Enchant are one of America’s finest neo-progressive rock bands. Formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989, they built a melodic, song-oriented brand of prog around Ted Leonard’s soaring tenor and founder Doug Ott’s tasteful, expressive guitar. Their 1993 debut A Blueprint of the World — co-produced by Marillion’s Steve Rothery — remains a genre landmark. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Oasis”, “The Thirst”, “Nighttime Sky” and “Circles” — an eight-minute early classic, the catchy debut opener, a minimalist rocker with a Steve Rothery guest solo, and the triumphant opener of their comeback. The full ranking is below.

Neo-prog craft from the Bay Area

Enchant may be American, but their heart beats to the melodic pulse of British neo-progressive rock. Formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989 — originally as Mae Dae — they built their sound around the soaring tenor of Ted Leonard (later the singer of Spock’s Beard) and the tasteful, endlessly melodic guitar of founder Doug Ott. Their 1993 debut A Blueprint of the World, co-produced by Marillion’s Steve Rothery, announced a band that valued song and feeling over flash, drawing on Rush, Kansas and Marillion without ever copying them. Across a prolific run of albums, and a long-awaited 2014 comeback, they became one of the most beloved acts in the genre. These fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, Ted Leonard’s voice, Doug Ott’s guitar and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “Oasis” (1993), an eight-minute early classic full of engaging melodies. With it: “The Thirst” (1993), the aggressive, catchy debut opener; “Nighttime Sky” (1993), a minimalist rocker with Marillion’s Steve Rothery on guest guitar; “Circles” (2014), the triumphant opener of their comeback and a fan favourite; “At Death’s Door” (1993), a dynamic, atmospheric standout; and “Sinking Sand” (2003), a heavy, driving highlight.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Below Zero” (1996) is the punchy opener of their second album; “Under Fire” (1998) is a frantic, stirring rocker; “Comatose” (2003) is a powerful, proggy closer; “Catharsis” (1993) is an early, keyboard-rich gem; and “Within an Inch” (2014) is a soaring latter-day highlight.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Progtology” (2003) is a fiery, Rush-like instrumental; “What to Say” (2000) is a reflective, powerful ballad; “Paint the Picture” (2000) is a live favourite from a fan-loved album; and “Life in a Shadow” (2014) is a spectacular display of soaring vocals and fiery guitar.

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 debut A Blueprint of the World, widely regarded as their masterpiece, then the fan favourites Break and Juggling 9 or Dropping 10, and their 2014 comeback The Great Divide. The albums in between — Wounded, Time Lost, Blink of an Eye and Tug of War — reward deeper exploration.

The players

Enchant have always revolved around guitarist and founder Doug Ott and vocalist Ted Leonard, whose bright, emotive tenor is the band’s signature — and who went on to front Spock’s Beard from 2011. Bassist Ed Platt has been a constant, while drums and keyboards passed from Paul Craddick and Michael Geimer to Sean Flanegan and Bill Jenkins. It is telling that Marillion’s Steve Rothery thought enough of the band to co-produce their debut. All of the members remain active in music today.

Why they still matter

Enchant proved that American musicians could master the melodic, song-driven progressive rock pioneered in Britain. Kindred spirits of Marillion, IQ and Pendragon, and peers of the wider American prog revival, they built a catalogue of thoughtful, tuneful prog that fans have cherished for more than three decades. Decades on, A Blueprint of the World remains a neo-prog touchstone.

Go deeper

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

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