What is the best record as an intro to prog?

ole-the-first wrote: In the Court of the Crimson King is the definitive prog album (and very accessible at the same time), so it should be a good intro.

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Dayvenkirq, when you asked the original question, were you asking with a specific person in mind? I mean, it makes a huge difference knowing what sort of age group the person is in, perhaps even what their current musical interests are too! :)

I think Dancing with the Moonlit Knight works well as a single track to introduce and represent prototypical prog.

Fragile is probably the closest thing as an album, and is still accessible to a neophyte.

 

But what others have said about it depending on the audience is absolutely the essential point.

Just not Naked City. Probably not VDGG. Probably not Ephel Duath either.

I would recommend Porcupine Tree's In Absentia or Deadwing.

Although i love bands from the 70's, i would not recommend them as an intro into prog, because for somebody who is used to the nowadays audio quality, listening to the sound of the 70's might be a turn off.

Or i would burn a CD with a good balance between old and new, light and heavy stuff, from KC "I talk to the wind" to DT "Panic Attack", Rush "Subdivisions", Opeth "Hex Omega", Yes "Roundabout", PT "Gravity Eyelids", Anathema "Universal"...


Edited by doribure - March 28 2012 at 11:36

Rush - 2112

dennismoore wrote: Dayvenkirq wrote: What is the best record as an introduction to prog-rock? I have a clue how to answer this question: something accessible, non-embarrassing, and quintessential of the genre. It all depends on the user: either "Dark Side of the Moon" or "Red." Gee, if I had to choose, ... let it be "Dark Side of the Moon." What do you think?   Hi Dayvenkirq,    This is difficult to answer I think, because prog, unlike most simpler forms of music can take several listens to get into so if you pick something too proggy(Gentle Giant or YES - Tales) you run the risk of turning off the listener prematurely.   So I think you are spot on with PF - Dark Side.  (Though some proggers could say PF isn't really prog)   Also there are several sides to prog, prog metal, non-melodic(King Crimson) and classic prog.  You may pick one of those and the person hates it and then they hate all prog forever!  So you need to find out if they are into a more metal or dissonant or more melodic prog.  That's why I say its complicated.   I'm not a metal or dissonance guy so I would say:   Pink Floyd - The Wall or DSOTM Spock's Beard - V Glass Hammer - IF YES - Fragile RUSH - Moving Pictures Transatlantic - sMPTE

I don't think The Wall or Dark Side of the Moon quintessentially Prog (I never really thought of those albums as Prog when I did consider albums such as Close to the Edge, Hamburger Concerto, and Trilogy Prog.  I find earlier Pink Floyd more prog in a sense.  I'd like to say Atom heart Mother for Pink Floyd, or Umagumma.

Fragile and Hemispheres are what originally got me into Prog, but I know many are put off by Geddy Lee's vocals, and Fragile might seem a bit twee to some.

I've tried to turn a number of people onto Prog, but I have tried to cater it to the person's tastes.  I've had the most success with people with King Crimson, and obviously it is a very important band.  I'd like to say Lizard, but In the Court would probably be the better introduction.  I know that I adored 21st Century Schizoid Man when I first heard it.

Not taking into account individual tastes, I do think a  classic album the better intro to Prog than later stuff, and one that is considered historically important to Progressive Rock.

had I started with Spock's Beard or Transatlantic, that probably would have been the end of my journey.  It would have been better for me to start out with Magma, Van der Graaf Generator, Amon Duul II, Tangerine Dream, or Area, but tastes vary so much.  Maybe I wouldn't have enjoyed those when I was young --  symph oriented music is where I got started.


Edited by Logan - March 29 2012 at 01:13

ole-the-first wrote: In the Court of the Crimson King is the definitive prog album (and very accessible at the same time), so it should be a good intro.

Waaay too old Grandpa.  If the person is 70 then fine, if not they will think you are some Flower Power Hippie Freak,
which is not cool to today's generation.  Not sure if that ever was cool...

dennismoore wrote: richardh wrote: Tarkus tells you everything about prog. Classic symph prog with a very easy to understand title track. Dude, how can you be so right on this one and so wrong on Chester Thompson fumbling his way through live Dance On A Volcano??? I think you found the perfect prog introduction record. ELP - Tarkus.

Edited by Dayvenkirq - March 30 2012 at 00:00

Kayo Dot's Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue.
Can's Tago Mago

The T wrote: Kayo Dot's Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue.