If You're New to Prog, Don't Start With Rush

The proposition in the thread title becomes better if you remove the words “with Rush”. Getting into prog - why would a person even want to do that? A huge drain on your time (those 20 minute epics won't listen to themselves) and financial resources (yeah, I really do need to drop £30 on that reissue CD of the first Lambert Simnel's Astrolabe LP with the booklet missing, it might never come up on Discogs again!). And all to no tangible benefit, unless you count having friends and family look at you as a harmless but sad and deluded eccentric / potentially dangerous madman and probable pervert as a 'benefit'.

Personally I wish they'd find a cure for it.

Edited by Mascodagama - April 28 2018 at 03:16

Mascodagama wrote: The proposition in the thread title becomes better if you remove the words “with Rush”. Getting into prog - why would a person even want to do that? A huge drain on your time (those 20 minute epics won't listen to themselves) and financial resources (yeah, I really do need to drop £30 on that reissue CD of the first Lambert Simnel's Astrolabe LP with the booklet missing, it might never come up on Discogs again!). And all to no tangible benefit, unless you count having friends and family look at you as a harmless but sad and deluded eccentric / potentially dangerous madman and probable pervert as a 'benefit'. Personally I wish they'd find a cure for it.

Who wants to be normal anyway? I guess everyone until they realise no such thing exists.

As for the op? Nonsense. If you're a rock n roll fan that comes from a healthy diet of Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden then there is a good chance Rush is THE band to start out your prog rock journey.
Conversely, if you're a sucker for the contemporary rock scene and the older indie stuff, then you should probably look into the modern scene and acts such as Porcupine Tree, Pure Reason Revolution, Pineapple Thief, Airbag, Himmellegeme, Sigur Ros and so forth.

But yeah, if you have an allergic reaction to high pitched male vocals and hard rocking guitar riffs, then it's probably wise to stay clear of Rush. Maybe start out with some Amon Düül ll instead

That statement about Rush may be a bit short sided.I would approach someone who hasn’t listened to the genre per say by playing some snippets of some classic prog bands and see if anything peaks their curiosity and then start with what ever seemed to be interesting to them.You never know what type of music will spark an interest

However, we were never in the position that a "newbie" would find themselves in today....I think I'm learning how to hypnotise myself into liking music I once though of as "unlistenable" - suddenly VDGG and GG are going to become my favourite bands!

I am new to Prog. I had a bit a misleading journey though. I really liked In the Court of the Crimson King but never listened to other albums and was not aware that it was prog or of anything similar. Years later I got into Yes and when I went searching for more Greg Lake Crimson discovered ELP and then things started to click. To me is seems the average person isn't really aware of Pink Floyd or Rush being prog. I think people should go full throttle so they could easily tell what makes it different and if they like it. 

As a new fan i'm not that knowledgeable but to me most of that list are classic prog staples. I think if a non prog fan listened to everyone on that list they would "get it" but I see your point. I'm 26 and my mom is in her 40's and I wanted to get her into Prog but so far i have not been that successful. She did like some ELP though. I also know of some younger ELP fans. Anyways that list pretty much got me into it.

Is there such a thing as a 'starter band'?

Don't start with:

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - June 02 2018 at 14:26

Mirror Image wrote: One problem with getting into any genre of music is actually relying on someone else to do the work for you. No one knows what sounds you’re gravitating towards. The best thing to do is to do some broad sampling. Everything from Genesis to Henry Cow to Gentle Giant to Premiata Forneria Marconi. If you don’t find anything you like, then it’s quite possible that progressive rock just isn’t for you.

Jeffro wrote: Mirror Image wrote: One problem with getting into any genre of music is actually relying on someone else to do the work for you. No one knows what sounds you’re gravitating towards. The best thing to do is to do some broad sampling. Everything from Genesis to Henry Cow to Gentle Giant to Premiata Forneria Marconi. If you don’t find anything you like, then it’s quite possible that progressive rock just isn’t for you. Finding this site a few years ago really opened my eyes to tons of bands I'd never heard of and I've been sampling ever since. My latest 'finds' that I'm enjoying a great deal are Premiata Forneria Marconi and Salem Hill.