How to define and classify "Progressive Rock"?

For me, genre definition is never not ad absurdism. Or, at least, the attempt to narrowly pigeonhole music into arbitrary boxes. Genres, and even worse, sub genres offer either a cornucopia or cacophony of choice, depending on one’s viewpoint. People often forget that all genres are labels that have been given retrospectively, and only after people have decided it is something different enough to warrant its own label. There are also very few genres that have not evolved their definition, and breadth of style within, over time. It is completely normal for what is contemporarily described as a typical example of a genre to sound very different from the first examples to be described by that genre. Even though I don’t consider prog a genre, per se, it is no different from the various genres that exist, and continue to be coined in that what was is contemporarily regarded as prog is vastly different from what once was. The arguments on this forum tend to come from older listeners who have stuck more rigidly to what prog was, and aren’t so happy about what is recognised as prog today. You can find the same in metal, pop, hip hop or probably any other fanbase - where people decry that what people these days call [genre] is not what they think [genre] is, because that’s not what [genre] was. In these cases, history is viewed more important than style, and I guess that is where David is stuck.

nick_h_nz wrote: Prog is a style.

Edited by David_D - August 28 2022 at 11:32

nick_h_nz wrote: If you attempt to base a definition of prog upon that history, rather than the style, it doesn’t allow a great deal of evolution or innovation, or (indeed) progression. You would largely be left wi5 classic symphonic prog, neo-prog, and today’s retro prog. But, then, I suspect that maybe this is perhaps what you would prefer, anyway?

How to define and classify Progressive Rock?

I think it might be time to revisit the purpose behind the question. Is it a personal question - such as, what does prog rock mean to you and how has it changed your life for the better (obvioiusly, for the better)?

Or, is it a question that has to do more with the system? For example, I, Joe Newbie Progger, want to search a prog rock website in order to find out about the different forms of progressive rock music for the purpose of seeking music that I might like. How do I go about it? And, how did the people who put this website together figure out such a system?

Or, is it more of a contrarian question, such as: How in the world can you even begin to define the undefinable? And, what about all those bands who write music in umpteen different genres?

To me, the second question might be the more interesting one, especially since we have many artists who come here sheepishly asking the question ... what genre is my band?

That would be responding to the question as if it were question #1. But, I wonder if the real question is more in line with question #2 ... which is more of a nuts and bolts question.

Perhaps a follow-up question might be. In your opinion, which band most exemplifies each of the different subgenres of prog?

How has that subgenre evolved (I didn't say for the better or for the worse) from decade to decade? Perhaps which band most exemplifies each subgenre for each decade?

And, which band was the most difficult to characterize from the PA groups?

And, what might be emerging new subgenres of prog?

Edited by Jaketejas - August 28 2022 at 13:38

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Symphonic Prog is the only 100% genuine prog genre in my view and almost everything else on ProgArchives is up for debate as to whether it's really prog or not

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Symphonic Prog is the only 100% genuine prog genre in my view and almost everything else on ProgArchives is up for debate as to whether it's really prog or not are you serious with this statement or just joking around again?  I wasn't being entirely serious about Pavlov's Dog.

Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Symphonic Prog is the only 100% genuine prog genre in my view and almost everything else on ProgArchives is up for debate as to whether it's really prog or not are you serious with this statement or just joking around again?  I wasn't being entirely serious about Pavlov's Dog.  so you were joking, goofing and so on...  Gotcha...

Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Well, anything in the Crossover Prog or Jazz Rock/Fusion section is debatable as to whether it's really prog or not, but there's never been any doubt that ALL of the artists listed under Symphonic Prog are genuine 100% prog.  I disagree. Please read the PA pages for these two genres, everything is well-explained.  Also adjectives like "genuine", "proper" or "true" don't help in any way, whether you put them next to "prog" or any kind of music/art.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Well, anything in the Crossover Prog or Jazz Rock/Fusion section is debatable as to whether it's really prog or not, but there's never been any doubt that ALL of the artists listed under Symphonic Prog are genuine 100% prog.  I disagree. Please read the PA pages for these two genres, everything is well-explained.  Also adjectives like "genuine", "proper" or "true" don't help in any way, whether you put them next to "prog" or any kind of music/art.  But it is debatable. We're debating it now.