Collaborators' Top Albums List - 2010

Negoba wrote:   I'm expecting several in 2011...

No kidding, I have more 2011 releases from just the last 2 weeks than I have 2010 releases.

Excellent work Alex. Great to see 2 or my choices in the top 10. Certainly means there is a lot for me to explore. As mentioned by other posters, a strange year for prog. I hate comparing but 2009 was an exceptional year for prog releases whereas 2010 was imo not quite as diverse. Still a wonderful top 10 which inspires me to take another listen 

harmonium.ro wrote: The cover images are now banners leading to the respective album pages.

Triceratopsoil wrote: CCVP wrote: Triceratopsoil wrote: CCVP wrote: the only real surprise on that list was Agalloch. That album isn't remotely near good. It is nothing but a shadow of the band's past releases, quality-wise. But you know what they say: hipsters gonna hipster, lol. I don't mean to imply you have terrible taste in music, but Marrow of the Spirit is their best so far. Also Dream Theater sucks As a matter of fact, I know you are one of the few (if not the only one) who thinks like that Cooling. Even Brian, who puts that guy on an ivory tower, kind of thinks like me. \ Brian also put it #2 on his list for MMA, though.  And Kevin agrees with me that it's better than The Mantle (it just took him a  while)

Negoba wrote: Tapfret wrote: Negoba wrote:   I'm expecting several in 2011... No kidding, I have more 2011 releases from just the last 2 weeks than I have 2010 releases. Which ones might be worth checking out?

So far the brightest spot is the album I added yesterday Pitom - Blasphemy and Other Serious Crimes

I also picked up Faust - Something Dirty on a whim which I enjoy more than I thought I would.

CCVP wrote: Triceratopsoil wrote: Brian also put it #2 on his list for MMA, though.  And Kevin agrees with me that it's better than The Mantle (it just took him a  while)   I hope you know that such a comparison is like saying Union is better than CTTE or that Systematic is better than I&W or that Invisible Touch is better than SEBTP.

CTTE sucks, so...

harmonium.ro wrote: So basically we've got four main genres in the top: avant-prog, metal, fusion and RPI. What happened with the other genres? Anyone wants to comment on that? I know Haken is in Heavy and Zeuhl is sepparated from RIO/Avant, but let's not think of that for a while.

Mind you Alex, RPI is pretty much a non-genre. I have never understood the reason why the italian bands need to be separeted from the other symphonic bands. Hell, most of the big Brazilian progressive rock bands (as well as bands from the rest of South /Latin America) were much more unique, distinct and downright inovative than most of the Italians, besides having a own unique sound, quality or characteristic that could unite them in one single vein/style, which is the only reason why the Italian bands are separated. 

The quality of their output goes undisputed: most of them are terrific bands, just not distinct enough to have a sub-genre of their own, so consider RPI as an artificial division of symphonic.

Concerning the other genres, well, avant, metal, jazz and symphonic are the bigest genres. Art and space/psychedelic rock are missing, what is a shame, but you can't win 'em all, you know.

Triceratopsoil wrote: CCVP wrote: Triceratopsoil wrote: Brian also put it #2 on his list for MMA, though.  And Kevin agrees with me that it's better than The Mantle (it just took him a  while)   I hope you know that such a comparison is like saying Union is better than CTTE or that Systematic is better than I&W or that Invisible Touch is better than SEBTP. CTTE sucks, so...

That still proves my point.


Edited by CCVP - February 24 2011 at 18:37

harmonium.ro wrote: This discussion has been done to death , I'll just say that you should try certain RPI bands to see that it's not just Italian symphonic bands, but there's a particular style that's much more than just symphonic. I'd recommend especially Franco Battiato, Area, Alan Sorrenti, Ricardo Zappa, Demetrios Stratos, Goblin, Latte E Miele, Stefano Testa or Maxophone.. There's also jazz, pop, psychedelic, folk and even electronic, chamber music and avantgarde in the style. RPI is not a place to hold the Italian bands, as half of the Italian bands are in other categories. And a lot of the bands would be rejected for Symphonic. I officially declare you a RPI negationist But really now, if you only know the mainly symphonic ones, than you've only skimmed the genre and there are many goodies to unearth.

Yes, I know that this discussion has been done to death and all that and in fact I know most bands you mentioned, but that is one of those things I simply don't agree with. Maybe I should have kept this kind of opinion to myself, but anyway.

Mellotron Storm wrote: Thanks for all the work and effort Alex ! An interesting top 10 for sure.I need to re-visit Clivages.  By the way Steve at Cuneiform Records was going to E-Mail Daniel from Univers Zero to give him the news.Kind of cool.