The Selectiveness of Rock Music and the Infamous Genre!

The Selectiveness of Rock Music; and the Infamous Genre!
The Desegregation of Rock starting with Prog! 

Week 25 | July 25, 2018
By The Forgotten Woman,  JoOnna Silberman

This has been one of the more difficult pieces for me to write, primarily because the topic is a complex one, in both research and perception; as well as the fans it attracts; making it almost as intricate and delicate as the music produced by the genre itself. It is perplexing and frustrating, while also being transformative and exciting.  Not to mention, in just listening to track after track one gets lost in the beauty of the sounds, and the exquisiteness of the songwriting and emotion it is drawn from.

I expect to get push-back and argument on this piece, because one thing I have learned over the past 3 – 4 months of research is that everyone has an opinion on the subject, and Prog (including all its sub genres) is probably the most controversial, misunderstood and tenacious genre in the Rock Community at large. With the most stubborn fan-base who love it with passion, fervor and an indignation that shall not be surpassed.  And they defend their positions with the same downright audacity.  Not to mention the musicians themselves, who are drawn so deeply into their craft (understandable), that they appear to be introverted and pretentious, which is not the case at all. However, this combination of fan and artist, seemingly creates an aura of foreboding and perception that the outside world misunderstands, and in response keeps their distance out of fear. The cerebral nature of Prog is filled with contradictions, argument and misapprehensions much like Classical Music was in its day. Those who play it are misinterpreted, those who adore it are defensive and combative, and those who are strangers are fearful of it and confounded by it.  As I have said before, I have chosen Prog first because in my opinion it is the toughest nut to crack in our endeavor to reunite the rock industry (see link below for explanation). 

To the Rock Industry and Progressive Rock Community at large:

Let me state for the record, “I love Progressive Rock Music” as much as I love Rock, the parent from which it was born. However, for me music is selective and dependent on my mood. Just like I have stated before, there is not one best musician, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter etc., there is not one best genre in the Rock community. And the constant conflict between the genres has done damage (I am talking about Rock Music Industry, not a genre), almost as much as the exhausting number of genres which have been coined over the years. The Critics and Media did not do the industry or fans any favor when they got cute and started throwing genres into the mix, because the effect only culminated the segregation of rock, which gave the appearance of a dying industry, when in fact as I wrote about in my last blog “Reuniting Rock Music One Genre at a time! We’ve Got Work to do!” , Rock music is the number one music still listened to today. Progressive Rock is the music I go to for deep thinking and which transports me to other times and another world. When I want to amerce in a aura of beauty, this is where I go.   One of my favorites is by Mr. Neal Morse:

Why are the influx of too many genres and the separation of rock a problem, because when you segregate any movement your numbers of supporters appear to be less than they are! When you do not stand united and fight together you lose power, and more importantly control (I would use the present state of politics as and example, but that would truly start a war- so I won’t, and don’t you). Also, important things fall off the radar. In this case we did not keep up with the explosion of social media and digital marketing as an industry. The biggest issue created by this phenomenon is that the core, namely Rock music which is the base for Prog and all the baby genres has lost its footing visibly to the public eye and we also took our eyes off the prize collectively.  Which I have also written about previously “ Calling All Rockers: Get Your Rock on and Step Up to the Bar!”

Progressive Rock goes back a long way and while I am more than willing to admit, that it certainly was embraced, elevated and evolved through the efforts and art of British musicians, I would have to add that innovators like Zappa and even perhaps Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys had their hands in it (I think Brian was a frustrated Prog musician who got stuck in Pop, and it might have driven him a little bit mad).  Not to mention the Psychedelic Rock Bands and musicians of the mid 60’s.  For me it all started with Zappa, Moody Blues and Pink Floyd and the mantle was picked up by Procol Haurm and Jethro Tull, and yet evolving further with bands such as Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, Yes, Renaissance, Gentle Giant, and Rush. Just to name a few. I’ve seen many arguments over this, as well as many different timelines. This is my own personal feeling and belief. But to not give Frank Zappa his due is a grave oversight.  Not to mention the further contribution of American artists, and certainly the Scandinavian countries who amerced in it to the present day. Whoever and whatever you believe created the genre it was established, and is one to be reckoned with musically, structurally and creatively and continued to grow and flourish throughout the 70’s 80’s and 90’s through today with bands such as Radiohead, Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, Spock’s Beard, The Flower Kings, Porcupine Tree, Neal Morse, Transatlantic and more.  It is as relevant as it ever was with new bands and artists emerging every day and it is a privilege and honor to participate in it and continue to evolve with it.  Here is a list (I share another link below) of some new releases  New Prog Releases

One thing I found through my research is that first and foremost Prog fans cannot agree on the definition of Prog.  I saw all out wars break out on community pages over songs, the genre, sub genres “Well that’s not really Prog, it is Prog Pop!” or “Art Prog” or better yet Art Rock… well let me clear something up for you. The word Progressive in nature implies forward thinking and evolution. It also suggests innovation, experimentation and ideation. Anything that includes these elements is indeed progressive. Stop arguing about the definition of Prog, because it is steeped in evolution and change and therefore the art form is steeped in as much flux. But most importantly, is it is Rock Music first and foremost and if Rock falters, so does Progressive Rock.  Also, I have a news flash for you. Progressive rock uses multiple genres to achieve its goal. By alienating those genres, you do it and music disservice. To truly understand Progressive Rock, you truly need to appreciate and support the genres from whence it comes and where it goes. You don’t own Progressive rock and/or its definition it is owned by all the other genres that it draws on and the evolution it depends on.

Of all the genres Progressive Rock Music is by far the most complicated structurally, and in composition. If you go to the definition in any dictionary you will see a two-line definition which goes something like this (which I not agree with)

“a style of rock music that emerged in the 1970s; associated with attempts to combine rock with jazz and other forms; intended for listening and not dancing” ~ Vocabulary.com

If you go to the music libraries, you will find something more along the lines of this:

“Progressive rock (often shortened to prog or prog rock) is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a “mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility.” The term “art rock” is often used interchangeably with “progressive rock”, but while there are crossovers between the two genres, they are not identical.

Progressive rock bands pushed “rock’s technical and compositional boundaries” by going beyond the standard rock or popular verse-chorus-based song structures. Additionally, the arrangements often incorporated elements drawn from classical, jazz, and world music. Instrumentals were common, while songs with lyrics were sometimes conceptual, abstract, or based in fantasy. Progressive rock bands sometimes used “concept albums that made unified statements, usually telling an epic story or tackling a grand overarching theme.” ~ *Prog Rock Archives

*The Prog Archives page goes on to describe Prog even further. Including the structure. It is worth the read.

For the sake of space and time. I have created an abbreviated definition which I constructed from 5 other definitions and I believe does a good job (not great job) of defining for the purposes of this article.  Please note, that I have made it current and still relevant, rather than talking about Prog in the past tense.

“Progressive Rock (Prog Rock) is a sub -genre and form of Rock Music that pushed the limits starting in the 1960’s and evolving into and through the 1970’s to the present. The genre consists of interwoven pieces, which are more structurally complex; pushed technical and compositional boundaries; including more instruments and percussion; and its origins are usually based in a combination of and/or all of these genres: Rock, Blues, Classical, Jazz, Celtic and more. The pieces are usually longer sometimes exceeding 20 minutes, containing intros and instrumental interludes; many times, based on a concept and/or are telling a story and evoking romance, fantasy and imagination delineated in a themed album. “ ~ JoOnna Silberman, 2018

To the fans I say, “suck it up buttercup” and get out of the box! Embrace the differences and the roots. Stop getting so bogged down in the genres, because they are not your friends. Progressive is, as Progressive does.
And for cryin out loud, embrace the old with the new, if it wasn’t for the forefathers of Prog, we would not be where we are today. “Show reverence and deference to those who paved the way. You are not showing any intellectual prowess when you ignore their greatness.  While I too am longing for new music, and always searching for new Prog, I also love the old prog. I do not think it makes one more or less a Prog enthusiast or aficionado. Embrace where it comes from and stop trying to appear to be above the established or mainstream prog bands. They shine a light on Prog and are a doorway into someone’s ears and mind. Try this next time you see them post Genesis or Yes, post a song in the comments and just say, if you like that, listen to this. Share your knowledge and educate. Spread the Prog!  Stop combating others and being derogatory.  I have always been and will continue to be partial to ELP and the others. I think that makes me a better fan, not an ignorant one.

To Rock Music Fans in General and the Estranged of Progressive Rock:

This is even a more interesting phenomenon.  On any given day on our Forgotten Man Page or any of the rock music community pages across the social media channels and the internet I can post Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Genesis, Yes, King Crimson (or any other mainstream Prog artist) and the “likes” and “Hearts” are off the charts (except on the Prog community pages, I defer to my above statement on that one). I post more a obscure artist or band, and nobody even clicks on the link. I really don’t get it! What are you afraid of? If you love those the aforementioned band, why are you so unwilling to listen to others. What is it about Prog that scares you so much?

Recently a member of the prog community said some things to me, and I believe that they are very true “I can show you an element of prog in almost every rock song! Also, there is prog music in almost every movie we see today, people just don’t realize it! Prog is all over!”  Progressive Rock Music IS everywhere today whether you realize it or not, yet when a new artist is presented, the public hesitate. Why?

If you love Yes, Genesis, Rush, ELP, King Crimson, The Moody Blues and others, then listen to the new bands. Frankly you are probably a Progressive Rock fan and don’t even know it, considering it is everywhere. Expand your horizons and go beyond the established mainstream bands.  Try something new and something you don’t know. I challenge you to each day listen to a new artist in any rock genre, as well as Progressive Rock. If you only listen to the old, you will never know what’s new. And if you don’t like one artist, don’t stop there, try another. I am sure there will be old and new songs you discover and love. If we dig our heals into the sand and only listen to the old, we are also doing a disservice to the rock music industry and the new music will continue to get lost in the weeks in an over-saturated market filled with too many genres. Pick a genre every day and listen to something you have never heard. If you like it, share it. If you do not feel comfortable message me with it at Forgotten Man Productions and I will share it on all of our pages. Including One Nation Under Rock as well as other pages depending on the genre. If is it prog, I will share it on ProGject . Join in, participate, expand your musical brain waves. Don’t cling on to the old as difficult as I know that is, because some of the best Rock music lives in the past. But that does not mean that incredible Rock Music and Progressive Rock Music is not lying in wait! Here is a list to get you started: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_progressive_rock_artists  

Here is a new 2018 release from Spock’s Beard an American Progressive Rock Band from Los Angeles originally formed in 1992 and still going strong.  Try this on for size.

Progressive Rock Music Musicians and Rock Musician Worldwide:

Step out of your proverbial heads and out of your insular caves please! I know there is comfort in hanging out in our own communities with people who know and love us, but when you do not walk out into the world among strangers you become limited and suffocated. While I am aware that there are some who have done this, and done it very successfully, I challenge you to start working across genres. If your composition is based in and around other genres, invite a musician from that genre to work with you, allowing visibility across multiple genres. Do not covet your work or confine it. No, I am not suggesting necessarily commercial artists, as was done with Aerosmith and Run DMC, but more the approach of individual artists, known in their perspective genres or for their playing ability. You do not need to sell your soul to the devil in order to cross genres, as I know that thought is more likely abhorrent to you. However, when you do a project or a track, with artists from the root genre, it enables your music to be heard by more people, across several genres and it also expands the horizons of those who might not have ever heard your music. It expands your fan base and visa versa, play on other genres tracks. Also look at new genres of music there are inroads and collaborations that can be made here. Some of the newer genres which are “so called” more popular do have cross over potential. I can think of a few EDM artists (a few, not many – I am not an EDM fan) which could be considered Progressive in and over themselves. The mission is to expand the music…the key is in the term Progressive, what does that mean and in itself, doesn’t it root in other genres. Who is to say it can’t include more…

I also encourage you to start using the digital media, and social media channels more, and/or enlist the help of someone who can assist you in this. The reason the Hip Hop Industry (although we know this is not true) has seemingly taken over the market (in appearance, not in truth) is because they have mastered digital marketing. It is something Rock in general sorely needs to do, including Prog! If you have music on a movie, by all means promote that! If you are working with an artist from another genre post it and cross post it. If you don’t know what I am talking about then find someone who does. And I am not just talking about Facebook. Marketing is how we lost our visibility footing. Technology is how we lost our ability to sell music and also how the music industry has become over saturated. While I know you are all about the technology of making music, you need to get savvy on the technologies of marketing and promotion as well. As I have written, Hip Hop (for the most part, not all) is smoke and mirrors. But since music has unfortunately become more of a marketing tool these days for many musicians, it is even more important for us, Rock Music to start to advance and surpass.

Music Industry, Media and Journalist:

Stop it already with all the genres and stop drinking the Hip Hop Kook Aid.  Rock is the number one music listened to today, still.  If you actually look at the numbers and not stick to the headlines, you will find this to be the case.

Radio, start to play more Rock and I am not talking about the cookie cutter 3.5 minute songs, that all sound the same, wimpish, mainstream schlock that is being passed off as Rock Music. Follow BBC’s lead! Don’t believe me that Rock is the most listened to music. Do the math by looking at how the charts work. Start playing old with new, but find Rock Music, not commercial whitewash.  Mix up the genres. Play alternative with Progressive, and folk etc. This is the way it used to be, and it is the way it needs to be again.

Critics and journalists, stop creating a genre for everything you hear. We have well over 100 sub genres now that fall under Rock and you are doing the same to Hip Hop. You are part of the problem, albeit, I do not think it is with malice. Rock is Rock, while I will recognize perhaps 10 or so sub genres you lost me at the sub-sub genres STOP IT! You are not doing Rock Music any good with this approach.  Progressive Rock Music is Progressive Rock Music…end of story!

In addition, when I read articles such as the following piece in The Atlantic from 2017  “The Whitest Music Ever”  I cringe.  While I will agree, Progressive Rock has indeed been very white, I might point out to the writer that so was classical for hundreds of years, still is primarily, with a dash of color thrown in now and again, thankfully. Progressive Rock is still in play for much more than 30 seconds Mr. Parker. It is still all over the airwaves and one might even say that with the advent of genres like EDM which is evolving to be something quite different than it started out to be with bands like Defunk, Bassnectar , The Glitch Mob, Opiuo and more it has a certain and poignant influence.  Don’t fool yourself, as above so below, progressive rock is still a genre to be reckoned with, and you hear it almost every day and it has a huge influence on other genres.  Funny, if you look at history, classical music came and went, and came back again. Artists like Mozart were rebuked and ridiculed back in the day. It took years for colors and ethnicities to infiltrate.

http://https://youtu.be/sskmSImrhCs

Final note:

The Progressive Rock industry is just a prevalent as it was in the 60’s where it began and still thrives. Just as Classical, the original “Long Hair Music” of its day does.  It incorporates too many other genres, structures and enables room for growth, and expansion to ever go away.   Have you seen the movies The Assassins and The Rift, or Solaris? 2018 has some new promising progressive rock releases  and the genre is not going anyway. So, Mr. Parker and other naysayers, please check your coats at the door and hold onto your petticoats.  Hundreds of thousands perhaps millions still listen to progressive rock. And discounting it, and rebuking it is a mistake, as it is part of us and will continue to be. It’s not going anywhere and will only be embraced by upcoming genres and artists.  You can wish it away, but would you have wished classical music away, or Jazz…Glen Miller like Mozart was also rebuked at the beginning, as were the Gershwin’s and countless Blues artists, unfortunately due to fear rather than taste. While perhaps white in nature, I am happy to say that there is some color coming into the community, but as with all things, integration takes time for many reasons, primarily outside influences…I challenge you all to go to the lists I provide and listen to several artists, not just one. Like any other music it is selective and a matter of exposure.

One of my Favorite Prog Playlists: 

Shine on you Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd
Awaken – Yes
World Without End – Neal Morse
Still you Turn me On – ELP
The Doorway – Spock’s Beard
Conquistador – Procol Harum
The Trees- Rush
Black Flame – Renaissance
From the Beginning – ELP
Biaxident – Liquid Tension Experiment
My New World – Transatlantic
Entangled – Genesis
Garden of Dreams- Flower Kings
The Music Box – Genesis
Comfortably Numb- Pink Floyd
Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson
2112- Rush
Mother Russia- Renaissance
Inca Roads – Frank Zappa
Rose Colored Glasses – Transatlantic
On Reflection – Gentle Giant
The Witches Promise – Jethro Tull
Falling Home – Pain of Salvation
Dance of Eternity – Dream Theater
Signs – Frost
Roundabout – Yes

Listen to the playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsRFm-Q1ESLvmVz5MqBVVziqqxN2x_2MZ

Enjoy!

Cheers and thanks for reading,

JoOnna Silberman, The Forgotten Woman at Forgotten Man
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