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Prog bands that pass the 5 album test
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The Anders View Drop Down
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I would have brought Can up here, except Soundtracks isn't necessarily great (with the exception of "Mother Sky"). Apart from that, there's a string of excellent albums from Monster Movie to Future Days.
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Some favourites not mention yet:

Amon Duul II

Phallus Dei
Yeti
Tanz Der Lemminge
Carnival in Babylon (the weakest album of this bunch, still great music)
Wolf City


Anekdoten

Vemod
Nucleus
From Within
Gravity
A Time of Day (the weakest album of this bunch, still great music)
Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
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Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

Nice to see such enthusiasm for this thread!

Though personally I've fluctuated in using 4.11 to 4.25 to define a "minor masterpiece" and between 3.89 and 4.11 for "near-masterpieces," I've always thought that the standard criterion for this topic was a 4.0 SQL average per album! So, to see/hear a 3.50 album being called a "masterpiece" is, to me, like calling the runner/swimmer who doesn't make it out of the preliminary rounds an "Olympic medalist"!

Let's get back to reality here, folks. Even a 3.99 average SQL does not connote a consensus "masterpiece"!

How many bands here in the PA database can say that they've achieved a 4.0 average, for five studio albums, in a row, during their career? 

NOT MANY!

These are the superstars of progressive rock music, the standard setters.



For me the game isn't as interesting to play with a 4.00 cutoff, because of what you said. There just aren't very many bands at all which pass that mark. I figured 3.5 is still pretty high marks. Not masterpiece, no, but far enough above average to constitute a member of a great streak.
Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :)
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Originally posted by projeKct projeKct wrote:

Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

Nice to see such enthusiasm for this thread!

Though personally I've fluctuated in using 4.11 to 4.25 to define a "minor masterpiece" and between 3.89 and 4.11 for "near-masterpieces," I've always thought that the standard criterion for this topic was a 4.0 SQL average per album! So, to see/hear a 3.50 album being called a "masterpiece" is, to me, like calling the runner/swimmer who doesn't make it out of the preliminary rounds an "Olympic medalist"!

Let's get back to reality here, folks. Even a 3.99 average SQL does not connote a consensus "masterpiece"!

How many bands here in the PA database can say that they've achieved a 4.0 average, for five studio albums, in a row, during their career? 

NOT MANY!

These are the superstars of progressive rock music, the standard setters.


I get your point (I'm a math teacher) but I think the OP wanted to know about our own perception/ratings and not about the PA community perception/ratings. For example, in my list (a few posts above) I named bands with consecutive 4- or 5-stars ratings... for me!

This is how I interpreted the question as well. 
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Originally posted by Frenetic Zetetic Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Originally posted by Mirakaze Mirakaze wrote:

Gentle Giant is an obvious contender: their first eight albums are practically all gold (six consecutive ones are rated higher than four stars on this website). Area's first five albums are all pretty spectacular as well in my opinion.

GG gets ruined for me with In A Glass House (which has always been my least favorite of the classic giants), but Area is certainly one I should have thought of. Good call. 

Damn that's an unpopular GG opinion; that's my favorite GG entry!

I also agree that GG makes this list. I love everything up to and including Interview.

tis true. Tongue

Don't ask me why. The only obvious thing is the end of Way Of Life, which I do want to conclude in some actual way. But other than that...tt just suffers something for me. That little magic spark I don't feel like I do on the rest of that 8.

But I still like the album, its just given the criteria of the thread I can't honestly say they fit five in a row for my taste. 
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Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

Nice to see such enthusiasm for this thread!

Though personally I've fluctuated in using 4.11 to 4.25 to define a "minor masterpiece" and between 3.89 and 4.11 for "near-masterpieces," I've always thought that the standard criterion for this topic was a 4.0 SQL average per album! So, to see/hear a 3.50 album being called a "masterpiece" is, to me, like calling the runner/swimmer who doesn't make it out of the preliminary rounds an "Olympic medalist"!

Let's get back to reality here, folks. Even a 3.99 average SQL does not connote a consensus "masterpiece"!

How many bands here in the PA database can say that they've achieved a 4.0 average, for five studio albums, in a row, during their career? 

NOT MANY!

These are the superstars of progressive rock music, the standard setters.


I get your point (I'm a math teacher) but I think the OP wanted to know about our own perception/ratings and not about the PA community perception/ratings. For example, in my list (a few posts above) I named bands with consecutive 4- or 5-stars ratings... for me!
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Originally posted by Sacro_Porgo Sacro_Porgo wrote:

I've never actually listened to the english versions, so that was interesting to read. It appears they're a little bit more different than I thought. How good is Old Rain? I'd never looked closely enough to realize there's a brand new piece on Photos Of Ghosts, and that plus the other couple differences you mentioned makes me wonder if maybe I should pick it up. I've run across it probably half a dozen times in record stores but put it down because I wanted to hold out for Per Un Amico, hard as that is to find.
You really should give Photos of Ghosts a try. You can listen to it here. Then, if you like it, I recommend you to buy the 2010 Esoteric remaster, with 6 bonus tracks!


Edited by projeKct - August 18 2021 at 15:44
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Points: 8192 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 18 2021 at 15:41
Nice to see such enthusiasm for this thread!

Though personally I've fluctuated in using 4.11 to 4.25 to define a "minor masterpiece" and between 3.89 and 4.11 for "near-masterpieces," I've always thought that the standard criterion for this topic was a 4.0 SQL average per album! So, to see/hear a 3.50 album being called a "masterpiece" is, to me, like calling the runner/swimmer who doesn't make it out of the preliminary rounds an "Olympic medalist"!

Let's get back to reality here, folks. Even a 3.99 average SQL does not connote a consensus "masterpiece"!

How many bands here in the PA database can say that they've achieved a 4.0 average, for five studio albums, in a row, during their career? 

NOT MANY!

These are the superstars of progressive rock music, the standard setters.
Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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Originally posted by projeKct projeKct wrote:

Originally posted by Sacro_Porgo Sacro_Porgo wrote:

For some of those mentioning PFM. Why do you think both Photos Of Ghosts and Per Un Amico should be counted, even though they're mostly the same album with different lyrics? Same question for The World Became The World and L'Isola Di Niente?
I guess you're right, we shouldn't count them as different albums, but they are so good... Big smile

Anyway, I just did a comparison between those PFM albums, and here is what I found:


Photos of Ghosts is like Per un amico with English lyrics (except for Il banchetto) + a new recording of E festa from their first album. But there are several notable differences.

1. River of Life has an outro, while Appena un po' has an intro
2. Celebration feels like a radio edit of E festa, but is a new recording
3. Photos of Ghosts and Per un amico are identical, except for the new lyrics
4. Old Rain is a new instrumental piece, only available on this album
5. Il banchetto is of course identical on both albums
6. Mr. 9 'till 5 and Generale! are identical, with added lyrics
7. Promenade the Puzzle and Geranio are identical, except for the new lyrics and the ending


The World Became the World is like L'isola di niente with English lyrics + a new recording of Impressioni di settembre from their first album.

1. The Mountain and L'isola di niente are identical, except for the new lyrics
2. Just Look Away and Dolcissima Maria are identical, except for the new lyrics
3. The World Became the World and Impressioni di settembre are very different, not even in the same key! and the ending...
4. Four Holes in the Ground and La luna nuova are identical, except for the new lyrics
5. Is My Face on Straight? is of course identical on both albums
6. Have Your Cake and Beat It and Via Lumière are identical


And the running order for both albums are different.

You may already know all of that, but it was fun to do these comparisons.

I've never actually listened to the english versions, so that was interesting to read. It appears they're a little bit more different than I thought. How good is Old Rain? I'd never looked closely enough to realize there's a brand new piece on Photos Of Ghosts, and that plus the other couple differences you mentioned makes me wonder if maybe I should pick it up. I've run across it probably half a dozen times in record stores but put it down because I wanted to hold out for Per Un Amico, hard as that is to find.
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Godspeed You Black Emperor have seven albums, the lowest is rated 3.70.
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Originally posted by Sacro_Porgo Sacro_Porgo wrote:

For some of those mentioning PFM. Why do you think both Photos Of Ghosts and Per Un Amico should be counted, even though they're mostly the same album with different lyrics? Same question for The World Became The World and L'Isola Di Niente?
I guess you're right, we shouldn't count them as different albums, but they are so good... Big smile

Anyway, I just did a comparison between those PFM albums, and here is what I found:


Photos of Ghosts is like Per un amico with English lyrics (except for Il banchetto) + a new recording of E festa from their first album. But there are several notable differences.

1. River of Life has an outro, while Appena un po' has an intro
2. Celebration feels like a radio edit of E festa, but is a new recording
3. Photos of Ghosts and Per un amico are identical, except for the new lyrics
4. Old Rain is a new instrumental piece, only available on this album
5. Il banchetto is of course identical on both albums
6. Mr. 9 'till 5 and Generale! are identical, with added lyrics
7. Promenade the Puzzle and Geranio are identical, except for the new lyrics and the ending


The World Became the World is like L'isola di niente with English lyrics + a new recording of Impressioni di settembre from their first album.

1. The Mountain and L'isola di niente are identical, except for the new lyrics
2. Just Look Away and Dolcissima Maria are identical, except for the new lyrics
3. The World Became the World and Impressioni di settembre are very different, not even in the same key! and the ending...
4. Four Holes in the Ground and La luna nuova are identical, except for the new lyrics
5. Is My Face on Straight? is of course identical on both albums
6. Have Your Cake and Beat It and Via Lumière are identical


And the running order for both albums are different.

You may already know all of that, but it was fun to do these comparisons.


Edited by projeKct - August 18 2021 at 14:50
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Going by PA ratings and 3.50 threshold, Zappa has a string of 13 from Waka/Jawaka through Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch.

Eloy has a string of 9 from Inside to Time to Turn.

Banco almost made it, but Garofano Rosso is rated 3.49

It's too bad we can't do some sort of SQL query on the database to find all such strings, not that I would remember how to do it since I haven't worked with SQL queries since the 1990s.
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

Oh, and BTW, I think ELP's Works Vol 1 is under rated here. it deserves a 3.50 or better rating. There is a ton of good material on that album.
Works for me! I gave ELP's best album the full five-star treatment.  Thumbs Up
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I've thought of another one that hasn't been mentioned yet, and PA appears to mostly disagree since neither "Product" nor "Do They Hurt?" crosses the 3.50 threshold, but I think all of Brand X's first five albums are masterpieces (and honestly, even "Is There Anything About?" in my opinion deserves much better than the 2.83 that this site's merciless userbase awarded it...Cry)
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Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

Oh, and BTW, I think ELP's Works Vol 1 is under rated here. it deserves a 3.50 or better rating. There is a ton of good material on that album.
Works for me! I gave ELP's best album the full five-star treatment.  Thumbs Up
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Oh, and BTW, I think ELP's Works Vol 1 is under rated here. it deserves a 3.50 or better rating. There is a ton of good material on that album.
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Originally posted by Shadowyzard Shadowyzard wrote:

Voyager:
Univers (2007) - 3.87
I Am The Revolution (2009) - 4.16
The Meaning of I (2011) - 3.96
V (2014) - 3.92
Ghost Mile (2017) - 3.84

Symphony X:
The Divine Wings of Tragedy (1997) - 4.13
Twilight in Olympus (1998) - 3.75
V: The New Mythology Suite (2000) - 4.14
The Odyssey (2002) - 3.96
Paradise Lost (2007) - 3.80

Vanden Plas:
The God Thing (1997) - 3.88
Far Off Grace (1999) - 3.84
Beyond Daylight (2002) - 4.01
Christ 0 (2006) - 3.93
The Seraphic Clockwork (2010) - 3.80


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I don't think I saw The Moody Blues listed yet.
This passes Sacro_Porgo's 3.50 ratings test as well.

Days of Future Passed 4.19
In Search of the Lost Cord 3.85
On The Threshold of a Dream 3.77
To Our Children's Children's Children 4.09
A Question Of Balance 3.53


Edited by JD - August 18 2021 at 10:40
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For some of those mentioning PFM. Why do you think both Photos Of Ghosts and Per Un Amico should be counted, even though they're mostly the same album with different lyrics? Same question for The World Became The World and L'Isola Di Niente?
Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :)
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Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

Originally posted by Sacro_Porgo Sacro_Porgo wrote:

To round out the Big 6 (which I was doing semi unintentionally just looking through the top albums of the PA top 100 list), here's Emerson, Lake, And Palmer. Similar to Pink Floyd, there is one way you can cheat them in, and I'm actually partial to this. As far as their standard studio discography goes, they just miss the mark with that opening 4 albums run:

Emerson, Lake, And Palmer ~ 4.23
Tarkus ~ 4.06
Trilogy ~ 4.14
Brain Salad Surgery ~ 4.14
Works Vol. 1 ~ ....2.94 ouch

BUT! If you toss in Pictures At An Exhibition, sitting between the debut and Tarkus, you can turn that four album run into five. Pictures doesn't pass the 4.00 mark, but it manages to get close with a score of 3.88. Why am I more partial to this cheat than to cheating with Pink Floyd? Typically, live albums shouldn't really count for these discussions, not because they're recorded live, but because they don't feature any new material, or perhaps a single new song or new cover. However, Pictures is an exception to this tendency, as the whole album features ELP playing material which cannot be heard on any of their studio releases: a massive rendition of the orchestral piece by the same name, but totally reinterpreted ELP style (with lyrics and vocals!). To many ELP fans it functions as an album much the same way as any of their studio recordings, despite being live and despite being (technically) a massive cover. So I'm for including it. With Floyd on the other hand, one would have to play by a different set of rules which would negate soundtrack albums on account of their soundtrackiness. Presumably any rule which would negate soundtracks, despite being composed of new material and presented much the same as albums proper, would also negate live albums, even Pictures At An Exhibition. So I think it comes down to whether you'd like Floyd to have the 5 album run or ELP. I'll go with ELP, since they don't get enough love for what they did.
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