Looking back at the Prog Year 2013
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=96689
Printed Date: January 22 2025 at 08:36
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Looking back at the Prog Year 2013
Posted By: Gandalff
Subject: Looking back at the Prog Year 2013
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 09:34
|
My question is simple: which Prog album released in 2013 was the biggest surprise (or simply achievement) for you and vice versa, which was the biggest disappointment? It is possible to extend the question yet: Which musical event (some concert, change, leaving of musicians, etc.) are you most interested in, whether negatively or positively, last year? ------------- A Elbereth Gilthoniel silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, sí nef aearon! |
Replies:
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 09:53
|
Bowie album was the biggest surprise, obviously. ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 09:55
|
Biggest surprise was probably Blue Cranes, a new band to me with a wonderful release. Also the ashes of Rational Diet producing two bands as good as 5 Storey Ensemble and Archestra.
Disappointment was not getting the chance to see the Steve Wilson tour as domestic logistics intervened. Big highlight was the week in France attending Soleil Zeuhl and RIO Festivals. Stellar line-ups at both with Present being stunningly monstrous. ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 14:11
I would agree, in that it was a huge surprise that Bowie would release such a dull, boring and uninspired album at a time in his life when he has all the time in the world to produce stellar work. Ziggy ! ...pull up your socks and get'r done. We deserve and expect better from you. ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Stool Man wrote:Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 14:28
Ulver's Messe I.X. — VI.X was the biggest surprise I didn't expected such breathtaking work after extremelly dull 'Childhood's End'.Shining's 'One one One' is a bit close to disappointment. Such a poppy album after monumental 'Blackjazz'  As for musical events, iamthemorning Kickstarter campaign really caught my attention. Also, Katatonia/Opeth/Steven Wilson live show in last April should have been a mindblowing event, but I had no chance to visit it  ------------- This night wounds time. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 16:06
|
For me Steven Wilson's album was the biggest achievement and the Magenta album was the biggest disappointment.
Nothing particularly surprised me in the year other than perhaps Jem Godfrey coming back after conquering some personal demons. Great to have you back Jem and please don't go away again.
|
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 17:09
|
Biggest surprise was Sigur Ros's new edgier side, Arcade Fire's magnum opus, and Depeche Mode's great album.
Disappointments were.. Riverside, Russian Circles, Hubardo, ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 17:33
|
Biggest surprise was watching Moon Safari (no, not Camel) live, interesting to say the least... Biggest disappointments were Riverside and Fates Warning |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 19:23
 ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: HemispheresOfXanadu
Date Posted: January 12 2014 at 19:51
|
The Gentle Giant-ness of Haken's The Mountain was a nice surprise. So was GORGUTS.  Especially the new lineup.Also awesome to see one of the first prog bands I discovered on my own putting out an album since I started following them. (The Fierce and the Dead) Hearing that Smurph is collaborating with Colin Marston is big news to me. Can't wait to see what happens! Maynard turning 50 is a pretty big event.   Though I guess that's pretty young by prog artist standards.  The announcements of new Tool, Animals as Leaders and King Crimson is awesome. Really happy to hear that Beyond Creation managed to tour overseas. ------------- https://twitter.com/ProgFollower" rel="nofollow - @ProgFollower on Twitter. Tweet me muzak. |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: January 13 2014 at 04:44
No kidding, when I saw them live at Roskilde Festival they easily reached Neurosis or Swans levels of heaviness in some parts! Great concert by the way, with the type of light show I imagine Pink Floyd or Hawkwind to have had back in 1973. Biggest surprise for me is Causa Sui's Euporie Tide. It's also a matter of national pride for me, that a Danish band has now placed themselves at the forefront of modern progressive rock and the current wave of 1960s/1970s psychedelia revivalism. With that album CS have shown themselves exactly how to continue the style while doing interesting new things with it. ------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: January 13 2014 at 05:16
|
Some interesting debut albums (Camelias Garden was the biggest surprise; others in my top 10 are Fright Pig and Ingranaggi della Valle), Haken releasing a true masterpiece.
Disappointment: Hubardo. ------------- 
|
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: January 13 2014 at 07:06
Glad someone agrees! Yea i saw them live in a semi-small venue (smaller the better!), and was blown away. Spot on sound and Jonzi's voice blew me away. ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: January 13 2014 at 07:39
Austin u drunk |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: January 13 2014 at 08:05
Me two...  -------------
|
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: January 13 2014 at 15:15
Thirded, it's a very welcome change of direction for them & I liked the older stuff a lot. ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: January 13 2014 at 16:09
I definitely agree with this. Was really a letdown, unfortunately.
|
Posted By: Gandalff
Date Posted: January 14 2014 at 13:34
|
Surprise:
Haken - The Mountain. Excellent masterpiece, I really enjoy it. Genuine contemporary Prog rock!
Disappointments:
Big Big Train - English Electric, Part Two. After a very promising and widely appreciated "Part One" comes a mere materialized yawn only. A mixture of long, melancholic songs with absolutely forgettable melodies brings us somewhere to the beginnings of this mostly maudlin band, unfortunately.
Von Hertzen Brothers - Nine Lives. Weak and poor imitation of outstanding 2008 gem "Love Remains the Same" or still passable album "Stars Aligned" from two years ago. ------------- A Elbereth Gilthoniel silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, sí nef aearon! |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: January 15 2014 at 00:37
|
2013 was the glorious year for contemporary prog. So many great albums, especially the brilliant debuts. As a largest positive surprise for me (by the artists who are already in PA), I would single out as particulary magnificent album Bilo 3.0 by Serbian prog metal guitarist David Maxim Micic. http://davidmaximmicic.bandcamp.com/album/bilo-30" rel="nofollow - http://davidmaximmicic.bandcamp.com/album/bilo-30 As a "disappointment", I'd like to point out that lack of new iamthemorning LP.
|
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: January 15 2014 at 05:37
|
Haven't heard a second of the new Russian Circles album, also had to miss them when they played live here with Chelsea Wolfe... but how much am I missing out on? I really liked Empros, so it's a shame if they've "jumped the shark" so to speak.
------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: January 15 2014 at 10:45
|
Haken~The Mountain was not really a surprise but an extreme breath of fresh air. Very musical, melodic, clean....the opening The Path, puts the cover art on the cover so to speak. I am not an Ulver listener but that cover art got me interested to Messe I.X - VI.X, I like it, so a surprise for me. Spock's Beard~Brief Nocturnes & Dreamless Sleep, big surprise was not expecting such a solid release by SB. The Winery Dogs, excellent hard rock release, a surprise considering AM was bad! Most of TFK~Desolation Rose I am not too thrilled about, it has moments and maybe I need to spin it more. The more I listen to Dream Theater~DT, its just blah to me, really nothing exciting there anymore. Mike Portnoy is the missing link. The Aristocrats~Culture Clash is a disappointment, after the superb self titled release I expected at least the new one to be on par...huge miss from an insane trio of musicians. -------------   
|
Posted By: The Glide
Date Posted: January 18 2014 at 04:55
|
*Five Storey Ensemble
*Circle Of Illusion *Sound Of Contact *Haken *Birds & Buildings *Ayreon *Leprous *Nemrud *Days Between Stations *Clive Nolan ------------- I've created an atmosphere where I'm friend first, boss second. Probably entertainer third. |
Posted By: King Manuel
Date Posted: January 18 2014 at 22:59
|
For me the biggest surprise was Dream Theater. I did not expect too much, but when the album was finally out, I was totally blown away. One of their greatest!
Biggest disappointment: The lack of love for the last DT output here on the PA. Another disappointment for me is Days Between Stations. After their brilliant debut, the new album leaves me totally bored. ------------- Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus |
Posted By: Luis de Sousa
Date Posted: January 20 2014 at 08:52
|
Biggest surprise: Sigur Ros live. I went to the show unaware of their new direction with the latest LP, was blown away. Biggest expectation: Valerinne's second LP. They announced a release for November still in the summer; some delays meant it was only ready in December. Expectations met. Dearest LP: Heights by Damascus. Biggest discovery: Ao Vivo Em Londrina by O Terço. Greatest disappointment: PAs distancing from Math Rock. ------------- http://attheedgeoftime.blogspot.com/search/label/music" rel="nofollow - Music musings | http://www.last.fm/user/Luis_de_Sousa" rel="nofollow - Last.fm profile |
Posted By: Gandalff
Date Posted: January 20 2014 at 12:10
|
Also recent Nectar: Time Machine just didn't thrill me twice, although some 00's albums were superb and reminded their best records of the 70th in many ways ------------- A Elbereth Gilthoniel silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, sí nef aearon! |
Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: January 21 2014 at 03:53
|
Cult of Luna and Kayo Dot did really surprise me positively. Also a nice new melodic prog doom folk band Sisare. Disappointments: Riverside and Leprous |
Posted By: jude111
Date Posted: January 21 2014 at 16:21
Really? Cool. I kind of wrote them off; I loved their first 3 albums (Agaetis Byrjun to Takk), but lost interest in their work after that. I'll definitely have to check out the new one, then.
|
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: January 22 2014 at 00:57
|
Crazy, exceptionally great year in music. Personally 2013 will go down as one of my all time favourite years in music since 1993 for me.
Biggest surprise and biggest achievement that one my heart instantly is Fates Warning's Darkness In A Different Light. Album of the year for me....but here are just a few others I've enjoyed as well. ;) Unreal City--La Crudelta Di Aprile The Psychedelic Ensemble-The Tale Of The Golden King Tangerine Dream--Finnigans Wake Fright Pig--Out Of The Barnyard Ochre--La Moddie Edison's Children--The Final Breath Before November Dead Heroes Club--Everything Is Connected. Royal Hunt--A Life to Die For Devin Townsend--Retinal Circus Spocks Beard--Brief Nocturnes The Flower Kings--Desolation Rose. Himilabacken--Vol.1 Genesis Revisted--Live At The Hammersmith Odeon (2013) 2dvd 3cd set Kompendium--Elements Believe--The warmest Winter Sun Days between Stations--In Extremist Airbag--The Greatest show on earth Il Cerchio D'Oro---Dedalo E Icaro IQ---Tales From The Lush Attic (Remix/reissue 2013) Anathema--Universal Maurizo Guarini--Creatures From A Drawer Soulfly--Savages The Tangent: The Rite Of Work Magenta--The 27 Club Dead Can Dance--In Concert 2012 (album released 2013) Clive Nolan--Alchemy (studio Version) Clive Nolan--Alchemy live! (Box Set (3cd/2dvd 2013) Autechre--Xai Pendragon--Introducing Pendragon (2cd Compilation album 2013) Depeche Mode--Delta Machine Ulver---Messe I.X--VI.X WinterSun--Time I Hibernal--The Machine Comedy Of Errors--Fanfare And Fantasy T--Psychoanorexia Orphaned Land--All Is One Nine Inch Nails--Hesitation Marks Haken--The Mountain Dream Theater--Live at Luna Park (2dvd--3cd set) Device--Vilify Trivium-- Vengeance Falls Ayreon-- The Theory Of Everything (2cd/DVD set) Arena--The Rapture Queensryche---X2 Amon Amarth--Deceiver Of Gods Levin Rudess Minnemann--The Project James LaBrie--Impermanent Resonance. Steven Wilson--The Raven That Refused To Sing:And other short stories. Riverside--Shrine Of A New Generation Lifesigns--Lifesigns (debut 2013) Big Big Train--English Electric Full Power Tears For Fears--The Hurting 4cd Reissue box set-2013) Aciients--Heart Of Oak Cosmograf--The Man Left In Space Sound Of Contact--Dimensionaut Nightwish--The Ballads (compilation 2013) Metallica: Through The Never (Music from the Motion Picture) Katatonia--Dethroned & UnCrowned The Alan Parsons Project--I Robot ( 35th Anniversary Legacy Edition) Skinny Puppy--The Weapon Fish-- A Feast of Consequences. PFM (Premiata Forneria Marconi) - In Classic: Da Mozart - A Celebration (2013) Leprous--Coal Draconian--The Arcane Rain Fell (2013 digital reissue) Ministry--From Beer To Eternity (farewell album) Psykerion--The Thought Chamber Motorpsycho--Still Life With Eggplant. Gary Numan's--Splinter The Eldritch Dark--Blood Ceremony DREAM THEATER--DREAM THEATER Also. Truth is I have no disappointments for what I've listened to or discovered for 2013. Really don't. Amazing year. ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: January 22 2014 at 01:01
Fates warning!! Oh why!
Man. I thought their latest was brilliant. You gotta tell me why you didn't like it. Sorry you didn't get much out of it. ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: tamijo
Date Posted: January 22 2014 at 03:23
|
Nine Inch Nails-Hesitation Marks Was the most interesting album for me, released in 2013 Also Foxygen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_21st_Century_Ambassadors_of_Peace_%26_Magic" rel="nofollow - We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic was great.
------------- Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: January 22 2014 at 15:31
Oh nice. I enjoyed Hesitation Marks as well. I was inspired enough to write a review on it as well. Certainly a highlight in 2013 for me as well. Great seeing NIN in concert too once again.  ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: January 22 2014 at 15:54
Other than those: Surprises: Deafheaven, My Bloody Valentine, Vampire Weekend, Midlake Disappointments: Chelsea Light Moving, Lee Renaldo and the Dust, Atoms for Peace, Bosnian Rainbows, and every other "side project" from which I was expecting a lot more. |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: January 22 2014 at 17:53
Like your DT enthasism here. I agree with you. I don't find much fault in the album. People want to hear DT do something completely different because of their insane musicianship, so a lot of people especially here on PA are tired of the DT formula to Prog metal. I will admit DT's last 4 albums have not been dramatically different from one another, but their latest effort is absolute quality musicianship and it is creative, but it lacks diversity. I say screw it cause their is no crime in sticking to what you are good at. People forget as well that DT have already exhausted the difference engine so much already and have done so much for the Prog metal genre in general. They have made their Mark and made it well, which is why some people expect more. They expect radical differences in sound from what DT did from 1992 to 1999 where every album was very uniquely different from one another. That just doesn't happen often. I think it's kind of unfair to be critical of DT in this matter, especially since they are a 28 year old band! I mean what were Floyd, Genesis and King Crimson doing after being 28 years old? Some. Didn't make it till 28. They Burt out! People gotta start respecting the fact that DT can still create powerful, virtuosic music while showing no signs of slowing down after 28 freakin' years. Yes. I too am a bit upset for how DT's 2013 effort been rated here on PA. Ok. I shall make that my disappointment for 2013 as well. 
I dunno. Seems unfair. They still sound great. 4 stars easily! ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: M27Barney
Date Posted: January 23 2014 at 05:10
|
I too, was impressed by the DT - need to listen to it more - but a lot of people have thought that it was prog-metal by numbers and just the same as their last few releases.
I don't mind bands doing what they do best....but some people feel that if a band does not change they are not progressing.... Oh and best CD of 2013 - Late listen for me - last week of the year in fact - Fanfare & Fantasy - Brilliant stuff! ------------- Play me my song.....Here it comes again....... |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: January 23 2014 at 19:34
|
Comedy of Errors - Fanfare and Fantasy was the biggest surprise for me - brilliant stuff. I also enjoyed Riverside, The Tangent, Spock's Beard, Ayreon and Haken, among a huge list of other greats. Disappointment was probably Dream Theater and even then, it was not a terrible album and on the Post Rock side, Russian Circles - I expected more from them! To be honest, most of the releases this year that I listened too, have been great, placing 2013 among the best prog years in recent times! ------------- 
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: January 23 2014 at 20:38
 |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: January 27 2014 at 01:54
Ah yes. Progression exists in many forums. I think DT have a lot going for them. They've even been able to tap into the mainstream market by being nominated for another Grammy award. This will help spread the Prog love throughout the masses. Anyway. 2013 concerts. Seeing Anathema, WinterSun, Fates Warning and Goblin were some major highlights for me in 2013. Great great performances. :) ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: AlexDOM
Date Posted: January 27 2014 at 11:05
I agree with all of this up the the eleventh dial on amp. X11. I'd say Riverside's was a bit of a disappointment and I have their previous 4 albums, but really don't have much of a desire to get that one after listening to it. That might change someday though. |
Posted By: ProgVanWinkle
Date Posted: January 27 2014 at 17:01
|
Although I can't possibly say I listened to as many prog albums as progbethyname(), I would list Steven Wilson's album, Magenta's 27 Club, and the Kompendium project as my favorites. I liked Moon Safari's Himlabacken Vol. 1, but the bar has been set so high for this band in my mind that I'd almost have to call it a disappointment. I did say ALMOST because I did like it though. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 28 2014 at 16:32
| ^I thought Kompendium was a 2012 release but then I may be wrong. |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: January 28 2014 at 19:05
I have not been able to get my hands on it yet, but Mr. Welsh (Rob Reed's) project ELEMENTS is supposedly a 2013 release. I've heard Beneath the Waves and found it was ok. Has a Celtic sound to it at times. Also. I really like the subject matter. Anything dealing with Mental Illness or battling your inner demons I'm all over. Not a stale subject for me probably cause I find psychology rather fascinating. ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: January 28 2014 at 19:08
It was a good year what can I say...well my pocket book felt it that's for sure. All worth it though. Prog is my muse...my flame...my betrothed. ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: ProgVanWinkle
Date Posted: January 28 2014 at 19:37
| I like the Kompendium every bit as much as I liked The 27 Club, perhaps more. It would be worth your while. |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: January 28 2014 at 20:02
I will grab it at some point this year. Anything with Steve Hackett on it is always worth my while. He is a guitar hero. Not much better than him. ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: January 28 2014 at 23:18
|
Biggest surprise for me was Days Between Stations; a great album. The Biggest disappointments were The Tangent and DT. Same old DT and the Tangent's album was overblown and pretentious IMO and not in a good way!! I couldn't get through the whole album, though I tried many times!! ------------- A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!! |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 29 2014 at 01:35
| I've seen one mention of Fish - Feast Of Consquences. Seems to be highly rated though. Anyone want to convince me I should get this? I've only heard one track on the radio and it sounded almost like 'hard rock' , would never have guessed it was Fish unless told so. |
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: January 29 2014 at 08:05
|
Achievements:- Steve Wilson - The Raven.... One of the greatest prog albums for many years, I for one did not expect such an amazing album. Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest A magnificent electronic album (with a distinct Berlin school influence) that makes up for the 8 year wait. An atmospheric and totally rewarding listen. Klaus Schulze - Shadowlands Hypnotic, relaxing and utterly absorbing. Disappointment:- The new DT. Don't get me wrong there are three very good tracks on here but overall it's just so lacking in inspiration, none of the bombast I loved about most of their releases. The departure of Mike Portnoy appears to have been really bad for DT. |