How important are lyrics in prog?

it really varies, but in general they just have to be delivered well and not cheesy enough for the listener to be unable to look beyond them.  

I don't listen to the lyrics. I'm a HUGE prog fan, i can't think of one song that i know all the lyrics to.

BUT!
i go ape for vocal harmonies. listen to Moon Safari, you'll know what i'm talkin' about~

I didn't think I listened to lyrics and then I remembered that I don't like Sigur Ros.

Dr. Occulator wrote: Lyrics are as important as a band's fan needs them to be. If they're important to you than you pick a band that does it for you, if they're not important you still pick a band that does it for you too.

A question: How objective or subjective do you think matters of taste are? Just curious.

Interesting idea, this thing about not having much control over one's tastes and preferences, or at least that some of it is up to outside stimuli.

It also reminds me: I remember reading a newspaper article referencing a scientific finding that the biggest factor in people's musical preferences is their first language.... no, not as much what language we prefer lyrics in, as in that the scales and rhythms we prefer are those most common in the everyday speech patterns of our respective first languages. So there might be something to it.

However... is it possible that tastes and standards could react to outside influences both conscious and unconscious, but still follow the rules of this internally consistent set of principles? I mean, just because you sometimes are in the mood for upbeat music and sometimes in the mood for downbeat music (to pick just one set of opposite traits) does not mean that you change your mind about whether one is objectively better than the other.

i concur.

I don't pay attention to lyrics most of the time, unless something odd stands out at me. It just all blends in for me. Lyrics that can be offending don't offend me. It's the music that matters.