Apparently, music fans and the wider industry were really hungering for an official chart dedicated specifically to progressive music, because the UK’s Official Charts Company has just unveiled the very first Official Progressive Albums Chart Top 30.
While some might say the chart is about 45 years too late, Gigwise reports the first top 30 dedicated to progressive music will nonetheless be published for the first time next week in Prog Magazine, because where better to publish such a thing?
“We felt it was an oversight not to have done this a long time ago. Progressive music is as alive and kicking as it’s ever been. It’s more a state of mind than a genre,” said Official Charts Company boss Martin Talbot.
Meanwhile, former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman said, “It’s only 45 years too late, but better late than never. Prog rock is the healthiest it’s ever been… the standard of musicianship of young bands is overall way higher than the standard was back in the 1970s.”
While there are some undeniably proggy bands in the Top 10, including progressive legends Pink Floyd, as well as Muse, Roger Waters, and Symphony X, taking a look at the chart, a few anomalies do arise.
Primarily, just what are our very own Tame Impala doing at the top of the chart? Don’t get us wrong, we love the Perth outfit and their latest album, Currents, which we called one of the best of the year, but would you really call them prog?
Maybe we’ve been wrong about them all this time, but we always classified the Kevin Parker-led project as being more akin to psychedelic rock, though there are certainly proggy elements in the music. Regardless, it’s good to see an Aussie at the top.
Readers can check out the full Top 10 list, via Gigwise, below.
Official Progressive Albums Chart Top 10
1. Tame Impala – Currents
2. Muse – Drones
3. Roger Waters – Amused To Death
4. Joe Satriani – Shockwave Supernova
5. Public Service Broadcasting – The Race For Space
6. Faith No More – Sol Invictus
7. Symphony X – Underworld
8. Pink Floyd – The Endless River
9. Tim Bowness – Stupid Things That Mean The World
10. Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful
