Your favorite sounding album?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=86937
Printed Date: November 30 2024 at 07:58
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Your favorite sounding album?
Posted By: Sagichim
Subject: Your favorite sounding album?
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 06:56
|
All of us have great sounding albums, but some albums just sound special and have that extra something to it, like a beautiful guitar sound, or out of this world drum sound or a crazy bass. For example i enjoy listening to Porcupine Tree or The Flower Kings, the sound is top notch and everything is just in the right place, but still it doesn't have that special sound i'm looking for. So my favorite number one sounding album is Dun - Eros. Just about every instrument on that record sounds so good, the flute, guitars, piano and of course what a bass sound! But what gets me drooling the most are those powerful drums. High hats, rides, toms and of course that snare and bass drum seems like they are trying to kill you, and everything is in your face too. Amazing sounding album! I'll share some more later but for now, what's your special one? |
Replies:
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:04
|
I maybe wrong, but aren't you essentially talking about the perfect mix? That is how the whole album is produced? If so, I gather Anima Latina by Italian singer-song writer/prog dabbler Lucio Battisti ranks among my absolute favourites: I love everything about it - the way the bass sounds together with the crispness of the drums and percussion. The twinkling guitars and the modular synth shadings that pop up from time to time. It's just magic to me. Everything is remarkably audible and democratic - leaving nothing to be wished for IMO. AND it still sponsors that special warm and vibrant 70s sound without ever becoming fuzzy.
------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:04
|
Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye King Crimson - Larks' Tounge in Aspic Van der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute Radiohead - Kid A My Top 5 ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:18
|
Guldbamsen, i like that album's sound too especially the bass. Horizons, i'm with you on that Kid A and LTIA  . |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:27
Yep that earthy bass was the first thing I fell for as well ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: dtguitarfan
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:41
|
I love both Animals as Leaders albums for this reason. Tosin Abasi's 8 string guitar playing is so original - he's able to do both guitar and bass parts simultaneously, and his gear emits the most amazingly full sounding chords where you can hear all the highs and lows so powerfully. To top it off, they weave these techno-like sounds in with the heavy stuff. Fascinating. ------------- http://tinyurl.com/cy43zzh" rel="nofollow - My 2012 List 
|
Posted By: RoyFairbank
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:42
|
Probably like Invisible Touch or Abacab. I love that 80s funk-synth-heavy drum sound, I really do. *Ducks* |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:48
This is why I love PA - not because you like ducks, but because we, as an online community, are so different. I also like (some) of the 80s production values, be that the trash can punk production, but no matter - it's the differences which make this place so special. I've said it before, and I really mean that. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
RoyFairbank wrote:Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:52
I love that sparse, lean, almost minimilist sound of Invisible Touch. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: dreadpirateroberts
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 08:03
Awesome ------------- We are men of action. Lies do not become us. http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/" rel="nofollow - JazzMusicArchives. |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 08:37
|
For me, it might be an album by Mogwai, either "Happy Songs for Happy People" or "Mr Beast". The band has just perfectly balanced every element of the music, and gotten the perfect tone out of each instrument. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: AlexDOM
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 08:37
|
Opeth Still Life |
Posted By: ScorchedFirth
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 08:40
|
Operation: Mindcrime Everything sounds so big. Not to mention all the story interludes ("sweet dreams... you b*****d") that bring it to life. |
Posted By: Quirky Turkey
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 08:56
| One for me would be Relayer by Yes. It's by no means my favourite album and it's not perfect, but I do find a unique quality to the sound. The combination of Patrick Moraz on keyboards, the hard rocking style in some parts, the experimental but melodic symphonic sound, and especially Steve Howe's constant volume effect are what make this album like no other. In fact I've never heard a telecaster guitar sound the way Steve made it sound here. Very special sound indeed. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 10:27
|
Hi,
This is hard ... there are way too many albums that fit this idea/description for me.
Amon Duul 2 - Wolf City in its original order and incarnation on the LP. The sound on the CD is not very good at all by comparison and sounds like a copy of a copy!
Can - Soon Over Babbalooma - One of the prettiest transtions on the LP when the two long cuts meet and there is no stop.
Roger Waters - Amused to Death
Ange - Au Dela du Delire
Jethro Tull - A Passion Play
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
Tangerine Dream - Stratosfear
Vangelis - El Greco
Too many to list ... way too many for me! ------------- 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: Starhammer
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 11:17
Whilst it might not be my favourite album, I also love how it sounds, especially the drums! |
Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 12:37
|
Jon Anderson's Olias of Sunhillow has an overall sound quality that really hits me, and I cannot reduce it to any one single thing. It is the combination of the tones, the production, the instrumentation, his voice, and of course the music itself. I agree with Moshkito that El Greco by Vangelis has superior sound. On surface, it all seems very simple, but like the sea it emulates in so many ways, there are subtle depths to the sound that give the album its amazing aural depth. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 12:39
| Yes used to make some of the cleanest-sounding albums I've ever heard. Hmmmm ... so many albums to mention. I would say TFTO, but some of the layers of sound don't quite match each other in dynamics. I would probably have to go with CTTE. |
Posted By: deckard33
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 12:46
|
Three albums that I don't like to hear because of their sound, although musically interesting
King Crimson - Lark's tongue : recorded too low, noisy Yes - Relayer : too metallic, percussive and aggressive Anglagard - Hybris : drums are too loud and aggressive. Jethro Tull - Aqualung : too bad that sound deserves such excellent music. I love the production of the following albums : Gentle Giant : In a glass house Camel : Mirage and Moonmadness Hatfield and the North Pink Floyd : Animals, DSOTM, WYWH, Final Cut Jethro Tull : Passion Play and ... Dot Com Porcupine Tree : Coma Divine Yes : Close to the Edge and Magnification |
Posted By: deckard33
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 12:59
|
Fully agree with "Vangelis - El Greco" too.
Excellent music and sound. I have never understood why it never received better ratings on prog web sites ... |
Posted By: JS19
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 13:11
|
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun My Bloody Valentine - Loveless This Will Destroy You - This Will Destroy You Neurosis - The Eye Of Every Storm Top 5... But I could easily go on! ------------- 
|
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 13:23
My pick. Haven't heard the vinyl but the sound on the 2003 remaster is freaking amazing. ------------- |
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 15:17
|
I must add Red to my list, it's maybe the best natural sounding album I have ever heard, drums are not manipulated but has a very natural sound, perfect mix overall.
One of the better sounding albums in recent years is 'The Art Of Navigating By The Stars' by Sieges Even, this is really huge, clean and distorted guitars have a great sound and are perfectly mixed together, except that, snare and bass drum are so powerful, one of the best i've heard, a real masterful work. |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 15:41
That was actually my first relevant thought. Although it's not one of my biggest favorites but still a favorite, I gotta give KC that.
|
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 15:47
|
I like the sound of Rush's "Moving Pictures" too. A very wide, panoramic sounding mix with good low end and a nice high pop on Neil's small tom drums. Lifeson's guitar tone is really heavy too, but not too distorted.
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 17:18
|
For me, two of my favorite sounding albums are Triumvirat's two studio albums Illusions On A Double Dimple and Spartacus. Illusions has such a clean and crisp, clear sound on all instruments, you can really feel the music. Same for Spartacus. Another album that comes to mind is Soft Machine's Seven. (Ah, the early to mid seventies, man, those were the days) |
Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 17:39
|
Red. A great balance between heavy rock power and prog rock exquisiteness.
------------- This night wounds time. |
Posted By: Master of Time
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 17:59
|
Yes's Relayer, Genesis's Trespass, The Enid's Aerie Faerie Nonsense, and Beardfish both Sleeping In Traffic albums. Though I love Geddy Lee's bass and keyboards and I once considered Rush my favorite band, I can not stand the sound of Alex Lifeson's guitar anymore, I really hate it. I really don't know what about irks me so but something about it I just don't like. I did think it sounded better on their recent single Headlong Flight though which I quite enjoyed. Besides that though I can barely listen to Rush at all anymore.
|
Posted By: Flyingsod
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 18:48
|
I'm not sure what the intent of the OP was. The sonic quality of the album or the musical ambiance. But what first cam to mind was Tresspass by Genesis. The laid back melancholy slightly spacey and mystical feel permeates the whole album for me. I have always hated the poor production value on it though. Now However I have a remastered 180 gram vinyl and that poor production and bad mixing and crappy vinyl problem are fixed. Yay! Others I agree with but already mentioned are Amon Duul II Wolf City. It's just got a plain rock n roll sound that Euro bands can rarely muster but it adds a nice surrealistic edge that I love. Olias of Sunhillow... its like being in a trance and projecting to another realm to listen to this thing.. exactly what music is for eh? ------------- This space intentionally left blank |
Posted By: Fox On The Rocks
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 20:28
  I totally agree.For me, I'd say Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn. Honestly, it's like a spiritual experience every time I listen to that album - everything is perfect, even the Horse song at the end.  ------------- 
|
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 20:59
Alex guitar sound is one of my most favorite guitar sounds in general, and is one of the band's signatures.
Maybe you should see a doctor!
 . |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 21:11
|
Why do so many reply to these posts with extensive lists?? Pick one! Mine has to be "Larks Tongues In Aspic." A perfectly executed & mixed album, start to finish. I never grow tired of it after 40 years!!
|
Posted By: N-sz
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 21:16
|
I also agree with those who mentioned Red. If I was going to put a lot of money into buying just the right guitar, I'd like a similar sound to what they have there on certain parts. Pink Floyd also pretty much always has near perfect sounds. Space Shanty.
|
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 03:08
|
Crisis What Crisis, is to me a better produced album then Crime, more lusher and developed and Supertramps best sounding album in terms of the lush productiona and varied sounds, never have aucustic twelvestrings sound so good as on Crisis and on Even in the Qietest Moments listen to his in headphones walking in the sun or in the woods. -------------  
|
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 08:12
| This is easy, Dark Side of the Moon. It sounded amazing back in the 70s and still does now. Just compare it to other 1973 albums, the difference in production is incredible. Floyd always had amazing attention to detail and the pride in their sound has stood them well. DSOTM was way ahead of it's time. |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 08:57
| Geneisis' Trespass (original LP) |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 09:18
I'm not sure it's possible. (the choice!)
For many of us, it is not about choosing a favorite. I have too many! But as far as "experience" in the listening itself, those albums are tops.
I think, (let me say it again!) that I know why Vangelis' El Greco is not appreciated by many progressive fans ... it was recorded as a pice of classical music ... not as a piece of rock music ... and the detail and depth and intensity of the details help the music ... rock music, for the most part, tends to not be ablel to do this ... first of all in the old days, rock music was NOT taken seriously until folks like The Beatles and Rolling Stones and others broke the mold, and secondly, the recording of these "pop" or "rock" things, rarely has the depth and continuity that the classical piece tends to have. Thus, for the longest time, recording the man sing Brown Sugar instead of Pavarotti doing Tosca's arias, is a bit ... negligeable ... with the exception that rock music by then, was making 10 times to 20 times the money ... which had, by then ... become the LAW.
And it's been that for the last 40 years.
"El Greco", and its recording, from what I could see was a throw back to the old style ... and it does marvellously, but in some ways I think that our ears are already tuned out of the orchestral recording with 120 microphones, to the rock concent recording with 10 microphones (well ELP had 43 of them!) ... so to speak! The simplicity of it does not make it better, but it does make it sound different.
I like the live in the studio feel in TFTO. I like the Concert House feel in El Greco. I like the very special feel of the art house in A Passion Play. And these are all very different. It helps make the music more "alive". I specially like the "white room" feel in Terje and David Darling's Eos ... which makes it sound so much like a Chamber Music concert ... and the only other thing I have ever heard that has that feel is ... Gryphon!
And this is the super hard part of this work and reviewing it!
Btw, compare this recording to Ryuichi Sakamoto's The Buddha soundtrack. Same thing, and he knows about recording and such! ------------- 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: frippism
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 09:55
|
Hard question. I love the sound of all Cardiacs albums, even the lo-fi ones. Death Grips albums sound greaaaaat. Deathspell Omega's production is equally noisy and clean, which is interesting. ------------- There be dragons |
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 10:13
|
Some more great sounding albums i like are... The vintage sound of The Strawbs especially a good sound is on Ghosts. About Pink Floyd i agree they had the clearest sound, the same goes for Ambrosia's first couple of albums, which is no surprise since both bands were engineered by Alan Parsons. Oh and i must say, not prog but Soundgarden's Superunknown has my favorite sounding album in the 90's.  . |
Posted By: N-sz
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 12:37
Oh dang, how could I forget? Yep, Mike Oldfield's my winner here too. Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn are both among the most beautiful albums, I think.
|
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 13:18
|
Since we're branching out here, I'd like to mention Klaus Schulze's Picture Music. I love that album like I love labradors. The sound of it especially is something I hold very dear. The combination of that dripping sequencer and the warm slithering synth landscapes is a true winner for me. Everything melts together but is somehow distinguishable and crystal clear. Mirage does this as well, but is has that icy serene coating as well. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 14:52
 |
Posted By: Flyingsod
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 16:04
See, we need to clarify what we think 'favorite SOUNDING Album" means. Cause I love tresspass too but my original LP was great sounding only in composition... the actual sonics on it were pretty bad (to my ears). Although I have heard the English pressings were better. and beacuase Svetonio didnt calirfy I don't know what you are errrrming at. ------------- This space intentionally left blank |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 16:24
| ^ The crappy production - that's what I'm errrrming about. |
Posted By: Flyingsod
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 17:02
|
Hmmm, a worthy errrm. ------------- This space intentionally left blank |
Posted By: peart_lee_lifeson
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 17:23
|
Beardfish's Sleeping in Traffic Pt. 2 has got some sweet "sounds." I just really love all the different timbres used throughout the album, be it vocal, guitar, bass, or synthesized sounds. ------------- PROG ON!!! |
Posted By: Frederik
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 18:44
|
Harmonium's 'Fifth Season' album which I won't try to spell in french (ok, I'll try: Si On Avain Besoin D'une Cinqueme Saison, hope it's not too wrong) - it's so perfect, in every sense, it sounds just as it should sound. For me that album is like a soundtrack to nature and it would be one of the first human artifacts I would show to an intelligent alien race :3
|
Posted By: Flyingsod
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 19:53
|
Oh that's a cool concept... which album SHOULD be shown to an alien race? I'm not familiar with Harmonium though. ------------- This space intentionally left blank |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 20:13
|
First thing that came to mind was 'Misplaced Childhood' so I'll go with that. ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 20:40
|
Zep II, So as well, and Diary of a Madman -- as far as "favorite sounding", I did take that to mean production, though I will say one's favorite production may still be a matter of taste; the criteria could be fidelity or cleanliness or atmosphere or feeling or numerous other factors. |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 20:55
Ditto. The way the sounds seem to simply envelop the air when Breathe starts is an incomparable sensation. Radiohead sort of get that effect in Subterranean Homesick Alien but DSOTM remains a high watermark. |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 20:59
Speaking of Genesis, Nursery Cryme might qualify among the 'worst sounding' albums. |
Posted By: silcir
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 22:30
| made in japan - deep purple |
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 23:05
|
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 23:09
Na-ah. "Earthbound", that piece of a#$ has the worst production. Having a guitar low in the mix is a bit of a turn-off, but the rest ... [kissing left thumb, index, and middle a-la culinary grand chef] sounds clean and loud enough to me.
...
... The drums sound good to me. Oh, well, I guess there is no way of bending our minds. |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 01:46
When I want to immerse in an ocean of beautiful sounds, I put on Mew's latest. Dreamiest stuff possible (not a coincidence the genre is called "dream pop"  ). EDIT: and for the same reason but a different genre: side A of Fripp & Eno's Evening Star. For real rock (  ), I always go for the amazing mix of clarity and rawness from Zeppelin's recent live anthologies (How The West Was Won or disc 2 of the BBC Sessions). Oh and one more edit, I do love a bit of mess. Motorpsycho is one band that I listen particularly for that kind of sound. OK I'll stop pretending this is the last edit. I do love it when a recording makes you hear not only the music, but also to "hear" the room in which was recorded. Like a jazz record. Coyote wins this category (and is only beaten by the live-in-studio version of Coyote that KD played live on the radio). Also, one album I love for it's sound too, not just the music, is Indukti's SUSAR. Psychedelic metal FTW. |
Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 02:44
|
Gong - Gazeuse Not my favourite Gong album, but a perfect sound mix.
|
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 10:33
That's pretty intentional, I think. And great work there by Collins. But the drum sound is quite terrible on Hogweed and as such, the sound is both thin and has plenty of disturbance. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 10:42
|
I love the drums on Nursery Cryme. Always have done. In fact the whole "sound" of the album is good. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 11:09
| ^ Yupputy-yup. ... but again, you wanna hear the guitar. |
Posted By: Jonathan
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 17:07
|
My Favorite is A Trick of the Tail because I love the songs Dance on a Volcano, Squonk, Robbery, Assault, and Battery, Ripples, and Los Endos. They have amazing Keyboard playing and freaking awesome drums, not to mention the excellent Guitar playing of Steve Hackett and the great sounding bass playing of Mike Ruhterford. A Trick of the Tail is the best Rock Album ever. I highly recommend it for any Genesis Fans.
|
Posted By: JS19
Date Posted: May 20 2012 at 13:12
In terms of sound rather than quality however, I think this is one my least favourite sounding records. It just sounds so 'flat'. -------------
|
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 10:50
|
HI,
A couple more additions to the list.
Nektar's "Recycled" ... is excellent ... it really is all Larry Fast, but it makes Nektar more complete.
Ange's Emile Jacotey is wonderful. And it preceeded Roger Waters' Amused to Death by a few years. It has a very nice continuity to it and some wonderful work.
Klaus Schulze's "Mirage" is definitly worthy of this list.
Amon Duul 2's Yeti ... has an interesting sound that is really lively and "sparkles" on some good Sandoz ... ooopppsss ... these folks would not know about this, would they?
Egberto Gismonti, Jan Garbarek and Charlie Haden -- Magico
Keith Jarrett - The Koln Concert -- which apparently is now available on DVD ... best piano concert ever done.
Capability Brown - Voice. Super lovely folk rock with magnificent vocals and outstanding musicianship. I never thought of this as "progressive" ... but I didn't care ... it is one of the prettiest albums ever, and only metal hardened ears won't appreciate it!
Kevin Ayers - The Confessions of Dr. Dream. Sometimes thought of as an odd album, but in many ways a perfect album for Kevin and his friends. Even though there is no continuity required or needed, the album has a very nice flow and ends with a massive blast by Mike Oldfield and friends!
Roy Harper - The Unknown Soldier -- probably his most studio-centric album of all, but really sharply done and beautifully put together with some wonderful material. Jugula +4 is also worthy of mention, as it is more Jimmy Page than you have ever heard on Roy's albums.
Spirit - The 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus -- Best known for their hit "Nature's Way" which is a magnificent piece, hit ot not!, The album itself is somewhat of a satire of all the major groups at the time ... and it starts with some weirdness as an instrumental and goes into the hardcore progressive metal piece "When I Touch You", and then runs through various songs that are all different from each other, that allows you to just about name a hit maker on the radio for each piece. Wonderfull album all around, and deserves the progressive mark, but it will alienate some with its pop songs mostly, but all of them ... not quite right! ------------- 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: Jonathan
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 14:58
|
Posted By: JS19
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 15:02
Sigur Ros - Ágætis Byrjun It just sounds so dynamic -------------
|
Posted By: DaveyByTheSea
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 15:17
|
Many great albums from the past but i'll go for a more recent one....Kate Bush's " 50 Words for Snow" the entire CD sounds like it was recorded in a snowy landscape! All the sounds have that icy sharpness and a sense of the eerie near silence, like falling snow. ------------- Skyline Teacher taught me everything! |
Posted By: Jonathan
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 15:32
|
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 16:17
Agreed, i don't like the album's sound too. sorry. |
Posted By: MoodyRush
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 21:13
|
Terria by Devin Townsend is fantastic! I love the sheer ambiance of it. I think I also saw Still Life by Opeth mentioned, and that one stands out to me as well. And this one isn't prog in the slightest, but Murmur by R.E.M. is magical is every sense. ------------- Follow me down to the valley below. Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul. -Lazarus |
Posted By: Ambient Hurricanes
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 21:39
|
Vapor Trails. No lie, it's the first thing that popped into my head. It sounds like three (well, more like 20, with all the overdubs) brilliant teenage virtuoso prodigies who knew everything about music but nothing about recording got together in their garage, recorded the whole thing live on their PA, and then released it to the world without mixing or mastering. And it's awesome.  ------------- I love dogs, I've always loved dogs |
Posted By: Fox On The Rocks
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 22:03
Post-Rock. Sorry JS19 if you were going to respond to the question.  -------------
|
Posted By: Flyingsod
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 22:11
 . I agree with everything you said.. cept your last three words. ------------- This space intentionally left blank |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 22:25
|
For rock albums, I think there's a good contrast in excellence between something like Power Windows and Snakes and Arrows. Two superbly recorded albums in different styles. Snakes and Arrows is just a perfectly mixed modern rock album. Not overbearingly loud, and definite, articulate guitar, bass, and drum sounds. ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Ambient Hurricanes
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 22:35
And Vapor Trails is a perfectly mixed progressive rock album. ------------- I love dogs, I've always loved dogs |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 22:37
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooope ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Ambient Hurricanes
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 22:39
|
^Your word went past the edge of the page like the levels on Vapor Trails went past the limits.
EDIT: Dang, my VT joke only works on small screens  ------------- I love dogs, I've always loved dogs |
Posted By: Master of Time
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 23:04
I initially agreed that this album sounded flat, and couldn't get into to, but after I got a more recent remastered version I thought it was much better and I too love the sound of this album, but for different reasons I think. Though I love all the songs you listed the ones I really loved the sound and feel of were Robbery Assault and Battery and Ripples (which you did mention), but also Mad Man Moon and Entangled. I like the bright, happy, twee, whimsical sound of those songs. I love hearing Phil's accent when he sings.
|
Posted By: smartpatrol
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 23:16
|
It's not an album for me. I love how Devo's early work (74-77) sounded. Kinda filthy and grummy and gunky. ------------- http://bit.ly/1kqTR8y" rel="nofollow">  The greatest record label of all time! |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 00:31
| ^ Sounds really cool. I'll take some time to check out their early stuff. |
Posted By: JS19
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 00:36
Vapor Trails feels like the mix is punching you in the face repeatedly as you listen to it... -------------
|
Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 03:56
|
Yes- Close to the Edge Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon Radiohead- OK Computer Dream Theater- Images and Words Porcupine Tree- In Absentia Opeth- Still Life ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 04:38
|
A Trick of the tail - Genesis
Moving Pictures - Rush Caress of Steel - Rush Animals - Pink Floyd In Absentia - Porcupine Tree Rubycon - Tangerine Dream Relayer - Yes There's many more...! ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 06:18
If I had to pick just one album I love the production values & overall 'sound', I'd be hard pressed between these 2:
 
Clarity, edge, depth - just what I like
------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 09:31
|
HI,
A couple more:
Alan Stivell - Renaissance of hte Celtic Harp. It was originally one of the first "new age" albums, and it was beautifully recorded and was a part of the special recordings done by the label ... which meant that they own this recording and Alan will never get a nickel off it. But it is one of the prettiest albums ever.
Alan Stivell - Again. I think this was done for America with American audiences in mind. It was more rock oriented, which always fantastic in his hands, and out of this world, but not something that most progressive folks do not like these weird mixes of culture and instruments ... and for some the Celtic Harp does not go with an electric guitar! Conversely, there are other moments in there ... and the anthem "Pop Plinn" should tell you all that Alan Stivell really is ... very innovative and ignored for the most part!
Carmen - Fandangos in Space. Very nicely recorded, and it sounds like a live recording in the studio and it is really tight and well rehearsed, and you get the feeling that there are not that many breaks or overdubs, which was the norm in those days. The 2nd and 3rd albums did not sound as strong or clean, although the 3rd album has the last goodbye from a very fine guitarist doing Classical Guitar chops on an electric guitar! (The Gypsies) ------------- 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: Ambient Hurricanes
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 09:35
...Which is what makes it so good. ------------- I love dogs, I've always loved dogs |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 10:39
Reminds me of this one: 
Not prog, I know, but one of the most 'live' sounding studio albums I've heard (and one of my favorites by the artist) -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 10:45
|
^Which in return reminds me of Van Halen's debut. Recorded live in the studio and sounds brilliant for it. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 12:54
|
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 14:29
He is not really ignored, he is regularly invited to the mass-gathering Festival Interceltique de Lorient, and is a reference in celtic circles. Regarding the topic, I like both very polished sound (the synth-pop era Rush) as well as bad sounding albums (the first Cardiacs albums, the first IQ albums...). ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: May 23 2012 at 06:34
|
An additional album came to mind the other day. Jaga Jazzist - One Armed BanditSpeaks for itself really. ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 26 2012 at 15:36
| While not my favorite, and the music doesn't blow me away as it could have, I think Floyds Final Cut sounds pretty good, on headphones especially since it was made for that kind of listening. Only Waters and Psychic TV used that Holophonic system on albums according to wiki. |
Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: May 26 2012 at 15:46
| I thought someone would mention In The Court...well it does sounds great but what i like the most is the drum sound, never heard something quite like that ever since, top that with Giles exquisite drumming of course. Excellent! |
Posted By: Fox On The Rocks
Date Posted: May 26 2012 at 16:56
|
Gentle Giant - In a Glass A House Rush - Moving Pictures Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun Battles - Mirrored -------------
|
Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: May 26 2012 at 23:16
| There are a few 70s prog albums that have a good sound to them to me, but surprisingly is the great sound on the live "Meet the Flower Kings" (2003). This has the best sound of any live prog album I have ever heard... |
Posted By: gerdtheater
Date Posted: May 30 2012 at 02:36
|
I like a lot Riverside's Second Life Syndrome, Seventh Wonder's Mercy Falls and mostly Porcupine Tree's The Incident! ------------- Playing a three-hour Rush show is like running a marathon while solving equations. Neil Peart |