How integral is Renaissance for prog listening

What i mean by that is a litle bit clonky to express but I will elaborate. Before me joining PA (in 2008), Renaissance struck me, not just as an important prog act, before i got introduced to the term the big 5 or the top 7 prog bands. I would logicly include Renaissance in either. I could swap Pink Floyd for Renaissance. As i also view Floyd in the category of British Invation (seccond wave) and that in itself is making Floyd in my bracket order, slightly different. Renaissance fits perfectly alongside King Crimson, Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Yes. But I would not deny Pink Floyds possition as among the big 5 either. I just in my difficult one can also swap them. But both are integral in the big 7 (if we just focus on Britain).

I have not listend to nearly as much Ren. As i have done any of the other very known bands. But when they are encounterd, they strike me as a profound sonicly and enriching band witha colour pallet of sound so thick and intricate it's silly and dumb not to count them as an integral band in the prog family.

I in particular like the bass playing on albums like Illusion. And not purely symphonic either, therr are some interesting jazzy playing on some of the songs on it. Its crispy and fresh as a summer breeze.

I just wantes to express how easly one can forgett how influentual and inspiring a band like Renaissance can be. I feel i have and do neglect them but I also want to raize an awareness for this incredible band.

I forgott to talk or include Jethro Tull in the argument of essentials; but that makes me think that i value Jethro Tull and Renaissance as equals in terms of how i view their impact. Both have a blues that transforms itself into a symph
/folk mammoth band. So i respect them equaly.

I'm not sure what's meant by 'important' in this context. Important to the individual listener, or important to the genre and beyond?

If by important we mean that an act is highly influential inside and/or outside the genre, then I'm not sure how much emphasis I would place on Renaissance, as much as I love their music personally, and would probably rank them in my prog top 10. I don't think they are as 'important' as Floyd or Crimson or Genesis in this regard. Fantastic band nonetheless.

Blacksword wrote: I'm not sure what's meant by 'important' in this context. Important to the individual listener, or important to the genre and beyond? If by important we mean that an act is highly influential inside and/or outside the genre, then I'm not sure how much emphasis I would place on Renaissance, as much as I love their music personally, and would probably rank them in my prog top 10. I don't think they are as 'important' as Floyd or Crimson or Genesis in this regard. Fantastic band nonetheless.

I think both personal preferance but also but my main focus is on their reccognition and as an introduction to newcommers to progressive rock. Based just on a very recent reaction visoe whom were novices on Renaissance; directly put them in a progressive rock bracket; they listened to a random reccomended track (Mother Russia) and progressive music and progressive rock was emediatly reccogniced, and this couple were not experienced prog rock listeners at this point. I believe Ren is slightluæy below Crimson, Genesis and Yes but equal to Jethro Tull and ElP and Pink Floyd is in another ball park completly.

Edited by Icarium - April 16 2021 at 04:28

No band is integral or essential. It's about personal preferences.

Icarium wrote: Blacksword wrote: I'm not sure what's meant by 'important' in this context. Important to the individual listener, or important to the genre and beyond? If by important we mean that an act is highly influential inside and/or outside the genre, then I'm not sure how much emphasis I would place on Renaissance, as much as I love their music personally, and would probably rank them in my prog top 10. I don't think they are as 'important' as Floyd or Crimson or Genesis in this regard. Fantastic band nonetheless. I think both personal preferance but also but my main focus is on their reccognition and as an introduction to newcommers to progressive rock. Based just on a very recent reaction visoe whom were novices on Renaissance; directly put them in a progressive rock bracket; they listened to a random reccomended track (Mother Russia) and progressive music and progressive rock was emediatly reccogniced, and this couple were not experienced prog rock listeners at this point. I believe Ren is slightluæy below Crimson, Genesis and Yes but equal to Jethro Tull and ElP and Pink Floyd is in another ball park completly.

Icarium wrote: Blacksword wrote: I'm not sure what's meant by 'important' in this context. Important to the individual listener, or important to the genre and beyond? If by important we mean that an act is highly influential inside and/or outside the genre, then I'm not sure how much emphasis I would place on Renaissance, as much as I love their music personally, and would probably rank them in my prog top 10. I don't think they are as 'important' as Floyd or Crimson or Genesis in this regard. Fantastic band nonetheless. I think both personal preferance but also but my main focus is on their reccognition and as an introduction to newcommers to progressive rock. Based just on a very recent reaction visoe whom were novices on Renaissance; directly put them in a progressive rock bracket; they listened to a random reccomended track (Mother Russia) and progressive music and progressive rock was emediatly reccogniced, and this couple were not experienced prog rock listeners at this point. I believe Ren is slightluæy below Crimson, Genesis and Yes but equal to Jethro Tull and ElP and Pink Floyd is in another ball park completly.

My recommendation is to resist easy numbering schemes such as Big 5 or Top 10. Such numberings are the result of various opinions and tastes which may or may not correspond with your own. They can also be quite arbitrary. There is no reason for a band like Renaissance to bump out a band like Pink Floyd. The fact that Tull was overlooked in the original post shows the arbitrariness of such distinctions. I like to look at top 10 lists, but my interest is more about seeing what someone or group considers top 10 rather than letting them determine who should be in the list. Influence is historical and is often allied with popularity (but not always). Preference is personal. Fanboyism insists the two are the same. Look at the lists to see what other people think, let them guide your explorations, but never ever use them to determine what is important and/or enjoyable to you. 

they were second tier in terms of popularity in the prog world.  They sold a lot of albums in the US, particularly for a band with a decidedly "uncommercial" sound.  I think they remain very relevant because very few bands sounded like them which allows them to occupy a historic niche in prog.  Annie's voice has a lot to do with it but also the way the incorporated symphonics was different from Yes and ELP, for instance

Edited by kenethlevine - April 16 2021 at 11:18

If you wanted a fairly gentle introduction to mainstream prog rock then they'd be a very good introduction band. Beyond that they're 'nice'.