Sorry guys, I had a lapse in my memory of this list's existence. I offer penance for my sin in the form of a massive and sexy 5-album update.
29. Chroma Key – Dead Air for Radios
Kevin Moore? Kevin Moore. You all probably haven’t heard of this guy, but he did some work with some band called “Dream Theatre,” I think the name was. Anyway, they’re not important, what’s important right now is Chroma Key. Kevin really separated himself from his previous influences and brought out what I regard as his best work to date. This album has a sound that I think could best be described as “lonely.” The delicate synths never once betray Moore’s sheer ability behind the keyboard (besides some impressive but nonetheless tasteful and well-implemented piano work in “On The Page”) but instead lend themselves to the loneliness perfectly, along with Moore’s recognizably subtle and effect-driven croon. The lyrics are fantastic and really worth the attention, especially in congruence with Moore’s delivery. Also, Kevin Moore.
Favorites: On the Page, Undertow
28. Ulver – Blood Inside
This was always the Ulver album that I continually put off getting into. After taking a stab at a few songs I rendered the album too dense for immediate penetration (heh) and put it off as a grower. However, I would later discover that all it really took was one full proper listen for me to be completely immersed. Blood Inside is a mix of violent drums and cymbals, beautiful ambience, a slight 50s –esque influence that feels really cool in the presence of the more modern elements and just a touch of heaviness. The album is commendably well produced so that all of the subtleties have their own place to be noticed when the time is right. The drumming is also noteworthy, as it has the sound of being sampley and electronic yet jazzy and organic at the same time. Really cool album, in short.
Favorites: The Truth, Dressed in Black
27. Silverchair - Diorama
Somewhere along the way from their debut in 1995, Silverchair decided they were tired of being the best grunge band I’ve ever heard and they wanted to do something much different. Out of this decision came “Diorama.” Abandoning the chunky, grungy rock of their early years, they introduce a whole new take on their style, filling the sound with sweeping orchestrated arrangements and a general grandiose feel, complete with well written and playfully (but not overindulgently) quirky melodies that keep the listener’s interest exactly where it should be. The heaviness is still present from their early records, but it is dispersed well between the sentimental piano balladry and the more epic and grand tunes. This is an album of strong pop sensibilities and subtle creativity.
Favorites: Tuna in The Brine, Across the Night
26. Converge – Jane Doe
As a whole, this album nearly lives up to the heaping amount of praise that is bestowed upon it by its fans. And, if you’ve ever heard a Converge fan talk about this album, you’ll know that is nearly quite an accomplishment. Don’t let the genre names scare you off. Converge is a milestone among all of the weak “core” bands that soil the genre’s name. The music is lively, well written, complex, and most of all really emotive. The variations from track to track are breathtaking, the instrumentation is mind-numbing and overall the album just rawks.
Favorites: Jane Doe, Homewrecker
25. Susanne Sundfor – The Brothel
I tend to pimp this girl a lot, and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you were aware of the high regard in which I hold her 2010 release, The Brothel. In my opinion, with this second release, she has established herself as one of the most talented and mature singer-songwriters around right now. She has a real unique identity as a pop singer when compared to the more samey sounding artists of the style. The Brothel has a dark and often even “spooky” vibe to it. While her self-titled debut was the standard affair of simple guitar/piano structured songs, she brings in orchestration and electronics among other influences to play with in her sophomore effort, and the result is a much more captivating and atmospheric release and a huge improvement in quality for the already promising artist.
Favorites: Father Father, Turkish Delight, The Brothel
Topic: ClairvoyantCat's top 50 albums v. This will be in a museum someday (Read 24907 times)