Not prog

Not sure about Weather Report or Conflict - never listened to 'em.

Radiohead is a definite possibilty - why aren't they prog? They explore new territories all the time - never sitting still. OK Computer was a masterpiece - a fine balance of commercial appeal combined with stunning experimentation. The track Paranoid Android is a 7-minute epic with several forms - and breakdowns of those forms. Going back to "Pablo Honey" and "The Bends", there are some sublime moments of progressiveness - particularly "The Bends".

The Beatles I do not think can be considered a prog band, as such, any more than the Stones, as that was not their main thrust. Mostly they concentrated on writing cutting edge pop songs - although on the albums, there is a lot of inpsired experimentation. Even the Stones experimented - witness "Their Satanic Majesties Request".

"...Borrowed Time" is a prog album, IMO, as much as any by the likes of Saga, Savatage, etc - but not Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden wrote some long Heavy Metal pieces with aspirations to prog, but stayed within the confines of the genre. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", for example can be considered prog, but the album "Piece of Mind", while superb, is not a progressive album per se. "Hallowed be Thy Name" is progressive, whille "Run To The Hills" and the title track of "Number of the Beast" are blatant HM "pop" songs.

OK, you might say, what about "Kayleigh"?

If you've ever heard the magnificent 1984 Hammersmith Odeon Concert, it's much easier to hear how Kayleigh fits into the concept. In the light of its saturation on FM airplay, it's much harder. It's all about context, I think.

lucas wrote: raggy wrote: The Enid, back in the day, (pre 1987) were the best (live) prog band around. BTW, did you listen to one of their last opus called "White goddess", I think it's a beautifully written album, blending classical music (sarabande, gavotte, chaconne, gigue) with prog-rock music (fantasy, riguardon...). They remain one of the few classical-prog bands (yes, I mean "classical" and not "symphonic", refering to their classical influences as quoted above) not to head away from their classical roots (as is not the case with ELP : "Dark moon" is such a crap, Wakeman and so on).

As a former member of The Stand, and dedicated fan having first seen them at Reading Rock fest in 83, aged 16, ("Something Wicked This Way Comes" make or break tour) I followed RJG and Steve Stewart's carreers, even staying over at their home in Suffolk after gigs. Being an Enid fan was like being a part of a familly. "Members, one of another" was the Stands motto.

 It all went desperately wrong around 88/89. RJG told me that things had been said between him and Steve that couldn't be unsaid and the two had decided to go their seperate ways, (bit of a lovers tiff if you ask me.)

Anyway, I got disillusioned and lost touch. I know they tried their hands at dance crossover when the wolf was at the door with disastrous results. I don't Know what they sound like these days but it was truelly incredible to experience their live shows in that period.

And while we're at it, I have always felt that Black Sabbath's album Sabbath Bloody Sabbath has a prog feel to it, especially with Rick Wakeman guesting on piano and synth. It's the only Black Sabbath album I like/own. All the tracks are good, but I especially like Spiral Architect.

Perhaps this great site should consider a name change, to QUALITYMUSIC ARCHIVES.