2014 Picks

Dean Watson wrote: Thomas, I too am honoured to be on your list! Dean.

I'm waiting to listen to To Be Kind in its entirety until I buy it. I expect it to land pretty high on my list. Otherwise, my favorite releases this year are:
(for sure to be on my top ten list)
Parquet Courts— Sunbathing Animal
Real Estate— Atlas
Liars— Mess
Cloud Nothings— Here and Nowhere Else

(also enjoyed)
Valentin Stip— Sigh
Future Islands— Singles
St. Vincent— S/t. Vincent

These are the ones that have lasted so far. I am very excited to hear To Be Kind, and the new Spoon and Interpol records. Need to check out more records though. I want to give more artists the benefit of financial support if I listen to their albums, but it does restrict how many albums I can actually listen to.

Guldbamsen wrote: One release I forgot to mention in my opening post is the Ulver/Sun O))) collab which was released earlier in the year. I think it is quite stunning myself, and it seems to get better with every new spin. From what I've read of reviews over the net, it has received a somewhat misunderstood welcoming. I am not sure what people were expecting. Granted, if they were looking for something melodic and hardhitting, then they obviously placed their bets on the wrong pony.

I really liked Messe last year with the whole gothic-Chamber orchestra get up they had going on.
I will be sure to check this latest from them. Thanks Dave. Also hope you may roll in some deep-green pastures soon...$$$. I know, it's a tough out there.

One release I forgot to mention in my opening post is the Ulver/Sun O))) collab which was released earlier in the year. I think it is quite stunning myself, and it seems to get better with every new spin. From what I've read of reviews over the net, it has received a somewhat misunderstood welcoming. I am not sure what people were expecting. Granted, if they were looking for something melodic and hardhitting, then they obviously placed their bets on the wrong pony.

progbethyname wrote: richardh wrote: progbethyname wrote: Q-- The Road Of Bones Eloy--Reincarnation Live ON Stage Vanden Plas--Chronicles Of The Immortals Hibernal--Replacements Agalloch--The Serpent And The Sphere Jethro Tull--Steven Wilson remix (2014) boxset for A Passion Play Anubis    Hitchiking To Byzantium Anathema - Distant SatellitesDevin Townsend--Casualties Of CoolLacuna Coil--Broken Crown Halo didn't realise the Eloy album was this year so that could be added to my list Lacuna Coil - that name has suddenly become known to me via Ayreon's The Theory Of Everything (the very attractive lead singer is one of the guest vocalists). Is it prog metal? I note the band are not included on PA as yet. Hey Richard. Yeah The Coil have some progressive tendencies but its minor. They infuse a gothic pop metal that really had seemed to work for me many years now. And yes...That Miss Scabbia is a bloody knockout with great stage presence. So many bands like Amaranth try to follow in Coils footsteps, but Lacuna reign supreme. If you think C.S is good looking now you should see what she looked liked 10 years ago. Lets just say it was hard to concentrate on The music. ;) I put their album in a number 10. To be honest I haven't quite filled a cohesive 10 yet. I shall though. It's not a bad year at all for music and for Prog. The latest Flaming Row album might sneak in. :)

richardh wrote: progbethyname wrote: Q-- The Road Of Bones Eloy--Reincarnation Live ON Stage Vanden Plas--Chronicles Of The Immortals Hibernal--Replacements Agalloch--The Serpent And The Sphere Jethro Tull--Steven Wilson remix (2014) boxset for A Passion Play Anubis    Hitchiking To Byzantium Anathema - Distant SatellitesDevin Townsend--Casualties Of CoolLacuna Coil--Broken Crown Halo didn't realise the Eloy album was this year so that could be added to my list Lacuna Coil - that name has suddenly become known to me via Ayreon's The Theory Of Everything (the very attractive lead singer is one of the guest vocalists). Is it prog metal? I note the band are not included on PA as yet.

Hey Richard. Yeah The Coil have some progressive tendencies but its minor. They infuse a gothic pop metal that really had seemed to work for me many years now. And yes...That Miss Scabbia is a bloody knockout with great stage presence. So many bands like Amaranth try to follow in Coils footsteps, but Lacuna reign supreme. If you think C.S is good looking now you should see what she looked liked 10 years ago. Lets just say it was hard to concentrate on The music. ;)
I put their album in a number 10. To be honest I haven't quite filled a cohesive 10 yet.
I shall though. It's not a bad year at all for music and for Prog.
The latest Flaming Row album might sneak in. :)

richardh wrote: Anton Roolaart - The Plight Of Lady Oona Nick Magnus - N'monix

Nice, gotta check these.

1. Kaleidoscope - Transatlantic
2. Ode to Echo - Glass Hammer
3. Regenerator 3017 - Djam Karet
4. The Promise - Superdrama
5. Unrecorded Beam - Billy Bottle and the Multiple
6. Sulla Bolla di Sapone - FEM Prog Band
7. Circus Pandemonium - A.C.T
8. The Road of Bones - IQ
9. Time - Amenophis
10. Abandoned Dancehall Dreams - Tim Bowness
11. The Final Delusion - Delusion Squared
12. Incarnate - Panic Room
13. Illusory Blues - Messenger
14. Gravitas - Asia
15. Kindly Bent to Free Us - Cynic

St. Vincent s/t and Emma Ruth Rundle - Some Heavy Ocean are my favorites for this year so far.

progbethyname wrote: Q-- The Road Of Bones Eloy--Reincarnation Live ON Stage Vanden Plas--Chronicles Of The Immortals Hibernal--Replacements Agalloch--The Serpent And The Sphere Jethro Tull--Steven Wilson remix (2014) boxset for A Passion Play Anubis    Hitchiking To Byzantium Anathema - Distant Satellites Devin Townsend--Casualties Of Cool Lacuna Coil--Broken Crown Halo