I’m obsessed with (good) progressive rock

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   Hello everybody,

   I am a huge fan of progressive rock and wish that there could be more 

bands out there that would perpetuate it in this decade. The seventies 

were such an important time for epic, progressive rock songs and even 

some of the best prog rock bands compromised their own styles once the 

eighties rolled around in favor of more "pop" "FM friendly" songs.

  Don't get me wrong, many of these bands did provide some of the best 

new wave hits of the 80s, namely Yes and Genesis. I know that many of 

them were influenced by the Police and their reggae styles and they did 

manifest themselves in the music of these bands.

  Also, some have pointed out that the prog bands did, indeed, need to 

change their own styles to 'survive' in light of the recent punk rock 

movements that built almost their entire persona on bashing these prog 

bands. In my opinion, though, as bands grow older and times change, 

this is the BEST time to return to their roots and start making their classic 

epic "ambitious" songs again. The longer the better. 

   In case any are interested, my favorite bands in all of music are Genesis, 

Rush, Pink Floyd, Yes, Mike Oldfield, and Jethro Tull. 

Genesis for Peter Gabriel's impassionate vocals and Steve Hackett's 

classically-inspired almost medieval guitar licks. They wrote my #2 

favorite song of all time in "Supper's Ready."

Rush for the heavy bass and drum-driven music with some of the most 

beautiful, scientific lyrics in all of music (If you read the lyrics alone to 

"Hemispheres: Book II" it presents an incredibly profound philosphical 

awakening) and for Geddy Lee's intesnse early vocal parts (listen to 

"2112" for this, especially "Presentation").  The only  reason I ever picked 

up a bass guitar when I was 11 was to learn how to play like Geddy Lee. I 

have now since played in three tribute bands to Rush.

Pink Floyd for their "space-rock/psychedelic" jam sessions and the 

incredibly dark lyrics provided by Roger Waters. "Shine On..." "Dogs" and 

"Echoes" are some of the most emotionally-charged prog rock songs in 

all of its catalog.

Yes for the guts to write an album like "Tales form Topographic Oceans" 

and Chris Squire for some of the most difficult basslines in existence, and 

Steve Howe for his guitar parts that always seem to be in conflict with the 

bass part, and yet they work. Most of all, for writing one of my favorite 

prog songs, (and in my top ten favorites of all time) "Awaken."

Mike Oldfield for throwing together such a bizarre album as "Tubular 

Bells."

Jethro Tull for creating "Thick as a Brick." There are few moments in song 

that affect me as much as four minutes into part two of the song does.

And hats off to current progressive bands, or progressive-inspired bands, 

though the bands may not admit it, like Radiohead (Pink Floyd heavy) and 

the Mars Volta (Rush heavy).

Please let me know your opinions on all of this. I'd like to submit some 

more forum topics and discuss it with you.

Lachrymous.

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Lachrymous Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: June 12 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 24	Topic: I’m obsessed with (good) progressive rock Posted: June 13 2005 at 17:41
	Hello everybody, I am a huge fan of progressive rock and wish that there could be more bands out there that would perpetuate it in this decade. The seventies were such an important time for epic, progressive rock songs and even some of the best prog rock bands compromised their own styles once the eighties rolled around in favor of more "pop" "FM friendly" songs. Don't get me wrong, many of these bands did provide some of the best new wave hits of the 80s, namely Yes and Genesis. I know that many of them were influenced by the Police and their reggae styles and they did manifest themselves in the music of these bands. Also, some have pointed out that the prog bands did, indeed, need to change their own styles to 'survive' in light of the recent punk rock movements that built almost their entire persona on bashing these prog bands. In my opinion, though, as bands grow older and times change, this is the BEST time to return to their roots and start making their classic epic "ambitious" songs again. The longer the better. In case any are interested, my favorite bands in all of music are Genesis, Rush, Pink Floyd, Yes, Mike Oldfield, and Jethro Tull. Genesis for Peter Gabriel's impassionate vocals and Steve Hackett's classically-inspired almost medieval guitar licks. They wrote my #2 favorite song of all time in "Supper's Ready." Rush for the heavy bass and drum-driven music with some of the most beautiful, scientific lyrics in all of music (If you read the lyrics alone to "Hemispheres: Book II" it presents an incredibly profound philosphical awakening) and for Geddy Lee's intesnse early vocal parts (listen to "2112" for this, especially "Presentation"). The only reason I ever picked up a bass guitar when I was 11 was to learn how to play like Geddy Lee. I have now since played in three tribute bands to Rush. Pink Floyd for their "space-rock/psychedelic" jam sessions and the incredibly dark lyrics provided by Roger Waters. "Shine On..." "Dogs" and "Echoes" are some of the most emotionally-charged prog rock songs in all of its catalog. Yes for the guts to write an album like "Tales form Topographic Oceans" and Chris Squire for some of the most difficult basslines in existence, and Steve Howe for his guitar parts that always seem to be in conflict with the bass part, and yet they work. Most of all, for writing one of my favorite prog songs, (and in my top ten favorites of all time) "Awaken." Mike Oldfield for throwing together such a bizarre album as "Tubular Bells." Jethro Tull for creating "Thick as a Brick." There are few moments in song that affect me as much as four minutes into part two of the song does. And hats off to current progressive bands, or progressive-inspired bands, though the bands may not admit it, like Radiohead (Pink Floyd heavy) and the Mars Volta (Rush heavy). Please let me know your opinions on all of this. I'd like to submit some more forum topics and discuss it with you. Lachrymous.

Lachrymous Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: June 12 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 24	Posted: June 14 2005 at 17:42
	I can't believe I forgot to mention Mahavishnu Orchestra on this list too.

Tony R Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: July 16 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 11979	Posted: June 14 2005 at 18:09
	Welcome Lachrymous,any Rush fan is a friend of mine. Join in the healthy debate adn dont be afraid to dip your toe into the waters of controversy. So where does Lachrymous come from....tears are not my speciality.

Jared Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 06 2005 Location: Hereford, UK Status: Offline Points: 20327	Posted: June 14 2005 at 18:12
	Welcome, Lachrymous.... I hope you enjoy the site...
	Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson

Lachrymous Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: June 12 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 24	Posted: June 14 2005 at 18:41
	So where does Lachrymous come from....tears are not my speciality. [/QUOTE] I see you know your Latin roots! To be honest, I can't remember exactly where it came from. Either I heard it somewhere or I made it up. Either way, it happened whenI was about 16.