Lonestar's Top 50 Album Thread v 2.0 - #1!!!!!!!!!!

[TAC]

Did I? Could've sworn you found them independently, them being Canadian and all.

Definitely didn't find them on my own - it was either you or Doc.  And it was Pride/this album specifically... which is why I'm certain it was you.

Wow, it's a mystery.

[lonestar]

Did I? Could've sworn you found them independently, them being Canadian and all.

Definitely didn't find them on my own - it was either you or Doc.  And it was Pride/this album specifically... which is why I'm certain it was you.

Had to be the LO review that did it.

[Evermind]

Chad introduced this one to me I think, fantastic album. Dear Someone is in particular very touching. I haven't listened to this record for probably half a year, I'll spin it tomorrow on my commute.

[Podaar]

@ Gregg... there's definitely some rocking in their inventory.  This album is a little more mellow than others, but if these songs aren't your thing, there's not gonna be a ton to their inventory that will tickle you.

I maybe didn't communicate my thoughts well. I like this, a lot. It was just that the two samples provided had very little in the way of rocking moments. I wondered if that were true of their entire repertoire.

[jingle.boy]

@ Gregg... there's definitely some rocking in their inventory.  This album is a little more mellow than others, but if these songs aren't your thing, there's not gonna be a ton to their inventory that will tickle you.

I maybe didn't communicate my thoughts well. I like this, a lot. It was just that the two samples provided had very little in the way of rocking moments. I wondered if that were true of their entire repertoire.

I wouldn't say so. Check out their latest live release - Caught in The Whirwind of Time, and that'll give you a good sense of their overall sound/style.

[lonestar]

#25- Between the Buried and Me- Automata I&II (2018)



I initially started to dive into BtBaM when I got tix to the Summer Slaughter tour, mainly to finally catch Allegaeon live. BtBaM was the headliner, and Automata II had just come out, so I dug in. I had spun Coma Ecliptic and Colors before, and enjoyed them immensely, but the band never fully dug their claws into me until this album. The Proverbial Bellow was outstanding, and got me all tingly for the show to come...but then that third song hit, and holy shit I was really not prepared for what would eventually be my song of the year, Voice of Trespass. This jazzy technical death metal whatever the fuck it was song was like nothing I'd ever heard before, and I burned this track to the ground. Blake Richardson gives one of the best drum performances ever on this thing, just jaw dropping. While Voice of Trespass was a standout, both albums had outstanding tracks to deliver, and the eventual show (ironically, I missed Allegaeon cause I got stuck at work boo) was a god tier performance.

Favorite Tracks- Condemned to the Gallows, Blot, The Proverbial Bellow, Voice of Trespass

Voice of Trespass- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja0EWloqsKo

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I was starting to wonder if we'd see BtBaM in your top 50. Voice of Trespass is a god-tier song.

Have you listened to Colors II yet? Amazing album!

[twosuitsluke]

I wouldn't say I LOVE Automata, but it's pretty damn good. Thos was the first new release for me once I became a fan of the band. You're both right about Voice of Trespass though! It's the best Diablo Swing Orchestra song BTBAM have ever written.

+1 for Colors II being amazing, might have to revisit, it's been a few months.

[lonestar]

I spun Colors II a few times when it came out, and definitely enjoyed it, but it probably got lost in the massive amount of J-metal I was being inundated with at that time. Definitely need to revisit it.

[Podaar]

Wow, the turn it took at about 3:45 or so was super cool!

[lonestar]

Wow, the turn it took at about 3:45 or so was super cool!

Right? Such a tremendous song.

[King Postwhore]

RJ, I almost saw them this year.  Small club but had to do a favor for my brother that night and didn't go.

[jingle.boy]

RJ, I almost saw them this year.  Small club but had to do a favor for my brother that night and didn't go.

Dump a body?

[King Postwhore]

RJ, I almost saw them this year.  Small club but had to do a favor for my brother that night and didn't go.

Dump a body?

Babysit my nephew.  LOL  Lisa was working that night too.

[lonestar]

Too bad, they put on one hell of a show

[King Postwhore]

Small club 20 minutes away from my house too.

[lonestar]

#24- Thoughts Factory- Lost (2014)

https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d00001e029588b455abd05c0749a12d1c


This gem out of Germany I randomly came across  in another blind search. There's nothing like clicking link after link for an hour or so, then hitting absolute gold. Stylistically this is your standard Euro-prog metal fair, well executed with a tremendous vocalist in Marcus Becker. A concept album, cause why not, centered around a friend's suicide, so not the happiest of works, but tactfully handled. While it's been a while since I spun this, a recent listen shows it still holds up, even if my taste are fading away from this fare. This album's impact and hold on me during that time earned it this spot, and for anyone who digs the straight up prog metal stuff, this is definitely worth a listen.

Favorite Tracks- Awakening, Voices from Heaven, No Way Out

No Way Out- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oFLjtfAmiE&ab_channel=thoughtsfactoryofficial

Voices from Heaven- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYlCX4sQI44&ab_channel=ThoughtsFactory-Topic

[TAC]

Fucking GREAT album and still on rotation. 

[lonestar]

I remember you getting harder than anyone over this one. 



May not be able to update the next two days, got a few huge holiday events at work, just FYI kids.




Also, looking at the list going forward, it's just fucking all killer, no filler. 23 straight up desert island albums for sure.

[TAC]

I remember you getting harder than anyone over this one. 

Yeah, it's just awesome all the way around. I think if I did some sort of post Top 50 albums list like this, it'd also be on it.

[lonestar]

#23- Pyramid Theorem- Pyramid Theorem (2012)





I think I found out about Canadian band Pyramid Theorem the same way most other DTFers did, via Johnny Thermos' endless pimping of them when this album came out. Fortunately it wasn't for naught, as this album kicks so much ass beginning to end. But even that isn't the total reason why this one made my list...their is one guitar solo on this one that has been my phone ringtone since the album came out, probably making it my most listened to piece of music in my life. The band is a guitar driven prog metal debut, where they haven't really settled into a style and are most just going off on how fucking good they are. Guitarist Sam Ermalini is an absolute monster, probably one of the best young guitarists I've come across since joining DTF, and he flexes his stuff beginning to end. Fortunately, his fellow musicians are more than up to the task of keeping pace, giving us five songs of varying length and style that merge to deliver an absolute monster of an album.

Favorite Tracks- Another Day Slips By, Primitive Design, The Dream

Another Day Slips By (contains my phone ringtone at @4:40)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM&ab_channel=PyramidTheorem

[TAC]

GREAT album. Still gets regular listens. I think they've released a couple of things since, but nothing else has really stuck.

[lonestar]

Yeah, they seemed to zero in on a different, more generalized rock style. Quality tunes, but doesn't even touch their debut.

[jingle.boy]

Two absolute gems there. It’s been a year or two since I spun Lost. Probably a little longer with Pyramid Theorem. I can rectify that tomorrow … got some driving to do, heading into the city for work.

[lonestar]

Two absolute gems there. It’s been a year or two since I spun Lost. Probably a little longer with Pyramid Theorem. I can rectify that tomorrow … got some driving to do, heading into the city for work.

The next offering is just as strong in your book. In fact, looking at the rest of the list, and only 3 more albums would register as equals in your eyes to these three.

[lonestar]

No update today kids... I'm fucking gassed after a 13 hour day. Gonna eat some ice cream and crash.

[TAC]

What is your ice cream of choice?

[lonestar]

What is your ice cream of choice?

I could literally do a top 50 ice cream flavors. Tonight was mint chip, but only cause I didn't want to go to whole foods and get Jeni's. Their stuff is the best ice cream, and it's not even close. Their best flavor is Buttermilk with Peach jam and biscuits. Unfuckingbelievable

[TAC]

Jeni's must be local there?

You mention the Peach jam which sounds awesome. When I was a teenager, I used to go to this place in Rhode Island that had Cantaloup flavored ice cream and it was amazing.

Me? I'm a chocolate chip cookie dough guy.

[lonestar]

Jeni's must be local there?

You mention the Peach jam which sounds awesome. When I was a teenager, I used to go to this place in Rhode Island that had Cantaloup flavored ice cream and it was amazing.

Me? I'm a chocolate chip cookie dough guy.

Jeni's is out of Ohio I think, it's sold at whole foods and other specialty markets.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Jeni's must be local there?

You mention the Peach jam which sounds awesome. When I was a teenager, I used to go to this place in Rhode Island that had Cantaloup flavored ice cream and it was amazing.

Me? I'm a chocolate chip cookie dough guy.

Jeni's is out of Ohio I think, it's sold at whole foods and other specialty markets.

I'm going to have to remember that next time I'm at Whole Foods.

[nick_z]

So, I'm several pages late, but Lonestar's posting of Lalu's Paint The Sky album reminded me I hadn't checked it out yet. I had it on my "list" as I had read great things about it when it came out. Then I forgot. Then I LOVED the A-Z record, where a couple of members play (including the man himself) and I thought - ah, I need to check it out. Then I forgot again 

Finally (thanks Lonestar!) I've gotten around to doing it. Well, there is a lot to digest, so there will be more listens but, man, this is wonderful! Such tasteful playing all over and, importantly, fantastic melodies! And the drumming! I had no idea who Jelly Cardarelli was, but he sounds amazing.

I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Damian Wilson, but his vocal melodies are very good here. To the anti-Wilson people here, I'd say - don't sleep on this! 

[lonestar]

Nice, it's definitely a solid album, and Damien really fits into that 'love letter to Yes' feel of the album that Lalu was trying to put forward.

[King Postwhore]

#23- Pyramid Theorem- Pyramid Theorem (2012)





I think I found out about Canadian band Pyramid Theorem the same way most other DTFers did, via Johnny Thermos' endless pimping of them when this album came out. Fortunately it wasn't for naught, as this album kicks so much ass beginning to end. But even that isn't the total reason why this one made my list...their is one guitar solo on this one that has been my phone ringtone since the album came out, probably making it my most listened to piece of music in my life. The band is a guitar driven prog metal debut, where they haven't really settled into a style and are most just going off on how fucking good they are. Guitarist Sam Ermalini is an absolute monster, probably one of the best young guitarists I've come across since joining DTF, and he flexes his stuff beginning to end. Fortunately, his fellow musicians are more than up to the task of keeping pace, giving us five songs of varying length and style that merge to deliver an absolute monster of an album.

Favorite Tracks- Another Day Slips By, Primitive Design, The Dream

Another Day Slips By (contains my phone ringtone at @4:40)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHHRm0wKoM&ab_channel=PyramidTheorem

Man, I haven't listened to this in a while.  I will correct this. 

[lonestar]

#22- Frost*- Milliontown (2006)





This one I kept seeing talked about here, and eventually dove in. The first instrumental hooks me off right out of the gates, fantastic track. The middle four songs are solid, definitely living up to the hype of the album. Then I get to the title track, the 26 minute masterpiece Milliontown. This will always be a top ten epic for me, and probably tied for strongest 20+ minute track on this list. I'm always amazed how a band can not only avoid getting boring in such a long track, but quite the opposite. Especially here, they just throw killer hook after killer hook at you, ramping up the intensity from beginning to end. This is one I love to crank to 11 in the car and just fucking rock out. Great track to finish a great album.

Favorite Tracks- Hyperventilate, Black Light Machine, Milliontown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMjPmN0rbo