Prog Starter Kit!
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Top 10s and lists
Forum Description: List all your favourites here
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45612
Printed Date: February 22 2025 at 07:54
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Prog Starter Kit!
Posted By: Draith
Subject: Prog Starter Kit!
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 17:23
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So I've been thinking about what albums I should give all of my musically inclined friends that think they might like progressive rock. And it got me thinking... what would you consider the best set of albums for introducing someone to prog or who is recently converting to prog? You could account for various musical tastes and sub-genres as well, such as someone who likes more alternative sounding music might like Radiohead or Porcupine Tree and the likes; a metal head might get into Symphony X, Riverside, Opeth, or Dream Theater or something of the sort. Now I wouldn't simply throw masterpiece albums at them; I'd think about what albums might make a transition to their musical taste into the right frame of mind. What do you consider the perfect prog "starter kit?" |
Replies:
Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 17:34
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I've had good results with giving Can or VdGG albums to fans of indie rock. They'll already know Radiohead and GY!BE in many cases, and let me tell you that they won't be convinced when you claim their prog status. ;) Just in general, don't try to tempt anyone into the genre with Art Bears or Gentle Giant. They seem to be great turn offs. :( ------------- FREEDOM OF SPEECH GO TO HELL |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 17:42
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I like this question (though I think it's been done) ..hard to know whether to appeal to their tastes or yours, I did play my mom Tarkus recently and she really dug it (but she already likes jazz and classical), I played a friend Tortoise's Standards which he loved, and I've played musician friends really complex stuff which they always appreciate ..I think I generally try to get a sense of the person and the moment, and chose something appropriate |
Posted By: The Pessimist
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 17:46
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i got started on Yes, Roundabout if that helps. Thats also probably because i was completely into classic rock like zeppelin and deep pruple. |
Posted By: Draith
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 17:50
So I noticed, GG seems to sound really annoying to most non-proggers, and even some hardcore proggers like me at first. I guess they're just too weird for most people, as is a lot of the more eclectic prog. I love them now though.  |
laplace wrote:Posted By: Draith
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 18:07
Personally, I think would go with Fragile for classic rock like kibble
mentioned would be sufficiant, as well as Images and Words for metal
heads (is seems DT is known for converting many people actually), Permanent Waves for hard rockers (it sure worked on me!), and maybe Weather Report's Black Market for the more jazz oriented listeners. Can't really think of
anything for techno... except maybe electronic prog(?) 
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 18:11
| ^ yeah those would excellent starters |
Posted By: Yorkie X
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 18:30
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getting people into prog isn't my thing anymore, hasn't been for years. Whatever it is that makes prog great for me is just my own perspective and value system. I haven't got the inclination any more to waist time trying to help others feel what I feel when it comes to music. |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 18:43
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I agree that probably the best way to bring someone into ProgNation is through the border crossing of their non-prog musical tastes. i.e. Metal to Prog Metal; Jazz to Jazz-Fusion; Classical to Symphonic; etc.. One thought would be to reel them in via the "progressive hits". See separate thread for discussion regarding these, although some are fairly obvious. Depending on your target, this could be either beneficial or detrimental. If the person likes Owner of a Lonely Heart or Lucky Man, et al, then they might be interested in exploring those bands further and discover the good stuff, which may or may not be a shock to their systems. On the other hand, they might laugh and say if all prog sounds like Owner of A Lonely Heart or Invisible Touch, I don't want to have anything to do with it.My second thought would be to make a mixed CD of some of your favorite songs from your favorite bands and let them listen to it. They might find something within there that they would like and then they can begin their exploration from there. ------------- 
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Posted By: CryoftheCarrots
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 18:46
Ozric Tentacles maybe? ------------- "There is a lot in this world to be tense and intense about" MJK |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 19:04
a great album to give to techno freaks is "The White Zone" by the Psychedelic Warriors, who are actually no-one else but Hawkwind under an alias name -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 19:11
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I personally started off with Rush. Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures could be a good way to convert the musically inclined hard rock fans. for metal heads I agree DT is a good starting point. for classic rock fans, I'd go with Rush, Kansas, Yes, that sort of thing. I'm actually surprised that some people mentioned VdGG. They just don't seem to me to be the type that would appeal to the non prog crowds. |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 19:16
depends on what you play to them. the live album "Vital" might appeal to a punk fan ------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: puma
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 19:21
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The thing about indie fans liking VdGG is totally true, and it's absolutely shocking. Not that I know anything about indie, or want to, but all my indie friends at school end up really liking VdGG, I don't know why. For some reason Yes is much harder for them to get into, which is funny because they're so much more commercially accessible (which really tells you something about both Yes AND VdGG!) |
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 19:22
I think my problem is that I want to play them what I think is best so I end up playing Pawn Hearts. |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 19:27
I absolutely love "Pawn Hearts" and would give it 5 stars, but I would give 5 stars to "Vital" too. a much underrated album. one of my very favorite live recordings, and I love live recordings. the bass of Nic Potter alone is a real killer; the only bass sound that comes close is the bass on the "Live / Hhai" album by Magma ------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 19:32
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Dream Theater's Images and Words got me, and I didnt even listen to metal before I heard that.
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: Endless Wire
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 19:33
Actually all of the people I know, even non prog fans, liked GG the first time I played it for them. Surprised me too. ------------- . |
Posted By: Ghandi 2
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 20:13
I think they're too twee for a lot of people, but that's just me. I like them when they rock, but the rest of the time... ------------- "Never forget that the human race with technology is like an alcoholic with a barrel of wine." Sleepytime Gorilla Museum: Because in their hearts, everyone secretly loves the Unabomber. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 20:24
| twee?! ..maybe on 'Acquiring' |
Posted By: Proletariat
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 20:54
You have to know what draws them, indie fans like lyrics, VDGG has that, Yes really dosn't ------------- who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob |
Posted By: explodingjosh
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 21:54
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Just give them Larks' Tongues in Apsic, Meshuggah's I, and wish them the best of luck. ------------- 
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Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 22:07
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I once actually purchased a 10 disc prog starter kit for a budding progger, this was in the late 80s.I remember it like yesterday.
1- Wakeman- 6 wives of Henry VIII (classical connection)
2- Weather Report- Sweetnighter (jazz connection)
3- ELO- On the Third Day (Beatles-Classical connection)
4- Tangerine Dream- Encore Live (electro)
5- The Strawbs- Hero & Heroine (prog-folk)
6- KC- In the Court (???)
7- Gryphon- Red Queen to Gryphon 3 (easier than Giant)
8- Ange- Au Dela du Delire (french style)
9- Le Orme- Felona e Sorona (italian)
10- Mothers of Invention- Overnite Sensation (overall weirdness)
He liked all of it except the T Dream ( sleep music , he called it!!!)
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Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 22:20
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I think that a soothing combo of John Zorn, Magma, and Captain Beefheart should do the trick.
-------------   |
Posted By: SilverSean
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 22:29
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DT converted me. I had a friend who was a big Metallica fan, so I lent him Scenes From a Memory. It worked. Another friend was more mainstream pop/rock, so I slowly fed him Supertramp, Styx, and small doses of Rush. Now he has more Pink Floyd albums than I do :( ------------- Hold on to the Dream... |
Posted By: Prince_Rupert
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 00:33
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King Crimson does the trick!
but it depends on their current tastes in music
perhaps Hella
or
Time of Orchids
would be good
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Posted By: Draith
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 01:06
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Posted By: Kim Ankara
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 03:12
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I was introduced to Gentle Giant through "Playing the Game" and that worked well. A friend of mine (keyboard/piano player) got into prog through "Fragile" and "Best of ELP". ------------- "I'm a dinosaur" - Adrian Belew "I am a camera" - Trevor Horn "I am yourself" - Keith Emerson |
Posted By: Lofcaudio
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 14:41
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Hmmm, I agree that you shouldn't start with the classics, nor even the best albums from some of the major bands. Here is the type of starter kit that would have worked well for me:
Spock's Beard (Spock's Beard)
The Power to Believe (King Crimson)
Animals (Pink Floyd)
Remedy Lane (Pain of Salvation)
A Time of Day (Anekdoten)
Images and Words or Awake (Dream Theater)
Leftoverture (Kansas)
Permanent Waves (Rush)
Crime of the Century (Supertramp)
Deadwing (Porcupine Tree)
I would think that would hook any non-progger.
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Posted By: crimson87
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 16:05
| Probably I ll start with CTTE and Tresspass when it comes to symphonic The floyd and rush doses come then ,Some mahavshni orchestra in jazz and ITCOCK AND H to HE after . At the end some bitches brew |
Posted By: Philip
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 17:39
The first progressive band I listened to was Pink Floyd, and almost all of their discography. I just discovered more prog rock a relatively short time ago (less than a year), through other person (one of my teachers), because in terms of progressive I just knew Pink Floyd. All of the other "giants" came in, along with many other prog rock bands, but I had an advantage i think, since I already "knew what I liked" (Genesis), at least I think I knew, as I really liked everything of what was shown to me almost instantly. I thought immediately: this is the music I needed and I was looking for.
I think they are a really good band to start with. Recently, a strange thing happened: I "converted" a friend to Progressive through, (just imagine), "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway"!!! This was the exception that confirms the rule, and it was due to the preferences to elaborated, interesting, and very creative and imaginative stories, once I told a little resume of the story, that instantly caught her mind, imagination and interest to a beautiful concept, before showing the album itself, and Peter Gabriel's version of the thing. The like to such story made my friend like the album. The next step was " The Snow Goose" by Camel, as it is a relaxing album very good to study (sugestion of my teacher). This less typical introduction to prog rock will continue with Yes( the next step) and Pink Floyd, but now it's easier. I think that anyone who likes "The Lamb..." will like other Prog Rock.
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Posted By: AresolKid
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 19:50
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If there is a way to convert a non-progger, I'd like to know. Maybe it is that my friends don't have the patience. I get so much sh*t from them for liking prog. When riding in a car, I am barred from choosing any of the music. As for me, I think the planets were aligned when I got into prog. I started with Phil Collins Genesis, then bought Selling England by the Pound. When I first listened to it, I had no idea who Peter Gabriel was, and thought Phil Collins changed his sound. After getting over my idiocy, I fell in love with all of Genesis, I moved on to Rush, Yes, and ELP. And, for me at least, it was a slippery slope from there. |
Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 21:16
Agree completely. ------------- 
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Posted By: moreitsythanyou
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 23:47
This isn't necessarily true. I'm also on an indie forum and you'd be surprised with how many listen to the big names of prog. Red and ItCotCK are revered, even CttE, TaaB, the Lamb... all of the big releases by the big bands but in addition Can is adored. Actually all of Kraut. Speaking from experience, it's not too difficult to get an indie fan in to prog to some degree. They may not be clamoring over DT, but most would seem to enjoy the more melodic bands. (Yes, even early GG) -------------  <font color=white>butts, lol[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Tarkus31
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 23:54
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Well, it turns out I was listening to almost all the bands in the proto-prog department, and the transisiton from there was just really natural. So if they are really big classic rock fans, slip them The Who, Black Sabbath, later Beatle albums, Rush, Uriah Heep, etc.
I can say for certain though, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANYTHING BY KING CRIMSON until they have had a taste of more accessable stuff. I love KC, but if I just put on Larks or something similar, I would have been freaked out. Like when I first started to listen to KC, I had In The Court, so I bought a two disc live album from the Wetton era, and it seriously turned me off for a long time. Then I got most of the Wetton era albums and liked them. (I havent attempted anything after the Wetton era) ------------- ~~~Brian~~~ "And if we all did the things we knew to be right, left would be the childish fears of danger in the night." -Graeme Edge |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: January 28 2008 at 05:26
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Most people I know either like Indie rock, or electronic music. I've had surprisingly positive reactions to VDGG, Porcupine Tree and even TMV.
Bands like Genesis and Yes seem universally hated among non proggers, although I've had moderately good respones to some Tull. |
Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: January 28 2008 at 09:22
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Depends on what style(s) of prog that person want to get into!
A few examples:
("Soft" Classic prog)
Yes - Close to The Edge
Genesis - Foxtrot
King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King
Gentle Giant - Octopus
Focus - Hamburger Concerto
(More hard-edged Classic prog)
Eloy - Inside
Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant
Van Der Generator - H to He, who am the Only One
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic
(Jazz-ish prog & A Bit Avant)
Soft Machine - Fourth
Hatfield and the North - The Rotters Club
Quiet Sun - Mainstream
Frank Zappa - The Grand Wazoo
Samla Mammas Manna - Måltid
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Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: January 28 2008 at 09:25
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And one for my personal Taste:
Eloy - Dawn
Van Der Graaf Generator - Godbluff
Soft Machine - Third
Frank Zappa - Absolutely Free, The Grand Wazoo
The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures
Camel - The Snow Goose
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Gong - You, Shamal
Or something like that... There's too much good stuff!
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Posted By: Gufo-Pnd
Date Posted: January 30 2008 at 17:19
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As a converted prog fan, the bands I started to hear and would recomenr for a starting prog fan are:
King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
EL&P - The first album and Brain Salad Surgery Yes - Fragile Camel - Moonmadness
The Soft Machine - Album one and Mars Volta but I do not recomend a lot ------------- 
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Posted By: Gentlegiantprog
Date Posted: February 01 2008 at 04:24
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What I've used to succesfully convert a few mates are (songs not albums) Camel - Rhyader ELP- Living Sin and Karn Evil 9 King Crimson - Level 5, Red, Genesis - In The Cage, Cinema show Gentle Giant - On Reflection Rush - Tom Sawyer, 2112 , The Trees Floyd - God anything, the best for conversion by a country mile. I got into prog myself only like 3 years ago, thruogh hearing the origionals of covers, like Mushroom Head's Empty Spaces, Forbidden and Entombed's Schizoid Man covers. Also the Progiier Metal Bands are always the Coolest, Tool, Mars Volta, Mastadon. Or Hearing influences, The fact that Tool toured with Crimson/Love Crimson definatly helped me. Or The Coheed/Rush thing. But mostly its because I liked Sabbath and Led Zeppelin and it seemed to me Floyd were the next logical step and it all went from there. ------------- Let the maps of war be drawn ! 
http://kingcrimsonprog.wordpress.com/ |
Posted By: Erik Scholten
Date Posted: February 14 2008 at 10:43
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I would start with Fish-era Marillion. This worked perfectly well with me when Kerrang started writing about them. Then slowly go back to the classics of the early seventies before showing current big names.
I had some succes in playing Mystery and Salem Hill to non prog lovers and got them chasing the CD. While getting others into Aeon Spoke with great success I went on to Cynic (same band members), but that seemed one step too far for the untrained listener. |
Posted By: blaughida
Date Posted: February 14 2008 at 19:57
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I have yet to play "In the Land of Grey and Pink" and have someone not like it, and the whole album generally gets a positive response. Some "indie rock"-centric critics, who say negative things about the big symphonic bands, actually like some of the Canterbury Scene bands (whom they likely know thanks to Robert Wyatt's association with Rough Trade in the 1980s), though they would never ever call them "progressive rock." Bands like Harmonium and Mezquita who mix local music traditions with prog go over well with my friends, too--I generally play these for people who speak the language/have some interest in the country. (I know there are Anglophone bands that fit this description too, but I don't own anything of the sort that's listed in a proper prog category at present). I generally avoid serious symphonic stuff, though the funny Genesis songs, for example, sometimes work with friends who pay as much attention to lyrics as I do--humor is always a good tool! I look for music that has something in it the person in question can connect with, which seems to be the general and generally good advice. |
Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: February 15 2008 at 02:19
Not so long ago, I made this playlist available through Imeem to introduce a couple of people to prog.
1. Spectal Mornings -- Steve Hackett
2. Starship Trooper -- Yes
3. Squonk -- Genesis
4. The Last Seven Minutes -- Magma
5. Order of the Universe -- Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford, Howe
6. Matte Kudasai -- King Crimson
7. Subdivisions -- Rush
8, Lady Fantasy -- Camel
9. Anne Boleyn -- Rick Wakeman
10. Kayleigh -- Marillion
No doubt a couple of those choices will seem odd, but there were reasons for them.
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