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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: SoundscapeMN on March 20, 2021, 09:26:12 AM
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Just to piggy back on The "Albums of the Year Over Time" topic (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=56290.0), and given I don't believe the DTF has ever done these.
So we'll start with 1965, which while wasn't the Birth year for Rock and Roll nor was it the start exactly for Psych and Prog, but was right before that.
So in-effect, if these topics do receive enough replies, we'll do around if not 55 of them all the way up to 2020. The Years from 2012-2020 I suppose could just be an UPDATE given the DTF did do/has Album of the Year topics since 2012 (at least?..possibly 2009 per that is when the DTF launched from memory).
if someone else wants to Create a topic going further back, they can and should.
Here's my Top 5 from '65.
1. The Beatles - Rubber Soul
2. The Beatles - Help!
3. The Who - My Generation
4. The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today!
5. The Moody Blues - The Magnificent Moodies
Page 1: 1965-1966
Page 2: 1967-1969
Page 3: 1969-1971
Page 4: 1971-1972
Page 5: 1972-1974
Page 6: 1974-1976
Page 7: 1976-1978
Page 8: 1978
Page 9: 1978-1979
Page 10: 1979-1980
Page 11: 1980-1981
Page 12: 1981-1982
Page 13: 1982-1984
Page 14: 1985-1986
Page 15: 1986-1987
Page 16: 1987-1988
Page 17: 1988-1989
Page 18: 1989-1990
Page 19: 1990-1991
Page 20: 1991-1992
Page 21: 1993
Page 22: 1993-1995
Page 23: 1995-1996
Page 24: 1996-1997
Page 25: 1997-1998
Page 26: 1998-2000
Page 27: 2000-2001
Page 28: 2002-2003
Page 29: 2003-2006
Page 30: 2006-2009
Page 31: 2009-2010
Page 32: 2010-2012
Page 33: 2012-2014
Page 34: 2014-2016
Page 35: 2016-2018
Page 36: 2019-2020
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I don't have much from this year that I've really listened to enough to make a big list, but I do have 3... :corn
1. Beatles - Help!
2. The Who - My Generation
3. Beatles - Rubber Soul
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It’s gonna be a few years before I can really participate in these. The oldest albums I have are from 1966 (just two), none from 1967, and then only a handful for the rest of the 60s and early 70s. But this will be a good reference thread probably for essential albums from that period (I should own some Beatles albums but somehow I still don’t).
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1. Rubber Soul - Beatles
2. My Generation - The Who
3. Help! - Beatles
4. A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
5. Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan
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It’s gonna be a few years before I can really participate in these.
Same for me.
I believe Rubber Soul is the only album I own from 1965, and looking at a list of 1965 releases, I don't see anything more appealing, so there you have it.
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So in-effect, if these topics do receive enough replies, we'll do around if not 55 of them all the way up to 2020. The Years from 2012-2020 I suppose could just be an UPDATE given the DTF did do/has Album of the Year topics since 2012 (at least?..possibly 2009 per that is when the DTF launched from memory).
If we're not getting a huge amount of participation for each individual year, one option might be to keep it all in one thread, and update the thread title when we move on a year.
Anyway thanks to my obsessive using of RateYourMusic, this will be easy enough for me. :biggrin:
1965:
1. The Beatles - Rubber Soul
2. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
3. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
4. Wes Montgomery - Bumpin'
5. The Beatles - Help!
6. Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home
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1. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
2. The Beatles - Rubber Soul
3. The Beatles - Help!
4. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
5. Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home
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01. Rubber Soul (The Beatles)
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1. Bob Dylan-Highway 69 Revisited
2. Bob Dylan-Bringing it All Back home
3. John Coltrane-A Love Supreme
4. The Beatles-Rubber Soul
5. The Horace Silver Quintet-Song for my Father
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I was born in 1964 but I don't care for ANY music that came out in that entire decade. For me the really great stuff started happening in the '70's
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1. Bob Dylan-Highway 69 Revisited
Is that the explicit version?
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1. Bob Dylan-Highway 69 Revisited
Is that the explicit version?
You've never heard it? It seques better into his next album compared to the standard version if you know what I mean
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The Animals-Animal Tracks
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1. The Beatles: Rubber Soul
2. The Beach Boys: Today!
3. The Beach Boys: Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)
4. The Beatles: Help! Vince Guaraldi: A Charlie Brown Christmas
5. The Yardbirds: Having A Rave-Up The Beatles: Help!
Five is a place-holder for me; it's not my favorite, but I'm not sure what goes there. That was the first record with Beck on it, but he only plays on half (Side two is live from '64 with Clapton). The Kinks hadn't hit their stride, I'm not a huge fan of the early Stones records, because of the covers, or The Who's debut. Elvis was prolific, but it was mainly the soundtrack work that is the weakest of his career. Not a Dylan fan, and it'd be another year before The Buffalo Springfield come on the scene.
I had in my head that the Vince Guaraldi album was from 1964 for some reason.
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The Beatles - Rubber Soul
The Beatles - Help!
James Brown - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas
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This has to be Coltrane as it's probably the only record I own from 1965.
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Looking at the "1965 in music" wiki article, and not finding much I like. . . .
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Look at my RYM I haven't rated anything from 1965 but I do remember liking Rubber Soul when hearing it a while back. Things start to pick up for me as we get later into the 60's.
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I'm only really fond of 3 albums here.
1. Bob Dylan, HWY 61
2. Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home
2. John Coltrane, A Love Supreme
And take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time
Far past the frozen leaves
The haunted frightened trees
Out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky
With one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea
Circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate
Driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow
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Seneca!!!
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So i thought about it, and it probably would be easier to make these into 1-Topic PER DECADE.
So I changed the Subject and added the Page Number (in general) each year is found on. if someone wants to post their list a few pages back, that's fine, but the Majority of the Lists for each year should be on a Page/Page Number-Span.
So here's my 1966 List:
1. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
2. The Beatles - Revolver
3. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!
4. The Who - A Quick One, While He's Away
5. The Monkees - The Monkees
6. Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence
7. The Beatles - "Yesterday"...and Today
8. The Byrds - Fifth Dimension
9. The Rolling Stones - Aftermath
10. The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (single)
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For 1966, I've got:
1. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
2. Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemarey & Thyme
I expect Pet Sounds and Revolver to top a lot of lists for this year.
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The only album I'm aware of from this decade is Simon & Garfunkel "The Sound Of Silence" which I enjoyed but I won't often be reaching for it
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No particular order:
The Beatles - Revolver
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!
John Coltrane - Ascension
John Mayall & Eric Clapton - Blues Breakers
Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage
John Coltrane - Meditations
Sun Ra & His Solar Arkestra - The Magic City
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Looking at a list of albums released in 1966:
Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence: My sisters were big fans, so I heard a lot of "Si and Gar" as a kid, and I am generally a fan of their music (although I don't own this album).
Beatles - Yesterday and Today and Revolver: Y&T was a compilation album of a bunch of singles, some of which are on Rubber Soul and Revolver. Highlights for me are Nowhere Man, Yesterday, We Can Work It Out and Day Tripper. Revolver is a great transitional album for the Beatles. Taxman is probably the first great George Harrison Beatles song. Eleanor Rigby, Here, There and Everywhere, She Said She Said, And Your Bird Can Sing, For No One, and Tomorrow Never Knows are my favorites. Day Tripper and Paperback Writer were also released as non-album singles (the former as a double A-side single with We Can Work it Out, and the latter with the criminally underrated Rain as the "B-side").
Not too much else of interest for me, although The Who's A Quick One featured a couple of John Entwhistle classics: Boris the Spider and Whiskey Man (the latter of which features The Ox on French horn, as well as lead vocals).
The Yardbirds released Shapes of Things, and the Mamas and the Papas released California Dreamin', both of which I like a lot. Also Summer in the City by the Lovin' Spoonful.
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1. Bob Dylan-Blonde on Blonde
2. Beach Boys-Pet Sounds
3. Wayne Shorter-Speak No Evil
4. The Beatles-Revolver
5. John Coltrane-Meditations
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So i thought about it, and it probably would be easier to make these into 1-Topic PER DECADE.
Cool, I like this idea!
Anyway 1966 is really not a big year for me at all. Here's my puny list:
1. The Beatles - Revolver
2. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
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1966 is another light year for me. My lists will start picking up in quantity starting with 1967. For some reason I thought Miles Davis' Miles Smiles came out in 66' but apparently that's 67'...
1966:
1. The Beatles -Revolver
2. Cream - Fresh Cream
3. Question Mark and The Mysterians - 96 Tears
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I don’t own any 1965 releases and the only 1966 release I have is Beach Boys - Pet Sounds.
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1 - Revolver (The Beatles)
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2. Cream - Fresh Cream
weird as when I was making those Calendars in my blog a few years ago, I ended up not including Fresh Cream for 1966, which surprises me. But now looking at the track list, I can kind of follow why as it's kind of non-descript as I'm not sure I've heard many if any of the songs. But maybe I should.
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I have 2 complete albums from '66 and one is a live record.
The Buddy Rich Big Band - Swingin' New Big Band: Live At The Chez Club 1966
The Monkees - The Monkees
The Monkees first record is a classic.
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BLONDE ON BLONDE
Seneca!!!
Greetings! How's it going, good sir? It's been a sec.
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The Monkees - The Monkees
The Monkees first record is a classic.
I am partial to HQ and PAC&J but the debut is indeed a fun, great album. Nice to see it get multiple mentions here.
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The Monkees - The Monkees
The Monkees first record is a classic.
I am partial to HQ and PAC&J but the debut is indeed a fun, great album. Nice to see it get multiple mentions here.
the day I ended up with a Monkees-a-holic for my partner, was the day I at least became familiar and enjoyed every Monkees record in some way.
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1967:
A Summary I wrote a few years ago (https://allmediareviews.blogspot.com/2015/07/retro-favorite-albums-1967.html?m=0)
So, 1967 many say is the year Prog came, or the year the album became the focus over the single. Or the year Psych rock dominated, or rather started to dominate. And all those more or less were true.
Compared to '65 and '66, there is a lot more depth among my favorites, but at the same time, there's still many records on this list that I know the radio hits or I know for their reputation and influence more than most of the music themselves.
1. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced
3. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
4. Cream - Disreali Gears
5. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
6. The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
7. The Monkees - Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD
8. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love
9. Procol Harum - Procol Harum
10. The Monkees - Headquarters
11. The Who - The Who Sell Out
12. Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow
13. The Doors - The Doors
14. The Beach Boys - Smiley Smile
15. The Rolling Stones - Between the Buttons
16. The Monkees - More of The Monkees
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I said this earlier about The Monkees while we were in 1966, but I love HQ and PAC&J. Solid stuff.
The Who Sell Out has some great gems too that can get overlooked.
The Doors debut is on my (gasp!) Mt Rushmore of debut albums. That is a masterpiece.
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1967:
01. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles)
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1967 was a fantastic year for music. The first 7 albums here I'd consider essential listening, the rest are still pretty good.
1. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced
3. Miles Davis Quintet - Miles Smiles
4. Cream - Disraeli Gears
5. The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
6. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
7. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love
8. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
9. Scott Walker - Scott
10. The Doors - The Doors
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For sure this was the year that album-focused proggy rock became more of a thing, and as a result there's definitely more music that I like from it than previous years. However, nothing in that vein really stands out to me and so my favourite from that year was still a jazz one. :lol
1. The Buddy Rich Big Band - Big Swing Face
2. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
3. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
4. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced
5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love
6. Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico
7. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
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Top 5 (+2) would probably be something like this:
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love
The Doors - The Doors
3 Monkees albums
The Buddy Rich Big Band - Big Swing Face
Few others I have don't rate as highly:
Procol Harum - Procol Harum
The Doors - Strange Days
Pink Floyd - Piper
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No order:
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love
Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Cream - Disraeli Gears
Miles Davis - Miles Smiles
Miles Davis - Sorcerer
John Coltrane - Expression
Stan Getz - Sweet Rain
Wayne Shorter - Schizophrenia
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Love - Forever Changes (This one is a real gem. UFO recorded a faithful cover of the first song, Alone Again Or, on their Lights Out album)
Cream - Disraeli Gears
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
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This is the reason I rate The Beatles so highly, and while I hadn't thought of this before today, this is how I'm going to answer "why were the Beatles so great?" from this point forward.
This was the year everything changed, but except for the Beatles, it was all first, baby steps. Every band listed so far turned a corner this year, but except for the Beatles (Sgt. Pepper) ALL of them took a year or two to get their shit together, girl, and really incorporate the changes. The next year and the year after will likely be the hardest years to narrow down to "just five".
My list:
1. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
3. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced
4. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love
5. The Rolling Stones - Between the Buttons
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1. The Beatles-Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Are you Experienced?
3. The Doors-The Doors
4. The Moody Blues-Days of Future Passed
5. 13th Floor Elevators-Easter Everywhere
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1968, seems to be as much about the modest debut album as anything else.
Electric Ladyland, Head and The White Album are as experimental as anything that was made in the late 60's.
1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
2. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
3. The Beatles - The Beatles [The White Album]
4. The Monkees - Head
5. The Zombies - Odyssey & Oracle
6. Pink Floyd - A Saucerful of Secrets
7. Ravi Shankar - Live at Monterrey Pop Festival
8. Simon and Garfunkel - Bookends
9. The Monkees - The Bird, The Bees and The Monkees
10. Cream - Wheels of Fire
11. The Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord
Giles, Giles and Fripp - The Cheerful Insanity of Giles Giles and Fripp
The Soft Machine - The Soft Machine
Fairport Convention - Fairport Convention
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Quicksilver Messenger Service
The Nice - The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack
Tomorrow - Tomorrow
Deep Purple - Shades
Jethro Tull - This Was
Caravan - Caravan
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Alright 1968, I'll try to rank it from favorite:
1. Pink Floyd - A Saucerful Of Secrets
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
3. Cream - Wheels of Fire
Pretty light year for me
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1968 favorite albums (no particular order)
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladlyland
The Beatles - The White Album
Cream - Wheels of Fire
Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul
Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
Pink Floyd - A Saucerful of Secrets
Chick Corea - Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
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01. The Beatles (The Beatles)
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Speaking of 1968, enjoy this clip of Ritchie Blackmore teaching Hugh Hefner a few tricks on Playboy After Dark (along with a performance of "Hush") https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOrUR54HKwA .
Deep Purple also apparently made an appearance on the game show The Dating Game (although I couldn't find a clip of that), a show perhaps better known for (unknowingly) featuring an active serial killer as a contestant.
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Just two albums for me from 1968:
1. The Beatles - The Beatles [White Album]
2. Pink Floyd - A Saucerful of Secrets
Weird that I've heard so little from that year. From 1969 onwards I think I'm going to consistently have much fuller lists.
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Missed the last one, so:
1967 -
1. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper
2. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
3. Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen
4. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
5. The Doors - The Doors
6. The Who - The Who Sell Out
7. Cream - Disraeli Gears
8. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced
9. The Beach Boys - Smiley Smile
10. The Doors - Strange Days
1968 -
1. The Beatles - The Beatles ('white album')
2. Pink Floyd - A Saucerful of Secrets
3. The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet
4. The Doors - Waiting for the Sun
5. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
6. Cream - Wheels of Fire
7. Creedance Clearwater Revival - Creedance Clearwater Revival
8. Steppenwolf - Steppenwolf
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1. Van Morrison-Astral weeks
2. The Beatles-White Album
3. The Velvet Underground-White Light/White Heat
4. Quicksilver messenger Service-Quicksilver messenger Service
5. Mothers of invention-We’re only in it for the money
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1968 - What a great year for music. Lots of classics here!
1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
2. The Beatles - The White Album
3. Scott Walker - Scott 2
4. Cream - Wheels of Fire
5. Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum
6. Miles Davis - Nefertiti
7. The Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord
8. Pink Floyd - A Saucerful of Secrets
9. Family - Music in a Doll's House
10. Blue Cheer - Outsideinside
11. The Soft Machine - The Soft Machine
Can't believe no one else mentioned Blue Cheer yet. They had two really good albums this year.
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Almost everything I have from '68 here:
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
The Buddy Rich Big Band - Mercy, Mercy - Live At Caesars Palace 1968
Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
Procol Harum - Shine On Brightly
The Doors - Waiting For The Sun
The Buddy Rich show has a 12:30 version of the Channel 1 Suite. Such an epic track, that one.
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All I've got for 1968 is Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends, which is a wonderful recording.
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The only album I have from 1968 is Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland.
I'm just realizing how few 1960’s releases I own.
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Speaking of 1968, enjoy this clip of Ritchie Blackmore teaching Hugh Hefner a few tricks on Playboy After Dark (along with a performance of "Hush") https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOrUR54HKwA .
Deep Purple also apparently made an appearance on the game show The Dating Game (although I couldn't find a clip of that), a show perhaps better known for (unknowingly) featuring an active serial killer as a contestant.
Tom Selleck too!
I'm biased, but Blackmore is even cool with a green shiny shirt and a big ol' Gibson ES-335. (By the way, I think this is interesting: The story goes that Blackmore's ex-wife Barbel Hardie stole it from him back in the 70s and later on sold it on an auction in 2004 to a guy named Laurence Wexer for $28,000. Laurence then sold it a few years later to a Blackmore fan from Connecticut named Ilsan Akbil. The guitar is currently in Akbil's possession.
(https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/story_of_ritchie_blackmores_old_and_forgotten_gibson_es-335_guitar-79690)
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1969
I suspect if we do a cumulative Top 5-10 for 1969, Crimson will win, but it will be interesting to see people rank it compared to Abbey Road and the Zeppelin records especially.
My Summary from a few years ago:
1969 was quite the year for music. Of course you had Woodstock that Summer. But also it seemed a ton of debut albums that varied from nice impressions, to some of the most unusual, experimental music that had ever been made, to even some of those artists finest works.
Among the years in the 60's, I'm not sure if '69 isn't my favorite given it's depth. Zeppelin and The Beatles both released albums this year. Zeppelin 2 actually. And the Crimson debut which stands out of course.
1. The Beatles - Abbey Road
2. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
3. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
4. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
5. Frank Zappa - Hot Rats
6. The Who - Tommy
7. Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
8. Crosby, Stills and Nash - Crosby, Stills and Nash
9. Pink Floyd - More
10. Fairport Convention - Liege and Lief
11. Blind Faith - Blind Faith
12. Chicago - The Chicago Transit Authority
13. Renaissance - Renaissance
14. Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
15. Yes - Yes
16. Jethro Tull - Stand Up
17. Soft Machine - Volume Two
18. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Trout Mask Repica
19. Genesis - From Genesis to Revelation
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Oh man some great albums this year, here is how they rank for me:
1969:
1. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
2. Leo Kottke - 6 & 12 String Guitar
3. Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
4. Pink Floyd - More
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No particular order:
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
Miles Davis - In A Silent Way
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
The Chicago Transit Authority - The Chicago Transit Authority
Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
The Tony Williams Lifetime - Emergency!
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Now we're talking!
1. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
2. The Beatles - Abbey Road
3. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash
4. Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
5. The Who - Tommy
6. Pink Floyd - Soundtrack From the Film "More"
7. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
8. The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
9. Yes - Yes
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The only thing I have for this year is King Crimson - ITCOTCK, which might be my least favorite KC album. It’s ok, just a little slow.
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1969:
01. Tommy (The Who)
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I will jump in now...
My top of 1969:
1 The Beatles - Abbey Road
2 Led Zeppelin - II
3 The Moody Blues - To Our Children's Children's Children
4 The Who - Tommy
5 Led Zeppelin - I
Hot Rats just missed the cut. Top 6 was easy. There would be a big drop between 6 and whatever album I put at 7.
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1. Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago Transit Authority
2. The Beatles - Abbey Road
3. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
4. The Who - Tommy
5. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
6. Five Leaves Left - Nick Drake
7. The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
8. The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
9. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
10. Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
11. Genesis - From Genesis to Revelation
12. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River
13. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Willy and the Poor Boys
14. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country
15 - Pink Floyd - More
(remember the halcyon days when classic groups released 2 or 3 albums a year?)
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1969 was a great year for music!
1969:
1. The Beatles - Abbey Road
2. Led Zeppelin - II
3. Scott Walker - Scott 4
4. Miles Davis - In A Silent Way
5. Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago Transit Authority
6. Scott Walker - Scott 3
7. The Who - Tommy
8. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
9. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash
10. The Moody Blues - To Our Children's Children's Children
11. Miles Davis - Filles de Kilimanjaro
12. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
13. David Bowie - Space Oddity
14. Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
15. The Moody Blues - On the Threshold of a Dream
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The only thing I have for this year is King Crimson - ITCOTCK, which might be my least favorite KC album. It’s ok, just a little slow.
:O
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Finally reaching the years where I have more than one or two records to choose from. ;)
Top five:
1. Led Zeppelin II
2. Led Zeppelin I
3. King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
4. The Who - Tommy
5. Blind Faith
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1. King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King
2. The Beatles-Abbey Road
3. Neil Young-Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
4. Miles Davis-In a Silent Way
5. Townes van Zandt-Townes van Zandt
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin I
The Who - Tommy
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
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I have some catching up to do:
1965
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Horace Silver - Song For My Father
Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
Andrew Hill - Point of Departure
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1966
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The Beatles - Revolver
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage
The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!
Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil
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1967
The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Doors - The Doors
Cream - Disraeli Gears
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold As Love
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1968
The Beatles - The Beatles
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
The Mothers of Invention - We're Only In It For The Money
Cream - Wheels of Fire
Miles Davis - Nefertiti
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1969
Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Santana - Santana
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Damn I didn't realize Chicago's first album was in the 60's.
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did I kill this thread? are we ready to move on to 1970?
1970
Chicago - II
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
Santana - Abraxas
Tower of Power - East Bay Grease
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Led Zeppelin - III
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1970
Great year, with a good amount of depth, although I can't definitely say any 1 record stands out head and shoulders over the others. I do love Atom Heart and Trespass though, per they are possibly both my 2nd favorite albums from both bands.
Blurb from my blog a few years ago:
1970 was a pretty remarkable year in music. For one, it saw the deaths of Jimi Hendrix on September 17 and Janis Joplin on October 4th. Eerie so close, and of course Jim Morrison would go the next Summer.
But from a musical standpoint, a lot of favorites did come out this year, namely in October with Genesis, Pink Floyd and Zeppelin. Also the great Black Sabbath albums, my favorite Soft Machine record, and a wonderful Crimson album early in the year.
1. Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother
2. Genesis - Trespass
3. Soft Machine - Third
4. King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon
5. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
6. Crosby Stills Nash and Young - Dejavu
7. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Emerson Lake and Palmer
8. Deep Purple - Deep Purple in Rock
9. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
10. Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
11. The Beatles - Let It Be
12. Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant
13. Derek and the Dominoes - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
14. Michael Nesmith and the First National Band - Loose Salute
15. Yes - Time and a Word
16. The Who - Live at Leeds
17. Van Morrison - Moondance
18. Chicago - Chicago II
19. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
20. George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
21. Santana - Abraxas
22. Michael Nesmith and the First National Band - Magnetic South
23. Jethro Tull - Benefit
24. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
25. Gypsy - Gypsy
26. King Crimson - Lizard
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I’ve got two:
1. Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
2. King Crimson - Lizard
Lizard is an underrated KC album IMO, although to be fair I’ve only heard the Steven Wilson mix. Super weird though.
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Hmmm, as great as the 70's were, it doesn't feel like 1970 was one of its strongest years. My top 5:
1 Black Sabbath - Paranoid
2 Emerson Lake & Palmer - Emerson Lake & Palmer
3 Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
4 Led Zeppelin - III
5 The Moody Blues - A Question of Balance
Tough to leave off George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, but it is so long and is a tough listen as a result. I get why he released it with so many songs, however.
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1970:
1. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
2. Deep Purple - In Rock
3. Chicago - II
4. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Déjà vu
5. Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother
6. Genesis - Trespass
7. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
8. King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon
9. Led Zeppelin - III
10. David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World
11. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
12. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
13. Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant
14. Yes - Time and a Word
15. Scott Walker - 'Til the Band Comes In
16. Ananda Shankar - Ananda Shankar
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Hmmm, as great as the 70's were, it doesn't feel like 1970 was one of its strongest years. My top 5:
Same for me. A decent number of good albums, but no great ones.
1970, top 10:
1. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
2. King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon
3. Andrew Lloyd Webber - Jesus Christ Superstar
4. King Crimson - Lizard
5. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
6. Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother
7. The Beatles - Let It Be
8. Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Ash
9. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
10. Genesis - Trespass
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01. Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath)
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"This is where I come in"....
...well, barely, I only have the two Black Sabbath albums to mention.
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Alright I'm going to rate this best to worst:
1970:
1. Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother
And that's it :lol. I have a pretty big gap in 1970. There is also the Derek and the Dominos album that came out but I thought that album was terrible so I won't rank it.
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My Top 5 would be:
1. Lucifer's Friend-s/t
2. UFO-UFO1
3. Deep Purple-In Rock
4. Black Sabbath-Paranoid
5. Black Sabbath-s/t
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1970 was a fantastic year for music.
In no particular order
Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsys
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
James Brown - Sex Machine
The Beatles - Let It Be
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Derek & the Dominoes - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
Chicago - Chicago
The Allman Brothers Band - Idlewild South
The James Gang - James Gang Rides Again
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I skipped '69 because I was on vacation, but these years are hard (and they don't get easier, not at least until 1973, and not even then).
I love seeing albums in context though; I've long thought about putting a timeline together of all my albums in chronological order, but it would be a MASSIVE undertaking. I just love that so much fantastical musical works came out within sometimes days of each other.
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My Top 5 would be:
1. Lucifer's Friend-s/t
2. UFO-UFO1
3. Deep Purple-In Rock
4. Black Sabbath-Paranoid
5. Black Sabbath-s/t
Oh, I forgot that UFO1 is from 1970! Great album.
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I skipped '69 because I was on vacation, but these years are hard (and they don't get easier, not at least until 1973, and not even then).
I love seeing albums in context though; I've long thought about putting a timeline together of all my albums in chronological order, but it would be a MASSIVE undertaking. I just love that so much fantastical musical works came out within sometimes days of each other.
yeah it is kind of mind blowing when you look at actual release dates or even months.
October 1970: Atom Heart, Trespass and Zeppelin III.
1971 and 1972 had similar stretches.
That was maybe the biggest reason I started making those calendars to find out how close were certain albums released together. As a music fan, collector back then might have been checking new albums left and right at the same time.
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I skipped '69 because I was on vacation, but these years are hard (and they don't get easier, not at least until 1973, and not even then).
I love seeing albums in context though; I've long thought about putting a timeline together of all my albums in chronological order, but it would be a MASSIVE undertaking. I just love that so much fantastical musical works came out within sometimes days of each other.
Rick Beato recently did a video on the fall of 1991. So many HUGE albums came out then. Pretty ridiculous.
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"This is where I come in"....
...well, barely, I only have the two Black Sabbath albums to mention.
Haha, yeah this for me too.
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1969
Johnny Cash - At San Quentin
King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
Santana - Santana
Led Zeppelin - I
Led Zeppelin - II
1970
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Deep Purple - In Rock
ELP - ELP
Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die
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Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Deep Purple - In Rock
Led Zeppelin III
Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Ash
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World
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Led Zeppelin III
Deep Purple In Rock
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Derek And The Dominoes - Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Santana - Abraxas
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1. Atom Heart Mother - Pink Floyd
2. Trespass - Genesis
3. Live at Leeds - The Who
4. III - Led Zeppelin
5. Deep Purple in Rock - Deep Purple
6. The Madcap Laughs - Syd Barrett
7. Barrett - Syd Barrett
8. Lola versus Powerman - The Kinks
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1971
50 year anniversaries for all the albums from this year.
Here's my blurb from my blog a few years ago.
1971 was another big year for studio albums. Yes released 2 records with new members Steve Howe and then Rick Wakeman later. Genesis also released their 1st "classic lineup" record with Hackett and Collins. Many others also came to define the year in music for me; from The Who to Mahavishnu Orchestra to Floyd to Zeppelin to my favorite ELP record.
I guess I see this year as being one of those years with many trademark, statement records that many fans come to catch on and love amongst the respective bands catalogs. Although I guess nothing actually I place at 5-stars, but many close, which would have made this quite a year to have been a music fan and collector. Even just seeing Meddle, Nursery Cryme and Fragile come out all within a few weeks would have been something.
1. Yes - Fragile
2. Genesis - Nursery Cryme
3. Pink Floyd - Meddle
4. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Tarkus
5. Yes - The Yes Album
6. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin [IV]
7. Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame
8. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
9. The Who - Who's Next
10. Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
11. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
12. The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
13. John Lennon - Imagine
14. David Bowie - Hunky Dory
15. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
16. Joni Mitchell - Blue
17. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up
18. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
19. Chicago - Chicago III
20. Renaissance - Illusion
21. King Crimson - Islands
22. Soft Machine - Fourth
23. Gyspy - In the Garden
24. Weather Report - Weather Report
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I can put together a proper top 5 for 1971!
1. Genesis - Nursery Cryme
2. King Crimson - Islands
3. The Who - Who's Next
4. Yes - The Yes Album
5. Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
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1971
Here we go starting from highest rank:
1. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
2. Pink Floyd - Meddle
3. B.B. King - Live In Cook County Jail
3. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
4. Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
5. The Who - Who's Next
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For me..
1. Alice Cooper-Killer
2. Alice Cooper-Love It To Death
3. Deep Purple-Fireball
4. Led Zeppelin IV
5. Black Sabbath-Master Of Reality
6. UFO-Flying
7. Thin Lizzy-s/t
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I can put together a proper top 5 for 1971!
1. Genesis - Nursery Cryme
2. King Crimson - Islands
3. The Who - Who's Next
4. Yes - The Yes Album
5. Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
Hmmm. I had Fragile as 1972 on my computer for some reason (looks like the UK release was November 1971, US release was January 1972). Might need to start double checking these. Gonna have to amend this.
Let's go with:
1. Genesis - Nursery Cryme
2. King Crimson - Islands
3. Yes - Fragile
4. The Who - Who's Next
5. Yes - The Yes Album
6. Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
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The first of the truly classic years for album releases (the others being '73, '77 and '91 in my opinion).
1. Pink Floyd - Meddle
2. Genesis - Nursery Cryme
3. The Who - Who's Next
4. Led Zeppelin - IV
5. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
6. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
7. Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
8. Leonard Cohen - Songs of Love and Hate
9. Yes - Fragile
10. David Bowie - Hunky Dory
11. John Lennon - Imagine
12. The Doors - L.A Woman
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For me..
1. Alice Cooper-Killer
2. Alice Cooper-Love It To Death
3. Deep Purple-Fireball
4. Led Zeppelin IV
5. Black Sabbath-Master Of Reality
6. UFO-Flying
I feel like you are forgetting an album..... :corn
Anyway, 1971 was an extremely exciting year for music. Mostly because Prog Rock was finally in full swing with tons of albums to sate your thirst. Now it may seem cliche at this point, but my number 1 album for 1971 is......
1. Led Zeppelin - IV | (No surprise here for me. This album is a straight 10/10. And while it can be said I've heard all of these songs so many times that they start to get overplayed, I can't deny how perfect of an album this is)
2. Pink Floyd - Meddle | (Perhaps a surprise at #2, but outside of Seamus (which has a certain endearing quality) this album is amazing)
3. Yes - The Yes Album | (the first of 2 outstanding Yes albums in 1971 and my favorite of the 2. Songs like Starship Trooper, I've Seen all the Good People, and Perpetual Change showcase the great songwriting skills of the band)
4. Genesis - Nursery Crime | (For me, the first truly great Genesis album. Peter Gabriel really comes into his own here. Perhaps it was the addition of Phil Collins that pushed them over into greatness. Either way it's a great album)
5. The Mahavishnu Orchestra With John McLaughlin - The Inner Mounting Flame | (This album was introduced to me by my dad when I was a kid and it's been a favorite ever since. One of the best examples of Jazz-Fusion)
6. Yes - Fragile | (The second of the Yes albums of 1971. This one is only held back by perhaps just a little too much self indulgence, but still a great album)
7. David Bowie - Hunky Dory | (Like Genesis, 1971 saw David Bowie release his first truly great album. Many love the song Changes, but it's songs like Life On Mars, Quicksand, and The Bewlay Brothers that show off David Bowie's talent)
8. Jethro Tull - Aqualung | (1971 really was the year of bands coming into their peak and for Jethro Tull with Aqualung it was no different. Led by lead sing Aqualung, this album goes from great song to great song. A true pioneer in Flute based Prog Rock)
9. The Who - Who's Next | (Great classic rock album, 'nuff said)
10. Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink | (A landmark album held back by the final track being a little too long and a couple other lulls throughout the album)
11. Emerson, Lake, & Palmer - Tarkus | (A bit of a step down from their debut album, but still good, especially with the epic track, Tarkus, to start the album. Too bad the rest of the album isn't nearly as interesting)
12. Miles Davis - A Tribute to Jack Johnson | (A massive step down from the previous couple albums, but somehow still really good. What a massive talent Miles Davis was)
13. Hawkwind - In Search of Space | (Another band that entered their peak in 1971. To me this was the true beginning to Space Rock)
14. Deep Purple - Fireball | (Like Miles Davis, Deep Purple had a big step back from previous albums, but still managed to put out an engaging hard rock album)
15. Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself | (Great hard rock album with touches of Prog and Psych. Highlights being the title track and the 2 epics July Morning and Shadows of Grief)
Honorable Mentions
16. Gentle Giant - Acquiring the Taste
17. King Crimson - Islands
18. Chicago - III
19. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
20. UFO - Flying
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For me..
1. Alice Cooper-Killer
2. Alice Cooper-Love It To Death
3. Deep Purple-Fireball
4. Led Zeppelin IV
5. Black Sabbath-Master Of Reality
6. UFO-Flying
I feel like you are forgetting an album..... :corn
Oh yes, the first Thin Lizzy album..
Well, I did have Who's Next when I was a kid. Also Uriah Heep.
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The list can grow a little bit for me as well!
1971
1. ALICE COOPER - Killer
2. ALICE COOPER - Love it to Death
3. URIAH HEEP - Salisbury
4. JETHRO TULL - Aqualung
5. BLACK SABBATH - Master of Reality
Alice Cooper is the undisputed winner of this year, and you can consider that a double win - I picked Killer for the first position but really, Love it to Death is equally great, these album started the Alice Cooper band's sound as we know it and they were legendary landmarks in the shock rock genre.
Then comes an oddity for me, Uriah Heep - I never really listened to their albums but I did listen to Salisbury and that album is absolutely great. Not only for the legendary Lady in Black, the whole album is great and protoype of modern metal.
Slightly edged out comes another legend, Tull's Aqualung. And Sabbath, well, I know the album and I do like it, but they're kinda filling up the fifth position just to have a top 5, I only remember at the moment Children of the Grave and Into the Void.
Also, it's becoming glaringly obvious, from the list of absent albums, which bands I never really followed :D
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For me..
1. Alice Cooper-Killer
2. Alice Cooper-Love It To Death
3. Deep Purple-Fireball
4. Led Zeppelin IV
5. Black Sabbath-Master Of Reality
6. UFO-Flying
I feel like you are forgetting an album..... :corn
Oh yes, the first Thin Lizzy album..
Well, I did have Who's Next when I was a kid. Also Uriah Heep.
Actually I hadn't even considered Thin Lizzy's first album. For some reason I thought you were a big fan of Uriah Heep's Look At Yourself. :dunno:
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1971:
01. Fragile (Yes)
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Actually I hadn't even considered Thin Lizzy's first album. For some reason I thought you were a big fan of Uriah Heep's Look At Yourself. :dunno:
I've never really committed to old Uriah Heep. Actually, I enjoy their most recent albums over the last dozen or so years with Bernie Shaw.
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1971
Led Zeppelin - IV
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
Chicago - III
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Miles Davis - A Tribute to Jack Johnson
The Who - Who's Next
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1. The Who - Who's Next
2. Pink Floyd - Meddle
3. King Crimson - Islands
4. Birth Control - Operation
5. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
6. Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame
7. Wishbone Ash - Pilgrimage
8. Yes - The Yes Album
9. Yes - Fragile
10. Van der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts
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Led Zeppelin IV
Yes - The Yes Album
Yes - Fragile
Genesis - Nursery Cryme
The Who - Who's Next
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The best year in music, imo. In no particular order (except the first one)
Zeppelin IV
Who's Next
Sticky Fingers
Imagine
Master of Reality
Meddle
Surf's Up
Every Picture Tells a Story
LA Woman
Fragile
The Yes Album
Fireball
Aqualung
Nursery Cryme
Not to mention releases from all-time greats that don't quite fall into my wheelhouse. 1971 was an iconic year.
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I am leaving off some good albums, but here is a top 10 for 1971:
1. Yes - Fragile
2. Yes - The Yes Album
3. Led Zeppelin - IV
4. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
5. The Moody Blues - Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
6. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
7. The Who - Who's Next
8. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
9. RAM - Paul McCartney
10. Pink Floyd - Meddle
Seems almost like a weird year in that quite a few artists of whom I am a fan released quite a few albums that were far better in the years just before or just after 1971 (Floyd, Sabbath, Bowie, The Who, The Moodies, ELP, Genesis).
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It's just insane to me how much iconic music was made in such close proximity to each other. Aqualung and Zep IV were recorded IN THE SAME STUDIO.
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Incredible year for music.
No particular order
Carole King - Tapestry
Booker T & the MGs - Melting Pot
Pink Floyd - Meddle
The Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame
Miles Davis - A Tribute to Jack Johnson
Yes - The Yes Album
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
Yes - Fragile
Joni Mitchell - Blue
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
Weather Report - Weather Report
Miles Davis - Live Evil
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For me..
1. Alice Cooper-Killer
2. Alice Cooper-Love It To Death
3. Deep Purple-Fireball
4. Led Zeppelin IV
5. Black Sabbath-Master Of Reality
6. UFO-Flying
I feel like you are forgetting an album..... :corn
Oh yes, the first Thin Lizzy album..
Well, I did have Who's Next when I was a kid. Also Uriah Heep.
:tup :tup :tup
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1972
Blurb from my blog
1972, another big year for Classic Rock and Progressive Rock. A decent year for depth certainly, but I suppose the biggest thing that stands out is the TOP HEAVY-NESS of it. Genesis and Tull both put out my favorite record in their respective catalogs. Plus Floyd, Gentle Giant, ELP, Bowie, Deep Purple and Wishbone Ash stood out.
1. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
2. Genesis - Foxtrot
3. Pink Floyd - Obscured By Clouds
4. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Trilogy
5. Wishbone Ash - Argus
6. Yes - Close to the Edge
7. Deep Purple - Machine Head
8. Michael Nesmith and the Second National Band - Tantamount to Treason Volume One
9. Renaissance - Prologue
10. Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
11. Deep Purple - Made in Japan
12. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
13. Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
14. Gentle Giant - Octopus
15. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
16. The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street
17. PFM - Per Un Amico
18. Return to Forever / Chick Corea - Return to Forever
19. Neil Young - Harvest
20. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition
21. Styx - Styx
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1972!
1. Alice Cooper-School's Out
2. Deep Purple-Machine Head
3. Black Sabbath- Vol. 4
4. Wishbone Ash-Argus
5. Scorpions-Lonesome Crow
6. Thin Lizzy-Shades Of A Blue Orphanage
7. Elf-s/t
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01 Yes - Close to the Edge
02 David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
03 Genesis - Foxtrot
04 Emerson Lake & Palmer - Trilogy
05 Black Sabbath - Volume 4
06 Frank Zappa - The Grand Wazoo
07 The Moody Blues - Seventh Sojourn
08 Blue Oyster Cult - Blue Oyster Cult
09 The Doobie Brothers - Toulouse Street
10 Pink Floyd - Obscured by Clouds
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1972 didn't have nearly as many breakout albums as 1971. Overall wasn't as strong musically either, but there are still quite a few really good albums.
1. Yes - Close to the Edge
2. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
3. Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
4. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
5. Genesis - Foxtrot
6. Deep Purple - Machine Head
7. Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill
8. Chicago - V
9. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per un Amico
10. Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
11. Hawkwind - Doremi Fasol Latido
12. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy
13. Gentle Giant - Three Friends
14. Miles Davis - On the Corner
15. Stevie Wonder - Music of My Mind
16. Pink Floyd - Obscured by Clouds
17. Gentle Giant - Octopus
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
1. Genesis - Foxtrot
2. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico
3. Yes - Close to the Edge
4. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Storia Di Un Minuto
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
1. Genesis - Foxtrot
2. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico
3. Yes - Close to the Edge
4. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Storia Di Un Minuto
Per un Amico was one of those albums I just bought on a whim about 20 years ago and was blown away by it. It's lost a little of its luster over the years, but it's still a great album. I never did bother checking out any of their other stuff......I mean, I have 5 of their other albums, but never did listen to them more than maybe once.....many years ago... :-\
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
1. Genesis - Foxtrot
2. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico
3. Yes - Close to the Edge
4. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Storia Di Un Minuto
Per un Amico was one of those albums I just bought on a whim about 20 years ago and was blown away by it. It's lost a little of its luster over the years, but it's still a great album. I never did bother checking out any of their other stuff......I mean, I have 5 of their other albums, but never did listen to them more than maybe once.....many years ago... :-\
I have their first 3 Italian language ones and a couple of the English language ones. They're all really creative and interesting, though I agree Per Un Amico is the best one. L'Isola Di Nienta has some really cool moments too. I do really like Chocolate Kings, which is an English language one with a different singer who sounds like a cross between Peter Gabriel and Eddy Vedder.
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1972:
01. Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull)
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.
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Another short year for me:
1. Pink Floyd - Obscured By Clouds
2. Bonnie Raitt - Give It Up
3. Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes
4. David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
5. Simon & Garfunkel - Simon And Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
I know the prog community rubs themselves raw over a few of their albums, but aside from a couple of notable songs, their music has never struck me as anything more than nice background music. Very well done music, yes, but not really music that excites me to where I ever think, "I want to listen to that!"
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1. Wishbone Ash - Argus
2. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
3. Genesis - Foxtrot
4. Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
5. Chick Corea - Return to Forever
6. Deep Purple - Machine Head
7. Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
8. Yes - Close to the Edge
9. Pink Floyd - Obscured by Clouds
10. Tower of Power - Bump City
Other albums of moderate interest for me:
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition
NEU! - NEU!
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
I know the prog community rubs themselves raw over a few of their albums, but aside from a couple of notable songs, their music has never struck me as anything more than nice background music. Very well done music, yes, but not really music that excites me to where I ever think, "I want to listen to that!"
They’re a bit like King Crimson for me. When I’m in the mood for that kind of music it really hits the spot. A lot of it is closer to classical music than rock (with a good bit of jazz as well as Italian folk elements), and I’m guessing the lyrics being in Italian might make them less of an active listen for some. But I do think they are an underrated prog act. The king of stuff they were doing was on as high of a level musically as any of the bigger names in prog.
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1972
Yes - Close To The Edge
Chicago - V
Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Deep Purple - Machine Head
Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick
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I almost feel ashamed in having nothing to offer for this year :D I mean, it's not that I never hard of these albums mentioned for 1972 and I heard at least some songs here and there, but as far my actual list of albums I know and enjoy, I have nothing else to offer than....
1 ALICE COOPER - School's Out 8 (and it's not even my fav album of the band era)
2 BLACK SABBATH - Master of Reality (and again, not one of my favorite albums of them)
So yeah, I suck ;D
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
I know the prog community rubs themselves raw over a few of their albums, but aside from a couple of notable songs, their music has never struck me as anything more than nice background music. Very well done music, yes, but not really music that excites me to where I ever think, "I want to listen to that!"
They’re a bit like King Crimson for me. When I’m in the mood for that kind of music it really hits the spot. A lot of it is closer to classical music than rock (with a good bit of jazz as well as Italian folk elements), and I’m guessing the lyrics being in Italian might make them less of an active listen for some. But I do think they are an underrated prog act. The king of stuff they were doing was on as high of a level musically as any of the bigger names in prog.
I see them as the most well-known if not the best of the Italian Prog bands from the 70's. Banco, Le Orme, Il Balletto Di Bronzo, Area and few others also had success, but it seems PFM became the most (relatively) famous.
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
I know the prog community rubs themselves raw over a few of their albums, but aside from a couple of notable songs, their music has never struck me as anything more than nice background music. Very well done music, yes, but not really music that excites me to where I ever think, "I want to listen to that!"
They’re a bit like King Crimson for me. When I’m in the mood for that kind of music it really hits the spot. A lot of it is closer to classical music than rock (with a good bit of jazz as well as Italian folk elements), and I’m guessing the lyrics being in Italian might make them less of an active listen for some. But I do think they are an underrated prog act. The king of stuff they were doing was on as high of a level musically as any of the bigger names in prog.
I see them as the most well-known if not the best of the Italian Prog bands from the 70's. Banco, Le Orme, Il Balletto Di Bronzo, Area and few others also had success, but it seems PFM became the most (relatively) famous.
Yeah, I’ve heard a few of those other bands but I’m not super familiar with any of them. There definitely was an interesting prog scene in Italy back in the 70s (maybe still is).
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
I know the prog community rubs themselves raw over a few of their albums, but aside from a couple of notable songs, their music has never struck me as anything more than nice background music. Very well done music, yes, but not really music that excites me to where I ever think, "I want to listen to that!"
They’re a bit like King Crimson for me. When I’m in the mood for that kind of music it really hits the spot. A lot of it is closer to classical music than rock (with a good bit of jazz as well as Italian folk elements), and I’m guessing the lyrics being in Italian might make them less of an active listen for some. But I do think they are an underrated prog act. The king of stuff they were doing was on as high of a level musically as any of the bigger names in prog.
Possibly.
For me, it increases the beauty, because the Romance languages are wonderfully beautiful (but I am biased! :biggrin:).
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Nice to see a couple votes for PFM! I'll give them two for 1972.
I know the prog community rubs themselves raw over a few of their albums, but aside from a couple of notable songs, their music has never struck me as anything more than nice background music. Very well done music, yes, but not really music that excites me to where I ever think, "I want to listen to that!"
They’re a bit like King Crimson for me. When I’m in the mood for that kind of music it really hits the spot. A lot of it is closer to classical music than rock (with a good bit of jazz as well as Italian folk elements), and I’m guessing the lyrics being in Italian might make them less of an active listen for some. But I do think they are an underrated prog act. The king of stuff they were doing was on as high of a level musically as any of the bigger names in prog.
Possibly.
For me, it increases the beauty, because the Romance languages are wonderfully beautiful (but I am biased! :biggrin:).
I hear you. It doesn’t bother me. They definitely add to the atmosphere even if I don’t have any clue what the words are saying!
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1972:
Yes - Close To The Edge
Mahavishnu Orchstra - Birds Of Fire
Genesis - Foxtrot
Tower Of Power - Bump City
ZZ Top - Rio Grande Mud
Gentel Giant - Octopus
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1972:
Yes - Close To The Edge
Mahavishnu Orchstra - Birds Of Fire
Genesis - Foxtrot
Tower Of Power - Bump City
ZZ Top - Rio Grande Mud
Gentel Giant - Octopus
Oops, I forgot Birds of Fire on my list...... It would probably go in the #5 spot for me.
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1972:
Yes - Close To The Edge
Mahavishnu Orchstra - Birds Of Fire
Genesis - Foxtrot
Tower Of Power - Bump City
ZZ Top - Rio Grande Mud
Gentel Giant - Octopus
Oops, I forgot Birds of Fire on my list...... It would probably go in the #5 spot for me.
pretty much everywhere lists it as being released in 1973 (January 3rd).
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1972:
Yes - Close To The Edge
Mahavishnu Orchstra - Birds Of Fire
Genesis - Foxtrot
Tower Of Power - Bump City
ZZ Top - Rio Grande Mud
Gentel Giant - Octopus
Oops, I forgot Birds of Fire on my list...... It would probably go in the #5 spot for me.
pretty much everywhere lists it as being released in 1973 (January 3rd).
You're right! That would explain how I missed it. It will show up in my 1973 list for sure! :metal
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Ahead of its time, apparently.
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Ahead of its time, apparently.
:rollin
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1972:
Yes - Close To The Edge
Mahavishnu Orchstra - Birds Of Fire
Genesis - Foxtrot
Tower Of Power - Bump City
ZZ Top - Rio Grande Mud
Gentel Giant - Octopus
Oops, I forgot Birds of Fire on my list...... It would probably go in the #5 spot for me.
pretty much everywhere lists it as being released in 1973 (January 3rd).
My cd is a reissue from 1991 and there is a german prog-website that lists it as a 1972 record, maybe that's why I put it in that year. But according to wikipedia is was released in 1973. So I can list it again when we switch to that year. :D
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1972:
1. Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
2. Yes - Close to the Edge
3. Deep Purple - Machine Head; Made in Japan
4. Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
5. Neil Young - Harvest
6. Genesis - Foxtrot
7. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick (not a Tull fan but I love this album)
8. Blue Oyster Cult - self-titled
9. Santana - Caravanserai
10. Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill
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1971:
1. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
2. Bowie - Hunky Dory
3. The Who - Who's Next
4. Led Zeppelin - IV
5. Yes - Fragile; The Yes Album
6. Deep Purple - Fireball
7. Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
8. Can - Tago Mago
9. The Doors - L.A. Woman
10. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
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My birth year!
In no particular order:
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars - David Bowie
Harvest - Neil Young
Superfly - Curtis Mayfield
Eat a Peach - The Allman Brothers Band
Close to the Edge - Yes
Can't Buy a Thrill - Steely Dan
Chicago V - Chicago
Eagles - Eagles
Foxtrot - Genesis
Trilogy - Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
Rio Grande Mud - ZZ Top
Miles Davis - On the Corner
Chick Corea - Return to Forever
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I'm starting to realize through these posts that there are so many albums I've heard about but never listened to. Gotta start putting in the listening backlog.
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I'm starting to realize through these posts that there are so many albums I've heard about but never listened to. Gotta start putting in the listening backlog.
Someone with time on their hands should compile a master list of everyone’s albums for each year...
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Hrmm I can work on that over the next week or so, see what I can knock out
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1973
Man, this was a year that was hard to rank as there are a lot of records I enjoy pretty much equally. Kind of mind boggling.
Blurb from allmediareviews:
1973, a year where progressive rock seemed to be flourishing and many bands made double albums and noteworthy live records.
Also many debut albums came out. Many in the jazz-rock style, which is closely related to progressive rock which is understandable.
1973 I suppose doesn't include a high number of all-time favorites for me, but it does have a lot of records I would rank high among the bands/artists respective catalogs.
1. Genesis - Selling England By the Pound
2. Jethro Tull - A Passion Play
3. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
4. The Who - Quadrophenia
5. Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning
6. King Crimson - Larks' Tongue in Aspic
7. Yes - Yessongs
8. Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
9. Herbie Hancock - Headhunters
10. Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
11. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
12. Billy Cobham - Spectrum
13. Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
14. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
15. Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
16. Styx - Styx II
17. Carmen - Fandangos in Space
18. Return to Forever - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
19. Mahavishnu Orchestra - From Nothingness to Eternity
20. Queen - Queen
21. Genesis - Genesis Live
22. Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
23. Nektar - Remember the Future
24. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
25. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Photos of Ghosts
26. Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
27, Bruce Springsteen - Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ
28, Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
29. Chick Corea and Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
30. Gentle Giant - In a Glass House
31. Rick Wakeman - The Six Wives of Henry VIII
32. Gong - Flying Teapot
33. Carlos Santana, and John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender
34. John Lennon - Mind Games
35. Michael Nesmith - Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash
36. Billy Joel - Piano Man
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1973:
01. The Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd)
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1. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
2. Tom Waits - Closing Time
3. Return to Forever - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
4. Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
5. Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Four
6. The Who - Quadrophenia
7. Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
8. King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic
9. Queen - Queen
10. Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
Other albums of moderate interest for me:
Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
NEU! - NEU! 2
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
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1973!. This was a tough list to compile. After the first 3 albums it was kind of tough to decide on an order...
1. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
2. Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans
3. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
4. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
5. King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic
6. Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
7. The Who - Quadrophenia
8. David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
9. Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
10. Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
11. Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
12. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
13. Faust - IV
14. Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
15. Gentle Giant - In a Glass House
16. Procul Harum - Grand Hotel
17. Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
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1973
1. ALICE COOPER - Billion Dollar Babies
This is the undisputed winner of the year for me. The most famous and iconic album, live staple wise, of the Alice Cooper band. Timeless classic.
Then as honorable mentions since I don't terribly love these albums, we could have in a difficult order:
2. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Greetings from Asbury Park, NY
3. QUEEN - Queen
4. BLACK SABBATH - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
5. ALICE COOPER - Muscle of Love
6. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - The Wild, the Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle
EDIT to insert Queen, I forgot about their debut!
(And yeah, I don't listen to Pink Floyd, I suck)
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01 Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
02 Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
03 Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
04 Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
05 Blue Oyster Cult - Tyranny and Mutation
06 David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
07 Triumvirat - Illusions on a Double Dimple
08 The Who - Quadrophenia
09 Emerson Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
10 Camel - Camel
11 The Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me
12 Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans
13 Kansas - Kansas
14 Billy Joel - Piano Man
15 Stevie Wonders - Innervisions
16 Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
17 Queen - Queen
18 Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
19 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
20 Paul McCartney - Band on the Run
What a year! I went 20 deep and couldn't include records by King Crimson, Montrose, Le Orme, Chicago, ZZ Top and Styx.
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Alright 1973:
1. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon
2. Queen - Queen
3. Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
4. ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
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I'm starting to realize through these posts that there are so many albums I've heard about but never listened to. Gotta start putting in the listening backlog.
Someone with time on their hands should compile a master list of everyone’s albums for each year...
I started working on this, should have some stats up for you guys this weekend. I'll make the doc public once it's complete.
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1973:
1. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
2. The Who - Quad
3. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
4. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
5. The Stooges - Raw Power
6. Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
7. King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic
8. Can - Future Days
9. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced
10. Budgie - Never Turn Your Back on a Friend
No one put Can on their list except me? I'm surprised.
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Some pretty good ones for 1973:
1. Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
2. Camel - Camel
3. King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic
4. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
5. PFM - Photos of Ghosts (wasn't going to include this because it's songs from the first two albums with English lyrics, but Old Rain is tremendous so why not).
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Another great year for music.
No particular order:
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
Return to Forever - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Allman Brothers Band - Brothers & Sisters
Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
Jimmy Cliff - Struggling Man
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Tower of Power - Tower of Power
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Eagles - Desperado
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
Jackson Browne - For Everyman
Chick Corea & Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender
Charles Mingus - Mingus Moves
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Another great year for music.
No particular order:
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
Return to Forever - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Allman Brothers Band - Brothers & Sisters
Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
Jimmy Cliff - Struggling Man
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Tower of Power - Tower of Power
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Eagles - Desperado
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
Jackson Browne - For Everyman
Chick Corea & Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender
Charles Mingus - Mingus Moves
Since you have Billy Joel's Piano Man on your list where is Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road?
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Another great year for music.
No particular order:
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
Return to Forever - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Allman Brothers Band - Brothers & Sisters
Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
Jimmy Cliff - Struggling Man
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Tower of Power - Tower of Power
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Eagles - Desperado
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
Jackson Browne - For Everyman
Chick Corea & Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender
Charles Mingus - Mingus Moves
Since you have Billy Joel's Piano Man on your list where is Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road?
I don't like Elton John.
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Another great year for music.
No particular order:
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
Return to Forever - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Allman Brothers Band - Brothers & Sisters
Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
Jimmy Cliff - Struggling Man
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Tower of Power - Tower of Power
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Eagles - Desperado
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
Jackson Browne - For Everyman
Chick Corea & Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender
Charles Mingus - Mingus Moves
Since you have Billy Joel's Piano Man on your list where is Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road?
I don't like Elton John.
Impossible, as many people who like Billy Joel also like Elton John! ;-)
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Another great year for music.
No particular order:
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
Return to Forever - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Allman Brothers Band - Brothers & Sisters
Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
Jimmy Cliff - Struggling Man
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Tower of Power - Tower of Power
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Eagles - Desperado
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
Jackson Browne - For Everyman
Chick Corea & Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender
Charles Mingus - Mingus Moves
Since you have Billy Joel's Piano Man on your list where is Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road?
I don't like Elton John.
Impossible, as many people who like Billy Joel also like Elton John! ;-)
Yeah! This is objectively true, not subjective :neverusethis:
I'm starting to realize through these posts that there are so many albums I've heard about but never listened to. Gotta start putting in the listening backlog.
Someone with time on their hands should compile a master list of everyone’s albums for each year...
I started working on this, should have some stats up for you guys this weekend. I'll make the doc public once it's complete.
I was going to do this, but then realized I have way too many projects going to tackle another one. I figured if I waited long enough someone else would take up this mantle! Thanks for picking it up! :biggrin:
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The only albums on my 1973 radar are:
1. Black Sabbath-Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
2. Alice Cooper-Billion Dollar Babies
3. Aerosmith s/t
4. Alice Cooper-Muscle Of Love
5. Led Zeppelin-Houses Of The Holy
6. Slade-Sladest
7. Deep Purple-Who Do We Think We Are
8. Thin Lizzy-Vagabonds Of The Western World
9. Montrose-s/t
10. Icecross-s/t
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Just listened to McCartney’s Band on the Run for the first time today, what a fantastic album!
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Another great year for music.
No particular order:
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
Return to Forever - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
Allman Brothers Band - Brothers & Sisters
Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
Jimmy Cliff - Struggling Man
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Tower of Power - Tower of Power
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Eagles - Desperado
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
Jackson Browne - For Everyman
Chick Corea & Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender
Charles Mingus - Mingus Moves
Since you have Billy Joel's Piano Man on your list where is Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road?
I don't like Elton John.
Impossible, as many people who like Billy Joel also like Elton John! ;-)
:lol
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Some good ones in 1973, in alphabetical order:
Aerosmith - Make It
Genesis - Selling England By The Pound
Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds Of Fire (again :D)
Oldfield, Mike - Tubular Bells
Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
Tower Of Power - Tower Of Power
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Yes - Yessongs
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
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1974
Excellent year with a lot of great records.
From allmediareviews
1974, a very deep year for albums, like pretty much every year in the early and mid 70's.
On the surface, there's a couple of all-time favorites of mine from Yes and a derived project from Mahavishnu Orchestra. It also saw Rush finally put out their debut record, the last record with Peter Gabriel in Genesis, 2 of the better King Crimson albums, and another excellent record from Renaissance. Also 2 of the early Queen records, which are among my favorites in their catalog.
Genesis and Yes albums came out within 10 days of each other in November. And the Rush debut album came out the same day as one of Camel's best records.
It also seemed the prog thing was reaching its peak and jazz-rock also seemed to be really big. Quite a few albums came out with only 2-4 tracks on them, featuring side-length suites of course.
Also there seemed to be a fair amount of rock/pop and art-rock coming into fold, with bands like ELO, Supertramp, Sparks, and 10cc putting out some of the best records of their career in 1974.
Overall, I wouldn't consider '74 quite as top-heavy as '73, but maybe as if not having more depth in quality.
1. Yes - Relayer
2. Jerry Goodman and Jan Hammer - Like Children
3. King Crimson - Red
4. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
5. Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
6, Renaissance - Turn of the Cards
7. King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
8. Supertramp - Crime of the Century
9. Queen - Queen II
10. Kansas - Kansas
11. Gryphon - Red Queen to Gryphon Three
12. 10cc - Sheet Music
13. Todd Rundgren's Utopia - Todd Rundgren's Utopia
14. Rush - Rush
15. Return to Forever - Where Have I Known You Before
16. Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
17. Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado
18. Weather Report - Mysterious Traveller
19. Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale
20. Gentle Giant - The Power and the Glory
21. Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
22. Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark
23. Camel - Mirage
24. Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (')
25. Deep Purple - Burn
26. Sparks - Propaganda
27. Herbie Hancock - Thrust
28. Triumvirat - Illusions on a Double Dimple
29. Sparks - Kimono My House
30. Stanley Clarke - Stanley Clarke
31. Jethro Tull - War Child
32, Marvin Hamlisch - The Sting Soundtrack
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1974:
01. Burn (Deep Purple)
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Solid year!
1. Tom Waits - The Heart of Saturday Night
2. King Crimson - Red
3. Lucifer's Friend - Banquet
4. Wishbone Ash - There's the Rub
5. Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
6. Bill Evans - Symbiosis
7. Average White Band - AWB
8. Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale
9. Queen - Queen II
10. Maynard Ferguson - Chameleon
11. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
12. King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
13. Yes - Relayer
14. Return to Forever - Where Have I Known You Before
15. Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
Also of interest to me:
Parliament - Up for the Down Stroke
Rush - Rush (although this one I find pretty meh)
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Some good ones, in alphabetical order:
Aerosmith - Get Your Wings
Kansas - Kansas
King Crimson - Red
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping
Oldfield, Mike - Hergest Ridge
Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
Supertramp - Crime Of The Century
Tower Of Power - Back To Oakland
Yes - Relayer
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Also this year is short for me.
1 QUEEN - Queen II.
Absolute masterpiece, in a sense my favorite Queen album. Lot of great songs. Side 2 is legendary. The March of the Black Queen is in my top 3 Queen songs.
2. QUEEN - Sheer Heart Attack
3. JUDAS PRIEST - Rocka Rolla
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1974:
King Crimson - Red
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack; Queen II
Yes - Relayer
Deep Purple - Burn
Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Treaties
Miles Davis - Get Up With It
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Supetramp - Crime of the Century
Aerosmith - Get Your Wings
Camel - Mirage
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Just two for me for 1974:
1. Rush - Rush
2. Joe Pass - Virtuoso
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No particular order:
Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark
Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting it On
Yes - Relayer
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Bad Company - Bad Company
King Crimson - Red
Eagles - On the Border
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Kansas - Kansas
Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
John Coltrane - Interstellar Space
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Also this year is short for me.
1 QUEEN - Queen II.
Absolute masterpiece, in a sense my favorite Queen album. Lot of great songs. Side 2 is legendary. The March of the Black Queen is in my top 3 Queen songs.
2. QUEEN - Sheer Heart Attack
3. JUDAS PRIEST - Rocka Rolla
Well, apparently I forgot to add Queen II to my list!
Interestingly the album was crossed off my preliminary list (meaning the albums I put on the final list), so it should be on the final list. I don't know what the hell I did :lol
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Too many to list, and most of what I'd pick have been named elsewhere, with the exception of Kiss's debut and Hotter Than Hell.
But '73, '74 were odd years; the 60's bands were in transition, either hitting new stride - the Stones - or forming new bands - ELP, Zeppelin - or forging solo careers - McCartney - but also, the fans of the 60's bands were now starting to make their own music (Kiss, Rush, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, all big 60's rock fans in their own fashion).
I do know that '72 to '75 is perhaps the most fertile period in my record collection. Those early Sabbath, Zeppelin, Kiss, Genesis, Yes, ELP, Deep Purple records are the foundation, the cornerstone of everything that came after for me.
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For me..
1. KISS-Hotter Than Hell
2. Sweet-Desolation Boulevard
3. UFO-Phenomenon
4. Deep Purple-Burn
5. KISS-s/t
6. Aerosmith-Get Your Wings
7. Scorpions-Fly To The Rainbow
8. Thin Lizzy-Nightlife
9. Rush-s/t
10. Wishbone Ash-There's The Rub
11. Lucifer's Friend-Banquet
12. Deep Purple-Stormbringer
13. Judas Priest-Rocka Rolla
14. Sensational Alex Harvey Band-The Impossible Dream
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1974 is kind of tough to rank. Red is the clear favorite, Lamb is the clear least favorite of what I have from that year, but everything in between is pretty fluid.
1. King Crimson - Red
2. Camel - Mirage
3. Yes - Relayer
4. King Crimson - Starless & Bible Black
5. PFM - L'Isola Di Niente
6. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
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All mine for 1974 have been listed except maybe Bad Company?
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For me..
1. KISS-Hotter Than Hell
2. Sweet-Desolation Boulevard
3. UFO-Phenomenon
4. Deep Purple-Burn
5. KISS-s/t
6. Aerosmith-Get Your Wings
7. Scorpions-Fly To The Rainbow
8. Thin Lizzy-Nightlife
9. Rush-s/t
10. Wishbone Ash-There's The Rub
11. Lucifer's Friend-Banquet
12. Deep Purple-Stormbringer
13. Judas Priest-Rocka Rolla
14. Sensational Alex Harvey Band-The Impossible Dream
There would be a LOT of overlap with my list. A LOT.
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For me..
1. KISS-Hotter Than Hell
2. Sweet-Desolation Boulevard
3. UFO-Phenomenon
4. Deep Purple-Burn
5. KISS-s/t
6. Aerosmith-Get Your Wings
7. Scorpions-Fly To The Rainbow
8. Thin Lizzy-Nightlife
9. Rush-s/t
10. Wishbone Ash-There's The Rub
11. Lucifer's Friend-Banquet
12. Deep Purple-Stormbringer
13. Judas Priest-Rocka Rolla
14. Sensational Alex Harvey Band-The Impossible Dream
I see your list is 100% hard rock.
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For me..
1. KISS-Hotter Than Hell
2. Sweet-Desolation Boulevard
3. UFO-Phenomenon
4. Deep Purple-Burn
5. KISS-s/t
6. Aerosmith-Get Your Wings
7. Scorpions-Fly To The Rainbow
8. Thin Lizzy-Nightlife
9. Rush-s/t
10. Wishbone Ash-There's The Rub
11. Lucifer's Friend-Banquet
12. Deep Purple-Stormbringer
13. Judas Priest-Rocka Rolla
14. Sensational Alex Harvey Band-The Impossible Dream
I see your list is 100% hard rock.
You see 100% correctly!
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For me..
1. KISS-Hotter Than Hell
2. Sweet-Desolation Boulevard
3. UFO-Phenomenon
4. Deep Purple-Burn
5. KISS-s/t
6. Aerosmith-Get Your Wings
7. Scorpions-Fly To The Rainbow
8. Thin Lizzy-Nightlife
9. Rush-s/t
10. Wishbone Ash-There's The Rub
11. Lucifer's Friend-Banquet
12. Deep Purple-Stormbringer
13. Judas Priest-Rocka Rolla
14. Sensational Alex Harvey Band-The Impossible Dream
I see your list is 100% hard rock.
TAC's entire list for all years is 100% hard rock. He isn't aware that other genres exist.
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1974, The beginning of Rush! Sadly not the best of Rush....
1. King Crimson - Red
2. Supertramp - Crime of the Century
3. Yes - Relayer
4. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
5. Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Treaties
6. Miles Davis - Get Up With It
7. Rush - Rush
8. Deep Purple - Burn
9. Camel - Mirage
10. Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
11. Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale
12. Kraftwerk - Autobahn
13. Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
14. Hawkwind - Hall of the Mountain Grill
15. Miles Davis - Big Fun
16. Gentle Giant - The Power and the Glory
17. King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
18. Queen - II
19. Bad Company - Bad Company
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01 Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
02 Camel - Mirage
03 Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
04 Yes - Relayer
05 Blue Oyster Cult - Secret Treaties
06 Supertramp - Crime of the Century
07 Queen - Queen II
08 Judas Priest - Rocka Rolla
09 King Crimson - Red
10 Bad Company - Bad Company
11 Rush - Rush
12 Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (')
13 David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
14 Herbie Hancock - Thrust
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1975
From allmediareviews
1975, the year before I was born, and I guess I have thought-of for a long time as the peak or maybe just past the peak of progressive rock and art-rock of the 1st era or original era per say.
And with that, there was a lot of depth from this year, in particular with Classic Rock "classics" and Jazz-Rock especially.
A Night at the Opera for nearly 20 years has been an all-favorite of mine. Stone-Cold landmark record, and my favorite Queen album really since I 1st started checking out their catalog almost 20 years ago. It includes the radio staples of course which I do find still hold up, plus "The Prophet's Song" which I consider Queen's greatest work ever.
But you take that amazing record and then also my #1 records from 2 of my favorite bands ever in Renaissance and Led Zeppelin, and you have a year that is really top heavy. Even just the top 10, man, all ESSENTIALS for me including Born to Run, like A Night at the Opera, includes Bruce's greatest track with "Jungleland."
This year also seemed to include many standout Solo albums, many of which were debut solo records for whatever reason. Maybe by the Mid 70's the *bands* had members who felt it was time to do something outside of their main gigs.
Along with those, there are many debut albums in some cases were some of the artists best work, and others, just a start of bigger and better things to come.
1. Queen - A Night at the Opera
2. Renaissance - Scheherazade and Other Stories
3. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
4. Rush - Caress of Steel
5. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
6. Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery
7. Chris Squire - Fish out of Water
8. Return to Forever featuring Chick Corea - No Mystery
9. Kansas - Song for America
10. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
11. Steve Hackett - Voyage of the Acolyte
12. Rush - Fly By Night
13. Styx - Equinox
14. Electromagnets - Electromagnets
15. Kansas - Masque
16. Steve Howe - Beginnings
17. Jack Lancaster / Robin Lumley - Peter and the Wolf
18. David Bowie - Young Americans
19. The Eagles - One of These Nights
20. Hall and Oates - Daryl Hall and John Oates
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1975 is a weird year for me. This is my biggest year so far in this exercise, but a lot of the albums are comparative weak spots in their respective artists' catalogs. Some good ones still though.
1. PFM - Chocolate Kings
2. Steve Hackett - Voyage of the Acolyte
3. Journey - Journey
4. Weather Report - Black Market
5. Rush - Caress of Steel
6. Rush - Fly by Night
7. Camel - The Snow Goose
8. Art Garfunkel - Breakaway
9. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
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01 Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
02 Triumvirat = Spartacus
03 Black Sabbath - Sabotage
04 Camel - The Snow Goose
05 Kansas - Masque
06 Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow
07 Queen - A Night at the Opera
08 Styx - Equinox
09 Led Zeppelin = Physical Graffiti
10 Kansas - Song for America
11 Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
12 Rush - Fly by Night
13 David Bowie - Young Americans
14 Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
15 Electric Light Orchestra - Face the Music
16 Rush - Caress of Steel
17 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Soundtrack)
18 Renaissance - Scheherazade and Other Stories
19 Little River Band - Little River Band (this makes the list merely off of the strength one of the greatest songs ever, It's a Long Way There)
20 Bad Company - Straight Shooter
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My 1975 list, with the top three very diverse in style and very difficult therefore to properly award:
1 - RAINBOW - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
2 - ALICE COOPER - Welcome to My Nightmare
3 - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Born to Run
4 - QUEEN - A Night at the Opera
5 - BLACK SABBATH - Sabotage
The problem with Rainbow has always been that every album has absolute masterpieces, and a couple of forgettable songs, it's hard to have a 10/10 album with Rainbow, some songs are 25/10 and others are 5/10.
Alice Cooper goes solo, and does one of his best and legendary albums.
Also, Bruce Springsteen shakes the world with his rise into stardom album, Born to Run, even though I have to say all the songs on the album pale to their live renditions. Yeah, Born to Run is good and deserves all the praise it gets, but stuff like Thunder Road, Born to Run and Jungleland if you don't hear them live, you don't know what you're missing.
Queen's ANATO is another legendary album. The Prophet's Song is one of my favorite Queen songs of all time, top 3 I'd say. Sabotage from Sabbath gets a mention just for Symptom of the Universe.
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01 Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
02 Triumvirat = Spartacus
03 Black Sabbath - Sabotage
04 Camel - The Snow Goose
05 Kansas - Masque
06 Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow
07 Queen - A Night at the Opera
08 Styx - Equinox
09 Led Zeppelin = Physical Graffiti
10 Kansas - Song for America
11 Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
12 Rush - Fly by Night
13 David Bowie - Young Americans
14 Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
15 Electric Light Orchestra - Face the Music
16 Rush - Caress of Steel
17 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Soundtrack)
18 Renaissance - Scheherazade and Other Stories
19 Little River Band - Little River Band (this makes the list merely off of the strength one of the greatest songs ever, It's a Long Way There)
20 Bad Company - Straight Shooter
Hmmm. Is Caress of Steel also 1975? Need to adjust my list.
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Also, Bruce Springsteen shakes the world with his rise into stardom album, Born to Run, even though I have to say all the songs on the album pale to their live renditions. Yeah, Born to Run is good and deserves all the praise it gets, but stuff like Thunder Road, Born to Run and Jungleland if you don't hear them live, you don't know what you're missing.
Born to Run is a classic record for sure, but I never listen to it, which is why I did not put it on my list. Jungleland is one of the few Bruce songs I will reach for on occasion, and even that is only like once a year. I have much respect for The Boss and what he has accomplished, but his music is just not something that excites me or makes me want to listen.
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Best year so far - two seriously standout albums at the top for me.
1. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
2. Queen - A Night at the Opera
3. Crack the Sky - Crack the Sky
4. Parliament - Mothership Connection
5. Average White Band - Cut the Cake
6. Return to Forever - No Mystery
7. Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
8. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
9. Gentle Giant - Free Hand
10. Area - Crac!
11. Chris Squire - Fish Out of Water
12. Gino Vannelli - Storm at Sunup
13. Tower of Power - In the Slot
14. Kansas - Masque
15. Can - Landed
I also vaguely know the two Rush albums from that year, but don't like them that much. It was the year after when they started getting good!
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1. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
2. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
3. Black Sabbath - Sabotage
4. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
5. Queen - A Night at the Opera
6. Eno - Another Green World
7. Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
8. Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
9. Frank Zappa - One Size Fits All
10. Van der Graaf Generator - Godbluff
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1975 was a great year!
1. Alice Cooper-Welcome To My Nightmare
2. UFO-Force It
3. KISS-Alive
4. Black Sabbath-Sabotage
5. Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
6. Rainbow-Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
7. Thin Lizzy-Fighting
8. KISS-Dressed To Kill
9. Scorpions-In Trance
10. Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here
11. Rush-Fly By Night
12. Aerosmith-Toys In The Attic
13. Deep Purple-Come Taste The Band
14. Ted Nugent-s/t
15. Rush-Caress Of Steel
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1975:
01. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
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1975 has 1 perfect album and then a lot of great albums. The last 6 on the list are fairly interchangeable depending on my mood.
1. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
2. Rush - Fly By Night
3. Queen - A Night at the Opera
4. Rush - Caress of Steel
5. Van der Graaf Generator - Godbluff
6. Camel - The Snow Goose
7. Hawkwind - Warrior On the Edge of Time
8. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
9. Black Sabbath - Sabatage
10. Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
11. Styx - Equinox
12. Bad Company - Straight Shooter
13. Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn
14. Steely Dan - Katy Lied
15. Journey - Journey
16. Gentle Giant - Free Hand
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the good ones from 1975 in alphabetical order:
Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
Beck, Jeff - Blow By Blow
Eagles - One Of These Nights
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Kansas - Song For America
Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog
Oldfield, Mike - Ommadawn
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Queen - A Night At The Opera
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
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1975 favorite to least:
1. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
2. Rush - Caress Of Steel
3. Keith Jarrett - The Koln Concert
4. Earth, Wind, & Fire - That's The Way Of The World
5. Rush - Fly By Night
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In no particular order:
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Eagles - One of These Nights
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
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1976
from allmediareviews
1976, the year I was born. Also the year of the Bi-Centennial of course (per 1776).
Odd year in some ways per there was a ton of Jazz-Rock being made. I guess it was at the peak, or just after the peak of Jazz-Fusion and progressive rock. Punk, Post-Punk and New Wave were a couple of years away from taking over overall.
But the other thing is, and it may just be a product of the time and obscurity to a point, 18 albums below I cannot find a release date or month for. Kind of sucks, but I don't have time to do the research.
But as far specifics, Marscape is a favorite of mine, a masterpiece of Jazz-Rock and concept albums. And it really is a Brand X album, before they came up with their name.
Romantic Warrior also a big favorite among jazz-rock for me and many others. Rush's 2112 was a breakthrough, Jon Anderson's debut album is by many his best work.
Many great live records from Renaissance, to Rush and Led Zeppelin (which was for the film of course).. And the Billy Cobham / George Duke album is a favorite of mine as well, as the cover art I adore. Its charm, comedy, and Scifi element among other things. I even have George Duke's signature on my vinyl copy.
1. Jack Lancaster and Robin Lumley - Marscape
2. Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
3. Rush - 2112
4. Jon Anderson - Olias of Sunhillow
5. Kansas - Leftoverture
6. Al Di Meola - Land of the Midnight Sun
7. Renaissance - Live at Carnegie Hall
8. The Billy Cobham / George Duke Band - Live on tour in Europe
9. Genesis - A Trick of the Tail
10. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
11. Styx - Crystal Ball
12. Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life
13. Rush - All the World's a Stage
14. Boston - Boston
15. Queen - A Day at the Races
16. Rainbow - Rising
17. Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same
18. Led Zeppelin - Presence
19. Genesis - Wind and Wuthering
20. The Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination - Edgar Allan Poe
21. Shakti with John McLaughlin - Shakti with John McLaughlin
22. Stanley Clarke - School Days
23. Starcastle - Starcastle
24. Camel - Moonmadness
25. Jean-Luc Ponty - Aurora
26. Ken - By Request Only
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1976 was a huge year for music!
1. Rush - All the World's A Stage
2. Rainbow - Rising
3. Rush - 2112
4. Boston - Boston
5. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
6. Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny
7. Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
8. David Bowie - Station to Station
9. Genesis - Wind & Wuthering
10. Camel - Moonmadness
11. Genesis - A Trick of the Tail
12. Heart - Dreamboat Annie
13. Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
14. Scorpions - In Trance
15. Steely Dan - The Royal Scam
16. Blue Öyster Cult - Agents of Fortune
17. Thin Lizzy - Johnny the Fox
18. Queen - A Day at the Races
19. Eagles - Hotel California
20. Journey - Look into the Future
21. Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle
22. Kansas - Leftoverture
23. 10cc - How Dare You!
24. AC/DC - High Voltage
25. Led Zeppelin - Presence
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A great year!
1. UFO-No Heavy Petting
2. Alice Cooper-Goes To hell
3. Rush-2112
4. Thin Lizzy-Jailbreak
5. Aerosmith-Rocks
6. Rainbow-Rising
7. Boston-s/t
8. Thin Lizzy-Johnny The Fox
9. KISS-Destroyer
10. KISS-Rock And Roll Over
11. Sweet-Give Us A Wink
12. Led Zeppelin-Presence
13. Judas Priest-Sad Wings Of Destiny
14. AC/DC-High Voltage
15. Scorpions-Virgin Killer
16. Slade-Nobody's Fools
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A great year!
1. UFO-No Heavy Petting
2. Alice Cooper-Goes To hell
3. Rush-2112
4. Thin Lizzy-Jailbreak
5. Aerosmith-Rocks
6. Rainbow-Rising
7. Boston-s/t
8. Thin Lizzy-Johnny The Fox
9. KISS-Destroyer
10. KISS-Rock And Roll Over
11. Sweet-Give Us A Wink
12. Led Zeppelin-Presence
13. Judas Priest-Sad Wings Of Destiny
14. AC/DC-High Voltage
15. Scorpions-Virgin Killer
16. Slade-Nobody's Fools
You forgot Scorpions - In Trance :corn
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No, I got it!
1975 was a great year!
1. Alice Cooper-Welcome To My Nightmare
2. UFO-Force It
3. KISS-Alive
4. Black Sabbath-Sabotage
5. Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
6. Rainbow-Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
7. Thin Lizzy-Fighting
8. KISS-Dressed To Kill
9. Scorpions-In Trance
10. Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here
11. Rush-Fly By Night
12. Aerosmith-Toys In The Attic
13. Deep Purple-Come Taste The Band
14. Ted Nugent-s/t
15. Rush-Caress Of Steel
:corn :corn :corn
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01 Boston - Boston
02 Kansas - Leftoverture
03 Camel - Moonmadness
04 Rush - 2112
05 Jeff Beck - Wired
06 Genesis - A Trick of the Tail
07 Heart - Dreamboat Annie
08 Styx - Crystal Ball
09 Blue Oyster Cult - Agents of Fortune
10 Genesis - Wind and Wuthering
11 Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny
12 Billy Joel - Turnstiles
13 Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
14 Queen - A Day at the Races
15 Frank Zappa - Zoot Allures
16 Steely Dan - The Royal Scam
17 ABBA - Arrival
18 David Bowie - Station to Station
19 Aerosmith - Rocks
20 Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
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No, I got it!
1975 was a great year!
1. Alice Cooper-Welcome To My Nightmare
2. UFO-Force It
3. KISS-Alive
4. Black Sabbath-Sabotage
5. Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
6. Rainbow-Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
7. Thin Lizzy-Fighting
8. KISS-Dressed To Kill
9. Scorpions-In Trance
10. Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here
11. Rush-Fly By Night
12. Aerosmith-Toys In The Attic
13. Deep Purple-Come Taste The Band
14. Ted Nugent-s/t
15. Rush-Caress Of Steel
:corn :corn :corn
:lolpalm:
Why did I think In Trance was released in 1976?
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1976. I always hate having to choose between Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering. They're really 1a and 1b.
1. Genesis - A Trick of the Tail
2. Genesis - Wind & Wuthering
3. Camel - Moonmadness
4. Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
5. Journey - Look into the Future
6. Kansas - Leftoverture
7. Rush - 2112
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1976:
01. Virgin Killer (Scorpions)
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1976 with ranking out of 5
1. Rush - 2112 (5 out of 5)
2. Boston - Boston (4 out of 5)
3. Kiss - Destroyer (3 out of 5)
4. Genesis - A Trick Of The Tail (2 out of 5)
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1976 is a great year.
Here I go:
1. Rainbow - Rising
2. Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny
3. Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
4. Boston - Boston
5. Steely Dan - The Royal Scam
6. Rush - 2112
7. David Bowie - Station to Station
8. Aerosmith - Rocks
9. Genesis - A Trick of the Tail
10. Kansas - Leftoverture
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Four aces for 1976:
1 - JUDAS PRIEST - Sad Wings of Destiny
Possibly the first heavy metal album. Labels aside, this is a masterpiece and my third favorite Priest album, behind Painkiller and Defenders of the Faith. Album of mastodontic importance for heavy metal. Timeless classic.
2 - RAINBOW - Rising
The other big masterpiece of the year. Forever carved in stone in the history of rock n' roll. You have not lived if you haven't heard Stargazer.
3 - ALICE COOPER Goes to Hell
4 - QUEEN - A Day at the Races
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1 - JUDAS PRIEST - Sad Wings of Destiny
Possibly the first heavy metal album.
First heavy metal album when Paranoid was released 6 years earlier?
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While 1976 didn't have anything as special as Wish You Were Here, it had a lot of great albums and overall is easily my favourite year so far.
1. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
2. Queen - A Day at the Races
3. Rainbow - Rising
4. Rush - 2112
5. Lucifer's Friend - Mind Exploding
6. Kansas - Leftoverture
7. Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
8. Eagles - Hotel California
9. The Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination
10. Tom Waits - Small Change
11. Genesis - Wind & Wuthering
12. Billy Joel - Turnstiles
13. Parliament - The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein
14. Wishbone Ash - New England
15. Tower of Power - Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now
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1 - JUDAS PRIEST - Sad Wings of Destiny
Possibly the first heavy metal album.
First heavy metal album when Paranoid was released 6 years earlier?
Hold on to your hats boys, because I'm going to agree with Wildranger.....
While it's all subjective and widely debated, I too believe Paranoid to be the very first metal album.
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1977
from allmediareviews
1977, a year kind of transition in some ways for the majority of my taste. Many of the bands/artists who released some of their best albums earlier in the decade, put out either one of their last good albums (at least 3, maybe 3.5 to bordering on 4-stars). Or in some cases, like The Grateful Dead or Pink Floyd, released my favorite and what I consider their best.
Animals, has almost the entire time I've been a Pink Floyd fan (since around 1991 or 1992), I have always seen as my favorite. And it was released January 23rd, so if the older version of me had heard it in 1977, it likely would been on top all year and not been topped. Although I love A Farewell to Kings and up to that point, I probably would consider that Rush's best album (of course not for long!, lol), but I doubt then and of course can rate it at the level of Animals.
Beyond Animals though, 1977 was the year Punk was becoming big, but despite that., there was plenty of prog and jazz-rock. Even just Classic Rock, Power Pop and Psych stuff.
Styx, Ai Di Meols, Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac, Bowie, Queen, Steely Dan, Billy Joel, Journey's early music, etc. Deep Year with a couple of gems at the top.
1. Pink Floyd - Animals
2. Rush - A Farewell to Kings
3. Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy
4. The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station
5. Renaissance - Novella
6. Annie Haslam - Annie in Wonderland
7. Steely Dan - Aja
8. Styx - The Grand Illusion
9. Yes - Going for the One
10. Jethro Tull - Songs from the Wood
11. Genesis - Seconds Out
12. Kansas - Point of No Return
13. Weather Report - Heavy Weather
14. Anthony Phillips - The Geese and the Ghost
15. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
16. David Bowie - Low
17. Happy the Man - Happy the Man
18. Queen - News of the World
19. Billy Joel - The Stranger
20. David Bowie - Heroes
21. Journey - Next
22. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Car)
23. Heart - Little Queen
24. Rick Wakeman - White Rock
25. Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group - Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live
26. The Muppets - The Muppet Show
27. Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
28. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus
29. Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
30. The Beach Boys - Love You
31. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Works Volume 2
32. Genesis - Spot the Pigeon [EP]
33. Starcastle - Citadel
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1977 was a great year for music. 2 perfect albums and 3 pretty close to perfect albums, along with a bunch more really good albums.
1. Rush - A Farewell to Kings
2. Pink Floyd - Animals
3. Billy Joel - The Stranger
4. Univers Zero - 1313
5. Steely Dan - Aja
6. Styx - The Grand Illusion
7. Yes - Going for the One
8. Judas Priest - Sin After Sin
9. Scorpions - Taken By Force
10. Eloy - Ocean
11. Supertramp - Even In the Quietest Moments
12. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
13. David Bowie - "Heroes"
14. Talking Heads - 77
15. Heart - Little Queen
16. Peter Gabriel - (Car)
17. David Bowie - Low
18. Triumph - Rock n Roll Machine
19. Kansas - Point of Know Return
20. Journey - Next
21. Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation
22. Steve Miller Band - Book of Dreams
23. Hawkwind - Quark Strangeness and Charm
24. Queen - News of the World
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1977:
01. Animals (Pink Floyd)
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Can't believe I forgot Taken by Force. I edited my list. :facepalm:
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1977 is kind of the year of uneven albums for me actually.
1. Camel - Rain Dances
2. Genesis - Seconds Out (are we doing live albums?)
3. Rush - A Farewell to Kings
4. Peter Gabriel - Car
5. Journey - Next
6. Kansas - Point of No Return
7. Pink Floyd - Animals
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1977 is kind of the year of uneven albums for me actually.
1. Camel - Rain Dances
2. Genesis - Seconds Out (are we doing live albums?)
3. Rush - A Farewell to Kings
4. Peter Gabriel - Car
5. Journey - Next
6. Kansas - Point of No Return
7. Pink Floyd - Animals
I don't.
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I made an extensive list and now I realize that I forgot Heavy Weather! :facepalm:
I hate making lists.... :lol
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My top 10 albums from 1977:
1. David Bowie - Low/Heroes
2. Pink Floyd - Animals
3. Rush - A Farewell to Kings
4. Television - Marquee Moon
5. Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols
6. Steely Dan - Aja
7. Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation
8. Judas Priest - Sin After Sin
9. Kansas - Point of No Return
10. The Clash - The Clash
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Looking at your lists there is so much out there that I haven't listened to:
1977:
1. Rush - A Farewell To Kids - 3.5 out of 5
2. Pink Floyd - Animals - 3 out of 5
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01 Styx - The Grand Illusion
02 Pink Floyd - Animals
03 Rush - A Farewell to Kings
04 Billy Joel - The Stranger
05 Kansas - Point of Know Return
06 Blue Oyster Cult - Spectres
07 Judas Priest - Sin After Sin
08 Steely Dan - Aja
09 Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
10 David Bowie - Low
11 Supertramp - Even in the Quietest Moments
12 Meat Loaf - Bat out of Hell
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Not so many albums for me.... so my list will be short:
1. MEAT LOAF - Bat Out of Hell
Rip Jim Steinman!
2. JUDAS PRIEST - Sin After Sin
Honorable mentions for Alice Cooper's Lace and Whiskey and Queen's News of the World.
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As much as I love Queen, I couldn't put News of the World on my list. I only ever listen to three or four songs from it.
Same goes for Going for the One. Yes is a top 10 all-time band for me, but Turn of the Century is the only song from that album I ever listen to anymore.
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A solid year but not as great as '76.
1. Pink Floyd - Animals
2. Rush - A Farewell to Kings
3. Queen - News of the World
4. Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell
5. The Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
6. Tom Waits - Foreign Affairs
7. Kansas - Point of Know Return
8. Iggy Pop - Lust for Life
9. UFO - Lights Out
10. Gino Vannelli - A Pauper in Paradise
Other albums I like from that year:
Parliament - Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome
Return to Forever - Musicmagic
Steely Dan - Aja
Yes - Going for the One
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Solid year!
1. Thin Lizzy-Bad Reputation
2. AC/DC-Let There Be Rock
3. UFO-Lights Out
4. Rainbow-On Stage
5. Alice Cooper-Lace And Whiskey
6. Blondie-Plastic Letters
7. KISS-Love Gun
8. KISS-Alive II
9. Riot-Rock City
10. Scorpions-Taken By Force
11. Rush-A Farewell To Kings
12. Judas Priest-Sin After Sin
13. Pink Floyd-Animals
14. Styx-The Grand Illusion
15. Aerosmith-Draw The Line
16. Motorhead-s/t
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A fantastic year. My favorite album of all time is from 1977: Going For The One. And another album in the top five - Wind And Withering - was released late in December of '76, but I have it in my head that it's a "1977" album. "A Farewell To Kings" is in that discussion as well.
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Solid year!
1. Thin Lizzy-Bad Reputation
2. AC/DC-Let There Be Rock
3. UFO-Lights Out
4. Rainbow-On Stage
5. Alice Cooper-Lace And Whiskey
6. Blondie-Plastic Letters
7. KISS-Love Gun
8. KISS-Alive II
9. Riot-Rock City
10. Scorpions-Taken By Force
11. Judas Priest-Sin After Sin
12. Pink Floyd-Animals
13. Styx-The Grand Illusion
14. Aerosmith-Draw The Line
15. Motorhead-s/t
What, no Rush? :corn
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What, no Rush? :corn
I fixed my original post. ;D
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Can't believe no one has Foreigner on their list. That album brings back instant memories of the summer of my tenth year.no real worries in life but starting to see the larger world around me. Foreigner and Grand Illusion were that hot summer's soundtrack.
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Can't believe no one has Foreigner on their list. That album brings back instant memories of the summer of my tenth year.no real worries in life but starting to see the larger world around me. Foreigner and Grand Illusion were that hot summer's soundtrack.
Foreigner has become, for me, one of those classic rocks bands that I can only take in small doses now. Gimme their best four or five songs and I am good. Can't do full album listens anymore. And even that first album back in the day came off to me as Side 1 good, Side 2 not so much.
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Rush - A Farewell To Kings
KISS - Alive II
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell
Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation
The Alice Cooper Show
UFO - Lights Out
Kiss - Love Gun
Rainbow - On Stage
Judas Priest - Sin After Sin
Dixie Dregs - Free Fall
Steely Dan - Aja
Kansas - Point of Know Return
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Street Survivors
Scorpions - Taken By Force
Hawkwind - Quark Strangeness and Charm (we used to listen to this whilst having seances in Lancaster castle back when I was a youngster. Not played it in years)
And one I’d never heard until recently but which needs adding to the list - Pink Floyd - Animals
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No particular order
1976
Joni Mitchell - Hejira
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
Led Zeppelin - Presence
Eagles - Hotel California
Rush - 2112
Steely Dan - The Royal Scam
Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive!
Queen - A Day at the Races
Kansas - Leftoverture
Bob Seger - Night Moves
Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius
Boston - Boston
KISS - Destroyer
Jackson Browne - The Pretender
Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle
Jeff Beck - Wired
David Bowie - Station to Station
James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing
KISS - Rock And Roll Over
Styx - Crystal Ball
Weather Report - Black Market
1977
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Street Survivors
Steely Dan - Aja
Weather Report - Heavy Weather
Pink Floyd - Animals
Billy Joel - The Stranger
Rush - A Farewell to Kings
Jimmy Buffett - Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
Charles Mingus - Three or Four Shades of Blues
Jackson Browne - Running on Empty
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell
Yes - Going For The One
Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean
Queen - News of the World
Kansas - Point of Know Return
Styx - The Grand Illusion
Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy
Two awesome years, for sure.
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Billy Joel - The Stranger
Ooooooh, I forgot that, I think. That's a STELLAR record, and one I still listen to frequently.
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Billy Joel - The Stranger
Ooooooh, I forgot that, I think. That's a STELLAR record, and one I still listen to frequently.
:tup
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1 - JUDAS PRIEST - Sad Wings of Destiny
Possibly the first heavy metal album.
First heavy metal album when Paranoid was released 6 years earlier?
Hold on to your hats boys, because I'm going to agree with Wildranger.....
While it's all subjective and widely debated, I too believe Paranoid to be the very first metal album.
Eh, either Sad Wings or Stained Class is considered the first MODERN metal album, with all traces of the blues finally removed (thankfully).
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1978
from allmediareviews
1978, a year that saw many big names release albums, including many solo albums, but given it was in the late 70's, a lot of those artists either were just starting out, or following up a few years before, some of their best work.
Rush and Styx oddly, put out 2 of the best albums that year. Hemispheres, becoming my favorite Rush record among a catalog of 19 proper studio albums. Why that is? to me, it's their peak into doing progressive rock, and when they did it well, there's not many who did it better.
It came out in around Halloween, so it might have hit me like a ton of bricks after the rest of the year.
1978 was the age of Disco and Punk and even New Wave of British Heavy Metal I suppose was coming, so progressive rock and classic rock was fading a bit. A lot of good Jazz-Fusion as well, although not classics really, but still some decent stuff.
1. Rush - Hemispheres
2. Styx - Pieces of Eight
3. Alec R. Costandinos and The Syncophonic Orchestra - Romeo and Juliet
4. Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses
5. Kansas - Two for the Show
6. Renaissance - A Song for All Seasons
7. U.K. - U.K.
8. Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
9. Bruford - Feels Good to Me
10. Al Di Meola - Casino
11. Van Halen - Van Halen
12. The Who - Who Are You
13. Yes - Tormato
14. Happy the Man - Crafty Hands
15. The Police - Outlandos d'Amour
16. Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three...
17. Pat Metheny Group - Pat Metheny Group
18. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Scratch)
19. Chic - C'est Chic
20. Queen - Jazz
21. Boston - Don't Look Back
22. Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
23. Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
24. Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid
25. Steve Hackett - Please Don't Touch
26. Journey - Infinity
27. Dire Straits - Dire Straits
28. XTC - White Music
29. The Rutles - The Rutles
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I don't think I'm going to have a lot of albums between now until the late 80's. Anyway, here is what I got for 1978.
1. Dire Straits - Dire Straits - 4 out of 5
2. Pat Metheny Group - Pat Metheny Group - 3.5 out of 5
3. David Gilmour - David Gilmour - 2.5 out of 5
4. Rush - Hemispheres - 2.5 out of 5
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'78 was a good year.
Hemispheres - Rush
Long Live Rock and Roll - Rainbow
Heaven Tonight - Cheap Trick
The Cars - The Cars
Stained Class - Priest
Macho Man - The Village People
City To City - Gerry Rafferty (I don't care for the album, much, but it has "Baker Street" on it.)
Van Halen - Van Halen
U.K. - U.K.
Heart - Magazine
David Gilmour - David Gilmour (I LOVE this album)
Obsession - UFO
Parallel Lines - Blondie
Outlandos d'Amour - The Police
Don't Look Back - Boston
Love Beach - ELP
Three of the four Kiss solo albums
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That Cars debut took over the radio for a good year plus.
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1978 for me has two monster albums:
1 - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Darkness on the Edge of Town
One of his best acclaimed albums, possibly my favorite overall along with Born to Run (especially thinking of the live versions), the incredibly consistent The Rising and also Magic. A dark pearl, more somber than the previous album just like Awake is darker than Images and Words, and full of legendary songs.
2 - RAINBOW - Long Live Rock n' Roll
It's always hard to decide which one is the best Rainbow album because each of the three Dio albums has absolutely legendary tracks, milestone of the genres to be preserved once the Sun will eat up our planet, and some duds here and there. Needless to say that Long Live Rock n' Roll, Kill the King, Rainbow Eyes and Gates of Babylon are all amazing tracks and this album is a great gem.
Rounding it out we have:
3 - ALICE COOPER - From the Inside
One of his best albums of his early carrer, and one of the most forgotten ones. So many great songs, collection of tales from the mental ward.
4 - JUDAS PRIEST - Stained Class
Not a big fan overall, but speaking of legendary tracks, Beyond the Realms of Death should make several "best song ever" lists.
5 - QUEEN - Jazz
Wikipedia also says that "Killing Machine" by Judas Priest was released in 1978, then the album with the new title Hell Bent for Leather was released as well in 1979. Dunno how to count it.
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No particular order:
Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
Al Di Meola - Casino
Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove
Rush - Hemispheres
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Stranger in Town
Pat Metheny - Pat Metheny Group
Boston - Don't Look Back
Willie Nelson - Stardust
Queen - Jazz
Van Halen - Van Halen
Chick Corea - Friends
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1978 was another solid year, especially my top 3!
1. Queen - Jazz
2. Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
3. Rush - Hemispheres
4. The Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid
5. Toto - Toto
6. Lucifer's Friend - Good Time Warrior
7. Gino Vannelli - Brother to Brother
8. Tom Waits - Blue Valentine
9. Area - 1978 gli dei se ne vanno, gli arrabbiati restano!
10. Jeff Wayne - The War of the Worlds
And one more that I quite like:
Yes - Tormato
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6. Lucifer's Friend - Good Time Warrior
I have this on vinyl! Such a great band. But this album is a bit lightweight for me.
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6. Lucifer's Friend - Good Time Warrior
I have this on vinyl! Such a great band. But this album is a bit lightweight for me.
Yeah definitely. The two albums before it are much better, but this one was still good.
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6. Lucifer's Friend - Good Time Warrior
I have this on vinyl! Such a great band. But this album is a bit lightweight for me.
Yeah definitely. The two albums before it are much better, but this one was still good.
One of my all time favorite albums is Mean Machine, when John Lawton returns in 1981. It's NWOBHM-ish.
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6. Lucifer's Friend - Good Time Warrior
I have this on vinyl! Such a great band. But this album is a bit lightweight for me.
Yeah definitely. The two albums before it are much better, but this one was still good.
One of my all time favorite albums is Mean Machine, when John Lawton returns in 1981. It's NWOBHM-ish.
Ah interesting, I stopped checking them out after Good Time Warrior being weaker and what I heard of Sneak Me In not interesting me at all.
I'll check out Mean Machine, although it's not on Spotify so will see if I can find another way to hear it. Curious about the more recent ones they seem to have done since Lawton came back yet again. :lol The last two albums seem quite well-rated on RYM.
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Mean Machine is on youtube!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUC2AY5NKQk-8vtDMDeGZiSIfCBFd7GWW
I used to crank this when I was a kid.
2:50 of One Way Street To Heartbreak :metal
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01 Rush - Hemispheres
02 Van Halen - Van Halen
03 Styx - Pieces of Eight
04 Boston - Don't Look Back
05 Judas Priest - Stained Class
06 Triumph - Just a Game
07 Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
08 The Cars - The Cars
09 Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three...
10 Trevor Rabin - Trevor Rabin
11 Billy Joel - 52nd Street
12 Journey - Infinity
13 Molly Hatchet - Molly Hatchet
14 Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
15 Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
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Wikipedia also says that "Killing Machine" by Judas Priest was released in 1978, then the album with the new title Hell Bent for Leather was released as well in 1979. Dunno how to count it.
It's the same album. Hell Bent for Leather is just the US release version of Killing Machine. It was delayed so as not to compete with Stained Class. The band themselves only ever refer to the album as Killing Machine.
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01 Rush - Hemispheres
02 Van Halen - Van Halen
03 Styx - Pieces of Eight
04 Boston - Don't Look Back
05 Judas Priest - Stained Class
06 Triumph - Just a Game
07 Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
08 The Cars - The Cars
09 Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three...
10 Trevor Rabin - Trevor Rabin
11 Billy Joel - 52nd Street
12 Journey - Infinity
13 Molly Hatchet - Molly Hatchet
14 Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
15 Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
I like this list
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1978
1) Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous
2) VH- VH
3) Boston - Dont Look Back
4) Cheap Trick - Live at Budokan
5) The Cars- The Cars
6) The Ramones- Road to Ruin
7) Judas Priest- Stained Class
8) Angel - White Hot
9) Black Sabbath- Never Say Die
10) Elvis Costello- This Years Model
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1978:
01. Hemispheres (Rush)
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01 Rush - Hemispheres
02 Van Halen - Van Halen
03 Styx - Pieces of Eight
04 Boston - Don't Look Back
05 Judas Priest - Stained Class
06 Triumph - Just a Game
07 Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
08 The Cars - The Cars
09 Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three...
10 Trevor Rabin - Trevor Rabin
11 Billy Joel - 52nd Street
12 Journey - Infinity
13 Molly Hatchet - Molly Hatchet
14 Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
15 Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
I like this list
:tup :tup
The pisser is that there are many great songs from 1978 that were on albums that I am not overly fond of in general:
Lady and Reminiscing by Little River Band
Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race and Don't Stop Me Now all by Queen
Driver's Seat by Sniff 'n' The Tears
Mistral Wind by Heart
September by Earth, Wind and Fire
Roll with the Changes by REO Speedwagon
Surrender by Cheap Trick
Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Bros
Who Do You Love? by George Thorogood (the one song of his I really like)
Heavy Horses by Jethro Tull
Narnia by Steve Hackett
And of course one of the greatest songs of all-time (dead serious):
Heart of Glass by Blondie
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Reminiscing by Little River Band
One of my favorite songs ever.
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01 Rush - Hemispheres
02 Van Halen - Van Halen
03 Styx - Pieces of Eight
04 Boston - Don't Look Back
05 Judas Priest - Stained Class
06 Triumph - Just a Game
07 Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
08 The Cars - The Cars
09 Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three...
10 Trevor Rabin - Trevor Rabin
11 Billy Joel - 52nd Street
12 Journey - Infinity
13 Molly Hatchet - Molly Hatchet
14 Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
15 Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
Released August 1979
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Damn. Not sure why or how that got indexed with the wrong year in my iTunes.
Reminiscing by Little River Band
One of my favorite songs ever.
Great song. Little River Band is one of those bands that has like 10-12 killer songs...and that's it. I tried some of their albums to see if any of those deep cuts were good, but none connected with me. But most of their hits are money.
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For me..
1. UFO-Obsession
2. Rush-Hemispheres
3. KISS-Ace Frehley
4. KISS-Paul Stanley
5. Alice Cooper-From The Inside
6. Van Halen-s/t
7. AC/DC-If You Want Blood
8. AC/DC-Powerage
9. Blondie-Parallel Lines
10. Scorpions-Tokyo Tapes
11. Black Sabbath-Never Say Die
12. Rainbow-Long Live Rock And Roll
13. Triumph-Just A Game
14. Gary Moore-Back On The Streets
15. Judas Priest-Stained Class
16. Boston-Don't Look Back
17. Thin Lizzy-Live And Dangerous
18. Molly Hatchet-s/t
19. Styx-Pieces Of Eight
20. Ted Nugent-Double Live Gonzo
21. Yesterday & Today-Struck Down
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For me..
1. UFO-Obsession
2. Rush-Hemispheres
3. KISS-Ace Frehley
4. KISS-Paul Stanley
5. Alice Cooper-From The Inside
6. Van Halen-s/t
7. AC/DC-If You Want Blood
8. AC/DC-Powerage
9. Blondie-Parallel Lines
10. Scorpions-Tokyo Tapes
11. Black Sabbath-Never Say Die
12. Rainbow-Long Live Rock And Roll
13. Triumph-Just A Game
14. Gary Moore-Back On The Streets
15. Judas Priest-Stained Class
16. Boston-Don't Look Back
17. Thin Lizzy-Live And Dangerous
18. Molly Hatchet-s/t
19. Styx-Pieces Of Eight
20. Ted Nugent-Double Live Gonzo
21. Yesterday & Today-Struck Down
It's a really good album...
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I actually find it kind of progressive in parts.
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I actually find it kind of progressive in parts.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/9G3wg7lH5DpxC/giphy.gif)
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:lol
I find all kind of ass kicking. It's a fantastic album.
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I actually find it kind of progressive in parts.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/9G3wg7lH5DpxC/giphy.gif)
:lol
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/23/49/41/234941c9d553eea76de2067b9b2b30cd.gif)
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Tim, nice call on Parallel Lines. Was just listening to it a couple days ago :tup.
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That's a great album. The three album run of Plastic Letters-Parallel Lines-Eat To The Beat is fantastic. Eat To The Beat is my favorite of the bunch easily though.
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My top 10 from 1978:
1. Rush - Hemispheres
2. Van Halen - Van Halen
3. Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town (favorite album by Boss)
4. Judas Priest - Stained Class
5. Blondie - Parallel Lines
6. Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
7. Scorpions - Taken by Force
8. The Cars - The Cars
9. Dire Straits - Dire Straits
10. AC/DC - Powerage
Honorable mention: Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
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'78 was a good year.
Hemispheres - Rush
Long Live Rock and Roll - Rainbow
Heaven Tonight - Cheap Trick
The Cars - The Cars
Stained Class - Priest
Macho Man - The Village People
City To City - Gerry Rafferty (I don't care for the album, much, but it has "Baker Street" on it.)
Van Halen - Van Halen
U.K. - U.K.
Heart - Magazine
David Gilmour - David Gilmour (I LOVE this album)
Obsession - UFO
Parallel Lines - Blondie
Outlandos d'Amour - The Police
Don't Look Back - Boston
Love Beach - ELP
Three of the four Kiss solo albums
Are you a fan of This Year's Model (Costello)?
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1 - JUDAS PRIEST - Sad Wings of Destiny
Possibly the first heavy metal album.
First heavy metal album when Paranoid was released 6 years earlier?
Hold on to your hats boys, because I'm going to agree with Wildranger.....
While it's all subjective and widely debated, I too believe Paranoid to be the very first metal album.
Eh, either Sad Wings or Stained Class is considered the first MODERN metal album, with all traces of the blues finally removed (thankfully).
Stained Class is the first pure metal album. Sad Wings has some bluesy elements.
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My 7 from 1978:
1. Steve Hackett - Please Don’t Touch
2. Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three
3. Rush - Hemispheres
4. Kaipa - Solo
5. Journey - Infinity
6. Camel - Breathless
7. Peter Gabriel - Scratch
Edit: somehow left off Journey.
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That's a great album. The three album run of Plastic Letters-Parallel Lines-Eat To The Beat is fantastic. Eat To The Beat is my favorite of the bunch easily though.
Listened to the first 4 today. My order of preference is Parallel-ETTB-B-Plastic. Besides Debbie Harry being awesome, I’ve always loved Clem Burke’s drumming.
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I don't really rate the first album. I should give it a spin. I just remember it being a bit weaker. The only ones I rebought on CD were the three I mentioned.
And hell yes, Clem Burke is awesome. He was the original drummer at the wrong gig.
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1978
1. Rush - Hemispheres
2. Judas Priest - Stained Class
3. Journey - Infinity
4. The Cars - The Cars
5. David Gilmour - David Gilmour
6. Dire Straits - Dire Straits
7. Kate Bush - The Kick Inside
8. Rainbow - Long Live Rock n Roll
9. Styx - Pieces of Eight
10. The Police - Outlados d'Amour
11. The Walker Brother - Nite Flights
12. Judas Priest - Killing Machine
13. Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses
14. Heart - Dog & Butterfly
15. Talking Heads - More Song About Buildings and Food
16. Saga - Saga
17. Genesis - ...and Then There Were Three
18. Van Halen - Van Halen
19. Queen - Jazz
20. Kate Bush - Lionheart
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1978
Van Halen - Van Halen
UFO - Obsession
Scorpions - Tokyo Tapes
Judas Priest - Hell Bent for Leather
Heart - Dog and Butterfly
Catching up on 71 - 77
1977
Scorpions - Taken by Force
UFO - Lights Out
Queen - News of the World
Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation
Heart - Little Queen
1976
Scorpions - Virgin Killer
UFO - No Heavy Petting
Rainbow - Rising
Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny
Rush - 2112
1975
Scorpions - In Trance
UFO - Force It
Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
1974
UFO - Phenomenon
Scorpions - Fly to the Rainbow
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
Rush - Rush
Deep Purple - Burn
1973
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Elton John - Goodbye Yellowbrick Road
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Billy Joes - Piano Man
1972
Deep Purple - Machine Head
Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Yes - Close to the Edge
1971
Led Zeppelin IV
David Bowie - Hunky Dory
Yes - Fragile
Deep Purple - Fireball
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
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'78 was a good year.
Hemispheres - Rush
Long Live Rock and Roll - Rainbow
Heaven Tonight - Cheap Trick
The Cars - The Cars
Stained Class - Priest
Macho Man - The Village People
City To City - Gerry Rafferty (I don't care for the album, much, but it has "Baker Street" on it.)
Van Halen - Van Halen
U.K. - U.K.
Heart - Magazine
David Gilmour - David Gilmour (I LOVE this album)
Obsession - UFO
Parallel Lines - Blondie
Outlandos d'Amour - The Police
Don't Look Back - Boston
Love Beach - ELP
Three of the four Kiss solo albums
Are you a fan of This Year's Model (Costello)?
I had a friend in high school that was big into Elvis (and all that sort of genre; Squeeze, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds) and I never really warmed to it then. I LOVE Squeeze now, and I've come to appreciate Elvis's artistry, but it's not a go to record for me. On that album, "Pump It Up" is a great song, as is "This Year's Girl".
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'78 was a good year.
Hemispheres - Rush
Long Live Rock and Roll - Rainbow
Heaven Tonight - Cheap Trick
The Cars - The Cars
Stained Class - Priest
Macho Man - The Village People
City To City - Gerry Rafferty (I don't care for the album, much, but it has "Baker Street" on it.)
Van Halen - Van Halen
U.K. - U.K.
Heart - Magazine
David Gilmour - David Gilmour (I LOVE this album)
Obsession - UFO
Parallel Lines - Blondie
Outlandos d'Amour - The Police
Don't Look Back - Boston
Love Beach - ELP
Three of the four Kiss solo albums
Are you a fan of This Year's Model (Costello)?
I had a friend in high school that was big into Elvis (and all that sort of genre; Squeeze, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds) and I never really warmed to it then. I LOVE Squeeze now, and I've come to appreciate Elvis's artistry, but it's not a go to record for me. On that album, "Pump It Up" is a great song, as is "This Year's Girl".
This Years Model to me was his best there was just something about it Armed Forces I liked a lot but after that he just went the wrong way with my tastes
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Some catching up to do:
1976
AC/DC - High Voltage
Aerosmith - Rocks
Boston - Boston
Eagles - Hotel California
Genesis - A Trick Of The Tail
Jarre, Jean Michel - Oxygene
Kansas - Leftoverture
Alan Parsons Project - Tales Of Mystery And Imagination - Edgar Allan Poe
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1977
AC/DC - Let There Be Rock
Foreigner - Foreigner
Gabriel, Peter - 1
Kansas - Point Of Know Return
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Street Survivors
Pink Floyd - Animals
Rush - A Farewell To Kings
Steely Dan - Aja
Yes - Going For The One
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And 1978, this year has the debut records of three of my favorite bands:
Dire Straits - Dire Straits
Toto - Toto
Van Halen - Van Halen
and the rest:
Jarre, Jean Michel - Equinoxe
Journey - Infinity
Magnum - Kingdom Of Madness
Queen - Jazz
Whitesnake - Trouble
Yes - Tormato (got a bad reputation and even though it's not as good as some others I really like it)
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1979
from allmediareviews
1979, I guess the late 70's I don't think of for being as fruitful for my taste overall, but at the same time, some of the other years around 1979 seem to have a bit more depth.
1979 now researching it, was quite thin, especially with favorites from Artists.
So, Led Zeppelin's In Through the Out Door, while not loved by many fans, I do consider on par with their other classic albums, even as different as it is. However, I guess I don't think of it as an Album of the Year kind of record exactly. Maybe a Top 10 I guess.
And some of the others I ranked below from 1979, are good, or spotty, but not amazing really. The Wall, I put 2nd, but good lord, I find it maybe 1 of the most overrated albums of all-time, let alone just in the Floyd catalog. It has some wonderful music on it, but at least 1/3 of it is not stuff I revisit, nor is the whole story/concept all that much.
But I guess compared to everything else I know from this year, by default, it finishes 2nd.
Supertramp I guess I can say, may have made their best record with Breakfast in America, which if I actually knew it and spent more time with the whole thing, I would have no problem putting it higher.
But of course I haven't.
And of course like most years from more distant past, there's a handful I know or have read enough about, my opinion and ranking them would happen. But, I haven't. What I guess is in there, is a lot of Jazz/Jazz-rock and Pop, and Power-Pop. This band/artist Bram Tchaikovsky kind of was random, but per the way this Calendar was shaping out to be, I figure why not.
1979: maybe the most thin year since the mid 60's. Thankfully, I don't think too many others that came after were.
What I was a little surprised to not find (on the rym Chart) is a bit more notable Metal/New Wave of British Heavy Metal. But Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, etc are absent from this year. I guess a lot of that stuff didn't start showing up for another year or 2.
1. Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
2, Pink Floyd - The Wall
3. U.K. - Danger Money
4. Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
5. Supertramp - Breakfast in America
6. The Police - Regatta de Blanc
7. Bruford - One of a Kind
8. Various Artists - Music from the Soundtrack of the Film Quadrophenia
9. XTC - Drums and Wires
10. Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings
11. Van Halen - Van Halen II
12. Renaissance - Azure d'Or
13. Jethro Tull - Stormwatch
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Just a few albums for 1979:
1. Pink Floyd - The Wall - 4.5 out of 5
2. Dire Straits - Communique - 3 out of 5
3. UFO - Strangers In The Night - 2 out of 5
4. Gang of Four - Entertainment! - 1 out of 5
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3. UFO - Strangers In The Night - 2 out of 5
A TWO??!!
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My 10 picks for 1979:
1. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
2. Motorhead - Overkill (my favorite Motorhead album, love it so much)
3. Thin Lizzy - Black Rose: A Rock Legend
4. Van Halen - II
5. The Clash - London Calling
6. Talking Heads - Fear of Music
7. Pink Floyd - The Wall
8. Tom Petty - Damn the Torpedoes
9. Scorpions - Lovedrive
10. AC/DC - Highway to Hell
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3. UFO - Strangers In The Night - 2 out of 5
A TWO??!!
huh? a 2? this could be a terms of sevrice violation : ) its a fkn 6!!!!
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1979 is a great year.
I’ll post after work.
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3. UFO - Strangers In The Night - 2 out of 5
A TWO??!!
huh? a 2? this could be a terms of sevrice violation : ) its a fkn 6!!!!
Yeah, no kidding. That's blatant enemy action, right there. :)
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1. Toto - Hydra
2. Supertramp - Breakfast In America
3. Cheap Trick - Dream Police
4. The Knack - Get The Knack
5. VHII - Self Titled.
6. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn The Torpedoes
7. Joe Jackson - Look Sharp
8. Pink Floyd - The Wall
9. The Cars - Candy-O
10. Foreigner - Head Games
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^^^ Stealing some of my thunder, there! :) :)
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UFO - Strangers In The Night
Scorpions - Lovedrive
Van Halen - VHII
Supertramp - Breakfast In America
Squeeze - Cool For Cats
Kiss - Dynasty (I love this record, by the way)
Cars - Candy-O
Robert Fripp - Exposure
Kinks - Low Budget (great, underrated record)
AC/DC - Highway To Hell
Rainbow - Down To Earth (not a great record, but there's a lot of tasty Blackmore licks on this record)
Jethro Tull - Stormwatch (I love this period of Tull)
Cheap Trick - Dream Police (I LOVE Cheap Trick, one of my favorite bands, and this MIGHT be my favorite record of theirs).
Blondie - Eat To The Beat
Aerosmith - Night In The Ruts
Pink Floyd - The Wall (not my favorite Floyd record, but a monumental work of art that needs to be recognized here).
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1979:
01. Joe's Garage (Frank Zappa)
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Do people generally like that burgeoning new wave scene? I know I'm a fan of some of Gary Numan's work. I'm not overly familiar with it, but what I've heard of Human League I like. This is the time it started to really blossom.
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UFO - Strangers In The Night
Scorpions - Lovedrive
Van Halen - VHII
Supertramp - Breakfast In America
Squeeze - Cool For Cats
Kiss - Dynasty (I love this record, by the way)
Cars - Candy-O
Robert Fripp - Exposure
Kinks - Low Budget (great, underrated record)
AC/DC - Highway To Hell
Rainbow - Down To Earth (not a great record, but there's a lot of tasty Blackmore licks on this record)
Jethro Tull - Stormwatch (I love this period of Tull)
Cheap Trick - Dream Police (I LOVE Cheap Trick, one of my favorite bands, and this MIGHT be my favorite record of theirs).
Blondie - Eat To The Beat
Aerosmith - Night In The Ruts
Pink Floyd - The Wall (not my favorite Floyd record, but a monumental work of art that needs to be recognized here).
In Color and Black White and Heaven Tonite all to me better than Dream Police, although I loved DP tour to me that was the tour they really were in full force
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^^^ Stealing some of my thunder, there! :) :)
Both tots from the same era!
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1979 is the year I was born... and I really have nothing to offer from my year. Which is double shameful when you consider that me and The Wall have the same age, I'm just 24 hours older than The Wall :D
So I'll just name:
- Judas Priest's Hell Bent for Leather which was released with this name in the USA in 1979, it's actually Killing Machine from 1978
- Priest's Unleashed in the East but it's a live album
- Maiden's the Soundhouse Tapes but it's a demo
- Not that I love it, but Down to Earth by Rainbow has some cool songs I guess (like Eyes of the World and Lost in Hollywood, just to name something else than the 2 most famous songs)
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A great year!
1. UFO-Strangers In The Night
2. Riot-Narita
3. Aerosmith-Night In The Ruts
4. Blondie-Eat To The Beat
5. KISS-Dynasty
6. Scorpions-Lovedrive
7. AC/DC-Highway To Hell
8. Van Halen II
9. Thin Lizzy-Black Rose
10. Blackfoot-Strikes
11. Rainbow-Down To Earth
12. Molly Hatchet-Flirtin' With Disaster
13. Judas Priest-Unleased In The East
14. Saxon-s/t
15. Accept-s/t
16. Triumph-Just A Game
17. Led Zeppelin-In Through The Out Door
18. Motorhead-Bomber
19. Motorhead-Overkill
20. Judas Priest-Hell Bent For Leather
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UFO - Strangers In The Night
Scorpions - Lovedrive
Van Halen - VHII
Supertramp - Breakfast In America
Squeeze - Cool For Cats
Kiss - Dynasty (I love this record, by the way)
Cars - Candy-O
Robert Fripp - Exposure
Kinks - Low Budget (great, underrated record)
AC/DC - Highway To Hell
Rainbow - Down To Earth (not a great record, but there's a lot of tasty Blackmore licks on this record)
Jethro Tull - Stormwatch (I love this period of Tull)
Cheap Trick - Dream Police (I LOVE Cheap Trick, one of my favorite bands, and this MIGHT be my favorite record of theirs).
Blondie - Eat To The Beat
Aerosmith - Night In The Ruts
Pink Floyd - The Wall (not my favorite Floyd record, but a monumental work of art that needs to be recognized here).
In Color and Black White and Heaven Tonite all to me better than Dream Police, although I loved DP tour to me that was the tour they really were in full force
While I love Heaven Tonight, I just dig those deeper cuts on DP: Way Of The World, Voices, I'll Be With You Tonight, I Know What I Want, and Writing On The Wall.
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3. UFO - Strangers In The Night - 2 out of 5
A TWO??!!
huh? a 2? this could be a terms of sevrice violation : ) its a fkn 6!!!!
Yeah, no kidding. That's blatant enemy action, right there. :)
:lol it wasn't bad, it just wasn't great, kind of forgettable
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(https://i.imgur.com/MbMdpCb.jpg)
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Oh yeah Tim. I've never listened to the album.
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Oh yeah Tim. I've never listened to the album.
It is way too cool for you. ;D
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:lol
I listen to
KISS
Spinal Tap
Steel Panther
Sure. :lol
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KISS made my Top 5 for 1979, just behind Blondie. :lol
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Save it, save it....
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Who's ready for my controversial 1979 list!?! :corn
1. Supertramp - Breakfast in America
2. Univers Zero - Heresie
3. Pink Floyd - The Wall
4. UK - Danger Money
5. Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage
6. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
7. Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
8. Eloy - Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes
9. Thin Lizzy - Black Rose
10. Talking Heads - Fear of Music
11. Triumph - Just a Game
12. Scorpions - Lovedrive
13. Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings
14. Dire Straits - Communiqué
15. Prince - Prince
16. The Police - Reggatta de Blanc
17. Journey - Evolution
18. Saga - Images At Twilight
19. Simple Minds - Real to Real Cacophony
20. Foreigner - Head Games
21. The Cars - Candy-O
22. Van Halen - II
23. Bad Company - Desolation Angels
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What's controversial about it? Some great albums there. Never heard of Univers Zero or Eloy.
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What's controversial about it? Some great albums there. Never heard of Univers Zero or Eloy.
I figured it would be controversial having Supertramp at #1 or not having Led Zeppelin on the list at all.
You might like Eloy, but they are very 70's Prog Rock similar to Camel, Caravan, or Van der Graaf Generator. You most likely won't like Univers Zero, but hey stranger things have happened!
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What's controversial about it? Some great albums there. Never heard of Univers Zero or Eloy.
I figured it would be controversial having Supertramp at #1 or not having Led Zeppelin on the list at all.
Well, Supertramp is pretty highly regarded. I have no issue with that pick. I didn't notice that LZ wasn't there.
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What's controversial about it? Some great albums there. Never heard of Univers Zero or Eloy.
I figured it would be controversial having Supertramp at #1 or not having Led Zeppelin on the list at all.
You might like Eloy, but they are very 70's Prog Rock similar to Camel, Caravan, or Van der Graaf Generator. You most likely won't like Univers Zero, but hey stranger things have happened!
The best thing about this thread is noticing some gaps (And I don't even know why, because I like bands like Camel, Caravan).
The only Eloy record I put on my lists was Dawn. I've already listened to a few others, but rather superficially and ended up not putting them on any other list. I need to listen more carefully.
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What's controversial about it? Some great albums there. Never heard of Univers Zero or Eloy.
I figured it would be controversial having Supertramp at #1 or not having Led Zeppelin on the list at all.
You might like Eloy, but they are very 70's Prog Rock similar to Camel, Caravan, or Van der Graaf Generator. You most likely won't like Univers Zero, but hey stranger things have happened!
I just picked up Breakfast in America recently. It’s outstanding. No gripe with that pick.
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Mine for 1979:
1. Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings
2. Camel - I Can See Your House From Here
3. Supertramp - Breakfast in America (this could move up over time)
4. Journey - Evolution
5. Robert Fripp - Exposure
6. Tony Banks - A Curious Feeling
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1979 is a really weird one for me - one superb album but then not much else that I've really listened to.
1. Pink Floyd - The Wall
2. The Alan Parsons Project - Eve
3. Rainbow - Down to Earth
4. Cheap Trick - Dream Police
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1979 in no particular order:
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
Supertramp - Breakfast in America
Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
Dire Straits - Communique
Earth, Wind & Fire - I Am
Joni Mitchell - Mingus
Van Halen - Van Halen II
Dixie Dregs - Night of the Living Dregs
ZZ Top - Deguello
Eagles - The Long Run
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
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Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
Dixie Dregs - Night of the Living Dregs
Two that I forgot that belong on my list for sure.
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Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
Dixie Dregs - Night of the Living Dregs
Two that I forgot that belong on my list for sure.
Both of those are so good.
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1979
AC/DC - Highway To Hell
Benatar, Pat - In The Heat Of The Night
Dire Straits - Communiqué
Journey - Evolution
Magnum - Magnum II
Police - Regatta De Blanc
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Supertramp - Breakfast In America
Toto - Hydra
Van Halen - VH II
Whitesnake - Love Hunter
ZZ Top - Degüello
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Question to those that post really long lists:
Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?
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Indeed, 'cause this in theory is "your favorite albums for each year" and not "show off how many album you heard or know from a selected year"....
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my list is usually a list of albums I know at least vaguely if not rather well. When I made those calendars years ago, they were Calendars of as many albums I not only own and enjoy, but were familiar with (at the time). I often would then scan the entire calendar I made, and add only those. I would not include in the rankings I posted in the Calendar entry, many records I didn't know well or wasn't really a fan of, but still deemed worth including on the actual Calendar, etc.
I do think it'll get interesting as we go along and get into more recent years, to see more of the variation in the lists.
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Question to those that post really long lists:
Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?
For me, it's the best.
Can't answer for others.
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Question to those that post really long lists:
Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?
I clearly don't post large lists :lol but for me it's albums I've listened to and ranked on RYM. I've heard a lot of albums posted here before I don't know them well enough for them to qualify for my list of that year, that's just my personal take on it.
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Yeah, I try to keep it simple by listing the best ones (imo) from each year that I have on record. So far it's around ten records per year in the 70s (sometimes more, sometimes less). Maybe that will change when we get to the 80s and 90s where I simply have a lot more records from each year. :D
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The problem will be to even remember all that stuff that came out. I guess I'll have top 10 for more recent years, or top 15 in case of "especially special" years.
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I've been ranking just the albums I own for a given year, which I don't think has been more than 10 (if that) so far. Probably won't have to narrow it down to the best 10 or so until we get to the 90s.
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Question to those that post really long lists:
Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?
My lists always consist of album that I love or at least really like. I have quite a few other albums from each of the years so far that weren't on my lists, that I either don't like enough to be considered or don't know well enough yet to properly rank.
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1979
Pink Floyd - The Wall
UFO - Strangers in the Night
Scorpions - Lovedrive
Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East
Van Halen - Van Halen II
Motorhead - Overkill
Riot - Narita
The Clash - London Calling
The Police - Regetta de Blanc
AC/DC - Highway to Hell
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Question to those that post really long lists:
Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?
My lists always consist of album that I love or at least really like. I have quite a few other albums from each of the years so far that weren't on my lists, that I either don't like enough to be considered or don't know well enough yet to properly rank.
Yes, same here.
1979 begins some of my formative music years and this and the next few have some of my all time favorite albums.
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Question to those that post really long lists:
Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?
I have something like 2500 CDs, and these years were the formative years for my musical life (I was 12 in 1979). I rarely post albums I don't have (or have had, if i didn't convert over from vinyl) in my collection. Sometimes I won't have the album itself, but I'll have a Greatest Hits of that artist. I definitely do not post records I don't like just for the sake of padding out a list.
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What's wrong with "long lists"?
There's no one posting lists with 100 or 200 discs. At most a little more than 30.
There are people who report listening to more records than that in a week (just look at "What album are you listening to?" thread ;)).
I never thought this would be a problem. :facepalm:
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To be clear, I never said it was wrong. I was just curious.
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Feels like 1979 saw a lot of good bands release albums that weren't among their best, the top few here notwithstanding.
01 Pink Floyd - The Wall
02 Talking Heads - Fear of Music
03 Van Halen - Van Halen II
04 Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage
05 Judas Priest - Hell Bent for Leather
06 Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
07 Blue Oyster Cult - Mirrors
08 Kansas - Monolith
09 Supertramp - Breakfast in America
10 Styx - Cornerstone
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1980
1 record I included that I'd never heard of 6 months ago, Ultravox's Vienna, thanks to DJ Jake Rudh and Transmission every week on Twitch. Steven Wilson just remixed it in fact, and I'm seeking out that (on Record Store Day July 17th), and a 1st pressing on Vinyl now.
from Allmediareviews
1980, sort of a transitional year for music and progressive rock. I see the Yes and Genesis records as sort of their last of a classic era, and even better than their previous records.
Lot of Hard Rock and early Metal and interesting "new wave" stuff as well as Classic Rock artists putting out albums.
And the continuation and extension of a lot of Jazz-Fusion, although some good records, none of them being my favorites, but also hardly their worst.
Certainly a good year, and ultimately, better than some years from that era, but at the same time, hardly comparing to some of my favorite years overall.
1. Yes - Drama
2. Rush - Permanent Waves
3. Genesis - Duke
4. Hawkwind - Levitation
5. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
6. Al Di Meola - Splendido Hotel
7. Queen - Flash Gordon
8. The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
9. Bruce Springsteen - The River
10. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card
11. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel [3]
12. Ultravox - Vienna
13. Yes - Yesshows
14. Van Halen - Women and Children First
15. Weather Report - Night Passage
16, Mike Rutherford - Smallcreep's Day
17. Queen - The Game
18. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
19. U2 - Boy
20. XTC - Black Sea
21. Kerry Livgren - Seeds of Change
22. Steve Hackett - Defector
23. John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy
24. Bruford - Gradually Going Tornado
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1980
1 record I included that I'd never heard of 6 months ago, Ultravox's Vienna, thanks to DJ Jake Rudh and Transmission every week on Twitch. Steven Wilson just remixed it in fact, and I'm seeking out that (on Record Store Day July 17th), and a 1st pressing on Vinyl now.
I first heard the song "Vienna" at Live Aid and it blew me away. Midge Ure appeared early on with Ultravox and their set was excellent (four songs, including Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" and "Vienna"). I'm 90% sure he appeared later on with someone else, but I can't remember who. Trivia: Ure helped write and produce Band-aid "Do They Know It's Christmas" and helped stage Live Aid. Supposedly he carried a grudge for decades that Geldof stole the limelight (and the credit) for staging the event. I have a best of just to have those two songs.
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1980
1. IRON MAIDEN - Iron Maiden
The world changed and would have never been the same :metal
2. JUDAS PRIEST - British Steel
What a legendary year for british heavy metal!
3. BLACK SABBATH - Heaven and Hell
Speaking of legends and Britain.... here it comes, Dio joins Sabbath and history is being made!
4. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - The River
A long compilation of deep songs and silly ones, an album that has both the lines "Is a dream a lie if it don't come true or is it something worse" and "I knocked over a lamp before it hit the floor I caught it, aA salesman turned around said "boy, you break that thing you bought it". Not one of my very favorites from him but an important effort.
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1980
1 record I included that I'd never heard of 6 months ago, Ultravox's Vienna, thanks to DJ Jake Rudh and Transmission every week on Twitch. Steven Wilson just remixed it in fact, and I'm seeking out that (on Record Store Day July 17th), and a 1st pressing on Vinyl now.
I first heard the song "Vienna" at Live Aid and it blew me away. Midge Ure appeared early on with Ultravox and their set was excellent (four songs, including Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" and "Vienna"). I'm 90% sure he appeared later on with someone else, but I can't remember who. Trivia: Ure helped write and produce Band-aid "Do They Know It's Christmas" and helped stage Live Aid. Supposedly he carried a grudge for decades that Geldof stole the limelight (and the credit) for staging the event. I have a best of just to have those two songs.
Dancing with Tears in My Eyes is on 1 of their later records, Lament. I dunno if Jake has played that, but maybe I'll ask if there was a video for it.
I'm still in the process of checking out more of their music, but Ultravox are really good at times. I wasn't aware of the Live-Aid thing, although there's a documentary on YouTube about them I wonder if it's mentioned.
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1980:
1. Rush - Permanent Waves - 3.5 out of 5
2. AC/DC - Back In Black - 3.5 out of 5
3. Dire Straits - Making Movies - 3.5 out of 5
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1980:
1. Rush - Permanent Waves - 3.5 out of 5
2. AC/DC - Back In Black - 3.5 out of 5
You are a tough grader.
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Large list incoming Kwyjbo! 1980 was a another fantastic year!
1. Black Sabbath-Heaven And Hell
2. Ozzy Osbourne-Blizzard Of Ozz
3. UFO-No Place To Run
4. AC/DC-Back In Black
5. Thin Lizzy-Chinatown
6. Rush-Permanent Waves
7. Saxon-Strong Arm Of The Law
8. Van Halen-Women And Children First
9. Iron Maiden-s/t
10. Alice Cooper-Flush The Fashion
11. Michael Schenker Group-s/t
12. Def Leppard-On Through The Night
13. Judas Priest-British Steel
14. Blackfoot-Tomcattin'
15. Accept-I'm A Rebel
16. Tygers Of Pan Tang-Wild Cat
17. Whitesnake-Live In The Heart Of The City
18. Krokus-Metal Rendezvous
19. KISS-Unmasked
20. Saxon-Wheels Of Steel
21. Rolling Stones-Emotional Rescue
21. Gary Moore-G-Force
22. Motorhead-Ace Of Spades
23. Scorpions-Animal Magnetism
24. Molly Hatchet-Beatin' The Odds
25. REO Speedwagon-Hi Infidelity
26. Triumph-Progressions Of Power
27. Wild Horses-s/t
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Large list incoming Kwyjbo! 1980 was a another fantastic year!
1. Black Sabbath-Heaven And Hell
2. Ozzy Osbourne-Blizzard Of Ozz
3. UFO-No Place To Run
4. AC/DC-Back In Black
5. Thin Lizzy-Chinatown
6. Rush-Permanent Waves
7. Saxon-Strong Arm Of The Law
8. Van Halen-Women And Children First
9. Iron Maiden-s/t
10. Alice Cooper-Flush The Fashion
11. Michael Schenker Group-s/t
12. Def Leppard-On Through The Night
13. Judas Priest-British Steel
14. Blackfoot-Tomcattin'
15. Accept-I'm A Rebel
16. Tygers Of Pan Tang-Wild Cat
17. Whitesnake-Live In The Heart Of The City
18. Krokus-Metal Rendezvous
19. KISS-Unmasked
20. Saxon-Wheels Of Steel
21. Rolling Stones-Emotional Rescue
21. Gary Moore-G-Force
22. Motorhead-Ace Of Spades
23. Scorpions-Animal Magnetism
24. Molly Hatchet-Beatin' The Odds
25. REO Speedwagon-Hi Infidelity
26. Triumph-Progressions Of Power
27. Wild Horses-s/t
No Lightning to the Nations?? I'm really shocked. ;D
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My list:
1. Rush - Permanent Waves
2. Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
3. Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations
4. Talking Heads - Remain in Light
5. Joy Division - Closer
6. Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
7. Motorhead - Ace of Spades
8. Iron Maiden - S/T
9. Van Halen - Women and Children First
10. Whitesnake - Ready an' Willing
Honorable mention: Dire Straits - Making Movies
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For some reason, I've just never followed up on Diamond Head. They weren't anything I listened to. I had all of these albums when I was a kid.
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1980 was a great year for music! Long-ish list incoming! The top 15 are all at least 8/10's, the rest are no lower than 6.5/10, with Departure being the only 6.5/10.
1. Rush - Permanent Waves
2. Yes - Drama
3. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
4. Kate Bush - Never Forever
5. Talking Heads - Remain in Light
6. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Melt)
7. Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
8. The Cure - Seventeen Seconds
9. Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
10. Steely Dan - Gaucho
11. REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity
12. Saga - Silent Knight
13. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
14. Dire Straits - Making Movies
15. Judas Priest - British Steel
16. Joy Division - Closer
17. Blue Öyster Cult - Cultösaurus Erectus
18. Def Leppard - On Through the Night
19. Simple Minds - Empires and Dance
20. Genesis - Duke
21. Prince - Dirty Mind
22. Roxy Music - Flesh + Blood
23. The Police - Zenyattà Mondatta
24. Hawkwind - Levitation
25. Journey - Departure
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After the 70's kind of staggered over the finish line with a not-so great 1979, 1980 hit and was a killer year for music!
01 Rush - Permanent Waves
02 Blue Oyster Cult - Cultosaurus Erectus
03 Talking Heads - Remain in Light
04 Judas Priest - British Steel
05 Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
06 XTC - Black Sea
07 AC/DC - Back in Black
08 Peter Gabriel - Melt
09 Genesis - Duke
10 Van Halen - Women and Children First
11 Queen - The Game
12 U2 - Boy
13 Yes - Drama
14 Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
15 The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
16 Kansas - Audio-Visions
17 Prince - Dirty Mind
18 Trevor Rabin - Face to Face
19 Jeff Beck - There and Back
20 Triumph - Progressions of Power
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1980:
1. Rush - Permanent Waves - 3.5 out of 5
2. AC/DC - Back In Black - 3.5 out of 5
You are a tough grader.
:lol I have a very weird rating system that makes little sense so I'm not surprised I got that reaction.
Looking at the 80 list I see a lot of albums that I swore came out much later than 1980.
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I’m kind of surprised how few albums I have from 1980, but there or some real favorites here, the top 4 especially.
1. Genesis - Duke
2. Peter Gabriel - 3/Melt
3. Rush - Permanent Waves
4. Steve Hackett - Defector
5. Talking Heads - Remain in Light
6. Journey - Departure
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Not an especially special year, but some good albums and the top are are particularly excellent.
1. Rush - Permanent Waves
2. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card
3. Queen - The Game
4. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
5. Dire Straits - Making Movies
6. The Michael Schenker Group - The Michael Schenker Group
7. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
8. Yes - Drama
9. Joy Division - Closer
10. Queen - Flash Gordon
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Not an especially special year, but some good albums and the top are are particularly excellent.
1. Rush - Permanent Waves
2. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card
3. Queen - The Game
4. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
5. Dire Straits - Making Movies
6. The Michael Schenker Group - The Michael Schenker Group
7. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
8.vYes - Drama
9.vJoy Division - Closer
10.vQueen - Flash Gordon
Never heard of vYes, vJoy Division, or vQueen before. :neverusethis:
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Don't be a vWiseguy. :lol
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No idea how that happened. :lol
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No particular order
AC/DC - Back In Black
Dixie Dregs - Dregs of the Earth
Bruce Springsteen - The River
Pat Benatar - Crimes of Passion
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Van Halen - Women And Children First
Billy Joel - Glass Houses
Yes - Drama
Rush - Permanent Waves
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No idea how that happened. :lol
Kindred Spirits you and I. :lol
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lots of catching up to do
1973
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
Tower of Power - Tower of Power
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Gentle Giant - In A Glass House
Herbie Hancock - Headhunters
Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Deep Purple - Who Do We Think We Are
ELP - Brain Salad Surgery
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1974
Tower of Power - Back to Oakland
King Crimson - Red
Chicago - VII
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingsness' First Finale
Yes - Relayer
Waylon Jennings - This Time
Blue Oyster Cult - Secret Treaties
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1975
Tower of Power - Urban Renewal
Rush - Fly By Night
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Earth, Wind, and Fire - That's The Way of the World
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Waylon Jennings - Dreaming My Dreams
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1976
Boston - Boston
Rush - 2112
Tower of Power - Live and in Living Color
Kansas - Leftoverture
Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius
Al Di Meola - Land of the Midnight Sun
Camel - Moonmadness
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
Rainbow - Rising
Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny
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Pat Benatar - Crimes of Passion
Dammit. I totally forgot this, which also means I totally forgot In The Heat Of The Night which is amazing. Dammit.
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1977
Weather Report - Heavy Weather
Pink Floyd - Animals
Rush - A Farewell To Kings
Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy
Steely Dan - Aja
UFO - Lights Out
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Chicago - XI
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Pat Benatar - Crimes of Passion
Dammit. I totally forgot this, which also means I totally forgot In The Heat Of The Night which is amazing. Dammit.
I had it in my list, which isn't that long :D
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1980 in alphabetical order
AC/DC - Back In Black
Benatar, Pat - Crims Of Passion
Dire Straits - Making Movies
Peter Gabriel - 3
Genesis - Duke
Joel, Billy - Glass Houses
Journey - Departure
Motörhead - Ace Of Spades
Osbourne, Ozzy - Blizzard Of Oz
Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
Queen - The Game
Spliff - The Spliff Radio Show
Styx - Paradise Theater
Ultravox - Vienna
Van Halen - Women And Children First
Whitesnake - Ready An' Willing
Yes - Drama
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Large list incoming Kwyjbo! 1980 was a another fantastic year!
1. Black Sabbath-Heaven And Hell
2. Ozzy Osbourne-Blizzard Of Ozz
3. UFO-No Place To Run
4. AC/DC-Back In Black
5. Thin Lizzy-Chinatown
6. Rush-Permanent Waves
7. Saxon-Strong Arm Of The Law
8. Van Halen-Women And Children First
9. Iron Maiden-s/t
10. Alice Cooper-Flush The Fashion
11. Michael Schenker Group-s/t
12. Def Leppard-On Through The Night
13. Judas Priest-British Steel
14. Blackfoot-Tomcattin'
15. Accept-I'm A Rebel
16. Tygers Of Pan Tang-Wild Cat
17. Whitesnake-Live In The Heart Of The City
18. Krokus-Metal Rendezvous
19. KISS-Unmasked
20. Saxon-Wheels Of Steel
21. Rolling Stones-Emotional Rescue
21. Gary Moore-G-Force
22. Motorhead-Ace Of Spades
23. Scorpions-Animal Magnetism
24. Molly Hatchet-Beatin' The Odds
25. REO Speedwagon-Hi Infidelity
26. Triumph-Progressions Of Power
27. Wild Horses-s/t
Not had a proper look yet but I imagine my list will somewhat resemble this.
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1980
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
Michael Schenker Group - Michael Schenker Group
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Oz
Saxon - Strong Arm of the Law
Queen - The Game
Scorpions - Animal Magnetism
AC/DC - Back In Black
Rush - Permanent Waves
Styx - Paradise Theater
Def Leppard - On Through the Night
Accept - I’m A Rebel
Billy Joel - Glass Houses
Genesis - Duke
Van Halen - Women and Children First
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1980
1. Prince - Dirty Mind
“Mick Jagger should fold up his penis and go home” - Robert Christgau
2. AC/DC - Back in Black
3. Bruce Springsteen - The River
4. Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
5. Pat Benetar - Crimes of Passion
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1981
allmediareviews:
1981, the year of Rush or Moving Pictures I guess.
Yikes, like the 1979 list, it doesn't include a ton of classics or all-time favorites for me. And like 1979 with In Through the Out Door, I look at the Rush album on par with most of their catalog. But it's not like Moving Pictures is a go-to album really for them, for me, over many others.
But comparing it to the rest of the releases of 1981, it kind of is.
I do enjoy Ghost in the Machine quite a bit too, but #2 for the year? dunno about that.
I guess I'm learning with many years, especially from the period of time, my taste and knowledge is only so deep. And it's mostly artists I know/like releasing albums that are okay to good, but hardly even in the upper half of their catalog.
Which it sort of hit me that my love and depth of interest in the last 15 or 20 years even is justified at least to the point there was MORE music made, per more quality. Now, that argument doesn't correlate fully with many of those years in the 70's, but alas, that's when a lot of the best stuff in my taste was 1st made, so go figure.
At the same time, of course there are many albums I only vaguely know on this Calendar list, and also many I don't know but may discover down the road.
But at least in 1981 it was the year Rush kind of broke through commercially and it actually is the #1 ranked album on rym's chart, which is rare for My Own List and their chart for any of these years (maybe I'll do a tally once I finish this whole project).
1. Rush - Moving Pictures
2. The Police - Ghost in the Machine
3. Al Di Meola John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia - Friday Night in San Francisco
4. Rush - Exit...Stage Left
5. Fuse One - Fuse One
6. King Crimson - Discipline
7. Van Halen - Fair Warning
8. Robert Fripp and the League of Gentleman - The League of Gentleman
9. Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
10. Iron Maiden - Killers
11. Journey - Escape
12. Prince - Controversy
13. Hall and Oates - Private Eyes
14. Phil Collins - Face Value
15. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
16. Genesis - Abacab
17. The Dregs - Unsung Heroes
18. Duran Duran - Duran Duran
19. Bob and Doug McKenzie - The Great White North
20. Renaissance - Camera Camera
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Looking at all these lists, i find it fascinating to see these albums side by side and what various bands were doing vs. their contemporaries at a given time in my listening history. For example, in 1981 Rush saw fit to come up with the material on MP yet Genesis came up with Abacab and Van Halen came up with Fair Warning. Three of my favorite bands, putting out 3 of my favorite albums at the same time period, but all completely different. Music is so cool!
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And hearing all 3 on the radio. That quality of music that was popular? So different these days.
Maybe that's just the old man in my talking but I can't help it.
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Definitely. 1981 was a little before my concert going days but i'm sure all these bands came through Philly that spring/summer/fall. Concert tickets then were about $6(!) At the Spectrum and you could see one of the big, all-day summer jam shows at JFK stadium for about $15
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1981 was a hell of a year for music! So many incredible albums.
1. Rush - Moving Pictures
2. Journey - Escape
3. Def Leppard - High n Dry
4. Rush - Exit...Stage Left
5. Triumph - Allied Forces
6. Iron Maiden - Killers
7. Blue Öyster Cult - Fire of Unknown Origin
8. King Crimson - Discipline
9. Kraftwerk - Computerwelt
10. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
11. The Cure - Faith
12. The Police - Ghost in the Machine
13. Saga - Worlds Apart
14. Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
15. Simple Minds - Sons and Fascination
16. Simple Minds - Sister Feelings Call
17. Phil Collins - Face Value
18. Joy Division - Still
19. Judas Priest - Point of Entry
20. Styx - Paradise Theatre
21. The Cars - Shake It Up
22. Prince - Controversy
23. Van Halen - Fair Warning
24. Genesis - Abacab
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A lot of good music in 1981, but only six albums I would say are pretty great from start to finish.
01 Rush - Moving Pictures
02 Van Halen - Fair Warning
03 Blue Oyster Cult - Fire of Unknown Origin
04 King Crimson - Discipline
05 Triumph - Allied Forces
06 Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
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Some really great stuff for 1981:
1. Journey - Escape
2. Genesis - Abacab
3. King Crimson - Discipline
4. Phil Collins - Face Value
5. Rush - Moving Pictures
6. Ricky Lee Jones - Pirates
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Just one for 1981:
1. Rush - Moving Pictures 4 out of 5
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1981 didn't do much for me, so I'll just keep it short rather than name dropping lackluster albums from artists I know:
1 - BLACK SABBATH - Mob Rules
2 - IRON MAIDEN - Killers
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1981 is the most important year of music for me. My list is long, but this was an incredible year, and would be the single one year of music that I could not go without.
I'll post my list later..
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1981 is the most important year of music for me. My list is long, but this was an incredible year, and would be the single one year of music that I could not go without.
I'll post my list later..
I was actually thinking about this after I posted my list. I never really thought about how important 1981 was to me musically. It was the year that opened my eyes to so many different genres that I came to love over the years. Not to mention absolutely killer albums from the first 16 albums on my list.
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1981 didn't do much for me, so I'll just keep it short rather than name dropping lackluster albums from artists I know:
1 - BLACK SABBATH - Mob Rules
2 - IRON MAIDEN - Killers
1980-1981 was kind of a weird time for hard rock/metal. Like everyone was on a hangover from the
70s and the party didn’t start again until 82-83.
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1981 is the most important year of music for me. My list is long, but this was an incredible year, and would be the single one year of music that I could not go without.
I'll post my list later..
I was actually thinking about this after I posted my list. I never really thought about how important 1981 was to me musically. It was the year that opened my eyes to so many different genres that I came to love over the years. Not to mention absolutely killer albums from the first 16 albums on my list.
Interestingly I'm the opposite, this is one of the weaker years so far for me. Just two great albums and then only a handful of good ones.
1. King Crimson - Discipline
2. Rush - Moving Pictures
3. Tower of Power - Direct
4. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
5. Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
6. Iron Maiden - Killers
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There's no single "best" year for me, but as I spent all my teenage years in the 80s, the foundation for a lot of what I like musically now was layed back then.
1981
AC/DC - For Those About To Rock
Benatar, Pat - Precious Time
Collins, Phil - Face Value
Def Leppard - High 'n' Dry
Foreigner - 4
Genesis - Abacab
Jarre, Jean Michel - Magnetic Fields (minus the last track)
Journey - Escape
King Crimson - Discipline
Level 42 - Level 42
Men At Work - Business As Usual
Springfield, Rock - Working Class Dog
Toto - Turn Back
Van Halen - Fair Warning
Whitesnake - Come An' Get It
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1981:
1. Rush - Moving Pictures
2. Van Halen - Fair Warning
3. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
4. Iron Maiden - Killers
5. Blue Oyster Cult - Fire Of Unknown Origin
6. Def Leppard - High n' Dry
7. Ozzy - Diary of a Madman
8. Black Flag - Damaged
9. Saxon - Denim and Leather
10. Riot - Fire Down Under
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1981
Def Leppard - High N Dry
Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
Rush - Moving Pictures
Iron Maiden - Killers
Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of A Madman
Michael Schenker Group - MSG
Van Halen - Fair Warning
Riot - Fire Down Under
Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love
Judas Priest - Point of Entry
Y&T - Earthshaker
Accept - Breaker
Tygers of Pan Tang - Spellbound
Styx - Paradise Theater
Raven - Rock Until You Drop
Rainbow - Difficult to Cure
Blue Oyster Cult - Fire of Unknown Origin
April Wine - The Nature of the Beast
Billy Squier - Don’t Say No
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'81 was so solid, it's not funny.
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No particular order
Rush - Moving Pictures
Pat Metheny & Lyle May - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
King Crimson - Discipline
Van Halen - Fair Warning
Journey - Escape
Chick Corea - Three Quartets
Phil Collins - Face Value
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OK, I'm on record ar 1981 being my favorite year of music. My list is big but I've separated them into
groups..
Albums in my Top 50:
Michael Schenker Group-MSG
UFO-The Wild The Willing And The Innocent
Thin Lizzy-Renegade
Def Leppard-High n Dry
Rush-Moving Pictures
Riot-Fire Down Under
Ozzy Osbourne-Diary Of A Madman
Lucifer's Friend-Mean Machine
These are GREAT albums! that I love..
Joe Perry Project-I've Got The Rock And Rolls Again
Triumph-Allied Forces
AC/DC-For Those About To Rock
Black Sabbath-Mob Rules
Rainbow-Difficult To Cure
Accept-Breaker
Saxon-Denim And Leather
Iron Maiden-Killers
Y&T-Earthshaker
Van Halen-Fair Warning
Shooting Star-Hang On For Your Life
Journey-Escape
Gary Moore-Dirty Fingers
Blackfoot-Marauder
Good to decent albums that I did replace on CD..
Kiss-The Elder
Ted Nugent-Intensities In 10 Cities
Pat Benatar-Precious Time
Alice Cooper-Special Forces
Krokus-Hardware
Judas Priest-Point Of Entry
Tygers Of Pan Tang-Spellbound
Molly Hatchet-Take No Prisoners
Albums I had as a kid, but never replaced on CD..
Kix-s/t
Billy Squire-Don't Say No
38 Special-Wild Eyed Southern Boys
April Wine-The Nature Of The Beast
Blue Oyster Cult-Fire Of Unknown Origin
Loverboy-Get Lucky
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So many of those records are either my favorite of that artist, or damn near. Love the mentions for "Don't Say No" (I was listening to a live Billy Squier record today as well as "Tell The Truth", an amazing record that I'm pretty sure only about 250 people have ever heard.
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OK, I'm on record ar 1981 being my favorite year of music. My list is big but I've separated them into
groups..
Albums in my Top 50:
Michael Schenker Group-MSG
UFO-The Wild The Willing And The Innocent
Thin Lizzy-Renegade
Def Leppard-High n Dry
Rush-Moving Pictures
Riot-Fire Down Under
Ozzy Osbourne-Diary Of A Madman
Lucifer's Friend-Mean Machine
These are GREAT albums! that I love..
Joe Perry Project-I've Got The Rock And Rolls Again
Triumph-Allied Forces
AC/DC-For Those About To Rock
Black Sabbath-Mob Rules
Rainbow-Difficult To Cure
Accept-Breaker
Saxon-Denim And Leather
Iron Maiden-Killers
Y&T-Earthshaker
Van Halen-Fair Warning
Shooting Star-Hang On For Your Life
Journey-Escape
Gary Moore-Dirty Fingers
Blackfoot-Marauder
Good to decent albums that I did replace on CD..
Kiss-The Elder
Ted Nugent-Intensities In 10 Cities
Pat Benatar-Precious Time
Alice Cooper-Special Forces
Krokus-Hardware
Judas Priest-Point Of Entry
Tygers Of Pan Tang-Spellbound
Molly Hatchet-Take No Prisoners
Albums I had as a kid, but never replaced on CD..
Kix-s/t
Billy Squire-Don't Say No
38 Special-Wild Eyed Southern Boys
April Wine-The Nature Of The Beast
Blue Oyster Cult-Fire Of Unknown Origin
Loverboy-Get Lucky
I forgot about Renegade. Another great one. That was my first Thin Lizzy album.
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Thin Lizzy FOREVER ,,,,,
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Bored at work, might have a crack at this. Where we up to, 81, alright, no order;
Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
Judas Priest - Point of Entry
Iron Maiden - Killers
Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
Y&T - Earthshaker
Rush - Moving Pictures
Riot - Fire Down Under
UFO - The Wild, The Willing and the Innocent
Michael Schenker - MSG
Thin Lizzy - Renegade
What an exciting list lol!
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The Cars - Shake It Up. LOVE that record; on any given day it's my favorite. I love "Since You're Gone" ("moonlight... ain't so great").
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OK, I'm on record ar 1981 being my favorite year of music. My list is big but I've separated them into
groups..
Albums in my Top 50:
Michael Schenker Group-MSG
UFO-The Wild The Willing And The Innocent
Thin Lizzy-Renegade
Def Leppard-High n Dry
Rush-Moving Pictures
Riot-Fire Down Under
Ozzy Osbourne-Diary Of A Madman
Lucifer's Friend-Mean Machine
These are GREAT albums! that I love..
Joe Perry Project-I've Got The Rock And Rolls Again
Triumph-Allied Forces
AC/DC-For Those About To Rock
Black Sabbath-Mob Rules
Rainbow-Difficult To Cure
Accept-Breaker
Saxon-Denim And Leather
Iron Maiden-Killers
Y&T-Earthshaker
Van Halen-Fair Warning
Shooting Star-Hang On For Your Life
Journey-Escape
Gary Moore-Dirty Fingers
Blackfoot-Marauder
Good to decent albums that I did replace on CD..
Kiss-The Elder
Ted Nugent-Intensities In 10 Cities
Pat Benatar-Precious Time
Alice Cooper-Special Forces
Krokus-Hardware
Judas Priest-Point Of Entry
Tygers Of Pan Tang-Spellbound
Molly Hatchet-Take No Prisoners
Albums I had as a kid, but never replaced on CD..
Kix-s/t
Billy Squire-Don't Say No
38 Special-Wild Eyed Southern Boys
April Wine-The Nature Of The Beast
Blue Oyster Cult-Fire Of Unknown Origin
Loverboy-Get Lucky
I forgot about Renegade. Another great one. That was my first Thin Lizzy album.
Mine too! and still my favorite!
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1982
from allmediareviews
Honestly, despite 1 of my higher ranked Rush albums and Pat Metheny. Along with both classics from both Michael Jackson and Prince, 1982, compared many/most other years, is rather thin/weak.
Certainly, there's some stuff on the calendar I haven't heard that could change that. But from my list, it's filled with mid-level stuff. I guess when I finish this project, I may rank each year, and at this point, 1982 I suspect won't be placing incredibly high.
1. Rush - Signals
2. Pat Metheny - Offramp
3. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Security)
4. Michael Jackson - Thriller
5. Van Halen - Diver Down
6. Prince - 1999
7. XTC - English Settlement
8. Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
9. Duran Duran - Rio
10. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
11. Genesis - Three Sides Live
12. Daryl Hall and John Oates - H2O
13. Toto - IV
14. Led Zeppelin - Coda
15. Al Di Meola - Tour de Force - "Live"
16. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
17. Huey Lewis and the News - Picture This
18. Al Di Meola - Electric Rendezvous
19. Asia - Asia
20. Phil Collins - Hello, I Must be Going!
21. Jethro Tull - Broadsword and the Beast
22. King Crimson - Beat
23. Jon Anderson - Animation
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Another great year!
*makes list*
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1982
Scorpions - Blackout
Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance
Michael Schenker Group - Assault Attack
Diamond Head - Borrowed Time
Vandenberg - Vandenberg
Anvil - Metal on Metal
Riot - Restless Breed
Accept - Restless and Wild
Tygers of Pan Tang - The Cage
Rush - Signals
Manowar - Battle Hymns
Aldo Nova - Aldo Nova
Rainbow - Straight Between the Eyes
Magnum - Chase the Dragon
Asia - Asia
Raven - Wiped Out
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1. The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky
2. Toto - IV
3. Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
4. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
5. Michael Jackson - Thriller
6. King Crimson - Beat
7. Jethro Tull - The Broadsword and the Beast
8. Maynard Ferguson - Hollywood
9. Rush - Signals
10. Asia - Asia
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01 Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance
02 Rush - Signals
03 XTC - English Settlement
04 Asia - Asia
05 Peter Gabriel - Security
06 Michael Jackson - Thriller
07 Prince - 1999
08 Billy Joel - The Nylon Curtain
09 The Fixx - Shuttered Room
10 Fleetwood Mac - Mirage
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1. Dire Straits - Love Over Gold - 3.5/5
2. Rush - Signals - 3/5
3. Pat Metheny Group - Offramp - 2/5
4. Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast - 2/5
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01 Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance
02 Rush - Signals
03 XTC - English Settlement
04 Asia - Asia
05 Peter Gabriel - Security
06 Michael Jackson - Thriller
07 Prince - 1999
08 Billy Joel - The Nylon Curtain
09 The Fixx - Shuttered Room
10 Fleetwood Mac - Mirage
1. The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky
2. Toto - IV
3. Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
4. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
5. Michael Jackson - Thriller
6. King Crimson - Beat
7. Jethro Tull - The Broadsword and the Beast
8. Maynard Ferguson - Hollywood
9. Rush - Signals
10. Asia - Asia
All of this.
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1982 was a great year. I started High School in the fall of 1982 and was by this point very into music.
As a kid, I had all of these and have replaced them all on CD:
Iron Maiden-The Number Of The Beast
Gary Moore-Corridors Of Power
UFO-Mechanix
Judas Priest-Screaming For Vengeance
Michael Schenker Group-Assault Attack
Alice Cooper-Zipper Catches Skin
Aerosmith-Rock In A Hard Place
Accept-Restless And Wild
Riot-Restless Breed
Rainbow-Straight Between The Eyes
Scorpions-Blackout
KISS-Creatures
Y&T-Black Tiger
Ozzy Osbourne-Speak Of The Devil
Rush Signals
Robert Plant-Pictures At Eleven
Krokus-One Vice At A Time
Twisted Sister-Under The Blade
Manowar-Battle Hymns
Van Halen-Diver Down
Motorhead-Iron Fist
Talas-Sink Your Teeth Into That
I haven't replaced these on CD, but I still have these on vinyl...in my attic.
Vandenberg-s/t
Mama's Boys-Plug It In
Uriah Heep-Abominog
Anvil-Metal On Metal
These I had, but have never replaced.
Whitesnake-Saints And Sinners
Hughes/Thrall
More-Blood And Thunder
I also wanted to mention that the record store I used to go had a certain album and while I never bought it, a 13 /14 y/o TAC loved to stare at the cover (and back cover, especially the back cover!) of Witchfynder General's Death Penalty album.
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1982 was another big year for me. Several highly influential albums that shaped my musical tastes.
1. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
2. The Alan Parson Project - Eye in the Sky
3. Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
4. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
5. Rush - Signals
6. Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance
7. Roxy Music - Avalon
8. Brian Eno - Ambient 4: On Land
9. Michael Jackson - Thriller
10. The Cure - Pornography
11. Pagan Altar - Pagan Altar
12. Bad Brains - Bad Brains
13. Scorpions - Blackout
14. Toto - IV
15. Univers Zero - Ceux du dehors
16. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Security)
17. Prince - 1999
18. Whitesnake - Saints & Sinners
19. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream
20. Eloy - Time to Turn
21. Andy Summers & Robert Fripp - I Advance Masked
22. Duran Duran - Rio
23. Asia - Asia
24. Twelfth Night - Fact and Fiction
25. Phil Collins - Hello, I Must be Going
26. Led Zeppelin - Coda
27. Steve Winwood - Talking Back to the Night
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While most of my favorites for this year have been mentioned, I haven’t seen these three:
Oingo Boingo - Nothing to Fear
Joe Jackson - Night and Day
Level 42 - The Pursuit of Accidents
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1. IRON MAIDEN - The Number of the Beast
Not even my favorite Maiden album, but it's legendary. Hallowed Be Thy Name song of the year.
2. MANOWAR - Battle Hymns (glad to see some love for this!)
3. JUDAS PRIEST - Screaming for Vengeance
4. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Nebraska
5. RAINBOW - Straight Between the Eyes (more a honorable mention just to round it up to five)
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The albums I have from 1982
Magnum - Chase The Dragon
UFO - Mechanix
Asia - st
Iron Maiden - TNOTB
Scorpions- Blackout
Van Halen - Diver Down
Motörhead - Iron Fist
Rainbow- Straight Between The Eyes
Saxon - The Eagle Has Landed (should have been a double album)
ManOwaR - Battle Hymns
Survivor- Eye Of The Tiger
Judas Priest - Screaming
Coney Hatch - st
Demon x The Unexpected Guest
Rush - Signals
Accept - Restless & Wild
KISS - Creatures of the Night
Pat Benatar- Get Nervous
MSG - Assault Attack
Ozzy - Talk of the Devil
Night Ranger - Dawn Patrol
Whitesnake- Saints and Sinners
Slade - Slade On Stage
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The top 3 in 1982 for me were very good. Overall a strong year.
1. Rush - Signals
2. King Crimson - Beat
3. Peter Gabriel - Security
4. Phil Collins - Hello, I Must Be Going!
5. Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
6. XTC - English Settlement
7. Talk Talk - The Party’s Over
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Some really great stuff for 1981:
1. Journey - Escape
2. Genesis - Abacab
3. King Crimson - Discipline
4. Phil Collins - Face Value
5. Rush - Moving Pictures
6. Ricky Lee Jones - Pirates
Just realized there was one major omission for me on my 1981 list. Re-ranked:
1. Journey - Escape
2. Genesis - Abacab
3. King Crimson - Discipline
4. Phil Collins - Face Value
5. Camel - Nude
6. Rush - Moving Pictures
7. Ricky Lee Jones - Pirates
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While most of my favorites for this year have been mentioned, I haven’t seen these three:
Joe Jackson - Night and Day
:tup
love Steppin' Out, but sadly i don't recall the rest of the record.
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While most of my favorites for this year have been mentioned, I haven’t seen these three:
Joe Jackson - Night and Day
:tup
love Steppin' Out, but sadly i don't recall the rest of the record.
OOOH! You might want to revisit it; the second side of that record is almost flawless to these ears. "Breaking Us In Two" (the better single between that and Steppin' Out), Real Men (a quintessential Joe Jackson song; aggressive and ground-breaking and you don't even know it), and his best song, IMO, Slow Song. Cancer is good, but it's sort of "Joe Jackson by Numbers", not that that's a bad thing.
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1981 was amazing, but the one year that might challenge it is... 1982.
I like Straight Between The Eyes more than Difficult To Cure, and on any given day, Hello I Must Be Going over Face Value.
Signals.
Security (my second favorite Gabriel record after Us).
And my musical awakening: The Number Of The Beast and Screaming For Vengeance.
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While most of my favorites for this year have been mentioned, I haven’t seen these three:
Joe Jackson - Night and Day
:tup
love Steppin' Out, but sadly i don't recall the rest of the record.
OOOH! You might want to revisit it; the second side of that record is almost flawless to these ears. "Breaking Us In Two" (the better single between that and Steppin' Out), Real Men (a quintessential Joe Jackson song; aggressive and ground-breaking and you don't even know it), and his best song, IMO, Slow Song. Cancer is good, but it's sort of "Joe Jackson by Numbers", not that that's a bad thing.
Yes! Breaking Us in Two is awesome. And Slow Song is truly epic. And not in the cheesy prog-metal way. Which I love also!
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1981 was amazing, but the one year that might challenge it is... 1982.
I just did my 1983 list and 1983 crushes 1982. :)
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While most of my favorites for this year have been mentioned, I haven’t seen these three:
Joe Jackson - Night and Day
:tup
love Steppin' Out, but sadly i don't recall the rest of the record.
OOOH! You might want to revisit it; the second side of that record is almost flawless to these ears. "Breaking Us In Two" (the better single between that and Steppin' Out), Real Men (a quintessential Joe Jackson song; aggressive and ground-breaking and you don't even know it), and his best song, IMO, Slow Song. Cancer is good, but it's sort of "Joe Jackson by Numbers", not that that's a bad thing.
I need to check out that album as well. Steppin' Out is legit one of my favorite songs ever by anyone, and Breaking Us in Two is pretty great as well, but I think Is She Really Going Out with Him? is the only other song by him that I know. I really need to change that.
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1982:
1. Dire Straits - Love Over Gold (fav DS record)
2. Prince - 1999
3. The Cure - Pornography
4. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
5. Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
6. Scorpions - Blackout
7. Rush - Signals
8. Accept - Restless and Wild
9. Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters
10. Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance
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My favs from 1982 in alphabetical order
Asia - Asia
Benatar, Pat - Get Nervous
Collins, Phil - Hello, I Must Be Going
Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
Henley, Don - I Can't Stand Still
Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
Joel, Billy - The Nylon Curtain
Level 42 - The Pursuit Of Accidents
Magnum - Chase The Dragon
Spliff - 85555 & Herzlichen Glückwunsch
Springfield, Rick - Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet
Supertramp - Famous Last Words
Toto - Toto IV
Van Halen - Diver Down
Whitesnake - Saints An' Sinners
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Interestingly enough, SO MANY of these records I still listen to regularly today. I just played the Asia album earlier this week in the shower.
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Interestingly enough, SO MANY of these records I still listen to regularly today. I just played the Asia album earlier this week in the shower.
That's a hell of a stereo system to play with water on it.
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I just played the Asia album earlier this week in the shower.
While in the shower Stadler felt the heat of the moment and decided it was time again so he started "cutting" it fine until here comes the feeling and so for the rest of the shower he can simply ride easy.
Sounds yucky.
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I just played the Asia album earlier this week in the shower.
While in the shower Stadler felt the heat of the moment and decided it was time again so he started "cutting" it fine until here comes the feeling and so for the rest of the shower he can simply ride easy.
Sounds yucky.
In your wildest dreams Tim.
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No particular order:
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
Donald Fagen - The Nightfly
John Mellencamp - American Fool
Billy Joel - The Nylon Curtain
Toto - Toto IV
Rush - Signals
Duran Dura - Rio
Asia - Asia
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I just played the Asia album earlier this week in the shower.
While in the shower Stadler felt the heat of the moment and decided it was time again so he started "cutting" it fine until here comes the feeling and so for the rest of the shower he can simply ride easy.
Sounds yucky.
In your wildest dreams Tim.
Well, I WAS the sole survivor. :)
The Nylon Curtain is another phenomenal record.
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I just played the Asia album earlier this week in the shower.
While in the shower Stadler felt the heat of the moment and decided it was time again so he started "cutting" it fine until here comes the feeling and so for the rest of the shower he can simply ride easy.
Sounds yucky.
In your wildest dreams Tim.
Well, I WAS the sole survivor. :)
The Nylon Curtain is another phenomenal record.
Only time will tell if it was worth it.
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The Nylon Curtain is another phenomenal record.
It made my list, so I dig it. Allentown has stood firm as my favorite Billy Joel song for close to 40 years now. :coolio :coolio
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The Nylon Curtain is another phenomenal record.
It made my list, so I dig it. Allentown has stood firm as my favorite Billy Joel song for close to 40 years now. :coolio :coolio
GREAT lyric.
Side one is where the hits are - and they are great - but side two is where it's at for me. Love each of those songs. I call this his "Beatles" album, because there are so many moments that strike me as Beatle-esque.
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Delete. I already posted for this year. :facepalm:
Must’ve been that good stuff… :hat
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1983
allmediareviews
1983, like with Baseball Cards, was really maybe the 1st Calendar year I have memories of music. Songs on the radio and maybe even Friday Night videos. Some others came the next year in 1984 certainly, and '83 didn't have Michael Jackson nor Prince, but it had both many of my nostalgic favorites like Lionel Ritchie, Duran Duran and Huey Lewis and the News, and many I came to love like The Police's Synchronicity and obviously Marillion's debut album Script from a Jester's Tear.
And while that album I won 't deny is very influenced by Peter Gabriel-Genesis, it still has a lot of great songs/songwriting on it. Garden Party, The Web and the title track were always my favorites. But I can't lie, among Marillion's catalog, it is only in the middle which maybe says more about my love and the quality I see in their history.
I guess looking at the calendar and rankings, 1983 had a lot of enjoyable albums from Metal to Pop to early prog. I guess I wouldn't say it's Top Heavy, but at the same time it is not without depth for at least nostalgia if not just artists putting out good albums or with multiple good songs. Even The Pointer Sisters who I just saw live last week, put out an album with a few 80's Pop classics.
How it fares compared to the rest of the decade? I kind of suspect it won't be at the top, but definitely not at the bottom at this point. Nostalgia points and depth as opposed to say 1981 or 1979 which at this point I see as 2 of the thinnest years for albums in my taste. 1983 though, I don't see as quite as thin though.
1, Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear
2, The Police - Synchonicity
3. Tears for Fears - The Hurting
4. Queensryche - Queensryche [EP]
5, Peter Gabriel - Plays Live
6. Pat Metheny - Travels
7. Huey Lewis and the News - Sports
8, Duran Duran - Seven and the Ragged Tiger
9. David Bowie - Let's Dance
10. Dio - Holy Diver
11. Metallica - Kill'Em All
12. Genesis - Genesis
13, Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
14, U2 - War
15. Lionel Ritchie - Can't Slow Down
16. Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
17. XTC - Mummer
18. Madonna - Madonna
19. The Pointer Sisters - Break Out
20. Savatage - Sirens
21. Yes - 90125
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1983 is a short list for me, but some really good ones. The top 3 are especially strong (could go in any order probably). I’ve never ranked Script highly relative to the rest of Marillion’s catalog either.
1. Yes - 90125
2. Genesis - Genesis
3. Journey - Frontiers
4. Marillion - Script for a Jester’s Tear
5. U2 - WAR
Just looked back at my rankings for 1983 in the albums of the year over time thread that inspired this one, and I had Frontiers first then. Been listening to a lot of Yes including 90125 lately so maybe that's why it gets the edge (I did have as a close runner up on that list). Really love all three of those albums.
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An year with some legendary albums, hard to rank. Picking number one, however, it's so easy:
1. IRON MAIDEN - Piece of Mind
One of the undisputed masterpiece of heavy metal and my personal favorite from the guys along with Seventh Son. Pure perfection.
2. METALLICA - Kill 'em All
3. MANOWAR - Into Glory Ride
4. DIO - Holy Diver
5. SAVATAGE - Sirens
Also honorable mention for:
VIRGIN STEELE - Guardians of the Flame
QUEENSRYCHE - Queensryche EP
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Let's see how many albums I can name off from 1983 :neverusethis: :|
#1 kind of surprised me when I compiled my list. I went into this thinking Kill 'em All would be first, but I totally forgot Script was released in 83 as well. Regardless, so many fantastic albums released this year. I'm guessing my lists are going to grow larger as we approach the 90's and beyond.
1. Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear
2. Metallica - Kill 'em All
3. Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
4. Def Leppard - Pyromania
5. Manilla Road - Crystal Logic
6. Journey - Frontiers
7. The Police - Synchronicity
8. Tears for Fears - The Hurting
9. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Texas Flood
10. Dio - Holy Diver
11. Queensrÿche - Queensrÿche
12. Bad Brains - Rock for Light
13. Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues
14. IQ - Tales from the Lush Attic
15. Savatage - Sirens
16. Thin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
17. Triumph - Never Surrender
18. Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon
19. Genesis - Genesis
20. Alcatrazz - No Parole from Rock 'n Roll
21. Huey Lewis and the News - Sports
22. Big Country - The Crossing
23. Saga - Heads or Tales
24. Yes - 90125
25. Elton John - Too Low for Zero
26. UB40 - Labour of Love
Some notable albums that are intentionally left off the list because they are not good or I just don't like them:
Pink Floyd - The Final Cut (I hate this album, it's by far the worst Pink Floyd album)
"Weird Al" Yankovic - "Weird Al" Yankovic (same deal as the Pink Floyd album)
Black Sabbath - Born Again
Rainbow - Bent Out of Shape
Mercyful Fate - Melissa
Slayer - Show No Mercy
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1983 is a fantastic year. It's probably second to 1981 for me, but only because being a bit younger, 1981 basically cleared my musical path. But 1983 laid the brick!
1983 included the end of my freshman year of HS in the spring, and the beginning of my sophomore year. I turned 15 in September.
I saw my first two concerts in 1983:
1. Def Leppard/Krokus/Gary Moore June 25th
2. Iron Maiden/Fastway/Coney Hatch August 27th
Everyone of these albums is excellent. I had the 33 of these 36 albums as a kid, but I have all of them on CD now.
Metallica-Kill 'Em All
Dio-Holy Diver
Iron Maiden-Piece Of Mind
Saxon-Power And The Glory
Accept-Balls To The Wall
Ozzy Osbourne-Bark At The Moon
Queensryche-EP
Loudness-Live Loud Alive
Michael Schenker Group-Built To Destroy
Heavy Pettin' Lettin' Loose
Thin Lizzy-Thinder And Lightning
Twisted Sister-You Can't Stop Rock n Roll
Y&T-Mean Streak
Blackfoot-Siogo
Gary Moore-Dirty Fingers
Gary Moore-Victims Of The Future
UFO-Making Contact
Riot-Born In America
Motorhead-Another Perfect Day
Motley Crue-Shout At The Devil
Quiet Riot-Metal Health
AC/DC-Flick Of The Switch
Alcatrazz-No Parole From Rock n Roll
Krokus-Headhunter
Alice Cooper-DaDa
Black Sabbath-Born Again
KISS-Lick It Up
Cobra-First Strike
Talas-Live Speed On Ice
Triumph-Never Surrender
Fastway-s/t
Slayer-Show No Mercy
Marillion-Script For A Jester's Tear
Molly Hatchet-No Guts No Glory
Helix-No Rest For The Wicked
Def Leppard-Pyromania
Loudeness' Live Loud Alive is a Top 5 Live album for me.
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01 The Police - Synchronicity (first album I ever owned on vinyl!!)
02 Yes - 90125
03 R.E.M. - Murmur
04 U2 - War
05 Triumph - Never Surrender
06 Blue Oyster Cult - The Revolution by Night (a criminally underrated record, even by fans of the band)
07 Tears for Fears - The Hurting
08 Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Texas Flood
09 Zebra - Zebra
10 Genesis - Genesis
A lot of albums that year that for me are some good, some average stuff, by Ozzy, Billy Joel, ZZ Top, XTC, Def Leppard, Bowie, Journey, Night Ranger, The Fixx, Styx and New Order.
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Was trying to keep my list to a minimum but ended up with 21 albums anyway.
1983
Diamond Head - Canterbury
Queensryche - EP
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
U2 - War
Metallica - Kill Em All
Def Leppard - Pyromania
Alcatrazz - No Parole from Rock’n’Roll
Accept - Balls to the Wall
Raven - All for One
Savatage - Sirens
Anvil - Forged in Fire
Grim Reaper - See You in Hell
Thin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
Motley Crue - Shout at the Devil
Saxon - Power and the Glory
Marillion - Script for a Jester’s Tear
The Police - Synchronicity
Dio - Holy Diver
Yes - 90125
UFO - Making Contact
Krokus - Headhunter
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1983
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
Black Sabbath - Born Again
Mercyful Fate - Melissa
UFO - Making Contact
Savatage - Sirens
Thin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
Queensryche - EP
Gary Moore - Victims of the Future
Dio - Holy Diver
Metallica - Kill 'Em All
Accept - Balls to the Wall
Y&T - Mean Streak
Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon
Saxon - Power and the Glory
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Journey - Frontiers
Dokken - Breaking the Chains
Slayer - Show No Mercy
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Forgot about a few albums for 1983:
1. Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble - Texas Flood - 4/5
2. Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual - 3/5
3. Pink Floyd - The Final Cut - 2.5/5
4. U2 - War - 2/5
5. Eurythmics - Touch - 2/5
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No particular order:
The Police - Synchronicity
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Texas Flood
Herbie Hancock - Future Shock
ZZ Top - Eliminator
Journey - Frontiers
Def Leppard - Pyromania
Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down
David Bowie - Let's Dance
Billy Joel - An Innocent Man
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1983 was a huge music year for me. I was 15 and I can’t lose any of these albums (exhaustive list incoming)
1983
Bryan Adams - Cuts like A Knife
Def Leppard- Pyromania
Triumph- Never Surrender
Journey- Frontiers
UFO - Making Contact
Rock Goddess- s/t, Hell Hath No Fury
Thin Lizzy - Thunder & Lightning - Live/Life
Helix - No Rest For The Wicked
Marillion- Script For A Jester’s Tear
Europe - s/t
Saxon - Power & Glory
ZZ Top - Eliminator
Frank Zappa - Man From Utopia
Le Roux - So Fired Up
Krokus - Headhunter
Iron Maiden- Piece of Mind
DIO - Holy Diver
Blackfoot- Siogo
ManOwaR - Into Glory Ride
Coney Hatch - Outta Hand
Queensryche- EP
KISS x Lick It Up
Motley Crue- Shout At The Devil
MSG - Built To Destroy
Y&T- Mean Streak
Aldo Nova - Subject
Merciful Fate - Melissa
Bryan May & Friends - Starfleet
Survivor - Caught In The Game
Alcatrazz- No Parole From Rock n Roll
Ozzy - Bark At The Moon
Night Ranger - Midnight Madness
Accept- Balls To The Wall
Steeler (Yngwie) - s/t
Gary Moore - Victims of the Future
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood
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Iron Maiden- Piece of Mind
DIO - Holy Diver
KISS x Lick It Up
MSG - Built To Destroy
Alcatrazz- No Parole From Rock n Roll
Ozzy - Bark At The Moon
Night Ranger - Midnight Madness
I listened to those albums endlessly. Many - Dio, MSG, NR - are still my band favorites.
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Iron Maiden- Piece of Mind
DIO - Holy Diver
KISS x Lick It Up
MSG - Built To Destroy
Alcatrazz- No Parole From Rock n Roll
Ozzy - Bark At The Moon
Night Ranger - Midnight Madness
I listened to those albums endlessly. Many - Dio, MSG, NR - are still my band favorites.
No love for An Innocent Man?
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Iron Maiden- Piece of Mind
DIO - Holy Diver
KISS x Lick It Up
MSG - Built To Destroy
Alcatrazz- No Parole From Rock n Roll
Ozzy - Bark At The Moon
Night Ranger - Midnight Madness
I listened to those albums endlessly. Many - Dio, MSG, NR - are still my band favorites.
No love for An Innocent Man?
LOVE the song (one of his best). The rest is very good as an artistic statement, but not something I listen to very much.
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Iron Maiden- Piece of Mind
DIO - Holy Diver
KISS x Lick It Up
MSG - Built To Destroy
Alcatrazz- No Parole From Rock n Roll
Ozzy - Bark At The Moon
Night Ranger - Midnight Madness
I listened to those albums endlessly. Many - Dio, MSG, NR - are still my band favorites.
No love for An Innocent Man?
LOVE the song (one of his best). The rest is very good as an artistic statement, but not something I listen to very much.
OK.
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1984
allmediareviews:
1984, now looking at it, was not all that great of a year, I guess for ALBUMS for my taste. It was it seemed a good year for SONGS. It was amidst the MTV craze and 80's singles. Friday Night Videos, icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Huey Lewis, Springsteen, Wham!, Duran Duran, The Police, Phil Collins..80's icons and huge names that were known for songs and their videos.
The top 40 on Sunday mornings, and cassette tapes. I bought my 1st tape as a little kid in 1983 and 1984. Weird Al's album In 3-D namely. And often at the Great American Music store in the Highland Village store.
But as time as gone by and looking at Albums, 1984 has some very good albums, like what I consider my favorite Pat Metheny record in First Circle and my favorite U2 album in The Unforgettable Fire.
Rush's Grace Under Pressure is an album I do enjoy a lot, but I guess I don't see it greater than most of their classic catalog (Caress of Steel-Presto). But it's a great record, thus par for their course. And given the quality of the albums from 1984, it places quite high.
And Prince, I bought Purple Rain on tape and it was such a big deal and rival to Michael Jackson and Thriller then, even though the release dates were like 18 months apart.
But I was a sports kid, so 1984 was most remembered by me for that, but as a year, compared to other years from the 80's, I'm thinking it may not compare. But then again, I suspect a lot of the mid to late 80's albums were not too different.
That also being said, I do have a soft spot for 80's pop, and I included some albums with some of those songs. Also early Metal albums, Thrash, NWOBHM, Prog and Soundtracks.
1. Pat Metheny Group - First Circle
2, Rush - Grace Under Pressure
3. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
4. Marillion - Fugazi
5. Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain OST
6. "Weird Al" Yankovic - In 3-D
7. Fates Warning - Night on Bröcken
8. Van Halen - 1984
9. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
10. Queensryche - The Warning
11. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
12. NRG - No Reasons Given
13. Marillion - Real to Reel
14. King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair
15.Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
16. Duran Duran - Arena
17. Wham! - Make it Big
18. XTC - The Big Express
19. David Gilmour - About Face
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I have a big list for 1984. I turned 16 in 1984 and I bought a tons of albums. On my list I have 49 albums. Of the list, there's probably 6-8 that I owned as a kid, but didn't replace, and there's 6-8 that I bought after my teenage years, but I'd say that I owned at least 35 of these as a kid, and replaced them on CD.
1. Queensryche-Warning
2. Waysted-EP
3. Saxon-Crusader
4. Iron Maiden-Powerslave
5. Dio-The Last In Line
6. Scorpions-Love At First Sting
7. Accept-Balls To The Wall
8. Jack Starr-Out Of The Darkness
9. Michael Schenker Group-Rock Will Never Die
10. Gary Moore-We Want Moore
Judas Priest-Defenders Of The Faith
KISS-Animalize
Yngwie Malmsteen-Rising Force
Armored Saint-March Of The Saint
Twisted Sister-Stay Hungry
Dianno-s/t
Deep Purple-Perfect Strangers
Metallica-Ride The Lightning
WASP-s/t
Anthrax-Fistful Of Metal
Rush-Grace Under Pressure
Van Halen-1984
Hanoi Rocks-Two Steps From The Move
Motorhead-No Remorse
Y&T-In Rock We Trust
Triumph-Thunder Seven
Fastway-All Fired Up
Dokken-Tooth And Nail
Whitesnake-Slide It In
Bon Jovi-s/t
Fates Warning-Night On Broken
Stratus-Throwing Shapes
Rhett Forrester-Gone With The Wind
Helix-Walkin' The Razor's Edge
Manowar-Hail To England
Blackfoot-Verticle Smiles
Molly Hatchet-The Deed Is Done
Stone Fury-Burns Like A Star
Kick Axe-Vices
Slayer-Haunting The Chapel
Legs Diamond-Out On Bail
Quiet Riot-Condition Critical
Steve Vai-Flex-able
Stryper-The Yellow And Black Attack
Merciful Fate-Don't Break The Oath
Phenomena-s/t
Ratt-Out Of The Cellar
The Rods-Let Them Eat Metal
I saw three concerts in 1984..
1984-3/18..Van Halen, Autograph..Providence Civic Center
1984-6/7…Scorpions, Bon Jovi.. Providence Civic Center
1984-8/20..Dio, Twisted Sister.. Providence Civic Center
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1984 was a great year! Going through all these lists made me realize how much awesome music came out in the 80's. Big list incoming, which is sure to piss off those that don't like big lists... And yes Spinal Tap made my top 10 :metal
1. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
2. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
3. Rush - Grace Under Pressure
4. Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain
5. Univers Zero - Uzed
6. Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
7. Marillion - Fugazi
8. Spinal Tap - This Is Spinal Tap
9. Scorpions - Love At First Sting
10. The Cars - Heartbeat City
11. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Couldn't Stand the Weather
12. Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward
13. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
14. Triumph - Thunder Seven
15. W.A.S.P - W.A.S.P.
16. Queensrÿche - The Warning
17. Scott Walker - Climate of Hunter
18. Don Henley - Building the Perfect Beast
19. Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops
20. Whitesnake - Slide It In
21. Wham! - Make It Big
22. Europe - Wings of Tomorrow
23. Weird Al Yankovic - In 3D
24. Pallas - The Sentinel
25. King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair
26. Van Halen - 1984
27. Steve Perry - Street Talk
28. Chicago - 17
29. Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Rising Force
30. David Gilmour - About Face
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And yes Spinal Tap made my top 10 :metal
I don't remember if I ever bought This Is Spinal Tap. I did see the movie in the theaters the night before I saw the Scorpions.
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Tim, love seeing Stone Fury on your list.
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I have a big list for 1984. I turned 16 in 1984 and I bought a tons of albums. On my list I have 49 albums. Of the list, there's probably 6-8 that I owned as a kid, but didn't replace, and there's 6-8 that I bought after my teenage years, but I'd say that I owned at least 35 of these as a kid, and replaced them on CD.
1. Queensryche-Warning
2. Waysted-EP
3. Saxon-Crusader
4. Iron Maiden-Powerslave
5. Dio-The Last In Line
6. Scorpions-Love At First Sting
7. Accept-Balls To The Wall
8. Jack Starr-Out Of The Darkness
9. Michael Schenker Group-Rock Will Never Die
10. Gary Moore-We Want Moore
Judas Priest-Defenders Of The Faith
KISS-Animalize
Yngwie Malmsteen-Rising Force
Armored Saint-March Of The Saint
Twisted Sister-Stay Hungry
Dianno-s/t
Deep Purple-Perfect Strangers
Metallica-Ride The Lightning
WASP-s/t
Anthrax-Fistful Of Metal
Rush-Grace Under Pressure
Van Halen-1984
Hanoi Rocks-Two Steps From The Move
Motorhead-No Remorse
Y&T-In Rock We Trust
Triumph-Thunder Seven
Fastway-All Fired Up
Dokken-Tooth And Nail
Whitesnake-Slide It In
Bon Jovi-s/t
Fates Warning-Night On Broken
Stratus-Throwing Shapes
Rhett Forrester-Gone With The Wind
Helix-Walkin' The Razor's Edge
Manowar-Hail To England
Blackfoot-Verticle Smiles
Molly Hatchet-The Deed Is Done
Stone Fury-Burns Like A Star
Kick Axe-Vices
Slayer-Haunting The Chapel
Legs Diamond-Out On Bail
Quiet Riot-Condition Critical
Steve Vai-Flex-able
Stryper-The Yellow And Black Attack
Merciful Fate-Don't Break The Oath
Phenomena-s/t
Ratt-Out Of The Cellar
The Rods-Let Them Eat Metal
I saw three concerts in 1984..
1984-3/18..Van Halen, Autograph..Providence Civic Center
1984-6/7…Scorpions, Bon Jovi.. Providence Civic Center
1984-8/20..Dio, Twisted Sister.. Providence Civic Center
There's a lot of overlap with my list too. I even saw two of those three shows (Scorps and Dio/TS). I also saw Kiss twice (with Accept and Queensryche), Yes twice (no opener) and The Cars (with Wang Chung, who SUCKED).
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1984 was a great year! Going through all these lists made me realize how much awesome music came out in the 80's. Big list incoming, which is sure to piss off those that don't like big lists... And yes Spinal Tap made my top 10 :metal
1. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
2. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
3. Rush - Grace Under Pressure
4. Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain
5. Univers Zero - Uzed
6. Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
7. Marillion - Fugazi
8. Spinal Tap - This Is Spinal Tap
9. Scorpions - Love At First Sting
10. The Cars - Heartbeat City
11. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Couldn't Stand the Weather
12. Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward
13. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
14. Triumph - Thunder Seven
15. W.A.S.P - W.A.S.P.
16. Queensrÿche - The Warning
17. Scott Walker - Climate of Hunter
18. Don Henley - Building the Perfect Beast
19. Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops
20. Whitesnake - Slide It In
21. Wham! - Make It Big
22. Europe - Wings of Tomorrow
23. Weird Al Yankovic - In 3D
24. Pallas - The Sentinel
25. King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair
26. Van Halen - 1984
27. Steve Perry - Street Talk
28. Chicago - 17
29. Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Rising Force
30. David Gilmour - About Face
Heck yeah, The Blue Nile for the win.
-
What I have for 1984:
1. Rush - Grace Under Pressure
2. The Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops
3. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
4. Talk Talk - It's My Life
5. King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair
6. Camel - Stationary Travelers
7. The Europeans - Recurring Dreams
8. Marillion - Fugazi
How's that for a Hogarth over Fish moment. :-)
-
1984 was a great year! Going through all these lists made me realize how much awesome music came out in the 80's. Big list incoming, which is sure to piss off those that don't like big lists... And yes Spinal Tap made my top 10 :metal
1. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
2. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
3. Rush - Grace Under Pressure
4. Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain
5. Univers Zero - Uzed
6. Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
7. Marillion - Fugazi
8. Spinal Tap - This Is Spinal Tap
9. Scorpions - Love At First Sting
10. The Cars - Heartbeat City
11. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Couldn't Stand the Weather
12. Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward
13. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
14. Triumph - Thunder Seven
15. W.A.S.P - W.A.S.P.
16. Queensrÿche - The Warning
17. Scott Walker - Climate of Hunter
18. Don Henley - Building the Perfect Beast
19. Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops
20. Whitesnake - Slide It In
21. Wham! - Make It Big
22. Europe - Wings of Tomorrow
23. Weird Al Yankovic - In 3D
24. Pallas - The Sentinel
25. King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair
26. Van Halen - 1984
27. Steve Perry - Street Talk
28. Chicago - 17
29. Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Rising Force
30. David Gilmour - About Face
Heck yeah, The Blue Nile for the win.
I'm pretty sure it was you that turned me on to them back in the MP.com days. :metal
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Heck yeah, The Blue Nile for the win.
I'm pretty sure it was you that turned me on to them back in the MP.com days. :metal
Oh, yeah, if that's where you were introduced to them it probably was me. :tup
-
Boy, what a year.
1. METALLICA - Ride the Lightning
It won't be many times that Metallica will get the best of Maiden in the '80s, but this is one of those occasion. Masterpiece of an album. I will never say anything against those who claim Master is Metallica's best album, but Ride is my personal favorite. One of the defining albums of a generation.
2. IRON MAIDEN - Powerslave
Well, when Maiden fail to win, they get second anyway. Aces High, 23:58, Powerslave, the lesson about what not do if your bird shits on you.... another landmark album.
3. MANOWAR - Sign of the Hammer
It's hard to pick the third place with so many glorious albums, but this is epic as fvck and edges out Priest just a tiny little bit. Impossible to choose however.
4. JUDAS PRIEST - Defenders of the Faith
5. MANOWAR - Hail to England
6. DIO - The Last in Line
7. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Born in the USA
8. QUEENSRYCHE - The Warning
9. JAG PANZER - Ample Destruction
10. BON JOVI - Bon Jovi
Honorable mention for Savatage's The Dungeons are Calling and Queen's The Works.
-
01 Van Halen - 1984
02 Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain
03 Metallica - Ride the Lightning
04 Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
05 Rush - Grace Under Pressure
06 Tommy Shaw - Girls with Guns
07 Triumph - Thunder Seven
08 U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
09 Queensryche - The Warning
10 XTC - The Big Express
11 Talk Talk - It's My Life
12 Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Couldn't Stand the Weather
13 INXS - The Swing
14 The Cars - Heartbeat City
15 Roger Hodgson - In the Eye of the Storm
16 The Bangles - All over the Place
Plus, some of my favorite songs from this year are from albums I do not rate very high, like The Boys of Summer (Don Henley), Careless Whisper (Wham!), Run Runaway (Slade), Out of Touch (Hall & Oates), Hammer to Fall (Queen), Smuggler's Blues (Glenn Frey), Infatuation (Rod Stewart), Easy Lover (Phil Collins & Philip Bailey) and Two Sides of Love (Sammy Hagar).
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So many great albums listed for '84 that I need to check out, my very thin list:
1984:
1. Stevie Ray Vaughn And Double Trouble - Couldn't Stand The Weather - 4/5
2. Queen - The Works - 2.5/5
3. Rush - Grace Under Pressure - 2/5
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It’s 1984; how about a lil hair metal love
(probably the two best examples of the genre)
Ratt - Out of the Cellar
Dokken - Tooth and Nail
Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade (gotta give a shout-out to my hometown heroes- talk about a band 10 years ahead of their time! Rumor has it even the Mighty Hetfield took notice and became a fan around this period)
Oh yeah, also…
Prince - Purple f-ing Rain
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
Van Halen - 1984
Rush - Grace Under Pressure
Miami Vice Season 1 :lol
Seriously- does it get any better than 1984?
(No…no it does not)
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1984
Queensryche - The Warning
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Scorpions - Love at First Sting
U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
Kick Axe - Vices
Accept - Balls to the Walls
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Manowar - Sign of the Hammer
Marillion - Fugazi
Van Halen - 1984
Rush - Grace Under Pressure
Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
Saxon - Crusader
Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.
Manowar - Hail to England
Triumph - Thunder Seven
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
Sortilege - Metamorphose
Grave Digger - Heavy Metal Breakdown
Armored Saint - March of the Saint
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Top 10 from 1983:
1. Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
2. Dio - Holy Diver
3. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood
4. REM - Murmur
5. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones
6. Thin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
7. Accept - Balls to the Wall
8. Motörhead - Another Perfect Day
9. The Police - Synchronicity
10. Metallica - Kill 'em All
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Top 10 from 1984:
1. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
2. Prince - Purple Rain
3. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
4. Husker Du - Zen Arcade
5. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand the Weather
6. Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
7. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
8. Whitesnake - Slide It In
9. Rush - Grace Under Pressure
10. Queensryche - The Warning
Honorable mentions: Dio - The Last in Line
WASP - WASP
Trouble - Psalm 9
Saint Vitus - Saint Vitus
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1985
1985: the Mid 1980's, and the age of Pop/Synth-Pop/Pop-Rock/New Romantic/New Wave among other styles.
Thrash Metal, Blue Eyed Soul, supergroups and songs getting played on MTV of course.
1985, while probably not the best year of the 1980's, still has a lot of depth. The 80's hits were possibly around if not at their peak. My wife may look at the artists from this year that were big as 1 of her favorites. Prince, Robert Palmer, Power Station, Whitney Houston, Sade, Laura Branigan, Corey Hart, Sheila E, Sheena Easton.
As for my favorites, Misplaced Childhood was the 1st Marillion album I ever heard and while maybe among their perfect albums, I put it 3rd or 4th, it still is a lifer record for me. Power Windows, while not my favorite Synth-era Rush album, still holds up and has a bunch great deeper tracks (Middletown Dreams). I will say, a few years back, I found in revisiting it, the synths to be a little dated at points, to the point I probably prefer some of the other synth/80's Rush more for that reason (Hold Your Fire namely, which I at 1 time saw as slightly worse, but now feel the opposite).
And of course Rush and Marillion toured the US right around this time, in 1986? Had I known them and been into the music I am now, back then as a 8-9 y/o, I likely would have ranked them 1 and 2 then like now.
The 1st proggy Fates Warning album The Spectre Within, and 1 that gets overshadowed by the album that followed.
Songs from the Big Chair from Tears for Fears certainly holds up and compares very favorably to many of the best albums of the 1980's, especially in Pop/Pop-Rock and music that was mainstream enough.
1. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
2. Rush - Power Windows
3, Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
4. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
5. Various Artists - Back to the Future Soundtrack
6. The Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock
7. Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles
8. Prince - Around the World in a Day
9. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
10. Annie Haslam - Still Life
11. a-ha - Hunting High and Low
12. INXS - Listen Like Thieves
13. Blue Canoe - Blue Canoe
14. Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics
15. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
16. "Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare to Be Stupid
17. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
18. Peter Gabriel - Birdy
19, The Power Station - The Power Station
20. Savatage - Power of the Night
21. Heart - Heart
22. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
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We're getting into the age of albums that REALLY impacted me, but also, REALLY didn't age well.
-
Not much to say about 1985, not a lot of great material IMO, at least music that I'm very familiar with.
1. Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms - 4/5
2. Rush - Power Windows - 3/5
3. Stevie Ray Vaughn And Double Trouble - Soul To Soul - 2.5/5
4. Husker Du - New Day Rising - 1/5
5. Allan Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue - 0.5/5
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1985
1985: the Mid 1980's, and the age of Pop/Synth-Pop/Pop-Rock/New Romantic/New Wave among other styles.
Thrash Metal, Blue Eyed Soul, supergroups and songs getting played on MTV of course.
1985, while probably not the best year of the 1980's, still has a lot of depth. The 80's hits were possibly around if not at their peak. My wife may look at the artists from this year that were big as 1 of her favorites. Prince, Robert Palmer, Power Station, Whitney Houston, Sade, Laura Branigan, Corey Hart, Sheila E, Sheena Easton.
As for my favorites, Misplaced Childhood was the 1st Marillion album I ever heard and while maybe among their perfect albums, I put it 3rd or 4th, it still is a lifer record for me. Power Windows, while not my favorite Synth-era Rush album, still holds up and has a bunch great deeper tracks (Middletown Dreams). I will say, a few years back, I found in revisiting it, the synths to be a little dated at points, to the point I probably prefer some of the other synth/80's Rush more for that reason (Hold Your Fire namely, which I at 1 time saw as slightly worse, but now feel the opposite).
And of course Rush and Marillion toured the US right around this time, in 1986? Had I known them and been into the music I am now, back then as a 8-9 y/o, I likely would have ranked them 1 and 2 then like now.
The 1st proggy Fates Warning album The Spectre Within, and 1 that gets overshadowed by the album that followed.
Songs from the Big Chair from Tears for Fears certainly holds up and compares very favorably to many of the best albums of the 1980's, especially in Pop/Pop-Rock and music that was mainstream enough.
1. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
2. Rush - Power Windows
3, Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
4. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
5. Various Artists - Back to the Future Soundtrack
6. The Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock
7. Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles
8. Prince - Around the World in a Day
9. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
10. Annie Haslam - Still Life
11. a-ha - Hunting High and Low
12. INXS - Listen Like Thieves
13. Blue Canoe - Blue Canoe
14. Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics
15. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
16. "Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare to Be Stupid
17. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
18. Peter Gabriel - Birdy
19, The Power Station - The Power Station
20. Savatage - Power of the Night
21. Heart - Heart
22. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
To think I saw your #1 & #2 at the same show. It's my brag concert for sure.
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Not so many highlights for what I personally follow...
1. HELLOWEEN - Helloween EP + Walls of Jericho (I discovered the Kai Hansen era as a single "album" and I refuse to think of them as two separate releases)
2. VIRGIN STEELE - Noble Savage
3. DIO - Sacred Heart
4. SAVATAGE - Power of the Night
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1985 might be my favorite year yet. These first
5 6 are all tremendous.
1. Rush - Power Windows
2. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
3. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
4. Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen (Two Wheels Good in US)
5. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
6. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
7. Peter Gabriel - Birdy
8. Mike + The Mechanics - s/t
Edited to include Songs from the Big Chair. Hate it when reissues don't get categorized chronologically on my computer.
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1985
My favorite albums of 1985:
Accept-Metal Heart
Waysted-The Good The Bad The Waysted
UFO-Misdemeanor
Aerosmith-Done With Mirrors
Yngwie-Marching Out
KISS-Asylum
Armored Saint-March Of The Saint
Gary Moore-Run For Cover
Dio-Sacred Heart
Other albums I had in 1985:
AC/DC-Fly On The Wall
WASP-The Last Command
Dokken-Under Lock And Key
Helix-Long Way To Heaven
Y&T-Open Fire
Y&T-Down For The Count
Heavy Pettin'Rock Ain't Dead
Kick Axe-Welcome To The Club
Motley Crue-Theatre Of Pain
Rough Cutt-s/t
Stryper-Soldiers Under Command
1985 albums that I became aware later:
Helloween-Walls Of Jehrico
Anthrax-Spreading The Disease
Megadeth-Killing Is My Business
Fates Warning-The Spectre Within
Malice-In The Beginning
Slayer-Hell Awaits
Slayer-Live Undead
My concerts in 1985:
1985-2/4..Triumph, Molly Hatchet.. Providence Civic Center
1985-3/4..Deep Purple, Girlschool.. Providence Civic Center
1985-6/2..Iron Maiden, Accept.. Providence Civic Center
1985-8/4..Motley Crue, Y&T.. Providence Civic Center
1985-9/6..AC/DC, Yngwie Malmsteen..Worcester Centrum
1985-9/11..Dio, Rough Cutt.. Providence Civic Center
1985..11/22..AC/DC, Yngwie Malmsteen.. Providence Civic Center
1985..12/5..Rush, Steve Morse.. Providence Civic Center
1985..12/22..Kiss, Black n Blue.. Providence Civic Center
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Ah 1985! My birth year! The highs are really high, but the rest of my list falls under the "good" category. My number 1 should come as no surprise to anyone here, even though TAC may moan about it. :loser:
1. Rush - Power Windows
2. Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
3. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
4. Supertramp - Brother Where You Bound
5. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
6. Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
7. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
8. ZZ Top - Afterburner
9. Manilla Road - Open the Gates
10. The Cult - Love
11. IQ - The Wake
12. The Cure - The Head on the Door
13. a-ha - Hunting High and Low
14. Helloween - Walls of Jericho
15. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
16. Heart - Heart
17. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
18. Loudness - Thunder in the East
19. Megadeth - Killing is My Business... and Business is Good
20. The Dead Milkmen - Big Lizard in My Backyard
21. Blitzkrieg - A Time of Changes
22. The Outfield - Play Deep
23. Simple Minds - Once Upon a Time
24. Weird Al Yankovic - Dare to be Stupid
25. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Soul to Soul
26. Yngwie J Malmsteen's Rising Force - Marching Out
1985
I'm surprised Loudness isn't on your list. Or Manilla Road. Or Blitzkrieg.
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Ah 1985! My birth year! The highs are really high, but the rest of my list falls under the "good" category. My number 1 should come as no surprise to anyone here, even though TAC may moan about it. :loser:
1. Rush - Power Windows
2. Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
3. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
4. Supertramp - Brother Where You Bound
5. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
6. Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
7. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
8. ZZ Top - Afterburner
9. Manilla Road - Open the Gates
10. The Cult - Love
11. IQ - The Wake
12. The Cure - The Head on the Door
13. a-ha - Hunting High and Low
14. Helloween - Walls of Jericho
15. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
16. Heart - Heart
17. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
18. Loudness - Thunder in the East
19. Megadeth - Killing is My Business... and Business is Good
20. The Dead Milkmen - Big Lizard in My Backyard
21. Blitzkrieg - A Time of Changes
22. The Outfield - Play Deep
23. Simple Minds - Once Upon a Time
24. Weird Al Yankovic - Dare to be Stupid
25. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Soul to Soul
26. Yngwie J Malmsteen's Rising Force - Marching Out
Oh, I see you formatted your list worst to first!
1985
I'm surprised Loudness isn't on your list. Or Manilla Road. Or Blitzkrieg.
So I am not familiar with Blitzkreig or Manilla Road. In 1985, even though I owned the Live Loud Alive live album (a TAC Top 5 All Time Live Album BTW), I never really followed them through the 80's. I was aware of Thunder IN The East, but I just never bothered to get it.
-
Ah 1985! My birth year! The highs are really high, but the rest of my list falls under the "good" category. My number 1 should come as no surprise to anyone here, even though TAC may moan about it. :loser:
1. Rush - Power Windows
2. Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
3. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
4. Supertramp - Brother Where You Bound
5. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
6. Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
7. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
8. ZZ Top - Afterburner
9. Manilla Road - Open the Gates
10. The Cult - Love
11. IQ - The Wake
12. The Cure - The Head on the Door
13. a-ha - Hunting High and Low
14. Helloween - Walls of Jericho
15. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
16. Heart - Heart
17. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
18. Loudness - Thunder in the East
19. Megadeth - Killing is My Business... and Business is Good
20. The Dead Milkmen - Big Lizard in My Backyard
21. Blitzkrieg - A Time of Changes
22. The Outfield - Play Deep
23. Simple Minds - Once Upon a Time
24. Weird Al Yankovic - Dare to be Stupid
25. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Soul to Soul
26. Yngwie J Malmsteen's Rising Force - Marching Out
1985
I'm surprised Loudness isn't on your list. Or Manilla Road. Or Blitzkrieg.
Man, I thought Big Chair was 86. Gonna have to revise my list.
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Oh, I see you formatted your list worst to first!
:footloose:
So I am not familiar with Blitzkreig or Manilla Road. In 1985, even though I owned the Live Loud Alive live album (a TAC Top 5 All Time Live Album BTW), I never really followed them through the 80's. I was aware of Thunder IN The East, but I just never bothered to get it.
Definitely check out Blitzkrieg and Manilla Road. I think they'd both be right up your alley. Thunder in the East is also a really good album.
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1985:
01 Rush - Power Windows
02 Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
03 The Dukes of Stratosphear(XTC in disguise) - 25 O'Clock
04 Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Soul to Soul
05 INXS - Listen Like Thieves
06 Rocky IV Soundtrack
07 Heart - Heart
Seems like 1985 had, for me, a lot of albums with some great songs, but also a bunch I can do without.
And a few albums where I have never dug into the deep cuts, like Reckless by Bryan Adams. Run to You and Summer of '69 are killer tunes, and the other hits are good, but I have never checked out the rest of the album.
-
1985
1985: the Mid 1980's, and the age of Pop/Synth-Pop/Pop-Rock/New Romantic/New Wave among other styles.
Thrash Metal, Blue Eyed Soul, supergroups and songs getting played on MTV of course.
1985, while probably not the best year of the 1980's, still has a lot of depth. The 80's hits were possibly around if not at their peak. My wife may look at the artists from this year that were big as 1 of her favorites. Prince, Robert Palmer, Power Station, Whitney Houston, Sade, Laura Branigan, Corey Hart, Sheila E, Sheena Easton.
As for my favorites, Misplaced Childhood was the 1st Marillion album I ever heard and while maybe among their perfect albums, I put it 3rd or 4th, it still is a lifer record for me. Power Windows, while not my favorite Synth-era Rush album, still holds up and has a bunch great deeper tracks (Middletown Dreams). I will say, a few years back, I found in revisiting it, the synths to be a little dated at points, to the point I probably prefer some of the other synth/80's Rush more for that reason (Hold Your Fire namely, which I at 1 time saw as slightly worse, but now feel the opposite).
And of course Rush and Marillion toured the US right around this time, in 1986? Had I known them and been into the music I am now, back then as a 8-9 y/o, I likely would have ranked them 1 and 2 then like now.
The 1st proggy Fates Warning album The Spectre Within, and 1 that gets overshadowed by the album that followed.
Songs from the Big Chair from Tears for Fears certainly holds up and compares very favorably to many of the best albums of the 1980's, especially in Pop/Pop-Rock and music that was mainstream enough.
1. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
2. Rush - Power Windows
3, Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
4. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
5. Various Artists - Back to the Future Soundtrack
6. The Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock
7. Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles
8. Prince - Around the World in a Day
9. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
10. Annie Haslam - Still Life
11. a-ha - Hunting High and Low
12. INXS - Listen Like Thieves
13. Blue Canoe - Blue Canoe
14. Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics
15. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
16. "Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare to Be Stupid
17. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
18. Peter Gabriel - Birdy
19, The Power Station - The Power Station
20. Savatage - Power of the Night
21. Heart - Heart
22. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
To think I saw your #1 & #2 at the same show. It's my brag concert for sure.
I've always felt if there was a double bill I wish I could go back in time to see, that was among if not my #1 choice. Although i know a lot of the Rush fans didn't care for Marillion, I would still have loved to have seen it.
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In 1985 the Iron Maiden/Accept show was amazing. Specifically, Accept turned in the best opening set that I'd ever seen, until I saw Dream Theater open for Iron Maiden 7 years (almost to the day) later.
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In 1985 the Iron Maiden/Accept show was amazing. Specifically, Accept turned in the best opening set that I'd ever seen, until I saw Dream Theater open for Iron Maiden 7 years (almost to the day) later.
Yeah, not many bands could compare to Dream Theater in the early 90's.
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My top 10 albums of 1985:
1. Kate Bush - Hound of Love
2. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
3. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
4. Overkill - Feel the Fire
5. Helloween - Walls of Jericho
6. The Cult - Love
7. The Cure - The Head on the Door
8. Accept - Metal Heart
9. Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising
10. Rush - Power Windows
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1985
Metal Church - Metal Church
Magnum - On A Storyteller’s Night
Accept - Metal Heart
Stryper - Soldiers Under Command
Anthrax - Spreading the Disease
TNT - Knights of the New Thunder
Kick Axe - Welcome to the Club
The Cult - Love
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
Warrior - Fighting for the Earth
Loudness - Thunder in the East
Malice - In The Beginning
Rush - Power Windows
Yngwie Malmsteen - Marching Out
Dokken - Under Lock and Key
Aerosmith - Done With Mirrors
*the Metal Church and TNT albums were released in 1984 but I didn’t get them until 1985 when they were released in Canada, so I included them here.
-
1985
1985: the Mid 1980's, and the age of Pop/Synth-Pop/Pop-Rock/New Romantic/New Wave among other styles.
Thrash Metal, Blue Eyed Soul, supergroups and songs getting played on MTV of course.
1985, while probably not the best year of the 1980's, still has a lot of depth. The 80's hits were possibly around if not at their peak. My wife may look at the artists from this year that were big as 1 of her favorites. Prince, Robert Palmer, Power Station, Whitney Houston, Sade, Laura Branigan, Corey Hart, Sheila E, Sheena Easton.
As for my favorites, Misplaced Childhood was the 1st Marillion album I ever heard and while maybe among their perfect albums, I put it 3rd or 4th, it still is a lifer record for me. Power Windows, while not my favorite Synth-era Rush album, still holds up and has a bunch great deeper tracks (Middletown Dreams). I will say, a few years back, I found in revisiting it, the synths to be a little dated at points, to the point I probably prefer some of the other synth/80's Rush more for that reason (Hold Your Fire namely, which I at 1 time saw as slightly worse, but now feel the opposite).
And of course Rush and Marillion toured the US right around this time, in 1986? Had I known them and been into the music I am now, back then as a 8-9 y/o, I likely would have ranked them 1 and 2 then like now.
The 1st proggy Fates Warning album The Spectre Within, and 1 that gets overshadowed by the album that followed.
Songs from the Big Chair from Tears for Fears certainly holds up and compares very favorably to many of the best albums of the 1980's, especially in Pop/Pop-Rock and music that was mainstream enough.
1. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
2. Rush - Power Windows
3, Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
4. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
5. Various Artists - Back to the Future Soundtrack
6. The Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock
7. Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles
8. Prince - Around the World in a Day
9. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
10. Annie Haslam - Still Life
11. a-ha - Hunting High and Low
12. INXS - Listen Like Thieves
13. Blue Canoe - Blue Canoe
14. Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics
15. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
16. "Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare to Be Stupid
17. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
18. Peter Gabriel - Birdy
19, The Power Station - The Power Station
20. Savatage - Power of the Night
21. Heart - Heart
22. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
To think I saw your #1 & #2 at the same show. It's my brag concert for sure.
I've always felt if there was a double bill I wish I could go back in time to see, that was among if not my #1 choice. Although i know a lot of the Rush fans didn't care for Marillion, I would still have loved to have seen it.
Me too; and doubly because I had the chance! A dude I didn't really know all that well at Uconn offered me a ticket, and I wasn't as up for anything as I am now. I thought it a little weird then, and wanted to drink with my hall mates. BAD CALL in hindsight.
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1986
1986 was a one of those years in the 80's that I look at with a lot of albums that seemed either to be a transition for some artists, or the start of their career, which in some cases, the peak, at least commercially.
As it seems, it wasn't actually both all that deep, and even at the top, my favorites aren't all-time favorites exactly.
I mean sure, Awaken the Guardian is often considered the best John Arch Fates Warning album, but it's actually not my favorite. I still do enjoy it a lot though, per why it's my #1. Skylarking I would still probably rank as my favorite XTC album, but it is a bit of splitting hairs I suppose. Tones, So, Master of Puppets, 5150, all quality LPs, but not ones I think of as among my favorites from the 80's. Although Master of Puppets is hugely influential and probably still my go-to Metallca record, but I also can't claim to be that huge a fan of course.
Anyway, another year with a lot of pop and metal and jazz. Some prog, but I guess overall, this is 1 of the lesser years from the 80's, but like basically every year, there's still some good work that is worth noting and when it was released.
Of course I was 10 years old in 1986, and while I recall some of these albums and songs from them, the majority I didn't know until long after the actual year.
1. Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
2. XTC - Skylarking
3. Eric Johnson - Tones
4. Peter Gabriel - So
5. Metallica - Master of Puppets
6. Van Halen - 5150
7. Marillion - Brief Encounter
8. Queensryche - Rage for Order
9. Queen - A Kind of Magic
10. Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists - The League of Crafty Guitarists Live
11. Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
12. Huey Lewis and the News - Fore!
13. Megadeth - Peace Sells...but Who's Buying?
14. Genesis - Invisible Touch
15. Janet Jackson - Control
16. Paul Simon - Graceland
17. The Beastie Boys - License to Ill
18. Prince - Parade: Music From the Motion Picture "Under the Cherry Moon"
19. Duran Duran - Notorious
20. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Live/1975-85
21. Billy Joel - The Bridge
22. Various Artists - Top Gun Soundtrack
23. Boston - Third Stage
24. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
25. The Police - Every Breathe You Take: The Singles
26. Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman - Song X
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1986, the year of my birth!:
1. Metallica - Master Of Puppets - 3.5/5
2. Joe Satriani - Not Of This Earth - 2/5
3. Steve Earle - Guitar Town - 2/5
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Top 10 albums from 1986:
1. Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
2. Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time
3. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
4. Metallica - Master of Puppets
5. Queensryche - Rage for Order
6. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
7. Motorhead - Orgasmatron
8. Depeche Mode - Black Celebration
9. Tesla - Mechanical Resonance
10. Saint Vitus - Born Too Late
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1986 was another tremendous year. Hard to put these in any definitive order really:
1a. Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring
1b. Peter Gabriel - So
2. Eric Johnson - Tones
3. XTC - Skylarking
4. Crowded House - Crowded House
5. Genesis - Invisible Touch
6. Van Halen - 5150
7. Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is
8. Steve Winwood - Back in the High Life
9. Journey - Raised on Radio
10. Andreas Vollenweider - Down to the Moon
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1986, possible better than 1985. Buckle up there's a lot of albums to get through....
1. Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
2. Metallica - Master of Puppets
3. Depeche Mode - Black Celebration
4. Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
5. Peter Gabriel - So
6. Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
7. Van Halen - 5150
8. Univers Zero - Heatwave
9. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
10. a-ha - Scoundrel Days
11. Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring
12. Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
13. Queensrÿche - Rage for Order
14. Genesis - Invisible Touch
15. Loudness - Lightning Strikes
16. Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
17. Journey - Raised on Radio
18. Swans - Public Castration is a Good Idea
19. Steve Winwood - Back in the High Life
20. Eric Johnson - Tones
21. Europe - The Final Countdown
22. Sonic Youth - EVOL
23. Bad Brains - I Against I
24. Emerson, Lake, & Powell - Emerson, Lake, & Powell
25. Boston - Third Stage
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Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time
Judas Priest - Turbo
Kind Diamond - Fatal Portrait
Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
Tony Macalpine - Edge of Insanity
Yngwie Malmsteen - Trilogy
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Vinnie Moore - Mind's Eye
Queensryche - Rage For Order
David Lee Roth - Eat 'Em and Smile
Joe Satriani - Not of This Earth
Savatage - Fight For the Rock
W.A.S.P. - Inside the Electric Circus
Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Eric Johnson - Tones
Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
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My 1986:
1. METALLICA - Master of Puppets
No contest here, come on. It's not even my favorite 'tallica album, but this is the stuff of legend.
Then come a bunch of albums that I consider inferior to what would come in 1988 for many of these bands, but since there isn't anything terribly better, they get a mention:
2. IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time (way inferior to their 1988)
3. QUEENSRYCHE - Rage for Order (quite good, but their 1988 is way better)
4. MANOWAR - Fighting the World (inferior to their 1988)
5. BON JOVI - Slippery When Wet (good fight with their 1988)
6. JUDAS PRIEST - Turbo (inferior a lot to their 19....84, but also the '88 is slightly better)
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I lost track of this thread. Missed from 1985:
Gowan - Strange Animal (shame on you, Kev)
Mr. Mister - Welcome to the Real World (double shame on you, King)
From 1986 not mentioned:
Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged in
Tony Macalpine - Edge of Insanity (shame on you, Kade)
Triumph - Sport of Kings
Waysted - Save Your Prayers
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I lost track of this thread. Missed from 1985:
Gowan - Strange Animal (shame on you, Kev)
Mr. Mister - Welcome to the Real World (double shame on you, King)
From 1986 not mentioned:
Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged in
Tony Macalpine - Edge of Insanity (shame on you, Kade)
Triumph - Sport of Kings
Waysted - Save Your Prayers
Errrrr...........
Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time
Judas Priest - Turbo
Kind Diamond - Fatal Portrait
Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
Tony Macalpine - Edge of Insanity
Yngwie Malmsteen - Trilogy
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Vinnie Moore - Mind's Eye
Queensryche - Rage For Order
David Lee Roth - Eat 'Em and Smile
Joe Satriani - Not of This Earth
Savatage - Fight For the Rock
W.A.S.P. - Inside the Electric Circus
Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Eric Johnson - Tones
Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
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I lost track of this thread. Missed from 1985:
Gowan - Strange Animal (shame on you, Kev)
Mr. Mister - Welcome to the Real World (double shame on you, King)
From 1986 not mentioned:
Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged in
Tony Macalpine - Edge of Insanity (shame on you, Kade)
Triumph - Sport of Kings
Waysted - Save Your Prayers
I should be posting in this post but I haven't. And yes. Shame on me.
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I’m going off the board to add….
Daryl Hall “Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine”
The track Dreamtime is worth it alone.
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We're on 1986, and only one mention of Reign in Blood?! :facepalm:
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We're on 1986, and only one mention of Reign in Blood?! :facepalm:
I can't stand Slayer.... :corn
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We're on 1986, and only one mention of Reign in Blood?! :facepalm:
I can't stand Slayer.... :corn
Me too. It seems that the majority of people on DTF either don't care or don't like them.
When it comes to more brutal thrash metal I'd much rather listen Schizophrenia-Arise era Sepultura.
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From 1986 not mentioned:
Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged in
Poison? :o
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We're on 1986, and only one mention of Reign in Blood?! :facepalm:
I can't stand Slayer.... :corn
(https://media1.giphy.com/media/3o6ZtnQQZa9j3xz1cY/giphy.webp?cid=6c09b9525fefc249b051c6d1c96c3212930c31df66cd69b3&rid=giphy.webp&ct=g)
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We're on 1986, and only one mention of Reign in Blood?! :facepalm:
Was a little surprised myself.
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We're on 1986, and only one mention of Reign in Blood?! :facepalm:
I can't stand Slayer.... :corn
Me too. It seems that the majority of people on DTF either don't care or don't like them.
When it comes to more brutal thrash metal I'd much rather listen Schizophrenia-Arise era Sepultura.
I think people not liking Slayer is understandable but RIB is something special. I would think even non fans would fine things in that album that can be appreciated.
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@ Kade... wtf man (to me)? I did a search on the page for those albums, and didn't get a hit. Maybe I typo'd and searched "Mcalpine"??
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@ Kade... wtf man (to me)? I did a search on the page for those albums, and didn't get a hit. Maybe I typo'd and searched "Mcalpine"??
:lol
And I didn't edit afterwards I swear. Definitely one of my highlights of the year. One of my top all time fav shred albums. So melodic.
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I was way too tired last night to make my list, I'll do it tonight, but Reign In Blood will definitely be on my list. However Reign In Blood was NOT on my radar in 1986. In fact, Reign In Blood was an affirmation of some of my musical choices in the mid (84-86) 80's. I need to type THAT all out at some point.
Anyway, I really jumped on the Slayer train with South Of Heaven.
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I graduated high school in 1986..
1986
1. Tesla-Mechanical Resonance
2. Accept-Russian Roulette
3. Waysted-Save Your Prayers
4. Iron Maiden-Somewhere In Time
5. Metallica-Master Of Puppets
6. Alice Cooper-Constrictor
7. Flotsam & Jetsam-Doomsday For The Deceiver
8. Motorhead-Orgasmatron
9. Queensryche-Rage For Order
10. Megadeth-Peace Sells
Paul DiAnno's Battlezone-Fighting Back
WASP-Inside The Electric Circus
David Lee Roth-Eat 'Em And Smile
Black Sabbath-Seventh Star
Bon Jovi-Slippery When Wet
Lizzy Borden-The Murderous Metal Roadshow
Fates Warning-Awaken The Guardian
Sword-Metallized
Van Halen-5150
Vinnie Vincent Invasion-s/t
Slayer-Reign In Blood
Vinnie Moore-Mind's Eye
Fifth Angel-s/t
Heir Apparent-Graceful Inheritance
Metal Church-The Dark
Nuclear Assault-Game Over
My concerts in 1986:
1986..3/18..Aerosmith, Ted Nugent.. Providence Civic Center
1986..6/4..Judas Priest, Dokken.. Providence Civic Center
1986..6/14..UFO..The Living Room, Providence
1986..6/18..Dio, Accept.. Providence Civic Center
1986..8/22..Van Halen, Bachman Turner Overdrive.. Providence Civic Center
1986..9/14..Emerson Lake and Powell..Providence Performing Arts Center
1986..9/19..AC/DC, Loudness.. Providence Civic Center
1986..11/19..Alice Cooper, Vinnie Vincent Invasion..Worcester Centrum
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I should have included Save Your Prayers on my list, that would actually already be very high on the list if I were ranking them.
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That's an awesome concert list Tac!
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That's an awesome concert list Tac!
Thank you!
Two notes.. The ELPowell show was originally set for the Providence Civic Center with Yngwie Malmsteen opening. I bought tix in the second row. Unfortunately sales weren't great, so they moved it to the much smaller Performance Arts Center, and Yngwie didn't end up touring with them after all.
And the list is missing Ozzy/Metallica. They played two shows in my area. Worcester and Providence. I had some friends from school going to the show in Worcester, and my friends out of school were going to Providence, and I was going with them. Well, the Worcester show was a couple days before Providence. They played Worcester but postponed Providence. I was pissed. They moved it to September, which meant that Metallica was no longer opening.. It would be Queensryche. Well, I had just started college, I didn't like The Ultimate Sin Ozzy, and I was not into Rage For Order or the band's new look, so I sold my ticket.
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That Worcester show was the one some asshole pulled Jake E. Lee into the crowd by his head stock. Jake was pointing his guitar down to the fans and that dude yanked him right in. He threw the guitar across the stage because the wireless wasn't working, (His white Strat) and was pointing at the asshole who pulled him in.
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1986
Queensryche - Rage for Order
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
Fifth Angel - Fifth Angel
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Metal Church - The Dark
Stryper - To Hell With the Devil
Yngwie Malmsteen - Trilogy
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
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1986
Queensryche - Rage for Order
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
Fifth Angel - Fifth Angel
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Metal Church - The Dark
Stryper - To Hell With the Devil
Yngwie Malmsteen - Trilogy
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
Great list. I would remove Crimson Glory, Fifth Angel, Ynqwie and Sabbath and add:
Dark Angel - Darkness Descends
Kreator - Pleasure to Kill
Loudness - Lightning Strikes
Amazing year for thrash, there are several other contenders.
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1987
1987, a year I chose out of curiousity per Marillion, Rush and Giraffe had albums. Plus 1 of the 3 best U2 records in The Joshua Tree came out that year.
But in looking at the depth of the year, it's a pretty barren, thin year. Some of the 80's pop and Metal was okay (Helloween, Savatage). Prince, George Michael, Michael Jackson. Sting, REM, INXS. Some iconic names with some of their better records of course.
However on the grand scale of my taste, 1987 was also Top Heavy and I suppose somewhat nostalgia laden. Although I am wondering and suspicious the 1980's were a lot like this year. The most memorable and go-to's end up being a few at the top. Which supports my feeling about the 1980's strength largely being in Singles rather than Albums. Other decades though seem to have a larger chunk of albums, often underground albeit, but for many good reasons.
I do find it interesting though to have to choose between a Marillion album and a Kevin Gilbert album, which happens in other years as well. And Clutching takes this one, as it's my favorite Fish-period Marillion record, and 1 of 5 5-star albums from the band.
1. Marillion - Clutching at Straws
2. Giraffe - The Power of Suggestion
3. Rush - Hold Your Fire
4. U2 - The Joshua Tree
5. Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason
6. George Michael - Faith
7. Pat Metheny - Still Life (Talking)
8. Jane's Addiction - Jane's Addiction
9. Michael Jackson - Bad
10. INXS - Kick
11. Prince - Sign "☮" the Times
12. Sting - ...Nothing Like the Sun
13 Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part. 1
14. Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
15. The Dukes of Stratosphear - Psonic Psunspot
16. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Winterland
17. Def Leppard - Hysteria
18. Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
19. Jethro Tull - Krest of a Knave
20. Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien
21. Faith No More - Introduce Yourself
22. Bruce Spingsteen - Tunnel of Love
23. R.E.M. - Document
24. Roger Waters - Radio K.A.O.S.
25. Yes - Big Generator
26. TNT - Tell No Tales
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1987 is a surprisingly deep year for me. Top heavy, and maybe not as strong throughout as the two before it.
1. Marillion - Clutching at Straws
2. U2 - The Joshua Tree
3. How We Live - Dry Land
4. R.E.M. - Document
5. Def Leppard - Hysteria
6. Rush - Hold Your Fire
7. Steve Hackett - Momentum
8. Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason
9. Yes - Big Generator
10. David Torn - Cloud About Mercury
11. Jethro Tull - Crest of a Knave
12. Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien
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I'm a little surprised how many 4* or higher albums are on my 1987 list.... 20 of them!
1. Marillion - Clutching At Straws
2. Rush - Hold Your Fire
3. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 1
4. Michael Jackson - Bad
5. Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses
6. Candlemass - Nightfall
7. Whitesnake - Whitesnake
8. Def Leppard - Hysteria
9. Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
10. The Cult - Electric
11. Prince - Sign "☮︎" the Times
12. Manilla Road - Mystification
13. Testament - The Legacy
14. Dinosaur - You're Living All Over Me
15. Running Wild - Under the Jolly Roger
16. The Cure - Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
17. Sonic Youth - Sister
18. Voivod - Killing Technology
19. Dark Quarterer - Dark Quarterer
20. Coroner - R.I.P.
21. Triumph - Surveillance
22. Blind Idiot God - Blind Idiot God
23. Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason
24. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
25. Celtic Frost - Into the Pandemonium
26. Heart - Bad Animals
27. George Michael - Faith
28. Yes - Big Generator
29. Swans - Children of God
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My 1987...
1. HELLOWEEN - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1
No contest here, legendary album!
2. SAVATAGE - Hall of the Mountain King
3. DIO - Dream Evil
4. MANOWAR - Fighting the World
5. ALICE COOPER - Raise your Fist and Yell
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I was trying to come up with a nice way of saying that year-over-year we've been on a downward slide since 1984, but 1987 just doesn't play along. Clutching is a top five ALL TIME album for me (and by far my favorite Marillion - a band I LOVE - album), and The Joshua Tree is a top ten album (and my entry into U2, a band I've followed since and seen I think five times). Heart's Bad Animals has my favorite Ann Wilson (one of my favorite singers of all time) moment - "Wait For An Answer" - and Yes' Big Penetrator is probably my favorite of the Rabin albums (all of which I like A LOT).
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Looking through your lists there area a lot of albums this year that I've heard about but never really gave a listen, gotta fix that soon.
Onto my list, 1987:
1. Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason - 5/5 - One of the first albums I remember hearing as a kid, still love it to this day
2. Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction - 3.5/5
3. Rush - Hold Your Fire - 3.5/5
4. Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien - 3.5/5 - I really like this record, one of the first that really got me into playing guitar
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Between being really busy and then being away on holiday, it seems I feel way behind on this thread, so here's a bit of catching up.
1983: Not a great year for me, compared with the few before it.
1. Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
2. Dio - Holy Diver
3. Yes - 90125
4. Jaco Pastorius - Invitation
5. Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
6. Metallica - Kill 'Em All
7. Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear
1984: I was born and music was better!
1. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
2. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
3. King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair
4. Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward
5. The Alan Parsons Project - Ammonia Avenue
6. Toto - Isolation
7. Dio - The Last in Line
8. Talk Talk - It's My Life
9. Scott Walker - Climate of Hunter
10. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
A couple of others ranging from ok to good:
Queen - The Works
Rush - Grace Under Pressure
1985: Hmm, a bit of a so-so year.
1. Loreena McKennitt - Elemental
2. Rush - Power Windows
3. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
4. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
5. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
6. Gowan - Strange Animal
7. Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
8. Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
9. Virgin Steele - Noble Savage
1986: Another improvement.
1. Metallica - Master of Puppets
2. Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring
3. Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time
4. Depeche Mode - Black Celebration
5. Queensrÿche - Rage for Order
6. R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant
7. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
8. Toto - Fahrenheit
9. Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
10. Queen - A Kind of Magic
Also decent:
Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell
1987: Another solid year.
1. Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason
2. Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses
3. Loreena McKennitt - To Drive the Cold Winter Away
4. Guns n' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
5. The Alan Parsons Project - Gaudi
6. George Harrison - Cloud Nine
7. Sting - ...Nothing Like the Sun
8. R.E.M. - Document
9. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I
10. Michael Jackson - Bad
Also decent:
Rush - Hold Your Fire
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My top 10 from 1987:
1. Guns N' Roses - Appetite
2. Prince - Sign o the Times
3. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I
4. Candlemass - Nightfall
5. Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses
6. Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
7. Whitesnake - 1987
8. The Cult - Electric
9. Overkill - Taking Over
10. Sepultura - Schizophrenia
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Not yet listed:
Dirty Dancing Soundtrack
Gowan - Great Dirty World
Kiss - Crazy Nights
Motley Crue - Girls, Girls Girls
Pretty Maids - Future World
Tony Macalpine - Maximum Security
White Lion - Pride
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1987 - top albums for me (in no particular order, except the first ;D):
GNR - Appetite for Destruction
Marillion - Clutching at Straws
Dead Can Dance - Within the Realms of a Dying Sun
Rush - Hold Your Fire
Savatage - Hall of the Mountaing King
Testament - The Legacy
Anthrax - Among the Living
Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation
U2 - The Joshua Tree
Some other goodies:
Candlemass - Nightfall
Celtic Frost - Into the Pandemonium
Coroner - RIP
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses
Helloween - Keeper I
King Diamond - Abigail
Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien
Sepultura - Schizophrenia
Sisters of Mercy - Floodland
Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
Triumph - Surveillance
Voivod - Killing Technology
Whitesnake - 1987
Then a nostalgia-filled list...loved them then (I was 10-11 years old when I first heard these)...still love them now, actually:
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven on Earth
INXS - Kick
George Michael - Faith
Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the Night
Richard Marx - S/T
Heart - Bad Animals
VV.AA - Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (yes, indeed!)
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Forgot:
U2 - The Joshua Tree
Definitely in the top albums
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I was trying to come up with a nice way of saying that year-over-year we've been on a downward slide since 1984, but 1987 just doesn't play along. Clutching is a top five ALL TIME album for me (and by far my favorite Marillion - a band I LOVE - album), and The Joshua Tree is a top ten album (and my entry into U2, a band I've followed since and seen I think five times). Heart's Bad Animals has my favorite Ann Wilson (one of my favorite singers of all time) moment - "Wait For An Answer"
Very much YES to all of this.
Speaking of Heart - I love the classic, early stuff, but I also have a soft spot for the Heart-Bad Animals-Brigade run. Bad Animals is probably my favorite of the three, overall. And Wait For An Answer is fantastic. Written by Lisa Dalbello, by the way, of "Gonna Get Close to You" fame (She sings it herself on one of her albums). They have another collaboration of sorts on Desire Walks On, with the song "Black on Black II" (another pretty powerful Ann Wilson moment)
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So instead of posting a bunch of albums I thought I would post this, because my musical life changed forever in the summer of 1987.
I've wrote about this, but I was a freshman in high school 82-83. I was already a huge hard rock fan, already owning The Number Of The Beast, Blackout, Heaven & Hell, Restless Breed, among other albums.
That year in school WHJY in Providence started a Metal Hour on Saturday nights. I used to record them. It was on this radio program that I first Hit The Lights, Queen Of The Reich, Stand Up And Shout, Show No Mercy. It was an off the grid show and it went way beyond the easy hard rock bands to pick.
I bought Kill 'Em All and loved it. My brother went to school with a kid and I borrowed and taped his Fistful Of Metal, Tank, and Merciful Fate albums. But at this age, I really grew weary of the real metal scene, and by that I mean, the vocals, the lyrics, the message.. It just felt a bit dirty. I would spend the rest of my high school years basking in UFO, Waysted, Iron Maiden, Dio, Van Halen, Yngwie, Gary Moore.
I had metal friends and even Ride The Lightning just did not have the same magic or innocence that Kill 'Em All did. I even borrowed my buddy's Master Of Puppets after I bought concert tix for Ozzy/Metallica and it just did not click.
But then two things happened.
I was at one of my friends house in the summer of 1987 and I saw this magazine:
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.45worlds.com%2Ff%2Fmg%2Fmetal-hammer-5487-mg.jpg&hash=5600421f75847117fb4758c0cc098e1e3d7c1865)
I read the article on Helloween. It talked about the album being speedy and melodic with great vocals, and they even spun a positive attitude in the article. They looked pretty clean, as opposed the the dirty images I had of real heavy metal.
I made a blind purchase of Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.1. I remember buying it an put it in as I left the store. When I first heard I'm Alive, I stopped dead in my tracks. I literally pulled into a nearby park and listened to the whole thing. It was all it was said it was. Speedy, melodic. It touched off something inside me.
Also, later that summer, I saw that Metallica had a new EP coming out. I knew that Cliff was killed and they had a new bass player. Then I saw the cover..
(https://images.roughtrade.com/product/images/files/000/146/859/original/Metallica_Garage_Days.jpg?1521564081)
There was something about it that seemed fun. It wasn't all serious or dark. So I bought this and loved it. I really loved it.
I was reopened to accepting the two Metallica albums I jumped over. That fall when I got back to school (college soph year) I got into South Of Heaven, Megadeth, Flotsam. I was changed!
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Great story Tim!
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1987
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1
U2 - The Joshua Tree
Anthrax - Among the Living
Leatherwolf - Leatherwolf
Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
TNT - Tell No Tales
Candlemass - Nightfall
Lizzy Borden - Visual Lies
Whitesnake - 1987
Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason
Warlock - Triumph and Agony
Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Joe Satriani - Surfing With the Alien
Manowar - Fighting the World
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So instead of posting a bunch of albums I thought I would post this, because my musical life changed forever in the summer of 1987.
I've wrote about this, but I was a freshman in high school 82-83. I was already a huge hard rock fan, already owning The Number Of The Beast, Blackout, Heaven & Hell, Restless Breed, among other albums.
That year in school WHJY in Providence started a Metal Hour on Saturday nights. I used to record them. It was on this radio program that I first Hit The Lights, Queen Of The Reich, Stand Up And Shout, Show No Mercy. It was an off the grid show and it went way beyond the easy hard rock bands to pick.
I bought Kill 'Em All and loved it. My brother went to school with a kid and I borrowed and taped his Fistful Of Metal, Tank, and Merciful Fate albums. But at this age, I really grew weary of the real metal scene, and by that I mean, the vocals, the lyrics, the message.. It just felt a bit dirty. I would spend the rest of my high school years basking in UFO, Waysted, Iron Maiden, Dio, Van Halen, Yngwie, Gary Moore.
I had metal friends and even Ride The Lightning just did not have the same magic or innocence that Kill 'Em All did. I even borrowed my buddy's Master Of Puppets after I bought concert tix for Ozzy/Metallica and it just did not click.
But then two things happened.
I was at one of my friends house in the summer of 1987 and I saw this magazine:
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.45worlds.com%2Ff%2Fmg%2Fmetal-hammer-5487-mg.jpg&hash=5600421f75847117fb4758c0cc098e1e3d7c1865)
I read the article on Helloween. It talked about the album being speedy and melodic with great vocals, and they even spun a positive attitude in the article. They looked pretty clean, as opposed the the dirty images I had of real heavy metal.
I made a blind purchase of Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.1. I remember buying it an put it in as I left the store. When I first heard I'm Alive, I stopped dead in my tracks. I literally pulled into a nearby park and listened to the whole thing. It was all it was said it was. Speedy, melodic. It touched off something inside me.
Also, later that summer, I saw that Metallica had a new EP coming out. I knew that Cliff was killed and they had a new bass player. Then I saw the cover..
(https://images.roughtrade.com/product/images/files/000/146/859/original/Metallica_Garage_Days.jpg?1521564081)
There was something about it that seemed fun. It wasn't all serious or dark. So I bought this and loved it. I really loved it.
I was reopened to accepting the two Metallica albums I jumped over. That fall when I got back to school (college soph year) I got into South Of Heaven, Megadeth, Flotsam. I was changed!
Very cool :)
I remember reading a rave review of Keys Pt 1 in Kerrang! I already owned Walls of Jericho. i loved it musically but did not care for Kai’s vocals, so when I read that Helloween had an amazing new vocalist I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Keys Pt 1. And it absolutely lived up to the hype.
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Here's mine;
King Diamond - Abigail
Black Sabbath - The Eternal Idol
Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt 1
Gary Moore - Wild Frontier
Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien
Whitesnake - 1987
Ozzy Osbourne - Tribute
Tony Macalpine - Maximum Security
Cacophony - Speed Metal Symphony
Vinnie Moore - Mind's Eye
Dio - Dream Evil
Rush - Hold Your Fire
Racer X - Second Heat
Testament - The Legacy
Y&T - Contagious
Michael Jackson - Bad
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Ooh, I forgot about The Eternal Idol. That should be on my list too. :metal
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(https://i.imgur.com/y48eGxK.jpg)
Made this a few years ago for a Facebook thing. Probably a cute.
I’ve always thought of 87 as my favourite year for music. I bought my first CD player that year, had started work so had proper money for the first time ever. When I did some memory sticks based on years, 84 & 85 were up there, but I was having great fun at this time. I was 19 and I hadn’t started sucking at life at this point 😁
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Awesome write-up TAC and great collage Lowdz!
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Awesome write-up TAC and great collage Lowdz!
Cheers. I missed the discussion of the last few years. Bugger.
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I remember reading a rave review of Keys Pt 1 in Kerrang! I already owned Walls of Jericho. i loved it musically but did not care for Kai’s vocals, so when I read that Helloween had an amazing new vocalist I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Keys Pt 1. And it absolutely lived up to the hype.
Wow, how did you hear of Walls Of Jericho in the first place? I hadn't heard of it, but I got it on short order after I got Keeper. Not sure I would've been open to it if I had heard that when it came out, as I explained.
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I LOVED Kerrang! magazine. I got it from a local record store and would look forward to it.
TAC, I get you. It was different bands for me, but the idea was really the same. It was weird to live through that, watching the bands evolve, and what was "shocking!" in '81 was cheeze in '86 and how bands reacted to that. That's kind of why I liked Maiden so much; they responded to all that by elevating their game; 13 minute epic poems set to music! Metal concept records! I even lost some interest in Kiss at this point; their lyrics were always sort of cheesy - Christine Sixteen - but Paul sort of embraced that image a little much - his stage raps from this period are in my opinion over the line vulgar.
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I remember reading a rave review of Keys Pt 1 in Kerrang! I already owned Walls of Jericho. i loved it musically but did not care for Kai’s vocals, so when I read that Helloween had an amazing new vocalist I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Keys Pt 1. And it absolutely lived up to the hype.
Wow, how did you hear of Walls Of Jericho in the first place? I hadn't heard of it, but I got it on short order after I got Keeper. Not sure I would've been open to it if I had heard that when it came out, as I explained.
I must have read about Walls of Jericho in Kerrang! I read it religiously in the 80s.
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(https://i.imgur.com/y48eGxK.jpg)
Made this a few years ago for a Facebook thing. Probably a cute.
I’ve always thought of 87 as my favourite year for music. I bought my first CD player that year, had started work so had proper money for the first time ever. When I did some memory sticks based on years, 84 & 85 were up there, but I was having great fun at this time. I was 19 and I hadn’t started sucking at life at this point 😁
A lot of awesome albums here!
What’s the one to the right of Hysteria?
And the last one on the bottom right?
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Bottom Right is Demon-Breakout
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Killer albums there.
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Wow I can’t compete with that!
Of the ones in that photo, I agree with G’n’R, Heart, Dokken, Satriani, Whitesnake, Motley Crue, White Lion, and Dio.
I would add Among the Living by Anthrax and Schizophrenia by Sepultura.
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I noticed EZO in the collage. That’s another great 1987 release that I forgot about.
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I noticed EZO in the collage. That’s another great 1987 release that I forgot about.
EZO opened GnR's East Coast club tour in October of '87. I've never posted them, but I do have pictures of them.
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I noticed EZO in the collage. That’s another great 1987 release that I forgot about.
EZO opened GnR's East Coast club tour in October of '87. I've never posted them, but I do have pictures of them.
Nice. :tup
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1988
1988, a year and time I often think of the Bar/Bat-Mitzvah dances and Guns N Roses and Def Leppard songs at those dances.
In going through this year, it seems to be one of those top-heavy years, but still the late 80's had a lot of good pop music I can't deny I enjoyed/enjoy still to a point.
Gangsta Rap, New Jack Swing and even some of the later New Romantic/New Wave bands, and of course pop-hair metal I suppose.
It also seems to have been a pretty big year for 1 Kevin Matthew Gilbert in that his band Giraffe released their amazing 2nd record The View From Here, and he also was with Eddie Money's band around that time and plays on Nothing to Lose.
Fates Warning brought in new singer Ray Alder and released maybe their most progressive album yet, and 1 of the many records I love from an all-time favorite band of mine. And the King's X debut album Out of the Silent Planet came out finally, after many years of refining their sound. And it's an amazing debut album, and the 1st of 4 straight classics they would make with producer Sam Taylor.
Queensryche's highly influential classic progressive metal album Operation: Mindcrime and Crimson Glory's peak to me with Transcendence also were released in '88.
Jane's Addiction, Marillion, Van Halen and some others add to best stuff from 1988. I guess among the years in the 80's, it certainly isn't the best, but definitely not the worst either.
Also oddly to notice how on my birthday, June 20th, both Bobby Brown and New Edition released new albums. Intentional? I kind of suspect it was. And both probably the best of their careers.
1. Fates Warning - No Exit
2. King's X - Out of the Silent Planet
3. Giraffe - The View from Here
4. Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
5. Crimson Glory - Transcendence
6. Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
7. Marillion - B'Sides Themselves
8. NWA - Straight Outtta Compton
9. Pink Floyd - Delicate Sound of Thunder
10. Van Halen - OU812
11. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II
12. Metallica - ...And Justice for All
13. Marillion - The Thieving Magpie
14. Santana - Viva Santana!
15. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
16. Roxette - Look Sharp!
17. Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel
18. R.E.M. - Green
19. U2 - Rattle and Hum
20. Eddie Money - Nothing to Lose
21. New Edition - Heart Break
22. Weird Al Yankovic - Even Worse
23. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
24. Karyn White - Karyn White
25. Bon Jovi - New Jersey
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1988 is kind of a weird year where some of my teenage tastes clash with my current tastes. Lot of stuff here I don't feel so strongly about as I used to, with some stuff I've more recently gotten into that I'd rather listen to now but which hasn't necessarily been as impactful.
1. Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
2. Crowded House - Temple of Low Men
3. U2 - Rattle and Hum
4. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
5. King's X - Out of the Silent Planet
6. Winger - Winger
7. Mike + The Mechanics - The Living Years
8. Van Halen - OU812
9. Prefab Sprout - From Langley Park to Memphis
10. Living Colour - Vivid
11. Bruce Hornsby - Songs from the Southside
12. R.E.M. - Green
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1988:
1. Pink Floyd - Delicate Sound Of Thunder - 4/5
2. Gipsy Kings - Gipsy Kings - 3/5
3. Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime - 2/5
And that's it :lol
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1988 is a good one, for sure...getting closer to the years when I was starting to really discover music in "real time".
I'd say there are three albums that stand the tallest for me:
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Metallica: ...And Justice for All
As of today, I probably rank both Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets above AJFA, but it will always be a special Metallica album (and metal album, period). Seventh Son is top 5 Maiden for me...hasn't always been this way, but I find myself listening to it more than most other "classic" Maiden. And O:M is a masterpiece.
Then other favorites from this year, strictly in alphabetical order:
Blue Oyster Cult - Imaginos
Bon Jovi - New Jersey
Coroner - Punishment for Decadence
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
Danzig - Danzig
Dare - Out of the Silence
Dead Can Dance - The Serpent's Egg
Fates Warning - No Exit
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II
King's X - Out of The Silent Planet
Living Colour - Vivid
Manowar - Kings of Metal
The Mission UK - Children
Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest for the Wicked
Rage - Perfect Man
Slayer - South of Heaven
Testament - The New Order
Toto - The Seventh One
Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator
Voivod - Dimension Hatross
Some other good ones, just a little behind:
Europe - Out of this World
Forbidden - Forbidden Evil
Godflesh - Godflesh
King Diamond - Them
Sieges Even - Lifecycle
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1988 needs to have three (and probably more) legendary albums acclaimed as timeless masterpiece, and I'd rank all of them #1 if I could:
1. IRON MAIDEN - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
1. HELLOWEEN - Keeper of the Seven Keys part II
1.5 QUEENSRYCHE - Operation Mindcrime
This is the podium impossible to divide. Then we also have:
4. MANOWAR - Kings of Metal
5. METALLICA - ...And Justice for All
6. BLIND GUARDIAN - Battalions of Fear
7. VIRGIN STEELE - Age of Consent
8. BON JOVI - New Jersey
9. JUDAS PRIEST - Ram It Down
10. RAGE - Perfect Man
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(https://i.imgur.com/74HDAFA.jpg)
Top 5 would be
1 Operation Mindcrime
2 Yngwie Odyssey
3 New Jersey
4 Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn
5 Vinnie Moore - Time Odyssey
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Pretty sure Paul's collage has pretty much everything I would've listed. Though, I don't see
AC/DC - Blow Up Your Video
Brighton Rock - Take a Deep Breath
House of Lords - s/t (oh wait... there it is)
Robert Plant - Now and Zen (now there's one Paul wouldn't be mentioning!)
Sass Jordan - Tell Somebody
Thank you Nick for the mention of Vivid. :tup
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Thank you Nick for the mention of Vivid. :tup
:)
Vivid is great...and so is Time's Up...
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Pretty sure Paul's collage has pretty much everything I would've listed. Though, I don't see
AC/DC - Blow Up Your Video
Brighton Rock - Take a Deep Breath
House of Lords - s/t (oh wait... there it is)
Robert Plant - Now and Zen (now there's one Paul wouldn't be mentioning!)
Sass Jordan - Tell Somebody
Thank you Nick for the mention of Vivid. :tup
I e never heard Blo Up Your Video. My love of AC/DC ended with FotS. The only album of theirs I bought after that was the live album.
The only Sass Jordan album I have is Rats. Love it though.
Never really listened to Brighton Rock.
And yes, or no.
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Pretty sure Paul's collage has pretty much everything I would've listed. Though, I don't see
AC/DC - Blow Up Your Video
Brighton Rock - Take a Deep Breath
House of Lords - s/t (oh wait... there it is)
Robert Plant - Now and Zen (now there's one Paul wouldn't be mentioning!)
Sass Jordan - Tell Somebody
Thank you Nick for the mention of Vivid. :tup
I e never heard Blo Up Your Video. My love of AC/DC ended with FotS. The only album of theirs I bought after that was the live album.
The only Sass Jordan album I have is Rats. Love it though.
Never really listened to Brighton Rock.
And yes, or no.
I'll compensate you for your time if you deem it wasted, but give BUYV a listen. It's my favorite AC/DC record of the post-FTATR records, and maybe a top five overall record.
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I second that. Blow Up Your Video is amazing.
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1988
1988 was really top heavy. My top 6 on this list all made my Top 50 when I did it years ago.
1. Helloween-Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.2
2. Iron Maiden-Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
3. Metallica-And Justice For All
4. Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime
5. Megadeth-So Far So Good So What
6. Flotsam & Jetsam-No Place For Disgrace
7. Armored Saint-Saints Will Conquer
8. AC/DC-Blow Up Your Video
9. Slayer-South Of Heaven
10. Bon Jovi-New Jersey
11. Yngwie Malmsteen-Oddysey
12. Fates Warning-No Exit
13. Motorhead-No Sleep At All
14. Dokken-Beast From The East
These are my concerts from 1988..
1988..1/2..Ace Frehley..The Living Room Providence
1988..2/15..Armored Saint.. The Living Room Providence
1988..4/20..Megadeth, Warlock, Santuary, Vet’s Memorial Auditorium Providence
1988..5/6..AC/DC, LA Guns..Worcester Centrum
1988..6/26..Van Halen, Scorpions, Dokken, Metallica, Kingdom Come..Giants Stadium
1988..7/17..Iron Maiden, Ace Frehley..Worcester Centrum
1988..7/20..Iron Maiden, Ace Frehley..Providence Civic Center
1988..7/30..Def Leppard, Europe..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1988..8/24..Aerosmith, Guns n Roses..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1988..9/6..Flotsam & Jetsam..The Living Room Providence
1988..9/13..Scorpions, Kingdome Come..Worcester Centrum
1988..9/22..Rod Stewart..Worcester Centrum
1988..9/28..Def Leppard, Queensryche..Worcester Centrum
1988..10/1..Hothouse Flowers..The Living Room Providence
1988..10/27..Slayer, Overkill.. Vet’s Memorial Auditorium Providence
1988..11/3..Armored Saint.. The Living Room Providence
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1988
1988 was really top heavy. My top 6 on this list all made my Top 50 when I did it years ago.
1. Helloween-Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.2
2. Iron Maiden-Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
3. Metallica-And Justice For All
4. Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime
5. Megadeth-So Far So Good So What
6. Flotsam & Jetsam-No Place For Disgrace
7. Armored Saint-Saints Will Conquer
8. AC/DC-Blow Up Your Video
9. Slayer-South Of Heaven
10. Bon Jovi-New Jersey
11. Yngwie Malmsteen-Oddysey
12. Fates Warning-No Exit
13. Motorhead-No Sleep At All
14. Dokken-Beast From The East
You forgot Winger! :metardica:
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1988
1988 was really top heavy. My top 6 on this list all made my Top 50 when I did it years ago.
1. Helloween-Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.2
2. Iron Maiden-Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
3. Metallica-And Justice For All
4. Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime
5. Megadeth-So Far So Good So What
6. Flotsam & Jetsam-No Place For Disgrace
7. Armored Saint-Saints Will Conquer
8. AC/DC-Blow Up Your Video
9. Slayer-South Of Heaven
10. Bon Jovi-New Jersey
11. Yngwie Malmsteen-Oddysey
12. Fates Warning-No Exit
13. Motorhead-No Sleep At All
14. Dokken-Beast From The East
You forgot Winger! :metardica:
:metal :metal :metal
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The lack of Dimension Hatross by Voivod is disturbing to me.
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1988
1988 was really top heavy. My top 6 on this list all made my Top 50 when I did it years ago.
1. Helloween-Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.2
2. Iron Maiden-Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
3. Metallica-And Justice For All
4. Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime
5. Megadeth-So Far So Good So What
6. Flotsam & Jetsam-No Place For Disgrace
7. Armored Saint-Saints Will Conquer
8. AC/DC-Blow Up Your Video
9. Slayer-South Of Heaven
10. Bon Jovi-New Jersey
11. Yngwie Malmsteen-Oddysey
12. Fates Warning-No Exit
13. Motorhead-No Sleep At All
14. Dokken-Beast From The East
You forgot Winger! :metardica:
Believe it or not, it was a release day purchase for me. :lol
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The lack of Dimension Hatross by Voivod is disturbing to me.
I got you my dude!
Boy! 1988! It never really dawned on me until I compiled my 1988 list how much of a monster year it was for metal, and music in general. Lots of metal masterpieces released. The beginning of post-rock/shoegaze/etc. The beginning of Viking metal. Lots to cover here, so those offended by large lists, move on! ;) The lists are only going to get bigger as we go on... :metal
1. Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime (The number 1 album from this year really couldn't be anything else. It's the album from 1988 I listen to most and it's just a great listen every time)
2. Crimson Glory - Transcendence (I considered putting this at number 1. It's performed better than O:M IMO, but I just don't reach for it as often. Still a 5* album)
3. Metallica - ...And Justice for All (the only thing holding this album back is To Live is to Die and the lack of bass (aka how they did Jason dirty))
4. Fates Warning - No Exit (Love this album from top to bottom, but the flow of The Ivory Gate of Dreams really lets the song down and ultimately the album. Ray Alder's vocals on this album are amazing though!)
5. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (perhaps this should go above No Exit, but I just listen to No Exit more)
6. Candlemass - Ancient Dreams (This is Epic Doom metal done so very right)
7. Adramelch - Irae Melanox (An extremely overlooked/overshadowed Progressive Power metal album of the late 80's)
8. Dinosaur Jr. - Bug (this is where J Mascis and co really come into their own and start to define the indie rock scene, and as always some fantastic guitar playing from J)
9. Voivod - Dimension Hatross (Probably my favorite Voivod album, it just gets buried by all the amazing metal albums above it)
10. Scanner - Hypertrace (Another massively overlooked metal album, definitely for fans of Helloween, Blind Guardian, or Rage)
11. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2 (Yes, this doesn't make it into the top ten, however it's still a 4* album. Pt. 1 is better, imo)
12. Marillion - B' Sides Themselves (I couldn't not put this here. Yes Grendel is fairly overrated, despite being a good song. The rest of the album is great though)
13. Bathory - Blood Fire Death (Quarthon invents Viking Metal, probably.......Which would later be expanded on greatly on his next album)
14. Dark Quarterer - Etruscan Prophecy (The third greatly overlooked metal album of 1988. Great for fans of Savatage or Fates Warning)
15. Coroner - Punishment for Decadence (A big step up for the band and for Technical Thrash Metal)
16. Running Wild - Port Royal (The OG Pirate metal band! But really they are just great speed metal with pirate themes)
17. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (First Sonic Youth album I've heard and probably still my favorite)
18. Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden (I think it was Sacul that first sent me down the Talk Talk rabbit hole, great stuff)
19. Testament - The New Order (And thanks TAC for sending me down the Testament rabbit hole)
20. My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything (Pretty much the beginning of Shoegaze right here)
21. Blind Guardian - Battalions of Fear (BG's first album and although they hadn't hit there stride yet (that would have to wait a couple years) there's still a lot to love here)
22. King's X - Out of the Silent Planet
23. Blue Öyster Cult - Imaginos
24. Bon Jovi - New Jersey (not as good as Slippery When Wet, but a fun listen all the same)
25. Judas Priest - Ram It Down
26. Europe - Out of this World
27. Weird Al Yankovic - Even Worse
28. Manowar - Kings of Metal (Kings of Metal Manowar is not, but this is still a fun, non-serious album from time to time)
29. Van Halen - OU812 (massive step down from 5150, but still some enjoyable stuff here)
30. Scorpions - Savage Amusement
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The lack of Dimension Hatross by Voivod is disturbing to me.
Then other favorites from this year, strictly in alphabetical order:
Blue Oyster Cult - Imaginos
Bon Jovi - New Jersey
Coroner - Punishment for Decadence
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
Danzig - Danzig
Dare - Out of the Silence
Dead Can Dance - The Serpent's Egg
Fates Warning - No Exit
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II
King's X - Out of The Silent Planet
Living Colour - Vivid
Manowar - Kings of Metal
The Mission UK - Children
Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest for the Wicked
Rage - Perfect Man
Slayer - South of Heaven
Testament - The New Order
Toto - The Seventh One
Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator
Voivod - Dimension Hatross
I'm quoting myself to point out there sure is no lack of Dimension Hatross for me :biggrin: Love the album. Although, for my taste, I think the culmination of all I like about Voivod is in The Outer Limits. Probably not the most popular choice, but it's all in there...it's catchy, it's a bit crazy...it's a proggier version of Angel Rat to me...
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Totally agree on The Outer Limits. That and Angel Rat are grossly overlooked prog metal classics.
I saw a live performance of Jack Luminous on YT with Chewy. I wish they would release that show.
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1988
Queensryche - Operation: mindcrime
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II
Fates Warning - No Exit
Metallica - And Justice For All
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of A Seventh Son
Scorpions Savage Amusement
Megadeth - So Far So Good So What
Kingdom Come - Kingdom Come
Voivod - Dimension Hatross
King’s - Out of the Silent Planet
Death Angel - Frolic Through the Park
Slayer - South of Heaven
Hurricane - Over the Edge
Living Color - Vivid
Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion - All Systems Go
Drive - Characters in Time
Intrinsic - Intrinsic
Forbidden - Forbidden Evil
Realm - Endless War
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Yeah 1988 was great, one of the best years so far for me!
1. Metallica - ...And Justice for All
2. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
3. Bad Religion - Suffer
4. Toto - The Seventh One
5. Living Colour - Vivid
6. Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
7. Michel Camilo - Michel Camilo
8. Randy Newman - Land of Dreams
9. Stephen Sondheim - Into the Woods [Original Cast Recording]
10. Cardiacs - A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window
12. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
11. Casiopea - Euphony
13. Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
14. Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
15. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II
Other albums ranging from decent to good:
Blind Guardian - Battalions of Fear
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
Fates Warning - No Exit
Fields of the Nephilim - The Nephilim
Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
Sarah McLachlan - Touch
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Janes Addition; I'm starting to think they were lightning in a bottle - their two best albums are by FAR Nothing Shocking and Ritual; nothing since then has approached that - but those two albums were a revelation. SO different than what had been coming out of LA up to that point.
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Janes Addition; I'm starting to think they were lightning in a bottle - their two best albums are by FAR Nothing Shocking and Ritual; nothing since then has approached that - but those two albums were a revelation. SO different than what had been coming out of LA up to that point.
Jane was very good at math.
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:lol
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HAHAHA, I pulled a King! :)
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1988 was a huge year for me. Dodgers won the world series, it was my first full year listening to rap music, had my first girlfriend, me and my homies were making homemade rap tapes, however it ended badly because my parents uprooted me from my hometown. Anyway...
Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince - He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper (great production)
NWA
Eazy-E - Eazy-Duz-It
Living Colour
Metallica - Justice
Public Enemy
2 Live Crew - Move Somethin'
Albums that weren't great but had some great songs:
JJ Fad - Supersonic
EPMD - Strictly Business
Run-DMC - Tougher Than Leather
Boogie Down Productions - By All Means Necessary
Eric B. & Rakim - Follow the Leader
Ice-T - Power
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Lowdz: Poison, Cinderella, and Lita Ford but no Metallica?? Yeesh.
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1988. The year I got my 1st CD player.
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1988. The year I got my 1st CD player.
Me too!
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1988. The year I got my 1st CD player.
Me too!
that was the year my brother did. It was a few years later for myself (1991), but also part of that was my brother's comment about cds and how they were a waste of money (ironically. He used to tell me it was cheaper just to tape stuff off radio or buy the cassette and dub them). He ended up getting a component stereo system with Bar Mitzvah money, which I cannot recall what I bought with mine, lol.
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1988.
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of A Seventh Son
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
King Diamond - Them
Judas Priest - Ram it Down
Yngwie Malmsteen - Odyssey
Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn
Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest for the Wicked
Crimson Glory - Transcendance
Death - Leprosy
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2
Winger - Winger
Magnum - Wings of Heaven
Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What!
Metallica - ...And Justice For All
Slayer - South of Heaven
Cacophony - Go Off!
Marty Friedman - Dragon's Kiss
Vinnie Moore – Time Odyssey
Fates Warning - No Exit
Testament - The New Order
Candlemass - Ancient Dreams
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My top 10 picks for 1988:
1. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
2. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
3. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys part II
4. Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
5. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
6. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
7. Riot - Thundersteel
8. Voivod - Dimension Hatröss
9. Metallica - And Justice for All
10. Marty Friedman - Dragon's Kiss
So close: Candlemass - Ancient Dreams
King's X - Out of the Silent Planet
Napalm Death - From Enslavement to Obliteration
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I'm embarrased that I forgot this one, but I was checking a heavy metal list while posting but this is a great album:
Fields Of The Nephilim-the Nephilim
(https://img.discogs.com/mFBRXrd45XGd-O2pTKSMLijJpq8=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-491943-1500045343-5005.jpeg.jpg)
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:metal
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I'm embarrased that I forgot this one, but I was checking a heavy metal list while posting but this is a great album:
Fields Of The Nephilim-the Nephilim
(https://img.discogs.com/mFBRXrd45XGd-O2pTKSMLijJpq8=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-491943-1500045343-5005.jpeg.jpg)
A bit off-topic here, but do you know "Zoon" - the only album from The Nefilim, the project Carl McCoy put together in the mid-90s? It's like a more extreme-metal, slightly industrial-tinged version of the Fields Of The Nephilim. Very cool record, I wish he'd kept going. The album gets especially interesting from the third song on (Shine)...
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I'm embarrased that I forgot this one, but I was checking a heavy metal list while posting but this is a great album:
Fields Of The Nephilim-the Nephilim
(https://img.discogs.com/mFBRXrd45XGd-O2pTKSMLijJpq8=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-491943-1500045343-5005.jpeg.jpg)
A bit off-topic here, but do you know "Zoon" - the only album from The Nefilim, the project Carl McCoy put together in the mid-90s? It's like a more extreme-metal, slightly industrial-tinged version of the Fields Of The Nephilim. Very cool record, I wish he'd kept going. The album gets especially interesting from the third song on (Shine)...
I didn't follow them after Earth Inferno. My college roommate (who lived in NJ) did, but I was onto other things like discovering Dream Theater.
Thinking about this still pisses me off to no end, but I discovered this album about two weeks AFTER they played in Providence. I remember being so mesmerized by this album. It would've been so great to catch them live in a small club.
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1989
I used to look at 1989 as an amazing year, and there's some great records , but compared to some other years, meh. It's TOP heavy I suppose.
1. King's X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
2. Rush - Presto
3. Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry
4. Faith No More - The Real Thing
5. Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite
6. Marillion - Seasons End
7. XTC - Oranges and Lemons
8. Tears for Fears - The Seeds of Love
9. Rush - A Show of Hands
10. Savatage - Gutter Ballet
11. Billy Joel - Storm Front
12. Queen - The Miracle
13. Voivod - Nothingface
14. Watchtower - Control and Resistance
15. Peter Gabriel - Passion
16. Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe - Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe
17. Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule
18. TNT - Intuition
19, Linda Rondsadt featuring Aaron Neville - Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind
20. Thinking Plague - In this Life
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My 1989
1. SAVATAGE - Gutter Ballet
2. BLIND GUARDIAN - Follow the Blind
3. RAGE - Secrets in a Weird World
4. ALICE COOPER - Trash
5. DREAM THEATER - When Dream and Day Unite
6. VIPER - Theatre of Fate
7. BLACK SABBATH - Headless Cross
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Let me add this album for 1989.
(https://i.postimg.cc/HkF83dnj/cover-13141430122019-r.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QFkMdLpr) (https://treetop100babynames.com/top-100-baby-names-1920-1929)
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1989 was not quite as strong an 1988, but there are still quite a few great albums
1. Marillion - Season's End
2. Watchtower - Control and Resistance
3. Rush - Presto
4. Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry
5. Rush - A Show of Hands
6. Candlemass - Tales of Creation
7. The Cure - Disintegration
8. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - In Step
9. Kate Bush - The Sensual World
10. Coroner - No More Color
11. W.A.S.P. - The Headless Children
12. Savatage - Gutter Ballet
13. The Cult - Sonic Temple
14. Scanner - Terminal Earth
15. Running Wild - Death or Glory
16. Faith No More - The Real Thing
17. The Blue Nile - Hats
18. Don Henley - The End of the Innocence
19. Kings X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
20. Ozric Tentacles - Pungent Effulgent
21. Voivod - Nothingface
22. Fugazi - 13 Songs
23. Primus - Suck On This
24. Phil Collins - ...But Seriously
25. Phish - Junta
26. Testament - Practice What You Preach
27. Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite
28. Blind Guardian - Follow the Blind
29. Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue
30. Weird Al Yankovic - UHF
31. Soundgarden - Louder Than Love
32. X - Blue Blood
33. Nirvana - Bleach
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Some incredible albums in 1989. The first 9 here are really strong, with three all time favorites at the top:
1. The Blue Nile - Hats
2. Tears for Fears - The Seeds of Love
3. Rush - Presto
4. Marillion - Season’s End
5. King’s X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
6. XTC - Oranges & Lemons
7. Phil Collins - But Seriously
8. Peter Gabriel - Passion
9. Mr. Big - Mr. Big
10. Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite
11. Tony Banks - Bankstatement
12. Giant - Last of the Runaways
13. The Ocean Blue - The Ocean Blue
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Ah, 1989, the year of the official debut of the house band ;D I discovered When Dream and Day Unite later, but it's still one of my favorites from DT.
If I were to do a top 10, it might be as follows (ranking is not really set in stone):
Marillion - Seasons End
Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite
Metal Church - Blessing In Disguise
Savatage - Gutter Ballet
Faith No More - The Real Thing
Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry
King's X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
Tesla - The Great Radio Controversy
Rush - Presto
Blind Guardian - Follow the Blind
(Very) honorable mentions, strictly in alphabetical order:
Aerosmith - Pump
Alice Cooper - Trash
Annihilator - Alice in Hell
Bad English - Bad English
Coroner - No More Color
The Cult - Sonic Temple
The Cure - Disintegration
Giant - Last of the Runaways
Peter Gabriel - Passion
Godflesh - Streetcleaner
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
Overkill - The Years of Decay
Rage - Secrets in a Weird World
Sepultura - Beneath the Remains
Skid Row - Skid Row
Tears for Fears - Seeds of Love
Voivod - Nothingface
Watchtower - Control and Resistance
Aerosmith, Alice Cooper and Skid Row were all real-time discoveries, and I listened to those three albums A TON that year. For Aerosmith, I only knew (and loved) Permanent Vacation at the time, and I liked Pump at least as much as its predecessor. As for Alice Cooper, I had no idea about his history, and I really enjoyed Trash. Not all of it has aged great, but some songs are still mini-classics of that late 80s era. Skid Row - what a great debut. Slave to the Grind is better, and a big favorite of mine, but I always thought, beyond the big ballads, the debut was already a bit more "metal" than the average hair band at the time - the closer, Midnight/Tornado could almost be a Judas Priest song.
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5. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
Love this too, and would include it in my list - but didn't it come out in 1990? I have to update otherwise ;)
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5. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
Love this too, and would include it in my list - but didn't it come out in 1990? I have to update otherwise ;)
It did.
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1989 was a bit of an off year, but there were still a number of excellent albums..
What did I have in 1989..
Alice Cooper-Trash
Gary Moore-After The War
Rush-Presto
Tesla-The Great Radio Controversy
McCauley Schenker Group-Save Yourself
Metal Church-Blessing In Disguise
Aerosmith-Pump
Motley Crue-Dr. Feelgood
KISS-Hot In The Shade
Dangerous Toys-s/t
Accept-Eat The Heat
Annihilator-Alice In Hell
WASP-The Headless Children
I did buy Mr. Big's, Blue Murder's and Badland's debuts, but I was pretty disappointed in each.
After the fact..
Dream Theater-When Day And Dream Unite
Testament-Practice What You Preach
Fifth Angel-Time Will Tell
Blind Guardian-Follow The Blind
Black Sabbath-Headless Cross
Fates Warning-Perfect Symmetry
Michael Monroe-Not Faking It
My concerts for 1989..
1989..1/31..Cheap Trick, House Of Lords..Providence Performing Arts Center
1989..2/23..Paul Stanley, Warrant..West Hartford Ballroom..Hartford CT
1989..3/2..Bon Jovi, Skid Row.. Providence Civic Center
1989..3/16..Metallica, Queensryche..Worcester Centrum
1989..3/17..Metallica, Queensryche..Hartford Civic Center
1989..3/29..Metallica, Queensryche.. Providence Civic Center
1989..4/16..Jon Butcher.. The Living Room Providence
1989..4/23..MOD, Laaz Rocket.. The Living Room Providence
1989..5/28..Rod Stewart..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1989..6/29..Bon Jovi, Skid Row.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1989..7/21..Metallica, The Cult..Brendan Byrne Arena, NJ
1989..7/25..Metallica, The Cult..Worcester Centrum
1989..8/13..Tesla, Great White, Badlands..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1989..9/29..Rolling Stones, Living Colour..Foxboro Stadium
1989..9/31..Kreator.. The Living Room Providence
1989..12/16..Motley Crue, Warrant..Worcester Centrum
1989..12/30..Aerosmith, Skid Row..Boston Garden
I'll also share my College Radio WDADU story for those that haven't heard it..
I did the heavy metal show at my college radio station, from second semester of my freshmen year until I graduated. Three and a half years every Sunday night.
One night while doing my show, I was looking in the new release bin and I came across this album by a band called Dream Theater. I thought that was such a great name of a band. I thought I'd quickly check it out "in cue", which is DJ speak, meaning you have one turntable playing for real, and you have the other set "in cue" mode to set up the next track. Anyway, "in cue" doesn't give you a true sonic picture. I could hear the ratatatat of the drums and the keyboards in my ear, NOT the guitar!, and it came off as kind of artsy. The cover of the album seemed..gay..can I say that? and the back cover picture of the band was...worse. :lol
I filed it back in the bin and never gave it another thought.
Anyway, fast forward to sometime in late 93/early 94, and I am now a huge fan of the new band Dream Theater that I saw open for Iron Maiden in the summer of 1992. I had I&W, and I tracked down Live At The Marquee.
I found an import store that I would mail order stuff (Worldwide CD in Chicago). They had a great catalog, and I saw they had the first DT album with their original singer. Cool. I'm going to get it. Well, when it was delivered, I opened it up and HOLY SHIT!! I immediately recognized the cover! I had no idea, and had never given that album I checked out a number of years ago another thought. I was shocked..and pissed! :lol
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5. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
Love this too, and would include it in my list - but didn't it come out in 1990? I have to update otherwise ;)
It did.
Huh. My Windows library has it as 1989. Will have to amend.
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Alright a few more albums for this year, 1989:
1. Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever - 5/5
2. Aerosmith - Pump - 4.5/5
3. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses - 4/5
4. Extreme - Extreme - 3.5/5
5. Dream Theater - When Dream And Day Unite - 3/5
6. Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble - In Step - 2.5/5
7. Pat Metheny Group - Letter From Home - 2/5
8. Nirvana - Bleach - 1.5/5
9. Rush - Presto - 1.5/5
10. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique - 1.5/5
A real mixed bag from this year. Full Moon Fever, Pump, and The Stone Roses debut are all really great records but this year also saw the release of Rush's second worst album and a truly awful Beastie Boys record.
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Fish - Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors
Year early, this was actually released in January of 1990.
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Black Sabbath - Headless Cross
Savatage - Gutter Ballet
King Diamond - Conspiracy
W.A.S.P. - The Headless Children
Gary Moore - After the War
Joe Satriani - Flying in a Blue Dream
Metal Church - Blessing in Disguise
Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite
Sepultura - Beneath the Remains
Blue Murder - Blue Murder
Alice Cooper - Trash
Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry
Rush - Presto
Annihilator - Alice in Hell
Lizzy Borden - Master of Disguise
Watchtower - Control and Resistance
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Not mentioned yet:
Extreme - Extreme
Pandora's Box - Original Sin
Warrant - Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinkin Rich
White Lion - Big Game
Winter Rose - Winter Rose
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Not mentioned yet:
White Lion - Big Game
There's a damn good reason behind that. ;D
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Not mentioned yet:
White Lion - Big Game
\
There's a damn good reason behind that. ;D
Awwww, c'mon. There's a couple of gems in there. Little Fighter is top-shelf, man.
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My picks:
1. Pixies - Doolittle
2. Sepultura - Beneath the Remains (probably my favorite thrash album after Rust in Peace)
3. The Cure - Disintegration
4. W.A.S.P. - The Headless Children
5. Faith No More - The Real Thing
6. Overkill - The Years of Decay
7. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
8. Voivod - Nothingface
9. Candlemass - Tales of Creation
10. Tesla - The Great Radio Controversy
So close: King's X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever
The Cult - Sonic Temple
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Not mentioned yet:
Extreme - Extreme
I threw it on my list, some of the tightest guitar playing I've ever heard on that record. The intro to "Kid Ego" **Chef's kiss**
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Why?
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Fish - Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors
Year early, this was actually released in January of 1990.
:tup will amend
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
It’s a great record.
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Not mentioned yet:
Extreme - Extreme
I threw it on my list, some of the tightest guitar playing I've ever heard on that record. The intro to "Kid Ego" **Chef's kiss**
That's the second time I've somehow fucked up a CMD+F search! :lolpalm:
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Presto is a great record. I've said it many times, but it's worth repeating. I feel it's the last great Rush record.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Why?
Because it's the most mentioned album for 1989 here and it's not classic Rush and generally it's not considered to be among top-tier stuff in Rush discography.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Why?
Because it's the most mentioned album for 1989 here and it's not classic Rush and generally it's not considered to be among top-tier stuff in Rush discography.
Bottom tier Rush still better than top-tier most other bands.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Why?
Because it's the most mentioned album for 1989 here and it's not classic Rush and generally it's not considered to be among top-tier stuff in Rush discography.
I don’t know about generally, but it is considered a top-tier Rush album by me, the maker of my top albums of 1989 list. ;-)
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Why?
Because it's the most mentioned album for 1989 here and it's not classic Rush and generally it's not considered to be among top-tier stuff in Rush discography.
Bottom tier Rush still better than top-tier most other bands.
I am a Rush fan, but nah.
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Not mentioned yet:
Extreme - Extreme
I threw it on my list, some of the tightest guitar playing I've ever heard on that record. The intro to "Kid Ego" **Chef's kiss**
Yeah; some of the lyrics are embarrassing, but man does Nuno SLAY on that record. This is just my impression, backed up by absolutely nothing, but that seemed to be when he was all about showing his chops, and not being an "artiste", as some of the later (but still excellent) albums showed.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Why?
Because it's the most mentioned album for 1989 here and it's not classic Rush and generally it's not considered to be among top-tier stuff in Rush discography.
Bottom tier Rush still better than top-tier most other bands.
I'm not sure about that, but Presto isn't "bottom-tier" for me. It's solidly in that "5 to 10" range in terms of rankings. Only MP, Hemispheres, AFTK and Signals clearly beat it.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Pure nonsense.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Pure nonsense.
What is nonsense exactly?
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I'm not sure about that, but Presto isn't "bottom-tier" for me. It's solidly in that "5 to 10" range in terms of rankings.
Yeah, same here. Presto really reinvigorated me to get back into Rush's music.
The thing about Presto is that it seemed to signal the end of the synth era with a more stripped down guitar based approach.
I used to refer to this album as Adult Contemporary Rush. It sounds like a mature band, comfortable in their skin. It's how I felt then, and I still feel the same way now.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Pure nonsense.
What is nonsense exactly?
I high majority is picking this as an album this like which you pointed out. So if that's the case your assumption of the album is wrong.
Or you could just say it's not my cup of tea from them.
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I high
(https://www.cannaconnection.com/modules/psblog/uploads/splash/1519821430.jpg)
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Pure nonsense.
What is nonsense exactly?
I high majority is picking this as an album this like which you pointed out. So if that's the case your assumption of the album is wrong.
Or you could just say it's not my cup of tea from them.
Errrr.......okay.
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Not at all. He seems shocked that so many like it. I'm pointing out he never talks about tastes. It's a matter of fact his thought process is the only way. Come on Kade, you know this. :lol
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I high
(https://www.cannaconnection.com/modules/psblog/uploads/splash/1519821430.jpg)
A high. Lol
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Why?
Because it's the most mentioned album for 1989 here and it's not classic Rush and generally it's not considered to be among top-tier stuff in Rush discography.
Bottom tier Rush still better than top-tier most other bands.
(https://media.tenor.com/images/b88aaec19e0ceb4ca47c859f410f6908/tenor.png)
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Not at all. He seems shocked that so many like it. I'm pointing out he never talks about tastes. It's a matter of fact his thought process is the only way. Come on Kade, you know this. :lol
Oh hey, I completely agree with you Joe, was more picking on you with the 'I high' thing also. ;D Took me a few reads to pick up I should have been A haha. Poor humor from me.
But, Presto is a bloody great album. The Pass alone makes it enough to place it on my list. There's heaps more great tunes on it though.
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I just came off of 4 hours of walking and smelling flowers. I may have been high. Or delusional from the pain. :lol
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1989
Faith No More - The Real Thing
Black Sabbath - Headless Cross
Heir Apparent - One Small Voice
Annihilator - Alice in Hell
Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry
Soundgarden - Louder Than Love
Voi Vod - Nothingface
Lillian Axe - Love and War
Overkill - The Years of Decay
Lizzy Borden - Master of Disguise
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother’s Milk
Oliver Magnum - Oliver Magnum
Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite
Wrathchild America - Climbin’ the Walls
Kingdom Come - In Your Face
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
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Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother’s Milk
Dammit, I forgot this one. This is a great album that I was indeed listening to back then. It's one of two RHCP albums that I really like, the other being One Hot Minute..
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Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother’s Milk
Dammit, I forgot this one. This is a great album that I was indeed listening to back then. It's one of two RHCP albums that I really like, the other being One Hot Minute..
Johnny Kick A Hole in the Sky :metal
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Hmm, plenty of good albums in 1989, but no great ones for me.
1. Queen - The Miracle
2. Loreena McKennitt - Parallel Dreams
3. Billy Joel - Storm Front
4. Faith No More - The Real Thing
5. Cardiacs - On Land and in the Sea
6. Alannah Myles - Alannah Myles
7. The Cult - Sonic Temple
8. Lizzy Borden - Master of Disguise
9. Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite
10. Bad Religion - No Control
11. Extreme - Extreme
12. Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry
13. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother's Milk
14. Rush - Presto
15. Miles Davis - Aura
Also pretty good:
The Cure - Disintegration
Pixies - Doolittle
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Gotta go with The Cure - “Disintegration” as best album of ‘89.
Whitesnake’s “Slip of the Tongue” is underrated as well. I know the purists hate it but I think it’s a damn fun album- Now You’re Gone, Fool for Your Lovin, Judgement Day, and Kittens Got Claws which Vai has gone on record saying it’s one of his favorite songs. Really the album is a banger from start to finish.
King Diamond - “Conspiracy”; again hot take but this is arguably the best album he’s ever done. LaRoque, Blakk, and Mikkey Dee are all on fire.
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I can't believe that Presto is included in 7/9 lists.
Why?
Because it's the most mentioned album for 1989 here and it's not classic Rush and generally it's not considered to be among top-tier stuff in Rush discography.
Bottom tier Rush still better than top-tier most other bands.
(https://media.tenor.com/images/b88aaec19e0ceb4ca47c859f410f6908/tenor.png)
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2F3oz8xLd9DJq2l2VFtu%2Fgiphy.gif&hash=206c16573f0db99d06d86de2b92c478bc93b3a2a)
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I'm not sure about that, but Presto isn't "bottom-tier" for me. It's solidly in that "5 to 10" range in terms of rankings.
Yeah, same here. Presto really reinvigorated me to get back into Rush's music.
The thing about Presto is that it seemed to signal the end of the synth era with a more stripped down guitar based approach.
I used to refer to this album as Adult Contemporary Rush. It sounds like a mature band, comfortable in their skin. It's how I felt then, and I still feel the same way now.
I always thought that music on Presto lacked "balls". It's too much SOFT ROCK Rush for my tastes. I'd argue that The Pass is barely a ROCK song. And it's really surprising that a hard rocker/heavy metaller as you loves Presto.
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Well I am a well known hater of The Pass… and War Paint.
But while it’s relatively not heavy, it marks a return to a guitar based approach. I find the album very chill. It kind of hits a spot.
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1990
So 1990, the year I changed schools and entered High School. Also the year I discovered Led Zeppelin and classic rock in general in a lot of ways.
Odd how the top is AWESOME. Toy Matinee, Faith Hope Love and Bellybutton are all among my favorite 100 or even 75 favorite albums. But in terms of depth, this is 1 of the THINNEST years ever.
Top fucking Heavy I guess.
Amazing to think both the debut albums from Toy Matinee and Jellyfish were released in the same year, same summer even, LOL. In a parallel universe, Toy Matinee and Jellyfish did an amazing Co-Headlining tour together. And then Kevin went on to collaborate with Sturmer and Manning. Holy fucking shit, my head would have exploded, lol.
And I suppose I'm taking a couple of liberty's with adding compilations from Rush, Renaissance and Van Morrison, but the fact is, especially the Rush and Renaissance I owe more or less so much to my taste to and those specific bands I may never have become a fan of if not for those great compilations. Which the Rush one I got through the old BMG music club I think, and when I think of 1990 or 89 or 88 even, those were kind of a big deal. Even the magazines with the prices and write-up on the bands.
More high levels of nostalgia. I even still have some of those.
At any case, 1990, Toy fucking Matinee and Kevin also did the Dick Tracy soundtrack cues, so it was kind of another big year for my favorite musician ever.
Some other notables like Empire and Ritual De Lo Habitual certainly make me think of that year and this time. The time before grunge came along and hijacked popular music.
Jazz, Death Metal, Pop/Pop-Metal, Soul, and singer-songwriter stuff included. Still thin, but somewhat eclectic.
1. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
2. King's X - Faith Hope Love
3. Jellyfish - Bellybutton
4. Queensryche - Empire
5. Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
6. Eric Johnson - Ah Via Musicom
7. Rush - Chronicles
8. Fish - Vigil in the Wilderness of Mirrors
9a. Renaissance - Tales of 1001 Nights Vol. I
9b. Renaissance - Tales of 1001 Nights Vol. II
11. Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace
12. George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
13. Death - Spiritual Healing
14. The Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker
15. Van Morrison - The Best of Van Morrison
16. Megadeth - Rust in Peace
17. Human Radio - Human Radio
18. Styx - Edge of the Century
19. Extreme - II Pornograffitti
20. Madonna - I'm Breathless: Music From and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy
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(https://i.imgur.com/lNsiJBq.jpg)
Sorry, a bit late with this one.
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Paul, I've been listening to Not Fakin' It this week. That's a good album.
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Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother’s Milk
Dammit, I forgot this one. This is a great album that I was indeed listening to back then. It's one of two RHCP albums that I really like, the other being One Hot Minute..
Johnny Kick A Hole in the Sky :metal
Love that song. I'm with TAC: they have two good albums.
-
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother’s Milk
Dammit, I forgot this one. This is a great album that I was indeed listening to back then. It's one of two RHCP albums that I really like, the other being One Hot Minute..
Johnny Kick A Hole in the Sky :metal
Love that song. I'm with TAC: they have two good albums.
Fucking great tune! :metal
-
1. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
2. Jellyfish - Bellybutton
3. Queensryche - Empire
4. Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
5. Rush - Chronicles
6. Fish - Vigil in the Wilderness of Mirrors
7. Extreme - II Pornograffitti
Excellent records, here.
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Alright, 1990:
1. Megadeth - Rust in Peace
2. Judas Priest - Painkiller
3. Depeche Mode - Violator
4. Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
5. Kreator - Coma of Souls
6. Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
7. Alice in Chains - Facelift
8. The Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker
9. Queensryche - Empire
10. Gary Moore - Still Got the Blues
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I wouldn’t want to be without this mountain of albums. In my defence, the next 10 years will be very sparse 😁
Slaughter - Stick It To Ya
Fish - Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors
Quireboys - A Little Bit Of What You Fancy
Black Crowes - Shake Your Moneymaker
Damn Yankees - st
Riot - Privilege of Power
Thunder - Backstreet Symphony
Heart - Brigade
Gary Moore- Still Got The Blues
Death Angel - Act III
Yngwie - Eclipse
Y&T - Ten
Bad Company - Holy Water
Poison - Flesh & Blood
Nelson - After The Rain
Hurricane - Slave To The Thrill
Winger - In The Heart of the Young
Extreme- Pornograffitti
Firehouse - st
RATT - Detonator
Queensryche- Empire
Judas Priest - Painkiller
Warrant - Cherry Pie
Steve Vai - Passion & Warfare
Don Dokken - Up From The Ashes
Deep Purple - Slaves & Masters
Scorpions- Crazy World
Cinderella- Heartbreak Station
Baton Rouge - Shake Your Soul
Cold Sweat - Breakout
Electric Boys - Funk-o-Metal Carpetride
Micheal Lee Firkins - st
Hurricane Alice - Tear The House Down
Lynch Mob - Wicked Sensation
Talisman - st
Trixter - st
Sleez Beez - Screwed, Blued & Tattooed
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Not much for 1990:
1. Extreme - II Pornograffiti - 4/5
2. Pat Metheny, Dave Holland & Roy Haynes - Question And Answer - 3.5/5
3. Andrew Segovia - THe Segovia Collection, Vol. 7: Guitar Etudes - 3/5
4. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell - 3/5
5. Queensryche - Empire - 3/5
6. Mother Love Bone - Apple - 1.5/5
7. Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo habitual - 1/5
The year was alright in the end.
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1990 was a bit of a light year, for me at least. The top 9 are still classics and get regular rotation.
1. Judas Priest - Painkiller
2. Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace
3. Queensryche - Empire
4. Depeche Mode - Violator
5. Fish - Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors
6. Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight World
7. Bathory - Hammerheart
8. Atheist - Piece of Time
9. Megadeth - Rust In Peace
10. Forbidden - Twisted into Form
11. Eric Johnson - Ah Via Musicom
12. Ozric Tentacles - Erpland
13. Fugazi - Repeater
14. Primus - Frizzle Fry
15. Sonic Youth - Goo
16. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
17. Steve Vai - Passion & Warfare
18. Extreme - II: Pornograffiti
19. Pantera - Cowboys from Hell
20. Alice In Chains - Facelift
21. Phish - Lawn Boy
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1990 for me:
1. King's X - Faith Hope Love
2. Queensryche - Empire
3. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
4. Eric Johnson - Ah Via Musicom
5. Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog
6. Prefab Sprout - Jordan: The Comeback
7. Jellyfish - Bellybutton
8. Winger - In the Heart of the Young
9. Extreme - Extreme II: Pornograffitti
10. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Pale
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Not such a great year overall, but some good stuff for my 1990:
1- Judas Priest - Painkiller
Hands down the triumphant and all balls down heavy metal album of the year, with a legendary title track that will live on forever in heavy metal olympus.
2. Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight World
3. Rage - Reflections of a Shadow
The podium is being completed by two of my three favorite german bands.
Then, in random order, honorable mentions for:
Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the Dying
Iced Earth - Iced Earth
Queensryche - Empire
Gamma Ray - Heading for Tomorrow
Bruce Dickinson - Tattoed Millionaire
Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory
Black Sabbath - Tyr
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Fuck Paul, I'm barely going to be able to list anything if I don't get in here before you do!
Not mentioned yet:
Harem Scarem - s/t (one of the reasons my wife and I are together!)
House of Lords - Sahara
Rik Emmett - Absolutely
Robert Plant - Manic Nirvanna (ok, I guess every year that has a release from Plant, I'll be able to list it :lol)
Spirit of the West - Save This House (Canadians will get it)
Steelheart - s/t
Styx - Edge of the Century
Tesla - Five Man Acoustical Jam
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1990
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Queensryche - Empire
Black Sabbath - Tyr
Judas Priest - Painkiller
Sacnctuary - Into the Mirror Black
Alice in Chains - Facelift
Anthrax - Persistence of Time
Trouble - Trouble
Jellyfish - Bellybutton
Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
Death Angel - Act III
Primus - Frizzle Fry
Flotsam and Jetsam - When the Storm Comes Down
Jane’s Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
Steve Vai - Passion and Warfare
Mind Over Four - The Goddess
Living Color - Time’s Up
Mother Love Bone - Apple
Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
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Flotsam and Jetsam - When the Storm Comes Down
I'm going to do my list in a bit, but this is one of my all time favorite albums.
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Flotsam and Jetsam - When the Storm Comes Down
I'm going to do my list in a bit, but this is one of my all time favorite albums.
One of their best...I just wish the production was better.
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Flotsam and Jetsam - When the Storm Comes Down
I'm going to do my list in a bit, but this is one of my all time favorite albums.
One of their best...I just wish the production was better.
Yeah, that's fair, but it has a bad ass snare drum.
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I graduated college in 1990..
Started working 2 weeks later and am still there!
What I had..
Flotsam & Jetsam-When The Storm Comes Down
Gary Moore-Still Got The Blues
Dio-Lock Up The Wolves
Anthrax-Persistence Of Time
Bruce Dickinson-Tattooed Millionaire
Slayer-Seasons In The Abyss
Megadeth-Rust In Peace
Judas Priest-Painkiller
Queensryche-Empire
Iron Maiden-No Prayer For The Dying
Tesla-Five Man Acoustical Jam
Scorpions-Crazy World
Black Crowes-Shake Your Money Maker
Alice In Chains-Facelift
AC/DC-The Razors Edge
After the fact..
Riot-Privilege Of Power
Testament-Souls Of Black
My concerts for 1990..
1990..2/18..Ace Frehley,Icon.. The Living Room Providence
1990..3/15..Alice Cooper, The Front..Paramount Theater Springfield MA
1990..5/17..Rush, Mr. Big.. Providence Civic Center
1990..6/29..Kiss, Slaughter, Little Caesar..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1990..7/16..Flotsam & Jetsam.. The Living Room Providence
1990..7/22..Bruce Dickinson.. The Living Room Providence
1990..8/5..Dio, Yngwie Malmsteen..Providence Civic Center
1990..9/12..Slayer, Meliah Rage..The Channel Boston
1990..11/2..AC/DC, Love Hate, Worcester Centrum
1990..11/27..The Black Crowes..The Campus Club Providence
1990..12/7..Judas Priest, Megadeth, Testament..Worcester Centrum
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Rust in Peace is easily the best album of 1990 for me. It represents the apex of the thrash metal genre, and dare I say the high water mark of the “popular” metal movement.
Lynch Mob - Wicked Sensation- just a head banger from start to finish. This album makes me question what the hell Im doing with my life and why haven’t I traded in my Camry for a Harley and some turquoise jewelry yet
Queensryche - Empire - basically to prog metal what Rust in Peace is to thrash metal
Steve Vai - Passion and Warfare - simply the best instrumental guitar album ever recorded. Period. Vai could have easily been a casualty of the 80s but he had the foresight to break free of his guitar-for-hire past and Zappa-wannabe tendencies creating his OWN voice
Honorable mention:
Ratt - Detonator - speaking of casualties of the 80s- hair metal’s last stand, a surprisingly good swan song for a band that was seemingly doomed from the start, would have been huge had it been released 2-3 years prior.
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1. Depeche Mode - Violator
2. Queensrÿche - Empire
3. Extreme - II Pornograffitti
4. Megadeth - Rust in Peace
5. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
6. Alan Parsons - Freudiana
7. Living Colour - Time's Up
8. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
9. Sanctuary - Into the Mirror Black
10. Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World
11. Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the Dying
12. Bad Religion - Against the Grain
13. Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
14. Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Ferociously Stoned
15. Cowboy Junkies - The Caution Horses
Other decent-to-good albums:
Eric Clapton - Story
Johnny Van Zant - Brickyard Road
Warrior Soul - Last Decade Dead Century
Bruce Dickinson - Tattooed Millionaire
Gamma Ray - Heading for Tomorrow
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1990...not quite as a great of a year compared to what's coming (in my book at least), but some amazing stuff, for sure:
Top albums (again, ranking is somewhat fluid...)
Queensryche - Empire
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Annihilator - Never, Neverland (the riffs and the solos on this one!! Nobody else...?)
Pantera - Cowboys from Hell
Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
Death Angel - Act III
Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight World
The Mission UK - Carved in Sand (probably my favorite of theirs overall. Perfect combo of their "goth" and "pop" sides)
Heroes Del Silencio - Senderos De Traicion (Band from Spain, singing in Spanish...they were pretty huge in Europe at some point. Check out the opener "Entre Dos Tierras" if don't know them and you are curious. Absolutely killer song ;D)
Judas Priest - Painkiller
Honorable mentions (in alphabetical order):
Accept - Staying a Life
Alice in Chains - Facelift
The Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker
Dead Can Dance - Aion
Danzig - Danzig II: Lucifuge
Depeche Mode - Violator
Entombed - Left Hand Path
Extreme - Pornograffiti
Fish - Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors
Gamma Ray - Heading for Tomorrow
Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
King's X - Faith Hope Love
Kreator - Coma of Souls
Living Colour - Time's Up
Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mining
Chris Poland - Return to Metalopolis
Prong - Beg to Differ
Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace
Rage - Reflections of a Shadow
Suicidal Tendencies - Lights...Camera...Revolution!
Thunder - Backstreet Symphony
Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
Vicious Rumors - Vicious Rumors
Warrior Soul - Last Decade Dead Century
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Staying A Life is amazing!!
-
Flotsam and Jetsam - When the Storm Comes Down
I'm going to do my list in a bit, but this is one of my all time favorite albums.
You know, I have never checked this one out. I have Doomsday, No Place for Disgrace and then skip to Cuatro and the rest...looks like it's not an easy one to track down. Clearly, I should... :)
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Flotsam and Jetsam - When the Storm Comes Down
I'm going to do my list in a bit, but this is one of my all time favorite albums.
You know, I have never checked this one out. I have Doomsday, No Place for Disgrace and then skip to Cuatro and the rest...looks like it's not an easy one to track down. Clearly, I should... :)
That doesn't even make sense! :lol
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Staying A Life is amazing!!
Indeed! They are on fire on that one...
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Staying A Life is amazing!!
Indeed! They are on fire on that one...
I love Metal Heart, and Accept turned in a Top 5 all time opening set when I saw them open for Iron Maiden in 1985. They were INCREDIBLE!
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I love Metal Heart, and Accept turned in a Top 5 all time opening set when I saw them open for Iron Maiden in 1985. They were INCREDIBLE!
What's your favorite Accept? My vote goes to Restless and Wild...
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I love Metal Heart, and Accept turned in a Top 5 all time opening set when I saw them open for Iron Maiden in 1985. They were INCREDIBLE!
What's your favorite Accept? My vote goes to Restless and Wild...
Definitely Metal Heart.
The next tier is tough to pick. I'm a big Russian Roulette guy, and I think I like Restless And Wild and Balls To The Wall fairly equally.
I would also say that Objection Overruled is often overlooked. That instrumental break during Slaves To Metal is the ultimate rollyourwindowsdownandcrankitup part.
I was in on them pretty early. So they were a big part of my high school music experience. Wolf Hoffman's tone still gives me goosebumps, even on the Tornillo albums.
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I was in on them pretty early. So they were a big part of my high school music experience. Wolf Hoffman's tone still gives me goosebumps, even on the Tornillo albums.
Yes - and I'd add Blood of the Nations stands pretty tall next to the classics with Udo for me. A tad overlong, maybe, but what an album. I overall enjoyed what came after too, but not as much. Especially with the last two, it all starts to blur a bit.
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I love their new album. Feels really old school to me. I know it's only Wolf left, but that's how it feels. They're all good though.
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Judas Priest - Painkiller
Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the Dying
Black Sabbath - Tyr
King Diamond - The Eye
Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Y&T - Ten
Queensryche - Empire
UDO - Faceless World
Steve Vai - Passion and Warfare
Yngwie Malmsteen - Eclipse
Riot - The Privilege of Power
Death - Spiritual Healing
Gary Moore - Still Got the Blues
Bruce Dickinson - Tattooed Millionaire
Don Dokken - Up From the Ashes
Dio - Lock Up the Wolves
Gamma Ray - Heading For Tomorrow
Winger - In the Heart of the Young
Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
Talisman - Talisman
Annihilator - Never, Neverland
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1. Depeche Mode - Violator
2. Queensrÿche - Empire
3. Extreme - II Pornograffitti
4. Megadeth - Rust in Peace
5. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
6. Alan Parsons - Freudiana
7. Living Colour - Time's Up
8. Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee
9. Sanctuary - Into the Mirror Black
10. Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World
11. Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the Dying
12. Bad Religion - Against the Grain
13. Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
14. Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Ferociously Stoned
15. Cowboy Junkies - The Caution Horses
You have No Prayer for the Dying on your list, but not Painkiller?
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1991
write up/reaction to 2 podcasts about the year 1991 (and how GRUNGE broke, and my take on it)
http://allmediareviews.blogspot.com/2016/03/react-to-sound-opinions-velocities-in.html
So I started this entry with the intent of just reacting to these 2 podcasts analysis and praise of Grunge and the new music coming out/buzzing in 1991. Which of course it now being 2016, it has been 25 years, for what that is worth.
I guess I can say a few things about grunge and that period of time.
I was never all that into it, save for a few songs and albums I suppose, especially at-that-time when it was happening. In 1991 I was amidst the process of getting into Classic Rock. Led Zeppelin, Boston, Derek and the Dominoes/Eric Clapton Journey, Jimi Hendrix and a lot of others. Crosby, Stills Nash and Young, Steve Miller Band. And of course after Zeppelin, Rush (and Pink Floyd, although I became much more into them a couple of years later).
And while I did love that stuff I was being introduced to, all those bands were older. I couldn't help but worry or yearn for there to be a band who was new, modern, etc that I was into; even close to my age.
But the modern music I was hearing was grunge and the "college" (or "alternative," alternative to what?) rock. I basically felt it wasn't doing that much for me, especially compared to the Classic Rock I heard on KQRS for example.
It really was not until discovering Dream Theater 4 years later (although I heard "Pull Me Under" just the next year or 2 I recall), that I finally found a new, younger, modern band who I latched on to. And I guess I always saw Dream Theater as the band to combat all the grunge and alternative (college) rock bands being shoved down mine and everyone else's ears.
But I guess the guys in Velocities in Music made a good point about what Grunge and the music from 1991 and that period did to influence so many bands later. Some good, some not so good. But I suppose what I call and love in being the "college prog" stuff of the 2000's and 2010's likely owe something to the grunge bands to an extent (although they also owe a lot more to the classic rock and progressive rock bands of the 70's especially, still).
So what I decided to do in-reaction to these podcasts and thinking about 1991, is to revisit the Retro Favorite Albums from 1991 just to look at the albums I consider the best or at least good from 1991 below. And I'll admit, I did include some of the grunge and alternative (college) rock bands in that some of their music I do like, especially more now, than back then.
As far the Retro Favorite Albums, I would like to do more of these again, eventually trying to post an entry from every Calendar year. But not doing them in chronological order. And while I didn't exactly do what I meant, I can foresee including albums in there, but maybe based on reputation or just knowing-of but not knowing a ton about it. A blurb may just include the simple," it's an album I don't know but know belongs here" (which also may suggest changing the name from Retro Favorite Albums, to something like "Favorites and Recognizable/Respectable/Vaguely Aquainted Albums from [insert year]")
And lastly, I will reiterate (not in this entry necessarily, but in general) that bands like Galactic Cowboys and especially King's X were a LOT BETTER in my mind than the assortment of bands that got all the fame, credit, etc. Of course King's X predated ALL OF THEM, including that band Mudhoney who years ago I got in some silly debate about who was the 1st grunge band, etc. While King's X may have not been the 1st grunge band, invented grunge per say, nor actually were/are an actual *grunge* band who had the *grunge* sound overall. The fact is they were around before all of them technically since their formation dates back to the early 1980's if memory serves. And maybe more importantly, they were cited multiple times from the likes of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden especially as being a big influence. Pearl Jam? I'm not sure, but likely as well. Maybe the biggest thing in their influence was their use of the Drop-D tuning. And of course they never really found even a fraction of the audience those bands did, despite their even playing at Woodstock in 1994 and live on MTV in front of hundreds of thousands of people.
And with Galactic Cowboys, they should have been signed to Geffen records, likely instead of Nirvana, except for 1 big issue being Geffen liked the name "Nirvana" more and felt it was more marketable. And as I've also posted-as-a-paraphrase previously Cobain was quoted as saying "I don't know why they chose us instead of that band Galactic Cowboys, after all, they can actually sing."
edit: Galactic Cowboys were actually signed to Geffen, but NOT PROMOTED like Nirvana. The context of that citation, is either abridged from where I read/heard about it, or the account of that showcase was not fully accurate. But the lack of visibility and interest in them historically with those 1st 2 albums, speaks for itself. And they were at the same showcase or whatever it was, as Nirvana was.
And of course with both of these podcasts, they failed to mention Galactic Cowboys and King's X, which tells me even with history, they are still being ignored, lol. Maybe that won't always be the case.
I will say I was glad that Jane's Addiction was mentioned, as I am a fan, but at the same time I don't consider them Grunge nor even part of that scene really. They were as much an art rock band, than even "alternative" and "college rock." Three Days = prog more or less. At the same time The Smashing Pumpkins, I would associate with that scene, but per a user on YouTube, I guess Corgan never considered them Grunge really either. But they came around at the same exact time and shared some similarities. Although maybe a lot of differences (and Billy Corgan's love of Rush?).
1. Fates Warning - Parallels
2. Marillion - Holidays in Eden
3. U2 - Achtung Baby
4. Galactic Cowboys - Galactic Cowboys
5. Sting - The Soul Cages
6. Queen - Innuendo
7. Rush - Roll the Bones
8. Saigon Kick - Saigon Kick
9. Ozric Tentacles - Strangeitude
10. Pearl Jam - Ten
11. R.E.M. - Out of Time
12. Fish - Internal Exile
13. Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
14. The Tea Party - The Tea Party
15. Various Artists - Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey Soundtrack
16. Live - Mental Jewelry
17. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Flight of the Cosmic Hippo
18. Michael Jackson - Dangerous
19. Voivod - Angel Rat
20. Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
21. Crimson Glory - The Strange and the Beautiful
22. Mr.Bungle - Mr.Bungle
23. Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I
24. Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion II
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1991:
1. Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Into The Great Wide Open - 4.5/5
2. Metallica - Metallica - 4.5/5
3. Dire Straits - On Every Street - 4.5/5
4. Queen - Innuendo - 3.5/5
5. Nirvana - Nevermind - 3.5/5
6. Temple Of The Dog - Temple Of The Dog - 3/5
7. Tina Turner - Simply The Best - 3/5
8. Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I - 2.5/5
9. Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion II - 2.5/5
10. Stevie Ray Vaughn And Double Trouble - The Sky Is Crying - 2.5/5
11. Live - Mental Jewelry - 2.5/5
12. Massive Attack - Blue Lines - 2/5
13. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik - 2/5
14. 2Pac - 2Pacalypse Now - 2/5
15. Rush - Roll The Bones - 1/5
A really solid year for music. I think the only real blemish is Roll The Bones which IMO is the worst Rush album by a long shot.
-
In '91, I was still fortunately only about 5-years in to my rock/metal discovery, so I was still lapping up discoveries from the 70s and 80s. Grunge/alt-rock did very little for me, so I just kept on discovering from the prior 25 years. Some glam/hair-metal bands were still trying to buck the grunge trend, and some would hang on for dear life for a couple of years at least. Looking back now, there are some pretty good gems in there that I could've/should've been adding to my inventory. Oh well, time corrects all errors.... or something like that.
Not mentioned yet (* - discovered years later):
Aldo Nova - Blood on the Bricks
Axel Rudi Pell - Nasty Reputation*
Big House - Big House
Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World*
Bryan Adams - Waking Up the Neighbours
Chrissy Steele - Magnet to Steele
Conception - Last Sunset*
David Lee Roth - A Lil Ain't Enough
Europe - Prisoner's In Paradise
Firehouse - Firehouse
Four Horsemen - Nobody Said It Was Easy
Heart - Rock This House Live!
Mr. Big - Lean Into It
Ozzy - No More Tears
Poison - Swallow This Live (hated it originally; have grown to like it)
Queensryche - Operation:Livecrime
RTZ - Return To Zero
Skid Row - Slave to the Grind
Tesla - Psychotic Supper
White Lion - Mane Attraction
Phew! Glad I got in here before Paul. :biggrin:
-
1991...some iconic releases for the metal/rock genre, whether we like it or not ;D
Favorite albums, as usual with somewhat fluid ranking:
Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
Fates Warning - Parallels
Metallica - Metallica
Skid Row - Slave to the Grind
Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears
Pearl Jam - Ten
U2 - Achtung Baby
Coroner - Mental Vortex
Death - Human
Rush - Roll the Bones
Voivod - Angel Rat
Marillion - Holidays in Eden
Paradise Lost - Gothic
Sepultura - Arise
Armored Saint - Symbol of Salvation
Honorable mentions:
Bad English - Backlash
Alice Cooper - Hey Stoopid
Carcass - Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious
Corrosion of Conformity - Blind
Dark Angel - Time Does Not Heal
Entombed - Clandestine
Fish - Internal Exile
Galactic Cowboys - Galactic Cowboys
Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I and II
Metal Church - The Human Factor
Mind Funk - Mind Funk
Mr Big - Lean Into It
Motorhead - 1916
Nirvana - Nevermind
Overkill - Horrorscope
Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese
Queen - Innuendo
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Saigon Kick - Saigon Kick
Sieges Even - A Sense of Change
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog
Tesla - Psychotic Supper
Tribe After Tribe - Tribe After Tribe
Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Vicious Rumors - Welcome to the Ball
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1991 might be my deepest year yet, though it's a bit light on albums I would consider the very best by a lot of these bands.
1. Marillion - Holidays in Eden
2. U2 - Achtung Baby
3. Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
4. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Fear
5. Rush - Roll the Bones
6. Genesis - We Can't Dance
7. Crowded House - Woodface
8. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
9. Mr. Big - Lean Into It
10. Pearl Jam - Ten
11. Camel - Dust and Dreams
12. REM - Out of Time
13. Smashing Pumpkins - Gish (should mention the EP Lull as well)
14. The Spin Doctors - Pocket Full of Kryptonite
15. Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend
Not sure soundtracks do/should count, but need to give a shout out to the Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack.
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1991, the end of my senior year in high school and beginning of freshman year in college. All in all, a pretty awesome year music-wise. At the beginning of college, I can remember walking to the campus CD store (freshmen couldn't have a car on campus) virtually every Monday night for their Midnight Madness sales where they'd reopen at midnight Monday night/ Tuesday morning for people to buy that week's new releases.
Eric Clapton - 24 Nights
Guns N’ Roses - Use Your Illusion I & II
Lenny Kravitz - Mama Said
Live - Mental Jewelry
Metallica - Metallica
Mr. Big - Lean Into It
Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears
Pearl Jam - Ten
Queen - Innuendo
Queensrÿche - Operation: Livecrime
Seal - Seal
Skid Row - Slave To The Grind
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
Temple Of The Dog - Temple Of The Dog
Tesla - Psychotic Supper
Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
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Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World*
That came out in 1990.
Anyway 1991 was another solid year, with one absolute classic.
1. Queen - Innuendo
2. Metallica - Metallica
3. Loreena McKennitt - The Visit
4. Nirvana - Nevermind
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
6. Abel Ganz - The Dangers of Strangers
7. Fates Warning - Parallels
8. Sting - The Soul Cages
9. Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black
10. The Sixteen - A Traditional Christmas Collection
11. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
12. Michael Jackson - Dangerous
13. Sarah McLachlan - Solace
14. Guns n' Roses - Use Your Illusion I
15. Mr. Bungle - Mr. Bungle
Other decent albums:
Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
Rush - Roll the Bones
Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
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Anyway 1991 was another solid year, with one absolute classic.
1. Queen - Innuendo
2. Metallica - Metallica
3. Loreena McKennitt - The Visit
4. Nirvana - Nevermind
Innuendo, Metallica, and Nevermind all in the top 5...huh :corn
Anyway, 1991 was a year with a lot of great albums, but not a lot of Masterpieces. None in fact, for me.
1. Rush - Roll the Bones
2. Death - Human
3. Fates Warning - Parallels
4. Marillion - Holidays in Eden
5. Solitude Aeturnus - Into the Depths of Sorrow
6. Confessor - Condemned (Surprisc this isn't aon anyone elses list......)
7. Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
8. Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
9. Sieges Even - A Sense of Change
10. Type O Negative - Slow, Deep, and Hard
11. Coroner - Mental Vortex
12. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
13. Pearl Jam - Ten
14. Stvie rat vaiguhan and Doble Torouble - StHe Sky is Crying
15. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
16. Running Wild - Blazon Stone
17. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
18. Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
19. REcd Hot Chili Peppers - Bloosd SUgar Sex maggic
20. Primus - Sailing th e Seas of Cheese
21. Slint - Spiderland
22. Ozric Tentacle - Strangetude
23. Bathory - Twilight of the Gods
24. Ozzy OAsbourne - No More teats
25. Slowdive - Just for a Day
26. Paradise Lost - Gothic
27. Michael Jackson - Dangerous
28. Queen - Innuendo
29. Galactic Cowboys - Galactic Cowboays.
30 . Voicod - Angel Rat
31. Dinosour Je. - Green mInd
32. Metallica - The blck ALumbnum
33. Nirvana- Nevermind
34. uns N Roses - Use your Illunsiongg 1
35. Guns N roseeesse - Use You rillusion 2
36. Guns n roSes - Usse your Illiuusion 333
37. -
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Hold on iIII think iII make a atypo in the re somewhrere. I will fix it. :reapsta:
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My 1991:
1. Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
2. Metallica - Metallica
3. Alice Cooper - Hey Stoopid
Some very solid runner ups:
Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
Loreena McKennitt - The Visit
Shadow Gallery - Shadow Gallery
Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I
Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion II
Queen - Innuendo
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6. Confessor - Condemned (Surprisc this isn't aon anyone elses list......)
I have it...certainly one of a kind...can't say I go back to it very often, though...
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6. Confessor - Condemned (Surprisc this isn't aon anyone elses list......)
I have it...certainly one of a kind...can't say I go back to it very often, though...
Never heard of it..
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Not quite sure how to describe it...think of Watchtower (Control and Resistance) playing doom metal, perhaps? Very high-pitched vocals kind of doing their own thing, and extremely intricate drumming.
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'91 was a good year for me. I lived part of the year in California and was living my best life. The music is a part of that.
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In '91, I was still fortunately only about 5-years in to my rock/metal discovery, so I was still lapping up discoveries from the 70s and 80s. Grunge/alt-rock did very little for me, so I just kept on discovering from the prior 25 years. Some glam/hair-metal bands were still trying to buck the grunge trend, and some would hang on for dear life for a couple of years at least. Looking back now, there are some pretty good gems in there that I could've/should've been adding to my inventory. Oh well, time corrects all errors.... or something like that.
Not mentioned yet (* - discovered years later):
Aldo Nova - Blood on the Bricks
Axel Rudi Pell - Nasty Reputation*
Big House - Big House
Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World*
Bryan Adams - Waking Up the Neighbours
Chrissy Steele - Magnet to Steele
Conception - Last Sunset*
David Lee Roth - A Lil Ain't Enough
Europe - Prisoner's In Paradise
Firehouse - Firehouse
Four Horsemen - Nobody Said It Was Easy
Heart - Rock This House Live!
Mr. Big - Lean Into It
Ozzy - No More Tears
Poison - Swallow This Live (hated it originally; have grown to like it)
Queensryche - Operation:Livecrime
RTZ - Return To Zero
Skid Row - Slave to the Grind
Tesla - Psychotic Supper
White Lion - Mane Attraction
Phew! Glad I got in here before Paul. :biggrin:
Chad, I was at this show. It was recorded in Worcester, Ma.
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That's wicked cool. :tup
I've been at a few shows that had a live release (or at least, a portion of it).
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Some excellent albums in 1991.
What I owned then..
Armored Saint-Symbol Of Salvation
Alice Cooper-Hey Stoopid
Helloween-Pink Bubbles Go Ape
Metallica-The Black Album
Metal Church-Blessing In Disguise
Fates Warning-Parallels
Tesla-Psychotic Supper
Guns n Roses-Use Your Illusion 1
Guns n Roses-Use Your Illusion 2
Ozzy-No More Tears
McCauley Schenker Group-MSG
Van Halen-For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Motorhead-1916
Rush-Roll The Bones
David Lee Roth-A Little Ain't Enough
My concerts for 1991..
1991..1/21..Iron Maiden, Anthrax..Brendan Byrne Arena NJ
1991..1/25..Iron Maiden, Anthrax..Providence Civic Center
1991..2/9..Slayer, Testament..The Orpheum Boston
1991..5/?..Rik Emmett, Trixter..The Campus Club Providence
1991..5/26..Styx..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1991..6/30..David Lee Roth, Cinderella, Extreme.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1991..7/6..Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth, Alice In Chains.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1991..7/6..Quiet Riot..JR’s Fastlane Providence
1991..7/30..Quuensryche, Suicidal Tendencies..Providence Civic Center
1991..8/9..Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Motorhead, Dangerous Toys, Metal Church
Brendan Byrne Arena NJ
1991..8/14.. Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Motorhead, Dangerous Toys, Metal Church
Great Woods Mansfield MA
1991..8/23..Rod Stewart..Worcester Centrum
1991..10/9..Van Halen, Alice In Chains.. Providence Civic Center
1991..10/22..Armored Saint, Wrathchild America..The Channel Boston
1991..10/23.. Armored Saint, Wrathchild America..The Campus Club Providence
1991..11/3..Mr Bungle..The Channel Boston
1991..11/10..Rod Stewart.. Providence Civic Center
1991..12/5..Guns n Roses, Soundgarden..Worcester Centrum
1991..12/6.. Guns n Roses, Soundgarden..Worcester Centrum
1991..12/10..Rush, Vinnie Moore..Worcester Centrum
1991..12/19..Metallica..Nassau Coliseum NY
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Who was bankrolling your concert addiction!?!?
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Who was bankrolling your concert addiction!?!?
So for the two GnR shows, I bought 4 tickets. Sold two at double the cost and I went for free.
That was my first full year out of college (Class of '90). I was working, and still living at home.
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Tim was the ultimate groupie. :metal
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1991..12/19..Metallica..Nassau Coliseum NY
My first time seeing Metallica was the very next night, 12/20. Absolutely amazing! Hard to believe their show opener on that leg of the tour was Enter Sandman.
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I only saw three shows that year (though I think there was an Ace Frehley and a Night Ranger show in there as well)
Dec 13, 1991: Rush, Vinnie Moore, Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
Apr 18, 1991: Yes, Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
Mar 8, 1991: Sting, Concrete Blonde, Vinx, Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
I saw a TON of shows in '90 and '92, but I was traveling so much for work that I didn't get to many shows in '91. In hindsight, I'm KICKING myself I didn't see more shows when I was in Burbank. I should have been seeing two or three concerts a WEEK.
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given my age (45), I wasn't quite old enough to start seeing concerts regularly in 1990 and 1991. But I may have to add mine once we get later into the 90's and 2000's especially as I have a list I published and updated in my blog that is about 500 shows.
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given my age (45), I wasn't quite old enough to start seeing concerts regularly in 1990 and 1991. But I may have to add mine once we get later into the 90's and 2000's especially as I have a list I published and updated in my blog that is about 500 shows.
Once we get to around 1997, I'll stop publishing mine as they really start to peter out.
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Kinda young for you to Peter out, no?
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Kinda young for you to Peter out, no?
Unfortunately life requires some trade offs. I ended up OK.
-
Anyway 1991 was another solid year, with one absolute classic.
1. Queen - Innuendo
2. Metallica - Metallica
3. Loreena McKennitt - The Visit
4. Nirvana - Nevermind
Innuendo, Metallica, and Nevermind all in the top 5...huh :corn
Anyway, 1991 was a year with a lot of great albums, but not a lot of Masterpieces. None in fact, for me.
1. Rush - Roll the Bones
2. Death - Human
3. Fates Warning - Parallels
4. Marillion - Holidays in Eden
5. Solitude Aeturnus - Into the Depths of Sorrow
6. Confessor - Condemned (Surprisc this isn't aon anyone elses list......)
7. Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
8. Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
9. Sieges Even - A Sense of Change
10. Type O Negative - Slow, Deep, and Hard
11. Coroner - Mental Vortex
12. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
13. Pearl Jam - Ten
14. Stvie rat vaiguhan and Doble Torouble - StHe Sky is Crying
15. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
16. Running Wild - Blazon Stone
17. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
18. Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
19. REcd Hot Chili Peppers - Bloosd SUgar Sex maggic
20. Primus - Sailing th e Seas of Cheese
21. Slint - Spiderland
22. Ozric Tentacle - Strangetude
23. Bathory - Twilight of the Gods
24. Ozzy OAsbourne - No More teats
25. Slowdive - Just for a Day
26. Paradise Lost - Gothic
27. Michael Jackson - Dangerous
28. Queen - Innuendo
29. Galactic Cowboys - Galactic Cowboays.
30 . Voicod - Angel Rat
31. Dinosour Je. - Green mInd
32. Metallica - The blck ALumbnum
33. Nirvana- Nevermind
34. uns N Roses - Use your Illunsiongg 1
35. Guns N roseeesse - Use You rillusion 2
36. Guns n roSes - Usse your Illiuusion 333
37. -
Roll the Bones at #1? :o :o
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My top 10 list:
1. Pearl Jam - Ten
2. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
3. Sepultura - Arise
4. Slint - Spiderland
5. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory (maybe my favorite rap record of all time)
6. Death - Human
7. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
8. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
9. Guns N Roses - Use Your Illusion II
10. Melvins - Bullhead
Honorable mentions: Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
Queen - Innuendo
Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
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Anyway 1991 was another solid year, with one absolute classic.
1. Queen - Innuendo
2. Metallica - Metallica
3. Loreena McKennitt - The Visit
4. Nirvana - Nevermind
Innuendo, Metallica, and Nevermind all in the top 5...huh :corn
Anyway, 1991 was a year with a lot of great albums, but not a lot of Masterpieces. None in fact, for me.
1. Rush - Roll the Bones
2. Death - Human
3. Fates Warning - Parallels
4. Marillion - Holidays in Eden
5. Solitude Aeturnus - Into the Depths of Sorrow
6. Confessor - Condemned (Surprisc this isn't aon anyone elses list......)
7. Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
8. Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
9. Sieges Even - A Sense of Change
10. Type O Negative - Slow, Deep, and Hard
11. Coroner - Mental Vortex
12. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
13. Pearl Jam - Ten
14. Stvie rat vaiguhan and Doble Torouble - StHe Sky is Crying
15. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
16. Running Wild - Blazon Stone
17. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
18. Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
19. REcd Hot Chili Peppers - Bloosd SUgar Sex maggic
20. Primus - Sailing th e Seas of Cheese
21. Slint - Spiderland
22. Ozric Tentacle - Strangetude
23. Bathory - Twilight of the Gods
24. Ozzy OAsbourne - No More teats
25. Slowdive - Just for a Day
26. Paradise Lost - Gothic
27. Michael Jackson - Dangerous
28. Queen - Innuendo
29. Galactic Cowboys - Galactic Cowboays.
30 . Voicod - Angel Rat
31. Dinosour Je. - Green mInd
32. Metallica - The blck ALumbnum
33. Nirvana- Nevermind
34. uns N Roses - Use your Illunsiongg 1
35. Guns N roseeesse - Use You rillusion 2
36. Guns n roSes - Usse your Illiuusion 333
37. -
Roll the Bones at #1? :o :o
That's not even the most questionable thing about my list :corn
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1992
1992, the year which was more or less in the thick of the Grunge movement.
I was a sophomore in High School and addicted to Rush and Zeppelin of course.
But on local corporate metal station, a little band had a song called "Pull Me Under" that kind of changed mine and many other people's taste forever, lol..okay I sound sappy saying it that way.
Yeah, 1992 was the year Pull Me Under and Dream Theater hit. And more or less the prog metal genre was born in a sense.
But sadly, I wasn't aware of who they were in 1992. But looking at the history, when Images and Words came out in June of 1992, it kind of would have possessed my playlist, as it some short or lone 3 years later (Summer of 1995).
1992 though like many years it seems around this period was Top Heavy. Not only Dream Theater but King's X released their 4th consecutive favorite record of mine in their S/T. Extreme's III Sides album has become a favorite of mine, and is unfairly overlooked per it doesn't have anything like "More Than Words" lol.
Faith No More released maybe their most influential and what is often a fan-favorite record with Angel Dust. Also sadly, the final album with Jim Martin. I can say, I do enjoy Angel Dust quite a bit, but still feel The Real Thing edges it for melodic sense. But I respect the hell out of it, and have found it certainly is an album that influenced a lot bands and albums I love.
Saigon Kick put out 1 of their better albums in The Lizard, although Saigon Kick actually have no bad albums, so it's really par for their course.
And then the likes of Peter Gabriel, XTC, Rage Against the Machine, and Psychotic Waltz also make my top 10.
1992 there was a lot of Grunge, some of it wasn't too bad, and I've included some of that on the calendar. I guess I see it though as a fad that didn't last, but sadly influenced even worse music later in the decade. Thankfully so did Dream Theater.
1. Dream Theater - Images and Words
2. Kings' X - King's X
3. Shadow Gallery - Shadow Gallery
4. Extreme - III Sides to Every Story
5. Faith No More - Angel Dust
6. Saigon Kick - The Lizard
7. Peter Gabriel - Us
8. XTC - Nonsuch
9. Psychotic Waltz - Into the Everflow
10. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
11. Michael Nesmith - ...Tropical Campfires...
12. Angra - Reaching Horizons
13. Echolyn - Suffocating the Bloom
14. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
15. Dada - Puzzle
16. Queen - Live at Wembley'86
17. Porcupine Tree - On the Sunday of Life
18. The Beastie Boys - Check Your Head
19. Bruce Springsteen - Human Touch
20. Arc Angels - Arc Angels
21. Toto - Kingdom of Desire
22. Soul Asylum - Grave Dancers Union
23. Journey - Time³
24. K.D. Lang - Ingénue
25. Screaming Trees - Sweet Oblivion
26. Weird Al Yankovic - Off the Deep End
27. Alice in Chains - Dirt
28. The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
29. The Cure - Wish
30. Stone Temple Pilots - Core
31. Bruce Springsteen - Lucky Town
Concerts
2/29/92 Maynard Ferguson - Mounds View High School Mounds View, MN
8/28/92 Steve Miller Band - Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Falcon Heights, MN
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1991
Metallica - Metallica
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
Galactic Cowboys - Galactic Cowboys
Corrosion of Conformity - Blind
Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
Pearl Jam - Ten
Voivod - Angel Rat
Mr Bungle - Mr Bungle
Sepultura - Arise
Armored Saint - Symbol of Salvation
R.E.M. - Out of Time
Guns n Roses - Use Your Illusion I & II
Nevermind - Nirvana
U2- Achtung Baby
Queen - Innuendo
Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese
Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
Saigon Kick - Saigon Kick
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic
The Tragically Hip - Road Apples
Skid Row - Slave to the Grind
Wrathchild America - 3D
Overkill - Horrorscope
Last Crack - Burning Time
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1992:
1a. Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
1b. Dream Theater - Images and Words
2. King’s X - King’s X
3. XTC - Nonsuch
4. Extreme - III Sides to Every Story
5. Peter Gabriel - US
6. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
7. Adrian Belew - Inner Revolution
8. Stone Temple Pilots - Core
9. Damn Yankees - Don’t Tread
10. Alice In Chains - Dirt
11. Def Leppard - Adrenalize
12. Soul Asylum - Grave Dancer’s Union
13. Steve Morse - Coast to Coast
With a mention for Journey’s Time 3 which was a pretty big deal for me when I first got it. Doesn’t feel right ranking it with individual albums though. Also the Singles Soundtrack deserves a mention.
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My 1992
1. DREAM THEATER - Images and Words
Yep, it's that good, we all know it.
1.5 BLIND GUARDIAN - Somewhere Far Beyond (this is almost tied with #1)
3. MANOWAR - The Triumph of Steel
4. RAGE - Trapped!
And then:
IRON MAIDEN - Fear of the Dark
BLACK SABBATH - Dehumanizer
BON JOVI - Keep the Faith
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Lucky Town (better than Human Touch)
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2. King’s X - King’s X
3. XTC - Nonsuch
4. Extreme - III Sides to Every Story
A lot of Xs in there.
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Another year with a very clear winner and plenty of other good albums.
1. Dream Theater - Images and Words
2. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
3. Extreme - III Sides to Every Story
4. Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction
5. Roger Waters - Amused to Death
6. Cowboy Junkies - Black Eyed Man
7. Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark
8. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
9. NOFX - White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean
10. Ocean Colour Scene - Ocean Colour Scene
11. Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
12. Faith No More - Angel Dust
13. Dr. John - Goin' Back to New Orleans
14. Cardiacs - Heaven Born and Ever Bright
15. Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Other decent to good:
Alice in Chains - Dirt
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Bad Religion - Generator
dada - Puzzle
Madness - Divine Madness
Pat Metheny - Secret Story
Nirvana - Incesticide
The Offspring - Ignition
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1992, VERY special year for me, as far as my musical journey is concerned. That's when I truly and actively started seeking new music and getting "hungry" for metal and such.
And, of course, that's the year of Images and Words ;) As I said elsewhere, it was a purchase based on a couple of glowing reviews on magazines at the time. I hadn't heard a single note (hadn't seen the Pull Me Under video). What's more, I didn't have a ton of exposure to metal besides some big names, let alone "progressive" metal (whatever that meant at the time). The rest, as they say, is history. I&W is to this day one of my favorite albums of all time.
So, no surprises for my #1 album of 1992, but there's plenty of other good stuff too.
Top albums:
Dream Theater - Images and Words ('nuff said)
Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (another heavy music "baptism of fire" for me)
Faith No More - Angel Dust (my favorite FNM)
Helmet - Meantime (another minor classic from the early 90s)
Skyclad - A Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol (one of many great albums from this band)
Alice in Chains - Dirt (so many highlights)
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes (probably my favorite Tori Amos)
Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction (different Megadeth, but still very good Megadeth)
Elegy - Labyrinth of Dreams (little gem of progressive power)
Joe Satriani - The extremist (takes me back...)
Many other honorable mentions...Blind Guardian was excellent (although, maybe contrary to majority's opinion, I prefer both Tales and Imaginations to Somewhere Far Beyond), as were King's X and Peter Gabriel. Kyuss' album deserves mention if only for Green Machine, a fantastic song...and so on...
The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
Bon Jovi - Keep the Faith
The Cure - Wish
Danzig - Danzig III
Peter Gabriel - Us
Giant - Time to Burn
King's X - King's X
Kyuss - Blues for the Red Sun
Ministry - Psalm 69
Paradise Lost - Shades of God
Psychotic Waltz - Into the Everflow
Rage - Trapped!
Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
Running Wild - Pile of Skulls
Sugar - Copper Blue
Suicidal Tendencies - The Art of Rebellion
Testament - The Ritual
Therapy? - Nurse
Tiamat - Clouds
Toto - Kingdom of Desire
Veni Domine - Fall Babylon Fall
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I haven't compiled my list yet, but I'm not 100% sure Images and Words is my #1 album of 1992. We'll see..... :corn
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I haven't compiled my list yet, but I'm not 100% sure Images and Words is my #1 album of 1992. We'll see..... :corn
To be honest, if I were just ranking them based on which albums I prefer at this moment in time, it might not be in the top 5. But in terms of total impact on my life (and how I do view it as a musical accomplishment) it’s hard to not have it up at the top.
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1992:
1a. Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
1b. Dream Theater - Images and Words
2. King’s X - King’s X
3. XTC - Nonsuch
4. Extreme - III Sides to Every Story
5. Peter Gabriel - US
6. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
7. Adrian Belew - Inner Revolution
8. Stone Temple Pilots - Core
9. Damn Yankees - Don’t Tread
10. Alice In Chains - Dirt
11. Def Leppard - Adrenalize
12. Soul Asylum - Grave Dancer’s Union
13. Steve Morse - Coast to Coast
With a mention for Journey’s Time 3 which was a pretty big deal for me when I first got it. Doesn’t feel right ranking it with individual albums though. Also the Singles Soundtrack deserves a mention.
It seems you don't care for metal at all(apart from DT)? Metal albums never feature on your lists.
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1992:
1a. Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
1b. Dream Theater - Images and Words
2. King’s X - King’s X
3. XTC - Nonsuch
4. Extreme - III Sides to Every Story
5. Peter Gabriel - US
6. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
7. Adrian Belew - Inner Revolution
8. Stone Temple Pilots - Core
9. Damn Yankees - Don’t Tread
10. Alice In Chains - Dirt
11. Def Leppard - Adrenalize
12. Soul Asylum - Grave Dancer’s Union
13. Steve Morse - Coast to Coast
With a mention for Journey’s Time 3 which was a pretty big deal for me when I first got it. Doesn’t feel right ranking it with individual albums though. Also the Singles Soundtrack deserves a mention.
It seems you don't care for metal at all(apart from DT)? Metal albums never feature on your lists.
I don’t think I own a single album that would be considered straight up metal. Dream Theater would be the closest thing for me, along with a few other prog-metal type bands like King’s X and Queensryche, and then I like a number of more hair metal/hard rock type bands. But stuff like Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, or whatever, just never interested me.
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Going into 1992, I was a bit concerned about my favorite bands. All of their recent outputs were a tad disapointing. I thought Painkiller and Rest In Peace and Persistance Of Time were all excellent..but Gary Moore turned to blues. Helloween and Metallica took huge steps back, even though I love both albums now. Lock Up The Wolves and Empire, while I liked both a lot, signaled changes.
The good news..Iron Maiden rebounded from their first weak album (No Prayer)with an album full of great tunes. KISS reunited with Bob Ezrin on the amazing Revenge album. Concertwise, I saw two of my all time Top 5 opening acts. One was Dream Theater, but the other was Shooting Gallery, a band of sleazeballs led by Hanoi Rocks guitarist Andy McCoy. Holy shit, they were amazing. I saw them open KISS' Revenge club tour. They only made one album, but I still listen to it regularly today.
But 1992, and pretty much ever since, it's been about Dream Theater. I was 23 when I saw them open for Iron Maiden. So I found them late, though early in their career. They were amazing and I'd never heard music like that before. I thought this was the music Rush should be making. Dream Theater had the complexities of 70's Rush, the power of Iron Maiden. and the vocals of Helloween. I wore my I&W tape out. It was literally the only thing I listened to for about 6 months. It remains to this day as my all time favorite album.
Apparently I bought very few album in 1992. But they were all quality.
Dream Theater-Images And Words
Iron Maiden-Fear Of The Dark
KISS-Revenge
Shooting Gallery-s/t
Gary Moore-After Hours
Black Sabbath-Dehumanizer
Megadeth-Countdown To Extinction
Here are my concerts for 1992..
1992..3/11..Michael Schenker..Axis..Boston
1992..4/1..Mr Bungle..Axis..Boston
1992..4/30..Yngwie Malmsteen..The Campus Club Providence
1992..5/5..Tesla, Firehouse..Worcester MA
1992..5/8..Kiss, Shooting Gallery..Avalon Boston
1992..6/8..Iron Maiden, Dream Theater..The Ritz NYC
1992..8/8..Black Sabbath..The Orpheum Boston
1992..8/22..U2..Foxboro Stadium
1992..9/6..Tesla, Firehouse..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1992..9/11..Guns n Roses, Metallica, Faith No More..Foxboro Stadium
1992..10/7..Dream Theater,WildSide..Axis Boston
1992..10/8..Kiss..Worcester Centrum
1992..11/2..Ace Frehley..Narcissus Boston
1992..12/10..Flotsam & Jetsam..The Paradise Boston
1992..12/16..Dream Theater,Moodcrush..Axis Boston
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I was at that Frehley concert at Narcissus. He was late going on if memory serves me correctly.
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I was at that Frehley concert at Narcissus. He was late going on if memory serves me correctly.
A couple of shots..
(https://i.imgur.com/8SUX4SQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TliHoEG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/691CtGA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AXclOxn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vlI4DF2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZrWhCL6.jpg)
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My top 10 albums from 1992:
1. Dream Theater - Images and Words
2. Alice in Chains - Dirt
3. Faith No More - Angel Dust
4. Kyuss - Blues for the Red Sun
5. Rage Against the Machine - RATM
6. Sleep - Holy Mountain
7. W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol
8. Neurosis - Souls at Zero
9. Melvins - Lysol
10. The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Honorable mentions: Stone Temple Pilots - Core
R.E.M - Automatic for People
Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction
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So Images and Words does not top my 1992 list. :corn
1. Änglagård - Hybris
2. Dream Theater - Images and Words
3. Thought Industry - Songs for Insects
4. Alice in Chains - Dirt
5. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
6. Psychotic Waltz - Into the Everflow
7. W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol
8. Solitude Aeturnus - Beyond the Crimson Horizon
9. Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
10. Neurosis - Souls At Zero
11. Type O Negative - The Origin of the Feces: Not Live at Brighton Beach
12. Faith No More - Angel Dust
13. Running Wild - Pile of Skulls
14. After Crying - Megalázottak és megszomorítottak
15. Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction
16. PJ Harvey - Dry
17. Candlemass - Chapter VI
18. Peter Gabriel - Us
19. At the Gates - The Red in the Sky is Ours
20. Burzum - Burzum
21. Porcupine Tree - Voyage 34
22. Hardline - Double Eclipse
23. Tool - Opiate
24. Rage - Trapped!
25. Alice In Chains - Sap
26. Kings X - Kings X
27. Black Sabbath - Dehumanizer
28. Sonic Youth - Dirty
29. Hawkwind - Electric Tepee
30. Weird Al Yankovic - Off the Deep End
31. Porcupine Tree - On the Sunday of Life...
32. Echolyn - Suffocating the Bloom
33. Extreme - III Sides to Every Story
34. Amorphis - The Karelian Isthmus
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I missed this from 1991: Blur - Leisure. Saw their second video on MTV and they've been my favorite band ever since.
Same with Pull Me Under in 1992. Hooked. Although hearing Another Day as track two was ??? very unexpected.
Megadeth's Countdown is the only album I really like.
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A lot of really fantastic albums and write-ups. Pictures are always awesome to look at TAC.
My 1992:
1. Tool - Opiate - 4.5/5
2. Dream Theater - Images And Words - 4.5/5
3. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine - 4/5
4. Pat Metheny - Secret Story - 3/5
5. Roger Waters - Amused To Death - 3/5
6. Extreme - III Sides To Every Story - 3/5
7. Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power - 2.5/5
8. Porcupine Tree - On The Sunday Of Life... - 2.5/5
No real stinkers this year on my list.
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Not mentioned yet
AC/DC Live
Axel Rudi Pell - Eternal Prisoner
Danger Danger - Screw it!
Firehouse - Hold Your Fire
Hardline - Double Eclipse (edit: I typed this a few hours ago, but the 'post' didn't take)
House of Lords - Demons Down
Rockhead - s/t
Rox Diamond - s/t
Royal Hunt - Land of Broken Hearts
Sass Jordan - Racine
Slaughter - The Wild Life
Slik Toxik - Doin the Nasty
Shadow Gallery - s/t (I think you meant this, Tim?)
Steelheart - Tangled in Reins
Sven Gali - s/t
Thunder - Laughing on Judgment Day
Unruly Child - s/t
Warrant - Dog Eat Dog
Funny... most of those I discovered years later, and many because of DTF.
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Shadow Gallery - s/t (I think you meant this, Tim?)
Nope. I'm only listing albums I HAD in 1992.
Shooting Gallery! It's on Spotify.
One of the tightest club bands I've ever seen. They were amazing.
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Shadow Gallery - s/t (I think you meant this, Tim?)
It was on my 1991 list. It was released in 1991 if that's why you thought it was missing.
edit: it has been listed on rateyourmusic.com as being released on November 30, 1991 for decades, however there is a correction request that never happened.
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/shadow-gallery/shadow-gallery/
Discogs, Wiki and some other sites list it as being released April 1, 1992.
I suppose I should include it in my 1992 list. Perhaps it was released locally in PA to some in 1991, but it didn't officially get released until tthat next April. The Magna Carta website at 1 time listed it as November 30, 1991, but that website of course is long gone now.
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1991;
Savatage - Streets
Sepultura - Arise
Pearl Jam - Ten
Death - Human
Fates Warning - Parallels
UDO - Timebomb
Gamma Ray - Sigh No More
Helloween - Pink Bubbles Go Ape
Roxus - Nightstreet
Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
Metallica - Black Album
Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears
David Lee Roth - A Little 'Aint Enough
Motorhead - 1916
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
Rush - Roll the Bones
1992;
WASP - The Crimson Idol
Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark
Dream Theater - Images and Words
Black Sabbath - Dehumanizer
Yngwie Malmsteen - Fire and Ice
Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction
Stratovarius - Twilight Time
Candlemass - Chapter IV
Tony Macalpine - Freedom to Fly
Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
Joe Satriani - The Extremist
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
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1993
1993 a year I honestly don't think of to be that amazing, as it was maybe the heart of the grunge period, etc.
I actually remember the Summer of 1993 working at Sam Goody at the Mall of America and seeing many of the albums on this list among others. That Rush album, was a really big deal for me as I was obsessed with Rush at the time and it was their 1st new album since I really became a fan.
But just looking at it, 1993 was actually a pretty good year. Top Heavy still, like many years, but also relatively deep. I would guess 1994 and 1995 I see as better years, but the years that followed in the 90's? I'm not so sure (1998 may be 1 of the dry-est years ever from memory).
Jellyfish, Galactic Cowboys, Cynic, Angra, Enchant, The Tea Party, Savatage and I Mother Earth all put out some of the best albums from the 1990's.
1. Jellyfish - Spilt Milk
2. Galactic Cowboys - Space in Your Face
3. Cynic - Focus
4. Angra - Angels Cry
5. Enchant - A Blueprint of the World
6. Savatage - Edge of Thorns
7. The Tea Party - Splendor Solis
8. I Mother Earth - Dig
9. Rush - Counterparts
10. Saigon Kick - Water
11. Jeff Buckley - Live at Sin-é
12. Jim Matheos - First Impressions
13. Dream Theater - Live at the Marquee
14. Porcupine Tree - Up the Downstair
15, Tears for Fears - Elemental
16. Anekdoten - Vemod
17. Pat Metheny - The Road to You: Recorded Live in Europe
18. Robert Plant - Fate of Nations
19. Without Warning - Making Time
20, Voivod - The Outer Limits
21. U2 - Zooropa
22. Primus - Pork Soda
23. Duran Duran - Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)
24. Alan Parsons - Try Anything Once
25. Damn the Machine - Damn the Machine
26. Pearl Jam - Vs
27. Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club
28. No-Man - Loveblows and Lovecries - A Confession
29. Orphaned Land - The Beloved's Cry
Concerts
6/22/93 Sting - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
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That Sting tour had Dada opening up I believe. Ten Summoner's Tales would make my top 25 for 1993.
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Not by my computer to make a list yet, but Winger released Pull in 1993 so that’s going to be way up there.
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A strong year, and for me a very varied one stylistically - quite a range of genres and styles covered in my top 15!
1. Danny Elfman - The Nightmare Before Christmas
2. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion
3. Sting - Ten Summoner's Tales
4. Helloween - Chameleon
5. Rush - Counterparts
6. Tower of Power - T.O.P.
7. The King's Singers - Good Vibrations
8. Mingus Big Band - Nostalgia in Times Square
9. Dream Theater - Live at the Marquee
10. Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
11. Nirvana - In utero
12. Cowboy Junkies - Pale Sun, Crescent Moon
13. Pendragon - The Window of Life
14. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
15. Slowdive - Souvlaki
Other decent albums:
Bad Religion - Recipe for Hate
Cynic - Focus
Jamiroquai - Emergency on Planet Earth
Porcupine Tree - Up the Downstair
Red House Painters - Red House Painters
Sepultura - Chaos A.D.
Threshold - Wounded Land
Alkinoos Ioannidis - Στην αγορά του κόσμου (In The Marketplace Of The World)
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Albums I bought in 1993..
Gary Moore-Blues Alive
Anthrax-Sound Of White Noise
Metal Church-Hanging In The Balance
Helloween-Chameleon
Accept-Objection Overruled
Rush-Counterparts
Iron Maiden-A Real Live One
Iron Maiden-A Real Dead One
Iron Maiden-Live At Donnington
Dio-Strange Highways
KISS-Alive III
Coverdale/Page-s/t
Aerosmith-Get A Grip
My concerts for 1993..
1993..2/19..Bon Jovi, Jeff Healey..Worcester Centrum
1993..3/10..Dream Theater..Avalon Boston
1993..3/16..Guns n Roses, Brian May..Boston Garden
1993..5/21..Anthrax..Axis Boston
1993..7/10..Van Halen, Vince Neil.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1993..7/21..Ace Frehley..The Strand Providence
1993..8/3..Bon Jovi..Extreme.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1993..8/13..Anthrax, White Zombie..The Strand Providence
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Albums I bought in 1993..
Gary Moore-Blues Alive
Anthrax-Sound Of White Noise
Metal Church-Hanging In The Balance
Helloween-Chameleon
Accept-Objection Overruled
Rush-Counterparts
Iron Maiden-A Real Live One
Iron Maiden-A Real Dead One
Iron Maiden-Live At Donnington
Dio-Strange Highways
KISS-Alive III
Coverdale/Page-s/t
Aerosmith-Get A Grip
My concerts for 1993..
1993..2/19..Bon Jovi, Jeff Healey..Worcester Centrum
1993..3/10..Dream Theater..Avalon Boston
1993..3/16..Guns n Roses, Brian May..Boston Garden
1993..5/21..Anthrax..Axis Boston
1993..7/10..Van Halen, Vince Neil.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1993..7/21..Ace Frehley..The Strand Providence
1993..8/3..Bon Jovi..Extreme.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1993..8/13..Anthrax, White Zombie..The Strand Providence
You're missing Winger again! :neverusethis:
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1993:
1. Tool - Undertow - 5/5
2. Candlebox - Candlebox - 5/5
3. Aerosmith - Get A Grip - 4.5/5
4. Jim Matheos - First Impressions - 4/5
5. Porcupine Tree - Up The Downstair - 3.5/5
6. Nirvana - In Utero - 3.5/5
7. Collective Soul - Hints Allegations And Things Left Unsaid - 2.5/5
8. Rush - Counterparts - 2.5/5
9. Radiohead - Pablo Honey - 2/5
10. The Posies - Frosting On The Beater - 1.5/5
Pretty solid year for me. I love the Tool album, it was before the went into the full rhythmic style that came with Aenima. The Candlebox record is also one of my favorite from the grunge era. Great vocals with a lot of really tasty solos throughout.
I have a distinct memory of my parents picking up the Get A Grip album and just listening to it non-stop on repeat.
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Albums I bought in 1993..
Gary Moore-Blues Alive
Anthrax-Sound Of White Noise
Metal Church-Hanging In The Balance
Helloween-Chameleon
Accept-Objection Overruled
Rush-Counterparts
Iron Maiden-A Real Live One
Iron Maiden-A Real Dead One
Iron Maiden-Live At Donnington
Dio-Strange Highways
KISS-Alive III
Coverdale/Page-s/t
Aerosmith-Get A Grip
My concerts for 1993..
1993..2/19..Bon Jovi, Jeff Healey..Worcester Centrum
1993..3/10..Dream Theater..Avalon Boston
1993..3/16..Guns n Roses, Brian May..Boston Garden
1993..5/21..Anthrax..Axis Boston
1993..7/10..Van Halen, Vince Neil.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1993..7/21..Ace Frehley..The Strand Providence
1993..8/3..Bon Jovi..Extreme.. Great Woods Mansfield MA
1993..8/13..Anthrax, White Zombie..The Strand Providence
You're missing Winger again! :neverusethis:
Dammit! :lol
I should also mention that when I heard that Candlebox was opening for Rush, I bought their album. I did like the two radio hits. But holy shit did that album suck.
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1993 is a fun year where more worlds collide for me. What I was into in 1993 and what I was into like 5-6 years later from that year and what I am into now are all kind of different. There's really not a huge degree of difference in 1-9 for me.
1. Winger - Pull
2. Mr. Big - Bump Ahead
3. Counting Crows - August and Everything After
4. Tears for Fears - Elemental
5. Rush - Counterparts
6. Enchant - A Blueprint of the World (I feel like the Rothery produced version came later though)
7. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
8. Crowded House - Together Alone
9. Pearl Jam - Vs.
10. Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club
11. Collective Soul - Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid
12. Phil Collins - Both Sides
13. Galactic Cowboys - Space In Your Face
14. The Cranberries - Everybody is Doing It So Why Can't We?
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6. Enchant - A Blueprint of the World (I feel like the Rothery produced version came later though)
I have what I believe is the first issue of the album (Dream Circle Records) from 1993, and Steve Rothery's in there (although he didn't produce all the tracks)
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So very happy of your mention of Coverdale/Page, Tim. I played the shit out of that album!
Not mentioned yet:
Conception - Parallel Minds
Def Leppard - Retro Active
Harem Scarem - Mood Swings (Top 10 all-time album for me)
Helix - Back for Another Taste
IQ - Ever
Meat Loaf - Bat out of Hell II
Mr. Big - Bump Ahead
Ozzy - Live and Loud
Poison - Native Tongue
Robert Plant - Fate of Nations
Rod Stewart - Unplugged ... and Seated
Royal Hunt - Clown in the Mirror
Savatage - Edge of Thorns
Sic Vikki - Kiss me in French
T.O. Joker - Unsigned (no one other than Brent will know this)
Threshold - Wounded Land
Triumph - Edge of Excess (it's actually quite decent)
Van Halen - (not exactly) Live: Right Here, Right Now
Vince Neil - Exposed
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6. Enchant - A Blueprint of the World (I feel like the Rothery produced version came later though)
I have what I believe is the first issue of the album (Dream Circle Records) from 1993, and Steve Rothery's in there (although he didn't produce all the tracks)
You must be right then. I know it was released on a couple labels before Magna Carta released in in 1995. That’s the version I have. But I guess Rothery was involved before the initial release after all.
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Not mentioned yet:
Threshold - Wounded Land
I mentioned it, just not in my top 15. :P
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Not mentioned yet:
Threshold - Wounded Land
I mentioned it, just not in my top 15. :P
Dammit!! :lolpalm:
Paying attention: I suck at it.
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1993...things start to get serious with my musical exploration. So many good memories in high school, as I was lucky enough to have a group of friends all getting into similar music. Many, many fantastic albums...
The top albums for me:
Rush - Counterparts (first album I've heard from them. Didn't know any Rush at the time, not even the classic songs. This, for me, is a top 3 Rush album)
Paradise Lost - Icon (Kind of started "gothic metal" as we know it. So, so good. A classic)
Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine (dark, gothic, prog, classic metal...? Such a unique record)
Savatage - Edge of Thorns (to me, the peak of Criss Oliva's guitar playing. So sad it would be last we'd hear from him)
Enchant - A Blueprint of the World (as I mentioned elsewhere, one my favorites from that wave of early 90s prog)
Coroner - Grin (slower and groovier from the Swiss technical thrash masters. Different but I LOVED it)
Rage - The Missing Link (probably my favorite of theirs. One amazing song after another)
Metal Church - Hanging in the Balance (criminally underrated album - I think)
Voivod - The Outer Limits (probably my favorite Voivod album)
Anacrusis - Screams and Whispers (incredibly creative "thrash" album...also their last, unfortunately)
Carcass - Heartwork (one of the first "melodeath" albums? Love this one)
Death - Individual Thought Patterns (I feel this sometimes gets lost between Human and Symbolic. Might be my favorite Death, with a crazy good line-up)
Annihilator - Set the World on Fire (not quite the Annihilator we knew from their first two albums, but a record I'm very fond of. Stellar playing, and my introduction to Mr. Mangini ;))
Angra - Angels Cry (still plenty of Helloween influence, and they would do better with Holy Land, imo - but what a great debut)
Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion (slightly "rockier" and moodier Depeche Mode, with some of my favorite songs of theirs)
Many honorable mentions:
Aerosmith - Get a Grip
Anthrax - Sound of White Noise
Cathedral - The Ethereal Mirror
Conception - Parallel Minds
Counting Crows - August & Everything After
Coverdale/Page - S/T
Cranberries - Everybody Else...
Cynic - Focus
Damn the Machine - Damn the Machine
Dark Tranquillity - Skydancer
Dead Can Dance - Into the Labyrinth
Extrema - Tension at the Seams
Gamma Ray - Insanity and Genius
I Mother Earth - Dig
John Mellencamp - Human Wheels
Mind Funk - Dropped
Pearl Jam - Vs.
Sacred Reich - Independent
Joe Satriani - Time Machine
Sepultura - Chaos AD
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Sting - Ten Summoner's Tales
Threshold - Wounded Land
Tool - Undertow
Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses
The Wildhearts - Earth vs. the Wildhearts
Winger - Pull
Then there were so many minor "prog-metal" bands popping up, some of them no doubt inspired by the path traced by I&W. Not all of them were great, obviously, but there were some cool little gems from that period. In 1993:
Oracle - As Darkness Reigns (this kind of sounded like a demo, really, and the singing was a little nuts. Rough but interesting)
Soul Cages - Soul Cages
Pan Ram - Time is Gone (strong Queensryche influence here)
A couple of note-worthy live albums
Blind Guardian - Tokyo Tales
Dream Theater - Live at the Marquee
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10. Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
15. Slowdive - Souvlaki
Kind of forgot those - I bought them much, much later. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is excellent. I wasn't familiar with Slowdive until I heard the cover of When the Sun Hits by The Gathering...
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Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine (dark, gothic, prog, classic metal...? Such a unique record)
My older brother was into Saviour Machine. They even played the relatively small town I grew up in once. That was some wild stuff.
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I let my boss borrow Fumbling Towards Ecstasy in 93. His response to listening to is was, "It was like cheating." :lol
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My older brother was into Saviour Machine. They even played the relatively small town I grew up in once. That was some wild stuff.
To me, their first album is a lightning-in-a-bottle type of moment. The unique vocals, and that whole arcane, dark mood just make for something truly special...songs like Carnival of Souls, Legion, Ludicrous Smiles, Killer...so good. I guess they are a considered a "Christian" metal band, given their lyrical themes, but I didn't quite realize at the time they had some issues in the US with distribution...?
Anyway, I love their second album too, although they pretty much lost all the metal influence...still very unique, maybe a bit much at times. Then they sort of got bogged down with this gigantic project about the apocalypse ("Legend"), spanning several albums. It never got properly completed, because of the singer's health issues. It was a very heavy (not in the best sense of the word) concept, with some interesting atmospheres, but overall devoid of many memorable moments.
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My older brother was into Saviour Machine. They even played the relatively small town I grew up in once. That was some wild stuff.
To me, their first album is a lightning-in-a-bottle type of moment. The unique vocals, and that whole arcane, dark mood just make for something truly special...songs like Carnival of Souls, Legion, Ludicrous Smiles, Killer...so good. I guess they are a considered a "Christian" metal band, given their lyrical themes, but I didn't quite realize at the time they had some issues in the US with distribution...?
Anyway, I love their second album too, although they pretty much lost all the metal influence...still very unique, maybe a bit much at times. Then they sort of got bogged down with this gigantic project about the apocalypse ("Legend"), spanning several albums. It never got properly completed, because of the singer's health issues. It was a very heavy (not in the best sense of the word) concept, with some interesting atmospheres, but overall devoid of many memorable moments.
Yeah, as I recall that Legend project was all about the book of Revelation. I think they were kind of controversial in Christian circles due to the whole goth thing/dark imagery. They also had a pretty intense stage show from what I was told (my brother saw them, I didn't).
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Yes, they did...I never was at one of their shows, but I had a live VHS (!)
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That Sting tour had Dada opening up I believe. Ten Summoner's Tales would make my top 25 for 1993.
Yeah the tour history shows that, however I don't recall seeing them at that show. It's possible I arrived after they had already finished, or they weren't on every date. I'm a Dada fan too, and recently got back into them the last few years after knowing them way back then, and then forgetting about them. Their tune "Diz Knee Land" I will never forget getting a lot of radio airplay, and was a single I bought on cassette when I was working at Sam Goody that Summer of 1993.
I may have to dig a bit to see if I can find anything that shows them playing at the Minneapolis show, so far I can't, but there's information on setlist.fm and concertarchives.org that confirms that they toured with Sting that Summer.
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I saw them open for him in Mansfield Mass. It's a rarity to see a band you love open for another band you love. That lineup for Sting was amazing.
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So very happy of your mention of Coverdale/Page, Tim. I played the shit out of that album!
As did I! I was pleasantly surprised how good it was when I got it.
Not mentioned yet:
Rod Stewart - Unplugged ... and Seated
Van Halen - (not exactly) Live: Right Here, Right Now
I actually had both of these.
I think I forgot to mention Live At The Marquee too. I definitely played the shit out of it.
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Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine (dark, gothic, prog, classic metal...? Such a unique record)
That sounds interesting. I'll check it out.
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Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine (dark, gothic, prog, classic metal...? Such a unique record)
That sounds interesting. I'll check it out.
Very curious to hear your thoughts...
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Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine (dark, gothic, prog, classic metal...? Such a unique record)
That sounds interesting. I'll check it out.
Very curious to hear your thoughts...
OK just had a run through. Yes, a very cool album that I need to hear again. I have literally never heard of this band.
Here are some notes I made while listening..
"Carnival Of Souls is really cool.
Ludicrous Smiles is awesome!
The Wicked Window is fantastic once it picks up half way through.
Son Of The Rain has a great solo and a very cool ending.
Killer was way too long for what it was.
The Widow And The Bride feels way older than 1993.
Christians and Lunatics has an Armored Saint feel."
I felt like...it wasn't quite Goth enough. Carnival Of Souls set a good beginning for the Goth vocally, but I never felt it lived up to that.
Still an awesome listen! :tup
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OK just had a run through. Yes, a very cool album that I need to hear again. I have literally never heard of this band.
Here are some notes I made while listening..
"Carnival Of Souls is really cool.
Ludicrous Smiles is awesome!
The Wicked Window is fantastic once it picks up half way through.
Son Of The Rain has a great solo and a very cool ending.
Killer was way too long for what it was.
The Widow And The Bride feels way older than 1993.
Christians and Lunatics has an Armored Saint feel."
I felt like...it wasn't quite Goth enough. Carnival Of Souls set a good beginning for the Goth vocally, but I never felt it lived up to that.
Still an awesome listen! :tup
Awesome! I'd also add Legion - the part that starts with "And all the leaders..." when the tempo picks up is amazing.
Glad you enjoyed it. They haven't done anything else like this album. Like I said, their second is also very good, but the guitar almost exclusively plays lead and melodies (wonderful ones, but still), and there's a ton more piano and vocals. Pretty unique, but doesn't capture the balance of all the elements like the debut.
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19. Without Warning - Making Time
I have their 1998 album, "Step Beyond" - I remember it having a pretty interesting sound. I don't think I realized they had more albums. How's this one?
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19. Without Warning - Making Time
I have their 1998 album, "Step Beyond" - I remember it having a pretty interesting sound. I don't think I realized they had more albums. How's this one?
All of the Without Warning albums are pretty good, although I can't deny how they were 1 of a long assortment of bands who at times couldn't avoid their Dream Theater influence. Their singer though was pretty different than LaBrie.
I can't really say I like any 1 of their 3 albums dramatically more than the others, but 1995's Believe is probably the 1 I listened to the most. Making Time though is pretty good per you'd probably like it if you like Step Beyond. Where to find it?..eh, maybe YouTube or possibly Spotify if you can't find the cds like on discogs.
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1993...things start to get serious with my musical exploration. So many good memories in high school, as I was lucky enough to have a group of friends all getting into similar music. Many, many fantastic albums...
Enslaved - Frost
This came out in August 1994. Just FYI. :metal
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Fair warning, my 1993 list is absolutely ridiculous. As will be the rest of the years we do. I may end up cutting off subsequent years at a top 50. We'll see.
1. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (the defining album of my childhood and growing up)
2. Rush - Counterparts (it's Rush, it's awesome, enough said)
3. Anekdoten - Vemod (Amazing debut from this Swedish prog rock band)
4. Death - Individual Thought Patterns (in comes Gene Hoglan to tear the house down!)
5. Tool - Undertow (Lots of foreshadowing of the absolute brilliance that was to come, still fantastic in it's own right)
6. Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses (same as Undertow, flashes of brilliance, but still great)
7. Savatage - Edge of Thorns (probably my second favorite Savatage record)
8. Enchant - A Blueprint of the World (Best Enchant record, maybe...)
9. John Williams - Jurassic Park Soundtrack (One of the greatest soundtracks ever made)
10. Dream Theater - Live at the Marquee (Not their best live record, but a great early recording)
11. X Japan - Art of Life (Not exactly an album that could be listened to often, but an album that should be heard by everyone at least once)
12. Voivod - The Outer Limits
13. Neurosis - Enemy of the Sun
14. Galactic Cowboys - Space In Your Face
15. The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?
16. Slowdive - Souvlaki
17. Kingston Wall - II
18. Björk - Debut
19. Dave Matthews Band - Remember Two Things
20. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion
21. Dinosaur Jr. - Where You Been
22. Angra - Angels Cry
23. IQ - Ever
24. The Tea Party - Splendor Solis
25. Counting Crows - August and Everything After
26. Katatonia - Dance of December Souls
27. Cynic - Focus
28. Devil Doll - The Sacrilege of Fatal Arms
29. PJ Harvey - Rid of Me
30. Jellyfish - Spilt Milk
31. Atheist - Elements
32. Tears for Fears - Elemental
33. Motorpsycho - Demon Box
34. Ozric Tentacles - Jurassic Shift
35. Paradise Lost - Icon
36. Verve - Storm In Heaven
37. Poison - Native Tongue
38. Enigma - The Cross of Changes
39. Primus - Pork Soda
40. Burzum - Det som engang var
41. Porcupine Tree - Up the Downstair
42. Coroner - Grin
43. Heart - Desire Walks On
44. Jamiroquai - Emergency On Planet Earth
45. Nirvana - In Utero
46. Unwound - Fake Train
47. Phish - Rift
48. Weird Al Yankovic - Alapalooza
49. At the Gates - With Fear I Kiss the Burning Darkness
50. Blur - Modern Life is Rubbish
51. Vai - Sex & Religion
52. Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
Honorable Mention:
Candlebox - Candlebox (this was one of those albums that I really liked when I was a kid, but my enjoyment of it dropped off sharply over the years)
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1993...things start to get serious with my musical exploration. So many good memories in high school, as I was lucky enough to have a group of friends all getting into similar music. Many, many fantastic albums...
Enslaved - Frost
This came out in August 1994. Just FYI. :metal
Ha! I had the year wrong in my archive...noted and amended :tup
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Savatage - Edge of Thorns
Death - Individual Thought Patterns
Gamma Ray - Insanity and Genius
Mercyful Fate - In the Shadows
Rush - Counterparts
Pearl Jam - Vs.
Winger - Pull
Angra - Angels Cry
Cynic - Focus
The Tea Party - Splendor Solis
Harem Scarem - Mood Swings
Tony Macalpine - Madness
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Seem I've missed the previous years darn it but for 1993 I'll give 10...
Candlebox CANDLEBOX
Spread Eagle OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Savatage EDGE OF THORNS
Saigon Kick WATER
Horsehead HORSEHEAD
Enuff Z'Nuff ANIMALS WITH HUMAN INTEL..
Coverdale Page COVERDALE PAGE
Paradise Lost ICON
Winger PULL
Pearl Jam VS
ETA how could I forget that Freak Of Nature debut???
That makes 11 :metal
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1993:
1. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
2. Death - Individual Thought Patterns
3. Wu Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
4. Cynic - Focus
5. Pearl Jam - Vs.
6. Melvins - Houdini
7. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
8. Sepultura - Chaos AD
9. Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses
10. Savatage - Edge of Thorns
Honorable mentions: Motorhead - Bastards
Rush - Counterparts
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1993:
Honorable mentions: Motorhead - Bastards
This is a great Motorhead album! Nice and angry ;D
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1994
Here's another 1 I just put together, which oddly, was not as deep as I thought. 1994, the year I graduated HS and also the year my favorite album of all-time came out.
1994 seems to be a year that was Top Heavy. The top 5-10 are among if not the best albums of the artist's career. But it gets thin after that I guess.
Here's a ranking.
I do find it cool how Dean Magraw and Jeff Buckley released their 1st albums within days of each other.
1. Marillion - Brave
2. Dream Theater - Awake
3. Jeff Buckley - Grace
4. Savatage - Handful of Rain
5. Queensryche - Promised Land
6. King's X - Dogman
7. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
8. Fates Warning - Inside Out
9. Atomic Opera - For Madmen Only
10. Tiles - Tiles
11, Boston - Walk On
12. Cirque Du Soleil - Alegria
13. Dean Magraw - Broken Silence
14, Live - Throwing Copper
15. Pushmonkey - Maize
The Grays - Ro Sham Bo
Psychotic Waltz - Mosquito
John Scofield and Pat Metheny - I Can See Your House from Here
Live - Throwing Copper
3rd Matinee - Meanwhile
The Wildhearts - Fishing for Luckies
Roine Stolt - The Flower King
Cairo - Cairo
Concerts
4/8/94 Rush/Primus - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
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1994, the final year of my life as I knew it..
I only bought a handful of albums in 1994.
Dream Theater-Awake
Bruce Dickinson-Balls To Picasso
Alice Cooper-The Last Temptation
Tesla-Bust A Nut
Fates Warning-Inside Out
Megadeth-Youthanasia
Slayer-Divine Intervention
Nirvana-MTV Unplugged In New York
I ordered the two Helloween singles..Perfect Gentleman and Mr. Ego. I was less than impressed...
My concerts..
1994..2/4..Ace Frehley..The Strand Providence
1994..3/11..Rush..Worcester Centrum
1994..3/24..David Lee Roth..Avalon Boston
1994..4/21..Anthrax, Fight..Lupo’s Providence
1994..5/11..Rush..Providence Civic Center
1994..6/16..Dio..The Strand..Providence
1994..8/26..Ace Frehley..The Strand Providence
1994..9/15..Dio..The Strand Providence
1994..10/20..Dream Theater, I Mother Earth.. The Strand Providence
1994..10/21..Dream Theater, I Mother Earth..Berklee Boston
1994..11/2..Fates Warning..Club Baby Head Providence
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1994 was such a great year for music. The true beginnings of Funeral Doom Metal. Post-rock getting into full swing. The 2nd wave of Black metal was in its prime. Helloween finally made another album worth a damn.
1. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell (Best Pink Floyd album. Period.)
2. Jeff Buckley - Grace (What an amazingly talented person, who died way too young)
3. Dream Theater - Awake
4. Änglagård - Epilog
5. Weezer - Blue Album
6. Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops
7. Fates Warning - Inside Out
8. Enslaved - Frost
9. Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi
10. Portishead - Dummy
11. The 3rd and the Mortal - Tears Laid In Earth
12. Marillion - Brave
13. Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
14. Soundgarden - Superunknown
15. Bark Psychosis - Hex
16. Amorphis - Tales from the Thousand Lakes
17. Tori Amos - Under the Pink
18. Solitude Aeturnus - Through the Darkest Hour
19. The Cranberries - No Need to Argue
20. Esoteric - Epistemological Despondency
21. Alice In Chains - Jar of Flies
22. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
23. Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley
24. Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss
25. Kingston Wall - III-Tri-logy
26. Savatage - Handful of Rain
27. Our Lady Peace - Naveed
28. Motorpsycho - Timothy's Monster
29. Thergothon - Stream from the Heavens
30. Helloween - Master of the Rings
31. Dave Matthews Band - Under the Table and Dreaming
32. Evoken - Shades of Night Descending
33. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
34. Dinosaur Jr. - Without a Sound
35. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York
36. Kings X - Dogman
37. Ozric Tentacles - Arborescence
38. Threshold - Psychedelicatessen
39. Ophthalamia - A Journey In Darkness
40. Unwound - New Plastic Ideas
41. Blur - Parklife
42. Autechre - Amber
43. Megadeth - Youthanasia
44. Jamiroquai - The Return of the Space Cowboy
45. 311 - Grassroots
46. Offspring - Smash
47. At the Gates - Terminal Spirit Disease
48. Deconstruction - Deconstruction
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1994 may be the best single year for music in my life time. It was just a really good, deep year, with many favorite albums by these respective bands. I was really getting into music that was on the radio at the time, and I was at least familiar with most of these contemporaneously (aside from the prog stuff really, though I did first learn of DT that year by hearing Caught in a Web on the raido a handful of times). Kinda hate to even rank them because there are so many but most of them deserve to be up there at the top. I'd say there's not much separating 5-17 on my list.
1. Marillion - Brave
2. Dream Theater - Awake
3. Dave Mathews Band - Under the Table and Dreaming
4. King's X - Dogman
5. R.E.M. - Monster
6. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Dulcinea
7. Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
8. Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies
9. Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rearview
10. Big Big Train - Goodbye to the Age of Steam
11. Roine Stolt - The Flower King
12. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
13. Tom Petty - Wildflowers
14. Sponge - Rotting Pinata
15. Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
16. Queensryche - Promised Land
17. Kevin Gilbert - Thud
18. Spock's Beard - The Light
19. Marathon - The First Run
20. Live - Throwing Copper
21. Soundgarden - Superunknown
22. Tesla - Bust a Nut
23. Savatage - Handful of Rain
24. Pride & Glory - Pride & Glory (this album really sucks in retrospect, but at the time I thought it was kind of cool)
Honorable mention for Peter Gabriel - Secret World Live, which is almost a studio album anyway.
EDIT: I knew I was gonna forget Big Big Train - Goodbye to the Age of Steam since the version I have was reissued in another year, but it is another great album from 1994 so I'm reordering the list a bit.
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No 10/10 albums but lots of great ones, a strong year!
1. Jeff Buckley - Grace
2. Dream Theater - Awake
3. Michel Camilo - One More Once
4. Queensrÿche - Promised Land
5. Loreena McKennitt - The Mask and Mirror
6. Offspring - Smash
7. Portishead - Dummy
8. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
9. Bruce Dickinson - Balls to Picasso
10. Megadeth - Youthanasia
11. Green Day - Dookie
12. Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction
13. Casiopea - Asian Dreamer
14. Helloween - Master of the Rings
15. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Other good albums:
dada - American Highway Flower
Edge of Sanity - Purgatory Afterglow
Fates Warning - Inside Out
Kevin Gilbert - Thud
King's X - Dogman
Kingston Wall - III - Tri-Logy
Threshold - Psychedelicatessen
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I was going into 3rd year Uni, so not very much musical discovery for me at the time.
Not mentioned yet:
Forest Gump Soundtrack
The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over
Mattador - Save Us From Oursleves (another gem recommended by Brent)
No Quarter - Jimmy Page & Robert Plant UnLEDed
Red Dawn - Never Surrender
Sass Jordan - Rats
Savatage - Handful of Rain
Steve Perry - For the Love of Strange Medecine
Symphony X - s/t
T.O. Joker - Life Goes On
Vanden Plas - Colour Temple
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1994...the music keeps coming...a ton of it. Another excellent year.
My top 15 (sort of)...
Dream Theater – Awake (my 2nd favorite DT, amazing album and yet so different from I&W)
Queensryche – Promised Land (the last truly great Queensryche album for me)
Fates Warning – Inside Out (LOVE this album. Catchy, concise, but subtly complex)
Amorphis – Tales from the Thousand Lakes (a classic in its genre, whatever the genre is ;D)
Tiamat – Wildhoney (almost “mystic” in its atmosphere)
Machine Head – Burn My Eyes (still their best, in my view. Perfect combo of groove and thrashy vibes)
Vanden Plas – Colour Temple (my favorite of theirs)
Dave Matthews Band – Under the Table and Dreaming (fantastic album. I bought it when it came out. I probably wouldn’t have ranked it this high back then, but I certainly do now!)
Tori Amos – Under the Pink (another great album, different from Little Earthquakes, but pretty much as good)
Marillion – Brave (bold move, and it definitely paid off, quality-wise)
Prong – Cleansing (snap your fingers, snap your neck!)
Saviour Machine – II (as previously discussed, not as good as the first, but still pretty unique)
Skyclad – Prince of the Poverty Line (another great one from the folk-metal masters!)
Stratovarius – Dreamspace (early Stratovarius, with a darker and more melancholic sound. Brilliant songs)
Threshold – Psychedelicatessen (fantastic performance from Glynn Morgan)
Many honorable mentions to follow…there’s quite a few more albums that could, and should, have made the top. Alice in Chains (the Jar of Flies EP is actually one of my favorite things they’ve done), At the Gates (some of their best material is on Terminal Spirit Disease. Had it been a full album…), Edge of Sanity, Elegy, Emperor, Enslaved, Killing Joke, King’s X, Live, My Dying Bride, Nine Inch Nails, Pantera (Far Beyond Driven is inferior to both Cowboys and Vulgar for me, as it tries a little too hard to be the “heaviest”, but there are some classics in here), Soundgarden, Therapy?, The 3rd and the Mortal, Vicious Rumors (Word of Mouth is so underrated, and sadly the last album with Carl Albert) and Virgin Steele… and so much more.
Alice Cooper – The Last Temptation
Alice in Chains – Jar of Flies
At the Gates – Terminal Spirit Disease
Black Sabbath – Cross Purposes
Cemetary – Black Vanity
Cranberries – No Need to Argue
Bruce Dickinson – Balls to Picasso
Dixie Dregs – Full Circle
Edge of Sanity – Purgatory Afterglow
Elegy – Supremacy
Emperor – In the Nightside Eclipse
Enslaved – Frost
Helloween – Master of the Rings
Hootie and the Blowfish – Cracked Rear View
Killing Joke – Pandemonium
King’s X – Dogman
Korn – Korn
Kyuss – Welcome to Sky Valley
Live – Throwing Copper
Yngwie Malmsteen – The Seventh Sign
Michael Manring – Thonk
Megadeth – Youthanasia
Mekong Delta – Vision Fugitives
Mercyful Fate – Time
Motley Crue – Motley Crue
My Dying Bride – Turn Loose the Swans
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
Novembre – Wish I Could Dream It Again…
Pantera – Far Beyond Driven
Pearl Jam – Vitalogy
Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Pride & Glory – Pride & Glory
Soundgarden – Superunknown
Tesla – Bust a Nut
Testament – Low
Therapy? – Troublegum
Tiles - Tiles
The 3rd and the Mortal – Tears Laid in Earth
Vicious Rumors – Word of Mouth
Virgin Steele – The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (Part One)
Wicked Maraya – Cycles
Then some more of the relatively obscure (maybe, or maybe not) prog metal albums from that period:
Arabesque – Beyond the Veil (all instrumental, from the Netherlands. Interesting record)
House of Spirits – Turn of the Tide
Ivanhoe – Visions and Reality (still active, actually. I have a fondness for this debut, despite it being quite rough around the edges, especially the vocals)
Leviathan – Deepest Secrets Beneath
Siam – Language of Menace (Tony Mills – RIP – on vocals)
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The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over
My parents loved this album, I heard it so much growing up.
My 1994 list:
1. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell - 5/5
2. Alice In Chains - Jar Of Flies - 4.5/5
3. Jeff Buckley - Grace - 4.5/5 (Thanks to ariich for this awesome discovery)
4. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York - 4.5/5
5. Ani Difranco - Out Of Range - 4/5
6. Live - Throwing Copper - 3.5/5
7. Dave Matthews Band - Under The Table And Dreaming - 3.5/5
8. Dream Theater - Awake - 3.5/5
9. Pantera - Far Beyond Driven - 2.5/5
10. Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction - 2/5
11. Korn - Korn - 0.5/5
Fantastic year in music IMO.
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1994:
1. Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley
2. Dream Theater - Awake
3. Nas - Illmatic
4. Soundgarden - Superunknown
5. Nick Cave - Let Love In
6. Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies
7. Weezer - Blue album
8. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
9. Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops
10. Hole - Live Through This
Honorable mentions: Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Melvins - Stoner Witch
Corrosion of Conformity - Deliverance
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1. SOUNDGARDEN Superunknown
2. QUEENSRYCHE Promised Land
3. MOTLEY CRUE Motley Crue
4. MEGADETH Youthanasia
5. DREAM THEATER Awake
6. FATES WARNING Inside Out
7. FREAK OF NATURE Gathering Of Freaks
8. BRUCE DICKINSON Balls To Picasso
9. SAIGON KICK Water
10. GUN Swagger
Other essentials...
TYKETTO Strength In Numbers
KING'S X Dogman
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS Purple
TYKETTO Strength In Numbers
SIRCLE OF SILENCE Debut
LITTLE ANGELS Jam
SKIN Self-titled Debut
BANG TANGO Love After Death
THE SCREAMING JETS Self-titled
DANGEROUS TOYS Pissed
BLACK SABBATH Cross Purposes
SAVATAGE Handful Of Rain
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY Deliverance
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Got some catching up to do!!!
1993
Not such a great year, I'll award it to SAVATAGE's Edge of Thorns.
Also, special mention for RAGE - The Missing Link!
1994
1. DREAM THEATER - Awake
Yeah, it's that good.
2. HELLOWEEN - Master of the Rings
3. SAVATAGE - Handful of Rain
And then also honorable mentions for these quite good albums:
ALICE COOPER - The Last Temptation
BRUCE DICKINSON - Balls to Picasso
RAGE - Ten Years in Rage
LOREENA McKENNITT - The Mask and the Mirror
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1994:
1. Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley
2. Dream Theater - Awake
3. Nas - Illmatic
4. Soundgarden - Superunknown
5. Nick Cave - Let Love In
6. Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies
7. Weezer - Blue album
8. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
9. Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops
10. Hole - Live Through This
Honorable mentions: Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Melvins - Stoner Witch
Corrosion of Conformity - Deliverance
Green Day - Dookie
REM - Monster
Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
Amazing year for music tbh.
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I don't think I've ever heard of Manic Street Preachers, I'll have to check them out.
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I don't think I've ever heard of Manic Street Preachers, I'll have to check them out.
They're one of those bands where every album sounds different - but The Holy Bible is amazing.
Here's a song from it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl2Jv4dzFqg
And Here's their most well known song : A Design For Life : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfEoVxy7VDQ
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But they also have 15 albums so ... Maybe start with their double disc Best Of.
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Kevin Gilbert - Thud
this was released on March 21st, 1995.
Rateyourmusic says it is 1994, however a correction was submitted 15 years ago that still has yet to be updated, lol.
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But they also have 15 albums so ... Maybe start with their double disc Best Of.
Will do, I have the lawn to do tomorrow so I'll put it on :tup
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Kevin Gilbert - Thud
this was released on March 21st, 1995.
Rateyourmusic says it is 1994, however a correction was submitted 15 years ago that still has yet to be updated, lol.
Mine says 1994 on my computer too. All the Kevin Gilbert stuff seems to be labeled a year too early!
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Made an update - can you believe that, for all the albums out there, it's Loreena McKennitt's The Mask and the Mirror that I forgot about? :lol I mean, my nickname comes from a movie and not from that album but still...... :lol
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Kevin Gilbert - Thud
this was released on March 21st, 1995.
Rateyourmusic says it is 1994, however a correction was submitted 15 years ago that still has yet to be updated, lol.
Mine says 1994 on my computer too. All the Kevin Gilbert stuff seems to be labeled a year too early!
Promo.
https://www.discogs.com/Kevin-Gilbert-Thud/release/14341000
A lot of the listings with early dates are likely promos, which somehow carried over to digital versions.
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Kevin Gilbert - Thud
this was released on March 21st, 1995.
Rateyourmusic says it is 1994, however a correction was submitted 15 years ago that still has yet to be updated, lol.
Mine says 1994 on my computer too. All the Kevin Gilbert stuff seems to be labeled a year too early!
Promo.
https://www.discogs.com/Kevin-Gilbert-Thud/release/14341000
A lot of the listings with early dates are likely promos, which somehow carried over to digital versions.
That makes sense.
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Also, special mention for RAGE - The Missing Link!
Yes! It's quite possibly my favorite Rage album. Manni Schmidt's guitar playing on this is insanely good.
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1995
1995 was a weird year for me. I discovered many artists that became the foundation of my taste.
May of 1995: Marillion and Dream Theater. And I want to say within a year, Fates Warning, King's X, Galactic Cowboys and some others.
It was among the time of neo-prog and 90's Prog Metal.
Good year. Kevin;'s album by default is #1, but to see Marillion right in there, maybe my favorite Spock's Beard album, The Tea Party and Echolyn says a lot for it.
I.e. many favorites put out among if not their best albums of their catalogs/careers in 1995. How it compares to other years in the 90's? it's pretty good. There possibly wasn't a better year that followed actually.
1. Kevin Gilbert - Thud
2. Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight
3. Spock's Beard - The Light
4. The Tea Party - The Edges of Twilight
5. Echolyn - As the World
6. Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons [EP]
7. Faith No More - King for a Day...Fool for a Lifetime
8. Savatage - Dead Winter Dead
9. Saigon Kick - Devil in the Details
10. Shadow Gallery - Carved in Stone
11. Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways
12. Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and Jean-Luc Ponty - Rite of Strings
13. The Gathering - Mandylion
14. White Willow - Ignis Fatuus
15. Anekdoten - Nucleus
16. Jeff Buckley - Live from the Bataclan [EP]
17. sElf - Subliminal Plastic Motives
18. King Crimson - Thrak
19. Various Artists - Supper's Ready
20. Savatage - Japan Live '94
21. Metropolis - Behind Mysterious Walls
22. Van Halen - Balance
23. Various Artists - Tales from Yesterday
24. Michael Jackson - HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
25. Screaming Headless Torsos - 1995
26. Opeth - Orchid
27. Without Warning - Believe
28. Pink Floyd - Pulse
29. The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures
30. Kevin Gilbert - Kashmir [EP]
31. Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost of Tom Joad
32. Various Artists - The Moon Revisited
33. Manfred Hübler and Siegfried Schwab - Vampyros Lesbos: Sexadelic Dance Party
34. Seventh Sign - Perpetual Destiny
35. The Police - Live!
36. Alanis Morrissette - Jagged Little Pill
37. Various Artists - In from the Storm
38. Royal Hunt - Moving Target
Concerts
4/17/95 Wynton Marsalis - Ted Mann Concert Hall Minneapolis, MN
5/23/95 Boston - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
7/30/95 Van Halen/Our Lady Peace - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
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1995
1995 was a weird year for me. I discovered many artists that became the foundation of my taste.
May of 1995: Marillion and Dream Theater. And I want to say within a year, Fates Warning, King's X, Galactic Cowboys and some others.
It was among the time of neo-prog and 90's Prog Metal.
Good year. Kevin;'s album by default is #1, but to see Marillion right in there, maybe my favorite Spock's Beard album, The Tea Party and Echolyn says a lot for it.
I.e. many favorites put out among if not their best albums of their catalogs/careers in 1995. How it compares to other years in the 90's? it's pretty good. There possibly wasn't a better year that followed actually.
1. Kevin Gilbert - Thud
2. Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight
3. Spock's Beard - The Light
4. The Tea Party - The Edges of Twilight
5. Echolyn - As the World
6. Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons [EP]
7. Faith No More - King for a Day...Fool for a Lifetime
8. Savatage - Dead Winter Dead
9. Saigon Kick - Devil in the Details
10. Shadow Gallery - Carved in Stone
11. Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways
12. Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and Jean-Luc Ponty - Rite of Strings
13. The Gathering - Mandylion
14. White Willow - Ignis Fatuus
15. Anekdoten - Nucleus
16. Jeff Buckley - Live from the Bataclan [EP]
17. sElf - Subliminal Plastic Motives
18. King Crimson - Thrak
19. Various Artists - Supper's Ready
20. Savatage - Japan Live '94
21. Metropolis - Behind Mysterious Walls
22. Van Halen - Balance
23. Various Artists - Tales from Yesterday
24. Michael Jackson - HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
25. Screaming Headless Torsos - 1995
26. Opeth - Orchid
27. Without Warning - Believe
28. Pink Floyd - Pulse
29. The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures
30. Kevin Gilbert - Kashmir [EP]
31. Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost of Tom Joad
32. Various Artists - The Moon Revisited
33. Manfred Hübler and Siegfried Schwab - Vampyros Lesbos: Sexadelic Dance Party
34. Seventh Sign - Perpetual Destiny
35. The Police - Live!
36. Alanis Morrissette - Jagged Little Pill
37. Various Artists - In from the Storm
38. Royal Hunt - Moving Target
Concerts
4/17/95 Wynton Marsalis - Ted Mann Concert Hall Minneapolis, MN
5/23/95 Boston - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
7/30/95 Van Halen/Our Lady Peace - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
The Light was 1995 too? My groove music catalog is all messed up.
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1995:
1. Pink Floyd - PULSE - 5/5 - Fantastic live album, one of my all time favorites and truly a sight to behold from the visual perspective
2. Incubus - Fungus Amongus - 4.5/5 - Amazing debut by a very young Incubus, some great playing by all members and some of the best soloing of the bands career
3. Collective Soul - Collective Soul - 4.5/5
4. The Tea Party - The Edges of Twilight - 4/5
5. Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters - 4/5 - Another fantastic debut that has a very 90's charm, this is the most earnest FF record
6. Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory? - 4/5
7. Candlebox - Lucy - 4/5 - Sophomore debut that is solid but missing the mark slightly when compared to the debut
8. Elton John - Made In England - 3.5/5
9. Alains Morissett - Jagged Little Pill - 3.5/5
10. Hum - You'd Prefer An Astronaut - 3/5
11. Dream Theater - A Change Of Seasons - 3/5
12. Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola & Jean-Luc Ponty - The Rite Of Strings - 2/5 - This would be rated higher if Al Di Meola stopped using whatever Chilean pipe effect pedal he has, it's one of the worst guitar effects I think I've heard
13. Opeth - Orchid - 2/5
14. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... - 2/5
15. Deftones - Adrenaline - 2/5 - There are a few memorable songs here but the album is rough around the edges
16. Porcupine - The Sky Moves Sideways - 1.5/5
17. Radiohead - The Bends - 1.5/5
18. Red Hot Chili Peppers - One Hot Minute - 1.5/5 - The only thing keeping this album from being rated lower are the songs "Aeroplane" and "Transcending". From a production standpoint this is one of the best sounding RCHP albums.
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Woohoo! First to respond (edit... Ninja'd by Kay), so I ought to be able to get a bunch in. Only a few I got in real time - most were discovered much later in life.
Not mentioned yet:
Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side
Bon Jovi - These Days
CITA (Caught in the Act) - Relapse of Reason (another unknown gem courtesy of Brent)
Conception - In Your Multitude
Enchant - A Blueprint of the World
Firehouse - 3
The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures
Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo
Harem Scarem - Voice of Reason
No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
Nocturnal Rites - In a Time of Blood and Fire
Shania Twain - Woman in Me
Skid Row - Subhuman Race
Symphony X - The Damnation Game
UFO - Walk on Water
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1995...had this one ready to go ;) This thread is a great excuse to revisit those years...and to ramble about the albums that made those years special :biggrin:
The top 15, with pretty fluid ranking…all metal, but lots of variety…
Paradise Lost - Draconian Times (a more “refined” Icon? Another fantastic album from them)
Blind Guardian – Imaginations from the Other Side (my favorite BG, no doubt)
The Gathering – Mandylion (Anneke’s debut. Still a mini-classic, a magical combination of doom, gothic and…shoegaze?)
Sentenced – Amok (a unique album, even within their discography. Fantastic stuff)
Moonspell – Wolfheart (another one-of-a-kind album. Classic, black, ethnic metal? Never quite replicated)
Fear Factory – Demanufacture (an absolute classic from the 90s)
Meshuggah – Destroy Erase Improve (just enough thrash left as Meshuggah was starting to morph into a different beast. Another classic from that decade)
Death – Symbolic (tough contest with Individual Thought Patters as my favorite Death. A little more classic metal influence creeping in)
Dark Tranquillity – The Gallery (furiously melodic and complex. One of my favorite melodeath albums)
At the Gates – Slaughter of the Soul (yes, it’s responsible for generating hundreds of copycats. But it’s hard to argue with the original!)
Nightingale – The Breathing Shadow (from the genius of Dan Swano. The debut is much darker than rest of Nightingale's discography. A mix of gothic and Marillion?)
Skyclad – The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea (the production gets worse, but the songs are some of their best. Love it)
Lake of Tears – Headstones (Lots of influence from Icon-era Paradise Lost, but it’s more than just that. Doomy and dreamy, great songs)
Faith No More – King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime (even more all over the place than usual. A step down from The Real Thing and Angel Dust, but still a lot of fun)
Decoryah – Wisdom Floats (haven’t quite heard anything like this, before or after. Incredibly unique atmosphere, like a doom version of Dead Can Dance or something. Rough sounding, but fascinating stuff)
Plenty of other great album this year. Notable is, of course, Blaze’s debut with Iron Maiden. The X Factor is not a great album, but I like it. And it's Maiden doing something different, with a good degree of success. My Dying Bride put out my favorite amongst their albums, with The Angel and the Dark River. On the classic metal front: Rage’s Black in Mind wasn’t quite as good as The Missing Link but still highly enjoyable. Gamma Ray did very well with Land of the Free and Kai Hansen back on vocals. Savatage went with their “concept/musical” route: Dead Winter Dead has some excellent moments and I guess it spawned the Trans-Siberian Orchestra with Sarajevo 12/24… Good stuff on the prog front too – in addition to DT’s classic A Change of Seasons, we have Conception, Eldritch, Elegy, Everon, Marillion, Shadow Gallery, Sieges Even, Symphony X. On the more mainstream front, I loved Collective Soul, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins (many good memories there)...and Radiohead’s The Bends (probably my favorite of theirs)
Abstrakt Algebra – Abstrakt Algebra
Anathema – The Silent Enigma
Ayreon – The Final Experiment
Celestial Season - Solar Lovers
Collective Soul – Collective Soul
Conception – In Your Multitude
Crematory – Illusions
Dissection – Storm of the Light’s Bane
Down – NOLA
Eldritch – Seeds of Rage
Elegy – Lost
Everon – Flood
Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters
Gamma Ray – Land of the Free
Garbage – Garbage
Goo Goo Dolls – A Boy Named Goo
Grip Inc. – Power of Inner Strength
Iron Maiden – The X Factor
Marillion – Afraid of Sunlight
Monster Magnet – Dopes to Infinity
Motorhead - Sacrifice
Movida – Against It All
My Dying Bride – The Angel and the Dark River
Oasis – (What’s the story) Morning glory?
Ozzy Osbourne – Ozzmosis
Pyogenesis – Twinaleblood
Radiohead – The Bends
Rage – Black in Mind
Rammstein – Herzeleid
Savatage – Dead Winter Dead
Shadow Gallery – Carved in Stone
Sieges Even – Sophisticated
Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie
The Storm – Eye of the Storm
Stratovarius – Fourth Dimension
Symphony X – The Damnation Game
Tad Morose – Sender of Thoughts
Theatre of Tragedy – Theatre of Tragedy
Therapy? – Infernal Love
Toto – Tambu
Virgin Steele – The Marriage of Heaven and Hell – Part 1
White Zombie – Astro Creep: 2000
The Wildhearts – P.H.U.Q
A couple of notable EPs:
Dream Theater – A Change of Seasons
In Flames – Subterranean (some of their very best songs)
‘nother round of relatively obscure prog (and whereabouts) metal albums:
Head or Tales – Eternity Becomes a Lie
Ivanhoe – Symbols of Time
Nation – Without Remorse
Parish – Envision
Ricochet – Among the Elements
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Woohoo! First to respond (edit... Ninja'd by Kay), so I ought to be able to get a bunch in. Only a few I got in real time - most were discovered much later in life.
Not mentioned yet:
Bon Jovi - These Days
Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo
No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
Shania Twain - Woman in Me
Skid Row - Subhuman Race
We had these albums playing in the house at the time but I never got into them enough to really rate them. I should put them on to travel back in time and get more familiar with them.
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Enchant - A Blueprint of the World
UFO - Walk on Water
I have Enchant marked as 1993...
...and my UFO CD is 1998...do I have a later re-issue of it? Here's what my cover looks like:
(https://img.discogs.com/77LDknnEVW1N85WGzAcNHad88Lc=/fit-in/499x500/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-3105862-1316023017.jpeg.jpg)
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...and my UFO CD is 1998...do I have a later re-issue of it? Here's what my cover looks like:
(https://img.discogs.com/77LDknnEVW1N85WGzAcNHad88Lc=/fit-in/499x500/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-3105862-1316023017.jpeg.jpg)
Yes, that's the US version which was released in 1998. The original '95 version has this cover:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/UFO_walk_on_water_jap.jpg)
This is the one I have. I bought it on import as soon as it was available. Mine is a Japanese import and has the bonus track Message For Japan.
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Got it...Yeah, I got mine here in the US a few years later...
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Got it...Yeah, I got mine here in the US a few years later...
It was the same thing with Misdeameanor. It was released in 1985 ( I grabbed it right away!), and then and then 6 months later in the US, with half a dozen tracks all remixed to hell with extra keyboards.
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Boy, I may have a top 100 for 1995. We shall see. Lots of amazing music this year! :corn
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Very important musical year for me (I was in school and this was right around the time I was starting to really discover music for myself and buy albums. Plus it was the height of Britpop, which was a big deal back then and back there). These are in no order.
Swans - The Great Annihilator
Slash's Snakepit - It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
Radiohead - The Bends
Moby - Everything Is Wrong (bought solely for the song that plays at the end of the movie 'Heat')
Steve Vai - Alien Love Secrets
Bob Dylan - MTV Unplugged
Primus - Tales From The Punchbowl
Pink Floyd - Pulse
Paul Weller - Stanley Road
Michael Jackson - HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book 1
Alanis Morisette - Jagged Little Pill
Elliott Smith - Elliott Smith
Garbage - Garbage
Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons
Prince - The Gold Experience
Oasis - What's The Story Morning Glory
No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Inifinite Sadness
Marilyn Manson - Smells Like Children
Pulp - Different Class
Madonna - Something To Remember
Meat Loaf - Welcome to the Neighbourhood
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Enchant - A Blueprint of the World
UFO - Walk on Water
I have Enchant marked as 1993...
1993 is correct for A Blueprint of the World. It was reissued in 1995.
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1995 was the year my life was turned upside down. It's literally the half way point of my life right now, and a stark line of demarcation between the two.
This is what I bought in 1995:
Dream Theater-A Change Of Seasons
Anthrax-Stomp 442
Iron Maiden-The X Factor
Flotsam & Jetsam-Drift
Ozzy Osbourne-Ozzmosis
Van Halen-Balance
AC/DC-Ballbreaker
And transitionally..
Red Hot Chili Pepprs-One Hot Minute
Alanis Morrisette-Jagged Little Pill
Joan Osbourne-Relish
Concerts I saw that year..
1995..2/15..Slayer..The Strand Providence
1995..3/18..Tesla.. The Strand Providence
1995..3/19..Tesla..Avalon Boston
1995..4/9..Page/Plant..Boston Garden
1995..4/17..Slash’s Snakepit.. The Strand Providence
1995..4/30..Van Halen..Providence Civic Center
1995..5/11..Dokken.. The Strand Providence
1995..7/12..Megadeth, Korn, Flotsam & Jetsam.. The Strand Providence
1995..7/16..Queensryche..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1995..8/3..Dream Theater.. The Strand Providence
1995..8/9..Van Halen..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1995..10/23..Page/Plant..Fleet Center Boston
1995..11/25..Anthrax..Avalon Boston
1995..12/6..Red Hot Chili Peppers, Silverchair..Fleet Center Boston
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OK, not quite a top 100, but a top 75. These were my formative years (91-99) as far as shaping my music tastes. Lots of classic albums that came out in 95 specifically. The top 5 are all 5* albums, no contest.
1. Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side (After being on my lists for their first 4 albums, they finally top a yearly list with, what I consider their best album)
2. Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons (Great epic song along with some great live covers)
3. Ved Buens Ende..... - Written in Waters (Beautiful, dissonant, unique, timeless)
4. Spock's Beard - The Light (A hell of a debut album, and to this day, still my favorite Spock's Beard album)
5. Pink Floyd - Pulse (This live show changed my life)
6. The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (It's not perfect, but it's one of those albums that I got when it was released and had probably the biggest impact on me of any album on this list)
7. Death - Symbolic (almost perfectly balancing aggression, technicality, and progginess)
8. Shadow Gallery - Carved In Stone (another album that isn't perfect, but the melodies are so gorgeous and the vocal harmonies are on point)
9. Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways (first PT album I bought after Deadwing; I was blown away by the difference in style and sound and I loved it just as much)
10. Dishwalla - Pet Your Friends (another album like Mellon Collie that I bought at the time of release that made a huge impact on me. I love JR Richards vocals here)
11. Bone Thugs N Harmony - E. 1999 Eternal (My first hip hop album, bought at the time (still surprised my mom let me buy it), it was also a very unique and influential hip hop album and for good reason)
12. Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (One of those Marillion albums that took forever to click, but when it did, fell in love with it)
13. Björk - Post (even better, and weirder, than her debut album)
14. Alice in Chains - Alice in Chains (Perhaps their most diverse album and their darkest)
15. Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler (the legacy of Ulver begins here. Not bad for an album written buy an 18 year old kid)
16. Opeth - Orchid (the legacy of Opeth begins here)
17. Anekdoten - Nucleus (maybe not as good as their previous album, but great nonetheless)
18. Conception - In Your Multitude (One of those prog metal bands that wasn't given enough credit back in the 90s)
19. Sieges Even - Sophisticated (Not quite to their final, best, form yet, but a fun album)
20. The Gathering - Mandylion (the legacy of Anneke van Giersbergen begins here, what a beautiful voice)
21. Blut aus Nord - Ultima Thulée (not as good as the above Ulver album in the Black Metal arena, I find that Blut aus Nord would go on to do better things. Also not bad for being written and recorded by a 16 year old)
22. The Tea Party - The Edges of Twilight
23. Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory (another album bought on release that I loved a lot more as a kid, but still find it to be pretty good)
24. Symphony X - The Damnation Game (the legacies of Michael Romeo and Russell Allen begins here)
25. In the Woods... - HEart of the Ages
26. Scott Walker - Tilt (The beginning of the dramatic experimental phase of his career, and IMO his best phase)
27. Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
28. No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom (another one of those albums that shaped my music tastes from a young age, it would be higher on the list except for a few clunkers)
29. Savatage - Dead Winter Dead
30. Fleurety - Min tid skal komme (one of the more unique black metal bands out there, at least in 1995)
31. Goodie Mob - Soul Food
32. Sonic Youth - Washing Machine
33. The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??! (do you like Jazz in your hip hop? I do too!)
34. Summoning - Minus Morgul (yes, their first album came out earlier in the year, but this is where they truly begin their legacy)
35. Ayreon - The Final Experiment (not the greatest Ayreon album, by a long shot, but a great start)
36. UFO - Walk On Water
37. Ophthalamia - Via Dolorosa (very catchy, yet diverse and unique black metal)
38. Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery (yes Skydancer came out 2 years earlier, but this is the true beginning of the greatest Melodic Death Metal band)
39. My Dying Bride - The Angel and the Dark River
40. Primus - Tales from the Punchbowl (first Primus album I bought and still my favorite)
41. Screaming Headless Torsos - Screaming Headless Torsos (Jojo Mayer is an absolute beast on the drums)
42. At the Gates - Slaughter of the Soul (their best album, but still not quite as good as Dark Tranquillity's offering)
43. Nightingale - The Breathing Shadow (This is where the legacy of Dan Swanö begins for me)
44. Mad Season - Above
45. Faith No More - King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
46. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (another album of my youth, still as catchy and "fun" as it was back then)
47. PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love
48. Fugazi - Red Machine
49. Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut
50. Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante
51. Running Wild - Masquerade (the last good Running Wild album)
52. Sunny Day Real Estate - LP2 (got this album because of the Batman Forever soundtrack, was not disappointed)
53. Skepticism - Stormcrowfleet (considered one of the greatest Funeral Doom albums of all time (it isn't) and highly influential. Good but not great album)
54. Punky Brüster - Cooked on Phonics (I know this was made, mostly, as a joke, but I still really get a kick out of it. Devin Townsend never ceases to amuse me)
55. The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures
56. Meshuggah - Destroy Erase Improve
57. Absu - The Sun of Tiphareth
58. Unwound - The Future of What
59. Radiohead - The Bends
60. Swans - The Great Annihilator
61. Teramaze - Doxology (good debut album, with much better to come)
62. Boards of Canada - Twoism
63. Ozric Tentacles - Become the Other
64. The Verve - A Northern Soul
65. Kyuss - ...And the Circus Leaves Town
66. Clutch - Clutch
67. Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo
68. Lake of Tears - Headstones
69. King Crimson - Thrak
70. Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings
71. Primordial - Imrama
72. Strapping Young Lad - Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (More Devy, heavier than the album title suggests)
73. Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters (The beginning of their legacy, with much better albums to come)
74. Deftones - Adrenaline (See above)
75. Bal-Sagoth - A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria (see above)
76. Anathema - Pentecost III
77. Echolyn - As the World
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1995 is an interesting year (and I had two entries from 1994 misclassified which were actually from 1995). I have a lot of albums from this year, but a bunch of these I only care for 2 or 3 songs. But some good ones still, including probably my favorite album ever.
1. Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight
2. Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
3. Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons
4. Dokken - Dysfunctional
5. Van Halen - Balance
6. Tears for Fears - Raul and the Kings of Spain
7. Toad the Wet Sprocket - In Light Syrup
8. Collective Soul - Collective Soul
9. Radiohead - The Bends
10. The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures
11. Kevin Gilbert - Thud
12. Spock’s Beard - The Light
13. Alanis Morrissette - Jagged Little Pill
14. Skid Row - Subhuman Race
15. Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo
16. Natalie Merchant - Tiger Lilly
17. Matthew Sweet - 100% Fun
18. King Crimson - THRAK
19. Better Than Ezra - Deluxe
20. Soul Asylum - Let Your Dim Light Shine
21. Mad Season - Above
22. Neil Young - Mirror Ball
23. Gary Hoey - Gary Hoey
24. Extreme - Waiting For The Punchline
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1. Queen - Made in Heaven
2. Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons
3. King Crimson - THRAK
4. Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side
5. Silverchair - Frogstomp
6. Michael Jackson - History
7. Meat Loaf - Welcome to the Neighborhood
8. Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
9. Radiohead - The Bends
10. Scott Walker - Tilt
11. Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery
12. Spock's Beard - The Light
13. Green Day - Insomniac
14. No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
15. Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways
Other good albums:
Extreme - Waiting for the Punchline
Faith No More - King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures
Kevin Gilbert - Thud (now in the correct year)
Paradise Lost - Draconian Times
Pink Floyd - Pulse
The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
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1995 was an awesome year and many bands put out essential albums.
The gold medal has to be shared:
1. Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side
1. Rage – Black in Mind
Sorry, can't decide between these two utter masterpieces of german heavy metal, the very best albums of the respective bands and of the entire german scene in general.
Then the podium is filled by:
3. Virgin Steele - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part I
Another timeless masterpiece and a band everyone here should know and love more.
Then filling out in a somehow impossible order the rest of the year:
4. Gamma Ray – Land of the Free
5. Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings
6. Savatage - Dead Winter Dead
7. Shadow Gallery - Carved in Stone
8. Rainbow - Stranger in Us All
9. Royal Hunt - Moving Target
10. Iron Maiden – The X Factor
Honorable mentions for:
Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost of Tom Joad
Symphony X - The Damnation Game
Oh, and seeing Meat Loaf mentioned, I totally should have put Bat out of Hell II in my 1993 list.
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Enchant - A Blueprint of the World
UFO - Walk on Water
I have Enchant marked as 1993...
Right you are. Not sure how my library tagged it with '95.
1993 is correct for A Blueprint of the World. It was reissued in 1995.
I guess that explains it!
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1995
1. IRON MAIDEN - The X Factor
2. PARADISE LOST - Draconian Times
3. VAN HALEN - Balance
4. WASP - Still Not Black Enough
5. POWDERFINGER - Mr Kneebone
6. SAIGON KICK - Devil In The Details
7. OZZY OSBOURNE - Ozzmosis
8. THE SCREAMING JETS - Screaming Jets
9. DREAM THEATER - A Change Of Seasons
10. EYEWITNESS - Self Titled (Ralph Santolla)
WARRANT - Ultraphobic
SKID ROW - Subhuman Race
EXTREME - Waiting For The Punchline
MONSTER MAGNET - Dopes To Infinity
SAXON - Dogs Of War
ALICE IN CHAINS - AIC
KINGDOM COME - Twilight Cruiser
FAITH NO MORE - King for a Day Fool for a Lifetime
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OK, not quite a top 100, but a top 75. These were my formative years (91-99) as far as shaping my music tastes. Lots of classic albums that came out in 95 specifically. The top 5 are all 5* albums, no contest.
Same here - those were truly formative years for my musical exploration as well. And looking at your yearly lists, there's plenty of overlap :)
Some of your picks that I share and haven't seen much of:
7. Death - Symbolic (almost perfectly balancing aggression, technicality, and progginess)
18. Conception - In Your Multitude (One of those prog metal bands that wasn't given enough credit back in the 90s)
19. Sieges Even - Sophisticated (Not quite to their final, best, form yet, but a fun album)
20. The Gathering - Mandylion (the legacy of Anneke van Giersbergen begins here, what a beautiful voice)
24. Symphony X - The Damnation Game (the legacies of Michael Romeo and Russell Allen begins here)
238. Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery (yes Skydancer came out 2 years earlier, but this is the true beginning of the greatest Melodic Death Metal band)
39. My Dying Bride - The Angel and the Dark River
43. Nightingale - The Breathing Shadow (This is where the legacy of Dan Swanö begins for me)
46. Meshuggah - Destroy Erase Improve
58. Lake of Tears - Headstones
Sieges Even's album is a lot of fun. For my taste, A Sense of Change is their best - although the Rush worship was strong there :) The Gathering's Mandylion was lumped in the "gothic metal" scene, but it was obviously much more than that. The Damnation Game might not be among SX's very best, but Edge of Forever is an incredible song (not to mention setting the, um, template for many of their best songs to follow). And that Nightingale debut - so good. I would say Edge of Sanity had already established Dan Swano as a crucial figure in the scene, but The Breathing Shadow is a great representation of his vision. Also very happy to see Lake of Tears' Headstones. It's a good one, and the one most influenced by the gothic-doom sound of those years. Did you hear the album that came out this year? I enjoyed it a fair bit.
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3. Virgin Steele - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part I
Another timeless masterpiece and a band everyone here should know and love more.
I've got the years for part I and II wrong...Had I in 1994 and II in 1995. Will have to amend.
Can't quite decide which one is better, btw. Part II probably has higher highs, but I think I like part I a bit better. Not that it really matters, since we can happily listen to both ;D
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Yeah, Part I is solid all the way through, Part II is more inconsistent but it has A Symphony of Steele, Prometheus, Emalaith and Victory is Mine. Tough choice :D
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1995 was the year for British pop music and I loved it!
Blur - The Great Escape. Their singles battle with Oasis launched them as megastars in Europe. Great album, great production and variety.
Oasis - Morning Glory - Eh, not as good as their first I think. It has some great songs but I don't like this softer side to them. Hey Now runs on too long, and those Swamp Song bits are pointless.
Radiohead - The Bends is a classic.
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OK, not quite a top 100, but a top 75. These were my formative years (91-99) as far as shaping my music tastes. Lots of classic albums that came out in 95 specifically. The top 5 are all 5* albums, no contest.
Same here - those were truly formative years for my musical exploration as well. And looking at your yearly lists, there's plenty of overlap :)
Some of your picks that I share and haven't seen much of:
7. Death - Symbolic (almost perfectly balancing aggression, technicality, and progginess)
18. Conception - In Your Multitude (One of those prog metal bands that wasn't given enough credit back in the 90s)
19. Sieges Even - Sophisticated (Not quite to their final, best, form yet, but a fun album)
20. The Gathering - Mandylion (the legacy of Anneke van Giersbergen begins here, what a beautiful voice)
24. Symphony X - The Damnation Game (the legacies of Michael Romeo and Russell Allen begins here)
238. Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery (yes Skydancer came out 2 years earlier, but this is the true beginning of the greatest Melodic Death Metal band)
39. My Dying Bride - The Angel and the Dark River
43. Nightingale - The Breathing Shadow (This is where the legacy of Dan Swanö begins for me)
46. Meshuggah - Destroy Erase Improve
58. Lake of Tears - Headstones
Sieges Even's album is a lot of fun. For my taste, A Sense of Change is their best - although the Rush worship was strong there :) The Gathering's Mandylion was lumped in the "gothic metal" scene, but it was obviously much more than that. The Damnation Game might not be among SX's very best, but Edge of Forever is an incredible song (not to mention setting the, um, template for many of their best songs to follow). And that Nightingale debut - so good. I would say Edge of Sanity had already established Dan Swano as a crucial figure in the scene, but The Breathing Shadow is a great representation of his vision. Also very happy to see Lake of Tears' Headstones. It's a good one, and the one most influenced by the gothic-doom sound of those years. Did you hear the album that came out this year? I enjoyed it a fair bit.
I haven't heard the new Lake of Tears yet. It's on my to listen list though. Their previous album, Illwill, was kind of lacking.
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1995:
1. Death - Symbolic
2. Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
3. Faith No More - King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
4. Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
5. Radiohead - The Bends
6. Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings
7. Down - NOLA
8. Alice in Chains - Alice in Chains
9. Garbage - Garbage
10. Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side
Honorable mentions: No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
Ulver - Bergtatt - Et Eventyr I 5 Capitler
Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery
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1996
1996 was a year that I was amidst in listening to progressive metal and getting my 1st taste of progressive rock beyond Rush. Although it was odd how '96, '97, '98 I did check out a lot of it, to mixed success. But I guess 1996 maybe was best known for waiting for the next Dream Theater album after being obsessed with them, buying bootlegs and loving their new EP from 1995, despite the departure of Kevin Moore.
King's X and Fates Warning were the other go-to's around that time. Ear Candy came out in May, but it was actually in July or August I 1st checked them out and did enjoy their newest album quite a bit after initially thinking they were a Lenny Kravitz wannabe band.
I went on to see King's X live in 1996 along with Galactic Cowboys, another new band to me. And their new album Machine Fish was a record I enjoyed and have since.
Rush of course released their 1st album in 3 years in Test For Echo, which I can't say was a huge disappointment, but ultimately, seems a bit sad given it was really the 1st new album they released after me being an addicted fan (I suppose 2nd, but when Counterparts came out in 1993, I didn't even know it was coming out, and I was still digesting some of their massive catalog).
But I guess when I was only luke warm about the new Rush album, and my almost impatience waiting for a new Dream Theater album. A couple of things filled that void for me.
1) The Rush tribute album from Magna Carta Working Man. It had a bunch of musicians I enjoyed including I recall all of the Dream Theater guys aside from Derek Sherinian I think.Plus it was co-produced by Mike Portnoy.
But the likes of Fates Warning, Shadow Gallery, Devin Townsend and some others.
2) Victor, the Alex Lifeson side/solo project, which I later came to learn about the singer being Edwin from I Mother Earth
3) The underground progressive rock and metal scene. "Neoprog" and Power Metal along with labels like Magna Carta and these Import prog and metal companies like Impulse music which I came across selling cds at Record Shows and they were originally based in the Twin Cities, but eventually moved to Roselle, IL.
And it was through Impulse I first heard about Angra, a brazilian band who played incredibly fast and technical, and had this soaring singer named Andre Matos that I absolutely loved. And their album Holy Land I eventually came to love the most.
Another one I read about 1st on the Ytsejam through the Dream Theater fans, and eventually purchased the debut album Behind, from Germany's Superior.
Oddly Andre even later went on to sing on a Superior tune on their next album.
The other records from 1996, Spock's Beard, I Mother Earth, DJ Shadow, Porcupine Tree, Eric Johnson among others actually make 1996 a pretty deep year that also is somewhat top heavy. I mean Holy Land is an all-time classic, but after that there's just a long list of very good records that extend into the 20's or more.
1. Angra - Holy Land
2. Superior - Behind
3. Spock's Beard - Beware of Darkness
4. King's X - Ear Candy
5. I Mother Earth - Scenery and Fish
6. Victor - Victor
7. Galactic Cowboys - Machine Fish
8. DJ Shadow - Entroducing....
9. Eric Johnson - Venus Isle
10. Porcupine Tree - Signify
11. Enchant - Wounded
12. Marillion - Made Again
13. The Tea Party - Alhambra [EP]
14. Various Artists - Working Man: A Show of Bands
15. The Flower Kings - Retropolis
16. Super 8 - Super 8
17. Galactic Cowboys - Feel the Rage [EP]
18. Lemur Voice - Insights
19. Jason Falkner - Presents Author Unknown
20. Rush - Test for Echo
21. sElf - The Half-Baked Serenade
22. Orphaned Land - El Norra Alla
23. Screaming Headless Torsos - Live!!
24. Altura - Mercy
25. Visionary - Visionary
26. Yes - Keys 2 Ascension
27. 24-7 Spyz - Heavy Metal Soul by the Pound
28. Fountains of Wayne - Fountains of Wayne
29. George Michael - Older
30. Paula Cole - This Fire
31. dredg - Conscious [EP]
32. The Wondermints - Wonderful World of the Wondermints
33. The Wishing Tree - Carnival of Souls
34. Archive - Londium
Concerts
5/30/96 Styx/Kansas - St.Paul Civic Center St.Paul, MN
8/26/96 King's X/Galactic Cowboys - The Mirage Minneapolis, MN
10/29/96 Rush - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
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Woo 1996, here we go:
1. dredg - Conscious - 5/5 - The first demo EP from one of my favorite bands. 4 songs, really heavy with a nu metal flair
2. Tool - Aenima - 4.5/5 - Great album but I think it's aged the worst of the Tool releases
3. Dave Matthews Band - Crash - 4/5 - My first intro to DMB, still love this record to this day
4. Metallica - Load - 4/5
5. Failure - Fantastic Planet - 4/5
6. Ludovico Einaudi - Le Onde - 3.5/5
7. Kiss - MTV Unplugged - 3.5/5 - My dad had this on Laserdisc and I'd watch it all the time. The only decent Kiss album IMO
8. Pantera - Great Southern Trendkill- 3.5/5
9. Tonic - Lemon Parade - 3/5
10. Alive In Chains - MTV Unplugged - 3/5
11. Porcupine Tree - Signify - 3/5
12. Tori Amos - Boys For Pele - 2/5 - If this album was shorter it'd be much better
13. Opeth - Morningrise - 2/5
14. Matchbox 20 - Yourself Or Someone Like You - 2/5 - I really loved this album when I was younger but it's aged poorly, probably due to many songs being played non-stop
15. Nirvana - From The Muddy Banks Of Wishkah - 1/5 - I listened to this album on repeat for hours when I was little but after revisiting it a few years ago I really disliked it.
16. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing.... - 1/5
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1996.... what an awesome year for the beginning of resurgence of heavy metal. Let's try to make a list:
1. Rage - End of All Days
In an year of masterpieces, Rage finally wins it alone with this absolutely amazing album, one of their very best. A gem of german heavy metal.
2. Helloween - The Time of the Oath
Speaking of german heavy metal, one of the best albums from the pumpkins.
3. Virgin Steele - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part II
The Marriage saga continues along with legendary songs such as Emalaith and A Symphony of Steele.
And now, an alternate podium, because these three records all deserve an hypothetical "medal":
4. Iced Earth - The Dark Saga (Could have sent it on the podium, really)
5. Grave Digger - Tunes of War (Another amazing album, podium worthy absolutely)
6. Therion - Theli (the beginning of symphonic metal as we know it)
Also great records worth of any top ten:
Angra - Holy Land
Stratovarius - Episode
Bruce Dickinson - Skunkworks
And finally some albums not so great but still good:
Metallica - Load
Manowar - Louder Than Hell
And a special mention for Rage - Lingua Mortis, an album that came a few months before Therion's Theli and is one of the very first records, if not THE first, to blend metal and classic music.
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1996
Overall maybe not as stellar in my book as the years immediately preceding it, but some outstanding albums nonetheless
Top 15, fluid ranking:
Amorphis – Elegy (I remember I was a little taken aback at first, after Tales…but, clearly, I have grown to LOVE this record)
Moonspell – Irreligious (they streamlined their sound a bit for this one, but managed to put out a classic for the “gothic-metal” genre)
Angra – Holy Land (their best album for me. Powerful stuff, with beautiful melodies and arrangements)
Novembre – Arte Novecento (the vocals are an acquired taste here, but the mood this album conveys is something else)
Anathema – Eternity (strong Pink Floyd vibes in this “transitional” album for them. Great stuff)
Dave Matthews Band – Crash (probably my favorite DMB album)
Tool – Aenima (Undertow was good, but here is where Tool becomes Tool)
Therion – Theli (This is bombastic, over-the-top Therion at their best. And there’s actual, amazing songs to back it all up)
Katatonia – Brave Murder Day (different from the Katatonia we know today, but a classic in the death-doom genre)
Hypocrisy – Abducted (this is where Peter Tagtgren’s unique brand of death metal truly comes together for the first time. Still my favorite from Hypocrisy)
Skyclad – Irrational Anthems (another brilliant one from Skyclad. The “folk” starts being a little more prevalent here, but still hard-hitting)
Helloween – The Time of the Oath (probably my favorite Deris-era album)
Kip Winger – This Conversation Seems Like a Dream (I know, I know :biggrin:)
Rush – Test for Echo (this was my first Rush bought as a fan. I like it, don’t love it – admittedly, it shows up in this top list mostly by virtue of being Rush, but I happily listen to it to this day)
Opeth – Morningrise (Opeth would go on to become a different band after this, with Your Arms, Your Hearse…I love what they did afterwards, but I’m very fond of Morningrise. Some fantastic material in here)
EDIT: In Flames - The Jester Race (an absolute classic of melodic death metal)
EDIT #2: Sentenced - Down (Not as special as Amok for me, but a great start to a new era for them)
Honorable mentions:
Alice in Chains – MTV Unplugged
Cemetary – Sundown
CITA – Heat of Emotion
Cradle of Filth – Vempire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein
Crematory – Crematory
Decoryah – Fall-Dark Waters
Deep Purple – Purpendicular
Depressive Age – Electric Scum
Bruce Dickinson – Skunkworks
DJ Shadow – Entroducing…
Enchant – Wounded
Evereve – Seasons
Lisa Germano – Excerpts from a Love Circus
I Mother Earth – Scenery & Fish
Journey – Trial by Fire
Labyrinth – No Limits
Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go
Matchbox 20 – Yourself or Someone Like You
Metallica – Load
The Nefilim – Zoon
Neurosis – Through Silver in Blood
Nevermore – The Politics of Ecstasy
Nightingale – The Closing Chronicles
Porcupine Tree - Signify
Prong – Rude Awakening
Psychotic Waltz – Bleeding
Rage – End of All Days
Sadist – Tribe
Samael – Passage
Scheer – Infliction
Secret Discovery – A Question of Time
Sirrah – Acme
Spock’s Beard – Beware of Darkness
Stratovarius – Episode
Virgin Steele – The Marriage of Heaven and Hell – Part 2
The Wallflowers – Bringing Down the Horse
Zakk Wylde – Book of Shadows
..and the usual round of lesser known prog(ish) metal:
Altura – Mercy
Leviathan – Riddles, Questions, Poetry and Outrage
Maraya – No Hope for Humanity
Mystere De Notre Dame – S/T
Poverty’s No Crime – The Autumn Years
Power – Justice of Fire
The Quest – Change
Seventhsign – Perpetual Destiny
Soul Cages – Moments
Superior – Behind
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1996 is a really fun year. It's much more loaded than I realized. In my mind I always had 1993 and 1994 as the big years in the 90s, but 1996 is right up there with them.
1. Eric Johnson - Venus Isle
2. The Flower Kings - Retropolis
3. Kip Winger - Thisconversationseemslikeadream
4. The Blue Nile - Peace at Last
5. Journey - Trial by Fire
6. Rush - Test for Echo
7. King's X- Ear Candy
8. Spock's Beard - Beware of Darkness
9. Dave Matthews Band - Crash
10. Counting Crows - Recovering the Satellites
11. Mr. Big - Hey Man
12. Gin Blossoms - Congratulations... I'm Sorry
13. Pear Jam - No Code
14. Sting - Mercury Falling
15. Enchant - Wounded
16. The Wishing Tree - Carnival of Souls
17. The Wallflowers - Bringing Down the Horse
18. Stone Temple Pilots - Tiny Music
19. Phil Collins - Dance Into The Light
20. Camel - Harbour of Tears
21. The Verve Pipe - Villains
22. Hootie & The Blowfish - Fairweather Johnson
23. Gary Hoey - Bug Alley
25th anniversary for all of these albums. Time flying by.
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..and the usual round of lesser known prog(ish) metal:
Altura – Mercy
Leviathan – Riddles, Questions, Poetry and Outrage
Maraya – No Hope for Humanity
Mystere De Notre Dame – S/T
Poverty’s No Crime – The Autumn Years
Power – Justice of Fire
The Quest – Change
Seventhsign – Perpetual Destiny
Soul Cages – Moments
Spastik Ink – Ink Complete
Superior – Behind
2. Superior - Behind
24. Altura - Mercy
Clearly not "lesser known" by you ;) Interesting that you have Superior so high in your rankings for the year. Listening to the album as we speak, as I haven't in a long time. Good stuff. "Why" is a fantastic song. I realized I've never heard "Younique". I did however randomly find their third (and last?) album, Ultima Ratio, as a used CD a few years ago. Will have to revisit that too.
As for Altura, I remember it being very inspired by DT. Indeed, I had bought it that year as I was riding the wave of bands sounding that way...have to go back to that one...
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1. Metallica - Load
2. Ocean Colour Scene - Moseley Shoals
3. Helloween - The Time of the Oath
4. Bad Religion - The Gray Race
5. Bruce Dickinson - Skunkworks
6. Amorphis - Elegy
7. Pendragon - The Masquerade Overture
8. dada - El Subliminoso
9. Deep Purple - Purpendicular
10. Porcupine Tree - Signify
11. Ulver - Kveldssanger
12. Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire
13. Social Distortion - White Light White Heat White Trash
14. Ayreon - Actual Fantasy
15. Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving
Also good:
Arena - Pride
Asia - Arena
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing.....
The Flower Kings - Retropolis
Hooverphonic - A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular
Neutral Milk Hotel - On Avery Island
Skyclad - Irrational Anthems
Sting - Mercury Falling
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..and the usual round of lesser known prog(ish) metal:
Altura – Mercy
Leviathan – Riddles, Questions, Poetry and Outrage
Maraya – No Hope for Humanity
Mystere De Notre Dame – S/T
Poverty’s No Crime – The Autumn Years
Power – Justice of Fire
The Quest – Change
Seventhsign – Perpetual Destiny
Soul Cages – Moments
Spastik Ink – Ink Complete
Superior – Behind
2. Superior - Behind
24. Altura - Mercy
Clearly not "lesser known" by you ;) Interesting that you have Superior so high in your rankings for the year. Listening to the album as we speak, as I haven't in a long time. Good stuff. "Why" is a fantastic song. I realized I've never heard "Younique". I did however randomly find their third (and last?) album, Ultima Ratio, as a used CD a few years ago. Will have to revisit that too.
As for Altura, I remember it being very inspired by DT. Indeed, I had bought it that year as I was riding the wave of bands sounding that way...have to go back to that one...
I love Superior, actually wrote a long winded topic about them Here (https://allmediareviews.blogspot.com/2010/11/allmediareviews-music-essential.html) many years ago.
"Why" is an incredible song, maybe 1 of the best "Prog Metal" songs ever recorded. And if you enjoy Behind, yes, most definitely seek out Younique. I find it better/their best in fact.
Superior were a really big name among Prog Metal/Dream Theater fans in the late 90's. But you're right, in the grand scheme of history, they are super obscure.
Altura, even more so, but Altura was talked about and promoted by Magna Carta A TON, I had to check them out, and I did/do enjoy that record. Yeah DT and Fates Warning was clearly a big influence.
You also have Seventh Sign's album Perpetual Destiny, which I also own and enjoyed a fair amount back then. A very big Queensryche influence on their sound.
The mid and late 90's saw so many of those types of Dream Theater/Rush influenced Heavy Prog/Prog Metal bands coming out, some better than others I suppose. Soundscape, probably being my favorite still. I checked out and got into a lot of them, but I also know there were a ton more I never heard.
In looking back on it now, while I'm not sure how different so much of the "Prog Metal" is today, for some reason those bands back then did more for me, than the Prog Metal bands today do. I'm really not sure why, but maybe it has to do with the fact I prefer Dream Theater's music from back then a lot more?
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Spastik Ink – Ink Complete
This was released in 1997.
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Spastik Ink – Ink Complete
This was released in 1997.
Will amend :tup
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Altura, even more so, but Altura was talked about and promoted by Magna Carta A TON, I had to check them out, and I did/do enjoy that record. Yeah DT and Fates Warning was clearly a big influence.
Didn't realize their singer went on to sing for While Heaven Wept (epic/melodic/doom band)...just read about it as I was checking out their line-up...
You also have Seventh Sign's album Perpetual Destiny, which I also own and enjoyed a fair amount back then. A very big Queensryche influence on their sound.
...and a fair bit of Fates Warning too, especially in the vocals...
The mid and late 90's saw so many of those types of Dream Theater/Rush influenced Heavy Prog/Prog Metal bands coming out, some better than others I suppose. Soundscape, probably being my favorite still. I checked out and got into a lot of them, but I also know there were a ton more I never heard.
In looking back on it now, while I'm not sure how different so much of the "Prog Metal" is today, for some reason those bands back then did more for me, than the Prog Metal bands today do. I'm really not sure why, but maybe it has to do with the fact I prefer Dream Theater's music from back then a lot more?
Yeah, I was seeking a lot of these bands myself, as I was hungry for more of that DT sound...I have similar feelings as you do about the scene then and now. Certainly not all of those Prog Metal (capital P) bands that popped out in the 90s were great, but for me it all was still very exciting, as that sound was "new" to me...
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Alright 1996. Not as amazing or as consistent as 1995, but has some amazing albums nonetheless. I'll keep this to a top 50 here. You can see my entire list here (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/1996-album-rankings/)
1. Type O Negative - October Rust (this should come as no surprise to anyone that knows me. One of the greatest Doomy/Gothic Metal albums of all time)
2. Tool - Ænima (2nd best Tool album)
3. Pendragon - The Masquerade Overture (My introduction to Pendragon and still my favorite)
4. Opeth - Morningrise (A huge step up from Orchid and still not even close to a good as they would eventually become. Still excellent!)
5. Neurosis - Through Silver and Blood (The pinnacle of Neurosis, although they would come close on some later albums)
6. Weezer - Pinkerton (a massive change of pace from their first album and yet, still excellent)
7. Devil Doll - Dies Irae (avant-garde rock opera full of suspense and sprinklings of just about everything music has to offer)
8. Alice In Chains - MTV Unplugged (One upping Nirvana one last time)
9. Rush - Test for Echo (The second Rush album I bought on release (the first being Roll the Bones (somehow missed Counterparts on release)), at the time I liked it more, but it has slightly faded over time. Still love it though)
10. Porcupine Tree - Signify (This album took a long time for me to get into, but it was worth the effort)
11. Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta I: Fathers of the Icy Age
12. The 3rd and the Mortal - Painting on Glass
13. Burzum - Filosofem
14. Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die
15. Dave Matthews Band - Crash
16. Psychotic Waltz - Bleeding
17. Katatonia - Brave Murder Day
18. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing.....
19. Sacramentum - Far Away From the Sun
20. Tori Amos - Boys for Pele
21. Acid Bath - Paegan Terrorism Tactics
22. Harvey Milk - Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men
23. Motorpsycho - Blissard
24. Falkenbach - ...En Their Medh Riki Fara...
25. Helloween - The Time of the Oath
26. Spock's Beard - Beware of Darkness
27. The Cranberries - To the Faithful Departed
28. Amorphis - Elegy
29. Unwound - Repetition
30. Outkast - ATliens
31. Modest Mouse - This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About
32. Edge of Sanity - Crimson
33. Weird Al Yankovic - Bad Hair Day
34. Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving
35. The Roots - Illadelph Halflife
36. Superior - Behind
37. Astral Projection - Trust in Trance
38. Änglagård - Buried Alive
39. Ulver - Kveldssanger
40. Empyrium - A Wintersunset...
41. Bal-Sagoth - Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule
42. The Chasm - From the Lost Years...
43. Steve Vai -Fire Garden
44. Angra - Holy Land
45. Eric Johnson - Venus Isle
46. Nevermore - The Politics of Ecstasy
47. Stratovarius - Episode
48. Novembre - Arte Novecento
49. The Tea Party - Alhambra
50. Boards of Canada - Hi Scores
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8. Alice In Chains - MTV Unplugged (One upping Nirvana one last time)
No way. I bought the AiC one and thought it was awful. The Nirvana one is amazing.
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I thought that AiC unplugged could be hit or miss, some songs like "Down In A Hole" were amazing and better the original but others like "Angry Chair" are a miss.
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I bought Facelift when it came out, but I never followed up with them. 1995-1996 was a strange time in my life and I thought I'd give their Unplugged an chance. It just didn't work for me. Something about the Nirvana one clicked with me, but I just couldn't get with the vibe on the AiC.
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8. Alice In Chains - MTV Unplugged (One upping Nirvana one last time)
No way. I bought the AiC one and thought it was awful. The Nirvana one is amazing.
The Nirvana one is good, which is why it was on my list, but I think the AiC unplugged is better :dunno:
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1996 was quite an important year in music personally and am often drawn back to these albums to this very day. Also tend to lump XFactor and couple other local records in with these as they were still somewhat fresh at the time and proved themselves to be reliable company during a challenging year ;)
1. SOUNDGARDEN Down On The Upside
2. POWDERFINGER Double Allergic
3. BRUCE DICKINSON SKUNKWORKS
4. TOOL Aenima
5. HORSEHEAD Onism
While Down On The Upside was a departure from the Loud Love Soundgarden, less Badmotorfinger's metal and less of the Superunknown finesse, DOTU was however a stunning collection of songs and was lyrically on par with anything Cornell or the band had penned before and IMO proved as essential a Soundgarden album as any!
Other mentions...
TONIC Lemon Parade
MR BIG Hey Man
RATM Evil Empire
METALLICA Load
DRAIN (STH) Horror Wrestling
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1. Eric Johnson - Venus Isle (in my top 10 albums of all time)
2. Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar
3. Swans - Soundtracks for the Blind
4. Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace
5. Mark Knopfler - Golden Heart
6. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads
7. Metallica - Load
8. Ween - 12 Golden Country Greats
9. R.E.M - New Adventures in HI-Fi
10. Tool - Aenima
The rest in no order...
Tori Amos - Boys for Pele
Deep Purple - Purpendicular
Fun Lovin' Criminals - Come Find Yourself
Ocean Colour Scene - Moseley Shoals
Dave Matthews Band - Crash
Ash - 1977
Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
Republica - Republica
Steve Vai - Fire Garden
Cradle of Filth - V Empire
Prince - Emancipation
Richard Wright - Broken China
The Spice Girls - Spice
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1. Eric Johnson - Venus Isle (in my top 10 albums of all time)
Listened to it again tonight. It is truly magnificent.
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1. Eric Johnson - Venus Isle (in my top 10 albums of all time)
Listened to it again tonight. It is truly magnificent.
It's a unique masterpiece. Ah Via Musicom gets all the plaudits but Venus Isle is where I feel he reached the apex of his talent. The song Venus Isle (that run in the solo at the end), Lonely In The Night (the single greatest guitar solo ever in my opinion), When The Sun Meets The Sky, Pavilion, the short but brilliant Venus Reprise...a total masterpiece of an album (and full of personal tragedy - his girlfriend at the time he was recording it was raped and murdered, and Song For Lynette is for her).
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1. Eric Johnson - Venus Isle (in my top 10 albums of all time)
Listened to it again tonight. It is truly magnificent.
It's a unique masterpiece. Ah Via Musicom gets all the plaudits but Venus Isle is where I feel he reached the apex of his talent. The song Venus Isle (that run in the solo at the end), Lonely In The Night (the single greatest guitar solo ever in my opinion), When The Sun Meets The Sky, Pavilion, the short but brilliant Venus Reprise...a total masterpiece of an album (and full of personal tragedy - his girlfriend at the time he was recording it was raped and murdered, and Song For Lynette is for her).
Absolutely no doubt it’s his masterpiece. Just a flawless album from start to finish. And that solo in Lonely in the Night is definitely one of the best ever.
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Not sure I'll have much to add .... let's see.
Not mentioned yet:
Axel Rudi Pell - Magic
Brazen Abbott - Eye of the Storm
Kiske - Instant Clarity
Mystery - Theatre of the Mind
Ten - X
Ten - Name of the Rose
Thunder - The Thrill of it All
TSO - Christmas Eve and Other Stories (surprised I'm the first to mention this)
Vanden Plas - AcCult
Seems I did have a few to add.
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Music would start to take kind of a back seat in my life for the next couple of years, even though 1996 would be the year my life turned around.
Albums I bought in 1996.
Michael Kiske-Instant Clarity
Bruce Dickinson-Skunkworks
Metallica-Load
Rush-Test For Echo
Dio-Angry Machines
I wish I could 've bought Helloween's The Time Of The Oath, but I was not into what I heard of Master Of The Rings. This was such a blown opportunity.
I also came thisclose to buying Amorphis' Elegy after hearing it play in a store. Another blown opportunity.
Other 1996 albums I missed the first time around that I really like are:
King Diamond-The Graveyard
Merciful Fate-Into The Unknown
Iced Earth-The Dark Saga
My concerts for 1996:
1996..1/16.. Anthrax..Avalon, Boston
1996..1/20..Ozzy Osbourne, Korn..Worcester Centrum
1996..2/2..Tesla.. The Strand Providence
1996..2/3..Tesla..Avalon Boston
1996..3/19..AC/DC..Fleet Center
1996..6/20..Styx..Great Woods Mansfield MA
1996..10/12..Kiss..Knickerbocker Arena Albany NY
1996..11/9..Rush..Fleet Center Boston
1996..12/12..Dream Theater.. The Strand Providence
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I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I forgot to include In Flames - The Jester Race on my 1996 list.
It's one of my absolute favorites of that year, and a pivotal album in the scene. More melodic than their "cousins" Dark Tranquillity at the time, they put out an amazing batch of melodic death metal songs on Jester Race. It's like "death metal meets Helloween/Iron Maiden" (and that short instrumental, The Jester's Dance, has clean guitars that sound straight out Annihilator's playbook. SO good)
I'll have to add this to my post :)
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I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I forgot to include In Flames - The Jester Race on my 1996 list.
It's one of my absolute favorites of that year, and a pivotal album in the scene. More melodic than their "cousins" Dark Tranquillity at the time, they put out an amazing batch of melodic death metal songs on Jester Race. It's like "death metal meets Helloween/Iron Maiden" (and that short instrumental, The Jester's Dance, has clean guitars that sound straight out Annihilator's playbook. SO good)
I'll have to add this to my post :)
The Jester Race is on my complete list, but didn't quite make my top 50. :metal
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The Jester Race is on my complete list, but didn't quite make my top 50. :metal
It comfortably makes my Top 10 for 1996 - which is why I can't quite understand how I missed it :biggrin:
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I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I forgot to include In Flames - The Jester Race on my 1996 list.
It's one of my absolute favorites of that year, and a pivotal album in the scene. More melodic than their "cousins" Dark Tranquillity at the time, they put out an amazing batch of melodic death metal songs on Jester Race. It's like "death metal meets Helloween/Iron Maiden" (and that short instrumental, The Jester's Dance, has clean guitars that sound straight out Annihilator's playbook. SO good)
I'll have to add this to my post :)
One of the first albums that got me into harsh vocals. It's amazing.
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And another one I missed - I guess it's a good thing this thread is making me revisit my archive, as the years are messed up sometimes:
Sentenced - Down
New singer and, at least partially, new style. I don't love it as much as Amok, but it's a great album
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1997, a very memorable year for a number of things. I think 1st and foremost, it was in a lot of ways, the peak of my love for Dream Theater and the long wait for their 1st full-length album since becoming a fan.
Falling Into Infinity took forever to come out, and I remember being at Best Buy where I was working at the time, and while I enjoyed it, I was a little underwhelmed with such high expectations.
To compare, earlier in the year, Fates Warning had released A Pleasant Shade of Gray, which I remember really liking, but also not looking at Fates Warning as good as my favorite bands like Rush and Dream Theater. But as I came to realize, it was a masterpiece, and their greatest masterpiece.
I do recall being really sad though as learning both Joe DiBiase and Frank Aresti had left the band and being incredibly depressed about that, along with Kevin Moore's departure from Dream Theater not that long before also hitting me hard. And oddly enough, it was not long after I became a fan of both bands.
Anyway, looking at the rest of 1997, Soundscape's album Discovery I enjoyed when I heard it, but in truth, became more of a fan in the subsequent years. Pain of Salvation's debut album Entropia I didn't hear then but years later; but it has become one of my favorites of theirs, debut albums, and progressive metal albums, etc.
Royal Hunt, Savatage, Angra's live album, Big Wreck, The Tea Party, Mew's debut, Godspeed, Devin Townsend's debut, etc..a lot of good stuff or artists who put out albums early in their careers of course. A lot of Prog Metal as the mid and late 90's it was being made in large numbers, and on my radar. And frankly, while much of it sounded a lot like Dream Theater, it seemed still enjoyable and unique in some ways. I dunno, it didn't seem as watered down as it became and has been the last 10 or 15 years. But maybe some of that has to do with nostalgia.
I think 1997 was a year that was in the midst of a lot of terrible mainstream music, and got looked down on by the prog scene, but maybe has aged relatively well over the last 2 decades.
1. Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray
2. Soundscape - Discovery
3. Pain of Salvation - Entropia
4. Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
5. Savatage - The Wake of Magellan
6. Pat Metheny - Imaginary Day
7. Royal Hunt - Paradox
8. Marillion - This Strange Engine
9. Magellan - Test of Wills
10. Big Wreck - In Loving Memory Of...
11. Enchant - Time Lost
12. Angra - Holy Live
13. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F♯A♯∞ (1995-1997)
14. Ocean Machine - Biomech
15. Eternity X - The Edge
16. Conditioned Response - Pavlov's Dogs
17. The Tea Party - Transmission
18. Mew - A Triumph for Man
19. The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are
20. Galactic Cowboys - The Horse that Bud Bought
21. Yes - Keys to Ascension 2
22. Live - Secret Samadhi
23. dredg - Orph [EP]
24. Faith No More - Album of the Year
25. MagellanMusic - A Strange Traffic of Dreams
26. Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
27. The Quiet Room - Introspect
28. Tiles - Fence the Clear
29. IQ - Subterranea
30. Queensryche - Hear in the Now Frontier
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Great list Soundscape, here is my 1997:
1. dredg - Orph - 5/5 - Short EP but awesome couple of tracks
2. Aerosmith - Nine Lives - 4.5/5
3. Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind - 4.5/5
4. Creed - My Own Prison - 4.5/5 - Say what you will about Creed, this is a fantastic album
5. Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E. - 4.5/5 - Incubus really starts hitting their stride with this album, some great riffs and solos to be found here
6. Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape - 4/5 - Top tier FF record
7. Limp Bizkit - Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ - 4/5 - Elementary school me loved this album and adult me still thinks it's solid
8. Dream Theater - Falling Into Infinity - 4/5
9. Mogwai - Mogwai Young Team - 4/5 - My favorite Mogwai album, a lot great songs here
10. Collective Soul - Disciplined Breakdown - 3.5/5
11. Metallica - Reload - 3.5/5
12. Silverchair - Freak Show - 3/5
13. The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death - 3/5
14. Sevendust - Sevendust - 3/5
15. Days Of The New - Days Of The New - 3/5 - An album with a handful of really killer songs
16. Deftones - Around The Fur - 3/5
17. Radiohead - Ok Computer - 2.5/5
18. The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are - 2/5
19. Ocean Machine - Biomech - 2/5
20. Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen - 0.5/5
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I love getting in here quick to get my entries posted. I had JUST graduated Uni, and early '97 was when I discovered DT. This was the time I started getting back into the musical scene, but I'd also just met mrs.jingle, so that derailed my musical exploration again. I remember I had a chance to see DT in a local (hour+ away) pub, and didn't jump on it (I probably jumped on something else that night :eyebrows:). Wrong move :lolpalm:
@ Reaper, it's funny you mention Creed. I was just listening to some of their 'hits' recently, and I thought I should really check out the entirety of those albums. Also, nice of you to mention Nine Lives :tup
Not mentioned yet:
Brazen Abbott - Bad Religion
Conception - Flow
Elegy - State of Mind
Harem Scarem - Karma Cleansing
Led Zeppelin - BBC Sessions
Nightwish - Angels Fall First
Nocturnal Rites - Tales Of Mystery And Imagination
Rhapsody - Legendary Tales
Sass Jordan - Present
Shania Twain - Come On Over
Symphony-X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy
Ten - The Robe
Threshold - Extinct Instinct
Vanden Plas - The God Thing
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Oh man that Shania Twain album! The moment I read your post Come On Over started playing in my head :lol.
Creed I think got a lot of hate but their songs were good, with less than stellar lyrics at times. I highly recommend checking out My Own Prison, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
As for Nine Lines that to me was the last great Aerosmith album, I know people say their prime was before the 90's but to me Pump through Nine Lines was about as good as Aerosmith got.
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Right, really getting into the period where I like a lot of music.
Fully appreciate that my number 1 may be a little unconventional around here.
1. The Offspring - Ixnay on the Hombre
2. Dream Theater - Falling Into Infinity
3. The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are
4. Radiohead - OK Computer
5. Loreena McKennitt - The Book of Secrets
6. Alkinoos Ioannidis - Ο δρόμος, ο χρόνος και ο πόνος (The Road, the Time and the Pain)
7. Pain of Salvation - Entropia
8. Green Day - Nimrod
9. Gamma Ray - Somewhere Out in Space
10. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
11. Bruce Dickinson - Accident of Birth
12. Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Zoot Suit Riot
13. Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray
14. In Flames - Whoracle
15. Ocean Colour Scene - Marchin' Already
16. BT - ESCM
17. Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy
18. Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing
19. Ocean Colour Scene - B-Sides, Seasides & Free Rides
20. Björk - Homogenic
Also good:
Amorphis - My Kantele
Borknagar - The Olden Domain
Conception - Flow
Depeche Mode - Ultra
Empyrium - Songs of Moors and Misty Fields
Matthew Good Band - Underdogs
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings
Metallica - Reload
Oasis - Be Here Now
Devin Townsend - Ocean Machine: Biomech
Savatage - The Wake of Magellan
Silverchair - Freak Show
Elliott Smith - Either / Or
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
Tower of Power - Rhythm & Business
The Verve - Urban Hymns
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Ok, 1997...
1997 arguably continues the slight downward trend for me (not in terms of sheer amount of music I was getting into, though!). I guess this was the year when the resurgence of European power metal was in full force. While I appreciated some of it, broadly speaking it wasn’t necessarily my thing. DT released a controversial album that I deeply enjoyed (despite admittedly containing some duds). Queensryche released their own controversial album which I only mildly enjoyed. Some other good stuff on the prog/power front (Among others, Fates Warning with a difficult but very satisfying concept and Symphony X with their “classic” album. Pain of Salvation make their debut too, although I would come to know them one year later) and the gothic/darker side of metal (Paradise Lost, Moonspell, The Gathering). And Bruce Dickinson makes his “metallic” comeback, planting the seeds for the big reunion…
Here's for a relatively fluid top 15:
Dream Theater – Falling Into Infinity (a step down, yes, but the highs here are unbelievably good)
Paradise Lost – One Second (big change in sound for the masters of gloom. And another fantastic album in my book)
Moonspell – Sin/Pecado (third album, this time throwing fans for a loop…and third success!)
Fates Warning – A Pleasant Shade of Gray (a slow burner and a brave album that pays off handsomely)
Symphony X – The Divine Wings of Tragedy (well-deserving of all the praise it gets. Everything comes together beautifully for Romeo & the rest of the gang)
Savatage – The Wake of Magellan (my favorite of the post-Criss Oliva albums. Another slab of Broadway-metal, very tastefully done)
Everon – Venus (probably my favorite from the German prog rock/metal band)
Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape (my favorite FF – I guess not a controversial choice, but it’s hard to argue with the songs in here)
The Gathering – Nighttime Birds (not as good as Mandylion, but close. And Anneke was getting better and better)
Bruce Dickinson - Accident of Birth (the joy of hearing Dickinson and Smith together again! It most certainly was a conscious effort to regain the “metal” fans, but it had great songs to back it up - thanks to Roy Z contribution as well)
Conception – Flow (very cool album from the Norwegians – the last before a hiatus that lasted a couple of decades)
Lacuna Coil – Lacuna Coil (if you only know them from their recent material – which I enjoy, by the way – you might want to try this debut EP. Much more in the vein of the Century Media bands of the time, a little rough around the edges, but with beautiful melodies and atmosphere)
Katatonia – Discouraged Ones (often forgotten, this is Katatonia at their bleakest)
Grip Inc. – Nemesis (second album from Dave Lombardo & co post-Slayer band. Much more “their own thing” compared to the debut, and fantastic songs/riffs throughout)
Strapping Young Lad – City (brutal Devy. Pretty amazing listening experience)
...and the honorable mentions:
Arcturus – La Masquerade Infernale
Armageddon – Crossing the Rubicon
Blackmore’s Night – Shadow of the Moon
Collective Soul – Disciplined Breakdown
Crematory – Awake
Dark Tranquillity – The Mind’s I
Days of the New – Days of the New
Deftones – Around the Fur
Depeche Mode – Ultra
DGM – Change Direction
Dimmu Borgir – Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
Ebony Tears – Tortura Insomniae
Eldritch – Headquake
Elisa – Pipes & Flowers
Emperor – Anthems to the Welkin at Dust
Enchant – Time Lost
Eucharist – Mirrorworlds
Fair Warning – Go!
Faith No More – Album of the Year
In Flames – Whoracle
In The Woods – Omnio
Incubus – S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
Lake of Tears – Crimson Cosmos
Life of Agony – Soul Searching Sun
Marillion – This Strange Engine
Pain of Salvation – Entropia
Porcupine Tree – Coma Divine
Queensryche – Hear in the New Frontier
Rammstein – Sehnsucht
Rhapsody – Legendary Tales
Royal Hunt – Paradox
Secret Discovery – Slave
Stratovarius – Visions
Sundown – Design 19
Tad Morose – A Mended Rhyme
Ten – The Robe
The 3rd and the Mortal – In This Room
Third Eye Blind – Third Eye Blind
Devin Townsend Ocean Machine – Biomech
Vanden Plas – The God Thing
Within Temptation - Enter
Obscure Prog metal batch for the year:
(Interestingly, 6 out of 10 bands in the list below are from Italy… Empty Tremor and Helreid’s album, to be honest, are not that great, although I haven’t heard them in ages. Black Jester’s Divine Comedy is a pretty ambitious attempt to put a classic of Italian literature in music. It’s actually pretty cool, but the vocals are…let’s just say, very much an acquired taste? Arhké is pure Dream Theater worship - even the singer tries really hard to sound like JLB. Not one for the ages. Zen is classic prog metal, but well done – again, as far as I can remember. If you then count Eldritch and DGM from the main list, that’s plenty of prog from Italy that year…and then of course Rhapsody on the power metal front…)
Arhké – Arhké
Black Jester – The Divine Comedy
Empty Tremor – Apocolokyntosys
Heaven’s Cry – Food For Thought Substitute (I like this one a LOT. A bit weirder than your typical prog metal. The guitarist/vocalist, Pierre St-Jean actually played bass on Voivod’s Outer Limits as a session musician)
Helreid – Mémoires
The Quiet Room – Introspect
Spastic Ink – Ink Complete
Zen – Gaze Into the Light
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Oh man, I'm so far behind (my last entry was for 1984).
Let's see, 1997.
In no particular order:
Foo Fighters - The Color And The Shape
Pat Metheny Group - Imaginary Day
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F♯ A♯ ∞
The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are
Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club
Radiohead - OK Computer
Shania Twain - Come On Over
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1997, a very memorable year for a number of things. I think 1st and foremost, it was in a lot of ways, the peak of my love for Dream Theater and the long wait for their 1st full-length album since becoming a fan.
Falling Into Infinity took forever to come out, and I remember being at Best Buy where I was working at the time, and while I enjoyed it, I was a little underwhelmed with such high expectations.
To compare, earlier in the year, Fates Warning had released A Pleasant Shade of Gray, which I remember really liking, but also not looking at Fates Warning as good as my favorite bands like Rush and Dream Theater. But as I came to realize, it was a masterpiece, and their greatest masterpiece.
I do recall being really sad though as learning both Joe DiBiase and Frank Aresti had left the band and being incredibly depressed about that, along with Kevin Moore's departure from Dream Theater not that long before also hitting me hard. And oddly enough, it was not long after I became a fan of both bands.
Anyway, looking at the rest of 1997, Soundscape's album Discovery I enjoyed when I heard it, but in truth, became more of a fan in the subsequent years. Pain of Salvation's debut album Entropia I didn't hear then but years later; but it has become one of my favorites of theirs, debut albums, and progressive metal albums, etc.
Royal Hunt, Savatage, Angra's live album, Big Wreck, The Tea Party, Mew's debut, Godspeed, Devin Townsend's debut, etc..a lot of good stuff or artists who put out albums early in their careers of course. A lot of Prog Metal as the mid and late 90's it was being made in large numbers, and on my radar. And frankly, while much of it sounded a lot like Dream Theater, it seemed still enjoyable and unique in some ways. I dunno, it didn't seem as watered down as it became and has been the last 10 or 15 years. But maybe some of that has to do with nostalgia.
I think 1997 was a year that was in the midst of a lot of terrible mainstream music, and got looked down on by the prog scene, but maybe has aged relatively well over the last 2 decades.
1. Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray
2. Soundscape - Discovery
3. Pain of Salvation - Entropia
4. Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
5. Savatage - The Wake of Magellan
6. Pat Metheny - Imaginary Day
7. Royal Hunt - Paradox
8. Marillion - This Strange Engine
9. Magellan - Test of Wills
10. Big Wreck - In Loving Memory Of...
11. Enchant - Time Lost
12. Angra - Holy Live
13. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F♯A♯∞ (1995-1997)
14. Ocean Machine - Biomech
15. Eternity X - The Edge
16. Conditioned Response - Pavlov's Dogs
17. The Tea Party - Transmission
18. Mew - A Triumph for Man
19. The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are
20. Galactic Cowboys - The Horse that Bud Bought
21. Yes - Keys to Ascension 2
22. Live - Secret Samadhi
23. dredg - Orph [EP]
24. Faith No More - Album of the Year
25. MagellanMusic - A Strange Traffic of Dreams
26. Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
27. The Quiet Room - Introspect
28. Tiles - Fence the Clear
29. IQ - Subterranea
30. Queensryche - Hear in the Now Frontier
forgot to add
Concerts
7/9/97 Queensryche/Malicious Mischief - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
7/22/97 The Who - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
11/01/97 Kansas - Treasure Island Casino Red Wing, MN
11/2/97 Dream Theater/Big Wreck - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/18/97 Yes - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
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Clumsy - Our Lady Peace
Freak Show - Silverchair
Secret Samadhi - Live
Whatever and Ever Amen- Ben Flods Five
Hear in the Now Frontier - Queensryche
Self titled - Third Eye Blind
Marching To Mars - Sammy Hagar
Surfacing - Sarah McLachlan
Much Afraid - Jars Of Clay
Carnival of Souls - KISS
Falling into Infinity - Dream Theater
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1. Elliott Smith - Either/Or (the album in my avatar)
2. Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson - G3 Live in Concert (though I only really love this for the Eric Johnson cuts)
3. Godspeed You Black Emperor - F# A# Infinity
4. Oasis - Be Here Now
5. Ocean Colour Scene - Marchin' Already
6. Dream Theater - Falling Into Infinity
7. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call
8. Genesis - Calling All Stations
9. Radiohead - OK Computer
10. Bob Dylan - Time Out Of Mind
11. U2 - Pop
12. Aerosmith - Nine Lives
13. The Rolling Stones - Bridges to Babylon
And even though I'm not too keen on the albums they came from, 1997 is also the year that produced some of the most iconic pop-rock tunes of the 90s (in the UK anyway) such as Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve), Song 2 (Blur) and Tubthumping (Chumbawamba)
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Wow, I didn't realize those three came out in the same year. All fantastic songs.
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Top 50 of 1997 incoming. Full list here (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/1997-album-rankings/). Tons of amazing albums here, especially the top 30.
1. Ocean Machine - Biomech (Devy's first true masterpiece)
2. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F♯A♯∞ (A landmark album in the post-rock scene)
3. Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy (Symphony X's first masterpiece)
4. Enslaved - Eld (The pioneers of Progressive Black Metal begin their transition here)
5. Esoteric - The Pernicious Enigma (the masters of Funeral Doom are at it again with another amazing album)
6. Savatage - The Wake of Magellan (Savatage's magnum opus)
7. Dave Matthews Band - Live at Red Rocks 8.15.95 (DMB's best live album)
8. Porcupine Tree - Coma Divine: Recorded Live in Rome (Porcupine Trees legacy of amazing live recordings begins here)
9. Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (The legend of Incubus begins here)
10. In the Woods... - Omnio (How do you blend Prog, Doom, Gothic, Black metal, and Avant-garde into one album, In the Woods is here to show you)
11. The Gathering - Nighttime Birds
12. Marillion - This Strange Engine
13. Dream Theater - Falling Into Infinity
14. Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray
15. Empyrium - Songs of Moors and Misty Fields
16. Tiles - Fence the Clear
17. Flower Kings - Stardust We Are
18. Summoning - Dol Guldur
19. Summoning - Nightshade Forests
20. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
21. Björk - Homogenic
22. Breach - It's Me God
23. Arcturus - La Masquerade Infernale
24. Motorpsycho - Angels and Daemons at Play
25. Spastic Ink - Ink Complete
26. Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West
27. Depeche Mode - Ultra
28. The Tea Party - Transmission
29. Deftones - Around the Fur
30. Discipline - Unfolded Like Staircase
31. Matthew Good Band - Underdogs
32. Dark Tranquillity - The Mind's I
33. Amon Tobin - Bricolage
34. Radiohead - OK Computer
35. Gamma Ray - Somewhere Out In Space
36. Voivod - Phobos
37. Kampfar - Mellom skogkledde aaser
38. IQ - Subterranea
39. Nagelfar - Hünengrab im Herbst
40. Saturnus - Paradise Belongs to You
41. Borknagar - The Olden Domain
42. Autechre - Chiastic Slide
43. The 3rd and the Mortal - In This Room
44. The Derek Trucks Band - The Derek Trucks Band
45. In Flames - Whoracle
46. Vanden Plas - The God Thing
47. Faith No More - Album of the Year
48. Our Lady Peace - Clumsy
49. Absu - The Third Storm of Cythrául
50. Lake of Tears - A Crimson Chaos
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1997, the beginning of resurgence of power metal! but victory goes to...
1. Bruce Dickinson - Accident of Birth
A spectacular comeback from him and Adrian, and who knew it was only a stepping stone for what would come the year after!
2. Savatage - The Wake of Magellan
3. Stratovarius – Visions
I don't even know how to properly complete the list, since it's hard to judge albums in different styles, but trying to fill out the year we'd have....
HammerFall – Glory to the Brave
Royal Hunt - Paradox
Loreena McKennitt - The Book of Secrets
Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy
Gamma Ray - Somewhere Out in Space
Blackmore’s Night – Shadow of the Moon
Nightwish - Angels Fall First
Rhapsody - Legendary Tales
And let's not forget:
Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
Jag Panzer – The Fourth Judgement
Threshold - Extinct Instinct
Elisa – Pipes & Flowers
Judas Priest – Jugulator
Metallica - Reload
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Elisa – Pipes & Flowers
Happy to see this on someone else's list too. Had to be from a fellow Italian, of course :)
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1997 was a year where I felt that mainstream rock (which was ironically alternative rock at the time) was starting to go downhill a bit. I wasn't tuned into prog yet, but that was actually a pretty strong year for prog. My older brother was getting into DT by that point, but it wouldn't be until late 1997/early 1998 that I started picking up on them too (I swiped his tape of I&W and listened to it a ton over Christmas/New Years break that year). From that point on, I didn't pay nearly as much attention to mainstream music.
1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
2. Dream Theater - Falling Into Infinity
3. The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are
4. The Pearlfishers - The Strange Underworld of the Tall Poppies
5. Enchant - Time Lost
6. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Coil
7. Marillion - This Strange Engine
8. Genesis - Calling All Stations
9. Fish - Sunsets on Empires
10. Radiohead - OK Computer
11. Sixpence None the Richer - Sixpence None the Richer
12. Collective Soul - Disciplined Breakdown
13. Caroline's Spine - Monsoon
14. Steve Hogarth - Ice Cream Genius
15. U2 - Pop
16. Big Wreck - In Loving memory Of
17. Niacin - Niacin
Also, I would rank Big Big Train's English Boy Wonders here, but I've never actually heard the original 1997 version. The 2008 version was significantly re-recorded/re-mixed, and the track listing re-arranged, so I'm going to include it in 2008 (nobody heard it in 1997 anyway!). A great great album though.
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Elisa – Pipes & Flowers
Happy to see this on someone else's list too. Had to be from a fellow Italian, of course :)
I remembered this thanks to you! ;D didn't know you were italian like me :metal
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I remembered this thanks to you! ;D didn't know you were italian like me :metal
Yes! I've been living in the US since 2003 (I was 26 then), but born and raised in Italy ;D
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1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
This is probably still my favorite Beard's album - but I have it as 1998 in my archive. Is that not correct?
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1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
This is probably still my favorite Beard's album - but I have it as 1998 in my archive. Is that not correct?
Yet another misfiling by my Windows media player. Came out in 1998. Ah well, congrats to Falling Into Infinity getting bumped to number 1!
Edit: HOLD UP. Discogs says 1997 too. https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Kindness-Of-Strangers/master/313361 Checked my CD copy which also says 1997. Sorry FII!
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Interesting! So, my copy is the Giant Electric Pea version, i.e. the European version that was released in 1998. Had no idea it was so much later than the US version...
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1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
This is probably still my favorite Beard's album - but I have it as 1998 in my archive. Is that not correct?
Yet another misfiling by my Windows media player. Came out in 1998. Ah well, congrats to Falling Into Infinity getting bumped to number 1!
Edit: HOLD UP. Discogs says 1997 too. https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Kindness-Of-Strangers/master/313361 Checked my CD copy which also says 1997. Sorry FII!
I'm about 90% certain Discogs is wrong. I have the US version from Metal Blade and it says 1998...
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1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
This is probably still my favorite Beard's album - but I have it as 1998 in my archive. Is that not correct?
Yet another misfiling by my Windows media player. Came out in 1998. Ah well, congrats to Falling Into Infinity getting bumped to number 1!
Edit: HOLD UP. Discogs says 1997 too. https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Kindness-Of-Strangers/master/313361 Checked my CD copy which also says 1997. Sorry FII!
I'm about 90% certain Discogs is wrong. I have the US version from Metal Blade and it says 1998...
Wow, you guys must really love this album to not even know when it came out. :lol
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1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
This is probably still my favorite Beard's album - but I have it as 1998 in my archive. Is that not correct?
Yet another misfiling by my Windows media player. Came out in 1998. Ah well, congrats to Falling Into Infinity getting bumped to number 1!
Edit: HOLD UP. Discogs says 1997 too. https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Kindness-Of-Strangers/master/313361 Checked my CD copy which also says 1997. Sorry FII!
I'm about 90% certain Discogs is wrong. I have the US version from Metal Blade and it says 1998...
I have the Radiant/Metal Blade version, and my CD says 1997. I’d post a picture but I don’t know how!
Wow, you guys must really love this album to not even know when it came out. :lol
Ha! Well, it is really great, but I didn’t hear it until 2004, so it’s not like I experienced it in 1997. But also, I was right that it was released in 1997!
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1. BRUCE DICKINSON Accident Of Birth
2. SAXON Unleash The Beast
3. CREED My Own Prison
4. DREAM THEATER Falling Into Infinity
5. FATES WARNING A Pleasant Shade Of Grey
PARADISE LOST One Second
SEVENDUST Sevendust
SCREAMING JETS World Gone Crazy
QUEENSRYCHE Hear In The Now Frontier
FAITH NO MORE Album Of The Year
METALLICA ReLoad
SILVERCHAIR Freakshow
ETA: CREED!
Forgot about their debut while don't give the album much attention nowdays can't deny the impact and love I had for it at the time \m/
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1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
This is probably still my favorite Beard's album - but I have it as 1998 in my archive. Is that not correct?
Yet another misfiling by my Windows media player. Came out in 1998. Ah well, congrats to Falling Into Infinity getting bumped to number 1!
Edit: HOLD UP. Discogs says 1997 too. https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Kindness-Of-Strangers/master/313361 Checked my CD copy which also says 1997. Sorry FII!
I'm about 90% certain Discogs is wrong. I have the US version from Metal Blade and it says 1998...
I have the Radiant/Metal Blade version, and my CD says 1997. I’d post a picture but I don’t know how!
Wow, you guys must really love this album to not even know when it came out. :lol
Ha! Well, it is really great, but I didn’t hear it until 2004, so it’s not like I experienced it in 1997. But also, I was right that it was released in 1997!
it would not be surprising if the 1997 copies were advanced or promos sent to Radio Stations, Magazines, etc.
Other than the discogs listing, every other site seems to show it being released in 1998, including on the band's official website.
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1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
This is probably still my favorite Beard's album - but I have it as 1998 in my archive. Is that not correct?
Yet another misfiling by my Windows media player. Came out in 1998. Ah well, congrats to Falling Into Infinity getting bumped to number 1!
Edit: HOLD UP. Discogs says 1997 too. https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Kindness-Of-Strangers/master/313361 Checked my CD copy which also says 1997. Sorry FII!
I'm about 90% certain Discogs is wrong. I have the US version from Metal Blade and it says 1998...
I have the Radiant/Metal Blade version, and my CD says 1997. I’d post a picture but I don’t know how!
Wow, you guys must really love this album to not even know when it came out. :lol
Ha! Well, it is really great, but I didn’t hear it until 2004, so it’s not like I experienced it in 1997. But also, I was right that it was released in 1997!
it would not be surprising if the 1997 copies were advanced or promos sent to Radio Stations, Magazines, etc.
Other than the discogs listing, every other site seems to show it being released in 1998, including on the band's official website.
I suppose that’s probably it, but I’m seeing May 1998 as the release date. Would they have sent promo copies out 6 months early? I’m pretty sure I ordered my copy new from Laser CD back in the day. Would be odd for them to sell a promo copy, right?
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Surprised I haven't really gotten into this thread yet. 1997 was probably the peak of my Marillion fan-dom. I have 3 versions of This Strange Engine: the UK digipak import, the original US jewel case version, and a deluxe version with the remix of Estonia and an acoustic version of Man of A Thousand Faces I think? Anyway, I contributed to the Tour Fund that year, and was able to see them in Cleveland, Grand Rapids and Chicago. I was able to get both a signed and unsigned version of the tour fund CD. I requested of H that they play the Beatles' You've Got To Hide Your Love Away at their in-store appearance in Grand Rapids prior to their show that night, and they did. I bought the original version of Ice Cream Genius and the You Dinosaur Thing single just to get the B-side The Last Thing. I saw Fish at a club in Grand Rapids that summer. Great show! Anyway, my favorite records from 1997: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/romdrum/my_favorites_from_1997/
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1. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
This is probably still my favorite Beard's album - but I have it as 1998 in my archive. Is that not correct?
Yet another misfiling by my Windows media player. Came out in 1998. Ah well, congrats to Falling Into Infinity getting bumped to number 1!
Edit: HOLD UP. Discogs says 1997 too. https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Kindness-Of-Strangers/master/313361 Checked my CD copy which also says 1997. Sorry FII!
I'm about 90% certain Discogs is wrong. I have the US version from Metal Blade and it says 1998...
I have the Radiant/Metal Blade version, and my CD says 1997. I’d post a picture but I don’t know how!
Wow, you guys must really love this album to not even know when it came out. :lol
Ha! Well, it is really great, but I didn’t hear it until 2004, so it’s not like I experienced it in 1997. But also, I was right that it was released in 1997!
it would not be surprising if the 1997 copies were advanced or promos sent to Radio Stations, Magazines, etc.
Other than the discogs listing, every other site seems to show it being released in 1998, including on the band's official website.
I suppose that’s probably it, but I’m seeing May 1998 as the release date. Would they have sent promo copies out 6 months early? I’m pretty sure I ordered my copy new from Laser CD back in the day. Would be odd for them to sell a promo copy, right?
The Giant Electric Pea version was released February 9th, 1998. Then it was re-released through Metal Blade in May, for wider distribution purposes.
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I’m guessing there must have been a misprint on one of the Metal Blade/Radiant runs and that’s why there are CDs out there with 1997 on them.
The plot thickens though. This page on Radiant has it as 1997 as well:
https://www.nealmorse.com/js_albums/spocks-beard-the-kindness-of-strangers/
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I’m guessing there must have been a misprint on one of the Metal Blade/Radiant runs and that’s why there are CDs out there with 1997 on them.
The plot thickens though. This page on Radiant has it as 1997 as well:
https://www.nealmorse.com/js_albums/spocks-beard-the-kindness-of-strangers/
We may never know the real release date :corn Although I am starting to wonder if those Radiant ones were promo copies.
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I’m guessing there must have been a misprint on one of the Metal Blade/Radiant runs and that’s why there are CDs out there with 1997 on them.
The plot thickens though. This page on Radiant has it as 1997 as well:
https://www.nealmorse.com/js_albums/spocks-beard-the-kindness-of-strangers/
We may never know the real release date :corn Although I am starting to wonder if those Radiant ones were promo copies.
We should just ask the band, at this point :biggrin: Well, as far as this thread is concerned, I'll stick to 1998 and include the album in the next round. I'll say it again - it is probably my favorite Spock's Beard...the songwriting is so good, still kind of quirky but very catchy. Fantastic songs.
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I’m guessing there must have been a misprint on one of the Metal Blade/Radiant runs and that’s why there are CDs out there with 1997 on them.
The plot thickens though. This page on Radiant has it as 1997 as well:
https://www.nealmorse.com/js_albums/spocks-beard-the-kindness-of-strangers/
We may never know the real release date :corn Although I am starting to wonder if those Radiant ones were promo copies.
We should just ask the band, at this point :biggrin: Well, as far as this thread is concerned, I'll stick to 1998 and include the album in the next round. I'll say it again - it is probably my favorite Spock's Beard...the songwriting is so good, still kind of quirky but very catchy. Fantastic songs.
I just went onto Facebook to the Spock's Beard forum just to see what others may say or even recall buying a copy in 1997 like HOF recalled.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spocksbeard/posts/4277820385665811/
This reminds me of the dredg Leitmotif release year contraversy. 1998, 1999, or even 2001 (Drew posted last week on Social Media it was released 20 years ago on that date, which I believe was the Major Label date, but the original Independent release date has often been in 1999, but also some people received copies in 1998 at shows or through the band, etc).
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Just checked Interent Archive for the old Spock's Beard website that's listed on my copy of Kindness. It looks like January 20, 1998 was the official street date, so maybe those initial copies were all just printed in 1997.
https://web.archive.org/web/19980210202347/http://www.altura.com/jordanz/spocks_beard/sb/default.htm
On the samples page the tracks are copyrighted 1997, but it would make sense if that's when everything was printed but the CD didn't come out until January.
https://web.archive.org/web/19980210202729/http://www.altura.com/jordanz/spocks_beard/sb/samples.html
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I kind of wandered away from this thread, but I'll jump back in.
1997:
01 Radiohead - OK Computer
02 The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are
03 Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
04 Devin Townsend - Ocean Machine
05 U2 - Pop
06 Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
07 Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
08 Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray
09 Metallica - ReLoad
10 Sammy Hagar - Marching to Mars
Also, I am not a big live album guy, but there are probably 8-10 live albums over the years that I still listen to, and two of them are from 1997:
Styx - Return to Paradise
Fleetwood Mac - The Dance
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Fleetwood Mac - The Dance
I can't believe I forgot about this. This was on VH1 all the time back then.
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Out of curiosity, what year do albums no longer become "retro"?
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Out of curiosity, what year do albums no longer become "retro"?
https://youtu.be/YRRTc_3PGWE?t=36
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Even though it says retro I wouldn't mind going all the way until this year, unless everyone else disagrees
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Isn't "retro" just short for "retrospective?" As in we're looking back at prior years and giving our albums of the year for each year. It's not a period, it's just anything before this year.
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Isn't "retro" just short for "retrospective?" As in we're looking back at prior years and giving our albums of the year for each year. It's not a period, it's just anything before this year.
Or retrograde, retroactive, retrofit :neverusethis:
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right.
"Retro" I think of anything from before the current time.
Also the fact this forum has done Albums of the Year topics since 2008 or 2009?, so any year before that, there never was one.
Plus enough time has passed since most of those years anyway, so for those years in the recent past, it can be looked at like an Update, 2.0, etc.
I'm up for continuing this topic all the way up-to, and including 2020.
It would be nice to do some kind of list for each year of the overall Rankings for all who posted theirs.
1 challenge I see in that is some people have just replied with just a list of albums, but they're not Ranked.
So in calculating votes, I'm unclear how to include those.
Although Each year could have 2 lists:
-1 being Ranked based on Album Rankings, weighting albums based on how high they are ranked, etc.
-1 being just counting every album listed as (1), each album vote being equal
I recall someone mentioned wanting to create a Spreadsheet and tabulate many of the years already, but never got around to it. I forget who as I'd have to scan this topic back many pages to remember. If they are still up for it, please go ahead and do it.
Otherwise, perhaps once we get through 2020, I'll go ahead and try working on that myself.
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I mentioned doing a spreadsheet and started putting one together, I'll see if I can work on it some more this coming week as I'm pretty slow at work.
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10 Sammy Hagar - Marching to Mars
This is such a great underrated record. I don’t think he has made one since that is this good.
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1998
note: I have dredg's "Leitmotif" for 1998, but it has been documented to being released in 1999 and 2001 as well, so more or less any of the 3 years would qualify for it. It is well documented though it was released INDEPENDENTLY before the Major Label release in 2001.
The year 1998 was a year I was in the thick of Dream Theater fandom I suppose, as I got to see them live for the 2nd time with ELP and Deep Purple.
And of course their new side project Liquid Tension Experiment came out on the heals of Falling Into Infinity, a polarizing record for many. LTE though most loved, and I will admit I did enjoy then, but probably more now as I wasn't as into instrumental rock music up until that point.
But looking at the rankings and calendar, 1998 was quite a deep year, compared to some other years. But at the same time, there doesn't seem to be any all-time favorites.
dredg's Leitmotif is a great debut album, quite original and does not overstay its welcome. And I came to learn about its cool concept/story after enjoying it for awhile. I suppose by default, and my love of dredg, it is my favorite album from 1998. But it's interesting scanning the list, many of the other albums I could easily rank higher than it, as many are albums that are my favorites from said artists (Superior, Jeff Buckley, Chroma Key, VAST, Mansun, Platypus, Pushmonkey).
But it's splitting hairs I guess. I look at this year and calendar as having many (20-25 or more) very good, 3.5-4 star albums. With a few at least bordering on 4.5.
In other words, not Top Heavy, but DEEP and in a matter of speaking.
1. dredg - Leitmotif
2. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment
3. Superior - Younique
4. Pain of Salvation - One Hour by the Concrete Lake
5. Jeff Buckley - Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk)
6. Marillion - Radiation
7. Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
8. Enchant - Break
9. Angra - Fireworks
10. Chroma Key - Dead Air for Radios
11. Mansun - Six
12. Fates Warning - Still Life
13. Galactic Cowboys - At the End of the Day
14. VAST - Visual Audio Sensory Theater
15. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
16. Poncho Sanchez - Afro Cuban Fantasy
17. Platypus - When Pus Comes to Shove
18. King's X - Tape Head
19. Valinor's Tree - Kingdom of Sadness
20. Pushmonkey - Pushmonkey
21. Sculptured - The Spear of the Lily Is Aureoled
22. The Gathering - How to Measure a Planet?
23. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come
24. Ty Tabor - Moonflower Lane
25. Marillion and the Positive Light - Tales from the Engine Room
26. Steve Hackett - The Tokyo Tapes
27. Soundscape - Man and Machine [EP]
28. Rush - Different Stages
29, Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
30. White Willow - Ex Tenebris
31. Without Warning - Step Beyond
32. Power of Omens - Eyes of the Oracle
33. OHO - Ecce OHO
34. Vincent Gallo - Buffalo '66 Soundtrack
35. Imogen Heap - I Megaphone
36. Al Di Meola - The Infinite Desire
37, Gorguts - Obscura
38. Wondermints - Bali
39. System of a Down - System of a Down
40. sElf - Brunch [EP]
41. The Rubinoos - Paleophonic
42. Poundhound - Massive Grooves from the Electric Church of Psychofunkadelic Grungelism Rock Music
43. Dream Theater - Once in a Livetime
44. At the Drive-In - In/Casino/Out
45. New Radicals - Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
46. Metropolis - Shadows of the Past
47. Lenny Kravitz - 5
48. Lorde of All Desires - The Scent of Malevolence
49. Van Halen - Van Halen III
Concerts
8/23/98 Deep Purple/Emerson Lake and Palmer/Dream Theater - Grand Casino Hinckley, MN
10/19/98 King's X/Galactic Cowboys - Ground Zero Minneapolis, MN
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It had been a while since I looked at this thread. Huge lists are being posted. :eek
Don't people complain anymore? :lol
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1998
...had this one ready to go...
Anathema - Alternative 4 (one of my favorites from them, if not THE favorite. Sadly, the last with Duncan Patterson. There is a sense of melancholy and “unease” here that they never quite had again, despite still producing beautiful records.)
Blind Guardian – Nightfall in Middle Earth (the start of the “new”, more complex BG. I don’t love it as much as Imaginations, but there’s a ton of memorable moments here)
Bruce Dickinson – The Chemical Wedding (another brilliant “solo” effort, a little heavier this time)
Pain of Salvation – One Hour by the Concrete Lake (my first POS. Production is kinda weird, but I still love this album)
Spock’s Beard – The Kindness of Strangers (as I said before, probably my favorite of theirs)
Rush – Different Stages (I wouldn’t normally have live albums in my top list, but I went nuts over this one, as it came out at the height of my initial Rush fandom. Great selection of songs, listened to it on repeat that year)
Liquid Tension Experiment – LTE (fun and exhilarating instrumental prog-metal)
Rage – XIII (less heavy, but beautiful combo of metal and orchestra)
Eldritch - El Niño (for me, the crowning achievement for these Italian prog-metallers)
Theatre of Tragedy – Aégis (ditching the cookie monster vocals, a great album of gothic metal, with lush sound and songs)
Sentenced – Frozen (another great set of songs from the Finnish gloomsters)
System of a Down - System of a Down (they would refine their sound with Toxicity – which I personally prefer – but this is a blast)
Nightwish – Oceanborn (not into this sound as much these days, but this was a mini-masterpiece in the nascent genre of symphonic power metal, or however we want to call it)
Chroma Key – Dead Air for Radios (great mood and songs from an old friend…)
The Gathering – How to Measure a Planet (the start of a trippier sound…waaay too long, but when they nail it, it’s beautiful)
The honorable mentions:
4 Hero – Two pages
Air – Moon Safari
Tori Amos – From the Choirgirl Hotel
Angel Dust – Border of Reality
Angra – Fireworks
Arch Enemy – Stigmata
Arena – The Visitor
Ayreon – Into the Electric Castle
Black Symphony – Black Symphony
Bob Catley – The Tower
Children of Bodom – Something Wild
Dare – Calm Before the Storm
Darkane – Rusted Angel
Dave Matthews Band – Before these Crowded Streets
Enchant – Break
Evergrey – The Dark Discovery
Fear Factory – Obsolete
Garbage – Version 2.0
Godsmack – Godsmack
Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up the Girl
The Haunted – The Haunted
Helloween - Better Than Raw
HIM – Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666
Iced Earth – Something Wicked This Way Comes
Labyrinth – Return to Heaven Denied
Yngwie Malmsteen – Facing the Animal
The Mayfield Four - Fallout
Mindfeed – Ten Miles High
Monster Magnet – Powertrip
Movida – Frammenti Simili
Opeth – My Arms Your Hearse
Placebo – Without You I’m Nothing
Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
Spiritual Beggars – Mantra III
Stabbing Westward – Darkest Days
Dan Swano – Moontower
Symphony X – Twilight in Olympus
Therion – Vovin
Threshold – Clone
Devin Townsend - Infinity
Turbonegro – Apocalypse Dudes
Unkle – Psyence Fiction
VAST – Visual Audio Sensory Theater
And still enough to do another little batch of lesser-known prog…
Abstracta – T.R.I.P.
Cairo – Conflict and Dreams
Ivory Tower – Ivory Tower
Mind Odyssey – Nailed to the Shade (I LOVE this one, could in fact almost make the top list. Pre-Rage Victor Smolski’s band. More on the power side of things, with great songs and fantastic guitar playing)
Mind’s Eye – Into the Unknown
Power of Omens – Eyes of the Oracle
Time Machine – Eternity Ends (from Italy, a little gem of melodic power-prog)
Without Warning - Step Beyond
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Damn Nick, you poached a couple of mine - including Ivory Tower and Mind's Eye. :getoffmylawn:
Not mentioned yet:
Axel Rudi Pell - Oceans of Time
Elegy - Manifestation of Fear
Explorer's Club - Age of Impact (so disappointing given the lineup)
Firehouse - Category 5
Magnitude 9 - Chaos to Control
Phantom's Opera - Following Dreams
Sebastian Bach & Friends - Bring 'em Bach Alive
Ten - Spellbound
TSO - The Christmas Attic
Von Groove - Chameleon
Light year for me.
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I was listening to a lot of Rush and Dream Theater then, but that was the year I met my first wife, and if I recall, that was a light year and there was a LOT of "catalogue" listening going on.
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I was listening to a lot of Rush and Dream Theater then, but that was the year I met my first wife, and if I recall, that was a light year and there was a LOT of "catalogue" listening going on.
I was in the same general place. We got married and bought our house in '97, and I was promoted to Store Manager in '98. It wasn't until 99 or maybe even 2000 that I started a sort of reawakening to new music.
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Damn Nick, you poached a couple of mine - including Ivory Tower and Mind's Eye. :getoffmylawn:
Sorry ;)
Not mentioned yet:
Elegy - Manifestation of Fear
Magnitude 9 - Chaos to Control
Ten - Spellbound
Manifestation of Fear might be my favorite of the post-Hovinga albums, but in general none of those really wowed me (not for the singing btw...if anything, I prefer Parry to Hovinga)
I have a vague remembrance of seeing the Magnitude 9's album back in the day...I don't think I've actually heard it...
I like Spellbound, but my CD and archive say 1999...
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1998 was such a landmark year that I have to award the quintuple - or five pointed star - joint "best album of the year" award, 'cause it's impossible to choose:
1.1 - Blind Guardian – Nightfall in Middle Earth
1.2 - Bruce Dickinson – The Chemical Wedding
1.3 - Rage – XIII
1.4 - Virgin Steele - Invictus
1.5 - Iced Earth – Something Wicked This Way Comes
All these albums are fantastic masterpieces and a high water mark in those bands, or artists, carrer. Amazing and insane how they all came out in the same year!!!
And then, just a tiny little less behind (it's impossible to pick anyway...)
2. Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
3. Helloween - Better than Raw
Then trying to go on somehow in "order".....
Therion – Vovin
Metallica - Garage INC
Hammerfall - Legacy of Kings
Kamelot - Siége Perilous
Rhapsody – Symphony of Enchanted Lands
Edguy - Vain Glory Opera
Sentenced – Frozen
Nightwish – Oceanborn
Angra – Fireworks
Symphony X – Twilight in Olympus
Jag Panzer - Age of Mastery
Iron Maiden - Virtual XI
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3. Helloween - Better than Raw
I had the year wrong on this one...Now added it to the 1998 list
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1998:
1. Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets - 5/5 - My favorite DMB release, fantastic album from start to finish
2. Korn - Follow The Leader - 4/5
3. Beck - Mutations - 4/5
4. dredg - Leitmotif - 4/5 - Great debut from one of my favorite bands
5. Buckethead - Colma - 3.5/5
6. Chroma Key - Dead Air For Radios - 3/5
7. Massive Attack - Mezzanine - 3/5
8. Kid Rock - Devil Without A Cause - 3/5 - I loved this album as a kid
9. Godsmack - Godsmack - 3/5
10. Jump, Little Children - Magazine - 3/5
11. Alanis Morissette - Supposed Former Infaturation Junkie - 3/5 - Pretty good follow-up album
12. Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse - 2.5/5
13. UNKLE - Psyence Fiction - 2.5/5
14. 54-40 - Since When - 2/5 - There are a handful of really fantastic songs on this album
15. Candlebox - Happy Pills - 2/5
16. Fear Factory - Obsolete - 1.5/5
17. Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy Up The Girl - 1.5/5
18. DMX - Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood - 1/5 - One of my favorite albums when I was a kid, not so much anymore
19. Explorers Club - Age Of Impact - 0.5/5 - A collection of great musicians get together to make an awful album
20. Porcupine Tree - Metanoia - 0.5/5
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I absolutely adore El Cielo and Catch Without Arms but I never quite fell for Leitmotif. Haven't listened to it in forever, though - KK's and Soundscape's lists remind me I might have to...
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It had been a while since I looked at this thread. Huge lists are being posted. :eek
Don't people complain anymore? :lol
I gave my opinion of people complaining about long lists in several of my long lists :P
I've been restricting mine to a top 50 and linking to the full list in my posts, in case anyone is interested...
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I absolutely adore El Cielo and Catch Without Arms but I never quite fell for Leitmotif. Haven't listened to it in forever, though - KK's and Soundscape's lists remind me I might have to...
I think it's a great album that has some flaws. There is a great blend of heavy riffage and the more atmospheric art rock stuff that they explore with El Cielo. The song writing is there through, "Penguins In The Desert", "Symbol Song", and "Yatahaze" are really strong tracks; "Lechium" is in my top 5 dredg songs of all time.
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It had been a while since I looked at this thread. Huge lists are being posted. :eek
Don't people complain anymore? :lol
I gave my opinion of people complaining about long lists in several of my long lists :P
I've been restricting mine to a top 50 and linking to the full list in my posts, in case anyone is interested...
Nice that you persisted. I gave up because of that. :lol
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Damn Nick, you poached a couple of mine - including Ivory Tower and Mind's Eye. :getoffmylawn:
Sorry ;)
Not mentioned yet:
Elegy - Manifestation of Fear
Magnitude 9 - Chaos to Control
Ten - Spellbound
Manifestation of Fear might be my favorite of the post-Hovinga albums, but in general none of those really wowed me (not for the singing btw...if anything, I prefer Parry to Hovinga)
I have a vague remembrance of seeing the Magnitude 9's album back in the day...I don't think I've actually heard it...
I like Spellbound, but my CD and archive say 1999...
I’ll update my tags then. :tup
And I also prefer Parry on the Elegy albums. I wasn’t terribly enamoured with their earlier ones.
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And I also prefer Parry on the Elegy albums. I wasn’t terribly enamoured with their earlier ones.
For me it's the opposite. I love Elegy's first three albums, and I'm not crazy about what came after. What I meant is that this is true despite the fact that I probably like Parry more than Hovinga. I mean, Hovinga certainly has a unique style, but the fact that he goes for the stratosphere so often gets a little tiring after a while ;) The songs are so good, though. I have a particularly soft spot for the debut, Labyrinth of Dreams.
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I absolutely adore El Cielo and Catch Without Arms but I never quite fell for Leitmotif. Haven't listened to it in forever, though - KK's and Soundscape's lists remind me I might have to...
I think it's a great album that has some flaws. There is a great blend of heavy riffage and the more atmospheric art rock stuff that they explore with El Cielo. The song writing is there through, "Penguins In The Desert", "Symbol Song", and "Yatahaze" are really strong tracks; "Lechium" is in my top 5 dredg songs of all time.
I don't enjoy it quite as much as El Cielo or CWA (or Pariah), but almost as much. I think that largely has to do with it being a little shorter. But i have grown to enjoy it a lot more than when i 1st got into them. When i saw them play it live in full in 2006, it kind of won me over a bit more than it had previously. And I follow why some consider it their favorite dredg album.
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I absolutely adore El Cielo and Catch Without Arms but I never quite fell for Leitmotif. Haven't listened to it in forever, though - KK's and Soundscape's lists remind me I might have to...
I think it's a great album that has some flaws. There is a great blend of heavy riffage and the more atmospheric art rock stuff that they explore with El Cielo. The song writing is there through, "Penguins In The Desert", "Symbol Song", and "Yatahaze" are really strong tracks; "Lechium" is in my top 5 dredg songs of all time.
I don't enjoy it quite as much as El Cielo or CWA (or Pariah), but almost as much. I think that largely has to do with it being a little shorter. But i have grown to enjoy it a lot more than when i 1st got into them. When i saw them play it live in full in 2006, it kind of won me over a bit more than it had previously. And I follow why some consider it their favorite dredg album.
Just finished a re-listen, and my feelings are more or less as I remembered...I agree it's a cool debut, and it's interesting to hear this transitional version of dredg that still retains a good amount of heaviness and aggression. It feels a little too rough around the edges, though. In part it's the charm of a debut album, but I think Gavin's vocals don't work super well in this context. Also agree Lechium is a great track and the best on the album.
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1998 was a great year for music.
01 Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
02 Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle
03 Liquid Tension Experiment - Volume 1
04 Devin Townsend - Infinity
05 Tommy Shaw - 7 Deadly Zens
06 Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
07 Blue Oyster Cult - Heaven Forbid
08 Madonna - Ray of Light
09 Alanis Morissette - Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
10 Walter Trout - Walter Trout
11 Roine Stolt - Hydrophonia
12 Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
13 Van Halen - III
14 Chroma Key - Dead Air for Radios
15 Bruce Hornsby - Spirit Trail
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1998 is a year where prog really starts to take over in my collection (though most of them after the fact). My first DT album that I owned actually was Once In A Livetime, which I did pick up that year. I’m including it along with Across a Wire because those were both really big live albums for me at the time.
1. Spock’s Beard - The Kindness of Strangers (2 years in a row!)
2. Enchant - Break
3. Liquid Tension Experiment
4. Marillion - Radiation
5. Chroma Key - Dead Air for Radios
6. Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
7. Van Halen - III
8. Pearl Jam - Yield
10. Counting Crows - Across a Wire
11. Ty Tabor - Moonflower Lane
12. King’s X - Tape Head
13. Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
14. Dream Theater - Once in a Livetime
15. Mark Hollis - Mark Hollis
16. Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy Up The Girls
17. Niacin - High Bias
18. Joe Satriani - Crystal Planet
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Another excellent year, maybe a smidge less great than 1997 in terms of the number of albums I rate 4 stars or higher. But still lots of great albums from a real range of different styles.
1. Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding
2. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
3. The Offspring - Americana
4. Soulwax - Much Against Everyone's Advice
5. Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth
6. Devin Townsend - Infinity
7. Freak Kitchen - Freak Kitchen
8. Borknagar - The Archaic Course
9. Arena - The Visitor
10. Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals
11. Threshold - Clone
12. Morcheeba - Big Calm
13. Ulver - Themes From William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
14. Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
15. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Americana Deluxe
16. Tori Amos - From the Choirgirl Hotel
17. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment
18. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come
Also good:
AIR - Moon Safari
Anathema - Alternative 4
At the Drive-In - In / Casino / Out
The Beta Band - The Three E.P.'s
Blue October - The Answers
Casiopea - Be
Chroma Key - Dead Air for Radios
Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast
The Gathering - How to Measure a Planet?
Helloween - Better Than Raw
Hooverphonic - Blue Wonder Power Milk
Iced Earth - Something Wicked This Way Comes
King's X - Tape Head
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Moonsorrow - Tämä ikuinen talvi
Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
Pain of Salvation - One Hour by the Concrete Lake
Shpongle - Are You Shpongled?
Elliott Smith - XO
Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
Symphony X - Twilight in Olympus
System of a Down - System of a Down
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And I also prefer Parry on the Elegy albums. I wasn’t terribly enamoured with their earlier ones.
For me it's the opposite. I love Elegy's first three albums, and I'm not crazy about what came after. What I meant is that this is true despite the fact that I probably like Parry more than Hovinga. I mean, Hovinga certainly has a unique style, but the fact that he goes for the stratosphere so often gets a little tiring after a while ;) The songs are so good, though. I have a particularly soft spot for the debut, Labyrinth of Dreams.
May e I should give ‘em another try then.
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1998
No particular order
The Seatbelts - Cowboy Bebop
The Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty
Patricia Barber - Modern Cool
Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
The Lounge Lizards - Queen of All Ears
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
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OK I didn't buy a ton of albums during these years but here we go..
1997
Bruce Dickinson-Accident At Birth
Mogg/Way-Edge Of The World
Flotsam & Jetsam-High
Gary Moore-Dark Days In Paradise
Dream Theater-Falling Into Infinity
Fates Warning-A Pleasant Shade Of Gray
KISS-Carnival Of Souls
Queensryche-Hear In The Now Frontier
Alice Cooper-A Fistfull Of Alice
Shows I went to..
1997..3/23..Kiss..Providence Civic Center
1997..4/5..Metallica..Providence Civic Center
1997..9/28..Bruce Dickenson.. The Strand Providence
1997..10/17..Dream Theater..Lupo’s Providence
1997..10/20..Rolling Stones..Foxboro Stadium
1998
Iron Maiden-Virtual XI
Bruce Dickinson-The Chemical Wedding
Anthrax-Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
Metallica-Garage Inc.
Black Sabbath-Reunion
Shows I went to..
1998..7/14..Iron Maiden, Dio..Celeberty Theater Phoenix AZ
1998..9/6..Alice Cooper..Mohegan Sun Casino CT
1998..11/13..Kiss..Fleet Center Boston
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Well after sifting through the 124 albums I own from 1998 I was able to dwindle my list down to 65 I think deserve to be on my list. Here is the full list (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/1998-album-rankings/).
Top 50 of 1998:
1. Arena - The Visitor
2. Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
3. Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
4. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment
5. Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth
6. Rush - Different Stages
7. Anathema - Alternative 4
8. Death - The Sound of Perseverance
9. Gorguts - Obscura
10. The Gathering - How to Measure a Planet?
11. The Chasm - Deathcult for Eternity: The Triumph
12. Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle
13. Falkenbach - ...Magni Blandinn Ok Megintiri...
14. Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
15. System of a Down - System of a Down
16. Outkast - Aquamini
17. Don Caballero - What Burns Never Returns
18. Mystery - Destiny?
19. Tori Amos - From the Choirgirl Hotel
20. Motorpsycho - Trust Us
21. Amon Tobin - Permutation
22. Chroma Key - Dead Air for Radios
23. Appalling Spawn - Freedom, Hope & Fury (The Second Spawn)
24. Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
25. The Living End - The Living End
26. Enslaved - Blodhemn
27. Ulver - Themes From William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
28. The Smashing Pumpkins - Adore
29. Marillion - Radiation
30. Primordial - A Journey's End
31. Devin Townsend - Infinity
32. Solitude Aeturnus - Adagio
33. Pain of Salvation - One Hour by the Concrete Lake
34. Unwound - Challenge for a Civilized Society
35. Threshold - Clone
36. Katatonia - Discouraged Ones
37. Paysage d'Hiver - Schattengang
38. PJ Harvey - Is This Desire?
39. Superior - Younique
40. Evoken - Embrace the Emptiness
41. Bal-Sagoth - Battle Magic
42. Symphony X - Twilight in Olympus
43. Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
44. Borknagar - The Archaic Course
45. Goodie Mob - Still Standing
46. Tristania - Widow's Weeds
47. Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands
48. Imogen Heap - I Megaphone
49. Paysage d'Hiver - Steineiche
50. Hum - Downward is Heavenward
Fun fact - There are 3 albums with a question mark in the title in my top 50.....
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kind of surprised by the lack of votes for Jeff Buckley's Sketches album.
I know it technically is just demos, but I've come to conclude I enjoy it a little more than Grace even. There's some fantastic tunes on it, which makes the fact he died before he was able to properly record it, all the more tragic.
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kind of surprised by the lack of votes for Jeff Buckley's Sketches album.
I know it technically is just demos, but I've come to conclude I enjoy it a little more than Grace even. There's some fantastic tunes on it, which makes the fact he died before he was able to properly record it, all the more tragic.
It's definitely great, and I considered listing it.
-
kind of surprised by the lack of votes for Jeff Buckley's Sketches album.
I know it technically is just demos, but I've come to conclude I enjoy it a little more than Grace even. There's some fantastic tunes on it, which makes the fact he died before he was able to properly record it, all the more tragic.
I like it but I never listened to it all the way through and rated it so I left it off. I'll have to give it a proper spin at some point.
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Pretty good year 1998 considering, and lots of nostalgic value in these...
1. BRUCE DICKINSON Chemical Wedding
2. ICED EARTH Something Wicked This Way Comes
3. FEAR FACTORY Obsolete
4. CANDLEBOX Happy Pills
5. KING'S X Tapehead
And these probably continue in rough order too...
IRON MAIDEN Virtual XI
METALLICA Garage Inc
MONSTER MAGNET Powertrip
PEARL JAM Yield
POWDERFINGER Internationalist
ANTHRAX Volume 8
MAGNITUDE 9 Chaos To Control
HELLOWEEN Better Than Raw
STRATOVARIUS Destiny
VAN HALEN III
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kind of surprised by the lack of votes for Jeff Buckley's Sketches album.
I know it technically is just demos, but I've come to conclude I enjoy it a little more than Grace even. There's some fantastic tunes on it, which makes the fact he died before he was able to properly record it, all the more tragic.
I've heard it a couple times and it never really stuck with me. I suppose it's time to dust it off for another listen.
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30. Primordial - A Journey's End
This is a band I've often seen mentioned and I've never explored...I see they've been around for a while, although their discog is not huge. Is this album a good place to start? Any other recommendations?
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30. Primordial - A Journey's End
This is a band I've often seen mentioned and I've never explored...I see they've been around for a while, although their discog is not huge. Is this album a good place to start? Any other recommendations?
This is probably the best place to start with this band. They did have 1 album before this (Imrama), but it isn't nearly as good. Then I would just work your way forward through their discography. They progressively get better up to To The Nameless Dead where I think they peaked. But all their albums are good.
Sonically this album is very similar to a mix of Fen and Blut Aus Nord, with maybe a touch of Enslaved.
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This is probably the best place to start with this band. They did have 1 album before this (Imrama), but it isn't nearly as good. Then I would just work your way forward through their discography. They progressively get better up to To The Nameless Dead where I think they peaked. But all their albums are good.
Sonically this album is very similar to a mix of Fen and Blut Aus Nord, with maybe a touch of Enslaved.
Thank you :tup
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1999
1999 seems like a year of transition. A lot of the stuff or artists I came to love a few years down the road were just getting started.
But in looking at it a little more in depth, a couple of things stand out.
There is a lot of depth good-very good (3-3.5 stars) albums. And even the albums better than those are not at a shortage.
There's quite a lot of prog metal, neoprog, and modern progressive rock. I remember 1999 maybe being the peak or at least plateau of the underground progressive metal scene. 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 I suppose also fit in there to a point. A ton of bands influenced by Dream Theater were coming out, and oddly enough, many of them pretty good, even as short-lived as they were.
Of course it was the year Dream Theater's Scenes from a Memory came out. A comeback of sorts, and an unexpected one for me, as I wasn't even all that clued into that much of their online activity in 1998 and 1999. Those were the days of dialups and going to the library for the internet of course.
And much the same with Marillion. The album came out and was unaware of it for a few weeks, etc.
SFAM was 1999's top disc as it had a ton of staying power for me. I listened to it for months. James LaBrie admittedly sounded maybe better than he ever had, etc.
1. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes from a Memory
2, Marillion - marillion.com
3. Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Lost Trident Sessions
4. Spock's Beard - Day for Night
5. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 2
6. Dream Theater - Christmas CD 1999: Cleaning Out the Closet
7. maudlin of the Well - My Fruit Psychobells... A Seed Combustible
8. Opeth - Still Life
9, Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun
10. sElf - Breakfast with Girls
11. uneXpect - Utopia
12. Tiles - Presents of Mind
13. Fish - Raingods with Zippos
14. Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream
15. Owsley - Owsley
16. Little Hans - Wunderkind
17. Mullmuzzler - Keep it to Yourself
18. 3 - Paint by Number
19. Muse - Showbiz
20, Francesca Gagnon - Au Dela Des Couleurs
21. Live - The Distance to Here
22. Mr. Bungle - California
23. Yes - The Ladder
24. Nexus - Detrás del umbral
25. I Mother Earth - Blue Green Orange
26. The Tea Party - Triptych
27. Xen - 84.000 Dharma Doors
28. Conditioned Response -In Flagranté Delecto
30. Jim Matheos - Away with Words
31. Pepe Deluxé - Super Sound
32. Zero Hour - Zero Hour
33. The Flower Kings - Flower Power: A Journey to the Hidden Corners of Your Mind
34. Evil Wings - Colors of the New World
35. Queensryche - Q2K
1. Giraffe - Giraffe
Concerts
2/2/99 King's X/Galactic Cowboys - Medina Ballroom Minneapolis, MN
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Yipee! First.
Not mentioned yet:
At Vance - No Escape
Consortium Project - I: Criminals and Kings
D.C. Cooper - s/t
Dream Theater - Cleaning out the Closet
Evergrey - Solitude Dominance Tragedy
Freedom Call - Stairway to Fairyland
Ice Age - The Great Divide
Kamelot - The Fourth Legacy
Luca Turilli - Kings of the Nordic Twilight
Poverty's No Crime - Slave to the Mind
Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands
Royal Hunt - Fear
Secret Sphere - Mistress of the Shadowlight
Spock's Beard - Live at the Whiskey & Nearfest
Ten - Spellbound (got it right, this time!)
Vanden Plas - Far Off Grace
Vanishing Point - In Thought
Vision Divine - s/t
Lots of solid albums there.
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I almost forgot how strong the 90's ended.
If I did a top 100, four albums from 1998 would be in my top 100, maybe even five, and 1999 would anywhere from five to seven. Great year for music.
01 Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory
02 Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream
03 The Flower Kings - Flower Power
04 Liquid Tension Experiment - Volume 2
05 Opeth - Still Life
06 The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
07 XTC - Apple Venus, Pt. 1
08 Spock's Beard - Day for Night
09 Wilco - Summerteeth
10 Neal Morse - Neal Morse
11 Jeff Beck - Who Else!
12 Yes - The Ladder
13 Pet Shop Boys - Nightlife
14 Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun
15 Muse - Showbiz
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Slightly fewer great albums for me than the last couple of years, but a lot of good ones still!
1. In Flames - Colony
2. Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream
3. Silverchair - Neon Ballroom
4. Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy VIII: Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec
5. Tower of Power - Soul Vaccination: Live
6. Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder
7. Opeth - Still Life
8. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory
9. Metallica - S&M
10. Engine - Engine
11. The Flower Kings - Flower Power
12. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
13. Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
14. Ulver - Metamorphosis EP
15. Alkinoos Ioannidis - Ανεμοδείκτης
16. Hybrid - Wide Angle
17. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 2
Also good:
Amorphis - Tuonela
Anathema - Judgement
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - This Beautiful Life
BT - Movement in Still Life
Cardiacs - Guns
Dark Tranquillity - Projector
Bruce Dickinson - Scream for Me Brazil
Feeder - Yesterday Went Too Soon
Foo Fighters - There Is Nothing Left to Lose
Gamma Ray - Power Plant
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada E.P.
Matthew Good Band - Beautiful Midnight
Jamiroquai - Synkronized
Machine Head - The Burning Red
Marillion - marillion.com
Mr. Bungle - California
Muse - Showbiz
Randy Newman - Bad Love
NOFX - The Decline
Ocean Colour Scene - One From the Modern
Sinergy - Beware the Heavens
Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows - Dead Lovers' Sarabande (Face One)
Spock's Beard - Day for Night
VNV Nation - Empires
Widespread Panic - 'Til the Medicine Takes
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1999...looking back, it's pretty amazing how much music I was purchasing...
The top 15:
Amorphis – Tuonela (Changing their sound again…and another success. “The way” is such an amazing song)
Nevermore – Dreaming Neon Black (Dark, heavy and powerful. One of my favorites from Nevermore)
Anathema – Judgement (a tiny step down from Alternative 4, but still great. And “Deep” is one of my favorite songs of theirs)
Dream Theater – Scenes from a Memory (a great statement from DT, I just don’t consider it a stone-cold classic, or at the top of their discography)
Angel Dust – Bleed (a breath of fresh air in the power scene, really cool album)
DC Cooper – DC Cooper (fantastic album, melodic hard rock/metal with sprinkles of power and prog)
Paradise Lost – Host (went a little too far with the sound, but the songs to me are still very much PL. Not one of their very best, but also extremely underrated, imo)
Opeth – Still Life (to me, this is the real start of Opeth mark II. Great stuff)
Porcupine Tree – Stupid Dream (first successful introduction of a little more “Pop” in their songs)
Slipknot – Slipknot (lots of hype too, maybe, but the energy here is relentless. Clearly, they were here to stay)
Steelhouse Lane – Slaves of the New World (one of my favorite melodic hard rock albums. The guitar work here is insanely good)
Liquid Tension Experiment – 2 (maybe lacking the surprise factor of the first, but plenty of entertainment in here. And When the Water Breaks is fantastic)
Lacuna Coil – In a Reverie (proper full-length debut from the Italians, a little gem of melodic gothic metal)
Grip Inc. – Solidify (another slab of great “modern” metal from Lombardo, Sorychta and the rest of the gang. Fantastic riffs and drumming)
Arch Enemy – Burning Bridges (my favorite Arch Enemy – they kinda lost me after this. Tasty blend of melodic death and classic metal)
The honorable mentions:
3 Doors Down – The Better Life
A.C.T. – Today’s Report
Agalloch – Pale Folklore
Fiona Apple – When the Pawn…
Breach – Venom
Caroline’s Spine – Attention Please
Century – The Secret Inside
Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder
Collective Soul – Dosage
Colorsound – Colorsound
Crematory – Act Seven
Cyclefly – Generation Sap
Dark Tranquillity – Projector
Days of the New – Days of the New II
Dillinger Escape Plan – Calculating Infinity
Eleven Pictures – Superficial to the Core
Engine – Engine
Evergrey – Solitude – Dominance - Tragedy
Filter – Title of Record
Foo Fighters – There is Nothing Left to Lose
Gardenian – Soulburner
Gordian Knot – Gordian Knot
Hypocrisy – Hypocrisy
In Flames – Colony
Katatonia – Tonight’s Decision
Korn – Issues
Kreator – Endorama
Lake of Tears – Forever Autumn
Live – The Distance to Here
Meathook Seed – B.I.B.L.E.
Meshuggah – Chaosphere
Moby – Play
Muse – Showbiz
Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile
On Thorns I Lay – Crystal Tears
Beth Orton – Central Reservation
Pain – Rebirth
Puya – Fundamental
Queensryche – Q2K
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Samael – Eternal
Sevendust – Home
Soilwork - The Chainheart Machine
Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun
Spock’s Beard – Day for Night
Sting – Brand New Day
Sundown - Glimmer
Swan Christy – Today Died Yesterday
Ten – Spellbound
Testament – The Gathering
Tiles – Presents of Mind
To/Die/For – All Eternity
Toto – Mindfields
Tristania – Beyond the Veil
Type O Negative – World Coming Down
Vanden Plas – Far Off Grace
Vertical Horizon – Everything You Want
VNV Nation – Empires
Waltari – Radium Round
The lesser-known prog group is becoming thinner…
Dreamscape – Very
Dali’s Dilemma – Manifesto for Futurism
Event – Electric Skies
House of Spirits – Psychosphere
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Closing up the 90's, 1999:
1. Incubus - Make Yourself - 5/5 - One of my favorite albums of all time, watching them play this album in it's entirety 2 years ago was one of my concert going highlights
2. Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream - 5/5 - I didn't initially rank this album this high but it's really grown on me over time
3. Don Ross - Passion Session - 4.5/5 - One of the first albums to get me into acoustic instrumental music, this is my favorite Don Ross record
4. Limp Bizkit - Significant Other - 4/5
5. Creed - Human Clay - 4/5 - Not as good as the debut but really close
6. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory - 4/5
7. Rage Against The Machine - The Battle Of Los Angeles - 4/5
8. Metallica - S&M - 4/5 - Probably my second most watched/listened to live album behind PULSE
9. John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess - An Evening With John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess - 4/5
10. Opeth - Still Life - 3.5/5
11. Third Eye Blind - Blue - 3.5/5 - Similar to Creed, not as good as the debut but still solid
12. Collective Soul - Dosage - 3/5 - Collective Soul continues to go downhill
13. Mogwai - Come On Die Young - 3/5
14. Sevendust - Home - 3/5
15. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication - 2.5/5 - Probably one of the worst sounding mainstream albums I've ever heard. This album is one of the few where I've knocked down the rating because of how abysmal it sounds.
16. Chris Cornell - Euphoria Morning - 2.5/5
17. Tonic - Sugar - 2/5
18. Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want - 2/5
19. Foo Fighters - There Is Nothing Left To Lose - 2/5
20. DMS - ...And Then There Was X - 2/5
Looking back this is probably my favorite year in music so far, a lot of really great releases.
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1999 came with some big changes in listening, some new genres and whatnot and while that then continued to be a good thing, thankfully Maiden Blaze and Halford and a few others were all just around the corner to ensure some balance in the universe ;)
1. SEVENDUST Home
2. HORSEHEAD Goodbye Mothership
3. DREAM THEATER Scenes...
4. CREED Human Clay
5. QUEENSRYCHE Q2k
CHRIS CORNELL Euphoria Morning
DAYS OF THE NEW Green / II
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE The Battle Of Los Angeles
NEVERMORE Dreaming Neon Black
EDGUY Theater Of Salvation
KATATONIA Tonight's Decision
MEGADETH Risk
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There is no contest in 1999. I don't even have to think about it:
1. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes from a Memory
Absolute and utter masterpiece that will forever hold the symbolic title of my favorite album.
2. Virgin Steele - The House of Atreus - Act I
3. Kamelot - The Fourth Legacy
A bit difficult to fill out the podium, but both these albums are very solid and great.
Also worth mentionings in maybe-order:
Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
Rage - Ghosts
Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun
Luca Turilli - Kings of the Nordic Twilight
Gamma Ray - Power Plant
Royal Hunt - Fear
Edguy - Theater of Salvation
Therion - Crowning of Atlantis
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1999
No particular order:
Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
Destiny's Child - The Writing's On The Wall
Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 2
Opeth - Still Life
Foo Fighters - There Is Nothing Left To Lose
Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun
Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream
Creed - Human Clay
Spock's Beard - Day For Night
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Just now getting around to 1999. A lot of good stuff here.
1. Liquid Tension Experiment - 2
2. Marillion - Marillion.com
3. Spock's Beard - The Healing Colors of Sound
4. The Flower Kings - Flower Power
5. Kip Winger - Down Incognito
6. XTC - Apple Venus Volume 1
7. Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
8. Neal Morse - Neal Morse
9. Collective Soul - Dosage
10. Xen - 84,000 Dharma Doors
11. Caroline's Spine - Attention Please
12. Counting Crows - This Dessert Life
13. Platypus - When Pus Comes to Shove
14. Dokken - Erase the Slate
15. Big Franklin - Buy the Ticket Take the Ride
16. Mullmuzzler - Keep It To Yourself
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Ended up with 84 albums on my 1999 list, which you can find here (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/1999-album-rankings/). However I had almost 200 albums in my personal collection that I considered. It was very close between Dream Theater and Sigur Ros for the top spot.
Here's the top 50.
1. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory
2. Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun
3. Incubus - Make Yourself
4. Type O Negative - World Coming Down
5. Opeth - Still Life
6. Dan Swanö - Moontower
7. The Black Heart Procession - 2
8. Control Denied - The Fragile Art of Existence
9. Paysage d'Hiver - Paysage d'Hiver
10. Dreamscape - Very
11. Emperor - IX Equilibrium
12. Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream
13. Esoteric - Metamorphogenesis
14. Anathema - Judgement
15. Windir - Arntor
16. Immortal - At the Heart of Winter
17. Mos Def - Black On Both Sides
18. Bill Bruford's Earthworks - A Part, and Yet Apart
19. The Roots - Things Fall Apart
20. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
21. Gamma Ray - Power Plant
22. Agalloch - Pale Folklore
23. Tori Amos - To Venus and Back
24. Tenhi - Kauan
25. Matthew Good Band - Beautiful Midnight
26. Dolorian - When All the Laughter Has Gone
27. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada E.P.
28. In the Woods... - Strange in Stereo
29. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity
30. A.C.T - Today's Report
31. Marillion - marillion.com
32. Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
33. Lake of Tears - Forever Autumn
34. Fish - Raingods With Zippos
35. Breach - Venom
36. Testament - The Gathering
37. Anekdoten - From Within
38. Neurosis - Times of Grace
39. The Tea Party - Triptych
40. dEUS - The Idea Crash
41. Chevelle - Point #1
42. Samael - Eternal
43. Today is the Day - In the Eyes of God
44. Katatonia - Tonight's Decision
45. Dornenreich - Bitter ist's dem Tod zu dienen
46. Summoning - Stronghold
47. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 2
48. Mr. Bungle - California
49. Dark Tranquillity - Projector
50. Weird Al Yankovic - Running With Scissors
Not mentioned yet:
Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands
This came out in 1998.
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Let it be known that for 1999 I forgot Virgin Steele's The House of Atreus - act I, which makes me a horrible person.
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2000
In the year 2000..
This entry was created awhile ago I think when I was doing these the Summer of 2015. Anyway, I have thought about this and have wanted to get back into these, and of course the biggest obstacle with them is time. Looking up dates, etc and then writing blurbs.
And what seems like somewhat of a new approach, I think I may be able to expedite them, much like my Albums of the Year countdowns by skipping the Blurbs, at least for now, and just posting the list/calendar/chronology of releases and release dates of those.
Kevin and PoS are the absolute stone cold classics, and there many records from this year from artists who I consider the best album from that artist (Doves, The Flower Kings, Porcupine Tree, etc)
1. Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True
2. Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I
3. Fates Warning - Disconnected
4. Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun
5. Call Florence Pow - These Are the Plans...
6. Transatlantic - SMPT:e
7. Spock's Beard - V
8. King's X - Please Come Home Mr.Bulbous
9. sElf - Gizmodgery
10. Spiral Architect - A Skeptics Universe
11. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!
12. Doves - Lost Souls
13. Enchant - Juggling Nine or Dropping Ten
14. White Willow - Sacrament
15. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
16. The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic
17. The Flower Kings - Space Revolver
18. Galactic Cowboys - Let It Go
19. Steve Stevens - Flamenco A Go-Go
20. Klimt 1918 - Secession Makes Modern Music
21. Mew - Half the World is Watching
22. VAST - Music for People
23. I Can't Believe It's Not Rock - I Can't Believe It's Not Rock (pre-The Dissociatives)
24. Sculptured - Apollo Ends
25. Chroma Key - You Go Now
26. At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command
27. Ulver - Perdition City
28. The Appleseed Cast - Mare Vitalis
Concerts
2/11/00 Dream Theater/The Dixie Dregs/The Star People - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
6/16/00 North East Art Rock Festival
Happy the Man/Anekdoten/Iluvatar/DFA/North Star - Zoellner Arts Center Bethlehem, PA
6/17/00 North East Art Rock Festival
Transatlantic/Par Lindh Project/Il Balletto Di Bronzo/Thinking Plague/Nexus - Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA
8/13/00 Dream Theater - The Quest Minneapolis, MN
8/15/00 King's X/Podunk - The Quest Minneapolis, MN
12/ /00 Chick Corea - The Dakota Jazz Club St.Paul, MN
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2000:
1. A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms - 4.5/5
2. Sunny Day Real Estate - The Rising Tide - 4/5
3. Limp Bizkit - Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water - 4/5
4. Coldplay - Parachutes - 4/5
5. Deftones - White Pony - 3.5/5
6. Mark Knopfler - Sailing To Philadelphia - 3.5/5
7. Godsmack - Awake - 3.5/5
8. Tool - Salival - 3.5/5
9. Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun - 3/5
10. Deftones - Back To School (Mini Maggit) - 3/5
11. Explosions In The Sky - How Strange, Innocence - 2.5/5
12. Ulver - Perdition City - 2.5/5
13. Chroma Key - You Go Now - 2.5/5
14. Amoeba - Pivot - 2/5
15. Collective Soul - Blender - 2/5
16. Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030 - 2/5
17. Matchbox Twenty - Mad Season - 1.5/5
18. D'Angelo - Voodoo - 1/5 - No idea what they hype behind this album is about
Some good stuff here but nothing really remarkable.
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The jingle.kids were born in 2000, so I still wasn't doing much (barely any) musical discovery at this time, but there was a lot of discovery done of albums from the turn of Y2K
Not mentioned yet:
Ayreon / The Universal Migrator (both parts)
Bigelf / Money Machine
Elegy / Forbidden Fruit
Enchant / Juggling 9 Dropping 10
Forgotten Suns / Fiction Edge 1 (Ascent)
Ice Age / Liberation
IQ / The 7th House
Iron Maiden / Brave New World (neither of you mentioned this one?!?)
Jorn / Starfire
Journey / Arrival
Magnitude 9 / Reality in Focus
Nightwish / Wishmaster
Nocturnal Rites / Afterlife
Poison / Crack a Smile ... and more!
Rhapsody / Dawn of Veeeektoooorrreeeeeee!!!!
Silent Force / The Empire of the Future
Symphony X / V: The New Mythology Suite
Ten / Babylon
TSO / Beethoven's Last Night
Vanden Plas / Spirit of Live
Vanishing Point / Tangled in Dream
Some real gems up there.
-
2000:
As I'm going through my archive, starting now I am adding a star (*) here for albums that were actually purchased later (as far as I can remember):
The top 15:
Nevermore – Dead Heart in a Dead World (for me, the perfect balance of all elements making up the Nevermore sound. A metal classic for the 2000s)
Pain of Salvation – Perfect Element I (POS coming into their own. A journey of an album with many memorable songs and moments)
Fates Warning – Disconnected (Minimalist prog metal? Perhaps predictably, my favorite here is Still Remains, but this is a super-cool album overall)
Spiritual Beggars – Ad Astra (My favorite Spiritual Beggars. Michael Amott is on fire on this one)
Dark Tranquillity – Haven (a darker, moodier version of their sound. Love this one)
Novembre – Classica (back to a heavier sound, this is another great example of the Italians’ unique take on black/death/doom)
Deftones – White Pony (their masterpiece, for me)
Iron Maiden – Brave New World (lots of excitement waiting for it to come out. In retrospect, it might not be one of their very best, but it was so good to have Bruce and Adrian back. Anyway, I'd say overall it didn’t disappoint, and it’s one of the best-sounding Maiden records)
Porcupine Tree – Lightbulb Sun (I’m very fond of this album, their last of the pre-Gavin Harrison era. More stripped-down sound and great songs)
Angel Dust – Enlighten the Darkness (another great one from the Germans)
Everon – Fantasma (more melodic prog goodness)
Symphony X – V (a more “symphonic” version of SymX. Excellent record, before moving on to a heavier version of themselves)
Earthone9 – Arc’Tan’gent (very good “alternative” metal album - I listened to this a lot that year. Sometimes the screamed vocals are a bit much, but there is plenty to enjoy here)
Keith Caputo – Died Laughing (from Life of Agony’s singer, for the most part it’s low key and semi-acoustic…excellent songwriting on this one)
Zeromancer – Clone your Lover (very catchy industrial-tinged goth metal)
The honorable mentions:
The 69 Eyes – Blessed Be
Apoptygma Berzerk – Welcome to Earth
Ark – Ark
At the Drive-In – Relationship of Command
Blaze – Silicon Messiah *
Botch – We Are the Romans
Coldplay – Parachutes
Disturbed – The Sickness
Enchant – Juggling 9 Dropping 10
Fuel – Something Like Human
The Gathering – If_Then_Else
Helloween – The Dark Ride *
HIM – Razorblade Romance
In Flames – Clayman
Kent – Hagnesta Hill
Geddy Lee – My Favorite Headache
Lifehouse – No Name Face *
Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
Matchbox 20 – Mad Season *
Misery Loves Co. – Your Vision Was Never Mine to Share
Nightingale – I
Nightwish – Wishmaster *
Orgy – Vapor Transmission
A Perfect Circle – Mer De Noms
Primary Slave – Data Plague
Sentenced – Crimson *
Smashing Pumpkins – Machina/The Machines of God
Spineshank – The Height of Callousness
Spiral Architect – A Sceptic’s Universe
Spock’s Beard – V
Stramonio – Seasons of Imagination
Theatre of Tragedy – Musique
Tourniquet – Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm
Transatlantic – SMPTe
Steve Walsh – Glossolalia
-
Lot of great, solid albums in 2000.
Victory by a tiny little margin goes to...
1. Trans Siberian Orchestra - Beethoven's Last Night
Total masterpiece, I'm a sucker for these kind of stories. Loved it immensely.
2. Iron Maiden - Brave New World
Needless to say, Bruce's return to Maiden sent shockwaves through the metal world!
3. Virgin Steele - The House of Atreus - Act II
A bit more bloated than the magnificent part I, but still an amazing album.
Rounding out the top 10...
Helloween – The Dark Ride
Halford - Resurrection
Alice Cooper - Brutal Planet
Demons & Wizards - Demons & Wizards
Blaze – Silicon Messiah
Nightwish - Wishmaster
Dio - Magica
Definitively worth mentioning:
Therion - Deggial
Sentenced – Crimson
Jag Panzer - Thane to the Throne
Shoutout for:
Rhapsody - Dawn of Victory
Nocturnal Rites - Afterlife
Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite
Stratovarius - Infinite
Hammerfall - Renegade
-
20. Klimt 1918 - Secession Makes Modern Music
So neat that you are listing this one - it's their demo, even before their full-length debut!
-
Alright we're into the 2000s, now we're talking.
1. Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I
2. In Flames - Clayman
3. Ulver - Perdition City
4. The Flower Kings - Space Revolver
5. Spock's Beard - V
6. Fates Warning - Disconnected
7. John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess - An Evening with John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess
8. Children of Bodom - Follow the Reaper
9. The Offspring - Conspiracy of One
10. Freak Kitchen - Dead Soul Men
11. Infected Mushroom - Classical Mushroom
12. Morcheeba - Fragments of Freedom
13. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
14. Transatlantic - SMPTe
15. Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite
16. Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun
17. Arena - Immortal?
18. Green Day - Warning
19. Chroma Key - You Go Now
20. Helloween - The Dark Ride
21. Iron Maiden - Brave New World
22. Marilyn Manson - Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)
23. NOFX - Pump Up the Valuum
24. Ayreon - Universal Migrator
25. Sinergy - To Hell and Back
26. At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command
27. KBB - Lost and Found
Also good:
Blue October - Consent to Treatment
Borknagar - Quintessence
Bright Eyes - Fevers and Mirrors
Cursive - Domestica
Dark Tranquillity - Haven
Gamma Ray - Blast From the Past
Erroll Garner - Trio
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!
Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain
King's X - Please Come Home...Mr. Bulbous
Klezperanto! - Klezperanto!
Nevermore - Dead Heart in a Dead World
Maceo Parker - diaL: MACEO
A Perfect Circle - Mer de noms
Primordial - Spirit the Earth Aflame
Sona Fariq - Sona Fariq
Stratovarius - Infinite
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Beethoven's Last Night
Within Temptation - Mother Earth
Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy IX
-
2000:
01 Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun
02 Transatlantic - SMPTe
03 Radiohead - Kid A
04 Ayreon - The Dream Sequencer
05 The Flower Kings - Space Revolver
06 Spock's Beard - V
07 Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
08 Kansas - Somewhere to Elsewhere
09 Death Cab for Cutie - We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes
10 Geddy Lee - My Favorite Headache
11 Ayreon - Flight of the Migrator
12 XTC - Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Pt. 2)
13 Peter Gabriel - OVO
14 Ozric Tentacles - The Hidden Step
15 U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
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20. Klimt 1918 - Secession Makes Modern Music
So neat that you are listing this one - it's their demo, even before their full-length debut!
:tup
Yeah it's kind of raw, but it works. I'm sure there are some other fans around here, but they seldom get mentioned.
I happen to love that record, and the 2 records that followed it (especially Dopoguerra). Unfortunately the last 2....well when we get to those years, we'll see if they show up or not, lol.
-
Some of my favorite albums of all time in 2000 (an even 20!):
1. Kip Winger - Songs from the Ocean Floor
2. Transatlantic - SMPTe
3. Spock's Beard - V
4. King's X - Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous
5. Enchant - Juggling 9 or Dropping 10
6. The Flower Kings - Space Revolver
7. Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins - Dancing
8. Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek
9. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
10. Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun (just noticed I forgot Stupid Dream in 1999)
11. Chroma Key - You Go Now
12. Radiohead - Kid A
13. Mr. Big - Get Over It
14. Pearl Jam - Binaural
15. Geddy Lee - My Favorite Headache
16. Platypus - Ice Cycles
17. Peter Gabriel - OVO
18. Bozzio Stevens Levin - Situation Dangerous
19. King Crimson - The ConstruKction of Light
20. Tony Levin - Waters of Eden
-
1. IRON MAIDEN Brave New World
2. BLAZE Silicon Messiah
3. POWDERFINGER Odyssey #5
4. NEVERMORE Dead Heart In A Dead World
5. DIO Magica
Great year with so many more (such as Halford and Helloween amongst others) already mentioned by others so won't repeat them ;)
ETA actually will mention another few, a couple of which not yet mentioned enough 😉 all very close to my own 2000 Top5...
CHARON Tearstained
SENTENCED Crimson
THE 69 EYES Blessed Be
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2000
No particular order
Transatlantic - SMPT:e
Radiohead - Kid A
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True
A Perfect Circle - Mer de Noms
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
Johnny Cash - American III: Solitary Man
Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun
John Hiatt - Crossing Muddy Waters
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Outbound
Gov't Mule - Life Before Insanity
Allan Holdsworth - The Sixteen Men of Tain
-
Catching up...
1998:
1. Elliott Smith - XO
2. Genesis Archive 1967-1975
3. Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals
4. Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast
5. Tori Amos - From The Choirgirl Hotel
6. Liquid Tension Experiment 1
7. R.E.M - Up
8. Nightwish - Oceanborn
1999:
1. Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder (*in my top 20 albums of all time)
2. Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
3. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada (EP)
4. Liquid Tension Experiment 2
5. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time
6. Opeth - Still Life
7. Children of Bodom - Tokyo Warhearts
8. Tom Waits - Mule Variations
9. Steve Vai - The Ultra Zone
2000:
1. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven (*in my ten albums of all time)
2. Mark Knopfler - Sailing To Philadelphia (*in my top 20 albums of all time)
3. Children of Bodom - Follow The Reaper (*in my top 20 albums of all time)
4. Cradle of Filth - Midian (*in my top 30 albums of all time)
5. Elliott Smith - Figure 8
6. Genesis Archive 1976-1992
7. Marilyn Manson - Holy Wood
8. Steve Vai - The 7th Song
9. Radiohead - Kid A
10. Britney Spears - Oops...I Did It Again
11. Ween - White Pepper
12. Oasis - Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants (as always with this band, if they'd included the best b-sides and kicked off the shit songs this would be a classic)
13. Iron Maiden - Brave New World
14. Peter Gabriel - Ovo
15. P.J.Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
16. Transatlantic - SMPT:e
-
1. Kip Winger - Songs from the Ocean Floor
This is a great one - I didn't have it on my list because, for some reason, my archive recorded it as 2001... but yes, the original release is 2000.
-
1. Kip Winger - Songs from the Ocean Floor
This is a great one - I didn't have it on my list because, for some reason, my archive recorded it as 2001... but yes, the original release is 2000.
TAC will probably have this on his list too :biggrin:
-
Working on my 2000 list now. I have about 300 albums to sift through. Not sure how many will make my list yet.
LET THE FLOODGATES OF MUSIC OPEN!!!!
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1. Kip Winger - Songs from the Ocean Floor
This is a great one - I didn't have it on my list because, for some reason, my archive recorded it as 2001... but yes, the original release is 2000.
TAC will probably have this on his list too :biggrin:
I have no doubt :lol
-
1. Kip Winger - Songs from the Ocean Floor
This is a great one - I didn't have it on my list because, for some reason, my archive recorded it as 2001... but yes, the original release is 2000.
It's in my top 3 favorite albums of all time probably.
-
1. Kip Winger - Songs from the Ocean Floor
This is a great one - I didn't have it on my list because, for some reason, my archive recorded it as 2001... but yes, the original release is 2000.
It's in my top 3 favorite albums of all time probably.
I'm starting to suspect that HOF is actually Kip Winger :corn :biggrin:
-
2000:
Antimatter – Saviour
By the way this came out in 2002, unless you picked up a promo copy in 2001 :)
-
2000:
Antimatter – Saviour
By the way this came out in 2002, unless you picked up a promo copy in 2001 :)
Thank you :) If anything, as I said before, this thread is a perfect opportunity to clean up the "data" in the archives...
I don't have easy access to my CD, but I'm seeing on Discogs there are issues from 2001 too (in addition to the promo, that is)..
-
20. Klimt 1918 - Secession Makes Modern Music
So neat that you are listing this one - it's their demo, even before their full-length debut!
:tup
Yeah it's kind of raw, but it works. I'm sure there are some other fans around here, but they seldom get mentioned.
I happen to love that record, and the 2 records that followed it (especially Dopoguerra). Unfortunately the last 2....well when we get to those years, we'll see if they show up or not, lol.
I'm definitely a fan :)
Undressed Momento was still in the same vein (kinda), but yes, Dopoguerra is probably my favorite too. Fell in love with it once I heard Snow of '85. Just in Case is still pretty good, although definitely deeper in the indie/shoegaze-y direction they had been taking. I've actually only recently got their double Sentimentale/Jugend, and haven't spent much with it yet...
-
1. Kip Winger - Songs from the Ocean Floor
This is a great one - I didn't have it on my list because, for some reason, my archive recorded it as 2001... but yes, the original release is 2000.
It's in my top 3 favorite albums of all time probably.
I'm starting to suspect that HOF is actually Kip Winger :corn :biggrin:
I can neither confirm nor deny. :lol
-
1. Kip Winger - Songs from the Ocean Floor
This is a great one - I didn't have it on my list because, for some reason, my archive recorded it as 2001... but yes, the original release is 2000.
It's in my top 3 favorite albums of all time probably.
I'm starting to suspect that HOF is actually Kip Winger :corn :biggrin:
I can neither confirm nor deny. :lol
Schrödinger's Winger.......You both are and are not Kip Winger :biggrin:
-
2001
No previous write-up in my blog (which many of the years going forward, that is the case).
In looking at 2001, while it's not as deep as a year for me as other years going forward, there are a handful of favorites of mine near the top. Ours, King's X, Green Carnation, Anathallo, System of a Down, maudlin of the Well, Zero Hour, etc.
My list includes Modern Prog/NeoProg, Prog and Experimental Metal, along with some up-and-coming artsy/proggy indie/alternative/college rock.
It's a top heavy year, but at the same time, I kind of see 2001 (along with 2000, and some other years soon after) as the start of the whole "indie" boom and Music creation boom as-a-whole with bands forming and recording at higher rates given improved technology and reduced cost to make music. Also the creativity that started happening in the 2000's with bands taking influence from the 90's rock along with Classic Rock and 80's, you would see more "indie" bands pop up who were doing more of the artsy/proggy music sort of as a sponge (contrasting with the progressive rock and metal from the recent previous years that almost sounded extensively retro or traditional).
1. Ours - Distorted Lullabies
2. Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever
3. maudlin of the Well - Bath/Leaving Your Body Map
4. Zero Hour - The Towers of Avarice
5. King's X - Manic Moonlight
6. Green Carnation - Light of Day, Day of Darknes
7. Marillion - Anoraknaphobia
8. Muse - Origin of Symmetry
9. Anathallo - Luminous Luminescence in the Atlas Position
10. Opeth - Blackwater Park
11. System of a Down - Toxicity
12. Evergrey - In Search of Truth
13. Woven - EPrime
14. Nexus - Metonia
15. Savatage - Poets and Madmen
16. Devin Townsend - Terria
17. The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker
18. The Tea Party - Interzone Mantras
19. Oceansize - A Very Still Movement [EP]
20. Big Wreck - The Pleasure and the Greed
21. Dream Theater - Live Scenes from New York
22. Menomena - Rose [EP]
23. The Decemberists - 5 Songs [EP]
24. Virgo - Virgo
25. The Appleseed Cast - Low Level Owl: Vol. I-II
26. Daft Punk - Discovery
27. Porcupine Tree - Recordings
28. Jeff Buckley - Live à L'Olympia
29. Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol. 1
30. Various Artists - Ghost World Original Soundtrack
31. Shadow Gallery - Legacy
32. Time of Orchids - Melonwhisper
33. The Apex Theory - The Apex Theory
34. Collective Unconscious - Collective Unconscious
35.. Shun - Michael in Reign
36. Aereogramme - A Story in White
37. Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost
38. South - From Here On In
Concerts
2/23/01 Prog Power USA
Symphony X/Jag Panzer/Reading Zero/Onward/Etheria/ - JJ Kelley's Lansing, IL
2/24/01 Prog Power USA
Pain of Salvation/Evergrey/Ion Vein/Power of Omens/Zero Hour JJ Kelley's Lansing, IL
5/5/01 Savatage/Fates Warning - The Lab St.Paul, MN
5/01 Bill Bruford's Earthworks - The Dakota Jazz Club St.Paul, MN
5/30/01 Yo-Yo Ma - The Ordway Theater St.Paul, MN
6/23/01 North East Art Rock Festival
Porcupine Tree/Deus Ex Machina/White Willow/Under the Sun/Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - Zoellner Arts Center Bethlehem, PA
6/24/01 North East Art Rock Festival
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso/After Crying/California Guitar Trio/Djam Karet/The Underground Railroad - Zoellner Arts Center Bethlehem, PA
7/26/01 Spock's Beard/Event - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
8/23/01 East Meets Jazz - The Dakota Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
9/14/01 The Flower Kings/ - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
10/26/01 Tim Reynolds/Greg Howard - The Women's Club Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/5/01 King's X/Moke - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/10/01 Prog Power USA
Kamelot/Evergrey/Steel Prophet/Spiral Architect/Superior - Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
11/21/01 King Crimson/John Paul Jones - Grand Ballroom in River Center St.Paul, MN
-
2001
Again, adding a star (*) here for albums that were actually purchased later
My favorite Rammstein and Tool albums were released this year. Amazing stuff. On the prog-related front, Ark's Burn the Sun is one of my favorites in the genre, period. Absolutely loved Katatonia's record - also one of my favorites in their discography. Anathema and Amorphis released good albums - just not quite the same level as what came before.
Top 15 (somewhat fluid)
Rammstein – Mutter
Tool – Lateralus
Ark – Burn the Sun
Paradise Lost – Believe in Nothing
Katatonia – Last Fair Deal Gone Down
Novembre – Novembrine Waltz
System of a Down – Toxicity
Evergrey – In Search of Truth
Opeth – Blackwater Park
Devin Townsend – Terria
Elisa – Then Comes the Sun
Rapture – Futile *
Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American *
Dave Matthews Band – Everyday *
Muse – Origin of Symmetry
The honorable mentions
Amorphis – Am Universum
Anathema – A Fine Day to Exit
Annihilator – Carnival Diablos
Antimatter – Saviour
Anyone – Anyone
Backyard Babies – Making Enemies Is Good
Beautiful Creatures – Beautiful Creatures
Beyond Twilight – The Devil’s Hall of Fame
Black Symphony – Tears of Blood
Breach – Kollapse
Converge – Jane Doe
Creed – Weathered
The Cult – Beyond Good and Evil
Flaw – Through the Eyes
Green Carnation – Light of Day, Day of Darkness
Hollenthon – With Vilest of Worms to Dwell
Jorn – Worldchanger
Journey – Arrival
Lacuna Coil – Unleashed Memories
John Mayer – Room for Squares *
The Mayfield Four – Second Skin *
Moonspell – Darkness and Hope
Ours – Distorted Lullabies
P.O.D. – Satellite
Prime Sth – Underneath the Surface
The Provenance – 25th Hour; Bleeding
Puddle of Mudd – Come Clean
Puya – Union
Rage – Welcome to the Other Side
Soil – Scars
Soilwork – A Predator’s Portrait
Sonic Debris – Velvet Thorns
Stabbing Westward – Stabbing Westward
Threshold – Hypothetical
Within Temptation – Mother Earth
-
2001:
1. Incubus - Morning View - 5/5 - Top 5 album of all time for me
2. Tool - Lateralus - 5/5 - A top 10 album for me
3. Tenacious D - Tenacious D - 5/5
4. Dave Matthews Band - Everyday - 4/5
5. System Of A Down - Toxicity - 4/5
6. Devin Townsend - Terria - 3.5/5
7. 10 Years - Into The Half Moon - 3/5
8. Andy McKee - Nocturne - 3/5 - Not my favorite album of his but this album has some of my favorite songs from Andy
9. Opeth - Blackwater Park - 3/5
10. Explosions In the Sky - Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever - 3/5
11. Sevendust - Animosity - 3/5
12. Ludovico Einaudi - I Gironi - 3/5
13. Creed - Weathered - 2.5/5
14. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells - 2/5
15. Ishq - Orchid - 2/5
16. Staind - Break The Cycle - 1.5/5
17. Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order - 1.5/5
18. Groove Armada - Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) - 1/5
19. Plaid - Double Figure - 0.5/5
-
2001 had some cool albums...
1. Avantasia - The Metal Opera
The crown goes to the beginning of a wonderful journey, Avantasia's debut!
2. Kamelot - Karma
A masterpiece of the genre, the onward rise of Kamelot was in full swing!
3. Iced Earth - Horror Show
A very solid offering full of great songs, and Matt Barlow's (first) swan song. Amazing album.
Rounding up the list with albums deserving of the podium as well....
4. Sonata Arctica - Silence
5. Therion - Secret of the Runes
6. Beyond Twilight – The Devil’s Hall of Fame
7. Rage – Welcome to the Other Side
8. Savatage - Poets and Madmen
9. Alice Cooper - Dragontown
10. Shadow Gallery - Legacy
Honorable mentions for:
Blackmore's Night - Fires at Midnight
Edguy - Mandrake
Gamma Ray - No World Order
Jag Panzer – Mechanized Warfare
Threshold – Hypothetical
Royal Hunt - The Mission
Angra - Rebirth
Ensiferum - Ensiferum
Judas Priest - Demolition
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Not mentioned yet:
Ambeon - Fate of a Dreamer
Consortium Project - II: Continuum in Extremis
DGM - Dreamland
Freedom Call - Crystal Empire
Iron Maiden - Rock in Rio
Ivory Tower - Beyond the Stars
Jorn - Worldchanger
Last Tribe - The Ritual
Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus
Rhapsody - Rain of a Thousand Flames
Secret Sphere - A Time Never Come
Silent Force - Infatuator
Ten - Far Beyond the World
Wicked Sensation - Reflected
I bought precisely zero of these in 2001.
-
Oh man, 2001. Three masterpieces and a whole load of other great albums. I think from this point on I'm going to stick to a top 20 and then group the rest.
Top 20:
1. Shpongle - Tales of the Inexpressible
2. Devin Townsend - Terria
3. Opeth - Blackwater Park
4. Muse - Origin of Symmetry
5. Tool - Lateralus
6. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - Swingin' for the Fences
7. System of a Down - Toxicity
8. Ark - Burn the Sun
9. Ben Folds - Rockin' the Suburbs
10. Threshold - Hypothetical
11. Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever
12. Moonsorrow - Suden uni
13. Moonsorrow - Voimasta ja kunniasta
14. Ensiferum - Ensiferum
15. Kings of Convenience - Quiet Is the New Loud
16. Amorphis - Am Universum
17. The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker
18. Sonata Arctica - Silence
19. Angra - Rebirth
20. Wolverine - The Window Purpose
Also great:
Borknagar - Empiricism
Gamma Ray - No World Order
Hardcore Superstar - Thank You (For Letting Us Be Ourselves)
Iced Earth - Horror Show
Kamelot - Karma
Rammstein - Mutter
Shadow Gallery - Legacy
SOiL - Scars
Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit Fair Enough
Also good:
Ambeon - Fate of a Dreamer
Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit
Aphex Twin - drukqs
Balance of Power - Perfect Balance
Dave Brubeck - Live with the LSO
Bumblefoot - 9.11
Daft Punk - Discovery
Depeche Mode - Exciter
Dog Fashion Disco - Anarchists of Good Taste
Evergrey - In Search of Truth
Explosions in the Sky - Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever
Feeder - Echo Park
Floex - Pocustone
Matthew Good Band - The Audio of Being
Green Carnation - Light of Day, Day of Darkness
Jon Hopkins - Opalescent
Infected Mushroom - B.P.Empire
Machine Head - Supercharger
Megadeth - The World Needs a Hero
Pendragon - Not of This World
Röyksopp - Melody A.M.
Jordan Rudess - Feeding the Wheel
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Grand Opening and Closing
Soilwork - A Predator's Portrait
Solefald - Pills Against the Ageless Ills
Sum 41 - All Killer No Filler
Tenacious D - Tenacious D
Von Hertzen Brothers - Experience
Weezer - Weezer [Green Album]
Πυξ Λαξ [Pyx Lax] - Τα δοκάρια στο γρασίδι περιμένουν τα παιδιά
Junya Nakano / Masashi Hamauzu / Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy X
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Oh man, 2001. Three masterpieces and a whole load of other great albums.
Are you saying Lateralus isn't a masterpiece? We can't be friends anymore..... :biggrin:
Anyone who doesn't have Lateralus in their top 5 is objectively wrong ;)
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Oh man, 2001. Three masterpieces and a whole load of other great albums.
Are you saying Lateralus isn't a masterpiece? We can't be friends anymore..... :biggrin:
Anyone who doesn't have Lateralus in their top 5 is objectively wrong ;)
I've never even heard it.
-
2001:
01 Devin Townsend - Terria
02 Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever
03 Muse - Origin of Symmetry
04 Opeth - Blackwater Park
05 Death Cab for Cutie - The Photo Album
06 Radiohead - Amnesiac
07 Jeff Beck - You Had It Coming
08 Blue Oyster Cult - Curse of the Hidden Mirror
09 The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker
10 Neal Morse - It's Not Too Late
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Apparently I'm behind. Here's my 2000 list (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/2000-album-rankings/)
1. At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command
2. Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris
3. Arena - Immortal?
4. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!
5. Deftones - White Pony
6. Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I
7. Enslaved - Mardraum: Beyond the Within
8. Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun
9. The Smashing Pumpkins - MACHINA / The Machines of God
10. Novembre - Classica
11. Mudvayne - L.D. 50
12. Fates Warning - Disconnected
13. Alchemist - Organasm
14. Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite
15. Spiral Architect - A Sceptic's Universe
16. Weakling - Dead As Dreams
17. A Silver Mt. Zion - He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms...
18. Quo Vadis - Day Into Night
19. The Chasm - Procession to the Infraworld
20. Extol - Undeceived
21. Geddy Lee - My Favourite Headache
22. Iron Maiden - Brave New World
23. Paysage d'Hiver - Kristall & Isa
24. Estradasphere - It's Understood
25. Embraced - Within
26. Shapes of Despair - Shades of...
27. Amon Tobin - Supermodified
28. Primordial - Spirit the Earth Aflame
29. IQ - The Seventh House
30. Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica
31. Tool - Salival
32. Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out
33. A Perfect Circle - Mer de Noms
34. Dark Tranquillity - Haven
35. Persuader - The Hunter
36. OutKast - Stankonia
37. PJ Harvey - Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea
38. Spock's Beard - V
39. Nevermore - Dead Heart in a Dead World
40. Suidakra - The Arcanum
41. Chroma Key - You Go Now
42. Our Lady Peace - Spiritual Machines
43. Helloween - The Dark Ride
44. Sirius - Aeons of Magick
45. Paradox - Collision Course
46. The Gathering - If_Then_Else
47. Isis - Celestial
48. Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless
49. Transatlantic - SMPTe
50. In Flames - Clayman
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2001:
1. Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever
2. The Jelly Jam - The Jelly Jam
3. The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker
4. Marillion - Anoraknophobia
5. Tool - Lateralus
6. The Pearlfishers - Across the Milky Way
7. The Clientele - Suburban Light
8. Nick D'Virgilio (NDV) - Karma
9. Neal Morse - It's Not Too Late
10. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
11. Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs
12. Dave Matthews Band - Everyday
13. King's X - Manic Moonlight
14. Niacin - Time Crunch
15. Mullmuzzler - 2
16. Travis - The Invisible Band
-
1. THE CULT / Beyond Good & Evil
2. SEVENDUST / Animosity
3. MEGADETH / World Needs A Hero
4. EVERGREY / In Search Of Truth
5. DAYS OF THE NEW / Red 3
CREED / Weathered
ARK / Burn The Sun
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES / BC
TOOL / Lateralus
JORN / Worldchanger
EDGUY Mandrake
PARADISE LOST / Believe In Nothing
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Oh man, 2001. Three masterpieces and a whole load of other great albums.
Are you saying Lateralus isn't a masterpiece? We can't be friends anymore..... :biggrin:
Anyone who doesn't have Lateralus in their top 5 is objectively wrong ;)
I've never even heard it.
Well, I've heard of it, but Tool isn't everyone's jam.
Objectively speaking.
-
My albums from 2001:
Porcupine Tree - Recordings
Marillion - Anoraknophobia
Pendragon - Not Of This World
Muse - Origin of Symmetry
The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker
Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever
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2001
No particular order:
Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever
Various Artists - O Brother Where Art Thou? Soundtrack
Radiohead - Amnesiac
John Hiatt - The Tiki Bar Is Open
Tool - Lateralus
Destiny's Child - Survivor
Opeth - Blackwater Park
Jay-Z - The Blueprint
Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
-
I would have mentioned PT's Recordings, but I listed studio albums only. Good stuff, though.
-
2001:
1. Dream Theater - Live Scenes from New York
2. Tool - Lateralus
3. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - No More Shall We Part
4. Asia - Aura
5. A Silver Mt. Zion - Born Into Trouble As The Sparks Fly Upward
6. Alizee - Gourmandises
7. REM - Reveal
8. Cradle of Filth - Bitter Suites to Succubi
9. Britney Spears - Britney
10. Opeth - Blackwater Park
11. Radiohead - Amnesiac
12. Leonard Cohen - Ten New Songs
13. Slipknot - Iowa
14. Bob Dylan - Love and Theft
15. The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
-
6. Alizee - Gourmandises
Oh man, talk about distant memories ;) I remember that summer in Italy you literally could NOT escape the Moi...Lolita video on TV. My memory tells me this was a typical end of 90s/beginning of 00s Europop-sounding song...but your ranking here suggests differently? Should I revisit? :)
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6. Alizee - Gourmandises
Oh man, talk about distant memories ;) I remember that summer in Italy you literally could NOT escape the Moi...Lolita video on TV. My memory tells me this was a typical end of 90s/beginning of 00s Europop-sounding song...but your ranking here suggests differently? Should I revisit? :)
You should indeed. Moi...Lolita was the big hit but the rest of the tunes are great. It's a very good pop album.
-
I would have mentioned PT's Recordings, but I listed studio albums only. Good stuff, though.
I completely forgot about this. Recordings is fantastic.
-
2002
what I wrote in my blog, but I never went back and edited it. Unsure if there are release dates for many records I listed at the bottom.
So here's 2002. The below list is a Vague ranking, namely below the top 15. I dunno, I may go in and edit the list and add some titles.
Sadly, a number of albums at the bottom don't have release dates and/or were released in 2003 on some sites (but others have 2002, so I'm going with those).
Very good year, and deep year.
Notably, a lot of debut albums that came out for artists that would go on to make great work in the following years.
Also many albums from artists that I consider their best work (Sigur Ros, Peter Gabriel, etc).
And of course many of these I know of, or only listened to a few times, or it has been a long time since I listened to them.
And of course there very well could be many titles to add, which maybe I'll bump this is if I do discover them, etc.
1. dredg - El Cielo
2. Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane
3. Call Florence Pow - The Strange Situation
4. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
5. Archive - You All Look the Same to Me
6. Ours - Precious
7. Sigur Rós - ()
8. Shaman - Ritual
9. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It in People
10. Clann Zú - Rua
11. Murder By Death - Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing
12. Porcupine Tree - In Abesntia
13. Three - Half Life
14. Pat Metheny - Speaking of Now
15. Opeth - Deliverance
16. Silverchair - Diorama
17. Weather Report - Live and Unreleased
18. Spock's Beard - Snow
19. Kevin Gilbert - The Kaviar Sessions
20. Peter Gabriel - Up
21. Anathallo - Sparrows
22. Superior - Ultima Ratio
23. David Bowie - Heathen
24. The Mars Volta - Tremulant [EP]
25. The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
26. Do Make Say Think - And Yet And Yet
27. SikTh - How May I Help You?
28. Doves - The Last Broadcast
29. Enchant - Blink of an Eye
30. Agalloch - The Mantle
31. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.
Concerts
3/13/02 Dream Theater - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
3/22/02 Collective Unconscious performs The Beatles Abbey Road - Bryant Lake Bowl Minneapolis, MN
5/30/02 Sleepytime Gorilla Museum/Bubblemath - The Lab St.Paul, MN
6/17/02 King's X/Tapping the Vein - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/29/02 North East Art Rock Festival
Nektar/Echolyn/Miriodor/Isildurs Bane/La Torre dell'alchimista/ - Patriots Theater Trenton, NJ
6/30/02 North East Art Rock Festival
Steve Hackett/Caravan/Enchant/Gerard/Spaced Out - Patriots Theater Trenton, NJ
7/19/02 Kansas - Hennepin Ave Block Party Minneapolis, MN
8/2/02 George Duke/Jeff Kashiwa/California Guitar Trio - Old Chicago Navarre Uptown Art Fair Minneapolis, MN
8/26/02 The Victor Wooten Band/ - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/6/02 Scott Henderson Trio/Dean Magraw and Jim Anton - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
10/9/02 Tried for Fine/Bubblemath - The Uptown Bar Minneapolis, MN
11/2/02 Rush - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
11/8/02 Herbie Hancock - Ted Mann Concert Hall Minneapolis, MN
11/15/02 Prog Power USA
Blind Guardian/Pain of Salvation/Edguy/Silent Force/Zero Hour - Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
11/16/02 Prog Power USA
Angra/Gamma Ray/The Devin Townsend Band/Threshold/Reading Zero - Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
11/18/02 Porcupine Tree/Greg Howard - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
11/23/02 Yes - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
12/ /02 State 4/Little Tin Box - 4th Street Station St.Paul, MN
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I must revisit that Pain Of Salvation album Soundscape...
2002
Another good year🤘
1. AUDIOSLAVE Audioslave
2. FOO FIGHTERS One By One
3. PAGAN'S MIND Celestial Entrance
4. DIO Killing The Dragon
5. CHARON Downhearted
BLAZE Tenth Dimension
DREAM THEATER Six Degrees
NIGHTWISH Century Child
SENTENCED Cold White Light
SAXON Heavy Metal Thunder
JERRY CANTRELL Degradation
SYMPHONY X The Odyssey
-
Not mentioned yet
Avantasia - The Metal Opera Part 2
Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
Elegy - Principles of Pain
Explorers Club - Raising the Mammoth (so disappointing given the lineup)
Firewind - Between Heaven and Hell
Freedom Call - Eternity
Genius - Episode 1: A Human into Dreams' World
Harem Scarem - Weight of the World
Last Tribe - Witch Dance
Machine Men - s/t
Prototype - Trinity
Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
Rush - Vapor Trails
Section A - The Seventh Sign
Star One - Space Metal
Threshold - Critical Mass
Thunderstone - s/t
Vanden Plas - Beyond Daylight
-
2002:
01 Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
02 Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
03 Spock's Beard - Snow
04 Peter Gabriel - Up
05 dreg - El Cielo
06 Sigur Rós - ( )
07 Opeth - Deliverance
08 The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future
09 The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
10 Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
-
Once again many great albums difficult to rank. Let's try:
1. Rage - Unity
2. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
3. Shaman - Ritual
The podium is made up by two of the three best german bands (third being Helloween) releasing great albums, and an EXCEPTIONAL debut of the never too missed Andre Matos' new band.
These two are podium worthy as well:
4. Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
5. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
And also very great albums to round up the top 10:
6. Sentenced - The Cold White Light
7. Threshold - Critical Mass
8. Blaze - Tenth Dimension
(these three are among my very favorites of the respective artists)
9. Nightwish - Century Child
10. Avantasia - The Metal Opera Part 2
Honorable mentions for these "different genres, they're cool anyway and it's hard to rank them" albums:
Sympyony X - The Odyssey
Manowar - Warriors of the World
Dio - Killing The Dragon
Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
HammerFall - Crimson Thunder
-
2002
Some fantastic albums at the very top. My favorite Pain of Salvation and a real revelation with Dredg’s El Cielo. Porcupine Tree’s turn to slightly heavier music worked very well. Dream Theater’s Six Degrees is up there too. It was so good to see Rush back – Vapor Trails might be far from the best they’ve done, but it’s an interesting record, and I’ve listened to it a ton that year.
Again, stars (*) for albums I bought later.
Top 15
Pain of Salvation – Remedy Lane
Dredg – El Cielo
Porcupine Tree – In Absentia
Paradise Lost – Symbol of Life
Dream Theater – Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Rush – Vapor Trails
Idlewild – The Remote Part
Tori Amos – Scarlet’s Walk *
Sentenced – The Cold White Light
Peter Gabriel – Up
30 Seconds to Mars – 30 Seconds to Mars
Bruce Springsteen – The Rising *
Lacuna Coil – Comalies
Dark Tranquillity – Damage Done
In Flames – Reroute to Remain
The honorable mentions:
3 Doors Down – Away from the Sun *
The 3rd and the Mortal – Memoirs
Apex Theory – Topsy Turvy
Arcturus – The Sham Mirrors
Audioslave – Audioslave
Blind Guardian – A Night at the Opera
Chevelle – Wonder What’s Next *
Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
Cyclefly – Crave
Danko Jones – Born a Lion
Dave Matthews Band – Busted Stuff
Enchant – Blink of an Eye
Engine – Superholic
Everon – Bridge
Filter – The Amalgamut
Five Pointe O – Untitled
Foo Fighters – One by One *
Frou Frou – Details *
The Great Deceiver – A Venom Well Designed
Insomnium – In the Halls of Awaiting *
Killswitch Engage – Alive or Just Breathing
Madder Mortem – Deadlands
Marble March – Another Sunday Bright
Mastodon – Remission
Matchbox 20 – More Than You Think You Are *
Mercenary – Everblack
Meshuggah – Nothing
Opeth – Deliverance
Queens of Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf
Ra – From One
Rage - Unity
Rapture – Songs for the Withering *
Shaman – Ritual
Soilwork – Natural Born Chaos
Spiritual Beggars – On Fire
Symphony X – The Odyssey
System of a Down – Steal This Album!
Tapping the Vein – The Damage
Theatre of Tragedy – Assembly
Threshold – Critical Mass
Throat – Knievel is Evil
Underground Moon – Underground Moon
The Used – The Used *
Vanden Plas – Beyond Daylight *
Zeromancer – Eurotrash
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I'm getting behind again. Still haven't posted my 2001 rankings :corn
-
I must revisit that Pain Of Salvation album Soundscape...
unsure how much of a fan you are, but Remedy Lane is considered their most popular record by many. It may be worth checking out again for that reason.
-
Just the one masterpiece in 2002, but another year with a ton of great music (fairly prog heavy - a good era for that kind of music).
1. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2. Porcupine Tree - In absentia
3. Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane
4. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
5. Nightwish - Century Child
6. Spock's Beard - Snow
7. Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man - Out of Season
8. Bad Religion - The Process of Belief
9. Morcheeba - Charango
10. In Flames - Reroute to Remain
11. Symphony X - The Odyssey
12. Sum 41 - Does This Look Infected?
13. Martin Grech - Open Heart Zoo
14. Freak Kitchen - Move
15. The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future
16. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
17. Sinergy - Suicide by My Side
18. Silverchair - Diorama
19. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
20. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
Also great:
Foo Fighters - One by One
Halo - Lunatic Ride
George Harrison - Brainwashed
Hundred Reasons - Ideas Above Our Station
Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons
Muse - In Your World / Dead Star (sort of an EP I guess? Anyway it's great and I'm including it)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the Way
Sonata Arctica - Songs of Silence: Live in Tokyo 2001
Threshold - Critical Mass
Also good:
Agalloch - The Mantle
Christina Aguilera - Stripped
Amon Amarth - Versus the World
Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Star One - Space Metal
Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors
Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
The Cinematic Orchestra - Every Day
The Coral - The Coral
dredg - El cielo
The Electric Soft Parade - Holes in the Wall
Feeder - Comfort in Sound
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Floater - Alter
Peter Gabriel - Up
Green Day - Shenanigans
Insomnium - In the Halls of Awaiting
Iron Maiden - Rock in Rio
The Jelly Jam - The Jelly Jam
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Kaipa - Notes From the Past
My Chemical Romance - I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
Norther - Dreams of Endless War
Opeth - Deliverance
Paatos - Timeloss
Primordial - Storm Before Calm
Jordan Rudess - Christmas Sky
Regina Spektor - Songs
System of a Down - Steal This Album!
Weezer - Maladroit
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2002:
1. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2. Peter Gabriel - Up
3. Mark Knopfler - The Ragpicker's Dream
4. Nightwish - Century Child
5. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O
6. Opeth - Deliverance
7. Tom Waits - Blood Money
8. Tom Waits - Alice
9. Eminem - The Eminem Show
10. Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk
11. Oasis - Heathen Chemistry
-
A little late for 2002 but there are a lot of fantastic albums:
1. dredg - El Cielo - 5/5 - One of my top 5 albums of all time
2. Dave Matthews Band - Busted Stuff - 5/5 - My second favorite DMB album, a really great transition into a more poppy feel
3. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia - 5/5 - My first PT album, I've loved the band since
4. Darshan Ambient - Providence - 4/5 - A really good ambient album, one of my first real introductions to the genre
5. Dream Theater - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence - 4/5 - The album I discovered DT. My musical world was changed when I first heard "The Glass Prison"
6. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood To The Head - 4/5
7. Fair To Midland - The Carbon Copy Silver Lining - 3.5/5 - Debut from one of my favorite bands. It's a little rough around the edges but there are some real gems here
8. From Monument To Masses - From Monument To Masses - 3.5/5 - Another debut from one of my favorite bands
9. Buckethead - Electric Tears - 3.5/5
10. Audioslave - Audioslave - 3/5
11. My Chemical Romance - I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love - 2.5/5
12. Isis - Oceanic - 2.5/5
13. Foo Fighters - One By One 2.5/5
14. Down - Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow - 2/5 - I had a lot of high hopes for this album
15. Deadsy - Commencement - 2/5
16. Loretta Lynn - All Time Greatest Hits - 2/5
17. Beck - Sea Change - 2/5
18, Opeth - Deliverance - 2/5
19. Tonic - Head On Straight - 1.5/5
20. Matchbox Twenty - More Than You Think You Are - 1.5/5
21. God Is An Astronaut - The End Of The Beginning - 1/5
22. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - 0.5/5 - I've heard and read so many greats about this album but I didn't get it at all. I gave it repeated spins and it was just as forgettable as the first.
-
2002:
1. Spock's Beard - Snow
2. Peter Gabriel - Up
3. Neil Finn - One All (and a mention for the live release 7 Worlds Collide)
4. Ty Tabor - Safety
5. Camel - A Nod and a Wink
6. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
7. Enchant - Blink of an Eye
8. Dave Matthews Band - Busted Stuff
9. Jughead - Jughead
10. Counting Crows - Hard Candy
11. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
12. The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future
13. Nickel Creek - This Side
14. Phil Collins - Testify
15. The Clientele - Lost Weekend (EP)
16. Beck - Sea Change
17. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
18. California Guitar Trio - CG3+2
-
2002:
1. Spock's Beard - Snow
Forgot about this. Awesome album!
-
2002
No particular order
Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Opeth - Deliverance
David Bowie - Heathen
Dredg - El Cielo
Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around
Nickel Creek - This Side
-
Finally getting around to my 2001 list. One of the best years of music ever! Full list here (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/2001-album-rankings/)
1. Tool - Lateralus
2. Devin Townsend - Terria
3. Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever
4. maudlin of the Well - Bath
5. maudlin of the Well - Leaving Your Body Map
6. Incubus - Morning View
7. Opeth - Blackwater Park
8. Absu - Tara
9. System of a Down - Toxicity
10. Ark - Burn the Sun
11. Zero Hour - The Towers of Avarice
12. Burning Brides - Fall of the Plastic Empire
13. Estradasphere - Buck Fever
14. Green Carnation - Light of Day, Day of Darkness
15. Dream Theater - Live Scenes From New York
16. Moonsorrow - Voimasta ja kunniasta
17. Angra - Rebirth
18. Alien Ant Farm - ANThology
19. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
20. Neurosis - A Sun That Never Sets
21. Moonsorrow - Suden uni
22. Paysage d'Hiver - Winterkaelte
23. Marillion - Anoraknophobia
24. Evoken - Quietus
25. Threshold - Hypothetical
26. Lost Horizon - Awakening the World
27. Ensiferum - Ensiferum
28. Converge - Jane Doe
29. Björk - Vespertine
30. Novembre - Novembrine Waltz
31. Envy - All the Footprints You've Ever Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead
32. Adagio - Sanctus Ignís
33. Enslaved - Monumension
34. Unwound - Leaves Turn Inside You
35. Shadow Gallery - Legacy
36. Windir - 1184
37. Sirius - Spectral Transition - Dimension Sirius
38. Kamelot - Karma
39. Hammers of Misfortune - The Bastard: A Tale Told in Three Acts
40. Gorguts - From Wisdom to Hate
41. Katatonia - Last Fair Deal Gone Down
42. Therion - Secret of the Runes
43. Shpongle - Tales of the Inexpressible
44. Emperor - Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise
45. Hostsonaten - Springsong
46. The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band - "Born Into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward."
47. Tenacious D - Tenacious D
48. Stonehenge - Angelo Salutante
49. Thorns - Thorns
50. Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape
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2003
I have no previous write-up from my blog, but I'll just summarize 2003 by saying it was a great year looking back on it. A lot records that did or have found a lot of rotation for myself over the years.
I found the debut albums from The Mars Volta and OSI in heavy rotation that year. And now looking at it, it had a lot of really good debuts: Oceansize, SikTh, Kaddisfly and Klimt 1918 even.
And my top 2 are in-effect debut albums with Menomena and John Arch's 27-minute prog metal masterwork with the 2 Epics on A Twist of Fate.
1. John Arch - A Twist of Fate
2. Menomena - I Am the Fun Blame Monster
3. Mew - Frengers
4. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
5. OSI - Office of Strategic Influence
6. Muse - Absolution
7. Oceansize - Effloresce
8. Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
9. Murder By Death - Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?
10. SikTh - The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild
11. Between the Buried and Me - The Silent Circus
12. Josh Rouse - 1972
13. Opeth - Damnation
14. Avenged Sevenfold - Waking the Fallen
15. Kaddisfly - Did You Know People Can Fly?
16. I Mother Earth - The Quicksilver Meat Dream
17. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
18. Pepe Deluxé - Beatitude
19. The New Pornographers - Electric Version
20. South - With the Tides
21. Klimt 1918 - Undressed Momento
22. Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol. 2
23. Enchant - Tug of War
24. Anathallo - A Holiday at the Sea
25. Protest the Hero - A Calculated Use of Sound
26. Biffy Clyro - The Vertigo of Bliss
27. 椎名林檎 [Sheena Ringo] - 加爾基 精液 栗ノ花 (Kalk samen kuri no hana)
28. Spock's Beard - Feel Euphoria
29. 3 - Summercamp Nightmare
30. The Dresden Dolls - The Dresden Dolls
31. The Decemberists - Her Majesty The Decemberists
32. The Gathering - Souvenirs
33. Owsley - The Hard Way
34. Homesick for Space - Unison
35. Sufjan Stevens - Michigan
36. Lehto & Wright - A Game of Chess
37. Janelle Monáe - The Audition
38. Cloud Cult - They Live on the Sun
39. Time of Orchids - Much Too Much Fun
40. Do Make Say Think - Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn
41. Edge of Sanity - Crimson II
42. Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye
43. Broadcast - Haha Sound
44. King's X - Black Like Sunday
45. Outkast - Speakerboxxx / The Below
46. Fish - Field of Crows
47. Aereogramme - Sleep and Release
48. Evergrey - Recreation Day
49. The Tangent - The Music That Died Alone
50. Burst - Prey on Life
51. The Chap - The Horse
52. Woven - 8 Bit Monk
53. Cave In - Antenna
Live Albums
Jeff Buckley - Live at Sin-é: Legacy Edition
Rush - Rush in Rio
Transatlantic - Live in Europe
Shaman - Ritualive
Concerts
1/11/03 Dean Magraw with Randy Sabien and Jim Anton - Weisman Art Museum Minneapolis, MN
1/24/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
1/31/03 Vulvox/Trend 86 - The Uptown Bar Minneapolis, MN
2/4/03 Larry Coryell - The Dakota Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
2/28/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
3/18/03 Bireli Lagrene - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/28/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
4/25/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
5/20/03 Opeth/Lacuna Coil - The Quest Club Minneapolis, MN
5/23/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
5/28/03 Iced Ink/Sacred Ground (Beef) - 4th Street Station St.Paul, MN
6/20/03 Courtney Yasmineh w/ Dean Magraw - The Bean and Wine Cafe Excelsior, MN
7/26/03 Porcupine Tree/Opeth - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
7/29/03 Roy Haynes - The Dakota Jazz Club - St.Paul, MN
7/31/03 Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - The Weesner Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo Apple Valley, MN
8/4/03 Peter Frampton - Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN
8/13/03 Steve Hackett - Borders Books Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN
9/11/03 California Guitar Trio - Sartell, MN
9/29/03 Remember Shakti - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN
9/ /03 Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer - St.Benedict College St.Joseph, MN
10/10/03 The Mars Volta/Saul Williams - The Quest Minneapolis, MN
10/25/03 King's X/Fishbone - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
10/30/03 Ian Anderson - The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul, MN
10/ /03 Jean-Luc Ponty - Rossi's Blue Star Room Minneapolis, MN
11/5/03 Hammer of the Gods - BB Kings New York City, NY
11/23/03 Iced Ink/Sacred Ground (beef)/Lost Mind Found - 4th Street Station St.Paul, MN
Unclear:
Rachel Z - The Dakota Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
Jean-Luc Ponty - The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul,MN
-
2003:
1. Kaki King - Everybody Loves You - 5/5 - Amazing debut
2. Pat Metheny - One Quiet Night - 5/5
3. Opeth - Damnation - 4.5/5
4. The Mayan Factor - In Lake 'Ch - 4/5
5. Porcupine Tree - Futile - 4/5
6. Dream Theater - Train Of Thought - 4/5
7. OSI - Office Of Strategic Influence - 3.5/5
8. From Monument To Masses - The Impossible Leap In One Hundred Simple Steps - 3.5/5
9. A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step - 3.5/5
10. Acroma - Orbitals - 3/5
11. Godsmack - Faceless - 3/5
12. Metallica - St. Anger - 3/5
13. Killing Joke - Killing Joke - 3/5
14. Limp Bizkit - Results May Vary - 3/5
15. Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place - 3/5
16. Mogwai - Happy Songs For Happy People - 2.5/5
17. R.E.M. - In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003 - 2.5/5
18. Jerry Martin - SimCity 3000 - 2/5
19. Cave In - Antenna - 2/5
20. Mew - Frengers - 2/5
21. Jerry Martin - Music From SimCity 4 - 1.5/5
Not a crazy good year but some albums here and there.
-
48. Evergrey - Recreation Day
That low, eh? huh. It's a top 3 Evergrey album for me, so would've been top 5 AOTY for '03 in my books
Not mentioned yet:
Chain - Reconstruct
Consortium Project - III:Terra Incognita (The Undiscovered World)
Devin Townshend - Accelerated Evolution
Dream Evil - Evilized
Firewind - Burning Earth
Frameshift - Unweaving the Rainbow
Harem Scarem - Higher
Iron Maiden - Dance of Death
Kamelot - Epica
Last Tribe - The Uncrowned
Led Zeppelin - How The West Was Won
Masterplan - s/t
Mechanical Poet - Handmade Essence
Phantom's Opera - Act IV
Poverty's No Crime - The Chemical Chaos
Redemption - s/t
Royal Hunt - Eyewitness
Rush - Rush in Rio
Star One - Live on Earth
Transatlantic - Live in Europe
Lots if great live albums up there.
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2003
Here's my brief rundown...Always loved Train of Thought, it’s in my DT’s top 5…it never bothered me that it was a little more one-dimensional than usual (although certain parts would’ve benefitted from light trimming). A Perfect Circle’s Thirteen Step is amazing (and The Noose is a mini-masterpiece of a song). Elliott was maybe the biggest surprise – found the album used, bought it without knowing much and it ended up one of my favorites that year. Maiden released what might be my favorite reunion-era album. Katatonia made a further (very successful) step towards their “modern” sound and Opeth released their mellow record, which I loved. Some really good stuff on the more mainstream front - Muse, Evanescence, Linkin Park and Placebo. Queensryche’s Tribe is certainly not a classic, but I have always enjoyed it – probably my favorite of their post-Promised Land albums.
As usual, a star (*) indicates albums that were purchased later
Top 15
Dream Theater – Train of Thought
A Perfect Circle – Thirteenth Step
Elliott – Song in the Air
Iron Maiden – Dance of Death
Katatonia – Viva Emptiness
Opeth – Damnation
Muse – Absolution
The Gathering – Souvenirs
Thrice – The Artist in the Ambulance
Evergrey – Recreation Day
Queensryche – Tribe
Evanescence – Fallen
Soilwork – Figure Number Five
Linkin Park – Meteora
Placebo – Sleeping with Ghosts
The Honorable Mentions:
AFI – Sing the Sorrow
Anathema – A Natural Disaster
Anouk – Graduated Fool
Antimatter – Lights Out
Burst – Prey on Life
Circle II Circle – Watching in Silence
Coheed and Cambria – In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 *
Dave Matthews – Some Devil *
The Defaced – Karma in Black
End of Green – Last Night on Earth
Gordian Knot – Emergent
Hammers of Misfortune – The August Engine *
HIM – Love Metal
Killing Joke – Killing Joke
Klimt 1918 – Undressed Momento
Lamb of God – As the Palaces Burn
The Mars Volta – De-loused in Comatorium
Mercury Tide – Why? *
Moonspell – The Antidote
The Music – The Music
Nevermore – Enemies of Reality
Nightingale – Alive Again: The Breathing Shadow Part IV
The Old Dead Tree – The Nameless Disease
OSI – Office of Strategic Influence
Riverside – Out of Myself *
Rush – In Rio
Sevendust - Seasons
Spyke – Divine Decadence
Type O Negative – Life is Killing Me
Unkle – Never, Never Land
The Wildhearts – The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed!
-
48. Evergrey - Recreation Day
That low, eh? huh. It's a top 3 Evergrey album for me, so would've been top 5 AOTY for '03 in my books
Big Evergrey fan here...what's your top 3 (in addition to Recreation Day, obviously ;))?
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48. Evergrey - Recreation Day
That low, eh? huh. It's a top 3 Evergrey album for me, so would've been top 5 AOTY for '03 in my books
Big Evergrey fan here...what's your top 3 (in addition to Recreation Day, obviously ;))?
1. Hymns for the Broken
2. Recreation Day (I guess I could've said Top 2!
3a. SDT
3b. ISoT
Escape of the Phoenix is pretty damned great, but not even a year old. Time will tell.
-
1. Hymns for the Broken
2. Recreation Day (I guess I could've said Top 2!
3a. SDT
3b. ISoT
Escape of the Phoenix is pretty damned great, but not even a year old. Time will tell.
I'd probably go with:
1. In Search of Truth
2. Recreation Day
3. Inner Circle
...but Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy is up there fighting too...and their last four albums have been very high quality. Maybe a little too, um, consistent in terms of style ;) But all good, really.
-
My 2003.... there has to be a tie at the top:
1.1 - Iron Maiden - Dance of Death
1.2 - Kamelot - Epica
Two different genres, can't pick a favorite. Epica, overall, is the better album and one of the best power / symphonic metal records ever released, but Maiden is my favorite band and I always loved Dance of Death and I associate it with good memories so... they win as well!
For the podium, I'd pick:
2. Rage – Soundchaser
3. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
And then:
4. Alice Cooper – The Eyes of Alice Cooper
5. Masterplan – Masterplan
6. Sonata Arctica – Winterheart's Guild
7. Finntroll – Visor om slutet (acoustic album, check it out!!!)
8. Circle II Circle – Watching in Silence
9. Royal Hunt - Eyewitness
10. Dropkick Murphys - Blackout
Not so honorable mentions 'cause these albums were a bit of a letdown:
Helloween – Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Stratovarius – Elements, Pt. 1
Stratovarius – Elements, Pt. 2
And speaking of letdowns, I refuse to acknowledge the existance of that trash can snare album.
-
2003:
01 Muse - Absolution
02 Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
03 Opeth - Damnation
04 Devin Townsend - Accelerated Evolution
05 Neal Morse - Testimony
06 Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
07 Dream Theater - Train of Thought
08 The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
09 Spock's Beard - Feel Euphoria
10 King Crimson - The Power to Believe
11 The Tangent - The Music That Died Alone
12 OSI - Office of Strategic Influence
13 The Postal Service - Give Up
14 Kaipa - Keyholder
15 Styx - Cyclorama
16 The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
17 Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
18 Riverside - Out of Myself
19 No-Man - Together We're Stranger
20 The Decemberists - Her Majesty The Decemberists
-
2003:
1. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
2. Children of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll
3. John Arch - A Twist of Fate (sometimes I think this is the pinnacle of Mike Portnoy's drumming)
4. Fleetwood Mac - Say You Will
5. Neal Morse - Testimony
6. Led Zeppelin - How The West Was Won
7. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Nocturama
8. Britney Spears - In The Zone
9. Opeth - Damnation
10. Iron Maiden - Dance of Death
-
2003 is kind of a weird year. At the time I was a little disappointed by the current releases by my favorite bands (Testimony, Train of Thought, Tug of War (bad year for T albums), Black Like Sunday). Some good stuff collected down the road.
1. O.S.I. - Office of Strategic Influence
2. Spock’s Beard - Feel Euphoria
3. King Crimson - The Power to Believe
4. The Clientele - The Violet Hour
5. The Pearlfishers - Sky Meadows
6. Mew - Frengers
7. Jadis - Fanatic
8. Zwan - Mary Star of the Sea
9. The Tangent - The Music That Died Alone
10. Neal Morse - Testimony
11. Enchant - Tug of War
12. Opeth - Damnation
13. Dave Matthews - Some Devil
14. King’s X - Black Like Sunday
15. Frameshift - Unweaving the Rainbow
16. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
17. Daniel Lanois - Shine
-
48. Evergrey - Recreation Day
That low, eh? huh. It's a top 3 Evergrey album for me, so would've been top 5 AOTY for '03 in my books
I love In Search of Truth, but I honestly only felt luke warm about Recreation Day. I haven't listened to it in a long time though, so I may like it more now. That being said, I dunno how high from 2003 it might go up given how much I enjoy so many records from the year.
3. John Arch - A Twist of Fate (sometimes I think this is the pinnacle of Mike Portnoy's drumming)
I often agree with this. Portnoy's playing and the mix is so clean and tight. It's almost jazz-like ala Paul Wertico in some ways.
-
2003
In no particular order:
Greg Howe, Victor Wooten, and Dennis Chambers - Extraction
The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
King Crimson - The Power to Believe
Beyonce - Dangerously in Love
Muse - Absolution
Explosions in the Sky - The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place
Neal Morse - Testimony
Riverside - Out of Myself
Opeth - Damnation
Dream Theater - Train of Thought
Anathema - A Natural Disaster
Hiromi - Another Mind
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2003
1. CHARON The Dying Daylights
2. POISONBLACK Escapexstacy
3. CIRCLE II CIRCLE Watching In Silence
4. MASTERPLAN Masterplan
5. EVERGREY Recreation Day
QUEENSRYCHE Tribe
IRON MAIDEN Dance Of Death
POWDERFINGER Vulture Street
DREAM THEATER Train Of Thought
ANTHRAX We've Come For You All
EVANESCENCE Fallen
ETA one I forgot
BALANCE OF POWER Heathen Machine :metal
-
2003 was awesome!
1. Muse - Absolution
2. Alkinoos Ioannidis - Οι περιπέτειες ενός προσκυνητή (The Adventures of a Pilgrim)
3. Opeth - Damnation
4. Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja
5. Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow
6. Ulver - A Quick Fix of Melancholy EP
7. Wolverine - Cold Light of Monday
8. The Cat Empire - The Cat Empire
9. Anathema - A Natural Disaster
10. The King's Singers - Christmas
11. Ocean Colour Scene - North Atlantic Drift
12. Thrice - The Artist in the Ambulance
13. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
14. The Devin Townsend Band - Accelerated Evolution
15. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - XXL
16. Evergrey - Recreation Day
17. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
18. Matthew Good - Avalanche
19. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
20. Kamelot - Epica
Also great:
AFI - Sing the Sorrow
After Forever - Exordium EP
Avenue Q: Original Broadway Cast Recording
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Park Avenue South: Live at Starbucks
Children of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll
Cursive - The Ugly Organ
Dog Fashion Disco - Committed to a Bright Future
John Arch - A Twist of Fate EP
Kaipa - Keyholder
King Crimson - The Power to Believe
Linkin Park - Meteora
Machine Head - Through the Ashes of Empires
Masterplan - Masterplan
The Offspring - Splinter
Okkervil River - Down the River of Golden Dreams
OSI - Office of Strategic Influence
Pat Metheny - One Quiet Night
Soilwork - Figure Number Five
Spock's Beard - Feel Euphoria
I'm giving up on listing the "good but not great" albums now, just too many of them.
-
2003 was awesome!
1. Muse - Absolution
2. Alkinoos Ioannidis - Οι περιπέτειες ενός προσκυνητή (The Adventures of a Pilgrim)
3. Opeth - Damnation
4. Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja
5. Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow...
Ahhh forgot Afterglow what a fantastic album that was!
-
i haven't been following this thread but it finally got to years i could start filling this out for so yeah sure :lol
#1: Mew - Frengers
#2: Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
#3: Cursive - The Ugly Organ
#4: Oceansize - Effloresce
#5: Muse - Absolution
#6: The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
#7: My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves
#8: Opeth - Damnation
there are more i have on RYM but none i'm super inclined to include here
lemme backfill the rest of the 2000's for no real reason
2000:
#1: Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I
#2: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
#3: Porcupine Tree: Lightbulb Sun
2001:
#1: Green Carnation - Light of Day, Day of Darkness
#2: Devin Townsend - Terria
#3: Opeth - Blackwater Park i guess
2002:
#1: Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane
#2: Sigur Ros - ( )
#3: Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
#4: Glassjaw - Worship and Tribute
#5: mum - Finally We Are No One
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i haven't been following this thread but it finally got to years i could start filling this out for so yeah sure :lol
#1: Mew - Frengers
#2: Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
#4: Oceansize - Effloresce
:tup
I'm kind of suprised to not see many with these on/high on their lists per all 3 of these bands are popular around here. Maybe it's these albums, or the people who do enjoy them haven't posted their lists yet?
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i haven't been following this thread but it finally got to years i could start filling this out for so yeah sure :lol
#1: Mew - Frengers
#2: Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
#4: Oceansize - Effloresce
:tup
I'm kind of suprised to not see many with these on/high on their lists per all 3 of these bands are popular around here. Maybe it's these albums, or the people who do enjoy them haven't posted their lists yet?
Yeah, I'm still behind, but those will all be on my 2003 list. Still need to post my 2002 list....
-
i haven't been following this thread but it finally got to years i could start filling this out for so yeah sure :lol
#1: Mew - Frengers
#2: Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
#4: Oceansize - Effloresce
:tup
I'm kind of suprised to not see many with these on/high on their lists per all 3 of these bands are popular around here. Maybe it's these albums, or the people who do enjoy them haven't posted their lists yet?
I think Frengers is great (it’s on my list), but it’s mostly great because of Comforting Sounds. The rest is good but that song stands way above the rest of the album.
I forgot I own that Coheed and Cambria album. I got it to review for my college newspaper. I haven’t listened to it since. I hated it so much I reviewed something else instead.
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Here's my 2002 list, finally. Full list here (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/2002-album-rankings/)
1. Agalloch - The Mantle
2. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
4. Symphony X - The Odyssey
5. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.
6. Isis - Oceanic
7. Sigur Rós - ( )
8. Coheed and Cambria - The Second Stage Turbine Blade
9. Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane
10. Paatos - Timeloss
11. Rush - Vapor Trails (the remixed version)
12. Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the Way
13. Mudvayne - The End of All Things to Come
14. The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
15. Threshold - Critical Mass
16. Chevelle - Wonder What's Next
17. Opeth - Deliverance
18. Everon - Bridge
19. Spock's Beard - Snow
20. Quidam - Pod niebem czas
21. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
22. Negură Bunget - 'n crugu bradului
23. Foo Fighters - One by One
24. Reverend Bizarre - In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend
25. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
26. dredg - El cielo
27. Echolyn - Mei
28. Novembre - Dreams d'azur
29. Boards of Canada - Geogaddi
30. Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
31. Astral Projection - Amen
32. The Mars Volta - Tremulant EP
33. Nile - In Their Darkened Shrines
34. Today Is the Day - Sadness Will Prevail
35. Sear Bliss - Forsaken Symphony
36. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
37. Interpol - Turn On the Bright Lights
38. Belenos - Spicilège
39. ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Source Tags & Codes
40. Primordial - Storm Before Calm
41. Hourglass - The Journey Into
42. Thyrfing - Vansinnesvisor
43. Superior - Ultima Ratio
44. Tenhi - Väre
45. Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors
46. Empyrium - Weiland
47. Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk
48. Falconer - Chapters From a Vale Forlorn
49. Suidakra - Emprise to Avalon
50. Pagan's Mind - Celestial Entrance
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2004
2004, a year I historically remember for 3 records: Marillion's Marbles, Fates Warning's FWX and Pain of Salvation's Be.
But in retrospect and the residual discoveries since, this was an incredibly deep year. A lot of technical death metal and progressive college rock. A lot of EPs stood out as well as I think I have 9 in the list below me.
Comparing to 2005 may be unfair, and other years of the 2000's, but I'd say it measures up in a lot of ways, although possibly the depth is more a product of music in the 2000's, the amount of good new music that was coming out.
Blackfield and The Velvet Teen are not far behind..nor is Orphaned Land and some others. I'd say 2004 has become more of a revered year for music for me after now revisiting this.
1. Marillion - Marbles
2. Blackfield - Blackfield
3. The Velvet Teen - Elysium
4. Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
5. Fates Warning - FWX
6. Brian Wilson - Smile
7. Oceansize - Music for Nurses [EP]
8. 3 - Wakepig
9. The Dissociatives - The Dissociatives
10. Umphrey's McGee - Anchor Drops
11. Clann Zú - Black Coats and Bandages
12. Pain of Salvation - 12:5
13. Fair to Midland - inter.funda.stifle
14. The Decemberists - The Tain [EP]
15. Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor
16. Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit
17. Pain of Salvation - Be
18. The Dear Hunter - Dear Ms. Leading
19. Archive - Noise
20. Subterranean Masquerade - Temporary Psychotic State [EP]
21. Akphaezya - Anthology II: Links From the Dead Trinity
22. Meshuggah - I [EP]
23. Thurisaz - Scent of a Dream
24. Behemoth - Demigod
25. Superior - Ultra Live
26. The Apex Theory - Inthatskyissomethingwatching [EP]
27. Mastodon - Leviathan
28. Brazil - A Hostage and the Meaning of Life
29. Enchant - Live at Last
30 .Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori - Halo 2 Original Soundtrack
31. Cloud Cult - Aurora Borealis
32. Aereogramme - Seclusion
33. King's X - Live All Over the Place
34. sElf - Ornament and Crime
35. Best Friends Forever - Best Friends Forever
36. Porcupine Tree - Warszawa
37. Judgement Day - Dark Opus
38. Hope of the States - The Lost Riots
39. The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy
40. Malajube - Le compte complet
41. Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
42. Bloc Party - Bloc Party [EP]
43. Deerhoof - Milk Man
44. Time of Orchids - Early as Seen in Pace [EP]
45. Anathallo - Hymns [EP]
46. Janus - Armor
Concerts
1/10/04 Jon Anderson - Keswick Theatre Glendale, PA
3/13/04 Dream Theater - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
3/24/04 The Musical Box - The Pabst Theatre Milwaukee, WI
4/14/04 California Guitar Trio - Paramount Theatre St.Cloud, MN
5/ /04 Iced Ink/Odds Vs./Lost Mind Found
5/16/04 King's X/Serotone - The Rock Maplewood, MN
5/18/04 Opeth - The Quest Club Minneapolis, MN
7/18/04 Eric Clapton/Robert Randolph and the Family Band - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
7/27/04 Ozric Tentacles - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
8/24/04 Deep Purple/Joe Satriani/Thin Lizzy - XCel Energy Center St,Paul, MN
9/7/04 Yes/Dream Theater - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
9/17/04 Prog Power USA
Edguy/Pain of Salvation/Brainstorm/Wuthering Heights/Adagio- Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
9/18/04 Prog Power USA
Weapons of Mass Destruction (Savatage)/Kamelot/Tad Morose/Dreamscape/Into Eternity - Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
9/30/04 Brian Wilson - Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10/2/04 Marillion/John Wesley Park West Chicago, IL
10/22/04 California Guitar Trio - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
Unclear: Likely November or maybe March as they toured the US during those times:
The Australian Pink Floyd - The State Theater Minneapolis, MN
-
2004:
1. Kaki King - Legs To Make Us Longer - 5/5 - Another killer album
2. Godsmack - The Other Side - 5/5 - Not a fan of most of their music really but this acoustic album is fantastic
3. Alter Bridge - One Day Remains - 5/5 - Peak Alter Bridge IMO, I don't think they have ever topped their debut
4. Incubus - A Crow Left Of The Murder... - 4.5/5 - Not perfect but close
5. Fair To Midland - Inter.Funda.Stifle 4.5/5
6. Jose Gonzalez - Stay In The Shade EP - 4.5/5
7. Breaking Benjamin - We Are Not Alone - 4/5
8. Kings Of Convenience - Riot On An Empty Street - 4/5
9. Joe Satriani - Is There Love In Space? - 3.5/5
10. My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge - 3.5/5
11. 10 Years - Killing All The Holds You - 3/5
12. Amplifier - Amplifier - 3/5
13. Regina Spektor - Soviet Kitsch - 3/5
14. Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La - 3/5
15. U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb - 3/5
16. Ben Kenney - 26 - 3/5
17. Andy McKee - Dreamcatcher - 2.5/5
18. James Blunt - Back To Bedlam - 2.5/5
19. Blackfield - Blackfield - 2/5
20. A Perfect Circle - eMotive - 2/5
21. Collective Soul - Youth - 2/5
22. Damageplan - New Found Power - 1.5/5
23. California Guitar Trio - Whitewater - 1.5/5
24. Codeseven - Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds - 1.5/5
25. Chroma Key - Graveyard Mountain Home - 1.5/5
26. The Killers - Hot Fuss - 1/5
The top 5 are really some outstanding albums and some of my all time favorites.
-
2004
Maybe not the most spectacular of years, but always some great stuff to enjoy. A couple of metal "classics" for the noughties with Mastodon and Lamb of God (and Slipknot too...great album, after Iowa had disappointed me a bit following the debut). Jimmy Eat World's Futures was definitely one the albums I listened to the most that year. Great debut from Alter Bridge, and probably my favorite from Clutch with Blast Tyrant. Also late career highlight for Motorhead.
Stars (*) for album purchased later
Top 15 (fluid)
Mastodon – Leviathan
Jimmy Eat World – Futures
Lamb of God – Ashes of the Wake
Clutch – Blast Tyrant *
Alter Bridge – One Day Remains
Slipknot – Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
Evergrey – The Inner Circle
Entwine – DiEversity
Rammstein – Reise Reise
Nightwish – Once
Motorhead – Inferno
The Great Deceiver – Terra Incognito
Grip Inc. – Incorporated
Nightingale – Invisible
Within Temptation – The Silent Force *
The honorable mentions:
Abydos – The Little Boy’s…
Atomship – Crash of ‘47
Auf Der Maur – Auf Der Maur
Byzantine – The Fundamental Component
Chevelle – This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In) *
Collective Soul - Youth
Cult of Luna – Salvation
Dillinger Escape Plan – Miss Machine
Disillusion – Back to Times of Splendor
Edguy – Hellfire Club *
Elisa – Pearl Days
Exodus – Tempo of the Damned
Fates Warning – FWX
Billy Idol – The Devil’s Playground
Isis – Panopticon
Jorn – Out to Every Nation
Killswitch Engage – The End of the Heartache
Marillion – Marbles
Mercenary – 11 Dreams
Orphaned Land – Mabool
Pain of Salvation – BE
Prime Sth – Beautiful Awakening
Slumber – Fallout *
Submersed – In Due Time
Sum41 – Chuck
U2 – How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
VAST – Nude
Zeromancer – Zzyzx
-
Still not quite at the time I was discovering music in real-time... that comes 'next' year. I think 100% of these were after the fact. L@B and THE might've been purchased in '04 or early '05. None-the-less, we're getting into the era of my addiction to discovering new music.
Not mentioned yet
After Forever - Invisible Circles
Angra - Temple of Shadows
Ayreon - The Human Equation (my #2 album of all time)
Brazen Abbott - Guilty as Sin
Cloudscape - s/t
Dream Theater - L@B
Empty Tremor - Alien Inside
Europe - Start From The Dark
Forgotten Suns - Snooze
Freedom Call - Live Invasion
Genius - Episode 2: In Search Of The Little Prince
Hibria - Defying the Rules
House of Lords - Power and the Myth
IQ - Dark Matter
Magnitude 9 - Decoding the Soul
Mechanical Poet - Woodland Prattlers
Mind Key - Journey of a Rough Diamond
Nocturnal Rites - New World Messiah
Pagan's Mind - Infinity Divine
Pride of Lions - The Destiny Stone
Pyramaze - Melancholy Beast
Rhapsody - The Dark Secret
Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret
Silent Force - Worlds Apart
Tears of Anger - Still Alive
Ten - Return to Evermore
Theocracy - s/t
Thunderstone - The Burning
Toxic Smile - Retrox Forte
TSO - The Lost Christmas Eve
Vision Divine - Stream of Consciousness
W.A.S.P. - The Neon God
Wicked Sensation - Exceptional
Damn, there's some good music up there.
-
2004:
01 Neal Morse - One
02 Arcade Fire - Funeral
03 Blackfield - Blackfield
04 Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
05 The Flower Kings - Adam & Eve
06 Ayreon - The Human Equation
07 Alanis Morissette - So-Called Chaos
08 Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
09 Juno Reactor - Labyrinth
10 U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
-
2004:
1. Elliott Smith - From A Basement on the Hill
2. Dream Theater - Live at Budokan
3. Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine
4. Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
5. Nightwish - Once
6. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
7. Blackfield - Blackfield
8. R.E.M - Around the Sun
9. Neal Morse - One
10. Threshold - Subsurface
11. Dragonforce - Sonic Firestorm
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2004
1. ALTER BRIDGE One Day Remains
2. TELSA Into The Now
3. PAGAN'S MIND Infinity Devine
4. NIGHTWISH Once
5. SAXON Lionheart
PYRAMAZE Melancholy Beast
MAGNITUDE 9 Decoding The Soul
ICED EARTH The Glorious Burden
EDGUY Hellfire Club
MEGADETH The System Has Failed
EUROPE Start FT Dark
ETA Ugh there's always at least one but actually slightly embarrased I forgot the excellent comeback of TESLA with Into The Now.
Sorted \m/
-
4. SAXON Lionheart
This began a string of AMAZING albums by them.
-
4. SAXON Lionheart
This began a string of AMAZING albums by them.
Absolutely.
A personal fave too - Justice :metal
-
2004 turns out to be a pretty strong year up top, but after about number 6 I don’t revisit most of these very often.
1. Marillion - Marbles
2. Big Big Train - Gathering Speed
3. The Finn Brothers - Everyone is Here
4. U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
5. The Blue Nile - High
6. Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
7. Mutual Admiration Society - Mutual Admiration Society
8. The Jelly Jam - 2
9. Fernando Perdomo - This Can Be You
10. Blackfield - Blackfield
11. Trey Anastasio - Seis de Mayo
12. John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess - An Evening With*
13. Alison Krauss & Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways
14. Mike Keneally Band - Dog
15. Brian Wilson - Smile
And then the two albums from that year that were so disappointing that I haven’t listened to them since:
16. Neal Morse - One
17. Pain of Salvation - Be
*I realize this was originally released in 2000 but the 2004 release did have extra tracks. I’m not including other live releases, but this was mostly new music.
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1. Pain of Salvation - Be
2. Pain of Salvation - 12:5
3. Evergrey - The Inner Circle
4. Regina Spektor - Soviet Kitsch
5. Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street
6. Angra - Temple of Shadows
7. Sarah Fimm - Nexus
8. Green Day - American Idiot
9. Nightwish - Once
10. Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me
11. Neal Morse - One
12. Slipknot - Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
13. Infected Mushroom - IM the Supervisor
14. Amplifier - Amplifier
15. Ayreon - The Human Equation
16. Insomnium - Since the Day It All Came Down
17. The Black Mages - The Black Mages II: The Skies Above
18. Threshold - Subsurface
19. Blackfield - Blackfield
20. Ensiferum - Iron
Also great:
After Forever - Invisible Circles
Asia - Silent Nation
Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor
Fates Warning - FWX
Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden
Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Norther - Death Unlimited
Jordan Rudess - Rhythm of Time
Sarah McLachlan - Live Acoustic EP
Shade Empire - Sinthetic
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Of Natural History
Telefon Tel Aviv - Map of What Is Effortless
Wintersun - Wintersun
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2004 doesn't have many choices for me, still some solid albums...
1. THERION - Sirius B & Lemuria (two albums released at the same time)
2. NIGHTWISH - Once
3. SONATA ARCTICA - Reckoning Night
Rounding it out...
4. Ayreon - The Human Equation
5. Iced Earth – The Glorious Burden
6. Edguy – Hellfire Club
7. Dio – Master of the Moon
8. Jag Panzer – Casting the Stones
9. Elisa – Pearl Days
10. Angra – Temple of Shadows
-
2004:
4. Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
Completely forgot to list this. Shangri-La is my favorite Mark Knopfler solo record.
-
Heh, still trying to catch up. It's getting harder with lists that consist of at least 100 albums and my collection consisting of at least twice that.
Anyways, here's 2003. Full list here (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/2003-album-rankings/), as always.
Top 50
1. Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
2. AFI - Sing the Sorrow
3. Enslaved - Below the Lights
4. A.C.T - Last Epic
5. Blut aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God
6. Rush - Rush in Rio
7. Type O Negative - Life is Killing Me
8. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
9. Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja
10. A Perfect Circle - The Thirteenth Step
11. Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath
12. Matthew Good - Avalanche
13. Muse - Absolution
14. Redemption - Redemption
15. Mew - Frengers
16. Alien Ant Farm - TruANT
17. Riverside - Out of Myself
18. Oceansize - Effloresce
19. OSI - Office of Strategic Influence
20. The Angelic Process - Coma Waering
21. The Devin Townsend Band - Accelerated Evolution
22. Arena - Contagion
23. The Chasm - Conjuration of the Spectral Empire
24. Windir - Likferd
25. Dream Theater - Train of Thought
26. Stellastarr* - Stellastarr*
27. The Gathering - Souvenirs
28. Opeth - Damnation
29. The Darkness - Permission to Land
30. Anathema - A Natural Disaster
31. Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
32. Gordian Knot - Emergent
33. Drudkh - Forgotten Legends
34. YOB - Catharsis
35. King Crimson - The Power to Believe
36. Cursive - The Ugly Organ
37. Adagio - Underworld
38. Snow Patrol - Final Straw
39. Enchant - Tug of War
40. In-Quest - Destination: Pyroclasm
41. Falkenbach - Ok nefna tysvar ty
42. Kamelot - Epica
43. Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
44. Cult of Luna - The Beyond
45. Nocternity - Onyx
46. How Like a Winter - Beyond My Grey Wake
47. Between the Buried and Me - The Silent Circus
48. Nest - Woodsmoke
49. Katatonia - Viva Emptiness
50. Weird Al Yankovic - Poodle Hat
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2004 is cool because we start getting to my recent obsession now :neverusethis:
#1: Isis - Panopticon
#2: Ayreon - The Human Equation
#3: The Paper Chase - God Bless Your Black Heart
#4: Pain of Salvation - Be
#5: Oceansize - Music For Nurses
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4. SAXON Lionheart
This began a string of AMAZING albums by them.
Damn straight.
-
2005
Summary from the blog:
3/10/17:
You look at the list below, and many of the albums are from favorite artists of mine and in some cases my favorite or a top 2-3 album in their catalog. While the TREOS and Coheed albums I adore and are the only what I consider definitive 5-star masterpieces, I could easily see bumping up 4, 5, 7, 10 or more of them to 5-stars down the road.
Maybe among some other years, this would be 1 year I would LOVE to go back in time and live through again hearing all of these albums as the year went by.
I guess now thinking about this, as I go through the years in history, I will have to try and post a separate entry, with just links to the entries and top 10-30+ lists and kind of think about favorite years, etc.
Also one observation with the Calendar, the stretch from mid to late August through early October was amazing. Neverending White Lights through Broken Social Scene, there's a ton of all-time favorites in there, and they all were released in that 6-7 week window of time, lol. For Modern times, that's pretty significant.
DURING 2005 though, the albums I will always remember were
-The Mars Volta - Frances
-Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
-dredg - Catch Without Arms
those 3, during-2005, battled it out for my top record (sorry Octavarium). Odd though as none of them ended up ultimately as my favorite record from 2005.
But without question, 2005 historically has become 1 of my favorite years ever for music.
1. The Receiving End of Sirens - Between the Heart and the Synapse
2. Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo 1: I'm Burning Star IV: From Fear through the Eyes of Madness
3. dredg - Catch Without Arms
4. Oceansize - Everyone Into Position
5. The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
6. Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself
7. Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites
8. Subterranean Masquerade - Suspended Animation Dreams
9. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
10. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
11. Bend Sinister - Through the Broken City
12. Between the Buried and Me - Alaska
13. Time of Orchids - Sarcast While
14. Klimt 1918 - Dopoguerra
15. Neverending White Lights - Act I: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies
16. Gospel - The Moon is a Dead World
17. Karnivool - Themata
18. Kaddisfly - Buy Our Intention: We'll Buy You a Unicorn
19. The Decemberists - Picaresque
20. System of a Down - Mezmerize
21. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - Dust of Retreat
22. Josh Rouse - Nashville
23. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
24. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
25. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
26. Burst - Origo
27. Shadow Gallery - Room V
28. Gojira - From Mars to Sirius
29. Dream Theater - Octavarium
30. God is an Astronaut - All is Violent, All is Bright
31. Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
32. The Ebb and Flow - Time to Echolocate
33. Pat Metheny - The Way Up
34. King's X - Ogre Tones
35. Shaman - Reason
36. System of a Down - Hypnotize
Concerts
2/17/05 Umphrey's McGee - The Quest Club Minneapolis, MN
2/22/05 Pat Metheny Group - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN
5/19/05 The Mars Volta - Roy Wilkins Auditorium St.Paul, MN
5/29/05 Porcupine Tree/Salubrious Invertebrae - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/19/05 Marillion (Los Marillios Trios)/Jason Hart - The Double Door Chicago, IL
6/25/05 The Moody Blues - Northrop Auditorium Minneapolis, MN
7/3/05 Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Weesner Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo Apple Valley, MN
7/24/05 Gigantour
Dream Theater - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Irivine, CA
9/8/05 The Victor Wooten Band/MC Divinity - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
9/18/05 Cygnus and the Seamonsters/George Brooks Summit - The Vic Theater Chicago, IL
9/23/05 System of a Down/The Mars Volta - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
10/22/05 Steve Hackett - Rossi's Blue Star Room Minneapolis, MN
11/6/05 The Australian Pink Floyd - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
11/19/05 Jethro Tull - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
11/19/05 Wishbone Ash - Star Central Minneapolis, MN
11/20/05 King's X/Casanatra - Star Central Minneapolis, MN
Unclear:
Machinery Hill - The Riverview Cafe Minneapolis, MN
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2005
(*) for albums purchased later
Top 15:
Paradise Lost – Paradise Lost
dredg – Catch Without Arms
Dream Theater – Octavarium
Klimt 1918 – Dopoguerra
Green Carnation – The Quiet Offspring
Bloc Party – Silent Alarm *
Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor
Opeth – Ghost Reveries
System of a Down – Mezmerize/Hypnotize
Porcupine Tree – Deadwing
Depeche Mode – Playing the Angel
Blackfield – Blackfield
30 Seconds to Mars – Beautiful Lie
Imogen Heap – Speak for Yourself
Thrice – Vheissu
Edit: Sentenced - The Funeral album should definitely be there somewhere too. Somehow I missed it
The honorable mentions:
10 Years – The Autumn Effect
Tori Amos – The Beekeeper
Antimatter – Planetary Confinement
Audrey Horne – No Hay Banda *
Avenged Sevenfold – City of Evil
Burst – Origo
Kate Bush – Aerial
Byzantine – And They Shall Take Up Serpents
Circus Maximus – 1st Chapter
Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Vol.1
Coldplay – X&Y
Darkane – Layers of Lies
Darkest Hour – Undoing Ruin
Bruce Dickinson – Tyranny of Souls
Disturbed – Ten Thousand Fists
Enslaved – Isa *
Foo Fighters – In Your Honor
The Fray – How to Save a Life
Grand Magus - Wolf’s Return
HIM - Dark Light
Kamelot – The Black Halo *
Kent – Du & Jag Doden *
Magnifiqat – Il Piu’ Antico dei Giorni
Minus the Bear – Menos el Oso *
Oceansize – Everyone Into Position
Ra – Duality
Rammstein – Rosenrot
Rapture – Silent Stage *
Redemption – The Fullness of Time
Riverside – Second Life Syndrome
Sieges Even – The Art of Navigating by the Stars
Simple Minds – Black & White 050505
Soilwork – Stabbing the Drama
Rob Thomas – Something to Be *
Trivium - Ascendancy
-
2005 is relatively sparse for me. A few good ones but a lot of these are distinctly not favorites from these acts.
1. The Clientele - Strange Geometry
2. Glen Phillips - Winter Pays For Summer
3. Spock’s Beard - Octane
4. King’s X - Ogre Tones
5. Moon Safari - A Doorway to Summer
6. Nickel Creek - Why Should the Fire Die?
7. Eric Johnson - Bloom
8. Chris Botti - To Love Again
9. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
10. Dream Theater - Octavarium
Rush’s R30 was that year though, and if I were to include live albums it would easily be top 5.
-
2005 is where the dam starts busting open for me apparently
#1: Opeth - Ghost Reveries
#2: Thrice - Vhiessu
#3: Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
#4: Oceansize - Everyone Into Position
#5: Kamelot - The Black Halo
#6: Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites
#7: Eluvium - Talk Amongst The Trees
#8: Dream Theater - Octavarium
#9: Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
#10: Riverside - Second Life Syndrome
i probably could've stopped at #9 tbh but a full ten looks nicer
-
My 2005 would llok something like this:
01. DREAM THEATER - Octavarium
02. BRUCE DICKINSON - Tyranny of Souls
03. MAGO DE OZ - Gaia II: La Voz Dormida (no seriously guys, check it out, folk / power metal with long proggy songs)
04. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy (somehow forgot about this)
05. Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution
06. Sentenced - The Funeral Album
07. Kamelot – The Black Halo
08. Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds
09. Dropkick Murphys - The Warrior's Code
10. Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
Honorable mentions:
Shadow Gallery - Room V
Shaman - Reason
Gamma Ray - Majestic
Stream of Passion - Embrace the Storm
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1. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
2. Shpongle - Nothing Lasts... But Nothing Is Lost
3. Thrice - Vheissu
4. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
5. Moonsorrow - Verisäkeet
6. Ulver - Blood Inside
7. The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
8. System of a Down - Mezmerize
9. The Cat Empire - Two Shoes
10. Nightingale - Nightfall Overture
11. Dream Theater - Octavarium
12. Bruce Dickinson - Tyranny of Souls
13. System of a Down - Hypnotize
14. dredg - Catch Without Arms
15. Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up
16. Primordial - The Gathering Wilderness
17. Kamelot - The Black Halo
18. Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
19. Moon Safari - A Doorway to Summer
20. Equilibrium - Turis Fratyr
Also great:
Arena - Pepper's Ghost
Bizali - Bizali EP
Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Bumblefoot - Normal
Copeland - In Motion
Dark Tranquillity - Character
King's X - Ogre Tones
Mostly Autumn - Storms Over Still Water
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
Shadow Gallery - Room V
Spock's Beard - Octane
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
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2005
Fantastic year for metal/music :metal
1. PARADISE LOST / Paradise Lost
2. CHARON / Songs For The Sinners
3. BRUCE DICKINSON / Tyranny Of Souls
4. REDEMPTION / The Fullness Of Time
5. PAGAN'S MIND / Enigmatic Calling
VANISHING POINT Embrace The Silence
AUDIOSLAVE Out Of Exile
DREAM THEATER Octavarium
MASTERPLAN Aeronautics
SEVENDUST Next
GOTTHARD Lip Service
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES Deuce
DISTURBED Ten Thousand Fists
NEVERMORE Godless Endeavour
JUDAS PRIEST Angel Of Retribution
KAMELOT The Black Halo
HELLOWEEN Keeper III
ETA Realised listed Redemption's Snowfall when meant Fullness Of Time :facepalm:
Snowfall will make its 2009 list but 2005 was the awesome Fullness Of Time!
FIXED!
-
2005 was a great year for tunes!
01 Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
02 Neal Morse - ?
03 Opeth - Ghost Reveries
04 The Decemberists - Picaresque
05 Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
06 Dream Theater - Octavarium
07 Sigur Rós - Takk...
08 Spock's Beard - Octane
09 The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
10 dredg- Catch Without Arms
-
2005
Fantastic year for metal/music :metal
1. PARADISE LOST / Paradise Lost
YES :biggrin: Nice to see someone else appreciating their S/T. I find this is when they hit the sweet spot with their return to guitar-driven songs (I love their electro-tinged period, by the way). Right amount of crunch, great melodies and the typical PL gloom, but with the songcraft and sophistication they had gained over the previous years. I liked what they did after this too (especially In Requiem and Faith Divides Us...), but there is a part of me that wishes they didn't go all the way back to Nick Holmes growling ;)
-
2005
Fantastic year for metal/music :metal
1. PARADISE LOST / Paradise Lost
YES :biggrin: Nice to see someone else appreciating their S/T. I find this is when they hit the sweet spot with their return to guitar-driven songs (I love their electro-tinged period, by the way). Right amount of crunch, great melodies and the typical PL gloom, but with the songcraft and sophistication they had gained over the previous years. I liked what they did after this too (especially In Requiem and Faith Divides Us...), but there is a part of me that wishes they didn't go all the way back to Nick Holmes growling ;)
Oh my, spoken like it were me! :biggrin:
Loved all incarnations of Paradise Lost and have enjoyed all the recent records too but agree 100%. Most claim it was with In Requiem or Faith that they turned things back around but fer my ears it was this album that they truly returned to form for every reason you already mentioned and kudos to you for that! PL Self-titled has since remained my #2 PL behind Draconian Times (with In Requiem, Icon then probably Symbol Of Life rounding out the 5 but always subject to change)...
Just 1hr ago my LP copy got delivered, finally after 16yrs they got this sucker pressed to LP/Vinyl (I don't know how to post pics here from phone but just shared it to my little insta page if interested #WardyTunes :metal)
Thanks for your reply nick, made my day 🤘
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Oh my, spoken like it were me! :biggrin:
Loved all incarnations of Paradise Lost and have enjoyed all the recent records too but agree 100%. Most claim it was with In Requiem or Faith that they turned things back around but fer my ears it was this album that they truly returned to form for every reason you already mentioned and kudos to you for that! PL Self-titled has since remained my #2 PL behind Draconian Times (with In Requiem, Icon then probably Symbol Of Life rounding out the 5 but always subject to change)...
Just 1hr ago my LP copy got delivered, finally after 16yrs they got this sucker pressed to LP/Vinyl (I don't know how to post pics here from phone but just shared it to my little insta page if interested #WardyTunes :metal)
Thanks for your reply nick, made my day 🤘
:tup
Nice to hear about the Vinyl!
My PL top 5 would have Draconian Times, Icon, S/T and One Second for sure...then many candidates to round it out. Symbol of Life and In Requiem are certainly up there.
What's your favorite in the more recent Tragic Idol - Plague Within - Medusa - Obsidian run? For me, I'd say Tragic Idol, and I very much enjoyed Obsidian last year, more so than Plague and Medusa overall...
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I think No Hope, Punishment Through Time and Cry Out alone would push The Plague Within out front LOL but you're right regards Obsidian that was like a greatest hits affair touching on most all their styles in one form or another. Tragic Idol was fantastic the title track is up there in my songs list and same for Medusa what a song that was.
I think PL have such a knack for incredible opening numbers. If I were to run a list of just fave songs most their opening songs would be first choices. Embers Fire, Enchantment, One Second, So Much Is Lost, Isolate, Don't Belong, No Hope In Sight, Darker Thoughts... I'm not sure of many other bands that could offer the same!? Maiden perhaps...
Finally saw them here in Aus for their Medusa tour and was fantastic! :metal
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2005:
1. dredg - Catch Without Arms - 5/5 - Top 5 album
2. Grails - Interpretations of Three Psychedelic Rock Songs From Around The World - 5/5
3. John Petrucci - Suspended Animation - 4.5/5
4. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing - 4/5
5. Dream Theater - Octavarium - 4/5
6. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor - 4/5
7. Dark New Day - Twelve Year Silence - 4/5
8. 10 Years - The Autumn Effect - 4/5
9. Jack's Mannequin - Everything In Transit - 4/5
10. James LaBrie - Elements Of Persuasion - 3.5/5
11. Morcheeba - The Antidote - 3.5/5
12. Coldplay - X&Y - 3.5/5
13. All India Radio - Permanent Evolutions 3.5/5
14. Audioslave - Out of Exile - 3/5
15. Opeth - Ghost Reveries - 3/5
16. From Monument To Masses - Schools Of Thought Contend - 3/5
17. Andy McKee - Art Of Motion - 3/5
18. Antoine Dufour - Naissance 2.5/5
19. Kid Loco - The Graffiti Artist - 2.5/5
20. God Is An Astronaut - All If Violent, All Is Bright - 2/5
21. Dave Matthews Band - Stand Up - 1.5/5 - The worst DMB album IMO
22. Minotaur Shock - Maritime - 1/5
A lot of really great albums this. Can't believe this is the year I graduated high school.
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Business is gonna pick up now for my real-time discoveries. jingle.kids are turning 5 and becoming somewhat more self sufficient (ergo giving me more and more disposable time), the release of 8vm brought me to the dt.net message boards, and my work role changed leading me to some more travel (and thus, more listening time).
Not mentioned yet:
After Forever - Reimagine
Allen/Lande - The Battle
At Vance - Chained
Brazen Abbott - My Resurrection
Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Reunite
Evergrey - A Night to Remember
Frameshift - An Absence of Empathy
Kino - Picture
Magic Pie - Motions of Desire
The Mob - s/t
Neal Morse - ?
Nightmare - The Dominon Gate
Nocturnal Rites - Grand Illusion
Place Vendome - s/t
Presto Ballet - Peace Among the Ruins
Primal Fear - Seven Seals
Royal Hunt - Paper Blood
Rush - R30
Secret Sphere - Heart & Anger
Section A - Parallel Lives
Seventh Wonder - Become
Starbreaker - s/t
Thunderstone - Tools of Destruction
Vanishing Point - Embrace the Silence
Vision Divine - The Perfect Machine
Xandria - India
XSavior - Caleidoscope
Yargos - To Be or Not to Be
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2006
No writeup from my blog, so just to summarize right now, 2006 I primarily think of for Pure Reason Revolution's "The Dark Third" a record I bought 4 different versions of ultimately including on Vinyl. It was a fresh and addictive record and 1 still to this day a favorite in Prog from the 2000's.
But it seems 2006 for me had a ton of great debut records per my top 4 and 6 of my top 10 are all debut albums. And I count at least 11 total on my list. From The Faceless to Annuals to Under the Influence of Giants, 2006 for me seem to have a handful of them, which in many cases, those bands never made a record I enjoyed more.
1. Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third
2. Protest the Hero - Kezia
3. The Dear Hunter - Act I: The Lake South, the River North
4. Mutemath - Mutemath
5. dredg - Live at the Fillmore
6. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
7. SikTh - Death of a Dead Day
8. Russian Circles - Enter
9. UneXpect - In a Flesh Aquarium
10. The Faceless - Akeldama
11. Martyr - Feeding the Abscess
12. The Appleseed Cast - Peregrine
13. Kacica - Kacica
14. Men Women and Children - Men Women and Children
15. Menomena - Under an Hour: Music for Modern Dance
16. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
17. Aereogramme - My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go
18. Kunek - Flight of the Flynns
19. Mason Proper - There Is a Moth in Your Chest
20. Under the Influence of Giants - Under the Influence of Giants
21. Opus Däi - Tierra Tragame
22. Annuals - Be He Me
23. Fair to Midland - The Drawn and Quartered EP
24. Gotye - Like Drawing Blood
25. Archive - Lights
26. Textures - Drawing Circles
27. Scott Matthews - Passing Stranger
28. 夢中夢 [Mutyumu] - 夢中夢
29. Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther
30. Roger Joseph Manning Jr. - The Land of Pure Imagination
31. This Day & Age - The Bell and the Hammer
32. The Stiletto Formal - This Is My Boomstick
33. The Mars Volta - Amputechture
34. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
35. The Dresden Dolls - Yes, Virginia...
36. The Classical Jazz Quartet - Plays Bach
37. David Gilmour - On an Island
38. His Name Is Alive - Detrola
39. Casket Salesmen - Sleeping Giants
40. Matisyahu - Youth
41. Far-Less - Everyone Is Out To Get Us
42. Kaddisfly - The Four Seasons
43. In Reverent Fear - Stomacher
44. A Chinese Firedrill - Circles
45. OSI - Free
46. L.E.O. - Alpacas Orgling
47. Jeremy Messersmith - The Alcatraz Kid
48. Wired All Wrong - Break Out the Battle Tapes
49. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Concerts
2/10/06 Mutemath/Vedera - The Ascot Room Minneapolis, MN
2/25/06 California Guitar Trio - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/17/06 Dream Theater - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
4/17/06 Three - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
4/18/06 dredg/Ours - The Metro Chicago, IL
5/18/06 Mutemath/Under the Influence of Giants - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/11/06 Bruce Springsteen performs Pete Seeger - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
7/2/06 Roger Hodgson - Harriest Island at the Taste of Minnesota St.Paul, MN
7/2/06 Davy Jones - Harriet Island at the Taste of Minnesota St.Paul, MN
7/26/06 Muse/The Cloud Room - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
8/10/06 Live - Myth Maplewood, MN
8/12/06 Kaddisfly - Profile Center Minneapolis, MN
8/23/06 Mae/The New Amsterdamns/Vedera - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
8/30/06 Umphrey's McGee - Minnesota State Fair Falcon Heights, MN
9/01/06 Head Automatica/Men Women and Children - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
9/14/06 dredg/Portugal the Man - The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA
9/15/06 dredg/Portugal the Man - The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA
10/05/06 Kasabian/Mew The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
10/06/06 Mutemath - The Loft at Barfly Minneapolis, MN
10/19/06 Opus Dai - The Toybox Minneapolis, MN
10/20/06 Zappa Plays Zappa - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10/26/06 Kaddisfly/Cue the Doves - The Toybox Minneapolis, MN
10/26/06 Mew - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
10/29/06 Anathallo/Fitzgerald - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/6/06 King's X - The Rock Maplewood, MN
11/12/06 The Decemberists - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/13/06 Under the Influence of Giants - The Loft at Barfly Minneapolis, MN
11/20/06 Margot and the Nuclear So and So's/Elected - Modified Tempe, AZ
12/8/06 The Who - XCel Energy Center St.Paul,MN
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The mid-2000s were really kind of thin for me as far as current releases. Not much here for 2006 (and at the time I skipped the Spock's Beard release after being disappointed by the prior one. I've since reevaluated both!).
1. Spock's Beard - Spock's Beard
2. Ty Tabor - Rock Garden
3. Gin Blossoms - Major Lodge Victory
4. Gotye - Like Drawing Blood
5. Winger - IV
6. O.S.I. - Free
7. Glen Phillips - Mr. Lemons
8. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
9. John Wetton & Geoffrey Downs - Icon (this album is really awful!)
Should mention the Robert Fripp - Exposure re-issue which did contain some unreleased material at least. It would have been top 5 for sure in this year. Also worth mentioning DT's Score as well (I only have the DVD, but it's the last great thing DT did IMO).
-
I just discovered that PRR album, and it's a gem!
As for 2006 ... not mentioned yet:
Anga - Aurora Consurgens
Axel Rudi Pell - Mystica
Beautiful Sin - The Unexpected
Blind Guardian - A Twist in the Myth
Cloudscape - Crimson Skies
Darwin's Radio - Eyes of the World
Devin Townsend - Synchestra
Dream Evil - United
Dream Theater - Score
Europe - Secret Society
Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse
Evil Masquerade - Third Act
Fatal Force - s/t
Firewind - Allegiance
The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel
Frost* - Milliontown
Harem Scarem - Human Nature
Henning Pauly - Babysteps
House of Lords - World Upside Down
Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
Jorn - The Duke
Journey - Trial by Fire
Kamelot - One Cold Winter's Night
Kingcrow - Timetropia
Nightwish - End of an Era (boy, was it ever!)
Pretty Maids - Wake up to the Real World
Prymary - The Tragedy of Innocence
Pyramaze - Legend of the Bone Carver
Red Circuit - Trance State
Sandstone - Looking at Myself
Seventh Wonder - Waiting in the Wings
Silent Voices - Building up the Apathy
Stream of Passion - Live in the Real World
Tears of Anger - In the Shadows
Time Requiem - Optical Illusion
Tony O'hora - Escape into the Sun
Vanden Plas - Christ 0
WarMachine - The Beginning Of The End
Not a bad lot there.
-
2006
There were a stack of good releases this year but as usual will list my personal Top5 and a handful of contenders (in no particular order).
1. IRON MAIDEN A Matter Of Life And Death
2. CIRCLE II CIRCLE Burden Of Truth
3. AMORPHIS Eclipse
4. EUROPE Secret Society
5. LEVERAGE Tides
AUDIOSLAVE Revelations
THE SWORD Age Of Winters
PYRAMAZE Legend Of The Bone Carver
HOUSE OF LORDS World Upside Down
BEAUTIFUL SIN The Unexpected
BOB CATLEY Spirit Of Man
JORN The Duke
-
Not much to report for 2006...
1. IRON MAIDEN - A Matter of Life and Death
2. BLIND GUARDIAN - A Twist in the Myth
3. MANEGARM - Urminnes hävd (The Forest Sessions)
4. EDGUY - Rocket Ride
5. CIRCLE II CIRCLE - Burden Of Truth
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2006:
01 The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel
02 Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
03 David Gilmour - On an Island
04 The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics
05 Devin Townsend - Synchestra
06 The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
07 Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death (this is still pretty new to me, so hard to accurately rank it for now)
08 Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental
09 Frost* - Milliontown
10 OSI - Free
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2006
This is a period where I'm noticing more and more albums that I actually purchased later...I guess things were slowing down a little with music listening at the time
(*) for albums bought later on
Top 15 (pretty fluid):
Amorphis – Eclipse
Katatonia – The Great Cold Distance
The Gathering – Home
Blind Guardian – A Twist in the Myth
Mastodon – Blood Mountain
Iron Maiden – A Matter of Life and Death
Novembre – Materia
Pure Reason Revolution – The Dark Third
Frost* - Milliontown *
Stolen Babies – There Be Squabbles Ahead
Pharaoh – The Longest Night *
Lamb of God – Sacrament
Hammers of Misfortune – The Locust *
Insomnium – Above the Weeping World *
Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May
The Honorable Mentions:
Agalloch – Ashes Against the Grain *
Amon Amarth – With Oden On Our Side *
Black Stone Cherry – Black Stone Cherry
Buckcherry - 15
Daughtry – Daughtry
Enslaved – Ruun *
Esbjorn Svensson Trio – Tuesday Wonderland
Evanescence – The Open Door
Evergrey – Monday Morning Apocalypse
Green Carnation – Acoustic Verses
Glenn Hughes – Music for the Divine
Gojira – From Mars to Sirius *
I – Between Two Worlds *
Ihsahn – The Adversary *
Killing Joke – Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
KT Tunstall – Eye to the Telescope
Lacuna Coil – Karmacode
L’Aura – Okumuki
Muse – Black Holes and Revelations
OSI – Free
P!nk – I’m not Dead *
Placebo – Meds
Pyramaze – Legend of the Bone Carver *
Rebel Meets Rebel - Rebel Meets Rebel
Red – End of Silence *
Scott Reeder – Tunnelvision Brilliance
Saturnus – Veronika Decides to Die
Scar Symmetry – Pitch Black Progress
Sikth – Death of a Dead Day
Sleep of Thetis – Thin Limits
Snow Patrol – Eyes Open *
Textures – Drawing Circles
Three Days Grace – One-X *
Tool – 10,000 Days
Trivium – The Crusade
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Not the greatest year but some solid stuff for 2006. It was around this time I really got into discovering new music.
1. Tool - 10,000 Days - 5/5
2. Dark New Day - Black Porch Sessions - 5/5
3. dredg - Live At The Fillmore - 5/5
4. Across The Delta - Dancing To Architecture - 4.5/5
5. God Is An Astronaut - A Moment Of Stillness - 4/5
6. OSI - Free - 4/5
7. Guthrie Govan - Erotic Cakes - 4/5
8. Army Of Anyone - Army Of Anyone - 4/5
9. Chambao - Caminando - 3.5/5
10. Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela - 3.5/5
11. Joe Satriani - Super Colossal - 3.5/5
12. Jakob - Solace - 3.5/5
13. Ferry Corsten - L.E.F. - 3.5/5
14. Kaki King - ...Until We Felt Red - 3.5/5
15. Ludovico Einaudi - Divenire 3.5/5
16. Incubus - Light Grenades - 3.5/5
17. Antoine Dufour - Development - 3/5
18. Ben Kenney - Maduro - 3/5
19. David Gilmour - On An Island - 3/5
20. Zero 7 - The Garden - 3/5
21. Jonatha Brooke - Live In New York - 3/5
22. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade - 3/5
23. Isis - In The Absence Of Truth - 3/5
24. Mogwai - Mr. Beast - 2.5/5
25. Dog Fashion Disco - Adultery - 2.5/5
26. Godsmack - IV - 2.5/5
27. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium - 2.5/5
28. Tenacious D - The Pick Of Destiny - 2.5/5
29. Paul Gilbert - Get Out Of My Yard - 2/5
30. Deadsy - Phantasmagore - 2/5
31. Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain - 1.5/5
32. The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel - 1/5
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2006 was a hell of a year!
1. BT - This Binary Universe
2. Frost* - Milliontown
3. The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel
4. The Cat Empire Project - Cities
5. Nellie McKay - Pretty Little Head
6. Amorphis - Eclipse
7. Emilie Autumn - Opheliac
8. The Dear Hunter - Act I: The Lake South, the River North
9. Dog Fashion Disco - Adultery
10. Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third
11. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - The Phat Pack
12. Gotye - Like Drawing Blood
13. The King's Singers - Landscape & Time
14. Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
15. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
16. In Flames - Come Clarity
17. The Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra
18. Von Hertzen Brothers - Approach
19. Blue October - Foiled
20. Wolverine - Still
Also great:
Amon Amarth - With Oden on Our Side
As Tall as Lions - As Tall as Lions
Bizali - EP 2
The Butterfly Effect - Imago
Chick Corea - The Ultimate Adventure
Cursive - Happy Hollow
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Ensiferum - Dragonheads EP
Insomnium - Above the Weeping World
Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
The Mars Volta - Amputechture
Michel Camilo - Rhapsody in Blue
Mutemath - Mutemath
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Norther - Till Death Unites Us
The Panic Channel - (ONe)
Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere...
Saltillo - Ganglion
Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress
Sleeping at Last - Keep No Score
Spock's Beard - Spock's Beard
Strapping Young Lad - The New Black
This Day & Age - The Bell and the Hammer
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2007
No writeup from the blog again (unsure if there are any more left?), so to summarize, 2007 was the 1st *Big Year* for anticipated albums for me in recent memory. "The Class of 2007" as I call it all made my top 10-15. Kaddisfly ultimately took the crown for me, it was an amazing year of getting attached to many records. From that *class* Kaddisfly, The Dear Hunter, Fair to Midland maybe I found battled eachother for months. Frames and Colors came in late, and the likes of Kiss Kiss, Minus the Bear, Biffy Clyro, Silverchair, In Vain, House of Fools, Bloc Party and 3 I kept going back to frequently.
The only sad thing for me is post-2007, there have not been a ton of newly discovered records unfortunately, but 2007 gave so much great music, I can't be too down about that. And it sort of set the standard going forward with every year nearly 50 or more albums would come out that I enjoyed if not loved.
Also the fact I have an additional 11 EPs in my list (which my rym has even more) just adds to how much stuff came out this year.
1. Kaddisfly - Set Sail the Prairie
2. The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning of and All Things Regarding Ms.Leading
3. Between the Buried and Me - Colors
4. Oceansize - Frames
5. Fair to Midland - Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times is True
6. House of Fools - Live and Learn
7. Three - The End is Begun
8. Kiss Kiss - Reality vs. the Optimist
9. Silverchair - Young Modern
10, The Receiving End of Sirens - The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi
11. Biffy Clyro - Puzzle
12. Menomena - Friend and Foe
13. Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City
14. Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice
15. Battles - Mirrored
16. In Vain - The Latter Rain
17. The Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder
18. Fields. - Everything Last Winter
19. Cloud Cult - The Meaning of 8
20. Blackfield - Blackfield II
21. Neverending White Lights - Act II: The Blood and the Life Eternal
22. Dark Tranquillity - Fiction
23. St. Vincent - Marry Me
24. Dirt Poor Robins - The Cage
25. People for Audio - The New Ancients
26. Various Artists - Once: Music From the Motion Picture
27. The New Pornographers - Challengers
28. Thurisaz - Circadian Rhythm
29. Pepe Deluxé - Spare Time Machine
30. Time of Orchids - Namesake Caution
31. *Shels - Sea of the Dying Dhow
32. The End - Elementary
33. Chromeo - Fancy Footwork
34. Marillion - Somewhere Else
35. The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army
36. Stateless - Stateless
37. Andre Matos - Time to Be Free
38. Pain of Salvation - Scarsick
39. Jared Micah & Hats - T.C.H.T.O.B.
40. Born of Osiris - The New Reign
41. Far-Less - A Toast To Bad Taste
42. Nicole Atkins - Neptune City
43. The Ebb and Flow - Attack and Decay
44. The Antlers - In the Attic of the Universe
45. Sigur Rós - Hvarf / Heim
46. Alter Bridge - Blackbird
47. The Pax Cecilia - Blessed Are the Bonds
48. Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon
49. Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
50. Centaur Rodeo - Tongues of Flame
51. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
52. Best Friends Forever - Romance Conflict Adventure
53. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
54. Editors - An End Has a Start
55. Jazzkamikaze - Travelling at the Speed of Sound
56. OneRepublic - Dreaming Out Loud
57. Fish - 13th Star
58. Small Leaks Sink Ships - Until the World Is Happy; Wake Up You Sleepyhead Sun
59. Paulson - All At Once
60. Rush - Snakes & Arrows
61. Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
62. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
EPs
1. Bend Sinister - Bend Sinister
2. Janelle Monáe - Metropolis, Suite I: The Chase
3. Ne Obliviscaris - The Aurora Veil
4. Porcupine Tree - Nil Recurring
5. The Reign of Kindo - The Reign of Kindo
6. The Apex Theory - Lightpost
7. Cavil at Rest - Orion Way
8. 100Ft Snowman - 100Ft Snowman
9. Woven - Aftermath
9. Dead Letter Circus - Dead Letter Circus
10. This City Sunrise - This City Sunrise
11. Between Two Skies - A Thousand Conscious Moments
Concerts
2/14/07 Dir En Grey/Fair to Midland - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
4/23/07 The Dear Hunter (Say Anything/Saves the Day/Meg and Dia) - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
4/05/07 Mutemath - The Fine Line Music Cafe - Minneapolis, MN
5/10/07 Andy McKee/Antoine Dufour - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
6/16/07 Fair to Midland/69 Eyes - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
7/3/07 The Police/Fiction Plane - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
7/5/07 Ours/April Bauer - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
7/24/07 St.Vincent - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
8/9/07 Dream Theater/Redemption/Into Eternity - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
8/23/07 Fair to Midland/Far From Falling - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
9/6/07 The Receiving End of Sirens/Envy on the Coast/Emanuel/Middle Class Rut - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
9/9/07 Rush - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
9/12/07 Editors/Biffy Clyro - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
10/14/07 Pat Metheny Group/ Nachito Herrara - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN
10/16/07 The New Pornographers/Benjy Ferree/Emma Pollock - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/19/07 The Polyphonic Spree/Rooney/The Redwalls/Person to Person - The Pantages Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10/21/07 Between the Buried and Me/Horse the Band/Animosity/Giants - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
10/23/07 Figurines/The Appleseed Cast/Dappled Cities - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
10/23/07 Do Make Say Think/Apostle of Hustle - The Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
10/26/07 Empires/Nomia - Memory Lanes Minneapolis, MN
10/27/07 Minus the Bear/The Helio Sequence/Grand Archives - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/31/07 Al Di Meola - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
11/6/07 Behemoth/Job for a Cowboy/Gojira/Beneath the Massacre - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
11/07/07 Annuals (soundcheck) - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/07/07 Dethklok - Coffman Memorial Union Minneapolis, MN
11/07/07 Battles/White Williams - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
11/14/07 Nonpoint/Skindred/Karnivool - The Rock Nightclub Maplewood, MN
11/16/07 Blues Traveler/Lisa Bouchelle - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
11/17/07 Enslaved/Arsis/The Faceless/The Agonist - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
11/18/07 RX Bandits/Men Women and Children/Nurses - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
12/1/07 Particle/House of Fools - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
12/16/07 Fair to Midland/Resident Hero - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
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That's a lot of fucking shows!
Not mentioned yet:
After Forever - s/t
Allen Lande - The Revenge
Amaran's Plight - Voice in the Light
At Vance - VII
Circus Maximus - Isolate
Consortium Project IV - Children of Tomorrow
Darkwater - Calling The Earth To Witness
Delain - Lucidity
DGM - Different Shapes
Dominici - O3 A Trilogy Part 2
Eden's Curse - s/t
Genius - Episode 3: The Final Surprise
Heart of Cygnus - Utopia
Jorn - The Gathering
Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day
Lord - Ascendence
Masterplan - MKII
Mind's Eye - A Gentleman's Hurricane
Myrath - Hope
Mystery - Beneath the Veil of Winters Face
Nation Beyond - The Aftermath Odyssey
Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura
Nemesea - In Control
Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
Nocturnal Rites - The 8th Sin
Pagan's Mind - God's Equation
Pathosray - s/t
Planet Alliance - s/t
Poverty's No Crime - Save My Soul
Pride of Lions - Roaring of Dreams
Redemption - The Origins of Ruin
Ride the Sky - New Protection
Serenity - Words Untold & Dreams Unlived
Shadow Circus - Welcome to the Freak Room
Silent Force - Walk The Earth
Speaking to Stones - s/t
Sun Caged - Artemisia
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Thought Chamber - Angular Perceptions
Threshold - Dead Reckoning
Thunderstone - Evolution 4.0
Triosphere - Onwards
Vanishing Point - The Fourth Season
Vision Divine - The 25th Hour
Within Temptation - The Heart of Everything
Xandria - Salome The Seventh Veil
Fuck I used to buy a lot of albums every year!
-
Another fantastic year!
1. The Cat Empire - So Many Nights
2. The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
3. Amorphis - Silent Waters
4. Nellie McKay - Obligatory Villagers
5. Moonsorrow - V: Hävitetty
6. After Forever - After Forever
7. Nightingale - White Darkness
8. Fair to Midland - Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True
9. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
10. Porcupine Tree - Nil Recurring EP
11. Radiohead - In Rainbows
12. Frank Turner - Sleep Is for the Week
13. Alter Bridge - Blackbird
14. Primordial - To the Nameless Dead
15. Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vols. I & II - Fire & Water
16. Within Temptation - The Heart of Everything
17. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
18. Biffy Clyro - Puzzle
19. Ulver - Shadows of the Sun
20. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Also great:
Alpha Rev - The Greatest Thing I've Ever Learned
Tori Amos - American Doll Posse
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Arkona - От сердца к небу
Avenged Sevenfold - Avenged Sevenfold
Between the Buried and Me - Colors
Blackfield - Blackfield II
Dark Tranquillity - Fiction
Dream Theater - Official Bootleg: Falling Into Infinity Demos
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Ensiferum - Victory Songs
Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
Matthew Good - Hospital Music
Infected Mushroom - Vicious Delicious
Kyte - Kyte
Machine Head - The Blackening
Mother Mother - Touch Up
Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
Oceansize - Frames
Ólafur Arnalds - Eulogy for Evolution
Pain of Salvation - Scarsick
Polkadot Cadaver - Purgatory Dance Party
The Reign of Kindo - The Reign of Kindo EP
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
Stateless - Stateless
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Turisas - The Varangian Way
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Alpha Rev - The Greatest Thing I've Ever Learned
Really?? ... my tags have it as 2008.
<Hey Google!>
Seems we're both right:
The Greatest Thing I've Ever Learned is the debut LP by Alpha Rev. The album was independently released in 2007, and then re-released on February 12, 2008 by Sea Change Records with an alternate track listing
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2007:
01 Radiohead - In Rainbows
02 Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
03 Blackfield - Blackfield II
04 Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura
05 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
06 The Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil
07 Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
08 Rush - Snakes & Arrows
09 Devin Townsend - Ziltoid the Omniscient
10 Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
-
2007
(*) as usual for albums purchased later
Alter Bridge and Biffy Clyro were almost surely the most played albums that year. I had enjoyed One Day Remains, but Blackbird definitely took it to a different level. Nothing earth-shattering in terms of style or novelty, of course, but so many great, modern hard rock songs. As for Biffy Clyro, I had enjoyed their quirkiness on their previous albums (to a point), but here they hit the spot for me. A fun and super-cool album.
I enjoyed Systematic Chaos quite a bit when it came out, but I don't love it as much now. Still a fun listen, though. As for Rush - Snakes and Arrows is a very pleasant album, it sounds great and it was in pretty constant rotation then, but it didn't quite live up to the expectations I had.
Top 15 (somewhat fluid)
Alter Bridge – Blackbird
Amorphis – Silent Waters
Biffy Clyro – Puzzle
Paradise Lost – In Requiem
Pain of Salvation – Scarsick
Fair to Midland – Fables from a Mayfly *
Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos
Rush – Snakes and Arrows
Porcupine Tree – Fear of a Blank Planet
Nightwish – Dark Passion Play
High on Fire – Death Is This Communion
Turbonegro – Retox
Blackfield – II
Darkest Hour – Deliver Us
Brandi Carlile – The Story *
The Honorable Mentions:
Alcest – Souvenirs d’un Autre Monde *
Tori Amos – American Doll Posse
Avenged Sevenfold – Avenged Sevenfold *
Sara Bareilles – Little Voice *
Baroness – Red Album
Battles – Mirrored
Be’Lakor – The Frail Tide *
Beardfish – Sleeping in Traffic: Part 1 *
Between the Buried and Me – Colors *
Bloc Party – A Weekend in the City
Bon Jovi – Lost Highway
The Butterfly Effect – Imago *
Chevelle – Vena Sera *
Circus Diablo – Circus Diablo
Clutch – From Beale Street to Oblivion *
Collective Soul – Afterwords *
Dark Tranquillity – Fiction *
The Dear Hunter – Act II: The Meaning of… *
Dillinger Escape Plan – Ire Works *
Down – Over the Under
Endeverafter – Kiss or Kill
Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
The Foreshadowing – Days of Nothing *
Kate Havnevik – Melankton
Helloween – Gambling with the Devil *
HIM – Venus Doom
Jimmy Eat World – Chase This Light
KT Tunstall – Drastic Fantastic
Lifehouse – Who We Are *
Linkin Park – Minutes to Midnight
Machine Head – The Blackening
Raine Maida – The Hunter’s Lullaby
Minus the Bear – Planet of Ice
The Mission – God Is a Bullet
Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero
Novembre – The Blue
The Ocean – Precambrian
OneRepublic – Dreaming Out Loud
Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain
Pain – Psalms of Extinction
Paramore – Riot! *
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – Raising Sand *
Powerwolf – Lupus Dei *
Prong – Power of the Damager
Scorpions – Humanity Hour I
Sieges Even – Paramount
Sixx:AM – The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack
Swallow the Sun – Hope *
Serj Tankian – Elect the Dead
Three – The End is Begun
Threshold – Dead Reckoning
Type O Negative – Dead Again
Within Temptation – The Heart of Everything
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2007, an year with so manyt solid releases, difficult to make a proper list; many albums are GREAT but there's not the OMFG THIS IS AWESOME album that stands miles above the rest, they're all pretty good.
Let's try to make a ranking somehow...
1.1. Sonata Arctica - Unia (the craziest and wackiest Sonata album, all over the place, I love it)
1.2. Helloween - Gambling with the Devil (wonderful album criminally underrated)
3. Therion - Gothic Kabbalah (another complete hit by this amazing band)
Then trying to make a top 10 with some very, very good albums...
4. Elvenking - The Scythe
5. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
6. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
7. Gamma Ray - Land of the Free II
8. Kamelot - Ghost Opera
9. Symphony X - Paradise Lost
10. Avenged Sevenfold - Avenged Sevenfold
Then all the albums that are still worth mentioning and that probably on any other day I would have put in the top 10:
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1
Turisas - The Varangian Way
Manowar - Gods Of War
Andre Matos - Time to Be Free
Ensiferum - Victory Songs
Powerwolf – Lupus Dei
Domine - Ancient Spirit Rising
Korpiklaani - Tervaskanto
Tarja Turunen - My Winter Storm
Oh, shoutout also to Korpiklaani's earlier albums that I probably forgot to put in the previous year, just like Elvenking's The Winter Wake from 2006, great album.
Coming in the more recent years is gonna be so hard to remember every single band, there are so many releases....
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You saw a lot of really great shows in 2007 Soundscape, my year in music:
2007:
1. Fair To Midland - Fables From A Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True - 5/5 - One of my favorite albums of all time
2. Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet - 5/5
3. Porcupine Tree - Nil Recurring - 5/5
4. John Lenehan - Ludovico Einaudi - The Piano Music - 4.5/5
5. Rush - Snakes & Arrows - 4.5/5 - The best Rush album IMO
6. Black Light Burns - Cruel Melody - 4.5/5
7. Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos - 4.5/5
8. God Is An Astronaut - Far From Refuge - 4/5
9. Grails - Burning Off Impurities - 4/5
10. Kanye West - Graduation - 4/5
11. The Pineapple Thief - What We Have Sown - 4/5
12. Alter Bridge - Blackbird - 4/5
13. Erik Mongrain - Fates - 4/5
14. Feist - The Reminder - 3.5/5
15. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Paitence & Grace - 3.5/5
16. Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vol. I & II - Fire & Water - 3.5/5
17. Michael Kelsey - The Way It Rolls - 3/5
18. The National - Boxer - 3/5
19. Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Live At Radio City - 3/5
20. 50 Cent - Curtis - 3/5
21. Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild - 3/5
22. Robert Plant | Alison Krauss - Raising Sand - 3/5
23. Wycleff Jean - Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant - 3/5
24. Balmorhea - Balmorhea - 2.5/5
25. Jack Wall & Sam Hulick - Mass Effect - 1.5/5
26. Amon Tobin - Foley Room - 1/5
27. Robert Glasper - In My Element - 1/5
A lot of really great records that I haven't listened to in a while. I was in college during 2007 and just writing these album names out brought back a flood of memories. It was around here I really started to explore some music and genre's I hadn't previously through friends.
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thanks Reaper, jingle. I was lucky enough to have plenty of great shows come to my town, and have the time/money to see them (also being single at the time), to go to dozens of concerts every year. And in some cases, more than 1 on the same night, lol. (pulling off the "concert jump,")
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I need to go through and try to figure out all the shows I've been to. It isn't many, I didn't really start going to concerts until I got a job outside of college.
I did catch a lot of punk shows while in High School.
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2007 was a really good year for music, in no small part due to the Genesis box set reissues (the first two volumes at least). 2007 also saw the first new releases by Rush and Marillion that I bought on release. Those are my big 3 bands. And then my probably my next favorite band, Big Big Train, released a major transitional album that saw NDV play with the band for the first time. I also got married in 2007, so a pretty big year for me overall.
1. Big Big Train - The Difference Machine.
2. Crowded House - Time on Earth
3. The Clientele - God Save the Clientele
4. Marillion - Somewhere Else
5. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
6. Battles - Mirrored
7. Rush - Snakes and Arrows
8. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
9. Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild Soundtrack
10. Across the Universe - Original Soundtrack
11. Robert Fripp - At The End of Time
12. The Frames - The Cost
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1. AMORPHIS - Silent Waters
2. PARADISE LOST - In Requiem
3. ALTER BRIDGE - Blackbird
4. SEVENDUST - Alpha
5. PAGAN'S MIND - God's Equation
VANISHING POINT - The Fourth Season
REDEMPTION - The Origins Of Ruin
POWDERFINGER - Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
SAXON - Inner Sanctum
THE CULT - Born Into This
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1. AMORPHIS - Silent Waters
2. PARADISE LOST - In Requiem
3. ALTER BRIDGE - Blackbird
4. SEVENDUST - Alpha
5. PYRAMAZE - God's Equation
VANISHING POINT - The Fourth Season
REDEMPTION - The Origins Of Ruin
POWDERFINGER - Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
SAXON - Inner Sanctum
THE CULT - Born Into This
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Freplygif.net%2Fi%2F743.gif&hash=b6b522563e18171eca512decb820b4ef0e125288)
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To come back to the "damn can't remember them all" thing.... in 2006 came out the wonderful An Ancient Muse by Loreena McKennitt, that's how I got to know her.
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1. AMORPHIS - Silent Waters
2. PARADISE LOST - In Requiem
3. ALTER BRIDGE - Blackbird
4. SEVENDUST - Alpha
5. PYRAMAZE - God's Equation
VANISHING POINT - The Fourth Season
REDEMPTION - The Origins Of Ruin
POWDERFINGER - Dream Days at the Hotel Existence
SAXON - Inner Sanctum
THE CULT - Born Into This
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Freplygif.net%2Fi%2F743.gif&hash=b6b522563e18171eca512decb820b4ef0e125288)
I really must proof check my posts 🤣
PAGAN'S MIND... I will fix it thanks for the pickup 😁
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2008
2008 I loved during 2008 and have continued to love more since 2008. If 2007 had the "Class of 2007," 2008 was the year of the surprise/out-of-nowhere band and album.
Apes & Androids' Blood Moon I literally just checked out randomly from a blog 1 day, and it became my 3rd favorite album of all-time. Ours, Bend Sinister, The Reign of Kindo, Burst, Foals, The Stiletto Formal and a good stack of fantastic EPs I own physical copies of and continue to be among if not my favorite records from those artists.
I would love to go back and take-in all the 2008 albums on my list again for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd time, which is why I sometimes consider 2008 my favorite year of music from the 2000's in some ways.
1. Apes and Androids - Blood Moon
2. Ours - Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy)
3. Bend Sinister - Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers
4. The Reign of Kindo - Rhythm, Chord & Melody
5. Burst - Lazarus Bird
6. Foals - Antidotes
7. The Stiletto Formal - ¡Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta!
8. 夢中夢 [Mutyumu] - イリヤ -Il y a-
9. Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
10. Kacica - Mosaic
11. Sculptured - Embodiment
12. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
13. Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer
14. Marillion - Happiness Is the Road
15. King's X - XV
16. Protest the Hero - Fortress
17. Anathallo - Canopy Glow
18. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - Animal!/Not Animal
19. Adebisi Shank - This Is the Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
20. Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
21. East of the Wall - Farmer's Almanac
22. The Chap - Mega Breakfast
23. Annuals - Such Fun
24. The Age of Rockets - Hannah
25. Woven - Designer Codes
26. God Is an Astronaut - God Is an Astronaut
27. Black Mountain - In the Future
28. Eroica - Hisen the Architect
29. Media Addicts - Elsewhere
30. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
31. Opeth - Watershed
32. Demians - Building an Empire
33. The Stills - Oceans Will Rise
34. Panic at the Disco - Pretty. Odd.
35. Presence of Soul - Blinds
36. Arsis - We Are the Nightmare
37. Skeletons - Money
38. Mason Proper - Olly Oxen Free
39. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie
40. Gojira - The Way of All Flesh
41. The Myriad - With Arrows, With Poise
42. Klimt 1918 - Just in Case We'll Never Meet Again
43. ¡Forward, Russia! - Life Processes
44. Steven Wilson - Insurgentes
45. Umbrella Tree - The Church & the Hospital
46. The Rockwells [USA] - Place & Time
47. Russian Circles - Station
48. The Faceless - Planetary Duality
49. Bloc Party - Intimacy
50. Cynic - Traced in Air
51. Lehto & Wright - Between the Jigs and the Reels
52. Timbre - Winter Comes to Wake You
53. Exotic Animal Petting Zoo - I Have Made My Bed in Darkness
54. Jeremy Messersmith - The Silver City
55. Big Fresh - Big Fresh Forever
56. Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
57. The Dresden Dolls - No, Virginia...
58. She Said Destroy - This City Speaks in Tongues
59. Metallica - Death Magnetic
60. A Silent Film - The City That Sleeps
61. Caroline Smith and The Good Night Sleeps - Backyard Tent Set
62. The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
63. Pat Metheny - Day Trip
EPs
1. Agalloch - The White [EP]
2. Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse [EP]
3. Distrails - Virginia Creeper [EP]
4. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving - Tiny Fragments [EP]
5. Opus Däi - Touch the Sun [EP]
6. Paper Route - Are We All Forgotten [EP]
7. Nomia - Nomia EP
8. 22 - ESP - Extended Sensory Play [EP]
9. The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra - Escapements [EP]
10. Other Lives - Other Lives [EP]
Concerts
2/8/08 Marilyn Manson/Ours - Myth Maplewood, MN
2/22/08 St.Vincent/Foreign Born - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
2/13/08 uneXpect/Visideon/Echoes of Eternity - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
2/25/08 Nicole Atkins and the Sea - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
3/1/08 Russian Circles/Dalek/Young Widow - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
3/24/08 Black Mountain/Nordic Nomadic/Birds of Avalon - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis,MN
4/7/08 Dimmu Borgir/Behemoth/Keeper of Kalessin - Myth Maplewood, MN
4/8/08 Baroness/Genghis Tron/ - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
4/8/08 Between Two Skies
4/11/08 Kansas - Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN
5/7/08 The Swell Season - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
5/12/08 Progressive Nation
Dream Theater/Opeth/Between the Buried and Me/3 Myth Maplewood, MN
5/12/08 Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
5/22/08 Rush - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
5/29/08 Kaddisfly/Between Two Skies - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
6/12/08 Ours/Plain Jane Automobile/God or Julie - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
6/13/08 Annuals - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
6/19/08 Return to Forever - The Orpheum Theate Minneapolis, MN
6/25/08 Liquid Tension Experiment - Park West Chicago, IL
6/28/08 Fair to Midland/Far From Falling - The Rock - Maplewood, MN
7/6/08 Umphrey's McGee - Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre Apple Valley, MN
7/22/08 The Apples in Stereo/Poison Control Center/Big Fresh - The Turf Club St.Paul,MN
9/6/08 Jenny Dalton/Murzik/Lamb Lays with Lion - The Ritz Theater Minneapolis,MN
9/7/08 Eight-Head - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
9/22/08 Cavil at Rest - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
9/26/08 Nordic Roots Festival
Vasen - The Cedar Cultural Center
9/28/08 Nordic Roots Festival
Hoven Droven/Hurdy Gurdy - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/02/08 Three/Tub Ring - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
10/10/08 Oceans - Ogara's Bar and Grill St.Paul, MN
10/15/08 Minus the Bear/Annuals - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/21/08 Ours - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/31/08 We Valedictorians - The Music Box Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10/31/08 Vulnerata - Big V's St.Paul, MN
11/17/08 dredg/Judgement Day - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
12/5/08 Amanda Palmer - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
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1. Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vols. III • IV - Air & Earth
2. Caravan Palace - Caravan Palace
3. The Reign of Kindo - Rhythm, Chord & Melody
4. The Butterfly Effect - Final Conversation of Kings
5. Frost* - Experiments in Mass Appeal
6. Sia - Some People Have Real Problems
7. Karmakanic - Who's the Boss in the Factory
8. Moon Safari - blomljud
9. God Is an Astronaut - God Is an Astronaut
10. Von Hertzen Brothers - Love Remains the Same
11. Loreena McKennitt - A Midwinter Night's Dream
12. Toehider - Toehider
13. Frank Turner - Love Ire & Song
14. The King Blues - Save the World - Get the Girl
15. Opeth - Watershed
16. Protest the Hero - Fortress
17. The King's Singers - Simple Gifts
18. Closure in Moscow - The Penance and the Patience
19. Ott - Skylon
20. Equilibrium - Sagas
Also great:
Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God
Ayreon - 01011001
Blue Sky Black Death - Late Night Cinema
Bodies of Water - A Certain Feeling
Bumblefoot - Abnormal
Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
Avishai Cohen Trio - Gently Disturbed
Communic - Payment of Existence
Copeland - You Are My Sunshine
The Dear Hunter - Random EP #2
The Fall of Troy - Phantom on the Horizon
Haken - Enter the 5th Dimension
Justice - Planisphère
Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Moonsorrow - Tulimyrsky EP
Muse - H.A.A.R.P.
Pendulum - In silico
Pyramaze - Immortal
Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe
Shinedown - The Sound of Madness
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man i keep forgetting about this thread
2006:
#1: The Mars Volta - Amputechture
#2: Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me
#3: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
#4: Protest the Hero - Kezia
#5: The Paper Chase - Now You Are One of Us
#6: Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway
2007:
#1: Oceansize - Frames
#2: The Dear Hunter - Act II
#3: Kaddisfly - Set Sail the Prairie
#4: The Receiving End of Sirens - The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi
#5: The Ocean - Precambrian
#6: Between the Buried and Me - Colors
#7: Coheed & Cambria - No World For Tomorrow
#8: Devin Townsend - Ziltoid the Omniscient
#9: Ulver - Shadows of the Sun
#10: Thrice - The Alchemy Index Vol. I & II
good year. also this was the year where i found out about dream theater existing which is neat
2008:
#1: Ayreon - 01011001
#2: Cynic - Traced in Air
#3: La Dispute - Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair
#4: Keep of Kalessin - Kolossus
#5: Senses Fail - Life Is Not a Waiting Room
#6: Bodies of Water - A Certain Feeling
#7: Thrice - The Alchemy Index Vol. III & IV
#8: Earth - The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull
2008 has a lot of "good but not great" albums for me, 01011001 would be like, #7 on both of the 2006 and 2006 lists lol. not a good year.
2009 on the other hand,
well, we'll get there. but uhh. quick skim, i have eight 9/10 or 10/10 albums across that year on RYM lmao
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Soundscape ... you've officially veered completely off course (as it relates to my tastes) this year. I own precisely zero of the albums you mention, and only Marillion and Metallica are bands that I own ANYTHING of from that list. Most, I'f never even heard of. To be fair, you could probably type pretty much the same about this list.
Not mentioned yet:
Avantasia - The Scarecrow
Avantasia - The Flying Opera: Around The World In Twenty Days [Live]
Axel Rudi Pell - Tales of the Crown
Bigelf - Cheat the Gallows
Bob Catley - Immortal
Borealis - World of Silence
Cloudscape - Global Drama
Delta - Black & Cold
Dream Theater - Chaos in Motion
Eclipse - Are You Ready to Rock
Eden's Curse - The Second Coming
Europe - Almost Unplugged
Evergrey - Torn
Firewind - The Premonition
House of Lords - Come To My Kingdom
It Bites - The Tall Ships
Jorn - Lonely Are The Brave
Journey - Revelation
Kamelot - Ghost Opera
Nocturnal Rites - The Sacred Talisman
Powerworld - s/t
Presto Ballet - The Lost Art Of Time Travel
Pyramid Theorem - Voyage to the Star
Revolution Renaissance - New Era
Royal Hunt - Collision Course:Paradox II
Rush - Snakes & Arrows Live
Sacrum - Cognition
Secret Sphere - Sweet Blood Theory
Serenity - Fallen Sanctuary
Seventh Wonder - Mercy Falls
Silent Call - Creations From A Chosen Path
Soul Secret - Flowing Portraits
Starbreaker - Love's Dying Wish
Theocracy - Mirror of Souls
Unitopia - The Garden
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2008:
01 Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
02 Opeth - Watershed
03 Steven Wilson - Insurgentes
04 Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
05 David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
06 Ayreon - 01011001
07 Neal Morse - Lifeline
08 Taylor Swift - Fearless
09 Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
10 Demians - Building an Empire
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2008
Busy, busy life that year, and real-time music discovery took a backseat, relatively speaking. I'm noting a lot of albums from that year that I got later on. A shorter list, regardless, and a pretty mixed bag of records in terms of genres when I look at it. LOVED the Ashes Divide album. Sure, Billy Howerdel's vocals can't touch Maynard's, but the songwriting here is excellent - a little catchier and at the same time a touch new wav-ier than A Perfect Circle (at least their albums to date at that point). Warrel Dane's solo album was maybe Nevermore-lite but, again, fantastic songs. Also really enjoyed Shinedown's Sound of Madness. Grand Magus hit the sweet spot between their doomier beginnings and the epic-metal side of their sound with Iron Will.
(*) for albums purchased later
Top 15:
Ashes Divide – Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright
Warrel Dane – Praise to the War Machine
Shinedown – The Sound of Madness
Grand Magus – Iron Will
Audrey Horne – Le Fol *
Slipknot – All Hope is Gone
Black Stone Cherry – Folklore and Superstition
Hinder – Take it to the Limit
Burst – Lazarus Bird
Coldplay – Viva la Vida
King’s X – XV
Ihsahn – angl *
Frost* - Experiments in Mass Appeal *
Metallica – Death Magnetic
Opeth – Watershed *
Edit: The Butterfly Effect - Final Conversation of Kings should be here too
The Honorable Mentions:
3 Doors Down – 3 Doors Down
Avantasia – The Scarecrow *
Beardfish – Sleeping in Traffic: Part 2 *
Big Linda – I Loved You
Disturbed – Indestructible
Draconian – Turning Seasons Within *
Enslaved – Vertebrae *
Extreme – Saudades de Rock *
Evergrey – Torn
The Faceless – Planetary Duality *
The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound *
Gojira – The Way of All Flesh *
Guns n’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
In Solitude – In Solitude *
Journey – Revelation
Judas Priest – Nostradamus
Klimt 1918 – Just in Case We’ll Never Meet Again
Meshuggah – ObZen
Moonspell – Night Eternal *
Omnium Gatherum – The Redshift *
Pharaoh – Be Gone *
Ra – Black Sun
Taylor Swift – Fearless *
Testament – Formation of Damnation
Theocracy – Mirror of Souls *
Trivium – Shogun *
Tyr – Land *
Steven Wilson – Insurgentes *
Kip Winger – From the Moon to the Sun *
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man i keep forgetting about this thread
At least you aren't nearly as far behind as I am. I still haven't posted my 2004-2007 lists... :corn
Of course I was on vacation for a week and a half so....
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4. The Butterfly Effect - Final Conversation of Kings
Ha! My version is 2009 (I guess it's the 2CD re-issue)...Love this album...Have to amend my list
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Soundscape ... you've officially veered completely off course (as it relates to my tastes) this year. I own precisely zero of the albums you mention, and only Marillion and Metallica are bands that I own ANYTHING of from that list. Most, I'f never even heard of. To be fair, you could probably type pretty much the same about this list.
:laugh:
my taste around this time became more about the "Indie" and less about the bands in the neoprog/prog-metal scene, so I wasn't listening to or enjoying the music from a lot of the stuff I was so into in the 90's and earlier part of the 2000's.
and you're right, your list has many bands I've never heard of, and some I own other records from, or heard of, but never got into.
Different tastes. I've often wondered why I enjoyed some music from certain eras, but then hear a similar style or the same band's album from years later and it doesn't work for me. Is it my taste changing or is the music/music-in-that-style just not as good? (i.e. Transatlantic after Bridge Across Forever?)..maybe it's a little of both? I dunno lol.
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Man so much music to discover from here! 2008 I was still in college and I was going through a phase similar to what Soundscape mentioned where I was getting into more indie and solo acoustic music. I think those college years is when I had a huge shift in tastes, for example I discovered my first world music album by the cellist Jami Sieber. Anyway, here is 08:
1. Kaki King - Dreaming Of Revenge - 5/5 - This is such a fantastic album. Her vocals can be a little off putting on the few songs she sings but otherwise this album is just great. To me this is Kaki King venturing out into the post-rock space and doing a kick ass job of it.
2. Peter Ciluzzi - Music Without Words - 5/5 - I opened my rym profile to see what I had for this year and no surprise my 2nd place album of the year is an acoustic instrumental album :lol
3. Opeth - Watershed - 4.5/5 - I didn't get into this album until way past 2008 but it's one of my favorites from this year
4. Braid Paisley - Play - 4/5
5. Erik Mongrain - Equilibrium - 3.5/5 - I remember counting down the days until this album's release. It wasn't as good as his debut but good nonetheless
6. Antoine Dufour - Existence - 3.5/5
7. Ben Kenney - Distance and Comfort - 3.5/5 - Great but slightly flawed album. Ben has some serious chops on this record
8. Jami Sieber - Unspoken: The Music Of Only Breath - 3.5/5
9. Balmorhea - Rivers Arms - 3/5 -
10. The Raconeturs - Consolers Of The Lonely - 3/5
11. Metallica - Death Magnetic - 3/5
12. Trifonic - Emergence - 2.5/5
13. Natasha Beddingfield - Pocketful Of Sunshine - 2.5/5
14. Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV - Air & Earth - 2.5/5
15. Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends 2.5/5
16. Candlebox - Into The Sun - 2.5/5 - Another album I really looked forward missed the mark a bit with me
17. Random Rab - aRose - 2/5
18. Marco Benevento - Invisible Baby - 2/5 - I heard the song "Bus Ride" from this album and had to know who or what band it was. After finally hearing the album I was let down.
19. God Is An Astronaut - God Is An Astronaut - 2/5
20. Protest The Hero - Fortress - 1.5/5 - I need to give this album another chance. I like some stuff but it never clicked for me. However I've had some songs come up randomly from this album and I enjoyed them more than I remember.
21. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes - 1.5/5
22. No-Man - Schoolyard Ghosts - 1/5 - No-Man no thank you
23. The Mountain Goats & Kaki King - Black Pear Tree - 1/5 - Awesome guitar playing, the rest of the album not so much
24. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular - 0.5/5 - I could not escape this album. My gf at the time had a sister who played the hell out of this album.
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2008 is a short list for me, but these are all pretty good:
1. Big Big Train - English Boy Wonders [re-recorded and re-issued]
2. Kip Winger - From the Moon to the Sun
3. Marillion - Happiness is the Road
4. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
5. Martin Orford - The Old Road
6. Caroline's Spine - Work it Out
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Had forgotten how big a year 2008 was until I went through the collection :metal
1. CIRCLE II CIRCLE Delusions Of Grandeur
2. EVERGREY Torn
3. GUNS N'ROSES Chinese Democracy
4. PYRAMAZE Immortal
5. CANDLEBOX Into The Sun
Then these and probably in the following order...
SEVENDUST Chapter VII
WARREL DANE Praises To The War Machine
SOULS OF WE Let The Truth Be Known
JORN Lonely Are The Brave
HOUSE OF LORDS Come To My Kingdom
ICED EARTH Crucible Of Man (Wicked II)
BLAZE BAYLEY The Man Who Would Not Die
MOONSPELL Night Eternal
GYPSY ROSE Another World
KINGS X XV
ACDC Black Ice
SAXON Into The Labyrinth
THE LIVING ENDWhite Noise
THE SCREAMING JETS Do Ya
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My 2008.
1. AVANTASIA - The Scarecrow (awesome album and the rebirth of Avantasia)
2 but almost 1.2 - ELVENKING - Two Tragedy Poets (...and a Caravan of Weird Figures) - This is a wonderful acoustic album that I dearly loved since day one, and is tied to awesome memories!
3. Rage - Carved in Stone (the titans of german heavy metal never let down)
And then...
4. Judas Priest – Nostradamus
5. Ayreon - 01011001
6. Royal Hunt - Collision Course:Paradox II
7. Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge
8. Edguy - Tinnitus Sanctus
9. Black Stone Cherry – Folklore and Superstition
10. Blaze Bayley - The Man Who Would Not Die
Worth mentioning:
Loreena McKennitt - A Midwinter Night's Dream
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Secret Sphere - Sweet Blood Theory
Circle II Circle - Delusions Of Grandeur
Iced Earth - Crucible Of Man (Something Wicked part II)
Eluveitie - Slania
Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning
Oh, and seeing mentioned Secret Sphere I totally forgot their awesome masterpiece A Time Never Come, check it out folks, one of the best italian power metal albums ever recorded! :metal
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Forgot Nostradamus, really liked that album!
Also think Alone is one of their finest songs :metal
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2009
2009 probably was the most extensive year for me, maybe ever, for bands I was into putting out a new album. And while that was great, as it turned out, ended up having a mix of albums I loved and really enjoyed, to albums that I really didn't get into.
The good ones were rather good, although it's funny how with some of them I don't necessarily go to them as much as some others in their catalogs. Others tho, I find are the best records they ever made (Long Distance Calling, Umphrey's McGee, Local Natives, The Antlers, Riverside, As Tall As Lions).
But like 2008, I found and have continued to find since 2008 a large collection (15+) of EPs since 2009. That Cale Parks EP I continue to listen to frequently after having heard it for the 1st time just a few years ago., It probably has a lot to do with the fact Brian Jacobs from Apes & Androids produced it and played on it.
The Soundscape album and Kevin Gilbert releases are archival, but given I waited many years to hear both, and listened to a ton back then, so much so, I still feel are my favorite 2 releases from 2009, even though the music was written and made well over a decade before coming out that year.
1. Kevin Gilbert - Nuts/Bolts
2. Soundscape - Grave New World
3. Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today I'm Sorry They Washed Away No More Stories the World is Grey I'm Tired Let's Wash Away
4. The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death
5. dredg - The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion
6. Pure Reason Revolution - Amor Vincit Omnia
7. Umphrey's McGee - Mantis
8. Long Distance Calling - Avoid the Light
9. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
10. note. - my city of ghosts, stars and hours
11. Kiss Kiss - The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left
12. The Antlers - Hospice
13. Archive - Controlling Crowds
14. Ramona Falls - Intuit
15. Mutemath - Armistice
16. Brooke Waggoner - Go Easy Little Doves
17. My Latest Novel - Death and Entrances
18. Falling Up - Fangs!
19. maudlin of the Well - Part the Second
20. Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is a Mouth
21. As Tall as Lions - You Can't Take It With You
22. Greg Herriges - Telluric Currents
23. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Sing-Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious
24. Vektor - Black Future
25. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
26. Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions
27. Karen O - Where the Wild Things Are
28. The Kris Norris Projekt - Icons of the Illogical
29. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
30. Sholi - Sholi
31. The House Harkonnen - Vol.6
32. Shelter Red - Strike a Mortal Terror
33. Malajube - Labyrinthes
34. Grammatics - Grammatics
35. Doves - Kingdom of Rust
36. Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
37. The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - Lookin' For a Little Strange
38. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
39. Grimus - Panikon
40. Mastodon - Crack the Skye
41. The Boy Will Drown - Fetish
42. Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement
43. Persefone - Shin-ken
44. Nosound - A Sense of Loss
45. Sólstafir - Köld
46. Toria - Toria
47. Scott Matthews - Elsewhere
48. The Minor Canon - Emptiness Is Form
49. Baliset - A Time for Rust
50. Modern Skirts - All of Us in Our Night
51. Operahouse - Escape From the Sun
52. The Mars Volta - Octahedron
53. Karnivool - Sound Awake
54. Imogen Heap - Ellipse
55. Andre Matos - Mentalize
56. Muse - The Resistance
57. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
58. Brain Freeze - Focus
59. The Swell Season - Strict Joy
60. Brute Heart - Brass Beads
AM - Future Sons & Daughters
Phideaux - Number Seven
Oceansize - Feed to Feed
John Frusciante - The Empyrean
3 - Revisions
Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts
Between the Buried and Me - The Grear Misdirect
Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
EPs
1. Cale Parks - To Swift Mars
2. Sound & Shape - The Love Electric
3. Painted in Exile - Revitalized
4. Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse
5. Distrails - Dry Flies
6. Murder by Death - Finch
7. 100Ft Snowman - Juggling Knives
8. Sigmund Droid - Maximum Grind
9. Emanuel and The Fear - Emanuel and the Fear
10. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Old Dominion
11. This City Sunrise - This City Sunrise Sings in Unison
12. Oceansize - Home and Minor
13. Water & Bodies - Water & Bodies
14. Other Lives - Other Lives
15. Graph - EP2
Concerts
1/12/09 Jeremy Messersmith/Best Friends Forever/Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
1/22/09 Greg Herriges - Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
2/01/09 Umphrey's McGee - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
2/13/09 Delta Spirit/Other Lives - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
3/1/09 Collective Unconscious performs The Beatles Abbey Road - St. Joan of Arch Church Minneapolis, MN
3/20/09 Collective Unconscious performs Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water - Little Falls High School Little Falls, MN
4/5/09 Fair to Midland/Far From Falling - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
4/9/09 Bloc Party - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
4/10/09 dredg/Torche/From Monuments to Masses - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/11/09 Paper Route/Brooke Waggoner - Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/19/09 Robyn Hitchcock/Adam Levy - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
5/2/09 Elvis Perkins/Other Lives/Dawes - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
5/9/09 Between Two Skies - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
5/15/09 Protest the Hero/Misery Signals/The Number Twelve Looks Like You/Fall From Grace - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
5/22/09 The Bewitched/Natalie Lovejoy - Bryant Lake Bowl Minneapolis, MN
5/28/09 Doves - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
6/04/09 St.Vincent - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/6/09 What's That? (Radiohead Tribute)/Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute) - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/10/09 Ozric Tentacles - The Loft at Barfly Minneapolis, MN
6/13/09 Within Reason/Janus/Pop Evil - The Rock Night Clun Maplewood, MN
6/17/09 Blind Pilot/Local Natives - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
6/20/09 Red Pens/Total Babe - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
6/21/09 Hiromi's Sonic Bloom - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
*6/23/09 King's X/B!Cold Colours - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
7/2/09 mewithoutYou/The Dear Hunter/Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
7/24/09 Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute) - The Lowry Theater St.Paul, MN
8/8/09 Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute)/Animus (Dream Theater tribute) - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
8/9/09 dredg/RX Bandits/As Tall as Lions - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
8/21/09 Progressive Nation
Dream Theater/Zappa Plays Zappa/BigElf/Scale the Summit - Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
8/30/09 Do the Dean
Boiled In Lead /Prudence Johnson and Dan Chouinard/Greg Herriges Trio/Diane Jarvi/ AntonCafé Accordion Orchestra/Marc Anderson, JT Bates and Jim Anton/Laura Mackenzie and Dáithí Sproule/Marcus Wise and Mike Salovich/Nirmala Rajesakar and Marcus Wise/Elgin Foster/Tim Sparks/The Petesons/Axis Mundi/Eric Hohn and Blair Krivanek/ Lehto and Wright/Eastside/Dakota Dave Hull - Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
9/9/09 Ramona Falls - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
9/11/09 Prog Power USA
Crimson Glory Tribute/Royal Hunt/Sabaton/Diablo Swing Orchestra/Mindflow/Cage - Center Stage Atlanta, GA
9/12/09 Prog Power USA
Fates Warning/Brainstorm/Pagan's Mind/Orphaned Land/Circus Maximus - Center Stage Atlanta, GA
9/30/09 The Dear Hunter/The Felix Culpa/Empires - The Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
10/12/09 Fair to Midland/The House Harkonnen/Far From Falling - The Rock Maplewood, MN
10/13/09 School of Seven Bells/Warpaint/The Depreciation Guild - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
10/17/09 Mutemath/As Tall as Lions - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/29/09 The Bewitched - The Bryant Lake Bowl Minneapolis, MN
11/8/09 Steely Dan - Northrop Auditorium Minneapolis, MN
11/24/09 Soap performs Pink Floyd's Animals - Downtime Bar and Grill Minneapolis, MN
11/29/09 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros/Fool's Gold/Local Natives - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
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Also album and tour list. I remember seeing dredg on tour and was introduced to From Monument To Masses, now one of my favorite post-rock bands.
2009:
1. From Monument To Masses - On Little Know Frequencies - 5/5
2. dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion - 5/5
3, Incubus - Monuments And Melodies - 5/5
4. Porcupine Tree - The Incident - 4.5/5
5. The Lonely Island - Incredibad - 4/5
6. H.U.V.A. Network - Ephemeris - 4/5
7. Dream Theater - Black Clouds And Silver Linings - 4/5
8. Tomas Dvorak - Machinarium - 4/5
9. OSI - Blood - 3.5/5
10. Creed - Full Circle - 3.5/5
11. Children Of Nova - The Complexity Of Light - 3.5/5
12. Carly Commando - One Take - 3/5
13. Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent - 3/5
14. Kaki King - Mexican Teenagers - 3/5
15. Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders - 3/5
16. Karnivool - Sound Awake - 3/5
17. Koan - When The Silence Is Speaking - 3/5
18. Katatonia - Night Is The New Day - 3/5
19. The Devin Townsend Project - Addicted - 3/5
20. Mark Knopfler - Get Lucky - 2.5/5
21. J. Tillman - Year In The Kingdom - 2/5
22. Do Make Say Think - Other Truths - 2/5
23. Between The Buried And Me - The Great Misdirect - 2/5
24. The Antlers - Hospice - 1.5/5
25. Maxence Cyrin - Novo Piano - 1/5
-
What an outrageously good year for music 2009 was! Some fantastic albums that don't make my top 20.
1. The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death
2. Thrice - Beggars
3. Bizali - Thanks Anna
4. Regina Spektor - Far
5. Closure in Moscow - First Temple
6. Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland
7. The Devin Townsend Project - Addicted
8. Insomnium - Across the Dark
9. dredg - The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion
10. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
11. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
12. The Antlers - Hospice
13. Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
14. Kauan - Aava tuulen maa
15. Jon Hopkins - Insides
16. Leprous - Tall Poppy Syndrome
17. Arkona - Goi, Rode, Goi!
18. Katatonia - Night Is the New Day
19. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
20. Frank Turner - Poetry of the Deed
Also great:
Alkinoos Ioannidis - Νεροποντή (Downpour)
Amorphis - Skyforger
Anneke van Giersbergen - Pure Air
As Tall as Lions - You Can't Take It With You
Baroness - Blue Record
Be'lakor - Stone's Reach
Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions
Big Big Train - The Underfall Yard
Bizali - Dance Yourself Alone
Blue October - Approaching Normal
Devin Townsend Project - Ki
Ed Harrison - Neotokyo
Ensiferum - From Afar
Fairyland - Score to a New Beginning
Florence + The Machine - Lungs
fun. - Aim and Ignite
Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs
Infected Mushroom - Legend of the Black Shawarma
Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
Lord - Set in Stone
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Muse - The Resistance
Nils Frahm - Wintermusik
OSI - Blood
Pain of Salvation - Linoleum EP
Pantheon I - Worlds I Create
Paramore - Brand New Eyes
Phideaux - Number Seven
Porcupine Tree - The Incident
The Protomen - Act II: The Father of Death
Pure Reason Revolution - Amor vincit omnia
Röyksopp - "Junior"
Thy Catafalque - Róka Hasa Rádió
Toehider - Not Much of a Man EP
Vektor - Black Future
While Heaven Wept - Vast Oceans Lachrymose
-
2009 is another quality over quantity year for me. One of my all time favorites leads off here.
1. Big Big Train - The Underfall Yard
2. Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Twice Born Men
3. Marillion - Less is More
4. Pearl Jam - Backspacer
5. The Wishing Tree - Ostara
6. Field Music - Tones of Town
7. The Clientele - Bonfires on the Heath
8. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
9. U2 - No Line on the Horizon
Major edit: I have Twice Born Men indexed on my computer as 2015, but the original release was 2009.
-
Seeing as how I'm here first (or not ... Ninja'd 3 times while typing this up!), I guess I get to fire off pretty much all my albums from 2009.
Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment (scoff if you will, he's a helluva singer and entertainer)
Animations - Reset Your Soul
Anubis - 230503
At Vance - Ride the Sky
Black Fate - Deliverance of Soul
Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
Darkology - Altered Reflections
Delain - April Rain
Delta - Crashbreaker
DGM - Frame
Empires of Eden - Songs of War and Vengeance
Europe - Last Look At Eden
Forgotten Suns - Inergy
Guilt Machine - On This Perfect Day
Hardline - Leaving The End Open
Heart of Cygnus - Over Mountain Under Hill
Hibria - The Skull Collectors
Holyhell - s/t
House of Lords - Cartesian Dreams
Illusion Suite - Final Hour
Infinity Overture - Kingdom Of Utopia
IQ - Frequency
Jorn - Spirit Black
Lord - Set in Stone - was not expecting Rich to mention this
Manimal - The Darkest Room
Mind Key - Pulse For A Graveheart
Mob Rules - Radical Peace
Mr. Big - Back to Budokan
Mystery - Destiny?
Pathosray - Sunless Skies
Place Vendфme - Streets Of Fire
Praying Mantis - Sanctuary
Primal Fear - 16.6 (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead)
Project Arcadia - From The Desert Of Desire
Prymary - The Enemy Inside
Red Circuit - Homeland
Redemption - Snowfall On Judgment Day
Revolution Renaissance - Age Of Aquarius
Roswell Six - Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon
Sacrum - Days Of Quarantine
Scale The Summit - Carving Desert Canyons
Shadow Circus - Whispers And Screams
Silent Memorial - Retrospective
Stream Of Passion - The Flame Within
Subsignal - Beautiful & Monstrous
Thunderstone - Dirt Metal
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Night Castle
W.A.S.P. - Babylon
Winger - Karma
Fuck I used to buy a lot of music! Damn the days where there was no Spotify - I'd likely not purchased at least 1/3rd of these if Spotify had been a thing.
-
The only year I can make a decently-sized list of albums for at this time. Once I get around to knowing a lot more albums, I'll probably come back to this thread to give my rankings for various other years. I love all these albums (well, I wouldn't say I love Crack the Skye, but I think it's still really good).
1. Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Original Song Collection
2. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
3. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
4. Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
5. Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
6. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
7. Mastodon - Crack the Skye
-
2009
Mastodon's Crack the Skye is the clear winner for me, but some good stuff overall...again, many albums that were purchased after the fact, market with (*)
Top 15
Mastodon – Crack the Skye
Paradise Lost – Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
Amorphis – Skyforger
Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings
dredg – The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion
Karnivool – Sound Awake
Katatonia – Night is the New Day
Leprous – Tall Poppy Syndrome *
Lamb of God – Wrath
Insomnium – Across the Dark *
Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey & the Groogrux King
Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue
Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
Brandi Carlile – Give Up the Ghost *
The Honorable Mentions:
30 Seconds to Mars – This Is War
The Answer – Everyday Demons
Baroness – Blue Record *
Beardfish – Destined Solitaire *
Between the Buried and Me – The Great Misdirect *
Big Big Train – The Underfall Yard *
Candlemass – Death Magic Doom *
Chickenfoot – Chickenfoot *
Closure in Moscow – First Temple *
Clutch – Strange Cousins from the West *
Collective Soul – Collective Soul
Daughtry – Leave This Town
The Dear Hunter – Act III: Life and Death *
Devin Townsend Project – Addicted *
Florence + the Machine – Lungs *
The Gathering – The West Pole
Halestorm – Halestorm *
Jolly - Forty Six Minutes Twelve Seconds of Music *
Long Distance Calling – Avoid the Light *
John Mayer – Battle Studies
Needtobreathe – The Outsiders *
Oceansize – Frames
OSI – Blood *
Paramore – Brand New Eyes
Placebo – Battle for the Sun
Porcupine Tree – The Incident
Powerwolf – Bible of the Beast *
Queensryche - American Soldier
Rammstein – Liesbe Ist Fur Alle Da
Slayer – World Painted Blood *
Subsignal – Beautiful & Monstrous *
Thrice – Beggars *
Vektor – Black Future *
Vertical Horizon – Burning the Days *
Winger – Karma *
-
2009:
01 Devin Townsend - Addicted
02 Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
03 dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
04 Porcupine Tree - The Incident
05 Devin Townsend - Ki
06 Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
07 Muse - The Resistance
08 Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
09 Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
10 The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
11 The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
12 Pet Shop Boys - Yes
13 Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
14 U2 - No Line on the Horizon
15 OSI - Blood
-
here's the big one
2009:
#1: The Antlers - Hospice
#2: Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
#3: Thrice - Beggars
#4: Hacride - Lazarus
#5: Guilt Machine - On This Perfect Day
#6: Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
#7: The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death
#8: fun. - Aim & Ignite
#9: The Paper Chase - Someday This Could All Be Yours, Vol. 1
#10: The Protomen - Act II: The Father of Death
#11: Leprous - Tall Poppy Syndrome
#12: Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind
all of like the top 9 would easily make a top 100, maybe even top 50 albums of all time for me and the top 3 are basically a three-way tie for all intents and purposes, what a good year
-
Quite a big year for releases I continue to return to \m/
1. AMORPHIS Skyforger
2. REDEMPTION Snowfall On Redemption Day
3. ALICE IN CHAINS Black Gives Way To Blue
4. LILLIAN AXE Say Day On Planet Earth
5. QUEENSRYCHE American Soldier
Seems as the years progress it gets harder to separate the also-rans no doubt due to one of the few benefits of the interent in discovering so much new music :D
HEAVEN AND HELL Better The Devil...
DREAM THEATER Black Clouds...
EUROPE Last Look At Eden
JORN Spirit Black
LYNCH MOB Smoke & Mirrors
RAY WEST All Pointz West
MEGADETH Endgame
WASP Babylon
SAXON Into The Labyrinth
REECE Universal Language
HOUSE OF LORDS Cartesian Dreams
PARADISE LOST Faith Divides Death Unites
CHICKENFOOT Chickenfoot
WINGER Karma
CREED Full Circle
-
My 2009:
1. Eluveitie - Evocation I - The Arcane Dominion
(One of the best folk metal albums ever)
2. Heaven and Hell - The Devil You Know
(RIP Ronnie)
3. Powerwolf – Bible of the Beast
(Badass album)
And then...
4. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
5. Sonata Arctica - The Days of Grays
6. Halestorm – Halestorm
7. Ensiferum - From Afar
8. Grave Digger Ballads of a Hangman
9. Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
10. Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts
-
We are still on 2004 right? :biggrin:
Anyone, I'm way behind, but here's my 2004 list (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/2004-album-rankings/). Interesting to note, everything in the top 50 except the last 4 albums are all at least a 4/5. Amazing year of music.
Top 50
1. Marillion - Marbles (the 2cd edition, the other one might as well not exist)
2. Enslaved - Isa
3. Angra - Temple of Shadows
4. Ayreon - The Human Equation
5. Threshold - Subsurface
6. Pain of Salvation - BE
7. Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
8. Drudkh - Autumn Aurora
9. Chevelle - This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In)
10. Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor
11. Wintersun - Wintersun
12. Secret Chiefs 3 - Book of Horizons
13. Empty Tremor - The Alien Inside
14. Bark Psychosis - ///Codename: Dustsucker
15. IQ - Dark Matter
16. Augury - Concealed
17. Quo Vadis - Defiant Imagination
18. Asunder - A Clarion Call
19. Porcupine Tree - Warszawa
20. Incubus - A Crow Left of the Murder...
21. Mastodon - Leviathan
22. Sear Bliss - Glory and Perdition
23. Therion - Lemuria
24. Therion - Sirius B
25. Esoteric - Subconscious Dissolution Into the Continuum
26. Fates Warning - FWX
27. Blackfield - Blackfield
28. Paatos - Kallocain
29. Heavenly - Dust to Dust
30. Mindflow - Just the Two of Us...Me and Them
31. Deathspell Omega - Si monvmentvm reqvires, circvmspice
32. The Chasm - The Spell of Retribution
33. Cult of Luna - Salvation
34. Amplifier - Amplifier
35. Insomnium - Since the Day It All Came Down
36. Into Eternity - Buried in Oblivion
37. Burning Brides - Leave No Ashes
38. Lunar Aurora - Elixir of Sorrow
39. Lunar Aurora - Zyklus
40. Thy Catafalque - Tűnő idő tárlat
41. The Paper Chase - God Bless Your Black Heart
42. Nocte Obducta - Nektar - Teil I: Zwölf Monde, eine Hand voll Träume
43. Isis - Panopticon
44. The Jelly Jam - 2
45. Dream Theater - Live at Budokan
46. Converge - You Fail Me
47. Sum 41 - Chuck
48. YOB - The Illusion of Motion
49. Hibria - Defying the Rules
50. Hourglass - Subconscious
-
Slowly catching up....
Here's my 2005 list (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/2005-album-rankings/). 2005 was even more amazing than 2004! :hefdaddy
Top 50
1. Moonsorrow - Verisäkeet
2. Sieges Even - The Art of Navigating by the Stars
3. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
4. The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
5. Shadow Gallery - Room V
6. Dark Suns - Existence
7. Deathspell Omega - Kénôse
8. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
9. Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
10. Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites
11. Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked
12. Dream Theater - Octavarium
13. Between the Buried and Me - Alaska
14. Evoken - Antithesis of Light
15. Redemption - The Fullness of Time
16. With Passion - In the Midst of Bloodied Soil
17. Darkest Hour - Undoing Ruin
18. Dark Tranquillity - Character
19. The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell... And Back
20. Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase
21. Riverside - Second Life Syndrome
22. Buried Inside - Chronoclast
23. Oceansize - Everyone Into Position
24. Gojira - From Mars to Sirius
25. Kate Bush - Aerial
26. Rush - R30
27. Circus Maximus - The 1st Chapter
28. Arena - Pepper's Ghost
29. Primordial - The Gathering Wilderness
30. Strapping Young Lad - Alien
31. System of a Down - Mezmerize
32. Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil
33. Falkenbach - Heralding: The Fireblade
34. The Firstborn - The Unclenching of Fists
35. Antestor - The Forsaken
36. God Is an Astronaut - All Is Violent, All Is Bright
37. Rudra - Brahmavidya : Primordial I
38. Mudvayne - Lost and Found
39. Klimt 1918 - Dopoguerra
40. Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel
41. Spock's Beard - Octane
42. In-Quest - The Comatose Quandaries
43. Mostly Autumn - Storms Over Still Water
44. Pendragon - Believe
45. Lunar Aurora - Mond
46. Rammstein - Rosenrot
47. Darkspace - Dark Space II
48. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band - Horses in the Sky
49. Extol - The Blueprint Dives
50. Draconian - Arcane Rain Fell
-
2010
2010 I look back on now and even though it was the 1st year of the 2010's, maybe the best year of the 2010's for new albums. I say that per the Top 10-15 albums i find are very strong and I struggle to rank in order.
2010 though was the year of The River Empires for me, the long awaited debut (only album at this point) from Jessy Ribordy and co.'s Progressive Chamber, Bluegrass project that includes Casey Crescenzo of The Dear Hunter. It's an 88 minute opus of cinematic proportions at times, and while 88 minutes always sounded incredibly long, it never felt too long at all.
Foals, Anathema, Janelle Monae, 22, Cloud Cult, Lehto & Wright, Sufjan Stevens, Timmy Sean, Warpaint, Timbre, Dirt Poor Robins...this year is filled with records I still frequently listen to and in some cases, clearly my favorite of their catalog.
1. The River Empires - The River Empires (Epilogue)
2. Cloud Cult - Light Chasers
3. Foals - Total Life Forever
4. Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
5. Lehto & Wright- Children's Songss
6. Janell Monáe - The Archandroid
7. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
8. Jazzkamikaze - Supersonic Revolutions
9. 22 - Flux
10. Warpaint - The Fool
11. The Reign of Kindo - This Is What Happens
12. Timmy Sean - Songs From & Inspired By Noisewater
13. Menomena - Mines
14. Everything Everything - Man Alive
15. Pure Reason Revolution - Hammer and Anvil
16. Oceansize - Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up
17. Timbre - Little Flowers
18. Dirt Poor Robins - The Last Days of Leviathan
19. Crippled Black Phoenix - I, Vigilante
20. Negroni's Trio - Just Three
21. Orphaned Land - The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR
22. Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit
23. Emanuel and the Fear - Listen
24. Revere - Hey! Selim
25. Judgement Day - Peacocks / Pink Monsters
26. Journal - Unlorja
27. The Apples in Stereo - Travellers in Space and Time
28. Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic
29. The Gloomcatcher - Slow Chorale
30. The Book of Right On - All These Songs About Music
31. Typhoon - Hunger and Thirst
32. The River Empires - Demos/Unfinished/B-Sides
33. Ihsahn - After
34. Jimmy Gnecco - The Heart
35. Dead Letter Circus - This Is the Warning
36. 東京事変 [Tokyo Jihen] - スポーツ (Sports)
37. Skeleton Staff - Solipsism
38. Major Parkinson - Songs from a Solitary Home
39. Chromeo - Business Casual
40. Pain of Salvation - Road Salt One
41. Adebisi Shank - This Is the Second Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
42. In Vain - Mantra
43. Laura Veirs - July Flame
44. Walking Sleep - Measures
45. Field Music - Field Music (Measure)
46. Apparatjik - We Are Here
47. Pat Metheny - Orchestrion
48. Cyclamen - Senjyu
49. Averse - The Endesque Chants
50. The Chap - Well Done Europe
51. Henry and the Nightcrawlers - 100 Blows
52. Enditol - Enditol
53. Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
54. Jeremy Messersmith - The Reluctant Graveyard
55. Dean Magraw & Marcus Wise - How the Light Gets In
56. Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare
57. Black Milk - Album of the Year
Esperanza Spalding - Chamber Music Society
Alcest - Écailles de lune
Kaki King - Junior
Buke and Gass - Riposte
Gloria Morti - Anthems of Annihilation
EPs
1, Bend Sinister - Spring Romance
2. Distrails - Dry Flies
3. The Dear Hunter - The Branches
4. Renaissance - The Mystic And The Muse
5. Grammatics - Krupt
6. Annuals - Sweet Sister
7. Water & Bodies - The Rain City Sessions Part 2
8. Early Ghost - We Crossed the Waves
Concerts
1/9/10 Lehto and Wright - Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
3/2/10 Laura Veirs/The Old Believers/Cataldo - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/15/10 The Clientele/Field Music - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/17/10 Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute)
3/25/10 Afton Showcase (We Valedictorians/Total Babe/Howler) - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/7/10 As Tall As Lions/Bad Veins - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/7/10 Judgement Day - The 400 Bar - Minneapolis, MN
4/10/10 Rocky Votolato/Brooke Waggoner - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
4/12/10 Fair to Midland/Karnivool/Something to Burn - The Rock Nightclub Maplewood, MN
4/20/10 The Antlers - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
5/1/10 The Apples in Stereo/Generationals/Laminated Cat - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
5/8/10 The Most Serene Republic/Annuals - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
5/14/10 Howler - The Beat Coffee House Minneapolis, MN
5/14/10 Greg Laswell/Jimmy Gnecco/Brian Wright - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
5/17/10 Local Natives - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
6/11/10 The New Pornographers/My Gold Mask - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/12/10 Exit Stage Right (Rush Tribute) - Tuttle's Hopkins, MN
6/29/10 Renaissance/Steve Hackett - Park West Chicago, IL
7/1/10 Styx/Kansas - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
7/18/10 Wolf Parade/The Mools - First Avenue Minneapolis,MN
7/30/10 Cynic/Intronaut/Dysrhythmia - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
8/16/10 Jon Anderson - The Guthrie Theater Minneapolis, MN
8/22/10 Do the Dean
Boiled in Lead/Kari Tauring with Drew Miller/Frank Boyle and His Eminent Acoustic Entourage/Dakota Dave Hull/Prudence Johnson/Anthony Cox/Hart Lieberman and Smith/Marcus Wise/Laura Mackenzie/Marc Anderson/Eric Hohn/Elgin Foster/Greg Herriges/Cory Wong/
Lehto and Wright - Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
8/24/10 East of the Wall/Iron Thrones/name - Tarnish and Gold Minneapolis, MN
8/27/10 Rush - Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Falcon Heights, MN
9/3/10 Karnivool - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
9/19/10 School of Seven Bells/Active Child - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
9/18/10 Katatonia/Orphaned Land - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
9/23/10 Menomena/Tu Fawning The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/1/10 Local Natives - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/9/10 Dean Magraw and Marcus Wise - The Artists' Quarter St.Paul, MN
11/17/10 Circa Survive/dredg/Codeseven/Animals as Leaders - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
11/18/10 Cloud Cult - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
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2010
Working abroad at the time...pretty thin year in terms of buying music in real time. Lots of (*) for albums that were purchased later on. Some good stuff, though. Random thoughts: Accept's Blood of the Nations was an amazing comeback - as far as I'm concerned, not much behind their classics. Slash's self-titled is a lot of fun. Yes, it's the type of album where the songs are written with the different singers' styles in mind, but Slash sort of pulls it all together nicely. Might well be my favorite of his solo albums. I didn't think much of Final Frontier at first, but that's arguably the reunion album that grew on me the most.
Top 15 (somewhat fluid ranking):
Accept – Blood of the Nations
Slash – Slash
Enslaved – Axioma Ethica Odini *
Ghost – Opus Eponymous *
Ihsahn – After *
Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier *
Alter Bridge – III
Haken – Aquarius *
Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare *
Killing Joke – Absolute Dissent *
Ludicra – Tenant *
Volbeat – Beyond Hell/Above Heaven *
Stone Sour – Audio Secrecy
Alpha Rev – New Morning *
Blind Guardian – At the Edge of Time
The Honorable Mentions:
Alcest – Ecailles de Lune *
Armored Saint – La Raza *
Sara Bareilles – Kaleidoscope Heart *
Barren Earth – Curse of the Red River *
Dark Tranquillity – We Are the Void *
Dawnbringer – Nucleus *
Deftones – Diamond Eyes
Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis *
Sully Erna – Avalon *
Heart – Red Velvet Car *
Heathen – Evolution of Chaos *
Helloween – 7 Sinners *
High on Fire – Snakes for the Divine
Jimmy Eat World – Invented
KT Tunstall – Tiger Suit
Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy *
Oceansize – Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up *
Orianthi – Believe *
Orphaned Land – The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR *
Ratt – Infestation *
Joe Satriani – Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards *
Seventh Wonder – The Great Escape *
Soilwork – The Panic Broadcast *
Spock’s Beard – X *
Taylor Swift – Speak Now *
The Sword – Warp Riders *
Train – Save Me, San Francisco *
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Blood Of The Nations is fantastic.
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Blood Of The Nations is fantastic.
Indeed. It was on constant rotation that year.
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Blood Of The Nations is fantastic.
Indeed. It was on constant rotation that year.
The Tornillo albums have been great. Too Mean To Die is a Top 10 this year!
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2010:
01 Haken - Aquarius
02 Spock's Beard - X
03 Taylor Swift - Speak Now
04 Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
05 Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier
Not a very strong year, IMO, and two of my five albums above I didn't get into until this year.
I will give a shout-out as well to The Pineapple Thief. Something Here Is Missing is way more miss than hit, but it does have 3000 Days, which is a great song and their best, if you ask me.
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1. SEVENDUST - Cold Day Memory
2. MR BIG - What If
3. ARMOURED SAINT - Za Raza
4. HALFORD - Made Of Metal
5. IRON MAIDEN - Final Frontier
TRIOSPHERE - The Road Less Traveled
CIRCLE II CIRCLE - Consequence Of Power
BLAZE BAYLEY - Promise And Terror
NEVERMORE - Obsidian Conspiracy
MASTERPLAN - Time To Be King
ALLEN LANDE - The Showdown
SLASH - Slash
ETA TRIOSPHERE good call jingle.boy...
Had forgotten about that one but yes what a cool album/band but we only got that one more album right? Shame thought they were destined for bigger things she (Ida) had some exceptional vocal :metal
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2010:
1. Big Big Train - Far Skies Deep Time
2. Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back
3. Kip Winger - Ghosts
4. Spock’s Beard - X
5. The Clientele - Minotaur
6. Crowded House - Intriguer
7. Timmy Sean - Songs From & Inspired By Noisewater
8. Lo-Fi Resistance - A Deep Breath
9. Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic
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2010 though was the year of The River Empires for me, the long awaited debut (only album at this point) from Jessy Ribordy and co.'s Progressive Chamber, Bluegrass project that includes Casey Crescenzo of The Dear Hunter. It's an 88 minute opus of cinematic proportions at times, and while 88 minutes always sounded incredibly long, it never felt too long at all.
1. The River Empires - The River Empires (Epilogue)
Yay!
1. The River Empires - The River Empires (Epilogue)
2. Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
3. Pain of Salvation - Road Salt One
4. Moon Safari - Lover's End
5. Tony Sly - 12 Song Program
6. Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns
7. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
8. Alcest - Écailles de lune
9. Haken - Aquarius
10. Frost* - The Philadelphia Experiment
11. Kaipa - In the Wake of Evolution
12. Solefald - Norrøn livskunst
13. Soilwork - The Panic Broadcast
14. BT - These Hopeful Machines
15. The Cat Empire - Cinema
16. Ihsahn - After
17. James LaBrie - Static Impulse
18. Tides of Man - Dreamhouse
19. Pendulum - Immersion
20. Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Also great:
Anthriel - The Pathway
Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare
Barren Earth - Curse of the Red River
Blind Guardian - At the Edge of Time
Bonobo - Black Sands
Brad Mehldau - Highway Rider
Bring Me the Horizon - There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven, Let's Keep It a Secret
Burden of Life - In the Wake of My Demise
Cloud Cult - Light Chasers
Crippled Black Phoenix - I, Vigilante
Destrage - The King Is Fat 'n' Old
Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini
Equilibrium - Rekreatur
Everything Everything - Man Alive
Feed Me - Feed Me's Big Adventure
Foxy Shazam - Foxy Shazam
Gallowbraid - Ashen Eidolon
Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me
Kyte - Dead Waves
Loreena McKennitt - The Wind That Shakes the Barley
My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
Nellie McKay - Home Sweet Mobile Home
The Ocean - Heliocentric
The Ocean - Anthropocentric
Periphery - Periphery
The Reign of Kindo - This Is What Happens
Sarah McLachlan - Laws of Illusion
Sia - We Are Born
Solution .45 - For Aeons Past
A Swarm of the Sun - Zenith
Toehider - Done and Dusted EP
Underøath - Ø (Disambiguation)
Whispered - Thousand Swords
Wretched - Beyond the Gate
Wuthering Heights - Salt
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Was Lover’s End in 2010? Didn’t have it listed there in my library. That would be way up there for 2010 for me.
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Was Lover’s End in 2010? Didn’t have it listed there in my library. That would be way up there for 2010 for me.
Yep, November 2010. Lovely album!
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Was Lover’s End in 2010? Didn’t have it listed there in my library. That would be way up there for 2010 for me.
Yep, November 2010. Lovely album!
I think I missed Blomljud too. Gonna have to make some corrections.
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Great list by everyone. I can't believe it's been almost ten years since that River Empires release...
2010:
1. Espen Eriksen Trio - You Had Me At Goodbye - 5/5
2. Deftones - Diamond Eyes - 4.5/5
3. The River Empires - The River Empires (Epilogue) - 4/5
4. Ulrich Schnauss & Jonas Munk - Epic - 4/5
5. Ben Kenney - Burn The Tapes - 3.5/5
6. 65daysofstatic - We Were Exploding Anyway - 3.5/5
7. Emancipator - Safe In the Steep Cliffs - 3/5
8. Kaki King - Junior - 3/5
9. God Is An Astronaut - Age Of The Fifth Sun - 3/5
10. The Gracious Few - The Gracious Few - 3/5
11. James LaBrie - Static Impulse - 3/5
12. Tipper - Broken Soul Jamboree - 3/5
13. Across The Delta - Passports & Souvenirs - 2.5/5
14. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream - 2.5/5
15. Alter Bridge - AB III - 2.5/5
16. CeeLo Green - The Lady Killer - 2.5/5
17. Bonobo - Black Sands - 2/5
18. Daikaiju - Phase 2 - 2/5
19. Jack Wall - Mass Effect 2 - 1.5/5
20. Enrique Iglesias - Euphoria - 1.5/5
21. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening - 1/5
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35. Dead Letter Circus - This Is the Warning
I LOVE this album - I didn't include in my 2010 list because I have the 2011 NA release with bonus CD...
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2008 amended:
1. Big Big Train - English Boy Wonders [re-recorded and re-issued]
2. Moon Safari - Blomljud
3. Kip Winger - From the Moon to the Sun
4. Marillion - Happiness is the Road
5. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
6. Martin Orford - The Old Road
7. Caroline's Spine - Work it Out
2010 amended:
1. Big Big Train - Far Skies Deep Time
2. Moon Safari - Lover's End
3. Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back
4. Kip Winger - Ghosts
5. Spock’s Beard - X
6. The Clientele - Minotaur
7. Crowded House - Intriguer
8. Timmy Sean - Songs From & Inspired By Noisewater
9. Lo-Fi Resistance - A Deep Breath
10. Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic
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Lover's End is indeed magical. Particularly Part 3.
Anthriel/The Pathway is one of my Top 5 all-time DTF recommendations (thanks Zook!)
Not mentioned yet:
Abydos - The Little Boy's Heavy Mental Shadow Opera About the Inhabitants of His Diary (had to include this just for the title!)
Angra - Aqua
Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony; Angel of Babylon
Axel Rudi Pell - The Crest
Blind Guardian - At The Edge Of Time
Creation's End - A New Beginning
Darkwater - Where Stories End
Darwin's Radio - Template for a Generation
Dec Burke - Destroy All Monsters
Dreylands - Rooms of Revelation
Empires of Eden - Reborn in Fire
Erik Norlander - The Galactic Collective
First Signal - s/t
Forgotten Suns - Revelations
InnerWish - No Turning Back
Jorn - Dio
Kamelot - Poetry for the Poisoned
Kingcrow - Phlegethon
Myrath - Desert Call
Mystery - One Among the Living
Orden Ogan - Vale
Powerworld - Human Parasite
Pretty Maids - Pandemonium
ReVamp - s/t
Revolution Renaissance - Trinity
Robert Plant - Band of Joy
Roswell Six - Terra Incognita: A Line In The Sand
Royal Hunt - X
Sebastien - Tears of White Roses
Section A - Sacrifice
Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape
Silent Call - Greed
Star One - Victims of the Modern Age
Tellus Requiem - s/t
Triosphere - The Road Less Travelled
Vanden Plas - The Seraphic Clockwork
Wicked Sensation - Crystallized
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Not mentioned yet:
Angra - Aqua
There's a reason for that. ;)
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Not mentioned yet:
Angra - Aqua
There's a reason for that. ;)
Yeah, I kinda was thinking that as I typed it. :lol
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Not mentioned yet:
Abydos - The Little Boy's Heavy Mental Shadow Opera About the Inhabitants of His Diary (had to include this just for the title!)
This is a good one...but didn't it come out in 2004? That's the list I had it in ;)
Blind Guardian - At The Edge Of Time
I mentioned this one! :) Not among my favorites BG albums, but some good stuff in it...
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Right you are! I must’ve bought a reissue or something. Time to update my tags! And I missed the BG mention :blush
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My 2010:
1. Blind Guardian – At the Edge of Time
2. Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony
3. Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier
4. Elvenking - Red Silent Tides
5. Therion - Sitra Ahra
6. Helloween – 7 Sinners
7. Avantasia - Angel of Babylon
8. James LaBrie - Static Impulse
9. Eluveitie - Everything Remains (As It Never Was)
10. Grave Digger - The Clans Will Rise Again
(Ok the list from 4 to 10 is difficult to properly order)
Honorable mentions:
Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare
Ghost – Opus Eponymous
Halford - Made Of Metal
Loreena McKennitt - The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Kamelot - Poetry for the Poisoned
Gamma Ray - To the Metal!
Jon Oliva's Pain - Festival
Virgin Steele - The Black Light Bacchanalia
And for 2009 I forgot Meat Loaf's magnificent Hang Cool Teddy Bear.
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2010:
Tier 1:
All Ends - A Road To Depression
The Birthday Massacre - Pins and Needles
Demiurg - Slakthus Gamleby
Engel - Threnody
Eventide - The Beast and the Machine
Iris - Blacklight
Kingfisher Sky - Skin of the Earth
mind.in.a.box - R.E.T.R.O.
Ruth Moody - The Garden
Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy
Solution .45 - For Aeons Past
Star One - Victims of the Modern Age
Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
Universum - Mortuus machina
UnSun - Clinic For Dolls
Tier 2:
Aeternam - Disciples of the Unseen
Alter Bridge - AB III
Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
Sara Bareilles - Kaleidoscope Heart
Edge of Dawn - Anything That Gets You Through the Night
Entrails - Tales From the Morgue
Fitz and the Tantrums - Pickin' Up the Pieces
Brooke Fraser - Flags
Goldfrapp - Head First
Lazerhawk - Redline
Nox Aurea - Ascending In Triumph
Odyssey - Reinventing the Past
Sevendust - Cold Day Memory
System Divide - The Conscious Sedation
Tier 3:
The Absence - Enemy Unbound
Aeon - Path of Fire
Alcest - Ecailles de lune
Barren Earth - Curse of the Red River
Black Country Communion - s/t
Black Sun Empire - Lights and Wires
Natasha Borzilova - Balancing Act
Nili Brosh - Through the Looking Glass
Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy
De/Vision - Popgefahr
Deathspell Omega - Paracletus
Fear Factory - Mechanize
Forbidden - Omega Wave
Front Line Assembly - Improvised Electronic Device
Renaud Garcia-Fons - Mediterranees
Grammatrain - Imperium
Hail of Bullets - On Divine Winds
Haken - Aquarius
Hour of Penance - Paradogma
Ihsahn - After
Samantha James - Subconscious
Kaipa - In the Wake of Evolution
Phil Keaggy - Welcome Inn
James LaBrie - Static Impulse
Sarah McLachlan - Laws of Illusion
Jane Monheit - Home
Moon Safari - Lover's End
Nitzer Ebb - Industrial Complex
Noisia - Split the Atom
October Tide - A Thin Shell
Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic
Shadowgarden - Ashen
Steve Roach - Sigh of Ages
Snarky Puppy - Tell Your Friends
Soilwork - The Panic Broadcast
Triosphere - The Road Less Traveled
Derek Trucks Band - Roadsongs
Dhafer Youssef - Abu Nawas Rhapsody
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Fitz and the Tantrums - Pickin' Up the Pieces
ah, good call! I never wishlisted this one on rym, but have heard many tunes from it per my wife is (actually WAS) a big fan around this time and the follow-up, "More Than Just a Dream."
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More Than a Dream still had a couple decent tunes, but the next two albums might be the worst case of a band falling off a cliff that I've ever heard. Still, that debut is one of the more interesting things I've come across in awhile, with the modern Motown sound, and managing to have such an energetic and full sound without guitar.
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More Than a Dream still had a couple decent tunes, but the next two albums might be the worst case of a band falling off a cliff that I've ever heard. Still, that debut is one of the more interesting things I've come across in awhile, with the modern Motown sound, and managing to have such an energetic and full sound without guitar.
yeah, kind of echoes my wife's feeling and I agree with her for the most part. Fitz unfortunately sold out and in-effect jumped the shark.
But those earlier records are quite good.
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2011
2011, I don't find quite as good as 2010, but it still had a lof of favorites that I listen to semi-regularly.
Kimbra, Mutemath, The Dear Hunter, Team Me, Three, Battle Circus and East of the Wall released albums that are some of it not the best of their careers.
1. The Dear Hunter - The Color Spectrum
2. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Terror and Everything After
3. Kimbra - Vows
4. Mutemath - Odd Soul
5. The Beach Boys - The Smile Sessions
6. Three - The Ghost You Gave to Me
7. Team Me - To the Treetops
8. East of the Wall - The Apologist
9. Battle Circus - Battle Circus
10. Arch/Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance
11. Arafel - For Battles Once Fought
12. Mercies - Three Thousand Days
13. Vektor - Outer Isolation
14. Jimmy Gnecco - The Heart: X Edition
15. Miracles of Modern Science - Dog Year
16. Bruce Peninsula - Open Flames
17. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving - Deaden the Fields
18. *Shels - Plains of the Purple Buffalo
19. For the Imperium - For the Imperium
20. The Baltic Sea - Period Piece
21. O'Brother - Garden Window
22. Brice Plays Drums - I Laugh at Your Greener Pastures
23. dredg - Chuckles & Mr. Squeezy
24. Radical Face - The Family Tree: The Roots
25. Water & Bodies - Light Year
26. Pain of Salvation - Road Salt Two
27. Neverending White Lights - Act III: Love Will Ruin (Part One)
28. Erick Serna and the Killing Floor - The Grip
29. Anathema - Falling Deeper
30. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
31. UneXpect - Fables of the Sleepless Empire
32. Meniscus - War of Currents
33. NewVillager - NewVillager
34. White Denim - D
35. Nicole Atkins - Mondo Amore
36. Hands of Despair - Hereafter
37. Tokyo Jihen - Daihakken
38. Kaddisfly - Demos & Rarities [Compilation]
39. Mother Falcon - Alhambra
40. Al Di Meola - Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody
41. Gotye - Making Mirrors
42. Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do
43. Marketa Irglova - Anar
44. Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
45. Jolly - The Audio Guide to Happiness (Part 1)
46. The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - All Out of Peaches
47. Protest the Hero - Scurrilous
48. Malajube - La caverne
49. What's Left of Her - Perceptions
50. Falling Up - Your Sparkling Death Cometh
51. Trent Romens - Aware
52. Canon Blue - Rumspringa
53. Metronomy - The English Riviera
54. Stateless - Matilda
55. Skeleton Staff - Psychomorphism
56. Thurisaz - The Cimmerian Years
57. Fair to Midland - Arrows & Anchors
58. Long Distance Calling - Long Distance Calling
59. Younger Brother - Vaccine
60. Glen Campbell - Ghost on the Canvas
61. Jonas Bjerre - Songs and Music from the Movie Skyscraper
62. Other Lives - Tamer Animals
63. Opeth - Heritage
64. Yes - Fly From Here
65. Born of Osiris - The Discovery
66. Cynthesis - DeEvolution
Concerts
1/24/11 School of Seven Bells/Mystery Palace - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
2/17/11 Deerhoof/Ben Butler and Mouse Pad/Heatdeath - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
3/1/11 Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea/Buffalo Moon/Cotton Jones - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
3/4/11 Menomena/Cloak Ox - The Whole Music Club Minneapolis, MN
3/19/11 The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
3/19/11 Brute Heart/The Great Confinement/The Funeral and the Twilight - The Kitty Cat Klub Minneapolis,MN
3/24/11 Fair to Midland/Periphery/Scale the Summit - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
3/26/11 Judgement Day/Metropolis/Ruth and Rosie/The Gatino Quartet - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
5/13/11 Dean Magraw's Red Planet - The Artists' Quarter St.Paul, MN
5/14/11 Brute Heart/Tender Meat/Lighted/Patches/Jerusalem and the Starbaskets - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
5/19/11 Progasm
Orphan Bloom/Watercolors/The Royal Veil/Brice Plays Drums - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
6/4/11 Raphael Saadiq - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
6/25/11 Zebulon Pike/The Book of Right On/Battlefields - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
6/29/11 Elvis Costello and the Imposters - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
7/16/11 Fair to Midland/10 Years/Kyng - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
7/2/11 The Monkees - The Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater Apple Valley, MN
7/22/11 The Dear Hunter - The Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
7/29/11 Cloud Cult/Caroline Smith - Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN
8/13/11 Chris Isaak - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
8/24/11 Return to Forever/Zappa Plays Zappa - The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
9/7/11 Vasen - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/1/11 The Besnard Lakes/Malajube - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
10/2/11 St.Vincent/Cate Le Bon - McGuire Theater Walker Art Center Minneapolis, MN
10/2/11 St.Vincent/Cate Le Bon - McGuire Theater Walker Art Center Minneapolis, MN
10/6/11 Kaki King - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/7/11 Opeth/Katatonia - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/10/11 Minus the Bear/The Velvet Teen - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/30/11 East of the Wall/Iron Thrones/Witchden/Earthrise - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
11/4/11 Boogie Wonderland - Minnesota Music Cafe St.Paul, MN
11/5/11 Manchester Orchestra/The Dear Hunter/White Denim - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
11/11/11 The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra/Trent Romens/Karmic Sound System/Z-Puppets Rosenschnoz - The Ritz Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/13/11 Cynic/Three/Scale the Summit - Station 4 St.Paul, MN
11/25/11 Rush Heads/Quadrant 4 - The Red Parrot Eau Claire, WI
12/13/11 Fair to Midland/Dead Letter Circus/Aficionado/Throw the Fight - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
12/17/11 The Book of Right On/Kill the Vultures/Gay Witch Abortion - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
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My 2011:
1. Nightwish - Imaginaerum
I worship Floor like any other sane person, but damn this is my favorite Nightwish album, love everything about it.
2. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
3. Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
4. Iced Earth - Dystopia
5. Powerwolf - Blood of the Saints
6. Edguy - Age of the Joker
7. Korpiklaani - Ukon Wacka
8. Symphony X - Iconoclast
Gonna edit later if I'm forgetting something, from time to time I see bands when I check out a given year's releases and go "ah yeah, their previous album was so great and I didn't put it in my list".
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2011. Awfully thin year for me. Two of these are EPs, one features new arrangements of old songs, and one only has like two listenable songs on it. Making Mirrors is the only full album of original, listenable music here.
1. Gotye - Making Mirrors
2. Nick D'Virgilion - Pieces
3. Peter Gabriel - New Blood
4. Robin Boult & Pete Trewavas - Acoustic Industry
5. Mr. Big - What If
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Oh man, 2011 was a most excellent year. I dunno what you guys are talkin 'bout.
Not mentioned yet:
Amaranthe - s/t
The Anabasis - Back From Being Gone
Anubis - A Tower of Silence
Borealis - Fall From Grace
Consortium Project - V: Species
Constantine - Divine Design
Damnation Angels - Bringer of Light
Dec Burke - Paradigms and Storylines
Eagleheart - Dreamtherapy
Echoes - Nature | Existence
Eden's Curse - Trinity
Epysode - Obesssions
Eumeria - Rebel Mind
Evergrey - Glorious Collusion
Everwood - Without Saving
Expedition:Delta - s/t
Flaming Row - Elinoire
Glass Mind - Haunting Regrets
House of Lords - Big Money
Innosense - Outcast
Iris Divine - Convergence
Journey - Eclipse
League of Lights - s/t
Lost In Thought - Opus Arise
The Magnificent - s/t
Myrath - Tales of the Sands
Nemesea - The Quiet Resistence
Neonfly - Outshine the Sun
Domain - Oceans of Night
Odd Dimension - Symmetrical
Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstacy
The Poodles - Performocracy
Presto Ballet - Invisible Places
Presto Ballet - Love What You've Done With The Place
Prospekt - s/t
Redemption - This Mortal Coil
Royal Hunt - Show Me How To Live
Rush - Time Machine
Serenity - Death and Legacy
Seven Steps to the Green Door - Step in 2 My World
Shattered Skies - Reannimation
Shy - s/t
Soul Secret - Closer to Daylight
Stream of Passion - Darker Days
Subsignal - Touchstones
Sun Caged - The Lotus Effect
Ten - Stormwarning
Theocracy - As the World Bleeds
Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down
Transcend - The Mind
WarMachine - Left for Dead
Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
Work of Art - In Progress
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2011 was not a strong year, but those top four albums for me are all tremendous.
01 Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
02 Neal Morse - Testimony Two
03 Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
04 Devin Townsend - Ghost
05 Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
06 Haken - Visions
07 Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys
08 Opeth - Heritage
09 Radiohead - The King of Limbs
10 Blackfield = Welcome to My DNA
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Some of my favorite albums come out in 2011. I'm super jealous of your Fair To Midland show in 2011, that's an amazing line up. Some really high highs this year and some pretty disappointing releases:
2011:
1. Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors - 5/5 - This is such a killer album
2. Michael Kelsey - Submerged - 5/5 - One of the best instrumental acoustic records out there
3. Grails - Deep Politics - 4.5/5 - Fantastic post rock album
4. Above & Beyond - Group Therapy - 4.5/5 - first EDM record I fell in love with
5. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light - 4/5
6. The Devin Townsend Project - Ghost - 4/5
7. Acoustic Labs - Aerial - 3.5/5
8. The Aristocrats - The Aristocrats - 3.5/5
9. Jeremy Soule - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 3.5/5
10. Blackmill - Miracle - 3.5/5
11. The Lonely Island - Turtleneck & Chain - 3.5/5
12. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow - 3/5
13. Blackmill - Reach For Glory - 3/5
14. Eisley - The Valley - 3/5
15. Limp Bizkit - Gold Cobra - 3/5
14. Incubus - If Not Now, When? - 3/5
15. Dark New Day - Hail Mary - 3/5
16. Adele - 21 - 2.5/5
17. Blackfield - Welcome To My DNA - 2.5/5
18. Blue Sky Black Death - NOIR - 2.5/5
19. TesseracT - One - 2/5
20. dredg - Chuckles & Mr. Squeezy - 2/5 - This pains me being so low :(
21. The Antlers - Burst Apart - 2/5
22. Antoine Dufour - Sound Pictures - 2/5
23. Easily Embarrassed - Tales Of The Coin Spinner - 2/5
24. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events - 2/5
25. Opeth - Heritage - 1/5
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2011
Another relatively thin year, especially for real time purchases...of course, A Dramatic Turn of Events came out, and that was a solid statement that the band was in good shape. I loved Within Temptation's The Unforgiving, it's my favorite of theirs (pity their more recent output hasn't grabbed me that much). Fantastic albums from Leprous and Fair to Midland. Late(r) career highlight from Foo Fighters - imo, Wasting Light is their most consistently good album along with The Colour and the Shape.
As usual, (*) for albums purchased later
Top 15
Within Temptation – The Unforgiving
Leprous – Bilateral *
Fair to Midland – Arrows & Anchors
Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn of Events
Dead Letter Circus – This is the Warning
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Mastodon – The Hunter
Rival Sons – Pressure and Time
Adele – 21
Evanescence – Evanescence
Omnium Gatherum – New World Shadows *
Draconian – A Rose for the Apocalypse *
Haken – Visions *
Amorphis – The Beginning of Times *
Gotye – Making Mirrors
The Honorable Mentions:
Anubis Gate – Anubis Gate *
Arch/Matheos – Sympathetic Resonance *
Black Stone Cherry – Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
Civil Wars – Barton Hollow *
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto *
Evergrey – Glorious Collision *
Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials
The Fray – Scars and Stories
In Solitude – The World; The Flesh; The Devil *
Jolly – The Audio Guide to Happiness – Part One
Journey – Eclipse *
Machine Head – Unto the Locust
Mr. Big – What If…
Nightwish – Imaginareum *
Pagan’s Mind – Heavenly Ecstasy *
Soen – Cognitive *
Subsignal – Touchstones *
Symphony X – Iconoclast *
Tesseract – One *
Theocracy – As the World Bleeds *
Vektor – Outer Isolation *
Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning *
Work of Art – In Progress *
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2011
Civil Wars – Barton Hollow *
This is a really good album.
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So, I meant to come participate in this thread when it got to years I could do, and then I lost track of it and all of a sudden it was 2011! I guess I'll join for the 2010s, and then maybe after the progress through the years is done, I'll go back and do some previous ones.
I don't have a massive collection, so for every year, I'll probably just rank everything I own that I've listened to enough times to have a good handle on it.
Before actually writing anything down or even looking, I'll just mention that in my mind, 2011 is a strong year. It's the last year before I really started listening to music seriously, so there's nothing real-time for me yet, but in my mind there are a lot of excellent releases from that year.
After looking: Yeah, this year is pretty stacked. The top three, maybe four, albums from this year are all most likely top 50 albums overall for me. All the full-lengths I have listed are at least pretty strong, and I got some enjoyment out of Beyond Magnetic, although I haven't returned to it in a very long time.
The winner for me is an album that is certainly not well-liked, but, on the one hand, it has a lot of sentimental value, and on the hand, I think it legitimately has great songs that people overlook because of the synthpop exterior. And that's Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto. To me, this is just a beautiful and emotionally impactful little 44-minute album. It's really bright and melodic, but it has some appropriately-placed touches of darkness. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall is my favorite song here, I just love how it goes from one awesome melody to another without ever going backward. I also think Us Against the World is a beautiful acoustic song, Hurts Like Heaven is a powerful opener (that I used to play really loud :lol) and Don't Let It Break Your Heart is one that snuck up on me.
1. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
2. Nightwish - Imaginaerum
3. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
4. Opeth - Heritage
5. Neal Morse - Testimony 2
6. Haken - Visions
7. Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys
8. Metallica - Beyond Magnetic
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2011 was superb, and another big step up in the number of albums I love compared to all the previous years (but that doesn't peak for a few more years still - damn the 2010s really were amazing). Think it's time to start making top 25s now.
1. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones
2. The Dear Hunter - The Color Spectrum
3. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
4. Submotion Orchestra - Finest Hour
5. Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
6. Petter Carlsen - Clocks Don't Count
7. Insomnium - One for Sorrow
8. Haken - Visions
9. Moonsorrow - Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa
10. Leprous - Bilateral
11. The King Blues - Punk & Poetry
12. Protest the Hero - Scurrilous
13. Hiromi - Voice
14. Pain of Salvation - Road Salt Two
15. Kauan - Kuu..
16. Floex - Zorya
17. Ulver - Wars of the Roses
18. Tori Amos - Night of Hunters
19. Thomas Giles - Pulse
20. Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math
21. The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
22. Von Hertzen Brothers - Stars Aligned
23. VNV Nation - Automatic
24. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
25. Gotye - Making Mirrors
Also great:
Amorphis - The Beginning of Times
Amplifier - The Octopus
Anathema - Falling Deeper
Arcane Roots - Left Fire EP
Arch / Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance
Arkona - Slovo
Arms and Sleepers - The Organ Hearts
Andrew Bayer - It's Artificial
Between the Buried and Me - The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
Bright Eyes - The People's Key
Chaos Divine - The Human Connection
Daughter - The Wild Youth EP
dredg - Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy
Euphoreon - Euphoreon
Fair to Midland - Arrows & Anchors
Falling Up - Your Sparkling Death Cometh
Nils Frahm - Felt
Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us
Gloomcatcher - Starla Over the Fences
Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - That's How We Roll
The Human Abstract - Digital Veil
In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading
Markéta Irglová - Anar
Justice - Audio, Video, Disco
Karmakanic - In a Perfect World
Maribou State - Habitat EP
Mastodon - The Hunter
Mutemath - Odd Soul
Myrath - Tales of the Sands
Nightwish - Imaginaerum
Norther - Circle Regenerated
Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows
Ott - Mir
Phideaux - Snowtorch
Tony Sly - Sad Bear
Sons of Seasons - Magnisphyricon
Stateless - Matilda
Textures - Dualism
Thrice - Major / Minor
Thy Catafalque - Rengeteg
Toehider - To Hide Her
Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction
Devin Townsend Project - Ghost
Turisas - Stand Up and Fight
Wolverine - Communication Lost
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Very interesting year. The top tier isn't as strong as '10, but the lower tiers are deeper, and I was almost tempted to break out a fourth one, there were so many I had to leave out. Since I haven't peeked into this thread until just the last few days, and I haven't done quite this sort of structure before, it'll be interesting to see when we get to '12 and beyond whether this year turns out to be an anomaly.
Tier 1:
Autumn - Cold Comfort
Francesca Battistelli - Hundred More Years
Vanessa Carlton - Rabbits On the Run
Deadlock - Bizarro World
Draconian - A Rose For the Apocalypse
Kate Havnevik - You
Alison Krauss & Union Station - Paper Airplane
Marissa Nadler - s/t
November's Doom - Aphotic
Opeth - Heritage
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator
TesseracT - One
Chelsea Wolfe - Apokalypsis
Tier 2:
Above & Beyond - Group Therapy
Adele - 21
Amaranthe - s/t
Animals As Leaders - Weightless
Anubis Gate - s/t
Ava Inferi - Onyx
Black Country Communion - 2
Bonamassa/Hart - Don't Explain
Entrails - The Tomb Awaits
Hahn/Lisitsa - Four Sonatas
Warren Haynes - Man In Motion
Sierra Hull - Daybreak
Sarah Jarosz - Follow Me Down
Lights - Siberia
Mercenary - Metamorphosis
NeraNature - Foresting Wounds
Nero - Welcome Reality
Of Monsters & Men - My Head Is An Animal
One Without - Sweet Relief
Only Fate Remains - Breathe
Torchbearer - Death Meditations
Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
Tier 3:
Amorphis - The Beginning of Times
Sithu Aye - Cassini
Lisa Batiashvili - Echoes of Time
Beyond Creation - The Aura
Bjork - Biophilia
The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre
Disma - Towards the Megalith
Dragonland - Under the Grey Banner
Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
Emika - s/t
Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors
Fiora - Blue Muse
Haken - Visions
Halcyon - Pastures
Heavenwood - Abyss Masterpiece
Imperative Reaction - s/t
Intervals - The Space Between
Krypts - s/t
Lock-Up - Necropolis Transparent
David Maxim Micic - Bilo
Leszek Mozdzer - Komeda
Nightrage - Insidious
Obscura - Omnivium
Owl City - All Things Bright and Beautiful
Paatos - Breathing
Panzerchrist - Regiment Ragnarok
Madeleine Peyroux - Standing On the Rooftop
Puscifer - Conditions of My Parole
Puteraeon - The Esoteric Order
Ravenscry - One Way Out
Regardless of Me - Pleasures and Fear
Ribspreader - The Van Murders
Scar Symmetry - The Unseen Empire
Shaded Enmity - Hijo perdido
Derek Sherinian - Oceana
Stream of Passion - Darker Days
Symphonian - Incarnation of Reality
Symphony X - Iconoclast
Uneven Structure - Februus
Vallenfyre - A Fragile King
Tom Waits - Bad As Me
Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning
So, I meant to come participate in this thread when it got to years I could do, and then I lost track of it and all of a sudden it was 2011! I guess I'll join for the 2010s, and then maybe after the progress through the years is done, I'll go back and do some previous ones.
Yeah, I wish I'd started at least back in the summer when I was beginning to post again after a very long absence, but reorienting myself to the forum format took awhile, navigating all these massive threads. I'd love it if we looped back around to the beginning again (or even started earlier, there's plenty of great albums in the 50s and early 60s, I can start making pretty reasonable ones around '56), but there may not be enough turnover in active forum membership for that to be worthwhile.
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So, I meant to come participate in this thread when it got to years I could do, and then I lost track of it and all of a sudden it was 2011! I guess I'll join for the 2010s, and then maybe after the progress through the years is done, I'll go back and do some previous ones.
Yeah, I wish I'd started at least back in the summer when I was beginning to post again after a very long absence, but reorienting myself to the forum format took awhile, navigating all these massive threads. I'd love it if we looped back around to the beginning again (or even started earlier, there's plenty of great albums in the 50s and early 60s, I can start making pretty reasonable ones around '56), but there may not be enough turnover in active forum membership for that to be worthwhile.
there's no problem posting older lists, and I or I recall Reaper was saying he was going to make a Spreadsheet with a cumulative list from each year, and that has no happened yet.
As far as going further back, you could post in this topic or start a new one if you want for that. I personally wouldn't have much of a list for those years, but other may.
I am planning to try and compile a personal Playlist from each year, soon on both Spotify and YouTube (I suspect some tunes will not be found on both). Others could/should do the same.
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So, I meant to come participate in this thread when it got to years I could do, and then I lost track of it and all of a sudden it was 2011! I guess I'll join for the 2010s, and then maybe after the progress through the years is done, I'll go back and do some previous ones.
Yeah, I wish I'd started at least back in the summer when I was beginning to post again after a very long absence, but reorienting myself to the forum format took awhile, navigating all these massive threads. I'd love it if we looped back around to the beginning again (or even started earlier, there's plenty of great albums in the 50s and early 60s, I can start making pretty reasonable ones around '56), but there may not be enough turnover in active forum membership for that to be worthwhile.
there's no problem posting older lists, and I or I recall Reaper was saying he was going to make a Spreadsheet with a cumulative list from each year, and that has no happened yet.
As far as going further back, you could post in this topic or start a new one if you want for that. I personally wouldn't have much of a list for those years, but other may.
I am planning to try and compile a personal Playlist from each year, soon on both Spotify and YouTube (I suspect some tunes will not be found on both). Others could/should do the same.
I did start a master sheet with all the albums and got through the 60's and some of the 70's but it is a bigger task than imagined. I'll keep chipping away at it here and there when I have the time.
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So, I meant to come participate in this thread when it got to years I could do, and then I lost track of it and all of a sudden it was 2011! I guess I'll join for the 2010s, and then maybe after the progress through the years is done, I'll go back and do some previous ones.
Yeah, I wish I'd started at least back in the summer when I was beginning to post again after a very long absence, but reorienting myself to the forum format took awhile, navigating all these massive threads. I'd love it if we looped back around to the beginning again (or even started earlier, there's plenty of great albums in the 50s and early 60s, I can start making pretty reasonable ones around '56), but there may not be enough turnover in active forum membership for that to be worthwhile.
there's no problem posting older lists, and I or I recall Reaper was saying he was going to make a Spreadsheet with a cumulative list from each year, and that has no happened yet.
As far as going further back, you could post in this topic or start a new one if you want for that. I personally wouldn't have much of a list for those years, but other may.
I am planning to try and compile a personal Playlist from each year, soon on both Spotify and YouTube (I suspect some tunes will not be found on both). Others could/should do the same.
I'll have to ponder this some. I don't think anyone wants to read all my older lists at once (and it's too much time to generate them that quickly anyway), but maybe I'll start peppering them in one or two extra a week working backwards if I get to it. Is there a plan for what to do once we get through '20? Or were you thinking the thread would probably just end then? Since this started in '65 we could potentially go backwards starting from '64 until collectively we can't make decent lists, or if you don't want that in this thread I may just make a separate one.
These lists are making me realize even more keenly just how much music there is, with less overlap on some of the lists than I would have expected. And so many albums I just haven't spent enough time with in my lower tiers that I know are good, but I'm just not familiar enough with them yet to place them higher.
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Accidental duplicate post.
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These lists are making me realize even more keenly just how much music there is, with less overlap on some of the lists than I would have expected. And so many albums I just haven't spent enough time with in my lower tiers that I know are good, but I'm just not familiar enough with them yet to place them higher.
There's so much music out there, and I would imagine from about 2000 on there's significantly more than in prior decades as home recording software and online distribution made it so much easier to make and release music without record company support.
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2011
Civil Wars – Barton Hollow *
This is a really good album.
Indeed. Great voices.
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So, I meant to come participate in this thread when it got to years I could do, and then I lost track of it and all of a sudden it was 2011! I guess I'll join for the 2010s, and then maybe after the progress through the years is done, I'll go back and do some previous ones.
Yeah, I wish I'd started at least back in the summer when I was beginning to post again after a very long absence, but reorienting myself to the forum format took awhile, navigating all these massive threads. I'd love it if we looped back around to the beginning again (or even started earlier, there's plenty of great albums in the 50s and early 60s, I can start making pretty reasonable ones around '56), but there may not be enough turnover in active forum membership for that to be worthwhile.
there's no problem posting older lists, and I or I recall Reaper was saying he was going to make a Spreadsheet with a cumulative list from each year, and that has no happened yet.
As far as going further back, you could post in this topic or start a new one if you want for that. I personally wouldn't have much of a list for those years, but other may.
I am planning to try and compile a personal Playlist from each year, soon on both Spotify and YouTube (I suspect some tunes will not be found on both). Others could/should do the same.
I'll have to ponder this some. I don't think anyone wants to read all my older lists at once (and it's too much time to generate them that quickly anyway), but maybe I'll start peppering them in one or two extra a week working backwards if I get to it. Is there a plan for what to do once we get through '20? Or were you thinking the thread would probably just end then? Since this started in '65 we could potentially go backwards starting from '64 until collectively we can't make decent lists, or if you don't want that in this thread I may just make a separate one.
These lists are making me realize even more keenly just how much music there is, with less overlap on some of the lists than I would have expected. And so many albums I just haven't spent enough time with in my lower tiers that I know are good, but I'm just not familiar enough with them yet to place them higher.
there's really no plan exactly. I could change the topic title for those older years once we're through 2020, although I'd be curious how many people actually would be contributing to those older years. Perhaps more than I am thinking of.
I dunno, this whole thing was spawned by a topic I linked in the 1st post which was Albums of the Year by-year, and if you look at many of the posts in that topic and see how many have Albums that go back into the 50's and early 60's, that might give you an idea.
I guess the issue of catching up and doing older years, later-on, might have been avoided had this been done the way I originally thought, by giving each year or even each decade a separate thread, but i worried that might have resulted in less participation and too many separate threads.
I dunno, maybe we could start a new one next year for SONGS? that would go along with the Playlist thing I am looking to start doing soon.
It might be neat to listen to someone else's Playlist for different years, etc..they just could link them in the topic.
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I'd personally love a song one next.
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These lists are making me realize even more keenly just how much music there is, with less overlap on some of the lists than I would have expected. And so many albums I just haven't spent enough time with in my lower tiers that I know are good, but I'm just not familiar enough with them yet to place them higher.
There's so much music out there, and I would imagine from about 2000 on there's significantly more than in prior decades as home recording software and online distribution made it so much easier to make and release music without record company support.
you're right about this. I don't think I realized it at the time, but at some point in the late 2000's it hit me that there's so much more music out there to hear and likely being made, compared to the previous eras. And I concluded it was largely due to what you said about the ease of recording music, often at home on one's computer with ProTools, Cubase, etc.
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I'd personally love a song one next.
I'd be down for this.
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I dunno, maybe we could start a new one next year for SONGS? that would go along with the Playlist thing I am looking to start doing soon.
It might be neat to listen to someone else's Playlist for different years, etc..they just could link them in the topic.
I like that idea. I've found that prog fans can tend to be overly album-focused, sometimes refusing to listen any other way, considering compilations, greatest hits and such to be anathema. Which is kind of weird because even most of these artists mix up their songs in setlists when they play live, so even the bands don't consider the exact ordering sacrosanct. But while I do listen plenty to full albums, I also constantly make playlists from individual songs. It probably comes from my days making mix-tapes with my best friend back in junior high-high school, but of course Spotify and such make it easy to accomplish the digital version of now.
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A song one would be cool. Maybe a compromise between doing all one thread and having a thread for each year would be a thread for each decade (with the last one also including 2020 and 2021). That way if someone wants to go back and do older ones, they can do so without doing 20 or 30 years' worth in a single thread.
I'll try to go back and do some previous years for albums in this thread pretty soon, and try to get some of the earlier years done before we get to the present day so that I'm not posting a bunch of years after we've finished.
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Songs albums whatever, I enjoy these lists I've already discovered a few noteworthy albums have missed from years past from reading/sharing others lists although you won't get much from me from 50 and 60's afraid the best I could offer would be 70's and beyond ;)
2011
1. FOO FIGHTERS Wasting Light
2. PAGAN'S MIND Heavenly Ecstacy
3. MEGADETH Thirteen
4. REECE / KRONLUND Solid
5. AMORPHIS Beginning Of Times
REDEMPTION This Mortal Coil
SYMPHONY X Iconoclast
GEORGE LYNCH Kill All Control
DISTURBED The Lost Children
ANTHRAX Worhip Music
CHICKENFOOT Chickenfoot III
HOUSE OF LORDS Big Money
ICED EARTH Dystopia
SIXX AM This Is Gonna Hurt
3 DOORS DOWN Time Of My Life
SAXON Call To Arms
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REDEMPTION This Mortal Coil
ANTHRAX Worhip Music
SAXON Call To Arms
I personally rate these as the three best albums on your list.
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REDEMPTION This Mortal Coil
ANTHRAX Worhip Music
SAXON Call To Arms
I personally rate these as the three best albums on your list.
Sweet! It really was a toss up between Amorphis and Redemption both bands high on my list of essentials but while neither album is to the highest strengths of their creators (IMO), I do probably reach for that particular Amorphis a little more often than Coil is all ;D
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REDEMPTION This Mortal Coil
ANTHRAX Worhip Music
SAXON Call To Arms
I personally rate these as the three best albums on your list.
Sweet! It really was a toss up between Amorphis and Redemption both bands high on my list of essentials but while neither album is to the highest strengths of their creators (IMO), I do probably reach for that particular Amorphis a little more often than Coil is all ;D
This Mortal Coil is a handful for sure. A few years ago, we drove across Wyoming and I had it on. It was weird, but the music blended perfectly with the serene landscapes. It gave those special lyrics a whole 'nuther level of meaning.
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REDEMPTION This Mortal Coil
ANTHRAX Worhip Music
SAXON Call To Arms
I personally rate these as the three best albums on your list.
Sweet! It really was a toss up between Amorphis and Redemption both bands high on my list of essentials but while neither album is to the highest strengths of their creators (IMO), I do probably reach for that particular Amorphis a little more often than Coil is all ;D
This Mortal Coil is a handful for sure. A few years ago, we drove across Wyoming and I had it on. It was weird, but the music blended perfectly with the serene landscapes. It gave those special lyrics a whole 'nuther level of meaning.
Ahhh well said mate I've been explaining this very thing to folks for years when they ask why it is certain albums mean what they do to us often it's the time place and whatnot. I've quite a few examples but one that always comes to mind is the debut Candlebox, I remember when that was new was touring some country on my motorcycle back in the day, was rural with pastures as far as the eye could see with barely any other traffic, the sun casting long shadows while Far Behind playing in ears. Perfect!
Re Coil, I think tbf off the back of Snowfall On Judgement Day it had a hard task in front if it and initial listens suggested would require extra attention, and it did!
That said Coil was again a huge album lyrically was so on point at that particular time given Nik's cancer diagnosis etc, some incredible stuff! Let It Rain was immediate and remains a fave, one of their best slower songs it's simply beautiful and heart wrenching it brings me the same vibes as Parker's Eyes albeit very different songs... Also on initial listens was drawn to both the Path OT Whirlwind 'no way back no way home again' and Stronger Than Death, but it took a little more time for the record to really sink in.
Am starting to feel bad I didn't include it in my 5 now LOL but like I said it's not the one I often reach for but sure as heck am going to reach for it today see what more magic it can throw me :metal
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2012
2012 I think back of largely for a couple of albums and EPs towards the top. Queen of the Wave is a stone cold classic, from a band I only found out about per just randomly checking out given it was #1 on the 2012 Rateyourmusic.com chart. Wondering at 1 point if Ne Obliviscaris was #1, although Portal of I came out May 7th, and Queen of the Wave came out much earlier on January 30th, so it likely wasn't just the case of looking at the charts and finding Pepe Deluxe.
But it's a perfect pop opera in many ways, channeling a lot of Dick Dale, 50's and early 60's Cinema among many other styles.
The Brice Plays Drums album "Man the Animal Cannon" is probably my favorite "prog" album from my home state of Minnesota, ever. Vuvuzela, Gatherer, Anathema, Spawn of Possession, Ramona Falls, House of Fools; and EPs from Forest Park and Bruce Peninsula and many others are still releases I listen to and love.
1. Pepe Deluxé - Queen of the Wave
2. Brice Plays Drums - Man the Animal Cannon
3. Vuvuzela - The Hollow Choir
4. Bend Sinister - Small Fame
5. Gatherer - So Be It
6. Anathema - Weather Systems
7. House of Fools - Versus the Beast
8. Ramona Falls - Prophet
9. Spawn of Possession - Incurso
10. Mike Linden - Bubble & Squeak
11. Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - Theatre Is Evil
12. Media Addicts - Autonomy
13. Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I
14. Marillion - Sounds That Can't Be Made
15. Sucré - A Minor Bird
16. The Gathering - Disclosure
17. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
18. The Family Crest - The Village
19. Debashish Bhattacharya - 'Madeira'
20. Muse - The 2nd Law
21. Rush - Clockwork Angels
22. Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind) The Crafty Ape
23. The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet
24. Menomena - Moms
25. Umbrella Tree - To the Memory of a Once Great Man
26. King Bathmat - Truth Button
27. Bryan Scary - Daffy's Elixir
28. Between the Buried and Me - The Parallax II: Future Sequence
29. Memoryhouse - The Slideshow Effect
30. Archive - With Us Until You’re Dead
31. Oedipus - Vicious Little Smile
32. Flying Colors - Flying Colors
33. Black Ribbons - Neuromancer
34. Guante and Big Cats - You Better Weaponize
35. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Piñata
36. Ihsahn - Eremita
Andre Matos - The Turn of the Lights
Early Ghost - Cadaques
The Bewitched - Without a Net
Exotic Animal Petting Zoo - Tree of Tongues
Chrome Canyon - Elemental Themes
Jessie Ware - Devotion
The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio
Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Ascension
Alcest - Les voyages de l'âme
Minus the Bear - Infinity Overhead
Jazzkamikaze - The Return of JazzKamikaze
Moonloop - Deeply From the Earth
Oddland - The Treachery of Senses
Josh Benash - The Dismal; The Beautiful
Emanuel and The Fear - The Janus Mirror
Negroni's Trio - On the Way
Bloc Party - Four
nosound - At the Pier
Barock Project - Coffee in Neukölln
EPs
1. Forest Park - Forest Park
2. Bruce Peninsula - Of Songs
3. Mercies - The Ballet
4. Northern Abbey - Northern Abbey
5. Pretty & Nice - Us You All We
6. Agalloch - Faustian Echoes
7. British Theatre - Dyed in the Wool Ghost
8. British Theatre - British Theatre
9. Water & Bodies - American Dream
10. Bend Sinister - On My Mind
11. Crippled Black Phoenix - No Sadness or Farewell
12. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Mammoth Skin, Pt. 1
13. The Barnum Meserve - Broken Window
14. The Royal Veil - The Royal Veil
Concerts
2/18/12 Mutemath/Canon Blue - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
3/3/12 Memoryhouse - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
3/28/12 Timbre/Samuel Lockridge/Amy Courts - The Beat Coffee House Minneapolis, MN
4/4/12 Gotye/Kimbra - Epic Minneapolis, MN
4/28/12 Fountains of Wayne/Nicole Atkins - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
5/18/12 Mayer Hawthorne and the County/The Stepkids - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/1/12 Jon Anderson - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
6/5/12 Ramona Falls/The Darcy's - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
6/6/12 Soap performs Pink Floyd's Animals - The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
6/23/12 Marillion - Park West Chicago, IL
6/22/12 Marillion - Park West Chicago, IL
6/27/12 Dream Theater - State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
7/10/12 Ours - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
8/16/12 Brice Plays Drums/Super Pilots/Peregrine Perspective/There Are No Words - The 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN
8/18/12 Randy Brecker/Super Pilots - Nicollet Commons Park Burnsville, MN
8/21/12 Dean Magraw - Cafe Maude Minneapolis, MN
8/24/12 Media Addicts - The Artists' Quarter St.Paul, MN
8/27/12 The Turtles/Micky Dolenz/Gary Puckett - Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Falcon Heights, MN
9/4/12 Dean Magraw with Davu Seru - Black Dog Cafe St.Paul, MN
9/22/12 Kansas/King's X - Myth Maplewood, MN
9/24/12 Rush - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
10/3/12 Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra/The Ronald Reagans First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
10/6/12 Timbre - The Lion's Lair Northfield, MN
10/12/12 Debashish Bhattacharya/Steve Sklar/Johnna Morrow - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/16/12 Kimbra/The Stepkids - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/20/12 Menomena/PVT - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
10/26/12 Poncho Sanchez - The Ordway Theater St.Paul, MN
10/29/12 Brute Heart performs live score for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari/MAKR - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
11/8/12 Ramona Falls/The Helio Sequence - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
11/15/12 The Monkees - The State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
11/27/12 The Who - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
12/19/12 Billy Graczyk - The Artists' Quarter St.Paul, MN
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2012 is a shorter list for me, but it really was a pretty strong year.
1. Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Crown and Treaty
2. Marillion - Sounds That Can't Be Made
3. Flying Colors - Flying Colors
4. Lo-Fi Resistance - Chalk Lines
5. Paul Buchanan - Mid Air
6. Neal Morse - Momentum
7. Rush - Clockwork Angels
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2012:
Pretty strong year. I'm going to try four tiers this time, three just isn't seeming nearly a fine enough amount of gradation.
Tier 1:
Anathema - Weather Systems
And One - S.T.O.P.
The Birthday Massacre - Hide and Seek
Daylight Dies - A Frail Becoming
Grimes - Visions
Katatonia - Dead End Kings
Look Right Penny - Sugar Lane
Jeff Loomis - Plains of Oblivion SE
mind.in.a.box - Revelations
Sybreed - God is an Automaton
To-Mera - Exile
Tremonti - All I Was
triosence/Sara Gazarek - Where Time Stands Still
Trust - TRST
Tier 2:
Andain - You Once Told Me
Celldweller - Wish Upon a Blackstar
Delain - We Are the Others
Engel - Blood of Saints
Lazerhawk - Visitors
Perturbator - I Am the Night
Purity Ring - Shrines
Skyharbor - Blind White Noise: Illusion & Chaos
Velvet Acid Christ - Maldire
Chelsea Wolfe - Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs
Tier 3:
Aeternam - Moongod
Akphaezya - Anthology IV: The Tragedy of Nerak
Sithu Aye - Invent the Universe
Francesca Battistelli - Christmas
The Chromatics - Kill For Love
Dark Princess - The World I've Lost
Desultor - Masters of Hate
The Gathering - Disclosure
Sara Gazarek - Blossom & Bee
Anneke van Giersbergen - Everything Is Changing
Paul Gilbert - Vibrato
Haji's Kitchen - Twenty Twelve
Halestorm - The Strange Case Of...
Lethian Dreams - Season of Raven Words
Light Asylum - s/t
Miseration - Tragedy Has Spoken
Ram-Zet - Freaks In Wonderland
Rush - Clockwork Angels
Soen - Cognitive
Testament - Dark Roots of the Earth
Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth
Woods of Ypres - Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light
Tier 4:
Absent Hearts - August Earth
Aeon - Aeons Black
Antimatter - Fear of a Unique Identity
Assemblage 23 - Bruise
Atrium Carceri - Void
Nicola Benedetti - The Silver Violin
Black Breath - Sentenced To Life
Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards the Daylight
Natasha Borzilova - Out of My Hands
Call Me No One - Last Parade
Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth
The Contortionist - Intrinsic
Dark New Day - New Tradition
Desecresy - The Doom Skeptron
De/Vision - Rockets & Swords
Enabler - All Hail the Void
Evadne - The Shortest Way
Evoken - Atra mors
The Foreshadowing - Second World
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
Grave - Endless Process of Souls
The Great Old Ones - Al Azif
Anna von Hausswolff - Ceremony
Headspace - I Am Anonymous
Gustaf Hildebrand - Heliopause
Hooded Menace - Effigies of Evil
Hour of Penance - Sedition
iamthemorning - ~
Jess and the Ancient Ones - s/t
Lacuna Coil - Dark Adrenaline
Mass Burial - Of Carrion and Pestilence
David Maxim Micic - Bilo 2.0
The Night Flight Orchestra - Internal Affairs
Nonexist - From My Cold Dead Hands
One-Way Mirror - Destructive By Nature
Panzerballett - Tank Goodness
Projected - Human
Puteraeon - Cult Cthulhu
Ribspreader - Kult of the Pneumatic Killrod (And a Collection of Ribs)
Sabled Sun - 2146
Silversun Pickups - Neck of the Woods
Sixpence None the Richer - Lost in Translation
Slash/Myles Kennedy - Apocalyptic Love
Snarky Puppy - groundUP
S U R V I V E - s/t
Swallow The Sun - Emerald Forest and the Blackbird
Threshold - March of Progress
Devin Townsend - Epicloud
Troum - Grote Mandrenke
VCMG - Ssss
When Nothing Remains - As All Torn Asunder
Words of Farewell - Immersion
Zonoria - Arrival of the Red Sun
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Relatively short list for my 2012...
1. ELVENKING - Era (Excellent power / folk metal album, highly recommended!)
2. Halestorm - The Strange Case Of... (One of the best hard rock albums out there)
3. Flying Colors - Flying Colors (Excellent debut album, the perfect blend of catchy tunes and music virtuosity!)
And then, somehow maybe in order...
Rage - 21
Kamelot - Silverthorn
Sonata Arctica - Stones Grow Her Name
Grave Digger - Clash of the Gods
Eluveitie - Helvetios
Therion - Les Fleurs du Mal
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2009:
It's interesting to do this one now. This is the last year I actually somewhat tried to listen to new albums in the year. For most of the 10s I grew disinterested in keeping up with newer music and often didn't find things until a few years after they'd come out. This didn't change until last year, where I've gotten back to trying to keep up more. My old '09 list was woefully out of date, so it's still just easier to start from scratch again. This is a bit of a weaker year than the last few I've done, but somehow has even more releases I liked than other years, I had to cut out at least three tiers and there's still arguably too many.
Tier 1:
Amorphis - Skyforger
Autumn - Altitude
Darzamat - Solfernus' Path
Dejafuse - s/t
Delain - April Rain
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Katatonia - Night is the New Day
Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
Lethian Dreams - Bleak Silver Streams
Lights - The Listening
Liquid Divine - Autophobia
Nightrage - Wearing a Martyr's Crown
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Sybreed - The Pulse of Awakening
Tier 2:
Animals As Leaders - s/t
Anubis Gate - The Detached
Colbie Caillat - Breakthrough
Stanley Clarke Trio - Jazz in the Garden
D Creation - Silent Echoes
dredg - The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion
Elysion - Silent Scr3am
The Gathering - The West Pole
Sarah Jarosz - Song Up in Her Head
Novembers Doom - Into Night's Requiem Infernal
Nox Aurea - Vis Gnosis
Obscura - Cosmogenesis
Ram-Zet - Neutralized
Swallow The Sun - New Moon
Devin Townsend - Addicted
Vertical Horizon - Burning the Days
The Yeah You's - Looking Through You
Tier 3:
Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue
Apoptygma Berzerk - Rocket Science
Atrium Carceri - Phrenitis
Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
Behemoth - Evangelion
Joe Bonamassa - The Ballad of John Henry
Anouar Brahem - The Astounding Eyes of Rita
Code For Silence - D.Ecaying M.Atter O.Rganic N.Emesis
Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe
Depressed Mode - ...For Death...
Disarmonia Mundi - The Isolation Game
Don Johnson Big Band - Records Are Forever
Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
The Eden House - Smoke & Mirrors
Lawrence English - A Colour For Autumn
Exivious - s/t
Fleshgod Apocalypse - Oracles
Anneke van Giersbergen - In Your Room
Grammatics - s/t
Halestorm - s/t
Hiromi - Place To Be
La Roux - s/t
Aynsley Lister - Equilibrium
Miseration - The Mirroring Shadow
Mystica - Second Dive
One Without - Thoughts of a Secluded Mind
Panzerballett - Hart Genossen von Abba bis Zappa
Shaded Enmity - Like Prayers On Deaf Ears
Raving Season - The Brightness of My Disaster
Regardless of Me - The World Within
Scar Symmetry - Dark Matter Dimensions
Shirock - Everything Burns
Stream of Passion - The Flame Within
Theatre of Tragedy - Forever is the World
To-Mera - Earthbound EP (I might start including more of these if they're closer to a half-hour like this one is, I've mostly ignored them on the '10-'12 lists so far)
Yuja Wang - Sonatas & Etudes
Tier 4:
Adagio - Archangels in Black
Demonical - Hellsworn
Editors - In This Light and on This Evening
The Few Against Many - SOT
For Selena and Sin - Primrose Path
Krypts - Open the Crypt
Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life
Megadeth - Endgame
Nile - Those Whom the Gods Detest
Omega Lithium - Dreams in Formaline
Owl City - Ocean Eyes
Porcupine Tree - The Incident
Derek Trucks Band - Already Free
Witchbreed - Heretic Rapture
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Dayum... and I thought *I* bought a lot of music!
Not mentioned yet:
Absolute Priority - Hunter
Affector - Harmaggedon
Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Lost in the New Real
At Vance - Facing Your Enemy
Bad Salad - Uncivilized
Beyond the Bridge - Old Man and the Spirit
Blessed By A Broken Heart - Feel the Power
Circus Maximus - Live in Japan
Circus Maximus - Nine
Cloudscape - New Era
Delain - We Are The Others
Dimension Act - Manifestation of Progress
Dynazty - Sultans of Sin
Eclipse - Bleed and Scream
End of September - s/t
Europe - Bag of Bones
Fatal Force - Unholy Rites
The Great Gamble - Book 1
Hardline - Danger Zone
Harry Hess - Living in Yesterday
Heart of Cygnus - The Voyage of Jonas
Hemina - Synthetic
Infinite Spectrum - Misguided
It Bites - Maps of the Past
Kamelot - Silverthorn
Machine Men - Circus of Fools
Mob Rules - Cannibal Nation
Moon Safari - A Doorway to Summer
Moon Safari - Lover's End Pt III: Skelleftea Serenade
Mystery - The World is a Game
Presto Ballet - Relic of the Modern World
Pretty Maids - It Comes Alive: Maid in Switzerland
Primal Fear - Unbreakable
Pyramid Theorem - s/t
The Ralph - Fragments
Sacrum - Criminal
Secret Sphere - Portrait of a Dying Heart
Shadow Circus - On a Dark and Stormy Night
Speaking to Stones - Elements
Spheric Universe Experience - The New Eve
Stargate - Beyond Space and Time
Sturm Und Drang - Graduation Day
Ten - Heresy and Creed
Teramaze - Anhedonia
Trail of Murder - Shades of Art
Vision Divine - Destination Set To Nowhere
Yargos - Magical Karma
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Yeah, I really only spend money on food, music, and music gear.
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2012. Really good year for music.
01 Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion
02 Flying Colors - Flying Colors
03 Rush - Clockwork Angels
04 Taylor Swift - Red
05 The Flower Kings - Banks of Eden
06 Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth
07 Muse - The 2nd Law
08 Neal Morse - Momentum
09 Devin Townsend - Epicloud
10 Anathema - Weather Systems
11 Alanis Morissette - Havoc and Bright Lights
12 Trevor Rabin - Jacaranda
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My top 3 from 2012 are all pretty outrageously amazing.
1. Anathema - Weather Systems
2. Between the Buried and Me - The Parallax II: Future Sequence
3. Thank You Scientist - Maps of Non-Existent Places
4. Mors Principium Est - ...And Death Said Live
5. Blue Food - Engines
6. Caravan Palace - Panic
7. Flying Colors - Flying Colors
8. Infected Mushroom - Army of Mushrooms
9. Muse - The 2nd Law
10. Moon Safari - Lover's End Pt. III EP
11. Submotion Orchestra - Fragments
12. Beyond the Bridge - The Old Man and the Spirit
13. Halestorm - The Strange Case Of...
14. Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud
15. In Mourning - The Weight of Oceans
16. Threshold - March of Progress
17. Wintersun - Time I
18. Regina Spektor - What We Saw From the Cheap Seats
19. Sonata Arctica - Stones Grow Her Name
20. Twelve Foot Ninja - Silent Machine
21. Hypno5e - Acid Mist Tomorrow
22. Katatonia - Dead End Kings
23. Hiromi - Move
24. Lazerhawk - Visitors
25. Portico Quartet - Portico Quartet
Also great:
Aeternam - Moongod
Alcest - Les voyages de l'âme
Architects - Daybreaker
Art by Numbers - Reticence: The Musical
Au4 - …And Down Goes the Sky
Baroness - Yellow & Green
Barren Earth - The Devil's Resolve
Be'lakor - Of Breath and Bone
Bend Sinister - Small Fame
Borknagar - Urd
David Maxim Micic - Bilo 2.0 EP
Devin Townsend Project - By a Thread
Dimension Act - Manifestation of Progress
Ensiferum - Unsung Heroes
Enslaved - RIITIIR
The Flower Kings - Banks of Eden
Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock and Roll
Gabrielle Aplin - Home
Headspace - I Am Anonymous
Hidden Orchestra - Archipelago
Imagine Dragons - Night Visions
In the Silence - A Fair Dream Gone Mad
Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds: The New Generation
Khonsu - Anomalia
The King Blues - Long Live the Struggle
Kyte - Love to Be Lost
Linkin Park - Living Things
Lucy Rose - Like I Used To
Mare Cognitum - An Extraconscious Lucidity
Mumford & Sons - Babel
North Atlantic Oscillation - Fog Electric
Obsidian Kingdom - Mantiis
Oddland - The Treachery of Senses
Periphery - Periphery II: This Time It's Personal
Public Service Broadcasting - The War Room EP
Sabaton - Carolus Rex
Shinedown - Amaryllis
Sleeping at Last - Yearbook Collection
Susanne Sundfør - The Silicone Veil
The Tea Club - Quickly Quickly Quickly
Tremonti - All I Was
Woods of Ypres - Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light
Xanthochroid - Blessed He With Boils
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I look at some people's lists and feel like I'm oversharing, and then I look at Soundscape's and ariich's and feel better. :)
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I look at some people's lists and feel like I'm oversharing, and then I look at Soundscape's and ariich's and feel better. :)
:D...don't worry about it.
It does go back to the point made a page back about their being so much more music out there/being made. And some of us just got so addicted/attached to trying to listen to dozens of albums every year.
Personally, over the last 5+ years, I find I still check out a lot of new albums, but I don't feel I invest the same amount of time with it because it in some ways felt like it was quantity over quality.
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I look at some people's lists and feel like I'm oversharing, and then I look at Soundscape's and ariich's and feel better. :)
I think it's just a matter of how much time a person dedicates to new music. If a person works in music or has a lifestyle that leaves them a lot of time to spend on music, then it makes sense that they'd have really long lists. That's not my situation, so I literally would not have the time to listen to as many albums as y'all do. But it's cool to see these more extensive lists!
Here's my 2012. This is another pretty strong year, although not as good as 2011 IMO. A lot of albums I like a lot, but not that many that I consider favorites. I would say that 2-9 are all pretty close, with #1 standing out as a clear favorite.
1. Anathema - Weather Systems
2. Neal Morse - Momentum
3. Kamelot - Silverthorn
4. Beyond the Bridge - The Old Man and the Spirit
5. Rush - Clockwork Angels
6. Mystery - The World is a Game
7. The Flower Kings - Banks of Eden
8. Taylor Swift - Red
9. Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Ascension
10. Headspace - I Am Anonymous
11. Steve Harris - British Lion
12. Flying Colors - Flying Colors
Haven't listened enough: Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud
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Personally, over the last 5+ years, I find I still check out a lot of new albums, but I don't feel I invest the same amount of time with it because it in some ways felt like it was quantity over quality.
Yeah, over the last couple years again it's been a struggle to slow down and appreciate all the newer artists I've found. I know I'm going to spend most of next month churning through more '21 releases and giving additional listens to ones I've already heard to finish crafting my year-end lists, but I think come January I'm going to try and have a soft moratorium on new music for a month and give myself some time to absorb everything I'm behind in.
1. Anathema - Weather Systems
This appears to be the collective forum favorite of '12. I didn't fully rank mine, but it would be #2 for the year, behind Dead End Kings. I didn't "get" Anathema back in the 00s, but that was the album that sold me on them when I heard it a couple years after it came out, and now they're one of my favorite artists.
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I look at some people's lists and feel like I'm oversharing, and then I look at Soundscape's and ariich's and feel better. :)
:D...don't worry about it.
Go team!
I look at some people's lists and feel like I'm oversharing, and then I look at Soundscape's and ariich's and feel better. :)
I think it's just a matter of how much time a person dedicates to new music. If a person works in music or has a lifestyle that leaves them a lot of time to spend on music, then it makes sense that they'd have really long lists. That's not my situation, so I literally would not have the time to listen to as many albums as y'all do. But it's cool to see these more extensive lists!
Yeah, definitely this. I'm fortunate that, unless I'm in a meeting, I can (and do) listen to music while I work, which means I can check out a hell of a lot of stuff. I go through phases for sure - if you're permanently in checking-out-new-stuff mode then it doesn't leave time for actually getting to know the music. I tend to run a roulette when I really want to get to know some stuff I don't already know, but after that I'll generally spend some time going over what I've discovered again and replaying some older favourites.
By the way, congrats on having the correct #1 for 2012. :D
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2012
More albums this year, although still a ton purchased later (*)
Weather Systems is my favorite latter-day Anathema album, by some margin. Still not quite at the same level as Eternity-Alternative 4-Judgement, but the best since their more "positive-prog" comeback. Great final statement from Rush (which we didn't know at the time :'(). Good stuff from Paradise Lost and Katatonia too...
Top 15 (somewhat fluid)
Anathema – Weather Systems
Rush – Clockwork Angels
Paradise Lost – Tragic Idol
Audrey Horne – Audrey Horne *
Deftones – Koi No Yokan
Katatonia – Dead End Kings
Prong – Carved Into Stone
Halestorm – The Strange Case Of… *
Rival Sons – Head Down
Shinedown - Amaryllis
Pharaoh – Bury the Light *
Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
Stone Sour – House of Gold & Bones – Part 1 *
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – The Lion the Beast the Beat
The Honorable Mentions
Atoma – Skylight *
Avatar – The Black Waltz *
Be’Lakor – Of Breath and Bone *
Brandi Carlile – Bear Creek *
Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu
The Cult – Weapon of Choice
Dawnbringer – Into the Lair of the Sun God *
Enslaved – Ritiir *
Flying Colors – Flying Colors *
The Gathering – Disclosure *
Gojira – L’Enfant Sauvage *
Heart – Fanatic *
Imagine Dragons – Night Visions
Insomnium – One for Sorrow *
Killing Joke – MMXII
Lamb of God - Resolution
Matchbox 20 – North *
Meshuggah - Koloss
Moonspell – Alpha Noir *
Mors Principium Est - …And Death Said Live *
Ne Obliviscaris – Portal of I *
Pallbearer – Sorrow and Extinction *
Riverside – Anno Domini High Definition *
Royal Thunder – CVI *
Sahg – III *
Taylor Swift – Red *
Teramaze – Anhedonia *
Testament – Dark Roots of Earth
Sylosis – Monolith *
Tremonti – All I Was *
Van Halen – A Different Kind of Truth
Woods of Ypres – Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light *
Year of the Goat – Angels’ Necropolis *
Zac Brown Band – Uncaged *
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I look at some people's lists and feel like I'm oversharing, and then I look at Soundscape's and ariich's and feel better. :)
:D...don't worry about it.
Go team!
I look at some people's lists and feel like I'm oversharing, and then I look at Soundscape's and ariich's and feel better. :)
I think it's just a matter of how much time a person dedicates to new music. If a person works in music or has a lifestyle that leaves them a lot of time to spend on music, then it makes sense that they'd have really long lists. That's not my situation, so I literally would not have the time to listen to as many albums as y'all do. But it's cool to see these more extensive lists!
Yeah, definitely this. I'm fortunate that, unless I'm in a meeting, I can (and do) listen to music while I work, which means I can check out a hell of a lot of stuff. I go through phases for sure - if you're permanently in checking-out-new-stuff mode then it doesn't leave time for actually getting to know the music. I tend to run a roulette when I really want to get to know some stuff I don't already know, but after that I'll generally spend some time going over what I've discovered again and replaying some older favourites.
By the way, congrats on having the correct #1 for 2012. :D
I actually used to do work where wearing headphones for 5+ hours a day..some days/weeks even more with Overtime available, I would listen to 4-7 albums a day, while also actually listening to talk radio and podcasts/youtube video rips.
I still work for that same company, but my work requires more time without headphones (or just with something off, per I've been working from home like many since COVID, and having music on in the room doesn't disturb anyone, lol). But it used to be more right-brain/left-brain for me, but sadly with meetings, emails, direct messaging, I don't find I'm allowed as much time for music during my workday.
Then again..I designate every Afternoon at 3PM for my daily dose of Three's Company, lol :D (which they air 2 episodes every week day on Antenna TV in the States).
I am finding most of the music I listen to now is in my car, lol. Which is why I still try and pickup hardcopies or download albums (preferably from bandcamp), vs relying on Spotify or YouTube. And some of it is, finding older albums that I never knew about, or just revisiting a band's albums. For example this year, the album I have listened to the most is probably Eldren's album "Miss Information Aged" which came out in 2018. The same kind of thing happened with Dirt Poor Robins a few years ago. It just so happens I discovered them years after they were released, for better or for worse. Which I guess lends reason to do a Retrospective Albums of the Year because I may now enjoy an album more than the album I had as my AOTY in said year.
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Yeah, definitely this. I'm fortunate that, unless I'm in a meeting, I can (and do) listen to music while I work, which means I can check out a hell of a lot of stuff. I go through phases for sure - if you're permanently in checking-out-new-stuff mode then it doesn't leave time for actually getting to know the music.
This is me exactly as well. So long as I'm not on a call, I always have music in my ears. I've been working from home since 2011, and used to travel a lot, so that also afforded a lot of time to listen to music. I used to sample about 200 albums per year, and would usually buy about 50-60. I've pruned that back a little (usually listening to around 100), and once Spotify became legal in Canada, reduced my purchases to about 25, whilst saving another 25 or so on Spotify. To Rich's last comment there, I just found I wasn't spending enough time with the music I loved when I was constantly on the prowl. And having accumulated 500 new albums in the last 10 years, without accumulating any extra listening time, all I do is reduce the amount of time I end up giving the bands/albums I already have.
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The past few years have changed for me. I sort went through this funk of getting tired of everything I've already heard and when I started listening to more music is when I started to venture out to discover new stuff. Currently I dedicate to listening to one new album a day every work day. I've been able to find some really great stuff doing this without letting some of my older stuff I like get stale. Anyway, onto 2012 for me:
1. Kaki King - Glow - 5/5 - My favorite Kaki album and one of my favorite albums of all time. He song writing and playing reaches a new heights on this album
2. Espen Eriksen Trio - What Took You So Long - 5/5
3. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die - 4/5
4. John 5 - God Told Me To - 4/5
5. Matthew Halsall - Fletcher Moss Park - 4/5
6. Jessica Curry - Dear Esther: Official Soundtrack - 3.5/5
7. OSI - Fire Make Thunder - 3.5/5
8. Minus The Bear - Infinity Overhead - 3.5/5
9. Haywyre - The Voyage - 3/5
10. Pyramid Theorem - Pyramid Theorem - 3/5
11. Dave Matthews Band - Away From The World - 3/5
12. Hidden Orchestra - Archipelago - 3/5
13. Tenacious D - Rize Of The Fenix - 2.5/5
14. KOAN Sound - The Adventures Of Mr. Fox 2/5
15. Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud - 2/5
16. Soundgarden - King Animal - 2/5
17. Trifonic - Ninth Wave - 2/5
18. Candlebox - Love Stories & Other Musings - 1.5/5
19. The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet - 0.5/5 - I never understood the appeal of this band
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Yeah, definitely this. I'm fortunate that, unless I'm in a meeting, I can (and do) listen to music while I work, which means I can check out a hell of a lot of stuff. I go through phases for sure - if you're permanently in checking-out-new-stuff mode then it doesn't leave time for actually getting to know the music.
To Rich's last comment there, I just found I wasn't spending enough time with the music I loved when I was constantly on the prowl. And having accumulated 500 new albums in the last 10 years, without accumulating any extra listening time, all I do is reduce the amount of time I end up giving the bands/albums I already have.
Yeah, but that's why it's a balancing act. I routinely find newer bands that I like more than many of the bands I've discovered in earlier years. If I never explore at all I won't find them. So for me it's an endless vacillation between new music, old favorites, and music I've heard and like but am not yet intimately familiar with. And sometimes even "new" music is just an extension of music I already love. If one of my favorite artists releases a new album, spending time with it is more akin to unearthing a treasure trove of unheard songs that I already had and forgot about than it is exploring a completely foreign artist to me. Sometimes this is true for a new artist in a genre you already know well, you're adding a variant on a flavor you know you love rather than something that will take a lot more processing to grasp. But everyone has a different balancing point. I know there are people who listen to the same album(s) every day and have done so for years. I couldn't do that, but for some people it's what makes them happy.
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2012 wasn't the greatest of years but some great relases a few of which remain constants on my stereo and some big names to boot (Soundgarden notable for added nostalgic points but is what it is folks ;))
SOUNDGARDEN - King Animal
THRESHOLD - March Of Progress
LILLIAN AXE - VI The Days Before Tomorrow
BARONESS - Yellow & Green
VAN HALEN - A Different Kind Of Truth
HEADSPACE - I Am Anonymous
MOONSPELL - Alpha Noir
STEVE HARRIS - BRITISH LION
JORN - Bring Heavy Rock To The Land
ADRENALINE MOB - Omerta
PARADISE LOST - Tragic Idol
THE CULT - Weapon Of Choice
BANGALORE CHOIR - Metaphor
EUROPE - Bag Of Bones
STONESOUR - House Of Gold & Bones
CANDLEBOX - Love Stories & Other Musings
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2013
2013: every decade it seems there's 1 or 2 years where I feel like a lot of my time listening to music was compromised by other things. 2013 in some ways was..either that, or I have long since felt did not have any go-to "2013 Albums" that defined and I got attached to. That being said, now remembering and looking at my list, there were a lot of very good albums in 2013. Steven Wilson, Daft Punk, Typhoon, Mayer Hawthorne..all put out records I still enjoy and have not made records as good since (or any in the case of Daft Punk).
I guess even 8 years later, I see 2013 as not being so Top Heavy, but I guess at least have a decent amount of records I enjoyed and still enjoy, with some coming into my playlist since that year, and some I enjoy more now than back then; Pretty & Nice, Cloud Cult, Capital Cities, Josh Rouse.
Also my top 2 EPs are like most years, have music on them that are among my favorites in those bands catalogs.
1. The Reign of Kindo - Play With Fire
2. Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
3. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
4. Typhoon - White Lighter
5. Local Natives - Hummingbird
6. In Vain - Ænigma
7. The Dear Hunter - Migrant
8. Ours - Ballet the Boxer 1
9. Dirt Poor Robins - The Raven Locks Act 1
10. Mayer Hawthorne - Where Does This Door Go
11. Janelle Monáe - The Electric Lady
12. Foals - Holy Fire
13. Pretty & Nice - Golden Rules for Golden People
14. Capital Cities - In a Tidal Wave of Mystery
15. Cloud Cult - Love
16. Brooke Waggoner - Originator
17. The Red Paintings - The Revolution Is Never Coming
18. K Será - Collisions and Near Misses
19. Genders - Get Lost
20. Debashish Bhattacharya - Beyond the Ragasphere
21. Orphaned Land - All Is One
22. Persefone - Spiritual Migration
23. For the Imperium - Hail the Monsters
24. Radical Face - The Family Tree: The Branches
25. Josh Rouse - The Happiness Waltz
26. The Age of Rockets - Adults
27. Biffy Clyro - Opposites
28. Renaissance - Grandine il vento
29. Leprous - Coal
30. Fitz & the Tantrums - More Than Just a Dream
31. Mother Falcon - You Knew
32. Eldren - Eldren
33. Dream Theater - Dream Theater
34. Evarusnik - In a Poker Slash Refrain
35. The Royal Veil - King of the Ocean
36. RisingSide - Arrow: The Onus Key
37. Cynthesis - ReEvolution
38. Revere - My Mirror/Your Target
39. Everything Everything - Arc
40. Falling Up - Hours
41. Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
42. Fates Warning - Darkness In a Different Light
43. David Bowie - The Next Day
44. Karnivool - Asymmetry
45. Shelter Red - The Split Sabre
46. Protest the Hero - Volition
47. Sigur Rós - Kveikur
48. Annuals - Time Stamp
49. The Winery Dogs - The Winery Dogs
50. Fish -A Feast of Consequences
51. Nosound - Afterthoughts
52. Scale the Summit - The Migration
53. Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Descension
54. Baliset - Exordium
55. The Aristocrats - Culture Clash
56. Long Distance Calling - The Flood InsideCulture Clash
57. The Greening - Eon V. Aeon
58. The Polyphonic Spree - Yes, It's True.
59. Alpha Rev - Bloom
60. The Grape and the Grain - Better Keep Digging
Rhye - Woman
The Appleseed Cast - Illumination Ritual
Buke and Gase - General Dome
Worldengine - Dark Matters
Graham Butler - Dread Fascination
The Cloak Ox - Shoot the Dog
Jamie Lidell - Jamie Lidell
Flaud Logic - Flaud Logic
Arsis - Unwelcome
Incura - The Lost
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito
Andrew Stockdal- Keep Moving
Riverside - Shrine of New Generation Slaves
OneRepublic - Native
Jolly - The Audio Guide to Happiness (Part 2)
Jimi Hendrix - People, Hell and Angels
Falling Up - Midnight on Earthship
Eisley - Currents
Editors - The Weight of Your Love
The Besnard Lakes - Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
Blackfield - Blackfield IV
Born of Osiris - Tomorrow We Die ∆live
Levin Minneman Rudess - Levin Minneman Rudess
White Denim - Corsicana Lemonade
Avenged Sevenfold - Hail to the King
Dead Letter Circus - The Catalyst Fire
East of the Wall - Redaction Artifacts
The Stepkids - Troubadour
Pinnick Gales Pridgen - Pinnick Gales Pridgen
Dug Pinnick - Naked
Russian Circles - Memorial
The Elephant In The Room - The Collective & The Individual
EPs
1. The Dear Hunter - The Migrations Annex
2. Miracles of Modern Science - Meems
3. Subterranean Masquerade - Home / Beyond the Pale
4. Northern Abbey - The Sounds of Glowing
5. Sir Video - On and On/Do What You Wanna/Never Knew
6. Bed of Stars - I Fell in Love in the City
7. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving - Failed by Man and Machine
8. Mals Totem - Mals Totem
9. Cloud Caverns - Blind Willow
10. Infantephant - Cyclelicoptippopacalypse
11. Timmy Sean - East Coast Girls
12. Aaron & the Sea - Cloak & Dagger
Concerts
1/19/13 The Champions of Nothing: Kevin Gilbert Tribute - Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
1/23/13 Ramona Falls/Wolfhoppers/Prissy Clerks - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
2/10/13 Coheed and Cambria/Between the Buried and Me/Russian Circles - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
3/20/13 Bend Sinister - JBTV Studios Chicago, IL
3/20/13 Bend Sinister/Single Channel Stereo - Township Chicago, IL
3/23/13 Local Natives/Superhumanoids - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/5/13 Michael Nesmith - The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul, MN
4/14/13 The Dear Hunter/Naive Thieves - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
4/25/13 Mindless Self Indulgence/The Red Paintings - Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
5/4/13 Steven Wilson - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
5/17/13 Laura Stevenson/Field Mouse - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
5/20/13 Foals/Surfer Blood/Blondfire - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/15/13 Josh Rouse/Field Report - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
6/15/13 Josh Rouse/Field Report - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
6/17/13 Fitz and the Tantrums/ Sons of Valory/Ivy Levan - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
6/28/13 The Polyphonic Spree - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
6/30/13 Wishbone Ash/Nektar - Famous Dave's Calhoun Square Minneapolis, MN
8/9/13 Yes - Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN
9/15/13 Debashish Bhattacharya's Modern India - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
9/17/13 The Dear Hunter/Rogue Valley - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
9/19/13 Typhoon/Radiation City - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
9/22/13 David Cassidy/Peter Noone/Micky Dolenz - Grand Casino Hinckley, MN
9/22/13 Anathema/Alcest - Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
10/1/13 Billy Cobham - The Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
10/11/13 Between the Buried and Me/The Faceless/The Contortionist/The Safety Fire - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/16/13 Radical Face/Jonny Rodgers - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/22/13 Janelle Monae/Strange Names - The Skyway Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/1/13 Living Colour - Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
11/16/13 Umami/Aaron and the Sea/Genders - Kitty Cat Klub Minneapolis, MN
11/20/13 Miracles of Modern Science/The Loose Cannons - The Lion's Pause Northfield, MN
11/21/13 Fitz and the Tantrums/Capital Cities/Beat Club - Myth Maplewood, MN
11/24/13 Michael Nesmith - Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI
11/30/13 Goblin/Zombi - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
12/12/13 Boiled in Lead: Acoustic Yule- Celtic Junction St.Paul, MN
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2013
Back full-time in the US after three years working abroad, the list for 2013 is a bit thicker again (although still a good number of albums purchased later (*))
Dream Theater's S/T is still my favorite of the Mangini-era. Time will tell if A View...will challenge that. Great album from Alter Bridge - definitely better than ABIII (which was good but not great). Overall, lots of good stuff (including one of my favorite late-career Satriani records, with a super backing-band)
The Top 15:
Dream Theater – Dream Theater
Alter Bridge – Fortress
Audrey Horne – Youngblood
Haken – The Mountain
Clutch – Earth Rocker *
Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused to Sing
Joe Satriani – Unstoppable Momentum
In Solitude – Sister *
Kingcrow – In Crescendo
Paramore – Paramore
Onerepublic – Native
Vhol – Vhol *
Beastmilk – Climax *
Carcass – Surgical Steel
Dark Tranquillity - Construct
The Honorable Mentions:
Alice in Chains – The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Amon Amarth – Deceiver of the Gods *
Amorphis – Circle *
Annihilator – Feast *
The Answer – New Horizon *
Avatarium – Avatarium *
Avenged Sevenfold – Hail to the King
Sara Bareilles – The Blessed Unrest
Biffy Clyro - Opposites
Black Sabbath – 13 *
Bring Me the Horizon – Sempiternal *
Dead Letter Circus – The Catalyst Fire
Death Angel – The Dream Calls for Blood
Dillinger Escape Plan – One of Us is the Killer
Fates Warning – Darkness in a Different Light
Five Finger Death Punch – The Wrong Side of Heaven…
Ghost – Infestissumam
Haim – Days Are Gone *
Jimmy Eat World – Damage
Karnivool - Asymmetry
Kacey Musgrave – Same Trailer Different Park *
Leprous – Coal *
Lorde – Pure Heroine
The Ocean – Pelagial *
Queensryche – Queensryche
Sahg – Delusions of Grandeur *
Soilwork – The Living Infinite
Bruce Soord & Jonas Renske – Wisdom of Crowds *
Spiritual Beggars – Earth Blues
Stone Sour – House of Gold & Bones – Part 2 *
Subsignal – Paraiso
Tesseract – Altered State *
Van Hertzen Brother – Nine Lives *
Voivod – Target Earth
Volbeat – Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies
The Winery Dogs – The Winery Dogs
Witherscape – The Inheritance *
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Surprisingly no 5 out of 5 albums for me this year:
2013:
1. Ludovico Einaudi - In A Time Lapse - 4/5
2. Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels - 4/5
3. The Aristocrats - Culture Clash - 4/5
4. Sarah Jarosz - Build Me Up From Bones - 4/5
5. Emancipator - Dusk To Dawn - 3.5/5
6. Alter Bridge - Fortress - 3.5/5
7. The Winery Dogs - The Winery Dogs - 3/5
8. Aaron Static - Redemption - 3/5
9. Dream Theater - Dream Theater - 3/5
10. Palms - Palms - 2.5/5
11. St. Lucia - When The Night - 2.5/5
12. Andrew Bayer - If It Were You, We'd Never Leave - 2/5
13. MS MR - Secondhand Rapture - 2/5
14. ASG - Blood Drive - 2/5
15. City And Colour - The Hurry And The Harm - 2/5
16. Haken - The Mountain - 2/5
17. Atoms For Peace - Amok - 0.5/5
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It feels like 2013 was the year where quite a few bands I love or really like released albums that were either just good or disappointing (Dream Theater, Bowie, Flower Kings, Arcade Fire, Blackfield, Ayreon). Still, there were three that I thought were great, and those are the ones I am listing.
01 Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing
02 Haken - The Mountain
03 Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
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It feels like 2013 was the year where quite a few bands I love or really like released albums that were either just good or disappointing (Dream Theater, Bowie, Flower Kings, Arcade Fire, Blackfield, Ayreon). Still, there were three that I thought were great, and those are the ones I am listing.
01 Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing
02 Haken - The Mountain
03 Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
You should've played in my current roulette.
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It feels like 2013 was the year where quite a few bands I love or really like released albums that were either just good or disappointing (Dream Theater, Bowie, Flower Kings, Arcade Fire, Blackfield, Ayreon). Still, there were three that I thought were great, and those are the ones I am listing.
01 Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing
02 Haken - The Mountain
03 Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
You should've played in my current roulette.
I've stuck my nose in there, but that seems like too much dedication. :lol Too much crap going on in real life to dedicate myself to something like that at the moment, otherwise I might have considered it (I have never participated in the roulettes).
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It feels like 2013 was the year where quite a few bands I love or really like released albums that were either just good or disappointing (Dream Theater, Bowie, Flower Kings, Arcade Fire, Blackfield, Ayreon). Still, there were three that I thought were great, and those are the ones I am listing.
01 Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing
02 Haken - The Mountain
03 Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
You should've played in my current roulette.
I've stuck my nose in there, but that seems like too much dedication. :lol Too much crap going on in real life to dedicate myself to something like that at the moment, otherwise I might have considered it (I have never participated in the roulettes).
Nah, it's really not a lot of dedication. For this one, it's pick two songs for each round and take part in a little banter.
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Nah, it's really not a lot of dedication. For this one, it's pick two songs for each round and take part in a little banter.
I suppose. Just seemed a bit too daunting at the moment. :shrug:
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So I take it Kev is not the Omnipotent One :lol
I hear you on it taking a lot of time, but I could have used a little more pro-NM company on the Neal Morse round!
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2013 was a short list but a big (big) year.
1. Big Big Train - English Electric: Full Power
2. The Winery Dogs - The Winery Dogs
3. Sound of Contact - Dimensionaut
4. Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
And that's it for all new releases! But there were two big re-mix/re-issues that year too:
1. Marillion - Radiation 2013
2. Rush - Vapor Trails (Remixed)
Also, I had Moon Safari's Himlabacken Vol. 1 and Lover's End Pt. III as 2013 on my computer, but it appears the actual release year for both is 2012. All these newer small budget releases don't get cataloged right by online databases.
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I'm trying to get slightly more selective, we'll see how this goes. Hmm, maybe slightly less, it's still so hard to leave things off. A pattern I'm noticing is that most of my tier 4 albums stand out as salient against lower tiers that get cut, but I still haven't spent enough time with them for them to be very memorable, just a very vague, warm fuzzy feeling about them that lower tiers have less of. Without listening to everything again to more properly rank it all, it seems listening time and memorability is more important than any arbitrary judgement of quality, at least for the lower tiers. Tier 3 I usually remember a decent amount about. Tier 2 albums all tended to have their moment in the sun for me, but there's usually some slight thing lacking about them compared to the tier 1 entries, which are treasured favorites.
2013:
Tier 1:
Alter Bridge - Fortress
CHVRCHES - The Bones of What You Believe
Daughter - If You Leave
Ruth Moody - These Wilder Things
Raving Season - Amnio
Soilwork - The Living Infinite
Sulphur Aeon - Swallowed By the Ocean's Tide
Witherscape - The Inheritance
Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty
Tier 2:
Amaranthe - The Nexus
Amorphis - Circle
Ashes of Ares - s/t
Ayreon - The Theory of Everything
Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest
Carcass - Surgical Steel
Deadlock - The Arsonist
Dido - Girl Who Got Away
Entrails - Raging Death
Anneke van Giersbergen - Drive
Mercenary - Through Our Darkest Days
Noumena - Death Walks With Me
Sevendust - Black Out the Sun
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Made Up Mind
TesseracT - Altered State
Vertical Horizon - Echoes From the Underground
Tier 3:
Bonamassa/Hart - Seesaw
Dance With the Dead - Out of Body
Kelly Clarkson - Wrapped In Red
Mike Dawes - What Just Happened?
Depeche Mode - Delta Machine
The Eden House - Half Life
Exivious - Liminal
Gorguts - Colored Sands
Sarah Jarosz - Build Me Up From Bones
James LaBrie - Impermanent Resonance
Lazerhawk - Skull and Shark
David Maxim Micic - Bilo 3.0
Agnes Obel - Aventine
October Tide - Tunnel of No Light
Ogre - Calico Brawn
Shatter Messiah - Hail the New Cross
Skinny Puppy - Weapon
Volto! - Incitare
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)
Tier 4:
Alice In Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Ataraxie - L'etre et la nausee
Sithu Aye - 26
Dark Tranquillity - Construct
Darkane - The Sinister Supremacy
Deafheaven - Sunbather
Dream Theater - s/t
Enshine - Origin
Esben and the Witch - Wash the Sins Not Only the Face
Exhumed - Necrocracy
Front Line Assembly - Echogenetic
Hail of Bullets - III: The Rommel Chronicles
Haken - The Mountain
Hamferd - Evst
Jess and the Ancient Ones - Astral Sabbat
Krypts - Unending Degradation
Modern Day Babylon - Travelers
Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 1
Persefone - Spiritual Migration
Quest of Aidance - Misanthropic Propaganda
Revocation - s/t
Sirenia - Perils of the Deep Blue
Snarky Puppy - Family Dinner: Volume One
When Nothing Remains - Thy Dark Serenity
White Moth Black Butterfly - One Thousand Wings
Windhand - Soma
Wine From Tears - Glad To Be Dead
Wisdom of Crowds - s/t
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Off the top of my head, I seem to recall that 2013 was relatively soft. Let's see now that I list 'em out
Not mentioned yet:
Alpha Rev - Bloom
Avantasia - The Mystery of Time
Constantine - Resign Due
Damnations Day - Invisible, The Dead
DGM - Momentum
Dream Theater - Happy Holidays 2013
Eden's Curse - Symphony of Sin
Epysode - Fantasmagoria
Illusion Suite - The Iron Cemetary
James Labrie - Impermanent Resonance
Jorn - Traveller
Karnya - Coverin Thoughts
Lord - Digital Lies
Maestrick - Unpuzzle!
Magnus Karlsson's FreeFall - s/t
Materplan - Nova Initium
Mindmaze - Mask of Lies
Nightwish - Showtime, Storytime
Now or Never - s/t
Odd Dimension - The Last Embrace to Humanity
The Poodles - Tour de Force
Powerworld - Cybersteria
Pretty Maids - Motherland
Queensryche - s/t
Rage of Angels - Dreamworld
ReVamp - Wild Card
Royal Hunt - A Life to Die For
Rush - Clockwork Angels Tour
Serenity - War of Ages
Silent Force - Rising from Ashes
Stratovarius - Nemesis
Tellus Requiem - Invictis (The 11th Hour)
Thought Chamber - Psykerion
Vandroya - One
Withem - The Point of You
Ok... so it was pretty decent. Quite a few gems up there, and lots of really good stuff. Not too many duds. Only 35 albums though - so it was kinda light.
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First off, for 2012 I'm pretty sure I forgot Bruce Springsteen's Wrecking Ball.
Now, onto my 2013:
1. Lingua Mortis Orchestra - LMO
Rage in everything but the name of the project, this orchestral album by the german power metal titans is a masterpiece of the genre, and my favorite of the year.
2. Avantasia - The Mystery of Time
3. Helloween - Straight Out of Hell
An all-german podium, with good albums from both Avantasia and Helloween - SOOH might not have all killer songs, but those who are, are among the best of their recent era.
Filling it all out:
4. Blood Ceremony - The Eldritch Dark
5. Avatarium – Avatarium
6. James LaBrie - Impermanent Resonance
7. Dream Theater – Dream Theater
8. Ghost – Infestissumam
9. Wardruna - Runaljod - Yggdrasil
10. Avenged Sevenfold - Hail to the King
Honorabile mentions:
Black Sabbath – 13
Anneke van Giersbergen - Drive
Royal Hunt - A Life to Die For
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2013
1. FATES WARNING Darkness In A Different Light
2. ALICE IN CHAINS The Devil Put Dino's Here
3. DREAM THEATER Dream Theater
4. QUEENSRYCHE Queensryche
5. AMORPHIS Circle
W.E.T. Rise Up
JORN Traveller
BLACK WATER RISING Black Water Rising
MERCENARY Through Our Darkest Days
CIRCLE II CIRCLE Seaons Will Fall
KINGDOM COME Outlier
ETA Amorphis can't believe I forgot it!
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Epic year!
1. Haken - The Mountain
2. TesseracT - Altered State
3. Submotion Orchestra - 1968 EP
4. Enshine - Origin
5. Caligula's Horse - The Tide, the Thief & River's End
6. The Dear Hunter - Migrant
7. Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
8. Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart
9. Von Hertzen Brothers - Nine Lives
10. Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
11. Arcane Roots - Blood & Chemistry
12. Protest the Hero - Volition
13. Monica Heldal - Boy From the North
14. Amorphis - Circle
15. Omnium Gatherum - Beyond
16. Persefone - Spiritual Migration
17. Owel - Owel
18. Anathema - Universal
19. Plini - Other Things EP
20. Soilwork - The Living Infinite
21. Jason Isbell - Southeastern
22. Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 1
23. Ólafur Arnalds - For Now I Am Winter
24. Kauan - Pirut
25. Alter Bridge - Fortress
Also great:
65daysofstatic - Wild Light
Amon Amarth - Deceiver of the Gods
Anamanaguchi - Endless Fantasy
Arctic Monkeys - AM
Biffy Clyro - Opposites
Big Big Train - English Electric: Full Power
Blindead - Absence
Blue October - Sway
Bring Me the Horizon - Sempiternal
BT - A Song Across Wires
Burden of Life - The Vanity Syndrome
The Cat Empire - Steal the Light
Cloud Cult - Love
Dance Gavin Dance - Acceptance Speech
David Maxim Micic - Bilo 3.0
Dream Theater - Dream Theater
Falling Up - Hours
Feed Me - Calamari Tuesday
Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse
Gabrielle Aplin - English Rain
Goldfrapp - Tales of Us
Hamferð - Evst
Hands Like Houses - Unimagine
Heaven's Basement - Filthy Empire
Ihsahn - Das Seelenbrechen
James LaBrie - Impermanent Resonance
Kardashev - Excipio
Kiev - Falling Bough Wisdom Teeth
Leprous - Coal
Like Thieves - The Wolves at Winter's Edge
The Longest Johns - Christmas at Sea EP
Marah in the Mainsail - Devil Weeds & Dour Deeds
Maribou State - Tongue EP
MyGrain - Planetary Breathing
Ninjaspy - No Kata
Norma Jean - Wrongdoers
The Ocean - Pelagial
Olaf Stuut - Equilibre
Ólafur Arnalds - Broadchurch OST
The Ongoing Concept - Saloon
Plini - Sweet Nothings EP
Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
The Reign of Kindo - Play With Fire
Shade Empire - Omega Arcane
Shpongle - Museum of Consciousness
Subsignal - Paraíso
Tigran Hamasyan - Shadow Theater
Vangough - Between the Madness
VNV Nation - Transnational
Witherscape - The Inheritance
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2008:
This is a surprisingly strong and deep year. Tier 4 really needs to be split into a few more tiers, but it's too daunting to slice up right now, so it's all staying for the moment.
Tier 1:
All Ends - s/t
Ayreon - 01011001
Daylight Dies - Lost To the Living
Deadlock - Manifesto
Dido - Safe Trip Home
Draconian - Turning Season Within
Iced Earth - I Walk Among You EP (still mostly ignoring EPs, unless they are incredible which this one is)
Mercenary - Architect of Lies
Opeth - Watershed
Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe
To-Mera - Delusions
Tier 2:
Anti-Depressive Delivery - Chain of Foods
Francesca Battistelli - My Paper Heart
Bloodbath - The Fathomless Mastery
Bloodbath - Unblessing the Purity EP (same deal, "Blasting the Virginborn" might be the most menacing Akerfeldt has ever sounded)
Bon Voyage - Lies
Communic - Payment of Existence
Warrel Dane - Praises To the War Machine
Ebony Ark - When the City is Quiet
Eventide - Planet Plague EP
Evergrey - Torn
Galaxy Hunter - We Came From Space
Illdisposed - The Prestige
King's x - XV
Jeff Loomis - Zero Order Phase
OceanLab - Sirens of the Sea
Origin - Antithesis
Panzerballett - Starke Stucke
Sevendust - Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow
Susan Tedeschi - Back To the River
Telemetrik - My Lightyear
Universum - Leto Destinatus
Unleashed - Hammer Battalion
UnSun - The End of Life
Tier 3:
Abigail Williams - In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns
Adele - 19
Aesthetic Perfection - A Violent Emotion
Akphaezya - Anthology II: Links From the Dead Trinity
Lisa Batiashvili - Violin Concerto/Miniatures
Celldweller - Soundtrack For the Voices In My Head Vol. 01
Chaoswave - Dead Eye Dreaming
Coldplay - Viva la vida or Death and All His Friends
Cynic - Traced In Air
Darkane - Demonic Art
Dead Congregation - Graves of the Archangels
Demiurg - The Hate Chamber
Dismember - s/t
Divinefire - Farewell
DOOM:VS - Dead Words Speak
Edenbridge - MyEarthDream
Eluveitie - Slania
Flowing Tears - They Kingdom Gone
Grave - Dominion VIII
Hail of Bullets - ...Of Frost and War
Hour of Penance - The Vile Conception
Sierra Hull - Secrets
Imagika - Feast For the Hatred
Machinae Supremacy - Overworld
Kathy Mattea - Coal
Lady Gaga - The Fame
MyGrain - Signs of Existence
Pyramaze - immortal
One-Way Mirror - s/t
Testament - The Formation of Damnation
Todesbonden - Sleep Now Quiet Forest
Trivium - Shogun
Vassilis Tsabropoulos - Melos
Zappa Plays Zappa - s/t
Tier 4:
Natasha Borzilova - Cheap Escape
Chain Collector - Unrestrained
Coffins - Buried Death
Dagoba - Face the Colossus
Disfear - Live the Storm
Endanger - Revolt
The Faceless - Planetary Duality
Firewind - The Premonition
Fleet Foxes - s/t
genCAB - II transMuter
Grand Magus - Iron Will
Buddy Guy - Skin Deep
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew
Roy Hargrove - Earfood
Hate - Morphosis
Heaven Shall Burn - Iconoclast
Heavenwood - Redemption
Hiromi's Sonicbloom - Beyond Standard
Joanne Hogg - Raphael's Journey
Hooded Menace - Fulfill the Curse
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Part 2)
In Flames - A Sense of Purpose
Into Eternity - The Incurable Tragedy
Meshuggah - obZen
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Midnight Syndicate - The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates
Moon Safari - [blomljud]
Gary Moore - Bad For You Baby
Mostly Autumn - Glass Shadows
Myhybris - The Sweet Melody of Resilience
Panic Lift - Witness To Our Collapse
Aaron Parks - Invisible Cinema
Portishead - Third
Rational Diet - At Work
Res - Black.Girls.Rock!
Rotten Sound - Cycles
Scrapomatic - Sidewalk Caesars
Secret Chiefs 3 - Xaphan: Book of Angels Volume 9
Shadow - Forever Chaos
Snarky Puppy - Brings Us the Bright
Snow Goons - Black Snow
Esperanza Spalding - s/t
Straight Line Stitch - When Skies Wash Ashore
Synthetic Breed - Catatonic
Terminal Function - Measuring the Abstract
Trap Them - Seizures in Barren Praise
Venetian Snares - Reality Dysfunction
Whitesnake - Good To Be Bad
Steven Wilson - insurgentes
Rachael Yamagata - Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart
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i'm way behind on this thread bcuz i've been busy working on a feature-length youtube video :lol
2010:
#1: Blindead - Affliction XXIX II MXMVI
#2: Haken - Aquarius
#3: Shining - Blackjazz
#4: Oceansize - Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up
#5: Alcest - Ecailles de Lune
#6: East of the Wall - Ressentiment
#7: Eluvium - Static Nocturne
#8: Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
absolutely not a banner year considering how strong pretty much every other year of the decade is going to be for me on these lists. none of these would make even my top 5 in 2011 or 2013
which, speaking of:
2011:
#1: East of the Wall - The Apologist (surprise)
#2: Midnight Odyssey - Funerals From the Astral Sphere
#3: Leprous - Bilateral
#4: Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction
#5: Alrakis - Alpha Eri
#6: Unexpect - Fables of the Sleepless Empire
#7: Protest the Hero - Scurrilous
#8: Amplifier - The Octopus
#9: M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
#10: Caligula's Horse - Moments From Ephemeral City
christ what a year, i'm being picky keeping it to only 10 but that's a lotta great music for one year
2012:
#1: The Hirsch Effekt - Holon : Anamnesis
#2: Thank You Scientist - Maps of Non-Existent Places
#3: Enslaved - RIITIIR
#4: Dordeduh - Dar de duh
#5: A Forest of Stars - A Shadowplay for Yesterdays
#6: Xanthochroid - Blessed He With Boils
#7: Beyond the Bridge - The Old Man and the Spirit
#8: Obsidian Kingdom - Mantiis
#9: Headspace - I Am Anonymous
#10: The Faceless - Autotheism
still lots of good stuff and even two 5-star albums but the dropoff is a lot sharper and faster here
2013:
#1: El Drugstore - Plague Ship
#2: Persefone - Spiritual Migration
#3: Exist - Sunlight
#4: Haken - The Mountain
#5: The Ocean - Pelagial
#6: Caligula's Horse - The Tide, the Thief & River's End
#7: Intronaut - Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones)
#8: Amendfoil - Skyline Escape
#9: David Maxim Micic - Bilo 3.0
#10: Progenie Terrestre Pura - U.M.A.
#11: Leprous - Coal
#12: TesseracT - Altered State
#13: Lorde - Pure Heroine
#14: Oceans of Slumber - Aetherial
#15: Oranssi Pazuzu - Valonielu
#16: Capital Cities - In a Tidal Wave of Mystery
#17: Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Descension
y'know what i'll be honest i did not realize until now just how stacked 2013 was. maybe it's because a whole lot of these were retrospective finds but even then a lot of them weren't, either, so. yeah wow
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My 2013 albums.
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes & Dreamless Sleep
Sound of Contact - Dimensionaut
The Tangent - Le Sacre du Travail
Maschine - Rubidium
Haken - The Mountain
Dream Theater - Dream Theater
Big Big Train - English Electric: Full Power
Sand - Sand
The Flower Kings - Desolation Rose
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2014
2014, while I think of more favorably than 2013, I don't know if actually has more better records. It maybe has a little more depth and more new artists/new artists-to-me; The Family Crest, Bent Knee, Major Parkinson Dream the Electric Sleep, iamthemorning, Grimus, and The Mercury Tree among others were bands who I didn't know in 2014, put out new excellent albums.
And then there is Fjokra, who released in-effect a debut EP that totally blew my mind. The way Fjokra combined so many genres so well in just an EP completely floored me and got me going back to the Thoughtsteps EP over and over and over again.
And while i have mixed thoughts about whether an EP really should be considered an Album of the Year, Thoughtsteps was my AOTY in 2014, but I have flipped and decided to rank EPs separately for now. But without question, that EP is my favorite thing still from 2014 and one of my all-time favorite EPs. My biggest beef though is, we have barely heard from Fjokra since. Some singles here and there in the last 7 years, but logically, with an EP as great as Thoughtsteps is, you'd think a Full-Length album would eventually come soon after, but for whatever reason, it has not still. Hopefully 7 years from now, I'm not still saying the same thing.
1. The Family Crest - Beneath the Brine
2. Bent Knee - Shiny Eyed Babies
3. Anathema - Distant Satellites
4. The Tea Party - The Ocean at the End
5. Bend Sinister - Animals
6. Kimbra - The Golden Echo
7. Team Me - Blind as Night
8. Dream the Electric Sleep - Heretics
9. Major Parkinson - Twilight Cinema
10. Grimus - Emergence
11. Clone - Clone
12. Imogen Heap - Sparks
13. Dirt Poor Robins - The Raven Locks Act 2
14. Markéta Irglová - Muna
15. iamthemorning - Belighted
16. The Mercury Tree - Countenance
17. Nomia - Iron and Rust
18. Brice Plays Drums - ProgTagonist
19. The Contortionist - Language
20. Cynic - Kindly Bent to Free Us
21. Agalloch - The Serpent & the Sphere
22. Big Wreck - Ghosts
23. Archive - Axiom
24. Moron Police - Defenders of the Small Yard
25. Toria - Octave
26. Put Down the Muffin - Charged Particles
27. Dog Fashion Disco - Sweet Nothings
28. Adebisi Shank - This Is the Third Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
29. Nordic Giants - Build Seas, Dismantle Suns
30. Opeth - Pale Communion
31. Sólstafir - Ótta
32. Jeremy Messersmith - Heart Murmurs
33. The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - Zombie Mouth
34. "Weird Al" Yankovic - Mandatory Fun
35. The Dang Ol' Tri'ole - Rise and Shine
36. Josh Benash - Stasis
37. Umphrey's McGee - Similar Skin
38. Casey Crescenzo - Amour & Attrition
39. Nicholas Krgovich - On Sunset
40. Chromeo - White Women
41. Sheena Ringo - 日 出処 (Hi izuru tokoro)
42. Jessie Ware - Tough Love
43. Pink Floyd - The Endless River
44. Rx Bandits - Gemini, Her Majesty
45. Chris Letchford - Lightbox
46. Warpaint - Warpaint
47. The Aston Shuffle - Photographs
48. Flying Colors - Second Nature
49. Dave Kerzner - New World
50. Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel
51. flying forms - New Music for Old Instruments: Music for Baroque Instruments by Nissim Schaul
52. Enchant - The Great Divide
53. U2 - Songs of Innocence
54. The 4 Korners - The 4 Korners
55. Pat Metheny Unity Group - Kin (← →)
56. Syd Arthur - Sound Mirror
57. Nicole Atkins - Slow Phaser
*The Midnight - Days of Thunder
*Bjørn Riis - Lullabies in a Car Crash
Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No.
Crippled Black Phoenix - White Light Generator
The Grape and the Grain - The Grape and the Grain
Hannes Grossmann - The Radial Covenant
Thomas Giles - Modern Noise
Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
Spiral - Our Final Days on Bellicus Prime
Bigelf - Into the Maelstrom
The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
Yes - Heaven & Earth
Cloud Caverns - Gypsy Loft
Behemoth - The Satanist
Fallujah - Starlit Path
Gavin Castleton - Blessed
The Antlers - Familiars
Pharrell Williams G I R L
KXM - KXM
Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun
St. Vincent - St. Vincent
Fire Garden - Sound of Majestic Colors
Eatliz - All Of It
Antemasque - Antemasque
Field Mouse - Hold Still Life
Karen O - Crush Songs
Motopony - Idle Beauty
Wolfmother - New Crown
EPs
1. Fjokra - Thoughtsteps
2. Fjokra - The Mellowsound Sessions
3. sElf - Super Fake Nice
4. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Mammoth Skin Pt. 2
5. Sir Video - Light Years
6. Alphabetical Order Orchestra - AOO1
7. Three - Sugarlife + You Are the Alien
8. Sucré - Loner
9. Bed of Stars - Tell Me If It's True
10. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving - Downbeat
11. The Stepkids - Wanderers
Concerts
2/13//14 Mayer Hawthorne - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
3/7/14 The Musical Box - The Skyway Theatre Minneapolis, MN
3/21/14 Led Zeppelin 2 - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
3/29/14 Warpaint//Cate Le Bon - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
3/30/14 Bend Sinister - The Turf Club - St.Paul, MN
4/8/14 Dream Theater - Performing Arts Center Burnsville, MN
4/23/14 XTC Tribute: Senses Working Overtime 2 - The Icehouse Minneapolis, MN
5/15/14 Cage the Elephant/Foals/J Roddy Watson and the Business - Myth Maplewood, MN
5/16/14 Chromeo/Oliver - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
6/2/14 The Monkees - The Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater Apple Valley, MN
6/6/14 Mother Falcon/The Family Crest - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
6/9/14 Elvis Costello - O'Shaughnessy Auditorium - St.Paul, MN
6/18/14 Agalloch/Blood and Sun/Obsidian Tongue - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
6/29/14 Michael McDonald - Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN
7/18/14 The Human Empire/Narrow Vines/RisingSide - Minnesota Music Cafe St.Paul, MN
7/25/14 Yes/Syd Arthur - Overture Hall Madison, WI
8/23/14 Nomia/Hardcore Crayons/Morality Crisis/More is More - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
9/7/14 Genders/Strange Relations - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
9/9/14 The Mercury Tree/Brice Plays Drums - Whiskey Junction Minneapolis, MN
9/27/14 A Progressive Soundscape Evening
Scotty Horey/Rising Side/Harakiri - Old Arizona Minneapolis, MN
10/8/14 Motopony/The Family Crest - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/10/14 Sloan - The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
10/17/14 Marketa Irglova/Rosi Golan - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/30/14 Kimbra/Empress Of - The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
11/9/14 Captial Cities/Cherub/Night Terrors of 1927 - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
12/12/14 Greg Herriges at Dreamland Arts St.Paul, M
12/13/14 The Birthday Massacre/The Red Paintings - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
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2014:
01 Devin Townsend - Casualties of Cool
02 Opeth - Pale Communion
03 Flying Colors - Second Nature
04 Devin Townsend - Sky Blue
05 Taylor Swift - 1989
06 U2 - Songs of Innocence
07 Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
08 The Pineapple Thief - Magnolia
09 Pink Floyd - The Endless River
10 Neal Morse - Songs from November
What's wild for me is that if I could count the Casualties of Cool bonus disc as its own disc, that would also be top 3 for me for this year. :eek :eek
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2014: This is actually a fairly diverse and interesting year in my collection.
1. Rocket Moth - Mesolow
2. Fernando Perdomo - Warm
3. Tim Bowness - Abandoned Dancehall Dreams
4. Flying Colors - Second Nature
5. Winger - Better Days Comin'
6. Neal Morse - Songs from November
7. Steve Rothery - The Ghosts of Pripyat
8. Enchant - The Great Divide
9. Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
10. Taylor Swift - 1989
A random song from that year that I love but didn't care enough for the rest of the album to buy the album is a song called Seasons by Future Islands. Forever grateful to the guy who introduced it to me via this performance on Letterman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK4lD3Uf8_o
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1. EVERGREY Hymns For The Broken
2. THRESHOLD For The Journey
3. VANISHING POINT Distant Is The Sun
4. KXM KXM
5. ALLEN LANDE The Great Divide
Billy Idol
Triosphere
Sanctuary
Harmony
Skintrade
The Scantilla Project
Foo Fighters
Iced Earth
Slash
Wicked Sensation
Lynch Mob
The Angels
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Let me catch up on 2013 and do 2014.
2012 was my first year as a serious music listener (I know that makes me young); 2013 was my first year consciously thinking about an album of the year, so it's interesting to look back on it.
2013:
1. Haken - The Mountain
2. Lorde - Pure Heroine
3. Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
4. Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Descension
5. Avantasia - The Mystery of Time
6. Dream Theater - Dream Theater
7. Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
8. Tesseract - Altered State
9. Ayreon - The Theory of Everything
In 2013, I chose The Raven That Refused to Sing as my AOTY. I still think that is a monumental album, but my own tastes have shifted away from Wilson's brand of melancholic music, to the point where the only ones of his albums that I feel any real desire to listen to are that one and Deadwing.
I had The Mountain in second place that year, but with the perspective of time, it's definitely my favorite album from that year now and has been for at least the past 5 years or so.
Lorde's debut album is one that I discovered in around 2015 and fell very much in love with. It would join The Mountain on any list of the most important albums in my life.
DT12 is interesting here. I don't think it's a bad album; in fact, I think it's a good one. But most of the songs there just don't excite me (The Bigger Picture is a huge exception). It was my #3 in 2013, but the Lorde, Coheed and Avantasia albums all had periods where they were played huge roles in my music listening during the 2015-2017 period in a way that DT12—except, again, The Bigger Picture—never really did.
2014:
1. Coldplay - Ghost Stories
2. Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
3. Taylor Swift - 1989
4. Evergrey - Hymns for the Broken
5. Anathema - Distant Satellites
6. Markéta Irglová - Muna
7. IQ - The Road of Bones
8. Epica - The Quantum Enigma
9. Tuomas Holopainen - Music Inspired by the Life and Times of Scrooge
10. Amaranthe - Massive Addictive
11. Haken - Restoration
12. Opeth - Pale Communion
13. Thank You Scientist - Maps of Non-Existant Places
14. Flying Colors - Second Nature
This is a really deep year. The first six albums are all really memorable for me. Ghost Stories is one of my favorite albums of all time, with Midnight being one of my favorite songs of all time. So different from almost all the music I listen to, but it just has an atmosphere and an emotion that connected with me really well in 2014 and still connects with me really well now. Similar story with the Markéta Irglová album. Very different from what I usually listen to, but I heard a song in roulette and got really attached to the whole thing. Haven't gone back to it in years or ever really sought out her other music, but it was one I really enjoyed.
Evergrey is a band I only got into this year (after several attempts over the years) and Hymns for the Broken connected well with me during a difficult emotional time. With time, it might break into the top 3, but I've admired Kaleidscope and 1989 as superb albums for a long enough time that it will take a little longer to pass either.
Restoration and Pale Communion are releases I return to occasionally, and think of as at least solid, but both feel like disappointments as follow-ups to albums that are possibly my favorites from each band (The Mountain and Heritage.
TYS and FC are bands that never really connected with me outside of a few songs (many of which are on these albums for both bands). But I could do to give both of them another chance (especially TYS).
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2014
There isn't much of a ranking at the top, in that there's a bunch of very good albums, but maybe no clear standout as in other years. As usual, * for albums purchased later.
Top 15
Evergrey – Hymns for the Broken
Audrey Horne – Pure Heavy
Nightingale – Retribution *
Rival Sons – The Great Western Valkyrie
The Pretty Reckless – Going to Hell
Darkest Era – Severance *
Kenn Nardi – Dancing with the Past *
Mastodon – Once More ‘Round the Sun
Opeth – Pale Communion *
Taylor Swift – 1989 *
Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways
Slipknot - .5: The Gray Chapter
The Contortionist – Language
Within Temptation – Hydra
Anathema – Distant Satellites
The Honorable Mentions:
21 Octayne – Into the Open *
Tori Amos – Unrepentant Geraldines
Animals as Leaders – Joy of Motion *
At the Gates - At War With Reality
Avatar – Hail the Apocalypse *
Black Stone Cherry – Magic Mountain
Crobot – Something Supernatural
Demon Hunter - Extremist
Destrage – Are You Kidding Me? No *
Dreamgrave – Presentiment *
Exodus – Blood In Blood Out
Flying Colors – Second Nature *
Gazpacho – Demon *
Godsmack – 1000hp
Grand Magus – Triumph and Power
Billy Idol – Kings & Queens of the Underground
Insomnium – Shadows of the Dying Sun *
KXM – KXM
Kyng – Burn the Serum
Linkin Park – the Hunting Party
Little Big Town – Pain Killer *
Ingrid Michaelson – Lights Out
Ne Obliviscaris – Citadel *
Nothing More – Nothing More
Pallbearer – Foundations of Burden *
The Pineapple Thief – Magnolia *
Prong – Ruining Lives
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
Shaman’s Harvest – Smokin’ Hearts & Broken Guns
Shores of Null – Quiescence *
Slash (Feat. Myles Kennedy) – World on Fire *
Voices – London *
Work of Art – Framework
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2014 is the year that I actually started tracking a ranking of albums. So, of the albums that I bought in 2014, here's how I initially ranked 'em:
Vanden Plas - Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld
Evergrey - Hymns for the Broken
Flying Colors - Second Nature
Transatlantic - Kaleidescope
Anubis - Hitchhiking To Byzantium
Flaming Row - Mirage - A Portrayal of Figures
Psycrence - A Frail Deception
Mindmaze - Back from the Edge
Thoughts Factory - Lost
Ten - Albion
Triosphere - In The Heart of the Matter
Amadeus Awad's Eon - Book of Gates
Threshold - For the Journey
Primal Fear - Delivering the Black
Red Circuit - Haze of Nemesis
Accept - Blind Rage
House of Lords - Precious Metal
Wicked Sensation - Adrenaline Rush
Vanishing Point - Distant is the Sun
Inner - Poems
Neonfly - Superlative Strangers
Harem Scarem - 13
U2 - Songs of Innocence
IQ - Road of Bones
Enchant - The Great Divide
Some would not age well and I'd rate them much lower (Psycrence, Ten) and others I would now rate much higher (IQ)
Others not mentioned yet:
Abime - Poems (courtesy of DTFs very own DarkLordLalinc)
Aeon Zen - Ephemera
Age of Artemis - The Waking Hour
Arion - The Last of Us
Black Fate - Between Visions & Lies
Cell15 - Chapter One
Daydream XI - The Grand Disguise
Dynazty - Renatus
Hemina - Nebulae
Lords of Black - s/t
Mystery - Tales from the Netherlands
Noveria - Risen
Project Arcadia - Time of Changes
The Ralph - Delimiter (EP)
Shaft of Steel - s/t (EP)
Silent Call - Truth's Redemption
Teramaze - Esoteric Symbolism
Vanish - Come to Wither
Wasaya - Garden Of Doubts (EP)
Winger - Better Days Comin
2014 was also the year Spotify became licensed in Canada, so here's what I save there:
Althia - To the Edge of Time
Amaranthe - Massive Addiction
Ancient Bards - A New Dawn Ending
Axel Rudi Pell - Into the Storm
Disforia - Age of Ether
Edguy - Space Police
Hell in the Club - Devil On My Shoulder
Intervals - A Voice Within
Kirk - Masquerade
Knight Area - Hyperdrive
Majestic - Epsilon 1 & 2
Nightingale - Retribution
Revolution Saints - s/t
Shear - Katharsis
Sweet & Lynch - Only to Rise
Within Temptation - Hydra
Xandria - Sacrificium
Yeah, I'm a music whore. 2014-2018 were the years I went a little overboard.
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I think this is the first year where I couldn't remember anything from the top of head that came out and I really enjoyed. Lets see how it pans out.
2014:
1. Black Map - ...And We Explode - 4.5/5
2. KOAN Sound - Dynasty EP - 4/5
3. Bassnectar - Noise Vs. Beauty - 3.5/5
4. Trevor Hall - Chapter Of The Forest - 3/5 - Starts off really strong but gets weaker as the album goes on
5. Darshan Ambient - Songs From The Deep Field - 3/5
6. The Flashbulb - Nothing is Real - 2/5
7. Opeth - Pale Communion - 2/5
8. Pink Floyd - The Endless River - 2/5
9. He Is Legend - Heavy Fruit - 1.5/5
10. Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways - 1.5/5
Pretty thin list.
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Hell in the Club - Devil On My Shoulder
Never thought I'd see them mentioned around here! they're a band, not really a side project, but the singer's main gig is with Elvenking, you should check them out if you don't know them!
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Hell in the Club - Devil On My Shoulder
Never thought I'd see them mentioned around here! they're a band, not really a side project, but the singer's main gig is with Elvenking, you should check them out if you don't know them!
I think I may have checked out Elvenking sometime in the past, but clearly don't have a specific recollection of it. Recommend me an album, and I'll give it a spin
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Hell in the Club - Devil On My Shoulder
Never thought I'd see them mentioned around here! they're a band, not really a side project, but the singer's main gig is with Elvenking, you should check them out if you don't know them!
I think I may have checked out Elvenking sometime in the past, but clearly don't have a specific recollection of it. Recommend me an album, and I'll give it a spin
Well, how about the album that wins my 2014!
1. ELVENKING - The Pagan Manifesto
2014 was a bit poor for me, so the list is quite short:
2. Edguy - Space Police: Defenders of the Crown
3. Gamma Ray - Empire of the Undead
4. Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls[
5. Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon
6. Grave Digger - Return of the Reaper
7. Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes
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2014:
This was a very vivid year for countless non-musical reasons, but pretty average musically. For some reason it's more metal/rock/electronic-centric than some of the others. This is the year my taste starting skewing towards doom and more atmospheric music more heavily, though I don't know if it's quite as obvious from the selections for the year.
Tier 1:
Francesca Battistelli - If We're Honest
Destiny Potato - LUN
Kingfisher Sky - Arms of Morpheus
Lethian Dreams - Red Silence Lodge
Lights - Little Machines deluxe version - normally I don't note SE versions, but the bonus tracks on this one are so strong it's necessary
Marissa Nadler - July
Nickel Creek - A Dotted Line
Nightingale - Retribution
Opeth - Pale Communion
Perturbator - Dangerous Days
Skyharbor - Guiding Lights
Triptykon - Melana Chasmata
Tier 2:
Alcest - Shelter
Anathema - Distant Satellites
Animals As Leaders - The Joy of Motion
Banks - Goddess
The Birthday Massacre - Superstition
Nili Brosh - A Matter of Perception
Delain - The Human Contradiction
Elysion - Someplace Better
Mega Drive - 198XAD
The Midnight - Days of Thunder
NeraNature - Disorders
One Machine - The Distortion of Lies and the Overdriven Truth
PVRIS - White Noise
Revocation - Deathless
Emma Ruth Rundle - Some Heavy Ocean
Sanctuary - The Year the Sun Died
Triosphere - The Heart of the Matter
Tier 3:
Aesthetic Perfection - 'Til Death
Amaranthe - Massive Addictive
Anubis Gate - Horizons
Behemoth - The Satanist
Bloodbath - Grand Morbid Funeral
Conquering Dystopia - s/t
The Contortionist - Language
Dance With the Dead - Into the Abyss EP
Dead Astronauts - Constellations
Engel - Raven Kings
Marty Friedman - Inferno
Haerts - s/t
Lenore S. Fingers - Inner Tales
Levin Brothers - s/t
Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds
Mo - No Mythologies To Follow
Novembers Doom - Bled White
Scar Symmetry - The Singularity (Phase I: Neohumanity)
Seabound - Speak in Storms
Sevendust - Time Travelers & Bonfires
St0rk - Broken Pieces
Stream of Passion - A War of Our Own
We Are The Catalyst - Monuments
Tier 4:
And One - Trilogie
AntropomorphiA - Rites ov Perversion
Arch Enemy - War Eternal
At The Gates - At War With Reality
Sithu Aye - Pulse
Babymetal - s/t
Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution
Bloodshot Dawn - Demons
Dead Congregation - Promulgation of the Fall
Doom:VS - Earthless
Epica - The Quantum Enigma
Evergrey - Hymns For the Broken
Brooke Fraser - Brutal Romantic
Gus G. - I Am the Fire
The Great Old Ones - Tekeli-li
Helevorn - Compassion Forlorn
Horrendous - Ecdysis
Hour of Penance - Regicide
Illdisposed - With the Lost Souls On Our Side
Iris - Radiant
Eric Johnson/Mike Stern - Eclectic
Nick Johnston - Atomic Mind
Kaipa - Sattyg
Thomas Koner/Jana Winderen - Cloitre
Kowai - Dissonance
Liv Kristine - Vervain
KXM - s/t
Lacuna Coil - Broken Crown Halo
Lesoir - Luctor et emergo
Ne Oblivicaris - Citadel
Ogre - 195
Piano - Salvage Architecture
Polyphia - Muse
Ravenscry - The Attraction of Opposites
Ribspreader - Meathymns
Snarky Puppy - We Like It Here
Soen - Tellurian
Solvent - New Ways
Svavelvinter - Nidingsverk
The Tea Party - The Ocean at the End
Threshold - For the Journey
Vallenfyre - Splinters
Velvet Acid Christ - Subconscious Landscapes
VHS Glitch - Evil Technology
Dave Weckl - Convergence
Widek - Outside the Universe
Xerath - III
-
The Midnight - Days of Thunder
I'm in the process of checking this band out per seeing their name a few times earlier this year. I've only fully heard "Horror Show" the EP from 2020.
I know a lot of people love their debut album "Endless Summer" from 2016, but this EP is also popular. I actually have it wishlisted on rym. I worry their style, like a lot of the synthpop music, can get a little samey. But I can't really say that about that 1 EP I have heard.
How does Days of Thunder compare to their other stuff?
-
The Horror Show EP is actually more of the anomalous one for them, it dabbles more in darksynth/horror synth than their normal sound. For the most part they are at the more mellow, sunnier side of synthwave, though there's quite often that hint of melancholic nostalgia. Days of Thunder is most notable for "Los Angeles", which is a song I've listened to easily over 100 times, probably my favorite song of theirs. Overall that EP and the rest of their material is generally pretty close to Endless Summer, though they do experiment a bit from track to track, so they don't feel particularly samey to me, though if you don't regularly listen to much synthwave I could see some of it running together. Tyler Lyle's voice on the more vocal-driven tracks always gives them character that some of the instrumental acts occasionally lack. Real saxophone, which pops up from time to time, also helps a lot. The Nocturnal EP is probably the closest thing they'd done to Horror Show, it lives up to its name, with more minor-key focus.
-
Love, LOVE Endless Summer...I've discovered The Midnight (and, in general, synthwave and its offshoots) more recently, and they are one of my favorites among the more vocal-oriented artists/bands in the genre. The Days of Thunder and Nocturnal EPs are fantastic too. Agreed that Nocturnal has a little more of that minor key, uhm, nocturnal feel :biggrin:
Kids and Monsters haven't quite hit me as hard, but I haven't spent as much time with them.
Overall, plenty to enjoy!
-
Kids hasn't connected with me, Monsters is a bit uneven, but it has some really killer tracks. "Deep Blue" is incredible, for example.
-
1. Anathema - Distant Satellites
2. Insomnium - Shadows of the Dying Sun
3. Rx Bandits - Gemini, Her Majesty
4. Destiny Potato - LUN
5. Mors Principium Est - Dawn of the 5th Era
6. Sleeping at Last - Atlas: Year One
7. Markéta Irglová - Muna
8. Toehider - What Kind of Creature Am I?
9. Haken - Restoration EP
10. Cloud Cult - Unplug (live acoustic)
11. Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No.
12. Snarky Puppy - We Like It Here
13. Submotion Orchestra - Alium
14. Bent Knee - Shiny Eyed Babies
15. Kishi Bashi - Lighght
16. Kiasmos - Kiasmos
17. Bend Sinister - Animals
18. Intervals - A Voice Within
19. Sonata Arctica - Pariah's Child
20. Within Temptation - Hydra
21. Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen
22. Weezer - Everything Will Be Alright in the End
23. Devin Townsend Project - Z²
24. Ghost Brigade - IV - One With the Storm
25. Nightingale - Retribution
Also great:
Abel Ganz - Abel Ganz
Acke Hallgren - Fragile
Alkinoos Ioannidis - Μικρή βαλίτσα
alt-J - This Is All Yours
Amplifier - Mystoria
Architects - Lost Forever // Lost Together
Alex Banks - Illuminate
Arkona - Yav
Bear Ghost - Your Parents Are Only Marginally Disappointed in Your Musical Taste!
Broken Bells - After the Disco
Casualties of Cool - Casualties of Cool
Chiodos - Devil
Closure in Moscow - Pink Lemonade
Casey Crescenzo - Amour & Attrition
Daydream XI - The Grand Disguise
Dirty Loops - Loopified
Dog Fashion Disco - Sweet Nothings
Dreamgrave - Presentiment
Dream the Electric Sleep - Heretics
Eluveitie - Origins
Equilibrium - Erdentempel
Evergrey - Hymns for the Broken
Fjokra - Thoughtsteps EP
Flying Colors - Second Nature
Gabriel Kahane - The Ambassador
He Is Legend - Heavy Fruit
Hemina - Nebulae
Hiromi - Alive
The Hotelier - Home, Like Noplace Is There
Inter Arma - The Cavern
The Intersphere - Relations in the Unseen
John Wesley - Disconnect
Kaipa - Sattyg
KOAN Sound - Dynasty EP
la YnE - La Grande Illusion
Landon Tewers - Dead Kid EP
Like Thieves - Autumn's Twilight
Linkin Park - The Hunting Party
Manchester Orchestra - Cope
Manchester Orchestra - Hope
Mare Cognitum - Phobos Monolith
Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun
Moron Police - Defenders of the Small Yard
North Atlantic Oscillation - The Third Day
Opeth - Pale Communion
Pain of Salvation - Falling Home
Periphery - Clear EP
Philip Lassiter - Philthy
Philip Lassiter - DreamZzz
Rishloo - Living as Ghosts With Buildings as Teeth
Sabaton - Heroes
Shylmagoghnar - Emergence
Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear
St. Vincent - St. Vincent
Synaesthesia (now Kyros) - Synaesthesia
Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
Tycho - Awake
Vanishing Point - Distant Is the Sun
Voyager - V
Whispered - Shogunate Macabre
-
Alright, I want to start working my way through the years I missed. I jumped in at 2011, so I'll just start working backwards, maybe two years at a time.
Here's 2010. Not a ton of albums from this year in my collection, actually, but the top two are both among my all-time favorites.
2010:
1. Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier
2. Haken - Aquarius
3. Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape
4. Taylor Swift - Speak Now
5. Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony
6. Blind Guardian - At the Edge of Time
7. Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
8. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
9. Avantasia - Angel of Babylon
10. Coheed and Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow
And here's 2009. An even smaller year than 2010, and definitely not as strong, but still a few albums I like a lot.
2009:
1. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
2. Amorphis - Skyforger
3. Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
4. Epica - Design Your Universe
5. Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day
6. IQ - Frequency
7. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
8. The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death
-
2007:
Sooo much stuff this year. Gonna have to bring out the 5th tier again. I have no idea how I did it, but I seemed to listen to more music each day this year than there were hours in a day. Whenever I think about this year I go, "oh yeah, I remember binging on this style, this artist", and it seemed like there were dozens and dozens of those binges. The top tier is stacked, some of my favorite albums ever. Tier 2 is really strong as well, in other years a few of them might have been tier 1.
Tier 1:
All Ends - Wasting Life EP
Amorphis - Silent Waters
Autumn - My New Time
Sara Bareilles - Little Voice
The Birthday Massacre - Walking With Strangers
Vanessa Carlton - Heroes & Thieves
Dark Tranquillity - Fiction
De/Vision - Noob
Deadlock - Wolves
Fair To Midland - Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True
Hiromi's Sonicbloom - Time Control
Kingfisher Sky - Hallway of Dreams
Machine Head - The Blackening
Katharine McPhee - s/t
mind.in.a.box - Crossroads
Nightingale - White Darkness
Nightrage - A New Disease Is Born
Sybreed - Antares
Ulver - Shadows of the Sun
Aziza Mustafa Zadeh - Contrasts II Opera Jazz
Tier 2:
Aeon - Rise To Dominate
After Forever - s/t
Agua de Annique - Air
Alter Bridge - Blackbird
Anubis Gate - Andromeda Unchained
Arch Enemy - Rise of the Tyrant
Assemblage 23 - Meta
Before The Dawn - Deadlight
Behemoth - The Apostasy
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Strength & Loyalty
D Creation - Pace Helvetia EP
Edge of Dawn - Enjoy the Fall
Editors - An End Has a Start
Engel - Absolute Design
Sara Gazarek - Return To You
Samantha James - Rise
Katatonia - July EP - basically just for "Unfurl", but that track is amazing
KMFDM - Tohuvabohu
Aynsley Lister - Upside Down
Minus The Bear - Planet of Ice
Nemesea - In Control
Passenger - Wicked Man's Rest
Planet X - Quantum
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Raintime - Flies & Lies
Satariel - Chifra EP
Sevendust - Alpha
Soilwork - Sworn To a Great Divide
Virgin Black - Requiem: Mezzo forte
Within Temptation - The Heart of Everything
Tier 3:
The Absence - Riders of the Plague
Beneath The Buried And Me - Colors
Black Sun Empire - Endangered Species
The Bloodening - Convergence of the Three Suns
Keyshia Cole - Just Like You
Deathspell Omega - Fas - Ite, maledicti, in igneum aeternum
Delight - Breaking Ground
Demiurg - Breath of the Demiurg
Divine Heresy - Bleed the Fifth
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Epica - The Divine Conspiracy
Evile - Enter the Grave
Evoken - A Caress of the Void
Liquid Divine - Black Box
Charlotte Martin - Reproductions
Megadeth - United Abominations
Necessary Response - Blood Spills Not Far From the Wound
Nerve - Prohibited Beats
Nile - Ithyphallic
Nocturnal Rites - The 8th Sin
Novembers Doom - The Novella Resevoir
Octavia Sperati - Grace Submerged
Samael - Solar Soul
Scariot - Momentum Shift
Klaus Schulze - Kontinuum
Shatter Messiah - God Burns Like Flesh
Snarky Puppy - The World Is Getting Smaller
Swallow The Sun - Hope
Tacere - Beautiful Darkness
Type O Negative - Dead Again
Alexander Vynograd - s/t
Yakuza - Transmutations
Tier 4:
Aeon Spoke - s/t
Russell Allen/Jorn Lande - The Revenge
Anberlin - Cities
BarlowGirl - How Can We Be Silent
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Bjork - Volta
Blinded Colony - Bedtime Prayers
Blotted Science - The Machinations of Dementia
Born of Osiris - The New Reign
Counter-World Experience - Leaving Lotus
Darkest Hour - Deliver Us
Deathevokation - The Chalice of Ages
Demonical - Servants of the Unlight
Detonation - Emission Phase
Dimension Zero - He Who Shall Not Bleed
Donati/Fierabraci/Gambale - Made in Australia
Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
For Selena and Sin - Overdosed On You
The Foreshadowing - Days of Nothing
Gorefest - Rise To Ruin
Grendel - Harsh Generation
Tord Gustavsen Trio - Being There
Iced Earth - Overture of the Wicked EP
Illogicist - The Insight Eye
Insect Warfare - World Extermination
Manticora - The Black Circus: Part 2: Disclosure
Mountain Home - s/t
Naildown - Dreamcrusher
Porcupine Tree - Nil Reccuring
Redemption - The Origins of Ruin
Rush - Snakes & Arrows
Sear Bliss - The Arcane Odyssey
Stuck Mojo - Southern Born Killers
Tiesto - Elements of Life
VNV Nation - Judgment
Watain - Sworn To the Dark
Tier 5:
Atrium Carceri - Ptahil
Emilie Autumn - Laced/Unlaced
Crimson Tears - The Dark Awakening
Lars Danielsson/Leszek Mozdzer - Pasodoble
The Donnas - Bitchin'
Chris Duarte - Blue Velocity
Erasure - Light at the End of the World
Farmakon - Robin
Fear My Thoughts - Vulcanus
Dave Gahan - Hourglass
High On Fire - Death Is This Communion
Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)
Imperia - Queen of Light
Infected Mushroom - Vicious Delicious
Anna Maria Jopek - ID
Stacey Kent - Breakfast on the Morning Tram
Bismillah Khan - Shaadi Ki Shehnaiyan
Krypteria - Bloodangel's Cry
Marissa Nadler - Songs III: Bird on the Water
Meshell Ndegeocello - The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams
Nox - Ixaxaar
Port-Royal - Afraid To Dance
Primordial - To the Nameless Dead
Joshua Redman - Back East
Arturo Sandoval - Rumba Palace
Scale the Summit - Monument
ShamRain - Goodbye to All That
Souldrainer - My Dividing Line
Venetian Snares - My Downfall
Winds - Prominence and Demise
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2015
2015 was and still now seems like a big year/one of my favorite years in recent memory for music and albums. I say that largely from memory and when I think of music and albums from the 2010's right now, many of the records in my top 10 come to mind.
Face Yourself and Remove Your Sandals from Small Leaks Sink Ships remains the last perfect/5-star album for me, and I recently revisited it again and it still holds up. And Kaddisfly's Horses Galloping on Sailboats was a massive deal to me and many others to finally come out, that I will never forget how surreal it felt to finally get to hear it. And for the most part, it lived up to my hopes.
Everything Everything, Vennart, Timbre, Mew and The Dear Hunter also all had records I listened to a ton back in 2015 and still do listen to often now.
But the rest of my list is spotty at best, so in now looking at 2015, it seems quite TOP HEAVY a year at this point.
1. Small Leaks Sink Ships - Face Yourself, and Remove Your Sandals
2. Kaddisfly - Horses Galloping on Sailboats
3. Vennart - The Demon Joke
4. The Dear Hunter - Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
5. Everything Everything - Get to Heaven
6. Mew - + -
7. Timbre - Sun & Moon
8. Subterranean Masquerade - The Great Bazaar
9. Foals - What Went Down
10. Steven Wilson - Hand. Cannot. Erase.
11. The Pneumatic Transit - Concerto for Double Moon
12. Falling Up - Falling Up
13. Gatherer - Heavy Hail
14. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - New World Sundown
15. Native Construct - Quiet World
16. Eldren - Welcome to Deathville
17. Miracles of Modern Science - Mean Dreams
18. Archive - Restriction
19. Nordic Giants - A Séance of Dark Delusions
20. Mother Falcon - Good Luck Have Fun
21. Mutemath - Vitals
22. Tigran Hamasyan - Mockroot
23. Punch Brothers The Phosphorescent Blues
24. Thurisaz - The Pulse of Mourning
25. Words for Penga - Prose
26. The Velvet Teen - All Is Illusory
27. The Barnum Meserve The Barnum Meserve
AM and Shawn Lee - Outlines
Author - Of Brighter Days
Battles - La Di Da Di
Beardfish - 4626 Comfortzone
Between the Buried and Me - Coma Ecliptic
Caravan of Thieves - Kiss Kiss
Coheed and Cambria - The Color Before the Sun
Daniel Johns - Talk
Dan Mangan and Blacksmiths - Club Meds
Danny Cavanagh - Memory and Meaning
Dave Kerzner - New World
David Gilmour - Rattle That Lock
Dead Letter Circus - Aethesis
Demians - Mercury
Eidola - Degeneraterra
Faith No More - Sol Invictus
False - Untitled
God is an Astronaut - Helios / Erebus
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress
Hardcore Crayons - Zozzled
Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon
Iron Maiden - The Book of Souls
Josh Rouse - The Embers of Time
Kamasi Washington - The Epic
LA Priest - Inji
Lost Lander - Medallion
Mercies - Blue Against Green
Metal Allegiance - Metal Allegiance
Motopony - Welcome You
Muse - Drones
Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel
Other Lives - Rituals
Public Service Broadcasting - The Race for Space
Refused - Freedom
Ringo Sheena - Hiidzurutokoro
Riverside - Love, Fear and the Time Machine
Scale the Summit - V
Signal-to-Noise - I Won't Let the World Become a Prison
SOAK - Before We Forgot How to Dream
Steve Hackett - Wolflight
Sufjan Stevens - Carrie and Lowell
Susanne Sundf0r - Ten Love Songs
Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Motorcade Amnesiacs
TesseracT - Polaris
The Basics - The Age of Entitlement
The Bird and the Bee - Recreational Love
The Decemberists - What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World
The Helio Sequence - The Helio Sequence
The Night Flight Orchestra - Skyline Whispers
The Winery Dogs - Hot Streak
Thomas Giles - Modern Noise
Tuxedo - Tuxedo
Umphrey's McGee - The London Session
Vola - Inmazes
EPs
1. SikTh - Opacities
2. Warpaint - No Way Out / I'll Start Believing
3. East of the Wall / Cryptodira - Split 7"
4. Falling Up - House Full of Caverns
5. Madam Officer - Madam Officer
6. The Barnum Meserve - The Clements Session
Concerts
2.20/15 Zoso: Led Zeppelin Tribute - Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
3/29/15 Stevie Wonder - Target Center Minneapolis, MN
5/5/15 XTC Tribute: Senses Working Overtime - The Icehouse Minneapolis, MN
5/12/15 Rush - XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
6/5/15 Josh Rouse/Walter Martin - The Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/7/15 Steven Wilson - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
7/6/15 The Family Crest/The Lonely Wild - The 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
7/24/15 This Will Destroy You/The Velvet Teen - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis,MN
8/26/15 Brice Plays Drums/The Mercury Tree/The Bob Pat Band - The Nomad World Pub Minneapolis, MN
9/13/15 The Dear Hunter/Chon - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
9/18/15 Micky Dolenz - St Croix Casino Turtle Lake, WI
9/22/15 Miracles of Modern Science at Honey Minneapolis, MN
10/5/15 Mew/The Dodos - The Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
11/2/15 The Bird and the Bee/Alex Lilly - The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
11/23/15 Between the Buried and Me/Enslaved/Intronaut/Native Construct - The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
11/30/15 Charlie Engen Recital/McNally Smith College Auditorium St.Paul, MN
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2015:
01 Steven Wilson - Hand. Cannot. Erase
02 Neal Morse - The Grand Experiment
03 Muse - Drones
04 David Gilmour - Rattle That Lock
05 Ghost - Meliora
06 Spock's Beard - The Oblivion Particle
07 Death Cab for Cutie - Kintsugi
08 Iron Maiden - The Book of Souls
09 Unreal City - Il Paese del Tramonto
10 The Decemberists - What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World
-
2015
Ghost was the clear winner for me this year...such a great album, with fantastic songwriting. As for the second spot - I discovered Royal Thunder more recently, but this is a beautiful record. And Hand.Cannot.Erase might be my favorite Steven Wilson solo record. I'd say pretty solid year.
* as usual for albums purchased later
The Top 15:
Ghost – Meliora
Royal Thunder – Crooked Doors *
Steven Wilson – Hand.Cannot.Erase
Clutch – Psychic Warfare
Amorphis – Under the Red Cloud *
Von Hertzen Brothers – New Day Rising *
Symphony X – Underworld
Paradise Lost – The Plague Within
Sorcerer – In the Shadow of the Inverted Cross *
Enslaved – In Times
Teramaze – Her Halo *
Vhol – Deeper Than the Sky *
Moonspell – Extinct
Draconian – Sovran
Enshine – Singularity *
The Honorable Mentions:
21 Octayne – 2.0 *
Adele – 25
Angra – Secret Garden *
Armored Saint – Win Hands Down
Art of Anarchy – Art of Anarchy *
Avatarium – The Girl With the Raven Mask *
Baroness – Purple
Blind Guardian – Beyond the Red Mirror
Brandi Carlile – The Firewatcher’s Daughter
Byzantine – To Release Is To Resolve *
Caligula’s Horse – Bloom *
Cradle of Filth – Hammer of the Witches
Dead Letter Circus – Aesthesis
The Deer Hunter – Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Disturbed – Immortalized
Faith No More – Sol Invictus
Farmikos – Farmikos *
Florence + the Machine – How Big , How Blue, How Beautiful
Ghost Ship Octavius – Ghost Ship Octavius
Halestorm – Into the Wild Life
Helloween – My God-Given Right
High on Fire – Luminiferous
Horrendous – Anareta *
Iron Maiden – The Book of Souls
Katatonia – Sanctitude *
Khemmis – Absolution *
Kingcrow – Eidos
Lamb of God – VII: Sturm und Drang
Leprous - Congregation
Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful
Parkway Drive – Ire
Pyramaze – Disciples of the Sun *
Queensryche – Condition Human
Red Sun Rising – Polyester Zeal
Shinedown – Threat to Survival
Slayer – Repentless *
Soilwork – The Ride Majestic
Chris Stapleton – Traveller
Subsignal – The Beacons of Somewhere Sometime
A Swarm of the Sun – The Rifts *
Sylosis – Dormant Heart *
Tesseract – Polaris
Rob Thomas – The Great Unknown
Toto – XIV
Tribulation – The Children of the Night *
Trivium – Silence in the Snow *
We Are Harlot – We Are Harlot *
While She Sleeps – Brainwashed *
The Winery Dogs – Hot Streak
Year of the Goat – The Unspeakable *
-
2015:
I'm observing an interesting irony here. This is right in the middle of my period of not caring about new releases and exploring almost solely at my own pace. But it's clear I've heard way more modern releases than I even realized (part of it is following a few modern movements like synthwave/darksynth, instrumental prog/djent rock/metal, and darker folky singer/songwriters). So I'm not necessarily hearing many of these right when they come out, but I usually got around to a lot of them months/a year or two later anyway. Of course, I was much less plugged into music discussion communities in this period (a lot more musical gear forums, mainly), so I wasn't really talking about this music with anyone else, and that's a joy I've redisovered in the past couple years.
I'm starting to also include more EPs here, because I was starting to pay more attention to them, which is something I historically didn't do other than select favorite artists. Doing four tiers is starting to work out better now. Tier 1 are favorites, tier 2 are flawed favorites, tier 4 are either albums I liked but haven't spent enough time with to justify ranking them higher, or occasionally that I still enjoyed but not on the level of earlier favorites. Tier 3 releases are piquant enough to stand out from tier 4, but aren't at the level of quality or time spent with tier 2. Often the difference between tier 3 and 4 is that I can recall a specific song or more from tier 3. Ideally tier 4 should be broken out into at least another tier (probably tier 3 too), but it's just too hard, since most of them aren't albums I've heard more than a couple times yet. This makes ranking them challenging, yet they did stand out from dozens of other albums I cut, so I hate to leave them off and I'm erring on the side of inclusion at this point.
Tier 1:
Amorphis - Under the Red Cloud
Batushka - Litourgiya
Vanessa Carlton - Blue Pool EP
Draconian - Sovran
Disasterpeace - It Follows score
Earthside - A Dream In Static
Entrails - Obliteration
Katharine McPhee - Hysteria
David Maxim Micic - ECO EP
Sulphur Aeon - Gateway To the Antisphere
TesseracT - Polaris
VOLA - Inmazes
Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss
Tier 2:
Apocryphos/Kammarheit/Atrium Carceri - Onyx
Artrosis - Odi et Amo
Bjork - Vulnicura
Vanessa Carlton - Liberman
Grimes - Art Angels
Halestorm - Into the Wild Life
Kate Boy - One
mind.in.a.box - Memories
Of Monsters & Men - Beneath the Skin
Plini - The End of Everything EP
Purity Ring - Another Eternity
Puscifer - Money Shot
Say Lou Lou - Lucid Dreaming
Soilwork - The Ride Majestic
Solution .45 - Nightmares in the Waking State: Part I
Swallow The Sun - Songs From the North I, II, III
Tremonti - Cauterize
Tier 3:
Above The Earth - Every Moment
Adele - 25
Atrium Carceri - The Old City: Leviathan score
Disarmonia Mundi - Cold Inferno
Drab Majesty - Careless
Fear Factory - Genexus
The Gentle Storm - The Diary
Ghost Ship Octavius - s/t
GosT - Behemoth
Anna von Hausswolff - The Miraculous
Intervals - The Shape of Colour
ISON - Cosmic Drone
Marriages - Salome
Myrkur - M
Nero - Between II Worlds
Nightrage - The Puritan
Nonexist - Throne of Scars
Purtenance - ...To Spread the Flame of the Ancients
Rivers of Nihil - Monarchy
Thayer Sarrano - Shaky
Sevendust - Kill the Flaw
Silversun Pickups - Better Nature
Susanne Sundfor - Ten Love Songs
Symphony X - Underworld
VHS Glitch - Land With No Future and Halloween Strangers
Voices From the Fuselage - Odyssey: The Destroyer of Worlds
We Lost The Sea - Departure Songs
Steven Wilson - Hand. Cannot. Erase
The Winery Dogs - Hot Streak
Tier 4:
Act of Defiance - Birth and the Burial
Anderson Ponty Band - Better Late Than Never
Angel Dust Dealers - Euthanasia Broadcast Network
Apocryphos - The Prisoners Cinema
Aristocrats - Tres Caballeros
Atrium Carceri - Metropolis
Sithu Aye - Senpai EP
Sara Bareilles - What's Inside: Songs From Waitress
Bastard Grave - What Lies Beyond
Blood Incantation - Interdimensional Extinction
Breaking Benjamin - Dark Before Dawn
Cain's Offering - Stormcrow
John Carpenter - Lost Themes
Carpenter Brut - Trilogy
Celldweller - End of An Empire
Chastain - We Bleed Metal
CHON - Grow
CHVRCHES - Every Open Eye
Alessandro Cortini - Forse 3
Cryo Chamber - Azathoth
Dynatron - Aeternus
Eleine - s/t
Feared - Synder
The Fine Constant - Woven in Light
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress'
Grave - Out of Respect For the Dead
Hilary Hahn - Mozart 5, Vieuxtemps 4 Violin Concertos
Hate - Crusade: Zero
Helslave - An Endless Path
Holly Herndon - Platform
Hocico - Ofensor
Hooded Menace - Darkness Drips Forth
Kammarheit - The Nest
Lik - Mass Funeral Evocation
Mass Burial - Soul's Necrosis
Messer Chups - The Incredible Crocotiger
MG - s/t
David Maxim Micic - EGO
Millencolin - True Brew
Morbid Saint - Destruction System
Nightstop - Return To Synth City
Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful
Raison d'Etre/Troum - De aeris in sublunaria influxu
Regarde les hommes tomber - Exile
Sabled Sun - Signals VI
Snarky Puppy/Het Metropole Orkest - Sylva
Street Cleaner - Shutdown
Dan Terminus - The Wrath of Code
Tribulation - The Children of the Night
Turboslash - EP I
Unleashed - Dawn of the Nine
Valborg - Romantik
Visigoth - The Revenant King
Paul Wardingham - The Human Affliction
Yen Pox - Between the Horizon and the Abyss
Jakub Zytecki - Wishful Lotus Proof
-
2015:
1. Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Motorcade Amnesiacs
2. The Winery Dogs - Hot Streak
3. Public Service Broadcasting - The Race for Space
4. The Basics - The Age of Entitlement
5. Anthonie Tonnon - Successor
6. Big Big Train - Wassail (EP)
7. Spock's Beard - The Oblivion Particle
8. Collective Soul - See What You Started by Continuing
9. Lynda Manwaring - The Springbird
10. Ludovico Einaudi - Elements
-
Of course, I was much less plugged into music discussion communities in this period (a lot more musical gear forums, mainly), so I wasn't really talking about this music with anyone else, and that's a joy I've redisovered in the past couple years.
:tup
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Some good choices above and yet more I seem to have missed and need to explore gotta love these threads...
2015
1/ PARADISE LOST The Plague Within
2/ AMORPHIS Under A Red Cloud
3/ CIRCLE II CIRCLE Reign Of Darkness
4/ IRON MAIDEN Book Of Souls
5/ JON STEVENS Woman
WASP Golgotha
QUEENSRYCHE Condition Human
HOUSE OF LORDS Indestructible
ARMOURED SAINT Win Hands Down
PYRAMAZE Disciples Of The Sun
SWEET & LYNCH Only To Rise
UGLY KID JOE Uglier Than They Used To Be
NIGHTWISH Endless Forms Most Beautiful
EUROPE War Of Kings
SYMPHONY X Underworld
SAXON Battering Ram
SEVENDUST Kill The Flaw
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1. The Dear Hunter - Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
2. Enshine - Singularity
3. Caravan Palace - <I°_°I>
4. Soilwork - The Ride Majestic
5. Wilderun - Sleep at the Edge of the Earth
6. Caligula's Horse - Bloom
7. Maribou State - Portraits
8. Amorphis - Under the Red Cloud
9. Leprous - The Congregation
10. Periphery - Juggernaut
11. Novallo - Novallo II EP
12. Gavin Harrison - Cheating the Polygraph
13. Between the Buried and Me - Coma Ecliptic
14. Kauan - Sorni Nai
15. Steven Wilson - Hand. Cannot. Erase.
16. Arcane Roots - Heaven & Earth EP
17. Chaos Divine - Colliding Skies
18. Plini - The End of Everything EP
19. Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful
20. Clarence Clarity - No Now
21. Gabrielle Aplin - Light Up the Dark
22. Von Hertzen Brothers - New Day Rising
23. Frank Turner - Positive Songs for Negative People
24. Tigran Hamasyan - Mockroot
25. Gunship - Gunship
Also great:
Agent Fresco - Destrier
Arcane - Known/Learned
Arcturus - Arcturian
Arkentype - Disorientated
Baroness - Purple
Barren Earth - On Lonely Towers
Beyond the Black - Songs of Love and Death
Borealis - Purgatory
Bring Me the Horizon - That's the Spirit
The Chronicles Project - When Darkness Falls
Dance Gavin Dance - Instant Gratification
Diablo - Silvër Horizon
Dog Fashion Disco - Ad Nauseam
Earthside - A Dream in Static
Eidola - Degeneraterra
Ensiferum - One Man Army
Enslaved - In Times
Ereb Altor - Nattramn
Everything Everything - Get to Heaven
Falling Up - Falling Up
Federation of the Disco Pimp - Inamorata
Firefly Burning - Skeleton Hill
Ghost - Meliora
Halestorm - Into the Wild Life
Infected Mushroom - Friends on Mushrooms
Infected Mushroom - Converting Vegetarians II
Intronaut - The Direction of Last Things
Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free
Kamelot - Haven
Kardashev - Peripety
Karnataka - Secrets of Angels
Lauri Porra - Flyover
Lucy Rose - Work It Out
Marah in the Mainsail - Thaumatrope
Matthew Good - Chaotic Neutral
Mumford & Sons - Wilder Mind
Muse - Drones
Mutoid Man - Bleeder
Native Construct - Quiet World
The Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment
One I Cinema - One I Cinema
The Ongoing Concept - Handmade
Ott - Fairchildren
The Plot in You - Happiness in Self Destruction
Public Service Broadcasting - The Race for Space
Pyramaze - Disciples of the Sun
Shattered Skies - The World We Used to Know
SikTh - Opacities EP
Snarky Puppy & Het Metropole Orkest - Sylva
Solefald - World Metal. Kosmopolis Sud
Solution .45 - Nightmares in the Waking State: Part I
Spock's Beard - The Oblivion Particle
Suotana - Frostrealm
Susanne Sundfør - Ten Love Songs
A Swarm of the Sun - The Rifts
TesseracT - Polaris
Thy Catafalque - Sgùrr
Tremonti - Cauterize
Voices From the Fuselage - Odyssey: The Destroyer of Worlds
VOLA - Inmazes
While She Sleeps - Brainwashed
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My 2015:
1. IRON MAIDEN - The Book of Souls
The masters are back and there's nothing left for anyone else.
2. The Gentle Storm - The Diary
An album I absolutely and dearly loved and obsessed over it. Masterpiece.
3. Kamelot - Haven
By far, my favorite Tommy album.
And then, rounding it up with some good albums (first) and some letdowns (last)...
4. Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful
5. Ghost - Meliora
6. Powerwolf - Blessed & Possessed
7. Avatarium – The Girl With the Raven Mask
8. Symphony X – Underworld
9. Halestorm – Into the Wild Life
10. Blind Guardian – Beyond the Red Mirror
11. Helloween – My God-Given Right
12. Virgin Steele - Nocturnes of Hellfire & Damnation
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My A-list albums (ranked)... most were purchased, a few (*) were just Spotify saves. Some of these would move up or down if I was to re-rank them now.
Vanden Plas - Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld II
Symphony X - Underworld
Teramaze - Her Halo
Magnus Karlson's FreeFall II - FreeFall II
Kamelot - Haven
Lande/Holter - Dracula:Swing of Death
Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful
Universe Effects - In The Haze That Surrounds us
Queensryche - Condition Human
Borealis - Purgatory
Trivium - Silence in the Snow*
Serious Black - As Daylight Breaks
Level 10 - Chapter 1
Amadeus Awad - Death is Just a Feeling
The Poodles - Devil in the Details
Pyramaze - Disciples of the Sun
Stratovarius - Eternal*
Kiske/Somerville - City of Heroes*
Angra - The Secret Garden
Forgotten Suns - When Worlds Collide
W.A.S.P. -Golgotha
Phantasma - The Deviant Hearts
Cain's Offering - Stormcrow*
The Paralydium Project - The Paralydium Project (EP)
Shattered Skies - The World We Used to Know
Pantommind - Searching for Eternity*
Not yet mentioned:
Damnation Angels - The Valiant Fire
Eclipse - Armageddonize
Europe - War of Kings
Impellitteri - Venom
Magic Pie - King For A Day
Manimal - Trapped in the Shadows
Mystery - Delusion Rain
RavenBlack Project - Breaking Through The Mist
Rox Diamond - Rox Diamond
Royal Hunt - Devil's Dozen
Sebastien - Dark Chambers of déjà vu
Stormzone - Seven Sins
The Chronicles Project - When Darkness Falls
The Gentle Storm - The Diary
The Winery Dogs - Hot Streak
Voices From the Fuselage - Odyssey: The Destroyer of Worlds
Waken Eyes - Exodus
Wolfpakk - Rise of the Animal
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5. Wilderun - Sleep at the Edge of the Earth
This is excellent and one of my favorites of the year too - I didn't list it because I still technically don't "own" it. I wanted to get the CD but a couple of years ago (when I discovered them) it didn't seem that easy to find. I'll have to check back on that.
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2016
2016 was a pretty good year, with some long awaited albums/debut albums and discovering some artists new to me like Esperanza Spalding and Bent Knee. The Cloud Cult album The Seeker was my #1 for most of the year, however Theories of Flight and my Fates Warning fanboy nature ended up finishing on top regardless. Now 5 years later, I'm not sure if I would rate The Seeker even quite that high given how much less I've listened to it since. However, it's still among my favorite Cloud Cult albums.
Long Distance Calling, Warpaint, The Monkees, Marillion, The Dear Hunter are among the bands I think of for 2016. And that long awaited track "Alea" from Disillusion might be my favorite song from 2016.
I didn't attend as many concerts in 2016 now looking at it per I spent the large majority of the year saving/preparing for my wedding which I will never forget missing some concerts for it (The Dear Hunter played my hometown literally a couple of days before it).
1. Fates Warning - Theories of Flight
2. Cloud Cult - The Seeker
3. The Dear Hunter - Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
4. Marillion - F.E.A.R.
5. Long Distance Calling - Trips
6. Textures - Phenotype
7. Bent Knee - Say So
8. Esparanza Spalding - Emily's D + Evolution
9. Local Natives - Sunlit Youth
10. Meniscus - Refractions
11. Vektor - Terminal Redux
12. Anakdota - Overloading
13. The Woods Brothers - The Woods Brothers
14. Warpaint - Heads Up
15. The Monkees - Good Times!
16. Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage
17. Ideology - Ideology
18. Brooke Waggoner - Sweven
19. Rachel Flowers - Listen
20. Dream the Electric Sleep - Beneath the Dark Wide Sky
21. British Theatre - Mastery
22. nosound - Scintilla
23. iamthemorning - Lighthouse
24. The Mercury Tree - Permutations
25. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity
26. Rare Futures - The is Your Brain on Love
27. Painted in Exile - The Ordeal
28. Snarky Puppy - Culcha Vulcha
29. Mayer Hawthorne - Man About Town
30. Archive - The False Foundation
31. Umphrey's McGee - Zonkey
32. Gracepoint- Echoes
33. Hands of Despair - Bereft
34. Kyle Morton - What Will Destroy You?
35. David Bowie - Blackstar
36. The Chap - The Show Must Go
37. Emanuel and the Fear- Primitive Smile
38. Field Music - Commontime
39. Jeff Buckley - You and I
EPs
1. Disillusion - Alea
2. Watchtower - Concepts of Math: Book One
3. Protest the Hero - Pacific Myth
4. Revere - Man of Atom
5. Steven Wilson - 4 1/2
6. Josh Benash - The Body Light
7. Genders - Phone Home
8. Wolf Parade - EP 4
Others
Anderson / Stolt - Invention of Knowledge
An Endless Sporadic - Magic Machine
Astronoid- Air
Biffy Clyro - Ellipsis
Black Mountain - IV
Bloc Party- Hymns
Cloud Caverns - Holy Gloom
Crippled Black Phoenix - Bronze
Deerhoof - The Magic
Dream Theater - The Astonishing
Eight Bells - Landless
Fitz and the Tantrums - Fitz and the Tantrums
Gloria Morti - Kuebiko
Gojira - Magma
Ihsahn - Arktis.
Is Tropical - Black Anything
Jeff Lynne's ELO - Alone in the Universe
Jennylee - Right On!
John Wesley - A Way You'll Never Be
Kansas - The Prelude Implicit
Klimt 1918 - Sentimentale / Jugend
Lawrence - Breakfast
Memoryhouse - Soft Hate
O'Brother - Endless Light
Obscura - Akróasis
Oddland - Origin
Opeth - Sorceress
Orphaned Land and Amaseffer - Kna'an
Owel - Dear Me
Radical Face - The Family Tree: Branches
Skeleton Staff - Kurfürstendammned
The Besnard Lakes - A Coliseum Complex Museum
The Jelly Jam - Profit
The Most Serene Republic - Mediac
The Mute Gods - Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me
Ulver - ATGCLVLSSCAPVAST - Stripped
Unlocking the Truth - Chaos
White Denim - Stiff
Concerts
2/11/16 Godspeed You Black Emperor/Xylouris White - First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
2/26/16 Voivod/Vektor/Eight Bells at the Amsterdam Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
3/12/16 Cloud Cult at the State Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/3/16 Mutemath/Paper Route at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
4/5/16 The Joy Formidable/Everything Everything at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
5/10/16 Anderson/Ponty at the Ames Center in Burnsville, MN
6/2/16 Robert Fripp and the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists St. Louis Park, MN
7/23/16 Duran Duran/Nile Rodgers at the XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
8/5/16 Bubblemath/Faun Fables/Paul Fonfara at the Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN
8/22/16 Periphery/SikTh at The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
8/25/16 King's X/OvrFwrd/Meridian Incident at The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
10/24/16 Mayer Hawthorne at the Skyway Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/28/16 Marillion/John Wesley at the Vic Theatre Chicago, IL
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2016:
Things are starting to thin out ever so slightly, though there's still a lot. Not following new releases at the time and only half a decade passing means there hasn't been quite as much accumulation as especially the 00s, which were my heaviest exploration years and favorites for music in general. There's good music here for sure, but this definitely is one of the weakest years I've done so far. '17-'19 should be fascinating to see if they have the same trajectory before things pick back up in '20.
Tier 1:
Alcest - Kodama
Daughter - Not To Disappear
Delain - Moonbathers
Katatonia - The Fall of Hearts
The Midnight - Endless Summer
Nightmare - Dead Sun
Perturbator - The Uncanny Valley
Plini - Handmade Cities
Tremonti - Dust
Volkor X - This Means War
Witherscape - The Northern Sanctuary
Chelsea Wolfe - Hypnos/Flame EP - a 2-song EP in tier 1? Yes, it's that good.
Tier 2:
40 Watt Sun - Wider Than the Sky
Animals As Leaders - The Madness of Many
Circle of Dust - Machines Of Our Disgrace
Dark Tranquillity - Atoma
Darkher - Realms
Dead Astronauts - Arms of Night
Deftones - Gore
FM-84 - Atlas
Sara Gazarek/Josh Nelson - Dream in the Blue
Mick Gordon - DOOM score
Sierra Hull - Weighted Mind
Sarah Jarosz - Undercurrent
KANGA - s/t
Letters From the Fire - Worth the Pain
Liquid Divine - Get Off My Planet
Long Night - Sorrow Returns
Meshiaak - Alliance of Thieves
Agnes Obel - Citizen of Glass
Opeth - Sorceress
The Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness
Scandroid - s/t
Soilwork - Death Resonance
Solution .45 - Nightmares in the Waking State: Part II
Sunburst - Fragments of Creation
Swans - The Glowing Man
Testament - Brotherhood of the Snake
Devin Townsend - Transcendence
Trees of Eternity - Hour of the Nightingale
VHS Glitch - Demoniac
We Are The Catalyst - Elevation
Tier 3:
Alter Bridge - The Last Hero
Sithu Aye - Set Course For Andromeda
Lisa Batiashvili - Violin Concertos
Dead Astronauts - Strange Ways EP
Aleksandra Djelmash - Crossroads
The Foreshadowing - Seven Heads Ten Horns
Gatecreeper - Sonoran Depravation
Gorguts - Pleiades' Dust
GosT - Non Paradisi
Beth Hart - Fire on the Floor
Heavenwood - The Tarot of the Bohemians
Krypts - Remnants of Expansion
Megadeth - Dystopia
Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct
Mourning Sun - Ultimo Exhalario
Nemesea - Uprise
Nightstop - Streetwalker
Obscura - Akroasis
October Tide - Winged Waltz
Oracles - Miserycorde
Temple Nightside - The Hecatomb
Vektor - Terminal Redux
Wytch Hazel - Prelude
Tier 4:
Ablaze My Sorrow - Black
Amaranthe - Maximalism
Apocryphos - Stone Speak
Assemblage 23 - Endure
Banks - The Altar
Blood Incantation - Starspawn
Covenant - The Burning Dark
Cryo Chamber - Nyarlathotep
Dance With the Dead - The Shape
Dayshell - Nexus
Deadlock - Hybris
Kyle Dixon/Michael Stein - Stranger Things: Volume One
Dogs of Peace - Heel
Epica - The Holographic Principle
Esben and the Witch - Older Terrors
First Fragment - Dasein
GosT - Non Paradisi (Secret Arcana)
Nick Johnston - Remarkably Human
Lacuna Coil - Delirium
Lustmord - Dark Matter
Myrath - Legacy
Marissa Nadler - Strangers
Noisia - Outer Edges
Ogre - Calico Noir
Owane - Dunno
Polyphia - Renaissance
Ana Popovic - Trilogy
Rein - s/t
Revel In Flesh - Emissary of All Plagues
Ribspreader - Suicide Gate - A Bridge To Death
Emma Ruth Rundle - Marked For Death
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Ears
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith/Suzanne Ciani - FRKWYS Vol. 13: Sunergy
Snarky Puppy - Family Dinner: Volume Two and Culcha Vulcha
S U R V I V E - RR7349
Venetian Snares - Traditional Synthesizer Music
Paul Wardingham - Spiritual Machines
Wormed - Krighsu
Youth Code - Commitment To Complications
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2016.
01 Neal Morse Band - The Similitude of a Dream
02 Dream Theater - The Astonishing
03 Haken - Affinity
04 Devin Townsend - Transcendence
05 Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
06 David Bowie - Blackstar
07 Southern Empire - Southern Empire
08 Eric Gillette - The Great Unknown
09 Opeth - Sorceress
10 The Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness
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2016 was a really strong year.
1. Big Big Train - Folklore
2. Marillion - F.E.A.R.
3. The Fringe - The Fringe
4. Haken - Affinity
5. Field Music - Commontime
6. CF Kip Winger - Conversations With Nijinksy
7. Starless - Starless
8. Eric Johnson - EJ
9. The Clientele - A Sense of Falling: Strange Geometry Outtakes
10. The Neal Morse Band - The Similitude of a Dream
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2016
1. FATES WARNING Theories Of Flight
2. SUPERHEIST Ghosts Of The Social Dead
3. METALLICA Hard Wired...
4. THE CULT Hidden City
5. NORDIC UNION Nordic Union
REDEMPTION Long Night's Journey...
MEGADETH Dystopia
KHEMMIS The Hunted
CANDLEBOX (Kev Martin) Disappearing in Airports
EVERGREY The Storm Within
DEVILSKIN Be Like The River
ANTHRAX For All Kings
PRETTY MAIDS Kingmaker
ETA just realised forgot Nordic Union debut!!!
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2016 was a great year for metal, and some other amazing stuff as well.
1. The Dear Hunter - Act V: Hymns With the Devil in Confessional
2. Insomnium - Winter's Gate
3. Haken - Affinity
4. Dissona - Paleopneumatic
5. Thrice - To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowhere
6. Borknagar - Winter Thrice
7. Moonsorrow - Jumalten aika
8. 65daysofstatic - No Man's Sky: Music for an Infinite Universe
9. Thank You Scientist - Stranger Heads Prevail
10. Ihsahn - Arktis.
11. Fates Warning - Theories of Flight
12. Hypno5e - Shores of the Abstract Line
13. An Abstract Illusion - Illuminate the Path
14. Vektor - Terminal Redux
15. Bear Ghost - Blasterpiece
16. Big Big Train - Folklore
17. Frost* - Falling Satellites
18. DJ Shadow - The Mountain Will Fall
19. Oddarrang - Agartha
20. Periphery - Periphery III: Select Difficulty
21. Slice the Cake - Odyssey to the West
22. Submotion Orchestra - Colour Theory
23. Devin Townsend Project - Transcendence
24. Katatonia - The Fall of Hearts
25. NOFX - First Ditch Effort
Also great:
Aephanemer - Memento mori
Alter Bridge - The Last Hero
Amendfoil - Empyrean & Ophidian
Amon Amarth - Jomsviking
Architects - All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us
Astronoid - Air
Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage
Beyond the Black - Lost in Forever
Biffy Clyro - Ellipsis
Black Peaks - Statues
BT - _
Burden of Life - In Cycles
Cloud Cult - The Seeker
Countless Skies - New Dawn
Dance Gavin Dance - Mothership
Dark Tranquillity - Atoma
Daughter - Not to Disappear
Dream Theater - The Astonishing
Dream the Electric Sleep - Beneath the Dark Wide Sky
Equilibrium - Armageddon
Ereb Altor - Blot - Ilt - Taut
The Fall of Troy - OK
Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack
Ghost - Popestar EP
Glass Animals - How to Be a Human Being
Gojira - Magma
Headspace - All That You Fear Is Gone
Hemina - Venus
Hiromi - Spark
The Hotelier - Goodness
Illyria - Illyria
In Flames - Battles
In Mourning - Afterglow
Karmakanic - Dot
Khonsu - The Xun Protectorate
Kings of Leon - Walls
Kishi Bashi - Sonderlust
Kyros - Vox Humana
Little Tybee - Little Tybee
Long Distance Calling - Trips
The Longest Johns - Written in Salt
Mare Cognitum - Luminiferous Aether
Max Cooper - Emergence
Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct
Monica Heldal - The One in the Sun
Myrath - Legacy
Netherbird - The Grander Voyage
Oceans of Slumber - Winter
Olaf Stuut - Run
Omnium Gatherum - Grey Heavens
öOoOoOoOoOo - Samen
Opeth - Sorceress
ORBS - Past Life Regression
Owel - Dear Me
Papadosio - Pattern Integrities
Pellek - A Marvelous Method of Reclusion
Plini - Handmade Cities
Protest the Hero - Pacific Myth
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - High Visceral {Part 1}
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Poo
Regina Spektor - Remember Us to Life
Shadecrown - Agonia
Sleep Token - One
Snarky Puppy - Culcha Vulcha
Soilwork - Death Resonance
Solution .45 - Nightmares in the Waking State: Part II
Southern Empire - Southern Empire
Sunburst - Fragments of Creation
Thy Catafalque - Meta
Tremonti - Dust
Twelve Foot Ninja - Outlier
Tycho - Epoch
Unreqvited - Disquiet
Vaults - Caught in Still Life
Weezer - Weezer [White Album]
Whispered - Metsutan: Songs of the Void
Witherscape - The Northern Sanctuary
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huh... didn't know PelleK released an (original no less) album in '16. Gotta check that out.
My top 20 ranking (at the time ... some would rate lower now; some higher)
Now or Never - II
Sunburst - Fragments of Creation
Lords of Black - II
Hemina - Venus
Cloudscape - Voice of Reason
Almanac - Tsar
Utopia - Mood Changes
Innerwish - s/t
Avantasia - Ghostlights
Primal Fear - Rulebreaker
Mob Rules - Tales From Beyond
Fates Warning - Theories of Flight
Pretty Maids - Kingmaker
Heaven Below - Good Morning Apocalypse
Dynazty - Titanic Mass
Myrath - Legacy
DGM - The Passage
Theocracy - Ghost Ship
Poverty's No Crime - Spiral of Fear
Virtual Symmetry - Message From Eternity
Not mentioned yet:
Alter Bridge - The Last Hero
Agonizer - Visions of the Blind
Assignment - Closing the Circle
Axel Rudi Pell - Game of Sins
Circus Maximus - Havoc
Corona Skies - Fragments of Reality
Crystal Palace - Dawn of Eternity
Dec Burke - Book of Secrets
Derdian - Revolution Era
Enbound - The Blackened Heart
Eternity's End - The Fire Within
Evership - Evership
Fatal Destiny - Palindromia
First Signal - One Step Over The Line
Hardline - Human Nature
Herman Frank - The Devil Rides Out
Iron Mask - Diabolica
Jaded Heart - Guilty by Design
King Company - One For The Road
Maverick - Big Red
Monument - Hair of the Dog
Nemesea - Uprise
Nordic Union - Nordic Union
Noveria - Forsaken
Nth Ascension - In Fine Initium
Ocean's of Time - Trust
Pain - Coming Home
Rage of Angels - The Devil's New Tricks
Rik Emmett RES9 - RES9
Section A - Wall of Silence
Serenity - Codex Atlantica
Serious Black - Mirrorworld
Sirenia - Dim Days of Dolor
Striker - Stand in the Fire
Tangerine Circus - The Conspiracy Chronicles
Thunderstone - Apocalypse Again
Universal Mind Project - The Jaguar Priest
Withem - The Unforgiving Road
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2016
Plenty of music this year...Haken was a winner (Affinity is my favorite album of theirs), Fates Warning released their best album in years, and so did Anthrax. Metallica's Hardwired was a pleasant surprise too...
Top 15
Haken – Affinity
Fates Warning – Theories of Flight
Anthrax – For All Kings
Evergrey – The Storm Within
Hammers of Misfortune – Dead Revolution
Dream Theater – The Astonishing
Dark Tranquillity – Atoma
Metallica – Hardwired…To Self-Destruct
Ihsahn – Arktis.
Gojira – Magma
Myrath – Legacy
Alter Bridge – The Last Hero
Insomnium – Winter’s Gate
Witherscape – The Northern Sanctuary
Frost * - Falling Satellites
The Honorable Mentions:
After the Burial – Dig Deep
Animals as Leaders – The Madness of Many
The Answer – Solas
Avatar – Feathers & Flesh
Avenged Sevenfold – The Stage
Be’Lakor – Vessels
Biffy Clyro – Ellipsis
Black Stone Cherry – Kentucky
Joe Bonamassa – Blues of Desperation
Chevelle – The North Corridor
Circus Maximus – Havoc
The Cult – Hidden City
The Dear Hunter – Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional
Deftones - Gore
Dillinger Escape Plan - Dissociation
The Foreshadowing – Seven Heads Ten Horns
In Mourning – Afterglow
Jimmy Eat World – Integrity Blues
Khemmis – Hunted
King Goat - Conduit
Klimt 1918 – Sentimentale/Jugend
Kyng – Breathe in the Water
Katatonia – The Fall of Hearts
Lacuna Coil - Delirium
Megadeth – Dystopia
Meshuggah – The Violent Sleep of Reason
Metal Church – XI
The Midnight – Endless Summer
The Mission – Another Fall From Grace
Maren Morris – Hero
Novembre - Ursa
Oceans of Slumber - Winter
Onerepublic – Oh My My
Opeth – Sorceress
Perturbator – The Uncanny Valley
The Pineapple Thief – Your Wilderness
The Pretty Reckless – Who You Selling For
Red Fang – Only Ghosts
Rival Sons – Hollow Bones
Secrets of the Moon – SUN
Sixx: A.M. – Vol. 1: Prayers for the Damned
Sixx: A.M. – Vol. 2: Prayers for the Blessed
Southern Empire – Southern Empire
Spellcaster – Night Hides the World
Spiritual Beggars – Sunrise to Sundown
The Struts – Everybody Wants
Sumerlands – Sumerlands
Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake
Thrice – To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere
Treat – Ghost of Graceland
Tremonti – Dust
Vektor – Terminal Redux
Volbeat – Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie
Watchtower – Concepts of Math: Book One
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Sixx: A.M. – Vol. 1: Prayers for the Damned
Sixx: A.M. – Vol. 2: Prayers for the Blessed
1/2 killer; 1/2 filler. I saved a playlist that just took the best from each, and pared it down to a single album's length.
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Sixx: A.M. – Vol. 1: Prayers for the Damned
Sixx: A.M. – Vol. 2: Prayers for the Blessed
1/2 killer; 1/2 filler. I saved a playlist that just took the best from each, and pared it down to a single album's length.
I agree - a step up from Modern Vintage for me, but still not as good as the first two (and the debut, in particular)
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Sixx: A.M. – Vol. 1: Prayers for the Damned
Sixx: A.M. – Vol. 2: Prayers for the Blessed
1/2 killer; 1/2 filler. I saved a playlist that just took the best from each, and pared it down to a single album's length.
I agree - a step up from Modern Vintage for me, but still not as good as the first two (and the debut, in particular)
Agreed ... Heroin Diaries is amazing.
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Double post sorry...
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Ooooh forgot Spiritual Beggars Sunrise to Sundown that was a great album big fan of Apollo's vocals \m/
That particular Evergrey album, Storm Within, is much better than had thought in 2016 probably unjust of me not to have listed that in my Top10 at least...
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Short list for my 2016!
1. Avantasia - Ghostlights
2. Dream Theater - The Astonishing
3. Rage - The Devil Strikes Again
And then...
Blood Ceremony - Lord of Misrule
Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct
Let's also mention these two....
iamthemorning - Lighthouse
Sonata Arctica - The Ninth Hour
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I was on vacation so I gotta do a little bit of catching up:
2015
1. Mestis - Polysemy - 4/5
2. Espen Eriksen Trio - Never Ending January - 4/5
3. Kaki King - The Neck Is The Bridge To The Body - 4/5
4. Spencer Elliott - Some Forgotten Color - 3.5/5
5. Incubus - Trust Fall (Side A) - 3/5
6. Heights - Phantasia On The High Processions Of Sun, Moon and Countless Stars Above - 3/5
7. Snarky Puppy & Het Metropole Orkest - Sylva - 3/5
8. The Winery Dogs - Hot Streak - 2.5/5
9. All Them Witches - Dying Surfer Meets His Maker - 2/5
10. Ludovico Einaudi - Elements - 2/5
11. Kendrick Lemar - To Pimp A Butterfly - 2/5
12. St. Germain - St. Germain - 1.5/5
13. Swervedriver - I Wasn't Born To Lose You - 1/5
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2016:
1. Toska - Ode To The Author - 5/5
2. Russian Circles - Guidance - 4.5/5
3. Meniscus - Refractions - 4/5
4. Akord - Ethereality - 4/5
5. Little Tybee - Little Tybee - 4/5
6. Spencer Elliott - Unspoken - 3.5/5
7. Alter Bridge - The Last Hero - 3.5/5
8. Eric Johnson - EJ - 3/5
9. Animals As Leaders - The Madness Of Many - 2.5/5
10. Opeth - Sorceress - 2.5/5
11. Moon Tooth - Chromaparagon - 2.5/5
12. Candlebox - Disappearing In Airports - 2/5
13. iamthemorning - Lighthouse - 2/5
14. The Jezabels - Synthia - 2/5
15. Dream Theater - The Astonishing - 1.5/5
16. Anoushka Shankar - Land Of Gold - 1/5
Interesting to see three post-rock albums take my top 3 this year.
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that Meniscus record is quite good.
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Anyway, is it me or we're burning through these later years? it felt that it took forever to get through the '70s, and now I feel like I barely did my list for a year that I already have to do another :D
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Anyway, is it me or we're burning through these later years? it felt that it took forever to get through the '70s, and now I feel like I barely did my list for a year that I already have to do another :D
Yeah it seems like we are going quicker lately, which is why I'm still 10 years behind with my lists. :P
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that Meniscus record is quite good.
That's one of the few albums from 2016 that I heard this year. I really enjoyed that album.
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2017
2017 I remember maybe most about Pain of Salvation's comeback. In looking at my list, there's definitely albums I enjoyed more that year, than i do now, and vice-versa. Plus some new stuff. Dirt Poor Robins I would discover only a year after The Raven Locks Act 3 was released, and I still likely consider my favorite record of theirs. Play Dead from Mutemath I revisited last Summer and also consider as good if not better than when hearing it during the calendar year. Mutemath isn't done, but in-effect in transition, and I feel they went out with that era on a high note.
Barock Project, Jazzkamikaze, SikTh, Ninet, King Gizzard, Bent Knee..I find 2017 has a lot of good albums, but not too many historic records necessarily at this point. But it's so recent, now about 5 years in, I'm sure other stuff will come into my playlist at some point.
1. Dirt Poor Robins - The Raven Locks Act 3
2. Mutemath - Play Dead
3. Small Leaks Sink Ships - Golden Calf
4. Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
5. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
6. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland
7. Bent Knee - Land Animal
8. Anathema - The Optimist
9. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers
10. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
11. SikTh - The Future in Whose Eyes?
12. Nordic Giants - Amplify Human Vibration (Soundtrack)
13. Subterranean Masquerade - Vagabond
14. Barock Project - Detachment
15. Major Parkinson - Blackbox
16. 22 - You Are Creating-Limb 1
17. Beck - Colors
18. Jazzkamikaze - LeVel
19. Ulver - The Assassination of Julius Caesar
20. Mew - Visuals
21. Ramona Falls - Coils
22. Red Planet with Bill Carothers - Red Planet with Bill Carothers
23. Moonloop - Devocean
24. Persefone - Aathma
25. Timmy Sean - Weeks
26. Ninet - Paper Parachute
27. Sky Architect - Nomad
28. Galactic Cowboys - Long Way Back to the Moon
29. Bjørn Riis - Forever Comes to an End
30. The Contortionist - Clairvoyant
31. Bubblemath - Edit Peptide
32. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana
33. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Hotel Junk Box
34. Dave Kerzner - Static
35. Tuxedo - Tuxedo II
36. StellaRoma - Revel & Ritual
37. Danny Cavanagh - Monochrome
38. The Faceless - In Becoming a Ghost
39. 椎名林檎 [Sheena Ringo] - 逆輸入 ～航空局～ (Gyakuyunyū ~Kōkūkyoku~ Vol. 2)
40. Blackfield - V
41. Guerilla Toss - GT Ultra
42. Esperanza Spalding - Exposure
43. Big Wreck - Grace Street
44. Thundercat - Drunk
45. Umphrey's McGee - Zonkey
46. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
47. The Barnum Meserve - When All is Lost
48. Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions
49. Jessie Ware - Glasshouse
50. Cats in Space - Scarecrow
51. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
52. U2 - Songs of Experience
53. Styx - The Mission
54. The Ongoing Concept - Places
55. Minus the Bear - VOIDS
56. Black Map - In Droves
57. Bullet Height - No Atonement
EPs
1. Bend Sinister - The Other Way
2. Umi - World of Color
3. The Family Crest - Prelude to War
4. Gloomcatcher - Blade in the Belfry
5. Capital Cities - Swimming Pool Summer
6. The Dear Hunter - All Is As All Should Be
7. Childish Japes - After You're Born
8. Radical Face - SunnMoonnEclippse
9. Tuxedo - Fux with the Tux
10. Once & Future Band - Once & Future Band
11. Ulver - Sic transit gloria mundi
12. Mastodon - Cold Dark Place
Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel - I Can Spin a Rainbow
Arcane Roots - Melancholia Hymns
At the Drive-In - in·ter a·li·a
Black Map - In Droves
Broken Social Scene - Hug of Thunder
Brutus - Burst
Bryan and The Aardvarks - Sounds from the Deep Field
Cameron Graves - Planetary Prince
Cauls - Recherché
Chameleon Culture - The Universe is a New Year's Day Parade
Cory Wong - Cory Wong and the Green Screen Band
Crippled Black Phoenix - Horrific Honorifics
Cynic - Uroboric Forms: The Complete Demo Recordings
Dead Letter Circus - The Endless Mile
Deep Purple - Infinite
Deluge Grander - Oceanarium
Eternity Forever - Fantasy
Exit Eden - Rhapsodies in Black
Gang of Youths - Go Farther in Lightness
Ginger Wildheart - Ghost in the Tanglewood
Gizmodrome - Gizmodrome
Harakiri - Alchemy Choir
Inanimate Existence - Underneath a Melting Sky
In the Presence of Wolves - Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and the Cage
Jaws of Love - Tasha Sits Close to the Piano
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Murder of the Universe
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Sketches of Brunswick East
Krallice with Dave Ediwardson - Loum
KXM - Scatterbrain
Leprous - Malina
Marah in the Mainsail - Bone Crown
Marco Minneman - Borrego
Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
Mauno - Tuning
Meridian Incident - Istology
Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct
Moses Sumney - Aromanticism
Mystery Weekend - Surprise!
Nai Palm - Needle Paw
Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
Nexus - En el comienzo del Topos Uranos
Nicholas Krgovich - In an Open Field
Nicole Atkins - Goodnight Rhonda Lee
Nova Collective - The Further Side
Offa Rex - The Queen of Hearts
Offa Rex - The Queen of Hearts
Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and the Cage
Pentakill - II: Grasp of the Undying
Peter Silberman - Impermanence
Public Service Broadcasting - Every Valley
R. Stevie Moore & Jason Falkner - Make It Be
Rare Monk - A Future
Roger Waters - Is This the Life We Really Want?
Scale The Summit - In A World Of Fear
Solstafir - Berdreyminn
Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
St.Vincent - Masseduction
Steve Hackett - The Night Siren
Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner & James McAlister - Planetarium
Sutrah - Dunes
Sólstafir - Berdreyminn
TC&I - Great Aspirations
Temples - Volcano
The Black Light - All Forgotten Dreams
The Dustbowl Revival - The Dustbowl Revival
The Mute Gods - …tardigrades will inherit the earth
The Neal Morse Band - The Similitude of a Dream (all live once, which was enough)
The New Pornographers - Whiteout Conditions
The Night Flight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
The Warning - XXI Century Blood
Tigran Hamasyan - An Ancient Observer
Tuesday the Sky - Drift
VUUR - In This Moment We Are Free - Cities
Waaktaar & Zoe - World of trouble
X Japan - We Are X: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Concerts
4/4/17 Biffy Clyro/O'Brother at the Turf Club St.Paul, MN
4/29/17 XTC An All Star Tribute - Senses Working Overtime 5 at the Turf Club St.Paul, MN
5/11/17 Hall and Oates/Tears for Fears at the XCel Energy Center St.Paul, MN
5/13/17 Coheed and Cambria/Between the Buried and Me/The Dear Hunter at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
5/20/17 The Family Crest/Trevor Sensor at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
6/12/17 Tuxedo at The Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
6/26/17 King Crimson at the State Theater Minneapolis, MN
7/24/17 Bent Knee/Airlands/Oklahoma at the 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
8/13/17 Mew at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
8/17/17 Neal Morse Band Amsterdam Bar and Hall St.Paul, MN
8/24/17 The Pointer Sisters at Leinie Lodge at the Minnesota State Fair Falcon Heights, MN
8/27/17 Jason Richardson/The Reign of Kindo/Umi/Stolas at The Amsterdam Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
9/16/17 Snarky Puppy/Michelle Willis at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
11/14/17 Ne Obliviscaris/Allegaeon at The Amsterdam Bar and Grille St.Paul, MN
12/1/17 Greg Herriges at Dreamland Arts St.Paul, MN
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My 2017:
1. Rage - Seasons of the Black
2. Elvenking - Secrets of the Magick Grimoire
3. Eluveitie - Evocation II – Pantheon
4. Dropkick Murphys - 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory
5. Cellar Darling - This is the Sound
6. Iced Earth - Incorruptible
8. Avatarium - Hurricanes and Halos
8. Alice Cooper - Paranormal
9. Ensiferum - Two Paths
10. Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
11. Grave Digger - Healed by Metal
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2017 is a little light for me, I actually think I spent that year going through countless old albums and getting them organzied:
2017:
1. Vasudeva - No Clearance - 5/5
2. Steven Wilson - The Last Day of June - 4/5
3. Outrun The Sunlight - Red Bird - 3.5/5
4. Intervals - The Way Forward - 3/5
5. Dominic Miller - Silent Lights - 3/5
6. Christopher Larkin - Hollow Knight Soundtrack - 2.5/5
7. Midland - On The Rocks - 2.5/5
8. Tuesday The Sky - Drift - 2.5/5
9. Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox - Fake Blues - 2/5
10. Emancipator - Baralku - 2/5
11. John Garcia - The Coyote Who Spoke In Tongues - 2/5
12. Gloomcatcher - Blade In The Belfry - 2/5
13. Incubus - 8 - 2/5
14. Chris Thile / Edgar Meyer / Yo-Yo Ma - Back Trios - 2/5
15. Bent Knee - Land Animal - 1/5
16. Foo Fighters - Concrete And Gold - 1/5
17. Shobaleader One - Elektrac - 1/5
18. Thundercat - Drunk - 1/5
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Anyway, is it me or we're burning through these later years? it felt that it took forever to get through the '70s, and now I feel like I barely did my list for a year that I already have to do another :D
Yeah it seems like we are going quicker lately, which is why I'm still 10 years behind with my lists. :P
there's only 3 left, so once those are done, you'll have as much time as you want to post earlier years lists to catch up on. I guess it may depend on when Reaper or anyone else wants to finish tabulating the Statistics for each year to get some estimation of what albums had the most votes and were the most popular, etc that your lists may be helpful.
But I'm only doing these every 5 days or so. I guess I was looking to finish this by the end of the year, which given a new 1 is done every 5 days, the last Year, 2020 would be done a few days after New Years.
But like I said, you guys can always post them later if you want even for the Statistics from each year standpoint.
I plan to start making my own personal Yearly Playlists (on Spotify and maybe more accurately, YouTube) sometime early next year. And that I'm presuming would be posted in a New Songs of the Year Topic that was mentioned a few pages back.
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2017 was jam packed with great releases from many of my favorite modern acts. Big Big Train were stupidly busy this year.
1. Big Big Train - Grimspound
2. The Clientele - Music for the Age of Miracles
3. Public Service Broadcasting - Every Valley
4. Fernando Perdomo - The Goldon Hour
5. Mew - Visuals
6. Big Big Train - The Second Brightest Star
7. Field Music - Open Here [see 2018 list]
8. Steven Wilson - To The Bone
9. Isildurs Bane & Steve Hogarth - Colours Not Found in Nature
10. Rikard Sjoblom's Gungfly - On Her Journey to the Sun
Also a bunch of notable live albums, EPs, compilations, re-issues etc.
1. Big Big Train - Far Skies Deep Time (remaster)
2. Big Big Train - Merry Christmas
3. Big Big Train - London Song
4. Fernando Perdomo - Burned Out Heart and Other Assorted Breakup Songs
5. King Crimson - Live in Chicago
6. Marillion - Living in FEAR
7. Fernando Perdomo - Ardent (The Acoustic Record)
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2017
Interesting year overall - what is arguably my top album is from a band I didn't even know existed before this, playing a genre of music I'm not terribly into anymore. So, job well done, Unleash the Archers! :biggrin: To the Bone is another album I listened to a TON. Overall, a bunch of cool discoveries (Black Sites, Voyager, Iris Divine, Black Map, Power Trip...) in addition to more established names (Paradise Lost, Pain of Salvation, Trivium, Mastodon...)
The Top 15
Unleash the Archers – Apex
Steven Wilson – To the Bone
Black Sites – In Monochrome
Voyager – Ghost Mile
Iris Divine – The Static and the Noise
Royal Thunder – Wick
Black Map – In Droves
Paradise Lost - Medusa
Pain of Salvation – In the Passing Light of Day
Trivium – The Sin and the Sentence
Ulver – The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Power Trip – Nightmare Logic
Threshold – Legends of the Shires
Mastodon – Emperor of Sand
Leprous – Malina
The Honorable Mentions:
Accept – The Rise of Chaos
Aether Realm – Tarot
Tori Amos – Native Invader
Anathema - The Optimist
Blackfield – Blackfield V
Caligula’s Horse – In Contact
Daniel Cavanagh - Monochrome
The Contortionist – Clairvoyant
Cradle of Filth – Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay
Depeche Mode – Spirit
Enslaved - E
Foo Fighters – Concrete and Gold
Grave Pleasures – Motherblood
Have Mercy – Make the Best of It
Hyborian – Vol. 1
Impure Wilhelmina – Radiation
KXM – Scatterbrain
Life of Agony - A Place Where There is No More Pain
Lionize – Nuclear Soul
Lunar Shadow – Far From Light
Lunatic Soul - Fractured
Moonspell - 1755
Mother of Millions – Sigma
Nothing But Thieves – Broken Machine
Nothing More – The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Pallbearer – Heartless
Sons of Apollo – Psychotic Symphony
Spirit Adrift – Curse of Conception
Chris Stapleton – From a Room Vol 1&2
Venenum – Trance of Death
Von Hertzen Brothers – War is Over
While She Sleeps – You Are We
Witherfall – Nocturnes and Requiems
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Looking at my iTunes, it was around this time when I started to listening to less new music every year. Too much going on to listen to too many new albums every year as life gets older, I guess.
My top two for 2017 are the only ones I would give 4 stars or more.
01 Steven Wilson - To the Bone
02 Styx - The Mission
03 U2 - Songs of Experience
04 Blackfield - V
05 Arcade Fire - Everything Now (inconsistent, but has 4-5 killer songs)
06 Taylor Swift - Reputation
07 Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie - Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie (might as well call it a Fleetwood Mac album minus Stevie Nicks)
08 Robert Plant - Carry Fire
09 Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up
10 Ayreon - The Source (way more miss than hit, but I would put it on here because it has Star of Sirrah)
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Top 20:
Daydream XI - The Circus of the Tattered and Torn
Eagleheart - Reverse
Damnations Day - A World Awakens
Prospekt - The Illumninated Sky
Mindmaze - Resolve
Pyramaze - Contingent
Nightflight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
Arthemis - Blood|Fury|Domination
Vanish - The Insanity Abstract
Ayreon - The Source
Jorn - Life on Death Road
Firewind - Immortals
Threshold - Legends of the Shires
Stamina - System of Power
Bare Infinity - The Butterfly Raiser
Signum Regis - Decennium Primum
Vandroya - Beyond The Human Mind
Harem Scarem - United
The Ferrymen - The Ferrymen
Tony MacAlpine - Death of Roses
And I think this is where I'd still rate them all.
Others not mentioned yet:
Astral Doors - Black Eyed Children
Almanac - Kingslayer
Ancestral Dawn - Souldance
Anthriel - Transcendence
Anubis - The Second Hand
Dream Evil - Six
Eclipse - Momentum
Galneryus - Ultimate Sacrifice
Helker - Firesoul
Hell in the Club - See You on the Dark Side
Labyrinth - Architecture of God
Lonely Robot - The Big Dream
Masqued - The Light In The Dark
Midnight Sin - One Last Ride
Need - Hegaiamas:A Song for Freedom
Nocturnal Rites - Phoenix
One Desire - One Desire
Pyramid Theorem - Element of Surprise
Secret Sphere - The Nature of Time
Serenity - Lionheart
Serious Black - Magic
Shattered Skies - Auxilium // Vol I
SineHeresY - Domino
Soulspell - Act IV - The Second Big Bang
Steelheart - Through Worlds of Stardust
Striker - Striker (EP)
Wolfpakk - Wolves Reign
Xandria - Theater of Dimensions
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Time to make a dent in how far behind I am on this thread :biggrin:
Here's the full 2006 list (https://rateyourmusic.com/list/puppies_on_acid/2006-album-rankings/). This was the year I found Progulus Radio, through which I found tons of new awesome bands, like Frost*, Pure Reason Revolution, Vanden Plas, A.C.T, Andromeda, Unexpect, Ef, Wolverine, The Dear Hunter, and many more.
And my top 50.
1. Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain (this is a no brainer for this year)
2. Negură Bunget - Om (also a no brainer)
3. Protest the Hero - Kezia
4. Frost* - Milliontown
5. Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third
6. Battle of Mice - A Day of Nights
7. Textures - Drawing Circles (even I was surprised how high on my list this was)
8. Dream Theater - Score
9. Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere...
10. Tool - 10000 Days
11. Enslaved - Ruun
12. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
13. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
14. The Mars Volta - Amputechture
15. Vanden Plas - Christ 0
16. A.C.T - Silence
17. Ahab - Call of the Wretched Sea
18. Summoning - Oath Bound
19. Solitude Aeturnus - Alone
20. Ihsahn - The Adversary
21. Andromeda - Chimera
22. Scott Walker - The Drift
23. Drudkh - Кров у наших криницях (Blood in Our Wells)
24. Mirrorthrone - Carriers of Dust
25. Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage
26. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
27. Persefone - Core
28. Wolves in the Throne Room - Diadem of 12 Stars
29. The Faceless - Akeldama
30. Amorphis - Eclipse
31. Keep of Kalessin - Armada
32. Novembre - Materia
33. Persuader - When Eden Burns
34. Strapping Young Lad - The New Black
35. The Human Abstract - Nocturne
36. Unexpect - In a Flesh Aquarium
37. Sikth - Death of a Dead Day
38. Ef - Give Me Beauty... Or Give Me Death!
39. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
40. Manticora - The Black Circus: Part 1 - Letters
41. Fall of Efrafa - Owsla
42. Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
43. Wolverine - Still
44. The Dear Hunter - Act I: The Lake South, the River North
45. Estradasphere - Palace of Mirrors
46. Akroma - Sept
47. Dark Fortress - Séance
48. Daylight Dies - Dismantling Devotion
49. Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist
50. The Paper Chase - Now You Are One of Us
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2018
2018 seemed initially like it could have been a better year than 2017. That The Family Crest album was a really big deal for me to finally come out, and it more or less lived up to my hopes as I found I enjoyed it start-to-finish a little more than their previous album, 2014's "Beneath the Brine."
Also that Kindo/The Reign of Kindo I felt kind of the same way about sans for the fact every tune I had heard for awhile given I was part of their Patreon.
Coheed, Ours, Childish Japes, Esperanza Spalding, Kimbra and Capital Cities all had albums I enjoyed a lot in 2018, and in some cases, enjoy even more now.
And then over the last 6 months I found the band Eldren and got totally won over by their epic masterpiece "Miss Information Aged." So much so, it was my most listened to album of 2021, that I had to place it at #1 for 2018. The energy and trippy nature, plus the use of electronic taxtures and violin work made the songs and album flow so well.
1. Eldren - Miss Information Aged
2. The Family Crest - The War: Act I
3. Kindo - Happy However After
4. Grimus- Unmanageable Species
5. Esperanza Spalding - 12 Little Spells
6. Coheed and Cambria - Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures
7. Kimbra - Primal Heart
8. Vennart - To Cure a Blizzard Upon a Plastic Sea
9. Ours - New Age Heroine II
10. Orphaned Land - Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs
11. Childish Japes & Dave Vives - Salamander
12. Long Distance Calling - Boundless
13. A Dying Planet - Facing the Incurable
14. Blackbelt Eagle Scout Mother of My Children
15. Capital Cities - Solarize
13. In Vain - Currents
14. Bend Sinister - Foolish Games
15. 22- You Creating: Limb2
16. Typhoon - Offerings
17. Josh Rouse - Love in the Modern Age
18. Between the Buried and Me - Automata I/Automata II
19. Crippled Black Phoenix - Great Escape
20. Yossi Sassi & the Oriental Rock Orchestra - Illusion of Choice
21. Nosound - Allow Yourself
22. Journal - Chrysalis Ordalias
23. Josh King and Them - Into the Blue
24. The Dang Ol' Tri'ole - Dang!
25. Augury - Illusive Golden Age
26. The Sea Within - The Sea Within
27. Punch Brothers - All Ashore
28. Tax the Heat - Change Your Position
29. The Monkees - Christmas Party
30. Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird - Electric Brown
31. Phideaux - Infernal
32. Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones - Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones
33. Dug Pinnick - Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (Often Imitated But Never Duplicated)
34. Dream the Electric Sleep - The Giants' Newground
35. Soft Machine - Hidden Details
36. Chromeo - Head Over Heels
37. Hands of Despair - Well of the Disquieted
38. Muse - Simulation Theory
39. Facing New York - Dogtown
40. Guerilla Toss - Twisted Chrystal
41. Rachel Flowers - Going Somewhere
42. Gryphon - Reinvention
Others
Anna von Hausswolff - Dead Magic
Bill Hubauer - We Came from Space
Canon Blue - Lasso Yo
Dessa - Chime
Field Music - Open Here
God is an Astronaut - Epitaph
Greta Van Fleet - Greta Van Fleet
Harakiri - Alchemy Choir
Inferi - Revenant
Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer
Kai Danzberg - Pop-Up Radio
Lawrence - Living Room
Lenny Kravitz - Raise Vibration
Myles Kennedy - Year of the Tiger
Nicholas Krgovich - In an Open Field
Nicholas Krgovich - OUCH
Nile Rodgers and Chic - It's About Time
Paul McCartney - Egypt Station
Prince - Piano and a Microphone
Southern Empire - Civilisation
Spock's Beard - Noise Floor
Umphrey's McGee - It's Not Us
White Denim - Performance
EPs
1. Small Leaks Sink Ships - Polaroid People
2. Fjokra - Evening Lights
3. Kimbra - Songs From Primal Heart: Reimagined
4. Mutemath - Voice in the Silence
5. Fish - A Parley With Angels
6. Vennart - Copeland
7. Minus the Bear - Fair Enough
8. Umbrellaman - Volcano Beach
9. Arcane Roots - Landslide
10. The Mercury Tree & Cryptic Ruse - Cryptic Tree
11. The Arusha Accord - Juracan
12. KL the Bear - Fair Enough
13. Jason Bieler - Birds of Prey
Live Albums
1. Fates Warning - Live Over Europe
2. Michael Nesmith & The First National Band Redux - Live at the Troubadour
3. iamthemorning - Ocean Sounds
4. Renaissance - A Symphonic Journey
Concerts
1/12/18 Deng Ol' Tri'ole at Hook and Ladder Minneapolis, MN
1/17/18 Typhoon/Sunbathe at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
1/28/18 Michael Nesmith and the First National Band at the Troubadour in Hollywood, CA
2/5/18 Kimbra at The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
3/3/18 Between the Buried and Me/The Dear Hunter/Leprous at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
3/25/18 Protest the Hero/Thank You Scientist/Closure in Moscow at The Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/7/18 Cloud Cult at Orchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN
5/19/18 Josh Rouse at the Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
6/14/18 The Mike and Micky Show at the Copernicus Center Chicago, IL
7/10/18 Bent Knee/Gatherers/Bubblemath at the 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
7/20/18 Raphael Saadiq/Ali Shaheed Muhammad at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
8/8/18 The Family Crest/Wilkinson James at the Turf Club St.Paul, MN
10/20/18 Josh Rouse/Grant Lee Phillips at The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/21/18 Phil Collins at Target Center Minneapolis, MN
10/23/18 Soft Machine/Beledo at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
12/21/18 Stella Roma (Greg Herriges) at Dreamland Arts St.Paul, MN
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Discovery of 2018:
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273caa06bfbb89311f53c8235a4)
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Others
Field Music - Open Here
Another anomaly. I have this ranked with my 2017 group, as that's the date on my CD and in my Groove Music. Everything else says February 2018, except Discogs does list a 2017 promo. Guessing it was printed in 2017 and not released until 2018. I guess I'll include it in my 2018 list instead.
-
2018 was a really great year in which I got clued into a bunch of random prog releases.
1. Fernando Perdomo - Out to Sea
2. Spock's Beard - Noise Floor
3. Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Wapentak
4. Mir - Telegraph
5. Emperor Norton - Emperor Norton
6. Fernando Perdomo - Zebra Crossing
7. Gleb Kolyadin - Gleb Kolyadin
8. Field Music - Open Here
9. Rikard Sjoblom's Gungfly - Friendship
10. The Paper Kites - On the Corner Where You Live
11. Malady - Toinen Toista
12. John Hackett & Nick Fletcher - Beyond the Stars
13. Tony Banks - 5
14. Tribus - Windmill
15. Neal Morse - Life & Times
16. Vier - Perfect Beings
17. Senki madara - Yesterdays
Other assorted stuff:
1. Big Big Train - Merchants of Light
2. Big Big Train - Swan Hunter (EP)
3. Marillion - Unplugged at the Walls (re-issue)
4. Marillion - Brave (Steven Wilson re-mix)
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Discovery of 2018:
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273caa06bfbb89311f53c8235a4)
Did not know of Lost Domain. Killer voice she has. Only at track 5 and already epic stuff :metal
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Mh, quite a short list for 2018....
1. Judas Priest - Firepower
2. Ghost - Prequelle
3. Powerwolf - The Sacrament of Sin
And then:
4. Refuge - Solitary Men
5. Halestorm - Vicious
Some rounding up just because at least I heard these albums :D
Kamelot - The Shadow Theory
Korpiklaani - Kulkija
Grave Digger - The Living Dead
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My Top 20:
Ostura - The Room
Mystery - Lies And Butterflies
Seventh Wonder - Tiara
Walls of Babylon - A Portrait of Memories
Lords of Black - Icons of the New Days
Redemption - Long Night's Journey Into Day
Primitai - The Calling
Divine Ascension - The Uncovering
Michael Romeo - War of the Worlds Pt. 1
Into the Great Divide - s/t
Lost In Thought - Renesance
Icarus Witch - Goodbye Cruel World
Angra - Omni
Fifth Angel - The Third Secret
Kissin Dynamite - Ecstasy
Subsignal - La Muerta
Voodoo Circle - Raised on Rock
Presto Ballet - The Days Between
Southern Empire - Civilisation
Ethernity - The Human Race Extinction
And the rest not mentioned yet:
3.2 - The Rules Have Changed
Animal Drive - Bite!
Arion - Life Is Not Beautiful
Arwen - The Soul's Sentence
Bonfire - Temple of Lies
Borealis - The Offering
Collibus - Trusting the Illusion
Conception - My Dark Symphony
Dreyelands - Stages
Dynazty - Firesign
Evership - Evership II
Galahad - Seas of Change
Guardians of Time - Tearing Up The World
Gus G - Fearless
Helion Prime - Terror of the Cybernetic Space Monster
Hexed - Netherworld
Horizon's Edge - Let the Show Go On
Judas Priest - Firepower
Judicator - The Last Emperer
King Company - Queen of Hearts
Lione-Conti - S/T
Lost Domain - … In The Waiting Room of Death
Lyra's Legacy - Prisoner
Maestrick - Espresso Della Vita: Sorale
Manimal - Purgatoria
Millenial Reign - The Great Divide
Myles Kennedy - Year of the Tiger
New Horizons - Inner Dislocation
Primal Fear - Apocalypse
Saffire - Where the Monsters Dwell
Sergey Golovin - Sculpture
Trillium - Tectonic
Trond Holter - Vlad The Impaler
Warkings - Reborn
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Fairly short list from for this year, 2018:
1. Black Map - Trace The Path - 5/5
2. Gaupa - Gaupa - 4.5/5
3. Espen Eriksen Trio With Andy Sheppard - Perfectly Unhappy - 4/5
4. Submotion Orchestra - Kites - 4/5
5. Rabea Massaad - Grinding Gears - 3.5/5
6. KOAN Sound - Polychrome - 3/5
7. Mestis - Eikasia - 3/5
8. Mac Miller - Swimming - 3/5
9. Shubh Saran - H.A.D.D. - 3/5
10. Joe Satriani - What Happens Next - 3/5
11. A Perfect Circle - Eat The Elephant - 2.5/5
12. ASG - Survive Survive - 2/5
13. DJ Krush - Cosmic Yard - 2/5
14. The Night Game - The Night Game - 2/5
15. Tenacious D - Post-Apocalypto - 2/5
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Discovery of 2018:
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273caa06bfbb89311f53c8235a4)
Did not know of Lost Domain. Killer voice she has. Only at track 5 and already epic stuff :metal
:tup
This album is amazing!!
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2018
Judas Priest was probably the biggest surprise - didn't expect they'd have an album of this caliber still in them.
Top 15:
Ghost – Prequelle
Tribulation - Down Below
Judas Priest – Firepower
Soen - Lotus
Amorphis – Queen of Time
Eneferens – The Bleakness of Our Constant
Tremonti - A Dying Machine
Voivod – The Wake
Southern Empire – Civilisation
Kingcrow – The Persistence
Myles Kennedy - Year of the Tiger
A Perfect Circle – Eat the Elephant
Haken – Vector
The Eternal – Waiting for the Endless Dawn
Madder Mortem – Marrow
The Honorable Mentions:
Alice in Chains – Rainier Fog
Audrey Horne – Blackout
Avatar – Avatar Country
Conception – My Dark Symphony
Deathwhite – For a Black Tomorrow
Godsmack – When Legends Rise
Halestorm – Vicious
Hamferð - Támsins likam
Heir Apparent – The View from Below
Hooded Menace - Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed
Horrendous - Idol
Khemmis - Desolation
Octopus - Supernatural Alliance
Omnium Gatherum – The Burning Cold
Panegyrist - Hierurgy
Pop Evil – Pop Evil
Shinedown – Attention Attention
Sleep – The Sciences
Slugdge – Esoteric Malacology
Sulphur Aeon – The Scythe of Cosmic Chaos
Vanishing Kids – Heavy Dreamer
Voices - Frightened
White Moth Black Butterfly - Atone
Witherfall – A Prelude to Sorrow
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Did not know of Lost Domain. Killer voice she has. Only at track 5 and already epic stuff :metal
:tup
This album is amazing!!
It is indeed - I discovered it via DTF, actually...I don't own it yet, but plan to remedy that :)
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Evergrey – The Atlantic
Except it was released in 2019
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Evergrey – The Atlantic
Except it was released in 2019
....aaaand you are correct ;D Not really sure why I had it archived as 2018. Weird. I'll amend my post
-
Evergrey – The Atlantic
Except it was released in 2019
....aaaand you are correct ;D Not really sure why I had it archived as 2018. Weird. I'll amend my post
I think more than a couple of us have had a few tags updated because of this thread. :tup
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Evergrey – The Atlantic
Except it was released in 2019
....aaaand you are correct ;D Not really sure why I had it archived as 2018. Weird. I'll amend my post
I think more than a couple of us have had a few tags updated because of this thread. :tup
I know I have. I noticed when we were still making our way through the '70s that all of my Scorpions album tags were off by 1 year for some reason. :dunno:
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2019
2019, the last *normal* year it seems in the current climate of history.
As the final year of the 2010's, 2019 kind of felt like the end of an era and it didn't measure up quite as well to many of the other recent years. However, I I think for my taste, it was about on par and in some ways maybe a little better than some of the other recent years. I probably enjoy more records from it right now, than the 2 years that have come since for what it's worth.
The Vonavi record sort of came out of nowhere to win my Album of the Year, maybe because how different it is, and with it's cinematic quality.
Foals, A Formal Horse, Arch/Matheos, Lehto & Wright, E.B. The Younger, Motorpsycho, Tuxedo are among albums I enjoyed then and have enjoyed since that I see for the year in music 2019.
Also the music I probably listend to the most in 2019 were those 2 EPs from Dirt Poor Robins that of course all of the music ended up on the proper full-length album from the next year.
1 more year to go in a few days, and then on to the Songs of the Year/Yearly Playlists thread in about 1 week...
1. Vonavi - Reflection
2. Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost (Parts 1-2)
3. Local Natives - Violet Street
4. A Formal Horse - Here Comes a Man From the Council With a Flamethrower
5. Arch / Matheos - Winter Ethereal
6. Moron Police - A Boat on the Sea
7. The Claypool/Lennon Delirium - South of Reality
8. Thank You Scientist - Terraformer
9. Motorpsycho - The Crucible
10. Disillusion - The Liberation
11. Bjorn Riis - A Storm is Coming
12. Lehto & Wright - Curios
13. Barock Project - Seven Seas
14. Owel - Paris
15. E.B. The Younger - To Each His Own
16. Tuxedo - Tuxedo III
17. The Tea Club - If / When
18. Flying Colors - Third Degree
19. Sheena Ringo - 三毒史 (Sandokushi)
20. Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird - New Romancer
21. Courtney Swain - Between Blood and Ocean
22 Leprous - Pitfalls
23. Bent Knee - You Know What They Mean
24. Ray Alder - What the Water Wanted
25. Jolly - Family
26. Jon Anderson - 1000 Hands
27. Dan Moxon - Lounge Singer
28. Black Belt Eagle Scout - At the Party With My Brown Friends
29. The Mercury Tree - Spidermilk
30. Rocco of the Snow - Prime Mover
31. Big Wreck - But for the Sun
32. Snarky Puppy - Immigrance
33. Dream Theater - Distance Over Time
34. Guerilla Toss - What Would the Odd Do?
35. Rosalie Cunningham - Rosalie Cunningham
36. iamthemorning - The Bell
37. Rhiannon Giddens - There Is No Other
38. East of the Wall - NP-Complete
39. Maraton - Meta
40. Hiromi - Spectrum
41. The Pneumatic Transit - Chordae Tendineae
42. Cats in Space - Day Trip to Narnia
43. Misha Bower - Trying to Have It All (2019)
44. Equipose - Demiurgus
45. Biffy Clyro - Balance, Not Symmetry (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
46. Glasys - Defective Humanity
47. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Fishing for Fishies
48. Sermon - Birth of the Marvellous
49. Steve Hackett - At the Edge of Light
50. The Bird and the Bee - Interpreting the Masters Vol.2 Van Halen
51. Negroni's Trio - Acoustico
EPs
1. Dirt Poor Robins - Dead Horse, Alaska (GOLD)
2. Dirt Poor Robins - Dead Horse, Alaska (RED)
3. Northern Abbey - Ceremonies
4. Erthlings - Indigo
5. Vesper Sails - On to the Moon
5. Robyn Hitchcock and Andy Partridge - Planet England
6. The Tea Party - Black River
7. Paige Drobot - Zero Thought
8. The Contortionist - Our Bones
9. Radical Face - Therapy
Live
Long Distance Calling - STUMMFILM (Live From Hamburg)
Michael Nesmith and Red Rhodes - Cosmic Partners
3 - Live at Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY
Others
Alan Parsons - The Secret
Alcest - Spiritual Instinct
Alter Bridge - Walk the Sky
Amanda Palmer - There Will Be No Intermission
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Transiberiana
Battles - Juice B Crypts
Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Black Mountain - Destroyer
Blue Hawaii - Open Reduction Internal Fixation
Buke and Gase - Scholars
Cannons - Shadows
Coyote Kid - The Skeleton Man
Danger Mouse & Karen O - Lux Prima
Dan Mangan - More or Less
Earthquake Lights - Distress Signals
Elbow - Giants of All Sizes
Emily King - Scenery
False - Portent
Friendly Fires - Inflorescent
Gavin Castleton - Weak Ltd.
Glen Hansard - This Wild Willing
Iapetus - The Body Cosmic
Iapetus - The Body Cosmic
Infinity Train - Infinity Train: Book 1 (Original Soundtrack)
Izz - Don't Panic
Jeff Buckley - In Transition
Joe Jackson - Fool
Jouis - Mind Bahn
Kai Danzberg -Welcome to Euphoria
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Infest The Rats' Nest
Landroid - Imperial Dunes
Masvidal - Mythical
Men I Trust - Oncle Jazz
Mind Cinema - Sleep Clinic
Nightmare Scenario - Beyond What Is Real
Oh Sees - Face Stabber
Omega District - The Machine Destiny
Opeth - In cauda venenum
Our Destiny - Awakening
Plaguebringer - Diabolos
Prince - Originals
Queensryche - The Verdict
Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee
Refused - War Music
Sigur Rós - 22° Lunar Halo
Sonoride - 101
Son Step - Fossilillies
Susanne Sundfør - Music for People in Trouble: Live from the Barbican
The Appleseed Cast - The Fleeting Light of Impermanence
The Comet Is Coming - Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery
The Hu Band - The Gereg
The Japanese House - Good at Falling
The New Pornographers - In the Morse Code of Brake Lights
The Ninth Wave - Infancy
Tinlicker - This is Not Our Universe
Tropical Fuck Storm - Braindrops
TWRP - Return to Wherever
Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
Wheel - Moving Backwards
Wilco - Ode to Joy
Wilderun - Veil of Imagination
Zeta - Mochima
ZW Band - If it's Real
長谷川白紙 [Hakushi Hasegawa] - エアにに (Air ni ni)
Concerts
3/7/19 Jimmy Gnecco/Royston Langdon at the 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
3/14/19 The Mike and Micky Show at Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN
3/16/19 Queensryche/Fates Warning at Medina Entertainment Center Medina, MN
4/3/19 Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets at the Orpheum Theater Minneapolis, MN
4/20/19 Jon Anderson at The Fitzgerald Theater St.Paul, MN
4/25/19 Thank You Scientist/Kindo/In the Presence of Wolves at The Amsterdam Bar and Grille
4/30/19 Foals/Preoccupations/Omni at First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
8/9/19 Kindo/Sirintip/Rocco of the Snow/Adrian Bellue at the Skyway Theater Minneapolis, MN
8/11/19 The Bird and the Bee/Samantha Sidley/Alex Lilly at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
8/14/19 Tuxedo at The Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
10/1/19 Billy Cobham Crosswinds Project feat. Randy Brecker at the Dakota Jazz Club Minneapolis, MN
10/7/19 Steve Hackett at The Pantages Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/9/19 Big Wreck at The Turf Club St.Paul, MN
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2019 A good music year!
1. RAY ALDER What The Water Wants
2. SPREAD EAGLE Subway To The Stars
3. EVERGREY The Atlantic
4. QUEENSRYCHE The Verdict
5. DIAMOND HEAD The Coffin Train
DREAM THEATER Distance Over Time
ARCH/MATHEOS Winter Ethereal
PRETTY MAIDS Undress Your Madness
TOOL Fear Inoculum
ALCEST Spiritual Instinct
LANCE KING Reprogram
SUPERHEIST Sidewinder
DAD A Prayer For The Loud
KXM Circle Dolls
JIMMY BARNES My Criminal Record
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My Top 20:
M.I.GOD. - Spectres on Parade
Ark Ascent - Downfall
Noveria - Aequilibrium
Darkwater - Human
IQ - Resistance
The Ferrymen - A New Evil
Andy Gillion - Never After
Dream Theater - Distance Over Time
Avantasia - Moonglow
Vanden Plas - The Ghost Xperiment: Awakening
Restless Spirits - Restless Spirits
Chaos Magic - Furyborn
Hollow Haze - Between Wild Landscapes and Deep Blue Seas
Arch/Matheos - Winter Ethereal
Secret Chapter - Chapter One
Soen Anderson - Guilty Pleasures
Anthem - Nucleus
Dimhav - The Boreal Flame
Axenstar - End of All Hope
Scarleth - Vortex
And the rest .... not mentioned yet:
Aeon Zen - Inveritas
Agonizer - New Tomorrow
All Things Fallen - All Things Fallen
Arch Echo - You Won't Believe What Happens Next
Crazy Lixx - Forever Wild
Diamond Head - The Coffin Train
Divided Multitude - Faceless Aggressor
Diviner - Realms of Time
Eclipse - Paradigm
Frozen Crown - Crowned in Frost
Hardline - Life
Huis - Abandoned
HYVMINE - Retaliation
Into the Great Divide - A Life in Six Acts
Knight Area - D-Day
Lord - Fallen Idols
Myrath - Shehili
Narnia - From Darkness to Light
Our Destiny - Awakening
Savage Messiah - Demons
Seven Steps to the Green Door - The?Lie
SinHeresY - Out of Connection
Starbreaker - Dysphoria
Stormwarrior - Norsemen
Teramaze - Are We Soldiers
Timo Tolkki's Avalon - Return to Eden
Valis Ablaze - Render
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2019
As it turns out, it's a relatively thin year for me, quantity-wise. But some good stuff nonetheless. Idle Hands was the big surprise - I don't know if it's "objectively" (in my world, that is) the best of the year, but it's for sure the one I listened to the most.
Top 15
Idle Hands – Mana
Mother of Millions – Artifacts
Dream Theater - Distance Over Time
Spirit Adrift – Divided by Darkness
Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky
Black Sites – Exile
Cellar Darling – The Spell
Lacrimas Profundere – Bleeding the Stars
Rammstein – Rammstein
Evergrey – The Atlantic
Wilderun - Veil of Imagination
Slipknot - We are not your kind
Lacuna Coil – Black Anima
Borknagar – True North
Opeth – In Cauda Venenum
The Honorable Mentions:
Avantasia – Moonglow
Blood Incantation - Hidden History of the Human Race
Crown of Autumn - Byzantine Horizons
Dead to a Dying World - Elegy
Inculter – Fatal Visions
Insomnium – Heart Like a Grave
Leprous - Pitfalls
Lunar Shadow - The Smokeless Fires
Myrath - Shehili
The Offering - Home
Paladin – Ascension
Pectora - Untaken
Rival Sons – Feral Roots
Sermon – Birth of the Marvellous
Swallow the Sun - When a Shadow is Forced Into the Light
Tool - Fear Inoculum
Unfathomable Ruination - Enraged and Unbound
Voyager – Colours in the Sun
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Lunar Shadow - The Smokeless Fires
THIS is an awesome album! I had this Saved in my Spotify.
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I few albums I really enjoyed in 2019:
Aephanemer-Prokopton
Illyria-The Carpathan Summit
Riot City-Burn The Night
Not Otherwise Specified-Deadweight
Lahmia-Resilience
Howling Sycamore-Seven Pathways To Annihilation
Mirror-Pyramid Of Terror
Gygax-High Fantasy
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Lunar Shadow - The Smokeless Fires
THIS is an awesome album! I had this Saved in my Spotify.
Agreed - really cool album. The vocals are a bit of an acquired taste, but they do have a certain charm that fits with the overall mood ;) Their first release is good too, although this is a little darker and aligns better with what I like. Haven't explored their most recent album (from 2021) yet.
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My 2019, at the top there has to be an aex equo 'cause I can't decide:
1.1 Elvenking - Reader of the Runes – Divination
1.2 Cellar Darling – The Spell
Both are masterpieces that I enjoyed (and listened) to death..
Then
3. Mägo de Oz - Ira Dei
And then...
4. Avantasia - Moonglow
5. Blind Guardian's Twilight Orchestra - Legacy of the Dark Lands
6. Avatarium - The Fire I Long For
7. Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars
8. Dream Theater - Distance Over Time
9. Eluveitie - Ategnatos
10. The Hu - The Gereg
Please tell me I'm not the only one that looks up albums, sees a band name and goes "oh yeah, I totally forgot their previous albums"....
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Anyway, is it me or we're burning through these later years? it felt that it took forever to get through the '70s, and now I feel like I barely did my list for a year that I already have to do another :D
Indeed. I'm going to have to catch up on '17 and '18 sometime, I guess. Too busy lately with holiday and house stuff, and when I've been at the computer I've been working on my lists for '21, not these.
2019:
This was the last year before I started paying attention to new releases again. So I'm a little surprised at how much I managed to listen from the year, when I spent much more of '20 and '21 listening to music from those current years. It doesn't begin to compare in volume to the 00s, but I was much more plugged in back then, and have had years since then to accrete even more compared to these recent years.
Tier 1:
Autumn - Stacking Smoke
Dido - Still On My Mind
Opeth - In Cauda Venenum
Red Handed Denial - Redeemer
Tool - Fear Inoculum
Vetrar Draugurinn - Hinterlands
We Are The Catalyst - Ephemeral
Wheel - Moving Backwards
White Ward - Love Exchange Failure
Chelsea Wolfe - Birth of Violence
Tier 2:
Aghora - Entheogenic Frequencies
Alcest - Spiritual Instinct
Batushka - Panihida and Господи - don't remember which iteration of the band is which, I haven't gotten deep enough into the drama to care, I like both versions
Cult of Luna - A Dawn To Fear
Delain - Hunter's Moon EP
Drab Majesty - Modern Mirror
Dream Theater - Distance Over Time
Evergrey - The Atlantic
The Great Old Ones - Cosmicism
Hanging Garden - Into That Good Night
Mecha Maiko - Let's!
November's Doom - Nephilim Grove
Thayer Sarrano - Wings Alleluia
Swallow The Sun - When a Shadow is Forced Into the Light
Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance
Vintersea - Illuminated
Tier 3:
Alter Bridge - Walk the Sky
AntropomorphiA - Merciless Savagery
Arch/Matheos - Winter Ethereal
Atrium Carceri/Cities Last Broadcast - Black Stage of Night
Azmari - Ekera
Blackbriar - Our Mortal Remains
Blood Incantation - Hidden History of the Human Race
The Dark Element - Songs the Night Sings
Deathswarm - Shadowlands of Darkness
Dreadnought - Emergence
Eleine - All Shall Burn
Entrails - Rise of the Reaper
Gatecreeper - Deserted
Sara Gazarek - Thirsty Ghost
Hildur Guonadottir - Chernobyl
Hiromi - Spectrum
Idle Hands - Mana
Illdisposed - Reveal Your Soul For the Dead
Iris - Six
ISON - Inner - Space
KANGA - Eternal Daughter EP
Krypts - Cadaver Circulation
Mega Drive - 199XAD and Encoder EP
Memoriam - Requiem for Mankind
The Moth Gatherer - Esoteric Oppression
Marissa Nadler/Stephen Brodsky - Droneflower
Shahin Novrasli - From Baku to New York City
October Tide - In Splendor Below
Paganizer - The Tower of the Morbid
Phlebotomized - Deformation of Humanity
Soilwork - Verkligheten
Spoil Engine - Renaissance Noire
Swans - leaving meaning.
T.O.Y. - Silent Soldiers
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Signs
Devin Townsend - Empath
Molly Tuttle - When You're Ready
Moriah Woods - Old Boy
Wormed - Metaportal
Tier 4:
Sara Bareilles - Amidst the Chaos
Crypt Sermon - The Ruins of Fading Light
Entombed A.D. - Bowels of Earth
Festerday - lihtallan
Fuming Mouth - The Grand Descent
Marko Hietala - Mustan sydamen rovio
Lacuna Coil - Black Anima
Left Behind - No One Goes To Heaven
Master Boot Record - Internet Protocol
Mephorash - Shem Ha Mephorash
Musmahhu - Reign of the Odious
Nemesea - White Flag
Nocturnus AD - Paradox
Street Cleaner - Annihilation
Totengott - The Abyss
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Was traveling over the weekend and am just now getting to 2019. This was a super-thin year and a bit of a letdown after 2017 and 2018 were filled with lots of great new prog albums.
1. Big Big Train - Grand Tour
2. Fernando Perdomo - Out to Sea 2
3. Flying Colors - Third Degree
4. Randy McStine - Idle
And that's it for new releases. But there were some nice re-issues and compilations in 2019.
1. Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight reissue
2. Marillion - Clutching at Straws reissue
3. Peter Gabriel - Rated PG (this is really great BTW)
4. Marillion - With Friends from the Orchestra (they consider this a studio album, but it's not new material so I'm not ranking).
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Completely forgot to update this for 2019:
1. Tool - Fear Inoculum - 5/5 - Took a few spins but I love this album
2. Jakub Zytecki - Nothing Lasts, Nothing's Lost - 5/5 - One of the most unique, interesting albums I've ever heard
3. Neil Cowley & Ben Lukas Boysen - Grains & Motes - 5/5
4. Ekcle - Yoja - 4.5/5
5. Ola Englund - Master Of The Universe - 4.5/5
6. KOAN Sound - Intervals Above - 4.5/5
7. Bryan Beller - Scense From The Flood - 4.5/5
8. Dream Theater - Distance Over Time - 4/5 - Best Mangini album hands down
9. Ludovico Einaudi - Seven Days Walking - 4/5
10. Rabea Massaad - Grinding Gears, Vol. 2 - 4/5
11. Acoustic Labs - Drive Sessions - 3.5/5
12. Haywyre - Panorama: Form Remixes 3.5/5
13. Above & Beyond - Flow State - 3/5
14. Arch Echo - You Won't Believe What Happens Next! - 3/5
15. Emancipator & 9 Theory - Cheeba Gold - 3/5
16. Portico Quartet - Memory Streams - 3/5
17. Tal Wilkenfeld - Love Remains 3/5
18. Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell! - 2.5/5
19. Delta Empire - Vanquish - 2.5/5
20. Killswitch Engage - Atonement - 2.5/5
21. The Raconteurs - Help Us Stranger 2.5/5
22. Alter Bridge - Walk The Sky - 2/5
23. Dog Fashion Disco - Tre Pendejos - 2/5
24. Flying Colors - Third Degree - 2/5
25. Cave In - Final Transmission - 1.5/5
26. Opeth - In Cauda Venenum - 1.5/5
27. Jordan Rudess - Wired For Madness - 0.5/5 - I can't believe how terrible this album is
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2020
2020 was of course an odd year for obvious reasons. And I honestly felt somewhat apathetic to listening to music throughout a lot of it. it felt like the world had ended or was put on hold, with no in-person live music to see and a lot of work in Arts and Entertainment being delayed if not cancelled altogether.
I do find some of the records at the top of my list to still be quite good, but I also look at 2020 and have not returned to that many of the albums on my list that much in the last 12+months. But, I think time may be more kind to 2020, and years from now I'll at least find it was still a good year for new music, especially considering the circumstances.
Comebackes from Doves, Bruce Peninsula, Green Carnation, Psychotic Waltz and Pure Reason Revolution...and in a way Pat Metheny are still the albums I think of it a lot for. Dirt Poor Robins released what was their 3 previous EPs of the Dead Horse, Alaska trilogy which came out pretty well, even having knowing most of the record beforehand.
1. Dirt Poor Robins - Dead Horse
2. Pure Reason Revolution - Eupnea
3. Pat Metheny - From this Place
4. Vennart - In the Dead, Dead Wood
5. Pain of Salvation - Panther
6. Everything Everything - Re-Animator
7. Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?
8. Bruce Peninsula - No Earthly Sound
9. Green Carnation - Leaves of Yesteryear
10. Fates Warning - Long Day Good Night
11. Doves - The Universal Want
12. Mayer Hawthorne - Rare Changes
13. Tigran Hamasyan - The Call Within
14. Long Distance Calling - How Do We Want to Live?
15. Psychotic Waltz - The God-Shaped Void
16. Fish - Weltschmerz
17. The Dear Hunter - The Fox and the Hunt
18. Protest the Hero - Palimpsest
19. The Monkees - The Monkees Live – The Mike & Micky Show
20. NDV - Invisible
21. Nektar - The Other Side
22. Other Lives - For Their Love
23. John Petrucci - Terminal Velocity
24. Maraton - Meta
25. Misha Bower - Trying to Have it All
26. Childish Japes - The Book of Japes
Android Superstation - This Side of Nowhere
Battlemaster - Ghastly, Graven & Grimoireless
Biffy Clyro - A Celebration of Endings
Blackfield - For The Music
Ghostpoet - I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep
IAMX - Echo Echo
Jessy Ribordy - Adrift In The Whereabouts
Jónsi - Shiver
Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Homebound
Mariana Semkina - Sleepwalking
Max Richter - Voices
McStine & Minnemann - McStine & Minnemann
Motorpsycho - The All Is One
Mr. Bungle - The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo
Skott - Always Live for Always
Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension
Sólstafir - Endless Twilight of Codependent Love
The Chap - Digital Technology
The Greening - The Color of Television
The Midnight Callers - Red Letter Glow
Thurisaz - Re-Incentive
EPs
1. Bend Sinister - Why Can't We Be Happy
2. Honorary Astronaut - EP. 001
3. Ours - Media Age
4. Dirt Poor Robins - Dead Horse, Alaska (Onyx)
5. Lickerish Quartet - Threesom Vol. 1
6. Local Natives - Sour Lemon
7. Chromeo - Quarantine Casanova
8. The Midnight - Horror Show
9. iamthemorning - Counting the Ghost
10. K Será - Revolution in Retrospect
11. McStine & Minnemann - II
12. Dirty Loops - Phoenix
Concerts/Live Streams
02/13/20 The Family Crest/Brian Just at the 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
02/16/20 Lehto and Wright at Hook and Ladder Minneapolis, MN
05/09/20 Prog from Home (Live Stream)
05/15/20 Major Parkinson (Live Stream)
05/27/20 Imogen Heap (Live Stream)
06/11/20 Neverending White Lights (live Stream)
08/01/20 The Dear Hunter (live stream)
So, there you have it. Please post your 2020 lists of course, and feel free to catch-up on older years that you never did post your list for, or even UPDATE/MODIFY your list which I may do so myself.
As far as tallying results/most voted for albums by-year, like I mentioned, Reaper or someone else can do it. I might give it a go eventually if no ones else does as I am curious and would almost go for predicting what the consensus favorite album or Top 5 albums are for each year. I do think clearly, the lists from the 60's-90's will probably have more clear favorites. But the 2000's-2020, it may be pretty fragmented per the discussion we had a few weeks ago about tastes changing and there just being a lot more music available to hear.
SONGS/PLAYLISTS OF THE YEAR - Assuming others are still up for it, I am looking to start doing soon. Maybe even in a few days or by this weekend. I am going a little into uncharted water here per I struggle often RANKING SONGS, so i'm still unsure how easy /how much time it will take me to do, especially for years with sohhhh many albums and songs to look at. But I'm hoping that will be part of the FUN of it, and I don't lose sleep over trying to make them, LOL.
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2020:
01 Taylor Swift - Evermore
02 Taylor Swift - Folklore
03 Alanis Morissette - Such Pretty Forks in the Road
04 John Petrucci - Terminal Velocity
05 Neal Morse - Sola Gratia
06 The Flower Kings - Islands
The Haken and BOC albums were both too disappointing to get ranked. I still need to circle back to the Fleet Foxes album and give that more listens.
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01 Taylor Swift - Evermore
02 Taylor Swift - Folklore
03 Alanis Morissette - Such Pretty Forks in the Road
Did you request these at the Junior High prom? :lol
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01 Taylor Swift - Evermore
02 Taylor Swift - Folklore
03 Alanis Morissette - Such Pretty Forks in the Road
Did you request these at the Junior High prom? :lol
Did you forget that some of us actually have diverse musical tastes? :P :P
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2020 was a nice rebound after 2019 musically speaking. Lots of strong stuff that I really enjoyed.
1. McStine & Minnemann - MicStine & Minnemann
2. Dyble Longdon - Between a Breath and a Breath (man this one took on a ton of meaning in a year)
3. Rikard Sjoblom’s Gungfly - Alone Together
4. Jakko Jakszyk - Secrets & Lies
5. Echorec - The Island
6. The Flower Kings - Islands
7. Yaatri - Reach
8. Tim Bowness/Peter Childers - Modern Ruins
9. Mark Kelly’s Marathon - Marathon
10. McStine & Minnemann II
11. Fernando Perdomo - Out to Sea 3
12. Field Music - Making a New World
13. Paul McCartney - III
And then some notable live albums and compilations:
1. Big Big Train - Empire
2. The Blue Nile - High (Deluxe Remaster)
3. Big Big Train - Summer’s Lease
4. The Basics - SHOULDACOULDAWOULDA (EP)
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I actually didn't have any problem finding good/great albums in 2020. Concerts on the other hand ...
My top 20:
Defecto - Duality
Vanishing Point - Dead Elysium
Vanden Plas - The Ghost Xperiment - Illumination
The Unity - Pride
Amahiru - s/t
Ad Infinitum - Chapter 1: Monarchy
Xstasy - Eye of the Storm
Sinners Blood - The Mirror Star
DGM - Tragic Separation
Confess - Burn 'em All
One Desire - Midnight Empire
Exlibris - Shadowrise
Virtual Symmetry - Exoverse
Girish and the Chronicles - Rock the Highway
Marty Friedman - Tokyo Jukebox 3
Teramaze - I Wonder
Kim Mitchell - The Big Fantasize
Pyramaze - Epitaph
John Petrucci - Terminal Velocity
Lords of Black - Alchemy of Souls, Pt 1
And the others ... not mentioned yet:
Andy James - C.S.I.L.
Ayreon - Transitus ..... God, what a disappointment.
Black Fate - Ithaca
Bloody Heels - Ignite the Sky
Carthagods - The Monster in Me
Cats In Space - Atlantis
Conception - State of Deception
Damnation Angels - Fibre of our Being
Diabulus In Musica - Euphonic Entropy
Dukes of the Orient - Freakshow
Dynazty - Dark Delight
Gathering of Kings - Discovery
H.E.A.T. - HEAT II
Harem Scarem - Change the World
Ian Parry - In Flagrante Delicto
Intervals - Circadian
Iron Saviour - Skycrest
Katatonia - City Burials
Kiko Loureiro - Open Source
Lonely Robot - Feelings are Good
Magnus Karlssons FreeFall - We Are The Night
Nightmare - Aeternam
Nightwish - Human || Nature ... this too was pretty disappointing.
Paralydium - Worlds Beyond
Primal Fear - Metal Commando
Pyramid Theorem - Beyond the Exosphere
Royal Hunt - Dystopia
Shining Black - s/t
Signum Regis - Flag of Hope - EP
Silent Skies - Satellites
Skintrade - The Show Must Go On
Smackbound - 20/20
Starmen - Welcome to My World
Striker - Alive in the Studio
The Night Flight Orchestra - Aeromatic
The Waymaker - s/t
Thoughts Factory - Elements
Unleash the Archers - Abyss
Vandenberg - 2020
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Pretty mixed year for me but there was some great music in 2020:
1. Ola Englund - Stars & Ponies - 5/5
2. leavv - Tales Of A Flowing Forest - 5/5 - The only complaint I have about this record is that it's too short
3. Porcupine Tree - Pure Narcotic - Acoustic Session 2012 - 5/5
4. Kaki King - Modern Yesterdays - 4.5/5
5. KOAN Sound - Silk Wave - 4.5/5
6. Nili Brosh - Spectrum - 4/5
7. Tomas Dvorak - Pilgrims - 4/5
8. Deftones - Ohms - 3.5/5
9. Ben Harper - Winter Is For Lovers - 3.5/5
10. John Petrucci - Terminal Velocity - 3.5/5
11. Ethan Gruska - En Garde - 3/5
12. Wiz Khalifa - The Saga Of Wiz Khalife - 3/5
13. Darren Korb - Hades: Original Soundtrack - 3/5
14. Rabea Massaad - Grinding Gears, Vol. 3 - 3/5
15. Neal Schon - Universe - 3/5 - Starts off really weak but gets much better towards the end
16. Sons Of Apollo - MMXX - 3/5
17. Al Di Meola - Across The Universe: The Beatles, Vol. 2 - 2/5
18. Elephant Tree - Habits - 2/5
19. Haken - Virus - 2/5
20. Incubus - Trust Fall (Side B) - 2/5 - Sad to see this so low
21. Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit - Reunions - 2/5
22. Alain Johannes - Hum - 2/5
23. The Pineapple Thief - Versions Of The Truth - 2/5
24. Run The Jewels - RTJ4 - 2/5
25. The Weeknd - After Hours - 2/5
26. Yukihiro Atsumi - Kachofugetsu - 1.5/5
27. EOB - Earth - 1/5
28. Neal Morse - Sola Gratia - 1/5
29. Joe Satriani - Shapeshifting - 1/5
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2020
Remote work made me rely more heavily on streaming (Amazon for me) and I had music in the background pretty much all day long. Sampled plenty of bands/albums. I still very much like to buy physical versions of albums - there's a bunch of stuff in the "not purchased yet" list below that I'd like to get at some point (sooner or later :biggrin:).
As for my faves for the year - Dawn of Solace was right up my alley. Unleash the Archer managed to do even better than Apex (imo), adding some cool influences in the mix. Katatonia's album was up there in the most-listened albums of 2020 (and my first "live streaming" concert! Got myself "Dead Air" as a souvenir for it). I loved Paradise Lost's Obsidian. Lots of great death metal too!
Top 15:
Dawn of Solace – Waves
Unleash the Archers – Abyss
Katatonia – City Burials
Paradise Lost – Obsidian
Armored Saint – Punching the Sky
Green Carnation - Leaves of Yesteryear
Conception – State of Deception
Wytch Hazel - III: Pentecost
Fates Warning - Long Day Good Night
Countless Skies – Glow
Thy Catafalque – Naiv
Kvaen – The Funeral Pyre
Vredehammer - Viperous
Sacred Outcry - Damned for All Time
Spirit Adrift - Enlightened in Eternity
The Honorable Mentions:
Adamantis – Far Flung Realm
Afterbirth – Four Dimensional Flesh
Dark Forest - Oak, Ash & Thorn
Dark Tranquillity - Moment
Deathwhite – Grave Image
Decembre Noir - The Renaissance of Hope
Draconian – Under the Godless Veil
Enslaved – Utgard
Earth Rot - Black Tides of Obscurity
Eternal Champion – The Ravening Iron
Hyborian – Volume II
Katatonia - Dead Air
Night - High Tides - Distant Skies
Pain of Salvation - Panther
Paralydium - Worlds beyond
Psychotic Waltz - The God-Shaped Void
Secrets of the Moon – Black House
Shores of Null - Beyond the Shores (On Death and Dying)
Sweven - The Eternal Resonance
Ulthar - Providence
Undeath - Lesions of a Different Kind
Streamed (not yet purchased):
Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drommer Mig Dod
Akurion – Come Forth to Me
Autonoesis - Autonoesis
Awake by Design – S/T
Butcher – 666 Goats
Cellar Vessel – Vein Beneath the Soil
Cryptic Shift – Visitations from Enceladus
Counting Hours – The Will
Dead Lord – Surrender
Descend – The Deviant
Exgenesis – Solve et Coagula
Faceless Burial – Speciation
Fluisteraars - Bloem
Godthrymm – Reflections
Gorephilia – In the Eye of Nothing
Greyhawk – Keepers of the Flame
Haken – Virus
Havukruunu – Uinuos Syomein Sota
Ironflame – Blood Red Victory
Kepler Ten – A New Kind of Sideways
Lord Vigo – Danse de Noir
Lonely Robot – Feelings are Good
Lor – Edge of Eternity
Loviatar – Lightless
Luna’s Call - Void
McStine & Minnemann – S/T
Nawabs of Destruction – Rising Vengeance
Nexorum – Death Unchained
Omnivortex – Diagrams of Consciousness
Ormskrik - Ormskrik
Panzerfaust – Suns of Perdition Chapter II
John Petrucci – Terminal Velocity
Plague – Portraits of Mind
Possessed Steel – Aedris
Seven Spires – Emerald Seas
Ulver – Flowers of Evil
Vulkan – Technatura
Wanderer – Awakening Force
Warp Chamber – Implements of Excruciation
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2020:
So this was a very bizarre year for manifold reasons, but it did get me staying on top of music releases again for the first time in over a decade, which has been enjoyable for a change of pace. With the way everything became, I was spending even more time than normal listening to and updating lists, which made this a monster year for releases. Probably the most albums I've loved in a calendar year. This year I listened to even more albums (partially just due to starting a few months earlier), but my replays were a bit more song-focused than '20, so '20 I think wins for albums.
Tier 1:
Darzamat - A Philosopher at the End of the Universe
Delain - Apocalypse & Chill - I don't know whether this or Poppy's "Don't Go Outside" was the more prescient album for the year, both coming out just a month or two before everything went haywire.
Draconian - Under a Godless Veil
Anna von Hausswolff - All Thoughts Fly
Katatonia - City Burials
The Midnight - Monsters
Agnes Obel - Myopia
Oceans of Slumber - s/t
PRVIS - Use Me
Rein - Reincarnated
ROB - Gretel & Hansel OST
Shedfromthebody - A Dead and Aimless Hum
Soilwork - A Whisp of the Atlantic EP
Sordid Pink - s/t
Daniel Tompkins - Ruins
Turboslash - Speed
Volkor X - This Is Our Planet Now
Wytch Hazel - III: Pentecost
Aziza Mustafa Zadeh - Generations
Tier 2:
Ad Infinitum - Chapter I - Monarchy
Aeonian Sorrow - A Life Without EP
Angerot - The Divine Apostate
Demonical - World Domination
Eleine - Dancing In Hell
Ensnared - Inimicus Generis Humani
Iress - Flaw
Lethian Dreams - A Shadow of Memories
Light Field Reverie - Another World
Lights - How to Sleep When You're On Fire EP
The Midnight - Horror Show EP
Noumena - Anima
Puteraeon - The Cthulhian Pulse: Call From the Dead City
Thou/Emma Ruth Rundle - May Our Chambers Be Full
Triptykon/Metropole Orkest - Requiem
Tier 3:
Anaal Nathrakh - Endarkenment
The Anix - Graphite
Assemblage 23 - Mourn
Bohren & der Club of Gore - Patchouli Blue
Clan of Xymox - Spider on the Wall
Dark Tranquillity - Moment
Disrupted - Pure Death
Jessie Frye - Kiss Me in the Rain
Grimes - Miss Anthropocene
Kaki King - Modern Yesterdays
Lianne La Havas - s/t
Lik - Misanthropic Breed
Manticora - To Live To Kill To Live
Nightmare - Aeternam
NightStop - Pursuer and Stalking Danger EP
Anika Nilles/Nevell - For a Colorful Soul
NINA - Synthian
The Ocean Collective - Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic
Panzerballett - Planet Z
Persuader - Necromancy
Pyramaze - Epitaph
Temple Nightside - Pillars of Damnation
Unleash the Archers - Abyss
Tier 4:
Aeternam - Al Qassam
Aleah - s/t
Anubis Gate - Covered in Colours
Ayreon - Transitus
Alina Baraz - It Was Divine
William Basinski - Lamentations
Francesa Battistelli - This Christmas
Batushka - Raskol and Black Liturgy
Communic - Hiding From the World
Cryptic Shift - Visitations From Enceladus
DGM - Tragic Separation
Firewind - s/t
Haken - Virus
Hallas - Conundrum
Sierra Hull - 25 Trips
Inno - The Rain Under
Intervals - Circadian
Sarah Jarosz - World on the Ground
Long Night - Tick Tock EP
Kiko Loureiro - Open Source
Lucifer - Lucifer III
Mrs. Piss - Self-Surgery EP
Necrophobic - Dawn of the Damned
Necrot - Mortal
Night - High Tides - Distant Skies
Ondskapt - Grimoire ordo devus
Ripped To Shreds - Luan
Scardust - Strangers
Derek Sherinian - The Phoenix
Testament - Titans of Creation
Unlucky Morpheus - Unfinished
Vader - Solitude in Madness
Tier 5:
Russell Allen/Anette Olzon - Worlds Apart
Amaranthe - Manifest
Blue Stahli - Quartz
Joe Bonamassa - Royal Tea
Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant
Carcass - Despicable EP
Carnation - Where Death Lies
Carpent Brut - Blood Machines
Deadlife - City of Eternal Rain
Dool - Summerland
Earth Rot - Black Tides of Obscurity
Faceless Burial - Speciation
Tigran Hamasyan - The Call Within
Heaven Shall Burn - Of Truth and Sacrifice
Imperial Triumphant - Alphaville
Norah Jones - Pick Me Up Off the Floor
Kommand - Terrorscape
Stuart Duncan/Edgar Meyer/Yo-Yo Ma/Chris Thile - Not Our First Goat Rodeo
Mors Subita - Extinction Era
Neaera - s/t
Night in Gales - Dawnlight Garden
Nonexist - Like the Fearless Hunter
Paradise Lost - Obsidian
Perilaxe Occlusion - Exponential Decay EP
John Petrucci - Terminal Velocity
Pure Reason Revolution - Eupnea
Purity Ring - Womb
Purtenance - Buried Incarnation
Sepultura - Quadra
Sevendust - Blood & Stone
Sons of Apollo - MMXX
Svartkonst - Black Waves
Troum - Vorbei Der Tod
Molly Tuttle - ...but i'd rather be with you
Veil of Secrets - Dead Poetry
Paul Wardingham - Day Zero: Rise of the Horde
Tier 6:
Aesmah - Walking Off the Horizon
Atrium Carceri - Mortal Shell OST
The Birthday Massacre - Diamonds
Body Count - Carnivore
Nili Brosh - Spectrum
Vanessa Carlton - Love is an Art
Carnosus - Dogma of the Deceased
Carthagods - The Monsters in Me
Celestial Season - The Secret Teachings
Countless Skies - Glow
Darkened - Kingdom of Decay
Deftones - Ohms
Demons & Wizards - III
Enslaved - Utgard
Exgenesis - Solve et coagula
Fleet Foxes - Shore
The Flower Kings - Islands
Frayle - 1692
Green Carnation - Leaves of Yesteryear
Helion Prime - Question Everything
Incantation - Sect of Vile Divinities
King Witch - Body of Light
Master Boot Record - Floppy Disk Overdrive
Megascavenger - Songs in the Key of Madness
Meteor - System Failure
Mors Subita - Extinction Era
My Dying Bride - The Ghost of Orion
Napalm Death - Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism
NeuroWulf - Trinity
Night Crowned - Impius Viam
The Night Flight Orchestra - Aeromantic
Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts V: Together
Orbit Culture - Nija
Plini - Impulse Voices
Poppy - I Disagree
Psychotic Waltz - The God-Shaped Void
Repuked - Dawn of Reintoxication
Revolting - The Shadow at the World's End
Sweven - The Eternal Resonance
Trigg & Gusset - The Way In
Trivium - What the Dead Men Say
Tru-nembra - Mare Vetus
Ulcerate - Stare Into Death and Be Still
Vulta - Swarm
Warbringer - Weapons of Tomorrow
Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?
The Weeknd - After Hours
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4. Kaki King - Modern Yesterdays - 4.5/5
6. Nili Brosh - Spectrum - 4/5
Two albums I never see talked about. The instrumentation Kaki uses is really fascinating, there are some cool videos on YouTube about it. I prefer Nili's first two, but this was so experimental and wide-ranging that I suspect it may grow on me in later listens.
Wytch Hazel - III: Pentecost
Another really under the radar album, probably my overall favorite of the year. I didn't even listen to it in '20, but discovered it on another list on January 1st of last year and instantly wished I'd discovered it sooner. "He Is the Fight" floored me from the opening second, and the whole first half is insanely strong. Retro production done right, some of my favorite guitar tones ever.
Nightmare - Aeternam
And another really overlooked one. 2016's Dead Sun has become one of my favorite power metal albums ever, and I wish they'd done more than one album with Maggie. I was worried there was no way you could replace her, and really, you can't, but Madie does a damn fine job, really exceeded my expectations on additional listens.
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4. Kaki King - Modern Yesterdays - 4.5/5
6. Nili Brosh - Spectrum - 4/5
Two albums I never see talked about. The instrumentation Kaki uses is really fascinating, there are some cool videos on YouTube about it. I prefer Nili's first two, but this was so experimental and wide-ranging that I suspect it may grow on me in later listens.
I think that Kaki really hit her stride with Modern Yesterdays. I thought that Neck Is A Bridge was a good album with some good ideas but didn't feel that consistent, even in a live setting having seen that show a few times
Nili was a completely new artist to me that I heard about through Guitar Player. Usually their album recommendations aren't great but I really liked Spectrum.
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Her first two are much more cohesive and focused, in that style of instrumental prog rock/metal that a lot of players have done in the last decade or so. She just has a really unique voice and tone that resonates with me more than your standard shredder.
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Wytch Hazel - III: Pentecost
Another really under the radar album, probably my overall favorite of the year. I didn't even listen to it in '20, but discovered it on another list on January 1st of last year and instantly wished I'd discovered it sooner. "He Is the Fight" floored me from the opening second, and the whole first half is insanely strong. Retro production done right, some of my favorite guitar tones ever.
I noticed you had it in your list and I was about to comment - you were faster :) Yes, this is a VERY strong album. Definitely retro-sounding, but in a way that kinda makes it sound "out of time" rather than old. Agreed on the guitar tones. And the vocal delivery is perfect for the songs (that chorus in "Archangel"!)
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Wytch Hazel - III: Pentecost
Another really under the radar album, probably my overall favorite of the year. I didn't even listen to it in '20, but discovered it on another list on January 1st of last year and instantly wished I'd discovered it sooner. "He Is the Fight" floored me from the opening second, and the whole first half is insanely strong. Retro production done right, some of my favorite guitar tones ever.
I noticed you had it in your list and I was about to comment - you were faster :) Yes, this is a VERY strong album. Definitely retro-sounding, but in a way that kinda makes it sound "out of time" rather than old. Agreed on the guitar tones. And the vocal delivery is perfect for the songs (that chorus in "Archangel"!)
Also a big +1 to "He Is the Fight" being a fantastic opener...and I love how the chorus melody is reprised later in the instrumental ("Sonata")
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I often create my own tracklist for it, and I can't decide whether "Sonata" is more fun as a prelude or a postlude for "He Is the Fight", I've done it both ways countless times. Maybe just both, like I just put on now, actually. I like having my cake and eating it too. But those clean guitars in it are angelic. It's ever so slightly out of tune in the harmonies, which gives it this aura I've never heard on any other album ever.
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In making my 2020 list I realized I forgot at least 2 2019 entries :lol
Anyway, here's my 2020:
01. Nightwish - Human || Nature
02. Taylor Swift - Folklore
03. Ensiferum - Thalassic
04. Rage - Wings of Rage
05. Taylor Swift - Evermore
06. Royal Hunt - Dystopia
07. Bruce Springsteen - Letter to You
08. Demons & Wizards - III
09. Uncle Bard and the Dirty Bastards - The Men Behind the Glass
10. Amy MacDonald - The Human Demands
Honorable mentions:
Brothers of Metal - Emblas Saga (totally forgot their even better 2017 debut)
The White Buffalo - Widow's Walk (totally forgot to mention his previous albums)
Black Stone Cherry - The Human Condition (totally forgot to mention their previous albums)
Grave Digger - Fields of Blood
Ayreon - Transitus
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2020 was fairly light for me.
1. Armored Saint-Punching The Sky
2. Dawn Of Solace-In Waves
3. Bloody Tyrant-Myths Of The Islands
@Nick....checking out the Wytch Hazel. Damn, this is easy on the ears. Love the classic hard rock style.
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curious..
Retro Songs of the Year interest?
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Lots of it.
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curious..
Retro Songs of the Year interest?
Definitely. I feel like we'd need some sort of cap like only top 20 songs, or maybe a song per artist.
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Would be fun. I’m down.
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I feel like we'd need some sort of cap like only top 20 songs
Yes, this.
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This is going to be a fascinating exercise. Even though I tend to be a bit more song-focused than album-focused, there are tons and tons of albums that I know I like, but can't necessarily single out a particular track on, so it'll be a dilemma of if I can squeeze in time to listen to them again, skim a bit to see if one stands out, or just leave them off entirely.
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I feel like we'd need some sort of cap like only top 20 songs
Yes, this.
what we could do, if we wanted to actually come up with a Cumulative Ranking for each year (which was intended, but never done with this topic), is maybe say Vote up to 20 or maybe say 30 songs max per year.
But if people like myself, find I'm leaving off a lot, just include however many more songs in your list. But after Song #20 or #30, those songs wouldn't be counted towards a Voting Ranking for songs for that year.
The 1 song per artist? yeah I suppose also might make sense, just so we don't end up with something like all Scenes From a Memory songs in the Top 10 for 1999 or whatever.
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I almost always impose the one song per artist restriction on my own lists anyway. Though I fudge it sometimes with collaborations and such.
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what I'm also unsure about is where to start.
This topic began with 1965. And I recall a lot of people struggled or didn't have much in the 60's or even 70's.
It might be different for songs vs albums? Of course "The Album Era" began around those years, which before that, popular music was known for Singles, not Albums. So some may find more actual songs to vote for in the 60's, than they did albums.
I dunno, it might even be worth creating a Poll just to see.
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Would it be insane to start backwards, from 2022, and just keep going until we collectively give up?
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The 1 song per artist? yeah I suppose also might make sense, just so we don't end up with something like all Scenes From a Memory songs in the Top 10 for 1999 or whatever.
But what if I didn't listen to 20 different albums that year? If I only listened to 10, I couldn't have say 5 songs from my favorite album, 3 from the next, etc to get to 20?
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The 1 song per artist? yeah I suppose also might make sense, just so we don't end up with something like all Scenes From a Memory songs in the Top 10 for 1999 or whatever.
But what if I didn't listen to 20 different albums that year? If I only listened to 10, I couldn't have say 5 songs from my favorite album, 3 from the next, etc to get to 20?
yeah..there's also the issue that if say The Beatles had both Sgt Peppers and Magical Mystery Tour in the same year, this rule would only allow you to vote for 1 song between both albums.
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I'm getting an ice cream headache. Why don't we just list our Top 25 for the year and move on.