Lesser-known "essentials"

irrelevant wrote: Even back when I was an absolute Floyd fanatic and they were just about the only band I listened to, I only listened to The Final Cut once in full.

it just doesnt cut it!! 

I feel it had Roger at his most impacting, lyrically. There may've been more subtlety to Animals, but how can you beat "And as the windshield melts, my tears evaporate/leaving only charcoal to defend/Finally, I understand the feelings of the few - ashes and diamonds, foe and friend, we were all equal in the end"?

Thinking about SAVIOUR MACHINE in the Gothic/Progressive metal genre I think they really don't have much notoriety. I mean nobody that I know personally has heard of SAVIOUR MACHINE. I think this is a real shame. I recommend this lovely band to anyone. The LEGEND series that they made I would most definately list as essential prog. Songs like THE LAMB, THE PROMISE, ANTICHRIST PT 1, THE NIGHT and 1260 DAYS should not be ever overlooked even by the most decerning progger. Please enjoy.

Maybe some of these albums are not ESSENTIALS, but I make you sure that these are all great works.

Brother Ape - Shangri-La (one of the most beautiful albums from the new millennium)
Locanda delle Fate - Forse le Lucciole non si Amano più (probably the best album to come from Italy, but I think I am the only one to say this :P)
Martin Orford - The Old Road (better than everything IQ ever did)
Hostsonaten - Springsong (incredibly sweet New Age album that almost reaches the peaks of Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn in some moments)
Odessa - The Final Day/Il Giorno del Giudizio (vaguely Area-inspired, great work that shows the good health of Italian Progressive in the last years)
Ad Infinitum - Ad Infinitum (fantastic Yes-inspired New Prog album, one of my personal favourites from the '90s)

Hope it is helpful ;)

^While on the harsh vocals... This is, in my opinion, the best prog/death ever.

Heksekunst wrote: ^While on the harsh vocals... This is, in my opinion, the best prog/death ever.

Incredible album! Even if my favourite is Unquestionable Presence... And, about the whole genre, I think that this is the very best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St6lJaiHYIc

Federico95 wrote:   Incredible album! Even if my favourite is Unquestionable Presence... And, about the whole genre, I think that this is the very best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St6lJaiHYIc

progbethyname wrote: Nightfly wrote: RedNightmareKing wrote: Looking through my vast collection of prog-rock... I feel like something is missing. Sure, most of my collection is within the Archives Top 100, and on many people's favorite album lists, but I feel like there are some lesser-known essential albums that I'm missing out on. Does anybody have suggestions for this type of thing?  You might find it useful to check out some of the individual sub genre top 100's rather than the overall top 100. Take RPI for instance, there's tons of great stuff there that's hardly known by anyone who doesn't make a concious effort to investigate the genre. Here's a few bands I'd recommend as an early port of call.... Biglietto Per L'Inferno Area Maxophone Il Rovescio Della Medaglia Banco Le Orme Quella Vecchia Locanda Il Bacio Della Medusa  (one of the best newer bands) as are La Maschera Di Cera and I could list loads more. Good luck in finding something you like. ARENA for sure!!!! Incredible band.

menawati wrote: The Doctor wrote: I love the Final Cut.  I like it more than its predecessor or successor album. Final Cut is great. Ye better than the wall.

Agh come on man! You're pushing it, but making laugh though.

Alitare wrote: I prefer The Final Cut over the Wall I also like it more than Animals and Meddle. Kill me.

Consider yourself slashed in half with a giant Prog sword!!! Ha ha