Since this topic is about the SOUND of the albums I must reply in it! Great thread!!!
I will have to think about what album(s) sounds the best for me and for what reasons. But I will say this for now: It took me a while to appreciate the sound on Black Clouds & Silver Linings. At first, I really didn't like to «Big Sound» production. But for years now, I keep returning to this one, first because of the songs BUT also because I really like the sound of it. I also really like the bonus tracks of the special 3CD's edition (Odyssey, Take Your Fingers From My Hair..............and of course the instrumentals).
Since the thread started with Train Of Tought, I will say that I really like the heaviness of it and the songs of course. Distance Over Time feels to me like a kind of TOT Part 2 because of the heaviness. The sound of TOT is weird I think. I do appreciate the mixing by Kevin Shirley but I feel it could have been better. I believe that if this album would've had the same kind of mix as Scenes From A Memory and 6 Degrees, it would have been even better.
Great thread!!!
Tx