Progressive

"Come Sail Away" always yields a reaction.

Today's reaction was having to come up with a word describing Styx. The word that came up was "progressive" which is an accurate if not precise word for that group. Their music includes some of the attributes that are used in progressive rock - concept albums and the use of synthesizers - although they are evidently considered more of a straightforward mid-Seventies rock band.

That term is so far out of date now, though, that using it is likely to engender confusion with progressive politics. And that term, too, is so old it's new again: the Progressive Era was a late 19th century period of political tumult. In Strauss & Howe terms, it was the Awakening after the Civil War, and lasted from 1886 through 1908.  However it is in current use for a particular package of political goals on the left side of the political spectrum, many of which are inherited from the Progressive era. And interestingly enough, some of those appear to coincide with progressive rock. Wikipedia mentions social commentary,  ecology and spiritual themes as being common lyrical themes, and the appearance of this style of music in the middle of the Awakening indicates that there is a connection.