THE MOST TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT PROG ROCK BAND
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23040
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Topic: THE MOST TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT PROG ROCK BAND
Posted By: Minkia
Subject: THE MOST TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT PROG ROCK BAND
Date Posted: May 08 2006 at 18:34
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Which is in your humble opinion the most technically proficient progressive rock band, in terms of each individual band member showing their individual talent on their work?
Let's hear it. |
Replies:
Posted By: heyitsthatguy
Date Posted: May 08 2006 at 22:14
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Well, since we're technically talking, you can't have a "technical skill" thread without at LEAST one mention of DREAM THEATER.
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Posted By: chamberry
Date Posted: May 08 2006 at 22:37
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The Mahavishnu Orchestra is also worth mentioning. Just look at this video to see for yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J88Ep3_vKIk&search=mahavishnu%20orchestra - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J88Ep3_vKIk&search=mahavishnu%20orchestra Garanteed to blow your head off  ------------- 
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Posted By: video vertigo
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 02:23
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Rush, Yes, Asia ------------- "The rock and roll business is pretty absurd, but the world of serious music is much worse." - Zappa |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 02:37
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Gong.
-------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 03:24
 DEEP PURPLE - throughout their long history purple have always had the most proficient players in their midst, most recently Steve Morse, a very gifted guitar player in his own right, and Don Airey, who on keyboards is a worthy successor to the classicly brilliant Jon Lord, one of the best hammond players ever. no other group has attempted to merge themselves with a full orchestra, i thought the results debatable but the group were pleased, they pulled off a technical miracle! their most popular album "machine head" was recorded in less than perfect conditions, though remains a technical masterpiece, from the opening bars Blackmore and Lord are duelling and matching each other note for note at an amazing speed. AND available in 5.1 surround sound and SACD. need i mention the phenomenal skills of Ritchie Blackmore....very few guitarists have come close to match his phenomenal virtuosity, like Ian Gillan and Steve Morse he managed his own group very sucessfully for many years. Ian Paice is one if not THE most technically proficient drummers in the world, his "break" on Made in Japan is a joy, and Ian Gillan remains one of the most gifted voices in rock, his amazing screeeeeeeams have to be heard to be believed!!!! today the group get better and better, hardly a duff album (maybe one or two, material which most top groups would have given their back teeth for) in their entire catalogue. so there you have it - my case for Deep Purple, the most technically proficient band of all!   -------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 03:28
WHY??.................i've never heard Gong.  ------------- Prog Archives Tour Van
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BaldFriede wrote:Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 03:29
WHY??? ------------- Prog Archives Tour Van
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Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 03:29
WHY???? ------------- Prog Archives Tour Van
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Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 04:37
Gong had THE drummer (the late Pierre Moerlen; see my signature pic) and THE flautist and sax player (Didier Malherbe, especially unbeatable on flute. And don't mention Ian Anderson; he pales in comparison). And Steve Hillage on guitar and Mike Howlett on bass are no slouches either. The tightest band ever. And, by the way, Daevid Allen is not a bad guitar player either, though he left the lead to Hillage and only played glissando guitar. ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 04:56
True, listen to Camembert Electrique and some of his solo albums for proof.
I'd also nominate (from the old school)
Currently I'd say that the most technically proficient band around is probably Koenjihyakkei - Angherr Shisspa is an awesomely powerful album. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 05:26
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Can someone define 'Technically profficient' I know what it means to me, but there may be some people here who are just inclined to mention their favourite bands.
If by 'technical profficiency' we mean most complex/difficult to excecute musicianship, then the most profficient artists are likely to be jazz/rock fusion bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X etc. IMO. The term could also apply to artists like Robert John Godfrey of The Enid, who is a respected composer and brilliant pianist. I have to admit, even though I dont think they have an ounce of soul in their song writing, Dream Theater are probably among the most technically profficient rock musicians in the business. I'd like to hear the views of 'technically profficient' musicians on this matter... ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 12:18
| Have to say those few prog bands that pre-glasnost Eastern European Iron Curtain countries allowed to perform and record fit this requirement: the then Czech Collegium Musicum and Russian Horizont immediate suggest themselves - and equally their records suggest that they were graduates from the best local music colleges. |
Posted By: eddietrooper
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 12:42
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Dream Theater beats them all in this aspect. I don't know any guitarist with better technical skills than Petrucci, and the rest of the band are all extremely good on their instruments too.
Of course that doesn't mean that they are the best band. |
Posted By: R o V e R
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 13:57
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Rush
Dreamtheatre
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Posted By: wolf0621
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 15:00
I have the same definition as you...For me it's Zappa. The way he moved between musical styles & some at times incredibly complex arrangements, then managed to replicate it all in a live situation is amazing. Especially considering how often the band's lineup changed...Only one thing remained constant: the high level of musicianship. FZ was really a musical perfectionist & it showed...
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Posted By: daz2112
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 15:01
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Rush!!!!!!!!!! ------------- In the constellation of cygnus,There lurks a mysterious force...The black hole |
Posted By: Serguilloche
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 15:32
My vote goes to Dream Theater - they don't have a weak link. Each member is a master of his instrument (ooer) and if I had to compile a top 5 for each of those instruments in prog, they would all appear. I kow that last sentence didn't make any sense, but you know what I mean  Even James is one of the foremost tambourinists in the arena of handheld percussion. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Serguilloche/?chartstyle=Bubbles"> 
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Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 16:06
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We're going to sit here and pretend ELP didn't exist, aren't we. Tarkus still has to be one of the most (if not THE most) demanding suites in prog to play.. and they played it, so.. ELP. (not that I'm a great fan of the band..) |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 16:11
Magma in the "Live / Hhai" line-up was first class too, with a very young Didier Lockwood (he was 17 or 18 at that time.). ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 16:16
From what I've heard though, they are a very noodle-tastic band and well, their tunes to me, don't have any melody or soul, they seem to show off unnecessarily. No denying their skill, I realise how skilled they are, but it's not purely on individual techinical ability, it goes so much further than that. -------------   
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Posted By: heyitsthatguy
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 16:24
First of all, yes, they do tend to drag songs on for too long sometimes. But does that mean they can't play with emotion? Just listen through the song Octavarium. And BTW James' killer "egg shaker" solo at the beginning of Metropolis pt 1 should be showcased throughout the ages. -------------
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Posted By: Toob-Wurm
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 21:34
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For some reason, I always seem to see threads about "Fastest Shredder" or "Most Technically Proficient," but I almost never see things like "Best Songwriting" or "Most Musical." Why is that? I don't understand... I thought this was a prog forum. ------------- 
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Posted By: heyitsthatguy
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 21:39
HMMMMM......... -------------
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Posted By: Toob-Wurm
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 21:47
You don't have to be Prog to play something that's technically difficult. To be prog, you have to take it a step further and think about how you will apply this skill to your songs. -------------
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 02:02
That was AWESOME! I was wondering why Jan wasn't getting any face time there but his solo later on up for it—nice wailing on the MiniMoog but just not enough for my taste!! Still, that was killer. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: video vertigo
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 03:16
Rush has one of the most talented drummers of Rock music. Made the drummer hall of fame like 8 times. Lee and Lifeson are also hall of famers. Lee is a very talented musician overall, and one of the top prog bassists. Lifeson is a very skilled rythym guitarists, and had some wicked solos. Check out YYZ and La Villa Strangiato.
Yes had a supergroup line up with a very well known frontman: Anderson, and my favorite guitarist: Howe, tied for prog's favorite keyboardist: Wakeman, an incredible bassist: Squire and the most progressive drummer: Bruford
Asia was a supergroup with incredible talent. Although they didn't perform as well as they should have with the amount of talent they were still technically proficient. ------------- "The rock and roll business is pretty absurd, but the world of serious music is much worse." - Zappa |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 08:00
RUSH are extremely Technical Dream Theater's weakest link is thier vocals and lyrics |
Posted By: Rorro
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 09:56
I think THat TFK beats Dream Theater in that aspect. Also Planet X , Anglagärd and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X , Henry Cow,... .
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Posted By: Velvetclown
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 10:37
Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant  ------------- Billy Connolly Dream Theater Terry Gilliam Hagen Quartet Jethro Tull Mike Keneally |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:49
| Off the top of my head, I'd say the Mahavishnu Orchestra. "Birds of Fire" just blew me away the first time I listened to it. I think Bruford-era Yes, ELP and GG are also deserving of a mention - even though I can't really say whether they really are the MOST proficient of all. And many Canterbury bands were no slouches either - just think of Hatfield and the North or National Health. |
Posted By: Rorro
Date Posted: May 11 2006 at 13:38
| Birds Of Fire is THE Masterpiece of Jazz-Rock/Fusion IMO. |
Posted By: eddietrooper
Date Posted: May 11 2006 at 18:41
TFK are good instrumentists but...Are you meaning that Roine Stolt would be able to play Petrucci's high speed solos? No way. Roine's technique is typical mid-70's guitar technique, not bad, but it can't be compared with the extreme speed and precision of Petrucci, which is based on guitar techniques developed in the late 70's and 80's by guitarists like Van Halen, Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, Malmsteen, etc. If we talk about feeling I prefer Roine, but from a technical point of view is obvious that Petrucci wins.
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Posted By: mrgd
Date Posted: May 11 2006 at 20:07
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' Technical proficiency' is one of the traits, among others , which helps define prog. imo., but its certainly not all there is . Many bands/songwriters write simple and beautiful melodies in an atmosphere where instrumental or vocal 'pyrotechnics' would simply be destructive [e.g. 'Lazarus' from 'Deadwing'].This is no less musically or technically proficient IMO.
But since this thread seems to be leaning the other way re. tech. prof. I'm suggesting UK-- that is, the band responsible for that debut album . They were superTP imo with perhaps only the vocals being slightly weaker.
I also agree with WOLF0621's comments about ZAPPA's bands. ------------- Looking still the same after all these years... mrgd |
Posted By: Arsillus
Date Posted: May 11 2006 at 20:26
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Rush. |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: May 11 2006 at 20:28
Lee,Lifeson,Peart. Cant be beaten.......... |
Posted By: Kleynan
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 20:29
YES! A gang of f**king big VIRTUOSOS!  ------------- 
You've just had a heavy session of electroshock therapy, and you're more relaxed than you've been in weeks. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 22:27
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Bring back the solos, Alex!! ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Toob-Wurm
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 00:07
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Behold, the Arctopus... Spiral Architect... -------------
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Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 14:13
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Gentle Giant.
Dream Theater are only technically proficient in the techniques of playing - which is completely different to being technically proficient at music. For example, a robot could be trained to sweep pick and use all the other techniques involved in playing, yet be hopeless at composition. Gentle Giant's compositions are virtually peerless, and the breath, depth and techniques used in composition are matchless, while the execution is near-perfect. RJG of the Enid is a virtuosic composer in the "Classical" sense, but I find some of his rock writing a bit too whimsical for my tastes. GG, OTOH, combine rock "swing" and feel with an equal feel for composition. Yes are let down by the monotone vocals and cheap vocal harmonies, while Rush are technically proficient in a relatively narrow range - the acoustic side of them is almost always weak and riff-based rather than exploratory. Gong have produced some incredible work, with undeniable and brilliantly understated showmanship, yet I feel their compositions tend to meander sometimes, and Mahavishnu Orchestra are let down badly by the too-meandering and over-talkative guitar that too often has nothing to say. So Gentle Giant all the way! ------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 14:16
Not subjective in the least....
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Posted By: KoS
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 14:16
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Gentle Giant Dream Theater Mahavisnhu Frank Zappa |
Posted By: chamberry
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 16:00
That video actually made me buy the album. I was like  !-------------
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Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 16:45
If I elaborated we'd be here all week... month... and the rest... 
I am talking about technique here - measurable and relatively objective stuff, not vague matters of taste. If someone plays very fast, we can probably agree that that person is fast - ie they have a fast playing technique. Likewise, if someone uses advanced contrapuntal writing skills, then that is a technique - one which is very rare indeed in Rock music, but prolific in Gentle Giant. Then I'd probably have to explain what contrapuntal means, and polyphony vs simple harmonic writing - and we haven't got past counterpoint yet. D'you see why I kept it short? Just take my word for it - GG are the most technically proficient. It doesn't mean you have to like them.  ------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: nursethisviper
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 22:33
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As the best guitarist of a generation, I think Omar of the Mars Volta definitely deserves a mention... but since the other 40 members of the group have weirdo roles I can't really pin down who's awesome at what. *Shakes fists in anguish*
Rush is good, and I can see the "Peart is god" camp is out in force here.
 The members of Dream Theater are amazing at "technical proficiency," but they hardly form a "band," so I'm not going with them. Overall I'd have to say ELP, simply because each member of the band was simply amazing at what they did (and I think Lake deserves a LOT more credit than he gets).I don't have much Gentle Giant, but I haven't heard anything to make me disagree from what you all are saying about them. Certainly a very skilled set of musicians there. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/nursethisviper/?chartstyle=redfive">  Proggin' it up eight days a week...
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Posted By: Barla
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 00:10
| Another ones could be Liquid Tension Experiment, Weather Report and Symphony X, but there are much more ... |
Posted By: Angeldust
Date Posted: May 16 2006 at 03:01
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Well not prog rock, but definately prog.Watchtower of course ! ------------- 
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: May 18 2006 at 15:34
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I read here and I laugh.... Dream Theater.... hehehehehe
ELP were the most technically proficient. So were King Crimson and Yes with certain lineups. Gentle Giant were also great musicians, just horrible at composition. ------------- THIS IS ELP 
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Posted By: Asyte2c00
Date Posted: May 18 2006 at 19:38
| tool or dream theater |
Posted By: rushfan6588
Date Posted: May 18 2006 at 20:16
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i feel that bill bruford's band for one of a kind was very strong technically, but the most technically proficient to me is Bruford Levin Upper Extremities ------------- If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice. |