Lateralus88's Top 50 Albums v. Objectively correct list

[Ryzee]

Well if I remember correctly from the Coheed thread I know Lat's a big fan, and I'm pretty sure he's said in the past that Good Apollo vol. 1 is his fave of theirs, and he already has IKS on the list, so.....


Do you see where I'm going with this?

You're saying that the Prize Fighter Inferno side project album could be it? I suppose that's possible.

Nailed it.

[lateralus88]

So it doesn't get lost on the last page:

5. Octavarium by Dream Theater



Lately, I've been finding myself enjoying albums from artists that really explore the best of both worlds throughout an album. This is definitely one of those times where I feel the band not only went above and beyond with creating a prog masterpiece, but also went outside of their comfort zone a little and wrote some songs that were a bit more risky (I Walk Beside You, The Answer Lies Within). Sure, we noticed that since then they have been following a similar forumla in song writing, but I feel that this album serves as a sort of Archetype for the following albums, and that it does it best. From beginning to end, this album wraps up my attention in a little ball and cradles it lovingly. From the heavy sections, to the soft sections, to the poppy sections and to the absolutely proggy sections this album really does deliver the goods. Though it's not like you guys haven't heard this album before. I'll just leave off with saying this album is easily my favourite Dream Theater album, and definitely deserving of the number 5 spot in my list.


Highlight Tracks - I Walk Beside You, These Walls, Octavarium

Well if I remember correctly from the Coheed thread I know Lat's a big fan, and I'm pretty sure he's said in the past that Good Apollo vol. 1 is his fave of theirs, and he already has IKS on the list, so.....


Do you see where I'm going with this?

You're saying that the Prize Fighter Inferno side project album could be it? I suppose that's possible.

No, Shabutie's first EP, bro.

[Jamesman42]

ok great pick for number 5 but where isA Dramatic Turn of Events?

[kirksnosehair]

I digs me some Ayreon.....is it cheesy?  Yep.  Do I give a fuck?  Nope. 

[WebRaider]

Great selections here! Octavarium doesn't get enough respect so good to see it so high up the list here.

[Dimitrius]

lolayreon

*waits for Good Apollo, Volume 1*

[Ravenheart]

Octavarium is underrated.

[Gadough]

*waits for Illud Divinum Insanus*

[Sigz]

Haven't listened to 8VM in ages, but it's a very good album.

[Ryzee]

8VM was pretty underwhelming to me when it first came out, but it has grown on me over the years.  I still can't really get in to Never Enough or most of The Answer Lies Within and Sacrificed Sons, but overall yes it is a good album and better than TOT and SC.  I'd still rank everything that came before it above it though.  Except WDADU I guess.

[Jirpo]

Its a good DT album, but it personally wouldn't be in my top 5 DT albums. Very interesting to see it!

[Gorille85]

Hmm I wonder what your top 4 is...

[Dimitrius]

I'm expecting it to have Good Apollo 1,  Illud Divinum Insanus and, of course, Lulu.

[The King in Crimson]

Machine Head at #1.

Totally calling it.

[Gorille85]

Good Apollo yeah but the others...

[lateralus88]

4. Fables of the Sleepless Empire by Unexpect



This was probably one of the hardest spot on the list to decide on. It was either this album or Unexpect previous album, In A Flesh Aquarium. But after countless listens I've decided that I like this album just a tad bit more. This album is definitely one of two of the most fucked up, insane and bizarre I have ever heard (Flesh Aquarium being the other), but this album does so in a much more well mannered fashion. It's more accessible, definitely. It has it's odd twists and turns and makes you want to crawl inside your own solitary dimension and cry yourself to sleep at times, but overall it's definitely a much more properly structured album. This album also has one of my favourite things musically that a lot of bands really don't do that much, which makes Unexpect very special to me. Vocal trade offs and layered multiple vocalists all at once. I love the way this band trades off vocals and sings in unison. It's flawless strung together in such a way that exhilarates every essence of my being (Golly I sound so fruity right now). Long story short, this album is perfect for someone as batshit nutty as me.

Highlight Tracks - Unsolved Ideas of a Distorted Guest, Quantum Symphony, Words

[Gorille85]

Possibly my favorite album ever.

[Jamesman42]

Possibly my favorite album ever.

[Jirpo]

Still haven't heard it, I need to get onto that!

[Ultimetalhead]

Still can't get through that one in a single sitting. I don't know what it is. 

Incidentally, I think I remember what your #1 album is now, and I feel like an idiot for not remembering it sooner.

[jingle.boy]

I digs me some Ayreon.....is it cheesy?  Yep.  Do I give a fuck?  Nope. 

01001101 (or whatever), was a cheese fest for sure. I thought THE was brilliant musically and lyrically. My #2 of all time. 8vm cracks my top 20 as well. 2nd fav DT album.

Good picks.

[kirksnosehair]

I digs me some Ayreon.....is it cheesy?  Yep.  Do I give a fuck?  Nope. 

01001101 (or whatever), was a cheese fest for sure. I thought THE was brilliant musically and lyrically.
Good picks.

No album with the lyric "bought fast food on the way and it's finger licking good" can escape the black hole of epic cheesiness     (I love all of the Ayreon albums, even the ones with synthetic bass guitar)

[lateralus88]

3. Separation Sunday by The Hold Steady



As the one Hold Steady fan (as far as I know) on DTF, this update will probably be the least cared about. But yep, this album is one of my all time favourites ever. It's an utterly brilliant album. The music is very straight forward rock with many classic rock influences and some nice keyboards in the mix here and there. But the music itself is actually not the focal point of why this album is ranked so highly for me. It's the lyrics and the story they tell throughout the album (it's a concept album about hoodrats, prostitutes, religion and drugs). Now, Craig Finn might not be the worlds greatest vocalist, in fact, he vocals are just alright and only work in context with the music the rest of the band is playing. But the man is an absolutely genius storyteller. He paints such a fantastic image in your head with the way he both spouts his lyrics and the manner in which he vocalizes them. Not to mention, the many instances of religious references that are worked in with the story feel very natural, and not forced.Honestly, there are bits where I feel like I could just listen to him for hours in a coffee shop describing the events taking place at some party that went wrong. An album like Separation Sunday is not really for everyone, especially if you can't get passed Finn's vocal style, but it's quite simply a work of art.

Highlight Tracks - Hornets! Hornets!, The Cattle and the Creeping Things, How A Resurrection Really Feels

[Jamesman42]

lol

[Kosmo]

lol

[Jirpo]

Never heard of it but loved the writeup!

[jingle.boy]

Never heard of it but loved the writeup!

Agreed.

[MetalManiac666]

I've heard a Hold Steady song or two and they seemed pretty cool.  Supposedly a good live act to boot.

[lateralus88]

2. Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness by Coheed and Cambria



Coming in at number 2 is my all time favourite concept album, and second favourite album of all time. As a concept album I find this one to be particularly interesting due to the fact that it's an album based on a fourth wall break from the main story within the Universe vocalist Claudio Sanchez has immersed us fans into. Essentially, the idea behind this album is that we are pausing the main story to zoom out and pay attention to the WRITER of this sci-fi epic we are primarily focused on. As someone who considers himself a developing writer, this idea intrigues me greatly. Throughout the album, we learn about the Writer's love life and how the events in his real life have found ways to spill into the Amory Wars saga itself. It's this concept coupled with amazing sounding progressive rock that really do it for me. This album has spectacular musicianship, and fuck the haters once again, but Claudio's voice is as good as ever. I'd say this album exhibits his best performance to date (Shut up Ryan). Just like the previously mentioned Coheed album there are a lot of different musical styles played throughout the album, though it's moreso focused on the progressive, hard rock and some poppy elements. Not so much hardcore or punk anymore. Good Apollo Vol. 1 is a spectacular piece of music, and definitely the best possible entry point for you non-Coheed fans who might be curious in checking them out sometime.

Highlight Tracks - Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial), The Suffering, The Willing Well II: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness



Oh yeah also I guess I'll be posting my number one eventually (tomorrow). 10 points to the person who can guess my number one correctly (Drew is not allowed, or anyone else in that skype call where I was drunk and told everyone).

[Tripp]

Great album! Thanks for showing it to me!

fgt

can't wait for #1

edit: The only other person in that Skype call was me, by the way.

[lateralus88]

Great album! Thanks for showing it to me!

edit: The only other person in that Skype call was me, by the way.

I'm glad you liked it, mang. It's fuckin' magical. Also that explains why I don't remember other people being in that chat. Oh well, keep your mouth shut brah.


And oh yeah just because, here is a recap before I eventually write up numba 1.

50. Ashes of the Wake
49. Burning Earth
48. De-loused in the Comatarium
47. Nightfall
46. Planetary Duality
45. Holographic Universe
44. A Farewell to Kings
43. Demon Days
42. Wintersun
41. Hellbilly Deluxe
40. Goodnews for People Who Love Bad News
39. Light of Day, Day of Darkness
38. Killers
37. Wish You Were Here
36. Rust in Peace
35. Alive in Athens
34. Leave a Whisper
33. Hell Awaits
32. Gateways to Annihilation
31. Blackwater Park
30. Frost
29. Astro Creep 2000
28. Melissa
27. Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
26. The Link
25. Once Upon the Cross
24. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
23. Reign in Blood
22. Hatebreeder
21. Population Override
20. The Sound of Perseverance
19. A Night at the Opera
18. Bucketheadland 2
17. Within a Mile of Home
16. Images and Words
15. Materia
14. Lateralus
13. Somewhere in Time
12. This Godless Endeavor
11. A Matter of Life and Death
10. Orchid
9. Deconstruction
8. Alien
7. Addicted
6. The Human Equation
5. Octavarium
4. Fables of the Sleepless Empire
3. Separation Sunday
2. Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
1. Probably Lulu or some shit.

[MK_Ultra]

Great writeup, my favourite C&C album too. Looking forward to #1.

[Kosmo]

coheed in da house woo

Not my favorite album from them but it's close.

[AcidLameLTE]

GAWWWWWD'S BLAWWWWWWWWWWD

[antigoon]

Yo, Octavarium is pretty great.