THE MOST TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT PROG ROCK BAND - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Velvetclown View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2006 at 10:37

Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant

Rorro

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Posted: May 10 2006 at 09:56

eddietrooper wrote:

Dream Theater beats them all in this aspect. I don't know any guitarist with better technical skills than Petrucci, and the rest of the band are all extremely good on their instruments too.
Of course that doesn't mean that they are the best band.

I think THat TFK beats Dream Theater in that aspect. Also Planet X , Anglagärd and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X , Henry Cow,... .

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Posted: May 10 2006 at 08:00

RUSH are extremely Technical

Dream Theater's weakest link is thier vocals and lyrics

Edited by Xenoxen - May 10 2006 at 08:04

video vertigo View Drop Down

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Posted: May 10 2006 at 03:16

mystic fred wrote:

video vertigo wrote:

Rush, Yes, Asia

WHY???

Rush has one of the most talented drummers of Rock music. Made the drummer hall of fame like 8 times. Lee and Lifeson are also hall of famers. Lee is a very talented musician overall, and one of the top prog bassists. Lifeson is a very skilled rythym guitarists, and had some wicked solos. Check out YYZ and La Villa Strangiato.

Yes had a supergroup line up with a very well known frontman: Anderson, and my favorite guitarist: Howe, tied for prog's favorite keyboardist: Wakeman, an incredible bassist: Squire and the most progressive drummer: Bruford

Asia was a supergroup with incredible talent. Although they didn't perform as well as they should have with the amount of talent they were still technically proficient.

"The rock and roll business is pretty absurd, but the world of serious music is much worse." - Zappa

verslibre

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Posted: May 10 2006 at 02:02

chamberry wrote:

The Mahavishnu Orchestra is also worth mentioning.

Just look at this video to see for yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J88Ep3_vKIk&search=mahavishnu%20orchestra

Garanteed to blow your head off Wink

That was AWESOME! I was wondering why Jan wasn't getting any face time there but his solo later on up for it—nice wailing on the MiniMoog but just not enough for my taste!! Still, that was killer.

eBay

Toob-Wurm

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 21:47

heyitsthatguy wrote:

Toob-Wurm wrote:

For some reason, I always seem to see threads about "Fastest Shredder" or "Most Technically Proficient," but I almost never see things like "Best Songwriting" or "Most Musical."

Why is that? I don't understand... I thought this was a prog forum.

HMMMMM.........

You don't have to be Prog to play something that's technically difficult. To be prog, you have to take it a step further and think about how you will apply this skill to your songs.

Edited by Toob-Wurm - May 09 2006 at 21:48

heyitsthatguy View Drop Down

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 21:39

HMMMMM.........

Toob-Wurm

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 21:34

For some reason, I always seem to see threads about "Fastest Shredder" or "Most Technically Proficient," but I almost never see things like "Best Songwriting" or "Most Musical."

Why is that? I don't understand... I thought this was a prog forum.

heyitsthatguy View Drop Down

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 16:24

Geck0 wrote:

Serguilloche wrote:

My vote goes to Dream Theater - they don't have a weak link. Each member is a master of his instrument (ooer) and if I had to compile a top 5 for each of those instruments in prog, they would all appear. I kow that last sentence didn't make any sense, but you know what I mean Confused

Even James is one of the foremost tambourinists in the arena of handheld percussion.

From what I've heard though, they are a very noodle-tastic band and well, their tunes to me, don't have any melody or soul, they seem to show off unnecessarily. No denying their skill, I realise how skiled they are, but it's not purely on individual techinical ability, it goes so much further than that.

First of all, yes, they do tend to drag songs on for too long sometimes. But does that mean they can't play with emotion? Just listen through the song Octavarium. And BTW James' killer "egg shaker" solo at the beginning of Metropolis pt 1 should be showcased throughout the ages.

VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 16:16

Even James is one of the foremost tambourinists in the arena of handheld percussion.

From what I've heard though, they are a very noodle-tastic band and well, their tunes to me, don't have any melody or soul, they seem to show off unnecessarily. No denying their skill, I realise how skilled they are, but it's not purely on individual techinical ability, it goes so much further than that.

Edited by Geck0 - May 14 2006 at 17:22

BaldFriede View Drop Down

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 16:11

Syzygy wrote:

True, listen to Camembert Electrique and some of his solo albums for proof.

I'd also nominate (from the old school)

Magma 1973/4 with the Vander/Top rhythm section,
King Crimson's double trio line up (or just about any other),
Zappa's touring band in the 1970s featuring Ruth Underwood
Can

Currently I'd say that the most technically proficient band around is probably Koenjihyakkei - Angherr Shisspa is an awesomely powerful album.

Magma in the "Live / Hhai" line-up was first class too, with a very young Didier Lockwood (he was 17 or 18 at that time.).

BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.

laplace

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 16:06

We're going to sit here and pretend ELP didn't exist, aren't we.

Tarkus still has to be one of the most (if not THE most) demanding suites in prog to play.. and they played it, so.. ELP.

(not that I'm a great fan of the band..)

Serguilloche View Drop Down

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 15:32

My vote goes to Dream Theater - they don't have a weak link. Each member is a master of his instrument (ooer) and if I had to compile a top 5 for each of those instruments in prog, they would all appear. I kow that last sentence didn't make any sense, but you know what I mean Confused

Even James is one of the foremost tambourinists in the arena of handheld percussion.

daz2112

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 15:01

Rush!!!!!!!!!!

In the constellation of cygnus,There lurks a mysterious force...The black hole

wolf0621

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 15:00

Blacksword wrote:

Can someone define 'Technically profficient' I know what it means to me, but there may be some people here who are just inclined to mention their favourite bands.

If by 'technical profficiency' we mean most complex/difficult to excecute musicianship, then the most profficient artists are likely to be jazz/rock fusion bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X etc. IMO.

The term could also apply to artists like Robert John Godfrey of The Enid, who is a respected composer and brilliant pianist.

I have to admit, even though I dont think they have an ounce of soul in their song writing, Dream Theater are probably among the most technically profficient rock musicians in the business.

I'd like to hear the views of 'technically profficient' musicians on this matter...

I have the same definition as you...For me it's Zappa. The way he moved between musical styles & some at times incredibly complex arrangements, then managed to replicate it all in a live situation is amazing. Especially considering how often the band's lineup changed...Only one thing remained constant: the high level of musicianship. FZ was really a musical perfectionist & it showed...

R o V e R

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 13:57

Rush

Dreamtheatre

Edited by R o V e R - May 09 2006 at 13:57

eddietrooper View Drop Down

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 12:42

Dream Theater beats them all in this aspect. I don't know any guitarist with better technical skills than Petrucci, and the rest of the band are all extremely good on their instruments too.
Of course that doesn't mean that they are the best band.

Dick Heath View Drop Down

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 12:18

Have to say those few prog bands that pre-glasnost Eastern European Iron Curtain countries allowed to perform and record fit this requirement: the then Czech Collegium Musicum and Russian Horizont immediate suggest themselves - and equally their records suggest that they were graduates from the best local music colleges.

Blacksword View Drop Down

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 05:26

Can someone define 'Technically profficient' I know what it means to me, but there may be some people here who are just inclined to mention their favourite bands.

If by 'technical profficiency' we mean most complex/difficult to excecute musicianship, then the most profficient artists are likely to be jazz/rock fusion bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X etc. IMO.

The term could also apply to artists like Robert John Godfrey of The Enid, who is a respected composer and brilliant pianist.

I have to admit, even though I dont think they have an ounce of soul in their song writing, Dream Theater are probably among the most technically profficient rock musicians in the business.

I'd like to hear the views of 'technically profficient' musicians on this matter...

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

Syzygy

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Posted: May 09 2006 at 04:56

BaldFriede wrote:

mystic fred wrote:

[QUOTE=BaldFriede]Gong.

And, by the way, Daevid Allen is not a bad guitar player either, though he left the lead to Hillage and only played glissando guitar.

True, listen to Camembert Electrique and some of his solo albums for proof.

I'd also nominate (from the old school)

Magma 1973/4 with the Vander/Top rhythm section,
King Crimson's double trio line up (or just about any other),
Zappa's touring band in the 1970s featuring Ruth Underwood
Can

Currently I'd say that the most technically proficient band around is probably Koenjihyakkei - Angherr Shisspa is an awesomely powerful album.

'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'

Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom