The most successful modern prog music nation?

In my book, the main criteria for being "successful" is to be appreciated.

It's certainly true that Norway (and Sweden) has many current groups that are making all different kinds of music. But it does seem like a significant portion of it is in the symph vein with varying degrees of retro prog flavors. To my knowledge, many more bands from the US (and Japan, Canada) are producing fresh, new material that rivals that of Norway. And ALL of them are blowing the UK out of the water in terms of innovation (as opposed to quantity, black midi notwithstanding). Indeed, most of what you have posted helps make that point. And once again, this is to say nothing of the quality of the music. That is entirely subjective. And I enjoyed much of what you posted, to be fair.

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: If you look at the PA Top 10 for the last decade there are 5 Norwegian albums. There's your answer right there. If you look at successful as popular, yes. If you look at success as creating something different and fresh, I don't think Wobbler and those other Norwegian bands meet that criteria.

Being successful is about being somewhat popular. At least to an extent. I much prefer VdGG over Yes and ELP, but I would be incorrect if I claimed that the former band were more successful than the latter bands. Even though I personally think of them as artistically superior to both. If you create art that's differnt and fresh but nobody knows about it, you're partly unsuccessful. Unfortunately.

-Anyway, I think it needs to be a bit of both. A "successful modern prog nation" should to be profilic, vibrant and of course diverse. For every "Wobbler-band" there's at least twice as many experimental and forward thinking "Rune Grammofon" kinds of bands and projects etc... But of course, they are less "successful", so fewer people knows about them. I listen to them though (Wobbler, not so much. Although I fully respect them for working within an established tradition - and doing it well).

Excellent reply! 

USA is seeing something of a resurgence in jazz-rock fusion, with younger players (Gabe Severn) hitting the stage and older acts (Al Dimeola) continuing to tour.   No huge break-out acts yet, I'll post when there are. 

Not much in symphonic from USA lately, although the new Glass Hammer CD "Arise" is certainly excellent!   Colin Carter's new CD "Tracks in Space" is another fine work (eclectic?) 

PA is great for tracking all of this stuff, thanks for all the updates!!  

They're the 15 most popular European prog bands as voted for by the good members of ProgArchives. What more do you need to know? That's a rhetorical question too. 

^ How many did vote? And why ever could lead that number of votes to the statement that those are "The 15 most popular European bands"?

These are rather rhetorical questions...

Only from a political and proggy perspective. When I think of European prog bands, I'm thinking of continental Europe.