’s probably ROB if I had to absolutely pick one.

Pendragon - don’t know them as well as the other 3, but I do love Not Of This World a lot!

Frost* - no bad album by this fabulous band, but right now I’d actually go with Experiments In Mass Appeal! Have very high hopes for the new one….
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Originally posted by Gentle and Giant Gentle and Giant wrote:

Here is my top 11 bands off the top of my head:

1. Galahad
2. Nine Skies
3. Drifting Sun
4. Frost*
5. Pallas
6. Pendragon
7. This Winter Machine
8. IQ
9. Comedy of Errors
10. Collage
11. Marillion


I can't think of many major current neo prog bands that aren't on your list. Maybe Cosmograf and I am the manic whale. I'm not sure who else. You got most of the big ones plus Nine Skies who maybe aren't so major but I don't know them anyway.


Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - October 10 2024 at 09:00
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^ I would say Lifesigns are consistently great but admittedly don't have that many albums.
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NEON PROG: The five leading lights in the Neo Prog Top 120 - and they're all British too.  Smile



07. 5 stars 1996: Pendragon - The Masquerade Overture - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUPs8D55DP7GCTRSM2Pddw3UFZJmKYUfj
08. 5 stars 1993: Pendragon - The Window of Life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lDQUkhpfsA
35. 5 stars 1991: Pendragon - The World - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRLcDlUjyCU
46. 5 stars 2020: Pendragon - Love Over Fear 
62. 5 stars 2014: Pendragon - Men Who Climb Mountains - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLix6azk3cllYQutUKbLOvLQyz0UXGHdqh
72. 4 stars 2005: Pendragon - Believe
73. 4 stars 1985: Pendragon - The Jewel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGdFgsky5Xo

59. 4 stars 2011: Arena - The Seventh Degree of Separation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m_rTXGMgfWxZl0ZifVSy9b2VQfsF1H8WU
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

NEON PROG: The five leading lights in the Neo Prog Top 120 - and they're all British too.  Smile




Interesting that the first 5 Marillion albums make the list but nothing after. I kind of concur with this although would expect Brave to be in there somewhere.
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

NEON PROG: The five leading lights in the Neo Prog Top 120 - and they're all British too.  Smile






The only IQ album not to make the list is Are You Sitting Comfortably? I actually have a lot of time for that album and would rate it higher than the other Paul Menel album Nomzamo. All the Pete Nicholls albums make the top 50 Cool
 


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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

NEON PROG: The five leading lights in the Neo Prog Top 120 - and they're all British too.  Smile




59. 4 stars 2011: Arena - The Seventh Degree of Separation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m_rTXGMgfWxZl0ZifVSy9b2VQfsF1H8WU


Disappointingly no place for The Theory Of Molecular Inheritance. I love that. Contagion coming out on top is in line with PA so fair enough.
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