Nekov's Top 50 album thread v. Almost there

[Nekov]

Yay for the Angra love. I saw them live once and they are really good. They even do a Nightmare Cinema of their own playing cool cover songs.

Also dude, you've put your number 38 album as 33.

Good catch. Thanks

[ReaperKK]

Very cool to see an evening with jp and jr as well as lightbulb sun.

[senecadawg2]

A lot of interesting choices. Some great albums so far.

[Mladen]

Great to see Lightbulb sun, it's definitely one of my favorite Porcupine tree albums. 

[Scorpion]

Angra is great, though my favourites are probably Rebirth and Temple of Shadows, and F+TM aren't half bad either. Never got into PT that much, but Lightbulb Sun is pretty cool too.

[TAC]

Great to see Iron Maiden.

I need to listen to the JR/JP CD more.

For whatever reason, I've never given Angra any time.

[Ravenheart]

Love Florence. Ceremonials is one of my favorites of 2011.

[Nekov]

35 - Genesis - Selling England by the Pound



I find this album very interesting because it is a permanent contrast. It alternates one fantastic song with one with one of a lower caliber throughout the whole album all while delivering some beautiful happy melodies, well executed instrumentals, very good solos. It’s good prog all the way through. Peter Gabriel’s voice adds a lot to the instruments and Phil Collin’s drumming is quite unique.

Favorite songs: Dancing with the moonlight knight - Firth of fifth - The cinema show


34 - Metallica - Master of Puppets



This is how you play thrash metal. Powerful yet interesting riffs, simple drumming but precisely what is needed, songs that develop and change all the time, instrumental areas and overall kickass metal. Metallica was able to deliver their best masterpiece very early in their career and unfortunately they weren’t able to keep up. But it would have been hard for them to come up with something better. The way everything flows and connects here, how a song like Master of Puppets can have so much power and yet contain a calmer and melodic instrumental, just to go back up with the hammering, all the great solos, it’s just so good.

Favorite songs: Master of Puppets - Battery - Orion


33 - The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures



One of the most overlooked albums from The Flower Kings. I’ve seen people praising a lot of their latest work but I personally think that what they did in the beginning was better. To me this album sounds natural, the melodies flow nicely and easily connect with one another yet there’s also the more chaotic side of TFK which comes out on some songs but still sounds perfectly natural. And then there’s also the jazzy beats.  Both Roine and Tomas make an excellent job leading the songs.

Favorite songs: World of adventures - Theme for a hero - My cosmic lover

[ColdFireYYZ]

33 & 35 are great picks. I was actually just listening to Back in the World of Adventures today; its one of my favorites.

[Mladen]

Selling England by the pound and Master of puppets are amazing. I'm sure that TFK album is as well, but I haven't heard it yet. 

[Scorpion]

Three amazing albums. MoP is one of my favourite albums of all time.

[nicmos]

I never understood why the title track on MoP gets so much love.  it's not even in my top 3 songs on that album.  Disposable Heroes > Damage Inc. > Orion ~= Welcome Home (Sanitarium) > title track > Battery > Lepper Messiah >>> TTTSNB

but overall, what can you say.  it's one of the undisputed classics.  not arguing with the selection at all.

[Nekov]

That's ok Biff, you are entitled to your own opinion even if it is the wrong one 

[Nekov]

32 - Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth



A turning point in Blind Guardian’s career as this album would signal a change in style for the band. A great mix of power metal and folk focused on the guitar melodies and accompanied by some very nice string arrangements and some of BGs best choruses. They managed to do a great mix between the main song and the shorter ones that were there to help the Tolkien concept. Some truly epic moments are present in here, powerful riffs, calm melodies and of course Hansi’s vocals which are unique as usual.

Favorite songs: Nightfall - Thorn - When sorrow sang


31 - Transatlantic - SMPTE



When 4 fantastic musicians gather the most likely outcome is a great album and this is the case right here. The epicness of the All of the above, the more rocker side presented in Mystery train and of course the touching We all need some light, a clear demonstration of how one album can mix very different moods and still be technical as hell. The amount of prog that can be found here is almost unbelievable and yet they manage to make it all very listenable.

Favorite songs: All of the above - Mystery train - My new world


30 - Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota - Gulp



Another band from my country, in this case a one that has one of the biggest local fanbase. These guys marked an era during the 80s and part of the 90s with a somewhat dark atmosphere, cryptic lyrics, a very unique singer not because of his technicality but because he has a very particular voice. In spite of the more dark aspect of their music they were also able to throw some more upbeat bits and even whole songs that talk about love, but not often. They also use wind instruments in there to help create the atmospheres on which the singer would deliver his weird poetry.

Favorite songs: Yo no me cai del cielo - Te voy a atornillar - El infierno está encantador

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Transatlantic 

[Elite]

Nice to see Blind Guardian
And Transatlantic is awesome as well, though I definitely prefer both their other album, I think.

[Mladen]

Ooh, my favorite Transatlantic album, very nice. 

[TAC]

Nice list so far. Still only familiar with a few, but it's a damn good few!

[Nekov]

Nice list so far. Still only familiar with a few, but it's a damn good few!

The solution for that would be to listen to them 

Transatlantic 

Nice to see Blind Guardian

[Scorpion]

Both Transatlantic and Blind Guardian rule, though these are not my favourite albums by these artists (Follow the Blind and Bridge Across Forever would hold these titles). 

Don't know the last one.

[jingle.boy]

I find I have to be in the right mood for BG.  This post inspired me to have a listen.  I like it plenty, just don't find much that floor's me about them too often.  Good album though.  Same goes for SMTPe.  I prefer Bridge Across Forever.  Don't know the third.

Enjoying the variety in your Top 50 so far.  I'm gonna have to go check the rest of the VH Brother album.

[wolfking]

That's a killer BG album, a good mix between their old stuff and their newer style, with some of their best songs on that one.

[Nekov]

29 - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin 4



If someone asked me to define Rock & Roll I would tell that person to listen to this album. Powerful guitars, simple yet precise riffs, a mix of up bit with more calm and soothing songs, a great vocalist, an unbelievable drummer and fantastic guitar player. This album contains all the elements that make rock & roll my favorite music genre.

Favorite songs: Rock & roll - Stairway to heaven - The battle of Evermore


28 - Queen - The Works



Some might argue that this is not Queen’s best album and maybe it isn’t but it’s by far the one I enjoy the most. It’s more pop/hit oriented than any other album they did, it works a lot with keyboards and a more 80s sound but you can still find the classic rock Queen was known for, those great choruses that fit the songs perfectly, Brian May’s sweet melodies and of course Freddy who never got tired of showing the world he was the best singer to ever walk on this earth.

Favorite songs: Radio gaga - I want to break free - Hammer to fall


27 - Yes - Fragile


This is a bit of a weird album. It’s a mix of short songs that each portray the individual ability of each musician and then the longer songs in which everything comes together in a magical and impressive way. Yes is one of the few bands that is able to make some beautiful tunes while still being very technical in their approach to song writing, and were also able to work a lot with contrasts between crazier and calmer moods.

Favorite songs: Roundabout - South side of the sky - Heart of the sunrise

[Mladen]

Fragile is brilliant, and IV is really good. 

[King Postwhore]

Queen -- Machines (Or back to Humans) is my favorite off The Works!

[Nick]

Just seeing this for the first time, some awesome picks thus far.

[Scorpion]

Both IV and Fragile are great albums. The Works is pretty good too, but nowhere near the best that Queen has put out, imho.

Listening to Fragile now. 

[lonestar]

Hard to argue against any of those.

[jjrock88]

IV is awesome

[jingle.boy]

Black Dog is THE song that changed my musical course 25ish years ago.  IV is my #2, from my #1 band.  Glad to see the love for Battle of Evermore... probably my favorite from the album.

[Big Hath]

surprising - this is only the second time out of 28 that Led Zep IV has been on a top 50 list

same for Fragile

[Heretic]

Awesome list thus far, man!

[Elite]

Fragile 
Second favourite Yes album for me, only after Close to the Edge.

[Nekov]

I'm glad you are liking it guys  More updates

26 - Porcupine Tree - In Absentia



This album mixes perfectly the two sides of PT that I really enjoy. On one side it has some very beautiful tracks that manage to get a smile out of me every time, but there’s also the darker and more somber side of PT and a feeling of hopelessness. In between the battle of atmospheres there is some very well thought music, drum sections that are just genius, guitar riffs which fall right on the spot every time and some piano here and there that adds some touching moments.

Favorite songs: Blackest eyes - Trains - Collapse the light into earth


25 - Soda Stereo - Cancion Animal




I promise this is the last super unknown band in my list. Again a band from Argentina that I really like and the only one on this list I got to see live. The band started doing pop rock and new wave and became famous exploiting those two genres. Then they release this album which was a complete change of direction in their musical style. The songs were leaning towards alternative rock and for the most part stopped talking about love or at least did it but not very directly. The album is full of nice riffs, the drumming is quite clever and there are some string and piano arrangements that work really well.

Favorite songs: Cancion Animal - Hombre al agua - Cae el sol


24 - Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 2



This record is absolute prog madness at its best. It has a powerful intensity that doesn’t get lost between the thousands of notes that are flying around all over the place. Tony Levin was the perfect choice because he provides a lot of contrast and top notch bass playing, and I don’t think I have to praise the other guys in here, they just pulled out their A games technically.

Favorite songs: Acid Rain - Another dimension - When the water breaks

[wolfking]

PT FTW.  And I love that LTE album, one of the best instrumental albums of all time.