"Most adventurous" albums included in PA

Dean wrote: I think there are two measures of adventurous when it comes to music - there are those albums that are adventurous when you look back on them - the really wacky out-there ones that will be weird and bold and daring no matter when you hear them - Ys (Il Balletto di Bronzo, naturally), Pawn Hearts and Of Natural History will fit into that category for me in ways that so many well meaning albums never will. And there are those albums that are adventurous when you look on them for the first time, that when you've played them through once you mutter under your breath "What. The. F---. Was. That..."   Of course many of those albums may remain like that, and become one of those "looking back" adventurous albums, but other's don't - they are the ones that turned your head and you can never turn it back, and they're never quite as adventurous after repeated plays and some, after a long interval looking back on them leave you wondering what all the fuss was about. Tool's Undertow is an example of one such album for me - a jaw-drop album that seemed quite normal by the time Aenima was released and then by Lateralus and 10000 Days I'd almost forgotten how good it was - but when I first heard it - "W.T.F.W.T...". Other albums that fit into this category would be Tubby Bells, In Search Of The Lost Chord, A Farewell To Kings, Meddle, In The Region Of The Summer Stars and Future Days.   (I hope that all makes sense...)

Smurph wrote: You know, we haven't touched on Italian Prog. Banco del mutuo socorso simply for the fact that they rocked as hard as anyone, but they released a concept album about Darwin, and then a few albums later a concept about about Jesus Christ. That's some adventure.

I think all 3 Wetton period KC lp's are 'adventurous'.

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Smurph wrote: You know, we haven't touched on Italian Prog. Banco del mutuo socorso simply for the fact that they rocked as hard as anyone, but they released a concept album about Darwin, and then a few albums later a concept about about Jesus Christ. That's some adventure. Oh no, I've let my side down, Smurph! You make some good recommendations, I'd go as far as adding that even the self titled Banco debut album is an adventure all on it's own! So many directions, so many dazzling ideas, so much cracking energy. I like the almost sinister air of menace about it, and all of those lovely gothic/classical sections. What an album!

You know, we haven't touched on Italian Prog.

Banco del mutuo socorso simply for the fact that they rocked as hard as anyone, but they released a concept album about Darwin, and then a few albums later a concept about about Jesus Christ. That's some adventure.

For me, the most adventurous prog albums have come with in the form of 'conceptual' music.

To list a few....

Saviour Machine: The legend trilogy--with out a doubt this is a big one for me. It's an entire musical, dark metal opera about the book of revelations in the bible. Dark, twisted and flat out interesting considering it's from Satan's angle of how he and his armies fought against god....war against the heavens anyone?

AYREON: The Human Equation-- this is an album that I find to be a grand adventure. A man lies in a comma after a brutal car crash and in order to get out of that coma he must challenge all the assets of his mind....age, reason, love, hate, pain...etc. each emotion is a character for crying out loud! Pretty awesome

Queensrÿche: Operation Mindcrime---The seedy underbelly of terrorist actions and manipulations to recruit a young man to do horrible things in order to creat chaos and political revolutions. Always a fun spin. Don't ever trust a needle!! Lol

Beyond Twilight: Section x---this is thee most bizzare concept album I've ever listened to, but incredibly adventurous.
The album deals with subject matter that of Human cloning, brain mapping and unimaginable torture immagery of the soul. It's a reckless and dark album fueled by an incredible plot.

Savatage: Streets: A Rock Opera--- about a man, D.T Jesus who goes through a typical rise and fall story that is closely linked to fame, talent and drugs.

Vangelis: Blade Runner Soundtrack-- created images of a futuristic society. Nuff said. :)

Tangerine Dream--Hyperborea. For me, these instrumentals take me on a journey around the world. Beautiful stuff. Not conceptual of course. :)

Anyway. There are many more but this list I think can be at the top of my adventure world for now.

Works Vol 1

Guldbamsen wrote: Musically I think there are many albums that reach the same heights of adventurism as GG, and there are also numerous of occasions where bands didn't get to release their material, because of it being too weird/out there/classical/raw/insert your own. That's why we've seen so many issues of "long lost albums" that were never released. But if we're talking about adventurous in terms of believing in oneself and sticking to ones guns in the face of adversity, then how about Polish band SBB who effectively were outlawed for playing prog under a communist rule? These guys faced jail, if they ever got caught.

Easily "In A Glass House" by Gentle Giant.

A couple for me are:

Aphrodite's Child - 666 (such a unique album, and a forgotten gem)
Carla Bley & Paul Haines - Escalator Over the Hill (who else would do a jazz opera spanning 3 LPs?)