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Well, it’s finally my turn to do the infamous Top 50 albums list. As you may already know, I’m not a list guy, as I don’t like the feeling of saying “This is better than that”, but following these lists on this board is very fun and I always end up discovering great stuff in them. So I figured “Hey, let’s do it. Why not?” and here I am.
I’m a guy that loves music, especially rock and metal. I know that most of you are crazy explorers, always seeking new artists, but me? Not so much.
I like it more when a band hits me automatically, and that’s the reason why I probably know much less music that the rest of you guys, and also the reason why this list is pretty cliché, actually. But hey, I’m only 15 so I got plenty of time to get into more and more bands as time passes.
This list is from the heart. I chose the 50 albums very easily, and I ranked them very easily too. It was surprising how easy of a process it was, but still, this list is just ranked because it is a list and the ranking is not that important. At least until the top 20.
Being a pretty genuine and from-the-heart list, there are a lot of recurring artists. And pretty well known artists too. But expect also some obscure stuff.
Ok now I’ll stop talking and I’ll explain to you how this is gonna work:
I’ll do one album per post, and the review is gonna be divided in these sections:
- The review itself
- How have I discovered it (this will appear only when an artist gets mentioned for the first time)
- The favorites
OK! I’ll start in a few hours. If you want to follow, please feel free to tell me. See you soon :metal
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I'm a sucker for these lists so I'm in. I could have done a top 50 at 15 but it would have had alot of NWOBHM bands in it. And lots of Rush.
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I'm following, but I've got to say starting the list without the first update or at least honorable mentions is a mean thing to do. :D
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I'm following this because lists :tup
I've been thinking about doing top 50 list myself but I'm not very good at writeups and I think I don't know enough music. Maybe someday :D
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I'm following, but I've got to say starting the list without the first update or at least honorable mentions is a mean thing to do. :D
;D
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Will follow just because I'm a sucker for lists. And music ones are some of may favorites. I expect to find some really interesting stuff here :tup .
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Following.
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Hey, I don't even think I could have come up with a full top 50 list when I was 15. :lol Looking forward to it. :tup
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Let's kick this off.
#50
(https://www.continental-concerts.de/pics/disco/nevermore/Nevermore_-__1995__wmax.jpg)
NEVERMORE - NEVERMORE
Heavy/Thrash Metal - 1995
At the bottom of the list there’s the debut album by the Seattle non-grunge band Nevermore.
IMO Nevermore are very underrated. Even though they don’t come from California nor they’ve been founded in the eighties, their name should be up there with Testament and Exodus as one of the best metal bands (even though they’re not exactly thrash metal).
This album is their first album and you can tell that it’s a debut even if you didn’t know it: it just sounds like something has to evolve in this album, and infact their sound has evolved album by album until Dead Heart In A Dead World and This Godless Endeavor, which IMO are their masterpieces.
The riffing is great, creative and Jeff Loomis is one of the best guitarists around, even though he is very underrated like the band itself. His solos are halfway Petrucci and halfway Mustaine, with a touch of Maiden. The drumming is great too, even though I don’t really love the drum sound in this one.
A cool and unique element of Nevermore (both their strong and weak point) are Warrell Dane’s vocals: he sounds great, he has a both angelic and demonic operatic voice and his use of falsetto is creative. Now, in this album it doesn’t happen, but sometimes the vocal lines in Nevermore songs are just wrong, like they are taken from other songs and pasted in editing. One example of this? Next In Line. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXMbBcuylVc*)
Song-wise the album is varied: we have the opener, What Tomorrow Knows which is a funereal-march-sounding track, with an obsessive riff that repeats over and over. It’s actually pretty strange, there aren’t any other Nevermore songs like this one, but it works. The ballad of the album, The Sanity Assassin, has a great chorus that will be stuck in your head as soon as you listen to it and an evil sounding bridge, with positive lyrics, I always liked the contradiction there. Other tracks include the groovy Garden Of Gray, the furious thrashers Sea Of Possibilities and Godmoney, and the ode to LSD, Timothy Leary.
Tracklist: Personnel:
What Tomorrow Knows Warrel Dane: vocals
C.B.F. Jeff Loomis: guitars
The Sanity Assassin Jim Sheppard: bass
Garden Of Gray Van Williams: drums on CBF, TSA, SOP,
Sea Of Possibilities TL
The Hurting Words Mark Arrington: drums
Timothy Leary
Godmoney
Favorites: The Sanity Assassin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-tRoYbCC-U*) Garden Of Gray (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAnfGSd2B48*) Sea Of Possibilities (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYxW1BbZE5U*) Godmoney (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb-zeZrV5Qg*)
How I've discovered Nevermore
Back in February, a metalhead friend of mine posted on Facebook a status: “Dead Heart In A Dead World”, and I was like “OK.”. But then I read a comment under the status, saying “the best progressive thrash album”. My mind was blown. My two favorite types of metal combined? Are you joking? And then I listened to the record and I began a Nevermore fanboy for like a month and a half :D
#49
(https://media.u2.com/non_secure/images/20090214/discography/albumcover_htdmab/600.jpg)
U2 - HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB
Alternative/Pop Rock, 2004 (damn this album is 10 years old already :omg:)
Back in 2005, this, Muse and Green Day were my jam. All three of them are on my list, two of them being with an album from that period. And this is U2’s.
Even though U2 do have mainstream success, no one really seems to mention them ever. The guys wrote some of the best sounding commercial rock songs, like Where The Streets Have No Name, and like all of the Achtung Baby record. And their shows, my God. Whoever is able to pull off shows like ZOOTV or PopMart or U2360° is a pro. Just that.
This record is really relaxing and laid back, even in the moments when it gets heavier like the first track, Vertigo, and All Because Of You. All four of the guys work great and make a quite unique sound, which, as DT fans, we kinda know well (ahemIWalkBesideYouLiftingShadowsahem). That’s it, nothing else to say: it’s a really laid-back record, like most of U2’s stuff. There are also some different mood songs like Love And Peace Or Else, which are a nice touch.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Vertigo Bono – vocals, add. guitar, piano
Miracle Drug The Edge – guitars, keys, back. Vocals
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own Adam Clayton – bass, keys
Love And Peace Or Else Larry Mullen Jr. – drums, back. vocals
City Of Blinding Lights
All Because Of You
A Man And A Woman
Crumbs From Your Table
One Step Closer
Original Of The Species
Yahweh
Favorites: basically track 1 through 6
How I've discovered U2
Ten years ago, a little me just started discovering music and U2 was pretty much the first band I got into. My dad was a huge fan, so he helped and also MTV helped (:-[) – Vertigo was my shit.
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I love the layout of your lists, mikemangioy. Like a couple of songs on that U2 album, never heard Nevermore. Following.
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I love Dead Heart in a Dead World by Nevermore but never heard debut (yet). U2 is not my cup of tea though.
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Never been a fan of U2. I've tried Dead Heart in a Dead World by Nevermore, can't say I liked it. Nothing wrong with it, just not the genre I would listen, so this update is 0/2 for me.
until Dead Heart In A Dead World and This Godless Endeavor, which IMO are their masterpieces.
I take it these two albums will eventually make an appearance on this list? 0/4 for me then. :biggrin:
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I love the layout of your lists, mikemangioy. Like a couple of songs on that U2 album, never heard Nevermore. Following.
thanks man! Check them out, they're great :tup
until Dead Heart In A Dead World and This Godless Endeavor, which IMO are their masterpieces.
I take it these two albums will eventually make an appearance on this list? 0/4 for me then. :biggrin:
maybe.. maybe not ;D
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Obscure Nevermore pick, but I approve. Love seeing the more forgotten albums of an artist listed in people's 50. Following.
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That's a good Nevermore album. Garden of Gray is an excellent song. For me, no question that Dead Heart is their best album though.
Can't stand U2
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Obscure Nevermore pick, but I approve. Love seeing the more forgotten albums of an artist listed in people's 50. Following.
Thank you! It's quite an underrated album.
Can't stand U2
yeah, from what I see it's a pretty hit or miss band.
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Next two!
#48
(https://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/american_idiot0323.jpg)
GREEN DAY - AMERICAN IDIOT
Punk rock/Alternative rock, 2004
Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait STOP mashing that keyboard with insults. Ahem, yes I like Green Day. Yes, I know their latest three albums are absolutely atrocious (apart from a few songs). But American Idiot? American Idiot is great.
It’s their most proggy album too, given it is a concept album and given that there are two relatively long songs, with movements. But, honestly, the ”””””prog””””” elements are what I care the least about this record.
You see, the thing is, this was basically my first album as a whole. Ten years ago, when I was 5, all I listened was this and a bit of U2 and Muse, as I’ve already said in the U2 write up before – and being a little kid this record was the right one: it is energetic, even the ballads are a bit uplifting and overall it’s just fun.
From the infamous opening title-track all the way to the emotional finale, Whatsername, AI tells the story of this guy, Jesus Of Suburbia, who escapes from his town, and he makes various encounters throughout his journey.
This record is pretty varied: we have straight punk pieces like St. Jimmy, long suites like Jesus Of Suburbia and Homecoming (best song of the record), the four singles that everybody knows: American Idiot, Holiday, Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (the outro of that song is as heavy as Green Day can get) and Wake Me Up When September Ends, and some underrated ballads like Give Me Novacaine and Whatsername.
So yeah: energetic, straight to the point and overall fun.
Tracklist: Personnel:
American Idiot Billie Joe Armstrong – vocals, guitar
Jesus Of Suburbia Mike Dirnt – bass, backing vocals,
Holiday vocals on Homecoming
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams Trè Cool – drums, backing vocals,
Are We The Waiting vocals on Homecoming
St. Jimmy
Give Me Novacaine
She’s A Rebel
Extraordinary Girl
Letterbomb
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Homecoming
Whatsername
Favorites: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmTM5LOocWQ*) St. Jimmy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRu0O1J3Y4s*) Give Me Novacaine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKAwIwjHwZI*) Homecoming (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58hUq7hnueQ*) Whatsername (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2LC1xrdOaM*)
How I've discovered Green Day:
The song American Idiot was EVERYWHERE at the time. Then Holiday was. Then Boulevard was. Then Wake Me Up was. You get the idea.
#47
(https://mhm.hud.ac.uk/newsroom/sites/default/files/evile_enter_the_grave_cover_2.jpg)
EVILE - ENTER THE GRAVE
Thrash Metal, 2007
The next album is pure, raw, heavy and fast classic tharsh metal… done in 2007.
Evile is an English band, capable of taking each historic thrash metal band’s best characteristics and mix ‘em up together to create awesome thrash stuff.
We have Testament-sounding riffs, Metallica/Slayer vocals, Megadeth solos and some Iron Maiden-ish lyrics. Really a nice bundle of stuff.
Even though all the album is pretty similar, each song is memorable and there’s at least one riff per song that makes you go nuts.
The lyrics take inspiration from movies and facts: the title track talks about a serial killer, First Blood talks about Rambo, We Who Are About To Die is taken from The Gladiator and so on.
The not so good thing with Evile is that IMO, this is their only pretty good album. They wrote too much samey stuff, they should explore more.
So if you wanna listen to something heavy, fun while drinking beer, but still modern, put on some Evile and rock on. I know, it’s a pretty short review but that’s all there is to say.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Enter The Grave Matt Drake – vocals, rhythm guitar
Thrasher Ol Drake – lead guitar
First Blood Mike Alexander - bass
Man Against Machine Ben Carter - drums
Burned Alive
Killer From The Deep
We, Who Are About To Die
Schizophrenia
Bathe In Blood
Armoured Assault
Favorites: Enter The Grave (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrZvBlk4PL8*) Thrasher (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr9wObkGTYM*) Burned Alive (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfXGyY_YSyE*) Schizophrenia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-olH_fkSHg*)
How I've discovered Evile:
Back in November ’13 IIRC, I was in a plug.dj page and someone put on an Evile song called In Dreams Of Terror. I was hooked since then.
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I was just thinking about American Idiot today. It was the first present my girlfriend (now wife) ever bought me. I wasn't a huge GD fan but that album is actually really good. Its not like, Dookie good - but its good!
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I've overplayed American Idiot slightly, but it's still good and has some of my favourite Green Day songs in Letterbomb, Give Me Novacaine, Wake Me Up, Homecoming and Whatsername.
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I don't really have any strong opinion on American Idiot. It's just ok to me.
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I haven't really liked anything since Nimrod.
Evil are good, that album is really solid.
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Enter the grave is an amazing album.
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I think I prefer Dookie over American Idiot but I haven't heard those albums in years so not that strong of confirmation on that.
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I don't mind the look of where this is going.
So far:
Nevermore: a band I never connected with - would rather listen to Sanctuary
U2 : haven't heard anything I liked since Joshua Tree .
Green Day: nah
Evile : very good at what they do , which is to recapture the classic sound of Metallica/Slayer better than the bands do themselves these days. I like that album.
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Wow, I expected hate from Green Day but everything went better than I expected :laugh:
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Wow, I expected hate from Green Day but everything went better than I expected :laugh:
It's not that we love them but we refrain ourselves :biggrin:
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Cool choices - never heard any of those :biggrin: .
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Cool choices - never heard any of those :biggrin: .
Yep, this. I think I'll come back in this thread when I see an album I've actually heard. :)
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Cool choices - never heard any of those :biggrin: .
Yep, this. I think I'll come back in this thread when I see an album I've actually heard. :)
:tup
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The fun in following a list is discovering new music, or I am wrong?
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You're not wrong, but I've got enough new music for now, so for this list, the fun for me is commenting on something I actually know.
I'm checking out one random recommended song from these albums too, but nothing stood out so far. Just not my thing, I guess.
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Moving on!
#46
(https://www.banalleakage.com/images/metallica-metallica.jpg)
METALLICA - METALLICA (AKA The Black Album)
Heavy Metal, 1991
So, we all know who Metallica is, there’s no need to introduce them, but instead let’s introduce this record.
This record here, The Black Album, was the most commercially successful album by James and co., especially thanks to Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters. Many people bash this album based on that fact but everyone needs to realize that there are GEMS on this record.
The thrash sound is completely gone, what we have here is simple, pure and straight-forward heavy metal tunes. There’s still somewhat of a thrash influence (mainly in Through The Never), but the songs are shorter, and more straight to the point, and I like that: it’s different from the other ‘Tallica records (of course not different like Load and Reload, which BTW, are both great).
You come to enjoy this record when you realize what a great collection of song it is: we have the Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters pair of singles (which are the worsts song on the album IMO), then there’s that pounding awesomness of Sad But True, the fast-paced Holier Than Thou and The Struggle Within, there’s The Unforgiven, which is miles ahead of Nothing Else Matters as a ballad, the underrated Through The Never and the final songs, the best ones of the record: The God That Failed and My Friend Of Misery. Just awesome.
You can say anything to change my mind, to make me think and I know that Metallica has a thousands problems, but I think they might be my favorite band along with DT. *runs away and hides*
Tracklist: Personnel:
1.Enter Sandman James Hetfield – rhythm guitar, vocals
2.Sad But True Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
3.Holier Than Thou Lars Ulrich - drums
4.The Unforgiven Jason Newsted – bass, vocals
5.Wherever I May Roam
6.Don’t Tread On Me
7.Through The Never
8.Nothing Else Matters
9.Of Wolf And Man
10.The God That Failed
11.My Friend Of Misery
12.The Struggle Within
Favorites: Sad But True (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_4OfD-wmGs*) The Unforgiven (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh4r49tzn88*) Through The Never (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTmap-nc9_A*) and the last three tracks.
How I've discovered Metallica:
I was arfraid of this band and metal in general when I was a child, but then I bought Guitar Hero Metallica. Yep. *runs further
#45
(https://www.promiseandwarning.com/sites/default/files/images/QUEEN+%E2%80%93+SHEER+HEART+ATTACK+1974(1).jpg]https://www.promiseandwarning.com/sites/default/files/images/QUEEN+%E2%80%93+SHEER+HEART+ATTACK+1974(1).jpg)
QUEEN - SHEER HEART ATTACK
I-don’t-know-about-you-but-I-can’t-find-a-genre Rock, 1974
Now, this is an historical band. Even if they didn’t bring anything new to the table in terms of music, Queen is (well, practically was) a band that managed to have a hit in every single album they’ve ever made. Seriously, even If you’re not into these guys at all you may know 20 songs already, that’s what happened to me, at least.
Sheer Heart Attack is the band’s third album and it was their most experimental at the time: we have a variety of sounds here – the strange Brighton Rock opens the record, followed by the Broadway-ish Killer Queen and the triple suite (that DT covered, too) Tenement Funster, Flick Of The Wrist and Lily Of The Valley. The album continues to twist and turn and we find pretty heavy stuff too (Flick Of The Wrist, Stone Cold Crazy) along with powerful ballads (In The Lap Of The Gods) and silly songs (Bring Back That Leroy Brown).
Definietly quite a journey of an album, nice to listen to if you want something both simple and complex, but still majestic. No pun intended.
Tracklist: Personnel:
1.Brighton Rock Freddie Mercury – vocals, piano
2.Killer Queen Brian May – guitar, vocals, piano
3.Tenement Funster Roger Taylor – drums, vocals
4.Flick Of The Wrist John Deacon – bass, guitar on 10
5.Lily Of The Valley
6.Now I’m Here
7.In The Lap Of The Gods
8.Stone Cold Crazy
9.Dear Friends
10.Misfire
11.Bring Back That Leroy Brown
12.In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited
Favorites: Tenement Funster/Flick Of The Wrist/Lily Of The Valley (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PSZByYBogI*) Stone Cold Crazy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmt2mgmrSUw*) Misfire (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfv0sqf_V6o*) Bring Back That Leroy Brown (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PflW5arQ2-o*)
How I've discovered Queen:
Well, Queen is always been there as a band, I knew them since I was little, like everybody else. But it was when I saw a tribute band live in concert that I understood that they were one heck of a band, and so I explored their catalogue more.
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Solid update :tup TF/FotW/LotV is a great medley, love the DT version as well :P
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I don't think I've ever listened to one full Queen album. I did listen to a lot of their songs though.
And this Metallica album is the first album on this list I actually own. Good stuff. I like both Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters though. Overall, definitely solid update.
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The fun in following a list is discovering new music, or I am wrong?
Oh yeah, and I'm adding that Green Day album and some Nevermore to my Have-to-listen-to-some-day-soon list, which isn't short :P.
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I always enjoy Queen even though I dont own any of their material.
Great Metallica disc. Lots of great tunes on that one.
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I always enjoy Queen even though I dont own any of their material.
Great Metallica disc. Lots of great tunes on that one.
This pretty much - I have bought a few Queen albums only in recent years but it's not often I come across a track I love that I don't already know.
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The Black Album gets too much hate. Not my favorite Metallica album by any stretch but it has a lot of great songs, hit or not. :metal
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Nice to see you guys liked that update. Let's continue.
#44
(https://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/26441641/The+Dream+Sequencer+thedreamsequencer.jpg)
AYREON - UNIVERSAL MIGRATOR PART 1:THE DREAM SEQUENCER
Prog rock/Space rock/Oh-God-it's-Pink-Floyd-rock, 2000
Oh man. Oh man. Arjen Lucassen is one heck of a musician. His work is unfairly underrated: each Ayreon album is awesome, and Star One is also great. Still haven’t checked out his other stuff, but with time I will. I’m also looking forward to The Gentle Storm.
Anyways, let’s focus on Ayreon. Basically Arjen writes beautiful music, with a lot of different genres influences (mainly prog, metal and folk/classical). He then writes a concept for the album, and he invites various singers who each interpret a character in the story. Also, all the albums (not counting The Theory Of Everything and Actual Fantasy) have a grand story-line.
This album focuses on the last man alive: he’s on Mars, where people where sent while the Thrid World War was going on on Earth, in 2084. The man now realizes he’s the last one of the chain and uses a machine, called “The Dream Sequencer” which makes you relive the memories of your previous incarnations. The guy goes back in time and eventually realizes that not only he is the last man alive, he also was the first conscious man to live. One of the greatest climaxes ever.
This album’s music is more focused on relaxing prog rock/ambient, rather than crushing guitar riffs and technical stuff. It has a really soothing atmosphere and it really looks like your under hypnosis.
This album is also FUCKING BEAUTIFUL. Really, in all honesty, this is one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever listened to. The songs are elegant, we have the dark but emotional “My House On Mars” opening the album, the epic “One Small Step”, which takes place in 1969 during the moon landing, “Dragon On The Sea” has gorgeous vocals so does “Temple Of The Cat”. The choruses of these songs made me nearly cry manly tears. The beauty, guys, the beauty. And the climax of the album, oh God. We have our dear Neal Morse singing “The First Man On Earth” which is one heck of an uplifting song. Once again, the chorus makes the magic happen.
Excellent album, even though as a whole it’s a little bit boring to listen to.
Go and listen to Ayreon if you didn’t, NOW.
GO AHEAD.
I’M WAITING FOR YOU.
TRACKLIST:
1.The Dream Sequencer
2.My House On Mars (sung by Johan Edlund and Floor Jansen)
3.2084 (Lana Lane)
4.One Small Step (Edward Reekers)
5.The Shooting Company Of Captain Francis B. Cocq (Mouse)
6.Dragon On The Sea (Lana Lane)
7.Temple Of The Cat (Jacqueline Govaert)
8.Carried By The Wind (Arjen Lucassen)
9.And The Druids Turned To Stone (Damian Wilson)
10.The First Man On Earth (Neal Morse)
11.The Dream Sequencer (Reprise)
PERSONNEL:
Arjen Lucassen – electric/acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards
Rob Snijders – drums
Erik Nolanders – keyboards
Clive Nolan – synth solo on 3
Peter Siedlach – strings
Lana Lane – backing vocals
Favorites: My House On Mars (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBas8IxruC0*) Dragon On The Sea (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en_XqnmKtWc*) Temple Of The Cat (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS4RRIMVFxQ*) The First Man On Earth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH4mBUoNfRw*)
How I've discovered Ayreon:
Well, on Facebook the page Meme Theater continuosly posted about this project, claiming it was the best thing ever, and so I checked out The Human Equation. And after that nothing was the same again.
#43
(https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/105/cover_5631419102008.jpg)
YES - FRAGILE
Classic prog, 1971
And here we are. I need to describe my infamous relationship with classic progressive acts. The two of us really don’t get along. If you ask me how the most famous of the Genesis song goes, I will go completely “Nope”. Well, I know a bit of Genesis of course, but you know what I mean. To this there are three exceptions: Rush, Pink Floyd and (even if for just a few albums) Yes.
This here, ladies and gentlemen, was Dream Theater done 20 years before Dream Theater, you can feel a part of their roots coming from here, especially when it comes to wacky section and grand choruses.
Fragile is a very strange-structured album: it has 4 songs basically, the rest of the tracks are instrument-based songs, one for each member of the band. This is one of the earliest albums that uses my favorite concept for progressive music: complex, but simple. Infact, while there are some pretty complex songs in the record, like South Side Of The Sky and the monstrous Heart Of The Sunrise, there are also fun and catchy tunes like Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround. The tracklist, even though it’s pretty strange, seems to work greatly. The album has an overall enjoyable flow and nice instrumentation to it. But one thing bothers me. ONE DAMN THING.
WHY is Five Percent For Nothing a thing?!? WHY?!?! WHYYYYYYYY *fades away
Tracklist: Personnel:
Roundabout Jon Anderson - vocals
Cans And Brahms Steve Howe – guitars, backing voc.
We Have Heaven Bill Bruford – drums
South Side Of The Sky Rick Wakeman - keyboards
Five Percent For Nothing Chris Squire – bass, backing voc.
Long Distance Runaround
The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)
Mood For A Day
Heart Of The Sunrise
Favorites: Roundabout (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tdu4uKSZ3M*) Long Distance Runaround (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ0YIfW2BUI*) Heart Of The Sunrise (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z8_45duq6A*)
How I've discovered Yes:
Well, I also knew Yes (three songs: Close To The Edge, Roundabout, Owner Of A Lonely Heart) but I wanted to get into them, so I started a thing on reddit (you can check it out here (https://www.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/comments/209bid/yessification_episode_two_fragile_liveposting/*)) where I listened to the records and posted my thoughts. I did this with The The Yes Album (https://www.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/comments/202rbb/yessification_episode_one_the_yes_album/*), Fragile and Close To The Edge (https://www.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/comments/21jc34/yessification_episode_3_close_to_the_edge/*).
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Nice to see some Ayreon there. Quite an odd pick, for sure, but the album is so good it deserves it. Arjen is a genuis.
Excellent album, even though as a whole it’s a little bit boring to listen to.
What? No.
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I much prefer Migrator Part 2, but Part 1 is good.
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I much prefer Migrator Part 2, but Part 1 is good.
I actually think Migrator Part 2 is one of the worst Ayreon albums, compared to other stellar work Arjen has put out. But to each their own, I guess.
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I much prefer Migrator Part 2, but Part 1 is good.
I actually think Migrator Part 2 is one of the worst Ayreon albums, compared to other stellar work Arjen has put out. But to each their own, I guess.
Agreed, but there is quite the song on that one (Into The Black Hole)
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I love The Human Equation but never heard that one by Ayreon. I should check.
And Fragile is great album.
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I love The Human Equation but never heard that one by Ayreon. I should check.
This. Fragile is the only Yes album I like, but just that. Don't you like King Crimson?
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A great Ayreon album for sure.
Fragile is fantastic. I fell in love with it on the fist listen.
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Don't you like King Crimson?
The thing with classic prog, I know and like some songs, but not that much.
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#42
(https://paperstreet.it/imgArticoli/PSR1254641917PS4ac850fd3a2ce.jpg)
MUSE - THE RESISTANCE
AlternelectroniSYMPHardprog rock, 2009
Muse. Just that. The guys are so lucky to be both commercially successful and very experimental. I love the attention these guys get, it just proves that we can go beyond, and not listen to the same stuff over and over again.
For those unfamiliar with Muse.. well, they sound like a bunch of genres together – they have an alternative rock Radiohead-ish vibe, but they’re also known for using electronic elements in music (they even made a dubstep song) and being quite heavy. Lots of 7-string guitars. Another part of their music is that it is quite symphonic sometimes, and that’s what this album especially focuses on.
The Resistence is often said to be the worst album by the british group, but I strongly disagree. Yes, there are some meh songs like Uprising, but the rest of the album is top notch: we have heavy songs like MK Ultra and Unnatural Selection, electronic funky pieces like Undisclosed Desires, and operatic songs, the title track and Guiding Light. The album also closes on a three piece symphony, called Exogenesis, which I don’t listen to very often, but when I do, it’s a journey. Great album, very varied, and also, it’s been recorded in Italy, another good thing.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Uprising Matthew Bellamy – vocals, guitars,
Resistance keyboards
Undisclosed Desires Christ Wolstenholme – bass,
United States Of Eurasia b. vocals
Guiding Light Dominic Howard – drums, synths
Unnatural Selection
MK Ultra
I Belong To You
Exogenesis: Symphony – Part 1: “Overture”
Exogenesis: Symphony – Part 2: “Cross-Pollination”
Exogenesis: Symhpony – Part 3: “Redemption”
Favorites: United States Of Eurasia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ok0expLH1o*) Undisclosed Desires (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OOWcsFj0U*) Unnatural Selection (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL6jwxw9T3c*) MK Ultra (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27ixLv3Lw1M*) I Belong To You (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQoqM7l-vlQ*)
How I've discovered Muse:
I was 7 when I first saw the video for Supermassive Black Hole on MTV. That video scared the shit out of me, but there was something about it that made me interested. I ‘ve always been a Muse fan, I’ve always known their songs since then. What a great time to be around.
#41
(https://www.earsplitcompound.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/haken_rev112-e1312226726194.jpg)
HAKEN - VISIONS
Prog metal, 2011
Man, this is a surprise for me. In the original list in this spot there was gonna be Dookie, by Green Day. But then Haken came around the corner and said “Hey there”.
Haken is a treasure. We must preserve it. They’re like the heirs of Dream Theater, and of progressive rock/metal in general. This was proven in this album, Visions, and confirmed with the next one, The Mountain. But, I’m not talking about The Mountain right now, that time will come soon.
Visions is beautiful. It’s a gorgeous record. Each song has a grand, majestic and epic sound to it, also with that silly edge that characterize the band (seriously, the title track has a jazz section, followed by metal, and then followed by samba. GODDAMN SAMBA). My only complaint is that it is a bit repetitive, I mean, each chorus sounds the same and also the instrumental sections, but they improved that part of themselves.
Even though it is a bit repetitive, each song on Visions is awesome. Premonition does an awesome job opening the album and forshadowing the music, Nocturnal Conspiracy has this dramatic sound to it which makes it unique. The album goes on with awesomness, until the moment comes around (see what I did there?), and you get to hear the 20 minutes long epic, Visions. Wow. Just wow. One of the most cohesive and good flowing epic I’ve ever heard. Thank you guys for your music.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Premonition Ross Jennings - vocals
Nocturnal Conspiracy Richard Henshall – guitar, keyboards
Insomnia Charles Griffiths - guitar
The Mind’s Eye Diego Tejeida - keyboards
Portals Thomas McLean - bass
Shapeshifter Raymond Hearne – drums, percussions
Deathless
Visions
Favorites: Premonition (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrblRMwHSyk*) Nocturnal Conspiracy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q97gsNppY7g*) Insomnia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfbvwMpIAKg*) Visions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pAtQZHExZ4*)
How I've discovered Haken:
I always heard that Haken was a great band, in the prog communities on Facebook, so I checked Nocturnal Conspiracy but I didn’t find it that good actually. Fast forward to September of last year, The Mountain comes out, everyone goes nuts. And I’m like “nah, Haken are not my thing”, but I still wanted to listen to it. Months passes and finally I decide to check it out and this August, I listened to it and was completely blown away.
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I don't like Muse. I like Haken. Visions is in my top ten of epics, love this song.
Also you're missing the space after "v." in thread title. :)
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Also you're missing the space after "v." in thread title. :)
the subtitle wouldn't fit :lol is that an actual issue?
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I'd probably take any other Muse album besides that one :lol
Pretty sure they just got steadily worse after Absolution.
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Muse is ok. Not exactly my cup of tea though.
Haken man. :tup
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I'd probably take any other Muse album besides that one :lol
Pretty sure they just got steadily worse after Absolution.
Agreed. Muse was a good band during Origin-Absolution releases.
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Haken :tup Visions would be even higher on my list
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Haken :tup Visions would be even higher on my list
Visions was my #8 on my first list I did, about 2.5 years ago. It's probably still in the top 15-20, but not as high anymore.
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Visions' a good album, but yeah, it can be a little repetitive. Never heard any Muse album, so this one goes to my to-listen list.
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Guys, just wanted to say i don't have internet connection these days, so i won't be posting for a while. As soon as i'm able to post something, i'll do it. Sorry for the inconvenience.
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were you grounded?
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Nope, I just moved to another house, there's no internet at the moment. My only source is the tablet I'm writing from, which is not very practical for writing reviews.
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COME ON MIKEMANGIOY BRO Fuck.
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God bless the new internet connection! I'm back. Sorry for the delay.
#40
(https://www.cmdistro.de/images/products/large/25162.jpg)
NEVERMORE - DEAD HEART IN A DEAD WORLD
A good old pot of metals, 2000
And here it is, Nevermore’s masterpiece. Remember the evolution I mentioned in the first write up? Well, it happened and it is at its climax in this album.
From your pretty ordinary heavy/thrash band, Nevermore became literally one big pot of metals: we have influence from all the main subgenres – heavy, thrash, progressive and even death metal.
The album has plenty of great songs: the headbanging duo Narcosynthesis and We Disintegrate open the album in a great way.
We have quite the riffs in this album: Inside Four Walls and the title-track are great examples of that.
There are also two great power ballads, The Heart Collector and Believe In Nothing – both with the characteristic powerful chorus that Nevermore gives us in each ballad. Also, I have to mention the magnificent The River Dragon Has Come, truly the masterpiece of the album. Ooh, and there’s also the metal cover of The Sound Of Silence by Simon And Garfunkel. The song is completely different, but it’s a great listen.
Also, a good thing is the absence of bad vocal lines :D
So yeah, DHIADW is awesome: great guitar work, beastly drums, and good melodies and singing by Mr.Warrell Dane. Check it out.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Narcosynthesis Warrell Dane - vocals
We Disintegrate Jeff Loomis - guitars
Inside Four Walls Jim Sheppard - bass
Evolution 169 Van Williams - drums
The River Dragon Has Come
The Heart Collector
Engines Of Hate
The Sound Of Silence
Insignificant
Believe In Nothing
Dead Heart In A Dead World
Favorites: Narcosynthesis (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iPpr-8azsw*) We Disintegrate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01uzWZsTH-M*) Inside Four Walls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4wb_s9uIZY*) The River Dragon Has Come (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b4opKyZpeg*)
#39
(https://maidenrevelations.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/powerslave-cover-art-2.jpg)
IRON MAIDEN - POWERSLAVE
Heavy/Power/Speed/Prog Metal, 1984
Iron Maiden might be the greatest metal band ever. Even if their stuff is a bit repetitive, and even if there are some pretty mediocre albums in their catalogue, they still are one of the undeniable quintessential metal bands around. Just take a look at the classics: The Number Of The Beast? Run To The Hills? Fear Of The Dark? I could go on and on.
Powerslave is the band fifth effort and good god, they’re at the top of their game. The album is packed with adventurous-sounding pieces, heavy rythms and glorious choruses. Aces High is one of the greatest openers ever, IMO and then there’s 2 Minutes To Midnight, the most known piece out of this record. The album continues and the final two pieces are some of the best songs that Maiden ever put out in their entire discography.
The title-track has this Egyptian atmosphere (hence the album artwork, one of the best album covers I’ve ever seen) with one heck of a solo. And then there’s Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, which is my favorite Maiden tune. At the beginning it may seem like your standard Maiden galloping tune, but as you listen to it, you find out quite the twists and turns in it.
So Powerslave is an awesome record, also if you wanna get into Maiden or metal in general, you can’t go wrong with this one. Many subgenres together, catchiness and overall a really enjoyable listen. Up the irons, man.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Aces High Bruce Dickinson - vocals
2 Minutes To Midnight Adrian Smith - guitar
Losfer Words (Big ‘Orra) Dave Murray - guitar
Flash Of The Blade Steve Harris - bass
The Duellists Nicko McBrain - drums
Back In The Village
Powerslave
Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
Favorites: Aces High (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO6giM9UAv0*) The Duellists (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPONcmvVAbY*) Powerslave (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4U07_4rvbM*) Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7zk4as9kzA*)
How I've discovered Iron Maiden:
I’ve always known Iron Maiden. I often saw people with their t-shirts, but I was scared of Eddie (yeah, stupid, but I was a kid) so I didn’t check them out seriously until I received En Vivo as a gift. What a band, man, what a band.
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Not my favourite Iron Maiden album, and this Nevermore album didn't do the thing for me. Waiting for the next update. :angel:
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Not my favourite Iron Maiden album, and this Nevermore album didn't do the thing for me. Waiting for the next update. :angel:
You're loving this list, aren't you :lol
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Not my favourite Iron Maiden album, and this Nevermore album didn't do the thing for me. Waiting for the next update. :angel:
You're loving this list, aren't you :lol
I bet you'll have your revenge on mine. :lol But seriously, I'm interested to see what bands you have in your sleeve. I like Iron Maiden though, just not that album.
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I bet you'll have your revenge on mine. :lol But seriously, I'm interested to see what bands you have in your sleeve. I like Iron Maiden though, just not that album.
I think that the next update is the last big controversial thing :xbones
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Powerslave is one of my favorites from Maiden, so consistently great from start to finish :metal
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Those are two outstanding choices
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Loved Powerslave to death on first listen. :metal
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I have a big lack of classic metal records and bands, so both will go to the to-listen list. Highly interested on the rest of the list :tup .
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Those are two outstanding choices
Yep. Powerslave was top 5 for me. Amazing Nevermore album too.
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Let's continue with
#38
(https://wp-images.emusic.com/assets/2013/09/nirvana-in-utero.jpg)
NIRVANA - IN UTERO
Underrated grunge, 1993
Nirvana is one of the shittiest band I've ever had the pleasure to listen to. But their shittiness is what made them a great band. I mean, the songs were good but man were they shitty. With the exception of Dave Grohl, both Krist and especially Kurt were very shitty musicians. Kurt's guitars were often out of tune and his singing often sounds like a cat being strangled, and Krist was just having fun not caring what he was playing most of the time. But that's the key factor to Nirvana: the shittiness. After the ridicolous success of Nevermind, which made Nirvana seem like a more aggressive version of The Beatles, the band showcased what they really were in the third and final album in their discography: In Utero.
In this album there's everything that the band offered: the shittiness, of course, the catchiness, the mellow ballads and the furious songs. That's why I prefer it over Nevermind, which was more an attempt to have commercial success, which happened miracolously and out of nowhere. Really, if there was one band that was less likely to get succesful, it was Nirvana. This demonstrates that no matter what the radio feeds people, most of them are gonna like it, which is why many shitty (this time in the real sense of the term) songs are popular and succesful.
In Utero is basically a collection of my favorite Nirvana songs: the album opens with Serve The Servants, which is one heck of a masterpiece. The lyrics, the melodies and the instrumentation work great together. Then there's Scentless Apprentice, which is an example of what I was trying to say with "Nirvana is a shitty band" (but there's another song that shows that side of them better). After a couple of classics such as Rape Me and Heart-Shaped Box, In Utero continues with Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle, which is an unfairly underrated song. Dat instrumental section. Not to talk about Very Ape. Very Ape might be my favorite Nirvana song, featuring one of my favorite riffs of all time. The energy that song gives me is something unexplainable. I don't know why that song is that powerful for me, but it just works great. Then there's Milk It. Holy shit. Literally. I never heard such an ugly song, and it works perfectly! HOW DO YOU DO THAT.
The album closes with All Apologies which is such a perfect song - simple, emotional, with that cello.. it just gives me shivers everytime I listen to it.
So, if you listened to Nevermind, but don't know what the hell In Utero is about, check it out. It's different, it's shitty, it's Nirvana.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Serve The Servants Kurt Cobain - vocals, guitar
Scentless Apprentice Krist Novoselic - bass
Heart-Shaped Box Dave Grohl - drums
Rape Me
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
Dumb
Very Ape
Milk It
Pennyroyal TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Tea
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
tourette's
All Apologies
Favorites: Serve The Servants (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aztw2s3PZzY*) Scentless Apprentice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyxoQIQaogE*) Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZgtMchcOy0*) Very Ape (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91yrS5PUJBY*) All Apologies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LFVQpDKHk4*)
How I've discovered Nirvana:
Well, you don't simply discover Nirvana. You just know them, everybody knows songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit or Come As You Are or Lithium. That was the case for me. Then a good friend of mine formed a band, he called me and decided to be a Nirvana cover band, and I was basically forced (in a good way) to explore their catalogue furhter. Good decision.
#37
(https://deerwaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/muse-the-2nd-law-cd-cover.jpg)
MUSE - THE 2ND LAW
AlternELECTRONIsymphardprog Rock, 2012
I am in the vast minority, but this is my favorite Muse album. Once again, like In Utero, this album has everything the band offered in one disc, even with some quite unexpected twists.
There's the heavy tune (Supremacy), there's the mainstream tune (Madness), there's the funky tune (Panic Station), there's a symphonic (well, more operatic) tune (Survival), there is an alternative-sounding tune (Animals), there are the ballads (Save Me, Explorers), there's even a goddamn dubstep tune.. done with guitars (Unsustainable). You see what I mean?
It's varied, it's awesome, every song is great, there are no fillers. Bellamy's vocals and great guitar tunes work perfectly with the rest of the two guys. The songs are catchy, proggy in a sense, and it's also one heck of a huge-sounding album. Just what I expect from a great Muse record. Great job guys.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Supremacy Matthew Bellamy - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Madness Chris Wolstenholme - bass, keyboards, vocals
Panic Station Dominic Howard - drums, percussions, keyboards
Prelude
Survival
Follow Me
Animals
Explorers
Big Freeze
Save Me
Liquid State
The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
The 2nd Law: Isolated System
Favorites: Supremacy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej8rdi-cwdw*) Panic Station (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uBK5kvakD8*) Survival (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnzXI7zWmko*) Animals (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnJz4eUV5qM*)
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Good choice with Powerslave, a great Maiden album.
In Utero is also great. I'm a bit iffy on the shitty-ness thing for two reasons: A: I think Dave Grohl was a pretty average drummer back then as well, he just hit hard and hard generally pretty bland, generic fills - he was a quarter pounder with cheese. B: I agree they were generally pretty average musicians, but they wrote some AMAZING songs, simple and aggressive and beautiful. I think that nullifies the shitty-ness to an extent but I guess I see where you're coming from; from a technical, virtuosic standpoint they would be considered 'shitty'. Maybe the 'shitty' adjective just hurts my feelings lol.
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I agree they were generally pretty average musicians, but they wrote some AMAZING songs, simple and aggressive and beautiful. I think that nullifies the shitty-ness to an extent.
FTFY :smiley:
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2nd Law is great.
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Gentlemen, would you like some Steven Wilson?
#34
(https://www.qpratools.com/gallery/0002/porcupine_tree-up_the_downstair-front.jpg)
PORCUPINE TREE - UP THE DOWNSTAIR
Spaaaaaaaace/Psychedelic rock, 1993
That's right folks, double Porcupine Tree update. Never again this will ever happen in the list, it demonstrates how great and consistent of a band PT is. Steven is a musical genius, Gavin's playing is top notch, he's one of my three favorites of all time, Colin Edwin is also amazing, I love all of his basslines, and I like his attitude of being always :smiley: - and Richard's instrumentation and layers give the song even more depth. Truly one of the best bands I've ever had the pleasure to listen to.
Even though I just talked about the band, this album is not actually a band-recorded album, it's more of a Steven Wilson solo-thing with collaborations by Colin and Richard, who will of course later be in the band.
Ok, with that said, UTD is one of the best flowing psychedelic albums I've ever listened to (and don't say BUT DARK SIDE OF THE MOON because that's more of a prog record). It starts with the catchy amazingness of Synesthesia which is a song that will forever repeat in your head if you listen to it just for one time. The real pillars of the album are the two monstrous instrumental: the title-track and its masterpiece of a bassline and Burning Sky, with its grand and epic and dramatic sound. The rest of the record is also top notch: the two ballads are :hefdaddy :hefdaddy especially Fadeaway , which is one of my favorite ballads of all time.
So, if you want to listen to some good psychedelic rock without losing your mind and/or falling asleep, try this record. If you want to do those things, just try its successor, The Sky Moves Sideways.
Tracklist: Personnel:
What You're Listening To Steven Wilson - guitars, bass, keys and vocals
Synesthesia Colin Edwin - bass on track 4
Monuments Burn Into Moments Richard Barbieri - electronics on track 5
Always Never Suzanne J. Barbieri - spoken words on track 5
Up The Downstair Gavin Harrison - drums (remastered 2001 version)
Not Beautiful Anymore
Small Fish
Burning Sky
Fadeaway
Favorites: Synesthesia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQKfabzI9qo*) Up The Downstair (no YT link for that one :o ) Burning Sky (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezlMHxniND8*) Fadeaway (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7uMYGhtBuA*)
#33
(https://www.furiacontralamaquina.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/inabsentia.jpg)
PORCUPINE TREE - IN ABSENTIA
Progressive rock/metal, 2002
This one here is a classic. In Absentia not only is the first album in the metal era of PT, it's also the first album with Gavin Harrison on drums. And that guy is... is... I don't have adjectives that could justify my love for how that guy plays.
Anyway, back to the album. This is one heck of a dark album, quite ironic since it's the successor of a quite joyful album, Lightbulb Sun.
It follows the decline of a dude who from sex addict/rapist becomes necrophiliac and then ends up killing his own family and all sorts of dark stuff. The whole album is in this dark, heavy atmosphere, except for one song: Trains.
Trains is and always will be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever listened to. It has the power to light even the darkest of times, just with some "lalalalas" and one heck of an outro.
But In Absentia is dark, though, right? So, let's talk about the dark stuff: the album opens with the explosion of Blackest Eyes, a somewhat "happy" song about the story of the album in general, then there's Trains ( :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :heart :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :heart), then there's a fucking creepy song, called Lips Of Ashes, which is a necrophily-based lullaby. Shit.
But really, every track is worth mentioning - from the nevrotic The Creator Has A Mastertape to the energetic instrumental Wedding Nails, from the pitch black Strip The Soul to the heartfelt Collapse The Light Into Earth. Even the tracks that didn't end up in the album are :metal - Futile is a Gavin-fest, Drown With Me is another happy song in a dark record, and then Chloroform is just :hefdaddy. Truly a consistent work.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Blackest Eyes Steven Wilson - vocals, guitars, piano, banjo
Trains Colin Edwin - bass
Lips Of Ashes Richard Barbieri - keyboards
The Sound Of Muzak Gavin Harrison - drums
Gravity Eyelids
Wedding Nails (backing vocals on track 4 by John Wesley and Aviv Geffen)
Prodigal
.3
The Creator Has A Mastertape
Heartattack In A Lay-by
Strip The Soul
Collapse The Light Into Earth
Favorites: The whole goddamn thing
How I've discovered Porcupine Tree:
Well, my discovery and exploration of PT's material was very slow and it took 2 years to reach its completion. I started by just checking them out by reccomandation (Prodigal was my first song), but I didn't like them that much. Then Gavin Harrison came to my town to do a clinic, so I decided to explore PT more and I listened to the most known songs - that same summer I explored them furhter, repeating the same process at the beginning of this summer. I also did a kind of illegal discography thread (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=11903.665*). If you want to get into this band I recommend reading this thing (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/RichardBeast/top_75_porcupine_tree_songs/*). It's the perfect guide for the PT universe.
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Heartattack in a Layby is my favourite PT song.
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In Absentia is like 33 spots lower than it should be :neverusethis:. Yeah the album can be quite disturbing when you pay attention to the lyrics, but what the hell, is so dark and beautiful, that it doesn't really matters. Wilson's a freaking genius and will still release great music till the day he dies.
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Heartattack in a Layby is my favourite PT song.
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Heartattack in a Layby is my favourite PT song.
It always reminded me of 'Every Dream Home a Heartache', by Roxy Music. Lovely song.
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Ok, I made a mess. I missed an update, so yep, today's albums are the actually ones that come after Nirvana and Muse. Sorry for the eventual confusion.
#36
(https://www.guitarworld.com/files/imagecache/futureus_imagegallery_fullsize/gallery/Rush_2112.jpg)
RUSH - 2112
Progressive rock, 1976
Rush. What can you say about Rush? They are one of the most influencials bands around, especially when you look at long songs and complex music. And we all know a band who likes doing long songs and complex music, don't we?
I'll start by saying that they are one of the best bands I've ever heard. They sound like they're in six, but they're half the number. No ordinary band has a member which plays bass (and does it that good), while singing and playing keys with his feet. No ordinary band has a drummer that it's believed to be the best at his job by thousand and thousand of people, no ordinary band has a guitarist who had the courage to make this speach (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i2ZbJnkFEY*) at his band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction cerimony. This is the record that made Rush earn what they still have today, let's take a look at it.
2112 is amazing. The first side is completely dedicated to the historical title-track which is a track that at least every musician/person on the planet should know. It's an essential statement, both lyrically and musically. It starts with Overture, which is one of my favorites intros for a song in general, and I just love the way it's structured. The Temples Of Sirynx carry on the epic with a catchy vibe, and then there's Discovery. When you listen to it you really feel like someone who just discovered a guitar in a cave, and you really feel like you've found a treasure. I like the transition into Presentation, very in-your-face. The rest of the epic is.. well, epic :biggrin: - the Grand Finale sends me shivers every time. Once you listen to "Attention all planets of the solar federation, we have assumed control", nothing will ever be the same anymore. I promise that.
The second side of the record is dedicated to a bunch of shorter songs: some of them are great, and some of them are ok. But, once again, what makes this record a great record is the title-track. You. If you didn't listen to 2112, do yourself a favor and click here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZm1_jtY1SQ)
Tracklist: Personnel:
2112 Geddy Lee - bass, vocals, keyboards
A Passage To Bangkok Alex Lifeson - guitars
The Twilight Zone Neil Peart - drums, percussion
Lessons
Tears
Something For Nothing
Favorites: 2112 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZm1_jtY1SQ*) A Passage To Bangkok (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmqfyE4M6o*) Something For Nothing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096LhjGNNCk*)
How I've discovered Rush:
Being a drummer, I've always heard that Neil was like the best drummer ever, so I checked out YYZ and Tom Sawyer - those two songs eventually lead me to La Villa Strangiato which is still the reason why I'm a fan of these guys. The sad thing is that I've never had a chance to listen to their whole discography, but, thanks goodness, there's a discography thread going on, and I'm already blown away by what I was missing.
#35
(https://bluesuncorp.co.uk/files/articles/ayreon-01011001-artwork/.thumbs/ay_album-600.jpg)
AYREON - 01011001
Progressive metal/Synths-everywhere prog, 2008
You know, other than the amazing guests artists that each Ayreon album has, what I really like about the project is the fact that there's just one plot going on in various different albums. 01011001 is the last of the series, and it creates links towards each and every other Ayreon record (excluding Actual Fantasy and of course, The Theory Of Everything), so lyrically the album is great.
Really, this should be the last Ayreon album you'll have to listen to, because otherwise it doesn't make sense.
Musically speaking the album has a huge problem.
TOO
MANY
SYNTH
PATTERNS
I understand that Arjen was probably trying to emulate the sounds of the machines which keep the "Forever" race alive, but Jesus, I think he exaggerated. Other than that, I really love the atmosphere of this album, and I like the fact that it has less songs compared to the other Ayreon records, it's definitely more straight to the point.
It starts with the pounding Age Of Shadows, and it goes on with the amazing duet Comatose, sung by Anneke Van Giersbergen and Jorn Lande. How much more could you ask for? Well, the answer is in the two epics of the record: The Fifth Extinction and The Sixth Extinction. Both tracks are incredibly stunning: the first one being both incredibly heavy with classical influences, and the second one being really epic and dramatic. The 2085 section, man - that section. Other great tracks include Connect The Dots, Waking Dreams, Unnatural Selection and River Of Time. But believe me when I say that the whole record is fantastic.
Let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that we have on the same album: Anneke Van Giersbergen, Daniel Gindenlow, Floor Jansen, Hansi Kursch, Jorn Lande, Jonas Renkse and Simone Simons. Also, there's the participation of none other than Mr. Derek Sherinian and also Micheal Romeo.
Let's not forget though that Arjen is the mastermind of the project, and he performs everything really well, with the help of Ed Warby on drums, which I think is the most underrated drummer ever. The guy's a beast.
Tracklist: Personnel:
Age Of Shadows/We Are Forever Arjen Lucassen - guitars, bass, mandolin, keyboards, vocals on TTIIH
Comatose Ed Warby - drums
Liquid Eternity
Connect The Dots Guest artists:
Beneath The Waves
Newborn Race Singers: Bob Catley, Tom S. Englund, Anneke Van Giersbergen, Daniel Gildenlow, Liselotte Hegt, Floor Jansen, Hansi Kursch, Jorn Lande, Steve Lee,
Ride The Comet Magali Luyten, Jonas Renkse, Simone Simons, Ty Tabor, Marjan Welman, Wudstik, Phideaux Xadier
Web Of Lies
The Fifth Extinction Musicians: Tomas Bodin, Joost Van Der Broek, David Faber, Jeroen Goossens, Lori Linstruth, Ben Mathot, Michael Romeo, Derek Sherinian
Waking Dreams
The Truth Is In Here
Unnatural Selection
River Of Time
E=mc2
The Sixth Extinction
Favorites: Mentioned all of them in the review.
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So PT albums are #34 and #33?
2112 is classic, of course. 01011001 is a fun listen indeed, it's interesting how actually dark it is even for Arjen. I think there are two most epic moments on the album, both on the first disc: Liquid Eternity's "I'm losing my reasons to live" and onwards and "Beneath the waves we were invincible" on the last chorus. All in all, I'm a huge fan of how Jorn sounds on this album. His exchanges with Floor on the moments I've mentioned are just fantastic.
However, I think there are a few songs that drag 01011001 down significantly. Like Connect the Dots and Web of Lies and a few more. These two I can understand, Arjen tried to create a stark contrast between the human race and Forever, but doing this with such songs kind of kills the whole momentum. I also feel Newborn Race overstays its welcome, and E=mc^2 is so uninspired I don't even know where to begin. So basically there are four songs I don't like, and well, that's quite a lot.
Waking Dreams is one of my favourite Ayreon tunes though. What a brilliant usage of Jonas' voice.
Edit: by the way, quite an interesting tracks you've got on your copy :biggrin:
(https://i.imgur.com/q20aS7o.jpg)
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I'm not too keen on Rush, Geddy's voice annoys me after a few songs :P . Haven't listened Y though.
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So PT albums are #34 and #33?
2112 is classic, of course. 01011001 is a fun listen indeed, it's interesting how actually dark it is even for Arjen. I think there are two most epic moments on the album, both on the first disc: Liquid Eternity's "I'm losing my reasons to live" and onwards and "Beneath the waves we were invincible" on the last chorus. All in all, I'm a huge fan of how Jorn sounds on this album. His exchanges with Floor on the moments I've mentioned are just fantastic.
However, I think there are a few songs that drag 01011001 down significantly. Like Connect the Dots and Web of Lies and a few more. These two I can understand, Arjen tried to create a stark contrast between the human race and Forever, but doing this with such songs kind of kills the whole momentum. I also feel Newborn Race overstays its welcome, and E=mc^2 is so uninspired I don't even know where to begin. So basically there are four songs I don't like, and well, that's quite a lot.
Waking Dreams is one of my favourite Ayreon tunes though. What a brilliant usage of Jonas' voice.
Edit: by the way, quite an interesting tracks you've got on your copy :biggrin:
(https://i.imgur.com/q20aS7o.jpg)
- Yes, they are 34 and 33
- I partially agree on your 01 thoughts
- the tracklist is ok for me :o
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That Ayreon album is good, but not one of my favorites from him. 2112 is definitely deserving on this list. :metal
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- the tracklist is ok for me :o
Your two column method doesn't display correctly for me most of the time either.
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Hey, look who it is
#32
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Dream_Theater_-_Six_Degrees_of_Inner_Turbulence.jpg)
DREAM THEATER - SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBULENCE
Drone, 2002
At last! DT, one of my favorites band of all time and also the reason why I'm writing in this forum, make their first appearance on my list. And with a no ordinary album - infact, SDOIT is maybe their most experimental record along with Octavarium (maybe). I like the way its structured: the album has two discs:
- Disc 1 is the experimental one, with five long and dark songs
- Disc 2 is like an album in an album (nope, I don't consider the title-track to be one song), which has very reminiscent musical directions of Scenes From A Memory.
This makes the album quite unique. The first disc is one of my favorites run of songs ever created: the whole album starts with the heavily-massive The Glass Prison, which as we all know, is the first chapter of the 12-step-suite. Then there's Blind Faith, a song that kind of reminds me of Awake, with a great instrumental section and feel overall.
The third track, Misunderstood is the most experimental: it has pop-like verses and chorus, with strange psychedelic instrumentation all around it. It is a really nice experiment, and I've got no problem with the outro, I think it adds to the experience.
The fourth song is possibly my favorite of the record: The Great Debate. As the title suggests it's about a debate - steam sell reaserch. The song is structured like a mirror, both musically and lyrically and I love that concept. Last track on disc one is the desperate Disappear, which is quite underrated, I have to say, like the whole first disc.
The second disc is the 42-minute composition/suite/long-thing thing, and while I enjoy disc one much more, this side of the album also has its moments: my favorite succession of songs is War Inside My Head -> Solitary Shell. I think the rest is ok, Overture is too long and ATC reprise could've been more concise. But other than that it's a great listen, but I just can't consider it ONE song. It's not cohesive at all.
So, SDOIT is definitely a nice and interesting listen, but I do not recommend it as the first album to listen by DT. Take it easy and start with, let's say, the latest and Images And Words.
Tracklist:
The Glass Prison
Blind Faith (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3otqrKIzew*)
Misunderstood
The Great Debate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z6vpiXQJNA*)
Disappear
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence:
I.Overture
II.About To Crash
III.War Inside My Head
IV.The Test That Stumped 'Em All
V.Goodnight Kiss
VI.Solitary Shell
VII.About To Crash (Reprise)
VIII.Losing Time/Grand Finale
--Performed by James LaBrie (vocals), John Petrucci (guitars), John Myung (bass), Jordan Rudess (keyboards), Mike Portnoy (drums)--
How I've discovered Dream Theater:
well, I think i'm the newest of you guys. My story goes like this:
year 2009: I was 10 then. I received a Wii and Guitar Hero World Tour. There was Pull me Under on it. Didn't care at first, as most of the band I fell in love with
year 2011: 12 y/o. At my drum school, here in Italy, my teacher says "Hey, wassup, Mike Mangini's coming for a clinic here!" and I was like "Who is this guy" "Dream Theater's new drummer!" "Oh, DT, I heard a song some time ago." (Note: at that time I was really getting into the metal scene, listening to the big 4 of thrash, and some other bands too) He showed me some videos of Mangini rockin' his giant kit. I was shocked by his talent and the massiveness of his kit (is that even a word?). So, along with this, there was a fellow drummer of mine who was a big DT fan, and he was constantly playing the drum rythm of Under A Glass Moon. He was totally obsessed with it. So the actual first song I really heard from Dream Theater was UAGM.
year 2012: in the studio with my school, my friend played Trial Of Tears. This was a bad move for my unborn interest for DT, UAGM didn't hit me musically, and I thought "Man.. this song is boring.. maybe DT aren't my thing". This was up until the MM clinic was starting to get near. I thought "Man, I have to get documented about him and what he did in DT". So I watched "The Spirit Carries On" documentary. Fell in love, but not so much, with The Dance Of Eternity.
Enter Mike Mangini, and his awesomness. The guy was extremely hilarious and so much talented. He played a 20 min. drum solo which was like :o
and at the end of the clinic he played a song from ADTOE. That song was Outcry. That song: the metal/epic elements, the insane instrumental section that Mike played like if he was drinking a glass of water, hit me so much. I fell in love with DT since then. I feel like the most lucky DT fan because I fell in love with the band and like 10 minutes later I got an autograph and a photo from their drummer. :hat My first album was Octavarium.
year 2013: after learning every song from the catalog, in January JP announces the new album. I was like "New album = tour = concert nearby". And yes, I did it. I bought a ticket for the Rome concert this January, and when the ticket arrived I looked at it. It said "An Evening With Dream Theater". I almost fainted when I noticed it. 3 whopping hours of concert are waiting for me in 6 months. And a new great album in even a shorter time!
oh, I love this band so much. I also think I improved a lot in technique as a drummer. Also, they opened me a whole new scene, the prog scene. I was already a Rush/Pink Floyd fan when I started listening to DT, but they brought me a lot of other stuff: Opeth, Porcupine Tree (another clinic-event with Gavin Harrison, in which I did the translator for him ;) ) and the side projects like LTE, Adrenaline Mob and recently The Winery Dogs. Currently I'm in a DT/Porcupine Tree period, because I'm listening to PT just to make time pass up until September. At that point new album to the max and at January concert :metal
tl;dr: Mike Mangini did a clinic, played Outcry, fell in love with the band after a few months of doubts.
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Good call, probably my 3rd fave DT after Awake and I&W.
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Being a complete sucker of the 42 minute song, I strongly disagree. It is really well connected and it works perfectly as a whole. Just pay attention to Overture, which is basically an intrumental summary of all that comes after and you'll notice how it flows. And even if you think it feels disjointed, the band has said it's indeed a single song, so I find it quite funny when people say it's just 8 songs or even a different album. It's like saying that SFAM is a song, which isn't true at all.
But anyways, I'm glad to see Six Degrees in a top, no matter the position :tup .
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Hey,can i ask you something? How come I always get just 2-3 replies? I'm not saying that I don't appreciate doing this list because of that, just wondering. I see other's peoples list with 7-8 replies, what's wrong with mine? Do I post too early/late
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Just dropping in to say that Nirvana weren't shitty.
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Hey,can i ask you something? How come I always get just 2-3 replies? I'm not saying that I don't appreciate doing this list because of that, just wondering. I see other's peoples list with 7-8 replies, what's wrong with mine? Do I post too early/late
Just a matter of popularity, my friend.
Just dropping in to say that Nirvana weren't shitty.
While Nirvana is "bashed", The 2nd Law is praised don't take this too much seriously mike
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Hey,can i ask you something? How come I always get just 2-3 replies? I'm not saying that I don't appreciate doing this list because of that, just wondering. I see other's peoples list with 7-8 replies, what's wrong with mine? Do I post too early/late
Just a matter of popularity, my friend.
Pretty much, I wouldn't really worry about it too much. You have the posters that have been here forever that know each other and always post in each others stuff and you get people that just... aren't like that. I used to worry about shit like that when I first started posting but I couldn't give two squirts of piss about it now, just post where you like when you like and if you're saying something people wanna engage with they'll do it. No biggie.
tl;dr welcome to DTF's remedial class, I've been here since 2008 hi-yo.
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I totally agree with you about SDOIT the song. I'm in love with the first disc, but I almost never spin the second one these days.
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tl;dr welcome to DTF's remedial class, I've been here since 2008 hi-yo.
Alright, seems legit. Anyways just wanted to thank everyone who participates constantly, like you, sacul and evermind. And also everyone else who's just reading the list. :tup
I totally agree with you about SDOIT the song. I'm in love with the first disc, but I almost never spin the second one these days.
Is that.. something we agree on? :omg:
Just dropping in to say that Nirvana weren't shitty.
Well, shitty not in a "songwriting" level, shitty in the sense of they did not care about cutting a good figure- they were the underground in the mainstream - you know what i mean?
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I usually don't post in lists unless I have something to add to the conversation, I have something to razz them about and I know they can take it and smile, or if they pick a band that isn't discussed often and I can then back them on the assertion. I don't pop on these lists anymore to say "good album" to widely accepted albums. I think people slowly drift toward that position.
Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm pretty familiar with almost everything on your list, and the albums I agree are good are pretty popular around here. I don't feel the need to yell '6DoIT is awesome!" every time someone lists it. So the only thing I could do is tease you, and I quit teasing people I don't know a while ago after a few people took it personally.
Also, your thread title might be part of it. It's pretty standoffish.
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Also, your thread title might be part of it. It's pretty standoffish.
I've actually thought about that, but it's sarcasm of course, joking with elitism, you know :angel:
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So, the double-update section of the list is not over yet, I was pretty tired yesterday evening when I wrote SDOIT, and I just couldn't write more. So this will be the last single-update album until the top 25.
#31
(https://dc224.4shared.com/img/fVUDXyzC/s3/13be846e310/system_of_a_down_-_steal_this_.jpg)
SYSTEM OF A DOWN - STEAL THIS ALBUM!
Strange metal, 2002
SOAD is one of those bands that I like but I don't know why. There's a certain element to their sound.. well, certain elements that make them quite unique, especially when you look at the scene the guys were in (00's Nu Metal) - I don't know how to describe them but I'll try. First off, they're heavy. The riffs are really simple but the rythm section of the band makes them sound huge and bombastic - then there's the vocals. Serj has one of the most (I hate to repeat myself) strange and unique voices around. His growls are scary and his clear voice is angelic - just what you want from a singer like this. Then there's the psychedelic factor in SOAD, which will be replaced by the mainstream sound in their later career, and also a sort of oriental vibe going on in certain songs (which makes sense given that the band is half armenic).
With its beautiful cover, Steal This Album is the band's third effort, and follow-up to the 2001's breakthrough record, Toxicity. The album is pretty much Toxicity on steroids with references from both the past and the future of the band. The album starts off with Chic 'N Stu, which is very reminiscent of Toxicity's material, then there's Innervision which is in more of a Mezmerize/Hypnotize vibe and the album pretty much goes on like this, with some classic silly songs eventually thrown in (36 and Fuck The System come to mind).
So, yep. There's every aspect of SOAD in this record, and it is quite sadly underrated. There's too much awesome material that gets overlooked (example: Highway Song) . So, yep, if you want to get into SOAD, I suggest to start with both this and Toxicity. Oh, and also, the album has a great flow, it's not a concept album, but some of the songs are connected in a really clever way (Pictures -> Highway Song, Thetawaves -> Roulette).
So, yep, Steal This Album. You could easily buy a CDR and pretend it's the real thing. Ironically, it's the first album I've ever bought with my money :lol
Tracklist:
Chic N' Stu
Innervision
Bubbles
Boom! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlSuVNkshE*)
Nüguns
A.D.D. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoMePNDh-BE*)
Mr. Jack (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uUruXmq_Kc*)
I-E-A-I-A-I-O
36
Pictures
Highway Song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vFijajE6Kg*)
Fuck The System
Ego Brain
Thetawaves
Roulette
Streamline (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XNUIFfM9Us*)
--Performed by Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards), Daron Malakian (guitar, vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass), John Dolmayan (drums)--
How I've discovered System Of A Down:
I knew Chop Suey. I just didn't know it was from this band, and that it was called like that. I also knew Toxicity and BYOB, and I really liked those songs, so I decided (when I re-discovered Chop Suey) to explore their catalogue. Fun times :metal
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I've never really got into SOAD, although I'm sure I'd enjoy them decently enough if I did.
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Ahh another fan of Steal This Album! Love it to death.
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I've tried to listen to System of a Down before and thought it's just not my cup of tea. After I read your write up I decided to listen to Steal This Album! once more, and, well, still not my cup of tea. :D
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SOAD is awesome, though I don't think I've heard this album all the way through before.
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Steal This Album! is probably my least favourite from SOAD, and it would still make my Top 100. Fantastic band, and while I prefer other albums, this one is pretty darn awesome as well.
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Nice to see some Steal This Album love :laugh:
Up next there are two of the manliest albums you'll ever hear
#30
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4134/4852245825_b2bbe0881b.jpg)
RAMMSTEIN - HERZELEID
Industrial/House Metal, 1995
I know that there's a whole musical scene like them, but Rammstein are indeed one of the strangest bands I know. 6 german guys singing about rape and killing (and also about feelz in some songs), in disco-sounding songs. But they're also one of the most consistent bands I know. Infact, while not every album is amazing, there are at least 3/4 songs in each one that are completely stunning. Till's deeeeeep voice is a trademark, the guys are also known for their extravagant live shows, where :flame:
Herzeleid is the band's debut album and maaaan is it good. I think it's the highest-rated debut album in my list, and that's quite the statement. The whole album is full of strangely catchy discoish songs, which are a pleasure to listen to, infact, this is the Rammstein album I listen to the most, even though it's not my favorite. It just flows in a very nice way, every song is strong.
The album opens with the repetitive amazingness of Wollt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen, with its iconic chorus. Weißes Fleisch is another great piece of music, I really like the way it starts, and it's just fun. Just don't sing it in public when you're in german-speaking countries, you may end up in jail. After a couple of classics like Asche Zu Asche and the beautiful ballad Seemann, the album offers its masterpiece: Du Riechst So Gut. A song so addictive that when you listen to it for the first time you know all the words and also how to play it. A riff so simple, but so effective and catchy. Amazing. On the album there are also a couple of great underrated songs like Das Alte Leid, which is this half-tempo headbanger, and the title-track. God, the title track is addictive.
So, yeah, fun, dark, catchy and very interesting music.
Tracklist:
Wollt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen?
Der Meister
Weißes Fleisch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrUPWtVvGX4*)
Asche Zu Asche (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfKZdnnYcIk*)
Seemann
Du Riechst So Gut (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0cUq0RmLHk*)
Das Alte Leid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgZZvkODunE*)
Heirate Mich
Herzeleid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMsrw1yCPBY*)
Laichzeit
Rammstein
--Performed by Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (guitar), Oliver Riedel (bass), Dr.Flake (keyboards), Christoph Schneider (drums)--
How I've discovered Rammstein:
Well, folks, I simply watched this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t47xvr3adaY*).
#29
(https://sk.sos-japan.org/wp-content/uploads/00_metallica-master_of_puppets-1999-front-600x600.jpg)
METALLICA - MASTER OF PUPPETS
Thrash Metal, kind of prog, 1986
Well, here it is. One of this genre's finest moments comes out of four ordinary american guys. This record is legendary! It proved that metal at the time was not all cheesy lyrics or horrible hairstyles. Metallica slowly came out of the box, by first putting out Kill 'Em All, a great debut, following by what is considered their greatest achievement, Ride The Lightning and then what do they do?
This.
Master Of Puppets is the perfect mixture of fury, anger, bitterness but also elegance and melodies. Because if there are just demolition-songs like Damage, Inc., there's also the melodic and respectful songs like Sanitarium and Orion. I'm not even gonna bother writing a long review, the album just speaks for itself: it's a masterpiece. I'll do just a brief track by track thing:
It opens with Battery, which is all you need from a great opener - slow and epic intro which suddently bursts into fast neckbreaking rythms and anthemic choruses. There's one riff in this song that is capable to destroy fucking Jupiter with its power. Then there's what is said to be Metallica's masterpiece - the title-track, Master Of Puppets. Inside this single song there's everything you want from a Metallica tune - fast rythms, melodic guitar duels a la Iron Maiden, breathtaking solos, and awesome lyrics. The Thing That Should Not Be is one heck of a heavy song, with a strong abuse of the low E string which makes everything sound even heavier - I love the S&M version of this song. James was on fire that night. Sanitarium is your classic semi-ballad thing, which starts out melodic and calm and gradually gains velocity and fury. Disposable Heroes may be my favorite track on this, after the title track. Nothing to say on that one, it's just :metal :metal :metal - I really love the structure of that song. Leper Messiah is one underrated piece of music, and while it's surely not the best from the record, it holds a special place in my heart, because it features one of my favorite riffs of all time. The instrumental Orion is the perfect testament for that amazing musician that was Cliff Burton, not your ordinary bass player. The guy was really innovative and brought a lot of new things to the table. The album closes like it BEGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINS *epic guitar solo starts, with a fucking furious and fast song. Damage, Inc. is truly one of the most brutal and gnarly tracks I ever had the pleasure to hear.
So, yeah, Master Of Puppets. This album really does speak for itself.
Tracklist:
Battery
Master Of Puppets (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnKhsTXoKCI*)
The Thing That Should Not Be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYJGt67Mwmo*)
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Disposable Heroes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRqCOIsTx8M*)
Leper Messiah
Orion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6j63ImEKyo*)
Damage, Inc. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbLMrce7OJI*)
--Performed by James Hetfield (rythm guitar, vocals), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), Cliff Burton (bass), Lars Ulrich (drums)--
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Hell yeah for Master of Puppets!
Rammstein is totally not my thing.
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My favorite Metallica release!!
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I knew what album it had to be from the title. :metal Master of Puppets is a metal masterpiece, I don't care what anyone says about Metallica.
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Holy yes Rammstein! Herzeleid isn't my favourite, but there's no album from Rammstein that I don't enjoy, and it's probably one of the... four albums of theirs that would be vying for second favourite Rammstein album, so it's pretty damn good. If you haven't already, definitely check out the album "Mutter", it's fucking awesome - definitely in my Top 20 albums of all time.
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Holy yes Rammstein! Herzeleid isn't my favourite, but there's no album from Rammstein that I don't enjoy, and it's probably one of the... four albums of theirs that would be vying for second favourite Rammstein album, so it's pretty damn good. If you haven't already, definitely check out the album "Mutter", it's fucking awesome - definitely in my Top 20 albums of all time.
Indeed, my friend.
Time for some peculiar stuff!
#28
(https://topnotizie.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/caparezza-museica-630x630.jpg)
CAPAREZZA - MUSEICA
Rap-Based Everything, 2014
Alright, so, this. I was waiting for this moment. I’m sure that nobody on the forum knows this particular artist, except maybe my fellow Italian mates. Caparezza is an Italian rapper, and while an unacceptable amount of Italian rappers are pretty shitty, this guy here is the shining light in the dark room, the spare toilet paper roll in your bathroom. Even though he’s a rapper, Capa (his diminutive) has this ability of not only writing god-like lyrics, with plenty of references to books, cinema and other music in general (sometimes his lyrics are just a list of references to a particular subject, he did this with videogames, movie spoilers, album covers, nostalgic Italian pop colture), his use of puns and of similes is pure genius. Of course, you could only really appreciate his lyrics if you knew Italian very well, but that’s just a detail. Musically, the guy is mad. He’s done nearly every genre available, from pure rap to metal, from celtic to 80’s pop – he even did a song based on his doorbell sound. Not kidding. The only negative aspect (but I love this aspect of his music) is that he has a veeery nasal voice. It doesn’t bother me personally, but it can be a little annoying.
Anyways, on with the album! Museica came out in april and it’s pure bliss. The title is a union of three italian words: Musica (which means music), Sei (six) and Museo (museum) – infact, this is a concept album based on art: the album plays like a museum, each song is inspired by a painting.
At the beginning of the record you have this crazy intro, called Canzone All’Entrata (Entrance song), which is full on puns, and is really ironic. Then the first real song is Avrai Ragione Tu (You Are Right, Then). It’s a pretty steady-rhythm march-like song, inspired by the berlin wall’s graffiti “My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love”, it talks about a Russian army entering Capa’s head, and making him regret and deny every idea that he has. It’s a good song, not my favorite but the next track brings things up a notch. Mica Van Gogh (Not Van Gogh) is an heavy riff driven song that talks about how Van Gogh isn’t mad, like most people believe, but we are the mad ones. The record goes on with Non Me Lo Posso Permettere (I Can’t Afford That), which is this irish-folk song inspired by Three Studies Of Lucian Freud, a painting that costs 17 million dollars, that of course talks about the economical crisis that made us use the phrase “Non Me Lo Posso Permettere” in various contexts, even out of money-related stuff. Then there’s Figli D’Arte (literally Sons Of Art, although the meaning of the phrase is someone who has a famous father, either he’s an actor, musician etc..), a pop-rock song about how this guy regrets the life that he has, because he’s the son of a musician, and his father is not so great with him like he is with his fans. The album goes on and on, it’s got 19 freaking songs, so that’s a lot of content. Other great tracks are Comunque Dada (Always Dada), a ska-ish song about Dadaism, Cover, this trip-hop-desert track with a lot of references to cover arts, the beautiful ballad China Town (you read it “Keena”, it literally means Ink Town), an ode to books and to creative writing, Canzone A Metà (Halfway Song), a really cool synth driven song about unaccomplished stuff, Argenti Vive, my favorite, (Argenti Lives), basically a diss track from Filippo Argenti to Dante Alighieri, that takes place during the Divine Comedy. This one track is as metal as Caparezza gets. And the album goes on and on, it doesn’t stop even for a moment: Sfogati (Let It Out), Fai Da Tela (Do The Canvas) and Troppo Politico (Too Political) are three other amazing tracks.
So yeah, Museica is a great piece of music, and of art in general. Now, I ask you a favor. PLEASE listen to at least one track of this record, and let me know what you think about it. I think it would be an interesting experience for both you and me :D
Tracklist:
Canzone All'Entrata
Avrai Ragione Tu (Ritratto)
Mica Van Gogh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxu2A7-uBus*)
Non Me Lo Posso Permettere
Figli D'Arte
Comunque Dada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0HwSbVdIi0&list=UUM6b4fF6i_U0DoVmZKpToIg*)
Giotto Beat
Cover (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WdWSrMUFVM&list=UUM6b4fF6i_U0DoVmZKpToIg*)
China Town (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CURRImCviPA*)
Canzone A Metà (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4tsvX--fmE*)
Teste Di Modì (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Ql-2xml4E*)
Argenti Vive (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFqodNc9dZQ*)
Compro Horror (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhH1pXYQImo*)
Kitaro
Troppo Politico (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBhxb0Wd6IA*)
Sfogati (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qQhmNk8C-0*)
Fai Da Tela (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grJKNLlJS14*)
E' Tardi
Canzone All'Uscita
--Performed by Caparezza (vocals), Alfredo Ferrero (guitar), Gaetano Camporeale (keyboards), Giovanni Astorino (bass, cello), Rino Corrieri (drums) and many more persons...--
How I've discovered Caparezza:
I became obsessed with this guy around 2007 where a really cool song called Torna Catalessi was having a huge success. I was thrilled by it, so I listened to all the stuff the guy had put out and bam, I was a fan.
#27
(https://a10.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/020/Music/c3/b2/0b/mzi.lguuerrn.600x600-75.jpg)
SABATON - THE ART OF WAR
Not so Cheesy Power Metal, 2008
Oh man, Sabaton are a great band. Even though they're power metal (a genre that is very hit or miss with me), they're not all that cheesy. Why? Well, they talk about famous battles and war-facts in their songs, and the lyrics are actually great and interesting to listen to. Pretty istructive, actually. Yeah, my 8th grade exam presentation was based on WWII and I used Sabaton songs to narrate it. And it went well :D - what more could you desire?
Musically Sabaton are very "triumphant", Joakim is a great singer, I really like the tone of his voice, and I also really like him as a person, he's so freaking nice and funny, you should watch some videos on Youtube, including "Gay Division (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB1xPEaKNM4*)".
The Art Of War is the band's fourth album and it has a wide variety of awesome songs on it :metal - I love the opening of the record, with the quotation from The Art Of War (the book) - "It's a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin".... TATATATATATATATATABAM - Ghost Division! One of the greatest opening track from any album. The song is fast, catchy, glorious and overall awesome. That's a nice sum-up of the whole disc, actually :lol - Other glorious (adjective that substitutes "amazing" in power metal writeups) songs are one of their most popular tracks, 40:1, a song about The Battle Of Wizna, in Poland. The title-track is also awesome, but probably one of the best songs in the record is Unbreakable, which is halfay an half-tempo (heh) anthemic thing, and halfway a furious Maiden fest. Talvisota and Panzerkampf are other amazing moments, but the two final tracks take the cake: The Price Of A Mile is a slow-tempo song that narrates The Battle Of Paschaendale in a very pessimistic way, the lyrics fit well the mood of the track. Amazing vocals and chorus. The last track, very much like Damage Inc. with Master Of Puppets, closes the album with a destructive tune - in every sense. Firestorm talks about the bombings during WWII and man, the music matches well the thematic.
So, yeah, if your looking for a fun, catchy and anthemic album, go for this one, you can't go wrong.
Tracklist:
Sun Tzu Says
Ghost Division (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsdawgd0azk*)
The Art Of War (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WvfZuuaUkE*)
40:1
Unbreakable (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QoajxbbgFc*)
Cliffs Of Gallipoli (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOCe2Y7iVF8*)
Talvisota
Panzerkampf (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Glz0E7ZhEk*)
Union (Slopes Of St.Benedict)
The Price Of A Mile (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEY7Ton1gO4*)
Firestorm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDyyFrCHu-o*)
A Secret
--Performed by Joakim Brodén (vocals), Richard Sundén (guitar), Oskar Montelius (guitar), Par Sundstorm (bass), Daniel Mullback (drums), Daniel Myhr (keyboards)--
How I've discovered Sabaton:
In the metal community on Facebook, Sabaton seemed to be pretty popular. I always read about them, and so one day I decided to check them out, and I listened to Primo Victoria. Victory indeed.
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I kind of like Sabaton, depends of my mood. Not the band I would put in Top 50, but still, they're OK.
I've listened to "Cover" from this another album, but I turned it off after ~25 seconds, sorry.
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Interesting, will check that Capa album :P . I thin I've heard Sabaton's Carolux Rex a few times, and although it doesn't blow my mind, I find quite good to be power metal. Will give it more spins just in case it grows on me.
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Interesting, will check that Capa album :P . I thin I've heard Sabaton's Carolux Rex a few times, and although it doesn't blow my mind, I find quite good to be power metal. Will give it more spins just in case it grows on me.
Carolus Rex is also amazing, might be my third or fourth favorite :tup
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Alright, last double update y'all!
#26
(https://a5.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music/dc/fa/14/mzi.zuallphz.600x600-75.jpg)
RAMMSTEIN - LIEBE IST FÜR ALLE DA
Industrial Metal, 2009
Rammstein's latest records were characterized by a loss of their disco-ish music, but that doesn't mean they're not heavy... infact, their heavier this way! Yep, Reise Reise, Rosenrot and LIFAD are all pretty straight industrial metal. But they're all great.
This one especially has a very nice collection of songs, the album opens with Rammleid which is this self-acclaiming hymn, kind of cheesy, but good nonetheless, (I mean, RAMM! STEIN! is an awesome opening), then there's Ich Tu Dir Weh with its puke-inducing lyrics (in a good way). Waidmans Heil is one of the reasons I ever got into Rammstein. The song is so good that I often repeat at random "DIE KREATUR MUSS STERBEEEEEEEEEN" - it's an awesome piece of music, energic and pumping :metal :metal. Haifisch is an ok song but the video is a masterpiece. You know, Rammstein's music videos are, along with Foo Fighters', the best music videos I've ever seen in my life. Keine Lust, Amerika, Ohne Dich... great stuff. Haifisch's video though is like a combination of all of them and it's actually shiver-inducing, especially when you watch it after you watched all the other videos. B******** is one gnarly piece of music. It's pure freaking evil and heavy as hell I love it. The heaviest track on the album is followed by the sweet Frühling In Paris, which is beauty at its pure state. Truly a wonderful track. Wiener Blut is very interesting: it starts out with an electronic verse and slowly the heaviness starts to crawl towards you, and when Till says "Wilkommen" you should be arfraid. Especially if you see it live, there are dolls on the stage at this point. I won't say the way they actually are on the stage. Pussy is another cheesy, but fun song, also a great moment live, not my favorite though. Then there's the title-track, which has to be one of my all-time favorite tracks from Rammstein - it's the perfect fusion of anger and melodicness and great use of Till's deeeeep voices and Flake's electronic stuff. Mehr and Roter Sand close the album greatly.
So yeah, LIFAD is great to listen to as a whole, it really flows well and it has quite an atmosphere. Can't wait for the follow-up.
Tracklist:
Rammleid
Ich Tu Dir Weh
Waidmanns Heil
Haifisch
B********
Frühling In Paris
Wiener Blut
Pussy
Liebe Ist Für Alle Da
Mehr
Roter Sand
(Favorites: The whole goddamn thing)
--Performed by Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (vocals), Dr.Flake (keyboards), Christoph Schneider (drums)--
#25
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/mno.products/24880/2f4707567d.jpg)
DESTRAGE - ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NO.
The title is a strong description of the music these guys do, 2014
Does anyone of you guys know Destrage? If you do, awesome. If you don't go listen to them. NOW
Destrage is an italian band and they're crazy. But high levels of crazy. They unite dissonant melodies a-la Dillinger Escape Plan, with Opeth-y growls and very melodic clean vocals, with a touch of punk and electronic influences, SOAD madness and Periphery technicality. The result is a mess. Seriously, it's a mess, when you listen to this album the first time you really feel overwhelmed by that stuff, but then you realize each song is very catchy and memorable, that's how at least it went for me. That's what Destrage is - chaotic but simple, and that's the concept this album revolves around: you find it everywhere, even in the album cover. Each song is great, the first three tracks are :hefdaddy :hefdaddy especially if you listen to them in succession, the song G.O.D. is easily the greatest example of the complex simplicity thing I explained earlier. The ballad of the album is also great, Where The Things Have No Colour. The chorus is amazing and the bridge is stunning, the finale... THE FINALE for Christ's sake. -(Obedience) is easily my favorite song of the record, it's centered around a 4 over 7 dissonant riff and lyrics that deal with being a """"""reble""""""" (something that happens a lot in italian society). The title-track is the title-track. Is 7 minutes of complete chaos and confusion, complete disorder. Also, with a nice solo section from Bumblefoot. The lyrics are very relatable personally (Destroy Create Transform Sublimates deals with creativity, Purania with elitism, G.O.D. with "face everyday like it's the perfect day" kind of philosophy) just amazing, and very party-like and smile inducing stuff.
So if you're crazy enough to explore this chaotic stuff, go for it, you'll be rewarded with a nice discovery.
Tracklist:
Destroy, Create, Transform, Sublimate
Purania
My Green Neighbour
Hosts, Rifles And Coke
G.O.D.
Where The Things Have No Colour
Waterpark Bachelorette
Before, After And All Around
-(Obedience)
Are You Kidding Me? No.
(unfortunately there are just four songs on Youtube so no links, but you can search on Spotify - favorites: Purania, My Green Neighbour, G.O.D., Where The Things Have No Colour, -(Obedience))
--Performed by Paolo Colavolpe (vocals), Matteo Di Gioia (guitar), Ralph Salati (guitar), Federico Paulovich (drums), Gabriel Pignata (bass)--
How I've discovered Destrage:
A good friend of mine talked about this band, so I checked them out (I listened to the song Twice The Price) and I thought "It's just another melodeath band" but NOPE - in April i listened to Purania and it was like finding a gold nugget. Such a unique song. I started from there.
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Title was suspicious . I think I once heard a song from that Destrage band, and thought it was damn sick yet awesome enough. So yeah, this goes to my to-listen list.
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I remember RJ raving about how awesome this Destrage album is, so I listened to it, and while it has a lot of good stuff, it's just too all over the place and crazy for me. Still, quite an interesting pick here.
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Liebe ist für alle da is amazing. I needed some time to warm up to it, and it's probably not in my Rammstein Top 3, but it has so many awesome song that I still love it to death.
I have that Destrage album, but I forgot copying it to my computer before I left to college, because I was stressed and it arrived like two hours before I had to leave. I'm currently debating over whether I'll wait until the weekend when my grandparents will show up here and bring it or if I just head to YouTube. Though at least two songs on this albums are already known to be great - the opening track and the title track - those are the ones that convinced me to buy this album.
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I have heard nothing on this page, god I'm so uncool
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I have that Destrage album, but I forgot copying it to my computer before I left to college, because I was stressed and it arrived like two hours before I had to leave. I'm currently debating over whether I'll wait until the weekend when my grandparents will show up here and bring it or if I just head to YouTube. Though at least two songs on this albums are already known to be great - the opening track and the title track - those are the ones that convinced me to buy this album.
If you're interested I made a video for the album because of the lack of songs on Youtube. Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep-MOnxzhxA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep-MOnxzhxA)
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Poor Jason.
#24
(https://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/013/Music/aa/a0/4f/mzi.wwjflqwd.600x600-75.jpg)
METALLICA - ....AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
Thrash metal, very prog - 1988
The undeniably prog Metallica album is next. This is my favorite from them, and I have to say, as a drummer, this is one of the funniest album to play, the drum arragements are interesting and fun, and I feel like Portnoy took a lot from here.
At the time, Metallica was in a bad shape. They had just lost Cliff, and the band was unsure whether to continue or not. They decided to go and hired poor Jason Newsted; I really feel sorry for the guy. He was given a great opportunity, but of course the other guys had to be dicks towards him. Jason was a great addition to Metallica, not only because of his stage presence, but his licks maaan, they kicked ass. It's a shame he left, especially when you look at the reasons why. But I mean HE FOCKING LEFT THE BAND
Let's talk about this record. And Justice For All is magnificent. It's also a very different album when you look at the band's catalogue at the time - this record sounds dry as the desert. The mix is barebones, there's no breathing space it's all compressed and it's sooooooo amazing. The absence of the bass to the mix makes it furtherly unique and really memorable.
The songs are top notch, and very technical this time (and long too) - Blackened is my favorite 'Tallica opener, it starts the album in a crushing way, and I love the lyrics and the interlude. And maaaan dat solo. The title-track is... is... TRIUMPHANT. It's a mammoth piece for the band, one of their longest and I just love everything about it. The arrangement, the lyrics, the drum part, the structure, goddamit, THE STRUCTURE is remarkable. One of my favorites Metallica songs, if not my favorite, period. Then there's the classic song, One. Also my favorite semi-ballad by the band, I really enjoy the way it builds and builds and builds until the heaviest of all riffs makes its appearance and it's just :metal :metal :metal - the live version of that song is always pleasant to listen to, I love how James changes the vocal line in "Fed through the tube that STICKS IN ME" - very emotional. The lightshow and the fireshow also help the amazingness. One is truly a masterpiece. Not to talk about the grandious heaviness of Harvester Of Sorrow :omg: - When I first heard that track I was SCARED for how heavy it was. It sounds really mean and menacing and it's one of my favorites. Other underrated tracks are The Shortest Straw and The Frayed Ends Of Sanity, both too overlooked by the band and the fans. I mean, maybe the fans love them, but the band really doesn't care about them, especially for FEOS, they only ever played it ONE time (and it was by request), maybe because it's easily 'Tallica's most technical song ever and Lars is not the best drummer on earth.
To Live Is To Die (the instrumental) is another great moment on the record, maybe it drags on a little bit, but it's amazing nontheless - very emotional and I love the spoken words in it. I also like the way it transitions into Dyers Eve, which is pure :metal :metal :metal :metal and closes the album greatly.
So yeah, AJFA is my favorite Metallica record, and it sounds pretty different from the rest of their "classic" stuff, and I like that.
Tracklist:
Blackened
...And Justice For All
Eye Of The Beholder
One
The Shortest Straw
Harvester Of Sorrow
The Frayed Ends Of Sanity
To Live Is To Die
Dyers Eve
Favorites: EVERYTHING
--Performed by James Hetfield (vocals, ryhtm guitar), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Jason Newsted ("bass")--
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Nice. I always thought James' solo on TLITD was better than anything Kirk ever did. Haha. Well, it had a buttload more emotion anyways.
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My fav tallica album.
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To Live is To Die is my second favorite Metallica instrumental, only beat by Orion. AJFA in general is an amazing metal record. Relentlessly angry and memorable.
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Time for one chill record.
#23
(https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/3404960749_2e520c66d3_o.jpg)
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT - KI
Silent metal/Ambient/Sssh rock/Blues rock, 2009
Devin Motherluvin' Townsend. One name, one legend. I fell in love with Devin's work at the beginning of July and I have to say: wow. Just wow. In just three months I've listened to some of the best records I've ever heard. We all know Devin for his grand and epic wall of sound, either he uses it with poppish atmospheres, really layered atmospheres (Ocean Machine and Terria are too much for me, apart for a couple of songs) or fucking brutal atmospheres, like he did with Strapping Young Lad or Deconstruction. But we'll talk about that soon.
This album is the total opposite of everything I just said. It has everything but it has nothing.
Ki is pretty simplistic in nature: the songs are pretty quiet and the mixing is clear, there's no wall of sound whatsoever. Even when the album actually gets heavy, the mixing is still normal, there's no heavily compressed and overwhelming production. This album has essentially two types of songs: the build-up songs and the really quiet stuff. And man, is it beautiful.
The whole record is dyed with beauty in every form, with a little touch of anger here and there, just to spice things up. A Monday is the perfect intro for the album: calm, echoey, soft, like watching the sunrise in perfect peace. This is just :hefdaddy - and that's just the intro of the album. Coast starts things up with a very chill groove and emotional vocals. I like the sudden buildup at the end that stops just about the right time. Disruptr, Gato and Heaven's End (the actual title is like that) are the "heavy" songs, they start with heavy riffs played with a very low dynamic and they build slowly and at about 5 mins into the songs, the earth crumbles. Especially in Heaven's End.
BURN
I think that's my favorite song on the record. Terminal, Winter and Lady Helen are gorgeous ballads, heavily atmospheric.. man I love Devin's echoey guitars... Hyperdrive at The Retinal Circus is :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
Trainfire is a strange blues/ambient hybrid type of song, not my favorite, but worth mentioning. And then the title track. A song so powerful that when you listen to it you feel like if you're on a mountain slowly raising from the ground. The build up and climax of the song are incredibly... incredibly... I don't know. I can't describe it, you have to listen to it. Like the whole record, it's not so easy to describe, you have to listen to it to fully apprehend what I mean.
Lovely, lovely, lovely. And pretty diverse too. I reccomend watching the By A Thread concert of this record, it's perfect for a first listen, with a few bonus songs like the holy Deep Peace :heart
Tracklist:
A Monday (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMQrH3JWF0*)
Coast (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u81zmQrib9g*)
Disruptr (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIQLiRuHxm4*)
Gato
Terminal
Heaven's End (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVQPvrM-_5E*)
Ain't Never Gonna Win
Winter
Trainfire
Lady Helen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ImWfFLqeSc*)
Ki (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gmLplFmUns*)
Quiet Riot
Demon League
--Performed by Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars, ambience, programming), Duris Maxwell (drums), Jean Savoie (bass), Dave Young (keyboards, ambience) / with Ché Aimee Dorval (additional vocals) --
How I've discovered Devin Townsend:
I know who Devin is from about a year and a half now - at first I listened to the tracks Deconstruction and The Mighty Masturbator, and I made a ridicolous mistake. I classified Devin's music as "impenetrable", and I didn't bother exploring his catalogue. Until this summer, I saw The Retinal Circus, because I read that it was crazy/amazing and boom, suddently I became a fan. I'm glad I watched it because otherwise, I could've missed a lot of great stuff. :metal
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Was listening to this album on a whim as I opened up this thread. :lol
I'm in love with it. One of Devin's best albums for sure. So intense yet incredibly atmospheric and serene as well. :heart
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I've tried listening to Ki several time but unlike Ghost, I can't relate to it. It has what I call the "Lateralus Syndrome", where all the songs sound the same and I can't tell when one ends and when the other begins. Definitely not my cup of tea :P .
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Love Ki. The title track is definitely my favourite Devy tune.
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I've tried listening to Ki several time but unlike Ghost, I can't relate to it. It has what I call the "Lateralus Syndrome", where all the songs sound the same and I can't tell when one ends and when the other begins. Definitely not my cup of tea :P .
Funny, I feel the same way with Ghost. Heh.
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Both Ghost and Ki are great. But Ki is my favorite.
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AJFA always was my favorite Metallica record.
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Love Ki. The title track is definitely my favourite Devy tune.
Indeed. The album came in my top 20. Ki has yet to be outdone by Devin (although, Terria is my favourite of his, but that one came out before Ki).
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Funny thing, most of Devin's albums do nothing for me, but Ki is alright, I spin it occasionally.
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#22
(https://left4nerd.altervista.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Dream-Theater-2013-metalharem.jpg)
DREAM THEATER - DREAM THEATER
Deathcore - 2013
And here we go, DT12 is next. This is the first album that gets released since I became a fan, and it's very important for me. It's like a symbol of my first year as a fan, the discovery and the amazing journey I've made since then. Like a huge climax. And man, if there's one thing this album is, that's being huge.
The whole record has this huge, cinematic and epic vibe, that is kinda new (kinda) to the band's sound. Each and every song has an anthemic chorus, either if it comes from a rocker, like The Enemy Inside or from a ballad, like Along For The Ride. I really like False Awakening Suite as an opener, it was used extremely well in the context of the tour. Dat intro video. I wish it was connected to TEI, though. TEI is a good song, not the best on the album but I really like Mangini's work on that song and the "anxiety" factor of the music. It captures well the lyrics. The Looking Glass is amazing. I like the shortness of the song, the sound (that strongly reminds me of Rush) and the structure especially. The guitar solo in that song is also very nice, it might be my favorite in the album. Enigma Machine was a bit underwhelming, being the first instrumental after 10 years (without counting Raw Dog), but it's a very fun song to listen to and to play. And the live version is 100x more awesome, thanks to the animation and that :hefdaddy drum solo. Goddamn Mangini, man, Goddamn Mangini. Then there's The Bigger Picture. Favorite song. The emotion that this song transpires makes it really stunning. The chorus is... wow. I can't describe it. Behind The Veil is also great, tons of good riffs and melodies in that one. Surrender To Reason is a pretty bipolar song that alternates grand and melodic parts to dissonant and technical sections. Good song. Also, dem Myung lyrics. I really like the atmosphere of Along For The Ride, I really enjoyed it at the concert, and it features my 2nd favorite keyboard solo. Plain amazing. Then, of course, Illumination Theory. Stunning. Every aspect of that song is absolutely top-notch. The only downside of this album is the production. It has a very "plastic" sound. But the music is so great that it compensates it.
Good job, DT. Best album since SDOIT.
Tracklist:
False Awakening Suite
The Enemy Inside
The Looking Glass (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cf1CF6Avvc*)
Enigma Machine
The Bigger Picture (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpgNV4Nvetg*)
Behind The Veil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlOxJ7KW4dA*)
Surrender To Reason
Along For The Ride (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp85GgcyESs*)
Illumination Theory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFMDGSWhHbo*)
--Performed by James LaBrie (vocals), John Petrucci (guitars), Jordan Rudess (keyboards, Apple devices, other wacky stuff), John Myung (bass), Mike Mangini (drums)--
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Whoa. I think DT is one of my least favourite DT albums. Not counting SDOIT and the albums before it here goes: ToT > SC > ADTOE = 8VM > DT12 > BC&SL for me.
But, well, since it's the first album that was released since you became a fan, I can totally appreciate this choice, that's why SC is so high in my personal DT-albums list. Those things are always important. :tup
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Nice! :tup It's a definite step up from the albums that came before. Wouldn't rank it so high myself, but it's great all around.
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John Myung (bass and taurus pedals*)
Fixed ;D
Already 22? that was fast.
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dat cut off. :p
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Yeah...not exactly a top 6 DT album for me.
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Hey,can i ask you something? How come I always get just 2-3 replies? I'm not saying that I don't appreciate doing this list because of that, just wondering. I see other's peoples list with 7-8 replies, what's wrong with mine? Do I post too early/late
Just a matter of popularity, my friend.
Pretty much, I wouldn't really worry about it too much. You have the posters that have been here forever that know each other and always post in each others stuff and you get people that just... aren't like that. I used to worry about shit like that when I first started posting but I couldn't give two squirts of piss about it now, just post where you like when you like and if you're saying something people wanna engage with they'll do it. No biggie.
tl;dr welcome to DTF's remedial class, I've been here since 2008 hi-yo.
Yeah all of this. I just finished my list and it only consisted of 5 pages worth of my write-ups and replies. I too use to be bug by nobody responding to my posts or lists I posted, but like Sneaky said, I don't care anymore. My rookie year in the forum was in 2007.
So catching up on your list, good sir!
Good to see Muse on your list! The 2nd Law is what got my attention (mainly because of "Madness") and i've been listening to their stuff since.
Ayreon is a band that I need to check out. Should I check out 01011001 first, or do you recommend another album?
Love the inclusion of Powerslave :metal
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Thanks for joining, Accelerando!
Anyways, just popped in to say get ready for one heck of a controversial update. Tomorrow.
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Oh gosh, I'm arfraid of this update.. here we go.
# 21
(https://fontmeme.com/images/21st-Century-Breakdown-by-Green-Day.jpg)
GREEN DAY - 21st CENTURY BREAKDOWN
Please don't hurt me - 2009
Green Day once again. This time it's their not-so-acclaimed 2009 record, 21st Century Breakdown. I really like this record, I think that, while of course there are some meh songs, there are amazing tunes in it. And it has a very nice flow - one big letdown is that the story of the concept is not so great. They really forced the "rock opera" this time around, and it's not so well-narrated like in American Idiot. But whatever. This album, like American Idiot, is pretty varied: we have once again two suites (this time shorter in length)- the title-track and American Eulogy - some famous singles (not as great as AI's ones) - Know Your Enemy and 21 Guns - and furious pieces of music - Horshoes and Handgrenades, and my favorite, East Jesus Nowhere. This time the band adopted a more melodic approach, and as a result we get amazing hooks, like in The Static Age, See The Light or Murder City. The biggest problem that this record has is that it's very inconsistent: the songs in it either are awesome or pretty shitty actually. Of course, it's in this position thanks to songs like East Jesus, Restless Heart Syndrome (miiiles ahead of 21 Guns as a ballad, but sadly unknown) and Peacemaker. But songs like Know Your Enemy, the two Gloria songs, Last Night On Earth and Last Of The American Girls? Nope. Not worthy.
I really like the way the album has a recurring theme, which is Song Of The Century, and I also like how everything comes full circle in the last track.
So yeah, 21stCB may not be the greatest record of all time, but it surely has its amazing moments that make me enjoy it a lot. Favorite Green Day record.
Tracklist:
Song Of The Century
21st Century Breakdown
Know Your Enemy
iViva La Gloria!
Before The Lobotomy
Christian's Inferno
Last Night On Earth
East Jesus Nowhere (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uA4cM1xrDI*)
Peacemaker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKG-G0SDO9w*)
Last Of The American Girls
Murder City
¿Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl)
Restless Heart Syndrome (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm5uY5hSA-8*)
Horseshoes And Handgrenades (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp1muwMcBzs*)
The Static Age (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hATiSJbw_wA*)
21 Guns
American Eulogy
See The Light (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQk2iXj1u28*)
--Performed by Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar, piano) Mike Dirnt (bass, back. vocals) Tré Cool (drums)/ with Jason Freese (piano)--
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Yaaay no replies! Yep, risky update is risky
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The DT and Metallica updates are awesome!!!!
No comment on green day
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So, you're saying yourself that the album has lots of shitty stuff on it, yet you place it as your 21st favourite record ever? That's weird.
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So, you're saying yourself that the album has lots of shitty stuff on it, yet you place it as your 21st favourite record ever? That's weird.
The amazing stuff is so amazing that it makes up for it. It's an 18-songs record after all. The flow is awesome, also.
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American Idiot, 21st Century Breakdown, and no Dookie? Jesus.
When did you abandon reason for madness?!
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American Idiot, 21st Century Breakdown, and no Dookie? Jesus.
When did you abandon reason for madness?!
Dookie is amazing. It was actually going to be on the list, but then Haken.
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I appreciate 21st Century Breakdown. For me, it wouldn't be in the top 50 (as American Idiot, the AI Soundtrack, and Dookie could be), but it really does have some of the best Green Day tunes they ever put out. Know Your Enemy, Viva la Gloria, Before the Lobotomy, Last Night on Earth, Peacemaker, Little Girl, Restless Heart Syndrome, Static Age. All fantastic songs!
21 Guns is a really great song, but the album version pales in comparison to the American Idiot Soundtrack version. They definitely lost something in the studio when they recorded that song. I saw them perform it on SNL before I got the album, and was excited to hear it, but it really let me down. Luckily the re-recorded version owns!
But anyway, 21CB is a record of ups and downs for me, but I agree with you that the ups are really really good and make this record a worthwhile listen.
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It's nice to have some Green Day support once in a while :tup
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Neither Green Day nor Metallica are my cup of tea :biggrin: . But DT12 is really good, the best they've done since ToT or even SC.
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So, you're saying yourself that the album has lots of shitty stuff on it, yet you place it as your 21st favourite record ever? That's weird.
I kind of support this point. Maybe you have another definition of "shitty", but to me this means the songs that are such crappy that you skip them. And this is really weird for your Top 50, let alone the album that is your 21st best album of all time.
Well, anyway, let's see what you've got next. :D
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So, you're saying yourself that the album has lots of shitty stuff on it, yet you place it as your 21st favourite record ever? That's weird.
I kind of support this point. Maybe you have another definition of "shitty", but to me this means the songs that are such crappy that you skip them. And this is really weird for your Top 50, let alone the album that is your 21st best album of all time.
Well, anyway, let's see what you've got next. :D
Good point but the album has to be there. I don't know why, but that's the placement I'm most satisfied with.
Ok, we now enter the top 20, this is where shit gets serious. These 20 albums are basically my life-basis and taught me everything I know on a musicianship level, and made me everything I am as a person. And the first one of the Holy 20s is indeed
PORCUPINE TREE
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pyW0WoMpEmU/S7K8OyXReII/AAAAAAAAADE/iHbmKaY-9V0/s1600/stupiddream.jpg)
STUPID DREAM
Alternative/Pop Rock, 1999
Aaah, whenever Stupid Dream gets mentioned I always hear in my head "And I had a Stupid Dream that I could change things" and man is it a joyful feeling.
After being a psychedelic band/project thing for ten years basically, Steven Wilson (I would like to say the whole band but, yeah, Steven Wilson) decided to take a step behind and write less complex music, and when I say less I mean a lot less: this is infact a very catchy, poppy, but still depressing (it's PT after all) record. Apart from a few songs of course.
Stupid Dream has one heck of a flow too, the songs are perfectly placed but my complaint is this:
WHY IS THE SECOND HALF OF EVEN LESS MISSING
It could've been the perfect closer for this record (I'm just talking about Part 2, not the whole song), given that Stop Swimming is easily one of my least favorites on this. Even Less is so awesome that it's both an awesome opener and an awesome closer. Seriously, the song starts slowly with a slide guitar solo and then, I would like to say BAM but there's not an explosion, there's more of a polite approach, like "Hey, we're Porcupine Tree, welcome to Stupid Dream". The lyrics are top notch, in the whole record (and geez, in the whole discography too :lol), but especially in Even Less.
Then there's Piano Lesson which is a strangely happy song in a quite dark record, I really enjoy listening to this one - the chorus is very anthemic, with all those layered vocals. Then there's the "downward spiral trio", which consist of Pure Narcotic, Slave Called Shiver and Don't Hate Me. The songs narrate the decline of a guy who loves someone, but isn't loved back. He goes from being sorry (Pure Narcotic, an acoustic-guitar-driven piece) to being obsessed (Slave Called Shiver, a very In Absientia-ish tune), to absolutely depressed (Don't Hate Me, a very laid back tune, with amazing vocals). This Is No Rehearsal is a poppy soudning tune with very dark lyrics, and it might be my favorite of the album after Even Less and Baby Dream In A Cellophane, which is the next track. A very ethereal song, about a sentient unborn baby. Wat. It's very sweet and.. geez, I don't know, it's one of those songs which is hard to describe. Other great tracks are of course, the highly acclaimed A Smart Kid, a very melanchonic piece, Steven's vocals here and Richard Barbieri's effects are :hefdaddy and Tinto Brass (do not search for this song on youtube if you have children around or are at work), one energic instrumental.
So, what can I say? Stupid Dream is godly: it somehow still can be both happy and sad and it flows amazingly, and overall, it's just a really good hour of music. Check it out if you haven't.
Tracklist:
Even Less (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKuHP_7J9zc*)
Piano Lessons (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CpAlN5qAhs*)
Stupid Dream
Pure Narcotic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiAu9BZeH-s*)
Slave Called Shiver
Don't Hate Me
This Is No Rehearsal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pqH-EfWUY0*)
Baby Dream In Cellophane (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akP45i4rxD0*)
Stranger By The Minute
A Smart Kid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPy8XtbvYA*)
Tinto Brass
Stop Swimming
--Performed by Steven Wilson (vocals, guitar, piano) Richard Barbieri (keyboards) Colin Edwin (bass) Chris Maitland (drums)/with Theo Travis (sax) and the East Of England Orchestra--
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Yeah, that's more like it. Stupid Dream is a great album.
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Stupid Dream is a great album.
This. I'm in total love with Piano Lessons, specially of the guitars :heart . But the rest of the albums is still glorious though. I'd love Steven to do more stuff like that (Blackfield has another approach on pop).
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Couldn't really get into PT. Lord knows I tried.
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Here he is, once again, with his absolute masterpiece. That's right, at number 19 we have
CAPAREZZA
(https://fanart.tv/fanart/music/82462e70-bc00-43ba-8d96-734efa6e72ac/albumcover/verit-supposte-53c3d03175fa0.jpg)
VERITA' SUPPOSTE
Rap-based everything, 2003
You know, each Capa album has a theme or a concept (reincarnation, huge mindfucks, heresy and art) but this album doesn't. Verità Supposte has no theme. BUT. EACH. SONG. IS.
FLAWLESS
IMO this album is his most sarcastic work. And that's saying a lot. Each song is ridicolous but it has a really strong message behind the sarcasm and playfulness. Il Secondo Secondo Me (The Second One According To Me) opens the album with a funkadelic groove, with lyrics about clichès. Nessuna Razza (No Race) is the album's most serious song and it has a strong groove with beautiful lyrics about honesty and humility. After track 2, the album goes completely nuts. La Legge Dell'Ortica (The Napple Law) combines lyrics about Capa's will to make people use their heads, with a nice 4/4 groove, with folk influences. And those sound effects :lol - Track 4, Stango E Sbronzo (Tired And Drunk) is a nice tango piece about the effects of being drunk. Quite nice to sing along to, and I love how Capa can change his vocal tone in this song. Limiti is next, and it might be my favorite in the album. It's a slow-tempo dance song in which Capa retraces his years as a child, with a strong description of italian 70's pop culture. Even though I can't relate really to the lyrics of this song, being born in the 00's practically, the concept of it is nostalgia, and how it can eat us up everyday, and how in the end living in the past can be awful. The awfulness is told by the music in a really nice heavy metal section (yes, from dance to metal.), which is one of my favorite moments in any of his albums :metal
Vengo Dalla Luna (I Come From The Moon) is one of Capa's classic pieces. He played it in every concert, and it's really well-known (and I appreciate that). The lyrics take an alien as a metaphor to speak about immigrants and their disadvantages, and the chorus is really anthemic. Nice rock tune, too.
The album goes on with Dagli All'Untore, a really dark song about pest infectors in the '500, Fuori Dal Tunnel (Out Of The Tunnel), which is Caparezza's most known song, with its marching band sound - I really relate to the lyrics of this one. It talks about how someone can have fun with simple things, like being with friends, watching a movie or just eating pizza. Giuda Me is a description of Southern Italy's conditions (still very relevant today), also another funkadelic tune. Nel Paese Dei Balordi is a realistic version of Pinocchio, whilist L'Età Dei Figuranti critiques reality shows, with very fun sound effects and change of moods in the song, and a really huge chorus.
The last three songs are godly.
Dualismi reminds me strongly of Korn. It revolves around the concept of duality and bipolar disease, and it has a very haunting sound, with an exceptional chorus and great guitar solo in the end.
Follie Preferenziali is the other serious tune in the record, a strong critique towards war. The lyrics here are just :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
The last track, Jodellavitanonhocapitouncazzo (try reading that), is a jodel-based song about Caparezza's carreer essentially.
So yeah, Verità Supposte is a strong description of what Capa is and what he does (even though, once again, this album isn't a concept album, like all of his other ones) and I really love the fact that it is his most popular album, because of that. Very fun, but really thought-inducing listen.
Once again, I invite you to listen to one of those songs and tell me what you think.
Tracklist:
Il Secondo Secondo Me
Nessuna Razza (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z7r0PeSO0s*)
La Legge Dell'Ortica (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtD575gmnpo*)
Stango E Sbronzo
Limiti (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h_szijtLCM*)
Vengo Dalla Luna (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq0wqOj3uUA*)
Dagli All'Untore (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogYFt8OkhNk*)
Fuori Dal Tunnel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9KwUhHKb7A*)
Giuda Me
Nel Paese Dei Balordi
L'Età Dei Figuranti (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HodyJ7_86gM*)
Dualismi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXcO6_grTac*)
Follie Preferenziali (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtQe_plQiiE*)
Jodellavitanonhocapitouncazzo
--Performed by Caparezza (vocals, keyboards, other strange things) Alfredo Ferrero (guitars) Rino Corrieri (drums) Giovanni Astorino (bass) Carlo Ubaldo Rossi (guitar, recorder, harp) and many other people--
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Hey, this guy's stuff seems really interesting. Will add this to the to-listen list, and maybe hear a track or two later :tup .
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This next album (#18) is... a flowing river. An unstoppable piece of music.
PINK FLOYD
(https://chesapeakecentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/LP-Cover-Pink-Floyd-Wish-You-Were-Here.jpg)
WISH YOU WERE HERE
Classic prog, 1975
This is really a timeless record. While I think that Dark Side Of The Moon is definetely much more of a "classic" album than this one, Wish You Were Here takes the ideas and thoughts from it and take them to a next level. The album's tracklist is incredibly well structured, with the two parts of Shine On You Crazy Diamond both at the beginning and at the end of the album. It's a wonderful piece of art, the soundscapes and the atmosphere of that song are unique. The chorus is historical - the lyrics, as everyone here knows, talk about Syd Barrett, and the funny thing is that Syd actually visited the guys while they were recording WYWH, an album which largely speaks about him. Welcome To The Machine has some desperate vocals and a nice use of synthesizers and cool electronic effects. It sounds both futuristic and folk-ish, one real nice combination. Have A Cigar is amazing. The song has a :hefdaddy groove that really takes you to other places, and really well-done vocal lines and lyrics, this time focusing on the music business. The title-track is another classic and timeless track.
You know, the thing with Pink Floyd records is that everything is just so perfect, and everything just speaks for itself. An applause to this outstanding collective of musicians.
Tracklist:
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5)
Welcome To The Machine
Have A Cigar
Wish You Were Here
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 6-9)
(favorites: EVERYTHING)
--Performed by David Gilmour (guitar, vocals, keyboards, effects) Roger Waters (bass, vocals, guitar, effects) Nick Mason (drums, effects) Rick Wright (keyboards, effects)/ with Dick Perry (sax), Roy Harper (vocals on Have A Cigar), Vennetta Fields and Carlena Williams (backing vocals)--
How I've discovered Pink Floyd:
This is one of those bands that I've known since I was little. I decided to explore their catalogue after I fell in love with DSOTM and The Wall; I remember clearly, in early 2012 there was a snowstorm in my town and school was closed, we were all locked up in our houses for 5/6 days, and I spent my time listening to those albums. I had a great time.
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:clap:
Wish You Were Here is nothing short of amazing. Shine On You Crazy Diamond as a whole just barely edges out Echoes for my favorite PF song, and it's definitely one of my favorite songs pretty much ever. The other three tracks it bookends are also stellar in their own way. All around, my favorite PF album, and one of my absolute favorites of all time.
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:clap:
Yeah, basically this.
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Haven't commented a lot the last couple days but lemme just say that I love everything about WYWH. Definitely a Top 20 album for me as well, maybe even higher. Not a second wasted on that album.
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Although I love it's cinematic atmosphere, I still can't get through most of it.
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Number siebzehn!
RAMMSTEIN
(https://metalhangar18.com/wp/ups/2014/09/reise1.jpg)
REISE, REISE
Industrial metal, 2004
Man, I really love Rammstein. You can tell that by the fact that half of their discography is on my list! :lol - When I said that each album was very consistent, I wasn't kidding.
Reise Reise is my favorite 'Stein record, and as always, it's a flawless collection of music, and this time around it's actually pretty varied: there are epic songs, there are heavy songs, there are ballads and even acoustic pieces this time around.
From the huge-sounding title track (one of my favorite choruses of all time) we get to Mein Teil, which gained some controversy thanks to its music video (which is not that bad). The song is very fun to sing along to, and to see live especially, if you know what I mean.
Keine Lust is a masterpiece. The riff kinda rips off Metallica's One, but it's in a different rythm, and so you don't really notice that. The music video of this one is simply :hefdaddy :rollin :clap:
Los is a strange song. It's an heavy riff done on acoustic guitar, with some nice vocals. The Volkerball version though kicks the ass of this one, just sayin'. Amerika is obviously the most known piece out of this record, I hate to repeat myself, but that one also has a great video with a great message. Very nice song, with an annoying chorus though, I can't get through that :-\
Morgenstern is very underrated, I love the way the vocals are delivered and the chorus is plain awesome. And Stein Um Stein, man. I won't say nothing, just go listen to it. NOW.
So yeah, I really love Reise Reise, the best/my favorite Rammstein songs are on there. And that's what qualifies it.
Tracklist:
Reise, Reise (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpwqdqT1oBw*)
Mein Teil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VamVKDwFc7A*)
Dalai Lama
Keine Lust (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1st6O1tqII*)
Los
Amerika
Moskau
Morgenstern (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LhmoZ_Q4ps*)
Stein Um Stein (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARlKQhLcMo0*)
Ohne Dich
Amour
--Performed by Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (guitar), Dr.Flake (keyboards), Christoph Schneider (drums), Oliver Riedel (bass)--
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Rammstein album higher than WYWH is a crime.
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Arrest me then.
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:police:
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Still following although you have proved you are better than me with the last 5 or so posts, haven't heard a single lick of the bastards.
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Still following although you have proved you are better than me with the last 5 or so posts, haven't heard a single lick of the bastards.
Aww come on, man. That doesn't mean anything. Though I'm surprised you didn't hear any Pink Floyd or Porcupine Tree.
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Oh, I may have exaggerated, I love that Floyd album. I never dug Porcupine Tree, tried a lot to get into it but it never gelled with me.
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Guys, I'm sorry, but no updates until saturday. I'm pretty busy these days.
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I knew calling the police will work.
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:xbones
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Number sixteen. It's HevyDevy time!
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
(https://vidto.me/x9il3anljtye.html)
ADDICTED
Pop Metal, 2009
After the bipolar elegance of Ki, Devin decides that it's time to party!
Addicted is an album that I often see in top 50's, and I think that's because this is a very enjoyable record. The reasons are:
- the songs are quite catchy, and they have pop-based structures, but with some cool progressive/industrial metal influences that make the poppiness A LOT more interasting. Also, great use of the wall of sound.
- Addicted flows amazingly well. It sounds like a concert to me, and infact, DTP did reproduce very well this aspect of the album when they did it live, during the By A Thread concert series. For those who didn't, you should really watch it. Not only it's very fun, but the songs are performed very well and overall it's pretty glorious.
- Anneke Van Giersbergen. Wow. Her voice fits extremely well in this record. It was really meant to be.
The ten songs are all nearly flawless: the album opens with the title-track, which is a really pounding heavy guitar-driven song, with some great vocal work by both Devin and Anneke and tremendous riffs. Seriously the bridge is completely :metal :metal :metal :hefdaddy :hefdaddy - the second song is Universe In A Ball, that's more of a classic Devy song if you will, with sweep arpeggios and calm parts alternating with some serious heavy vocals and riffs, and of course, catchiness. Bend It Like Bender is the most poppy song, with a really cool rythm and chorus sung happily by Anneke. The whole album is in this delusional state, lyrically speaking. The concept of it is denying that there's something bad going on inside you, thing that will clearly show up in the next album. But more of that later.
The second part of the album opens with Supercrush, a beautiful power ballad with Anneke singing on verses and Devin on choruses. The melody of this one is absolutely shiver-inducing (especially the unexpected screams in the bridge), one of the best tracks on the record. Hyperdrive follows that, and it's a remake of a song that first came out in the Ziltoid album. And even though I prefer this version between the two, I think that the best and ultimate version of this song is a mashup of the two. Since it's sung by Anneke, and the original by Devin, their voices blend together in a really cool way. The album goes on with Resolve, IhAh and The Way Home, my least three favorite songs, but still, really cool tracks, especially Ih-Ah, although I prefer the Retinal Circus version. Numbered is my favorite. It represents the album really well, being heavy, catchy, epic and shiver-inducing. There's even a reprise of Universe In A Ball in it, in one of the best moments in Devin's carreer, IMO.
Awake closes the album in a great way, although at least 3 of these 9 minutes are just a fadeout. Oh well, whatever. One thing that you can't deny the amazing forshadowing of Deconstruction. A really cool addition to the concept of these four DTP records.
So yeah, Addicted. The title fits well with the mood of the songs, and yeah, really easy to get into, and I think you should start with this record if you want to start with Devin.
:hefdaddy
Tracklist:
Addicted!
Universe In A Ball!
Bend It Like Bender!
Supercrush!
Hyperdrive!
Resolve!
Ih-Ah!
The Way Home!
Numbered!
Awake!!!
(Favorites: ALL)
--Performed by Devin Townsend (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Mark Cimino (guitar), Ryan Van Poederooyen (drums), Brian Waddell (bass), Anneke Van Giersbergen (vocals)--
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After a few months of growing on me, it's my fav Devin record. I can't believe how damn constant it is, not a single filler or band song :hefdaddy .
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I'm not sure how you could review Reise, Reise and not mention Dalai Lama, one of the best songs the band has written. In case you're not aware, it's a retelling of possibly the most famous poem ever written in German, called Der Erlkönig.
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I'm not sure how you could review Reise, Reise and not mention Dalai Lama, one of the best songs the band has written. In case you're not aware, it's a retelling of possibly the most famous poem ever written in German, called Der Erlkönig.
Yeah, it's a good song, but not one of my favorites on the record. It didn't do much for me as much as the other songs.
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I don't understand a single word of what this CapaRezza guy is singing, but the music is quite enjoyable.
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I don't understand a single word of what this CapaRezza guy is singing
Then he's doing it right.
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Don't know if "pop metal" is actually a genre, but it sure fits. :lol
Great, great Devin album. :tup
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I don't understand a single word of what this CapaRezza guy is singing
Then he's doing it right.
Even I don't understand him sometimes, and I'm a native speaker :lol
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At number 15 we have once again the british gods:
QUEEN
(https://www.webklik.nl/user_files/2011_11/322645/A_Night_At_The_Opera_01.jpg)
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
*genre*, 1975
Aaah, this album. That's right, Queen's finest album is also their most experimental, in my opinion. They did all kinds of strange things while recording this record: they had to run a tape all over a studio
in order to record some vocal parts, they used a tin can to do a megaphone effect, they used an air conditioner for the wind effects, Brian May used some strange instruments, like a koto or a banjolele. Ah, fuck it, what really makes this album this great is the songwriting. This album is all killer no filler for sure, and each song stands for itself and is high above average. There's even that worldwide recognized masterpiece of Bohemian Rhapsody, what more could you want?
The answer to that question is easily The Prophet's Song. Wow. The most underrated of all underrated tracks! Maybe that's an exaggeration but, hey, it's quite an underrated piece of music. The structure is similar to Bohemian Rhapsody's but everything is just more.. dramatic and epic-sounding. And the middle-section :heart - Perfect track.
Even the silly tracks (Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon and Seaside Rendez-vous) are totally worthy of this ranking. Great stuff. Another great song is Sweet Lady, which is really a groovy and rock tune. The whole album though is amazing, and you should really check it out if you didn't.
TRACKLIST:
Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To....
Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon
I'm In Love With My Car
You're My Best Friend
'39
Sweet Lady
Seaside Rendez-vous
The Prophet's Song
Love Of My Life
Good Company
Bohemian Rhapsody
God Save The Queen
(Favorites: EVERY SINGLE SECOND)
--Performed by Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano) Brian May (guitar, banjolele , vocals on GC and '39, toy koto, harp) Roger Taylor (drums, vocals on IILWMC) John Deacon (bass, electric piano)--
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That's a great album, definitely. Bohemian Rapsody is even a bit proggy :P.
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Queen is one of those bands that I only know their biggest hits and love them, but have never listened to a full album of theirs. Might as well start out with this one then. :tup
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Queen is one of those bands that I only know their biggest hits and love them, but have never listened to a full album of theirs. Might as well start out with this one then. :tup
You really should! ;D
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I came to the realisation the other day that, although I love a few songs from their catalogue, Queen is a band that I just don't really dig. I don't know what it is about them, like I know the music and musicianship is great, but they've never really clicked for me - like 'god I feel like listening to some Queen'. Nah.
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A Night At The Opera is The Lovely Mrs TAC's favorite rock album.
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Behold! My favorite straight rock record!
Yes indeed, at number 14 there is
FOO FIGHTERS
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P_tXdLGmW1g/TaL0AIwxjSI/AAAAAAAAAKg/WL90exzXocY/s1600/Foo%2BFighters_Wasting%2BLight.jpg)
WASTING LIGHT
Rock, 2011
Oh yes. Let's start out by saying that Dave Grohl might be my favorite person on the planet. His love, his dedication, his creativity, his playing, his honesty, his funny personality make him truly a person to admire and to be inspired from. And that's what I do.
Foo Fighters are amazing, but they never really put out a consistent album, one album which is godlike from the bottom to the top. Until this very record came out in april 2011.
I fell in love with it when I was watching Back And Forth, the documentary about the Foos. The making of the album is documented in there and in 12 minutes you realize:
- It's recorded on tape
- It's recorded in Dave's garage
- It has Butch Vig as a producer, and a solo spot by Krist Novoselic (sound familiar?)
- Pat Smear is back in the band after 12 years
wow. Even if I didn't hear this record, judgin only by these facts I know it would be perfect. And when you actually get to listen to the album, every expectation is fulfilled.
Great rock music: heavy, dynamic, melodic and catchy. Amazing lyrics, riffs, bass lines and drum parts. The vocals, the hooks. Man, I could go on and on, but this is just nearly perfect. Good job Foos. Bridge Burning, Rope and White Limo are excellent heavy and fun songs, Arlandria, These Days and Dear Rosemary are very melodic and catchy. The ballad, I Should Have Known, is truly shiver inducing and it almost brings me to tears, knowing what it's about. And then Walk, the final song, wow. Just great rock music.
I can't wait for Sonic Highways. Judging by the two songs that came out, it could potentially be as awesome or even top this one. Let's see what they have for us. Bring it on, Dave :metal
Tracklist:
Bridge Burning
Rope
Dear Rosemary
White Limo
Arlandria
These Days
Back & Forth
A Matter Of Time
Miss The Misery
I Should Have Known
Walk
(Favorites: sorry to say, but also everything. I'm at the point where every album is very consistent in the list.)
--Performed by Dave Grohl (vocals, guitar) Taylor Hawkins (drums) Pat Smear (guitar) Chris Shiflett (guitar) Nate Mendel (bass) / with Rami Jaffee (keyboards) and special guests Krist Novoselic and Bob Mould--
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Wasting Light is such a tremendous album. Bridge Burning was really a great statement that showed they are ready to go when that intro hits with the three guitars slowly coming together and then the bass and drums kicked those to another gear.
At first, I'll be honest, I almost wrote these guys off after hearing These Days (probably my 1st exposure to them other than a random youtube video that played My Hero) on the radio in 2012, but then I feel in love with them when I heard Walk, especially that bridge with Dave going all the way when saying "I never wanna die." When watching that live video of them playing it in their studio, you could really see his face turn pink during that bridge. Anywho, once I saw the music video that showed a great amount of Foo Fighters humor which sealed the deal for me as a fan.
The rest of the album is great. Back & Forth is probably my favorite non-single of the album with lyrics I could very relate to.
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Heard this one and, surprise, not my thing. :biggrin:
That Queen record is fine though.
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Heard this one and, surprise, not my thing. :biggrin:
That Queen record is fine though.
I will miss your daily disagreements once this is all over :lol
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Another one I have to check ;D .
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I love it, I need it, I've always been around it.
Yes, at number 13 there's that effervescent extravaganza of
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
(https://www.albumartexchange.com/gallery/images/public/dt/dtowns-epiclo.jpg)
EPICLOUD
Musical-Gospel-Rock/Metal, 2012
After a series of four nearly flawless records, Devin gives this to us in 2012. Epicloud has helped me a lot to get into his music because it's so enjoyable. Like, really. Addicted was still enjoyable, but more dark in a way. This one is just complete joy and GRAAAAAAAAAAACEfulness and love... it just has taught me to live life under another perspective. Between this positive message and the Retinal Circus' message (which by the way, might be my favorite concert on film ever, just saying) life felt suddently happi-er. You know, you never realize how fortunate you are until someone makes you notice, and that's what happened with me, and now whenever someone's sad, I do that to them. Man, if the case is really serious, I directly lend them Epicloud. So yeah, I wouldn't say that this album "saved my life" because there really is nothing to be saved (everything's good), but it changed my perspective on a lot of things.
And know let's actually talk about the music :lol
As I've already said, this record is glorious, joyful, epic and loud! There are gospel influences united with hard rock and metal riffs, and musical-esque atmospheres, it sounds quite unique, actually. Lucky Animals, Liberation and More are quite fun and liberatory indeed, the ballads paint a beautiful picture of a crowd singing while everyone is hugging each other and rocking from left to right, Where We Belong especially. And then.. two songs that have the power to stop war: Kingdom (which was originally on Physicist, but 10 times better on this release) and Grace. I won't say anything about those two because there's nothing that I need to say.
Now, I know that Epicloud is not the most well-viewed Devy record, but it means a lot to me, and of course, I just love the music and the vibes of it, and that's why it's at spot 13.
Tracklist:
Effervescent!
True North
Lucky Animals
Liberation
Where We Belong
Save Our Now
Kingdom
Divine
Grace
More!
Lessons
Hold On
Angel
(Favorites: yet again, everything.)
--Performed by Devin Townsend (guitar, vocals, keyboards) Dave Young (guitar, add. keyboards), Ryan Van Poederooyen (drums), Brian Waddell (bass)/with Anneke Van Giersbergen (vocals), various other singers in the choir--
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That's a great album indeed :metal .
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I think the only album I like from Devin is Ki, but I've never checked Epicloud. What does it sound like compared to his other records? (except Casualties, Sky Blue and Z2, because I've never checked them either)
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I think the only album I like from Devin is Ki, but I've never checked Epicloud. What does it sound like compared to his other records? (except Casualties, Sky Blue and Z2, because I've never checked them either)
It's like Addicted but 10x happier and more choir-based.
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Epicloud is amazing. It needed a while to grow on me, but I love it now. Angel and Hold On are two of my favourite Devy tunes of all time.
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This album hasn't aged well with me at all. The only tracks I still like from it and listen to occasionally are Kingdom (which already was one of my favourite Devin tunes, but the version on Epicloud is awesome), Save Our Now and True North.
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Number twelve was a huge, HUGE surprise for me.
ALTER BRIDGE
(https://www.a1shop.sk/content/images/thumbs/0003905_alter-bridge-fortress.jpeg)
FORTRESS
Heavy Metal with little progs here and there, 2013
When I say surprise, I mean that I bought this record completely randomly. Of course, I knew about Alter Bridge, and I knew some songs (Metalingus, Blackbird, Ties That Bind etcetc) but the moment when I finished listening to Fortress, I was between heaven and earth. Pure metal, melodic and catchy, brutal riffs, neat time signatures changes, stunning solos... wow.
So yeah, Fortress is really stunning. Another all killer no filler album for sure, it has all the potential to be considered a metal classic here in the '10s as Master Of Puppets and Reign In Blood did back in the eighties.
The opening and closing songs (Cry Of Achilles and Fortress) are two relatively long tracks, that kinda take you on a journey, either because it has different feels in it, or because the sound of the song is actually epic and anthemic. That's the case with COA, and its amazing beautiful acoustic intro that directly pushes you in a :metal :metal :metal
Addicted To Pain, the single, features one of the most massive riffs ever, it sounds like the end of the world, literally. I love Bleed It Dry's structure and riffs, and that solo, dear god, Mark Tremonti is the man! Lover has one of the most beautiful and dark choruses in the album, but Peace Is Broken is a complete masterpiece. From one of the heaviest riffs that I've heard (not coming from Gojira or Pantera) we go to a melodic and anthemic chorus, that I always have stuck in my head, infact THE PEACE IS BROOOOOOOOOOOOOKEN, YOU DID IT ALL YOURSELF WITH YOU AND NO ONE ELSE TOOOOOOOO BLAME. Sorry about that, it just had to be done.
The Uninvited is another favorite of mine, it kinda sounds like Tool, and I love the middle breakdown. Another riff worth mentioning is the one in Farther Than The Sun. Good god, that's heavy! It's really nasty and full of hate and reckless... just :metal :metal - And yeah, along with these fine metal pieces there's All Ends Well, which has a really motivating chorus. And positive too. Not "NEVER FEAR LOOOVE" levels of positivity, but it's almost there.
So yeah, I think you got what I wanted to say: Fortress is a near-perfect heavy metal album that unites melody with brutality, and with some technicality to create a perfect combination, thus the high spot.
Tracklist:
Cry Of Achilles
Addicted To Pain
Bleed It Dry
Lover
The Uninvited
Peace Is Broken
Calm The Fire
Waters Rising
Farther Than The Sun
Cry A River
All Ends Well
Fortress
--Performed by Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Mark Tremonti (vocals, guitar), Scott Phillips (drums), Brian Marshall (bass)--
How I've discovered Alter Bridge
Ties That Bind on Guitar Hero Warriors Of Rock was my first song. Then I heard Before Tomorrow Comes on the radio and I was blown away, and I became a casual fan.
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Alter Bridge is alright band, I prefer Blackbird though.
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Still have to give this band a proper listen.
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SOAD closes the 20-11 tier! At number eleven there's...
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
(https://harddrivinradio.com/artwork/System%20of%20a%20Down-Hypnotize.jpg)
HYPNOTIZE
Not so strange anymore, but still pretty metal, 2005
The double album thing of Mezmerize/Hypnotize is awesome as a whole. But when it comes to single albums, the two are the complete opposites for me in terms of preference: Mezmerize is my least favorite SOAD record, but Hypnotize, on the other hand, is my favorite by them.
With Hypnotize, System tried to squeeze into one album every aspect of their sound, or almost. While they went more melodic on these last two albums of theirs, this one has elements from the band's past, which is also what I've said about Steal This Album, so yeah, the reason that really makes me rank it this high is that it's a real joy to listen to.
It's pretty short, and it flows really well - and each song is awesome. Another cool reason is that the melodies and the riffs are all quite peculiar in this one. I don't know how to describe it, but there's something really special about this album for me, the songs are truly top notch, in every aspect of them: lyrics, riffs, melodies. Amazing.
So, while there are pretty standard songs, like the opener, Attack, you have also some cool and catchy but frenetic pieces, like U-Fig. Tentative, with its lyrics and atmosphere, is one of the best pieces on the album, along with the title track, which evokes some kind of oriental feels through it. Dreaming and Stealing Society are other two pretty cool pieces, but the best ones I have to say, are Holy Mountains (yet another song about the Armenian Genocide) and Soldier Side (Of which we had a preview in the intro of Mezmerize). Those two are absolutely :hefdaddy :hefdaddy.
And yes, there are also two meh pieces: Lonely Day and Kill Rock 'N Roll. But the rest of the album is so so so amazing that it makes you forget those two pieces. Oh, also, do we wanna talk about that masterpiece of Vicinity Of Obscenity? I'd never thought that I'd like a song about bananas. Love the funky chorus.
So yeah, Hypnotize is basically all that you want from System Of A Down: catchy but heavy, experimental riffs and melodies, oriental atmospheres and overall, just great music.
Tracklist:
Attack
Dreaming
Kill Rock 'N Roll
Hypnotize
Stealing Society
Tentative
U-Fig
Holy Mountains
Vicinity Of Obscenity
She's Like Heroin
Lonely Day
Soldier Side
(Favorites: basically every song, apart from Kill Rock 'N Roll, Lonely Day, Attack and She's Like Heroin.)
--Performed by Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards) Daron Malakian (vocals, guitar, keyboards) Shavo Odadjian (bass, BV) John Dolmayan (drums)--
NEXT TIME
Honorable mentions part 1: Albums that should've totally been on the top 50, but aren't because I already have a lot from the same artist.
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And yes, there are also two meh pieces: Lonely Day and Kill Rock 'N Roll. But the rest of the album is so so so amazing that it makes you forget those two pieces. Oh, also, do we wanna talk about that masterpiece of Vicinity Of Obscenity? I'd never thought that I'd like a song about bananas. Love the funky chorus.
I actually have this totally backwards, I like Lonely Day (though "the most loneliest day" irks me a bit) and I nearly despise Vicinity, it's too annoying. No surprises here I guess. :lol
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And yes, there are also two meh pieces: Lonely Day and Kill Rock 'N Roll. But the rest of the album is so so so amazing that it makes you forget those two pieces. Oh, also, do we wanna talk about that masterpiece of Vicinity Of Obscenity? I'd never thought that I'd like a song about bananas. Love the funky chorus.
I actually have this totally backwards, I like Lonely Day (though "the most loneliest day" irks me a bit) and I nearly despise Vicinity, it's too annoying. No surprises here I guess. :lol
Well of course :rollin :lol
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Before the top ten, here's something else.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Episode 1: Those who weren't on the list because there were other albums by the same artist.
Yes, as the subtitle says, these are all albums that totally deserve to be on this list, but they aren't because their "brothers" felt more represative to me, and because of the lack of space. I mean, I can't have 5 Metallica albums in a Top 50 list. Well, of course there are exceptions to this rule (Rammstein is a good exemple of that), but yes, these are five albums that totally deserve to be in the top 50.
DREAM THEATER - TRAIN OF THOUGHT
(https://www.ferhiga.com/progre/portadas/dtheater-train-of-thought.jpg)
Now, this album is special. Not only it's DT's heaviest work, but it's also one of the most conistent albums ever. I really can't tell one song that I can get rid of. Nope. All the seven tracks are perfect. As I Am has good riffs and lyrics, and one of my favorite guitar solos, This Dying Soul is a crashing tune, I like the fact that it slowly transforms in a sweep-picking delirium. Endless Sacrifice is a nice ballad, I love the soft part as much as the heavy part, and it features some of the best riffs in the whole DT discography. Honor Thy Father contains the best Portnoy performance in a long time, and whelp, what can I say about Vacant and Stream Of Consciousness? Beautiful. BUT if there's one thing that makes me appreciate the album even more, that's In The Name Of God. One of my all time favorites by DT, a perfect song, in my opinion.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN - TOXICITY[/b]
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/SystemofaDownToxicityalbumcover.jpg)
Toxicity is easily the most popular SOAD record. I mean, with hits like Chop Suey and the title-track, what can you expect? Each song on here is nearly flawless, and it's a nice mix of melody and craziness. More towards craziness, but you get what I mean. Some really heavy stuff on here, too (Needles and Deer Dance come to mind). I really reccomend this album. I consider it a metal classic along with mammoths such as Master Of Puppets or Powerslave.
METALLICA - DEATH MAGNETIC
(https://static.planetminecraft.com/files/resource_media/screenshot/1130/metallica_death_magnetic_album_cover_222004.jpg)
Death Magnetic was certainly a relief for a lot of 'Tallica fans, back in 2008. After being heavy, then hard rock with blues influences, then kinda lame metal, the band went back to their thrash roots. This album really feels like a modern of version of And Justice For All with a touch of Master Of Puppets, but with bass this time. I really love all the tracks, and they're really fun to play and to listen to.
MUSE - BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS
(https://cdn.albumoftheyear.org/album/black-holes-and-revelations.jpg)
This is an extremely important album for me, as it features some of the earliest songs that I really liked, songs such as Starlight (even though it's not that awesome of a song) and Supermassive Black Hole (which still holds its awesomness for me after 9 years of hearing it almost every day.) This an album where each Muse genre influence (symphonic, progressive, electronic, alternative and hard rock) is equal and every song showcases at least one of those. It's also pretty catchy, and it features one of the best Muse songs, Knights Of Cydonia. Lord knows what happens to the crowd when Chris starts playing that harmonica.
---So yep.
Next time we'll have number ten! Until then, see ya.
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Yes, as the subtitle says, these are all albums that totally deserve to be on this list, but they aren't because their "brothers" felt more represative to me, and because of the lack of space. I mean, I can't have 5 Metallica albums in a Top 50 list. Well, of course there are exceptions to this rule (Rammstein is a good exemple of that), but yes, these are five albums that totally deserve to be in the top 50.
Eh, it's your list, so you're free to do whatever you want; personally I would welcome five Metallica albums in your list instead of Rammstein ones. :lol Not Death Magnetic though, it's probably not even my Top 200, I dunno.
Train of Thought is my Top 3 DT album, and maybe it would be even higher if TDS and HTF were trimmed a bit. Endless Sacrifice, SoC and ITNOG are all my Top 10 DT songs. :tup
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Train of Thought :hefdaddy . Glorious metal record, each song is nuts, specially the closer. And the guitar tone is... sexy. Truly DT's last great album.
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Eh, it's your list, so you're free to do whatever you want;
And that's the reason why I did it, I would've otherwise felt that the list lacked too many good albums :lol
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I always thought DM was like the missing link between AJFA and TBA, sonically.
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Ladies and djents, welcome to
THE GLORIOUS TEN
And at number ten I give you..
PORCUPINE TREE
(https://www.asburyrecords.com/public/cover/17688_1.jpg)
FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET
Progressive Rock/Metal, 2007
Now, if there's an album that has a perfect connection between lyrics and music, it has to be this one. Yes, FOABP is a concept album about teenagers with some serious problems, like Attention Decifit Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and it's also about how a deathly mixture of lifeless technology and "pills" can make the bad, worse.
So yeah, this album's mood is exactly like the concept: dark and very sad. But bipolar also, given how many times the dark and dense atmospheres abruptly transition into some of the heaviest work that PT has ever done.
Anyways, the lyrics are good, sometimes they're pretty cheesy (I'm looking at you, title-track), but what makes this album one of my top ten favorites is the way it's structured. The tracklist is perfect, the length is perfect and of course,
EACH SONG IS PERFECT (kinda)
From the opening groovy title track, all the way to the meanest depths of Sleep Together, FOABP flows in an incredible way.
The album features one of my favorite songs of all time, Anesthetize. That's one heck of a song. I have no words. And Gavin.
GAVIN HARRISON SHINES IN THIS RECORD - Even the most simple groove is top notch. His work is so creative and his groove is sssoooo GROOVY, Gavin is truly a phenomenal drummer.
Also props to the rest of the band, especially to Richard, who helps the dark atmosphere to be darker with his textures.
But Steven, as always, is the shining star of this album.
Apart from Way Out Of Here (which is lovely, by the way), he wrote the entirety of this album
A
LONE
How.
What the heck, this is an album so great, that even its b-sides and unused material is godlike! That's right, Nil Recurring is like an expansion of FOABP, and those are four amazing songs, and they further complete the FOABP experience.
What can I say... I hope that the news are true, I would love to see PT live and maybe even a new album. Maybe. Fingers crossed :metal
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I don't think it's lyrics are any cheesy. In fact, I find them quite ironic yet thoughtful. Great album anyways :metal .
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I don't think it's lyrics are any cheesy. In fact, I find them quite ironic yet thoughtful. Great album anyways :metal .
Yes, I can see the irony in them, but still, pretty cheesy. Maybe it's done on purpose, who knows ::)
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Maybe it's done on purpose, who knows ::)
I think they wouldn't work if they weren't cheesy.
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Yeah, good album here. Anesthetize is amazing and it's not even in my Top 3 PT songs, that shows the quality of this band's material.
Also I feel that four days were a bit too much of a wait for the update. :P
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Yeah, good album here. Anesthetize is amazing and it's not even in my Top 3 PT songs, that shows the quality of this band's material.
Also I feel that four days were a bit too much of a wait for the update. :P
well, this time I waited a bit more since it's the beginning of something important as the top ten, and also, I wasn't here for like three evenings in a row :hat
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FOABP is amazing. :tup
Wilson's song-writing is as amazing as ever and Gavin, man. :hefdaddy
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THE GLORIOUS TEN
At number nine, we have a familiar album for everyone here. One that this year is especially special.
DREAM THEATER
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gd6JKpeEPcc/U85xzPCWzgI/AAAAAAAADc4/FQWunppqMGI/s1600/Dream+Theater+Awake.jpg)
AWAKE
K-Pop, 1994
What can I say about this record? I really love it.
Awake was like if Images And Words and Train Of Thought had sex. The album has still those kinds of I&W influences, but everything is darker, heavier and, dare I say it?, BETTER.
Indeed, Awake is my most listened album too by the band. I remember when I bought it two years ago, I must've listened to it at least 10/15 times. At least. The whole thing is just magical, and it translates really well live. As we've seen by Breaking The Fourth Wall, and as I've seen live in Rome, in January. It was great.
I had no clue that they were playing all those Awake songs, so I came back from the bathroom after the intermission, I sat down and when I heard weeeeeeeeeee DUN DUN DUN - DUN DUN DUN - DUN DUN DUN - my mind was completely blown.
Awake is tasty prog perfection. Every song is top notch: we start out with the energic 6:00 and its signature drum riff. Yeah that's a riff. The song really flows greatly, and I love the wah section. Then there's Caught In A Web, which is the first DT song featuring a 7-string. Though it's not the best experiment in the album with that. Oh god not at all.
Innocence Faded is a short song, very melodic and, interestingly, pretty complex in time signatures. That outro still gives me problems.
And then Erotomania starts. From Erotomania until Scarred, Awake is glorious. Every song starting from this one, is truly godlike.
Erotomania is a fun instrumental, as all DT instrumentals, I like all the moods in it, from the crazy mood, to the happy, to the metal, to the Mozart, back to the crazy and everything transitions into that beast of a song. Yes. Voices is the best one out of this album. The amount of pathos and atmosphere that this song is able to create is incredibly high, and listening to it is truly an experience.
The Silent Man is catchy, I like to sing-along to it, and I loved the Luna Park performance of that one.
And then...
Silence.
But in the distance we hear a distinct sound.
That sound, my friends, is the sound of metal. The sound of evil. The sound of heavy stuff. The sound of The Mirror's opening riff.
A few riffs have the power to be so simple but so incredibly heavy, and so groovy too. So yeah, The Mirror is quite a song. I love the vocal lines, and the overall atmosphere and also the fact that it's attached to the other metal beast in the record, Lie.
Lie is a more straight forward metal tune, and that's why it was the single, but dammit, what a piece. The chorus is pretty anthemic, and I love all the build ups in it. And the last riff before The Mirror reprise? :metal :metal :metal :metal
After those two, the band decides to feed us with some U2 influenced work, Lifting Shadows Off A Dream. Now, as much as I love track 4 through 11, this track doesn't quite stand out for me. It's Ok, but not that great, although I love the vocals.
Scarred is neat. Like, really neat. The vocal melody is kinda repetitive, but I love the riffs and the 6/8 and 4/4 shifts in it. Also, that outro. And those lyrics too.
The album closes with Space Dye Vest, which I didn't quite get until I listened to it live. Once again, I didn't know about the octave thing, and so I was so so so surprised by it, I didn't know what to really think about in that moment. I was so carried by the song, it's hard to describe.
So, Awake. In five words: Great song after great song. Incredible.
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Awake is alright, but I don't think it's in my Top 5 DT records. I love the second part, the one they've played on this tour starting from The Mirror, I really love it, but 6:00 -> CIAW -> IF really does nothing for me, and Voices is just alright but nothing more.
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...but 6:00 -> CIAW -> IF really does nothing for me, and Voices is just alright but nothing more.
:flame:
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K-Pop, 1994
:lol
Awake is a fantastic record. Top 5 DT album for me.
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My favourite DT. Good pick dog, good pick.
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Ok, after almost a week of absence, I'm sorry. I think you people deserve a two-days-in-a-row update. So, both today and 24 hours from now.
With that said
THE GLORIOUS TEN
At number eight, the best product of the Wilson makes its appereance.
PORCUPINE TREE
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b0/61/91/b06191c250f01a7a76e046cf7a6fd7b9.jpg)
DEADWING
Progressive Rock/Metal, 2005
So, Deadwing is my favorite PT record. Even if it's from the 'third phase' of the band (the dark and heavy one), this is easily the lighter of the four records out of this phase. And with that I mean that Deadwing is PT's purest representation.
This album explores and further develops each and every aspect that Porcupine Tree has had over the years, first starting as a psychedelic rock project, developing in a more alternative and pop rock idea and finally sailing on the metal seas.
Deadwing opens with its title-track, which is 9 minutes long. The song has a cool vibe and groove, although it can get quite repetitive. But it does a nice job introducing the concept and the atmosphere of the record. BTW, this album is losely based on a script that SW wrote for a movie. And it's about ghosts. Shallow is one of my all time favorites short PT songs, the chorus just kicks major ass, and I really love Gavin's work here. Lazarus was one of my first PT songs ever, and while it's not certainly their best ballad, it's a quite nice addition to the record. Halo's groove is stellar. Props to Colin Edwin and Gavin. Jesus, that's groovy. The chorus is also pretty nice, and the bridge section is in a time signature that I'll never get, sadly. Steven's vocals are also pretty great in this one.
Arriving Somewhere is definitely my favorite PT song of all time. It's the perfect representation of what the band is capable to do: bring atmospheres, make you think/kinda melanchonic, rock out and being blown away. Perfect piece of music. The next songs are all absolutely gorgeous: from the Mellotron Scratch's outro, to The Start Of Something Beautiful's chorus and Open Car's main riff, this is truly a great three-song run. The album closes with Glass Arm Shattering, which is a salute to the psychedelic days of the band.
Deadwing is a true piece of art. I think you may enjoy it, no matter what you like about music. It's one of those records.
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Yeah, I nearly forgot about this thread. :biggrin:
Deadwing is definitely a masterpiece. Arriving Somewhere is my Top 3 PT song and Open Car is also very nice.
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Deadwing is definitely a masterpiece.
Totally. It's amazing how Wilson and co. made such an album so late on their musical careers. Astonishing.
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I disagree with it being Wilson's best album. There's at least 3, if not more, that top it, but Deadwing is still very good indeed.
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I promised it, so here is the second update in a row!
THE GLORIOUS TEN
At number seven, this is what I call the new "Dark Side Of The Moon" or maybe the new "Images And Words"... more like a mash up of those two.
HAKEN
(https://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/64/23/38/201309/ob_cd313a43d0468ad83d0a783765361c3e_635065518027713752.jpg)
THE MOUNTAIN
Progressive Prog, 2013
Now, the next two albums on my list have both something in common. I've discovered both of them this summer, and they come from a not-so-good first impression of the artist. I've already told my story with Haken in Vision's writeup, and this is what pretty much changed everything.
This record is both a breath of fresh air and a salute to the past masters. Haken, in The Mountain, take every element that we like in progressive music, and further develops it in a deligthful way. One of the best records of these last years. And it's also a statement: this is a masterpiece, appearing in the year 2013. An album that I feel will become a classic in prog's history, even if Haken aren't as famous as DT or Pink Floyd.
The album is shaped like a mountain: the first 4 and a half songs are the uphill part, and they're all full of hope, and pretty happy and shiny, the second part is the downhill part, which contains sadder types of songs, and more melanchonic compositions. Also, I should mention, that this album has an incredible flow. It's 1 hour long, and it really doesn't feel like that. It grabs your attention and it doesn't let go. Anyways, off with the track by track section!
The Mountains opens up with its recurring theme: The Path. A beautiful piano intro with gorgeous vocals by Ross Jennings. Then Atlas Stone begins, and it really feels like you've started a journey with this one, it's a strongly cinematic track, with various moods in it, and a main mood: glory. That chorus screams "GREATNESS".
Cockroach King is a nod to Haken's """"""old"""""" days, when they used to make funny, quirky and wacky music. The song strongly reminds me of Yes and Gentle Giant, but it also has that Dream Theater and Meshuggah element (I'm not kidding, this song has an 8-string guitar riffs, one of the few that made me legitimately go Jens Kidman (https://gunshyassassin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Meshuggah+041.jpg)) that twists the song vibe and makes it even more interesting.
In Memoriam is one of my favorites, it's a short, straight-to-the-point and groovy modern prog song, with an anthemic chorus and a mad instrumental section.
Because It's There starts with an a cappella rendition of The Path followed by a bass solo, and then the song itself begins. And it's beautiful. It's basically an expansion of The Path.
And then Falling Back To Earth begins. And that's my favorite one. A song that includes everything that progressive music can bring to the table: the heavy riffs, crazy instrumental section, catchiness and anthemic singing but also ethereal atmospheres, pure emotion, goosebumps. I swear, it's a near perfect piece of music, that does its work really well.
After this masterpiece, the downhill part starts with As Death Embraces, a sad piano ballad. Reminds me of Collapse The Light Into Earth by Porcupine Tree. And it's a nice prelude to that beast under the name of Pareidolia - that song can get quite repetitive and I think that it drags on a bit, but Jesus, I really feel the oriental vibes in it and DAT breakdown. :metal :lol :metal :lol
The last track, Somebody, starts with this quiet atmosphere, and it builds and builds, until after the last chorus, the song transforms into an ominous and dramatic track, closing the record in the best of ways. I really love the use of overlaying vocals here. Nice time signature use there.
So yeah, The Mountain, it's like the Hitchiker's Guide To Prog. Definitely an instant classic.
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I enjoy some Haken and The Mountain is surely a strong work. Cockroach King is a hell of a grower.
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So yeah, The Mountain. Definitely an instant classic.
I really dislike when people say this. Call me a snob or anything, but even a year after its release, it can't probably be considered a 'classic' at all. For some reason, people rate The Mountain ridiculously high everywhere, which is fine I guess, but for me it's not even their best album.
I knew the band before they were 'big'. Am I a hipster now?
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So yeah, The Mountain. Definitely an instant classic.
I really dislike when people say this. Call me a snob or anything, but even a year after its release, it can't probably be considered a 'classic' at all. For some reason, people rate The Mountain ridiculously high everywhere, which is fine I guess, but for me it's not even their best album.
I knew the band before they were 'big'. Am I a hipster now?
It's ok for you to think this. I really do not care about certain "time" things, and as of now, I feel that this is a classic. But yeah, your opinion is your opinion
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For some reason, people rate The Mountain ridiculously high everywhere, which is fine I guess, but for me it's not even their best album.
I guess somebody wants to get a 4 on my roulette :neverusethis: . Now seriously. The Mountan is such a titanic effort, and didn't expect the band to release such an album. It's glorious, yeah. And it might be a classic in a few years. But it's just that it's too soon to tell.
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For some reason, people rate The Mountain ridiculously high everywhere, which is fine I guess, but for me it's not even their best album.
I guess somebody wants to get a 4 on my roulette :neverusethis: . Now seriously. The Mountan is such a titanic effort, and didn't expect the band to release such an album. It's glorious, yeah. And it might be a classic in a few years. But it's just that
If I praise The Mountain high enough, will I get additional points then?
Well, I kind of agree on the point that it's too early to tell it's a classic; then again, I like it but don't love it, so I might be a little biased against calling it a classic (oh damn, here goes my hope for a high score)
But it's actually great to see some discussion about it, because those lists can get a bit dull when everyone is just praising the albums.
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Don't get me wrong, I still really like the album and I can enjoy it a lot, but for me their first two albums were better.
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Here and there, I'm seeing The Mountain being more and more recognized in the prog sphere. I think it's totally possible that it'll be regarded as a prog metal classic in the future, but it's still too early to really gauge that.
As for the album itself, it's fantastic. Great breathe of fresh air for the scene. It's definitely their strongest release yet (though Visions does come close) and one of my favorites of 2013. I feel like I may be one of the few who genuinely enjoyed Cockroach King on first listen. :lol So many memorable moments on that song, it baffled me to find that so many people hated it.
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I also did enjoy cockroach king on the first listen, it was the first one that blew my mind in the track order, actually
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New update coming 24 hours by now! One hell of a complex album.
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Yeah man, since I'm on the waiting list too and this is running for like two months and a half, I think the new update would be really welcome. :biggrin:
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Yeah man, since I'm on the waiting list too and this is running for like two months and a half, I think the new update would be really welcome. :biggrin:
I can't wait to disagree on YOUR list, so I'll hurry the fuck up :D
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BEHOLD
ONE OF THE MOST BOMBASTIC, OVERWHELMING, CONFUSING AND MENTAL ALBUMS EVER MADE
THE GLORIOUS TEN
Yes indeed, at number 6, there's that beast under the name of
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
(https://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music/v4/51/fe/3a/51fe3a55-d142-84ff-eecf-4f4c5f6c2ffb/Cover.1200x1200-75.jpg)
DECONSTRUCTION
Extremely overwhelming metal, 2011
Now, what the hell is this album. No, seriously, what the hell is it?
Is it trying to make a statement, or is it just messing with us? Do we have to take it seriously, or just have a good laugh at it?
But these are not the questions. The real questions are:
What are we? Where are we from? What's the meaning of life? Is it possible to overcome certain powerful feelings?
All those answers, my good friends, are contained in this... this.. this THING called Deconstruction.
After a poppy metal record, Devin, in pure Devy fashion, decides to give us the complete opposite of metal music, and he delivered in 2011 this sound assault, this mind-blowing, this headache-inducing masterpiece.
One could say that listening to Deconstruction for the first time is like losing your virginity, you feel that you like it, but it's also pretty painful, but once you do it, you'll always come back to it. That's how it went with me.
The first Devy song I've ever listened was the title-track of this album, and fuck, I hated it to death. It was too much. Then Ultimetalhead decides to do the discography thread, and once I got to this album, I was very arfraid, but I listened to it. These are my thoughts throughout the various sessions:
First time: WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS I DON'T EVEN BOOM NOPE NEVER AGAIN
Second time: THAT'S A REALLY COOL MELODY BUT STILL DAFUQ
Third time: wow these lyrics are mindblowing, and the music is starting to make sense :D
Fourth time: SMOKE THAT FUCKING WEEEEEEDBOY DRINKTHAWINE
So yep. Decon is truly a grower.
As I've already said, this album is extremely complex in terms of music: the structures of the songs are pure stream of consciousness, there aren't any 'choruses' or 'verses' (well, except two tracks) - there are just little pieces.
The heaviness collaborates really well with the choir and the orchestra, and everything creates this atmosphere of chaos and confusion.
Lyrically, Deconstruction deals with Devin trying to defeat his Strapping counter-part, and it's told with a story of a guy who starts doing drugs and alcohol, and also pursuits the meaning of life, which as most of us know is SPOILER ALERT
a cheeseburger. Holy shit, Devin. Yes: the message is "there is no message". Truly a great climax. And also: this is one hell of quotable album. There are plenty of deservful lyrics that need to be quoted. No wonder, look at my user message :lol
Decon starts quietly with Praise The Lowered, which is a pretty calm song, I really love the vocal melodies. In this song the character is pride of his sobriety but suddently realizes that he wants to lose EVERYTHING THAT'S POLICING US and so he starts to do drugs and becomes an alcoholic. This is one of my favorites Devy tracks, in terms of vocal performance, and that's because here in this song, Dev uses both his angelic voice, operatic voice and scream really well. The song of course grows and grows and it explodes at the end, only to segue into a very dynamic track called Stand. Stand is one of my favorites, and it strongly reminds me of Ki. The song is like a rollercoaster, at times it's reeeeally low, at times it's super heavy, and it features Mikeal Akerfeldt vocals. Yeah, a thing that makes Decon so special is the guests spots: there's one in every song and they're all stellar. Lyrically, this song is about the first of many internal conflicts that our character has throughout the album, and also how he begins to search "the truth" (I interpret this pursuit as a distraction to him). Juular, the third track, is also really cool and contains beastly drumming by Dirk Verbeuren. This is the most "classicly-written" song in the album, it has verses and choruses and Devin screams like a motherfucker in this one. The whole song is in this halloween-ish vibe, and it's really cool. This feautres Ihsahn on vocals, he sings the chorus, and man is that one hell of a chorus. The lyrics in the song are about another internal conlfict in the character's mind.
Then track four begins and oh God is that heavy. Planet Of The Apes is my favorite piece from this album, and it's easily one of my top 10 songs of all time. It's really hard to describe this song, as it's 12 minutes long and it has a lot of moods and atmospheres but I can say one thing: HEAVY RIFFS, BEASTLY DRUMMING, GREAT VOCAL MELODIES AND CHOIR. Tommy from Between The Buried And Me sings on this track, and even if they're not my cup of tea, I enjoy the hell out of this voice. This song is about our protagonist's life in terms of job and family relationship. He's presumably a musician and he doesn't want to sell out, as he STAYS HEAVY FOR HIS GOD. Words cannot describe the grandiosity of POTA.
The album goes on with Sumeria which is another favorite of mine, I really enjoy both the riffs and the vocal melodies, but especially the riffs. Very Gojira-like song. And infact, Joe Duplantier sings in it! :laugh: I love how the guy's voice is both extremely furious but so melodic. In this song our character realizes that if he keeps behaving this way, he will be hated forever. But he doesn't care and he carries on.
Ok. Now. The most ridicolous of tracks is next. A 16 minute journey that goes from dramatic slow operatic vibes, to triplets galore, to house/dance stuff, straight metal and FUCKING PARADE MUSIC.
The Mighty Masturbator, ladies and gentlemen. Listen to this song, be blown away. With lyrics dealing with the creative process of the protagonist, and possibly one of his concerts, our main character starts to realize what he has done with himself, but his bad-self takes over him and everything goes completely nuts.
Pandemic is a short and brutal track, featuring Floor Jansen on soprano vocals, and Dirk playing blast beats all over the place. Jesus Christ, that guy is a beast. In Pandemic the guy has another internal conflict, and he falls deeper into the hole of drugs and alcohol. At this point he's completely obsessed about finding the true nature of mankind, and he goes to hell. Deconstruction, the title-track, the climax of the record, is a mess. There's not a single stable rythm, everything changes and moves in question of seconds. And the cheesburger bit? What can I say. Godly track. So yeah, our main guy goes to the devil and he ORDERS him (arrogance) to show him the meaning of life: a cheesburger. Meaning that there's no meaning. He realizes what he's done, and how everything was vane, and in a beautiful climax, he apologizes to everybody.
The final song, Poltergeist, is as close to Strapping Young Lad as we can get with Devin's solo stuff. The song is mean, catchy in a way, furious and thrasy. This is about the protagonist finally getting rid of his bad-self.
Now, I've had the pleasure to listen to this album during a thunderstorm, and it made the experience A WHOLE LOT BETTER. It was like the most perfect combo. It blew my mind. But anyways, I rambled on too much. Deconstruction is a glorious album if you take it slowly and take the time to listen to it multiple times. Ridicolous.
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Yeah man, since I'm on the waiting list too and this is running for like two months and a half, I think the new update would be really welcome. :biggrin:
I can't wait to disagree on YOUR list, so I'll hurry the fuck up :D
:lol. Awake not my favorite DT album, but sounds great on the live cd. Love the mountain, especially the vocals
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Yeah man, since I'm on the waiting list too and this is running for like two months and a half, I think the new update would be really welcome. :biggrin:
I can't wait to disagree on YOUR list, so I'll hurry the fuck up :D
Well said. :lol
Well, what can I say? It's Devin again, I'm not a fan of him except Ki and maybe Ghost and clearly this is nothing like it, so I'll pass. :biggrin:
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Oh boy, I have a kind of love/hate relationship with this. By one side, it's Devin with all his great genius and crazyness. And on the other hand, I get so overwhelmed that I delete it from my MP3 player whenever I listen to it :lol . But having listened to Planet of Apes on the Retinal Circus makes want to give this another spin.
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Classic time!
THE GLORIOUS TEN
Rush has a lot of records. 19 to be precise. But one of 'em is especially special.
RUSH
(https://edgblogs.s3.amazonaws.com/menteaberta/files/2011/08/Rush_Moving_Pictures_front.jpg)
MOVING PICTURES
Classic prog, 1981
Moving Pictures. May I?
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap::clap::clap::clap:
After being an hard rock number, Rush transitioned with Caress Of Steel into their prog era: album after album that era is truly one of the best succession of albums that ever existed. And it all culminated into Moving Pictures.
After Hemispheres the band decided to take a step back in terms of complexity (One song on that album took more time to record than the band's entire second album), and wrote the majestic epicness of Permanent Waves. It was easier to get into, but the songs were still complex. After that album, this came out, and I feel that the complexity is kinda back. Not in Hemispheres levels, but it's easily harder and more technical than Permanent Waves, but the two have very similar vibes.
This album is up here for a reason.
Track one: classic
Track two: classic
Track three: classic
Track four: classic
Track five: classic
Track six: awesome song
Track seven: ok song
FIVE OUT OF SEVEN songs are absolute Rush classics. It's insane, it's like a greatest hits compilation on its own.
The album opens up with possibly the most known Rush song, Tom Sawyer. The song has one of the best drum tracks I've ever heard, combining groove and power to technicality and attention to detail. The vocal lines are incredible and do we even wanna talk about the 7/8 synth riff? I don't think so.
Red Barchetta (I'm italian and I'll tell you this: YOU READ IT BARKETTA not barchetta, like if it's spanish. That bothers me :lol) is next. The track is really dynamic, and that works really well with the lyrics, given that it's about a guy who drives a car in a car-banned future, and he's being chased by the police. It really creates a lot of images in my head, and it's really easy to dive into the story with those historic riffs and basslines. Then there's one of my biggest obsessions: YYZ. -_-- -_-- --__ This song. THIS song. I feel like this song and The Dance Of Eternity are two songs that recurr in my life at least once a day. I'll always think about this song when I hear the word "drums" or the word "bass", 'cause that's what it is. An incredible instrumental piece, capable to bring you into various moods in 4 minutes. I still prefer La Villa Strangiato over this, but damn, are they close.
Limelight is the catchy tune of the album. Splendid lyrics (that really resonate with me) with uplifting music and great vocals. Also, dat solo.
The Camera Eye is the longest song (11 minutes), and it contains some of my favorite guitar work by Alex in Rush's entire carreer. The riffs in this song, man, the riffs. Pretty interesting concept though: the song is split in two equal parts, one is about New York and one is about London. I like that.
The album closes with two cool pieces, Witch Hunt and Vital Signs and though they're extremely cool songs, they don't live up to the rest of the record. But still, they are great.
All in all, nearly flawless record. I listened to this one A LOT and it made me feel better each time, no matter what mood I was in. My only minor complaint is that the track order could've been better if they did something like this:
1. Limelight
2. Tom Sawyer
3. Red Barchetta
4. YYZ
5. The Camera Eye
6. Witch Hunt
7. Vital Signs
but whatever. It's a classic, and it's untouchable :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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I've thought it over, and really regret not having this one at least in my honorable mentions list. It might be my second favorite Rush record overall at this point. Fantastic all the way through. :tup
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Yeah, now we're talking. Splendid album all the way through, always an enjoyable listen.
Now, bring on THE. :biggrin:
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::)
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You've lost me with this top ten, sans-Awake. Still watching from the bushes tho.
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Thn only rush album I've liked so far :P . It is nice, but Geddy Lee's voice starts to annoy me a few songs in. YYZ is superb though :hefdaddy .
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You've lost me with this top ten, sans-Awake. Still watching from the bushes tho.
Glad to know you're still around
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My favorite Rush album. Great choice
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You've lost me with this top ten, sans-Awake. Still watching from the bushes tho.
Glad to know you're still around
Well, to clarify, I've never been able to get into Porcupine Tree. Something about it just falls flat for me. I've tried Fear of a Blank Planet, In Absentia and The Incident and nothing. But I can see why they're so respected, and that's cool.
Rush is a similar kinda thing. I've listened to Moving Pictures a lot, but I still can't get fanboy about them like so many people do. But I appreciate them, sure.
Devin Townsend and Haken are names I see bandied about alot in these forums but I've never checked them out. I think I've lost a bit of passion for the prog metal. Nowadays I enjoy things that are simpler but say a lot more; I dont have the patience to sit through lush prog movements much anymore :lol
Please, continue.
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You've lost me with this top ten, sans-Awake. Still watching from the bushes tho.
Glad to know you're still around
Well, to clarify, I've never been able to get into Porcupine Tree. Something about it just falls flat for me. I've tried Fear of a Blank Planet, In Absentia and The Incident and nothing. But I can see why they're so respected, and that's cool.
Rush is a similar kinda thing. I've listened to Moving Pictures a lot, but I still can't get fanboy about them like so many people do. But I appreciate them, sure.
ohmygod let's be friends
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You've lost me with this top ten, sans-Awake. Still watching from the bushes tho.
Glad to know you're still around
Well, to clarify, I've never been able to get into Porcupine Tree. Something about it just falls flat for me. I've tried Fear of a Blank Planet, In Absentia and The Incident and nothing. But I can see why they're so respected, and that's cool.
Rush is a similar kinda thing. I've listened to Moving Pictures a lot, but I still can't get fanboy about them like so many people do. But I appreciate them, sure.
ohmygod let's be friends
done and <3
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<3
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Well, what can I say about this next album?
:metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
THE GLORIOUS TEN
At number four, metal in all its glory.
MEGADETH
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/312549_143014335851030_1122420441_n.jpg?oh=366d9b3842324494f1bc52a6480cd9df&oe=550BF3EF&__gda__=1427121608_0c2a3ed2d728af11c848cf93e1eecff6)
RUST IN PRESENTS PEACE
Motherfucking top notch thrash technical metal, 1990
Now, I'll get this straight. I don't like Megadeth THAT much. Yes, it's one of my favorite bands, but they almost never really had something that awesome and jaw dropping, like so many of my other favorite bands, except for Rust In Peace.
Rust In Peace has everything you may desire from a metal record. It has balls, it's gnarly, it's performed perfectly, it's pretty melodic and the lyrics are :heart . Of course, the only minor complaint is Mustaine's tone, but he's actually pretty great in this one. Holy shit this album is stunning from start to finish, and it's one of the very few that doesn't let down even from one second.
The album starts with a great classic, that every metalhead should know from top to bottom, Holy Wars... The Punishment Due is a two-part piece, that starts out fast and after a beautiful spanish guitar interlude, slows down the pace, but not the heaviness. And after that you get a glorious guitar solo that goes back into the first part. With lyrics dealing with the Gulf War (I think so, at least), Holy Wars is truly an awesome classic, and a perfect opener. Next, there's one of my all time favorites, Hangar 18. This song has a cool groove and catchy vocals, but what makes this song a masterpiece, is easily the instrumental section. Starting with a bit of an arabic solo, the piece starts groovin' out like never and the battle between Friedman and Mustaine ensues between these solos and it all climaxes in a double-pedal furious outro. Also, this piece is great to see live, as you do this: dundudndund ME GA DETH dudududdudu ME GA DETH. Hangar 18 is also cool because it's about Area 51 and all its misteries, and I was always fascinated by it, and so it's really cool to have a song about it. Take No Prisoners is pretty heavy, I love the alternation between riff and bass lines, and it's also catchy as hell. Especially the outro. Five Magics is the proggy piece of the record, I love everything about it, from the time changes, to the vocal effects. Poison Was The Cure is fucking fast. Jesus. After that cool bass intro, the song begins out of nowhere and you're there like :omg: :omg: :omg: :metal :metal :metal. The rest of the two minutes is pure killing, and hearing assault goodness. Lucretia has a cool vibe, the solo in there is also one of my absolute favorite solos ever; I love the groove in this song, and it always brings me back to the times when I started listening to 'Deth, around 2011. Tornado Of Souls is another classic, the solo in there is once again, plain awesome. And before the final track, there's Dawn Patrol which is basically a bass solo with words on top. And those lyrics are amazing, about the consequences of a nuclear war. And that nuclear war is told in the title-track: Rust In Peace... Polaris starts out with a great drum intro and the song goes in 6/8 and, even if it's kinda repetitive, it's great. The second part? Even more so. That fucking ending. POLARIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSS
So, all in all, amazing, masterpiece, I just wish that Megadeth put up more albums like this one. I really can't get that into their other back catalogue albums, except Killing Is My Business. That's a great one too.
Oh also, I'm sad about the recent news. Let's see what the Daves brings us next.
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To quote my post in the Megadeth thread:
If the RIP lineup doesn't come back, I would LOVE to see DeGrasso back in Megadeth. Have you seen She Wolf live with his drum solo? FLAWLESS :metal
Oh, and speaking of RIP, you should check out my top 50 albums thread in fifteen minutes :biggrin:
Finally, something in your top ten I can dig!
Great choice man, you started listening to Megadeth around the same time as me :lol
To me, this is the album that proves Megadeth's prowess over Metallica - at least in regards to thrash. Its 'tallica counterpart being AJFA in '88, this album is eons tighter, heavier and polished (and needless to say, has waaaay better production). And there isn't a riff in all thrash metal that grooves as sweet as the main riff in the title track. The whole album is just fucking amazing.
You're missing out on a lot of good shit by only digging this and KIMB! No love for So Far So Good.. So What? The remaster is much easier to stomach. Youthanasia - omg so goooood.
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I've always stayed away from Megadeth because thrash is not exactly my cup of tea, but I'll check this record out on weekend.
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Rust In Peace :metal What a collection of songs on here, gotdamn.
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Now, I'll get this straight. I don't like Megadeth THAT much. Yes, it's one of my favorite bands, but they almost never really had something that awesome and jaw dropping, like so many of my other favorite bands, except for Rust In Peace.
You know, Peace Sells is pretty awesome too :'(
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Well, I know some songs of course (like the title track and wake up dead) but I never really got into that album much.
and also, from so far so good so what, there's in my darkest hour and hook in mouth which are great songs.
Another album I enjoy by Megadeth is The System Has Failed.
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I haven't listened to this album in a while, but I should. It truly deserves to be one of the milestones of metal in general. Stunning album, beginning to end (and excluding Dawn Patrol). The solo in Tornado of Souls is mindblowing.
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Just went through the whole list, lots of stuff I haven't heard that I'll have the check out.
I think having the shorter version of "Even Less" was the right thing to do, I think it would've dragged on. I agree with most of your PT ratings however I never got the love for Deadwing
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Before I unveil my top 3 albums, here are some albums that didn't make the cut!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Episode 2 - The actual honorable mentions.
AVENGED SEVENFOLD - AVENGED SEVENFOLD
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K8ebphJAUUw/R6V2QY-tqNI/AAAAAAAAAq0/kpqx9rQXcxU/s400/Avenged+Sevenfold+-+Self+Titled+Album.jpg)
A7X are kind of a hit or miss band. They're pretty low on my top artists list, but they do have some great songs. What I mostly don't like about them is that they are pretty repetitive, and I don't really dig M.Shadows. I find his voice a little annoying, but when he uses it properly, he's amazing. With that said, this record is the complete opposite of my critics towards them: it's pretty experimental. It has songs that have an orchestra or a brass section (Afterlife, my favorite A7X song, and A Little Piece Of Heaven) and also some country atmospheres (Gunslinger, Dear God). Along with A7X's classic sound, this album has a groove metal feel to it that I really like. Songs like Scream and Critical Acclaim are examples of this. Great record.
PANTERA - VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/PanteraVulgarDisplayofPower.jpg)
This is another band that I like, but compared to other bands just falls pretty low on my list. But this album is godly. It's one of the manliest, heaviest and ballsy album I've ever heard, and the initial song run is such a tremendous succession of songs. Classics, hidden gems, whichever, this is a truly solid album.
GOJIRA - FROM MARS TO SIRIUS
(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QS4YQSP8L._SY300_.jpg)
Holy shit, Gojira are awesome. They sound very unique, and I can't classify them with any subgenre. They're french. That hits me, because this is one of the heaviest band that I know about, seriously, some of the riffs these guys write can tear down cities. This record is a good example of that: straight out of the gate you start with Ocean Planet, that has an iconic riff. I love the technicality. Then the album goes on with great songs like Backbone (props to Mario Duplantier), the amazing Heaviest Matter In The Universe , and the fan-favorite, Flying Whales. That song contains what I define the heaviest riff ever. Truly an interesting listen, check it out if you haven't.
DEEP PURPLE - MACHINE HEAD
(https://www.rockgarage.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Deep-Purple-Machine-Head.jpg)
Well, this is a classic album. What can you say about it? It has Smoke On The Water, the most known guitar riff in history. It has Highway Star, one of the greatest concert openers ever. It's an album that contribuited for sure in the creation of Heavy Metal. Everyone is at the top of their game here, especially Blackmore and Ian Paice. That guy is a beast :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
This is a must. EVERYONE has to hear it.
Other H.M.: Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV, Nirvana - Nevermind, Sabaton - Heroes, Ayreon - Into The Electric Castle, Caparezza - Le Dimensioni Del Mio Caos, Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories), U2 - Achtung Baby.
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Machine Head is quite good, I would say. Pictures of Home, Lazy, Smoke on the Water and Highway Star are all brilliant, but sadly the rest of material is lacking, so I can understand why it isn't in your Top 50.
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THE PODIUM
Episode One: A cheesy voyage through the human's conscious.
#3: AYREON - THE HUMAN EQUATION
(https://bookofsaturday.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/humanequation.jpg)
Aaah. Finally the top three. And it kicks off with Arjen's masterpiece.
The Human Equation is everything that you may want from a music record. It has a variety of genres in it, the songs are soaking with emotions, the instrumentation is top notch, the song writing is top notch, the lyrics even if they are kinda cheesy, they are pretty deep, and they're laid out in a extremely cool way.
THE talks about a man who falls in a coma, and he has this confrontation with his various emotions, embodied by a HOLY SHIT cast of singers.
The thing is: you pop in the first CD, you hear the first track, which is an intro, and the actual record starts:
"Hey, that's JLB." one line later "Hey, that's Mikael Akerfeldt" - and that just makes the record, even the beginning. So, yeah, THE opens with Vigil, an intro sang by Arjen himself (who plays the Best Friend) and Marcela Bovio (the wife). I like these persons' voices, Arjen's vocals really remind me of The Beatles and other 60's british invasion stuff, whilist Marcela's voice is really sweet.
After that there's Isolation, which is easily one of the best openers I've ever had the pleasure to hear. The transition from the intro to the riff is godly.
NO ONE HERE IS DANCING TO YOUR TUNE....
DJUNT DJUNT nu-nunununu-nununu
DJUNT DJUNT nu-nununununu
that's one great riff. The song goes from a really catchy chorus to a synth interlude which leads in a very nice keyboard solo. Pain is the next track, here mr. Devin Townsend makes an appearance for the first time (it's a shame that he appears just three times in the record, I really love his work in it), and he plays Rage. Pain is a very dark song, but the chorus kinda brings back bit of happiness.
The first part of the record goes on and on, with awesomely complex songs such as Voices, and pure radio-friendly pieces, like Hope. School is another highlight of the first half of the album, I really love the chugging chorus that alternates with the calm and desolate verses. And dat orchestral section. But what takes the cake? Love. Love does. Love is one of those songs that you hear for the first time and you're there like :omg: :hefdaddy :hefdaddy - and the good thing is that it's a pretty simple song. But it strucks you with the powerful chorus and Jesus Christ, Mikeal's INCREDIBLE performance - he just sings one line in the song but oh God, that's like my favorite thing he had ever recorded. Vocally, that is. So yeah, the first bit closes with Love which is a masterpiece.
And the second? It opens with yet another masterpiece, under the name of Trauma. This here is one of the best intros ever.
We. Won't. Let you go.
Take. You. Down below.
Dark. Crypts. Of your soul.
Locked inside your hee(*synth grows*)eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeead...
YOU'RE BETTER OFF DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAD
Once again, mr. Mikael Akerfeldt.
Trauma is a funereal, dark song, almost doom metal-ish, the second part has some of the best emotional parts of the record.
Pride is a really cool song, easily one of the most heavy in the album, it has a nice groove to it and a nice folk breakdown. The album's full with those, but the only song in it that has complete folk atmospheres is Loser. It has a really cool vibe, with those mean cheesy lyrics, sung in an even cheesier way, but everythings collapses when Devin finishes the song in glory :hefdaddy :hefdaddy - The rest of the album is all pretty emotional, because of plot reasons, that I won't spoil, but I will spoil that this record ends on a rather unexpected way. Hm.
So yeah, The Human Equation. Godly stuff. Variety, cheesiness (which is not necessarily a bad thing), philosophical stuff, top notch singer cast and possibly my favorite Akerfeldt performance. Also, I don't mind James in this album. He doesn't quite stand out, but his performance is great, and he makes this album memorable.
Great.
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You're fighting back the tears.
Just listened to this today, still as great as on the first listen. Never gets old, this one.
Edit: and I actually think this is one of the best James' performances ever.
And I'm seeing this performed live in September. :angel: Damn, I just can't wait.
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I do say that I enjoyed A7X's self-titled the most in their catalog. Dear God, Lost, Gunslinger, Afterlife, and A Little Piece of Heaven are my faves.
Enjoyed The Human Equation as well. Enjoyed Day Fourteen: Pride, the most, especially during that bridge with that flute? bit which lead to the guitar solo coming in. I despise Loser. It makes me want to punch the father of the story in the face.
Dang. That's two albums that I considered putting on my top 50 albums thread when that time will come for me to do one.
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Can't say I'm much of a fan of A7X. I've also been meaning to give Gojira a listen as well.
The Human Equation is fantastic. Arjen's a genius, and it's definitely one of JLB's best performances on any album he's been in.
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I've never thought of THE as cheesy. Sure, some moments might have some cheese, but overall it exceeds lots of operas and musicals out there - I'm looking at you, Disney. Really an eclectic yet accessible album. Fantastic.
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I've never thought of THE as cheesy. Sure, some moments might have some cheese, but overall it exceeds lots of operas and musicals out there - I'm looking at you, Disney.
Ooh, I've never thought it that way. You've changed my mind :tup
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NUMBAH TOO
THE PODIUM
Episode two: More than just a concept album
PINK FLOYD - THE WALL
(https://www.vandohalen.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pinkfloydthewall1979.jpg)
Alright, the runner up of the whole list is an album that is truly special for me. It was like the introduction to a whole new world. I've got to tell you the whole story though:
Late 2011. I discover Rush and it was like finding something I've never listened to before. All these prog things, they were pretty new for me. Long songs? Stay away from me. Complexity? Go fuck your self. But songs like YYZ, Tom Sawyer and 2112 introduced me to a new world. This became even MORE true when in early 2012 there was a big snowstorm in my town, it snowed so much that a small town of central Italy became a small village in Alaska. 10 days. No school for 10 days, and those were pretty big news for the 7th grader that I was at the time. But it was pretty boring, admittedly. My father has always been a big Pink Floyd fan, he even went to see them during the AMLOR tour, in Monza. Being bored, I decided to watch a bootleg for Roger Waters' The Wall show. Bam. Hit.
The show was so incredible, so well-thought, and it brought to life the album, both on a musical level, on a visual level and in the concept level. I must have watched them bootlegs about 10 times. And thus, The Wall became my favorite thing of all time. At least it was like that for an year or so.
The album is not just that, some songs. This album is truly like a book, a movie, an experience. Out of all the concept albums that I enjoy, this is probably the most concept-y that I've ever heard. They even made a movie out of it :hefdaddy
The music is great: we start with powerful songs such as In The Flesh and The Thin Ice, followed by the trifecta of ABITW part 1/HDOOL/ABITW part 2 and it's a really cool succession. Mother is one of my favorites, a nice ballad with a godlike solo, solos so emotional that only Gilmour can produce.
The album (and Pink's life) goes on, with its highs (Goodbye Blue Skies, Empty Spaces/Young Lust) and lows (Don't Leave Me Now), and when the first part finishes your there like ME WANT MOAR
The second part of The Wall is just as great as the first, if not better. It's for sure a bit more quiet and generic, but once again, that's part of the concept, and the story. Here we see Pink closed in his wall, and he's desperate about it. I've never heard songs so moving as Nobody Home or Hey You, and of course that motherfucking classic of Comfortably Numb. What an immortal piece of music. The second half of Part 2 is the more upbeat part of the album, with songs such as Waiting For The Worms and Run Like Hell. But my favorite song in the whole package is The Trial. It's like a sumup of everything lyrically and conceptually, and I love how Roger alone can impersonate so many different characters. He's an actor. Also, it's nothing of importance but the guitar slide is one of the best things ever. EVER.
After the climax The Wall closes with a happy song called Outside The Wall, a bit anti-climatic, and not the best closer ever, but still, when you listen to it, you look back and realize what the heck you've just listened to.
And I still do everytime I hear this masterpiece.
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Yeah man, The Wall is, well, The Wall. Truly a milestone of the genre and a masterpiece as well. Sadly, I missed Roger with his The Wall tour in 2011 I think, wasn't in the town at that day. And he didn't come back for the second leg of his tour, which I was kind of hoping he will. Anyway, I always have the movie. :)
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Yeah man, The Wall is, well, The Wall.
Well put. Great, essential PF album. There's still quite a few I prefer over it, and for me it does have occasional filler, but it's ambitious and memorable.
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Yeah man, The Wall is, well, The Wall.
Well put. Great, essential PF album. There's still quite a few I prefer over it, and for me it does have occasional filler, but it's ambitious and memorable.
This.
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Yeah, The Wall isn't even nearly my favourite Pink Floyd album and still it's fucking fantastic. You know, I actually wrote my university bachelor's degree thesis on the album - specifically on the difference between the album and the film. Great album, nice choice.
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Tomorrow I'll unveil my favorite album. Meanwhile, you should try to guess: the first two who guess correctly will have a surprise in the future. If they join. You'll see what mean.
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Putting a full recap of you list here would help guessing. :biggrin:
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dammit, you're right.
Ok recap coming your way in an hour or so.
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50. Nevermore - Nevermore, 1995
49. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb - U2, 2004
48. American Idiot - Green Day, 2004
47.Enter The Grave - Evile, 2007
46.Metallica - Metallica, 1991
45.Sheer Heart Attack - Queen, 1974
44.Universal Migrator Pt.1: The Dream Sequencer - Ayreon, 2000
43.Fragile - Yes, 1971
42.The Resistance - Muse, 2009
41.Visions - Haken, 2009
40.Dead Heart In A Dead World - Nevermore, 2000
39.Powerslave - Iron Maiden, 1984
38.In Utero - Nirvana, 1993
37.The 2nd Law - Muse, 2012
36.2112 - Rush, 1976
35.01011001 - Ayreon, 2009
34.Up The Downstair - Porcupine Tree, 1994
33.In Absentia - Porcupine Tree, 2002
32.Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence - Dream Theater, 2002
31.Steal This Album! - System Of A Down, 2002
30.Herzeleid - Rammstein, 1995
29.Master Of Puppets - Metallica, 1986
28.Museica - Caparezza, 2014
27.The Art Of War - Sabaton, 2008
26.Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da - Rammstein, 2009
25.Are You Kidding Me? No -. Destrage, 2014
24.And Justice For All - Metallica, 1988
23.Ki - Devin Townsend Project, 2009
22.Dream Theater - Dream Theater, 2013
21.21st Century Breakdown - Green Day, 2009
20.Stupid Dream - Porcupine Tree, 1999
19.Verità Supposte - Caparezza, 2003
18.Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd, 1975
17.Reise, Reise - Rammstein, 2004
16.Addicted - Devin Townsend Project, 2009
15.A Night At The Opera - Queen, 1975
14.Wasting Light - Foo Fighters, 2011
13.Epicloud - Devin Townsend Project, 2012
12.Fortress - Alter Bridge, 2013
11.Hypnotize - System Of A Down, 2005
10.Fear Of A Blank Planet - Porcupine Tree, 2007
09.Awake - Dream Theater, 1994
08.Deadwing - Porcupine Tree, 2005
07.The Mountain - Haken, 2013
06.Deconstruction - Devin Townsend, 2011
05.Moving Pictures - Rush, 1981
04.Rust In Peace - Megadeth, 1990
03.The Human Equation - Ayreon, 2003
02.The Wall - Pink Floyd, 1979
01.?????? - ?????, ????
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I think either I&W of SFAM. I'll go with SFAM.
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I'm going with Green Day - Dookie. lol jk.
I honestly have no idea. I really hope its not I&W or SFAM cos that would be zzzzzzzz.
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I&W is my guess
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Alter Bridge - Blackbird or Train of Thought :coolio .
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Alter Bridge - Blackbird or Train of Thought :coolio .
Well, Train Of Thought is in the honorable mentions. :P
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Shit. Then Blackbird or Octavarium.
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I really hope its not I&W or SFAM cos that would be zzzzzzzz.
Well, my dear sneakyblueberry, it turns out that it is.
(https://www.vinylemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Dream-Theater-Metropolis-Pt.-2-Scenes-From-A-Memory-Front.jpg)
Congratulations for the ones who guessed right. Evermind, see you in my roulette.
Yep. Pretty cliché, uh? Well, I really don't care about that, this album fucking owns. And it owns both my mind, my heart and my body.
Scenes From A Memory is packed with memories, of all kinds. It brings me back to the days of that beautiful summer of 2012, when I was discovering DT, and getting into their music. This album stood out since the beginning, but it took a while to become my favorite of all times. SFAM, other than a HOLYSHITFUCKREAAGNAKDNGADGG,ADG album is also a great, great, great source of inspiration for me as a musician. I'm a drummer, and Mike Portnoy here is on fire. His drum sound is still one of the best overall, and his way of playing so technical but so fluent also, struck me like few things do. Previously I thought that drumming was just keeping the rythm and the tempo, and then I heard DT and with MP I learnt that you can actually be part of the melodies, and create stuff on your own with cool parts and special effects. But all the other guys rock on the album too. JP is the same ol' JP we know about, he is pretty melodic in this album, but he can play some Meshuggah influenced riffs just as amazingly as some Pink Floyd-ian chord progressions. And of course there are the "Petrucci Moments", when he nearly sets on fire the fretboard with his godlike speed. Classy.
John Myung is there, you can definitely hear him, and while he doesn't quite stand out at times, at others it's him that you pay attention to, one exemple of this is his solo in Dance Of Eternity: unexpectedly technical, short and great overall. Also, this is the first album featuring one of my all time favorite musicians, Jordan Rudess. His sounds, his technique, his way of thinking inspired me more than some drummers, believe it or not. I like how he does not stay in one place, he evolves with technology, and he takes advantage of it. A true genius. And then, of course, James. Even if this isn't his best performance, he gives the characters life, and you can feel how he's passionate about everything, he really put his heart and soul in this one.
Other than the performers, one big part of Metropolis Part 2 is of course, the storyline. While it's not that ingenious, it's still great and truly understandable, and the use of the narrator one of the things that makes this record unique. But there's a bigger part of that. The consistency.
They've done something so great with the music that it's almost a crime to describe it. The way that the recurring melodies are planned out is something that makes this album sound like a song. One long, long, long song. I also love the references of Metropolis Part 1. And I also love the fact that I'm still discovering new details in the songs: the initial chord progression in Finally Free is the same of TSCO and Regression. Never got that. Also, I just noticed the cowbell in Strange Deja Vu. Heh. Easily the most consistent album I know about.
This epitome of music starts with Regression, a nice intro which sets the mood of the lyrics and the story, with a chord progression that we will hear a lot of times throghout the album. Then it goes straight into Overture 1928, and this has to be one of my favorite openers of all times. The Metropolis Part 1 riff is repeated rapidly and then BAM - but it's not heavy. It's melodic and happy, but still so satisfying as an opener. Overture is basically a sum-up of the whole record, musically speaking. We have riffs and motifs from Strange Deja Vu, Dance Of Eternity, One Last Time and also other songs I think, not sure. Then this one goes straight into Strange Deja Vu, a cool and pretty simple piece. I love the melodies in this one, and the sudden change of pace after the chorus - that's a killer riff. After the piano interlude of Through My Words, another masterpiece of a song starts: Fatal Tragedy. Dark, funereal, but filled with hope and unisons. That goddamn instrumental section. Sweet Jesus. And the djenty verse :metal :metal :metal - one of my favorites. Words cannot describe its greatness. Oh, but it's not over. Nope. AHAHAH. AHAHAHAHA
REMEMBER THAT DEATH IS NOT THE END
*dundunduuuudun*
BUT ONLY A TRANSITION.
And then everything collapses. Beyond This Life starts. Hide your children, for this riff will eat them.
I won't talk about Beyond This Life because words cannot to justice to the glory and the Deep Purple shenanigans in it. Wow, what a song.
And the BUDOKAN VERSION :metal :hefdaddy
After that Through Her Eyes gives us some room to breathe. And while it's not my favorite DT ballad, it does its job, but I don't approve the drum machine. The song sounds cheesy with it.
Home is another mammoth, an oriental mammoth. The use of the wah wah and the melodies is very clever, and all the little clues to Part 1 in the song, makes it memorable. Also, the sample makes it memorable too. Yeah, I'm talking about that sample. I like the outro, it's like a preview of the impending madness. What I'm talking about is of course, Dance Of Eternity.
This song, much like YYZ, is one big obsession of mine. I listen to it/think about it at least once a day, and everytime it's truly an experience. It leaves me floored each and everytime with its complexity and overwhelmingness :hefdaddy :hefdaddy - Also, it's pretty fun to play.
After One Last Time, my least favorite piece of the album, though very important for storyline purposes, there's one of my two "Goosebump" songs, The Spirit Carries On. The Goosebump songs are songs that I get so emotively connected with, that it's like if I'm having sex with them, not kidding. The other one is Grace, by Devin Townsend. TSCO is, simply put, probably my favorite ballad of
all time. Powerful at the right time, deep and meaningful lyrics, a choir, a flawless guitar solo and Pink Floyd influences are a perfect mixture for me.
Finally Free is a both godlike and strange closer: I mean it closes the album really well, but in a weird way. Either way, this song is so dramatic and grand at times that during the concert I saw, it became one of my favorites, and it wasn't before. The final riff is the representation of tragedy, and it's done so well. The structure is also great, and the One Last Time reprise moves me everytime. I like how MP starts going nuts in the outro, and how the riff is abruptly interrupted.
So yep. That's everything that I needed to say about Metropolis Part 2, my favorite album of all times. Once again, words are not enough. Truly with this one.
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So yep. That's my list. I've had fun writing these writeups, and it turned out pretty long, I'm sorry. But I'm happy with how it turned out, some of you always shared their opinions, others stayed in the shadows, but whatever, I want to thank you for reading, tell me your overall thoughts.
Maybe I'll do a V2 next year, maybe not, I have to see how things evolve. But until then, this is mikemangioy, tuning out. :metal
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Awesome album, absolutely no shame to have it at #1, brilliant stuff all around there.
Congratulations for the ones who guessed right. Evermind, see you in my roulette.
Sure thing, I was going to join in anyway!
Good list there man, while I disagreed with a lot of stuff, I liked it overall and had fun following. One major issue for me was the pace, the whole list lasted longer than three months, but I guess I might be biased because I'm in the waiting line. Anyway, thanks for taking your time to write all this stuff, that was interesting to follow.
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Yeah, I'm sorry about that. It's that I only had time to write the stuff in the evenings, and being a student, evenings are not exactly all that "fun", in the sense that I'm tired most of the time. That's why I was so slow.
Prepare for my disagreements :tup
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Has always been my favorite DT album. Absolutely brilliant. :clap:
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Prepare for my disagreements :tup
This. Excellent album. No fillers at all.
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cool list
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Enjoyed following your list mangioy even tho I think SFAM is generally pretty zzzzzzz.
Also I just figured out your name is a portmanteau, right?
Nice job anyway, and good writeups to boot, which I don't think are over-long btw.
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Also I just figured out your name is a portmanteau, right?
thank you mate. also yes, much like mike portgini.