**MODERN** progressive rock favorites ("geezer" bands need not apply!)

We had a lot of fun - and lots of debate - with the MUST HAVE progressive rock poll. Over 1100 votes - and 130+ albums in the list!!! - we must have touched a nerve. I've never seen so many prog rock album covers in any one place.

Problem is that all the top albums are by bands whose members are eligible for the AARP .

See attached pic for top 20 - no albums released after 1990. Although the list helped me to discover vintage albums (e.g. Camel) - as well as dust off a bunch of prog rock LPs I hadn't listened to in a long time. I'd love to continue my exploration with more modern acts.

So I thought it would be fun to create a new, and much more challenging, poll for your favorite (recommended, must-have, etc.) modern progressive rock albums.

Some ground rules:

1) To qualify, an album must have been released on, or after, 1998 (arbitrary date, I know, but at least it's not 1970s).

2) This is not a MUST-HAVE list, that's too strong a label. Just add any album that YOU think is progressive rock and you'd recommend to someone who already enjoys the genre and/or the top albums in the previous poll.

While one could predict who'd come out on top with the previous poll, I have no idea which groups and albums are going to win.

To vote GO HERE.

Voting for an album already on the list is trivial (just click on the "Thumbs Up") and you can vote for multiple albums.

If the album is not on the list, just scroll down and click on "Add new item" then enter "Album name - band" (e.g. "In Absentia - Porcupine Tree") and let Google image search do the rest .
​

I am really looking forward to discovering new bands and albums.

Alberto

 

I added Morte Macabre's sole 1998 release called " Symphonic Holocaust". It's a must have for retro-prog fans as well as Goblin freaks. For those who might not be familiar, it's mainly an album of cover versions of theme songs to 70s and 80s Euro horror and sexploitation soundtracks. Gobs and gobs of mellotron and for me, this album is infinitely more satisfying than the likes of modern bands like Spock's Beard, The Flower Kings and Magic Pie.

 

I added "Symphonica" from Ruins...a band that truly seems to be something progressive. Most other "newer" prog bands I've heard just don't do anything for me. But I'm anxious to see what comes of this poll...hopefully I will be introduced to something that will change my mind about newer prog.

 

I'm guessing Porcupine Tree is going to crush the competition--just a guess, mind you.

 

"De-Loused In The Comatorium" - The Mars Volta

 

"Geezer" bands need not apply...

Even though I'm of AARP age, the albums on that original list generally put me to sleep. I agree, the geezer prog is just so dated and, umm.. more "retro-prog" than anything else. Way beyond it's "sell by" date.

I'm a huge fan of Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy. If you want some modern progressive stuff, check out Snow or V by Spocks Beard, Transatlantic with Morse and Portnoy, Liquid Tension Experiment's 2 discs, and ?, One or Sola Scriptura by Neal Morse (with Portnoy drumming).

 

I've added a few. I'd also recommend getting a hold of the latest Classic Rock magazine which has a free CD (in the UK anyway - not sure about the USA) called Prog Spawn. The clue is in the title, as in it's all relatively recent stuff.

 

What he said.

This is one of those CDs I often forget about, but when I pull it out I am simply amazed at how great of a listen it is. There are one or two tracks that don't measure up, but the rest is mellotron heaven.

As for the vote thing, I'd say there might be more options if a year at least a few years prior to 1998 was chosen, but why must so many exercise their humor (and obvious love for Joyce) when the poster has a legitimate desire to get decent recommendations for unheard prog classics? Geez, so far there are more bogus entries than real ones.

Anyway, I don't know why I have such a problem getting that site to work (can never get it to let me vote), but I'd add that I really dig and would recommend the self-titled album by the group Under the Sun on the Magna Carta label.

 

At the risk of being really annoying and not wanting to belittle your efforts regarding your website, I'm afraid all I can provide is the list below. I have spent hours adding details to my RYM listings and I just can't go through that sort of hassle again, especially given the numbers involved. So, apologies again but here is my list of outstanding albums of the last ten years - some borderline prog but there you have it.

AMAROK "QUENTADHARKEN " 2004 SPAIN
ANEKDOTEN "FROM WITHIN" 1999 SWEDEN
ANEKDOTEN "GRAVITY" 2003 SWEDEN
ANEKDOTEN "A TIME OF DAY" 2007 NORWAY
APRYL "ALORCONFUSA" 2002 ITALY
ARIES "ARIES" 2005 ITALY
BIGELF "CLOSER TO DOOM" - 4 Bonus Track version 1998 USA
BIGELF "MONEY MACHINE" 2000 USA
BIGELF "HEX" 2003 USA
BLACK BONZO "LADY OF THE LIGHT" 2004 SWEDEN
BLACK BONZO "SOUND OF THE APOCALYPSE" 2007 SWEDEN
BORKNAGAR "ORIGIN" 2006 NORWAY
CAMEL "RAJAZ" 1999 ENGLAND
CONQUEROR "ISTINTO" 2003 ITALY
ERGO SUM "MIXOLIDIO" 1999 CHILE
FLOWER KINGS, The "FLOWER POWER" 1998 SWEDEN
GAZPACHO "NIGHT" 2007 NORWAY
GREEN CARNATION "LIGHT OF DAY DAY, OF DARKNESS" 2000 NORWAY
GREEN CARNATION "A BLESSING IN DISGUISE" 2003 NORWAY
GREEN CARNATION "THE ACOUSTIC VERSES" 2005 NORWAY
HÖSTSONATEN "SPRINGSONG" 2001 ITALY
HÖSTSONATEN "WINTERTHROUGH" 2008 ITALY
IN THE LABYRINTH "WALKING ON CLOUDS" 1999 SWEDEN
LONDON UNDERGROUND "LONDON UNDERGROUND" 2000 ITALY
LONDON UNDERGROUND "THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY" 2003 ITALY
LUMSK "DET VILDE KOR" 2007 NORWAY
MAGIC PIE "MOTIONS OF DESIRE" 2005 NORWAY
MAGIC PIE "CIRCUS OF LIFE" 2007 NORWAY
MARILLION "MARBLES" 2004 ENGLAND
MASCHERA DI CERA, La "LA MASCHERA DI CERA" 2002 ITALY
MASCHERA DI CERA, La "IL GRANDE LABIRINTO" 2003 ITALY
MASCHERA DI CERA, La "IN CONCERTO" 2004 ITALY
MASCHERA DI CERA, La "LUXADE" 2006 ITALY
MIKROMIDAS "BRENNENDE DROMMER" 1999 NORWAY
MIKROMIDAS "FAUNUS" 2004 NORWAY
MORTE MACABRE "SYMPHONIC HOLOCAUST" 1998 SWEDEN
NEGATIVE ZONE "NEGATIVE ZONE" 2005 FRANCE
NEXUS "METANOIA" 2001 ARGENTINA
NEXUS "PERPETUUM KARMA" 2006 ARGENTINA
NIACIN "BLOOD, SWEAT AND BEERS: NIACIN LIVE" 2003 USA
NIACIN "ORGANIK" 2005 USA
OVERHEAD "ZUMANTHUM" 2002 FINLAND
OVERHEAD "METAEPITOME" 2005 FINLAND
PENDRAGON "BELIEVE" 2005 ENGLAND
PERIFERIA DEL MONDO "PERIF3RIA DEL MONDO" 2006 ITALY
PROTO-KAW "BEFORE BECAME AFTER" - Special Edition 2004 USA
PURE REASON REVOLUTION "THE DARK THIRD" 2006 ENGLAND
QUIDAM "SNY ANIOLOW" 1998 POLAND
QUIDAM "SURREVIVAL" 2005 POLAND
R.P.W.L. "GOD HAS FAILED" 2000 GERMANY
RITUAL "THE HEMULIC VOLUNTARY BAND" 2007 SWEDEN
RIVERSIDE "OUT OF MYSELF" 2004 POLAND
RPWL "THE RPWL EXPERIENCE" - Special Edition- Plus... 2008 GERMANY
SHADOW GALLERY "ROOM V" 2005 USA
SHAKARY "ALYA" 2000 SWITZERLAND
SHAKARY "THE LAST SUMMER" 2004 SWITZERLAND
SIENA ROOT "A NEW DAY DAWNING" 2004 SWEDEN
SOLAR PROJECT "CHROMAGNITUDE" 2007 GERMANY
SPOCK'S BEARD "DAY FOR NIGHT" 1999 USA
SPOCK'S BEARD "V" 2000 USA
STOLT, Roine "WALL STREET VOODOO" 2005 SWEDEN
STREAM OF PASSION "EMBRACE THE STORM" 2005 VARIOUS
SYLVAN "X-RAYED" 2004 GERMANY
SYLVAN "POSTHUMOUS SILENCE" 2006 GERMANY
THULE "NATT" 2004 NORWAY
THULE "LIQUID (Rock And Roll Dream)" 2005 NORWAY
TIMOTHY PURE "ISLAND OF THE MISFIT TOYS" 1999 USA
TORRE DELL ALCHIMISTA, La "LA TORRE DELL ALCHIMISTA" 2001 ITALY
TORRE DELL’ALCHIMISTA, La "NEO" 2007 ITALY
TRANSATLANTIC "SMPT:e" - LIMITED EDITION 2000 VARIOUS
TRANSATLANTIC "BRIDGE ACROSS FOREVER" - LIMITED EDITION 2001 VARIOUS
UBI MAIOR "NOSTOS" 2005 ITALY
VIOLETA DE OUTONO "ILHAS" (aka "Islands) 2005 BRAZIL
WHITE WILLOW "EX TENEBRIS" 1998 NORWAY
WHITE WILLOW "SACREMENT" 2000 NORWAY
WHITE WILLOW "STORM SEASON" 2004 NORWAY
WHITE WILLOW "SIGNAL TO NOISE" 2006 NORWAY
WICKED MINDS "FROM THE PURPLE SKIES" 2004 ITALY
WICKED MINDS "WITCHFLOWER" 2005 ITALY
WOBBLER "HINTERLAND" 2005 NORWAY
WOLVERINE "STILL" 2006 SWEDEN

 

Thank you for the great list! Not annoying or belittling at all.

The survey I am running is a way to let people who would otherwise not take the time to compile a list as through as yours (due to lack of knowledge, exposure, or time) easily contribute a few of their favorite albums. And it also provide a view of a good cross-section of the forum members' likes.

Thanks again for the list - I hope many of your bands are on Rhapsody so I can take them for a "virtual spin"/test-drive before looking for the albums.

Alberto