You can all join to us if you want, comment albums we have listened, also tell about the albums you have listened, we will comment them too if we have heard them.

Just for fun!

The Moody Blues: Strange Times

At first those electric drum bases were quite irritating, mostly album was also quite cheesy, but there where few songs that sounds really "old Moody Blues": only Thomas song "My Little Lovely" and only Edge song "Nothing Changes". But really I think I have listened all the Moody Blues albums I want to listen. Going next into "The Magnificent Moodies" (I have listened it only few times).

Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica

I have started to listen all Beefheart albums in chronological order and now it was Trout´s turn. God´s it´s masterpiece and sounded really great again (it was some time for the last listening)! So tight playing (well they rehearsaled a year that album in those terrible conditions), absolutely mad genius a whole album! One of the my top10 all time albums! Fasten Bulbus (Bulbus also tapered)

Little Feat: s/t

Their first album really aren´t their greatest. This was just second time for me and it was last year I borrowed this from the library. Anyway this is quite interesting, not sound quite the same as the other Feat albums. Really a mix almost all the root styles of America (even really originally sounding covers of Howlin´s Forty Four and How many more years, on the other hand little pale comparing the originals), also there are few almost prog pieces with great string instruments (Brides Of Jesus & Takin My Time). Really love also Lowell´s soulful vocals!

Jukka Tolonen: Tolonen!

It was last year I first time listened this Finnish guitar legend first album  really much got praise and even sold quite well when it came). I had always though it is full of guitar solos, but instead the only true "guitar hero" piece is "Ramblin" and others are really beautiful, melodic pieces. Really a recommendation to all Finnish prog friends!

Damon & Naomi with Ghost: s/t

I have quite recently listened all the albums of Japan psych band Ghost, but noticed some days ago they´ve made also this collaboration album. This was really beautiful, quite acoustic, nice and mellow. Really soft ending to my evening!

Yep this is something Mortte and I talked about doing, and so here it is. Go ahead and share your 'mini reviews' of albums you've listened to in the last couple days(or whatever).

Here are mine that I wrote at the time I listened to them(I sent the first 2 to Mortte to read before).

Just listened to the album The United States of America. I liked it. It was certainly different, very 60's sounding and with a really experimental aspect to it. The songs I liked the most were The Garden of Earthly Delights, I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar, Coming Down, and The American Way of Love. Yeah good album, I absolutely enjoyed that.

Kansas by Kansas
Well that was pretty kick butt. I loved all the violins. High energy basically throughout.. no real weak tracks. Good stuff man. Not the best album I've ever heard before but still really good. I thoroughly enjoyed that.

Song for America by Kansas

That was good. A lot of it sounded very prog(keyboard heavy). And there were even some rockin tunes like Lonely Street. The last song was really good, I liked it the best. All in all real good album. I definitely enjoyed it.

Yeah, that's an all time classic of course. A bit of an acquired taste for some but I love it.

Strange Times I thought was too slow, not enough energy in a lot of the songs. I mini reviewed it in the other thread.

The Who: Who´s Last

I remember in the eighties when there came the Who concert in the Finnish television. I think it was on their last tour in eighties where also this album was recorded. Although I got my Who sparkle from that concert, I had got that picture they weren´t at their best in that. So I haven´t listened this album before today. I was really surprised how good this sounded, sound is really rough, if they had done some redoings in studio that hadn´t done anything bad into that great live sound! Also Ox´s great bass sound is easily to be heard! Of course this is not like "Live at Leeds", but anyway in the level of all the other Who-lives I have heard! Really can´t also understand why Roger didn´t like Kenneys drumming, of course he isn´t Moon, but doing really great job, as good as the other Who drummers (well maybe Zak is little better).

Charley Patton: Founder Of the Delta Blues

To me this man is also founder of popular music! Just like Robert Johnson he had almost all the elements in his primitive music I love! Really personal and soulful vocals, really great, rhythmic guitar playing with so interesting, melodic chords, Charley even do interesting rhythms slapping the cover of his guitar! This was time before boring 12-bar rule in blues, you can easily hear the African influences there, also influences from the native Americans (it had said Charley was partly American native just like Hendrix). Robert Johnson has been the biggest blues man to me, but now it´s very hard to decide between Patton, Johnson & Skip James.

Ghost: s/t

First have to say this isn´t that Swedish metal band (not my beef at all). This is Japanese psych bands first album from the nineties. I made a review today in PA, so you can read more there if you want to know what I like this. Just saying Ghost is not my biggest nineties favorites, but very interesting band and differs a great way from the common nineties "sound" that I haven´t ever been so much into.

Van Der Graaf Generator: Pawn Hearts

This is masterpiece! It´s clear to many here, but hasn´t been to me. It took many years to understand greatness of this album. Today I pay attention how greatly this is recorded, sounds are really colourful, when it´s mostly made from percussions, keyboards and horns & woods. I know Fripp is in guitar, but really I didn´t hear the guitar at all there today. VdGG hasn´t been the greatest progbands to me, but it has risen every day higher...really hope their gig will be in November!

The Beatles: Yellow Submarine (the original version with Martin´s B-side)

This is the only official studio album from Beatles I haven´t got as vinyl. Also it´s long time I have seen that film, and today was the first time I listened this as a whole. Today I paid attention "Only Northern Song" sounded really much the same as Beatles in Revolver/Sgt and watched then from the wiki it really was recorded in Sgt. sessions, just like same sounding "It´s All Too Much". "Hey Bulldog" came from the radio about year ago and I didn´t recognized what song it is, of course when they say it´s "Hey Bulldog" I remembered it´s from Submarine. Anyway I think Harrison songs are the greatest in this album, Paul has said himself about his song it´s throw-away. I enjoyed the B-side, but can´t say it´s great. The most funny was "Yellow Submarine In Pepperland".

Pere Ubu: The Long Goodbye

This is genius, really disturbed pop-album! One my last year highlights! I believe if Beefheart had lived and made album in 2019, it would have sounded like this (of course he would have gone into cheap sounding synths also). I haven´t ever used LSD, but I believe this album is like bad LSD-trip, last song "Lovely Day" is like next morning just after that trip when there are still some twisting flashes in mind although everything starts to look clearer. I read somewhere this will be their last album, really hope it´s not!

richardh wrote: I listened to The Optimist by Anathema yesterday in its Blue Ray format. Hard to get that excited when I can't think of any outstanding songs. It feels like the band have just hit a creative brick wall after the majesty of Weather Systems and Were Here Because Were Here . Its not terrible though and is extremely well produced and played but just lacking any real inspiration.

Thanks for posting your mini review here Richard, so people like me know to avoid this album in the future lol. 

I absolutely agree about that album. It's one of the few albums where it seems every time I listen to it I respect it even more.

I have all of the Beatles studio albums, but not Yellow Submarine. I've obviously heard Hey Bulldog, and also

Only a Northern Song and like them both a lot. Anyway, thanks for this review.

Later today or tonight I plan to listen to Kansas' 3rd album and post a mini review of it on here.

Ok, Masque by Kansas

I thought that was very good. Only weak track I thought was Two Cents Worth. The Pinnacle, Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel, and Mysteries and Mayhem were all fantastic. Loved the violins in It's You. All in all great album. Maybe my favorite yet from them, either it or that second one.

none of the albums after Judgement are metal. And even Judgement is not that heavy. 

the Rolling Stones: Goats Head Soup

When talking about best Stones album, it´s many Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers or Exile on Main St. It´s also Beggars to me, but Goats goes really close too! It´s just the best period of Stones was when Mick Taylor was in it (+Beggars). Also, this album is highly recommended to those, who are bored for radios overplay of some certain Stones songs - Here´s only "Angie" to skip to them (to me also it sounds still great). Here are dirty, great Stones rockers: "Dancing With Mr. D", "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker), "Silver Train" and Berryrocker "Star Star", acid-sixties-style pieces "100 Years Ago" & "Can You Hear the Music" and great ballads "Winter" and my fav Keith-sung piece "Coming Down". All the Stones fans original vinyl version with "Goat" poster is must!

Yes: Union

There was a thread of this album - I think I said there this is weakest Yes-album IMO. The reason is production, I don´t think there isn´t colder sounds made in 1991! But today I noticed I have started to get used to them, album sounded really great! Only songs I don´t care much are "Saving My Heart" and "Dangerous" (sounds to me they tried to do "Owner Of a Lonely Heart" of 1991). I can say only that Yes hasn´t made a bad album! I haven´t got any Yes-studio-vinyls after Big Generator (except Open Your Eyes), but the great cover of Dean is really not the only reason to get this!

True

Weather Systems leans a little bit towards Post Rock . That's the album I get really excited about by them and is a modern masterpiece imo. I would also check out their DVD 'Universal' of a gig that came after Weather Systems in Bulgaria and with an orchestra. I play that more than any other DVD (by any artist) in my collection.  

Ok now, THAT makes me want to check this deal out sometime.

With Yes I really don't listen to anything after Big Generator either. But it sounds like you think this album is decent... hmmm maybe I'll listen to it again sometime. I did listen to it once(or twice) quite a while ago and thought it was ok, but not impressed enough to ever listen again lol. Maybe I will sometime though.

The Rolling Stones I... I'm a Beatles guy.

Yep, I just checked and that's what's next. So off I go right now to listen to it!

And about that very important and primal question...I am Stones guy, although really love also Beatles! But if Stones is not the most irritating band for you, I really recommend you to try some of their albums sometime (maybe very psychedelic and really underrated "Their Satanic Majesties Request"?)

Meat Puppets: Rise To Your Knees

This band was a big favorite of Kurt Kobain, there are lots in common of Nirvana & MP, but I think Puppets are so much greater! My faves from them are "Meat Puppets II" & "Up On the Sun", but because they released last year really good album, I decided to listen their all albums. And all of them I have listened (only 3 left to listen) have been at least good! In this album they have travelled quite far away from their HC-punk roots, this is more a kind of The Byrds-album with little more electric guitars. A great mix of sixties psych, country music & 2000`s alternative/indie music.

Nomeasno: Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?

Nomeasno is to me no. 1 Canadian band! They may have never made as great album as Rush in "Hemispheres", but also they really haven´t ever made any boring AOR. This band got respect in punk circles in eighties/nineties, but it´s quite sad today´s the band seems to be quite unknown. Really I believe many proglisteners who haven´t got anything against punk attitude will enjoy this band! In this album Wright brothers were again alone, as they were in their first album, when guitarist Andy Kerr left. But Rob played lots of guitar in this album, because they´re going to add new guitarist. Anyway if you like really big energy music with great drumplaying (John didn´t loose much to Bruford), great groovy bass (Rob has Fender Jazz bass and ampeg-amplifer, just so great sound), this is your band!

David McWilliams: David McWilliams Vol.2

They have played really much "Days Of Pearly Spencer" in one Finnish radio channel last half year and I still like that song (I am not sure have I heard it before, I think I must) so I have to listen the whole album from that guy. He´s really great singer and really enjoy those great sixties style arrangements in this album, but really not the greatest album of 1967, I think this is in the same level as Bowie´s first from the same year.

Kansas: Audio-Visions

Just noticed it´s almost 30 years I have listened this before! Really sounded much better than I remembered, I haven´t heard those "Elefante"-albums, but at least next two Walsh-albums are much more AOR than this, I believe this could be the last really good Kansas album. My faves from this album are "Relentless", "Hold On", "Curtain Of Iron" & "No One Together". Just read from Wiki album probably was too prog in 1980 to Rolling Stone-magazine, for example they mocked then Livgren as "Kerry Liver".

The Marketts: The Marketts Take To Wheels

I am huge the Ventures-fan. Their version of "Out Of Limits" has been one of biggest favorites. I noticed not long ago I had heard the Marketts original version only that short time in "Pulp Fiction"-movie. So I decided to listen whole "Out Of Limits"-album by the Marketts. I liked it quite much so I decided to listen this album also. I didn´t like this as much, but anyway this was really cheerful, grooving sixties instrumental pop/rock-album!

Mortte wrote: And about that very important and primal question...I am Stones guy, although really love also Beatles! But if Stones is not the most irritating band for you, I really recommend you to try some of their albums sometime (maybe very psychedelic and really underrated "Their Satanic Majesties Request"?)

What. I'm not going to listen to an album with a title like that lol. This is why I don't listen to artists like Opeth. I mean am I going to listen to the band that sings Sympathy... or the band that sings All You Need Is Love. You know, I'm Beatles. That's it.

Oh no, I hope not. Well anyway hopefully a few albums still until I get to that one. I'm enjoying these! And yep you're right, Point of Know Return is up next. Going right now to listen to it.

Nico: the Marble Index

Again masterpiece! I have listened this many times recent years and it´s just sounds so great everytime! I think there came some documentary film about Nico in the nineties from Finnish television, where become interest to Nico´s music to me. But it took over ten years after that when I listened this album from spotify. Anyway Nico was a true founder of Gothic rock, although I don´t know can this album personal music describe rock at all. Really also I don´t want belittle John Cale´s importance to add all kinds of interesting musical elements into Nico very minimalistic harmonium playing. This album is desperate music in desperate times, but to me always music that reminds my own feelings at the moment has always pleased me.

Slapp Happy: Live In Japan - May, 2000

I have quite recently started to listen Slapp Happy. Hadn´t ever heard this band at all, I was listening Henry Cow´s albums when noticed these two bands had collaboration albums. I really liked "Desperate Straights" and when noticing compositions were made mostly by Slapp Happy, really wanted to listen them more. Their two first avant-pop albums were really good, but nineties album Ca Va was too modern sounding to me. But this live with very minimalistic background and songs from all the albums is really much better! And Dagmar is just so lovely!

Anyway, I'll chime in at some point. I want to read the rest of this thread first. 

Yep, or the Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis.. whatever you want to call us lol.

And ok yeah, look forward to your input here at some point then.

Oh, I've been loving their album Western Culture! I've listened to that easily more than any other album in the last few months. It's awesome to just have playing in the background like while I do other things. I'm surprised how much I've grown to love that album, the first time I listened to it I didn't even like it lol.

Uh oh, I've nervous about listening to Monolith tonight now. Oh well hopefully it won't be too terrible lol. So off I go now to do that.

Well call me crazy but I liked that. The second last song(Stay Out of Trouble) was one of the most blatantly filler songs I've heard in a while, but the rest of the songs were all good. Now, I wouldn't call any of them 'great' but they were all enjoyable.

I genuinely liked that.

Nazareth: Loud `N` Proud

"Not Faking It" came from the radio, so I decided to listen this album already bought in the begin of nineties. I have never been the biggest hard rock fan, but always loved dirty R´n`R of Nazareth, Bon Scott´s Ac/Dc, the Faces and the Stones. And this album really has it! Most known piece is of course their great version of Joni Mitchell´s "This Flight Tonight". It´s those rare songs, that I think cover is better than the original (also I think Fairports´s version of Joni´s "I Don´t Know Where I Stand" is better than original, so maybe Joni hasn´t succeeded in her own songs). But this album has also other than dirty R´n`R: "Child In the Sun" is good southern rock style piece and album end really great with over nine minutes version of Dylan´s "The Ballad Of Hollis Brown". That sad & cruel story has very impressive background with very distorted & effected bass & really haunting guitars. It´s protodoom-piece, something prog also in it!

Kansas: Vinyl Confessions

Really big difference between this and earlier album! Well, this is still sounding Kansas, I quite a like for example songs "Play On" & "Crossfire", but on the other hand this album sounds much more commercial, also they really recycle their old ideas. It was in the eighties when I heard first time Kansas, when there came a concert from them in television. This album had just released. I really remember that I din´t fully like John Elefante although I haven´t then heard Steve Walsh. Elefante´s voice is quite close to Steve´s, but he really isn´t Steve. It´s almost same as in Gabriel and Collins, although I prefer Collins to Elefante. I like this more than Moodies Other Side and it´s very possible you Yesesis will like this album, but I am not sure will I listen this again. I think I continue listening Kansas-albums, just because Steve came back to Power-album and I remember it be ok, although much more AOR than their old albums.

Kari Peitsamo ja Ankkuli: s/t

Kari Peitsamo may not be the most eccentric person in Finland, but I believe he´s on the top of that list. This album is really his fourth album, Ankkuli is the name of his band that played on his first album, but in next three albums there is just Kari playing guitar and singing (and doing piano in few pieces). Although he´s style is really naive, you can hear he´s a great musician and lyricist. But have to say this double album is too much even me, two earlier with their shorter lengths are much better. Also I don´t believe non-Finnish listener got much from his music.

Family: a Song For Me

The greatest album was the last of this day! We already talked about this in that "Other Side"-thread, so I just say I noticed why those five first Family albums sound so great: band just has so great chemistry and musicianship, although they line-up changes three times! In the last album I think line-up just didn´t work as great. But of course this album has just so great songs, really it´s hard to me say which of the albums "Family Entertainment" - "Fearless" is the best!

For sure. It seemed like when I listened to those albums, I liked all of them a lot except the very last one. And as you say, great musicianship! I think I commented more than once on that thread that they're very good musically.

About the Kansas album, ok well if I like it as much as TOSOL that would be great!

Cool, and yep I see that one's up next! So off I go now to listen to it.

Ok Audio-Visions by Kansas. For the most part I liked that although it did have a few filler tracks like Loner and No Room for a Stranger. Songs I liked where Hold On, Curtain of Iron, Don't Open Your Eyes, and No One Together. So all in all good but not great album.

Edit: Good use of violins in that album I thought.

David Sylvian: Brilliant Trees

Sylvian seemed to continue where he left in Japan. If somebody had said to me this is Japan album I would have believed. The most I liked the double bass and flugelhorn in "the Ink In the Well". Also the second side of the album is more experimental and also interesting. I have thought Japan has something in common with Talking Heads, but Japan is more dark and introverted. I prefer Talking Heads more, though like also Japan. All the way this album didn´t increase my willing to listen Sylvian´s solo more, I think I will get enough this kind of music listening Japan albums.

Pekka Airaksinen: Vitamins

I made a review in PA from this album, so I just say Pekka´s music is something people love or hate. He really was a kind of his own.

Country Joe And the Fish: I-Feel-Like-I´m-Fixin-To-Die

I think everybody has seen this band performing the title song in the Woodstock-film. Have to say that song is the most mediocre song in this great album! I really love both this and "Electric Music For the Mind And the Body"-albums, but this is much more stronger as a whole! This is all the way really hippie, beautiful album and reminds a lot "The United States of America"-album both in experimental parts and sounds. "Colours For Susan" is just so meditative ending in this really great album!

Sweet: Off the Record

I saw this album first time in a record shop in the eighties and really liked it´s cover with a big needle in the vinyl! I knew then "Sweet Fanny Adams" a great album, but haven´t got any idea how´s this album. So it was today I listened it first time as whole (listened some songs from youtube some years ago, album wasn´t then in spotify). I got picture they went more pop with this album, but to my surprise this was also quite much hard rock! Maybe songs are not as strong as previous three albums, but anyway this rocks very great way too!

Harry Partch: the Bewitched

If Pekka went the path of his own, so did Harry! He questioned the whole understanding of western music making the instruments, you can play 43 unequal tones of the octave. Also he thought arts of music, play and dance should not divide! I haven´t got any idea how known Partch is today´s US, but I believe he´s very unknown in Finland. It was Tom Waits book where I found him, also read later Iggy Pop favors him too. This was the first his long pieces together with Oedipus he released as vinyl. Really hard to get so I am really glad this recording from 1957 is released as CD in "The Harry Partch Collection" and so also in Spotify. Partches music is really dark, but when using just acoustic instruments not so hard. Also in this work there are with Partch really unique sounding own made instruments used bass clarinet, cello, clarinet & piccolo flute. This man really was genius, but not achieved full respect even after his death!

I just checked and they're from here. I heard several songs of theirs on the radio but never thought of listening to a whole album by them. But you seem to like it.. so maybe I will sometime!

Ok, thanks for the suggestion. Definitely need to listen to that one sometime. I just wish it had songs also from Monolith.. I really like that album.

Also, I think you should check out Japan someday, you might like it. Their album varies from Glam Rock (not so far away from Marc Bolan) to some kind of their own style new Wave. "Quiet Life" could be a good starter, that was my first album from them and only album as vinyl at the moment, but if don´t like it then you can try it´s predecessor "Obscure Alternatives" that still is more that glam-stuff. I really like both their two glam-albums, also later stuff. I have listened also Japan albums recently (I have quite many of these projects to listen all the albums of the bands chronologocally), going to listen some day their "Tin Drum" that I have listened yet only twice.

Talking Heads: Fear Of Music

This is really good album, but still I think "Remain In Light" better. This album is the closest of post-punk, there is even maybe only really aggressive vocals of Byrne in "Animals" which is my fav of this album. Also really great guitar playing in this, not as much in their later albums. The world music influences started also come in this album, but only first song "I Zimbra" clearly has them. Other fav songs are "Mind", "Memories Can´t Wait", "Air" & "Drugs". I believe this is the most paranoid album of TH!

Arco Iris: Agitor Lucens V

This album is masterpiece! Also it´s the greatest album I`ve heard from South-America! I am really glad I found this as vinyl about year ago in record fares, really you can´t find South-American albums easily from Europe! Arco Iris has used a lots of Argentinean traditional music influences, but in this album they mix also western electric prog into those influences very successfully. Here are variety of styles, very beautiful acoustic pieces (Principe Del Alba - Aurora Boreal is my fav of those), Hendrix-style guitar playing, beautiful ballad with female voice, even short free-jazz piece, avantgarde and all ends into very spiritual piece that´s is played with the church organs. One thing really wonders me - this album has lots in common of Finnish prog, although I don´t believe Arco Iris or on the other hand Finnish prog artists had heard then each others. So shame this album seems to be quite unknown, but one reason could be it hasn´t got official CD-version. Anyway I prefer this double album to Yes Tales Of Topograph.

Circus: s/t

There are many bands under this name, but this was UK band that made only one album and Crimson Mel Collins played in it. I believe I would not never heard this at all, but Finnish Svart records just made re-release of this. As the many bands of those times who made only one album, I didn´t expect much of this, but anyway something because Collins playing in it. Have to say at first I liked this album, it has good sounds and good playing, really like also Ian Jelfs voice. Also I think it´s great Jelfs seem to have skills to play very "macho" style guitar, but he do that only in the opening Beatles cover "Norwegian Wood". But as the many other not so known albums of that time this album lacks good songs. Their own songs are not bad, but not really great. Also it´s funny coincidence this album also has South-American influences (when just listened that Arco Iris-album), but really those are very superficial comparing to Arco Iris. I may be wrong, but I don´t believe there will be any new interesting albums in UK or US to me, I believe I have heard them all.

The Who: Live at the Isle Of Wight Festival 1970

One more Who-live album that I´ve never heard. Have to say immediately they weren´t playing there their best gig. To me it sounds Moon has quite muddy day then. Also bass sound hasn´t succeeded in this recording. But when they started to play "Tommy" that they played almost as whole those days, Moon also started play better and all the way normal standards of Who lives fulfill! Have to mention there are two pieces from aborted Life House-project that I have never heard before, "I don´t Even Know Myself" is really great of those!

Circle: Sunrise

In this album Circle started to add their Krautrock elements from hard rock and also acoustic music. But in their hard rock they sound more Hawkwind than AC/DC except "Kylän Suurin Miekka" sounds like Accept whose members have take LSD. Acoustic pieces are really psychedelic. Specially towards the end album changes really hypnotic.

Tommy Johnson: (1928-30) Complete Recordings In Chronological Order

I have started quite recently listen this delta-blues man. I have read about him from few blues books, but somehow always forgotten him. I believe he hasn´t been as famous as Charlie Patton, Skip James or Robert Johnson, but Canned Heat took their name from his "Canned Heat Blues", also they recorded a version from Johnson´s Big Road Blues. Short time he has become also my favorite, he´s got really personal voice and style, trembling voice and often do falsetto in the end of lines, just like old Country singers. Also he was really skillful guitar player. Just like Patton and Robert Johnson (not relation) he died before blues boom of sixties rose those old bluesmen into fame!

What. If it's really a masterpiece, like Pawn Hearts and MDK... then I want to listen to it soon! Maybe tomorrow night I'll take a break from all these Kansas albums and listen to this deal.

Also at some point I want to start listening to those Talking Heads albums. When I said they're from here.. I meant The U.S.. I've never listened to a whole album by them, so maybe I'll go to them after Kansas. Either them or Traffic(or Alan Parsons Project).

Yeah I guess so lol. Hope it's better than the last one. Off I go now to listen to it.

Here are ten albums I think masterpieces that I´ve found in the last ten years, in order:

1. Family: Music In a Doll´s House

2. Faust: Faust IV (I think many others them masterpieces too)

3. Can: Tago-Mago

4. Magma: s/t

5. Comus: First Utterance

6. Nico: the Marble Index

7. Arco Iris: Agitor Lucens V

8. Caravan: In the Land Of Grey & Pink

9. the Pop Group: Y

10. Pere Ubu: the Art Of Walking

Mortte wrote: I have listened quite recently all the first five Emerson, Lake & Palmer-albums, so I think I will start my day with "Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends", never listened that before. I didn´t know it is triple album (just like Yessongs), so listening will be challenge to me (sometimes Emerson´s playing irritate me). I haven´t also ever listened either of Works, going to listen them too in the future.

Oh, I thought you don't like them. Anyway, that's great! I love Emerson's playing, it's bombastic at times and really gives them an advantage imo. I haven't heard this live deal from them that you're talking about. I pretty much just stick to those classic first 4 studio albums. Although I have listened to most of their other studio albums once or twice. That's how I am with Yes albums after Big Generator also.

Cool.. thanks for posting these! I already know some of them. I obviously just recently heard the Family album and really liked it. Tago Mago of course, I agree that's absolutely great. Magma s/t, very jazzy I like it a lot! But I think I might like 1001° Centigrades even more. And of course In the Land... an all time classic although I actually enjoy listening to For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night more(that album is so kick ass).

The second one you got here.. I can't(name of the band). That Comus deal I want to listen to sometime soon though. And some of these others also for sure!

You're right unfortunately, whole album of Agitor Lucens V is not on youtube, an looks like have to sign up with spotify. So I'm off now to listen to this Comus deal(First Utterance).

First Utterance by Comus

WOW! Yeah that's a masterpiece, absolutely no question. Some of it kind of reminded me of early T.Rex(Tyrannosaurus Rex), like the drums in that first song for instance. Anyway, no filler in that, every song was good. Some disturbing lyrics, like in The Bite. In the song Drip Drip the singer sounds a lot like Peter Gabriel imo. A lot of really good violin in that album. Yeah man, great great album. Thanks a lot for suggesting it. I'll have to get to some of your other suggestions also soon!

Emerson, Lake and Palmer: Welcome Back To My Friends To the Show That Never Ends - Ladies and Gentlemen

Have to say at first that it´s Greg Like why I listen ELP. His voice and also his songs are amazing! But of course I really like Palmer´s drumming and even Emerson is not bad all the time. Anyway this was quite a starting of the day! But...I mostly liked this! "Toccata" and parts of "Tarkus" & "Karn Evil" (Aaargh 36 minutes of that in this live) are not my biggest faves also in the studio. On the other hand I think "Tarkus" sounded better in this live, really I was gladly surprised when Greg started to sing "Epitaph" in the middle of that! Of course versions of "Jerusalem" and "Take a Pebble" (with two Greg´s great acoustic songs in it) are absolutely fabulous! But almost 2 hours...I think it will take sometime I will listen this again.

The Red Crayola with the Familiar Ugly: The Parable Of Arable Land

For the balance´s sake I have to listen this after that massive ELP bulk. Again masterpiece (this should have been also in that 10 masterpieces of last ten years list), but this time psych rock masterpiece! Originally band got idea to make whole album in improvisations with their 50 friends (they played all kinds of "instruments" from the bottles to match sticks), but of course record company didn´t like that idea. So those improvisations are round the songs. They are really interesting sounding, but I thank record company for their puritanity in this album, because without them we don´t have such psyc rock masterpieces as "Hurricane Fighter Plane", "Transparent Radiation", "War Sucks", "Pink Stainless Tail" and "Former Reflections Enduring Doubt". To me this album rises into level of psych rock classics as "The Velvet Underground and Nico" and "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and as a matter of fact this album is somewhere middle of those. But really sad this is quite unknown, although of course got respect already when it came.

Pekka Airaksinen: Paramitas

Gladly I found out there were five Pekka´s albums in bandcamp I´ve never heard! This was originally released as CDr in 1997, but in bandcamp sites it is said "2014 version". So Pekka could have edit this from that original. At first very attacking & twisting drum machine really disturbed me, but in the end of album I started to use in that. I liked the weird techno of longer "Prajna Paramita" and twisting valse and tango of "Upaya Paramita". But really at the moment this isn´t my fav Pekka album and really don´t recommend it to anybody´s first listening from him.

Mulatu Astatke + Black Jesus Experience: Cradle Of Humanity

Quite recently heard this collaboration is going to release a new album and today I decided to pre-order it! Then I remembered this album from 2016 and it is some time for the last listening. This has really great mix of Ethio Jazz (Mulatu is grand old man of Ethio Jazz), funk & hip hop (one of the rare albums with hip hop-influences I really like). They recorded new, but interesting versions from old Mulatu classic pieces like "Sabye", "Yekatit" & "Netsanet" but there are also good new pieces that I liked the most "We Pray" and ending piece "It´s Time".

Nina Simone: Wild Is the Wind

I have become Simone fan not until last half years. Of course I knew her for the name, but really hadn´t got the right picture of her. I read last spring 1001 albums before you die and this album was there. So I decided to listen it and become fan immediately! Now I have listened all her albums before this and at the moment I think this is her strongest effort what I´ve heard! Just that very soulful voice with great piano playing and really in the title piece and 2 songs after those you don´t need anything more! I think it was Nina´s version of the tittle song that inspired Bowie making his own!

Umm, I would like to suggest a post punk/new wave act for inclusion here. The band is old and there aren't much prog elements.. But hopefully the answer won't be "NO!" lol.

Ok I'm kidding. So Gnidrolog is your suggestion and an album called "Lady Lake." Well I'll look into it and as long as it's not something 'evil' like Opeth or stuff like that then I will listen to it sometime soon! For sure. You're suggestions have been really good so far(certainly hit a home run suggesting Family back in the other thread).

Oh.. another masterpiece? Well I've gotta hear this now. Man, too many albums too little time lol. Not even sure what I'm going to listen to tonight. Oh well, I've got a few hours to decide here.

So, what to listen to tonight. John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic.. Another one of those masterpieces.. Power by Kansas.. Something from The Alan Parsons Project.. Something from Talking Heads.. this Gnidrolog deal...

Alright I went with one of Mortte's suggestions this afternoon, so tonight it's... Lady Lake. See how this goes.

Bruce Springsteen: Greetings From Asbury Park, N. J.

Manfred Mann´s Earth Bands version of "Blinded by the light" came from the radio today (I think it´s that Bruce´s song although it sounds quite different) so I remembered that I was going to listen this his first album. I am not the biggest Bruce-fan, but I have got his albums from this first to Nebraska, also I have liked his two other acoustic albums and his last years "country"-album. I have listened this least from my albums, maybe because I haven´t got this as cassette as others before I bought these all. I read from some of his book, that record company tried to make him new Dylan, when he was recording this. Now when listening it there might be some Dylan, but I think he sounded himself already in this, I believe he would have sounded ridiculous trying to sound as Dylan. Anyway I think in this album has something that has in no-other his album, something very innocent and excited. Of course this is no "Born To Run". Really like the very intensive "Lost In Flood", really great organ from David Sancious in it, also beautiful ballad "the Angel". Also I think this has something in common as atmosphere as Tom Waits two first albums.

Gnidrolog: In Spite Of Harry´s Toenail

This band has really personal style, it has compared to Jethro & VdGG, but there is only that flute sounding Jethro in some places, and Colin Goldring vocals reminds little bit Peter Hammill, although he is much more one-sided. Really like the rough sounds in this album, changing dry to echoed many times. But at least first time listening I don´t believe this will become my big faves. I think there is one big problem in many these quite unknown progalbums, that has at least interesting compositions, that they very often got weak singers (on the other hand for example that UK Circus album singer is great but material weak). But I am really going to listen their second album, I believe I will also listen this again.

Mortte wrote: Again you choose your albums, but have to say "faust" means fist in German (there are x-rate picture of fist in two Faust album cover). But I believe it has also something do to with that sinister person of Goethe´s poem book. Anyway there are no "evil" lyrics in Faust IV, only to that direction album in theirs is "Faust Wakes Nosferatu" that has instrumental music inspired by F. W. Murnau film "Nosferatu" ( haven´t seen that film). Just for you let to know.

I want nothing to do with any of that.

There's artists that you refuse to listen to like Gentle Giant and Steely Dan. Don't know how you feel about Wishbone Ash but I love them also. So you have things you won't listen to and I have things I won't listen to.. like Opeth and that band Ozzy was in before he went solo.

Man, sometimes in life you just never know.

I was FULLY expecting that to be yet another mediocre album. But no. That was actually the best album from them since Monolith imo. I just was not expecting that at all. Ok, first three songs were great. Musicatto was a pretty cool instrumental. Three Pretenders was a good rocker. Only filler song really was Taking in the View.

Yeah glad I didn't quit with Kansas yet, I really enjoyed that.

I liked the album from them that I listened to. Maybe I will listen to this one too sometime.

And...  BRUCE. I'm not the biggest fan but, he's from here.

Anyway I tell you, that I have really tried those both bands. I listened GG first album twice, Acquiring the Taste four times, and one time "Three Friends" & "Octopus" and any of those listenings even haven´t got a sign that I would like them with more listening. Also I have tried Steely Dan´s "Can´t Buy a Thrill" & "Pretzel Logic" & some parts of "Aja" & "Gaucho" (just for interested when those albums have said the most perfect albums in the world) and no, it´s just not my band. If I had started to listen Dan (maybe also GG) in the eighties when I really went into music, I probably would have liked both bands (although few pieces I heard from the radio didn´t woke my interest then), but today I just have so much more demands for the music (and my music taste is developed into the one it is) that I just don´t find anything interesting from them.

And have to say I think no-one need to listen Opeth or Sabbath (although I like Opeth and love Sabbath), but I think Faust is band of pure genius. But, no-one just has to listen even all genius artists.

And, I think it´s enough for this, I won´t try to recommend you anything more you just don´t want to listen.

if you like Steve Walsh, check out his 80s band Streets, they made 2 albums - 1st in 1983 and Crimes in Mind in 1985. Sure, it's 80s hard rock, with keys, but it's well made, with a great vocal performance. Billy Greer, who would join Walsh when he reformed Kansas, is on bass. 

I'm sure you can find some songs on youtube if you are curious, I wanted to post a couple, but my internet is crap in the last couple of days. 

I don't know if mocking this thread is the right thing to do...but if this is the best you can do... I don't know how to finish this sentence 

or you could stop making rude comments, I dunno... 

I wasn't thinking about you being homophobe at all, it did not even occur to me, just you mocking two people deciding to talk music in a thread. Is this thread such a bad idea to you? 

John Parish: Bird Dog Dante

To me P J Harvey & John Parish are the most important artists that started nineties (yes I know they had a band in the eighties, but that was just practising). And really I think Parrish is the most underrated artist these days. He´s got respect as producer, but sometimes I wonder, am I the only one who understand his genius as musicmaker? He`s got at least some same as Beefheart, Syd Barrett & J J Cale, but still he´s very personal. In his very minimalistic music there is absolutely beauty but also rudeness. Lots of experimental in his music. This album isn´t his greatest but it was the greatest album of 2018 (only Judy Dyble´s Earth Is Sleeping rises into same level). John is not the greatest singer, but I have used to his voice. And in this album PJ sings great duet with him in "Sorry For Your Loss" that is dedicated to Mark Linkous (artist name was Sparklehorse) who died 2010. Also there are two other female voices in this album. Have to mention John uses variophon in this and many other his albums that has really interesting sound. Really meditative album all the way with some really catchy pop songs!

Faust: j US t

Zappi Diermaier & Jean Herve-Peron were the only members in Faust at 2014. I think album name "Just Us" came from that. Anyway they decided to record new album. All the Faust-albums are less or more experimental, this is more experimental. With drums and bass (and guitar in two pieces) they use all kinds of tools, like hammer, saw & sewing machine. I believe many pieces has recorded live, only few overdubbs. I think they succeeded in a very great way also in this albums experimentations, only "Nähmaschine " is little bit weak. There are few quite shamanistic piece, but mostly this album is as meditative as Parish album. And I really looove "Ich Bin Ein Pavian"! I said somewhere VdGG was one of the only progbands never went into commercial, really can say the same about "Faust"!

Minutemen: the Punch Line

This is not actually album, this is mini-lp. Got 18 songs, but lasts 15 minutes! And the longest piece is 1 minutes 20 seconds. But although this band came from US HC-circles, their music is quite far away from typical HC-punk. Many of this album songs are really not typical uptempo pieces. More it´s amazing how these guys managed to make progsongs lasting 50 seconds! Even the fast ones got really complicated rhythm changes. These guys were just great players! And more this album reminds Beefheart than Hc-punk. Only real punk in this is guitarist D Boon aggressive vocals.

I might have to check this guy out sometime.

And yeah I agree with you, I plan to keep this going also as long as it's fun. I don't think I'll get bored of it, but if I get too busy or whatever then like I said I'll let you know and we can figure something out. Change it to just "Mortte's Album Thread" or whatever you want to do at that point.

Well.. I guess that might be one way to look at it. You were the major one who was able to convince me that Christian Vander is not really a 'bad guy' and it's ok to listen to Magma, so who knows. Really, as long as this band isn't Evil, like Opeth or something like that then I'll give them a chance. But I just don't feel it's good for me spiritually to be listening to stuff that's evil. You now, garbage in garbage out kind of thing. You are what you consume.. etc.

Mortte wrote: I think I have listened this last time those times it came. Although I remember it to be quite AOR, I also remembered I liked it (really love both Walsh & Morse). Also what I remembered "In the Spirit Of Things" I liked that too (remembered it to be little more prog than Power). Haven´t heard any of their albums after that except "the Prelude Implicit" one time (that I think was also quite good, although singer isn´t again Walsh).

Cool cause looks like that's what's up for tonight. Then I think tomorrow night I'll listen to the other one you mention.. Prelude Implicit. And then go to maybe Traffic starting Thursday night. I think that's what I'll do.

So, off now to listen to In the Spirit of Things!

You were right Mortte, that was good. Maybe even better than the one last night. Only filler track imo was the acoustic T.O. Witcher. Ok too many good songs to list them all. One Big Sky was kick butt, cool guitar break in House on Fire, and The Preacher was a good rocker.

Two real good albums in a row there, I like it. See how the one tomorrow night is.. then on to Traffic!