[Prog Rock and More] Buckethead... he's got a bucket on his head.

Athaedos

Buckethead, who was raised by chickens.




Why?

Well, unfortunately I cannot show you. One must listen.

Perhaps some of the most fucking awesome soloing ever:

Flock of Slunks

Shadows Between the Sky

I love my parents



Just recently got "Shadows Between the Sky", which he released this year.
It's quite good (feels like buckethead looking back peacefully on life),
and getting cooler as I listen to it more which a lot of his music tends to do.
Especially Inbred Mountain, which is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time.

Something about the mood, the atmosphere in his music is perfect. And there is a shitload
of range across his work. I mean, there's the Cuckoo Clocks of Hell which is an album best
related to Bosch's depiction of hell in The Garden of Earthly Delights, and then there is this:

Sled Ride

Yay!

The guy has been going for so many years and just keeps putting out great stuff.
I'd love to hear suggestions for musicians like this or just music that has this same kind of feel.

Also I figure this would be a good place to discuss prog rock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncJazOonwPo&feature=related
This Dying Soul

There seems to be a lot of hate for prog rock, and it certainly took me a while to get into
but once I did I've found most other music to be lacking in the 'rocking' department. It probably
helps that I lived with a guitar player for the past couple years and my appreciation of actual ability
and the difficulty of music like this vastly increased.

Apothe0sis

I don't believe Buckethead is one person. I think Buckethead is a mantle taken up by people throughout the history of ROCK!

Onslaught_Fei

Buckethead? I was hoping for some Yes, Genesis, Uriah Heep, Atomic Rooster, Camel, Caravan, Van Der Graaf Generator, High Tide, King Crimson... well you get the idea.

I'm gonna start out with a bold statement. Like almost all musical terms, "progressive" is becoming a more and more dilluted term over the years, especially recently. It is no longer referential to a particular sound and era of music (like say New Wave or NWOBHM or whathaveyou) but is now simply a modifier.

Athaedos

Tis perfect, Onslaught. I secretly started this thread so people could inform me of music I haven't heard, because I'm young and only recently discovered prog. And yeah I can see how lots of buckethead wouldn't really be prog. I originally was just making a thread about him then decided I might as well make the potential topic of discussion broader.

Also I think what really makes me happy about Buckethead is that he's doing all this stuff without a vocalist or something and voiceless music is usually better for the kinds of things I like to listen to music while doing like jogging, painting, busing, etc. That's the kind of music I particularly want to find more of.

nexuscrawler

He's in a Floyd Hole!

Onslaught_Fei

Athaedos wrote: »

Tis perfect, Onslaught. I secretly started this thread so people could inform me of music I haven't heard, because I'm young and only recently discovered prog. And yeah I can see how lots of buckethead wouldn't really be prog. I originally was just making a thread about him then decided I might as well make the potential topic of discussion broader.

Fair enough, good man, fair enough. I am a big fan of the late late 60's and 70s progressive rock era. Just be careful as progressive is a loaded term these days and describes everything from 30 seconds to Mars, Coheed and Cambria to Porcupine Tree and Spock's Beard to Opeth and Cynic. Kinda like walking into a metal thread and someone starts bringing up Disturbed and Linkin Park and all they want to talk about in there is Deus Despectum, Ilkim Oulanem, Njiqahdda and Szarlem.

His Corkiness

How can you not like this?

Athaedos

30... seconds... to mars.... prog? -_____-

Point taken. But yeah, do you have any favorite purely or mostly instrumental prog rock favorites?

Nice Cork.

It's not the type of music I was very interested in, but when I let "Botnus" run on Enter the Chicken, boy did I not regret it. Seriously I think so far this is the most energetic solo I've heard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGEMIvqHNqg&feature=search

Onslaught_Fei

Too much to list. Also it's tricky because I hate recommending music unless I know someone's taste and if they are ripe and ready in their life for certain songs or bands (it's like this for all genres I find). There are many solo artists and outfits that do instrumental rock (which is generally progressive by nature). Judging by your original post things tend to be on the technical side. Progressive versus technical has become a misnomer lately I find thanks to bands like Rush and Dream Theater. Progressive isn't necessarily technical by any means.

If you want songwriting that I'm going to mention the entire post-rock genre, something like this. This song takes solitude and patience. Wait for the crescendo and lose yourself emotionally in the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRrGCVlMHk

If you want technicality I'm going to recommend something like this. This song is all about the neo-classical scales and focus on a clean guitar melody. Really solid use of the rhythm to keep a fast pace while the keyboards add a great complimenting layer of sustained melody and atmosphere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZS22ljvtq4

Athaedos

Nice thanks, with the Joe Stump I like stuff with more phases or... maybe haunting or slow-paced atmosphere, hard to describe, though near the end it is nice. God Speed you Black Emperor is just the ticket for painting music; I'll definitely be checking that out.

Some others I can mention to maybe elucidate on my taste are Russian Circles and Red Sparrows (ninja-ed one of them into the OP), and Pelican though I've only heard one album from them.

Edit: Yeah, I particularly like the use of strings in Moya, I'm a fan of celtic fiddle festival and violin/cello in general, so stuff with that is often going to be a win.

jammu

No love for old timers prog?

some Pink floyd:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXdNnw99-Ic&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SqFPNTBnv8


Jethro tull:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ntI4TkOvEU&feature=related

Gim

Did somebody say obscure 70s Euro prog?

Because I'm pretty sure somebody said obscure 70s Euro prog.

L|ama

calling buckethead prog seems a bit generous to me

I too enjoy senseless noodling, but that's about all it is

RUNN1NGMAN

Apothe0sis wrote: »

I don't believe Buckethead is one person. I think Buckethead is a mantle taken up by people throughout the history of ROCK!

So, the Zorro of guitar?

VeritasVR

I like Dream Theater a lot because of its technical proficiencies, but I don't identify with a lot of other people who like Dream Theater.

So I listen to it in secret, scorned by all.

nexuscrawler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncSlPGnuOss

love me some Mogwai

Pi-r8

VeritasVR wrote: »

I like Dream Theater a lot because of its technical proficiencies, but I don't identify with a lot of other people who like Dream Theater.

So I listen to it in secret, scorned by all.

That's the only way for real fans to enjoy Dream Theater *flashes secret sign*

pyromaniac221

I'm pretty bad at identifying "prog" rock.
Would this count?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNGCJzPzAp0

Because goddammit Cynic is so great

Tav

Since when is post-rock prog? I never would of classed stuff like Mogwai or GY!BE as prog

or 30 Seconds To Mars

Jesus, I'd have to slap someone for describing them as prog

also,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efsm6aJPybg

that is all

ElJeffe

All I know of Buckethead is that I could never get past Jordan on Expert.

nexuscrawler

I hate the term post-rock

Duchess Prozac

a band I've gotten into recently are Anathema. Whilst they started life as a doom metal band more recently they've become full on prog rock. Their latest album, We're Here Because We're Here is pretty good, but I love Judgment, personally.

Mike Danger

Song videos behind cut

pretty much the perfect prog album in my opinion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4qAM_RYeLU

Does prog metal count?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB8ZFUoUfVk

Steven Wilson is God, see also Porcupine Tree, Blackfield, that one song he did with OSI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BClzBQmZZBc

If Wilson is God, Moore is Jesus (I don't really like Dream Theater though)...I could swear Wiki used to list this as prog rock, but now I guess it's psychedelia?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNIjZ_2jxeU

Finally, I don't really like these guys' new stuff but Seasons End is pretty damn perfect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYxzOIojerA

also, these need to be in the OP (two thumbs up, nexus!)

Onslaught_Fei

Tav wrote: »

Since when is post-rock prog? I never would of classed stuff like Mogwai or GY!BE as prog

or 30 Seconds To Mars

Jesus, I'd have to slap someone for describing them as prog

Post-rock is progressive in nature, however, if you pay attention you will see the gentleman was specifically looking for instrumental music. Post-rock is obviously the way to go. Can you have a progressive post-rock band? No, because all post-rock is progressive in nature.

And I am with you to 30STM. Honestly, as I stated earlier, prog is a thin word these days. Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree hits the nail on the head in this interview: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37160&FID=47 where he talks about how the term progressive rock does not apply to his music.

Visti

Ah, there are some excellent droppings in this thread already. I've been getting back into Opeth and King Crimson and it is really as great as I remember it. And of course, one of my favorite recentish albums:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cdSiAgz1XU&feature=search

And here's a bunch I like, just because:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHBzSqeM6KQ&feature=search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIM5M6FmnmY&feature=search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEMJaCj2zXA&feature=search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUzpX-KxNLg&feature=search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUt7qmSvxLI


Edit: Also old Marillion is the shit.

Metal Gear Solid 2 Demo

Onslaught_Fei wrote: »

Too much to list. Also it's tricky because I hate recommending music unless I know someone's taste and if they are ripe and ready in their life for certain songs or bands (it's like this for all genres I find). There are many solo artists and outfits that do instrumental rock (which is generally progressive by nature). Judging by your original post things tend to be on the technical side. Progressive versus technical has become a misnomer lately I find thanks to bands like Rush and Dream Theater. Progressive isn't necessarily technical by any means.

If you want songwriting that I'm going to mention the entire post-rock genre, something like this. This song takes solitude and patience. Wait for the crescendo and lose yourself emotionally in the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRrGCVlMHk

Godspeed is the tape by which I measure all other prog-rock, their pieces are just so amazing and send shivers up my spines at times.

Visti

In the vein of GY!BE, I also accidentally stumbled across this a couple of weeks ago and quite enjoy it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htGmTJNsOr0&feature=search

Metal Gear Solid 2 Demo

GYBE, This Will Destroy You, Explosions in the Sky, A Silver Mt. Zion and Red Sparrows are all pretty similar and make great stuff in the instrumental/movement vein, they even have some inter-changing members.

Ethan Smith

And now for me showing you a lot of hyphenated music!

El-P
Progressive Rap/Punk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9b-ibeakUA

Amazing Baby
progressive leaning psychedelic, has a very 70's feel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QOsEusEC9A

Doomstar!
also psychedelic prog, I can't find their first album which leans more prog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEN5iGNtM3E

Then we can get into math rock which I think will be in the OP's tastes

Giraffes Giraffes
JUST LOOK AT THAT FUCKING ALBUM ART
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZqZCS0rCmE

L|ama

Edge of Sanity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lcX7WO06YY

two 40+ minute concept songs/albums.

Green Carnation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6KgbSnCZfM

Only one of a similar thing, but it's about an hour long.

devCharles

Prog has changed so much it has essentially become one of those nearly useless genre terms we use in rock music that encompasses so much different crap that we're just left confused.

That being said:

Rush!


Seriously though, Progressive Metal is just not something I can really get behind. Dream Theater is a group I find nearly impossible to listen to. Instead of emotional connection to their music, it's more similar to admiring a craftsman or athlete do something. More artisan than artist.

Onslaught_Fei

devCharles wrote: »

Prog has changed so much it has essentially become one of those nearly useless genre terms we use in rock music that encompasses so much different crap that we're just left confused.

Seriously though, Progressive Metal is just not something I can really get behind. Dream Theater is a group I find nearly impossible to listen to. Instead of emotional connection to their music, it's more similar to admiring a craftsman or athlete do something. More artisan than artist.

I 100% agree with your first statement. How about progressive metal that is not technical? Something to the key of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IzLDT73bkkDo you still feel a disconnect between the instrumentation and emotion?

L|ama

I love prog metal and think DT is soulless wank. In death metal that sort of thing is called technical death metal, which is a far more sensible term in my opinion.

TubularLuggage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNoR6VSP4wY&feature=related
A thread can never have too much Rush.

Also, I like Dream Theater, largely because I feel that there is a lot of emotion in their music, with a few exceptions (mostly in more recent years). There's just such a wide variety within their catalog. If you want a progtastic epic? They have them. A mind blowing instrumental? They have them. Something simple and melodic? They have that.
Obviously opinions differ. To each their own. If someone gives them a chance and decides it's just not for them, that's fine.

Edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2uzG13TdPA
One of my favorite DT songs, which happens to well demonstrate a different side of their sound than most people tend to think of.

Also, Take The Time is always just so much fun to listen to, early 90s cheesiness and all;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSChdfAzbqg

Porcupine Tree is also fantastic. Deadwing and In Absentia were brilliant, and The Incident was pretty excellent.

Athaedos

Yeah, looking at it as an entity in it's entire, I'm not really a DT fan. But coming at it from a person interested in the instrumentals... this is pretty sweet:

.... oh right, it doesn't even fit in a youtube video, for shame. But the solo and when it gets into the keyboard is what I particularly like. Pretty unique sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3c1rrqj_kY&feature=search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y29GK7V1Gjw&feature=related


It's like the 'buckethead is senseless noodling' comment. If you look at a musician overall and judge them on your impression, you're going to be missing out on a lot.

If this is senseless noodling I'd like to hear non senseless guitar playing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7UMu--wplI&feature=search


Also, that Jethro Tull is awesome. The flutes and singing style somehow remind me of medieval music. Pretty sweet.

815165

I find your lack of Can disturbing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49PvnYCKZkM

Also, Nektar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDEETNno9xk

devCharles

Onslaught_Fei wrote: »

devCharles wrote: »

Prog has changed so much it has essentially become one of those nearly useless genre terms we use in rock music that encompasses so much different crap that we're just left confused.

Seriously though, Progressive Metal is just not something I can really get behind. Dream Theater is a group I find nearly impossible to listen to. Instead of emotional connection to their music, it's more similar to admiring a craftsman or athlete do something. More artisan than artist.

I 100% agree with your first statement. How about progressive metal that is not technical? Something to the key of:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IzLDT73bkk

Do you still feel a disconnect between the instrumentation and emotion?

Honestly, this is what I hate about using genre terms. I don't really classify a song like that as progressive metal. I would say that I indeed find that song to have a good emotional connection. It kind of ties in with my first statement, I really hate the prog term. That song does sound like it fits in the prog genre, but it doesn't really sound like the prog metal I've heard (Symphony X, Dream Theater, Andromeda.) Obviously, not all songs by one artist are going to conform to the same style, and there are songs I've heard by Dream Theater that I do like, but the majority of prog metal I've heard (had a guy on my hall freshmen year that was really into prog metal and showed a bunch of stuff to me) felt like it was more in the "Technical metal" style that L|ama mentioned that I had no idea has its own term.

I'll be the first to grant that my knowledge of progressive metal is not huge, but very little of it was like that Opeth song.

L|ama

buckethead and DT being the focus of a prog thread really hurts, guys. Why are you doing this?

Athaedos

God damn, does everyone really care that much about the use of the word prog and having it mean the genre of special music they really like and can hold above all that is mainstream? Wouldn't have used it if I had known... -_- Basically all it meant to me is 'music that is progressive because it goes after the same kind of phasic and transforming shifts that defines classical music, or exploring new forms'. Pretty broad, and I see no reason why it couldn't apply to almost everything shown here. But I guess lots of people want to keep it directly associated to the late 60s and 70s dudes who did a lot of it.

L|ama

I just think a distinction between prog and wank is important.

Candlemass

Not exactly sure that Buckethead is all that appropriate in the topic but DT certainly is. They are one of the more influential prog metal acts whether that's good or bad. I've really enjoyed I&W/Awake and all of their albums until Six Degrees.... have been decent to great. Back then there was definitely a lot of interesting music and I wouldn't call it simply wanking. Haven't been a big fan of anything since Train of Thought though.

Might as well start off with this classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7h4qT6OrdQ

As a useless aside, Damnation is definitely a prog album. Just not a metal album at all.