THE MOST TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT PROG ROCK BAND

Geck0 wrote: Serguilloche wrote: My vote goes to Dream Theater - they don't have a weak link.  Each member is a master of his instrument (ooer) and if I had to compile a top 5 for each of those instruments in prog, they would all appear.  I kow that last sentence didn't make any sense, but you know what I mean Even James is one of the foremost tambourinists in the arena of handheld percussion. From what I've heard though, they are a very noodle-tastic band and well, their tunes to me, don't have any melody or soul, they seem to show off unnecessarily.  No denying their skill, I realise how skiled they are, but it's not purely on individual techinical ability, it goes so much further than that.

First of all, yes, they do tend to drag songs on for too long sometimes. But does that mean they can't play with emotion? Just listen through the song Octavarium.  And BTW James' killer "egg shaker" solo at the beginning of Metropolis pt 1 should be showcased throughout the ages.

Toob-Wurm wrote: For some reason, I always seem to see threads about "Fastest Shredder" or "Most Technically Proficient," but I almost never see things like "Best Songwriting" or "Most Musical." Why is that? I don't understand... I thought this was a prog forum.

HMMMMM.........

chamberry wrote: The Mahavishnu Orchestra is also worth mentioning. Just look at this video to see for yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J88Ep3_vKIk&search=mahavishnu%20orchestra Garanteed to blow your head off

Edited by Xenoxen - May 10 2006 at 08:04

Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant

Birds Of Fire is THE Masterpiece of Jazz-Rock/Fusion IMO.

  ' Technical proficiency' is  one of the traits, among others , which helps define prog. imo., but its certainly not all there is . Many bands/songwriters write simple and beautiful melodies in an atmosphere where instrumental or vocal 'pyrotechnics' would simply be destructive [e.g. 'Lazarus' from 'Deadwing'].This is no less musically or technically proficient IMO.

Arsillus wrote: Rush.

Give that man a round of applause!

     

Lee,Lifeson,Peart.
Cant be beaten..........

Bring back the solos, Alex!!

Gentle Giant.

Dream Theater are only technically proficient in the techniques of playing - which is completely different to being technically proficient at music.

For example, a robot could be trained to sweep pick and use all the other techniques involved in playing, yet be hopeless at composition.

Gentle Giant's compositions are virtually peerless, and the breath, depth and techniques used in composition are matchless, while the execution is near-perfect.

RJG of the Enid is a virtuosic composer in the "Classical" sense, but I find some of his rock writing a bit too whimsical for my tastes.

GG, OTOH, combine rock "swing" and feel with an equal feel for composition.

Yes are let down by the monotone vocals and cheap vocal harmonies, while Rush are technically proficient in a relatively narrow range - the acoustic side of them is almost always weak and riff-based rather than exploratory.

Gong have produced some incredible work, with undeniable and brilliantly understated showmanship, yet I feel their compositions tend to meander sometimes, and Mahavishnu Orchestra are let down badly by the too-meandering and over-talkative guitar that too often has nothing to say.

So Gentle Giant all the way!