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Topic ClosedIs Radiohead prog?
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The Analog Kid View Drop Down
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Points: 64 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 12 2004 at 06:43

There are so many cross-overs/combined styles/ or whatever, since back when The Beatles arrived. I'm aware that there's a difference in 'Prog' as a genre and 'Progressive Music'. Radiohead might as well be a combination of Prog, Progressive music, Indie and maybe Spacerock. Other 'Alternative' bands like Smashing Pumpkins and even Soundgarden have made a few hints at Prog. And BTW, most good bands do combinations, have their own style and progress within themselves until some point.

 
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Points: 7559 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 12 2004 at 07:01

The "prog" element is the elusive part that is missing from the Beatles as not one of their albums truly deserves the tag "prog", even Sergeant Pepper.

Try this experiment: Listen to DSOTM, then a prog album of your choice (using one of the 5000+ listed here as a guide) then OK Computer, then an album by any of the bands you have mentioned. I'm confident you will then understand why many believe Radiohead are a special case. They certainly don't deserve the straight "Indie" tag, IMO.

If not, you will have had a superb chill-out session - particularly when armed with the tipple of your choice

BTW, if you can track down a copy of the video of the set they performed at Glastonbury in 1997, I almost guarantee you will be "converted". There is something magical about it - Q Magazine recently voted it the #1 live set of all time. Not sure I'd agree, but it's up there with the very best!

 
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Points: 401 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 12 2004 at 15:18
Originally posted by Peter Rideout Peter Rideout wrote:

Confused The boundaries of "prog" are amorphous, semi-permeable, and subjective.

ErmmThis type of question has no real answer, but could be voted upon....

 

My thoughts exactly. While Radiohead are one of my favourite bands, their musci cannot be described as prog because there really is no such thing anymore. Older music, maybe from 60s - early 80s is considered to be labeled as "prog" but nothing recent should be in that category. I created a thread about this a few weeks ago but not too many people responded. Radiohead is more political now than anything, and that's what separates them from Porcupine Tree et al. Thom has too much to share about current world events and such. I could see them being an art rock band, or even post modernist political rock, but not prog, since the term is oversimplified anyways. If anything, Paranoid Android, yes, kind of proggish, but Kid A would be considered the prog album, if there was one. They often rely on thematic visuals within their albums, such as Pink Floyd, but since the songs are shorter, there isn't enough room for exploration. This may change soon though, so I hear. The next album is sheduled for next year. I hope it is more along the lines of Floyd, but I fear that if this happens, the mundane Radiohead listeners (you know, the one's who bought OK computer for Karma Police lol) won't really like them anymore, and they therefore would not be reaching as many people. Oh, and these same people disliked Kid A too. That's a pretty good explanation, I guess.

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Points: 7559 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 13 2004 at 02:15

Gaston:

Aren't Porcupine Tree a 1990s-2000s band? And what about Spock's Beard and all the other modern prog bands you seem to be overlooking?

Marillion are definitely prog - and still going strong - and much of the Fish-era material is highly political, touching on the troubles in Northern Ireland, the record industry, and social politics.

Forgotten Sons:

You're just another coffin on its way down the emerald aisle
When your children's stony glances mourn
Your death in a terrorist's smile
The bomber's arm placing fiery gifts on the supermarket shelves
Alley sings with shrapnel detonate a temporary hell

Radiohead are much less political than Marillion - and "Karma Police" has incredible lyrics, not to mention the wonderful coda;

Karma police
arrest this man,
he talks in maths,
he buzzes like a fridge,
he's like a detuned radio.

Karma police
arrest this girl,
her Hitler hairdo
is making me feel ill
and we have crashed her party.

Finally, "Paranoid Android" is over 7 minutes long - longer than, for example "Garden Party". "Supper's Ready" is in fact 5 pieces, each around the 3-4 minute-mark. 2 of those 5 pieces are repeated, and thematic material is used from the 1st to give continuity.

 
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Points: 14693 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 13 2004 at 08:00
OK Computer definitely contains some heavily prog-influenced tracks; the use of the Mellotron in 'Exit Music', and the whole feel of 'Lucky' (if ever there was a song where the guitar solo at the end should just go on, and on.....)

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Points: 39 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 13 2004 at 23:48

Well, I think Radiohead qualifies as prog.

Let's face it, if Marillion does a live cover of "Fake Plastic Trees", I think it's safe to say they have some important fans in the prog world.



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