RESULTS!! - Ultimate PA Album List 2016

20. Van der Graaf Generator – Godbluff

            1298 pts            12 votes                                                ▼ 5

                                    (#10 addictedtoprog)

“Instead of taking off from the exuberant psychedelic forest created by 'Pawn Hearts', the foursome decided to get rid of the paraphernalia… in order to approach the new complex compositions and arrangements in a tighter manner. Even Hammill's singing feels more focused on portraying the contemplative nature of his lyrics… the band was playing at its most cohesive and had reached a perfect level of sonic violence to match the passionate lyrical imagery” – Cesar Inca

19. Genesis – Nursery Cryme

            1321 pts            12 votes                                                ▲ 9

                                    (#8 addictedtoprog)

“This is the album where they begin to find their voice and despite poor production produce many moments of brilliance. Genesis are now able to shed their somewhat meek, muted approach and confidently forge their own sound because Collins and Hackett have the wherewithal to execute it… Even as the band explores diverse styles, the overall sound is unified and cohesive and conveys the feeling of listening to an album rather than a collection of tracks… a rocksolid effort that marks the beginning of a wonderful streak of great prog albums “ - rogerthat

18. Van der Graaf Generator – Pawn Hearts

            1332 pts            13 votes                                                ▼ 5

                                    (#1 addictedtoprog/infernalfrog)

“ the album represents truly avant garde, demanding, and occasionally difficult, yet highly gratifying listening. PAWN HEARTS displays a maturity and ease of execution which seems to reach its rarefied heights of artistry without trying as overtly hard to be "clever" as H TO HE did, and thereby succeeds all the more resoundingly. Yet, while there is ample power and beauty to be found here, we are made to pay for our pleasure with occasional "pain" in the form of some decidedly jarring passages… the product of a trail-blazing progressive rock band in top form.” - Peter

17. King Crimson - Discipline

            1406 pts            14 votes                                                ▲ 20

                                    (#2 Lewian, #5 addictedtoprog, #10 tamijo)

“…’controlled chaos’, disciplined, demanding, highly intricate playing by multi-instrumentalists in polyrhythmic forms. Four geniuses, each leaders, innovators and virtuosi at their respective instruments, collaborating (right, Robert?) to create music that this avid music listener had never heard (in that way) before. Forget the stale experimental splurge that came out of King Crimson's earlier incarnation in the 60s and early 70s, this is the music for which KC should be remembered as their ‘peak’.” – BrufordFreak (#94)

16. Yes – The Yes Album

            1464 pts            12 votes                                                ▲ 3

                                    (#7 emigre80)

“By this point Yes had completely abandoned the jazz and psychedelic influence of their debut and were now into progressive territory. The album is unique, though, in that it retains a mix of rock, blues and folk they wouldn't touch on again later in their career. The result is a special transitional sort of album that captures Yes in a special incubation period and it sounds quite fantastic… Honestly, as much as I love Yes's other albums, I would be completely happy if this Yes line-up had released a couple more albums like this one and then just called it quits.” – Magnum Vaeltaja (#15)

15. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV

            1555 pts            13 votes                                                ▲ 7

                                    (#1 sublime220, #4 rushfan4, #5 Polymorphia, #9 floflo79)

“There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed, with a word she can get what she came for, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven. There’s a sign on the wall, but she wants to be sure, ‘cause you know, sometimes words have two meanings. In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings, sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven… and it makes me wonder…” – Robert Plant

14. Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

            1631 pts            12 votes                                                ▲ 3

                                    (#1 BrufordFreak, #3 ten years after, #7 Formentera Lady)

“In my years as an audiophile, I have been in constant search for 'the perfect album'… The Lamb, IMHO, has not one but two "perfect" sides (Sides 3 & 4). Nothing else comes close in terms of seamless quality, story, engaging mood, musicianship, experimentalism, and sheer consistency. Lyrically, Gabe achieves some of the most poetic phrasings and vocal deliveries ever on record... Every time I leave this album, with this song, I am energized, ready to jetté through my day… for me, the single greatest prog album of all-time.” – BrufordFreak (#1)

13. Genesis - Foxtrot

            1749 pts            14 votes                                                ▼ 1

                                    (#4 Formentera Lady/sleeper, #7 justin4950834-2)

“easily the band's apex of composition, before they slowly began to decline into the pop-dominated 1980s. The album contains an incredible tracklist; each of the six tracks being true wonders of classic progressive composition… The band has wonderful experience in classical composition, with masterful proficiency in counterpoint, harmony, and melody, as well as fantastic experience in the dynamics of a rock song, and a superb ability to mix the two. And Supper's Ready.” – Andy Webb

12. Yes - Relayer

            1812 pts            15 votes                                                ▼ 3

                                    (#2 emigre80, #4 addictedtoprog, #8 Dean)

“Like a classic painting placed underneath blacklight, Yes took their masterpiece formula and put a frightening, alien and penetrating spin on it… It's undeniably more uneven and rough than [Close to the Edge], but that's part of what makes it so damned good; this is Yes at their most uncompromisingly creative… Yes' sound is usually padded with symphonic warmth, but here, the instrumentation is cutting and sharp… but it’s that experimental choppy nature that keeps me engaged… it continues to challenge and provoke me as a listener.” – Conor Fynes

11. King Crimson - Red

            1848 pts            16 votes                                                ▼ 1

                                    (#1 Formentera Lady)