My Road to Prog Enlightenment

Oh wow!  A couple of posts in my blog that weren't mine, and I missed them.    Thanks guys.  The 70's and 80's were the real deal when it comes to music, but I do really like a lot of the modern bands that are assigned the progressive label.  I have been pretty fortunate in that I like most of what I have heard within the hallowed halls of bands listed within Prog Archives.  Of course, there are certainly exceptions to that rule as I have previously noted, and there is just so much here that I still have not heard and probably never will due to financial constraints, as well as the overall obscurity of many of the bands listed here.

This blog is a rather interesting read from my perspective, because I have very much the opposite tastes from rushfan4 - I generally don't care about traditional symphonic prog other than Yes' 1970s stuff and I liked Amon Düül 2 and Can upon first listen. Then again it looks like that's changing with him getting into Blue Öyster Cult, Jethro Tull and Uriah Heep! 

Anyway, I've within this year abandoned the "only 1970s and 1980s are real" mindset I used to have, and also begun exploring more and more new music though at the same time it becomes increasingly rare that I listen to new music. That said, I generally can't get much interested in new music that's marketed as progressive... the contemporary music that matches what I like in progressive rock is often filed under psychedelia or "post-rock" instead! Maybe that's another reason why I care less and less about genre classifications as time goes on.

Since I like to use Mike's ProgFreak charts when he creates them.  Here is a double list of my favorite Prog albums (1 per artist) for pre- and post- 1980.  Thanks Mike.

Edited by rushfan4 - October 08 2009 at 12:52

rushfan4 wrote: Hi rogerthat, Thank you for reading my blog and your input.  I think that the best way to describe Presto Ballet's sound is a cross of Kansas with the hammond sound of Deep Purple with a little bit of Styx and even some Dream Theater or I suppose Metal Church thrown in for good measure.   As far as Renaissance goes, I must admit that they are still on my to-do list.  Last time I made it to my local store I did notice that they had Prologue in stock.  I'll keep in mind your recommendation the next time that I make it over there.  I've been looking at eMusic too.  They only have Tuscany and the concert Live in the Land of the Rising Sun available for download.  I might download the concert as that might give me a better flavor of their sound.  Tuscany isn't from their golden era, but it does have Annie Haslam singing on it. so that might be a good download too.

Hey there, nice blog! Very good idea to update your progress in prog rock and get the members involved.  I have heard great things about Presto Ballet, so I might want to give them a shot.  I would just like a reference point as to what they sort of sound like.  Vanderhoof has talked about his desire to carry forward the spirit of 70s prog, but 70s prog is a vast ocean , so what do they sound like? Rush? Kansas? Deep Purple? Genesis? ELP? 

And I am interested to know what happened of your Renaissance excursions. Yes, I am a fan, so there's a 'vested' interest. Just kidding, the giants like Genesis need no promotion but a lesser force like Renaissance needs a bit of prodding and pushing once in a while.   If folk prog is what appeals more to you, then Ashes Are Burning and Prologue are worth looking up. From Turn Of The Cards to Songs for All Seasons is more orchestra-dominated and Cards gets my vote as the best album from this phase and also their overall best.  They're not quite all sugary-sweet as much as they are made out to be, but it's not Van Der Graaf with female vocals either.  Clear, powerful vocals with understated, restrained emoting which some people may find too flat for their liking - but unless you like the vocals, you have next to no chance of enjoying the band. Not a discredit to the other band members, it's just the way the music is arranged, it puts the focus squarely on the vocals. By the way, The Other Woman, of course, does not have the legendary Annie Haslam on vocals, so no surprises if you were underwhelmed.  I have not heard that album so I can't tell you how that vocalist compares to Haslam.  From the ratings, it looks to me to be a bad place to start with Renaissance, that much I can tell. 

Just checking to see if anyone was paying attention.   Actually, it was an oversight on my part, but looking at it now, I only have 1 out of the top 20 albums, and that is Brian Eno's Here Come the Warm Jets.  I have 3 Tangerine Dream albums but none of them are from the top 20.  Another pretty big hole in my collection.  It looks like the only other artist listed in Prog Electronic that I have albums from is Scott Mosher, and that is because I downloaded the albums from his website a couple of weeks ago in response to another thread comparing albums that were available for free downloads. (I think that was Clarke's thread if I am not mistaken). 

I notice that Kurdt and the boys are my new label mates, and that they also can be heard on mindawn.com. This means you can listen to the whole album for free, if you want, before deciding if you want to download it! And after reading your review, Scott . . .

I'm heading over there to listen to the album right now! Thanks!

oh yes... I live for liner notes  and the artwork ...  it is one thing to 'hear' the music.. another when you have some insight into understanding the music.  

Edited by micky - June 28 2008 at 09:03

I do not like mp3 copies of albums...  sort of old school that I like having a 'hard' copy of an album.  Never been into downloading.. legal.. or otherwise.  Though Napster is the best 10 bucks a month I'll ever spend.  It's like having a Barnes and Noble in your living room when you have a wild hair to hear something off  the wall 

Edited by micky - June 28 2008 at 08:55

^ emusic.com is a good online store for impulse buyers ... you get monthly download credits for your money, and if you see a track/album you like then you can download it with one click.