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26. Fair to Midland - Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True (2007)
This alternative rock band is already pretty well known here on DTF and typing this right now, I actually don't really know what to say about this one. This is just a fun and very solid alternative rock album with some random influences from other stuff here and there. The music is very catchy and easily enjoyable, but not in a way that it gets boring. The vocals dominate the music for quite a lot and they range from low to spoken words and ridiculously long high phrases. The music itself is pretty straightforward and mainly riff driven. Highlights of the album include the album opener 'Dance of the Manatee', which was apparently released as a single and probably the band's best known song and 'April Fools and Eggmen', a song sent to me in my roulette and my main reason for checking out the rest of the band's music. The band's second album 'Arrows and Anchors' is also pretty cool, but I think this one is just a little better. I don't really know why.
Favourite song: Dance of the Manatee
Other songs worth checking out: April Fools and Eggmen, Upgrade^Brigade, A Wolf Descends upon the Spanish Sahara
And we´re halfway through the list!25. Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris (2000)
This album is so obscure that amazon didn't have it listed and I had to get the cover from somewhere else. Well, what is this? This is an album by Czech technical death metal band Lykathea Aflame. They only released one album, although they were previously know as Appalling Spawn, and released some stuff under that moniker. The album itself was released back in 2000, but in a very limited supply. I own a copy on CD, but there's no way you're gonna get one firsthand anymore. Right, so this is a technical death metal album. While this isn't the most 'heavy' album on my lists, it is definitely the most 'brutal', for lack of a better word. Also, it's the only death metal album on both lists (not really counting other music that uses growls, like Opeth) and that's for a reason. You see, I greatly dislike death metal. I find it bland, boring and generally either silly or a chore to listen to. Then why the hell did I put this album on my list? Because 1) this is one of only two (technical) death metal albums I own on CD and hence I can probably say it's my favourite death metal album. 2) it's actually very fucking great. What makes it great? Well, first off, the vocals are completely incomprehensible. You can't hear a ting he's saying and it sounds like someone is continuously blowing in the microphone. That's not really something to write home about is it? No, it's not, but at least the lyrics don't speak of overused disgusting subjects like torture, murder or rape. Contrary to what you initially hear (which is basically next to nothing, but based on the pure assumption that death metal always speaks about these or similar subjects) the lyrics are actually very friendly, or mysterious. Next up; the music itself. This band took a great influence from middle-eastern music and that comes back throughout the entire album. The music is very, very fast on the whole record and in the heavier parts doesn't really leave room to breathe, but this is an exception to death metal albums in the sense that the band takes a step back here and there, to go into beautiful clean passages. Also, what truly makes this album stand out and what guarantees its high placement on this list, is that's it's frantic as hell, but it sounds HAPPY. Yes, I'm serious, go check out a couple of random tracks from the album (though I recommend my personal favourite 'Bringer of Elvenefris Flame'). Happy death metal, yes. And that's why it's good. It's the only album (I've heard of) of its kind and although I still pretty much dislike the genre to a large extent, occasionally I would stumble across a gem that was worth listening to. This is one of those. I doubt I can make many people listen to this one and I can imagine one not liking this one at all on first listen, especially if you're not used to death metal. I'm not used to the genre either, but I can listen to this. In my opinion this is the greatest death metal album ever.
Favourite song: Bringer of Elvenefris Flame
Other songs worth checking out: Land Where Sympathy is Air, A Step Closer, An Old Man and a Child
24. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999)
And since I'm on dreamtheaterforums.org I feel there's no need to type anything about the content of this album. This is a favourite among Dream Theater fans and rightfully so. It's my personal third favourite behind Awake (#9 on previous list) and Images & Words (#1 on my previous list and still my #1 album of all time). Looking back I think 'Metropolis Pt. 2' was my first experience with Dream Theater, though I can't remember having listened actively to it back then. It later became one of my most played records ever and I even have a second copy on CD, because my first one failed me. I learned playing the guitar by playing along to this album and I can still play every song on it by heart (in fact, I have played through the entire album today) and it contains some of Dream Theater's absolute best. While I don't think this is Dream Theater's best (or the best concept album ever, for that matter), the album is genuinely fantastic. And that's it.
Favourite song: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On
Other songs worth checking out: Scene Six: Home, Scene Two: Overture 1928, Scene Nine: Finally Free
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And since we just passed the halfway marker, here's the list so far, for anyone who missed stuff or doesn't bother going back:
50. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (1967)
49. The Dear Hunter - Act I: The Lake South, The River North (2006)
48. The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
47. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor (2005)
46. Oceansize - Effloresce (2003)
45. Boudewijn de Groot - Voor de Overlevenden (1966)
44. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing..... (1996)
43. Savatage - Gutter Ballet (1989)
42. Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)
41. Symphony X - Paradise Lost (2007)
40. Enochian Theory - Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilo (2009)
39. Spock's Beard - The Light (1995)
38. Shadow Gallery - Tyranny (1998)
37. Rush - A Farewell to Kings (1977)
36. Pink Floyd - Meddle (1971)
35. maudlin of the Well - Leaving Your Body Map (2001)
34. Ørkenkjøtt - Ønskediktet (2012)
33. Ben Folds Five - Whatever And Ever Amen (1997)
32. Darkwater - Calling the Earth to Witness (2007)
31. Spock's Beard - V (2000)
30. Mastodon - Blood Mountain (2006)
29. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
28. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)
27. Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
26. Fair to Midland - Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True (2007)
25. Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris (2000)
24. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999)
Topic: Elite's top 50 albums! v2: The Big Finish (Top 3!) (Read 24775 times)
