Author Topic: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50  (Read 47900 times)

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Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #175 on: May 23, 2010, 05:29:30 PM »
I've heard of only about half of the bands on this list so far.  :lol

Guess I should expand my horizons a bit.

My advice is never feel you have to listen to more things just because other people are. Listen to what you are happy listening to and expand whenever you're ready to check something new out.
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Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #176 on: May 23, 2010, 07:49:58 PM »
7. Shadow Gallery
Since their second album was produced in 1995 Shadow Gallery have been oozing excellence. They managed to create two separate two album spanning stories and make them both great. They are the band to watch as far as vocal melodies in progressive metal is concerned. They take their time between albums, but in a band in which everyone can play everything you have to imagine a lot goes into writing the albums and getting everything mashed out. After the sad and unfortunate passing of lead singer Mike Baker, who was crucial to the vocal melodies Shadow Gallery was known for the band successfully transitioned to new vocalist Brian Ashland in 2009, putting out one of the best releases of the year, Digital Ghosts.

Favorite Albums: Room V, Tyranny

Favorite Tracks: Cliffhanger, Crystalline Dream, Deeper Than Life, Alaska, War For Sale, Out of Nowhere, Hope For Us, I Believe, New World Order, Ghost of a Chance, Christmas Day, Cliffhanger 2, Society of the Mind, Legacy, Comfort Me, The Andromeda Strain, The Archer of Ben Salem, Encrypted, Room V, Venom, Pain, Strong

6. Transatlantic
Potential. That is the one word that sums up this band better than anything. Stolt, Morse, Portnoy, Trewavas. It's hard to go wrong with that combination, and thus far they are living up to their potential. The two main song-writers balance each other *perfectly*, with Neal reigning in some of Roine's wandering tendencies and Roine bringing some occasionally needed diversity to Neal's music. Pete fills in the happy bass parts wonderfully and Portnoy's exploits on a simplified drum kit are nothing short of stellar. If Transatlantic's proggy and joyful rock music is exactly what I'd like to do if I made music. If they had 5 or 6 albums along the same quality lines as the first three they would probably be my favorite band. In short, my only complaint about Transatlantic thus far is that they only have 3 albums.

Favorite Albums: Bridge Across Forever, The Whirlwind

Favorite Tracks: All of the Above, We All Need Some Light, My New World, Duel With the Devil, Bridge Across Forever, Stranger in Your Soul, The Whirlwind, Spinning, Lenny Johnson
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Offline glaurung

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #177 on: May 23, 2010, 08:01:04 PM »
You could have just listed every TA song and the list still would have been short enough. :lol
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Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #178 on: May 23, 2010, 08:07:48 PM »
And I do love the few songs I left out.
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Offline Dr. DTVT

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #179 on: May 23, 2010, 09:08:51 PM »
Ok, for my reference and everyone elses, Nick's list so far:

50.  King Crimson
49.  Genesis
48.  Spock's Beard
47.  Fish
46.  Stratovarius
45.  Supertramp
44.  Tiles
43.  Jethro Tull
42.  Styx
41.  Kamelot
40.  Sonata Arctica
39.  Amorphis
38.  Metallica
37.  Secret Sphere
36.  Vanden Plas
35.  Time Machine
34.  Pain of Salvation
33.  Muse
32.  Kansas
31.  The Flower Kings
30.  Coheed and Cambria
29.  Tesla
28.  Labyrinth
27.  Threshold
26.  dredg
25.  Dominici
24.  OSI
23.  Karmakanic
22.  Beardfish
21.  Firewind
20.  Enchant
19.  Fates Warning
18.  Yes
17.  Pendragon
16.  Bruce Dickenson
15.  Marillion
14.  Neil Morse
13.  Symphony X
12.  Royal Hunt
11.  Queensryche
10.  Pink Floyd
9.   Redemption
8.   Riverside
7.   Shadow Gallery
6.   Transatlantic

My guess for the top 5:

5.  Anthony Arjen Lucassen (combined works - based on a comment in your original post)
4.  Savatage
3.  Iron Maiden
2.  Dream Theater
1.  Rush
     

Offline Perpetual Change

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #180 on: May 23, 2010, 09:30:53 PM »
So when Nick finishes his list, I think I'll do a top 50. Or top 40. Or top 25. Is that cool?

Why wait?  Start your own thread.

Thanks for the motivation, but it'll take me awhile to compile my list anyway.

Offline KevShmev

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #181 on: May 23, 2010, 10:16:47 PM »
7. Shadow Gallery

*resists the urge to make fun of Nick*

 :biggrin: :biggrin:

Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #182 on: May 24, 2010, 10:38:28 AM »
DTVT - As I did to someone else before, I won't tell you why you're wrong, but you are.

And thanks for the compiled list. :)
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Offline Dr. DTVT

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #183 on: May 24, 2010, 11:28:53 AM »
I guess I'll just find out when you post the rest.  There were about 10 other potential candidates I had penciled down as well - and I was just choosing among those that I thought you would include - so I'll be surprised at some of the omissions to the list.
     

Offline Perpetual Change

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #184 on: May 24, 2010, 11:30:03 AM »
Porcupine Tree has gotta be on there.

Offline Birch Boy

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #185 on: May 24, 2010, 11:33:02 AM »
I'm guessing Iron Maiden will be #3, MAYBE #4, but I'd put money on #3. And Rush will be #1, with Dream Theater in #2... at least that's what I think. So basically, I agree with dreamtheatervt.

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #186 on: May 24, 2010, 11:33:20 AM »
I thought so to, but I thought I remember Nick agreeing with me about PT being vastly over-rated in a thread once.  Maybe it was someone else.  It's not like someone's getting a prize for being right.
     

Offline Birch Boy

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #187 on: May 24, 2010, 11:35:32 AM »
Than I say that Porcupine Tree is #4 or maybe #5, but I think #4 sounds good.

Offline Quadrochosis

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #188 on: May 24, 2010, 01:52:08 PM »
I think it's gonna be what DTVT said, but with PT in spot 4 instead of whatever that band is.
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Offline splent

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #189 on: May 24, 2010, 07:28:25 PM »
Ayreon will be #2
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Offline Birch Boy

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #190 on: May 24, 2010, 08:02:04 PM »
My updated guesses:

1. Rush
2. Iron Maiden or Dream Theater
3. Iron Maiden or Dream Theater
4. Ayreon
5. Porcupine Tree

Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #191 on: May 24, 2010, 08:33:52 PM »
5. Iron Maiden
Seeing the Somewhere Back in Time tour from front row was one of the best concert experiences I've ever had, and in general Maiden set the standard for large scale metal shows. The reason they are ranked higher than a band like Queensryche, despite a few definite duds (No Prayer, X, XI) is the strength of their recent material. It says something when a band in their 30th year can arguably have their newer material (reunion era) as the best era of the band. At the end of the day, Iron Maiden are true classics, but unfortunately they do have their share of bad or average material, more than any other band in my top 5. Can't wait for the upcoming tour and the following album... UP THE IRONS.

Favorite Albums: Brave New World, Somewhere in Time, Piece of Mind, Killers, Powerslave, A Matter of Life and Death

Favorite Songs: Prowler, Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Ides/Wrathchild, Murders in the Rue Morgue, Genghis Khan, Innocent Exile, Killers, Drifter, Children of the Damned, The Prisoner, 22 Arcacia Avenue, Total Eclipse, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Where Eagles Dare, Revelations, Still Life, To Tame a Land, Aces High, 2 Minutes to Midnight, Powerslave, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Wasted Years, Sea of Madness, Stranger in a Strange Land, Infinite Dreams, The Clairvoyant, Afraid to Shoot Strangers, Wasting Love, Judas Be My Guide, Fear of the Dark, Sign of the Cross, Lord of the Flies, Futureal, The Clansman, Ghost of the Navigator, Blood Brothers, Dream of Mirrors, The Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Dance of Death, Paschendale, New Frontier, These Colors Don't Run, The Longest Day, and many more...
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Offline PuffyPat

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #192 on: May 24, 2010, 08:39:50 PM »
Nice. I love Iron Maiden.


I'm really excited to see these guys with DT.
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Offline Perpetual Change

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #193 on: May 24, 2010, 08:40:53 PM »
 :tup

Offline zxlkho

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #194 on: May 24, 2010, 08:51:20 PM »
:tup
This. I can't wait to see them with DT.
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Offline Birch Boy

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #195 on: May 24, 2010, 10:51:59 PM »
Alright so now my updated guesses are:

4. Porcupine Tree
3. Ayreon
2. Dream Theater
1. Rush

What do I win?

Offline YtseJamittaja

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #196 on: May 24, 2010, 10:56:42 PM »
I'm so glad that you have many finnish bands in the list  :tup
Do you even whahíbrido pickingant?

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Offline Mladen

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #197 on: May 25, 2010, 03:47:28 AM »
Up the Irons!

In my opinion, best band ever.

Offline Dr. DTVT

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #198 on: May 25, 2010, 01:35:26 PM »
Yeah, it's Overratedpine Tree, not Savatage.  It was Bosk who had my back, and Nick argueing against him.

When I get home I'm going to list all the bands I'm surprised you left off the list, cause like I said, I had a few.
     

Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #199 on: May 25, 2010, 03:30:09 PM »
Well, right now I can say that if I had 3 Avantasia albums when I started the list, they would be on there. Also remember that bands with only one or two studio albums weren't eligible (Liquid Tension Experiment, amongst other). Savatage I'm a fan of, but not a big enough fan of to make this list. I suspect a lot of your other choices I either don't know very well or simply don't own 3+ albums by.
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Offline Dr. SeaWolf

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #200 on: May 25, 2010, 03:43:53 PM »
All in all, an interesting list (in a good way).  A lot of really obscure prog metal on there though.

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #201 on: May 25, 2010, 04:33:45 PM »
Well, that explains Avantasia (why didn't you have TMO 1 & 2 and The Scarecrow?)

Blind Guardian
Iced Earth
Nightwish
Peter Gabriel
Rainbow
Rhapsody of Fire
Savatage

There were others which I eliminated in retrospect
     

Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #202 on: May 25, 2010, 05:11:31 PM »
Well, that explains Avantasia (why didn't you have TMO 1 & 2 and The Scarecrow?)

Blind Guardian
Iced Earth
Nightwish
Peter Gabriel
Rainbow
Rhapsody of Fire
Savatage

There were others which I eliminated in retrospect

BG - Don't own any albums, have never really been a huge fan of what I've heard, however I might get an album for $5 here shortly in a clearance sale.

Iced Earth - Not a big Barlow fan, and certainly not a fan of a lot of their music.

Nightwish - Love the new album, not big on Tarja.

Gabriel - Don't own any solo studio albums.

Rainbow - I do need to get more, especially the Dio era albums of which I have none.

RoF - Really not that familiar with them, will check out at some point. (That could be next month of 5 years from now)

Savatage - Depending on my mood I might have bumped them into the top 50, but while I'm a fan of theirs I'm not a huge fan.
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Offline glaurung

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #203 on: May 25, 2010, 05:23:59 PM »
Iced Earth - Not a big Barlow fan, and certainly not a fan of a lot of their music.

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Offline skydivingninja

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #204 on: May 25, 2010, 06:25:17 PM »
Gabriel - Don't own any solo studio albums.


Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #205 on: May 25, 2010, 07:55:34 PM »
Although I've stuck to the initial list I made for the most part, over the last 24 hours I've really been at ends trying to decide who gets #4 and who gets #3. I will get an update up yet tonight though.
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Offline skydivingninja

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #206 on: May 25, 2010, 08:07:45 PM »
Stop your list right now and buy Peter Gabriel III, So, Us, and Security.

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #207 on: May 25, 2010, 08:36:07 PM »
4. Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, Blackfield, No-Man)
A man as busy as he is talented, it's a good thing for both it's 'very'. Paving his way through multiple projects as the primary musical driving force I will focus on his primary and most well known exploit, Porcupine Tree. Aside from an odd and sub-par debut album Porcupine Tree has been experimenting, expanding, and producing great music. They have produced albums following an acid trip for 40 minutes and short beautiful and yet unquestionably progressive songs such as Blackest Eyes and Trains. I credit someone here with saying Kevin Moore's voice just works for OSI, and I'd say the same thing is true for Porcupine Tree. From the subtle to the bombastic Steven always seems to fit his voice into things correctly. On top of creating music of a wide variety and high quality Steven is a producer, an engineer, and quite simply the best rock/prog/metal mixer on the face of the planet. His 5.1 work with Porcupine Tree, No-Man, and his solo album is phenomenal. I admit to initially having him listed as #3, but I have to many emotional ties to the artist who did end up in that spot to allow him to stay there. I remember first hearing In Absentia very early in my modern musical life due to the hype at DT.net at the time and not thinking much of it. About a year later a user named JustJen would convince me to give the band another shot and today I consider that album a masterpiece and one of my all time favorites. She can also be credited with getting me to go to my first Porcupine Tree concert which was an amazing experience, as were the two subsequent times I've been able to see them. Being able to meet the band three times now I can also say they are all very nice guys and I am very much looking forward to a special show at RCMH.

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Offline splent

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #208 on: May 25, 2010, 08:42:56 PM »
Geez, mine is going to be tough.

I'll try to get mine together by the time school ends so I can do it.
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Offline Nick

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Re: Nick's Favorite Artists Top 50
« Reply #209 on: May 26, 2010, 10:37:39 AM »
Geez, mine is going to be tough.

I'll try to get mine together by the time school ends so I can do it.

Tori Amos should not make this list. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.
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