Collaborators' Top Albums List - 2010
Printed From: Progarchives.com
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=76149
Printed Date: December 21 2024 at 21:53
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Topic: Collaborators' Top Albums List - 2010
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Subject: Collaborators' Top Albums List - 2010
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 13:49
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Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends!  I am honoured to present you the child of intense labour done by the collaborators of ProgArchives during the last two months, be them Special Collaborators, Collaborators, Reviewers, Admins on VIP Members. Thanks are in order for everyone who contributed.  We had record numbers, like 65 voters and 214 nominated albums! Does this signal the resurgence of progressive rock music? I'll let you decide. Here goes the list comprising the top ten albums of 2010, as voted. Collaborators' Top Albums List - 2010 #1. Clivages - UNIVERS ZERO http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=26863" rel="nofollow">  After all these years it feels reassuring to know that Univers Zero is alive and well while still going strong in their important exploration of music boundaries as we know them. In their early years this band sounded like nothing we've ever heard before and although time might have caught up with Univers Zero in terms of production and sampling this music has a definite potential of transcending the barrier of time and live forever. (Rune2000, Prog Reviewer) #2. Bateless Edge - FROGG CAFÉ http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=29622" rel="nofollow">  Frogg Café is more than just a rock or prog rock band, it is a musical force encapsulated simultaneously in the minds and souls of a host of talented musicians blessed with A-level musicianship and indefatigable creativity, and all this glory is once more confirmed by the reality of "Bateless Edge", the band's most recent effort. It is, indeed, a mandatory member of any Top 5 or Top 3 list of 2010's outstanding prog releases worldwide. (Cesar Inca, Special Collaborator) Sharing the last entry on the podium, we have two albums with the exact total of points. #3-4. Coyote - KAYO DOT, and Aquarius - HAKEN http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=27536" rel="nofollow">  I dont know what it is about Toby Driver but his projects, particularly Kayo Dot, never cease to amaze me at every turn and Coyote is no different. Its dark, haunting and utlimetly unsettleing sound and feel blows me away and I make no apology for once again giving 5 stars to Kayo Dot album. This will probably remain as the best album of the year that I will hear and more than that it is going down as one of the best albums I've ever heard and all but matches the bands classic debut Choirs of the Eye. (Sleeper, ProgReviewer) http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=29173" rel="nofollow">  Aquarius has left me speechless. I've been searching for an album from 2010 to confidently call a masterpiece, and this is definitely it. If you like progressive rock, progressive metal, or just about anything else, this is absolutely essential. This is one of those cases where you have to believe the hype. It's really that good. Although I rarely give debut albums 5 stars, I'm going to make a huge exception here. I have a pretty good feeling that this is an album that we will be looking back on 30 years from now and calling it the definitive debut album from this era. This is an essential masterpiece that you don't want to miss! (J-Man, ProgReviewer) #5. Iridule - YUGEN http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=31407" rel="nofollow">  A dense album, Iridule is not easily digested (much like their two previous albums), but provides a rewarding listen once fully absorbed. Aside from loving their brand of controlled madness and organized chaos, I am highly impressed with the punctuality and proficiency of the playing, the clarity of the recording and the intricacy of the compositions. (Avestin, Special Collaborator) #6. Écailles de lune - ALCEST http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=27723" rel="nofollow">  Yes, it is almost perfection. There is little I can say that will dent my love for this album. It the astonishingly beautiful, and has taken several steps ahead from Neige's debut effort. The more diverse soundscapes and powerfully developed emotional hooks mean that Écailles de lune is a truly memoralble listen. Even the abraisive black metal vocals sound better than any I've ever heard before. Oh, and what about that cover... (AnyColourYouLike, Collaborator) #7. One-Armed Bandit - JAGA JAZZIST http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=27091" rel="nofollow">  My favorite jazz rock/fusion album of the year for a reason. Combining electronic music, indie, jazz, Zappa-esque fusion and the post-rock spirit ever present in Jaga Jazzist's music, 'One-Armed Bandit' is a very catchy album, one of those records you'll play in its entirety every single day for about a couple of months and then store it on your shelf until you feel you're in the mood to remember the great music you've heard. (Starhammer, Senior Member) #8. Il Tempio Delle Clessidre - IL TEMPIO DELLE CLESSIDRE http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=30868" rel="nofollow">  Il Tempio Delle Clessidre have clearly come up with an album that will have fans of RPI in raptures. Despite being in the seventies tradition a modern production brings it right up to date and such is the excellence of the compositions, given the right exposure could easily transcend boundaries and reach and be enjoyed by prog fans who don't normally venture into the RPI genre. Nothing less than 5 stars will do for this masterpiece of progressive rock. (Nightfly, Collaborator) #9. Marrow Of The Spirit - AGALLOCH http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=30572" rel="nofollow">  There's no denial that 'Marrow Of The Spirit' is a monster of a work; a thick and towering beast that takes quite a few listens to really sink in. Like all of Agalloch's music, there is a great deal of atmosphere here, as well as a forlorn and existential worldview that certainly won't be brightening one's spirits anytime soon. While being so excited and eager to listen to an album can very abundantly lead to disappointment, 'Marrow Of The Spirit' comes only a shard away from reaching the perfection that 'The Mantle' achieved, and for once, despite my anticipation, my expectations have all been exceeded. (Conor Fynes, Prog Reviewer) #10. Création De L'Univers - XING SA http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=29352" rel="nofollow">  In other words, the band offers a fresh and inspired melting pot of slightly dark avant jazz-rock, created by a trio of drums, bass and organ/mellotron, with the occasional help from guest vocals and sax. The band sounds very confident and keeps their improvisations very focused, never too long or indulging in unnecessary solos. It isn't as dense and dark as Guapo or Nebelnest, but on the plus side it means the music remains fairly accessible and might serve as a good introduction for this type of modern Zeuhl/Avant rock. Création De L'Univers is a superb album with a certain spot in my 2010 top 10. I'd recommend it to all fans of early 70s jazz-rock, RIO and Zeuhl. A solid 4 stars, both accessible and a grower. (Bonnek, Special Collaborator) Let the awards party begin!  |
Replies:
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 13:50
And here is the FULL top, sepparated in digestable chunks and with the point totals:
11-30:
31 - 50:
51 - 100:
101 - 150:
151 - 214:
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Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 13:56
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Very happy with this list. Good reflection of a strange year in prog. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Rivertree
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 13:59
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great work, Alex ... ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Rivertree" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:01
Very nice work, Alex. Thanks to all who participated. I too am pleased with the list. 
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Posted By: LinusW
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:04
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Great work! Now...I've only heard 2 of the albums in the top 10, but I guess this is as good a way as any to start exploring other celebrated 2010 releases. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:05
| I missed the deadline; rats. I only heard a few albums anyway and Clivages was my favourite, and it, apparently, didn't need my support anyway. |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:11
| I approve, despite Morse only being #76 |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:11
Thanks for compiling this Alex. Obviously my top ten looks vastly different from the collective, but that's the beauty of this site, the widely varying tastes
------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: natewait
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:12
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Very interesting list. Out of the top 10, I have only heard 2 of them (and only like 1 of those 2 that I've heard). I guess it gives me some ideas of what albums I should check out (or how different my taste is from that of these collaborators). In my opinion, there were three masterpiece albums I heard that were released in 2010. They are: Lover's End by Moon Safari (#27), X by Spock's Beard (#34) and This Is What Happens by Reign of Kindo (#177!). I hope to check some of these albums out that are high on this list, but I've never heard before. Thanks for the work put into making this list! I love reading lists like this, they fascinate me. ------------- Please check out my Progressive Music Blog: http://leviathanprog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - The Leviathan . |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:16
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I find it interesting that for another year we come together in jazz and avant styled prog. Haken took the metal world by storm this year and was the album I didn't want to be #1. Thanks for all the work and looking forward to an amazing 2011. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:16
My thoughts exactly. I didn't expect to be confirmed, but I did say at some point that I thought 2010 was good for avant, fusion and metal, and it was very weak for many other genres, especially those very based on classic prog, like symphonic, eclectic, folk, neo, etc. EDIT: but then, what about the strong RPI revival from these last years? My first three choices (Jaga J, Coyote, Agalloch) are all in the top 10, I'm happy. 3 other of my choices are in the 11 to 30 segment. Greg, the list was so avant-oriented that I thought a lot about you all day  I kew you'd like the #1.  |
Negoba wrote:Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:16
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Oh wow, PA ditches symphonic and all that for a year? Interesting.
I don't think I would agree with a single one of these personally. Missa Atropos is the only prog album that might make it. ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: ProgressiveAttic
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:19
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Thanks Alex! Great work!
Congrats to UZ! ------------- Michael's Sonic Kaleidoscope Mondays 5:00pm EST(re-runs Thursdays 3:00pm) @ Delicious Agony Progressive Rock Radio(http://www.deliciousagony.com) 
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Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:20
I think more interesting is that there are two black metal albums in the top 10 |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:24
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Awesome list! Glad to see Univers Zéro coming in first, great band...one problem though, the blurb under their album isn't from my review, it's from Rune2000's.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:54
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wow, excepting Haken's album, every other I mentioned or would mention would be 45th of below.
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Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:55
Great work Alex  How long did it take you to calculate all that?
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 14:59
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Great job H.Ro
I'm surprised the Anathema album didn't do better, it's done very well elsewhere.
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Posted By: m2thek
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 15:21
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Yay =D I've been incessantly checking for this since it became 2011. Much thanks!
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Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 15:27
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Nice, my top 3 made it to positions 11-13. Next time I'll try to have at least one of my choices represented in the top 10.  |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 16:33
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Wow!
This might be the first time I had three albums (I chose) in the top five, and five in the top 10. Needless to say, I agree with this list ALOT more than lists of previous years. Huzzah UZ! ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 17:06
Damn it, I so much wanted to have the OP unedited for eternity! 
One full day! Started from about 8 AM and ended at about 9 PM, with an hour or so of a break. It was probably the most painful non-physical task I've accomplished, not sure if I'm volunteering next year Speaking of the task, many many thanks to the IT support team who helped me with Excel!
Well don't keep the goodies just for yourself, always keep some youtube links in your pocket, just in case!
I used to think it's a so-so album, but while typing stuff over and over today I realized that it's in a lot of lists! They don't get much talked around here lately, but 11 out of 214 is exceptional, much more than I expected for them. And I listened to the album today and (surprisingly?) I found it much better than I recalled it. And the top 10 is just a convention, we could easily have a top 15 with the nice cover pictures, the flattering quotes and all that. |
Posted By: The Neck Romancer
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 17:21
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Nice, my review ended up on the post Great job Alex and all the collabs. Although I had thought Heavy Metal Fruit and Coyote would be higher at the list. Here's to 2011 which will, hopefully, be full of masterpieces!  ------------- 
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Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 17:21
We already have one IMO (Korekyojinn's Tundra). ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: The Neck Romancer
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 17:26
Haven't heard it yet, but if it's anything like the stuff I've heard on Youtube, I'll see if I can get it. -------------
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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 17:47
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Excellent work Alex. Very nice list, not least since Clivages and Coyote were my top two albums, and well chuffed that my review got quoted! I think its safe to say that 2010 is the year of Avant, jazz and black metal prog. Only 65 voters? I think we had 90 last year, wheres every body gone? ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 17:51
Post-hardcore based prog metal also had a good year, with Intronaut, East Of The Wall, Periphery, The Ocean, etc. But I do like black metal based prog metal more. |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 18:11
I'm sure that will end up #1. Not a doubt about it. |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 18:12
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Great work Alex, thanks for your efforts. Lots of good stuff there. The only surprise for me is that more people have not picked up on the Tea Club's "Rabbit." It deserves so much more buzz than it has gotten here, truly wonderful music. |
Posted By: Evolutionary Sleeper
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 18:23
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Great job with the list! I though Frogg Cafe had it though from reading the other thread!
------------- 
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Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 18:49
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Splendid work, Alex!!! I haven't been voting this year because I listened only to a handful of 2010 albums - it's never too late to discover music that is either 40 years or 1 year old. I was pleasantly surprised with 'Coyote', Coheed & Cambria's 'Year Of The Black Rainbow' and Ciccada's debut,  while the new Pure Reason Revolution and PFM were huge let-downs, and David Byrne & Fatboy Slim was pure atrocity. Now I'm really curious to check Top 10 - hell, I was too lazy to check the new Moon Safari  (and 2009's album was very good).------------- |
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 19:48
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Cool list, only one of my top 10 made it to the final top, but well, it is great to see Univers Zero at the top!
Thanks man, great work! ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 20:16
OK. Some other albums I would point out are: Gazpacho - Night @ Loreley (live, so doesn't count) Cripled Black Phoenix - I, Vigilante Quantum Fantay - Bridges of Kukuriku Motorpsycho - Heavy Metal Fruit (exception) Not enough for a top 10, but anyway. Not many highlights for my taste this year and some albums I lost interest over time, like Alcest's and KD's: I loved those at first sight, but with time I lost interest and they slipped out of my top list. We had many good albums regardless of tastes, but few really remarkable or memorable IMO (for my taste). the only real surprise on that list was Agalloch. That album isn't remotely near good. It is nothing but a shadow of the band's past releases, quality-wise. But you know what they say: hipsters gonna hipster, lol. -------------
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Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 20:20
I don't mean to imply you have terrible taste in music, but Marrow of the Spirit is their best so far. Also Dream Theater sucks |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 20:30
Yeah MotS is easily, very very easily, their worst album. And not "worst" in an "It's only a 4.5/5" way. it is completely mediocre except for one song and the last few minutes of the album. Black metal is terrible, and the more any band drifts to that, the more mediocre they will be.
:( ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 20:32
As a matter of fact, I know you are one of the few (if not the only one) who thinks like that Cooling. Even Brian, who puts that guy on an ivory tower, kind of thinks like me.LOL, stoney quote fail. -------------
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Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 04:45
Cool, I agree with my buddy Caio on this one!  Does that mean I will soon come to like Haken as well now?  |
Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 04:48
+1 Even though I admit I didn't put it in my top 10, I had like 20 albums competing for slots 5-10  Next year we should be able to send in a top 20! Or maybe not, or Alex's head will explode if he needs to calculate that! |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 05:01
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Fantastic work Alex, glad to see Kayo Dot nabbed no. 3. Now I finally have an excuse to grab Clivages! ------------- 
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Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 06:10
internet brofist Karl. -------------
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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 07:59
Well I got 3 out of the top 10, which is at least two more than other years
Quick and nice job Alex ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 08:28
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1. Frogg Cafe - Bateless Edge 2. Shaolin Death Squad - Five Deadly Venoms 3. Univers Zero - Clivages 4. Haken - Aquarius 5. Jaga Jazzist - One Armed Bandit 6. TesseracT - Concealing Fate 7. Intronaut - Valley of Smoke 8. Echoes - Nature Existence 9. Ihsahn - After 10. Shadow Theory - Behind the Black Veil 4/10, not bad...most of my others placed reasonably as well. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: NecronCommander
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 09:35
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1. Periphery - Periphery 2. Intronaut - Valley of Smoke 3. Cloudkicker - Beacons 4. The Ocean - Anthropocentric 5. Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit 6. TesseracT - Concealing Fate EP 7. East of the Wall - Ressentiment 8. Kayo Dot - Stained Glass 9. Rosetta - A Determinism of Morality 10. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis 1/10 for me... I guess I must have missed out on the avant and jazz craze. Iridule probably would have made my list if I had acquired it before the deadline. Man, Coyote really hit hard this year. I've tried that album again and again and it still hasn't quite hit me as being as good as everyone claims it to be. That being said I liked Stained Glass a ton. An alright year as far as metal releases go, but it pales in comparison to 2009 and then even the releases lined up for 2011.
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Posted By: Nightfly
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 09:47
Great work Alex. 
Only 1 album in my top 10 made it in the top 10 here but an interesting selection nevertheless.
Intersting to compare our list with the Classic Rock Prog list - totally different. Albums in their top 10 barely scraped it into our top 50 - or even lower!
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Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 09:57
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A truly fabelous job, Alex (Harmonium) !!!!!!!!!!!!!! By any chance; is your t-shirt size L and do you like the band Izz ?????? I have a t-shirt by them which is at least ten slimming diets too small for me. Just a sign of my appreciation...... And in any case you think I am "buttering" him up; two of my top ten made it into the list.... Nurse, more butter. Nurse !!! |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 10:28
Yeah, hipsters gonna hate an album because they don't like it and, oh the outrage, many other people seem to like it!  Inno, rite?... |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 10:48
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Yay! my votes made #10 and 59. I should really try to keep up this year.
------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 10:53
| Great work! A couple of mine made the top ten ... a few of mine, I can see evidence that maybe one other person voted on them. XD |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 11:09
| The cover images are now banners leading to the respective album pages. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 11:17
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Good. I haven't heard one of them. I'm thinking on getting Univers Zero, Kayo Dot and Agalloch though. ------------- 
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 11:22
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Coyote and Marrow Of The Spirit can be streamed, I'd check them first before paying.
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Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 11:54
I'm with you Bob,i thought for sure top three. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 12:15
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I was late, just got Road Salt One and love it. Would have given it points. It took me a long time to forgive them over Scarsick.
------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow"> https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 13:25
Brian also put it #2 on his list for MMA, though. And Kevin agrees with me that it's better than The Mantle (it just took him a while) |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 14:43
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^It is better than The Mantle, but there was much better Black Metal out last year IMO. ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Posted By: Any Colour You Like
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 15:27
| The Agalloch release wasn't what I expected, but heck, the Alcest release crushed it imho. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 15:39
It's nice to see so many things listed ... and I/we/mostofus ... have no idea who they are ...
I can't afford all this stuff!  ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 15:51
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Well, heard 7 from the Top 10, not bad. The only problem is that only one of them figures in my personal Top 10. ------------- Bigger on the inside. |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 16:45
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Interestingly, the UZ album was the only 2010 prog I owned for most of the year. I got into the djent stuff, but none of that made the top 10. Toward the end of the year I start sampling albums and had a few nice finds.
But no masterpieces for me in 2010.
I'm expecting several in 2011. Deconstruction samples sound unworldly. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 16:53
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Nice job Alex, thanks for all the work you put into this.
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Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 18:22
No kidding, I have more 2011 releases from just the last 2 weeks than I have 2010 releases. ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow"> https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 19:08
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 20:23
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------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 20:24
Which ones might be worth checking out? ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 21:00
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Excellent work Alex. Great to see 2 or my choices in the top 10. Certainly means there is a lot for me to explore. As mentioned by other posters, a strange year for prog. I hate comparing but 2009 was an exceptional year for prog releases whereas 2010 was imo not quite as diverse. Still a wonderful top 10 which inspires me to take another listen ------------- 
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 22:01
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Thanks for all the work and effort Alex !
An interesting top 10 for sure.I need to re-visit Clivages. By the way Steve at Cuneiform Records was going to E-Mail Daniel from Univers Zero to give him the news.Kind of cool. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: m2thek
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 01:01
The Iridule image leads to Aquarius
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 01:52
Thanks mate, I've repaired it. |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 06:36
I hope you know that such a comparison is like saying Union is better than CTTE or that Systematic is better than I&W or that Invisible Touch is better than SEBTP.
Just sayin' . . . . . -------------
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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 08:42
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This thread needs to be stickied! ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 10:38
So far the brightest spot is the album I added yesterday http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=32439" rel="nofollow - Pitom - Blasphemy and Other Serious Crimes I also picked up Faust - Something Dirty on a whim which I enjoy more than I thought I would. ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow"> https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 11:36
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So basically we've got four main genres in the top: avant-prog, metal, fusion and RPI. What happened with the other genres? Anyone wants to comment on that? I know Haken is in Heavy and Zeuhl is sepparated from RIO/Avant, but let's not think of that for a while. |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 12:29
CTTE sucks, so... |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 14:14
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 18:25
Mind you Alex, RPI is pretty much a non-genre. I have never understood the reason why the italian bands need to be separeted from the other symphonic bands. Hell, most of the big Brazilian progressive rock bands (as well as bands from the rest of South /Latin America) were much more unique, distinct and downright inovative than most of the Italians, besides having a own unique sound, quality or characteristic that could unite them in one single vein/style, which is the only reason why the Italian bands are separated. The quality of their output goes undisputed: most of them are terrific bands, just not distinct enough to have a sub-genre of their own, so consider RPI as an artificial division of symphonic. Concerning the other genres, well, avant, metal, jazz and symphonic are the bigest genres. Art and space/psychedelic rock are missing, what is a shame, but you can't win 'em all, you know.
That still proves my point. -------------
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 19:37
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This discussion has been done to death , I'll just say that you should try certain RPI bands to see that it's not just Italian symphonic bands, but there's a particular style that's much more than just symphonic. I'd recommend especially Franco Battiato, Area, Alan Sorrenti, Ricardo Zappa, Demetrios Stratos, Goblin, Latte E Miele, Stefano Testa or Maxophone.. There's also jazz, pop, psychedelic, folk and even electronic, chamber music and avantgarde in the style. RPI is not a place to hold the Italian bands, as half of the Italian bands are in other categories. And a lot of the bands would be rejected for Symphonic. I officially declare you a RPI negationist But really now, if you only know the mainly symphonic ones, than you've only skimmed the genre and there are many goodies to unearth. |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 19:48
Yes, I know that this discussion has been done to death and all that and in fact I know most bands you mentioned, but that is one of those things I simply don't agree with. Maybe I should have kept this kind of opinion to myself, but anyway. -------------
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Posted By: Soul Dreamer
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 22:40
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After seeing this list I know why prog is so "niche" and impopular with the "greater audience" . The top 10 has nothing (Haken maybe excepted), Agalloch's worst album is in the top 10...the rest is Rio/Avant which will never get a huge following, and jazz...my top 10 would be 100% different...where did the symphonic go...there are some great symphonic albums in 2010...
------------- To be the one who seeks so I may find .. (Metallica) |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: February 24 2011 at 22:47
That is pretty cool indeed!
Maybe he'll sign up.  ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 06:41
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 09:19
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Excellent work Alex.
The results are a refection of current tastes/trends/fashion - it will be interesting to see how this pans-out over the next two years as these albums "sink-in"
The 2008 Collabs' top list has a few surprises when compared to the current PA chart for 2008:
Collabs' Top Albums List - 2008
1. Opeth - Watershed ... PA #22
2. Il Bacio della Medusa - Discesa agl'inferi d'un giovane amante ... PA #7 3. The Tangent - Not As Good As The Book ... PA #20 4. Pendragon - Pure ... PA #23 5. Beardfish - Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two ... PA #5 6. Steven Wilson - Insurgentes ... PA #36 7. Kayo Dot - Blue Lambency Downward ... PA #89 8. The Mars Volta - The Bedlam In Goliath ... PA #1 9. Cynic - Traced In Air ... PA #8 10. Meshuggah - obZen ... PA #56 It would be interesting to know how the collabs view those 10 albums today. ------------- What? |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 09:23
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 09:24
 ------------- What? |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 09:51
Wow, I guess the former and past team members have really been wasting our time in ignorance. Thanks for letting us know. |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 10:31
Traced in Air is without a doubt a masterpiece for me.
Watershed and Blomljud are very close to masterpieces.
Blomljud is one that didn't even make the list, and alot of people are still talking about it. I need to get my review up on it.
Some of the more standard modern / neo prog releases from that year fade a bit with time.
BLD is one of my worst purchases since coming to PA, and I really dislike Goliath as well.
------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 10:32
Interesting thought, I clearly see some avant, metal and fusion dominance there as well, but can't say if it is a trend, some symphonic albums do/did very well in the general 2010-2011 top albums. From my part, I think the last decade has seen some interesting developments in metal. The main metal genres from the 90s (death,black,classic prog) had stagnated somewhat at the end of the decade. But new directions were found by either adding progressive elements to the extreme metal genres from the 90s or by adding "extreme" elements to the classic prog formula (even Dream Theater do growls now and generally sound "tougher" then 20 years ago) Enslaved and Agalloch are examples of the first, Haken of the second. Dunno if it will last much longer, I hear a lot of progressive-metal stagnation again with lots of bands just cloning somebody else, but some do get away with it (like Alcest ) |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 10:41
I've noticed the rift between the tastes of the general public on PA and the tastes of the collaborators sometime in 2009, when, in a not very inspired move, I started to check out most top rated (in the charts) albums of 2009, until I got fed up with the retro style. That left me disenchanted with prog as a scene, and even if I still like classic prog and don't listen to it any more. |
Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 10:44
Can't believe Opeth made it that high, a lot of people consider it an average or merely good album compared to their earlier work. |
Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 10:47
I did that in 2010. But won't do so anymore, never again, I can assure you. Had the exact same reaction. Luckily some intersting stuff made it there as well and it doesn't look too bad right now. |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 10:49
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That surprised me too. I love Watershed but it was my second Opeth album after Damnation. I recently went back to it after reviewing Blackwater Park...it's definitely a more prog album. I personally think the best songs (Lotus Eaters and Hessian Peel, the juxtaposition of Coil / Heir Apparent) really are among the best things Opeth has done, and definitely a stronger album than BWP.
H.ro, have you listened to Blomljud? It's a notch above the other retro-symph stuff IMO. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 10:51
------------- What? |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 14:31
Nothing against you and the guys from the RPI Jim, it is just that this is one of those political decisions / collective decision I just don't agree. Every single important country for prog and every other music genre have their own scenes and I find in no way necessary to separate Italy from, say, France or UK or Yugoslavia or Polad / Czechoslovakia, etc, etc. -------------
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Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: February 26 2011 at 11:06
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I think RPI should be seperate just like Krautrcok is seperate even though it's really German underground music.Both are unique in their own ways.There is a "sound" from each that stands out in my opinion from other genres. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: Conor Fynes
Date Posted: February 26 2011 at 16:31
| Great list, thank you for your efforts. |
Posted By: EatThatPhonebook
Date Posted: February 27 2011 at 09:33
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didn't expect this at all.... ------------- 
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Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: March 03 2011 at 04:12
 ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: March 03 2011 at 11:58
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John Davie rules. ------------- "I have seen the broken sky turn blue." http://gnosis2000.net/ratertodd.shtml" rel="nofollow - My Gnosis Ratings |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: March 05 2011 at 05:28
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A belated thankyou for your hard work - nice to see 3 of my choices in the top 10, and my number 1 is the top album for the 2nd year running (unlikely that I'll make it 3 in a row, though).
I think part of the reason for the relative popularity of RIO/avant recently has been the interest generated by releases from iconic bands with their roots in the 70s; Magma last year and Univers Zero this year. I would guess that the VDGG album/tour is going to rekindle a lot of people's interest in eclectic and symphonic bands this year - it will be interesting to see how the top albums for 2011 will stack up. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: March 06 2011 at 16:09
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^Frankly I think rumoured albums from Yes and Anglagard will do more for Symph than VdGG. ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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