What's the difference between progressive rock and alternative/modern rock?

Question

because when i se lists of "progressive" rock bands i think modern/alternative.

All i want to know is the difference between these rock genres.

i have Fonzi in my fan list. i ask this because i heard Porcupine Tree on the radio, sounds no different than any rock alternative I have heard, then I see it listed as a progressive rock thing. Maybe they are both r something.

oh, and by that definition, wouldn't anything from the '80s be considered progressive rock since a lot of bands used synths and other instruments? Hmmm?

Answer 1

When we speak of progressive rock we are speaking of a specific genre that had its roots in the 1970s bands Yes, King Crimson, Genesis and Emerson Lake & Palmer, Kansas, Gentle Giant and perhaps the Jimi Hendrix Experience. These were bands that stepped out from the morass of blues rock bands that were the definition of music at the time, the Woodstock bands. At any rates, those seven major bands spawned a line of bands in their tradition that extends down to this day in groups like Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Glass Hammer and others.
The genre is characterized by a concept called expanded composition in which a song, or songs, are expanded into larger compositions using concepts of classical and jazz composition suck as harmony and counterpoint, forms relating to the sonata allegro form, and virtuoso musicianship that "regular" bands don't attempt.
It is also charaterized by a willingness on the part of the players to venture out of 4/4 time and use odd time signatures (sometimes two of them simultaneously) that all mesh together into music the ear will accept. There is nothing that resembles noise.
It took the keyboards and put them front and center in the musical structures, unlike the "regular" bands where they are strictly backup instruments. It weaves guitar, keyboards and wonderful, melodic, almost "singing" bass lines together in a way that modern alternative cannot conceive.
You must go back to the 70's albums of Yes, Genesis, Emerson Lake and Palmer, King Crimson, Gentle Giant perhaps the Moody Blues, Euro bands like Triumvirat and Le Orme, to get the feel of where it came from and what it is. When we hear these elements in today's bands we put them in the progressive category.

Answer 2

Well, progressive to the definition of it (and there really is no one definition since prog is such a hard genre to explain) involves, but not always, concept albums, unusual time signitures, electronic instruments (ie Melletron, organs, synthesizers) and most prog rock is more jazz and classical influenced than blues (which most other genres of rock are)
Alternative rock is the genre used to describe the post punk scene that was generally played at colleges stations during the 80's.
It's really hard to explain...... I don't think I did a really good job....

Progressive rock bands:
Pink Floyd
Rush
King Crimson
Yes
Marillion
Dream Theater
Porcupine Tree
The Moody Blues
Jethro Tull
ELP

Alternative rock:
The Cure
Sonic Youth
Radiohead
REM
The Pixies
Blur

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Where's Fonzie T? He can explain this so much better than i can.... I'll star it, hopefully he'll see it.

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Well, most bands of the 80's definetly did not have complex chord progressions or concept albums though
And about Porcupine Tree, they were on the radio?!?!? Whoa! Well, they're my second favorite band, but their recent stuff has really been slipping from Prog, if you listen to their early stuff, it's definetly prog. And some of their albums are concept albums which you really can't tell with one song on the radio.
What song was it anyway?

Answer 3

the main illustrating examples ought to be from the time while the two have been created. Psychedelic: The Beatles - an afternoon interior the life / the following day in no way is familiar with Led Zeppelin - Dazed and perplexed / Kashmir present day: Emerson Lake & Palmer - "strategies Salad surgical operation" album Genesis - Carpet Crawlers Jethro Tull – candy Dream Procol Harum – A Salty canine The instrumentation in psychedelic used greater people instruments and shorter spaced orquestra bridges, present day had longer instrumentation leaning to symphonic ecosystem or agressive, no longer spaced. greater fairly examples: Psychedelic: Akron - family contributors present day: Dream Theater - Dance of Eternity

Answer 4

Musicianship.