The most musically complex prog band(s)?

^ Symphonies of Rock music...  It would be cool to combine those words together to describe a certian style of music. Just sayin... 

I'd also like to comment on what a couple people were saying that the judgement of complexity was based on perception or taste. That is certainly a load of nonsense. Music is what it is and one has to engage in listening to understand its mechanics. Perhaps the people that may more closely hold an answer to the question would be people who have listened to and analyzed the most music. Because generally people will state what they know or what they are aware of. Music can shape aspects ones mind. If one studies the music of a complex nature or classical or progressive. Then you would know what was complex or even more complex in nature. The most "complex" music may be hard for some to wrap their mind around or even tire the mind or make someone feel their arteries tighten and confuse. For me it can really charge my mind or spark my creativity or give me that tingly sensation on the back of my neck, or it could even annoy me based on my mood and the chemistry.  I do feel that people need some knowledge and understanding to make the judgement but maybe the most complex band is one that U or I has never heard.

^ I won't, however!

You can say Camel sometimes wrote multi-part suites/albums, but their music is really not very complex. They're very close in complexity to Pendragon, which is to say that they're good at writing interesting songs that are definitely not dead musically, but obviously not bursting with technicality. The music on The Snow Goose is actually very simple.

There is definitely a difference between 'complex' and 'music.'  The gibberish that passes for music on ITCOTCK side 2 (vinyl and cassette-tape) and Walter Carlos' side 1 (vinyl and cassette-tape) of soundtrack to 'Clockwork Orange' is 'complex' but I am still trying to determine if it qualifies as 'music.'  All songs on Yes - Relayer, definitely!  Good, complex music!  Many others mentioned above get my vote as well...

Fuxi,

Modern Talking

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum any1?

Yes

To my ears the most complex music is more in the Fusion area obvious examples being Return to Forever and The Mahavishnu Orchestra and newer bands like Planet X.

stonebeard wrote: ^ I won't, however! You can say Camel sometimes wrote multi-part suites/albums, but their music is really not very complex. They're very close in complexity to Pendragon, which is to say that they're good at writing interesting songs that are definitely not dead musically, but obviously not bursting with technicality. The music on The Snow Goose is actually very simple.

I, like many others, would consider Camel to be easy listening prog, muchlike (as mentioned above) Pendragon. That in my mind is a good thing, because you need a break from complex music like KC and GG to go and chill out with pure melody, and that is the purpose that those particular bands serve. Doesn't mean they are not capable of playing complex music, but simply chose to serve a different purpose in the whole prog spectrum.