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Topic ClosedDefinition of Progressive Rock
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MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down
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Points: 21381 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 10:48
Originally posted by fractalman fractalman wrote:

I have a great question:

Other than the musicians that comprise the band, what in the heck makes Asia progressive?

Not much ... but they are quite similar to Genesis in their non progressive phase in the 80s, so it makes sense that they're here if only for completionists ...

There is no definitive formula for deciding what's prog and what isn't. IMO the owners have found a good solution: They decide, there's no arguing. This means that there will always be some bands that aren't listed, but many people think they're prog, and some others are listed and everyone complains about it. As long as there is no perfect solution, I like it fine ... if nothing else, it generates good forum discussion threads.
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Points: 21381 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 10:48

Originally posted by xhamasaki xhamasaki wrote:

why couldn't you include all bands that are innovative, thats basically what progressive means!  There really aren't that many innovative modern bands now adays anyway hehe

No, it doesn't ...

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Points: 21381 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 10:51

Originally posted by Citanul Citanul wrote:

Originally posted by xhamasaki xhamasaki wrote:

but GoldenSpiral, most punk bands use the same style/sound.  If there was a punk band that tried another approach at the genre, of course I would consider them to be progressive.

So would Green Day putting out a concept album with multiple-part songs running close to 10 minutes in length make them progressive? 

Yes, IF they additionally evolved as musicians, made their music more complex (so that you need several spins to understand it) and were more interested in creating a work of art than make easy money from teenies ... The Mars Volta is a good example of a Punk-based Prog band. It is possible.
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Points: 64 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 10:54

That's your opinion.  Which is fine.  However, I do not share that view.

Originally posted by MikeEnRegalia MikeEnRegalia wrote:

Originally posted by fractalman fractalman wrote:

I still like my definition over the novel at http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive-rock.asp.  It cuts to the chase without being over analytical.

IMO your definition is not precise enough. It includes a lot of bands that aren't Prog.
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Joren View Drop Down
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Points: 6667 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 10:59

Progressive rock is defined by the song "Corporation Combo Boys" from the Dutch band Supersister.

>> http://s35.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3JPL2SP8TNWSS3UGHWTAKJVV4 S



Edited by Joren
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Points: 21381 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 11:06
Originally posted by Joren Joren wrote:

Progressive rock is defined by the song "Corporation Combo Boys" from the Dutch band Supersister.

>> http://s35.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3JPL2SP8TNWSS3UGHWTAKJVV4 S

 Wow, that's the shortest epic that I ever heard.
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Joren View Drop Down
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Points: 6667 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 11:23
The lyrics are really funny
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Points: 5964 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 11:28
Progressive rock is music where all the boundaries are self-imposed. By that I mean the musicians decide that, for example, they will use only guitar, drums, trumpet and violin in their music or that the music should draw heavily on jazz and folk. There are no necessary features other than to be different.

Anyone who suggests that prog is simply Yes, Genesis and their symphonic buddies is blinkered and just plain wrong.
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Points: 7559 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 15:27

The definition of Prog Rock is "Can-Utility and the Coastliners".

Among others...

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Points: 10387 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 15:31
Originally posted by Certif1ed Certif1ed wrote:

The definition of Prog Rock is "Can-Utility and the Coastliners".

Among others...

I always considered "Can-Uitility and the Coastliners" to be at least "very inspired" by "Astral Traveller" of Yes. Just compare the rhythms and the organ solos of both tracks.


A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
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Points: 225 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 15:35
If I like it, I find an excuse to call it progressive:

examples:

Flaming Lips' the Soft Bulletin

Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and Smile

Beatles' Sgt Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, White Album, Abbey Road

The Who's Who's Next and Tommmy

Anything by Steely Dan

Van Morrison's Astral Weeks and Moondance



I could easily say that these albums synthesized entirely new styles out of various genres such as jazz, classical, music-hall, what have you, and used studio trickery.  It would be entirely inaccurate, but who cares.  Prog is what you make it.
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Points: 106 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 16:20

Progressive rock (shortened to prog, or prog rock when differentiating from other "progressive..." genres) is an ambitious, eclectic, and often grandiose style of rock music which arose in the late 1960s, reached the peak of its popularity in the early 1970s, and continues as a musical form to this day. Progressive rock began in England and remained largely a European movement, although there are a few notable American and Canadian progressive rock bands. This music style draws many influences from classical music and jazz fusion, in contrast to American rock, which was more influenced by rhythm & blues and country. Over the years various sub-genres of progressive rock have emerged, such as symphonic rock, art rock, math rock and progressive metal.

Progressive rock artists sought to move away from the limitations of popular rock and pop music formats, and "progress" rock to the point that it could achieve new forms, often but not always alluding to the sophistication of jazz or classical music. It is complexity, not the virtuosity of the musicians, which most distinguishes progressive rock: mainstream rock has some extremely talented musicians who work solely in simple meters and harmonies.

Progressive rock is difficult to define in a single conclusive way, and outspoken King Crimson leader Robert Fripp has voiced his disdain for the term. The major acts that defined the genre in the 1970s (Jethro Tull, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Rush and King Crimson) do not sound especially alike. There is also debate on whether the musical output of artists and bands as varied as Frank Zappa, Phish, and Radiohead belongs to the genre.
"Just as a bell that has been rung cannot be "unrung", the annoying problem with the Truth is that, once you learn it, you can not "unlearn" it."

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Points: 20031 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2005 at 16:53
My (humourous) definition of a progressive rock band is one that has recorded a song that is sub-divided into different sections. Thus are included Yes (Close To The Edge), ELP (Tarkus), Rush (2112), Genesis (Supper's Ready) etc etc.
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