Is Progressive Punk really an oxymoron?

Dylstew · 07-08-2016, 12:13 PM

I mean, we got Husker Du's Zen Arcade, NoMeansNo with Wrong, Paintbox - Trance, Trip, Traveling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arIhxy_LEtc), all the louder up beat Fugazi songs, Die Kreuzen - October File, aren't those kinda progressive for Punk? Yet, Punk Rock was like anti progressive rock, it took things back to basics. So if Progressive Rock fundamentally goes against punk, why do the aforementioned albums work, and could we call them progressive (relatively, for punk speaking)?

JGuy Grungeman · 07-08-2016, 12:22 PM

With some of these albums, it never really crossed my mind. But I'd love to find some really good progressive punk.

Shadou Dan · 07-25-2016, 05:22 AM

It seems at this point pretty much all genres and sub genres have been mixed and matched to a degree. "Progressive country" might be an oxymoron, especially if you're using "progressive" in the political or ideological sense, lol.

grindy · 07-25-2016, 09:12 AM

The supposed antagonism between punk and prog is an easy narrative that music journalists like to push, but it isn't that simple. Van Der Graaf Generator and some of Peter Hammill's solo stuff were quite proto-punkish. In fact his 1975 album Nadir's Big Chance was the first instance of british music being called punk rock.
Can, who were also quite progressive, although certainly not prog, were another big influence. Johnny Rotten actually was in the talks of becoming their new singer at some point.

**Frownland** · 07-25-2016, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy

Can, who were also quite progressive, although certainly not prog, were another big influence. Johnny Rotten actually was in the talks of becoming their new singer at some point.

Wow, I'm not sure how well that'd work out but it sounds interesting. Was this pre-PIL?

grindy · 07-25-2016, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Wow, I'm not sure how well that'd work out but it sounds interesting. Was this pre-PIL?

I'm not sure. It's kinda hard to google and there is no source in the wikipedia article mentioning it. But I remember reading it in a book about Can as well.
Since Jah Wobble is mentioned as being upset that it didn't come to be, I'll assume it was during the PIL days.

grindy · 07-25-2016, 09:30 AM

This thread needs more Cardiacs.
They are pretty much the first band I think of when progressive punk is mentioned.

OccultHawk · 07-25-2016, 09:43 AM

Duality and contradiction, when done right, have great potency artistically. A band that seems to be several things at once while just being themselves has an honest shot at greatness. Unless you're pioneering something new, anything less will leave you ending up pigeonholed.

PunkBunny · 07-29-2016, 08:32 PM

Progressive Punk, aye... Well.... I've always thought that Punk would be considered the opposite of Prog within the great universe of Rock.

I DO, however, say that there is a Progressive Hardcore: some good sh*t like Mathcore and Noisecore. But Punk? Ol' fashion Punk Rock? No... If anything that'd probably be considered a noisier, less melodic New Wave or maybe Garage Punk... Yeah that actually sounds about right.

PunkBunny · 07-29-2016, 08:33 PM

Art Punk too....

Shyte, nevermind I'd say there is actually a progressive Punk.......

07-08-2016, 12:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dylstew Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,366	Is Progressive Punk really an oxymoron? I mean, we got Husker Du's Zen Arcade, NoMeansNo with Wrong, Paintbox - Trance, Trip, Traveling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arIhxy_LEtc), all the louder up beat Fugazi songs, Die Kreuzen - October File, aren't those kinda progressive for Punk? Yet, Punk Rock was like anti progressive rock, it took things back to basics. So if Progressive Rock fundamentally goes against punk, why do the aforementioned albums work, and could we call them progressive (relatively, for punk speaking)?

07-08-2016, 12:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
JGuy Grungeman Primo Celebate Sexiness Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 2,662	With some of these albums, it never really crossed my mind. But I'd love to find some really good progressive punk. __________________ I'm a pretty nice troll if you ask me.

07-25-2016, 09:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
grindy . Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: . Posts: 7,201	The supposed antagonism between punk and prog is an easy narrative that music journalists like to push, but it isn't that simple. Van Der Graaf Generator and some of Peter Hammill's solo stuff were quite proto-punkish. In fact his 1975 album Nadir's Big Chance was the first instance of british music being called punk rock. Can, who were also quite progressive, although certainly not prog, were another big influence. Johnny Rotten actually was in the talks of becoming their new singer at some point. __________________ *A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.*

07-25-2016, 09:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
grindy . Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: . Posts: 7,201	This thread needs more Cardiacs. They are pretty much the first band I think of when progressive punk is mentioned. __________________ *A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.*

07-25-2016, 05:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Shadou Dan Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 98	It seems at this point pretty much all genres and sub genres have been mixed and matched to a degree. "Progressive country" might be an oxymoron, especially if you're using "progressive" in the political or ideological sense, lol.

07-25-2016, 09:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Duality and contradiction, when done right, have great potency artistically. A band that seems to be several things at once while just being themselves has an honest shot at greatness. Unless you're pioneering something new, anything less will leave you ending up pigeonholed.

07-29-2016, 08:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
PunkBunny Groupie Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA Posts: 11	Progressive Punk, aye... Well.... I've always thought that Punk would be considered the opposite of Prog within the great universe of Rock. I DO, however, say that there is a Progressive Hardcore: some good sh*t like Mathcore and Noisecore. But Punk? Ol' fashion Punk Rock? No... If anything that'd probably be considered a noisier, less melodic New Wave or maybe Garage Punk... Yeah that actually sounds about right.

07-29-2016, 08:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
PunkBunny Groupie Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA Posts: 11	Art Punk too.... Shyte, nevermind I'd say there is actually a progressive Punk.......