Caity's Progressive Music Links
My "desert island" ten best progressive albums, in no particular order:
The definition of "Progressive" has changed so many times it makes my head spin. I was a child of the '70s, so I tend to use a '70s definition. This is the stuff I grew up with, and newer stuff that either is by the same artists, or else owes it's major influence to '70s "progressive". Up until about the age of 16 or 17, this was 99% of what I listened to, and I still love a lot of this music, though it's down to maybe 15% of my listening time.
The Official Jethro Tull Website. Yes, Ian Anderson and Martin Barre are still around and making music, with an otherwise changed group. Today I listen to bands like Renaissance and Camel more, but when I was young, these guys were it.
The Willerup Brothers: Jethro Tull site. I saw Jethro Tull eight times during my misspent youth. Today, I like their folk-influenced stuff best, specifically Heavy Horses and Songs From The Wood. This site has album covers and lyrics.
Skylines: The Camel Web Site. Camel is perhaps the most underrated band of the '70s. A bit mellower than most, but very, very creative. Andy Latimer is the only original member still around, but their new stuff is every bit as good as the early works.
Northern Lights: The Renaissance Web Site. Renaissance was heavily influenced by classical music, and is emblematic of the grandiose '70s progressive style without being dated or harsh. Annie Haslam has an incredible soprano voice.
The Gentle Giant Home Page. With an incredible array of instruments and some amazing harmonies on their early albums, Gentle Giant was one of the most unusual, interesting, and original groups of the '70s. I only saw them once, during the 1980 Civillian tour.
Genesis lyrics. I'm a great fan of Genesis back when Peter Gabriel was the lead singer. Albums after Trick of the Tail (the first album where Phil Collins took over the vocal duties) just leave me cold. Here are the words and album covers.
The Triumvirat Homepage. I guess they're back together. The first three albums were brilliant, especially Illusions on a Double Dimple and Spartacus, which featured the late Helmut Kollen's vocals. By their sixth album, they were doing mindless pop badly.
The Pink Floyd Archives. Everything you ever wanted to know about them, I guess. I pretty much like everything up until Wish You Were Here, and Atom Heart Mother is my all time favorite of theirs.
Chapter 24. This site is dedicated to early Pink Floyd work (1972 and earlier), which, IMHO, is their best stuff. Ummagumma, anyone?
Ashra: The Official Website. Ash Ra Tempel and the succeeding band Ashra have moved on to more ambient or electronic pop sounds, but the early albums were progressive masterpieces. Check out Join Inn, the self-titled first album, and Schwingungen especially.
Premiata Forneria Marconi. This is an unofficial page for one of Italy's best progressive bands. (The official site is only in Italian, sadly.) They were the first band Emerson, Lake, and Palmer signed to their Manticore record label. They let jazz and folk influences into some of their best work.
Elephant Talk. This is an online King Crimson/Robert Fripp newsletter and discussion. King Crimson is probably the most discordant band I listen to (when the mood takes me). Actually, their softer albums, like Islands and Court of the Crimson King are my favorites.
enoweb. Brian Eno's early solo effors and about half of his absolutely brilliant second collaboration with Cluster, After the Heat, are definitely progressive rock with a twist. Also check out Here Come The Warm Jets amd Before and After Science.
The Unofficial Eloy homepage. Despite Frank Bornemann's very heavy German accent, which make the vocals a bit grating at times, Eloy has been an extemely creative progressive force that has lasted for nearly 30 years. Their best music, IMHO, was released in the '70s.
Le Orme. Another great Italian progressive band, originally in the grandiose mode of ELP, Yes, and the like. Later, mellower albums like Florian are also brilliant. They've started adding English pages to their official website.
Horslips. Probably the best example ever of Celtic music blended into rock. Perhaps Ireland's premier rock band in the '70s
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. To many, ELP's sound exemplified the grandiose, classical music influenced sound that was at the heart of '70s progressive rock.
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