So you want to become a prog fan, huh? Well, there’s a lot more to it than just finding a place to sit alone at lunchtime. Take it from the guy writing this: You have to get into prime mental shape before your playlists are chock-full of songs with four-digit run times. Some people work out in the gym, but that’s not going to cut it here. Crunching the cranium with 7/8 time signatures and Gordian-knot lyrics takes some getting used to, and we’re here to help. Ahead, you’ll find a selection of literary, cinematic, and conspiratorial esoterica for essential progressive companionship. Oh, and if any of those words are too big for you, try another genre.

CRANK UP THE CLASSICAL