my current wish list

Arena-Contagion

Arena-Pepper’s Ghost

Arena-The Visitor

Arena-Songs from the lion cage

Arena-Pride

Emerson Lake and Palmer-

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Emerson Lake and Palmer

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Brain Salad Surgery

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Trilogy

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Tarkus

Fish-Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors

Fish-Sunsets on Empire

Fish-Raingods with Zippos

Fish-Field of Crows

The Flower Kings-Retropolis

The Flower Kings-Stardust we are

The Flower Kings-Space Revolver

The Flower Kings-Unfold the Future

Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Gentle Giant-Free Hand

Gentle Giant- Gentle Giant

Gentle Giant-Octopus

Gentle Giant-The Power and The Glory

Gentle Giant-Three Friends

Glass Hammer-Chronometree

Glass Hammer-Lex Rex

Glass Hammer-Shadowlands

IQ- The Wake

IQ- The Seventh House

IQ- Subterranea

Jethro Tull-Heavy Horses

Jethro Tull-Minstrel in the Gallery

Jethro Tull-WarChild

King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King

King Crimson-Red

Magma-Kobaïa

Magma-Üdü Wüdü

Magma-Retrospektiw Vol. 3

Magma-Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh

Magma-1001° Centigrades

Magma-Attahk

Magma-Köhntarkösz

The Mars Volta-De-loused in the Comatorium

Neal Morse-It's Not Too Late

Neal Morse-One

Neal Morse-Neal Morse

Neal Morse-Testimony

Mike Oldfield-Tubular Bells

Opeth-Blackwater Park

Opeth-Damnation

Pendragon-The Masquerade Overture

Pendragon-Not of this world

Pink Floyd-Animals

Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon

Rick Wakeman-The Six Wives Of Henry VIII

Rick Wakeman-Journey to The centre of the earth

Rick Wakeman-The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

Spock’s Beard-The Light

Spock’s Beard-Snow

Spock’s Beard- The Kindness of Strangers

Spock’s Beard-Beware of Darkness

Transatlantic-Stolt Morse Portnoy Trewevas (Smpte)

Transatlantic-Bridge Across Forever

Van der Graaf Generator-Godbluff

Van der Graaf Generator-Pawn Hearts

Van der Graaf Generator-H to He, Who Am the Only One

Yes-Close to the Edge

Yes-Relayer

Yes-Tales from Topographic Oceans

Yes-Drama

Yes-Going for The One

 

which of these should I jump onto first?  Which of these is your favorite? which should I beware of before buying?

I had such kind of list too..it is almost fulfilled now
ARENA - I'd recommend you the two first records &,maybe,the last one.I dislike Visitor & Contagion,thet're sound too AORic for me
PINKs,ELP,GENESIS,VAN DER GRAAF,CRIMSON & GIANT - you have mentioned the very best albums of them.A perfect choise !I'd like to recommend you also GENESIS's 70-73 works & MARILLION's 82-85(or you alresdy have them all?)As for IQ,that's one of my favouritest groups ever,The Wake & Dark Matter are my favor CDs of them.And The Seventh House is also an excellent choise.
OPETH - Ileke the first two from all,they're dark & complex.Others are more easy-to-listen-to,but less interesting.
IMHO
Good luck in Prog World!

Arena-The Visitor-Well its ok if ye like Neo prog..

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Brain Salad Surgery-GET IT NOW!!

The Flower Kings-Stardust we are-a good first album with flower kings

Gentle Giant-Octopus-FANTASTIC

IQ-my favorite is dark matter but subterranea is great too

Jethro Tull-Minstrel in the gallery if ye must

King Crimson-In the court of the Crimson king-ESSENTIAL

Magma-Udu wudu

The mars volta--GET THIS NOW...AND IF YE DONT GOT FRANCES THE MUTE...THEN GET THAT FIRST!!!

Opeth-Damnation-atleast if ye dont like growling

Pink Floyd-Animals-1000 times better than dark side of the moon

Rick wakeman-The six wives of henry VIII is the only thing

Spocks beard-snow...but if you dont got V then get that first because snow is kinda poppy.

Van Der Graaf Generator-Pawn Hearts-MASTERPIECE

Yes-Close to the edge.-ESSENTIAL

Those in bold are MUST BUYS!!!

I concur with Brain Salad Surgery

+

Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans

Do not take Arena, unless you win the lotery.
The same applies for Spock's Beard or Neal Morse.
The Flower Kings is not my cup of tea as well.

I would say:

• Genisis - The lamb (a must have)
• IQ - The Wake  (if you like neo prog)
• VDGG - Godbluff (much more accessible than Pawn Hearts)
• The Mars Volta - DeLoused
• Pendragon (for the smooth mood)
• Something of KC

Nice day filling

 

video vertigo wrote: Emerson Lake and Palmer-Emerson Lake and Palmer Emerson Lake and Palmer-Brain Salad Surgery Emerson Lake and Palmer-Trilogy Emerson Lake and Palmer-Tarkus Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (it's an amazing album really, though, you should start with Selling England By The Pound or Foxtrot...) Gentle Giant-Free Hand Gentle Giant- Gentle Giant Gentle Giant-Octopus Gentle Giant-The Power and The Glory Gentle Giant-Three Friends Jethro Tull-Heavy Horses Jethro Tull-Minstrel in the Gallery Jethro Tull-WarChild ^ All of the above are regarded as masterpieces, but I'd suggest Thick As A Brick, Aqualung or even Songs From The Wood for starters, if you're new to the band, that is...) King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King King Crimson-Red ^ You can't go wrong with those two. Then, buy the whole Crimson catalogue. The Mars Volta-De-loused in the Comatorium Mike Oldfield-Tubular Bells Opeth-Blackwater Park Opeth-Damnation Pink Floyd-Animals Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon (the one album that introduced many of us, including myself, to this exceptional genre, I'd say this is the greatest way to introduce someone to prog, apart from Close To The Edge, of course) Van der Graaf Generator-Godbluff Van der Graaf Generator-Pawn Hearts Van der Graaf Generator-H to He, Who Am the Only One Yes-Close to the Edge (buy this album and Dark Side Of The Moon first) Yes-Relayer Yes-Tales from Topographic Oceans Yes-Going for The One   which of these should I jump onto first?  Which of these is your favorite? which should I beware of before buying?

If you're new to prog... you should buy first, the ones in bold. My most beloved albums out of the ones you listed, are underlined. And one last thing, beware of anything neo prog (which I already deleted out of your list anyway...)  

Oh, and BTW, I've also taken out of your list other great albums that you should get in the future. First, concentrate on the ones that haven't been deleted. 

Cheers!

Edited by Pr@gmatic

world peace and an end to poverty,famine and AIDS

video vertigo wrote: Arena-Contagion Very good Neo Prog album. Tight playing, excellent production and guess what!...A flourish of creative songwriting and no overly long songs. Arena-The Visitor A bit of a disappointment to me, but it is still worth owning is you're a Arena fan. Gentle Giant-Octopus Possibly GG's best album. Really full of ideas, but the sound is hardly different from all other GG albums, be that good or bad. Gentle Giant-The Power and The Glory I don't really play this one that much. It was a bit of a disappoi9ntment though. "Playing the Game" is an excellent funky track, however. Jethro Tull-Heavy Horses I overlooked this album because of the ugly cover. BIG mistake! It is just as good as...Oh say Aqualung or maybe Minstel. Jethro Tull-Minstrel in the Gallery Just like any other early period Tull album, minus the concepts. This is basically a straight forward approach to songwriting more in line with Aqualung than TAAB. "Minstrel in the Gallery" "Cold Wind to Valhalla" and "Baker St. Muse" are excellent. If you like Jethro Tull, you should own this. King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King This album is a must for any Krimson fan. The title track is my favorite, but "Epitaph" and "20th Century Schizoid Man" are great as well. King Crimson-Red A bit depressing, Red has a very jazzy vibe, even more so than ITCOTCK in my opinion. I love it, but only for a certain mood. The Mars Volta-De-loused in the Comatorium A mixed offering. Very aggressive at times, and very subtle at times, but the use of electronics is very beautiful The vocals can be annoying, in my opinion.Pendragon-The Masquerade Overture Many may disagree with me, but I think Pendragon is amazing. The compositions on this album and NOTW are spectacular, with great guitar leads and solos and excellent imagery. My only problem with Pendragon is they don't really have any happy or uplifting songs on these albums. Take that as you will, but i say buy TMO and NOTW. Pendragon-Not of this world Above. Pink Floyd-Animals Proggiest Floyd album. "Sheep" is my favorite, but you may get 4 different answers from 4 different people. Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon Why don't you own this already!!! It is required!!!! Yes-Close to the Edge Perfect. Just buy it. If you have any liking of Yes at all, get it. Yes-Relayer Underrated beyond belief. "Gats of Delerium" is awe-inspiring, as are the other songs. The format is almost exactly the same as CTTE, but Moraz's keyboard work is just as good if not better that Wakemen's. Yes-Tales from Topographic Oceans Great lyrics (I'm required to say that), but I think It's uninspiring, overlong, and without sufficient musical ideas. If you can find it chap though, go for it. Yes-Drama Surprisingly good. Not as strong as GFTO, though, for obvious reasons (lack of Howe and Anderson) "Machine Messiah" "Does It Really Happen" and "Tempus Fugit" are flawless and warrent the purchase of the album alone Yes- Going for The One Incredibly underrated, one of their best. "Awaken" is a top 5 yes song no doubt

OK, this is my opinion....and of course we all entitled to them!!

Crosses next to the NO - NOs.......!!!

Arena-Contagion - Arena have definitley improved, so these top 2 I would go for..

Arena-Pepper’s Ghost

Arena-The Visitor - OK.....

Arena-Songs from the lion cage - X

Arena-Pride - X

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Emerson Lake and Palmer - X _ I like ELP, but this CD is not a neccesary purchase.

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Brain Salad Surgery -

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Trilogy -

Emerson Lake and Palmer-Tarkus -

 

Fish-Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors - OK album..dont start here...

Fish-Sunsets on Empire

Fish-Raingods with Zippos

Fish-Field of Crows - X - not necessary.

 

The Flower Kings-Retropolis - Good album, but dont start here -go to>

The Flower Kings-Stardust we are  -their best effort, I think

The Flower Kings-Space Revolver

The Flower Kings-Unfold the Future

 

Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway  - absolutley necessary

 

Gentle Giant-Free Hand -X -I would avoid GG with a sharp stick, but many like them.

Gentle Giant- Gentle Giant-X

Gentle Giant-Octopus -X

Gentle Giant-The Power and The Glory -X

Gentle Giant-Three Friends-X

 

Glass Hammer-Chronometree -not necessary, not the placer to start

Glass Hammer-Lex Rex

Glass Hammer-Shadowlands

 

IQ- The Wake  -NECESSARY -cant really go that wrong w/IQ, except the Paul Menel CDs are poppy, but still are decent enough song wise..

IQ- The Seventh House

IQ- Subterranea

 

Jethro Tull-Heavy Horses

Jethro Tull-Minstrel in the Gallery

Jethro Tull-WarChild -Not the greatest Tull CD, there are MANY better before this, such as 'Thick as a brick', 'songs from the wood' and 'Broadsword and the beast'

 

King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King - X -NoWAY is this as necessary as many here would have you believe!

King Crimson-Red

 

Magma-Kobaïa-X -Magma are the most AQUIRED taste in prog, test yourself on MDK first see if you can deal with it, then proceed.

Magma-Üdü Wüdü-

Magma-Retrospektiw Vol. 3 -X

Magma-Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh -X

Magma-1001° Centigrades -X

Magma-Attahk-X

Magma-Köhntarkösz -X

 

The Mars Volta-De-loused in the Comatorium -X yuk, most overrated band here, except for Opeth maybe..

 

Neal Morse-It's Not Too Late -OK, album, NOT religious, but not proggy either, short songs, some are v.poppy, but all are decent, especially the closing song.

Neal Morse-One - Less Religion, and proggy, OK album

Neal Morse-Neal Morse  -good album, some prog, some pop, but all good..

Neal Morse-Testimony XX -yuk, religious overblown/overlong nonsense, avoid like plague

 

Mike Oldfield-Tubular Bells - essential prog

 

Opeth-Blackwater Park -x

Opeth-Damnationx- OK album, has no Growling vox, so you can hear how good they COULD be, what a shame the vocals are so silly on their other albums, a waste.

 

Pendragon-The Masquerade Overture - OK, prefer 'The world'

Pendragon-Not of this world -as above, but get 'Masquerade..' before this.

 

Pink Floyd-Animals  -ABSOLUTLEY essential album

Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon  -almost as essential as 'Animals'

 

Rick Wakeman-The Six Wives Of Henry VIII  -can't go wrong w/these 3..

Rick Wakeman-Journey to The centre of the earth

Rick Wakeman-The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

 

Spock’s Beard-The Light  -essential 90s prog album

Spock’s Beard-Snow -overlong ..good, but a missed opportunity.

Spock’s Beard- The Kindness of Strangers

Spock’s Beard-Beware of Darkness

 

Transatlantic-Stolt Morse Portnoy Trewevas (Smpte)  -Great album

Transatlantic-Bridge Across Forever - good, but not as good as the first.

 

Van der Graaf Generator-Godbluff-x -VDGG -another aquired taste, check out one of the two below and check whether you can deal with Hammil's voice first!

Van der Graaf Generator-Pawn Hearts

Van der Graaf Generator-H to He, Who Am the Only One

 

Yes-Close to the Edge  -essential

Yes-Relayer  MORE essential than above, for me

Yes-Tales from Topographic Oceans  great, but BE prepared, it is a tough one to crack!

Yes-Drama  good, but no Anderson, songs are decent though

Yes-Going for The One  -another ESSENTIAL album..

King of Loss wrote: Also recommend any of these albums highly too: Yes-Close to the Edge Yes-Tales from Topographic Oceans Van der Graaf Generator-Pawn Hearts King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King Emerson Lake and Palmer-Tarkus Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Gentle Giant-Octopus Those are must buy Prog Rock cds, you must have those!

Great selection but personally stick with just Close to the Edge from Yes to begin with. If you like it then try Relayer. Try "In The Court of the Crimson King" before Red even though you may end up preferring the latter - but ITCOTCK is really a "must have". I would also have Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" as another "must have" although again, you may end up preferring Animals (as I do). Enjoy!!