In the Prog Seat: Favorite Prog Albums 2010-2020
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- Join Pete Pardo, Ken Golden, Steven Reid, George Lamie, Anthony Ferraro, and Rick LaBonte as they discuss their favorite prog-rock/prog-metal/fusion albums released from 2010-2020.
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Steven's picks:
1. From.Uz - Quartus Artifactus 2011
2. A Forest Full Of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring 2010
3. Pallas - Wearewhoweare 2014
4. The Pineapple Thief - Someone Here Is Missing 2010
5. IO Earth - New World 2015
Honorable mentions:
Galahad - Battle Scars 2012
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing 2013
Marillion - Fuck Everyone And Run 2016
Roger Waters - Is This The Life We Really Want? 2017
Rush - Clockwork Angels 2012
Kansas - The Absence Of Presence 2020
Styx - The Mission 2017
Iluvatar - From The Silence 2014
Karnataka - Secrets Of Angels 2015
Kotebel - Cosmology 2017
Credo - Against Reason 2011
Winterhorde - Maestro 2016
Pete's picks:
1) Symphony X - Iconoclast (2010)
2) Styx-The Mission (2017)
3) Kansas-The Absence of Presence (2020)
4) Opeth-Sorceress (2016)
5) Wobbler-Dwellers of the Deep (2020)
Honorable mentions:
Haken-The Mountain (2013)
Magic Pie-King for a Day (2015)
Rush-Clockwork Angels (2012)
Enslaved -Axioma Ethica Odini (2010)
Steven Wilson-The Raven That Refused to Sing (2013)
Spock’s Beard-Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep (2013)
Transatlantic-Kaleidoscope (2014)
Vanden Plas-Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld (2014)
Neal Morse Band-The Similitude of a Dream (2016)
Sons of Apollo-Psychotic Symphony (2017)
Dream Theater-Distance Over Time (2019)
Rick's picks:
(5)Haken - The Mountain (2013) , (4) Neal Morse Band - The Similitude Of A Dream (2016), (3) Magic Pie - Fragments Of The 5th Element (2019), (2) Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012), (1) Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope (2014) and honorable mentions: Glass Hammer - Perilous (2012), The Pineapple Thief - Dissolution (2018), Sons Of Apollo -Psychotic Symphony (2017), The Tea Party - The Ocean At The End (2014), The Flower Kings - Waiting For Miracles (2019), Flying Colors - Flying Colors (2012), Dream Theater - Dream Theater (2013)
Ken's picks:
[ ] 5. Anglagard - Viljans Oga
- [ ] 4. Arcane - Known/Learned
- [ ] 3. Big Big Train - English Electric Full Power
- [ ] 2. Fontanelle - Vitamin F
- [ ] 1. All Traps On Earth - A Drop Of Light
HM:
Agusa - Tva and Same
Hooffoot - same
Wobbler - From Silence To Somewhere
Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning and The Raven That Refused To Sing
Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora’s Pinata
Astra - The Black Chord
Verneri Pohjola - Pekka
La Fabbrica Dell’Assoluto - 1984 L’Ultimo Uomo D’Europa
George's picks:
5. District 97 - Trouble with Machines
4. Virgil Donati - In This Life
3. Snarky Puppy - We Like It Here
2. Gergo Borlai - MMM
1. Haken - Aquarius
HM - Sun Caged - The Lotus Effect, Darkwater - Where Stories End, Cameron Graves - Planetary Prince,
Symphony X - Underworld, Arch/Matheos - Winter Ethereal
Anthony's picks:
5. Yes--Fly From Here
4. Astra--Black Chord
3. Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger--Midnight Sun--Sean Lennons ban
2. Squackett--A Life Within A Day
1. Steven Wilson--The Raven
HM--Rush--Clockwork Angels, Claypool/Lennon Delirium--Monolith of Phobos, Anekdoten--Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
Hi everyone a great show with all of you and some new bands for me to check out, here is my list 5 Tiger moth tales Story tellers part 2 (2018) 4 Antimatter Black market enlightenment (2018) 3 Cosmograph The man left in space (2013) 2 Galahad Empires never last (2010) 1 Iq The road of bones (2014)
Steven Wilson has such good musical taste. Great picks every single time!
I'm glad you decided to post all the albums, because with so many picks, it's hard to keep track, and then someone like me who is interested in checking some of these out, we can, and you have to admit, some of the names are hard to remember, and sometimes pronounce!
So does Steven Reid 😉
@@jimmycampbell78 ha, sorry, of course that's who I meant!
Why is Anthony under George’s desk? 😂
Hahaha
He was doing penance for picking Squackett.
That's so funny
Nice to give a shout out to the current bands. I’m putting together my new list of purchases.
Great show guys, love talking about modern Prog bands/music! I'll be back with some picks!
Looking forward to it Eric!
I absolutely love that this episode and even a bit on the last one you're talking about modern prog rock/metal.
1) Theories of Flight - Fates Warning
2) Weather Systems - Anathema
3) March of Progress - Threshold
4) In the Passing Light of Day - Pain of Salvation
5) Lykaia - SOEN
i really got into SOEN on Lotus but Lykaia is incredible as well
George is the master of the one liners
Thanks for the mention Mr. Reid!👍🏻
Loved every minute of this I got some music to check out for sure!!! Great show everyone!!!
In no particular order:
- Wobbler: Rites at Dawn
- Steven Wilson: The Raven that Refused to Sing
- Magick Brother & Mystic Sister: Magick Brother & Mystic Sister
- Fren: Where Do You Want the Ghosts to Reside
- Jordsjø: Nattfiolen
- Ozric Tentacles: Technicians of the Sacred
- La Fabbrica Dell'Assoluto: 1984 - L'Ultimo Uomo d'Europa
- Ed Wynne: Shimmer into Nature
- Änglagård: Viljans Öga
- All Traps on Earth: A Drop of Light
- Alco Frisbass: Le Bateleur
Great show! My top 5 would be:
1. Clockwork Angels - Rush
2. Fear Inoculum - tool
3. Shrine of a New Generation - Riverside
4. Hand Cannot Erase - Steven Wilson
5. Sorceress - Opeth
H/M Road of Bones - IQ
Good list. I’ve recently discovered Riverside and can’t get enough of them…. Sooo good!
@@krom9897 Great prog band, I only listed my fusion picks but for prog they would've been included for sure. Love, Fear And The Time Machine, Lost 'n Found, Shrine Of New Generation Slaves (the Deluxe edition) - great records
Great episode, guys!
came back to comment that i just got my copy of the Known/Learned album by Arcane, OMG. it's exactly everything i love. Perfectly progressive, groovy, melodic. Thanks so much for that recommendation Ken! You had me at Jim Grey from Caligula's Horse.
Great show, I learned a lot from you guys and got tons of great suggestions of things to listen to.
So here's a stack of faves I pulled, limited to one per artist, which was difficult in some cases.
Agusa - Tua (2015)
Big Big Train - Grand Tour (2019)
Citizen Cain - Skies Darken 2012)
Dream Theater - Distance Over Time (2019)
Glass Hammer - Cor Cordium (2011)
IQ - Road of Bones (2014)
Kansas - The Absence of Presence (2020)
Hawkestrel - Pioneers of Space (2020)
Magenta - We Are Legend (2017)
Magic Pie - King For a Day (2015)
Neil Morse Band - The Similitude of a Dream (2016)
Mostly Autumn - White Rainbow (2019)
RPWL - Tales from Outer Space (2019)
Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope (2014)
Rick Wakeman - The Red Planet (2020)
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing (2013)
Wobbler - Dwellers of the Deep (2020)
And now, thanks to you guys and the comments, I've many more to check out.
WOW! A Citizen Cain mention. Great stuff. Somewhere But Yesterday for me, but that was pre 2010.
@@mvwmark8955 Agreed. Somewhere But Yesterday is my favorite, but not in the proper decade for this show. Thanks.
Pete, great choice with Wobbler! Love that album. Was my introduction to them - I need to get the rest of their albums. I look forward to you Wobbler album ranking show.
Thanks for the show - always pleasure to watch! 😉Today, my list 2010-2020 looks like that:
5) Enslaved - Utgard
4) Wintersun - The Forest Seasons
3) Opeth - Sorceress
2) Roger Waters - Is This the Life We Really Want?
1) Rush - Clockwork Angels
Nice to see that Verneri Pohjola was mentioned - his father Pekka was huge talent as a songwriter and amazing bass player too (with Wigwam, solo career and Mike Oldfield's band etc.)
I finally finished this episode. I was surprised that no one mentioned Echolyn (although as you mentioned, Pete and Ken, a very strong decade). Although they weren't that prolific this decade, therr eponymous titled double album from 2012 would definitely make my tip 5 prog albums of the decade list.
My 5 favorite Prog albums from 2010-2020 include 1. Wobbler - Dwellers of the Deep - 2020,
2. Van der Graaf Generator - A Grounding in Numbers - 2011, 3. IQ - The Road of Bones - 2014,
4. Anglagard - Viljans Oga - 2012 - instrumental Sweden and 5. Todd Rundgren - State - 2013.
Magma’s Zëss (2019) is easily my favorite from the time period highlighted for this episode; I have Pete’s unintentionally hilarious review of the album to thank for it.
😉😂
Fantastic picks from everyone, lots more stuff I haven’t heard as usual!
Some of my favourites:
Ihsahn - After
David Bowie - Blackstar
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
Enslaved - RIITIIR
Blood Incantation - Hidden History of the Human Race
Gorguts - Pleiades’ Dust
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity
Draghkar - At the Crossroads of Infinity
Leprous - Coal
Tribulation - The Children of the Night
Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit
Opeth - Pale Communion
Vektor - Terminal Redux
Gojira - L’Enfant Sauvage
Voivod - The Wake
Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
Wobbler - From Silence to Somewhere
Devin Townsend Project - Transcendence
Morbus Chron - Sweven
The Aristocrats - Culture Clash
Purson - The Circle and the Blue Door
Horrendous - Anareta
Anekdoten - Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
The Claypool Lennon Delirium - Monolith of Phobos
Insomnium - Winter’s Gate
Elder - Reflections of a Floating World
Scale the Summit - The Collective
Primus - The Desaturating Seven
The Chasm - A Conscious Creation From the Isolated Domain: Phase I
StarGazer - A Merging to the Boundless
Behemoth - The Satanist
Tool - Fear Inoculum
Triptykon - Melana Chasmata
Top 5
Rush - Clockwork Angels 2012
Dream Theater- Distance over Time 2019
Symohony X - Underworld 2015
Dream Theater -Dream Theater 2013
Transatlantic- Kaleidoscope 2014
It's too difficult to get them in order or even to select 5. So I'm just going with my mind flow:
1. Opeth - Heritage (2011). It's just quintessential and iconic album, the peak of creativity in Opeth's discography, I think.
2. Pain of Salvation - Panther (2020). New PoS album is just as strong as their classic works in 2000s. And again, really original and captivating.
3. Anekdoten - Until All The Ghosts Are Gone (2015). Perfect album from A to Z. By a band which is criminally underrated.
4. Leprous - Coal (2013). Leprous is just a unique band and they released many great albums, but I think Coal is most progressive and complex of all.
5. Gazpacho - Soyuz (2018). Very underrated album, which introduced me to Gazpacho. Their atmosphere is one of a kind.
Honorable mentions:
6. The Tangent - Proxy (2018). That's classic prog explosia, but with bits of experimenting with electronic soundscapes, which were quite unexpected from The Tangent, but actually made their music even more interesting.
7. Haken - Affinity (2016).
8. Soen - Lykaia (2017).
9. Opeth - Pale Communion (2014)
and many more
P.S. I'm surprised to hear title 'A Forest of Stars' in this show. Their discography is absolutely astounding. My favourite by them is Beware The Sword You Cannot See (2015), that is an intense album.
i was also surprised to hear Wolves in the Throne Room
Leprous is amazing! Bilateral and Congregation are also very good
You guys picked all my favorites except for three, so here they are:
-Pale Communion by Opeth (2014)
-Love, Fear & The Time Machine by Riverside (2015)
-Captives Of The Wine Dark Sea by Discipline (2017).
I actually thought DT’s s/t 2013 album was the most fresh-sounding thing they had released in quite some time (At least up to that point; Wasn’t really into the four albums preceding it for reasons mentioned on one of the previous episodes in this series.) Kudos to Rick for showing the disc some love; It’s one of my favorites.
By the way Wobbler’s Dwellers of the Deep and From Silence to Somewhere are fantastic. Two best Yes albums of the last 20 years.
It took me 2 sittings to watch the show, it well worth the effort it was excellent as always.
Fantastic to see a mention for A Forest of Stars! One of the UK's very best, and one of a select few bands that are genuinely improving from album to album. Mr Curse is an astounding vocalist who adds a layer of complexity to the already adventurous music - plus they're a terrific live band!
Never seen then live Charles. I need to rectify that!
@@TranquilityFireReid Fingers crossed for you that they make it to Glasgow Steven!
@@charlesbaker3969 I hope so!
1. Big Big Train - English Electric Full Power
2. Steven Wilson - Hand.Cannot.Erase.
3. The Neal Morse Band - Similitude of a Dream
4. The Dear Hunter - Act IV
5. Sound of Contact - Dimensionaut
HMs : Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here; Beardfish - Comfortzone; Dave Kerzner - New World; Southern Empire - Civilisation; The Aristocrats - S/T.
1. Echolyn - s/t
2. Steven Wilson - The Raven....
3. Kotobel - Concerto for Piano and Electric Ensemble
4. Hiromi - Move (thanks George)
5. Neal Morse - Simultitude of a Dream
HM
Anglagard - Viljans Oga
David Bowie - Blackstar
The Aristocrats - s/t
Henderson, Berlin, Chambers (HBC)
Marillion - Fear
Wobbler - From Silence to Somewhere
Some outstanding choices there Eric. Yet another list that's made me wonder how I forgot certain albums by certain bands. Really think we needed a top 50 or so to cover it all!
@@TranquilityFireReid you as well. I almost forgot about the Bowie, I love that album, it's very dark, yet tuneful. He was dying while he made it, and it connected with me
@@ericporter344 It took a while to grow on me but now I think it's one of his best.
@@TranquilityFireReid I find that with a lot of Bowie's more "artsy" music, it usually takes time for it to grow on me
@@ericporter344 Absolutely, and in itself that's often a sign of real quality.
Not in any order. Presto Ballet " Relics of the modern world", Threshold " Legend of the Shires, Spocks Beard " The oblivion particle", Transatlantic " The Absolute Universe and NMB " The Grand Experiment.
You 6 make a great and stable team.
Miss your opinion and choices on these shows, glad you are on a ranking show soon.
@@MrFrikkenfrakken thanks it’s so I can have more time to do my music.
@@shyshift Good to know!
Ken is such a smartass haha. I pretty much wait to see what unexpected joke hes gonna throw at us. All the prog seat guys bring their own personalities to the table though. Also, i have that Astra album Anthony talks about. Its cool!
That Wobbler album is great and I found some new stuff to listen to mainly from Ken and Steven’s picks, I have to check out Forest Full of Stars.
Hope you like it! Thanks for watching ssp.
@@TranquilityFireReid I like it, it’s very cool and like nothing else.
I really like Rites At Dawn from Wobbler a lot, and to a lesser extent Hinterland & From Silence To Somewhere
@@sspbrazil Yes, that describes it well.
2013 is my favorite year for modern prog. Sound of Contact - Dimensionaut, Airbag - Greatest Show on Earth, Steven Wilson - Raven, Riverside - SONGS, and Big Big Train - English Electric 2.
I've mentioned Sound of Contact on previous shows. Excellent album! Great choices Shawn. Thanks for watching!
Good to hear someone mention Airbag from Norway.
@@TranquilityFireReid Sound of Contact was a very good album
I wasn't expecting A Forest Full Of Stars to ever be mentioned here, plus a shoutout for WITTR!!!!
Always expect the unexpected on SoT! Thanks for watching!
5.Glass Hammer:If
4.Yes:Fly From Here-Return Trip
3.Transatlantic:Kaleidoscope
2.Wobbler:From Silence To Somewhere
1.Bubblemath:Edit Peptide
Rand, thanks again for the Bubblemath referral. Love them. You know of these, don't you, Rand?
Mr. Mike
1) Sky Architect- Nomad (2017)
2) Thank You Scientist- Stranger Heads Prevail (2016)
3) Moon Safari- Himlabacken Vol. 1 (2013)
4) The Enid - Touch Me (2011)
5) Agents of Mercy- The Black Forest (2011)
@@mvancha don’t know Sky Architect
@@shyshift They are sort of like Haken.
@@mvancha I dl’d their catalog on Spotify thanks for the rec.
@@mvancha huge fan of The Enid since Six Pieces in 1980. Have you heard Craft, the offshoot band the 2 departing members created? Wow!
In no particular order:
Iluvatar - From The Silence
Big Big Train - Folklore
Transatlantic- Kaleidoscope
Final Conflict - Return Of The Artisan
Comedy Of Errors - Fanfare & Fantasy
HMs:
Galahad - Beyond the Realms of Euphoria
Wobbler-Dwellers of the Deep
Glass Hammer - Cor Cordium
Anglagard - Viljans Oga
Great stuff jim. Thanks for watching!
Fatal Fusion are worth checking out as a 2010s band, from Norway I think.
Agreed!
Nice to see people talking about music that is not revolved around an air horn
1- SKE : 1001 Autunni
2- All Traps On Earth : A Drop Of Light
3- The Flower Kings : Waiting For Miracles
4- Haken : The Mountain
5- Yugen : Iridule
HM : Neal Morse Band "Similitude of a Dream", Anglagard "Vijans Oga"
Ah, SKE. I forgot all about them. GREAT album!
My favorite prog, post-2010 is without a doubt Citizen Cain’s final album from 2012, Skies Darken.
Thanks for the referral. Never heard of them but the singer sounds like Peter Gabriel.
My top 5 would have to be
5.Rush “Clockwork Angels”
4. Opeth “ sorceress”
3.Transatlantic “kaleidoscope”
2. Dream Theater “ distance over time”
1. Tool “ Fear Inoculum”
But I agree this decade is very Strong so many amazing releases
If I may I am jumping into the future for the next decade show - Arjen Lucassen is releasing a new Star One album in 2022 and the musician list is superb, can't wait for it. Fine show fellas and great choices from all.
Great show although I do miss Chuck.. I'm back to work after having heart surgery in September which means I'm back on the road again. Lots of stuff I've never heard to listen to on the drive. thanks guys great work
Fantastic stuff love the variety and also provides a window the style of prog or jazz each person loves even if they have diverse tastes. Have to check a few of the albums myself
My picks
Kamasi washington-epic
Eccentric pendulum-winding the optics
Rivers of nihil-where owls know my name
Trioscapes-digital dream sequence
Cynic-kindly bent to free us
Honorable mentions
Vektor-terminal redux
Thank you scientist-stranger heads prevail
Steven Wilson-the raven that refused to sing
Anekdoten-until all the ghosts are gone
Steven wilson-hand cannot erase
Tool-fear inoculum
Phronesis-we are all
Enslaved-axioma ethica odini
Fates warning theories of flight
Be'lakor-vessels
Yes, Steven, Pineapple Thief great choice. Been exploring them in the past few years.
Wow! You guys coveted about all of them! Glad to see Karnataka and Squakett mentioned.
My Top 5
1. F.E.A.R - Marillion - best album since Marbles
2. Kaleidoscope - Transatlantic. Even better than Whirlwind.
3. Hand Cannot Erase - Steven Wilson
4. Your Wilderness - Pineapple Thief
5. The Mountain - Haken
Honourable mentions:
Similitude of a Dream - The Neal Morse Band
The Raven that Refused to Sing etc - Steven Wilson
The Great Adventure - The Neal Morse Band
Jesus Christ the Exorcist - Neal Morse
Steven, thank you so much for the A Forest of Stars recommendation! i enjoy more atmospheric black metal in the fall and winter times.
a few of my fav modern picks. no particular order:
Caligula's Horse - In Contact
Tesseract - One
Wheel - Resident Human
Riverside - Wasteland
The Contortionist - Language
Soen - Lotus
Leprous - Malina
The two prog bands I've discovered this past year, that I am really enjoying, are the Greek band Ciccada, thanks to Pete, and the Welsh band Magenta, thanks to Steven Reid, and I also have to thank Steven for turning me on to Steven Wilson's solo album, "The Future Bites," which I just played again the other day, and I think it's amazing. Maybe not prog in the traditional sense, but to my ears it is. I am a fan of Porcupine Tree, but this was the first time I have listened to any of his solo music, and "The Raven That Refused To Sing" is definitely the next up on my list. Also, Pete, I got Leslie Hunt's solo EP, and while I don't like all of it, I think it has some fantastic tracks, and she is a very good singer. I guess I should do a follow-up and listen to the full band.
You and I might be out on a limb with The Future Bites Marty, but I love it! Is it prog? Who knows, but that doesn't stop me thinking it's fantastic. Great to hear you're getting into Magenta. Great band!
@@TranquilityFireReid Here is my review of The Future Bites....
Steven Wilson - The Future Bites (2021)
Steven Wilson is a fellow who is making quite a name for himself these days, mainly for his remixing and remastering skills of numerous classic rock albums, including ones by Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, and Gentle Giant, amongst several others. His abilities at doing this are almost magical. The albums are given a breadth of space and clarity they never had before, without being radically changed in any way. Wilson turns them all into “audiophile” albums, which is quite an accomplishment. And then he has this other career, as the main songwriter, guitarist and singer for one of the best British prog rock bands of the last twenty years, Porcupine Tree, as well as several acclaimed solo albums, and “The Future Bites” is his latest.
He has said he didn't want to make another prog record, and do something different, and so this album has a bit more electronica types of things on it than what he usually does, which has caused some of his fans to turn their noses up at it. Well, go ahead and be prog rock snobs, but you're wrong. It is a concept album (isn't that a prog rock staple?), it has mostly real instruments and vocals on it, and really, the electronic part is just an overlying sheen that for me, doesn't change the fact that this is a progressive rock record. “The Future Bites” is all about our consumerist society, and how huge corporations control us in the things that we spend our money on, through advertising and other means. People buy a lot of things that they don't need to fill an emptiness they feel inside of themselves, and to create a false image of who they are. Buying things makes them feel better, fills a hole in their lives. It's a sad commentary, but it's true. In the scenario of “The Future Bites” one massive company controls almost all consumer goods, and so has a good part of the population under its sway, almost like slaves. Listening to parts of this record, I'm reminded very much of Edward Norton's character in “Fight Club,” who felt a need to buy all the latest things that were trendy, just to fill an empty space in himself, and to impress others.
After the short unsettling acoustic guitar into of “Unself,” the next track, “Self,” kicks in, with a scathing look at the selfish society we have become. A pulsing electronic beat underlies some scorching lead guitar licks, and haunting female backing vocals which hold things together through this entire album. It has a bit of an R&B feel to it, without being in that genre at all. “King Ghost” again goes into the emptiness of people's lives, where they “can't wash away the failure.” The next track, “12 Things I Forgot,” is one of my favourites. Basically it's a very melodic, catchy, acoustic guitar-based song, featuring amazing backing vocals from the ladies, which speaks of a man looking back on his life with regret, not appreciating the important things that he had. “Eminent Sleaze” is another great track, which might remind you a bit of the old David Essex song, “Rock On,” or perhaps Curtis Mayfield. It's pretty funky! “Man Of The People” reminds me of Roger Waters era Pink Floyd, it has that feel to it, and subject matter. At almost ten minutes long, “Personal Shopper” is this album's longest track, driving home its message of consumerism for the sake of it unflinchingly and relentlessly. The pretty rocking “Follower” I see as a scathing take on the modern phenomenon of “influencers,” where people become famous on the internet by telling others how they should act and look, and what they should buy. The mostly keyboard-based song “Count Of Unease” ends the album proper off. My version also contains four B-Side tracks which are in the same style, “Eyewitness,” “In Floral Green,” “Move Like A Fever,” and a Tangerine Dream remix of “King Ghost.” I think “Eyewitness” should have been on the record, as it's a killer track, and fits in thematically.
As a person who grew up with early electronic music, such as Tangerine Dream, Popul Vuh and Kraftwerk, it's not hard for me to consider this album as quite proggy, as that is what they called those bands at the time. “The Future Bites” has more of a rock feel to it than most modern electronic music, and as I said before, it's really just a sheen over what the album is all about. It is excellently written, produced and performed, and I think it is probably my favourite album of the past year. Steven certainly holds a mirror up to ourselves as a society, and I think many people might not like what they see.
And here is my review of Magenta's Masters Of Illusion...
Magenta - Masters Of Illusion (2020)
This latest album from Welsh prog-rock band Magenta was actually released last year, but because of Covid and all the problems it caused, there were a few notable releases that I missed, so I've put them in with this year's bunch.
Magenta were formed in 1999 by keyboardist Rob Reed, who had previously been in the band Cyan. He tapped lead singer Christina Booth, who he had known and worked with for many years, to be a part of his new project. The band is filled out by the amazing Chris Fry on guitars, Dan Nelson on bass, and “Jiffy” Griffiths on drums. They have an eclectic sound which draws on many British prog rock groups of the past, in particular Genesis, Yes, Marillion, Renaissance and Camel, but very much have a sound of their own. Most of their records are based around a concept. Although Rob Reed writes nearly all of the music, his brother Steven is responsible for the lyrics, and sometimes the connection between the two is obvious, but just as often it is not. And that is quite true on this latest album, “Masters Of Illusion” which is based upon the classic Hammer Horror films and their stars, with each actor getting one of the six songs dedicated to them. This is their eighth studio album.
The album opens with the beautiful and melancholy “Bela,” obviously a tribute to the great Bela Lugosi. Starting with a lovely, if sad, orchestral arrangement, the band soon kicks in, in full Magenta manner, with guitar and bass licks that would do Steve Howe and Chris Squire proud, and then come Reed's keyboards. The song follows Bela's rise to fame and fortune and his peak, where he enjoyed his life to the fullest, wishing it would never end, and then through his slow decline into obscurity, drug addiction and ill health. It is quite a sad tale, really.
Second track “A Gift From God” is about the famed actor Christopher Lee, and his desire to not be in films, but to be an opera singer, an aspiration that would never be realized. There is a sadness and longing in this song, which reflects his unfulfilled dream. Next track, “Reach For The Moon,” is about Lon Chaney Jr., who despite being a fine actor, always lived in the shadow of his legendary father, something he was never quite able to come to terms with. “It was cold in your shadow,” the song says. Next up is “Snow,” about the actress Ingrid Pitt, who many people are unaware actually suffered for a time in a Nazi concentration camp. The catchy, almost poppy melody is in contrast to the lyrics, which speak of a young woman haunted by the memories of what she had to see and endure as a child. Happy to have escaped, but never quite free. “The Rose” is dedicated to Peter Cushing, who was often Christopher Lee's co-star. Despite his usually stern and imposing presence in his films, in real life he was quite a fun-loving and mischievous fellow, and quite a lady's man. Apparently his indiscretions eventually lead to the break-up of his marriage, something which he regretted for the rest of his life, and the loss of his “English rose” is the theme of this song. The album ends with the title track, “Masters Of Illusion,” which is about Vincent Price, and in particular the making of the film “Witchfinder,” which was not an easy task or experience apparently. Price often conflicted with the film's director. At 17 minutes, it is the album's longest track, and as you might expect, quite epic in its scope and performances.
Honestly you could put this album on, not knowing what any of the songs are about, and enjoy it purely for the amazing music and Christina's incredible vocals. But having an incite into the lyrics certainly gives it a lot more depth, although I know there are a lot of rock fans out there who seldom pay much attention to the words, outside of the obvious choruses and sing-alongs. I think sometimes it pays off to pay a little more attention.
Big Big Train!! Love those guys! Even before Underfall Yard, I thought their debut English Boy Wonders was really good, too.
Two absolute prog metal gems of the last decade that I did not hear mentioned:
Beyond the Bridge - The Old Man and the Spirit
Ostura - The Room
Perfect concept albums with top notch performances
In no order:
- Riverside - Wasteland
- Opeth - Pale Communion
- Steven Wilson - Hand.Cannot.Erase
- Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness
- Steven Wilson - The Raven ...
Here are some of my picks in alphabetical order:
1.-a.P.A.t.T. (England) [Avant-prog/Zolo]-Fun with Music (2017). Is playful, fun, but at times is intricate, somber, and melancholic.
2.- Darth Vegas (Australia) [Jazz Fusion/Cartoon music]-Brainwashing for Dirty Minds (2013). This album is impressive, is like old cartoon music but the musicianship is top-notch.
3.-Koenjihyakkei (Japan) [Zeuhl/Avant Prog]-Dhorimviskha (2018). The return for this wonderful band led by the “Demon from the East” Tatsuya Yoshida. Is intricate, beautiful, heavy, and simply memorable!.
4.-MediaBanda (Chile) [Avant Prog/Jazz Fusion]-Bombas en el Aire (2017). Fantastic album from this band. You can hear some Crimson, Rage Against the Machine, Zappa, and the list goes on...highly recommended!
5.-MoeTar (USA) [Avant Prog]-From These Small Seeds (2010). One of the highlights of this band is the female vocalist, sometimes named as the “Adele of Prog” which IMHO is a massive understatement. This woman sings complicated parts that remind me of the zaniest lines from Zappa...yeah, is THAT GOOD.
Pete, another excellent In the Prog Seat episode. I would like to add three of my personal favorites. Subsignal-Paraiso, Day Six-The Grand Design & Skyharbor-Guiding Lights. If you never heard of these before, do yourself a favor and check them out. I know you will be surprised as I was when I first heard them.
Ken was the only one that mentioned Big Big Train, “English Electric: Full Power” and “Grimspound” are two of my favorites from this period as well as the sude project by David Gregory, Tin Spirits “Wired To Earth”.
Others in my list:
IQ “The Road Of Bones”
Anathema “Weather Systems”
Frost* “Falling Satellites”
Steve Wilson “The Raven that Refused To Sing” and “Grace For Drowning”
Riverside “Wasteland”
Steve Hackett “The Night Siren”
Marillion “F.E.A.R.”
Wobbler “Dwellers Of The Deep”
Big Big Train = One of the best new prog bands: A Stone's Throw From The Line, The Second Brightest Star, Merchants Of Light, Grand Tour, Folklore & especially Grimspound. Also English Electric (Part Two) & Empire
Our musical tastes are very similar
@@shawnminnier6117 Do you love 70's fusion? my fave time period & genre
5. Circa - Valley of The Windmill, I don't expect the successor to Chris Squire to be to everyone's taste, but I love his material quite a bit, and I think this album ties with his solo album, The Citizen, but Circa is an act that performs live so I chose that. 2016
4. Marillion - With Friends From The Orchestra, Every time I hear a Marillion album for the first time and there's a song I know from this compilation, I usually prefer this version. I think most bands could learn a lesson from Marillion by using chamber groups when they want orchestras. The sound is more intimate - the session musicians and band are able to communicate together as a group without a conductor. I have 2 live albums with the chamber group. Love this. 2019
3. De Lorians - De Lorians - A strange Zappa-influenced, wild sounding Japanese fusion band. Reminds me of Magma or other Zeuhl at times. 2019
2. Between the Buried and Me - Coma Ecliptic - I was obsessed with this album when it came out... it was the first metal album I liked and inroduced me to Colors, Parallax, other bands such as Haken and Intronaut.... I even went and saw them live. 2015
1. The Oblivion Particle - Spock's Beard, Another formative album. Before I owned an album collection I used spotify and The Tides of Time came on and I knew I had to get this band going. It took a while, but I while but I finally also go my hands on some Neal Morse stuff which led me down the path I am on now. Without these last two albums I would have assume prog was dead in 78. 2015
I like "Fly From Here" as well and find parts quite catchy. I used to play it in my music room at school and kids really liked it, and would ask about it...perhaps a "gateway prog?"
Interesting to me that Beardfish are never discussed! They are epic, and with a truly unique style in the Prog genre!
1. Steven Wilson: Hand. Cannot. Erase.
2. Marillion: Sounds That Can't Be Made
3. It Bites: Map Of The Past
4. Anathema: The Optimist
5. Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins: A Scarcity Of Miracles
Great list. So many awesome albums to choose from for this time period. Thanks for watching.
Yes.., WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM... great band !
Let me list some not mentioned, in no particular order:
1) Sky Architect- Nomad (2017)
2) Thank You Scientist- Stranger Heads Prevail (2016)
3) Moon Safari- Himlabacken Vol. 1 (2013)
4) The Enid - Touch Me (2011)
5) Agents of Mercy- The Black Forest (2011)
thank you steven for mentioning pallas ,i just listened to the follow up to the sentinel
xxxv a different heavier album i loved it unfortunely the dvd included because i live in
canada couldn,t play it.grant
Acoustic Alchemy - Roseland
Al Di Meola - Elysium
The Aristocrats - You Know What...?
Larry Carlton - Four Hands and a Heart
The Rippingtons - Founain of Youth
The Aristocrats are top-level modern prog (plus very guitar-driven which is right up my alley), I'd buy anything they put out
1. Eloy: Reincarnation on Stage
2. Mystery: Live in Poznan
3. Mostly Autumn: Sight of Day
4. Transatlantic: Kaleidoscope
5. Mystery: Caught in the Whirlwind of Time
Honorable Mentions
Steve Hackett: Selling England By the Pound & Spectral Mornings - Live at Hammersmith
Flower Kings: Banks of Eden
Arena: Seventh Degree of Separation
Mystery: Lies and Butterflies
Agusa: Live in Rome
Kudos for including Eloy at No.1. That’s a fantastic live double cd recording documenting so many great tracks from throughout their long career.
Needlepoint, Norwegian Prog band, album Aimless Mary.
According to Bandcamp's "Anglagard" page, "Viljans Oga" was released in 2002....who is right - Bandcamp or Ken?
I'd have to go with Motorpsycho -----Death Defying Unicorn , The Tower, The Crucible, The All Is One
Frost---Falling Satellites
Moron Police--Defenders Of The Small Yard.
Arena - Double Vision
Riverside - Wasteland
Gazpacho - Soyuz
Vanden Plas - The Ghost Xperiment - Illumination
Pain of Salvation - Panther
I think Arena - Double Vision does not get mentioned enough. Good job.
My personal five are
5. Rivers of Nihil- Where Owls Know My Name
4. Ihsahn- After
3. Haken- The Mountain
2. Tesseract- Altered State
1. Orphaned Land- Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs
For me the self titled echolyn album from 2012 stands head and shoulders above the other stuff released that decade. It got a lot of buzz at the time. I bet if the band hadn't been dormant these past 5 years this album would have been on several of these lists.
1. Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (2013)
2. Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012)
3. Steve Hackett Beyond The Shrouded Horizon (2011)
4. Seventh Wonder The Great Escape (2010)
5. Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope (2014)
6. Epica - The Holographic Principle (2016)
7. Karnataka - Secret Of Angels (2015)
8. Neal Morse Band - The Great Adventure (2019)
9. The Flowers Kings - Islands (2020)
10. The Sea Within (2018)
Good prog list!
@@wolf1977 thank you my friend 👍
@@WarhawkBeyond2040 How 'bout Haken's The Mountain from 2013 (especially the Limited Edition)? I like that one a lot. There are really so many. I've seen people complain that the 2000's are lacking in great prog/fusion records but I don't think that's true at all (and I'm a nut for 70's music)
@@wolf1977 I disagree with people who say the 2000s are lacking lots of prog albums but i think there is still great music coming every month of the year but some sadly fall under the radar that never get spoken of. I think Haken's The Mountain album is fantastic and one of their best, every decade has great music, it just depends on what your tastes are and what you like.
@@WarhawkBeyond2040 I agree, although to me the 90's are the weakest music decade overall (followed by the 80's). Still I have tons of music released then so that goes to your point that there's great music released all the time. It should actually be easier than ever for people to find good new music with the internet, just take SoT for example, but I think people are either not putting in the effort or just don't care. The radio (and also music critics, magazines etc) to me is for all intents & purposes dead in terms of finding new music, but that's probably been true for a long time now
George - thank you for reminding me about Snarky Puppy. I loved We Like it Here when it came out and saw them live in 2017, but had lost touch since the pandemic started. Phenomenal band and 2014 album. Have you heard 2019's Immigrance or 2020's Royal Albert Hall releases? Do you like them?
The Puppy is great modern fusion: Immigrance, Snarky Puppy Live At The Ritz, Raleigh NC & We Like It Here (since 2000)
Yes. Immigrance is good, but not high in their discog, for me. Live at RAH, I was unimpressed with. Kind of a by the numbers, play the hits live album. Beyond We Like it Here, I really like 2015's Sylva. That's with an orchestra. Also, Ground Up..
@@georgelamie7001 I don't have Sylva but if it's with an orchestra then I'm dubious (but need to hear it). For Live At RAH I like two tracks: "While We're Young" & "Bad Kids To The Back", but At The Ritz to me is a better live record. From Groundup I only like "Bent Nails"
@@georgelamie7001 Thank you very much, George!
Imperial Age - Atlantis
Flower Kings - Islands
Flying Colors - S/T
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing
Kansas - The Absence Of Presence
Kepler ten - delta v
Mostly autumn - white rainbows
Pendragon - love over fear
Dream theater - distance over time
IQ - the road of bones
Chronological by year:
Future Past, Hasse Froberg and Musical Companion (2010)
Banks of Eden, The Flower Kings (2012)
Genesis Revisited II, Steve Hackett (2012) [some tracks may actually be definitives]
The Raven That Refused to Sing, Steven Wilson (2013)
Symphony of Light, Renaissance (2014)
The Grand Experiment, The Neal Morse Band (2015) [a perfect album]
The Depths of Winter, Tiger Moth Tales (2017)
Grand Tour, Big Big Train (2019) [my favorite band]
Live in NY, Martin Barre (2019)
Wired for Madness, Jordan Rudess (2019)
Honorable Mention: Several More Musiks, Kerry Livgren (2017) [a remake with additions]
1. Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape (2010)
2. Beardfish - Sleeping in Traffic, pt. 2 (2010)
3. Symphony X - Underworld (2015)
4. Dream Theater - Dream Theater (2013) I know many fans don't like this one. What can I say?... I do.
5. Wobbler - Dweller's of the Deep (2020)
*Seventh Wonder - Tiara, would have made this list, but I didn't want to duplicate bands.
Threshold - Legends of the Shires
Mostly Autumn - White Rainbow
Arena - The unquiet sky
Lonely Robot - The Big Dream
Lifesigns - Cardington
Crystal Palace - Dawn of Eternity
Touchstone - The City Sleeps
Dream Theater - A Dramatic turn of events
Pallas - XXV
Symphony X - Underworld
Kansas - The absence of Presence
Teramaze - Her Halo
So many great albums there Stephen. I could easily have made a top 30 or 40 for my list!
@@TranquilityFireReid Yes me too, brilliant show and some more albums for me to check out.
@@stephennorris2524 Same here! lol!!
Great show as always guys thanks! Hey Rick, we are about the same age and I went to J. L. Forster...where did you go?
I went to school near there.
I moved a lot when I was a kid. Immaculate Conception was the school near you but only for 2 years
my top 5 i hope they fit the prog purity lol 5 -Rivers of NIhl-Where Owls know my Name 4 -Vektor -terminal redux, 3-Enslaved-Utgard-2 Borknagar -Winter Thrice-1 -Haken the MOuntain in agreement with Rick Labonte it deserves to be named.
Fates Warning - Theories of Flight
Final Conflict - Return of the Artisan
Galahad - Beyond the Realms of Euphoria
Sean Filkins - War & Peace & Other Short Stories
Lazuli - 4603 Battements
Light Damage - Light Damage
DeeExpus - The King of Number 33
Comedy of Errors - Disobey/Fanfare & Fantasy
Clepsydra - The Gap
Opeth - In Cauda Venenum
You missed one of the greatest albums of the decade, of any genre: Devin Townsend - Empath. Creativity in the songwriting/arranging is off the charts, Devin's voice is incredible, and the lyrics, unusually for prog, are very powerful and moving. It's Townsend's magnum opus, pulling out all the stops (orchestra, chorus, three drummers, etc) with every imaginable style of music covered, brilliantly. Yet somehow it is cohesive and compelling, especially after multiple listens. Even more amazingly, he pulls off most of the songs live, chronicled on the Empath Live DVD. Easily one of the best albums of the decade.
1. Spock's Beard - Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
2. Iapetus - The Body Cosmic
3. Pendragon - Love over Fear
4. Haken - Virus
5. Isildur's Bane & Steve Hogarth - Colours not Found in Nature
H.M. in somewhat order
Riverside - Love Fear and the Time Machine
Caligula's Horse - Rise Radiant
Magic Pie - King for a Day
Lunatic Soul - Through Shaded Woods
Psychotic Waltz - The God-Shaped Void
Green Carnation - Leaves of Yesteryear
Flying Colors - Second Nature
Steve Hackett - The Night Siren
Fish - A Feast Of Consequences
Opeth - Sorceress
Beardfish - Mammoth
Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
Fates Warning - Theories Of Flight
Arch/Matheos - Winter Ethereal
Gong - The Universe also Collapses
Big Big Train - English Electric Full Steam
Baroness - Yellow & Green
The Neal Morse Band - The Similitude Of A Dream
Marillion - F.E.A.R.
Steven Wilson - The Raven
Coogan's Bluff - Metronopolis
The Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness
Airbag - A Day at the Beach
Wobbler - From Silence to Somewhere
Surprised Devin didn't get a run. Empath or Deconstruction.
Love the Wobbler recommendation
You're right, Devin at least deserved to be in my honourable mentions. Thanks for watching.
@@TranquilityFireReid love your work!
@@cwang6951 Thanks Cwang!
1. Rush- Clockwork Angels
2. Pink Floyd- The Endless River
3. Kansas- The Prelude Implicit
4. Styx- The Mission
5. Steve Wilson- The Raven Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
6. Asia- Gravitas
7. Yes- The Quest
8. Dream Theater- Distance Over Time
9. Kansas- The Absence of Presence
10. Styx- Crash of the Crown
I'm starting to think I'm the only huge fan of Airbag in the U.S. Nobody on this channel mentions them even though they share a bass player with Wobbler.
Shawn I totally agree. I love the band but never meet anyone who has heard of them.
Vezhlivy Otkaz - Gusi-Lebedi
Pikapika Teart - Moonberry
Alec K Redfearn & The Eyesores - Sister Death
Far Corner - Risk
Thinking Plague - Decline & Fall
Yet again, Ken and George are making me spend more money....
You are welcome!
Ayreon:The Theory Of Everything 2013
Opeth: Heritage 2011
Without Ranking
Wobbler - Dwellers of the Deep
Astra - The Black Chord
Arabs in Aspic - Madness and Magic
Anekdoten - Until all the Ghosts are gone
Brian Ellis Group - Escondido Sessions
1973, prog-rock behemoth Emerson Lake & Palmer unleashed their ultimate album: Brain Salad Surgery, the record
Seven Impale - City of the sun
Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I
Haken - Vector
Jordsjø - Pastoralia
1:21:25 Wait, you didn't drink?
All traps on earth 2019
ANEKDOTEN 2015 "If Summer had it's Ghosts"
KHADAVRA "Hypnogogia"
(2019)
StrawbS " Prognostic" (2014)
ANGLAGARD " Viljens Oga"
Lifesigns "Cardinton"
Steve Hackett
" Wolflight"
" Surender of Silence"
" Genesis Revisited II"
No Weather Systems by Anathema (I'm weeping)
Interesting.. I thought the first two tracks and The Storm Before the Calm were amazing but the rest of the tracks varied from boring to terrible.. We're Here Because we're here was much more consistent imo.
Echolyn - 2012
I'll throw in *The Suburbs* by Arcade Fire.
In random order
Hand cannot erase by Steven Wilson
Lullabies of a car crash by Bjorn riis
A day at the beach by Airbag
White rainbow by Mostly autumn
Wasteland by Riverside.
Too hard, come on... off the top of my head then:
Elder - Lore
Big Big Train - English Electric 1 & 2
The Amazing - Picture You
Pyramidal - Dawn in Space
Tides From Nebula - Eternal Movement