I Cannot Deal With Prog Playlists Because They're Too Disjointed

[runciblemoon]

I have a playlist specifically for 15+ minute "epics" which I often shuffle whilst working. It's much less jarring to me than a playlist of shorter prog songs would be as you get a decent amount of time to luxuriate in each particular band/piece's vibe before being whisked away in a slightly different direction. In general though, the album is king when it comes to prog, no doubt about that.

[rael74]

Putting together prog playlists is a complete nightmare,
if it isn't the long, rambling song structures it's the inconsistent volumes.
Especially if they are compiled for a situation with background noise (i.e driving)

Take this scenario then driving to "Larks Tongues Part 1":

Wife: "What's this rubbish, I can hardly hear it"
Me: "It gets better trust me"
Wife: "I've turned it up and can still only hear someone tapping beer cans"
Me: "Don't turn it up anymore"
Wife: "Now it's something screeching, but it's still too quiet, let's turn it up more...."
Me: "It's TOO LOUD Araghhhh....!!!!!"
Crash.

[Progatron]

One thing I quickly learned since taking on a weekly 4 hour radio show is that prog can be a real pain in the ass if you try to fit too much of it in. From a listener perspective, you start to lose people when there are so many 'grand finale'-type themes that lead to anticlimaxes when the next song starts.

[moecurlythanu]

From a listener perspective, you start to lose people when there are so many 'grand finale'-type themes that lead to anticlimaxes when the next song starts.

You just described a Neal Morse Band concert.

[Progatron]

You just described a Neal Morse Band concert.

Good call!