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So here I am, a bit more than a year after my first list. I've gotta say, I was expecting my tastes to change, but not this much :lol
Only 23 albums remain from the previous top, because 1) I limited the number of albums per artist, 2) I've found so much new stuff that I love, and 3) some of the albums that are "missing" from the previous list haven't aged that well.
I'd normally start describing my tastes, but I'm gonna do so in my roulette, so I hope these albums give you any insight into what I like, and what not.
The list so far:
50. clipping. - CLPPNG
49. Faith No More - Angel Dust
48. Shpongle - Tales of the Inexpressible
47. Jeremy Soule - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Original Game Soundtrack
46. iamthemorning - Belighted
45. Sigur Rós - ( )
44. King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
43. Swans - The Seer
42. Dead Can Dance - Anastasis
41. Ed Harrison - Neotokyo
40. OSI - Blood
39. Blue Sky Black Death - Late Night Cinema
38. Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness
37. Saltillo - Ganglion
36. Ayreon - The Human Equation
35. Obsidian Kingdom - Mantiis
34. Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning
33. Between The Buried And Me - Colors
32. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Piñata
31. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
30. Opeth - Damnation
29. Haken - The Mountain
28. Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
27. DT - Awake
26. Alter Bridge - Blackbird
25. Kyle Gabler - World Of Goo Soundtrack
24. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
23. Destiny Potato - Lun
22. Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
21. Flying Colors - Flying Colors
20.
19.
18.
17.
16.
15.
14.
13.
12.
11.
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
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Can't remember if I followed your first one to be honest mate, but definitely following this.
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i'm ready to discover just how badly i'll be doing in your roulette
i could already redo my top 50 and most likely flush out the entire bottom 15 or so because i've been finding a ton of great stuff this year :lol
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Nice! Will update 3 albums per day untill the top 20, wherein I'll do 2 records per update till the top 10, and then only 1 album per day. Let's begin!
50
CLPPNG
clipping.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Clipping_CLPPNG.jpg)
Feel the noise
I was never too big into hip-hop - in fact, I heavily disliked the genre for ages. Couldn't see the appeal, yet somehow I fell in love with Endtroducing..... I must admit that MCs where what prevented me from liking hip-hop in general, because of my preference for sung vocals. So, last year, a friend of mine got obsessed with this industrial hip-hop band, clipping. Didn't pay attention to his shit because he was (still is tbh) quite a hipster, but somehow he convinced me these guys could be the gateway into the genre for progheads. It was mostly curiosity what drove me into CLPPNG. On a first listen... didn't know what to think of it. It seemed like some noisy beats over some fast rapping? Second listen the same, meh. Gave it a final spin before giving up on it, thinking that I may never get into hip-hop (tried Low End Theory and Paul's Boutique before and weren't my thing), but would nevertheless give it a fair chance and a close listen, with headphones.
Oh. Shit.
First thing I notice, the production, although noisy, it's crystal clear and totally avoids loudness war. And the beats... crap, they're awesome. Weird as fuck as they are mostly noises like glass breaking, electronic beeps, even a fucking alarm clock, yet quite addictive (with the inclusion of some synths). This guy can rap pretty fast too, and has an excellent flow. So I'm definitely in love with the thing. Although it was released in 2014, I only checked it earlier this year - I don't really listen to many albums in the same year of release because there's so much awesomeness recorded years if not decades ago I should check first. After it, I've gotten into some other hip-hop records that sadly didn't make the cut because wasn't familiar enough with them to deserve this spot (maybe next year [or the other] To Pimp A Butterfly will be here!). Recommended for open minded listeners - some purists will probably not find much to like here, for it's a dark, at times abrasive, and experimental experience. Oh, and the female rapper give this album an excellent touch of diversity.
Recommended song: Story 2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbU9UUwxBxA)
49
Angel Dust
Faith No More
(https://cdn3.pitchfork.com/news/59848/e22fa4d7.jpg)
The fuck does the cover mean?
I must admit I didn't know what to expect from this other Mike Patton band, after being a bit underwhelmed by Mr Bungle, and California. Colour me surprised, loved Angel Dust from the go basically. This kind of music is something I'd heard very little of - alternative/funk metal sounds like a pretty intriguing genre. This, along with Rage Against The Machine are the only records I know on this vein, but I quite dig them, so I should get more into this kind of stuff. Oh, the album is quite great - lots of crazy, yet memorable and catchy tunes. Patton hadn't gone full nuts yet, and maybe that's why I prefer this by a large margin. Dunno what else to say. It's a 90s classic I'm sure most have at least heard of.
Recommended song: A Small Victory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9_hCjcFNO0)
48
Tales of the Inexpressible
Shpongle
(https://cdn.discogs.com/a8m9-hsuw23XwL8exfj3kvwI1e0=/fit-in/599x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(96)/discogs-images/R-35076-1311857693.jpeg.jpg)
Yes, it sounds like the cover may suggest
This is one of the craziest albums I've ever heard. For several reasons:
- It's mostly psy-trance, meaning it's really immersing, but a bit slower, with layers of sounds reminiscent of ambient music.
- Instead of predictable crescendos and bass droppings, this takes an experimental focus.
- Not inspired by some dark, obscure shit, but it rather seeks inspiration on World Music, and joyful stuff.
- There are football chants, flutes, a sample of a lecture by Terence McKenna in which he references the Pink Floyd song The Gnome, merengue horns, Middle Eastern instrumentation, and more.
- It's tons of fun.
The only reason this isn't higher on the list is because I feel the second half isn't as good and the first one. But anyways, if you love electronic yet eclectic music, and stuff that doesn't take itself too serious, check Tales of the Inexpressible immediately.
Recommended song: Star Shpongled Banner (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0UtOPhC60g)
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Alright, 1/3. Angel Dust is a classic, fantastic album. Not my fav from FNM, but a classic definitely. No idea on the other two, but they don't sound like my cup of tea at all.
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Never heard any of these :lol
Though I've heard a few tracks from Faith No More and they're alright.
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Never heard any of these :lol
Though I've heard a few tracks from Faith No More and they're alright.
Better than alright bro haha. Definitely an acquired taste though.
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I don't mind most of what Shpongle does, but they tend to lean a bit far into the trance side for me for the mostpart.
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Never heard any of these but they all sound cool. Looking forward to the rest :metal
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:tup for FNM and Shpongle, even though Angel Dust would be much higher for me.
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Haven't given Shpongle a fair listen yet.
CLPPNG is some good shit though. :tup
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I'm prepared for like 5/50, don't know any of these, but I'll be following.
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Haven't given Shpongle a fair listen yet.
Oh you should really fix that ;)
Never heard any of these but they all sound cool. Looking forward to the rest :metal
You should definitely give the Shpongle album a listen :P
Thanks for the support guys, will do next update in a few hours :smiley:
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I actually think it's for the best that I don't know any of these and will probably not know more than half of them, gives me some more shit to check out. :metal
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I actually think it's for the best that I don't know any of these and will probably not know more than half of them, gives me some more shit to check out. :metal
If any album seems up your alley, give it a listen. Just don't cockblock me on your roulette :lol
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47
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Original Game Soundtrack
Jeremy Soule
(https://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music/v4/e8/64/c0/e864c00e-10ce-ebad-d9a2-ae5b8e13870c/093155117877_cover.600x600-75.jpg)
FUS RO-DAH!
I pretty much got addicted to this game back in 2011/2012, and even got all the expansions, making roughly 200 hours of gameplay on several saves. But my favorite aspect of it was the fantastic soundtrack - hours upon hours of ambient bliss, with the occasional epic moments when a full orchestra appears, or just pure peace of a lute and flutes. Well, not real ones - it was all recorded via VSTs. Hard to believe, right? I don't really have much to say about it, other than my fav song is the fantastic Far Horizons. It was even covered by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and it's a wonderful rendition.
Recommended song: Far Horizons (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga8KbMcUfm8)
46
Belighted
iamthemorning
(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a1518259367_10.jpg)
Delicate
One of the best albums of 2014, and possibly the most beautiful one, just tied in that aspect with Marketa Irglova's Muna (which sadly didn't make the cut). This Russian duo made some gorgeous neoclassical chamber folk on their debut, but now added more proggy ideas (doesn't surprise me they signed to Kscope), achieving a unique sound that it's both familiar and unique. Marjana's sweet angelical voice fits perfect with Gleb's brilliant piano arrangements. Oh, and guess who's behind the drums? Gavin (fucking) Harrison. If you don't already feel like checking Belighted, I swear...
Recommended song: K.O.S. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHkgnIkly9c)
45
( )
Sigur Rós
(https://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/sigur-ros--.jpg?wmode=transparent)
Am I hipster for liking this?
I can only think of beautiful landscapes while listening to this one. Probably Iceland's natural beauty was a big inspiration. Or the 3 daily hours of sunlight drove them a little insane at times - which would also explain why Bjork is a bit nuts. In any case, it's a perfect depiction of the band's country, for the music is gorgeous, yet dark and cold at times.
Sigur Rós have a very particular style: they're a post-rock act, meaning very ethereal soundscapes, dreamy guitars, long crescendos, long songs; and an emphasis on intimacy and abstraction. Jonsi, their singer, doesn't really sing actual lyrics, but mutters words in a made-up language created by the band. This way, his voice works as another instrument, melting with the rest. And it work. Oh damn it does.
I find it hard to describe this band without falling into some pretentious adjectives, so I'll just say that ( ) is not a normal album, but an experience. One that can bore you to tears. Or blow your mind.
PS: The last two songs are a fucking epic emotional rollercoaster.
Recommended song: Untitled #7 (The Death Song) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YMV3CFeeC4)
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i never listen to game soundtracks outside of the games themselves
need to check out iamthemorning more sometime
and ( ) is way too low, i'm done following this list
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I actually think it's for the best that I don't know any of these and will probably not know more than half of them, gives me some more shit to check out. :metal
If any album seems up your alley, give it a listen. Just don't cockblock me on your roulette :lol
Hehehe NO MORE HIPHOP SUBMISSIONS FOR YOU BOY!
I never played Skyrim but boy do I love that soundtrack.
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While Skyrim is undeniably the better game, I actually prefer the soundtrack to Oblivion.
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No idea on those 3. I think I remember why I didn't follow your last one. :lol
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Always like me some Sigur Ros, though I'll always prefer Agaetis byrjun by a hair.
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() is like my favourite album ever. There is no other album where I can out on any song and get instant chills all over, or that I can lose myself that much into.
Skyrim Soundtrack is good as well, lots of awesome memories with that one. It wouldn't make my top 50, though.
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Excellent pick with the Skyrim OST :tup The whole thing is just incredible.
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Oh god I had no clue Gavin played in that record.. now I just have to check it out.
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Nice to see some love for Sigur Rós and Skyrim :smiley:
But I won't be able to update for a couple of days - I'm currently on travel to attend to Gilmour's gig here in Argentina later today :P
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But I won't be able to update for a couple of days - I'm currently on travel to attend to Gilmour's gig here in Argentina later today :P
:psychosane:
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1 for 6 thus far... :metal
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But I won't be able to update for a couple of days - I'm currently on travel to attend to Gilmour's gig here in Argentina later today :P
:psychosane:
:-*
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I came into this threads because I the words "fucking" and "redheads" caught my eye! :lol But then I listened to Shpongle. So good! Would have bumped this years ago on my late night drives the night before my work week.
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3/6 so far. Will follow the rest.
One question; in the OP you say that 'I limited to number of albums per artist', that means how many albums exactly? :biggrin:
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I came into this threads because I the words "fucking" and "redheads" caught my eye! :lol
I'm slowly learning the not-so-subtle art of clickbait :neverusethis:
But then I listened to Shpongle. So good! Would have bumped this years ago on my late night drives the night before my work week.
Awesome! I wouldn't really listen to Shpongle on a late-night setting, but I'm glad you enjoyed it :smiley:
One question; in the OP you say that 'I limited to number of albums per artist', that means how many albums exactly? :biggrin:
Well, it's not settled in stone, since I felt some bands/artist had many excellent yet different albums that display different sides of their music, so I had to include a few on the list, while other only have one album. You'll later see what I mean ;)
I borrowed a pc, so you can expect another update later today.
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( ) is criminally low. In my top 10 for sure.
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Never heard any of these :lol
Though I've heard a few tracks from Faith No More and they're alright.
Better than alright bro haha. Definitely an acquired taste though.
I never got into FNM.
But hey, it's the only album I recognize so far! :lol
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44
In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91OZN9lmo4L._SL1500_.jpg)
My face when listening to prog
The beginning of prog - it was glorious. I'm not a fan of 60s music in general, yet this one rocks. Except for Talk to the Wind, which is just nice, but sadly drags an otherwise fascinating record that was fucking ahead of it's time. Nothing more to say, really. On a side note, Steven Wilson's remix of it is fantastic, go get it.
Recommended song: The Court of the Crimson King (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty5iRL8eTsg)
43
The Seer
Swans
(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a3233794906_10.jpg)
A monster...
Oh boy, Swans. Upon listening to this album for the first time (and even today at times) I thought it was either a brilliant work of art, or some pretentious piece of hipster horseshit. At least I thought the last while trying to get into To Be Kind, but couldn't. Still my curiosity was strong - I must get into this band somehow!, I thought. Thus, a friend recommended me giving The Seer a chance, as it was their most accessible record to date (unlike the impenetrable Soundtracks for the Blind). You know, it goes against common sense to describe a experimental double-disc album that features centerpieces of 32, 19, and 22 minutes, respectively, as a friendly starting point, but then again, nothing about Swans is really conventional. So I dived into it.
The Seer it's a violent, brutal, even terrifying album. And one of immense repetition, but with slight changes so that the music keeps evolving, sometimes becoming heavier, louder, rawer, transforming into a beast that threatens to devour the brave listener. For 2 fucking hours. I'll admit sitting through its entirety is definitely a challenge, one I'm gonna do just once every year - it's just too much insanity. I'm definitely looking forwards to getting into the rest of their discography - it should be fun.
Recommended song: Lunacy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzdw1MVJQME)
42
Anastasis
Dead Can Dance
(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91AhvTHjzeL._SL1500_.jpg)
I used to think those were heads, not sunflowers...
"This is just Dead Can Dance, being Dead Can Dance", I've read. And while I've tried checking the rest of their discography, nothing has really gripped me like Anastasis, their comeback after 16 fucking years. It is them picking up where they left off in the mid 90s. They could of returned and just went through the motions, doing some nice yet unimpressive songs, like it happens in these cases. Some say they sound as good as they ever did - I think they are at their top here, and love them the most this way.
DCD were a group that never really challenged the mainstream, so a return was quite easy for Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. Of course they kept some traditions: Perry sings the "normal" songs, like he always did, in English, while Gerrard performs on the "weirder", more medieval tunes, like she always did, in that strange language she invented - in a style reminiscing of traditional middle eastern chantings. Although they're both old, middle aged people, their voices are as powerful as ever. I love how they use music from all over the world, throughout the ages. There's some medieval stuff here, greek music and even some hints of arabic flavours, among other styles.
And yes, this is a very atmospheric record. Not exactly a dark effort, but definitely not a bright one. Recommended for those seeking for something outside their comfort zone.
Recommended song: Children of the Sun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6aQEFzB3zQ)
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Well, at least I've heard of King Crimson.
Sorry dude, I tried. I will now retire to the Fogey Home.
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Well, at least I've heard of King Crimson.
Sorry dude, I tried. I will now retire to the Fogey Home.
I could try to convince to stay (some prog and DTF classics will appear later), but there's no Iron Maiden nor Winger on the list, so... :P
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i figure in like 5 years i'll get Swans and like their music but while i didn't dislike To Be Kind when I listened to it it didn't really grip me either, i'll prob check out this one though sure
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Well, at least I've heard of King Crimson.
Sorry dude, I tried. I will now retire to the Fogey Home.
I could try to convince to to stay (some prog and DTF classics will appear later), but there's no Iron Maiden nor Winger on the list, so... :P
No Winger?
Oh I'm definitely following! :lol
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LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY LUNACY
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:clap:
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I'm going to refrain from checking out interesting stuff until the roulette is over, of course I will not simply give away which albums seem like I would like them yet either, but yea I don't know any of these.
Also:
No Winger?
Oh I'm definitely following! :lol
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ITCOTCK is far too too low. :P And I wouldn't really call it the beginning of prog but it was definitely one of the first to really solidify the genre with what's now considered its typical conventions.
Oh man, I loooove The Seer. I would rate it and To Be Kind about evenly overall.
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I discovered CLIPPING because of this thread and listened to the latest two albums for 3 hours straight. Thanks for a mindblowing music listening session man. I've been betting into noisy avant garde hiphop with Death Grips, but from this first encounter I already like Clipping even more.
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but yea I don't know any of these.
Dude, I won't send them in your roulette, but you should at least check King Crimson :P
ITCOTCK is far too too low. :P
Maybe if I Talk To The Wind grows on me a bit more, the album would be at least a few spots higher :P
I discovered CLIPPING because of this thread and listened to the latest two albums for 3 hours straight. Thanks for a mindblowing music listening session man. I've been betting into noisy avant garde hiphop with Death Grips, but from this first encounter I already like Clipping even more.
Damn, that's freaking awesome dude! I feel a bit sorry for, yet I admire you listening to The Seer in one sit :lol
Yeah I need to get more into this kind of hip-hop too :P
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This Swans album is very meh, definitely not for me. Lunacy and some parts from the title track are the only things I was able to tolerate.
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Heh, thought you'd enjoy Song for a Warrior, since you seem to love ballads :P
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The Seer - their most "accessible" album? What? :lol
I'd easily give that to White Light From the Mouth of Infinity, Children of God or The Great Annihilator. Maybe even Burning World or Love of Life, even though those two aren't necessarily as great. The Seer is awesome and was my AOTY when it came out, but IMO Swans has done better. I'd say Soundtracks, To Be Kind and Children of God is my top3 Swans-albums.
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Heh, thought you'd enjoy Song for a Warrior, since you seem to love ballads :P
I'll listen to this one again. I seem to remember there was something nice on disc 2 but I don't remember much of it, so I didn't mention it.
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I couldn't get through The Seer, while Soundtracks is an album I actually enjoy occasionally, even though it's ridiculously weird.
Regarding ITCOTCK; I Talk To the Wind indeed isn't that interesting, but definitely not a reason to put the album lower on your list. While not my favourite KC record (that would be Red, though granted I haven't heard all of their stuff), it's a damn classic and a brilliant record overall.
5/9 I've heard so far and three more I've heard of put not listened to (not counting my playthrough of Skyrim as having listened to that soundtrack).
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The Seer - their most "accessible" album? What? :lol
Well that's what I've been told :P
Regarding ITCOTCK; I Talk To the Wind indeed isn't that interesting, but definitely not a reason to put the album lower on your list. While not my favourite KC record (that would be Red, though granted I haven't heard all of their stuff), it's a damn classic and a brilliant record overall.
Well it is a reason for me, since the other tracks don't blow my mind, yet I like them quite a lot, so that particular song kind of drags it for me.
Ugh, was about to post today's update but screwed up my post. Then, after fixing it, when I hit "Post", my internet was gone, and I lost everything again so I'm pretty pissed off, since my writeups need some heavy editing and won't bother doing it again today. So expect next update tomorrow, but I'll give you a few hints:
41. An electronic soundtrack
40. A DT-related project
39. Instrumental hip-hop
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Ok, see you tomorrow.
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While Skyrim is undeniably the better game, I actually prefer the soundtrack to Oblivion.
Amen.
Gonna follow this list, some of the picks seem pretty interesting.
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41
Neotokyo
Ed Harrison
(https://jamoose.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/neotokyo1.jpg)
Now THIS is passion
I can't believe such an excellent OST was made... for a mod. It's not even an official game - a freaking mod! Neotokyo clearly reflects that dystopic mood the self-titled mod portrays - nostalgic, intense, and sometimes, a bit insane. For over two hours, Ed Harrison serves an original and diverse plate of electronic sounds, pianos, guitars and violins, with hints of cultural Japanese influences and instrumentation. The product is a cyberpunk masterpiece of atmospheric, electronic music that is both unique and immersive.
While there are wide uses of different instruments and influences, what Harrison masters is simplicity in songwriting. No track tries to be too progressive that it may draw away listeners, which is a craft among the huge amounts of experimentation on this album. Each song builds and develops themselves around catchy and atmospheric melodies, making them more memorable, rather than taking ambitious, unpredictable shifts. One of the longer tracks, Tin Soldiers, plays around with a glitchy, almost robotic piano melody in the first half and then manipulates it into a fast paced drumbeat fest of pure emotion in the second half. Annul sustains a memorable bass line and weaves and dives around different lead lines, including vocals.
If you are a fan of any electronic music, a bit of anime fanatic or, well, a fan of music all together, I highly recommend checking this out.
Recommended song: Departure (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msFbOHoouPs)
40
Blood
OSI
(https://www.insideoutshop.de/images/products/large/0IO00647.jpg)
Oh Kevin...
You know... I've always appreciated Kevin Moore's contributions to early Dream Theater; so one day, when I found Office of Strategic Influence mentioned on a list of essential prog metal albums, well, gave it a listen. What a disappointment, to be honest. I remember it was some lame, generic progressive metal - even the presence of Steven Wilson's vocals on one track didn't save it for me. But what I needed to check Blood was a dear friend's insistence after another had showed me a pretty good track of it; and damn they were right to do so.
Oh Kevin, now I see why you had to leave Dream Theater. To make fantastic music like this. Even if it took you 15 years, you finally delivered. And damn it's worth. This album is straightforward, catchy progressive metal, similar at times with Porcupine Tree circa FOABP and The Incident, only that this one leans more towards Alternative Metal in general. The riffs and all the guitar parts are awesome, thanks to the stellar work of Jim Matheos - I've always loved his contributions on Fates Warning, yet I find that band quite boring, specially on the vocal melodies. Oh, and guess who's behind the drums this time? Gavin fucking Harrison. So Blood is basically a supergroup of prog metal stars, and damn it rocks. But, don't let it fool you, for there are lots of tasteful electronic elements that are what define OSI's sound.
Along with Kevin Moore's low-key yet catchy vocals, this record hit all the right points with me. This is how I like my metal - innovative, heavy, and catchy. Blood replaces the overblown theatrics of progressive metal with a dark, brooding aura that seeps into every song. Those who desire to listen to another one hour of technical instrumental masturbation, should ignore this and find something else. If stuff like heavy Porcupine Tree and similar is right up your alley, then go check this.
Recommended song: Radiologue (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fepJxqa2iTw)
39
Late Nigt Cinema
Blue Sky Black Death
(https://photos.babygrande.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/BSBD-Late-Night-Cinema-600x600.jpg)
Feel the nostalgia...
I was really interested in the possibilities of instrumental hip-hop, after falling in love with Endtroducing.... by DJ Shadow. And in my journey, looking for similar albums, I stumbled upon Late Night Cinema.
I don't care if people think sampling is not a legitimate form of songwriting, really - the amounts of creativity here are just ridiculous. Just on a track alone there are electronic beats, violins, female vocals, post-rocky guitars, gorgeous pianos - all in a relaxed, trip-hop atmosphere. Some tracks build up with subtle crescendos, while others linger in a swirling mixture of foggy samples and edgy violins. There's melancholy on every moment, a nostalgia for things past. It's this album has lots of feels, and it manages to move me on every listen. I really can't help loving this record - it's what I'd been looking for so long. It's not Endtroducing Pt. 2 though. It's Late Night Cinema - an accomplishment on its own.
This is not beats without the rapping, this is instrumental hip-hop. The music speaks for itself. The music is the conveyor of the emotion. That is the major problem with instrumental hip-hop. The producer/DJ just wants to showcase his skills rather than make a statement himself, so he attempts the same process as he would if he was producing the beat for an MC to rap over, but since there is no one rhyming, you're left with some beats that sound like they're missing something. Instrumental hip-hop shouldn't sound like it's missing the lyrics, the music should be the messenger of the words.
Recommended song: The Era When We Sang (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_2BPAMeZv8)
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Blood is amazing! Title track is perfect. And thanks for realizing it's Radiologue, and not "Radiolounge", stupid Spotify.
I liked that Blue Sky Black Death song you sent me from that album. I don't remember which it was.
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I sent you the same song I'm recommending :lol
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No, I just checked, and you sent me Ghosts Among Men
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I thought some of Blood's songs were alright, but I don't think I ever got through the entire album, felt a bit samey to me. But hey, at least I know the album!
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Oh great! You have just saved me from getting a 6 in your roulette :lol
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38
Deathconsciousness
Have A Nice Life
(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a3785639980_10.jpg)
The face of depression
This album is not ground-breaking. It doesn't represent a revolution nor it creates a new genre. But it mixes Post-Punk and Shoegaze with Industrial, Post-Rock, and even some Drone, to create a unique sound unlike any other. Its lo-fi production gives it a plus of intimacy and rawness. But if Deathconsciousness is anything special, it's because just one thing: feels.
I once found myself being deeply moved by it after some initial meh spins, while listening to it with headphones, and drawing - so while a part of me was making lines, the other was fully immersed into something... intense. Its two discs comprise so many emotions, all of them dark, that I was kind of depressed for a few days. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic experience that reached its climax in the last song, Earthmover. The name is so fitting, because I think this tune has the power to move the entire planet. Or any living being on Earth.
It's a long one, this record. But once it hits you, you never forget it.
Recommended song: Bloodhail (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri5F633xSsY)
37
Ganglion
Saltillo
(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0075089761_10.jpg)
I fucking love trip-hop
Here it is. The album that has fascinated me the most this year. I've been digging Instrumental Hip-Hop and Trip-hop as of late, but... there was something missing. Although I'd enjoyed every single album in that style, a little thought started to run through my mind: What if I don't find it?
I got into these genres because I was looking for something not only similar to DJ Shadow's Endtroducing, but also equally good. Yes, I enjoy all of the trip-hop albums I've found so far, but none of them managed to go from great to something beyond that.
You know how this clichéd story goes: then I found Ganglion.
Right from the very first listen it impressed me. A lot. And it just got better and better with each spin. The classical influences, the violins, the samples, the occasional sampled vocals, the melancholy and passion of every song - even the IDM drumming, it all hit the right chord for me. Saltillo moves in the spirit of DJ Shadow, but has more on-spot instrument work, as Menton Matthews is well known for his versatility in playing all the stringed instruments. The result is a creature a little darker than Shadow's work, and a little more brooding than Little People. Ganglion is good for those more melancholy days: the gray, cold ones, the thoughtful ones where the car drive to and from work seems longer, and the silences in-between seem louder.
Although I've gotten more into trip-hop and the like, and either Portishead or Massive Attack would be featured on this list had I been familiar with them for a longer time, I feel Ganglion will probably remain as my favorite album of the genre.
Recommended song: A Necessary End (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEvby-c1WnI)
36
The Human Equation
Ayreon
(https://www.revelationz.net/images/covers/mc/AyreonTheHumanEquation1321_f.jpg)
This is the best kind of cheese
I swear, this album used to be at #7 back in my first list! It has kind of ungrown a bit on me - it's not the perfect album I thought it was, yet it's still a fucking awesome one. I guess I just found albums I love more than it :P
This is a DTF fav, so if you aren't familiar with it, fix it now. Yes, this is my excuse for the lazy writeup. Deal with it.
Recommended song: Day Two: Isolation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bf6WxKbyMg)
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equatio, equatio, how i love thee, equatio
i'll probably get mp3s of Deathconsciousness eventually since physical copies might not even exist??? i have seen no sign that one does. it was an alright album.
and THE is actually too low and you're objectively wrong to put it this low
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The Human Equation was my #4.
Then I saw The Theater Equation show live. Now this album is my #2. It's the second most perfect thing in music after Wish You Were Here for me now. It's brilliance in a nutshell. I don't have enough superlatives to describe how fabulous this album is.
Also, I can't ever imagine anything from my Top 10 albums to jump as far back as to #36 so soon - basically in two years. Maybe in ten or fifteen years, yeah, but not that soon.
Oh, and edit: I don't think The Human Equation has a noticeable amount of cheese. Other Ayreon albums? Yeah, a lot. The Human Equation works perfectly. It has the minimal amount of cheese. Any Anathema album has more cheese than The Human Equation. Here, Sacul, take that.
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Deathconsciousness :heart
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Okay, so:
Faith No More were the first rock band I really got into on a level beyond “oh, these few isolated songs are pretty cool”. The Real Thing, Angel Dust, and King for a Day are all neat albums, but none of them really echoes in my ribcage anymore as overall albums. If you’re after a weird listen that still ain’t too weird, Angel Dust does hit the spot.
I really couldn’t get into Shpongle when I tried them. I have nothing against electronic, and I like a lot of non-Western music, but the two put together rubs me the wrong way for some reason. Although I haven’t listened to them in years, maybe the exception to that statement is Juno Reactor, some of whose music was used on the Matrix. This album (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUe-z9DZBNo) here has some awesome songs. Listen to Conquistador I and II and whatever you do, DON’T skip ahead. My favourite track from memory was Angels and Men.
Nice to see ( ).
Oh, and you’re Argentinian? I would assume you’re familiar at least in name with the band Bersuit Vergarabat then? I went through a big phase with those guys, and the album Hijos del Culo is really quite awesome.
King Crimson are a band I have massive respect for, and I love a good chunk of their music, and they probably have three or four albums that I really like – Court, Islands, Lark’s Tongues, and Red - but none that I enjoy from start to finish enough to hold as god-tier. And you’re mad, Talk to the Wind is possibly the best song on there, but then I like very quiet, understated songs like that. I dunno how much other King Crimson you have heard, but if you check out nothing else by the band, look into the songs Starless and Lizard. There was probably not a 70s prog band that had a better sense of writing varied, interesting epics than King Crimson. And Lizard is totally unique in being a prog epic that seamlessly lapses into these big unabashed looney jazz sections.
The Seer is amazing. The Apostate is one of my favourite songs ever at this point.
I’ve seen that Deathconsciousness album get praise quite a bit over the years. I think I’ll have to give it a go sometime.
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:tup for Deathconsciousness, which is one of the finest albums ever. I'd disagree and say that I would actually consider it groundbreaking because of what you continue to write, it really blends a handful of genres into something unique that I haven't heard replicated since. Even when Have a Nice Life finally released a follow-up album (which was really good), even that one sounded different, and DC just has that special atmosphere and sound that I don't think will be captured again.
I've heard you talk good about Ganglion so might give that a listen eventually. Ayreon to me is prog taking itself way too seriously and going overboard with different singers for different characters. I like a good concept prog album, but Ayreon crosses the cheese-meter by a big margin and travels past Gouda-country and into Cheddar-city. :P
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THE is one of the best things to happen to music lovers. Period.
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i'll probably get mp3s of Deathconsciousness eventually since physical copies might not even exist??? i have seen no sign that one does. it was an alright album.
and THE is actually too low and you're objectively wrong to put it this low
There were some limited physical copies as CDs, but there seem to be some vinyls available out there.
I now regret a bit about its position, but I wouldn't up it more than 2-3 spots higher :P
Also, I can't ever imagine anything from my Top 10 albums to jump as far back as to #36 so soon - basically in two years. Maybe in ten or fifteen years, yeah, but not that soon.
Oh, and edit: I don't think The Human Equation has a noticeable amount of cheese. Other Ayreon albums? Yeah, a lot. The Human Equation works perfectly. It has the minimal amount of cheese. Any Anathema album has more cheese than The Human Equation. Here, Sacul, take that.
Let's say my first list is kind of invalid, since I didn't know that many albums back then, and I have found lots of excellent records since then.
Yeah I like THE because it has a minimal amount of cheese. And no, you're completely wrong about Anathema albums being cheesy. Well, maybe a few songs a bit, yeah, but nothing that would make me cringe, so take that :P
Deathconsciousness :heart
:tup
Oh, and you’re Argentinian? I would assume you’re familiar at least in name with the band Bersuit Vergarabat then? I went through a big phase with those guys, and the album Hijos del Culo is really quite awesome.
King Crimson are a band I have massive respect for, and I love a good chunk of their music, and they probably have three or four albums that I really like – Court, Islands, Lark’s Tongues, and Red - but none that I enjoy from start to finish enough to hold as god-tier. And you’re mad, Talk to the Wind is possibly the best song on there, but then I like very quiet, understated songs like that. I dunno how much other King Crimson you have heard, but if you check out nothing else by the band, look into the songs Starless and Lizard. There was probably not a 70s prog band that had a better sense of writing varied, interesting epics than King Crimson. And Lizard is totally unique in being a prog epic that seamlessly lapses into these big unabashed looney jazz sections.
I’ve seen that Deathconsciousness album get praise quite a bit over the years. I think I’ll have to give it a go sometime.
Yup I know a few songs by them, and I should really get into more music written here, so I'll trust you and give that Sons of the Ass album a listen ;)
Oh I'm familiar with Red, and should really get into their other albums. Will go with Lizard then :)
I believe it deserves all of the praise it gets, so you're in for a treat.
:tup for Deathconsciousness, which is one of the finest albums ever. I'd disagree and say that I would actually consider it groundbreaking because of what you continue to write, it really blends a handful of genres into something unique that I haven't heard replicated since. Even when Have a Nice Life finally released a follow-up album (which was really good), even that one sounded different, and DC just has that special atmosphere and sound that I don't think will be captured again.
Ayreon to me is prog taking itself way too seriously and going overboard with different singers for different characters. I like a good concept prog album, but Ayreon crosses the cheese-meter by a big margin and travels past Gouda-country and into Cheddar-city. :P
Oh it is groundbreaking in that snse! I meant it like it didn't create a new genre that lots of bands would later replicate and such.
Into The Eletric Castle and similar are too cheesy, yes, but THE is pretty un-cheesy overall. Lyrics might not be perfect, but at least they don't make me cringe. But I don't think cheese should be a problem for you, since you seem to love some Helloween (https://rateyourmusic.com/collection/Zantera/strm_h/power+metal/1) :neverusethis:
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well when i say physical copies i do specifically mean CD's, i don't mess with vinyl :lol
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Oh, and you’re Argentinian? I would assume you’re familiar at least in name with the band Bersuit Vergarabat then? I went through a big phase with those guys, and the album Hijos del Culo is really quite awesome.
King Crimson are a band I have massive respect for, and I love a good chunk of their music, and they probably have three or four albums that I really like – Court, Islands, Lark’s Tongues, and Red - but none that I enjoy from start to finish enough to hold as god-tier. And you’re mad, Talk to the Wind is possibly the best song on there, but then I like very quiet, understated songs like that. I dunno how much other King Crimson you have heard, but if you check out nothing else by the band, look into the songs Starless and Lizard. There was probably not a 70s prog band that had a better sense of writing varied, interesting epics than King Crimson. And Lizard is totally unique in being a prog epic that seamlessly lapses into these big unabashed looney jazz sections.
I’ve seen that Deathconsciousness album get praise quite a bit over the years. I think I’ll have to give it a go sometime.
Yup I know a few songs by them, and I should really get into more music written here, so I'll trust you and give that Sons of the Ass album a listen ;)
Oh I'm familiar with Red, and should really get into their other albums. Will go with Lizard then :)
I believe it deserves all of the praise it gets, so you're in for a treat.
:lol That's one of the great things about them, they can be really profane and looney and then quite beautiful or haunting on the next track. The closest thing I can think of in an English-speaking band is System of a Down, but of course stylistically, they're totally different.
For the record, the album Lizard as a whole is one of their worst. The first track Cirkus is pretty good, and I never got into any of the next three tracks. The one great song on it just happens to be one of their very best and 23 minutes long.
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:tup for Anastasis e Late Night Cinema.
The first a solid comeback album from DCD. Children of the Sun, Amnesia, Kiko, some late quality songs there.
As for Late Night Cinema, it's a good instrumental album in a style that is dominated by Endtroducing so it's always nice to have some good artists and albums to replace it sometimes.
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Deathconsciousness is a modern classic. If you haven't heard it,you're missing out. Also,great list so far!
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The first a solid comeback album from DCD. Children of the Sun, Amnesia, Kiko, some late quality songs there.
As for Late Night Cinema, it's a good instrumental album in a style that is dominated by Endtroducing so it's always nice to have some good artists and albums to replace it sometimes.
Agreed on all of that ;)
Also,great list so far!
Thanks!
Next update in a while :P
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35
Mantiis
Obsidian Kingdom
(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a1998000779_10.jpg)
Nice cover
Hailing from Barcelona, Spain, this metal collective is rather unknown by most of the prog community, yet they're slowly making a place for them on it. Recommended by someone who I have similar tastes with (he made me discover David Maxim Micic <3), I was actually very surprised when I popped Mantiis in for a spin; this is a stunning album, to put it mildly, and its unique mix of black, prog, post, death, doom metal (and even a bit of djent!) makes it one of the most intriguing records I know - I'm an absolute sucker for unique records,, and Mantiis definitely is one of them.
In fact, it's just one big song that lasts 47 mins divided into 14 tracks (hence the album's subtitle: An Agony In Fourteen Bites), and deserves to be listened that way, for some songs naturally flow into each other. Eventhough it's a "prog" record, it doesn't fall into some of the obvious cliches of the genre, for there is little wankery and technical prowess. Yet it's cryptic lyrics and ambitious concept (I think it tells a twisted dark story) aren't unfamiliar on this kind of music. What I think makes Mantiis such a unique album is that... there's none like it, for it flows into different styles over and over again, so the journey it's never boring at all. You're listening to some brutal section, and in a few minutes, there's a sexy sax dominating the song, creating a haunting atmosphere, just to return to the heaviness later. Want a harmony with some band members? Done. Wonderful piano work? Done. And the heavier sections are fucking awesome. I think this is the only case in which I actually like shriek vocals.
As the band itself says: Recommended if you like Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Ulver.
Recommended song: Last Of The Light (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlg9a9AePlY)
34
Grace For Drowning
Steven Wilson
(https://resenassonoras.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/steven_wilson-grace_for_drowning-frontal.jpg)
Steven learning to use Instagram's filters
Oh Steven. You're my absolute favorite artist, for I have found much joy in virtually every record you've made. Spoilers: this is one of three albums that feature Wilson on the whole list, but not from the same project. Although it took me lots and lots of listens to appreciate it, Grace for Drowning feels like his best solo record for me, just almost tied with Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Once upon a time, a legend called Robert Fripp assigned Wilson to remix most of King Crimson's catalogue to celebrate 40 years since the release of their debut. Of course he accepted, and immersed himself into the task, while also writing his second solo album. The influence here is pretty obvious. Yet Steven isn't a copycat, for he just took that inspiration and channeled his music through it. Yes, there's quite a heavy jazz and prog influence. But Grace for Drowning also includes electronic elements, wheter they're into beautiful ballads, or aggressive, dark songs - this is not a bright album, but one of Steven's darkest records. And that's to say a lot - a double album about some psychotic serial killer.
Grace For Drowning is as ambitious as an album gets. All of the previous elements of Wilson’s work are present by such as amazing sound production and vibrant musicianship. However, with his second solo album, Steven really took a giant leap in terms of creativity with this masterpiece and it proves to show as one of his most memorable and best albums of his prolific career and likewise a rewarding and pleasurable (ever terrifying at times) listen.
Recommended song: Deform To Form A Star (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En9ibmBvPJI)
33
Colors
Between The Buried And Me
(https://images.coveralia.com/audio/b/Between_The_Buried_y_Me-Colors-Frontal.jpg)
Definitely not k-pop
Fucking insanity, that's what this album is. These guys took a jazz aproach to songwriting, meaning that a certain musical idea is only used once, or repeated no more than in 2 or 3 ocassions. Add the fact that Colors is *very* heavy at times. And that these guys have put more than progressive metal riffs. The result is a behemoth of a record, one that need dozens of spins to get into, but I swear, it's fucking worth the trip. It will not appeal people who have a dislike for harsh vocals, nor ones who seek some structure in their music. If you don't care about that, you'll probably love this. Enough said.
Recommended song: Informal Gluttony (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in0h71WceI4)
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Wow, an update with three albums I know :lol
and i disagree with your recommended song from Colors but the other two are spot-on
Mantiis is fantastic at being its own little thing and it's just a wonderfully unique piece of music.
Grace for Drowning is uhh eehh mmm aahh okay.
Colors rules too, and it's way more structured than their most recent two albums, or at least more interesting the whole way through.
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Thought it said 'dank prog albums', this is slightly disappointing.
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GFD and Colors are perfect albums
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GFD is awesome and Colors is a must these days.
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Colors and GFD would make my top50 too, and Colors would be really high on that list. Haven't heard the third one though.
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Mantiis is fantastic at being its own little thing and it's just a wonderfully unique piece of music.
Yup. Bummed I didn't get to send something from it on your roulette, but at least I'm happy you like it :smiley:
Thought it said 'dank prog albums', this is slightly disappointing.
:neverusethis:
Haven't heard the third one though.
Well, you should fix that ;)
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32
Pandora's Pinata
Diablo Swing Orchestra
(https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DiabloSwingOrchestra-PandorasPinata.jpg)
Insert derp, unnecessary comment here
I LOVE it when bands don't take themselves too serious AND make some awesome music along the way. Well, DSO not only nailed both, but elevated it all with some insane experimentation that still, somehow, remains pretty accessible. What we've got here is a perfect blend for Avant-Garde and Progressive Metal, along with Swing, Big Band, and even symphonic elements. Sure, the ridiculous mix may be the reason this album and band get its fantastic reputation, but in fact there is an awful lot of well written music underneath the whole thing. Every single song, even 53 second interlude “How To Organise A Lynch Mob”, bring something interesting to the table, both in forward-thinking structures and instruments, and the actual melodies and harmonies used underneath this.
Recommended song: Black Box Messiah (https://youtu.be/WU1dtLsNHSQ?list=PLOg90f-FFnDcTedBs8VMqHU31-z7Hor8N)
31
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
(https://static.stereogum.com/blogs.dir/2/files/2014/03/Nine-Inch-Nails-The-Downward-Spiral.jpg)
So ugly, so good...
A journey through the fucking hell that Trent Reznor's mind was at the time. The harsh mix of electronics with rock very noisy rock is basically the trademark sound of Industrial Rock, and Reznor not only nailed, but mastered it on The Downward Spiral. It's an abrasive experience with just a few songs to breathe fresh air. This is definitely not easy listening, nor it was intended anyways.
There are distorted sounds, mechanical sounds, screams and whispers, samples of people suffering. This concept album is the perfect soundtrack to a man that wants to self destruct. The making of the record is well documented, with Trent Reznor setting up a studio in the Californian house where Charles Manson and his gang of lunatic followers brutally murdered Sharon Tate and her group of friends. It's hard to really think of a more fitting scene for the recording of The Downward Spiral than a house where one of the most notorious murders of recent times took place.
As the album name suggests, the story told is that of a man's continual downward spiral, culminating in his eventual death and reflection on it from beyond the grave. Starting with Mr. Self Destruct in which Reznor lays bare the weak, self-destructive nature of his character, the music progresses through rejection of God (Heresy), society (March Of The Pigs), a former partner (Piggy), and eventually himself and all that he has become (The Downward Spiral). And believe me, if that sounds miserable, then you really need to hear the music that accompanies this horrible story. While a trademark of Nine Inch Nails always has been loud, explosive bursts of noise combined with softer, more ambient textures, here the whole album is imbued with such a sense of otherworldly fear and menace that it seems at times as if Reznor must at times be close to a grand implosion such are the full scale and power of the emotions running through him. Particularly notable for this are Mr. Self Destruct, opening with the sounds of a man being tortured.
Both a horrible and a fantastic album. It doesn't help the production is so clean, even on the noisiest moments. Or does it? In any case, cathartic experience, almost unlistenable at times because of it's rawness and brutality. Definitely not a friendly, accesible record.
Recommended song: Heresy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8MByH0ELSo)
30
Damnation
Opeth
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pBfuukukqnY/UbpJu9RVJ4I/AAAAAAAAATk/Fh9gHr3OPpc/s1600/Opeth-Damnation-Frontal.jpg)
Can I have another like this? Please?
Seems like after the Blackwater Park sessions, there were some acoustic ideas that weren't used, and Opeth didn't know what to do with them. A friend of them suggested them to do a double album, one disc mostly unplugged, so that it would portray their soft, more melodic side; the other, of course, would be their most brutal, intense work. As far as I know, the band wanted to release them as two albums on the same package, but it wasn't possible at the time.
While I'm not a fan of their heavier music, I fell in love with Damnation pretty much from the first listen. Steven Wilson produced (and collaborated a bit on it), so it's quite a clear-sounding record. Most instrumentation is pretty simple: acoustic guitars, drums, mellotrons, and some occasional electric guitars providing solos or some wonderful layering. And Mikael's voice. It's a bit of a bit of a bleak record for sure, but I just love dark stuff. Dunno what more to say, it's just a wonderful piece of art.
By the way, it's been recently remixed by Steven, and rereleased along with Deliverance (which has received a remaster) as it was originally intended.
Recommended song: In My Time of Need (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31YqCWEyPsg)
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by the time a third DSO album came out i was pretty tired of their sound tbh, it's weird at first but when they keep going doing basically the same thing eventually it gets old
i remember there still being a few decent tracks on that one though, regardless
and Damnation is <3
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After Deliverance, these days my fav Opeth album, I was so amped for Damnation. It fell kind of flat on me though. Windowpane is awesome, but there aren't really any other tracks like that on the album. Closure, Ending Credits and Weakness are good. That still leaves half the album though.
I listened to Downward Spiral years ago, and it wasn't quite my kind of thing. I've been feeling like returning to NIN lately, so I grabbed it off my brother again some months ago and am yet to give it another listen.
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Not a fan of DSO, NIN's 2nd best album, and not my favorite Opeth album.
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Damnation is already on my list and it seems the perfect album to follow up PC along with Ghost Reveries.
Also gonna check out the NIN album, even if I only heard one instrumental from them, 'twas pretty promising.
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Sweet, Damnation. I think I'm ought to check out the other two there, I know a couple of NIN tracks from there.
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Mantiis
Obsidian Kingdom
Cinnamon Balls!
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Sacul, how can you have Pandora's Pinata on a list and not mention the absolute genius that is Justice for Saint Mary?
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Because I forgot to do so :lol
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PP is pretty great, wouldn't be near my list, but a really good album. The Downward Spiral is amazing, second best NiN album. Damnation is a bottom 3 Opeth album though.
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Damnation is the best Opeth album. Love it.
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where are the dank prog albums
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where are the dank prog albums
Here!
29
The Mountain
Haken
(https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Haken-The-Mountain.jpg)
A clear reflection of the album's concept... and sound
I'm really bored by most prog metal. I find lots of its bands to be quite generic copycats - a puzzling thing if they label themselves as progressive. That's why I The Mountain blew me away basically from the first listen - I had like their previous albums, but wasn't remotely ready for this madness. Although they pay homage to some classic prog acts (specially Gentle Giant), they've crafted a sound of their own here, and mastered it.
Some fans didn't like them going into a heavier direction - I loved it. But it also meant their tunes were more varied: Because It's There is a wonderful electroacustic ballad, Falling Back to Earth truly an epic piece, In Memoriam their heaviest song to date imo, the hilarious Cockroach King - all the kind of songs you wouldn't expect in a tipical progressive rock/metal album. Add up that to Ross' unique voice, and you have the second best album of 2013.
Recommended song: Falling Back to Earth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ox__xk3uho)
28
Anno Domini High Definition
Riverside
(https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/1287/cover_51722492009.jpg)
Prog metal as it ought to be done
For the longest time, Riverside's place on the ist was a tough battle between Second Life Syndrome and this one. But I've got to admit Anno Domini has grown on me the most these last months - how the hell didn't it blow me away before?
Riverside are basically everything I love about prog in general, without any of the awful things that make the genre so dull at times for me, and ADHD, the zenit of their music. Their very melodic approach, with disregard to technical prowess is definitely right up my alley. I'm sure most people here already knows this one, so I'll just make a few comments on what I love about this record. The riffs, hot damn, are fantastic, as well as the guitar work in general. Mariusz' voice fucking slays it here. And the keys and electronic elements are delicious. Not a single bad song here. And Hybrid Times might be one the best closers ever - fucking epic all the way through.
Very creative album, exactly what progressive rock/metal needed, a truly progressive album that went further outside the established conventions of the genre.
Recommended song: Hybrid Times (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg-01P_BlPw)
27
Awake
Dream Theater
(https://k31.kn3.net/2D4A3E269.jpg)
"RAAAAWWKK" -Kevin Moore James LaBrie
I've been digging DT less and less with time, but I'm glad I still love Awake so much. It's just very, very consistent imo - and their first heavy album. Yeah, they could have done another I&W and lots of people would have been happy. But fuck them, they went full metal (well, almost), and it fucking rocked! Heavy, catchy yet progressive songs is what we have here. There's not a single bad tune in my opinion. Well, I'd say Erotomania is the only let down to me, as I'm not a fan of its proggy parts. But outside that, Awake it's a wonderful record, and my second favorite DT album.
Recommended song: I won't bother since you know this album lol
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these were literally all in my top 10, you fail :P
(but no yeah these are all great and i can generally agree with you re: being bored of prog metal, or at least "standard" prog metal like the DT clones)
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I've listened to Driven to Destruction from that Riverside album when you recommended it to me in my roulette, it was pretty cool but I never came around to checking out the album. Hybrid Times is so far so good, though I still prefer Driven to Destruction.
Awake is actually one of my least favorite DT albums, but there's still a lot of great songs on it, I won't go too deep into my disliked songs because it would probably offend a lot of people here.
...Oh and The Mountain is awesome of course, though 7 spots too low. :D
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One of the few truly great DT albums and ADHD, which might also be my favorite Riverside album, so props for that!
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All great, proggy goodness. :P
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Sorry I showed up late. I'll be following this now. There are some good ones I missed, and some I haven't heard that I will be checking out, and one disappointment. I prefer Pretty Hate Machine to Downward Spiral.
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That's a sweet update.
ADHD has Hyperactive which is like the catchiest thing ever
IT'S JUST ANOTHER DAY OF MY LIFE
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Hi folks! I hope you've had nice holidays :P - I have, and now it's time to resume where I left.
26
Blackbird
Alter Bridge
(https://fanart.tv/fanart/music/60a23fda-a440-4ab9-a344-7dfdd2ed341a/albumcover/blackbird-528f80b779e56.jpg)
I need more of this...
While Miles Kennedy and co aren't exactly the most original band on Earth, their music sounds pretty personal, and it's extremely well-writen, managing to feel fresh for such burned-out genres as heavy metal and hard rock. Although old-school music in that vein isn't my cup of tea (to be honest, I haven't given it a proper chance), Blackbird hits that sweet spot for me with their modern approach and sound, with heavy, catchy, and memorable songs. This album only has a few highlights (title track and White Knuckles imo), but the rest is very, very consistent, and the bonus tracks fucking rock - seems like they were in a very creative period back then. Blackbird album might not reinvent the wheel nor it tries to - itjust offers a bunch of fine-crafted songs that rock hard as fuck.
Recommended song: Blackbrid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz_j7nVCJJ0)
25
World of Goo Soundtrack
Kyle Gabler
(https://kylegabler.com/WorldOfGooSoundtrack/WorldOfGooSountrack.jpg)
I've been told Little Inferno sucked yet I really want to play it...
Here's a game I quite regret not having included in my top 25 VG list - it could have easily made the top 20 somewhere. But I've gotta add that, like on Skyrim, my favorite aspect of it was the fantastic soundtrack. Whereas most OSTs take inspiration just on neoclassical music, Gabler didn't limit himself to that kind of stuff. Thus, the album features electronic, chiptune tracks along with ambient-ish pieces a la post-rock or Brian Eno dependeing on the mood. And some pretty curious compositions based more on blues.
I loved the World of Goo mostly because how personal it felt, on virtually every sense - the gameplay, artwork, the weird story, and the soundtrack most than delivered. Although most of these pieces were written years before the game's inception, it fits perfect because both World of Goo and its OST faithfully reflect Gabler's personality. And I absolutely love when that happens.
Recommended song: Best Of Times (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHId6LIPVd4)
24
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Neutral Milk Hotel
(https://40.media.tumblr.com/751a2006a906ae604c8cfe8fad925a47/tumblr_ms77ioEsBr1r12qumo1_1280.jpg)
"IIIIIIII LOOOOVEE YOOOOUUU JESUS CHRIIIIIIIIIIST."
Oh boy, this album. I swear it's one of the most polarizing things ever created by humanity. Either you love it or hate it, with little to no middle ground. I admit I was on the last group for ages, despising the awful production, and Jeff's annoying, untrained voice. Dunno why, but decided, earlier last year, that my tastes had changed enough and, maybe, I could enjoy it now. And so it happened. Didn't love it, but liked it a lot. Just a few months ago it totally clicked with me, and I'm loving it. There's something about its raw quality that definitely attracts me. Jeff might not even have the nicest voice in the world, yet the passion he puts on each song more than makes up for it - and his melodies are fucking memorable. The grand band, and folk instrumentation are pretty joyful and happy, while he sings some heart-wrenching, dark lyrics. A perfect contrast.
Of course this is a cult indie classic, and a hipster's favorite - music journalism like Pitchfork or The Needle Drop love it do death. No wonder why. I think that anyone should listen to it, for it will challenge many conceptions you have on music. Might not blow your mind, but I beleve it's worth the effort.
Recommended song: In The Aeroplane Over The Sea (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6H8WcTPnWM)
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world of goo was a game i wished i liked more than i did
hipster choice is hipster
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Blackbird there is my fault, so you're welcome
World Of Goo! I forgot about that game. It's pretty wacky and I remember the soundtrack to be like that.
NMH is one of those albums I always see in lists, but never checked out, and the description doesn't make me want to either. :corn
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Blackbird is always :2metal:
Don't know the other 2, kinda hoped for mario 64 when reading the title.
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:tup for NMH
Haven't heard the soundtrack
Alter Bridge is very mediocre
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I don't get the fascination so many people here seem to have with Blackbird. It sounds so incredibly generic and dull to me. ???
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Nice list! I quite enjoy listening to Neutral Milk Hotel actually, although the singing is a little irritating sometimes. Thanks :) It reminds me a little bit of Syd Barrets solo work, maybe just because his singing on his solo albums is also a little sloppy and raw.
I don't get the fascination so many people here seem to have with Blackbird. It sounds so incredibly generic and dull to me. ???
It is very generic indeed, but it is very good generic work.
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Wow, where have I been? I didn't know you're running top 50 thread :huh: I'm following from now on :tup
To comment on Neutral Milk Hotel: one of my best discoveries of 2015 :)
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ITAOTS is one of the greatest albums of all time and anyone who disagrees needs to listen to it louder.
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Blackbird there is my fault, so you're welcome
NMH is one of those albums I always see in lists, but never checked out, and the description doesn't make me want to either. :corn
You'll always have my respects for this you kind sir :tup
I'd say give it a chance nevertheless. Who knows, you may like it :P
It sounds so incredibly generic and dull to me. ???
Well I think exactly the same about Coheed, so ::)
But as much as I dislike generic music, I've found that Blackbird has a fucking tight songwriting, and Myles has a unique, charming voice that, for me, it makes the band stand out.
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ITAOTS is one of the greatest albums of all time and anyone who disagrees needs to listen to it louder.
It's a great record, but it's most definitely not an album I'd say is better when played louder, and frankly I don't think that's what they were going for with it either.
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ITAOTS is one of the greatest albums of all time and anyone who disagrees needs to listen to it louder.
If I had ever heard this album we might've been in for a great discussion :corn
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ITAOTS is a fucking piece of shit that's only liked by hipsters who want to be different for the sake of liking stuff no other sane person would.
Sorry for my rant, but I really, really dislike that album and I honestly don't get what's so good about it at all :lol
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ITAOTS is a fucking piece of shit that's only liked by hipsters who want to be different for the sake of liking stuff no other sane person would.
Sorry for my rant, but I really, really dislike that album and I honestly don't get what's so good about it at all :lol
I also don't get what's so good about it but I love it :D
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ITAOTS is a fucking piece of shit that's only liked by hipsters who want to be different for the sake of liking stuff no other sane person would
Sorry for my rant, but I really, really dislike that album and I honestly don't get what's so good about it at all :lol
You make it sound as though this album is some sort of big experimental indulgence. :lol Oh lord.
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ITAOTS is a fucking piece of shit that's only liked by hipsters who want to be different for the sake of liking stuff no other sane person would
Sorry for my rant, but I really, really dislike that album and I honestly don't get what's so good about it at all :lol
You make it sound as though this album is some sort of big experimental indulgence. :lol Oh lord.
Yeah, it's actually a pretty simple album :lol
But I can understand your frustation - I was in the same boat for quite some time. But somehow it clicked with me wtf. I may be a bit hipster, but I like it for it's raw quality, and how joyful and depressing it is, not because it's "different" or whatever pretentious tag people might give it.
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The appeal of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is no more incomprehensible than that of an album like Piper At the Gates of Dawn. It is experimental, but not in a way that's ego-driven or trying to be eccentric. It's just a really personal album, and the person it's about happens to be quite quirky.
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You know what? I'll just try listening to this thing this afternoon. I've never heard it in full, I always found myself so turned off by this dude's voice that I stopped halfway through 'Two-Headed Boy'. I mean it, I want to comprehend why people like this, even though I don't necessarily want to like it myself. Whatever, I'll waste 40 minutes on this album this afternoon.
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No matter what, I always think dismissing a band because of the vocals tend to be a big mistake because once you get over that bump, it's usually really worth the challenge. Most of the bands where the vocals were a roadblock for me (like BTBAM or Opeth), once I got over that, they became some of my favorites.
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Yeah, I usually don't have that much trouble with vocals in general (though I tend to like male vocals better than female vocals), it might have had something to do with the deliberate lo-fi production as well, as I usually don't like that at all (why would you make your music sound bad on purpose!?). To be honest, I can't really recall exactly why I didn't like it, just the fact that I really thought it was bad.
I'll report back after listening this afternoon.
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Yeah, I usually don't have that much trouble with vocals in general (though I tend to like male vocals better than female vocals), it might have had something to do with the deliberate lo-fi production as well, as I usually don't like that at all (why would you make your music sound bad on purpose!?). To be honest, I can't really recall exactly why I didn't like it, just the fact that I really thought it was bad.
I'll report back after listening this afternoon.
You bring up an interesting point that I kinda agree with myself. With NMH, I don't mind it, because the album is what, 20 years old? It being Lo-Fi doesn't bother me that much. But I do have a pet peeve with what you're saying, and if I hear a new album that is deliberately lo-fi, it feels like a lazy excuse to not put any effort into the sound production. But with NMH I feel it's so connected with their style, and the album being so old that it doesn't bother me.
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No matter what, I always think dismissing a band because of the vocals tend to be a big mistake because once you get over that bump, it's usually really worth the challenge. Most of the bands where the vocals were a roadblock for me (like BTBAM or Opeth), once I got over that, they became some of my favorites.
This.
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I just listened to ( ) by Sigur Rós and that was really beautifull! I love the "ghostly" sound and the louder parts some songs climax into. I also tried to listen to some Hip Hop stuff you posted, but I can't really get into it, I mainly don't like the rapping but I might try listening again to it some othertime.
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You know what? I'll just try listening to this thing this afternoon. I've never heard it in full, I always found myself so turned off by this dude's voice that I stopped halfway through 'Two-Headed Boy'. I mean it, I want to comprehend why people like this, even though I don't necessarily want to like it myself. Whatever, I'll waste 40 minutes on this album this afternoon.
You have long afternoons, don't you? :P
Yeah, I usually don't have that much trouble with vocals in general (though I tend to like male vocals better than female vocals), it might have had something to do with the deliberate lo-fi production as well, as I usually don't like that at all (why would you make your music sound bad on purpose!?). To be honest, I can't really recall exactly why I didn't like it, just the fact that I really thought it was bad.
I'll report back after listening this afternoon.
You bring up an interesting point that I kinda agree with myself. With NMH, I don't mind it, because the album is what, 20 years old? It being Lo-Fi doesn't bother me that much. But I do have a pet peeve with what you're saying, and if I hear a new album that is deliberately lo-fi, it feels like a lazy excuse to not put any effort into the sound production. But with NMH I feel it's so connected with their style, and the album being so old that it doesn't bother me.
Well I do like lo-fi when it's an actual artistic choice and improves the songs, and somehow that seems to be part of how that album was recorded - some instruments sound too good to be all real low fidelity.
I just listened to ( ) by Sigur Rós and that was really beautifull! I love the "ghostly" sound and the louder parts some songs climax into.
They're a unique band - hop you have fun getting into their wonderful discography ;)
I also tried to listen to some Hip Hop stuff you posted, but I can't really get into it, I mainly don't like the rapping but I might try listening again to it some othertime.
The rapping was what prevented me from liking hip-hop for the longest time, but once I get used to it, I started to appreciate the rhymes, the flow, and how it really felt like a complement to the beats. It's a pretty different kind of music, and approaching it with a rock/metal mentality won't work - at least it didn't for me :P
Holidays has had me traveling a lot, but now it's time to return to a normal pace. Next update in an hour or two.
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23
Lun
Destiny Potato
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYmhYfxi1BM/U4kGIWEAsdI/AAAAAAAAANE/pOo1br2ixUk/s1600/a2276940674_10.jpg)
Only now I do realize that's a girl with pink hair
I've been closely following David Maxim Micic's work since... early 2013 I guess? He also had a band called Destiny Potato (excellent name, and I'm not even kidding) which made some tasty djent, yet hadn't released an album... until last year.
Looking back at 2014, there were lots of awesome releases, and while Distant Satellites was my AOTY, and even made my past list, I must admit it was an inclusion biased by the hype - it was the first Anathema album I was looking forward to as a new fan, specially after Weather Systems. I still love that album, but Lun has grown the most on me since then, and I believe it fairly deserves this spot here. And because I limited the Anathema albums to 2 - don't really want to repeat what happened on my v1 :lol
So what do we have here? A perfect blend of djent and pop, with female vocals. No, really. And it fucking works! The polyrhythmic riffs have quite a downtuned yet extremely clear sound - David's signature style. For the first time there are real drums, and they even do a few blast beasts here and there! Then we have Alex. Oh boy, she is definitely what makes this record so special. Not only she has a nice voice, but her self-taught skills are beyond awesome, for she can sing some very catchy pop melodies and then blow your mind with powerful growls - might not have the largest vocal range, yet her powerful voice more than makes up for it. Add some nice experimentation to the mix, like some folk instruments, or unexpected ambient/brutal sections, some electronic elements, and you have a fairly unique, rocking album that deserves more love than it gets.
Recommended song: Love Song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TbmPPNQD5s)
22
Operation: Mindcrime
Queensrÿche
(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81FWbl7PBiL._SL1300_.jpg)
I need more like these
An absolute classic. This is how I like my metal - catchy, memorable, and each song being clearly different from each other yet tied together by a common sound. The riffs are glorious, and Tate's voice slays it. The only thing that prevents this from being higher in the list is "Suite Sister Mary", which I think just drags for too long. Otherwise, this album is near perfection. Won't waste your time anymore with it as it's pretty probable you're already familiar with it. If not, go fix that immediately!.. you bastard.
Recommended song: Speak (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXQjMqhORzw)
21
Flying Colors
Flying Colors
(https://www.revistametronomo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cover.jpg)
Definitely better than DT post-Octavarium
Where was this album on my first list? Somewhere around the top 10 I guess. Well, I can easily see why I had put it there - I loved it a fucking lot, and still love it a lot. It's just that I've found albums I love even more!
So, after Portnoy left DT, he went into many bands, and while some of them weren't my cup of tea (*cough* Adrenaline *cough* Mob *cough*), I fell in love with Flying Colors from the first listen. This album basically is the answer to "what would happen if some excellent prog musicians teamed up with a pop singer and made more accessible songs?". Well, if you expected some prog-fest, I'm really sorry for you, maybe you should check for some up-and-coming bands on ProgArcchives. Oh, didn't you know what to expect? Neither did I. Maybe because I barely know half the musicians involved back then (was just getting into prog and DT), but a friend recommended it, so what the hell, gave it a listen. Loved it.
Inspired on both old-school and modern rock bands, these guys just made some simple, catchy and awesome music. Some songs are a bit heavier, almost metal-ish, like Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda, one of my favorites, while others would be perfect radio hits like The Storm - some even take a bit of jazz fusion and blues influences, like Blue Ocean. You've got some wonderful ballads on Kayla and A Fool In My Heart. And a kind of proggy epic, 11-mins closer track because why not? Excellent record all in all.
Recommended song: The Storm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIfAe_B79CQ)
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Destiny Potato & Flying Colors = :2metal:
I never did warm up to Operation: Mindcrime though.
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I knew O:M would be the 'Metal Classic', I believe that's the only classic album that doesn't bore you to tears.
Well the other 2 you both sent me songs of, I'll probably check them out sooner or later.
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I had Mindcrime on cassette. Never got into it.
Flying Colors did sound pretty good when I checked them out.
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I know you're sending Destiny Potato in roulettes but I heard just one song last summer. It was pretty cool but not really my style.
O:M is legendary album, I don't have excuse for not listening to it for a long time.
And Flying Colors is also great. I managed to get one of my friends who is not progressive rock fan into them. But they're pretty accessible so it's not that weird :P I heard one YouTube reviewer comparing them to Asia and I think he was spot on.
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Meh
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I checked out that Lun stuff and it's definitely interesting. Will check out more of that after my exams end. :tup
Queensrÿche I haven't had the time to check out yet. I love Silent Lucidity, but that's like the only song I know. :rollin
I haven't really liked anything MP has done since leaving DT apart from Transatlantic, and this falls into the category aswell. I just feel it's incredibly mediocre and the singer isn't particurarly good, Neal comes to save the day a few times but that's about it. :justjen
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I haven't really liked anything MP has done since leaving DT apart from Transatlantic, and this falls into the category aswell.
Nightmare?!
But I guess you're talking about the stuff where he actually parttook in the songwriting
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I haven't really liked anything MP has done since leaving DT apart from Transatlantic, and this falls into the category aswell.
Nightmare?!
But I guess you're talking about the stuff where he actually parttook in the songwriting
Yeah I meant the bands he was a full part of. Adrenaline Mob, Flying Colors, Winery Dogs (ugh) etc. Nightmare is killer. :metal
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Meh
:lol
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I knew O:M would be the 'Metal Classic', I believe that's the only classic album that doesn't bore you to tears.
The only metal classic that doesn't bore me to tears... so far ;)
Meh
:loser:
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Mindcrime is such an incredibly consistent metal album. It's got the essence of an essential concept album; strong stand-alone songs all offering something different with an great sense of cohesion to string it all together.
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LUN is always awesome.
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Great pick with Operation: Mindcrime and not a bad pick with Flying Colors either.
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So Bolsters has told me it's time for my second roulette, so I guess it's time to accelerate the pace a bit :P
20
Judgement
Anathema
(https://www.nuclearblast.de/static/articles/111/111643.jpg/1000x1000.jpg)
I guess covers like these were popular back in the 90s...
Yup, you guessed it. Another mothafucking grower. One of those I couldn't remember a single note of it after a few spins, yet not I have memorized most of Judgement even today. Heh, funny how life works. This is a 90s classic and Anathema's most praised record, or at least the fan's favorite. But their discography is so consistent you could say virtually any of their albums ia you fav and I wouldn't mind because I might love that record too - sadly, couldn't include them all on the list. Not again :lol
Probably their darkest effort, might seem similar to the previous one, Alternative 4, but this is on another level. If you like dark, atmospheric rock, this is your thing.
Recommended song: One Last Goodbye (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs-emvLUY20)
19
The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me
Brand New
(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0194066925_16.jpg)
Fantastic cover
In the end, it's all about the feels.
This last year has brought me new questions, new solutions to be found. As I'm finishing the freshman year, and look back at these last 12 months, it's incredible the amount of things that happened to me. Expanded my tastes, not just in music, but in other arts and even in certain aspects of life. One of those I've noticed is that now I have a big attraction towards feels in music. If back in 2014 I could have said, for example, that Steven Wilson's HCE was meh because it wasn't creative or innovative, it would have seemed fair to me. But it's my 2015 AOTY because of all the hard-hitting emotions contained on it - feels like a very personal album to Steven, and I definitely connect with it. But it has been a tough period too. Thus it's not surprise I ended up loving The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me.
The album is a self-reflective portrait of not just teenager times, but life and all the wrong things that come with it. It's an emotionally deep, and in depth, look at religion, love, loneliness, isolation, sex, abuse, angst, and overall just pain. It's mature, gripping, and almost emo in nature but never stretching to those extremes. The first 5 songs, are absolute masterpieces, among my favorites of all time. They are perfect examples of everything wrong with the trials of life. The guitar chords and progression are masterful and the drumming is perfectly in tune with it. Top it off with the brilliant lyrics and resonating vocals that just give this album such a haze like feeling. To me listening to this record is like sitting in a dark empty room, naked in the cold ground, looking for heat, while staring outside into the evening sky. But my body gets warmer, bit by bit, slow but consistent. Call that crazy, but that's exactly the feeling I get - it may make me feel like a piece of shit, but in the end, it serves as a cathartic experience that leaves me in peace.
This is how I feel emotional music should be - honest, raw, without cheese. It's not for everyone, and only for the faint of heart because of the mood it leaves you in, but if you want a unique experience, this is it.
Recommended song: Limousine (MS Rebridge) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V6mUFUwBGc)
18
Pressure & Obsession
Ruined Machines
(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a3248261091_10.jpg)
This guy deserves more love
Oh boy, where do I start with this one? Maybe from the beginning. Ok.
This is the first "proper" album I ever listened to. Long time ago, I used to make some tutorial vids on YouTube on how to use emulators and such (those were... interesting times :lol), and because I couldn't use copyrighted music, started to look for some some royalty-free stuff. Found Jamendo, the biggest site for that. Around that time I'd also started to slowly get into prog, but admittedly didn't use to listen to full albums, just individual songs. So I looked for some instrumental progressive rock that I could use as background music. And this is what I found. Wow.
The first thing that I noticed was how it didn't sound like anything I'd heard at the time (yet I still think the same today). And that speaks of how hard a time I have trying to describe Ruined Machine's style, for it is instrumental, with some big post-rock and space rock influences, and some electronics and metal, yet it doesn't really sound like any of those genres. And I became attracted to its underlying nostalgia, and it's still something I can relate to.
It baffles me how this guy didn't get more recognition, because while his Jamendo account registered thousands of free downloads, his Bandcamp has just a few supporters. I'm one of them, of course. Also worth noticing that, for an album that didn't have such a big budget, and has some virtual instruments, it sounds pretty clean.
Pressure & Obsession is more of an experience, a journey that's not mute, for the music speaks for itself.
Recommended song: The Extremist Heart (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9ATNf0ALsU)
17
OK Computer
Radiohead
(https://floodmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/radiohead-okcomputer.jpg)
/mu/core
Oh boy, talking about growers. THIS is one of the biggest growers ever recorded. While I was slowly expanding my tastes outside prog, I was checking come top 50 lists that seemed very interesting, and a few featured Ok Computer. Didn't think much about it at the moment, but later I saw it as #1 on Rateyourmusic, and read that critics praised it on release as an instant classic, so I was definitely intrigued. "The fuck is this crap?" was me after a first listen. "Overrated as hell". Even discussing with friends that loved it, I couldn't find any appeal on it: annoying singer, noisy production, weird sounds, ugh.
But, you know... I kept getting back to it. Why? I could hit my head against the wall all day long, but I wouldn't remember why. Something... attracted me to it. Was it the atmosphere? The occasional mellotrons? The catchy yet noisy tunes? Maybe it was at the same time I got into Sigur Ros, so I started to appreciate Thom's vocals. Then the production didn't bother me. Even the songs I had disliked kept growing and growing. Now, after relistening while writing this, I wonder if it should be higher on the list.
Recommended song: Exit Music (For A Film) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RByvzmmEFiQ)
16
Shadows Of The Sun
Ulver
(https://www.jester-records.com/ulver/images/ULVER_Shadows_of_the_Sun_CD.jpg)
I've always been fascinated by this cover...
Ulver are one of the most fascinating acts out there, one of the very few capable of making masterpieces on very different styles and genres. Anyone into black metal, specially the most atmospheric branches of it, knows their debut, Bergtatt, is a classic. Fans of experimental electronic music praise Perdition City for its noir atmosphere and seamless blend of sounds. I don't consider myself an ambient lover, but I'm pretty sure anyone who is into that kind of music, will find in Shadows of the Sun something more than worth listening. Yes, they've made all those styles, and while some members have come and gone, their leader is still the same, musical genius Kristoffer Rygg (aka Garm).
What they've crafted here makes the label "ambient" feel very restrictive, because while Shadows of the Sun has a big focus on atmosphere, it's not the whole picture. Yes, there is some seriously heart breaking tonality here. Yes, the vocals as somber, and hoarse, which ties in with a grief-laden theme... But that's just part of it. A bevy of instruments come together to enhance the album's variety, such as a trumpet, theremin, cellos, violins/violas, and various guitars. The atmosphere is consistent, the instrumentation, the vocals, the songwriting, they are all consistent, yet each track has something different to offer, whether its ambient bliss like the fantastic opener EOS, or some explosive experimentation with heavy percussion like Let the Children Go.
The clean production, paradoxically, makes such a bleak record sound warm and comfortable. Garm's deep voice is soothing, and at times is just part of the layers and the atmosphere, like another instrument. These guys are fantastic.
Recommended song: EOS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfhED_9uBHM)
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I dig Judgement a lot but I still feel I never liked it as much as a lot of others seem to. It's good.
The Devil and God is fantastic, though.
Didn't you send me a song from thee guys in my roulette, that song was okay.
OK Computer is overrated in general but it's a good album, yes.
I stiiiill neeeeed thiiiss
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Limousine still fucking haunts me, I love it. I've listened to the album a few times but I'm still not super familiar with all of it, so I guess I'll revisit sometime. You know what I think of EOS :loser:
I don't like anything I've heard from Radiohead at all, not interested to delve deeper into their stuff, either.
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Didn't you send me a song from thee guys in my roulette, that song was okay.
It's just one guy bro :P
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The Devil and God is such a crushing experience. Really heavy, terrific lyrics and just tortured music in general.
OK Computer is good, but I'd never call it a masterpiece by any stretch, though I can see why it's come to be known as a classic album. Karma Police is a particular highlight for me. I'd take Kid A over it any day though.
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I prefer Kid A as well but no denying how many strong songs OK Computer boasts. There's practically no filler in it apart from Fitter Happier (and maybe Electioneering), that's why it's praised as one of the best.
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OK Computer is great.
The rest = whatever.
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you're whatever
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you're whatever
I think we've already established that before.
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Judgement - Best Anathema album as far as I'm concerned
Devil & God - Amazing classic that still holds up, even though I consider Brand New a bit of a one time fluke
OK Computer - A decent album but definitely not one of my favorite Radiohead albums, and overall I'd say it's pretty overrated along side a masterpiece like Kid A which deserves its status
Shadows of the Sun - A Great album, but not one of my favorite Ulver albums
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Judgement was the best Anathema album by a long way up to where I stopped listening to them. (A Natural Disaster)
I listened to a bit of Devil and God years ago and it sounded good. Has been moldering away on my to-check-out list ever since.
OK Computer is one of the best Radiohead albums, their best after Kid A.
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Judgement was the best Anathema album by a long way up to where I stopped listening to them. (A Natural Disaster)
Dude, you're missing on some of their best stuff then! Some old fans might not like their new "happier" approach, but those new albums are excellent imo. You should give them a chance :smiley:
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We're Here Because We're Here and Weather Systems are brilliant.
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It’s not like I don’t intend to check out their newer albums. They’re on my list. Just not first priority.
To be honest, half the reason I still haven’t checked any of their new stuff out is Steven Wilson. The moment I saw his name in connection with their new album, my interest in looking into it plummetted, and still hasn’t recovered, what, four, five years later?
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Well, he just produced one of their albums, but has had barely any effect on their sound, so I wouldn't worry :P
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Yeah, I’ll get around to them at some point. They’ve spent a bit of time in the vague zone just beyond first priority for the past year or so, which is a good sign. Brand New is actually in the same place, funnily enough.
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i appreciate your sputnikmusic profile that basically tells us a lot of what's coming :corn
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Ssshhh!! :angry:
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hey, you were the one who told me to look at it :P
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The Devil and God is album of pure emotion, I love it so much :hefdaddy
Judgement is good but I prefer Anathema's last three more than it. On Last Goodbye and Deep are top 5 Anathema's song for me.
And there is Ok Computer. I't ok (computer) but I didn't listen to it nearly enough to say I love it. Maybe I should. Also, No Surprises is one of my favorite songs ever but rest is not so memorable for me so far (Karma Police is cool).
I heard of Ulver but heard just their first albums (black metal). Don't know Ruined Machines :/
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Not an expert but I'm guessing some DMM album will show up in the top 15 (Bilo 3.0?), also Blackwater Park and one of the many Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree albums, I think either In Absentia or Fear of a Blank Planet was your fave but I forgot.
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also Blackwater Park
Forgot to say so in the writeup, but Damnation is my fav Opeth album, so nope :P
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Actually re-read, you don't directly mention it, but it's pretty clear because you said you don't like the heavier side. I just guessed BP because it's rarely not on someone's list and I only saw one Opeth album so far.
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15
Untrue
Burial
(https://i.imgur.com/pcnoH4Z.jpg)
So unique there's nothing like it...
This is how I got into electronic music in the first place. I once found a list with the best electronic records of the past decade, and both Untrue and Burial's debut crowned the top. Of course, I had no idea who he was, but gave it a chance. Definitely not what I was expecting - some light beats along with very modified vocal samples?.. Ok. Yet I felt like returning to it, you know. Something attracted me. Dunno what it was, but kept listening to Untrue, and it kept growing with each listen - it even made my past top 50. But now I confidently say I fucking love this record.
Burial intended to recreate lots of the music he used to listen to when young, but in the process, he made ghosts. Pale shadows that seem to belong to memories rather than music. Thus, the soundscapes that emerge are surreal, completely immersive. One of those few album where I can safely lost myself into despite all songs sounding very similar, yet I love love this style very much. And it really works on Untrue - sad I can't say the same about Tool.
Dark, perfect for late night listening.
Recommended song: Archangel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k_f2QK77ew)
14
Ōkami Original Soundtrack
Various Artists
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/okami/images/2/29/Okami_classics_cover.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130714182529)
Can videogames be art?
I have a crush with Japanese culture in general, but my favorite part of it is the music, specially the more traditional one. Not only Okami is a wonderful game, but it's superb soundtrack mixes the best of that kind of music with a modern vision and songwriting, with added epicness because this game is the shit. It's... beautiful. Really, really gorgeous. I fail trying to further describe it, for you *must* play this game in order to get the full picture. I rarely listen to it outside of its original context because it comes in a box set that spans almost 5 CDs of material. In any case, it's a whole body of music that I love so much.
Recommended song: The Sun Rises (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya3yxTbkh5s)
13
Endtroducing....
DJ Shadow
(https://www.undergroundhiphop.com/store/covers_original/FNIS124123LP.jpg)
Before we get started...
One upon a time, I became obsessed with this album - listened to it like 3 times a week or more, last January (back in 2015).
DJ Shadow is different from other DJs, as he didn't create nice beats for an MC to rap over them. The focus is on the music itself, how expressive it is as an "instrumental" form. And I put that words in brackets because, technically, Shadow doesn't play any traditional instrument on Endtroducing - just his turntables and recording devices. And thousands of vinyls. Endtroducing.... is the first album to be completely made up by samples. How he made all disparate samples sound like they belonged together is out of my understanding, and shows how he mastered his craft. Samples include obscure soul, jazz, hip-hop, even funk releases, as well as a few big acts, like Metallica or Bjork.
This isn't just hip-hop, or simple plunderphonics - it's art. Shadow didn't limit himself to create nice, fun beats, but he explored many styles and sounds with this masterpiece, fearless of the result. A song like Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt feel like belonging to a movie soundtrack, whereas Midnight In A Perfect World wouldn't sound strange in a Massive Attack album.
It's sad that Shadow went downhill after such a titanic debut, but I can't fault him, for he created a mesmerizing new world of sounds, one that showed how there were still unexplored territories.
Recommended song: Midnight in a Perfect World (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InFbBlpDTfQ)
12
Bilo 3.0
David Maxim Micic
(https://f1.bcbits.com/img/a3971053867_10.jpg)
I love this art style <3
While David's debut saw more of a darker, mechanical sound that invoked images of a dystopian cyberpunk reality at times, Bilo 3.0 continues the trend in making the album brighter and more human that was started on Bilo 2.0. From the warm, purely orchestral movements of "Everything's Fine" to the delicate and airy piano of "Wrinkle Maze" that leads into an epic guitar solo dotted by choir chants, Bilo 3.0 is as introspective and relatable as it is epic in scope - for a taste of the last, the second song is all you need to listen, for it encompasses all of the sounds David has explored.
This extends into its darker, heavier territories as well, with "Smile" accenting Aleksandra Djelmas's sinister growls and powerful vocals, seamlessly shifting into and out of a soaring, clean style. Any and all instruments know when to step back and when to step up with low, stuttered guitars frequently emphasizing Lalic's vocal tone one moment, followed by a well-directed transition into any of many free-flying solos by Micic and friends from Zytecki to Jeff Loomis.
The amount of influences is ridiculous: Devin Townsend, The Mars Volta, Arch Enemy, Korn, Dream Theater, Serbian folk, Jazz, Glitch - and more. Truly, Bilo 3.0 is an extraordinarily well-rounded album from all angles that screams creativity. It's more than just "djent" or prog metal - this is truly progressive music.
Recommended song: Where is Now? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psDZdQKgzoE)
11
Vicious Delicious
Infected Mushroom
(https://www.dafont.com/forum/attach/orig/2/8/288138.jpg)
The music is definitely better than the cover
I did almost give up on this record. Loved the opener, the classic Becoming Insane, but couldn't get into the other tracks. Somehow, I decided to give it another chance. And now we're here. These guys don't take themselves too serious, and for that I'm glad 'cause, honestly, Vicious Delicious wouldn't be so fucking fun if they did. I will explain why I love this record in two parts:
1. The musical experience. Each track flows beautifully with both the following track and the previous, blending seamlessly, although sometimes it’s not as obvious as in others. This gives the album a unifying quality, making it seem much more like an experience, or a journey, if you will, rather than a mere playlist.
2. Variety and versatility. Each song on the album is unique in its own right, yet still maintains that signature Infected soundscape that makes each track both mind-bending and dance-inducing at the same time. In addition, each track seems to have a special feature that makes it stand out from the other tracks, such as the smorgasbord of heavy but catchy guitar riffs in “Suliman”, and the build-up in “Special Place”, which gradually picks up tempo as it goes on, but constantly adds more and more layers of percussion throughout, making it seem like the tempo isn’t actually increasing, but consistently resetting itself, like a motorcycle shifting gears.
This album may never get the review it deserves, but I think it’s sufficient for now to say that while it is a far cry from Infected Mushroom’s more “pure” psychedelic works, Vicious Delicious is their most powerful albums to date. The variety of genres explored on it makes it a widely accessible piece of electronic art, opening up more minds to the psychedelic side of electronica than ever before.
Recommended song: Becoming Insane (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUJ75jeTQ1A)
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i never listen to game soundtracks outside of the games themselves
but okami's would easily have made my list if i did
one of my fav. games ever because absolutely everything about its style is perfect and the gameplay is pretty great to boot
and Bilo 3.0 is great, yeah
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I know the Infected Mushroom album, I still find it a bit overwhelming, but when I saw them live I was awe-struck by the amount of styles they implemented in their music.
Ofcourse Bilo is on the wishlist ;) I've actually already gotten it because I didn't want to miss out on that bundle for 10 bucks, I don't think I've ever seen such a cheap sale. Still have yet to listen to it though.
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Infected Mushroom is kickass. :tup
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Well, I’ve heard OF Burial, DJ Shadow, and Infected Mushroom. But I’ve never heard anything by them.
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Heard lots about Entroducing but damn. I'm gonna listen to that after reading how it's made. Bilo 3.0 is bae and
RRRRRRRRRREMIND ME THE STORY THAT I WON'T GET INSANE
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RRRRRRRRRREMIND ME THE STORY THAT I WON'T GET INSANE
VOY PERDIENDO PERDIENDO
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Some good albums but nothing I would place nearly as high. As much hype as Endtroducing gets, I might even say Since I Left You is the better album in that genre. They're neck and neck but I might lean more towards the latter.
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I find it hard to compare Since I Left You and Endtroducing. Sure, they're both in the field of music made primarily out of samples, but they achieve such different soundscapes and imagery through its use. Since I Left You is bright, adventuring , colorful, and dance-able. Endtroducing is darker, brooding at times, solemn, but full of soul and emotion. I prefer Endtroducing overall, but both are great anyways.
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Well, I’ve heard OF Burial, DJ Shadow, and Infected Mushroom. But I’ve never heard anything by them.
There are recommended songs that might help you fix that ;)
Heard lots about Entroducing but damn. I'm gonna listen to that after reading how it's made.
do it pls
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10
Program Music I
Kashiwa Daisuke
(https://cdn.discogs.com/Dyu4-S7WYl-w4GsmBKdg4p_NjwA=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(96)/discogs-images/R-1256142-1251082009.jpeg.jpg)
The amalgamation of many of my fetishes
And you thought prog was the only genre that had long epic songs. Ha!
Program Music I only has 2 songs, the masterpiece (and nominee for most beautiful track ever) Stella, a 36-minute behemoth of a song - and the very underrated Write Once, Run Melos, that lasts 26 mins. Both are absolute landmarks of neoclassical, and electronic music. Some people might find this to be a hard album to get into, but I don't think so if you're paying attention.
Stella starts with a very simple piano section that becomes glitchy, while some weird sound samples play here and there. But, it starts to get less chaotic for the first mins, and a cello/violin appears. Then some virtual drums. More pianos. Some glitches. Then it changes. That's a pattern that basically repeats itself over and over, yet it doesn't seem so, because every time there's something new to it. There's also a dominating sense of melancholy that give it all a powerful beauty, and makes Stella such a moving song. Some parts are very, very dark. Other just joyful. Or sad. The range of emotions going no through those 36 minutes seems inconceivable, specially considering it's an all instrumental album. But it works. It mothafucking works.
The second tracks deserves more love. Might not be as beautiful as Stella, ok, but it's far more experimental and adventurous in its approach. More glitchy if you want, and at times, more epic.
So many styles can be found on Program Music I: Japanese neoclassical, glitch, IDM, even traces of rock or jazz here and there. I'm out of words to describe the awe this album leaves me on. It's, despite its dark moments, and pretentious concept, an innocent album. This, along with Vicious Delicious, is how I love my electronic music.
Recommended song: Stella (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHjHQoxq9O0)
9
F# A# Infinity
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
(https://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/010/Features/16/d5/e7/dj.fozymuwn.1200x1200-75.jpg)
We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine... and the machine is bleeding to death.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor's F# A# ∞ is an amazingly beautiful, epic album. I was confused the first time I heard it, but have grown to love it. From the sprawling soundscapes of “The Dead Flag Blues” to the fevered, paranoid feel of “East Hastings” to the triumphant hopefulness of “Providence,” the band has created something that will be remembered as one of the greatest albums of all time. Although the mood of the record is largely dark and gloomy (and I swear it sounds... old, ancient, like recorded in an old abandoned studio), underneath it all lies an endearing sense of hope.
Upon a first look, the album appears to be a warning; if we do not improve the way we live, then we could be ushering in the end of the world. As one listens further, however, they will find that this is not a warning at all. As humans, there is one thing that we will always have as long as we draw breath: hope. Hope never dies, and as long as we hold on to that feeling that we will make it through, anything will be possible. When it appears that all is lost, when it appears that death is near, when it appears that the very earth is crumbling around us, we still have hope. I believe that is the message that Godspeed You! Black Emperor were attempting to get across with this album. Out of all of the albums that the band has released, I believe that this is their best, simply because it takes you far away to a place that seems so very different from where you are now, but at the same time it doesn't seem so far-fetched to think that we could all be there somewhere down the road.
So pick this up and be transported away, maybe for a longer period of time than you at first wanted. Who knows? You might not want to come back.
Recommended song: The Dead Flag Blues (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVekJTmtwqM)
8
The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
(https://d.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/slideshow/2014/12/3039377-slide-s-6-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-cover-pf-dark-side.jpg)
An absolute classic
A transcendental, timeless masterpiece. How funny that one of mainstream's most recognized covers isn't as listened as it looks like. Yes, it's one of the best-selling albums in history, yet there are so many people out there that have the iconic light refraction image as FB cover or something, yet haven't listened to the album. Maybe except of Money.
Anyways, it wasn't a few months ago I realized how much I fucking loved this album. Every fucking song works as a whole, making it all a cohesive work, that flows. Feels natural, like every note deserved to be played in the exact form and time they were played. I still think Brain Damage is the weakest track here tho.
Recommended song: Us And Them (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDbeqj-1XOo)
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Going to try Dark Side of the Moon and F# A# Infinity at some point, though I think those are both the type of albums I should just take time for to sit down and relax, which I currently can't.
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F#A# is pretty good though Providence always drags a little IMO
DSOTM is DSOTM, which means it's friggin' great and one of the most iconic albums ever
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DSOTM is exactly what you said it is. A transcendental timeless masterpiece. I love it, it's an awesome journey from start to finish.
I added to the list "F# A# ∞". I'm curious.
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F#A# is amazing, with only certain parts of Providence being slightly uneventful. The whole album is more of an "event" than anything. It's like a scene from a bleak dystopian film or a personal, first-hand account of a person's experience during such a catastrophic event. With no lyrics (besides the reading at the beginning of The Dead Flag Blues), it creates such stunning imagery through its soundscapes.
If someone were to tell me that DSTOM is their favorite album of all time, I wouldn't question it at all. I feel that for modern music, it's truly one of, if not the most cohesive and holistic album experiences period. Forty years later and it sounds so fresh and timeless. It's the exact opposite of something that sounds "dated". I love how relatable and universal its themes are; anyone listening to it can find something in it to latch on to.
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I'd say Dark Side is slightly overrated and definitely the weakest out of Pink Floyd's classic 4, but still a good album, and big thumbs up for Program Music and F#A# (even though LYSF is better).
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F#A# is pretty good, better than Yanqui, but I probably like every other Godspeed album more. The first two tracks are brilliant, but Providence is one of their weakest.
I went through a PF phase at one point, but eventually realised, like with a lot of things, most of my appreciation was just something I'd convinced myself of due to their pop culture footprint. I like Money, and parts of Time are okay.
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I love Brain Damage. But Us and Them is amazing as well. I still prefer Wish You Were Here, but TDSOTM is a classic.
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(even though LYSF is better).
I've never been too impressed by that album tbh. It's pretty good, but doesn't attract me as much as their debut - maybe it's the atmosphere, or its ridiculous duration.
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(even though LYSF is better).
I've never been too impressed by that album tbh. It's pretty good, but doesn't attract me as much as their debut - maybe it's the atmosphere, or its ridiculous duration.
The duration shouldn't be a problem considering some other albums on your list, but I also think the songs are superior, even if F#A# has more of an atmosphere
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F#A#Inf. :heart
My number 1 on the second list I did. Good pick :D
And DSOTM is amazing of course. Haven't heard the other.
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I have listened to Stella twice now and it's quite beautifull and original :azn: It also makes actually good use of stereo sound at times. I am only recently getting into Post Rock and I will listen to F#A#. I'd heard of Godspeed you! Black Emperor, but I used to think they were some kind of black/death metal band (based on the name).
And DSOTM is an amazing album! I do have to admit I actually enjoy The Piper at the gates of dawn more O.o
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So which of those are the ground breaking masterpieces? :neverusethis:
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I don't think DSOTM could considered 'ground-breaking', nor a universally acclaimed 'masterpiece' (although the sales records speak for themselves, at least on a commercial level).
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I don't think DSOTM could considered 'ground-breaking', nor a universally acclaimed 'masterpiece' (although the sales records speak for themselves, at least on a commercial level).
Groundbreaking? Probably not.
Universally acclaimed masterpiece? I don't think there is any question.
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I don't think DSOTM could considered 'ground-breaking', nor a universally acclaimed 'masterpiece' (although the sales records speak for themselves, at least on a commercial level).
Groundbreaking? Probably not.
Universally acclaimed masterpiece? I don't think there is any question.
Yeah, this.
The other two albums in this update don't fit the bill at all though. :biggrin:
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(even though LYSF is better).
I've never been too impressed by that album tbh. It's pretty good, but doesn't attract me as much as their debut - maybe it's the atmosphere, or its ridiculous duration.
The duration shouldn't be a problem considering some other albums on your list, but I also think the songs are superior, even if F#A# has more of an atmosphere
Oh with duration I meant that it lasts too long for its own good, in my opinion :P
The other two albums in this update don't fit the bill at all though. :biggrin:
What (https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/godspeed_you_black_emperor_/f%E2%99%AFa%E2%99%AF%E2%88%9E__1995_1997_/) are you talking (https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/kashiwa_daisuke/program_music_i/) about? ;)
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I don't think DSOTM could considered 'ground-breaking', nor a universally acclaimed 'masterpiece' (although the sales records speak for themselves, at least on a commercial level).
Groundbreaking? Probably not.
Universally acclaimed masterpiece? I don't think there is any question.
Yeah, this.
The other two albums in this update don't fit the bill at all though. :biggrin:
Didn't even see the other two. Now that I have, I couldn't tell you the first thing about them.
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I don't think DSOTM could considered 'ground-breaking', nor a universally acclaimed 'masterpiece' (although the sales records speak for themselves, at least on a commercial level).
Groundbreaking? Probably not.
Universally acclaimed masterpiece? I don't think there is any question.
Yeah, this.
The other two albums in this update don't fit the bill at all though. :biggrin:
Didn't even see the other two. Now that I have, I couldn't tell you the first thing about them.
Neither can I!
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I don't think DSOTM could considered 'ground-breaking', nor a universally acclaimed 'masterpiece' (although the sales records speak for themselves, at least on a commercial level).
Groundbreaking? Probably not.
Universally acclaimed masterpiece? I don't think there is any question.
Yeah, this.
The other two albums in this update don't fit the bill at all though. :biggrin:
Didn't even see the other two. Now that I have, I couldn't tell you the first thing about them.
I can tell you that neither are for you :lol
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:lol
:tup
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Surprisingly enough there are critically acclaimed albums outside of Prog :P
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Surprisingly enough there are critically acclaimed albums outside of Prog :P
And outside rock/metal :angel:
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Surprisingly enough there are critically acclaimed albums outside of Prog :P
Pictures or it didn't happen!!!
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Surprisingly enough there are critically acclaimed albums outside of Prog :P
And outside rock/metal :angel:
It's definitely true that they are fairly well known outside of the whole rock/metal scene, I've been at random parties where everyone listens to deephouse and trap, and I've heard the name Godspeed You! Black Emperor being mentioned quite often there. Now if they actually like it, that's another story.
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7
Liquid Tension Experiment 2
Liquid Tension Experiment
(https://magnacarta.net/Liquid_Experiment/LTE/lte2cvr_300dpi.jpg)
The chemistry here is surreal
Portnoy, Rudess, Petrucci, Levin - some of my favorite musicians, gathered in a supergroup. And unlike super projects that go bad, this one went fucking awesome.
Some ignorants may claim this album is just a wankfest without even listening to it. And although there are some pretty complex parts, the focus isn't on that, but on the ideas. Good Lord, these guys have the best fucking chemistry I've ever heard in a band - they understand each other, musically, SO WELL. The flow here is just ridiculous. But what I love more is how unique it sounds. Yes, there are DT and KC influences, as well as some Dixie Dregs vibes, but I swear this album sounds like anything I know. Well, maybe like their debut. But the ideas, the atmosphere they crafted here is very unique. Most of the songs don't have much structure - while there are some ideas that kind of drive the whole thing, it feels closer to a jazz approach rather than a conventional songwriting, with great idea after great idea.
My fav song by them is on their previous album tho, Freedom of Speech is easiliy in my personal top 5, and State of grace, the version performed in LA, is quite close too.
The only reason this album is above their debut: Three Minute Warning. Which actually lasts 18 mins - fucking prog. It's a nice jam, but it drags an excellent album imo. Their sophomore is brilliant as well, but more consistent. Every member shines. Probably my fav thing about LTE is that anytime I listen to them I can choose to focus on a single instrument, and be delighted by how varied its playing is. This album is tons of fun. These guys MUST make another record. Please.
Recommended song: Biaxident (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3XCcSHwjns)
6
Blackfield II
Blackfield
(https://images.coveralia.com/audio/b/Blackfield-Blackfield_II-Frontal.jpg)
Oh Stevie <3
For the longest time I avoided Blackfield, maybe for my aversion to pop music at the moment. But after loving Stupid Dream, told myself "well fuck it, let's check more of his pop stuff!". And loved Blackfield II even more than that album.
The story goes that Porcupine Tree once got invited to play in Israel by musician Aviv Geffen, who was (and still is) a big fan of Steven's music. And he proposed him to make an album together. Because their tastes weren't that similar, they ended up doing something both loved: pop-rock. And they did exactly that.
Short, melancholic and catchy songs is what you'll find here. Don't expect some experimental masterpiece or a revolutionary record, because this doesn't even try to do that. And that's where relies its strength. The lyrics talk about childhood, sad memories, and personal topics that make this a very intimate and touching album.
Does it sound similar to PT? A bit, yes, something like their stuff circa FoABP, since both albums were written/recorded at similar periods of time, so it doesn't surprise me they share some sounds. But that's it. There's no metal, nor drones or long songs. Barely any electronic elements. Despite its simplicity, the core of it is on the very, very strong songwriting and emotional impact, and how each song is unique despite sharing a common sound. The budget for making this might not have been high, but it sounds pristine, and very clear. Of course, since it was produced and mixed by Wilson.
A wonderful record - such a shame Steven distanced himself from Blackfield after this album, and thus the band went downhill. Hopefully V will be an interesting record if Steven and Alan Parsons collaborated on it.
Recommended song: Some Day (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glFtLdhB5KY)
5
Super Mario Galaxy OST
Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo
(https://www.game-ost.com/static/covers_soundtracks/1667_897471.jpg)
Why are Japanese musicians are so talented?
If there's something I've always loved about the Mario games is the fantastic soundtrack they have. It's joyful and happy, without being cheesy, yet there's a hidden nostalgia behind them. Like a ghost of melancholy only careful listeners may detect. And it's present here, again. This spot was very tough, for I was torn between the Sumer Mario 64 and both of Galaxy's soundtracks. The music of my childhood vs one of my youth. Ugh. In the end, had to choose this one, because I feel its a bit more consistent overall.
So, why do I love it that much? Because it has some of the most beautiful pieces that have graced my ears. I've always admired Koji Kondo for his ability for making simple yet goddamn memorable melodies. And this Yokota guy basically appears out of nowhere, conducting an 50-pieces orchestra and writing most of the stuff here. And he blows my mind. Not only I did spend countless hours on Super Mario Galaxy playing and jumping around, but listening to these magnificent, epic pieces was absolutely immersive. Sometimes they're symphonic, sometimes with electronics, synths, and percussion. Others is just piano. Sometimes happy, sometimes dark, it never feels the same, and fits the mood of each level in a perfect way. There are also older, classic Mario pieces that have been rearranged here - the most nostalgic, older players will recognize them and shed a tear or two.
I love the style here because although it's classically influenced, this really doesn't have that neoclassical sound that has become so cliched in soundtracks nowadays. It's modern, it's vivid. It's personal. It's innocent.
Recommended song: Gusty Garden Galaxy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKlJmUg5uZU)
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Any guesses for the top 4? :corn
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I need to absolutely checkout Blackfield.
And SMG was one of the few games I've actually played from start to finish and I know the soundtrack by heart. It's really stunning and it's a wonderful choice for any top 50. :metal
I pretty much know your list though, and making guesses would be kind of unfair.
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Not a huge LTE fan here, I knew Super Mario OST would be somewhere on here, but never expeted it so high, the SMG OST is amazing though, really 'mature' and well thought out music for a nintendo game.
Guesses for top 4? I'm guessing you're an oddball who thinks Blackbird is the best AB album so I don't expect Fortress. I still stand by my guess of In Absentia or Fear of a Blank Planet, gonna go with the latter.
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some mario soundtracks are good (like this one) while a lot of others aren't, too many rehashes of the classic tunes on the meh ones.
i don't really have anything to comment on here though.
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I'd say the first Blackfield album is superior to the second in every way, but BFII is still a really great album and on par with most PT albums.
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Blackfield II :heart
I'll say it got me through some hard times but I don't know when those started and did they even finish :lol I'm listening to it and I'm thinking: those people knows me. And Even thought I don't like Welcome to My DNA that much I feel those lyrics more then ones on this album and I connect with them easily.
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Any guesses for the top 4? :corn
the first 4 black sabbath albums
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Guesses for the top 4? Sure:
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Anathema - Weather Systems
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
^ in that order
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Any guesses for the top 4? :corn
One of Steven Wilsons solo works or something from Porcupine Tree must be in there right?
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i definitely didn't look at sputnik while making this list :neverusethis:
1. Anathema - Weather Systems
2. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
4. Devin Townsend Project - Addicted
of course that could be outdated and wrong, but :P
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What a bummer if Mehther Systems or In Abmehtia cranks the top4 considering both bands have done much better, but to each his own. :P
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You say so as if it was some kind of universal truth or whatever :P :loser:
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Whether or not those albums Parama and Elite guessed on are right or not, I'm actually go out on a limb and say that SFAM and SDOIT are both superior to IA and WS, and that's coming from someone who really isn't the biggest DT-fan anymore. :P If we're ranking the bands, I'd put both Anathema and PT over DT, but those two albums in specific are just very middle of the road for me at least. I'd say the one thing WS and IA have in common is that they would both make awesome EPs if you took the best 4-5 songs, but unfortunately they both suffer from filler. (which ironically I would say the ~100 minute SDOIT doesn't)
But oh well :P
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Whether or not those albums Parama and Elite guessed on are right or not, I'm actually go out on a limb and say that SFAM and SDOIT are both superior to IA and WS, and that's coming from someone who really isn't the biggest DT-fan anymore. :P If we're ranking the bands, I'd put both Anathema and PT over DT, but those two albums in specific are just very middle of the road for me at least. I'd say the one thing WS and IA have in common is that they would both make awesome EPs if you took the best 4-5 songs, but unfortunately they both suffer from filler. (which ironically I would say the ~100 minute SDOIT doesn't)
But oh well :P
I'm with you on In Absentia. It has some of best songs PT (IMO) ever made. But there are some fillers, yes.
I guess we'll have to wait for next update and see but I hope to see SFAM here.
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I hope to see SFAM here.
Sorry :P
4
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Dream Theater
(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91lwDts-HOL._SL1437_.jpg)
DT's creative pinnacle
I play Misunterstood, and an acoustic guitar appears, playing an odd, a bit dissonant chord progression. James starts singing simple, yet catchy atmospheric lines. Jordan plays with cellos and sound effects a la Radiohead. Mike does some fills. Myung a few notes here and there. The atmosphere is quite relaxed yet mysterious, And it slowly builds up tension - then BOOM. Heavy riff, and now the chorus is more intense. Although the guitar is roaring at times, this never feels like a heavy metal song or anything. This virtue of playing with sounds and styles, had always been something DT like to do, and very well. But Six Degrees took it to the next level - all of the members feel unleashed, experimenting, and finally doing the music they truly wanted after years of external producers (even though I'd argue they did an excellent job on Awake) and pressure from their label. They weren't neither afraid of showing off their influences: The Great Debate screams Tool (a better song that anything Tool have written, imo), Radiohead on Misunderstood and Disappear, classical music on Overture - Pantera is basically made a homage with The Glass Prison, and so on.
And then there's the title track. 42 mothafucking minutes of pure mindblowing awesomeness. Some people complain that it doesn't flow well, or that the ideas are not connected, or it has some filler, or some crap (is it a song or 8 separate tracks? - spoiler: the former, as stated by the band. Period), most of which I don't understand in the slightest. See, this tune was written like an epic symphony: there's the Overture, which shows the themes the song will present and later elaborate, in 6 sections, one per inner turbulence (duh), and the Finale, which quickly reprises the themes and has this epic ending. Makes sense, at least for me. And it's basically DT in a nutshell, really - virtually all of the styles they'd played, and would play in future records, can be found or at least hinted on Six Degrees.
I'll admit that I find myself liking SFAM less and less with time - it's just too technical at times, and it really drags my enjoyement of it, since I don't care anymore about hyper-speed solos and dozens of tempo changes. They still have my respects for making one of the most complex records ever in a purely technical sense, and make it such a great success. But on Six Degrees... holy moly, it's like they stooped caring for a moment about how many notes they could fill in a solo, and just focused on songwriting, and experimenting. This, in my opinion improved their music in every sense, making for some pretty creative moments, like the ending of Misunderstood (can't help it, I love it), the samples/sounds Jordan plays on The Glass Prison, or the manipulated drum sounds around the middle of The Great Debate, or how JP's solo on Goodnight Kiss goes from melancholic to desperate, and the samples do help a lot. As a side note, the tone he has through the whole album is glorious. Noisy and fucking heavy.
This used to be my favorite record ever. It's still the DT album I love most for sure, as I might sometimes discover a little detail I had missed, or could just follow what Jordan or Petrucci does, and get lost on the amount of great ideas after great ideas they were crafting. For someone who values creativity as much as me, this record is special. While some of their records don't struck me hard as used to, and I barely listen to them nowadays, I can always come back to Six Degrees, and be left in awe at such an achievement - in my opinion, the absolute peak of prog metal.
Recommended song: All of them
3
Weather Systems
Anathema
(https://truenometalico.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/anathema.jpg)
Raw, pure passion
I've found a pattern among my all-time favorite albums: I didn't really like them at first. Or, at least, didn't think they were any special. Funny how life works. I know some people do not believe in growers - you like it or not on a first listen, I know my tastes pretty well, they say. Well, good for you! But my own experience has showed me that my top 50 is plagued with growers, albums that I didn't really expect to end up being personal favorites. And that's both frustrating and awesome. I can easily overlook records that have the potential to gain a place up here, on the list, but it's also from growers where I find the most satisfaction, for I keep getting back to them, and loving each song a bit more with each listen - it's a fantastic experience to notice how things that used to bother me, slowly enter into a "don't care about" section, just to escalate towards "I fucking love it" with time. That's why I really try to give albums opportunities over and over again, just to see if they click. Sometimes they do, and it warms my heart. If they don't, well, I can revisit it in a couple of months. Or years. There's no hurry, no one's rushing me.
So the story goes like this: me, a pleb that just got into prog and loves DT to death, but it's also getting interested on the genre. There used to be a pretty active blog about DT in spanish (the guy who ran it still visits this forum lol), and from time to time he would recommend a couple of proggy bands. But what interested me most was his 2012 top 10 albums. The top choices intrigued me: Flying Colors at #1, and Weather Systems in the second place. Never heard of those, but since our tastes were quite similar, gave them a chance. Loved Flying Colors pretty much on the first spins, but this Anathema band... ugh, not my thing. Too "pretty" or whatever. Not my cuppa tea. But for some reason, I didn't delete the album from my mp3 player - I wasn't into many bands at the time, so I might have left them just in case I was bored with the other stuff.
It happened back in September 2013. I had to make a visit to the doctor on another city, but since I hadn't scheduled a session, I had to wait until several patients finished. Of course, this took hours. Endless hours of pure dullness and agony, I thought. I know it was just two years ago, but damn, I was fucking impatient back then. But I had my mp3 player and a pair of headphones, so what the fuck. Sighed on the chair, staring at that crappy Phillips Go!, and chose "Weather Systems", telling myself I'd give it one last chance before deleting it. Maybe... maybe because I had nothing to focus on but the music... it clicked. No, I wasn't blown away - very few times I've experienced that in life, and less with music. But I liked what I heard, thus I promised to give it more listens as to digest it. It was beautiful. In just a couple of months I was in love with the record, and started to get into the rest of their discography. Damn, it was tough, specially Judgment. But so worthy.
I'm bad talking about albums, I know. So let me mend it a bit meandering about how this record sounds. It's layered. Heavily. And it's very atmospheric. Not as much as a Shoegaze album, but there are some obvious influences of it, as well as of post-rock, since it takes a slow-buildup-into-a-big-climax most of the tracks. Some call this style "atmospheric rock". And it suits them perfect. Whereas WHBWH was definitely happy and joyful all the way through, there are moments of sorrow and darkness here, yet far away from their 90s' output. But what makes this record so special for me is a single aspect: feels. Some may prefer Judgement, or even the previous album, but Weather Systems will always have a special place in my soul, for it is the most intense, cathartic emotional experience I've ever listened to. Anathema are a band with heavy focus on emotions, and I think it's here where they reached their absolute creative, and emotional zenit.
I think my words shall never do it justice, for the only way to truly experience this albums, is, well, listening to it. I always like to find people who have a deep connection with it - those of us who found something truly special on Weather Systems know it's hard for others to understand our passion. All I can say is, I fucking love it.
Recommended song: Untouchable pt. 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av6sVWXeCWQ)
2
In Absentia
Porcupine Tree
(https://img12.nnm.me/6/b/0/b/a/c98602a5dbfc28ab5bf1db6f2f5.jpg)
Goddamnit, Steven, you creep motherfucker
Didn't like this album on a first listen.
"This is fucking overrated", I thought. And then ignored it for weeks. But that was back when I was still discovering prog, getting into it. Dream Theater were already my fav band and biggest obsession, but now wanted to look for more of this genre. So after a disappointing beginning with Porcupine Tree, went with Opeth. Couldn't fucking stand Mikael's growls, thus I turned to Damnation. And loved it. But... it also sounded slightly similar to In Absentia - was surprised to see Wilson producing and writing some stuff for it. So, just out of curiosity, gave PT another chance, just to see if this time they'd click. Had no hopes about it, and my expectations were pretty low. Blackest Eyes starts, now I'm listening carefully, and... BOOM. Heavy riff, crazy drumming, and a break down. Acoustic guitars and a beautiful atmosphere, just to become heavy again. This contrast blew me away like few times has happened to me. Then Trains, a nice ballad, that I'd later find out was a fan favorite. But for the longest time, it was just an ok track in my book - couldn't see what was so "awesome" about it. I didn't care much, for I was loving the album. After that, I don't really remember much, other than In Absentia kept growing and growing on me a hella lot with time, specially Trains! I'd have never imagined such a little song would become one of my very favorite tracks, ever.
What draws me back to this album each time is how unique it sounds. Not only in the context of Wilson's discography, but in any context to be honest - I haven't heard a single record, nor song, that sounds remotely like this, and for that I love it. Ok, no, that's only one of the reasons I do. Creativity. You know, after the happy/melancholic Lightbulb Sun, and getting into metal, again, Wilson started to experiment with it. And created, right here, a fusion of all these styles he had previously played. There are psychedelic, space-y soundscapes that make my consciousness drift away (if that makes any sense). The choruses are catchy as hell, the guitars heavy and noisy, yet with a very clean sound. The dark drones and lyrics, damn.
I feel like I'm really failing to describe why I love In Absentia this much. Maybe it's just were I connect the most with all of Wilson's releases, and despite thinking there were some fillers, I just love every minute of it all now. Although I love basically everything he has released, this will likely remain in a special place in me for ages to come.
Recommended song: Trains (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UHwkfhwjsk)
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The first disc of SDOIT is pure brilliance and that enough makes it my second most favourite DT album. The second disc is a bloated abomination that has its moment but ultimately I don't ever listen to it as one entire song anymore. Losing Time / The Grand Finale is incredible though. I wish they used it as a closer.
Also, where's Addicted? :corn
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I'm not a huge Wilson fan (more of a moderate Wilson fan who likes a significant portion of his stuff but doesn't really put most of it at the level of :hefdaddy that others do), and In Absentia wouldn't be my top choice of album, but it's hard to argue with Trains as probably Wilson's best song. It's one that I come back to fairly often.
I like Weather Systems quite a bit. Probably not this much but I like it.
I've written a lot about SDOIT and why I find it lacking compared to DT's other albums, so I won't rehash that here, but I totally understand your glowing description of Misunderstood. I realized last week how much I love the first 6-7 minutes of that song.
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i prefer WHBWH to WS but both are good
i'm just not the hugest anathema fan though, ehh :lol
SDOIT isn't in the top half of my DT album rankings but that's primarily because of the title track, which i never listen to anymore
IA is my second-favorite PT album but it's v. good with a few tracks I could do without
i'm ready for addicted now
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I like Weather Systems quite a bit. Probably not this much but I like it.
Heh, funny you say that - considering your tastes I was almost expecting you to love it. Oh well :P
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SDOIT is brilliant. I prefer the first disc by a pretty decent margin, but the title epic is still great, even though it doesn't necessarily feel like a cohesive whole all the way through.
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Weather Systems and SDOIT would probably be in my Top 50 as well. As I said, In Absentia has some of my favorite songs Steven Wilson ever did. I'll go that far and say Heartattack in a Layby is one of my favorite songs ever. But unfortunately, some song on the album never clicked with me so In Absentia is only my 5th PT album.
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SDOIT and Weather Systems, along with another PT album were all in my top 5. Quit copying me. :P
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3/4 right. Boom!
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Six Degrees of Inner Turbulance is amazing! I love the song SDOIT, I think it has some of DTs better lyrics, they really got into the subject and James expresses the lyrics very well.
In Absentia is just amazing too! Definitely in my top 5 albums. Some of the lyrics do still freak me out a little though.
I have only listened tot weather systems once and telt quite indifferent towards it. Perhaps it'll grow on me too, who knows.
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I like Weather Systems quite a bit. Probably not this much but I like it.
Heh, funny you say that - considering your tastes I was almost expecting you to love it. Oh well :P
I mean, I really do like it quite a bit. I would not 100% rule further growth out in the future, either. I don't know what keeps it back from elite status for me, but it's just not quite there. I like all the songs and I think the flow is really good. It would almost certainly be top 50 for me (keep in mind I don't know a ton of albums, but still), but not top ten.
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SDOIT is really great but I would personally give a slight edge to SFAM and Awake. But those would be my top3 DT albums, and as far as I'm concerned, the only 3 albums I genuinely enjoy from start til finish, so any of them would have been a great choice.
I looked at my last.fm and was surprised to see that Weather Systems is actually my least scrobbled Anathema-album after Serenades. It's not a bad album, in fact it's pretty good, but coming off WHBWH it just paled in comparison. For someone who was a big Anathema-fan going into WS, it just sounded like something very familiar with nothing that really stuck out. But I know some people got into the band through WS, and if it's someone's first exposure then that explains the different view I think. Personally it wouldn't make my top5 Anathema albums, but it starts great and ends great, there's definitely 4 really really good songs you could make a good EP out of.
In Absentia was my entry into PT and I appreciate what the album did for me, more than the album itself. Like WS, I think you could make a really fine EP with songs from IA. Blackest Eyes, Trains, Gravity Eyelids, Heartattack in a Layby. For me the album just has too many filler. Wedding Nails has a cool riff but is way too drawn out and offers too little to be an interesting instrumental prog song, where other songs goes over more riffs and changes, Wedding Nails throws the same idea in your face for 6 minutes. The Creator Has a Mastertape is really meh IMO, a song like Strip the Soul doesn't leave much of an impression either. Probably wouldn't make my top5 PT albums, but it has a few great standouts. Trains being one of his best.
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I've never really thought about Six Degrees in the way you put it, as a shackles undone experimental album, which I suppose it is. It's not a bad album, I worshiped it when it came out, but it hasn't lingered massively with me.
I had In Absentia some years ago, before the release of Deadwing. Listened to it quite a bit in high school.
(is it a song or 8 separate tracks? - spoiler: the former, as stated by the band. Period)
Eh, they're members of a prog band, I wouldn't take their word for it. Prog bands have been arbitrarily stringing together a bunch of songs and calling them one song since the genre began. Even with the overture and finale, the bookending fashion of About to Crash, and the main theme coming back after Goodnight Kiss, the fact that the band themselves took a whole bunch of the pieces in the middle out and put them on the Best Of as stand-alone songs doesn't bode well for their claim. To me, it's a suite, as are many prog epics, but whatever.
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For me, the only Anathema album that might be better than Weather Systems is Alternative 4, but then again, they're rather difficult to compare due to stylistic differences.
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Eh, they're members of a prog band, I wouldn't take their word for it. Prog bands have been arbitrarily stringing together a bunch of songs and calling them one song since the genre began.
But is a piece like Beethovens Moonlight Sonate one song than? The three movements are even more different then the sections of Six Degrees and there is not even a common theme to bind them together. Still Beethoven named it one piece (with three movements) so it is one piece (and they sound great together) It is the composers call if it's one song or not. Not that it really matters anyway :p
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I gave "Trains" a spin, really beautiful song, if anything this is a reminder that In Absentia really should be higher on my list of albums to check out.
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Eh, they're members of a prog band, I wouldn't take their word for it. Prog bands have been arbitrarily stringing together a bunch of songs and calling them one song since the genre began.
But is a piece like Beethovens Moonlight Sonate one song than? The three movements are even more different then the sections of Six Degrees and there is not even a common theme to bind them together. Still Beethoven named it one piece (with three movements) so it is one piece (and they sound great together) It is the composers call if it's one song or not. Not that it really matters anyway :p
I would say sonatas/symphonies/concerti are one piece in the sense of one "album", not one song.
And I really don't buy the whole "composer makes the call" thing. What if some twat comes along tomorrow and declares their entire discography one song? Are you going to accept it just because it came from the mouth of the artist?
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I would say sonatas/symphonies/concerti are one piece in the sense of one "album", not one song.
That's a good point, seeing that as albums and the movements as "songs" makes more sense indeed.
And I really don't buy the whole "composer makes the call" thing. What if some twat comes along tomorrow and declares their entire discography one song? Are you going to accept it just because it came from the mouth of the artist?
Well in that case you could say that it's clearly not one song, but since there is not a definition of whether something is one song or not (I think there isn't?) you can't prove him wrong, so it it is one song. But yeah I won't it take "one song" like that seriously :D
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SDOIT is incredible. And also underrated.
Weather System makes my weep like a girl at times, but it's a truly friggin' wonderful album, I wish I listened to it more.
In Absentia just freaks me out at times, but it's beautifully crafted - although I'd never put it this up.
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In Absentia was my entry into PT and I appreciate what the album did for me, more than the album itself. Like WS, I think you could make a really fine EP with songs from IA. Blackest Eyes, Trains, Gravity Eyelids, Heartattack in a Layby. For me the album just has too many filler. Wedding Nails has a cool riff but is way too drawn out and offers too little to be an interesting instrumental prog song, where other songs goes over more riffs and changes, Wedding Nails throws the same idea in your face for 6 minutes. The Creator Has a Mastertape is really meh IMO, a song like Strip the Soul doesn't leave much of an impression either. Probably wouldn't make my top5 PT albums, but it has a few great standouts. Trains being one of his best.
Bro, you have just mentioned all of my favorites :lol
And I really don't buy the whole "composer makes the call" thing.
I know it's a modern vision that it's the one who experiences the art the one to have the last word on the art, but I definitely believe that whatever an artist says about said piece is canon, and I respect it. But that's just me :P
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1
Addicted
Devin Townsend Project
(https://i64.tinypic.com/2ytz42r.jpg)
I LOVE u deviiiiiiin!!! plz come to brazil!! lml
Ohboy. I'm sure some of you didn't see this one coming. At least, I didn't. Lemme explain: I discovered Devin with the great Ocean Machine. Quite liked that album, so when the discography thread started, decided it was time to get into his other albums. Loved Infinity and Accelerated Evolution, but Terria, Synchestra, Ziltoid, Ki... Left me underwhelmed. Didn't really connect with those records, and thought, well, maybe my job with his discography is done. I don't think I'll like his other records so why bothering? But the nice people at DTF convinced me to continue. And I love you for that.
See, on my first listen of Addicted... Nothing happened. My mind wasn't blown. Not did I think it was a special record. But I liked it. More than the previous ones at least. I remember listening to it on my grandmother's home, and a thought came to me: hey this is actually pretty good - I'll give it more listens to see where it goes. And so it started.
It's been described as "Cannibal Corpse meets Britney Spears", and "an album full of songs like Life." by Ultimetalhead, the leader of the discography thread. Yes, both statements are fucking right. Because this album is so much fun, I used to listen to it while working out, or just when I needed a pump of energy and some brutality. Also, the combo of Devin and Anneke is fantastic.
But I didn't even expect it to end up on my top 10, let alone this spot, which Six Degrees had held for ages. Realized this after going through my whole top 100 - no other album gives me such joy and resonates with me as this one. In my opinion, Devin reached his peak here, and made fucking awesome song after fucking awesome song. This, dear readers, is the single most consistent record I've ever heard. Even my beloved In Absentia and Weather Systems feel like they have no filler, but one or two tracks that while they're excellent, 4.5/5 songs, they don't reach the magnificent levels of the others.
Not here. But even then, this albums ain't perfect. If I was being picky, I'd rate it 9.9/10. I think it's the closest I'll ever be to find a perfect album, and honestly, I don't care. I love this one so much. Trying to pick a favorite is just impossible. Something that I can do with the other albums, but definitely not conceivable for me on Addicted. It's also one of the few albums I think work excellent both as a whole and taking individual tracks. Don't have much to say, really. How it came from barely making my previous top 50 (jeez, I still cringe when I think about that list) to being my all-time favorite, I have no clue.
If there's an album I'd recommend to newcomers, this wouldn't probably be my choice unless you're into this kind of pop-metal music. Which is surprisingly hard to find good stuff in. As always, Devin has created a unique mix that only he could conceive, and master. It makes me a bit sad that the following albums like Epicloud and Dark Matters don't reach this level of awesomeness. They still have some great tunes, and with Addicted I'm happy enough.
Recommended song: Addicted (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4EZcX6EzHE)
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Addicted is part of the Devy I can't really stand. I like him more serious when he makes albums like Ocean Machine or Terria. The recent fun/goofy Devy that has started to become more and more dominant since the switch to DTP is just really meh. As far as I'm concerned Addicted is the weakest out of the DTP albums (well maybe not Epicloud) but OK as a whole. Definitely not as good as the rest tho.
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not one of my favorite Devy albums tbh and there are a few tracks that i find notably weaker (resolve and the way home) it's still a pretty damn solid album and probably my favorite of Devy's pop-metal albums
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It's a solid, but relatively unremarkable Devin album IMO. It just doesn't sit as memorable with me as albums like Ki, Ocean Machine, or Terria do.
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As far as I'm concerned Addicted is the weakest out of the DTP albums (well maybe not Epicloud) but OK as a whole.
Well it's the highest rated (https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the_devin_townsend_project/addicted/) of the DTP albums so your argument is invalid :P
It's a solid, but relatively unremarkable Devin album IMO.
Heh, I'd say the same about Ki or Terria - fight me.
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trusting RYM for accurate ratings is a really bad idea, tbh :lol
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trusting RYM for accurate ratings is a really bad idea, tbh :lol
RYM ratings are just a consensus. They're more or less what you'd basically expect, so I wouldn't call them "right" or "wrong". :P
It's a solid, but relatively unremarkable Devin album IMO.
Heh, I'd say the same about Ki or Terria - fight me.
Can't all be winners. :neverusethis:
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trusting RYM for accurate ratings is a really bad idea, tbh :lol
I know, I only use it for reference - like, if I'm torn between to albums to listen to, I go with the one that has the highest rating, but sometimes it sucks so hard I wonder why people love it? :P
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Using sites like RYM or Sputnik to support your opinion on an album because it's popular never works IMO and it's similar to saying a popular film that makes a billion (Transformers 4 anyone?) is great because of it.
As far as Addicted goes, I know it's fairly popular, it's just one of my least favorite Devy-albums mainly because of the style. :P But then again I've kinda left the Devy-train because it feels like he wants to go down a certain road that I'm just not interested in. He had me interested up until Epicloud which was just a really big disappointment, and by the time he made the double album that followed it up, I didn't have any interest left to check it out. As far as the DTP albums are concerned, I'd say Ghost and Ki are the standouts, with Deconstruction barely beating out Addicted.
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Using sites like RYM or Sputnik to support your opinion on an album because it's popular never works IMO and it's similar to saying a popular film that makes a billion (Transformers 4 anyone?) is great because of it.
Oh no, I was jut pointing out Addicted it's the most liked album of the DTP overall, since you seemed to state that as a fact :P - in any way I think rating sites really indicate how good something really is. For instance, I think Loveless is pretty meh despite its endless praise.
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Using sites like RYM or Sputnik to support your opinion on an album because it's popular never works IMO and it's similar to saying a popular film that makes a billion (Transformers 4 anyone?) is great because of it.
I don't see how this analogy works. Sites like RYM and Sputnik are just a consensus on ratings; an accumulation of the thoughts of the people who happen to rate it there. They're generalizations on the critical reception of something, not its commercial reception, an example of that being a film like Transformers 4 making $1 billion in the box office. The overall critical response to Transformers 4 was what you'd expect (it was shite).
Besides, Sacul just forgot to green text.
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This doesn't happen very often, but I agree with Zantera, or at least with what he expressed in the last two posts.
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I like Addicted. Wouldn't be my favorite Devin record, though.
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This doesn't happen very often, but I agree with Zantera, or at least with what he expressed in the last two posts.
o/
:hefdaddy
But also I'm not sure why the "as far as i'm concerned.." comment about Addicted was taken as stating facts, any opinion ever posted is always just a subjective opinion. :P Shouldn't need to be "IMO's" in every sentence!
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I don't see how this analogy works. Sites like RYM and Sputnik are just a consensus on ratings; an accumulation of the thoughts of the people who happen to rate it there. They're generalizations on the critical reception of something, not its commercial reception, an example of that being a film like Transformers 4 making $1 billion in the box office. The overall critical response to Transformers 4 was what you'd expect (it was shite).
This.
Besides, Sacul just forgot to green text.
Green text about Loveless? :neverusethis:
But also I'm not sure why the "as far as i'm concerned.." comment about Addicted was taken as stating facts, any opinion ever posted is always just a subjective opinion. :P Shouldn't need to be "IMO's" in every sentence!
Sorry about that, I guess my OCD just gets triggered every time someone states an opinion like it seemed a fact :P
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Yeah. Knowing you, I know how good you resonate to the vibes of Addicted. It's an amazing record and easily one of the most fun. Great list, and I'm beginning to explore some of your entries.
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Sorry about that, I guess my OCD just gets triggered every time someone states an opinion like it seemed a fact :P
It's alright, I still love you man! :heart
Your DTF-title starts with "Music elitist" after all, gotta stand up for what you like! :P
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Addicted is good album. It would make my top 50 few years ago but I think it's not even close now.
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Sorry about that, I guess my OCD just gets triggered every time someone states an opinion like it seemed a fact :P
It's alright, I still love you man! :heart
Your DTF-title starts with "Music elitist" after all, gotta stand up for what you like! :P
:hefdaddy
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I like Addicted and I need to get back to it. Terria, on the other hand, I was sold after the first listen, which usually never happens with any album.