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General => Archive => General Music Archives => Topic started by: WebRaider on January 14, 2012, 08:23:02 PM

Title: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 14, 2012, 08:23:02 PM: Just a minor preview to a thread I'm sure everyone will be interested in... lol. I have somewhat held back from jumping into topics to keep some of my musical interests a mystery. So after I'm done expect me to be a little more active around here. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen. :D

As far as the list itself, this was extremely tough for me. Music is very important in my life and to have to whittle it down to even 50 selections was very difficult. I approached this as a deserted island list so I purposely avoided adding too many albums from certain bands/artists to have more of a rounded out list. Outside of that I'm breaking all the rules...

I'll start off breaking the rules by listing a compilation album which didn't quite make the list that should throw everyone for a loop.

Sam Cooke - Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 [2003]

(https://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpkt83vjnA1qctdauo1_r1_cover.jpg)

Sam Cooke: known to many simply as The Voice!

First, I know this is considered a greatest hits type of album. Cooke only had one release that was truly considered an album because during the time he was alive and recording they mostly only released singles and many of these songs were never released on an LP. When he met his untimely demise at 33 years of age, his business manager and RCA entered a long, long feud and so for a long time Cooke's work was never widely distributed. Also this particular release is not so much a greatest hits collection as it is a broad retrospective of his career.

Now, I figure that many of you on a prog-metal band forum are not highly probable to enjoy a singer from the 50's who was a great pioneer of Soul music. And most of you would likely consider some of the songs he recorded a bit cheesy but you have to consider the time period he lived and recorded in. When I listen to this album I allow myself a bit of romanticism of the era and I focus on Sam's voice. Sam Cooke's voice is one of the greatest of all time for any genre of music. PERIOD.

It took me a long time to really allow myself to enjoy most of his music because to me at the time and likely to many of you now, I considered it to be just old fogy music. I have to thank my mom for her constant beach music soundtrack and my dad who listened to Journey and Rod Stewart which allowed me to open up to Cooke. Sam Cooke influenced countless singers in any genre going forward including Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, The Rolling Stones on to the aforementioned Steve Perry (Journey) and Rod Stewart who took a great deal of his style and sound in their own.

Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones) : “Sam Cooke is somebody other singers have to measure themselves against, and most of them go back to pumping gas!

Check out: "A Change Is Gonna Come" (https://youtu.be/gbO2_077ixs), "Bring It On Home To Me" (https://youtu.be/IXiYmwFAGOc), "Cupid" (https://youtu.be/F48yOkcQWe0)

TL/DR: Now that I've thrown everyone for a loop, don't worry there will be much more contemporary music coming. Just had to show some respect to The Voice! Top 50 coming real soon!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 16, 2012, 01:17:00 PM: Well that went over about as well as thought it might...lol..... Here's the first 5 from my Top 50 list. Maybe it'll generate more interest. :-\

50. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine [1992]

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QNq0NdpCuCQ/Se7rJUmngPI/AAAAAAAAFgM/eiQidMZrkJk/s1600/Rage+Against+The+Machine+-+Rage+Against+The+Machine+%281992%29.jpg)

I've always been a sucker for heavy music with a groove. Take guitarist Tom Morello's great playing and ability to create infectious licks add the power and rebellious lyrics of Zach de la Rocha and I'm sold. From the moment I heard "Killing in the Name" I knew this was a special band. The band's groundbreaking debut album is relentless from beginning to end and at the time of it's release RATM was likely playing heavy/hard rock better than most, and while I don't consider them a rap/rock act, their lyrical flow was also probably better than many at the top of the Rap/hip hop charts.

Check out: "Killing in the Name" (https://youtu.be/QNzIKoAy2pk), "Know Your Enemy" (https://youtu.be/4smim2MNvF8), "Freedom" (https://youtu.be/Xk2uObQDKtw)

49. Havok - Time Is Up [2011]

(https://www.metalsucks.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/TimeIsUpCOVER.jpg)

I discovered Havok looking for newer metal bands and they were right down my alley. A force in the new wave of thrash metal, they sound like someone lifted them right out of the bay area thrash scene in the 80's and fast forwarded to today. The band is much more technically skilled than some of those 80's bands though.

These young guns are excellent musicians. Drummer Pete Webber and bassist Jesse De Los Santos pummel you throughout every track, lead guitarist Reece Scruggs riffs and shreds all over the place and guitarist/lead vocalist David Sanchez is a perfect thrash front man. If you are a metal fan, particularly if you are a thrash metal fan I highly suggest you check into this band and this album Time Is Up.

Check out: "Covering Fire" (https://youtu.be/uyHzro50MCg), "Prepare For Attack" (https://youtu.be/5KHJlRldQEY), "Killing Tendencies" (https://youtu.be/cVDFkOvqxGs)

48. Dokken - Tooth and Nail [1984]

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QNq0NdpCuCQ/STFkT-cCioI/AAAAAAAACJ0/ie1BtBVGgVQ/s1600/Dokken+-
+Tooth+And+Nail+%281984%29.jpg)

This may be a bit of a curveball pick. "Hair Metal" really takes a bad rap at this point in my opinion (although I understand it). What many overlook is the early era from late 70's through the early 80's there were some very solid hard rock/metal albums well before many of the bands 'jumped the shark' or were forced to go in certain directions by the record industry.

Tooth and Nail features probably my favorite intro track ever "Without Warning" which is an instrumental featuring the superb guitarist George Lynch. When people get into the best guitarist, drummer etc. arguments today, I feel they really are just arguing which styles they like better or who's tone they prefer (cue the mangini face). I've always loved Lynch's tOne.

Tooth and Nail finds the band at their best. Don Dokken's vocals were great, Lynch was on fire on guitar and the bands songwriting was never better as it still had an edge. If you like guitar this album is worth it to check out Lynch's solos alone IMO.

Check out: "Without Warning/Tooth & Nail" (https://youtu.be/4QMp_d1z-x4?t=20s), "Don't Close Your Eyes" (https://youtu.be/_HGoZgW4gaY), "When Heaven Comes Down" (https://youtu.be/8rnuJT2kYJU)

47. Queens Of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris (Tour Edition) [2007]

(https://thesoundtripper.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/1283376-queens-of-the-stone-age-era-vulgaris.jpg)

This is the first of a couple albums where I chose to select a specific edition of the release....This one in particular due to the addition of "Era Vulgaris (Richard File Remix) (featuring Trent Reznor)" which is exceptionally cool.

I really enjoy the whole of the Queens of the Stone Age catalog. For me, Vulgaris was a step away from their normal sound while still maintaing who they are. Era Vulgaris still finds the natural stoner rock grooves and Hommes unique vocals but changes it up by adding a little more electronic like influences off and on along with moody melodies. I find this album more level from top to bottom but maybe not having quite as many hit songs as their other releases.

Check out: "Turnin' on the Screw" (https://youtu.be/fORkDrwIhAw), "Era Vulgaris (Richard File Remix) (featuring Trent Reznor)" (https://youtu.be/qPpsqxITgwg), "Make It wit Chu" (https://youtu.be/0wTxqHbJOzg), "3's & 7's" (https://youtu.be/BgVfjXA_QY0)

46. Chroma Key - Dead Air for Radios [1998]

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hjlxGrJpL._SS500_.jpg)

This was an album I found on these forums. I hadn't heard of Chroma Key before but had always been a big fan of Kevin Moore's work with Dream Theater, so I had to check them out. I started with Dead Air for Radios and I connected with it right away. It's often dark, ambient and melancholic featuring electronic elements and samples which would be familiar to those who know Moore's work in DT.

Something about this album reminds me of a more modern Steely Dan or Peter Gabriel. The playing is tight, the songwriting is very good and to the point but at the same time experimental. After a few listens the melodies had seeped into my consciousness and I was hooked.

Check out: "Colorblind" (https://youtu.be/zWimQXi3IHE), "Even The Waves" (https://youtu.be/YhQgucbXf3Y), "Undertow" (https://youtu.be/O9LLySaq0N0)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Ultimetalhead on January 16, 2012, 01:22:25 PM: Havok is sexy. The other albums are pretty good as well.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: ariich on January 16, 2012, 01:51:48 PM: Love the RATM and Chroma Key albums! the QOTSA is pretty good, although far from my favourite of theirs.

Don't really know the other two. Good start though!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 16, 2012, 06:38:30 PM: Quote from: Ultimetalhead on January 16, 2012, 01:22:25 PM
Havok is sexy. The other albums are pretty good as well.

Good to see someone else give some love to Havok. Surprised I haven't heard much mention for them on the 2011 best albums list around here. It's a pretty kick ass album.

Quote from: ariich on January 16, 2012, 01:51:48 PM
Love the RATM and Chroma Key albums! the QOTSA is pretty good, although far from my favourite of theirs.

Don't really know the other two. Good start though!

I understand about Era Vulgaris. I love their whole catalog but I do enjoy how EV sounds a bit different overall than the rest of QOTSA's work.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 16, 2012, 07:16:41 PM: following. You're starting out pretty wide range from thrash metal to atmosphere. Neat.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 16, 2012, 07:48:34 PM: Quote from: jingle.boy on January 16, 2012, 07:16:41 PM
following. You're starting out pretty wide range from thrash metal to atmosphere. Neat.

Thanks! Yeah I didn't even notice it but my tastes can be all over the place sometimes. :laugh:
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: JRundquist on January 16, 2012, 07:56:00 PM: I like where this is going.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 17, 2012, 06:03:59 PM: 45. Pearl Jam - Ten [1991]

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oUvAUjqKPbU/TSXIU3RPEKI/AAAAAAAABBU/uNVIyXt5U84/s1600/pearl-jam-ten.jpg)

Time for me to get on my soapbox...The pick of this album leaves me a bit conflicted. I'm not the type of music fan that only likes the greatest hits and there are a million Pearl Jam fans that would accuse me of that when I say I only really like Ten (to combat that I'd point out that I LOATHED "Jeremy" possibly their biggest HIT, for the longest time).

I wasn't a huge fan of the direction Pearl Jam took musically after the release of their debut. For my ears I rarely heard any of the passion that they put into Ten going forward and that is what I loved most about this album. Eddie Vedder sang with an intensity I haven't heard from him since and the band seemed to take Kurt Cobain's comments about too many guitar leads to heart, as they rarely showcased those chops in subsequent releases.

Even though Pearl Jam became a different band in my ears afterwards, Ten is ammmmaaaaaazing! I still get goosebumps listening to the majority of the album. There's just something electric underneath the surface for me. From beginning to end the passion and power in each song is astounding. Maybe I'm missing that in the later PJ albums (I just don't hear it) but I'll always love Ten.

This whole album is very good and features hits like "Even Flow", "Alive", "Jeremy" and "Black" but I'll recommend some maybe less known/played tracks.

Check out: "Why Go?" (https://youtu.be/WfrJCbol7ZU) , "Deep" (https://youtu.be/VBaWxb8M52o), "Release" (https://youtu.be/iPUwtyZglQI)

44. Candlebox - Candlebox [1993]

(https://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/01/8e/1e5c225b9da0ebca124bd010.L.jpg)

I was surprised to see another member of the board list this band and album in their list but they deserve it. Candlebox is an underrated band from the grunge era and their self-titled debut album really shines. The band is just a great hard rock band that were lumped with the grunge scene because of the time and they came out of Seattle and yet were dumped on because of their use of actual melody and guitars. And you'll find lots of that on this release. Guitarist Peter Klett is a gem on guitar and Kevin Martin has a great and powerful rock voice. I also thoroughly enjoy the rest of their albums but if I had to choose just one, this would be the one.

"You" and "Far Behind" are the big hits here but I'm gonna recommend a few which might be less known:

Check out: "Rain" (https://youtu.be/eJS2kkR2U0Q), "Don't You" (https://youtu.be/nHTRX8ApMcU), "He Calls Home" (https://youtu.be/l3UWacaiFvY), "Arrow" (https://youtu.be/QAtjeYx2pAw)

43. Dave Matthews And Tim Reynolds - Live at Radio City [2007]

(https://theophiliacs.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/dm-album-cover.jpg)

I'm kind of cheating here with a live album but it's so worth it folks! With just Dave and Tim and their guitars on stage it creates something else entirely in my experience.I was a vague fan of Dave Matthews for a long while. I enjoyed several of the bands hits and owned Crash which is a very nice album unto its own. For years I'd heard about Dave Matthews Band's live performances and never really got around to checking into it. I was listening to Pandora (ty God for that invention) and heard one song off this album and it turned my head fast. Not too long after that another song off this album came up and once again I was like "yeah!". So with that, I got this release.

Live at Radio City is just Dave and Tim with their acoustic guitars performing Matthews' biggest hits and some great unreleased songs and covers (I'm not a huge fan of Neil Young but I LOVE the interesting cover here of "Down By The River"). I'd never have believed that two guys could put together such an exceptional performance by themselves. I'd be remiss to not mention how great a guitarist Tim Reynolds is and he's able to fill up the space missing from a full band. I think it actually adds to the performance, there's just some sort of magic here and the recording sounds spectacular as it was recorded for a Blue-Ray dvd release. You have to hear it to get a feeling for
what I mean but hearing is believing!

Check out: "Bartender" (https://youtu.be/JphjsCqsZ4Q?hd=1&t=48s), "Save Me" (https://youtu.be/HWZpJhP4aX4?hd=1&t=29s), "Lie In Our Graves" (https://youtu.be/oQGEKyZI4GQ?t=48s), "Down By The River" (https://youtu.be/_1Q8DvujeCY) Neil Young Cover

42. Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors [2011]

(https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/images/covers/fair-to-midland-arrows-and-anchors-20110628171551.jpg)

Heard the single off Arrows & Anchors "Musical Chairs" and instantly was interested in the band. I checked around on DTF and heard many positive things about the band so I checked out this album and was blown away. It's melodic, crushingly heavy (sometimes both at once) and experimental. It took me a little to wrap my head around some of the song ideas but the music was so exceptional it was quite easy to give the album time to grow on me. I love how many different musical influences the band incorporates throughout making for a fairly eclectic musical adventure. I even love the musical interludes. It's not an easy album to describe for me, but trust me it's excellent music!

Check out: "Whiskey & Ritalin" (https://youtu.be/43GnOie3PVo), "Musical Chairs" (https://youtu.be/VsDJih0yYgk), "Golden Parachutes" (https://youtu.be/aM1C7j2i1Ts)

41. Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time [1986]

(https://www.cryingpuppet.com/bands/albums/iron_maiden_somewhere_in_time_M1VMC0.jpg)

My first Maiden album! My brother had been a fan for years and it took me a little while to come around to them at first. With the release of Somewhere In Time, I started to give them a listen even though I was still under 10 years old. Somewhere In Time is solidly among my favorite Maiden albums and it changes from time to time but I'm listing Somewhere In Time ahead of the others solely out of nostalgia of it being my first (This is where my brother would be twisting my arm and saying "Powerslave!"). I know to fellow fans this ranking is kinda low but there are times I'd have it in my top 10 so for the moment it's here, somewhere in time it's way up the list ;)

Check out: "Caught Somewhere In Time" (https://youtu.be/m3fVDCtc0OY), "Wasted Years" (https://youtu.be/C6Vx-k1M3Hw), "Stranger in a Strange Land" (https://youtu.be/bb9bXzSqavc?hd=1), "Deja Vu" (https://youtu.be/SYGtijIXyyo)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 17, 2012, 08:00:39 PM: Some great albums coming up. Nice. :biggrin:
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 17, 2012, 08:24:57 PM: Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 17, 2012, 08:00:39 PM
Some great albums coming up. Nice. :biggrin:

Thanks! I remember reading over yours and how experimental/proggy (is that a word?) it was. Lots of good stuff there too :)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 17, 2012, 10:37:01 PM: Was never a big fan of Pearl Jam ... I guess I just rebelled against Everything and anything that was even close to grunge. Somewhere In Time is one of my fav Maiden albums. I had it on vinyl. Think either that or 7th Son popped my Maiden cherry (although a little older than 10)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 18, 2012, 12:20:46 AM: Quote from: jingle.boy on January 17, 2012, 10:37:01 PM
Was never a big fan of Pearl Jam ... I guess I just rebelled against Everything and anything that was even close to grunge. Somewhere In Time is one of my fav Maiden albums. I had it on vinyl. Think either that or 7th Son popped my Maiden cherry (although a little older than 10)

I can absolutely understand that. What I like about Ten was the guitar was still prominent basically making it a rock album much more than a grunge album. To me grunge at it's purest was much more like punk, with an updated label for the record industry.

Bands like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden regardless of being slapped with that label continued to essentially play hard rock/metal. Solo's, heavy guitars and riffs, harmony etc. It's all there.

I think I was like 9 when I started coming around to Maiden. I would have likely done so earlier but my brother scarred me by putting on "The Number of the Beast" cutting the lights off and throwing me in a dark room... :lol
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: wolfking on January 18, 2012, 03:05:19 AM: Tooth and Nail, Ten and SIT :metal
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Zydar on January 18, 2012, 03:25:06 AM: Maiden :metal

SIT is constantly alternating with 7th Son as my favourite Maiden album.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: wolfking on January 18, 2012, 03:39:21 AM: Quote from: jingle.boy on January 17, 2012, 10:37:01 PM
Was never a big fan of Pearl Jam ... I guess I just rebelled against Everything and anything that was even close to grunge. Somewhere In Time is one of my fav Maiden albums. I had it on vinyl. Think either that or 7th Son popped my Maiden cherry (although a little older than 10)

I know what you mean. I was into grunge and then I discovered Maiden, Priest etc. I sold everything I had that was not metal to get into metal. I regretted it later and have re purchased all Pearl Jam cd's I sold. Great band and Ten is just magical.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: ariich on January 18, 2012, 05:31:55 AM: Nice to see Fair to Midland in there! Excellent album, although I do still prefer the previous one.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 18, 2012, 10:42:18 AM: Quote from: WebRaider on January 17, 2012, 08:24:57 PM
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 17, 2012, 08:00:39 PM
Some great albums coming up. Nice. :biggrin:

Thanks! I remember reading over yours and how experimental/proggy (is that a word?) it was. Lots of good stuff there too :)
Thanks. :)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 18, 2012, 03:01:27 PM: Quote from: wolfking on January 18, 2012, 03:05:19 AM
Tooth and Nail, Ten and SIT :metal

Glad to see some Tooth and Nail appreciation. Afraid I was going it alone there... seriously it's such a cool album.

Quote from: Zydar on January 18, 2012, 03:25:06 AM
Maiden :metal

SIT is constantly alternating with 7th Son as my favourite Maiden album.

Those two are up at or near the top of my Maiden list and my brother prefers the earlier albums but they all are so good.

Quote from: wolfking on January 18, 2012, 03:39:21 AM
Quote from: jingle.boy on January 17, 2012, 10:37:01 PM
Was never a big fan of Pearl Jam ... I guess I just rebelled against Everything and anything that was even close to grunge. Somewhere In Time is one of my fav Maiden albums. I had it on vinyl. Think either that or 7th Son popped my Maiden cherry (although a little older than 10)

I know what you mean. I was into grunge and then I discovered Maiden, Priest etc. I sold everything I had that was not metal to get into metal. I regretted it later and have re purchased all Pearl Jam cd's I sold. Great band and Ten is just magical.

I never rebelled against any music as long as I could find quality and true passion behind it. I watched the documentary "Twenty" and it seems the death of Andrew Wood along with Vedder coming to grips with his emotions over discovering his real father really fueled much of the passion found in Ten.

Quote from: ariich on January 18, 2012, 05:31:55 AM
Nice to see Fair to Midland in there! Excellent album, although I do still prefer the previous one.

I really like Fables from a Mayfly a lot but something pulls me to Anchors more often.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 18, 2012, 06:40:18 PM: 40. Maxwell - Embrya [1998]

(https://www.hotwaxx1.com/images/MaxwellEmbrya_hi_res_.jpg)

I'm not sure if anyone on this board will dig this or not but it's a classic in my life. This is a go to album for go time, if you catch my drift! ;)

Seriously though this album has a sublime flow about it. Maxwell is an amazing singer and this is him at his pinnacle. Embrya is much more sophisticated and lush than his debut as he melds R&B/Jazz/Funk/Soul throughout seamlessly. Lyrically it's very sexy yet intelligent and at times very poetic. The music plays like a dreamy sequence of moods and events, all woven together by relaxing rhythms, seductive vocals, and well-done arrangements. It's almost like Maxwell is Neo Soul's prog artist, lol.

Aside from the fact that if you put this album on when you're with that special person it's almost guaranteed to set off immediate sparks.... You can put this album on anytime and just chill to some excellent music.

Check out: "Everwanting: To Want You To Want" (https://youtu.be/iOdsyTBUa8c), "Drowndeep: Hula" (https://youtu.be/8f93VoQt2Ro?hd=1), "Know These Things: Shouldn't You" (https://youtu.be/9FhGRTG0TBo), "Submerge: Til We Become The Sun" (https://youtu.be/DXHSjUZ-se8?hd=1)

39. Deftones - Diamond Eyes (iTunes deluxe edition) [2010]

(https://cloudweave.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/diamond-eyes1.jpg)

From one of the best sounding sounding Neo Soul/R&B albums (Embrya) to one of the best sounding rock/metal albums in my opinion. You could also play these back to back for a nice sexy time sound-scape.

Until I heard Diamond Eyes I was uncertain of how I really felt about the Deftones. There'd be times where I would love some of the songs they had out and then hear something else and it wouldn't click. It all clicked with this album as it's a perfect execution of all that the Deftones offer. Heaviness, metallic churning, melody, electronic and synth, ambiance and of course Chino's unique vocals.

Producer Nick Raskulinecz does an amazing job managing these various aspects within the album and its just a beautiful record. I chose to list the (iTunes deluxe edition) due to the addition of the exceptional covers "Do You Believe" from The Cardigans and "Ghosts" of Japan. Adding these is just like the icing on a cake that finally sends you into a diabetic coma...

Check out: "Diamond Eyes" (https://youtu.be/qksTlo_1Tpw), "You've Seen The Butcher" (https://youtu.be/woAcXSMyCEw?hd=1), "Rocket Skates" (https://youtu.be/woR6ohiFeYE?hd=1), "Sextape" (https://youtu.be/f0pdwd0miqs?hd=1), "Risk" (https://youtu.be/PXeTa9G6_xY?hd=1)

38. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral [1994]

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OGkznTA7iEY/TJWLRgrw2xI/AAAAAAAADuw/0x3TDLF7JIY/s1600/nine_inch_nails_the_downward_spiral.png)

The first album to really scare me. Before The Downward Spiral, I'd listened to plenty of dark music or music that others would freak out over but it's like the principle behind horror movies not being scary to some people. Because in general the majority of scary movies don't feel real. This album was real and I could see the pain in many around me that this music seemed to speak to. Let me clarify that this music didn't scare me in the sense of it being horrific music. Its just the feelings clawing out from within the music itself I could see in the people of the world. I'm certain that's just what Trent Reznor intended.

Check out: "March of the Pigs" (https://youtu.be/6mDQNRs5JCs), "Closer" (https://youtu.be/-HbKaHddmfU), "I Do Not Want This" (https://youtu.be/AKNo3J4daDk), "Hurt" (https://youtu.be/kPz21cDK7dg)

37. Tool - Ænima [1996]

(https://sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/tool_aenima.jpg)

Most of you are likely familiar with Tool and their sound. If not I'd have to describe it as dark, heavy, mysterious and intense . From their debut going forward they have tested the boundaries of those descriptors. Ænima finds them dead-perfect center. It's the bands second album and in my opinion is more polished musically and sound-wise than their fine debut yet retains the edge and rage the band seemed to begin with. That's not to say they don't still have that ferocity just that they perfectly embraced it here and released it while exploring their musical chops. I enjoy all of Tool's music but if I was forced to choose one it'd be this one because I can get a little of everything that they have to offer.

Check out: "Eulogy" (https://youtu.be/dLCTDKzWk3Y), "Forty Six & 2" (https://youtu.be/EicJTFcy9gQ?hd=1), "Pushit" (https://youtu.be/Jnkh28J5SwE?hd=1), "Ænema" (https://youtu.be/neGdoqsuiN8), "H." (https://youtu.be/3iXMhphebGI)

36. Queensryche - Promised Land [1994]

(https://cfs8.tistory.com/image/35/tistory/2008/09/13/18/21/48cb862999b90)

Listening to this as I type this up just leaves me baffled as to what happened to this band after this great album. Promised Land isn't as lauded as Operation Mindcrime or Empire but the music here is stellar. The fact that this album went platinum during the peak of the grunge era speaks to the quality of the release. I really like the production and each song offers a much different feel throughout, although it seems every time I play one song off of this cd I have to listen to the rest. One of the main things I love about Promised Land is that its extremely atmospheric (if you've heard it you know what I mean).

Check out: "I Am I" (https://youtu.be/u6se8D4JQ1Y), "Promised Land" (https://youtu.be/pyiHe2P5irA), "One More Time" (https://youtu.be/iYt7evia4mM), "Someone Else" (https://youtu.be/yrokWXe0tfI)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: ReaperKK on January 18, 2012, 06:41:24 PM: Holy hell WebRaider, you and I have incredibly similar taste.

Awesome to see RATM on here, it's a great album that I spun a lot. "Candlebox" and "Dead Air" made my top 50 so I'm pretty passionate about those albums. "Arrows & Anchors" still hasn't surpassed "Fables" but it's still a very solid album. I'm a huge DMB fan and "Live at Radio City" is a great album but too long for me to listen to in one sitting, had I been there I would've enjoyed every second of it but to just sit and listen to it, I'll usually put one album on at a time.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Ravenheart on January 18, 2012, 06:42:06 PM: Great to see some love for The Downward Spiral! :tup Trent Reznor's music has been a huge part of my life for the past 7 years.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 18, 2012, 07:10:57 PM: PL is a great album. Might have to go spin it now to remind myself.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Jamesman42 on January 18, 2012, 08:27:30 PM: ryan told me it needs more dream theater
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Gorille85 on January 18, 2012, 08:32:09 PM: Quote from: Ravenheart on January 18, 2012, 06:42:06 PM
Great to see some love for The Downward Spiral! :tup

YES
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Fluffy Lothario on January 18, 2012, 08:50:22 PM: On the Dave and Tim album: it's good, but I tend to only listen to highlights when I play it.

Musts are:
Bartender
Stay or Leave
Old Dirt Hill (I like the original, unlike most people, but this version is reeeeal good, and a strange surprise)
Eh Hee
Crash into Me
Lie in our Graves (I'm not sure why that Tim solo works so well, on paper, you'd assume it to be a snooze, but it's pretty great)
Some Devil

Also, I still haven't heard it, but their earlier album, Live at Luther College or something like that, is meant to be even better.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: pain of occupation on January 18, 2012, 09:34:25 PM: cool Queensryche choice...
i think only days ago i saw this album being slammed somewhere on this board, but Promised Land is actually the only Queensryche album ive ever been able to get into. it might be that i just happened to get it at the right time in my life, or that i just havent given the rest of their catalog (aside from Q2k or whatever it was called) enough of a chance, but to me it felt far superior to their more identifiably 'classic' albums that everyone seems to love.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 18, 2012, 10:41:09 PM: Quote from: ReaperKK on January 18, 2012, 06:41:24 PM
Holy hell WebRaider, you and I have incredibly similar taste.

Awesome to see RATM on here, it's a great album that I spun a lot. "Candlebox" and "Dead Air" made my top 50 so I'm pretty passionate about those albums. "Arrows & Anchors" still hasn't surpassed "Fables" but it's still a very solid album.

Yep, I recall following your list that we had similar tastes in music.

I was very glad to see someone list Candlebox as they are very underrated. I've seen them in concert about 4 times I think now. I can't remember specifically who it was on this forum that turned me on to that Chroma Key album but I fast fell in love with it. I'm growing into Fables but maybe I like Arrows and Anchors more at the moment as that is what got me into the band? Regardless they are both exceptional albums IMO.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 18, 2012, 10:49:37 PM: Quote from: Gorille85 on January 18, 2012, 08:32:09 PM
Quote from: Ravenheart on January 18, 2012, 06:42:06 PM
Great to see some love for The Downward Spiral! :tup

YES
Quote from: Ravenheart on January 18, 2012, 06:42:06 PM
Great to see some love for The Downward Spiral! :tup Trent Reznor's music has been a huge part of my life for the past 7 years.

I really like a lot of Nine Inch Nails/Reznor stuff but TDS is a classic. As I noted it's so damn emotionally dark in almost every aspect.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 18, 2012, 10:53:05 PM: Quote from: ReaperKK on January 18, 2012, 06:41:24 PM
I'm a huge DMB fan and "Live at Radio City" is a great album but too long for me to listen to in one sitting, had I been there I would've enjoyed every second of it but to just sit and listen to it, I'll usually put one album on at a time.
Quote from: Fluffy Lothario on January 18, 2012, 08:50:22 PM
On the Dave and Tim album: it's good, but I tend to only listen to highlights when I play it.

Musts are:
Bartender
Stay or Leave
Old Dirt Hill (I like the original, unlike most people, but this version is reeeeal good, and a strange surprise)
Eh Hee
Crash into Me
Lie in our Graves (I'm not sure why that Tim solo works so well, on paper, you'd assume it to be a snooze, but it's pretty great)
Some Devil

Also, I still haven't heard it, but their earlier album, Live at Luther College or something like that, is meant to be even better.

Oh I agree it is quite a long album overall. I enjoy his normal albums a great deal but for me there's something magical about this performance and I'm not usually a big fan of live albums.

I really like all those songs you listed Fluffy but I'm a fan of just about every song on the album. I do generally pick through them if I'm pressed for time though.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 18, 2012, 11:02:18 PM: Quote from: pain of occupation on January 18, 2012, 09:34:25 PM
cool Queensryche choice...
i think only days ago i saw this album being slammed somewhere on this board, but Promised Land is actually the only Queensryche album ive ever been able to get into. it might be that i just happened to get it at the right time in my life, or that i just havent given the rest of their catalog (aside from Q2k or whatever it was called) enough of a chance, but to me it felt far superior to their more identifiably 'classic' albums that everyone seems to love.
Quote from: jingle.boy on January 18, 2012, 07:10:57 PM
PL is a great album. Might have to go spin it now to remind myself.

There are some who don't hold Promised Land among their top work and there are those like pain of occupation
who kind of relate to it better than the rest of their material. And I can understand why. While the high quality production and progressiveness is there in PL it seems a bit different from their early work. Maybe it's something in the song writing? Regardless I love pretty much all the Queensryche stuff up through PL.

Quote from: Jamesman42 on January 18, 2012, 08:27:30 PM
ryan told me it needs more dream theater

Oh hell no. Who listens to that crap? With all those amazing musicians and such. :biggrin:
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: wolfking on January 19, 2012, 03:33:51 AM: Aenima and Promised Land :metal
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 19, 2012, 07:44:27 PM: 35. The Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra [2006]

(https://spinaltapdance.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/synchestra.jpg)

I suppose to some it may be a bit of a surprise to list this particular Devy album. Synchestra took the longest of all Devin's work to click with me. I think partly due to people highly recommending earlier work like Ocean Machine and Terria or later work like anything from the DTP. So I just overlooked Synchestra for a while even though I had listened to it off and on.

I think this album contains just about everything Devy. For me it's much like taking all the material of DTP and compressing it into one disk. After completing Synchestra he likely noted how all over the place he was and wanted to express each area individually through the work in DTP. Having said that I'm not sure I'd recommend this for someone's first Devin listen. While it's not as chaotic as something like Deconstruction it's just something I had to ease into. It seems most Devin fans love a lot of the songs from the first half of this album but while I love the whole thing, I am a HUGE fan of everything from song 8 (Gaia) on... it sounds so massive and epic.

Check out: "Triumph" (https://youtu.be/oGd-tAGZZ7M?hd=1), "Gaia" (https://youtu.be/ynklipHaYJc?hd=1), "Pixillate" (https://youtu.be/vRh9UmsI_YI?hd=1), "Judgement" (https://youtu.be/gRuOtqhrlh8)

34. Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E. [1997]

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5174T5VFAXL._SS500_.jpg)

Before all the ballads and love songs most of you might know them for (although those aren't all bad IMO), Incubus was a funk metal band. Their early sound was greatly influenced by bands such as Mr. Bungle. During this time period the band was funky, heavy, and most important of all, energetic.S.C.I.E.N.C.E. was quite aptly named as this album seems much like a science experiment gone RIGHT. It blends metal, funk, jazz, and trip hop and also has some tasty samples, hell it even has a sax solo in "Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)". Although fusing all those genres into any one song much less album might seem difficult, I find that the band pulled it off beautifully here. I love the heavy, jazzy, spacey sound of S.C.I.E.N.C.E. My favorite song probably is the heaviest/craziest off this album in "Nebula". If you've never heard early Incubus I recommend checking out this album.

Check out: "Vitamin" (https://youtu.be/Fi_HnGx0t1Q), "New Skin" (https://youtu.be/QGPbblshGl0), "Nebula" (https://youtu.be/PqRqRAQOD4g), "Calgone" (https://youtu.be/ZpDCzsOqUZk)

33. Protest The Hero - Scurrilous [2011]

(https://hotink.theorem.ca/system/muse/images/000/023/219/Protest_the_Hero_CMYK_medium.jpg?1301519313)

I heard "Sequioa Throne" a good while back and loved it but was scared away by the few cookie monster moments within so I never really gave PTH an in depth listen. With the release of Scurrilous I happened across the video for "Hair-Trigger" and thought it was great but was still hesitant so I asked about them on DTF and people recommended a listen because there were less rawrrr, rawrrr moments. I'd describe the band's sound as break-neck... you think you know where you're going and they hit the breaks and throw it in a different gear; and I LOVE IT!

I've seen a few people less excited about the sound or song writing on the latest album. Rody Walker can sing like a mf'er so for me it's absolutely not necessary for those cookie monster growls anyway but I've come around to the older material too. I also appreciate the songs here being more relate-able than most on their previous albums. I believe Scurrilous is Protest The Hero coming into their own and see even greater material in their future. This is damn good stuff!

Check out: "C'est la Vie" (https://youtu.be/vKZ-eKBJ9dw?hd=1), "Hair-Trigger" (https://youtu.be/RWDrdAJMcRs?hd=1), "Moonlight" (https://youtu.be/0x6SdCpm7Ik), "Tongue-Splitter" (https://youtu.be/TcTM-7Tdcs8)

32. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell [1990]

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Uju32ujGmA/TcX1eCA9NQI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/Ligdh6fdwgU/s1600/PANCD008.jpg)

Ah! Here we have a nice slab of metal. Cowboys From Hell was released at the perfect time. Pantera had been in the hair metal scene in the 80's (which I don't look down on as most do) but it was time for a change. Beginning with this release Pantera helped guide metal into a new era.This album was released at a perfect time for me as well. I was just coming into my teenage years in 1990 and was looking for something with a bit more edge. I remember finding this album while on a school field trip to the mall at Christmas. My friends and I went straight to the music stores and started digging through everything they had. I didn't buy it but a friend did and on the trip back home he was like man you've got to listen to this! OMG the RIFFS, SOLOS, RAGE!!!!

Vulgar Display of Power is very good too but I have a connection with this album plus I kind of like Phil's range on his vocals at this early point in their career. Dime never failed to amaze me with his playing and he certainly is one of the best metal guitarists ever. His work here put everyone who played guitar on notice that they had best step their game up. Cowboys was a kick in the ass and still remains so today.

Check out: "Cowboys from Hell" (https://youtu.be/G4ykFTkwX0E), "Cemetery Gates" (https://youtu.be/RVMvART9kb8), "Domination" (https://youtu.be/1lXXvUIEy2o?hd=1), "The Sleep" -Dat SOLO! (https://youtu.be/2gwdT9IKb9s)

31. Dio - Holy Diver [1983]

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A7jJs2fdWnY/TD8Wax9ctYI/AAAAAAAAAAM/hv0L7j5Jvck/s1600/holydiver_holydiver.jpg)

So many great things have been said about Ronnie James Dio since his passing. I fully believe that none of it was just in the moment as sometimes happens with someones death. He really was such a likeable guy, someone who did so much to elevate the metal scene and clearly had an amazing voice. I struggled with my choice of his albums to list here but it's almost impossible to not list Holy Diver for me. It's a definite classic of the genre and to some extent it allowed him to step out from the shadow of the big bands he had been in previously. Another album I was exposed to very early and although I've heard it a thousand times it still makes me want to throw up the horns! This was DIO.

Check out: "Stand Up and Shout" (https://youtu.be/FqYrO03RyUs), "Holy Diver" (https://youtu.be/xGeEqaArOgM), "Don't Talk to Strangers" (https://youtu.be/DSRLBS4XR5A), "Straight Through the Heart" (https://youtu.be/zY97kIh30XI), "Rainbow in the Dark" (https://youtu.be/tYlDltwm-JY)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: obscure on January 19, 2012, 08:25:54 PM: mmm I'm intrigued... this thread something for me.... following mister....
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 19, 2012, 09:33:19 PM: Quote from: obscure on January 19, 2012, 08:25:54 PM
mmm I'm intrigued... this thread something for me.... following mister....

Awww shucks. :blush Thank ya! :) I hope you like some of the stuff and maybe find something to look into as well. I'm all over the board but generally like everything everyone else around here enjoys.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 19, 2012, 09:37:27 PM: Love Cowboys to death! :metal :metal :metal
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 19, 2012, 09:43:27 PM: Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 19, 2012, 09:37:27 PM
Love Cowboys to death! :metal :metal :metal

YES! Definitely :metal :metal :metal.... It makes me miss Dime bad though :sadpanda:
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: obscure on January 19, 2012, 10:37:29 PM: Quote from: WebRaider on January 19, 2012, 09:33:19 PM
Quote from: obscure on January 19, 2012, 08:25:54 PM
mmm I'm intrigued... this thread something for me.... following mister....

Awww shucks. :blush Thank ya! :) I hope you like some of the stuff and maybe find something to look into as well. I'm all over the board but generally like everything everyone else around here enjoys.
hey you bet.. we have very similar tastes.... this is gonna be fun....

Quote from: WebRaider on January 19, 2012, 09:43:27 PM
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 19, 2012, 09:37:27 PM
Love Cowboys to death! :metal :metal :metal

YES! Definitely :metal :metal :metal.... It makes me miss Dime bad though :sadpanda:
I'll join you too.... :metal

Saw Black Label Society gig last year.... you know they were like best friends... Zack paid a tribute do Dimebag... it gave me the chills....
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Jamesman42 on January 20, 2012, 12:29:06 AM: There is no Incubus thread. O_O
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Nekov on January 20, 2012, 05:38:55 AM: Iron Maiden, Pantera, Tool, Dio :2metal:

All of those are fantastic albums.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 20, 2012, 06:25:28 AM: Quote from: obscure on January 19, 2012, 10:37:29 PM
[
Quote from: WebRaider on January 19, 2012, 09:43:27 PM
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 19, 2012, 09:37:27 PM
Love Cowboys to death! :metal :metal :metal

YES! Definitely :metal :metal :metal.... It makes me miss Dime bad though :sadpanda:
I'll join you too.... :metal

Saw Black Label Society gig last year.... you know they were like best friends... Zack paid a tribute do Dimebag... it gave me the chills....

Yeah, they were like brothers for sure. The thing about Dime was how much people responded to him in the way people did to Dio as well. They were both just very good people who were exceptionally talented musicians. Missing them both.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jjrock88 on January 20, 2012, 09:01:20 AM: great choices with Dokken, QR, Iron Maiden, and DIO!!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: obscure on January 20, 2012, 09:14:28 AM: Quote from: WebRaider on January 20, 2012, 06:25:28 AM
Quote from: obscure on January 19, 2012, 10:37:29 PM
[
Quote from: WebRaider on January 19, 2012, 09:43:27 PM
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 19, 2012, 09:37:27 PM
Love Cowboys to death! :metal :metal :metal

YES! Definitely :metal :metal :metal.... It makes me miss Dime bad though :sadpanda:
I'll join you too.... :metal

Saw Black Label Society gig last year.... you know they were like best friends... Zack paid a tribute do Dimebag... it gave me the chills....

Yeah, they were like brothers for sure. The thing about Dime was how much people responded to him in the way people did to Dio as well. They were both just very good people who were exceptionally talented musicians. Missing them both.

Yes those two and Chuck... miss them loads....
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 20, 2012, 10:29:31 AM: Quote from: Jamesman42 on January 20, 2012, 12:29:06 AM
There is no Incubus thread. O_O

Kinda surprised. I've seen a few other folks on the board who seem to enjoy them. The band is really good and I particularly enjoy guitarist Mike Einziger's work.

Quote from: jjrock88 on January 20, 2012, 09:01:20 AM
great choices with Dokken, QR, Iron Maiden, and DIO!!

Thanks! Really glad to see some love for Dokken. They don't tend to get the respect they deserve. And yeah your avatar looks familiar for some reason ;D
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 20, 2012, 06:50:00 PM: 30. Mad Season - Above [1995]

(https://www.soundfarmer.net/music/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Mad-Season-Above-Front.jpg)

Mad Season is a supergroup of sorts with Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) on vocals, Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) on guitar, Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) on drums along with John Baker Saunders on bass. Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens Of The Stone Age, etc.) also makes two appearances here.

The resulting sound is kind of like Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam jumped in a time machine and became a unified early 70's hard rock band. Staley's vocals are so unique that the music can't escape the Alice sound to some extent, however McCready and Martin take the music in a different direction. It's very dark throughout, very mellow and jazzy at times, excessively psychedelic bluesy at others (which I love). McCready is given space to work his magic on guitar and there are times that I could swear John Bonham is on drums with Martin's powerful playing.

If you're a fan of stuff like Zeppelin, bluesy Sabbath, Cream and enjoy Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam you should really give this a listen. The real gems of the album take a little longer to get into but give them time and you'll find the magic.

Check out: "Wake Up" (https://youtu.be/3UN69mdxUqc), "River of Deceit" (https://youtu.be/Fm72DPJCX58), "Artificial Red" (https://youtu.be/z9V51BXAQsg), "Long Gone Day" (https://youtu.be/duxSZT6UHkY), "November Hotel" (https://youtu.be/NXjK509YsWo)

29. Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf [2002]

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4azCoRPREQM/TAHjZmEZ4EI/AAAAAAAAALU/tv1FW7G6wSI/s1600/sftdqotsa.jpg)

For me this is "stoner rock" at its perfection. Your invitation to the desert trip Odyssey that is “Songs for the Deaf” begins with the buzz of a radio tuner, and a few moments of scrambling through various distant channels sent from the Mexican border.These radio transmissions carry you through the album.

Most know that Songs For The Deaf was recorded with Dave Grohl on drums and he did an exceptional job here. Josh Homme and Mark Lanegan both have unique voices and the pair never fail to keep me on my toes waiting to see what they put together. Band leader Homme has a knack for tricking you into you into thinking the songs are only about their great chugging fuzz-laden riffs and bashing drums but they manage to meld a superb sense of melody into heavy music with a groove. Two of their bigger hits are on this release and "Go With The Flow" is a personal all-time favorite of mine, though I've heard it hundreds of times.

Check out: "No One Knows" (https://youtu.be/s88r_q7oufE), "First It Giveth" (https://youtu.be/g5GrSPUAj4E), "The Sky Is Fallin'" (https://youtu.be/hUTIvVNq9do?hd=1), "Hangin' Tree" (https://youtu.be/VmuQQvQ428U), "Go with the Flow" (https://youtu.be/DcHKOC64KnE)

28. Megadeth - Rust In Peace [1990]

(https://guitartabsandmethods.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/0cd6040e1.jpg)

Rust In Peace is well thought of by most throughout the metal scene.It took me a while to get used to Dave Mustaine's singing style. I actually didn't come around to the sound till the Countdown To Extinction album (which I also like). Marty Friedman is a magician on the guitar and he clearly helped elevate Mustaine's game here. The vicious riffs and electric solos throughout Rust In Peace are astounding and the songs are very well composed and produced.

Even though I grew up through the peaks of Megadeth and Metallica I never got in the middle of the conflict between the bands fans. Personally I think it'd be hard for either group's fans to deny the two groups best efforts at least. Rust In Peace to me is Megadeth's best, a true thrash classic.

Check out: "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" (https://youtu.be/mSi46iIJrso?hd=1), "Hangar 18" (https://youtu.be/B-oU2xlViRQ?hd=1), "Tornado of Souls" (https://youtu.be/QYPLAYicymA?hd=1), ""Rust in Peace... Polaris"" (https://youtu.be/512XPFHILDg)

27. Black Sabbath - Sabotage [1975]

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6tJHBv82MIM/TNtHTIkgWSI/AAAAAAAAAK8/Kxos_l3jXek/s1600/Sabotage.jpg)

Sabotage is what I'd consider the Sabbath's angriest sounding album. Ozzy's vocals on this album are probably better than at any time in his career. Where some of the other Sabbath albums generally had a couple clunkers among the classics; Sabotage for me is clunker free. Yes even "Am I Going Insane (Radio)" works for me especially the creepy laughing/screaming at the end that fades into "The Writ". This album also features another likely metal foundation from Black Sabbath in "Symptom of the Universe", which many people feel is the first legit thrash metal song.

Check out: "Hole in the Sky" (https://youtu.be/kA8371eaI1o?hd=1), "Symptom of the Universe" (https://youtu.be/O4mDO4eGG9k), "Megalomania" (https://youtu.be/K6Pl5adfnaA), "The Writ" (https://youtu.be/9f9imELCBIM?hd=1)

26. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime [1988]

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61pBJlI9t6L.jpg)

Another classic, especially to many on these forums. What can I say about this amazing album that isn't already known or already been combed over a thousand times? Although I had heard many great things about the album I didn't come around to give it a serious listen till after Empire had been released. It's clearly among the top concept albums ever but its even more than the sum of it's parts, as many of the songs are great even as stand alone tracks. Superb thematically, lyrically, and musically. Operation Mindcrime was perfect execution and a serious game changer. A defining moment in metal and progressive music.

Check out: "Revolution Calling" (https://youtu.be/CNdOsL4Xe7Q), "Speak" (https://youtu.be/nXQjMqhORzw), "I Don’t Believe in Love" (https://youtu.be/2c3g6tTYoxM), "Eyes of a Stranger" (https://youtu.be/A4duZjxusGM)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: The King in Crimson on January 20, 2012, 07:12:28 PM: Wow, holy shit what an update.

RiP, Sabotage, and Mindcrime... spooge.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: obscure on January 20, 2012, 09:49:46 PM: Cool update! made me realise that actually not alone :)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jjrock88 on January 20, 2012, 11:11:22 PM: Operation Mindcrime rules. End of story.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 21, 2012, 06:14:49 AM: Quote from: jjrock88 on January 20, 2012, 11:11:22 PM
Operation Mindcrime rules. End of story.

+1
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: contest_sanity on January 21, 2012, 08:03:38 AM: Nice to see some love for Mad Season. I was just listening to them a few days ago :tup
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 21, 2012, 03:09:35 PM: Quote from: The King in Crimson on January 20, 2012, 07:12:28 PM
Wow, holy shit what an update.

RiP, Sabotage, and Mindcrime... spooge.

(https://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv240/cg4b/DaffyDuck-Fap.gif)

:rollin

Seriously those are some killer albums to listen to back to back to back :)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 21, 2012, 03:12:55 PM: Quote from: contest_sanity on January 21, 2012, 08:03:38 AM
Nice to see some love for Mad Season. I was just listening to them a few days ago :tup

Very cool. The band really was overlooked. Seems like the album was out a few years before many people even really heard about them.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 21, 2012, 04:24:35 PM: 25. Stone Temple Pilots - Purple [1994]

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T59cdo2h3WY/TuZcmHzRw5I/AAAAAAAAJAA/3vZ8dgLRa2g/s1600/folder.jpg)

Stone Temple Pilots is a great hard ROCK band. Due to the time they hit it big, they were another band that was lumped into the Grunge era (likely due to the record companies and radio stations). Purple's varied elements helped clarify and establish their place. There is acoustic guitar, lots of interesting percussion and more melodic parts than in their debut album Core; while maintaining some of the dark and gloomy atmosphere. Dean DeLeo is a superb guitarist who reminds me a good bit of Jimmy Page in that he is never overly technical but just puts together some great sounding riffs and leads. His brother Robert on bass and Eric Kretz on drums always offer some nice driving grooves and Scott Weiland's vocals are at their peak here.

Purple offered some quality hits like "Interstate Love Song" "Big Empty" and "Vasoline" which are great but the addition of lesser known songs like "Still Remains", "Silvergun Superman", "Army Ants" and "Kitchenware & Candybars" are what make this album very good.

Check out: "Lounge Fly" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Lounge+Fly/1SRBe8?src=5), "Still Remains" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Still+Remains/wqysb?src=5), "Silvergun Superman" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Silvergun+Superman/2oQKeU?src=5), "Kitchenware & Candybars" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Kitchenware+and+Candybars/2r2snA?src=5)

24. Mastodon - Crack The Skye [2009]

(https://www.cokemachineglow.com/images/8752.jpg)

Crack The Skye opened the doors for me to Mastodon. I'd never even attempted to give them a chance due to their vocals on prior releases. I just couldn't get past it initially. Once I heard "Oblivion" and was able to hear their approach with three singers it slowly ensnared me. At first I'd listen to "Oblivion" over and over and skip through the rest of the album seeing what else was there. I could hear the amazing music but was hesitant. Finally I just cranked the volume up and unleashed the beast!

Most here are likely aware that CTS is Mastodon's most prog-like release, if that is important to you. For me it's just superb music wise and is very powerful throughout. CTS sends you on a journey of blistering riffs, dynamic melody, and doomy grooves only letting you get settled in the music before taking you to another place in the astral plane... or at least that's what it seems like to me sometimes...lol

Check out: "Oblivion" (https://youtu.be/s6WGNd8QR-U), "The Czar" (https://youtu.be/Jx2fp-kKOIw), "Ghost of Karelia" (https://youtu.be/BzXvlNBBv88?hd=1), "The Last Baron" (https://youtu.be/4pvfQtUhtNE)

23. Soundgarden - Down on the Upside [1996]

(https://991.com/newgallery/Soundgarden-Down-On-The-Upsid-72212.jpg)

I'm a HUGE Soundgarden fan and love their whole catalog. Their early work was very raw and aggressive and Superunknown was a classic all around album. Down on the Upside offered less polished production featured on Superunknown and explored their experimental side a bit more than before. In the writing process they sought to bring a greater variety of material to the album and it's certainly evident in the finished product.

DotU is not as dark as Superunknown (which I usually prefer) but it's so all over the place that you never know what to expect next and it easily keeps my interest. The songs vary in tempo throughout the course of the album, with Thayil describing the album as having a "dual nature." He explained, "It keeps listeners on their toes and lets them know they're not getting the same album over and over." Features one of my favorite songs ever in "Tighter & Tighter".

Check out: "Zero Chance" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Zero+Chance/2w6hBn?src=5), "Blow Up the Outside World" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Blow+Up+The+Outside+World/2qZT0W?src=5), "Burden in My Hand" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Burden+In+My+Hand/23xYFU?src=5), "Tighter & Tighter" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Tighter+and+Tighter/2w7xm6?src=5)

22. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours [1977]

(https://i27.lulzimg.com/8212e19169.jpg)

The soundtrack to my early childhood. I have very faint and vague memories tied to songs from this album almost as if it were played quite frequently while I was in the crib which is quite probable. It was also played everywhere on the radio for years through the 80's; and for good reason.

This is yet another album from a band at it's pinnacle musically. However most are familiar with the stories of the band members relationships falling apart around the time of the recording which obviously served to drive them to write some hauntingly bittersweet songs. The production of this album is universally lauded and it really is beautiful. It sounds amazing sitting at my computer with my headphones on or on my stereo throughout the house. I recommend giving this album an honest listen with no notions of your preferred types of music. Just put it on and listen and it'll likely seep into your being somewhere.

Check out: "Dreams" (https://youtu.be/oNavPWHmfI0?hd=1), "Never Going Back Again" (https://youtu.be/02ZKmCQl3vw?
hd=1), "The Chain" (https://youtu.be/R44FFMejVTU?hd=1), "Gold Dust Woman" (https://youtu.be/-l-A6XNj9WM?hd=1)

21. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence [2002]

(https://cfs7.tistory.com/image/35/tistory/2008/09/18/00/04/48d11c6f882c5)

A Dream Theater sighting! I'll avoid wasting everyones time attempting to describe the album as anyone who is on this forum should have heard it and if not.. stop reading now and go listen! 6DoIT is one of the higher regarded DT albums yet it took me the longest of my favorite DT releases to click. I could have also listed a couple other DT selections here as well. I love the heavy and somewhat experimental nature of Six Degrees.

Check out: "The Glass Prison" (https://grooveshark.com/s/The+Glass+Prison/2qgbus?src=5), "Blind Faith" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Blind+Faith/2qAOUQ?src=5), "Misunderstood" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Misunderstood/1YVW8E?src=5), "The Great Debate" (https://grooveshark.com/s/The+Great+Debate/2qlBfE?src=5)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Dr. DTVT on January 21, 2012, 04:30:10 PM: Quote from: WebRaider on January 21, 2012, 03:09:35 PM

(https://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv240/cg4b/DaffyDuck-Fap.gif)

:rollin

:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 22, 2012, 09:37:29 AM: Rumours is criminally mis-represented in DTF land. Absolutely brilliant album!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Zydar on January 22, 2012, 09:45:59 AM: Crack The Skye + Rumours + SDOIT = :hefdaddy
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 22, 2012, 06:00:17 PM: Getting ready to head into the top 20. Thanks to everyone for following along or just stopping in and looking over the list!

Quote from: jingle.boy on January 22, 2012, 09:37:29 AM
Rumours is criminally mis-represented in DTF land. Absolutely brilliant album!

It really is a great album. I can understand some of it has been played to death on the radio for years but I find it hard to detract from music based on that.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 22, 2012, 06:32:52 PM: 20. The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion [1992]

(https://www.2120.cl/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/The-Black-Crowes-Southern-Harmony.jpg)

Vocalist Chris Robinson sings with so much passion and conviction, there are times I literally find myself holding my breath listening to him. His brother Rich and lead guitarist Marc Ford combined to form a killer guitar duo. When Ford and keyboardist Eddie Harsch joined the Crowes after the bands debut, it cemented a magical line up. The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is much more venomous than their very successful debut. It's nature lies in scalding power blues roots and fiery yet extremely soulful singing.

Check out: "Remedy" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Remedy/2OKaRL?src=5), "Thorn in My Pride" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Thorn+In+My+Pride/2OKc59?src=5), "Sometimes Salvation" (https://youtu.be/Gom4dnR9aQQ?hd=1&t=22s), "Black Moon Creeping" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Black+Moon+Creeping/30F8cT?src=5), "My Morning Song" (https://grooveshark.com/s/My+Morning+Song/2OKeiD?src=5)

19. Van Halen - Fair Warning [1981]

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-df6XGuKlYaE/Thi244PrzGI/AAAAAAAAADo/2kgbuCivI2g/s1600/van_halen_-_fair_warning.JPG)

Fair Warning is probably the darkest and most aggressive album from Van Halen. At this point in their career singer David Lee Roth had pushed for more pop influenced tunes while Eddie Van Halen wanted more complex guitar oriented material. The tensions building within the band seemed to make their way into the recording. Roth's vocals/lyrics here seem edgier and Eddie's playing seems to have more bite, somehow. What is certain is that all the members were on top of their game. "Mean Street" and "Unchained" are absolute monster classic VH tunes and this album features one of the sexiest guitar solos ever in "Push Comes To Shove".

Check out: "Mean Street (https://youtu.be/U2R2KXNQR1M), "Sinner's Swing!" (https://youtu.be/4M_lxaHCk-M), "Unchained" (https://youtu.be/xx86CxKYtg0?hd=1), "Push Comes To Shove" (https://youtu.be/g3aW7oofNgs)

18. Devin Townsend - Ocean Machine: Biomech [1997]

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ag8zgR1xHs8/S7KCATUk5aI/AAAAAAAAA8c/O6DIoX0DDYw/s1600/devin_townsend_ocean_machine_biomech_cover%5B1%5D.jpg)

I think the first song that convinced me to check out Devin was "Deadhead" from Accelerated Evoloution and once I get interested in a band or artist I usually start from the beginning and just work my way through. That's what I did here. Ocean Machine: Biomech was the perfect introduction for me album-wise. Devin gives us his great production, big layered sounds, ambiance, heavy riffs, and goes through all his vocal ranges brilliantly. I just put this on and was jamming away from the beginning, got to the famous 3 song run of "Funeral", "Bastard", and "The Death of Music" and my jaw was on the floor.

Check out: "Seventh Wave" (https://youtu.be/8UuIRmY1WdI?hd=1), "Regulator" (https://youtu.be/qncjwnQ9Z9I?hd=1), "Funeral" (https://youtu.be/M32yWyCSobI?hd=1), "Bastard" (https://youtu.be/O02PAhqorXI?hd=1), "The Death of Music" (https://youtu.be/x5EjHffb5Zw?hd=1)

17. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium [2003]

(https://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00009V7T2.03._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)

The first time I heard music from The Mars Volta my jaw hit the floor, as I could not believe what I was hearing. From a simplistic perspective it was something like an alien Led Zeppelin from the future. Outside of that, the band sort of defies explanation. While The Mars Volta have gone on to produce more quality music I love De-Loused most of all because I think it fully represents and expresses what the band wants to do. Furious guitar riffs, exploding vocals, haunting and eerie melodies, unpredictable rhythms; all of these are found here on De-Loused. I love this thing from start to finish!

Check out: "Inertiatic ESP" (https://vimeo.com/17456372), "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" (https://youtu.be/Y7Z99cGSfzs), "Eriatarka" (https://youtu.be/i5HGnfqWAUE), "Cicatriz ESP" (https://youtu.be/pAX419wze_Y)

16. Alice in Chains - Dirt [1992]

(https://www.metal-archives.com/images/3/9/5/9/3959.jpg)

Dark, angry, gloomy, eerie, heavy, melodic, emotional, bleak - all of these are descriptions of Dirt. This is certainly with reason as the band were facing their demons during the writing and recording of this release. Vocalist Layne Staley was spiraling into his heroin addiction head-on and the rest of the band were helpless to help him as they also were going through their own issues and what you have on record is a brutal truth, a portrait of the dire state they were all in. Being able to create such an exceptional album through all of these tribulations was proof of the great band they were/are.

I'm a big fan of Layne's vocals and how he harmonizes with guitarist Jerry Cantrell who's vocals are pretty good as well. The bands vocal strengths and Cantrell's superb guitar attack set them apart from the grunge crowd (much like Soundgarden).

Check out: "Them Bones" (https://youtu.be/zTuD8k3JvxQ), "Rain When I Die" (https://youtu.be/2T_HYBuiBgE?hd=1), "Down in a Hole" (https://youtu.be/f8hT3oDDf6c), "Rooster" (https://youtu.be/uAE6Il6OTcs), "Would?" (https://youtu.be/Nco_kh8xJDs)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 23, 2012, 12:11:13 PM: Maybe the cute kitty will draw a little more interest...lol

(https://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm6gcwy3NW1qikh6fo1_500.gif)

Seriously, I'll have the next 5 up real soon and the Top 10 is done already so I'll be finished in no time....
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 23, 2012, 12:13:16 PM: Fair Warning wouldn't be my top Halen choice ... I was always a bigger fan of Hagar era stuff.

Black Crowes is some great blues-rock. I knew a few songs from that album, but never did have the whole thing.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Dr. DTVT on January 23, 2012, 04:24:08 PM: The inclusion of Ocean Machine depends on what other Devin you got left. I would have it between 3rd and 5th among Devin albums, not including SYL or project.

I loved Alice In Chains when I was younger. Still have all their stuff pre-2000, most of it on cassette. With the exception of Queensryche, I don't listen to much music I discovered before before October 27, 1998 because it doesn't interest me as much.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Elite on January 23, 2012, 05:17:26 PM: Ocean Machine is awesome, but I don't think it's Devin's best.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 23, 2012, 05:52:21 PM: 15. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream [1993]

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OGkznTA7iEY/TNl9OfODw9I/AAAAAAAAEIs/KyZOXggEwU0/s1600/smashing_pumpkins_siamese_dream.png)

Billy Corgan was not afraid to use his guitars when writing the angsty tunes of the 90's and I love him for it. He layered guitars making them HUGE and used lots of distortion and fuzz and along with the superb drumming of Jimmy Chamberlain and excellent songwriting created Siamese Dream, the anti-grunge/grunge album. A lot of what makes music great and personal is the emotion involved and what the songs pull out of each of us... Siamese Dream is full of emotion from beginning to end it pulls and pulls and pulls it out of me every time I listen. Siamese Dream is a collage of moods and feelings as well as music, one moment lashing out at someone in fuzz-ridden rage, the other embracing that same person romantically in dreamy atmospheres.

Check out: "Cherub Rock" (https://youtu.be/q-KE9lvU810), "Hummer" (https://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=22713780&ac=now), "Geek U.S.A." (https://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=12632151&ac=now), "Mayonaise" (https://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=10797308&ac=now), "Silverfuck" (https://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=9598976&ac=now)

14. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing [2005]

(https://pi.b5z.net/i/u/1352634/i//Deadwing.jpg)

And the flood gates opened up... Deadwing is the album that is responsible for my transition to the world of Porcupine Tree. I had listened to individual songs from the band off and on for several years. I could hear the obvious talent of the band, but when I sat down to listen to the albums I'd get lost somewhere along the way. I would really dig a song or two and then the album would lose me.

Luckily I was intent on discovering the bands magic. I think I was so focused on the experimental aspect of the band that I heard initially years back that I couldn't grasp that there was much more to the band. I love how heavy, melodic, atmospheric, spacy, or straight up rocking the band can be as well and they showcase all of that here on Deadwing. Wow!

Check out: "Deadwing" (https://youtu.be/YYUON-j7G4A?hd=1), "Shallow" (https://youtu.be/OwmyMqUtQ3E?hd=1), "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" (https://youtu.be/KOFvMHEQLEA), "The Start of Something Beautiful" (https://youtu.be/vu8c8XExXVs?hd=1)

13. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here [1975]

(https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/364/cover_383971692009.jpg)

Just put this album on sit back and instant chill mode. After the enormous success of DSOTM the Floyd were faced with the task of trying to maintain the brilliance they had come to create. Where DSOTM focused on the world Pink Floyd saw around them, Wish You Were Here is a good bit more personal.

Most people are aware that "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and largely "Wish You Were Here" are a tribute to their original frontman Syd Barrett. I think to a great extent once they had hit the big time the band felt guilty that Syd wasn't a part of it all and had literally gone off the deep end in the process of the bands progression. The band also expresses their resentment and anger towards the record industry, the pressures they faced, the shmucks in the press etc. with "Welcome to the Machine" and "Have a Cigar".

As usual their musicianship shines throughout. A classic album by an amazing band.

Check out: "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (https://youtu.be/dcoTUW-BqU4?hd=1), "Welcome to the Machine" (https://youtu.be/IoffvnUNhk4?hd=1), "Wish You Were Here" (https://youtu.be/J7EPiA34Mcs?hd=1)

12. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti [1975]

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_36SFFFDlygA/TUjQog7W1nI/AAAAAAAALiE/OvhuycybUrc/s1600/Physical-Graffiti-8.jpg)

Another classic from 1975 with Zep's double album Physical Graffiti. For me part of what made Led Zeppelin so great for so long was their ability to change up their sound and styles and do it in such a quality manner that not many could match it. What I like so much about this album is how diverse it is. Whether it be funk, folk, rock, psychedelic, Arabian, country, swing, bop or any combination of them, Led Zeppelin weld and juxtapose lots of different influences and genres to make Physical Graffiti. I absolutely could have listed any of their classics here but I love that this double album provides a showcase for the band to explore the many elements of their music.

Check out: "The Rover" (https://youtu.be/dSDXJhT3hb8?hd=1), "Kashmir" (https://youtu.be/qSwrLvp02s4?hd=1), "In The Light" (https://youtu.be/hOtRjK2yKHk?hd=1), "Ten Years Gone" (https://youtu.be/J9bP-LbR8u8?hd=1), "The Wanton Song" (https://youtu.be/PPW2HW2Z5wY?hd=1)

11. Metallica - ...And Justice for All [1988]

(https://images.cryhavok.org/d/8675-1/Metallica+-+___And+Justice+For+All.jpg)

(IMO)The last great album from Metallica and for me it was their best. I know some prefer Master of Puppets or Ride The Lightning but this album has always been my favorite from them. The guitar riffs and solos throughout are blistering and I don't think James' vocals were ever better.

Justice is filled with pure rage. I believe the band really were fueled by Cliff's death and pissed off at the world and it just bleeds through in the performance of the songs. From beginning to end the band goes to war with the injustice in this life and it just rips! I still remember blowing the speakers in my brother's car just blaring this album everywhere.

Check out: "Blackened" (https://youtu.be/4Vly1tguRsc?hd=1), "...And Justice for All" (https://youtu.be/01OIZ0Okm6E?hd=1), "One" (https://youtu.be/WM8bTdBs-cw), "Harvester of Sorrow" (https://youtu.be/Yo8w2UhZJL8?hd=1), "Dyers Eve" (https://youtu.be/Zz97-0B7XFw?hd=1)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Ravenheart on January 23, 2012, 06:41:07 PM: Great to see some love for Siamese Dream. That album is magical.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: ReaperKK on January 23, 2012, 06:46:32 PM: Siamese Dream is awesome and I enjoy Deadwing however it's in the lower tier of PT albums for me.

WYWH is great as well, top 50 for me also.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 23, 2012, 07:16:17 PM: Now we're talking! Physical Grafitti just missed my Top 50, WYWH is in a lot of people's, and AJFA is metal bliss.

Good update.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 23, 2012, 09:40:52 PM: Quote from: DTVT on January 23, 2012, 04:24:08 PM
The inclusion of Ocean Machine depends on what other Devin you got left. I would have it between 3rd and 5th among Devin albums, not including SYL or project.

I loved Alice In Chains when I was younger. Still have all their stuff pre-2000, most of it on cassette. With the exception of Queensryche, I don't listen to much music I discovered before before October 27, 1998 because it doesn't interest me as much.

Personally just about anything Dev is cool. If I wasn't limiting so hard I'd have very few artists and much more albums from certain bands.

I actually have the hardest time getting into a whole lot of music past 2000 and I'm right about the same age as you. I don't know why this is. Thankfully for me the last few years have been great for me with music; 2009 going forward.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 23, 2012, 09:44:27 PM: Quote from: Ravenheart on January 23, 2012, 06:41:07 PM
Great to see some love for Siamese Dream. That album is magical.

Quote from: ReaperKK on January 23, 2012, 06:46:32 PM
Siamese Dream is awesome and I enjoy Deadwing however it's in the lower tier of PT albums for me.

WYWH is great as well, top 50 for me also.

Yes Siamese Dream is spectacular. I intend on buying the new remastered set soon. I seem to have connected with Deadwing most as a whole album. I love a lot of individual songs off the rest of the PT catalog though.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 23, 2012, 09:47:38 PM: Quote from: jingle.boy on January 23, 2012, 07:16:17 PM
Now we're talking! Physical Grafitti just missed my Top 50, WYWH is in a lot of people's, and AJFA is metal bliss.

Good update.

;) some people would lose it at me listing AJFA and not Master of Puppets but as I stated I've always preferred AJFA. I do still enjoy MOP very much though.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Nekov on January 24, 2012, 05:16:58 AM: You have lots of great stuff here. Led Zep, Pink Floyd, PT, Sabbath, Metallica. There's also lot's of stuff I haven't heard. Your top 10 should be very interesting
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 24, 2012, 05:44:28 AM: This posting is inspiring me to checkout Deadwing. Listening to it shortly.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Dr. DTVT on January 24, 2012, 09:05:55 AM: Deadwing and In Absentia are albums your resident Steve Wilson hater likes. They're worth the while, as are Fear of a Blank Planet and The Incident.

It's not about when music was made as much as when I discovered it. After Dream Theater a lot of the music I used to like seemed so simple or juvenile. I've come back to the metal somewhat, but there's stuff I have that I'd be hard pressed to listen to again.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 24, 2012, 11:11:57 AM: Quote from: Nekov on January 24, 2012, 05:16:58 AM
You have lots of great stuff here. Led Zep, Pink Floyd, PT, Sabbath, Metallica. There's also lot's of stuff I haven't heard. Your top 10 should be very interesting

I'm glad you've followed and enjoyed it so far!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 24, 2012, 12:03:05 PM: Quote from: jingle.boy on January 24, 2012, 05:44:28 AM
This posting is inspiring me to checkout Deadwing. Listening to it shortly.

Quote from: DTVT on January 24, 2012, 09:05:55 AM
Deadwing and In Absentia are albums your resident Steve Wilson hater likes. They're worth the while, as are Fear of a Blank Planet and The Incident.

I have been enjoying certain songs from Porcupine Tree's catalog for a long time. Then I'd sit down to listen to an album and as a whole it wouldn't grab me. With Deadwing, for some reason it spoke to me more as a collective as well as liking the individual songs.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 24, 2012, 05:12:59 PM: Into the Top 10 we go.......

10. Mastodon - The Hunter [2011]

(https://metalbuzz.net/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mastodon-thehuntercover.jpg)

Controversy!!

I know this is going to be a shock to many with it first, being such a newer album and second, because it's already become a dividing album for some Mastodon fans. I get that some of the fans only like the bands hardcore stuff with the rawr, rawr vocals and that's fine but I got into Mastodon with Crack The Skye and came to love the older stuff as well but refining and making their vocals better (more accessible?) here only served to help me enjoy their whole catalog even more. For me there are no clunker songs here and only a few less than very good.

There are no concepts for The Hunter other than the band just having fun, so you can just choose any song and go with it but I tend to listen to it from start to finish anyhow as it seems to just hypnotize me somehow somewhere around the fourth tune "Stargasm" I'm locked in (that sounds slightly perverted). There's still plenty of edge here but this album is also catchy as hell. I find myself humming or thinking of some of the melodies which some might find odd for a metal band that's generally so heavy like Mastodon.

Most of the newer albums I somewhat purposely restrained myself from ranking too highly but with The Hunter I know it will always be among my favorite albums. 2011 was a great year for music for me.

Check out: "Blasteroid" (https://youtu.be/NHh6CJtn8kc?hd=1), "Stargasm" (https://youtu.be/bjjcbU8gcHE?hd=1), "Octopus Has No Friends" (https://youtu.be/h50NDCaD3pQ?hd=1), "All The Heavy Lifting" (https://youtu.be/HBmqv6fksiY?hd=1), "The Sparrow" (https://youtu.be/-8UZUQs2ybQ?hd=1)

9. Soundgarden - Superunknown [1994]

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6tJHBv82MIM/TPG8wuARi_I/AAAAAAAAAsk/IC_q5VTTgxY/s1600/Superunknown.jpg)

Such a dark and gloomy overall mood to this brilliant album. Where Black Sabbath used horror movie lyrics to create a much darker vibe, Soundgarden uses raw tormented human emotions to create their doom and gloom and it works to perfection on Superunknown. Kim Thayil and company provide Sabbath like riffs while Chris Cornell is on top of his game here, moving from eerie melody to deeper grunge vocals to outright Robert Plant like screams.

The album spawned a number of hits like "Spoonman", "Black Hole Sun", "Fell on Black Days" but as I've noted several times the album cuts are what makes the album for me and this album is deep. It's quite long at about 70 minutes but while it features such a dark undercurrent it manages to never drag. Clearly one of the best albums of the 90's and one of my all-time favorites.

Check out: "Limo Wreck" (https://youtu.be/vYrvdFWuDz0?hd=1), "Mailman" (https://youtu.be/n5BXYKl-YZw), "The Day I Tried to Live" (https://youtu.be/dbckIuT_YDc), "4th of July" (https://youtu.be/VgSY0QRkAQI), "Like Suicide" (https://youtu.be/3PsLjEe6Ic0?hd=1)

8. Prince - Purple Rain [1984]

(https://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbc6m4B85t1qd0v8s_1288834949_cover.jpg)

Prince is an artist who polarizes most music fans. To some, he is an unparalleled genius; others are confused by his sexuality, vulgarity or general behavior (although that's what he wants) and find it more convenient to dismiss him as a over-hyped weirdo. For me he is pure genius. He created brilliant music solely on his terms (many times to his own detriment).

This album is a perfect display of all of Prince's talents from his vocal pyrotechnics to his musical versatility. Pop hasn't been an easy genre to create serious music in, yet Prince mastered it here. He takes a big chunk of rock and funk and infuses it with electronic synths and anthemic song writing. Every song is flawless and can be just as easily played in a club, at a party or sitting down with headphones listening to every amazing note. Purple Rain is a timeless masterpiece, probably the best pop album of all time if you choose to classify a genre.

Check out: "Let's Go Crazy" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Lets+Go+Crazy/vqbrd?src=5), "Darling Nikki" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Darling+Nikki+By+Prince+And/3GQiQ5?src=5), "When Doves Cry" (https://grooveshark.com/s/When+Doves+Cry/44X339?src=5), "I Would Die 4 U" (https://grooveshark.com/s/I+Would+Die+4+U/2EpsCo?src=5), "Purple Rain" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Purple+Rain+LP+Version+/2PePO4?src=5)

7. Dream Theater - Images And Words [1992]

(https://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/56129.gif)

Still an amazing gem today, Images and Words definitely deserves a place in my top 10. Since we all are familiar with this superb album (or at least should be) I'll re-hash my story of discovering the album and the band.

First let me set the scene....It goes back to 1992 and I was not yet in high school. I am from a small town and there generally weren't many things to do for a kid my age at the time. Some kind soul decided to try to open a "teen club" so that the youth would have some place to go and hopefully stay out of trouble...

My friends and I were all into the same types of music mainly metal, rock and classic rock and it was the early days of Nirvana and grunge etc. so we were obviously enjoying that as well. When I heard of this "teen club" I was certain they would only play pop music or R&B but my friends who had a band were invited to come play to help open the place up. This was an exciting experience to see my friends play a gig in a club at at young age and everyone was pumped.

Now to get to the DT discovery portion of the story... as I said my friends were playing the opening of the club so the club got a nice PA system and everything for the band. My friends and everyone meet up that night and we're all mingling and chatting excited in anticipation of our friends playing on stage in the club. Meanwhile someone starts playing some other music through the PA preparing it for the show. The first song to come through in blaring brilliancy is "Pull Me Under"....

It starts off and me and my friends kind of look at each other like what is this? The drums kick in and I'm like that can't be real.. then the first riffs come through at around 1:17 of the song and our young minds are blown for good! I know some people are tired of the song and some of the younger fans might not understand what it was like to find this song. What I compare it to at that time is what people who heard Zeppelin or Sabbath in the late 60's or early 70's must have felt.... The sound was just other worldly for that time especially. On top of that take PMU and go crank your stereo system full on and imagine what it was like hearing that come across a cranked PA system in 1992...

So I pretty much forget my friends exciting moment of opening up the club and playing one of their first real gigs..lol..and I spent the rest of the evening trying to find out who the band was that played during soundcheck. It was about a month before PMU started getting play on Headbangers Ball and they had already made me a fan for life.

Check out: "Pull Me Under" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Pull+Me+Under/2CYqrd?src=5), "Take the Time" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Take+The+Time/2os4rW?src=5), "Metropolis, Pt. 1" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Metropolis+Pt+I+The+Miracle+And+The+Sleeper/3FX34V?src=5), "Under A Glass Moon" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Under+A+Glass+Moon/2yv2Yx?src=5), "Learning to Live" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Learning+To+Live/2Dh3LH?src=5)

6. Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads - Tribute [1987]

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512-aOrh--L.jpg)

I'm a big Ozzy fan. From his career with Black Sabbath through all of his solo stuff. I believe that his best work was with the legendary Randy Rhoads. Sabbath are clearly one of the creators of heavy metal (IMO the creators) but with Randy, Ozzy took his game to another level. Randy Rhoads forever will be one of the best guitarists the world has ever known.

Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman are amazing albums on their own and I actually had them listed here WITH Tribute but when I started listening back over the albums I realized that I had come to much prefer the Tribute versions of the songs on those albums. Like I said, Blizzard and Diary are outstanding records but after hearing the songs on Tribute they almost sound sterile. On Tribute they are absolutely electric and sound alive and thats exactly how I wish to remember Rhoads in tribute.

Check out: "I Don't Know" (https://grooveshark.com/s/I+Don+t+Know/2C2NdX?src=5), "Believer" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Believer/3EF3Go?src=5), "Mr. Crowley" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Mr+Crowley/2UM40N?src=5), "Revelation (Mother Earth)" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Revelation+Mother+Earth+Live+/3IuPAY?src=5), "Children of the Grave" (https://grooveshark.com/s/Children+Of+The+Grave/3U6VD1?src=5)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Nekov on January 24, 2012, 06:14:05 PM: DT and Ozzy :tup
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: obscure on January 25, 2012, 03:53:31 AM: and Mastodon :metal
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: JRundquist on January 25, 2012, 04:02:01 AM: I feel bad for not commenting much on this thread. But there isn't an album on this list that I don't really enjoy. You have a great taste in music. Looking forward to seeing the best of the best!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 25, 2012, 06:15:20 AM: And Prince! Completely under-rated, and over-shadowed in the early/mid 80s by MJ. Absolutely fantastic album. Had it on vinyl, and got a lot of spins in the jingle bedroom. Still listen to it to this day every few months.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 25, 2012, 11:24:36 AM: Quote from: JRundquist on January 25, 2012, 04:02:01 AM
I feel bad for not commenting much on this thread. But there isn't an album on this list that I don't really enjoy. You have a great taste in music. Looking forward to seeing the best of the best!

No problem at all. I appreciate anyone following along, commenting or not. I really wanted to put a list together to see if I could and how it would look at the moment. I think I managed to juggle things that will always be among my favorites even though I've listened to them to death and things that are making their way into my all-time favorites. Just hope I haven't bored everyone to tears yet... :biggrin:

Quote from: jingle.boy on January 25, 2012, 06:15:20 AM
And Prince! Completely under-rated, and over-shadowed in the early/mid 80s by MJ. Absolutely fantastic album. Had it on vinyl, and got a lot of spins in the jingle bedroom. Still listen to it to this day every few months.

I love so much of Prince's work. He's been pretty prolific with writing and performing some amazing tunes. Definitely among my favorite musicians ever.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Dr. DTVT on January 25, 2012, 01:20:29 PM: That Ozzy album kept me sane once. When I was in college I had to write this big ass term paper at the end of the semester, so I moved all my stuff out of my dorm other than clothes and my computer to keep distractions down. Then the AC broke so it was about 100 degrees. Since I had already shipped all my music home for the summer, I went to the music store and that Ozzy album was on sale...it was the only thing I could afford that I didn't already own, so I listened to it about 20 times straight over the next two days.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 25, 2012, 03:05:42 PM: Quote from: DTVT on January 25, 2012, 01:20:29 PM
That Ozzy album kept me sane once. When I was in college I had to write this big ass term paper at the end of the semester, so I moved all my stuff out of my dorm other than clothes and my computer to keep distractions down. Then the AC broke so it was about 100 degrees. Since I had already shipped all my music home for the summer, I went to the music store and that Ozzy album was on sale...it was the only thing I could afford that I didn't already own, so I listened to it about 20 times straight over the next two days.

:metal That's an awesome story! I hope Ozzy and Randy helped you "rock" that term paper :P
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Kosmo on January 25, 2012, 03:44:44 PM: Superunknown is such a great album. :heart
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 25, 2012, 05:01:17 PM: Totally predictable 5-2... #1 could be a surprise to some though...

5. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin [1969]

(https://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnpix5h3r51qkzkxno1_1309612202_cover.jpg)

Led Zeppelin... well the cool thing over the last several years has been to hate on one of the greatest bands of all time so I guess actually LOVING this album and the band is the new edgy thing again (at least it is in my mind, F' off haters). Zeppelin breaking on the scene in 1969.... 19...69... with some of the heaviest sounding raw and powerful blues drenched music ever. They didn't just break the door down on the rock scene they blew everyone's door off the hinges. Nothing like them at the time as far as musical quality and heaviness. Going on well over 40 years now this debut still makes me shake my head at how powerful it is. If Physical Graffiti was Zep refined and polished this is clearly them full of raw energy and both are great. This album just gets bonus points from me for coming first and creating a path for all heavy-hard rocking bands.

Check out: "Good Times Bad Times" (https://youtu.be/smWRaETxIIA?hd=1), "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" (https://youtu.be/W_ZDpg6ujlk?hd=1), "Dazed And Confused" (https://youtu.be/afcR_eSX1-E?hd=1), "Your Time Is Gonna Come" (https://youtu.be/JyA7ctTHK8I?hd=1), "How Many More Times" (https://youtu.be/lsOs_CrQKWY?hd=1)

4. Devin Townsend Project - Addicted! [2009]

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5l1izBYK44/SwdlHqlm9eI/AAAAAAAAABc/Gg8ZQ9b79vI/s1600/folder.jpg)

I'm still wrapping my head around the idea that an album can be so heavy yet be perfectly danceable (or at least in my case head-nod-able). Addicted! is the album that instantly clicked for me and quickly was being blasted across my house and scaring my family. It was a fast full-on addiction for me!

This album features the full range of Devin's amazing vocals as usual but with the addiction... er... addition of the beautiful and outstanding female vocals from Anneke van Giersbergen on numerous tracks. Through Devin's mad genius he manages to somehow meld his wall of sound and crushing metal riffage with her angelic vocals while throwing in his own mix of angelic operatic and demonic scowling vocals. Really impossible to properly describe; powerful, melodic, crushing, even downright poppy at times but most of all it's extremely fun.

I don't know of an album I have that can put me in a better mood or make me smile quite as much. The family certainly appreciates that and now have even found themselves Addicted! This album has changed how I look at/ listen to music.

Check out: "Addicted!" (https://youtu.be/EBP8-ootc40?hd=1), "Supercrush!" (https://youtu.be/TMCK5N5B9h4?hd=1), "The Way Home!" (https://youtu.be/x5uAMcTp3lE), "Numbered!" (https://youtu.be/khBEVSSlxQQ?hd=1), "Awake!!" (https://youtu.be/ybnwFnJET7E?hd=1)

3. Van Halen - Van Halen [1978]

(https://www.vintagevinyljournals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/vanhalen-vanhalen-cover.jpg)

The MIGHTY VAN HALEN! This was how the band was introduced and with damn good reason. In 1978 the band exploded on the scene with their debut featuring sonic guitar-centric tunes. The legend goes that when they went on their first big tour opening for Black Sabbath, they were blowing Sabbath off the stage performance-wise. It's not hard to see how that was the case. I listen to some of Ed's guitar work in the early VH years and still marvel. Looking back and listening to this album 30 plus years later there has been little that can touch his work when considering creativity, sound-wise, and technique so you can imagine how awe inspiring it was at that time.

While EVH is a major part of what makes the band and this album special the rest of the band is full on and "On Fire" here. This album changed music spanning several genres and generations going forward. No matter what your musical preferences you can't call yourself an open-minded music lover if you can't appreciate what this album offers- killer hooks, dazzling guitar, banshee vocals, driving energy, and original riffs that a thousand imitators still can't replicate.

Check out: "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" (https://youtu.be/FfTaFGxfo2Q?hd=1), "I'm the One" (https://youtu.be/aS-2NAn7jek?hd=1), "Atomic Punk" (https://youtu.be/0OE8aE7lfIw?hd=1), "Little Dreamer" (https://youtu.be/aNJ91nBR3zk?hd=1), "On Fire" (https://youtu.be/47BcZHYSipg?hd=1)

2. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon [1973]

(https://mediafiremp3.com/images/album_covers/Pink_Floyd_-_The_Dark_Side_Of_The_Moon.jpg)

To me there is no doubt that this album is clearly one of the greatest ever. I hear a number of people today call it overrated. I think some folks just have a hard time enjoying something that so many people accept as great even when it's almost undeniable and these folks never really deny that the album is exceptional. I do understand people have different tastes and this album has been hyped but the reason I don't see it as "overrated" is that the quality of music exceeds the hype.

Moving on from yet another soapbox moment... As I mentioned previously when commenting on Wish You Were Here, this album focuses more on how Pink Floyd saw the world around them. The songs and lyrics are based a great deal as commentary on society and humanity. As with most Floyd albums production, song writing, musicianship are golden here. In my mind no amount of hype could cause me to think this album is overrated... it's sheer perfection.

Check out: "Speak To Me/Breathe" (https://youtu.be/Bybe14ZlrvA?hd=1), "Time" (https://youtu.be/cxDEgZYH0vU?hd=1), "The Great Gig in the Sky" (https://youtu.be/4WMhpo6X1Uk?hd=1), "Us and Them" (https://youtu.be/_w-lFv4eS70?hd=1), "Any Colour You Like" (https://youtu.be/gHA09l0ofsU?hd=1)

................. #1 coming soon!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: pain of occupation on January 25, 2012, 07:59:47 PM: :corn
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: jingle.boy on January 25, 2012, 08:40:28 PM: Nice albums. Not much of a Devin fan, but :tup :tup on the others. EVH was godly on that release. He redefined the role of a lead guitar player. One of the first to take the frontman role away from the lead singer. As flamboyant and as good a lead that DLR was, EVH on the axe was better.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Nekov on January 25, 2012, 09:19:47 PM: Nice! I'm not very keen on Roth's era VH but the rest are pretty awesome records
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: ReaperKK on January 26, 2012, 06:35:52 AM: Fuck man you're list is so epic.

Addicted! is probably my favorite DT album however I still have a lot of his material to listen to. "The Way Home" is easily my favorite song of his.

Dark Side, awesome to see it place so high. My issue is I think I overplayed for many years and it just lost that spark with me, it's still a great album though.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: obscure on January 26, 2012, 06:40:33 AM: Quote from: ReaperKK on January 26, 2012, 06:35:52 AM
Dark Side, awesome to see it place so high.
where it belongs.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Nekov on January 26, 2012, 08:07:19 AM: Quote from: ReaperKK on January 26, 2012, 06:35:52 AM

Addicted! is probably my favorite DT album however I still have a lot of his material to listen to. "The Way Home" is easily my favorite song of his.

Yes!!! I don't know why that song doesn't get the recognition it deserves.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 26, 2012, 08:19:14 AM: Quote from: ReaperKK on January 26, 2012, 06:35:52 AM
Fuck man you're list is so epic.

Addicted! is probably my favorite DT album however I still have a lot of his material to listen to. "The Way Home" is easily my favorite song of his.

Dark Side, awesome to see it place so high. My issue is I think I overplayed for many years and it just lost that spark with me, it's still a great album though.

Thanks so much! I'm very glad to see a number of folks enjoyed keeping up with it. Not sure I was really able to introduce people to much they weren't already aware of but maybe there's something in there that inspired some folks to check it out. Regardless as tough as it was I enjoyed putting the list together and feel pretty good about it overall for where I'm at.

Quote from: Nekov on January 26, 2012, 08:07:19 AM
Quote from: ReaperKK on January 26, 2012, 06:35:52 AM

Addicted! is probably my favorite DT album however I still have a lot of his material to listen to. "The Way Home" is easily my favorite song of his.

Yes!!! I don't know why that song doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

"The Way Home!" is superb. Devin really shows off his vocals there. I've always been a big fan of that song as well.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Kosmo on January 26, 2012, 10:40:44 AM: Quote from: ReaperKK on January 26, 2012, 06:35:52 AM

Addicted! is probably my favorite DT album

I was so confused for a minute.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: kirksnosehair on January 26, 2012, 01:31:53 PM: This has been an extremely interesting list so far. Some stuff that ain't really my cuppa, but that's cool. Some other stuff that's right in my wheelhouse too.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: ReaperKK on January 26, 2012, 03:36:21 PM: Quote from: WebRaider on January 26, 2012, 08:19:14 AM
Quote from: ReaperKK on January 26, 2012, 06:35:52 AM
Fuck man you're list is so epic.

Addicted! is probably my favorite DT album however I still have a lot of his material to listen to. "The Way Home" is easily my favorite song of his.

Dark Side, awesome to see it place so high. My issue is I think I overplayed for many years and it just lost that spark with me, it's still a great album though.

Thanks so much! I'm very glad to see a number of folks enjoyed keeping up with it. Not sure I was really able to introduce people to much they weren't already aware of but maybe there's something in there that inspired some folks to check it out. Regardless as tough as it was I enjoyed putting the list together and feel pretty good about it overall for where I'm at.

Yea it's a great list 90% of the stuff either made my list or would be in my top 100 though :lol
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 26, 2012, 05:36:56 PM: Well, it's been fun everyone! Thanks to everyone who dropped in or was following along.

Finishing up now with my #1....................................

1. The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness [1995]

(https://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/2f/4e/d3284310fca09730951c5010.L.jpg)

Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness took a few years to grow on me even though at it's release I was already a pretty big Pumpkins fan. I didn't really like the single "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" and it seemed to me at the time they had departed from the sound of Siamese Dream. That was true to some extent but Billy Corgan had actually only expanded on the sound. The range and scope of Mellon Collie is tremendous as there are so many great tunes from beginning to end that are different from each other, yet flow together very well. This album is #1 for me because it encompasses every element of music I truly enjoy.

*I'm stealing a review I found online because I can not find the words that thoroughly desecribe this amazing album. This review explains it much better than I could begin to.

Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness is a magnificent 28-song opus spanning 2-CDs and a multitude of musical styles. It's as lush as it is intimate, as ambitious as it is focused and every bit as grand as such an affair should be.

From the opening swells of the hit "Tonight, Tonight," the amount of growth marked between this and the band's previous effort, "Siamese Dream" is evident. A sweeping ballad that is unlike anything the band had produced before, it's not only indicative of the what was to come, but also merely a sampler of the wide variety of sounds the album has to offer. From there we are treated to the retro-pop of "1979," a nostalgic anthem of sorts that finds the band working with a drum machine for the first time since recruiting drumming powerhouse Jimmy Chamberlin. Bassist D'arcy Wretzky dominates on heavier fare such as "Zero" (a signature song of the band) and the superior "Tales of a Scorched Earth," which threatens to overload and obliterate even the best sound system. It's not all sonic bombast, though, as some of the simpler tracks like "Muzzle" (which carries the trademark vintage Pumpkins sound) and "Thirty-Three" are the stars that burn the brightest.

From front to back, not a moment on "Mellon Collie" is wasted. Not only is the band in top form and firing on all cylinders (arguably for the first and last time in their career) but Corgan's songwriting hits an all-time high as well. Unlike many of their fellow rockers, Smashing Pumpkins weren't afraid to embrace accessibility and reach new heights creatively, and to that end, "Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness" is one of the most competent and most compelling rock releases of the 90's. A true classic that no collection -- alternative or otherwise -- should go without.

Check out: "Tonight, Tonight" (https://youtu.be/NOG3eus4ZSo), "Fuck You (An Ode to No One)" (https://open.spotify.com/track/3hai7yJWIgHWDXhL18IEkh), "Galapogos" (https://open.spotify.com/track/2iE1fn0TXz1PscmYmZYPse), "Thirty-Three" (https://youtu.be/AYSbztCCTlA), "Thru the Eyes of Ruby" (https://open.spotify.com/track/1INH3XFuFuMqvIb7bEwd8S)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 26, 2012, 05:38:21 PM: In review that is.....

1. Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness [1995]
2. Van Halen - Van Halen [1978]
3. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon [1973]
4. Devin Townsend Project - Addicted! [2009]
5. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I [1969]
6. Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads - Tribute [1987]
7. Dream Theater - Images And Words [1992]
8. Prince - Purple Rain [1984]
9. Soundgarden - Superunknown [1994]
10. Mastodon - The Hunter [2011]
11. Metallica - ...And Justice for All [1988]
12. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti [1975]
13. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here [1975]
14. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing [2005]
15. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream [1993]
16. Alice In Chains - Dirt [1992]
17. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium [2003]
18. Devin Townsend - Ocean Machine: Biomech [1997]
19. Van Halen - Fair Warning [1981]
20. The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion [1994]
21. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence [2002]
22. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours [1977]
23. Soundgarden - Down on the Upside [1996]
24. Mastodon - Crack The Skye [2009]
25. Stone Temple Pilots - Purple [1994]
26. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime [1988]
27. Black Sabbath - Sabotage [1975]
28. Megadeth - Rust In Peace [1990]
29. Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf [2002]
30. Mad Season - Above [1995]
31. Dio - Holy Diver [1983]
32. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell [1990]
33. Protest The Hero - Scurrilous [2011]
34. Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E. [1997]
35. The Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra [2006]
36. Queensryche - Promised Land [1994]
37. Tool - Ænima [1996]
38. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral [1994]
39. Deftones - Diamond Eyes (iTunes deluxe edition) [2010]
40. Maxwell - Embrya [1998]
41. Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time [1986]
42. Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors [2011]
43. Candlebox - Candlebox [1993]
44. Dave Matthews And Tim Reynolds - Live at Radio City [2007]
45. Pearl Jam - Ten [1991]
46. Chroma Key - Dead Air for Radios [1998]
47. Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris (Tour Edition) [2007]
48. Dokken - Tooth and Nail [1984]
49. Havok - Time is Up [2011]
50. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine [1992]

40 Different Bands/Musicians

1960's - 1
1970's - 6
1980's - 8
1990's - 21
2000's - 9
2010's - 5

Thank you all!!!!
(https://gifsoup.com/view6/2376701/robert-byebyes-o.gif)

I'm Out!!!!!!

(https://gifsoup.com/view4/1324222/mic-drop-charlie-murphy-o.gif)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Heretic on January 26, 2012, 07:14:15 PM: Awesome list, dude. Great to see The Hunter so high!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: Ravenheart on January 26, 2012, 08:05:19 PM: Mellon Collie is a masterpiece. Great #1 pick. :tup
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 27, 2012, 11:49:58 AM: Quote from: Heretic on January 26, 2012, 07:14:15 PM
Awesome list, dude. Great to see The Hunter so high!

Thanks! I know some may take issue with it but really it's a great album even if it's fairly new still.

Quote from: Ravenheart on January 26, 2012, 08:05:19 PM
Mellon Collie is a masterpiece. Great #1 pick. :tup

I'm glad there are a few other fans of the Pumpkins and this album around. Every time I listen to the album starting from the beginning there are so many good/excellent songs throughout I barely have time to listen to all of the ones I want.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: pain of occupation on January 28, 2012, 11:46:42 AM: lots of love for mellow jolly...though i do regard a couple tracks as filler.

awesome list dude. lots i love and a few things to check out (trying to see if a friend has Mad Season, for one.)
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: ReaperKK on January 29, 2012, 02:33:32 PM: Not a big fan of Mellon Collie, it's not terrible but I think I could work down all the good songs onto one disc of material.
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: wolfking on January 29, 2012, 02:44:29 PM: That Smashing Pumpkins album is amazing!
Title: Re: WebRaider's Top 50 Albums - v. Breaking All The Rules
Post by: WebRaider on January 30, 2012, 06:39:20 PM: Quote from: pain of occupation on January 28, 2012, 11:46:42 AM
lots of love for mellow jolly...though i do regard a couple tracks as filler.

awesome list dude. lots i love and a few things to check out (trying to see if a friend has Mad Season, for one.)

Thanks! I hope you like the Mad Season album.

Quote from: ReaperKK on January 29, 2012, 02:33:32 PM
Not a big fan of Mellon Collie, it's not terrible but I think I could work down all the good songs onto one disc of material.

I know there are a lot of fans who aren't big on double albums. I much prefer to have the material than not. Let the fans decide whether it's worthwhile or not. Having said that I understand everyone is going to have a different opinion there. I personally feel like there is very little in the way of "filler" on Mellon Collie. I like how there's varying types or different sounding songs that seem to break up such a long album so I don't get bored by the length of the album.

Quote from: wolfking on January 29, 2012, 02:44:29 PM
That Smashing Pumpkins album is amazing!

Glad to see another fan of it here :tup