Your own personal Top 10: the reasons!

Here we go.


1) MARILLION “Script for a Jester’s Tear” - simply my favouritest album ever. I bought it on August, 1th, 2003, and it still bites. I adore it, it's purely flawless


Other albums will follow in alphabetical order, because I love them almost equally...a bit lesser than "Script..." though

GYBE “Lift your skinny fists...” - the best Post-Rock album from a band, that never did even an average CD. Their essential album, the one that has "Sleep" that has my favourite GODSPEED moment (last 5 minutes). Excellent balance of melodies and melancholy. Awesome.

GENESIS “Foxtrot” - the best GENESIS album. GENESIS is my favourite band (70-74) musically, with eccentric Gabriel and the guys stage shows. "Supper's Ready", "Get'em out by Friday", "Watcher of the Skies" - nuff said?

DISCIPLINE “Unfolded like Staircase” - the best Modern Symphonic Prog album, inspired by VDGG and better than their stuff by miles . Dark, epic, melodic, complex, lyrical, introvertive - continue by yourself. "Canto" and "Before the Storm" are seriously masterpieces.

COLLAGE “Moonshine” - the diamond that shines brighter with years. "Heroes Cry" when they heard Amirian singing! Must mentione Mirek Gil's excellent guitar solos and Woitek Szadkowski unquestionable talent - the guy wrote most of the material and played drums better, than anyone in Neo-Prog!!!

TOOL “10 000 Days” - a grower. "Aenima" is heavier, "Lateralus" is better constructed, but "10 000 Days" has the most mature songwriting and the best TOOL's song ever - the hypnotic namesake track. Throw away 6th and 11th tracks, unite tracks 3+4, 7+8 and 9+10, and you'll recieve the best Modern Prog-Metal album as a result.

JETHRO TULL “Thick as a Brick” - it's hard to call me a die-hard JT fan, but this one is simply flawless. Besides, it's so catchy! I frequently notice myself humming bits from it...it's hard to keep from humming actually! Anderson's composer talent shines there in it's full power. I simply can't imagine progger's life without TAAB!!!

LOCANDA DELLE FATE “Forse le lucciole…” - the best Italian Prog album ever. Again melodic, complex, bla-bla-bla...you know what I'll say better then me! Besides it has my favouritest instrumental track ever - the opener one. Extremely recommended!

SHADOWLAND “Ring of Roses” - this is personal. I'd give away all Nolan-related projects' discographies for this CD!!! Melodical, emotional, touching and sincere - that's how Neo should be. I like such kind of poppish Neo (ARAGON, COMEDY OF ERRORS, ABEL GANZ, TWELFTH NIGHT, early IQ/PALLAS/PENDRAGON etc), so don't hesitate to recommend me something!

DREAM THEATER “Scenes from a Memory” - yes, I like them. Not every album, not every moment, but I respect and appreciate them. This is their peak, and one of the finest and the most accessible yet Prog albums ever. Enjoy!

Melomaniac wrote:   10 - Voivod - Nothingface Surprised, aren't you ?  A genre defining album, one of a kind, a cyber-punk thrash-sci-fi-prog-metal kind of thingy : 100 % original.  Introduced me to Piggy's (Rest in Peace) unique style and approach to the guitar, an unspoken genius.

Glad someone mentioned this great album. I wanted to give it a mention, but couldn't bring myself to leave out any of the albums I had already chosen. I love how there are few to no overdubs, so the guitar and bass come in crystal clear. That also makes what they're doing all the more amazing, since it's only the one sound. Piggy never did get his due, which is a real pity.

Not in a preferential order as the mood for a day  can change  I try to do just one album for one band

Edited by febus - August 18 2007 at 15:37

started this yesterday and lost my post of course.... I'll try it again.  Raff and I discussed our top 30 lists last night over a romantic dinner. ( yes it IS heaven to have your love be a huge proghead hahhaha)

here's my first 10...

1. Yes - Close to the Edge

there are a handful of prog masterpieces... some of the flawed variety. (Selling England, BSS etc)  this one stands out among the flawless type.  Flawless?  Find me another album .... in it's entirety,  that still is in the bands set-list rotation over 30 years after it's release.  The title track and And You and I have been peformed over 1000 times in concert.  Face it... if the songs  weren't that good.. the band.. and most importantly the audience would have tired of it.  A no brainer for #1 prog album ever.

2. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King

flawed by Moonchild? perhaps... but to use an analogy I've used with TFTO.  Art.. HIGH art can and will lose some people along the way.  This album was not  the best album King Crimson ever did... but it simply ranks among the most important ..and essential prog albums ever. 

3. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick

shear musical perfection with a concept off the beaten track. 

4. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery

a flawed masterpiece and not perfect but like some other selections here... the album's high points... Toccata...  Karn Evil 9... represent the best that prog has to offer.

5. Genesis - Selling England by the Pound

again... not a perfect album.  Like BSS.. the high points... MORE than offset the weaker material on the album. 

6.  Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire

an album, and a group whose shadow touched all rock.  For shear display of virtuosity and skill. Few touch this album... ask Yes ..who were in awe of this group and this album.

7.  Balleto di Bronzo - Ys

yes I love this album and it is a personal favorite of mine....  but in all of prog... you will be hard pressed to find a prog album so dense, complex and aggressive.  Quite possibly  the best keyboard driven prog album ever.

8.  Bo  Hansson -  Lord of the Rings.

the granddaddy of Scandinavian prog...  music so expressive you can imagine yourself chased by the Black Riders.  A underappreciated classic of prog.

9. Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink

a hard choice...   I like their  previous album much better... but this album has, rightly or wrongly become their defining album.  Prog sans the serious pretention ..prog with a wink and giggle.

10. Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

simply a perfect album by one of titans of modern music and of prog. Completely essential.

Well...for ALL prog that's very hard for me, because I tend to enjoy modern prog more than classic prog...so I'll do ten for both I guess, and then a short list of my favorite 10 out of the pack...

1. GENESIS - Nursery Cryme
My favorite Genesis album...for me it's just the one that clicks. Foxtrot seems to be a bit too, well...I can't put my finger on it, and Selling England gets "eh" near it's second half. I like Nursery Cryme, the balance is at its best for me.

2. PINK FLOYD - Wish You Were Here
Good stuff. Mellow, jazzy at times, and produced in a fitting manner. This uplifting yet gloomy music captures my soul and also serves as a trip down memory lane (not because I'm old--I'm only 17, but because this band got me into prog).

3. THE BEATLES - White Album
Perhaps not "prog" in its fullest sense, but nevertheless one of my favorite albums. This album shows them at their peak in songwriting with gentle experimentation. The first disc is a must.

4. CAMEL - Moonmadness
This is my favorite Camel album other than their debut. The songs have a great, moody, dreamy quality about them with a hint of jazz...it's great stuff.

5. CAN - Ege Bamyasi
This album is pure fun and just...slick. The experimentation of "One More Night" flows well with the catchiness of "Vitamin C" ...it's bliss

6. HARMONIUM - Si On Avait Besoin d'une Cinquième Saison
This album is beautiful. It encompasses everything about beautiful music that I love, flowing, interwoven melodies and in-the-back-of-your-head catchy riffs...while managing to fulfill it's overall goal of capturing the tone of our seasons....I love this album.

7 - GONG - Radio....1: Flying Teapot
Though I don't think it's "professionally" the best of the trilogy, it is my favorite Gong album for reasons unknown. It just sticks with me.

8 - KING CRIMSON - Lizard
Though it's not really one of their "bigger" albums, it is, without a doubt my favorite Crimson album. The jazzy elements and wonderful, magical opening make it an obvious choice in my book.

9 - PFM - Per Un Amico
This is my favorite album of Italian prog. Each song is its own little masterpiece of prog. The melodies, and especially the keyboards, hold me captive whenever I listen to this one.

10 - RUSH - A Farewell to Kings
My favorite Rush album. Great melodies, that one classic track, along with other captivating tracks such as the mysterious Xanadu...it's a very good album.



MODERNS


1 - THE MARS VOLTA - Frances the Mute
Their worst produced, but most intriguing musically to me.

2 - PORCUPINE TREE - The Sky Moves Sideways
The spacey sounds, the wonderful effects, and epic proportions move me. This is my favorite PT album and, I suspect, always will be (although their newest was fantastic, I wore it off too soon by listening too it way too much as I have a habit of doing...)

3 - SECRET CHIEFS 3 - Book of Horizons
The music on here encompasses so many moods and stations that it is almost impossible NOT to love it. From ferocious metal so orchestrated gallops it's all here.

4 - OPETH - Still Life
Their best in my book. Each song it's a labyrinth of Opeth-ian sound and daring, winding up with a punch and then coming back for seconds.

5 - MR. BUNGLE - Disco Volante
This album is perfect in terms of what avant-garde is to me. It's got it's eastern flair, it's experimental/electronic side, and it's zany borderline ridiculous integrity.

6 - TOOL - Lateralus
The dark, gloomy atmosphere and expert songwriting; coupled with some very interesting lyrical ideas make this one a surefire modern classic.

7 - RADIOHEAD - Kid A
This album is dark, gloomy, atmospheric, electronic, expertly written, and vocally emotive. It's got all the workings of a masterpiece...if only we could remove Treefingers (just kidding).

8 - SYMPHONY X - V: The New Mythology Suite
A romping, symphonic suite of power-metal-mania. This album, despite it's "cheesiness" as some would call it, moves me in an "epic" way and I am quite fond of it.

9 - 65DAYSOFSTATIC - The Fall of Math
I'm not huge on post-rock buit this album, with it's blend of climatic math-rock at points, sweeping imagry (if you have imagination) and noodling electronics always wins its favor with me as a great, great album of instrumental music.

10 - MAUDLIN OF THE WELL - Bath/Leaving Your Body Map
Though they are two albums they work as one for me...and, oddly, they are near the exact same length (and are meant to be companion albums as well). These albums traverse many a sound from minimalist themes of nothingness to climatic metallic forays into impressive time and space. Great, great music!

MY PERSONAL TOP 10:

In no particular order:

WYWH - Pink Floyd
Moonmadness - Camel
Si Ut...... - Harmonium
White Album - The Beatles
TSMS - Porcupine Tree
FTM - TMV
Still Life - Opeth
Lateralus - Tool
Kid A - Radiohead
The Fall of Math - 65daysofstatic


so there ya go...

Hmm lots of great lists here!

Well even though I've been listening to prog for a long time, there's still much more I have to get around to. So this list is subject to change...a lot.

1. Comus - First Utterance
Certainly many won't agree with me here, but this truly unique prog folk album never ceases to amaze me. I hated it at first listen, and for a while it never really grew on me. Then at one point I listened to it alone in the dark and it clicked instantly. The beauty of The Herald, the insanity of Drip Drip, all of it became apparently brilliant. It just changed the way I listened to music. I doubt there is, or ever will be an album like it.

2. After Crying - Overground Music
Very progressive and very beautiful arrangements that are always well above par and never lets down once throughout the album. The band plays very tight, and ohhh that piano! Pretty much every song is a masterpiece in my opinion. Most people can't get past the vocals, but I learned to really like them. To me it seems they compliment the music well now.

3. Frank Zappa - Hot Rats
My first and favorite offering from his prolific discography. It was one of the first progressive albums I heard and I still get the same feelings of awe from listening that I did back then. People have said listening to the whole album is a lot like watching a movie, and I agree.

4. Skywhale - The World at Mind's End
I'm glad I picked up the remaster before this disappeared again. The energetic, optimistic jazzy songs here are brilliantly arranged and always sound fresh to me. Another one of those unique ones with nothing really similar to it. This one's not listed here, but it would do well under fusion.

5. Harmonium - L'heptade
Most people prefer Si on Avait..., and its easy to understand why. The five songs there are brilliant and some of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. However I think L'heptade has a kind of soaring musical direction that most other albums don't have. The brilliance of this one isn't quite in your face as Si on Avait, its much more subtle, but to me these so called 'boring' parts just add to the genius.

6. Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
One of my first prog albums, and the one that really got me into the genre. Dave Sinclair's fuzz and other keyboard solos throughout the album create such a great atmosphere, and aside from the short sidetrack that is 'Love to Love you' all the songs are amazing.

7. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
Cornerstone of prog or not (I'll say that its not), this is an incredible album. Each song is so different yet so atmospheric and unique. Nothing more really needs to be said.

8. Opus-5 - Contre Courant
Another great Quebecois band along with Harmonium, Maneige (which I've yet to hear), among many others. Another fusion favorite of mine, and again the songs stand out far above many other fusion albums I've heard.

9. Gentle Giant - Octopus
Another album that clicked with me, and really changed how I listened to music. This album really got me listening to more difficult music after I hunted for melodic music for so long. All of them are performed very well by the versatile

10. Sloche - J'un Oeil
Another great Quebecois album, man that area was a blessing to prog in the 70s. Basically its just a bunch of fun, quirky, french jazz-rock tunes.

Well...the top 7 are pretty standard. Anything below tends to vary a lot. Octopus is a long time favorite though.

This is very hard and i dont know why im even trying theres so many great albums its imposible to pick yust 10 as your absolute favoirtes but i make a try:

Edited by Zargus - August 17 2007 at 23:01

I've noticed that a lot of people are trying to be as objective as they can, but I'm going to say to hell with that and be completely subjective to my own whims. The following list will contain 10 that I consider to be completely indispensible for me and reflect what I consider to be the best that progressive music has to offer, and, by coincidence, the best 10 albums that I own.

1. Pain Of Salvation- The Perfect Element Part 1- The Perfect Element, the perfect album. Despite having absolutely no experinces remotely similar to those of the two protagonists in this concept album, I still cant help but empathise with them greatly, something I atribute to the brilliant lyrics and awe inspiring delivery of Daniel Gildenlow, the greatest singer of the modern era and possibly of all time, backed up by the brilliant vocal harmonies of Kristoffer Gildenlow and Johan Halgren that have been put to perfect use. Musically this is made up of technically impressive and complex melodies that work in a total harmony with the vocals and lyrics, making this album the only case that I can think of, to such a degree, that would suffer if any of the three aspects were changed or removed. What I love about this band is that, just like Genesis 30 years before them, they concentrait on composition far more than many other bands, and this is the perfect result.
2. Genesis- Foxtrot- This is were Genesis attained the greatness that they had been promising to since Trespass. The classic line up perfects the style that they have been employing on the last two albums and to an impressive effect. I love each song on here and honestly believe that this is not only the bands peek, but the peek of classic progressive rock that no other band really got close to.
3. Dream Theater- Scenes From A Memory: Metropolis Part II- Dream Theater have been the figure heads of Prog-metal since their classic album Images and Words, some 7 years previously, but on this album they unleashed eerything they had musically without ever feeling like they were just wollowing in pointless self indulgence. DT have always maintained their position more through a masterful command of melody blended with technicalaty and never having two albums that sound the same rather than being trully progressive and unique. The style they have performed in for most of their career peeked here on Scenes... and proves to be a high point of the last 15 years worth of music.
4. Pink Floyd- Animals- Simply a haunting album that alwasy gives me the creeps, but leaves me coming back for more. I consider this the bands peek, the culmination of their carrer and the perfect blend of their style of space rock and blues based rock that could be quite clearly heard in their music. A triumph of composition over individual technical display.
5. Maudlin of the Well- Leaving Your Body Map- Absolutely incredible. Avant garde metal that proves that dissonence isnt a requirment. Though it moves between gentle acoustic sections and crushing death metal (though both aspects sound nothing like Opeth, despite the fact they could be described similarly), aided greatly by the use of horns/woodwind and string instruments, it never fails to creat an overall atmospher of bliss, one of those albums that just takes you far away.
6. White Willow- Storm Season- A dark, brooding album filled with some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. This album blends in flute, cello and violin to the standard of guitar, bass, drums and keyboards better than any album I have heard before or since. Emotive bass and lead guitar playing is backed up with a hard edged rhythm guitar and posobly the most unique mellotron playing since the 70's (despite it being the same person from Wobbler, which are rather more generic). Sylvia Erichson offers up her best performance on any of the White Willow CD's, with her vocals on Insomnia being simply mind blowing. Symphonic prog is trully alive.
7. Kayo Dot- Choirs of the Eye- The band Toby Driver put together from the ashes of maudlin of the Well, this their first album shows that rather than being avant garde metal they are now a fully avant garde band with metal tendoncies. Here, the most gentle passages sit side-by-side with some seriously dissonent parts, but never does it feel that they are simply doing something for the sake of it or miss matching musical ideas, everything flows togethor brilliantly. I consider The Manifold Curiosity to be one of the best songs recorded in the last 10 years
   
8. King Crimson- Larks' Tongues In Aspic- I often feel that the massive potential of KC's second incarnation, on Lizard and Islands, was never realised, with the music often being too passive and mundane, and that by the end of the third incarnation the band was close to a jazzy proto-metal. However, the start of that incarnation linked together the two aspects with magnificent results.
   
9. Opeth- Blackwater Park- I love the way that Opeth are able to blend death metal together with acoustic or more Camel esq playing and Steven Wilson was able to bring this out to its best on Blackwater Park. The idea to use lashing of E-bow really worked a treat and stimulates a very bleak and melencholic atmosphere. I admit that the death metal vocals are an acquired taste butI dont think the album would work so well without them.
10. Marillion- Script for a Jesters Tear- Marillions first album and one that they have strugled to live up to since, though have got damn close on several occasions. The absolute epitomy of Neo prog, with the songs being very definitely melody led but never lacking in technical ability. Pete Trewaves is one of the best bassists I have ever heard and some of his best work is right here supporting some of the most emotive guitar playing from Steve Rothery and Fish's distinct vocals that are a blend of Peter Gabriel and Peter Hammil.

I've noticed that most of this list is from modern bands and albums rather than the "old guard" that makes up most other peoples lists. To me this proves that prog is just as, well, progressive and creative now as it ever has been.

Ah, it's hard to choose ten, many alternates could have been listed easily, but this is what came off the top of my head (plus albums by Arachnoid, Art Bears, Amon Duul II, and Area -- ten of one's favourite bands beginning with the letter A would be an easier task... not to mention Acquiring the Taste by Gentle Giant which was my favourite prog album for quite a long time and I still love... And I really feel that Univers Zero should be here and some later music like Koenjihyakkei which I'd love to add, but I'm limiting this to older bands).

Magma - MDK

Much as I loved this album from first listen, being a big fan of Orff, I considered this a little too derivative and so I placed other Magma albums in a higher position.  However, I really love the vocals in this one and rock-operatic nature.  It's one of the most exciting albums I've heard.  Magma is a very influential band, and for many this is their masterpiece.  I love most of their albums.

Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom

No it's not an exercise guide for firm buttocks, but it did make my backside clench with joy.  Wow, poignant, beautiful, a little crazy, and whimsical.  Wonderful album.  This is a true masterpiece for me, and it's all the more inspirational due to the circumstance behind the album.  Every track is very special to me.  A very important album to many.

Vortex - Les Cycles de Thanatos

Imagine yourself sitting in a whirlpool bath while bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles, unicycles and popsicles glide by (belonging to Thanatos -- i.e Death -- of course).  Now imagine that you're being sucked into that whirlpool and drowning and you'll have amazingly little conception of what this album sounds like.  The music is wonderfully progressive in how it builds, and shows fine compositional and instrumental skills.  There is a  repetitive nature to the music (the themes go in cycles) and it swirls about like a, well, like a vortex of course.  It's an epic journey akin to lively traipsing over the hummock of light, then descending into the valley of darkness.

Picchio dal Pozzo - Abbiamo Tutti I Suoi Problemi

Just when I thought I was starting to go off Italian Prog (having been a big fan of a great deal of Italian Prog), I discovered Picchio dal Pozzo's eponymous debut.  What a great album it is, but I have subsequently found myself returning to this follow-up more.  Whereas many other bands I once loved from the Italian prog scene have palled over time, this album remains fresh to me.  Also, the instrumentation is similar to many RIO/ Avant Prog bands I love.  Great sax, and vibraphone to boot! Hey, my phone vibrates too which is kind of distracting sometimes since I store it in my pants.

Eskaton - Ardeur

I hadn't originally thought that I could like this as much as Eskaton's debut, but like with Picchio dal Pozzo, the follow -up album grew on me greatly quickly.  Love the vocal qualities.  Ardeur heated me up with its boppy, funky, throbbing, and upbeat goodness.  Very spunky.  "Dagon" was the inital standout for me, and dog-gone it, it is good.  I still return to this album, as well as the following Eskaton album, a lot.

Comus - First Utterance

Ah, the dreaded Comus FU.  I know that some of you think this album is sick and depraved, disgusting, an abomination, but I don't think one can doubt the talent on display.  Love it... From the the rather fun Diana to the  hauntingly beautiful The Herald (what great guitar-work) to the disturbed brilliance of Drip to Drip to the amazing and playful Song to Comus to crucifying Christians and more there is never a dull moment. Okay, not for everyone, but I find the music VERY good, and it tells interesting macabre stories, and explores legend/ myth.  Comus is not the kind of guy you'd want to take home to your family, but I expect he might make a good bowling partner if you took the time to know him.  Comus wants to play, play, play, play.

Gong - You

Possibly the best of the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy (Angel's Egg is about tied for me).  Great spacey album.  "Isle of Everywhere" sends my mind on a retro-futuristic voyage to a really cool orgy where there are women dancing in silver and/or white go-go boots, and wearing minimal tinfoil and cellophane bits.  Sw**ky; it takes me to a happy place.

Dün - Eros

Loosely based on Dune somewhat somehow (you can see that in some of the titles and it's pronounced DUNE not DONE), this is one heck of an album.  Eros is the god of lust and love, and this was an album I lusted after for some time.  If the worms are l'Epice, then let this worm its way into your heart... Even better than a case of heart-worm is the xylophone.

Present - Le Poison Qui Rend Fou

Looking for that perfect Present for Valentine's Day?  Give him or her "the poison that makes insane." Tainted love; your partner will go crazy for it.  I was contemplating whether to include this album or Univers Zero's Heresie, but chose this one since it doesn't get talked about so much (I tend to prefer the more acoustic side so UZ might seem a more obvious choice and I really wish I was including UZ which is fantastic).  Anyway, it's jazzy, dark, has a nice vocal touch, and generally fits my mood well.  I really do think it's a great album even if it's relatively simple compositionally compared to some similar music.

Art Zoyd - Musique pour l'Odyssee

Two members of the great Univers Zero are involved in this.  Comes off like a soundtrack to a weird and wonderful movie.  Terrific instrumentation, a real journey.  This appeals to my acoustic non-rockin' side greatly.  It gets under my skin and the strings make me feel all tingly.


Now I'd like to make a more recent Prog list, but I've neglected so many of my favourites for this all-too short one as it is.  Sorry that I have not adequately explained what makes these albums so special to me... I know what I like and I like what I know.  This is really just a  list of some of my favourites.  I have not numbered them because I think they are all terrific and am not treating this as a contest.


Edited by Logan - August 18 2007 at 05:27

1. Foxtrot (Genesis) This album has so much, the majestic chord progressions and massive use of the dueling keyboards and guitars in Watcher of the Skies. The playful lyrics in Get Em out by Friday. The drums in Can-Utility, and of Course, the mother of all epics, Supper's Ready.

2. The Dark Side of The Moon (Pink Floyd)
Every song here is perfect with great psychedelic moments and amazing lyrics. The concept is wonderful, and Gilmour's guitar playing.

3. Aqualung (Jethro Tull)
Perhaps the most song-oriented album in Progressive Rock. Every song is amazing and all the songs are made only for themselves, not some big concept. Sometimes concepts can take away from the individual songs, and allow bands not to have an amazing song for every song, so there is story or concept filler. Not with this album. Great song after great song.

I'll come back with the rest later.