Beyond and Before

Reviews / Votes

Examining every aspect of progressive rock - words and music, theatre and politics - Hegarty and Halliwell deftly unpick the tangled threads of tradition and radicalism that make up the genre's tapestry. In addition to shedding vital new light on an often maligned and misunderstood phase in rock's history, this probing and incisive study tracks prog's continued and unexpected reverberations through popular music long after punk had supposedly vanquished and banished it. Beyond and Before is a wonderful account of both the rich legacy and the ongoing story of progressive rock in all its forms. At last, here is a book that gives prog its due respect as a vital part of the history of rock music, without tying it to a simplistic narrative of over-ambition, decadence and decline. The best thing about the book is its comprehensive, nuanced definition of what counts as progressive. In Hegarty and Halliwell's capable hands we journey from such unlikely precursors of the concept album as Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington, through the 1970s Golden Age of Jethro Tull, Genesis and Pink Floyd to contemporary exponents as various as Spock's Beard, Porcupine Tree and The Decemberists. This is a great book. Hegarty and Halliwell have rescued progressive rock from the condescension of history by crafting a work that is smart, sympathetic, and impressively sweeping in its coverage of a much derided, yet enormously diverse and influential transnational music. Whether your taste is Porcupine Tree or Pink Floyd, Epica or ELP, Mike Oldfield or Midlake, there is plenty to admire and ponder in this ambitious and compelling account. By offering an expanded definition of prog rock in terms of its roots, musical and lyrical characteristics, geographic sources, artwork, performance practices, and legacies, Beyond and Before offers an exhilarating read Beyond and Before provides a genuinely superb exploration of the amphibious identity of post-60s rock. As an artist who has navigated through various musical subcultures over the years, I am impressed with the broad scope and meticulous research of this comprehensive text. Beyond and Before ticks all the boxes in moving the whole discussion forward and providing a 360 degree view on where [progressive rock] began and, more importantly, where its future lies ... This [is a] hugely important book. The depth of detail is mind-blowing and it will take several revisits to even begin to take in many of the key points it makes in its examinations and analyses. You will emerge from it feeling even more enriched and enthused about prog rock. This is highly recommended. Reviewed in Scotland on Sunday. RushVault.com, the main fansite for the progressive rock band Rush, has penned a very thoughtful and positive (and Rush-centric) review of the book. http://rushvault.com/2011/12/28/beyond-and-before-progressive-rock-alive-and-well/ Named as one of the 'Books of the Year' (2011) in Record Collector. Hegarty and Halliwell provide an exhaustively researched book on the words, music, and trappings of progressive rock. The most accomplished critical overview yet [of progressive rock] ... The treatment of the genre's present day re-imagining in the hands of Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, Midlake and The Mars Volta is particularly well done. [Beyond and Before] explores the bigger picture and cultural history expertly ... it has a clear narrative and is thoroughly impressive in scope Named by Record Collector as one of the Books of the Year (2011). A refreshing look at prog [that] digestibly chapters the continuing enigma [of progressive rock] and the people involved in it ... Hegarty and Halliwell show that prog's pendulum still swings, heartily and globally. If you want a single volume whose sweep covers this massive subject then this is as good as it gets. Beyond and Before is a fine study on the advancement of music, highly recommended. Hegarty and Halliwell arrive at a much broader purview of prog than anyone else has achieved to date ... Beyond and Before's virtue is a broad-minded inclusiveness lacking in previous books on the subject ... What's striking about the book is that half this volume deals with music made after 1976, the moment when, consensus has it, Prog was terminally holed by punk. [The authors] insist that progressive music as a set of approaches and themes can be identified across a broad swathe of contemporary music from the mid-90s to the present This book is deceptively comprehensive... Not a stone is left unturned... As broad as it is long, this book is the first I have read that is neither condescending nor overly polemic in its dealing with the subject. The wide area of music that it covers thankfully takes in much more than the usual suspects. Having followed the genre (sometimes unknowingly) since my first single purchase of 'See Emily Play' I was always bemused by the catch-all heading of 'Progressive Rock' back in the 1970s in which Floyd and other bands I liked fell. However, it has been so long established I guess we have to live with it despite the pejorative status amongst sections of the music press. If they were to read this book then perhaps they might be better informed. It is a fascinating read with entries about Gabriel as much as Gong, Miles as much as Marillion, Bernstein as much as Bowie. A brilliant book - the standard upon which any that follow must be measured against. Beautifully written and full of insightful and fascinating information and analysis. I recommend it highly. Beyond and Before is a very well researched and insightful book covering a lot of ground in the music world. It strikes just the right balance between academic and popular writing, which is no mean feat. I learnt a lot reading this and particularly enjoyed chapter 12 on post-progressive rock, which highlights the wonderful band Talk Talk from that era. It's totally engaging and well worth a read if you're any kind of music fan. Author interview on BBC 6 Music Reviewed in Choice Magazine Features as Paperback Book of the Month in CHOICE magazine (UK). One of the best books on prog. rock from the cultural studies perspective.