My top 10 (with write ups)
10. Riverside - Shrine of New Generation SlavesThis ended being a close call with the new Ayreon album and I ended up choosing this one because I can easily listen to just one or two songs if I prefer while TTOE needs to be listened as a whole every time to really appreciate it.
Overall this is a solid album by Riverside with a more modern sound than their previous releases but also keeping that distinct Riverside feeling.
Favorite Sons: Feel Like Falling, Escalator Shrine, Coda
9. Von Hertzen Brothers - Nine livesI was very excited for this album to come out this year as I’ve been listening to them quite a lot and I really loved them however I was expecting something else from them. They seem to have taken a different approach from their previous releases into a let’s call calmer or maybe more accessible which is not always bad but in this case I think takes some of the magic away. I still find this album very enjoyable with some fantastic songs and the usual great vocal melodies.
Favorite Songs: Insomniac, Coming Home, One May Never Know
8. Spock’s Beard - Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless SleepI never really enjoyed the post Neal era of Spock’s Beard. X was a good album but still lacked something that made me really enjoy it which this album has. I can’t explain what it is really but after some transition albums it seems they found their area of comfort and found a new sound that makes the whole band shine but still keeping the old roots which made me a fan to begin with.
Favorite Songs: Hiding Out, Something Very Strange, Waiting for Me
7. Haken - The MountainHaken fans are going to come at me for ranking The Mountain this low
, but in my opinion this was a step back, or more like a step in a direction I don’t like. There’s a lot of the old Haken in this album and for the most part I really like it but the amount of “prog by numbers” throws me off, it just breaks the flow of the songs and makes things sound disconnected. That being said, the band sounds a lot more mature and Ross has an outstanding performance.
Favorite Songs: Atlas Stone, In memoriam, Pareidolia
6. Sigur Ros - KveikurPost rock seems to be a wide genre, at least from the different bands I’ve heard and Sigur Ros always struck me as having their own sound that sometimes was similar to those other bands I’ve listened to but it seemed to me they were more of an icelandic folk band. This record shatters that notion completely as it goes into a full post rock sound while still keeping that unique Sigur Ros sound and also introducing some new electronic elements that in the beginning felt weird but after a couple of listens blend in really well.
Favorite Songs: Isjaki, Stormur, Rafstraumur
5. Moon Safari - Himlabacken vol. 1My favorite Moon Safari album so far. They maintained the prog, the cheerfulness and the fun but this time they were able to deliver all of that in shorter doses without losing quality. Don’t get me wrong, I love prog and I like epic songs and long instrumental sections but I like it better when an album has a variety of song lengths. This is a step up from Lover’s End and following a similar direction which makes me hopeful that we’ll have more great Moon Safari in the future
Favorite Songs: Too Young to Say Goodbye, Mega Moon, Diamonds.
4. The Dear Hunter - MigrantFollowing on the lines of The Color Spectrum, TDH released this new album with a more indie approach rather than the prog they displayed in the 3 acts and to be honest I really love it. It’s a very accessible album that is just relaxing to listen to yet it still has some of the old TDH in there, it’s just no so “in your face”
Favorite Songs: Whisper, An Escape, The Kiss of Life
3. Steven Wilson - The Raven that Refused to Sing (and other stories)A perfect mixture of classic prog rock with modern sound. That’s the best I can describe this album. Steven Wilson really went and extra mile while composing this album and also choosing the interpreters, it’s hard to go wrong when you have such good musicians together. What also adds to the greatness of the album is that I had the chance to watch it live in what was one of the best shows I’ve been to.
Favorite Songs: Drive Home, The Raven that Refused to Sing, The Pindrop
2. Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian VerseOver this last year I’ve been opening myself to other musical genres and very specifically indie rock and the reason for that is this album. From the first listen I got hooked up to the great feeling I get when playing this whether it’s peace during the calmer songs or joy and happiness from the upbeat ones. There is no technical prowess displayed here yet everything fits perfectly all the time. This album for me is miles ahead of any other released this year (sans N° of course)
Favorite Songs: Holy, Backyard Skulls, Late March Death March
1. Dream Theater - Dream TheaterThis was my biggest surprise this year. After DTs latest releases I wasn’t expecting much from them and after listening to The Enemy Within as soon as it came out I prepared myself for yet another disappointment. I’m the kind of person that admits his mistakes and this won’t be an exception, Sorry DT for ever doubting you!
The choosing of the name is perfect as this album portrays everything DT is great at and on the other hand there are lots of hints to their previous albums to show the different sides and the evolution of the band. The only weak point for me is TEM, all the other songs range from very good to amazing.
Favorite Songs: The Looking Glass, Illumination Theory, Along for the Ride.
Topic: Your Favourite Releases of 2013 (Read 14883 times)
