Why is prog rock always called "snooty"? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

That is my question. I wondered about that when a friend who I was talking about music with told me that prog was too pretentious.

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ELP and Tales From Topographic Oceans

Well probably just a lack of any knowledge of the genre actually

(Tales is a great album don’t get me wrong)

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softandwet wrote:

That is my question. I wondered about that when a friend who I was talking about music with told me that prog was too pretentious.

This is often the stock response from those that can't get into prog. I suppose it sounds more intelligent to them than saying that they just don't like it.

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Grumpyprogfan wrote:

None of my friends call prog snooty. Maybe you need more informed friends.

Most of my friends would just look blank if I even mentioned the term Wacko

I've had a few conversations with the ones who hold prog to be pretentious. I've often brought up songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, which is a darling of the metal crowd, and Come Sail Away, which is an anthem to the AOR crowd. Those songs sound more "pretentious" to me than most in main stream prog rock. Few countered with an argument.

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Probably because some prog is pretentious indeed. Many see Close to the Edge as number one prog album, and I'd think it's hard to miss the showing off factor of that one. (Which doesn't mean we shouldn't like it of course.)

"Calling me pretentious is like calling Black Sabbath loud" - Al Stewart

Frankly, I don't really care. Many people don't like prog, and they have their personal reasons for it. I like prog, for my personal reasons too, and I prefer to leave there.

Edited by Manuel - November 21 2019 at 12:47

twosteves wrote:

For friends who think prog is pretentious I always say--well if you think this is pretentious you been taken for a ride---look across the mirror before that u decide.

Genesis quote, from "It" off The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway!

Anyways, it's not just the general public that feels prog is "snooty", it was especially the rock critics. The rock critics were accusing prog of such even before punk existed. Sure some rock critics were worst about it, most particularly Dave Marsh, Lester Bangs, and Robert Christgau (although Christgau did give King Crimson's Red an A-, his reviews, regardless of artist or rating, you can't always tell if it was favorable or not). The first Rolling Stone Record Guide, from 1979 actually gave pretty favorable reviews to Yes albums, even Tales from Topographic Oceans, but in the second edition, from 1983, they couldn't cough up more than a three star rating. If I remember right, it's because Rolling Stone let Dave Marsh review those Yes albums and he never had a favorable opinion towards that band. This is the same guy with an unhealthy obsession with Jackson Browne where he throws four and five star ratings at everything he done in those books.

Edited by Progfan97402 - November 21 2019 at 22:35

Snooty and pretentious?

Pffft! Merely the mewling cattle call of the unwashed masses.

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