Your Top Albums of 2013 (so far)

Warthur wrote: I liked The Raven That Refused to Sing, but as far as avian prog goes the new Birds and Buildings album is a strong candidate for my end-of-year list.

One of my faves this year:

richardh wrote: ^ Hi Nicholas, that was Three Monks and it was released 2010. Great album though. Do you mean this one? http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=43215

Richard! Hey. Yes I made a classic blunder with a very bad type-O if ya will. Meant to say THREE MONKS, so it is the same album you are talking about. Also, you are absolutely right! The year is 2010 for this album...guess I was trying to get greedy adding it my growing list of wonderful 2013 performances. Thank you for the corection my friend. It has now been documented into the mess I call my brain. Lol.

Oh and glad to hear you are enjoying the album. The Monks turn the classic Goblin song Profondo Rosso into an even more gothic, moody feel. What a lovely album all together, but I wanna give it a few more spins...many more spins actually. Highly enjoyable. :)

Guldbamsen wrote: Just realised that Comedy of Errors album is listed as the 71 best prog album of all time I've heard this one twice, and while it's definitely not my cup of tea (dad prog at it's most tiresome), it still boggles the mind how it's now rated above classics like Rubycon, Felona e Sorona, Space Shanty, L'Isola di Niente and Misplaced Childhood.

Hell, you know very well that rating on a scale from 1-5 is total
¤%&#¤¤&%&%/&, will never be the way to make a list of the top 100 albums.

Rating a brand new album :
A MASTERPIECE OF PROG ROCK, is like walking into an art school claiming you have found the next Picasso.

But for some reason it happens all the time.



Edited by tamijo - October 30 2013 at 11:09

tamijo wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: Just realised that Comedy of Errors album is listed as the 71 best prog album of all time I've heard this one twice, and while it's definitely not my cup of tea (dad prog at it's most tiresome), it still boggles the mind how it's now rated above classics like Rubycon, Felona e Sorona, Space Shanty, L'Isola di Niente and Misplaced Childhood.  Hell, you know very well that rating on a scale from 1-5 is total ¤%&#¤¤&%&%/&, will never be the way to make a list of the top 100 albums. Rating a brand new album : A MASTERPIECE OF PROG ROCK, is like walking into an art school claiming you have found the next Picasso. But for some reason it happens all the time.

Guldbamsen wrote: One of my faves this year: While it's only an EP. it's still the return of Jaki Liebezeit and Irmin Schmidt

Awesome album cover in the style of my favourite Abstract expressionism painter, Nicolas de Stael.

Guldbamsen wrote: tamijo wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: Just realised that Comedy of Errors album is listed as the 71 best prog album of all time I've heard this one twice, and while it's definitely not my cup of tea (dad prog at it's most tiresome), it still boggles the mind how it's now rated above classics like Rubycon, Felona e Sorona, Space Shanty, L'Isola di Niente and Misplaced Childhood.  Hell, you know very well that rating on a scale from 1-5 is total ¤%&#¤¤&%&%/&, will never be the way to make a list of the top 100 albums. Rating a brand new album : A MASTERPIECE OF PROG ROCK, is like walking into an art school claiming you have found the next Picasso. But for some reason it happens all the time. I know, I know - trust me, we go through this a couple of times a year, so I should probably know better by now. There are, however, things that rub me the wrong way - and even if I can't do squat about it, I'll still voice my opinion. Here it's to do with a seemingly prog-by-the-numbers album (my opinion of course) sky-rocketing our chart It could also be about the lack of chicks on PA hoho...

Do you think girls in general would be more decisive in reviewing and rating their albums?
Man....I don't know.

I don't we should get too hung up about ratings although I have gone in and changed at least 3 of my reviews/ratings later but in all cases I have upgraded not downgraded. I will never feel guilty about overrating an album but it does bother me when after sticking a 2 star rating I then find myself enjoying the album much more over time. A lot of albums are overrated on this site imo. Its interesting that only about 60 albums have ever got more than 1000 reviews which also is very significant. The pool of reviewers and thereby reviews just isn't big enough.

progbethyname wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: progbethyname wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: Just realised that Comedy of Errors album is listed as the 71 best prog album of all time I've heard this one twice, and while it's definitely not my cup of tea (dad prog at it's most tiresome), it still boggles the mind how it's now rated above classics like Rubycon, Felona e Sorona, Space Shanty, L'Isola di Niente and Misplaced Childhood.  I actually really enjoyed the album. Felt it was a very nice, strong blend of retro and modern Neo Prog sounds. I have to say, that the COE album F&F grows on you like a crazy SOB. this was my experience for i did not enjoy it very much my first couple of spins, but I knew right off the bat their was still something special about it though. The first 3 tracks are exceptional on the album. Really set the tone. Also love the Motet They did. That 'Church sound' has always agreed with me. Pretty epic. :) Anyway, the album doesn't hold any water against Rubycon!!! 2 different leagues man! You are right. That's not right I think. I think you and I have very different tastes Nick - even if we adore some of the same stuff Don't get me wrong, I'm rather chuffed that the current wave is getting so much love - I just wish it was the stuff that I was into Nah, I'm quite alright with being part of a minority of minorities.  The last part of your post is something I completely agree with you on Yes. Yes we do buddy and that to me is a very good thing. We do have our basis for understanding what some truly incredible Prog delights out there. ;) I appreciate the difference with in the core of our music tastes because pooling our resources together leads to some great discoveries sound wise for us. The difference engine is up and running in the form of a BIG BIG train.

I would like to join the brief discussion regarding the ratings system and, specifically, I would like to address progbethyname's comment regarding people who rate a brand new album "A MASTERPIECE OF PROG ROCK." I, myself, am one of those who are apparently gifted enough to recognize a new masterpiece upon first listen. I have to admit:  I have always had this gift. I can distinctly remember the first time I heard virtually every album I've ever heard and remember the psychoemotional effect that album and its songs had on me. I remember that first hearing of Brazil '66, the first hearing of Sgt. Pepper's, Magical Mystery Tour, Abbey Road, Days of Future Passed, Demons & WIzards, Band on the Run, Dark Side of the Moon, Houses of the Holy, Fragile, Relayer, Trick of the Tail, Moving Waves, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Remember the  Future, Dreamboat Annie, Crisis? What Crisis? Novella, Interview, etc., etc., etc. As a matter of fact, I have VERY vivid memories of all of these SIGNIFICANT events in my life--it's as if I am there again as I think upon them again. But time has not jaded my love for music nor the effect it has on me--even though I have explored different genres of music (Jazz, Classical, New Age, World, Americana, Folk, Soul/R & B, et al.) Thus, I STILL have encounters with new music that blow me away; believe it or not, there is still  music being made today, 50 years after the electric guitar became the accepted standard bearer of rock music, that is fresh, innovative, beautiful, evocative, shocking, astounding, sublime, meaningful, and praise-worthy. Neither music nor 'prog rock' are dead, in my humble opinion. The esteem and opinions I form over music seldom change but my appreciation and understanding can always deepen. I LOVE music. I cannot explain it but I LOVE music! And I feel deeply honored that the creative souls on the planet at this time have found a way to get their courageous expression to my ears and am not afraid to commend them for their courage, skill, talent, and creativity.