I'd love to join but I fear I'm at a loss as to what Prog is. I guess Klaatu and Dream Theater qualify as what I think of as Prog, but Massacre? Queensryche? I love Massacre but I have always thought of them as a free improvise jazz band - Are they Prog because Fred Frith is the guitarist? Is RIO a form of Prog? I thought it was a city in South America.

I'm new and I'm sure new guys are a pain in the ass because they never know what's going on, but if there is a definition of Prog that you guys go by, I'd be curious to hear it. I am here to expand my musical horizons, after all.

I've been listening to Crimson's 'Wake of Poseidon' lately and it's a terrific album, but I keep wondering if they call it Prog just because they don't know what the hell else to call it.

If you're at a loss, try these three albums probably three of the most representative of the genre, a great place to start:D BTW a lot of what's called prog today is dubious to say the least and open to debate.
Yes-Close to the Edge
King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King
Genesis-Foxtrot

obvious choices are obvious

seriously, though, I'd go for "Selling England by the Pound" by Genesis

"Foxtrot" just meanders

I used to think Selling England by the Pound was the better album, I now Prefer Foxtrot just that bit more.

i dunno, "Watcher of the Skies" and "Supper's Ready" is a lot of mindless noodling

at least "England" only has "The Cinema Show"

I'm intimate with all of those albums and they all fit my idea of what Prog is, which is why some of the selections on your first list threw me. I just never thought of Queensryche as Prog. Still, I am open to new ideas. I really like Prog music and would like to be exposed to some of the stuff outside the usual Crimson-Yes-Genesis-etc. stuff that I've been listening to for the last 40 years. Maybe I should just shut up and let you guys do your thing. ^_^

Ah come on Howard! "Supper's ready" is far from "mindless noodling!" It's one of the best-constructed epic songs of the 70s, with key changes, time signature changes, location changes, and it tells a story all the way through (if a very weird one): progressive rock at its finest.

"Watcher of the skies" is great too, and don't forget "Can-Utility and the Coastliners"!

Two links that may help:
http://www.musicbanter.com/prog-psyc...tion-prog.html

and

http://www.musicbanter.com/prog-psyc...on-thread.html

about "Supper" it's a bit uneven and they explored the whole concept better on "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" over a course of 2 albums, "Supper" sounds to me like a less developed version of that

my problem with "Watcher" - too much Mellofuckingtron or is that "Banksynths"? (i still have problems telling one from the other)

Wow a wealth of information - thank you. I had no idea so much of the music I listen to was considered Prog in one way or another. Who does think up all these classifications? Is there an academy in France? :laughing:

That 'Advanced Listener' list looks tasty. Thanks again...