The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock: Third Edition

Charles Snider's “Strawberry Bricks” overview of the original era of “progressive” rock is a good starting place for the neophyte whose exposure to Art Rock is still in its infancy. Unfortunately, looking at the field from the standpoint of the 1970s, as this book does, is roughly equivalent to evaluating the state of science fiction literature from the era of Jules Verne. The musics of the formative 1970s, while a freewheeling (read: undisciplined) vortex of expansive experimentation, are nonetheless marred by the then-standard habit of recruiting substandard vocalists to render shrill commentary to strident, pseudo-intellectual “concepts.” I would venture to say that around 60% of the music praised in this book (which too often reads like Prog dealer listings) has not stood the test of time, and should be reissued cleansed of the often unlistenable vocals so that the true beauty of the music can be enjoyed.As Prog nerds are wont to do, many of these artifacts continue to be heralded as “great,” or “essential” based primarily on their obscurity and inaccessibility (Can, Grobschnitt, Kevin Ayers, et al), while others are criticized not for what they are, but because they don't sound like what came before (ELP's “Works, Vol. 1”). Like the long-running Captain Beefheart practical joke, some of these albums remain in the standard canon only because the pretension of the critics exceeds the pretension they love to decry in the music they review.I was immersing myself in this musical idiom during the same time period as they were being recorded and released, and have heard 95% of the music described herein, but I've rarely wanted to hear it a second time. Since the time period covered by this book (1967 – 1982), artful music has exploded the field with such successful achievement and diversity as to render as obsolete much of what came before. Over the years, I've been put off by so many great albums ruined by unnecessary and unpleasant vocals that I now primarily listen to instrumental music: jazz fusion, electronica, and rock instrumentals. If you are new to this field of music, this may be a good place to start, but do yourself a favor and look up these albums for a test run on YouTube before investing your money in them.This book, after all, is like any other list of must-haves: one man's opinion. There are many strange inclusions (The Rutles), as well as exclusions (Frank Zappa's excellent fusion adventuring). It remains an encyclopedic survey of the 1970s, but art in music has truly progressed upwardly and outwardly since that time as to render this standard canon irrelevant, and one shouldn't confine his or her explorations to what lies within its covers.

I first bought the first edition of this in the 2010s including the second addition. When I found out there was a third edition out; well I simply had to get it! I developed quite a love affair for progressive rock and books like these always pique my interest. I started with the first issue of this book (which was published in 2007) then later with the second one from 2017 (asides from new entries also had a interview section called portraits) and now the third edition from last year. The third edition had the original 2007 cover (The second had a different one) and some new entries, though minus the portraits section. To any lover of progressive rock, if you love the first two edition of this book, then you'll like the third!

In the past we had American rock criticLillian Roxon and her Encyclopedia of Rock. Then Came NME (New Musical Express) and their two volumes of guides to Rock. Now we have Charles Snider author and distinguished rock afficianado of all that is progressive rock. His Third edition is fantastic. It well written and concise and give you a feeling for the music within. It is chronlogical and through in his analysis of many obscure bands like Anekdoten to Zao. If you are like me and enjoy progressive rock; this is the book for you.You will not be disappointed.

My prog nerd loves this. He is a completist and enjoys books like this to discover anything not previously listened to. Very coolHe has mentioned many times how long it will take him to finish this. A great gift for the obscure rock lover.

The book is basically nothing but a lot of reviews and the reviews themselves are so short they provide no kind of real 'guide' or deep insights. What to do? Buy 'A New Day Yesterday: UK Progressive Rock & The 1970s UK Progressive Rock & The 1970s' instead (THAT is a guide to progressive rock) and then go to well-known and established prog music review websites that contain more varied reviews on any artist and their entire discography which are far more insightful. I own both books and Strawberry Bricks is a waste of time and money.

I enjoyed reading this book. I have most of the albums reviewed and it was fun to read about the bands at the time the albums were released, as well as trivia about the albums themselves.

Enjoying reading about these groups and albums

Excelente guia para quienes deseen adentrarse en las entretelas del género

This is such a wonderful read, full of facts and info on all the great prog bands. I have discovered so much music I missed along the way.

If you’re of a certain age, and loved early progressive rock this is the book for you… has made me go back and reassess many albums from long ago and with the joy of the internet download a few essential missing ones!!

A comprehensive review of all the influential bands during the early progressive music era. Written in chronological order and impeccably researched. A delight to read straight through and a brilliant reference book to peruse at your leisure. Highly recommended.

Great book, but noticed an error, the band Pallas are not or have ever been English, they are from my hometown Aberdeen in Scotland, a small matter but an important one. But a great book none the less, well worth buying.

Working my way through this book, very informative