Perfect Prog Albums - The Prog Report

What makes a perfect album? In this podcast, Roie, Geoff, Dan, and Nick share their picks for the perfect prog albums.
Website: progreport.com
Prog From Home Concert: • PROG FROM HOME Concert!
Prog Report Shop: progreport.com...
Subscribe to our KZbin page at / progreportpage
iTunes Podcast: itunes.apple.c...
Podbean: progreport.pod...
Facebook: / theprogreport
Twitter: / theprogreport
Instagram: / progreport
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
#progrock #progressiverock #perfectalbums

[@Metalton95]

6:01 is where the discussion begins -Genesis: Foxtrot (1972) -The Reign of Kindo: Rhythm, Chord & Melody (2008) -King Crimson: Discipline (1981) -Genesis: Selling England By The Pound (1973) -Supertramp: Crime of the Century (1974) -Pain of Salvation: Be (2004) -Neal Morse: ? (2005) -Spock's Beard: V (2000) -Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime (1988) -Steven Wilson: The Raven That Refused To Sing (2013) -Porcupine Tree: In Absentia (2002) -Frost: Milliontown (2006) -Porcupine Tree: Lightbulb Sun (2000) -Dream Theater: Images & Words (1992) -Big Big Train: The Grand Tour (2019) -Yes: Fragile (1971) -The Neal Morse Band: The Similitude of a Dream (2016) -Transatlantic: The Whirlwind (2009) -Marillion: Misplaced Childhood (1985) -Tears For Fears: Raoul And The Kings Of Spain (1995)

[@Frip36]

THanks so much.

[@TheProgCorner]

Neal Morse "Sola Scriptura" Wobbler "From Silence To Somewhere" Big Big Train "Grand Tour" The Flower Kings "Sum Of No Evil" Steven Wilson "Hand. Cannot. Erase."

[@GainesMusic]

Agree minus Hand. Cannot. Erase, just not enough in it for me. Maybe should give it another listen 🤔

[@Metallicazor]

H.C.E. easily one of the best albums of all time

[@gazza8127]

My picks guys: Close to the Edge - Yes Relayer - Yes Going for the One - Yes Wish you were here - Pink Floyd Dark side of the Moon - Pink Floyd Crime of the Century - Supertramp (Totally agree Roie) A trick of the tail - Genesis Wind and Wuthering - Genesis Bridge Across Forever - Transatlantic Sowing the seeds of love - Tears for Fears

[@CoreyArsenault-c8t]

I love the battle of epping forest almost as much as suppers ready

[@FundamentalsUK]

Agree Nick with Spock’s V, my first introduction to them, and a perfect album.👍🏻

[@OurFamilyInMotion]

I love that the gentleman in the right lower part of the screen mentioned an album as "prog in disguise". Maybe that's a good topic for a future episode. Best prog albums that aren't usually considered prog.

[@stephanlandshuter5237]

Japan's Tin drum or all Tears For Fears albums f.e.

[@Metallicazor]

Cressida - Asylum Gazpacho - Tick Tock Comus - First Utterance Gentle Giant - Octopus Haken - Affinity Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing Porcupine Tree - Fear Of a Blank Planet Basically anything by Opeth

[@unityproject2279]

Sanguine hum - the weight of the world Spocks beard - Snow Yes - close to the edge Genesis - the lamb Transatlantic - whirlwind Gong - you

[@jeffscalise5927]

Opeth - Blackwater Park might be a perfect album. Ghost Reveries is my fav.

[@Metallicazor]

Its a long album aswell, still every song is perfect. Just like still life

[@larrycass3198]

My Personal Top Ten By Ten Different Bands: 1) Steven Wilson- Hand Cannot Erase 2) Porcupine Tree- In Absentia 3) Yes- Close to the Edge 4) Jethro Tull- Thick as a Brick 5) Riverside- Love, Fear and the Time Machine 6) Genesis- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 7) King Crimson- In the Court of the Crimson King 8) Pink Floyd- Darkside of the Moon 9) ELP- ELP 10) Pendragon- Love Over Fear

[@tbeng12]

Hand Cannot Erase is arguably one of the best prog records of all time

[@queenelmejor]

Kamelot - The Black Halo King Crimson - In The Court Of the Crimson King Opeth - Damnation Opeth - Watershed Renaissance - Sherazade and other stories

[@agentorange26]

The black halo. What an amazing and perfect album. Although, I see it more as a concept album in the realms of power and symphonic metal than prog. Regardless of the labels, I love it from start to end. 🤘🏽

[@LuisGarcia-ee2tr]

Watershed is a truly masterpiece. Underrated!

[@gabrieldaigle]

Neal Morse Question Mark...YES!!! I love Neal's stuff, but this is ALWAYS the one I go back to listen to on a regular basis. Nice choice Geoff

[@HawksNHabsPC]

My perfect Prog Albums 1) Close to the Edge - Yes 2) Scenes From A Memory - DT 3) Clutching At Straws - Marillion 4) Frames - Oceansize 5) Selling England - Genesis

[@malawigw]

Moving pictures

[@bartomiejkunda1129]

Frames by Oceansize, definitely my all time favourite of all time, perfect record.

[@akosdudas6970]

1) Pink Floyd - The Wall 2) Transatlantic - Whirlwind 3) Maudlin Of The Well - Part The Second 4) Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet 5) Marillion - Misplaced Childhood 6) Yes - Close To The Edge 7) Dream Theater - Scenes From Memory 8) Rush - Power Window 9) Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds 10) King Crimson - Starless And Bible Black +1) The Mars Volta - de-loused in the comatorium

[@LuisGarcia-ee2tr]

Great show. Super interesting. I very much enjoyed the exchange of opinions and choices. Congratulations to all

[@agentorange26]

Surprised because of the following facts: - Not a single Rush album among those 20 picks. - No Opeth. And I’m glad nobody mentioned (unless I missed it) Lateralus. I’m sick of seeing it regarded as the ultimate prog masterpiece by the most common rock magazines and by people who haven’t heard Close to the Edge, Hemispheres or Foxtrot (among other amazing examples) in their lives.

[@RickMacDonald19]

I have both in my top 5, however in our gracious host's defence, this category is highly subjective and immense.

[@agentorange26]

@@RickMacDonald19 I must agree to that, and that's the beauty of prog.

[@CharlesRBiggs]

My perfect list: Similitude of a Dream-NMB Testimony-Neal Morse Whirlwind-Transatlantic Yes-Close to the Edge Rush-Hemispheres And to add two more: Question Mark and One-Neal Morse

[@dangerdolls]

I agree with Geoff that the time limitations of vinyl forced artists to make choices rather than just throwing it all out there. My favorite perfect albums that fall into prog (because I have choices for perfect that are not prog or prog adjacent like Zeppelin's Runes or Supertramp's Crime of the Century - and there it gets mentioned) would probably include the following. Lee Abraham - Only Human Ambrosia - Ambrosia Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here Renaissance -Scheherazade and Other Stories Chris Squire - Fish Out of Water Yes - Close to the Edge

[@justinburke2890]

Rush- Hemispheres Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals Genesis-Selling England by the Pound, Foxtrot Jethro Tull- Thick as a Brick Camel- Mirage Yes- Close to the Edge King Crimson- Larks' Tongues in Aspic ELP- Brain Salad Surgery

[@LuisGarcia-ee2tr]

The best list.

[@jeffwheaton2439]

Raoul & The Kings of Spain has been one of my desert island picks since I first heard it, a masterwork of writing and production!

[@danaaronmusic]

Awesome, Geoff! Big Big Train is my favorite band and Grand Tour is most definitely their perfect album.

[@gabrieldaigle]

Operation Mindcrime. Listened 3-6 months solid when this came out. What a masterpiece. Nice choice Roie.

[@malawigw]

what is prog about it?

[@epicsongs3498]

Love the topic and discussion. One band that often escapes mention is Shadow Gallery. Tyranny would make my list.

[@outwest100az]

thanks for the Riverside mention. Just an awesome band

[@AllMediaReviewsPodcast]

agreed on The Reign of Kindo. Rhythm, Chord & Melody is a STONE COLD CLASSIC!

[@RickMacDonald19]

You guy's talked about song sequence, the architecture of the album; next time you listen to Opeth's In Cauda Venenum listen to it on CD w/loop on. It's like an Ourorboros eating itself and recreating itself. Perfect prog album.

[@patrice8796]

Cool one. Mine would be: Yes - Close To The Edge Rush - Permanent Waves Porcupine Tree - In Absentia Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories) Big Big Train - Grand Tour. Happily surprised it made it on your list.

[@RickMacDonald19]

1. Dark Side of the Moon 2. Joe's Garage 3. 2112 4. In Cauda Venenum 5. Imaginos

[@igorpodemski9596]

My picks: Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever Dream Theater - Images and Words Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos [ probably the most underrated album in prog history ] Rush - Moving Pictures

[@bobbgoldstein9987]

Hearing Mindcrime make the list made my day. For me some are Fates Warning - Parralels, Rush - Permanent Waves, Symphony X - The Oddysey, and Kings X - Gretchen or Ayreon - Human Equation.

[@brianbutler7506]

Thank you for putting me onto neal morse similitude of a dream 😮 wow

[@dennismoore3383]

I've heard or read Mike Portnoy say didn't he want the triggered snare on Images and Words. He was forced to use it by the producer because the band didn't have full creative control yet.

[@abababaTV]

It's a really difficult choice, but if I had to choose one album per artist, Genesis: Selling England KLAATU: HOPE John Miles: Zaragon Rick Wakeman: Criminal Record Supertramp: Breakfast in America Jeff Waynes: War of the World Alan Parson's Project: turn of the friendly card ASIA: Alpha RUSH: Power Window Pink Floyd: The Wall Yes: Fragile King Crimson: In the court of Crimson King Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed Procol Harum: Procol Harum

[@Sammeep02]

My current holy trinity is Brain Salad Surgery, Trick of the Tail and Going for the One

[@jcoriha]

"Within You Without You" is the 2nd best song(after only "A Day in the Life") on Sgt Pepper's!

[@progreport]

🫨

[@sethleibowitz2906]

Selling England By The Pound is the Best in the Genesis Catalog. Battle of Epping Forest is not a bad track

[@agentorange26]

That prominent bass drives the whole song. I love it.

[@mannyruiz1954]

Yeah, Fragile is perfect. Every track. Favorite Yes album.

[@Prog-Radio]

Alan Parson - Turn of a Friendly Card Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick Pattern-Seeking Animals - PHTales

[@richfaille6244]

You guys really didn't put Yes CTTE on here because everyone pretty much would pick it already!? idk about that. Maybe you start with a communal list of the very creme de la creme that no one will argue about like CTTE. Wish You Were Here not even mentioned... I enjoyed the show nonetheless, its always fun to ponder these things.

[@Andrey_Yurkoff]

Jethro Tull - TAAB King Crimson- ITTOTCK Yes - CTTE Genesis - SEBTP VDGG - Godbluff

[@charlesdaniel1367]

I know most that follow this community probably doesn't listen to Jars of Clay but I would personally list their first album (produced by Adrian Belew) as prog and perfect.

[@miketomlin6040]

I know of a few Lp's highly rated by the Musical Elite that tend not to be fond of Prog, at all! So is Prog, when done well, ''good''?

[@Kevinhamradio]

I absolutely adore “Third Degree” by Flying Colors (honorable mention) but I skip “You are not Alone” every time I listen to it. So close…

[@mxpxdude]

What is the name of the intro song you hear at the beginning of this vid?

[@forestfc]

It Bites - Once Around The World should be in there too

[@bernhardkaiser9567]

I found only one Prog Album where I love every single song.. Rajaz by Camel :)

[@FundamentalsUK]

In absentia agreed Geoff. 🤘🏻

[@niklas5629]

Its a shame that bands like Le Orme, PFM, Banco del mutuo soccorso and Museo Rosenbach are not mentioned at all here

[@chrissmith3668]

Hemispheres????!!?!?!??!!!!?!!

[@JC-nl5cd]

Don't get too bummed if one of your fav albums has a less than stellar song or movement. These are first world prog problems, gents! If it still gets ya down, just thank your lucky stars that out of the billions of years on earth, you had the opportunity to intersect a few or all of your years with Rush (or Yes, or Floyd, or Genesis, or King Crimson, etc)

[@mccarthyd6603]

More love for the best prog band of all-time.... Nektar😍😍😍😍😍😳

[@thalesprotazio]

Ih the battle of epping forest isnt a good song then i'm a screwdriver

[@GainesMusic]

Literally opened the video on my phone to comment on the fact that he said that! The battle of epping forest is one of my favorite songs hands down.

[@jarkkokangas6150]

Well then you are. Genesis is a perfect example - for me - of bands that are as good as they come but don't have one perfect album. Selling England has two amazing songs (Dancing... and Firth of Fifth) and the rest of them are less than great. I could never understand why people love Cinema Show so much. Tony's synth solo is about half a year too long.

[@stephanlandshuter5237]

Mike Rutherford hinted at the fact that this track is incredibly "busy", i.e. not relaxed at all, constantly going somewhere else. And wasn't it Tony Banks who said it's too "wordy", meaning Peter Gabriel is constantly singing, there's no room for the music to breathe. That's fair enough. But I also think it's funny and rhythmically interesting.

[@lobolonewolf8824]

This a subject that is very subjective. It's like a work of art. Like if you say the Mona Lisa's hair would be better Brown than black. Then it would be a perfect work of art. Musicians cannot make a Mona Lisa every time they record an album.

[@davidryan7386]

Happy the man craftyhands Olias Yes ctte, gft1 Peter gabriel 4 Radiohead in rainbows Rush permanent waves Genesis: Wind and wuthering 3 sides live (wither version) Before and after science eno Stop making sense Ambient 2 and 3 Another green world Dark side Wish u ww here Animals The wall

[@jannoyes1924]

Way to go! If I was you I would employ P R O M O S M!!

[@armandom28]

clearly these guys are not hard core proggers.....

[@billnole2188]

Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here Porcupine Tree, Deadwing Supertramp, Crime of the Century Jethro Tull, Aqualung Opeth, Damnation Yes, Close to the Edge