ClairvoyantCat's top 50 albums v. This will be in a museum someday

[ClairvoyantCat]

Fasten your seat belts, I'm about to quick-attack you all with a plethora of incredible music.  Updates will be quick and rich in quality.  Have a seat right over there and we'll get down to business! 




Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed in the following list are the intellectual property of Clairvoyantcat and are not representative of the rest of humanity.  ClairvoyantCat concedes that this list is of his own personal opinion and should be taken as such.

50.  Ben Frost – Theory of Machines

Theory of Machines is best described as a dark, apocalyptic blend of electronic, noise rock, post-rock, and everything else.  The dynamics are amazing, from the soft, ambient sections to the dirty and heavy noise rock-esque intense sections.  It’s been described as “the future of electronic music” and if that’s the case the genre has a bright future.

Forgetting You is Like Breathing Water, We Love You Michael Gira


49.  Brand New – The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me

This album just weaseled its way in here when I was deciding on the list, mostly because at the time I made it I was really enjoying it.  This is one of the albums on here that I found through DTF, and I’m really glad I did, because it’s some of the better altrockish music out there.  It’s simply very well written. 

Favorites:  Limousine, Not the Sun


48.  Opeth – Still Life

I’m sure that pretty much all of you know this album, so there’s no need for me to describe it, but it’s my favorite Opeth album, with Watershed following closely behind.  Any “cheese” factors that commonly accompany the whole metal concept album kind of thing are fortunately left at the door, as the band cooks up their most well-written album to date. 

Favorites:  Godhead’s Lament, Serenity Painted Death


47.  The Dear Hunter – Act III:  Life and Death

Life and Death is the third part in The Dear Hunter’s planned concept of 6 albums.  Replacing the subject matter of love and betrayal from the previous act with that of death and war brings on a much darker shade, and it is done quite well.  With their pop sensibilities as strong as ever, this record is diverse, with songs ranging from In Cauda Venenum to The Poison Woman, and as emotionally touching as all of their albums. 

Favorites:  The Poison Woman, This Beautiful Life


46.  Sufjan Stevens – Michigan

Michigan is folky indie-pop at its best.  A sort of conceptual album about the state of Michigan, the music is very original and different for its genre and very touching and familiar at the same time.  It goes through upbeat moments and depressing moments and nostalgic moments and a bunch of other kinds of moments.  The instrumentation is amazing, with bells and chimes and horns and strings and piano and various percussion and banjos and mandolins and organs and you-name-it.  It’s lovely. 

Favorites:  Redford, Detroit, Holland

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I don't own Still Life, but the songs I've heard from it are really solid. It's really a shame my CD store never has it in stock.

[ClairvoyantCat]

It was a coin flip between Still Life and Watershed and Still Life won.  But if you're into Opeth I'd definitely put in a word for it as one of their best. 

[ariich]

FINALLY

Great choices to start with (the ones I know). Although if Michigan is there then Illinoise better be higher.

[Gorille85]

Nice! You have one of the best taste on the forum so I'm really looking forward to this list! Hope to see some Unexpect in there, too!

Only album I've heard so far is the Opeth one... I need to check out the rest soon!

[ClairvoyantCat]

Great choices to start with (the ones I know). Although if Michigan is there then Illinoise better be higher.

It's a bit odd, I guess, but I've always preferred Michigan to Illinoise.  I feel like it's generally overshadowed as the less popular state album, but it's my personal favorite from Sufjan.  Illinoise certainly came close too, though. 

[ariich]

Yeah both are very good. To me, Illinoise just has more atmosphere.

[jsem]

Sufjan's song titles continue to baffle me to this day.

[Arch Benemy]

Still Life was my first Opeth record. I just picked it up on a whim because I thought it looked metal, never having heard the band. Good stuff!

[PixelDream]

Still Life is in a way my favorite Opeth album. It's perfectly structured, the longer songs are epic and the soft songs are lovely. The concept aids the album very well in having a really good flow. Not a weak point to be found.

'Blackwater Park' is more straightforward, and less fairytale-ish. Nonetheless, I have to say I think BP is the better record. Maybe it's the general bigger sound, SW's vocal/guitar production tricks. Or maybe it's just that it's called 'Blackwater Park' and sounds exactly like the title and the album's art.

[Ħ]

Can't get into Still Life.  But great choice with Brand New!

[contest_sanity]

This will be in a museum someday.

Well, you are clairvoyant, so I guess you would know.  Will be following. 

[Sigz]

My reaction was as such:

"Ooh, Ben Frost, good choice! Oh man and Devil and God, that's great! And now Still Life? Christ this is a good- Act III?! My god this list is off to an amazing star-"





*Sufjan Stevens*

[jsem]

*Sufjan Stevens*

[Marvellous G]

My reaction was as such:

"Ooh, Ben Frost, good choice! Oh man and Devil and God, that's great! And now Still Life? Christ this is a good- Act III?! My god this list is off to an amazing star-"





*Sufjan Stevens*

Really?

As for the list, Seth, great start as has been said. Also as has been said, I'd pick Illinois personally, but Michigan is still a really nice, mellow and deceptively complex album that doesn't get the recognition it deserves. I'd also pick Watershed over Still Life, but both are top-tier Opeth for me too. As for Act III, I've got it on my list to check out, and I'll add Ben Frost to that too. I'll definitely follow.

[ClairvoyantCat]

UPDATE

45.  Unexpect – In a Flesh Aquarium

After hearing this album for the first time I was evenly frightened and amazed.  Unexpect weaves in very complex arrangements with horror-esque theatrics in a metal setting.  It really feels like some twisted horror circus.  Fantastic vocals, well-placed violin, and a very talented group of musicians make In a Flesh Aquarium a hell of a ride.  I’d put in a word for this one as the scariest metal album I’ve ever enjoyed. 

Favorites:  A Clown’s Mindtrap, Desert Urbania


44.  Dir en Grey – Uruboros

While we’re bringing out the METUUUL, Uroboros must be mentioned.  Dir en Grey is what I wish more metal would be like, because while most of the modern scene of metal is focused only on being “heavy” and “ballsy”, the Japanese metal band’s songs are filled with emotional power and fragility as well as heavy aggression.  The vocalist Kyo really makes the group.  His vocals are some of the most original and unique in the metal genre.  Combine this with well-written and structured metal music and you’ve got a winner. 

Favorites:  Ware, yami tote..., Inconvenient Ideal


43.  Red House Painters – Red House Painters I

It took me a little while to decide what I thought of the work of Mark Kozelek.  For the longest time, I wasn’t terribly put off by his music, but I couldn’t quite enjoy it either.  But fortunately after about a month I figured it out.  The music isn’t inherently exciting or mindblowing, but the subtle and yet powerful emotions begin to come through after time.  I’m now more willing to recognize it as some of the best songwriting I’ve ever heard.  Though it might seem so at first, I don’t find the midtempo folky-shoegazey nature of the album boring in the slightest.

Favorites:  Katy Song, Things Mean A Lot


42.  Bright Eyes – Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, , Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Lifted is my favorite album of Bright Eyes for a reason.  It represents a high point in songwriting for the group, with some of their most diverse instrumentation and well-crafted arrangements.  Oberst manages to create songs without restricted pop format that remain memorable nonetheless.  The overly melodramatic style of lyrics rich with linguistic beauty are a key part of the album, only coming off as a bit too strong in very brief moments. 

Favorites:  Make War, Let’s Not Shit Ourselves

[Quadrochosis]

love that BE album, as well as IAFA.

Good update!

[sonatafanica]

yes bright eyes


no having any qualms with the album


conor oberst leaves all of the bad off of his albums seth

[zxlkho]

lol the last 4



except bright eyes is kinda cool

[Gadough]

Ryan, I thought you liked Unexpect.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

IaFA is a little low. But nice.

[ClairvoyantCat]

lol the last 4

I don't get it

[Ravenheart]

I'll follow this list until the end, Seth. You have my word. My word.

Some great albums here already. Lifted is my favorite Bright Eyes album, and Still Life is my favorite Opeth album.

[sonatafanica]

except bright eyes is kinda cool

what do you mean kinda cool fuck you man

[Gorille85]

UNEXPECT

Also love love Dir en grey and Bright Eyes!

[Zantera]

Great list so far, really looking forward to the rest!
Seth, you're one of the people around here with the best music-taste imo, so yeah, can't wait for more.

[Durg]

subscribe

[TheVoxyn]

O hey, I'm now following this.

[jingle.boy]

Following... tho not entirely sure why.  Not only do I *not* have any of these discs, but I've never heard of most of them.

*runs to put on flame retardant suit*

No hate here... just different strokes for different folks.

[King Postwhore]

This is why I follow.  I know half of the bands and want to open myself up to new music unlike Sigz who will never listen to 80's music.

[Durg]

This is why I follow.  I know half of the bands and want to open myself up to new music unlike Sigz who will never listen to 80's music.

I think you're going to  my top 50.   

[King Postwhore]

This is why I follow.  I know half of the bands and want to open myself up to new music unlike Sigz who will never listen to 80's music.

I think you're going to  my top 50.   

I may have them all.

[jingle.boy]

This is why I follow.  I know half of the bands and want to open myself up to new music unlike Sigz who will never listen to 80's music.

same.... I'll take a peek at names that seem to be recurring, although I still have a lot of music in my catalogue that I'm still getting to "know".  Not sure I have enough grey matter to begin trying to consume more new stuff.

[Sigz]

Sorry, but most music from the 80s blows rhinoceros cock.

[Portrucci]

Contrary to what I normally assumed, the 80s does contain some fantastic bands and albums. And no, not just in Metal/Prog