Prog Notes

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 47: Blomljud - Moon Safari Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

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.

Ep. 46: Black Noise - FM (feat. Rogan McAndrews) May 15, 2022

Show notes

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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Ep. 44: Preternatural - Moulettes Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

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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Ep. 43: Ocean Machine - Devin Townsend Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

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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Ep. 42: The Power and the Glory - Gentle Giant Jan 15, 2022

Show notes

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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BONUS: Tempo of Time (feat. Dr. Pez and Marc Papeghin) Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

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!

Watch Tempo of Time!

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Ep. 39: Fear of a Blank Planet - Porcupine Tree Aug 15, 2021

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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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Spotlight: Arcane Atlas Aug 01, 2021

Show notes

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: 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.

Ep. 38: The World is Loud - Adam Nitti (feat. Adam Nitti) Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

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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Ep. 37: Rise Radiant - Caligula's Horse (feat. Caligula's Horse) Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

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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