Best Neo Prog Bands?

It's also my list of favorite RIO bands. :P 

There is a special reason why my list is like this. Let me tell you a little story my brother told me about the time he studied at the university of Cologne:

When he studied there he was approached by a member of a Burschenschaft or Studentenverbindung; both are names that refer to organizations that have some similarity with the fraternities at British or American colleges or universities. But there are certain differences. These Burschenschaften are extremely right wing. My brother had difficulties to keep a straight face and laugh inwardly only when the guy who approached him actually said: "At the Wartburg festival we were considered to be extremely progressive, but today we are considered to be reactionary, although today we still have the same ideals as back then. I just don't understand it". The Wartburg festival took place in 1817, by the way.

And that's exactly what is wrong with neo-prog bands: They are still at the Wartburg festival (metaphorically speaking). But what once was progressive no longer is today, and that's the problem I have with neo-prog.

My brother actually attended a meeting of this Verbindung and said it was the most stupid convention he ever attended. There was a kind of military drill, new members of the Bruderschaft were called "Fuchs" (German for "fox") and had to serve the older members, generally meaning they had to bring them beer, and it was all a mindless drinking orgy Of course there were no women around. My brother was repelled by this meeting and never contacted the Verbindung again.

The Studentenverbindung he attended actually was a "schlagende Verbindung", meaning the members fought duels (with rapiers) with members of other Verbindungen. How such a duel comes to pass and works can be seen in this scene from a movie adaption of the novel "Der Untertan" ("The Loyal Subject") by Heinrich Mann, brother of the more famous Thomas Mann.

verslibre wrote: BaldFriede wrote: My brother was repelled by this meeting and never contacted the Verbindung again. It too me a moment to realize the word was not spelled Vermindung. LOL.

And what is "Vermindung" supposed to mean? A kind of brainwashing?

rushfan4 wrote: Rat poop.  Which is both my answer to what is Vermin Dung and my reaction to your "reasoning" for your unnecessary negative post to a thread which wasn't asking for negativity and also just your way of trying to justify being a prog snob.  (PS if you don't like Neo prog, it is in my opinion your loss, but also no skin off my nose).

It has nothing to do with snobbery; I explained my reason. I have heard a lot of neo-prog; the younger of my two brothers is a big fan of it. Not my cup of tea, but it has definitely nothing to do with snobbery. You don't like Krautrock - very much your loss.

BaldFriede wrote: rushfan4 wrote: Rat poop.  Which is both my answer to what is Vermin Dung and my reaction to your "reasoning" for your unnecessary negative post to a thread which wasn't asking for negativity and also just your way of trying to justify being a prog snob.  (PS if you don't like Neo prog, it is in my opinion your loss, but also no skin off my nose). It has nothing to do with snobbery; I explained my reason. I have heard a lot of neo-prog; the younger of my two brothers is a big fan of it. Not my cup of tea, but it has definitely nothing to do with snobbery. You don't like Krautrock - very much your loss.

The snobbery part is taking the time to bash Neo prog every chance that you can when the subject comes up.  That you don't like it isn't an issue.  It is the feeling the need to put it down which makes you a prog snob.

verslibre wrote: BaldFriede wrote: I have heard a lot of neo-prog; the younger of my two brothers is a big fan of it. Not my cup of tea, but it has definitely nothing to do with snobbery. You don't like Krautrock - very much your loss. What do you think of the all-instrumental Live At The Target and Fact And Fiction by Twelfth Night? With Geoff Mann at the helm, TN was far and away better than most other neo bands. Target isn't even neo. They sound like a space rock band on that.

I think Twelfth Night sit uneasily in neo-prog, though I don't really know where to place them (maybe eclectic). What I dislike about them is their drum sound (I am a drummer myself); it is in my opinion absolutely horrible. I wouldn't want my drums to sound like this at all.


Edited by BaldFriede - April 05 2018 at 18:31

verslibre wrote: Do you mean the sound of Devoil's kit on the recordings? Or his playing? He's not the most adventurous player (kind of rigid, honestly).

I mean the sound of his kit.

BaldFriede wrote: rushfan4 wrote: BaldFriede wrote: rushfan4 wrote: Rat poop.  Which is both my answer to what is Vermin Dung and my reaction to your "reasoning" for your unnecessary negative post to a thread which wasn't asking for negativity and also just your way of trying to justify being a prog snob.  (PS if you don't like Neo prog, it is in my opinion your loss, but also no skin off my nose). It has nothing to do with snobbery; I explained my reason. I have heard a lot of neo-prog; the younger of my two brothers is a big fan of it. Not my cup of tea, but it has definitely nothing to do with snobbery. You don't like Krautrock - very much your loss. The snobbery part is taking the time to bash Neo prog every chance that you can when the subject comes up.  That you don't like it isn't an issue.  It is the feeling the need to put it down which makes you a prog snob. You appear to be a victim of subjective perception. There are so many neo-prog discussions going on; I usually just ignore them. I said a few words about Steve Hogarth (I consider his voice to be soulless; he might as well be reciting the phone book), but that's about it. I only threw in my five pennies worth here because I simply can't think of any really good neo-prog (Marillion's "Fugazi" has its moments, but that's about it). But maybe your perception is warped because I definitely made a few negative remarks about Rush.

Your negative attitude is not the problem, Friede: It's your often borderline insulting remarks that bugs many here. Nobody's perfect, me first, but I sometimes wonder what is the reason for your heavy hand?

My two cents.