Why Does Anthony Fantano Hate Prog???

[@the_bramble]

Notes, I've been watching you forever, and I think this is the first comment I've ever made on a video of yours. I am going to try to articulate this as best I can, but this will be a long comment, so I apologize in advance: I am a huge fan of prog, and I am also largely in a circle of people that very much hate prog. I have been a musician and recording engineer for about a decade, and so I have to work with musicians from virtually every genre. So, this has been a discussion for a while that I've had with tons of people both close to me and just people I've worked with. That's all to preface that I feel like I have some decent context for this very discussion, and why Fantano might dislike prog. I think the sentiment was best summed up by a person in very own band who told me after listening to a Dream Theater album (A Dramatic Turn of Events, I think) I showed him back in 2011 or so: 'This is all very impressive, but why can't they just write a song?' Now, maybe I didn't pick the best album to show him, but I think that it distills something important. Fantano loves Animals by Pink Floyd, as he expressed on his secondary channel, which is definitively a prog record. But it sounds 'human', for lack of a better word. So much prog, especially now, is so cleanly produced, so immaculately performed, so precise that it feels like it has a lot of the human element stripped away. Fantano, also admittedly, likes when artists are self-aware. He very much communicates that throughout his reviews of any genre. Prog artists are very often not in that category at all - so much so that no matter how cliche the lyricism, the absurdity of the musicianship, progressive artists are often dead serious - because they're virtuosos and don't want to undercut that, even when things get a little silly. Lastly, presentation is a big factor. Mastodon at least gets reviewed on the channel, even if they only get middling reviews. I think that's in large part due to the fact that Mastodon still sounds like a band to him. Dream Theater was reviewed twice as far as I can tell, both times in YUNOREVIEW segments, once for The Astonishing and once for A Dramatic Turn of Events. The Astonishing he almost dismisses outright, but he said of A Dramatic Turn of Events that he thought Dream Theater sounded like "a watered-down nu-metal band" referring to the track 'Build Me Up, Break Me Down'. That all sounds pretty harsh, but I live in both worlds. I think that we as prog fans, should be a little less self-important. We are probably never going to have our own 'D&D becomes mainstream' moment - we are a bigger niche community, we are a community that has some of the best musicians on Earth to listen to, and we are often sometimes really insufferable about it. I love Fantano's perspective, I love Dream Theater, and Cynic, and Atheist, and Yes, and also Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappel Roan. Prog fans often are outright dismissive about lots of other things on principle sometimes, and I think that Fantano probably also sees that and doesn't really want to wade into those waters too much, if I'm being totally honest. Anyway, it's just a thought. Too much of a thought, but still.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

It's worth noting that Fantano DOES actually like prog. In the Court of the Crimson King is one of his favourite albums of all time (might be in his top ten), he loves Close to the Edge, he loves Animals by Pink Floyd, which is their most proggy album... He just doesn't go deep, and seems to find the modern, "retro prog" stuff unoriginal and too reliant on past tropes.

[@sandenson]

Over the years, I've been slowly shedding my elitism and start exploring other genres, such as hip hop and contemporary pop, and I've been coming to a similar conclusion. I still love prog, revisit it all the time, and also explore new prog and prog-adjacent artists and groups such as Geordie Greep, black midi, and King Gizz, but there's so much more great, human-sounding music with completely different sensibilities out there, and great songwriters. Going through Kendrick Lamar's category especially has been a treat, songs like Auntie Diaries and FEAR. are fucking brilliant. I really like some Dream Theater songs, such as The Glass Prison, but some others do sound kinda boring.

[@codbo1223landuca]

Most of the comments below yours prove your point to a tee

[@benjaminturkalj4415]

Yeah i love some good proggy stuff but i think fantano likes seeing music progress. I consider black midi modern prog rock because it actually is progressive and mixes up genres. Genesis still my favourite prog band

[@TheWonkyAngle]

I've kind of felt something similar when it came to Fantano's coverage of electronic music, albeit to a less pronounced extent. he's never been as dismissive of that genre as he is for prog and always reviews at least like 6 or 7-ish electronic records a year, though he also reviews way less of it nowadays than he did back in the days before I started my channel (he used to be surprisingly good at keeping up with the electronic underground in the early 2010s and nowadays tends to just stick with the most popular surface level stuff) and it was always clear from the beginning that it wasn't primarily his bag. he approaches it with the same attitude as he does for prog, often only really giving the time of day to artists who he feels are forward-thinking and/or sound more contemporary but mostly ignoring if not publicly decrying more backwards-looking artists or older artists from the 90s save for the really obvious ones like The Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, or Squarepusher at the same time I can't blame him for the way he goes about it since he is just one person and there's only so many niches he can cover, I've always admired his continuing to at least try to dabble in all genres at the same time and I could never do what he does. if I had to review everything popular in all genres I imagine I'd be similarly revealing my lack of depth trying to talk about folk or country records, hip-hop records or metal records, heck, just most genres that aren't electronic or ambient, there's a reason I stick to the kind of music I stick to even if it doesn't win me the most favor as far as the algorithm is concerned. I've also wondered whether or not the rise of my channel, your channel and other channels that cover these specific niches allowed him to feel more comfortable moving away from those niches himself now that other people who are obviously more knowledgeable about those genres than he is can talk about them with more authority than he can, it's obviously healthier to have a lot of different people talking about music and giving their own perspectives than just him

[@paulayers1111]

Wonky Angle!!!!!! Any thoughts on doing a short video about this new Orbital compilation?

[@TheWonkyAngle]

@@paulayers1111 there's nothing really to say about that comp besides it is what it advertises itself to be would've liked more rep for their more recent stuff, there's nothing from Blue Album, Monsters Exist or Wonky but I'm happy to see a sufficient amount of Altogether rep on it since that album doesn't get enough love

[@MattOLearyMusic]

Fantano’s entertaining and articulate. We have VERY different taste, although he’s turned me on to a few prog-adjacent bangers over the years including Joanna Wang, UK (Ugly), Crying’s Beyond the Fleeting Gales. He occasionally taps into an underground progressive gem, but it’s not usually aesthetically related to “classic” prog.

[@IgnacioAtenas]

Would you mind sharing some of those "non-prog" prog? I love that category of artists or sometimes just albums 😅

[@RanterInShades]

While I have a lot of respect for the man, I learned a long time ago to take Fantano with a grain of salt. He has historically not been very kind to most modern metal releases, and that plays a significant part in why I don't think a lot of emphasis should be placed on his perspective even if he is the biggest music critic on the platform. I think he and basically all reviewers should be treated as just another perspective in the overall discourse where no one's take is treated as the be all end all.

[@mirkecWii]

I stopped watching him, I know its his opinion but he doesnt like prog because its derivative of 70s prog, but he doesnt think new pop music or rap is derivative of everything thats been happening that year, last decade, the 2000s and the 90s. I just cant listen to his reviews anymore, everything I like he either dislikes or its a 6/7, and everything I despise about modern music he puts as album of the year. He keeps saying "bland" for moments where all instruments are shining melodically and rhythmically but a basic trap hi hat beat with some low bass is extremely innovative and interesting right? Also he likes talking about lyrics whoch make him "cringe" (even with better rap artists like eminem) even though most modern pop music has exceptionally annoying and repetitive lyrics. I dont know, its like arguing with a person who says mcdonalds is great and steaks are bland

[@Imreallynothere]

Most prog metal bands are too experimental for regular listeners but not experimental/interesting enough for the people that like real experimental stuff. They mostly have sudden crazy changes, weird time signatures etc.. and that doens't mean it is ground breaking. They mostly suck. Nothing naturally crazy, it is too processed and that doesn't connect with people.

[@ciroargus]

you hit the nail on the head here, I think! I love haken, but are they really experimental on a broader scale or just in context of prog rock and metal? it's fair to think they don't push the boundaries enough if you're into more experimental music.

[@chewie837]

I think you pretty much nail it. I do also think that modern Prog is one of those Subculture genres, like EDM or Death Metal or Vaporwave, where you have to be an existing fan to even be aware of most of the terrific music being made and released. Those genres are all healthy and have hardcore fanbases, but rarely break out beyond that community. And Fantano, as diverse as his taste can be, just isn't in the Prog community. I and most prog fans like to talk about that one moment or that one album that got us really hooked on Prog and how we then decided to seek out more music like it and discovered this whole world. But most people don't have that moment, even if they might enjoy when Roundabout or Limelight comes on the radio. And if they don't have that moment, they're not going to find much else without that extra effort and passion. It sounds like Fantano has not had that moment, even if he does love some of the albums that fit his already existing taste such as the Black Midi records and The Court of the Crimson King. And that's fine! He's had that moment for other genres! Small sidetrack, but this perspective does come from being a one time lapsed prog fan. I got really into the genre in the early 2000s but drifted away at a certain point. I've only recently rejoined after seeing some youtube videos covering more recent groups (Shout out to Daily Doug and his Wobbler and Big Big Train reactions!) but for the years in between, the only time modern Prog would break through was when Dream Theater was on Rock Band or when they or Steven Wilson were nominated for a Grammy. It's just so easy to miss so much great music if you aren't actively following the genre!

[@father042]

Prog archives or prog magazine is a great source for following new releases

[@Erichwanh]

"Why Does Anthony Fantano Hate Prog???" Fantano's a one man rent-a-Pitchfork. He uses language that lets you know he's aware of the language he uses. He doesn't count for any review aggregators. Fantano doesn't matter.

[@fclefjefff4041]

I’m not getting why this guy is so desperate for validation from Fantano

[@tomthorsett1433]

It's kind of common knowledge that Fantano likes prog. He just prefers more experimental, often out-of-left-field prog of the extreme metal variety.

[@father042]

He only reviewed 2 Kayo Dot albums 10 years ago and he gave one a 7 and other a 6

[@tomthorsett1433]

Ironically you have Greep's album in the background, and he's a black midi fan.

[@wiggy009]

@@tomthorsett1433 black midi is the only prog act that’s been accepted by the main stream and critics. His venture into prog is basically just whatever is accepted by the mainstream and critics

[@father042]

His review of The Raven that Refused to Sing is still one of his most embarrassing takes The Future Bites is the only album he liked from him lmao

[@nectarinedreams7208]

I mean, it's perfectly understandable. He doesn't like retro prog. Raven is Wilson's most retro prog album. Also, it's perfectly okay for someone to not like a particular artist. Fantano likes prog. He's lukewarm on Steven Wilson. It's not embarassing.

[@vince8395]

I remember him saying in this review something along the lines of "cliché cheap mellotron vst" when in fact he used Robert Fripp's actual mellotron lol

[@dilbophagginz]

How is that "embarassing" get over yourself lmao

[@father042]

@@dilbophagginz Because he gets basic stuff wrong

[@vince8395]

@@dilbophagginz You don't know what "get over yourself" means...lol

[@michaellooks2723]

What you wrote: Why Does Anthony Fantano Hate Prog??? What I read: Why Does the Guy Who Classic Reviewed Close to the Edge and In the Court of the Crimson King, Heavily Implied That Animals is a 10, and Described Genesis as Legendary Hate Prog??? 😂😂😂🤣 I love both of your channels! Keep doing what you do, Notes! 🎶🥰🎶

[@NotesReviews]

@@michaellooks2723 as I said at the very beginning, clickbaity title is very clickbaity 😘

[@michaellooks2723]

@ I getcha. Just had to give you crap a little bit. 😉😁

[@TheProgCorner]

I don’t watch him anymore.

[@bobsbigboy_]

and he showed larks tongues in aspic in his vinyl haul last week

[@unoriginal4294]

He also showed us he hates women and cancer survivors

[@bobsbigboy_]

@unoriginal4294 wtf are you talking about

[@unoriginal4294]

@@bobsbigboy_ he said Halsey had "main character syndrome" for having cancer in a recent review, and she had "childish angst" for other things she had going on in her life. The comment section and people elsewhere left people outraged, and Fantano doubled down on his whole review on Twitter.

[@bobsbigboy_]

@unoriginal4294 okay but was the music good?

[@unoriginal4294]

@@bobsbigboy_ why would that even matter? No quality of music should result in the artist becoming dehumanized for being human.

[@ragnaviussnorgoborgoskagen5986]

Fantano comes from more of a punk/"populist" background and that even comes across in his takes on metal, hip-hop, etc. He likes the "honesty" and "purity" of 3 minute songs, sloppy musicianship, etc. Also, for his audience of mainly Gen Z music fans, bands like Gentle Giant and their ilk simply arent relevant.

[@paulayers1111]

I mean he definitely has the prog knowledge. He even name dropped “the Canterbury scene” in that Greep review. I commented that he should finally review a classic Canterbury scene album during classics week. Although I doubt he will sadly

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

I like Fantano, but I tend to take his opinions with a grain of salt when it comes to genres and bands I am familiar with. His reviews on Opeth and Between the Buried and Me, for example, I disagree with nearly entirely and pretty much completely disregard. He's a great reviewer in general, but because he has to review SO MUCH music all of the time and prog necessitates multiple re-listens to really dig your teeth into what exactly the music is conveying, I feel that he's not able to appreciate them for that reason. Not to say he can't or doesn't enjoy deep/complex music, but it's clear he doesn't want to spend too much time on any one album to fully "get" it if he can avoid it. I still like and respect the guy of course.

[@TractorCountdown]

I'd like to see Fantano respond to this. He says in The Raven review that he loves prog, but I'd guess he means the original prog bands from the 70s, especially from what he has to say about The Raven.

[@craigmacdonald391]

I'm 67 and grew up listening to Yes, ELP, Crimson, Tull, Genesis and Floyd. I still enjoy their music, and I love Steven Wilson. I have never taken American music critics seriously, most of them are idiots. In the 1970s, Rolling Stone and Christgau hated prog and many of their reviews have not aged well. I used to read the British magazine Melody Maker in the 1970s. Genesis found Steve Hackett and Phil Collins by placing an advert in the paper. It had sympathetic critics like Chris Welch, Steve Lake, and Richard Williams who liked the music and knew the musicians personally. Who cares what the critics write?

[@shroom2ma]

He likes old prog - check out the classic reviews. He doesn't like Steven WIlson thoug. At all.

[@father042]

He doesn't like any modern prog except for black midi and few metal bands like Blood Incantation

[@shroom2ma]

@@father042 I think the modern "produced" sound that a lot of newer prog has turns him off. Fair enough. I prefer the dusty old sound from the 70s myself, but I still like a lot of newer stuff...S.W. in particular, who really goes hard on that - although when I got into Porcupine Tree they were still really a psychedelic/space rock thing which maybe Fantano would prefer, given his love for a lot of Gizzard's stuff? I wonder if he's ever heard any of that, or if he got in during their prog-metal years.

[@terriblecertainity]

he got me into Black midi, Geordie Greep and the Court OF The Crimson King, but yes, he does not talk about Prog often

[@stravvman]

Hasn't some critic described the musical tastes of people like Fantano as "dark prog"?

[@jesusarielgonzalez7775]

He said that the drums of Marco Minneman in The Raven that Refuse to Sing was flat, what??? And he gave masterpiece grade to Hip Hop music jajaja

[@ehoc42]

Fantano basically reviews whatever is trending on rateyourmusic. While prog albums can sometimes pop up there, it's not that often because I don't think prog is very "in" with young people the way it might've been more so 20 years ago. Also Fantano used to review more prog metal (BTBAM, Opeth, Tool, and Fallujah come to mind) but he mostly doesn't like it so therefore he stopped. He does come from a punk background which often values opposite aesthetics to prog fans. Some prog albums sneak in there that he really likes like Elder's Reflections of a Floating World, Blood Incantation, or the Black Midi stuff.

[@ossiejon-nwakalo8644]

I don’t understand how you think Fantano views Prog in a negative light. I’m pretty sure he loves the genre. He did two classic reviews for King Crimson and Frank Zappa. He also loves newer acts like black midi and the album that’s right next to you.

[@wiggy009]

He only appreciates the prog acts that are essentially critic’s darlings. Doesn’t actually appreciate innovation in the genre just the most commonly accepted prog stuff that enters the mainstream

[@father042]

black midi are a token hipster approved new prog band because they just ape King Crimson and avant prog

[@wiggy009]

@@father042 based

[@nectarinedreams7208]

@@wiggy009 Wdym he doesn't appreciate innovation? His problem with modern prog is that it doesn't innovative, it just redoes what four or five 70s bands did. Same compositional approach, same instruments, same lyrical subjects. He likes the more innovative, forward-thinking and truly PROGRESSIVE stuff.

[@wiggy009]

@@nectarinedreams7208 then why would he ignore bands like haken, porcupine tree and opeth?

[@ciroargus]

I wholeheartedly with what both you and @the_bramble said, and I'd also like give my 2 cents as a prog fan who also loves pop, hyperpop and such - while fantano doesn't review or even like contemporary prog, he does praise bands that take from prog elements and push their own genres forward. most recently, he gave the latest magdalena bay album a shining light 9 (a think) review, and that's one record that has a palpable prog influence - he even said so while talking about how the duo used to have a heavy prog band themselves. same thing for blood incantation. same note, even. he's also given praise to the likes of bent knee in one "tracks of the week" video, although I don't thing he went any deeper than that one track, maybe for lack of time or something. the thing is, he's not that interested on bands that don't push their genres forward. he's gotten me into colors by BTBAM, saying that's one record that pushes, creates, even, a new genre. by contrast, he's given colors II a negative review because it was a rehash of its own predecessor. I think it's all fair. hell, moving from the subject a bit, but he gave sleep token's latest entry a 2/10 review and a loved that album, but all of his criticisms of it are fair, at least. as you said, he's articulate enough for me to understand where he's coming from. that's what makes a good critic, even if we often disagree. anyway, we have you and a bunch of other reviewers to tell us about modern prog and that's plenty.

[@shroom2ma]

Thinking about it from a viewer's perspective (algorithms aside), I don't know that there'd be all that much value in Fantano doing a lot more prog. Like a lot of people these dyas, I'm into all sorts of wildly different music. I've been into prog for all of my adolescant and adult life - so 35 years-ish - and have drifted in and out of the scene over the years, so someone like Fantano probably isn't going to turn me on to something I haven't heard any more than I'd be able to turn Notes onto something prog-specific that he isn't already aware of. But a prog-specific review platform like Notes has and likely will be because he's wading in the sea of prog up his eyeballs. Fantano does indie-pop and other more perhaps mainstream-friendly genres a lot, so will find the things in that sea that I might not normally come across for the same reason. So it might be good for the viewer to have the diversity of specification that we have.

[@terriblecertainity]

I fundamentally disagree with you on the whole " imitating the 70's prog scene". Not creating new sounds, meaning no PROGRESSION, is the antithesis of Prog. Prog is not a genre per se, as for a genre, it would have to have clear stylistic features. But Prog is constantly expanding it's style, therefore it can't have set stylistic parameters. I mean, Meshuggah and Dream Theater have very little in common, yet they are both Prog. In only copiyng the 70's bands, you are having the exact opposite mindset that these bands had.

[@jonathanmarkham1998]

I agree with this. Makes sense to me to define prog in this way than the way most people seem to have settled on. I would say though that Meshuggah and Dream Theater aren’t progressing anything at this point, therefore surely they’ve ceased to be prog bands, or at least most of their recent stuff I wouldn’t call prog in a true sense.

[@terriblecertainity]

@@jonathanmarkham1998 I agree that Dream Theater stopped evolving, but Meshuggah still do to a certain extend. For example they moved away from the pure robotic sound and started doing way more organic drum fills, which to me, fundamentally alters how I perceive them

[@aphelionvoid4491]

He seems to love Radiohead, Swans, Black Midi, and old 70's prog. I don't remember him loving any contemporary prog in recent years. He calls Devin Townsend generally ''meh'', calls Steven Wilson's music a studied imitation, calls Opeth mediocre, etc. He didn't review a single Leprous album to my knowledge. Which is ridiculous.

[@klausesteinworth126]

Probably the same reason I don't review rap music. He just doesn't like it?

[@CompleteProducer84]

I’m so glad Tony doesn’t touch my beloved Dream Theater, as he would just rip them apart. However I would LOVE to know his thoughts on Scenes and Images. He very briefly mentioned Scenes in his “Yuno Review” for A Dramatic Turn of Events, but I’m curious to know if he would at least give it due credit

[@TundraCH]

The guy hates Opeth.. can't take anything he says about prog seriously at all

[@michaellooks2723]

Nope. No, he doesn’t.

[@michaellooks2723]

He’s not too incredibly moved by them, personally, but he encouraged anyone into modern prog to check them out. There are bands and artists across genres I feel that way about, but helping someone else discover a new favorite is so fulfilling.

[@fclefjefff4041]

It’s weird that you’re so uptight about this that you chose to make a rambling video about it. Who cares 😂

[@thisbename]

I just wish the guy like djenty stuff, lol. But I do think he reviews a lot of progressive stuff, even if it tends not to be "Prog" prog. His recent review of the Oranzi Pazusu album comes to mind. I'm so thankful for his support of my favourite band Liturgy throughout the years. It seems he's really just into rock and metal that is raw and wild and chaotic. He doesn't seem to like any rock or metal that is more refined and considered and clean. When he was dismissive of Devin's Empath record I think I just realised that there's no hope of him ever seeing eye to eye with me on a more modern-production prog release.

[@unoriginal4294]

Why do people still engage with Fantano after his Halsey review?

[@mirkecWii]

What happened with that?

[@siddhartino]

stockholm syndrome + the need to rely on a popular name's opinions on music instead of formulating personal ones (too hard for most people). ofc I'm not talking about Notes; just referring to all of the clones who still cling to every word he says

[@unoriginal4294]

@@mirkecWii Fantano got rightfully blasted for being incredibly disrespectful to Halsey by saying she has "main character syndrome" for having cancer and that she had "childish angst" for a number of other things going on in her life. He also doubled down on all of this on Twitter.

[@father042]

This is not anything new, music journalists like Christgau always seemed to dislike prog while praising simpler music like punk and garage rock I have also noticed that Pitchfork almost never reviews any prog either Prog is simply not a genre that appeals to hipster or especially poptimist types because it was always seen as too nerdy

[@kearingoodwin4856]

Eh, I’m not sure if that applies to Fantano though. He’s got a video criticising music journalists (including Christgau) for having a bias against prog.

[@w1nt3r_mut3]

I respect Fantano for what he has done for music commentary on the internet, but I've always taken his reviews with a grain of salt. It's also important to point out that Prog has always been ignored or hated by critics since the genre's beginnings. As a Prog fan, I find it hard to take critiques of the genre seriously when it has always been panned by most critics.

[@benoitschneider361]

The reason I don't watch his videos much is not really linked to what he doesn't like and what he doesn't review but the fact he puts forward a lot of pop and hip hop that's just plain bad. Geordie Greep album is great though, much better than any black midi stuff.

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

Honestly he lost all credibility as someone who's opinion I could trust after his abysmal review of Fear Inoculum by Tool...

[@dmilotte]

Your problem is actually the question “what is prog”? It’s too broad to answer in terms of modern music.

[@tylerbailey9329]

Okay, but his review of Life is But a Dream was hilarious

[@nolifereview]

Fantano has no credibility. Look at the Fader and Christgau incidents for the perfect examples as to why NO ONE should listen to Fantano for authentic takes.

[@luxaeterna9]

Fantano is just one man. Listen to what you like and don't worry about what anyone else says.

[@antonpreacher2900]

I stopped watching when he systematically trashed every Gizzard album for not being another Nonagon Infinity.

[@bobsbigboy_]

he did review Close to the Edge and in the court of the crimson king for classics week doe

[@NotesReviews]

@@bobsbigboy_ ...I cover that...

[@bobsbigboy_]

@@NotesReviews F A S C I N A T I N G !!!

[@KiaraStrings]

I remember when I didn't want to listen to prog due to the fact that I heard it was a pretentious genre. Along with the fact that I heard of the legends of Tales from Topographic Oceans and that put me off from it so much, so I just listened to anything else. Then, thanks to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I heard a song called The Widow by Mars Volta and I was a woman obsessed. Then I listen to Drunkenship of Lanterns. Eventually, I straight up brought Volta's first two albums and played them over and over and over again. Then, I got into Mastodon, Opeth, King Gizzard, a bit of Crimson King (thank you, The Rise and Fall of Prog) and Led Zeppelin. All, it took for me was the right song and the right push. Also, I got a notification from bluesky about you disliking Led Zep III. Are we going to have to fight lol. Because I am ready to defend my fav Zep album ever.

[@Impzhahaha]

He hates Steely Dan so does his opinion really matter?

[@JohnnyRecently]

I watched Fantano for several months. Fantano's recommendations did not agree with my personal tastes. I purchase physical media based on reviewer recommendations. Fantano was a waste of my time. Different strokes for different folks.

[@llukelcs]

In the '60s/'70s, prog bands had a lot of stylistic variety and identity. Pink Floyd, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, Camel, but also Premiata Forneria Marchoni, Le Orme, and lots of others were all under this "progressive rock" label but actually sounded very much different from one another. Modern prog, from my very humble point of view (that is: someone that used to follow a lot of prog bands in the 2000s and early 2010s, but is not that up to date anymore) I feel that most bands sounds more bland and/or derivative, be it from their older references but also from each other (the tons of Dream Theater's or Steven Wilsons look a likes). At the same time, I watched all the old modern prog legends getting also very bland and uninteresting over the years, and this is very true for Dream Theater that hasn't released any real amazing album since "Train of Thought" (maybe "Octavarium"...) and has become just strictly boring. Opeth and Steven Wilson both are long passed their peaks too, but at least were trying some different things. The only other 90s/early 2000s "prog" band that I used to listen to a lot in my teens and also had more mileage is Pain of Salvation (the "Road Salt" albums were still very good, the latter albums I liked less, but still enjoyed them). That was a very personal take and I'm probably unaware of a lot of very important bands to the prog community, but this is it (didn't mentioned it, but I love Gazpacho and Mariusz Duda stuff too! those ones I think are great). Because of all of this, I kind of understand Fantano's lack of interest in modern prog. I used to be a huge fan, but it hasn't sounded very interesting to me too in the past years. Why would I listen to some Steven Wilson/Opeth very well produced King Crimson look a like album when I can just listen to the actual King Crimon's work?

[@lauscho]

I've never really liked Fantano for how he covers prog, but I don't DISLIKE him either. Honestly, I don't even really think of him or his reviews that much. That's not to say I think he's doing a bad job or anything, but he just doesn't cover a lot of what I am into and that's fine. That's why I have you guys

[@lauscho]

also someone else pointed out below his negative attitude, and I'm kind of inclined to agree. He does come across as a bit of a snob. Like the kind of person who will criticize you for using the "wrong" turntable to listen to your vinyl on and only likes bands with either fewer than 10K plays on Spotify or more than 1 billion... nothing in between :P But that's probably more just me projecting my own insecurities rather than him actually being an asshole or anything.

[@lauscho]

Then again, a big part of it is probably down to the fact that he is THE "professional" YT reviewer and covers so much musical ground. We all like to review in our little genre bubbles, but to keep the algorithm happy, he has to do a much wider spread of genres... and with that, he's bound to find more variety in his own opinions. Still doesn't prevent me from feeling a little snobbishness on his part, but I kind of get it. You can't like EVERYTHING.

[@lieutenantkleeia]

In my opinion, music reviewers should stick to one or two genres of music. Fantano usually listens to pop and rap, when he reviews rock and metal I just cannot stand him because it's clear he doesn't appreciate the genre at the same level as the actual fans. I can't imagine you reviewing Sabrina Carpenter or like Chappell Roan or something like that 😅

[@NotesReviews]

@@lieutenantkleeia sorry to disappoint as I've talked about both of those albums 😘

[@lieutenantkleeia]

@@NotesReviews ahaha I legit didn't know. I recently enabled notifications so I missed that. I'll check em out. But my point still kinda stands! 😅

[@metalvoiceguy1232]

I see your point but I disagree. If he has something he wants to say about an album he as a music reviewer should say it. The problem comes from his ignorance and lack of care for the genres he doesn't typically talk about. which isn't a problem by itself obviously he won't know as much about genres he isn't as well versed in that's reasonable, but it becomes a problem when he as a very influential figure in the modern music scene makes poorly researched reviews about topics he just isn't very knowledgeable about. I have only seen a few of his reviews about albums from the metal scene which I am guessing isn't his usual thing so I'm guessing his usual work is much better than what I've seen

[@wiggy009]

I agree people are often specialized in terms of knowledge on specific genres

[@__-ni1kz]

He played bass in a drone metal band lol

[@edwardspiezio9793]

GREEP REVIEW WHEN?

[@NotesReviews]

@@edwardspiezio9793 I'M WORKING ON IT THERES A LOT OF MUSIC ON THAT ALBUM OK?

[@DeagleLas]

I don't watch Fantano not because of his takes on prog or other artists. I just don't like his negativity, his arrogance and his character. Probably the person is a nice one and I'm sure he's a really inteligent and capable person, but the disguise as Fantano is really obnoxious, imho. Real life is already negative a lot of times, I don't want that kind of negativity in my spare time. He's fine without me, so do I!

[@hectorThechilldudeonacouch]

Living in a different dimension if you don’t know who Fantano is. For Prog reviews you are the king of Prog. Fantano always gives a bad review to Deftones, not prog but I love Deftones.

[@rgellona]

Who cares… He want to be an influencer but all that comments are bull-*%#?€

[@alphaenemyplus8376]

Couldn't give a shit about what he has to say.

[@joelowdon1615]

because it sucks

[@father042]

Why are you even here

[@joelowdon1615]

@father042 algo

[@fuq0ff]

lol real

[@leonardodominguezlobos2769]

What a pointless video, If you like it, who cares if someone else doesn't?

[@Randomjackass135]

He covers more prog than he does jazz but I don’t whine about it. Saying “I wish this creator did what I want” sounds like a uniquely American predicament. In the land where participation only means consuming, everyone thinks they need to leave a Yelp review.

[@stuartraybould2574]

Who cares?

[@danebrackvitch4901]

I like a lot of Prog but the answer to your question in the thumbnail can be summed up with one word: preference (or taste). I'm not sure why "it's a shame." Why does he have to like what u like? It's ridiculous to do any video on why someone does not have the same taste as you; again, it's very simple: preference. If you cannot understand this concept, you have main character syndrome.

[@NotesReviews]

@@danebrackvitch4901 tell me you didn't watch the video without telling me you didn't watch the video

[@unoriginal4294]

@@NotesReviewsthey're making a joke in regards to what Fantano has said about Halsey, which I would urge you to at least spend 5 minutes of your time looking up if you never have