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Sea Of Tranquility
Vi bringer her hva som Sea Of Tranquility http://www.seaoftranquility.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=242 sine medarbeidere mener er de beste skivene fra 2010. Som en vil se er det tidvis rimelig utfyllende hos mange og ganske så interessant lesning!
Peter Pardo
Top 100 of 2010
1. Enslaved: Axioma Ethica Odini...hands down, the most amazing album
this year.
Black metal meets progressive rock, and the end result is Enslaved's
masterpiece!
2. Masterplan: Time To Be King...a very close second. Power metal album
of the year. Jorn Lande is back!
3. Black Country Communion: Black Country Communion...a supergroup for
the ages! Impressive 70's styled hard rock with a touch of blues.
4. Orphaned Land: The Never Ending Way of ORWarriOR...ethnic progressive
metal, with a touch of death metal thrown on top. KILLER!
5. Frogg Café: Bateless Edge...are there no limits to what these guys
can do? I think not!
6. Decrepit Birth: Polarity...crushing technical death metal. Their best
yet!
7. Vanden Plas: The Seraphic Clockwork...One of the best progressive
metal bands around release another stunner!
8. Spock's Beard: X...Best release of the post-Morse era!
9. Helmet of Gnats: High Street...jazz/prog/fusion doesn't get any
better than this!
10. Ihsahn: After...once again the former Emperor frontman proves what a
virtuoso he is!
11. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age...bombastic, proggy, & heavy!
12. Nevermore: The Obsydian Conspiracy...Another stellar release from
Nevermore
13. Dimmu Borgir: Abrahadabra...Might be too theatrical and orchestral
for some, but I like the symphonic & over the top nature of it all.
14. Myrath: Desert Call...This band was a new discovery for me this
year, but I like their brand of ethnic & symphonic progressive metal
15. Borknagar: Universal...It's been a few years, but well worth the
wait.
16. Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier...the cagey old veterans return with
another platter of intelligent & adventurous heavy metal.
17. Kamelot: Poetry For the Poisoned...Not sure what's going on with
Kahn these days, but they still managed to release another winner here.
18. Glass Hammer: If...The band from Tennessee return to bombastic prog
on this super, Yes flavored stunner!
19. Atheist: Jupiter...technical extreme metal pioneers return with a
solid reunion album!
20. Brainstorm: Memorial Roots...One of the most underrated power/prog
metal bands come up with another winner!
21. Mob Rules: Radical Peace...Never much listened to these guys, but
after this killer concept release, I'll be keeping my eyes on them for
sure!
22. Fozzy: Chasing the Grail...some of the best hooks in metal. Chris
Jericho proves there's more to him than the WWE!
23. Spiritual Beggars: Return to Zero...Enter Apollo, who is now
splitting time between this band and Firewind. This might be my favorite
release from Mike Amott's alter-ego to Arch Enemy.
24. Circle II Circle: Consequence of Power...a wonderful metal album
from Mr. Stevens & Co!
25. Fear Factory: Mechanize...easily the best FF album in years. New
line-up, more brutal, more memorable, more Fear Factory!
26. Charred Walls of the Damned: s/t...metal supergroup of the year.
Richard Christy, Tim "Ripper" Owens-magic!
27. Firewind: Days of Defiance...another killer power metal platter from
Gus G and Co!
28. Barren Earth: Curse of the Red River...death metal, psychedelia,
prog rock-great stuff!
29. Erik Norlander: The Galactic Collective...the keyboard wizard
returns with another jaw dropping release!
30. Immolation: Majesty and Decay...no slowing down for these New York
death metal legends!
31. Triptykon: Eparistera Daimones...Tom G and his new band pummel on
their debut
32. Haken: Aquarius...heavy modern prog gem, and a band that's going to
really go places
33. Jon Oliva's Pain: Festival...former Savatage frontman continues to
keep the spirit alive
34. James LaBrie: Static Impulse...excellent solo release from Dream
Theater vocalist.
35. Creation's End: A New Beginning...another metal supergroup that
chalked up a winner this year
36. Ralph Towner/Paolo Fresu: Chiaroscuro...jazz release of the year.
Towner is a 12 string guitar legend!
37. Martriden: Encounter the Monolith...US progressive black/death
upstarts once again wow with another killer release
38. Annotations of an Autopsy: The Reign of Darkness...surprise
deathcore release of the year for me. Brutally heavy!
39. Elysium Theory: Modern Alchemy...upstate New York proggers arrive!
40. Dark Tranquility: We Are the Void...not as good as some of their
past gems, but still a solid release for the Swedish melodic death metal
legends.
41. Melechesh: The Epigenesis...Lovin' this latest platter from the
Israeli black metal horde!
42. Eloy: Visionary...legendary German prog rock band returns with a
solid effort
43. Blind Guardian: at the End of Time...symphonic power metal doesn't
get much better than this!
44. The Pineapple Thief: Someone Here is Missing...a very fine modern
prog album, that many mainstream folks would love
45. Rhapsody of Fire: The Frozen Tears of Angels...I had sort of given
up on these guys, but this one is red hot and a welcome return
46. Black Label Society: The Order of the Black...another band I had
given up on. Zakk has seemingly given up the booze and returned with his
best album in years!
47. Yngwie Malmsteen: Relentless...Yngwie & Tim 'Ripper' Owens once
again give us a winner
48. Unitopia: artificial...awesome modern prog with a 70's flair
49. Exodus: Exhibit B: The Human Condition...no stopping these thrash
legends
50. Univers Zero: Clivages...another collection of chilling dark prog
from these mainstays
51. Keneally/Minnemann: Evidence of Humanity...the musicianship on
display here is stunning
52. ReVamp: ReVamp...yes, there is life After Forever
53. Overkill: Ironbound...another 80's thrash band that just keeps
getting better
54. Intronaut: Valley of Smoke...psychedelic progressive metal-a must
hear!
55. The Ocean: Anthropocentric...moody, dark, psychedelic, proggy,
heavy-get it!
56. Cradle of Filth: Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa...another solid
platter of gothic & symphonic black metal
57. Gary Husband: Dirty & Beautiful, Volume 1...70's fusion fans need to
hear this!
58. BangTower: Casting Shadows...another hot fusion release. Percy Jones
baby!!
59. Gamma Ray: To the Metal...very solid power metal album from Kai
Hansen & crew
60. Canvas Solaris: Irradiance...one of the most consistent prog/fusion
bands out there
61. Pain of Salvation: Road Salt One...these guys keep changing &
morphing. This one easily surpasses their previous effort.
62. Jones/McGill/DeCarlo: s/t...once again, Percy Jones baby!
63. Freedom Call: Legend of the Shadowking...upbeat power metal to lift
your mood!
64. Braindrill: Quantum Catastrophe...technical death metal studs do it
again!
65. Angra: Aqua...easily their best in years!
66. Accept: Blood of the Nations...Udo who? If you loved early 80's
metal, you need to hear this one!
67. Cathedral: The Guessing Game...the masters of psychedelic doom
68. Mars Hollow: Mars Hollow...highly enjoyable modern prog outing
69. District 97: Hybrid Child...if there is a prog album that would
spark interest in the mainstream, this is certainly a great choice
70. Pathfinder: Beyond the space, Beyond the Time...wonderful symphonic
power metal concept album
71. Emberstorm: Memories of Time...enjoyable & memorable power/prog
metal
72. Roswell Six: Terra Incognita: A Line in the Sand...heavier than the
debut, but still bombastic concept material with killer vocals
73. Aeon: Path of Fire...one of the best technical death metal bands
around.
74. Dark Funeral: Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus...No slowing down these
black metal legends
75. FramePictures: Remember It...excellent new progressive metal. A band
to watch out for!
76. Bachman & Turner: Bachman & Turner...if you loved BTO, this is as
close as you are going to get. Outstanding!
77. Votum: Metafiction...Porcupine Tree & Katatonia fans need to check
this one out
78. Garaj Mahal: More Mr. Nice Guy...US fusion band comes up with a
winner yet again
79. The Dillinger Escape Plan: Option Paralysis...not as drop dead
impressive as past releases, but still quite good
80. Ov Hell: The Underworld Regime...you have to wonder if this is only
going to be a one-off, but it's still damn good black metal from this
supergroup
81. Molly Hatchet: Justice...purists may scoff at the fact that there is
only one original member here, but the band still kicks ass and this is
one hell of a Southern Rock album
82. Watain: Lawless Darkness...violent, brutal black metal-what more
could you want!
83. Keep of Kalessin: Reptilian...these guys are really sculpting their
style into a more accessible form of black metal. I like it!
84. The Rebel Wheel: We Are in the Time of Evil Clocks...avant-garde,
heavy prog with a touch of jazz. Sounds like a more modern King Crimson!
85. Terje Rypdal: Crime Scene...longtime ECM jazz guitarist comes up
with another killer release
86. North Atlantic Oscillation: Grappling Hooks...this one came out of
left field. Great poppy prog!
87. Symphorce: Unrestricted...so far, my favorite release from these
power metal veterans
88. Solution 45: For Aeons Past...there is life after Scar Symmetry!
89. Abigail Williams: In the Absence of Light...superior US symphonic
black metal
90. Nik Bartsch's Ronin: Llyria...stunning jazz from the folks at ECM
91. Aisles: In Sudden Walks...wonderful romantic prog
92. Divinity: The Singularity...Canadian technical death/prog metal
upstarts return with another solid release
93. Glyder: Yesterday Today and Tomorrow...Irish hard rockers impress
94. Charles Lloyd Quartet: Mirror...gorgeous jazz album
95. Michael Formanek: The Rub and Spare Change...stunning melodies and
daring improvisations. Another winner from the ECM stable
96. Anat Fort Trio: And If...get swept away by this gorgeous jazz
release
97. Eric Johnson: Up Close...guitar virtuoso does it again
98. Forbidden: Omega Wave...another killer release from an 80's thrash
veteran
99. Manticora: Safe...thunderous power/progressive metal
100. Robin Trower: The Playful Heart...blues-rock guitar legend shows
the youngsters how it's done
Best Live Albums of 2010
Dio: At Donnington UK-Live 1983 & 1987
The Derek Trucks Band: Roadsongs
Heaven and Hell: Neon Nights
Johnny Winter And: Live at the Fillmore East
Michael Schenker Group: Rockpalast
Soft Machine: NDR Jazz Workshop
Michael Schenker Group: 30th Anniversary Concert-Live in Tokyo
Rory Gallagher: The Beat Club Sessions
Meshuggah: Alive
While Heaven Wept: Triumph: Tragedy: Transcendence-Live at Hammer of
Doom Festival
Joe Satriani: Live in Paris: I Just Wanna Rock
Motian/Potter/Moran: Lost in a Dream
Neurosis: Live at Roadburn 2007
Dickie Betts & Great Southern: Rockpalast
Paul Butterfield Band: Rockpalast
UFO: Rockpalast
Spirit: Rockpalast
Fair Warning: Talking Ain't Enough-Live in Tokyo
Soft Machine Legacy: Live Adventures
Best of 2010
1. Atlantean Kodex: The Golden Bough
2. Wuthering Heights: Salt
3. Frogg Café: Bateless Edge
4. Spock's Beard: X
5. Creation's End: A New Beginning
6. Glass Hammer: If
7. Aeon Zen: The Face of the Unknown
8. Mob Rules: Radical Peace
9. Aspera: Ripples
10. Eloy: Visionary
11. Erik Norlander: The Galactic Collective
12. Vanden Plas: The Seraphic Clockwork
13. District 97: Hybrid Child
14. The Intersphere: Interspheres<>Atmospheres
15. Agents of Mercy: Dramarama
16. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age
17. Orphaned Land: The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR
18. Slash: Slash
19. Mystery: One Among the Living
20. Blind Guardian: At the Edge of Time
Top 5 Non-Prog/Metal Albums
BoDeans: Mr. Sad Clown
Railroad Earth: Railroad Earth
Unruly Child: Worlds Collide
Walter Trout: Common Ground
Rocket Club: American Serenade
Top 10 Reissues/Live Releases
1. Bruce Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town (Limited Edition
Deluxe Collection)
2. Frost*: The Philadelphia Experiment
3. Queensryche: Empire (20th Anniversary Edition)
4. Touchstone: Live in the USA: East Coast West Coast
5. RPWL: The Gentle Art of Music
6. Camel: Rainbow's End-An Anthology 1973-1985
7. Caravan: The World Is Yours-The Anthology 1968-1973
8. Univers Zero: Heresie
Top 5 DVDs
1. Transatlantic: Whirld Tour 2010-Live From Shepherd's Bush Empire
2. Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
3. King's X: Live Love in London
4. Opeth: In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
5. The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts
Top 25 of 2010
1. From. Uz: Seventh Story
2. Ephemeral Sun: Harvest Aorta
3. Ihsahn: After
4. Orphaned Land: Never Ending Way Of The OrwarriOR
5. Borknagar: Universal
6. Therion: Sitra Ahra
7. Anathema: We're Here Because We're Here
8. District 97: Hybrid Child
9. Agalloch: Marrow of the Spirit
10. Mars Hollow: Mars Hollow
11. Erik Norlander: The Galactic Collective
12. Spock's Beard: X
13. Unitopia: Artificial
14. Pain Of Salvation: Road Salt One
15. Dimmu Borgir: Abrahadabra
16. Haken: Aquarius
17. Big Big Train: Far Skies Deep Time
18. Roswell Six: Terra Incognita - A Line In the Sand
19. Manning: Charlestown
20. The Pineapple Thief: Someone Here is Missing
21. The Rebel Wheel: We Are in the Time of Evil Clocks
22. Frogg Café: Bateless Edge
23. Jon Oliva's Pain: Festival
24. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age
25. Eloy: Visionary
Top 20 of 2010
1. Agalloch: Marrow of the Spirit
2. Kingcrow: Phlegethon
3. Vanden Plas: The Seraphic Clockwork
4. Julien Damotte: Trapped
5. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age
6. Ihsahn: After
7. Mekong Delta: Wanderer on the Edge of Time
8. Fracture: Simple Chaos
9. Creation's End: A New Beginning
10. Enslaved: Axioma Ethica Odini
11. Orphaned Land: The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR
12. When Day Descends: When Day Descends
13. Anathema: We're Here Because We're Here
14. Nevermore: The Obsidian Conspiracy
15. Tarot: Gravity of Light
16. Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape
17. Avantasia: The Wicked Symphony
18. Mindsplit: Charmed Human Art of Significance
19. Aspera: Ripples
20. Immolation: Majesty and Decay
Best of 2010 Top 25
1. Glass: Spectrum Principle
2. Agalloch - Marrow Of The Spirit
3. Vespero: By The Waters Of Tomorrow
4. Ephemeral Sun: Harvest Aorta
5. Orphaned Land - The Never Ending Way Of Orwarrior
6. Salem: Playing God And Other Short Stories
7. American Dog: Mean
8. Sendelica: Streamedlica She Sighed As She Hit Rewind On The Dream
Mangler Remote
9. T-Bo: Connected
10. Julie Slick: Julie Slick
11. Hasan Abdur Razzaq & Adam Smith: Dedications
12. Steve Tibbetts: Natural Causes
13. Ketil Bjornstad: Remembrance
14. Ihsahn - After
15. Insomnium: Across The Dark
16. Wizards: When Walls Exhale
17. Psi Corps: All Roads Lead To Amber Parts I & II
18. Pineapple Thief: Someone Here Is Missing
19. Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
20. Adam Smith: Evening Storms
21. Rejuvenation Trio: Rejuvenation Voyage
22. Morild: Time To Rest
23. The Re-Stoned: Revealed Gravitation
24. Tim Motzer & Markus Reuter: Descending
25. Broken Teeth: Viva La Rock Fantastico
Top 20 of 2010
1. Periphery: S/T - The BEST new band I have heard in YEARS! They just
crush and their drummer, Matt Halpern is a monster! THIS what 7 stringed
guitars should sound like! Unbelievable.
2. Accept: Blood of the Nations - THIS is what an old school Metal band
that starts over SHOULD sound like....THEMSELVES!! From the 1st notes
from Wolf Hoffmann and Co., Accept explode and announce that they are
back, BIG time. Mark Tornillo kick ass in every way possible. WHAT a
return for the Metal world!
3. Meshuggah: Alive - It's Meshuggah live, need I say more?! Didn't
think so!!
4. Fear Factory: Mechanize - What happens when Burton C. Bell & Dino
Cazares kiss & make up? They get back on track and make ANOTHER killer
FF record. It doesn't hurt to recruit the drum legend, Gene Hoglan
either!
5. Overkill: Ironbound - The ONLY Old school Thrash band that has NEVER
disappointed! Blitz & the Wrecking Crew just kill on this latest record.
6. Weapon Head: Surgical Smile - I love these guys! Part Hard Rock, Part
Metal, Part Indie Power Pop...all awesome!
7. Proghma-C-Bar: do Travel - Another WOW band. Who knew that the Polish
had been hiding these guys? Check out their Bjork cover of Army of Me &
tell me it doesn't rule!!
8. Soilwork: The Panic Broadcast - Back on track with a great Swedish
Metal record. One of the real pioneers of the Swedish Metal movement of
the past 10 years
9. John Norum: Play Yard Blues - One of my all time favorite pickers.
Norum slows it down and takes a step backwards into the Blues. Another
nice cover of a Thin Lizzy song. Can never go wrong with anything Lizzy.
10. Black Label Society: Order of the Black - Zakk Wylde delivers his
strongest effort to date. Full of some of the best riffing since his 1st
Ozzy record. And new drummer Will Hunt crushes, too!
11. Richie Kotzen: Peace Sign - The BEST singer/songwriter that no one
has heard. Forget about his shred guitar legend status and LISTEN to
that ungodly voice and his songcrafting. Such a shame that he continues
to go unheard. Part R&B, Part Guitar god = a song styling, bad ass mofo.
12. Black Water Rising: S/T - Great Hard Rock band with an attitude,
catchy songs and GROOVE. If you liked Dark New Day and Sevendust, you
will eat these guys up.
13. Nevermore: The Obsidian Conspiracy - Dane, Loomis and company
release my favorite Nevermore record so far. A little more straight
ahead and more focused. Awesome
14. Solution .45: For Aeons Past - Damn, what a great record! Some
wicked grooving going on here. Great clean vocals with deathy shouts
underneath and awesome guitar playing, too.
15. Narnia: Course of a Generation (Reissue) - More Melodic Swedish
goodness. What a pleasant surprise.
16. FEN: Trails Out of Gloom - Dark, depressing and awesome.
17. Ihsahn: After - I didn't expect to love a solo record from a leader
of a Black Metal band, but holy shit, do I! What a talented guy.
18. Fozzy: Chasing the Grail - The Duke aka Rich Ward! One of the most
underrated Metal guitar players with the GREATEST tone! No one writes a
groove or riff like him. Chris Jericho sounds better on each & every
record.
19. Deftones: Diamond Eyes - To the point, powerful and gritty. It's
been a while since these guys were firing on all cylinders.
20. Mnemic: Sons of the System - Another great release from these guys.
More powerful grooving within.
Top Ten Releases Of 2010
1. Djam Karet: The Heavy Soul Sessions
2. Norlander, Erik: Galactic Collective
3. Tie: 3 Monks: Neogothic Progressive Toccatas / Umberto: Prophecy Of
The Black Widow
4. Daft Punk: Tron Legacy: Original Soundtrack
5. Rea, Dennis: Views From Chicheng Precipice
6. Kulju, Dave: Notes In The Margin
7. Tangerine Dream: Dream Mixes V
8. Kneebody: You Can Have Your Moment
9. Gerard: Ring Of Eternity
10. Visual Cliff: Collective Spirit
Best of 2010 List
This list could have easily been doubled. There is such a wealth of
fantastic releases this year.
1. Mindwarp Chamber: Supernova - Progressive metal at it's finest. This
is the must have disc of the year.
2. Mindgames: MMX - Irresistible progressive symphonic masterpiece.
3. Agalloch: Marrow of the Spirit - Melodic dark metal masterpiece.
4. Anima Mundi: The Way - A band that is going to set the progressive
world on fire.
5. Unwritten Pages: Pt. 1. Noah - Monster debut with 2 disc concept
album.
6. Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier - Veteran rockers show how it's done!
7. In Vain: Mantra - One of the very best of the year!
8. David Minasian: Random Acts of Beauty - The title says it all.
9. Circle II Circle: Consequence Of Power - Another brilliant offering
from Zak Stevens and company!
10. Glass Hammer: If - Progressive music as it should be, beautiful.
11. Avantasia: The Wicked Symphony - Tobias Sammet does it again!
12. Avantasia: Angel Of Babylon - See above!
13. Paul Oakley: Out Of The Ashes - Amazing instrumental guitarist!
14. Hookah The Fuzz: Hookah The Fuzz - Mesmerizing blend of metal, jazz,
symphonic, thrash and about every other genre known to man!
15. Dawn of Silence: Wicked Saint or Righteous Sinner - A killer power
metal band for fans of Avantasia etc. .
16. Barren Earth: Curse of the Red River - Easily one of the most
powerful metal albums of this year.
17. Jon Oliva's Pain: Festival - One of the greatest songwriters of our
time continues to astound.
18. Emberstorm: Memories Of Time - From left field comes this new
Swedish power metal powerhouse.
19. Aeon Zen: The Face of the Unknown - Last year's artist of the year
is back again with a terrific progressive metal release.
20. Voodoo Johnson: 10,000 Horses - This is how heavy metal should
sound. Dynamite rock and roll with their first full release.
21. Sully Erna: Avalon - A surprise from the Godsmack frontman.
22. Blind Guardian: At The Edge Of Time - Another great release from one
of the best there is.
23. In This Moment: A Star-Crossed Wasteland - The best female fronted
metal band on the planet does it again.
24. Avenged Sevenfold: Nightmare - Their best offering ever and a habit
forming album.
25. Disturbed: Asylum - Picking up where they left off last time.
26. Revenent Dead: Two Evils - Massive metal from Birmingham, England.
27. Masterplan: Time To Be King - Jorn and Company give us a treat!
28. Allen/Lande: The Showdown - Two terrific vocalists, one package!
29. Crematory: Infinity - Melodic death metal masters.
30. Spock's Beard: X - They give us another great album.
31. Black Label Society: Order Of The Black - Their strongest release
yet.
32. Murderdolls: Women and Children Last - Great campy metal. Love it!
33. Charred Walls of the Damned: Charred Walls of the Damned - A must
have metal album.
34. Heaven Grey: Falling Mist - A gothic metal masterpiece.
35. Keep of Kalessan: Reptilian - These guys just keep getting better.
36. Manticora: Safe - This one is a Safe bet! Great Swedish metal.
37. Enslaved: Axioma Ethica Odini - Epic album pure and simple.
38. Godsmack: The Oracle - Heavy metal with a vengeance!
39. Gravedigger: The Clans Will Rise Again - A brilliant folk metal
album.
40. Rob Zombie: Hellbilly Deluxe 2 - Like a B grade horror movie.
41. Shattered Hope: absence - A captivating doom metal disc.
42. Gamma Ray: To The Metal - Fist pumping metal anthems abound!
43. Rhapsody of Fire: Frozen Tears Of Angels - A tasty power metal
treat!
44. Cradle of Filth: Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa - A cool, dark concept
work.
45. Votum: Metafiction - A dark full bodied prog metal treat.
46. Heaven Grey: Falling Mist - Brooding, gothic masterpiece.
47. Buddy Guy: Living Proof - Blues guitar legend struts his stuff!
48. Vanden Plas: The Seraphic Clockwork - Majestic power metal treat.
49. Orphaned Land: The Never Ending Way of ORWarriOR - Magical blend of
metal and the Holy Land.
50. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age - Arjen Lucassen's newest
masterpiece.
51. Dimmu Borgir: Abrahadabra - A melodic death metal must have.
52. Kamelot: Poetry For The Poisoned - Roy Khan and Company does it
again.
53. Ihsahn: After - Another huge album from the ex-Emperor frontman.
54. Throes of Dawn: The Great Fleet of Echoes - Atmospheric, dark
brooding metal.
55. Equalibrium: Rekreatur - Exquisite fork metal with dynamite
orchestration.
56. Areknames: In Case of Loss - Terrific prog with a jazzy feel.
57. Rage: Strings To A Web - 25 years and still a powerhouse!
58. Volbeat: Beyond Hell Above Heaven - Americana metal.
Rockametalbilly!
59. James LaBrie: Static Impulse - I like this one more with each play.
60. Pertness: From The Beginning To The End - Power Metal to the max!
61. AnsoticcA: Rise - Female fronted gothic metal, what a terrific
debut!
62. Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape - Magnificent progressive album.
63. Marcos De Ros: Pecas de Bravura - Guitar virtuoso very aptly titled
album.
64. Sky Architect: Excavations of the Mind - New retro prog rockers.
65. Cancerbats: Bears, Mayors,Scraps & Bones - Hardcore punk face
melter!
66. Iron Fate: Cast in Iron - Vocalist Denis Brosowski has a set of
pipes!!
67. Gallows End: Nemesis Divine - Old school heavy metal...Yes!!
68. Halcyon Way: Building The Tower - New singer, new attitude, new
metal must have disc!
69. Kivimetsan Druidi: Betrayal, Justice, Revenge - Folk metal fun!
70. Giant: Promise Land - The return of hair metal. Just good old
fashion fun.
71. Heljareyga: Heljareyga - Power/folk metal debut that is impressive.
72. The Howling Void: Shadows Over The Cosmos -Chilling funeral doom
metal.
73. Instanzia: Ghosts - Canadian power metalers who rock.
74. Kerion: The Origins - Female fronted French power metal.
75. Klone: Black Days - Many metal genres blended to make a massive
album!
76. Kylesa: Spiral Shadow - Sludgy, psychedelic and hypnotic.
77. Helloween: 7 Sinners - They are back with a vengeance!
78. Innerwish: No Turning Back - Greek melodic power metal.
79. Sinbreed: When Worlds Collide - Hard to resist power metal.
80. Six Magics: Behind The Sorrow - Female fronted symphonic metal.
81. Solid Vision: Sacrifice - Prog metal goodness. This is a keeper!!
82. Viathyn: The Peregrine Way - Canadian progressive metal. Very good!
83. The Sword: Warp Riders - Heavy metal sci-fi concept disc.
84. Sunrise: Trust Your Soul - Ukrainian power metal treat.
85. Dark Tranquility: We Are The Void - Anything but tranquil!
86. Negura Bunget: Virstele Pamintului - Folk/black metal mixture that
works!
87. Signum Regis: The Eyes of Power - Heavy metal history lesson!
88. Icewind: Again Came The Storm - Melodic power metal. Tasty!
89. Monster Magnet: Mastermind - Heavy metal as it should be played.
90. The Showdown: Blood in the Gears - Southern testosterone filled
metal.
91. Firewind: Days of Defiance - Powerful Gus G at his day job!
92. Accept: Blood Of The Nations - Take the thrashing you are about to
receive.
93. Myrath: Desert Call - Terrific Middle East metal. Rock the oasis!
94. Carach Angren: Death Came Through A Phantom Ship - Symphonic death
metal that is magnificent.
95. Anubis: Waking The Dead - They just keep getting better and better!
96. Jerry Jennings: Shortcut To The Center - Instrumental guitarist
extraordinaire.
97. Something Beautiful: Songs About Angels - Terrific concept album.
98. Mutiny Within: Mutiny Within - Watch out for these guys. They are
good.
99. George Lynch: Orchestral Mayhem - He is a guitar God! Magnificent
album.
Best of 2010
2010 was another strong year for music. As usual, there were many albums
I did not have the pleasure of hearing including new releases by
District 97, Frogg Café, Glass Hammer, Anathema, Helmet of Gnats,
Demians, Haken and many others too numerous to mention. That said, here
are my favourite albums this year:
1. Spock's Beard: X
2. From.uz: Seventh Story (My favourite album of 2010. Simply
outstanding!)
3. Persephone's Dream: Pan: An Urban Pastoral (The band outdid
themselves this time. Their best release to date and one of the year's
finest efforts.)
4. Orphaned Land: The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR (Progressive metal
does not get any better than this.)
5. The Pineapple Thief: Someone Here Is Missing
6. Psychedelic Ensemble, The: The Myth Of Dying (Top notch progressive
rock and a joy to listen to.)
7. Tea Club, The: Rabbit (One of modern prog's finest bands and an
excellent sophomore effort.)
8. Hackett, Steve: Out Of the Tunnel's Mouth (I love this disc,
definitely one of his best.)
9. Norlander, Erik: The Galactic Collective (This should be prerequisite
listening for all keyboard players. Norlander revisits some of his best
songs and makes them even better.)
10. Rebel Wheel: We are in the Time of Evil Clocks (This is one wild
ride of adventurous progressive rock. It still surprises after repeated
listens.)
11. Carptree: Nymf (A fine follow up to Insekt and another lovely
display of moody progressive rock.)
12. Majestic: Arrival (If you like epic songs, you will love Arrival.
Hamel's finest work.)
13. Manzanera, Phil: The Music 1972 to 2008 (One of the best compilation
albums I have had the pleasure of hearing.)
14. Dianoya: Obscurity Divine (This Polish band completely blew me away
with their unique brand of edgy progressive rock.)
15. Roswell Six: Terra Incognita: A Line In the Sand (The second part of
the trilogy takes the band into heavier territory. Another great
listen.)
16. Sky Architect: Excavations Of the Mind (An excellent album filled to
the brim with epic style progressive rock.)
17. Relocator: Relocator (One of the best metal/fusion albums released
this year.)
18. K2: Black Garden (A powerful album of inspired progressive rock.)
19. Keneally, Mike/Marco Minnemann: Evidence Of Humanity (Improvisation
never sounded so good.)
20. Modest Midget: The Great Prophecy of a Small Man (The band's unique
style of quirky progressive rock is like a breath of breath air.)
21. IO Earth: IO Earth (Another fantastic debut album. Yes it is
pompous, but it is oh so intoxicating.)
22. Proximal Distance: Proximal Distance (If you are a fan of Pink Floyd
you will want this album.)
23. BangTower: Casting Shadows (Heavy fusion and first class
musicianship makes this an outstanding debut album.)
24. Delusion Squared: Delusion Squared (Modern progressive rock from
France with a flair for technical virtuosity and great melodies.)
25. Panic Room: Satellite (The band does a great job combining different
styles and incorporating some great melodies along the way.)
26. KOI: In Tomorrow Hid Yesterday (Another fine progressive rock band
from Sweden. Should we expect anything less?)
27. Watson, Dean: Unsettled (One of the best instrumental albums of the
year.)
28. Chris: Making Sense (The very talented drummer of Sky Architect has
made a tasty album of symphonic rock and pop.)
29. t: Anti-Matter Gravity (Delicious melodic prog and one of the nicest
surprises of 2010.)
30. Rausch: Rausch (Poppy prog at its finest and excellent piano
throughout.)
31. Picchio dal Pozzo: A_Live (A fine album of avant prog focusing on
dreamy atmospherics and beautiful melodies. )
32. All Over Everywhere: Inner Firmaments Decay (Lush and melodic folky
prog shrouded in a veil of melancholy.)
33. American Hollow: Whisper Campaign (A richly varied release and a
fine debut album.)
34. Kulju, Dave: Notes In the Margin (Fans of David Gilmour should take
notice.)
35. Soul Enema: Thin Ice Crawling (Excellent symphonic progressive rock
from Israel.)
36. Solstice: Spirit (A more introspective take on classic style prog.)
37. Cleveland, Barry: Hologramatron (Excellent progressive rock with an
experimental edge.)
38. WolfSpring: WolfSpring (A modern approach to prog with a nod to past
greats. Love the vocals.)
39. Wishing Tree, The: Ostara (A mellower Rothery and the beautiful
voice of Hannah Stobart.)
Best of 2010
It's best of time once again and there has been so much enjoyable music
during the past year, so instead of rating the lot I just narrowed it
down to my top twenty.
1. Myrath: Desert Call
2. Orphaned Land: Never Ending Way Of The OrwarriOR
3. Heavenly: Carpe Diem
4. Dimmu Borgir: Abrahadabra
5. Therion: Sitra Atra
6. Vanden Plas: The Seraphic Clockwork
7. Helstar: Glory Of Chaos
8. Star One: Victims Of The Modern Age
9. Helloween: 7 Sinners
10. Heathen: The Evolution Of Chaos
11. Overkill: Ironbound
12. Magic Kingdom: Symphony of War
13. Rhapsody Of Fire: The Frozen Tears Of Angels
14. James Labrie: Static Impulse
15. Avantasia: Angel Of Babylon and The Wicked Symphony - box set
16. Nevermore: The Obsidian Conspiracy
17. Dark Moor: Ancestral Romance18. Accept - Blood Of Nations
19. Kamelot: Poetry For The Poisoned
20. Mob Rules: Radical Peace
Other bands/acts that have releases which deserve mention include Angra,
Wuthering Heights, Soulfly, Seventh Wonder, Labyrinth, Haken, Blind
Guardian, Firewind, Sodom, Death Angel, Immolation, Elvenking, Rage,
Sabaton, Tarja, Exodus, Iron Maiden, Voices Of Extreme, Freedom Call and
Gamma Ray. Albums that fell short came from Annihilator, Ozzy Ozbourne
and Disturbed.
Best CDs of 2010
1. Spock's Beard: X
2. Manning: Charlestown
3. Crippled Black Phoenix: I, Vigilante
4. Believe: World Is Round
5. La Maschera di Cera: Petali di Fuoco
6. David Minasian: Random Acts of Beauty
7. Mars Hollow: Mars Hollow
8. Unitopia: Artificial
9. Midlake: The Courage of Others
10. Karnataka: The Gathering Light
11. Anathema: We're Here Because We're Here
12. The Pineapple Thief: Someone Here is Missing
13. Panic Room: Satellite
14. Richard Thompson: Dream Attic
15. Michael Gill: Blues for Lazarus
16. Rufus Wainwright: Songs for Lulu
17. Kyshera: Paradygm
18. Rausch: Rausch
19. Godsticks: Spiral Vendetta
20. The Reasoning: Adverse Camber
Top CDs of 2010
Here is my list of those releases I found highly interesting this year.
The toughest part was actually to put them in order, since many of them
are just great albums.
1. Emkog: Label Sampler
2. Various Artists: Whom the Moon a Night Song Sings
3. Nechochwen: Azimuths to the Other World
4. October Falls: A Collapse of Faith
5.
Sauce Boss: Hot N' Heavy
6. Shining: VI Klagopsalmer
7. Svart: Förlorad
8.
Nàttsol: Stemming
9. Spectral Lore: II
10. Celestia: Archaenae Perfectii
11. Sig:Ar:Tyr: God Saga
12. Lantlôs: Neon
13. Semen Datura: Einsamkeit
2010 Top Thirty CDs
1. Star One: Victims Of The Modern Age
2. Vanden Plas: The Seraphic Clockwork
3. Orphaned Land: The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR
4. Black Bonzo: The Guillotine Drama
5. The Pineapple Thief: Someone Here Is Missing
6. Aynsley Lister: Equilibrium
7. Jackdaw 4: The Eternal Struggle For Justice
8. Lucifer Was: The Crown Of Creation
9. Phenomena: Blind Faith
10. Joe Satriani: Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards
11. Frogg Cafe: Bateless Edge
12. Voodoo Six: Fluke?
13. K2: Black Garden
14. Myrath: Desert Call
15. From. Uz: Seventh Story
16. Glyder: Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow
17. FM: Metropolis
18. A Forest Of Stars: A Thief's Opportunity
19. The Union: The Union
20. Bangalore Choir: Cadence
21. Accept: Blood Of The Nations
22. Brian Howe: Circus Bar
23. Peter Frampton: Thank You Mr Churchill
24. Kamelot: Poetry For The Poisoned
25. Haken: Aquarius
26. Exhibit A: Make Mine A Lobster
27. Terje Rypdal: Crime Scene
28. Tryptikon: Eparistera Diamones
29. The Reasoning: Adverse Camber
30. Skin: Breaking The Silence
Reissues
1. Bruce Springsteen: Darkness On The Edge Of Town
2. Wildhearts: Earth Vs. The Wildhearts
3. The Ladder: The Ladder
4. Jackdaw 4: Retrospecatcles
5. Wildhearts: Fishing For Luckies
6. Porcupine Tree: Recordings
7. Guardian: First Watch
8. Black Sabbath: Seventh Star
9. Robin George: Dangerous Music
10. I.E.M.: Box Set
Live/Compilations
1. Kings X: Live Love London
2. Ginger: 10
3. RPWL: The Gentle Art Of Music
4. The Pineapple Thief: 3000 Days
5. Uriah Heep: Celebration
6. Jeff Scott Soto: One Night In Madrid
7. Tesla: Alive In Europe! 2009
8. Legend: Playing With Fire - Live 1992
9. Porcupine Tree: Atlanta
10. British Lions: Live At The Old Waldorf, San Francisco 1978
Gigs
1. Firefest 2010
2. It Bites/Aynsley Lister
3. Fish (The Fish-Heads - Acoustic Show)
4. Kiss
5. Joe Satriani
6. Winger
7. FM
8. A-ha
9. Blaze Bayley
10. Danny Vaughn
Top 20 CDs of 2010
1. Black Country Communion: Black Country Communion
2. Bruce Springsteen: The Promise
3. Steve Lukather: All's Well That Ends Well
4. Sinocence: Scar Obscura
5. Fury UK: A Way Of Life
6. Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier
7. Anathema: We're Here Because We're Here
8. The Scorpions: Sting In The Tail
9. Allen/Lande: The Showdown
10. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Mojo
11. Meat Loaf: Hang Cool Teddy Bear
12. Avenged Sevenfold Nightmare
13. White Wizard: Over The Top
14. Fozzy: Chasing The Grail
15. The Reasoning: Adverse Camber
16. Serpentine: A Touch Of Heaven
17. H.E.A.T.: Freedom Rock
18. Vanden Plas: Seraphic Clockwork
19. Taking Dawn: Time To Burn
20. John Mellencamp: No Better Than This
Top 10 Gigs of 2010
1. KISS - Sonic Boom Over Europe, Birmingham
2. Cheap Trick - Wolverhampton
3. Foreigner @ High Voltage Festival - London
4. Heaven and Hell @ High Voltage Festival - London
5. Big Elf - Wolverhampton
6. Guns N Roses - Birmingham
7. Pendragon - Bilston
8. Crowded House - Birmingham
9. UFO - Leamington Spa
10. Magnum @ High Voltage Festival - London
Once again 2010 has lived up to all expectations and what a fantastic
time to appreciate guitar driven music. Well after alot of thought and
deliberation here we go with my top albums of 2010...
Top CDs of 2010
1. Audrey Horne: Audrey Horne (Excellent album and excellent live band,
the coming together of many black metal band members to produce the best
album of 2010 with killer chorus' throughout. I've just played it to
death)
2. Slash: Slash (Almost top but missed it by a g-string! The ultimate
summer album and an amazing choice of vocalists that suit every song
chosen for them perfectly, and Slash just rips the fret board apart)
3. Alterbridge: AB III (Every album by these guys just gets better and
AB III is no exception, simply stunning)
4. James Labrie: Static Impulse (If Dream Theater never made another
album this guy will never suffer, heavy as you like and his voice is in
top form)
5. Grand Magus: Hammer Of The North (Injected full of Sabbath riding
skidoos through the forest,I love it because it sounds so heavy at
extreme volume)
6. Black Country Communion: Black Country Communion (The term 'super
group' is often used but this really is the ultimate definition)
7. Stone Sour: Audio Secrecy (A little more commercial doesn't mean more
lightweight, well crafted songs and Corey Fucking Taylor, the end)
8. Dio: Donington Live '83 - '87 (Not always a fan of live albums but
this one is just perfect, this is why Ronnie was loved so much he gave
his all to his live performance and this captures it perfectly)
9. Black Label Society: Order Of The Black (When you think Zakks knocked
down he comes back with the album of his career 'Overlord' just rips
your face off)
10. Baptized In Blood: Baptized In Blood (New signings to Roadrunner
with an album that steams along at 100mph, heavy metal is back...and
they have Blood in their name)
Another fantastic year for live gigs has seen me cover the length and
breadth of the U.K and this year saw me travel to 3 festivals in 3
country's in 3 weeks and also a few in the U.S, here is my very
difficult top 10 gigs/performances of 2010.
Top Live Gigs of 2010
1. Heaven & Hell (High Voltage Festival Victoria Park London. Glenn
Hughes and Jorn Lande made a grown man cry and I'm not afraid to admit
it)
2. Devin Townsend (Cheyenne Saloon Las Vegas. Mad musical genius blows
me away with an amazing performance)
3. Down (High Voltage Festival Victoria Park London. Phill and the boys
bring the deep south to London and tear it up)
4. A Perfect Circle (The Pearl @ The Palms Las Vegas. Two nights and two
full albums,is this the end? I hope not judging from these perfect
performances)
5. Amorphis (Bloodstock Festival Derby England. First time for me and
what a show was well worth the wait)
6. Y&T (Download Festival Derby England. Classic rock stalwarts show the
youngsters how to put on a gig, shame it was a little short)
7.I shan (Hellfest Festival Clisson France. Amazing, simply amazing)
8. Slash (Graspop Metal Meeting Dessel Belgium. A masterstroke having
Myles Kennedy on vocals and Slash just oozed 'Rock Star' from every
pours in his body)
9. Audrey Horne ( High Voltage Festival Victoria Park London. What a
performance!! Had me singing along and moshing like the Bastard son of
Lemmy)
10. Rammstein (Sonisphere Festival Knebworth England. Fire, Fire and
more Fire, the last time England saw this much fire from the Germans in
England was in 1941!!!)
Well there we have it let's hope 2011 brings us more of the same and the
much awaited Van Halen appearance in the U.K.
Here's to 2011.....
Best CDs of 2010
1. Anathema: We're Here Because We're Here
2. Lo-Fi Resistance: A Deep Breath
3. Ben Folds: Lonely Avenue
4. Emanuel & the Fear: Listen
5. The Pineapple Thief: Someone Here is Missing
6. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age
7. Spock's Beard: X
8. Lunatic Soul: Lunatic Soul II
9. Conqueror: Madame Zelle
10. Agalloch: Marrow of the Spirit
11. California Guitar Trio: Andromeda
12. Coheed & Cambria: Year of the Black Rainbow
13. District 97- Hybrid Child
14. Empty Tremor: Iridium
15. Engineers: In Praise of More
16. The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra: Lookin' For A Little Strange
17. Karnivool: Sound Awake
18. Lehto & Wright: Children's Songs
19. Little Beirut: Fear of Heaven
20. Matt Stevens: Ghost
21. Nichelodeon: Il Gioco Del Silenzio
22. North Atlantic Oscillation: Grapping Hooks
23. Orphaned Land: The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR
24. Urihani: Music For The Planet
25. Vanden Plas: The Seraphic Clockwork
26. The Cloverseeds: The Opening
27. All Over Everywhere: Inner Firmaments Decay
Songs
1. "Thin Air" - Anathema
2. "Claire's Ninth" - Ben Folds
3. "Hello New Star!" - Lo-Fi Resistance
4. "Dreaming Light" - Anathema
5. "Angels Walk Among Us/Presence" - Anathema
6. "Guatemala" - Emanuel and the Fear
7. "The State We're In" - The Pineapple Thief
8. "Barely Breathing" - The Pineapple Thief
9. "Pearl of the Stars" - Coheed & Cambria
10. "Someone Here Is Missing" - The Pineapple Thief
11. "Suspended in Whiteness" - Lunatic Soul
12. "Last Light" - Little Beirut
13. "Jaws of Heaven" - Spock's Beard
14. "Digital Rain" - Star One
15. "Black Lake Nidstång" - Agalloch
Top Ten Releases of 2010
1. Deathspell Omega: Paracletus. A twisting, churning monolith of
bizarre and technical black metal, Paracletus remains one of the most
intriguing and captivating metal releases I've heard this year. Simply
put, this is an album that will possibly outlive the novelty of every
other entry on this list, purely on account of its sheer originality and
riveting vigour. The album's single, 'Devouring Famine', might be among
the most fundamentally disturbing pieces of music ever released.
Simultaneously ugly and beautiful.
2. Periphery: Periphery. Undoubtedly the most anticipated metal release
of 2010, the Periphery debut bursts with an energy and ferocity that is
surprising, considering how long it's been in the making. Misha 'Bulb'
Mansoor proves his worth as one of the pioneers of the progressive djent
style, and a fresh yet competent supporting team comes together in
perfect synergy to produce an album that has already set the template
for innumerable bands to come. A defining statement for modern metal.
3. Ihsahn: After. The legendary Ihsahn's third solo effort brings
several new elements to Vegard Sverre Tveitan's already eclectic
palette, culminating in the most mature and accomplished addition to his
expansive oeuvre. Dark, pensive and melancholic, with decidedly wistful
undertones courtesy Jorgen Munkeby's slick saxophone performance, After
is the perfect end to Ihsahn's planned trilogy of albums, a summation of
a veteran's collective musical sensibilities, coupled with a robust and
full-bodied production job to bolster a near-perfect work.
4. John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension: To The One. Brimming with a
rare sort of chemistry between four highly skilled instrumentalists, To
The One sees McLaughlin at his recent best, backed by a rhythm section
featuring Etienne M'Bappe, Mark Mondesir and the legendary Gary Husband.
Explosively spirited and driving, To The One echoes McLaughlin's open
admiration of his primary influence John Coltrane, while staying true to
his reputation of continually reinventing himself with every release.
5. Demians: Mute. It's hard to believe this gem is the work of one man
performing all instruments. Nicolas Chapel's voice is effortless and
evocative, with an endearing French accent, exuding the sort of class
and finesse that's an unfortunate rarity in current alternative rock.
Ably handling guitar, bass, keyboard and percussion duties, Chapel's
uncanny songwriting abilities and ethereal vocals elevate this album far
above the herd.
6. Cloudkicker: Beacons. The third solo album in this list, and
Cloudkicker's second release of the year, Beacons bears the distinction
of being 2010's most singularly beautiful metal album, with lulling
melodies and post-rock ambience punctuating a highly rhythmic modern
progressive metal soundscape. Produced entirely by Ben Sharp himself,
Beacons navigates smoothly through a smorgasbord of moods and feels with
unrivalled ease, and Sharp's guitar playing perfectly walks the very
thin line between graceful atmospherics and fretboard wizardry, to form
a refreshingly balanced and human musical statement.
7. Soilwork: The Panic Broadcast. After encountering mass disapproval
from their fan base with 2007's Sworn To A Great Divide, Soilwork got
their act together with The Panic Broadcast. Peter Wichers' return to
the band shows just how irreplaceable and integral he is to the band's
chemistry, breathing life into a band that was leaning towards sounding
tired and uninspired. Newcomer Sylvain Coudret adds a welcome dash of
contemporary shred pizzazz to the classic Gothenburg sound, while
vocalist Bjorn 'Speed' Strid turns in a career-best performance. The
Panic Broadcast showcases a band at the peak of its maturity, with
winning formula and a set of musicians to execute it with nothing left
to be desired.
8. Radiance: The Burning Sun. An ambitious meld of heavily syncopated,
polymetric riffing in the vein of Swedish innovators Meshuggah, and
classic progressive metal, The Burning Sun puts a fresh spin on the
somewhat overused djent sound, infusing it with operatic vocals. The
brainchild of Necrophagist guitarist Sami Raatikainen, Radiance presents
a new ideal of modern metal, as complex, cerebral and daringly
experimental, with production values that rival some of the biggest
names in the business. A fantastically accomplished debut.
9. Triptykon: Eparistera Daimones. Thomas Gabriel Fischer is a living
legend, after helming the seminal Celtic Frost and pioneering an entire
sub-genre of metal. After the rather unexpected demise of Celtic Frost,
Fischer announced his new outfit Triptykon, and with a young team
backing him, unleashed Eparistera Daimones. Vicious, seething and
defiant, the Triptykon debut is a triumph of charisma and authority over
excess. Let's face it; no one can belch an 'Ugh' into a microphone as
terrifyingly as Fischer.
10. Immolation: Majesty And Decay. Death metal veterans Immolation show
no signs of petering out with their eighth studio album. Majesty And
Decay is an exercise in pummelling, percussive savagery, tempered with
the signature agonising dissonance that put Immolation at the top of the
New York scene as far back as 1991. Ross Dolan's thunderous voice is at
its menacing best, and Robert Vigna's riffing is as potent as ever. A
welcome return to form.
Top CDs of 2010
1. Myrath: Desert Call - Never ever thought Algerians could make music
like this
2. Orphaned Land: The Never Ending Way Of OrwarriOR
3. Division By Zero: Independent Harmony
4. Scorpions: Sting The Tail - because they say it is their epitaph
5. Dianoya: Obscure Infinty - Wonderful Polish music better than a lot
of other polish bands
6. Dante: Saturnine - The first was good, their second even better.
7. Echoes: Nature existence
8. Edenbridge - Sollitaire
9. Avenged Sevenfold: Nightmare - With DT drummer Mike, in the meantime
no longer with either DT or Avenged...
10. Demians: Mute
11. Glass Hammer: If
12. Kingfisher Sky: Skin Of The Earth
13. The Reasoning: Adverse Camber
14. Molly Hatchet: Justice - Will they get justified after all this time
15. Dead Letter Circus: This Is the warning
16. Pure Reason Revolution: Hammer And Anvil
17. Shadow Theory: Behind The Black Veil
18. Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape
19. Spiritual Beggars: Return To Forever
20. James Labrie: Static Impulse
21. Ark: Wild Untamed Imaginings
22. Disperse: Journey Through The Hidden Gardens
23. Kiske & Sommerville: Kiske & Sommerville
24. My Favorite Scar: My Favorite Scar
25. Prophecy: Illusion Of Time
26. Star One: Victim Of the Modern Age
27. Widespread Panic: Dirty Side Down
28. Chris: Making Sense
29. Mindsplit: Charmed Human Art of Signifigance
30. VandenPlas: Seraphic Clockwork
31. Mystery: One Among The living
32. Mastermind: Insomnia
33. Mastercastle: Last Desire
34. Day Six: The Grand Design
35. Crystal Palace: Reset
36. Oceansize: Self Preserved While Bodies Float Up
37. Sky Architect: Excavations Of The Mind
38. Hookah The Fuzz: Hookah The Fuzz
39. Quandary: Ready To Fail
40. Hemina: As We Know It
41. Pain Of Salvation: Road Salt One
Not Too Heavy List
1. Gazpacho: Missa Atropis - Dreaming of .... So good
2. Agents Of Mercy: Dramarama
3. Guy Manning: Charlestown - Our English story teller, no one does it
better
4. King Crow: Phlegethon
5. Persephone's Dream: Pan An Urban Pastoral
6. Haken: Aquarius - A gigantic debut album - seldom heard them better
7. The Enid: The Journey - This is how to mix classic with modern music,
Robert Godfrey and the lads make it happen.
8. Big Big Train: Far Skies Deep Time
9. Pineapple Thief: Someone Here Is Missing
10. District 97: Hybrid Child - from X-factor to highclass music
(The-Top-10-Plus list is not in any particular order)
Angelfire: Angelfire - The inimitable Steve Morse, nobody does it better
Heart: Red Velvet Car - Still going strong the lovely Ann and Nancy
Wilson
TinyFish: The Big Red Spark
Mostly Autumn: Go Well Diamond Heart
Aries: Double Reign - Italian prog
Brother Ape: A Rare Moment Of Insight
David Minasian: Random Acts Of Beauty
French TV: I Forgive You For All My Unhappiness
Frogg Café: Bateless Edge
Jelonek: Jelonek
K2: Black Garden
Koi: In Tomorrow Hid Yesterday
Lalle Larson: Weaveworld
Mandibulb: Praxis
PBII: Plastic Soup
Yogi Lang: No Decoder - without RPWL ... sounds great
SBB: Blue Trance - Old polish rockers still going strong
Sunchild: The Wrap
Divine Baze Orchestra: Dead But Dreaming
Unitopia: Artificial - From down under they bring great epics and neo
prog
Anathema: We're Here Because We're Here
T: Anti Matter Poetry
Resistor: Rise
From.Uz: Seventh Story
Carptree: Nymf
Delusion Squared: Delusion Squared
Morild: Time To rest
Windmill: To Be Continued...
Colin Masson: Mad Monk And The Mountain
Top instrumental albums
1. Dean Watson: Unsettled - How to make a solo album, really solo
2. Relocator: Relocator - German rockers with a fantastic debut CD,
instrumental
3. Fusonic: Desert Dreams
4. Lebowski: Cinematic
5. Frames: Mosaik
6. Crack The Sky: Machines
7. Alkenion: Another Time
8. Joe Satriani: Black Holes and Wormhole Wizzards - the instrumental
guitar-master
9. God is An Astronaut: Age Of The Fifth Sun - instrumental but then
different
Top 30 Albums of 2010
This has been a terrific year for progressive rock and metal - I've
discovered some truly amazing music in 2010. As I write this Top 30
list, a few high-profile releases (such as Blind Guardian, Kamelot, and
Asia) would've made my list for sure, but I haven't had the opportunity
of hearing them yet. There's just so much great music and so little
time! I had a tough time deciding on a few neck-and-neck situations in
terms of ranking, but I think this is a pretty consistent list that
represents my favorite studio releases of this past year.
1. Shaolin Death Squad: Five Deadly Venoms - An unexpected masterpiece;
one of the best albums of the past decade for sure.
2. Haken: Aquarius - A breathtaking and original progressive rock/metal
debut.
3. Empty Tremor: Iridium - An overlooked gem of prog metal; one of the
best I've heard in a long time.
4. Pain of Salvation: Road Salt One - Another amazing effort from PoS;
these guys just keep reinventing themselves!
5. Tinyfish: The Big Red Spark - This prog rock concept release
captivated me from beginning to end; nothing short of spectacular!
6. Enslaved: Axioma Ethica Odini - Another winner from these Norwegian
black metal legends.
7. Demonic Resurrection: The Return to Darkness - Quite possibly the
best Indian metal release ever.
8. Spock's Beard: X - The best post-Morse era album from the Beard for
sure!
9. Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier - Another great album from Maiden;
these guys just keep delivering!
10. System Divide: The Conscious Sedation - A heavy, beautiful, and
all-around breathtaking death metal release.
11. Persephone's Dream: Pan - An Urban Pastoral - The unique concept
album is sure to appeal to any fan of classic symphonic prog.
12. Demiurg: Slakthus Gamleby - This Swedish death metal supergroup is
one of the best ever!
13. Avenged Sevenfold: Nightmare - Much better than one might think at
first glance...
14. Darkwater: Where Stories End - Progressive power metal at its
finest!
15. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age - Arjen Lucassen & co. just keep
delivering amazing albums!
16. Vanden Plas: The Seraphic Clockwork - Another solid effort by these
German prog metal legends.
17. Guillotine: The Cynic - India has an extreme metal scene to keep
your eye on, and Guillotine is great proof of this! An all-around
amazing release!
18. The Shadow Theory: Behind the Black Veil - This impressive
supergroup never disappoints.
19. Downspirit: Point of Origin - The seamless blend of blues and power
metal makes for a highly enjoyable experience.
20. Sebastian Persini: Lost City - Instrumental album of the year 2010 -
Persini is an musical mastermind!
21. Albatross: Dinner Is You - This King Diamond-esque EP is another
winner in the Indian metal scene.
22. Dawn of Ashes: Genocide Chapters - This dark, evil, and nightmarish
symphonic black metal album is bound to keep you sleeping with the
lights on at night.
23. Dean Watson: Unsettled - This is the best jazz rock album I've heard
in 2010; Dean Watson has created an amazing work of art here.
24. Powerworld: Human Parasite - An enjoyable and impressive power metal
album.
25. Atheist: Jupiter - The technical death metal pioneers are back and
in full-force!
26. Frogg Café: Bateless Edge - These guys are simply one of the best
U.S. jazz/prog rock bands on the scene right now!
27. 7Days: Into Forever - This is everything about progressive power
metal gone right!
28. Life Line Project: Distorted Memories - A highly successful modern
symphonic prog album with breathtaking keyboard wizardry.
29. Cephalic Carnage: Misled by Certainty - This shows a bit of a change
in Cephalic Carnage's crazy deathgrind sound, but is every bit as good
as their previous acclaimed masterpieces.
30. Aborym: Psychogrotesque - Few albums can create as dark an
atmosphere as this one here; turn the volume up and the lights off!
Best CDs of 2010
1. Manning: Charlestown
2. Agents of Mercy: Dramarama
3. Alisa Coral: All Roads Lead To Amber
4. Alisa Coral The Shadow Creatures
5. The Divine Baze Orchestra: Dead But Dreaming
6. Strangeways: Perfect World
7. Unruly Child: When Worlds Collide
8. Rodrigo San Martin: There's No Way Out
9. Barbara Rubin: Under The Ice
10. Loreweaver: Imperative Auditions
11. Vespero: By The Waters Of Tomorrow
12. Diamanda Galas: You're My Thrill
13. The Swans: My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Stars
14. Sweet Apple: Love & Desperation
15. Phish: At The Roxy
16. Black Country Communion: Black Country Communion
17. Frost*: The Philadelphia Experiment
18. Glass Hammer: If
19. Coheed & Cambria: Year Of The Rainbow
20. Pain Of Salvation: Road Salt One
21. The Grand Astoria: II
22. James Labrie: Static Impulse
23. Gazpacho: Miss Atropis
24. Star FK Radium: Blue Siberia
25. The Re Stoned: Revealed Gravitation
26. Grinderman: 2
27. Abigail Williams: In The Absence Of Light
28. Circle Of Animals: Destroy The Light
2010 has been, at best, a difficult, at worst awful year for me, most
because my mother passed away during it. This has, understandingly, I
hope led to music not being the be-all-and-end-all kind of thing that it
usually is in my life. Consequently, there are many albums that
ordinarily I would have killed for being unpurchased let alone listened
to (Stsr One suffering in particular in that respect.) Therefore the
following may not be as well considered as I'd have liked and may even
be a bit happier than usual but that's what I needed this year.
Top 20 CDs of 2010
1. Freedom Call: Legend of the Shadowking - Insanely happy music. If
there's a more fun song than Merlin, I'd kill to hear it. Brilliant live
act as well.
2. Therion: Sitra Ahra - Reliably excellent.
3. Manowar: Battle Hymns MMXI - Still fabulous.
4. Firewind: Days of Defiance - Not quite as good as The Premonition but
highly satisfactory
5. Bruce Springsteen: The Promise - Springsteen's rejects dwarf most
artists' best.
6. Molly Hatchet: Justice - Not really Molly Hatchet but sounding much
better than for quite a while.
7. Cradle of Filth: Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa - I'm in the minority
in thinking that the Filth have actually got better with age.
8. Blackmore's Night: Autumn Sky - Possibly not quite as good as Secret
Voyage but still uniformly excellent expecially the cover of Celluloid
Heroes.
9. James LaBrie: Static Impulse - I know some can't get past the extreme
vocals but it's good to hear Jimmy on some short songs for once.
10. Avantasia: Angel of Babylon / Avantasia: The Wicked Symphony - both
a million times better than the last Edguy albm.
11. Helloween: 7 Sinners - Continuing a late period renaissance for the
band.
12. The Reasoning: Adverse Camber - Excellent British prog 1
13. Panic Room: Satellite - Excellent British prog 2
14. Meat Loaf: Hang Cool Teddy Bear - Much better than expected. He
should pack it in as a live performer though.
15. FM: Metropolis - Superbly melodic comeback, so much better than
their last records before the split.
16. Sabaton: Coat of Arms - Powerful and melodic.
17. Hellyeah: Stampede - Better Man is one of my favourite sings of the
year.
18. Peter Frampton: Thank You Mr. Churchill - Class.
19. Equilibrium: Rekreatur - Folk Metal heaven.
20. Tarja: What Lies Beneath - The odd duff track but also featuring the
incredible (genius or not?) cover of Still of the Night.
Best Live Gigs
HammerFall/ Dream Evil
Anvil/ Girlschool
Freedom Call
Sabaton/ Alestorm
Best CDs of 2010 - Year End Report
1. Edenbridge: Solitaire - The best new find of 2010! Best female
vocalist I have heard in a very long time. I just cannot take this one
off the CD player. The player is now full of their catalog. Soft and
hard mixed perfectly. Best new band of 2010. When it came down to
rating, I have listened to this album and their catalog more than any
other band this year. Really looking forward to what is next for this
band.
2. Anima Mundi: The Way - Wow another great find this year! Like hearing
Yes for the first time again. This is what I wanted in a Yes -
influenced band. Not a copy, but an original with a similar sound and
grounding. Can't wait to hear their next one. It sounds like it will be
another epic.
3. Unitopia: Artificial - This is a fantastic album full of inspiration,
innovation and light. This band had an excellent 2010 with a celebrated
European tour. They have opened the door to stardom and next year will
be another big one. Looking forward to more new music from them next
year.
4. Kingcrow: Phlegethon - What a year of discovery it has been. I think
my new favorite location for music is Italy, with all the friends and
bands I have met this year. This band is another of those great bands
that can mix hard and soft so well. This album will rock me well into
2011. Looking forward to the next turn on their journey. With the press
they're getting this year the story has just begun for this band.
5. The Watch: Planet Earth - Finally took a chance and bought one of
their albums this year after hearing and reading so much about them over
the years. I am so glad I did too. This is an excellent representation
of what early Genesis was trying to achieve and a possible point in the
direction of where they may have gone if they had stayed together. A
fall favorite. Looking forward to their new album in January 2011.
6. Majestic: Ataraxia - Four of my top six best albums of the year are
new bands I found this year, confirming this great year of discovery.
This was a great surprise to find near the end of the year. I have two
of their back catalog and I have now witnessed the kind of consistency
that makes me look forward to their next.
7. Black Crowes: Croweology - If this was all new material it would have
had a run for the top. Still one of my favorite blues/rock albums of the
year, but it is mostly from the back catalog. Some of the songs do take
on a whole new life with this album. Their concert was easily concert of
the year. A great way to go out on top…if it really is the end…
8. Black Country Communion: Debut - The debut blues/rock album of the
year with some tough competition. Talking with Glenn and finding out
most of this album was recorded live in one take was enough to lock up a
place in the top ten. Song of Yesterday is just incredible. If they
write more of those kinds of songs there will be no reason for them not
to be at the top of the hill next year.
9. No Sound: sol29 - Remix - What an excellent revision on this album.
Sounds perfect for an album I already enjoyed. Right up there with
Unitopia for CD package of the year. The DVD is wonderful.
10. The Black Keys: Brothers - This was a summer favorite. It echoed
loud all over the Olympic Peninsula!
11. Steve Hackett: Out of the Tunnel's Mouth - Steve's best in years and
the additional tracks on the extended mix lift this high.
12. Karnataka: The Guiding Light - Still one of my favorites of the
year. Excellent work. With the band re-organized I am really looking
forward to their next.
13. Kaipa: In the Wake of Evolution - The feeling of spring has carried
over throughout the year.
14. Ed Kowalczyk: Alive - I feel allot more alive after hearing this
album. One of the most inspirational albums of the year.
15. Ruby Hill: New Breed - What a year it has already been for these
guys. You should see how far these guys have come in a year.
16. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age - Arjen does it again. The
movies he chose are great but the hard edge of this album makes the
music some of the best he's produced.
17. Pure Reason Revolution: Hammer and the Anvil - Excellent work. Glad
to see this band back in form. One of my favorite English bands.
18. Pineapple Thief: Someone Here Is Missing - I knew this would be
good. Most of their albums are, but this one is so complete. Nothing's
missing. However, there is allot of tough competition at the top.
19. Gracious Few: Debut - Excellent debut.
20. Steve Miller: Bingo - Again, this is all re-makes of older songs.
But Steve and his guests fill these songs full of life again.
21. Fijieri: Endless - Tim and Stefano make this just incredible!
22. Stefano Panunzi: a Rose - Receiving this with Fijieri was such a
wonderful surprise!
23. Tangents: One Light Year - In a year full of surprises this one made
spring great.
24. Dirty Sweet: American Spiritual - Great find of the first quarter.
Looking forward to the next album. With the Crowes callin' it quits this
may be the band to fill the void in the future.
25. Tom Petty: Mojo - Excellent work. Glad to see Tom and the boys back.
26. Joe Bonamassa: Black Rock - Definitely going to rank high on new
artists of the year for me.
27. Karnivool: Sound Awake - Another real surprise that still gets allot
of play.
28. Salem Hill: Pennies in the Karma Jar - An excellent introduction to
this band.
29. Mondo Drag: New Rituals - Another great surprise.
30. Alex Carpani: Waterline - Memories of the best of 70s prog!
31. Loreweaver: Imperviae Auditiones - What a wonderful surprise!
32. Barbara Rubin: Under the Ice - Beautiful music.
33. Echo Us: Tomorrow Will Tell the Story - Ethan does it again.
Excellent thinking music.
34. Syngularity: More to Say - More great music from Pascal.
35.Agents of Mercy: Dramarama - Finally picked up this and the debut.
Great music bringing back the sounds of prog from the past.
36. Sade: Soldier of Love - The couple's album of the year!
37. Midlake: The Courage of Others - Great for a good cold fall/winter
day.
38. Tamaryn: The Waves - Another great female vocal with good synth
music.
39. Tron: Movie Soundtrack - Excellent synth work and one of the best
soundtracks I have head in a while. I usually don't listen to movie
soundtracks that often, but this one is so good.
40. No Man: Wild Opera - Another great remix and package.
41. Frozen Ocean: Debut - Excellent acoustic music with a message.
Looking forward to more from them next year.
42. Fistful of Mercy: As I Call You Down - Excellent debut for this new
side project.
43. The Mission: Dum - Dum Bullet - Great revisions on the back catalog
and an introduction to what might be the next step.
44. Robert Plant: Band of Joy - Good, but not enough new material or
hard rockers.
45. Rick Miller: Dreamtigers - Looking to purchase more of the back
catalog.
46. Glass Hammer: If - Great music, but too similar to Yes.
47. Gazpacho: Missa Atropos - Good music but the competition was much
tougher this year than in 2008.
48. Demians: Mute - Good album.
49. The Armada: WOMadelaide - Great live album. Still hoping to get the
studio album someday on iTunes.
50. Eric Norlander: The Galactic Collective - Excellent synth and a cool
intergalactic symphony.
SUMMARIZED LIST OF THE TOP 50 CDS, FROM ALL OF THE SoT STAFF
1. Orphaned Land: Never Ending Way Of The OrwarriOR
2. Star One: Victims of the Modern Age
3. The Pineapple Thief: Someone Here is Missing
4. Vanden Plas: Seraphic Clockwork
5. Spock's Beard: X
6. Ihsahn: After
7. Anathema: We're Here Because We're Here
8. Black Country Communion: Black Country Communion
9. Frogg Café: Bateless Edge
10. Erik Norlander: The Galactic Collective
11. Agalloch: Marrow of the Spirit
12. Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier
13. Glass Hammer: If
14. Avantasia: Angel Of Babylon / The Wicked Symphony (Box set)
15. Haken: Aquarious
16. James LaBrie: Static Impulse
17. Unitopia: Artificial
18. Agents of Mercy: Dramarama
19. Myrath: Desert Call
20. The Reasoning: Adverse Camber
21. Manning: Charlestown
22. District 97: Hybrid Child
23. From. Uz: Seventh Story
24. Enslaved: Axioma Ethica Odini
25. Nevermore: The Obsidian Conspiracy
26. Pain Of Salvation: Road Salt One
27. Avenged Sevenfold: Nightmare
28. Dimmu Borgir: Abrahadabra
29. Triptykon: Eparistera Daimones
30. Black Label Society: Order Of The Black
31. Kamelot: Poetry For The Poisoned
32. Therion: Sitra Ahra
33. Kingcrow: Phlegethon
34. Persephone's Dream: Pan - An Urban Pastoral
35. Creation's End: A New Beginning
36. David Minasian: Random Acts of Beauty
37. Dean Watson: Unsettled
38. Mob Rules: Radical Peace
39. Panic Room: Satellite
40. Fozzy: Chasing The Grail
41. Immolation: Majesty And Decay
42. K2: Black Garden
43. Overkill: Ironbound
44. Gazpacho: Missa Atropos
45. Jon Oliva's Pain: Festival
46. Eloy: Visionary
47. Accept: Blood Of The Nations
48. Blind Guardian: At The Edge Of Time
49.
Mars Hollow: Mars Hollow
50. Demians: Mute
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Vinnerne i Progawards 2010
ttp://www.progawards.it/
Classic Rock Society
Leserne av denne sida har valgt sine favoritter for 2009, at vi ikke er hjertens enig i alt kommer neppe som noen stor overraskelse. Likevel er det hyggelig og interessant lesning dette da det gjenspeiler lytternes musikalske engasjement. Akkurat det, engasjementet altså, er det jevnt over for lite av blant folk flest da alt for mange velger VG lista topp 20 og Grand Prix som sine referanser.
Beste mannlige vokalist- Peter Nicholls
Best kvinnelige vokalist - Christina Booth
Beste keyboard spiller - Clive Nolan
Beste bassist - John Jowitt
Beste trommeslager - Scott Higham
Beste gitarist - Nick Barrett
Beste album - Frequency by IQ
Best låt - Questioning Eyes av Breathing Space
Beste Band - IQ
Beste nye band - DeeExpus
Årets roots musiker - Troy Donockley
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.
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1. Porcupine Tree – The Incident
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2. Transatlantic – The Whirlwind
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3. IQ – Frequency
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4. Riverside – Anno Domini High Definition
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5. Gazpacho – Tick Tock
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6. Dream Theater – Black Cloud & Silver Linings
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7. Big Big Train – The Underfall Yard
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8. Phideaux – Number Seven
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9. Tangent – Down & Out In Paris & London
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10. Muse – The Resistance
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11. Gulit machine – On This Pefect Day
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12. Agents Of Mercy – The Fading Ghosts Of Twilight
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13. Sylvan – Forec Of Gravity
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14. Marillion – Less = More
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15. Shadow Galelry – Digital Ghosts
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16. Beardfish – Destiny Solitaire
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17. Sateve Hackett – Out Of The Tunnel`s Mouth
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18. Knight Area – Realm Of Shadows
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19. Eggs & Dogs – You Are
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20. Redemption – Snowfall On Judgement Day
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21. Airbag – Identity
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22. Matodon – Crack The Sky
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23. Satellite – Nostagia
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24. Steven Wilson – Insurgentes
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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
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
|
Nr |
Band |
Album |
Antall stemmer |
Prosent |
Totale poeng |
|
1 |
Porcupine Tree |
550 |
53.61% |
4134 |
|
|
2 |
Dream Theater |
483 |
47.08% |
3206 |
|
|
3 |
Riverside |
340 |
33.14% |
2371 |
|
|
4 |
Neal Morse |
324 |
31.58% |
2070 |
|
|
5 |
Kino |
312 |
30.41% |
1938 |
|
|
6 |
Arena |
312 |
30.41% |
1890 |
|
|
7 |
Opeth |
236 |
23.00% |
1635 |
|
|
8 |
Pallas |
255 |
24.85% |
1534 |
|
|
9 |
Pendragon |
240 |
23.39% |
1405 |
|
|
10 |
Spock's Beard |
253 |
24.66% |
1399 |
|
|
11 |
Shadow Gallery |
187 |
18.23% |
1061 |
|
|
12 |
Echolyn |
143 |
13.94% |
910 |
|
|
13 |
RPWL |
146 |
14.23% |
818 |
|
|
14 |
Glass Hammer |
135 |
13.16% |
784 |
|
|
15 |
Sieges Even |
102 |
9.94% |
676 |
|
|
16 |
Tomas Bodin |
119 |
11.60% |
659 |
|
|
17 |
The Mars Volta |
111 |
10.82% |
647 |
|
|
18 |
Van Der Graaf Generator |
100 |
9.75% |
633 |
|
|
19 |
Kate Bush |
Aerial |
98 |
9.55% |
587 |
|
20 |
Stream Of Passion |
101 |
9.84% |
567 |
|
|
21 |
Gazpacho |
82 |
7.99% |
514 |
|
|
22 |
Roine Stolt |
90 |
8.77% |
499 |
|
|
23 |
Salem Hill |
74 |
7.21% |
482 |
|
|
24 |
Coldplay |
X&Y |
82 |
7.99% |
447 |
|
25 |
Magic Pie |
69 |
6.73% |
418 |
|
|
26 |
Kaipa |
81 |
7.89% |
399 |
|
|
27 |
Satellite |
64 |
6.24% |
351 |
|
|
28 |
Mostly Autumn |
61 |
5.95% |
348 |
|
|
29 |
Redemption |
52 |
5.07% |
343 |
|
|
30 |
Kamelot |
58 |
5.65% |
342 |
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?