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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: Moor on November 27, 2017, 04:53:04 AM

Title: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Moor on November 27, 2017, 04:53:04 AM
Hello guys,

During the past 4 or 5 years, I was always relying on a topic like this on these forums, to discover new music that I may have missed during the year.

I look forward to your input.

My top 5 (so far) in no particular order:

1. Steven Wilson - To the Bone;
2. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand & Cold Dark Place;
3. Leprous - Malina;
4. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn; and
5. Ayreon - The Source.

 
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Phoenix87x on November 27, 2017, 07:17:00 AM
In no particular order, my favs

Threshold- legends of the shires
Drake- more life
Living colour- shade
Pain of salvation- passing light of day
The midnight- nocturnal
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Tomislav95 on November 27, 2017, 07:18:27 AM
1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
3. Soen - Lykaia
4. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
5. Brand New - Science Fiction

Here's my full list, 16 albums I heard enough times to rate and rank: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Ghost_of_Perdition/2017-albums-ranked/
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: ChuckSteak on November 27, 2017, 07:39:45 AM
No order:

Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
Cheer-Accident - Putting Off Death
Leprous - Malina
Toby Driver - Madonnawhore
Miriodor - Signal 9
Riverside - Lost 'N' Found: Live In Tilburg
Nova Collective - The Further Side
David Maxim Micic - Who Bit the Moon
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: kaos2900 on November 27, 2017, 07:58:21 AM
I'm not even sure I bought 5 full albums this year. My favorite has to be the new threshold though.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: The Curious Orange on November 27, 2017, 08:16:51 AM
5. Iamthemorning - Lighthouse
4. Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
3. Angeleena Presley - Wrangled
=1. The Magpie Salute - The Magpie Salute
=1. Cellar Darling - This Is The Sound
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SwedishGoose on November 27, 2017, 08:56:58 AM
5. Iamthemorning - Lighthouse
4. Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
3. Angeleena Presley - Wrangled
=1. The Magpie Salute - The Magpie Salute
=1. Cellar Darling - This Is The Sound

iamthemorning Lighthouse was released in April of 2016.
But if you love that you should try Beatrix Players - Magnified that was released this year and will most certainly be on my list.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on November 27, 2017, 09:25:35 AM
We've still got another month for the year and stuff to catch up with, but so far it'd be:

Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: ich bin besser on November 27, 2017, 10:22:54 AM
No order:

Riverside - Lost 'N' Found: Live In Tilburg

?? What's that? Bootleg?
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: RoeDent on November 27, 2017, 10:26:00 AM
So far:

1. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
2. Big Big Train - Grimspound
3. Blackfield - Blackfield V
4. Rikard Sjoblom's Gungfly - On Her Journey to the Sun
5. Mostly Autumn - Sight of Day
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Mebert78 on November 27, 2017, 10:33:43 AM
1) Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
2) The Contortionist - Clairvoyant
3) Caligula's Horse - In Contact
4) Lunatic Soul - Fractured
5) Leprous- Malina
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Luoto on November 27, 2017, 10:35:12 AM
I think this is it right now:

1. Dvne - Asheran
2. White Ward - Futility Report
3. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
4. Cønstantine - Esthesia
5. Von Hertzen Brothers - War Is Over
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SoundscapeMN on November 27, 2017, 10:36:57 AM
posted this is a few weeks ago:

number 44 through number 6:
https://allmediareviews.blogspot.com/2017/11/2016-2017-albums-of-year.html

5. 22 - You Are Creating: Limb 1
4. Bent Knee - Land Animal
3. Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
2. Small Leaks Sink Ships - Golden Calf
1. Mutemath - Play Dead
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: ChuckSteak on November 27, 2017, 10:53:52 AM
No order:

Riverside - Lost 'N' Found: Live In Tilburg

?? What's that? Bootleg?
No, it is an official live release of their latest album tour. It was only sold during the tour though.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Mark Levinson Jr. on November 27, 2017, 10:57:19 AM
Great suggestions everyone!
I'll add my top 5 (in order):

Ayreon - The Source
Serenity - Lionheart
Wintersun - The Forest Seasons
Blind Guardian - Live Beyond the Spheres
VUUR - Cities / In This Moment We Are Free

... and an "honorable mention":

Anathema - The Optimist


Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Mladen on November 27, 2017, 11:00:22 AM
1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Brand New - Science Fiction
3. Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog
4. Queens Of The Stone Age - Villains

5. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
Fixed.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on November 27, 2017, 11:15:14 AM
In no particular order

The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
Venenum - Trance of Death
Cormorant - Diaspora

Will probably also make the list but I haven't spun it enough yet:
Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Finisterre
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: lordxizor on November 27, 2017, 01:44:01 PM
1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Manchester Orchestra - Black Mile to the Surface
3. At the Drive-In - In.ter a.li.a

Followed by a whole bunch of albums that are good, but not great, so I can't easily pick the next two in my list.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SwedishGoose on November 27, 2017, 01:48:54 PM
1. Beatrix Players - Magnified
2. Steven Wilson - To The Bone
3. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
4. Doris Brendel & Lee Dunham - Eclectica
5. Kaipa - Children of the Sounds
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Dave_Manchester on November 27, 2017, 01:58:59 PM
1. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers
2. Mike Oldfield - Return to Ommadawn
3. Swans - Deliquescence
4. Daniel Cavanagh - Monochrome
5. Cradle of Filth - Cryptoriana

6. Anathema - The Optimist
7. William Basinksi - A Shadow In Time
8. Roger Waters - Is This The Life We Really Want?
9. Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions
10. Steven Wilson - To The Bone
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on November 27, 2017, 03:22:42 PM
I always like these posts, and I'm willing to tally the votes once the year is over and people are done with their lists :P
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Elite on November 27, 2017, 03:26:39 PM
Uhhh

Ulver - The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Semistereo - Trans Earth Injection
Steven Wilson - To the Bone
Perihelion Ship - To Paint a Bird of Fire
Caligula’s Horse - In Contact

I also liked the new Leprous eventually and Anathema’s latest album was amazing the first time I heard it and then rather disappointing when I saw them live. Will do a proper list later.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Ninjabait on November 27, 2017, 04:26:27 PM
01. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
02. Lorde - Melodrama
03. Ayreon - The Source
04. Mastodon - Cold Dark Place
05. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand

A bit premature considering there's still a Diablo Swing Orchestra coming out next week. It'll probably need updating after that.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: ronnibran on November 27, 2017, 05:54:46 PM
Slow year for music for me!  2016 was a great year with most bands I like releasing new music.  This year, I picked up and enjoyed:

Ayreon - The Source  (always a huge Ayreon fan and this was a good one!)

Threshold - Legend of the Shires (wasn't even a Threshold fan, but liked the "single" Lost in Translation so I bought this album and have been loving the entire album)

Night Ranger - Don't Let Up (probably wouldn't make my list if more progressive metal/rock albums came out that I liked...  But was pleased with how great this album is!)

That's it for 2017, only 3 albums...  I'm thinking 2018 will be a better year!
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: ProfessorPeart on November 27, 2017, 06:23:36 PM
1. Soen - Lykaia
2. Nightmare - Dead Sun (released this year in US)
3. Galactic Cowboys - Long Way To The Moon
4. Vuur - In This Moment We Are Free - Cities
5. Threshold - Legends Of The Shires

Just on the outside:

Prophets Of Rage
Iced Earth - Incorruptible
Mastodon - Emperor Of Sand
Blaze Bayley - Endure And Survive

Heavy year for me. Usually I have something different in my list, but not this year. Full on heaviness.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: TAC on November 27, 2017, 06:26:30 PM
Blaze Bayley - Endure And Survive

Great album!
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: erwinrafael on November 28, 2017, 08:21:25 AM
Icefish - Human Hardware

That's enough for me this year.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SwedishGoose on November 28, 2017, 08:23:33 AM
Icefish - Human Hardware

That's enough for me this year.

Great album... definitely a runner up for me
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: The Walrus on November 28, 2017, 08:23:57 AM
Really slow year for me concerning new releases... hmmm, I suppose my personal favorites this year have been:

Threshold - Legend of the Shires
Iced Earth - Incorruptible
Cellador - Off The Grid
Dragonforce - Reaching Into Infinity
Steven Wilson - To The Bone

Honorable mentions to Power Quest's Sixth Dimension, GY!BE's Luciferian Towers, Ayreon's The Source. I suppose I should listen to Anathema's new album before the year's up
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: TAC on November 28, 2017, 02:49:30 PM
Cellador - Off The Grid

 :metal :metal

Awesome album. In my Top 5 as well! Was just listening to it last night!!
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Destiny Of Chaos on November 28, 2017, 02:55:13 PM
1. Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
2. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: MirrorMask on November 28, 2017, 03:18:48 PM
1. Elvenking - Secrets of the Magick Grimoire
2. Rage - Seasons of the Black
3. Ayreon - The Source
4. Iced Earth - Incorruptible
5. Eluveitie - Evocation II - Pantheon
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on November 28, 2017, 03:36:53 PM
1. Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
2. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Genuinely impressed you managed this level of failure even with only 2 albums on your list  :corn
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: TAC on November 28, 2017, 04:06:27 PM
In no particular order....

Daydream XI-The Circus Of The Tattered And Torn
Blaze Bayley-Endure And Survive
Cellador-Off The Grid
The Silent Wedding-Enigma Eternal
Iris Divine-The Static And The Noise
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 28, 2017, 04:22:22 PM
I'm trying to compile my ranking of all the albums I've given a good listen to this year (probably like 30+ I guess) but I'm pretty sure my top 5 is set:

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Artificial Language - The Observer
4. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
5. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist

Saying that though, The Dear Hunter are releasing their new EP in a few days so that is almost definitely going to be in my top 5. I can't see it not! It's gonna have to be quite special to knock Emperor of Sand off my top spot but who knows.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Anguyen92 on November 28, 2017, 04:29:29 PM
Despite listening to around 35 albums this year, this year was not as big as a great year for me in terms of listening to music.  Here's my list.

1. Ed Sheeran's Divide
2. Steven Wilson's To The Bone
3. Big Wreck's Grace Street
4. Queens of the Stone Age's Villians
5. Trivium's The Sin and the Sentence

In all honesty, this top 5 really pales from my top 5 in 2016.  There were plenty of good albums, not great enough to consider putting it on top 5 however.  Stone Sour's Hydrograd was a good listen, as was Rise Against's Wolves.  Zac Brown Band's Welcome Home was good as was Ayreon's The Source.  Heck, Nickelback released a pretty darn good album this year in Feed the Machine as well.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Train of Naught on November 29, 2017, 02:30:36 AM
Is someone gonna make an official end of the year list thread? Like the one I did for the first half of the year, or are we using this one? Anyway, this year has been a total mess for me. Not because the quality of releases was too low - definitey not - but I haven't been keeping track really well of all 2017 albums. I think these are my top albums of the year but I might accidentally have forgotten a few:

1. Arfiticial Language - The Observer
2. Leprous - Malina
3. The Contortionist - Clairvoyant
4. Ulver - The Assassination of Julius Caesar
5. Soen - Lykaia
-
6. Persefone - Aathma
7. Brand New - Science Fiction
8. Anathema - The Optimist
9. Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface
10. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
11. Vangough - Warpaint
12. Elder - Reflections of a Floating World
13. Hacride - Inconsolabilis EP
14. Arcane Roots - Melancholia Hymns
15. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist

Good/great but haven't gotten enough spins:

- Converge - The Dusk In Us (possibly an AOTY contender)
- White Moth Black Butterfly - Atone
- White Ward - Futility Report
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers
- Dvne - Asheran
- King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland
- Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
- Hundredth - RARE

Disappointments of the year:

Caligula's Horse - In Contact / Adimiron - Et Liber Eris. Not because they are bad, but because they both had fantastic singles and when the album came out their lead singles ended up being far and away the best songs on both albums (The Sentinel and Will's Song).

Looking forward to:

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs (even though the vocals on the lead single are annoying as fuck, the music was good so I'm hoping for a solid release)
The Dear Hunter - EP thingie, I think it comes out this week :metal don't have high expectations but I'm curious to see what they came up with

Don't think anything else I follow will be released until the end of the year. BTBAM's new album is probably coming out early 2018 though :metal :metal :corn
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Polarbear on November 29, 2017, 03:12:08 AM
In no particular order..

Steven Wilson - To The Bone
The Night Flight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
Depeche Mode - Spirit
Mike Oldfield - Return to Ommadawn
Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
(EP of the Year: Mastodon - Cold Dark Place)

New stuff from Trivium, Paradise Lost and Von Hertzen Brothers has also been great!
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 29, 2017, 03:59:58 AM
Looking forward to:

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs (even though the vocals on the lead single are annoying as fuck, the music was good so I'm hoping for a solid release)
The Dear Hunter - EP thingie, I think it comes out this week :metal don't have high expectations but I'm curious to see what they came up with

Yea I'm looking forward to Pacifisticuffs as well and also the new album by The Faceless  :metal

Obviously I'm totally looking forward to The Dear Hunter's EP more than anything though. Dude, why don't you have high expectations? What about their track record could possibly lead you to believe this will be anything other than awesome? Shame on you!

That being said I've not really checked out anything about it other than a bit here and there. I just want to listen to the whole thing, when it's ready.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SoundscapeMN on November 29, 2017, 10:21:34 AM
again, why I'm happy my year ends on Halloween.

The Dear Hunter, The Faceless, Diablo Swing Orchestra, Galactic Cowboys, U2, The Gloomcatcher are all already in my new season/year's list.
 
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bosk1 on November 29, 2017, 10:26:19 AM
Yeah, I still haven't even bought 5 new albums and don't anticipate doing so before year's end.  Sons of Apollo wins "top album" more or less by default.  There was just scant good music released this year, unfortunately. 
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Stadler on November 29, 2017, 10:31:23 AM
My list is really one:  "Adios" by Glenn Campbell.  Unbelievable record, really, and knowing that "Adios" was released two weeks before he passed is just...

The rest of the list:
- Deep Purple "Infinite"
- Cheap Trick "We're Alright"
- Night Ranger - "Don't Let Up"
- Sons Of Apollo - "Psychotic Symphony"

I'm pretty sure those are the only ones I've bought. 
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: The Walrus on November 29, 2017, 10:46:01 AM
Cellador - Off The Grid

 :metal :metal

Awesome album. In my Top 5 as well! Was just listening to it last night!!

It's great. A bit heavy on the auto-tune in places and I think Chris strains his vocals way too much sometimes (I love Shimmering Status but OUCH! That chorus!), but it's a fantastic return from them. Need to revisit it since it's been a few months but good lord I played the hell out of that album the first half of the year.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: romdrums on November 29, 2017, 11:22:29 AM
sleepmakeswaves- Made of Breath Only
Steven Wilson- To the Bone
IceFish- Human Hardware
Sikth- The Future in Whose Eyes?
Mastodon- Emperor of Sand
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: cramx3 on November 29, 2017, 11:38:52 AM
1. 311 - Mosaic
2. Nocturnal Rites - Phoenix
3. Cyrha - Letters to Myself
4. VUUR - In This Moment We Are Free - Cities
5. The Dark Element - The Dark Element

Honorable mentions:

Epica - The Solace System EP (This is AMAZING, but as an EP, didn't think it should be compared to full albums)
Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
AFI - AFI (The Blood Album)
Less Than Jake - Sound the Alarm (also an EP so goes here, but pretty solid return to their ska/punk sound)

Dissapointments

Incubus - 8
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Elite on November 29, 2017, 11:58:45 AM
Sons of Apollo wins "top album" more or less by default.  There was just scant good music released this year, unfortunately. 

This statement is wrong.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on November 29, 2017, 12:00:09 PM
Yeah just because you personally didn't find much good music doesn't mean there was none  ::)
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bosk1 on November 29, 2017, 12:06:17 PM
Well, as I have looked back at people's lists, and have looked at the release calendar for 2017, I can't find hardly anything good that came out.  If you did, that's great for you.  I'm not begrudging you or using "eyerolls" because you found something to like.  Not sure why you seem to have a problem with the fact that I didn't.  If it overly bothers you that I didn't really find much that is worthwhile in the music scene this past year, that is of course your prerogative, but I would suggest that you reevaluate if others' musical preferences bother you that much.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: cramx3 on November 29, 2017, 12:46:59 PM
Honestly, if not for the last couple of months, I would have felt like Bosk.  Most of the year was not so great for new music for me, I felt like 2016 was a monster year and many of my favorite bands weren't releasing new music.  However, the last couple months brought out debut albums from former band members I really liked (MP in Sons of Apollo, Annette in Dark Element, Jake E in Cyrha, Anneke in VUUR) so that made 2017 a much better year musically than it appeared it was going to be, for me.  Oh an a come back after 10 years from Nocturnal Rites  :metal :metal
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on November 29, 2017, 01:57:53 PM
Reminder bosk tends to speak of his own opinions as they were facts but they're just his own views expressed in that particular way :P
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 29, 2017, 05:11:30 PM
Yeah, I still haven't even bought 5 new albums and don't anticipate doing so before year's end.  Sons of Apollo wins "top album" more or less by default.  There was just scant good music released this year, unfortunately.

Granted, this year hasn't been as good as 2016 but I can point you in the direction of plenty of albums that would leave SoA as a distant memory. Don't settle for your album of the year being there by default  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bosk1 on November 29, 2017, 05:18:19 PM
Reminder bosk tends to speak of his own opinions as they were facts but they're just his own views expressed in that particular way :P

Yes, because that is clearly what happened.   :\

Yeah, I still haven't even bought 5 new albums and don't anticipate doing so before year's end.  Sons of Apollo wins "top album" more or less by default.  There was just scant good music released this year, unfortunately.

Granted, this year hasn't been as good as 2016 but I can point you in the direction of plenty of albums that would leave SoA as a distant memory. Don't settle for your album of the year being there by default  :biggrin:

You're welcome to give it a shot.  But I have my doubts about your ability to succeed unless some albums were released by bands I actually like that I am just not aware of.  :lol
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: NoseofNicko on November 29, 2017, 05:31:41 PM
1. Ruins of Beverast - Exuvia
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Enslaved - E
4. Converge - The Dusk in Us
5. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: NoseofNicko on November 29, 2017, 05:34:00 PM
  • Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell Live

Nice. Haven’t heard all of that live album (will at some point though), but I own the studio album and it’s one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever heard.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: NoseofNicko on November 29, 2017, 05:35:30 PM
1. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers

 :tup Incredibly underrated.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Phoenix87x on November 29, 2017, 05:54:19 PM
I totally forgot to mention

Big Big train - Grimspound
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on November 29, 2017, 05:58:01 PM
1. Ruins of Beverast - Exuvia
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Enslaved - E
4. Converge - The Dusk in Us
5. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Wish I dug Exuvia more than I do, tracks 4 and 6 are awesome but a lot of the rest tends to drag a bit I find, especislly the opener

Also the new Enslaved is great, Hiindsiight is a strong competitor for song of the year imo
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on November 29, 2017, 06:05:24 PM
Yeah, I still haven't even bought 5 new albums and don't anticipate doing so before year's end.  Sons of Apollo wins "top album" more or less by default.  There was just scant good music released this year, unfortunately.

Granted, this year hasn't been as good as 2016 but I can point you in the direction of plenty of albums that would leave SoA as a distant memory. Don't settle for your album of the year being there by default  :biggrin:

You're welcome to give it a shot.  But I have my doubts about your ability to succeed unless some albums were released by bands I actually like that I am just not aware of.  :lol

Well I mean if you're limiting yourself by only listening to bands you know you like then of course I'll have less chance of succeeding. If you're at that stage where you are just happy listening to the bands you know and not discovering new stuff then that's fine. Just don't forget that every single band you love was once a band you'd never heard of.

I've taken a punt on some bands/albums this year. There's been some hits and misses but my thirst for music only seems to grow as I get older.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on November 29, 2017, 06:19:33 PM
  • Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell Live

Nice. Haven’t heard all of that live album (will at some point though), but I own the studio album and it’s one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever heard.
This one also features songs from Age of Adz but all feature brilliant performances, and somehow the Carrie & Lowell songs are a bit more maximalist yet equally powerful, like 4th of July. Definitely give it a try one day  :tup
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: NoseofNicko on November 29, 2017, 06:30:42 PM
1. Ruins of Beverast - Exuvia
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Enslaved - E
4. Converge - The Dusk in Us
5. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Wish I dug Exuvia more than I do, tracks 4 and 6 are awesome but a lot of the rest tends to drag a bit I find, especislly the opener

Also the new Enslaved is great, Hiindsiight is a strong competitor for song of the year imo

I can understand feeling that way about Exuvia, but none of the songs drag to me.

I agree about Hiindsiight. Awesome song.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Stadler on November 30, 2017, 08:05:47 AM
My list of "Bands I finally really dug into in 2017" is far more interesting than the new releases.

Devin Townsend, Neal Morse, The Kinks, Yngwie... soon to be Alice Cooper (Thanks TAC!). 
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: PixelDream on November 30, 2017, 10:03:00 AM
1. Steven Wilson - To The Bone

2. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
3. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
4. Pain of Salvation - In The Passing Light Of Day
5. ?

I really have trouble coming up with even a top 5. I should keep up more. I love To The Bone but not as much as Hand. Cannot. Erase.
I haven't heard anything as amazing as Gojira's Magma this year. Couldn't get into Leprous - Malina although I really like The Congregation.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: nattmorker on November 30, 2017, 10:34:13 AM
1. The Night Flight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
2. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
3. The Dark Element - The Dark Element
4. Ayreon - The Source
5. Leprous - Malina (Actually I just listened to this album thanks to this thread, I've been meaning to for some time, it's awesome!)

I'm sure the new Diablo Swing Orchestra would be in my list aswell once it's released.

Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Nachtmerrie on December 03, 2017, 11:27:07 AM
1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand (+ Cold Dark Place)
2. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
3. Soen - Lykaia
4. Threshold - Legends of the Shires
5. Need - Hegaiamas: a Song for Freedom

Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: ChuckSteak on December 03, 2017, 01:10:17 PM
Adding Major Parkinson - Blackbox to the list.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SoundscapeMN on December 03, 2017, 05:01:45 PM
Adding Major Parkinson - Blackbox to the list.

 :tup
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Anguyen92 on December 03, 2017, 10:10:24 PM
Ok, I don't know why I overlooked this album, but I'm hearing this today and I am definitely enjoying Mastodon's Emperor of Sand after five songs in.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: The Letter M on December 04, 2017, 12:16:55 AM
I've barely bought even a dozen new (studio) albums this year, so I guess I'll give you the half of which I think were better than the other half, and in no particular order:

Big Big Train - Grimspound
Big Big Train - The Second Brightest Star
-These two definitely stand out for me, and have cemented the band's place in my Top 10 bands of all time. Their work since The Underfall Yard has been near perfect every time, and these two albums continue that trend.

Steven Wilson - To The Bone
-I see this on a lot of people's lists, and that's not surprising. It's a great album over-all, with some unique song styles and genre-shifts for SW that, I hope, will continue into his future solo work.

Blackfield - Blackfield V
-The shortest album here, but the songs are really beautiful and definitely evoke the sound of Blackfield's first two albums, arguably their best work (not that DNA and IV are total junkers). The full return of SW is really felt, but his presence isn't overwhelming, and so he and Aviv strike a perfect balance throughout this 45 minute song cycle.

The Tangent - The Slow Rust Of Forgotten Machinery
-I haven't spun this one in a couple months (or weeks, I think I listened to it last month, maybe...), but it's gotten more listens than the Tangents previous work, A Spark In The Aether. The lyrical concepts on this album are appropriate in our times, and the music is strong enough to compliment those lyrics. I'm probably one of two people who will list this album in this thread.

Anathema and Ayreon get honorable mentions mostly because I feel like I never really got INTO their albums, despite loving their previous works. I just don't think I've been in the right moods for those bands this year, despite having great albums the few times I listened to them. Either way, I acknowledge their greatness, but they just didn't stick with me this year. I'm sure they'll hit me next year when I'm in the right moods for them.

And for the curious, the other albums I bought this year but didn't mention above are:
Tim Bowness - Lost In The Ghost Light, Kaipa - Children Of The Sounds, and Sons Of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony (which you'd think I would have in my top 5, but like Anathema and Ayreon, I just haven't been in the mood for that kind of music this year, so I spun it once and shelved it for now...).

EDIT - Putting my list in order for the counting of votes and what not:
1. Big Big Train - Grimspound
2. Steven Wilson - To The Bone
3. Big Big Train - The Second Brightest Star
4. The Tangent - The Slow Rust Of Forgotten Machinery
5. Blackfield - Blackfield V

-Marc.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: wolfking on December 04, 2017, 04:25:06 AM
In no order;

Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence
Firewind - Immortals
Iced Earth - Incorruptible
Dragonforce - Reaching Into Infinity
The Ferrymen - The Ferrymen

The Iced Earth or Dragonforce could be replaced with Dream Evil's Six on some days.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Fritzinger on December 04, 2017, 05:24:12 AM
Rikard Sjöblom's album is still in the mail, haven't heard it yet. I will have to wait with my post until I have heard it :D
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Tomislav95 on December 12, 2017, 01:23:06 PM
Would anyone want me to make Official Top 2017 Albums Thread? If yes, should I use scores from this thread or would all of you want to list your favorites again (in case something changed)? Or I might just do it here?
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on December 12, 2017, 01:30:20 PM
I think here is ok, leave some days to let folks refine their lists before counting the votes - I could help you with that :P
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on December 12, 2017, 01:40:33 PM
How about waiting until the year is over to count :P
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Tomislav95 on December 12, 2017, 01:50:28 PM
Of course. Just wanted to make everyone aware that their latest list will count (or you can just edit the old list).
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Lowdz on December 12, 2017, 02:57:44 PM
Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony

Savage Messiah - Hand Of Fate

Threshold - Legends of the Shires

MindMaze - Resolve

Pyramaze- Contingent

I’ve had half a dozen albums in that 5th place. Might still change before the year is out.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: jakepriest on December 12, 2017, 03:12:12 PM
1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Artificial Language - The Observer

I approve of this.

Also add the Mastodon EP to that. That stuff is killer.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SwedishGoose on December 12, 2017, 03:32:30 PM
Of course. Just wanted to make everyone aware that their latest list will count (or you can just edit the old list).

How will you make the list?
5 points for 1st spot
1 point for 5th spot etc....?
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Tomislav95 on December 12, 2017, 03:39:43 PM
Of course. Just wanted to make everyone aware that their latest list will count (or you can just edit the old list).

How will you make the list?
5 points for 1st spot
1 point for 5th spot etc....?
Yep.
And if someone doesn't want to (can't) rank them, then maybe 1 point each?
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Ninjabait on December 12, 2017, 03:58:58 PM
Here's a pretty much final list of every album I've listened to this year, from worst to best, with my thoughts. Only have two albums [QotSA and Trivium] left to listen to, and I'll edit them in when I do. Y'know, assuming I remember. Also, long post warning!

20. Igorr - Savage Sinsuoid (2.0/5.0)

I've aired my opinions of this album in the Igorr thread, but I'll summarize: this album as a lot of really good moments, and writes a bunch of styles fairly well, but it doesn't worry about actually making sure those styles mesh together or any of the songs flow at all. The album often focuses on experimentation for its own sake rather than making any musical sense. Could be better, honestly.

19. Iglooghost - Neō Wax Bloom (2.5/5.0)

This album's a bit of a chaotic jumble. It has some cool moments, but after a while the album just gets tiring to listen to. Probably not my cup of tea over all.

18. Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony (2.5/5.0)

With all the hype that surrounded this album, I was pretty disappointed after listening to it. This is one of the most cookie cutter prog metal albums I've ever heard. There's a decent song or two here or there, but almost everything on the album is mediocre at best. And some songs (like "Figaro's Whore" and "Opus Maximus") are actually just plain bad. Not a fan of the mix either, as I can't hear Derek Sherinian's keyboard parts half the time and the guitar and bass tones don't mix very well if you ask me.

And no, the band's ridiculous social medial comments did not effect my rating at all.

17. Converge - The Dusk in Us (3.0/5.0)

I've seen this in the middle of a couple of "Album of the Year" listings, so I figure I'd give this a spin. It's okay. Not great, not terrible, but just okay. I've seen a lot of comments about how great this band is live, but so far their studio work has fallen flat on me. Some good riffs and grooves scattered here and there, but the vocals are not even close to how I prefer harsh vocals. Not my cup of tea.

16. Incubus - 8 (3.0/5.0)

After dropping the fantastic Trust Fall Side A EP, my expectations for their 8th album were pretty high. This album proved to be a bit of a disappointment, and probably their worst album I've heard to-date. I'm not a huge fan of the production (especially the guitar tone) or the lyrics, and not many tracks stand out to me now.

15. Hadise - Şampiyon (3.5/5.0)

As far as pop albums go, this one's pretty solid. The title track's an outright banger, and there's some good stuff sprinkled throughout the album. This was a pretty good introduction to Turkish Pop music. Only ranked so low because there's a lot of stuff that was much better.

14. Paramore - After Laughter (3.5/5.0)

Paramore is a band that's hit or miss for me a lot of the time. When they pump out a really good song (Misery Business, Fences, crushcrushcrush, Ignorance, Ain't It Fun, Still Into You, All I Wanted Was You, etc.), that song tends to kick some serious butt. But a lot of their songs just don't do it for me. This album is probably their weakest of the four I've heard, and a lot of the songs fall in to that second category. This could be a grower, but so far it hasn't clicked.

13. Steven Wilson - To the Bone (3.5/5.0)

I could pretty much write the description for this by cutting and pasting blurbs from previous comments. It didn't hit me as strongly as the last four releases (including 4 1/2), but I still feel like it needs some time to grow on me. But, as of now, I haven't had much of an urge to go and listen to it again. Pretty decent, but there was just better stuff this year.

12. Краснознамённая дивизия имени моей бабушки - Посмертные приключения (4.0/5.0)

Yes, that's the actual band name. This album left a pretty good first impression on me, but I haven't really felt the need to revisit it that often. It's got a fun, bouncy atmosphere and mixes elements of Russian Folk, Chamber Pop, and Indie Rock together very cohesively. Very nice album overall.

11. Infected Mushroom - Return to the Sauce (4.0/5.0)

This year, I've tried to put at least some effort into getting into electronic music, and Infected Mushroom was a group that I had come across once or twice on Spotify's Radio and decided to listen to an album by them. Overall, this album's really good, and has a lot more varying moods and textures than a lot of electronic music I've heard so far. There's a lot of really good grooves in here, and it's an album that's hard not to bob your head to. It definitely makes me want to check out the rest of their discography!

10. Persefone - Aathma (4.0/5.0)

I'm still fairly new to Persefone (I just discovered them for the first time a few months ago), but this is probably the weakest of the three albums I've heard so far. It's still good, but it just didn't hit the spot quite like Core or Shin-ken did. Ah well.

The next three albums on the list are pretty close together in terms of quality, so they're pretty much interchangeable.

09. Mastodon - Cold Dark Place (4.0/5.0)

I was a bit surprised to hear Mastodon was dropping an EP right after releasing an album, and I can't say I'm disappointed that they did. This is some quality work here, and it fits in quite nicely with the rest of Mastodon's discography in terms of quality. I really love the acoustic intro to "Toe to Toes", it's one of my favorite moments from any Mastodon song. Probably selfish of me, but I wish there was more songs on this EP.

08. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand (4.0/5.0)

This album sounds like a mix of every other Mastodon album to date. There were moments that sounded like Crack the Skye, The Hunter, Once More Round the Sun, and even Leviathan and Blood Mountain a little. Some solid riffing, and a lot of cool moments and melodies. Not their strongest outing, but overall a really solid addition to their discography. Probably should listen to it more.

It definitely has worst album artwork of the year tho. Yeesh.

07. Flux Conduct - Yetzer Hara (4.0/5.0)

This is probably the most recent addition to this list, and I stumbled upon it by chance in the what album are you listening to thread. I mainly listened to it because of how freaking cool the album artwork is (a bit amusing coming right after Emperor of Sand in this list) and I can't say I'm disappointed that I did. The first track's a bit of a hiccup, but after that the quality gets much better, and this instantly became one of my favorite djent albums.

06. Epica - The Solace System (4.0/5.0)

Epica was firing on all cylinders for this EP, and it really feels like an extension of The Holographic Principle (which was another really solid album from last year). The EP feels pretty contained in itself, and didn't really leave me wanting after it was over. Solid songwriting overall, and Simone Simmons is...well, Simone Simmons. Can't beat that voice. Also, that riff in "The Wheel of Destiny" is delicious. Highlight of the album for me.

05. Taylor Swift - reputation (4.0/5.0)

Probably a weird thing to admit on a Dream Theater forum, but I'm actually a fairly big Swiftie. I've been pretty pumped for this album throughout the year, especially after she dropped two fantastic singles in the form of "Look What You Made Me Do" and "...ready for it?" (which is borderline metal at times. I'm not even kidding, you can almost headbang to that song). I was a bit disappointed that it had a delayed release towards Spotify, but I gave it a listen when it finally dropped and liked what I heard. One of her stronger albums so far and a worth successor to 1989. Like most Taylor Swift albums (and pop albums in general), it has some fat on it, but the overall quality is fairly high and there's some solid bangers on it.

04. Ayreon - The Source (4.0/5.0)

I can't believe this actually came out this year. It feels like it's been ages since this album dropped, and that's really a testament to how long this year has been. Ayreon always hits a pretty consistently high level of quality for me, and this album is no exception. There's a couple of duds on the album, but rock operas are more about the overall package. The album is a good addition to the Ayreon Rock Opera Cycle, and features some of his better work story-wise imo. I also like all the references to 101001101 in the album, and I wish he would do more things like that in Ayreon albums. Also, this is probably one of my favorite "casts" that he's assembled so far, and the singing is fantastic.

03. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs (4.5/5.0)

I was anticipating that this album would rank super highly, especially after I've been waiting almost 3 years for it (since the initial release of Jigsaw Hustle back in 2014). These guys did not disappoint me, and the album has been worth the wait. It doesn't quite live up to Pandora's Pinata (not a fault against it, PP was just that good), but there's a lot of really fun songs on this album and I've spun it quite a few times in the short time since it came out. Only major fault with it is that there's way too many short intro/interlude/outro pieces that don't fit the album very well (although, I did notice that the themes from "Climbing the Eyewall" show up a few times in those tracks so that was cool). The new singer fits the band like a glove, and I love the addition of a string quartet throughout the album. The album's their most classically focused since Butcher's Ballroom in terms of composition, which I appreciate greatly, and it has some of their most intricate and complex arrangements to date. Also, it's almost annoyingly catchy.

02. Lorde - Melodrama (5.0/5.0)

Without a doubt, the best pop album of the last decade (and probably even longer than that). A consistently great album from start to finish, that really illustrates what it's like to come of age in modern times. A huge step up from the already great Pure Heroine, this is a great display of maturity in both songwriting and composition. The album has an almost narrative like feel, but more in the sense of an emotional journey rather than an actual story. You really get taken on a rollercoaster with this album, and it's easy to latch on to the emotions being presented here. It peels back the layer of gold paint, and shows just how empty a lot of the youth and party culture of today is and how empty it makes us youngins feel. Might be a bit of a controversial opinion, but Lorde feels like the Nirvana of this generation, essentially painting a perfect picture of what it feels like to grow up in this day and age. The melodies are consistently fantastic and catchy, and her singing has improved by miles since Pure Heroine (there's also a lot more Kate Bush influence here, which is something I thought I'd mention). The production is top notch, and has gotten a lot better since Pure Heroine. Just an amazing and mature album.

And my album of the year is....

01. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn (5.0/5.0)

You ever listened to an album that sounds amazing on the first listen, and then somehow manages to grow on you even more? That's this album for me. This album is quite honestly a masterwork. NeO has built upon every facet of their style introduced in the past two albums, and pushed their compositional abilities to the max. The album loosely (again, loosely) follow the scheme of a four movement sonata: a weighty first movement (Libra), a more energetic second movement (Intra Venus), a slow third movement (Eyrie), and a finale (Urn). The band plays around with transforming a cyclic theme (heard most prominently in Libra Pt 2), and some reoccurring riffs and patterns (the introduction arpeggios to Intra Venus, for example) to give the album a more unified feel. And that's what the album feels like: a completely unified whole. Each song on the album stands strong on its own, but takes on a whole new life in context. This is an album that is completely focused in artistic vision, and there's not a trace of fat to be found on it. Each moment perfectly flows from one to the next, and shows (much like Portal of I and Citadel) how metal can be strangely beautiful. The playing is top notch, as always, and it feels like they've grown from already being great musicians. There's always something new to discover with each listen, and another layer of depth to be uncovered. An album that's both emotionally and musically complex, and quite honestly one of the finest albums ever made.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: jakepriest on December 12, 2017, 04:06:14 PM
07. Flux Conduct - Yetzer Hara (4.0/5.0)

This is probably the most recent addition to this list, and I stumbled upon it by chance in the what album are you listening to thread. I mainly listened to it because of how freaking cool the album artwork is (a bit amusing coming right after Emperor of Sand in this list) and I can't say I'm disappointed that I did. The first track's a bit of a hiccup, but after that the quality gets much better, and this instantly became one of my favorite djent albums.


I'm glad you checked it out. Make sure to check out the album Qatsi too. It's purely instrumental, but has some awesome music.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on December 12, 2017, 05:15:21 PM
I'm in the process of relistening to all the 2017 albums I've previously checked out (and the ones I'd forgotten to check out) and ranking them.

I'll give a work-in-progress as soon as I can. Some are really growing on me and some have literally done nothing for me. Been a better year than I'd realised.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on December 12, 2017, 06:15:40 PM
So, work in progress:

Amazing:

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Artificial Language - The Observer
4. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
5. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
6. The Dear Hunter - All is as All Should Be (EP)

Very good:

7. Odd Logic - Effigy
8. Set and Setting - Reflectionless
9. Enslaved - E
10. Pain of Salvation - Passing Light of Day
11. Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence
12. Caligula's Horse - In Contact

Good:

13. Adimiron - Et Liber Eris
14. Eidola - To Speak, To Listen
15. Soen - Lykaia
16. The King Blues - The Gospel Truth
17. Persefone - Aathma
18. Vangough - Warpaint
19. Stone Sour - Hydrograd
20. Arcane Roots - Melancholia Hymns

Average:

21. Nobuo Uematsu & Distant Worlds Orchestra - Distant Worlds IV: More Music From Final Fantasy
22. Elder - Reflections From a Floating World
23. Anathema - The Optimist
24. Mastodon - Cold Dark Place (EP)
25. James McAllister, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly and Sufjan Stevens - Planetarium
26. Igorrr - Savage Sinusoid
27. Sikth - The Future in Whose Eyes?
28. Disperse - Foreword
29. Brand New - Science Fiction
30. The Faceless - In Becoming a Ghost
31. Rise Against - Wolves
32. Me and That Man - Songs of Love and Death

Disappointing:

33. David Maxim Micic - Who Bit the Moon
34. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
35. Paradise Lost - Medusa
36. Ayreon - The Source
37. Rancid - Trouble Maker


Still to rank:

Adrift for Days - A Sleepless Grey
And So I Watch You from Afar - The Endless Shimmering
Arcadea - Arcadea
Bent Knee - Land Animal
Circa Survive - The Amulet
The Contortionist - Claivoyant
Cyhra - Letters to Myself
The Earth and I - The Candleman
The Flatliners - Inviting Light
The Great Discord - The Rabbit Hole
Junius - Eternal Rituals for the Accretion of Light
Kepler Ten - Delta-V
Mogwai - Every Country's Sun
Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
Nova Collective - The Further Side
The Ongoing Concept - Places
Pallbearer - Heartless
Progenie Terrestre Pura - OltreLuna
Solstafir - Berdreyminn
Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
Ulver - The Assassination of Julius Caeser
VUUR - In This Moment We Are Free - Cities
Xanthochroid - Of Erthe and Axen: Act I
Xanthochroid - Of Erthe and Axen: Act II


Yea, I'll hopefully finish this ranking by the end of the month  :corn
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Anguyen92 on December 12, 2017, 10:54:47 PM
After doing some rethinking, here's where I stand, especially after listening to Mastodon's Emperor of Sand album.  Don't know why it took me long enough to listen to it.  Probably thought that there was no way, with the way people praise Mastodon and this album, it can live up to the expectations I had set, but it did, and it was an enjoyable listen.

1. Ed Sheeran's Divide
2. Steven Wilson's To The Bone
3. Big Wreck's Grace Street
4. Trivium's The Sin and the Sentence
5. Mastodon's Emperor of Sand (probably can go up another slot or two after more listens to it)
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: ytserush on December 13, 2017, 07:05:56 PM
In no order

Gizmodrome -- Gizmodrome

Roger Waters -- Is This The Life We Really Want?

Robert Plant -- Carry Fire

John Zorn -- Garden Of Earthly Delights

Marco Minnemann -- Borrego

Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Zydar on December 14, 2017, 12:25:21 PM
Top 5 albums:

Mastodon - Emperor Of Sand
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Who Built The Moon?
Threshold - Legends Of The Shires
Steven Wilson - To The Bone
Foo Fighters - Concrete And Gold

Honorable mentions:

Pain Of Salvation - In The Passing Light Of Day
Mastodon - Cold Dark Place EP
Europe - Walk The Earth
Mando Diao - Good Times
Liam Gallagher - As You Were
TC & I - Great Aspirations EP
Pugwash - Silverlake

Favourite songs throughout the year:

Noel Gallagher - If Love Is The Law
Steven Wilson - People Who Eat Darkness
Mastodon - Roots Remain
Mastodon - Toe To Toes
Threshold - Small Dark Lines
Europe - Kingdom United
Liam Gallagher - Doesn't Have To Be That Way
Mando Diao - Watch Me Now
Pugwash - The Perfect Summer
Foo Fighters - The Line
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bill1971 on December 14, 2017, 12:26:22 PM
I have only heard 3 all the way

Living Colour- Shade.            By far the best of the year. Amazing as always

Geoff tat'es Operation Mindcrime A New Reality.    Some really strong tracks, on my second listen and really enyoing it

Sons of Apollo....Major over hyped disappointment

Well if you count Sound tracks, The Logan one is very good and atmospheric. 
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: jingle.boy on December 14, 2017, 12:56:30 PM
Sons of Apollo wins "top album" more or less by default.  There was just scant good music released this year, unfortunately. 

This statement is wrong.

So wrong.

Bosk... there's lots of FANTASTIC music out there - even for your tastes.  I suspect that you simply don't have the wherewithal and/or time to go out and search/find it - and that's fine, not everyone wants to or has time to listen to dozens or hundreds of albums in a year.  But to say there was scant good music released this year is a rather myopic statement.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bill1971 on December 14, 2017, 01:19:06 PM
Sons of Apollo wins "top album" more or less by default.  There was just scant good music released this year, unfortunately. 

This statement is wrong.

So wrong.

Bosk... there's lots of FANTASTIC music out there - even for your tastes.  I suspect that you simply don't have the wherewithal and/or time to go out and search/find it - and that's fine, not everyone wants to or has time to listen to dozens or hundreds of albums in a year.  But to say there was scant good music released this year is a rather myopic statement.

I had no idea myself until I saw this thread. I will have to check out Mastodon and POS at the very least.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: majo on December 14, 2017, 01:31:31 PM
big big train, soen, mastodon EP, threshold, ayreon
HM: stacey kent, living colour
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: The Letter M on December 14, 2017, 01:44:58 PM
big big train, soen, mastodon EP, threshold, ayreon
HM: stacey kent, living colour

Wait...which BBT album? They released TWO this year... :lol

-Marc.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Shredzorz on December 14, 2017, 02:13:49 PM
1. Anubis Gate - Covered in Black
2. The Night Flight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
3. VUUR - In This Moment We Are Free
4. Threshold - Legends of the Shires
5. Ayreon - The Source

The only other new album I listened to was Serenity's new one, which I didn't like very much. The other five were all great though.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SwedishGoose on December 14, 2017, 02:22:33 PM
big big train, soen, mastodon EP, threshold, ayreon
HM: stacey kent, living colour

Wait...which BBT album? They released TWO this year... :lol

-Marc.

Don't forget the Christmas single...
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on December 14, 2017, 04:00:05 PM
I plan on doing a top 100 of 2017 at some point in January. So far I've listened to 253 albums enough to be able to rank them, but I have several more that I need to give a few more listens to. And yes I listen to a lot of new music every year.....

As of right now my top 5 are...
1. Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Finisterre
2. The Great Old Ones - EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy
3. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
4. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
5. Caligula's Horse - In Contact

These could change at any time up to the end of the year though.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bill1971 on December 14, 2017, 04:40:46 PM
I plan on doing a top 100 of 2017 at some point in January. So far I've listened to 253 albums enough to be able to rank them, but I have several more that I need to give a few more listens to. And yes I listen to a lot of new music every year.....

As of right now my top 5 are...
1. Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Finisterre
2. The Great Old Ones - EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy
3. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
4. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
5. Caligula's Horse - In Contact

These could change at any time up to the end of the year though.


Oh yes, I forgot some I listened to in the first few months

1. Rgstys Iu Ytsgr. "Yes it is me"
2. The Skinny Potatoes "An Ode to the Ides of March"
3. Le Flen Twa Ami "Tu et moi tot de flenchermeiger"
4. Itsy Bitsy "A twice spun spider tale, part 8"
5. Der Beerst est bestt ven koold "yeager non da enu"


I just felt left out with rare and completely unknown bands...
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Elite on December 15, 2017, 05:11:24 AM
Oh yes, I forgot some I listened to in the first few months

1. Rgstys Iu Ytsgr. "Yes it is me"
2. The Skinny Potatoes "An Ode to the Ides of March"
3. Le Flen Twa Ami "Tu et moi tot de flenchermeiger"
4. Itsy Bitsy "A twice spun spider tale, part 8"
5. Der Beerst est bestt ven koold "yeager non da enu"

These are not real bands, right?
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Train of Naught on December 15, 2017, 05:22:28 AM
I plan on doing a top 100 of 2017 at some point in January. So far I've listened to 253 albums enough to be able to rank them, but I have several more that I need to give a few more listens to. And yes I listen to a lot of new music every year.....

As of right now my top 5 are...
1. Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Finisterre
2. The Great Old Ones - EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy
3. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
4. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
5. Caligula's Horse - In Contact

These could change at any time up to the end of the year though.


Oh yes, I forgot some I listened to in the first few months

1. Rgstys Iu Ytsgr. "Yes it is me"
2. The Skinny Potatoes "An Ode to the Ides of March"
3. Le Flen Twa Ami "Tu et moi tot de flenchermeiger"
4. Itsy Bitsy "A twice spun spider tale, part 8"
5. Der Beerst est bestt ven koold "yeager non da enu"


I just felt left out with rare and completely unknown bands...
I don't know what to tell you if you consider Ne Obliviscaris and Caligula's Horse to be rare and completely unknown :lol that's crazy talk
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Luoto on December 15, 2017, 05:34:29 AM
I don't know what to tell you if you consider Ne Obliviscaris and Caligula's Horse to be rare and completely unknown :lol that's crazy talk

Saying those two bands aren't obscure is a bubble of sorts, unfortunately. Those kind of reactions are funny nevertheless :lol
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bill1971 on December 15, 2017, 08:49:08 AM
Oh yes, I forgot some I listened to in the first few months

1. Rgstys Iu Ytsgr. "Yes it is me"
2. The Skinny Potatoes "An Ode to the Ides of March"
3. Le Flen Twa Ami "Tu et moi tot de flenchermeiger"
4. Itsy Bitsy "A twice spun spider tale, part 8"
5. Der Beerst est bestt ven koold "yeager non da enu"

These are not real bands, right?

No I was just kidding. :)

I am amazed how many bands are out there I have NO idea about. Then again people give me a weird look when I tell them I like Dream Theater or even Fates Warning. I am glad no one took it as me making fun of the post, more poking fun at myself or the tremendous amount of bands out there.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Grappler on December 15, 2017, 08:53:12 AM
Not sure how I'd rank them, but I enjoyed these the most this year:

The Dark Element
Iced Earth - Incorruptible
Act of Defiance - Old Scars, New Wounds
Kreator - Gods of Violence
The Haunted - Strength in Numbers
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: busty sinclair on December 15, 2017, 09:17:01 AM
i havent officially made my list but these are towards the top

steven wilson- to the bone
toehider- good
pain of salvation- passing light of day
big big train- grimspound
the contortionist- clairvoyant

these would be further down

caligulas horse- in contact
mastodon- emperor of sand
sons of apollo- psychotic symphony
leprous- manila

Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bill1971 on December 15, 2017, 10:21:33 AM
i havent officially made my list but these are towards the top

steven wilson- to the bone
toehider- good
pain of salvation- passing light of day
big big train- grimspound
the contortionist- clairvoyant

these would be further down

caligulas horse- in contact
mastodon- emperor of sand
sons of apollo- psychotic symphony
leprous- manila

Because o f this thread I checked out the new Mastodon and Pain of Salvation. Mastodon was good but I feel like I've been there done that. Still very good though. Amazing musicians. Pain of Salvation so far is really really good. I am about 8 or 9 tracks in.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on December 15, 2017, 11:04:38 AM
I've only procured 7 albums from 2017.

One More Light - Linkin Park (okay)
Wolves - Rise Against (good)
The Mission - Styx (very good)
Mosaic - 311 (very good)
Walk into a Storm - The Lone Bellow (very good)
Psychotic Symphony - Sons of Apollo (okay)
Reputation - Taylor Swift (have not listened - this is my wife's)

It's rare that I get an album from a band or artist I'm not already familiar with. I will say that 311 and Styx are long-time favorites of mine that did NOT disappoint with their new albums. The Lone Bellow and Rise Against are newer favorites of mine. TLB have 3 really good albums out now, and will from now on be a day-one buy for me. RA have made up for a few lack-luster albums with Wolves. One More Light was an album I was only interested in after Chester died; I was a fan up until MTM, and then fell off the bandwagon. I've since picked up their latest four albums, and while I like OML (especially the title track), it's probably #6 out of 7 for their albums. Psychotic Symphony has a few good songs (first 3 songs are great), then a few good riffs (Divine Addiction riff is nasty), but otherwise forgettable. And the instrumental is a mess at the end of the album. Top 5 would probably go: Mosaic, Walk Into a Storm, The Mission, Wolves... and, I dunno, Psychotic Symphony, I guess.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bill1971 on December 15, 2017, 03:29:53 PM
Updated thanks to this thread

Mastodon's Emperor of Sand ...Very good but I think it sounds too similar to past albums
Steven Wilson To the Bone...very refreshing. I am one of the few that did not like the Raven because it to me sounded to hard to be prog but this is very surprising.
Geoff Tate's The New Reality...after 2 listens, I really like it but like I said I can only see myself going back to possibly 3 songs
Living Colour Shade...LOVE IT. My favorite of the year
Sons of Apollo ....HUGE disappointment. Way over hyped with almost zero pay off
Pain of Salvation A very solid and cohesive concept album. The heavy parts are great, nice and complicated without hitting you over the head with it. The mellow parts are moving and emotional
Anubis Gate...also very good but sounds too similar to their previous releases
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Zoom E on December 15, 2017, 03:37:58 PM
Mastodon- Emperor of Sand
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Witherfall - Noctures and Requiems
The Nightflight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
Ayreon - The Source
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bill1971 on December 18, 2017, 02:44:21 PM
Ninjabait...How did you ever hear of this band. Even if I wanted to buy it off my Amazon mp3 app I couldn't even search for it.

Краснознамённая дивизия имени моей бабушки - Посмертные приключения (4.0/5.0)

Yes, that's the actual band name. This album left a pretty good first impression on me, but I haven't really felt the need to revisit it that often. It's got a fun, bouncy atmosphere and mixes elements of Russian Folk, Chamber Pop, and Indie Rock together very cohesively. Very nice album overall.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Ninjabait on December 18, 2017, 06:59:24 PM
I went on rateyourmusic, searched Chamber Pop and narrowed the search to albums from 2010s. It was #7 on the list, and I managed to find it on Spotify. I don't know if it's on Amazon or iTunes because I honestly haven't used either in months.

I find a lot of good new music this way.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Moor on December 19, 2017, 05:42:06 AM
Because of this thread, I listened (several times) to the following albums which were not on my top 5:

Pain of Salvation - The Passing Light of Day
Threshold - Legends of the Shire
SOA-Psychotic Symphony

I was blown away by POS and Threshold! Especially the POS album!
I enjoyed listening to SOA (for 3 times) but there is nothing making me want to listen to it again.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Dreammajesty on December 19, 2017, 12:15:37 PM
Here are mine :

Anathema - the optimist
Ayreon - the source
Mastodon - emperor of sand
Primus - the desaturating seven
Manchester Orchestra - a black mile to the surface
The Dear Hunter - all is as all should be
Myrkur - mareridt
Leprous - malina
Soen - lykaia
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: The Walrus on December 19, 2017, 01:24:32 PM
Strongly considering putting Eminem's new album in my top 5..
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Zantera on December 25, 2017, 12:26:03 PM
1. Amplifier - Trippin' With Dr. Faustus
2. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland
3. Converge - The Dusk in Us
4. Brand New - Science Fiction
5. Kairon; IRSE! - Ruination

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Zantera/favorite-albums-of-2017/
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: busty sinclair on December 26, 2017, 07:42:12 AM
my top ten for the year

1) steven wilson- to the bone
2) mastodon- the emperor of sand
3) toehider- good
4) pain of salvation- the passing light of day
5) anathema- the optimist
6) big big train- grimspound
7) the contortionist- clairvoyant
8) leprous- manila
9) sons of apollo- psychotic symphony
10) caligulas horse- in contact
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Tomislav95 on December 26, 2017, 08:01:58 AM
Hey guys. I started to count your votes already but feel free to update your list until (let's say) January 7th. And I'd like you to order your lists as that way your votes mean more to overall score. Thanks!

Here's my updated list:

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
3. Lorde - Melodrama
3. Soen - Lykaia
5. Steven Wilson - To the Bone

...and all 2017 albums I heard, ranked:
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Ghost_of_Perdition/2017-albums-ranked/
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on December 26, 2017, 09:43:27 AM
this still isn't final but i wanna have at least one list up before the year's over so w/e

1. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
2. Venenum - Trance of Death
3. Der Weg einer Freiheit - Finisterre
4. Enslaved - E
5. Cormorant - Diaspora
6. Lorde - Melodrama
7. White Ward - Futility Report
8. Progenie Terrestre Pura - oltreLuna
9. Brand New - Science Fiction
10. Exist - So True, So Bound

HMs (no order):
Fen - Winter
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Shade Empire - Poetry of the Ill-Minded
Xanthochroid - Of Erthe and Axen (tbh I still have yet to listen to both acts together though, hard to find a good 90 mins to do so :facepalm:)

Xanthochroid may make the list proper & I'm still waiting on Adimiron to ship + a few other late year releases I wanna check out so I dunno but this is still pretty good for now
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Train of Naught on December 26, 2017, 10:02:10 AM
The new Adimiron is pretty adimehron, too bad you already purchased it

Xanthochroid: The album with a great first act and "why did you guys make this into a double album" second act. Second act is still good, just could've easily combined its best moments with the first act's best moment to make a 1 hour album.

Tomislav you can replace my old top 5 with this one, Brand New and Converge replaced Soen and Ulver. Hirsch Effekt is also climbing rankings, prob top 10 now but not top 5

1. Artificial Language - The Observer
2. Leprous - Malina
3. The Contortionist - Clairvoyant
4. Brand New - Science Fiction
5. Converge - The Dusk In Us

Too many honorable mentions to go through right now. The highs of this year weren't as high as 2016 (but that's never gonna happen anyways) but there were a lot of great releases
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on December 26, 2017, 10:12:03 AM
i dug the album when i listened to it so whatever  :corn
eww artificial language though
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Evermind on December 26, 2017, 10:17:13 AM
I don't know if I should do the list this year, I haven't checked a lot of albums at all, hoping to fix that in 2018. But here we go:

1. Pain of Salvation - The Passing Light of Day
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Need - Hegaiamas
4. Artificial Language - The Observer
5. Ayreon - The Source


Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on December 26, 2017, 03:34:54 PM
I'm trying to compile my ranking of all the albums I've given a good listen to this year (probably like 30+ I guess) but I'm pretty sure my top 5 is set:

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Artificial Language - The Observer
4. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
5. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist

Saying that though, The Dear Hunter are releasing their new EP in a few days so that is almost definitely going to be in my top 5. I can't see it not! It's gonna have to be quite special to knock Emperor of Sand off my top spot but who knows.

So my updated list has only changed slightly:

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Artificial Language - The Observer
4. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
5. The Dear Hunter - All is as All Should Be (EP)

I've only got like two albums to rank out of all the albums I listened to this year. I'll try and get that sorted at some point.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on December 26, 2017, 05:26:08 PM

eww artificial language though
Agreed. Everyone around here kept talking it up like it was the best album of the year.....Let's just say I was disappointed.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Elite on December 27, 2017, 04:17:59 AM
Will do a proper list later.

Let's make a definitive list now. I don't expect myself to listen to much more new stuff before the year is over. This year I've listening to 'older' stuff way more than new music, so my list is quite short. I only listened to to 33 albums released this year and I don't want to rank them all. Here's a top 10:

(1. Radiohead - OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997-2017)
Yes, I know this is a freaking reissue, but this is the best sounding re-release I have ever heard. The bonus tracks are a huge plus as well. Since OK Computer is a top 10-15 album of all time for me, not having this one top the list would be ridiculous. Phenomenal stuff!


1. Ulver - The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Ulver cemented themselves as one of my favourite musical groups by the end of last year. They completely blew me away with this particular record as well. Astounding achievement from an ever-evolving band.

2. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
I can see how many people would not enjoy the pop-direction Steven Wilson chose on this record, but honestly, I think the people who say that are deceiving themselves; Steven Wilson has always had lots of pop influences in all his work. They're just more on the forefront here and my god, he sure knows how to exploit them. This man never disappoints.

3. Caligula's Horse - In Contact
I might be in the minority here, but I think this album is amazing. Not groundbreaking by any means, for the progressive metal music these guys make is rather straight-forward. It's just done so well that I can't help but rock out every time I hear this album. Quality stuff.

4. Leprous - Malina
Took me way too long to get into this record and, while I don't believe it's nearly as strong as the predecessors (in fact, I think the only album they have made that's worse is Coal, this disc surely has a lot of great moments. It's not without reason that these guys are at the helm of modern progressive metal today.

5. Semistereo - Trans Earth Injection
Some love for my fellow countrymen of Semistereo. Got into these guys way too late and should have done so a lot earlier. They're great guys and this album, which was completely DIY in every single aspect, could floor you easily. It's heavy, it's not, it's progressive, it's post, it's poppy and technical, all at once.

6-10 (unranked)
Perihelion Ship - To Paint a Bird of Fire
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Anathema - The Optimist
Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
Overhaul - Notes by an Unstable Muser (yeah, that's my own band :lol)
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Lethean on December 27, 2017, 08:42:55 AM
Need - Hegaiamas
Leprous - Malina
Threshold - Legends of the Shires
Voyager - Ghost Mile

Not sure about #5 yet. I still have some albums to get to and it won't be until next week.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on December 27, 2017, 08:50:37 AM
I have about 12 more albums that I need to properly rank. Once I do that my list will be set in stone. Hopefully by the end of this week. I have high hopes for Perihelion Ship and Xanthochroid breaking the top 10.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Pettor on December 28, 2017, 04:23:42 AM
Been a slow and maybe disappointing year for new releases. Leprous, Aryeon and Steven Wilson all wasn't my cup of tea. However, discovered a lot of old prog rock album that I love and, in the end, seeing Pain of Salvation back was  :metal

1. Pain of Salvation - In The Passing Light of Day
If they released The Passing Light of Day as a single track it would still destroy all the competition this year. Great come back!

2. Thåström - Centralmassivet
This is a Swedish artist. Great stuff.

3. Major Parkinsson - Blackbox
Such a great surprise. This sounds like Sleepytime Gorilla Museum goes progressive.

4. Big Big Train - Grimspund
Folklore is better but this is none the least a great new album.

5. Ayreon - The Source
A bit disappointing but still always some stuff on Ayreon album I can't avoid no matter how cheesy. The Ayreon formula is getting a bit repetitive and maybe even a bit uninspired.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Ninjabait on December 30, 2017, 04:05:56 PM
I'm going to give this as my final, official ranking of the 50 newly released albums I listened to this year. No thoughts or brief reviews of any sort, since there's...y'know, 50 albums.

5.0/5.0
01. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
02. Lorde - Melodrama

4.5/5.0
03. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
04. Soen - Lykaia
05. Artificial Language - The Observer

4.0/5.0
06. Ayreon - The Source
07. Dear Hunter - All is As All Should Be
08. Taylor Swift - reputation
09. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
10. Epica - The Solace System
11. Big Big Train - The Second Brightest Star
12. Enslaved - E
13. Flux Conduct - Yetzer Hara
14. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
15. Mastodon - Cold Dark Place
16. We Came as Romans - Cold Like War
17. Leprous - Malina
18. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland
19. Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence
20. Persefone - Aathma
21. Infected Mushroom - Return to the Sauce
22. The Dark Element - The Dark Element
23. Caligula's Horse - In Contact
24. Краснознамённая дивизия имени моей бабушки - Посмертные приключения
25. Epica - Epica vs Attack on Titan Songs

3.5/5.0
26. Ed Sheeran - Divide [Deluxe Edition]
27. Bent Knee - Land Animal
28. Scale the Summit - In a World of Fear
29. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
30. Demi Lovato - Tell Me You Love Me
31. Threshold - Legends of the Shires
32. Nova Collective - The Further Side
33. Big Big Train - Grimspound
34. Paramore - After Laughter
35. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
36. Lana Del Ray - Lust for Life
37. Lindsey Stirling - Warmer in the Winter
38. Dragonforce - Reaching Into Infinity
39. The Thirteenth Sun - Stardust
40. Queens of the Stone Age - Villains
41. Hadise - Şampiyon
42. Anathema - The Optimist

3.0/5.0
43. Toehider - Good
44. Incubus - 8
45. Dutch Uncles - Big Balloon
46. Converge - The Dusk in Us

2.5/5.0
47. Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
48. Iglooghost - Neō Wax Bloom

2.0/5.0
49. Igorrr - Savage Sinusoid

1.5/5.0
50. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Anguyen92 on December 30, 2017, 04:51:15 PM
^^ About your list, I find it humorous that if you google translate "Краснознамённая дивизия имени моей бабушки - Посмертные приключения," you would get "Red Banner Division named after my grandmother - Posthumous Adventures." 

Anyway, I'm surprised to see a Lorde album get mentioned here as well as rated highly.  For me, I did not enjoy it, except for her last track, but honestly, I came to the conclusion that it's just not going to be for me.

Ed Sheeran's Divide album still tops the pop album of 2017 for me and is honestly, my album of the year.  The reason mainly is that with the exception of "Shape of You" I had a enjoyable listen to it front-to-back while the majority of the albums I heard I thought, "Good album, a few great songs here, but the overall album listening experience was not great as I hoped."

All right, this is actually my final top 5 albums ordering for 2017.

1. Ed Sheeran's Divide
2. Big Wreck's Grace Street
3. Trivium's The Sin and the Sentence
4. Mastodon's Emperor of Sand
5. Steven Wilson's To The Bone
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on December 30, 2017, 05:52:52 PM
melodrama is a grower, i liked at first but reeaally like it by now, dozens of spins later
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: devieira73 on December 30, 2017, 06:05:27 PM
My 10 favorites, in no particular order:
Pain of salvation - In the passing light of day. A great combination of PoS from the first 4 CDs with the Road Salts.
Mastodon - Emperor of Sand. A continuation of the excellent and more accessible phase of the band.
Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony. Nice cross between FII, SC, BC&SL and classic rock.
KXM - Scatterbrained. Killer hard groove rock with a monster drummer.
Living Colour - Shade. Almost at the same level of the fantastic first three.
Steven Wilson - To the bone. Excellent prog pop. Excellent Steven Wilson as always.
Revolution Saints - Light in the Dark. AOR done with perfection.
Next to None - Phases. Prog metal with a lot of originality IMO.
Marty Friedman - Wall of Sound. Very impressive. Almost all instrumental, very creative and diverse, yet relentlessly heavy.
Primus - The Desaturating Seven. A version of the classic Primus, with a prog and psychedelic edge.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Ninjabait on December 30, 2017, 06:27:22 PM
^^ About your list, I find it humorous that if you google translate "Краснознамённая дивизия имени моей бабушки - Посмертные приключения," you would get "Red Banner Division named after my grandmother - Posthumous Adventures."

I noticed that too haha. I have no idea what the story behind that name is, but it's probably one of my favorite band names right now. 

Anyway, I'm surprised to see a Lorde album get mentioned here as well as rated highly.  For me, I did not enjoy it, except for her last track, but honestly, I came to the conclusion that it's just not going to be for me.

Understandable, honestly. I'm a big Lorde fan and I like pop music in general which makes me a bit of a unicorn among progheads I guess. I gave my thoughts on the album earlier on in the thread, so I'll skip explaining myself again, but it's an album I really enjoy.

melodrama is a grower, i liked at first but reeaally like it by now, dozens of spins later

Also, this. Both of her albums were huge growers for me (Melodrama less so because it basically just went from a 4.5 to a 5). I didn't even like Pure Heroine at first (to be fair this was back when I was a bit more musically close-minded and didn't like much pop on principle), but I listened to it again a year or two ago and found that I actually really digged it. It just kind of "clicked" for me.

Ed Sheeran's Divide album still tops the pop album of 2017 for me and is honestly, my album of the year.  The reason mainly is that with the exception of "Shape of You" I had a enjoyable listen to it front-to-back while the majority of the albums I heard I thought, "Good album, a few great songs here, but the overall album listening experience was not great as I hoped."

That's pretty much my exact thoughts on the album. It has a lot of really great tunes on it, but it ends on a rather disappointing note (ending with a weak ballad? What?) in both the regular and deluxe versions and the album doesn't "flow" as well as I would like. That, and Ed Sheeran rapping is something I can tbh live without.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: devieira73 on December 30, 2017, 06:47:23 PM
I forgot Sepultura - Machine Messiah. Really powerful and complex album by the band!
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Mladen on December 30, 2017, 11:13:07 PM
1.5/5.0
50. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me
I know almost nothing about this album, but I've seen reviewers list it as one of the best albums of the year. Care to elaborate the low grade?
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on December 30, 2017, 11:22:51 PM
it's literally not art & incredibly one note
one of the reviewers i follow refused to rate it because of how it was literally not art
everyone else praises it for being "an interesting reflection on death" despite it literally not being that
i listened to it once and got everything i would ever need from it out of that one listen and have no clue what people are seeing in it besides that
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Zantera on December 31, 2017, 03:56:12 AM
It's a pretty solid lo-fi singer/songwriter album, VERY minimalist sounding. Whether that's your thing or not will highly affect how you grade it. Emotional lyrics but what some would call lacking music to go with it. I personally enjoyed it (though not one of the best of the year for me), but could easily see why someone wouldn't. If you're not hugely into lyrics and the message of the music, you won't really get much from it musically, which is kinda my problem with it.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: NoseofNicko on December 31, 2017, 03:58:52 AM
it's literally not art

What the fuck does that even mean?
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Nachtmerrie on December 31, 2017, 05:16:25 AM
1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand (+ Cold Dark Place)
2. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
3. Soen - Lykaia
4. Threshold - Legends of the Shires
5. Need - Hegaiamas: a Song for Freedom

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand (+ Cold Dark Place)
2. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
3. Soen - Lykaia
4. Caligula's Horse - In Contact
5. Need - Hegaiamas: a Song for Freedom

Got some great recommendations out of this topic.
I gave Artificial Language, Enslaved and Xanthochroid a first spin and will revisit them next for week.

Same with Daydream XI and ZAIUS which I discovered recently form the Ultimatemetal top 50 by Harvester
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Ninjabait on December 31, 2017, 07:30:05 AM
1.5/5.0
50. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me
I know almost nothing about this album, but I've seen reviewers list it as one of the best albums of the year. Care to elaborate the low grade?

Sure thing. I'll give what little background on the album I know first: this album was essentially Phil Elverum performing a "musical exorcism" to move past the death of his wife. I don't know much about him, his wife, or the situation (this is literally my introduction to his work) so I'll refrain from going into too much detail to avoid getting something wrong. It's essentially 45ish minutes of letting it all out so the grief doesn't overcome him. I saw a lot of people (on rym at least) give it good scores or no scores because of this. The phrase "I think giving this album a score misses the point" came up a lot. It's definitely and very obviously an album that he needed to make, but it's SO extremely personal that it's almost impossible to relate to at times.

That said, I evaluate albums based on the music in it, not the background. This album, musically speaking, is bad. The arrangements are sparse to the point of being uninteresting and dull, the production is sloppy, some of the lyrical phrasing can be pretentious and ridiculous at times ("When I take out the garbage at night / I'm not exactly with you / I'm with the universe"), and the singing and melodic writing is bad. He mumbles through each line, sings completely in monotone, and wrote some of the most unnatural, meandering, and exhausting melodic lines. Each melodic line just stumbles head-long into the next one, and lacks any sort of stable construction. There's no melodic phrasing, rhythmic structure, or anything of the sort. This is probably a by-product of the lyrics (which aren't lyrics so much as blog/letter-esque writing), and the endless recitative effect gets tiring. Fast.

The problem is that if the album were about literally anything else, I think it would not have been evaluated so highly. But because of how personal it is, reviewers are afraid to show any negative thought towards it (heck, that thought crossed my mind once or twice). I'm a huge proponent (both as a listener and an artist) of "the death of the author". I believe that when evaluating any piece of art (whether it be literary, visual, film, or music) the actual person who wrote it and their thoughts, intentions, and biography should not be considered. I don't need to know that Mozart wrote his Requiem while dying, or that Freddie Mercury sang "The Show Must Go On" in one take while literally dying from AIDs, or that Beethoven's 9th Symphony was the first symphony to incorporate choral elements. Those facts don't affect my enjoyment of those pieces of music. The art should be able to stand on its own, and I don't think this particular piece of art does.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Mladen on December 31, 2017, 10:42:44 AM
Great post, thanks for the insight.  :tup

I think the albums sometimes can benefit quite a bit from the context and personal meanings, but they also need to stand on their own. When both factors come together, the album can be truly fantastic.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on December 31, 2017, 11:51:56 AM
I plan on doing a top 100 of 2017 at some point in January. So far I've listened to 253 albums enough to be able to rank them, but I have several more that I need to give a few more listens to. And yes I listen to a lot of new music every year.....

As of right now my top 5 are...
1. Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Finisterre
2. The Great Old Ones - EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy
3. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
4. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
5. Caligula's Horse - In Contact

These could change at any time up to the end of the year though.
Update of my top 5.
1. Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Finisterre
2. The Great Old Ones - EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy
3. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
4. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
5. Dvne - Asheran

Still not sure if the new Xanthochroid album will crack my top 5. I'll give it a couple more listens.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on December 31, 2017, 12:20:30 PM
i've tried and tried with EOD and just can't get much out of it (hence not buying it despite that i've listened through it like, 4-5 times LOL  :facepalm:)
A+ to your #1 and #3 though, of course
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on December 31, 2017, 01:42:49 PM
I've seen lots of mixed reviews for EOD, so it's understandable it doesn't work for everyone, but for me everything just clicked.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Lowdz on December 31, 2017, 02:30:17 PM
A recent YouTube find has to feature in my list.

Daydream XI - The Circus of the Tattered and Torn.

Prog metal. DTesque. Concept album. Lots of widdly widdly. Very good singer.

Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: bl5150 on December 31, 2017, 02:32:50 PM
A recent YouTube find has to feature in my list.

Daydream XI - The Circus of the Tattered and Torn.

Prog metal. DTesque. Concept album. Lots of widdly widdly. Very good singer.

I liked that one and it'll feature in the podcast but for me there was something not quite there in the songwriting (vs the technical skill) on many of the tracks -only one track where everything came together for me.  But they have huge potential .
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Lowdz on December 31, 2017, 02:37:32 PM
A recent YouTube find has to feature in my list.

Daydream XI - The Circus of the Tattered and Torn.

Prog metal. DTesque. Concept album. Lots of widdly widdly. Very good singer.

I liked that one and it'll feature in the podcast but for me there was something not quite there in the songwriting (vs the technical skill) on many of the tracks -only one track where everything came together for me.  But they have huge potential .

That’s where most prog metal falls down for me but enjoyed this one more than the usual. Wasn’t too samey either I thought.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: ZKX-2099 on December 31, 2017, 03:15:49 PM
1. Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence
2. Stone Sour - Hydrograd
3. DragonForce - Reaching Into Infinity
4. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
5. Queens Of The Stone Age - Villains
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: pfillion on January 01, 2018, 01:04:27 PM
Here's my top 10 :

Steven Wilson - To the Bone
Lunatic Soul - Fractured
Threshold - Legends of the Shires
Anathema - The Optimist
Bjorn Riis - Forever Comes to an End
Big Big Train - Grimspound
Caligula's Horse - In Contact
The Contortionist - Clairvoyant
Enslaved - E
Pain Of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: WebRaider on January 03, 2018, 01:58:35 AM
Well this is my list atm:

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Caligula's Horse - In Contact
3. The Faceless - In Becoming a Ghost
4. Archspire - Relentless Mutation
5. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic
6. Pain of Salvation - In The Passing Light of Day
7. Arcadea - Arcadea
8. 3Teeth - <shutdown.exe>
9. Pvris - All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell
10a. Foo Fighters - Concrete and Gold
10b. Big Wreck - Grace Street

Honorable Mentions:
Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
Decapitated - Anticult
Queens of The Stone Age - Villains
Havok - Conformicide
Elder - Reflections of a Floating World
Miguel - War & Leisure
Incubus - 8
David Maxim Micic - Who Bit The Moon
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: TAC on January 03, 2018, 03:20:29 PM

5. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic


This album is  :metal :metal
It reminds me of Show No Mercy/Hell Awaits era Slayer.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Zoom E on January 07, 2018, 04:59:54 PM
Mastodon- Emperor of Sand
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Witherfall - Noctures and Requiems
The Nightflight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
Ayreon - The Source


Making one revsion to my list:

Mastodon- Emperor of Sand
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Witherfall - Noctures and Requiems
The Nightflight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
Leprous - Malina
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on January 08, 2018, 03:13:42 PM
I'm trying to compile my ranking of all the albums I've given a good listen to this year (probably like 30+ I guess) but I'm pretty sure my top 5 is set:

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Artificial Language - The Observer
4. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
5. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist

Saying that though, The Dear Hunter are releasing their new EP in a few days so that is almost definitely going to be in my top 5. I can't see it not! It's gonna have to be quite special to knock Emperor of Sand off my top spot but who knows.

So my updated list has only changed slightly:

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Artificial Language - The Observer
4. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
5. The Dear Hunter - All is as All Should Be (EP)

I've only got like two albums to rank out of all the albums I listened to this year. I'll try and get that sorted at some point.

Updating again because the new Pain of Salvation album has grown on me hugely and I now realise I love pretty much every single song.

1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Pain of Salvation - Passing Light of Day
4. Artificial Language - The Observer
5. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on January 08, 2018, 03:42:28 PM
I hope The Hirsch Effekt grows on you too
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on January 09, 2018, 07:57:44 AM
I hope The Hirsch Effekt grows on you too

It's dropped down a few spots and I don't see it likely climbing again. I've listened to it a lot. It is great, just not as good as the 6 albums above it.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: pain of occupation on January 10, 2018, 09:38:22 AM
did i really just scroll through 4+ pages of lists sans one Pyramid Theorem sighting?! Surely my eyes deceive me!

For anyone curious what it would sound like if Dream Theater influenced Rush rather than the other way around, maybe give Element of Surprise a spin...Plenty good enough to be this fougaissie's album of the year.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: twosuitsluke on January 10, 2018, 06:00:28 PM
Here's my final ranking, it was a pretty good year after all:






1. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
2. Leprous - Malina
3. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
4. Artificial Language - The Observer
5. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
6. The Dear Hunter - All is as All Should Be
7. The Hirsch Effekt - Eskapist
8. Odd Logic - Effigy
9. Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence
10. Caligula's Horse - In Contact



11. Soen – Lykaia
12. The Flatliners - Inviting Light
13. Persefone - Aathma
14. Adimiron - Et Liber Eris
15. Mastodon - Cold Dark Place
16. Enslaved – E
17. Set and Setting - Reflectionless
18. The Great Discord - The Rabbit Hole
19. Eidola - To Speak, To Listen
20. Stone Sour - Hydrograd



21. Anathema - The Optimist
22. James McAllister etc - Planetarium
23. Vangough - Warpaint
24. Arcane Roots - Melancholia Hymns
25. The King Blues - The Gospel Truth
26. Distant Worlds – IV
27. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
28. Solstafir - Berdreyminn
29. Igorrr - Savage Sinusoid
30. Elder - Reflections From a Floating World
31. Pallbearer – Heartless
32. Xanthochroid - Of Erthe and Axen: Act II
33. Xanthochroid - Of Erthe and Axen: Act I
34. Kepler Ten - Delta V
35. Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
36. The Ongoing Concept - Places
37. Disperse – Foreword
38. Converge – The Dusk In Us All
39. Sikth - The Future in Whose Eyes?
40. Bent Knee - Land Animal
41. Brand New - Science Fiction
42. Progenie Terrestre Pura - OltreLuna
43. Mogwai - Every Country's Sun
44. And So I Watch You From Afar - The Endless Shimmering
45. The Contortionist - Clairvoyant
46. Junius - Eternal Rituals
47. Ulver - The Assassination of Julius Caesar
48. The Faceless - In Becoming a Ghost
49. Rise Against - Wolves
50. David Maxim Micic - Who Bit the Moon
51. Adrift for Days - A Sleepless Grey
52. Cyhra - Letters to Myself
53. The Earth and I - The Candleman
54. VUUR - In This Moment We Are Free - Cities
55. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
56. Arcadea – Arcadea
57. Crippled Black Phoenix – Horrific Honorifics
58. Me and That Man - Songs of Love and Death
59. Nova Collective - The Further Side
60. Bell Witch - Mirror Reaper
61. Paradise Lost - Medusa
62. Circa Survive - The Amulet
63. Ayreon - The Source
64. Rancid - Trouble Maker
65. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic

Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on January 11, 2018, 12:59:17 PM
Tomi, give me a couple of days and I'll have my definitive top ready.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: home on January 11, 2018, 02:48:47 PM
Whoops almost forgot to post mine. Anyway here's my top 22:

1. Mastodon - The Emperor of Sand
2. Sleep Party People - Lingering
3. Steven Wilson - To The Bone
4. Lorde - Melodrama
5. Manchester Orchestra - A Black  Mile To The Surface
6. The Dear Hunter - All is as All Should Be
7. Elder - Reflections of a Floating World
8. Nothing More - The Stories We Tell Ourselves
9. Pain of Salvation - In The Passing Light of Day
10. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

11. Ulver - The Assasination of Julius Caesar
12. Igorrr - Savage Sinusoid
13. Leprous - Malina
14. James McAllister etc - Planetarium
15. ASIWYFA - The Endless Shimmering
16. Mew - Visuals
17. Converge - The Dusk in Us
18. Slowdive - Slowdive
19. Ayreon - The Source
20. Solstafir - Bedreymin
21. Eidola - To Speak, To Listen
22. Bent Knee - Land Animal

Damn 2017 was a pretty amazing year for music, I'm only really dissapointed by the bottom two albums, the rest all ranges from decent to amazing.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Crow on January 11, 2018, 03:46:02 PM
DAMN. 2017 was a pretty amazing year for music

:neverusethis:
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: home on January 11, 2018, 04:06:22 PM
Low hanging fruit dude, I half expected someone to make that joke after typing the sentence.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Lethean on January 11, 2018, 10:52:47 PM
There are a bunch of albums I haven't listened to, or haven't listened to enough, but here's the list:

Need - Hegaiamas
Leprous - Malina
Threshold - Legends of the Shires
Voyager - Ghost Mile
Daydream XI - The Circus of the Tattered and Torn
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on January 12, 2018, 07:58:46 AM
These are basically all the 2017 albums I've listened to so far, in order of preference:
I only have Sufjan Stevens' The Greatest Gift pending.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Tomislav95 on January 12, 2018, 08:03:06 AM
Ugh I think Susanne's latest was not good at all.
I guess that's it, I will recheck scores these days and then post results.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on January 12, 2018, 08:13:02 AM
It finished clicking with me yesterday tbh, and I'm so glad it did  :heart . Looking forward to results.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Nekov on January 12, 2018, 08:14:46 AM
Ugh I think Susanne's latest was not good at all.

Haven't given it that many listens but it seems to veer in a different direction. I think she's still experimenting with her sound which is a good thing, though I think I like her previous material better. Still liked it.

It finished clicking with me yesterday tbh, and I'm so glad it did  :heart . Looking forward to results.

We're also expecting results from you  ;)
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SwedishGoose on January 14, 2018, 04:10:49 AM
Got a new contender two days ago... not sure where it will end up but it's damn good.

An israeli eclectic prog-metal group with wonderful female vocals and middle eastern influences. Fantastic stuff.... give it a listen

https://open.spotify.com/album/0xfWw674c6eOZ2pvHxnBM4?si=YKrusPuPQq6oj3rxjUP0hA
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: Sacul on February 18, 2018, 09:48:31 AM
Looking forward to results.
Title: Re: Top 5 2017 Albums
Post by: SoundscapeMN on February 18, 2018, 12:18:40 PM
posted this is a few weeks ago:

number 44 through number 6:
https://allmediareviews.blogspot.com/2017/11/2016-2017-albums-of-year.html

5. 22 - You Are Creating: Limb 1
4. Bent Knee - Land Animal
3. Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
2. Small Leaks Sink Ships - Golden Calf
1. Mutemath - Play Dead


(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2414587166_16.jpg)
Dirt Poor Robins - The Raven Locks Act 3

This album might be my #1 now having now heard it many times. I already love it that much.