Had it been so, the top of the list would probably be filled with truly classic prog tracks such as Awaken by Yes that we listed last time as #229. Over all time, it must have been one of the most played tracks by ProgActive, but it has received considerably less playing time since 2006 because by then it was already so familiar and often heard.
An inevitable question arises. Will the top of the list even contain progressive rock? The answer is a resounding yes, although the prog tracks there are not the greatest classics of all time. Those received their attention already in the seventies and early eighties. But when we look at the top of the list, its top 2 consists of tracks that cannot possibly be labelled as anything other than progressive rock, and there are many, many others further down as well.
225. Schism, by Tool
(Lateralus, 2001)
One modern progressive rock classic is Tool's outstanding 2001 album Lateralus. The American prog metal group take their time fine tuning their albums, yet all but one of them are far from perfect except for playing skill. Lateralus is that one exception. Schism is one of its most accessible songs.
224. Crossfire, by Kansas
(Vinyl Confessions, 1982)
Another American group Kansas made their most famous albums already in the seventies. One of our favorite songs of theirs here at ProgActive is however from the early eighties. Crossfire is a six minute symphonic prog masterpiece that we don't seem to get tired of.
223. Once, by OSI
(Free, 2006)
OSI, short for Office of Strategic Influence, is yet another American progressive rock group that has been active since the early 2000's. Led by original Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore, the group has recently veered towards progressive metal but Once from eight years ago bears no traces of that yet.
222. What Have We Sown? by The Pineapple Thief
(What We Have Sown, 2007)
The slow building, continuous 27-minute progressive rock song is yet another minor masterpiece on the list, performed by the British progressive / art rock outfit The Pineapple Thief. We have actually dedicated a separate blog entry to it about a year and a half ago. Would you like to know more? Please check it out.
221. Save Me, by Muse
(The 2nd Law, 2012)
Another British art rock group, Muse released their latest album The 2nd Law a couple of years ago and succeeded especially well with this beautiful track that we placed third when listing the best works of 2012. You can read more about that right here.
220. October Sunshine, by Mercury Rev
(Snowflake Midnight, 2008)
The American Mercury Rev is yet another art rock group who have succeeded in getting our attention and guaranteeing themselves a place in the Top 250. The atmospheric October Sunshine is taken from 2008's Snowflake Midnight which is still their most recent album release.
219. Pigeon Drummer, by No-Man
(Schoolyard Ghosts, 2008)
The British two-man No-Man is yet another Steven Wilson project. Their 2008 album Schoolyard Ghosts still remains their latest studio release. Pigeon Drummer is an extremely challenging track with its mood changes from quiet beauty to ugly noise. We hated it at first, but have grown to like it later on.
218. Apocalypse Please, by Muse
(Absolution, 2003)
This is yet another peculiar coincidence. Muse has two tracks very close to each other on the list, although taken from two different albums released nine years apart. Apocalypse Please is a grandiose piece of British art rock at its very finest.
217. Floating, by Klaus Schulze
(Moondawn, 1976)
Finally we go for something completely different. Floating is a lengthy instrumental piece from German electronic music composer Klaus Schulze recorded in the mid-seventies. Schulze was once a member of Tangerine Dream; this track sounds a lot like that group's output.
216. Wrong, by Depeche Mode
(Sounds of the Universe, 2009)
ProgActive has been mostly disappointed with the most recent output of once great Depeche Mode. Yet only their very latest album seems to be completely without merit. This strong track is from the second latest, and works like the group's nineties prime works.
215. Eye of the Storm, by Camel
(I Can See Your House from Here, 1979)
One of British progressive rock group Camel's most beautiful songs is this instrumental track taken from their 1979 album with the humorous if enigmatic cover image above. The track was composed by a newcomer in the band, Kit Watkins of Happy the Man.
214. Paul McCarthy, by Harold Budd
(Luxa, 1996)
Another lovely instrumental in a row is quite different from the previous one. American composer Harold Budd has been one of our favorites for several decades and this piano driven, peaceful ambient instrumental is one of his very best. Memorable and minimal.
213. Not This Way (Chapter 10), by Saga
(Full Circle, 1999)
Canadian rock group Saga made their most memorable recordings in the late seventies and early eighties, then became too techno pop oriented for our taste. Surprisingly, they have returned to form later on and this absolutely beautiful ballad is one great example of that.
212. Show Me, by Yes
(The Ultimate Yes, 2004)
Almost precisely ten years ago, we attended a Yes concert in Helsinki where they played this song, then unknown to us. We had to look for it in the internet since it wasn't included in the version of The Ultimate Yes collection released in Finland. This search required some work back then, but it was worth it.
211. Constant Contrast, by Nosound
(A Sense of Loss, 2009)
We found the Italian art rock group Nosound around 2008, so they are perfectly positioned to score well in the Top 250. I suspect there will be several other tracks of theirs on the list. Constant Contrast, while a lovely song, isn't even our favorite track on their 2009 album.
210. Someone Starts to Fade Away, by Nosound
(Lightdark, 2008)
That certainly didn't take long! This beautiful song is from the group's best album so far, 2008's Lightdark that contains several of our other favorites as well. This song is a perfect introduction to Nosound for those who are not yet familiar with them. If you like this, you will like most of their other songs as well.
209. In the Smoke, by Cerrone
(Supernature, 1977)
Following two Italian tracks comes a French one. Cerrone was a cult seventies figure, a pop music composer who never became truly famous - outside France anyway - but who gained some notoriety as the composer of the theme track to the Kenny Everett Show. In the Smoke is its variation.
208. Fadeaway, by Porcupine Tree
(Up the Downstair, 1993)
The beautiful closing track of Porcupine Tree's second album has done quite well on the list. Originally, this album was a solo effort by Steven Wilson, but the remastered 2005 release contained some upgrades such as other musicians, real drums, and that is the version we at ProgActive have learned to like.
207. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, by Deep Purple
(Purpendicular, 1996)
Deep Purple may have recorded most of their classic tracks in the seventies, but this excellent 1996 song may just be our all time favorite. It is either this one, or Perfect Strangers which is not from the seventies either. A lengthy, enjoyable hard rock song without noticeable faults.
206. Resident Alien, by The Pineapple Thief
(Variations on a Dream, 2003)
This stunning instrumental from The Pineapple Thief's peak album is certainly not going to be the last track from it that made it to the Top 250. Even without checking we can guess that there will most likely be up to three more masterpieces taken from it further up on the list.
205. Valtari, by Sigur Rós
(Valtari, 2012)
One of the latest tracks on the list is also one of its most awesome instrumentals. Like we wrote earlier when discussing the best music of 2012 (see #221 for link), we had already more or less forgotten about Sigur Rós. This breathtaking new album and its title track in particular proved that they were still a force to be reckoned with.
204. One Man's Poison, by Rupert Hine
(Waving Not Drowning, 1982)
Another masterpiece that is actually even better than its standing on the list implies, One Man's Poison was found by us in Spotify only a couple of years ago. Hence, it hasn't had time to climb any higher than this. An unforgettable rock track with a weighty message.
203. The Fear Has Gone, by Engineers
(Three Fact Fader, 2009)
Of all the shoegazing groups, the British Engineers are our biggest favorite and have several songs of theirs in the Top 250. A new album Always Returning will be out in less than two months, on 11 August. This song is from Three Fact Fader, the group's peak album so far.
202. Speaking in Lampblack, by Echolyn
(Echolyn, 2012)
Another relatively fresh entry, Echolyn's second self titled album is two years old this June. Speaking in Lampblack is a ten minute song that is one of the most accomplished works on the album. Overall, the 2012 release was one of the group's very best.
201. Heart Attack in a Lay by, by Porcupine Tree
(In Absentia, 2002)
Erm, this entry puts us slightly into shame. This song is one of the greatest musical masterpieces of the 21st century and we are dumbfounded to find it this far down in the Top 250. It would make much more sense to find it somewhere in top 50. A moving story backed with a melancholic, atmospheric melody.
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