Interesting all the discussion of sub-genres on PA. I’ve used the site extensively to research bands for many years, and I don’t think I ever gave the sub-genres more than a passing glance. I actually had to look up what sub-genre Eccentric Orbit was in. We’re Symphonic Prog, who knew?
If the expectation is that people will use the site to find “more bands like this one,” I actually think some level of categorization is OK, understanding it will be somewhat blunt. But I can see the confusion if you are looking for more Symph-type bands, and PFM and Banco don’t come up because they’re in RPI, or you’re looking for more great Italian bands and Picchio Dal Pozzo doesn’t come up because they’re in Canterbury.
So, some of the criticisms here seem valid, and it seems PA could probably look at some of that with fresh eyes. But that one issue doesn’t diminish the value of this site for me. In some ways, PA is the continuation of GEPR, which was a great resource in that it gave rich descriptions of bands from multiple perspectives. I use it extensively and to me it’s a great resource.
Bill
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