Best prog album by a non-prog band - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Man Erg

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Posted: September 02 2004 at 08:24

P.I.L. - Metal Box

Dick Heath View Drop Down

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Posted: September 02 2004 at 09:05

Man Erg wrote:

P.I.L. - Metal Box

Interesting. I really rate the PIL album various called Cassette, CD, Album (depending what format you bought it when it was first released) - and apparently the album John Lyden disliked most. A Krautrock expert reckons with Lyden love of german band Can, Flowers Of Romance is PIL's indirect tribute to Can - comments please as I've never heard the album.

Man Erg

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Posted: September 02 2004 at 09:18

Dick Heath wrote:

Man Erg wrote:

P.I.L. - Metal Box

Metal Box has quite a 'Krautrock' feel to it in-as-much that it is experimental and ambient.It mixes dub with Can-like grooves and,although it is definately not a concept album,it has the continuity one.
Flowers of Romance is just as experimental.Jah Wobble
only appears on one or two tracks but he leaves his
fingerprints across the entire album.
Both Metal Box and Flowers of Romance are well worth
exploring.After 25 years I am still hearing new things
on both albums

Edited by Man Erg

threefates View Drop Down

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Posted: September 02 2004 at 10:02

Dick Heath wrote:

But 3Fates, not prog - undergound blues rock.

*That's where Chicago, the brass rock band, took their original name.

I don't know, Dick...that Traffic album has always had a very progressive feel to me and its definitely not just blues rock. Actually even Chicago had some progressive moments...

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Dick Heath View Drop Down

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Posted: September 02 2004 at 10:30

I don't know, Dick...that Traffic album has always had a very progressive feel to me and its definitely not just blues rock. Actually even Chicago had some progressive moments...

Within my broad definition of progressive music (a more timely term for the music of that period) /rock, I can't argue with the progressive aspects of Traffic's music. You realise there are a number of common features on Welcome To The Canteen also found on Ginger Baker's double live Airforce album - including Stevie Winwood and Reebop with those Afro rhythms (and of course that album has another mega-long Baker drum solo). The there were many prog bands 1969 to 1972 who played blues rock tunes and then throw a little classical into the middle 32 bars of keyboard solo. In fact, probably the only keyboard player to avoid that was Mike Ratledge.

In passing, has anybody heard and therefore can pass comment on Reebop's Melodies In A Jungle Mans Head (thru Jonas Hellborg's DEM Record label)?

threefates View Drop Down

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Posted: September 06 2004 at 11:42

Oh and I forgot to mention, Dick, that I think Traffic's "John Barleycorn Must Die" also has some prog moments....

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Easy Livin View Drop Down

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Posted: September 06 2004 at 15:03

threefates wrote:

Oh and I forgot to mention, Dick, that I think Traffic's "John Barleycorn Must Die" also has some prog moments....

Like the astonishingly good "Every mother's son" (anyone remember the excellent Island sampler "Bumpers").

Easy Livin View Drop Down

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Posted: September 07 2004 at 15:49

Just dusted off another good one tonight.

Anyone remember the excellent "The Alchemist" by HOME from 1973. Their earlier albums had been good, if slightly dull soft rock, with a bit of what is now known as alt. country, then they suddenly came up with this masterpiece of a concept album.

Certif1ed

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Posted: September 14 2004 at 14:40

Dick Heath wrote:

Certif1ed wrote:

Queen I, Queen II, Night at the Opera.

Prog classics!

Can I add Sheer Heart Attack?

I just listened to "Sheer Heart Attack" tonight, 'coz I fancied a bit of an intelligent rock out - OK, it's not Rocket Science...

Oh. Brian May is a Rocket scientist, I nearly forgot...

Anyways, I take back what I said earlier - this is a prog album in spirit, alright - the whole album has that inventive, making it up as you go along yet tight as a gnat's chuff feel to it, with glorious tape loops, skilled, technical playing, classical influences (among others), time and key changes and the Queen choirs.

Queen rock!!!

(progressively...)

greenback

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Posted: September 14 2004 at 14:47

Best album by a non-prog band

A band, not an artist:

The Fixx - Walkabout

The Fixx - Phantoms

The Fixx - Reach the beach

The Fixx - Shuttered room

Why is The Fixx non prog??????????????

VanHalen - I

Iron Maiden - Killers

Iron Maiden - Piece of mind

Mercyful fate - Don't break the oath

Accept - Balls to the wall

Van Halen - 1984

Pat Metheny (group) - Secret Story

Pat Metheny (group) - As falls Wichita,...

Triumph - Thunder seven

The Police - Synchronicity

Spandau Ballet - True

Simple minds - Street fighting years

Simple Minds - New Gold Dream

Checkfield - Water wind & stone

Dire Straits - Love over gold

Eddie Jobson - Theme of secrets

Judas Priest - Screaming for vengeance

Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith

Judas Priest - Sad Wings of destiny

Led Zeppelin - 2

Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a madman

Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the moon

Scorpions - Love at first sting

Edited by greenback

James Lee

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Posted: September 14 2004 at 15:26

bit of a metal fan, eh?

richey

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Posted: September 14 2004 at 16:39

IRON MAIDEN - SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON

http://www.grassrootsx.com/pulse - my band
http://giittv.1.forumer.com - cultural fanzine forum

James Lee

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Posted: September 14 2004 at 19:35

Greenback has a good point- "Synchronicity" is ostensibly a concept album (more so than "Sgt. Pepper" and only a little less than "Marbles") and therefore quite a brave move during the fashionably anti-prog 80s. A more courageous person than I could even call The Police "prog-post-punk". Certainly the individual members have been quite progressive (especially Andy with Fripp and Stewart with his OSTs and "The Rhythmatist"...you'd have to stretch a bit more to call Mr. Sumner 'prog', but he's definitely explored various types of music over the years).

greenback

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Posted: September 14 2004 at 19:43

James Lee wrote:

bit of a metal fan, eh?

indeed, I like metal of the 80's.

Don't tell me you know the "bewitched" album (Summers/Fripp): I've always found the short songs really interesting: all those guitar textures.

Edited by greenback

James Lee

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Posted: September 15 2004 at 06:23

I have the one before that, "I Advance Masked". It didn't change my life, but it's a pretty interesting album for guitar nerds and Fripp fans (like me).

oliverstoned View Drop Down

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Posted: September 16 2004 at 04:50

Prog track by on non prog band:

First album of us psyché band : Spirit

Track:"Elijah" Pure canterburyan, before soft machine

arcer

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Posted: September 16 2004 at 14:53

No contest -

Radiohead - OK Computer

here endeth the lesson...

ponter

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Posted: September 17 2004 at 00:25

Seem to be reaching backwards in time to find prog by non-prog bands. Perhaps they were pre-prog or proto-prog? No matter- I was a big fan of Traffic back then. There was definitely something progressive about them. I especially enjoyed John Barleycorn, Low Spark, and When the Eagle Flies. Who could question Dream Gerrard being somewhat progressive? I also listened to If back then. Although they were kinda jazzy, they mixed it up some too. I really liked A Song for Elsa and Fibonacci's Number. Good stuff then, but sounds a little dated now. Also consider It's a Beautiful Day, early Steve Miller Band, and yes I'll mention Spirit again. Back then a lot of bands played long jams, usually but not always blues based. Eventually some of them must have decided to something other than just soloing off of each other. I remember listening to Genesis' Selling England, Foxtrot, and Nursery Chryme-- being blown away by the wonderful songs with recurring themes, long songs that didn't bore me. I've been hopelessly addicted ever since. Sorry about being long winded...

shake your head as the world just nods away...

maani

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Posted: September 17 2004 at 01:28

Although not all of it is "proggish," I'd have to say that a majority of "Physical Graffiti" would qualify. Indeed, I still think "Kashmir" is possibly the best single "non-prog" prog song ever written.

I also agree with Velvetclown re XTC. In fact, every album beginning with English Settlement could be included. (Velvetclown: would you like to support me in trying to get XTC added to the site? I cannot believe they are not included.)

There is also a group called Babble that did two albums - The Stone, and Ether - both of which I would qualify as prog. (Whatever they are, they are two totally amazing creations.)

I would also agree with Queen's "Night at the Opera" (most of it) and "Day at the Races" (most of it). Although I love "Sheer Heart Attack," I'm not sure I can bring myself to call the album as a whole "prog."

The Who's "Quadrophenia" (or most of it) might also qualify.

And there are others...

Pixel Pirate View Drop Down

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Posted: September 17 2004 at 09:24

I would have to go with "Queen II". They were definitely leaning heavily in the prog direction on that one much more than the Zeppelin clones they were said to be at the time. And Greenback,I was a huge fan of The Fixx in my youth but there's no way anyone can claim they ever had anything to do with prog. Short tracks,only a couple beyond 5 minutes as I recall,no different sections leading into each other,no long instrumental sections,no outstanding instrumental prowess,all the songs strictly traditional verse/chorus/verse/chorus construction. Where's the prog? They belonged squarely in the new wave/pop-rock category. But they were good. At least I used to think so about a hundred years ago...

Odi profanum vulgus et arceo.