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Progressive rock

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A cliche answer, but if you want great prog rock, check out anything Yes released between 1969 and 1980.

Except Tormato.

also just anything by Rick Wakeman (Best keyboardist ever, sorry rudess, and yes member)

Most accesible prog band I know of is Alan Parsons Project, from their first album to Freudiana, etc
 
My all-time favorite band is Oceansize, a progressive rock band from Manchester, who formed in 1998 and disbanded in 2011. They released 4 studio albums and a few EPs, and I love every single release!

What makes them stand out in my opinion is that they consistently nail the combination of unique, strange and progressive compositions with great melodic hooks.

I highly recommend progressive rock fans to give them a listen if you haven't already.

And if you like them, also be on the lookout for music by British Theatre, an electronic music project by 2 of the former members, and Vennart, the lead singer's solo project. They are also excellent!
 
My all-time favorite band is Oceansize, a progressive rock band from Manchester, who formed in 1998 and disbanded in 2011. They released 4 studio albums and a few EPs, and I love every single release!

What makes them stand out in my opinion is that they consistently nail the combination of unique, strange and progressive compositions with great melodic hooks.

I highly recommend progressive rock fans to give them a listen if you haven't already.

And if you like them, also be on the lookout for music by British Theatre, an electronic music project by 2 of the former members, and Vennart, the lead singer's solo project. They are also excellent!

I'll check them out since they're on Spotify. What's the best album to start with?
 
Listened to some fantastic Finnish old-school progressive rock that I hadn't really paid attention to despite being well aware of both of the bands. Hopefully you guys don't mind Spotify links.

Wigwam - Nuclear Nightclub (1975)
I adore the stuff Wigwam bass player Pekka Pohjola put out during his solo career, but Wigwam never really clicked with me before. This is perhaps their best known album and has a lot more pop sound than their other stuff that I've listened to.

Tasavallan presidentti - Tasavallan presidentti (1969)
If you want something more jazzy and closer to early King Crimson, look no further. Tasavallan presidentti's first album is a mix of bluesy hard rock riffs and jazz. Don't get fooled by the Finnish name (meaning the The President of the Republic) - the lyrics are in English.

Also psyched about Finnforest's studio albums getting reissued on vinyl next March for the first time since their original release back in the 70s. Immediately ordered their complete studio albums box set upon hearing the preoders are open. Their stuff isn't officially available digitally (aside from a studio live consisting of two of their songs) so here's a youtube link to Alpha from their second album.
 
My all-time favorite band is Oceansize, a progressive rock band from Manchester, who formed in 1998 and disbanded in 2011. They released 4 studio albums and a few EPs, and I love every single release!

What makes them stand out in my opinion is that they consistently nail the combination of unique, strange and progressive compositions with great melodic hooks.

I highly recommend progressive rock fans to give them a listen if you haven't already.

And if you like them, also be on the lookout for music by British Theatre, an electronic music project by 2 of the former members, and Vennart, the lead singer's solo project. They are also excellent!

Oceansize was amazing, and it was one of the saddest things ever that they disbanded. British Theatre is good and almost scratches that itch in a way. At least it's better than not having them ever again. If you haven't, definitely check out Vennart's solo album, too. That was great and more rock than BT.

I'll check them out since they're on Spotify. What's the best album to start with?

Can't really go wrong with any of them. Personally I'd maybe say Everyone Into Position.
 
Going to see Hackett on the 18th. Small venue and I got good seats, should be awesome for a Genesis fan. With that said it'll be worth it just to see Every Day and The Steppes live.
 
I've been listening to alot of Genesis lately. God I love Supper's ready.

The ending section of Supper's Ready gives me chills every time.

Going to see Hackett on the 18th. Small venue and I got good seats, should be awesome for a Genesis fan. With that said it'll be worth it just to see Every Day and The Steppes live.

I saw Steve Hackett live a little over a year ago. I'll admit that I haven't kept up with his newer solo stuff, but I was surprised how good it was. The first half of his concerts are always his solo stuff and the second half is Genesis stuff. They were both really enjoyable.
 
King Crimson. The Greatest.

Their 40th anniversary additions are beautiful, and for 20 bucks you get two different masters, alternate albums, high-res versions in stereo and multichannel, and a normal CD disc with the new master.

And the new remixes with mostly Steven Wilson are just amazing. Lizard is a whole new album.
 
I'll check them out since they're on Spotify. What's the best album to start with?

Frames is my favorite. It took me a while to warm up to it, now I think it's a masterpiece. You simply can't go wrong with tracks like "Trail of Fire" or "Only Twin". "The Frame" is the closing track that deserves to be played LOUD when you get to the final minutes. (And try airdrumming along with this track!). Best prog album of 2007.
 
Frames is my favorite. It took me a while to warm up to it, now I think it's a masterpiece. You simply can't go wrong with tracks like "Trail of Fire" or "Only Twin". "The Frame" is the closing track that deserves to be played LOUD when you get to the final minutes. (And try airdrumming along with this track!). Best prog album of 2007.

The Frame is one of the best songs ever made.

Also, I just got Mike Vennart's live DVD and it's really awesome. Definitely suggest grabbing it if you're a fan of his/Oceansize's work.
 
Great thread this. Started listening to Pink Floyd some time last year and now I can say they've probably been my most listened to band since. Animals is my favourite album. Gilmour's guitar playing in that is just sublime.

But now I'm wanting more before I completely exhaust my interest in Floyd. Saw the recommendation for Oceansize in here and from there discovered Porcupine Tree on youtube. Really impressed by PT so far. Their sound has that right level dark and gloomy softness but still throws some hard hitting punches when it wants to ramp up the guitars. A whole lot of Floyd influences can be heard in their albums, they also bare some similarities with Massive Attack and Radiohead. Basically an edgier and grittier Pink Floyd.

For the most part, I find the vocals and lyrics really dull though. Always sounds like it's getting in the way of the soundscape behind it and I just want to hear more of that.

Anyway, just wanted to thank this thread for the recommendations. Theirs a whole lot to take a look at. Tried Opeth. Didn't dig the screamo roaring.
 
Just want to throw Kingston Wall here again for good measurement, because it's one of the best bands ever and I think more progressive rock fans should find them.

For Ozric Tentacles fans, there's a good alternative and I'm sure they've come up in this thread before: Hidria Spacefolk.

Even more underground Finnish progressive rock: Kuha. - Kalifi Myy Mustaa Valoa. They were pretty big in the Finnish UG prog scene in the late 00's.

Also recommend everyone to check some italo-prog bands from the 70's if you haven't. Some of that stuff is fantastic! That scene has produced a lot of interesting progressive rock.
Two of my favourites:
Quella Vecchia Locanda - Quella Vecchia Locanda
Locanda Delle Fate - Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Piu
 
Great thread this. Started listening to Pink Floyd some time last year and now I can say they've probably been my most listened to band since. Animals is my favourite album. Gilmour's guitar playing in that is just sublime.

But now I'm wanting more before I completely exhaust my interest in Floyd. Saw the recommendation for Oceansize in here and from there discovered Porcupine Tree on youtube. Really impressed by PT so far. Their sound has that right level dark and gloomy softness but still throws some hard hitting punches when it wants to ramp up the guitars. A whole lot of Floyd influences can be heard in their albums, they also bare some similarities with Massive Attack and Radiohead. Basically an edgier and grittier Pink Floyd.

For the most part, I find the vocals and lyrics really dull though. Always sounds like it's getting in the way of the soundscape behind it and I just want to hear more of that.

Anyway, just wanted to thank this thread for the recommendations. Theirs a whole lot to take a look at. Tried Opeth. Didn't dig the screamo roaring.

Try The Cardiacs, the best band (almost) nobody has ever heard of. Oceansize and Porcupine's Tree Steven Wilson were great fans. Oceansize did a Cardiacs cover and played live with 'em, Steven Wilson covered "Stoneage Dinosaurs" as part of a Tim Smith tribute.

Som of my favorite tracks are:

All His Geese Are Swans

Is this the life (live)

The Duck and Roger the Horse

The Everso Closely Guarded Line

Dirty Boy


If you want a band that's a lot easier to digest, you could try Anathema. Their CD "Alternative 4" was quite influenced by Pink Floyd, a re-issue even had 4 PF covers on it. Their live CD/Blu-Ray "Universal" is really good. All the songs on it are the definitive versions IMO.
 
I just wanted to post and complain that not enough people are talking about Pain of Salvation's In the Passing Light of Day. It's basically Remedy Lane II.
 
Posting in this thread to check it out later. Progressive rock is totally my jam. Especially old school Progressive Rock such as Eloy, Nektar, Yes, Supertramp, Pink Floyd etc.
 
Great thread this. Started listening to Pink Floyd some time last year and now I can say they've probably been my most listened to band since. Animals is my favourite album. Gilmour's guitar playing in that is just sublime.

But now I'm wanting more before I completely exhaust my interest in Floyd. Saw the recommendation for Oceansize in here and from there discovered Porcupine Tree on youtube. Really impressed by PT so far. Their sound has that right level dark and gloomy softness but still throws some hard hitting punches when it wants to ramp up the guitars. A whole lot of Floyd influences can be heard in their albums, they also bare some similarities with Massive Attack and Radiohead. Basically an edgier and grittier Pink Floyd.

For the most part, I find the vocals and lyrics really dull though. Always sounds like it's getting in the way of the soundscape behind it and I just want to hear more of that.

Anyway, just wanted to thank this thread for the recommendations. Theirs a whole lot to take a look at. Tried Opeth. Didn't dig the screamo roaring.
You could try a Norwegian band called Airbag for something Floydy. Their guitarist Bjorn Riis has a website called Gilmourish. He's obviously a big Gilmour fan and you can hear it in his playing, albeit subtly. Musically they sound similar to Animals era Floyd. Their latest album, "Disconnected" is their best I feel.

I just started listening to Marillion again. Lots of albums I've missed. I think I'm getting back into them.

I like that Hidria Spacefolk.
 
Great thread this. Started listening to Pink Floyd some time last year and now I can say they've probably been my most listened to band since. Animals is my favourite album. Gilmour's guitar playing in that is just sublime.

But now I'm wanting more before I completely exhaust my interest in Floyd. Saw the recommendation for Oceansize in here and from there discovered Porcupine Tree on youtube. Really impressed by PT so far. Their sound has that right level dark and gloomy softness but still throws some hard hitting punches when it wants to ramp up the guitars. A whole lot of Floyd influences can be heard in their albums, they also bare some similarities with Massive Attack and Radiohead. Basically an edgier and grittier Pink Floyd.

For the most part, I find the vocals and lyrics really dull though. Always sounds like it's getting in the way of the soundscape behind it and I just want to hear more of that.

Anyway, just wanted to thank this thread for the recommendations. Theirs a whole lot to take a look at. Tried Opeth. Didn't dig the screamo roaring.

If you like Floyd so much, give Dave Kerzner a try!
 
Great thread this. Started listening to Pink Floyd some time last year and now I can say they've probably been my most listened to band since. Animals is my favourite album. Gilmour's guitar playing in that is just sublime.

But now I'm wanting more before I completely exhaust my interest in Floyd. Saw the recommendation for Oceansize in here and from there discovered Porcupine Tree on youtube. Really impressed by PT so far. Their sound has that right level dark and gloomy softness but still throws some hard hitting punches when it wants to ramp up the guitars. A whole lot of Floyd influences can be heard in their albums, they also bare some similarities with Massive Attack and Radiohead. Basically an edgier and grittier Pink Floyd.

For the most part, I find the vocals and lyrics really dull though. Always sounds like it's getting in the way of the soundscape behind it and I just want to hear more of that.

Anyway, just wanted to thank this thread for the recommendations. Theirs a whole lot to take a look at. Tried Opeth. Didn't dig the screamo roaring.


Try Steven Wilson's solo stuff if you like PT, especially "Hand Cannot Erase"
 
Interesting thread ! Lots of tracks to listen to.

If I should recommend an artist myself it would be Steven Wilson. He is very active (he puts something out at least once a year,be it a full album or remixes/remasters) and his last records are in my opinion masterful !

This track in particular is quiet something:
https://youtu.be/_w8SY_9yO8k

12mn of pure bliss.
 
I love prog and almost every band in this thread, except I could never get into Steve Wilson and Porcupine Tree. Don't know why. He just seems so humorless and dour.
 
I just wanted to post and complain that not enough people are talking about Pain of Salvation's In the Passing Light of Day. It's basically Remedy Lane II.

It's gonna be hard to top that as my AOTY 2017. It's amazing. And yes it is Remedy Lane II. Gildenlow even said on a Facebook post it was called that for a while when he was writing it. There are numerous references/callbacks to Remedy Lane, too.

On a Tuesday is one of their best songs, too.
 
Italian prog rock is great i've been listening some albums lately

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - lo sono nato libero (1973). What a beautiful album, Canto Nomade Per un Prigionero Politico is one of the best prog pieces ever, the rest of the album is fantastic.

Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra (1973), frenetic, angry, melodic, another masterpiece, Opeth's last album try to sound like this but fails.

Celeste - Principe di un giorno (1976), really slow, elegant album, really great but sometimes too slow.

I didn't know there was a prog rock thread in Gaf, Prog is my favorite music genre i love almost all prog bands from the 70's (not a big fan of Rush and ELP to be honest) neither a fan of modern prog rock, Porcupine Tree, Opeth and Tool are the exception.
 
I love prog and almost every band in this thread, except I could never get into Steve Wilson and Porcupine Tree. Don't know why. He just seems so humorless and dour.

Hooray, someone else said it. Never could get into S.Wilson either. Sure he's a nice enough bloke but think he is a tad over rated (ducks for cover).
 
I love prog and almost every band in this thread, except I could never get into Steve Wilson and Porcupine Tree. Don't know why. He just seems so humorless and dour.

It's no problem not being a fan (strokes/folks and all) but I should point out I've seen him live twice and both times he was really down to earth and pretty funny. Maybe the music seems overly serious, but in reality that doesn't seem to be the case.

Just thought it was worth mentioning!
 
It's no problem not being a fan (strokes/folks and all) but I should point out I've seen him live twice and both times he was really down to earth and pretty funny. Maybe the music seems overly serious, but in reality that doesn't seem to be the case.

Just thought it was worth mentioning!

I'm a big fan of his music and was very surprised at how different he was live versus how I expected. He was hilarious and had a great stage presence.
 
Italian prog rock is great i've been listening some albums lately

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - lo sono nato libero (1973). What a beautiful album, Canto Nomade Per un Prigionero Politico is one of the best prog pieces ever, the rest of the album is fantastic.

Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra (1973), frenetic, angry, melodic, another masterpiece, Opeth's last album try to sound like this but fails.

Celeste - Principe di un giorno (1976), really slow, elegant album, really great but sometimes too slow.

I didn't know there was a prog rock thread in Gaf, Prog is my favorite music genre i love almost all prog bands from the 70's (not a big fan of Rush and ELP to be honest) neither a fan of modern prog rock, Porcupine Tree, Opeth and Tool are the exception.

Thanks for this. I'm a prog fan trying to learn to speak Italian so these recommendations are very helpful.

You should check out La Fabricca Dell'assoluto. They are on Spotify. A modern group that mimics the old school sound. Someone else here recommended them earlier and I really love their album.
 
Hooray, someone else said it. Never could get into S.Wilson either. Sure he's a nice enough bloke but think he is a tad over rated (ducks for cover).

I'm not 100% anti-PT. I have In Absentia and Fear of a Blank Planet. I just don't get the intense adoration (I mean I kinda do, but I don't).

It's no problem not being a fan (strokes/folks and all) but I should point out I've seen him live twice and both times he was really down to earth and pretty funny. Maybe the music seems overly serious, but in reality that doesn't seem to be the case.

Just thought it was worth mentioning!

I've heard that S. Wilson can be a bit ruthless to his band members though. Very demanding and draconian.
 
I've heard that S. Wilson can be a bit ruthless to his band members though. Very demanding and draconian.
I could ask Dave Kilminster who played guitar on Wilsons last tour as I follow him on Facebook (and given me some guitar tips). But I think it would be inappropriate to do so.
He also played with Roger Waters on his last 3 or 4 tours.

I did like Hand. Cannot. Erase but I prefer The Raven that Refused To Sing musically. I have a Blu-ray 5.1 which also has a behind the scenes of the making of the album. Alan Parsons engineered that album.
 
I love PT and Steven Wilson's solo efforts, but the live stuff is always so accurate to the album I kinda wonder why I just don't listen to that instead...
 
I love PT and Steven Wilson's solo efforts, but the live stuff is always so accurate to the album I kinda wonder why I just don't listen to that instead...

Weird, actually PT is one of the few bands I listen to live stuff a ton because it sounds so different from the studio versions. I mean he's not going off on a 3 minute noodly solo, but the vibe is completely different from the very controlled, perfected studio version he usually puts out. And they do sometimes do things very different (See: Open Car Live).
 
Weird, actually PT is one of the few bands I listen to live stuff a ton because it sounds so different from the studio versions. I mean he's not going off on a 3 minute noodly solo, but the vibe is completely different from the very controlled, perfected studio version he usually puts out. And they do sometimes do things very different (See: Open Car Live).

It must just be coming from 70s prog rock live stuff where you have Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin doubling or tripling the length of their songs.

I don't think Gilmour has every played the same solo twice.
 
It must just be coming from 70s prog rock live stuff where you have Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin doubling or tripling the length of their songs.

I don't think Gilmour has every played the same solo twice.

Solos tend to be played differently live for PT since a lot of times it's their other touring guitarist that'll play it. And they used to do some really extended stuff back when they were touring on the first few records. Look up the Coma Divine live album and check out Radioactive Toy, for instance. It's 13 minutes long (and fucking amazing)

But yeah Wilson doesn't really go into huuuuuge differences like that. But his studio stuff is usually so pristine and perfect that it makes the live versions sound completely different in energy in tone so that's why I end up listening to the two versions a lot. I almost can't listen to FOABP studio anymore. I like the live versions way more.

Listen to Half-Light live with their 2nd touring singer and listen to that fucking solo. The song is COMPLETELY different in mood and tone from what's on the album. That plus the transition to Sever right after is just insanely good.

I love prog and almost every band in this thread, except I could never get into Steve Wilson and Porcupine Tree. Don't know why. He just seems so humorless and dour.

I love Wilson and PT. My favorite musician and band hands down, but yes he's absolutely humorless and dour, especially compared to some of my other favorite musicians like Devin Townsend, Daniel Gildenlow, and Mikael Akerfeldt.
 
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