Greetings, completely new to prog.

Well maybe not new to prog.  I've been around fusion my entire life, and I've loved Mr. Bungle for years, but other than that I've heard no prog except for Roundabout on the radio.  I'm 16 years old, and I really want to get into this sophisticated realm of audio.  Like I said, I really dig fusion, but I also really dig symphonic stuff as long as there's a lot of great playing added.  I like things that are different but I like things with a nasty groove, great melody and tight playing.  Also, I've been a drummer almost my entire life, and great drumming is something that gets me everytime!  And hell, I just love great music in general, but I do have specifics like I mentioned.  Can some of you get me started based off of my likes?  I'll chronicle my prog adventures to come here.  I can probably get a hold of any album right away and I'll tell you what I think.

So here's a fresh new progger, destroy my mind or enrich it!  Or both!

Magma eh?  Well that's definitely an interesting album name, I'll have to check that out.  What language is that album name?  I don't know what Yes' CTTE is... and Miles Davis is the man yeah, it's fusion, post-bop.

Thanks tuxon.

Retrovertigo wrote: Magma eh?  Well that's definitely an interesting album name, I'll have to check that out.  What language is that album name?  I don't know what Yes' CTTE is... and Miles Davis is the man yeah, it's fusion, post-bop. Thanks tuxon.

Magma's language is... well, it's a long story!

You don't know CTTE?! CLOSE TO THE EDGE.

Prog essential.

Magma's language is based on the sounds of slavonian and German languages. They do have some meaning, but it isn't really important. The voice plays an important roll in the sound of Magma (often operatic, with some rock mixed in), and a meaningfull lyric might distract from the intensity of the performance.

Zeuhl is the genre, named after a Magma word (Kobaian language). Zeuhl meaning "Celestial Music".

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=646

Kobaia is a great album also

As no one's mentioned King Crimson, I'd better do. First few albums are symphonic but with some jazzy bits in (esp. the song "21st Century Schizoid Man" from their debut). Then they go a bit more experimental. Then they go madly experimental. Something tells me I'm not explaining this very well .

For an interesting trip from fusion to (Canterbury) prog, work backwards through the Soft Machine's discography - they have an album with Holdsworth playing guitar if that interests you at all, although that one's currently out of print.

You mentioned Mr. Bungle, so I can't help but recommend Estradasphere - not as strange but definitely as diverse and they go into much more genuine sounding jazz sections, as well as strange eastern European folk bits.