8 Best Prog Albums of All Time - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

stewe

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Czechoslovakia
Status: Offline
Points: 593

Posted: March 08 2018 at 21:48

TOP 8/TOP 10/TOP 15, every band only once

YES - CTTE
RUSH - Hemispheres
Transatlantic - SMPTe
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Visions of the Emerald Beyond
Echolyn - As The World
Lucifer's Friend - Banquet
Oceansize - Frames
Presto Ballet - Peace among the Ruins
----
Arena - Contagion
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
----
UK - UK
Khan - Space Shanty
Cairo - Conflict and Dreams
Steve Hackett - Defector
Pink Floyd - Animals

<a href="http://steveer.ic.cz" rel="nofollow"

AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: October 02 2016
Location: Philly burbs
Status: Offline
Points: 18943

Posted: March 09 2018 at 07:59

Here are the albums I typically pick when doing this:

Jon Anderson- Olias of Sunhillow*1

Genesis- Selling England by the Pound*2

Ozric Tentacles- Jurassic Shift

Camel- Snowgoose

King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic

Yes- Relayer *3

Rush- Hemispheres

ELP - same (self titled debut)

A few leftovers(probably admittedly equally as good as those above or at least very close imo):

Pink Floyd- Wish You were Here

Rush- Permanent Waves

Camel- Dust and Dreams (some say most is too mellow but I think it's a fantastic album and one of their best)

Gentle Giant- Octopus

Marillion- Clutching at Straws

Porcupine Tree- Lightbulb Sun **

Yes- Close to the Edge ***

King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King ***

Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother

*1 I'm such a Jon Anderson fanboy that I have to have this on my list. I admit I'm totally biased but for me personally it's a very special album and as good as any Yes record(again I admit I can't be objective and don't expect anyone to agree with that).

*2 For the longest time I considered this to be my favorite Genesis album which is why it's on the list. These days I probably prefer "A trick of the tail" since I think it's a more consistent album but I think SEBTP is the one every prog fan should have in their collection and is one of the best starting places for prog alongside Close to the Edge and ITCOTCK.

*3 I admit CTTE is their highest achievement and the definitive Yes album but for me personally my personal favorite is Relayer. It just blew my mind when I first heard it and it's unlike anything else they have ever done.

**I chose this partly for sentimental reasons. In Absentia might be the most consistent album they have done but this has more "wow" moments for me and has a certain vibe that was missing on the later albums(ie when they added a metal element) imo.

*** Not a personal favorite by the band but one that deserves to be mentioned because it should be in every prog fans collection(if not every music fans collection). An essential album.

ReactioninG View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 26 2017
Location: Massachusetts
Status: Offline
Points: 156

Posted: March 09 2018 at 20:37

Pink Floyd - The Wall
Genesis - Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
The Who - Quadrophenia
Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage
The Beatles - The White Album
Marillion - Clutching At Straws
Jeff Wayne - Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds
Yes - Relayer

Off the Top of My Head, One album per band. Not exact order. Not entirely sure about Yes' inclusion.

Edited by ReactioninG - March 09 2018 at 20:38

Nogbad_The_Bad View Drop Down

Forum & Site Admin Group

RIO/Avant/Zeuhl & Eclectic Team

Joined: March 16 2007
Location: Boston
Status: Offline
Points: 21319

Posted: March 09 2018 at 21:06

King Crimson - Larks Tongues In Aspic

Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn

Univers Zero - Ceux De Dehors

Vezhlivy Otkaz - Gusi-Lebedi

Henry Cow - Western Culture

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Of Natural History

Cardiacs - Sing To God

Hatfield & The North - Rotters Club

Roy Harper - Stormcock

Knifeworld - The Unravelling

Ian

Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com

https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/

BrufordFreak View Drop Down

Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: January 25 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Status: Offline
Points: 8428

Posted: March 22 2018 at 17:48

Nice to be seeing some artists/albums from the last 20 years getting some mention. Sometimes it seems that these "best of" list requests generate an automatic "classic era" list as if good music hasn't existed since then.

Also, many people seem to interpret "best of" to mean "favorites." Are they really one and the same? Aren't there incredible albums you've heard that may not be on your favorites list that you recognize their merit, impact, influence, quality, and/or contribution to progressive rock? Or are not these the albums that should be considered "best"? Just wondering...

Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/

Mortte

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 11 2016
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 5538

Posted: March 22 2018 at 23:18

^my list is made by favourites, but on the other hand I truly also think their musical qualities are so great, that list is also my objective best of prog albums list. Why I put there for example some GG album just for that reason I know they have many albums that are really respected, but I´ve never personally understand, what´s so qualified in their music? Also, I think Wigwam´s Fairyport is just one of the most underrated progalbum, it´s really own kind of progalbum no-one made before and after it, maybe it´s not as influental album as some others in my list just the reason so little proglisteners still today have heard it.

Also, how many after seventies albums there are that truly have bring something new into prog? Yes, I know there are bands that has brought metal and electro elements into it, but on the other hand for example Kansas & Rush brought metal/hardrock elements into prog in seventies, krautrock brought already electroelements...And anyway, even there exist groundbraking new prog albums, my favourite period has been 60-70, I don´t see no reason why I put newer albums there because I just can´t truly think there are really great newer albums.

Edited by Mortte - March 22 2018 at 23:24

Frenetic Zetetic View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 09 2017
Location: Now
Status: Offline
Points: 9233

Posted: March 23 2018 at 02:09

That list on that blog finally loaded all the way, and holy damn what a hodgepodge of choices from what seems like someone who almost knows those bands, lol.

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021

I prophesy disaster View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 31 2017
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 4918

Posted: March 23 2018 at 04:49

In order to make whittling the list down to eight easier, I decided to keep only one album for each artist. The resultant list (in no particular order) is:

Pawn Hearts (Van der Graaf Generator)
Mental Notes (Split Enz)
Between Nothingness And Eternity (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
Tarkus (Emerson Lake and Palmer)
Imaginary Voyage (Jean-Luc Ponty)
One Of A Kind (Bruford)
Close To The Edge (Yes)
Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (Nektar)

No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.

Mortte

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 11 2016
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 5538

Posted: March 23 2018 at 05:18

Originally posted by I prophesy disaster

I prophesy disaster wrote:

Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (Nektar)

I like this album, but I haven´t found really great prog about it. Sounds are really great, but music themes are bit poor IMO.

I prophesy disaster View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 31 2017
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 4918

Posted: March 23 2018 at 06:11

BrufordFreak wrote:

Also, many people seem to interpret "best of" to mean "favorites." Are they really one and the same? Aren't there incredible albums you've heard that may not be on your favorites list that you recognize their merit, impact, influence, quality, and/or contribution to progressive rock? Or are not these the albums that should be considered "best"? Just wondering...

The way I see it, there isn't any objective criteria by which music can be judged. Music either appeals or it doesn't appeal, and this is purely subjective. Technically perfect music doesn't necessarily appeal, and there can be appeal in imperfection. I suppose that's one reason why we all have different tastes in music. The music I chose have been favourites of mine for a long time that I keep returning to time and time again.

No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.

I prophesy disaster View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 31 2017
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 4918

Posted: March 23 2018 at 06:20

BrufordFreak wrote:

Nice to be seeing some artists/albums from the last 20 years getting some mention. Sometimes it seems that these "best of" list requests generate an automatic "classic era" list as if good music hasn't existed since then.

With only eight slots available to fill, it was hard enough to exclude albums from the "classic era". There are numerous albums from the "modern era" that I like a lot, but I couldn't place any of them in the top eight.

No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.

I prophesy disaster View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 31 2017
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 4918

Posted: March 23 2018 at 06:50

Mortte wrote:

I prophesy disaster wrote:

Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (Nektar)

I like this album, but I haven´t found really great prog about it. Sounds are really great, but music themes are bit poor IMO.

I introduced a friend who was an avid Yes fan to this album, and he hated it. I also introduced him to H To He Who Am The Only One, but he liked that. He introduced me to One Of A Kind (and it's in my top eight).

No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.

dr wu23

Forum Senior Member

Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 20660

Posted: March 23 2018 at 07:54

Dr Frankenstein continues to revive these dead threads.....

;)

One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin

Cristi

Special Collaborator

Crossover / Prog Metal Teams

Joined: July 27 2006
Location: wonderland
Status: Offline
Points: 45685

Posted: March 23 2018 at 08:21

Camel - Moonmadness

Genesis - SEbtP (or Trick)

Marillion - Misplaced Childhood

Marillion - Brave

Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning

Pink Floyd - DSotM

Sfinx - Zalmoxe

Supertramp - Crime of the Century

that's what I thought of today, tomorrow I could make a totally different list (LOL)

Mortte

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 11 2016
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 5538

Posted: March 24 2018 at 00:03

I prophesy disaster wrote:

Mortte wrote:

I prophesy disaster wrote:

Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (Nektar)

I like this album, but I haven´t found really great prog about it. Sounds are really great, but music themes are bit poor IMO.

Really don´t hate Journey to the...I was just expecting more of it, when reading it´s a kind of psychedelic prog masterpiece. I think they´re succeeded much better in a Tab in the Ocean, although even that´s not rise into prog masterpieces IMO. Anyway their style is much of that I really love in music.

Edited by Mortte - March 24 2018 at 00:05