Best examples of Prog Pop

timbertrout · Post by **timbertrout** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:56 pm

"Long Distance Runaround" by Yes is my nomination. Blend of simple, catchy Beatlesque eighth-note piano pop with odd time signature virtuoso interludes.

(I bet The Shins could do a great cover of LDR.)

"Magic" by Pilot is the Poppier side of LDR-influenced Prog Pop.

"Logical Song" by Supertramp is pretty Prog Pop, too

TheSwede · Post by **TheSwede** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:18 pm

"I know what I like" by Genesis?

Even with the Lawn Mowing.

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:38 pm

Supertramp is an incredibly under-rated band in my opinion. Smart and quirky. My kind of music.

How about Klaatu? "Silly Boys" was a piece of genius.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:42 pm

i'm sure some people would put early eno on this list
tho i wouldn't
no wait
i think i just did

rolandk · Post by **rolandk** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:55 pm

Missing Persons "Walking in LA". Seriously. Terry Bozio is a monster drummer.

lsn110 · Post by **lsn110** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:01 pm

Genesis was my first musical love and I shouldn't go down that road...I was actually toying with the idea of covering I Know What I Like...

Anyhoo, if'n we're allowed to post a band from this century, I'd nominate Deerhoof. "Spirit Ditties of No Tone" from the Runners Four, kicks my sensibilities in both a prog and pop way every time.

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:06 pm

From King Crimson:

21st Century Schizoid Man.
Cat Food.

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 10:42 pm

Marillion veer back and forth from really proggy to really poppy. Especially their more recent stuff.

lyman · Post by **lyman** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 11:02 pm

Rush- The Spirit of Radio

it has a melodic pop thing going on, so you don't so much notice the odd time signature stuff and some other proggish things thrown in (the hammer on/pull of guitar riff in the choruses, a reggae bridge).

I second the Logical Song mention.

lancebug · Post by **lancebug** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:53 am

ya know Abacab (the song) is pretty prog for being both pop and later period. Love all the vamping synth. Cant tolerate phil's solo work at all, but Abacab is a solid record all the way around even though it shouldnt be.

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:47 am

Tom Sawyer ought to qualify if we are allowing Rush ...

timbertrout · Post by **timbertrout** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 9:14 am

Rush totally counts. "Tom Sawyer" and "Spirit of the Radio" are all-time Prog Rock classics.

But to narrow down the original query a bit: I was trying to come up with a list of examples that are prog, but more "pop" than "rock"..."TS" and "SOTR", Like "Roundabout" by Yes, seem more Rock than Pop to me...but I guess it's all semantics.

...And Klaatu was a great call too! They were OUT there. Sounding like the Muppets one minute, sounding like King Crimson the next. "Sub Rosa Subway" is an amazing song...though it's more of straight Beatlesque pop with only traces of Prog.

Modernly speaking, some New Pornographers is a bit proggish, like "Jessica Numbers" and even "Jackie Dressed in Cobras"

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:46 am

Something to make Phish-haters angry:

I saw an interview with the Phish guitarist a few years ago where he said that they originally set out to play prog and over time they kind of just veered off into jamming-based music. It kind of makes sense if you have ever heard their early original tunes. At least the case can be made objectively.

Thanks for the Rush nod. I am a little bit foggy on what is prog and what ain't. I know, progressive rock. The best definition of prog I can come up with: Nerdy musicians, not the ironic, self-styled Weezer sort of nerd but just straight-up unabashed math nerd at the helm.

timbertrout · Post by **timbertrout** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:55 am

Oh, yeah, there was no questioning Rush as prog...just was probing you all on the "pop" vs "rock" distinction...

Oh, here's another example, p'raps:

"Blinded by the Light" - Manfred Mann

Sorta Prog. Sorta Rock. Sorta Pop. best thing about that song: the repeated chorus with the repeat of the entire first verse sung underneath. But what's really genius about it is having a different bandmember sing the verse part (and not just overdubbing the lead guy).

jv · Post by jv » Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:55 am

A current band that might fall into this category is Bigelf. They're very proggy, but with a heavy Beatles influence. Lots of (real) Mellotron and Hammond. You can find free downloads at their website:
www.bigelf.com

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