Ladies and gents, let us get on with the number fifty spot!
Number 50: "Aqua Lung" by Jethro Tull (1971)
Aqua Lung is great. This is the first album that got me into Jethro Tull. The songs on the album cover a variety of musical genres, with elements of folk, blues, psychedelia and hard rock. And man, the riffs here are insane! Check out "Locomotive Breath", "Hymn 43" and "Wind Up"! Those songs among others are regarded as a factor in the band's increased success after the release of the album. And this album being a concept album was a +1 on this. The topic of this album featured a central theme as the "distinction between religion and God." This album also sounds extremely serious...maybe a little too serious. Martin Barre's solo on the self titled song is jaw dropping! Heck, it even made it into Guitarists "The 20 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time!" Though it clocked at number twenty.
Overall, a fantastic album and we begin this countdown with this song on the list.
Number 49. "10,000 Days" by Tool (2006)
Ah, 10,000 days. An extremely strong album by Tool, this is their fourth album. This album has been nominated and won the award for "Best Recording Package." 10,000 Days is considerably less punishing and much more ethereal. Songs like "Lost Keys" and "Vigniti Tires" are dark ambient soundscrapes that just make you wonder where the drums went. And when they are there, they're decidedly less brutal than on Lateralus. "Right in Two" they sound more like bongos. The title track features sitar and tabla. Listening to this album, you get the sinking feeling that Tool have made an art-rock, rather than art-metal, album. And yes, the difference is considerable. Keenan's vocals are no less powerful here. I have come to appreciate this album, but it took a couple of tries. 10,000 Days is supposedly named for the amount of time between Keenan's mother becoming paralyzed and when she died, so it's sort of a "Death Disco" for suburban teenagers. Quite sad.
47. "Banks of Eden" by Flower Kings
Look past the name, sit back and take it all in. The Flower Kings’ Banks Of Eden is one of the most promising releases to grace 2012. That might look like a big call, but it’s backed up by some of the strongest song writing to be found in the modern progressive rock genre. Somehow, since releasing the group’s debut back in 1995, The Flower Kings have been regarded as a progressive rock powerhouse and yet simultaneously managed to stay relatively unnoticed with their releases. For those who have had the pleasure of hearing any other record in the band’s catalogue, chances are they know that this act have some serious talent behind them. Mixing your everyday progressive patterns with the occasional folk instrument, and excellently well-presented crooned male vocals, Banks Of Eden is deep listen that harmonies and floats into the sub-conscious of the listener. Careful though, this album will need some time to sink in especially with its nine tracks finishing just over the hour and fifteen minute mark. Five years in the waiting (as members worked on other numerous acts) and The Flower Kings prove once again why you should put down whatever you’re doing and put this record on.
All in all, Banks Of Eden explore the outer confines of a genre, making a listen fresh and enjoyable. The album itself is infectious, especially for those familiar with the band or encompassing genre. The Flower Kings have blown away their some-what lackluster release of Adam and Eve in 2004 and come built on their previous release, The Sum Of No Evil in the best possible ways. The band shows that even with a hiatus of five years they are in no way out of the game. Banks Of Eden explore and map out the world of progressive rock, stopping only to captivate the listener and despite being released in the middle of 2012, is one of years strongest releases. It may take a while for the listener to fully understand the passages and integral depth shown throughout the entire of the record, but thankfully most will be glad to listen to this over and over again. Sections intertwine and caress the next taking care to not outweigh or outshine the next. Everything is where it should be.