Over twenty years ago, pioneering bands in Britain and, eventually,
every developed country in the world, evolved rock from a simple music
form valuing base emotions and attitude, to an elaborate form able to
incorporate involved compositional structures and sophisticated melodic,
rhythmic, and harmonic elements. Classical, Jazz, folk, and electronic
music elements were integrated; musicianship and instrumental ability
were emphasized. This genre came to be known as "progressive rock or
art-rock". By the end of the 1970's, these bands had written themselves
out of the market by making music over the head of the average pop
listener (not to mention the rock media).    Progressive rock has to two
prerequistes: intelligence and musical sophistication - commodities not
highly valued in the rock industry. This is not music for clueless kids
desperate to be in on the latest popular band. Progressive music is
dedicated to those who still champion the old-fashioned ideals of
beauty, lyricism, and grandeur in art.    Progressive artists know how
to marry the cerebral and the visceral, infusing the energy that defines
rock with music that does not insult the intellect. Progressive artists
know that emotion is still the raison d'etre of music. However, these
are not the emotions of frustrated teenagers or disturbed art-school
students. These are the much more diverse and subtle emotions that can
only be evoked by those versed in the craft of music. Progressive does
not mean simply new or different. The word is meaningless without
stating the goal one is progressing toward. I hope that goal is now
clear.    After years of enduring a music industry pretending that rock
never grew up, I believe there are many more ready to take the leap from
rock-as-fashion to rock-as-high art. It's only PROGRESSIVE ROCK N' ROLL,
and we LOVE it!
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
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