Prog Wars: Pink Floyd vs. RUSH

[dbd1963]

Since the question included the word "prog" in it, and I have a hard time seeing how Pink Floyd fits that word, I had to go with Rush.

[unclebass]

would have to be RUSH, no doubt. Have never listened to Rush and thought that it might sound better if I was stoned, but it seems that that would be the only way that I would be able to bear more than 10 minutes of Floyd.

[Fair Warning]

Relative to bass, it is not even a contest.......RUSH......

[drummer5359]

Originally Posted by Spectrum

Carrots. I can't live without either one. Which one I listen to depends on my mood.

And PF was definitely a prototype prog rock band. Starting out with long space rock jams like Interstellar Overdrive and on through Echoes, which is a legitimate prog rock song. But it's not virtuosic bass-heavy stuff like Yes or 70s Rush, so it doesn't always fit the category. Floyd is its own thing.

Rush is probably my favorite all time band. Fearless and inventive, as Jabba the Hutt would say, they aren't afraid to buck popular trends, and had the guts to stick it out when things were tough, and they've never really slowed down or got bored with what they are doing. Their newest album is amazing and shows their love for the music and the fans, and the live performance I saw last month was unbelievably energetic.

I started to read through this thread, composing my response in my head as I went... And than I came to this response and realize that it said it all for me.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by D.A.R.K.

Is Pink Floyd a prog band? Not imho...

Exactly what I was about to post!

[EagleMoon]

Rush by the amount of material they've put out, and the quality of it. Pink Floyd only had two or three decent albums and that's it.

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by tdub0199

Floyd all day everyday...

word.

[stratovani]

I grew up in both band's heyday, and there's no way you're going to tell me that Pink Floyd wasn't prog. All through the 70s and 80s they were considered 100% prog, in the same conversation as Genesis, King Crimson, or The Moody Blues, and later on Rush. I prefer Rush's prog because it rocks harder, and isn't as plodding as Floyd, but Gilmore's guitar is as good as anything Alex came up with in their heyday.

[dbd1963]

Originally Posted by stratovani

I grew up in both band's heyday, and there's no way you're going to tell me that Pink Floyd wasn't prog. All through the 70s and 80s they were considered 100% prog, in the same conversation as Genesis, King Crimson, or The Moody Blues, and later on Rush. I prefer Rush's prog because it rocks harder, and isn't as plodding as Floyd, but Gilmore's guitar is as good as anything Alex came up with in their heyday.

I never heard anyone call Floyd prog. There's an 08 Guardian piece that argues that Floyd isn't prog (which I gather from the article is a pejorative for The Guardian..)

Guardian article

[GK Growl]

Floyd all the way. Floyd is more dynamic and quirky which I like. Plus, it doesn't hurt that David Gilmour is my favorite guitarist. I love his phrasing and choice of notes (or lack of notes and lots of bends).

[Hopkins]

Rush is cool, but Floyd wrote what may be the most masterful album of all time. Floyd wins this one in a land slide.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by dbd1963

I never heard anyone call Floyd prog. There's an 08 Guardian piece that argues that Floyd isn't prog (which I gather from the article is a pejorative for The Guardian..)

Guardian article

Well, back in the 70s in the city I'm from people considered Floyd prog.

[EagleMoon]

Originally Posted by stratovani

Well, back in the 70s in the city I'm from people considered Floyd prog.

Yeah same here. Big time.

[Definitely]

No matter how much I listen to other albums, other bands, and think that I might be in the beginning of the end with my love for Rush; as soon as Hemispheres comes on I'm reminded why they're my favourite band of all time, and it's my favourite album of all time. I can't explain it...

Although I've been in a huge King Crimson kick lately, and I truly believe in terms of straight prog (not bands that were prog then went electro/pop *cough*Rush and Yes*cough*) they slay all others by so much...it never ceases to amaze me.

[dbd1963]

This is how Wikipedia sees it:

"Progressive rock, also known as prog rock, prog-rock or simply prog, is a rock music subgenre[2] which originated in the United Kingdom, with further developments in Germany, Italy and France, throughout the mid to late 1960s and 1970s. Developing from psychedelic rock, progressive rock originated, similarly to art rock, as a British attempt to give greater artistic weight and credibility to rock music.[3] Progressive rock intended to break the boundaries of traditional rock music by bringing in a greater and more eclectic range of influences, including free-form and experimental compositional methods, as well as new technological innovations.

Progressive rock saw a high level of popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in the middle of the decade, with bands such as Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, Supertramp, Jethro Tull, Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Moody Blues, Camel, Gentle Giant and Van der Graaf Generator. It started to fade in popularity by the later part of the decade, with the rawer and more minimalistic punk rock growing in popularity,[4] and also with the rise of genres such as disco, funk, hard rock, roots rock, and the gradual emergence of hip-hop.[citation needed] Nevertheless, progressive rock bands were able to achieve commercial success well into the 1980s. By the turn of the 21st century, it witnessed a revival, often known as new prog, and has, ever since, enjoyed a cult following. The genre has influenced several other styles, ranging from krautrock to neo-classical metal; it has also fused with several other forms of rock music to create subgenres, including progressive metal."

[Vince Klortho]

Originally Posted by stratovani

Well, back in the 70s in the city I'm from people considered Floyd prog.

Back in the 70s they were. Much less so later on.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by Vince Klortho

Back in the 70s they were. Much less so later on.

True. That would also apply to Rush as well.

[LiquidMidnight]

Rush, they're still chugging away by putting out great albums.

Pink Floyd, great band, but have they actually released anything relevant since the early 90s?

[Johno Dunn]

Originally Posted by stratovani

True. That would also apply to Rush as well.

Clockwork Angels isn't progressive???

[DiabolusInMusic]

Ahhh to be 16 again... I haven't had one of these pointless and impossible arguments in a long time... used to do this crud all the time.

You are comparing apples and oranges though, not one is better or worse... only different.