chrome3D wrote:
This prog angle is quite interesting. I looked at progarchives.com and F/D has so far received a score of 2.62/5 from 4 ratings. I guess the ratings of progarchives are based on how proggy the album is and then it scores more points. It seems F/D is not so prog among the diehard fans. The only reviewer so far even says that Pride Before A Fall is huge disappointment and "Laurel Canyon & Old Coast Road - sound like they'd appeal more to geriatric folks." Hah hah, well I think an album can have couple of songs like that. P=A scores 4.0 from 31 ratings.

Really interesting viewpoints being expressed late in this thread. I have often espoused upon the relative Prog merits of my favourite band (sometimes here and to anyone who'll listen).

I too frequent progarchives.com  .... have done-so for many years ....and was overjoyed when The Church were inducted some 5 years ago - albeit in the category of "Prog-Related". True, they bear no association with the likes of Yes, Genesis, Crimson et all, however one might debate that one of their greatest influences - Pink Floyd - do not strictly fit the mould. The PA forum often features lengthy discussions on what constitutes Prog and which bands warrant induction. If the die-hards had their way, the cut-off would have been 1977 (Punk Ground Zero) smiley: laugh. Luckily, the generally held consensus is that beyond this year, Prog Rock continued to evolve and broaden its palette ..... absorbing influences like Post Punk, Alt Rock, Avante Garde and Chamber Pop along the way .... becoming more Progressive in the process. You'll now find that both camps have been split into a multitude of sub-genres that often cross-pollinate to yield incredibly eclectic amalgams (like The Church, for instance smiley: glasses).

In regard to F/D, I certainly regard this to be Progressive Rock with Psych leanings .... and have no doubt that the paltry PA ratings will improve once the album enjoys worldwide release next month. IMHO, SK and Co have crafted a unique collection of seemingly disparate songs - unified by densely layered production replete with leftfield sonic washes, treated vocal stylings and odd meters - the Studio being the essential 5th member of the group this time round and certainly what elevates F/D to masterpiece status .... a true work of art. In terms isolating 'proggy' expeditions, I would cetainly nominate Globe Spinning (SK himself announced this on-stage as their prog magnum opus); Love Philtre for the seemingly unrelated atmospheric acoustic breakdown that effortlessly morphs back into the central motif without sounding contrived; and Miami of course. 

But then the band have been throwing-in Psych/Prog curveballs since Album 1 .... early tracks like Is This Where You Live, You Took and Travel By Thought certainly fit the bill .... pretty much all of P=A is imbued with a progressive arc - none moreso than the final 5 track sequence commencing with Witch Hunt and ending with Film (true genius). The progressive ante was upped from here on in - represented by pretty much all of MATS, bits of HoB, BoB and right up to the present (FY's The Theatre and its Double can certainly be regarded Prog with a capital P).

In all, I would be keen to read more opinions on this topic.