Neo prog bands, is there a real problem?

LiquidEternity wrote: Ha, of course there is plenty of sense to what you're saying. But I see a lot of that "my opinion is mine and that's all I need" attitude on the internet, and sometimes it's not right. Here, I don't know. But there have been lots of bands I've had the wrong opinion about and people here or elsewhere have helped me see around what was in my way. I don't know. Does that make sense? Don't wander around on here with walled-in opinions, in any thread. The reason that people keep arguing is because there's something to be said for the truth of both sides.

    Yes, if you are not receptive to a different opinion, you might find it difficult to discover new stuff too?  Besides, can anybody live in a vacuum? It's bad enough we are fans of this elitist prog thing that not many people in the world talk about and then if we close doors to each other, we're not helping each other's cause, are we?   Surely we all must have at some point or other taken a call on an album we wanted based on the views of a reviewer we trust, I don't see anything unnatural about it, that's where sharing begins and sharing, like anything else in this world, can't be all hunky-dory all the time.

I think I can distill the issue.

Neo prog is a very defined genre, if it even is one (I'd debate it). Keyboards + clear vocals + major/minor key guitar solos + 4/4-7/8-4/4-7/8-5/8 (so unexpected!) = neo prog. Stray too far from this and you become art rock or symphonic. Neo prog is very very usually unadventurous. I say to myself, "I want to find a new Neo album," because I want to hear something in a very specific style, but with newer/better ideas. It's about songwriting usually. By the books a lot of the time. Experimentation usually lies in production and synth sounds, if anywhere. It is the "pop music of prog," I guess, but to take that as an intrinsically bad thing is narrow-minded and elitist. If you happen to abhor pop music generally and seek out the weirdness in all things, God bless but I have no freaking clue how you can do that 24/7.
 
Also...

Henry Plainview wrote: While I do think there are still artists bringing relatively new music to the table, you are correct. But at least RIO doesn't fall into that infuriating, lazy 4/4 midtempo drumbeat that neo does. ;-)

Haha. Though if you listen to enough, you'll find the ever present 7/8 time sig is sooo cliche. It becomes a task of seeing who can make the most of that time sig

Certif1ed wrote: Oh yes you did, in your earlier posts.

oh no i didn't!

ooooh, I love a bit of panto!

LiquidEternity wrote: I'm guessing this opinion debate has pooped all over these forums for years.

THERE!!! You've nailed it right on the friggin' head! You rub at something long enough and you're going to develop a callous. EXTREMELY tired of these threads. See how open you are to other opinions when yours is crapped on regularly.

And I'm certainly open to other opinions. Just recently I've inquired Barclay James Harvest and got positive feedback which resulted in multiple purchases. Before I joined I owned nothing of old Genesis prior to And Then There Were Three; but, now own them all and love them. Presentation is the key, my friend.  That being said, what others like and don't like doesn't affect me all that much. Should it? I don't think so. It's none of my business really. I think that's the whole issue. Of course opinions should be valued, but I don't let it affect me greatly.

I've just seen a lot of snobbery against neo and a little weary of it. A buddy of mine wore his Marillion Brave shirt to NearFest a couple of years ago and actually had people ridiculing him. This whole thing against neo just seems like an 80's John Hughes movie with the elitism of the 'in' crowd. That's why I don't care.

E

^^No, but always interested. Any thoughts or links?

E

I like Neo symphonic rock, as it

Edited by tuxon - October 22 2008 at 13:58

Plankowner wrote: Anybody spend any time with this album yet?     After... "Endless Lunatic"

Got home and my big a** copy of the new Marillion was here waiting for me!!!! Looked it up and pretty cool to see my name printed in there.

Who cares if you like neo or not. As long as the music makes you THIS happy, it's all good.

E

stonebeard wrote: Henry Plainview wrote: While I do think there are still artists bringing relatively new music to the table, you are correct. But at least RIO doesn't fall into that infuriating, lazy 4/4 midtempo drumbeat that neo does. ;-) Haha. Though if you listen to enough, you'll find the ever present 7/8 time sig is sooo cliche. It becomes a task of seeing who can make the most of that time sig

debrewguy wrote: Neo = the pop music of prog. I like that.

While I agree 50% of that statement, the other 50% not. Just because they were surrounded by the 80's doesn't mean it's Pop Prog or Prog Pop. Some albums do have the notable New Wave influences, but Script for a Jester's Tear or Masquerade Overture I can barely listen to it, and I should say they're 80'/90's symphonic prog albums.