Prog Lounge Topics - Progarchives.com

Longevity

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:17:59 EST

Topic started by Stool Man — Many of the old prog bands of the late 60s/early 70s are still going, still touring, still making new albums. This is, of course, a very good thing. And now that prog is on the up again, even the later bands are starting to be among the older bands around - it's been thirty years since bands like IQ and Marillion released their debut albums. And as well there are a number of bands that I would consider new which have been releasing albums for twenty years. I wonder which of the 20-year bands will be around in another 20 years, and I wonder which of the 40-year+ bands will be releasing new albums fifty years after their debut. Lineup changes help, of course.

The Prog Mind

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:24:43 EST

Topic started by Second Life Syndrome — How important are the philosophies and ideas in prog to you? I find more and more that I often appreciate the lyrical message more than the music, at least at first. The lyrical content often opens up the door for me to fall in love with the music! One example: Riversea's "Out of an Ancient World". This album is a masterpiece in my opinion, but the philosophy is what gripped me at first. Truly, prog is music for thinking men! I've been thinking about this concept for a while, and so I started a Facebook page called The Prog Mind. I want it to be a community of prog lovers that appreciate the message just as much as the melody. They place emphasis on the lyrics and on the music. I feel that this will get us closer and closer to the true soul of prog: that undefinable aura that seems to embrace prog. If you feel like it, join my community at https://www.facebook.com/TheProgMind If not, share your feelings about this topic!

What Prog bands are conspicuous by their absence?

Sat, 11 May 2013 21:29:22 EST

Topic started by Paul Watson-progkiwi — Early this week I was getting my prog show ready and going through a number of longish tracks I'd like to play, and decided to, for research and anecdotal reasons, to search online and see what was currently happening with these bands. The odd thing is a couple of them I couldn't even find anything recent - D'arcana and Simon Says come to mind. And was curious as why that is given how any one could not hear the pounding surge of the prog swell that's happening in the field of music. Prog is getting more mention in the media as well as noticed in the mainstream drawing in new fans and new bands, but not even a Facebook site for these guys (unless I'm looking in the wrong place). My question is - do you know of any bands out there who might be missing the boat while this prog spike is happening, and you'd like to see recording or playing?

Female Prog Composers

Thu, 9 May 2013 13:23:59 EST

Topic started by Smurph — There are tons of bands like Univers Zero, Present, The Mars Volta, that seem to be generally led by musically by one person. I'm not looking for women in prog. I know that's been done on this site. What I'm asking about is where are the female main composers? What elements of culture have made it so that females are rarely the main composers in prog groups? Even groups like Akphaezya, Within Temptation, Koenjihyakkei etc, has a guy writing most of the music. Can you also find examples of females lead composing? I know this question is worded terribly and it's not meant to be sexist. I just want to know.

When did Prog first "Jump the Shark"?

Fri, 3 May 2013 18:08:46 EST

Topic started by JD — To begin with for those aren't familiar with the phrase; From Wikipedia Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery. The usage of "jump the shark" has subsequently broadened beyond television, indicating the moment when a brand, design, or creative effort's evolution loses the essential qualities that initially defined its success and declines, ultimately, into irrelevance. The motivator for me asking is that last weekend I was digging through some old VHS tapes and found my copy of Lisztomania. I hadn't watched it since probably 1985 and had completely forgotten just about everything about it. Well towards the end when Rick Wakeman makes his appearance it became painfully apparent that this was probably the moment. Three full years before the dreaded Love Beach album which, had it not been for Rick's (performance?) involvement in Lisztomania, would have been my first choice. So what do you think. What's your choice for Prog's Jumping the Shark moment?

2013, the rebirth of Neoprog?

Fri, 3 May 2013 15:09:25 EST

Topic started by Aragon — I wonder if we can consider 2013 the reborn of neoprog, because there are over 18 albums released just now vs 17 of progressive metal!!!

Everything is prog?

Wed, 1 May 2013 17:15:17 EST

Topic started by Lord_Adon — Seriously now, the word 'progressive' is supposed to mean progressive.I don't know how you guys feel, but after a while, those elements that might have made some bands progressive for their time now are recycled by bands as if it gives them some novelty that doesn't exist. What do you call this music? It's always called 'prog' but it is not really progressive if you get what I mean. For example, Dream Theater sparked a whole bunch of imitation bands that wanted nothing but to sound exactly like them, it seems... and I would be rude to name-drop.Can that really count as progressive music? I find that if the term 'progressive' is wearing me out, I like to go to avant-garde music sub genres, maybe bands that consider themselves both avant-garde and progressive, or experimental. Otherwise, you end up with a bunch of power metal bands that really want to be Symphony X, or Dream Theater, but lack what makes those bands exciting.

Superstitious with your prog ?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:19:43 EST

Topic started by Melomaniac — Yeah, weird subject, I know. Are you in any way superstitious with your prog ? For example, I love Spock's Beard's Octane, but since the main track, A Flash Before My Eyes, deals with someone dying in a car accident, I NEVER listen to this album in my car. What about you, prog-brothers and sisters ?

Was prog actually popular in the 70s??

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:28:59 EST

Topic started by fudgenuts64 — Hi, I'm curious to know whether the most well known prog had some popularity at it's peak. Like, was stuff like Close to the Edge or Foxtrot commonly known during that time or just a mere niche? This was before my time so I'm very curious to know exactly what prog significance was during it's peak.

Can a band be prog without making a studio album?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:46:05 EST

Topic started by Stool Man — What if a band was very prog,undeniably and obviously prog in its sound and style and instrumentation and technique and all the rest of it, but with the exception that the band never makes a studio album, only live albums. How important is the studio album in regarding this-or-that band as being prog? If the only Gentle Giant album was Playing The Fool, or if the only Genesis album was Seconds Out, would they be prog?If the only Dream Theater albums were their live ones, would they be prog? We seem to mainly focus on a band's studio albums, but what if a band never made one, yet was prolific in the release of live recordings? Stool Man2013-04-22 01:47:02