The 200 Best Progressive Rock and Progressive Metal Albums of All Time

Omitting live CDs and compilations, bonus disks, etc. The scores are based on cumulative user votes on Progulus Radio. Each song is voted on separately, and the average for each album is calculated. A baysian average is then used on the result.

Rank	Rating	Artist	Album	Year	Country
1	4.77	Dream Theater	Images And Words	1992	US
2	4.73	Dream Theater	Scenes From a Memory	1999	US
3	4.69	Symphony X	The Odyssey	2002	US
4	4.64	Rush	Moving Pictures	1981	CA
5	4.64	Redemption	The Fullness Of Time	2005	US
6	4.64	Liquid Tension Experiment	Liquid Tension Experiment 2	1999	US
7	4.63	Symphony X	Paradise Lost	2007	US
8	4.61	Pink Floyd	Wish You Were Here	1975	UK
9	4.61	Circus Maximus	The 1st Chapter	2005	NO
10	4.6	Riverside	Anno Domini High Definition	2009	PL
11	4.6	Symphony X	V: The New Mythology Suite	2000	US
12	4.59	Symphony X	The Divine Wings Of Tragedy	1997	US
13	4.59	Opeth	Damnation	2003	SE
14	4.59	Ayreon	Universal Migrator Part II: Flight Of The Migrator	2000	NL
15	4.58	Dream Theater	Train of Thought	2003	US
16	4.58	Porcupine Tree	Fear Of A Blank Planet	2007	UK
17	4.58	Vanden Plas	Christ.0	2006	DE
18	4.58	Dream Theater	A Change of Seasons	1995	US
19	4.58	Dream Theater	Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence	2002	US
20	4.56	Queensryche	Operation: Mindcrime	1988	US
21	4.56	Riverside	Second Life Syndrome	2005	PL
22	4.56	Ayreon	1011001	2008	NL
23	4.55	Redemption	The Origins Of Ruin	2007	US
24	4.55	Symphony X	Twilight In Olympus	1998	US
25	4.55	Opeth	Watershed	2008	SE
26	4.55	Circus Maximus	Isolate	2007	NO
27	4.54	Dream Theater	Awake	1994	US
28	4.54	Ayreon	The Human Equation	2004	NL
29	4.54	Frost*	Milliontown	2006	UK
30	4.54	Liquid Tension Experiment	Liquid Tension Experiment 1	1998	US
31	4.54	Dreamscape	End Of Silence	2004	DE
32	4.54	Riverside	Out Of Myself	2004	PL
33	4.54	Pain of Salvation	Remedy Lane	2002	SE
34	4.53	Koyaanisqatsy	From The Yearning To Burst - The Perpetual Circle	2000	DE
35	4.53	Queensryche	Empire	1990	US
36	4.52	Rush	2112	1976	CA
37	4.52	Redemption	Snowfall On Judgment Day	2009	US
38	4.52	Pain of Salvation	The Perfect Element	2000	SE
39	4.52	Pink Floyd	Animals	1977	UK
40	4.52	Riverside	Rapid Eye Movement	2007	PL
41	4.52	Yes	Close To The Edge	1972	UK
42	4.51	Kansas	Leftoverture	1976	US
43	4.51	Rush	Hemispheres	1978	CA
44	4.51	Porcupine Tree	In Absentia	2002	UK
45	4.5	Indukti	S.U.S.A.R	2005	PL
46	4.5	Threshold	Hypothetical	2001	UK
47	4.5	Ayreon	Into The Electric Castle	1998	NL
48	4.5	Vanden Plas	The Seraphic Clockwork	2010	DE
49	4.49	Myrath	Hope	2007	TN
50	4.49	Spheric Universe Experience	Anima	2007	FR
51	4.49	Rush	Permanent Waves	1980	CA
52	4.48	Pagan's Mind	Celestial Entrance	2002	NO
53	4.48	Porcupine Tree	Deadwing	2005	UK
54	4.48	Sieges Even	The Art Of Navigating By The Stars	2005	DE
55	4.48	Threshold	Subsurface	2004	UK
56	4.47	Genesis	A Trick Of The Tail	1976	UK
57	4.47	Star One	Space Metal	2002	NL
58	4.47	Pain of Salvation	BE	2004	SE
59	4.47	Dream Theater	Falling Into Infinity	1997	US
60	4.47	Rush	A Farewell To Kings	1977	CA
61	4.47	Genesis	Selling England by the Pound	1973	UK
62	4.46	Threshold	Critical Mass	2002	UK
63	4.45	Guilt Machine	On This Perfect Day	2009	NL
64	4.45	Opeth	Ghost Reveries	2005	SE
65	4.45	Spock's Beard	V	2000	US
66	4.45	John Petrucci	Suspended Animation	2005	US
67	4.45	Yngwie Malmsteen	Rising Force	1984	SE
68	4.45	Kansas	Point of Know Return	1977	US
69	4.45	Ayreon	Universal Migrator (Disc 1)- The Dream Sequencer	2000	NL
70	4.45	Dream Theater	Systematic Chaos	2007	US
71	4.44	Yes	Fragile	1971	UK
72	4.44	Haken	Aquarius	2010	UK
73	4.44	Kamelot	The Black Halo	2005	US
74	4.43	Adagio	Underworld	2003	FR
75	4.43	Genesis	The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway	1974	UK
76	4.43	Pink Floyd	Dark Side Of The Moon	1973	UK
77	4.43	Shadow Gallery	Room V	2005	US
78	4.43	Seventh Wonder	Mercy Falls	2008	SE
79	4.43	Wolverine	Still	2006	SE
80	4.43	Rush	Grace Under Pressure	1984	CA
81	4.42	Threshold	Dead Reckoning	2007	UK
82	4.42	Dead Soul Tribe	A Lullaby For The Devil	2007	US
83	4.42	Sieges Even	Paramount	2007	DE
84	4.42	Pagan's Mind	enigmatic : calling	2005	NO
85	4.42	Nightwish	Once	2004	FI
86	4.42	Pain of Salvation	Entropia	1997	SE
87	4.42	Genesis	Nursery Cryme	1971	UK
88	4.41	Haken	Visions	2011	UK
89	4.41	Karmakanic	Who's The Boss In The Factory	2008	SE
90	4.41	Frost*	Experiments in Mass Appeal	2008	UK
91	4.41	Evergrey	The Inner Circle	2004	SE
92	4.41	Dream Theater	Octavarium	2005	US
93	4.41	Vanden Plas	Beyond Daylight	2002	DE
94	4.4	Tool	10,000 Days	2006	US
95	4.4	Animations	Animations	2007	PL
96	4.4	Lalu	Oniric Metal	2005	FR
97	4.4	Dominici	O3 A Trilogy - Part 2	2007	multi
98	4.4	Pink Floyd	The Division Bell	1994	UK
99	4.4	Kansas	Song for America	1975	US
100	4.4	Darkwater	Calling The Earth To Witness	2007	SE
101	4.39	Myrath	Desert Call	2010	TN
102	4.39	Pink Floyd	The Wall	1979	UK
103	4.39	Genesis	Wind & Wuthering	1976	UK
104	4.38	Beyond Twilight	For The Love Of Art And The Making	2006	DK
105	4.38	Amaseffer	Exodus - Slaves for Life	2008	IL
106	4.38	Anubis Gate	Andromeda Unchained	2007	DK
107	4.38	Fates Warning	A Pleasant Shade Of Gray	1997	US
108	4.38	Adagio	Sanctus Ignis	2001	FR
109	4.38	Poverty's No Crime	Save My Soul	2007	DE
110	4.37	Animals As Leaders	Animals As Leaders	2009	US
111	4.37	Headspace	I Am Anonymous	2012	UK
112	4.37	Rush	Signals	1982	CA
113	4.37	Ark	Burn The Sun	2001	multi
114	4.37	Ambeon	Fate Of A Dreamer	2001	NL
115	4.37	Queensryche	Rage For Order	1986	US
116	4.37	Kansas	Masque	1975	US
117	4.37	Seventh Wonder	Waiting In The Wings	2006	SE
118	4.37	OSI	Blood.	2009	US
119	4.37	Pyramaze	Melancholy Beast	2004	multi
120	4.37	Thought Chamber	Angular Perceptions	2007	US
121	4.37	Magic Pie	Motions Of Desire	2005	NO
122	4.36	Savatage	Gutter Ballet	1989	US
123	4.36	Overhead	Metaepitome	2005	FI
124	4.36	Opeth	Blackwater Park	2001	SE
125	4.36	OSI	Office of Strategic Influence	2003	US
126	4.36	Queensryche	The Warning	1984	US
127	4.36	Fates Warning	Parallels	1991	US
128	4.36	Tool	Lateralus	2001	US
129	4.36	Genesis	Foxtrot	1972	UK
130	4.36	Fates Warning	Disconnected	2000	US
131	4.35	Jordan Rudess	Rhythm of Time	2004	US
132	4.35	IQ	Dark Matter	2004	UK
133	4.35	Queen	A Night At The Opera.	1975	UK
134	4.35	Star One	Victims of the Modern Age	2010	NL
135	4.35	Beyond Twilight	Section X	2005	DK
136	4.35	Echoes	Nature | Existence	2010	VE
137	4.35	Allen/Lande	The Revenge	2007	multi
138	4.35	The Gourishankar	2nd Hands	2007	RU
139	4.35	Dead Soul Tribe	The January Tree	2004	US
140	4.35	Symphony X	The Damnation Game	1995	US
141	4.35	Andromeda	II = I	2003	SE
142	4.34	Subsignal	Beautiful & Monstrous	2009	DE
143	4.34	IQ	Frequency	2009	UK
144	4.34	Pendragon	Pure	2008	UK
145	4.33	Atmosfear	Inside The Atmosphere	2003	DE
146	4.33	Phideaux	Doomsday Afternoon	2007	US
147	4.33	Nightwish	Century Child	2002	FI
148	4.33	Opeth	Still Life	1999	SE
149	4.33	Karmakanic	Entering The Spectra	2002	SE
150	4.33	Pain of Salvation	One Hour By The Concrete Lake	1998	SE
151	4.33	Sylvan	Artificial Paradise	2002	DE
152	4.32	Eric Johnson	Ah Via Musicom	1990	US
153	4.32	Savatage	Dead Winter Dead	1995	US
154	4.32	Sylvan	X-Rayed	2004	DE
155	4.32	Andromeda	The Immunity Zone	2008	SE
156	4.32	Votum	Time Must Have A Stop	2008	PL
157	4.32	Shadrane	Temporal	2008	FR
158	4.32	Pagan's Mind	God's Equation	2007	NO
159	4.32	Mind's Eye	Walking on H20	2006	SE
160	4.32	Lacuna Coil	Comalies	2002	IT
161	4.32	Rush	Fly By Night	1975	CA
162	4.32	A.C.T	Last Epic	2003	SE
163	4.32	Threshold	Clone	1998	UK
164	4.31	Genesis	And Then There Were Three...	1978	UK
165	4.31	Leprous	Tall Poppy Syndrome	2009	NO
166	4.31	Dead Soul Tribe	A Murder Of Crows	2003	US
167	4.31	Fair To Midland	Fables From A Mayfly	2007	US
168	4.31	Savatage	Hall Of The Mountain King	1987	US
169	4.31	Stride	Imagine	2005	US
170	4.31	Porcupine Tree	The Incident	2009	UK
171	4.31	Pallas	The Dreams of Men	2005	UK
172	4.31	Kamelot	Ghost Opera	2007	US
173	4.31	Riverside	02 Panic Room	2007	PL
174	4.31	Evergrey	In Search Of Truth	2001	SE
175	4.31	Jordan Rudess	Feeding The Wheel	2001	US
176	4.31	Porcupine Tree	Lightbulb Sun	2000	UK
177	4.31	Kamelot	The Fourth Legacy	1999	US
178	4.31	Parallaxe	Soundtrack	2007	FR
179	4.31	Green Carnation	A Blessing In Disguise	2003	NO
180	4.31	Threshold	March Of Progress	2012	UK
181	4.3	Transatlantic	Bridge Across Forever	2001	multi
182	4.3	Galahad	Empires Never Last	2006	UK
183	4.3	Leprous	Bilateral	2011	NO
184	4.3	Ayreon	Actual Fantasy Revisited	2004	NL
185	4.3	Transmission	ID, Ego, and Superego	2007	DE
186	4.3	King Crimson	In The Court Of The Crimson King	1969	UK
187	4.3	Yes	The Yes Album	1971	UK
188	4.3	Sun Caged	Sun Caged	2003	multi
189	4.3	Riverside	Voices In My Head (Inside Out Reissue)	2006	PL
190	4.3	Everon	North	2008	DE
191	4.3	Arch/Matheos	Sympathetic Resonance	2011	US
192	4.3	Opeth	Heritage	2011	SE
193	4.3	Joseph Magazine	Night of the Red Sky	2011	PL
194	4.3	Rush	Power Windows	1985	CA
195	4.3	Age Of Nemesis	Terra Incognita	2007	HU
196	4.3	Pathosray	Pathosray	2007	IT
197	4.29	Karmakanic	Wheel Of Life	2004	SE
198	4.29	Maximum Indifference	The Transmutations of Supposed Angels or Beings that were once Girls	2000	US
199	4.29	Avantasia	The Scarecrow	2008	multi
200	4.29	Andromeda	Chimera	2006	SE
201	4.29	Demians	Building an Empire	2008	FR
202	4.29	Epica	The Divine Conspiracy (Ltd. Editon)	2007	NL
203	4.29	IQ	Subterranea	1997	UK

Top 10 albums each year over the past two decades.

Top 10 studio albums each year, omitting live CDs and compilations, bonus disks, etc.

The scores are based on cumulative user votes on Progulus Radio. A look at the voting pool: Average unique voters in 2012: 62.5, Average votes per month: 2,036.  Each song is voted on separately, and the average for each album is calculated.  A baysian average is then used on the result.  The results of 2012 may change slightly in the future as more and more votes accumulate.  The result is based on a small pool of voters compared with the prog scene as a whole.

The number is the album's overall rank on the station.

2012
127 Headspace- I Am Anonymous, UK
301 Threshold- March Of Progress, UK
542 Hemina- Synthetic, AU
605 Delain- We Are The Others, NL
768 Bad Salad- Uncivilized, BR
781 Circus Maximus- Nine, NO
787 Lord Of Mushrooms- Perspectives, FR
794 OSI- Fire Make Thunder, US
810 Mystery- The World Is A Game, CA
888 Kaipa- Vittjar, SE

2011
100 Haken- Visions, UK
141 Opeth- Heritage, SE
160 Leprous- Bilateral, NO
195 Joseph Magazine- Night of the Red Sky, PL
232 Arch/Matheos- Sympathetic Resonance, US
286 Subsignal- Touchstones, DE
292 Redemption- This Mortal Coil, US
302 Karmakanic- In A Perfect World, SE
338 Dream Theater- A Dramatic Turn Of Events, US
348 Steven Wilson- Grace For Drowning - Deform to Form a Star, UK

2010
54 Vanden Plas- The Seraphic Clockwork, DE
83 Haken- Aquarius, UK
105 Myrath- Desert Call, TN
143 Echoes- Nature | Existence, VE
151 Star One- Victims of the Modern Age, NL
215 Chimp Spanner- At The Dream's Edge, UK
264 Darkwater- Where Stories End, SE
273 Day Six- The Grand Design, NL
370 Kingcrow- Phlegethon, IT
402 Unitopia- Artificial, AU

2009
12 Riverside- Anno Domini High Definition, PL
40 Redemption- Snowfall On Judgment Day, US
69 Guilt Machine- On This Perfect Day, NL
137 OSI- Blood, US
138 Animals As Leaders- Animals As Leaders, US
169 Subsignal- Beautiful & Monstrous, DE
176 IQ- Frequency, UK
194 Leprous- Tall Poppy Syndrome, NO
206 Porcupine Tree- The Incident, UK
221 Ozric Tentacles- The Yum Yum Tree, UK

2008
23 Ayreon- 1011001, NL
28 Opeth- Watershed, SE
90 Seventh Wonder- Mercy Falls, SE
101 Frost*- Experiments in Mass Appeal, UK
115 Karmakanic -Who's The Boss In The Factory, SE
123 Amaseffer- Exodus - Slaves for Life, IL
186 Votum- Time Must Have A Stop, PL
188 Andromeda- The Immunity Zone, SE
191 Shadrane- Temporal, FR
229 Everon- North, DE

2007
7 Symphony X- Paradise Lost, US
20 Porcupine Tree- Fear Of A Blank Planet, UK
26 Redemption- The Origins Of Ruin, US
30 Circus Maximus- Isolate, NO
44 Riverside- Rapid Eye Movement, PL
55 Myrath- Hope, TN
56 Spheric Universe Experience- Anima, FR
79 Dream Theater- Systematic Chaos, US
84 Dead Soul Tribe- A Lullaby For The Devil, US
87 Sieges Even- Paramount, DE

2006
17 Vanden Plas- Christ.0, DE
31 Frost*- Milliontown, UK
82 Wolverine- Still, SE
109 Tool- 10,000 Days, US
118 Beyond Twilight- For The Love Of Art And The Making, DK
132 Seventh Wonder -Waiting In The Wings ,SE
162 Mind's Eye- Walking on H20, SE
183 Venturia- The New Kingdom, FR
214 Riverside- Voices In My Head, PL
228 Galahad- Empires Never Last, UK

2005
4 Redemption- The Fullness Of Time, US
9 Circus Maximus- The 1st Chapter, NO
22 Riverside- Second Life Syndrome, PL
50 Indukti- S.U.S.A.R, PL
57 Porcupine Tree- Deadwing, UK
62 Sieges Even- The Art Of Navigating By The Stars, DE
71 John Petrucci- Suspended Animation, US
76 Opeth- Ghost Reveries, SE
80 Shadow Gallery- Room V, US
85 Kamelot- The Black Halo, US

2004
25 Ayreon- The Human Equation, NL
32 Dreamscape- End Of Silence, DE
36 Riverside- Out Of Myself, PL
58 Threshold- Subsurface, UK
65 Pain of Salvation- BE, SE
95 Nightwish- Once, FI
98 Evergrey- The Inner Circle, SE
136 Pyramaze- Melancholy Beast, multi
146 Jordan Rudess- Rhythm of Time, US
159 Dead Soul Tribe- The January Tree, US

2003
14 Opeth- Damnation, SE
18 Dream Theater- Train of Thought, US
86 Adagio- Underworld, FR
149 OSI- Office of Strategic Influence, US
170 Andromeda- II = I, SE
178 Atmosfear- Inside The Atmosphere, DE
181 A.C.T- Last Epic, SE
204 Dead Soul Tribe- A Murder Of Crows, US
216 Green Carnation- A Blessing In Disguise, NO
223 Sun Caged- Sun Caged, multi

2002
3 Symphony X- The Odyssey, US
19 Dream Theater- Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, US
34 Pain of Salvation- Remedy Lane, SE
46 Porcupine Tree- In Absentia, UK
61 Pagan's Mind- Celestial Entrance, NO
64 Star One- Space Metal, NL
73 Threshold- Critical Mass, UK
107 Vanden Plas- Beyond Daylight, DE
166 Karmakanic- Entering The Spectra, SE
175 Nightwish- Century Child, FI

2001
52 Threshold- Hypothetical, UK
122 Ambeon- Fate Of A Dreamer, NL
125 Ark- Burn The Sun, multi
126 Adagio- Sanctus Ignis, FR
150 Opeth- Blackwater Park, SE
155 Tool- Lateralus, US
179 Jordan Rudess- Feeding The Wheel, US
209 Evergrey- In Search Of Truth, SE
219 Transatlantic- Bridge Across Forever, multi
238 Stride- Music Machine, US

2000
10 Symphony X- V: The New Mythology Suite, US
15 Ayreon- Universal Migrator Part II: Flight Of The Migrator, NL
33 Koyaanisqatsy- From The Yearning To Burst - The Perpetual Circle, DE
38 Pain of Salvation- The Perfect Element I, SE
74 Spock's Beard- V, US
81 Ayreon- Universal Migrator Part I: The Dream Sequencer, NL
131 Fates Warning- Disconnected, US
152 Porcupine Tree- Lightbulb Sun, UK
224 Maximum Indifference- The Transmutations of Supposed Angels or Beings that were once Girls, US
356 Planet X- Universe, multi

1999
2 Dream Theater- Scenes From a Memory, US
6 Liquid Tension Experiment- Liquid Tension Experiment 2, US
184 Opeth- Still Life, SE
220 Kamelot- The Fourth Legacy, US
295 Spock's Beard- Day For Night, US
300 Balance Of Power- Ten More Tales Of Grand Illusion, UK
309 Porcupine Tree- Stupid Dream, UK
311 Ozric Tentacles- Waterfall Cities, UK
314 Dali's Dilemma- Manifesto For Futurism, US
429 Mastermind- Excelsior!, US

1998
27 Symphony X- Twilight In Olympus, US
35 Liquid Tension Experiment- Liquid Tension Experiment 1, US
53 Ayreon- Into The Electric Castle, NL
189 Pain of Salvation- One Hour By The Concrete Lake, SE
201 Threshold- Clone, UK
282 Shadow Gallery- Tyranny, US
331 Platypus- When Pus Comes To Shove, US
387 Savatage- The Wake of Magellan, US
424 Eloy- Ocean 2 ~ The Answer, DE
496 Arena- The Visitor, UK

1997
11 Symphony X- The Divine Wings Of Tragedy, US
13 Dream Theater- Falling Into Infinity, US
114 Pain of Salvation- Entropia, SE
120 Fates Warning- A Pleasant Shade Of Gray, US
180 IQ- Subterranea, UK
250 Spock's Beard- Beware Of Darkness, US
297 Spock's Beard- The Kindness Of Strangers, US
341 The Flower Kings- Stardust We Are, SE
365 Devin Townsend- Ocean Machine Biomech, CA
389 Crucible- Tall Tales, US

1996
320 Rush- Test For Echo, CA
403 Eric Johnson- Venus Isle, US
409 Ritual- Ritual, SE
436 Tool- AEnima, US
448 Pendragon- The Masquerade Overture, UK
449 Lemur Voice- Insights, NL
598 Steve Vai- Fire Garden, US
620 Angra- Holy Land, BR
658 The Flower Kings- Retropolis, SE
749 Superior- Behind, DE

1995
16 Dream Theater- A Change of Seasons, US
161 Symphony X- The Damnation Game, US
182 Savatage- Dead Winter Dead, US
308 Ayreon- The Final Experiment, NL
366 Kansas- Freaks Of Nature, US
488 The Gathering- Mandylion, NL
490 Shadow Gallery- Carved In Stone ,US
491 King Crimson- Thrak, UK
492 The Tea Party- The Edges Of Twilight, CA
521 Enchant- A Blueprint Of The World, US

1994
29 Dream Theater- Awake, US
116 Pink Floyd- The Division Bell ,UK
323 Roine Stolt- The Flower King, SE
345 Marillion- Brave, UK
428 Savatage- Handful Of Rain, US
584 Queensryche- Promised Land, US
608 Fates Warning- Inside Out, US
627 Ozric Tentacles- Arborescence, UK
815 Symphony X- Symphony X, US
875 Michael Manring- Thonk, US

1993
505 Savatage- Edge of Thorns, US
610 Rush- Counterparts, CA
612 Threshold- Wounded Land, UK
679 Tool- Undertow, US
680 Ozric Tentacles- Jurassic Shift, UK
703 Saga- The Security Of Illusion, CA
709 IQ- Ever, UK
720 Greg Howe- Introspection, US
782 Pendragon- The Window Of Life, UK
863 Porcupine Tree- Up The Downstair, UK

Who do you think you are?

Progulus listener Zaii recently commented in the forum:

Does anyone else get bored of new Prog Bands saying things like "for fans of Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree and Opeth"? It's always the same few massive Prog bands and most of the time they actually don't sound anything alike. It would be nice if they named a band they actually do sound like. I have become so disillusioned by people saying such things that when a band claims to sound like DT, yes and PT for example I immediately become very skeptical and assume they are a not particularly talented group who are just trying to draw in as many listeners as possible by claiming to sound like the biggest band they can think of. When was the last time someone said "sounds like Karmakanic" for example???

This got me thinking again about the difficulty of finding your own sound and also finding a way to tell people what you sound like. You want to be accurate, but you don't want to confuse people. Zaii also made reference to a band that's been spamming the Progulus tag board. Spamming will make people mad to begin with, but they also claim to sound like Dream Theater, Rush, and Genesis. They aren't even close. I think it's bad form to try to ride someone's coattails in a deceptive way. If you say you sound like Rush and you don't, I probably won't take the time to find out what you so sound like. I'll probably forget all about you.

Sometimes descriptions of bands are written by their label or promoter. In this case you'll probably hear an accurate comparison, but it will also be of the biggest bands. This is pure marketing, meant to catch the most ears. This isn't necessarily wrong either. I think you do need to speak your audience's language. Once after a Strange Land show one guy in another band (a well known guy in this area) said "Man, you guys have that Kansas thing down!" I know it was meant as a compliment, and I took it as such. But I also said to myself "Huh?!" I'm the only member of Strange Land that listens to a lot of Kansas, and they really are a generation before us anyway. But the guy who gave us the compliment was a little older and probably stopped listening to anything remotely prog in 1980. When people hear something unfamiliar the brain needs to find a place to put it. Sometimes the closest match isn't that close at all. Do we sound like Kansas? Well, more than we sound like Barry White. When I have to describe Strange Land to non-prog fans I'll say Queensryche, Rush, King's X, maybe Living Colour, maybe Dream Theater (if they're metal fans). Listeners of commercial hard rock radio will know some of those bands, and the comparison isn't inaccurate. If I start talking about Pain Of Salvation and Fates Warning I usually get blank stares.

Another problem in describing my band is whether or not to talk about influence vs. inspiration vs. emulation. We are influenced by Devin Townsend, Echolyn, Dead Soul Tribe, and Nevermore but I don't think we really sound much like those bands. Sometimes I want to make the comparison though because I've been inspired in some way by such a band even though I'm not copying their sound.

So, back to Zaii's point, and knowing your audience. If I know I'm talking to the prog crowd I can mention all of the above bands and more obscure ones. It's hard to make the comparison to the lesser known bands, there are so many and such variety. Strange Land is influenced by Fates Warning, but its later material. We are influenced by Queesnryche, but mostly Rage For Order through Promised Land.

It is a mistake to compare yourself to someone you don't sound like. I think it's also a mistake for younger bands to say "for fans of" when they aren't ready or are not up to snuff quality-wise. If I say "Strange Land sounds like Symphony X" and we don't, you'll be annoyed. If I say "we're influenced or inspired by" then we still might grab your attention. There is too much emphasis on being the next [fill in famous name here] that bands are unwilling to let time and word of mouth work. I find it better to sound like me than to not sound like someone else but say I do. Unfortunately, in the marketing world, "I sound like me" doesn't cut it. So many bands try to say they sound like whatever you like.

That is why I do this

Strange Land had a show last Friday at a place that shall remain nameless here. I am the diplomat of the band after all, not that you can't all go to the web and find out where it was. It was out first show at this venue and our first within about 70 miles of this place. I thought we made this clear to the venue. We're interested in expanding our territory and reaching new people. Details were sketchy about the show until a few days before. Then, it looked like we were on a bill with five other bands. The whole show started at 6, we were told to be there no later than 10. Ok... looks like we're last. No biggie, with 5 other bands there should be a decent number of people hanging around.

Ah, but it's never that easy. From 6-10 it was an all ages show. We were indeed last and the band that was supposed to be before us didn't show. I thought, fine, we'll go on around 10:30 then. Promptly at 10 all the under 21 people were booted out. The band on stage at the time finished their set with a pretty good crowd still there. But for some reason the venue made us wait until 11 to start. In that time almost everyone left while the cover band got started upstairs (don't even get me started on cover bands. I'll lose my diplomatic immunity). Since the band we we're booked with didn't show none of their people were there. So most of the night we had five people. We managed to snag a few others in passing from upstairs. Add to that, the sound guy was pulling double duty due to an emergency. He was running up and down the stairs doing sound on both stages. He loved us though. Sound guys seem to like us because we don't sound like every other band they have to sit through. At one point Brad's vocal mic behind the drum kit was feeding back and he just unplugged it. We didn't have Brad singing for most of the night. Such is the nature of live shows. Shit goes wrong and you either roll with it or you collapse.

All that said, this was one of the best shows we've had in a while. We played well. We had fun on stage. And the crowd that was there was engaged. I have so much fun when I can interact with people from the stage. We cracked jokes. I got everyone to introduce themselves. We laughed. I may take my music seriously, but I don't take myself seriously. It wasn't my show. It wasn't Strange Land's show. It was our show, band and audience together.

I've played a lot of shows for many different kinds of crowds. I'll take small and enthusiastic over large and indifferent any day. I'm they guy in the band who isn't gung ho to play out. I prefer writing and recording. But for shows like this I will always come out and I will enjoy playing on stage. All I need to do to be successful is reach one person. To make one person laugh. To know that one person understands what I'm trying to do. For one person to feel like I understand them because of a song we wrote. We got lucky, we reached more than one last week. And that is why I do this.

Special thanks to Progulites Iceman and Falcon for coming out. It's cool to meet hardcore prog fans and to put faces and real names to the chat board nicknames.

Windy tunes and cookware

So it's a frigid 6ºF below zero with a wind chill of -27 at the moment. My roommate is also a musician and one of the first things she said to me this morning is "how do you like our door playing overtones?" The back door isn't sealed perfectly and when the wind gusts it plays tones. Somewhere between the sound of a Native American flute and a French Horn. Of course, being the music geek that I am I had to grab a guitar and figure out the notes. It's playing Bb-C-Eb and F, pretty well in tune. Guitar in hand I joked that I was going to go jam with the door. She suggested my next song title, Door Jamb Blues. I think she's on to something.

I also had to mention this morning how I found the skillet to have a nice bell tone to it. Just give it a whack with a hand, knee, head, whatever is handy and you get a cool ringing. I've always been one to make instruments out of whatever is at hand. I like finding that pan or box or table that has a cool tone. I guess I am fascinated by sound. The other day I noticed the shower was dripping in a clave pattern. To me, music is everywhere, in every sound. I wonder how much of my fascination with making music out of every sound in hard wired in my brain and how much is the result of all my musical training.

Whether hard wired or experiential, I think this aspect of me is a key to my love of prog, and all forms of music that push boundaries and go outside the formula. I'm always looking for something new. I want to hear that thing that I've never heard before. I think that is a central quest of my songwriting. Can I take my experience and training and all the thoughts in my head and condense them in to a song that sounds new and fresh, that says something new. Or says something I've heard before, but in a new way. I think keeping open ears is essential. I might hear a new song of Progulus that does it for me, or it might be a water clave. In either case I think I am always staying open. That musical part of my brain is always on because I don't know where the next new sound will come from.



(No Seans were harmed in the writing of this blog)

The Road to Life and Progressive Rock Part IV

Phase4

Home.

"All my life I knew you were waiting, revelation, anticipating, All is well, the
searching is over, let the truth be known, Let it be shown (give me a glimpse
of home)"
- Glimpse of Home/Kansas

As spiritually to Kerry Livgren (Kansas founder/guitarist) and to myself, it would be
prophetic those words. Where Home seemed to be and what spiritual guide would
reveal themselves . . . we both would come to understand much later.
But home for now was a nice roof over our heads . . .

It's 1978-79.
The move to our new "House" was a welcome one.
From the sweltering heat of the Valley, to the suburbs of West Covina.

3 MORE YEARS!
Since my education was ruined by my experiences in Louisiana, the only
solace was Art class. It's Late in my Junior year at Nogales High School in
La Puente/West Covina, and we were allowed to listen to the radio and took
turns listening to different stations, unfortunately only 2 to 3 of us were into
Rock, so it was a treat to hear on KLOS, KWEST and KMET , the latter 2 are
now long gone, which was too bad, especially KWEST, from my rare listens,
they played more progressive Rock music (And I remember hearing ELP's
Karn Evil part II, possibly the 1st time I actually heard it all the way through).
But KMET would stay on the air till about 83-84, a station that would
introduce a taste of "NWOBH" years later . . . but that's another story.
Yes; Journey; REO Speedwagon; Kansas; Genesis; Boston; Ted Nugent;
Lynyrd Skynyrd; Outlaws; Aerosmith; FogHat; Robin Trower; Deep Purple;
Uriah Heep; Fleetwood Mac; Santana; Led Zeppelin; Supertramp; ELO; the
Who; Moody Blues; Queen; Cheap Trick; UFO; Bad Company; Bob Seger;
Heart; Steely Dan; James Gang/Joe Walsh; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers;
Pink Floyd between the AWFUL : Greatful Dead; Van Morrison; the Doors;
Jefferson Airplane; AC~DC; Bruce Springsteen; Bob Dylan; Jackson Browne;
Bowie; The Rolling Stones, yes (hehe), I was not a fan of those particular
artists at that time, some have grown on me.

. . . But when I heard a cut from YES "Drama"(1980), I think it maybe one of
those times I started noticing a difference in this music without anyones
insight or influence, what this music was and how complex, and I would
defend it against the "Rock Haters" of the school!

. . . then the other kids would bitch and moan and the radio would turn to an
R&B station.

Its hard being a rocker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78BivgombIE

Another foray into Fusion/Prog would come in 3 people:
From a one time visit, a friend "from the hall ways", Rick Lacero (who played
drums for the school band) at his home. And he had this beautiful Stereo
System, the kind you'd see in the Electronic section of a Trade Mag. It was all
separate "Decks", cool lighted windows and LED's, even an Equalizer! And a
top of the line Turntable!
Rick took a Record out of its sleeve, and carefully ran a brush over and blew
at it. On the cover was a painting of a guy standing with a Les Paul and it was
entitled, "Jeff Beck- Blow by Blow" . . .

The needle gently, with a warm thump hit the groove, you could hear just a
little static. . .

And these glorious sounds came out, textured and crying notes, complicated
groove lines and biting solos . . . all heard on these wonderful speakers soo
warm and full of sound that you felt it in your chest and stomach, I had NEVER
heard music soo clear! Rick is talking, but all I hear is music filling my body!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK04s4eo5Dk

He then puts on another album, slowly . . .
the sound of animals? Sheep! . . . they sounded distant, then the distinct sound
of a Rhodes Keyboard . . . I look at the cover and there is a PIG flying over a
Manufacturing Plant between 2 smoke stacks! All in rich browns . . .

That was my 1st real introduction to Pink Floyd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNQW_Ih-1qY&feature=related

Again, why those 2 bands didn't take . . . must be because it was too much
for my brain to handle, I was overwhelmed! Plus our friendship wasn't close,
Rick was the same age but was smarter, on an another level, as was
everyone else. I was more of a geek than he was, things were a bit "beyond
me" (Well he was in the school Band, so really we were geeks, I just wonder
about my personality back then, I was quiet and timid, too nice of a guy I think).
But I would always remember that experience with Jeff Beck, and my 1st LP
by him would be "There and Back", and Floyd would make its way to my turn-
table with their release of the epic, "The Wall" in a few years.
Beck and "Star Cycle":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUiV-0-OrMA&feature=related
Pink Floyd:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1yD9avOGgM

I say . . . YES!!!
Then there was my then, best friend Glen Mayfield. Weird match when I think
about it, me Latino and weird haircut, him tall handsome, blond blue eyed and
doing well in school and driving an old Ford Pick-up with a "Camper". He also
was a bit more mature but we got along because of our sense of humour (he
was a Monty Python fan too) and he also loved Kansas, Yes (which I just
started getting into) and Genesis, but Genesis was just "too out there for me",
it would take a while for me to understand the complexity, subtlety, quiet and
EPIC in one song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdD6L4cKKU8
If Genesis was too much to take in, then Yes for some reason had it for me,
and I guess it was Steve Howe, he was more in your face than Steve Hackett
(At the time), and he just shredded on that big Gibson! And the grandiose
playing and "sounds" of Rick Wakeman! all tempered with Jon Anderson's
angelic voice (I would not come to appreciate Chris Squire's Bass, Bill Bruford
and Alan White's Drum playing until way later, as well as other Bassists and
Drummers. The "Education" was just starting).
The opening of "Close to the Edge" and throughout would transport me from
its slow fade-in opening of a Tropical Rain Forest to a Cavern of Stalactites
and Stalagmites floating in its water and the Jules Verne feel to Wakeman's
keys at the bridge of the song, with each musician enhancing its "vision" with
music I had never heard before or could ever conceive.
Part1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEfZY04fsr0
Part2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQBT7jInKgk&feature=related
"Fragile"; "Close to the Edge" and "Relayer" would be the albums I would
worship and wear out the grooves.
Drama would soon be purchased and the opening track "Machine Messiah"
alone would be worth the trip, but the whole album was brilliant. I was just getting
into the YES line-ups and was surprised that it was a different vocalist and
Keyboardist, soon to find out they were 2 members of the Buggles (Later, singer
Trevor Horn would produce Yes's no.1 Album "90215" and Geof Downes would be
one of the founding members of Asia).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRW8SzZX99g
And the other Keyboardist, would become the famous Soundtrack Composer,
Hans Zimmer!
"Tempus Fugit" though was the single and it was just different than anything on the
radio in 1980. To Rock and the "New Wave" of music that was coming out of the
U.K. Most of the music coming out of that Alternative scene was not to my liking,
and Punk was also driving out any band playing this "pretentious music" that I was
just getting into. As far as this New Wave/Punk went, there were few exceptions
like, Missing Persons; Flock of Seagulls; Ultravox; Bauhaus; U2; Stiff Little Fingers;
Dead Kennedy's; Big Country; The Alarm; Altered Images and others that I really
liked but never dived into, but U2 and the Police and Missing Persons, I noticed they
stood among the crowd, and later I would learn of Missing Persons "Drummer"
years later.
Other than the bands I mentioned, I really despised the New Wave scene. And "Pop
Music" at the time was getting worse. Though Punk would influence another genre
of music soon to engulf my world.

My friend Glen was also a "Born Again", so I was then treated to Myron Lafevre,
Phil Keagy, Petra and later, A.D. (Kerry Livgren's solo band), and he introduced
me to early Electronic/New Age: Tomita; Wendy/Walter Carlos; and Tangerine
Dream.
Petra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elC7NrfewhM
A.D.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUDlENFH9H8

We also liked Styx, and I started seeing that they also were more than their
Hit Singles, their guitars had a distinct tone that I loved, it was Hard Rock, but
had enough Prog elements to keep it different than what was out there, And
"Grand Illusion" would play alot on my turntable in the years to come (A year
later, same for "Pieces of Eight" which is still my favorite).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjjKXT7OyFw&feature=related

Spiritual Influence influx:
I had a sort of an awakening happening to me at this time, the "spirit" that was
always in me, but could not name.
I was coming to an understanding what God and Christ meant to me, and the
deep analytical break-down of what they were about. Glen opened the door,
but it was me who always had the spirit of Christ in my heart and I knew what
was right and wrong. My values from my Parents and my own mind kept me
from trouble, I have always had a logical mind and could see where "things"
could take me if I wasn't careful. But I wasn't going to shove it down anyone's
throat, I never could take the title "Born Again", but understanding the roots of
it is still an ongoing process to this day, and sort-of private and "individualistic".
It would grow, but my way of understanding would separate me from ones
who more zealous about it.
I always saw this "Higher Power" as a friend, not something to live in fear of,
yet many would preach fire and brimstone when the verse, "He who cast the
1st stone..." seems to be forgotten all too often.
And it was in music that I started noticing the different spirituality in my fave
bands, or at least values that I grew up with, respect for others, for myself
and a deeper and higher purpose for all that we do. Though I would fumble
and fall throughout my life, I still would hold onto the logical, and moral values
that I learned on the road through my hardships in school (and life in general).

The "Craft" of Spirituality.
It was Glen (I believe) who also introduced me to Kerry Livgrens Book about
his spiritual journey and life on the road with Kansas-"Seeds of Change"(in an
Expanded Edition), where he writes:
"As modern music becomes more formularized, derivative, and shallow,
listeners are crossing cultural and generational boundaries to find music of
spiritual and creative substance. Witness the recent interest in various types
of "ethnic" music. I find myself listening to it a lot because it seems so
untainted and fresh -free from the corporate mold. Christian music suffers from
the same malady.
Though we as Christians have a mandate to be skillful and creative, and Scripture
affirms that we should sing unto the Lord a new song, we rarely hear anything new.
The atmosphere of Christian radio is so limited as to be stifling.
Not only is it as highly formatted as its secular counterpart, but in most cases, the
artist must conform to some sort of spiritual criteria -someone's definition of what
makes his or her music acceptable Christian music. It's a strange irony indeed that
finds lyrics with the most profound truth coupled with the most unchallenging sort of
muzak."

That was written in 1991. This says everything about the music of TODAY in many
genres, that fall short of imagination and creativity.
But its in Prog I find creativity that can spiritually move me, as well-as spiritually
minded bands from Cynic to Neal Morse to Kings X to Iona to Extol to Kansas and
Yes. And even bands such as Black Sabbath ("Masters of Reality") and Iron Maiden
and their morality tales. But this will be part of my journey to come, and this book of
Mr. Livgren will be given to me by a dear friend decades later.

A 3rd friend, brief but left an impression. . .
It was the time I was thinking of taking Art classes from meeting a senior
(I was a sophomore) named Rick Saenz. A Latino with long hair and a quiet
friendly demeanor (Artist written all over him!). He was a budding Artist, and
had such an amazing style, his Art geared to Fantasy and Band Logos.
His main influence was Roger Dean and he would show me Yes covers and
Art books, his Art and again, just overwhelmed by it all, I wish I could have
looked at his Album collection, but I'm sure my mind would explode. I do
remember he liked Uriah Heep, but it would be years till I appreciated them.
"The Magicians Birthday" and that Dean Cover! The 1st time I ever seen it.
He also had a poster on the wall over his bed, that he mailed-in for with a
"coupon", that was of a woman with steel-like/tubing for hair that looked
very familiar. It was from the inside sleeve of ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery",
that he took out, in which the original pressing, the front cover opened from
the middle into 2 halves revealing the woman hanging on his wall, my mind
raced back to 1973 and that display in Louisiana.
Hehe . . . ELP and this album yet again!
I kept looking at his sketch book and he said, "You can borrow it if you want"
. . . so for almost 2 years I held on to it. I definitely count Saenz and Dean as
my 1st inspirations for my Logo work. And Rick I guess was my link to Dean.
A mis-fortune that I did not keep in contact with Rick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGb1htR-N9s
Roger Deans site:
http://rogerdean.com/

Phase5
Discovery.

" I know it's most unusual, To come before you so, But I've found an ancient
miracle, I thought that you should know, Listen to my music, And hear what it
can do, There's something here as strong as life . . . I know that it will reach you"
- IV Presentation/2112/Rush

As the years pass within High School, my ears started to really understand
what they were hearing. Another Christmas would bring a favorite memory.
1979 and SoCal Winters were still cold, the cold winds upon the rusted trees
brushing the house, a fire crackling in the fireplace, warm lights in the den
and listening to my new albums from my parents, "Don't Look Back" from
Boston and the album that would really begin the awareness of Prog,
Kansas "Monolith".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wveGtAQk6Ko
("People of the Southwind", which is the Lakota meaning of Kansas)
At this time, Me and my Dad were watching Don Kirschner alot late night on
Saturday, and so since Kansas was on Don's label, they released "Promo-
Films" for the new album Monolith. I recall they were for the singles, "The
Otherside", "Away from You" and "Reason to Be". Cool visuals and being
able to see them perform was really awesome. So because of that exposure
I asked my parents for that album.
It would be over 3 decades till I'd see those videos again! For awhile I thought
I was hallucinating because NO-ONE remembers seeing them.
But finally released on the accompanying DVD on the "Sail On-the 30th
Anniversary" box set for Kansas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSVULtkJqDQ

Both Kansas and Boston albums I would play and play. But something new
was on the horizon . . .
Van Halen.
This would just shake up the world of rock, the music industry and the way
guitarists played. Just the cover of the debut of Van Halen looked wild and
the sounds Eddie would pull from his guitar were never heard of! (Even though
later to find Steve Hackett and Alan Holdsworth did many of the "tricks" Eddie
used, but Eddie was just more flashy with the techniques). Taking advantage
of feedback, Tremelo pulls and "Dive bombs", Harmonic vibratos, Hammer-ons
and Pull-offs would enter the vocabulary of every kid guitarist to come. It also
added a difference to Hard Rock of the time that would give birth to the new
Heavy Metal "sound".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1uZSXEICsE&feature=related
The coming years would see kids coming out of the woodwork with different
styles, attitude, aggression and musicianship that would engulf my world
. . . but that wont happen till after High School, but the seed was planted.

Also during this time, next to the neighborhood Stater Brothers Market, was a
little Mom&Pop Record store, mostly catering to the R&B crowd, I was flipping
through the LP's on a turnstyle and I came across an album with a cringe and
wonder in my face:
A blueish cover with the backside of a naked man atop a BRAIN and an
English chap with a derby! . . . "How GAY!" I thought. I put it back and went to
join my Mom at the Market.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6c/Rush_Hemispheres.jpg

A new world would open to me, and there was one band that would make me
listen even closer, with lyrics that made me pay attention . . .

"So turn around, Turn around, It's on the other side
Feel the sound, Feel the sound, It's comin' from deep inside,
It will fill you with emotion if you let it be your guide, So
Turn around, Turn around It's on the other side . . . "
- On the Otherside/Kansas                         

To be continued . . .

Opus Insert
(Or Angry Rant number 1).
"All this machinery making modern music, Can still be open hearted,
Not so coldly charted It's really just a question of your honesty, yeah,
Your honesty.
One likes to believe in the freedom of music, But glittering prizes and
endless compromises, Shatter the illusion of integrity. . ."
-The Spirit of Radio/Rush

Well I've been thinking alot about this because of a recent work related experience
and re-reading the above excerpt of Mr. Livgren and the lack of "Art" in music.
I have, back in the day, had gotten on my soap box on Progulus.com's chat board
(and particular Forums), when people were complaining about a Genre of Prog, if
it was Prog, why is it on here, why is the sky blue, ls there a Santa Clause? etc.
It just seemed like the definition of what Prog was so clear to me, but it seems the
genre needed genres.
I would then try to stop the feuding and bloodshed by bringing up:
"Well, at-least its not Top 40 muzak" or "You know in the whole vast configuration
of things, our music doesn't matter to the rest of the world or the music Industry,
so its better to listen to a BAD Prog song amongst the fine Prog that is coming on
the queue anyways!"

. . . crickets.

Well all this was hit to home again. I had recently gotten a job at a Warehouse
for Avon "where ambitions go to die", this job wasn't fit for Robots, we were
basically Cannon Fodder, lifting heavy objects and racing to station to station
filling shelves break to break non-stop from 8 to 13 hours a day.

What could make it worse for a Music worshiper like me . . .
KIIS FM:
http://www.kiisfm.com/main.html
Believe me, I would rather not advertise this waste of Air, but if you just "look"
at the page, you'll get the idea. This garbage was force fed to us every fucking
day. Even people who were into Pop and R&B hated the station because they
would play the same 7 stupid songs OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AND OVER . . . I actually still have songs like "I kissed a girl";
"american boy" "shake it" Shake shake shake me Shake shake shake me
Shake shake shake me! and other songs that I don't want to know the title
INVADE my head at any given moment!
Now hearing this music throughout a possible 13 hour shift, in pain and wishing
I was somewhere else and enjoying the mellow sounds of Meshuggah whilst
firing off a few rounds of a Mini-Gun, you get to listen carefully, break-down the
"music" to indeed acknowledge if it has any skill or merit of being called music.
And what a surprise . . . NOOOOOO!!!!!!
I had made a sign and posted it up at an event that I was a part of and was
being covered on a particular day by a KIIS Fm crew, the sign was mocking
their musical jingle:
"Support UNCHALLENGING music . . . KIIS FM!"

Pop music of today is like Commercials for Cellphones for people who have them
fused to their ears already (you know, with or without the "blue tooth" and having
loud conversations about nothing, LOOK AT ME I AM IMPORTANT I HAVE A CELL
PHONE), buy the cars they are told to buy, go clubbing and drink crappy beers to
laugh and vomit and dance the night away, BUY BUY CONSUME CONSUME.
(. . . Pink Floyd and "Sheep" come to mind).
There was a time that even "One hit wonders" had musicality about it, there was
some skill, they played instruments and didn't base their rhythms from another
song that was sampled, and then add some annoying FX sample and have it in the
song over and over to create a beat or somekind of "cool" factor.
And great! The chorus is pretty much the entire song, repeated over and over and
over and over and over . . . and they are not limited to R&B; Rock and Country have
suffered, "simple is more" and are plagued by the "repeat the title of the song over
and over so you can remember the song and make me some more money".

"Observe and reapeat, observe and repeat, maintain the standard"
-Control and Resistance/Watchtower

I mean come on, its all about some kind of beat that they can "react" to, what other
relevance could the lyrics or the musicianship possibly mean to anyone?
So you want to party, great, but isn't there more to life? A REAL life?
There are very few exceptions, but its all bottled up like a commercial, to be in the
"backround of your everyday" . . . instead of leaves in the wind, birds chirping, all
that will obsolete the way mass consumerism has been growing, as people wear
Headphones most of their lives to shut out the outside world.

I swear, if you took a 5 minute song by Spocks Beard or even Porcupine Tree, I bet
people would wake up and ask, "what is this?" Yes, maybe even look into them.
Maybe gain "5" more fans . . . I can dream.

You really become appreciative of the Progressive and the more adventurous Metal
Bands that work on an entire Album with all the craft, imagination and skill it takes to
make this type of music.
Metal and Progressive Music, will have longevity, as much as a Classical piece, a
Jazz performer that created something never attempted. You can move onto a new
band or album, but you can always open up a CD case or LP sleeve, put it on and
be transported to where you were or just enjoy the ride all over again.
A meat-grinder of the mediocre, Pop Radio is just another flavour of the month,
easily replaced by the same ol' flavour you tasted before . . . simply replaceable.

. . . Like an employee at Avon!
(I never tasted crap, but it probably tastes like modern pop).

"I'm sick of eating shit, can I try another flavour!"
-Art Nazi/Skyclad

The Road to Life and Progressive Rock. Part II

Phase2
Moving (backwards).

"If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all!"
-Born on a Bad Sign/Cream/Pat Travers/adapt. from Booker T. Jones and
William Bell


Louisiana and Southern Hospitality 1972.
My Mom was longing for Family, and many of them lived in the State of
Louisiana, so it was settled, we'd pack up and make a new home there.
I . . . was not happy about it, it must have been early signs of "intuition" I had
inherited from my Mom.
The 1st sign of trouble was on the 1st day on Jefferson Parish soil at my
Aunt and Uncles house, a nice little boy said hello to me (I think), and I guess
said a few more things(?), but he "talked funny", thinking he was just being
goofy, I followed with an "imitation" of him . . .
Then the kids Father came out of the house with the same "funny talk" and
started yelling at ME! Then my Dad came out and had no idea what was
going on (just like me!), I tried to explain what happened (I'm 7!!!) but there's
my Dad and the kid's Dad yelling at each other from across the street, "Waa
is yer keed makin' fhun ov ma' Son!!!?" . . . From that day, it just got worse.
(It was all innocent, I lived 7 years with English with no accents, I guess
the "Hee Haw" shows didn't help much).
. . . A sign of things to come.

The AWFUL move to Louisiana would hold the NEW influences as an escape
for a 7 to 14 year old. I started hearing a band called "Grand Funk Railroad"
on the radio, and thought it was the HEAVIEST stuff I ever heard (ahh
. . . niavete').
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x6chChxzV0

St. Josephs Elementary School of B.S.
Catholic School would be a revelation that the Teachers were hypocrites in
the beliefs and teachings of the Church, what else is new? (to an infant mind
that did not have the courage, reasoning or wits to defend). Their was a
particular Teacher who was not a Nun, that insulted me and let other kids
tease me in the class was an almost everyday occurrence, and my folks
would be called on about "MY behavior", and we would see the Dean/Bishop/
His High Majesty of Hypocrisy in his darkly lit chamber/office and proceeded
to be made-to feel like an amoeba, where my folks complied, because he was
a "man of the cloth".
As that were not enough, my folks would then scold me when I got home, and
all that, almost everyday, pretty much ruined schooling for life.
To add torture to injury, I am in firm belief we lived in a Haunted House, houses
in older areas were built on stilts because of heavy precipitation, so all kinds
of "critters", and who knows what else, would be heard scurrying under the
house . . . we had hard wood floors, and almost nightly I'd be shaking under the
covers as I would hear, as if someone was dropping a marble on the floor, as if
it were coming from the living room.
TAK TAk Taktaktak...TAK TAk Taktaktak . . .
I'd get up to see where it was coming from . . . nothing. I'd Wake my folks who
in frustration would not believe me and angerly rush me to bed, as I in tears
would be begging to let me sleep with them. After about 30 minutes later . . .
the marble started again. Sleep deprived, nervous, geeky little boy.
Which is totally weird that I had a sort-of, blonde "Girl Friend" that lived across
the street named Jean, who was my best friends sister, she was my 2nd too!
(My 1st was back in California, across from my house, a cute Raven haired girl
named Kimberly, who we used to sneak kisses at the side of my house and put
flowers in her hair . . . at 5 years old!). But that didn't last long when my "Best"
friend started making fun of me as well.

. . . But there was a Blessing.
1973.
At this house came someone we all wanted, my little Brother Daniel :)
I loved him soo much, there are pictures of me and him in his outfit with booties
where we are soo happy together, me making a "peace sign" and him emulating
it with his little fingers, I had someone to care for and give my sence of humour
to (weird too, I was always the comedian with friends even through all the toil, as
I always have been). Its the best thing to come out of Louisiana for all of us.
I still love him to death, though he's picked up alot of the angst of my Father
. . . he's my little Brother :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B1wdau8uHU&feature=related

Escape through music and Roundhouse kicks.
New School, New House . . . Same crap.
After we left that God-forsaken rented house, we finally moved into a nice home
and my spacious bedroom, where I started to build model Planes and Cars and
continued drawing Hot Rods, as I did in class, from then on, I didn't care for any
schooling and payed for it at home.
I started listening to the radio on my own at this time, and my folks continued to
buy 45's of hits and my Dad, the occasional 8-Tracks.
I've never told this story to anyone, at Livaudales Junior High School, the bullying
continued (I was a nappy headed geek looking kid- on top of that, being Spanish
and tan skinned). . .
One day in class (a class that I was picked on by the teacher as well), A bully
who also was from St. Joseph's by the name of Joey Jackson (pretty much
everybody knew who he was. My thoughts in my last visit to Louisiana in 1996
were: if I EVER see that idiot when I visit La. again, I'll fricken' punch him
unconscious! . . . scars never heal) was listening to a hand held radio (in class!),
and he said to me, "do you know who THIS is?" (I'm hearing heavy riffs on a
guitar), I said, "I don't know . . . Grand Funk?"
He smacks the back of my head and says, "No bitch! its Fog Hat!"

. . . my introduction to Fog Hat and "Slow Ride".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhkJBBTBA4M

From that moment on, I knew who the bands were, who the members of the
bands were, and the next 5 years of Shotokan Karate (by 14 I graduated as a
3rd (dan) Degree Brown belt, that I was too scared to use because I have
always thought I'd go completely nuts, as I still feel that way) added to my anger
and sadness from Schooling, poor grades and punishment at home. I had been
facinated by Martial Arts and Bruce Lee since I lived in California, I'm not sure
why I didn't try Kung Fu, but went the to a more traditional "Japanese" style.
Maybe I started noticing heavier guitars on songs because it was much like my
anger stomping on through life.

But then there was Grand Funk, and the "B-side" of the single for "Locomotion",
which was called "Flight of the Phoenix", It might be the first Hard Rock
instrumental I had ever heard. I can remember "Air Keyboarding" to the
Hammond Organ solos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLE4w43g_Ak

As my ears got trained baby step by baby step, I practiced dilligently on my
Karate, punches, kicks, kata's and discipline, I think that may have helped me
stay my lashing out at the world, other kids and teachers. But my Dad was hard
on me more and more in class, but I went to one belt to the next.
(See the Film: "The Great Santini", he wasn't that bad, but bad enough. If he'd
gotten into the Marines in the late 50's, early 60's, to become an automatic
citizen, instead of going the traditional route, this might be a different story).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubir9tTlboI&feature=related

This all just became a part of life throughout my 7 LONG years of "Southern
Hospitality" for me and my Dad. He got it at work. He worked at the Avondale
Shipyards as a Welder, working on Naval Destroyers, so you can imagine
the Ass-holes he had to deal with. Stories of "I almost got in a fight today
because, I don't care if they make fun of me, but when they start making fun
of you (Mom) and the family! . . ."
So his frustrations with my grades and work just made each day excruciating.
For me, almost everyday at school I would be asked , "Are you Black!?" or
"Are you a Niggah!?" by White and Black kids. So I cringe everytime I hear
the "N" word.
Through all that, it never came to blows, just constant teasing, being pushed
on campus, classes and on the Bus made me hate school more and more.

But always throughout, I must've had angels watching over me, some-sort of
divine intervention, I don't know, through all this there were good times with
my Moms Family, which is why we moved there. There were lots of Parties
for Birthdays, Weddings, and Holiday get togethers, but at Christmas, as each
year passed, I started to realize my "worth". When it came time for all the
kids to open their presents, they were getting all kinds of Toys, but when I
opened mine . . . Socks and Ugly Sweaters or Shirts.
Even though many knew I Drew Cars all the time and Built Models, so I
started to know what was coming every year. I look at that kid and want to
lecture him about staying strong, I'd remember how caring my Aunt Daly in
California was, who always had pencils and paper ready for my visits.
. . . California dreaming.

There were also Football Parties! Everyone was a Saints fan, but me and
my Dad being from California were Raider Fans! So this could lead to
some rivalry . . . more on this later.

Hot Rods and Music.
Buying Hot Rod Magazine and the Car Comic book from the same publisher
called "CARtoons" helped my "education" in drawing and reading. And
dreamed of one day owning my own 67 Mustang Fastback, like my Fathers.
http://www.georgetrosley.com/cartoons.html
The Story from HOT ROD Magazine:
http://www.hotrod.com/thehistoryof/cars_in_cartoons_history/index.html
So my escape was always drawing and the AM Radio, hearing the likes of
Nazareth; Eric Clapton; Steppen Wolf; Mahogany Rush; Manfred Manns
Earth Band; Three Dog Night; Chicago; ZZ Top; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Eagles;
Styx; Edgar Winter Group; Blood Sweat and Tears; Todd Rungren; Electric
Light Orchestra; Rare Earth; Bachman Turner Overdrive; The Who; Derek
and the Dominoes; Mott the Hoople; Jim Croche; Cat Stevens; The Allman
Brothers; Robin Trower; Focus; Seals and Croft, as well as the Pop Music
the day, R&B of the 60's-early 70's and the "One Hit Wonders". . .
Chicago Transit Authority:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_AP3oUYF7E&feature=related
Styx:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSGeVx2XmSs&feature=related
BTO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_GHIpqRuzs
Manfred Manns Earth Band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_efcADtKkQ
Mahogany Rush:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_56cgFccCPk&feature=related
Three Dog Night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_UEnupu4UM
Robin Trower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkxEaDDTwho&feature=related
Edgar Winter Group:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGNTof21jWE&feature=related
Focus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpV5InLw52U&feature=related
(thats the "Gladys Knight & The Pips Variety show"!)
These bands should have made a bigger impression, it astounds me why
they didn't till many years later, again, maybe because it was a bit beyond
my comprehension.
then something else . . .

Led Zeppelin was brief, it should of hit me like a ton of bricks as well as for
my Dad. He loved the song "Black Dog" but didn't get around to buying the
albums.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqE0gO3_BwY
Black Sabbath should have as well, but knowing Dad's ear for rumours- he
probably didn't like the so-called "Dark" side of the band. I remember seeing
"We Sold our Souls for Rock n' Roll" in a LP stack at a relatives house. I wish
I would have heard it. These guys would hit me decades later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvuI8d57N9I&feature=related
Alice Cooper was dark as well, but we did get into his "Hit Singles".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWe0pb55q8w
Queen was WEIRD, but the music was really epic, but didn't seem to catch on
either. Brian Mays tone and playing was awe inspiring though. Every time I'd
hear that guitar sound, I'd stop to listen (And the layered vocals!). I remember
only their singles, and a couple of cute cousins that were into them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0uiY-jDkzs
The Rolling Stones were popular, but not with me. Only a few songs but they
never really appealed to me.
The Who finally made an impression with a newly released album and a song
that would become an anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUbGLVvfB7Y&feature=related

"If you follow me, there's a specialty
some tears for you to see
Misery, misery,
Roll up! Roll up! Roll up
See the show!"
-Karn Evil 9-1st Impression, Part I /ELP

But . . .
Only in bits in pieces, and not really knowing who or WHAT it was, Yes and
Emerson Lake & Palmer, I could swear, I saw them on television.
Me and my Dad would watch all kinds of Music Specials and Variety Shows
including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the awesome cavalcade
of Bands and Musicians. As well as The Midnight Special and Don Kirchner's
Rock Concert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TLL3ApTO4w&feature=related

Yes will always be a faint memory that I actually saw them on T.V. but ELP
made an impression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3zOB-nP5nk
2 experiences with ELP:
1st, was seeing a "Documentary" about them, I vaguely remember it, but what
I DO remember was the names of the members, in BIG black letters atop
their Trailers/Lorry's! (And I swear in another segment "they" were atop them
with their respective instruments) as they zoomed down the road from a
Helicopter cam view.
Part 1 of 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eu7UzVgd1E
(Finally! found on YOUtube, after all these years 2/23/09)

2nd-
There was a place that my Dad used to get his 8 Track Tapes, I believe was
called "General E. Lee Music" (figures...yee haw) and in the middle of the
floor was an elaborate floor display from the Manticore Label- ELP & Brain
Salad Surgery, it was soo intriguing and SCARY! It would be my 1st time seeing
the works of H.R. Giger and both would seem to make its way throughout my
life.
At this point, other than 45's, I had yet to have my own albums(LP's).
. . . and 5 more years of misery at schools.

"I got it all together now
With my very own disco clothes, hey!
My shirts half open, t' show you my chains
n' the spoon for up my nose
I am really somethin'
That's what you'd probly say
So smoke your little smoke
Drink your little drink
While I dance the night away, I'm a
Dancing' fool . . ."
-Dancin' Fool/Frank Zappa

Jefferson Parish/Gretna Louisiana sucked BIG time. And something else would
"suck" . . . DISCO.
1976 and Disco would explode and it seemed Rock was dieing, but as the WHO
would exclaim, "Rock is dead they say, Long Live Rock!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-S5aVuKsgI
At first I liked Disco with its Orchestrated music and its high-hat and drum beats,
but then it started to focus on the "singer" and the simple verse and repeated
chorus over and over. It became less about the music and more the vocals, the
simplicity and the glitz, the glamour, the fashions and "lifestyle".
The flavours of the week were selling millions, but ROCK would endure and had
longevity . . . and slowly, Rock would get heavier and more creative.
Disco started to sound the same and Rock became my banner of rebellion.

Raiders STOMP Saints . . . a door opens to the west.
American Football, as much as European Futbal was very popular in our Family,
but the New Orleans "Saints" were the Team of the Famelies . . .
Not for the Velasquez Clan, The Raiders were the "NFL Rejects" of choice!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_raiders
One day at a friend of the families, many were there to watch the New Orleans
Saints play the Oakland Raiders (many called the Saints the "'Aints" because
they never made it to the Superbowl), well you can imagine the yelling, cussing
and all that went into the game, but everytime the Raiders would score, the
man of the house Manuel, would "Shush" my Dad . . . "The baby is sleeping",
(Wha!?), the "shushing" would continue until it turned into . . . "SHUT UP!"
. . . I could see my Father, sitting amongst his childhood friends that HE defended
when they were kids in Honduras, his face getting redder and redder . . .
after a few minutes, he got up and said to me, my little Brother and Mom, "Lets
go...". Everyone was dumbfounded, there were pleads, tears, and my Dad
alone left the house. We got a ride with someone after a few minutes to follow,
we open the door and there is Dad, cheering on the winning Raiders doing what
they did best back in those days . . . beating the stuff out of their opponent living
the reputation as the meanest, rejects of the NFL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvZQtJ5REdc
Revenge was served that day . . .
I felt bad not leaving with my Dad, I think he felt bad not having his family stick
with him, there came a few days of silence at the house, but it caused a break-up
with the family that lasted about 3 decades. When they did meet in the mid 90's,
all was forgiven in heavy tears (I have a bad taste for playing most sports and its
seriousness, it brings out the worst in people, though I always liked playing
Soccer. As my Brother got older, at least my Father had him as a fellow sports fan).
. . . we are one emotional family.

But at the time, it pretty much was the straw that broke the Camels back.

"Cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
Now, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move "
-When the Levee Breaks/Led Zeppelin

Phase3
The move back to California!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljYkQiIrFtU&feature=related
To be Continued . . .

OPUS INSERT
Occasionally a commercial for a Concert coming to town would come on the
radio (even though I rarely listened to FM), ZZ Top, Lynnrd Skynrd, Black
Oak Arkansas, Allman Brothers and whatever Southern Rocker that would
visit New Orleans, not that it was bad (I liked most of them), but it was rare
to be surprised by a band coming to town.
But I remember this one really stood out:
(annoucers booming deep voice) "THE PRIEST!!! JUDAS PRIEST!!!" At the
time I had no idea who they were, but the music clips sounded really cool!
-"Exciter" - "Green Manalishi" - "Diamonds and Rust" - "2 NIGHTS AT THE
(what-ever club in New Orleans) JUDAS PRIEST!!! another Beaver Production!"
Again . . . why I didn't get into them right away is another mystery.
. . . a very cool memory that comes to mind when I hear a Concert coming to
town that takes me back to naive younger days.