DPRP

Den nederlandske progsiden DPRP har leseren stemt frem denne listen som 2009 sine beste album. Lista har ikke akkurat flust med store overraskelse, men vi merker oss norske band som Gazpacho så høyt oppe som på femte plass. Også Airbag som jo er en norsk nykommer er en stor og gledelig overraskelse å finne på denne lista. Svenske Eggs & Dogs var faktisk et band som hadde unnsluppet vår radar til nå, og de sysler med prog med visse pop tilnærminger etter hva vi kan skjønne.

• 1.      Porcupine Tree – The Incident

• 2.      Transatlantic – The Whirlwind

• 3.      IQ – Frequency

• 4.      Riverside – Anno Domini High Definition

• 5.      Gazpacho – Tick Tock

• 6.      Dream Theater – Black Cloud & Silver Linings

• 7.      Big Big Train – The Underfall Yard

• 8.      Phideaux – Number Seven

• 9.      Tangent – Down & Out In Paris & London

• 10.  Muse – The Resistance

• 11.  Gulit machine – On This Pefect Day

• 12.  Agents Of Mercy – The Fading Ghosts Of Twilight

• 13.  Sylvan – Forec Of Gravity

• 14.  Marillion – Less = More

• 15.  Shadow Galelry – Digital Ghosts

• 16.  Beardfish – Destiny Solitaire

• 17.  Sateve Hackett – Out Of The Tunnel`s Mouth

• 18.  Knight Area – Realm Of Shadows

• 19.  Eggs & Dogs – You Are

• 20.  Redemption – Snowfall On Judgement Day

• 21.  Airbag – Identity

• 22.  Matodon – Crack The Sky

• 23.  Satellite – Nostagia

• 24.  Steven Wilson – Insurgentes

• 25.  Izz  - The Darkned Room

Aural Moon

Enda en internett radio http://auralmoon.com/ har ferdigstilt sin leser en rundspørring blant sine lyttere over hva de synes var 2009 årgangens beste skiver. Resultatet,

1. Big Big Train - The Underfall Yard

2. IQ - Frequency

3. The Tangent - Down and Out in Paris and London

4. Steve Hackett - Out of the Tunnel's Mouth

5. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind

6. Porcupine Tree - The Incident

7. Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition

8. Agents Of Mercy - The Fading Ghosts Of Twilight

9. Unitopia - The Garden

10. Beardfish - Destined Solitaire

MLWZ

Den polske prog radioen MLWZ

 http://www.mlwz.ceti.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4362

har latt sine lyttere kåre de beste albumene i 2009,

1. Gazpacho - Tick Tock

2. Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition

3. Porcupine Tree - The Incident

4. Airbag - Identity

5. Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings

6. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind

7. Moonrise - Soul’s Inner Pendulum

8. Steve Hackett - Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth

9. IQ - Frequency

10. Morphelia - Waken The Nightmare

Aural Moon Radio

http://www.auralmoon.com/

Dette er en virkelig suveren prog internett radio som vi ofte lytter til.

Lytterne har kåret de beste albumene for 2008, og her er resultatet,

RPWL - The RPWL Experience

2. The Tangent - Not As Good As A Book
3. Marillion - Happiness is the Road
4. Unifaun - s/t

5. Beardfish - Sleeping In Traffic Part 2
6. Thieves Kitchen - The Water Road
7. Simon Says - Tardigrade

8. Moth Vellum - s/t
9. Pendragon - Pure
10. Ayreon - 01011001

11. Van der Graaf Generator - Trisector
12. Frost - Experiments in Mass Appeal

13. Karmakanic - Who's the Boss in the Factory
14. Pineapple Thief - Tightly Unwound
15. Mike Oldfield - Music of the Spheres

Mike Popke

Best release in 2007 in no particular order.

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

Neal Morse: Sola Scriptura -- The man's music never ceases to blow my mind; this is his most ambitious effort yet.

Rush: Snakes & Arrows -- Better than anyone could have hoped for, really.

Therion: Gothic Kabbalah -- Despite this album's nebulous themes and elaborate but convoluted arrangements, it is arguably Therion's most accessible record.

Pathosray: Pathosray -- Italian newcomers meld technical finesse, melodic sensibilities and razor's-edge execution into a sound influenced equally by Symphony X and TNT; in a perfect metal universe, this band would be huge.

Symphony X: Paradise Lost -- Almost worth the five-year wait...

Far Corner: Endangered -- A captivating and accessible exploration of modern-music's outer edges; classical chamber music meets improvised avant-prog.

Iced Earth: Framing Armageddon-Something Wicked (Part 1) -- Despite the overlong title, this album picks up where The Glorious Burden left off. And here I thought Tim Owens and John Schaffer had forged the perfect partnership; guess not.

Mob Rules: Ethnolution A.D. -- Smart and majestic German metal that sounds like Queensryche in its prime and Iron Maiden at its most progressive.

Bruce Springsteen: Magic -- The Boss proves some rock stars actually do get better with age; his best overall record since the Eighties.

Pat Dinizio: Pat Dinizio -- I'm a sucker for anything Smithereens-related, and this perfect pop-rock album mesmerizes me.

CDs (Reissues / Live, in no particular order) :

Genesis: 1976-1982 and 1983-1998 -- These handsome box sets chronicle the band's rise and fall in the post-Peter Gabriel era, complete with 5.1 Surround Sound mixes and abundant video footage; can't wait for Rhino to tackle the Gabriel years next.

Rocket Scientists: Looking Backward -- I'm still eagerly anticipating this one, which contains three earlier album gems, newly recorded tracks and performance footage.

Various Artists: The Heavy Metal Box -- Obviously not all-inclusive, but nice to see metal in the mainstream again

The Flower Kings: The Road Back Home -- A non-intimidating, epic-free introduction for newbies and still a neat compilation for the rest of us.

Opeth: The Roundhouse Tapes -- I'm really starting to dig this band, death-metal grunts and all; this live collection offers a fantastic career overview.

Umphrey's McGee: Live at The Murat -- A jam band for music fans who don't like jam bands (and for almost any fun-loving proghead).

The Marshall Tucker Band: Carolina Dreams Tour '77 -- Rare vintage concert captured on two CDs and one DVD featuring the original lineup; all these years later, I just can't get enough of these guys.

U2: The Joshua Tree Limited Edition -- Buy the extravagant version if only for the live DVD filmed back in the day.

Pearl Jam: Live at The Gorge -- Seven CDs worth of reasons why this band has survived when all of its former peers have not.

Bob Dylan: Dylan -- Sure, most of this stuff has all been released many times over, but this three-disc set provides an impressively broad picture for both beginning Dylan-ologists and collectors. (I fall somewhere in the middle.)

DVDs (in no particular order) :

Friday Night Lights: The Complete First Season -- One of the finest television shows ever; believe the hype and tune in to save this ratings-starved drama.

Queensryche: Mindcrime at the Moore -- The much-need revitalization of a vital band.x

Kiss: Kissology -- Collectively, this nine-disc trilogy (plus bonus discs) stands as a monumental piece of rock history that even casual fans should consider essential viewing.

The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show -- Of all the archival Johnny Cash material released following his 2003 death, this two-DVD collection of footage from Cash's seminal television show ranks among the most significant.

Saturday Night Live: The Complete Second Season -- Worth the price for the musical performances alone. George Harrison? Frank Zappa? The Kinks? Oh, yeah.

ProgressoR

De 20 beste skivene fra 2007 basert på ProgressoR sine vurderinger. Vi må jo villig innrømme at her er mye snadder som vi med glede er med på å hylle, og som de som vil utvide sitt musikalske univers med fordel kan ta en nærmere lytt på.

1.      Fromuz – ” Audio Diplomacy”.

2.      Rational Diet – ” Rational Diet”.

3.      Soft Machine –  ”Legacy Stream”.

4.      Canvas Solaris – ” Cortical Tectonics”.

5.      Taylor`s Univers – ” Terra Nova”.

6.      Oaksenham – “ Conquest Of Paradise”.

7.      KBB – “ Proof Of Conception”.

8.      Yungen – “ Labitinto D`Aqua”.

9.      Interpose _ “ Indifferent”.

10.  Far Corner – “Endagered”.

11.  Wyatt & Whitaker – “Pedal Giants Animals”.

12.  Seamus – “ Zelatry Sterbuchen Schizphrenia”.

13.  Hugh Hopper – “ Numero D`Voll”.

14.  Salle Gaveau – “ Alloy”.

15.  Outer Limits – “ Stromatoli”.

16.  Side Steps – “ Alive II”.

17.  Arti E Mestieri  - “ First Live In Japan”.

18.  Antonius Rex – “ Switch On Dark”.

19.  Simak Dialog – “ Patahan”.

20.  Fernandez & Botello – “ Les Paciencia De Job”.

Pete Pardo`s choice

The Top 50 CD’s of 2007

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

Symphony X-Paradise Lost (hands down the CD I went back to the most this year!)

Epica-The Divine Conspiracy (stunning stuff, opened my eyes to the whole symphonic female fronted prog/power metal genre)

Dimmu Borgir-In Sorte Diabolo (the first half of 2007 had me constantly playing this grandiose & heavy thing)

Down-Down III-Over the Under (heart wrenching, heavy masterpiece)

Between the Buried & Me-Colors (pure genius, a band that keeps getting better)

Nile-Ithyphallic (this is what you call marvelous technical death metal)

Magic Pie-Circus of Life (wonderfully melodic and tasty prog)

Pathosray-Pathosray (THE debut of the year, and a band that could be huge very quickly)

Dream Theater-Systematic Chaos (the prog metal veterans are back on track)

Arch Enemy-March of the Tyrant (heavier than the previous CD, but still so melodic)

Black Bonzo-Sounds of the Apocalypse (great 70’s sounds but starting to add in a modern touch)

Amorphis-Silent Waters (melodic, heavy, with a touch of goth, folk, and prog)

Dark Tranquility-Fiction (these veteran Swede’s can seemingly do no wrong)

Wolves in the Throne Room-Two Hunters (progressive US black metal at its best)

KBB-Proof of Concept (jaw dropping Japanese fusion-these guys kill time and time again)

Nightwish-Dark Passion Play (Tarja who? Awesome stuff!)

Beneath the Massacre-Mechanics of Dysfunction (one of the most technical & brutal metal albums of the year!)

Behemoth-The Apostasy (Polish juggernauts return with a very satisfying platter of technical death metal)

Pagan’s Mind-God’s Equation (one of the strongest prog metal albums of the year)

Echoes of Eternity-The Forgotten Goddess (another great debut this year, and a band that could be big in no time)

Riverside-Rapid Eye Movement (Polish prog stalwarts once again produce a winner)

Megadeth-United Abominations (THE comeback of the year, hands down)

Rush-Snakes & Arrows (proving yet again how classic these guys are)

Starcastle-Song of Times (triumphant return of US prog legends!)

Threshold-Dead Reckoning (their strongest album in years)

Marduk-Rom 5:12 (crushing black metal from the punishing Swede’s)

Porcupine Tree-Fear of a Blank Planet (mixes the old and new sounds quite well)

Circus Maximus-Isolate (melodic prog-metal, oh so memorable)

Exodus-The Atrocity Exhibition (thrash legends show they still have plenty left)

Primordial-To the Nameless Dead (late 2007 entry for these Irish pagan/Celtic black metallers is stunning stuff)

Sun Caged-Artemisia (extremely solid Swedish progressive metal)

Immolation-Shadows in the Light (US death metal juggernauts again fire on all cylinders)

Nightingale-White Darkness (Dan Swano & Co. return with a wonderful melodic prog album)

Nahemah-A Second Philosophy (one of the most varied, and certainly progressive, metal albums of the year)

After Forever-After Forever (this latest has gotten me hooked on this band)

Devin Townsend-Ziltoid the Omniscient (more insane stuff from the evil professor)

Glass Hammer-Culture of Ascent (another winner from these US prog veterans)

Cathedral-The Bridge (70’s underground US prog legends return)

Dillinger Escape Plan-Ire Works (getting closer to the mainstream)

Holding Pattern-Breaking the Silence (another US prog legend returns big)

Oblivion Sun-Oblivion Sun (Happy the Man members re-appear and once again deliver stunning prog & fusion)

Blotted Science-The Machinations of Dementia (zany instrumental progressive metal from 3 virtuoso musicians-technical as all hell!)

Melechesh-Emissaries (this one started 2007 off with a bang!)

Thought Chamber-Angular Perceptions (more solid prog metal)

Chthonic-Seediq Bale (Taiwan’s answer to Dimmu Borgir churn out a real winner)

3 Inches of Blood-Fire Up the Blades (80’s thrash meets modern extreme-great stuff!)

November’s Doom-The Novella Reservoir (more progressive, even heavier)

Mayhem-Ordo Ad Chao (strong return from these legendary Norwegian black metal legends)

Machine Head-The Blackening (their best album in years!)

NMP`s beste 20 beste skiver i 2007

Polsk kultradio NMP Noc Muzycznych Pejzazy (The Night of Musical Landscapes) har latt lytterne kåre de 20 beste skivene fra 2007. Radioen sender mellom kl.2.00 og 6.00 natt til lørdager. Lytterne er fra hele verden og radioen finnes her: http://www.polskieradio.pl/trojka/

Programlederen heter Piotr Kosininski og er en fyr som sørger for at prog når massene med alle sine stunts. Kåringen ble for øvrig følgende:

1 Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet   

2 Riverside - Rapid Eye Movement
3 Blackfield - Blackfield II
4 Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
5 Quidam - Alone Together
6 Marillion - Somewhere Else
7 Antimatter - Leaving Eden

8 Pain Of Salvation - Scarsick
9 Rush - Snakes And Arrows
10 Radiohead - In Rainbows11 Satellite - Into The Night

12 Galahad - Empires Never Last
13 Division By Zero - Tyranny Of Therapy
14 Hipgnosis - Still Ummadelling
15 Anekdoten - A Time Of Day
16 SBB - The Rock
17 Fish - Communion
18 Archive - Live At The Zenith
19 Tori Amos - American Doll Posse
20 Genesis - Live Over Europe 2007

Dagsavisens vurdering av de 20 beste albumene 2006

Vi konstaterer at denne lista ikke helt matcher vår mening for å si det pent! Om ikke annet så har også de fått med seg at de fleste artistene som var rimelig hypet i 2006.

1.      120 Days - 120 Days

2.      Tom Waits – Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (3CD)

3.      Joanna Newsom – Ys

4.      Ghostface Killah – Fishscale

5.      Bob Dylan - Modern Times

6.      The Knife – Silent Shout

7.      Mastodon – Blood Mountain

8.      Artic Monkey – Whatever People Say I Am….

9.      Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo

10.  Justin Timberlake – Future Sex / Love Sounds

11.  Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury

12.  Amy Winehouse – Back To Black

13.  Bruce Springsteen – We Shall Overcome

14.  Marit Larsen – Under The Surface

15.  Wolfmother – Wolfmother

16.  Kristin Asbjørnsen – Wayfaring Stranger – A Spiritual Sonbook

17.  Lilly Allen – Allright Still

18.  The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldier

19.  TV On The Radio  – Return To Cookie Mountain

20.  Rockettothesky – To Sing You Apple Trees

Elias Granillo's Best of 2006

 "Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

Best Of 2006 (in some kind of order):

» Kenso – Utsuroi Yuku Mono ...another mindblowing album from the kings of Japanese fusion. Everybody should know 'em by now.

» Sur Oculto – Estados …along with DPI, the left-fielder of the year! This keyboard trio from Argentina hadn't released a CD since their debut five years ago. This is no ELP knock-off; Sur Oculto gets down 'n' dirty and takes their cues from symph, avant-prog & fusion (Magma/Corea), and the drummer's a nut. Due to arriving so late in the northern hemisphere, this album may take a while to catch on, but rest assured dis is da bomb.

» Zombi – Surface To Air ...Steve Moore & A.E. Paterra are the coolest American duo operating today. Grandiose synthesizer sounds meld with power drumming and funky bassing and the Goblin boys better be proud.

» DPI – Found Objects ...D stands for [keyboardist Vince] Dicola, P stands for [(Jethro Tull) drummer Doane] Perry, and I stands for [bassist Paul]Ill (as in "you be illin'). Three stellar long-form, kaleidoscopic prog rockin' excursions recorded & produced at Travis Dickerson's studio (where Buckethead records most of his solo stuff). These guys have recorded hours of music — when's the next one?!

» Rick Wakeman – Retro …this man is ageless, timeless. He takes a lickin' and...you get it. With Retro he finally revisited his long-stored analog gear and (gasp!) made MUSIC with it! This is a fantastic CD, one of the highlights of the year for me.

» Bootcut – De Fluff …I think Bootcut's now my favorite band out of Sweden. The duo's sophomore release adds some guests to their B3 organ & tubs broth and comes out swingin' with something more than prog, like "cinematic fusion" or something to that effect. Rikard Sjoblom is at least as competent a B3 organist as John Novello, even if Bootcut prioritizes ingenuity over chops 'n' wailing.

» Naikaku – Shell …#2 by this insane Japanese heavy-fusion band blew up mice in a lab test! (Okay, that wasn't funny.) The coolest output from Japan of this sort (very different from Kenso) since Pochakaite Malko's debut.

» La Maschera di Cera – LuxAde …looks like this is the best "modern retro" symph-prog release of '06! Superb.

» Rikard Sjoblom – Cyklonmannen …Sjoblom's soundtrack to the novel is sweet stuff and not exactly Bootcut Part Deux, either.

» Saga – Trust …open mouth, insert foot. I can't believe it, but these guys are actually on the upswing, and this — hard to believe, but true! — is their single best release overall since 1983's Heads Or Tales! What a great leadoff track.

» Rocket Scientists – Revolution Road …they're baaaaack! Wow, the last RS album was in 1998. Erik Norlander & his Wall Of Doom, Don Schiff and his off-the-hook NS/Stick skillz, and Mark McCrite's ace songwriting return, with some great guest vocal/instrumental power. As much as I love vintage keys and Norlander's keyboard prowess, I think it's safe to say that the Rocket Scientists would not be the same band without Schiff. That guy is something else.

» East Wind Pot – East Wind Pot …super new Japanese fusion group with ex-Theta personnel that would've had this year's title (next to Hiromi—see below) but, well, Kenso put one out! (Hahaha!) EWP definitely has the edge over Side Steps and some of the other Japanese "cookie cutter" fusion outfits.

» Hiromi – Spiral …3rd and possibly best CD by the amazing jazz-fusion pianist!

» David Kikoski – Lighter Way ...here's a long-running jazz pianist cooking his wares in more fusiony kiln. Giving Hiromi a run for her money, he composes one fabulous solo instrumental, struts his stuff with his bassist & drummer, and then for six sizzling minutes, turns the heat up with a spitfire monophonic right-hand [analog] lead that takes things into Niacin territory. A "chance purchase," too!

» Audioslave – Revelations …they're never going to match their amazing debut (rock perfection) but this set still cranks with songs like "Sound Of A Gun" and "Moth."

» Cheap Trick – Rockford ...tasty new rock from the Trick! Don't call them a nostalgia act.

» The Mars Volta – Amputechture ...more goodness from the Volta. (I still like De-loused the best. Sue me.)

» Fall Of Echoes– The Red Tree ...swell debut from the Orphan Project/Visual Cliff guys. The follow-up with the expanded line-up will roll over this one.

Honorable Mention:

» TOOL – 10,000 Days ...Wot?! you say? Well, TOOL have recorded some amazing sh*t but for all the hype this album has received, it's a rather uneven platter that doesn't quite stack up against Lateralus ("The Pot" is truly a killer song, though). I think it's time for the Toolheads to mix it up a bit. They've grown too comfortable within their niche.

Top Remasters/Reissues Of 2006 (in alphabetical order):

» Jerry Goodman & Jan Hammer – Like Children …the landmark fusion album, finally on CD. Jan is definitely a contender for the Best Keyboardist of the '70s title. This is so essential it t'ain't funny!

» Jan Hammer Group – Oh Yeah? …we waited forever for a new reissue of this. Killer funkified fusion (two tracks with vocals, even...and they're good!).

» Rick Wakeman – 1984 …hot-sounding remaster of Rick's best '80s album!

» Santana – Santana III {Legacy Edition} …the best studio album from pre-Caravanserai Santana in a new 2CD remaster with superior packaging and a 2nd bonus live disc! Need I say more?

» Rick Wakeman – Out There …okay, this did come out in '03, but the new issue with the blue cover is cooler. (-;

Top DVDs of 2006 (quality vs. quantity!):

» Rainbow – Live In Munich '77 …like Jacoby & Meyers — it's about time!

» Erik Norlander & Friends – Live In St. Petersburg …slick DVD/CD set with Erik in "power keyboard trio" mode on several tracks! And loads of other neato stuff.

» Thin Lizzy – Greatest Hits …finally, a semi-comprehensive collection of Lizzy's promos. Bitchin'!

» Rush – Replay x3 …all three of Rush's 1980s concert videos on DVD in a box at a very fan-friendly price, PLUS a bonus audio CD of Grace Under Pressure Tour! To deem this essential is to overstate the obvious.

» Bruford – Rock Goes To College ...savor the flavor! Probably the only official video doc we'll ever get of Bill's legendary fusion group. Cha cha!

» Stream Of Passion – Live In The Real World …great power metal with hot babes! Seriously, it's good music. Seriously, there are some babes in this band!!

Ken Pierce's Best Of 2006

 The Top 50 CD’s of 2006

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

Mercenary - The Hours That Remain. A great followup to 11 dreams. This is a band that is taking chances in Metal.

Mastodon - Blood Mountain: Jazz Fusion Metal? I dunno, but the new Mastodon sure kicks your ass around the block.

Amorphis - Eclipse…Finland boys return and do more good. Lots of feels on this one.

Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Effects…Raging guitar solos, soaring clean vocals, brutal death metal growls-brilliant!

Lamb of God - Sacrament…Their best yet. Future legends. The first four songs are instant classics and if you don’t find your fist in the air for this release you don’t have one. Go watch American Idol

Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death: Up the Irons, pure and simple. Some bad press from some people who don’t see the return to form. They are idiots.

I – Between Two Worlds: Great project from members of Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth.

Enslaved – RUUN: The black metal titans get even more progressive and this is an incredible listen from start to finish

Satyricon - Now, Diabolical: More Metal needs to be like this.

Vanden Plas - Christ O …Stunning operatic progressive metal. Their best yet! Especially the bonus track

Into Eternity - The Scattering of Ashes...Super complex prog-metal.

Cradle of Filth-Thornography…The always controversial UK demons release their most traditional metal & gothic album yet.

Dragonforce-Inhuman Rampage…Insanely wicked UK power metal with the sickest guitar & keyboard shredding around!

unexpecT- In a Flesh Acquarium: You will listen to this three times and still be lost. It is that good and that diverse. Siriak for Prime Minister of Montreal

In Flames-Come Clarity…Legends of Gothenberg’s melodic death metal scene return to form!

Ihsahn-The Adversary…Emperor front man’s first solo album is a winner of progressive & black metal styles.

Deicide - Stench of Redemption…Florida death metal legends best album ever! I can say this proudly as someone who only casually followed them

Blind Guardian-A Twist in the Myth…The most accessible album yet from these power metal leaders.

Decapitated-Organic Hallucinosis…Poland’s mighty technical death metal lads return with their best yet.

Agalloch-Ashes Against the Grain…Avant-garde black metal with plenty of prog & ambient elements.

Trivium - The Crusade…Their homage to 80’s Metallica. Killer riffs!

Jon Oliva’s Pain-Maniacal Renderings…Fans of 80’s Savatage should love this!

Amon Amarth - With Odin By our Side: Ever felt like a Viking warrior on a quest, this is your soundtrack.

Callenish Circle - Pitch Black Effects: Soilwork meets Mercenary meets Scar Symmetry, excellent stuff

Green Carnation - The Acoustic Verses: A band that never disappoints and yet still needs a larger US audience, hey peoples ARE YOU LISTENING.

Korpiklaani - Tales Along This Road: Folk Metal’s finest purveyor.

Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime II: No MC1, but it should not have been. This takes a couple of listens and is a powerful revisit when you finally get it.

Dissection – Reinkaos: The last recording. Nodveidt RIP.

Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse: This grew on me.

Rebel Meets Rebel - Rebel Meets Rebel: Southern Fried Metal featuring Dimebag and Company. A sad reminder of why we miss him so much.

Cheap Trick – Rockford: Cheap Trick return to a style they excelled at and this is good and tasty Rock & Roll.

Motorhead - Kiss of Death: Who does what Motorhead does like Motorhead? No one.

Eidolon-The Parallel Otherworld: The Drover Brothers show what else they are capable of.

All that Remains - The Fall of Ideals: An intense effort, bridging the gap of Metalcore with strong Melody. A welcome change.

Gojira - From Mars to Sirius: Good stuff, ala Mastodon only from France

To-Mera – Transcendental: Progressive Melodic Experimental Metal. Julie Kiss rules

Angra - Aurora Consurgens: Angra is a band that never seems to disappoint.

Fairyland - The Fall of an Empire: All hail the heir to the throne of Rhapsody.

Wednesday 13 – Fang Bang – Ever wanted to dance with a dead body in a graveyard with a serial killer? Wow, me too and this is the music to do it by (only kidding, so please any serial killers do not contact me)

Best Live Albums of 2006

Dream Theater – Score: The 20th Anniversary show, wow, has it been that long.

Fish - Return to Childhood: Fish brings to life once again, the Marillion that more people miss than do not.

Children of Bodom - Chaos Ridden Years

Kamelot - One Cold Winters Night

Best DVD’s of 2006

Arch Enemy - Live Apocalypse: Do you love Angela Gossow? If not, I don’t want to be the one to tell one of the most imposing of female singers today. This is a band that has done serious damage since her arrival and shows no signs of stopping.

KISS - KISSology : You wanted the best and you got the best the hottest band in the world

KISS!!!!! Disagree with me? Shut up and get out of my way or wise up and enjoy this incredible archive of video footage from a band that started more trends than you can count..

Rush - Replay X3: 3 classic Rush out of print VHS films in a neato little package with mini-tourbooks, oh snap this was wonderful to see released.

Children Of Bodom – Stockholm Knockout Live: Are you doubtful that COB is one of the more exciting bands of today, then buy this DVD and come talk to me again.

Therion – Celebrators Of Becoming: Behind on your Therion, well this comprehensive and extensive boxed set will surely win you over and get you up to speed.

Stream Of Passion – Live In The Real World: Arjen Lucassens project with the beautiful Marcela Bovio will take you to new musical realms.

Whitesnake - Live in the Still of the Night: Here they go again on their own, and guess what it all still kicks some serious bootie.

Sonata Arctica – For The Sake Of Revenge: One of the best live bands for Metal today. They hold the banner high for the genre.

Black Label Society - The European Invasion: Doom Troopin’ Live: so much better on this DVD than the last one. A tight set of crunching Hard Rock and Metal.

Kamelot - One Cold Winters Night: This is a concert film that will make you a fan for life. Dramatic, energetic, and passionate. Melodic Power Metal at its best.

Iced Earth - Alive in Athens: Jon Schaffer may not have wanted you to buy this, but this is a spot on concert film with the classic lineup of the group and the only way to enjoy a set featuring Barlow. Need I say more.

Best Concerts Of 2006

Gigantour @ PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ: A concert with Megadeth, Opeth, Overkill, Into Eternity, Arch Enemy, and Lamb Of God? Of course this was a blast of a time. How could it not be.

Kamelot/Epica – B.B. King Blues Club, NY: Two of my new favorites on one tour package, yes indeed the Power Melodic was in force here.

Emperor @ B.B. King Blues Club, NY: The return of Isahn and company and while down an original member who could not gain US access, this was an incredible show. Never saw the venue more crowded before.

Dream Theater @ Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY: 20 years of Dream Theater – Who’s coming along for the next 20?

Uli John Roth @ B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY: This is a man who inspired many and is still considered a mystery to many. Thank God he performed in NYC and for a packed house. He deserved it, and we hope for his return.

Celtic Frost @ B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY: Influential Metallists and while I was not an original fan back when, I could not miss their NYC appearance.

In Flames @ Webster Hall, New York, NY: This was a great time, and Trivium made it all the more enjoyable as well.

The Amazing Journey @ B.B. King Blues Club, NY: Wow, the music of the Who performed by Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, Paul Gilbert and Gary Cherone. Need I say more? I didn’t think so.

Carl Palmer Band @ B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY : One of the greatest drummers alive in a comfortable club playing renditions of music he created with a 16 year old version of Alan Holdsworth, oh yeah buddy.

Morbid Angel/Behemoth @ B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY: This was a show that was so heavy your fillings would rumble and that was if you survived the giant most pit the floor became. This was Metal all the way. Intense, brutal and uncompromising.

Poison with Cinderella @ PNC Bank Arts Center: I was looking for Nothing But A Good Time and boy did I have it in spades.

Kerry Leimer's Best Of 2006

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

CDs (Alphabetical Order)

Leo Abrahams: Scene Memory – A much more musical sort of experiment

Gavin Bryars: On Photography – A modern master

Clogs: Lantern – Melodic and beautiful without ever being pretty

Robert Henke: Layering Buddha – One of the few who is originating music in wholly new ways

Henry Cow: Box – BIttern storm over remixes

Joseph Holbrooke Trio: The Moat Recordings – A definitive tutorial on improvisation

The Necks: Chemist – Transplendent!

Sparks: Hello Young Lovers – Theme on theme on theme and variable and varied variation

John Tavener: The Veil of the Temple – Chant of the long now

Chris Whitley: Reiter In – A disarmingly diverse farewell

Univers Zero: Live — A long time coming

Zaar: Zaar – RIO lives, sadly the guitarist no longer does...

FILMS / TELEVISION

Caché – Most sane look yet at the notion of terror

Children of Men – Perhaps it's the culture of fear that's sterile

Deadwood – Remarkable language, acting and ideas about corruption

The King – Flawed but earnest deconstruction of the "family"

Little Children – Owes much to Todd Solondz' Happiness

The Piano Teacher — I know it's from '02, but finally saw it in '06

Reds – Finally available on DVD

BOOKS: FICTION

Martin Amis: House of Meetings – Inner and outer gulags

John Banville: The Sea – Dislocation from the self

J. M. Coetzee: Slow Man – Yet another sort of dislocation from the self

BOOKS: NONFICTION

Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion – No kidding?

Sam Harris: Letter to a Christian Nation – A handbook for the reality-based community

Bob Woodward: State of Denial – No kidding!

Aftenpostens beste skiver i 2006

1.      Wolfmother –Wolfmother

2.      120 Days -120 Days

3.      Johnny Cash – A Hundred Highways

4.      Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That`s What I`m Not

5.      Bob Dylan – Modern Times

6.      Minor Majority – Reasons To Hang Around

7.      Tom Waits – Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (3Cd)

8.      Berth Jansch – The Black Swan

9.      The Flaming Lips – At War With The Mystics

10.  Ron Sexsmith – Time Being

11.  Marit Larsen – Under The Surface

12.  The Knife –Silent Shout

13.  Morissey – Ringleaders Of The Tormentors

14.  Mastadoon – Blood Mountain

15.  Amy Winehouse – Back To Black

16.  James Yorkston And The Athletes – The Year Of The Leopard

17.  Circulus – Clocks Are Like People

18.  Lindsay Buckingham  – Under The Skin

19.  Strountes - Strountes

20.  The Raconteurs – Broken Soldier

Musikkmagasinet Rolling Stones har kåret de beste albumene fra 2006. Vi kan ikke si at vi er spesielt enig, men underholdene lesning er det utvilsomt! De tre som er beæret med bilder er nok våre tre favoritter i dette sortimentet.

1.      Bob Dylan - Modern Times

2.      Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium – Dobbel CD

3.      Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped

4.      TV On The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain

5.      Ghostface Killah – Fischcale

6.      Cat Power – The Greatest

7.      Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury

8.      The Hold Steady – Boys And Girls In America

9.      Mastdoon – Blood Mountain

10.  Tom Waits – Orphans

11.  Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam

12.  John Mayer – Concertium

13.  New York Dolls – One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This

14.  Johnny Cash – Amerivan V: A Hundred Highways

15.  Wolfmother – Wolfmother

16.  Lupe Fiasco – Food & Licquor

17.  Artic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That`s What I`m Not

18.  The Roots – Game Theory

19.  Dixie Chicks – Taking The Long Way

20.  My Chemical Brothers – The Black Parade

Pete Pardo’s Best of 2006

The Top 50 CD’s of 2006

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

1) Mercenary-the Hours that Remain…the years most powerful release, a melodic mix of power, progressive, & death metal, and contains one of the best songs of 2006, “Lost Reality”

2) Zero Hour-Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond…a VERY close second. The most complex album I’ve heard in years.

3) Mastodon-Blood Mountain… As good, if not better, than Leviathan.

4) Amorphis-Eclipse…The lads from Finland pull another classic from their sleeves.

5) Scar Symmetry-Pitch Black Effects…Raging guitar solos, soaring clean vocals, brutal death metal growls-brilliant!

6) Lamb of God-Sacrament…Their best yet. Future legends. The first four songs are instant classics!

7) Communic-Waves of Visual Decay…Melodic, crushing mix of power & progressive metal. Future stars.

8) Iron Maiden-A Matter of Life and Death…Forget the negative press, Maiden are back with their most epic album yet.

9) I –Between two Worlds…Great project from members of Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth.

10) Enslaved-RUUN…The black metal titans get even more progressive!

11) Satyricon-Now, Diabolical…Grooviest black metal anthems around.

12) Celtic Frost-Monotheist…Legends of avant-garde metal return!

13) Vanden Plas-Christ O …Stunning operatic progressive metal. Their best yet!

14) Saga –Trust …Return to classic early 80’s sounds from Canadian prog/pop legends.

15) Into Eternity-The Scattering of Ashes...Super complex prog-metal.

16) Spock’s Beard-Spock’s Beard…Their best release from the post-Morse era.

17) Cradle of Filth-Thornography…The always controversial UK demons release their most traditional metal & gothic album yet.

18) Dragonforce-Inhuman Rampage…Insanely wicked UK power metal with the sickest guitar & keyboard shredding around!

19) unexpecT- In a Flesh Acquarium…Call it what you will, this is wild, complex avant-garde progressive metal.

20) In Flames-Come Clarity…Legends of Gothenberg’s melodic death metal scene return to form!

21) Ihsahn-The Adversary…Emperor front man’s first solo album is a winner of progressive & black metal styles.

22) Cryptic Vision-In a World…Very solid US progressive metal. These guys keep getting better.

23) Vader-Impressions in Blood…Polish death metal doesn’t get much better than this.

24) Deicide-Stench of Redemption…Florida death metal legends best album ever!

25) Devin Townsend Band-Synchestra…More wild progressive rock from Townsend’s solo band.

26) Blind Guardian-A Twist in the Myth…The most accessible album yet from these power metal leaders.

27) Voivod-Katorz…We miss ya Piggy!

28) Seventh Wonder-Waiting in the Wings…Brilliant European progressive metal.

29) Nebelnest-Zepto…The kings of modern, dark prog rock are back!

30) My Dying Bride-A Line of Deathless Kings…One of the classic doom/goth bands around.

31) Twisted Into Form-There Comes Affliction to Awaken the Dreamer…Great new technical metal from this supergroup.

32) The Tangent-A Place In the Queue…Great Canterbury styled prog rock!

33) Katatonia-The Great Cold Distance…Atmospheric gothic doom from Swedish veterans.

34) Advent-Cantus Firmus…Brilliant Gentle Giant influenced 70’s style prog rock.

35) Andromeda-Chimera…One of the best progressive metal bands around.

36) Decapitated-Organic Hallucinosis…Poland’s mighty technical death metal lads return with their best yet.

37) Bal-Sagoth: The Chthonic Chronicles…More Sci-Fi drenched symphonic black metal from these British upstarts

38) Spaced Out-Unstable Matter…Killer instrumental fusion from Canada!

39) Karcius-Kaliedoscope…More killer instrumental fusion from Canada!

40) Agalloch-Ashes Against the Grain…Avant-garde black metal with plenty of prog & ambient elements.

41) Rocket Scientists-Revolution Road…Symphonic prog & hard rock-great songs!

42) Borknagar-Origin…Black Metal veterans go acoustic!

43) Wyatt-Whitaker-Pedal Giant Animals…Happy the Man founders excellent side project!

44) Akercocke-Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone…Satanic death/black metal band goes progressive!

45) Rick Wakeman-Retro…The keyboard legend returns with an analog feast!

46) Manning-Anser’s Tree…The prolific Guy Manning churns out another symphonic, folky, proggy gem!

47) Proto-Kaw-The Wait of Glory…Kerry Livgren & Co. unleash another great mix of prog & catchy hard rock.

48) Insomnium-Above the Weeping World…Wonderful melodic death metal. Future stars?

49) Jon Oliva’s Pain-Maniacal Renderings…Fans of 80’s Savatage should love this!

50) Unearth-III: In the Eyes of Fire …Third times a charm-great thrash guitars!

Best Live Albums of 2006

1) Univers Zero-Live

2) Jam Camp-Live

3) Mike Keneally-Guitar Therapy Live

4) Soft Machine-Floating World Live

5) Bill Bruford-Earthworks Underground Orchestra

6) Dream Theater-Score

7) Fish-Return to Childhood

8) Mangrove-Coming Back to Live

9) Children of Bodom-Chaos Ridden Years

10) Michael Landau Group-Live

11) High Wheel-Live Before the Storm

12) Kamelot-One Cold Winter's Night

Best DVD’s of 2006

1) Arch Enemy-Live Apocalypse

2) KISS-KISSology

3) Rush-Replay X3

4) Rainbow-Live in Munich 1977

5) Deep Purple-Live in California 74

6) Gentle Giant-GG at the GG

7) Nektar-Live in Germany 2005

8) Glass Hammer-Live at Belmont

9) Mike Stern-New Morning: The Paris Concert

10) Erik Norlander & Friends-Live in St. Petersburg

11) Whitesnake-Live in the Still of the Night

12) Deep Purple-Live at Montreux 1996

13) Black Label Society-The European Invasion: Doom Troopin’ Live

14) The Who-Live at the Isle of Wight Festival Special Edition

15) Uli John Roth-Historic Performances Vol. 1 & 2

16) Kamelot-One Cold Winters Night

17) Iced Earth-Alive in Athens

18) Soft Machine Legacy-New Morning: The Paris Concert

19) The Who-The Vegas Job

20) Pat Travers Band-Live: Hooked on Music

21) Children of Bodom-Chaos Ridden Years

22) Amon Amarth-Wrath of the Norsemen

Best Concerts of 2006

1) Gigantour-PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ

2) NEARfest-Zolner Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA

3) SAGA-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY

4) Dream Theater-Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY

5) Uli John Roth, BB King Blues Club, New York, NY

6) The Who-TD Waterhouse Center, Boston, MA

7) Celtic Frost-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY

8) In Flames-Webster Hall, New York, NY

9) Nile/Hypocrisy-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY

10) Fear Factory/Suffocation/Hypocrisy/Decapitated-The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY

11) Asia-The Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

12) Carl Palmer Band-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY

13) Morbid Angel/Behemoth-BB King Blues Club, New York, NY

14) Children of Bodom/Amon Amarth/Gojira-Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

15) The Gathering/unexpecT/Giant Squid-The Knitting Factory, New York, NY

Murat Batmaz' Best of 2005

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

In alphabetical order with bands listed in bold being absolute MASTERPIECES:

 At War With Self - Torn Between Dimensions

Beyond Twilight - Section X

Biomechanical - The Empires of the Worlds

Circus Maximus - The 1st Chapter

Dream Theater - Octavarium

Elfonia - This Sonic Landscape

Ephel Duath - Pain Necessary to Know

Exsimio - Carbono 14

Eyestrings - Consumption

Frameshift - An Absence of Empathy

Freak Neil Inc. - Characters

Garden Wall - Towards the Silence

Immolation - Harnessing Ruin

James Labrie - Elements of Persuasion

Kamelot - The Black Halo

Lalu - Oniric Metal

Linear Sphere - Reality Dysfunction

Magic Pie - Motions of Desire

The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute

Neal Morse - ?

Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor

Nil - Nil Novo Sub Sole

Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked

NovAct - Tales from the Soul

Ohm - Amino Acid Flashback

Opeth - Ghost Reveries

Pantommind - Shade of Fate

Pendragon - Believe

Porcupine Tree - Deadwing

Quidam - SurREvival

Redemption - The Fullness of Time

Riverside - Second Life Syndrome

Sieges Even - The Art of Navigating by the Stars

Sonus Umbra - Digging for Zeros

Strapping Young Lad - Alien

Subterranean Masquerade - Suspended Animation Dreams

Tandjent - No One Will Hear Us

Tomas Bodin - I Am

Ulver - Blood Inside

Zero Hour - A Fragile Mind

Concerts :

Pain of Salvation

Fates Warning

Dream Theater

Evergrey

Steve Vai

Ryan Spark's Best of 2005

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

Baltimoore – Fanatical

Steve Hackett – Metamorpheus

Spock’s Beard – Octane

Russell Allen’s Atomic Soul

Niacin – Organix

James LaBrie – Elements of Persuasion

Terry Bozzio – Chamberworks

Freak Neal Inc. – Characters

Opeth – Ghost Reveries

Corrosion of Conformity – In The Arms of God

American Dog – Scars ‘n Bars

Ram-Zet – Intra

Glass – Illuminations

Journey – Generations

Steve Lukather & Friends - SantaMental

Gary Hoey - Monster Surf

Duncan Glenday's beste album i 2005

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

Any ommission of very good records is not a reflection of their quality - it just means I haven't heard it yet. Here's my top 10 of 2005:

Okay - my top 20

(Okay okay - my top bunch!)

Subterranean Masquerade -- Suspended Animation Dreams

Magic Pie -- Motions of Desire

Fritz Doddy -- The Feeling Of Far

Neal Morse -- ?

Opeth -- Ghost Reveries

Arena -- Pepper's Ghost

Satellite -- Evening Games

Meshuggah -- Chapter Thirty Three

Mangala Vallis -- Lycanthrope

Porcupine Tree -- Deadwing

Pallas -- The Dreams of Men

Green Carnation -- The Quiet Offspring

Van Der Graaf Generator -- Present

The Mars Volta -- Frances the Mute

House Of Not -- The Walkabout Of A Nexter Niode - Part 2 Sexus

Willowglass -- Willowglass

Riverside -- Second Life Syndrome

Sieges Even -- The Art of Navigating by the Stars

Shadow Gallery -- V

Nevermore -- This Godless Emperor

Guy Manning -- One Small Step

Man on Fire -- Habitat

Children of Bodom -- Are You Dead Yet?

Wobbler -- Hinterland

Farpoint -- from Dreaming To Dreaming

Beste album i 2005 fra DPRP - Dutch Progressive Rock Page

Forklaring:

Antall stemmer er selvsagt hvor mange som stemte på akkurat den skiva, og prosent er følgelig hvor mange prosent detet gir.

Total poeng er basert på 10 poeng for å være nummer 1 på ei liste. Nummer 2 gir 9 poeng osv.

Dette er resultatene baser på 1023 stemmer, som er hentet fra en nederlandsk progside, som nok vektlegger musikk som ikke utpreger seg med veldig veldig røffe toner. Vi kan jo merke oss at artister som Coldpaly og Kate Bush er med på listen. Dette er jo litt morsomt da de jo ligger litt på siden av hva som defineres som prog. Uansett så gir dette en oversikt over hva mange individer som har sans for musikk som ikke er utpreget kommersielle, verdsatte fra året 2005.

Hyggelig er det også å notere seg at nordisk prog har med så mye som seks artister med svenske Opeth helt oppe på 6 plass.

De beste skivene i 2006!

For å rydde all tvil til side så er det ikke våre vurderinger som her fremkommer. Diverse musikkblader fra England, med unntak av Sonic som kommer fra Sverige er leverandør av disse listene. Ikke så mye artister med prog på dagsorden her nei, men Muse er da med på en liste i det minste, og My Chemical Romance har jo heller ikke å forakte.

SONIC

1. Hot Chip: «The Warning»
2. The Knife: «Silent Shout»
3. Cat Power: «The Greatest»
4. M.Ward: «Post-War»
5. Junior Boys: «This is Goodbye»
6. Ghostface Killah: «Fishscale»
7. Bob Dylan: «Modern Times»
8. Midlake: «The Trials of Van Occupanther»
9. Justin Timberlake: «Futuresex/Lovesounds»
10. Booka Shade: «Movements»
11. Jarvis Cocker: «Jarvis»
12. Yo La Tengo: «I am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass»
13. Studio: «West Coast»
14. Bruce Springsteen: «We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions»
15. T.I: «King»
 

NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS

1. Artic Monkeys: «Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not»
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: «Show Your Bones»
3. Muse: «Black Holes & Revelations»
4. Hot Chip: «The Warning»
5. CSS: Hot Chop: «Cansei De Ser Sexy»
6. Gnarls Barkley: «St. Elsewhere»
7. The Long Blondes: «Someone To Drive You Home»
8. The Strokes: «First Impressions Of Earth»
9. Kasabian: «Empire»
10. My Chemical Romance: «The Black Parade»
11. Howling Bells: «Howling Bells»
12. The Killers: «Sam's Town»
13. Panic! At The Disco: «A Fever You Can't Sweat Out»
14. TV On The Radio: «Return To Cookie Mountain»
15. Thom Yorke: «The Eraser»

 

MOJO
 

1. The Raconteurs: «Broken Boy Soliders»
2. Bob Dylan: «Modern Times»
3. Artic Monkeys: «Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not»
4. Bruce Springsteen: «We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions»
5. Archie Bronson Outfit: «Derdang Derdang»
6. Vetiver: «To Find Me Gone»
7. Amy Winehouse: «Back To Black»
8. James Hunter: «People Gonna Talk»
9. Midlake: «The Trials of Van Occupanther»
10. Cat Power: «The Greatest»
11. Morrissey: «Ringleader Of The Tormentors»
12. Sonic Youth: «Rather Ripped»
13. Johnny Cash: American V: «A Hundred Highways»
14. Scritti Pollitti: «White Bread Black Beer»
15. The Young Knives: «Voices Of Animals And Men»
 

UNCUT
 

1. Bob Dylan: «Modern Times»
2. Scritti Pollitti: «White Bread Black Beer»
3. Comets On Fire: «Avatar»
4. Johanna Newsom: «Ys»
5. Neil Young: «Living With War»
6. Artic Monkeys: «Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not»
7. Midlake: «The Trials of Van Occupanther»
8. Hot Chip: «The Warning»
9. Sufjan Stevens: «The Avalanche»
10. Thom Yorke: «The Eraser»
11. Flaming Lips: «At War With The Mystics»
12. Bonnie «Prince» Billy: «The Letting Go»
13. Lindsey Buckingham: «Under The Skin»
14. Cat Power: «The Greatest»
15. Brightblack Morning Light: «Brightblack Morning Light»

Q

1. Artic Monkeys: «Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not»
2. Muse: «Black Holes & Revelations»
3. Razorlight: «Razorlight»
4. Red Hot Chili Pepper: «Stadium Arcadium»
5. The Killers: «Sam's Town»
6. Keane: «Under The Iron Sea»
7. Bob Dylan: «Modern Times»
8. Kasabian: «Empire»
9. Scissor Sisters: «Ta-Dah»
10. Gnarls Barkley: «St. Elsewhere»
11. The Kooks: «Inside In/Inside Out»
12. Corrine Bailey Rae: «Corrine Bailey Rae»
13. The Raconteurs: «Broken Boy Soliders»
14. The Feeling: «Twelve Stops And Home»
15. Shack: «…the Corner Of Miles And Gil»

Yves Dube's 15 beste album i 2005

"Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

Echolyn- The End Is Beautiful : The Disc Is Beautiful.

Miriodor- Parade/ Live at Nearfest : The band’s best so far !

Nil- Nil Novo Sub Sole: A surprisingly strong album which kept me coming back over and over again.

Langlois,Jérôme- Molignak: ProgQuebec’s first all-original material is a sublime disc by a superb musician.

Guapo- Black Oni: Picks up where the sensational “Five Suns” left off. These guys will kick butt at NF’06.

Talisma- Chromium: Every bit as good as their debut, maybe better.

Porcupine Tree- Deadwing: These guys get enough props…NEXT!

Les Batinses- Eaux-De-Vies: Great CD/DVD package featuring new material and a complete live set. This is traditional Québecois music with a modern twist.

InFront- Wordless: Sneaking in at the 11th hour is this solid all-instrument disc from Russia.

The Breakfast- Real Radio: My summer soundtrack. For jamband fans only.

Taylor, Robin- Oyster’s Apprentice: The best Robin Taylor disc I’ve heard so far .Very enjoyable stuff.

Maneige- Live à L’Evêché 1975: The material dates back to ’75 but this particular compilation was never previously released. Great music, but sub-par sound.

Niacin- Orgasmik: This trio has never sounded tighter or hotter..

Djam Karet- Recollection Harvest: Not their best, but money in the bank whenever you buy a DK album.

Corrosion Of Conformity- In The Arms Of God: I needed my stoner quota on this list.

Yves’s Top Re-Issues Of 2005

Pollen- Pollen: One of my favorite albums of all time !

Contraction- La Bourse Ou La Vie: Another one of my favorites of all-time!

Contraction- Contraction: Not quite as good as the follow-up, but strong from cover to cover

L’Orchestre Sympathique- En Concert A La Grande Passe: Superb jazz/fusion from a lesser known Québecois outfit.

Collier,Graham- Worpoints: Not even sure if this was ever issued the way Cuneiform has done so now. Great compositional jazz from England.

Peter Prado`s 25 beste album i 2005

 "Courtesy of Sea of Tranquility, www.seaoftranquility.org".

Opeth-Ghost Reveries...A future classic that blew away the competition

Nevermore-This Godless Emperor...Perhaps their finest album yet, and the best pure metal album of the year.

Magic Pie-Motions of Desire...The future kings of heavy prog.

Arch Enemy-Doomsday Machine...Who knew brutal metal could be this melodic?

Mercenary: 11 Dreams...One of my early favorites from 2005 that still held strong at years end.

Nile-Annihilation of the Wicked...Brutally epic and technical, and also one of the best sounding productions of the year.

Porcupine Tree-Deadwing...Steven Wilson & Co. can do no wrong!

Riverside-Second Life Syndrome...Even better than their first, and that's saying something. Future stars.

Echolyn-The End is Beautiful...Their best album in years-they are back!

Deep Purple-Rapture of the Deep...The geezers can still rock!

Niacin-Organik...best instrumental album of the year.

Presto Ballet-Peace Among the Ruins...Gotta love this retro prog/hard rock gem!

Russell Allen-Atomic Soul...The best 70's styled heavy rock album of the year.

Glass Hammer-The Inconsolable Secret...When you are in for a fix of classic symphonic prog, GH never fails.

Dream Theater-Octavarium...Less heavy, but certainly more melodic and proggy.

Meshuggah-Chapter Thirty Three...Epic all the way!

Strapping Young Lad-Alien...Maniacal and brutal, but oh so melodic and intelligent.

Hypocrisy-Virus...Their best album in my opinion. Classic!

Wobbler-Hinterland...Just oozing 70's progginess. Hammond, Mellotron, Moog...need I say more?

Machine and the Synergetic Nuts-Leap Forward Neutral...Another early favorite from January that made the grade. Kickin' fusion!

Stride-Imagine...A serious melodic prog metal band set for stardom.

Dark Tranquility-Character...Wonderful Swedish melodic death metal from one of the originators.

Arena-Pepper’s Ghost...Solid heavy symphonic prog rock with balls.

Man on Fire-Habitat...A CD that needs to be heard by the masses.

Children of Bodom-Are You Dead Yet?...The fury never lets up!

And some VERY honorable mentions-it was a good year!

Sieges Even-The Art of Navigating By the Stars...A new sound for the band, less technical, way more melodic.

Evergrey-A Night to Remember...Classic live album.

Frogg Café-Fortunate Observer of Time...Classy mix of prog, fusion, and jam.

Brainstorm-Liquid Monster...This one's a real monster all right!

Iommi/Hughes-Fused...Two legends create more magic.

Edguy-Superheroes...Fun EP to hold you over for the next album. Title track was my favorite song of 2005.

K2-Book of the Dead...killer fusion.

God Forbid-IV: Constitution of Treason...Stellar metal concept piece sees this band continue to grow.

Forgas Band Phenomena-Soleil 12...Sophisticated jazz fusion

Underground Railroad-The Origin of Consciousness...Monster prog statement from this impressive US band.

NDIO-Airback...Like Canterbury styled fusion? Me too!

Journey-Generations...It's like 1982 all over again!

Talisma-Chromium...Progressive Fusion at its best!

Soilwork-Stabbing the Drama...Melodic yet kick ass stuff from these Swedish veterans.

Between the Buried and Me-Alaska...Surprise of the year. Mix of complex prog metal and hardcore.

Hate Eternal-I Monarch...Eric Rutan & Co. create more brutal and evil metal.

Enslaved-ISA...Gotta love this bands form of progressive and symphonic black metal.

Kamelot-The Black Halo...The symphonic power metal album of the year.

Dragonlord-Black Wings of Destiny...In a year that saw no new Dimmu Borgir, this band released this mighty gem.

Fritz Doddy-The Feeling of Far...My "feel good" album of the year. Wonderful melodies and Mellotron.

Zero Hour-A Fragile Mind...New singer, same results. Intelligent and technical prog metal.

Candlemass-Candlemass...the doomsters return!

Biomechanical-The Empires of the Worlds...Epic statement from a band ready to be noticed.

Phi Yaan-Zek-Solar Fire...Zappa/Beck inspired mayhem.

Symphorce-Godspeed...Didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Powerhouse melodic power metal.

Oliver Wakeman-Mother’s Ruin... Oliver emerges from papa Rick's shadow with a heavy prog band effort.

Saga-The Chapters Live...Wonderful live set from Canadian legends.

Salem Hill-Mimi’s Magic Moment...Epic and melodic gem.

Mangala Vallis-Lycanthrope...Like classic Genesis meets PFM. Mellotron galore!

Fear Factory-Transgression...Part brusing metal, part melodic pop rock. Something for everyone.

Neal Morse-?...Neal can still create wonderful prog rock.

Witchdraft-Firewood...Retro stoner/doom/heavy rock sounds like it was recorded in 1972.

Darkane-Layers of Lies...Kickin' Swedish thrash.

The Black Dahlia Murder-Miasma...Swedish styled technical death/thrash from the US upstarts.

Corrosion of Conformity-In the Arms of God...Stoner, doom, whatever, it's classic sludge ridden metal.

Helloween-Keeper of the Seven Keys-The Legacy...Still don't know if they should have used the title, but it's solid symphonic power metal nontheless.

Korpiklaani-Voice of Wilderness...Fun folky metal.

HIM-Dark Light...Irresistible gothic hard rock with killer hooks.

Old Man’s Child-Vermin...Solid symphonic black metal from Dimmu Borgir members.

Nightrage-Descent Into Chaos...Raging, chaotic...that's right!

Judas Priest-Angels of Retribution...Solid reunion album.

Merlinprogs beste album i 2004

De 10 beste albumene i 2004

Pain Of Salvation - Be

Sannsynligvis deres beste utgivelse. I sannhet er progressivt åndsverk. Her er det et utall av sjangere som, jazz, progmetall, folk, symfonisk rock og sågar ren klassisk musikk. Etter en del omganger i spilleren avdekkes stadig flere uoppdagede skatter. At det er et konseptalbum, gjør det bare enda mer interessant, da musikk og tekst knyttes tettere sammen.  Instrumentale ferdigheter av høy klasse og rimelig stor originalitet er en gjennomgangsmelodi. Meget mulig at dette blir en klassiker, og en milepæl innen rocken.

Ayreon -  The Human  Equation

Arjen Anthony Lucassen har våget seg på en rockeopera med mange og meritterte gjestartister. Opplegg til det overdrevet pompøse og navlebeskuelse? Heldigvis unngås dette, og i stedet fremstår et dobbeltalbum med alt hva jeg begjærer innen musikk.  Human Equation er verk som bryter ned de kunstige skillene mellom musikksjangere. Konsept om de psykologiske og følelsesmessige sidene ved mennesket., eller om en vil, en studie i de forskjellige elementer i den menneskelige ligning. Dette er bare knall., og svært tidløst, slik at våre olderbarn og tippolderbarn også kan nyte dette om 100 år.

White Willow - Storm Season

Mørkere og tyngre enn på de tre forrige utgivelsene. Noe som er kledelig, og bare beriker lydbildet. Mer gitarer og mellotron gjør også sitt til å skape et noe annerledes uttrykk enn tidligere. Gitarene har hint til 3rd & Mortal, mens keyboardene har klare referanser til Flower Kings. Jada, det er klart at nevnte to band er noen av inspirasjonskildene, men White Willow har sitt eget noe tyngre uttrykk her, enn FK og 3 & M. Aner også mer hint av Van Der Graaf Generator og Anglagård enn tidligere. Et album fylt med mye av det jeg liker med progressiv musikk. Her er nydelige ”heavy” gitarer, mørk melankolsk stemning, masse variasjon, vekselvis varm og sjelfull vokal, sterke melodier, bombastiske arrangementer, interessant tekst og masse mellotron.

Minimun Vital - Atlas

Særdeles godt fremført, og velskrevet symforock. Mye elementer fra 70 tallet, men med et klart moderne preg. Hint til øst- europeisk folkemusikk, gode gamle Magma og tildels også Zao. Flower Kings er også en inspirasjonskilde. Gode låter, fengende melodier og Magma`s driv er noen av hovedingrediensene. Alt blant sammen med stor originalitet, spilleglede og stilsikkert.  Lytt og nyt, dette er rimelig kreativt.

Red Harvest - Internal Punishment Progress

En amalgam av death & black metal og industrial og støyrock. Svært aggressivt., kaldt og industrielt. Kort sagt ekstremt, men med stil, originalitet og dynamikk som gjør lytteopplevelsen temmelig unik og spennende. En fascinerende reise i et musikalsk landskap jeg ikke har vært borte i noe tilsvarende før. Her blir jeg som lytter utfordret. Nettopp denne utfordringen er vel noe av meningen med musikk. Red Harvest trigger refleksjonene mine, og da er mye vunnet.

Lucifer Was - Blues From Hellah

Kan best beskrives som en miks av Black Sabbath og Jethro Tull. Blues From Hellah er en tanke mer bluespreget enn forgjengeren, men det er bare et pre. Røffe gitarsoloer og drømmende fløytespill sammen med stor spilleglede, og musikalitet gjør dette til et svært lytteverdig album. Et verk som en faktisk blir glad i, og stadig med stor glede sender inn i spilleren for nye avlyttinger.

Flower Kings - Adam & Eve

Som alltid er det enormt høy kvalitet fra svenskene. Lange melodiøse keyboard- og gitarsekvenser, sammen med Zoltan Csorsz and Jonas Reingold som kanskje utgjør den beste rytmeseksjonen innen dagens rock. Musikken er melodramatisk, og mye bygget opp rundt gitaristen Roine Stolt, som mange regner for verdens ledende. Sofistikert musikk er et utrykk som faller en inn. Faren for at det blir ekstremt flinkt er absolutt til stede. Dette unngås da det er rikelige mengder ydmykhet overfor lytteren, og mye kontraster, dynamikk og substans. På Vampire View er de i det skumle hjørnet, og med en god porsjon teatralske elementer. er det er et spor som trigger en musikkelsker.

Gåte - Iselilja

Rock og folk i skjønn forening, og med svært unge, men særdeles dyktige utøvere. Stemmen til Gunhild Sundlie er mer avbalansert nå enn på debuten. Produsenten (Kåre Chr Vestrheim) har gjort en god jobb her. Fela til Sveinung Sundlie er mikset mer bak i lydbildet, og det er gitt mer plass til gitarer og synther. Dette medfører at Magnus R. Børmark får boltre seg mer fritt. Han har et skyhøyt nivå på det han gjør, så det bare hever produktet. Masse ungdommelig pågangsmot, gode melodier, stor spilleglede og ikke minst stor vitalitet.

IQ - Dark Matter

En representant for den ofte utskjelte neo-prog sjangeren, eller som godeste Geir Larzen i Monster Magazine sier: husmorprog. At sjangeren ofte er uglesett, kan jeg skjønne, men dette åndsverket er i høy grad unntaket. Her er det majestetisk melankolsk symfonisk rock. Produksjonen er virkelig bra, og Peter Nicoll på vokal har vel aldri vært bedre. Masse orgel og mellotron er det selvsagt, men anrettet på en smakfull måte, og ikke overlesset. Klare hint til det beste fra Genesis og Steve Hackett.  Iq er på sitt beste når de det er litt mørkt, dystert og obskurt.

French Tv - Pardon Our French

French TV selger ikke mange CD-er, eller for ikke å snakke om å bli spilt på radio, eller vist på TV, og ikke får de mange spillejobber. Basert på folk flest sin logikk, så skulle de da være særdeles dårlige. Nåvel, det motsatte er vel tilfelle. De kommer her opp med en bukett knallsterke spor, og i sannhet kan de spille.  Her er det masse humør, originalitet, livskraft, vitalitet, eksperimenteringsvilje og dynamikk.  Stor kompleksitet, men også engasjerende og fengende. Hint til Zappa, Happy The Man og Canterbury bevegelsen. CD-en er smekk full av spilleglede, og diverse innfall. Med ytterst stor eleganse spretter de mellom sjangrene.

De verste nedturene i 2004

PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her

En skikkelig nedtur etter mange meget bra utgivelser.  Uinspirert, kjedelige arrangementer, stort sett svake låter, liten kreativitet og temmelig fargeløs. Sa jeg venstrehåndsarbeide?

Mark Knopfler - Shangrila

Sannsynlig dårlige gener, men jeg har likt mye av det den tidligere lederen av Dire Straits har gitt ut de siste årene. Nå derimot kommer han med en dvask skive, som ikke gir meg noe ting. Repeterende og kjedelig. Svært lite å sette tennene i, og om en gjør det smaker det ganske så surt.

Cure - The Cure

25 år i bransjen er lenge. Når de så for alvor begynner å gå på tomgang er det kanskje like greit å gi seg. Tendens har vært der på de siste utgivelsene, men nå synes jeg det blir ille for alvor. Masse styr, og lite av det Cure en gang var eksponent for. Svakere arrangementer, og det monumentale er nesten borte. Den elektronisk gothrocken er rimelig utvannet. Trist , men selv de beste degenererer til slutt ser det ut som.

Krda Estra - Voivode Dracula

En gang så forfriskende, og nyskapende. Karda Estrada er Richard Wileman som har et originalt opplegg. Han blander akustiske, og elektroniske instrumenter i en ”klassisk ” setting.  Musikken er sannsynligvis ment å skulle være kontekst til en vampyrfilm eller noe slikt. Feilen er at det bare blir seigt, og veldig langsomt.  Det mystiske, og skremmende er så å si ikke eksisterende. Nærmer sirup komme en ikke, og kanskje navlebeskuende er passende?

Marillion - Marbles

Marillion har her skiftet stil. Forsøker seg i samme klasse som Radiohead, Elbow og vennene deres. Det bare må gå galt.  Uinteressant og svært lite fengende. Verken fugl eller fisk, føler jeg er dekkende. Thom Yorke og & i Radiohead kan bare dette så mye bedre. Musikken bare snurrer uten å fremtvinge noen aspekter av følelser. Den verken forarger, og fenger. Tristere kan man jo ikke få det, det er da bedre med irritasjon enn kald likegyldighet?