Progawards 2009: The Winners
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Top 10s and lists
Forum Description: List all your favourites here
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65404
Printed Date: December 04 2024 at 12:13
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Topic: Progawards 2009: The Winners
Posted By: Windhawk
Subject: Progawards 2009: The Winners
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:01
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Any thoughts on the albums/artists that won the awards for 2009? Jury's Special Prize: Sophya Baccini "Aradìa" - http://www.myspace.com/sophyabaccini - MySpace Best Artwork: VV. AA. "Purgatorio: The Divine Comedy Part II" (one of the Colossus Projects) http://www.myspace.com/colossusprojects - MySpace Best Progattitudes: Outopsya "Sum" - http://www.myspace.com/outopsya - MySpace Best Recording: Nosound "A Sense Of Loss" - http://www.myspace.com/nosoundnet - MySpace Best Debut Album: It's The End "It's The End" - http://www.myspace.com/itistheend - MySpace Best Italian Album: N.y.X "Down In Shadows" - http://www.myspace.com/nyxsound - MySpace Best Non-Italian Album: Kotebel "Ouroboros" - http://www.myspace.com/kotebel - MySpace ------------- Websites I work with: http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
Replies:
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:02
My thought: I've not heard of any of them, unless "Purgatorio" is the Tangerine Dream album. 
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:08
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I haven't heard of any of those bands... I am sad to see that Zu didn't get any mention from them at all, even though they're Italian. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:12
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Haven't heard any of them, though I do have earlier Kotebel albums (Omphalos is very good; what I heard of the newest doesn't appeal nearly so much as it was Prieto's vocals that made that album special for me. I remember that Omphalos was nominated for those awards for 2006). I found it interesting that none of the nominees ranked amongst my favourities (not that I've heard that many for 2009, and it seems they have a narrower view of Prog). EDIT: correction, Aranis' Songs from Mirage did make it into my list (though it doesn't appeal to me as much as earlier Aranis albums) as Did Present's Barbaro, and Miriodor's Avanti may have been my number two (seems I'm more of a progattitudes kind of guy than a Prog lover, but then I've known that for a while). I did find it particularly strange that Magma's E-Re, the top album here, was not a nominee in any category there. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: Windhawk
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:12
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Hehe. Many more familiar artists were considered - although not absolutley all bases were covered those of us in the jury did consider hundreds and hundreds of records before the winners were decided. The nominated and finalists are easily tracked at the progawards website - www.progawards.it - if anyone wants to check ;-) I'll edit in some MySpace links in a bit - so that the artists can be given an initial check by the curious. ------------- Websites I work with: http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:18
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Awesome. I'll have to check them out and see what they find to be the best of the best.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:29
| I haven't heard any of those xD |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:33
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Awesome, thanks for the links. I'll check them out soon.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 01:34
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Considering that, judging by the artists nominated, progattitudes would be my favourite category there (with several well-liked albums nominated for it), listening to myspace, I'm very disappointed with their winner
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 04:29
No offense, but you seem to be moving in some strange alternative universe, where all the prog bands bear unfamiliar names.  In any case, I can hardly believe your list of "winners" contains any album that's better than THE UNDERFALL YARD!
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Posted By: Windhawk
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 04:47
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I'll have to admit that the winners here aren't the best known artists around, although both Big Big Train as well as most of the other artists who issued highly popular albums in 2009 were in the running for these awards. Personally I think that the fact that the members of this jury settled for mainly unknown bands say a lot about the vitality of the so-called prog scene at present. That there are bands out there producing material good enough for most of the jury members to regard them as more worthy of an award than the well known acts. If others feel these bands are good enough is another question entirely of course - but as far as running such an awards competition goes, there aren't too many others around doing just that. It would have been good for the genre to have at least one other such setup obviously. Finding the people willing to get familiar with several hundred new albums each year would of course be a challenge. Especially since all of them would have to have a rather wide taste in music ;-) ------------- Websites I work with: http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 06:59
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Being familiar with three of the winners, I am a bit puzzled. However, I should take another look at the nominees to see if there were other albums/artists I would have chosen over those listed. Aradia is a good album (I even posted a review of it here), but not a masterpiece. The artwork on the Purgatorio 4-CD set is excellent, but I have seen others I liked more, and the It's the End album is way too long in my opinion - almost 80 minutes of that kind of music is really excessive for a debut. |
Posted By: Rivertree
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 07:07
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I only know N.y.X - the album is innovative for sure - don't know if it deserves such an award though ... best italian album ... hmmmh ... let's see what Jim thinks about that  the selection seems to be very unusual .. but don't know anything about the criteria ... ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Rivertree" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 08:54
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is nice to see a list that isn't populated (polluted) with 'popular' yet 2nd rate crap like Porcupine Tree.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 09:01
| ^ No comment... |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 09:07
hahha.. none needed. You said it all in a few words. let me rephrase my previous post. it is nice to see awards lists that look past the popular and try to judge quality rather than the 'name' ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
harmonium.ro wrote:Posted By: rushaholic
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 09:28
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Nosound is a great band from Italy - a lot of Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree influences. They are signed to the Burning Shed label. Their myspace has a great cover of Echoes. |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 09:40
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Some categories (like Artwork) didn't have stand-outs in the first place. The only one I know is Kotebel, and that was a bitter dissapointment for me. ------------- 
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 09:54
| Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, who's "awards" are these? |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 09:57
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 10:19
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sure thing Bob... didn't realize in today's PA's that offering an opinion on their music . on a musical forum was being disrespectful. Perhaps we should just post offensive pictures of scantily clad women and offend potential women who visit the site. We do want to be respectful. I can dig that.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Windhawk
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 11:12
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As for whose awards - I didn't want to make it too transparent - those who'd really like to know would have found out anyhow. It's a web site called Progawards - www.progawards.it to be specific :-) ------------- Websites I work with: http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
Posted By: Windhawk
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 11:14
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Oh, and I agree with Mickey that Porcupine, at least in 2009, didn't offer up a release that merited an award (except possibly for recording - it was one of many with stellar mix and production).
------------- Websites I work with: http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 11:47
Even if you dislike Porcupine Tree I am at a loss to see how such carefully crafted and executed 2nd rate material could ever be considered crap. Maybe if Steve Wilson sang in Italian, you wouldnt be quite so exacting...  |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 11:48
So we can safely say that it's well executed even if it is 2nd rate crap...I must have a different definition of crap.. |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 11:49
Well then I might start a thread about how much bullsh*t RPI is....  |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 12:00
when have I ever taken offense at someone taking shots at music or groups I like. What is out of bounds...or used to be...is being disrespectful or disrespecting those who do like it. Then again.. you know that.. or else me.. and my post there would have been Toniminated   ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 12:05
oh hell yeah.... I love well produced crap... nothing sucks more than poorly produced crap. and yeah.... you got ahold of the PT lovers version of the great book of words and their meanings.. on page one it has a forward by Steven Wilson.. thou shalt find no fault in Steven Wilson or any of his music You know I like PT... but have not liked or thought the current trend in their music is all that progressive.. or to be honest.. simply that good. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 12:36
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 12:42
hahha... It then wouldn't surprise me that in addition to having the forum record for hidden posts..for deleted posts... that I probably have the record for reported posts. Don't think I don't know that I've always probably been a pain in you alls asses ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 12:57
| Now, if I can get things back on track a bit, what I find somewhat distasteful is that people have immediately started making derogatory remarks about the winners and the initiative in general - especially when one of our members was involved in the process. Even if I don't particularly agree with the choices, at least I am familiar with part of those albums (and a good deal of the other nominations as well), and expressed my disagreement on the basis of what I knew. Bashing a bunch of albums one has not even even heard sounds prejudiced at the very least. |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 13:09
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Yeah, bashing them without hearing them could be bashing something which might turn out to be your favorite new album.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Windhawk
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 13:19
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I can understand some reactions. Like Kotebel - didn't top my personal voting list, but as a part of a team it's the majority that makes the deciding calls :-)
------------- Websites I work with: http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 13:49
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I'd already heard the mypace samples of several of them. Kotebel's Omphalos is an album I very much liked (though it felt a bit too busy, and compositionally manufactured to me in an inorganic way, but Prieto's vocals helped to elevate an accomplished work). The newest lacks those vocals that made Omphalos special to me. In the Best Progattitudes category, several albums were nominees that I really like, particularly Miriodor's Avanti, but I also like Present's and Aranis' (though this Aranis hasn't had nearly the impact on me as the first two albums). The winner of that category isn't bad, but I personally wouldn't put it at the same musical level as, say, Miriodor's. Course it's largely a matter of taste. This is their winner Outopsya "Sum" - http://www.myspace.com/outopsya - MySpace Mind you, I'm a fan of Miriodor (as well as Aranis and Present even if neither of these albums by Aranis or Present do I find these particularly satisfying albums by them). It's really disappointment based on my tastes. Outopsa's is not a style that appeals so much (and frankly, I find both compositionally and in terms of the musicianship, it leaves a little something to be desired). ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 14:01
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I'm only familier with the Kotebel album, and to be honest I found them to be a bit long winded and noodly. Will have to check out the others, but I'm surprised that Nosound is the only one I've even heard of. ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 14:26
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A problem I found with Kotebel's earlier albums too. in 2006, before I got Omphalos I had streamed the samples from the official page, including their one full available track "Mercury Pentacle" which I just loved. The album was somewhat better just listening to the excerpts since it does feel long-winded and noodly. Nevertheless, I'd like people to check out this full track (it mesmerized me and showed such great promise): http://www.kotebel.com/omphalos.htm - http://www.kotebel.com/omphalos.htm Not to have such a lovely operatic vocalist on board is a shame. Speaking of operatic, I checked out the Jury's Special Prize: Sophya Baccini "Aradìa" - http://www.myspace.com/sophyabaccini - MySpace , and despite my penchant for operatic vocals and music that incoprporates "classical" (to use the term loosely), I was underwhelmed with the music and even the vocals didn't quite do it for me. I get the feeling that even though they may have gone for various lesser-known names, the jury is fairly mainstream-oriented and play it safe (the music choices I've heard have not been terribly progressive/ experimental/ out there). I'm looking at the site to try to find out exactly how the selection process worked (I hope it was a fair process). http://www.kotebel.com/Mercurio%20-%20Master.mp3 - |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 14:34
| About Sophya Baccini: the album is much better than the MySpace samples, but still it might not be what really floats your boat, Greg. She is potentially a very good vocalist, but sometimes overdoes things, and this is when people start finding her annoying. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 14:44
bah... what would Italian music be without overdoing it just a bit... I really enjoyed the album myself.. and that isn't exactly my style of music. I like a little teeth in the music.. but what is good is good.. even if it isn't exactly what you'd reach for first on the shelves. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 14:55
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Thanks, Raff, she's clearly a good vocalist, and I expect I'd enjoy the album well-enough, but I just didn't hear anything there that was "sublime" or "mind-blowing". Nothing that particularly made it stand out.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 14:55
You kniw it's your bloody fault as usual, dont you? |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 14:56
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Of course I do!
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Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 19:31
To each their own. The Incident was my favourite album of 2009.
I haven't heard of any of the bands on this list. Now that doesn't mean that none of it was any good, but it would have to be pretty good to beat out the new PT, in my opinion. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: Soul Dreamer
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 20:22
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The album of Nosound is quite good, it would make my top 20 of 2009 (but not top 10). The rest I don't know. But to come up for 2009 with that list is atrocious...2009 is one of the best years in prog and there are sooooo many other great releases (also of well-known bands) that this choice of "obscure" prog is insane...unless all the other "winners" are masterpieces...which I doubt...
------------- To be the one who seeks so I may find .. (Metallica) |
Posted By: Conor Fynes
Date Posted: February 28 2010 at 22:23
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I haven't heard any of these albums... 'Most Obscure ProgAwards 2009?'
The Incident was a masterpiece in its own right. I'd rather not hear ignorant things like calling them crap.
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