=-> Quoting George Erdner to Martin Ridgley re: What is `progressive'? (w:
 GE> Since the definition of what is progressive music describes the
 GE> MUSIC, discussions of whether an ARTIST is progressive is meaningless.
 
   I agree.
 GE> But if an artist who is not considered "progressive" records a
 GE> progressive song, the self-anointed arbiters of progressiveness will
 GE> dismiss it. 
 
   First of all, there are no `self-appointed arbiters' - only fans and 
 critics of the genre.  In either case, you need to temper their reviews 
 with your own opinions.
   Secondly, if an artist has only one progressive song on an album, fans
 of the genre are usually unlikely to buy it - if you're going to buy an
 album, I would think you'd want to be sure there was more than one song 
 on it that you liked, right?
   And last, but not least, an artist who records only one or two 
 `progressive' songs, is not likely to be considered `progressive in an 
  over all sense.  Whatever genre the majority of that artists music 
  falls under is likely where they will be classified or labelled.
 GE> And I have to disagree about progressive music not selling well.
   It's all relative, George.  Most progressive music doesn't sell as
 well as most generic pop or rock music.
 GE> It really annoys me to have people dismiss artists who create albums
 GE> that are compilations of "progressive" songs that express their
 GE> artistic creativity, along with some pop songs to generate airplay 
 GE> and sales.
 
   If you're talking about accusations of `selling out' because there
 happen to be a few obvious pop `hits' included on an album of otherwise
 adventurous or `edgy' music, then, Yes - I agree!  Personally, I like
 progressive rock, as well as pop music, jazz, and many other styles and
 I don't think any artist should feel limited in what styles they 
 explore, nor should they be denigrated for doing so.  
 GE> I find that too many fans of "progressive" rock seem to go out of
 GE> their way to find obscure recordings that no one else has ever heard
 GE> of to discuss.
 MR> Recordings of progressive music *are* obscure.
 GE> No, recordings that are nothing but progressive are rare.
   Which is exactly why fans of `Prog' are always talking about obscure
 recordings that nobody else has heard of, George.  (See next comments)
 GE> I see what you're saying, but you seem to be implying that only if a
 GE> song comes from an album where every single is purely progressive, and
 GE> the artist has "progressive" credentials, can a song be considered as
 GE> progressive music.
   No, that's not what I'm saying.  However, fans of the genre *will*
 usually search out artists that are exclusively progressive rather than
 those who only get musically adventurous on a few tracks.
      Cheers,
               Martin
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