10 Favorite Albums of the Decade (2000-09)

[Mebert78]

Hey, guys. I had a little spare time this weekend and decided to assemble a list of my 10 favorite albums of the decade (2000-09) since I've had time to reflect during 2010. This list is not what I consider to be the "best" of the decade, just my "favorite." As I read it, I think I went a overboard with descriptions. Feel free to make your own.




1) OSI – Office of Strategic Influence (2003) – This was an easy choice for me. I’ll never forget the first time I heard this album. I picked up the limited-edition CD version at the now closed-down Record Stop in Ronkonkoma, New York, and went to the Sachem Public Library to do some work on their lightning-fast computers. After sitting down in the computer lab, I pulled out my CD-man and earphones eager to hear what the droning voice of keyboardist Kevin Moore (Chroma Key, ex-Dream Theater) would sound like over the progressive metal chops of guitarist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning) and drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater). I was blown away right out of the box by the musicianship on “The New Math (What He Said),” and by the time Moore’s vocals kicked in on the second track “OSI” I could barely contain myself in the quiet library. The war-themed lyrics were cleverly crafted – albeit head-scratching at times due to Moore’s nursery rhyme-like style – and the CD case designed to mimic a U.S. passport is one of the most unique and creative packages I’ve ever seen. Add a guest appearance by vocalist Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) on the song “ShutDOWN,” and you have my favorite album of the decade.




2) Redemption – Snowfall on Judgment Day (2009) – I still can’t believe I only discovered this band in mid 2010. But better late than never. Redemption is the brainchild of Nick van Dyk, a former Disney executive and progressive metal fan that crossed paths with Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder during a chance meeting at a concert in Hollywood more than a decade ago. The two hit it off and van Dyk ultimately asked Alder to produce an album of his more progressive music. The rest is history. Redemption released three albums between 2003 and 2007, each better than its predecessor. With Snowfall, however, the band was clicking on all cylinders. The opening tracks “Peel” and “Walls” grab the listener by the throat and command his or her attention from the start. But the best track to me is the closing epic, “Life in One Day/Love Kills Us All.” Nick van Dyk’s songs are beautifully melodic and emotional while still balls-to-the-wall heavy, which is a difficult balance to achieve. In an interesting twist of fate, van Dyk with this album has surpassed the likes of Fates Warning, which is the very band that inspired him in the first place.




3) Dream Theater – Octavarium (2005) – It would be impossible for me to make a favorites list without including the best progressive metal band of all-time: Long Island’s own Dream Theater. After a somewhat lackluster release in 2003 called Train of Thought, Dream Theater regrouped and created their best album of this busy decade (they released a total of five studio albums from 2000-2009). No, Octavarium isn’t as good as 1992’s Images and Words or 1994’s Awake, but those records will forever be untouchable in progressive metal circles. What makes Octavarium appealing is its tight and beautiful blend of ballads like “The Answer Lies Within” and hard rock tunes like the impossible-to-play “Panic Attack,” without any extra fat or overdone musical masturbation sections found in other recent DT records. But it’s the title song “Octavarium,” a 24-minute epic, which carries this album on its shoulders. The song represents this Dream Theater lineup at its best. And the song’s live version on Dream Theater’s 20th anniversary Score DVD in 2006 only served to further cement its legendary status.




4) Fates Warning – Disconnected (2000) – I’ll admit that this album is not the masterpiece that 1997’s A Pleasant Shade of Gray is, but this is by far my most-listened-to Fates Warning album in the band’s entire catalog. In typical Fates Warning fashion, the songs are dark and moody. But what sets this album apart from its predecessors is its juicy and sonic sound. Keyboardist Kevin Moore (Chroma Key, ex-Dream Theater) makes a guest appearance here and sound designer Steve Tushar also pitched in with background noises and showed fans why he’s found recent success in movies and video games. If you take away the album’s intro and outro, there are really only five songs here. But it doesn’t matter. They are hauntingly beautiful and leave me wanting more – particularly the epic “Still Remains,” which could be Fates Warning’s best song ever. It’s a shame that guitarist and songwriter Jim Matheos couldn’t bottle this sound and return to it for 2004’s FWX album.




5) Peter Gabriel - Up (2002) – Well, it took eight years for Peter Gabriel to release a follow up to 1994’s Us album, but it was worth the wait. Up has 10 tracks and each one is a masterpiece – starting from the thunderous opening track “Darkness” to the piano tinkering on the closing track “The Drop.” Gabriel’s music is very dense and you can tell he pours over every note and vocal inflection until he finds the sound he wants. To really see these tracks come to life, check out clips on YouTube from Gabriel’s Growing Up Tour DVD released in 2003. Gabriel does everything from riding a bicycle on stage to rolling around in a giant inflatable ball. In truth, the man could just sit on a stool alone under a spotlight and captivate a crowd.




6) Pain of Salvation – Be (2004) – This is another band I was introduced to only recently, but it didn’t take long for me to single out this album from their catalog as a masterpiece. No, it’s not as instantly listenable and the band’s two preceding albums, The Perfect Element and Remedy Lane. Be’s sound is very layered and its existence-themed lyrics – which include narrations by a creator that describes how he/she came to “be” – are very heavy-handed. But it’s that complex mix of elements that pushes the album to the next level. This album takes patience. But once you “get it,” you’re in store for something special. Vocalist Daniel Gildenlow is the mastermind here and deserves a big pat on the back for pulling off such a profound concept album.




7) Porcupine Tree – Fear of a Blank Planet (2007) – This album grabbed me immediately with its cover artwork that includes a young boy staring directly at you with his face illuminated in blue. If you look closely, you can see the reflection of a TV in his mesmerized eyes. The band’s two preceding albums, 2002’s In Absentia and 2005’s Deadwing, are very strong, but its Fear of a Blank Planet’s theme that set it apart. The album starts with the sound of fingers tapping on a computer keyboard and addresses topics ranging from teen depression to drug use to bullying. The record might only be six songs long, but that’s enough to make it a brilliant work of art.




8) Symphony X – Paradise Lost (2007) – For some reason, this band only released two albums the entire decade. But they certainly made the most of them – particularly with 2007’s Paradise Lost. The album begins with an explosive orchestration that’s followed by the powerful rocker “Set the World on Fire.” The song’s crushing guitar work blew me away so much that I literally had to pull over my car when I first heard it. The true gem here is the title track “Paradise Lost,” which is a flawless progressive metal ballad. The album’s lyrics can be a bit hard to grasp at times, but musically it’s up there with the best of the decade.




9) Rush – Vapor Trails (2002) – There’s no way I could create a progressive rock/metal list without including the almighty Rush. In 2002, they returned to the music scene with Vapor Trails after a hiatus caused by the death of drummer Neil Peart’s daughter in 1997. The record is far from their best work and its loud sound quality has been often criticized, but the songs are solid and catchy from start to finish. To me, a favorite tune is “Secret Touch,” which includes the lyrics: “You can never break the chain; there is never love without pain.” Leave it to Rush to explain the world so effortlessly.




10) Queensrÿche – Tribe (2003) – I easily could’ve given this spot to OSI’s Free or Blood albums, but I have a soft spot for Tribe – which represents the last glimpse of the true Queensrÿche that fans will ever see. Queensrÿche introduced me to progressive metal in 1991 with their commercially-successful Empire album. But they faded in the late 1990s after guitarist Chris DeGarmo left. In 2003, DeGarmo returned to pitch in on Tribe and you can hear a glimmer of greatness in the tunes. It reminds fans how great Queensrÿche was. And how great they could still be.

[postymcposterton]

I didn't do a Albums of the Decade list, but I did an Artists of the Decade list. Originally posted here (and Top 25 + honorable mentions): jazzsick.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/artists-of-the-decade-2000s/

Here is the Top 10 (and not to be a spolier, but KevMo made #1)...

10 ~ Glen Phillips
[pic]
At the turn of the decade / century / millenium, Glen’s band Toad the Wet Sprocket were breaking up. He went on to make several solo albums (Winter Pays For Summer being my fave thus far), several mostly brilliant side ventures (Plover, RemoteTreeChildren, WPA, Mutual Admiration Society), and even reunite with Toad for some tours. He’s as active as ever and also quite the tweeter (oft humorous / oft political).
[album links]


~*~*~

9 ~ Porcupine Tree (and Steven Wilson projects)
[pic]
Near the beginning of the decade, I was giving up on “prog rock.” Then a buddy told me about Porcupine Tree (thanks, SteveC). 2002′s In Absentia is amazing, and I quickly bought PT’s catalogue. The entire decade was full of Steven Wilson projects – whether Porcupine Tree or his many (and I mean many) side projects. Speaking of… Steven’s 6th and final Cover Versions CD and 7″ vinyl will be out sometime soon in the coming months.
[album links]

~*~*~

8 ~ Sufjan Stevens
[pic]
Illinoise was Paste’s #1 album of the decade. I think it’s in my Top 10 (as mentioned earlier, I honestly can’t bring myself to widdle down my album list to 20 or even 50 for the decade). Illinoise was my first foray into Sufjan’s world. The infatuation was near immediate. He ranges from poppy, to eclectic folk, to avant-electronic, to chamber music… and I think his song titles, while sometimes considered pretentious, put him in my hero list. The later part of the decade showed a more secluded Sufjan and a recant on the 50 States “promise.” However, I’m still very excited about what’s up his sleeves for the next decade.
[album links]

~*~*~

7 ~ John Zorn (Masada and otherwise)
[pic]
I knew of Zorn in the 1990s (via the connection to Mike Patton and specifically Mr. Bungle), but didn’t get into him until 2003 or so. Even still, I didn’t know about Masada (his klezmer-jazz quartet) until mid-decade. Their recorded studio work was all in the 1990s, but they stayed active touring throughout the 2000s… and John Zorn kept actively writing Masada Book Two – which is a book of music covered by other bands and has seen a dozen fantastic releases on his label, Tzadik. I just counted, and I have 82 John Zorn related disks from the decade (CDs, DVDs, vinyl). So, um, yeah, he’s prolific. The Masada / Bar Kokhba / Electric Masada is my favorite category of Zorn releases; but his Filmworks series, Moonchild Trio (Mike Patton, Joey Baron & Trevor Dunn), and The Gift / Dreamers band are also key releases. 2010 has 12 new Zorn releases on the docket. *drool*
[album links]

~*~*~

6 ~ Maynard James Keenan (Tool / A Perfect Circle / Puscifer)
[pic]
One of the best singers in the world of rock, Maynard has kept busy… this decade: three bands and eight or so albums, several DVD releases, remix albums & singles, vinyl singles, and a new winery. While he doesn’t always nail it every time, his and his bands’ hit rates far exceed most. His solid work ethic points to more releases next decade. A recent interview leads me to believe that the touring side of things may slow down some, but I’m hoping that just means “less touring” and not “no touring.” There have been hints of Tool and A Perfect Circle studio stuff in the near future… and Puscifer seems alive and kicking (and keen on the internet EP thing). Puscifer is hitting the Midwest and East Coast in early 2010.
[album links]

~*~*~

5 ~ Daniel Johns (Silverchair & The Dissociatives)
[pic]
2002′s Diorama (by Silverchair) is a contender for best album of the decade for me. Daniel Johns followed that up with a side project with Paul Mac called The Dissociatives. Their self-titled debut (2004) is also a contender for best album of the decade… then Silverchair came roaring back in 2007 with Young Modern – another strong contender. Daniel Johns and his couple of bands has large gaps between studio releases, but they all score high every time for me. They’ve moved well beyond their debut (which they released in the 90s at age 15). 2010 promises the follow-up to Young Modern… so, look out, Best of 2010 lists…
[album links]

~*~*~

4 ~ Elliott Smith
[pic]
I found out about Elliott in early 2000, a little bit after Figure 8 came out. I had the opportunity to see him live at Southgate House (Newport, KY) on the Figure 8 Tour. He quickly became an important part of my musical diet. His albums hit me emotionally, but he left us too early (he died of apparent self-induced stab wounds to the heart on October 21, 2003). I still get goosebumps with his music and quite frankly have never been affected by a celebrity’s death like I am by Elliott’s. An album and more of his unreleased material has made its way out since his death. I don’t believe in an afterlife, but if there were one, I’d hope to get to meet Elliott and have a beer with him.
[album links]

~*~*~

3 ~ Sigur Rós
[pic]
Ágætis byrjun and ( ) may be the most beautiful things that I don’t understand due to language barriers – two perfect albums, if you ask me. This past decade Sigur Rós went on to make four full length albums, a handful of EPs and soundtracks, several world tours, an utterly gorgeous tour documentary called Heima (that rivals Pink Floyd’s Live at Pompeii in stunning beauty), and still find time to take time off (well, time off except for Jónsi – who released a duo album with his partner Alex Sommers and is set to release a solo album in early 2010).
[album links]

~*~*~

2 ~ Radiohead (and Thom & Jonny solo)
[pic]
One of the most unarguably overrated bands of all-time… yet, one of my favorites. The decade started with Kid A and ended with some Thom Yorke solo activity… it was a full decade of albums, tours, solo work (the aforementioned Thom solo stuff plus two soundtracks from Jonny). They branch out and sometimes get more praise and credit than is merited (I know skads of indie artists doing the “pay what you want” method years before In Rainbows), but I suppose Radiohead were the first formerly major-label / international band to do so. Anyway, Radiohead, despite public pressure, continue to evolve as a band. That scores major points with me. They’re hitting the studio in January 2010… yippie.
[album links]

~*~*~

1 ~ Kevin Moore (Chroma Key & OSI)
[pic]
Yeah, the #1 of the decade who few know about… Kevin Moore left the progressive rock band Dream Theater in 1994, shedding the seemingly antithetic “progressive” constraints of the progressive scene to make his own music. Chroma Key’s debut Dead Air For Radios (1999) is my #1 album of all-time… but it came out in the late 90s. The 2000 album You Go Now is probably in my Top 10 of all-time as well. The branching out into scoring with Kevin’s solo soundtrack Ghost Book (for the Turkish horror movie OKUL), political/religious-imagery radio/mix-taping with Memory Hole 1, and the new band project with Jim Matheos called the Office of Strategic Influence (aka O.S.I.) solidified Kevin in my favorite artists list. I’m looking forward to more Chroma Key, O.S.I., Memory Hole, or solo work that Kevin puts out… hopefully soon.
[album links]

~*~*~*~*~

More of it here: jazzsick.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/artists-of-the-decade-2000s/


~Dan

[vivace]

ok lets see here...not going to restrict myself to genre and im just gonna go by what i seem to have listened to the most. In no particular order:

1. You Go Now- Kevin Moore

2. Follow the Red Line - Chris Potter Underground : Such a great assembly of musicians with Adam Rogers on guitar, Nate smith on drums, i know its jazz but its kind of similar to DT in that these guys are technically just sick. Also they are similar to DT(at least what DT is supposed to be) in that they have really pushed the envelope of their genre and taken it to a new level.


3. Underground - Chris Potter Underground (yes two albums but i could easily list three hes that good)

4. Blood - OSI : Iv said it before obviously bit this was probably my favorite prog album since Awake. I really loved the whole atmosphere. Quite modern feeling yet immediate.

5. Free - OSI : I really think this album was way ahead of its time. To tell you the truth i was hesitant to give OSI a try around the time this album came out. I had heard the track Go and wasnt overly impressed....I didnt like the first album much, not that i owned it but i had heard it and the reviews were panning Free saying it was worse than the first...then i saw Re:Free was released with Kevin Moore remixes which had me curious so i got that and found it very interesting -- somewhat hyper modern. Eventually i was traveling and desperate for something to listen to so i amazingly found a copy of Free at a borders and was blown away. Go which i wasnt too crazy about but also didnt exactly dislike was like the worst track on the album. The critics were wrong it was fantastic.

6. Final Frontier - Iron Maiden: What can i say...i love the Maiden. I could have listed either a matter of life and death or a brave new world but i love how they got a little experimental with the final frontier tried some interesting chord changes and love the whole prog space cowboy thing. Great album!

7. Disconnected - Fates Warning: THat part where the guitar does the thing in Still Remains...ill never forget the first time i heard that. I was like listening to the whole album and enjoying it because its just very creative and a breath of fresh air (or maybe gas mask toxic air..). So i was happy then that part kicked in and it just floored me. I sat there stunned repeating the song over and over and over...then i found the live version iwth Moore and i played that over and over and over...Love the bass in that live Moore version

8. Sound Grammar - Ornette Coleman: OK Ornette is considered one of the most inaccessible jazz greats but this album he put out in 2008 is just beautiful. Its not what youd expect. He has 2 bass players drums and no piano. If your curious definitely give it a try.

9. Seraphic Clockwork - Vanden Plas: these guys just seem to get better and better. I loved Christ 0 although i admit it they didnt try to go for too many crazy chord changes but it told an interesting story and it kind of rocked. In their new Seraphic Clockwork they prog it up a notch yet retain the energy. Great album. got me through a hellish 20 hour journey to europe.

10. Shine - Kevin Moore:
I really like the whole project and the music is great too...was the only music i had on my new computer for like a month and i was just fine with that. Cant wait to get my official release copy!!

[vivace]

Nov 28, 2010 23:32:36 GMT -5 Mebert78 said:

Hey, guys. I had a little spare time this weekend and decided to assemble a list of my 10 favorite albums of the decade (2000-09) since I've had time to reflect during 2010. This list is not what I consider to be the "best" of the decade, just my "favorite." As I read it, I think I went a overboard with descriptions. Feel free to make your own.

its funny i am quite familiar with a number of these albums and our tastes absolutely differ. But we both enjoy Disconnected -- which strikes me as a very odd point for our tastes to converge on

I also enjoyed Rush Vapor Trails but it didnt make my list. I should point out that Neil had also lost his Wife around the same time he lost his daughter... That song Vapor Trails really hits a chord especially the way Geddy sings in "in a vapor trail....". Nice inclusion there.

[deadair22]

1. Vapor Trails (2002) by Rush
Despite a lot of the criticism surrounding this album and its production, I have loved this record since day one. I was a very young prog fan when this came out (only twelve), but I really loved this record and its emotionally charged subject material. I’ve always felt a real connection to this record and it will always hold a spot on my top shelf of CDs.


2. The Black Halo (2005) by Kamelot
This is a pretty mainstream record as far as modern prog(ish) music goes, but it is definitely one of my favorites. Before I heard this record I had given up on performing, but after hearing Roy Khan’s mastery of voice I was convinced to give it another shot! So I guess I owe my band, any talent I have, and every song I’ve written to this song! This album mixes accessible progressive metal with all the ambiance and beauty of a symphony; I just love it!


3. Octavarium (2005) by Dream Theater
What an incredible record! I literally listened to the opening track 100+ times in the first sixty days of my owning this masterpiece! It solidified Dream Theater as one of my favorite bands and really showed a diversity in the band. From blistering face-melting riffs of “The Root of All Evil”, to the soothing sounds of the title track, this record just delivers!


4. The Inner Circle (2004) by Evergrey
Evergrey has never been a band to write happy songs, and this album is a prime example. This album is absolute raw emotion! While not a popular favorite, I absolutely worship this record’s portrayal of the most violent of human emotions. It’s hard to really put into words, but this record is just real.


5. Free (2006) by O.S.I.
This was my first record by O.S.I. and will most likely remain my favorite. It’s just one of those records that hits you in the heart and the jaw! A lot of what makes this record so great is how subjective its interpretation is, which is why I have a difficult time telling you why I love it so much. Vague lyrics, ambient sounds, and an overall dreamy feel, creates a unique experience for every listener.


6. Burn The Sun (2001)
Tore Østby. John Macaluso. Jørn Lande. This album is just colossal! After having a hard time digesting their first album, ARK’s more accessible sophomore effort solidified their place on my record shelf. From lighthearted musings like “Feed The Fire” to hard-hitting anthems like “Heal The Waters”, this album has a fantastic musical balance. The music is just incredible all around: Bass, Drums, Guitar, Vocals, everyone is just a god at what they do.


7. Tribe (2003) by Queensrÿche
For me, Tribe is the final chapter in the story of Queensrÿche. I feel like the last of the creative “mojo” was spent on this album, which makes it ultimately bittersweet. Despite the disturbing lack of guitar solos, I genuinely love this record. It’s the last Queensrÿche record to have that introspective feel, which I attribute to Chris DeGarmo’s subsequent permanent departure. I think this album ultimately won me over when I saw Geoff Tate's Solo band (aptly named The Geoff Tate Band) perform "Doin' Fine". This album is great for the die-hard Queensrÿche fan, and holds up pretty well on its own as well.


8. That Was Then, This is Now (2002) by Andy Timmons
Though this album is technically a greatest hits album, it makes the list for its fantastic new material. After growing weary of blistering guitar soloist records, Andy Timmons renewed my faith with this release. You know you’ve found a great artist, when the music alone can speak to you vividly. Andy’s technical yet accessible jams are nothing short of irresistible ear candy!


9. Epica (2003) by Kamelot
This was the record that finally convinced me to give power metal a chance! This is one of those records that just BEGS me to get a speeding ticket! It’s like Symphony X and Silent Force meet the vocal prowess of Geoff Tate. It does help that “The Edge of Paradise” has what I believe to be the most epic key change of all fricking TIME.


10. Fear of a Blank Planet (2007) by Porcupine Tree
I only have this record at number ten because I’m really not a huge Porcupine Tree fan (but trust me, I respect them A LOT). This record is just absolutely amazing on all levels. It has some of the most intriguingly relevant social commentary I’ve read on my generation (unless I have misinterpreted some key lines) and the music is just sonic! I offer my most sincere apologies to all the loyal PT fans by putting this record at number ten, but it’s me and definitely not the music.

[postymcposterton]

Nov 29, 2010 17:02:41 GMT -5 vivace said:

2. Follow the Red Line - Chris Potter Underground : Such a great assembly of musicians with Adam Rogers on guitar, Nate smith on drums, i know its jazz but its kind of similar to DT in that these guys are technically just sick. Also they are similar to DT(at least what DT is supposed to be) in that they have really pushed the envelope of their genre and taken it to a new level.

GREAT jazz record. Nate Smith is a monster on drums... small kit, too. Seen him live twice (once with Potter, once with Dave Holland).

Dan

[vivace]

yea! SICK drummer! I saw him with the Underground a few months ago--then i was seriously hooked! Have you heard their Ultrahang album? Took me slightly longer to get into than the previous 2 but then i absolutely loved it.

Hey postymcposterton you enjoy Potter AND Kevin Moore therefore you must have fabulous taste!

[delerium]

surprised nobody has mentioned any Opeth yet.

Ghost Reveries is certainly one of my favorite albums of all time.

[Mebert78]

Wow, cool list vivace and deadair. We had some overlapping choices, particularly deadair and myself! I was thinking about Opeth. To be honest, I haven't gotten into them quite yet. I only own one of their album, Watershed. I think it's OK, but I didn't like it enough to run out and grab their other recent releases. I do plan to check them out in more depth this coming year though.

Vivace, I like that you included Shine even though you haven't received the actual CD yet! That's dedication!

[vivace]

well...i have the CD-R and its inclusion is more about the uniqueness of the project than anything else...but i feel happy to include it

[allmediareviews]

this is a posting/listing I made last year at the end of the year. I would probably change a bit of this now, namely put Apes and Androids - Blood Moon in the top 5.

tinyurl.com/yk5n272
rym list under-construction at 120 titles currently

20. Zero Hour - The Towers of Avarice (2001)


19. Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third (European Edition, 2007)


18. The Stiletto Formal - Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta! (2008)


17. King's X - Manic Moonlight (2001)


16. Kevin Gilbert - Nuts/Bolts (2009)


15. Menomena - I Am the Fun Blame Monster! (2003)


14. maudlin of the Well - Bath/Leaving Your Body Map (2001)


13. Between the Buried and Me - Colors (2007)


12. The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning of and All Things Regarding Ms.Leading (2007)


11. Kaddisfly - Set Sail the Prairie (2007)


10. Apes and Androids - Blood Moon (2008)


9. Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005)


8. The Receiving End of Sirens - Between the Heart and the Synapse (2005)


7. Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever (2001)


6. Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane (2002)


5. dredg - El Cielo (2002)


4. Marillion - Marbles (Campaign Edition) (2004)


3. Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I (2000)


2. Ours - Distorted Lullabies (2001)


1. Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)

[Mebert78]

Wow, I'm not faniliar with Kevin Gilbert. I'll have to check him out. Regarding Marillion, ZeppelinDT has that as his top album of the decade. I haven't heard that one either. Anyone else into Marillion?

[unalaguna]

Yes - I'm a pretty big Marillion fan. The early Fish stuff doesn't really interest me (it hasn't aged well at all), but they have released some excellent albums.

Marbles is the best album they released in the last decade (I don't think you'll find many people who disagree with that!). It was on my shortlist for top albums (of about 40 albums) , but didn't make the final ten for me because it's not consistent enough. There are some stunning songs on there: Neverland (one of my all-time favourite songs), Ocean Cloud, Don't Hurt Yourself, You're Gone, Fantastic Place... all cracking tracks.

My top 10 is in the works...

[postymcposterton]

Yay, another dredg fan. I dig El Cielo, but Catch Without Arms and Pariah/Parrot/Delusion would beat it out, IMO. All three great albums. Leitmotif still hasn't grown on my, though.

New album next March (3/29/11, I think).

~Dan

[allmediareviews]

yeah, looking forward to the new dredg record. In regards to Kevin Gilbert, he is my god in so many ways. But every music fan on the planet should hear The Shaming of the True. And Marillion? well, they're my favorite band of all-time.

[deadair22]

and here I thought I was the only guy who liked Tribe! Nice to know I'm not alone

[justabaldguy]

I made my own list earlier this year. ;D The full list is HERE if you want to check it out. It's too much to copy but you might click over there as I do have pictures for most of the albums.

[gimble]

Here are my 10 favorite albums by my 10 favorite bands. I really tried to rank them from 1 to 10 but it just didn't work, so here they are alphabetically.

Chroma Key - You Go Now (2000)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyhrWG08r34

I guess I don't have to explain this one. The first Chroma Key album I bought and the first one I listened to a lot. Superb songs in very cool arrangements.

Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-boKk8uhmcY

I was somewhat disappointed with A Train of Thought and Systematic Chaos but basically enjoyed Six Degrees and Octavarium (although The Answer Lies Within is one of the few songs I can't stand, just to cheesy). Black Clouds & Silver Linings was a big surprise to me, I really really like it and The Count of Tuscany is my favourite Dream Theater epic right now. Portnoy's description of it as "a Dream Theater album with "A Change of Seasons", "Octavarium", "Learning to Live", "Pull Me Under" and "The Glass Prison" all on one album" is spot on, it's pure progressive metal yummieness. A very nice way to end the Portnoy-era Dream Theater.

Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance (2006)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=an-nknHiaiU

I'm not the a huge fan of Katatonia but I keep coming back to this album. It is sonically very consistent (and much more well produced than earlier Katatonia records) and contains a ton of really top notch song writing. If you've tried other Katatonia albums and didn't care for them I think you should give this one a chance, it's really fantastic.

Meshuggah - Catch Thirtythree (2005)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjzIBI3jkKY

This was the album that made me click with Meshuggah. It's not something I listen to every week, but a couple of times a year I get an itch that only Meshuggah can scratch. I usually prefer listening to it when I'm doing something tedious or repetitive, it is the metal equivalent of meditation music.

Opeth - Ghost Reveries (2005)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY5LRReFYus

Although Blackwater Park has some of my favorite songs, I prefer Ghost Reveries as an album. It's just a very consistently good album (in my humble opinion of course) with some fantastic riffs and songs. If you're not a huge metal head it might be a good idea to do your first listening through starting with track 4-8 and then finish with 1-3.

OSI - Free (2006)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRP8b2rAfnc

The first OSI was great, but for some reason I slightly prefer Free, it just seems a but more mature and confident. Bigger Wave is probably one of my favorite KevMo songs ever.

Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane (2002)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzdXAsU2ADw

I'm a big Pain of Salvation fan and have listened a lot to both The Perfect Element Part 1 and Scarsick (I've given Be a couple of spins but never got into it). However, when it comes to picking a single album I'd have to go for Remedy Lane. So many great songs and some really cool progressive moments. Some well-written lyrics as well, I remember how differently the song A Trace of Blood sounded when I learned it was written after a miscarriage.

Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (2002)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSJ59PVEaok

In Absentia was my first Porcupine Tree record and has so many iconic songs I just couldn't make myself to rate Fear of a Blank Planet or Deadwing higher. What's cool with In Absentia is that every song is so individual, a soundscape of its own.

Soilwork - Stabbing the Drama (2005)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z83vu-TRF6Y

Sweden has a lot of famous melodic death metal bands but even though I like Arch Enemy and Scar Symmetry I still prefer Soilwork (I never liked the old farts like At the Gates or the early In Flames albums). Soilwork's best album is definitely The Panic Broadcast (2010) but among the others Stabbing the Drama stands out to me. It's catchy death metal at its best.

Winger - IV (2006)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryLQQawi9sk

I never listened to Winger until this album came out, but is in my opinion simply one of the best (slightly progressive) rock albums of the 21st century. I have a hard time putting my finger on what so great about it, but Blue Suede Shoes and Four Leaf Clover are songs you shouldn't be missing out on!

[southernsickness]

Nov 28, 2010 23:32:36 GMT -5 Mebert78 said:

2) Redemption – Snowfall on Judgment Day (2009)

I only gave this album half a try but gave it another half after reading your list. It really is an awesome album and reminds me quite a bit of older Fates Warning.

Reading your Queensryche epitaph made me both glad and sad, glad that they once were so much and sad that they are close to nothing now. I agree that Tribe holds a few momens of old, "Art of Life" being one of the highlights.

[unalaguna]

I finally got round to finishing this! Sorry I'm a bit late!! ;D



1. Agalloch – The Mantle (2002)
Agalloch’s first released, Pale Folklore in 1999. However, it was only on 2002’s The Mantle that the band truly came into their own. The album contains ambient soundscapes, folk ballads, progressive epics, black metal and post-rock, all of which – if pulled off by a band in that particular genre – would have been hailed as genre classics. A dark, haunting atmosphere courtesy of the many acoustic guitars, the album seamlessly flows as one giant masterpiece (the songs are all written in the same key – E minor – to aid in this flow). 2006’s more metal-focused Ashes Against the Grain and 2008’s neo-folk The White EP were both strong contenders for this list, but The Mantle’s sheer diversity sets it apart from the band’s other releases.
Album highlight – In The Shadow of Our Pale Companion www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOI_XqLiQmE


2. Peter Gabriel – Up (2002)
On Up, Peter Gabriel pushed the traditional pop song format to breaking point, cramming as much into each song as was humanly possible and seamlessly fusing sounds and music from all corners of the Earth. Peter Gabriel has been pushing boundaries throughout his solo career, be it with percussion on his early albums, world music on his soundtracks (both 2000’s OVO and 2002’s Long Walk Home made the shortlist for albums of the decade), or with his spectacular live shows (go out and buy a copy of his Growing Up Live DVD – you won’t regret it). However, that he released his finest work thirty years into his career is a testament to his songwriting capabilities, and makes one look forward to his future releases even more.
Album highlight – I Grieve www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ3wpjdYMqk



3. Porcupine Tree – In Absentia (2002)
I could have listed any number of Steven Wilson’s albums here (also on the shortlist were Bass Communion – Molotov and Haze, the second Blackfield album and Insurgentes), but decided to limit myself to one. In Absentia represented a breakthrough in Porcupine Tree’s sound. The band had previously dabbled in atmospheric psychedelic music and more traditional pop rock; In Absentia combines both of these and introduces metal into the equation. Consisting of a set of songs selected from an initial pool of thirty written for the album, In Absentia shows the band at what is arguably their strongest, most vital and dynamic.
Album highlight – Trains www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIM5M6FmnmY



4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (2000)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor (or God’s Pee, as they call themselves on their band t-shirts, for short) are one of the pioneers of modern post-rock, producing vast, sweeping, dynamic suites. Completely instrumental and in no hurry (their average song length is 22 minutes), the band’s sound is perhaps best represented on their second full album, Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven. The symphonies grow, swell and swirl around you in a myriad of emotion and sheer monolithic presence. A landmark album.
Album highlight – Storm www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynoMnQDy8Tk



5. OSI – Blood (2009)
The first OSI album was very strong, but always felt like a compromise to me: a combination of Fates Warning riffs and outtakes chopped into shorter songs. Free felt like a fresh slate, with a definite direction and some of the most radical, “out there” songwriting of the decade. But it was on Blood that the band finally attained the fusion of metal, electronica, progressive rock and ambience that they had been looking for. The album is best summarised by the title track, featuring – among other things – a beautifully dark and atmospheric instrumental section which, only after several listens, I realised was little more than a quiet drum solo from the amazing Gavin Harrison.
Album highlight – Radiologue www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eYHTsTm9fQ



6. Devin Townsend – Terria (2001)
If John Petrucci and Dream Theater were the pioneers of progressive metal in the ’90s, then Devin Townsend took the genre to the next level in the ’00s. His albums are numerous and consistently strong, many of which were strong contenders for this list. However, the best of the best is probably 2001’s Terria. Inspired by the Canadian scenery Townsend saw throughout his touring, this album shows his scope and breadth in songwriting and production: cheerful little instrumental ditties (“Down and Under”), epic ballads (“Nobody’s Here”), crushing riffs (“Canada”) and a brilliant sense of fun and humour.
Album highlight – Earth Day www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2n45Sutwig



7. Opeth – Ghost Reveries (2005)
If there is one common problem with metal albums, it’s that they lack diversity in styles and textures. Heaven and Hell’s 2009 album The Devil You Know is a cracker, but didn’t make the final list because, two thirds of the way through the album, you get the feeling you’ve heard everything they can do. Not so with Opeth. The Swedes combine innumerable genres and styles into each song, twisting and turning and taking you to somewhere completely different from where you started. The band’s songwriting is perhaps the strongest on Ghost Reveries, an album which will stand the test of time as a modern metal classic.
Album highlight – Ghost of Perdition www.youtube.com/watch?v=kenyBvpL0qQ



8. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
What kind of music do Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra play? Their first albums are strongly reminiscent of Godspeed You! Black Emperor (the two bands have three members in common), leading them to be labelled as post-rock, but their more recent albums have been louder, heavier and more aggressive, sounding quite unlike anything else. 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons is perhaps the band’s strongest and most diverse album, ranging from fierce rocking to gentle folk. There’s no denying that the band are an acquired taste, but once you learn to appreciate the vocal style and gritty production, you are in musical bliss.
Album highlight – BlindBlindBlind www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV4qV06Sn1M



9. Chroma Key – You Go Now (2000)
While the songwriting on Dead Air for Radios was indeed very strong, the tracks on You Go Now are married with incredibly atmospheric, haunting production and effects, courtesy of Steve Tushar. Perhaps the strongest testimony to this album and its strength is the length of time I’ve been listening to it for. Dream Theater, Black Sabbath, Rush, David Bowie… I’ve known these guys about as long as Chroma Key, but I’m never as tempted to spin one of their albums as I am this one, nearly three years after I first listened to it. It may be short, it may not be particularly varied, but man, there’s an album I could listen to over and over and over…
Album highlight – Another Permanent Address www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sudz1HIvKHs



10. Hammock – Raising Your Voice… Trying to Stop an Echo (2006)
There are too many post-rock bands out there. I had already listened to a lot of them before I came to Hammock; why would I need to listen to another? The answer becomes obvious when you listen to any of Hammock’s work. The songwriting, be it in the form of minimalist drones, intimate instrumentals or infectious dream pop, is remarkably strong, and their production impeccable. They are also worryingly prolific: since their inception in 2004, they have released five albums (most of which exceed 70 minutes in length) and two EPs. Raising Your Voice… is perhaps their strongest effort from the ’00s, halfway between the energetic debut album and minimalist Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow. Stunning stuff.
Album highlight - …Like Starlight Into Day www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yZLGsOxLXI