What's Progressive Music?

 Even though there is no a clear definition to this kind of music, I'm going to try to explain it as better as I can. Most progressive music is based to some degree on: 70's Art Rock, Symphonic,Canterbury,Psychedelic, Fusion,Krautrock,Classical Rock, Folk, Space Rock, RIO,and Zeuhl Music and/or many other forms of music. 		Gonzalito Marley in Florida. Recently (in the last 10-15 years) the mainstream media has used the word progressive to describe college music, alternative pop, and other forms of music. While this is a valid use of the word, it is not the use we are referring to!! If you're reading this for the first time and your personal definition
of progressive focuses on bands such as The Smiths, The Cure, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, and/or one of the many bands showcased on MTV's "120 Minutes" or "Alternative Nation," you may prefer to check out an alternative or grunge home page (read alt.music.alternative for references).So what makes music progressive? Personally, I think it's about 50% the music itself, and 50% the person who listens to it. You'll find that many progressive listeners will disagree on what is or isn't progressive, even the ones who have been listening to the music for more than 15 years. Some people say that music is progressive because it is complex and intricate, others claim it has to be innovative and groundbreaking, and still others will insist that music is progressive because it sounds like other music that is progressive. In the end, deciding what is or isn't progressive is up to the individual listener.

The reason there is so much disagreement about which bands are progressive and how progressive they are is that the term "progressive music" is used to describe *many different* forms of music. Many innovative and unclassifiable musics get pigeon-holed into the prog-rock camp, which leads to a lot of confusion. Marillion, Henry Cow, Magma, Frank Zappa, Steve Tibbets, Klaus Schulze, ELP, Allan Holdsworth, Hawkwind, and King Crimson are just a few of the over fifteen hundred (!) bands and artists that are considered "progressive." These artists all play different forms of music, but they appeal to fans of progressive music, so they are "progressive."

Best Progressive Sites On the Web