This is mostly pretentious crap by second rate musicians. I didn't even like most of it when I was young.
This thread should be changed to 'which are the most over-rated prog rock discs'.
Let me start. #1 All of Genesis #2 Most of Yes #3 Some of Pink Floyd
Coming from someone who is obviously only familiar with the best known prog from the UK in the 70's.
Obviously is ignorant to how many different directions prog has gone since 1974.
2nd rate compared to who? The vast majority of prog musicians are substantially better than almost all mainstream rock musicians.
Probably the only musicians that are better than prog musicians, are jazz and classical. But, depending on the musicians in question, that could be debatable, since many jazz and classical musicians also play in prog bands .
And then there is the entire subgenre of avant-prog, where almost every band within this subgenre has multiple members that are grads from classical conservatories, many of whom play in orchestras and chamber ensembles, along with their avant-prog gigs.