Enjoying the Classics
Listen to mainstream albums by Pink Floyd and Genesis first. The best introduction to prog rock is through the most popular bands. Start with “The Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd, which is easily accessible and contains a lot of popular songs. Then, move onto “Selling England by the Pound” by Genesis, which is one of their most popular albums. If you’re more interested in live music, there are plenty of Genesis and Pink Floyd cover bands that you can see in person. This is a great way to introduce yourself to the music at a live show, rather than just by listening at home.
Appreciate the “golden era” of prog rock artists, like King Crimson and Yes. Pick up King Crimson’s “In The Court Of The Crimson King” to listen to one of the most masterful and critically acclaimed works of progressive rock. Once you’ve listened to that, try listening to “Close to the Edge” by Yes, which is a more emotional style of prog rock. If you like these albums, you can branch out into more albums by these bands. Each band has around 20 studio-length albums for the prog rock enthusiast to appreciate.
Enjoy early progressive rock, such as the Beatles and Jethro Tull. To understand the beginning of the prog movement, listen to the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” which is often considered the first real progressive rock album. Then, listen to Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung” to hear a sampling of symphonic music blended with rock instruments. If you enjoy the Beatles album, you can also watch the movie, which has the same title as the album, by looking it up online or purchasing it in DVD form. This provides a visual depiction for all of the songs and can help you to understand the narrative of the music.
Sample punk and pub rock music to understand the decline of prog rock. Progressive rock experienced a steep decline in the late 1970s due to the emergence of punk rock, which captured the attention of prog’s fanbase. Listen to songs by The Ramones and The Sex Pistols to understand the similarities and differences between the genres. You might find that these bands frequently make music about topics covered by prog rock bands. The two genres are very similar, but the punk movement ultimately brought about the end of the golden era of prog.
Discovering New Music
Join online music forums to discuss progressive rock with fellow listeners. Most online forums have a large discussion boards for a variety of different bands. Post your opinions and reviews of various albums, and ask others for recommendations for new bands and albums that you can listen to. Don’t be afraid to jump in on discussions and share your viewpoints about the various albums! Remember, music is a form of art that is meant to be analyzed and criticized, but it’s okay to have different opinions. If someone on the forum doesn’t agree with you, be respectful of their viewpoint. If you’re looking for online forums, try websites like ProgressiveEars, ClassicRockForums, and ProgForums.
Subscribe to music magazines for updates on the genre and emerging music. Invest in a subscription to Prog or Rolling Stone since both frequently interview members of progressive rock bands. Read online magazines, like Ultimate Classic Rock, for reviews and opinion articles about the genre from avid listeners. Some magazines might also announce reunion tours or new albums from bands that have previously broken up. Keep an eye out for this information in print magazines and online.
Listen to music from “spinoff” genres that are inspired by progressive rock. Prog rock had a short but influential run in the music industry. If you listen to albums on a music subscription service, visit the artist page and scroll to the bottom for “similar artists” recommendations. Don’t be afraid to branch into new genres, like folk or punk, to better understand prog. Popular Spinoff Genres Progressive Folk – Features elements of folk, blues, country and world music. Crossover – More accessible, often radio-friendly progressive rock inspired by rock and pop. Psychedelic – Features surreal, psychedelic guitars and keyboards with sci-fi elements. Progressive Metal – Mixes progressive rock with heavy metal music. Jazz Fusion – Combines elements of progressive rock with jazz music.
Find prog rock playlists on streaming services. For an easy way to introduce yourself to new progressive rock music, search for "progressive rock playlists" on a streaming service like Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora. Listen to a sampling of songs from different eras, and be sure to add the songs that you like to your library. Sometimes, you can add entire playlists to your library, which will allow you to listen to the songs even when you're not connected to the internet. This is a great way to expose yourself to a variety of different types of prog rock from many sub-genres.
Following Best Practices for Listening
Listen to entire albums to get a better understanding of the musical theme. Progressive rock albums are normally arranged purposefully to take the listener on a journey. Make time to sit down and listen to the album all the way through, which may take up to an hour for longer albums. Try not to skip any tracks, and pay attention to the musical changes throughout the songs. If you don’t have a lot of free time, try listening to full albums while you drive in the car or do other activities. Listening to prog rock as background music is a great way to introduce yourself to the genre.
Pay close attention to the lyrics to discern the “plot” of the songs. Some progressive rock albums, like Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway,” Camel’s “The Snow Goose,” and The Moody Blues’ “Days Of Future Passed,” tell complete stories from the first track to the last. As you listen, close your eyes and pay attention to the singer’s words to hear the plot of the story. Although not all progressive rock albums tell a complete story, most individual songs will tell their own mini-story.
Find instrumental versions of songs to appreciate the artists' musical skills. Spend some time listening to the music without paying attention to the lyrics or listening to versions without singing in them. Focus on one instrument at a time, or listen to them altogether as a whole unit. Listen closely for difficult guitar riffs, complex drum solos, and impressive vocal feats. Albums like Genesis’ “Selling England By The Pound,” Yes’s “Close To The Edge,” and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” are considered landmarks in recorded music because of the amazing skills that were required to make them.
Give albums a second listen to hear new aspects of the music. Once you’ve listened to an album all the way through, take a small break and then listen to it again. During your second listen, focus on hearing new facets of the music that you didn’t pay attention to the first time. Clarify any lyrics that you’re not sure of, and enjoy some of you favorite parts from your first listen. If you’re not sure what to listen for, read some online reviews of the album and pay attention to the parts that the reviewer points out. Normally, these will be especially complex musical portions or important lyrics.Tip: Some listeners prefer to listen to progressive rock on vinyl to hear the nuance of the songs. If you have access to a record player, get some vinyl prog albums to hear the genre differently.
Ask friends and other music lovers for recommendations. Talking about music is one of the best ways to really appreciate it, and this is especially true for prog rock. If you know someone who likes the genre, you can tell them a little about what albums you like, and ask them if they have any albums or bands in mind that you might enjoy. Once you and your friend have listened to the same albums, you can discuss your favorite tracks, your opinions of the album overall, and your thoughts about how the album fits into the genre.
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