The Album that finally "grabbed you"(2014 Edition)

[progman1975]

What's the one record that you finally "GOT" in 2014 and you were glad you did...

National Health - Of Queues and Cures

This one of those records that you have in your collection knowing its revered by most but not clicked by me. Finally, after playing it on my **new* system last night
with a glass of tea, BOOM...What a record. Stewarts playing is out of this world. The above track is my favorite right now. So glad I gave it another chance.

[JKL2000]

This is going to sound weird, but for me it's:

Yes - Close to the Edge

I've had this for a long time, and always went straight to And You And I, which I liked best. I'd really only heard the other two tracks a couple of times each (I've never listened to much live Yes). But after getting the SW reissue I listened to the album several times and realized the other two tracks are pretty much as good and classic.

[helicase]

Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
I've always enjoyed this as a fine TD album, but until recently I didn't get why many consider it a classic. Now it's up there with my favourite TD albums (still behind Ricochet, though).

[miamiscot]

Jethro Tull - A Passion Play

I've fallen so hard for this little masterpiece this year that I even love the ridiculous Hare and the Spectacles bit in the middle. Man, I have hated this record my whole life and then, like a bolt of lightning, I got it.

[bob_32_116]

I wouldn't have a record in my collection if it had not already "clicked" for me.

Perhaps the closest that an album has come to that is a certain album that I bought, having heard a couple of tracks and liked them. When I heard the whole album, I scratched my head in disbelief. Some of the tracks were just so out there, and so different from this artist's previous work, that I wondered whether I had wasted my money. Over time however I have come to appreciate those odd tracks and it's an album I find myself returning to.

That album: Joni Mitchell - Don Juan's Reckless Daughter.

[ca1ore]

This is going to sound weird, but for me it's:

Yes - Close to the Edge

I've had this for a long time, and always went straight to And You And I, which I liked best. I'd really only heard the other two tracks a couple of times each (I've never listened to much live Yes). But after getting the SW reissue I listened to the album several times and realized the other two tracks are pretty much as good and classic.

Funnily enough, same for me. I'd hoped the same would be true for Passion Play and Relayer, but alas, I still think they are mediocre (at best) even in surround.

[Liquid Tension]

Serdce - Timelessness
This has enough aggression and progression while still having a flow to the music...

http://blood-music.bandcamp.com/album/timelessness

Enjoy..

[Lieto]

That album: Joni Mitchell - Don Juan's Reckless Daughter.

Incredible album isn't it?? There's been a few that I have rediscovered and loved, but the most recent for me is Rush: Grace Under Pressure. I've always loved tunes like Kid Gloves Red Lenses, but this fall I've grown to love every tune, and the production is wonderful. Now I think it's one of Rush's strongest albums ever. Afterimage is stellar

[zombywoof]

This is a good question!

Univers Zero's debut. I put it on earlier this year and it hit me how great it is - particularly Denis' drum work. WOW.

Jethro Tull's WarChild. Always been a heavy Tull-o-phile, but Steven Wilson's remix a few times, on a good set of speakers and WOAH, it's one of my favorites now! Plus, the bonus tracks on disc two give this period a lot more context ...

King Crimson's Starless and Bible Black. Always overlooked this one, but now it's one of my favorites.

I'm sure there's more ...

[SteveSly]

Johnny Cash - Live At Folsum Prison

I posted about this earlier in the year, but I have been on a live albums kick lately and decided to pick this up soley based on it rating on so many best ever live albums lists. I don't normally listen to anything close to country, and Cash has never been my thing either for the most part, but this album is fantastic.

[arturs]

Journey to the Centre of the Earth. I've owned it on vinyl for ~35 years. I always thought there were a few brilliant bits here and there but I never could get beyond what I perceived as the cheese...

This past summer I bought the re-recording and found it a very enjoyable car cd, start to finish.

[Reid]

Jethro Tull's WarChild. Always been a heavy Tull-o-phile, but Steven Wilson's remix a few times, on a good set of speakers and WOAH, it's one of my favorites now! Plus, the bonus tracks on disc two give this period a lot more context ...

I've always like side two of the original album, but side one finally clicked. And the bonus tracks are great! As for the Passion Play set, I like the bonus sessions more than the album proper.

[arturs]

Johnny Cash - Live At Folsum Prison

I posted about this earlier in the year, but I have been on a live albums kick lately and decided to pick this up soley based on it rating on so many best ever live albums lists. I don't normally listen to anything close to country, and Cash has never been my thing either for the most part, but this album is fantastic.

I went through a big JC phase about a decade ago. I listened to a lot of Folsum. The album is worthy of its classic status in a sense that it is bigger than the music. It really gives the listener a sense of being in a prison back then and the desperation of all those "fans" whooping and hollering. But as for listening to it now, it creeps me out. When Cash sings "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" and audience goes nuts... It's just a little *too* nuts for me.

[zombywoof]

I've always like side two of the original album, but side one finally clicked. And the bonus tracks are great! As for the Passion Play set, I like the bonus sessions more than the album proper.

Exact opposite for me. I really liked WarChild, Queen and Country, Backdoor Angels, Sealion, but I could never really get into Side 2. It was through SWilson's remix that the complexity of The Third Hoorah finally revealed itself to me and now I love it.

[Garden Dreamer]

Not prog, but what finally clicked for me was "III" from stoner band Sasquatch, released in 2012. I already dug "II" and got "III" when it came out but something about it didn't grab me. After "IV" came out this year, I revisited "III" and now consider it just as great as the two albums sandwiching it.

[trurl]

Funnily enough, same for me. I'd hoped the same would be true for Passion Play and Relayer, but alas, I still think they are mediocre (at best) even in surround.

Well alrighty then.

[SteveSly]

I went through a big JC phase about a decade ago. I listened to a lot of Folsum. The album is worthy of its classic status in a sense that it is bigger than the music. It really gives the listener a sense of being in a prison back then and the desperation of all those "fans" whooping and hollering. But as for listening to it now, it creeps me out. When Cash sings "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" and audience goes nuts... It's just a little *too* nuts for me.

I know exactly what you mean. When he sings that line and an audience full of convicts all sound like they are jumping out of their seats........yea, it does not give one a pleasent feeling. In fact there are several moments on the album that kind of make you squirm, but to some extent that is why it works so well. He certainly was playing a set specifically geared towards the audience he was performing in front of.

[Soc Prof]

The Flower Kings--Space Revolver.
I used to only like the opening and closing tracks plus Chicken Farmer. Now I appreciate the whole thing.

[TheLoony]

Dude, seriously, this Circle of Illusion Jeremias Windbag(whatever) kicks ass. It's not that old but damn, this is one trippy trip into the mind that works for me. Crazy heavy proggy disco metal meets the Rocky Horror Picture Show

I feel like channeling Sam Elliot in Robot Chicken:

Circle of Illusion: Frak yeah.

Just watching that again I was in tears. Here:

[Reid]

It was through SWilson's remix that the complexity of The Third Hoorah finally revealed itself to me and now I love it.

That's the best tune on the album, for me. Anderson's vocal performance is tops!

[Ten Thumbs]

Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking
Bought it the 1970s because a friend highly recommended it. It didn't click then and sat dormant in boxes or on the shelf until this year when I gave it a headphone play. Was one of those why did I wait so long to play this moments.

[gryphs also]

Good thread. Nothing during 2014 but I do remember that in 2013 after being a VDGG/pH fanboy for over 30 years, I finally got H to He.

[progeezer's ghost]

PT has been one of my all-time favorite bands for years, and I own all of their (studio) output (as well as two live dvds), but rarely (up until recently) have I spun anything that predates Signify ('96). I have to say The Sky Moves Sideways ('94) and Voyage 34 ('93), Up the Downstair ('92, I think), and to a lesser extent On the Sunday of Life ('88-91) have finally 'clicked' for me for different reasons. While I would never put him in the same league as a Gavin Harrison, Chris Maitland is one drummer that (to my ears, anyway) is criminally underrated.

[bob_32_116]

PT has been one of my all-time favorite bands for years, and I own all their (studio) output ((as well as olive dads)((as(, but rarely (up until recently) have I spun anything that predates Signify ('96). I have to say The Sky Moves Sideways ('94) and Voyage 34 ('93), Up the Downstair ('92, I think) and to a lesser extent On the Sunday of Life ('88-91) have finally 'clicked' for me for different reasons. While I would never put him in the same league as a Gavin Harrison, Chris Maitland is one drummer that (to my ears, anyway) is criminally underrated.

Up the Downstair is incredibly good, especially the last three tracks, which I always consider a suite.

Depending on which version you have, though, you could be hearing Gavin there on drums. He played on the 2005 remastered release of utD. There seems to be disagreement among PT fans over whether or not this remaster was an improvement over the original release. I can't judge, not having heard the original.

[Adm.Kirk]

For me, it was Neil Young's Greendale album that finally clicked. I've had it since the day of release and later sprung for the vinyl box set but it never did much for me until a month or so ago. Pulled it back out and it all fell into place. Great record.

Bill