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The original edition of
Beyond and Before extends an understanding of "progressive rock" by providing a fuller definition of what progressive rock is, was and can be. Called by
Record Collector "the most accomplished critical overview yet" of progressive rock and one of their 2011 books of the year,
Beyond and Before moves away from the limited consensus that prog rock is exclusively English in origin and that it was destroyed by the advent of punk in 1976. Instead, by tracing its multiple origins and complex transitions, it argues for the integration of jazz and folk into progressive rock and the extension of prog in Kate Bush, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree and many more.
This 10-year anniversary revised edition continues to further unpack definitions of progressive rock and includes a brand new chapter focusing on post-conceptual trends in the 2010s through to the contemporary moment. The new edition discusses the complex creativity of progressive metal and folk in greater depth, as well as new fusions of genre that move across global cultures and that rework the extended form and mission of progressive rock, including in recent pop concept albums. All chapters are revised to keep the process of rethinking progressive rock alive and vibrant as a hybrid, open form.
List of contents
Acknowledgements Illustration CreditsIntroductionProgressive Rock across Time and Genre
Part 1: Before and During
1. Extended Form
2. Roots of Progressive Rock
3. Out of the Garden
4. The Concept Album
5. Myth and Modernity
Part 2: Transitions
6. Progressive Fusion
7. Performance and Visuality
8. Social Critique
9. Responses to Punk
10. Neo-Progressive
Part 3: Beyond
11. The Female Voice
12. Post-Progressive
13. The Return of Folk
14. The Metal Progression
15. The Concept beyond Concept
Coda: The Future NowDiscographyVideographyBibliographyIndex
About the author
Paul Hegarty and Martin Halliwell
Summary
The original edition of Beyond and Before extends an understanding of “progressive rock” by providing a fuller definition of what progressive rock is, was and can be. Called by Record Collector “the most accomplished critical overview yet” of progressive rock and one of their 2011 books of the year, Beyond and Before moves away from the limited consensus that prog rock is exclusively English in origin and that it was destroyed by the advent of punk in 1976. Instead, by tracing its multiple origins and complex transitions, it argues for the integration of jazz and folk into progressive rock and the extension of prog in Kate Bush, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree and many more.
This 10-year anniversary revised edition continues to further unpack definitions of progressive rock and includes a brand new chapter focusing on post-conceptual trends in the 2010s through to the contemporary moment. The new edition discusses the complex creativity of progressive metal and folk in greater depth, as well as new fusions of genre that move across global cultures and that rework the extended form and mission of progressive rock, including in recent pop concept albums. All chapters are revised to keep the process of rethinking progressive rock alive and vibrant as a hybrid, open form.
Additional text
Beyond and Before ticks all the boxes in moving the whole discussion forward and providing a 360 degree view on where [progressive rock] began and, more importantly, where its future lies ... This [is a] hugely important book. The depth of detail is mind-blowing and it will take several revisits to even begin to take in many of the key points it makes in its examinations and analyses. You will emerge from it feeling even more enriched and enthused about prog rock. This is highly recommended.
