 | Progressive Rock:The Top 50 Albums |
Progressive rock is one of the most beloved and ridiculed of rock music’s sub genres. As a hilarious piece at Cracked.com says, it is “categorized by a sacking of traditional song structure, complex rhythms, odd time signatures,” and insane song lengths betraying the creators’ lack of awareness of when to stop a song. The players tend to be average singers and extremely skilled musicians, often working with wacky instruments. As the piece amusingly states, it is “the only rock genre in which the term ‘flute solo’ has any meaning.” Also prevalent are a propensity toward concept albums built on half-baked themes and philosophy. There tends to be plenty of drug inspiration and “a sense of inherent superiority over other rock genres.” All kidding aside, it is a difficult genre to absorb. The stereotypes detailed at Cracked.com lean toward the truth more often than not, but prog rock is largely defined by not being definable. It is an experimental form which doesn’t play by the rules. Depending on where you fall on the spectrum of loving or hating prog rock, you can use this list either as a guide to what should be in your collection or what to avoid at all costs. Either way, here’s hoping you get something out of the list. Note: this list was created by compiling more than 25 prog-rock lists into one aggregate. Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. 
1. Yes Close to the Edge (1972)
11. Emerson, Lake & Palmer Brain Salad Surgery (1973)
21. Caravan In the Land of Gray and Pink (1971)
31. Camel Mirage (1974)
41. Emerson, Lake & Palmer Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970) Resources and Related Links:
First posted 7/2/2011; last updated 8/28/2024. |
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