Beardfish are one of the most beloved bands of the modern progressive rock revival. Formed in Gävle, Sweden in 2001 and led by the prodigiously talented multi-instrumentalist Rikard Sjöblom, they built a devoted following with a warm, eclectic take on classic 1970s prog — equal parts Gentle Giant, Frank Zappa and vintage Deep Purple, filtered through their own quirky sensibility. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Sleeping in Traffic”, “Roulette”, “Awaken the Sleeping” and “The Ungodly Slob” — their thirty-five-minute magnum opus, a twelve-minute epic, a Zappa-esque tour de force, and their beloved instrumental showcase. The full ranking is below.

Sweden’s retro-prog treasures

Few bands have channelled the spirit of 1970s progressive rock as joyfully as Beardfish. Formed in the Swedish town of Gävle in 2001 around the extravagant talents of singer, guitarist and keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom, they built their sound on the eclectic, playful complexity of Gentle Giant and Frank Zappa, the heaviness of Deep Purple and the adventure of King Crimson — yet always sounded fresh, warm and unmistakably themselves. Across seven studio albums, from the sprawling epics of the Sleeping in Traffic records to the gleeful brilliance of Destined Solitaire, they became one of the most cherished acts of the modern prog scene. These fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, invention, that vintage warmth and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “Sleeping in Traffic” (2008), their thirty-five-minute magnum opus. With it: “Roulette” (2007), a twelve-minute epic and fan favourite; “And the Stone Said: If I Could Speak” (2011), a soaring, multi-part highlight; “Awaken the Sleeping” (2009), a wild, Zappa-esque tour de force; “The Ungodly Slob” (2007), their beloved instrumental showcase; and “Voluntary Slavery” (2012), a heavy, adventurous standout.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Year of the Knife” (2007) is a cinematic, clavinet-driven gem; “The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of” (2009) is a dramatic, dynamic epic; “Without Saying Anything” (2011) is a melodic, classic-Beardfish closer; “A Love Story” (2005) is an early, ambitious highlight; and “If We Must Be Apart (A Love Story Pt. II)” (2015) is a poignant sequel and late-career gem.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “South of the Border” (2008) is a punchy, colourful cut; “Seventeen Again” (2012) is a heavier, driving highlight; “Igloo on Two” (2005) is a quirky, fun early epic; and “Comfort Zone” (2015) is a strong title track from their comeback album.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with their acclaimed Sleeping in Traffic: Part One and the wild masterpiece Destined Solitaire, then the epic Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two and the tighter Mammoth. Their heavier The Void, the sprawling early The Sane Day and the comeback +4626-Comfortzone reward deeper exploration.

The players

Beardfish were built around the astonishing talent of Rikard Sjöblom — singer, guitarist, keyboardist and principal songwriter, a one-man embodiment of the band’s vintage-prog spirit. Alongside him, guitarist David Zackrisson, bassist Robert Hansen and drummer Magnus Östgren formed a tight, versatile unit equally at home with delicate balladry and full-throttle complexity. The band dissolved in 2016 but reunited in 2023; Sjöblom, meanwhile, went on to join Big Big Train and lead his own project, Gungfly.

Why they still matter

Beardfish proved that the eclectic, virtuosic spirit of classic progressive rock could thrive in the 21st century without a trace of irony. Alongside fellow Swedish adventurers like The Flower Kings and Änglagård, they carried the flame for warm, playful, ambitious prog, and Rikard Sjöblom has since become one of the genre’s most respected figures. Decades on, their music remains a joy for anyone who loves the golden age of prog.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best Beardfish albums, or place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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