Prog rock is a divisive genre. At best, it promises some of the most advanced musicianship in the world. At worst, it appears self-indulgent and pompous.
But if you're new to the genre and want to find the good stuff, where do you begin?
Well, this weekend we have a storming roundup of prog recommendations from one of the most prominent prog musicians around. Jordan Rudess is the keyboardist in Dream Theater, and he recently listed his top 10 prog-rock albums of all time on Music Radar.
Rudess first found prog as a teenager. "It electrified my thinking," he says. "Suddenly, I became super-aware of new sounds and possibilities. In fact, there were even parts on it where I went, ‘Wow! I’ve got some pieces that are kind of similar, but they sure don’t sound like that’ – because I was just playing them on piano. The record really changed my life."
Now it's your turn, so kick back and check out some of the best prog in the world as recommended by one of the best prog musicians in the world, in his own words. They're listed in alphabetical order. Enjoy!
Emerson, Lake & Palmer "Tarkus" (1970)
"Here you have a band that introduced me to the whole harmonic world, which I’d heard a little bit in classical music but never in rock. It had all these kind of cool, suspended chords, based on fourths, that Keith Emerson was so fond of. It probably stemmed from Aaron Copeland, the classical composer.
"I remember hearing this album and then going over to my piano so I could find every fourth chord and sus chord possible. I wanted to be able to land on them without any trouble... The combination of everything they did was pretty great."
Genesis "Trick Of The Tail" (1976)
"I love the harmonic sense that Tony Banks brought to this record. One of the things he really had down at this point was keeping the same root note, but the triads moved over that note. It’s a real Genesis thing, and it really hit with this record. If you go back to earlier albums, it wasn’t so established.
"Phil Collins sounds so great, too. He’s such a marvellous singer."
Gentle Giant "Free Hand" (1975)
"I always felt like Gentle Giant had something unique in the way that they used counterpoint and rhythm. Nobody else was doing that. It was special, and it had a tremendous influence on me.
"I kind of saw it as the 'rock-Bach', where you have all these moving voices and interesting lines going on. I spent a lot of time studying it, not necessarily in learning how to play the exact music, but just to figure out what made it tick. I really wanted to know: 'What is that?'"
King Crimson "In The Court Of The Crimson King" (1969)
"One of the all-time classics.
"There’s some tremendous themes on here, and of course, 'The Court Of The Crimson King' is truly memorable. Greg Lake’s voice is so innocent and pure – he's a remarkable vocalist... I just love the scope of this record. It’s tremendous."
Pink Floyd "Dark Side Of The Moon" (1973)
"One big thing I liked was that their music was slow. They managed to be progressive in the depth of their musical space. To me, that was fascinating, because I came from classical music, and everything was so focused on technique. To have something that moved at its own pace and yet be so effective, that’s what captured my imagination."
Van Der Graaf Generator "Pawn Hearts" (1971)
"I saw the band live at the Beacon Theater in the ‘70s, and it was one of the coolest shows that I had seen. They didn’t have a bass player; the keyboard player had bass pedals; they had a saxophonist who was playing two saxes at once, which was pretty cool. The drummer was fantastic."
Rick Wakeman "The Six Wives Of Henry VIII" (1973)
"There’s a lot of simple elements, simple chords, but it has a super-classical approach. Another thing that struck me was the Mini Moog. The reason why I just had to have a Minimoog was because of the tone that Rick Wakeman used on his albums.
"I remember going to see him live, and he had three Minimoogs on stage with them. They all had tape markers right next to the dials to show the correct positions. There were no patches in those days."
Steven Wilson "Grace For Drowning" (2011)
"I don’t know if this is fair, but I played on the album! There’s such depth on it. Steven’s like a painter, crafting and coloring moods, mixing in progressive elements. There’s some King Crimson-y things, and he finds the intervals that create a dark energy. He’s very good at textures, but all in all, it’s just wonderful music."
Yes "Close To The Edge" (1972)
"With Yes, it was about the positivity that came out of their music, not just the progressive nature of the songs and the unbelievable musicianship. It was the energy level. Jon Anderson and the rest of the band put out such a fantastic spirit - it screamed off of the vinyl."
Stefan Zauner "Prism And Views" (1978)
"Super melodic, really good keyboard work, the drumming is cool, and there's great guitar playing. But something about the songs really stayed with me. I turn everybody on to this record."
That's it! Thanks to Music Radar for sharing Jordan Rudess' top 10 prog albums in his own words.
Which do you like, and what personal favorites would you add to the list? Share them in the comments.
Modern prog > 60s/70s prog. Seriously, where are The Fall of Troy, Coheed & Cambria, The Mars Volta?
Also prog-rock and prog-metal are very different.
I do agree with The Mars Volta, but if you think that Coheed and Cambria or The Fall of Troy comes even close to any of the albums cited there, you're out of your mind.
Not a bad list but Genesis "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" beats all of these. Also, its cool to see Steven Wilson's new solo record on here but he's done better stuff with Porcupine Tree.
I always hate when they put out these "Best 10 xxxx of all time!" lists because 10 is such a small number and theres so much good music out there. I personally usually use these as a way to find some new music but most people just bitch and moan because their favorite band didn't make the cut
Not a bad list but Genesis "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" beats all of these. Also, its cool to see Steven Wilson's new solo record on here but he's done better stuff with Porcupine Tree.
I wouldn't have called that as Prog Rock as some of their later stuff though. It was certainly Prog Rock but not as definitive of the genre. Regardless I'm just glad at least one Genesis album made the cut. They always get overshadowed by bands such as Pink Floyd.
Rush is undeniably Prog-rock.
If you wan't Prog-Metal listen to symphony X, Nevermore, Cynic, atheist, King's X, Mastodon, Queensrÿche, fate's warning, etc.
Most off these bands are really a lot heavier than rush's most heavy material like Working man, Clockwork Angels or YYZ.
Rush is one of my favorites band and it's true to say they are close from metal, but would you label led zeppelin, Boston, April Wine or even »NICKELBACK« as metal?
I do like some modern prog bands like Transatlantic, Big Big Train, Spock's Beard, Frost*, etc., but it never hurts to see where they came from. I'll be checking out all of these albums I haven't heard yet.
I always find it interesting to see these lists where I know a few of the albums. Makes me want to give a listen to some of the others that I may never have thought to check out.
Too many old prog metal albums for me. There's a whole new breed coming through, which needs to be embraced in equal esteem. Also, Grace for Drowning doesn't appeal to me as much as In Absentia
If you really want to get into the world of prog rock then ProgArchives is the place to check it out. I also think their list on there is a bit more accurate. Steven Wilson is strongly keeping the flame alive but is he up there with the giants? (Some are on the list).
Btw as usual , merely another misleading UG title. Jordan Rudess's Top 10 Prog Rock Albums of All Time
Rush is undeniably Prog-rock.
If you wan't Prog-Metal listen to symphony X, Nevermore, Cynic, atheist, King's X, Mastodon, Queensrÿche, fate's warning, etc.
Most off these bands are really a lot heavier than rush's most heavy material like Working man, Clockwork Angels or YYZ.
Rush is one of my favorites band and it's true to say they are close from metal, but would you label led zeppelin, Boston, April Wine or even »NICKELBACK« as metal?
Zeppelin are also considered early metal. Along with cream and sabbath, zeppelin are one of the bands people considered the start of metal, back then (as metal now is different than metal then).
Nickelback can't even be considered music, silly machineflame
Not fair. Jordan is too nice to list any of his own albums.
Personally, "Metropolis Pt. 2", favorite album of all time. The Dance of Eternity? Blows my mind everytime
I own a few of these. I may as well give them another listen. I'm not too into progressive rock, but I definitely like some stuff. Although usually for me, when I listen to prog, it's Tool, Between the Buried and Me, Rush, Dream Theater, or mostly bands that have prog elements, but might not necessarily be considered prog, like Iron Maiden or Gojira.
This is Jordan Rudess's favorite prog rock albums, guys, not UG's. It's not meant to be definitive, it's just his opinion.
I think that is a key element to this article... if people would have read just a little bit they would have realized this, which is obvious that they didn't.
For me, I don't understand how anyone can stand genesis. Just a terrible band imho.
1.Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
2.Fragile - Yes
3.In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson
4.Moving Pictures - Rush
5.Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull
6.Lateralus - Tool
7.Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
8.10,000 Days - Tool
9.Selling England by the Pound - Genesis
10.Signify - Porcupine Tree
The order is interchangeable, but I think especially the top 5 all need to be somewhere in the list.
Rush is undeniably Prog-rock.
If you wan't Prog-Metal listen to symphony X, Nevermore, Cynic, atheist, King's X, Mastodon, Queensrÿche, fate's warning, etc.
Most off these bands are really a lot heavier than rush's most heavy material like Working man, Clockwork Angels or YYZ.
Rush is one of my favorites band and it's true to say they are close from metal, but would you label led zeppelin, Boston, April Wine or even »NICKELBACK« as metal?
other good prog-metal bands: Tool, and Protest The Hero.
This should've had Wish You Were Here in place of DSOTM and The Mars Volta's Frances The Mute or De-loused should be on the list too. I'd say Porcupine Tree's In Absentia or Fear of a Blank Planet would've been a better example of Steven Wilson's work too. Otherwise, I'm not familiar with Gentle Giant or Stefan Zauner but the list seems pretty decent.
While this list may not be exactly what I listen to in terms of prog (I'm bigger into Prog Metal, but I still always love hearing the right 70s prog rock), I have just started listening to ELP (Tarkus) for the first time today and I love it. This also reminded me about KC and I downloaded their first album. I already have all of Wilson's stuff and when I get the time I'm going to find close to the edge.
I think Rush should of made the list as well but we have to remember Jordan is a keyboardist so of course he's going to choose the prog albums where the keyboards are the bigger focus.
also I should say that the title of this is false, it isn't the "Top 10 Prog-Rock Albums of All Time" It's Jordan Rudess' Favourite Prog Rock Albums. I really don't even know why its up here, while it is a good list, Jordan gave this interview months ago.
This is Jordan Rudess' list, and he grew up in that era so obviously that's where his influences lie.
And although I do prefer modern prog like Oceansize, Karnivool etc, some of Jordan's choices are great. Very happy to see The Six Wives of Henry VIII on there
I'm a guitar/keyboardist who grew up on prog rock but always liked it's darker side. If I could recommend 10 prog rock albums for those who haven't explored the genre yet, I'd go...
1) King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
2) ELP - Brain Salad Surgery
3) Yes - Relayer
4) Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
5) Genesis - Nursery Cryme
6) Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts
7) Pink Floyd - Meddle
8) Rush - A Farewell to Kings
9) Gentle Giant - Playing the Fool
10) IQ - The Wake
And as international bonus picks
1) Ange - Le Cimetiere des Arlequins (France)
2) PFM - Photos of Ghosts (Italy)
3) Anekdoten - Nucleus (Sweden)
4) Nektar - Recycled (Germany)
5) Devil Doll - Eliogabalas (Italy)
6) Pulsar - Halloween (France)
And as just super extra bonus picks:
1) Frank Zappa - You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Volume 2 - The Helsinki Concert
2) Camel - Mirage
...and finally, the very first prog rock album...
3) Beatles - Sgt Peppers
I'm not big on prog but I like King Crimson and stuff. Opeth's Heritage is pretty cool although I'm not sure if prog fans consider it prog enough...
There are different shades of prog fans, from dark to light and all in between. I've known some who are into Genesis, Yes, and Renaissance and can't stand the heavier sounds of King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator. Those would definitely turn their nose at Opeth. Then there are the dark and heavy prog fans like me. Black Sabbath was my 1st favorite band and stayed that until I heard King Crimson in 1977. It's just a short jump from King Crimson to Iron Maiden to Opeth to Enslaved. I love the part on the Opeth Lamentations DVD during the "quiet" set when Mikael A keeps pumping up prog bands like Camel. I love when dark metal bands let some of their prog rock influences sneak through. Besides Opeth, my other favorite band that does that is Enslaved. They have mellotrons on "Ruun" and "Below the Lights" and often change time signatures, both hallmarks of prog rock. I think there's lots of room for metal fans to discover diamonds in the fields of prog rock and vise verse. It just takes an open mind and an amp that goes to 11.
This is Jordan Rudess's favorite prog rock albums, guys, not UG's. It's not meant to be definitive, it's just his opinion.
I think that is a key element to this article... if people would have read just a little bit they would have realized this, which is obvious that they didn't.
It was probably due to the fact that UG listed it just as the "Top Ten Prog-Rock Albums of All Time" instead of actually mentioning Jordan, but still...
In no particular order:
1. Camel - Mirage
2. Soft Machine - Third
3. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
4. Caravan - For the Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night
5. Harmonium - L'Heptade
6. Focus - Hamburger Concerto
7. Genesis - Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
8. Aphrodite's Child - 666
9. Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die
10. Gentle Giant - In a Glass House
Everything in this list is pure Prog Rock, no prog metal or anything that verges on it (Devin Townsend, Porcupine Tree and Tool etc).
I was extremely surprised to not see Lateralus by Tool up there. It's been acclaimed as one of the top progressive-rock albums of all time. I personally think it's a great show of modernizing influences without destroying the art.
I was extremely surprised to not see Lateralus by Tool up there. It's been acclaimed as one of the top progressive-rock albums of all time. I personally think it's a great show of modernizing influences without destroying the art.
My thoughts exactly, where is Lateralus on this list!
although prog metal and prog rock are a little bit different, i would like to have seen Moving Pictures by rush and Lateralus by Tool. but that's just me.
I disagree with the King Crimson and VDGG choices, as I'd have gone with Red and Still Life, respectively. But In the Court... and Pawn Hearts are both fantastic, so I can't disagree with them.
IMO Camel should be mentioned as well. Mirage and Moonmadness are both classics.
On a separate note, what's with you guys who are classifying Rush and Tool as prog metal? Neither really have much in the way of metal riffs, which are kind of a prerequisite for being a metal band.
mullet1337 wrote:
Modern prog > 60s/70s prog. Seriously, where are The Fall of Troy, Coheed & Cambria, The Mars Volta?
You haven't listened to enough oldschool prog, my friend.
iommi600 wrote:
Anyway, the lack of Renaissance disturbs me.
Renaissance are amazing, but pretty much everything he mentioned were classic albums by classic bands (except for Stefan Zauner, who I've never heard of). I do think Turn of the Cards deserves to be mentioned alongside the big-name albums of the genre, but overall I wouldn't put Renaissance on the same level as some of the other bands Rudess mentioned here, as much as I love Ashes are Burning and Scheherazade.
Totally a misleading title. This is a list more of what album's Jordan listened to that made him leave Julliard to be a prog rocker. It isn't definitive or really even the top 10 best albums according to Jordan Rudess, just his favorites. He's named most of these albums in other interviews in the past.
With one exception, these are the albums that influenced his evolution as a musician, hence why there aren't more modern albums. He definitely supports modern prog - look at DT's Prog Nation tours.
can't believe you can have a progressive rock list and not have rush or tool lets not nit pick at genres too its all rock and roll that's why we love it
This is by no means an official list for me, but a quick of some of my favorites. It's not even necessarily the best prog rock albums, just my 10 favorite at this time.
Top 10 (In random order)
1. Genesis - Trespass (Underrated album, I really liked the folksy thing they had on this. Most people rate others higher, and they are probably are right, but at the moment this one speaks to me the most)
2. Gentle Giant - Three Friends
3. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
4. Phideaux Xavier - Number 7
5. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
6. The Deer Hunter - Acts I, II, and III
7. ELP - Tarkus
8. Rush - 2112
9. Spock's Beard - V
10.Ritual - The Hemulic Voluntary Band
Now that list is subject to change daily as it solely based on taste and probably nobody will agree with it. It is no order either.
My prog metal list is...
1. Dream Theater - Metropolis Part 2: Scenes from a Memory
2. Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite
3. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
4. Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle
5. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
6. The Human Abstract - Midheaven
7. Devin Townsend - Accelerated Evolution
8. Epica - Requiem for the Indifferent
9. Mastodon - Blood and Thunder
10.Protest the Hero - Kezia
Again, no order, just random selections of some of my current favorites at this moment.
Modern prog > 60s/70s prog. Seriously, where are The Fall of Troy, Coheed & Cambria, The Mars Volta?
Also prog-rock and prog-metal are very different.
haha you troll...
Anyway Pink FLoyd should be first, it's like you just cant do a top best pop acts, and not put the beatles first, it's the same for prog rock, Dark side defined to the world what was prog rock, I'm not sayong they were first, they just were the best and the most recognizable
Actually surprised Rudess didn't have Rush in there, maybe some others. But clearly these influences have paid off on him very well and it's still a great list.
The best prog rock/metal albums of all time:
1. Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
2. Dream Theater - Octavarium
3. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
4. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
5. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
6. Dream Theater - Images and Words
7. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
8. Dream Theater - Awake
9. Dream Theater - Systematic Choas
10. Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
The best prog rock/metal albums of all time:
1. Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
2. Dream Theater - Octavarium
3. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
4. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
5. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
6. Dream Theater - Images and Words
7. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
8. Dream Theater - Awake
9. Dream Theater - Systematic Choas
10. Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
1. Pink Floyd- Animals
2. Dredg- El Cielo
3. Yes- Close to the Edge
4. Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon
5. Coheed and Cambria- Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Vol. 1 - From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
6. The Mars Volta- Frances the Mute
7. The Dear Hunter- Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
8. Genesis- Foxtrot
9. The Mars Volta- Amputechture
10. Emerson, Lake & Palmer- Trilogy
1. Pink Floyd- Animals
2. Dredg- El Cielo
3. Yes- Close to the Edge
4. Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon
5. Coheed and Cambria- Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Vol. 1 - From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
6. The Mars Volta- Frances the Mute
7. The Dear Hunter- Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
8. Genesis- Foxtrot
9. The Mars Volta- Amputechture
10. Emerson, Lake & Palmer- Trilogy
Honestly, I prefer modern prog over classic prog, but I'm not going to say it's better. Prog from the 60s and 70s obviously had a huge influence on modern prog bands, so you can't say it's worse. My personal top 10 prog rock/metal albums (no particular order):
1. Between the Buried and Me - Colors
2. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
3. Protest the Hero - Scurrilous
4. Scale the Summit - The Collective
5. The Fall of Troy - Doppleganger
6. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
7. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
8. Opeth - Blackwater Park
9. Rush - Fly By Night
10. Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
where is rush, I understand no tool, dream theater, fates warning or queensrych due to the prog rock label of this article. the mars volta, coheed & cambria and muse all have prog elements but are not prog rock i'd call them alt-prog if anything.
Rush, Coheed and Cambria, Tool, and Queensryche FTW! . And guys, chill. this is Rudess's list and opinions, no need to bitch around and correct everything...
I've been a prog fan since I was 11. Here's my list (in no order):
1. Ayreon- Into the Electric Castle
2. Devil Doll- The Girl Who Was...Death
3. Discipline- Unfolded like Staircase
4. Spock's Beard- The Light
5. The whole ****ing Pink Floyd discography
6. Genesis- Foxtrot
7. The whole ****ing Rush discography
8. Marillion: Childhood's End
9. Dream Theater- Images and Words
10. Symphony X- V
I cheated but there's just too many great albums. I hope these comments bring awareness to those who don't know much or anything about prog.
can't believe you can have a progressive rock list and not have rush or tool lets not nit pick at genres too its all rock and roll that's why we love it
I'm sorry folks, but Tool is not as integral to Progressive Rock as you all seem to think. The genre would be just as well off without them. As for the lack of rush on this list. Jordan is a keyboard player, so it doesn't surprise me that a band more well known for their drummer is lacking from it.
can't believe you can have a progressive rock list and not have rush or tool lets not nit pick at genres too its all rock and roll that's why we love it
I'm sorry folks, but Tool is not as integral to Progressive Rock as you all seem to think. The genre would be just as well off without them. As for the lack of rush on this list. Jordan is a keyboard player, so it doesn't surprise me that a band more well known for their drummer is lacking from it.
This is by no means an official list for me, but a quick of some of my favorites. It's not even necessarily the best prog rock albums, just my 10 favorite at this time.
Top 10 (In random order)
1. Genesis - Trespass (Underrated album, I really liked the folksy thing they had on this. Most people rate others higher, and they are probably are right, but at the moment this one speaks to me the most)
2. Gentle Giant - Three Friends
3. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
4. Phideaux Xavier - Number 7
5. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
6. The Deer Hunter - Acts I, II, and III
7. ELP - Tarkus
8. Rush - 2112
9. Spock's Beard - V
10.Ritual - The Hemulic Voluntary Band
Now that list is subject to change daily as it solely based on taste and probably nobody will agree with it. It is no order either.
My prog metal list is...
1. Dream Theater - Metropolis Part 2: Scenes from a Memory
2. Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite
3. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
4. Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle
5. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
6. The Human Abstract - Midheaven
7. Devin Townsend - Accelerated Evolution
8. Epica - Requiem for the Indifferent
9. Mastodon - Blood and Thunder
10.Protest the Hero - Kezia
Again, no order, just random selections of some of my current favorites at this moment.
you seriously think midheaven is better than nocturne?? o_O
Honestly, I prefer modern prog over classic prog, but I'm not going to say it's better. Prog from the 60s and 70s obviously had a huge influence on modern prog bands, so you can't say it's worse. My personal top 10 prog rock/metal albums (no particular order):
1. Between the Buried and Me - Colors
2. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
3. Protest the Hero - Scurrilous
4. Scale the Summit - The Collective
5. The Fall of Troy - Doppleganger
6. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
7. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
8. Opeth - Blackwater Park
9. Rush - Fly By Night
10. Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
The best prog rock/metal albums of all time:
1. Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
2. Dream Theater - Octavarium
3. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
4. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
5. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
6. Dream Theater - Images and Words
7. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
8. Dream Theater - Awake
9. Dream Theater - Systematic Choas
10. Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
Oh my god... this post has -19 ??!!
I was just having fun, posting the 10 Dream Theater albums as best prog rock/metal albums ever. Don't take me too serious! Although I really do like Dream Theater, I won't put all of their albums in my top 10 of best prog albums. Maybe just... 8 of them. Hahaha, no just kidding (before I get -19 votes again)
I love Mastodon and Mars Volta but I could never in a million years lump them in with my favourite prog rock bands. I'm not saying they don't do things differently in their own ways, but in terms of having an impact in a unique and original way, I don't see it. I wouldn't call them gate way bands, because imo, they've held up for me for a long time, and probably always will. But when I see them called genius, I kind of cringe, even though I love both bands.
Not a bad list but Genesis "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" beats all of these. Also, its cool to see Steven Wilson's new solo record on here but he's done better stuff with Porcupine Tree.
It is pretty damn good. It should be on the list but I don't know if it beats all of these.
Prog rock, Prog metal, prog punk, prog pop, prog rap, post prog rap, Nu post prog metal punk rock rap pop. I can't believe people can argue over which really small niche genre these albums fall into. Or the one which gets everyone going, is their particular favourite band from whichever era Metal or not? Who cares? If you like Sabbath listen to Sabbath, if you like Iron Maiden listen to Iron maiden and if you like Bullet for my Valentine listen to Bullet for my Valentine. If you like all three listen to all three. Who cares which sub sub mini genre the press decides to place it in? We all secretly know that if it isn't British, it isn't metal though don't we?
Well at least this list was compiled by someone from Dream Theater, which spares us from the usual UG-based Dream Theater-blowjob these lists usually turn into.
Prog rock, Prog metal, prog punk, prog pop, prog rap, post prog rap, Nu post prog metal punk rock rap pop. I can't believe people can argue over which really small niche genre these albums fall into. Or the one which gets everyone going, is their particular favourite band from whichever era Metal or not? Who cares? If you like Sabbath listen to Sabbath, if you like Iron Maiden listen to Iron maiden and if you like Bullet for my Valentine listen to Bullet for my Valentine. If you like all three listen to all three. Who cares which sub sub mini genre the press decides to place it in? We all secretly know that if it isn't British, it isn't metal though don't we?
Yeah, it's all metal. Even if I don't want Bullet For My Valentine, or anything that sounds like them, to come up in a search. Even if I'm looking for bands with a specific sound, or in a specific context. You said it bro.
Moving Pictures, Grace under pressure or 2112 by Rush - one of them deserves a place or a mention in this list. Otherwise its a great list in any case.
Rush is undeniably Prog-rock.
If you wan't Prog-Metal listen to symphony X, Nevermore, Cynic, atheist, King's X, Mastodon, Queensrÿche, fate's warning, etc.
Most off these bands are really a lot heavier than rush's most heavy material like Working man, Clockwork Angels or YYZ.
Rush is one of my favorites band and it's true to say they are close from metal, but would you label led zeppelin, Boston, April Wine or even »NICKELBACK« as metal?
Zeppelin are also considered early metal. Along with cream and sabbath, zeppelin are one of the bands people considered the start of metal, back then (as metal now is different than metal then).
Nickelback can't even be considered music, silly machineflame
Zeppelin is not metal!! I hate it when people call it "metal" because it's a rock band. They are more blues, funk, folk and even pop than metal. I mean, yes, they have some songs that are close to metal (Immigrant Song, Achilles Last Stand for example) but I would still call them hard rock. And if they have two or three metal songs, it doesn't make them a heavy metal band. Led Zeppelin is actually a blues band. Listen to the first album. That's clearly blues.
And Cream metal?? It's more like psychedelic rock. Like Jimi Hendrix. Maybe inspired metal bands but it clearly isn't metal.
I consider Black Sabbath as metal because they are much heavier than Zeppelin and the songs are darker.
MaggaraMarine wrote:
Zeppelin is not metal!! I hate it when people call it "metal" because it's a rock band. They are more blues, funk, folk and even pop than metal. I mean, yes, they have some songs that are close to metal (Immigrant Song, Achilles Last Stand for example) but I would still call them hard rock. And if they have two or three metal songs, it doesn't make them a heavy metal band. Led Zeppelin is actually a blues band. Listen to the first album. That's clearly blues.
And Cream metal?? It's more like psychedelic rock. Like Jimi Hendrix. Maybe inspired metal bands but it clearly isn't metal.
I consider Black Sabbath as metal because they are much heavier than Zeppelin and the songs are darker.
Like the guy you quoted said. Metal then is different than metal now.You know why? You didn't have s**t bands trying to be as heavy as they can and ruining the definition of metal. People had never seen anything as heavy as Zeppelin or Cream, and CERTAINLY not Black Sabbath.
can't believe you can have a progressive rock list and not have rush or tool lets not nit pick at genres too its all rock and roll that's why we love it
I'm sorry folks, but Tool is not as integral to Progressive Rock as you all seem to think. The genre would be just as well off without them. As for the lack of rush on this list. Jordan is a keyboard player, so it doesn't surprise me that a band more well known for their drummer is lacking from it.
I have a one word counter argument to that:
MAYNARD.
Yes, because just mentioning the lead singer of a band that someone doesn't like will immediately change their mind.
No matter how many times someone says that Tool is amazing, I will not think that they are amazing. I personally can't stand them because all of their songs sound the same to me. Their sound has matured over the years, but it's still the same damned sound on every album.
A true progressive band changes constantly. Coming out with a more tightened version of the same album every few years isn't progressive, it's boring and stale.
The best prog rock/metal albums of all time:
1. Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
2. Dream Theater - Octavarium
3. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
4. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
5. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
6. Dream Theater - Images and Words
7. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
8. Dream Theater - Awake
9. Dream Theater - Systematic Choas
10. Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
I only thumbs up'd this because i laughed really hard
. And guys, chill. this is Rudess's list and opinions, no need to bitch around and correct everything...
And thats great-weekend full of new,unheard music.
Thanks!