-
In the title "retro" stands for "restrospective" - that means this list is about my favorite discoveries of 2016! Not necesarily albums released this year, just stuff I stumbled upon these last 12 months.
I already have half writeups done, will start posting honorable mentions now - they're almost as many as albums on the final list, which has 30 albums, and isn't completely finished by now (there are a few albums I'm considering putting there or here). I hope to start posting the actual list during the last 2 weeks of 2016 or so :corn
Honorable Mentions:
- Akira Yamaoka - Silent Hill OST
- Alter Bridge - The Last Hero
- BADBADNOTGOOD - BBNG2
- Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
- Boris - Pink
- Burial - Burial
- Death In Vegas - The Contino Sessions
- Dredg - Catch Without Arms
- Emiliana Torrini - Love in the Time of Science
- Giles Corey - Giles Corey
- Glen Hansard - Rhythm and Repose
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
- Fire! Orchestra - Enter
- Hooverphonic - A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular
- Kashiwa Daisuke - april.#02
- Lovage - Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By
- Lunatic Soul - Lunatic Soul
- maudlin of the Well - Part the Second
- Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV
- Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
- No-Man - Flowermouth
- No-Man - Returning Jesus
- No-Man - Schoolyard Ghosts
- OSI - Office of Strategic Influence
- Porcupine Tree - Signify
- Saltillo - Monocyte
- Sigur Rós - Kveikur
- Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion
- Susanne Sundfor - Ten Love Songs
- Swans - The Glowing Man
- The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
The List:
30. Darren Korb - Bastion Original Soundtrack
29. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
28. Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction
27. Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid
26. Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks
25. Burial - Street Halo/Kindred
24. Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
23. Anathema - A Sort of Homecoming
22. DJ Shadow - The Private Press
21. Ludovido Einaudi - Divenire
20. Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man - Out of Season
19. Gazpacho - Night
18. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
17. Morcheeba - Big Calm
16. David Bowie - Blackstar
15. Obsidian Kingdom - A Year With No Summer
14. Bohren & der Club of Gore
13. Nils Frahm - Felt
12. Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
11. Kashiwa Daisuke - 88
10. Gorillaz - Demon Days
9. iamthemorning - ~
8. Darren Korb - Transistor Original Soundtrack
7. Kashiwa Daisuke - Program Music II
6. Akira Yamaoka - Silent Hill 2 Original Soundtrack
5. Dredg - El Cielo
4. Akira Yamaoka - Silent Hill 3 Original Soundtrack
3. The Angelic Process - Weighing Souls with Sand
2. Ulver - ATGCLVLSSCAP
1. Bohren & der Club of Gore - Sunset Mission
Recommended songs playlist. (https://open.spotify.com/user/11123994595/playlist/77688IS5DoIOr6Vr4nM1jh)
-
Honorable Mentions
Silent Hill
Akira Yamaoka
(https://www.silenthillmemories.net/music/osts/pics/sh1_ost_jp_01_front.jpg)
The fear of blood tends to create fear for the flesh...
Damn, took me some time to get around this one! Maybe that's because it's been quite a while since I last played this game. I'll be honest, I thought it was quite bland but got the impression the soundtrack was nice. So revisiting it now I'm very impressed - dark assaults of industrial sounds and noises, disturbing ambient pieces, some wonderful trip-hop tracks like Killing Time, even a Pink Floyd-ish rocker on She and fucking tango with Esperándote. Very influenced by Reznor (according to Yamaoka himself) and Badalamenti, feels like a very twisted Twin Peaks at times (except not really). Definitely better than what I expected when returning to it.
Recommended track: Tears of... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UJOl1P4KQw)
BBNG2
BADBADNOTGOOD
(https://e.snmc.io/lk/o/l/274b8c4a05e99f73eb4a78216c9fea6c/4212438.jpg)
Hey pig, piggy, pig, pig, pig...
Probably too chaotic and energetic for my taste, but still displays the group's unique take on jazz and hip-hop influences. Half the tracks are covers, half are originals. You'll have a hard time guessing which are which! Well, not the recommended track, which is basically a cover of James Blake's cover.
Recommended track: Limit to Your Love (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWJolDnITe0)
Pink
Boris
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2394913349_10.jpg)
Still better than Loveless
How the fuck can these guys be so creative using basically the same instruments on every album yet they all sound different? Fucking Japan. Well, Pink is crushing, heavy, sometimes slow or very fast, but mostly beautiful. The vocals are probably the weakest part tho.
Recommended track: Farewell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=855klBq2fnQ)
-
I'll be well and truly disappointed if there's no paramacore on this list
-
I'll be well and truly disappointed if there's no paramacore on this list
:neverusethis:
-
Burial
Burial
(https://www.differ-ant.fr/images/covers/burial.jpg)
Now that I need you...
Burial slowly crafting his sound, which would find a huge refinement on the amazing Untrue. Kinda rough at times, but a very immersive, late-night listening atmosphere. This guy is a genius of sampling.
Recommended track: Distant Lights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI0KM5Gv9Qw)
The Contino Sessions
Death in Vegas
(https://img.discogs.com/AZGgiTM1Q3nuOEEVOXNPc8u43BU=/fit-in/600x594/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-6369-1477151600-7779.jpeg.jpg)
Open your eyes...
I dig this one. It starts and ends quite awesome, but what's in between ranges from excellent to just ok - yes, there's some filler here. Yet that doesn't stop this combination of 90s electronic music (Big Beat, Dub, Trip-Hop, among others) with psychedelic rock from resulting in a very hypnotic experience. Recommended if you're looking for something unusual and trippy. Also, Iggy Pop on vocals here.
Recommended track: Dirge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5nzwqj3utY)
Love in the Time of Science
Emilíana Torrini
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/517CGX2vy%2BL.jpg)
I still think she could have used a better cover...
Sometimes she's been compared to Bjork, but I think the only similar thing is being Icelandic and having a voice tone close to her. And she's a lot more experimental than Torrini, for sure. Myself, I found this album very enjoyable actually - catchy, lovely songs, not much pretension, just some good pop tunes with a nice electronic vibe and production. It can get a little wild a times, and I definitely prefer those tracks. But the songwriting here isn't very deep tbh, and towards the end you feel like have listened to variations of 3-4 songs. And they aren't very daring in terms of structure or innovation. And that's ok, I like this album for what it is: a simple pop record.
Recommended track: To Be Free (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WiEUuBDR5A)
-
Eh I feel like our tastes continue to drift further apart but I will follow anyhow :metal
-
Gyles Corey
Gyles Corey
(https://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luroh5ePxZ1qe11m2.jpg)
Giles Corey, bloody, gory/We will redress your wrongs...
This is legit a strong contender for the most depressing album I've ever listened to. This is like an indie folk album taken to this extremely dark and surreal next-level. Indie folk is usually uplifting with it's sadness though, and this definitely is at times (Grave Filled With Books), but for the most part it's just absolutely soul-crushing, nihilistic, and overwhelming. This is like the slightly more down-to-earth, but still very fucking dark and weird, younger brother of Deathconsciousness. The production here really makes it stand out, for it sounds unlike anything I know - and it's a haunting atmosphere.
So bad half the tracks here are just ok, because when it's good, Giles Corey is mind-blowing. Or just heart-breaking.
Recommended track: The Haunting Presence (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSgWMXKMiTg)
Rhythm and Repose
Glen Hansard
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/aa/Glen-hansard-rhythm-and-repose-cover.jpg)
Holding on....
I'll start by saying that Bird of Sorrow is one of the best songs I've listened to in a long while. So I was hyped to check an album with such a beauty and... I was disappointed. That track is by far the best here. However, that's not to say this is a bad album, no - Philander, High Hopes, The Storm, It's Coming, they're all excellent songs. The rest are pretty standard soft folk tunes. Which are pretty nice, but not special at all. Such an inconsistent album it's almost a shame, but one I'm still happy to have listened to a few times. Now I need to check his work with The Sowing Season.
Recommended track: Bird of Sorrow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIGCpWi5dIs)
'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/Godspeed_You!_Black_Emperor_-_Allelujah!_Don't_Bend!_Ascend!.jpg)
I still think she could have used a better cover...
I think this was the last of their albums I hadn't listened to yet. And boy, what I was missing. 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!' is probably the collective's heaviest, most apocalyptic record to date (even more than Asunder, Sweet... I'd say), one of outrageous guitar distortion, heavy drones, and eastern sounds, along with GYBE! classic buildups and use of sampling. The album kinda falls short on the last two tracks, but the opening song is among their very best.
Recommended track: Mladic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXdF9uhVrI0)
-
Eh I feel like our tastes continue to drift further apart but I will follow anyhow :metal
Hell yeah. Remember all these honourable mentions are 4/5 (or 8/10 or 80%, whatever) albums, so you should check a few. Like Boris' Pink :P
-
Enter
Fire! Orchestra
(https://e.snmc.io/lk/l/l/db321bcfef6303c6657a7f3b8cc3ee61/5311492.jpg)
You have to live to die... And to die to live...
Got this one on my roulette, and wtf. Enter is basically an avant-garde jazz record made by a collective of like 15 people or so. It's very experimental with those choirs, guitar feedback, weird vocals, demented sax, etc, yet somehow not completely inaccessible. The last song is basically the first one but on steroid, curious decision. I'm still not big on the middle tracks, which have some awkward harsh noise sections and people doing things to their voices that I wouldn't recommend. Still a very interesting album, that's somehow outside of what I listen to, but that I ended up enjoying a lot.
Recommended track: Enter pt. 4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbrR9JVeSgM)
A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular
Hooverphonic
(https://www.music-bazaar.com/album-images/vol12/550/550088/2388968-big/A-New-Stereophonic-Sound-Spectacular-cover.jpg)
As I was saying, stereo is full of surprises...
Quite an interesting record - I love the atmosphere here, and the ethereal vocals. Although some argue this isn't really trip-hop, I can see why: there's not a jazzy mood like Portishead nor a foundation on hip-hop and dub like Massive Attack, nor on turntablism like DJ Shadow. I dunno what's the background of these guys, but these tracks show they had experience in dream pop, electronic music, and even some rock. The "trip-hop-ness" is due to sharing a similar approach to the mentioned artists, with the use of female vocals, samples of old soul songs, a late-night mood, slow, simple songs, focus on production, etc. So all in all this is a very good bunch of soft songs that range from popish tunes, to atmospheric pieces build up around spoken samples, to guitar-driven atmosphere - there's quite a lot of variety here. That being said, I think there are a few... not really duds, none of these songs are bad, but some are rather forgettable. Also, the synths sound a bit outdated, like they haven't aged well. Other than that, an excellent record.
Recommended track: Inhaler (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lphG4o2tOn0)
april.#02
Kashiwa Daisuke
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dYpw9fl210/UV8NkwfKOzI/AAAAAAAAASU/98WE_OeKOGU/s1600/cover.jpg)
Beauty and chaos...
Still not as refined as (yet noisier than) Program Music I, this album shows Daisuke's ability for merging sophisticated electronics with modern classical melodies. The title track is one hell of a journey through broken drum beats, glitchy pianos, splashes of noise, and feels. Sad the rest of the record doesn't hold up to it.
Recommended track: april.#02 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVRs6ZnibIw)
-
Damn, I was starting to think I was the only Fire! Orchestra fan here. Lots of good stuff so far. :metal
-
Damn, I was starting to think I was the only Fire! Orchestra fan here. Lots of good stuff so far. :metal
Nuh uh.
I'm still not big on the middle tracks, which have some awkward harsh noise sections and people doing things to their voices that I wouldn't recommend.
Listen to this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FC7-NWlTp8). When I first bought the album, I would alternate between a listen to the studio version and a listen to the live version. They're both stronger and weaker than each other in different places, so by alternating, you get a fuller sense of what they were going for with the whole piece. But I particularly enjoy the beginning of Part Three much more in the live version. The vocals are still more or less the weirdest shit ever (other than the last ten minutes of their debut), but also much more awesome.
And if your favourite track is Part Four, the finale is off the fucking chain here compared to the studio track.
Oh, and they toned down the weird vocals a lot in their latest album, but then it's also not quite as good as their first two overall.
-
I'll give it a listen later :P
Tried giving Ritual some spins, but didn't grab me much besides the first song tbh.
-
Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By
Lovage
(https://cf-images.emusic.com/music/images/album/125/598/12559854/600x600.jpg)
I'm a man... I'm a virgin...
I don't know where the satire and the legitimacy of this album as sex music end and begin. I mean, with bae we tried making out to the recommended song and spent more time laughing than kissing - it's just ridiculous!
So, the music itself is some pretty nice trip-hop - nothing too original or inventive, but very, very well done (Dan the Automator from Deltron 3030 and Kid Koala collaborated making these tasty beats). Some record scratching, live instrumentation like harpsichord and guitars, and a few guest vocalists like Prince Paul (aka Chest Rockwell), Afrika Bambaataa, Damon Albarn (the guy behind Gorillaz!), and Maseo from De La Soul. While no song does really stand out, they all are consistently good and makes for an album that rarely gets boring despite being baby-making music. Very interesting record indeed.
Recommended track: Sex (I'm A) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMO1rJ3DUQ4)
Ghosts I-IV
Nine Inch Nails
(https://ghosts.nin.com/images/pic_cover_large.jpg)
Don't let the minimalist cover fool you...
Along with The Fragile, probably their most experimental release. According to Reznor, Ghosts I–IV originated from an experiment: "The rules were as follows: 10 weeks, no clear agenda, no overthinking, everything driven by impulse. Whatever happens during that time gets released as ... something". Worth noting is Brian Viglione's contribution to the album - he stated that Trent's instructions to him were to "build a drumkit. Piece together any stuff that you want to bang on; rent what you want to rent. Have fun and ... be creative—See where your mind and your ideas take you." Viglione's makeshift drum kit included a 50-gallon trash can, a pair of water cooler jugs, and a cookie tray with a chain across it.
So yeah, this album goes from soft piano-driven instrumentals, to weird electronic experiments, to guitar bangers with lots of distortion, to just whatever. Worth noting is the brilliant marketing, based on giving away this album in a "Pay What You Want" fashion like Radiohead's In Rainbows and via the official Nine Inch Nails YouTube profile, a user-generated "film festival" was announced, where fans were invited to visually interpret the album's music and post their results.
Recommended track: Ghosts 31 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84bV_2Qvhe4)
Flowermouth
No-Man
(https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/462/cover_401491092016_r.jpg)
I begged for your forgiveness with flowers in my mouth...
The electronic side of this one remind me of Bjork's Post, that kind of dance music that was popular at the time. And although many ideas here are quite dated, the strongest side of the album is the songwriting, which Steven Wilson was beginning to improve and improve with each release on his other projects. Flowermouth's certainly been a grower for me, one which I wasn't too fond of to begin with, but has won me a bit with amazing tracks like Things Change and Shell of a Fighter - the last one sounding a hella lot like something from Stupid Dream. Not complaining tho.
Recommended track: Watching Over Me (https://youtu.be/QsJ5OFXFyLU?list=PLQf5hV40S9dB9ipZlDIpmM6R_ENwfrrKy)
-
That NIN album :hefdaddy
-
Giles Corey :hefdaddy
-
That NIN album :hefdaddy
Giles Corey :hefdaddy
:metal
EDIT: Btw since part of the final list is undefined (I have a couple of albums I dunno if including them or not), I'll slow down this to two albums per day. I'll also be absent this weekend so :corn
-
Monocyte
Saltillo
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2343423850_10.jpg)
You think you are something...
Saltillo gone industrial and glitch! With his very sweet cello-driven trip-hop style, I should be in fucking love with this, right?.. Right?... Being honest here: this album is a beautiful mess. Songs feel either incomplete or meandering - as Matthews himself said, it was a record made in a bit of a rush, and to me it's clear that the songwriting could really use some refinement. However, the brooding, almost chaotic atmosphere that serves as a soundtrack to a comic of the same name (written and painted by him!) mesmerizes me - this is really trip-hop on another level. Looking forwards to his next album... whenever it's due.
Recommended track: They All Do It the Same (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDyOqacn2sg)
The Glowing Man
Swans
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0861320350_10.jpg)
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!
Brutal, atmospheric, sometimes tribal and surreal. Sounds a bit like a mix of the previous two albums with added choirs, and more interesting than To Be Kind imo. Although I'm not as into it as The Seer, it's a very good album. Notable are the excellent vocal performance of Gira, and the production - maybe too clean and clear for such visceral music, but I don't mind because it sounds awesome. Solid album to close this stage of the band's history.
Recommended track: Frankie M. (https://swans.bandcamp.com/track/frankie-m)
-
Man, The Glowing Man was fantastic. I'm with you on enjoying it more than I did TBK. Completely mind-bending of a musical experience, I just love how cerebral it is.
-
I definitely wouldn't say that Glowing Man is a mix of The Seer and TBK. I also wouldn't call it "brutal", in fact, I think Gira was actively moving away from that. All three albums balance atmospheric gloom with heaviness. The Seer was more on the heavy side. To Be Kind sits right on the fence. Glowing Man is like an exercise in taking their sound as ambient/atmospheric as it can go.
The first three songs are by far the best on the album, and a better straight hour of music than any on The Seer or To Be Kind. On those, they go all in with the dark atmospheric approach, and Gira seems to be really trying to leave the last two albums behind and do something different. As a result, they're completely fresh, compelling and fascinating.
The last disc is the worst disc of all three albums though. They lose some of their composure and it's more of a retread of the past two albums, and nothing on there's as convincing. I find Frankie M's ending a bit underwhelming, it needed something more to close it (and I think that's the only Swans song I can say that about). Glowing Man's pieces are all great, but it's a bit overly disjointed. And the rape song is too jarring and doesn't really fit on the album. The disc generally lacks unity and focus. Still good though.
One way in which the album is really unified and really really good though is the thematic content, and I've still never seen anyone mention that in all the commentary I've read/heard on the album. The album is about finding a way to escape the world we're in, break down, fog one's mind or distract oneself; and then moving beyond that to resurrection, rejuvenation, and rebirth (all of which is VERY telling since this is possibly the last Swans album). The first track is a prayer, and at the end of it, "I am blind", which, considering the title, it's like having his mind wiped, after which he is in a state of "unknowing" and spends the next twenty minutes trying to get a single sentence out. The end of both the second and third tracks sound to me like they're evoking Lazarus. The general nightmarish feel of People Like Us, from which "we need to dream to escape". On Frankie M, he's pleading someone on drugs literally to "live again". When Shall I Return is self-explanatory. The Glowing Man is the rebirth. And the last track is reaching the light at the end of the tunnel, a mixture of rude awakening (all creation is hollow) and enlightenment (your glorious miiiiind).
-
To be fair, it's been a few months since I have listened to the album, and that particular writeup I translated from one I wrote back when it released so I may not have nailed the record's sound at all :lol
I'll admit I'm not the guy who looks deeply into lyrics or themes on music, but that makes sense, a lot. I guess Gira's lyrics being a bit cryptic haven't encouraged me to try make sense of them :P
Also realised I fucked up the pace of this one, and will have to post only an album per day so I can finish the list - don't want to leave out recent stuff.
-
New update, then I'll be gone all weekend. I also added a playlist to the OP with the recommended tracks from each album :P
Part the Second
maudlin of the Well
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0266673729_10.jpg)
Like a stone I fell, and was engulf'd in winter darkness...
Thinking about this album now, I feel it's actually like Toby Driver's version of Talk Talk's Laughing Stock. It has a very chill ambient vibe (in contrast with, say, Bath), lots of weird melodies, many instruments both organic (strings, pianos, etc. - mostly chamber stuff) and electric (math rock guitars mostly), Toby's soft singing; sometimes the album it's very minimal, sometimes it's loud yet not heavy... just intense. And I have no clue what the concept is about, only know it's very cryptic by reading the lyrics. Although I'm not sold on Driver's style, I'll admit I enjoy this record much more than Bath. Good stuff to relax to!
Recommended track: Another Excerpt: Keep Light Near You, Even When Dying (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkWmmF5c_Zs)
-
Bath >>>>> Part the Second, but the former is a top 15 album ever, while PTS is just a solid record overall.
-
Year ZeroNine Inch Nails(https://sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/year_zero_art.jpg)
I got my violence in hi-def ultra-realism...After The Fragile, I think Year Zero is Reznor's most ambitious record - and hour-long concept album set in an Orwellian near-future America, hyper-industrialized into a smoky slag-land of shanty-towns like a resurgence of the Great Depression. The government polices opinion and thought, run as a totalitarian Christian theocracy, controlling people through morality police, constant surveillance and mind-altering drugs in the water supply, and distract the populace with wars. Basically some harsh political/social commentary.
And the album's sound is no longer the dark industrials of the 90s - we're in the year 2022 babe, this is some highly refined electronic stuff, and shit tons of distortion. A very digital sound indeed, a bit similar to Radiohead's Hail to the Thief in approach, but harsher. And as usual, songs are catchy af. Kinda sad there's not much variety musically speaking. But what I think elevates this album is not exactly the music itself, but one of the most brilliant
marketing strategies transmedia activities ever devised:
In February 2007 fans discovered that a new Nine Inch Nails tour t-shirt contained highlighted letters that spelled out the words "I am trying to believe". This phrase was registered as a website URL, and soon several related websites were also discovered in the IP range, all describing a dystopian vision of the fictional "Year 0". It was later reported that 42 Entertainment had created these websites to promote Year Zero as part of an alternate reality game.
The Year Zero game consisted of an expansive series of websites, phone numbers, e-mails, videos, MP3s, murals, and other media that expanded upon the fictional storyline of the album. Each new piece of media contained various hints and clues to discover the next, relying on fan participation to discover each new facet of the expanding game.
Between tour legs, a small group of fans received an in-game invitation for a special event in Los Angeles - they assisted to a fictional Art is Resistance (the activist group on the album's story) meeting, and they were graced by an unnanounced NIN concert, which was cut short as the meeting was raided by a fictional SWAT team and the audience was rushed out of the building. Talk about involving your audience. Fucking art.
Recommended track: The Beginning of the End (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce5vC_fBasE)
-
>tfw not the astonishing :neverusethis:
-
>definitely not bait :neverusethis:
-
Ten Love Songs
Susanne Sundfor
(https://images.rapgenius.com/f53b035a1867d1a3dd6846672f157c04.500x500x1.jpg)
Fade away...
Although White Foxes is probably my fav pop song ever, I've struggled getting into her music. So decided to give her last album a chance before giving up on Susanne. Colour me surprised, I dig it! It's probably her most straightforward record, with some 80s influences. Yet it's up up my alley. Dunno why, but I just like this one a lot.
Recommended track: Accelerate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd4jT4zcdHg)
-
:tup
-
Signify
Porcupine Tree
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3d/42/fe/3d42feb76e25cb696f9bdfb4738bb8e6.jpg)
Dark matter flowing out on to a tape...
This is one of the band's transition albums - from psychedelic rock to some pop territories. And it's both, resulting in a very atmospheric released full of catchy hooks, but also some very relaxing ambient sections. May not be as emotionally engaging as the band's future work, but I'm happy to have finally listened to this one - for some reason never paid much attention to it.
Recommended track: Dark Matter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOAGRgruHwA)
-
yeah basically everything about that, yup
-
That album is still growing on me every time I spin it.
I would like to like Dark Matter more. Don't get me wrong, I still like it but there are some better songs on Signify and when talking about whole discography, it's not even close being among the best songs imo (and many consider it to be there).
-
Same, Sleep of No Dreaming is my fav from the album, but recommended Dark Matter anyways :P
-
You're way late to the party.
-
Same, Sleep of No Dreaming is my fav from the album, but recommended Dark Matter anyways :P
That one and Waiting Phase 1.
-
Lunatic Soul
Lunatic Soul
(https://img11.nnm.me/e/6/d/7/0/55e0cbd4c08ff1e9759c10013ab.jpg)
I feel all troubles are gone...
Not as good as Walking on a Flashlight Beam, but a very solid album - closer to tribal sounds and in mood to Riverside, yet still far apart from the band's music. Dark, very introspective and atmospheric, and definitely "fuller" than his last album, meaning it's less minimalist and electronic. Very interesting album anyways, kind of a cinematic experience.
Recommended track: Lunatic Soul (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIVRPEnOi9I)
-
Schoolyard Ghosts
No-man
(https://timbowness.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/schoolyard-ghosts.jpg)
All sweet things will come again...
I think this is their most experimental album next to Wild Opera, but while the former was very electronic, Schoolyard Ghosts is mostly a soft, quiet folk album, with lots of ambient influences - similar to Together We're Stranger, and both with a style kinda resembling to Gilmour's On an Island. Yet this album has some... weird parts: Pigeon Drummer has some fucking abrasive percussion breaks, very electronic and heavy; Songs of the Surf is draws from post-rock; most of the album could be classified as 'ambient pop', etc. Not everything works here, and while I still prefer their previous album, I'm glad I checked this record for it has plenty of wonderful songs. No-Man are tied with Blackfield as my fav of Steven Wilson's side projects.
Recommended track: All Sweet Things (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jC4f_6sEY8)
-
A bit late to the party, but following.
-
I'm curious, which version of Pink did you listen to?
I've been checking out Boris' albums on youtube over months, working out which ones to buy, and Pink is one of the best. But the version of Pink I've been playing on there is apparently the vinyl edition, and it's MILES better than the CD version, from what I can see. Farewell is moved towards the end of the album, and all of the later songs are given huge outros. Which means the album has two halves, starting as a full-blown punk/hard rock album and completely morphing into a full-blown noise/drone one.
I can't imagine the album being remotely as good otherwise, so I'm not sure if I should even bother buying it.
-
I've listened to the new deluxe edition, that starts with Farewell (and has a whole disc full of extra songs, which are excellent imo) and I think it's the same as the CD you mention. But you got me curious with the vinyl difference, I think I'll try it out of curiosity - hope it's th Japanese pressing, because Boris' albums significantly vary in tracklist order and other stuff whether it's vinyl or CD, and either an USA or Japan pressing. I guess you can just download all versions and pick your favorite.
-
The vinyl doesn't have that extra disc of material, so I'll guess I'll get the CD version for that if nothing else. But yeah, I think I'll download the vinyl version somewhere at some point.
If you haven't heard Boris At Last/Feedbacker, you should check that out though. So far, I've listened to Amplifier Worship, Flood, Heavy Rocks 2002, Akuma no Uta, BAL/Feedbacker, and Pink. Of those, Pink and Feedbacker are the two best by some margin.
-
Pink is a wonderful album but doesn't reach the levels of Flood or Feedbacker, and I would also probably put Amplifier Worship over it.
-
I've given Flood I think three tries now and I just found it a total bore each time. I'm generally open to music that takes its time to do what it's doing and utilises a lot of repetition, but Flood's just too ambient for me, I think.
Amplifier Worship's aight.
-
Feedbacker is on my top 100 somewhere, amazing album. So far I've checked that one, Heavy Rocks, Pink, and New Album. And Flood, which I'm trying to give a fair chance but it's just 20 mins too long, if not more.
-
Flood is a fantastic record and you'll ignore it at your peril.
I suppose if you're not the biggest fan of drone or ambient music, Flood is a difficult album to get into. More than any other Boris record, it achieves such a unique soundscape so masterfully. From the recording, to those monstrous riffs in Flood III, the whole album just sounds so massive and huge. I listen to it and it really does feel like an ocean washing you over. It's an incredibly cohesive experience that's left more of an impact on me than any other Boris album, as much as I love some of them, such as Amplifier Worship or Feedbacker.
-
Gave it another listen today, and it certainly feels huge, but it's just too fucking long - Flood I takes ages to start going somewhere, and Flood IV has like 5 mins worth of music, stretched into 20 mins :P
If I get much into drone/ambient one day, I'll definitely give it another chance tho.
Also, next update in a while :corn
-
Office of Strategic Influence
OSI
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51BOvnTEMmL.jpg)
Shut me down and fade me out..
While Kevin Moore went to make electronic music after leaving Dream Theater, on his Chroma Key project, I think he found his voice with Jim Matheos (Fates Warning) and their OSI experiment. Their debut is full of head-banging, awesome riffs, excellent drumming (by Mike Portnoy!), and Kevin's unusual soft-spoken voice as constrast. Music sounds pretty inspired by some alternative metal at the time yet nowhere as oblivious of quality, with lots of subtle electronics (which would become more prominent on future albums), spoken samples and great synth sounds. I also find some similarities with Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence here and there, and even some Porcupine Tree, mostly on the epic 10 mins shutDOWN - which features guest vocals by Steven Wilson!
Not as refined as Blood imo, but still a solid album full of bangers.
Recommended track: shutDOWN (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHJ1L5Y-b6Y)
-
I love both Kevin and Jim but I could never get into OSI :/
-
My least favorite OSI album, but still good, though I feel like they hadn't found the balance between prog metal and electronics yet.
-
Gave it another listen today, and it certainly feels huge, but it's just too fucking long - Flood I takes ages to start going somewhere, and Flood IV has like 5 mins worth of music, stretched into 20 mins :P
The length is only half the issue. In fact, it might not even be a problem, IF the ideas they were playing with were very interesting.
The riffs in Flood I and II in particular are just plain dull. They're not interesting or catchy or pretty, they don't draw me in in any way. I don't remember III being terrible, but at that point, they've already spent 40 minutes testing your patience on sub-par material, so anything less than legendary isn't gonna compensate. IV would be a nice comedown, but it's only gonna work if you've enjoyed what led up to it, otherwise it's pointless.
-
I love both Kevin and Jim but I could never get into OSI :/
Heh, I prefer OSI to anything by either both :P
My least favorite OSI album, but still good, though I feel like they hadn't found the balance between prog metal and electronics yet.
Aye, they found that one on Blood imo.
Gave it another listen today, and it certainly feels huge, but it's just too fucking long - Flood I takes ages to start going somewhere, and Flood IV has like 5 mins worth of music, stretched into 20 mins :P
The length is only half the issue. In fact, it might not even be a problem, IF the ideas they were playing with were very interesting.
The riffs in Flood I and II in particular are just plain dull. They're not interesting or catchy or pretty, they don't draw me in in any way. I don't remember III being terrible, but at that point, they've already spent 40 minutes testing your patience on sub-par material, so anything less than legendary isn't gonna compensate. IV would be a nice comedown, but it's only gonna work if you've enjoyed what led up to it, otherwise it's pointless.
Dunno, I like the riffs on the album, but they aren't anything spectacular... I guess it's more of an atmospheric work than anything else? Something in which how it sounds is more important than what is sounding, maybe?
Kveikur
Sigur Rós
(https://cdn4.pitchfork.com/albums/19381/7b4579cb.jpg)
That's a... nice cover...
Sigur Rós gone into a more electronic, a little darker direction, with some industrial influences. While that'd be easily an ideal combination for me, I think it falls flat at times - the opening song is all kinds of awesome, as well as the title track and Hrafntinna is just beautiful, but that's about it with this album imo. Not that there's a single bad or boring song here, but besides those mentioned, I'm not grabbed by much of this album. Still a solid and creative release from one of Iceland's most iconic bands.
Recommended track: Brennisteinn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc6zXSdYXm8)
-
Storm Corrosion
Storm Corrosion
(https://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/storm-corrosion-COVER.jpg)
Always here and always with you now...
I'll admit I never got into this album because Drag Ropes wasn't my thing, so didn't go beyond that track, thinking it'd all be the same. Well, I was quite wrong! This album, for the most part, is pretty quiet, with some outbursts of noise here and there, but predominate a soft, even if dark, mood. It's quite an experimental journey that's kinda disjointed at parts, but a very rewarding one. Would love for them to make another of these.
Recommended track: Storm Corrosion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVuSKk_fs1o)
-
The Last Hero
Alter Bridge
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c3/Alter_Bridge_-_The_Last_Hero_(album_cover).jpg)
Once again the dogs are out for blood...
The refinement of their "heavy sound", one that started with the insipid ABIII, found a strong voice on the popular Fortress, and reached its peak here imo. Although this ain't really experimental music at all, this is the band's taking their sound into new directions and pushing a bit the limits of what can be done in such a dull genre like Hard Rock and Heavy Metal in 2016, with a sound completely their own. Excellent riffs, and performance by Myles Kennedy. The down side is that, although the production is excellent, The Last Hero has been mastered too loud, which can make for a tiring listen. 13 songs on a similar vein don't help much either. But it's a solid album.
Recommended track: The Other Side (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm5NNWbf5w8)
Frances the Mute
The Mars Volta
(https://nickpritchard.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/the-mars-volta-frances-the-mute.jpg)
Sin Ojos me quieres dar, una historia sin mi madre...
Well, for some reason decided to finally give this album a chance, despite their debut not blowing me away. Well, this one I like more! On Frances the Mute, the band showcases a wild variety, notably lots of latin music like tango or traditional folk from several parts of the continent, mostly from Central America. The album's a little chaotic at times, but just goes through many styles, like progressive rock, jazz fusion, and even ambient. It's probably a little too "much" for me and the ambient sections are too long and kinda boring. But I really like the choruses on each track.
Maybe this will click on me one day and I'll love it to pieces. By now, I feel it's just a solid record.
Recommended track: L'Via L'Viaquez (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JphZtpafdKY)
Catch Without Arms
Dredg
(https://state-lines.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CatchWithoutArms500.jpg)
Let the demons have their place...
So basically dredg's sound but more... accessible and commercial almost. But definitely not a sellout - just songs are simplified a bit. Which isn't a bad thing, I like their sound and these tunes are pretty catchy, but I really miss the experimentation and overall "weirdness" of El Cielo. Still, Catch Without Arms is a solid album full of bangers and some of the band's best songs.
Recommended track: Ode to the Sun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHWw9K7iCH8)
Returning Jesus
No-Man
(https://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/returningjesus.jpg)
Let me comfort you when the world seems blue...
So after two dance, electronic albums, Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness went into a very, very different direction. Long gone are the drumbeats and the sampling - welcome the guitars, the synths and moogs, the drums, the strings, the ocassional sax and trumpet. It reminds me of a cross between Pink Floyd post-DSotM and Talk Talk's Laughing Stock - the emotion and songwriting of the former, the atmosphere and use of instrumentation of the later. So yeah, this is atmospheric af, and very emotional at times. I'd be all over this album if it wasn't a little cheesy, and some sounds weren't so outdated. But it's still a very solid effort, and showcases a style that would reach it's peak on their follow-up imo.
Recommended track: All that You Are (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sl7Yhm9iZk)
The Great Misdirect
Between the Buried and Me
(https://www.elrocknomuere.com/blog/img/albums/the+great+misdirect.jpg)
Slide into the water, Become one with the sea, Life seems so much smaller...
After the amazing Colors, the band decided to tone down a bit the growls and the metal, and go for a more melodic route. In the way, they added some dark cabaret and jazz fusion elements here and there. And it works! Although a chaotic album, it's a very entertaining one, and definitely more accessible than their previous album.
Recommended track: Swim to the Moon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md6jGibyd2w)
I also wanted to mention a couple albums that didn't make the cut for the list nor the honorable mentions, either because I didn't feel strong about them or I just didn't give enough attention to justify putting them here:
- King Crimson - The Power to Believe
- Have a Nice Life - The Unnatural World
- Casualties of Cool - Casualties of Cool.
- Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
- Kashiwa Daisuke - Re:
- Kendrick Lamar - good kid, mad city
- Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
So that's the end of the honorable mentions! I'll soon begin with the actual list - expect 30 excellent records that are the best I've discovered this year.
-
wait these were all honorable mentions? :lol
-
Yeah look at the OP, too many good albums I didn't want to leave out :lol
At least I only got like 4 writeups remaining for the list so I'm fine.
-
Great Misdirect is great, Swim to the Moon is one of my favorite BTBAM songs. Frances the Mute is an amazing album and Cassandra Gemini is probably my favorite prog epic ever. Dredg is another solid pick.
-
Well, I already stated my thoughts on The Last Hero in a few threads here. Great album to add to Alter Bridge's amazing catalog, the album of the year for me, but I do have to agree with the gripes. It's a bit too loud and I do think that Elvis Baskette (Alter Bridge's producer) went a bit overboard with the multiple guitar-layering and vocal-layering.
-
Frances the Mute is stellar. Although I prefer De-Loused, Frances is on the more chaotic and jam-centric end of their sound. It's a freakin' trip. Cassandra has to be my 2nd favorite Mars Volta song, just under Cicatrez ESP.
Great Misdirect is pretty good too, though not as immediately memorable as Colors.
I like the honorable mentions to the honorable mentions. :lol I would actually recommended revisiting The Power to Believe soon. Such an underrated King Crimson record.
-
Yay Storm Corrosion!
I've only got El Cielo from dredg, but I should probs get CWA, because Chris DeGarmo cowrote some of the songs.
-
Yeah The Great Misdirect is tons better than Colors IMO, glad you finally gave it a listen.
Same for Frances, only this one's just a slight step up from De-loused if you ask me, but still, great album. L'via L'viaquez is one of my alltime favourite songs :metal
Also I already know your #1 :corn
-
Great Misdirect is great, Swim to the Moon is one of my favorite BTBAM songs. Frances the Mute is an amazing album and Cassandra Gemini is probably my favorite prog epic ever. Dredg is another solid pick.
Yay Storm Corrosion!
I've only got El Cielo from dredg, but I should probs get CWA, because Chris DeGarmo cowrote some of the songs.
:tup
I like the honorable mentions to the honorable mentions. :lol I would actually recommended revisiting The Power to Believe soon. Such an underrated King Crimson record.
Honorable Inceptions :neverusethis: OK that was awful :lol
It was actually revisiting that album that made me cut it from the list - it was #28 or so :P
Yeah The Great Misdirect is tons better than Colors IMO, glad you finally gave it a listen.
Also I already know your #1 :corn
One day you'll understand the mighty power of Colors, my child.
Oh pls tell me because I've got no fucking clue :lol
Seriously, I'm debating between 3 or 4 albums as my #1, can't decide. Any guesses are welcome tho.
-
If I did this kind of list CWA would be in top 5. And new AB is grower, I finally got into it and now I love it.
-
I thought Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile because you've been raving about only really getting into it this year
Also I've listened to Colors enough to give it a fair judgement compared to their other albums, I think, but other than White Walls, Ants and Informal Gluttony I think the album is just 'good'.
-
Tbh I first listened to the fragile last year, but it wasn't until this one that it started growing on me a fucking lot. It will be featured in a little different kind of list tho ;)
-
30
Bastion Original Soundtrack
Darren Korb
(https://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bastion/cover_l.jpg)
All this takes a lot of gettin' use to...
Bastion is a nice isometric hack n' slash RPG, which was quite praised by critics and fans because of the attention to detail and its overall artistry, both visual and sound-wise. Darren just happens to be a childhood friend of one of their developers, so there was quite a strong connection during development. And it shows a lot in the soundtrack.
It'd described by Mr Korb as "acoustic frontier trip-hop" - make what you want of that, but I think it's a pretty apt title. Strong electronic beats, lots of country/folky guitars, some electric ones here and there, a couple of sung tunes or with spoken word sections, and in general lots of energy. It's really a high dose of adrenaline and punch most of the time, perfect for such an intense game. Kinda lacks a bit of variety, but I dig this one quite a bit.
Recommended track: In Case of Trouble (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMBLXyVJy8Y)
29
The Incident
Porcupine Tree
(https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/434/MI0001434181.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
All this takes a lot of gettin' use to...
I feel this album gets too bashed, and I get it - feels like rehashed PT ideas into an album. Not that that is bad per se, but a band that constantly evolved with each record, well...
Anyways, I think this album is damn solid. I mean, half songs feel like I have already listened to them on previous albums, but I don't mind much since I love PT's sound very much. There ain't much to say about this one, just that it's got lots of catchy, solid tracks. Nothing mind-blowing nor top 10 tier, but a very consistent album, if a bit too long. Maybe a bit too cold?
Recommended track: I Drive the Hearse (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N_T1Ih-RH8)
-
You never heard The Incident prior to 2016?
-
The Incident is good IMO but it does come off as a very safe album and would definitely be in the bottom 3 of the PT albums IMO.
-
The Incident is pretty decent I think but indeed it sounds a bit too safe or even uninspired perhaps. The heavy riff in Blind House is killer tho :metal
-
I dunno, I feel like the metal-parts of The Incident are the worst parts.
-
You never heard The Incident prior to 2016?
Yeah, mostly because if its reputation, and because when I tried it some years ago, my files were all over the place and it didn't play in order so gave up :lol
The Incident is good IMO but it does come off as a very safe album and would definitely be in the bottom 3 of the PT albums IMO.
The Incident is pretty decent I think but indeed it sounds a bit too safe or even uninspired perhaps. The heavy riff in Blind House is killer tho :metal
:tup
-
after having been pretty meh on the album since it came out, I re-listened to The Incident fairly recently. During that listen, I listened to the album as if it were a Steven Wilson solo album and I swear it came across better to me than when I thought of it as a Porcupine Tree album. I don't even know what that means really, but there it is.
-
28
Deconstruction
Devin Townsend Project
(https://www.omega-level.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Deconstruction.jpg)
CHEESEBURGUER
Probably Devin's most ambitious, ridiculously bombastic, most chaotic album (not including SYL), with guest vocalists like Ihsahn, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Tommy Rogers, Floor Jansen; a philharmonic orchestra, a concept album about a vegetarian trying to figure out the meaning of life (only to find out that it's a cheeseburger), childish humour, neck-breaking heavy riffs, and overall just craziness. Definitely not an easy album to get into, but one that I finally decided to listen completely this year, since my tastes have evolved a bit. It's probably a bit too much for me, but boy, what was I missing.
Recommended track: Stand (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ole-zxwxQno)
27
The Impossible Kid
Aesop Rock
(https://www.albumkings.xyz/packages/anahkiasen/illuminage/403f451e90e4b653b1d1ffe715a79712.png)
All heart, though we would've made cowardly kings...
I'm still very new to hip-hop, but I get the impression Aesop is a bit of an unorthodox guy - his flow, the themes he explores on his music, his unconventional, more electronic beats, his rich vocabulary and expressions, etc. The Impossible Kid is a bit of an abstract yet personal album, lyrics-wise, and musically is... very interesting, never heard of any hip-hop or music like it, personally. It's got pretty much a style of its own. Songs are short and direct, and don't overstay their welcome. I like the use of vocal samples along with some DJ scratching, but that's the closest to old-school hip-hop there's here I guess. While I'm not in love with this album (it's consistently good yet never reaches awesomeness), I think it's a very interesting record, one I may recommend to those who recently got into hip-hop via albums like To Pimp a Butterfly, You're Dead! or Jenny Death. I'm eager to explore more of the genre.
Recommended track: Kirby (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T_KKiQiolk)
-
You know what, fuck it, I'm releasing all this shit between today and tomorrow, to finally close this year of music. Enjoy!
26
Hesitation Marks
Nine Inch Nails
(https://www.rmx.com.mx/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/NIN-Reznor.jpg)
I am a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a...
Probably one of the most underrated albums in recent memory: many fans didn't like it because it wasn't heavy or fucking angry or distorted as the band's other albums. Fuck, most keep crying "it's not mah downward spiral". Well FUCK YOU GODDAMN EDGELORD. Like, seriously, give Trent a rest. The guy's a music genius, and made an excellent electronic/alt rock/R&B? album here. Don't like the synthpop influence? Well, most of NIN's music actually follows a typical pop structure yet you didn't seem to mind. Too hipster? Well, maybe Reznor just wanted to experiment and push himself instead of making your industrial stuff again. He's matured, but seems most of you haven't. "the songwriting is weak/not my cuppa tea/i don't like the electronics" oh fine then, no problem with that. But don't start crying this album is not a savage attack of anger and distorted guitars therefore it's boring - that's just dumb.
And I'm happy for him. This album feels really fresh - The Slip was decent, but kinda showed Trent was getting tired of that style. Hesitation Marks came 5 years after it, and feels pretty inspired by his work on soundtracks and the How to Destroy Angels project. The best of it all is that it feels very much like a NIN album, because Nine Inch Nails isn't really about heavy guitars or screams - rather Trent Reznor's self-expression, which normally involves lots of repressed anger and crippling depression. And those elements are definitely here, just read the lyrics (about his popularity downfall, and how he was once heralded as one of the biggest music geniuses yet feels irrelevant in modern times), and listen to the music closely. Most of all the Came Back Haunted, which's music vid was directed by David Lynch, and it's such an overwhelming, oppressive, schizophrenic experience - NIN at its core. Such a good album.
Recommended track: Came Back Haunted (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RN6pT3zL44)
25
Street Halo/Kindred
Burial
(https://img.discogs.com/ifMT5iQZQ6NX-8f-nMwFZnsWqPQ=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-3429788-1337627481-3138.jpeg.jpg)
Maybe you can find the light...
Ok, this is fucking cheating - this is actually a Japan-only compilation of two EPs. But Burial's stuff outside his two albums is so good I had to include it somehow (remember this list is for albums only). So, the music... is different from Untrue. In a sense, it feels even more refined. On the other, is kinda more abstract, and longer - Kindred has two 10+ mins long songs! Selected samples float gracefully across vinyl crackle and reverberating synthesized melodies, punctuated by an ever-pervasive, off-kilter beat that remains only consistent in spirit - that's Burial in a nutshell, and it's still true here.
Also, not present here, but worth mentioning is his remix of Massive Attack's Paradise Circus. Or deconstruction, actually - its resemblance tot he original song is minimal, and makes for a surreal, amazing experience. It's truly a thing of beauty.
Recommended track: Loner (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTnLeEiGSEU)
24
With Teeth
Nine Inch Nails
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/5/4010/4494365742_e2d47dc924_z.jpg)
You all get back to where you belong...
Well, the album Trent recorded after getting back from rehab. This is probably not the most creative of his albums, yet likely the most straightforward, next to Pretty Hate Machine. Lots of great riffs, kinda organic sound despite the distortion and the electronics. Much heaviness. Wow catchy. So 2005. Me likey.
Recommended track: The Hand that Feeds (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwhBRJStz7w)
23
A Sort of Homecoming
Anathema
(https://portalternativo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/anathema-a-sort-of-homecoming-dvd.jpg)
What you needed was to be rid of me...
Yeah I'll admit I never listened to this one until earlier this year. This is basically an acoustic gig played in a gorgeous chapel, with songs mostly from the last 3 albums and a few oldies like Electricity and Fragile Dreams. Why ain't it higher? Well, not all these renditions are very good, being honest. Some really lack the emotional intensity of the original counterparts. And Vinny's voice sounds kinda weird, like his low register wasn't totally captured by the mic, making his voice sound whinny.
Still, a beautiful, intimate album.
Recommended track: Anathema (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7TOJt5bQtU)
22
The Private Press
DJ Shadow
(https://images.genius.com/f50af6f5f53b988e6bc6226430b21171.500x500x1.png)
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late...
Look, I know this ain't no Endtroducing...., and I feel kinda sorry for this guy having to live under the shadow (pun intended) of his titanic debut. It's also certain his career has gone downhill since then in terms of quality, but The Private Press shows Josh Davis is more than a god of turntablism and sampling, and a one-hit star. Although the melancholy of the previous album isn't totally gone, there's a more light-hearted, warm vibe here in some tracks. And while Endtroducing.... is the more consistent album, there's no denying its sequel is an excellent effort by an artist doomed to be judged by something he made 20 years ago.
Recommended track: Blood on the Motorway (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5OGk9N8Y5s)
21
Divenire
Ludovico Einaudi
(https://img2-ak.lst.fm/i/u/ar0/ca60e9af8c66491bb40319f56e36b8f4)
Need me more of this stuff...
I think Ludovico is unfairly hated by classical music academicals, his work dismissed as "shopping mall music", and even compared to the atrocious, mom-core Richard Clayderman. Well fuck them.
Sure, Divenire isn't really a complex album in any way, and doesn't pretend so. I just love it because of the wonderful modern classical melodies here, the excellent atmosphere, and dat piano. This may not reinvent music, nor tries to - I just connect much with this one. Sadly, the second half isn't really as good as the first one, hence the position on the list. Still, an album worth listening.
Recommended track: Divenire (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1DRDcGlSsE)
20
Out of Season
Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man
(https://images.junostatic.com/full/CS444596-01A-BIG.jpg)
I can see no blossom, no blossom on the trees...
This caught me by surprise. I love Portishead and Beth Gibbon's voice, so just knowing this existed was what I needed to check it out.
Out of Season is mostly a folk album, which isn't surprising considering Beth's past on the genre, but it ain't our typical folk - Rustin Man is Talk Talk's bassist. And both created something very unique here: sometimes slow piano ballads, sometimes epic buildups, or subtle electronics almost reminiscing Dummy, etc. Beth also sings in a different style on each song!
This is mostly a chill record, but one that's pretty atmospheric and memorable imo, certainly more experimental than your typical folk, but in a subtle way - kinda like Talk Talk, but far more structured.
Recommended track: Funny time of Year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xXHg-UFiEE)
-
Meanwhile on Sacul's journey to listen to every piece of NIN music ever made... :P
You sold me on Out of Season though, will probably give it a listen soon.
-
Would have included Broken here but this list is only for albums so :P
Yay, it's nothing ground-breaking, but just a wonderful record.
-
Yeah that's Einaudi album is beautiful. :angel: He definitily gets more hate from the classical world than he deserves. I do think some songs are almost more like instrumental pop than classical but so what.
-
Out of Season is great. :tup I love Beth's voice.
-
19
Night
Gazpacho
(https://gazpachoworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/night.jpg)
Home to no one, you're nowhere...
Gazpacho are one of the most original and interesting bands out there - you might think "yeah this is proggy" when listening to them, yet their catalogue is far from the innovations of the 70s or the rehash wank of Neal Morse modern prog. They're just... different, but it's obvious why they are now signed to Kscope.
For example, Night is quite closer to post-rock, with only 5 songs, two of them 10+mins long, and one almost there, with lots of buildups that lead to epic climaxes. Yet not in a post-rock "get louder and faster" way - just adding more instrumentation and ideas, and somehow making them sound more and more intense. And sometimes just changing directions. Another interesting aspect of Gazpacho is their singer - a guy who can sometimes sound like an old lady. His performance is simple, sometimes resembling that one of Tim Bowness, but with a unique tone that just fits with the band's music.
So yeah, Night it's a pretty epic atmospheric album about dreams, with very melodic focus. I dig it.
Recommended track: Chequered Light Buildings (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4bHnj674BY)
18
A Moon Shaped Pool
Radiohead
(https://radioheadassets.s3.amazonaws.com/deadairspace/img/088055831.jpg)
Dreamers, they never learn...
This is a bit of a weird one, but unlike some of their past albums, A Moon Shaped Pool is soft and warm. The electronic are present, yes, but in a... different way than, say, Kid A. They're mostly buried under lots of lush live instrumentation, somehow giving the false impression the album sounds organic. But there are no ambient tracks nor bleeps and blops coming out of nowhere. Very melodic and atmospheric, this is a very different yet familiar Radiohead - some songs here were written many years ago, like True Love Waits. One of the best albums of 2016.
Recommended track: Burn the Witch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2oS2hoL0k)
17
Big Calm
Morcheeba
(https://persimusic.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/morcheeba-big-calm-1998.jpg)
And morcheeba, how much more can you take?..
It saddens me this record is sometimes dismissed as "coffee shop background music", because of its chill and upbeat nature. It ignores the excellent songwriting, the subtle use of electronics in favour of a more organic sound, the excellent hooks, how eclectic the instrumentation is (all kinds of world music here), and overall how pleasant is to listen to. No, it's not a cerebral, cryptic masterpiece, nor it intends to - just a very accessible, lovely record. Despite a few moments where the quality goes down, Big Calm it's a very consistent album, definitely better than their debut.
Recommended track: Big Calm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsWkPsVpe0Y)
16
Blackstar
David Bowie
(https://moshpitsandmovies.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/blackstar.jpg)
Just like that bluebird... Oh I'll be free...
I'll say it now: I think this is one of the year's most overrated albums. Yet I like it a lot. But not all of it - I Can't Give Everything Away is a track I can live without. But when the album shines, like on the title track, Lazarus, and Sue, it's really one of my favorites of the year. The other tracks I find good but not too remarkable.
For those unfamiliar, Blackstar is an album about Bowie's imminent death, him facing it by making some of his most daring, experimental work. Begins with the title tracks, a beast of 10 mins of avant-garde jazz, electronics, dark ambient, and Bowie's fragile, haunting voice, that sounds unlike anything out there. The rest of the album is more accessible, yet still retains this unique flavour and the weird melodies and sounds.
Making such an album almost on his 70s, with only a few months left, is nothing short of admirable.
Recommended track: Lazarus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8)
15
A Year With No Summer
Obsidian Kingdom
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1500372018_16.jpg)
And when we go crashing down we come back every time...
This one took some time - at first I was very disappointed. From the awesomeness of Mantiis, such a mix of genres like prog metal, sludge, black, post, even post-rock, to a... very atmospheric, sludgy, post-metal record with a few electronics here and there. First listens I was bored, but it eventually clicked.
The key about this record is atmosphere - walls of guitars or its feedback as drone, distant vocals that rarely get harsh, no blast beats, very memorable riffs imo, and lots of groove. A friend once told me this was just generic post-metal - well then it's the best damn post-metal I've listened to so far (I'm into into ISIS nor CoL).
After their debut and a remix album (!) of it, these guys will probably always surprise me.
Recommended track: Away/Absent (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW2iOWjT0tw)
14
Black Earth
Bohren & der Club of Gore
(https://e.snmc.io/lk/l/l/0dd24c2e3e6d92ab82839a6fac9828ac/1881335.jpg)
Like a grave...
Bohren surprised the music world with their third album, Sunset Mission - slow, moody, dark (yet warm), very atmospheric jazz music, with strong noir vibes. It sounded similar yet unlike anything that came before it. On their follow-up, they took their time (around 2 years) to carefully craft and produce an album that would take their sound into new directions: darker, and slower. And heavier.
Black Earth abandons the noir flavours for a brooding, solemn atmosphere, one that tries to create images of death and quiet grief. Some have even called it post-apocalyptic, or even depressing, but I digress - this is a beautiful album. Yes, the bass is penetrating and along with the drums they sound like the slow heartbeats of a huge beast; yes, the sax is certainly less prominent than on the previous album, and rarely goes wild, just playing very soft; those Rhodes keys may just play some sparse minor chords and scales, yes; there are even some "ghostly" drones on most of the songs, or just pure silence between sections. But it's done with such taste and detail, that the crystal clear production just reveals an album of enormous beauty and peace.
Bohren are definitely not party music, but rather fantastic creators of atmospheres. And Black Earth might be one of the most unique records out there.
Recommended track: Destroying Angels (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY1wBUrdRFg)
13
Felt
Nils Frahm
(https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000009707884-9oo22b-t500x500.jpg)
A world of its own...
There's a bit of backstory to this album: Nils tried using a felt on his piano not to awake his neighbours at night (when he practiced). He noticed the sound of the instrument was intriguing, so he decided to put some microphones deep into the piano, almost touching the strings. And holy fuck, what where all those sounds: the hammers pouncing the strings, Nils' breathing, cracks on the wood, distant steps of neighbours on the hallways, etc. It was a whole new soundscape, one of immense intimacy and fragility. And a masterpiece was born.
Felt sounds so similar yet unlike anything I've ever listened to. Nils also added some additional effects and instrumentation asides from the piano, but the end result just fits in a way that sounds completely unique to his music. I don't have much to say other than this album is more of an experience - yes, there's songwriting here, although most is improvised. But it all just flows... let yourself immerse into Nils' late-night world.
Recommended track: More (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH2IVFKAx9M)
12
The Battle of Los Angeles
Rage Against the Machine
(https://www.elrocknomuere.com/blog/img/albums/the+battle+of+los+angeles.jpg)
NOW TESTIFY! *heavy riff*
I know this is edgy af, but holy shit, those riffs almost make me want to take down capitalism. With headbanging.
But seriously, this album feels like an refined version of their debut, at least in terms of production - here everything is fucking huge and bombastic, yet crystal clear. I also like how they did a little experimentation trying to include some synths/electronics, and playing with production; keeps things fresh. I'll admit I don't really care for the album's political message - sometimes I even strongly disagree. But the music, man, it's just so fucking energizing and catchy I can't even - those riffs almost make me want to take capitalism down. Maybe not as good as their first album, but still a stellar record.
Recommended track: Born of a Broken Man (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgEVfjalThQ)
11
88
Kashiwa Daisuke
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1833638918_10.jpg)
Simple and beautiful...
Well this will be quick since there's not much to say here. 88 is basically Daisuke challenging himself, writing an album completely on the piano. No electronics, strings, etc. - just him and the 88 keys (hence the album name). For the most part, it's some pretty, heartfelt music. Nothing groundbreaking, and for most people this could be just good background music for stuying/working/whatever. And that's fine, because I have a bit of a special connection to this album. Dunno, it may be that the piano is my fav instrument, or that I'm a sucker for these modern classical melodies. This is probably his most intimate album, and I just love it.
Recommended track: Swan Song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRQG5TV7Pm0)
10
Demon Days
Gorillaz
(https://www.elrocknomuere.com/blog/img/albums/gorillaz-demon-days-japanese-limited-edition.jpg)
Well these demon days are so cold inside...
I'll admit I have no nostalgia value for this virtual band - they're no part of my childhood nor teenage days. So when I came with this album, I was amazed by the enormous quality jump from their debut: better production, more styles abound, catchier songs, higher creativity, impressive guests like Neneh Cherry and Martina Topley-Bird, etc. Every Planet We Reach is Dead, Kids with Guns, the classic Feel Goon Inc, El Mañana, these are all fantastic tracks, and although the last few songs on the album feel weaker in comparison to the rest, overall it's a very consistent, solid album.
Recommended track: Every Planet We Reach is Dead (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LDEm8mC-Nw)
9
~
iamthemorning
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0923946785_10.jpg)
You got to think of what to say before you fall asleep
I don't really know why I never really delved into their debut - I really liked Belighted, and was slightly disappointed by Lighthouse, so went to this because why not. And oh boy. This album was self-produced and financed, which sometimes is noticeable on the production, but the music more than makes up for it.
~ is a beautiful combination of classical music sensibilities and some progressive rock melodies and sounds, given the duo's love for both genres - Marjana has even covered Opeth songs on her YT channel. What makes this album shine is how seamless the combination of styles is, and I'm surprised at the musical variety: some soft piano-driven ballads, a capella interlude tracks, some fucking explosive songs like Monsters which have drums and guitars at the climax, etc. Her voice is, as cliched as it sounds, angelical. And Gleb's piano talent is amazing - no doubt why he was studying at the conservatory.
iamthemorning's debut it's a fresh album full of new ideas, and I like to think it's certainly more progressive than a lot of modern prog artists out there right now. This is what we need, folks.
Recommended track: Monsters (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymgll5jF9B8)
8
Transistor Original Soundtrack
Darren Korb
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2239763770_10.jpg)
It's not when you get there, it's always the climb...
Oh boy, this game is so special - I liked Bastion quite a bit but... felt it was a little one-dimensional, and the combat too brutal to my abysmal coordination, so hesitated a bit on Transistor, but a good sale was up and I couldn't resist.
Damn, what an excellent game! It's probably the most coherent one in terms of artistry - the gorgeous cyberpunk landscapes fit perfect Korb's digital compositions.
Described as "old-world electronic post-rock", it's a damn fine description - a very digital, electronic album but with more... refined, or minimal beats and percussion than Bastion, not as bombastic. Styles range from downtempo to breakbeat to drum n' bass to trip-hop. Reverb guitars, sampled drums, distorted yet soft synths, and a generous share of tracks sung by the wonderful Ashley Barrett (5 in total, and probably the best tunes). But the artistry doesn't stop there - the songs that are played during the boss battles have lyrics pertaining the boss and its relationship to the main character Red, who was a famous singer and musician in the game's story.
Although it's a beautiful soundtrack on its own, it can only be completely appreciated in its original context - I have rarely seen both things fit so seamlessly. Really, play this game.
Recommended track: In Circles (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N47kRFxUPJE)
7
Program Music II
Kashiwa Daisuke
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1707459648_10.jpg)
Such beauty...
I was hyped for new Ulver, but when Daisuke announced one of my top 10 albums would receive a sequel, I fucking manginied. Like, what the ACTUAL FUCK?!?! So yeah, it was a huge thing among his fans. But the reception has been rather lukewarm, so lemme explain the appeal of this album: if you loved Program Music I because of its creativity and unique blend of modern classical music and high-tech electronics, and overall innovation, this will probably disappoint you. But if you're like me and loved that record because of the beauty and uniqueness of his compositions (Stella is probably the most gorgeous track ever written, period), and are also a sucker for modern classical, well, give it a listen.
But that's not to say this record is Daisuke going on autopilot - he seeks new territories, and succeeds, most of the time. Program Music II is completely acoustic (except a bit on Subaru), featuring live chamber instrumentation like double bass, jazz drumming (!), real strings, and even guest vocals by Piana. meteor is an excellent example of what this album is about: trying modern classical music with jazz influences and even taking some structures from post-rock - City in the Lake being the synthesis of all those ideas, and probably my fav song of 2016.
Program Music II pales against the first part, yes, but that's a bit of unfair lenses to judge this album by - this album... no, everything Daisuke writes, will forever be destined to live under the shadow of his titanic sophomore effort. But taken on itself, this is a lovely, charming record.
Recommended track: City in the Lake (https://virginbabylonrecords.bandcamp.com/track/city-in-the-lake)
6
Silent Hill 2 Original Soundtrack
Akira Yamaoka
(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/silent/images/2/2a/SH2OST.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20140821064413)
A videogame as art...
Although I thoroughly enjoyed SH2 (aside from the lame dialogues and voice acting), it probably relies on too much symbolism for my taste, but I've gotta say I really, really like its soundtrack. I think not only Yamaoka had a bigger budget but also the PS2 allowed for better-quality sound output, thus this OST really sounds better than that of the previous game.
I'm amazed at the amount of sounds and styles Yamaoka could come up with: beautiful, ethereal trip-hop (Heaven's Night, Alone in Town), abrassive, crushing industrial (The Darkness that Lurks in...), some fucking metal (Angel's Thanatos), and peaceful ambient patches (The Day of Night) - all those mentioned tracks play one right after the other on the CD. Special mention to the gorgeous piano pieces such as Magdalene and Promise (Reprise), and the Alt Rock tunes (Theme of Laura, Love Psalm).
Crazy, varied stuff indeed, but one of amazing quality. It has quickly become one of my favorite soundtracks.
Recommended track: Null Moon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLhtDJnPKBs)
Ok, I think that was enough for today :lol
Tomorrow I'll post the top 5, so any guesses are welcomed :P
-
Oh man, looking for some great lions
-
ulver - shoopdawoop
also man i'm probably missing something with that bohren album but i dunno. just. really doesn't do much for me
-
Oh man, looking for some great lions
wat :lol
-
Oh man, looking for some great lions
NYE is a wonderful time
-
Yeah I have no fucking idea what I was even trying to say there. :lol
Maybe Iinked RATM to one day as a lion? dunno
-
:soon:
-
Time to finish this!
5
El Cielo
Dredg
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wwIlYMbmBA4/TWDs54MXSnI/AAAAAAAAAOo/N6EdDMSc9DQ/s1600/5.jpg)
I cannot find the other half...
I will admit that, despite having received The Canyon Behind Me on my first roulette (almost two years go), and it scoring fairly well, never got around to checking this album until earlier this year. I just forgot lol.
So, El Cielo is a very... weird album, but a very accessible one. Kinda like Ok Computer, in which it's easy to fall in love with the tunes and they seem simple and catchy, but when you listen closer, you realise there's lots of weird stuff and experimentation going on. The band's sound is basically 00s alternative rock with a heavy layer of post-rock/shoegaze guitars, a few post-hardcore-like riffs, a baritone singer, ethereal choruses, abrupt mood changes, some weird sounds like eastern traditional chantings, sitars, electronics, tribal drumming, radio signals, etc. I have no clue why those are here and if they mean anything, but I don't mind. It's just a very beautiful record, full of emotion.
Recommended track: The Canyon Behind Her (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYoDzx6kHhU)
4
Silent Hill 3 Original Soundtrack
Akira Yamaoka
(https://www.silenthillmemories.net/music/osts/pics/sh3_ost_eu_03_front.jpg)
We were put here on this earth, put here to feel joy...
Seeing that Silent Hill 3 is a direct sequel to the first game, it'd have been easier for Yamaoka to go back to the visceral madness of industrial and ambient sounds that flooded that soundtrack. But he's smarter, and went full electronic and trip-hop instead, for the most part. And it fucking succeeds. I mean, the darker parts of the game still feature those awesome industrial/dark ambient sounds, but for the most part, the soundtrack is very... melodic.
I think the addition of famous voice actress Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (she's worked on many videogames, anime, and cartoons) on vocals really elevated things here - her unique-kinda-deep voice is captivating and has a beauty to it, and certainly fits very well the trip-hop vibe. Which is a bit more modern and electronic, a little glitchier, than the ones of Portishead or Massive Attack, which relied much on DJ culture and hip-hop.
There's also a few alternative rock songs (You're Not Here and I Want Love (Studio Mix)), and plenty of ambient tunes that are actually very interesting, and sometimes, just gorgeous. Also worth mentioning is the interesting vocal contributions of Joe Romersa on Hometown - his voice is like a hybrid of David Bowie and Geoff Tate.
Although it's not as varied musically as the Silent Hill 2 soundtrack (no metal tunes here), this feels a bit more concise, with less than half tunes being longer than 4 mins, so nothing overstays its welcome. The vocal tracks are probably the best, but there's plenty to love on these instrumentals.
Yamaoka is not only a music but a sound genius: his whole work on the Silent Hill games is fucking brilliant and really elevates them artistically. There are some "complete" soundtracks versions of his work, that try to include every music bit used on the games. And they just show how varied his palette is. Probably my favourite new artist along with Trent Reznor.
Recommended track: Letter ~ From the Lost Days (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SBY_fUpmnQ)
3
Weighing Souls with Sand
The Angelic Process
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0078190777_10.jpg)
And what I fear the light has burnt away...
Like a review I read stated, it feels like being crushed to death at the bottom of a very beautiful part of the ocean. And damn accurate that is.
The Angelic Process was a music project by a married couple, who inspired by the shoegaze sound of the 90s, tried to make their own take on it. Took them almost 8 years, 3 records and 2 EPs, but that sound culminated its refinement on this album. Extremely distorted guitars, massive layering, distant, unintelligible vocals (and no lyrics sheet), slow tempo, repetitive drumming, drones - the atmosphere here is damn unique, and this approach, although non-conventional, a brilliant one. There are no growls, no blast beats, nor any of the elements of extreme metal, yet Weighing Sould With Sand is a brutal, unforgiving record emotionally.
Saddest thing of all is that Kris Angylus broke his hand shortly after finishing this album. Not even surgery could repair it, thus he couldn't play any guitars or drums, and fell into a deep depression for months. A year later, he took his own life.
Recommended track: Dying in A-Minor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9wTGuCscXo)
2
ATGCLVLSSCAP
Ulver
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a3008213619_10.jpg)
You float there, somewhere between pleasure and fear
Ulver took live recordings of 12 of their gigs, mostly the parts where they jammed and improvised stuff, and heavily dubbed and modified them on studio - the result is an esoteric, very abtract and onirical piece of music. Buildups, endless layers of sound, a fantastic reinterpretation of Nowhere (Catastrophe), long ambient pieces or short heavy songs, mostly instrumental, and a unique atmosphere - this is what ATGCLVLSSCAP is. And I fucking loved it from the moment I first listened to it. Krystoffer Rygg's creativity knows no limits.
Recommended track: Nowhere (Sweet Sixteen) (https://ulver.bandcamp.com/track/nowhere-sweet-sixteen)
1
Sunset Mission
Bohren & der Club of Gore
(https://img.discogs.com/j99y4_qN9m7NlrBOSnWSI3jePH8=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-9331164-1478722258-8297.jpeg.jpg)
Feel the sax...
I've been very slowly getting into atmospheric, abstract, ambient kind of music - F#A# Infinity is one of my fav albums for instance. And while a lot of ambient bored me because it was too minimalistic (not a fan of sparse arrangements) or was mostly boring synths for 15 minutes.
Then Bohren appeared.
These guys play a very peculiar style called Dark Jazz, because their music is slow and brooding. Sunset Mission features some typical jazz instrumentation - sax, simple drums, a Fender Rhodes, and a double bass. And in a Slint fashion, who also had normal instruments for their music, Bohren sound like nothing that came before.
What makes their music the most interesting is how this album is basically a very cinematic piece, trying its best to create a mood and images on the listener's mind. It doesn't contain a particular message, nor tries too - it's just purely atmosphere. A Noir one - it's hard not to imagine dangerous cities at dusk, like the album's cover, while listening to songs like Street Tatoo or Prowler. Gangsters smoking on a corner, weapons on a shop window, smoke rising over factories, etc. And it's certainly a very relaxing album, with a wonderfully unpredictable playing by the sax, hypnotising bass lines, and beautiful piano/rhodes melodies.
Funny thing is, none of these guys actually like jazz, and most of them used to play on hardcore bands like Chronical Diarrhoea. And they still are metalheads (see their cover of Warlock's Catch My Heart - with guest vocals by Mike Patton!).
Recommended track: Prowler (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECyfX1OR_nk)
And that's it! I've listened to roughly 200 new albums or so this year, and these are the very best of them. Here I've made a pic containing the list plus the honorable mentions, and a short little list with my fav EPs.
(https://i65.tinypic.com/hs2xk2.jpg)
Bigger (https://i65.tinypic.com/hs2xk2.jpg)
This was lots of hard work, but I had free time and passion so it was worth it. I'll try do one of these each year, and probably have a smaller honorable mentions list :lol
-
i may consider revisiting sunset mission 'cause i did like it more than black earth (which i didn't finish)
but yeah sax is great, yeah
also the angelic process, is good too
-
For some reason I haven't checked out Out of Season before, though I'm a Portishead fan. I'm listening to it atm and I'm enjoying it very much - Beth is one of the best female singers ever!
-
For some reason I haven't checked out Out of Season before, though I'm a Portishead fan. I'm listening to it atm and I'm enjoying it very much - Beth is one of the best female singers ever!
So glad you're digging it :D
Btw, updated the recommended songs playlist and the OP in general.