Symphonic Prog Appreciation Thread |
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Hrychu
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 03 2013 Location: poland? Status: Offline Points: 5390 |
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Posted: February 22 2021 at 12:03 |
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Hello there! The last Symphonic Prog Appreciation thread is locked and kinda dead now so I decided to make a new one. This is for all of us Symphonic Prog lovers! 💕 🎼
I can't even describe how much I love this subgenre. There's a little bit of not quite essential albums labeled as Symphonic Prog over here at PA but the majority at least from the ones I've heard are of top quality! In addition to that it seems Symphonic Prog checks almost all the boxes of what I expect to enjoy out of prog in general. The keyboard tones Symph artists tend to utilize, from the liquid acidic piercing minimoog leads to the swarming tapey Mellotron washes to the bubbly spinning hammond chops are soooo goooood. Analog, or digital. 70s or modern. Guitar centric? Guitarless? I don't really care. I think that's the first thing that pops out that really makes the music so... Symphonic. The classical style compositional techniques are amazing as well but I'm no expert on classical music so I don't think I can go in a huge detail about that. My favorite essential Symphonic Prog bands as of February 2021: Yes the sheer elegance and beauty of what I consider THE archetype of symph. prog. The Flower Kings Stunning modern take on the 70s sound with mesmerizing guitar work and flawless arrangements full of quirky flavors and tasteful touches courtesty of Roine and company! ELP Legendary organ solos, over the top sound, amazing drumming, perfect triocentric arrangements. There is a kind of "crude humpor" thing to the sound of ELP but that's what makes them unique. early Spock's Beard/Neal Morse Band/Transatlantic (to some point) And other projects which feature Neal Morse at the primary composer/arranger. They just roar: "EPIC!" There's a kinda formal thing to the sound those projects represent. The music is very angular and blocky but thanks to the classicistic embelishments, the simple hooks really shine and entertain! And the simplicity is what makes these hooks so catchy, at least for prog standards. xD And here are the non-essential bands that I love equally as much: Anyone's Daughter 70s Kaipa Simon Says Triumvirat |
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“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
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JD
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 07 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 18446 |
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What are you looking at me for... I agree 100% ! Add the Moody Blues, Triumvirat, SFF, Gryphon, Tomita & Synergy.
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Thank you for supporting independently produced music
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Hrychu
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 03 2013 Location: poland? Status: Offline Points: 5390 |
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You just reminded me that I gotta revisit Schicke, Führs & Fröhling! xD It's been a few years since I last gave their songs a proper listen.
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“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong |
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Psychedelic Paul
Forum Senior Member Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 40743 |
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The Top 37 Symphonic Prog albums of all time, as voted for in a recent poll by the good members of ProgArchives.
1. YES - Close to the Edge (316 points) 2. GENESIS - Foxtrot (140 points) 3. YES - Tales from Topographic Oceans (112 points) 4. GENESIS - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (110 points) 5. EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (93 points) 6. GENESIS - Selling England by the Pound (90 points) 7. CAMEL - Moonmadness (80 points) 8. KANSAS - Leftoverture (75 points) 9. HARMONIUM - Si on avait besoin d'une cinquieme saison (72 points) 10. ANGLAGARD - Hybris (67 points) 11. FOCUS - Hamburger Concerto (64 points) 12. WOBBLER - From Silence to Somewhere (62 points) 12. RICK WAKEMAN - The Six Wives of Henry VIII (62 points) 14. YES - Relayer (49 points) 14. CHRIS SQUIRE - Fish Out of Water (49 points) 16. SPOCK'S BEARD - V (46 points) 16. RENAISSANCE - Ashes Are Burning (46 points) 18. DISCIPLINE - Unfolded Like Staircase (43 points) 19. GLASS HAMMER - The Inconsolable Secret (42 points) 20. NEAL MORSE - Sola Scripture (41 points) 21. CAMEL - The Snow Goose (40 points) 21. YES - Fragile (40 points) 21. GENESIS - Trespass (40 points) 21. CAMEL - Mirage (40 points) 21. SOLARIS - Marsbeli Kronikak (40 points) 26. GENESIS - A Trick of the Tail (38 points) 26. REFUGEE - Refugee (38 points) 28. EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER - Tarkus (35 points) 29. FANTASY - Paint a Picture (34 points) 30. CRESSIDA - Cressida (32 points) 31. GENESIS - Duke (30 points) 31. SPOCK'S BEARD - Snow (30 points) 31. ECHOLYN - The End is Beautiful (30 points) 31. GENESIS - Wind & Wuthering (30 points) 31. NEAL MORSE - Similitude of a Dream (30 points) 31. TRANSATLANTIC - Bridge Across Forever (30 points) 37. ALL TRAPS ON EARTH - A Drop of Light (29 points) |
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yogev
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Wow, a lot of people here love The Flower Kings. Well... I got into the right place at the right time!
They are my favorite prog band in the last year or so.
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progaardvark
Collaborator Crossover/Symphonic/RPI Teams Joined: June 14 2007 Location: Sea of Peas Status: Offline Points: 51248 |
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Even though I've been getting more and more into the avant world, I'll always have an appreciation for symphonic prog. It is, for most people, the gateway into prog.
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AFlowerKingCrimson
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 02 2016 Location: Philly burbs Status: Offline Points: 18449 |
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He said Triumvirat already. I don't know if I consider them symph though. Wouldn't that be like calling ELP or Nektar symph?
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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Thanks Paul. It looks like you just created a playlist for me if I ever get stuck on a desert island.
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Psychedelic Paul
Forum Senior Member Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 40743 |
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^ My pleasure. It's not bad going, considering it only began as a Top 10 list of Symphonic Prog, and surprisingly, I actually know two thirds of the albums in the Top 37.
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Grumpyprogfan
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^Great list from Paul. Nice to see Discipline and Echolyn made the top 37. The only other missing band is Izz.
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rushfan4
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Definitely a lot of good music in the symphonic prog category. I'm definitely a fan of all things related to the Flower Kings and Spock's Beard.
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Psychedelic Paul
Forum Senior Member Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 40743 |
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Thanks. I'm guessing Hrychu will be disappointed that The Flower Kings didn't make it into the Top 37.
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Frenetic Zetetic
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Symphonic is arguably the go-to, especially on PA! Symphonic, Eclectic, and ROI/RPI are my go-to's.
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"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
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geekfreak
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 21 2013 Location: Musical Garden Status: Offline Points: 9872 |
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Absolutely incredibly awesome list |
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Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake."
Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
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JD
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 07 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 18446 |
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Thank you for supporting independently produced music
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Catcher10
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Not much more to add after Paul's list, The Flower Kings are very high on my list.
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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I once had an argument with a woman who insisted Yes were not symphonic prog. I would like to know what she considers symphonic prog and who she does consider to be symph prog. They might not be the best example but that's usually what they are labelled as.
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lazland
Prog Reviewer Joined: October 28 2008 Location: Wales Status: Offline Points: 13699 |
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You should get her in touch with Ivan. Should be an interesting exchange of views
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Catcher10
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Hrychu
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 03 2013 Location: poland? Status: Offline Points: 5390 |
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I totally forgot to add Wobbler to my list. Their last 3 albums are absolute masterpieces.
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“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong |
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