I should as well Greg.. I love those albums ... electronic music though is something I enjoy.. but hasn't quite 'bit' yet. I loved that Schulze album Rico recommended to me.. Mirage..  fabulous. But I still am a bit of a 'rocker' at heart...  on that note... from the Queen of Prog Related herself.

Since Greg got my second album in mind.. let's go with the third.  A masterpiece....





Ghost Rider
(Raffaella)
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Rainbow's second album, released not even one year after their debut, is widely considered as one of the masterpieces of hard rock, as well as one of the cornerstones on which Symphonic Prog Metal was founded. Though somewhat short for today's standards (not even 35 minutes long... about half the length of your average Dream Theater CD), it is nevertheless packed with breathtaking performances by a dream-team of musicians such as incomparable guitar wizard Ritchie Blackmore, diminutive yet iron-lunged vocalist Ronnie James Dio, and powerhouse drummer Cozy Powell (RIP - one of the saddest losses for the rock world). Keyboard player Tony Carey and bassist Jimmy Bain (later to join RJ Dio's eponymous band, with which he plays to this day) are no slouches either - the band is incredibly tight, as attested by the numerous live performances recorded at the time.

As in the case of 'mother' band Deep Purple, keyboards play a large role on this album: opener "Tarot Woman" is introduced by atmospheric synths, before the rest of the band kicks in with a crushing mid-tempo above which Dio's vocals soar. "Run with the Wolf" is another mid-paced song, quite a typical example of the Dio-era output; while the dynamic "Starstruck", undoubtedly one of Rainbow's most popular songs, features intriguing, unusual lyrics about a female stalker. The catchy yet undistinguished "Do You Close Your Eyes", possibly the only item on the album to be considered as filler (and the shortest too), closes what on vinyl was the A-side. The best, however, is yet to come...

There are only two tracks on what was the B-side, but what tracks! Accompanied by a full orchestra, the 8-minute-plus epic "Stargazer" is without any doubt the blueprint for all Symphonic Prog Metal bands, a staggering tour de force sprinkled with dazzling guitar work by the Man in Black himself, and a stellar vocal performance by RJ Dio - one of the best singers EVER in the whole history of rock. His delivery of the sword-and-sorcery-themed lyrics is nothing short of amazing, and makes one wonder at the staying power of his lungs.

Closer "A Light in the Black" is the fastest song on the album, where Tony Carey's keyboards really come into their own. However, this track is also a showcase for Cozy Powell's incredible skill with double bass drums, and clear the ground from any doubts that he was John Bonham's natural heir, the archetypal hard rock drummer. Dio and Blackmore's performances are also immaculate.

I know that, since Rainbow belong to Prog Related, I am not really supposed to give "Rising" five stars - but I will, without any regrets, and not only because it is one of my all-time favourite albums. While not fully prog by any means, it is richly textured, perfectly played, bombastic, operatic and pretentious enough (and I mean every one of these words in a completely positive sense) to appeal to most lovers of 'real' prog. This is no mind-numbing, bludgeoning, run-of-the-mill metal opus - it is a masterpiece of ROCK MUSIC. Period. Enjoy to the fullest.

Edited by micky - May 12 2008 at 18:37

toss it on   I thought it was a nice idea myself.

Haven't heard that JMJ album just have two by him Oxygene and Equinoxe

.. nor that FM album Greg.

Headroom: Direct to Disc

by FM

Studio Album, released in 1978

Track Listings

1. Headroom
2. Border crossing

Line-up/Musicians

- Martin Deller / drums, percussion
- Cameron Hawkins / bass, synthesizers
- Ben Mink / electric violin, electric mandolin

Releases information

LP Labyrinth LBR 1001

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition | Edit this entry

---

slipperman
(Jeff Wagner)
PROG REVIEWER

oh god.. I had forgotten COMPLETELY about that album.  Digging that one out.

^  you got the next I was going  to choose 

Was flipping through reviews this morning and came across a review that sort of flipped the switch in my head and lit that dim ol' 40 watter than passes for a brain of mine. 

Within the Prog Related category we have here...  there are albums.. fully prog albums that are MASTERPIECES of prog.  Yet I do wonder just how many, especially those are our... younger ... cast of characters around here..  appreciate them rather than just seeing a name and figuring that however added that group was hitting the pipe one day and got one over on the forum by having this group added.


Starting a thread here to spotlight some albums that are musts in any prog fans collection.. along with a selected review that best explains why that album should be in every prog fans collection. I'm sure the Queen of Prog Related will be by after she gets her beauty sleep and will share with us some albums that are musts in your collection as well.

To start.. hell.. why not the album (and review) that gave me the idea.


 4.70
Essential: a masterpiece of
progressive music

Studio Album, released in 1974

Track Listings

1. Career Of Evil (4:00)
2. Subhuman (4:38)
3. Dominance And Submission (5:22)
4. ME 262 (4:47)
5. Cagey Cretins (3:16)
6. Harvester Of Eyes (4:41)
7. Flaming Telepaths (5:19)
8. Astronomy (6:28)

Bonus tracks on Sony Legacy remaster (2001):
9. Boorman The Chauffeur (3:12)
10. Mommy (3:32)
11. Mes Dames Sarat (4:06)
12. Born To Be Wild (single B-side) (3:40)
13. Career Of Evil (single version) (3:00)

King By-Tor
(Mike)
Prog Reviewer The peak of a career of evil

While best known by most for their immortal smash hit (Don't Fear) The Reaper of their best selling Agents of Fortune album, fans will almost always shrug that one off and point at this as their favorite Blue Oyster Cult [BOC] album. The third and final album in the band's opening trio (the black and white era), this album epitomizes everything that made those albums great and takes the entire being of their music to the stratosphere. Propelled by rocking riffs, haunting keys and very evil lyrics (and vocals), this is a decidedly non-prog album (but close! So close...) that no prog fan should miss out on.

What puts this album so high above it's brethren is a number of things. Almost every BOC album will have everything that was mentioned in the previous paragraph, but this one is a paragon of everything their other albums did well. While their debut disc showed a band with promise and the sophomore showed a huge lean towards the heavy, fast and dark with a great maturity in lyrics this album is a greater leap. The playing is tight, the lyrics are chilling and well thought out and there's not a weak track to be had on the album (something BOC are usually guilty of). In fact, this album hosts a multitude of songs that (while lesser known) are probably the best in the band's entire career.

In my review for the band's debut I noted that Eric Bloom had not yet found his ''voice'' yet. Well, while he found it on their second outing, it's very clear that here the man knows what he's doing. In the rare case of Bloom voicing just about every track on the album (Only Laneir steps in for a moment on the third and fifth tracks), but while other members definitely had voices for specific types of songs, Bloom's was certainly the best choice for this album. Emotional, powerful, moving. Bloom really decided to let loose here, as evident on songs like the chilling tale of Subhuman

Synths pack an extra punch on the album behind the trio guitars of Bloom, Lanier and Dharma, another thing that separates this album from their others. This is also a big thing that will entice the prog heads! Yes, they use this instrument quite well on the album as evident with the pressing yet almost floating keys that open Career Of Evil. Another part where these keys really make an impact is after the stellar drum wailing that opens the terrifying Flaming Telepaths.

As usual, the band excels when heavy and fast, laying on the rock. As evident in songs like the jet-powered ME 262 with its frantic pace in the harmonized vocals, and the rocking riff of Dominance And Submission is only made better by the breakdowns which have Bloom's voice (effectively and dissonantly) cutting off the backing vox.

And while the first half of the album is very very strong the second half simply blows the first half out of the water. Cagey Cretins is a scorching opener with tight playing and solos from one mr. Dharma, but that's only the start. Harvester Of Eyes is a surprisingly upbeat considering it's lyrics are some of the most twisted ever written by a human being. Or a harvester of eyes for that matter. Flaming Telepaths takes that evil, however, and just makes it all the more scary. Bloom's vocals are soft and emotional to open the frantic piece of work that is the track but soon move into the darker territories. Those synths don't let down and the backing piano only adds more mood to something that just keeps getting better until it reaches its climax which is inhabited by a wonderful tradeoff piano-synth solo along with the repeated hook (''And the joke's on you!'').

Astronomy is likely the most ''progressive'' song the band has ever record and its caliber is right up their with the more catchy The Reaper. A 20+ minute epic captured in a mere 6:28 with it's soft and peaceful piano opening leading into it's spine chilling end in which Bloom's vocals punch as hard as being hit by a bus, this track is simply put - stunning.

Though perhaps not progressive this album comes pretty darn close. Regardless, this album is completely essential to anyone who likes anything even slightly heavy. The material on the album also warrants enough of a prog feel thanks to it's many layers, complexities, mini-epics, synths and wonderful writing. 5 stars! Recommended to each and every person who fancies music.