Best Italian Prog one-offs
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Topic: Best Italian Prog one-offs
Posted By: American Khatru
Subject: Best Italian Prog one-offs
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 18:32
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I discovered Rock Progressivo Italiano for myself largely due to ProgArchives. I am hooked for life to this sub-genre! This poll is for all lovers of RPI's early 70's flowering. As I got into the bands, it was a most striking thing to me how there were all these cases wherein great musicians would make one album... then end. All things must pass surely. And then I noticed how, on repeated listening, it was usually these albums that I would turn to most, that I would come to call my favorites. Above I've listed all 11 of the one-off albums that I have. I'm sorry if I've missed any, but I couldn't honestly represent them anyway. (For purposes of this poll I consider a band to still be a one-off even if they had one earlier record that was clearly not prog, like Balletto; and even if they did release another album but only decades later, like Celeste; and believe me I struggled over whether to include Il Biglietto per L'Inferno, but after all the recording of "ll Tempo della Semina" is in fact contemporary with their eponimus record.) The poll is this: please pick out the three that you think are best. It would be too cruel to ask people to pick just one out of so many great records, but to pick more than three I think would start to muddy the waters. However I can't make the poll limit you to three so you'll have to do that yourselves kids  .Of course I hope people post something about their picks, perhaps even put them in a first-second-third order. I'm really curious to see the outcome of this, please participate! I'll make my picks on, oh I don't know, page five  . (It'd be great if that many people knew and loved this stuff.) |
Replies:
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 18:38
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In my opinion, Ys stands head and shoulders above the rest - one of the greatest keyboard albums ever recorded. And to think that in Italy you can find it for under 5 euros! Anyway, if I may offer a suggestion, there is at least another one RPI one-off that deserves a mention: Pholas Dactylus' Concerto delle menti: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=957 - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=957 One word of warning, though: the vocals are very peculiar (spoken rather than sung), and the lyrics (in Italian) totally out there. The music, though, is fantastic - very heavy and dramatic, with a strong King Crimson vibe. |
Posted By: Walker
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 18:40
| Locanda, Museo Rosenbach, and Maxophone for me... but Ys could easily replace any of those... |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 18:47
Wish I knew it. Awesome cover, really looks like it belongs! Sorry. I'll have to find that. |
Raff wrote:Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 18:51
enjoy... one of my favorite albums from the scene... here's the beginning... it's a 40 minute piece of music with only the break due to vinyl. Here's the first 10. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 18:55
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1-Semiramis 2-Balletto 3-Enzo 4-RRR 5-Museo 6-Alusa 7-RADM 8-Campo 9-Locanda 10-Celeste 11-Maxophone That's mine in order, at least on this day--it can change!. Semiramis is a classic....Tom Hayes famous quote: "Combining elements of Italian folk, circus, hard rock, Baroque church music, jazz, classical, and a good dose of insanity, Dedicato A Frazz pounds every sense, challenges every synapse in a flurry of ideas. After literally hundreds of listens, I still hear a different album each time. There is no weak link, no attempt at copying others works, no tries at banal commercialism. Just uninhibited reckless abandon of the imagination combined with musical expertise. Most tracks have a few hundred ideas and change moods faster than a bipolar woman left in the cold. Acoustic moments are quickly offset by heavy electric ones. Quiet moments of solitude are blasted away by militaristic might. It's never enough to have one striking contrast. No, Semiramis pile it on from every angle. Synths go awry, voices scream, guitars go a hundred miles a second, drums jettison you across the room. How could a group compose so many ideas? There are literally 15 albums on this!" ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: rosenbach
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 01:02
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1. Museo Rosenbach
2. Il Balleto di Bronzo 3. Semiramis |
Posted By: horla
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 01:52
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Maxophone, Museo Rosenbach, Semirams though I missed that one band which imo is the best rpi ever: Cervello |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 09:39
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Museo Rosenbach for me. I'm jealous of Finnforest,Raff and Micky who know this genre so well. I think i've reviewed most of these but i look forward to soaking in them if you know what i mean. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: Alberto Muņoz
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 10:25
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What about L' uovo di Colombo??? one of my favorite bands -------------  |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 10:33
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I prefer the "softer" side of RPI , so the Celeste choice was easy. Celestial! ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 10:35
That's my second choice Thomas. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 10:53
Never heard of them until now. Taking a look at the page here in PA, it looks like the kind of thing I'd like; and they're a legitimate one-off. So there's another I'll have to buy somehow. I absolutely love it when I find out that there's more music to hear from this scene!!
  -------------  Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 11:17
Micky, I think there's something wrong here. I appreciate your posting a YouTube link for the opening of this record and I'm dying to hear it (as may be other members). I tried to watch it at home on my MacBook but it wouldn't start. I thought maybe it was my internet connection to blame, so I'm trying it now at work where they have stupid fast and reliable connections. Still no dice; that wheel just spins and spins, for like ten minutes now.
 ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: Luca Pacchiarini
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 12:52
| Semiramis is perhaps the most surprising album Italy has produced. AMAZING if you consider that the influences are few, entirely original... and the average age of the band was 17!!! |
Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 12:58
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I've heard about half of them, and Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Pių is my favourite. Very beautiful. All of them are very enjoyable anyway. ------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA! 
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Posted By: Nipsey88
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 15:25
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Unfortunately my exposure to the one-offs of this genre is rather limited (I only own 4 of these) so I went with: 1 - Locanda Della Fate: Sure its a little cheesy and maudlin at times, I still find it very beautiful, and the first track "A volte un istante di quiete" is one of my favorite instumental songs of any genre. 2 - Maxophone: Recently got this and have only been through it a few times, but really gonna be a favorite on first blush. 3 - Museo Rosenbach: Just an all around great record, but again, a newer acquisition and only have a handful of listens under my belt. Also have Y's, but I haven't really been able to get it yet...I'm hoping futher listens will open me up more to it. And apparently, I have more money I gotta spend...  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Nipsey88/?chartstyle=myspace02" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 15:38
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Locanda Delle Fate's album. A wonderful one!
Outside the list: I also like Il Paese Dei Balocchi's eponymous album a lot.
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 15:41
that sucks man. Trust me... just order it. Make it your next RPI exploration haha. If you don't speak Italian .... you'll love it.------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 15:47
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got to give some love to RRR. Probably my favorite true .. 'one and done' album. Un Palco di Marionette is still... years after hearing it... my favorite prog mini-epic. Fabulous song.. fabulous album. Highly rated by every one of the Italian prog collabs.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 01:45
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1 . Campo di Marte
2. Semiramis
3. Balletto
4. Museo Rosenbach
5. RRR
6. Celeste
7. Alusa Fallax
8. Capuano
9. Maxophone
10. Locanda
11. RADM
Ask me later and it will be different. I love them all! Here's a list of other one-offs that are among my favorites, more or less in order:
Rocky's Filj
Cervello
Stefano Testa
Apoteosi
Pholas Dactylus
L'Uovo di Colombo
Pierpaolo Bibbo
Blocco Mentale
Ricordi D'Infanzia
Rustichelli e Bordini
De De Lind
Festa Mobile
Il Paese Dei Balocchi
J.E.T.
Panna Fredda
Odissea
Osage Tribe
Planetarium
Triade
I Califfi
dozens more . . .
Honorary mention goes to no-off bands Officina Meccanica and Il Giro Strano, whose songs were only compiled and released posthumously.
Don't forget that Balletto produced other albums (though much less significant), and Celeste and RADM sort of did too.
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Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 03:42
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The two of these that I keep listening to are the releases by Reale Accademia and Alusa Fallax. The Reale Accademia release is the better of the two. Locanda Delle Fate is a recent acquisition that is also quite promising, but I haven't heard it enough yet to give a decided judgement. ------------- 
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Posted By: Takeshi Kovacs
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 04:35
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Some cracking albums there. The only one I don't have is Enzo Capuano. I like them all, but if pushed, would have to say: 1 Museo Rosenbach 2 Locanda Delle Fate 3 Il Balletto Di Bronzo closely followed by the likes of Campo di Marte, Semiramis, Celeste.... Sometimes it can vary depending on what type of mood you're in I guess, but I always seem to have time for Zarathustra, and I think the opening to the album is great, particularly the raw emotion and 'roughness' of the vocalist. -------------  Open the gates of the city wide....
Check out my music taste: http://www.last.fm/user/TakeshiKovacs/ |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 05:08
Your list of other one-offs are all Italian (most of the names look it)? Don't know if they'd fit as I'm sticking early to mid 70's here. And I realize about your final point. Balletto especially. But it's pretty arguably a new band: out went Marco Cecioni and in came Gianni Leone, add a change of bassist, and you have the uncompromising experts of the famous album Ys. I will admit that I did think of leaving them out of the poll, not just for the reason that there was this earlier record (though a psychedelic record) but because for so many of us the inclusion of the album is inevitable, leaving one with fewer remaining choices. But they're in, they belong by my criteria. ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 05:09
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Locanda reunited in 1999 for a new album and Celeste were preparing a new album prior to their demise but the material was released only in 1991. But we can indeed count both bands as one shot bands.
For me it's a tie betweeen Locanda and Maxophone.
Fans of locanda should also check out another italian band playing in a similar vein : sensitiva immagine
------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 08:18
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I went for "Maxophone": it is the most refined and varied of all the albums listed here.
A wonderful list overall, by the way!
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Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 09:46
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Beautiful list of albums, but if YS is in any poll, that will have my vote. ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: Captain Capricorn
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 09:48
Semiramis ...that bassist is just plain siiiick 
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Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 11:56
That's a great second list of one-offs Todd Your first choice Campo Di Marte would also be mine depending on the day.------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 15:22
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[/QUOTE] Your list of other one-offs are all Italian (most of the names look it)? Don't know if they'd fit as I'm sticking early to mid 70's here. And I realize about your final point. Balletto especially. But it's pretty arguably a new band: out went Marco Cecioni and in came Gianni Leone, add a change of bassist, and you have the uncompromising experts of the famous album Ys. I will admit that I did think of leaving them out of the poll, not just for the reason that there was this earlier record (though a psychedelic record) but because for so many of us the inclusion of the album is inevitable, leaving one with fewer remaining choices. But they're in, they belong by my criteria. [/QUOTE] Yeah, you're right. Ys is definitely like a whole new band.
The other one-offs I listed are all RPI from the 70's. Testa is from 1977 and Bibbo from 1979, but the others from 1976 or earlier. I did leave of Sensitiva Immagine by mistake--fantastic album from 1976 (thanks Lucas!).
One other honorable mention for posthumous publication is Crystals, recorded in 1974, released 1992.
Nice poll!
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Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 21:54
And welcome to the wonderful world of RPI! Your wallet will be lighter, but your soul will be uplifted! There are hundreds and hundreds of albums and bands out there just waiting to be discovered. And the great thing is even the bands from the bottom tier are often really good!
By the way, I don't know how deeply you've investigated RPI yet, but I wish I'd heard of Greg Walker (synphonic.8m.com) and Augusto Croce ( http://www.italianprog.com - www.italianprog.com ) earlier on in my collecting. It would have made things so much easier!
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Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 05:20
^ I don't know either one, will look into it. I'm absolutely thrilled about all of this ! Well, except for the part about the lighter wallet; that prospect has me a little . But what else is new?I don't want to invite a whole long off-topic thing but... I know pretty much how to shop around for a low price and all that, but what sites would you more knowledgeable (on RPI) guys and gals recommend as cool sites to buy these cds from, sites that merit support? And anyone want to take a stab at vinyl? ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 11:18
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Greg Walker is an online vendor with a huge selection. http://synphonic.8m.com/index.htm - http://synphonic.8m.com/index.htm
Doug Larsen also has a decent selection. http://www.hicom.net/~dlarson/ - http://www.hicom.net/~dlarson/
Both Greg and Doug are really nice guys.
Amazon occasionally has good titles for decent prices.
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Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 11:19
| I also order directly from BTF sometimes. http://www.btf.it/ - http://www.btf.it/ |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 13:18
Thanks Todd.  I'll check these out. And yeah sure I've seen stuff at amazon, but I appreciate more your other suggestions of Walker and Larsen - they look more like 'sites of merit' (not that amazon's awful or anything, just not as in need of business as others).
------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 23:59
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My usual MO is to check Greg first--best selection, great price, very fast and reasonable shipping--although occasionally Doug is a little bit less. There are only a few items on BTF that Greg doesn't offer--they're a wonderful site with great service, although their shipping to the US is very expensive, so I buy in bundles.
For the out of print items, I've found many items on Amazon used, eBay, and GEMM. I've also purchased from Eventyr records, which was a good experience.
I can't help you with vinyl. I think Augusto Croce on http://www.italianprog.com - www.italianprog.com has a lot of information about vinyl on his site.
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Posted By: progvortex
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 11:47
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I only know around half of these so I won't vote, but from what I do know, I pick Maxophone. I would pick Museo but they always were too heavy for me
------------- Life is like a beanstalk... isn't it? |
Posted By: manofmystery
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 12:46
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In order:
1. Locanda delle Fate "Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Pių" (81)
2. Maxophone "Maxophone" (155)
3. Semiramis "Dedicato a Frazz" (207)
4. Museo Rosenbach "Zarathustra" (219)
5. Alusa Fallax "Intorno alla Mia Cattiva Educazione" (221)
6. Il Balletto di Bronzo "Ys" (326)
7. Buon Vecchio Charlie "Buon Vecchio Charlie" (352) <-- Why is this missing from the poll?
8. Campo di Marte "Campo di Marte" (383)
The rest of the albums on this list I have let to locate
*the number in () represents each albums current rank on my yet to be finished Top 1000 prog albums list -------------  Time always wins. |
Posted By: Matthew T
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 15:51
Out of the 11 bands I knew 8...............Ys ... is my pick but there are some beauties there. but what happened to JET and Cervello. I will admit has anybody done a poll where nobody says what happened to this or that and everybody here agrees I think they would have more chance winning the lottery. ------------- Matt |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 16:56
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Manofmystery and Matthew T:
I could only put in the ones I know, so that's why some records that you consider great (and I have no reason to doubt they are) are missing. Look at the top of page 2 and you'll see Todd posted a huge list of one-offs not included. All of which just equal more great listening down the road, which is very exciting!! And some inclusions have been technically criticised, which I'll have to look into.
Before this thread slows to a crawl I plan to list out everything for everyone's reference so it's all in one place. ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 15:47
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Well, things have got mighty slow 'round these here parts. So it's time to post my three. Picking just three was cruelly hard, but I went with Ys Dedicato a Frazz Intorno alla Mia Cattiva Educazione Ys and Frazz need no explanation. Zarathustra and Maxophone may be more artistically tight offerings (and coudl easily be in top three for me), Reale Accademia works its way up to a well earned ending (floors me), and Principe is of course haunting. But Ys is just completely phenominal, even in little ways (the keys are always cited, which are of course great, but did you ever lean into what the bass is doing through the record, or take the slinky and slaved line at the start of the Primo?, and don't get me started on the guitar, I'll end up writing a review). And Frazz is just a joy to listen to, always finding new things and surprised. As for Intorno, I think it's a masterpiece of the long form. The motifs are brilliantly exploited and can be followed throughout, it's truly fascinating, and the (often) one-in-each-ear winds are a great idea and wonderfully done. And Carta Carbone is just so cool and unexpected non-prog (which is to say prog!); it's more machismo than usually gets on such an artistic record. Per Iniziare una Vita into E Oggi always a thrill. I play Intorno at least as much as any other Italian record I own. ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 15:12
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From 1999, check out Sunscape, reviewed last night! ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: progressive
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 15:25
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All are great but my favourites are maybe Il Balletto di Bronzo "Ys" Locanda delle Fate "Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Pių" and maybe Maxophone "Maxophone" Thank you for Enzo Capuano "Storia Mai Scritta"  I thought I already had all Italian prog albums ------------- 
► rateyourmusic.com/~Fastro 2672 ratings ▲ last.fm/user/Fastro 5556 artists ▲ www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=4933 266◄ |
Posted By: 1967/ 1976
Date Posted: July 03 2009 at 11:52
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: July 03 2009 at 11:59
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Il Balletto di Bronzo...has no one noticed that they weren't a one off? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 04 2009 at 06:25
From OP:
 I really thought of leaving it out despite that "rule of the thread" though, because I knew there'd be people, like myself, who would absolutely pick that record if it were in, and thus leave themselves less in the way of other choices. Oh well. ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 04 2009 at 06:32
Finnforest, did you vote for three in the poll? I ask because you put Enzo Capuano 3rd, but as of now noone has voted for his album. Now, I AM NOT lobbying for him, I'm just asking because I was thinking of doing the post-mortem on this poll this weekend. all respect to you for your love of RPI!! ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: July 15 2009 at 19:10
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Can't remember, but the Enzo zero probably means I did not. So I just voted my top 3. Let er rip!!
------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: July 15 2009 at 21:39
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One more great one-off: Gruppo 2001 (very rare CD right now, I'm sure it will be repressed soon)
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Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: July 16 2009 at 14:47
| Oh man, I can't believe I left off Alphataurus!!! Great album, 5 stars in my book. Their second "album" is like Celeste's, incomplete so it really doesn't count. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: July 16 2009 at 14:55
Sorry...I had read the OP, but it must have passed me by somehow. Maybe I glazed over while reading it. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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