"Prog's crowning achievement" — Which LP is it?

Inspired by comments on ELP and Yes here -->> ELP - can you 'elp me get started? » <<-- which album qualifies as "prog's crowning achievement" (as opposed to your favourite)?

I was going to poll it, but think it's better to keep this one wide open.

 

KC's Red or Larks' Tongues
or
Tales From Topographic Oceans
or
Pawn Hearts

 

Probably Pawn Hearts.

 

I think it would have to be DSOTM...

Although if you weren't counting it (for whatever reason), I'd say Close to the Edge.

 

Yes, Tales from Topographic Oceans. Probably the "peak" of everything prog stands for..or the nadir, depending on your point of view.

 

Agree, and yes I don't count Floyd because I'm in the Not Prog camp.

 

Close to the Edge

 

King Crimson's Red
Gentle Giant's In a Glass House
Yes' Close To The Edge

 

For my personal tastes it would be Thick as a Brick or A Passion Play. Historically I think it is Close to the Edge.

 

I am a Pink Floyd fan and to me DSOTM is pretty much on top of the most but if I understand the prog genre that band is only touching the prog scene lightly a few times (time signature changes in Money, patches of moods in the longer pieces like Echoes, Shine On, Atom Heart etc). Mostly I think they are a rock band with a lot of atmosphere and ideas.

What I imagine being prog is a nerd sitting in a room full of equipment everywhere and in constant search of unusual time signatures, a lot of notes per minute, rapid changes between moods, accomplished playing etc. I haven't managed to fully "get it" yet but in the right setting I might some day.

 

If you count Pink Floyd it is definitely "DSOTM".Towers over anything made before or since.Personally right now it is Genesis "Trespass".

 

Close To The Edge

 

DSOTM of course ,because Pink Floyd were and are the flag bearers of Prog rock.

 

Please see this 41 page thread that kinda covers this topic.

Is "Close To The Edge" rock's greatest achievement? »

 

Close to the Edge....Thick as a Brick...Lamb lays down on Broadway....2112

not sure I could pick just one

 

Definitely Pawn Hearts.

 

In the court of the crimson king with close to the edge a close second.

 

I did search, but missed that. Sorry. But this is a slightly different question.

Plus, that thread is locked, frustratingly.

 

Love Beach

 

I have lots of other favorites that I listen to more often, but from a purely "objective" point of view hands down Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon...hey my mom even likes it! lol The gold standard, it set the benchmark and holds up very well over Time (pun intended).
Played to death? Yes...
Not something I don't play myself often? Yes
However this doesn't diminish it's quality or significance in the genre.

 

Although I prefer King Crimson and Van der Graaf over Yes, I would say "Close To The Edge" is the greatest example of progressive rock.

 

Awaken
Karn Evil 9
The Sleepwalkers
Watcher of the Skies
21st Century Schizoid Man
(dare I say) Bohemian Rhapsody

 

hmm... If Mom likes it, can it still technically qualify as "prog"?? Only a study in early Yanni can answer that question

 

Any one from Close to the Edge, Red, Thick as a Brick, WYWH.

Genesis and ELP should be up there, but while they were capable of great, if not god-like genius tracks, the albums were always slightly flawed.

Personally, I would go for ....Crime of the Century. As an album, it's near perfect.IMHO.

 

Hey she SAW them play it live when it came out........or she is just super cool.