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Frets N Worries View Drop Down
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    Posted: August 22 2023 at 19:48
As someone who is relatively new to prog, and has clung to the massive concept albums, such as TFTO, The Wall, TLLDOB, etc. I'm curious, what are some more giant concept albums such as these, and which are 'the most prog'?

Edited by Frets N Worries - August 23 2023 at 05:14
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As far as prog genres go, neo-prog is the most pop friendly and accessible whereas avant-prog is the most convoluted and complex, often too much for the uninitiated to comprehend.

Yeas ago i made a CRAZY COMPLEX PROG list on Rate Your Music.

These include artists and albums that are either musically complex or conceptually so

Some of the craziest most out there bands include Alas, Anglagard, Area, Art Zoyd, Asceta, Birds And Buildings, Cartoon, Circus, Eclectic Maybe Band, Gentle Giant, Gnidrolog, Henry Cow, Island, Kayo Dot, M.I.A., Marsupilami, Mirthrandir, Moving Gelatine Plates, Mr Bungle, Pentwater, Sloche, Thinking Plague, Unexpect, Univers Zero, Ut Gret, Xhohx, Yezda Urfa.

Some more familiar bands had some crazy complex albums: Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans, Jethro Tull - A Passion Play, King Crimson - Lizard etc

This list needs an update but there are some gems on here.



Edited by siLLy puPPy - August 22 2023 at 21:44

https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy
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Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

As someone who is relatively new to prog, and has clung to the massive concept albums, such as TFTO, The Wall, TLLDOB, etc. I'm curious, what are some more giant concept albums such as these, and which are 'the most prog'?


Not a "giant" concept album so much as a "Gentle Giant" concept album, but I love Gentle Giant's Three Friends.
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Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

As someone who is relatively new to prog, and has clung to the massive concept albums, such as TFTO, The Wall, TLLDOB, etc. I'm curious, what are some more giant concept albums such as these, and which are 'the most prog'?
The proggiest album with the biggest concept really has to be all of Magmas albums combined. They're all part of a complete mythology and story, told in a completely invented language (Kobaïan + genre; Zeuhl) and takes place in some distant future universe. Their sort of volcanic Wagnerian/Orff Jazz Rock-Fusion matches their multi movement concept perfectly. And it's the archtypical love/hate-band. I guess the self titled 1970 double album debut, where all these ideas and future ambition of telling this grand apocalyptic story was already in place - must be the proggiest single release "statement" (and the only logical place to start). I googled "Magma band mythology" and the first I found was an attemnt to explain it here at PA fifteen years ago by none other Shakespeare himself:

Here's an excerpt from The Mythology of Magma by Shakespeare:

"Chronologically, the earliest tale in the Kobaïan anthology is that of a man named Köhntarkösz. Köhntarkösz is an Earthling. We assume that this takes place sometime in the near (or maybe distant) future. One day, by whatever means, Köhntarkösz stumbled upon a long forgot, ancient tomb, belonging to a former Egyptian Emperor. This makes us think that Köhntarkösz was an archeologist, historian, researcher, or perhaps just lucky explorer. At any rate, the tomb belongs to Ëmëhntëht-Rê, who, in his life, sought nothing more than to discover the secrets of eternal life. Ëmëhntëht-Rê came close to accomplishing his goal, but before he completed his task, he was murdered. We’re unsure whether the murder was related to his work: whether an underground organization wanted the secrets of endless life to go unearthed, or if the Emperor’s reign was won by revolt, or if the Emperor just owed somebody a lot of money. Who knows, maybe Ëmëhntëht-Rê fell on the knife.

While inside Ëmëhntëht-Rê’s tomb, Köhntarkösz is met by a startling and vivid vision of the bygone Emperor. It is in this fashion that Ëmëhntëht-Rê’s wealth of knowledge and wisdom, regarding life, death, man, God, time, existence, and eternal life is passed to the humble Köhntarkösz, who now, revealed the truth, sees how evil mankind is, and how imperfect Earth is...and sees a solution. However, I believe that in this moment a prophecy was also made: and it is articulated in the song Ork Alarm. The prophecy is essentially that if ever the secrets and wisdom of Ëmëhntëht-Rê would be harnessed to craft the ideal society; if ever human life was perfected; if indeed the evil of man was surpassed; the People of Ork would come and end it. The People of Ork would destroy all progress. Perhaps the prophecy isn’t an ‘if’ situation: maybe even Köhntarkösz seeing the vision was enough to spit the People or Ork out of their waiting. Maybe from that moment the People of Ork have been on their way (which would mean either they live a couple hundred galaxies over, or their ship runs on diesel.) What is for certain is that the People of Ork will play a large role in the distant future of mankind"

...link to the rest of the text & thread can be found by pressing the linked title. I don't know if this it the best out there, but seems like a good read - and for some reason only links to other PA-pages works for me.

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Originally posted by Saperlipopette! Saperlipopette! wrote:

Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

As someone who is relatively new to prog, and has clung to the massive concept albums, such as TFTO, The Wall, TLLDOB, etc. I'm curious, what are some more giant concept albums such as these, and which are 'the most prog'?
The proggiest album with the biggest concept really has to be all of Magmas albums combined. They're all part of a complete mythology and story, told in a completely invented language (Kobaïan + genre; Zeuhl) and takes place in some distant future universe. Their sort of volcanic Wagnerian/Orff Jazz Rock-Fusion matches their multi movement concept perfectly. And it's the archtypical love/hate-band. I guess the self titled 1970 double album debut, where all these ideas and future ambition of telling this grand apocalyptic story was already in place - must be the proggiest single release "statement" (and the only logical place to start). I googled "Magma band mythology" and the first I found was an attemnt to explain it here at PA fifteen years ago by none other Shakespeare himself:

Here's an excerpt from The Mythology of Magma by Shakespeare:

"Chronologically, the earliest tale in the Kobaïan anthology is that of a man named Köhntarkösz. Köhntarkösz is an Earthling. We assume that this takes place sometime in the near (or maybe distant) future. One day, by whatever means, Köhntarkösz stumbled upon a long forgot, ancient tomb, belonging to a former Egyptian Emperor. This makes us think that Köhntarkösz was an archeologist, historian, researcher, or perhaps just lucky explorer. At any rate, the tomb belongs to Ëmëhntëht-Rê, who, in his life, sought nothing more than to discover the secrets of eternal life. Ëmëhntëht-Rê came close to accomplishing his goal, but before he completed his task, he was murdered. We’re unsure whether the murder was related to his work: whether an underground organization wanted the secrets of endless life to go unearthed, or if the Emperor’s reign was won by revolt, or if the Emperor just owed somebody a lot of money. Who knows, maybe Ëmëhntëht-Rê fell on the knife.

While inside Ëmëhntëht-Rê’s tomb, Köhntarkösz is met by a startling and vivid vision of the bygone Emperor. It is in this fashion that Ëmëhntëht-Rê’s wealth of knowledge and wisdom, regarding life, death, man, God, time, existence, and eternal life is passed to the humble Köhntarkösz, who now, revealed the truth, sees how evil mankind is, and how imperfect Earth is...and sees a solution. However, I believe that in this moment a prophecy was also made: and it is articulated in the song Ork Alarm. The prophecy is essentially that if ever the secrets and wisdom of Ëmëhntëht-Rê would be harnessed to craft the ideal society; if ever human life was perfected; if indeed the evil of man was surpassed; the People of Ork would come and end it. The People of Ork would destroy all progress. Perhaps the prophecy isn’t an ‘if’ situation: maybe even Köhntarkösz seeing the vision was enough to spit the People or Ork out of their waiting. Maybe from that moment the People of Ork have been on their way (which would mean either they live a couple hundred galaxies over, or their ship runs on diesel.) What is for certain is that the People of Ork will play a large role in the distant future of mankind"

...link to the rest of the text & thread can be found by pressing the linked title. I don't know if this it the best out there, but seems like a good read - and for some reason only links to other PA-pages works for me.


As someone who loves literature and mythology, you have given me a golden opportunity and I thank you very much
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Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...
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Aphrodite's Child - 666

Obviously based on the book of revelations, the eclectic nature of this double album is stunning going in psyche, metal, pop, avante directions seemingly all at the same time. Recorded in 1971, the band broke up before it was released going on to become an influential 'cult' album. Bassist and legendary vocalist Demis Roussos mentioned it in interview many years later and was obviously proud of it. Mostly Vangelis masterminded it before he later went on to have the odd dabble or two with a synthesiser. Great drumming and guitar from Lucas Sideras and Silver Koulouris with a side helping of Irene Papas on the 'orgasm song' (actually its about an exorcism!). A wild ride if ever there was one.
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Univers Zero is prog on hard mode
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I would have suggested "Foxtrot" by Genesis.  They explore sci-fi (Watcher of the Skies, inspired by Arthur C. Clarke and "Get 'em out by Friday"), Danish legends (Can & Utility Coastliners), Legend of King Arthur (Time Table) and of course, the Book of Revelations (Supper's Ready).  
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It depends on how much you want someone's eyes to glaze over.   A Passion Play comes to mind.





Edited by Atavachron - August 22 2023 at 23:51
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It also depends on what you mean by proggiest prog. By the post, it seems you're talking conceptually. Some posters are taking it to mean "most compositionally challenging/dense." For the latter, avant would be your go-to. For the former, sprawling concept records (or even multiple records spanning one concept) are probably most often located in symph, neo, prog metal, some crossover and eclectic, and a few tech/extreme and experimental/post metal albums. I'm sure almost every subgenre on here has a narrative concept album or two to be found. Except maybe raga rock/indo-prog. Narrative concept albums are also different than the more abstract concept records that focus more on a set of ideas than a story. Pink Floyd, for example have sure-fire examples of each; The Wall being the former, Animals being the latter.
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definitely the great classics
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I would leap from the 70s to the 80s, 90s and 00s for these, to me ears, giant, "very prog" concept albums (in descending order of massiveness and progginess Wink):

1. IQ - "Subterranea" 
2. Spock's Beard - "Snow" 
3. Marillion - "Brave"
4. Saga - "Generation 13"
5. Dream Theater: "Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes From A Memory"
6. Queensrÿche : "Operation: Mindcrime"


Edited by Starjet - August 24 2023 at 13:34
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Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

definitely the great classics

Sorry, I was too quick with reading the OP, but your thread title can confuse.
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Off the top of my head...

1. The Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy released by Gong in 1973-1974.
2. Every album by Ayreon. Several of the Ayreon albums overlap, and indeed, the name Ayreon is one the characters in the overlapping storyline.
3. Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds.
4. Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage
5. Solaris' Marsbéli Krónikák - entirely instrumental album based on Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles
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Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
The Psychedelic Ensemble - The Tale of the Golden King
Neal Morse Band - The Similitude of a Dream
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Thread topic changed, thank you all for the responses! I will try and check all of these out!
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Originally posted by progaardvark progaardvark wrote:

1. The Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy released by Gong in 1973-1974.
3. Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds.
5. Solaris' Marsbéli Krónikák - entirely instrumental album based on Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles


these three definitely are must listen. Tongue
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Originally posted by Starjet Starjet wrote:

1. IQ - "Subterranea" 
2. Marillion - "Brave"

highly recommended! Thumbs Up
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IQ - Subterranea
IQ - Road Of Bones
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