Win The Batlord Over to Prog

**Frownland** · 12-30-2014, 12:00 AM

ELP's decent for a prog band. They're along the same lines as Genesis for me: highly rated among prog heads but only okay for anyone else. Don't really dig either but I don't hate them.

And Batlord, not sure if you've heard it but you'd probably like some gay **** like Jethro Tull's Aqualung or Thick As a Brick. They're not the strictest prog band, but they're pretty great.

Trollheart · 12-30-2014, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machine

Do you like Dream Theater, and I'd you do could you tell me why. I'm really truly interested because everything I've heard by them I've detested and I don't really have a good reason, the playing is excellent singing is usually good, but I feel like they make their songs over dramatic, and the 10 minute songs are just 3 minute songs and the rest is soloing.

Batty, stay away from Dream Theater. They're exactly the sort of band to make you think this was a bad idea after all. Much of what they do is definitely just technical wankery and not even that melodic. Showing off for the sake of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

I'm pretty surprised at how much you guys have shit on ELP in this thread. Maybe I'm just biased because my dad was a huge fan and I grew up hearing it, but I always thought their style was very entertaining.

See above, same explanation. Wankers.

Trollheart · 12-30-2014, 05:21 AM

While I'm here, let me throw one of my favourite Pendragon songs at you. Feel free to **** on it as you have all my other recs, you ungrateful bastard.

~~James~~ · 12-30-2014, 05:33 AM

Long ass album, but outside of Krautrock the best prog I have heard.

Plankton · 12-30-2014, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I've given this album a few listens to let it sink in, and honestly, I think I'm starting to dig the second half even more than "2112". Being separate songs, they seem to be allowed to develop more than the different sections of the title track. They range from heavier numbers, to somewhat complex power pop, and even a rather awesome ballad. Not to mention a killer closer in "Something for Nothing".

Great write up. There is definitely hope for you.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 12-30-2014, 06:53 AM

How do you get someone like Batlord to listen to Prog?

Would have thought it was obvious, pick an album that Lemmy plays on....

Musicwhore A-Z · 12-30-2014, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machine

Do you like Dream Theater, and I'd you do could you tell me why. I'm really truly interested because everything I've heard by them I've detested and I don't really have a good reason, the playing is excellent singing is usually good, but I feel like they make their songs over dramatic, and the 10 minute songs are just 3 minute songs and the rest is soloing.

Thanks for responding 'Machine'. To answer your question, I think Dream Theater are okay, but nothing truly special to me. I only have 'Images And Words' and have only seen them once, in July 2005, on 'Gigantour'. For the reasons you and others have stated, I just think they're more concerned with showing off their chops than writing great songs. That said, I certainly respect what they've done and they've unquestionably built a loyal following on their own terms. MANY artists wish they could do that.

A band I mentioned in my earlier post who I think find the PERFECT balance between "chops" and SONGS is King's X. Like Rush, the musicianship is top notch, and there are certainly progressive elements in their music as well. However, it's the SONG that matters the most. Because of that, the "musicianship" shines even more, in my opinion. For that reason alone, I think King's X put Dream Theater to shame, and also have the chops to match, contrary to what many in the "prog rock" community would say. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the guys in Dream Theater themselves admitted that. But I digress (

). Great comments everybody pro and con.

**Frownland** · 12-30-2014, 11:54 AM

King's X is prog? I've only heard Dogman so I could be uninformed.

Musicwhore A-Z · 12-30-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

The reason you enjoy the Asia debut so much, is that it's AOR and not prog. The whole concept of Asia was that they were a supergroup of prog artists dedicated to doing shorter tracks, that were radio friendly, slick enough for MTV and designed to fill out rock arenas in the early 1980s, they were literally artists jumping onto the AOR bandwagon.

Agreed 'Unknown Soldier'. While Asia indeed have good songs, they simply rode the coattails of the AOR "scene" in the early 80's. They definitely aren't "prog" in ANY sense of the word.

Machine · 12-30-2014, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Batty, stay away from Dream Theater. They're exactly the sort of band to make you think this was a bad idea after all. Much of what they do is definitely just technical wankery and not even that melodic. Showing off for the sake of it.

See above, same explanation. Wankers.

Yeah that pretty much sums up my feelings of the band.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicwhore A-Z

Thanks for responding 'Machine'. To answer your question, I think Dream Theater are okay, but nothing truly special to me. I only have 'Images And Words' and have only seen them once, in July 2005, on 'Gigantour'. For the reasons you and others have stated, I just think they're more concerned with showing off their chops than writing great songs. That said, I certainly respect what they've done and they've unquestionably built a loyal following on their own terms. MANY artists wish they could do that.

A band I mentioned in my earlier post who I think find the PERFECT balance between "chops" and SONGS is King's X. Like Rush, the musicianship is top notch, and there are certainly progressive elements in their music as well. However, it's the SONG that matters the most. Because of that, the "musicianship" shines even more, in my opinion. For that reason alone, I think King's X put Dream Theater to shame, and also have the chops to match, contrary to what many in the "prog rock" community would say. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the guys in Dream Theater themselves admitted that. But I digress (

). Great comments everybody pro and con.

I guess I was never really into the technical aspects if prog, I more like the complicated structures, and rythmic patterns. It's why I've always leaned towards bands like Tool, who are all great players, but even in their 10 minute songs they don't show off, they feel like a piece that just happens to be that long.

12-30-2014, 12:00 AM	#51 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	ELP's decent for a prog band. They're along the same lines as Genesis for me: highly rated among prog heads but only okay for anyone else. Don't really dig either but I don't hate them. And Batlord, not sure if you've heard it but you'd probably like some gay **** like Jethro Tull's Aqualung or Thick As a Brick. They're not the strictest prog band, but they're pretty great. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

12-30-2014, 05:21 AM	#53 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	While I'm here, let me throw one of my favourite Pendragon songs at you. Feel free to **** on it as you have all my other recs, you ungrateful bastard. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-30-2014, 06:53 AM	#56 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	How do you get someone like Batlord to listen to Prog? Would have thought it was obvious, pick an album that Lemmy plays on.... __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

12-30-2014, 11:54 AM	#58 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	King's X is prog? I've only heard Dogman so I could be uninformed. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

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12-30-2014, 05:33 AM	#54 (permalink)
~~James~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,483	Long ass album, but outside of Krautrock the best prog I have heard.