Collaborators Top Albums of 2007 - Results

I was surprised when found out that FOABP is the best album of 2007 in most people's opinions. I don't want to say that the album is bad, but it's definitely a step back for Porcupines.
To be honest, 2007 was full of great prog albums, just to mention Oceansize, Pelican, Satellite or The Gourishankar.

2006 and 2005 had pictures and some words to it...

mmm, I guess it´s good, Porcupine Tree, although I have many times stated which album I thought was the best of the year (In glorious times) is more than acceptable... I miss the pictures, that´s all

schizoid_man77 wrote: ^Ah, someone who actually liked City of echoes! I liked it too, very good sit back and relax music, not very progressive though.

Yeah, I agree with you, but City Of Echoes is the only Pelican album I like, it differs from the previous albums strongly - no more sludge in their music.

Dear God!

lightbulb_son wrote: Dear God!   Radiohead at 78!!!   SACRILEGE!!! BLASPHEMY!!!

I concur. It truly is

moreitsythanyou wrote: lightbulb_son wrote: Dear God!   Radiohead at 78!!!   SACRILEGE!!! BLASPHEMY!!!   I concur. It truly is

lightbulb_son wrote: Kotro wrote: moreitsythanyou wrote: lightbulb_son wrote: Dear God!   Radiohead at 78!!!   SACRILEGE!!! BLASPHEMY!!!   I concur. It truly is   I also agree that it is quite scandalous. Shouldn't even have made the list...     Oh you Radiohead haters you

This year was a bit of a disappointment.  In Abstentia is one of my all time favorites and I love Deadwing, but FOABP has not tripped my trigger.  Neal Morse also was not near as good as what I feel was his crowning achievement, ?. Seiges Even was a bit of a letdown and I didn’t even bother buying Rush, my first love in music.  I couldn’t find 13^th Star or Dear hunter, which I would like to hear.  Flower Kings, Glass Hammer were great and Phideaux, which I just heard yesterday is also really good.

lightbulb_son wrote: Kotro wrote: lightbulb_son wrote: Kotro wrote: moreitsythanyou wrote: lightbulb_son wrote: Dear God!   Radiohead at 78!!!   SACRILEGE!!! BLASPHEMY!!!   I concur. It truly is   I also agree that it is quite scandalous. Shouldn't even have made the list...     Oh you Radiohead haters you   Not a hater, mate. I was just now listening to Kid A. I'm just a realist.   I don't think it measures up with Kid A either, or OK Computer for that matter, but it still towers over the majority of 2007's offerings IMO.

I actually do prefer it to OK Computer by a bit but yeah pales in comparison to Kid A and Amnesiac. Still, as you said, towers over the 2007 offerings, and it's been a damn good year for music.

johnobvious wrote: The Wizard wrote: Best of 2007 = Robert Wyatt - Comicopera   it's an undeniable fact If this album is so good, why aren't there many more reviews for it?  I haven't heard it but was considering buying it last night with an itunes credit I have.  Only 3 written reviews for the number 2 album of the year seems a little odd.  I went with The Dear Hunter instead.

The music speaks for itself.   It gets mentioned by a number of "Collaborators" quite a bit, but not that much by others, and non-"Prog Reviewer" collaborators are often busier with other site things than reviews.

It's my most played album of 2007, but I wouldn't recommend it to most Proggers.  It's subtle, tasteful, and mature with an intimate sound.  When one is tired of the excess of so much Prog this is a refreshing album to visit that is categorised under the "prog umbrella".  I don't think it that "Prog", actually, but nicely progressive.  It's rather poppy and light jazzy, but lovely, and with a wonderful sense of wit and sincerity.  Some won't like some of the messages in the music as Wyatt has a leftist ideology.

Anyway, if one is not that familiar with Wyatt, this wouldn't be the first I'd recommend.  Rock Bottom is his one to start with and his work with Soft Machine and Matching Mole.

If I were to review it (reviewing not being my thing), I don't know that I'd have much to say of interest.  It's more smoky pub, or smoky lounge music than big arena music.  Maybe because it has an intimate feel to it, and doesn't try to hit you over the head with wow moments (is subtle), one may not feel compelled to review it so much even if one loves the music.  Better to experience it intimately, for me, than to read about it and share one's personal relationship with the music and the artist.  It helps greatly to be an admirer of Wyatt already -- it's a very personable album from a personable artist.  And while it is not the most obviously Prog of albums, it's something that many fans of the Canterbury Scene will find much to love.

It has made various professional magazine lists as one of the best of the year.

It wasn't my number one choice in the end, but it's the one I really enjoy and continually revisit -- I gave Rational Diet's as my top choice  (it only has three written reviews too).

JohnObvious, looking at your reviews, I see you haven't reviewed any Canterbury Scene albums.  I don't know how much you know from the category, or how much you like Canterbury Scene music already, nor do I know how much you like jazzy music, but based on your reviews, it is not something that I would recommend to you.  I'd go to other Canterbury and Wyatt albums beforehand (though this is a very accessible album, I would say, generally-speaking).


Edited by Logan - February 06 2008 at 14:52