Kyros are pretty great for modern prog! Not just an "old-school" clone, they bring a lot of their own identity to things, their new album from this year is absolute fire
Absolutely!! One of my main criticisms of Modern Prog is that they all sound the same, and they're supposed to be PROGRESSING the music. Some of my favourite acts in the prog scene are those who wouldn't even be considered prog. They're out there, it's just harder to find. I'm hoping they'll get more recognition soon :)
Thank you for your thoughts! I agree on your point of randomly forcing time signatures and I understand you in general. But it's interesting: You call band like Dream Theater, Spock's Beard, Big Big Train and Porcupine Tree modern prog bands. It doesn't make me wonder because I feel like everything in prog after the classic 70s is considered to be modern prog. But it's actually crazy because the bands you named are over 30 years old. On the other side, there are many new bands which are fresh and great but they are overseen because the genre isn't popular enough anymore and the fans are often focussed on the old bands. There seems to be no overall scene of new prog bands so all are doing their own stuff and it's hard to keep the overview. But I can tell you my favourites of today: Jordsjø, Ultra Zook, Squeaky Feet, Zopp, Moon Safari, IZZ, District 97 and for Progressive Metal: Polyphia, The Ancestry Program, The Hirsch Effekt
As the creator of a modern progressive rock radio show, I found your thoughts on modern Progressive Rock very interesting. TBH, I like both the current Prog Rock scene and old. I agree that bands such as King Gizzard are pushing the genre forward. I love what black midi are doing to for this reason. I think the main issue is is that modern Prog bands generally think they need to create music in a certain style to cater to the demographic it tends to be typically aimed at. I feel for them TBH. You only need to read the letters page in Prog magazine to get a snapshot of peoples preferences. I also want to see more King Gizzard, black midi and such bands. All the same, I hope people from modern Prog bands watch this as it may give them pause for thought.
Great video! As a 67 year old prog lover from the "good old days" I agree with most of what you say here. Prog hasn't really progressed for decades, so many Genesis and Yes clones out there, pushing out the same stuff album after album. The most interesting new music is in various forms of metal now. I've tried to get into new prog bands for years, but soon tired of most of the bands that I initially liked. I loved Jadis, Pendragon, Arena and IQ when I first heard them and they were great live. Same with Spock's Beard and Dream Theatre, but they've gone down hill rapidly as they went on. I loved Big Big Train when I first heard them too, but they seemed to run out of ideas. Katatonia are amongst my favourites now, love their mix of doom, with prog, love their layers and beautiful melodies in amongst the riffing, and love their lyrics too. I tried to get into the Mars Volta but found them tediously boring, although kudos to them for trying to be different. I really loved the Flower Kings and Transatlantic too, but after a while all their albums sound the same so I've given up on trying their new stuff :( Too many bands out there now who are technically brilliant, but totally lack soul or emotion :( I've sort of drifted back into folk-prog a bit with people like Dave Bainbridge and Troy Donockley, and the last gig I went to was Gong and Ozric Tentacles which was very old school prog, but still fantastic. King Crimson will always be the best band ever for me though, never beaten, live or on record :)
So glad you made this video, you summed up all the thoughts I've been having about modern prog recently! Besides King Gizzard and BCNR, some other current progressive artists I really enjoy are black midi, Squid, Thee Oh Sees, HMLTD, and Richard Dawson (he's more of a folk artist but with strong prog influences)
For me Dwellers of the Deep by Wobbler is a modern Masterpiece. You can hear their Influences Yes,Genesis but for me they have their own Sound. And they is nothing boring on this Album.
While I can understand your sentiment, I believe your opinion is mostly based on the mainstream of prog. Once one gets away from the mainstream of prog, and into the less known subgenres and bands, you will hear something different in prog. I am talking about: avant-prog, Zeuhl, RIO, avant-metal, etc. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Bubblemath, Luz de Riada, Zopp, Greco Bastián, Asceta, Billie Bottle's Temple of Shibboleth, IKARUS, mirThkon... I really could go on, with dozens more, relatively new prog bands, that are super creative, not repeating what the classics have done, that don't sound anything like ANY of the bands you mentioned. But, since they tend to be on the more avant-garde side, the go relatively unnoticed, Because they don't sound like upper case "Prog".
Let me add, that with the above bands, they sound so much different than what most people think of as "prog", that one may have to reset their brain a bit. No hints of Genesis, Yes, Marillion, Steve Wilson, Riverside, Dream Theater, etc, etc,. can be heard. But they are still well within the huge umbrella of prog.
I'll keep going with new, unique sounding prog bands: Aranis, Manna\Mirage, De Lorians, Koenji Hyakkei, Karmic Juggernaut, Faun Fabels, Yugen, ... But, most of the bands I mentioned in this, and my previous post, sound almost nothing like each other, and nothing like what most people think of when they think of prog. Not much use of Mellotron, not too much symphonic sound at all, no "soaring guitar" solos in the Hackett, Rothery, Howe vein. Sometimes the use of free improv, sometimes us of atonality, regular use of dissonance, influences from contemporary classical music.
The lack of dynamic range in modern music of all genres is something I also find really sad, it just takes away so much of the emotion. I don't get why everyone is using so much compression.
I totally agree. In the past, the musicians and vocalists had to be good at what they did, as did the engineers. Overproduction has removed the sole from the music. I would rather some of the imperfections were left in. My guess is that high levels of compression are used for playback on portable devices, not for the minority who have systems capable of a high dynamic range.
Good for you Niamh, honesty is the best policy. Some people have trouble with constructive criticism, especially if it's about their favourite genre or artist. No need to apologise about a change of heart if you're not inspired. For some people MPR is all they live for and can't admit that it's technically well played but the song writing is a regurgitation from past prog formats. Don't worry progressive Jazz has hit a brick wall too. Stay safe, stay true.
Prog used to be about being different and musically taking chances, and now it's a generic commercially steady and safe output. Same is true about most US music in all genres now---no originality. Just make what the company thinks people want to hear.
It's not so much that I have a lot of issues with modern prog bands like Dream Theater, Spock's Beard, The Flower Kings etc. (I love most of Porcupine Tree's work) but it's that so many people in the prog community prioritize those bands over arguably much more progressive bands like Mastodon, Neurosis, The Mars Volta, Stereolab, GY!BE, Radiohead and (until recently because they have been getting a lot more attention) King Gizzard. There is also this crazy jazz fusion revival which has been taking off in the last few years, so there's a prog side to that as well. Luckily though I think channels like this one, Notes Reviews and The Prog Corner have been getting at a lot of those bands more than others do. Great video and insights on the topic Niamh! 👍
I just had my 59th birthday last month. I tried to get an original prog rock band started from the time I was 16. It is NOT easy to form a progressive rock band. At least not where I live I guess. I've been in other bands. Mostly cover bands of classic rock and top 40. But progressive rock is my first and greatest love. When I hear new progressive rock bands I'm just happy that someone young is keeping the flame alive.
PREACH I was so happy you shouted out BCNR. To me they seem like the beacons of a real path forward for prog, and they aren’t even getting categorized as prog for how just different they sound by a lot of people. I know they’re a big influence on my band, as well as classics like KC and Genesis, as well as modern math and prog metal stuff like AAL and TTNG. I enjoy time spent with more retro oriented prog bands like Big Big Train and The Tangent (actually I really love The Tangent), but they’re necessarily keeping themselves in the shadow of the classics by not breaking the rules all those 70s bands unwittingly established. I dig the style, but it’s not interesting, it’s just a style. You still need to have something to say to really make it progressive.
Well said, Niamh! Lots of valid points here. I find my experience with the modern prog bands in general to be equally unsatisfying. It's like some bands are trying too hard or they're not really trying at all. And yes, originality has become a major issue not only in prog but across all genres. Back in the day, there's no way you could confuse one major band with another but now there's a general cookie cutter mentality in music that just makes a lot of it unlistenable to me. There is talent out there and some newer bands are fantastic but you have to sort through a lot of stuff to find the gems.
I think some current groups suffer from the production sounding too uniform - on old 70s albums in particular the producer was the cliched 'extra musician in the band', and mean that each record has its own character - I think Caravan are a good example of that, for example. However all is not lost - I think Downes Braide Association have made some beautiful records recently, blending old and new 'accessible' styles very well. Some of the most interesting groups lately have mixed prog and metal "OK Goodnight" or have something haunting and unique ("I Am The Morning").
Not a big fan of prog metal but I love symphonic metal, I see them as two completely different genres. Also, nice to hear that you like Spiritbox. Fun fact- I know their drummer, Zev Rose, personally. I grew up with him, I knew him from School of Rock, and played in bands with him during high school. Amazing drummer
I think you have expressed some excellent ideas in this video. Very well thought-out rant. I want to point something out to you about Big Big Train, because someone played a mean trick on you. BBT is my favorite band, but even I do not like the song you are referring to. The album is Common Ground and the song is "The Strangest Times." It's the opening track and it's followed by another bad song. But I promise you, if you start the album on track three, it's a great, great album. Having said that, these guys are my generation, not yours, and if you don't relate to their music like I do, that should not be any surprise.
Interesting that you mentioned BCNR but not Black Midi - they are hands down the best modern prog rock band in my eyes and them and BCNR are really close with each other, like they're all personally friends with each other and they come from the same scene - the Windmill scene of Brixton, which while most of the time not sounding like it, in my view is almost a spiritual successor to the Canterbury scene. HMLTD is another band from that scene who I would definitely call Canterbury-scene inspired in their sound, their album from last year "The Worm" is fantastic.
It's because your listening to the bands that are purposely "safe"... if you are looking for more out there, boundary pushing progressive bands/artists, go investigate bands on the Cunieform label, and the type of bands Wayside Music carries... There you will find music that is inline with RIO, Avant, Zeuhl and more boundary pushing areas, and have been going for decades now. There is a whole other side to prog you haven't explored or have been exposed to.
I mostly agree with you here. I'm a huge Prog Rock fan but I find a lot of the more modern bands unappealing for the reasons you mentioned. I would add that a lot of these bands lack personality as well as originality. Also, many of these bands have an AOR or soft pop rock sensibility that I am just not a fan of. I prefer Alt/Indie acts that have some prog elements like Radiohead, Bjork, Black Midi, Squid, Fiery Furnaces, Animal Collective, Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, indie/post-rock is a much more faithful heir to the throne of '70s prog than are most modern acts who label themselves as "prog." What you said about modern prog could be applied to some other genres as well, like alternative rock -- at the beginning of the '90s it really meant something, but after several years a bunch of wannabe bands started jumping on the bandwagon, and the genre quickly became a parody of itself.
Commercialization of music ruins it. I always thought by the time a band reached a major label by then all the good stuff was scraped away, with some exceptions.
You've made me want to write an epic prog lyric that starts with the words 'The High Wizard Kevin/Has a magical brussels sprout..' It might be worth your having a listen to Rosalie Cunningham. I think the variety in texture you get on the second album (Two Piece Puzzle) has more in common with 70s prog than with the samey samey stuff you get in some more recent bands (though Spock's Beard's Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep seems lively and varied to me). And Cunningham can write witty lyrics. Oh, and BTW - are The Last Dinner Party prog?
Thank you Niamh, I would absolutely agree with you. It Seems that shredding and musicianship, and overall virtuosity has taken the place of creativity. .Pink Floyd is a great example of not being a group of overall virtuosos and coming up with ground breaking songs and music that are new and refreshing. The album Close to the Edge album is amazing to my ears because ideas were given time to unfold before going on to the next idea.. But I will say that the very same things permiate modern Jazz Fusion, as well as much of modern Metal. I am 62 years old and have been bored with the music that musicians my age are still listening to. That is why I have been captivated with rock/metal/ and prog from many of the modern all female Japanese bands. Modern rock in the west isn't over. I think that it packed up and moved to Asia.
Hey Niamh.. Wobbler and Dai Kaht are two modern bands i think are really good. Dream Theater bored me, i listened to a whole bunch of their albums (downloaded) to see if they would grab me and ended up skipping tracks all the time. I found them soulless and without charm. Looking at major bands from the 70s, randomly: VdGG, Egg, Magma, Focus, Hatfield and the North or Gentle Giant (to name but a few, and intentionally overlooking the big six (6?)) i consider their albums to be varied, charming, quirky, dynamic...and they breathe, there's space between the notes.. Not overproduced, and overstuffed with tech..not formulaic, and constantly taking interesting twists and turns. Maybe it's because things were so much more analogue then? I'm no music student so my knowledge of music theory and production is lacking, and obviously my views are all subjective, so perhaps someone can explain it better, or refute what I'm saying if they want??..
I agree 100%,with you the bands you've mentioned I feel the same about having said that if you haven't heard Mostly Autumn check them out they light a fire under you
So, you say you don't like modern prog bands because they copy to0 much from the bands that came before them. Fair enough. But then you say you don't like modern Marillion but like the Fish era? With Fish they were one of the most derivative copycat bands of the whole genre. I bought "Script" back in '83 when I was 17 and it was brand new in stores. The whole buzz about Fish & Marillion at the time was that they were the band that was just like old Genesis! It seemed like Genesis and Peter Gabriel got more mentions in album and concert reviews than the actual members of Marillion. I was there as each new Fish era album came out. IMO, they never became their own band until Fish left, H came in, and they started exploring new ideas and sounds over the next few decades. It's modern Marillion that have shown a spirit of experimentation and progression, while the Fish era never stepped out too far from you'd expect of them. Today I can honestly that Marillion with H are one of my favorite bands of all time, but I haven't listened to a Fish album since possibly the early 90s.
Check out “Bent Knee”. They are very accessible but they consistently surprise you with their musical twists & turns. Start with the albums “Land Animals” and “You know what they mean”. Their last album “Frosting” doesn’t sound like anything they have ever done, sadly, not in a good way.
Couldn’t agree more! Especially the point about the best/most interesting prog being in the prog-metal genre. I would actually go even farther: I think (for the most part) progressive rock pretty much transitioned into prog-metal by the end of the 70s, and that’s where prog has lived and thrived ever since then. Not there haven’t been some good non-metal prog bands, but I think ever since Kansas and especially Rush introduced the hard rock/metal element into prog, we’ve seen that influence progress to Iron Maiden to Metallica to Dream Theater, and so on. Even Porcupine Tree became their best version when they introduced metal into their sound. IMO that whole Marillion/neo-prog movement in the 80s was already very heavily derivative of Genesis. Couldn’t agree more about Spock’s Beard, Big Big Train, and some of the recent Portnoy side projects. Great video!
I agree with a lot of your points . Many modern prog bands look back to the 1970’s for their inspiration and consequently are not really creating anything innovative.Many of the established ones also have a fan base that expect a particular sound , so it would be suicidal to take too many risks. I really like Big Big Train but don’t consider them particularly progressive, but like them in a regressive way because they remind me of the 70’s prog bands . I also agree with you that there is far more innovation and progression in metal where there is a spirit that you can try interesting new ideas and take risks
I don’t know if Haken is too obvious of a recommendation, but I think they’ve done some really original stuff. I love their new album Fauna - songs like Beneath the White Rainbow and Elephants Never Forget are so interesting, but there’s also a lot of songs that feel more immediate and catchy while being complex. Even their stuff that some people say is derivative (like the albums Vector and Virus being considered too djent-y) are really original from a conceptual perspective. I also have a hard time getting into some of the newer prog stuff like Flower Kings and Big Big Train, but I did really like the album Milliontown by Frost, largely due to the keyboard work - maybe that’s worth a try?
Western rock music is currently in a trough, especially in the US and UK. I'm in my seventies and started with the Beatles and went all the way through since, always favouring the more technically proficient and interesting - Zappa, Soft Machine, Steely Dan, Floyd, for example. In the last decade, I have discovered bands from Japan and Korea - mostly all-female and what I like about them is that there is none of the self-indulgent, ego-driven, misogynistic, anguished whining that taints so much good rock music. It is time, Niamh, you discovered bands like Band-Maid and Gacharic Spin who are technically amazing, write all their own stuff, perform it with dazzling visuals and infectious energy. It is also highly melodic, catchy even at times and the soloing and duetting are frequent but never overdone or prone to endless noodling. Why not start with the best of the best? Band-Maid Domination or Hate? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QbyQCJn6rYg.html
A seventies prog song is just two or three good songs joined up to make one longer piece. The key is ‘good songs’ ! A lot today’s prog is boring but there are some good European instrumental groups.
That's been my problem with it. No more soft, take a breather moments. Dynamics were a big part to 1970's prog music.I don't think any modern "prog" band would do anything like that haunting middle section in Yes' Close to the Edge or the build up in King Crimson's The Talking Drum anymore. I heard about Dream Theater as being a prog band for so long that when I finally decided to buy a few of their albums my first impression was disappointment. I took the prog tag out of my head and just listened to them as a hard rock/metal band. That worked better to enjoy the albums I bought, but stopped me from buying anymore. I liked them, didn't love them.
Am I missing something here? Dream Theater have always been a progressive metal band. I first discovered them in 1989 when I heard “The Killing Hand” on - a metal compilation, funnily enough. So I’d suggest your first problem is that you’re listening to modern progressive metal, not modern progressive rock. Funnily, enough there are lots of Yes copycats. Otherwise I’d point you in the direction of Wobbler or Big Big Train, rather than Dream Theater.
@@jimmycampbell78 What's weird about Dream Theater; I bought the 5cd original album series box; is I liked the albums where they were more about the song than flashiness. Metropolis Pt.2 is my least favorite album that I have of theirs, but i liked the harder, metal Train of Thought and the more radio friendly Falling Into Infinity. So there may be a few more of their later albums I may like in that vein. On the other hand Porcupine Tree took me a little time to get used to but I ended up liking them better. I think because their songs have more of a moody, emotional impact.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are awesome, my friend who is a keyboardist turned me on to them recently and they just blow me away with how diverse their influences are and how they have such an original sound at the same time.
Some valid points for the genre as a whole, even though I do love Big Big Train and Marillion. In my opinion there are still plenty of original and progressive bands. Examples that are not (only) metal, not (too) retro and active after 2000: - Leprous - Devin Townsend - Meer - The Pineapple Thief - Agent Fresco - Anathema - The Dear Hunter - Echolyn - Phideaux - Riverside - The Mars Volta Enjoy!
I like your cover song. Keep it up! I wanted to hear more. Some serious screaming there.....Re: the video topic, that's why I changed my channel from Prog dog back to my name- I just want to listen / react to music that catches my attention and engages me regardless of genre, although funny enough I do find I still enjoy lots of new and old prog since the change, but I feel freer to check out whatever. I just discovered Spiritbox though. The singer lives here in town, Victoria BC Canada. Great music.
I agree with you 100%. A lot of these bands just want to display their chops. I think that the song needs to be the big winner. If it's not cohesive and pleasing to the ear, why bother. Splendid playing and many time signature changes does not necessarily make a great song. It needs heart and soul as well. Thanks for the great videos.
The main problem is that it has become a genre. Prog rock was a movement where rock bands wanted to experiment and push everything to its limits, without any regards to commerciality. Examples, Frank Zappa, Moody Blues, King Crimson, ELP, Beatles(kind of), Yes etc etc. Later on it became a genre with its set of prog parameters. "not enough time changes" NOT PROG, "not enough virtousity" NOT PROG, "songs are to short" NOT PROG. These parameters have increased over time to where it's basically a question of "does it sound like Genesis, yes, pink floyd, king crimson, camel or gentle giant?" and if not it isn't prog. Well maybe that's a bit exaggerated but my point being is that it has become so neatly defined that anything that is actually doing something different aka being progressive will not be labeled as prog rock. If we are to continue to view it as a genre, we need to broaden to scope of what we include in the prog umbrella immensily. Until then we will have the problem of everything sounding derivative.
I have collected a selection of those free CD's issued with Prog Magazine. To be honest I find most of the new prog bands and artists music to be dull as dishwater. I mean no disrespect to them. But the endless Genesis imitations is frankly boring... I recently dug out Islands by King Crimson & Godbluff by Van Der Graaf Generator. And I was astounded by the visceral power and imagination of these bands music from half a century ago.
There are prog metal bands doing interesting music right now, just see the Leprous case, their music is extremely dynamic going from the softest music to extreme metal moments, and everything is done with their own unique personality. In fact they went too prog that people used to the safe sound of progmetal accused them of abandoning the genre for being way too innovative and different. And if you want something more experimental and fun there is Diablo swing orchestra, every song they release is basically a new metal subgenre.
Love your rant! Some musicians have done really well by following the rules of a genre, yet putting their stamp on it. But progressive music is more of a spirit than a genre. Yes, the songwriting should be musical in some way but should not be following rules for fear of being labeled "not prog!" Many artists who aren't preoccupied with recreating the sounds of the '70's certainly have the "progressive rock" spirit-- they color outside the lines while still using rock rhythms and instruments. (I agree that too many songs labeled "prog" have long-winded intros followed by thin-voiced singers with lyrics about a lady by the water, plus the required guitar & keyboard fireworks.) Highly original artists are still making music that doesn't sound like somebody else! Public Service Broadcasting, God Is An Astronaut, Doves and Midlake have all produced compelling, original work this century. Chameleonic groups like The Decemberists with *The Crane Wife* and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's *Polygondwanaland* are wild adventures that do still rock. One only needs to give a listen to Wilco's "The Art of Almost" to know that the prog rock spirit lives on!
Music being great is a reflection of people and society at the time its made, we arent exactly living in times with great ideas. Talent is nourished when people around you are on the same wavelength. If society is more focused on making tik toks banging things together and making memes and thats what gains popularity amongst young people, then its no wonder kids are not going to gigs and learning a skill.
I know for myself I have gone through periods where my brain just wouldn't accept new prog music. I got into totally different stuff, and while I could listen to stuff I knew really well anything new just wasn't happening. In a way it had very little to do with the music, it was all me. A good example is the Yes album The Ladder (1999). I bought it when it came out and listened to it maybe once and thought "Nah." I've found myself more open to prog recently in general, so I put The Ladder on the other day and I was genuinely enjoying a lot of it... most of it in fact. It is interesting the way things like that ebb and flow over time.
Hear hear! This great analysis is why I started my #closetotheedgeofprog Instagram account. Love old prog and love the nowadays edges, whereas what’s considered prog nowadays is very conservative. So yeah for me the future of prog will be presented by BCNR, Black Midi, Bent Knee to name a few and do you know Dutch gothmetal turning prog band DOOL. You’ll love them. And yeah, though not so modern anymore, as it’s 20 years old, but indeed postrock bands as GYBE and also Sigur Ros are so much more progressive… and I even consider some of the things FKA Twigs does as interesting considering it is going forward experimenting progressive. Love these nowadays edges! Thanx for this video.
Yes I totally agree with what you are saying. To me music like any form of art runs its time after a band has tried that sound for too long. Prog Rock has had its amazing peak in the seventies but after that, the prog music that to me was really interesting was the one that pushed boundaries. I'm talking about bands that took elements from prog but had their unique sound- opeth, porcupine tree, native construct, gojira, pain of salvation, ne obliviscaris ecc... (mainly all in the prog metal department). Prog rock in the old fashioned way has run its course, the same way that 80s hard rock has. And yes the modern metal scene il cool and amazing because of the amazing bands like lorna shore, sleep token , jinjer spiritbox and code orange that are willing to try something new and have a unique sound
Hi niamh , i wouldn't be so brave as to venture into modern prog, i stick to the tried and tested era , which i never tire of , I'd rather buy another close to the edge , or selling england by the pound, then spend money on groups i can't believe in , if that makes sense. As for Peter gabriel, there will never be anyone quite like him again, I've often wondered whether he was an aspie, because he puts me in mind of the wonderful Gary numan, who i also like alot although definitely not prog . Great video as always, regards Peter.
Totally agree on almost everything! Spock's Beard, Big Big Train, etc. They seem not merely derivative, but boring. All the originals were derivative (Yes, ELP, Pink Floyd, Genesis, etc.) but they were interesting. A lot of this has to do with Style over Substance. They need to play from the heart, not from the playbook. Start from the heart, and the music will follow. So glad you did this episode. Thanks!
Back in the 90s, when I discovered what is now called "prog", was back then (at least in the Netherlands) called 'symphonic rock'. Later on the term 'prog' came along and everyone went with it. But I think most bands are not progressive per se. I remember the band Pendragon was criticized for having the same sound and similar covers album after album. The band took a bold strp and changed both...then the fans didn't like the new sound of the band! Personally I like the prog music from the 90s and early 2000s. I've bern out if touch for slmost 9 years, so O missed out almost a decade of music and I sm catching up. I'm at least happy to find interesting new 'prog' bands. It was interesting to hear your thoughts and definitely unferstand them. And in general agree with them.
Everything you said in this video is so true. I'm thinking exactly the same, they all sound the same, they all sound flat, etc. I want to know and love more groups, more recent one, but.... my god, please help me find the good ones 🤣
This is an interesting topic. I personally adore the prog era from 1990 and on , so many brilliant bands and artists who make fantastic, interesting and fresh music, of course there are hints of the past but it is a part of the DNA of the bands. Listen to Seven Impale for example, brilliant eclectic prog, listen to Zio Crocifisso - Campana di Legno. Bands from France, Belgium, Chile bring fantastic avant-garde or chamber rock sounds. There is also a revolution in the Canterbury scene, bands like Zopp , The Worm Ouroboros or Amoeba Split. Jazz fusion is also strong. There are a lot of new prog artists and bands besides usual suspects. Wish you all the best.
I agree with some points, disagree with some others. For example, I think I have a much higher threshold for "cheesiness" because I feel like it's always been somewhat inherent to prog. But more importantly, you made your case well and it was cool to see how your point of view meshed with your eventual recommendations. We all like what we like for whatever reason, but it's a lot more of an interesting dialogue when we can express the reasons why.
Interesting that you hate on Big Big Train for sounding like Genesis. Didn't people call Marillion a Genesis clone back in the day? I take it that you don't listen to IQ. Spock's Beard isn't just a Yes or Genesis clone. They do have some Beatles influence. Check out a song like All On A Sunday. They went in a more modern direction much Neal Morse left. Have you heard Enchant? That's the band that current Spock's Beard singer Ted Leonard is in. They don't sound like Yes or Genesis. They even throw in non-Prog influences in like Toto and Tears For Fears. I think that Big Big Train are more pastrol than Genesis. Perhaps you were just put off by the message of the lyrics. I know that you've been on Sea Of Tranquility. I believe that Pete Pardo mentioned that when Covid hit, everyone just wrote about that. I can see your point about Marillion. I love Sounds That Can't Be Made, but I can't listen to it. Sky Above The Rain makes me sad. My mom and step-dad divorced around that time. So, I can't listen to that song without crying. Couldn't get into F.E.A.R though. Funny, i have seen people say that the bands you call Modern Prog not really Prog. Porcupine Tree being the exception, even though Steven Wilson hates the term Progressive Rock. Perhaps, like another commenter suggested, you need another break from Prog. Interesting Neal and Nick from the Beard have a project with Ross Jennings from Hacken that's more CSN and America(the band) than Prog. Interesting that you say that Dream Theater just keeps doing the same stuff. Went they did do something different(The Astonishing), people crapped on it
Have you ever listened to supertramp, if you haven’t already I recommend u doing it. They are trully great, a mix between jazz, pop and of course they are prog band
Thank You Scientist ; Arabs In Aspic; King Buffalo all tread their own individual style. I agree about many of the contemporary "big hitters" and Dream Theatre, personally bore me rigid. An off the wall suggestion. Try some Flying Lotus, the King Crimson of hip hop/ electronica. Their stuff is as prog as it gets, would love to hear Fripp work with them. Try Cosmogramma as a starting point. Oh and as a Bass player go listen to My Brother The Wind...
Big Big Train and Transatlantic did more damage to the genre than any other band since Marillion. Listen to: OU, Polyphia, The Ancestry Program, Earthside, All Traps On Earth, Rïcïnn, Igorrr, Bubblemath, Le Grand Sbam, Loomings, Arch Echo, Shamblemaths, Ske, District 97, Cheeto's Magazine.
I think you just need to continue expanding your listening choices & keep diggin a lot deeper..there's a whole universe of stuff to discover which requires deep listening...your taste will continue to broarden & change as the years pass....keep searchin...Niamh. .....Roger
You can say it: they all want to be YES. And that is the problem. If you want music that actually tests boundaries, experimental acts like Swans, Boris and Radiohead are better bets.
I think the new prog rock should have an element of location. I'm not being original here, but the sound of a river, creek, or babbling brook sounds relaxing.
I agree with most of what you say here, except I don't think re-using riffs and late motifs in a prog epic is a bad thing, personally, if done well, I think it's what a prog epic should be. I just think its more creative to reuse stuff in a same song with a different feel and make it sound like they have nothing to do than just cram different things one after the other. Other than that, your points are solid. Have you heard Between the Buried and Me? My favorite band ever and a very unique prog metal band
I recently discovered Motorpsycho. Each album is a different trip. Start with the album Death Defying Unicorn. I agree with you on Big Big Train, pleasant dad rock.
Check out Extra Life. Their two albums called Secular Works I and II are a high bar of thematically dark, brutal prog that emerged out the the early 2000’s New York art rock scene. Definitely not corny and definitely fresh
If you haven't tried these bands out maybe give them a try? They have their own unique sound: - Haken - Eldritch - Beardfish - Riverside - The Tea Party
Living In Shadows has a new album out in a couple of weeks. We’ve released two singles from it already… LIVING IN SHADOWS - SATELLITES (Official Lyric Video) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SfdqAkw-hgM.html LIVING IN SHADOWS - CAST AWAY (Official Video) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KoYAcafi6fc.html
Should try some Haken they come under progressive metal British band 🤘🤘I recommend there song called the Messiah complex it’s like a metal version of supper is ready
I found myself smiling at a lot of your points and strongly agree with a lot of what you have said. When you were talking about terrible album art, Transatlantic immediately came to mind with their knockoff Roger Dean lettering and cheesy imagery, so when I saw it pop up I almost laughed. Unfortunately, the music seems just as derivative and uninspired. Despite the horrible name, I tried Spock’s Beard a few times but only ever found one track I thought was interesting, and as far as I’m concerned, Marillion ended when Fish left. The Hogarth era just hasn’t done anything nearly as interesting to me. Big Big Train is another that I really tried to get into, but in the end, couldn’t find anything that grabbed me. There are good ones out there like Porcupine Tree, Tool, King Gizzard that you mentioned and I also really enjoy Riverside and The Pineapple Thief who make consistently interesting albums. It’s a shame because a lot of these bands clearly have technical ability, but that isn’t enough without something interesting to say. Thanks for putting this out.
I just think that many of the bands that call themselves or market themselves as progressive really are not. I have made my peace with that now and take bands for what they are. The Pineapple Thief, for instance. For me, not progressive in the slightest even though they are in that niche classic rock presents prog bubble… But i genuinely like them for what they are. The pomp and ceremony of prog has always been there…. It’s always been a pretentious genre… I have to be in the mood for that now I guess… King Gizzard I love, and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets… seems the psych scene in Australia is really nailing prog at the minute. Haha.
Completely agree with just about everything you said. The whole scene has gotten so boring and predictable. ‘Progressive’ now seems to be about the song structures being progressive, not about the music being original
Great video with interesting views. Sign of the times: At the beginning. You can disagree with me, no problem, I won't be offended, etc. Apologizing for it. Disagreeing with each other should be normal. Disagreeing about things makes things interesting. 😉
Interesting about originality Rick Beato says the same and he puts it down to using digital audio workstations where a lot of the samples are the same and the loops produces using a template that has the same beats the same stretches the same et cetera et cetera. This didn’t happen when music was analog, because everybody had to record every one of their parts, but when digital came along the drama would turn up and just hit each drum maybe a couple of loops and then loaded into a daw. Red hair nice Not
I completely agree with your views on how generic a lot of modern prog (metal) has become. Though not exactly really new, it sounds like you could appreciate Cardiacs's Sing to God album (1996) for a rather unique take on "prog". Certainly intense and quirky, might take some getting used to but if it does connect you're in for a treat. It surely helped me get rid of prog boredom. But it's indeed NOT "typical prog".
Hi Niamh i totally get your points. Maybe you would give the album "Flow OF TIME" a listen. Was made in the pandemic lockdowns and we had the chance to involve Adam Holzman (known by his work with Steven Wilson and years before with Miles Davis). Recommended tracks: Metamorphosis & Togetherness.
I agree with you for the most part. Most Modern Progressive Rock sounds more like Retro Progressive Rock. Really just making music like the bands from the 70's, or in the case of Progressive Metal, making music that sounds like the 90's. Or just the lack of production and songwriting. Writing interesting melodies and arrangements that are memorable. A lot of it comes across as saccharine and plastic sounding. Very predictable time changes and instrumentation. Even the textures. And a lot of singers seem to sound like a 3rd rate version of David Gilmour, Peter Gabriel or Jon Anderson. Also a lot of the albums and songs seem to be lengthly, almost to the point to just making the song long for the sake-of. Honestly, I would give more time to them if I found out they worked with a producer (including Dream Theater, but it'll never happen again) I knew and liked such as David Botrill or something, and got them to demo, try the songs out live (something King Gizzard seemingly will never do. Their issue is TOO MANY ALBUMS..the lack of QUALITY vs QUANTITY..see PEPE DELUXE instead who take almost a DECADE to release a new album for example), and actually drew inspiration from albums that have those melodies and fantastic production. And frankly, great POP i.e. great ability to create a chorus or hook that worked on those classic Pop tunes that everyone knows and loves.
I agree with everything you said about Modern Progressive Rock but I think the more interesting discussion would be how you went from prog rock to Limp Bizkit and nu-metal.
Totally agree, I have the same issues with modern day prog bands. I sometimes give a pass to bands like Wobbler or Transatlantic because of the nostalgia (I'm 53). The only progbands nowadays, that really surprise me (and that's the point, music and its parts of the song should surprise you) are: Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson and Sleep Token. Porcupine Tree can combine old classic progstyle with modern parts without getting boring. Yes, there are songs, that are questionable, but so are songs from the pioneers in the 70s. I really like the style of Sleep Token and yes I think it's proggy. I discover this band by a recommendation on Amazon as I like their cover Artwork of their last album. I really didn't know about the whole hype for this band. For the rest of the modern prog, I listen to their albums and instantly forgot about the songs, after the last track is finished. Maybe I'm too old .
@@the_prog_nerd I think it has to do with using modern sounds. Pop, Rap, Trap and whatever is popular today, and creating something refreshing. I remember when Iron Maiden's "Somewhere in Time" came out back in 1986 and a lot of my buddies were scared of the guitar synthesizers on the album. The same with Turbo by Judas Priest. Complaining about the end of Heavy Metal and NWOBH goes pop. I don't know if it also was similar in other countries, but here in Germany especially in my hometown, this was a common discussion. So I think with Sleep Token it's the same thing. It's new, they're using all kind of popular influences. That's scary for some people.
El buen progresivo es un viaje de la mente y el alma, como el Close to the Edge, o a la imaginación, como A trick of The tail. No es un ejercicio de virtuosismo aburrido. 😊
I also feel like a lot of modern prog rock bands fall into the trap of doing 60+ minute albums, which more often than not, leads to a lot of filler material.
@@the_prog_nerd That's fair enough. It's very retro but in a good way IMO. Kalandra might be a better one for you. Their debut album The Line is fantastic and the leadsinger Katrine Stenbekk is out of this world.👌
I strongly disagree with 60 percent... If it wasn't for the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper", half of the scene in the early 70s would have been instrumental and everything would have remained in the domain of jazz rock. Praise Transatlantic for Pornoy and chastise Spock's Beard, and the driving engine of both Transatlantic and Spock's Beard is Neal Morse. Tool are alternative rock with progressive elements. I agree that Marillion's Fish phase was more creative and honest than Hogarth's (I would single out Anoraknophobia as a separate genius), but then again, Fish's era combined Gabriel's Genesis and The Who with The Police. One can also "criticize" IQ and Arena and Flower Kings and Pendragon and Pallace for drinking from the well of Yes and Genesis, Spock's Beard for drawing inspiration from Yes and Gentle Giant, King Crimson for were inspired by Talking Heads in the 80s... but what about Saga? Saga is the most original prog rock band on the planet.
I don't know if you would call this prog, but I think it's proggy in feel. It's sung in French so no idea about the lyrics! ru-vid.com/group/OLAK5uy_lZCLC4lpYS3FFV405zttJypFtzrz20M6w&si=f96KoXr58M9PWaja
