Right... part one of a massive Prog review...
This one is a brief explanation of the Prog sub-genres and their most influential bands. In the best work of each band, I've included my personal favourites, which doesn't necessarily mean it is their best work, but if you haven't heard it, it would be my first suggestion.
General Overview
Progressive Rock is a very broad style of rock. It started in the 60s, reaching peak popularity in the early 70s, but still continues to be a musical form. Prog is a medium of raising music to a higher quality level than mainstream, traditional music. Among traditional progressive rock bands are Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Genesis, Pink Floyd and Yes; while some not-so-old bands include Arena, IQ, Pendragon, Dream Theater, Marillion and Porcupine Tree.
Art Rock
This is the sub-genre to which the original Prog rock bands belong to. Many of the bands in this category may have had roots in other sub-genres, but because of their contributions to Prog in general, they’re included here. Some of the bands may also have started Prog and then turned mainstream, or vice versa. There are also modern bands that are included because their style imitates the classic bands.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- King Crimson: In The Court of the Crimson King (1969), Red (1974), Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (1973), Lizard (1970)
- Rush: Moving Pictures (1981), Hemispheres (1978), A Farewell to Kings (1977), Permanent Waves (1980), 2112 (1976), Signals (1982)
- Gentle Giant: In a Glass House (1973), Octopus (1972), Free Hand (1975), The Power and the Glory (1974),
- Van Der Graaf Generator: Pawn Hearts (1971), Godbluff (1975), H to He, Who Am the Only One (1970)
- Supertramp: Crime of the Century (1974), Even in the Quietest Moments (1977), Breakfast in America (1979)
- The Mars Volta: De-loused in the Comatorium (2003), Frances the Mute (2005), Amputechture (2006)
- Peter Hamill: The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage (1974), Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night (1973), In Camera (1974)
Canterbury Scene
This is the name of most bands that come from the town of the same name, around Kent. The style is mostly post-psychedelic, featuring a nice mix of jazz improvisations with rock rhythms and some psychedelia. Most of their major representatives began in a band called Wilde Flowers, which lasted from 1963 to 1969. By the mid-70s, many Canterbury bands had progressed into extended fusion jams with very few lyrics.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Caravan: In the Land of Grey and Pink (1971), If I Could Do it All Over Again, I’d Do it All Over You (1970), For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night (1973), Caravan & The New Symphonia (1974)
- Hatfield and the North: The Rotter’s Club (1975), Hatfield and the North (1973), Afters (1980)
- Robert Wyatt: Rock Bottom (1974)
- Soft Machine: Third (1970), The Soft Machine (1968), Bundles (1975), Volume Two (1969)
- Gong: Radio Gnome Invisible VolS. 1-3 (1973), Est-ce-Que Je Suis (1969), Camembert Electrique (1971)
Experimental / Post-Rock
Experimental as such is any music that challenges the commonly accepted notions of music. In Experimental Prog there is an overlap with avant-garde music. As with other edgy forms of music, there is little agreement as to the boundaries of it. On one side, some experimental music is an extension of traditional music with a bit of unconventional instruments, mods, noises and other novelties. On the other hand, there are some performances which I wouldn’t consider to be music at all.
Post-Rock is a term coined in 1994 to describe a sort of music which uses rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes. The term was initially used to describe the music of Stereolab, Seefeel, Bark Psychosis and Pram, although nowadays it’s used for other sorts of electronica- and jazz-influenced music. Early 90s bands like Slint or, earlier, Talk Talk are influential in this style.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Godspeed You Black Emperor!: Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (2000), F# A# (1997), Yanqui U.X.O. (2002), Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada (1999)
- Sigur Rós: Agaetis Byrjun (1999), Takk… (2005), (_) (2002), Hemmur* (2002)
- Explosions in the Sky: The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place (2003)
- Ulver: Perdition City (2000), Themes from William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1998), Bergtatt (1994), Blood Inside (2005)
- Don Caballero: Don Caballero 2 (1995), World Class Listening Problem (2006), American Don (2000), Whatever Burns Never Returns (1998)
- Mogwai: Happy Songs for Happy People (2003), Mr. Beast (2006)
- Tortoise: TNT (1998), Standards (2001), It’s All Around You (2004), Tortoise (1994), The Brave and the Bold (2006)
Indo-Prog / Raga Rock
This style is based mostly on metaphysical relations and symbolism, coupled with classical India music. The music itself is said to be a message of the divine, taking the listener to an emotional trance. Born in the mid-60s with the international success of raga masters like Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan. The music consists mostly of repetitive circular rhythms, long improvisations and much ornamentation. The effect on the listener is hypnotic, trying to make him/her reach a higher state of consciousness. Famous bands like The Beatles included this style in songs like Revolver and the band Traffic also included raga in the album Mr. Fantasy, occasionally integrating sitar elements in their music.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Shakti with John McLaughlin: Natural Elements (1977), A Handful of Beauty (1977)
- Codona: Codona 3 (1983), Codona (1978)
- Quintessence: Epitaph for Tomorrow (1993?), In Blissful Company (1969), Quintessence (1970), Indweller (1972)
- Saturnia: Saturnia II (2001)
- Third Ear Band: Abelard and Heloise (1970), Music from Macbeth (1972), Alchemy (1969)
- Clark Hutchinson: A=mh2 (1969), Retribution (1970)
Italian Symphonic Prog
Such a great amount of progressive music emerges from Italy that some people believe it belongs in its own sub-genre. Lyrics are almost entirely in Italian, and compositions sometimes follow traditional Italian arrangements. However, Italian prog can, and sometimes does, fall into other sub-genres.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Premiata Forneria Marconi: Per un Amico (1972), Storia di un Minuto (1972), L’isola di Niente (1974)
- Museo Rosenbach: Zarathustra (1973)
- Banco del Mutuo Soccorso: Darwin! (1972), Io Sono Nato Libero (1973), Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (1972), …di Terra (1978)
Jazz Rock / Fusion
This style fuses traditional jazz arrangements, instruments and performance style with elements of progressive rock. The result is usually instrumental jazz-rock with a bit more technical edge and complexity. It’s very interesting to listen to, especially if you appreciate the amazing virtuosity of these artists.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Mahavishnu Orchestra: Birds of Fire (1973), Inner Mounting Flame (1971)
- Colosseum: Valentyne Suite (1969)
- Return to Forever: Romantic Warrior (1976), Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973)
- Al Di Meola: Elegant Gypsy (1977), Land of the Midnight Sun (1977)
- Weather Report: Mysterious Traveller (1974), Tale Spinnin’ (1975)
- Allan Holdsworth: Metal Fatigue (1985)
- Tribal Tech: Tribal Tech (1991)
- Planet X: MoonBabies (2002), Universe (2000)
- Niacin: Organic (2005)
Krautrock
Krautrock refers to the German bands of the early 70s that expanded the sonic possibilities of prog. Instead of following in the same direction as British and American bands, who were moving towards jazz and classical-based compositions, the German bands became more mechanical and electronic. Bands like Faust, Can and Neu created pulsating sounds with early synthesizers. Although their music didn’t make much impact at the time, it served as a stepping stone in the post-funk movement of the early 80s, particularly in industrial rock.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Can: Tago Mago (1971), Future Days (1973), Ege Bamyasi (1972), Monster Movie (1969)
- Neu!: Neu! (1972), Neu! ’75 (1975)
- Amon Düül II: Phallus Dei (1969), Tanz Der Lemminge (1971), Wolf City (1973)
- Popol Vuh: Tantric Songs (1981), Hosianna Mantra (1972), Brüder des Schattens (1978)
- Guru Guru: Moshi Moshi (1997?), Mani in Germany (1981)
Neo Progressive
This genre emerged in the early 80s, when many UK-based bands focused their music on deeper new wave sounds, both instrumentally and lyrically. The premier band of this genre is Marillion. Neo-Prog bands are mostly influenced by early Genesis and Camel. The music is much lusher than general rock, but lacks the symphonic sound of bands like Yes. It includes dynamic solos and deep, insightful lyrics. Although the major players in this genre still produce music, the classic era of neo-prog effectively ended when Marillion’s vocalist, Fish left the band in 1987.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Marillion: Script for a Jester’s Tear (1983), Misplaced Childhood (1985), Clutching at Straws (1987), Recital of the Script (1983), Fugazi (1984)
- IQ: Dark Matter (2004), The Seventh House (2000), Ever (1993), Subterranea (1997)
- Arena: The Visitor (1998), Contagion (2002), Immortal? (2000)
Prog Folk
In the late 60s, at the time of the protest movements, and sometimes linked to left-wing tendencies, musicians like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, John Denver and Woody Guthrie were the most popular, but as they each turned more popular, they changed a bit their style: Dylan went electric and Folk Rock was born, opening the door for younger musicians to create similar music, the most famous of which was Jethro Tull. The style itself has many medieval influences and traditional instruments are often used.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick (1972), Aqualung (1971), Songs from the Wood (1977), Heavy Horses (1978), Minstrel in the Gallery (1975)
- Strawbs: Grave New World (1972), From the Witchwood (1971), Hero and Heroine (1974)
- Mostly Autumn: The Last Bright Light (2001), The Spirit of Autumn Past (1999)
- Traffic: The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971), John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
- Mago de Oz: Finisterra (2000), Jesús de Chamberí (1996)
Progressive Electronic
After Krautrock bands experimented mixing rock rhythms with electronic instruments, two bands stayed with the synths and left the rock instruments on the side: Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Kraftwerk pioneered the concept of pop music performed on synthesizers, having a tremendous impact on almost all electronic pop in the remainder of the 20th century. Tangerine Dream was more minimalist, creating atmospheric sounds that helped invent the genre known as space music. Most electronic music of recent years owe a great deal to the basic innovations of these early electronic artists.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Kraftwerk: The Man-Machine (1978), Trans-Europe Express (1977), Computer World (1981), Autobahn (1974)
- Klaus Schulze: X (1978), Audentity (1983), Mirage (1977), Timewinde (1975)
- Tangerine Dream: Phaedra (1974), Rubycon (1975), Stratosfear (1976), Force Majeure (1979)
- Brian Eno: Another Green World (1975), Apollo (1983)
- Vangelis: El Greco (1998?), Heaven and Hell (1975), Tangram (1980)
- Jean Michel Jarre: Oxygene (1976), Equinoxe (1978), Rendez-Vous (1986)
Progressive Metal
Progressive metal didn’t develop as a genre until the mid-80s, when acts like Dream Theater, Queensrÿche and Fates Warning took elements of progressive rock groups and merged them with heavy metal characteristics. The result could be described as progressive rock mentality with heavy metal sounds. Prog Metal can be broken into countless sub-genres, but two bands are commonly described as prog metal but are at opposite ends of the sonic spectrum: King’s X and Opeth. King’s X is influenced by softer mainstream rock and grunge, while Opeth’s growling vocals and heavy guitars usually cite them as death metal. Classical and symphonic music also have had important impact on the prog metal genre, with bands like Symphony X and Spock’s Beard fusing classical complex sounds with prog metal. Also, bands like Planet X and Liquid Tension Experiment or Dream Theater have a large jazz influence.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Dream Theater: Scenes from a Memory Metropolis Part II (1999), Images and Words (1992), Awake (1994), Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002)
- Tool: Lateralus (2001), Aenima (1996), 10,000 Days (2006)
- Ayreon: The Human Equation (2004)
- Riverside: Second Life Syndrome (2005), Out of Myself (2003)
- Beyond Twilight: For the Love of Art and the Making (2006)
- Pain of Salvation: The Perfect Element Part 1 (2001), 12:5 (2004), Remedy Lane (2002)
- Opeth: Ghost Reveries (2005), Still Life (1999), Blackwater Park (2001)
- Fates Warning: A Pleasant Shade of Grey (1997)
- Symphony X: The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1997), V: The New Mythology Suite (2000)
- Queensrÿche: Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
Proto-Prog
This genre is for rock bands in existence prior to 1969 that have influenced the development of progressive rock. The late 60s was mostly predominant of experimental music, and these bands moved in a stream which eventually led to prog. Some of these bands became prog rock, some did not.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Deep Purple: Made in Japan (1972), Machine Head (1972), In Rock (1970), Fireball (1971)
- The Beatles: Abbey Road (1969), Revolver (1966)
- The Moody Blues: Days of Future Past (1967), To Our Children’s Children’s Children (1970), In Search of the Lost Chord (1968)
- Vanilla Fudge: Renaissance (1968), Vanilla Fudge (1967)
- Procol Harum: Grand Hotel (1973), Procol Harum (1967)
Psychedelic / Space Rock
Emerging in the mid 60s as the British Invasion and folk-rock bands began expanding, these groups moved toward free-form fluid song structures, as well as experimenting with alterations of instruments and voices. The bands range from early Pink Floyd to newer artists like Ozric Tentacles. These days, psychedelic usually is a mix between space rock and space fusion. Space Rock is usually jam-oriented with synthesizers and guitar effects, inducing an “interstellar travel”. Hawkwind is the key band.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (1975), Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Animals (1977), Meddle (1971), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
- Porcupine Tree: In Absentia (2002), The Sky Moves Sideways (1995), Deadwing (2005)
- Eloy: Ocean (1971), Planets (1981), Dawn (1976)
- Hawkwind: Warrior on the Edge of Time (1975)
- Negative Zone: Negative Zone (2005)
- Ozric Tentacles: Jurassic Shift (1993), Spirals in Hyperspace (2004)
Rock in Opposition / Avant-Prog
Often abbreviated RIO, this form of prog rock relies heavily on early 20th century avant-garde classical structure; dominated by dissonant chords, odd time meters and abstract, often political, vocals. This sort of prog is best appreciated at live concerts, as the interaction between the musicians is quite astounding to watch. Avant-Prog is short for avant-garde progressive rock. This style appeared in the late 70s as the extension of RIO and Canterbury. The bands came mostly from the USA, but also from Europe and Japan, and they composed mostly short instrumental pieces, while avoiding the pomposity of larger prog acts.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Frank Zappa: Hot Rats (1969), You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 (1988), We’re Only in it For the Money (1968), The Grand Wazoo (1972), Uncle Meat (1969)
- Hövry-Kone: Huono Parturi (1997)
- Mr. Bungle: Disco Volante (1995)
- Thinking Plague: In Extremis (1998)
- Univers Zero: Heresie (1979), Uzed (1984)
- Henry Cow: In Praise of Learning (1975), Leg End (2001?), Western Culture (1979)
Symphonic Prog
This is the sub-genre that includes the most bands in prog rock, mainly because for many it’s synonymous with classical prog. The main elements in this sub-genre are the mixture of elements from different genres, complex time signatures, lush keyboards, non-commercial approach, longer format songs, and of course, an influence of classical music. As with any other genre, different bands have different influences and approaches. While the music of Yes and Genesis has a more Baroque style, Emerson, Lake and Palmer tend to be more post Romantic. The genre started in 1969 and lasted until the mid-to-late 70s, when it began to merge with more mainstream influences that gave birth to Neo Prog. During the 90s a revival of the genre appeared in Scandinavian countries, spreading to the rest of the world in 2000s.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Yes: Close to The Edge (1972), Relayer (1974), Fragile (1972), The Yes Album (1971), Tales from the Topographic Oceans (1974)
- Genesis: Selling England by the Pound (1973), Foxtrot (1972), The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974), Nursery Cryme (1971), A Trick of the Tail (1976)
- Camel: The Snow Goose (1975), Mirage (1974), Moonmadness (1976)
- Anglagard: Hybris (1992)
- Emerson, Lake and Palmer: Brain Salad Surgery (1973), Emerson, Lake and Palmer (1970), Trilogy (1972), Tarkus (1971)
- Focus: Hamburger Concerto (1975)
Zeuhl
Although the word means “celestial”, the music is a mixture of musical genres like neoclassicism, romanticism, modernism and fusion. Common elements are the marching themes, throbbing bass and ethereal use of piano and brass instruments.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Dün: Eros (1981)
- Magma: Mekanik Destruktïw Kommandöh (1973), Üdü Wüdü (1975), Köhntarkösz (1974)
- Happy Family: Toscco (1997)
- Eskaton: Musique Post Atomique (1979), 4 Visions (1979)
Prog Related
This genre refers to rock and pop bands after 1970 that weren’t true prog, but were clearly not mainstream or simply “rock” or “pop” bands. It usually involves progressive artists that strayed from their progressive roots into prog-influenced music. Although much of these bands are unrelated to prog, their music have traits common with prog in that it was very structured and pioneering in their style. Though these artists cannot be considered pure prog, their relation to it is not to be underestimated.
Main Representatives and their best Prog work:
- Wishbone Ash: Argus (1972)
- Queen: Queen II (1974), A Night at the Opera (1975), Innuendo (1991)
- Alan Parsons Project: Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1976), I, Robot (1977)
- Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel 3 (1980), So (1986), Peter Gabriel 4 (1982), Passion (1989)
- Kate Bush: Hounds of Love (1985), Never for Ever (1980), The Dreaming (1982)
- Primus: Frizzle Fry (1990)
- David Gilmour: On An Island (2006)
That's it. The next one will probably be a more in-depth look at Prog metal, since it's what most users here tend to be more interested in... although there seems to be also some following to symphonic prog. Ah well, I'll probably type up both, we'll see.
Thanks 
