Prog Notes

(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 like this with the early prog-rock movement, many of the "art rock" elements exemplified in the tracks share many commonalities with progressive rock. In this two-part episode, the hosts analyze each track to fully extract all the nuances that make this 1976 release not only a feat of artistic ingenuity, but also an inspired homage to the haunting, gripping, and macabre tales of Edgar Allan Poe.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

What do Indigo children, class structures, and science fiction all have to do with one another? Perhaps Destin and Drew can elucidate as they wrangle yet another concept album. But not just any concept album. The hosts introduce their audience to one of the most ambitious outfits in progressive rock today. On an initial playthrough, The Dear Hunter's Antimai draws listeners with memorable melodies, rhythmic punctuation, and futuristic synthesizers resulting in a sound akin to space funk. One will pick up bits of lore and story on each successive playthrough to be enchanted by impressive world building and intrigued by ties to other albums in the band's catalog. After a decade of telling one continuous narrative spanning across five albums or "Acts", The Dear Hunter embarks on a new sci-fi saga starting with an overview of an isolated, dystopian city typified by wealth inequality, social hierarchy, and organic scarcity. Destin and Drew get a little carried away as they poke and prod every nook and cranny of this rich musical and lyrical landscape, but one will forgive their verbosity after hearing all that Antimai has to offer.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Destin and Drew return after a long hiatus to share the album responsible for their absence from the mics of the favored prog rock podcast. In a delightful twist of roles, our typical hosts appear as members of Arcane Atlas to illuminate listeners about the significance of their most rent project, which was ten years in the making - Constellation Plus. Rachel Brown returns as a guest interviewer to prompt personal stories and perspectives about the album which many have described as a unique fusion of Pink Floyd and Rush. This offers listeners the chance to hear from the Destin-Drew duo as creators rather than reviewers as they explain the history, process, and purpose behind music that spans back to their teenage years. From album artwork to studio anecdotes to favorite songs, this episode sheds light on why this particular album has been foundational to the bond between the charismatic Prog Notes personalities.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Destin takes us through a tour of underground 1970s gems. Spanning across electronica, jazz, soft rock, blues, folk, Canterbury, RPI, and more, these albums all incorporate pieces of prog rock here and there while still maintaining identities that are fully independent of the traditional "prog rock" sound. Destin briefly explains the unique characteristics of each album to give listeners a taste of what the 1970s has to offer. Get ready for a panoramic perspective of music  from 1970 - 1979!

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

1970: Affinity by Affinity

1971: Samurai - Samurai

1972: Per Un Amico - PFM

1973: Grand Hotel - Procol Harum

1974: Sea Son - Secret Oyster

1975: Ambrosia - Ambrosia

1976: Time Robber - Omega

1977: Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Più - Locanda Delle Fate

1978: The Man-Machine - Kraftwerk

1979: One of a Kind - Bill Bruford

For this very special episode, Destin and Drew are graced with the presence of legendary guitarist Steve Hackett. In addition to being the lead guitarist for Genesis in their prime as one the most influential bands of the progressive rock genre, Steve has also had a very successful solo career, releasing dozens of albums with material encompassing a multitude of genres, including classical, blues, and world music. In 2022, the 1972 Genesis classic Foxtrot celebrated its 50th anniversary, and to celebrate that fact, Steve has been touring the world performing the entire album end-to-end. While chatting with Destin and Drew, he reveals the personal significance of Foxtrot, its timeless quality, and the joy of playing it live as it was originally intended. He also gives insight into the early years of progressive rock, recalling that bands were blending rock music with a variety of other musical styles and new technology all while aiming to tell great stories. Listeners are sure to appreciate Steve's perspective as he talks about the powerful force that is music. He encourages young musicians to embrace their unique voice rather than blindly following the instructions of others or becoming a stale imitation. That's the spirit of progressive rock!

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Destin presents a cautionary tale for emerging bands: Being mistaken for a band, even a band as great as The Beatles, could have adverse effects on your success. It certainly didn't do any favors for Canadian prog-rock trio Klaatu after releasing their 1977 space rock opera, Hope. While this cult classic is considered unappreciated by many devoted fans drawn to this album's eclectic ensemble of instruments, theatrical flair, and sci-fi world-building, the conspiracy surrounding their identity ultimately led them down a path to obscurity. However, this beloved record does strengthen the tie between science fiction and prog rock. Could science fiction be the music of prog-rock? Or could prog-rock be the music of science fiction?

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

The Prog Notes duo are blessed once more with the insights of Rachel Brown! Together they enter into the ghostly drama riddled throughout Steven Wilson's third solo album, The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories) (2013). While some listeners may contend that Wilson's work on this album is a bit derivative of classic prog rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s, our show hosts align with others who appreciate his nod to these older influences while maintaining originality with a unique concept album that employs indelible videos to enhance the storytelling for two of the album's more somber tracks. In addition to comparing and contrasting this release to his next project (Hand.Cannot.Erase), the team actually explores each track from a lyrical and musical perspective. After their "deep dive" into the grim storybook of The Raven, Destin, Rachel, and Drew come up for air and discuss the fascinating topic of solo artists in progressive rock. This is certainly a rich conversation on one of Wilson's most critically acclaimed albums. Destin says it best:

"This is what happens when you get an English major, a film major, and an audio engineer reviewing this record."

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Destin and Drew jump back in time to 1971 and travel through the seminal album The Yes Album to discuss how this record launched Yes on the trajectory to becoming one of the most formative bands in the progressive rock genre. While employing Steve Howe's superb talents as an eclectic guitarist and crafting lengthier pieces laden with the lyrical voice of Jon Anderson, this progressive rock band managed to keep their ambitious arrangements grounded, resulting in an exhibition of phenomenal musicianship and promising songwriting. From lineup changes to album artwork, this episode features a slew of history and fun facts that give insight into the creation of one of Yes's most celebrated works. Those familiar with this popular entry in the Yes catalog are sure to appreciate this installment of Delve It or Shelve It as Destin and Drew rejoice over their favorite moments on an album that strengthened their friendship.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Destin and Drew disagree about an album? Wait, wait... Is that possible? Well, I suppose there's a first time for everything. In this episode, Moon Safari's Blomljud serves as a point of contention for our hosts as Drew pours out his unwavering affection for the sweet summer sounds, the symphonic prog elements that harken back to the early days of Genesis and Yes, and the intricate vocal harmonies that are reminiscent of Broadway show tunes. Meanwhile, Destin invites us into his "Safari Through Moon Safari" and expresses his ambivalent, albeit respectful, attitude towards this double album, which to him seems too long, overly reliant on major keys, and filled with shallow lyrics and forgettable vocal melodies. However, they both agree it is quite a unique album that is worth the attention of any prog rock enthusiast. This episode also features "Story Time With Drew", where Drew analyzes a track that has a similar tone to that of an old fairy tale, and another segment of "Illustrations And Impressions", where Destin and Drew ruminate on the album artwork. As Drew states, this is probably the "happiest" prog rock album discussed on the show, and whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is entirely up to the listener to decide.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

A Canadian prog trio that's not Rush? That's right! This week Destin and Drew cover the "minor classic" Black Noise by FM, and to help them analyze the album and its history, they are joined by Rogan McAndrews, host of Prog Notes Spotlight! While future FM releases may have never held up in terms of popularity, Black Noise demonstrates their musical prowess as they craft a signature sound in this riff-laden space rock journey without the inclusion of an electric guitar, a hallmark feature of rock music. Instead, they infuse layers of electric violins and electric mandolins with spectacular drumming and hypnotic synthesizers to give a rich and full texture that permeates the record, launching the listener into deep space. Along with a history of this underground band, the Prog Notes hosts introduce a new segment called Get Busy With The Facts, where they introduce entertaining bits of trivia that pertain to the album in some way, including details about different sonic hues (i.e. - Black Noise).

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Massive underwater sonic disturbances? A 5-string electric cello? Artwork that resembles cosmic horror monsters? It might seem like a bizarre combination, but these elements blend together to produce Preternatural: one of the most unique modern progressive rock albums by Brighton-based band Moulettes. While the exact category for their sound remains as mysterious as the preternatural phenomena presented throughout the album, Destin and Drew agree that this record has an irresistible charm to it that draws the listener to experience all it has to offer: gorgeous harmonies, electronica-inspired soundscapes, interesting vocal rhythms, and more. In addition to providing a brief history of the band, the Prog Notes team does a comprehensive analysis of the concept behind the album, which was intended as a celebration of nature and its perplexing qualities. As a bonus, Drew tries his best to sing the chorus of one of the songs at an increasingly rapid pace.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Destin and Drew dive into Ocean Machine: Biomech, a very personal album for musician Devin Townsend, a highly regarded figure in the realm of heavy metal. Destin illuminates listeners with the history of Devin Townsend's arduous journey to craft this 1997 release, which adds a bit more sentiment to the album. While not an icon in the realm of prog rock, Devin Townsend has a dedicated following, a fact that is clearly demonstrated as Drew and Destin react to a glowing, albeit slightly verbose, fan review of Ocean Machine. The album serves as a launching pad to discuss the topic of prog rock in the 90s and the sonic shift in tone that came to define the 90s sound.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

A concept album about political corruption. Complex arrangements of riff-oriented rocking. Bizarre time signatures. A wide array of keyboard sounds. Obviously, there's a lot to unpack here. Sounds like classic prog. What's more, it's classic Gentle Giant. Destin and Drew marvel at the incredible musicianship of these niche, yet highly esteemed, progressive rock pioneers as they did when discussing their eponymous debut album, Gentle Giant. But they also note how the group evolved into an even "proggier" outfit by the time of their sixth studio album, The Power and the Glory, an impressive achievement considering one of their founding members, Phil Shulman, left the group just two albums prior. This record demonstrates the band's impressive ability to cover an enormous amount of the musical landscape in under 40 minutes. While it may seem jarring, disjointed, or even dissonant at moments, there are so many interesting melodies scattered throughout that one would be hard-pressed to not find a section that calls to them in some way. For Gentle Giant fans, this album is essential, and Destin and Drew contends that whether or not one is already in the Gentle Giant camp, The Power and the Glory ticks enough boxes to be dubbed "true progressive rock."

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Who likes video games? Destin and Drew certainly do. Aside from the interactive experiences of gameplay and the wonderful stories they tell, many video games are rife with absolutely stunning music, and much of it is rather complex. So Destin and Drew started wondering: is there a connection between video game music (VGM) and progressive rock? Well, to address this question, Destin and Drew focus on Tempo of Time, a popular YouTube collaboration where the soundtrack of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is turned into a progressive rock album. And as an extra special treat, the creators of this epic video, Dr. Pez and Marc Papeghin, talk with Destin and Drew about the process of making this 30-minute long composition, and their history with VGM and prog rock! Don't miss this special bonus episode, covering a topic that isn't usually discussed on Prog Notes!

WatchTempo of Time!

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

What Drew and Destin dub as an incredibly "prophetic" album, Porcupine Tree's Fear Of A Blank Planet (2007) predicts the destructive psychological effects that a digitally saturated world can have on younger generations long before smartphones dominated the hallways of elementary and middle schools. The co-hosts dive deep into this topic while also tying the subject matter back to the mesmerizing, yet slightly haunting, music. While the concept may be grim, it turned out to be one of the band's most successful albums, being met with both commercial and critical praise. In another installment of "Delve It Or Shelve It", Destin and Drew describe their favorite moments to each other and demonstrate how Porcupine Tree deftly arrange the songs to place the listener in a dark, yet alluring, world of progressive rock.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

The first episode of our first offshoot podcast, Spotlight! The torch is passed, and your two new Canadian cohosts, Chelsea and Rogan, are going to start interviewing your favourite up-and-coming and/or long-established prog artists! This episode holds a brief introduction to them before beginning our first interview with Destin and Drew on their band, Arcane Atlas! We discuss world-building for songs, writing epics, and the history of the project that lead to the creation of Prog Notes! Buckle in, and we hope you enjoy the new podcast!

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

**Prog Notes: Spotlight is a fireside chat with your favourite up-and-coming or long-established prog artists! Hear straight from the Tarkus' mouth what inspired the music, their creative process, the history of the groups, and much more! An offshoot of The Prog Notes Podcast, your host, Rogan McAndrews, brings in the best in the genre connecting fans to the masters behind the music.

Is there a connection between jazz fusion and progressive rock? Both genres involve virtuosos performing complex arrangements. They both spawned in the late 1960s. Some musicians in prog rock have ventured into fusion. Here to discuss this topic and promote his newest prog-rock album, The World Is Loud, is Adam Nitti! Adam has had an illustrious career as a master bass player in all kinds of genres and has performed with people like Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Dave Weckl, Jon Anderson, and Marco Minneman. He has also released a number of jazz fusion solo albums that demonstrate his incredible skill on the bass guitar. With The World Is Loud, Adam has returned to his earliest influences of progressive rock and talks about the inspiration behind this record with Destin and Drew. Adam comments on how his career impacted his writing process for this album and shares his perspective as an educator on the future of prog rock.

The World is Loud!

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

In just ten short years, Australian prog metal group Caligula’s Horse has crafted five studio albums that have quickly given them notoriety as one of the most innovative bands in the genre. Destin and Drew discuss their highly praised album, Rise Radiant, with the writing duo of this remarkable band, Jim Grey (vocals) and Sam Vallen (guitars). In addition to Drew embarrassing them with reviews, Jim and Sam share their thoughts on the nature of “progressive” music and emphasize the importance of purpose when writing each musical section. Perhaps it’s the combination of Jim’s emphasis on stimulus-response and Sam’s emphasis on audiation that makes this album so fresh. Or perhaps it’s the musical motifs meticulously woven into each track. Maybe it’s the tenderness of the lyrics on gentler tracks juxtaposed against the crunchy guitars and complex rhythms on more aggressive tracks. All of these elements and more enter the conversation on this episode! #deerbutt

Caligula's Horse

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Destin and Drew are joined by Marius Halleland and Kristian Hultgren of Wobbler to discuss their critically acclaimed 2017 album From Silence To Somewhere. The music of Wobbler can easily fit into the categories of retro-prog or symphonic prog, as the influences of the early prog pioneers can be heard in the tones of the instruments, the structures of the songs, and the inclusion of side-long epics throughout its discography. However, From Silence To Somewhere carves an identity of its own with its dramatic compositions set within a fantasy motif. In addition to providing a bit of band history, Marius and Kristian illumine listeners with the larger concepts so elegantly expressed on this incredibly imaginative record. They contend that while the album touches on solemn subjects pertaining to life and death, it also includes moments of levity with a wacky character locked up in a medieval tower obsessing over alchemy. From Silence To Somewhere harkens back to an older time, both in terms of music as well as its conceptual setting, and the commentary from Marius and Kristian adds a new perspective to this ambitious album.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Liquid Tension Experiment (LTE) is one of the most recognizable supergroups in modern progressive rock. After 22 years of silence from the studio, the virtuosos have returned to unveil their long-awaited third album, Liquid Tension Experiment 3. In this episode, Destin and Drew are graced by the presence of none other than Tony Levin himself, the legendary bassist and Chapman stick player for LTE. Tony has performed with dozens of prominent bands and musicians in the realm of progressive rock and jazz fusion, including King Crimson, Stick Men, and Peter Gabriel. The three of them discuss the history of LTE, some of the tracks that make this album special, and the powerful chemistry among the band members that allows for such flavorful compositions.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Destin and Drew are joined by Asger Mygind and Nicolai Mogensen of VOLA to talk about their second album, Applause Of A Distant Crowd. VOLA brings an interesting approach to the current state of prog metal by incorporating keyboard leads, soothing yet powerful vocal melodies, and complex rhythmic patterns to this album. During this interview, Nicolai and Asger reveal the band’s organic writing process, a desire to explore different musical directions, and their excitement for their upcoming release Witness on May 21st, 2021. In addition to discussing the inventive and diverse Applause Of A Distant Crowd, the two band members answer a variety of questions from listeners of Prog Notes.

FollowVOLA!

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

Welcome, as we traverse through the dark, mysterious, and complex layers of Land Animal by Bent Knee. This record reflects the dynamic nature of the band, not only with its bizarre, yet ingenious, compositions but also with its inclusion of two female members, a trait that is not commonly found in a genre typically populated with all-male bands. Destin and Drew discuss the remarkable process of democratic songwriting, a key element to the ingenious innovations on Land Animal, and Drew puts the lyrics under a microscope to uncloak their seemingly shrouded meanings. It's all here on Episode 32 of Prog Notes!

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 analyze the album cover and give our take on it! Enjoy!

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 radio-friendly songs and high brow concepts that didn't fit the "rock" brand, this album was a commercial flop and was followed by a dreadful tour which nearly resulted in the complete dissolution of the band. However, with all its misgivings, it still holds a special place in the hearts of hardcore Rush fans as it is a stepping stone to the magnificence of 2112, one of their greatest achievements.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 presentation. It allows the listeners to familiarize themselves with the group more intimately as each band member has a track that serves as a musical reflection of their personality, similar to Fragile by Yes. It's a simple, yet intriguing concept. Prog rock can often seem self-indulgent, pompous, and pretentious, but the impressive playing and smooth, cosmic soundscapes on Moonmadness produce a listening experience that can easily be described as "refreshing."

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 maniacal vocal performances with political and societal highlights from the 20th century as well as references to events in Orwell's Animal Farm. Going track by track, they reveal their analyses of each class presented throughout this concept album (dogs, pigs, and sheep) and how the music serves to reinforce the themes. It's a good ole musical discussion centered around politics, just as Waters intended.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 mesmerizing keyboard solos, giving this album an edge that is uniquely Steven Wilson. The inclusion of "newer" sounds lends to the themes of isolation and modernity. Our trio of hosts journey into the concepts presented on this album and share the story that inspired the somber moods that pervade this album. Finally, they talk about the peculiar absence of women in the prog genre, both as musicians and fans.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 opportunity to enjoy the work of one of their greatest musical inspirations to date: Mr. Neil Peart. Rest in peace.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 Riverside as a metal group, this album challenges this notion. While there are high-energy parts found all throughout the album, there is a cohesive smoothness to the album that is absent from most bands in the metal genre. With Shrine Of New Generation Slaves, Riverside has crafted something that incorporates the abyssal tones of Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree while still maintaining an energy that is all their own. This music combines so naturally with a collection of profound lyrics to produce a very enjoyable modern prog rock listening experience, and Destin and Drew are only too happy to talk about it!

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

“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 “masterpiece”, they also cannot help but find amusement in many of the reviews that glorify it in… interesting ways. In this bizarre and hilarious addition, Destin and Drew try to make sense of not only the enigmatic three-track album by VDGG, but also the reviews of fans who hold it in such high esteem. Buckle in for the most buck wild episode of Prog Notes yet.

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**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 theatrical origins, the artistic themes woven throughout the narrative of this concept album, and the emotional driving force that drives their writing process. While the influences of earlier bands are clearly discernible on Hawaii, Aisles incorporates a variety of musical styles to establish a sound that is truly its own. Gérman believes that Aisles should be able to surprise itself whenever creating something new. The passion that went into making this record is clearly heard on each track, and fans of music everywhere can appreciate the unique personality that comes in earnest from Hawaii.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 psychedelic to hysterical, In Absentia does everything except stagnate while still centering on dark themes and poignant lyricism with grace and nuance. It's made even more notable by a loose concept that flirts with the idea of insanity and questions elements of humanity and monstrosity. Destin and Drew discuss this remarkable album in detail and explain why it is such an achievement for Porcupine Tree and why it has become so popular for prog rock fans everywhere.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

(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 like this with the early prog-rock movement, many of the "art rock" elements exemplified in the tracks share many commonalities with progressive rock. In this two-part episode, the hosts analyze each track to fully extract all the nuances that make this 1976 release not only a feat of artistic ingenuity, but also an inspired homage to the haunting, gripping, and macabre tales of Edgar Allan Poe.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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, Jethro Tull aimed to satirize the pompous aura surrounding the progressive rock scene while also embracing the spirit of the genre as well. Light-heartedly poking fun at the inflated state of prog rock, Anderson aimed to bring the genre back down to Earth by creating one, long, continuous song that spans the entirety of the album. While the compositions can be intentionally complicated for comedic effect, they are also mesmerizing and resulted in resounding success for Jethro Tull. Thick As A Brick is a perfect album to discuss the perception of prog rock, and Destin and Drew are eager to analyze all that this album has to offer.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 collection of characters that vocalist Peter Gabriel channeled in his performances. The inspiration behind many of the pieces on this record was rooted in their English heritage. An amalgamation of allusions to English places and figures, an air of medieval folk music, and a variety of theatrical vocals work together to make an album that is comically English and brilliantly composed.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 The Beatles, The Moody Blues started incorporating more orchestral arrangements into their music, paving the way for what many would later refer to as symphonic rock. Days of Future Passed is a perfect blend of 1960s blues-rock and magnificent symphonic compositions performed by an entire orchestra. While not often included in the list of classic prog-rock bands, The Moody Blues gave us one of the first true concept albums and demonstrated the wonderful effects of adding symphonic instruments to rock music.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 innovations presented on this album made a huge impression on up-and-coming artists of the time that were looking to make waves in the world of rock as well, like Yes and ELP. Join Destin and Drew as they give a thorough look into the album that started it all.

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 individual personalities within Yes. 

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

(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 experience has captivated listeners ever since its release in 1973, and Destin and Drew are eager to explain why. 

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.

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 permission to continue experimenting with sounds and themes that would make them legends in the world of progressive rock. For those of you new to the genre, Destin and Drew enlighten the listeners with a brief history and definition of progressive rock and how it forged their friendship many years ago. 

Check us outHERE!

**Prog Notes is a podcast dedicated to the genre of progressive rock. Each episode Destin and Drew tackle an album and delve into the different musical compositions, lyrics, and concepts that make it prog rock. They maintain that progressive rock is still very much alive and kicking, whether it be highlighting key moments from the early years or tracking the evolution of the genre to today's more modern groups. With each new episode, these two childhood friends encourage more people to investigate this unique, sometimes forgotten genre of music and find an album or band they can enjoy.