Okay, NOW its double-update time!
32. Mew-No More StoriesIf there was an album that quintessentially embodied Mew's sound, it would be this one. You have your poppy tunes like "Beach," "Hawaii," and "Tricks of the Trade," your ethereal dreamscapes like "Silas the Magic Car," progressive, rhythmic weirdness like "Introducing Palace Players," and epic anthems like "Sometimes Life Isn't Easy." The album can take a while to warm up to, especially with the jarring opener "New Terrain," but when you finally do ease yourself into it, its a hell of an experience. I love how atmospheric and "warm" the album feels as well, even during its more jarring movements. If you haven't heard Mew, I urge you to do so, and this would probably be the best starting point, even if it isn't my favorite album by them.
Favorite songs: "Beach," "Tricks of the Trade," "Silas the Magic Car," "Introducing Palace Players," "Sometimes Life Isn't Easy"
31. Opeth-My Arms, Your HearseSO BRUTAL SO POWAH!
Seriously, I turn into *that* metalhead guy who starts acting all obnoxious and rocks the fuck out when I crank this album as loud as I can. ON SHINY BLUE VINYL. *waits for the crowd to stand in awe of its majesticness* Yeah, I hate to sound like a vinyl snob, but its the best way to listen to the album. It feels a lot more...full...on vinyl, if that makes sense, and adds to the atmosphere of the album, like a bit of background ambient noise that doesn't actually make its presence audible...I dunno man, its hard to describe, but it only serves to make the heavy bits heavier and the acoustic parts creepier, which is appropriate given the subject matter of the story. This is THE album that I really didn't see all that much to love in it until hearing it on vinyl. Again, I know I sound like a snob or Quadrochosis, but the album made me appreciate Opeth at their most brutal, and I probably would have kept passing on it (save for "When") had I not picked up the vinyl on a whim. Its just fucking GOOD.
Favorite songs: "April Ethereal," "When," "Credence," "Karma," "Epilogue"
30. Muse-AbsolutionI'm pretty sure this is my favorite Muse album now. Those crafty bastards had the stones to make three perfect albums between 2001 and 2006 and its hard to figure out which one I like most. So yeah, this is a concept album (ANOTHER ONE!) about the end of the world, basically, and it fucking rocks. "Apocalypse Please" sets the tone perfectly as a jarring call-to-arms that I wish they'd play live more often. From there on its a lot of typical Museiness, a sort of "stand up and go for it" kind of mentality that applies to lots of young people and conspiracy theorists that inspire Matt Bellamy. "Butterflies and Hurricanes" captures that mood perfectly, while the ballads are sort of anguished, lovesick cries whose characters want someone to hold during their last moments, and its all quite beautiful considering the grim subject matter. There are also some more dark sides to the end of the world, but its the wide variety of styles and emotions that make this album succeed right now above the other two Muse masterpieces.
Favorite songs: "Hysteria," "Butterflies & Hurricanes," "Apocalypse Please," "Stockholm Syndrome," "Endlessly," "Falling Away With You"
29. Iron Maiden-PowerslaveIron Maiden are, at least in my opinion, an odd band. They are renowned the world over as one of the great metal bands, yet in looking at all their albums, there's usually at least one or two songs that are so bad they stop the album from really deserving the kind of praise Maiden regularly gets. Well, there are two exceptions:
A Matter of Life and Death and
Powerslave. I think my favorite aspect of this album, save "Rime," is that there are very few typical Maiden lyrics. Sure you still have songs about wars and old literary legends, but it feels a lot more honest, thanks mostly to Bruce Dickinson's best performance on a "classic" Maiden album. His voice is both operatic and snarly, and he's honestly great at pouring his soul into what he's singing. I mean, tell me the part after the creepy interlude in "Rime" doesn't make your hair stand on end when he starts singing. I also find the music the most interesting out of any Maiden album. Plus, its got my favorite Maiden song and the one that really made me give them a chance: "Powerslave." From the egyptian themed music and metaphorical lyrics (Maiden's best, in my opinion), to the amazing instrumental section that breaks away from the trading solo shred of most of their songs, its undoubtedly the highlight.
Favorite songs: "Powerslave," "Aces High," "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," "Flash of the Blade," "Two Minutes to Midnight"
28. Marillion-Clutching at StrawsMORE concept albums? Jesus Christ Matthew don't you listen to anything else? Well, the thing is, as I'm sure I've mentioned, I love good concept albums, and in high school I couldn't get enough of them. So naturally, since Marillion and DT were my introductions into the world of modern music and prog, I found this album, and it really made me appreciate Fish. I mean yeah, I had heard
Misplaced Childhood and
Script for a Jester's Tear but I never heard anything that could make me a staunch Fish-supporter. This album actually made me think again. Fish's lyrics are poetic and artsy, but never cross the line into pretentiousness or insincerity the way a lot of art rock/indie rock bands do. And they're really
sad. Well, the concept's about a bunch of people at a bar sharing their stories as they wallow in self-pity because they know most of their problems are their own fault so yeah, its gonna be sad. The only upbeat reprieve is "Incommunicado," which makes it even more depressing because it makes the narrator seem like a jerk when the song is sandwiched in the middle of a lot of depressing tales. So its an emotional powerhouse, no doubt about that. To add to the sadness, making this album tore Fish away from the band, but--silver linings and all that--it allowed Steve Hogarth to take the reins, which was a much better move for the band as far as I'm concerned.
Favorite songs: "Sugar Mice," "Warm Wet Circles," "White Russian," "The Last Straw," "Torch Song"
27. Eisley-Room NoisesOh man look at all this heavy and/or depressing and/or deep music HERE HAVE SOME HAPPY! CAN WE BE FRIENDS? LETS GO PLAY IN THE WOODS I KNOW THIS REALLY COOL SPOT WHERE I THINK YOU CAN SEE A FAERIE IN THE KNOT OF THIS TREE! That's kinda the attitude Room Noises has, and its downright infectious. You can't help but heave a happy sigh after its done. Its not my favorite Eisley album anymore, but it would deserve a place even if its better,
The Valley was considered eligible for entry in this list, because of its power to put you in a happy mood almost instantly.
Favorite songs: "Memories," "Brightly Wound," "Trolley Wood," "One Day I Slowly Floated Away," "Telescope Eyes"
26. Yes-The Yes AlbumYes I like it better than
Close to the Edge. Yes "Starship Trooper" is my favorite Yes song. Deal with it.
Favorite songs: "Starship Trooper," "Yours is No Disgrace," "I've Seen All Good People," "The Clap," "Perpetual Change"
Topic: Skydivingninja's Top 50 Albums v. Not this crap again! (Read 27266 times)
