Hey guys I managed to update on time!
19. Marillion-Marbles
One of the first albums that got me into prog/post-1990 music in general. This album is the reason why H-era is better than Fish. Actually, let me rephrase that, "Neverland" is the sole reason why H-era is better than Fish. The rest is just gravy. "Neverland," on the other hand, is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Listening to it is like drifting on a cloud, and the way Hogarth pours emotion into his vocals is tearjerking. The fact that his wife divorced him after that album and before Somewhere Else makes it all even sadder. I suppose I should talk about the rest of the album, which doesn't have a bad song on it. They're all very atmospheric, keeping a sort of Pink Floyd/Porcupine Tree prog sense about them mixed with Radiohead stylings. It also gets pretty dark in places for Marillion, such as songs like "Ocean Cloud," "Invisible Man," "Angelina," and "The Only Unforgivable Thing." But its all incredibly beautiful, especially "Neverland," which is one of my top ten favorite songs ever. Have I mentioned how much I love that song yet?
Favorite Songs: "Neverland," "The Invisible Man," "Ocean Cloud," "Don't Hurt Yourself," "Fantastic Place," "Genie"
18. Jethro Tull-Aqualung
Oh hello retro 70s folk-prog. What are you doing so high on the list? Yeah yeah, I've grown out of a lot of 70s prog, but this album won't let me stop listening to it. Its just too perfect. I can't really give any specific reasons WHY its perfect, though. It could be the catchiness of the tunes, the super-cool flute solos, or how it perfectly marries classic rock, folk, and a bit of prog into an easily-digestible, enjoyable package. Every song is great, and I can't wait to hear Steven Wilson's remix of it.
And no, its not a freaking concept album.
Favorite songs: "Aqualung," "My God," "Hymn 43," "Cross-Eyed Mary," "Wind Up," "Wond'ring Aloud"
17. Peter Gabriel-Us
No one talks about this album enough. When it comes to Peter Gabriel, all his diehard fans point to III as his best. All the pop fans love So, and the prog fans are still bitching about him leaving Genesis to make better music. But no one talks about this one. It kinda picks up where So left off. Its very much a pop album, filled with tasteful, infectious grooves, Peter's soulful vocals and...melancholy. Lots of it. Most of this album deals with Peter feeling disconnected from his children and family, and the songs convey those feelings wonderfully. Songs like "Steam" and "Kiss That Frog" stick out like sore thumbs at first, but they're kind of needed to pick things up a bit. So its not a perfect album, but the highs far outweigh the low of "Kiss That Frog." One of my favorites is "Come Talk to Me," which is a gutwrenching cry, begging to break free of some kind of self-imposed isolation. Or at least that's how I interpret it. And considering "These Walls" is a favorite DT song of mine, it should be clear that I strongly relate to those themes. Anyways, any fan of music should give Peter's solo stuff a listen. And this album is, in my opinion, his best work.
Favorite songs: "Secret World," "Come Talk to Me," "Washing of the Water," "Only Us," "Blood of Eden," "Digging in the Dirt," "Love to be Loved," "Steam"
16. Dream Theater-Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
This is a mixed blessing king of album. On one hand, we got some of the best songs the band has ever written, and they all broke new ground for them. On the other hand, "The Glass Prison" and "Blind Faith" are singlehandedly responsible for predictable song structures and attempts to be more and more METUHL ever since (though BC&SL and ADTOE were steps in the right direction). Be that as it may, this is one of DT's finest works. As to be expected at this point in the list, every song is absolutely perfect, and I applaud the band's decision to step away from their comfort zone, which sort of defines SFAM (not that its a bad thing! Scenes is a great album!). My guess is that you all know why this album is so good. Plus I can't think of anything else. I don't listen to DT as much as I used to, but when I get the urge, this album usually gets picked first.
Favorite songs: All of them. Yes, I've even warmed up to Misunderstood's outro.
15. Porcupine Tree-In Absentia
FINALLY some Porcupine Tree. I thought we'd never see any! I'm only following this list to see what Matt thinks of my favorite PT albums anyways.
That's what I imagine has been going through your heads. It probably isn't accurate, but I thought I'd include it. ANYWAYS, this was my first PT album. If you haven't heard it, do so. It takes a while to grow on you, but once it does, oh man will your life be changed. PT doesn't have a single bad album, but on this particular one, all of the songs shine perfectly on their own. Not a single boring one in the mix. Even shorter songs like "Lips of Ashes" have something to admire in their atmosphere and simplicity. Speaking of which, Richard Barbieri owns this album. He's often the unsung hero of PT while everyone drools over SW and Gavin Harrison, but without him, all those lovely textures would cease to be. "Lips of Ashes," "Gravity Eyelids," "Collapse the Light Into Earth," "Strip the Soul," ".3," and "The Sound of Muzak," and "Blackest Eyes" wouldn't be what they are if not for his touch.
Favorite songs: all of them
14. Rush-A Farewell to Kings
Oh hey more Rush! To be perfectly honest, I don't have a personal connection with any of the songs on this album. So you won't hear any in-depth analysis of lyrics or anecdotes from me. Instead, you'll hear about how much FUN this album is to listen to. You'll hear about how the sound is so perfectly 70s, and yet the music is unlike anything else from the period. Which I guess you just did. It also benefits from being so short and sweet. One more song and it might have fallen in the Grace Under Pressure or Signals camp. One of those Rush albums that comes so close to perfection but has one song that kinda brings it down.
Favorite songs: all of them.
13. Coheed & Cambria-Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
So I got this album after hearing "Welcome Home" on Rock Band and loving it. The singer was like a new Geddy Lee, and the song was just so heavy and so powah that I had to hear what else these guys had to offer. Well, the first listen was...iffy. The only other songs I liked were "Ten Speed" and "Apollo II." But I started listening to it more, and slowly, the poppy emo songs were growing on me, and the violent lyrics weren't bothering me anymore, and I found out there was a story behind the thing, and you know how much I love concept albums. Eventually I was playing this album once a day, singing along with every song, and the rest of Coheed grew on me to the point of absolute love for the band. This is one of their masterpieces. All those songs in between "The Willing Well" suite and "Ten Speed" seemed like filler at first, but each one is well-written and necessary for the album. I can't imagine it without those songs. For a 70 minute album, it seems to go by in 30 minutes, which is great as far as I'm concerned. If you realize how long an album is that's probably a good sign that its boring you, and Coheed is anything but boring.
Oh, and GAWD'S BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWD
Favorite songs: All of them
Topic: Skydivingninja's Top 50 Albums v. Not this crap again! (Read 27265 times)
