:: The Shattered Room ::

Other Stuff => Off Topic => Topic started by: maddox on Sat, 2015-02-28, 16:33:38

Title: Best of-lists
Post by: maddox on Sat, 2015-02-28, 16:33:38
Hi all!

In this topic we can share our personal top 5 of any artist (prog or non prog) we come up with.
Don't limit yourself to a personal top 5.
If you want to do more that five or even less if you don't own or have heard all the albums of the artist, be my guest.
Of course, each personal entry is open for debate but in the end, we can only respect each others opinion, right? ;)

Some rules (*);

~ To keep this thread a bit tidy and cozy, I suggest to only enter one artist during a week, beginning let's say this Saturday (eh...today!  ;D) and keep it open until the next Saturday evening 18:00.
We can also start tomorrow but I think it would a good idea to set the timetable during the weekend.

~ Be a sport if someone beat you to it, and delete your entry.
You'll have your chance next time. ;)

~ Have fun!  *horns*

If anyone would like to contribute some ideas or, not that we need them, rules, shoot!

If all of you agree that such topic is wanted, we can start with Muse?
Just copy/paste your fav's into this thread.

Maybe Peter can make this topic sticky? ;)
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: Teunis on Sat, 2015-02-28, 20:15:56
Agreed and couldn't have said it better. Rules seem okay to me. Copied/pasted my Muse top-6, all their studio albums.

1. The Resistance
2. The 2nd Law
3. Black Holes & Revelations
4. Absolution
5. Origin Of Symmetry
6. Showbiz

I really like their two latest, more electronic, albums. 'The Resistance' has some obvious Queen influences, really dig this album from start to finish and wouldn't play this album randomly. I've read the album Muse is working on is more guitar orientated, very curious what the change in direction will bring.
As for the live albums: the only one I've heard several times is their latest 'Live At Rome Olympic Stadium', which is really cool. 'Hullabaloo' is nice, but I find the obvious 'breathing' of Mr. Bellamy in the microphone before singing somewhat disturbing. Can't rate 'HAARP', as I've only heard it once. But I know this one has a fan here in The Room ;).
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: maddox on Sat, 2015-02-28, 21:50:50
01 : Black Holes & Revelations
02 : Absolution
03 : The 2nd Law
04 : The Resistance
05 : Origin of Symmetry

I never really liked Muse.
Thought they were just another britpop band, with no potential at all.

That was until Victorious from The Resistance.
After I heard that song, I bought Black Holes & Revelations (cover art by Storm Thorgeson!) and that cd got stuck somehow in my cd player, I just couldn't get the darn thing out of it! ;)

Muse is a must-have band, should be in any cd-collection, no matter what your favorite music is.
Black Holes & Revelations and Absolution are essential masterpieces if you ask me.

Quote from: Teunis on Sat, 2015-02-28, 20:15:56
Can't rate 'HAARP', as I've only heard it once. But I know this one has a fan here in The Room ;).

That would be me!? ;)

Best live album ever made!!!  *horns* 8)

HAARP is missing simply because though I like live albums, they tend to be more of a best-of-album.
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: PH on Sun, 2015-03-01, 00:43:24
1. Absolution
2. Origin Of Symmetry
3. Black Holes And Revelations
4. Showbiz
5. The Resistance
6. The 2nd Law

I love the over the top attitude that Muse has. It's extreme. And it's Rock. Not really progressive per se, but certainly alternative with progressive tendencies. To be honest, I don't really Like the  electronic (dubstep?) path they've chosen lately. I really miss the extremes and energy of the earlier albums. And Matt's vocals are more on the safe side nowadays. I hope they'll go back to that short of craziness on their new studio album "Drones" this year.
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: Nicky007 on Sun, 2015-03-01, 12:36:06
The only two groups for which I can make a convinced top-5 (or -6) are Beatles and Bal-Sagoth; Beatles, cuz I consider them the greatest rock group eva - they created both rock and progrock with Rubber Soul in 1965; and Bal-Sagoth cuz they're my fave group - they're "my group" :)

Beatles Top-6
---------------

Abbey Road
White Album
Sgt. Pepper
Let It Be
Rubber Soul
Revolver

Bal-Sagoth Top-6
-------------------

The Chthonic Chronicles
The Power Cosmic
Atlantis Ascendant
Battle Magic
Starfire
Black Moon

Coming to think if it, I could maybe make a Top-6 for Floyd and Zep too. Let's see ...

Oops, just read the rules in detail. Well, I'm far from being able to make a Top-5 for Muse. Hope this is OK instead ;)

- Nicky
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: maddox on Mon, 2015-03-02, 08:58:12
Quote from: Nicky007 on Sun, 2015-03-01, 12:36:06


Oops, just read the rules in detail... Hope this is OK instead ;)

- Nicky

No.  >:( ;)

Quote from: maddox on Sat, 2015-02-28, 16:33:38

~ Be a sport if someone beat you to it, and delete your entry.
You'll have your chance next time. ;)


You see? ;)

Quote from: Nicky007 on Sun, 2015-03-01, 12:36:06

Oops, just read the rules in detail. Well, I'm far from being able to make a Top-5 for Muse. Hope this is OK instead ;)

- Nicky

Dear Nicky,

Quote from: maddox on Sat, 2015-02-28, 16:33:38

Don't limit yourself to a personal top 5.
If you want to do more that five or even less if you don't own or have heard all the albums of the artist, be my guest.


At your service.  *horns*
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: The Butterfly Man on Mon, 2015-03-02, 09:39:48
Muse is a great band. One of my favourites actually although I don't listen to their albums all the time. In the summer of 2013 I attended one of the concerts on their 2nd Law tour and that show is one of the best I have ever seen in my life.

My Muse top 5 would look something like this (I've added my personal favourite songs on each album):

1 - Origin Of Symmetry (Newborn, Bliss, Plug in Baby, Citizen Erased)
2 - Absolution (Time is Running Out, Sing for Absolution, Stockholm Syndrome, Butterflies and Hurricanes, Endlessly, Thoughts of a Dying Atheist)
3 - Black Holes and Revelations (Starlight, Map of the Problematique, Knights of Cydonia)
4 - The Resistance (Resistance, Guiding Light, MK Ultra, Exogenesis)
5 - The 2nd Law (Madness, Panic Station, Explorers, Save Me, Liquid State)

As you can see I like the latter more electronic albums a bit less than the albums before that, therefore I'm very much looking forward to Drones which is said to contain some more rock.

Tom
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: PH on Mon, 2015-03-02, 10:49:13
Looks a lot like my list, Tom. You say you like the electronic albums a bit less (just like me), but where's Showbiz on your list?
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: Bupie on Wed, 2015-03-04, 00:41:42
Great thread idea Mad ... but since Muse is really not my thing I'll wait until the next band's proposal.
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: Nicky007 on Wed, 2015-03-04, 16:47:39
Quote from: maddox on Mon, 2015-03-02, 08:58:12
Dear Nicky,

Thanx, Mad :)

As I have indicated several times in the Room, I'm very careful about ranking albums of a group, even with my pantheon groups.

There are so many dimensions in the rich music of great prog groups ;)

I have to know a group very well.

I might join in on Zep, Floyd and Arena, if I'm sufficiently convinced, let's see ....

But I'll gladly follow you guys' contributions 8)

- Nicky
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: PH on Wed, 2015-03-04, 18:47:30
But Nicky, we won't punish you when you decide to change your mind about a list. It's all for fun you see. We won't hold it against you.
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: Nicky007 on Wed, 2015-03-04, 19:23:12
Yeah, I can make a lotta fun, but when it comes to my music, I'm very serious - maybe particularly because I see music being junked so badly these days, not by you guys, on the contrary :) but by mainstream society :'(

I only induct a group into my pantheon list when "I know it" ;)

The fact that I have so many pantheon groups is a reflection of all the magnificent music that's around - and all the sadder it is that so few people are "knowledgeable".

Breaking groups down into albums (analytically) is for me a step far beyond realising that they're pantheon. I can only do that when I can live their music.

E.g. how to rank Lion's Cage vs Contagion ?

Lion's Cage is like a comet that comes from the Cosmos and crashes into the Earth. Contagion is mature exalted mythology, philosophy, and progressive music.

- Nicky
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: maddox on Sun, 2015-03-22, 14:01:50
Two weeks on!!  *horns*

I was hoping that someone else would post a new band, but I'll do it instead. ;)

Let's pick: Anathema!

Good idea?
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: PH on Sun, 2015-03-22, 16:49:29
Quote from: maddox on Sun, 2015-03-22, 14:01:50
Let's pick: Anathema!

Good idea?

Yes sir!

1. Weather Systems
2. A Natural Disaster
3. We're Here Because We're Here
4. Distant Satellites

I want to make an honourable mention of the compilation/re-interpretation album "Falling Deeper", which was my first Anathema album. Although a compilation album, the songs are very cohesive. As if this was actually the original album they appeared on. I liked it very much!
My second Anathema album was "Weather Systems", which is in my opinion their best. I was really blown away. I love it how they manage to put so much emotion in their songs. After this album I wanted to discover more of their music and worked my way back through their discography.
So next was "We're Here Because We're Here" and the style is somewhat the same as "Weather Systems", which I liked.
Then I heard "A Natural Disaster" which was different, gloomier and angrier. After a while it became my second favourite album.
After these three albums it gets a bit more difficult to say which is next. "Distant Satellites" is in the same style as "Weather Systems" and "We're Here Because We're Here" with... something else. And I'm not really sure whether I like this 'something else' or not. Anyway, it's not a bad album at all!
I'm still in the process of discovering the other albums. So only a top 4 from me this time.

I have an "Original Album Classics" box with "Judgement", "A Fine Day To Exit" and "A Natural Disaster" which I got really cheap. And it looks cheap too... :P But in a few weeks they will release another box set with these same albums (and a live dvd), but remastered and with a much nicer packaging. I'll probably just get that one as well and give the "Original Album Classics" box away to a friend.
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: Teunis on Mon, 2015-03-23, 19:07:59
Good call indeed :).
1. Weather Systems
2. We're Here Because We're Here
3. Distant Satellites
4. Judgement
5. Alternative 4
6. A Natural Disaster
7. A Fine Day To Exit

A lot of similarities with PH's list. WS is my absolute no. 1 and I'm sure about my 2. and 3. From 4-7 it's a close call. Fine albums with lots of nice tracks and a few weaker ones, but overall quality music.
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: Teunis on Tue, 2015-08-18, 10:29:22
Time for a new band. If I remember correctly, Pendragon is rather popular over here. I'll start with my list:
1. The Window Of Life
2. Not Of This World
3. The World
4. The Masquerade Overture
5. Pure
6. Believe
7. Passion
8. The Jewel
9. Kowtow

My favourite albums are also in the middle of their career. 'The Window Of Life' contains my all time favourite Pendie song 'Breaking The Spell'.The first four albums I like from start to finish, on the other ones there are songs I even dislike. Why Mr. Barrett thinks he is funny to use rap or even yodel, is a mystery to me ::).
Title: Re: Best of-lists
Post by: PH on Tue, 2015-08-18, 20:11:49
Oops! I only have four albums by Pendragon....
For what it's worth:

1. The Masquerade Overture
2. Believe
3. Passion
4. Pure

Hmm... I think I need to listen more to these albums, because I actually only really know the first two.