Your face is better at everything.
There is seriously no comparison between PT and Mars Volta. Not even the same kind of music. Also PT is better at everything. ;P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TJxP0AkTa2s#t=193s
Well, he is right about one thing: The Mars Volta blows PT out of the water when it comes to lyrical quality.
Lately though, Mars Volta has just been all over the map with insanity, so it's hard to get a good fix. Early 'Volta, however, damn.
Musically, both are great at their game, and both serve the purpose this thread is looking for.
I cannot believe I haven't seen any Tool mentioned, nor anything Ska (huge Ska fan ).
And any song with classical riffs are great, imho. Led Zeppelin has a ton of great songs to choose from for this purpose.
Even some harder, more "modern" rock.
Thrice, for instance, has much to choose from.
Coheed and Cambria have some epic tracks that fit the bill, especially live versions; The Final Cut, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3, and 21:13 - album versions are amazing, live versions transcend beyond epic - especially The Final Cut; 21:13 is one of their most prog tracks; the rest of the "Willing Well" songs (of which The Final Cut is the final of the four-song series) are probably their most prog.
Definitely have to throw in some Slightly Stoopid and Sublime in the playlist. Fo sho.
Throw in some occasional rap, and you've just about covered almost the entire range of my daily music choices - it gets a little more eclectic, but not all of it obviously fits this thread.