Basically, that genre we've come to love and know called "progressive alternative," or alt-prog. Or altk-prague for all the cool kids out there who are listening (seriously, where'd you all come from? Get back to your lives, don't waste them here with me!). 

Ahem. Anyway, these are those modern bands that have, although sticking with the basic radio friendly sounds of this modern era, refuse to conform to modern radio rock ideals. That means no prog-metal or retro keyboards; just honest alternative and indie influences which happen to be married to psychedelic and progressive ones. Which is why, I theorize, each of these bands has a "good twin," a radio friendly relation, who is sonically similar, but more likely to show up at parties (Radiohead has Coldplay, The Decemberists have Death Cab for Cutie, and The Mars Volta have...uh...I dunno, someone else who's loud and obnoxious but still gets radioplay). Hell, some (well, okay, just Muse) actually GET radio play. At least in my neck of the woodz they do. 

Anyway, I have a suspicion that we should get our lovin' for these bands down right now, since given the way the wheels of society are turning, I don't think that alt-prog is long for this world. Mark my words; soon, the lo-fi/freak folk revolution will have passed, and we'll be back to our punky roots on air...

But, for the moment, let's examine this lot. My two favorites are as thus: my brain says the Radiohead, the more experimental and intelligent of the group, who I feel will be remembered and counted as influences on other bands for miles to come. But my gut says The Decemberists, the more soulful and pleasant of the group, and the ones who speak to the inner folkie.

Others standbys include Porcupine Tree (who are loud and fun, but do tend to go on), The Volta (who are loud and fun, but do tend to go on. And on. And on...) and Muse (who I have nothing in theory against, but somehow never seem to get into as much as you'd expect). 

Climbing in at the last second are two bands that aren't nearly as big as anyone else up there, but Archive and Deerhoof are personal choices. You could say that this is the "labor of love" part of the poll, where I try and push two nice lil' bands into the spotlight. 

Archive is the progressive trip hop outfit that is really boring unless they're being spectacular, both of which they seem to do is spades. Seriously, it boggles my mind that an album with material like "Again," "Goodbye," "Fool" and some other sweet snippets isn't on my constant playlist, until I listen to it again. But they don't get near enough the press they oughta. 

Also, Deerhoof, first seen by myself when I saw them on an indie rock show playing the title track to the album Milk Man. I swiftly decided that I should recommend this noise-rock-meets-Genesis outfit to the archives. Only to learn, horribly enough, that they're already here. Seriously, anyone who...er...likes that sort of thing should investigate them.

progkidjoel wrote: Mars Volta, mainly because I can't stand them... And they're more Alt-rock than prog IMO.

Er, uh, oops...this was a popularity contest, not a "who's most alternative." Hell, I wouldn't even know how to define that. I don't know what alternative sounds like. NO ONE knows what alternative sounds like. We just know what it doesn't sound like, and dump everyone who's left into the great, empty vaccuum of "alt," hoping that they find their respective ways home someday. 

Honestly, do Radiohead and The Decemberists sound anything alike?

progkidjoel wrote: The Whistler wrote: progkidjoel wrote: Mars Volta, mainly because I can't stand them... And they're more Alt-rock than prog IMO. Er, uh, oops...this was a popularity contest, not a "who's most alternative." Hell, I wouldn't even know how to define that. I don't know what alternative sounds like. NO ONE knows what alternative sounds like. We just know what it doesn't sound like, and dump everyone who's left into the great, empty vaccuum of "alt," hoping that they find their respective ways home someday.  Honestly, do Radiohead and The Decemberists sound anything alike? Well, I don't like The Mars Volta, and it mainly stems from the fact that I feel like they are an alternative/hard rock band, not a prog band...

Okay, fair cop. I would personally say that they are a prog band, since they use unconventional and long song structures, but I would also say that they are pretty terrible. Maybe not should-be-dragged-to-an-open-field-and-shot-before-they-infect-someone-else terrible, but surely I-would-rather-visit-my-grandparents-than-listen-to-most-Mars-Volta-songs terrible. 

Atavachron wrote: The Whistler wrote: but surely I-would-rather-visit-my-grandparents-than-listen-to-most-Mars-Volta-songs terrible.  wow, that's bad

It ain't good, the crazy b*****ds.I always said the reason they got better as they went on is because they started SO LOW, it couldn't be helped. Still, I haven't heard the latest one yet. Maybe I'd actually find something to like.