Customer Reviews

The Progressive Rock Files

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have to agree with the negative reviewer who said words to the effect of, 'I hate to give a negative review to a book about prog but I have to.' Having read considerable progressive rock internet information and reviews for the last 6 months, and almost exhausted that source (except for the hard-to-read Gibraltar Encyclopedia) I picked up the book looking for a little more in-depth info on history and bands, but there was little of either. Before buying this book you should really be aware that the history is very brief, simplistic, and repetitive, and is really informative only to a complete novice in prog or even rock history. Some of the statements, such as that "Days of Future Passed" is the first progressive album, are quite silly. Because of the layout of the pages in this section, for some unfathomable reason only about two-thirds of each page contain text, the rest highlight names, thus reducing drastically the information content. The band reviews at the end are equally laughable since they consist of at most two or three sentences, most of which believe it or not are a sentence of the nature, "sounds like Genesis." In fact those three words are repeated probably four times per page in the last 50 pp of the book!! Without a downloadable mp3 site like audiogalaxy it would be absolutely hopeless to weed through the hundreds of entries about prog bands in the reviews section since the music is described so unimaginatively and without any kind of indication of the overall quality or status of a given band. God help the unfortunate individual who buys a CD based on Jerry Lucky's [...]reviews! Anyhow, there being so few books about prog, it's really disappointing to say this one is so awful, but it is. Don't buy!

Jerry Lucky's approach to this complex subject is to give his opinion without backing it with facts, examples, or offering counterpoints. Some of his assertions are downright wrong and embarrasing, i.e. that contrived, pretentious, and self-indulgent are good things to be. Doesn't Lucky own a dictionary? Or does he choose it ignore it? A reader won't get any good information from this book. Compared to other writers on the subject, this fan's outporing is sophomoric, inessential, and unenlightening.

I'm sorry to give a bad review to one of the few books on Prog, but this one is at the bottom of the heap. Read Stump, Macan, or even Martin for an intelligent assesment of the genre and its meanings.

This book was a complete joke. I was excited to see info on 1,400 bands when I ordered it and then I saw that they were spoken of in about 2 sentences each! I mean, c'mon! I know there are space limitations, but it's such a hatchet job. Years are wrong, some bands have no years listed for their albums (yeah, I know he states that prior to this section, but if you have no info-don't put the album or band in!). And, to list only 3 albums from a band as legendary as Uriah Heep is a disgrace! as for the rest of the book, what prog fan wouldn't know what's in it? Lucky's "history" of prog-rock is a joke (only a total novice would find it useful and they wouldn't be reading it anyway) and so is this book. What a waste of my money and time. Also, he mocks Asia which is just what a pretentious [person] would do. Hey ... they didn't want to do 20-minute epics anymore-why do you think they were one of the biggest bands in the world? Beacuse they wanted to write SONGS! And, of all Yes albums to put covers of he chooses "The Yes Album" and "Open Your Eyes"? Great choice,pal.

Here is the value I see on this book:

1) Excellent introduction to progressive rock: A novice will be trapped by the reading, will get a quick undestanding of what defines progressive rock, and will be strongly motivated to start listening and researching.

2) Excellent reference: the book contains a very complete reference that serves as a start point to search for new music and information.

3) A fantastic and pleasant reading for the veterans.

Some people say that the critic is simplistic, but J.L. merely compiled information here from different sources and put them together in a nice reading. The book does not focus on music critic.

If you are looking for extensive critic, you should look for the specific artist you are interested on in more detailed sources like their official web site, biography books, magazines, review websites, etc.

Some people say the reference is too basic. However I think it is very complete for the purpose of simply citing many bands which are often ignored even in the best sources, and placing them in certain sub-genre. Longer reviews would make the reading hard, the book too extense and they wouldn't add much value.

The book does have a few historical errors and it's a pity that they haven't being corrected for the second edition.

Jerry Lucky has compiled a history of progressive music- quite a monumental task. I think this book is refreshing and an interesting read. It might not be complete but it is a pretty good representation of all that's prog. I especially like the A-Z listing of progressive bands. I have discovered a number of bands through this terrific section. I have one minor complaint but it really irks me. Jerry forgot one of the most influential prog metal bands Fates Warning and he also forgot the underrated Hoax. Oh well, still worth it for prog fans!!!

Progressive rock files is interesting solely for introducing such an unthinkable perspective over 20th century rock music. The book is a temple built for a genre of music whose superiority Lucky chooses to underline at every given opportunity. According to the book, prog is a mature form of rock that shows its maturity by not rebelling as opposed to such immature forms of music as metal, and an adventurous and musical one unlike the manufactured and trendy punk and new wave. Progressive rock doesn't need to change because Mozart didn't either and by insisting on being progressive some new progressive rock bands have stopped making music that is easy enough to listen to, horror! It may be a complete history of genesis and yes soundalike acts but it loses all vitality by ignoring the RIOs and Zeuhls and what have you. King crimson is underpresented whereas every single yes and genesis album is dissected and held as an example that prog never went to piss unlike all those nasty rock journalists made you believe. I may be into prog but I'd still rather place myself under vomiting Iggy than J. Lucky's ridiculous frame of thought.