It seems to me that one of the major complaints about Prog Rock is that is boring. It's a strange point, seeing a prog has more creativity than most other genres of music. What's with the boredom?
Perhaps it's just fear of the unknown. For just about anyone born after 1975, Prog rock is a fairly underground genre that you discovered only by checking out bands that sound like Pink Floyd. Most people are used to 4/4 pop trite. This may very well dull the response to prog simply because it's too different and causes dissonance. In effect, trying prog becomes like trying an exotic food, and often it takes many tries to get rid of the shock with the experience. Many people may simply not have that kid of patience.
Or, alternatively, what about the length? Once again, most people grow up with 2 to 4 minute pop songs. Trying to break into Progressive rock might be a challenge for them, seeing as it takes a lot more mental effort to truly appreciate a 20 minute work over a 3 minute sugar coated piece of pop. This same effects hurts classical and jazz, too. Length is taboo?
Ultimately, I suppose that for Progressive rock to appeal to the masses, there would need to be a critical shift in the perception of music. An avant garde revolution, similar to the perception of visual arts around 1910, would need to occur. Possible, yes, likely, no.
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Another issue is also that some Prog takes repeated listens to fully appreciate and "get". Take Gentle Giant for instance. No matter how much you ay love it later, pretty much all their classic stuff is too much to take in in just one listen. You really do need to listen, then relisten to fully get it.
ReplyDeleteCompare this with Pop. Pop music is made specifically to hook you in on first listen. Most Pop songs you can sing along the very first time you hear it. It's like some disposable item. Useful for a short term, then forgotten. Prog needs time(and even some sort of work) to fully appreciate, but it never gets stale or old. I still listen to classic Genesis, Yes etc. whereas most Pop stars who are #1 today end up in the deleted bin a few years from now, if that long.
This is another good point. When you invest so much effort into a piece of music it really becomes distinct, whereas if it's just one listen and done the song is very disposable.
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