I'm just wondering how many votes Yes will actually get.

Hehe

Gaston wrote: I'm just wondering how many votes Yes will actually get. Hehe

Not mine   I voted for Gentle Giant...

Where are Jethro Tull ? Marillion ? I think Marillion is more representative of neo-prog than Glass Hammer, without prejudging of the latter's talent.

Camel released some very impressive stuff and are one of the few prog-bands, along with King Crimson, not to have headed away from their roots. They belong to one of my favourite prog bands.

Focus released one indispensable record : "The Hamburger concerto" which IMHO is one of the best prog CD ever recorded.

Gong have recorded some very original music in the Allen-era (when Moerlen took the lead, they turn to a plain & simple jazz-fusion band). Fun and serious gathered to bring a unique space-psychedelic mood to their music.

Magma are really unique, blending elements of jazz (Elvin Jones and Coltrane influence), opera, Stockhausen and a language of their own. It is not easy to enter their music but when you get used to it, it is a real delight (especially MDK and Kohntarkosz).

Frank Zappa was influenced by a wide range of music genres (from jazz to rock via contemporaneous classical). Although his music is full of fun, his guitar style annoys me. Nevertheless, I think his live in NYC (1977) is really great.

Genesis remain the standard in symphonic prog. The Gabriel-era is simply stunning. In the Collins-era, there were nevertheless some jewels, like the entire "A trick of the tail".

Pink Floyd were at their best with "Dark side of the moon".

Yes released one really good album : "Close to the edge" ("Going for the one" has also 3 great songs, the others being very low in term of music quality).

With Rush, I have the feeling that Geddy realized a bit late that his voice could annoy people who wanted to listen to their music (their earlier stuff would probably belong to my favourites if the voice was then more mature). That's why I only listen to their eighties records.

Gentle giant are musically excellent but the lead vocalist should have been replaced.

ELP have recorded two essential albums : "Tarkus" and "BSS". I think they were a huge influence on most of the prog italian bands that emerged at the same time.

King Crimson created the perfect mix of hard-rock, prog and classical music. "Red" is the best example of their art.

VDGG belong to the same category as KC but here the saxophone plays the role of the guitar. "H to He/Who am the only one" and "Pawn hearts" are indispensable.

Spock's Beard contributed to the revival of prog at the beginning of the nineties, along with The Flower Kings. Both bands don't play anything original but I always listen to their stuff with a great pleasure.

Dream Theater helped popularize prog in the metal world and contributed to the development of "intelligent" metal. "Images and words" is a must-have for any prog afficionado.

The Alan Parsons Project is a good example of what is called art-rock, a music close to prog but with more simpler structures and accessible to a wider audience.

The Strawbs played folk-prog, but I think Jethro Tull or Renaissance are better examples of what brought this subgenre.

Thanks for having the patience to read my post.

Ya I think I'll be the one to agree that this poll is a little bit flawed, basically because you are just outlining the popular bands of prog, and that doesn't essentially make them the best. I mean most prog bands are good in their own way.

But if you want to know who I voted, I voted King Crimson. Even though I haven't been an avid listener of them, they've made some albums that didn't sound like it too much wavered to a certain influence in a certain genre of music like most bands in prog do (ex. Jethro to Celtic folk)

Yep, missed Marrillion and JT. I would've put them instead of The Flower Kings or Spock's Beard.

You can vote for Steve Hillage in the Gong selection if you want, Fantom.

I don't believe it! I'm the first one to vote for Zappa/Mothers. Zappa's band was always tight, his compositions great! MUSIC IS THE BEST.

If he wasn't in the poll, I think I would've voted for Gentle Giant...

Edit: or Jethro Tull, my favourite band at the moment

Glass-Prison wrote: ...surely Porcupine Tree is noteworthy enough to be included with the greats., right?

 As worthy as TFK or Spock's Beard.

Rush is my 'all-time' favourite, Porcupine Tree is my fave at the moment, but I think of all the old bands, King Crimson is the one who always tried to Progress, and not repeating themselves. A band not stuck in the past, but still after all the years, looking to the present and future. Always re-newing themselves.

Rush.

The greatest band in the world. About Geddy´s voice all I have to say is that if Rush´s vocalist was not him it wouldn´t be perfect as it is. The voice matchs perfectly with the band.

Hammar wrote: My Gentle Giant

Oh Yeah,

An other difficult one...my best is not mentionned in your list...but it's real hard for me to take a decision between CAN, Van der Graaf, King Crimson...mmm let's see...ok let's go for VDGG

bityear wrote: Spastic Ink are my favourites

Spastic Ink are the best in the category of modern fusion.

KING CRIMSON

Rain Dancer wrote: KING CRIMSON Sucks !! their only album i bared to listen to was in the court of the crimson king, the rest of their stuff sucks!

Rain Dancer is a fairy who socks pickles!

Genesis is my pick,just because they were the ones who awakened the prog in me many moons ago.The first album i remember hearing is foxtrot back in 1973,it was already a year old by then.

before that i was into bands like grand funk,jimi hendrix,black sabbath and alot heavier sounding groups.

but once i heard genesis it opened my eyes to all the bands on the list  plus more.

i do question having the strawbs on this list ,to me they really are not "prog".i can see why they don't have any votes,don't get me wrong they are one of my favorite bands.peace too all!

PORG4ME

"Rain Dancer is a fairy who socks pickles!"

i think mr REDEYE has many red "things" rather than his eye, or maybe he sits on his eye

Rain Dancer has 2 posts! Must be a clone of someone else that posts here that is too much of a pussy to say what he really thinks.

Rain Dancer wrote: "Rain Dancer is a fairy who socks pickles!" i think mr REDEYE has many red "things" rather than his eye, or maybe he sits on his eye

And here we go, with our new, immature, homophobic, nasty, ego-fueled, inconsiderate, wide-open-for-character-assassination Forums.

Sigh. The inmates are taking over the asylum.

Humans seem to be a cancer on the planet -- not even strangers united by a love of music can be civil to each other. Why not stop hiding behind your nicknames, arrange to meet, and pound the tar out of each other? Wouldn't that be fun?

Maybe I'll just play some Backgammon....

well mr crmson king, i really dont have time to answer your childish behavior, as we can go like this forever

and for Peter Rideout

i am sorry for what i said but i think, for this red eye person he started humilating me for my opinion, you should blame him first
and for you are a collaborator, you are not the guy i want to be pissed of at me, but i expect i have the right to respond to that person's "words"

Rain Dancer wrote: KING CRIMSON Sucks !! their only album i bared to listen to was in the court of the crimson king, the rest of their stuff sucks!

You started it with your very first post. I have the right to defend the band that I like. 

well, defending your band doesnt include by any means humilating whoever attacked them, and i dont think Robert Fripp was a relative of yours or something, whatever.

Rain Dancer wrote: well, defending your band doesnt include by any means humilating whoever attacked them, and i dont think Robert Fripp was a relative of yours or something, whatever.

 a relative of mr. drain mancer perhaps?

CrimsonKing wrote: Rain Dancer wrote: well, defending your band doesnt include by any means humilating whoever attacked them, and i dont think Robert Fripp was a relative of yours or something, whatever.  a relative of mr. drain mancer perhaps?

GO TO HELL !!!

Rain Dancer wrote: CrimsonKing wrote: Rain Dancer wrote: I respect your opinion, but, since I am dubiously related to one Mr. Robert Fripp, I must defend the musicians to the last man, wot?  Really, I say, Jolly Good. I'm a relative of old Robert myself, wot? Let's have a scone and tea, eh? Be my guest, ole chap, hip hip, wot? ha ha

Ah, the spirit of prog-togetherness. Glad to see you chaps getting along so well.

Coming up:

How to join a forum, piss the long-term members off, and get yourself booted out, all in the name of machismo -- in one easy lesson!

http://www.animationfactory.com/free/business/miscellaneous_variant_page_customer_service_desk_sleeping.html">

Peter Rideout wrote: Coming up: How to join a forum, piss the long-term members off, and get yourself booted out, all in the name of machismo -- in one easy lesson!

well i think that crimsond*ck red- whatever started all the inapropriate method of talking over the forum, and instead of just sayin that you are pissed of, do somethong about it, kick him out of here, well i am really pissed off, just to post that i hate crimson king and i think they sucks made this person all talking, bla bla bla. i won't bother opening this forum again, or wasting my time here again, i thought it will be a forum of exchanging ideas and thoughts about progressive rock, but to my surprise for the presence of someone like that crimsonwhatever it turned out to be someplace where you can practise insulting other people, i'm sick of all that, i really wont wast my time here again and search for other rock forums that is more respectfull

  Who cares who started it?  - Let it go, or argue intellectually!

http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001">

http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001"> http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001">

http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001">

Wow, my first post and i find people fighting

Yes, King Crimson, Camel, Camel, Yes, King crimson

i love all the bands but i'll stick with camel they only had 2 votes and KC and YES dont need my help

Jim Garten wrote: and there are even some who (whisper it discretely) will accept the fact that we don't all share the same opinions - strange, but true.

*GASP!*     

Jim Garten wrote: Personally, I voted for KC, as they have been recording/touring for the better part of 35 years, constantly evolving (progressing, if you will), and you may not always like their output, but you'd never be bored by them.

Obviously some people can't get past the "BEST" appellation that other people insist on using for these polls.  And frankly, the very insistence on using that adjective implies a not so subtle opinion that any music other than that made by "my best" band is less worthy than that made by "your best" band.

As I have stated before in this venue, when I see someone use the word "BEST" in these instances I just make the mental excercise of changing the word to "FAVORITE" and move on.  Obviously not everyone seems capable of doing the same.  And I'm starting to think that while my doing it furthers the interplay of respectful debate, that making that mental exercise may also have been a mistake.

In fact I think I am going to take this moment to plead to my fellow progholes that we immediately cease using that word "BEST" when formulating these little polls.  I'm afraid that I don't see the utility in the majority of these polls in the first place and to further the inanity of them by implying that somehow YES or GENESIS have more musical validity than KING CRIMSON or PINK FLOYD only increases the likelihood of acrimony as we've witnessed in this thread.

And further, if typing "FAVORITE" rather than "BEST" is just too much work for you, in either a mental or physical sense, you really don't have any business setting up a poll in the first place.

MAX and manni, since I'm assuming that one or both of you will read this post, I'm going to ask you to consider my words and consider making them policy, whether official or not.

NOW....

Garten, when I come home in the afternoon, I am more likely to grab a YES or a RUSH CD or even SPOCK'S BEARD rather than a KING CRIMSON disk for a number of reasons.  But "In The Court Of The Crimson King" was the album that introduced my tender little barely teenage ears to the wonders of Prog Rock, ever so long ago.  And because of that KING CRIMSON will always occupy a special place for me.

undynamically as always - 'Crow

I whole-heartedly agree with Stormcrow. Replacing Favorite or "fav," for those who hate to spell long words, for the word "BEST" or "Most Technically Brilliant," would or should reduce these pointless arguments over something that's blatantly a personal choice.

I voted for Yes, way back at the beginning of this thread. They are not my FAVORITE, but, they convey the concepts of "MY" vision of progressive rock.

Thank you Gandalf Stormcrow, another "war to end of the race of man" averted.

 ^ Right on guys! -- & furthermore, many of these polls are "interesting," but basically meaningless, unless one is a record company executive.

   As I said elsewhere, if you insist on writing things like "King Crimson suck!" then you can reasonably expect to get some outraged flak in return. (As an aside, I am always surprised -- though given the overall decline in language skills, I suppose I shouldn't be -- to find that most people don't even realize that "this sucks" is a very rude expression, which is sexual in its origin. "This sucks" = "This sucks c**k!" I don't tolerate the word in my classroom, or let my kids say it.

English is a very rich language -- there are many, many more acceptable ways to express displeasure or dislike than "this sucks."

It is so easy to always be negative, but it takes intelligence and guts to be supportive, or to look for the good. A general rule of thumb in the classroom is that every criticism should be counter-balanced by three bits of praise.

ANYONE can destroy or tear down -- few seem willing or able to create or build up!

Finally, Rain Dancer, as a collaborator here (reviewer), as opposed to an administrator or moderator, it's not my call to remove offending people or posts from the Forum. I can, and will, however, voice my personal displeasure, as I did above.

The Internet is a world-wide, public venue. Many people just aren't mature enough to represent themselves well via such a platform. If they wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper along the lines of some of the posts here, it would not be printed (besides, they'd likely have to supply their real name and phone # first), but on the web, it's just too darned easy to be ignorant toward others.

The internet can be a wonderful tool -- it can also, and far too often, be a poisoned place of hatred, ignorance, and plain old basic stupidity. Many are too damaged/immature/consciousless to use it appropriately. That is its major, unavoidable weakness.

That is this man's non-official opinion  -- feel free to disagree, but if you phrase it along the "you suck!" model, I will know how to regard your opinion.....

VelvetClown and Certif1ed:

Your emoticons are absolutely hysterical!  Bravo!!   

RainDancer and CrimsonKing:

As an administrator of the site, I strongly suggest you read the "civility" thread that appears at the top of every forum list, paying specific attention to my own posts, which give a pretty clear picture of what is "expected" here.  Suffice it to say that both of you are close to crossing the line into a first warning (and you only get one).  Ultimately, as one member inferred, if you are unwilling to "kiss and make up" (), you need to at least "put it behind you" (no matter who started it) and try to conduct yourselves in a more...civilized manner.

Stormcrow:

You are indeed correct regarding "best" vs. "favorite."  However, I don't believe this needs to be made into "policy"; if, as you initially suggest, people simply read the word "best" as "favorite," this should suffice.  I will consider posting something in this regard in the "important" notices thread.

All:

Storncrow's point is well taken.  In fact, as I was reading through the posts (before I got to his), I would have made the exact same point had he not done so already.

The word "best" implies something very different from the word "favorite": as Peter points out, this is not simply a matter of semantics.  And when the word "best" is applied to something in the arts (music, art, etc.), it has even less value than it has elsewhere.

No matter what word is used in the polls, they are, ultimately, about "favorites."  And, as has been discussed on many other threads, "favorite" is a matter of taste - and "taste" is subjective and "non-judgeable."  Thus, there should never be the kind of "dialogue" that RainDancer and CrimsonKing engaged in.

If a member chooses to say that a particular band "sucks" (which, I agree with Peter, is a word that should generally be avoided, but will not be censored), this is a subjective judgment - not a personal attack - and should be taken as such.   Thus, the response should not be "defensive," since no "offense" should be inferred.  For example, if someone were to say to me that "Gentle Giant sucks," my response would be "I'm sorry you feel that way; I think they are a really great prog band."  What other response is required?  However, if someone says  "Gentle Giant sucks, and you suck because you like them," that crosses the line into "warning" territory, and possible loss of member privileges.

The posts on this thread have generally been smart and on point.  Let's not denigrate into personal attack and unnecessary tension.

Peace.

BEST implies having an OBJECTIVE view.

FAVOURITE admits it's just an OPINION.

As we are all pedalling opinions here then the use of the word 'Favourite' seems more honest and lets the likes of me (who don't know all that much) off the hook.Now I'll be able to happily spout off bollux without there being any pretence of knowledge  

Why did I call some stranger in a BMW a w**ker today, as he accidentally cut me up on the way to work? Anonymity, that's why. If we'd have been walking along and bumped into one another, face to face as it were, it would have been apollogies all round, each party insisting that the fault was entirely their own.

Never been much of a CK fan myself but please don't feel obliged to launch into a vitriol diatribe at my expense. I you were here with me now, thumbing through my collection, you may be troubled by the scarcity of CK (only got Red and Larks Tongues, which I haven't played for years) yet perhaps appeased  by the Fripp and Bruford which abound. Either way, I doubt we'd end up in a slanging match such as the ones that litter this and other threads.

I voted Yes, 'cus it was "Awaken" that "awoke" the Proghead in me. 

raggy wrote: Why did I call some stranger in a BMW a w**ker today, as he accidentally cut me up on the way to work? Anonymity, that's why. If we'd have been walking along and bumped into one another, face to face as it were, it would have been apollogies all round, each party insisting that the fault was entirely their own. Never been much of a CK fan myself but please don't feel obliged to launch into a vitriol diatribe at my expense. I you were here with me now, thumbing through my collection, you may be troubled by the scarcity of CK (only got Red and Larks Tongues, which I haven't played for years) yet perhaps appeased  by the Fripp and Bruford which abound. Either way, I doubt we'd end up in a slanging match such as the ones that litter this and other threads. I voted Yes, 'cus it was "Awaken" that "awoke" the Proghead in me.

Right on!

Thankfully, raggy, real slanging remains the exception, rather than the rule, here on our dear old Prog Archives.

Of course, anonymity can lead to ready abuse, but only your passengers will hear you in your car (unless you drive a convertible, and use a megaphone, that is!), whereas this is a public forum. Here, the whole world (well, all 427 prog fans, plus the CIA, anyway) can read what we write....

Tull is no. 1 in my book. Then again, I get most of my books from the public library.  Don't know what that means but I like it...

Btw, let's see more fighting and bitching in this forum. Enough with the fake politeness. If you're angered because someone's opinion is DIFFERENT than yours, show them your well rounded and discriminating taste in music by insulting them and cursing their posterity. That'll show 'em your bands are the best....

Btw again, F___ all you tone deaf King Crimson fans! Ha ha!

  Did someone change forum names? This guy sounds strangely familiar.

Fake Politeness? Tone-deaf KC fans? Egad, another troll about, I'd say.... Manni, someone has shat in the sandbox, eh?

http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001">

Actually, Danbo, methinks that sonofsamimnot was poking fun at all of us, and the idea that, simply because one can unleash invective and insult, it somehow makes them "righter" about their favorites than someone else is about theirs.

If not, we'll soon find out, no?

Peace.

Just a small bit of humor there folks. ( and I do mean a small bit ). No need or use for trolls here, just another proggie with a different outlook on things...

Oh...

Q: Why is there no such thing as a tone deaf KC fan?

A: That's a trick question. King Crimson has no fans!

Just teasing, lighten up!

in my opinion all these bands have their own advantages and disadvantages related with music and mood... 

my "favorite" would be KingCrimson, D.Theatre, zappa, yes, emerson, lake and palmer... lets say i like majority of mentioned bands (to be precise these which i realy know and have heared) and I wouldn't like to mark out some of them, maybe it's newbie opinion (i mean not only my status here) maybe i dont have very clearly opinion about some of the bands, but i know that this is right music and that is enough for me... I dont give a sh*t what other think about one or other band i just listen and enjoy music...

sonofsamimnot wrote: Tull is no. 1 in my book. Then again, I get most of my books from the public library.  Don't know what that means but I like it... Btw, let's see more fighting and bitching in this forum. Enough with the fake politeness. If you're angered because someone's opinion is DIFFERENT than yours, show them your well rounded and discriminating taste in music by insulting them and cursing their posterity. That'll show 'em your bands are the best.... Btw again, F___ all you tone deaf King Crimson fans! Ha ha!

I'm never angered... such waste of energy!

DoomHammer wrote: well, exactly, KC are never boring, but i was shocked by their last album "a power to believe" it was something other than progressive, but for a great band like that i could blame myself for not liking one of their albums

Really? I was really impressed by that album. 'The ConstruKction of Light', on the other hand: perhaps the only KC album that I don't really like. I'm not sure why, but I can hardly get through it from beginning to end without feeling exhausted.

My vote definately goes with KC, in any case. I love almost everything they've ever done, and they have never ceased to push forward. Strangely, I'm usually a bit thrown everytime I listen to something new by them (or old, working my way through the back catalogue). But inevitably, after multiple listens, I exclaim, "Wow, this is fantastic. Don't know why I didn't see it at first." Only exceptions: TCOL and parts of 'Islands'.

Wayman

On that list my favorite is Camel

But porcupine tree is my favorite band of all time