Define "prog-lite"

Lisnaholic · 07-14-2018, 08:27 AM

^ Well, for me at least, rubber soul, New Age has a sound that's very distinct from prog. Even prog-lite has a musical complexity that is designed to engage you intellectually and keep you on your toes a little. To my mind, the aim of New Age is to soothe the troubled soul or, to put it brutally, to send you to sleep.

Anteater · 07-14-2018, 11:48 AM

There has been a fair helping of bands or individuals who have crossed prog over into New Age: Mike Oldfield, Iona and the Ozric Tentacles on their slower cuts are a few that come to mind. That album Ghost by Devin Townsend has some extensive prog-meets-New Age chops too.

Trollheart · 07-14-2018, 01:18 PM

Prog-lite (also known as Prog Pop)

In answer to the original question, Kansas, Boston, et al? No. Some are AOR, some are Pomp Rock, but none would, in my opinion, qualify as vaguely prog, not even lite. Whatever it may end up being accepted as being.

My own definition would be music that has prog sensibilities but leans in a more pop direction, perhaps even a rock direction, but where the prog is less pronounced than in your basic prog bands. Not so much of the noodling, longer suites, acoustic guitar or flute solos, and with more down-to-earth lyrics generally. I'd say Genesis from about 1981 onwards might qualify as prog-lite.

Lisnaholic · 07-17-2018, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Prog-lite (also known as Prog Pop)
My own definition would be music that has prog sensibilities but leans in a more pop direction, perhaps even a rock direction, but where the prog is less pronounced than in your basic prog bands. Not so much of the noodling, longer suites, acoustic guitar or flute solos, and with more down-to-earth lyrics generally. I'd say Genesis from about 1981 onwards might qualify as prog-lite.

^ TH is our resident expert on Prog, so I'm happy to take his definition as -er- definitive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

There has been a fair helping of bands or individuals who have crossed prog over into New Age: Mike Oldfield, Iona and the Ozric Tentacles on their slower cuts are a few that come to mind. That album Ghost by Devin Townsend has some extensive prog-meets-New Age chops too.

^ Nice to talk to you about music again, Anteater, after our differences in the Trump threads. Thanks for pointing out how at one time Prog started morphing into New Age - so in fact I owe rubber soul an apology for my over-hasty dismissal of his question.

Your mention of Mike Oldfield reminded me of Ommadawn, so I'm gonna take that idea to the bagpipes thread so that I can impress the guys there with my staggering musical erudition: https://www.musicbanter.com/talk-ins...s-kickass.html

Anteater · 07-17-2018, 07:43 AM

Talking about politics is a relatively new thing for me here: I've been around since 2008 after all.

There's an interesting argument to be made that early Genesis (circa Trespass) was probably somewhat influential on New Age music as well, though I think that what Paul Horn did with his album Inside The Taj Mahal in 1968 is what kicked things off due to the unique approach it offered at the time.

Trollheart · 07-17-2018, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ TH is our resident expert on Prog, so I'm happy to take his definition as -er- definitive.

Thanks but I think it would be inaccurate to describe me as an expert on anything, especially prog. There's a whole hell of a lot of it I have yet to listen to, but it remains my favourite genre so I do know something about it.

07-14-2018, 08:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	^ Well, for me at least, rubber soul, New Age has a sound that's very distinct from prog. Even prog-lite has a musical complexity that is designed to engage you intellectually and keep you on your toes a little. To my mind, the aim of New Age is to soothe the troubled soul or, to put it brutally, to send you to sleep. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

07-14-2018, 01:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Prog-lite (also known as Prog Pop) In answer to the original question, Kansas, Boston, et al? No. Some are AOR, some are Pomp Rock, but none would, in my opinion, qualify as vaguely prog, not even lite. Whatever it may end up being accepted as being. My own definition would be music that has prog sensibilities but leans in a more pop direction, perhaps even a rock direction, but where the prog is less pronounced than in your basic prog bands. Not so much of the noodling, longer suites, acoustic guitar or flute solos, and with more down-to-earth lyrics generally. I'd say Genesis from about 1981 onwards might qualify as prog-lite. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018