Prog-rock is an elaborate, terrified denial of the fundamental rock and roll fact that no matter how virtuosic and sophisticated a band gets, some junior-high dropout could step up with a guitar with four broken strings and play a song with enough soul to blow them out of the water forever.
i'm really interested in what you guys have to say about this, hehe.
Are you talking bout grunge or punk? i think punk or grunge is one of your main influences. correct me if i'm wrong... anyway i agree that soul is essential to music especially rock. it is it's essence. but think about it this way.
there are 2 individual guitar players... one plays Prog rock and very technical and knows music theory inside out and the other guy only knows 4 chords. let's say they have the same soul... won't you think the guy with more knowledge has more avenue or ways to express himself rather than a guy who only knows 4 broken chords?
but it's really a matter of tastes because i also like punk and grunge as well coz as musicians we need to appreciate all kinds of music from the sex pistols to alice in chains. but that qoute is not fair because it basically says that progressive rock has no soul. and btw dream theater is not the only prog rock band.
meron pang pain of salvation, kansas, yes, rush... even pink floyd can be called prog. well that's just my opinion.
=) peace!
gino