Are Italian bands lumped into RPI or RPI?

Among the bands from Italy in the archives, a lot of them are genred as RPI. I haven't listened to a lot of them, but would you say most of them actually fit the RPI sound or do many fit better in other categories?

^ Yep. Once upon a time it was called Italian Symphonic Prog so the vast majority in RPI are symph bands. Once the change was made, some non-symph bands were added, but numbers wise can't compete with what ISP once was. 

^ Good answer, the Italian prog bands can have a unique style. This is also often true in jazz and RnB. I really like the Italian's sort of hyper rushed feel for funk rhythms, it is unique to them. Italian soundtrack music is also a category all its own.

Edited by Easy Money - August 27 2020 at 14:19

Most RPI may be described as melodic Symphonic prog, usually with Italian lyrics. Long ago, the subgenre was named Italian Symphonic Prog. However, there are some exceptions: Area may fit as well in JR/F or RIO (weren't they filed as JR/F originally?), Homunculus Res comes close to Canterbury (weren't they filed as Canterbury originally?), Ingranaggi della Valle don't sound as standard RPI and Battiato transcends all categories.

Edited by someone_else - August 27 2020 at 15:29

OP: Great discussion topic!

Thanks for all the insight and thoughts.

I think the language was a barrier when I first tried RPI, but I recently read a post in here which suggested it could be a positive thing since you don't understand the lyrics, and a lot prog lyrics are pretentious and not very good. When I saw LogoS' new album getting good reviews I gave it a try, and what an album it is! Since then I've tried some more and I can like this genre. I have been a fan of symphonic prog for a long time.

I thought of this topic after coming across multiple RPI albums where a reviewer disagreed with the genre it was placed.

Homonculus Res certainly brings Canterbury to mind, which coincidentally is another regional genre. I will however agree that many bands, not exclusively RPI, blends genres in ways that makes categorizing challenging. Especially if they change sound through the lifespan of the band. All of Pink Floyd's albums are put into Psyc/Space, but the difference from Piper to Division Bell is quite big.

One could argue on a website for progressive rock, where the definition of progress is something that is evolving or changing, that the logic of categorizing bands and not albums is somewhat flawed. One important reason that I love prog is the variety. The overarching term "prog" has such a huge diversity under its wings. This is seemingly a shared sentiment in here since I see many bands being praised for trying something different, and likewise scorned for doing the same thing over and over, or sounding too much like their predecessors.

This is also true for all entertainment I spend time on, like TV-series, movies, books etc. I can't stand most superhero movies since they fall into the same clichés and tropes, without any excitement about what will unfold. Game of Thrones/ASOFAI was constantly taking unpredicted twists and turns. Any form of entertainment or experience which brings something new or different is far more engaging to me.

I don't listen strictly to genres as such, but it is helpful to give bands (or albums) tags for categorizing. It can also be a barrier, the way "RPI" has been a barrier for me to get into Italian prog.

Has the option been considered on PA to give albums genre labels and not follow the label of the band?

Awesoreno wrote: ^ Oh boy, HAS it.

Hehe, I see. What are the arguments to not?

Impossible to do without the approval/collaboration of the owner, which is very unlikely to be forthcoming. I've been a member of this site for 15 years, and I know a lot of people would be in favour, but unfortunately the site is not ours.