Collaborators' Top Albums of 2014
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Top 10s and lists
Forum Description: List all your favourites here
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=101166
Printed Date: February 23 2025 at 02:04
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Collaborators' Top Albums of 2014
Posted By: Andy Webb
Subject: Collaborators' Top Albums of 2014
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 02:28
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Welcome
to the 10th annual ProgArchives Collaborator’s Album of the Year contest! At the end of each year, we the
collaborators of ProgArchives, including Admins, Special Collaborators,
Collaborators, Prog Reviewers, and VIP Members, gather to discuss and exchange
the best music of the year. Each collaborator is allowed to vote for his or her
top ten albums, and I again had the honor to collate these votes. Each year, the collaborators of ProgArchives are presented
with a simply daunting task – to take a hard look at all the music that was
listened to over the past year and select the absolute best out of the bunch.
The year 2014 proved to be an especially daunting task, as a significant number
of 70s favorites, 90s prog revival favorites, and new impressive faces released
absolutely wondrous albums. The progressive rock scene is clearly alive and
well, as so many bands released simply stunning albums. Whether it was a bands
2nd or 22nd album, there was quality across the board.
This year, 74 voters selected 253 different albums as their favorites from the
year. Each year, I am simply shocked by the amount of quality
music our collaborators are able to listen to, and 2014 proved no different! Many voters brought albums that sadly they were the
only voter for, but it shows just how far our collaborators look for high
quality progressive rock. This list, I feel, is an excellent source for anyone
who wants to jump into the more obscure field of progressive rock. While of
course every album could not have been evaluated by every voter, this provides
an excellent snapshot of our site’s taste. Now, without further ado, The ProgArchives Collaborators’ Top Albums of
2014 1. Opeth – Pale
Communion Mikael Åkerfledt, the lead man in Opeth, is without
a doubt a member of modern progressive rock royalty. Opeth has been running for
just about 20 years now, and he and his crew continually pump out stellar
progressive music. With the band’s 2011 album, Heritage, the band moved away from their roots as a progressive
death metal band and more towards a vintage heavy progressive rock band, and
with Pale Communion there is no doubt
the band has perfected that form. The album is diverse, mature, and just a joy
to listen to. There’s no surprise Opeth has scored the top spot this year. “The
use of death vocals seems to be a thing of the past for Opeth. I always
appreciated the clean vocals from Mikael Akerfeldt; it gives a better view of
how he can be a good singer… Again the band is showing the soft side of their
music…While this release could be perceive as homage to the old progressive
rock bands…it keeps the band’s own style. …I am more confident that it's the
right direction to go.” –rdtprog, Special Collaborator Statistics: ·
Genre: Tech/Extreme Prog Metal ·
Country: Sweden ·
504 ratings, 4.25 stars ·
Appears on 28% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 2 ·
http://www.opeth.com/home/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/roadrunner-usa/eternal-rains-will-come" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“Eternal Rains Will Come”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/0DLImjuzdrOBQKtYLlf3C5" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 2. IQ – The
Road of Bones The first of our classic
prog favorites returning with a simply stellar release, IQ made their fame in
the 1980s neo-prog revival. Accentuated by the fact that the band lay mostly dormant through the 90s
and then began to produce more albums in the 2000s, IQ is known for taking
their time to write and produce albums. When they do release an album, however,
it rarely is anything less than amazing. 2014 is no different, as The Road of Bones is the band’s first
release since their blockbuster 2009 studio release Frequency. The crew of IQ still knows how to kill it, as this
double-disc masterpiece clearly shows. “IQ,
that venerable outfit of 1980's vintage, release this, their 11th studio
offering, and, I will say straight away, [they] are sounding as strong, if not
stronger, than ever. This sumptuously produced… and gorgeously performed work
just about takes us through the entire range of emotions, with passages which
are achingly beautiful, and a rock experience which takes us from the hard and
crashing opening … to the quite gorgeous acoustic interplay on guitar, piano,
and vocals at the denouement of closer… It is simply a magnificent experience
to listen to.” –lazland, Prog Reviewer Statistics: ·
Genre: Neo-Prog ·
Country: United Kingdom ·
635 ratings, 4.35 stars ·
Appears on 31% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 7 ·
http://www.iq-hq.co.uk/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKVARLRvls" rel="nofollow - YouTube
Sample (“From The Outside In”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/1PYqCcs2mbVLFWAGokhVxU" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 3. Seven Impale – City of the Sun I admit, I had never heard
of this small Norwegian prog band before I started collecting votes for this
very list. Upon noticing the number of people voting for it, I had to check it
out myself – and oh boy was I happy I did. This is the first full length album
released by the band, and even from such a young band, the maturity of sound is
absolutely stunning. The band has a sound unique to themselves, and they use it
to its fullest capacity. This album is a ferocious showing of the power prog
can have and it’s no surprise this young band stole the number 3 spot on this
year’s poll. “A
breath of fresh air and total shock. There is still life on planet earth.
And there is still great music made by mere mortals but which can awaken
emotions. This is the case with this young sextet from Norway that confirms
that the Scandinavian scene is constantly on the up and dominating the
progressive music of the new century. What makes this album different from
other very good ones is the combination of musical prowess and the apparent
appetite to create something new, fresh, [and] dynamic…This is the best album
of 2014.” – aapatsos, Special Collaborator Statistics: ·
Genre: Eclectic Prog ·
Country: Norway ·
109 ratings, 4.08 stars ·
Appears on 28% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 4 ·
https://www.facebook.com/sevenimpale/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records/seven-impale-oh-my-gravity" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“Oh My Gravity”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/4MLUcbBgcdpK4yKRnkemja" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 4. Swans – To Be Kind Swans may not be the band
that everyone would expect to fit right in with bands like IQ or Pink Floyd, but they are
without a doubt of the most exciting and impressive band to be release
progressive rock music as of late. Following their absolutely stunning opus The Seer of 2012, Swans’ latest release
proves that Michael Gira and co. are simply not content with producing the
norm. The groundbreaking experimental album is a treat to those with a penchant
for the genre and is highly deserving of being here on this list. “Something
spectacular has happened with Swans… Those 14 years of retirement seem to have
unleashed an uncontrollable monster… I can't think of another band who
have continually bettered themselves in such a dramatic and important way after
such a long periods of inactivity…Swans have had a career in reverse. All
plaudits and recognition coming after 30 years of toil and hardship. The best
has clearly been saved to last. Out of their entire discography this is the
best Swans album I've heard.” –Dobermensch, Forum Newbie ·
Genre: Post/Math Rock ·
Country: United States ·
107 ratings, 3.81 stars ·
Appears on 18% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 7 ·
http://swans.pair.com/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/muterecords/swans-screen-shot-1" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“Screen Shot”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/0QWLvgrYwVMUVOHq3vvq9z" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 5. Logos – L’enigma Della Vita Logos, an RPI band formed in
the mid-1990s, weren't exactly anyone’s favorite back when they released their
two albums in 1999 and 2001. The albums, Logos
and Ásrava, are respected enough, but
they are both currently sitting at around 3.5 stars here on PA. When they came
out with their newest album 13 years after the release of their last, the band
clearly took their time to produce the absolute best album they possibly could.
L’enigma Della Vita encapsulates what
is special about RPI and presents it with a modern lens. This album is an
excellent welcome back for the band, and they rightfully deserve their place in
the top 10. “Logos'
'L'Enigma della Vita' is one for the ages, a scintillating example of modern
RPI, caramelized with grandiose symphonic elements, a touch of
space/psychedelia, massive hues of shadow and light, as well as all the
characteristics that make RPI such a devout prog institution. Nearly 14 years
in the making, the patience, the dedication and the savoir-faire are all there
in vivid sound and art, with a picture perfect cover, sublime photography and
general artwork… This is a massive opus, a thrilling classic and destined to
place itself on the RPI mantel, alongside the other great role models from the
land of the Azzuri. Italy rules again, proggers!” –tszirmay, Special
Collaborator ·
Genre: Rock Progressivo Italiano ·
Country: Italy ·
177 ratings, 4.20 stars ·
Appears on 16% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 4 ·
http://www.logosprog.it/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/logosprog/in-principio" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“In Pricipio”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/4tPuH2J8xL4JU91QFTWDUJ" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 6. Motorpsycho – Behind the Sun Motorpsycho are perhaps the
most consistently active band present here on the list – they’ve been steadily
releasing studio albums since 1991 – and it seems with their past few releases,
the band has truly been maturing into their sound. Their last two albums – 2012’s
The Death Defying Unicorn and 2013’s Still Life Eggplant – scored 5th
and 11th on this list in their years, respectively, showing just how
well-respected they’ve become around here. 2014 brought yet another incredibly
mature album, and Behind the Sun,
this list’s second sunny offering, shows that they have mastered their sound in
the most delightful way. “This
album is not what I was expecting in the slightest… For me, this album
transcends genre tendencies, which is huge. This album is stylistically
variable, but has a strong seventies, jam band feel… every once in a while,
something is really good and grabs my attention…this is a fantastic album,
amazing musicianship, varied styles and despite that, a coherent feel
throughout the album. This is probably my favorite discovery of the year” –Roland113,
Collaborator Statistics: ·
Genre: Eclectic Prog ·
Country: Norway ·
168 ratings, 3.98 stars ·
Appears on 19% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 3 ·
http://motorpsycho.no/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/rune-grammofon/motorpsycho-cloudwalker-a" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“Cloudwalker”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/6fBe8ufhercLuaJzqAyJNh" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 7. Pink Floyd – The Endless River When news leaked a new Pink
Floyd album was dropping in 2014, I could have sworn the prog rock community
was going to implode based on all the hype. While this was only part of the
band as Waters is not present, it is still very much Pink Floyd and is a
fitting spiritual successor to The
Division Bell, the last Floyd album released 20 years prior. The album is a
tribute to the demos left behind by deceased legendary keyboardist Richard
Wright. While the album may not be the next Dark
Side of the Moon or Wish You Were
Here, a Floyd album half the quality of those legends is still an
absolutely gorgeous and remarkable release, as The Endless River certainly is. “The
missing album. What a breath-taking Pink Floyd album! In fact, I've been
waiting for that album all the time. It's true example of the missing link in
Pink Floyd's creativity. The mighty Englishmen's electronic and instrumental
reputation is highly renowned, but intended or not, they have not produced this
kind of album so far… the time for [a] final goodbye has come.” –poslednijat_colobar,
Prog Reviewer Statistics: ·
Genre: Psychedelic/Space Rock ·
Country: United Kingdom ·
324 ratings, 3.57 stars ·
Appears on 24% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 4 ·
http://www.pinkfloyd.com/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/marwan-el-qalmoush/pink-floyd-louder-than-words" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“Louder than Words”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/0yU7VItpGPmPcvKmwLg0JT" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 8. Kayo Dot – Coffins on Io Toby Driver, the mind behind
Kayo Dot, is a simply beloved figure in the avant prog scene. Anything his
immensely creative hand touches, the prog community swarms around. He’s been
active the past few years, with three albums in the past three years, and the
past three have simply been fantastic. Coffins
on Io is a new direction for Driver and co., as most of his albums prove to
be, and as everyone expected, Driver seems to master whatever style he wishes
to try his hand at. Coffins on Io is
a venture into a new planetary system, and Driver as pilot makes for an
excellent ride. “Kayo
Dot is one of those bands known for changing their tune with every album, but
arguably never more so than with Coffins on Io. …”a good record to put on while
you drive across the desert at night under a toxic, post-apocalyptic
atmosphere" is absurdly accurate… Much has also been made of it being
probably the most accessible Kayo Dot album, with the emphasis being placed
squarely on Driver's greatly melodic and clean vocals… A fantastic and atmospheric…album.”
–Kazza3, Forum Senior Member Statistics: ·
Genre: RIO/Avant Prog ·
Country: United States ·
44 ratings, 3.68 stars ·
Appears on 16% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 2 ·
http://www.kayodot.net/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/flenserrecords/kayo-dot-library-subterranean" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“Library Subterranean”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/6QqK01lacjpsHZKiqFF0O8" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 9. Dream the Electric Sleep – Heretics One of the newer groups in
this top 10, Dream the Electric Sleep’s debut album only came out 3 years prior
in 2009. The band really hit the prog scene’s radar this year, however, with
their simply stellar album Heretics.
DTES encapsulates all the phenomenal qualities of alternative prog rock and
synthesizes them into a powerful and dynamic album fit to sit amongst legends
such as Pink Floyd. The power trio thunderously preforms the album, and it’s
clear that performance made its way to the top of many of this year’s voters’
lists. “As
the pounding rhythm of Dream the Electric Sleep's new album 'Heretics' blasts
its way into your ear canals, you can tell that you are in for some inspired,
incredible music…. the band has crafted what will surely be seen as one of the
best of 2014, for sure…. Again and again this album floored me…. Excellent
songs join each other end to end, and the album pushes on breathlessly. We get
emotionally heavy songs, delicate nostalgic ballads, complex structures, and
experimental collaborations. I just love it. Dream the Electric Sleep's
'Heretics' is a must-hear for 2014. It's that simple.” –Second Life Syndrome,
Collaborator Statistics: ·
Genre: Crossover Prog ·
Country: United States ·
163 ratings, 3.83 stars ·
Appears on 16% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 3 ·
http://www.dreamtheelectricsleep.com/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/dreamtheelectricsleep/dream-the-electric-sleep-2" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“Utopic”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/0NPBaMaNBAxMNAFRZS3CHr" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream 10.
Knifeworld
– The Unravelling Anyone who is familiar with
the psychedelic and avant side of progressive rock band will most likely be
familiar with the remarkably prolific Kavus Torabi, whose solo project goes by
the name Knifeworld. Torabi is involved in hosts of projects and bands, ranging
from The Cardiacs to Guapo to Chrome Hoof. Torabi’s influences are about as far
reaching as they come, and this eclectic influence base is obvious in his
second full-length album. Motes of classic symphonic prog, avant prog, jazz
fusion, math rock, minimalism, and more can be found in this album. It seems
that there’s something for everyone on this album, which comes as no surprise
seeing as it scored so high this year. “It's
only halfway through the year so far but [The Unravelling] may well end up as
my album of the year for 2014. …This is the sort of clever complex psychedelic
pop that XTC and Mike Kenneally have specialized in. … You can turn this
all the way up and everything is really clear. While Kavus' guitar is very
prominent in everything, it's really the bassoon and vocals that give this
album a depth of sound that is pretty unique. There's song craft, complexity,
riffs, and hooks a plenty…. This is a masterpiece.” –Nogbad_the_bad,
Collaborator Statistics: ·
Genre: Crossover Prog ·
Country: United Kingdom ·
41 ratings, 3.68 stars ·
Appears on 18% of all lists ·
Number of #1 listings: 2 ·
http://www.knifeworld.co.uk/" rel="nofollow - Official
Website ·
https://soundcloud.com/officialinsideoutmusic/knifeworld-destroy-the-world-we-love" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud
Sample (“Destroy the World We Love”) ·
http://open.spotify.com/album/4oYZouptaiq0S74Lxwo6d4" rel="nofollow - Spotify
Stream Let the awards ceremony begin! A full list will be posted momentarily. ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">  
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Replies:
Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 02:37
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http://open.spotify.com/user/andy_w1/playlist/6vsbWybYBarXWY3BKcebcs" rel="nofollow - Full List of Albums as Voted by PA Collaborators
------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 02:40
Thanks Andy for the hard work Interesting list although Opeth or Steven Wilson will always win it seems
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Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 02:45
Every year they find a way.  And Steven Wilson helps mix the Opeth albums! ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">
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richardh wrote:Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 03:40
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Thanks and congratulations for the hard work Andy A great selection of music, showing that Prog is alive and well. ps (kindly fix the Floyd album image link)
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Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 04:35
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Thanks for this. As far as i've seen we're the only site that has Seven Impale in the top 10 so we still rule! |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 04:56
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Thank you, Andy! Btw, I'm so proud that I suggested PoiL for PA and THEY ARE SO HIGH ON THE PA' LIST! 
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 04:59
Thanks for another great piece of work. Apart from the PF album, I can see why all the others made it through to the top-10, which is a nice mix of well-known and not so well-known bands  |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 05:13
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Nice work Andy ------------- What? |
Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 05:27
Well done, Andy, as always.  ------------- Bigger on the inside. |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 05:43
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Nice work Andy, and for once there's a lot of music in the list that I'd actually enjoy! ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 05:59
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Great job, Andy! I am glad to see two of my own Top 10 albums in the list, and the excellent 12th placement reached by Ut Gret's Ancestor's Tale. Personally, I didn't care for Pale Communion, but am not surprised at seeing it (or the new Pink Floyd) in the list. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 06:22
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Heyyyy a couple of my picks made it in. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 06:29
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are Pavlov's Dog, Kaipa and PFM album any good? BTW, the last album of Yes was their worst, biggest disppointment of 2014. |
Posted By: Xonty
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 06:43
Great job!! Didn't know there was a new Pavlov's Dog record - let me at it!  Good to see bands like Swans, Silver Mt Zion and Transatlantic high up, but I wish iamthemorning was in the top 10... Even though the music's inferior to their debut, they've still got a very warming, kind of tangible sound (for me anyway).
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Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 07:14
| Yes! Now I can go add great music to my collection! Each year I check out and purchase the top 10 Collaborator albums. I had IQ, Opeth, and LogoS. Kudos to the Collaborators!!! |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 07:19
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Very nice work Andyman I would never have guessed that Opeth would end up as number one. At one point I thought it would either have been Kayo Dot or Seven Impale. They made it to the top 10 though. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 07:25
 Thanks Andy! I'll have to check the albums from the top 10 I don't know |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 07:28
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Great work as always, Andy! Here was my contribution to the 2014 Collab's AOTY list: 1. IQ - The Road of Bones (2) 2. Steven Rothery - The Ghosts of Pripyat (34) 3. Agusa - Högtid (50) 4. Dream the Electric Sheep - Heretics (9) 5. Atomic Ape - Swarm (32)6. Mostly Autumn - Dressed in Voices (22) 7. Tim Bowness - Abandoned Dancehall Dreams (76) 8. The Merlin Bird - Chapter and Verse (204) 9. Pink Floyd - The Endless River (7) 10. My Brother the Wind - Once There Was a Time When Time and Space Were One (173) Very interesting year, although I think last year's class was a bit better. Overall, a wide variety of different influences and compositional styles. On a side note, I would have voted the brilliant Steve Wilson remaster of Jethro Tull's A Passion Play as the best album of 2014 (because it was), but a remaster is not allowed within the rules. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 07:59
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Great work again, Andy ! Like Eöl, I make my contribution public here: 1. Deluge Grander - Heliotians (18) 2. FreddeGredde - Brighter Skies (85) 3. Druckfarben - Second Sound (110) 4. Abel Ganz - Abel Ganz (139) 5. Dean Watson - Fantasizer! (39) 6. Kayo Dot - Coffins on Io (8) 7. iamthemorning - Belighted (33) 8. LogoS - L'Enigma della Vita (5) 9. Daal - Dances of the Drastic Navels (41) X. Dream the Electric Sleep - Heretics (9) Three albums in the top 10, one album with no other votes. 2014 has been a great year for prog (six albums I would give a 5-star rating and three others coming close). ------------- 
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Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 08:09
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Nice job Andy, nice to see Knifeworld, Poil and Ut Gret so high up the list. ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 08:12
Very nice Silmarillion reference, SE. We are probably the only two that get it.  ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 08:23
Make that three ! The first time I saw your name, I immediately thought of that Tolkien character. |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 08:28
Three of us with literary pretensions! And perhaps a modicum of patience to endeavor to read at all. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 08:37
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great work again, Andy
Me neither. Not surprised IQ, Swans and Floyd made the final. I'm impressed to see how far up the list Happy Family and Mogwai are. ------------- Magma America Great Make Again |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 08:43
Not only the name, also the avatar. Eöl, a.a.a. The Dark Elf, is described as a smith with a slightly stooped way of walking. I don't claim to have literary pretensions, but I've been a Tolkien fan for almost 38 years. But I fully agree with the modicum of patience to endeavor to read at all, as you put it
: at first I gave up reading The Silmarillion at chapter 10, wrestling my way through it during a month or so; after six months I tried again and I finished it within two weeks.-------------
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 08:49
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I had pretty much the same experience when I first tried to read The Silmarillion, many years ago. The reason, however, was that the Italian translation was truly dire, and likely to put almost anyone off reading the book. When, a few years later, I tried again after reading The Lord of the Rings, it finally clicked with me. |
Posted By: Windhawk
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 08:50
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Nice with the placement for Seven Impale. Saw them live yesterday, and they came across as an excellent and tight live unit well worth experiencing. ------------- Websites I work with: http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 10:03
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Nice job Collabs and thank you Andy! Seven Impale were my only contribution to the Top 10 this year, but no complaints with the list. Edit: What was I smoking? I also had IQ and Knifeworld in my top 10. ------------- 
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Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 10:32
Couldn't agree more. Nice to see YES' album at 238th place. And Uncle Frank at 18th place. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: LearsFool
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 11:28
| Glad to see Seven Impale up top, too. |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 11:33
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Opeth won? What. Overall a nice list. Nice work Andy. ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: Anaon
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 11:37
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I can see now a reason to keep my music on Spotify Great job! ------------- My music: http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/ My blog: http://groovesandmemories.com/" rel="nofollow - http://groovesandmemories.com/ |
Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 12:32
Hopefully you get some traffic because of us! ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 12:41
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Great work Andy! Only regrettable thing was that I thought Pale Communion was #10 at first and it was anti-climactic once I discovered that I had already read the #1. ------------- https://dreamwindow.bandcamp.com/releases" rel="nofollow - My Music 
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Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 12:43
Yea, I usually choose to go 1-10 rather than backwards. Maybe next year I'll add an element of suspense. ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Anaon
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 13:33
Well, that's for sure!! And it's already fantastic to see my little album #22 in the 2014 charts!! ------------- My music: http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/ My blog: http://groovesandmemories.com/" rel="nofollow - http://groovesandmemories.com/ |
Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 13:44
 ------------- https://dreamwindow.bandcamp.com/releases" rel="nofollow - My Music
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 13:45
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Swans - To Be Slitting My Wrists To. I ordered this one without previewing it first. I will be dreading it whenever it comes up in rotation for the rest of my life. Thankfully Amazon wasn't able to get me a copy of their album that came before it... Not to be hateful or anything, two of my top tens made it in, I am not going to try anything else that made it into the top ten. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 14:15
Swans isn't for everyone, that's for sure. But for those it resonates with, it definitely is powerful. I wouldn't give up on the whole top 10, though. There are some great albums on there. ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 14:43
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Great work, as ever, so thanks Andy. I tell you what strikes me as much as anything......just how much new music is still being released under the Prog banner. We live in fine times, my friends ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 16:12
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I would have put money on either Swans or IQ being #1...guess I didn't look at enough lists! So close for Poil...and selfishly my list...Overall a decent year for prog IMO. Not many 'world shaking' albums for me but a fair helping of very very good to great. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Kazza3
Date Posted: February 01 2015 at 20:21
| Oh, cheers for quoting my Coffins review, and great work on the list as always, Andy. Strong list, PoiL almost made it! |
Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: February 02 2015 at 01:44
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I can appreciate Swans more than perhaps actually like them. (I'm the one who added the album to the database!) The songs are just too long and repetitious on these last two albums. I much prefer their "reunion" album My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky. Also a bit amazed the praise for the Kayo Dot album. To me only one great song (Library Subterranean); and really the second half of the album is much better than the first. ------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: February 02 2015 at 01:51
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My final list: Top 10 Albums For 2014: 1. Frank Zappa - Roxy By Proxy 2. Trioscapes - Digital Dream Sequence 3. Moonchild Trio - The Last Judgment 4. Poil - Brossaklitt 5. Secret Chiefs 3 - Perichoresis 6. Led Bib - The People In Your Neighborhood 7. John Zorn - Valentine's Day 8. Pinhas/Ambarchi - Tikken 9. Machine Mass Trio - Inti 10. Pinhas/Yoshida - Welcome...In The Void Honorable Mentions: Krokofant - S/t, Factor Burzaco - 3, OOIOO - Gamal, Many Arms - Suspended Animation, Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestite ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: February 02 2015 at 02:29
Here's how my picks fared. Obviously surprised my first 2 weren't rated higher. But nice to see Opeth get the recognition I felt they deserved on previous album. I also hit 2 bullseyes...Motorpsycho a number 6 and Seven Impale at 3.. 1. Moetar - Entropy of the Century [24] 2. Happy Family - Minimal Gods[21] 3. Seven Impale - City of the Sun[3] 4. Opeth - Pale Communion[1] 5. Hiromi - Alive[70] 6. Motorpsycho - Behind the Sun[6] 7. Magma - Rïah Sahïltaahk[65] 8. Animals as Leaders - The Joy of Motion[43] 9. Haken - Restoration[254] 10. Cynic - Kindly Bent to Free Us[76] ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: Nightfly
Date Posted: February 02 2015 at 03:50
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Another great job done Andy. Thanks for your efforts.
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Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: February 02 2015 at 15:28
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http://www.facebook.com/sevenimpale/posts/793129730724550" rel="nofollow - Looks like we have a shout out from Seven Impale!
------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: February 02 2015 at 16:10
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^ I am preparing something, just wait |
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: February 04 2015 at 10:20
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Great work, Andy! A bit disappointed Kayo Dot didn't go all the way, like I thought it perhaps would, and with Opeth on top, thought that one was pretty bland. But Seven Impale was a nice surprise, both their music and their placement in this list. And more than respectable placements for Motorpsycho and Knifeworld as well! My top 10 list, and how they fared in the overall ranking: 1. A Silver Mt. Zion - F**k Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything (15) 2. Kayo Dot - Coffins on Io (8) 3. Motorpsycho - Behind the Sun (6) 4. Guillaume Perret & the Electric Epic - Open Me (28) 5. Fire! Orchestra - Enter (49) 6. Krokofant - s/t (186) 7. SOT - Redwings Nest (204) 8. Goat - Commune (70) 9. Knifeworld - The Unravelling (10) 10. Seven Impale - City of the Sun (3) Got four albums in the top 10, not bad. About half of the albums in the top 10 list I like, the other half not so much, or haven't heard.
Here's to a just as good 2015. 
 Missed this!Well, I'll have a watch out for the next time they play in Oslo that's for sure!
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Posted By: timothy leary
Date Posted: February 04 2015 at 11:04
| Thanks for putting the list together. Knifeworld? Where are all the collabs reviews for this top ten album? Gryphon does RIO. |
Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: February 05 2015 at 04:07
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Grab a cold beer and enjoy the results of your excellent work, Andy The more new prog I hear, the less agreement there is between my top 10 and PA's. Only two off my list ended up on PA's Top of the 2014 Progs, Opeth (my 2) and Seven Impale (my 7), although Knifeworld only just missed my top 10. Overall, an average or even less than average year for prog IMO. Pale Communion wasn't even that great in the greater picture but with the year's competition was 'great'.
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Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: February 05 2015 at 16:57
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Very good job Andy! Edit...I searched for the contests and I found them all going back to 2005. The 2005 contest was a top 5. The contest has come a long way. Congrats again Andy and The Collaborators!
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Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: February 05 2015 at 19:26
Thank you! I think it's a good idea to maybe have an archive post of all the Collab's top lists... I'll do that right now! ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: February 06 2015 at 11:48
Wow Andy! I saw the archived multi year collaborator album of the year list. I love the aesthetics of the way you posted it. But most of all, I like how I can click on an individual year and cruise thru albums the collaborators thought great and powerful.  What a Fort Knox of golden information! Enough to send me on a decade long prog rock shopping spree. Thank you Andy!
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Posted By: bloodnarfer
Date Posted: February 06 2015 at 23:48
Cool, I was really digging that Goat album too Audun, didn't know they were on PA. And of course, Kayo dot and Silver Mt Zion were sick ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ramza1316" rel="nofollow - www.last.fm/user/ramza1316 https://open.spotify.com/user/1211221845" rel="nofollow - https://open.spotify.com/user/1211221845 |
Posted By: Stereolab
Date Posted: February 07 2015 at 14:12
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Seven Impale was the big discovery from this list for me. It takes a lot for a prog band with jazzy elements to impress me, and this does... big time. just hope the rest of the album is as good as the tracks available on YouTube.
Wish Corvus Stone II had placed higher though... gets better every listen, truly 5-star and my album of the year.
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Posted By: odinalcatraz
Date Posted: February 10 2015 at 14:53
Good lord! I just came to PA to catch up and saw this. Thanks for that Stereo. Nobody will ever listen to it as many times as I did, so I know it sounds good after a lot of them. It's great to be on any list here. We are very proud! ------------- http://www.corvusstone.com |
Posted By: odinalcatraz
Date Posted: February 10 2015 at 14:55
Thank you for doing all this Andy. All of Corvus Stone are as pleased as can be to be on this list. Awesome!------------- http://www.corvusstone.com |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: February 10 2015 at 15:21
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^ Colin, you should be proud. The band have gotten there by votes cast by collaborators on the site, so absolutely no hint of anything other than a deserved recognition of a fine piece of work ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: odinalcatraz
Date Posted: February 10 2015 at 15:55
Thank you Lazland! We certainly make the music for the fun of it but still it's a huge task for us and all bands to get the technical and boring work that creates an album release. I can actually sit and listen to what we did now, while relaxing. That and this end of year chart makes us all feel like we did good in the end. Beware... I have recorded the guitars first 64 mins of an album featuring Blake Carpenter. ------------- http://www.corvusstone.com |
Posted By: kareen21
Date Posted: February 23 2015 at 21:57
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Wow, great work and thanks Andy It takes me an half of hour to read all. |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: February 27 2015 at 02:12
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Andy thank you so much. Love to see others favourites. Very interesting. I was very impressed with the Seven Impale album(3) and I feel it does deserve a top ten slot; However I hope more people get an exposure to the unique post/experimental prog Metal that Devin Townsend creates. His late 2013 album Z2 album (60)I felt was an absolute masterpiece. Epic music with a sense of humor. ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: dennis_musiclover
Date Posted: March 25 2015 at 14:54
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yeah great... thanks, andy :-)
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Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 08:55
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Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 09:23
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1. Knifeworld - The Unravelling (10) 2. Univers Zero - Phosphorescent Dreams (27) 3. Atomic Ape - Swarm (32) 4. Sonar - Static Motion (70) 5. PoiL - Brossaklitt (11) 6. Guillaume Peret & The Electric Epic - Open Me (28) 7. Happy Family - Minimal Gods (21) 8. MoeTar - Entropy of the Century (24) 9. Ut Gret - Ancestors Trail (12) 10. Eccentric Orbit - Creation Of The Humanoids (53) ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 09:43
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Snap...I forgot to post my list as well (which has changed ever so slightly since January) 1) Electric Orange - Vol 10 2) Kayo Dot - Coffins On Io 3) Agusa - Högtid 4) Necromonkey - A Glimpse Of Possible Endings 5) Fire! Orchestra - Enter 5) Syd Arthur - Sound Mirror 7) Seven Impale - City Of The Sun 8) Battiato/Pinaxa - Joe Patti's Experimental Group 9) Major Parkinson - Twilight Cinema 10) Goat - Commune ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 11:12
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Fantastic Job Andy! Here is how I fared. 1. Necromonkey - A Glimpse of Possible Endings (37) 2. Atomic Ape - Swarm! (32) 3. Ut Gret - Ancestor's Tale (12) 4. Deluge Grander - Heliotians (18) 5. Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope (13) 6. Gong - I see You (35) 7. Univers Zero - Phosphorescent Dreams (27) 8. Primus - Primus and the Chocolate factory (218) 9. Swans - To Be Kind (4) 10. IQ - The Road of Bones (2) ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 12:06
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My list has also changed a bit, I guess it's something like this... 1) Knifeworld - The Unravelling 2) Ut Gret - Ancestors Trail 3) Aquaserge - A l'Amitié (A new entry) 4) Spoke Of Shadows - S/T 5) Gong - I See You 6) Kaukasus - I 7) Seven Impale - City Of The Sun 8) Solaris - Martian Chronicles II 9) Necromonkey - A Glimpse... 10) Guillaume Perret - Open Me
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Posted By: ProgCandles
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 13:15
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10 favorite albums 2014. Univers Zero - Phosphorescent Dreams Aranis - Made In Belgium 2 Ut Gret - Ancestor's Tale Druckfarben - Second Sound Gatto Marte - Madame Penguin Abel Ganz - Abel Ganz Seven Impale - City of the Sun Scherzoo - 03 Factor Burzaco - 3 Happy Family - Minimal Gods
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 13:17
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Here's mine, also with a couple of changes: 1. Ut Gret - Ancestor's Tale 2. Moraine – Groundswell 3. Seven Impale - City of the Sun 4. MoeTar – Entropy of the Century 5. Accordo dei Contrari – AdC 6. Necromonkey - A Glimpse of Possible Endings 7. Knifeworld – The Unraveling 8. Spoke of Shadows - s/t 9. Susan Clynes - Life Is... 10. Trojan Horse – World Turned Upside Down |
Posted By: LearsFool
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 13:28
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Current Top Ten Prog Albums of 2014 for me: 1) To Be Kind - Swans 2) City of The Sun - Seven Impale 3) A Glimpse of Possible Endings - Necromonkey 4) Themes - Superdensecrushloadfactor 5) Perfect Beings - Perfect Beings 6) Coffins on Io - Kayo Dot 7) Carrion Skies - Fen 8) Ultrasounds - Trout Cake 9) King Nine - Blueneck 10) Lizards Exist - Lizards Exist -------------  
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Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 14:26
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Carrion Skies is the only Fen album I've not heard. ------------- https://dreamwindow.bandcamp.com/releases" rel="nofollow - My Music
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 14:44
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The Swans album will be one that I will dread whenever it come up in rotation... ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: March 29 2015 at 16:09
It's a solid 4 star album IMO, more agressive than Dustwalker but probably their weakest offering so far. ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Posted By: Romano
Date Posted: August 22 2015 at 12:25
Here is my list of top 2014 albums:
------------- http://rocktotick.com/" rel="nofollow - Rock Tour Dates 2015 - only the best rock events of the year. |