Top 5 epics and why?

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   5. The Creation/The Seperated Man (tie) - Neal Morse. The
gorgeous melodies (first played on The Creation, and some reprised on
The Seperated Man) can really uplift and touch the listener. Portnoy
and George in the rhtythm departement really tear it up, but not too
the excess that it takes away from the excellent writing, or from the
beautiful melodies. The instrumental sections in these songs are
absolutely brilliant, and are as atmospheric as ambient music, as
exhilirating as prog metal, and as moving as Morse's music has ever
been.

4. Hergest Ridge, Part One - Mike Oldfield. The atmosphere of
this album is extremely captivating, and very rewarding. Though Mike is
no guitar wizard, or instrumental genius, he is fantastic at writing
music, and his most beaitiful melodies are found on Hergest Ridge. Part
One is a bit more diverse, and not as sloppy as Part Two. 

3. Octavarium - Dream Theater. Dream Theater, as far as I
knew, were just a bland metal band. I thought they were just musical
geniuses with no skill at writing and no musical sensitivity. But when
I took this album out of the library, and heard this song, that
presumption was shattered to pieces. Not only are these some of the
very best musicians in the world, but they are also phenomenal writers,
and explore in many different style of music. This album is extremely
emotional from its moody beginning, to its epic climax. 

2. Histoires Sans Paroles - Harmonium. This is an extremely
delicate song. Its soft flutes, guitars and keyboards all meld together
amazingly. They even manage to shift from section to section
seamlessly. The beauty of this song has rarely been matched, let alone
kept consistent for seventeen minutes. The flute line is one of the
very best string of notes that can be played. 

1. Supper's Ready - Genesis. Extremely captivating, beatiful
music with phenomenally diverse atmospheres. The musicianship and
complexity is top-shelf, but there's to it than that. The music has a
bond with the listener. When listening to this song, it's like reading
a well written novel. The serene, haunting introduction sets the mood,
and the tensions builds until the massive climax and the conclusion. 

I doubt anyone will really read all that.

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Shakespeare Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 7744	Posted: May 26 2007 at 08:04
	5. The Creation/The Seperated Man (tie) - Neal Morse. The gorgeous melodies (first played on The Creation, and some reprised on The Seperated Man) can really uplift and touch the listener. Portnoy and George in the rhtythm departement really tear it up, but not too the excess that it takes away from the excellent writing, or from the beautiful melodies. The instrumental sections in these songs are absolutely brilliant, and are as atmospheric as ambient music, as exhilirating as prog metal, and as moving as Morse's music has ever been. 4. Hergest Ridge, Part One - Mike Oldfield. The atmosphere of this album is extremely captivating, and very rewarding. Though Mike is no guitar wizard, or instrumental genius, he is fantastic at writing music, and his most beaitiful melodies are found on Hergest Ridge. Part One is a bit more diverse, and not as sloppy as Part Two. 3. Octavarium - Dream Theater. Dream Theater, as far as I knew, were just a bland metal band. I thought they were just musical geniuses with no skill at writing and no musical sensitivity. But when I took this album out of the library, and heard this song, that presumption was shattered to pieces. Not only are these some of the very best musicians in the world, but they are also phenomenal writers, and explore in many different style of music. This album is extremely emotional from its moody beginning, to its epic climax. 2. Histoires Sans Paroles - Harmonium. This is an extremely delicate song. Its soft flutes, guitars and keyboards all meld together amazingly. They even manage to shift from section to section seamlessly. The beauty of this song has rarely been matched, let alone kept consistent for seventeen minutes. The flute line is one of the very best string of notes that can be played. 1. Supper's Ready - Genesis. Extremely captivating, beatiful music with phenomenally diverse atmospheres. The musicianship and complexity is top-shelf, but there's to it than that. The music has a bond with the listener. When listening to this song, it's like reading a well written novel. The serene, haunting introduction sets the mood, and the tensions builds until the massive climax and the conclusion. I doubt anyone will really read all that.

jplanet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: August 30 2006 Location: NJ Status: Offline Points: 799	Posted: May 26 2007 at 14:19
	Yes - Gates of Delirium: One of those adventurous and daring compositions, but above all, highly melodic and enjoyable. Low on repetition and filler -- every moment of the music reflects something in the story being told. Transatlantic: Stranger in Your Soul: A modern masterpiece! Spock's Beard: The Great Nothing: Goosebumps galore Pirates: Maybe ELP's most ambitious piece. More cohesive and maturely composed than their earlier epics -- Tarkus didn't make it here as I'm not as much of a fan of the disjointed melodies unless there is a breathtaking melodic resolution, although Aquatarkus live seems to accomplish this better than the studio version. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick: Will always be one of my favorites from JT -- I don't think they've ever matched its brilliance before or since.
	..::welcome to the shadow circus::..

purplepiper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 23 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 280	Posted: June 08 2007 at 16:49
	yes-close to the edge elp-tarkus jethro tull-thick as a brick (pt. 1 and 2) genesis-suppers ready pink floyd-echoes there are more, but I can't think of them. I'm not saying these are the definitive top 5, but they come to mind immediately for me.
	for those about to prog, we salute you.

Astrodomine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: March 06 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 182	Posted: June 10 2007 at 00:05
	Close To The Edge Tarkus Atom Hearth Mother A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers In The Court Of The King Crimson

MusicForSpeedin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 22 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 613	Posted: June 10 2007 at 00:33
	Fantomas - Surgical Sounds - Maybe the only piece of music that has ever actually frightened me. I feel like I am ripping on flesh and bone when I listen to this. This is primal and evil. I love ever bit of it...even the end. VDGG - A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers - One of the darkest songs off of one of the darkest albums. The music is very moving yet depressing. Can Tago Mago - I consider this entire album to just be ONE but more specifically Halleluhwah and Aumgn. Spaced out and hypnotic. The best music to listen to while out of it for sure. Radiohead Exit Music - Sure it isn't an epic to the standards...but I don't care about the standards. This song in itself has got to be on of the most moving songs I've ever heard. The power of the fuzzy bass line with the Nick Mason like drumming. The lyrics are also amazing. This song is EPIC! John Zorn - Six Litanies For Heliogabalus - This is too much. This CD is the ultimate piece of prog for me. It twists and turns and never leaves you with a dull moment. You can sit in a room full of people and no one will say a word. This music is THAT powerful. Even the Patton voice solo will keep just about anyone quiet. This entire CD does not cease to amaze me and probably never will.

FruMp Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: September 16 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 322	Posted: June 10 2007 at 13:09
	Mine is a fairly conventional list I guess, I haven't listened to a few of these bands in a while but these songs hold a very special place in my heart. Yes - Close to the edge, pretty self explanitory, I've been on a vast musical journey over the past 3 years since discovering prog and later metal and many other interesting genres in between and I have yet to find a piece of music that is as cohesive, genuine and appealing to me as close to the edge, I think it's pretty much the pincale of contemporary music in my eyes. Rush - 2112, just a fantastic song that I latched onto at the very beginning of my prog journey which showed me just how great the genre could be, some great riffs, I enjoy the story and just the song in general really. Jethro Tull - thick as a brick, I just love the sense of humour and the great story it tells, not to mention the music is fantastic. Pink Floyd - Shine on you crazy diamond, I'm very reserved when it comes to emotional songs, and when a song develops an emotional meaning for me it's very rare, this song has the perfect subtlety and grace to acheive that. Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - L'evoluzione, bit of a different one, just a fantastic song that opened my eyes to I guess non english speaking bands and italian prog and the whole european gate just swung open for me after enjoying this classic.


DaysEnd Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: June 09 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 52	Posted: June 10 2007 at 17:02
	Yes - Close to the Edge - the pinnacle of progressive rock. It's dark, light, slow and mysterious, sharp and edgy. And powerful chords during Wakeman's church organ solo. Yes - Awaken - Not quite as diverse as the former, but very beautiful and layered. The echo effect in the studio works best with this track. Genesis - Supper's Ready - The song tells a great story, and it can be very fun at times (Willow Farm anyone?). The 9/8 conclusion with Banks soloing is a great listen. Rush - 2112 - Equally great story. The guitar solos are some of Lifeson's best. They didn't need keyboards to pull this one off. I wouldn't say Rush had the idea of "prog" in their heads at the time when they made this album, but it's epic nonetheless. Now if they had decided to make this song an album or two later... Spock's Beard - At the End of the Day - Catchy riffs that stay in your head awhile. The transitions in this song make it flow very well. I like the spanish guitar lines, and anticipate every time Neal Morse gets prepared to play a keyboard solo.
	All the old familiar choruses come crowding in a different key: Melodies decaying in sweet dissonance.

Ivan_Melgar_M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 27 2004 Location: Peru Status: Offline Points: 19535	Posted: June 10 2007 at 18:41
	Supper's Ready (Genesis): A complete epic in all the sense, narrates not only a battle bewteen good and evil but describes with sarcasm attitudes of British society, ends with a glorious Biblical reference to the Book of Revelations. Song of Sheherezade (Renaissance): Fantastic narration based in the 1,001 Arabian Nights and Rimsky Korsakov's work, outstanding fom start to end All the Seats were Occupied (Aphrodite's Child): It's a complete epic, a summary of all the Book of Revelations. Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull): Conceptual album? epic? No both at the same time, a wonderul epic poem in all the sense. Children of the Sun (Magenta): The author's version of ancient civilizations, has everything required for an epic. INote: I used to place Close to the Edge as N° 2 but now I don't consider this song as an epic, it's one of the best long tracks ever but no epic narrations so it's outside the frames IMHO. Iván


Forgotten Son Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: March 13 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1356	Posted: June 10 2007 at 21:11
	1. This Strange Engine (Marillion): So moving. Probably H era Marillion's most emotional track. Rothery's guitar work is brilliant. 2. The Last Man On Earth (Pendragon): It's hard to pick out one Pendragon epic, but I think this one is close to perfect. The choruses at the beginning are sublime and Barrett's haunting guitar playing is superb. 3. The Willing Well (Coheed and Cambria): I don't care what anyone says. This is definitely Prog and a very good Prog epic, at that. It's pretty diverse and not one of its ~24 minutes is wasted. 4. Solomon (Arena): An extremely bombastic climax to a very bombastic album. I love it, particularly the melodies (vocal and guitar) that start with the line "Does it matter to you?" 5. Supper's Ready (Genesis): The prog epic. Peter Gabriel is on fire on this track, and the outro is one of the classic moments of 70s Progressive Rock. A few honourable mentions: Harvest of Souls (IQ) A Place in the Queue (The Tangent) Ice (Camel) The Bright Ambassadors of Morning (Pure Reason Revolution) Buying New Soul (Porcupine Tree) Narcissus (Threshold) And many more.

Atavachron Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 30 2006 Location: Pearland Status: Offline Points: 65258	Posted: June 10 2007 at 21:24
	The Wall (the whole thing), because it's the height of theater rock Scheherazade, because I just got it! Tarkus, the album that got me serious about prog Death's Crown, a lost treasure Tales, say no more Edited by Atavachron - June 10 2007 at 21:26

jiSh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: November 26 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 5	Posted: June 11 2007 at 21:31
	I'll list mine: 1) Six Degrees Of Innter Turbulence / Dream Theater - Simply amazing. The best song I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Great opening, closing, and a sweet cream filling. 2) I / Meshuggah 3) The Divine Wings of Tragedy - Symphony X 4) The Oddysey / Symphony X 5) The Great Nothing - Spock's Beard

THE_POLE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 29 2006 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 198	Posted: June 12 2007 at 05:50
	Tuleen Ajettu Maa - Moonsorrow Wreath - Opeth(i hope it's long enough to be considered an epic) A Place In The Queue - The Tangent Cassandra Gemini - The Mars Volta Thick As A Brick(pts 1&2) - Jethro Tull


Odyssey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: May 16 2007 Location: Serbia Status: Offline Points: 66	Posted: June 12 2007 at 06:13
	Symphony X-The Odyssey Black Jester-Inferno Fates Warning-The Ivory Gate Of Dreams Dream Theater-Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence Symphony X-The Divine Wings Of Tragedy

refugee Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: November 20 2006 Location: Greece Status: Offline Points: 7026	Posted: June 20 2007 at 11:52
	Since Atavachron listed The Wall, I guess I can do the same with The Lamb: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (Genesis) — a postmodern rock version of Divina Commedia A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers (VdGG) — structured madness, the number one song about solitude Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull) — because Gerald Bostock is the Magnus Carlsen of prog rock. If you don´t know MC, read about him on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Carlsen Gates of Delirium (Yes) — what a battle! And it´s ending in beauty and hope. Starless (King Crimson) — melancholic and beautiful, and a great minimalistic guitar solo, I think it´s in 13/8 (8+5) But five epics are not enough. I will add two more: Shine on You crazy Diamond (Pink Floyd) — brings tears to my eyes. Good bye, Syd. You became a ghost long before you died. Flight (Peter Hammill) — philosophy of perception expressed in aviation metaphors. Makes a lot of sense to me!
	He say nothing is quite what it seems; I say nothing is nothing (Peter Hammill)

Voidonaut Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: June 19 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11	Posted: June 20 2007 at 15:11
	Soap Shop Rock- Amon Duul II: just way too far out, "Smoke! coming out of their eyes!, the sandy tigers are licking his hands." i love how they break down the groove so its real loose, and que a bunch of freaked out sht and then theyll bring the groove back in tight. Amon Duul II at their finest. Fracture:Robert Fripp blows my mind. Some amazing guitar work on this track. Though what makes this for me is Bill Brufords drumming, it is clear from this song the influence he has had on drummers such as Danny Carey. The interplay between David Cross and Robert Fripp is wonderful, and really helps set the dark atonal mood of this track. And it goes without saying, Mr. Wetton is in fine form as always. Atom Heart Mother:* Truly an epic if ever there was, the opening transports me to a medieval court in full knight regalia, and once the groove drops in, I proceed to ride away on my badass horse to fck up some dragons. A plethora of different moods are found in this song, an experience in it of itself Shoot out at the Fantasy Factory (Traffic):* This is Traffic deep fried in funk, then served on a silver platter to Shaft.
	I have become aware of all matter and life and i can vibrate the universe with my mind.

Fragile Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 27 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 1125	Posted: June 20 2007 at 16:53
	1.Close to the Edge - progs finest hour 2.The Lamb lies down - a meander through Gabriel's alter ego 3.The Gates of Delirium - frenzied futility of war that brings the light 4.A Script for a Jesters Tear - possibly the saviour of prog 5.Awaken - Wakemen at his epliletic spider best.

evilromero Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 14 2007 Status: Offline Points: 118	Posted: June 20 2007 at 18:35
	I can see most of the best choices have been listed. So here's my two cents. 1. Lines in the Sand - DT 2. Beyond the Pale - PoS 3. Stranger in your Soul - Transatlantic 4. Slave to Money - TFK (I think almost every TFK song is epic) 5. The Grinding Part II - Me (Pretty much the most epic one off song) But like I said most already picked what I would throw out there anyways.

Wishbone Ash Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: June 16 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 24	Posted: June 20 2007 at 19:09
	Echoes (23:29) Pink Floyd 2112 (20:37) Rush Close To The Edge (18:41) Yes Singring and the Glass Guitar(An Electrified Fairytale) (18:24) Utopia Shine On You Crazy Diamond{combined segments} (26:01) Pink Floyd
	Elizabeth?

heyitsthatguy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 17 2006 Location: Washington Hgts Status: Offline Points: 10094	Posted: June 20 2007 at 19:22
	A Change of Seasons- Dream Theater- they have yet to repeat the sheer epic power of this piece, though Octavarium came very very close Cassandra Gemini- The Mars Volta- amazingly interesting song for a half hour that doesn't change key once A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers- Van der Graaf Generator- there's just something about this song Anesthetize- Porcupine Tree- combines all my favorite elements of their music into one 18 minute track The Door- Neal Morse- my first Neal Morse track that I've ever heard and left quite the impression


Leningrad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 15 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 7991	Posted: June 20 2007 at 19:30
	In no particular order: The Gates of Delirium - Yes Simply incredible. Every person needs to listen to this song at least once before they die. It's so groundbreaking, and unlike anything Yes had ever created before. All the musicians are at the top of their game. As soon as it hits 7:30, I get shivers. It's AMAZING. Nine Feet Underground - Caravan Twenty minutes of chill-out awesomeness. This song just puts me in a good mood. I just want to sit back and forget about everything. Midnight Mushrumps - Gryphon I don't think a group has, to me, created as consistently beautiful music as Gryphon. This track is no exception. Twenty minutes feels like ten when you listen to this song. The melodies are absolutely amazing. Every instrument fills it's role perfectly. Fantastic the entire way through, especially near the end. A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers - Van der Graaf Generator On the opposite end of the spectrum, this was one of the first songs to make me slightly uneasy, if not very scared. Listening to this song at the age of 13 at about 1:00 in the morning, I was hearing every word Peter Hammill said, and before that I had never heard such tortured lyrics. This song still remains interesting, despite me generally being a 'happy' music fan. Tarkus - Emerson Lake and Palmer I could listen to this song for hours and not get bored. Keith Emerson's solos never seemed like showing off; to me, it was just great music. Like Midnight Mushrumps, this song goes by incredibly fast. There's just something about the band working together so cohesively that just hooks me. Great song.