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General => Archive => General Music Archives => Topic started by: Nick on April 28, 2010, 11:33:44 PM
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Ah yes, another idea shamelessly stolen from Kev! While he finishes the original I will start the blatant rip-off.
A few guidelines before we begin. I am not including any artists with two or fewer studio albums. Although there are a few who might otherwise make my top 50 they simply can not have enough material to be judged against bands I have 10+ albums by. As is it is very difficult to rank bands with 3 albums against those with 6.
When naming favorite albums and favorite songs I won't stick to any particular number, for albums I'll generally name the ones I consider amazing albums, keeping into consideration how many albums the band has. For example if a band has 5 albums I'm going to do my best not to name 4 of them. :lol I will also name them from most essential to least essential.
I will, on a few occasions, lump several bands together under one primary composer, this is my call and you just have to live with it. :p
On with the fun...
50. King Crimson
This is one of those special bands that when I'm in the mood they are absolutely terrific. From the well known debut to their newest every King Crimson record I own demands my attention in some way. The coolest thing is, no matter how wacky a Crimson record gets, no matter how out there it seems, at the end of a focused listen it all seems to make sense. Funnily enough Crimson makes breaking the rules the a rule, and I can't see someone at least giving them credit for being inventive and interesting.
Favorite Albums: The Power to Believe, Discipline
Favorite Songs: In the Court of the Crimson King, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Thela Hun Ginjeet
49. Genesis
I know some of you here will not be happy seeing these guys so low, but simply speaking I don't find their golden years to come close to contemporaries like Yes and Rush. Still, there is a lot of classic material, and one has to appreciate the very theatrical aspects of the band, they were, in the beginning at least, truly art for art's sake. However, musically I'd say they were very good, but falling short of true greatness, and a band held high more due to nostalgia than a large amount of fantastic output. And then there is of course the Collins led Genesis, which does have some redeeming qualities, and is certainly catchy, but not overall as good as the older stuff.
Favorite Albums: Selling England By the Pound, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Favorite Songs: The Cinema Show, The Return of the Giant Hogweed, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
48. Spock's Beard
This is a band that would almost definitely be higher if their albums could be obtained at a decent price, but seeing as I can never find their stuff cheap, I only own 5 albums. Now here comes the shocker. Although I really like the Morse-era stuff I own, I love the D'Virgilio era a tad more. I just love the loose rocking song-writing that the band fully developed after Morse's departure. Still I'd suggest either era to anyone, with a preference suited to their tastes.
Favorite Albums: Octane, V
Favorite Songs: Crack the Big Sky, All On a Sunday, At the End of the Day, Wind at My Back, Surfing Down the Avalanche, Climbing Up That Hill
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Insta-fail for not mentioning Snow. But I agree with you partly as I also love the D'Virgilio era. 'On a Perfect Day' is one of my favourite SB songs.
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God dammit. I want to do something like this but I keep waiting for the amount of these things to die down so I'm not cluttering up the forum BUT THEN PEOPLE POST EVEN MORE.
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this ought to be fun
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Insta-fail for not mentioning Snow. But I agree with you partly as I also love the D'Virgilio era. 'On a Perfect Day' is one of my favourite SB songs.
Funny you should mention that song, if I had listed just one more in my list it would probably be that one.
As for Snow, it definitely has some strong moments, and it's a good album overall but I don't find it to be the amazing album many seem to think it is.
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Great bands so far, but I think you need to name more favorite albums and favorite songs. :biggrin:
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Insta-fail for not mentioning Snow. But I agree with you partly as I also love the D'Virgilio era. 'On a Perfect Day' is one of my favourite SB songs.
Funny you should mention that song, if I had listed just one more in my list it would probably be that one.
As for Snow, it definitely has some strong moments, and it's a good album overall but I don't find it to be the amazing album many seem to think it is.
To be honest, I only really like Disk 1
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Considering how much you love Transatlantic and how similar the bands can be I'm really surprised Spock's Beard is that low.
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I expect, in time, Spock's Beard will move steadily up, but I just need to get more of their albums.
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If "Surfing Down the Avalanche" is one of your favorite SB songs, then you definitely haven't heard enough of their material. :lol
And you could have at least waited until I was finished when my thread, ya know. ;) :lol
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Yeah, I could have, but I was excited as I've been making my list, editing it, and re-editing it since you started yours, and everyone was just waiting for the order of the final bands.
And yes, I agree I have not heard enough of their material, and I will get more in time.
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It's interesting that you don't have In the Court of the Crimson King listed as a favorite album but two out of your three favorite songs listed are from that album. Oh, and I'm noticing a severe lack of Red.
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Yeah, I could have, but I was excited as I've been making my list, editing it, and re-editing it since you started yours, and everyone was just waiting for the order of the final bands.
Take care not to leave your Word document behind in the bar after a night of drinking, or your list might get leaked, probably on Cozmodo.
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It's interesting that you don't have In the Court of the Crimson King listed as a favorite album but two out of your three favorite songs listed are from that album. Oh, and I'm noticing a severe lack of Red.
That's because I find Power and Discipline to be great albums from front to back, whereas In the Court has awesome as book-ends, but the middle is some of my least favorite Crimson.
Yeah, I could have, but I was excited as I've been making my list, editing it, and re-editing it since you started yours, and everyone was just waiting for the order of the final bands.
Take care not to leave your Word document behind in the bar after a night of drinking, or your list might get leaked, probably on Cozmodo.
:lol But a word to the wise, I keep my list in Excel, I travel with a fake list in a Word file just in case people try and steal it from me!
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Yeah, I could have, but I was excited as I've been making my list, editing it, and re-editing it since you started yours, and everyone was just waiting for the order of the final bands.
Take care not to leave your Word document behind in the bar after a night of drinking, or your list might get leaked, probably on Cozmodo.
:lol But a word to the wise, I keep my list in Excel, I travel with a fake list in a Word file just in case people try and steal it from me!
Apple could learn a thing or two from you, but they don't use Office, do they? I prefer to keep all my important documents in PowerPoint -- because who's gonna look there?
EDIT: for a brief moment I contemplated creating a fake top 50 Nick list and posting it as a leak, but 1) I really should be doing homework and 2) don't want to take up all that space in the thread.
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It's interesting that you don't have In the Court of the Crimson King listed as a favorite album but two out of your three favorite songs listed are from that album. Oh, and I'm noticing a severe lack of Red.
That's because I find Power and Discipline to be great albums from front to back, whereas In the Court has awesome as book-ends, but the middle is some of my least favorite Crimson.
Epitaph would like to have a word with you.
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Nick's opinion on KC has always been fail. Moonchild, I talk to the Wind, hell, all of the middle songs are great to me. And Nick hates Red for some reason. ;D
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I don't hate Red, but I fail to see the hype. To me that album has always been alright, but not the stunning piece others see it to be. I am much more blown away by albums like Power and Discipline.
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Are you updating this today?
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No.
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:lol Okay.
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Actually I'm working on an update right now. :lol
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Are you updating this today?
No.
:lol Okay.
Actually I'm working on an update right now. :lol
The Great Misdirect.
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47. Fish
Fish's solo material wanders off from his work with Marillion and is certainly not as progressive in a sense, but it certainly maintains a few unique twists and each album is almost always interesting in some way. However many of Fish's albums suffer from filler in my opinion, many having up to a half dozen or fewer amazing tracks and then the rest I might not care much about at all. The big exception is his newest, 13th Star which is very strong from start to finish.
Favorite Albums: Internal Exile, 13th Star
Favorite Songs: Big Wedge, Shadowplay, Credo, Internal Exile, Goldfish and Clowns, Faith Healer, Long Cold Day, Manchmal, Open Water
46. Stratovarius
One of the first full on power/speed metal bands I ever listened to, Stratovarius is a band that performs a particular type of music and they do it well. However they don't hold nearly the luster to me as the once did, in large part due to the similar sound and the long time I've known them now. Doesn't help that their last two albums haven't been great, with the self-titled boasting perhaps 3 really good tracks, and the latest, Polaris, having nothing to really want to make me go back and listen to it ever again.
Favorite Albums: Elements Pt. 2, Visions
Favorite Songs: Alpha and Omega, Visions, Black Diamond, Eagleheart
45. Supertramp
Supertramp's greatest hits is an album I've been listening to, and loving since probably around age 6. In their prime I'd consider Supertramp to be some of the greatest song writers available. Their stuff was in some ways simple, almost always catchy, and yet it had its share of interesting ideas and progressive tendencies.
Favorite Albums: Crime of the Century, Breakfast in America
Favorite Songs: Crime of the Century, Hide in Your Shell, Asylum, School, The Logical Song, Take the Long Way Home
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I wonder who is going to be number one :lol
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Favorite Albums: Elements Pt. 2
Now, this is something you don't see every day. :biggrin: Interesting choice, mate. :)
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Destiny is my favorite Stratovarius album.
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I pretty much disagree with all of your picks/placements so far. :P
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I pretty much disagree with all of your picks/placements so far. :P
I must be doing something right then. :p
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I pretty much disagree with all of your picks/placements so far. :P
I must be doing something right then. :p
Given your track record, I doubt it. :p
I'm sure our lists will be somewhat similar when you get down to the top 10... or at least the top 5.
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Yeah, I figure like Kev those who have been posting with me any length of time will have a general idea at my top 5.
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Well, I've got your Top 3 down....
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44. Tiles
Here is an interesting progressive rock act that is a diamond in the American rough. Much like another act I'll mention later it's a shame we haven't really picked up on these guys too much. They feature a very nice blend of prog and jazzy sound in a very up-tempo fashion that is quite entertaining. If you don't mind a high vocalist with a quick tongue and think you can keep up with the instrumental madness you should check these guys out.
Favorite Albums: Flypaper, Presents of Mind
Favorite Songs: Back & Forth, Landscrape
43. Jethro Tull
Here's another band I've been listening to for a *long* time. I'm not as much into them as I used to be, but to give you an idea of how much I love some of their stuff I used a quote from one of their songs on the cover of my biggest high school English project. However I find a few of their albums feature a few great tracks with a bunch of alright ones, and they did produce Rock Island, one of the worst albums in my collection.
Favorite Albums: Thick as a Brick, Aqualung, Songs From the Wood
Favorite Songs: Locomotive Breath, Thick as a Brick, Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day, Songs From the Wood, Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll, Too Young to Die
42. Styx
Another nostalgia trip for me. I was very happy to see these guys live a few years ago, and aside from DeYoung's replacement sounding a bit like Alvin from the Chipmunks at times they put on a really rockin', enjoyable show. They did arena rock records in a way that blew many other bands out of the water, and their multi-vocalist attack is something I've always loved.
Favorite Albums: Paradise Theater, Pieces of Eight
Favorite Songs: Snowblind, Miss America, Suite Madam Blue, Long Nights
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I think you and me might be the only Tiles fans here Nick. Nice to see some Tiles love though.
No less a musician than Alex Lifeson likes Tiles, which is probably why he did a guest spot on the last album.
I'll be following this list very closely, as your tastes seem to match up very well with my lighter side of my listening spectrum
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When did you see Styx? Was it on their co-tour with Boston? I saw them on that tour and I thought they blew Boston off the stage, even though I wasn't really a fan of Styx before that show.
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No, it was one of the Styx/Kansas tours.
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Nick, Lawrence Gowan doesn't sound like a chipmunk! :D I thought he was good!
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Nick,
along with Kev, you apparently aren't so crazy about Jethro Tull's A Passion Play, or for that matter, Minstrel in the Gallery as well. Both of those rank in mine and I imagine many others top 5 Tull records.
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Nick,
along with Kev, you apparently aren't so crazy about Jethro Tull's A Passion Play, or for that matter, Minstrel in the Gallery as well. Both of those rank in mine and I imagine many others top 5 Tull records.
This.
My top 5 Tull is
Thick as a Brick
Aqualung
Minstrel in the Gallery
A Passion Play
Songs from the Wood
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Minstrel and Passion Play would probably be my 3rd and 4th favorites.
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43. Jethro Tull
Here's another band I've been listening to for a *long* time. I'm not as much into them as I used to be, but to give you an idea of how much I love some of their stuff I used a quote from one of their songs on the cover of my biggest high school English project. However I find a few of their albums feature a few great tracks with a bunch of alright ones, and they did produce Rock Island, one of the worst albums in my collection.
Favorite Albums: Thick as a Brick, Aqualung, Songs From the Wood
Favorite Songs: Locomotive Breath, Thick as a Brick, Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day, Songs From the Wood, Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll, Too Young to Die
Minstrel and Passion Play would probably be my 3rd and 4th favorites.
so maybe one of those jumped up in the last few days? Also among favorite Tull tracks, "Baker St.Muse," all 16+ minutes of it, is certainly among my favorite Tull songs. But you and Kev apparently don't rank it quite so high I guess.
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Shit, sorry, meant 4th and 5th.
I'll be doing another update at some point this afternoon/evening. :)
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41. Kamelot
Kamelot is one of those bands people from a lot of different places can appreciate. I actually wasn't very warm to Kamelot when I first heard them, for a long time I considered them OK, but then one day the albums I had really clicked with me, and I really came to appreciate the vocals, and then the additional albums I picked up I liked even more than the ones I had. In hindsight now I can see why these guys are as popular as they are when compared against their peers, and I'd definitely list them as a band to check out for those beginning to get into a variety of different genres of metal.
Favorite Albums: The Fourth Legacy, Epica
Favorite Songs: Nights of Arabia, On the Coldest Winter Night, When the Lights are Down, The Haunting
40. Sonata Arctica
Another speed/power metal band I've been into for a long time now, they have aged much better on me than contemporaries Stratovarius. Even though I find Unia to be by far their worst album, I felt that The Days of Greys really found them taking a new sound and getting it right. Newer stuff aside, so much of their old stuff is absolutely classic, and their live CD/DVD set "For the Sake of Revenge" sets a goal for other similar bands to aim for.
Favorite Albums: Ecliptica, Silence
Favorite Songs: Replica, FullMoon, Tallulah, Broken, Blinded No More, Don't Say a Word
39. Amorphis
A band with a growler in my top 40, you people probably think you've seen it all now! I prefer the older vocalist who didn't growl, but basically I love any Amorphis that doesn't have growling, so new and old there is plenty for me to love. I also like the fact that they don't mix their growls as high as many bands, so they detract from the music less. I love what the guys do musically, many of the guitar parts and tones are just awesome.
Favorite Albums: Am Universum, Skyforger
Favorite Songs: Sky is Mine, Silent Waters, The Night is Over, Crimson Wave
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I only have The Black Halo by Kamelot, and the lack of songs from that album severely disturbs me. That band/album has the honor of being pretty much the only power metal I listen to not for the lolz.
As for Amorphis, you're fine with growls if they're used sparingly, right? Seems like Amorphis would be right up your alley. Good stuff.
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Like I said, that's why I still love newer Amorphis, because growls are used, but they don't dominate the albums.
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One of these days I'll remember to check out Kamelot. A lot of people on DTF seem to enjoy them so I've been meaning to.
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The Black Halo is the place to start. Memento Mori :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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Amorphis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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38. Metallica
I'm not much of a thrash guy, but I really enjoy Metallica's classic albums, and I think their newest was definitely a solid release, though certainly not the album of the year so many here and elsewhere claimed it to be. I'm not sure what else to say, as pretty much everyone here probably has at least a basic idea of what Metallica sounds like, so...
Favorite Albums: Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, Metallica
Favorite Songs: Fade to Black, The Call of Ktulu, Master of Puppets, Welcome Home, Orion, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam, All Nightmare Long
37. Secret Sphere
This is a band I doubt anyone else on the forum is a fan of. They are a prog/power hybrid from Italy and they have a lot of great stuff, much of which has a slightly unique twist to it that is hard to describe. If you like bands like Symphony X that do heavier prog metal then these guys are at least worth checking out.
Favorite Albums: Heart and Anger, A Time Nevercome
Favorite Songs: Recall of the Valkyrie, Where the Sea Ends, Loud and Raw, Lady of Silence, Welcome to the Circus, Butterfly Dance
36. Vanden Plas
Even if you think this is just a random general prog-metal band, you have to at least give credit to what the very unique Andy Kuntz brings to the table vocally. Listening to the man sing is an adventure in itself, and although he's not one of my very favorite vocalists he is almost always entertaining.
Favorite Albums: Christ O, The God Thing, Beyond Daylight
Favorite Songs: Rainmaker, Crown of Thorns, Iodic Rain, Cold Wind, Phoenix, Beyond Daylight, Shadow I Am, Gethsemane
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40. Metallica
Favorite Albums: Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, Metallica
Nice call on that one. :tup The self-titled, while not as complex, is still a lot of fun.
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Yeah, I understand why hard-core Metallica fans have a sour taste in their mouth about that album, but I personally love a lot of the tracks on it.
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I actually don't understand it at all. It's got the same grit and attitude of the early albums, just slowed down a bit.
And when you really examine the song lengths, they aren't that much shorter than the songs on the early albums are.
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35. Time Machine
I'd say this is easily the most obscure band on this list. Time Machine are an interesting progressive metal band from Italy that takes the tricky maneuver of boasting a new vocalist on every major release. A majority of the time they've found guys who I really enjoy, with Nick Forterezza being my favorite, too bad I've never come across him working with any other band. The music of the band is primarily written by the bassist, and you can really tell in some of the grooves, especially in the early material. Most of their catalog is experimental to some degree, and even if you think prog-metal generally has little to offer I think you'll find this band an exception to the rule and worth checking out.
Favorite Albums: Eternity Ends, Act II: Galileo, Reviviscence
Favorite Songs: I Hold the Key, Falling Star, Eternity Ends, I Believe Again, Sphynx (The Witness), Angel Lucifer
34. Pain of Salvation
Most here love them or hate them, and if I had to lean one way it would certainly be towards the former, but in honor of the late Mitch Hedberg, I think they're okay. There is no question what a versatile singer Daniel Gildenlow is, and like it or loathe it they certainly bring a fresh spin to the table. With Scarsick actually being my favorite album it will be interesting to see where they go with the new album, as they have set out to change their sound a bit.
Favorite Albums: Scarsick, Remedy Lane, The Perfect Element Pt. 1
Favorite Songs: Ashes, Reconciliation, Undertow, Rope Ends, Chain Sling, Scarsick, Disco Queen
33. Muse
Well, I'll start by saying that like many fans, I was a bit disappointed with the newest release, The Resistance, however I will take it a bit farther and say it's their weakest album to date as I actually like the debut album a lot and it does not get nearly the credit it deserves. It doesn't have any of my favorite songs, and it doesn't jump out at you like the later albums did, but it's a nice solid album from start to finish and there is a lot of really good stuff on it. No point in saying much more about the later stuff here as most here seem to have at least a slight knowledge of it already.
Favorite Albums: Black Holes and Revelations, Origins of Symmetry
Favorite Songs: Feeling Good, Plug in Baby, Time is Running Out, Butterflies and Hurricanes, Starlight, Map of the Problematique, Knights of Cydonia, Undisclosed Desires
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I've never heard of Time Machine before. That's strange they have a different vocalist for each album. Is it by choice or has it just worked out that way? You'd think it would make it harder to get into a band that way.
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Scarsick actually being my favorite album
It's Nick alright! Scarsick's got its moments...but I don't see how you can place it above much of their other work.
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It's tough to get good information on such an obscure band, but from what I understand they started out not having that intention, but after it just happened to work out that way after 2 or 3 albums, and knowing that they would be mainly a studio/project band it was decided that they would continue to use a new vocalist on each album.
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Quit worrying about a new avatar and continue the list NAO!
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Was going to wait till the morning to do another update, but I'll give you one guess now, and if you can name a band that would make it in my next update, I'll do it yet tonight.
Pointless and retarded internet games ftw.
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Coheed and Cambria
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Holy shit, I didn't expect anyone to actually do it. :lol
Okay, I'll work on it now. :lol
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Holy shit, that was a totally random pick :lol
Sorry Nick :heart
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32. Kansas
Considering Kansas is a home bred progressive rock icon I didn't really get into these guys until surprisingly recently. I mean I had always enjoyed the radio hits, and eventually I got the two big albums, but then around a year or so ago I dug deeper and really enjoyed a lot of what I was hearing. The bands golden era produced a lot of classic songs that are both catchy yet unquestionably progressive in many ways. And of course the trademark violin is used SO well in their music. Seeing them live earlier in the year was a great experience!
Favorite Albums: Leftoverture, Point of Know Return (Daring, I know)
Favorite Songs: Belexes, Icarus, Child of Innocence, Song for America, Miracles out of Nowhere, Paradox, The Spider, Sparks of the Tempest
31. The Flower Kings
If I had to elect one band to hold the title of too prolific, it would be these guys. They had about 14 discs of studio material produced in only 12 years, which is more impressive when we're not talking about the days of vinyl, where you could only have around 40-45 minutes on an LP. The band has produced a lot of memorable stuff, and they carved out a style that bands like Karmakanic, The Tangent, Beardfish, and others have all tried to tap into. My only complaint is there is that there is probably too much. The music wanders too often for my tastes and because of it some of their catalog fails to be memorable to me. The fate of the band is currently uncertain, but I have a feeling these guys love making music too much to call the band quits.
Favorite Albums: Paradox Hotel, Stardust We Are
Favorite Songs: In the Eyes of the World, Church of Your Heart, Different People, Stardust We Are, City of Angels, The Truth Will Set You Free, Love Supreme, Monsters and Men, Hit Me With a Hit, Minor Giant Steps, Life Will Kill You, Paradox Hotel
30. Coheed and Cambria
Being a very green Coheed fan it was somewhat difficult to rank them, but generally the longer I've listened to them the more I've liked them, so expect them to be even higher ranked in the future. I really love the bands guitar work, I just wish it was mixed better on the first four albums and much of the new album didn't sound crappy overall. The music is fun, energetic, engaging, and has a cool story through everything. Although I think they've come close before, with the right producers/engineers, I think they could take the forward musical steps they took with the newest album and make the next one their masterpiece.
Favorite Albums: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, No World for Tomorrow
Favorite Songs: Welcome Home, Ten Speed, The Writing Writer, The Suffering, The Telling Truth, No World for Tomorrow, The Hound, The Running Free, Justice in Murder, The End Complete, Here We Are Juggernaut, Pearl of the Stars
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No love for In Keeping Secrets or the song Mother Superior?
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There is no mention of the album In Keeping Secrets or any of the songs from it. Please tell me you at least have it. It is their masterpiece after all.
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There is no mention of the album In Keeping Secrets or any of the songs from it. Please tell me you at least have it. It is their masterpiece after all.
I have it and the live version of it. For me none of the songs on it live up to any of the songs I mentioned in my post.
No love for In Keeping Secrets or the song Mother Superior?
I love the song Mother Superior, but I had to draw a line somewhere and stop listing songs. If I had to put on one more from the Good Apollo albums that would likely be it.
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I have it and the live version of it. For me none of the songs on it live up to any of the songs I mentioned in my post.
But...but...the title track, The Crowing, The Light & the Glass, and 21:13....
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21:13 does reference a song that will eventually be on this list. :p
I know a lot of people here find it odd, but I just can not get into the first two albums in the same way I can get into the good Apollo albums. In Keeping Secrets is definitely good, with a lot of really good songs, but to me it falls short of greatness.
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i sense a fail spiral to rush at number 1.
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I'm just getting into The Flower Kings now. They have a lot of really good material but I can deffinitley see what you mean about them meandering a bit too much sometimes.
I sense a win spiral to rush at number 1.
Fix'd
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i sense a fail spiral to rush at number 1.
I'm sure Rush will be #1, but as long as its in his top 3 there will be little if any fail here. Other than my greater acceptance of metal, Nick and I seem to have very similar tastes, and anything on the list I'm not familiar with make me really want to check them out.
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The list started out a bit iffy, but you seem to be pulling it together nicely Nick (by that I mean I disagreed with a lot of your picks in the beginning but now it's getting better) although Coheed and the Flower Kings would both be in my top 20 or higher.
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Nick, are you committed to finishing this list?
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Oh yeah, just had a busy last two days, will have another update this afternoon.
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29. Tesla
My favorite hard rock band on this list, Tesla should be remembered for their energetic live shows and albums that showed the hair bands of their early years how things should have been done. If you live in America, chances are Tesla is going to tour near you and that they will do it soon, as these guys tour constantly and they cover a LOT of ground and it's always worth paying to see them. I must also credit them for a great blend of classics, fan favorites, and rarities in their live show. And a short story about how cool these guys are. Many years ago I saw them at a local club here in Allentown, and two friends of mine had meet and greets after the show, so we went out to the parking lot to wait for them to finish up with that. Well, JK happened by us in the parking lot and we asked him for a quick autograph, saying it was really cool to catch him outside since our friends were inside waiting for him. He signed our stuff, introduced us to his wife, and then told us to stick with him and he took the three of us inside and downstairs with him for the entire meet and greet with the rest of the band, all of whom were just as nice.
Favorite Albums: Into the Now, Mechanical Resonance
Favorite Songs: EZ Come EZ Go, Modern Day Cowboy, Changes, Hang Tough, Heaven's Trail, Freedom Slaves, Shine Away, Into the Now, Miles Away, Forever More
28. Labyrinth
There's a chance of few of you here have heard me talk about these guys, but most likely you have no clue who they are. They are an Italian prog/power hybrid that were (then shortly weren't) and are now again led by guitarist Olaf Thorsen who people here might know from Vision Divine. They are on record as making my favorite power-metal song of all time, Save Me (Timeless Crime arrangement), and they have a ton of great tracks. All their albums except Six Days to Nowhere are worth getting, and they range from a debut that had techno influences, to more traditional power metal with their self titled release, to the progtastic album that is Freeman. The band is currently working on a follow up to their most well received album, Return to Heaven Denied.
Favorite Albums: Freeman, Return to Heaven Denied
Favorite Songs: Piece of Time, In the Shade, Moonlight, Lady Lost in Time, Save Me, Sons of Thunder, The Prophet, L.Y.A.F.H., Dive in Open Waters, Freeman, Crossroads
27. Threshold
Check out a Threshold song or three. Did you like them? If you did, you'll like Threshold. For better of worse I've never experienced a band that has such a trademark sound. It's everything from the style, to the arrangement, to the nearly identical production of so many of the albums. Listening to the Critical Energy live DVD one might think they start the show playing a new album from start to finish due to the material all sounding like it had been written at one time, but that is not the case! Although samey for sure the music is fantastic, and they are a band that's very easy to get into. Many will know original (and once again current) vocalist Damien Wilson from his work with Ayreon/Star One, but the bulk of the band's material, and most of its great material was written and performed with the amazing voice of Andrew Macdermont. Muse fans would do well to check out the band's cover of Supermassive Black Hole.
Favorite Albums: Clone, Hypothetical, Dead Reckoning
Favorite Songs: Paradox, The Latent Gene, Sunrise on Mars, Turn On Tune In, Long Way Home, Phenomenon, Fragmentation, Ground Control, The Art of Reason, Slipstream, Pilot on the Sky of Dreams
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Really happy to see Threshold, like them myself, but i'm kinda surprised i rarely see/hear their name here. (this being a progressive forum)
They're pretty sweet. :)
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Will be stalking this thread. :tup
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Even though it would look like just me following a trend, I really should do 1 of these, especially considering I made a top 50 artists list for the Sound Opinions forum, I recall last Summer (or it may have been 2008). So my list is pretty close to done, just the blurbing, albums and songs haven't been picked out.
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Big Threshold fan here as well, although Dead Reckoning is possibly my least favorite Threshold albums, and Clone might be 3rd or 4th.
Also, you got to love any band who tells the audience to "Shut up" before a song, and has the nards to leave it on their live CD.
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Heh, the live DVD also marks one of the smallest audiences at a DVD taping I've ever seen.
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Heh, the live DVD also marks one of the smallest audiences at a DVD taping I've ever seen.
I don't have the DVD, is it possible it was a special show for fan club members that they just happened to record? Although seeing the lack of acknowledgement they get even at a site like DTF, I guess we shouldn't expect to see them pack a stadium like they do in South America.
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They pack stadiums in South America?
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Threshold, I don't know if they toured SA. I was talking about other bands in general, and phrased it poorly.
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26. Dredg
Tough to know what to say about these guys. I have the feeling most here will either love them, or pretty much dismiss them. They are an odd combo of prog meets alternative meets poppy meets artsy-fartsy. If I had to pick a few words to describe them, they would be creative, interesting, thought-provoking and strange.
Favorite Albums: Catch Without Arms, The Pariah The Parrot The Delusion
Favorite Songs: Same Ol' Road, Sanzen, Of the Room, Ode to the Sun, Bug Eyes, Catch Without Arms, The Tanbark is Hot Lava, Sang Real, Ireland, Gathering Pebbles, Information, Savior, I Don't Know
25. Dominici
Anyone who skips over this band because they simply prefers LaBrie in Dream Theater is doing themselves a disservice. Anyone who thinks these albums are just attempts to live off of Dream Theater's fame is both wrong, and also doing themselves a disservice. Dominici's first album is just acoustic guitar, harmonica, and vocals and just displays some great songwriting and a lot of great melodies. The other two albums are some of the best progressive metal releases of the last 10 years. Charlie's voice has not only improved since the days of When Dream and Day Unite, but these albums are actually written to suite his voice, and he really shines on them. The rest of the band is amazing as well, especially the brothers that together handle guitars and drums.
Favorite Albums: O3 A Trilogy - Part Two, O3 A Trilogy - Part Three
Favorite Songs: My New Land, I Will Return, The Hand of God, Nowhere to Hide, Greed the Evil Seed, School of Pain, A New Hope, King of Terror, Enemies of God, Revelation, Genesis
24. OSI
Jim Matheos + Kevin Moore = eargasm. The formula is that simple. Although I've not been huge on Kevin's solo stuff that I've checked out I love OSI, and I suspect it's mainly because of how well Jim manages to balance Kevin. The combination produced the greatest possible albums of prog meets metal meets electronic. Between the sometimes dry vocals of Kevin and the weirdness of the music at times many people are not going to like OSI at all, but to those who dig it there are few things better.
Favorite Albums: Free, OSI
Favorite Songs: The New Math, Hello Helicopter, ShutDOWN, Standby, Sure You Will, Free, Bigger Wave, Kicking, Once, False Start, Radiologue
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It didn't take me long to separate Dominici from DT. They are really underappriciated albums - PARTICULARLY the first one. I never thought I would enjoy that one as much as I do, and for the most part the stripped down sound fits the album perfectly - up until the point in halfway point in "The Plan" where the main character gets caught by the police. If the full band came in at that point, it would be absolutely perfect. I really hope he keeps making music.
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Well, I'm personally torn. On one hand having another full band album like 2 and 3 would be nice, but that first one is special being what it is. I think it hurt from a starting standpoint though because people who know who Charlie Dominici is would have expected prog-metal from the start, so I think he lost a few people when the first album was so different.
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I was not expecting fail on that level.
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What are you referring to?
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You'll learn to love Coheed's second album some day, Nick :p
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What are you referring to?
Placing Dominici higher than dredge and Coheed. Or placing Dominici on the list at all.
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Says the man who spells Dredg wrong. :p
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Placing Dominici higher than dredg and Coheed. Or placing Dominici on the list at all.
Sorry SDN, but Nick is right. Dominici deserves more credit, and I would also put him over dredg and Coheed. Dredg is ok, but its real mood dependent. Coheed has never really clicked with me.
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Charlie's cool and all, but making generic "prog" metal does not entitle him to credit of any sort.
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I don't give him credit for making prog-metal, I give him credit for making awesome albums.
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the 1st all-acoustic Dominici album I kind of liked in some ways. But uh, I guess seeing Nick placing Dominici as high up as he is, we know how much Nick digs them (and perhaps why Charlie comes here from time to time to promote his music? or vice-versa: why Nick digs his music so much).
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Charlie coming here is completely independent of me. I have always digged his music, and he has always been happy to try and promote his stuff wherever he can. :)
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23. Karmakanic
If you are a fan of The Flower Kings, or any band that sounds anything like them, and you have not checked out Karmakanic you absolutely must. The band is headed by Jonas Reingold, and frankly I'd describe them as everything I love about The Flower Kings minus all the things I don't. The only reason they aren't top 15 is because they only have three albums. The song Send a Message From the Heart is one of the most beautiful and stunning 20 minutes of music I've ever heard. Even if you go no further in checking out this band you must at least do yourself a favor and listen to that track.
Favorite Albums: Who's the Boss in the Factory, Entering the Spectra
Favorite Tracks: The Spirit Remains the Same, Cyberdust From Mars, Welcome to Paradise, Do U Tango, Send a Message From the Heart, Let in Hollywood, Who's the Boss in the Factory, Two Blocks From the Edge
22. Beardfish
I don't want to say that Dream Theater are influential when it comes to anything prog, but it's stunning how much publicity these guys got by simply *almost* touring with Progressive Nation. Being a fan of theirs prior to the announcement they'd be on the bill (before later being dropped with Pain of Salvation due to label troubles) I was really looking forward to seeing them on the tour. Although I personally disagree with the label, many call them a modern Genesis, and while there are certainly elements of that present I'd say they offer a lot more, and that frankly they are better than the band they are being compared to.
Favorite Albums: Sleeping in Traffic Pt. 2, Sleeping in Traffic Pt. 1
Favorite Songs: The Gooberville Ballroom Dancer, Mystique of the Beauty Queen, Sunrise, Roulette, Harmony, Into the Night, The Hunter, South of the Border, In Real Life There is No Algebra, Abigail's Questions
21. Firewind
The good: Seeing these guys from front row. The bad: Not really being a fan at the time. I saw them open for Sonata Arctica and was very pleased and have been getting more into them ever since. They do shorter melodic power metal songs better than pretty much anyone else, and they've managed to thrive under three different vocalists. While the two biggest Firewind fans I know are quite loyal to an era of the band, either old or new, whereas I am a fan of all of it pretty equally.
Favorite Albums: Between Heaven and Hell, The Premonition
Favorite Songs: Mercenary Man, Tyranny, Destination Forever, Brother's Keeper, Breaking the Silence, I Am the Anger, Firewind Raging, Till the End of Time, Into the Fire, Between Heaven and Hell
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I'll be checking all three out. :tup
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Genesis (under Gabriel or Collins/Hackett) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Beardfish.
And I think its safe to say DT are pretty influential when it comes to several things prog. :D
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This list contains too many obscure bands that I don't yet know to further tell if its fail or an awesome list.
I'll check out Karmakanic though.
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You mentioned South of the Border under your favorite Beardfish songs. :tup
You didn't mention Sleeping in Traffic as one of them. :tdwn
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I don't recall Beardfish being described exactly like Genesis. I recall them getting more comparisons to Gentle Giant and especially Zappa.
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Genesis (under Gabriel or Collins/Hackett) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Beardfish.
And I think its safe to say DT are pretty influential when it comes to several things prog. :D
All of this.
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Oh, I was trying to demonstrate that DT are influential, just came across poorly on the internet.
Think of a friend saying to you, "I don't want to say that woman's a slut, but she's slept with every other guy in here."
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Jonas Reingold has the best bass sound hands down. Wheel of Life got me started. If it wasn't for the internet, I would have never heard a great band like this.
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I have Who's The Boss In The Factory....very good choice :tup
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Says the man who spells Dredg wrong. :p
Says the man who calls himself a fan, yet still doesn't know that dredg is not supposed to be capitalized. :p
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Says the man who spells Dredg wrong. :p
Says the man who calls himself a fan, yet still doesn't know that dredg is not supposed to be capitalized. :p
More important, how the bloody hell is it supposed to be pronounced? Is the second d silent? Or is it pronounced "dredge?"
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if you ask the band members of dredg, they'd never have called their band "dredg" (or "Dredg") if they could start over again.
By the way, assuming I do decide to do 1 of these, once Nick is done with this one. I am definitely going to prepare for critical comments. My shields will have to be prepared to go up :P
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Heh, the live DVD also marks one of the smallest audiences at a DVD taping I've ever seen.
I don't have the DVD, is it possible it was a special show for fan club members that they just happened to record? Although seeing the lack of acknowledgement they get even at a site like DTF, I guess we shouldn't expect to see them pack a stadium like they do in South America.
The Threshold DVD is very good. That's funny about the small crowd. The biggest problem with the DVD is that it's so obvious how much of the vocals were redone.
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Nick, even though some of your band choices may be fail, I love your commentary and insights. Very :hat
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Nick, even though some of your band choices may be fail, I love your commentary and insights. Very :hat
All of the guys that have done these types of threads recently have done a good job with that. Like Darkes7's singer thread. I've never even heard of most of those guys.... But it's been great reading the explanations..
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:justjen
List good. Wait bad.
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:mcdammitnick:
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:justjen
List good. Wait bad.
:lol Sorry, was out the last two days, will do another update today.
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Let's cut Nick some slack. It has to be taking days to find any good things to say about Vanden Plas, likely one of the next bands on his list. :lol :lol :lol
;)
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Even though I already listed Vanden Plas, Professor Fail. :p
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:justjen
List good. Wait bad.
:lol Sorry, was out the last two days, will do another update today.
SO that's two days. Did you spend the third day crying because most of the people are calling fail at every post?
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Dominici ahead of dredg is really troublesome. I'm gonna keep reading, but I'm expecting the fail!
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20. Enchant
As far as American prog goes, these guys are truly a diamond in the rough. They are somewhat well known, but deserve a lot more attention then what they've gotten. They play a brand of hard rocking inspirational prog that cuts straight to the heart and at one time they were very prolific. Unfortunately after putting out 7 albums in about 8 years these guys have gone silent after 2003, pretty much only playing the occasional festival. It's quite frustrating that such a good band is still together and yet not producing any new material.
Favorite Albums: Juggling 9 or Dropping 10, A Blueprint to the World
Favorite Songs: Oasis, Open Eyes, Below Zero, Break, My Enemy, Pain the Picture, Colors Fade, Juggling Knives, Under Fire, Seeds of Hate, Flat Line, Tug of War, Queen of the Informed
19. Fates Warning
Not much I can say about these guys that you guys won't already know. At times their two guitar brand of prog is stunning. The way two guitar parts can come together in some of their songs is nothing short of amazing, and now that I think of it I'd say Scale the Summit can do similar things. I like the old Arch era stuff, but I definitely prefer the Alder era.
Favorite Albums: A Pleasant Shade of Gray, Parallels, Disconnected, Perfect Symmetry
Favorite Songs: Kiss of Death, Misfit, The Apparition, Fata Morgana, The Ivory Gate of Dreams, Through Different Eyes, Life in Still Water, The Eleventh Hour, Outside Looking In, Monument, A Pleasant Shade of Gray, One, Still Remains, Simple Human, Another Perfect Day
18. Yes
Despite a rotating door policy on membership in the band Yes maintained a high level of quality for a long time, and it seems that recently they've managed to pick things back up again with Magnification. The list of classic Yes epics is a long one, and yet they managed to gain commercial success with a few shorter, yet equally Yes sounding songs. No prog library is complete without the classic Yes albums.
Favorite Albums: Close to the Edge, The Yes Album
Favorite Songs: Time and a Word, Yours is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper, Roundabout, Heart of the Sunrise, Close to the Edge, Siberian Khatru, And You and I, The Gates of Delirium, Machine Messiah, Tempus Fugit, Magnification (Perpetual Change has been excluded due to the hurtful comments of a particular member here that will go unnamed.)
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Even though I already listed Vanden Plas, Professor Fail. :p
Okay, Shadow Gallery then. :p :lol
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I love Enchant. Ted's vocals are what realy draw me to this band.
Yes has been a band that I've embraced the many changes(Pun intended) and have put out music I can identify over the years, from And You and I to Final Eyes to Open your Eyes, Yes has given me reson to go to concerts and to buy their music. I am one who likes when a band try's to stay relevant(sp?) so I hope they make another album.
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I was such a big Enchant fan that on an old prog message board I frequented 8-11 years ago I took my handle "Mettle Man" from one of their songs. And how did you leave "Pure" off their best songs? Top 5 ballad for any band in my book, thanks mainly to Ted Leonard's wonderful voice.
It just sucks that Enchant actually have to work day jobs because they don't make enough off their music. Any Korg players - you can thank Bill Jenkins of Enchant, he's one of the heads of R&D there!
Nick, do you have Benignus's side project, Xen? Very cool, you should really enjoy it.
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I can't get into Fates Warning no matter how hard I try. :-\
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I can't get into Fates Warning no matter how hard I try. :-\
Keep trying on occasionally. Some bands I love didn't click immediately for me. It took me 4 years for Pain of Salvation's TPE Pt. 1 to click for me, and about 2 years for Between the Buried and Me. Sometimes it doesn't happen immediately, but its worth it when it does, and Fates Warning is definately worth getting into IMO. Which album have you tried?
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I've listened to all of Awaken the Guardian, No Exit, and Parallels. It's definitely good music, just not good enough for repeated listens from me...I've been meaning to give A Pleasant Shade of Grey a try, but I'm kind of apprehensive about that one.
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(Perpetual Change has been excluded due to the hurtful comments of a particular member here that will go unnamed.)
Who? In the Wake of Poseidon? Blind FaithX? Acidrainlte?
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(Perpetual Change has been excluded due to the hurtful comments of a particular member here that will go unnamed.)
Who? In the Wake of Poseidon? Blind FaithX? Acidrainlte?
I think he's talking about me, because I knocked his Dominici selection ;D
But at least I'm not the only one!
I really kinda want to do one of these threads, but there's a couple issues: 1. I'm not as high-caliber a member as Nick of Kev and 2. I don't even think I have 50 bands I like.
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I wouldn't worry about #1, and you could do a top 20 if that floated your boat.
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(Perpetual Change has been excluded due to the hurtful comments of a particular member here that will go unnamed.)
Who? In the Wake of Poseidon? Blind FaithX? Acidrainlte?
I think he's talking about me, because I knocked his Dominici selection ;D
But at least I'm not the only one!
I really kinda want to do one of these threads, but there's a couple issues: 1. I'm not as high-caliber a member as Nick of Kev and 2. I don't even think I have 50 bands I like.
I do lists like these a lot, I've already done a Top 50 Opeth, Top 25 Yes and am now doing a Top 50 DT.. and I'm less known than you.
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Hm. Maybe I should consider. I think I need to plan it out a bit more first, though.
I'm gonna go ahead and make a guess that DT, Rush, Transatlantic, Porcupine Tree, and Marillion are in Nick's Top 5. Possibly in that order.
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(Perpetual Change has been excluded due to the hurtful comments of a particular member here that will go unnamed.)
Who? In the Wake of Poseidon? Blind FaithX? Acidrainlte?
I think he's talking about me, because I knocked his Dominici selection ;D
Remind me to send an e-mail to Shadow Gallery to record a song called "Skydiving Ninja" so Nick can exclude it from his list for the same reason then. ;D
As for Nick's top 5, I'm certain that Rush is number one, Royal Hunt is number 2, and the others are something like Marillion, DT, Transatlantic, Ayreon, and Shadow Gallery.
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Hm. Maybe I should consider. I think I need to plan it out a bit more first, though.
I'm gonna go ahead and make a guess that DT, Rush, Transatlantic, Porcupine Tree, and Marillion are in Nick's Top 5. Possibly in that order.
I won't say why you're wrong, but you are.
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17. Pendragon
A clear *current* leader in what can be considered Neo-Prog. Marillion held the title with Fish at the reigns, but Pendragon have been oozing prog excellence for 25 years now. The band is one of the few that can strip down to all keyboards for awhile and have it work perfectly. They are a band in which the guitar solos remind you of David Gilmour, and happily they often last for quite awhile. They are both anthemic at times and subtle at others. They make you sing along, and they certainly deserve more recognition then what they get considering how long they've been playing the game. I'm going to list a lot of songs for this band, and it's because I find all of them to be classics.
Favorite Albums: The Masquerade Overture, The Window of Life, Believe
Favorite Songs: Queen of Hearts, Sister Bluebird, The Walls of Babylon, Breaking the Spell, The Last Man on Earth, Nostradamus, As Good As Gold, Paintbox, Masters of Illusion, A Man of Nomadic Traits, King of the Castle, No Place For the Innocent, The Wishing Well, Indigo, The Freak Show
16. Bruce Dickinson
One of the true icons in all of metal Bruce Dickinson does more than showcase his vocal abilities on his outings aside from Maiden. The music is more diverse then Maiden, and his melodies are often stronger, if not at least different from what you're used to hearing from him. He recorded two albums that are arguably stronger than any Maiden album and the rest of his work is very good, even if a bit inconsistent. If the speculation is true and Maiden does call it quits after the new album and tour metal fans should be praying that he spends time working on solo material in between flights around the world.
Favorite Albums: Chemical Wedding, Accident of Birth
Favorite Songs: Son of a Gun, Tattooed Millionaire, Born in '58, 1000 Points of Light, Laughing in the Hiding Bush, Change of Heart, Starchildren, Darkside of Aquarius, Road to Hell, Man of Sorrows, Accident of Birth, King in Crimson, Chemical Wedding, Book of Thel, Gates of Urizen, Trumpets of Jericho, Abduction, Soul Intruders, Navigate the Seas of the Sun
15. Marillion
Marillion is a very hard band for me to rank. Although I adore their first 5 albums, I'm not a fan of what I've heard thereafter. However before finalizing my rankings I did give Brave and Marbles another spin and perhaps I had been a bit too hard on them in the past and maybe I'll check out another H-era record again soon. The Fish era material has often been compared to Genesis, but as with Beardfish I find that early Marillion is better than what it's being compared to, in fact, I'd say it blows Gabriel era Genesis out of the water. Script is an impressive debut, Fugazi is an underrated gem, and the next two albums are pretty much flawless. It should be noted that The Last Straw is probably the best album closer I've ever heard.
Favorite Albums: Clutching at Straws, Misplaced Childhood
Favorite Songs: Script For a Jester's Tear, Garden Party, Assassing, Incubus, Fugazi, Kayleigh, Heart of Lothian, Childhoods End, Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles/That Time of the Night, White Russian, Incommunicado, Slainte Mhath, Sugar Mice, The Last Straw, The King of Sunset Town, Easter, The Uninvited Guest
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Marbles is a great album. I can see why so many people dislike Mr. H era Marillion, though. While H, in his own way, is just as poetic and as much of a songwriter as Fish was, his songwriting has reduced all Marillion's pep and power to a syrupy drawl. When you've got Ian Mosley and Pete Trewavas as your rhythm section, that's just inexcusable. Wasted potential. Despite not playing to their strengths, though, I do think H. can still do pretty neat things as the band leader. Marbles is one such example. It's atmospheric, dark, poetic, and emotional. The interludes are quiet tasty as well. Of course, it's still missing what we all know Trewavas can do.
I would have thought you'd rank Marillion higher, Nick, but I didn't realize you disliked H's Marillion as much as you do.
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Well, part of the low rank is my dislike of the H stuff I have (Season's End excluded), but another part is simply not having heard so much of their material.
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Marbles, Brave, and Season's End > Fish-era. Except Clutching at Straws, which beats Season's End by a wide margin for me.
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Nick, do you have Arena? If you do, then you are implying that Pendragon > Arena, and if that's the case I need to get some Pendragon next time I go through a neo-prog phase.
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The only Arena album I own is Immortal, and that's because aside from the track Chosen (Which I really really love), I wasn't really thrilled by it. I will tell you that Clive Nolan, the keyboardist, main writer, and producer of Arena is the keyboardist for Pendragon.
But yeah, you definitely need to pick up either Masquerade Overture or The Window of Life.
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Alright so I just took a look at this thread for the first time and I'm definitely interested for the rest of it.
That being said, how is it that nobody has noticed the numbering errors?
Two excerpts from this list:
41. Kamelot
40. Sonata Arctica
39. Amorphis
40. Metallica
39. Secret Sphere
38. Vanden Plas
36. Pain of Salvation
35. Muse
32. Kansas
31. The Flower Kings
What's up with that?
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Nothing.
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Global, you know this is Nick we're talking about, right?
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Yeah, I was aware of the Arena / Pendragon connection. Immortal isn't the place to start with Arena, The Visitor is a top 20 album of all time, it's that amazing, and Contagion is pretty close to it; and I can see some people liking Contagion a little more because the production is better, the story is a little easier to follow, and the tone is more aggressive than The Visitor. If you don't like those albums, I'm going to have to quit defending your choices.
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I started this morning but didn't have much time before work, so now I'm going to go and look into those numbering errors and fix them.
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Yeah, I was aware of the Arena / Pendragon connection. Immortal isn't the place to start with Arena, The Visitor is a top 20 album of all time, it's that amazing, and Contagion is pretty close to it; and I can see some people liking Contagion a little more because the production is better, the story is a little easier to follow, and the tone is more aggressive than The Visitor. If you don't like those albums, I'm going to have to quit defending your choices.
If I see one of those albums cheap at some point I'll give them another shot.
I started this morning but didn't have much time before work, so now I'm going to go and look into those numbering errors and fix them.
This is done now, sorry for the errors.
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Global, you know this is Nick we're talking about, right?
Haha, yeah I know.
I started this morning but didn't have much time before work, so now I'm going to go and look into those numbering errors and fix them.
This is done now, sorry for the errors.
No worries, mate. It don't care about the errors themselves, I'm just surprised that no one else noticed.
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14. Neal Morse
Paraphrasing Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse is, simply put, one of the greatest song-writers of our day. He is a man that can write songs that force you to sing along due to vocal melodies that are nothing short of stunning. If you are a Spock's Beard or Transatlantic fan you absolutely MUST check out Neal's solo records. I will say more than any other project, this is the one where Portnoy comes in and plays simply what is needed to suit strong song-writing and it comes across great in the final product. On top of all that the man is certainly prolific and you can constantly look for more output from him.
Favorite Albums: ?, One
Favorite Songs: Living Out Loud, Nowhere Fast, California Nights, Ready to Try, Sing it High, The Man's Gone, The Creation, Cradle to the Grave, Reunion, ?, Lifeline, Children of the Chosen, So Many Roads
13. Symphony X
One of the best live club shows you'll ever see. It's that simple, and the biggest piece in that puzzle is Russell Allen. The man is the greatest live vocalist around today. Not only does he bring a massive stage presence, but his vocals live are powerful and accurate, allowing him to totally own the stage and the show. Although Symphony X has a lot of great material, I still can't say I feel they have that crucial 10/10 album, and a lot of their material can be a bit samey after awhile. That's actually the reason Paradise Lost might be my favorite Symphony X album, although I wish there were more keyboards on it I can generally remember songs from it better because for whatever reason they seem to have a bit more staying power and individuality somehow.
Favorite Albums: V, Paradise Lost, The Odyssey
Favorite Songs: Masquerade, Of Sins and Shadows, The Accolade, The Divine Wings of Tragedy, Smoke and Mirrors, Church of the Machine, Through the Looking Glass, Evolution, Communion and the Oracle, Inferno, The Odyssey, Set the World on Fire, Domination, Serpent's Kiss, Paradise Lost
12. Royal Hunt
Probably the most underrated band in all of prog-metal. Royal Hunt put out their first studio album in 1992 and have since put out a total of 10 albums. They have done multiple albums with some of the best vocalists in the business, D.C. Cooper, John West, and Mark Boals, and yet they remain a practically unknown entity. Anyone who enjoys good keyboard work laced with fancy guitar interplay and a steady rhythm section needs to check this band out immediately, if not sooner. They have produced one of my favorite albums of all time, they have a few interesting and different early albums, and in general have produced solid material throughout their career, Eyewitness aside.
Favorite Albums: Paradox, The Mission, Collision Course: Paradox II, Paper Blood
Favorite Songs: Land of Broken Hearts, Martial Arts, Kingdom Dark, Wasted Time, Clown in the Mirror, Epilogue, Last Goodbye, 1348, Makin' a Mess, River of Pain, Message to God, Long Way Home, Time Will Tell, Cold City Lights, follow Me, The Mission, Surrender, World Wide War, Total Recall, Edge of the World, Break Your Chains, Paper Blood, The First Rock, The Clan, Hostile Breed, Back to Square One
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SYMPHONY X :metal :metal :metal :metal
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Moving Target > Paradox II and Paper Blood
Dammitnick!
Nick did get one thing right (even thought he forgot to name it explictly), Paradox is in the top 2% of my music collection, it is ESSENTIAL listening to this day.
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I thought for sure that SX would be in the top ten
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Moving Target > Paradox II and Paper Blood
Dammitnick!
It's just nice to have another person on here who actually knows all those albums.
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The only three RH albums I know are Paradox I and II and Paper Blood. All three are great though.
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Symphony X really are a joy live. I would say they are the ultimate live power/prog/symphonic metal band out there.
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I could've sworn you'd put Royal Hunt in the top 5. I thought they were one of your favorites ever.
*insert "nick you fail" for SymphX here*
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I'd say Royal Hunt and Symphony X are both some of my all time favorites, I just have a lot of all time favorites. :lol
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Moving Target > Paradox II and Paper Blood
Dammitnick!
It's just nice to have another person on here who actually knows all those albums.
At least you didn't include Eyewitness...
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I even said in my description that that is their one non-respectable release. :lol
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Missed that. I tend to gloss over the descriptions of bands I'm already familiar with.
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11. Queensryche
How much higher these guys could be... I am a rare breed of Queensryche fans it seems, in that I can generally enjoy the albums since DeGarmo's departure, but I will surely admit they are nothing compared to the absolute excellence that was everything they did with him in the band, excluding the craptastic Hear in the Now Frontier. The EP and following 5 albums are all classics in their own way and very few bands have ever matched putting out so many great albums in a row. Seeing them live is always a great show, and generally they do a good job of switching up sets between tours. I'd say Stone was definitely the low water mark of the band, as his style, writing, look and tone all clashed with classic Queensryche. The new kid shows promise in a lot of areas, and although I don't expect Queensryche to ever reclaim a fraction of their former glory I do hope they will continue to be able to put together decent tours.
Favorite Albums: Operation: Mindcrime, Rage For Order, Promised Land
Favorite Songs: Queen of the Reich, Nightrider, Prophecy, Take Hold of the Flame, N M 156, Walk in the Shadows, I Dream in Infrared, Chemical Youth, Suite Sister Mary, Breaking the Silence, I Don't Believe in Love, Eyes of a Stranger, Bridge, Promised Land, My Global Mind, Someone Else, Best I Can, Resistance, Hand on Heart, Anybody Listening, Sign of the Times, Liquid Sky, Burning Man, Open, The Great Divide, Hostage, The Hands, Signs Say Go, The Chase, Unafraid, Home Again
10. Pink Floyd
I guess I could be considered a bit of an odd Floyd fan, although I love their two classics I can say I prefer Animals to The Wall and The Division Bell to Dark Side. I'm not much of a fan of their work pre-Meddle, but that leaves plenty to love, including the under-appreciated Final Cut. For those who care, I side with Gilmour in the never ending debate with/about Waters, and I would definitely rather see David live these days instead of Roger.
Favorite Albums: Animals, The Division Bell, Wish You Were Here
Favorite Songs: Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, One of These Days, Fearless, Echoes, Speak to Me/Breathe, Us and Them, Brain Damage/Eclipse, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part One), Welcome to the Machine, Wish You Were Here, Pigs, Dogs, Sheep, In the Flesh, Another Brick in the Wall (All Parts), Hey You, Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell, Your Possible Pasts, The Fletcher Memorial Home, Learning to Fly, On the Turning Away, What Do You Want From Me, A Great Day for Freedom, Wearing the Inside Out, Take it Back, Coming Back to Life, High Hopes
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For those who care, I side with Gilmour in the never ending debate with/about Waters, and I would definitely rather see David live these days instead of Roger.
The thing is that Roger's pulling the big shows on a WORLDWIDE scale. Fans know that he was the mastermind behind their best albums. Gilmour was THE GUITAR and THE VOICE. Also, Gilmour always brought the rest of the band to play with him on his shows. He gives great treats. Roger, today, is bringing the show.
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The show doesn't have much effect when the guy can't sing worth a damn anymore. I'd definitely see Gilmour over Waters.
And Nick, I think its actually common for people to like Animals more than The Wall. Saying Division Bell > Dark Side though is absolutely bonkers.
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For a long time Division Bell was my favorite Floyd album, I only recently decided Animals was better.
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Sorry for the wait again guys, but I promise an update for tonight. Two bands that have a few passing similarities, even if their style of music is rather different.
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The two following bands represent the best things to emerge in progressive metal in the last decade. One represents what is simply the best in traditional prog-metal and the other is a powerhouse in taking progressive metal and merging it with dark influences and other styles. They have both produced 4 albums, for a total of 8. Of those 8 I'd say 1 is a masterpiece, 6 are fantastic, and 1 is very good. For them to make the top 10 with only 4 albums is quite a feat, so if you haven't, check these guys out.
9. Redemption
Nic Van Dyk is a genius. His song writing is superb, his guitar playing is amazing, and his albums all sound great. If I had one complaint about Redemption it would be that I can never decide which of the last three is my favorite. Although I can't quite come to calling any of their albums a masterpiece, the last three all hover dangerously close to being 10/10. On top of that the band seems to get more cohesive with each release and the band shows no signs of stopping their strong run.
Favorite Albums: Snowfall on Judgment Day, The Origins of Ruin, The Fullness of Time
Favorite Songs: Desperation: Part II, Nocturnal, Threads, Scarred, Sapphire, Release, The Suffocating Silence, Bleed Me Dry, The Death of Faith and Reason, Fall on You, Walls, Leviathan Rising, Black and White World, Another Day Dies, Love Kills Us All/Life in One Day
8. Riverside
Often dark and hauntingly beautiful, Riverside deliver the type of innovative prog you'd expect to come from a hotbed of the genre like England, but in fact the band hails from the unusual home of Poland. The four members came together from different backgrounds and seemed to unite in a way to rival Captain Planet. If you didn't get that reference you need to retry your childhood. And just when you thought the band might settle into a groove after their initial trilogy they completely changed the game when releasing their latest album, Anno Domini High Definition. As long as these guys stay together they are going to be a force to watch.
Favorite Albums: Second Life Syndrome, Anno Domini High Definition
Favorite Songs: I Believe, Reality Dream, Loose Heart, The Curtain Falls, Volte-Face, Conceiving You, Second Life Syndrome, Artificial Smile, Dance With the Shadow, Schizophrenic Prayer, Cybernetic Pillow, Ultimate Trip, Hyperactive, Egoist Hedonist
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The four members came together from different backgrounds and seemed to unite in a way to rival Captain Planet.
:lol
Reference noted and appreciated.
(https://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/2008/02/01-07/captain-planet-tom-cruise-ted-turner.jpg)
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Nice move on Pink Floyd - absolutely love The Division Bell.
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Of those 8 I'd say 1 is a masterpiece, 6 are fantastic, and 1 is very good.
9. Redemption
...Although I can't quite come to calling any of their albums a masterpiece...
8. Riverside
...
So, just for clarification, which Riverside album is the masterpiece IYO, Second Life Syndrome or ADHD? I think I know which album is just "very good" (Redemptions Self Titled), but please correct me if that guess is wrong.
Both excellent choices, but I tend to prefer Redemption because I relate and feel personally connected to more of their songs than pretty much every other band not named "Dream Theater" combined.
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Second Life Syndrome > ADHD DTvt.
I kind of have the same "problem" with Redemption that you do, Nick. I hated The Origins of Ruin, and while Snowfall and Fullness are both pretty dang good, they aren't masterpieces. If they manage to get one 10/10 album under their belts then I might be listening to them a lot more.
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So when Nick finishes his list, I think I'll do a top 50. Or top 40. Or top 25. Is that cool?
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No you can't.
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So when Nick finishes his list, I think I'll do a top 50. Or top 40. Or top 25. Is that cool?
:coolio
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So when Nick finishes his list, I think I'll do a top 50. Or top 40. Or top 25. Is that cool?
Why wait? Start your own thread.
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Yeah, you can start yours now if you so choose. :)
Anyway, I consider Second Life Syndrome the masterpiece and Redemption's self-titled to be the very good album.
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ahh, someone else is going to do one of these as well. Maybe I'll just start doing them in my blog, and when the time is open, I'll eventually create a thread/post the whole thing in 1 topic.
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I've heard of only about half of the bands on this list so far. :lol
Guess I should expand my horizons a bit.
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I've heard of only about half of the bands on this list so far. :lol
Guess I should expand my horizons a bit.
It's the same for me, and I love listening to new music, so this is really awesome for me.
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I've heard of only about half of the bands on this list so far. :lol
Guess I should expand my horizons a bit.
My advice is never feel you have to listen to more things just because other people are. Listen to what you are happy listening to and expand whenever you're ready to check something new out.
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7. Shadow Gallery
Since their second album was produced in 1995 Shadow Gallery have been oozing excellence. They managed to create two separate two album spanning stories and make them both great. They are the band to watch as far as vocal melodies in progressive metal is concerned. They take their time between albums, but in a band in which everyone can play everything you have to imagine a lot goes into writing the albums and getting everything mashed out. After the sad and unfortunate passing of lead singer Mike Baker, who was crucial to the vocal melodies Shadow Gallery was known for the band successfully transitioned to new vocalist Brian Ashland in 2009, putting out one of the best releases of the year, Digital Ghosts.
Favorite Albums: Room V, Tyranny
Favorite Tracks: Cliffhanger, Crystalline Dream, Deeper Than Life, Alaska, War For Sale, Out of Nowhere, Hope For Us, I Believe, New World Order, Ghost of a Chance, Christmas Day, Cliffhanger 2, Society of the Mind, Legacy, Comfort Me, The Andromeda Strain, The Archer of Ben Salem, Encrypted, Room V, Venom, Pain, Strong
6. Transatlantic
Potential. That is the one word that sums up this band better than anything. Stolt, Morse, Portnoy, Trewavas. It's hard to go wrong with that combination, and thus far they are living up to their potential. The two main song-writers balance each other *perfectly*, with Neal reigning in some of Roine's wandering tendencies and Roine bringing some occasionally needed diversity to Neal's music. Pete fills in the happy bass parts wonderfully and Portnoy's exploits on a simplified drum kit are nothing short of stellar. If Transatlantic's proggy and joyful rock music is exactly what I'd like to do if I made music. If they had 5 or 6 albums along the same quality lines as the first three they would probably be my favorite band. In short, my only complaint about Transatlantic thus far is that they only have 3 albums.
Favorite Albums: Bridge Across Forever, The Whirlwind
Favorite Tracks: All of the Above, We All Need Some Light, My New World, Duel With the Devil, Bridge Across Forever, Stranger in Your Soul, The Whirlwind, Spinning, Lenny Johnson
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You could have just listed every TA song and the list still would have been short enough. :lol
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And I do love the few songs I left out.
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Ok, for my reference and everyone elses, Nick's list so far:
50. King Crimson
49. Genesis
48. Spock's Beard
47. Fish
46. Stratovarius
45. Supertramp
44. Tiles
43. Jethro Tull
42. Styx
41. Kamelot
40. Sonata Arctica
39. Amorphis
38. Metallica
37. Secret Sphere
36. Vanden Plas
35. Time Machine
34. Pain of Salvation
33. Muse
32. Kansas
31. The Flower Kings
30. Coheed and Cambria
29. Tesla
28. Labyrinth
27. Threshold
26. dredg
25. Dominici
24. OSI
23. Karmakanic
22. Beardfish
21. Firewind
20. Enchant
19. Fates Warning
18. Yes
17. Pendragon
16. Bruce Dickenson
15. Marillion
14. Neil Morse
13. Symphony X
12. Royal Hunt
11. Queensryche
10. Pink Floyd
9. Redemption
8. Riverside
7. Shadow Gallery
6. Transatlantic
My guess for the top 5:
5. Anthony Arjen Lucassen (combined works - based on a comment in your original post)
4. Savatage
3. Iron Maiden
2. Dream Theater
1. Rush
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So when Nick finishes his list, I think I'll do a top 50. Or top 40. Or top 25. Is that cool?
Why wait? Start your own thread.
Thanks for the motivation, but it'll take me awhile to compile my list anyway.
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7. Shadow Gallery
*resists the urge to make fun of Nick*
:biggrin: :biggrin:
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DTVT - As I did to someone else before, I won't tell you why you're wrong, but you are.
And thanks for the compiled list. :)
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I guess I'll just find out when you post the rest. There were about 10 other potential candidates I had penciled down as well - and I was just choosing among those that I thought you would include - so I'll be surprised at some of the omissions to the list.
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Porcupine Tree has gotta be on there.
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I'm guessing Iron Maiden will be #3, MAYBE #4, but I'd put money on #3. And Rush will be #1, with Dream Theater in #2... at least that's what I think. So basically, I agree with dreamtheatervt.
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I thought so to, but I thought I remember Nick agreeing with me about PT being vastly over-rated in a thread once. Maybe it was someone else. It's not like someone's getting a prize for being right.
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Than I say that Porcupine Tree is #4 or maybe #5, but I think #4 sounds good.
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I think it's gonna be what DTVT said, but with PT in spot 4 instead of whatever that band is.
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Ayreon will be #2
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My updated guesses:
1. Rush
2. Iron Maiden or Dream Theater
3. Iron Maiden or Dream Theater
4. Ayreon
5. Porcupine Tree
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5. Iron Maiden
Seeing the Somewhere Back in Time tour from front row was one of the best concert experiences I've ever had, and in general Maiden set the standard for large scale metal shows. The reason they are ranked higher than a band like Queensryche, despite a few definite duds (No Prayer, X, XI) is the strength of their recent material. It says something when a band in their 30th year can arguably have their newer material (reunion era) as the best era of the band. At the end of the day, Iron Maiden are true classics, but unfortunately they do have their share of bad or average material, more than any other band in my top 5. Can't wait for the upcoming tour and the following album... UP THE IRONS.
Favorite Albums: Brave New World, Somewhere in Time, Piece of Mind, Killers, Powerslave, A Matter of Life and Death
Favorite Songs: Prowler, Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Ides/Wrathchild, Murders in the Rue Morgue, Genghis Khan, Innocent Exile, Killers, Drifter, Children of the Damned, The Prisoner, 22 Arcacia Avenue, Total Eclipse, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Where Eagles Dare, Revelations, Still Life, To Tame a Land, Aces High, 2 Minutes to Midnight, Powerslave, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Wasted Years, Sea of Madness, Stranger in a Strange Land, Infinite Dreams, The Clairvoyant, Afraid to Shoot Strangers, Wasting Love, Judas Be My Guide, Fear of the Dark, Sign of the Cross, Lord of the Flies, Futureal, The Clansman, Ghost of the Navigator, Blood Brothers, Dream of Mirrors, The Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Dance of Death, Paschendale, New Frontier, These Colors Don't Run, The Longest Day, and many more...
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Nice. I love Iron Maiden.
I'm really excited to see these guys with DT.
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:tup
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:tup
This. I can't wait to see them with DT.
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Alright so now my updated guesses are:
4. Porcupine Tree
3. Ayreon
2. Dream Theater
1. Rush
What do I win?
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I'm so glad that you have many finnish bands in the list :tup
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Up the Irons!
In my opinion, best band ever.
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Yeah, it's Overratedpine Tree, not Savatage. It was Bosk who had my back, and Nick argueing against him.
When I get home I'm going to list all the bands I'm surprised you left off the list, cause like I said, I had a few.
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Well, right now I can say that if I had 3 Avantasia albums when I started the list, they would be on there. Also remember that bands with only one or two studio albums weren't eligible (Liquid Tension Experiment, amongst other). Savatage I'm a fan of, but not a big enough fan of to make this list. I suspect a lot of your other choices I either don't know very well or simply don't own 3+ albums by.
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All in all, an interesting list (in a good way). A lot of really obscure prog metal on there though.
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Well, that explains Avantasia (why didn't you have TMO 1 & 2 and The Scarecrow?)
Blind Guardian
Iced Earth
Nightwish
Peter Gabriel
Rainbow
Rhapsody of Fire
Savatage
There were others which I eliminated in retrospect
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Well, that explains Avantasia (why didn't you have TMO 1 & 2 and The Scarecrow?)
Blind Guardian
Iced Earth
Nightwish
Peter Gabriel
Rainbow
Rhapsody of Fire
Savatage
There were others which I eliminated in retrospect
BG - Don't own any albums, have never really been a huge fan of what I've heard, however I might get an album for $5 here shortly in a clearance sale.
Iced Earth - Not a big Barlow fan, and certainly not a fan of a lot of their music.
Nightwish - Love the new album, not big on Tarja.
Gabriel - Don't own any solo studio albums.
Rainbow - I do need to get more, especially the Dio era albums of which I have none.
RoF - Really not that familiar with them, will check out at some point. (That could be next month of 5 years from now)
Savatage - Depending on my mood I might have bumped them into the top 50, but while I'm a fan of theirs I'm not a huge fan.
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Iced Earth - Not a big Barlow fan, and certainly not a fan of a lot of their music.
(https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1969/gorillasmash.png) (https://img196.imageshack.us/i/gorillasmash.png/)
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Gabriel - Don't own any solo studio albums.
(https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1969/gorillasmash.png) (https://img196.imageshack.us/i/gorillasmash.png/)
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Although I've stuck to the initial list I made for the most part, over the last 24 hours I've really been at ends trying to decide who gets #4 and who gets #3. I will get an update up yet tonight though.
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Stop your list right now and buy Peter Gabriel III, So, Us, and Security.
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4. Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, Blackfield, No-Man)
A man as busy as he is talented, it's a good thing for both it's 'very'. Paving his way through multiple projects as the primary musical driving force I will focus on his primary and most well known exploit, Porcupine Tree. Aside from an odd and sub-par debut album Porcupine Tree has been experimenting, expanding, and producing great music. They have produced albums following an acid trip for 40 minutes and short beautiful and yet unquestionably progressive songs such as Blackest Eyes and Trains. I credit someone here with saying Kevin Moore's voice just works for OSI, and I'd say the same thing is true for Porcupine Tree. From the subtle to the bombastic Steven always seems to fit his voice into things correctly. On top of creating music of a wide variety and high quality Steven is a producer, an engineer, and quite simply the best rock/prog/metal mixer on the face of the planet. His 5.1 work with Porcupine Tree, No-Man, and his solo album is phenomenal. I admit to initially having him listed as #3, but I have to many emotional ties to the artist who did end up in that spot to allow him to stay there. I remember first hearing In Absentia very early in my modern musical life due to the hype at DT.net at the time and not thinking much of it. About a year later a user named JustJen would convince me to give the band another shot and today I consider that album a masterpiece and one of my all time favorites. She can also be credited with getting me to go to my first Porcupine Tree concert which was an amazing experience, as were the two subsequent times I've been able to see them. Being able to meet the band three times now I can also say they are all very nice guys and I am very much looking forward to a special show at RCMH.
Favorite Albums: Deadwing, In Absentia, Stupid Dream, Up the Downstair, Signify
Favorite Songs: Radioactive Toy, Synethesia, Burning Sky, The Sky Moves Sideways, Even Less, Piano Lessons, This is No Rehearsal, A Smart Kid, Tinto Brass, Lightbulb Sun, Four Chords That Made a Million, Shesmovedon, Last Chance..., The Rest Will Flow, Voyage I/II, Blackest Eyes, Trains, The Sound of Muzak, The Creator Has a Mastertape, Strip the Soul, Deadwing, Shallow, Lazarus, Arriving Somewhere, Open Car, Fear of a Blank Planet, Anesthetize, Nil Recurring, Normal, The Blind House, Drawing the Line, Time Flies, I Drive the Hearse, Flicker, Bonnie the Cat
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Geez, mine is going to be tough.
I'll try to get mine together by the time school ends so I can do it.
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Geez, mine is going to be tough.
I'll try to get mine together by the time school ends so I can do it.
Tori Amos should not make this list. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.
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Geez, mine is going to be tough.
I'll try to get mine together by the time school ends so I can do it.
Tori Amos should not make this list. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.
If it's a top 50 she'll be on it. Iron Maiden, however, will not be.
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And that is fail in its purest form.
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3. Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One, Stream of Passion, Guilt Machine)
As my two favorite artists share writing credits I can say that Arjen is my favorite composer. How much do I love Arjen you ask? I plan on naming my first daughter Ayreona (Pronounced Ariana), I love him that much. He is not only an excellent composer, but he does amazing work with the singers he's been able to work with. From the Dutch unknown to the internationally loved he brings out the very best in everyone. His concept albums are certainly cheesy, but however cheesy they are they are ten times as awesome. At this point he has also managed to spread into a variety of similar yet diverse styles throughout his Ayreon career and with his many other projects. A new Star One is on the way and you can expect another fun filled space adventure that has enough hooks to outfit a tackle-box.
Favorite Albums: The Human Equation, Into the Electric Castle, The Final Experiment, Actual Fantasty
Favorite Songs: Dreamtime, Eyes of Time, Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy, Sail Away to Avalon, Computer Reign, The Charm of the Seer, Computer Eyes, Farside of the World, Back on Planet Earth, Amazing Flight, Across the Rainbow Bridge, Valley of the Queens, The Castle Hall, Evil Devolution, The Two Gates, Another Time Another Space, My House on Mars, And the Druids Turn to Stone, Dawn of a Million Souls, To the Quasar, Isolation, Pain, Love, Confrontation, Age of Shadows, Comatose, Beneath the Waves, Unnatural Selection, E=MC^2
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I guess I'll give a few honorable mentions/people who might have made the list if they had more albums out.
Circus Maximus
Liquid Tension Experiment
John Petrucci
Jordan Rudess
Derek Sherinian
Demians
Haken
To name just a few...
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And that is fail in its purest form.
No. Fail in its purest form is for someone to not like Rush because they hate Geddy's voice.
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And that is fail in its purest form.
No. Fail in its purest form is for someone to not like Rush because they hate Geddy's voice.
No, fail in its natural state is not liking Rush for ANY reason.
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And that is fail in its purest form.
No. Fail in its purest form is for someone to not like Rush because they hate Geddy's voice.
That's actually a perfectly valid reason for not liking a band.
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And that is fail in its purest form.
No. Fail in its purest form is for someone to not like Rush because they hate Geddy's voice.
That's actually a perfectly valid reason for not liking a band.
Agreed. Rush has been my favorite band for over 18 years, but I didn't like them for much of my childhood because of Geddy's voice. Granted, I had only heard a few songs by them, but "Tom Sawyer" aside, which I always liked, I couldn't get past Geddy's voice for a pretty long time, so I can understand that being a pretty big roadblock for some to get over.
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2. Dream Theater
Big surprise here. My top two bands perfectly carve out my progressive tastes, with #1 being my favorite Progressive-Rock band and #2 being my favorite Progressive-Metal band. This far into their career I can honestly say I wouldn't rate a Dream Theater album lower than 8/10, and more importantly every album seems special. They always seem to have "it", whatever it is that makes me want to come back and listen again and again and again. While others turn their nose up at all that Dream Theater has inspired through the years, it helps me to appreciate them to know that they influenced so many subsequent bands that I love.
Favorite Albums: Scenes From a Memory, Train of Thought, Black Clouds and Silver Linings, Images and Words, When Dream and Day Unite
Favorite Songs: A Fortune in Lies, Status Seeker, The Killing Hand, Another Day, Take the Time, Metropolis Pt. 1, Voices, Scarred, Space-Dye Vest, Hollow Years, Lines in the Sand, Trial of Tears, Strange DejaVu, Beyond This Life, Finally Free, The Glass Prison, The Great Debate, Six Degrees, As I Am, Stream of Consciousness, In the Name of God, These Walls, Octavarium, In the Presence of Enemies, The Dark Eternal Night, Prophets of War, Wither, The Shattered Fortress, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Want to Stay Aliiiiiiive!
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Nice to see ToT getting some love as a favorite album. It's my second favorite behind Awake.
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Nice to see ToT getting some love as a favorite album. It's my second favorite behind Awake.
It's definitely my 10th favorite
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Nice to see ToT getting some love as a favorite album. It's my second favorite behind Awake.
It's definitely my 10th favorite
I see what you did there.
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Awake > ToT, BC&SL, and WDaDU.
Nick even fails when it comes to Dream Theater.
Let me guess, on Rush you're going to tell us that Vapor Trails and Test for Echo are better than Permanent Waves?
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Who says Rush is #1?
And Vapor Trails is easily their worst album.
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And Vapor Trails is easily their worst album.
Well, at least you got that right...
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No point in dragging this out...
1. Rush
Thou shalt have no gods before Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson. The holy trinity of progressive rock, Rush have blazed trails through a variety of styles all while maintaining a distinctive core sound and high quality. Not only do they have a wide variety of fan favorites aside from those heard on the radio, but they are a band for which I can say their hits are some of the best music you will hear on normal radio. Neil Peart is, and should be the drummer to which all others in prog are held. This is not due to his sheer talent, but his ability to create a landscape with drums, his ability to make them perfectly fill into the music. If anyone needs a perfect example of this Mystic Rhythms will have a word with you. Geddy's bass parts are melodic and driving and his voice is expressive and certainly unique. Finally you come to the often underrated Alex Lifeson. He may not be a million notes a minute shredder, but the man has an immense knowledge of guitars and how to produce the sounds he wants with them, and his emotional soloing style is easily loved. And here we are today 35+ years after the first Rush album and the band is putting out quality material and putting on one of the best rock shows you can see. Rush mean so much to me on a personal level as well. In 2003 I had a casual interest in music, and Rush are the reason I base so much of my life around music today.
Favorite Albums: A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Power Windows, Roll the Bones, Counterparts, 2112
Favorite Songs (Kept to 3 songs per album): Finding My Way, In the Mood, Working Man, Anthem, Fly By Night, Beneath Between and Behind, Bastille Day, Lakeside Park, The Fountain of Lamneth, 2112, A Passage to Bangkok, Something for Nothing, Xanadu, Cinderella Man, Cygnus X-1, Hemispheres, Circumstances, The Trees, Jacob's Ladder, Different Strings, Natural Science, Limelight, Witch Hunt, Vital Signs, Subdivisions, Chemistry, The Weapon, Afterimage, The Enemy Within, Between the Wheels, Grand Designs, Manhattan Project, Middletown Dreams, Lock and Key, Mission, Turn the Page, The Pass, Hand Over First, Available Light, Dreamline, Bravado, Ghost of a Chance, Between Sun and Moon, Alien Shore, Cold Fire, Test for Echo, Driven, Resist, One Little Victory, Nocturne, Freeze, Far Cry, Hope, Malignant Narcissism
Thanks everyone for playing along at home. :)
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Nice to see "Middletown Dreams" as a top choice from Power Windows; it's probably my favorite from that record.
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Albums like that were so hard to pick from. I mean leaving off a song like Mystic Rhythms was heart-wrenching for me.
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And not only does Rush rule in the studio, but their live performances are truly amazing. They really bring life to the music they write :hefdaddy
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Nice to see Arjen so high on one of these lists :tup
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Ok, for my reference and everyone elses, Nick's list so far:
50. King Crimson
49. Genesis
48. Spock's Beard
47. Fish
46. Stratovarius
45. Supertramp
44. Tiles
43. Jethro Tull
42. Styx
41. Kamelot
40. Sonata Arctica
39. Amorphis
38. Metallica
37. Secret Sphere
36. Vanden Plas
35. Time Machine
34. Pain of Salvation
33. Muse
32. Kansas
31. The Flower Kings
30. Coheed and Cambria
29. Tesla
28. Labyrinth
27. Threshold
26. dredg
25. Dominici
24. OSI
23. Karmakanic
22. Beardfish
21. Firewind
20. Enchant
19. Fates Warning
18. Yes
17. Pendragon
16. Bruce Dickenson
15. Marillion
14. Neil Morse
13. Symphony X
12. Royal Hunt
11. Queensryche
10. Pink Floyd
9. Redemption
8. Riverside
7. Shadow Gallery
6. Transatlantic
5. Iron Maiden
4. Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson
3. Ayreon/Arjen Lucassen
2. Dream Theater
1. Rush
Updated.
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Good list.
Except for Arjen :P
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Good list.
Except for Porcupine Tree :P
fixed
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3. Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One, Stream of Passion, Guilt Machine)
No Sixth Extinction on the list.
:|
+1 for The Charm of the Seer though.
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And Vapor Trails is easily their worst album.
I am not sure what is worse: you saying that, or you listing "One Little Victory" as one of the three best songs from it.
:biggrin: :biggrin:
Oh, and
14. Neil Morse
Really? Neil? NeIl? NeIl??
Major fail there, man. :lol :lol :hat :hat :corn :loser:
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Yea I noticed that too, but didn't want to say anything because it was so bad.
It was like that giant elephant in the room.
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Good list.
Except for Arjen :P
:yeahright
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:lol What can I say, I always have Neal Peart on my mind.
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:lol What can I say, I always have Neal Peart on my mind.
:eyebrows:
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Really? Neil? NeIl? NeIl??
Major fail there, man. :lol :lol :hat :hat :corn :loser:
Yea I noticed that too, but didn't want to say anything because it was so bad.
It was like that giant elephant in the room.
Actually, that's my fault. Nick copied the list from my post, and the only Neil I know personally spells it Neil, just like the astronaut Armstrong, so I just typed "Neil".
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After reviewing the list, I realized something. No Opeth.
whaaaaaaaaaat
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Doesn't like growls.
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Ah. Understandable.
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Nice to see some Lock and Key appreciation :tup
And my top 5 DT songs are up there too :tup :tup
Good list. Many of these artists are ones I am just discovering/intending to check out soon.
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not a huge King's X fan Nick?
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I own two albums (the classic and the newest), and while I generally like them I don't love them. I have to say that seeing them live made about 5x more of an impact on me than hearing them in the studio. If they toured I'm not a big enough fan to travel to see them, but if they played Allentown I'd definitely go.
After reviewing the list, I realized something. No Opeth.
whaaaaaaaaaat
Yeah, there are a few bands on that list that have used growls that I like, such as Ayreon, Riverside, and Amorphis at times, but in general I'm not a growl fan, and certainly not of Opeth's growls. Still, owning their newest and having seen them live twice (Progressive Nation) I can say that I very much enjoy them musically and whenever clean vocals are being used.
Songs such as Coil and Burden are stunningly beautiful.
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I assume you've given Damnation a spin then? If you haven't you should. Based off of what you said, and your other music tastes, you'd probably like it a lot.
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I don't own it but I have it on the computer as someone sent it to me thinking as you do. I did enjoy it a lot but I generally forgot about/never listen to things I don't have a physical copy of. I'll have to pick it up eventually.
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I feel you on the physical copy thing; I'm the same way. You definitely should pick it up. I love it. So much that if they said that the 10th album would be another Damnation-style album, I'd be behind that 100%. Although I doubt the rest of the fanbase would share in my approval.
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Yeah, I always find it odd that most of the fanbase seems to like or love the album while at the same time hating what it represents. What would be cool is if they do a double album in which one disc is heavier than ever before and the other is very light for them.
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That's exactly what they did. Deliverance was released roughly six months before Damnation and is generally considered one of their heaviest albums. Since they weren't released together it can't technically be considered a double album, but I believe they were recorded simultaneously.
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Ah, I didn't know they were connected.
In that case it would be cool if they did it again. :lol
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Hell yeah, I'd be down. More Opeth in any form is always a good thing for me. :metal
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+1 for Damnation.
Give it a shot Nick. I really think you'll like it.
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Dammitnicknation
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+1 for Damnation.
Give it a shot Nick. I really think you'll like it.
Yup. I'm sort of in the same place as you, not a fan of the growls, but I've been listening to Damnation and it's really good.
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I'd sooner they stuck to their winning formula of alternating light/dark, soft/heavy, clean/growling than try to appease people who don't like growls.
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its most definitely an acquired taste. You said that you like them musically, so the more you listen to it the more youll be able to tolerate growling. Two years ago, if you asked me if i liked any growling, id say hell naw.
Now theyre cool to me :D
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Ok, for my reference and everyone elses, Nick's list so far:
50. King Crimson
49. Genesis
48. Spock's Beard
47. Fish
46. Stratovarius
45. Supertramp
44. Tiles
43. Jethro Tull
42. Styx
41. Kamelot
40. Sonata Arctica
39. Amorphis
38. Metallica
37. Secret Sphere
36. Vanden Plas
35. Time Machine
34. Pain of Salvation
33. Muse
32. Kansas
31. The Flower Kings
30. Coheed and Cambria
29. Tesla
28. Labyrinth
27. Threshold
26. dredg
25. Dominici
24. OSI
23. Karmakanic
22. Beardfish
21. Firewind
20. Enchant
19. Fates Warning
18. Yes
17. Pendragon
16. Bruce Dickenson
15. Marillion
14. Neil Morse
13. Symphony X
12. Royal Hunt
11. Queensryche
10. Pink Floyd
9. Redemption
8. Riverside
7. Shadow Gallery
6. Transatlantic
My guess for the top 5:
5. Anthony Arjen Lucassen (combined works - based on a comment in your original post)
4. Savatage
3. Iron Maiden
2. Dream Theater
1. Rush
Listen to the Dear Hunter (Pick up their new album, Act III: Life and Death) ...Oh, will you love the Dear Hunter!
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I have Act II and while I liked a few tracks I really wasn't as taken by the band as a lot of people seem to be. (Same could be said about Frost*)
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I have Act II and while I liked a few tracks I really wasn't as taken by the band as a lot of people seem to be. (Same could be said about Frost*)
Same here actually. Act III, however, blew me away at first listen. Try that one
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I'm next.
I'm making my list right now... I plan on having it done by Friday.
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Probably worth pointing out, this thread isn't locked.