Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Music Talk Archive 2004: Progressive Rock (aka "Prog Rock")

I know i will step on a toe or 2 here, but HAWKWIND sucks. I just got a copy of thier mid 70's concert and it is bad music period. Someone who posts here earlier this year sent me CAMEL and that is a great example of Prog Rock. I'm playing CAMEL now and musically it is concisce, thematic and orchestrated to fit with the lyrics.

FYI the set list for the HAWKWIND concert AUG 75 @ Watchfield Festival England is .....

HIGH RISE, DAMNATION ALLEY, UNCLE SAM'S ON MARS, ROBOT, I AM THE EYE, SLAP IT ON THE TABLE.

Prog rock is just fine, yes I've already gone on record as saying it's "technically complex but devoid of any feeling" - I'd stand by that, but I do like listening to that kind of stuff every now and then, sure beats some newer jamband stuff (yup that unmentionable band whose name starts with "P").

Well what kind of music do YOU like so we can bash it?

I think that Hawkwind was a good band (R they still together?....I think so). But I recently got a live 2 CD set in the cut out bin at the store in the mall and it sucks!
Hawkwind studio is GREAT lsd music!

I was big on Prog rock up until the Dead took hold of me in '83
I still like old Genesis and Yes and a bunch of that stuff.

hawkwind, like an acid test, is a live experience--it doesn't translate well to live recordings....

I think Yes & Rush may be the exceptions to the No Vibe

mars volta
for new progressive rock

Yes, Flash, Strawbs, Genesis(w/Gabriel), Can, Focus, Gentle Giant, Argent, Moody Blues (Mike Pinder era), Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Gong, Roxy Music, ELP, Hawkwind, PFM and the genre grandaddies, post Rubber Soul Beatles, pre-DSOTM Floyd & King Crimson. All great bands IMO (Not that high on Genesis) The major ingredient is a flashy keyboardist (mellotron a must!) and acid-spacey lyrics sung (not screeched - Rush does not qualify!) over classically inspired, odd rythmic signatures, (can you tap your feet in 21?) played by egotistic, European art-school drop outs & snobs. (see Syd Barret, Robt. Fripp, John Lennon ect.) This is my era, (late 60's - mid 70's) my music, my specialty. PS - The grateful Dead almost qualify, but too much Blues & Rock! Prog bands generally shun the 12 bar. The studio Terrapin Station with the choir & orchestra, is prog-rock fer sher, with Kieth Olsen's sweetening.
Alan

try CAMEL if you can find them in your nearest store.

Oh I think Rush qualifies - to dismiss Geddy as schreeching - something he really only did on the first three albums - is nonsense

Ya gotta add Van Der Graff Generator to that fine list of bands there. As well as their leader - Peter Hammill...who's made a ton of solo albums.

I agree that Rush qualifies

So do Jethro Tull.

GONG & CAN remain heavy in rotation. Hawkiwind also comes up now and again. I like old Genesis but rarely spin that stuff and the shows I downloaded eagerly remain unplayed beyond their initial screening. King Crimson wax also gets a great deal of play.
Gong has been a favorite for a long time. I replaced my vinyl from the day with CDs as they came out. I found, as with all of this music, it really doesn't transalte well to the digital medium. I now own all of my favorite art/prog rock on vinyl once again and I must say, that is indeed the way to listen to this stuff.

While I have a somewhat interested audience, I might add that bands like Acid Mothers Temple(I Know, I know) Jackie O Motherfucker, God Speed You Black Emporer, A Silver Mount Zion et al, are really just the evolution of this music.

For those who enjoy Fripps crazier ventures, you might want to take a stab at some AMT. AMT definately represents the more frenetic end of the spectrum while Jackie O is far more mellow and lush (as a rule).

I will have to say though, there are a lot of these bands that really have not withstood the rigors of time. While Gong and King Crimson remain somewhat timeless and still hold my interest bands like Gentle Giant, Yes and ELP seem quite trite to me now and render little more than a chuckle and a stoned memory.

Here's a site that may interest some of you folks-
http://www.progressiveears.com/
Popi.....I haven't listened to Gong since high school and don't own any. What could you reccommend? If you are a Gong lover, I reccommend you try Steve Hillage-Fish Rising if you haven't already.

We forgot U.K.

I have Hillages Fish RIsing. As for Gong you can't go wrong with the Radio Gnome Trliogy; Flying Teapot, Angells Egg and You. GONG Live si also a hoot along with Camnebert Electrique. I tend to shun the Pierre Morlene stuff Shamal and Expresso II.

Thanks Popi. I might poke around for some of those right now

Hawkwind isn't prog. It's biker crank lsd music.
They are great.

Hawkwind = Orange doubledomes

I would say Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick is technically complex and still creates some of the most extraordinary moods ive ever heard. Yes and Zappa are the ultimate though.

wow, i never thought of zappa as prog.......just in a catagory of his own rock/satire/jazz/funk

Of COurse we can not talk about Prog without talking about early Kraut Rock; CAN, Faust, Brainticket, Agitation Free, Amon Duul and of course the ultimate Kraut Rock album Tarot by Walter Wegmuller.

I think of all of those, Faust and CAN remain heavy in rotation. Faust is some incredible stuff, it is very outside but quite psychedelic.

Any one hear of Brand X with Phil collins on the drums. Good stuff. Mooracan Roll is the album that I really got into. Sometimes I confuse fusion with prog. So I don't know if Brand X fits in Fusion or Prog. But don't get me started with Fusion.

>>> Sometimes I confuse fusion with prog.

Bands like Return To Forever, Mahavishnu etc are fussion. While Brand X is considered fusion I would classify it more as prog considering the band members. THe fusin bands were made up of younger Jazz musicians(at the time) who wanted to explore their field in an electric environment. I believe it was Miles who opened this door.

tree- no doubt zappa's in his own world, but def shows progressive influences. black page #2 on Baby Snakes is ridiculous.

Brand X is jazz fusion and at times (Product) leaned towards pop. Great band. Phil Collins best drumming. Percy Jones, John Goodsall- incredible musicians.

Zappa- never thought of him as prog. Leanings-OK that's fair.
Love Zappa too

Prog. rock is like every other type of music. Some good, some bad.

I like and listen to Yes (with Steve Howe,) ELP and Tull often. Dont care much for what Genesis became but I do like "trick of the tail" (is that title correct? remembering off the top of my head)

Dig rush too but I dont consider it prog rock.

Go older than Trick of the Tail for the best Genesis. Foxtrot and Lamb Lies Down on Broadway w/ Gabriel are real prog, before he left and Genesis became a pop band.

Yes, ELP, Crimson, Tull were all favs in my formative years. Yes' Fragile, I remember from the mid 70s (maybe '76 or so?), which would have made me 13, very formative in my tastes.

Umprhey's McGee- Yes meets 311

I love Umphrey's new album ~ Anchor Drops.

Dyerworlf- some great tunes on that album. i especially like plunger, anchor drops, and uncommon

I haven't heard the album yet. But I just discovered Umphrey a week ago and I must say that I haven't been taken by a band this much in friggin eons. I absolutely LOVE Umphrey's!

Gunnar- i would def check out the new album. Their old drummer in 'local band does ok' was solid but their new drummer in 'anchor drummer' is just simply a better drummer. adds a whole new world to their sound. check it out, tell me what you think

hahah wow, sorry i meant "anchor drops" not "anchor drummer". my bad

WHat is it with you people? Can't you all talk about something without bringing a Jamband into the mix? From what little I have heard of Umphrey I surely cannot call them Prog ROck but just another silly jamband.

dude i hate the whole jam scene just as much you, but umphreys actually have chops

Popi,
Umphrey's bring game.
They are a cut above what I would call the jamband
scene.
Big chops and great songwriting.

Now, I would never call 'em prog rock.

Crimson on the other hand...