Prog Notes

In this episode, we introduce the subgenre of Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI) with PFM's heralded work Per Un Amico. Join us as we contextualize the significance of this album by discussing the history of Italian culture and comparing it to the English pioneers of prog rock. We hope you enjoy the introduction of a new segment we call "Illustrations and Impressions" where we put on our berets and a...

Another Rush record for the Rush nerds! Voted on by fans, Destin and Drew dissect Rush's Caress of Steel, the often overlooked precursor to their critically acclaimed 2112. Drew delves into the ambitious, albeit overly esoteric, concepts for the longer tracks on the album, and analyzes Peart's lyrics that, even early in the band's career, garnered his reputation as quite the wordsmith. With few ra...

What is the Canterbury Scene/Sound? Simply put, it's a genre closely associated with progressive rock that emerged from Canterbury, England in the late 1960s that had a focus on jazz and psychedelic influences. Destin and Drew introduce this genre with Camel's Moonmadness as a backdrop. The charm of this record comes from its excellent musicianship combined with an unassuming presen...

Destin and Drew are joined yet again by the ever erudite Rachel Brown to dive deep into the dark cynicism of Pink Floyd's highly praised 1977 record Animals. While this album was heavily inspired by George Orwell's Animal Farm, Roger Waters' lyrics focused more on harsh criticism of capitalist society, rather than Orwell's focus on Stalinism. The co-hosts contextualize the album's angry lyrics and...

Rachel Brown joins Destin and Drew yet again to discuss Steven Wilson's beloved solo album Hand. Cannot. Erase. Incorporating some technologies that are often used in more commercial pursuits (like drum machines), this album seems to have a more modern vibe that flirts with pop music. However, the influence of the classic prog pioneers still shines through with long tracks, ripping bass lines, and...

Shortly following the tragic death of rock legend Neil Peart (January 7, 2020), Destin and Drew pay homage to his life and celebrate his legacy as both the drummer and lyricist for their favorite band, Rush. Destin shares his Top 10 Neil Peart Drum Tracks while Drew shares his Top 10 Neil Peart Lyrics. While the circumstances surrounding this episode are quite mournful, Destin and Drew take this o...

Destin and Drew eagerly dissect the first album on this show to feature a Polish band, Shrine Of New Generation Slaves by Riverside. From the accessible vocals, dark atmospheres, captivating bass riffs, ingenious guitar compositions, provocative lyrics, and flawless transitions, Destin and Drew analyze all of their favorite parts about this modern prog-rock album. If one argues the identity of Riv...

“For some reason, it seems like we are the only two people who did not like it.” Destin sums up the official Prog Notes position on the album reviewed in this episode. In the deep recesses of progressive rock lives Van der Graaf Generator’s Pawn Hearts, one of the most critically acclaimed albums by hardcore progophiles across the world. While Destin and Drew air out their grievances against this...

While most of the bands in the early days of progressive rock hailed from cities in England, Destin and Drew show that the genre can be found all over the world as they discuss Hawaii, a double album from the Chilean prog-rock group Aisles. This is the first episode to include an interview with members of the band! Gérman Vergara (guitars) and Juan Pablo Gaete (keyboards) discuss their t...

Porcupine Tree is one of the most recognizable names in modern progressive rock, and their groundbreaking album In Absentia has become a classic within the prog-rock community. It turned a page in the history of this preeminent band's career as it ushered in a whole new wave of fans and expanded their sound into the realm of heavy metal. With a wide array of moods spanning from high energy to...

Destin and Drew jump forward several years and analyze the more modern side of progressive rock with Tool's Lateralus. Tool's approach to their music is quite peculiar and can even be alienating to the mainstream with some of the audacious imagery exhibited on their albums and music videos and the disturbing lyrics put to many of their songs. This wildly successful album combines ra...

(Pt. 2) Destin and Drew are joined again by the venerable Rachel Brown to discuss the dark, dreamy, and mystifying art-rock masterpiece Tales of Mystery and Imagination by The Alan Parsons Project. Rachel adds some much-needed literary insight as this idiosyncratic concept album is based on the works of 19th-century gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe. While most might not immediately associate an album...

(Pt. 1) Destin and Drew are joined again by the venerable Rachel Brown to discuss the dark, dreamy, and mystifying art-rock masterpiece Tales of Mystery and Imagination by The Alan Parsons Project. Rachel adds some much-needed literary insight as this idiosyncratic concept album is based on the works of 19th-century gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe. While most might not immediately associate an album...

Destin and Drew behold the juggernaut Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull which was described by Ian Anderson as "the mother of all concept albums." With the rise of progressive rock in the early 1970s, the English pioneers flooded the scene with lengthy songs and grandiose concept albums which garnered the whole movement a reputation for being high brow and a little pretentious. With Thick As A Brick...

Destin and Drew open the “discussion door” to one of the defining prog-rock groups with this episode on Selling England By The Pound by Genesis. By this point in their career, whether they intended to or not, Genesis had already established themselves as a progressive rock group due to their lengthy compositions, innovative use of synthesizers and interesting guitar effects, and the colorful colle...

Some of the most identifiable aspects of early progressive rock groups were the larger concepts and lengthier arrangements that would accompany them, resulting in the concept album. In this episode, Destin and Drew contend that Days of Future Passed by The Moody Blues was the first apparent concept album, and they discuss the ingenious, yet elegantly simple design behind this record. Similar to Th...

Destin and Drew introduce the album that introduced the world to the term “progressive rock.” Most music historians regard King Crimson’s In The Court Of The Crimson King as the very first progressive rock album. Prog Notes explores the various elements on each track that made this album an undeniable game-changer in the world of music. From the instrumentation to the lyrics to the artwork, the in...

Destin and Drew discuss the classic fan-favorite Fragile by Yes. With the hit song Roundabout, this album proved to be a turning point for the early prog pioneers. This album is a perfect example of the progressive rock sound that was emerging in the genre’s infancy. Along with the more collaborative pieces, each band member also wrote their own song to showcase on this album, highlighting the ind...

(Pt. 1) In an exhibition of great zeal, Destin and Drew meticulously dissect one of the most popular albums in history, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. In this two-part episode, they go track by track and uncover the multiple layers of this masterpiece that has made it one of the best-selling records of all time. From the luscious musical atmospheres to the profound lyrics, this 43-minute...

Yes, the very first one. Destin and Drew christen their podcast with one of the most iconic albums in prog rock: Rush’s 2112. Being devoted fans of Rush, the two hosts feverishly discuss all the elements that make this album a bonafide anthem for the spirit of individualism. From the raw 20-minute epic to the colorful B-side tracks, this record is authentically Rush and its success granted them pe...