O.G. Prog Rock and some now

Originally, Prog Rock was called Progressive because it was legitimately boundary-pushing. People hadn't made Rock compositions that were 15-20+ minutes long. People weren't making all these concept records, and incorporating such complex instrumentation.

• When I think of In the Court of the Crimson King, that album is literally progressive. People hadn't implemented this chamber music and Jazz into these complex rock compositions.
• When I think of Animals, I think of a crazy boundary-pushing concept album with literally progressive political themes, which personally resonate with me a lot.
• When I think of Close to the Edge, I think of the crazy guitar sections where they make this literally insane sounding combination work perfectly

Here is the tough pill to swallow:

Most Prog Rock / Prog Metal now isn't remotely as Progressive in the literal sense.

Making music that sounds like Pink Floyd and King Crimson is not Progressive. Those boundaries have been pushed, and unless it's framed in an interesting context, it's just not "progressive" in the literla sense.

Prog Rock stopped meaning "boundary-pushing rock" a long time ago

Quick honest question, what is more progressive:

A) Porcupine Tree's Fear of a Blank Planet

B) Radiohead's Kid A

Here's my honest correct answer: Kid A, unequivocally without any room for disagreement.

So then why is Fear of a Blank Planet Labeled "Prog Rock? Because "Prog Rock" doesn't mean "Rock that is Progressive" anymore, it is a sonic pallette. You can use it like that if you want, but this is no longer what the phrase means.

The issue with the "Progressive Music = Prog adjacent" mindset

Places like Prog Archives have albums like Hounds of Love by Kate Bush labeled "Crossover Prog." That album isn't even Rock, it's an Art Pop / Baroque Pop Album. The Issue is you're then analyzing music based on the wrong lens.

Also, it immediately makes you myopic as to advancements made outside the Prog Rock sphere, or coversely makes you mislabel things which aren't Prog Rock as that.

Most importantly, it leads people to think that only Prog Rock albums can satiate the interests which make you like Prog Rock in the first place. What'd be better to recommend someone bored of the same-old same-old Prog Rock albums, some shreddy Prog Rock album that recycles ideas from Prog greats, or Remain in Light by Talking Heads?

Most people here would say the former, while I'd argue recommending an insane, progressive, and artful Post-Punk / New Wave Album (Remain in Light) would be far better for 99% of people, as they'd branch in to a completely new direction of music they thought was like water and oil (Punk vs Prog Rock).

I've always wanted to better understand the lyrics of this albums, considering that English is not my primary language. Do you know where I can find them?

Spotify Wrapped is out. It called out my March listening as my “Psychedelic Hollywood Progressive Rock” season. That’s a new one.

They said I was all about Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Genesis. They’re not wrong about that part. I just don’t get the “Hollywood” part.

It starts around 2:02, does anyone know if that’s the synth being used there? I can’t find anything online about it, but it really sounds like one.

Hey guys, i am prog lover, but also a reggae fan, i want ear a mix of that two beautiful styles, you know some bands play this genre?

I love them both but I wanna know which one reddit likes more

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The more I listen to this album, the better it gets. ‘Comme un Sage’ is simply magnificent. I honestly feel that had it also been released in English, it would be revered alongside other classically-influenced masterpieces such as A Night At The Opera or Days of Future Passed. But I, for one, am glad that it was only released in Canadian French. The lyrics are absolutely gorgeous and would likely lose a lot of their magic in translation. For instance, the Italian versions of the PFM albums are much superior to their English pressings.

What do you guys think? Underrated? Overrated? I’m interested to hear other opinions!

And moreover, what colors comprise each band’s history?

Just listened to their self-titled from '68, and yowzers. What a masterpiece. I'm curious as to how many of you people are even aware that this album exists, 'cause it seems to be somewhat "obscure".

For some reason I was thinking of the first time I ever heard Mahavishnu Orchestra. The song was "Meeting of the Spirits" from "The Inner Mounting Flame," and I was surprised when I called the radio station only to find out that it wasn't a King Crimson track I'd somehow missed. I'm curious if anyone's had similar experiences, hearing something that sounded like someone else but wasn't.