jingle.boy's Top 50 Albums - v. the Necrominicon epilogue

[Elite]

Two awesome albums, to I suppose neither would make my own top 50. Either way, good picks!

[WebRaider]

4) Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin IV (1971)



Zeppelin IV, Zoso, Four Symbols, <untitled> … call it whatever you want, but I’ve got to believe that most people would place it (at least) in their top 5 of all classic rock albums.  Recounting from my OP, this album was the one that changed, and set, my musical tastes in the direction that has endured for the past 25 years.  Being a snot-nosed 14 year old pop music brat, this album completely changed my musical world, and frankly, the kind of person I was/became.  In the span of less than three years in 1969, Page, Plant, Bonham and Jones went from relative obscurity to the biggest musical force on the planet.  So much so, that this release had nothing on the album cover/sleeve – no band name or album title – just the artwork.  Not uncommon these days, but 40 years ago… unheard of, and thought to be career suicide.  The monumental impact that the band – and this album – had cannot be understood in relative terms these days.  I once heard in the late 80s, that it was theorized that if you played Stairway to Heaven back to back for every time it was requested on AM and FM radio, you’d have to play it for 57 years.  And remember, back then that’s how you got music … no Grooveshark, Spotify, YouTube, Torrents or anything else on demand.  You either bought, traded (physically), or requested it.  Zeppelin is known for some incredible openings, and Black Dog is no different.  As usual, they don’t just leave you with brilliant blues-inspired classic rock, but weave other elements and styles in that weren’t at all expected in 1971.  An acoustic duet with a mandolin!  A rap drum beat… before there was such a thing as rap (side note, did you know that the “c” in rap is silent)!?  An organ as the lead melody?  Seriously!?!?!  Who would’ve (or could’ve) done any of that and pulled it off?  The four of them were gods in their art the way that all 5 members of DT are today – perhaps more so.  Robert Plant was the mold for rock and roll frontmen, with his dynamic range and control, none were better in the 70s, and I would say only Freddie Mercury surpassed the stage presence he had in concert.  Page’s execution, style, and creativity on the axe is legendary, and second to none (except maybe Hendrix).  Bonham was everything a drummer should be.  And even though Jones was overshadowed by these three, he was a master in his own right on the bass and keys.  To get a taste of how influential this album is, collectively, there are over 250 known officially recorded and released covers of the 8 tracks from this album – by everyone from Dream Theater, to W.A.S.P., to Dolly Parton to Tony Levin.

Fav Songs – Battle of Evermore, Rock And Roll, Four Sticks… oh yeah, and that other well known one.

Great write up. Excellent album but It doesn't resonate with me more than some of their others.

[jingle.boy]

2) Ayreon, The Human Equation (2004)



Some people have a gift and know how to use it. Arjen Lucassen is one of them. Four albums created by Arjen in my Top 50, all of them concepts (two story line, two thematic) … yes, I do believe he’s a musical genius, and without a doubt, “The Godfather” of concept albums.  I’ll admit to being a massive fanboi of his works, as there isn’t anything I’ve heard of his that I don’t like (and yes, that includes Ambeon and The Guilt Machine).  This one in particular has to be his most ambitious project (at the time) with 12 brilliant vocalists and 10 musicians producing sounds from over 20 different instruments (including a recorder and a didgeridoo!), and even more sounds when you consider the keyboard samples.  Straying from the sci-fi/fantasy feel and themes from his previous 5 Ayreon discs, The Human Equation takes the listener on a grandiose emotional journey – with some incredible highs and lows, never letting you go, pulling you into the life of ‘Me’.  For those that don’t know the story, here’s the Cliffs Notes – a man (“Me”) is hospitalized and in a coma due to a car accident. Cut off from the outside world, he finds himself trapped in a strange realm where his emotions- most of which he's ignored for a long time- have come to life to confront him with all the choices he has made in his life. As he is taken from one memory to the next, he slowly becomes aware of all the events leading up to his accident, and realizes that if he ever wants to wake up from his coma, he must find a way out of this emotional prison.  Right from the very first track and complete listen (and like any concept album, there’s really no other way to do it), you find that it’s so expansive and diverse – lyrically, melodically, stylistically, instrumentally, vocally… there’s nothing simple about this album or any of the 20 tracks in any way imaginable.  It gives the listener a blend of rock, metal, space and some traditional rock, symphonic, and atmospheric all in one double-disc.  Arjen gets the absolute best out of his musicians and vocalists, and makes you want to learn more about their music (if you didn’t already know them).  It was his projects that in turn got me in to Symphony X, After Forever, Blind Guardian, Stream of Passion, Shadow Gallery and others.  Lyrically, it’s second to none in my book, some of my favorite lines being:

- I can’t accept this, we will find a way / Out of this cesspool of doom and dismay / Beyond this dejection there’s beauty and grace / A glorious future we long to embrace
- Be a man, give into hate / You better learn to communicate / Better to learn to protect yourself / That's not the way to get out of this hell
- The loved ones are waiting, break out of you cage / You have the power, give in to your rage / Listen to Pride now, for once he is right / Listen to Reason, let us be your guide

And for those that know this disc, please get over the cutoff of James' final scream... it's one note, a few seconds in over 100 minutes of music, and such a cool twist to the overall story.

Fav Songs – Day Eleven: Love; Day Fourteen: Pride, Day Eighteen: Realization, Day Three: Pain, Day Ten: Memories

[jingle.boy]

1) Dream Theater, Images & Words (1992)



This is probably no surprise here now that we’re at the end of the list.  Of all the previous top 50’s, I&W has shown up seven times (I’m actually surprised it hasn’t shown up more).  One could argue that modern day prog-metal started here, and that most current artists were influenced somehow by this release by a then unheralded band called Dream Theater, with a new lead singer.  My first introduction to DT was actually A Fortune In Lies and The Killing Hand, which were enough to thoroughly pique my interest, and I went out and got I&W.  It was 1996, so there were only a few of choices available in the bin at the local CD shop, and this is what I chose.  Man, good thing I did (because it took me a while to appreciate Awake).  This album is about as close to absolute perfection as an album can get (for me).  Just look at the DT Survivor history (and 2009 song and album rankings in the Archive section)… Learning to Live, Metropolis Pt 1, and Take The Time consistently in the Top 10… and the painful woes that other songs keep getting left out because only the Top 3 per album make the finals.  UAGM and Surrounded would be in DT’s Top 25 as well if not for the sheer awesomeness of I&W.  I ran a Survivor a couple of years ago about DT’s best individual “moments”… things like the best guitar solo (live/studio), best unison, best instrumental section, best riffs etc…  I&W’s songs showed up 33 times - more than any other album.  Moments such the instrumental from Metropolis, the Surrounded guitar solo from Chaos in Motion, the UAGM guitar solo, Kevin’s keyboard solo from Take The Time … So many memorable moments come from this album.  And JLB’s vocals leave me in amazement.  You know all of the great lines:

So try another daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
I think it's time for a chaaaa-eeeeee-aaaaaaaaaaange
You can find all you need in your miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind
His shadow slowly fading from the waaaa-AAAAA-aaaa-AAAA-aaaaa-AAAAA-aaaaaal
I'm asleep but I'm so afraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiid
I hear kindness beauty and truuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuth
whoa whoa, whoa;  WHOA WHOA, WHOA ; WHOA WHOA WHOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Whether in the studio, or from the early 90s live albums, he was the best on these songs.  It sits atop the DT Album Power Game (remember, I wrote this a couple of months ago when the album  poll was current).  It’s DT’s most well rounded album… prog, rock, metal, ballads – no single style dominates.  Creative, powerful, emotional, rhythmic, passionate, exciting, and every other desirable trait one can think of.  What more is there to say really?  You’re here at DTF, you know all about this disc.

Fav Songs – All of them … but Surrounded, Metropolis Pt 1, Take The Time and Learning To Live are "especially special".

And there you have it folks, another happy ending.  Hope I was able to take some of the fogey’s down nostalgia lane, and maybe even inspire some of the younglings go have a go with something you didn’t know before.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Good list.

[Elite]

What a stunning conclusion to your list.
I&W is also my favourite DT album. Though it doesn't come in at the #1 spot, it's very, very close. I was surprised by your inclusion of The Human Equation there, which I believe is also a fantastic album. Must sit somewhere in my top 20
Also:

Good list.

[WebRaider]

Very nice list Jingle! I&W is certainly a fitting way to top it off. If you're on this board you should likely have much respect for it IMO.

[jjrock88]

Good picks.  There are some on the list that I wouldn't listen to in a zillion years (no doubt, prince, shania etc) but a stong selection overall.  I&W and Operation Mindcrime would be in my top ten too.

[Dr. DTVT]

I&W is the greatest album of all time, you got that much right 

and lots of other good choices

[jingle.boy]

Thanks folks, this was fun to do, and fun to see the reactions.  I was actually surprised at the decade distribution of the list - 70s (10), 80s (13), 90s (15) and 00s (12)  I would've thought I'd have more from the 70s, but alas, not.

Good picks.  There are some on the list that I wouldn't listen to in a zillion years (no doubt, prince, shania etc) but a stong selection overall.  I&W and Operation Mindcrime would be in my top ten too.

Yeah, I don't listen to those very much.  As I said in my OP, those first few probably aren't REALLY in my top 50, but I had to throw some diversity in somehow!

Lookin forward to the next lists (especially DTVT's hidden gems).  With Nick coming up soon though, it might not be until Memorial Day that you get your chance!

[Jirpo]

I&W is the greatest album of all time, you got that much right 

and lots of other good choices

This!!

Great list! Especially the top 10 was very good.

[Arch Benemy]

Great picks there! Good to see some love for The Human Equation, it really is a fantastic record.

[jingle.boy]

Ok, so here's the final list:

50   Tragic Kingdom - No Doubt
49   Save This House - Spirit of the West
48   Purple Rain - Prince
47   Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply - Slade
46   Racine - Sass Jordan
45   Come on Over   - Shania Twain
44   Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
43   Pornograffitti - Extreme
42   Dance of Death - Iron Maiden
41   Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'n' Roses
40   Into the Electric Castle - Ayreon
39   F.U.C.K - Van Halen
38   Dawn of Victory - Rhapsody
37   Hysteria - Def Leppard
36   Victims of the Modern Age - Star One
35   Native Tongue - Poison
34   Slip of the Tongue - Whitesnake
33   Scenes From a Memory - Dream Theater
32   The Great Radio Controversy - Tesla
31   Train of Thought - Dream Theater
30   Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden
29   Hemispheres - Rush
28   Once - Nightwish
27   Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi
26   Coverdale/Page - Coverdale/Page
25   The First Chapter - Circus Maximus
24   Empire - Queensryche
23   Crystal Empire - Freedom Call
22   Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue
21   Back in Black - AC/DC
20   Octavarium - Dream Theater
19   Milliontown - Frost*
18   Christmas Eve and Other Stories - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
17   Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
16   Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
15   Boston - Boston
14   The Wall - Pink Floyd
13   Led Zeppelin III - Led Zeppelin
12   Double Eclipse - Hardline
11   Skid Row - Skid Row
10   Mood Swings - Harem Scarem
9   Moving Pictures - Rush
8   Operation:Mindcrime - Queensryche
7   Century Child - Nightwish
6   Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf
5   Space Metal - Star One
4   Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin
3   A Farewell to Kings - Rush
2   The Human Equation - Ayreon
1   Images & Words - Dream Theater


It's funny, I realized as I was putting this together, I didn't have any Spock's Beard or Symphony X here.  I absolutely love everything from each of these two bands, and couldn't find a place to put anything from them, because I only got into each band just before X and Paradise Lost respectively.  Upon discovering them though, I got their entire discography in one fail swoop, and as a result, no one single album stands out for me from either.  Maybe in a couple more years, I'll have a more distinguished palate for their sound.

[jjrock88]

And no Judas Priest or Dio!!!!!!!

[Nick]

17   Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
15   Boston - Boston
9   Moving Pictures - Rush
8   Operation:Mindcrime - Queensryche
5   Space Metal - Star One
3   A Farewell to Kings - Rush
2   The Human Equation - Ayreon
1   Images & Words - Dream Theater

This made up for other oversights, mostly.

[Fluffy Lothario]

Bat Out of Hell was playing the first time I touched a girl's boobays. And it was the girl's choice of music. True story.

[TAC]

It's all about memories and how music affects you in your life.

A great quote!

Hey Jingle, Don't know why I never paid attention to this. Fact of the matter is that I really don't follow the Top 50 threads that much because I frankly never recognize anyone's bands. Seems some people really try and post some obscure shit that I've never heard of. (NOT directed at DTVT, as he was clear that was HIS intention!) And also, I guess I didn't realize how old you were until recently!

So anyway, if I may, could I make some belated comments? In the first few albums listed I saw No Doubt, Prince, and Shania Twain, and I thought, oh well, another Top 50 to avoid  but then I saw it..SLADE!! Wow, that’s an awesome album. If all people know are Run Runaway and My Oh My, they’re missing out on a very fun, rocking, and surprisingly heavy album.
Suffice to say, after seeing that, I went through the rest of the thread.

I think I have 6 to 8 of yours in my Top 50 as well, and a couple other bands you list that I have different albums for.

* Great to see the love for Tesla. Their first 4 albums are some of the great. A 70’s band trapped in the 80’s is how I’ve always described them. Actually, I think TGRC is actually the weakest of the four, though it contains my fave Tesla track, Paradise.

* I don’t know how many Maiden fans would rank Dance Of Death as their second favorite Maiden album, but good for you. I think it’s spectacular and put it easily above Brave New World. I feel that each successive Reunion era album has topped the previous one.

* Coverdale/Page..great point about it would have been much better received 10 years earlier. This was 10 times better than The Firm. A great album!

* Dr. Feelgood jumped out at me. I remember when it came out, I was less than impressed with Girls, but Dr. F. was so well written and well played.

Bon Jovi, AC/DC, GnR..definitely spurred a lot of memories.

Anyway, great list. I enjoyed reading it the real thoughtful write ups!

[jingle.boy]

Thanks for the nice words .... And a pretty big bump. You should sign up to do one ... They're quite fun to relive all those great albums that are so cherished us. And it's cool to see the tastes of our fellow posters. I'd love to see the Kings do a Top 50 -both wolf and shmegland.

[Ravenheart]

I follow all of these, regardless of whether the list makers' tastes match mine or not.

My list doesn't have many albums that will appeal to most people on the board, sooo... 

[Dr. DTVT]

I'm looking forward to yours Ravenheart.

[King Postwhore]

Thanks for the nice words .... And a pretty big bump. You should sign up to do one ... They're quite fun to relive all those great albums that are so cherished us. And it's cool to see the tastes of our fellow posters. I'd love to see the Kings do a Top 50 -both wolf and shmegland.

Man I'd have sit down and map that all out.  Maybe I'll work on it little by little and throw my hat in the ring.

[jingle.boy]

Thanks for the nice words .... And a pretty big bump. You should sign up to do one ... They're quite fun to relive all those great albums that are so cherished us. And it's cool to see the tastes of our fellow posters. I'd love to see the Kings do a Top 50 -both wolf and shmegland.

Man I'd have sit down and map that all out.  Maybe I'll work on it little by little and throw my hat in the ring.

That's the best way to do it, IMO. Sign up (which gives you the compelling reason to act), make your list and do the writeups for a couple of albums a day. I guess I'm kinda lucky in that - working from home - I can listen to pretty much all the music I want all day long, so was able to re-listen to all these albums while I worked.

[lonestar]

Well, I just threw my hat in the ring.  Should be up around 2014.

[jingle.boy]

Just saw! 

[King Postwhore]

That's the problem.  I'm at work and I do between 50 and 55 hours a week so I'm strapped for time.

[TAC]

Thanks for the nice words .... And a pretty big bump. You should sign up to do one ... They're quite fun to relive all those great albums that are so cherished us. And it's cool to see the tastes of our fellow posters. I'd love to see the Kings do a Top 50 -both wolf and shmegland.

Man I'd have sit down and map that all out.  Maybe I'll work on it little by little and throw my hat in the ring.

That's the best way to do it, IMO. Sign up (which gives you the compelling reason to act), make your list and do the writeups for a couple of albums a day. I guess I'm kinda lucky in that - working from home - I can listen to pretty much all the music I want all day long, so was able to re-listen to all these albums while I worked.

Yeah, I signed up too a couple of weeks ago, so I'm on the list. Placing the albums in proper order has been much harder than I thought!
Strapped for time as well, but by the time it's my turn, I should be ready.