What genre is prog's foe ?

Voted for punk. Not because I hate it ( I like many early punk bands, especially The Stranglers), but because of logic: one of main prog characteristics is long complex compositions. Main punk characteristic is short simplistic ones.

I'd say hip hop and rap are furthest away from prog, both in musicial terms, and in terms of the spirit and outlook behind the music.

You'll be able to find prog that has elements of all the musical genres listed above, but I can think of very little hip hop/rap influence in prog. The closest I can think of, is the rap in 'Roll the bones' by Rush, and that doesn't really sound very hip hop to me, although by all accounts Rush did consider approaching a famous rapper, at the time, to do the rap. I think they even considered asking John Cleese to do it!

Edited by Blacksword - November 20 2009 at 07:09

I'm going for punk, history is there to show that punk was really effective in swiping away most prog-oriented philosophy, musically speaking.

Voted for Punk. While Prog flies the flag for long, complex compositions, and its main figures are recognised virtuosos with a constant need of showing off, punk reprensented a going back to the basics (musically speaking). Shame on the Ramones! 

I think country is conceptually the opposite... it's a very emotional oriented music, in which just an acoustic guitar alone could work as well as a whole ensamble... is not that I don't like it, I can appriciate a little of country, but the need of a particular atmosphere and expermentation is the complete opposite to country...

Edited by jampa17 - November 20 2009 at 10:05

I don't think country music or rap are enemies of Prog but man both blow big time.

I will vote for mainstream country, since I hate it.

Because I consider the hybridization of musical styles to be a defining characteristic of progressive rock, I don't believe that any genre is the enemy of progressive rock -- all musical styles can be incorporated into progressive rock.

Logan wrote: Because I consider the hybridization of musical styles to be a defining characteristic of progressive rock, I don't believe that any genre is the enemy of progressive rock -- all musical styles can be incorporated into progressive rock.

sinkadotentree wrote: Logan wrote: Because I consider the hybridization of musical styles to be a defining characteristic of progressive rock, I don't believe that any genre is the enemy of progressive rock -- all musical styles can be incorporated into progressive rock. I think what you and Easy Money state are true,but when it comes to the non-progressive,commercial slop that we usually hear from the above genres,no way,they all make me throw up in mouth a little bit.

This is 99% percent digression...

Whatever one's personal reaction to various types music, and commercial pablum, I just can't think of such music being the enemy of Prog. It may be your, sort of, enemy to good taste. Prog can create an amazing synthesis of styles.  In terms of the antithesis of Prog, sometimes I use the term gorP (regressive Prog) to describe a non-progressive attitude towards rock (and towards "generically-speaking" Prog).  Rather like with Manofmystery's statement, though I would not use such temporal limits, I think that Prog (as a genre) -- or more specifically those Prog-by-numbers bands -- could be considered the enemy of Prog.  Prog, I think, is partially about expanding the parameters of the rock universe, and part of that is having a non-generic approach.  Trying to sound and be Prog can kill that experimental approach that was important to the movement.

I don't think "progressive rock" needs to be originative (I look at it as building on other work to create something new), but it can be innovative in how it combines and plays with its influences.  Convention can be the enemy of Prog (mainstream music is conventional in approach, whereas Prog often took an unconventional approach to music).

 To say that commercialism (or really commercial restraints, and convention) is the enemy of progressive music, and that commerce (the industry) can be the enemy of art makes some sense.  It's too simplistic since progressive rock can be commercial, but... While not a genre, so I'm being rather irrelevant, I have opined that convention (being conventional and following convention) is the enemy  of progressive music.  Prog does not need to break new ground, but a progressive approach expands on the possibilities of what rock can be.  It can defy typical rock conventions and bring in an unconventional approach.  Part of that has been by drawing on past non-rock styles, as well as unusual for rock instrumentation etc..  In some ways it can be regressive in utilising music from times past, but ultimately it's progressive in a rock framework if it expands those rock frontiers.

Sorry for rambling, and being repetitive.  I can't seem to wake up properly. Without so-called non-progressive music, progressive rock would not be recognised.  The problem is, the more genrefied and defined Prog becomes as a style, the more it can be impeded in terms of what it can be and do.  So in a way, I really do look at Progressive Rock as a genre as being the enemy of progressive rock as an approach to music.


Edited by Logan - November 20 2009 at 12:45