Jingle.boy's Top 50v2 - Stick a fork in this .... It's done!

[Pols Voice]

TKOS is my favorite SB album. They were firing on all cylinders.

[wolfking]

That Starbreaker album is absolutely perfect, still listen to it regulary, it's just incredible.  Great combo, Karlsson and Harnell.  And this really showed Magnus spread his wings early on a little in terms of style, as opposed to a lot of his most recent outputs.

[Orthogonal]

Spock's Beard is a band I still haven't gotten into. They're probably the most well established prog band I don't own anything from. I know I should correct that.

[jingle.boy]

Spock's Beard is a band I still haven't gotten into. They're probably the most well established prog band I don't own anything from. I know I should correct that.

Yes, you should.  While everyone has their own personal preferences, you can pretty much start anywhere. I think it's generally accepted that Feel Euphoria and Spock's Beard are their least best albums, but even in saying that, they're still very good.

[wolfking]

I think I own 2 or 3 SB albums, but never really delve into them, I should get them out.  I don't even know what albums I have.

[jingle.boy]

32) Stargate – Beyond Space and Time (2012)


Tracks to Try ... Save the World, Age of Aquarius, The Power Within
So, I’m sitting in the airport in San Antonio last summer, and I get this Spotify/FB message from RJ telling me to check this album out.  Sure, what the hell??,  I got a few minutes to spare.  I click play, and after song 2 (song 1 is an introductory setup), my response is “Mother of god that was spectacular”.  If you want a real review of this, head on over to LadyObscure.com - https://www.ladyobscure.com/albums/stargate-beyond-space-and-time/.  I can’t really do anything better than the good chef already said.  So, I’ll simply paraphrase ... and by paraphrase, I mean copy-and-paste. 

The instant the opener ends, the album jumps into high gear, and rarely lets up.  With the exception of the one “ballad”, every song is done at an overly caffeinated pace, but in a textured and competently balanced way. This relentlessness is one of many highlights of this band, echoing earlier prog metal pioneers who paved the way.  the maturity in their playing is very clear, these guys are familiar with each other’s boundaries, and push them at every opportunity. Keyboards are done as a background, a pacesetting and harmonic element. Bass is a lead and a rhythm element, a resounding heartbeat. Drums carry the beat, but with enough flair on the side to really stand out in a fantastic fashion. Vocalist Flavio Caricasole fits the music wonderfully, lows are done at a subdued tone, and most high notes are pure, though there are one or two that should have been re-thought.

31) Royal Hunt – X (2010)


Tracks to Try ... Army of Slaves, King For A Day, Blood Red Stars
Royal Hunt’s first 9 albums were incredibly keyboard led, not surprising with keyboardist Andre Andersen being the heart and soul of the band.  And it served them well.  This is Mark Boal’s second of two albums that he provided vocal duties for, and (in my opinion) is the better of the two.  The overall formula doesn’t change very much for this album – great vocal melodies, smart lyrics, a marching rhythm section, and backing vocals that add a ton of color to the songs.  However, in X they give a more guitar led album, and a more aggressive sound than most of the previous releases – hell, there are even songs without keyboard solo’s!  Andersen shows his diversity in this regard, and it serves the album well.

[kirksnosehair]

I think I own 2 or 3 SB albums, but never really delve into them, I should get them out.  I don't even know what albums I have.

If you want to get right to their best stuff, I'd say these are the best ones:


Neal Morse Era:
The Light
V
The Kindness of Strangers
Snow


Post Neal Morse Era:
X
Octane

[lonestar]

Stargate


It's one of the albums from last year I keep going back to just cause it's so much fucking fun!!!!

[kirksnosehair]

I did enjoy that Stargate album quite a bit, although to be honest, I never really warmed to the singer's voice.  It's not bad, per se, just....not really my cup of tea.  But I'd still give that album 3.5 / 5 stars

[Lowdz]

Not really digging the Stargate track. It's ok I guess...

I ama big fan of Royal Hunt, and they don't often disappoint. X is a really good album but there are several I'd choose over it. this being newer stuff you've been exposed to though I see why it's here.

[Dr. DTVT]

I'm going to be biased here, but I can't imagine a non-D.C. Cooper Royal Hunt album being better than the first two he was on.  When I get my copy of X in a couple of days (assuming the USPS doesn't screw up like they did on Saturday) I'll be able to make a more definitive statement.

Just listened to Save the World.  Nice...but nothing special.  I can think of several bands I expect to see now that I know you have that should be higher than that, but you got both of these above Paradox so I'm pretty sure the list is already FUBAR 

Also, I think Barry and I have a psychic link.

[Lowdz]

I'm going to be biased here, but I can't imagine a non-D.C. Cooper Royal Hunt album being better than the first two he was on.  When I get my copy of X in a couple of days (assuming the USPS doesn't screw up like they did on Saturday) I'll be able to make a more definitive statement.

Just listened to Save the World.  Nice...but nothing special.  I can think of several bands I expect to see now that I know you have that should be higher than that, but you got both of these above Paradox so I'm pretty sure the list is already FUBAR 

Also, I think Barry and I have a psychic link.

Fear is their best for me. I prefer the John West albums to DCC.

[Dr. DTVT]

Fear and The Mission were really good.  I don't blame their fall on the singer.  I just think:

Paradox > Moving Target >> Fear > The Mission >> everything else they've done >>> Eyewitness

And really, there aren't enough > signs to give my real opinion of Eyewitness.

[wolfking]

I think I own 2 or 3 SB albums, but never really delve into them, I should get them out.  I don't even know what albums I have.

If you want to get right to their best stuff, I'd say these are the best ones:


Neal Morse Era:
The Light
V
The Kindness of Strangers
Snow


Post Neal Morse Era:
X
Octane

Pretty sure I have Octane.  I need to get X, Collision Course was really good so I definitely need to check X if it's better.  I love Mark Boals too.

[jingle.boy]

I'm pretty sure the list is already FUBAR 

At least this list will get finished, so bite my left one. 

Tastes: why the fuck can't everyone just have the same as mine?  thankfully the man with the biggest knife around here has my back.

As I said with SB as well, when you get all albums of a discography within a short period of time, it's hard to distinguish the love for each of them when they're all as awesome as what RH and SB have put out. Yes, I even like Eyewitness. The margin of difference between how much I like each the albums in those two discography's isn't very wide.

[lonestar]

Tastes: why the fuck can't everyone just have the same as mine?  thankfully the man with the biggest knife around here has my back.

Got it covered bro...

[Dr. DTVT]

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight.



Also, I need an update to mock 

[jingle.boy]

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight.



Also, I need an update to mock 

I have a new nickname for you ... Venkman.

Give me 10 minutes or so, and I'll fire it up.

[jingle.boy]

I dare you to mock me!

30) Ice Age – Liberation (2001)


Tracks to Try ... Musical Cages, When You’re Ready, To Say Goodby, Part III: Still Here.
I discovered these guys from a writeup on LadyObscure by yorost, and man oh man, what a great album (yes Mason, I know it was on your Top 50 under-rated, but I was staying away from listening to new items from that list until after my roulette... plus, no recognition for unfinished work!).  Liberation is their second effort, and unfortunately their last full-length album.  Right off the bat, you hear that vocalist/keyboardist Josh Pincus is a vocal dead-pan for Dennis DeYoung.  It’s eerie.  Given I’m a big fan of Styx, when you add this vocal sound in to some really great, complex, technical modern-day prog, and it’s a terrific recipe for awesome.  This album is mostly prog, but the band displays some excellent diversity with songs (or portions of) leanings towards a metal flair, ballads... but mostly comeback to a traditional prog musical sound with equal parts keyboards and guitar, both providing very dramatic chords, riffs, and melodies.  When You’re Ready in particular hits on pretty much all of those musical components.  Pincus gives the pipes a rest in Musical Cages - a monster of an instrumental, showcasing the band’s talent – not only their playing talent, but compositionally as well – perhaps more so.  12 tracks on this album, but 4 of them are mere interludes/segue between the real tunes – so it’s really 8 tracks/55 minutes.  That’s a solid track:time ratio for a modern prog album.

29) Tears of Anger – In The Shadows (2006)


Tracks to Try... Light Up My Fuse, In The Shadows, Full of Lies
Coming to the end of my roulette, I was eliminating participants in a playoff format, and RJ submitted a song with his heart, and not his head... and got the boots for it.  However, never one to take no for an answer, he still gave me some songs for what would have been the final round.  Too bad his heart betrayed him, because he just may have won given the songs he gave me, one of them being Light Up My Fuse from this album.  And wow... with band members that are (or have been) with Evergrey, Mind’s Eye, Beyond Twilight, and others, ‘twas a foregone conclusion that this would result in an instant purchase.  This album doesn’t get too far outside its own box – that box being balls out melodic metal.  And it’s a box I’m happy to stay in for my listening pleasure.  The longest track is 4:55, so you won’t find a lot of musical experimentation here.  I love the continuous head-bang-worthy killer and grinding guitar riffs.  The keyboard accompaniment is great, knowing when to jump in front and lead this parade, and when to stay in tow.  There’s impressive drum work that has its own dramatic flair.  And the vocals from Bjřrn Jansson make this a beauty album from the eponymous opening track, to the 12th and final one, I’m Coming Home. 

[Pols Voice]

It's a shame that Ice Age didn't make more albums, because they showed tons of promise. The Guardian of Forever has one of my favorite choruses...ever. So dramatic. The Blood of Ages is also amazing. Every song on that album is good, but those are my faves.

[jingle.boy]

It's a shame that Ice Age didn't make more albums, because they showed tons of promise. The Guardian of Forever has one of my favorite choruses...ever. So dramatic. The Blood of Ages is also amazing. Every song on that album is good, but those are my faves.

  Top to bottom, it's A+.  I had a hard time calling out three tracks.  I could've picked any three outside the transition tracks.

[Dr. DTVT]

The Lhasa Road (No Surrender) is required listening.  It's the best song they ever did, so even in an update where you I shouldn't have had to mock you, here I am, forced to mock you.  Come at me bro (see picture above).

[wolfking]

Another 2 to add.

[MoraWintersoul]

I just played the Tears Of Anger track and "Light up my fuse, I'll explode in your face" just sounds so

[jingle.boy]

The Lhasa Road (No Surrender) is required listening.  It's the best song they ever did, so even in an update where you I shouldn't have had to mock you, here I am, forced to mock you.  Come at me bro (see picture above).

Now you're just reaching to come up with reasons.  Is that gun even real??  Looks like you got it from the garage sale of a former costume designer from The A-Team.

[Elite]

Doc, that gun picture is awesome

Also, I don't know any of those two, I should add them to my list.

[jingle.boy]

Another 2 to add.

I think you'd dig Tears of Anger for sure.

[Dr. DTVT]

That's a real AK-47.

And you should get that Ice Age album Elite.  YouTube The Lhasa Road (No Surrender) and tell me that doesn't rock your face off.

[jingle.boy]

That's a real AK-47.

Cool.  Maybe the new nickname should be "Face"?   

[kirksnosehair]

Absolutely LOVE that Ice Age album 

[jingle.boy]

Absolutely LOVE that Ice Age album 

I'm bound and determined to have an update where you don't know one or both!  Seriously, I think you are on top of everything I've fired off so far.

[Orthogonal]

Ice Age - Liberation is quite the gem. It was a band on my radar for many years but never really pursued and eventually forgot about until, by luck, I saw this in the used cd section when perusing a store just a couple months ago. Had to pick it up. It must have been fate.

[Dr. DTVT]

*gets electric cattle prod*

[jingle.boy]

[Dr. DTVT]

Well, I let no update Wednesday slide since that is wpapu day.  Thursday was the second consecutive time you went at least 2 days between updates so I broke out the electric cattle prod.