Great list so far, but this list shows me - once again - that I have to buy a lot more music
Dream Theater Forums: Expanding musical tastes and shrinking wallets since 2009.
Very true, and I think, for the better! And now I continue with the next batch of five...
20.
Clockwork Angels by Rush (107 Plays) - This is the newest album on this list, and deservedly so, as it's probably my album of the year for 2012. My favorite band came out with an album that rocks harder than any of their past four, and not only that, it's a concept album! The songs are great, the themes are great, and the playing is spectacular. When I first heard "Headlong Flight", I almost had to stop and check it was still 2012 and I wasn't magically transported back to the 1980's when the band had this kind of power! While many aging prog bands show their age as their records mellow out (I'm looking at you, Yes), the rise in strength and power in Rush's albums since
Counterparts shows that they aren't slowing down any time soon. This will certainly be a favorite for decades to come, and a Top 10 Rush album for sure!
19.
One (Special Edition) by Neal Morse (107 Plays) - Again, here's an album that I listen to with an altered track list, but this was more or less official:
1. "The Creation" 18:22
2. "Back to the Garden" 4:26
3. "The Man's Gone" 2:50
4. "Nothing to Believe" 3:29
5. "Author of Confusion" 9:30
6. "The Separated Man" 17:58
7. "Cradle to the Grave" 4:55
8. "Help Me / The Spirit and the Flesh" 11:13
9. "King Jesus" 4:48
10. "Father of Forgiveness" 5:46
11. "Reunion" 9:11
Straight from Randy George's mouth, the bonus disc original songs fit into the story of the album, and so I decided that, after discovering that tidbit, I would only ever listen to the album in it's full 95 minute glory! The first studio album to feature Randy George, this is a trio that is finding it's place as a band, Neal produces some great music on here, and this is why it is one of my favorites of his. The epics are classic Neal Morse, while the shorter tunes like "King Jesus" and "Cradle To The Grave" have the power of pop that Neal always has a penchant for. If anyone has this album, I suggest listening to it in this order! I love it even more with the extra tracks, especially the rocking "King Jesus"!
18.
Falling Into Infinity by Dream Theater (110 Plays) - And again, here's an album I listen to with all of it's B-sides, but this time I combine FII album,
Cleaning Out The Closet tracks, and FII Demo versions:
1. Raise The Knife (COTC)
2. Where Are You Now? (COTC)
3. Take Away My Pain (Demo)
4. You Or Me (from the Hollow Years single)
5. Hollow Years (Demo)
6. Burning My Soul
7. Hell's Kitchen
8. Lines In The Sand
1. New Millennium
2. Cover My Eyes (COTC)
3. Peruvian Skies
4. Speak To Me (COTC)
5. Just Let Me Breath
6. The Way It Used To Be (COTC)
7. Anna Lee
8. Trial Of Tears
To me, this is the best possible combination of all the tracks recorded and released at the time of this album, and I truly enjoy the whole album more as a result of this mixing of tracks! The demo versions of TAMP and HY are just stunning and it pains me that they changed them for the album. Likewise, "You Or Me" is just tons better than "You Not Me". The rest of the tracks used are pretty great as they were, and the COTC B-Sides are great prog-pop from a band that was boldly trying new things, especially due to new influences and inspirations brought by Derek Sherinian. I've often wondered what a 2nd album with Derek would have sounded like, but because we'll never know, I put together the best of the era in on playlist I proudly call
Falling Into Infinity.
17.
Happiness Is The Road (Vol. 1 & 2) by Marillion (110 Plays) - The first of two Marillion albums to appear on this list (and you can probably guess the other), this was the band's first new album when I finally came around to enjoying their music in 2006 or so. This two-volume album had some really special moments, especially on the first disc, which flows continuously until the epic title track. It's like an emotional roller-coaster of music and words, and the title track is one of my favorite Marillion tracks of all time. The 2nd disc is pretty good too, with their more concise and focused individual tracks, with it's closer being a powerful one as well. After the luke-warm
Somewhere Else, this album was HOT when it needed to be, and still very COOL as well. It was a stretch to extremes, but no BAD extremes, just across the entire spectrum of great music!
16.
Wall Street Voodoo by Roine Stolt (116 Plays) - Here's one that might throw you guys for a loop - a BLUES album! Well, it's chock full of PROG guys, and still quite Flowery, but it's undeniably blues, at least only in the way that Roine could do. By the time this album came out, I was already a huge fan of Roine, through The Flower Kings AND Transatlantic, and so when I learned that he was releasing a solo DOUBLE album, I knew I had to get it, especially with Neal Morse playing and singing as well! When I got it, I was in for quite a different ride than I had ever been, but Roine's soulful playing seemed like familiar ground to me, and it was. The tracks with Neal are eerily TA-ish, but with a hard rock/blues edge that you would never find on a TA or NM record. Through this album's near-2 hours of music, you really get to hear Roine speak through his guitar in way that's unique and apart from his role in The Flower Kings. If you're a fan of TFK/Roine/TA, and aren't a prog-snob/elitist and enjoy music of ALL types, and if you love blues, DEFINITELY get this album. I don't LOVE blues, but I have a greater appreciation for it because of this album.
WHEW...well these write-ups are getting longer and longer, and now we're down (or up?) to the Final 15! The next batch sure is an interesting one, and I'll give you all a hint - it's ONLY TWO BANDS among the next 5 albums!
-Marc.