Most overrated Progband

I dont think you should judge any prog rock bands as being overrated because the progressive rock movement alone is a very underrated genre of music, nowadays more than ever. Its good to see such a good variety of proggers on this site sharing their views and reviews. We have heaven.

Dream Theater. I hear all these people around me telling me that they are so good in their prog-metal way while Symphony X trumps them easily. Dream Theater has some weak progelements, but they are far from being as good as the real progbands.

I've listened to a spock's beard album today, and same story, they do try to input their progelements, but they come out short and they stick too long to the same theme in a song, only then to jump into some weak, soft, slow part with just one instrument that plays the same un-interesting riff... BORING!

I can't really agree with your choice of bands, as all epitomise prog in their own way, but concentrate on certain aspects.

Whereas Genesis were probably the "ideal" with Gabriel, as far as "pure" prog is concerned, other prog bands at the time certainly had leanings as well - one could argue that Pink Floyd are not really a prog band because everything is based either on simple chord progressions or spacey jams - early Floyd feels improvised because it was, on the whole. And then we have to start considering the Grateful Dead and all the rest of the improvising psychedelia crowd. One could also argue that Hawkwind aren't prog, Gong (too jazzy and not symphonic enough), anything from Canterbury...

Rush are prog in their own Metal way - arguably the first prog metal band. "2112" is the best evidence of that, IMO, although no doubt others can think of better examples!

Camel on the other hand may sound a little forced in places - but there are hundreds of prog bands that can sound forced - in my opinion, "The Battle of Epping Forest" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" both sound forced - not really "natural", as you put it. "Lady Fantasy" on "Mirage" is my Camel track of choice for non-believers - and what about the "Snow Goose"?

Lastly, Marillion. If you're talking about "h" era Marillion, then on the whole, I'd agree. However, Fish-era Marillion just happens to comprise fantastic songs which people bought in droves. You can't blame great songwriting for a band becoming popular! Marillion are more accurately "neo-prog", coming in after the early wave (approx 1967ish-1975ish), so one would hope that the overall sound would be different. "Script..." has it all - long songs, symphonic tendencies, a concept, albeit in a somewhat subtle form, brilliant technicality in the song-writing and lyrics - and truly amazing counterpoint of multiple melodies resulting in flawless harmonies.

Getting the horizontal aspects to work with the vertical aspects has been the "big issue" for composers since music progressed beyond plain chant - even Genesis "got it wrong" occasionally, settling for softer harmonies that occasionally hindered the drive behind the stucture's natural drama. "Script..." does not contain even one second of softening, but maintains a constant momentum of beautiful, progressive music that unfolds naturally - albeit not of the "old skool".

There is a difference between then and now because music progresses, people's musical tastes progress, and what's been created has been created - it's time to move on. Defining what is "prog" in the 21st century is part of the fun of being into the music.

I can't really speak for Dream Theater, as I have not listened to enough of their output for enough time to give it a fair chance. What I have heard, however, sounds derivative of Metallica - ie it has not really progressed from where Metallica were at when they recorded their 1st 4 albums. DT even cover Metallica, showing their roots, as it were! IMO Metallica deserve a place in the archives, as they were resonsible for a whole new progressive metal style.

Well, those are my opinions on the bands you've named - welcome aboard, and please don't take offence at my ramblings - I mean well

Edited by Certif1ed

we are going round in circles ppl...

 

personally I think life is underrated, and orgies are overrated.

as for bands...

whats wrong with marillion?

fsim wrote: prog is highly underrated now.............how can ANY of it be overrated anyway???

 

threefates wrote: Don't shout at me Richard!!

 

sorry

Don't shout at me Richard!!

This thread shoul be deleted.

Kansas and Dream Theater! That's two overrated bands!

Way too mainstream, both of them - they have their moments, and those moments are astonishing, but genereally, both bands tried harder to keep up with the audience than anything else...

threefates wrote: Wow.. I find a lot overrated.. Not necessarily Porcupine Tree.. cause I like them, but I don't think they are actually rated to be overrated... But those that are; Dream Theatre, Spocks Beard, Caravan, Gentle Giant, Triumvirat...and definitely KC after "In the Wake of Poseidon"   Larks Tongue was okay.. but Red & Discipline which get so much hype... Why?

Red is IMHO the best KC album along with ITCOTCK. One KC album is really overrated in my opinion : LIZARD, I find it very boring (and you're right about Discipline).