Another thread (http://www.progressiveears.org/forum...-s-vs-the-10-s) is comparing this decade with the previous. It got me thinking that I don't have a good handle on which of the new stuff is made to last. Anyone want to volunteer a good word for a few strong albums?
No top-1000 lists, or cut-and-pastes from RateYourMusic, please.
... “there’s a million ways to learn” (which there are, by the way), but ironically, there’s a million things to eat, I’m just not sure I want to eat them all. -- Jeff Berlin
Here's one,
Förträngt Hushållsarbete Offret om att Älska... (2003)
-Swedish avant prog that's actually fun to listen too. Very original sound
I'll put up some more later...
no tunes, no dynamics, no nosebone
my top 2010's albums:
La Desooorden - El Andarín
William D Drake - The Rising of the Lights
Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion
The Winstons - The Winstons
Amoeba Split - Dance of the Goodbyes
David Bowie - Blackstar
Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora’s Pinata
Discipline - To Shatter All Accord
Gösta Berlings Saga - Glue Works
Hokr - Zahráté Brzdy Optimismu
Magma - Félicité Thösz
Malady - Malady
Swans - The Seer
Thinking Plague - Decline and Fall
Steveb Wilson - Hand. Cannot. Erase.
my favs from 2010 to now (just the top of the tops)
Asturias Missing Piece of My Life
Asturias Fractals
Alco Frisbass Alco Frisbass
Änglagård Viljans Öga
Asturias Elementals
Asturias At the Edge of the World
Caillou Caillou
Cobham, Billy Spectrum 40 Live
F.M. Transformation
Human Factor Homo Universum
Maat Lander The Birth Of Maat's Galaxy
Madden, Christian The Wrecking Place
Panzerpappa Pestrottedans
Pink Floyd The Endless River
Rothery, Steve The Ghosts of Pripyat
Ske (Paolo 'Ske' Botta) 1000 Autunni
Tubo Elastico, El El Tubo Elastico
Worrell, Bernie / Orchestra BWO is Landing
Agusa Katarsis
Clarke, Stanley / Band The Stanley Clarke Band
Eccentric Orbit Creation of the Humanoids
Endless Season Endless Season
Eyot Similarity
Gösta Berlings Saga Sersophane
Grand General Grand General
Henderson, Scott and Tribal Tech X
Hooffoot Hooffoot
Jaga Jazzist Starfire
Jam It! Following the Unknown
Levin / Minnemann / Rudess
Mad Fellaz Mad Fellaz
Neander, Ali / Helmut Hattler Ali Neander featuring Hellmut Hattler
Quantum Fantay Dancing in Limbo
Special Providence Soul Alert
Steam Theory Enduring Delirium
Stella Lee Jones Escape from Reality
Willis, Gary Larger Than Life
Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?
Prog only?
My absolute favorite of the last few years is: The blue ship ~ The executioners lover
https://theblueship.bandcamp.com/
Why? It is complex, intense and melodic but most importantly; there is nothing else in my collection that sounds quite like it.
recommended tracks: Try "the parting of the ways' or "the horror' for hot blooded prog or "Aging Madonna' for a more standard pop track.
I agree this is one of the most interesting 'progressive' albums of the last 15 years.Originally Posted by nosebone
re: The Blue Ship. Also intensely interesting, but arguably too dense for me to position until I've had the time to actually digest it for another five years or so. AltrOck has issued so many glittering golds that it's almost frightening. In their roster, about 4/5 constitute what I'd call genuinely *important* titles. You'd go a long way taking in this one single label alone.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Never mind the gnosis grades before the albums... it's still a mess
so no particular order
12 Youssef, Dhafer - Abu Nawas Rhapsody
11 BASta! - Cycles
11 Aka Moon - Unison
11 Änglagård - Viljans Ögan
12 Cassol, Fabrizio - Strange Fruit
13 Maalouf, Ibrahim - Illusions
12 Wrong Object - After the Exhibition
11 Miriodor - Cobra Fakir
13 Setna - Guerison
12 GoGo Penguin - V2.0
12 Perret, Guillaume & The Electric Epic - Open Me
11 Heliocentrics & Orlando Julius - Jaiyede Afro
13 Maalouf, Ibrahim - Red and Black Light
13 Washington, Kamasi - The Epic
12 Aka Balkan Moon & AlefBa - Double Live
12 Anekdoten- Until All the Ghosts are Gone
12 Rêve Général - Howl!
12 Scherzoo - 03
12 Gösta Berlings Saga - Sersophane
12 King Crimson - Radical Action
12 Shabaka and the Ancestors - Wisdom of Elders
11 GoGo Penguin - Man Made Object
11 Perret, Guillaume - Free
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
Good record but wrong decade I think...
Schooltree: Rise, Heterotopia (which is really amazing and needs more attention here)
Big Big Train: English Electric 1 & 2
Hackett: Wolflight
Panic Room: Incarnate
Anglagard Viljans Ogan
Big Big Train Folklore
Neal Morse Band The Similitude Of A Dream
The Flower Kings Banks Of Eden
Anderson/Stolt Invention Of Knowledge
The Tangent A Spark In The Aether
Anekdoten Until All The Ghosts Are Gone
Cheer-Accident No Ifs Ands Or Dogs
These New Puritans Field Of Reeds
Knifeworld Bottled Out Of Eden
Steven Wilson The Raven That Refused To Sing
Haken The Mountain
The Prog Corner
I don't know your taste very well, and I don't want to overwhelm you with a long list. Additionally, I'll try to stick to your criteria of "made to last" as opposed to stuff that just makes me happy to hear.
Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here (2010): Although they have been around as a gothic/doom metal band, this more "prog rock" approach put them on the map with many who weren't previously fans. It is somewhat like the Damnation album from Opeth from that standpoint.
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning (2011): Nothing needs said here, but I personally feel that this album has the greatest potential to be made to last.
Astra - The Black Chord (2012): Very solid retro album from this US band that mixes psych, symph, and space rock.
Ben Monder - Hydra (2013): By day, a highly sought after session jazz guitarist. By night, he is HYDRA. This is quite an album, mixing jazz with fiery fusion and washes of choral voices. If you like ECM, Crimson, and Theo Bleckmann, this is a gem.
Setna - Guerison (2013): The best Zeuhl album of the decade so far. Both Setna albums are good, but this took a step forward.
Seven Impale - City of the Sun (2014): Genre bending, dynamic, and high energy, with stylings reminiscent of Crimson and VdGG.
Sonar - Static Motion (2014): If you're familiar with Nik Bartsch, Sonar is similar in the sense of the music being minimalist, with a groove, always feeling a little tension while you're listening. In this case, the dominant instrument is guitar. And the mathematical approach invokes modern Crimson.
Ghost Rhythms - Madeleine (2015): A wondrous 2CD concept album that is difficult to describe, but somewhere between jazz, classical, and progressive rock.
Hooffoot - s/t (2015): A fantastic retro-prog effort and the top rated album for Gnosis for 2015. Consists of two side-long tracks.
Motorpsycho - Here Be Monsters (2016): Perhaps other albums could be chosen here, but I think the quality of Motorpsycho's output this decade is difficult to match, and they are still very much under the radar. I find the tracks on this release to be increasingly addicting.
The Winstons - s/t (2016): At times sounding like a lost psych album from 1970, but has a modern compositional style that can't be ignored. In the end, difficult to describe, but it works.
Heliocentrics - A World of Masks (2017): A crazy mix of psych of and jazz, with the ability to slip between these worlds effortlessly.
WANTED: Sig-worthy quote.
This one belongs. Going on two years on release, it's still supremely listenable and loveable - and close to timeless in sound. A practically flawless album, start to finish. How the hell will they ever even hope to followup?!
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
That's a pretty long list. I don't think I'm speaking for just myself when I say there's no way I'm going to sit down and listen to all of them. Are there any that you like enough to pick them out of the list and say a few words about?
... “there’s a million ways to learn” (which there are, by the way), but ironically, there’s a million things to eat, I’m just not sure I want to eat them all. -- Jeff Berlin
That's a pretty long list. I don't think I'm speaking for just myself when I say there's no way I'm going to sit down and listen to all of them. Are there any that you like enough to pick them out of the list and say a few words about?
... “there’s a million ways to learn” (which there are, by the way), but ironically, there’s a million things to eat, I’m just not sure I want to eat them all. -- Jeff Berlin
This is my second favorite from the last few years (after the Blue ship)
Other favorites:
Ske ~ 1000 Autunni - A great mix between avant prog and retro prog
Aranis -Made in belgium II . Acoustic belgium chamber rock. My second favorite album of theirs after Songs from Mirage from 2009.
Rational Diet ~ On Phenomena and existences. Avant prog like Univers Zero played with great skill and intensity.
This is brilliant. Thanks for your generosity in taking the time to describe these albums. It's very helpful, hopefully not just to me.
I listened to "Guerison" which is interesting and pleasant; kind of a jazz/Zeuhl hybrid, to my ears.
... “there’s a million ways to learn” (which there are, by the way), but ironically, there’s a million things to eat, I’m just not sure I want to eat them all. -- Jeff Berlin
If you like stuff that sits in the intersection of Prog and Fusion, similar to the Bruford stuff, then I'd highly recommend these:
Accordo dei Contrari - Kublai (2011), AdC (2014) and Violato Intatto (2017)
Asturias - Fractals (2011)
Baraka - Inner Resonance (2010)
Helmet of Gnats - High Street (2010)
Dean Watson - Unsettled (2010), Imposing Elements (2012), Fantisizer! (2014), and Sum of Parts (2017)
My personal favorite of the bands that blend Prog with poppier/more accessible elements:
Sanguine Hum - Diving Bell (2011), The Weight of the World (2013)
Classic Prog with some avant touches:
Deus Ex Machina - Devoto (2016)
Happy Family - Minimal Gods (2014)
Media Banda - Siendo Perro, (2010), Bombas en el Aire (2017)
Nerve Institute - Architects of Flesh-Density (2011), Fictions (2015)
Great full on symph styled Prog:
Kotebel - Concerto for Piano and Electric Ensemble (2012), Cosmology (2017)
Thieves' Kitchen - The Clockwork Universe (2015)
My "under the radar" pick, fantastic Argentine Prog with tango influences and a modern sound:
Pampa Trash - Ya Fue' (2014)
I bolded the ones that I think are the very best of these, but really they're all top notch in my book.
Bill
2002
no tunes, no dynamics, no nosebone
Vezhlivy Otkaz - Gusi Lebedi - Russian Avant Folk Rock
Pikapika Teart - Moonberry - Siberian Chamber Rock with an ethereal quality
Ske ~ 1000 Autunni - avant / retro rock from the Yugen keys man
Chrome Hoof - Chrome Black Gold - bonkers multi genre crossover with terrific vocalist and energy for days. Electronica, Rock, Cabaret, etc
Knifeworld - The Unravelling - modern edgy pop full of hooks
PoiL - Brossaklit - French punky band with turn on a dime technique and bouncy energetic songs
Cellar & Point - Ambit - modern NY minimalist chamber jazz
Reve General - Howl - new band blending Volapuk & Metamorphosis, Chamber Rock with Cello's & Violins prominent
Guapo - Obscure Knowledge - modern instrumental heavy Zeuhl / Art Rock
Schnellertollermeier - X - brutal prog/jazz heavily rehearsed assault trio
Bent Knee - Shiny Eyed Babies - Boston based art pop band
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/
Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
I blame Wynton, what was the question?
There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.
Uh-oh.
... “there’s a million ways to learn” (which there are, by the way), but ironically, there’s a million things to eat, I’m just not sure I want to eat them all. -- Jeff Berlin
No, Oh Hell Yeah!
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
-- Aristotle
Nostalgia, you know, ain't what it used to be. Furthermore, they tells me, it never was.
“A Man Who Does Not Read Has No Appreciable Advantage Over the Man Who Cannot Read” - Mark Twain
I don't buy tons of current stuff, so there's a lot that I haven't heard. These are the ones that come to mind first, at least as far as Prog-Rock:
3) Regal Worm -Use and Ornament
2013
2) The Nerve Institute -Architects of Flesh Density 2011
1) Roz Vitalis -Lavoro D'amore 2015
All of these are Symphonic, or at least traditional Prog-Rock, with the intricacy level amped up. Creativity with something extra.
Honorable mentions...Kotebel was mentioned above, and they're very good, but for me, another current Spanish band gets the nod:
Herba d'Hameli -Girafes a Serbia 2011 and Interiors 2015. Superb symphonic Prog-Rock with a very Catalan sound.
I give second votes to all of these, they could easily have made my list but didn't want to repeat suggestions.
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/
Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
I blame Wynton, what was the question?
There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.
The whole list is excellent, but these six in particular. Plus:
Hooffoot - (as already mentioned; add the smoky jazz-rock ingredient of early Nucleus et al.)
Aquaserge - A l'Amitié (French avant-pop-prog, seriously Canterbury-infected but oh so froggy still)
Discipline - To Shatter All Accord (US 'meta-level' retro progressive of highest personal caliber, and one of very few acts to credibly pull this exact thing off)
Kayo Dot - Coyote (US expressionist chamber-rock with post-metal credentials intact; impeccably intense and dense stuff)
Upsilon Acrux - Sun Square Dialect (again a US band; challenging and ultra-detailed avant-garde math-rock - hear it before believing!)
Thumpermonkey - Sleep Furiously (UK band blending advanced indie-rock stylings and a sense of charge reminiscent of Dazzling Killmen, Shudder to Think etc.)
Hokr - Zahráté Brzdy Optimismu (gloomy and theatrical Czech unit, one of the most interesting Eastern European acts now)
Seven Impale - City of the Sun
Jack O' the Clock - All My Friends (highly refined folky narratives in through-composed song-form; utterly innovative and melodic as little else)
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
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