"Essential Prog" Article

- I have problems with your analysis about Steve Hackett on SEBTP: "moody minimalist guitar work", that does harm to his creative and subtle way of playing guitar, way from minimal!

- Personally I had gone for a more adventurous way of choosing, not only UK bands but also bands like Ange (Guet-Apens), Triana (they speerheaded the Prog Andaluz) and I would have chosen an album by Rush (A Farewell To Kings or Moving Pictures) because of their innovative and adventurous blend of several styles.

- Marillion speerheaded the neo-prog movement so my vote had gone to their first album, that's such a pivotal album, the 'In The Court Of The Crimson King' of The Eighties!

 

Good luck Maani, thanks for this interesting thread

 

                                             

 

 

 

Thank you for your many kind comments.  Yes, a "mission impossible" it was.  Let me respond to some specific comments.

 

Chopper: According to a top Internet database, in 2006 Progarchives was among the top 100 most visited music websites - of ANY genre.  And since it was the only prog site on the list, this makes it the #1 prog site in the world.  I was not kidding.

 

Progismylife:  Re Canterbury, even Dusty (the owner of the site) asked me about that.  Yes, I was sad to feel the need to eliminate an entire "school" of prog.  Certainly Camel and Caravan deserve mention (as well as Hatfield and National Health).  But other "schools" also went unmentioned.  Hopefully, I will be able to rectify this in a future list.

 

Erik:  re Steve Hackett, although he can certain solo well and will occasionally use multi-note fills, I think of his general approach as "minimalist" - a "less is more" style; he prefers a few well-placed notes (often with bends, volume effects, etc.) to the Petrucci method (not to take anything from Petrucci, whose style is appropriate for that genre).  Re Rush and Marillion, they will appear in the neo-prog list.  Yes, I know Rush kind of predates neo-prog; they really straddle the line between seminal and neo.  But I will be giving them top honors in the next list.  As well, Marillion will be there, though I have not made an absolute choice yet.

 

1800iareyay: As noted, Marillion and Rush will appear on the neo-prog list.  I am not sure I will include Ayreon, though I will try.

 

Rushaholic: As with the Canterbury scene, I was definitely sad not to include a VDGG album - though, at the risk of further debate (LOL), I am not certain they qualify as "essential" in the way I meant.  True, they were early and important.  But they had little or no influence on other groups - and, to be honest, if I am on a desert island, I am not certain that Hamill's personal angst and paranoia is what I want to listen to every day!

 

Richardh: I opted for ELP over BSS because of its historical significance vis-a-vis prog in general.  I also happen to like it about equally with Trilogy and BSS.  Re WYWH, this was another impossible choice.  Again, DSOTM for its significance and brilliance.  And although I chose Animals as second, WYWH and Animals are, to me, a tie.

 

Blacksword: Re Threshold v. Days, I was able to have my cake and eat it too by noting the importance of Days in the text, but choosing Threshold.  I think the meaning is clear.

 

Rocktopus: My choice of Klaatu was admittedly a personal one.  Clearly Klaatu is not as influential or "essential" as Soft Machine, VDGG, Caravan et al.  However, having chosen 12 top-notch albums, I felt I had the right to make one personal choice, even if it was highly controversial.  After all, as the text notes, if I am going to be on a desert island and can't bring any Beatles, and want something "light" but proggy, Klaatu fits the bill perfectly!

 

Thanks again for all your marvelous comments!

 

Peace to all!