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Kings of Neo Prog

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Topic: Kings of Neo Prog

Posted By: WaywardSon
Subject: Kings of Neo Prog
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:15

All the prog Genre´s have their main big top band, like Dream Theater would probably be considered the biggest Prog Metal Band(Judging from the high ratings on the top 100 and also by the number of Dream Theater threads)

Which band is the premiere Neo Prog Band? I always thought it was Marillion (Especially with Fish) by just looking at the Top 100. But lets talk about the here and now, the present. I loved Marillion with Fish, but that was before I bought Satellite´s A Street Between... album. I think this band is truly incredible!!

So who do you think is the biggest(and best) Neo Prog group nowadays?

Replies:

Posted By: eddietrooper
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:21

Marillion were the best in the 80's. But in the last 15 years the best neo-prog has been made by IQ.

Posted By: mr.burns
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:25

Nowadays i guess it will be IQ,the recent release dark matter is is extraordinary.I also sound your appreciation of the a street......album,its one of my recently most played albums.By the way,your avatar is a brilliant album.Probably the best rainbow ever made.

Cheers mate

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Father Ted: Sheep like all wool-bearing animals, instinctively travel north. Where it's colder, and they won't be so stuffy.

Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:25

Now? Really, it's just about the same as it ever was. Marillion was working on a new album last I heard (their website hasn't been updated in awhile, though). IQ has been going strong ever since...Ever! Pendragon just released a great album. Pallas has returned in a big way and Arena just released an albums as well. I think that except for Marillion, now is a much better time for Neo-Prog than the 80s. The 80s were so...cheesy! Everyone knows this. But a lot of Neo-Prog right now isn't cheesy, and if it is, at least the players in the band don't look rediculous! Saens and Strangefish are two millennium Neo bands who are making great prog still. And little if any cheese.

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Posted By: mr.burns
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:26

Eddietrooper you beat me to it

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Father Ted: Sheep like all wool-bearing animals, instinctively travel north. Where it's colder, and they won't be so stuffy.

Posted By: Catholic Flame
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:26

Pendragon

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“Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.”

~Jack Kerouac

Posted By: Maverick
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:26

Ok, I totally agree with RycheMan - SATELLITE is one of the leading neo-prog bands. Satellite created ablosutely WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL music. I've never heard something like Satellite, this band is truly AMAZING. Polish Neo-Prog Champions, no doubt.

MARILLION, indeed (Fish-era).

PENDRAGON - I like them very much. Wonderful music, although there are many rip-offs.

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In PROG We Trust

Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:30

Everybody will say Marillion but imo the best Neo band is IQ.

And since they are classified here as Neo I will also say Strangefish(I think they are symphonic though).

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Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:31

TheProgtologist wrote:

Everybody will say Marillion but imo the best Neo band is IQ.

And since they are classified here as Neo I will also say Strangefish(I think they are symphonic though).

Fortune Telling is even less Neo than Full Scale, IMO. But it's still a tough call.

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http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want!

Posted By: mr.burns
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:32

Ah,the progtologist.The doctor of rock(progrock)

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Father Ted: Sheep like all wool-bearing animals, instinctively travel north. Where it's colder, and they won't be so stuffy.

Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:35

stonebeard wrote:

TheProgtologist wrote:

Everybody will say Marillion but imo the best Neo band is IQ.

And since they are classified here as Neo I will also say Strangefish(I think they are symphonic though).

Fortune Telling is even less Neo than Full Scale, IMO. But it's still a tough call.

I think Fortune Telling is even more symphonic than Full Scale(which has a definite Magic Pie-like vibe,and they are symphonic).

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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:48

Saens are the Neo prog band that have caught my attention the most from the recent bands/ releases. Escaping From The Hands Of God and prophet In A Statistical World are both 5 star albums IMO, although Prophet... is a lot more symphonic than Escaping....

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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005

Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:54

Well no prizes for guessing who I think is the best

Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 15:59

Interesting fact... the earliest album on this site by a band classified as neo-prog (and I'm choosing my words carefully! Wink

) is:

1979

0.00

(0 ratings)

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=462 - GRACE (EN)
Grace

Neo Progressive
(Studio Album)

Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 16:09

Easy Livin wrote:

Interesting fact... the earliest album on this site by a band classified as neo-prog (and I'm choosing my words carefully! Wink

) is:

1979

0.00

(0 ratings)

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=462 - GRACE (EN)
Grace

Neo Progressive
(Studio Album)

who the f**k are they?

Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 16:10

richardh wrote:

Easy Livin wrote:

Interesting fact... the earliest album on this site by a band classified as neo-prog (and I'm choosing my words carefully! Wink

) is:

1979

0.00

(0 ratings)

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=462 -

My thoughts exactly Confused

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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005

Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 16:18

iq are the best imo.

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[HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!>

Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 16:24

I really like the Arena and IQ albums that I have but the best neo-prog album I own is the new Pallas. I like the Cross but found the production is a bit muddy. No problems with that on the Dreams of Men. Great disk. For some reason, I just can not bring myself to dip my toe in the water that is Marillion. What little I have heard has not done it for me and there are so many bashers that I have not been moved to jump in. If I were to, I would probably buy the wrong one. Script or MC or Fugazi or Marbles or Sunlight or Brave. All have people who love them and all have people who don't. And they put out some much "non studio album" material that it just turns me off. I have no problem with bands trying to make money, but they are a bit over the top.

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Biggles was in rehab last Saturday

Posted By: DrGoon
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 16:27

TheProgtologist wrote:

Everybody will say Marillion but imo the best Neo band is IQ.

And since they are classified here as Neo I will also say Strangefish(I think they are symphonic though).

For two years, while Geoff Mann was fronting them, nobody could hold a candle to Twelfth Night.

http://www.twelfthnight.info/history/chapter2.php

Present tense, until somebody tops The Dreams of Men, Pallas are winning.

Posted By: WaywardSon
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 17:53

Thanks for all the info guys

I reckon I will get some IQ and then some Arena to begin with..

Posted By: mr.burns
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 17:57

IQ`s dark matter is brilliant,with one of neo progs best epic song as well.That is a must buy,and i mean must

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Father Ted: Sheep like all wool-bearing animals, instinctively travel north. Where it's colder, and they won't be so stuffy.

Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 17:58

I really need to check out IQ Embarrassed

Right now I'd say Fish Marillion. Pure brilliance, while the H era didn't grab me much.

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http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm

Posted By: mr.burns
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 18:05

Yeah you really do,give it a go.You never know,you might like it

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Father Ted: Sheep like all wool-bearing animals, instinctively travel north. Where it's colder, and they won't be so stuffy.

Posted By: eugene
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 18:30

TheProgtologist wrote:

......

And since they are classified here as Neo I will also say Strangefish(I think they are symphonic though).

I just listened to Strangefish Fortune Telling, and must say it's great, and, well, if it's neo - I like neo, no, it can't be right, - they are symphonic for sure, but even if they are neo - this is best bloody neo I've heard in last 20 years

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carefulwiththataxe

Posted By: fungusucantkill
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 18:36

my number one pick would have to be IQ

its notthat i'm not a fan of marillion its just that sometimes and need some more heaviness in a sence of not nonstop ambiet things

van der graff is creeping up there to

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Posted By: eugene
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 18:58

fungusucantkill wrote:

my number one pick would have to be IQ

its notthat i'm not a fan of marillion its just that sometimes and need some more heaviness in a sence of not nonstop ambiet things

van der graff is creeping up there to

up where is it creeping?

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carefulwiththataxe

Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 19:18

fungusucantkill wrote:

my number one pick would have to be IQ

its notthat i'm not a fan of marillion its just that sometimes and need some more heaviness in a sence of not nonstop ambiet things

van der graff is creeping up there to

Van Der Graaf Confused

, this is a neo thread.

Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 19:22

eugene wrote:

TheProgtologist wrote:

......

And since they are classified here as Neo I will also say Strangefish(I think they are symphonic though).

I haven't listened to Fortune Telling enough, but I content that Strangefish straddles the boarder between Neo and Symphonic, with a tinge of metal. I think people get into the habit of thinking that neo prog has to have 80s IQ-esque cheesy keyboards, whihc is simply not true. A lot of Neo bands are writing great songs, even if they're not breaking new ground. But neither is TFK.

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Posted By: eugene
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 19:40

stonebeard wrote:

eugene wrote:

TheProgtologist wrote:

......

And since they are classified here as Neo I will also say Strangefish(I think they are symphonic though).

I think people get into habit of thinking that neo prog has a lot of crap bands unable to compose anything worth listening to, which partially is true. If bands like Strangefish are considered to be neo prog, then I can say that this subgenre is not completely lost.

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carefulwiththataxe

Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 12 2006 at 19:45

eugene wrote:

stonebeard wrote:

eugene wrote:

TheProgtologist wrote:

......

And since they are classified here as Neo I will also say Strangefish(I think they are symphonic though).

Ehn, there is dissention. I'm still on the fence about them being Neo or not. More critical consideration is needed, by that I mean listening to Full Scale and Fortune Telling for hours on end.

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Posted By: WaywardSon
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 15:55

At the end of Satellite, A Street.... after the song dedicated to his sons (the last track), there is a girl singing some song. Is it in Polish and what is she singing about?

Anyone know?

Posted By: Maverick
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 16:01

RycheMan,
yeah, I noticed this thing too. I don't know what this song about, but I thing it's a kind of a lullaby, I think it is sang by Wojtek Szadkowski's wife to her sons.

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In PROG We Trust

Posted By: WaywardSon
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 16:13

It´s also pretty strange that Wojtek, being the drummer gets all the credit for writing the music. You would think it would be the guitarist or keyboardist. This guy must be a genius!!

Posted By: cuncuna
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 22:12

mr.burns wrote:

IQ`s dark matter is brilliant,with one of neo progs best epic song as well.That is a must buy,and i mean must

There's must be someting wrong with me; I just like Early IQ albums; "The Wake" and "Subterranea". Everything else sounds wasted, weak, uneven, uncomplete, weird (pop stuff; Nonzamo, etc.); way too obviuos, or a Subterranea ripp off...The seven house falls into my personal "a quarter less than bad/hardly listenable"; and Dark Matter sounds erratic; like "¿is this what happens when you take everything you throu away years ago, and paste it toghether?". Good band, but they seriously loose their concentration...

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¡Beware of the Bee!

Posted By: cuncuna
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 22:14

... and the part about the thing that must be wrong with me is that everybody says "Dark Matter is such a great album"... I don't see it.

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¡Beware of the Bee!

Posted By: Rorro
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 23:25

I think IQ is way above marillion, and about Dark Matter, it's a matter of points of view, i think that it is excellent, but i don't try to compare it with anything else, some people says that it is not a good album be cause it's a copy of Genesis songes, and that Harvest of souls is a modern version of Supper's Ready, but i don't see it as a copy, maybe the songwritting yes, but that's all.

Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 23:34

I think Dark Matter is good, but not amazing. That's how I view just bout every IQ album, actually, though The Wake is better than most everything else, IMO.

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Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: May 13 2006 at 23:57

cuncuna wrote:

... and the part about the thing that must be wrong with me is that everybody says "Dark Matter is such a great album"... I don't see it.

dark matter is unequal; harvest of souls is 4.5 stars, while some shorter tracks are only 3.5 stars. since the keyboards involved are vintage and the guitar solos are no more lush, then IMO dark matter is not neo prog anymore. well, maybe just a little bit, say 20% neo-prog...

the best sequence is ever-subterranea-seventh house.

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[HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!>

Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 04:15

As this seems to be developing into a discussion about IQ (correctly of course ) so my thoughts:

First 2 albums (The Wake and Tales From The Lush Attic) very rough and ready.'The Wake' gives an indication of what Genesis married to a punk band might have spawned! After that Nicholls left,tragically undermining them just as they signed to a major record label and were getting some serious attention.The next album 'Nomzamo' was a massive let down featuring the new singer P L Menel.He was from a pop background and did much it seems to turn IQ into a sort of AORish sounding band.The next album 'Are You Sitting Comfortably' very much followed the same pattern although it does have some great moments for sure.After that the band more or less went into hybernation before Nicholls returned (hooray!) for 'Ever'.Here they achieved a perfect combination of the dark edge of the early albums and the smooth slick production of the Menel years.The songs are incredibly strong and the band are tight as you like.Best Neo Prog album IMO.After that they stretched their legs with a double concept album 'Subterranea'.I'm not a great a fan of this to be honest.Its well done on the playing/production front but ultimately is a bit unispired.After that they rerecorded 'Seven Stories Into 98' (OK) before returning with the mighty 'The Seventh House',another belter that comes close to the brilliant 'Ever'.More recently comes 'Dark Matter' which is a deliberate attempt to make a 'retro' prog album.Many seventies prog fans are fond of this for obvious reasons.I think it comes into the good to ok bracket.I feel they have moved away from their strengths a bit and 'Harvest Of Souls' will never be another Suppers Ready.I would rate their albums thus:

Tales From The Lush Attic ***1/2

The Wake ****

Nomzamo **

Are You Sitting Comfortably? **1/2

Ever *****

Subterranea ***

Seven Stories Into 98 ***

The Seventh House ****1/2

Dark Matter ***

There a few other albums (live and a collection of rarites that are really for the fans).I would recommend 'Forever Live' if you want some IQ live.****

Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 04:42

I'd have to say IQ would be the 'kings' of Neo Prog."The Wake" and "Dark Matter" are great albums. Marillion are a great band as well, but i stay with IQ as my desicion.

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It's Calling Me Back To My Home.

Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 07:00

Are we talking about the Kings of Neo-Prog or what album do we like the best?

I was at the opening night of the Pendragon tour on thursday, (I put a review in the live section) and I tell you what.......they are definately back and at the TOP of their game! I was seriously impressed, those of you who thought they had faded away really need to check out this tour! .............flipping amazing!

See the "kings of Neo" suggests to me some consistantly good stuff, and whilst they have not been the most prolific I think Pendragon are more cohesive than Pallas, (put it this way I can sing Pendragon in the bath.......I could not do that with Pallas.....it's all over the place!) I adored IQ, but I do agree with Cuncana. I don't 'get' Dark Matter, and I have listened to it over and over........... but sorry, it don't work with my ears...........maybe I am at fault there?

Strangefish are great, but I think more "princely" that "kingly"........... so yup I vote Pendragon!

P-C

Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 17:33

richardh wrote:

Well no prizes for guessing who I think is the best

The suspense is killing me!!

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Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 05:40

RycheMan wrote:

It´s also pretty strange that Wojtek, being the drummer gets all the credit for writing the music. You would think it would be the guitarist or keyboardist. This guy must be a genius!!

...and he is!!! He made MOONSHINE,my second-favourite neo work after the essential "Script"!!!

Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 05:43

There also few leeser-known neo bands,which make good releases these days.Just to name RED SAND;I got "Mirror of Insanity" from them,and it's excellent!!! Also Scandinavian band GRAND STAND made a great stuff on their last work...Also I adore THE WATCH,but they're pure Symphonic(they're in Neo section because of being the GENESIS-clones or something)

Posted By: eugene
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 06:17

Prog-jester wrote:

There also few leeser-known neo bands,which make good releases these days.Just to name RED SAND;I got "Mirror of Insanity" from them,and it's excellent!!! Also Scandinavian band GRAND STAND made a great stuff on their last work...Also I adore THE WATCH,but they're pure Symphonic(they're in Neo section because of being the GENESIS-clones or something)

I think Grand Stand is as symphonic as it gets, at least Trick of Time album I have.

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carefulwiththataxe

Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 06:26

eugene wrote:

I think Grand Stand is as symphonic as it gets, at least Trick of Time album I have.

OK - Symphonic bounding Neo

Posted By: imoeng
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 09:16

to be honest, through all great pro bands, i just familiar with Dream Theater,, hehehe... Is Opeth included in prog music?

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http://img360.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spmiw7.jpg">

Posted By: maani
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 09:25

If by "premier," one means "the one that set the standard," then it is Marillion hands down. However, if by "permier" one means "today's best," then subjectivity enters the picture.

For my money, the five best neo-prog bands out there (and my "neo-prog" is not the "official" definition, but rather any prog band that entered the picture after 1985, but specifically "filters" the seminal "classic" prog bands) are:

Marillion. The superb "Marbles" shows that they are still very much in the game. They "wrote the book" and they are getting better again.

IQ. "Dark Matter" is certainly brilliant, but so is "Seventh House." Even "Ever" is excellent, as is most of "Subterranea." Simply some of the best neo-prog out there.

The Church. Has everyone forgotten that "Forget Yourself" got the highest ratings on this site (and many others) of any album of 2005? After "Hologram of Baal" and "After Everything Now This," they put out the best album of their career. And the new one, "Uninvited Like the Clouds," if not the masterpiece that FY was, is nevertheless an extraordinarily creative album. These guys are simply amazing.

Pendragon. Although I continue to have a problem with their vocalist, there is no question that their output is excellent.

Porcupine Tree. Yes, I know: they are not "officially" neo-prog. But that is how I think of them, and so they appear on this list. And rightfully so, especially after the superb "Deadwing."

I would also have included Spock's Beard, but I no longer think they are making music as good as they did when Neal Morse was still with them.

That's my two cents. Or maybe five cents.

Peace.