The ever obnoxious newbie solicitation...

Specifically, does this signature make my butt look fat?

All joking aside, I am a (pre)-teenage rock scholar with fairly diverse tastes ranging from Marvin Gaye (best singer of all time) to R.E.M. (and most things that jangle) to "lush pop" (such as the Beach Boys, Zombies, and Moody Blues) to psychedelia (the sum of all my tastes, kind-of-sort-of-not-really) to (my long-winded rant ends) prog. Considering my rather limited resources, I've basically taken up a "one album per band" policy. I am also fairly new to prog. What I have already is Fragile, by, yes, Yes, (I have to be in the right mood for that one and its low-high contrast sound) Wish You Were Here, by Pink Floyd, (a beautiful album, where rawness and perfection perfectly mix) In The Court of the Crimson King, by, no kidding, King Crimson, (exquisite, though could be more diverse) Ashes Are Burning by Renaissance, (o beautiful--especially for a folk-lover like me; a very musical album) and, finally, Selling England by the Pound, by Genesis (which took a while to grow on me--"Epping" still bewilders me a bit-- but has finally gained my total appreciation.)

So, ya'll know the game... based on my tastes as I have here presented them, please prescribe as you see fit. (And, of course, thanks.) I have been considering ELP's first album, but none of the others. (Emerson's tone sometimes doesn't fit my tastes.)

Finally, I may or may not be flamed for this, but I have no liking for Jethro Tull.

I see that your well versed in the royalty of prog so maybe you could try some of the newer bands

Marillion- Script For A Jesters Tear, Misplaced Childhood and Seasons End are the best places to start but are all diffrent.

IQ- ive only got Drak Matter but its a great album, also the only one of theirs that seems to be sold in the shops.

Spocks Beard- V, an amazing album

The Flower Kings- The Rainmaker, a very chiled out, spacy feel to it. The songs dont exactly grab you but its great chill out music.

Transatlantic- SMPTe, a super group thats well worth listening to but some people feel that its prog by numbers (whatever that is)

Dream Theater- Images And Words, only bother if you dont mind the metal influance, if you do mind then stay as far away as possible from Train Of Thaught

Happy Hunting

Some recommendations, hope you like it:

Caravan: "In the Land of Grey and Pink"

Hatfield and the North: "The Rotters Club"

Procol Harum: "Shine on Brightly"

Rush: "A Farewell to Kings" or "Exit Stage Left" (this is one of the hottest live albums of all time)

Dream Theater: "Metropolis Part 2. - Scenes from a Memory"

Van Der Graaf Generator: "Godbluff" (save this one for later, buy the other recommended albums first. VdGG sometimes is a little bit difficult).

Not prog, but definitely wonderful for a folk lover, Fairport Convention's "Liege and Lief" . If you want to give Jethro Tull a chance, check out for "Stand Up" or "Songs from the Wood" (this last one is a little folksy, it may appeal to you - but I prefer "Stand Up").

Months ago, I started a thread called "A Young Person's Guide to Prog-Rock", if you want to get the full list, send me a PM. By the way, if Marvin Gaye was not the greatest singer of all time, I don't know who was/is...

camel - moonmadness

jethro tull - thick as a brick

gryphon - red queen...

gentle giant - free hand

mike oldfield - ommadawn

frank zappa - studio tan