Battle of the Big 5 (British Prog-Rock)
 

Once upon a time, 5 bands set out (perhaps unknowingly) to define the sub-genre we call progressive rock. Were it not for their work, prog-rock definitely wouldn't be what is today, and would likely have not developed quite as well.

King Crimson: Bob Fripp's gang, often credited with inventing the sub-genre with their debut.

Genesis: Developed at a more gradual pace than KC, but had an impressive run in the 70's which decisively shaped the music.

Yes: Reached their creative peak in the early 70's, releasing essential after essential. Could feel rather bombastic to some, but gifted musicians all the same (even if Anderson's vocals can be annoying at times).

Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd had an earlier debut than any of the other giants here. One might say that "the history of Pink Floyd is the history of prog"since thay saw every mayor stage in the genre's development, at least from it's psychedelic beginnings to it's poppier tendencies in the 80's. One might even add that prog pretty much died as we know it at the time of their break-up (yes, I know about prog-metal, but traditional prog was pretty much extinct at this point).

Jethro Tull: The folksier of the Big 5. Jethro Tull created ambitious concepts in the 70's, which set a standard for those who came later.

So, which is your fave?

I loved Genesis in the 70's, especailly post Gabriel. I know, sacriledge. It seemed their music wasn't intentionally prog, just came out that way. Like they couldn't write a pop song if they're lives depended on it because it would just come out wrong, but still beautiful.

Gonna give this a bump, nice to see some votes.

@Elliott: Duke is my fave Genesis album, though The Lamb would rank as my second fave. I still need to hear some more Genesis, but my ranking is somewhat like this for them:

Duke
TLLDOB
SEBTP
NC & Foxtrot
Invisible Touch
Candy Album (s/t)
Trespass
Abacab

i like robert fripp he's pretty good

I like Robert Fripp, he's a ponce

Anyone care about Tomorrow?, it was the band that Steve Howe was in before Yes. They made their impact around 1968. It's got all that flower-power psych-hippy shit that everybody loved back in the day, but with real song-craft beyond the Beatles mimicry. Here, have a listen.

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvZ9AXgpjPs[/url]

Jamming some Pallas atm, but will listen when I get the chance.

:thumb:

This needs more votes.

@SugarCoatedSour: Heard the song. Quite Beatle-esque, but with more spunk.

Choosing between Crimson and Floyd is torture, but I have to give it up to Crimson.

^King Crimson has the better drumming of the two, but PF were better songwriters imo.

Man, I feel bad for Jethro Tull. I'd vote for them but I already voted. Maybe it was their theatrical hamming it up that did them in. Or they could be a dark horse. I actually liked their space album "A".

[QUOTE=dannyboy89;19028887]This needs more votes.

@SugarCoatedSour: Heard the song. Quite Beatle-esque, but with more spunk.[/QUOTE]

nice,

I'm digging you digging IQ.

^I'm jamming some Genesis atm, but I'll get to IQ soon enough. My knowledge of neo-prog is rather superficial, but I hope to improve that. Everybody on Spunik loves Marillion, but I just can't get into [i]Misplaced Childhood[/i].

I've really yet to get into most neo-prog. I've had IQ on the backburner for a while, then my friend showed me a few tunes off "The Wake" and "Subterranea". Very 80's, very good.

Check Ozric Tentacles for a more alternative 90's approach with very thematic synth work. Very good stuff.

Also check my link in "favorite Camel album" thread. The one for Autumn - Oceanworld.

I've already listened to some OT albums, but I take forever to come back to those guys for some reason.

Erpland and Jurassic Shift are quite necessary

Also, I really can't recommend Autumn - Oceanworld enough. It's a band that sorely fell under the radar with their 1 and only release in 1978. It was instrumental magic of the highest echelons.

This needs more votes.

I can't cast that vote. I'd like to, but those are bands with vastly differing energies.

Only 8 votes? Gonna bump this hard.

Ever heard of Gentle Giant? Well worth checking out, some of the best 70s prog around.

^Yep. Octopus rules face. As do the others I've listened to. Schulman is prob my all-time fave bassist .

Interesting, we have a tie.

Danny my friend, weep your sad prog tears into the eternal goblet of detached hopelessness. Prog will never ever be mainstream, my friends and family don't like it and neither do most people. This has been the never ending mystery since the dawn of time because...it is the greatest music ever created! We must do our part to make our own great prog! I don't care if it takes 8 people left in the forum or 1/8 of that to record a new prog song and post it on this forum. I have spoken.

I'm willing to play the never ending arpeggios

@Elliot: Perhaps you're right. A tie just might be fair enough. All the bands are great tbh.

Don't give up. I've compiled some of the necessary elements needed to write our own prog based on intensive research. The songs should have:

Lydian mode
Classical music influences
Synthsizer
Lyrics based on mythology, fantasy or literature
Never ending arpeggios
5/4 time or other unusual beats.

Feel free to add anything I've left out.

5/4

I'm a huge Tull fan. I like the others though, but Tull wins out for me. I am a flute player, so I'm sure it resonates a bit more with me than others ;)

I've seen them live and also met Ian, very nice guy.