Neo Prog do I like it?

Despite it's pop elements neo-prog can be one of hardest prog genres to appreciate. I know it took me a while to get into it but after hearing Marillion's "Misplaced Childhood" and Arena's "Immortal?" I quickly became a fan. I reccomend both of them highly to anyone new to neo-prog.

AShowOfHands wrote: As a huge Marillion fan I tried listening to some IQ and Pendragon (Only via YouTube mind) and found while it was okay there was something missing or it seemed kind of half-arsed. Perhaps I should listen to a full album before I can pass proper judgement. I think I could get into it its just knowing what will work for me and what won't, then again that's the purpose of this thread!

....just got Marillion's debut..pretty good, despite the 80's drum sound still is pretty good.

Although I think I'll better stay from the genre for now and try other stuff. Flower Kings, Porcupine Tree and maybe mm don't know.

Evans wrote: Of course, to my ears Genesis sound like a poor man's Marillion, but i tend to be in the minority.

Some good non evident neo choices :

Zargus wrote: If you dont like Genesis you might as well stay away from Marillion atleast, the others i dont know, but the marillion i have heard sounded like a poor mans genesis.

Many a band has started out with its' influences more prominent than some would like. But Marillion also added some of their own stuff to the stew, and grew that music into something more its' own than any other previous band. Give "Clutching at Straws" a good listen. The sound is clearly symphonic influenced, but has moved towards a more modern style. No major re-inventing of the wheel, but still (opinions differ) an incremental change, with the group doing just as their idols had done before - mix their influences, add their own personal touches, come up with something that can be called Marillion. Now whether you like it  or not, well, that's shouldn't really depend on similarities with a previous generation's prog. It should really be based on the songs. Hopefully, you'll give them a second chance. If not, for many people , Fish & the Boys put out some pretty good music. And also for many, Hogarth and this same bunch have continued to do so.

reality wrote: E-Dub wrote: reality wrote: Neo Prog = lack of fresh ideas I'm astounded at the way you've backed up your argument. In-depth insight like this could be used by the Clinton camp. She'd be kicking a** and taking names from the Oval Office with you on her staff. E I know, I am a genius aren't I. Robert John Godfrey http://www.progplanet.com/index.php?categoryid=16&p2000_articleid=23 Do you like the “modern” prog-scene? If not, why? I have tended to find most of it either a rather sad and shallow parody of a now largely irrelevant historical musical style or else a meaningless stream of complexity and histrionics without vision, purpose or content beyond its own raison d'etre. In its day, progressive music was generated and supported by the world's most gifted and creative musicians. Not so now. The best that Neo Prog can now conjure is, in my view, painting by numbers. Cliché upon cliché upon cliché. Where is the intelligence, the creativity, the experimentation which informed the music of the late sixties/early 1970's? Many agree with him.

So some of the Neo-proggers adding more modern sounds, in some cases "poppier" aspects, or in others , a more "rockier" or "heavier" style, or even, to dread the very thought, adding world beat  or ethnic/traditional musics to the mix; this is not experimenting.
Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Tull, and many others did indeed create very original music. But go back and read through the interviews, read some music history (no, not just rock n roll, but classical, modern, baroque, free jazz etc ...) , then see if you can find some intelligent reviews, positive AND negative, if possible. You might be surprised to find out how much was grafted/taken/influenced/used and whatever other verb that indicates that some musical idea already in existence is and was and will part of any music that has been , is, and will be made.
Especially, read the post about the various big names and their honest owning up to some of the origins of their music. No one is completely original. And with your quoting someone else, you seem to be so, too.

Simon Says....great neo!

cacho wrote: debrewguy wrote: Zargus wrote: If you dont like Genesis you might as well stay away from Marillion atleast, the others i dont know, but the marillion i have heard sounded like a poor mans genesis. Many a band has started out with its' influences more prominent than some would like. But Marillion also added some of their own stuff to the stew, and grew that music into something more its' own than any other previous band. Give "Clutching at Straws" a good listen. The sound is clearly symphonic influenced, but has moved towards a more modern style. No major re-inventing of the wheel, but still (opinions differ) an incremental change, with the group doing just as their idols had done before - mix their influences, add their own personal touches, come up with something that can be called Marillion. Now whether you like it or not, well, that's shouldn't really depend on similarities with a previous generation's prog. It should really be based on the songs. Hopefully, you'll give them a second chance. If not, for many people , Fish & the Boys put out some pretty good music. And also for many, Hogarth and this same bunch have continued to do so. Like I said before, I got Script, is really good but really it's not my stuff. I'm not an 80's suporter except for few new wave stuff like INXS or Simply Red The sound of the drums are really annoying IMO, the music is really good, and I'm sure I'm gonna still listen the album but I mean I prefer for now to stay away for the entire genre and stay with this one and continue looking for other stuff... THX Anyways for all!

Again, try Clutching at Straws. It's Neo, but it's not Neo, if you know what I mean. If you do, then tell me ...

clarke2001 wrote: cacho my friend, you must try some Pavlov's Dog! They're 70s prog band with pop tendencies, sort of a neo-prog prototype. If you will like them, you're ready for selected neo-prog albums. And if you don't...you can still try.