$50 at Barnes and Noble

So yesterday was my birthday.  Under the impression that I like to read (okay, so I am an English teacher), I've racked up a sum of $50 in Barnes & Noble gift cards.  Since "I've got books that I've never, ever read (and plenty of them)," and since B&N doesn't sell beer, I've decided to use the gifts cards to expand my progressive rock collection.

Basically, I have all of Yes, all of Gabriel-era Genesis (and the two after), all of Kansas, the best seven albums of Gentle Giant (according to this site, except for Acquiring the Taste), all of the Mars Volta (except their first one), the latest five albums from Porcupine Tree, some King Crimson, a bunch of Pink Floyd, the latest four releases from The Flower Kings, all of Spock's Beard, Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play, Voyage of the Acolyte, and various other albums.

Anyway, if you would like to make recommendations, I'd love to take them into account.  The only drawback is that we're talking Barnes & Noble here- they don't exactly have a vast selection of progressive rock.

I'll make my purchases later this week and report on what I acquired.
 

Finding prog "in store" at B&N can be difficult but I'd say get "Stand Up" by Jethro Tull if you don't already have it and anything by Neal Morse they might have.  Otherwise you might go perusing through their sizeable collection of classical symphonies.  Tough call.  You might be better off buying off their website for prog.

Gee...I forgot to mention Rush and Camel.  

I do have lots of Rush (though I favor their more recent efforts, believe it or not- Vapor Trails is actually my favorite of their releases...don't hurt me please).

I have Mirage and Moonmadness.

And while I spent a few difficult seconds considering your offer, Doc, I think I'm going to pass this time. 

Slartibartfast wrote: The Doctor wrote:   Or, for that $50 B&N gift card, you can have a four disk, signed copy of me screaming obscenities into a microphone and banging pans together.  A true symphonic masterpiece, over 4 hours of excruciating noise!!!! A real bargain. You sell many of those then?

The Doctor wrote:   I got people beating down my door for copies.  Oh, wait, that's actually the police beating down my door to seize all of my copies.  Apparently, they scared a few of the weak-hearted folk that I sold them too, and then there was something about fraud...but anyway...

Great answer.

The wife weighs in...

My wife hates progressive rock.  Her idea of progressive rock's best offerings are Pink Floyd's The Final Cut and "Dust in the Wind."

So why ask her?  Well, when we are in the car, she has to put up with what I play, so I thought it would be fair to let her opinion matter.  I let her sample a large number of albums from a variety of bands/individuals, and here is her verdict in order of appreciation:

1. Flash- Flash, Out of Our Hands
Are you kidding me?  She even saw the covers!  And this coming from a woman who hates the organ.  Even in church.  We now attend a church that has no organ (but has an electric guitar, which I play, so that's some consolation).  Here you get Tony Kaye and T&A all in one package.  This choice is a total mystery of the universe.

2. Anthony Phillips- The Geese & The Ghost
Now many of you might say, "Gee, the dame has taste.  What's wrong with this choice?"  Well, why might she choose this one?  It's quiet.  Even if you turn most of these songs up full blast with a dozen Fender amplifiers in your car hooked up, you could still barely hear it.  And the quieter my music is, the happier she is.

3. Porcupine Tree- The Sky Moves Sideways
On this one, she enjoyed the spacier, more psychedelic offers and was turned off by the heavier bits.  But I'm still puzzled how this one beat out:

4. Camel- The Snow Goose
"All right, Epignosis," you must be saying.  "The cheese must've fallen off your cracker a long time ago.  This is a fantastic album."  And right you are (on both counts).  However, why did she choose this little gem?  Hmmm?  Any idea?  I'll let you guess.  What do these individuals have in common: Jon Anderson, Steve Walsh, Derek Shulman, Kerry Minnear, Adrian Belew, and Hasse Froberg, just to name a few?

Still scratching your head?  They're all vocalists.  And they all suck (according to her).  The Snow Goose making more sense now?

You know...she made these choices without seeing the ratings on PA.  Maybe there's hope for her yet...

moreitsythanyou wrote: http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.asp?parent_id=1000110&CAT=1000606&cds2Pid=17417&linkid=995626 Enjoy!

Funny you should mention that...I actually just got through going through all 720 or so listings.  And let me render this judgment- B&N's idea of what constitutes progressive rock is about as useful as mesh condoms.

Still, I believe I have narrowed it down a bit (but since I can cover $400 in merchandise, there's still a lot of weeding to do). 

Well even with her included I'd still look into Riverside

Chris Stacey wrote: You could always be nice and give it to your wife to go shopping. That way you are guaranteed about 4 hours of peaceful prog listening at full volume at home

I'm afraid she might return with a marital self-help workbook...two copies! 

Thanks for all of you who made recommendations.

Here is what I'll be torturing the wife with in about a week.

1. The Tangent- A Place in the Queue
Not sure how I'll feel about this, but it got high marks.  I can't wait to hear it in its entirety.
2. Camel- The Snow Goose
Even though I tend to avoid instrumentals, I love everything I've heard from this one.
3. Steve Hackett- Spectral Mornings
In his review, Ivan said it was a sin not to have this one in one's collection.  I hereby repent from my wicked ways, O Ivan.
4. Men Are Like Waffles-- Women Are Like Spaghetti: Understanding and Delighting in Your Differences
No kidding.  This is what the wife will be torturing me with in about a week.  No, keeping her out of the store didn't even stop her. 

On a final note, I will be acquiring two albums that I have wanted for some time now, neither of which B&N has.  They are Kerry Livgren's Collector's Sedition (Director's Cut) and Glass Hammer's Shadowlands.  But I've got to wait just a bit on those...rent's coming up.