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More in the vein of Dio-channeling prog singers, Jeff Scott Soto of the progressive/hard rock "supergroup" Sons of Apollo (also featuring Mike Portnoy on drums, Billy Sheehan on bass, Derek Sherinian on keys, and current Asia singer Bumblefoot on guitar). Soto previously had a cup of coffee in Journey, and was famous in guitar circles as Yngwie Malmsteen's initial solo career lead singer.

 
I'm aware of Dio :grin:

Unforuantely he was one of those guys who needed a good band. His band were not that. Sabbath were, until he had a hissy fit and left after Mob Rules. Both that and Heaven and Hell are excellent albums, although the latter less so because Vinnie Appice is a terrible drummer and the songwriting isn't as consistent.

Rainbow had some decent tunes (Tarot Woman, Stargazer, Chase the Rainbow, Lady of the Lake, and others).

Dio the band was a very mixed bag. Some great tracks (Mystery, Caught in the Middle, Holy Diver, Hungry for Heaven) but the rest were just cringe inducing cock rock rubbish. His backing band was just never as good as Iommi or Butler. A shame because he himself was always consistently excellent, right up until his death.

There are many singers like this: great, but they need the right band behind them. Fish, Jon Anderson, Bruce Dickinson, that twat out of Queensyrche.

I appreciate the input though :smile:
For Dio, my rule if thumb is, if it has Vivian Campbell on guitar, it's likely to be good.

Another band to check out for amazing imagery on the lyrics is Thin Lizzy.
 
Fun fact: my kids were watching some Minecraft video on YouTube and suddenly it started playing "Roundabout" by Yes. They looked at each other and said, "We have this record!"
 
The rule on this thread is not to worry too much about what is or isn't technically prog and just share music you like that you feel has prog qualities, whatever that means.
In that case, check this out -

 
Jade Warrior is an oft-forgotten original era British band. They're kind of known for pre-saging New Age music alongside Mike Oldfield and Tangerine Dream, but they were also quite capable of heavy rock, in the vein of Jethro Tull or the harder edge Gentle Giant tracks:

 
I saw them a few days later at Wembley. My first stadium gig. Seen them on each if their last two tours and they still have it.
That's the only time I've ever seen them. I don't go to gigs much anymore. At this point I think they are starting to slow somewhat.
 
That's the only time I've ever seen them. I don't go to gigs much anymore. At this point I think they are starting to slow somewhat.
They really aren't. The Book of souls was a solid album and the Legacy of the Beast tour was fantastic to see.
 
I'm going to a Yes/Asia/John Lodge/ELP Legacy concert tonight. As the last two prog rock concerts I went to (Riverside, and Haken/Leprous/Bent Knee) all attracted much younger crowds, it will be nice to be surrounded by people who make me feel young again. ;)

I'm unnaturally excited about seeing Asia, as I've never seen any version of Asia before. I've seen Yes numerous times in various configurations, and have seen both The Moody Blues and Carl Palmer before.

But I'm most excited to see Arthur Brown who will be singing with ELP Legacy on Karn Evil 9, Knife Edge, Lucky Man, and his own classic, Fire.

 
I love yes, but they really need to call it a day

It would feel harsh to "like" statement, I'll admit ever since Chris Squire passed, I've stopped tracking their Live gigs. Whatever one things of Yes later albums, Squire on stage was worth admisson price alone - and the other guys weren't bad either!
 
It's just time. Chris, like Jon, are just players you can't replace. Jon Davidson, like Billy Sherwood, are decent musicians and seem like good guys, but it's just an impossible task. Their last album was just so anodyne, only one decent track (the Game).

It's so sad, Steve seems like he's still on point, but clearly Alan isn't. I think that he only plays on a couple of tracks and doesn't play a full set :sad:

Meanwhile Jon Anderson is singing really well right now.

I don't feel good saying it, but unless the band really evolves - perhaps with a whole suite of new players (Rick Wakeman once quipped that he thought there'd be a Yes long after he's gone). But watching them is like a tribute band - of themselves. It's just the nature of the band;each of them is a unique voice that simply can't be emulated. Sure you can play Chris' lines (technically there are better players out there, but none of them are Chris Squire), but you aren't...Chris. Same with Jon.
 
At the Cary show tonight, Alan played four and one-half songs. America, half of Gates of Delirium, Imagine, Roundabout and Starship Trooper.

I'm not a fan of Jon Anderson, and Drama is my favourite Yes album, so I've definitely never viewed Anderson as irreplacable. And though I am a Chris Squire fan, I'm satisfied with his replacement too. While I agree with those who think of Heaven & Earth as being pants, tonight's show was as good as any Yes lineup I've seen. And minus Banks, Horn, or Moraz, I think I've seen them all.

The real shocker for me is that Carl Palmer actually seems...younger than he did the last time I saw him two years ago. He did not seem winded after the ELP Legacy set this time (one more song than last time, with the addition of Fire), and did the whole of the Asia set to boot.

And Arthur Fucking Brown. O.M.G. of hellfire.
 
I've ordered a copy of Wish You Were Here as I like it much more than Dark Side of the Moon after watching a documentary of its recording and listening to it on YouTube. :thumbsup:
wish-you-were-album-cover.jpg
 
I've ordered a copy of Wish You Were Here as I like it much more than Dark Side of the Moon after watching a documentary of its recording and listening to it on YouTube. :thumbsup:
If you want to experience Pink Floyd's prog side, get Unnagumma and Atom Heart Mother. The latter one was the album Roger Waters famously said he'd refuse to play it for $1 million cash.
 
I've ordered a copy of Wish You Were Here as I like it much more than Dark Side of the Moon after watching a documentary of its recording and listening to it on YouTube. :thumbsup:

Yeah Dark Side never did much for me and I much preferred Wish You Were Here. Lots of my friends as teens were into it but whenever I listened all I heard was a lot of blues chords with reverb. Haven’t revisited it. Meddle is my favourite of the post-Syd records.

 
Although I have it on cassette (i think that's what the Olde Ones call it), I picked up Drama by Yes on CD. Despite Trevor Horn it is actually a very good album. Steve Howe has some interesting parts when he's not soloing over everything. Howe in Yes is a bit like the Trek movies; the odd ones are shit (exccept TMP) - here the odd ones are the ones where his tone is shit and he solos everywhere. Downes keyboards are a really timely change from Trilling Wakeman. But it was never going to last. But the whole package is bitter suite: one of the best tracks is the one where Squire, for the first (and thankfully last) time, isn't the bass player (Run Though the Light), and the album rounds out with outtakes from before Jon and Rick quit the band. Such a tonal shift and weird hearing what could have been at the end of this album. Best track is of course Vide...sorry...Machine Messiah.

I also bought Voyage of the Acolyte by Steve Hackett who is always a mixed bag for me. Half his albums consist of really great tracks, the other seem to be joke songs. Voyage is probably the most consistent, though I have yet to listen to everything he's done. The only other work of his I have is Squackett (aside from some Genesis). I might have Spectracl Mornings on record somewhere, I can't remember, but that's the one of his I listen to the most. Was the first Hackett I ever heard.
 
Although I have it on cassette (i think that's what the Olde Ones call it), I picked up Drama by Yes on CD. Despite Trevor Horn it is actually a very good album. Steve Howe has some interesting parts when he's not soloing over everything. Howe in Yes is a bit like the Trek movies; the odd ones are shit (exccept TMP) - here the odd ones are the ones where his tone is shit and he solos everywhere. Downes keyboards are a really timely change from Trilling Wakeman. But it was never going to last. But the whole package is bitter suite: one of the best tracks is the one where Squire, for the first (and thankfully last) time, isn't the bass player (Run Though the Light), and the album rounds out with outtakes from before Jon and Rick quit the band. Such a tonal shift and weird hearing what could have been at the end of this album. Best track is of course Vide...sorry...Machine Messiah.

I also bought Voyage of the Acolyte by Steve Hackett who is always a mixed bag for me. Half his albums consist of really great tracks, the other seem to be joke songs. Voyage is probably the most consistent, though I have yet to listen to everything he's done. The only other work of his I have is Squackett (aside from some Genesis). I might have Spectracl Mornings on record somewhere, I can't remember, but that's the one of his I listen to the most. Was the first Hackett I ever heard.

My highlight of Drama is the reprise (if that it the right term) at the end "Does it Really Happen". It might be a bit cheap thrill, but it's still thrilling.


"Voyage of the Acolyte" is great. It kind of recaptures the mood of Trespass which is odd Hackett wasn't even in Genesis back then. I also quite like "Please Don't Touch" though it's much more radio friendly and has even more throw away tunes.
 
Squire is the backbone of that album.

Though I think whoever decided that they should redo the vocals to the later album Fly From Here (drama part 2) with Trevor Horn replacing Benoit David should be shot in the face.
 
Although I have it on cassette (i think that's what the Olde Ones call it), I picked up Drama by Yes on CD.
I completely agree with you that it's a great album - especially Machine Messiah - even though I'm not sure that the world needs more than one album with that particular approach.

I also bought Voyage of the Acolyte by Steve Hackett who is always a mixed bag for me. Half his albums consist of really great tracks, the other seem to be joke songs. Voyage is probably the most consistent, though I have yet to listen to everything he's done. The only other work of his I have is Squackett (aside from some Genesis). I might have Spectracl Mornings on record somewhere, I can't remember, but that's the one of his I listen to the most. Was the first Hackett I ever heard.
Voyage I love mostly because it's the closest thing we have to a lost prog-era Genesis album, given that it has everyone except Tony Banks on it.

On my media player I've sequenced it so as it finishes with the version of Shadow of the Hierophant with the longer outro. I usually trim off the bonus tracks when I rip my CDs, but in this case I love the longer playout on the song, I can really get lost in it.

Squire is the backbone of that album.

Though I think whoever decided that they should redo the vocals to the later album Fly From Here (drama part 2) with Trevor Horn replacing Benoit David should be shot in the face.
It's a bit of a slap in the face to David, isn't it?

I haven't heard much of either version, but the mere fact that they redid it puts me off investigating the album much because I keep thinking "if they actually had confidence in the material they wouldn't have redone it, would they?"
 
I completely agree with you that it's a great album - especially Machine Messiah - even though I'm not sure that the world needs more than one album with that particular approach.


Voyage I love mostly because it's the closest thing we have to a lost prog-era Genesis album, given that it has everyone except Tony Banks on it.

On my media player I've sequenced it so as it finishes with the version of Shadow of the Hierophant with the longer outro. I usually trim off the bonus tracks when I rip my CDs, but in this case I love the longer playout on the song, I can really get lost in it.


It's a bit of a slap in the face to David, isn't it?

I haven't heard much of either version, but the mere fact that they redid it puts me off investigating the album much because I keep thinking "if they actually had confidence in the material they wouldn't have redone it, would they?"

Well no one asked for Fly From Here, but its existence doesn't bother me over much. :grin:

Benoit David appears to have ben swallowed up by the Yes touring machine. Same thing with Anderson; both got sick and couldn't continue touring so they were both ousted. That at least is the public story and all I'm aware of. It's a bit sad, but Yes are like sharks now. They have to keep touring otherwise they are gone. For similar reasons Alan White is only still in the band because he owns the rights to the name, which, given the situatoin when ARW were touring, kept the name with him and Howe. It's all a bit mercenary. I see no reason why Trevor should have taken over the vocals. Benoit did a decent job. I'm sure he isn't terribly bothered and is better off out of it really. TBH Horn is an arsehole anyway.

I don't own FFH, it's no longer available in the shops and I don't care enough for it to buy it online. Hour of Need is a great track though (the extended version is just pointless indulgence) and the title track/suite is very very Drama, and still good. But then it was written back then anyway.
 
No disrespect intended to the deceased, but I think the following video is absolutely relevant to the current conversation.


That's one the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Love the bizarre inflection.
 
Does this count as prog metal? I don't think so, but it's so good instrumentally. The guitar solo's :shock:
 
Close enough. I've seen some reviews and sites count Mercyful Fate and King Diamond as prog metal. I might not go that far, but much like Iron Maiden, it's not outside the realm of reason that a die hard prog fan also has albums by MF and KD. I certainly do. Also, the OP says not to worry about it on this thread, if it seems like prog to you, post it! :smile:
 
The only rule of this thread is that we don't worry about the exact definitions of prog.

If it's a little too long, a little too elaborate but still fills you with joy, it's probably prog.
 
Some of my favourite doom bands have a prog influence, even if it is more the minimalism of Krautrock.



 
Spock's Beard has been mention in passing but I figure they deserve to be called out. I admit I kind of lost sight of them post-Neal Morse era (my lose, no doubt - open to recommendations), but together they produced a set of excellent and varied albums.

As taster video I'll go "Crack The Big Sky" which is fun, catchy tune that still highlights the bands strengths.

 
This is stuck in my head, so now you must hear it too! Great excuse to cast Raise Dead on the prog thread.

Be-Bop Deluxe is a glam-rock/prog-rock hybrid in the vein of Roxy Music, Bowie, and early Queen. Their singer/guitarist Bill Nelson has worked with Fripp on other projects. It's a fair exchange.

 
I admit I kind of lost sight of them post-Neal Morse era (my lose, no doubt - open to recommendations).....

All of the post NM albums are decent, but I'd recommend either Feel Euphoria, the first post-Neal album or The Oblivion Particle which is the one before last.
 
All of the post NM albums are decent, but I'd recommend either Feel Euphoria, the first post-Neal album or The Oblivion Particle which is the one before last.

Thanks I will check them out because I've been in the mood for a new album and we're still a couple years off the next Magenta LP. I only own Octane of the SB post-Morse albums and it doesn't do much for me, but I keep hearing good things about the band so I figure I ought to give them another go.

The name "Big Big Train" comes up a lot too. My first impression is that I'm not too keen on the singer, but am I missing on something good?
 
With later SB albums there are a handful of tracks on each album that shine and the rest are okay., The balance on the two I've mentioned is a lot more former than latter for me. Having said that, V aside, I've always found that with SB, even with Neal; oddly enough for prog, I find Neal to be a really formulaic writer at times.

Big Big Train are probably my second favourite Prog band currently going. David Longdon does have a touch of the Gabriel's at times and can be an acquired taste but the songs are meticulously (in the good sense of the term) crafted and they mine a lyrical furrow that puts them apart; very, very British in tone, despite a Swede and an American (Nick, latterly of Spock's) in the group. They sing of science, art, history and folklore. If I was to advise a listen it would be Folklore, as it's both superb and accessible. Looking forward to seeing them at Hackney Empire in November.
 
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