New to Prog music!

I probably should have listed what I already have first.  I bought these after researching them on this site.

Okay, this is the beginning of my Prog collection:

Can - Tago Mago

Yes - Fragile

Yes - Close To The Edge (On order from Amazon.com)

Genesis - Foxtrot

Genesis - Selling England By The Pound

Genesis - A Trick Of The Tail

King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King

King Crimson - Red

King Crimson - Discipline

Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

Jethro Tull - Aqualung

Jethro Tull - Passion Play (On order from Amazon.com)

Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Return To Forever - Romantic Warrior (On order from Amazon.com)

Regarding my criticism of Neal Morse and Spock's Beard - Kindness To Strangers... I just felt his voice was out of it's depth against the music. The music is too big for the voice... something like that...

Edited by Moonchild74

I was new to Prog too up until about 4 years ago. Then we joined the Classic Rock Society and I began to realise that prog was not all meandering strange sounds!!!

I still prefer the more melodic structured kind of prog with maybe a bit of rock thrown in for good measure.

These are my favourite bands here in the UK, we have seen all of them live at some stage. I think it's important to appreciate the wonderful musicians there are still out there today struggling to get their music out to people who will listen. Most of them are lovely people who love to play live and talk to their fans after the show.

Greenslade- www.greenslademusic.com They have been going for about 30 years and still play occasionally in the UK and sometimes overseas. Very keyboard orientated but amazing to see live. John Young joined them about 4 years ago and has added an up to date sound.

Jadis www.jadis-net.co.uk Lovely laid back prog, wonderful musicians and they've just played the Rosfest over in the States

Strangefish www.strangefish.co.uk Great enthusiastic band recently voted best new band by the Classic Rock Society here in the UK.

Mostly Autumn www.mostly-autumn.com Pink Floyd influenced but with folky elements, this band are really making a name for themselves over here.

Manning www.guymanning.com The band of very occomplished singer/songwriter, Guy Manning. Wonderfully strucutred and uplifting, prog at it's best in my opinion!!

John Young Band www.youngjohn.co.uk My favourite band (as you will all be discovering) JY, as he likes to be know, creates lovely layers in his music, he is a very talened and versitilie keyboard player/ singer/songwriter. He has chosen a band made up from former FISH members, Dave Stewart (drummer) Robin Boult (guitar) and Steve Vantsis (Bass)  they sound amazing live!!

Well there are lots more but I think that's enough for you to be going on with.

I see you've already discovered Karnataka and Tr3nity, I can also recommend these bands for their talent and musicianship.

Lynn  

Can - Tago Mago: If you liked this, go for Future Days and Ege Bamysai, as they are the two Can albums that most resemble that psychadelic sound.

Yes - Fragile,Yes - Close To The Edge: If you liked these, go for Relayer and The Yes Album.  If you still are interested in the band after those, check out Tales From Topographic Oceans, but make sure to save it for later, as it could easily scare you away if you aren't already a fan.

Genesis - Foxtrot, Genesis - Selling England By The Pound, Genesis - A Trick Of The Tail: I'm no expert on Genesis, but if you liked A Trick of the Tail, go for Wind and Wuthering.

King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King. King Crimson - Red, King Crimson - Discipline: If you liked Court, get In The Wake of Poseidon.  If you liked Red, get Larks' Tongues In Apsic.  If you liked Discipline, get Beat or Three of a Perfect Pair.

Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick, Jethro Tull - Aqualung, Jethro Tull - Passion Play: You've got the JT essencials covered, but check out Minstrel In the Gallery and Songs From the Wood if you want to hear more.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here: Animals and The Wall are absolutely essencial, and if you like those go for Atom Heart Mother, Meddle, Obscured By Clouds and The Division Bell.  PF is an amazing band, and you should be sure to check out more from them.

Other bands I would look into are Marillion, who sound quite a bit like Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator, who I'm personally not a big fan of but who you have to hear, Frank Zappa, who is quite simply a genius, and Hawkwind, who are like a more rocking version of Pink Floyd.  I'd also look into some Emerson Lake & Palmer, although if their overwhelmingly pompous approach to music scares you off, don't let it prevent you from exploring the wonderful world of prog rock.

Joren wrote: Hawkwind is not just a more rocking version of Pink Floyd... They are much less experimental... I think there SOUND is somewhere between Pink Floy and Motörhead...  REALLY!  It's pretty cool, actually, but also a little noisy...

The reason for the Motorhead link is, of course Lemmy, who played bass for Hawkwind for a while before getting nicked for speeding - and I don't mean driving (necessarily...).

Ian Kilmister got his nickname because he was addicted to fruit machines, and kept asking his mates to "Lemmy" a fiver (UK Five pound note). He is also the son of a vicar. Odd but true

Hawkwind are/were a great band (depending on which "era" you're into). I would recommend "Warrior on the Edge of Time", "Levitation" or "Sonic Attack" as great starter albums.

If you like Hawkwind and Motorhead, you might also like the Pink Fairies. "Kings of Oblivion" is a work of twisted, amphetamine-drenched, chrome-plated art! The Fairies and Hawkwind once did a gig together that they entitled "Pink Wind". Interesting - huh?

 

 < Welcome aboard!!! 5-minute solo? Any one solo in particular?

Rick Wakeman's solo on Close To The Edge must be about 5 minutes.

It's quiet... to quiet.

Lets put on some Leo Sayer and get this party swinging!

No! Thats just what they would expect us to do!

maani wrote: Moonchild74: First, welcome to the craziest, but most wonderful, prog site on the Net.  You'll get to know our "regulars" (or is that "irregulars?"...) pretty quickly.  Most of them are harmless (their barque is worse than their byte...), and, as the saying goes, "opinions are like noses - everybody has one." That said, you seem to be in the right direction as a "newbie."  Historically, the eight "seminal" prog bands - those who are generally accepted as the true forerunners of the genre - are the following, along with what are generally accepted as their best albums (some of which you've heard), so this becomes a really good starting point: King Crimson: Court, Larks Tongues, Starless, Red Pink Floyd: Piper, Meddle, Atom Heart Mother, DSOTM, WYWH, The Wall Moody Blues: A Question of Balance, Threshold of a Dream Genesis: Foxtrot, Selling England, The Lamb, Trick of the Tail, Wind & Wuthering Gentle Giant: Three Friends, In A Glass House, Octopus, Power & The Glory Yes: Time and a Word, The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick, Minstrel in the Gallery ELP: ELP, Trilogy, Brain Salad Surgery Another early group was Van Der Graaf Generator.  Their albums "H to He" and "Pawn Hearts" are usually considered their best. And, of course, Frank Zappa is an early progenitor of prog, and almost anything he did (and he did about 648,000 albums...) is worth getting. Among the "neo-prog" bands, I like Marillion best (particularly Misplaced Childhood, Clutching at Straws, Brave), along with Anglagard, IQ, Dream Theater (try Metropolis) Spock's Beard (try The Light; you may have simply picked a bad album), and a few others. One album you must pick up is the first album by U.K. called simply "U.K."  It features Bill Bruford (Crimson, Yes) on drums, John Wetton (Crimson) on bass, Eddie Jobson on keyboards, and the amazing Allan Holdsworth on guitar. I agree with Fitzcarraldo that you should also consider the Italian prog scene, as it is arguably the most active (and influential) after England.  My faves include Deus ex Machina (any album), PFM, Il Balletto di Bronzo, Alusa Fallax, and Museo Rosenbach. Ultimately, as Danbo the Manbo suggests, this site may be hazardous to your financial health: all of us, I'm sure, have spent hundreds of dollars on CDs since joining - with no end in sight!!   Maybe you should put your money "in trust" and have your wife (or whomever) co-sign when you want to buy CDs!! Anyway, enjoy the site, and take full advantage of it: we expect to see some reviews from you soon! Peace.

Maani I agree with your selections with the exception of Three Friends by Gentle Giant which I beileve i s their worst offering. Even Giant For A Day and Civilian are better than that album. The theme is just ,well, stupid. However I prefer the British cover. Why was the North American cover identical to their first release. I f you could explain this to me I would appreciate it .

Regards

Vibe.

 

Edited by Vibrationbaby

I don't know if anyone's mentioned these yet, I haven't read all the posts, but I'll add a few

Marillion up to Fish's leaving, that's the first... 4? albums, this being a BIT like genesis,

Anglagard, if you can find them, this sounding something like a modern version of King Crimson, with some very nice flute,

Mostly Autumn, very accessible, very folky in places,

Spock's Beard's "Snow" album. I don't know if you'll like this if you don't like the Kindness to Strangers album, because I haven't heard that one,

regarding the Flower Kings, they're a more retro styled band than a lot of the more popular around today, I don't like them all that much, but they're a worthwhile diversion

That would be quite a nice start.

 

I have to say, it is a wonderful world we live in that someone, ANYONE can be 'new to prog'. I am an old bastard and grew up with this music. I fell in love with it before it even had the 'progressive' label. I have had the pleasure of living through the 'Golden Age' and having the opportunity of experiencing Yes, Genesis, ELP, Pink Floyd and others performing their art live on numerous occasions. I have exposed everyone I know (that would allow it) to the wonder that is progressive music and, until recently, I had pretty much given up on finding others who shared my appreciation for this unique and beautiful art form.

 

Moonchild, I envy you. There is a brave new world of music just waiting for you to discover...wonderful, amazing musicc that many people have no knowledge of or experience with. However, as you make your discoveries, follow the example of others here and share them with others. The fraternity of the lovers of progressive music is a exclusive, and slightly twisted, bunch...but they are always happy to add new members.