Neo Prog do I like it?

Soul Dreamer wrote: Some albums to try before you determine neo is not for you are:   Marillion - Marbles (the 2 CD version!), Brave, Afraid of Sunlight Collage - Moonshine (!!! Unique within the prog world!!!, any Satellite album is just a bleak representation of this more than great album) Saens - Escaping From The Hands Of God Arena - The Visitor and Contagion (allthough these might be a bit "metal" to your ears) Clepsydra - Alone and More Grains of Sand (if you can get over the accent of the vocalist) Pallas - The Dreams of Men   And I could go on and on with IQ, Pendragon, Shadowland, Knight Area etc....   Cheezy??? What about that...of no importance to me...it's just about great music in the symphonic style to me...

SD, you've outlined my top 3 Marillion discs as well. I had Brave on in the car today and it never fails to send a shiver up my backbone. That's one amazing disc. Haven't spun Marbles in a while, so that might be next.

I'm afraid I'll have to agree with you in regard to the Satellite/Collage comparison. I'm still trying to latch on to Into The Night, but it hasn't happened yet. Moonshine is a great neo prog disc, though. Actually had some teeth; whereas, I'm finding Satellite to be a bit too sugary for me.

E

Trademark wrote: Well its my own personal belief that there is no such thing as Neo Prog though many of the bands I like are listed there.  For example take the case of Little Atlas and Izz.  If you can tell me why one is listed as Neo and the other as Symphonic I'd count myself as enlightened.  Or for that matter why Spock's Beard is symphonic and IQ (and Magenta for crying out loud) are Neo?  I simply recommended music which I thought fit Cacho's own description of music he personally liked and I  very carefully prefaced by stating say "Neo or Not".  I made no pretense of including any band (Cryptic Vision is under Heavy Prog and Moon Safari is under Symphonic) in any other sub-genre.  Its "all for one and one for all" to me.  As a matter of fact, just to muddy the water further I should add Beardfish, Shadow Circus and Phideaux to the list of recommendations.  I think Cacho would like them both. I had no intention of hijacking this thread into a sub-genre argument (they never end well) so any further discussion of my views on this subject should be addressed in a PM.

Hey, no sweat man.  I was being a bit to anal in my post anyway.  I have no desire at all to turn this into a sub-genre argument either.  And having never heard Little Atlas I couldn't tell you why one is neo and the other symphonic.  As others have pointed out, there seems to be quite a bit of overlap between symphonic and neo since the "original" neo bands of the 80's.  You're probably right that he would like those bands anyway.

So need need for a PM, I was just thought I was helping to keep things on topic.  But you make good points, and I won't argue them as I mostly agree anyway.  There is always a tendency to project our own views about a given genre into these threads and I seem to have done just that.

Anyway, getting back to the topic, I still recommend Asgard as a good neo band for Cacho to check out.

Neo Prog = lack of fresh ideas

E-Dub wrote: reality wrote: Neo Prog = lack of fresh ideas I'm astounded at the way you've backed up your argument. In-depth insight like this could be used by the Clinton camp. She'd be kicking a** and taking names from the Oval Office with you on her staff. E

I know, I am a genius aren't I.


Robert John Godfrey http://www.progplanet.com/index.php?categoryid=16&p2000_articleid=23


Do you like the “modern” prog-scene? If not, why?

I have tended to find most of it either a rather sad and shallow parody of a now largely irrelevant historical musical style or else a meaningless stream of complexity and histrionics without vision, purpose or content beyond its own raison d'etre.

In its day, progressive music was generated and supported by the world's most gifted and creative musicians. Not so now.

The best that Neo Prog can now conjure is, in my view, painting by numbers.

Cliché upon cliché upon cliché.
Where is the intelligence, the creativity, the experimentation which informed the music of the late sixties/early 1970's?

Many agree with him.

Trademark wrote: Well its my own personal belief that there is no such thing as Neo Prog though many of the bands I like are listed there.  For example take the case of Little Atlas and Izz.  If you can tell me why one is listed as Neo and the other as Symphonic I'd count myself as enlightened.  Or for that matter why Spock's Beard is symphonic and IQ (and Magenta for crying out loud) are Neo?  I simply recommended music which I thought fit Cacho's own description of music he personally liked and I  very carefully prefaced by stating say "Neo or Not".  I made no pretense of including any band (Cryptic Vision is under Heavy Prog and Moon Safari is under Symphonic) in any other sub-genre.  Its "all for one and one for all" to me.  As a matter of fact, just to muddy the water further I should add Beardfish, Shadow Circus and Phideaux to the list of recommendations.  I think Cacho would like them both. I had no intention of hijacking this thread into a sub-genre argument (they never end well) so any further discussion of my views on this subject should be addressed in a PM.

Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - February 23 2008 at 00:31

Thanks Ivan.  I know you're all working on the situation and that it will never be done to the total satisfaction of all (they never are).  Again, I had no intention of bringing this particular issue as a major point of discussion.  i was only trying to explain my own personal point of view with reference to the particular bands I suggested to Cacho.

Good luck with all the work.  Let me know if I can help.

reality wrote: I know, I am a genius aren't I. Robert John Godfrey http://www.progplanet.com/index.php?categoryid=16&p2000_articleid=23 Do you like the “modern” prog-scene? If not, why? I have tended to find most of it either a rather sad and shallow parody of a now largely irrelevant historical musical style or else a meaningless stream of complexity and histrionics without vision, purpose or content beyond its own raison d'etre. In its day, progressive music was generated and supported by the world's most gifted and creative musicians. Not so now. The best that Neo Prog can now conjure is, in my view, painting by numbers. Cliché upon cliché upon cliché. Where is the intelligence, the creativity, the experimentation which informed the music of the late sixties/early 1970's? Many agree with him.

Wow, if IZZ is neo-prog then I need to start listening to a lot more neo-prog.  

greenback wrote: one thing is sure: if you like New Age, then neo prog is for you!

Buhfuh????!!!!

E

The Rock wrote: Anyway,who says that musicians,be it prog or any genres, have to reinvent the wheel?

That says it all. And, honestly, what hasn't been done already? Music is good if the composer is true to themself and there are listeners who get it. There is no artist who ever lived who wasn't imitating someone. Yes imitated The Beatles and CSNY, Keith Emerson certainly imitated Leonard Bernstein and Mussorgsky. Robert Fripp was influenced by free-form jazz and avant-garde. Even Beethoven said he imitated Bach! Notice that the eras of classical music each lasted hundreds of years. Now people expect that once a style has been explored for a few years it is done with.

I feel that while the progressive rock sound of the 70's went out of fashion, there is still much more to be explored in that style. Just because commercial radio and the music industry turned their backs on it doesn't mean there isn't much more brilliant work to be done with that genre.

And to progress this rant further...I've seen a lot of snobbery touting the originality of bands who are really just overdoing dissonance Why is it that people get fooled into thinking music is original and challenging just because the melodies are hidden amongst clashing chromatic chords? I bet that nobody here can name a single band whose roots and influence cannot be easily traced to someone else.