There is no "Best".

Stop thinking like this.

Its embarrassing for all.

It's true that the title of the thread suggests there is a best, but if you look at the question posed in the first post and the poll, the question is actually which is your favourite.

I assume it's not embarassing having a favourite? ;)

I realize it can be a totally unfamiliar line of thought which goes against all your most ingrained predilictions and illiberalities, but there can be no such thing as a single, singularity-"favorite".
For a few reasons - one of which is that Time changes all.

I cannot expect music forum people to understand this.


Oh! And please take Rush off that list.

So what if favourites change? That doesn't mean that you can't have a favourite prog epic at a point in time.

The goal of this thread is roughly to discuss prog epics. Talking about favourites is one way to enable that. Hence, for all practical purposes, it works just fine, despite your flawed logic that there can't be a favourite.

Birthcontrol "Backdoor Possibilities" is a TOP epic concept.

Put that on your list.

Does that album contain a prog epic as in basically a really long prog rock song like any of the songs in the poll above?

No, it does not.

I misunderstood the thread.
(My idea of "epic" is the whole shebang -a concept. Not a single track.)

I'm really regretting saying that Close to the Edge was only reasonably impressive before in another thread. I now realise that it truly deserves it's great reputation. Honourable mentions to Thick as a Brick and Tarkus.

Marillion's Grendel?

4 real

that sounds like a 3rd or 4th rate Gabriel-era Genesis and is pretty boring to boot

i have to admit Misplaced Childhood is very good, though

My 2 favorite prog epics aren't on the list!

Cygnux X-1 Book II by Rush and The Musical Box by Genesis are both remarkable tracks that really shouldn't be overlooked. Both are really lifechanging.