What do Indigo children, class structures, and science fiction all have to do with one another? Perhaps Destin and Drew can elucidate as they wrangle yet another concept album. But not just any concept album. The hosts introduce their audience to one of the most ambitious outfits in progressive rock today. On an initial playthrough, The Dear Hunter's Antimai draws listeners with memorable melodies, rhythmic punctuation, and futuristic synthesizers resulting in a sound akin to space funk. One will pick up bits of lore and story on each successive playthrough to be enchanted by impressive world building and intrigued by ties to other albums in the band's catalog. After a decade of telling one continuous narrative spanning across five albums or "Acts", The Dear Hunter embarks on a new sci-fi saga starting with an overview of an isolated, dystopian city typified by wealth inequality, social hierarchy, and organic scarcity. Destin and Drew get a little carried away as they poke and prod every nook and cranny of this rich musical and lyrical landscape, but one will forgive their verbosity after hearing all that Antimai has to offer.
Check us out HERE!
**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.
Destin and Drew return after a long hiatus to share the album responsible for their absence from the mics of the favored prog rock podcast. In a delightful twist of roles, our typical hosts appear as members of Arcane Atlas to illuminate listeners about the significance of their most rent project, which was ten years in the making - Constellation Plus. Rachel Brown returns as a guest interviewer to prompt personal stories and perspectives about the album which many have described as a unique fusion of Pink Floyd and Rush. This offers listeners the chance to hear from the Destin-Drew duo as creators rather than reviewers as they explain the history, process, and purpose behind music that spans back to their teenage years. From album artwork to studio anecdotes to favorite songs, this episode sheds light on why this particular album has been foundational to the bond between the charismatic Prog Notes personalities.
Listen to Arcane Atlas HERE!
Learn more about Prog Notes HERE!
**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.
Destin takes us through a tour of underground 1970s gems. Spanning across electronica, jazz, soft rock, blues, folk, Canterbury, RPI, and more, these albums all incorporate pieces of prog rock here and there while still maintaining identities that are fully independent of the traditional "prog rock" sound. Destin briefly explains the unique characteristics of each album to give listeners a taste of what the 1970s has to offer. Get ready for a panoramic perspective of music from 1970 - 1979!
Check us out HERE!
**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.
1970: Affinity by Affinity
1971: Samurai - Samurai
1972: Per Un Amico - PFM
1973: Grand Hotel - Procol Harum
1974: Sea Son - Secret Oyster
1975: Ambrosia - Ambrosia
1976: Time Robber - Omega
1977: Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Più - Locanda Delle Fate
1978: The Man-Machine - Kraftwerk
1979: One of a Kind - Bill Bruford
For this very special episode, Destin and Drew are graced with the presence of legendary guitarist Steve Hackett. In addition to being the lead guitarist for Genesis in their prime as one the most influential bands of the progressive rock genre, Steve has also had a very successful solo career, releasing dozens of albums with material encompassing a multitude of genres, including classical, blues, and world music. In 2022, the 1972 Genesis classic Foxtrot celebrated its 50th anniversary, and to celebrate that fact, Steve has been touring the world performing the entire album end-to-end. While chatting with Destin and Drew, he reveals the personal significance of Foxtrot, its timeless quality, and the joy of playing it live as it was originally intended. He also gives insight into the early years of progressive rock, recalling that bands were blending rock music with a variety of other musical styles and new technology all while aiming to tell great stories. Listeners are sure to appreciate Steve's perspective as he talks about the powerful force that is music. He encourages young musicians to embrace their unique voice rather than blindly following the instructions of others or becoming a stale imitation. That's the spirit of progressive rock!
Check us out HERE!
**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.
Destin presents a cautionary tale for emerging bands: Being mistaken for a band, even a band as great as The Beatles, could have adverse effects on your success. It certainly didn't do any favors for Canadian prog-rock trio Klaatu after releasing their 1977 space rock opera, Hope. While this cult classic is considered unappreciated by many devoted fans drawn to this album's eclectic ensemble of instruments, theatrical flair, and sci-fi world-building, the conspiracy surrounding their identity ultimately led them down a path to obscurity. However, this beloved record does strengthen the tie between science fiction and prog rock. Could science fiction be the music of prog-rock? Or could prog-rock be the music of science fiction?
Check us out HERE!
**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.
The Prog Notes duo are blessed once more with the insights of Rachel Brown! Together they enter into the ghostly drama riddled throughout Steven Wilson's third solo album, The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories) (2013). While some listeners may contend that Wilson's work on this album is a bit derivative of classic prog rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s, our show hosts align with others who appreciate his nod to these older influences while maintaining originality with a unique concept album that employs indelible videos to enhance the storytelling for two of the album's more somber tracks. In addition to comparing and contrasting this release to his next project (Hand.Cannot.Erase), the team actually explores each track from a lyrical and musical perspective. After their "deep dive" into the grim storybook of The Raven, Destin, Rachel, and Drew come up for air and discuss the fascinating topic of solo artists in progressive rock. This is certainly a rich conversation on one of Wilson's most critically acclaimed albums. Destin says it best:
"This is what happens when you get an English major, a film major, and an audio engineer reviewing this record."
Check us out HERE!
**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.
Destin and Drew jump back in time to 1971 and travel through the seminal album The Yes Album to discuss how this record launched Yes on the trajectory to becoming one of the most formative bands in the progressive rock genre. While employing Steve Howe's superb talents as an eclectic guitarist and crafting lengthier pieces laden with the lyrical voice of Jon Anderson, this progressive rock band managed to keep their ambitious arrangements grounded, resulting in an exhibition of phenomenal musicianship and promising songwriting. From lineup changes to album artwork, this episode features a slew of history and fun facts that give insight into the creation of one of Yes's most celebrated works. Those familiar with this popular entry in the Yes catalog are sure to appreciate this installment of Delve It or Shelve It as Destin and Drew rejoice over their favorite moments on an album that strengthened their friendship.
Check us out HERE!
**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.
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.
Check us out HERE!
**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.
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).
Check us out HERE!
**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.
That's right. Another Rush album! What a shock. Destin and Drew are joined yet again by the phenomenal Rachel Brown to discuss the "80s Rush sound" that pervades the 1985 release Power Windows. Along with a careful look at how Geddy Lee's voice matured over the years, these three discuss the important contributions of producer Peter Collins, the concepts presented from masterful wordsmith and lyricist Neil Peart, and Alex Lifeson's incredible guitar work that is often overlooked, especially in such a synth-laden era of Rush's catalogue. And to top it all off, the Prog Notes team pontificates on Hugh Syme's evocative album artwork on another addition of Illustrations and Impressions. Buckle up. In this episode, it's all Rush, all the time. No exceptions.
Check us out HERE!
**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.
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.
Check us out HERE!
**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.
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.
Check us out HERE!
**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.
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."
Check us out HERE!
**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.
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!
Check us out HERE!
**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.
A polarizing question about one of rock's most iconic records: is Aqualung a concept album? Venturing back to the burgeoning years of prog rock, this episode questions whether Jethro Tull's most successful album (Aqualung, 1971) has enough in common amongst its 11 tracks to be deemed a "concept album." There are certainly themes frequently revisited and characters that are referenced in more than one song, but is that enough? Furthermore, should this release even be considered progressive rock at all? Many of the iconic prog-rock elements seem to be absent, or at the very least subdued when compared to Tull's contemporaries of the day (King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, ELP, etc.). To answer these inquiries, Destin and Drew analyze the music and lyrics in an isolated system that is the album on its own while also contextualizing it with the band's music before and after. While Aqualung may be a head-scratcher in many respects, it all works together to create an incredibly unique listening experience that entices the listener to repeat it again and again.
Check us out HERE!
**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.
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.
Check us out HERE!
**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.
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!
Follow Arcane Atlas
**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.
**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.
