i suppose it's an emotional content that i find missing,
as rick said, "soul". i think that's the reason we tend to
wear out on bands like dream theater so quickly.
there's much of the surface sheen of the original
prog masters w/o the sense of drama.
citing "awaken" as likely the epitome of the genre,
and (again IMO) possibly the ultimate that can be achieved
w/ the standard rock instruments-
the tune takes the listener to peaks and valleys,
highs and lows, almost to a trance-like state...
sonic drugs .
to be honest, i haven't found any new prog that i enjoy
as well as crimson's "power to believe", or even
some of the tunes on "the ladder"("nine voices" i.e.).
roger water's "amused to death" is another example.
the old practicioners are still kicking the new guys.
rick may have touched on it, but i'd say the difference
of the masters and today's prog is that none of the
masters set out to
be prog.
i believe that in some ways, prog's painted itself into a corner.
i.e.- the mandantory hammond, moog sounds,
the drawing the tune out ad nauseum when the idea
could've been expressed in the first 4 minutes.
if the artist tries to venture out of the box, cut new ground,
the old "not prog" rears it's head.
sure, i'd take it over britney backstreet, but then again,
i'd take willie nelson, johnny cash over her also...
or terry jacks for that matter.
that's just my opinion, i could be wrong.
k/z