DreamTheaterForums.org Dream Theater Fan Site
General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: jingle.boy on November 27, 2019, 09:28:05 AM
-
Stealing from RJ, I thought it'd be cool to share our favorite songs from the '10s as we wrap the decade up in the next 5 weeks. He's doing his top 31 - one a day for December. Seems legit to me, so I'll try to follow along similarly here. Not sure I'm gonna bother to stack rank them, just fire of 31 of my fave's - because frankly, to chose the "top" 31 would be nearly impossible - all were likely #1 at some point in my listening routine.
I'm going to impose a 1 song per band condition, to spread the wealth - otherwise Flaming Row, Star One, and Epysode would take up 1/2 the list. Personally, I'm also going to exclude the songs that I just fired off from my Top Roulette Songs thread.
Feel free to join in with your own personal faves. Love to hear the stories.
-
I could easily fill this with 100+ songs if given the time and energy to comb through 2010-2019 in their entirety so I don't leave any stones unturned, but that's a Herculean job to tackle. Can't say I'll be able to rattle off ALL my favorites, but I'll definitely be sharing mine.
-
First song that popped in my head: "Better Than Walking Away".
-
Holy Book of Dilemma
-
I'd love to make a long epic list of 100+, for now, this track by Bruce Peninsula has got to be among my favorites.
It's simply perfect
https://brucepeninsula.bandcamp.com/track/of-songs
-
This is going to be difficult, a lot more than top albums. Have a few in mind but the list of “songs I like or are important to me” (favorites approach) and “songs that I wouldn’t give up having heard at all” (experience approach) aren’t easy to line up.
-
Thief!!!
I was thinking about doing a thread to follow my list on Facebook, but I'll post them here instead...
Mine was done with similar rules, and isn't so much a best of the best of the best, but a solid display of what shaped my decade. When 2010 started, I had about 50 cds, all DT, IQ, Marillion, and various 70/80's classic rock. Because of you assholes, and the avenues opened through you assholes (specifically writing for Lady Obscure) I now have about 600 albums by nearly 200 artists. My list is a best of/display of how that process came to be, though as Chad said in the OP, each of the songs on my list has done serious damage to my hearing over the last years.
As I post mine on Facebook, I'll copy/paste them here.
-
Hmmm. Here's my list. One song per band and one song per year as well for me. Otherwise, I'll be here forever listing all the songs I really like. Don't really have too much of a judging scale. It mainly comes down to how much the song relates to me compared to where I was in life at the time. Extra points if its long and epic and filled with many twists and turns and exciting sections.
1. Alter Bridge - Fortress (song) (2013)
2. Rush - The Garden (2012)
3. Iron Maiden - Empire Of the Clouds (2015)
4. Myles Kennedy - Love Can Only Heal (2018)
5. Nothing More - Fade In/Fade Out (2017)
6. Stone Sour - Dying (2010)
7. Sixx: A.M. - Barbarians (Prayers for the Blessed) (2016)
8. Switchfoot - Where I Belong (2011)
9. Seether - Save Today (2014)
10. Aimer - Sun Dance (song) (2019)
-
First ones that come to mind are:
Warpaint - Biggy
Ringo Deathstarr - Guilt
Blur - Ghost Ship
DT - Our New World
-
I thought this would be harder than album of the decade but it’s actually way easier for me
Cult of Luna - Vicarious Redemption
-
Thief!!!
Didn't meant to be! I was giving you time to start a thread, but thought it'd be nice to give people here a few days to start thinking about it.
-
I noted down some possibilities - specific songs and also just certain bands, where I need to choose between a few songs - and the total conveniently came to 31 :lol
It'll take me a little while to organise the list properly though.
-
I've decided to approach this year-by-year and pick two or three favourites for each year.
2010
The Quiet House - Spock's Beard
Celestial Elixir - Haken
2011
Breaking All Illusions - Dream Theater
Raider II - Steven Wilson
2012
Numbers - The Flower Kings
Headlong Flight - Rush
2013
Drive Home - Steven Wilson
I Know Your Secret - Spock's Beard
East Coast Racer - Big Big Train
2014
Lost Without You - Flying Colors
The Great Divide - Enchant
Kaleidoscope - Transatlantic
2015
The Celluloid Road - The Tangent
Introversion - Magic Pie
2016
London Plane - Big Big Train
A New Beginning - Dream Theater
Towerblock - Frost*
2017
Detonation - Steven Wilson
Sight of Day - Mostly Autumn
2018
Cries for the Lonely - Southern Empire
Friendship - Rikard Sjöblom's Gungfly
2019
Room 137 - Dream Theater
Ariel - Big Big Train
White Rainbow - Mostly Autumn
-
Damn this is going to require some thought.
-
Going through my "loved songs" on Last.FM, in no particular order:
Blind & Frozen - Beast In Black
I Need You - Ginger Wildheart (very Ginger... do an upbeat sounding song about suicidal depression).
Monster At The End - Anthrax
512 - Lamb Of God
This Aint Love - Hey! Hello!
Seven - Arion
New Day Rising - Von Hertzen Brothers
Liberation - Devin Townsend Project
Domination Agenda - Scar Symmetry
We Live On - Anneke Van Giersbergen
The Demon Strikes - Arena
The Golden Elk - Amorphis
Sacred & Wild - Powerwolf
The End & The Rebirth - Shattered Skies
Roar - Treat
-
I know there are rules in the OP but f*ck rules!
Except mine of course. I'm doing 5 songs per year, not repeating bands during the same year
2010
Anathema - Everything
Haken - Streams
Kyte - Designed for Damage
Moon Safari - A Kid Called Panic
Mystery - One Among the Living
2011
Apparat - Song of Los
The Decemberists - This Is Why We Fight
Devin Townsend - Blackberry
Dream the Electric Sleep - Listen to Me
Dream Theater - Bridges in the Sky
2012
Alcest - Summer's Glory
Anathema - Lightning Song
Flying Colors - Infinite Fire
Hammock - (Tonight) We Burn Like Stars That Never Die
North Atlantic Oscilation - Expert with Altimeter
2013
Frightened Rabbit - Late March - Death March
Kyte - Aerials
Moon Safari - Too Young to Say Goodbye
The Reign of Kindo - I Hate Music
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing
2014
Bend Sinister - You Remind Me
Dream the Electric Sleep - Elizabeth
Haken - Crystalized
IQ - Without Walls
Neal Morse - Song for the Free
2015
The Bright Light Social Hour - Infinite Cities
Lonely Robot - Are We Copies?
Mutemath - Stratosphere
Riverside - Caterpillar and the Barbed Wire
Steven Wilson - Hand Cannot Erase
2016
Dream the Electric Sleep - Flight -
Frightened Rabbit - Lump Street
Frost* - Heartstrings
Haken - Bound by Gravity
John Mitchell - Take me Home
2017
Anathema - Endless Ways
The Contortionist - Return to Earth
Lonely Robot - Hello World Goodbye
Manchester Orchestra - The Maze
Steven Wilson - Pariah
2018
Bend Sinister - Got your Back
Ghost B.C. - Rats
Kino - I Won't Break So Easily Anymore
Mutemath - Voice in the Silence
We Came From Space - Pieces of the Sky
2019
Tim Bowness - The Train that Pulled Away
Dream Theater - Barstool Warrior
Tool - Pneuma
Dirt Poor Robins - Skywriter
Dirty Loops - Work Shit Out
-
Hmmm, if I had to go with 10 from this decade, with only one per artist, for now:
Sprawl II - Arcade Fire
Jaws of Heaven - Spock's Beard
You Are a Tourist - Death Cab for Cutie
Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes
Headlong Flight - Rush
Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion
The Raven That Refused to Sing - Steven Wilson
He Is - Ghost
The Call - Neal Morse Band
1985 - Haken
-
Ok, I'll start since I just posted on FB...
My list is more a musical journey, though all the songs have seen serious playtime. My first entry, Secret Sphere with the opening instrumental Portrait of a Dying Heart. This album was my introduction to Italian power metal, an endless pit of killer music, and contains a riff that will always get me to crank it to 11, no matter where I am.
#31- Secret Sphere- Portrait of a Dying Heart, 2012
-
Ain't no way in hell I'm gonna bother trying to stack rank mine. Wouldn't make much sense, since I'm cutting loose all the ones I just put up in my best-of Roulette song thread. So, I'll just start chronoligically with 2010
#31. Star One / Human See, Human Do.
Ayreon fanboism hard at play here. Plus, three of the four are among my most favorite vocalists, and Dan Swano to top it off. This song tops my last.fm listens, and starts off perhaps my favorite 3-song run from any album ever. Like I wrote once, I love all the songs from this album, cuz it just takes me back to being right in the movie - this one being all about the original Planet of the Apes.
-
So wait, are you guys counting down from 31? That's an odd place to start, :lol
-
So wait, are you guys counting down from 31? That's an odd place to start, :lol
One-a-day doesn't seem so odd. Did you even read the OP?
-
So wait, are you guys counting down from 31? That's an odd place to start, :lol
One-a-day doesn't seem so odd. Did you even read the OP?
Apparently not. I got as far as:
Stealing from RJ,
:lol
-
I know there are rules in the OP but f*ck rules!
Except mine of course. I'm doing 5 songs per year, not repeating bands during the same year
2010
Anathema - Everything
Haken - Streams
Kyte - Designed for Damage
Moon Safari - A Kid Called Panic
Mystery - One Among the Living
2011
Apparat - Song of Los
The Decemberists - This Is Why We Fight
Devin Townsend - Blackberry
Dream the Electric Sleep - Listen to Me
Dream Theater - Bridges in the Sky
2012
Alcest - Summer's Glory
Anathema - Lightning Song
Flying Colors - Infinite Fire
Hammock - (Tonight) We Burn Like Stars That Never Die
North Atlantic Oscilation - Expert with Altimeter
2013
Frightened Rabbit - Late March - Death March
Kyte - Aerials
Moon Safari - Too Young to Say Goodbye
The Reign of Kindo - I Hate Music
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing
2014
Bend Sinister - You Remind Me
Dream the Electric Sleep - Elizabeth
Haken - Crystalized
IQ - Without Walls
Neal Morse - Song for the Free
2015
The Bright Light Social Hour - Infinite Cities
Lonely Robot - Are We Copies?
Mutemath - Stratosphere
Riverside - Caterpillar and the Barbed Wire
Steven Wilson - Hand Cannot Erase
2016
Dream the Electric Sleep - Flight -
Frightened Rabbit - Lump Street
Frost* - Heartstrings
Haken - Bound by Gravity
John Mitchell - Take me Home
2017
Anathema - Endless Ways
The Contortionist - Return to Earth
Lonely Robot - Hello World Goodbye
Manchester Orchestra - The Maze
Steven Wilson - Pariah
2018
Bend Sinister - Got your Back
Ghost B.C. - Rats
Kino - I Won't Break So Easily Anymore
Mutemath - Voice in the Silence
We Came From Space - Pieces of the Sky
2019
Tim Bowness - The Train that Pulled Away
Dream Theater - Barstool Warrior
Tool - Pneuma
Dirt Poor Robins - Skywriter
Dirty Loops - Work Shit Out
:tup
my list won't necessarily include the specific songs, but at least a chunk of the same artists.
-
#30- Amorphis- Heart of the Giant, 2018
From one of my favorite albums of the year, this track delivers everything I expect from a thunderous, face melting epic metal track. Just so good.
-
Well, you gave me Amongst Stars in my roulette, and it slayed. I guess I'll have to give this one a spin. Am I gonna need to cleanse my ears afterwards? If so, then I'll do it with this:
#30 - Avantasia / The Wicked Symphony
Epic is as epic does. Glorious vocalizations, a word-salad of lyrics that simultaneously make no sense whatsoever, yet are perfectly acceptable. Anthemic is the best word I can use to describe this one.
-
I remember how people on Avantasia forum heard the actual song in advance in 2010 I think and were trying to guess the lyrics. "Afflatus Divine! Your hands" was guessed as "Your father's denied your hand" :lol
-
"Etheria" by YYNOT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc9yFhJIqrI
-
Anathema - Everything
Angra - Magic Mirror
Casualities of Cool - Flight
Devin Townsend - Why?
Devin Townsend Project - Grace
Dream Theater - A New Beginning
Flying Colors - Peaceful Harbor
Haken - 1985
Joanna Newsom - Time As a Symptom
Mastodon - Roots Remain
Meshuggah - Marrow
Opeth - Era
Ott - A Nice Little Place
Pain of Salvation - Sisters and The Deeper Cut
Ulver - Rolling Stone
Rush - The Garden
Steven Wilson - Routine
Yob - Marrow
Something like that; a double whammy of Marrow and a triple from the Dev. Way to go, Dev!
-
#31. Star One / Human See, Human Do.
Good song from a great record, but far from the best song on that record. ;)
#30- Amorphis- Heart of the Giant, 2018
Good song from a great record, but far from the best song on that record. ;)
#30 - Avantasia / The Wicked Symphony
Finally, great song from a great record. :D
Well, you gave me Amongst Stars in my roulette, and it slayed. I guess I'll have to give this one a spin. Am I gonna need to cleanse my ears afterwards?
Amorphis - Queen Of Time is one of the best records from 2018, maybe from the whole decade, but beware, there's a lot of growling and harsh vocals going on, so probably not really your thing.
-
#29- Absolute Priority- Dead Man Walkin', 2012
Italian prog, from a concept album of a serial killer on death row, this is the last track where the killer is finally executed. Just haunting. This album spent a good deal of time in my ears, which is saying a lot for coming from the most productive year on my list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FhOdT0w5nU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FhOdT0w5nU)
-
#29- Absolute Priority- Dead Man Walkin', 2012
Italian prog, from a concept album of a serial killer on death row, this is the last track where the killer is finally executed. Just haunting. This album spent a good deal of time in my ears, which is saying a lot for coming from the most productive year on my list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FhOdT0w5nU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FhOdT0w5nU)
See, I had this on my list originally, but when it ended up being 51 songs deep, I had to cut a bunch. I knew I could count on you to include this.
Anthriel / Promised Land
This too comes from a concept album - inspired by fantasy author R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms: The Dark Elf Trilogy. I've never read it, but maybe I should someday. I could've picked any of 4-5 tracks from this album, it's just stellar top to bottom, with an epic closer. The riffs, melodies, unisons, arpeggios are a terrific recipe for a track that gives me goosebumps virtually every time I listen to it. Many thanks to Zook for reccomending this one to me a number of years back. 3rd most favorite album ever recommended to me by DTF'rs.
-
Nice choice!!!
I'm getting the feeling this is gonna be a 29 day circle jerk for us, at least until I get to Haken...
-
That track's ight. Devil's Lullaby is better though!
-
Nice choice!!!
I'm getting the feeling this is gonna be a 29 day circle jerk for us, at least until I get to Haken...
Yeah, I'll should probably rename this the jingle.chef thread, or something.... "ringing in the new decade; cookin up some old tunes' :lol
-
Where are Taylor Swift? Harry Styles? Rival Sons?
Every band here sounds like the younger brother in Game Of Thrones that has no real speaking lines, but their death causes a war that lasts a half a season. "Arathaniel was murdered in his sleep; bend the knee, for we must march at dawn!"
-
Where are Taylor Swift? Harry Styles? Rival Sons?
By all means... contribute!
-
Where are Taylor Swift? Harry Styles? Rival Sons?
By all means... contribute!
I might; I'm just busting balls though, plus I needed an opportunity for the joke I fell in love with. :)
I actually find this interesting, and I'm listening to some of the songs. It's fun.
-
Okay, so songs are always hard for me, but I think I can do this...
31. Rival Sons - Feral Roots
30. Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams (in my mind, an almost perfect pop song)
29. Van Halen - Blood And Fire (that interlude: "Say you missed me... say it like you mean it!" then Ed rips off this wicked solo...)
-
#28 Prospekt- Titan, 2017
One of the many tracks on the list here for the sheer amount of playtime it received. Straight up, in your face prog metal.
Brilliant stuff...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuHEdhU35Mw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuHEdhU35Mw)
-
#28 Prospekt- Titan, 2017
One of the many tracks on the list here for the sheer amount of playtime it received. Straight up, in your face prog metal.
Brilliant stuff...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuHEdhU35Mw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuHEdhU35Mw)
Straight up, kick's fucking ass album. It will JUST miss my Top 15 of the decade list (probably #16 or #17... really debated on whether to include it or not). So far, 3/4 are ones you've introduced me to. The o/u is coming up pretty quick!
As for mine today...
Pretty Maids / Pandemonium
Live version kicks ass, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbD-ODYQ0f0. So much energy, and while Ronnie's voice might not be for everyone, I dig the fuck out of it. My favorite thing related to this song was sending it (and the Obama samples) to Stads in his roulette. It's not terribly deep lyrically, but it all just comes together for my tastes.
-
28. A Simple Game Of Genius - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
A digital-only bonus track, it's easily my favorite Noel solo song, and maybe my favorite of anything he's been involved with. No surprises, nothing out of the ordinary, just good songwriting, good playing.
-
28. A Simple Game Of Genius - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
A digital-only bonus track, it's easily my favorite Noel solo song, and maybe my favorite of anything he's been involved with. No surprises, nothing out of the ordinary, just good songwriting, good playing.
I'll add this to my queue... right after your Concept album finishes up.
-
Gonna do this one now since I'm working hella early tomorrow...
#28 The Omega Experiment- Stimulus, 2013
This album, and specifically this song and one other, floored me for a good few months.Unique and grand in sound and scope, and deeply personal in meaning. The story of addiction and recovery contained within touched me deep, with some parts of the album still able to move me to tears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boLKGe0ojC4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boLKGe0ojC4)
-
Mine for the day:
27: Bury Me In Willow - Asia (From "XXX")
A close second was "I Would Die For You" from the following album, "Gravitas"; both are songs that I think betray John Wetton's impending mortality. Asia for me doesn't exist without John Wetton, and his death was one of the few "celebrity" deaths that really shook me. I thought this before he passed, but it's more stark after: I think he's got a crown full of hidden gems in the latter day Asia catalogue.
-
Gonna do this one now since I'm working hella early tomorrow...
#28 The Omega Experiment- Stimulus, 2013
This album, and specifically this song and one other, floored me for a good few months.Unique and grand in sound and scope, and deeply personal in meaning. The story of addiction and recovery contained within touched me deep, with some parts of the album still able to move me to tears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boLKGe0ojC4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boLKGe0ojC4)
Very Devin Townsend-like. I'll post mine when at my computer (on my iPad atm)
-
Gonna do this one now since I'm working hella early tomorrow...
#28 The Omega Experiment- Stimulus, 2013
This album, and specifically this song and one other, floored me for a good few months.Unique and grand in sound and scope, and deeply personal in meaning. The story of addiction and recovery contained within touched me deep, with some parts of the album still able to move me to tears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boLKGe0ojC4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boLKGe0ojC4)
Very Devin Townsend-like. I'll post mine when at my computer (on my iPad atm)
Funny you say that, Devy actually gave him a huge boost of support via Twitter and FB when the album came out, the man himself loved it.
-
Where are Taylor Swift? Harry Styles? Rival Sons?
Every band here sounds like the younger brother in Game Of Thrones that has no real speaking lines, but their death causes a war that lasts a half a season. "Arathaniel was murdered in his sleep; bend the knee, for we must march at dawn!"
:lol
Just for Stads, here is my top 10 T Swift songs of the decade:
10. Holy Ground (BBC Live Lounge) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpT6Ua3FIp8)
9. Welcome To New York (live @ Amazon Prime Concert) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhAhja7i9-Q)
8. State Of Grace
7. Cornelia Street
6. Cruel Summer
5. Blank Space (live at the Grammy Museum (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Zt47V3pPw), the best Taylor Swift performance of the decade)
4. Death By A Thousand Cuts (live at the Tiny Desk) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wFrvmq_DSk)
3. Delicate (live from Chicago) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADfRuFtV4GI)
2. Lover (BBC Live Lounge) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4I6PhHbH7o)
1. New Year's Day (the Jimmy Fallon show) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QV5fa7xa4)
-
Ok, moving on to 2011... and the song from the #1 album of the decade
Flaming Row / Unearth the Truth.
I don't have enough superlatives for this album and how much I've drool over it (figuratively). So many songs/moments still give me goosebumps to this day. With this track - the second song from the end (minus a little interlude track), the opening riff is one of my most favorite of all time, and just so rich, warm, and ... I don't even know the right word to describe it. This is the song in the concept that brings multiple points of the story together, and I still haven't 'solved' what it's really all about.
Thanks to Nick, who's review of it almost a decade ago motivated me to make a blind purchase - directly from the band's website as that was the only way to get it. I spent almost $40USD for a single album, and it was worth every penny.
-
And I still need to check them out.
-
And I still need to check them out.
You been saying that for what... 7, 8 years!?!
-
Where are Taylor Swift? Harry Styles? Rival Sons?
Every band here sounds like the younger brother in Game Of Thrones that has no real speaking lines, but their death causes a war that lasts a half a season. "Arathaniel was murdered in his sleep; bend the knee, for we must march at dawn!"
:lol
Just for Stads, here is my top 10 T Swift songs of the decade:
10. Holy Ground (BBC Live Lounge) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpT6Ua3FIp8)
9. Welcome To New York (live @ Amazon Prime Concert) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhAhja7i9-Q)
8. State Of Grace
7. Cornelia Street
6. Cruel Summer
5. Blank Space (live at the Grammy Museum (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Zt47V3pPw), the best Taylor Swift performance of the decade)
4. Death By A Thousand Cuts (live at the Tiny Desk) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wFrvmq_DSk)
3. Delicate (live from Chicago) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADfRuFtV4GI)
2. Lover (BBC Live Lounge) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4I6PhHbH7o)
1. New Year's Day (the Jimmy Fallon show) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QV5fa7xa4)
That's a pretty good list. I know about a third of them (I know all the songs, but I mean the performances). I have some watching to do! :)
-
Flaming Row / Unearth the Truth.
I've never heard this band, but I checked out that song on YT and it sounded pretty good. That kind of prog metal, that almost approaches power metal, is not really my thing, but I will admit that that song was good enough to get my attention.
-
Alright so I am joining in now one thing for certain is I don't expect any fans of this list, it's absolutely all over the place. I loosely put this list together so the order isn't exactly how I like it but these were the first songs that really popped out at me. One thing I realized is how terrible I am determining what decade some songs came out in.
31. Grails - Future Primitive - One of the more unique post-rock bands that I've found over the years. They have a knack for creating really interesting soundscapes and their sound is really great on this track and album. There work can be a little too busy but this song is one of their highlights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1lE90gT37U
30. Midland - Drinkin' Problem - I'm not a country fan at all but I don't know what it is about this song that really struck, I was listening to it endlessly for weeks after I heard it. It's simple, it's polished, and best of all it's catchy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f6gm6Q1FBM
29. Mr. FijiWifji - Apathy ft. Coma - It's been a few years since I've listened to this track but I spun it almost non-stop when it first came out. This was one of the first songs that really got me to explore EDM music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qstMjEH5pk
28. Dream Theater - At Wit's End - I love this song. It's easily one of my favorite DT tracks and my favorite of theirs from the past decade. The DT chat side has spoken about this song at length and there isn't much else I can add.
27. Pegboard Nerds - Here It Comes - This is from the height of my EDM days. This song is really high energy and listening to it made me want to bust out the glowsticks and pull a back muscle jumping around. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEL-HdWvLpM
-
Ok, moving on to 2011... and the song from the #1 album of the decade
Flaming Row / Unearth the Truth.
I don't have enough superlatives for this album and how much I've drool over it (figuratively). So many songs/moments still give me goosebumps to this day. With this track - the second song from the end (minus a little interlude track), the opening riff is one of my most favorite of all time, and just so rich, warm, and ... I don't even know the right word to describe it. This is the song in the concept that brings multiple points of the story together, and I still haven't 'solved' what it's really all about.
Thanks to Nick, who's review of it almost a decade ago motivated me to make a blind purchase - directly from the band's website as that was the only way to get it. I spent almost $40USD for a single album, and it was worth every penny.
I honestly didn't expect to see them this soon in your list...I got them much, much higher...
-
Songs of the Decade
#26 MindMaze- Fight the Future, 2017
The third release from this metal outfit out of Pennsylvania, this track delivers everything anyone would want out of a prog power song- thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, and quite possible the most furious instrumental segment on the list. A cup of coffee ain't got shit on this tracks blistering waking up ability...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orzM7khEsnE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orzM7khEsnE)
-
Ok, moving on to 2011... and the song from the #1 album of the decade
Flaming Row / Unearth the Truth.
I don't have enough superlatives for this album and how much I've drool over it (figuratively). So many songs/moments still give me goosebumps to this day. With this track - the second song from the end (minus a little interlude track), the opening riff is one of my most favorite of all time, and just so rich, warm, and ... I don't even know the right word to describe it. This is the song in the concept that brings multiple points of the story together, and I still haven't 'solved' what it's really all about.
Thanks to Nick, who's review of it almost a decade ago motivated me to make a blind purchase - directly from the band's website as that was the only way to get it. I spent almost $40USD for a single album, and it was worth every penny.
I honestly didn't expect to see them this soon in your list...I got them much, much higher...
For these two reasons ....
Not sure I'm gonna bother to stack rank them, just fire of 31 of my fave's - because frankly, to chose the "top" 31 would be nearly impossible - all were likely #1 at some point in my listening routine.
I'm going to impose a 1 song per band condition, to spread the wealth - otherwise Flaming Row, Star One, and Epysode would take up 1/2 the list. Personally, I'm also going to exclude the songs that I just fired off from my Top Roulette Songs thread..
-
Songs of the Decade
#26 MindMaze- Fight the Future, 2017
The third release from this metal outfit out of Pennsylvania, this track delivers everything anyone would want out of a prog power song- thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, and quite possible the most furious instrumental segment on the list. A cup of coffee ain't got shit on this tracks blistering waking up ability...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orzM7khEsnE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orzM7khEsnE)
Excellent - EXCELLENT - choice. I didn't put anything from Reverie EDIT: Resolve (duh... Reverie is the opening track) on here because it's just a great concept album start to finish.
Nature | Existence / Rude Awakening (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDJlD1a0cIk)
This song means so much to me, and got a lot of playtime during my challenges with depression for a good part of the decade.
"We got a problem, you and I"
He said to the mirror
[...]
I got a new friend, "Myself" is his name
Without his help things will just be the same
Slow buildup to a mountainous crash of a chorus and then a nice meandering rollercoaster ride. Sometimes it seemed the structure of the song fit my life to a tee.
-
Hey Chad, that's a really good song. I only listened on my computer, so the sound isn't great, but I loved how it sounded like the keyboards were swirling around beneath the vocal. I might check the rest of that out (the next song on YouTube was called "Leaf Motif"; I'm now curious if that's a play on "leitmotif", but I'll have to listen to the album to find that out, no? :):)).
My next one:
No. 26 Sign Of The Times - Harry Styles
Please read the post I put in Tim's roulette (repeated in the "new music" thread) about discovering music; I mention this song a lot, and it's not something I sought out. My daughter is a huge Harry Styles fan, and so I got to hear it more than most songs, but then I got a chance (was forced) to watch him on Saturday Night Live sing it live and then got to see him sing it to a full Madison Square Garden crowd, and it really hit home. During that MSG show - it's a 20,000 seat arena - the place was literally shaking. I could feel the mezzanine I was in moving. Unbelievably powerful, and given that the song does have meaning (he wrote it to his mom), it's a song that has stuck with me.
-
I'm actually a pretty big fan of Sign of the Times. Good pick!
-
Hey Chad, that's a really good song. I only listened on my computer, so the sound isn't great, but I loved how it sounded like the keyboards were swirling around beneath the vocal.
Um... dude... i gave that song to you in your roulette (as part of my losing submission to Tim). :\
-
Hey Chad, that's a really good song. I only listened on my computer, so the sound isn't great, but I loved how it sounded like the keyboards were swirling around beneath the vocal.
Um... dude... i gave that song to you in your roulette (as part of my losing submission to Tim). :\
Don't take offense to that at all. It's hard to always connect on an immediate basis, especially when in a soup with a bunch of other songs. Did you see my post in the "finding music" thread? I can basically recite you the credits from AC/DC High Voltage, but I'm not sure I can sing every song from A Different Kind Of Truth, my album of the DECADE. It takes me a while to sink in with this stuff.
It's still a good song. :)
-
I hear you man. I can rhyme off the entire Led Zeppeling song-ography in order, but wouldn't be able to match song-title to bands for most things nowadays. I listen to - and LOVE - a lot of music... but don't *know* my music like I used to in my teens and 20s.
-
Hey Chad, that's a really good song. I only listened on my computer, so the sound isn't great, but I loved how it sounded like the keyboards were swirling around beneath the vocal.
Um... dude... i gave that song to you in your roulette (as part of my losing submission to Tim). :\
:lol
-
I'm thinking about this now. I think I've done three roulettes. Right now, off the top of my head, I can probably name you five songs that have really resonated, and three of those would be "that song by... uh, the guy who I think used to sing for Helloween. Crisco. Costo. Kiske. That was awesome."
The ones I can name outright: Ben Folds Five, "Battle Of Who Could Care Less", Nightwish "Ghost Love Score", and Devin "Deep Peace". I can't remember the Kiske tune ("Do You Remember?" It had "Do" and "Remember" and a "?"). GREAT song. That's not to say there weren't other great, great songs. I got a song by Evergrey that, according to Katt, "slaps". I got an Ayreon song that made me go out and buy "The Source", which rules; I don't remember the song I got, just that it was so good I overlooked the over-rated Russell Wilson singing on it (I'm kidding; it was Russell Allen). I got a Star One song that I'm going to buy the album once I pull the trigger on the deluxe version; I can't remember the song title, but it was the "A Clockwork Orange" song. That's not to say that even more bands didn't resonate. I loved the Night Flight Orchestra songs I got, but I'd be hard pressed to name the tunes without looking it up. Moon Safari same thing.
I would hope that no one takes offense to this; it's not personal, and you didn't waste your time at all. I may, at some point, go back and revisit my roulettes; that wouldn't be a chore at all. It all gets assimilated at some point, it just takes time.
-
Michael Crisco :rollin omg
This is one of my favorite songs of the decade, from 2016... now I'm definitely very biased on this band and probably the only fan on this forum, HOWEVER, I get a Fleetwood Mac vibe from this song. And some other artists I can't quite pinpoint. But boy do I love it. "Wild" by Kings of Leon. So damn good. Stadler, I think you'd like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ch5I-1B9u0
Also, I love that I got Stadler to use 'slaps.' Awesome.
-
Michael Crisco :rollin omg
He's a greaser.
-
Well, I gave you Rainbow Bridge in round 1 of your 1st roulette, so I'll take Ayreon credit (though, that doesn't have Allen singing on it). I also gave you Nightwish Beauty of the Beast - which tanked, so I'm mildly surprised that GLS took you from 6 to 9 - figuratively (:eyebrows:) and literally (the scores they got). And I gave you Moon Safari (which only scored 8).
That said, you're welcome. :biggrin:
P.S. Star One song would be Victims of the Modern Age
-
Where are Taylor Swift? Harry Styles? Rival Sons?
Every band here sounds like the younger brother in Game Of Thrones that has no real speaking lines, but their death causes a war that lasts a half a season. "Arathaniel was murdered in his sleep; bend the knee, for we must march at dawn!"
:lol
Just for Stads, here is my top 10 T Swift songs of the decade:
10. Holy Ground (BBC Live Lounge) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpT6Ua3FIp8)
9. Welcome To New York (live @ Amazon Prime Concert) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhAhja7i9-Q)
8. State Of Grace
7. Cornelia Street
6. Cruel Summer
5. Blank Space (live at the Grammy Museum (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Zt47V3pPw), the best Taylor Swift performance of the decade)
4. Death By A Thousand Cuts (live at the Tiny Desk) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wFrvmq_DSk)
3. Delicate (live from Chicago) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADfRuFtV4GI)
2. Lover (BBC Live Lounge) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4I6PhHbH7o)
1. New Year's Day (the Jimmy Fallon show) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QV5fa7xa4)
i'm not familiar with all of these but this is a real good list regardless
-
Well, I gave you Rainbow Bridge in round 1 of your 1st roulette, so I'll take Ayreon credit (though, that doesn't have Allen singing on it). I also gave you Nightwish Beauty of the Beast - which tanked, so I'm mildly surprised that GLS took you from 6 to 9 - figuratively (:eyebrows:) and literally (the scores they got). And I gave you Moon Safari (which only scored 8).
That said, you're welcome. :biggrin:
P.S. Star One song would be Victims of the Modern Age
Yes, indeed with the Star One song. Are you sure about that Ayreon song? I thought it was one of the ones with LaBrie on it (The Human Equation, not The Source, but I just wrote a post saying I don't remember shit, so don't ask me). I just listened to it and it's not familiar; I don't know what it scored, but I really dug it. It's really good. I love the "chorus" (not really a chorus, just the part he sings "beyond the Rainbow Bridge!") and the "Run, run!" parts. Way cool.
Nightwish: The difference for me is the vocals. Tarja has a quality to her voice that's a little... twee is the only word I can use (when she sings "lost is there!" is an example). Floor seems to have a more powerful voice, to me.
You are welcome; you by and large send good stuff, even if it doesn't always resonate in the moment.
-
26. Alina Baraz - Show Me - My coworker put me on to this track a while ago and I feel in love. There is a certain intoxicating quality to Alina's voice a perfect track to make a drink and relax to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4_z6VAC16I
-
Yes, indeed with the Star One song. Are you sure about that Ayreon song? I thought it was one of the ones with LaBrie on it (The Human Equation, not The Source, but I just wrote a post saying I don't remember shit, so don't ask me). I just listened to it and it's not familiar; I don't know what it scored, but I really dug it. It's really good. I love the "chorus" (not really a chorus, just the part he sings "beyond the Rainbow Bridge!") and the "Run, run!" parts. Way cool.
Nightwish: The difference for me is the vocals. Tarja has a quality to her voice that's a little... twee is the only word I can use (when she sings "lost is there!" is an example). Floor seems to have a more powerful voice, to me.
You are welcome; you by and large send good stuff, even if it doesn't always resonate in the moment.
I totally get what you're saying about Tarja vs Floor. As for the Ayreon, 100% I sent Rainbow Bridge. If you got a JLB song from THE, someone else sent it.
Jingle.boy: Ayreon, “Across the Rainbow Bridge”: What was I saying about “pretentious”? But I loved it! The way this song unfolded like a CD booklet or a well-wrapped package was awesome. The spoken word, the quiet vocals, the louder vocals... really built nicely. I loved the way the first “Across the rainbow bridge!” cut through, and then the second time, it wasn’t just a repeat of the phrase, but rather it was its own section. Reminded me a lot of Sabbath in that the song leaves the impression of a series of parts strung together but done so cohesively as to be seamless, almost like a spiral staircase the way it builds. It also reminds me of Me And Sarah Jane, a song that has I think five sections and yet never exactly repeats any of them. (And lyrically… antigoon might have a legit beef; if I called Lorde pretentious what the FUCK is this?) I had heard a lot about this band on this site, but never got around to hearing them. This is a band I will dig further into as time goes by. I loved this. 8.5
-
I can't even do this. I'm having trouble with my top albums from this year.
-
For me, 2000-2019 are just one big blur
-
Just so I can beat RJ at least one day.
Lost in Thought / Beyond the Flames (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvHZ5vVFLAA)
Their first song from their first album, and right from the opening drum roll, then guitair riff, then keyboard chords.... the first 30 seconds tells you how this track is going to unfold. Nate Loosemore's voice is just pure gold - this guy can wail. Shame it took them 7 years to release a follow up. The DT influence on display here is immense. Fans of DT, DGM, and Circus Maximus will absolutely adore this.
-
Yes, indeed with the Star One song. Are you sure about that Ayreon song? I thought it was one of the ones with LaBrie on it (The Human Equation, not The Source, but I just wrote a post saying I don't remember shit, so don't ask me). I just listened to it and it's not familiar; I don't know what it scored, but I really dug it. It's really good. I love the "chorus" (not really a chorus, just the part he sings "beyond the Rainbow Bridge!") and the "Run, run!" parts. Way cool.
Nightwish: The difference for me is the vocals. Tarja has a quality to her voice that's a little... twee is the only word I can use (when she sings "lost is there!" is an example). Floor seems to have a more powerful voice, to me.
You are welcome; you by and large send good stuff, even if it doesn't always resonate in the moment.
I totally get what you're saying about Tarja vs Floor. As for the Ayreon, 100% I sent Rainbow Bridge. If you got a JLB song from THE, someone else sent it.
Jingle.boy: Ayreon, “Across the Rainbow Bridge”: What was I saying about “pretentious”? But I loved it! The way this song unfolded like a CD booklet or a well-wrapped package was awesome. The spoken word, the quiet vocals, the louder vocals... really built nicely. I loved the way the first “Across the rainbow bridge!” cut through, and then the second time, it wasn’t just a repeat of the phrase, but rather it was its own section. Reminded me a lot of Sabbath in that the song leaves the impression of a series of parts strung together but done so cohesively as to be seamless, almost like a spiral staircase the way it builds. It also reminds me of Me And Sarah Jane, a song that has I think five sections and yet never exactly repeats any of them. (And lyrically… antigoon might have a legit beef; if I called Lorde pretentious what the FUCK is this?) I had heard a lot about this band on this site, but never got around to hearing them. This is a band I will dig further into as time goes by. I loved this. 8.5
I'd write that same thing again today if given the song (though I have dug in a little to the band, and it's paid off really well).
I shouldn't like Ayreon though; it's odd for me because I'm so "singer focused" in the bands I like. I will absolutely love something with one singer, and not another (MSG is an example; I only like Barden and Bonnet, and won't listen to the McCauley stuff). I'm not always keen on albums with a multitude of singers, but they pull it off.
-
Just so I can beat RJ at least one day.
Lost in Thought / Beyond the Flames (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvHZ5vVFLAA)
Their first song from their first album, and right from the opening drum roll, then guitair riff, then keyboard chords.... the first 30 seconds tells you how this track is going to unfold. Nate Loosemore's voice is just pure gold - this guy can wail. Shame it took them 7 years to release a follow up. The DT influence on display here is immense. Fans of DT, DGM, and Circus Maximus will absolutely adore this.
:lol you're three hours ahead of me, how are you not beating me everyday?
:eyebrows:
Haven't heard that one...listening now. And for my turn...
#25- Incura- Disable Everything, 2017
Discovered through That Drummer Guy's year end list, the first of a few artists I found there, this group from up north is ridiculously skilled, and about as catchy as anything out there. The lead singer's intense, dramatic style brings brilliant color to all their tracks, and the band backs it with a hard hitting yet almost poppy edge. Very unique, and one that saw a good deal of my attention over the years.
https://incura.bandcamp.com/track/disable-everything (https://incura.bandcamp.com/track/disable-everything)
-
Yes, indeed with the Star One song. Are you sure about that Ayreon song? I thought it was one of the ones with LaBrie on it (The Human Equation, not The Source, but I just wrote a post saying I don't remember shit, so don't ask me). I just listened to it and it's not familiar; I don't know what it scored, but I really dug it. It's really good. I love the "chorus" (not really a chorus, just the part he sings "beyond the Rainbow Bridge!") and the "Run, run!" parts. Way cool.
Nightwish: The difference for me is the vocals. Tarja has a quality to her voice that's a little... twee is the only word I can use (when she sings "lost is there!" is an example). Floor seems to have a more powerful voice, to me.
You are welcome; you by and large send good stuff, even if it doesn't always resonate in the moment.
I totally get what you're saying about Tarja vs Floor. As for the Ayreon, 100% I sent Rainbow Bridge. If you got a JLB song from THE, someone else sent it.
*raises hand*
Glad you enjoyed that song. :)
Also Floor, and many many other singers, are way better than Tarja. :P
-
Dream Theater / Breaking All Illusions
They could've easily called this Learning to Live Pt2. It's almost as good as LtL, and the best thing they did all decade - by far. Great opening riff, excellent delivery by James, two fantastic solos, JM lyrics... it's all wrapped up in a tidy little package.
-
Yup, you'll be seeing that on my list very soon...
#24 Kingcrow- In Crescendo, 2013
Very few bands had a three album run this decade that could've topped Italian product Kingcrow, but it was their 2013 concept album In Crescendo that really was a step above the rest. A true emotional powerhouse, the title track delivers everything needed in a prog metal song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBzGvD_zxk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBzGvD_zxk)
-
2010
The River Empires - Three Tigers
Lehto & Wright - Betsy Bell and Mary Gray
Janelle Monae - BaBopByeYa
Cloud Cult - Room Full of People In Your Head
Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul
Menomena - Killemall
Warpaint - Undertow
Foals - Spanish Sahara
Emanuel & the Fear - Jimme's Song
Jazzkamikaze - Music is My Heroin
Oceansize - Silent Transparent
Pure Reason Revolution - Open Insurrection
Everything Everything - MY KZ, UR BF
The Reign of Kindo - Out of Sight, Out of Mind
22- Gotodo
Anathema - Angels Walk Among Us
Timmy Sean - Can't Stop the World
Timbre - I Will Go Plant Little Flowers
The Apples in Stereo - No Vacation
Distrails - My Child
The Gloomcatcher - The Rising Cain
Dead Letter Circus - The Drum
Annuals - Loxstep
Bend Sinister - Things Will Get Better
-
Yup, you'll be seeing that on my list very soon...
#24 Kingcrow- In Crescendo, 2013
Very few bands had a three album run this decade that could've topped Italian product Kingcrow, but it was their 2013 concept album In Crescendo that really was a step above the rest. A true emotional powerhouse, the title track delivers everything needed in a prog metal song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBzGvD_zxk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBzGvD_zxk)
:hefdaddy and another that you introduced me to.
I had a lot of Kingcrow songs I could've put here. Phlegathon makes my Top 50, but I don't have any on this list.
-
Night's Descending probably would've made my list if I did one.
-
If there can only be one song per band, Phlegethon is definitely it for me. That song is awesome on the album, and even better live.
-
#23 Karnya- A Parphreniac Menticide
Yet another Italian band (wtf do they put in the water over there???), this concept album dominated my headphones for a good part of 2013. Though the album is epic beginning to end, the epic track deserves a spot on this list...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoeTxK54O-Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoeTxK54O-Q)
-
I wasn't quite as taken with this one as you, but yet another that you introduced me to! Now for one that I shared with you... though I don't think it left a mark
Dec Burke / Days Like These
Guitarist (and some vocals) from the first 2 Frost* albums, Dec has a very cool and smooth voice. This is from his 2nd solo album, which has a killer opening track (this one), but then falls off after that. His debut album is stellar though - top to bottom. Nothing to link here really - the only thing publicly available is a live phone recording on YT from a small club - and it sounds like ass. This album is not on Spotify either :-\
-
Have to catch up for the weekend:
25. Irresistible Force (Met The Immovable Object) - Jane's Addiction (Too bad the rest of the album isn't as strong)
24. Secret Sciences - Devin Townsend Project (Other than the Dead, not sure there's an artist I've done such a 180 on; I love this entire album)
23. Speed Of Light - Iron Maiden (Could have been "If Eternity Should Fail", but this has a little more punch to it, and I like Bruce's vocal a little better).
-
23. Speed Of Light - Iron Maiden (Could have been "If Eternity Should Fail", but this has a little more punch to it, and I like Bruce's vocal a little better).
This is curious. Speed of Light is probably the only song I'm tempted to skip on TBoS. I love If Eternity Should Fail though, my third favourite song on the album (and it's my favourite album of the reunion era too).
-
Speed Of Light is good but If Eternity Should Fail is so much better.
Devin Townsend is also good, but for tge last couple of records he didn't really grab me, but to each his own.
-
I can't argue with either of you; I just love Bruce's vocal on that song, especially the "Shadows in the stars..." part. Plus the riff is pretty strong. I won't argue on "If Eternity Should Fail"; it's a better lyric (in my opinion) and it's a bit more interesting as a song (proggier, if you will).
-
#22 Speaking to Stones- Wind, 2012
A prog metal powerhouse concept album, centering around a vast spiritual journey told through the union of the elements. Wind is intense, blistering, and relentless, a straight up musical E-ticket ride....
https://youtu.be/PV87ZJTKpHI (https://youtu.be/PV87ZJTKpHI)
-
^ Excellent choice. Love me Anders Engberg's voice. Spinning this exact track right this moment.
Subsignal / Feeding Utopia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTO5Wcm1J0)
Speaking of voices I love, Arno Menses is a gem of a progressive rock/metal singer. Smooth as silk. Great lyrics, fabulous melody in the chorus... just gives me goosebumps all over.
-
Never go wrong with Subsignal.
-
More controversy, I'm sure:
No. 22: Shout Mercy, by Kiss (from Monster)
-
More controversy, I'm sure:
No. 22: Shout Mercy, by Kiss (from Monster)
Why controversy?
-
More controversy, I'm sure:
No. 22: Shout Mercy, by Kiss (from Monster)
Why controversy?
Most people here don't embrace my love of Kiss, and even those that do aren't always enamored with the last two albums with the "imposters".
-
I'm really enjoying the lists so far, hearing a lot of new stuff. I gotta update my list tonight
-
Subsignal / Feeding Utopia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTO5Wcm1J0)
Speaking of voices I love, Arno Menses is a gem of a progressive rock/metal singer. Smooth as silk. Great lyrics, fabulous melody in the chorus... just gives me goosebumps all over.
A stunning tune, from their best album. Arno is really fantastic, works well in all genres I've heard him in.
Nature | Existence / Rude Awakening (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDJlD1a0cIk)
This song means so much to me, and got a lot of playtime during my challenges with depression for a good part of the decade.
Not enough people know this album. They were talking about a followup, I haven't checked up on them for a while.
-
Subsignal / Feeding Utopia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTO5Wcm1J0)
Speaking of voices I love, Arno Menses is a gem of a progressive rock/metal singer. Smooth as silk. Great lyrics, fabulous melody in the chorus... just gives me goosebumps all over.
A stunning tune, from their best album. Arno is really fantastic, works well in all genres I've heard him in.
Nature | Existence / Rude Awakening (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDJlD1a0cIk)
This song means so much to me, and got a lot of playtime during my challenges with depression for a good part of the decade.
Not enough people know this album. They were talking about a followup, I haven't checked up on them for a while.
I've seen Subsignal live last year. They were good IMHO.
-
#22 Speaking to Stones- Wind, 2012
A prog metal powerhouse concept album, centering around a vast spiritual journey told through the union of the elements. Wind is intense, blistering, and relentless, a straight up musical E-ticket ride....
Speaking To Stones - Wind (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV87ZJTKpHI)
This was pretty cool :tup
I've been concentrating on a "favourite album each year of the 2000s" thread on another forum, so I'll post my top songs list here later in the month I think.
-
I've seen Subsignal live last year. They were good IMHO.
They don't venture so much outside Germany, I'll have to make an excursion at some point before they put the band to rest. A really dependable band, you can always count on them to put out something interesting.
-
I've seen Subsignal live last year. They were good IMHO.
They don't venture so much outside Germany, I'll have to make an excursion at some point before they put the band to rest. A really dependable band, you can always count on them to put out something interesting.
They put on a really good set at PPUSA.
-
I'm almost ready to start my list! ;D
#22 Speaking to Stones- Wind, 2012
A prog metal powerhouse concept album, centering around a vast spiritual journey told through the union of the elements. Wind is intense, blistering, and relentless, a straight up musical E-ticket ride....
https://youtu.be/PV87ZJTKpHI (https://youtu.be/PV87ZJTKpHI)
Yeah, this is a great album. I just pulled it out a few months ago. I was going to try and work in into a roulette EP at some point.
-
OK, I'll catch up over the next few days but I'll join the party!
31. Van Halen-Honeybabysweetiedoll-2012 (https://open.spotify.com/track/4LdIy18zJqZmAALCsG6vA0?si=5AgaVOGVSTmB9ZZnwn5J_A)
From the surprising good A Different Kind Of Truth. When I read this song title, I must admit I figured this would suck. Ends up being the ass kicker of the album.
30. Mask Of Prospero-This Road Leads To Desolation-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/371G89Z4rdzIrsXs0jru7Z?si=P5VFicaWQs6UPcZcwf_sNA)
From their 2018 album The Observatory. Interesting album that I Saved on Spotify. It ends with this spectacularly depressing song. I had to abruptly pull a key song (which will be on this list) from my Puppies concept album and replaced it with this, and it didn't really lose anything.
29. Armored Saint-Up Yours-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/4Gugf4gYBMGDw5TrytjIOO?si=0ZUZR-v-S8KgGUEuF-ooYg)
From 2015's excellent Win Hands Down. This is a cool and fun song that closes the album. Great lyrics in the verses.
-
Some catchup time:
25. Seven Lions - Tyven - If there was a progressive rock of EDM it'd be Seven Lions. He is unique in the sense that unlike other EDM artists he really takes his music to other places then just a standard track. I think there are some great songs on the EP that this song is on but this one is tops and is one of my most listened to tracks the past decade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOq2qCIecug
24. Bassnecter - Ephemeral - Another EDM track (shit I really went through an EDM phase for a while :lol) but this one is a little different from Seven Lions. I'm not a fan of everything by Bassnecter but this one of my favorite downtempo tracks out there. Perfect driving music IMO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZZVi_Vi6g4
23. Acoustic Labs - Seven Stars - Radical change from the previous tracks we move onto Acoustic Labs. I only discovered Acoustic Labs this year but he has quickly gone up the ranks to one of my favorite musicians of all time. He puts out a ton of music spanning varying genre's but him performing solo acoustic tracks is where he really shines. What I love most about this song is the haunting quality of it. It's played on a 12-string in alternate tuning and the timbre of the guitar separates it out from a lot of other acoustic music I listen to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2h5qK70Gs8
22. Akord - Ethereality - Out of all the songs I've posted and will post I think this song probably stands to be the most popular on the forum. I love this track, the musicianship is great and there are some really nice proggy elements put together in this small package called Ehtereality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1DbVzBINM
-
More controversy, I'm sure:
No. 22: Shout Mercy, by Kiss (from Monster)
Why controversy?
Most people here don't embrace my love of Kiss, and even those that do aren't always enamored with the last two albums with the "imposters".
Eh....I'm sure they can feel free to fuck off.
-
So many good songs here and so many I don't know, but have to check out reading those descriptions. Carry on guys. :metal
-
So many good songs here and so many I don't know, but have to check out reading those descriptions. Carry on guys. :metal
What you really need to do is host a roulette. ;D ;)
-
And today's entry...
Triumph of Irreality / Beyond the Bridge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQWDgR5toao)
I don't remember who introduced this album to the forum (pretty sure it came from one of the Lady Obscure folks), but shortly after it came out, pretty much everyone around here was fawning all over it. This is the 3rd track from a Top 5 album of the decade, and it is either 1a, or 1b as my favorite instrumental of the last 20 years. Heavy, frantic, and a technical masterpiece - without sounding like unnecessary musical wanking (ie, Liquid Tension Experiment, or Haken :lol). It's perfectly placed within the context of a brilliant concept album, yet stands on its own just fine. RJ will have a different track from this album appearing at some point - if not, I'll shart myself.
-
So many good songs here and so many I don't know, but have to check out reading those descriptions. Carry on guys. :metal
What you really need to do is host a roulette. ;D ;)
When I retire from my job, or when the kids are out of the house, which may be around the same time, I will find the time to do one. :D
And today's entry...
Triumph of Irreality / Beyond the Bridge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQWDgR5toao)
I don't remember who introduced this album to the forum (pretty sure it came from one of the Lady Obscure folks), but shortly after it came out, pretty much everyone around here was fawning all over it. This is the 3rd track from a Top 5 album of the decade, and it is either 1a, or 1b as my favorite instrumental of the last 20 years. Heavy, frantic, and a technical masterpiece - without sounding like unnecessary musical wanking (ie, Liquid Tension Experiment, or Haken :lol). It's perfectly placed within the context of a brilliant concept album, yet stands on its own just fine. RJ will have a different track from this album appearing at some point - if not, I'll shart myself.
And although I'm not that wild about this record as some of you (but it's still great), this instrumental piece is one of the best things on there.
-
And today's entry...
Triumph of Irreality / Beyond the Bridge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQWDgR5toao)
I don't remember who introduced this album to the forum (pretty sure it came from one of the Lady Obscure folks), but shortly after it came out, pretty much everyone around here was fawning all over it. This is the 3rd track from a Top 5 album of the decade, and it is either 1a, or 1b as my favorite instrumental of the last 20 years. Heavy, frantic, and a technical masterpiece - without sounding like unnecessary musical wanking (ie, Liquid Tension Experiment, or Haken :lol). It's perfectly placed within the context of a brilliant concept album, yet stands on its own just fine. RJ will have a different track from this album appearing at some point - if not, I'll shart myself.
Yeah, since my list is a bit more ranked by awesomeness, you guys will have to wait a bit for mine.
#21 Marillion- The Sky Above the Rain, 2014
Of course one of my favorite bands would make an appearance on this list, and it's with this stunningly beautiful and tragic track. Marillion are about as good as any band out there when it comes to pulling out a specific emotion, and laying it bare for all of us to feel again. With this one, it's that fine line between loving and being in love, and the faint glimmer of hope that colors it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myVh0XNrcYI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myVh0XNrcYI)
-
And today's entry...
Triumph of Irreality / Beyond the Bridge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQWDgR5toao)
I don't remember who introduced this album to the forum (pretty sure it came from one of the Lady Obscure folks), but shortly after it came out, pretty much everyone around here was fawning all over it. This is the 3rd track from a Top 5 album of the decade, and it is either 1a, or 1b as my favorite instrumental of the last 20 years. Heavy, frantic, and a technical masterpiece - without sounding like unnecessary musical wanking (ie, Liquid Tension Experiment, or Haken :lol). It's perfectly placed within the context of a brilliant concept album, yet stands on its own just fine. RJ will have a different track from this album appearing at some point - if not, I'll shart myself.
Pretty game good track!
And today's entry...
Triumph of Irreality / Beyond the Bridge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQWDgR5toao)
I don't remember who introduced this album to the forum (pretty sure it came from one of the Lady Obscure folks), but shortly after it came out, pretty much everyone around here was fawning all over it. This is the 3rd track from a Top 5 album of the decade, and it is either 1a, or 1b as my favorite instrumental of the last 20 years. Heavy, frantic, and a technical masterpiece - without sounding like unnecessary musical wanking (ie, Liquid Tension Experiment, or Haken :lol). It's perfectly placed within the context of a brilliant concept album, yet stands on its own just fine. RJ will have a different track from this album appearing at some point - if not, I'll shart myself.
Yeah, since my list is a bit more ranked by awesomeness, you guys will have to wait a bit for mine.
#21 Marillion- The Sky Above the Rain, 2014
Of course one of my favorite bands would make an appearance on this list, and it's with this stunningly beautiful and tragic track. Marillion are about as good as any band out there when it comes to pulling out a specific emotion, and laying it bare for all of us to feel again. With this one, it's that fine line between loving and being in love, and the faint glimmer of hope that colors it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myVh0XNrcYI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myVh0XNrcYI)
Man Marillion, ive tried so much to like them but I cannot get into the vocals.
-
Marillion is great, but maybe not that track/album.
My No. 21, another band that is great, but a track from an album that got a lukewarm reception:
Into The Storm - Yes
-
Fly from here was tolerable... It was the next album that was a straight up parking lot of whale vomit.
-
Fly From Here is actually one of the better Yes records outside of their classic ones and that track is good.
-
Fly from here was tolerable... It was the next album that was a straight up parking lot of whale vomit.
Fair point.
-
28. Golden Resurrection-See My Commands-2010 (https://open.spotify.com/track/0hbeUMrMp4VMhM5c8Qq068?si=rpvfemMaTCSLWAbhOan0yQ)
The first of three albums by Golden Resurrection, this is basically Christian neoclassical styled heavy metal. This track has a Yngwie feel to it.
27. Riot V-Until We Meet Again-2014 (https://open.spotify.com/track/1jZ2crHlDa8KEQSZ5aAmht?si=9UkIeq0rQwaPjkxvRPgN0Q)
Modern day version of Riot, with a strong 2014 album, Unleash The Fire. This song was written about Riot founder and guitarist Mark Reale, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 56 from complications of Chron's Disease. This isn't a soft mellow song, but it's quite moving.
26. Testament=Throne Of Thorns-2012 (https://open.spotify.com/track/1vLdsRPeRWALIogM8HRlLW?si=MUo3YvMLQNa-o9vCjguasQ)
Modern day Testament kicks ass. From 2012's Dark Roots Of Earth, this track is a metal monster.
-
21. Gazpacho - Hell Freezes Over I - I was always seeing Gazpacho songs pop up on my Spotify discovery playlist and non of them really caught my ear until I heard "Hell Freezes Over". This song is like a cheat sheet for songs I will immediately love; atmospheric opening - check, repetitive melodic guitar line - check, killer drumming - check. It has it all. It's a shame I didn't really take to their other music but this song will always be one of my favorites. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6qu8lRnMBc
-
I'll fire all four of those in the morning.
-
#20 Destrage - Destroy, Create, Transform, Sublimated, 2014
Another one culled from That Drummer Guy year end list, this song is nothing short of liquid fiery. It comes out of the gates hitting hard, and never, ever relents, with bass drops that'd put any and all others to shame. Just a fucking sick tune...
https://youtu.be/CosqKDW39NU (https://youtu.be/CosqKDW39NU)
-
Dimension Act / Drawing the Lines of Mortal Existence (https://open.spotify.com/track/5XjL3fp7GHE0hj8vasp7Hf?si=m-7D45WISda3xM5WLA_iVQ)
I don't think the whole 30+ minute, 6-part suite is available outside of Spotify (and the track titles are incorrect), so if you have the chance, fire it up - starting with track 4. You know an 'epic' is truly epic when it's length goes by without you even noticing it. This does not feel like a 30 minute song. Everything about it is pure prog-metal gold ... instrumentation, seamless transitions, reprises and recalls, fantastic vocal delivery - it's got it all. Shame this act from Norway never did anything else. This was a blind-buy from trl.net, and totally worth the $4 I spent on a Black Friday sale.
-
A frustrating band for me that does not equal more than the sum of it's parts, and sometimes doesn't even equal the sum of it's parts, but the new album is really, really good. I could have picked a couple tunes from it, but this is the first one that clicked and it's still clicking, so...
No. 20: Dying Light - Alter Bridge
(By the way, anyone else notice a change in 'sound' about a minute or two into the song? It gets sort of thin and tinny to my ears, even though the song is excellent.)
-
See My Commands - you gave that to me in a roulette. Can't say I was all that taken by it. Re-listen was nice. That's about it.
Until We Meet Again - Nice little ballad. Sweet guitar licks under the vocals.
Throne of Thorns - meh... Testament was never my thing
Hell Freezes Over I - not quite my kind of prog-metal.
Destroy, Create, Transform, Sublimated - Was pretty good... then the singing started. It was really quite impressive how many different styles of singing they packed in here (in the first 90 seconds!) that I absolutely loathe.
Dying Light - Not shabby at all. I always enjoy Alter Bridge tunes, but I can't say this perked my ears to take notice. And no, I didn't notice the change in sound.
-
25. Structural Disorder-The Architect Of The Skies-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/6fP6vuob0CE2j6VJKL0kqH?si=znT4wHYIQXSmqTO2ECJiOA)
From 2018's ….and the Cage Crumbles in the Final Scene. This is a really neat album that I connected with. Lots of different styles. I used this song on my Indiscipline EP, and he said it reminded him of I Walk Beside You.
24. Motorhead-When The Sky Comes Looking For You-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/7eQC1gaRWWK1bZI4i6ddne?si=vzP8DWwbRAGVhMxRCvIb_A)
From Motorhead's great final album, Bad Magic. Seemed fitting that this was the final original song of the album, which preceeded album closer Sympathy For The Devil. Great Motorhead sound reminiscent of the Pete Gill Orgasmatron Era. This is an amazing song.
23. Witherfall-Vintage-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/09OrkXbEvQuPwQ39vPJcKo?si=9YYPhAACRxyZVpzhvV0EYg)
Incredible song. From about the 5:50 mark until the end, this song totally rules.
-
24. Motorhead-When The Sky Comes Looking For You-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/7eQC1gaRWWK1bZI4i6ddne?si=vzP8DWwbRAGVhMxRCvIb_A)
From Motorhead's great final album, Bad Magic. Seemed fitting that this was the final original song of the album, which preceeded album closer Sympathy For The Devil. Great Motorhead sound reminiscent of the Pete Gill Orgasmatron Era. This is an amazing song.
Is that a good album? I love that version of Sympathy, and almost bought the record blind because of it.
-
24. Motorhead-When The Sky Comes Looking For You-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/7eQC1gaRWWK1bZI4i6ddne?si=vzP8DWwbRAGVhMxRCvIb_A)
From Motorhead's great final album, Bad Magic. Seemed fitting that this was the final original song of the album, which preceeded album closer Sympathy For The Devil. Great Motorhead sound reminiscent of the Pete Gill Orgasmatron Era. This is an amazing song.
Is that a good album? I love that version of Sympathy, and almost bought the record blind because of it.
Yes, that album is awesome! Check this song out!!!
-
OK, I got my list together and will follow jingle's rules of 1 song per band and 31 songs. I pretty much used play count for this too (like I did for the top albums of the decade), which might not give me super accurate results about what I think is the "best." I tend to listen to albums so if there's a great song on an album I'm not big on, it might not show up here.
#31 - Soen - Sectarian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy6rf0AIxpY
I guess I listened to this album more than I realized. It didn't make my favorite albums of the decade list, but it's a really nice listen and I enjoyed it a lot. I have a good memory of this track being performed at ProgPower and the singer really starting to get into and smiling and the crowd responding in kind.
#30 - DGM - The Secret, Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNZDoW0Dvd8
(Part 1 is great too). DGM isn't really inventing the wheel but I just like their songs. Singer is great live, and on the albums. The songs seem to have a positive vibe to them.
#29 - Kamelot - The Great Pandemonium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Trjxuc6Q2c
Yes, I think Poetry for the Poisoned is a great album. :P I'm not sure if this is my favorite track from the album, but it's a good one, so enjoy.
#28 - Semistereo - The Search
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVzNxFt037Y
From my roulette. :) I listened to this song a ton once the roulette was done and I was trying to give fair playing time to the songs. I also bought the album, which is quiet good. :)
-
Hell yeah PFTP :metal
-
#19 Shattered Skies - Aesthetics, 2015
Nested within a solid, hard rocking album is this jaw dropping emotional ballad... Musically intense and lyrical gutting, it's one of those that just keeps getting repeated every time it gets played. Outstanding tune....
https://youtu.be/556ebAF3N7g (https://youtu.be/556ebAF3N7g)
-
No. 19: By The Sword - Slash w/Andrew Stockdale
Honestly, I'm surprised how well this record has aged for me. I'm not generally a fan of albums with multiple singers, since the singer is so important to me in a song, but it's one of the few albums like that where I can just put it on and let it play. Not really a bad song in the bunch (though I'm noty blown away by the tunes with M. Shadows or Rocco Deluca). I could have easily put any of four or five other songs here (Ghost, Beautiful Dangerous, Back From Cali, Starlight, Gotten... even We're All Gonna Die).
-
Totally read that as 'Admiral Stockdale' at first... The though alone is beyond hilarious.
-
25. Structural Disorder-The Architect Of The Skies-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/6fP6vuob0CE2j6VJKL0kqH?si=znT4wHYIQXSmqTO2ECJiOA)
From 2018's ….and the Cage Crumbles in the Final Scene. This is a really neat album that I connected with. Lots of different styles. I used this song on my Indiscipline EP, and he said it reminded him of I Walk Beside You.
24. Motorhead-When The Sky Comes Looking For You-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/7eQC1gaRWWK1bZI4i6ddne?si=vzP8DWwbRAGVhMxRCvIb_A)
From Motorhead's great final album, Bad Magic. Seemed fitting that this was the final original song of the album, which preceeded album closer Sympathy For The Devil. Great Motorhead sound reminiscent of the Pete Gill Orgasmatron Era. This is an amazing song.
23. Witherfall-Vintage-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/09OrkXbEvQuPwQ39vPJcKo?si=9YYPhAACRxyZVpzhvV0EYg)
Incredible song. From about the 5:50 mark until the end, this song totally rules.
The structural disorder song was not my cup of tea. I couldn't get into it due to the vocals.
I didn't even know motorhead had an album this past decade but the song was great!
The witherfall song was good too but I disagree, the first 5 minutes were the best part :lol
-
No. 19: By The Sword - Slash w/Andrew Stockdale
Honestly, I'm surprised how well this record has aged for me. I'm not generally a fan of albums with multiple singers, since the singer is so important to me in a song, but it's one of the few albums like that where I can just put it on and let it play. Not really a bad song in the bunch (though I'm noty blown away by the tunes with M. Shadows or Rocco Deluca). I could have easily put any of four or five other songs here (Ghost, Beautiful Dangerous, Back From Cali, Starlight, Gotten... even We're All Gonna Die).
I could have a long, great discussion over that album with you, Stadler. I go back to about 3/4 of the songs on that disc often, and don't touch the rest. There's not a bad tune on the record, but By The Sword is one I don't replay, or Beautiful Dangerous. The M. Shadows tune is one I like a whole lot. Back From Cali, Starlight, Ghost, and Gotten are my favorites on the record by far.
RJ - that Shattered Skies song (and album) is phenomenal. Great stuff.
TAC - my buddy is the keyboardist in Witherfall and Vintage just kicks ass. :metal
-
No. 19: By The Sword - Slash w/Andrew Stockdale
Honestly, I'm surprised how well this record has aged for me. I'm not generally a fan of albums with multiple singers, since the singer is so important to me in a song, but it's one of the few albums like that where I can just put it on and let it play. Not really a bad song in the bunch (though I'm noty blown away by the tunes with M. Shadows or Rocco Deluca). I could have easily put any of four or five other songs here (Ghost, Beautiful Dangerous, Back From Cali, Starlight, Gotten... even We're All Gonna Die).
I could have a long, great discussion over that album with you, Stadler. I go back to about 3/4 of the songs on that disc often, and don't touch the rest. There's not a bad tune on the record, but By The Sword is one I don't replay, or Beautiful Dangerous. The M. Shadows tune is one I like a whole lot. Back From Cali, Starlight, Ghost, and Gotten are my favorites on the record by far.
RJ - that Shattered Skies song (and album) is phenomenal. Great stuff.
TAC - my buddy is the keyboardist in Witherfall and Vintage just kicks ass. :metal
I get the Beautiful Dangerous; I literally think Stacy, Saul and I are the only people on the planet that like that song. But the "By The Sword" surprises me. Great riff, great vocal (love the way it builds), epic lyrics... dig it, man. Dig it.
-
OK, I got my list together and will follow jingle's rules of 1 song per band and 31 songs. I pretty much used play count for this too (like I did for the top albums of the decade), which might not give me super accurate results about what I think is the "best." I tend to listen to albums so if there's a great song on an album I'm not big on, it might not show up here.
#31 - Soen - Sectarian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy6rf0AIxpY
I guess I listened to this album more than I realized. It didn't make my favorite albums of the decade list, but it's a really nice listen and I enjoyed it a lot. I have a good memory of this track being performed at ProgPower and the singer really starting to get into and smiling and the crowd responding in kind.
#30 - DGM - The Secret, Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNZDoW0Dvd8
(Part 1 is great too). DGM isn't really inventing the wheel but I just like their songs. Singer is great live, and on the albums. The songs seem to have a positive vibe to them.
#29 - Kamelot - The Great Pandemonium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Trjxuc6Q2c
Yes, I think Poetry for the Poisoned is a great album. :P I'm not sure if this is my favorite track from the album, but it's a good one, so enjoy.
#28 - Semistereo - The Search
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVzNxFt037Y
From my roulette. :) I listened to this song a ton once the roulette was done and I was trying to give fair playing time to the songs. I also bought the album, which is quiet good. :)
All very good tracks!
-
Welcome to the party Lethean. Love that DGM song. Naturally I'm on board with Kamelot (even though I don't know PftP terribly well). Pretty sure I can skip Soen. I'll be firing up the rest (everyone's) later this afternoon
My entry for today ....
Threshold / The Hours
This song hit me right in the throws of a very strong bout of depression (that lasted a few years, tbh), and had a ton of meaning to me at the time, and to some extent still does to this day.
It must be written on the heart of men
To get back on our feet again
To brave another storm
[...]
I stand until my strength is gone
And even then I carry on
-
Listen to the Soen, it's not that long. :P Skip the Semistereo instead.
The Hours is an awesome pick. :)
-
Damian :heart
Hell be on my list a little later...
-
Welcome to the party Lethean. Love that DGM song. Naturally I'm on board with Kamelot (even though I don't know PftP terribly well). Pretty sure I can skip Soen. I'll be firing up the rest (everyone's) later this afternoon
My entry for today ....
Threshold / The Hours
This song hit me right in the throws of a very strong bout of depression (that lasted a few years, tbh), and had a ton of meaning to me at the time, and to some extent still does to this day.
It must be written on the heart of men
To get back on our feet again
To brave another storm
[...]
I stand until my strength is gone
And even then I carry on
I seem to recall you sending me that in a roulette. Not remembering anything about the write up I gave, I remember it being pretty good, and when I listened again just now, I liked it a lot.
-
Hell be on my list a little later...
Ok so you like dark music. But why are you talking like a pirate?
-
No, he's right. Damian is Hell.
-
OK, catching up. Three today, two tomorrow, and then I'll be at one per day...
22. Lor-Eidolon-2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJY_JuWwdH4)
One of my favorite albums from 2017, Lor's In Forgotten Sleep. Philly band that combines folk, power, and prog.
21. Thoughts Factory-The Mire-2014 (https://open.spotify.com/track/6pmLIvpTUnNYH3TGN4wXin?si=elsbvNWqT7mKGIyao82qXw)
Great album that Lonestar was pimping. The album is fantastic, and this is my favorite song from it.
20. Illyria-Autumn Fades Away-2019 (https://open.spotify.com/track/0I6A9yUWPfHzEta0ZAsdRt?si=3bvxgatHQJSTxSsj2wrG8w)
A 2019 album Illyria's The Carpathian Summit. It's Black Metal, but it breathes really nicely. This song is mostly cleans, but the harshies towards the end totally make it, and the guitar harmonies are great.
-
I'll give those a spin tomorrow!
-
20. Run The Jewels - Down - The only hip hop track on my list. I'm not a big rap or hip hop fan but out of boredom I checked out Run The Jewels 3 after hearing Killer Mike on Joe Rogan's podcast and I enjoyed the record. This song is the album opener and it's catchy, melodic, and has some great rhymes that remind me of some of the earlier outkast stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saR7SYa6nAs
19. Kaki King - Skimming The Fractured Surface To A Place Of Endless Light - Chances are if Kaki King is releasing an album it's going to make my top songs of the decade list, the best part is she released her best album in this past decade. This song comes from her Glow album which is easily the best work she has done. Kaki King is a huge inspiration to me and I adore her music but I will aalso dmit there is a certain noodling quality to some songs on each record but that's not the case for Glow. Each song seems focused, crafted, and well thought out. This song in particular is the slowest piece on the album. It takes it's time and doesn't really go anywhere but that's the beauty of it. There aren't a million notes flying at you, it's a song you can close your eyes and get lost in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS2jatz18Gg
-
Also playing catch up here, so here's 4 more.
#27 - Vanden Plas - Holes in the Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdy2uk-GqFM
I know a lot people who were once fans have lost interest in Vanden Plas, and while I kind of get it, that hasn't really happened with me. Maybe part of the reason is that I just love their singer's voice, and that goes a long way. And I think they also just write good songs. This is one of them.
#26 - Evergrey - The Grand Collapse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK0G74RcIBM
From the album that really got me back on board the Evergrey train. I don't think any of their albums are bad, but Monday Morning Apocalypse was kind of meh for me, especially after the great Inner Circle. Torn and Glorious Collision were actually pretty good, but... Maybe it was me and I had just lost interest for a few years, but this album, and this song, helped bring it all back for me. The last 3 albums have all been on point.
#25 - Wolverine - Into the Great Nothing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eOOjW3T1l0
Maybe this isn't the best introduction to Wolverine for those who aren't familiar, but this is the song I've played the most from that album, and it's pretty awesome. Great vocals, but maybe they're inconspicuous at first; it kind of sneaks up on you.
#24 Caligula's Horse - Graves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PSjuLMffV0
This is a ProgPower discovery; I'd seen the name on and off but didn't check them out until they were announced for PP. I highly highly recommend the whole In Contact album. It's sooo good. But this song is just amazing. This song pretty much has it all. Their live performance of it this year was awesome too.
-
Damian :heart
Hell be on my list a little later...
Yeah, just not with Threshold tho. I still fucking love you. :lol
@ Lethean... duly noted; and nice set of pics there - Love me VP (though, I personally have songs from Netherworld albums on my Top 50... they didn't make the cut here); Evergrey... :drool: You'll be seeing another song from Hymns shortly, but this is a great track. Top 10 album from the decade; Wolverine...I've tried many times to get in to them. Something just seems a tad amiss. Caligula's .... ditto, but everything is a miss. That Soen wasn't horrible.
@ Tim... Lor, I think I tried them because of you? I'll have to respin this one (Edit ... yeah, no). Thoughts Factory - that album is dope. I pre-ordered their upcoming release last week. Illyria... doesn't sound like my bag.
@ Kay... sorry dude, our tastes aren't in sync. Not sure how many I'll listen to, but I love the diversity - something I have very little of when it comes to my music.
No, he's right. Damian is Hell.
(https://media0.giphy.com/media/ldcRkS8NGtftC/giphy.gif)
Jon... would love to see your songs. Chime in dude.
And this morning's entry... moving on to 2013
Magnus Karlsson's FreeFall / Not My Saviour (YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PhDqqiMKto) / Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/track/50cidEtzBTjkB5G3yELLhL))
My favorite song from my favorite album of the year. Killer opening riff, Rick Altzi just hammering out the lyrics, and some HEAVY fucking drum work. This is everything that I love about MK's music and songwriting. If I had been stack ranking this list, it would be #1 (my top Roulette songs not included - Obsessions would still top the list otherwise).
-
Damian :heart
Hell be on my list a little later...
@ Kay... sorry dude, our tastes aren't in sync. Not sure how many I'll listen to, but I love the diversity - something I have very little of when it comes to my music.
:lol no worries, I'm pretty sure if a poll was taken I'd be voted with the most unpopular music tastes. Don't feel like you have to listen to it, I appreciate you giving it a try.
-
Figured Magnus would be appearing on your list...solid work for sure.
and I know you dig this one...
#18 Sun Caged- Ashtamangala, 2011
The second longest piece on the list, clocking in at over 24 minutes, this suite of tracks sears and soars everywhere, but consistently delivers. Brilliant instrumental work fronted by amazing vocals, a true work of art here that probably saw as much play time in my car as anything else on the list...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jMwUGMe9Jg&t=17s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jMwUGMe9Jg&t=17s)
-
Ima gonna have to re-spin this one. For some reason, Sun Caged fell out of favour with me a few years back. I forget off the top of my head who gave them to me in Roulette v2, but I was really taken with them at the time. Haven't gone to them much in recent years. I'll report back on this tomorrow.
-
It might’ve been me. They’ve never had staying power with me either.
-
19. Odd Dimension-2013 (https://open.spotify.com/track/2mTlfJk8ZRleMjCO3YXnMQ?si=7397qbRmR5eOkdVIJKemnA)
Odd Dimension is an Italian band and this song comes from their second album, 2013's Last Embrace For Humanity. I actually love this album. Unfortunately, they've never been heard from since. I love this song, which goes a lot of different ways. The outro is spectacular.
18. Judas Priest-Traitors G ate-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/38xOF8nNdYx7swKeSKmmOn?si=QwJM0zjpQJyqz5dTD3aVLA)
Form the really strong Firepower, this song was always my favorite. Total ass kicker!
-
I will have to revisit................The Lotus Effect is quite literally one of the lowest rated albums I own. Cannot remember much except being really disappointed vs what I was expecting (given the positive reviews). Must just be one of those bands that don't click with me.
-
For each his own I guess... :dunno:
-
Well, you gave me Amongst Stars in my roulette, and it slayed. I guess I'll have to give this one a spin. Am I gonna need to cleanse my ears afterwards? If so, then I'll do it with this:
lol wut? I'll just leave this here;
wolfking: Amorphis* / Amongst Stars
This would be the Jesse “The Body” submission - ‘win if you can; lose if you must, but always cheat’. I admire that :tup. Based on your writeup signalling Anneke’s participation in this one, I knew within the first 15 seconds which track was yours - no way not to know that voice, just with her opening moans. There isn’t anything he’s lent her voice to that I don’t love - she instantly makes any song better, and it’s a good thing she’s here, because without her, this would would’ve fallen closer to the middle of the pack - Tomi’s voice on his own is in that mid-range that usually doesn’t do much for me… but in this case, it’s a great contrast with AVG. Structure of the song was top notch too - and another case of tasteful and appropriate growls.
Ranking: 3
-
Well it did slay apparently, so there's that
-
I guess I should have a crack at this 31 fav song thing.
-
Well it did slay apparently, so there's that
Yes, I meant "slayed" in a positive way. It got more enjoyable with repeated listens, and ended up being the 2nd best song of that entire roulette.
As for Ashtamangala, it was better than I remembered - very Ted Leonard-esque vibe to the vocals. @ Tim... it was indeed you that gave me Ashes to Earn. Also, Odd Dimension is ... odd to me. I should like them more than I do, but (like Sun Caged) maybe they just don't click for me.
My entry for today...
Vandroya / Why Should We Say Goodbye (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9pXKIYhTCM)
This is the 2nd and final 2013 entry... the fewest songs represented here (other than 2019). I love me my power ballads, and this is a gem. Plus, Daisa Munhoz. And a GREAT video to accompany it.
-
Yeah, this is a good song.
I'm starting to check out my roulette albums tomorrow, this album will definitely make the cut. Curious if it's as good as this song.
-
Vandroya :heart
Daisa :hearts:
Ok, here's today's....
#17 Dream Theater- Breaking All Illusions, 2011
Another of my favorite bands, and while a good deal of their material is somewhat forgettable this decade, there were some shining stars, and this brilliant track shined brightest, bright enough to become a hands down live favorite of mine, as well as one I constantly turn to for a quick uplift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZlYCvamxKM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZlYCvamxKM)
-
Well it did slay apparently, so there's that
Yes, I meant "slayed" in a positive way. It got more enjoyable with repeated listens, and ended up being the 2nd best song of that entire roulette.
Eerrrrr........huh???
-
17. Fates Warning-The Light And Shade Of Things-2016 (https://open.spotify.com/track/4Sdo2b20idN3yRZ1A4VhNk?si=ui6l8BTWTK62WcDepVSECg)
Great song. Great album. Ray sounds 25 years younger.
-
17. Fates Warning-The Light And Shade Of Things-2016 (https://open.spotify.com/track/4Sdo2b20idN3yRZ1A4VhNk?si=ui6l8BTWTK62WcDepVSECg)
Great song. Great album. Ray sounds 25 years younger.
Simply amazing song.
-
#25- Incura- Disable Everything, 2017
Discovered through That Drummer Guy's year end list, the first of a few artists I found there, this group from up north is ridiculously skilled, and about as catchy as anything out there. The lead singer's intense, dramatic style brings brilliant color to all their tracks, and the band backs it with a hard hitting yet almost poppy edge. Very unique, and one that saw a good deal of my attention over the years.
https://incura.bandcamp.com/track/disable-everything (https://incura.bandcamp.com/track/disable-everything)
Damn, this is really interesting. never heard them before. Not sure how I feel about the singer. :lol
#20 Destrage - Destroy, Create, Transform, Sublimated, 2014
Another one culled from That Drummer Guy year end list, this song is nothing short of liquid fiery. It comes out of the gates hitting hard, and never, ever relents, with bass drops that'd put any and all others to shame. Just a fucking sick tune...
https://youtu.be/CosqKDW39NU (https://youtu.be/CosqKDW39NU)
This was the first song in the first round of my first roulette. I really liked this song and found it kind of addicting. But I checked this album out and um...nothankyou.
-
17. Fates Warning-The Light And Shade Of Things-2016 (https://open.spotify.com/track/4Sdo2b20idN3yRZ1A4VhNk?si=ui6l8BTWTK62WcDepVSECg)
Great song. Great album. Ray sounds 25 years younger.
Simply amazing song.
Without a doubt... it'll be showing up again when I get to my 2016 grouping of songs.
-
#25- Incura- Disable Everything, 2017
Discovered through That Drummer Guy's year end list, the first of a few artists I found there, this group from up north is ridiculously skilled, and about as catchy as anything out there. The lead singer's intense, dramatic style brings brilliant color to all their tracks, and the band backs it with a hard hitting yet almost poppy edge. Very unique, and one that saw a good deal of my attention over the years.
https://incura.bandcamp.com/track/disable-everything (https://incura.bandcamp.com/track/disable-everything)
Damn, this is really interesting. never heard them before. Not sure how I feel about the singer. :lol
Yeah, Kyle is very theatrical, so much so that he's currently doing the lead in the touring production of the We Will Rock You musical. He's fucking dripping with talent.
-
@ Lethean... duly noted; and nice set of pics there - Love me VP (though, I personally have songs from Netherworld albums on my Top 50... they didn't make the cut here); Evergrey... :drool: You'll be seeing another song from Hymns shortly, but this is a great track. Top 10 album from the decade; Wolverine...I've tried many times to get in to them. Something just seems a tad amiss. Caligula's .... ditto, but everything is a miss. That Soen wasn't horrible.
:metal Looking forward to your Evergrey pick. :) Wolverine did really well in your roulette, so maybe you just need to listen to one song at a time. :)
@ Tim... Lor, I think I tried them because of you? I'll have to respin this one (Edit ... yeah, no). Thoughts Factory - that album is dope. I pre-ordered their upcoming release last week. Illyria... doesn't sound like my bag.
I saw Lor live once - they were really good.
-
I saw Lor live once - they were really good.
Oh wow! Their album is terrific.
-
Skipping a day doesn't help when you're trying to catch up. :P
#23 - James LaBrie - Coming Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VkbQLTgkgI
I'm not sure if I played this so song much because of how good it is, or because it was one of the few tracks without harsh vocals. :P Sometimes I'm OK with harsh vocals, but not in the case of JLB's solo albums. Nonetheless, this is a beautiful ballad.
#22 - Agent Fresco - See Hell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgArsBIbiFg
Another roulette song - I think the last one on my list. I remember asking everyone to get their submissions in if they wanted their song to be cranked in the car (was leaving for vacation and all of my listening after the drive was on headphones), and I got Elite's probably within 15 minutes of when I was leaving. He said his song deserved to be played in the car. And it totally did. :)
#21 - Rush - The Garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wztuqskio8
This one should totally be higher - I think I lost some plays on the album and I also actually listened to the cd. But in any case, this is a totally beautiful song and even though if Rush said they were putting out a new song tomorrow and it wasn't as good as this one, I'd be totally happy anyway.... I guess if there has to be a last Rush song, this is a great one indeed.
#20 - Cynthesis - The Edifice Grin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O33ag72iXvo
I think I might be the only person who actually likes this album (DeEvolution). Anyone else? It's essentially Zero Hour with a different drummer, with music that's a bit less out there. I think the album is really best listened to as a whole. Great music, great playing, and really powerful vocals.
-
I saw Lor live once - they were really good.
Oh wow! Their album is terrific.
I'll have to give it a listen some time. I was definitely not expecting the local opening band to put on such a great show.
-
Catching up on the weekend...
No. 18: Above and Beyond, Deep Purple (From their "Now What!?" album, and a moving and fitting tribute to their lost partner, Jon Lord. Ian Gillan goes, well, above and beyond with this one. It's a standout track on an album that is, amazingly, full of standout tracks. This competed with "A Simple Song", "Uncommon Man", "Apres Vous", and "All The Time In The World" for this spot. The last GREAT Purple album so far.)
No. 17: Better Than Walking Away, Flying Colors (Is it the best Flying Colors song? I don't know; Kayla, The Storm, about half of Second Nature, and about half of the new one would argue. But it's certainly the most lingering, and it still stirs emotions in me. Casey's voice is, for me, an acquired taste, and its on songs like these where I acquired it.)
No. 16: Waiting For A Sign, Rainbow (This is a sentimental pick. Not a great song - it's really a re-write of "Temple Of The King" - but it's a sign that the fire isn't out with Ritchie. I don't expect any more hard rock music from him, but this is a nice tidbit, and for me a better coda than "Stranger In Us All", which left me cold.)
-
No. 18: Above and Beyond, Deep Purple (From their "Now What!?" album, and a moving and fitting tribute to their lost partner, Jon Lord. Ian Gillan goes, well, above and beyond with this one. It's a standout track on an album that is, amazingly, full of standout tracks. This competed with "A Simple Song", "Uncommon Man", "Apres Vous", and "All The Time In The World" for this spot. The last GREAT Purple album so far.)
Might have to revisit that one, I heard that record once or twice and nothing stood out to me.
No. 17: Better Than Walking Away, Flying Colors (Is it the best Flying Colors song? I don't know; Kayla, The Storm, about half of Second Nature, and about half of the new one would argue. But it's certainly the most lingering, and it still stirs emotions in me. Casey's voice is, for me, an acquired taste, and its on songs like these where I acquired it.)
Beautiful ballad, maybe one of the best ballads in the last decade or so, imo.
-
Catching up on the weekend...
No. 18: Above and Beyond, Deep Purple (From their "Now What!?" album, and a moving and fitting tribute to their lost partner, Jon Lord. Ian Gillan goes, well, above and beyond with this one. It's a standout track on an album that is, amazingly, full of standout tracks. This competed with "A Simple Song", "Uncommon Man", "Apres Vous", and "All The Time In The World" for this spot. The last GREAT Purple album so far.)
No. 17: Better Than Walking Away, Flying Colors (Is it the best Flying Colors song? I don't know; Kayla, The Storm, about half of Second Nature, and about half of the new one would argue. But it's certainly the most lingering, and it still stirs emotions in me. Casey's voice is, for me, an acquired taste, and its on songs like these where I acquired it.)
No. 16: Waiting For A Sign, Rainbow (This is a sentimental pick. Not a great song - it's really a re-write of "Temple Of The King" - but it's a sign that the fire isn't out with Ritchie. I don't expect any more hard rock music from him, but this is a nice tidbit, and for me a better coda than "Stranger In Us All", which left me cold.)
I love everything by Purple, so I don't know if Now What is their last great album (infinite is great too IMHO, like everything they did IMHO), but such a fitting tribute to Jon (and this one does stand out to me too)
-
Seems I got some catching up myself to do. Will listen later, and report back tonight/tomorrow @ Lethean... the Garden JUST missed the top 31, but definitely in the top 50 conversation. It is indeed a fitting song for the band to go out with. I couldn't think of it ending a better way.
Today's jingle.entry....
Evergrey / Hymns for the Broken
I could probably put any of 4 or 5 songs from this album on here, it's a top 10 Album of the Decade for me (#10 to be precise). I'm not sure if I prefer the regular cut, or Hymns for the Brpken - the latter is just so chilling when stripped down.
-
And once again a band (and a song) that I should give another try.
Everygrey was always hyped here and back then from my bandmates. I bought "In Search Of Truth" back then when it came out and listened to it a lot, hoping it would grow on me, and when I hear it, it is okay, but as soon as it's over, I can't remember a single melody. But on paper they should be right up my alley. :shrug:
-
I keep trying Evergrey and they just keep coming up short.
#16 Mystery- Pride, 2012
While the whole album shone, this emotional track was brightest. Gutting and emotional, it took me a while to be able to listen to it without choking up. Just a great, great tune...
-
#16 Mystery- Pride, 2012
While the whole album shone, this emotional track was brightest. Gutting and emotional, it took me a while to be able to listen to it without choking up. Just a great, great tune...
This is the tune that made me into an uber-Mystery fan. I chose to go with another song... stay tuned. Can't remember if it was you or Doc that connected me to them, I think it was you.
At the end, I'd like us all to post our complete lists, so we can see them concisely grouped together.
-
#16 Mystery- Pride, 2012
While the whole album shone, this emotional track was brightest. Gutting and emotional, it took me a while to be able to listen to it without choking up. Just a great, great tune...
This is the tune that made me into an uber-Mystery fan. I chose to go with another song... stay tuned. Can't remember if it was you or Doc that connected me to them, I think it was you.
At the end, I'd like us all to post our complete lists, so we can see them concisely grouped together.
And in turn, that Mystery record was the first suggestion I ever got on DTF - from you! - and it's still one of my favorite records I've found through this forum. Pride is a spectacular song.
I really want to figure out my favorite songs of the decade but it's just so much work. Maybe I can force myself to just pick 5 songs I love from each year instead of worrying about 'actual top favorites' too much.
-
Seems I got some catching up myself to do. Will listen later, and report back tonight/tomorrow @ Lethean... the Garden JUST missed the top 31, but definitely in the top 50 conversation. It is indeed a fitting song for the band to go out with. I couldn't think of it ending a better way.
Today's jingle.entry....
Evergrey / Hymns for the Broken
I could probably put any of 4 or 5 songs from this album on here, it's a top 10 Album of the Decade for me (#10 to be precise). I'm not sure if I prefer the regular cut, or Hymns for the Brpken - the latter is just so chilling when stripped down.
This song is unbelievable.
-
Speaking of Evergrey…
16. Loch Vostock-Expiry Date Of The Soul Of Man-2017 (https://open.spotify.com/track/4d6mDXor7jplHRREV9v2pK?si=th5kyfdqTSurczEU5ZadJQ)
Real interesting album I found in 2017, Loch Vostock's Strife has a lot of harsh vocals, but this one is all cleans. Really cool song.
-
I figured that Mystery track would get some love, as should most of the rest of my list. Aside from a few lesser known bands, the rest of the list is, as we say, all killer and no filler.
-
One of your songs will be much higher up on my list...
-
I figured that Mystery track would get some love
And I figured you'd put that one on your list, which is part of the reason I opted for a song from a different album. ;)
-
One of your songs will be much higher up on my list...
One I already posted?
-
YES!
Don't get too excited... :lol
-
update time!
18. St Germain - Forget Me Not - I have no idea what I would even classify this song as but it's like a mellodramatic slow Schpongle song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrBAEyhiHmU
17. Emancipator - Minor Cause - I'm a big fan of Emancipator. He has worked at his craft for a long time and really found his niche in the EDM world. His stuff is a lot more musical that most EDM artists (if I were to hazard a guess it's because he is a violin player) and with that it makes him more approachable. Seeing him life is great because he often tours with a band so it's really cool seeing the whole band take a different spin on the tracks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y9r84e7xWA
16. Metallica - Am I Savage? - I didn't think Metallica had it in them but the released one of my favorite albums of theirs with Hardwired. It's tough choosing which songs I like the best but I think it goes to Am I Savage? It's just so fucking heavy with that trademark Metallica sound. I can't believe how heavy it is for an e-standard tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78xko5LIFiM
-
Seems I got some catching up myself to do. Will listen later, and report back tonight/tomorrow @ Lethean... the Garden JUST missed the top 31, but definitely in the top 50 conversation. It is indeed a fitting song for the band to go out with. I couldn't think of it ending a better way.
Today's jingle.entry....
Evergrey / Hymns for the Broken
I could probably put any of 4 or 5 songs from this album on here, it's a top 10 Album of the Decade for me (#10 to be precise). I'm not sure if I prefer the regular cut, or Hymns for the Brpken - the latter is just so chilling when stripped down.
This song is unbelievable.
:metal Yes it is. Both versions are great too - and Tom's vocals are really powerful.
-
I love the Am I Savage pick.
-
#15 KAIPA- Our Silent Ballroom Band, 2012
Clocking in at over 22 minutes, this is the longest piece on the list that isn't a suite of songs, and it is 22 minutes of bottled joy. Between the god tier guitar work of Per Nillson and the unbelievable vocals work between Aleena Gibson and Patrik Lundstrom, they make this one a bliss filled journey that has proven capable of lifting me out of any funk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s)
-
Cool, I'll have to check that out.
For me, I was just ninja'd on Metallica..
15. Metallica-Halo On Fire-2016 (https://open.spotify.com/track/38azNLH2JwH4j8zidhY3Po?si=J6bkixVcRfGUoh5NJaJJMg)
I feel like I personally underappreciate Hardwired. It's a really good album. My favorite song is Halo On Fire. I find the entire thing fantastic. I love the outro and it reminds me a lot of Black Sabbath's The Straightener section that's tacked onto Wheels Of Confusion.
-
Yeah... this one takes a bit to get rolling, but it's glorious. It's one of those fantastic 'epics' that doesn't at all feel as long as it's running length. Ya play it, and wonder where those 22 minutes went. :tup
To abruptly change lanes though
Vanden Plas / Vision 3hree - Godmaker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwKckeSE2ug)
Disregarding the cringe-worthy video, this was (still is) a great single to launch the Netherworld pair of albums - both were my AOTY for '14 and '15. Just stellar top-to-bottom (unless you've got defective ears like Tim, and can't stand Andy Kuntz's voice). It's pretty standard fare for VP these days, but it's a fare that I absolutely adore.
-
Was spinning that just the other day, great album.
-
I have way too many songs to share so I'm just picking 5 from each year. Today I'll share 5 of my favorite songs from 2010. These aren't necessarily my favorite favorites, but I love them all the same.
Avantasia - Runaway Train (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrtwoQRQVAQ)
From "The Wicked Symphony" album. The best Avantasia power ballad in my opinion, with some wonderful singing by Tobias Sammet, Bob Catley, and Jorn Lande. Everything about this song is awesome.
Slash - Back From Cali (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZisXBHZzKQ4)
From my favorite Slash album, his self-titled solo release from 2010. Each song sounds tailor made for each guest singer and this one is no exception. Myles is a powerhouse and this song turned me into a fan of his.
Wuthering Heights - The Mad Sailor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eblFOXlHDs)
From the "Salt" album. Shoddy production, but oozing with creativity and passion. This is such a fun song with some really inventive lyrics and vocal melodies. It's Wuthering Heights at their peak.
Elvenking - Runereader (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfpnfgKYzrc)
From the "Red Silent Tides" album. Not really a fan of Elvenking but they have a number of songs I like. This is the last song they put out that I actually really enjoy - fun, active guitars and a fierce vocal performance from Damnagoras. Just wish they would make more like this.
Robert Plant & The Band of Joy - Harm's Swift Way (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqgn_8jVl-E)
From the "Band of Joy" (2010) album. Now this is easily one of my favorite songs of the decade. Listen to that simple but rich guitar in the chorus, very basic quarter notes but it creates a lovely melody. The whole song's got this pleasant, breezy vibe, and Plant's singing is the cherry on the sundae. Simply delightful.
-
Dammit, Katt...
My No. 15: Carry Fire, Robert Plant
I'm raelly into the last couple Plant albums; I think he's really found his stride. Semi-acoustic, but not unplugged, they are very organic and real. I'm not sure there's a "Stairway To Heaven" in there, but it's all solid. I could have picked about four or five songs, from any of three or four records (Carry Fire, Lullaby, Band Of Joy). He's really on here as an artist, not a song.
Great call on the Slash tune, though, it's a keeper, as is "Harm's Swift Way". I love your description of that.
TAC, I'm with you on Hardwired. That too is my favorite song, and I think that's a better album than I gave it credit for. I've really only given it a couple listens all the way through, and it deserves better than that.
-
I was disappointed with the first Robert Plant solo records, maybe because I expected Led Zep v2 or something. But his more laid back later records are pure gold. And unlike others (Coverdale, I'm looking your way) Plant has acccepted that his voice isn't what it used to be and makes music that suits him well.
-
I like Band of Joy and Raising Sand more than anything he's ever done, possibly more than most Zeppelin, if I'm being honest. I think Harm's Swift Way is my single favorite Plant song.
-
I was disappointed with the first Robert Plant solo records, maybe because I expected Led Zep v2 or something. But his more laid back later records are pure gold. And unlike others (Coverdale, I'm looking your way) Plant has acccepted that his voice isn't what it used to be and makes music that suits him well.
That's a shame, too, because Coverdale DOES have the voice, even now. I waste no opportunity to pimp Coverdale's "Starkers In Tokyo", an acoustic set with Adrian Vandenberg at what I understand is a radio station. His voice is so warm and smooth, it's like caramel. If HE wanted to follow Plant's path it would be something to wonder (but it's not an unfair criticism to say that Coverdale has always been the Wal-mart/Target to Plant's Nordstrom's/Lord and Taylor).
-
That's what I meant, if Coverdale just sang in a lower register he probably would still sound fine, but instead he's writing tunes like he was 20 and in full control of his voice.
That Starkers In Tokyo is a good one, although that record is more than 20 years old, so no indication of Coverdale's actual voice.
-
Yeah... this one takes a bit to get rolling, but it's glorious. It's one of those fantastic 'epics' that doesn't at all feel as long as it's running length. Ya play it, and wonder where those 22 minutes went. :tup
To abruptly change lanes though
Vanden Plas / Vision 3hree - Godmaker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwKckeSE2ug)
Disregarding the cringe-worthy video, this was (still is) a great single to launch the Netherworld pair of albums - both were my AOTY for '14 and '15. Just stellar top-to-bottom (unless you've got defective ears like Tim, and can't stand Andy Kuntz's voice). It's pretty standard fare for VP these days, but it's a fare that I absolutely adore.
Pretty good tune! I've seen Vanden Plas mentioned a bunch bit never checked them out. I'll have to delve into their catalog soon.
-
Mayer Hawthorne - Designer Drug :tup :tup :tup
this is as smooth, slick and funky as any tune from the last decade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOdwSquHorw
Capital Cities - Farrah Fawcett Hair feat. Andre 3000 :tup :tup :tup
"It's Good Shit"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OTRIp6nxB0
-
I have way too many songs to share so I'm just picking 5 from each year. Today I'll share 5 of my favorite songs from 2010. These aren't necessarily my favorite favorites, but I love them all the same.
Avantasia - Runaway Train (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrtwoQRQVAQ)
From "The Wicked Symphony" album. The best Avantasia power ballad in my opinion, with some wonderful singing by Tobias Sammet, Bob Catley, and Jorn Lande. Everything about this song is awesome.
Slash - Back From Cali (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZisXBHZzKQ4)
From my favorite Slash album, his self-titled solo release from 2010. Each song sounds tailor made for each guest singer and this one is no exception. Myles is a powerhouse and this song turned me into a fan of his.
Wuthering Heights - The Mad Sailor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eblFOXlHDs)
From the "Salt" album. Shoddy production, but oozing with creativity and passion. This is such a fun song with some really inventive lyrics and vocal melodies. It's Wuthering Heights
Robert Plant & The Band of Joy - Harm's Swift Way (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqgn_8jVl-E)
From the "Band of Joy" (2010) album. Now this is easily one of my favorite songs of the decade. Listen to that simple but rich guitar in the chorus, very basic quarter notes but it creates a lovely melody. The whole song's got this pleasant, breezy vibe, and Plant's singing is the cherry on the sundae. Simply delightful.
Slash track was killer. Every time I hear something from Robert plant as a solo artist I always enjoy it. I think the only album I've listened to was pounding sand. I need to fix that soon.
-
^^ Please check out that Band of Joy record then. If you liked Harm's Swift Way there's plenty more on that album to like. "Falling In Love Again" and "The Only Sound That Matters" and "Angel Dance" - love 'em all.
-
Cool, I'll have to check that out.
For me, I was just ninja'd on Metallica..
15. Metallica-Halo On Fire-2016 (https://open.spotify.com/track/38azNLH2JwH4j8zidhY3Po?si=J6bkixVcRfGUoh5NJaJJMg)
I feel like I personally underappreciate Hardwired. It's a really good album. My favorite song is Halo On Fire. I find the entire thing fantastic. I love the outro and it reminds me a lot of Black Sabbath's The Straightener section that's tacked onto Wheels Of Confusion.
Good call.
Vanden Plas / Vision 3hree - Godmaker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwKckeSE2ug)
Disregarding the cringe-worthy video, this was (still is) a great single to launch the Netherworld pair of albums - both were my AOTY for '14 and '15. Just stellar top-to-bottom (unless you've got defective ears like Tim, and can't stand Andy Kuntz's voice). It's pretty standard fare for VP these days, but it's a fare that I absolutely adore.
One of my fav songs by them. The chorus is amazing and Stephan's short solo is magic.
Chad, I know you must have missed my posts earlier referenceing it but I need to say it as it's bugging the shit out of me. I sent you Amongst Stars, not lonestar. There, said it.
-
#15 KAIPA- Our Silent Ballroom Band, 2012
Clocking in at over 22 minutes, this is the longest piece on the list that isn't a suite of songs, and it is 22 minutes of bottled joy. Between the god tier guitar work of Per Nillson and the unbelievable vocals work between Aleena Gibson and Patrik Lundstrom, they make this one a bliss filled journey that has proven capable of lifting me out of any funk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s)
That's one I do need to check out - I featured Children of The Sounds in my 2017 podcast but haven't got around to some of the earlier stuff.
-
#15 KAIPA- Our Silent Ballroom Band, 2012
Clocking in at over 22 minutes, this is the longest piece on the list that isn't a suite of songs, and it is 22 minutes of bottled joy. Between the god tier guitar work of Per Nillson and the unbelievable vocals work between Aleena Gibson and Patrik Lundstrom, they make this one a bliss filled journey that has proven capable of lifting me out of any funk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s)
That's one I do need to check out - I featured Children of The Sounds in my 2017 podcast but haven't got around to some of the earlier stuff.
I'm checking out that song now. Not bad for the style at all. Probably not something I'd listen to though. Per is so damn underrated though.
-
Chad, I know you must have missed my posts earlier referenceing it but I need to say it as it's bugging the shit out of me. I sent you Amongst Stars, not lonestar. There, said it.
Oh goddamnit :loser: (at me) :lolpalm:. Lonestar sent Orphaned Land / The Cave the exact same round - a killer song with growls that I could actually tolerate. The two of them finished very close on my 'top roulette songs' list (22nd and 26th... take comfort in the fact you were higher!), and back-to-back as the 2nd and 3rd fave songs from *that* roulette. So I got mixed up who sent which - and then mixed up again that I'd mixed it up in my initial response to lonestar.
Holy shit... where's the tylenol!?
Sorry mang.
-
#15 KAIPA- Our Silent Ballroom Band, 2012
Clocking in at over 22 minutes, this is the longest piece on the list that isn't a suite of songs, and it is 22 minutes of bottled joy. Between the god tier guitar work of Per Nillson and the unbelievable vocals work between Aleena Gibson and Patrik Lundstrom, they make this one a bliss filled journey that has proven capable of lifting me out of any funk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s)
That's one I do need to check out - I featured Children of The Sounds in my 2017 podcast but haven't got around to some of the earlier stuff.
I'm checking out that song now. Not bad for the style at all. Probably not something I'd listen to though. Per is so damn underrated though.
He's so fucking good.
-
Chad, I know you must have missed my posts earlier referenceing it but I need to say it as it's bugging the shit out of me. I sent you Amongst Stars, not lonestar. There, said it.
Oh goddamnit :loser: (at me) :lolpalm:. Lonestar sent Orphaned Land / The Cave the exact same round - a killer song with growls that I could actually tolerate. The two of them finished very close on my 'top roulette songs' list (22nd and 26th... take comfort in the fact you were higher!), and back-to-back as the 2nd and 3rd fave songs from *that* roulette. So I got mixed up who sent which - and then mixed up again that I'd mixed it up in my initial response to lonestar.
Holy shit... where's the tylenol!?
Sorry mang.
haha all good. You obviously missed my 2 slightly sarcastic posts earlier. ;D
#15 KAIPA- Our Silent Ballroom Band, 2012
Clocking in at over 22 minutes, this is the longest piece on the list that isn't a suite of songs, and it is 22 minutes of bottled joy. Between the god tier guitar work of Per Nillson and the unbelievable vocals work between Aleena Gibson and Patrik Lundstrom, they make this one a bliss filled journey that has proven capable of lifting me out of any funk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaIuNArpXg&t=1143s)
That's one I do need to check out - I featured Children of The Sounds in my 2017 podcast but haven't got around to some of the earlier stuff.
I'm checking out that song now. Not bad for the style at all. Probably not something I'd listen to though. Per is so damn underrated though.
He's so fucking good.
This fusion improv video is simply one of the greatest most technical yet musically pleasing guitar improvs I've ever heard. I watch it all the time. The joy in his face when he is playing is just wonderful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbZ27N9L3GQ
-
haha all good. You obviously missed my 2 slightly sarcastic posts earlier. ;D
No, I caught them. I just couldn't figure out what your point was, because I hadn't realized I'd implied that lonestar had sent that tune to me. I thought you were pointing out that the song scored well, which is what I was trying to say. Total brain fart on my part - all around.
-
haha all good. You obviously missed my 2 slightly sarcastic posts earlier. ;D
No, I caught them. I just couldn't figure out what your point was, because I hadn't realized I'd implied that lonestar had sent that tune to me. I thought you were pointing out that the song scored well, which is what I was trying to say. Total brain fart on my part - all around.
Haha, true didn't think about that. ;D
-
#14 Pyramid Theorem- Another Day Slips By, 2012
While the whole of this song is quite excellent, it's the last two minutes that puts it on this list. In what is easily my favorite guitar solo of the decade, Samuel Alexander Ermellini tosses aside the overly wanking standard to deliver some pure soul. It's downright untouchable, and has also earned a spot not only on this list, but also as my phone's ringtone for nearly 8 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM)
-
Oh yeah, that's a beaut for sure. PT got a lot of good love around here, and I had the pleasure of seeing them live (can't remember if they were a local open for S-X, or Evergrey). Regardless, they put on a good performance. Didn't Barry want to hire the guitarist to provide some solo work for Anabasis II (which, ironically I saw an update on FB this morning).
Teramaze / An Ordinary Dream (Enla Momento) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ctzK_hBw4w)
I could've gone with the closer from this album, but this one gets the nod for quantity (12 minutes). Killer riffs, varied pacing (from panic and frantic to sombre and melancholic) provide different moods throughout the song, and vocals that hit my prog-metal sweet spot.
-
Yeah he did, not sure if it went through.
-
#14 Pyramid Theorem- Another Day Slips By, 2012
While the whole of this song is quite excellent, it's the last two minutes that puts it on this list. In what is easily my favorite guitar solo of the decade, Samuel Alexander Ermellini tosses aside the overly wanking standard to deliver some pure soul. It's downright untouchable, and has also earned a spot not only on this list, but also as my phone's ringtone for nearly 8 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM)
I've listened to most tracks in this thread and this is now the winner of my favorite song posted here so far. I loved this song, I'm going to go check out some more from them
-
#14 Pyramid Theorem- Another Day Slips By, 2012
While the whole of this song is quite excellent, it's the last two minutes that puts it on this list. In what is easily my favorite guitar solo of the decade, Samuel Alexander Ermellini tosses aside the overly wanking standard to deliver some pure soul. It's downright untouchable, and has also earned a spot not only on this list, but also as my phone's ringtone for nearly 8 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM)
I've listened to most tracks in this thread and this is now the winner of my favorite song posted here so far. I loved this song, I'm going to go check out some more from them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENetUukyXXw
Thank me later :lol. The opening segue is pretty cheesy, feel free to skip right to 1:25.
-
Nice :tup
The rest of the first album is proggy as fuck, serious instrumental work. Second album is more straight up hard Rock. Throughout it all, Sam is kicking ass, he's so fucking good.
-
No. 14: Sad Song, The Cars
HUGE Cars fan. As in "I even like Door To Door" Cars fan. But for better or worse, Ben Orr was a great, huge part of that. I loved his voice, and he made Ric Ocasek's acquired taste voice palatable. The contrast was important. So what to make of the band doing a full album with "all Ric"? It was a very good album, and it got a LOT of plays. I remember calling in to an internet radio show (Used Bin Radio) with that record as a potential album of the year pick, and while they weren't exactly jumping over their consoles, they didn't exactly laugh either, and I stand by that pick.
The single is the song that has really resonated, and which I still listen to today.
-
Oh yeah, that's a beaut for sure. PT got a lot of good love around here, and I had the pleasure of seeing them live (can't remember if they were a local open for S-X, or Evergrey). Regardless, they put on a good performance. Didn't Barry want to hire the guitarist to provide some solo work for Anabasis II (which, ironically I saw an update on FB this morning).
Teramaze / An Ordinary Dream (Enla Momento) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ctzK_hBw4w)
I could've gone with the closer from this album, but this one gets the nod for quantity (12 minutes). Killer riffs, varied pacing (from panic and frantic to sombre and melancholic) provide different moods throughout the song, and vocals that hit my prog-metal sweet spot.
Loved this song. I agree with you on the vocals, they remind me a bit of the vocals from the band children of nova. One thing that almost always ruins progress metal/rock bands is the vocals, they can be incredibly hit or miss.
-
Nice :tup
The rest of the first album is proggy as fuck, serious instrumental work. Second album is more straight up hard Rock. Throughout it all, Sam is kicking ass, he's so fucking good.
I'm going to give the first album a spin after I get through my morning meetings:yup
-
2011 was an incredible year of music for me, so I have a couple extras, but all of these have become some of my all-time favorite tracks...
Stratovarius - Elysium (https://open.spotify.com/track/7ACGIfzqPcgvaREwNuM2nL?si=bJg2Ri4DTt601Ji0YWObwA)
I think this is the single greatest (prog?)power metal epic ever made, no exaggeration, this is hands down the king of epic tracks. Those last 6 minutes with the angelic choirs and mighty synth solo has no peer as far as I'm concerned. This song (and album) set the bar so freaking high that I'm starting to think it ruined most power metal for me in this decade, because most bands have failed to come anywhere close to making something this glorious.
Power Quest - Better Days (https://open.spotify.com/track/2rJydRl0LkHJ5zRyyZDzwH?si=spEld5aST5WCs-eqMUOsvg)
This one has gotten me through a lot of hard times over the last 8 years and it just means more to me with each year. Power Quest is near and dear to my heart and Steve Williams is one of the most influential songwriters to me personally. This song speaks to me. Lovely guitar solo to cap off the song. The positivity is palpable.
Rhapsody of Fire - Ad Infinitum (https://open.spotify.com/track/6ZJaN2FZaO7rQHYr6EyPsw?si=7mCfYsVwRMmUvRHQIlHLMg) / From Chaos To Eternity (https://open.spotify.com/track/3neYOC5H1un1HDAGo14LGY?si=M4gZOYl5ST6UuqRHKIAVJA)
The final album of Rhapsody's 10-album saga kicks off with these two tracks. From Chaos To Eternity is one of Rhapsody's greatest songs. Dark verses countered by a grand and majestic chorus, ripping neoclassical lead guitar/keyboard playing, and a ripping solo from Luca Turilli. The hook to this one still gives me goosebumps. It is introduced with the late Sir Christopher Lee narrating in Ad Infinitum, which runs seamlessly into FCTE.
Symphony X - Iconoclast (https://open.spotify.com/track/50ZjdtLAQTlWfeb3vRXvFG?si=0o2TNrzdTFOHaL9dZKQa8w)
Haters gonna hate, I think modern Symphony X is incredible and this song sums up everything I love about them. I think the main riff to this song is the greatest metal riff of the decade.
Florence + The Machine - No Light, No Light (https://open.spotify.com/track/5nkYDYUSb1bvLJ4nP8CnQ1?si=KiJ93a4QRRajoj3y4tNaUw)
Still her best song in my opinion, and got me through some really hard days shortly after this album was released. The lyrics describe a relationship I was in back then, right down to the color of the eyes and the words used. Super powerful song.
Lorenguard - Hands of Chaos (https://open.spotify.com/track/5bThZtBHtmJYr6thfg7gM0?si=BvOrTnCrR3umKK1f_G2SoA)
This band came from Indiana and unfortunately aren't around anymore but they're the greatest American power metal band ever in my opinion. The production is better than any other American power metal band I've heard, it sounds crystal clear like a professional big budget European metal band. Epic lyrics, epic keyboard arrangements, epic vocals, god I miss this band. One of the best power metal albums I've ever heard, and they're criminally unheard of. I wish they had finished album #2.
-
I lost interest in Rhapsody long ago, and despite trying to rekindle my interest, the 'of Fire' albums just failed to capture my interest. I'll spin this to see if anything's changed, as it's been quite a few years since I tried any of these albums.
Zook gave me a Roulette submission from Lorenguard that I mostly enjoyed, but wasn't wow'd over.
Despite the chugga-chugga style of Iconoclast (album), this is a very good opening track.
Will also spin the others, and report back tomorrow... which I forgot to do on the others.
@Stads... can't say the new music from classic bands does much for me :-\. Ronnie sounds great with Rainbow though.
@Katt... still need to spin that Plant album. I didn't keep up with his post 90s stuff much. Actually, I didn't keep up with much of anything at the start of the millennium, with newborns and all. I'm eager to spin this tomorrow morning.
-
14. Enbound-Combined The Souls-2011 (https://open.spotify.com/track/6O5w1x8ahDqw8LKtdsA2S9?si=QgfmlwHoR7mBp_YRR0pwXw)
From 2011's And She Says Gold, which is a really nice album. I love this song and played the shit out of it.
-
I lost interest in Rhapsody long ago, and despite trying to rekindle my interest, the 'of Fire' albums just failed to capture my interest. I'll spin this to see if anything's changed, as it's been quite a few years since I tried any of these albums.
Zook gave me a Roulette submission from Lorenguard that I mostly enjoyed, but wasn't wow'd over.
The 'of Fire' albums are a mixed bag for me personally. "From Chaos To Eternity" in particular has some high highs but very low lows - chasms, even, in no small part due to Luca's processed, super trebley guitar tone - but the title track is exquisite to me. Lorenguard is for a particular kind of cheese aficionado like myself. :loser:
@Katt... still need to spin that Plant album. I didn't keep up with his post 90s stuff much. Actually, I didn't keep up with much of anything at the start of the millennium, with newborns and all. I'm eager to spin this tomorrow morning.
It's a good morning album. Not heavy, not fast, but restrained and warm. Hope you like it.
-
I'm raelly into the last couple Plant albums; I think he's really found his stride. Semi-acoustic, but not unplugged, they are very organic and real. I'm not sure there's a "Stairway To Heaven" in there, but it's all solid. I could have picked about four or five songs, from any of three or four records (Carry Fire, Lullaby, Band Of Joy). He's really on here as an artist, not a song.
The newer Robert Plant stuff has been on my list for years of stuff to check out. I don't know much of his solo stuff post-Fate of Nations (which is from 1993).
-
14. Enbound-Combined The Souls-2011 (https://open.spotify.com/track/6O5w1x8ahDqw8LKtdsA2S9?si=QgfmlwHoR7mBp_YRR0pwXw)
From 2011's And She Says Gold, which is a really nice album. I love this song and played the shit out of it.
That's a great album. This would be easily the best song, but on a whole it's a fun listen. Love hearing Lars on more this style too after Work of Art.
-
#19 - Borknagar - In a Deeper World
https://youtu.be/zBMrMJEC2ls
A lighter track from them, but they seem to do a great job with those kind of slower, haunting closing tracks.
#18 - Sonata Arctica - Storm the Armada
https://youtu.be/XjRrEV3Qcy0
The newest song on this list. I actually love this whole album and have played it quite a lot in the last few months. This track is my favorite, and sometimes I'll play it a few times back to back.
#17 - The Ocean - Devonian: Nascent
https://youtu.be/N9F-Nf3SWtc
An exception to the rule that most of my plays come from full album listens. I don't even own the whole album, but that might change as I start exploring this band more for ProgPower. This song is incredible, and of course the clean vocals are just amazing. :)
#16 - Voyager - Ghost Mile
https://youtu.be/oIlMNkW_YrQ
I'd suggest listening to this whole album many times. :) For me, it was kind of a nice listen, nothing special at first. But after I listened to it a little more, it grew on me big time.
-
So, I'll do a top 25, in no particular order. Here's the first group of five.
Filter - We Hate It When You Get What You Wanted (2012)
Just some goddamn solid industrial metal that gets me pumped every time.
Jinjer - Perennial (2019)
An emotional powerhouse. Tatiana's beautiful lyrics sync so well with the music. There is sadness over the death of everything green during autumn, but Mother Nature will once again flourish in the spring. It is the inevitable, perennial circle of nature.
Honorable mentions: I Speak Astronomy, Cloud Factory
Djerv - The Bowling Pin (2012)
I could've picked any song from this album, it's my favourite of the decade, but it's probably this one that showcases Agnete's vocal talent and their blend of hard rock and black metal the best. If only they'd make another record...
A Perfect Circle - The Doomed (2017)
Ok, this is largely for the lyrics. I think they are one of Maynard's best and really nail down what is going on the world right now. Musically, it's orchestral and grandiose and I have to say the chorus is great.
Leprous - Forced Entry (2012)
There's half a dozen other songs that could be here. I love Bilateral, it's more focused than Tall Poppy Syndrome, but still retains some of its playfulness and this is the highest point of the album for me. Great prog epic chock full of amazing melodies and has one of the best vocal performances of Einar.
Honorable mentions: Slave, Contaminate Me, The Flood
-
Storm the Armada? ... huh. Curious!
-
#13 Between The Buried And Me- Voice of Trespass, 2018
While most of this band's work favors the technical, this jazzy/proggy blend of awesome continues to blow me away with every listen. Some of the instrumental work is still hard to wrap my head around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja0EWloqsKo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja0EWloqsKo)
-
@ Lethean... I sampled that Sonata release, and was largely unimpressed. The Ocean and Voyager I've tried, and it's a hard 'no' for me. I'll give Borknagar a go, but pretty sure that's not my cuppa tea.
@ Tim... it's been a while since I spun that Enbound album (or the sophmore release). I really liked both of them, so I'll drop this into the rotation.
@ Katt... Elysium, yeah it's a great tune, but a stretch to call it "single greatest (prog?)power metal epic ever made". Though for a guy who thinks it's mathematically provable that Africa is the greatest song ever laid to tape, I wouldn't expect anything less hyperbolic :D :P PowerQuest - you gave this to me in my roulette. Very nice track, but somewhat pedestrian. Florence and Lorenguard tracks were really enjoyable - lyrics from the latter were a mound of cheese, but the music was solid.
Also, Band of Joy has been purchased as of a couple of hours ago. :tup
BTBAM... one of those that doesn't resonate with me that probably should. But this tune was fun as hell.
My submission today ....
Symphony X / Without You (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZe-Pmgq9)
Is it a Power Ballad? Probably. But it's still heavy af. Underworld is a 5* album top to bottom, and was my #2 AOTY from '15, so something had to appear here. Without You hits a sweet spot for me of being heavy and light simultaneously. And of course, Russell Allen. Romeo's lyrical and musical writing is just top notch. Love the melodies (both vocal and instrumental) on this one. Goosebumps.
-
Jingle - you told me you liked The Ocean song. And Voyager did surprisingly well in your roulette. I think Voyager is your secret favorite band. ;)
-
Jingle - you told me you liked The Ocean song. And Voyager did surprisingly well in your roulette. I think Voyager is your secret favorite band. ;)
Oh, that's the one I spun... you gave it to Tim in his roulette? Yeah, it was pretty decent. And The Voyage of I didn't do badly, that's true. I guess I was just talking more in generalities with those two bands. I'm just not up for giving multiple chances, when I'm virtually certain most of their output will not appeal, in order to find the handful of things that will. There's just too many bands/albums that are amazing from start to finish.
-
@ Katt... Elysium, yeah it's a great tune, but a stretch to call it "single greatest (prog?)power metal epic ever made". Though for a guy who thinks it's mathematically provable that Africa is the greatest song ever laid to tape, I wouldn't expect anything less hyperbolic :D :P PowerQuest - you gave this to me in my roulette. Very nice track, but somewhat pedestrian. Florence and Lorenguard tracks were really enjoyable - lyrics from the latter were a mound of cheese, but the music was solid.
Both Elysium and Africa are every bit as good as I say they are, you moose knuckle! :biggrin:
-
@ Katt... Elysium, yeah it's a great tune, but a stretch to call it "single greatest (prog?)power metal epic ever made". Though for a guy who thinks it's mathematically provable that Africa is the greatest song ever laid to tape, I wouldn't expect anything less hyperbolic :D :P PowerQuest - you gave this to me in my roulette. Very nice track, but somewhat pedestrian. Florence and Lorenguard tracks were really enjoyable - lyrics from the latter were a mound of cheese, but the music was solid.
Both Elysium and Africa are every bit as good as I say they are, you moose knuckle! :biggrin:
Evergrey is better.
-
"Dude, I have the best name for our band: Borknager!"
"Dude, you're fired."
Mine for the day:
No. 13: "Flight Of Apollo", Angels And Airwaves
So I get it, he's a nut job, but I love Tom DeLonge's voice, and the slightly more sophisticated music and vastly more sophisticated lyrics (I just don't find the sophomore 'humor' of Blink-182 to be funny) make this a band I like. Recently, he's kind of veered off the track a little (the releases are either digital or bundled with his other stuff, novels and movies and shit) but when it's just the music, it's pretty good.
This song is from the two-CD "Love" set; I've sent "Secret Crowds", from the album before, "I-Empire".
-
@ Katt... Elysium, yeah it's a great tune, but a stretch to call it "single greatest (prog?)power metal epic ever made". Though for a guy who thinks it's mathematically provable that Africa is the greatest song ever laid to tape, I wouldn't expect anything less hyperbolic :D :P PowerQuest - you gave this to me in my roulette. Very nice track, but somewhat pedestrian. Florence and Lorenguard tracks were really enjoyable - lyrics from the latter were a mound of cheese, but the music was solid.
Both Elysium and Africa are every bit as good as I say they are, you moose knuckle! :biggrin:
Evergrey is better.
Chad you're the funniest dude alive.
-
Stadler, what are you on about? Go listen to that Borknagar (no e) song and pipe down. :P
-
Jingle - you told me you liked The Ocean song. And Voyager did surprisingly well in your roulette. I think Voyager is your secret favorite band. ;)
Oh, that's the one I spun... you gave it to Tim in his roulette? Yeah, it was pretty decent. And The Voyage of I didn't do badly, that's true. I guess I was just talking more in generalities with those two bands. I'm just not up for giving multiple chances, when I'm virtually certain most of their output will not appeal, in order to find the handful of things that will. There's just too many bands/albums that are amazing from start to finish.
No, I get that and do the same thing. I'll report on my The Ocean findings as I listen to their Jonas-less songs and see how they are. :)
-
Stadler, what are you on about? Go listen to that Borknagar (no e) song and pipe down. :P
Haha, I'm sure it's good, and I'm sure it means something epic like "Breath of the Glass Wind", but when I read it first, it sounded funny to me.
-
"Dude, I have the best name for our band: Borknager!"
"Dude, you're fired."
Mine for the day:
No. 13: "Flight Of Apollo", Angels And Airwaves
So I get it, he's a nut job, but I love Tom DeLonge's voice, and the slightly more sophisticated music and vastly more sophisticated lyrics (I just don't find the sophomore 'humor' of Blink-182 to be funny) make this a band I like. Recently, he's kind of veered off the track a little (the releases are either digital or bundled with his other stuff, novels and movies and shit) but when it's just the music, it's pretty good.
This song is from the two-CD "Love" set; I've sent "Secret Crowds", from the album before, "I-Empire".
I checked out A&A for the first time earlier this week and I actually was surprised at how much I liked it. I thought itd be blink with a slight twice but to your point the lyrics were better imo
-
"Dude, I have the best name for our band: Borknager!"
(https://cdn-image.foodandwine.com/sites/default/files/styles/4_3_horizontal_-_1200x900/public/swedish-chef-ft-blog0617.jpg?itok=Vcs_KTAE)
-
13. Teramaze-Delusions Of Grandeur-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/56wcupl8Kzf9tHtUuxD4Vy?si=Wbqss3nuRG6MSfiT7L7pZA)
-
2012 was a weird and very light year for new music for me... that whole year was a bad year for me, so I didn't get around to much; most of my favorites from 2012 were discovered years later. Here's a few that I love most of all.
Anathema - Internal Landscapes (https://open.spotify.com/track/2e5zU8ZNIt0n40pC5IeFeH?si=zWUVTqPFTQy1HeEOpkWQKQ) - The whole album is a masterpiece, but this, wow, what a way to end the record, and it itself is a miniature epic that oozes beauty and warmth.
Asia - Ghost of a Chance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ulFYJB_ok0) - XXX is my second favorite Asia record and in my opinion head and shoulders above most of Asia's discography. This track in particular is a home run. Steve Howe's lead guitar tone is so rich that some of those high notes make me want to cry, and the lyrics and John Wetton's voice together put it over the top.
Mystery - Dear Someone (https://open.spotify.com/track/0kFeOf8y73OT7P08Ed04cR?si=sKKcxha4RXmrbyHuHUOLig) - Props to jingle.boy for turning me on to this record, it is another masterpiece. This song has become my favorite of theirs. Sounds very Rush-like, and has a nice vibe.
Devin Townsend Project - Grace (https://open.spotify.com/track/6zic4tNd5P9HQZyLvQDCtR?si=DLzvcqA5R_2IY72odpjNzQ) - the rhythms in this are addictive to me, can't get enough of the tuplets and thick, fat drums. Love pieces like this, but hardly know where to begin trying to find more.
-
13. Teramaze-Delusions Of Grandeur-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/56wcupl8Kzf9tHtUuxD4Vy?si=Wbqss3nuRG6MSfiT7L7pZA)
I'm down with this. As I said, my Teramaze choice was a tossup between this and the opening track.
@ Katt... props accepted. :hifive:
-
Asia - Ghost of a Chance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ulFYJB_ok0) - XXX is my second favorite Asia record and in my opinion head and shoulders above most of Asia's discography. This track in particular is a home run. Steve Howe's lead guitar tone is so rich that some of those high notes make me want to cry, and the lyrics and John Wetton's voice together put it over the top.
We are on the same page here with our adoration of the post-reunion Asia material. Gravitas is strong as well.
-
Asia - Ghost of a Chance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ulFYJB_ok0) - XXX is my second favorite Asia record and in my opinion head and shoulders above most of Asia's discography. This track in particular is a home run. Steve Howe's lead guitar tone is so rich that some of those high notes make me want to cry, and the lyrics and John Wetton's voice together put it over the top.
We are on the same page here with our adoration of the post-reunion Asia material. Gravitas is strong as well.
My man. Only thing I disagree with is Gravitas. Where I was expecting a follow-up to XXX's amazing music, I got a tepid and (to me) uninspired record - big disappointment for me on release.
-
Anathema - Internal Landscapes (https://open.spotify.com/track/2e5zU8ZNIt0n40pC5IeFeH?si=zWUVTqPFTQy1HeEOpkWQKQ) - The whole album is a masterpiece, but this, wow, what a way to end the record, and it itself is a miniature epic that oozes beauty and warmth.
Mystery - Dear Someone (https://open.spotify.com/track/0kFeOf8y73OT7P08Ed04cR?si=sKKcxha4RXmrbyHuHUOLig) - Props to jingle.boy for turning me on to this record, it is another masterpiece. This song has become my favorite of theirs. Sounds very Rush-like, and has a nice vibe.
Devin Townsend Project - Grace (https://open.spotify.com/track/6zic4tNd5P9HQZyLvQDCtR?si=DLzvcqA5R_2IY72odpjNzQ) - the rhythms in this are addictive to me, can't get enough of the tuplets and thick, fat drums. Love pieces like this, but hardly know where to begin trying to find more.
Already featured Mystery, and that Anathema album is coming up. As to DTP, he's had some big hits and big misses with me...Supercrush is about as stunning as songs get, but some of his other stuff loses me quickly. Must be the Anneke effect.
-
Alright update time:
15. Acoustic Labs - Desert Walk - When I discovered Acoustic Labs I really dived in. I couldn't stop listening to him for months and this song, while being one of the more simple songs, really stuck with me. It just drudges along and I don't know why but I really like this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrN0pisA6bM
14. Toska - Illumo - If Joe Satriani decided to do a moody melodramatic album you'd get Toska. Toska is a three-piece from England and you may know Rabea Massaad (guitar) from a bunch of youtube videos for Andertons TV, or for doing the guest spot for the Africa metal cover by Frog Leap. He is a phenomenal guitar player and writes some of the most original and catchy riffs that I've heard in a long time so it's no surprise that this album is end to end riffs. Ode to Author is the album that this song is from so if you're a fan of this check out the rest of the EP, it's short and great end to end https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EUS1bsiPec
-
Gonna get this one out of the way before bed...
#12 Voices From The Fuselage- Meteorites, 2016
From a brilliant album comes a dynamic emotional track that has everything, all packed in a tight 7 minute package. Carried by a brilliant vocal performance, with myriad genres slipping in and out all through the song, this mini-epic is as good as they come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUmGrQkc0Zw
-
Voices From the Fueslage ... just a little to technical, and prog for the sake of prog. It's a nice listen (the album), but not something that hooked me.
Anathema... what a sombre opening. I've given Anathema a go a number of times, and while I always enjoy them, I just don't find it to be 'must-listen-to' music.
Heavy Devy ... is also hit and miss for me. I can only take the wall-of-sound style for so long. This was a good tune (as RJ said... the AVG effect).
And here's an oddball selection from me today
W.A.S.P. / Hero of the Day World*
Thought I'd go a little off script as this wouldn't actually be in my Top 31, but this was a Top 5 song-of-the-year for 2015. I wasn't in to W.A.S.P. back in the day, but Kade fixed me up in my 3rd Roulette. I then got their classic albums, as well as some of their newer releases from this century. While Blackie has lost it live, he (and the rest of the band) sounded great in the studio from 2015. This is the closing track, and is catchy af.
*Protip... finish the first cup of coffee before posting. Not sure why I had Metallica on the mind?
-
While Blackie has lost it live,
He sounds fantastic "live" :)
-
Hero of the *World I believe is a song you sent me in my roulette from last year/start of this year, Chad. That song freaking rules. He has a very Hansi Kursch-like sound to his voice which is a big plus to me and the tension and resolution in the vocal melody is fan-freaking-tastic, and that hook even moreso. :2metal:
-
Hero of the *World
:lolpalm:
-
Mine also from left field (and another honoring an artist more than the song):
No. 12: When It Rains It Pours - Luke Combs
I am more of a country fan than most, but I'm an outlaw country guy (Hank, Jr., Waylon, Kris Kristofferson). There's a lot of similarity between those guys and the rock/metal I listen to. Most of the Metallica ballads, for example, owe a lot to outlaw country (I even have a version of Waylon's "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out Of Hand" done by Het that's awesome). I kind of hate the more current "commercial" country. The one exception is Luke Combs. His voice is like smooth whiskey to me, and this is a good example of that.
-
2013... avoided some obvious band picks.
Monica Heldal - Follow You Anywhere (https://open.spotify.com/track/5aSOq5UQi3zpQ4VwqpQa4n?si=Fe9aIMi9RjiId7MyAkvtLw)
I love this girl's voice and she's a really good guitarist, too. This whole album has this gloomy autumn vibe to it, but it has some cheerful moments in there too. This is my favorite song on the album. She has such a cool vibe and her voice is lovely. One of my favorite discoveries of the last few years.
Helloween - Burning Sun (https://open.spotify.com/track/6R7nBsQlzNRZHhOORZO5zJ?si=hU9N2rGGQVe1V1Ga0gkk5A)
"Straight Out Of Hell" is a very inconsistent Helloween album (change the record, right?) but this song rips and shows them at their best moments in the later era. It's power metal with balls and a huge hook and Andi sounds like a demon.
Daft Punk - Fragments of Time (https://open.spotify.com/track/0IedgQjjJ8Ad4B3UDQ5Lyn?si=23nvhE4XTb6Ej1ErlYFz5A)
Smooth as butter and full of swagger. This album brilliantly blends pop and funk and disco and electronica into something that's nothing short of genius. Fragments of Time is a really groovy track you can bob your head to.
Arctic Monkeys - I Wanna Be Yours (https://open.spotify.com/track/5XeFesFbtLpXzIVDNQP22n?si=8E_b6jlKSk28YansTzhOVw)
This song's lyrics actually come from a poem by John Cooper Clarke from 1982. The guitar is aquatic and distant, and the song as a whole is dark and sedated. On an album where every track is a home run, this one still stands out to me. Great lyrics.
Eminem - Bad Guy (https://open.spotify.com/track/3IaAYtmN8T0YIYVqnxNnVz?si=ep9dCmOZRZOJx_lH4raatQ)
Perfect lyrical delivery, flow smooth as butter, a sequel to his massive hit "Stan" and the lyrics are like poetry. The coda is simply EPIC. Wordplay and imagery = on point.
-
12. Euphoreon-Mirrors-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/011wFUA3FM8BHeeCWvpJqE?si=pGw_ASBAQ4mJ-v_oU9S3SQ)
Really great album from 2018 Ends Of the Earth, Mirrors is an amazing song that represents how great this album is. It's really melodic with jboydontbother vocals.
-
12. Euphoreon-Mirrors-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/011wFUA3FM8BHeeCWvpJqE?si=pGw_ASBAQ4mJ-v_oU9S3SQ)
Really great album from 2018 Ends Of the Earth, Mirrors is an amazing song that represents how great this album is. It's really melodic with jboydontbother vocals.
:rollin
-
RJ, check that tune out, man.
-
Oh, and because the lyrics to Mirrors are so awesome.
If we can’t accept the reasons why
We’re out of touch and cast aside
Just a limitless expedition
Through the grand illusion of reality
Losing my balance on the edge of desperation
Aspirations I abandoned slowly return
Consequence for existence
How can I find the way to deliverance
Eternal suffering within
The rise and fall of a tortured mind
Thinking what could have been
Is the death of everything
A strange anomaly
Was it all just a dream
Looking back through
The mirrors of tragedy
The challenge ahead of me
Join me on the journey
As we race to infinity
Take me back to the days when I felt alive
Living with regrets that I can’t deny
I’m crushed by the weight for eternity
To the point where I lost belief
It all went wrong and integrity disappeared
Those days are gone and there’s nothing left to lose
Turn the page and write something new
It’s the only way to truly exist
If the wheels fall off and you spiral out of control
Will you find the strength to go alone
Fallen paradise lays forgotten
Torn apart by arrogance and corruption
I don’t want to repeat the failures
Mistakes I wish I could change
Everything you do will come back to you
When dreams will come true
Don’t know when I lost my way
Don’t know where I’ll find the faith
But we all go down in a sea of flames
That’s all she wrote for me
Running away from the truth until it’s nothing but a distant memory
It’s just a fragment of my imagination
The last step in my recovery
Eternal suffering within
The rise and fall of a tortured mind
Thinking what could have been
Is the death of everything
The darkness and light
The screams of innocence
The thorns will follow me
Back to reality
The past can’t haunt me
I’m desperately holding on to the last strings of my sanity
I’m nothing but a spark in history
For many years I wandered aimlessly
To the stars we’ll make it another day
For the future’s shrouded in mystery
Take me back to the place where I felt alive
Living with regrets that I can’t deny
I’m crushed by the weight for eternity
To the point where I lost belief
In the end we’re just preparing for death
The day the when the light returns to you
Fight or flight
Dark or light
That day I was never the same again
I’m a scapegoat for an illogical system
Paid the price for a lack of defiance
Walking through the shards of broken glass
It’s a death by a thousand cuts
Reflecting myself in the mirror won't become any easier
As I crash into the wall
You're the one to wake me up
-
RJ, check that tune out, man.
I did, quality stuff, but the growls were a bit on the weird side... Sounded like I imagine I sound when u try to growl if that makes any sense. :sadpanda:
-
Yeah, they are strange. :lol
I prefer Black Metal vocals to Death Metal vocals, and I still don't care for Screamo. But these are definitely unique, but the music is so undeniable, it still works for me.
-
Musically it's off the charts for sure.
-
12. Euphoreon-Mirrors-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/011wFUA3FM8BHeeCWvpJqE?si=pGw_ASBAQ4mJ-v_oU9S3SQ)
Really great album from 2018 Ends Of the Earth, Mirrors is an amazing song that represents how great this album is. It's really melodic with jboydontbother vocals.
This song is fucking incredible. The whole album is wonderful.
-
W.A.S.P. / Hero of the Day World*
Thought I'd go a little off script as this wouldn't actually be in my Top 31, but this was a Top 5 song-of-the-year for 2015. I wasn't in to W.A.S.P. back in the day, but Kade fixed me up in my 3rd Roulette. I then got their classic albums, as well as some of their newer releases from this century. While Blackie has lost it live, he (and the rest of the band) sounded great in the studio from 2015. This is the closing track, and is catchy af.
Not to nitpick, but I will, this isn't the closing track. This is the second last track and the title track is the closing track.
-
#15 - ICS Vortex - Flaskeskipper
https://youtu.be/HUSGyaCMJ_Y
This is a short and simple song, and I really like the vocals. I think his solo album as a whole is really quite good and I would love to hear a follow-up.
#14 - Subsignal - Everything is Lost
https://youtu.be/l5iRYcaEps4
This band totally rules. I'm so happy that they came to progpower this year because they put on an incredible set. I think just about everything they do is excellent. You really can't go wrong with any of their albums. I suppose but the album this track is off of, Beacons, is probably my favorite, but every last one of them is great.
-
Second batch:
Fates Warning - From the Rooftops (2016)
It's amazing how fresh they still sound in their fourth decade of operation.
PMMP - Rakkaalleni (2012)
Finnish synthpop, I'm including it because it is probably the most emotional and heartwrenching pop song I've heard this decade.
David Bowie - Blackstar (2015)
A compelling masterpiece.
Lindemann - Praise Abort (2015)
Supremely catchy, I'm singing out the chorus way too often. :lol Maybe this is a bit of a joke song, but Till sells it and I love its dark sense of humour.
Royal Blood - Out of the Black (2014)
Who needs a guitarist anyway? Yeah, that's all bass. Dark and punishing alt rock with amazing riffs throughout.
-
I never thought I'd see Blackstar and Praise abort on the same list. But then again, I love both as well. :lol
-
12. Euphoreon-Mirrors-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/011wFUA3FM8BHeeCWvpJqE?si=pGw_ASBAQ4mJ-v_oU9S3SQ)
Really great album from 2018 Ends Of the Earth, Mirrors is an amazing song that represents how great this album is. It's really melodic with jboydontbother vocals.
thanksforthetipiwont
If there's 0% chance of comprehending the lyrics without the sheet, I just don't see the point. That's just me... again, there are sooooooo many songs/albums that are fantastic - all elements - I simply don't understand the point of regularly going to music that has something that is "weird".
:dunno:
@Lethean... you sure can't go wrong with anything from Subsignal. I'd probably rank Beacons as my least favorite Subsignal though.
Moving on to 2016 - which has the most entries on this list. I'm going to forgo one (Light and Shade of Things) because it's already been mentioned. That'll give me room to squeeze in another (slightly) oddball pick from 2017. But for today ....
Lords of Black / Ghost of You (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebfFziVIiuU)
This was my #2 song of the year for '16 (Avantasia took the top spot). I just don't have enough superlatives to throw at this tune Structurally and compositionally, this ticks all the boxes of what scratches my musical itch - slow / accoustic start; killer riffs; variation of pace; gorgeous soloing; melodic, heavy, and proggy all at the same time; and dat voice. Lords of Black (could've been this album) was my introduction to Ronnie Romero - who is a god-tier vocalist for me. He could sing the phone book and I'd swoon. I've used this one in roulettes as frequently as I can, and I don't believe it's ever not scored well. In fact, I remember Cool Chris instantly sent me this:
(https://media.giphy.com/media/10ERZqYioLWJ6U/200.gif)
-
#11 Ostura- Let There Be, 2018
Coming from an album that was the decade's closest to being a unanimous Album of the Year from my musical circles, this blend of power/prog metal and classical brought out a sound so unique, beautiful, and just plain huge that it took us all by storm. This specific track, for me, really lays out the tremendous power of what Ostura pulled off here, and it's simply perfection....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Blme2iqre4&list=PL1sHD5gmgwBJYOQvdFZeOHM85n7pf6Ls7&index=4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Blme2iqre4&list=PL1sHD5gmgwBJYOQvdFZeOHM85n7pf6Ls7&index=4)
-
Add another to the list of "thanks RJ". Serious thanks ... not in the "thanks Obama" kinda way.
-
The Room is so hyped here, I expected Beyond the Bridge level of greatness. Honestly I'm still not sold on this album, it's an alright prog metal but nothing more.
-
Jingle, Beacons was probably my least favorite as well for a while. I didn't listen to it a lot right away. But over time it really grew on me and now I think it has a slight edge over the others.
-
Disillusion - ALEA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isWusjdhrDs
One of the 2010's most Epic Metal tunes. :metal :metal :metal
-
The Room is so hyped here, I expected Beyond the Bridge level of greatness. Honestly I'm still not sold on this album, it's an alright prog metal but nothing more.
I was underwhelmed when I sampled it originally but just revisited based on RJs post (a few songs all the way through) and enjoyed it far more and will now get into it properly. I don't think it's going to be Album of 2018 or anything but I think it might be one that takes a few good listens to grow.
One of the issues of trying to be across "everything" is that on the odd occasion you just sample the wrong track/s and in this case it looks like I might've.
-
11. Lords Of The Trident-Shattered Skies-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/4dPf7yBif8FtFazHiu22Ym?si=zbSfLuVuTlmwoYaOrYE86g)
I discovered them with their 2015 album Frostburn. They are fucking goofy looking and cheesy, but I find their brand of power metal very easy on the ears. As much as a pud as the singer looks, the dude has some pipes. The follow up, 2018's Shadows Of the past was one of my favorite 2018 albums. Just as Frostburn was in 2015.
This song has a great chorus.
-
Dream the Electric Sleep - Elizabeth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wAR5KdMJx8
epic tune.
-
#11 Ostura- Let There Be, 2018
Coming from an album that was the decade's closest to being a unanimous Album of the Year from my musical circles, this blend of power/prog metal and classical brought out a sound so unique, beautiful, and just plain huge that it took us all by storm. This specific track, for me, really lays out the tremendous power of what Ostura pulled off here, and it's simply perfection....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Blme2iqre4&list=PL1sHD5gmgwBJYOQvdFZeOHM85n7pf6Ls7&index=4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Blme2iqre4&list=PL1sHD5gmgwBJYOQvdFZeOHM85n7pf6Ls7&index=4)
Great pick from a fantastic album. :tup :metal
-
#10 Allegaeon- Tsunami and Submergence, 2019
Off of what would've been the runaway album of the year for me if it wasn't for a certain favorite band of mine releasing a double album, this track is....how shall I say it....fucking insane. Killer clean and growl vox fronting a tech death metal masterpiece. On my Spotify year end update, this album represented songs 2-11 of my most listened to, and I don't think that would've changed if I solely listened to IQ there. They saw a great, great deal of my time, and it was all well deserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4)
-
11. Lords Of The Trident-Shattered Skies-2015 (https://open.spotify.com/track/4dPf7yBif8FtFazHiu22Ym?si=zbSfLuVuTlmwoYaOrYE86g)
I discovered them with their 2015 album Frostburn. They are fucking goofy looking and cheesy, but I find their brand of power metal very easy on the ears. As much as a pud as the singer looks, the dude has some pipes. The follow up, 2018's Shadows Of the past was one of my favorite 2018 albums. Just as Frostburn was in 2015.
This song has a great chorus.
This was really good. Very smooth. Reminds me a bit of Grand Magus.
-
#10 Allegaeon- Tsunami and Submergence, 2019
Off of what would've been the runaway album of the year for me if it wasn't for a certain favorite band of mine releasing a double album, this track is....how shall I say it....fucking insane. Killer clean and growl vox fronting a tech death metal masterpiece. On my Spotify year end update, this album represented songs 2-11 of my most listened to, and I don't think that would've changed if I solely listened to IQ there. They saw a great, great deal of my time, and it was all well deserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4)
Oh wow! You know I just checked this album out last night, and most people would bet it is NOT my cup of tea, but I can't stop thinking about it. Great album. This song in particular took me by surprise. Awesome song!!
-
Fuck yeah!!! They're really a great band, they're whole discography is solid, but Apoptosis they bring in just a touch of proggy to really smooth out he tech edges of their earlier efforts.
@Tim- I ended up spinning that whole Lord's of the Trident album, killer stuff man.
-
Cool! Yeah they are fucking goofy looking but they are really easy on the ears.
-
2014 was an odd year
Sonata Arctica - Larger Than Life (https://open.spotify.com/track/6hsEpGVSK3RWd352uVCAIx?si=sG_QlYc-RCKVfZGa2iCZoA)
This album still gets a lot of flack but this particular song is one of Tony Kakko's most creative and powerful works, in my opinion. The story of an actor who spends his life playing the roles of other people while his friends make their families who in time raise their own families. The choirs (I think it's just Tony's voice layered 150 times) are great - there's such a warm vibe to this song
Tycho - Dye (https://open.spotify.com/track/7n2TOW1CPU12MKS8j8zEfi?si=RhCtaby-RsKroLq7uBiV9g)
mood
Dragonforce - City of Gold (https://open.spotify.com/track/1mGn8rAjBWuD6wEvvBk3Dn?si=ii7SIbY6SW2mXiNEaD7YMg)
Marc-era DF is hit or miss for me and a shadow of its glorious first few albums, but this song is simply wonderful
Agalloch - Dark Matter Gods (https://open.spotify.com/track/6VGadDhr8bJAyIiHYFj8Zy?si=fwVWe40WQjeg9nTQ6jx5ZA)
Another album that gets a lot of flack from fans. No, it's not their best album, but this song is top tier Agalloch imo, along with Celestial Effigy and a couple others here.
-
2014 was an odd year
Sonata Arctica - Larger Than Life (https://open.spotify.com/track/6hsEpGVSK3RWd352uVCAIx?si=sG_QlYc-RCKVfZGa2iCZoA)
This album still gets a lot of flack but this particular song is one of Tony Kakko's most creative and powerful works, in my opinion. The story of an actor who spends his life playing the roles of other people while his friends make their families who in time raise their own families. The choirs (I think it's just Tony's voice layered 150 times) are great - there's such a warm vibe to this song
It's a fairly good album but this song unfortunately sucks :biggrin:
I should listen to the new Allegaeon, sounds fun
-
Objection, that song is great :loser:
-
Btw I think 2014 was the year Need released Orvam and there was a bunch of other cool albums too. I'm kinda bummed I didn't do any of these lists now, there were a couple of great songs this year.
-
2014 is very well represented in my list with 5 entries, Marillion, Destrage, and three more to come in the top 9. Second only to 2012 with 8 entries.
-
2014 is very well represented in my list with 5 entries, Marillion, Destrage, and three more to come in the top 9. Second only to 2012 with 8 entries.
2012 had Beyond the Bridge which pretty much settles it for me. I'm not a fan of Destrage tbh, tried to spin the album recently again and quit after the third track.
-
2014 was all about Fjokra
1 of the best, catchiest tunes of the 2010's for sure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5FrW1UyVyY
-
Into the Top 10.
10. Tribulation-Nightbound-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/3TMc67fK6O7dQsEBQXJfxe?si=ZWpdQ2qGTFOxoTnykS0KEQ)
Death Metal Lite (kind of like a heavy Lemmy) vocals on a Thin Lizzy palette. My Co-2018 AOTY (the other is coming up later in the countdown).
#10 Allegaeon- Tsunami and Submergence, 2019
Off of what would've been the runaway album of the year for me if it wasn't for a certain favorite band of mine releasing a double album, this track is....how shall I say it....fucking insane. Killer clean and growl vox fronting a tech death metal masterpiece. On my Spotify year end update, this album represented songs 2-11 of my most listened to, and I don't think that would've changed if I solely listened to IQ there. They saw a great, great deal of my time, and it was all well deserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4)
Great stuff. I like them a lot. The vocals can be a bit strong for me though, but musically Holy :metal.
-
Great stuff.
I like them a lot. The vocals can be a bit strong for me though, but musically Holy :metal.
I remember checking them out (possibly on lonestar's reco) and yeah.............was really into the music but the minute the vocals started that was about it. I just can't get past that style of vocal for any length of time. Shame.
-
2014 was an odd year
Sonata Arctica - Larger Than Life (https://open.spotify.com/track/6hsEpGVSK3RWd352uVCAIx?si=sG_QlYc-RCKVfZGa2iCZoA)
This album still gets a lot of flack but this particular song is one of Tony Kakko's most creative and powerful works, in my opinion. The story of an actor who spends his life playing the roles of other people while his friends make their families who in time raise their own families. The choirs (I think it's just Tony's voice layered 150 times) are great - there's such a warm vibe to this song
Tycho - Dye (https://open.spotify.com/track/7n2TOW1CPU12MKS8j8zEfi?si=RhCtaby-RsKroLq7uBiV9g)
mood
Dragonforce - City of Gold (https://open.spotify.com/track/1mGn8rAjBWuD6wEvvBk3Dn?si=ii7SIbY6SW2mXiNEaD7YMg)
Marc-era DF is hit or miss for me and a shadow of its glorious first few albums, but this song is simply wonderful
Agalloch - Dark Matter Gods (https://open.spotify.com/track/6VGadDhr8bJAyIiHYFj8Zy?si=fwVWe40WQjeg9nTQ6jx5ZA)
Another album that gets a lot of flack from fans. No, it's not their best album, but this song is top tier Agalloch imo, along with Celestial Effigy and a couple others here.
Tycho - Dye is a great song. I remember really getting into him a few years back
-
Well you guys can rest assured I only got one more growly band on my list...
-
I don't have any.
-
#13 - Anathema - Untouchable, Part 1 and Part 2
https://youtu.be/JrgrEkhudfo
Maybe it's cheating, but I'm putting both parts here. I don't really listen to one without the other. I doubt these songs need any introduction here - people seem to really like the album and for good reason.
#12 - Arcturus - Crashland
https://youtu.be/XxTcdsndj4w
This one is a case where I think the album is greater than the sum of its parts. I probably wouldn't really choose any individual song to be ranked so high compared to all of the songs released in the decade. But, I totally love the album and it came by its plays because of how awesome it is.
-
Into the Top 10.
10. Tribulation-Nightbound-2018 (https://open.spotify.com/track/3TMc67fK6O7dQsEBQXJfxe?si=ZWpdQ2qGTFOxoTnykS0KEQ)
Death Metal Lite (kind of like a heavy Lemmy) vocals on a Thin Lizzy palette. My Co-2018 AOTY (the other is coming up later in the countdown).
#10 Allegaeon- Tsunami and Submergence, 2019
Off of what would've been the runaway album of the year for me if it wasn't for a certain favorite band of mine releasing a double album, this track is....how shall I say it....fucking insane. Killer clean and growl vox fronting a tech death metal masterpiece. On my Spotify year end update, this album represented songs 2-11 of my most listened to, and I don't think that would've changed if I solely listened to IQ there. They saw a great, great deal of my time, and it was all well deserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4)
Great stuff. I like them a lot. The vocals can be a bit strong for me though, but musically Holy :metal.
That Tribulation song was my instant fav on the album.
I've never heard a single Allegaeon song, but that's about to change.
-
#10 Allegaeon- Tsunami and Submergence, 2019
Off of what would've been the runaway album of the year for me if it wasn't for a certain favorite band of mine releasing a double album, this track is....how shall I say it....fucking insane. Killer clean and growl vox fronting a tech death metal masterpiece. On my Spotify year end update, this album represented songs 2-11 of my most listened to, and I don't think that would've changed if I solely listened to IQ there. They saw a great, great deal of my time, and it was all well deserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4)
Pretty good. It's like a mix of Scar Symmetry and The Faceless. The growls were good but it was the cleans that threw me. It's like Steve Overland from FM doing the clean vox.
-
#14 Pyramid Theorem- Another Day Slips By, 2012
While the whole of this song is quite excellent, it's the last two minutes that puts it on this list. In what is easily my favorite guitar solo of the decade, Samuel Alexander Ermellini tosses aside the overly wanking standard to deliver some pure soul. It's downright untouchable, and has also earned a spot not only on this list, but also as my phone's ringtone for nearly 8 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM)
I've listened to most tracks in this thread and this is now the winner of my favorite song posted here so far. I loved this song, I'm going to go check out some more from them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENetUukyXXw
Thank me later :lol. The opening segue is pretty cheesy, feel free to skip right to 1:25.
Sorry I missed this! I've been playing catch-up listening to the tracks here. This song is seriously fun! I couldn't help but find myself smiling listening to this, even with my in-laws in town.
-
13. The Aristocrats - Bad Asteroid - One of my biggest artist discoveries this decade was Guthrie Govan. It's because of him and a handful of others my passion in guitar was renewed. I remember hearing his name mentioned at the old JP forums years, years ago but never took the time to check him out and I'm not really sure if I remember what made me check out The Aristocrats. Guthrie isn't the only star in the show with this band, both Marco and Brian and really talented and bring a lot to table. This song is a good representation of what the trio is like. It's jazzy, has some heavy riffs, great drum and bass work. Some of the newer work has gone the way of Guthrie's "Erotic Cakes" album which is fine but it isn't something I can listen to at all times like this track. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLXpEt42W-8
12. Michael Kelsey - Lost Together - Another Michael tune, and there will be one more on this list I believe. A few years about Michael released an album that was half original songs and re-recordings of older songs (there is also a cover thrown in). I didn't really think much of the album at first and while it's grown on me it's not really my favorite album of his now, I wasn't even a fan of this song to begin with. As I spun the album I started to keep going back to this track, partially because it's so easy to listen to. The song is aptly titled, it has a sense of being lost with no strong melody tying it together, it's almost as if this is a song you'd hear on being played on a porch and I think that's the beauty of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3E07mNCrA
11. Ludovico Einaudi - Two Trees - This is the best song from Ludovico this decade. I think he has strayed a bit from his earlier work to experiment with more electronic sounds and I think it's a big miss from him. This is not one of those songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bwChGwzL7U
10. Seven Lions - Summer Of The Occult - Back to EDM! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvpor9HzFyk
-
#10 Allegaeon- Tsunami and Submergence, 2019
Off of what would've been the runaway album of the year for me if it wasn't for a certain favorite band of mine releasing a double album, this track is....how shall I say it....fucking insane. Killer clean and growl vox fronting a tech death metal masterpiece. On my Spotify year end update, this album represented songs 2-11 of my most listened to, and I don't think that would've changed if I solely listened to IQ there. They saw a great, great deal of my time, and it was all well deserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmJzvvI1g4)
Pretty good. It's like a mix of Scar Symmetry and The Faceless. The growls were good but it was the cleans that threw me. It's like Steve Overland from FM doing the clean vox.
Well you really, really need to check out the rest of the album then....the clean vox are very limited on it.
And for today...
#9 HEADSPACE- All That You Fear is Gone, 2016
While their first album is stronger for me, this song is so achingly perfect it takes the spot on the list. Damian Wilson shows time and time again why he is one of my favorite vocalists, and here is absolutely no exception. Lyrically, it's humble and powerful. Musically, it cuts right through all the bullshit and hits my soul as only a few songs can. Sheer perfection.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMZjBXUyA-I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMZjBXUyA-I)
-
I fell behind yesterday. Lords of Trident ... I do believe that you gave me that song in a Roulette. It scored very well in the roulette, but didn't seem to have a lot of staying power - though it did crack the Top 150 of Roulettes. I spun the album once, but can't remember anything about it. I'll give 'er another go to see if I just lost it in the shuffle, or whether it was just meh.
Headspace... was very let down with the 2nd album. I'll give it another go as well though.
My two entries ....
Cloudscape / In Silence We Scream (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDYcjtqD-SY)
Pretty much everything I said about Ghost of You I can say about this one. Just swap in Mike Andersson's voice, and easily the best outro of any song on my list. This song is distinctly setup in three (3 minute-ish) equal sections - acoustic intro; core verse/chorus; epic outro / guitar solo.
Evership / A Slow Descent Into Reality (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euLOyGadyDs)
I'm still not sure if the lyrics to this song is the biggest gibberish of a word salad that Tobias Sammet would be envious of, or goddamn fucking epic poety. I'll lean towards the latter*. This wasn't my favorite song on this album until seeing it live at RoSFest (which is where this video is shot from - dubbed with the studio version of the song). Epic... and then seeing them do it again 16 months later at ProgStock was pure sonic ecstacy - top 3 highlight of the show for me.
*IV. Honest To Me
If standards I conceive / Then I consider to possess
Then all that I've achieved / Is absolute self-righteousness
I cannot give something / That I myself don't truly own
No random act of kindness / Or cause-project can save my soul
Espoused utopias rooted in / The Brotherhood of Man
Are doomed to crumble under / The weight of imperfection
-
The Family Crest - Beneath the Brine
Pretty much the most epic song heard for those who heard it, including a large number of The Dear Hunter fans.
If you've slept on it, you don't have a fucking clue what you're missing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywIgQBnBndI
-
Chad, both of us are card carrying members of the Mike Andersson fan club, so Clouds ape is obviously a 'yay' for me. Evership was by far the best surprise from Progstock.
2/2 my friend
-
2015 was light for me...
Blind Guardian - The Throne (https://open.spotify.com/track/18DZ6Wv27lsufbKOijWWzM?si=9fwQ3Z7LRemsskwJ4p2oRQ) - epic as hell. Great lyrics, great tension, love this track
The Winery Dogs - Spiral (https://open.spotify.com/track/0U7H6gpKebrBFHv73BlZtG?si=DBJNpnzQTXa3iGUz_AfH0w) - people hate on this record but I think it's way better than the debut and this song is a big reason why. It's groovy and has a lovely vibe. The bass rules and Richie's singing is strong. One of my favorite Dogs songs
Kamelot - My Therapy (https://open.spotify.com/track/0Q8CLsxW4nKQms7Rav53xh?si=Xk4BPn3mSVynkRz5iZJwlA) - I don't like this album very much, but I really like this song. It's powerful and catchy and not too maudlin like most of Kamelot's newer material, more in line with their middle years which is what I like
2016 had a few songs that still stick with me in a big way...
Twilight Force - There And Back Again (https://open.spotify.com/track/12wld8XuvcsoOe7mG8ynz9?si=12ARp-NLQTakVYpBFSrlSQ) - this song singlehandedly rekindled my interest in symphonic metal. The orchestrations at the start take me right to The Shire. Guest appearance with Fabio Lione, and one of the hugest, epicest choruses out there. Twilight Force rules and this song oozes adventure
Kings of Leon - Over (https://open.spotify.com/track/4jyZ3I1hYRcOkI8RJhxgCb?si=9PAcdk-PTDKSVlb-CB0kng) - simple and clean. Not complicated, just good music.
Power Quest - Face The Raven (https://open.spotify.com/track/5HwJhKxmXPCObnu6FfeDdk?si=SMjqwvVYSS6baLeGighAlw) - Power Quest roared back to life 6 years after their last album with this single released a year before their comeback record, and new vocalist Ashley Edison makes his presence note with a super strong high note to open the song over a very meaty riff (relative to PQ's typical sound). One of my favorite songs of the decade that instantly put a huge smile on my face when I first heard this because I knew one of my favorite bands was officially back. Plus it just rocks
-
So for my #9 pick, I am choosing the final four songs from Blaze Bayley's amazing 2010 album Promise & Terror.
The final four songs are:
Surrounded By Sadness
The Trace Of Things That Have No Words
Letting Go Of the World
Comfortable In Darkness
The songs are basically him dealing with his wife's death. The lyrics are very raw and moving.
If you simply ignore the Blaze Era of Iron Maiden, fine, but he has gone on to produce a fantastic discography.
The Spotify link is a playlist of the four songs that I put together.
The Trace Of Things is :metal
9. Blaze Bayley-Promise & Terror Suite-2010 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4JOL9hADA5lFRaGhfxx4JE?si=zH72D3oRSemcKpFAeDJQ3Q)
-
So for my #9 pick, I am choosing the final four songs from Blaze Bayley's amazing 2010 album Promise & Terror.
The final four songs are:
Surrounded By Sadness
The Trace Of Things That Have No Words
Letting Go Of the World
Comfortable In Darkness
The songs are basically him dealing with his wife's death. The lyrics are very raw and moving.
If you simply ignore the Blaze Era of Iron Maiden, fine, but he has gone on to produce a fantastic discography.
The Spotify link is a playlist of the four songs that I put together.
The Trace Of Things is :metal
9. Blaze Bayley-Promise & Terror Suite-2010 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4JOL9hADA5lFRaGhfxx4JE?si=zH72D3oRSemcKpFAeDJQ3Q)
WONDERFUL pick.
Most of his solo albums are excellent.
-
Yeah, it's an amazing piece of music and emotion.
-
Yeah, it's an amazing piece of music and emotion.
I find all of his solo albums up to this one absolutely amazing and very underrated.
-
Going to post tomorrow's now. Tomorrow will be a little busy. Work, then we host Christmas Eve. My laptop will probably be stored away by the time I get home. :lol
8. Avantasia-Savior In The Clockwork-2013 (https://open.spotify.com/track/41FnjoHfiCMirKDdcMXUFZ?si=-uFKgvGqQcGexCNKp3xnkQ)
What Tobi does with Joe Lynn Turner on The Mystery Of Time is nothing short of amazing. He is a masterful vocal producer. Hell, look what he did with Geoff Tate on Ghostlights. Look at Geoff's career since. And that's nothing compared to how he kept Kiske in the game.
Savior In the Clockwork is fucking epic. The interplay between Biff Byford and Michael Kiske in the second half is incredible. You guys should all know this one.
-
It's a 'meh' song to me, except for the chorus - which is massive, and oozes the power metal Avantasia I like. Even on songs I don't like, Tobi can manage to squeeze out an awesome hook.
-
It's a monster of a song. Was a bit of a grower over time but it's a beautiful song.
-
One of the best songs Tobi has written.
-
#11 - Need - Rememory
https://youtu.be/NEt3O3vMogI
Just listened to this song and album today and it's awesome. I've listened to it so many times and love everything about it, and it still seems fresh every time I hear it. The singer has so much passion in his delivery too.
#10 - Fates Warning - The Light and Shade of Things
https://youtu.be/sVXSZbCiD70
Kind of nice that these two songs are back to back on my list, because Need definitely has some Fates Warning influence. Anyway - when this album came out, I would play this particular track back to back multiple times. One of my favorite Fates tracks for sure. I can't wait to hear something new from them.
-
Excellent picks. I'll fire up that Blaze set, because as you mentioned, the two Iron Maiden albums completely turned me off of him.
Today's entry ...
Nightmare / Serpentine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV1VSTpbkO4)
Since I'm skipping the inclusion of Obsessions (which would be #1), I'll defer to the next best Luyten/Carpenter duet of the decade. Maggy replacing vocalist Jo Amore was a decent choice, though she too has also been replaced. Nightmare is a bit of an inconsistent band for me, but this track slays - and a nicely shot video to accompany it. 4 1/2 minutes of bliss - heavy drums, crunchy riffs, and two vocalists when paired together are like peas and carrots. Nothing flashy, just meat-and-potatoes metal.
-
^ That album is hit or miss for me but that song is pure f'ing metal.
-
^ That album is hit or miss for me but that song is pure f'ing metal.
Their whole discography is hit and miss for me.
-
Maggy :heart
#8 ANCIIENTS- Ibex Eye, 2016
Not a very Christmas-ish tune by any means, but this is where it fell even though it's probably the hardest and heaviest on my list. This album saw very serious time even before I saw them in one of the best performances of the past decade. There grungy, doomy, slugdy brand of metal checked a box in my musical soul that was at the time yearning. Killer instrumentals, brutal vox, and a sweet and oh so dark overtone made these guys a must in my life that still sees playtime over and over again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFJaeVS8L00
-
Tried 'em back when you were all gaga over 'em. Not my bag.
-
Tried 'em back when you were all gaga over 'em. Not my bag.
It's ok, nobody's perfect my friend. And I'm still all gaga over them.
-
Finally sorted my list, I guess I'll post it in three chunks over the next few days, so it's not just a big list of 31 songs. It's not a particularly eclectic bunch - mostly prog metal, with some more straightforward metal and some post-rock in there too. Might write a little about songs higher up the list, but for now I'll just post Youtube links. Also, no idea what's happening, but when I previewed the post before submitting, it keeps just wiping out everything after the second song, so I've had to format it differently to get it to work.
31. Long Distance Calling - Nucleus (2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNzTlpX-8VE
30. 65daysofstatic - Crash Tactics (2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24pFhY2FIwY
29. Opeth - Chrysalis (2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCp9-LUMlhU
28. Megadeth - Poisonous Shadows (2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RV50y54edc
27. Ayreon - The Day That the World Breaks Down (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7AvjxG-jcE
26. Above Symmetry (Originally known as Aspera) - Between Black & White (2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpOYsQ7g2ek
25. Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape (2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCBhmh0Fs08
24. Myrath - Believer (2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_qvwF_MMvs
23. Teramaze - Depopulate (2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt4xq9KwkGg
22. Red Sparowes - As Each End Looms And Subsides (2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htkeapCC9WQ
21. Soen - Martyrs (2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyZVOjaau1U
-
7. Lost Domain-Silent Cry (https://open.spotify.com/track/0rrbCnHIQ3XzeN5m159yVl?si=xM1TCYyqTCeqflAAlpdAxw)
From my 2018 Co-AOTY Lost Domain's ...In The Waiting Room Of Death, here is Silent Cry. This song is killer. The part from 2:12 through the solo is total badass. Musically, they have some "Metal" Queensryche stylings. Think: Damanged. But with really strong female vocals.
As an Honorable Mention, here is the epic title track. ...In The Waiting Room Of Death (https://open.spotify.com/track/2tzwKhxNxsQmGHSi5MxsNs?si=WKvAERq2QOio3U8fgMaKPg)
-
#7 Flaming Row- Pictures, 2014
My runaway song of the year from said year, this exquisite musical journey is nearly untouchable in it's beauty and grandeur. With outstanding vocal performances from Ted Leonard and Melanie Mau and an outstanding instrumental performance all around, this one captures a feel more belonging to the stage than on a simple disc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGlcLevjI9E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGlcLevjI9E)
-
Just an absolutely glorious tune, but I personally give a slight edge to Aim L-45... because of Maggy naturally.
Here's yet another from 2016 from me (this was my busiest year for me on this list)
Primal Fear / We Walk Without Fear (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjCulMC0FaU)
It was a tossup between this and One Night In December. Both are gorgeous, but this tune gets the nod for slightly heavier riffs, a catchier chorus, and an extra minute of length. Even though the former was my SOTY for 2014, it just goes to show how strong 2016 was for me, that this was only the 6th best song on my 2016 list.
-
Fantastic song.
-
Good song, but I prefer One Night in December.
-
Good song, but I prefer One Night in December.
Easily. No competition IMO.
-
They're basically equal, but upon listening to them back-to-back to decide which I would include, I lean towards WWWF.
-
Let's wrap up my 2016 entries....
Tangerine Circus / The Conspiracy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMo0qiIjs48)
Who you ask?? This is the band that our very own DarkLord_Lalinc is the keyboardist for (and I think does a lot of the writing). Despite the thin production, this is a killer of a track, clocking in at just over 20 minutes. I told Lalo that this was very "The Odyssey"-esque. Smart writing, lots of reprises to the main melody (throughout the whole album), great instrumentation all around. The production is a little thin (understandably ... being self produced). I encourage everyone to spin at least the opening instrumental section (4.5 minutes). If you like what you hear, continue on. If not, carry on with whatever else you were spinning.
-
#6 TesseracT- Concealing Fate, 2010
The longest entry on the list, clocking in at over 27 minutes, this track is a brutally epic powerhouse. Chunky, searing, soaring and relentless, these guysgive holy shit a new meaning in their debut here, and stayed relentless throughout the decade with a series of blistering releases.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhIaxN5u6XY&t=546s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhIaxN5u6XY&t=546s)
-
So 1980 anyone?
In 2016, Seven Sisters released their s/t debut album. It is a mix of Iron Maiden's and Def Leppard's debuts. If anyone is a fan of those two early albums, check this out.
6. The Silk Road-2016 (https://open.spotify.com/track/1Uu1Tgfs1pR8NwD1ZlYc8S?si=1am_TGAeQj6P1iHdGwLXww)
Seriously, how much awesomeness can you cram into 4 minutes?
Honorable mention goes to the title track: Seven Sisters (https://open.spotify.com/track/12p3Vmlu13poiyUS9nTfbM?si=UFjXSd1tTbKAjEDfO0XOsQ)
-
This one should be popular...
#5 Beyond the Bridge- The Difference is Human, 2012
Epic, huge, grand, soaring. The penultimate track in their massive debut album that took the prog metal world by storm, this is where the story peaks and all comes together, and it's on in full display here. Musically, emotionally, vocally, this track has it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLJkyCb0exU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLJkyCb0exU)
-
:metal :metal :metal
-
#9 - Tesseract - Beneath My Skin / Mirror Image
https://youtu.be/sC7E2XOKkAk
I could list the entire album here - Sonder. I've played it a ton of times, especially considering that it was just released last year. It's really cohesive and each track transitions perfectly into the next.
#8 - Solefald - Raudedauden
https://youtu.be/l3sdOXGK1NY
One of the more "normal" tracks on a very weird and creative album. I think this particular track got it's extra plays from me using it in roulettes, because otherwise this is a whole album experience for me. Great stuff.
-
5. Unisonic-Night Of The Long Knives-2014 (https://open.spotify.com/track/0J28Ue71sJ710U8cQTtrn0?si=QFKlGMCQR8ihejgng_aE-Q)
Loved the second Unisonic album. I would love to have more from them, but hey, we got HELLOWEEN.
Still, this is the best song on the album and Kiske simply slays!
-
I think I've given Tesseract the odd chance here and there, and not been terribly enamoured.
I'll give that Seven Sisters as spin, Tim - I think I tried something from them this year, just can't remember what. Unisonic, great album, but it's been a few years since I spun it. I'll add 'er to the rotation.
Beyond the Bridge - Top 4 album of the decade. Top shelf material start to finish.
For me, it's on to 2017.
8Daydream XI - Circus of the Tattered and Torn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xNHlVMgn-)
Tim approved track, for certain. Glorious concept album. I'll just copy/paste the bands description.... "In their sophomore release, The Circus Of The Tattered And Torn, the band embraces the progressive side of their music in a dark concept album. The concept is a metaphor to express that we are drawn to each other more by our weaknesses and our flaws than our strengths and virtues. It’s portrayed through a journey, where Phillip, the Circus master, takes his new apprentice, Circe, across the various acts of this Circus. Each song represents a feeling or aspect of human life, channeled by the storyline of each character."
This is the closing track, and god-tier. Top 5, maybe Top 3 song of the decade for me. Their debut album is also a beauty. Dream Theater wishes they could write music this good nowadays. This is reminiscent of late 90s/early '00s DT-esque - with lots of callbacks and inspiration taken from DT. If you don't want to bite off the whole 15.5 minutes, just give the first 5 a go, and if it ain't for you, feel free to pull the ripcord. It's a slow roll, so be patient.
-
Yeah even my favorite modern DT stuff pales compared to that track. I really need to listen to that whole album at some point. CotTaT is amazing.
-
Yeah, Daydream XI is a great band. Probably played the debut more than this one though, but I can't wait to hear what they do next.
-
Not much from 2017 that I enjoyed other than artists I've already posted about, so
Cellador - This Means War (https://open.spotify.com/track/4W5DbHUR3JWJKLXBNv0fcG?si=l1RLv79FRZOeCwEbFVYCkw)
One of my favorites off their second album, which I waited over 10 years for. Very heavy speedy power metal, even with a little keyboards (something the debut never featured). Chris's singing and guitar shredding is on point here although there's some noticeable autotune because they could never find a proper singer. He does a good job though. Love this song.
-
:metal
I love that album!
-
Some catching up to do:
No. 11: "Karen Don't Be Sad", Miley Cyrus
No. 10: "Jack Of All Trades", Bruce Springsteen
No. 9: "Forevermore", Whitesnake
No. 8: "Deep Peace", Devin Townsend
No. 7: "Supernatural", Neal Morse Band
No. 6: "Greatest Of All Time", The Cult
No. 5: "Fly", Alice In Chains
-
11. Ludovico Einaudi - Two Trees - A instrumental piano track from my least favorite Ludovido album https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bwChGwzL7U
10. Seven Lions - Summer of the Occult - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvpor9HzFyk
9. Michael Kelsey - Sleepwalker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiKLCiFMjhU
8. Incubus - Defiance - Stripped down track with just Brandon and Mike but it turns out to be the best song they've released this decade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0McED14Vw4
7. Dirk Massen - Skin on Skin - I really fell in love with solo piano music this past year and this is one the tracks that I find really moving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-hFkbOLW1s
6. Kaki King - No True Masterpiece Will Ever Be Complete - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo2mLu306w0
5. Steven Wilson - Drive Home - The SW song from his best album. I think this is largely because of the solo at the end played by Guthrie Govan. I think this is one of Guthrie's best solos out there as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR4-zgLIJvI
4. Matthew Halsall - The Sun in September - Not sure what I would classify this, slow imrpov jazz maybe? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWzawsY1bc
-
Just a few more to go....
Eagleheart / Until Fear is Gone (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=425O1wKFgAA)
I can't remember if this was a discovery from PPUSA's Top 50 end of year list, or one of the first I got from Spotify's New Release Radar (I think it was the latter). I started listening to that every Friday, and would always find a few gems, or new releases from bands that I wasn't aware were releasing anything. Either way, this grabbed my attention real fucking quick. Balls out power metal from Czechia. There's an opening seque track that sets it up, but otherwise this stands nicely on it's own. The whole album is top notch.
-
BLOOD
PAIN
SORROW
Something something a-aaah!
Healing the Scars is still my favourite I think
-
BLOOD
PAIN
SORROW
Something something a-aaah!
:rollin :rollin Must we do this again??
LOVE .... HATE .... SORROW
OVER SHADOWING LIES!!!!
Those two tracks are definitely 1a and 1b as far as my fave's from that album.
-
#4 Anathema- Untouchable Pts 1&2, 2012
By far the most beautiful composition of the decade, this piece can bring emotions to even the hardest of hearts. A soft, ethereal piece that builds to an intense emotional climax, this one a pure stunner. Also very blessed to say that from here on out, I've seen every song on my list performed live.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDsMpOM4uAU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDsMpOM4uAU)
-
That Anathema is amazing.
-
Here's my first 28, 3 to go...
31- Secret Sphere- Portrait of a Dying Heart, 2012
30- Amorphis- Heart of Oak, 2018
29- Absolute Priority- Dead Man Walking, 2012
28- Prospekt- Titan, 2017
27- Omega Experiment- Stimulus, 2013
26- MindMaze- Fight the Future, 2017
25- Incura—Disable Everything, 2017
24- Kingcrow- In Crescendo, 2013
23- Karnya- Paraphrentic Menticide, 2013
22- Speaking to Stones- Wind, 2012
21- Marillion- The Sky Above the Rain, 2014
20- Destrage- Destroy, Create, Transform, Sublimate, 2014
19- Shattered Skies- Aesthetics, 2015
18- Sun Caged- Asthamangala suite, 2011
17- Dream Theater- Breaking All Illusions, 2011
16- Mystery- Pride, 2012
15- Kaipa- Our Silent Ballroom Band, 2012
14- Pyramid Theorem- Another Day Slips By- 2012
13- Between the Buried and Me- Voice of Trespass, 2018
12- Voices from the Fuselage- Meteorites, 2016
11- Ostura- Let There Be, 2018
10- Allegaeon- Tsunami and Submergence, 2019
9- Headspace- All That You Fear is Gone, 2016
8- Anciients- Ibex Eye, 2016
7- Flaming Row- Pictures, 2014
6- TesseracT- Concealing Fate, 2010
5- Beyond the Bridge- The Difference is Human, 2012
4- Anathema- Untouchable, Pts 1&2, 2012
-
No. 8: "Deep Peace", Devin Townsend
Maybe you're referring to a live version, but that was originally on his 2001 album Terria. Just sayin'!
-
Busted...
-
BLOOD
PAIN
SORROW
Something something a-aaah!
:rollin :rollin Must we do this again??
LOVE .... HATE .... SORROW
OVER SHADOWING LIES!!!!
I'm just really bad at remembering lyrics so there's that :lol
#4 Anathema- Untouchable Pts 1&2, 2012
By far the most beautiful composition of the decade
This might actually be correct for me. This piece is out of this world.
-
4. Theocracy-Easter-2016 (https://open.spotify.com/track/74rWh6RlUV4pCHBVapIshX?si=GIWOC5pMTOOfabCLg_j9DA)
Epic tune from my #1 00's band. This band has everything. Power, thrash, progressive, amazing vocals.
-
Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul
25 minute Proggy Epic Masterpiece
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R_3mXZBsuU
This song is incredible. Don't let the 23 minutes turn you off, it is truly an experience to be had. Listen cranked up with your headphones
-
30- Amorphis- Heart of Oak, 2018
Let me know where I can find this obscure B-side :P
-
30- Amorphis- Heart of Oak, 2018
Let me know where I can find this obscure B-side :P
Oops :lolpalm: ...must've had Anciients' album on my mind and confused it with Heart of the Giant on the initial list...it was all copy paste after that.
-
#7 - Kingcrow - Phlegethon
https://youtu.be/mnReLt4F7VQ
Someone already brought this song up earlier in the thread. Fantastic way to close out an incredible album. For some reason, I haven't gone back to check out the band's material prior to this album, but it and everything going forward is great.
#6 - Riverside - Escalator Shrine
https://youtu.be/9QVextqpcnI
I have a lot of memories with this song - listening to it during good times and bad. And hearing it live and how all of the emotions in the song seemed to just come alive. Really their whole set was like that. Riverside is a really really special band to me.
-
Both excellent tracks... I chose In Crescendo from Kingcrow, and I'd say either We Got Used to Us or Acid Rain would've gotten the nod from Riverside, but that's just comparing apples to apples, it's all good when it's got their names attached to it.
-
Riverside doesn't do it for me, but I think I'd put Phlegethon as my fave Kingcrow track.
On to 2018...
Ostura / Deathless (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3958zgNFY)
Thanks (once again) to RJ for sharing this one. He knows my love for concept albums, and this is another gem. Prog-metal goodness with middle eastern vibes (naturally, since the band is Lebanese), and some A-List (in the world of prog) guests on this album - Arjen, Thomas Lang (drums) and Marco Sfogli (guitars). The chorus here particularly has some very personal lyrics to me - though I suspect the metaphor is meant differently than how it hit me.
Rise up we're the brave
Don't live a life of a slave
As darkness shrouds the day
We build a life in shade
We are the ones betrayed
-
No arguments on that one.
And from me...
#3 Steven Wilson- The Raven that Refused to Sing, 2013
A subtle yet very dark tale of death and mortality. The story of an older guy at the tail end of his natural life, who because of the death of a sister during childhood has been at a disconnect with the rest of humanity. How Wilson is able to convey all of this in this achingly sad yet beautiful song is beyond me. To top it off, it is paired with what is easily the most beautiful music video I've ever seen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4XevlloPY4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4XevlloPY4)
-
Steven Wilson music always reminds me of this meme.
(https://i.redd.it/mt1yfpsi7jl11.jpg)
Listening to this - and watching the video - absolutely reaffirms this. His music is just too melancholically gloomy for me. For me, it's never a good thing to be in the mood for this kind of music.
-
No. 8: "Deep Peace", Devin Townsend
Maybe you're referring to a live version, but that was originally on his 2001 album Terria. Just sayin'!
Yes; from the London show. It was the song that almost single-handedly opened my eyes to Devin. I had the Steve Van record and HATED it. HATED it. And since I love Vai, I blamed it on that weird troll-looking dude who embarrassed himself on the Letterman show (I think it was Letterman). Then I read his autobiography and got Deep Peace in a roulette and it opened doors. I even went back to the Vai record and like it now.
-
No. 4: "Save Me", by Black Country Communion
The best parts of the various roots of the band (it's a great, if not very derivative, band for me).
No. 3: "...And Then", by David Gilmour
Everything you need to know about David Gilmour. The man still has it. There's a version on the Live At Pompeii blu-ray of "5 AM" and "...And Then" (two instrumentals from Rattle That Lock) edited together that is pretty cool.
-
No arguments on that one.
And from me...
#3 Steven Wilson- The Raven that Refused to Sing, 2013
A subtle yet very dark tale of death and mortality. The story of an older guy at the tail end of his natural life, who because of the death of a sister during childhood has been at a disconnect with the rest of humanity. How Wilson is able to convey all of this in this achingly sad yet beautiful song is beyond me. To top it off, it is paired with what is easily the most beautiful music video I've ever seen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4XevlloPY4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4XevlloPY4)
This song and Routine are modern masterpieces. As I said on FB, I saw The Raven live three times, and all the time I stood there with my eyes wet. Fuck SW and fuck that Raven song. This is the pinnacle of prog music for me. Simple, yet effective.
-
Both excellent tracks... I chose In Crescendo from Kingcrow, and I'd say either We Got Used to Us or Acid Rain would've gotten the nod from Riverside, but that's just comparing apples to apples, it's all good when it's got their names attached to it.
Totally agree. :metal
-
Top 3!!
3. Glass Mind-Your Name In Silence-2011 (https://open.spotify.com/track/53sgx32ivk6rHDgF5yTBCp?si=0qDV6qvYSGyVDjmDszAiyw)
Prog metal from Mexico. Their 2011 album Haunting Regrets is spectacular. Your Name In Silence is a masterpiece. Great musical parts with some really nice piano throughout. The vocals are a bit goofy. Not sure how talented the guy really is, but he is certainly passionate, and with music like this, that's all he needs to be.
-
Awesome album. Made the top 10 of the decade. Too bad everything after it was rather mediocre.
-
Yeah, basically one and done, but damn, that's an amazing album and one of the best songs I've ever heard.
-
Second to last entry ....
Mystery / How Do You Feel? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_xvWq_GXSI)
Between Ostura (the album and aforementioned song) and this song (and the album it's from), they were both my 1a and 1b Albums and Songs of the year from 2018. I really liked this song, but then seeing it at ProgStock, with the intro from vocalist Jean Pageau that it was written and dedicated to a dear friend of theirs who is fighting cancer .... well, it got me right in the feels. I have a very good friend whose fought (and winning) against cancer, but has had years of tertiary medical problems as a result. Every time I hear this song, I think of her, her husband (my longest standing friend), and their two girls. Chokes me up every single time. Guitarist Michel St. Pere can make six strings exude more emotion than most vocalists can with their words.
This one is for Loriann.
-
:heart :heart
And of course...
#2 IQ- Until the End, 2014
Tough to pick a single track from my favorite band, especially with the monstrous double album they released this year, but I think this one from The Road of Bones got the most play time, and best represents everything I love about IQ. It has the drama, the highs and lows, the insanely brilliant instrumental work from the whole band, and the gut wrenching emotional outro. And of course, the perfect vocal work by Peter Nichols.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjBXmZPeAjA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjBXmZPeAjA)
-
#5 - Angra - Lease of Life
https://youtu.be/K3D_ENwGXrI
A beautiful ballad makes an appearance on the list. I played Aqua a million times when it came out and played this track just a little extra. Plus I like the video. :)
#4 - Threshold - Snowblind
https://youtu.be/TJloJMkaJDM
So, every track off Legends of the Shires has the exact same number of plays. Obviously this is a full album listening experience for me. I chose Snowblind because it was one of my early favorites - probably the first track to really take hold.
-
2. Iron Maiden -The Talisman -2010 (https://open.spotify.com/track/3Dc7K91ASGGTTMhl77z95q?si=_UAfY6V1SmueAWxMb7904w)
This is my favorite Reunion Era song, and album for that matter.
-
2. Iron Maiden -The Talisman -2010 (https://open.spotify.com/track/3Dc7K91ASGGTTMhl77z95q?si=_UAfY6V1SmueAWxMb7904w)
This is my favorite Reunion Era song, and album for that matter.
This song would make my top 30 of the decade too. Janick nailed this one and Bruce's one take effort is top tier.
-
Angra - War Horns (https://open.spotify.com/track/21VpvhkscA2mEDCUTSC7HW?si=azsnw_LvS7Cg4bB3iXZTIw)
My favorite song of 2018. Pure power metal. Awesome lyrics, awesome vibe, kickass solos and stellar vocals from Fabio
Eternity's End - Under Crimson Moonlight (https://open.spotify.com/track/4PVMrAIApTqMnRTa5zxbca?si=vB7lQewySfeFcqOghL1Lug)
Straight-up blistering power metal that proves the genre still has some bands with some hunger and fire in their bellies. I counted this album on my 2019 releases but I'm cheating by putting this one here because technically it was also released at the very end of 2018 in Japan
-
Well, since there's a one band per entry rule, I can finally start my list as I only listen to two bands. (I'll try out Haken one day, but generally speaking, I like sticking to what I'm comfortable with.)
Between the Buried and Me - Voice of Trespass
https://youtu.be/Ja0EWloqsKo
This song is half of the reason I ever got into this band (the other half is The Coma Machine)! I've listened to all their discography (except the self-titled) and this song still remains my favorite song ever from Between the Buried and Me. My favorite aspect of the band is when they do really weird and unexpected stuff, and having that as the primary focus for over half the song worked so well.
-
I got a lot to listen to tomorrow morning!
Road of Bones - I didn't really take to it for a long time... probably not until leading up to ProgStock and doing a lot of IQ prep. I couldn't pick this song off the top of my head, so I'll have to refresh my memory.
Angra (Katt's) - I rate Aqua fairly low (sue me), so I'll need to revisit this one as well
Threshold - LotS is an amazing album, though I wouldn't pick this one out as one of the top 5 for my tastes
Maiden - really had trouble with the '10s albums. Don't know why, they just never really impressed me.
Angra (Katt's) - I haven't spun Omni as much as I should. Excellent album, but a bit inconsistent.
Eternity's End - Upon yours and Tim's recommendation, I gave this a spin and found it pretty good - but can't say I was wow'd. I wasn't too keen on their 2016 album (despite having Ian Parry on the vox - who I really like).
-
I would never share anything off Aqua because that album is so bad I stopped following the band for years after it came out.
-
Jingle, the track from Aqua is a ballad, which could be a good thing if you didn't like the heavier tracks on that album. Or you might not like that one either, but it's worth a shot. :)
I love Aqua, and have met a fair amount of others who do as well, but I know that in general it's not one of their more popular albums.
Omni is totally brilliant, so if you didn't give that one a lot of listens, I highly encourage revisiting it along with Aqua.
-
Well, since there's a one band per entry rule, I can finally start my list as I only listen to two bands. (I'll try out Haken one day, but generally speaking, I like sticking to what I'm comfortable with.)
Between the Buried and Me - Voice of Trespass
https://youtu.be/Ja0EWloqsKo
This song is half of the reason I ever got into this band (the other half is The Coma Machine)! I've listened to all their discography (except the self-titled) and this song still remains my favorite song ever from Between the Buried and Me. My favorite aspect of the band is when they do really weird and unexpected stuff, and having that as the primary focus for over half the song worked so well.
Yup...brilliant song. Really, really was blown away by what they did on this one. I got into them when they put out Coma, but this track pushed them to eleven, and made me further appreciate their other work. A well earned spot on my list.
-
Sure why not.
#1. Swans - Frankie M
#2. Symphony X - When All Is Lost
#3. Dream Theater - At Wit's End
#4. DragonForce - The Edge Of The World
#5. Linkin Park - The Catalyst
#6. Yes - Into The Storm
#7. The Dear Hunter - A Beginning
#8. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Crumbling Castle
#9. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Bosses Hang
10. Mastodon - The Sparrow
11. Avenged Sevenfold - Exist
12. The Offspring - Slim Pickens Does The Right Thing & Rides The Bomb To Hell (yes, really :P)
13. Metallica - Spit Out The Bone
14. Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls (title track)
15. Ayreon - The Day That The World Breaks Down
Don't take this too seriously. This is just off the top of my head, but I do love all 15 of these songs. :D
-
Jingle, the track from Aqua is a ballad, which could be a good thing if you didn't like the heavier tracks on that album. Or you might not like that one either, but it's worth a shot. :)
I love Aqua, and have met a fair amount of others who do as well, but I know that in general it's not one of their more popular albums.
Omni is totally brilliant, so if you didn't give that one a lot of listens, I highly encourage revisiting it along with Aqua.
Secret Garden >>> Omni.
-
:iagree:
Before I get to my last entry, I have to put in my honorable mentions. Songs that are top-shelf material that I just honestly am amazed I can't call them 'top 31' of the decade. Again, just in chronological order.
Kingcrow / Plegathon
Soul Secret / Behind the Curtain
Affector / Harmageddon
Rush / The Garden
Absolute Priority / Dead Man Walkin
Mindmaze / This Holy War
Serenity / Legacy of Tudors
Maestrick / Lake of Emotions
Triosphere / The Heart's Dominion
Arion / Seven
Serious Black / Akhenaton
Transatlantic / Black as the Sky
Damnations Day / To Begin Again
The Nightflight Orchestra / Space Whisperer
Kepler Ten / Swallowtail
And of course, the ones that would've been Top 31, but I recently mentioned them in my Top Roulette songs thread:
Epysode / Obsessions
Glass Mind / Crepsuculum Vehementis
Stratovarious / Nemesis
The Chronicles Project / Forever
And then there are others that would be double-dipping on the artists (from Avantasia, Lords of Black, Mystery and a few others)
So much great music.
-
And here we go....
#1 HAKEN- Crystallised, 2014
No band has made more of an impact on me this decade, and this song far surpassed all their others. Haken was relentless in the 2010's, releasing 5 brilliant albums and squeaking in an EP in 2014, with this gem off it. Clocking in at a very quick 19+ minutes, it has everything I need in music. Quirky yet furious instrumental work throughout, the killer vocals of Ross Jennings, an emotionally charged lyrical theme throughout, and an unparalleled epic finish. When my Spotify decade in review came through, this was my most listened to song for '17, '18, and '19, and well worth it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAY_84q5WAs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAY_84q5WAs)
-
A handful of Honorable mentions. I forgot the Helloween when I put together my list. It would've made the Top 20.
Honorable Mentions:
Helloween-Pumpkins United-2017
Redemption-Departure Of The Palehorse-2011
Flotsam & Jetsam-Life Is A Mess-2016
Michael Schenker Group-Horizons-2013
Fractal Cypher- The Grandeur Of It All-2018
.
31. Van Halen-Honeybabysweetiedoll-2012
30. Mask Of Prospero-This Road Leads to Desolation-2018
29. Armored Saint-Up Yours-2016
28. Golden Resurection-See My Commands-2010
27. Riot V-Until We Meet Again-2014
26. Testament-Throne Of Thorns-2012
25. Structural Disorder-The Architect Of the Skies-2018
24. Motorhead-When The Sky Comes Looking For You-2015
23. Witherfall-Vintage-2018
22. Lor-Eidolon-2017
21. Thoughts Factory-The Mire-2014
20. Illyria-Autumn Fades Away-2019
19. Odd Dimension-Far From Desire-2013
18. Judas Priest-Trators Gate-2018
17. Fates Warning-The Light And Shade Of Things-2016
16. Loch Vostock-Expiry Date On the Soul Of Man-2017
15. Metallica-Halo On Fire-2016
14. Enbound-Combined The Souls-2011
13. Teramaze-Delusions Of Grandeur-2015
12. Euphoreon-Mirrors-2018
11. Lords Of The Trident-Shattered Skies-2015
10.Tribulation-Nightbound-2018
9. Blaze Bayley-P&T Suite -2010
8. Avantasia-Savior In The Clockwork-2016
7. Lost Domain-Silent Cry-2018
6. Seven Sisters-The Silk Road-2016
5. Unisonic-Night Of The Long Knives-2014
4. Theocracy-Easter-2016
3. Glass Mind-Your Name In Silence-2011
2. Iron Maiden-The Talisman-2010
1. Dream Theater-Breaking All Illusions (https://open.spotify.com/track/4sJOuZGBuoNhtocxAO9IkC?si=b6mGB3YVRiGLCGFvYgj8Vg)
-
Sorry for this but 2019 turned out to be possibly my favorite year of music all decade...
Twilight Force - Long Live the King (https://open.spotify.com/track/0HxsUAjVtIfqWM0B5Ttm6O?si=dWEeWTziSomZpR_tOgWqFQ)
From my favorite record of the year, this one is a jaunty, lively, merry number celebrating the reign of the dragonking. Long may he live! (the solo section sounds like it was inspired by the Gangplank Galleon music from Donkey Kong Country)
The rest are all surprise favorites from my recent 2019 binge...
Disillusion - The Mountain (https://open.spotify.com/track/2H94EzAGDxWqi7Z0ZYlfaJ?si=oPVZTp1uTryunxOsw_0GlQ)
Awe-inspiring in its beauty. Wasn't expecting this level of measured, musical brilliance from what it is otherwise a heavy af album. This is heavy, too, but wait for that soft part when the horns come in... oh my
The Comet Is Coming - Timewave Zero (https://open.spotify.com/track/2fOutkvdVCHmgAs1ITpAKJ?si=I5xBHlsqRBSxJInD_ObkCA)
romdrums I believe sent me a song from this album in my last roulette and it tickled my fancy, so I checked out the whole thing, and it's one of my favorites of the year. This song especially - it steadily ratchets up the tension and chaos. Alien cocaine party music
Illyria - The Carpathian Summit (https://open.spotify.com/track/1y3mQJuMRPVWBeZ1qsRCfi?si=Kd6fXX5qTcuopAeMaoW8Vg)
I don't even know how to describe this, just listen to it, it blew my fucking mind
IQ - For Another Lifetime (https://open.spotify.com/track/5LtkHLAzggQCeIJ2o54QHF?si=UnPLqh0vQVmmb4ps8kbbHw)
I love this band and this is my favorite song on the new record. It's 15 minutes long but there are a lot of very interesting and effective musical choices made on this track that make it my favorite.
Majestica - Night Call Girl (https://open.spotify.com/track/23VCF6LTnIukzMs4QXgjkx?si=lx_Ste5KQ5q0I58rDgqp5A)
The AOR number on an otherwise speedy power metal record. This music is shiny.
Taylor Swift - Paper Rings (https://open.spotify.com/track/4y5bvROuBDPr5fuwXbIBZR?si=HAUTP0PGRM2nJOpBX9tBYg)
The new T-Swift record rules. This song has that fun upbeat almost Simon & Garfunkel style cheer to it, and I just think it's really fun and positive
Wilderun - Far From Where Dreams Unfurl (https://open.spotify.com/track/67ygPdwnsl4JiHwSdgqZ0Z?si=qBBz1a8tT8eLmRj3NHMSsg)
Holy. Shit.
-
My wife bought the new Taylor Swift on vinyl, I'm going to give it a spin a couple of days. Everyone has been raving about that album.
-
My wife bought the new Taylor Swift on vinyl, I'm going to give it a spin a couple of days. Everyone has been raving about that album.
I think it's a really good pop album, although the one thing that does rub me the wrong way is how she still sings about high school stuff. Otherwise, no nitpicks, I think it's wonderful, and I envy you because I think that album cover is wonderfully put together and I'd love to own that on vinyl myself.
-
It's a cool looking vinyl, one lp is blue and the other is pink. As far as singing about high school stuff I don't think it bothers me that much personally. So many artists find a pocket they are comfortable writing about and stick to it. Hell look at Roger Waters, he has been signing about ww2 and Margaret Thatcher for ages.
-
Damn, that's a good point :lol
-
#3 - Dream Theater - At Wit’s End
https://youtu.be/esFpjtPV7TE
I'm breaking my rule here. This is not my most played DT track of the decade. It was probably Breaking All Illusions or Outcry, but I didn't keep track of plays so well for a while. According to my official count, the most played is a bunch of songs from The Astonishing. I totally love that album, but instead of trying to break the multi-way tie, I'm going with At Wit's End instead. I think it's one of the best things they've ever done. I was so bummed when they didn't play it on the first leg of the tour, and so happy when they closed with it during the second leg. What a fantastic song in every way possible.
-
And here we go....
#1 HAKEN- Crystallised, 2014
No band has made more of an impact on me this decade, and this song far surpassed all their others. Haken was relentless in the 2010's, releasing 5 brilliant albums and squeaking in an EP in 2014, with this gem off it. Clocking in at a very quick 19+ minutes, it has everything I need in music. Quirky yet furious instrumental work throughout, the killer vocals of Ross Jennings, an emotionally charged lyrical theme throughout, and an unparalleled epic finish. When my Spotify decade in review came through, this was my most listened to song for '17, '18, and '19, and well worth it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAY_84q5WAs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAY_84q5WAs)
OK, I had an open 20 minutes in my day. ;D
I gave this a spin.
-
Aaaaannndddd.....???
-
Aaaaannndddd.....???
….it finally ended. :lol
-
:lol
I figured. Lol
-
Here's my #1, which considering I only listen to two bands, it won't be much of a surprise who this song's by.
And that song in question is...
Dream Theater - Illumination Theory
https://youtu.be/H7yZZWjGaBI
My fourth-favorite Dream Theater song, only beaten by The Count of Tuscany, Octavarium, and A Change of Seasons.
Everything about this song is perfection. I love everything, from the opening to the lyrics to the orchestra section to James' singing in the second half to that glorious outro, and every single element that I didn't mention because we'd be here all day if I did. I see a lot of people say that the transitions into and out of the orchestra section are really jarring, but... I just don't see it, they sound perfectly fine. I don't have much more to say about this one, it's just perfect. Truly the best song Dream Theater's made this decade.
Although I would say I have heard one, maybe two better songs this decade, but... That's a secret.
-
Why do you only listen to two bands?
-
Why do you only listen to two bands?
I just have a habit of only listening to what I know. I guess my mentality is, why bother listening to anything else when I've already got the best of the best?
-
Why do you only listen to two bands?
I just have a habit of only listening to what I know. I guess my mentality is, why bother listening to anything else when I've already got the best of the best?
Wait wut? How do you know if you've got the best when you only know 2 bands? :lol
-
Why do you only listen to two bands?
I just have a habit of only listening to what I know. I guess my mentality is, why bother listening to anything else when I've already got the best of the best?
Wait wut? How do you know if you've got the best when you only know 2 bands? :lol
Yeah, fair enough. But Dream Theater is just in a league of its own for me, so I partially think that if I've got the best, there's no motivation to listen to much else.
-
You ain’t found the best yet kid.
-
That's an interesting take... I would say that while you are pretty confident that those two bands are "the best," there are others who are equally confident in their favorites. There's a ton of great music out there. Maybe there really never be a band you like as much as DT, but even then, you could find music that moves you.
I agree with you that Illumination Theory is pretty awesome though. :)
-
Illumination Theory would be great if not for the completely unneeded orchestral p[art. They literally stopped one of the best one minute section for it.
-
Illumination Theory would be great if not for the last quarter or so of it.
First 75 is some of DT's strongest work of the past 10 years. But then it goes into typical overly cheesy poorly sung DT BS.
-
I only like up to the mellow part. I do like how it comes back in, but that's about it. I don't find the instrumental part in the 2nd half all that great, and the ending is terrible.. "You neeeeevvvvvveeeeerrrr know.". Awful.
-
There's that fill Mangini does toward the end there, right before James comes back in, where his drums snap over this steady kick drum - man. I do not like that album but that moment right there is magical. Shame it takes like 18 minutes to get there. :lol
-
There's that fill Mangini does toward the end there, right before James comes back in, where his drums snap over this steady kick drum - man. I do not like that album but that moment right there is magical. Shame it takes like 18 minutes to get there. :lol
I think that song in general is the only song I actively like Mangini on for DT.
That rim shot fill stuff he does is also great.
-
There's that fill Mangini does toward the end there, right before James comes back in, where his drums snap over this steady kick drum - man. I do not like that album but that moment right there is magical. Shame it takes like 18 minutes to get there. :lol
:lol
-
No pressure RJ, but I bought like 8 new to me albums on iTunes based on your list.
-
No pressure RJ, but I bought like 8 new to me albums on iTunes based on your list.
Really? Did you listen to the tracks or are you going in blind?
-
I basically went through the list and listened to at least part of each song the other night. I excluded bands where I couldn't buy the album the song was from on iTunes, bands I have at least some music from already, and bands where you mentioned harsh/growl vocals, and anything remaining that piqued my interest I bought.
Mindmaze- Resolve
The Omega Experiment- S/T
Ostura- The Room (the one exception to my iTunes rule, I ordered a physical copy blind when you posted that day's song because it reminded me of how widely praised that album was
Pyramid Theorem- S/T
Shattered Skies- The World We Used to Know
Speaking to Stones- Elements
Sun Caged- The Lotus Effect
Voices from the Fuselage- Odyssey: The Destroyer of Worlds
-
Excellent choices...with some real monster albums in there. Glad you got something out of it...I think the only downside is that Omega Experiment, Sun Caged, and Speaking to Stones are defunct, and those are all they got out. The Speaking to Stones album is especially killer, I could've put any track off that on the list and been pleased, not a skippable one in the bunch.
-
I'm planning on going on a long enough walk to listen to two of them tomorrow morning, any recommendations as to what to spin first?
-
My songs of the decade would reflect what has been on my albums of the decade.
A big one would be The Great March by Odd Logic. The child choir at the end just gives me one of the biggest goosebump moments I've ever had. My steering wheel takes a beating whenever that comes on my playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Tos62Napw
But more obvious ones would be just about anything Haken has put out. They have certainly been my "band of the decade". I seem to always discover one band every decade that makes me feel like I'm 12 years old and hearing Tom Sawyer for the very first time. It's wonderful diving into a new artist where everything they do is magic. In the 80s it was Rush. The 90s Dream Theater. The 00s Porcupine Tree. And the 10s definitely belong to Haken. My favorite is probably Crystalized....but I could just as well put any of the first 6 tracks from The Mountain....or even half their songs from anything else. Bound by Gravity is probably a perfect way to end the 10s so maybe I'll play that tonight at midnight. Or better yet....time it so that that EPIC ENDING starts at the stroke of midnight. Maybe it will match up with the fireworks on TV better than the crappy music they play.
But I want an honorable mention to go to IQ. I had never heard of them until Cool Chris urged me to check out Frequency. Now I'm completely hooked and only sad that I didn't discover them and follow them from the beginning. They may have the best consistency of any band I've ever known. Even Rush and DT have their stinkers. But in 36 years and 11 albums, I haven't heard a single album that I didn't enjoy. The first PL album is only just "good"....but that's literally the worst they have to offer. And it's as good as half the synth-era Rush material.
But sorry....I'm ranting.
-
Good rant :) Bound by Gravity is my personal song of the decade. For sure I could get through a top 10, but for sure that’s the 1.
-
My last two:
No. 2: Amethyst Realm - The Claypool Lennon Delirium. (I'm not sure why this band isn't more liked here; I recognize that it's never going to be "popular", but it's got a good Floyd/Crimson/Beatles vibe that really works for me.)
And, no surprises... wait, it's not Kiss, so surprise:
No. 1: This Is The Life - Dream Theater. (By FAR my favorite song of the post-Portnoy era, and pretty much everything I like about the band.)
-
No. 1: This Is The Life - Dream Theater. (By FAR my favorite song of the post-Portnoy era, and pretty much everything I like about the band.)
Oooh, this song is very underrated. It deserves a lot more love.
-
I'm planning on going on a long enough walk to listen to two of them tomorrow morning, any recommendations as to what to spin first?
I'd go with Voices from the Fuselage and Speaking to Stones.
-
The day got out of reach for me yesterday, so I missed my final entry. And I'm gonna cheat, and give two songs from 2019 - since neither of them were out for even an entire year.
Ark Ascent / The End of Time (https://open.spotify.com/track/4UeLyLBorY1CCSJ9FCZWGm?si=Id6g4tf8TPmI6PzOuM_zFA)
Yet another gem that RJ dropped on me earlier in the year. This is the closing epic song, and once again, heavily DT influenced - but reminiscent of 00s era DT. Two extremely noticable instances of this are a A) call-back to ITPOE:Slaughter of the Damned (and since I love that section of ITPOE, I'm ok with it here) and B) The guitar outro = Octavarium / Razor's Edge. All the ingredients are here for the kind of prog-metal that scratches my musical interests - if you've been following along, you know what that entails. There are some tasty instrumental interludes connecting the choruses and verses... especially the piano fills.
Arch/Matheos / Kindred Spirits (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mllfiUsxnf4)
I wasn't too enamoured with their first album - John's voice just doesn't click with me. As such, I didn't bother with this at first. Then, with Evermind fawning all over it, I decided to give it a shot. I'm still not much for John's voice, but damn, the music and vocal melodies and lyrics are all jaw-dropping. After a few listens, I was able to get comfortable with the vox. Killer album, and a killer closing track.
And the full list.
Star One / Human See, Human Do
Avantasia / Wicked Symphony
Anthriel / Promised Land
Pretty Maids / Pandemonium
Flaming Row / Unearth the Truth
Echoes / Rude Awakening
Lost in Thought / Beyond the Flames
Dream Theater / Breaking All Illusions
Dec Burke / Days Like These
Subsignal / Feeding Utopia
Beyond the Bridge / Triumph of Irreality
Dimension Act / Drawing the Lines of Mortal Existence
Threshold/ The Hours
Magus Karlsson's FreeFall / Not My Saviour
Vandroya / Why Should We Say Goodbye
Evergrey / Hymns for the Broken
Vanden Plas / Vision 3hree - Godmaker
Teramaze / An Ordinary Dream
Symphony X / Without You
W.A.S.P. / Hero of the World
Lords of Black / Ghost of You
Cloudscape / In Silence We Scream
Evership / A Slow Descent Into Reality
Nightmare / Serpentine
Primal Fear / We Walk Without Fear
Tangerine Circus / The Conspiracy
Daydream XI / Circus of the Tattered And Torn
Eagleheart / Until Fear Is Gone
Ostura / Deathless
Mystery / How Do You Feel ?
Ark Ascent / The End of Time
Arch/Matheos / Kindred Spirits
If I had to rate my Top 5 songs of the decade it would be as follows:
1 - Epysode / Obsessions
2 - Magnus Karlsson's FreeFall / Not My Saviour
3 - Star One / Human See Human Do
4 - Lords of Black / Ghost of You
5 - Daydream XI / Circus of the Tattered and Torn
-
Final final list...
31- Secret Sphere- Portrait of a Dying Heart, 2012
30- Amorphis- Heart of Oak, 2018
29- Absolute Priority- Dead Man Walking, 2012
28- Prospekt- Titan, 2017
27- Omega Experiment- Stimulus, 2013
26- MindMaze- Fight the Future, 2017
25- Incura—Disable Everything, 2017
24- Kingcrow- In Crescendo, 2013
23- Karnya- Paraphrentic Menticide, 2013
22- Speaking to Stones- Wind, 2012
21- Marillion- The Sky Above the Rain, 2014
20- Destrage- Destroy, Create, Transform, Sublimate, 2014
19- Shattered Skies- Aesthetics, 2015
18- Sun Caged- Asthamangala suite, 2011
17- Dream Theater- Breaking All Illusions, 2011
16- Mystery- Pride, 2012
15- Kaipa- Our Silent Ballroom Band, 2012
14- Pyramid Theorem- Another Day Slips By- 2012
13- Between the Buried and Me- Voice of Trespass, 2018
12- Voices from the Fuselage- Meteorites, 2016
11- Ostura- Let There Be, 2018
10- Allegaeon- Tsunami and Submergence, 2019
9- Headspace- All That You Fear is Gone, 2016
8- Anciients- Ibex Eye, 2016
7- Flaming Row- Pictures, 2014
6- TesseracT- Concealing Fate, 2010
5- Beyond the Bridge- The Difference is Human, 2012
4- Anathema- Untouchable, Pts 1&2, 2012
3- Steven Wilson- The Raven that Refused to Sing, 2013
2- IQ- Until the End, 2014
1- Haken- Crystallised, 2014
-
9 are songs/bands that you hooked me up with.
I tried Crystallised... still nothing.
-
9 are songs/bands that you hooked me up with.
I tried Crystallised... still nothing.
I wasn't expecting any miracles...it's a very Haken song.
Happy new year my friend.
-
9 are songs/bands that you hooked me up with.
I tried Crystallised... still nothing.
I wasn't expecting any miracles...it's a very Haken song.
Happy new year my friend.
Happy New Decade! Luv ya bro
-
I didn't finish mine either. So here's the top two:
#2 - Leprous - Forced Entry
https://youtu.be/Z-dQGEl-bwk
I don't even know how to explain how awesome this song is. As they move further and further away from Bilateral, I really hope they revisit this song live from time to time. Certainly one of my favorites of all time.
#1 - Katatonia - Lethean
https://youtu.be/OdCasTF32Yo
Surprise! This is indeed my most played song of the decade. And it probably goes without saying that I totally love it. :) I can't necessarily say it's my favorite Katatonia song because I feel like such a thing is impossible. But it's certainly one of them. :)
-
Two for two so far chef :metal :metal
-
Two for two so far chef :metal :metal
Nice...Voices has a second album that's of nearly equal quality. Speaking to Stones unfortunately shot their wad with Elements...but fuck is it a kick ass album man.
-
Chef, that top 4 is excellent. I love seeing such appreciation for the masterpiece that is crystallised.
-
I only listen to two bands
What, and let me be clear about this, the Fuck
-
Why do you only listen to two bands?
I just have a habit of only listening to what I know. I guess my mentality is, why bother listening to anything else when I've already got the best of the best?
Wait wut? How do you know if you've got the best when you only know 2 bands? :lol
Yeah, fair enough. But Dream Theater is just in a league of its own for me, so I partially think that if I've got the best, there's no motivation to listen to much else.
yeah, wow......okay.
-
I only listen to two bands
What, and let me be clear about this, the Fuck
You're always so beautifully subtle.
-
I only listen to two bands
What, and let me be clear about this, the Fuck
You're always so beautifully subtle.
One does one's best.
-
I only listen to two bands
What, and let me be clear about this, the Fuck
You're always so beautifully subtle.
One does one's best.
Subtle as a loud fart in an elevator
-
Beware of the Hef.
-
How could I forget the absolute greatest song of this decade?
Nanowar of Steel - Barbie, Milf Princess of the Twilight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX_TxKa0dCY)