Prog Rock primers for FOTs

[mackro]

Many FOTs like indie rock, especially from the 80s and 90s. Prog Rock has increased its presence on the Best Show in the past years. Why not suggest first Prog Rock albums for FOTs?

- Yes "Yes" the debut album (not to be confused with the third album called "The Yes Album")
This is a good bridge from jangly pop rock. The tenets of Prog are here, but certainly in a more Prog structure. "Looking Around" is a great mix tape song for this

- Can "Cannabilism I", a 1969-1974 primer. This is what hooked me into Can.

- Amon Duul II "Yeti" and "Tanz Der Lemminge"
Krautrock is overall the best bridge as a movement, I think, since heavy psych Rock is a common denominator. The roots of weird rock bands like Thinking Fellers and Polvo are found here. The former is heavier, while the latter is start-to-finish a succinct builder.

I could go on, but will let others chime in.

[fonpr]

This is a bit off topic, Mackro. but, did you know that the Grateful Dead's two best written albums came out in 1970?

[mackro]

This is a bit off topic, Mackro. but, did you know that the Grateful Dead's two best written albums came out in 1970?

I haven't listened to enough Dead albums to agree or disagree? I know 1970 was when a lot of rock celebrity dudes discovered the Dead and were influenced by them.  "Workingman's Dead" and "American Beauty" both came out that year.  But I prefer "Aoxomoxoa" to either, which was from 1969. (Both the original and The 1971 REMIX, MAN)

[Jew Heffner]

I'm a pretty huge Rush fan, so if someone wanted to check them out I'd suggest either 2112 or A Farewell to Kings to start with. 2112 and Cygnus X-1 are my two favorite songs from them. You get a lot of crazy time signatures and tempo changes along with some ridiculous musicianship and super nerdy lyrics. Great prog stuff there.
 
The Yes Album is a great place to start with Yes. It's got a couple shorter songs, along with some really catchy stuff mixed in with the longer songs on the album.

Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull is a lot of fun too.

[Omar]

Is Bang Tango considered prog?

[mostlymeat]

I think King Crimson's "Court of the Crimson King" is the best place to start with prog. Yes is kinda wimpy in comparison (sorry Jon Anderson) and Genesis isn't heavy enough to be compelling.

[Mike Desert]

Archaia - S/T (1977)

Archaia - S/T (1977)

Eloy - Floating (1974)

ELOY - FLOATING (FULL ALBUM)

Aphrodite's Child 666

Aphrodite's Child - 666 (Full Album Part 1)

Magma -Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh

Comus, Gong, Catapilla, Aardvark....

[peter falk]

My wife and I argued last night about whether Goblin counts as prog.  I always thought of the Deep Red soundtrack as a good bridge to the genre

[gravy boat]

Dave from Knoxville seems to be a deep prog fan--had some prog spotify playlist that is delightful. More, please, DfK.

[fonpr]

Dave suggested Traffic was a prog-band. If that is true, I'd go with Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys.

[JonFromMaplewood]

Can - Monster Movie
King Crimson - Red
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Magma - Udu Wudu
Yes - Close to the Edge

Check out the 8:05-minute mark in Magma's De Futura and thank me later: https://youtu.be/vzyOi5XRu_g?t=485

[agent_jimmy]

I start and stop with Can. no other band is necessary.

[nec13]

Can - Monster Movie
King Crimson - Red
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Magma - Udu Wudu
Yes - Close to the Edge

Check out the 8:05-minute mark in Magma's De Futura and thank me later: https://youtu.be/vzyOi5XRu_g?t=485

Good list.

I'd add the following:

Faust- Faust, So Far, Faust IV
Neu! - Neu! and Neu! 75
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic, The Great Deceiver, Discipline
Can - Tago Mago, Future Days, Soon Over Babaluma

[fonpr]

Can - Monster Movie
King Crimson - Red
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Magma - Udu Wudu
Yes - Close to the Edge

Check out the 8:05-minute mark in Magma's De Futura and thank me later: https://youtu.be/vzyOi5XRu_g?t=485

Good list.

I'd add the following:

Faust- Faust, So Far, Faust IV
Neu! - Neu! and Neu! 75
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic, The Great Deceiver, Discipline
Can - Tago Mago, Future Days, Soon Over Babaluma

No Traffic, Nec?

What about John Cale's Vintage Violence?

We need a new thread called Prog or Not Prog?

[josh c]

I've never considered krautrock and prog rock to have many similarities, so seeing CAN dropped in here is surprising to me. Krautrock in general might have taken a lot of inspiration from prog but I don't see them as mutual genres past a few, fleeting stylistic overlaps. Krautrock in general is so much more freewheeling and rhythmic, while I think of prog as generally kind of more concerned with form. Does that make sense? Prog can easily be stuffy and self-interested while krautrock seems to just let it loose.

All the early GENESIS records made me a fan ("Nursery Cryme" through "A Trick of the Tail"), then SOFT MACHINE clicked, especially "Third" and "Fourth," after years in the jazz desert. Canterbury stuff is a trip, but probably not the most easily accessible.

EDIT: Cale's "Vintage Violence" is not prog. At ALL.