Hi! I like classic prog and prog-related.

Here's my last.fm top albums:

https://www.last.fm/user/AKDiamond157/library/albums

Last year my top album was Kimono My House by Sparks.

My current earworm is Alibi by Kayak (but I don't really love them overall). I'm also enjoyed just discovering Slapp Happy. I Never Glid Before by Gong is also a jam but I take Gong by the teaspoon.

Random thoughts:

I prefer the 60s and 70s to the 80s. But I prefer 80s King Crimson (Adrian Belew is fun). I don't really like Pink Floyd. I prefer Genesis with Peter Gabriel, and like some solo Gabriel but not all (mostly early solo). I like some Kate Bush, mostly early. Gentle Giant is great. So is VDGG, but I'm in a more upbeat musical mode at the moment. I like Yezda Urfa, but even more so Happy the Man and Pentwater. I enjoy RPI like PFM, Alphataurus, and Le Orme (but not Banco very much). Folk prog is cool, as is crossover. I don't dig Magma and the ultra-avant, except sometimes maybe I do if it's a vibe, who knows. I'm also basic and dig the Beatles and John Lennon, and such.

Heart of the Matter wrote: If you are looking for classic 70's prog, Emerson Lake & Palmer is a must (1970-73 albums preferably). In the folk-prog vein Jethro Tull comes first to mind (Aqualung - Songs From The Wood - Heavy Horses). With a heavier edge: Rush (2112 - A Farewell To Kings - Permanent Waves - Moving Pictures)

I'm familiar with all the big groups, I think. But thanks for the reccs.

I don't really like ELP much, though I own Brain Salad Surgery on LP. Tull is very good, and I've started enjoying Rush more after not liking them initially.

Pampered Menial by Pavlov's Dog is another album I've enjoyed recently that just came to mind because he sounds like Geddy Lee on helium, ha.

Anyway, your tastes seem to be all over the place as well as very selective. If you can tolerate PD and Rush vocals then try Yes. I also recommend Starcastle, Happy the Man and Ambrosia for some more US prog. Also, Cathedral from the US. Of course there's also Spock's Beard if you don't mind going past the 80's. I would suggest giving some of the retro sounding modern bands a chance though. Anglagard would be another recommendation. Good luck on your journey. Hey, the first few Journey albums too maybe. 

Ronstein wrote: Gryphon, Fruupp, Caravan & Camel all worth a look. (and Greenslade)

Nice suggestions. I enjoy Red Queen to Gryphon Three, and a few tracks by Caravan and Camel (though I find them a little boring overall). I haven't heard of Fruupp, so I'll check that out now!

Edit: After I listen to Red Queen to Gryphon Three again, because that sounds like a great idea. :)

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: The last review on here of Pavlov's Dog was by yours truly. ;) http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1103 Anyway, your tastes seem to be all over the place as well as very selective. If you can tolerate PD and Rush vocals then try Yes. I also recommend Starcastle, Happy the Man and Ambrosia for some more US prog. Also, Cathedral from the US. Of course there's also Spock's Beard if you don't mind going past the 80's. I would suggest giving some of the retro sounding modern bands a chance though. Anglagard would be another recommendation. Good luck on your journey. Hey, the first few Journey albums too maybe.

Yeah, all over the place and selective is fair enough, haha.

Nice, I have Pampered Menial on vinyl - so good!

I know Yes well and have a bunch on vinyl (as well as solo albums) - Awaken is probably my favorite track.

Starcastle is alright but a bit eh. Happy the Man is awesome, I love their self-titled (have it on vinyl).

I feel like I've heard Ambrosia, but I don't recall - will check them out! Same with Cathedral.

I've tried Spock's Beard and Anglagard. They're fine, but I find them a bit forgettable. I also just don't generally like the sound of modern production, even if the material has some interest.

Haha, good P.S. with Journey. I do like their first album.

Ronstein wrote: Gryphon, Fruupp, Caravan & Camel all worth a look. (and Greenslade)

Oh, I forgot to say that yeah, I also like Greenslade and have Spyglass Guest on vinyl, though I kinda find them a little lackluster on relistening. Daughter of Time by Colosseum is a related album that I think has a bit more oomph.

Ronstein wrote: Gryphon, Fruupp, Caravan & Camel all worth a look. (and Greenslade)

Fruupp was a great suggestion. I just listened to Future Legends. Honestly I loved the first track but then wasn't blown away, but then... this is really a great example of the power of the album format. These guys know how to build, and make the whole greater than the sum of the parts. By the time the last two tracks came, I was like, "ok, I get it."

Thanks!

It's my pleasure  My favorite is Seven Secrets, for exactly the reasons you set out above.

Turns out I had "Nice, Nice, Very Nice" by Ambrosia in my liked songs already. I really liked the first two tracks from the self-titled, and the last one. Wow, such a cool sound at many points, but I have a feeling I'm not gonna love the direction they go in the follow-up albums.

Also turns out I had "The Search" from Stained Glass Stories by Cathedral in my liked songs. I added the rest of the album. At a cursory listen it sounds like I won't love all of it, but that there are some rich sounds to explore and enjoy. :)

Good reccs, thanks!

Interesting concept, thanks! Hadn't heard of them.

Only the first two Ambrosia were all that proggy apparently. I haven't heard the later ones but the word on the street is they were more pop leaning(especially if the hits were any indication). Their second album was engineered by Alan Parsons. Speaking of him check out the early Alan Parsons Project albums too if you haven't already.

Ronstein wrote: It's my pleasure  My favorite is Seven Secrets, for exactly the reasons you set out above.

Excellent - I've added all their albums to my Spotify. I was just listening to Modern Masquerades and really liked it too.

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: Only the first two Ambrosia were all that proggy apparently. I haven't heard the later ones but the word on the street is they were more pop leaning(especially if the hits were any indication). Their second album was engineered by Alan Parsons. Speaking of him check out the early Alan Parsons Project albums too if you haven't already.

Already have, but thanks for the suggestion. I find him hit or miss, but with enough "hits" to appreciate for sure.

Also, holy moly, the intro to Drink of Water off the self-titled Ambrosia is really on point. Reminds me of Awaken by Yes, or some David Sancious. Fat organ sound is niiice.

Dellinger wrote: OK, I can think of Anglagard, with Hybris. Focus. Harmonium, with Cinquiem Saison. And Steven Wilson's The Raven that Refused to Sing album. Perhaps even some Big Big Train (for the prog folk thing, and the Gabriel era Genesis similarity), specially with English Electric.

Thanks! I have enjoyed Harmonium a bit. And I was into Focus' Moving Waves for a bit, but kinda got out of it. Appreciate the reccs.

Most of their music is upbeat, chaotic, circus-like punk rock (to put it simply).

'Dog like Sparky' or 'Tarred and feathered' are good songs to start with (that's if you haven't heard them already of course)

Thanks! Also reminds me a bit of Sparks and a touch of the B52's. I'm not into the more punk bits, but love the wackiness and horn bits. A little bit too much on crack for me though. I kept hearing their name though, so glad to listen.

I'll stick to the 60/70s, avoid the biggest names.

-Curved Air

-Illusion

-Carol of Harvest

-Savage Rose

-Mellow Candle

-Cressida

-Sandrose

-Mother Superior

-Earth & Fire

-Spirogyra

Awesome list, thanks!

Yes, I love Curved Air, good pick. Air Cut is such a good album, I'll be sure to check them out some more.

Another good call with Earth & Fire - I like their Song of the Marching Children album. I'll check out their other early albums.

Same with Spirogyra - I've listened to St. Radigunds a bit. Will listen more!

I've enjoyed Cressida too - wish they were on Spotify.

The others are new to me, so I'll have a listen.

An interesting one to explore it seems.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: I doubly recommend everything on Mort Sahl Fan's list, as well as the 132 prog albums I've reviewed so far.

Will take a look!

You want a Prog recommendation? How about Motorpsycho's latest, The All Is One. 

It has something for every Prog fan, I think.

Dellinger wrote: Then you might as well check out Hamburger Concerto too.

I don't recall particularly loving it when I once listened, but I'll give it another go!

Thanks! Sparks is great, glad they're still producing.

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: ^He stated earlier he doesn't care for more modern stuff(even retro sounding)because of the production.

I appreciate any suggestions, but you're not wrong, haha.

It’s kind of amusing how many recommendations are being made that are not taking into account the stated preferences of the person asking for them! 😄 🍿🍿🍿

Yep. I don't pay that much attention to production to be honest but that doesn't mean others don't. I even mentioned Anglagard but then after he said he only wanted modern stuff I stopped mentioning newer bands. But yeah, he said it was more about the production like you said. 

Ronstein wrote: If you like early Genesis, have a listen to Unifaun (sadly just the one album)

Thanks for the suggestion, but they're a bit too much of a knockoff for me.