Best 7 studio album run

How about Amon Düül 2 "Phallus Dei" to "Hijack"? I think the latter is a bit underrated with the average rating of 2.74; I would give it a 3.5 instead. "Phallus Dei", "Yeti", "Tanz der Lemminge", "Wolf City" and "Vive la Trance" are in my opinion all real gems; none of them below 4 stars. "Carnival in Babylon" is a bit weaker, but still a 3.5 to me. All in all a great run of seven studio albums.


Edited by AliceBaldieDaughter - May 31 2019 at 06:49

This is where we diverge in opinion. I'm just curious if you have ever tried to play the bass line in Big Money, the guitar parts to Manhattan Project, or the percussion to The Weapon? I am not going to argue about this, as you are perfectly entitled to your opinion and I respect it. But, I would kindly suggest you take a good look at the sheet music. I would characterize it as prog containing synth elements rather than synth pop.

That era is certainly a departure from their 1970s, early 1980s, guitar-out-front sound, with long pieces and odd time signatures. I love their earlier music very much, especially when they used classical guitar elements in addition to rock guitar. And, it is clear that in the 80s they were influenced by synth-oriented (electronic, synthpop) and other music forms in their 80s sound. I can hear influences from Kraftwerk, Numan, Devo, Human League, Talking Heads, The Police, ... dating back to Vital Signs and Through the Camera Eye on MP. But, I don't hear it as synthpop - rather, it's distinctly Rush and prog to me, but with a change in style. If you dig into the music, it is complex (Mystic Rhythms, for example) but in a radio friendly format. Yes (and related Asia) also changed their style at that time. To me, it was the times.

I think Rush was influenced by synth pop, though, because there was that sort of quirky robotic sound that was popular back then. Another song to include is New World Man. And, I remember seeing Geddy Lee with a Devolution button. Synth rock probably also, but I cannot really speak to that. Thank you for the clarification. I agree that Asia were quite proggy at times, but certainly the sound was a departure for Steve Howe from the early Yes sound of Fragile, The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, etc. I'm recalling the Indiana Jones video of Don't Cry (brilliant Intro on that, BTW) and swooning crowds during Heat of the Moment. And, the sound was a departure for Wetton from U.K. and Palmer from ELP sounds. But, I agree with you. The intro to Sole Survivor, for example, is very proggy indeed and inspired a friend of mine to write his own Intro. I consider Rush, Yes, and Asia to be, first and foremost, Prog, during the 80s, but not in the same format as early/mid-1970s and earlier Prog (which I also enjoy tremendously).

PS

I'm in a Land of Confusion over whether to vote for YES, The Magnificent Moodies or Genesis, but I'm In Too Deep now to remain undecided, so I'll vote for Genesis, even though I Can't Dance to any of their seven classic albums. 

1°Genesis
2° ex-aequo :-) YEs VDGG Tull Marillion Camel GG
By the way , are you so afraid of King Crimson ? ;-)

Kid A    
Amnesiac    
Hail to the Thief   
In Rainbows
The King of Limbs    
A Moon Shaped Pool