Best album of the 21st century

BrufordFreak wrote: ^ In defense of someone who has posted 5 star reviews somewhere near a 20% clip, let me just say that I only write reviews of albums I feel are worthy of my time and energy to promote  and yet I want to be honest while being appreciative of these committed artists' talents and efforts. Were I to review every album available each year--which I think averages over 2000 each year in Prog-related world--the center/median of my "bell curve" would, I should think, be somewhere further down the 1-to-5 average. But, again, I feel it is my job to try to bring attention to albums that show something exceptional and exciting. I feel like I'm bored and wasting my time when writing detailed reviews about albums that I do not feel are worthy of promoting (i.e. albums that I think I could do better or that are just regurgitating old ideas).

^ In defense of someone who has posted 5 star reviews somewhere near a 20% clip, let me just say that I only write reviews of albums I feel are worthy of my time and energy to promote  and yet I want to be honest while being appreciative of these committed artists' talents and efforts. Were I to review every album available each year--which I think averages over 2000 each year in Prog-related world--the center/median of my "bell curve" would, I should think, be somewhere further down the 1-to-5 average. But, again, I feel it is my job to try to bring attention to albums that show something exceptional and exciting. I feel like I'm bored and wasting my time when writing detailed reviews about albums that I do not feel are worthy of promoting (i.e. albums that I think I could do better or that are just regurgitating old ideas).

I answered this in 2021 based on some of my favourites, today I might say (based on what is in PA and also these are really highly rated at RYM) as a top five:

Radiohead - Kid A
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!
David Bowie - Blackstar
Swans - To Be Kind
black midi - Hellfire

That feels to me like a really satisfying and impactful top five that goes from early this millennium to contemporary music.

Edited by Logan - September 06 2023 at 10:57

Oh yeah. What was the last one - that were pretty good, Optimus or summat. I was always surprised living on Merseyside for many years why they werent big in Liverpool.

Best overall IMHO would be Safe In The Hands of Love by Yves Tumor by a nose, best prog would be Error by Las Orejas y La Lengua. It's tough to pick even from just 23 years or so but I can hazard an educated guess.

Thats if they were 21st century

        Indukti  (PL)  -  S.U.S.A.R.  (2004)

        The Mars Volta  (USA)  -  De-loused in the Comatorium   (2003)

Edited by David_D - September 05 2023 at 05:57

I'll give you my verdict on this topic in 77 years, ok?

From Silence To Somewhere