who is the best Progressive pop/art Rock

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kenethlevine wrote: I gotta say, I'm as much a fan of pop in my prog as anyone, but this is a poor selection.  I can't happily vote for any of these groups, so I won't.  ELO and Queen (more hard rock than prog in early albums) each had one or two albums that I would rate as good, and a mass of stuff I can't stand.  The other groups don't even have that.  I guess most of the groups I like that blend the two are more serious and proggy, like Alan Parsons or Moody Blues, or later works of Anyone's Daughter, and so many others - Saga, FM, Kaos Moon, 80s Mike Oldfield

I definetly know this is not a complet list of all the bands that are blending pop with prog or prog with pop.
as i wrote in my reason to only included those five is becouse i know them better and by that reason can judge ther qualification as progressive rock bands with pop influence or pop groups with prog elements.
and these 5 bands are often mentiond as being quite similar but aslo have originality.

and Supertramp are actualy known for be quiet adept at blending prog with pop, they had a very interesting period Between 1970 - 1985 with som 100% progrock albums to i own there self titled debut from 1970 featuring Hodgson, Davies, Palmer-James (yes the King Crimson Lyracist) and a drummer i dont remember.  1974 Crime of the Century - some of the finest albums in the 70s were Supertramo found ther sound ther formula that lasted in 10 yers, a style that blended Jazz, acustic folk ballads, blues, symponic prog, pop and hardrock. en with some of the best production, were you can clarely hear all instruments and evrey note, and Brother were are you Bound with the 16:30 minuts self titled song with guests guraists
Rythem  guitar Scott Gorham from Thin Lizzy and David Gilmoure - Pink Floyd guitar solo.




 

I gotta say, I'm as much a fan of pop in my prog as anyone, but this is a poor selection.  I can't happily vote for any of these groups, so I won't.  ELO and Queen (more hard rock than prog in early albums) each had one or two albums that I would rate as good, and a mass of stuff I can't stand.  The other groups don't even have that.  I guess most of the groups I like that blend the two are more serious and proggy, like Alan Parsons or Moody Blues, or later works of Anyone's Daughter, and so many others - Saga, FM, Kaos Moon, 80s Mike Oldfield


Edited by kenethlevine - April 25 2009 at 17:53

I voted for Queen, they influenced a host of rock bands. I also like  very much Supertramp (up to Breakfast in America) and 10 CC and can see the connections between them. I never was fond of Roxy Music. Regarding ELO, I have to dig their discography to make an opinion.

Gotta go with Queen. Queen, Queen 2, Sheer heart attack are all amazing. Night at the Opera is amazing too, but Queen 2 is thier best in my mind. I find that album and thier early works really influential to prog, and metal. I also think thier early work is very under-rated in the mainstream press. I remember they only had one album on Rolling Stones top 500 albums of all time and it was Night at the Opera, love that album but I was pissed that Queen 2 wasn't on there. I think the whole band is very talented. Brian May is a great guitarist, very very under appreciated.

On this list, Roxy Music are definitely my favorite. Of the criteria the OP laid out though, I'd have to say Split Enz are miles ahead of the rest.

Supertramp,Queen,Roxy,10cc then ELO.

I have only seen Tramp,Queen and 10cc live though.

Supertramp. Art Rock full of Prog, in any song.

Although I voted for Roxy Music, I think on reflection that their influence is perhaps more palpable in the subsequent work of the Cure, Banshees, Joy Division et al

(I'm thinking of 'In Every Dream Home a Heartache' here y'all)

Roxy