Collaborators' Top Albums List - 2010

harmonium.ro wrote: I've noticed the rift between the tastes of the general public on PA and the tastes of the collaborators sometime in 2009, when, in a not very inspired move, I started to check out most top rated (in the charts) albums of 2009, until I got fed up with the retro style. That left me disenchanted with prog as a scene, and even if I still like classic prog and don't listen to it any more.

I did that in 2010. But won't do so anymore, never again, I can assure you.
Had the exact same reaction. Luckily some intersting stuff made it there as well and it doesn't look too bad right now.

Dean wrote:  Excellent work Alex.   The results are a refection of current tastes/trends/fashion - it will be interesting to see how this pans-out over the next two years as these albums "sink-in"   The 2008 Collabs' top list has a few surprises when compared to the current PA chart for 2008:   Collabs' Top Albums List - 2008 1. Opeth - Watershed ... PA #22 2. Il Bacio della Medusa - Discesa agl'inferi d'un giovane amante ... PA #7 3. The Tangent - Not As Good As The Book ... PA #20 4. Pendragon - Pure ... PA #23 5. Beardfish - Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two ... PA #5 6. Steven Wilson - Insurgentes ... PA #36 7. Kayo Dot - Blue Lambency Downward ... PA #89 8. The Mars Volta - The Bedlam In Goliath ... PA #1 9. Cynic - Traced In Air ... PA #8 10. Meshuggah - obZen ... PA #56   It would be interesting to know how the collabs view those 10 albums today.

I've noticed the rift between the tastes of the general public on PA and the tastes of the collaborators sometime in 2009, when, in a not very inspired move, I started to check out most top rated (in the charts) albums of 2009, until I got fed up with the retro style. That left me disenchanted with prog as a scene, and even if I still like classic prog and don't listen to it any more.

Dean wrote:  Excellent work Alex.   The results are a refection of current tastes/trends/fashion - it will be interesting to see how this pans-out over the next two years as these albums "sink-in"   The 2008 Collabs' top list has a few surprises when compared to the current PA chart for 2008:   Collabs' Top Albums List - 2008 1. Opeth - Watershed ... PA #22 2. Il Bacio della Medusa - Discesa agl'inferi d'un giovane amante ... PA #7 3. The Tangent - Not As Good As The Book ... PA #20 4. Pendragon - Pure ... PA #23 5. Beardfish - Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two ... PA #5 6. Steven Wilson - Insurgentes ... PA #36 7. Kayo Dot - Blue Lambency Downward ... PA #89 8. The Mars Volta - The Bedlam In Goliath ... PA #1 9. Cynic - Traced In Air ... PA #8 10. Meshuggah - obZen ... PA #56   It would be interesting to know how the collabs view those 10 albums today.

sleeper wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: So basically we've got four main genres in the top: avant-prog, metal, fusion and RPI. What happened with the other genres? Anyone wants to comment on that? I know Haken is in Heavy and Zeuhl is sepparated from RIO/Avant, but let's not think of that for a while. Well, not many of the highly appreciated bands from Symphonic, Crossover, Neo, Heavy and Ecclectic realesed anything last year. This year will be different with White Willow, Paatos, Wobbler, Steven Wilson, Phideaux (I think), Pallas and Pendragon, maybe even Marillion, and thats just off the top of my head.

And Radiohead - not that they've every worried any charts around here much.

 Excellent work Alex.

Mellotron Storm wrote: Thanks for all the work and effort Alex ! An interesting top 10 for sure.I need to re-visit Clivages.  By the way Steve at Cuneiform Records was going to E-Mail Daniel from Univers Zero to give him the news.Kind of cool.

harmonium.ro wrote: This discussion has been done to death , I'll just say that you should try certain RPI bands to see that it's not just Italian symphonic bands, but there's a particular style that's much more than just symphonic. I'd recommend especially Franco Battiato, Area, Alan Sorrenti, Ricardo Zappa, Demetrios Stratos, Goblin, Latte E Miele, Stefano Testa or Maxophone.. There's also jazz, pop, psychedelic, folk and even electronic, chamber music and avantgarde in the style. RPI is not a place to hold the Italian bands, as half of the Italian bands are in other categories. And a lot of the bands would be rejected for Symphonic. I officially declare you a RPI negationist But really now, if you only know the mainly symphonic ones, than you've only skimmed the genre and there are many goodies to unearth.

Yes, I know that this discussion has been done to death and all that and in fact I know most bands you mentioned, but that is one of those things I simply don't agree with. Maybe I should have kept this kind of opinion to myself, but anyway.

harmonium.ro wrote: So basically we've got four main genres in the top: avant-prog, metal, fusion and RPI. What happened with the other genres? Anyone wants to comment on that? I know Haken is in Heavy and Zeuhl is sepparated from RIO/Avant, but let's not think of that for a while.

Mind you Alex, RPI is pretty much a non-genre. I have never understood the reason why the italian bands need to be separeted from the other symphonic bands. Hell, most of the big Brazilian progressive rock bands (as well as bands from the rest of South /Latin America) were much more unique, distinct and downright inovative than most of the Italians, besides having a own unique sound, quality or characteristic that could unite them in one single vein/style, which is the only reason why the Italian bands are separated. 

The quality of their output goes undisputed: most of them are terrific bands, just not distinct enough to have a sub-genre of their own, so consider RPI as an artificial division of symphonic.

Concerning the other genres, well, avant, metal, jazz and symphonic are the bigest genres. Art and space/psychedelic rock are missing, what is a shame, but you can't win 'em all, you know.

Triceratopsoil wrote: CCVP wrote: Triceratopsoil wrote: Brian also put it #2 on his list for MMA, though.  And Kevin agrees with me that it's better than The Mantle (it just took him a  while)   I hope you know that such a comparison is like saying Union is better than CTTE or that Systematic is better than I&W or that Invisible Touch is better than SEBTP. CTTE sucks, so...

That still proves my point.


Edited by CCVP - February 24 2011 at 18:37

CCVP wrote: Triceratopsoil wrote: Brian also put it #2 on his list for MMA, though.  And Kevin agrees with me that it's better than The Mantle (it just took him a  while)   I hope you know that such a comparison is like saying Union is better than CTTE or that Systematic is better than I&W or that Invisible Touch is better than SEBTP.

CTTE sucks, so...

Negoba wrote: Tapfret wrote: Negoba wrote:   I'm expecting several in 2011... No kidding, I have more 2011 releases from just the last 2 weeks than I have 2010 releases. Which ones might be worth checking out?

So far the brightest spot is the album I added yesterday Pitom - Blasphemy and Other Serious Crimes

I also picked up Faust - Something Dirty on a whim which I enjoy more than I thought I would.