How to define and classify "Progressive Rock"?

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Least of all Cristi.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: It's not a silly joke at all and I don't "still classify things like that". I think you'll find that most all-music sites don't have lots of sub-genres for prog. We have lots of prog sub-genres here because it's a specialist prog site, and yes, I already know what you're going to say:- "Thank You Captain Obvious!"

Psychedelic Paul wrote: These were the 20 parent genres of music on our long-since defunct music site ..... ..... Metal ..... Rock  .....

^ There are no laws about genres, so if someone considers Metal as a main genre, it is a main genre to him; and he can probably define lots of Metal sub-genres. Classifications are man made and can change from person to person. Sometimes there's a more overarching consensus about classifications, which then become a norm. But a norm is just what it is: a norm. Not a natural law.

May I just crack my knuckles and pick up the fountain pen for a moment ?

Musical sub genres. 

These are just for advertising and marketing purposes, ladies and gents. If you write and play music (raises hand) you don't automatically think "Oh, I know, I'll write some Funk Metal, throw a bit of Blackgaze in and we'll end up with some Blackened Screamo". 

Unless you're very, very sad. 

I'd be sitting there thinking "What's a typical chord progression for Sludge Metal and what's the solo going to sound like ? " - truth of the matter is that music doesn't work like that. You can copy someone who'd decide that they're Electrogrind or Progressive Metalcore. 

But basically, it's all generically heavy metal, which is generically rock music which has blues derivations, or perhaps not in some cases and perhaps so in others. 

It used to be a case that Band A sounded different from Band B. and, for a while, there was not much to distinguish heavy rock, hard rock and heavy metal, for example. But. All of a sudden, everything has to be categorised ? Why ? Sells albums. I think. Allegedly. 

"We - Mongolian Doom Badgers - play Snot Metal and sound just like Codpiece of Disaster". 

David_D wrote: If talking about Progressive Rock sub-genres on RYM, they're: Avant-Prog (incl. RIO and Zeuhl) Brutal Prog Canterbury Scene Neo-Prog Symphonic Prog

Davesax1965 wrote: May I just crack my knuckles and pick up the fountain pen for a moment ? Musical sub genres.  These are just for advertising and marketing purposes, ladies and gents. If you write and play music (raises hand) you don't automatically think "Oh, I know, I'll write some Funk Metal, throw a bit of Blackgaze in and we'll end up with some Blackened Screamo".  Unless you're very, very sad.  I'd be sitting there thinking "What's a typical chord progression for Sludge Metal and what's the solo going to sound like ? " - truth of the matter is that music doesn't work like that. You can copy someone who'd decide that they're Electrogrind or Progressive Metalcore.  But basically, it's all generically heavy metal, which is generically rock music which has blues derivations, or perhaps not in some cases and perhaps so in others.  It used to be a case that Band A sounded different from Band B. and, for a while, there was not much to distinguish heavy rock, hard rock and heavy metal, for example. But. All of a sudden, everything has to be categorised ? Why ? Sells albums. I think. Allegedly.  "We - Mongolian Doom Badgers - play Snot Metal and sound just like Codpiece of Disaster".  But in the real world, ie "listening to music", how much categorisation and sub categorisation do you want ? If a musician tries to play in one specific style, it's derivative, if they try and sound like someone else, it's probably going to be crap music, and if you go off looking for a specific category of music, you're closing your mind to what's out there.  "Krautrock" covers many different bands and genres. Go off and listen to the lot, with an open mind. Same with "Progressive rock". Stop analysing. Stop categorising. Listen. Enjoy. By constantly searching for stuff that sounds the same, you're closing your mind.  After all, it's not like you're paying for it anymore, and oh no, I've done the analytics from my Bandcamp website, you tight fisted lot. Your only expenditure is time. Not money. ;-)

Edited by Cristi - August 17 2022 at 09:52

I prefer to be surprised. ;-)

Cristi wrote: You are right, not doubt, but as a listener, classifications and other descriptors help me understand what I hear. It does not take away from the listening experience.

Lewian wrote: Davesax1965 wrote: I prefer to be surprised. ;-) So much music, so little time.