What is Prog? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

ExittheLemming View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Penal Colony
Status: Offline
Points: 11420

Posted: June 30 2008 at 15:59

earlyprog wrote:

"Progressive Rock is a form of Rock music with an artistic intention, that is both composed and improvised, takes its influences from a wide variety of sources, and fuses these approaches together to create music that is distinctly unlike anything that has preceeded it."

Ok, a rodent herbivore's version:

- Progressive Rock is an amalgam of eclectic rock music forms with an aesthetic intention, that is both composed and improvised, takes many of its influences from a wide variety of sources unrelated to Rock, and fuses these approaches together to create music that is distinctly unlike that of any of the source materials. -

Ouch, brain meltdown, time for some roadkill perchance....

Certif1ed

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559

Posted: July 01 2008 at 04:45

russellk wrote:

I just explained it, Certif1ed. It is retro-prog, an example of a modern band evoking the classic prog era. It may or may not be good at what it is, but that's not the issue.

I didn't follow your initial explanation... sorry.

It doesn't evoke the classic prog era to me at all - it evokes the modern metal era, ergo it's not good at evoking the classic (or any other) prog era to me, and possibly other people.

Whether I think it's good or not is beside the point entirely.

russellk wrote:

Now you may not feel it's progressive, but the definition you apply is a variant on the 'breaking convention' idea. Retro-prog, which many here classify as prog music, doesn't fit your definition (it can't, because it seeks to follow a particular style, and so by definition must exclude 'progressiveness'), but, like it or not, it's a part of prog.

How?

Edited by Certif1ed - July 01 2008 at 04:52

The important thing is not to stop questioning.

Certif1ed

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559

Posted: July 01 2008 at 04:51

M@X wrote:

Ok guys, I really like what is going on here and would appreciate if it comes handy for the site and ultimately defining "progressive music" and the sub-genres and PA and the collaborators becoming the SOURCE for the true answers to what WAS and what IS "Prog Rock" music.

Wouldn't it be nice (I sound like the Beach Boys ?) if we could replace the WIKIpedia and others encyclopedia definition of PROG MUSIC.

I don't know how it's possible but let's continue this BLOG, open subject and find out where it'll lead.

Nice job Cerf !!!!! and others commenting , a nice progressive discussion.

I'm definitely up for using an essay as this site's definition - after all, I've worked on Wikipedia's definition, and the amount of behind-the-scenes wrangling that goes on, particularly by people that want to mention their favourite bands, is just ridiculous.

Personally, I think a site like this needs a definition which is easily digestible prose, tempered with a few choice bits and pieces about technical things - not a dictionary definition (which, let's face it, ain't gonna happen).

I like your earlier idea of a competition - if people submitted essays on the subject, then the rest of the members could vote for their favourite, which I think is the fairest way - it means the fans get to choose what defines their favourite music.

Maybe set a deadline, and a prize of a night out with Tony R?

The important thing is not to stop questioning.

Atavachron View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 65298

Posted: July 01 2008 at 04:51

Certif1ed wrote:

How?

presumably in a genetic sense.. and not all siblings and cousins are smarter, more talented or advanced than their predecessors

Certif1ed

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559

Posted: July 01 2008 at 04:53

Atavachron wrote:

Certif1ed wrote:

How?

presumably in a genetic sense.. and not all siblings and cousins are smarter, more talented or advanced than their predecessors

I'm having real problems decoding the DNA...

The important thing is not to stop questioning.

M@X

Forum & Site Admin Group

Co-founder, Admin & Webmaster

Joined: January 29 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 4028

Posted: July 03 2008 at 00:21

Cert, about the essay contest , graded by members is a really nice idea.

Since I am not the perfect english to write a correct descirption for the contest, may I ask for help here ?
And also , not having much time theses days because of the SERVER-ISSUES.

I think it can be a great contest... we have great minds here !!!

Prog On !

Kestrel

Forum Senior Member

Joined: June 18 2008
Location: Minnesota
Status: Offline
Points: 512

Posted: July 03 2008 at 04:59

Ha, a contest would be awesome! Kinda funny since I've been working on an essay about the subject for the past couple hours (nowhere near complete, of course, but at least it's a beginning) and some extra motivation would definitely be helpful. :)

Alberto Muñoz View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: July 26 2006
Location: Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 3577

Posted: August 25 2008 at 12:50

Cert i have read your essay and is a really good One, kudos for that :

- Progressive Rock is an amalgam of eclectic rock music forms with an aesthetic intention, that is both composed and improvised, takes many of its influences from a wide variety of sources unrelated to Rock, and fuses these approaches together to create music that is distinctly unlike that of any of the source materials. -

I like this definition i think that it resolves the whole progressive definition.

darkshade

Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: November 19 2005
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
Points: 10964

Posted: August 25 2008 at 20:53

Frank Zappa

My Last.fm