7. Wish You Were Here-Pink Floyd
This used to be my favorite album ever for a long time, and I still hold it in pretty high regard. Its a very emotional album, dealing with the departure of former Floyd frontman Syd Barrett, and also fairly diverse musically. The title track and "Have a Cigar" are radio-friendly folk ballads and blues songs, respectively, but "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" takes Floyd's brand of atmospheric, psychedelic prog and takes it to its zenith, while "Welcome to the Machine," is very dark...almost industrial, and pretty different compared to everything else of the era. I also love Waters' lyrics on this album. They're not incredibly pretentious or grandiose like Dark Side, and they don't sound as immature or simple like Animals or The Wall. Its a very heartfelt goodbye to Syd and the album is filled with genuine emotion. Not to say The Wall isn't emotional, but it seems much more powerful when Rogers isn't singing a rock opera about himself.
Favorite songs: All of them.
6. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3-Coheed & Cambria
I didn't like this album when I first heard it. I was enamored with Good Apollo Vol. 1 and didn't want to love a Coheed album with so many remnants of their emo/alternative rock past without as much prog. But it drew me in in chunks. First, "The Crowing" with its amazing outro, "Al the Killer" for its awesome heaviness, "The Light and the Glass" for its epicness, and "A Favor House Atlantic" as a guilty pleasure. Slowly but surely, even the poppier tracks like "Blood Red Summer" drew me in until I was swimming in the masterpiece of modern rock songwriting that it had always been. All (Al the) killer, no filler, as they say. I love Travis' intricate background lead guitar work in songs like "Cuts Marked in the March of Men" and "A Favor House Atlantic." I love former-now-current-once-again drummer Josh Eppard's sense of groove while keeping the songs aggressive and driving. And of course, I love Claudio's voice and lyrics, even if he overuses the word "words."
Favorite songs: all of them.
5. Crack the Skye-Mastodon
This was another grower for me. At first, I didn't like Brent or Troy's vocals but thought the music was pretty good. Slowly, again, they grew on me as growls and screams grew on me in general. The music though is where this album really shines. There's absolutely nothing like it on the prog scene, which to me is what prog should be doing all the time. Pushing the envelope, expressing your influences but not aping them, and making something new and unique. After three albums of very sludgy, aggressive metal, Mastodon threw most of it out the window and made an album brimming with an ethereal atmosphere, intricate guitar work, captivating melodies, and yes, brutal crushing metal. Its an amazing experience from start to finish, and an album that's essential for any music fan. Not just prog or metal, just music. Its that good and that unique.
Favorite songs: all of them.
4. Born to Run-Bruce Springsteen
A favorite album from my childhood. Anyone who says that Springsteen is a hack or a champion of America needs to get their head examined (and learn that "Born in the USA" is not meant to praise the USA for being so awesome). His lyrics of escaping New Jersey appeal to any young person in any state, they are the perfect rock 'n roll lyrics. His voice is also in its prime on this album. Its primal, raspy, passionate, and soulful. The music is also very diverse and takes Springsteen to places he still hasn't revisited. Good thing too, or else it would just sound like a rip off. Take "Jungleland" or "Backstreets," two very powerful, epic songs with jaw-dropping lyrical content, or "Meeting Across the River," a ballad with some of the most underappreciated lyrics in rock. There are some songs reflecting his rock and blues roots like "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," "Night," "Born to Run," and "She's the One," but the song that really sends this album into the stratosphere of fantastic music is "Thunder Road." That song is still my favorite song of all time and, when I saw it as the encore for his Greenville show, one of the greatest live music experiences of my life. Tears were in my eyes. Go listen now if you haven't already.
Favorite songs: all of them
THREE LEFT! WILL I EVER FINISH?
Topic: Skydivingninja's Top 50 Albums v. Not this crap again! (Read 27253 times)
