I tried to perform a search to see if this had already been posted a few months back, but due to the search function not working properly, I wasn't really successful in that. Anyway, for those of you, who haven't seen this before, this is quite a fun -and encouraging- read.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22875-2007511,00.html - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22875-2007511,00.htm l

Mystery Jets? Never heard of them, must check them out...

"Rees sees a progression towards progressive beginning with the rise of the Strokes, followed by the Libertines, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, the Arctic Monkeys, Antony and the Johnsons."

Yeah...what island have you been on for the past decade!  I actually remember a CNN brief about the Arctic Monkeys saying they were the "new prog." After a minute or two, they played a bit of their music, which as it turns out, is pure thrash/pop/indie crap! These people appeantly don't know that classical-sounding prog is flourishing now in the same way progressive metal was in the late 80s/early 90s. I think this is the best time for prog since Marillion's peak, disregarding the crap bands (who are not even close to prog) mentioned in the article.

^^^ Have you heard something by The Mystery Jets then, Goose? Their debut is only a month old, I will seek it out the next time I make my extensive record shops round in downtown Helsinki... When a band is described as incorporating, among many other bands, the sound of both Pink Floyd AND King Crimson, they must be worth a try!

To Stonebeard: due to me having been completely out of touch for a decade or so now in regards to mainstream music, I am not at all familiar with the music by The Strokes, but I did catch a song of theirs on MTV yesterday, something from the debut if memory serves, and it was very very VERY far removed from anything one might be able to call prog!  Those other artists and bands are not exactly high in prog content either, lol, but The Strokes?? Yikes!

I'd agree that prog does seem to be making something of a comeback; we may never see the days of Persian carpets, capes and grand stage shows involving cannons and inflatable dinosaurs again (a blessing in disguise, I'm sure you'll agree..) but musically, people are tending to sidestep the barbs and delve into the prog of yesteryear.

I've heard The Mystery Jets' album and am in fact seeing them live in May, however it's not your daddy's prog, so to speak. I do find them a little over-reliant on indie at times, but the ambition is there. I'd say the more psych tinged prog bands like Caravan and early Floyd with a smidgeon of King Crimson was the best reference point. Some songs are pure prog though. They have attempted a 10 minute epic called 'Moonlight Satellite', which is VERY KC, but for a lapse into 'Listen To The Flower People' silliness in the middle...They've also done a prog as you like instrumental called 'Zoo Time', with fiddly time signatures, squiggly synths and angular guitars.

salmacis wrote: I've heard The Mystery Jets' album and am in fact seeing them live in May, however it's not your daddy's prog, so to speak. I do find them a little over-reliant on indie at times, but the ambition is there. I'd say the more psych tinged prog bands like Caravan and early Floyd with a smidgeon of King Crimson was the best reference point. Some songs are pure prog though. They have attempted a 10 minute epic called 'Moonlight Satellite', which is VERY KC, but for a lapse into 'Listen To The Flower People' silliness in the middle...They've also done a prog as you like instrumental called 'Zoo Time', with fiddly time signatures, squiggly synths and angular guitars.

Thanks for these very descriptive words, this definitely sounds like my kind of stuff! I'm also no stranger to some of the (more popular) indie bands out there any longer so that is just fine by me... I'm probably more likely to buy something from an indie band than, say, a FK album, anyway   

I also feel that something bigger is brewing on the prog front atm... We might not see the kind of explosion that was witnessed in the early 70s, but just to give an example: today I read in the paper that The Who will attempt to go back the sound of their more proggier efforts on their next album, writing a "mini-opera" no less! If that isn't a sign of something then what is! lol And yeah, the word that nobody dared to speak not so long ago, seems to crop up in the media more and more these days... It's really interesting to see how things develop     

Some people have a very skewed idea of prog- The Strokes, The Libertines, The Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party?? Lord no- Those acts are about as prog as AC/DC!!

"For decades the ancient behemoths of progressive rock were the butt of critics’ jokes. But thanks to new bands like the Mystery Jets, the sound is back"

"Rees sees a progression towards progressive beginning with the rise of the Strokes, followed by the Libertines, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, the Arctic Monkeys, Antony and the Johnsons. “It’s a good time for music,” "

this has made my day!......