Skip to main content

progressive rock

Sub-genre of rock also known in short as "prog".

It relies as much on complex, painstakingly composed and arranged structures that rival classical music (Gentle Giant, BMS, Yezda Urfa), as on improvisation that rivals jazz (VDGG, Soft Machine, ELP). It may employ any device to boost its quality (unusual instruments, elements from other genres, non-standard structures), as it is a genre essentially associated with musical freedom. Prog pieces often extend beyond a 5 minute limit, though it is not always the case (Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull).

Its primordial purpose was to bring much-needed credibility to rock'n'roll, while unifying the different realms of "good music" and exploiting its potential to the fullest. Sadly, it has drawn a large amount of snobbish minions in the process.

It thrived in the 70s, after which many of its most brilliant exponents, even Pink Floyd or ELP, not to mention Gentle Giant, just started getting it wrong. It was no longer progressive rock, but a kind of "tired uninspired unchallenging get-with-the-times-old-man sing-along" rock.

Additional Note: Male prog fans who believe this is not a genre enjoyed by those loosely referred to as "girls" need to be more "progressive" so as not to shame their kind. They are suggested to start by not making gratuitous generalizations, and realizing they're looking for female companionship in the wrong place.

P.S.: I'm not even a feminist but that's just lame.
Genesis is one of the many progressive rock groups that have tarnished their legacy by going top 40.

A progressive rock fan should know better than to think like an emo kid.

Me and my girls like progressive rock: we shake our booties to "21st Century Schizoid Man" and sway with the fellas to "Shine on You Crazy Diamond".
by prog-loving GIRL May 10, 2009
mugGet the progressive rock mug.

progressive drinking party

A party held in a multifloor residence complex at which progressively stronger alcoholic beverages are offered as you ascend to a higher floor. By the time they reach the top floor people have lost the good sense not to drink the toxic swill on the offing up there. The party is usually organised by males in the hope of getting females drunk thereby lowering (or iliminating) their inhibitions
They had a progressive drinking party at her dorm. It was beer on the first floor, wine on the second floor, gin and tonic halfers on the third floor and some kind of leathal punch made with mostly everclear on the top floor.
by laminay trap March 22, 2010
mugGet the progressive drinking party mug.

progressive dinner

A group meal where each course is served at a different person's house or restaurant.
Last night we did a progressive dinner downtown, with appetizers at Ben Pao, salad at Weber Grill, steaks at Gibson's, and dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.
by Ben Frey May 25, 2006
mugGet the progressive dinner mug.

progressive metal

A long hand way of writing "good metal"
by Smo_absolute October 24, 2006
mugGet the progressive metal mug.

Progressive income tax

The more money you make, the higher taxes you pay.

Antonym: flat tax
We need to make taxation more progressive and raise taxes on the wealthy.
by The Drafted's guitar player September 6, 2005
mugGet the Progressive income tax mug.

Progressive Republican

An imaginary being in the political world. This being is a man, a Republican, who has progressed the United States into a forward direction politically, economically and financially. Unfortunately, none are known to exist in the world.
-Did you hear man? We got a progressive Republican as our Governor.

-Yeah. Too bad they don't exist.
by Maxatronz January 12, 2010
mugGet the Progressive Republican mug.

bulldog progressive

An Australian ideology that encompasses both conservative and left-wing beliefs in the spirit of compromise branded as the average man’s party. The ideology takes influence from Theodore Roosevelt’s BullMoose party to better the working man in a capitalist world.
Are they right wing?
Are they left wing?
No they’re Bulldog Progressives!

Or

I say good sir, who is that dashing person over there?

They’re a BullDog Progressive!

How radical! uwu
mugGet the bulldog progressive mug.

Share this definition

Sign in to vote

We'll email you a link to sign in instantly.

Or

Check your email

We sent a link to

Open your email