Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

This is from the top ten unknown prog albums thread.
I suppose the idea here is to pick obscure bands as well. So, here goes:

In no particular order:

1. Dryve - Thrifty Mr. Kickstar - [Southern/country rock]
2. Chasing Furies - With Abandon - [Alternative]
3. The Seventy Sevens - Tom Tom Blues, A Golden Field of Radioactive Crows, EP, Pray Naked, Drowning with Land in Sight - [Alternative/Blues Rock] - (Yeah, that's four and a half albums. Sue me).
4. Jars of Clay - The Long Fall Back to Earth, Jars of Clay, Who We Are Instead, Good Monsters - [Alternative/Pop-Rock/Americana] - (Yeah, that's four albums. Sue me).
5. Audio Adrenaline - Bloom - [Christian Rock]
6. Mary Chapin Carpenter - Stones in the Road - [Americana/Folk Rock/Traditional Country]
7. Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris - All the Roadrunning - [Americana/Folk Rock/Traditional Country]
8. Sunny Day Real Estate - How It Feels to Be Something On, The Rising Tide - [Alternative] - (Yeah, that's two albums. Sue Me).
9. The Fire Theft - The Fire Theft - [Alternative]
10. The Prayer Chain - Mercury - [WAY ahead of it's time, noisy, super-amazing, Alternative/Wall of Sound]

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

OCD must be a bitch.

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Hey, I was at work on auto-pilot. It filled the time!

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Anyone else? Anyone got ten albums to recommend that aren't prog? Anyone?

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Jonathan Richmond and the Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Modern_Lovers_(album)

From "Pablo Picasso":

Well some people try to pick up girls
And get called assholes
This never happened to Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist his stare and
So Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

I will try to limit my list to bands that I believe maybe unknown to a Prog Fan:

Dada - Puzzle
Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend
Three Man Army - A Third of a Lifetime
Josh Joplin - Useful Music
Dust - HArd Attack
Buffalo - Volcanic Rock
The Posies - Frosting on the Beater
Television - Marquee Moon
Over the Rhine - Good Dog, Bad Dog: The Home Recordings
Bang - s/t

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

I have Puzzle and Marquee Moon, and while I have no Over the Rhine, I really like them too. Not a fan of the Posies or Matthew Sweet, but the rest are unkown to me. Now I've got new stuff to check out. Thanks, MM.

Never heard of them, but again, something to check out. Thanks, artw.

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Yaz, I would normally agree with you on The Posies, but for that one album they caught lightning in a bottle.

Regarding Matthew Sweet, I'm surprised you don't like "Girlfriend" given that you like Television. I believe that the same guitarist plays on both. FWIW, "Girlfriend" is a desert Island cd for me. Matthew Sweet went through a rough breakup during this time. Isn't it great when artists go through intense emotional crises? ;)

Another great album around the same time is CANDLEBOX - s/t. Another instance of a band whose other albums blow chunks, but who caught lightning in a blottle for that one lone album. IMHO, of course.

Karl

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Not sure these albums are unknown but I'm sure not so many prog freaks have heard of these 10 brilliant albums :

* MAGAZINE - Secondhand Daylight (1979)
* WATERBOYS - This is the Sea (1985)
* JUDIE TZUKE - The Cat is Out (1985)
* LOUIS TILLETT - Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell (1987)
* GREEN ON RED - Here Come The Snakes (1988)
* DREAM SYNDICATE - Ghost Stories (1988)
* DIED PRETTY - Every Brilliant Eye (1990)
* SIDEWINDERS - Auntie Ramoz Pool Hall (1990)
* MAZZY STAR - So Tonight That I Might See (1993)
* BRUNO DENECKERE - Someday (2006)

Greetings,

ErikM

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Well, the only one I've even heard of is Mazzy Star.

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Was just turned on to great non-prog album from 1991:

The Bevis Frond - New River Head

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Here are 10 bands/albums I'd imagine most people here haven't heard. This list focuses more on pop that isn't annoying to listen to...for me. lol

I dug up youtube videos for all of these. sometimes, I couldn't find the songs I was looking for, but it'll at least give you an idea...

Bel Canto - Shimmering, Warm and Bright
(european alternative pop. fem vox. almost every song has a different feel to it. Birds of Passage is also an excellent album.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWWj8nIvAfc Shimmering, Warm and Bright
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CBnq1RpqeY The Glassmaker

Snakefarm - Snakefarm
(female euro pop singer & a guitarist from Univers Zero do folk/blues laced pop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuzrgu55lkA St. James

The Origin - The Origin
(acoustic pop. I prefer the first album, but I'm pretty alone in that, I'd guess. either way, both are gems, imho)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xejTtBEigos Ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzaXtdgriE Racing With The Moon

Orbital - Snivilisation
(electronic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSZmQdvJA6A Kein Trink Wasser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTq3XytpBz0 Forever

Frazier Chorus - Sue
(very nice euro pop sound)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHABX7VqEk Sugar High
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jciixzij3w If the Weather Was Up To Me

Single Gun Theory - Like Stars in My Hands
(alternative pop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k7jBTmyI1Y Words Written Backwards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hrhmj9hzjE Surrender

Waxing Poetics - Hermitage
(bluesy pop. youtube fails miserably at showcasing this band. lol. I've linked the two studio tracks from the band that I found, and a retrospective. both of these albums are good, imho. I looked for Hermitage for well over a decade before it showed up on itunes...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD4VYJxuHOA This Parade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKp-6aVQa3I Needles In The Camel's Eye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQZZMUC4lCM Happy Days

Lunasa - Lunasa
(celtic. this album is excellent. I haven't heard any of their others, but I love the first one.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t__oMvQAbA Márta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7BFLAGIJU Eanair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05unb_LWDA8 Luil

Claire Hamill - Voices
(new agey? Wonderful, wonderful album. This album is actually on the Moon. All sounds on the album come from her voice. A real treasure, IMHO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37I7egeAtSY Tides
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=movHvgaiA34 Spring Awaken...Larkrise

Il Berlione - Il Berlione (you knew this was going to be here. lol)
(prog. jazz. whatever. sadly, some of the best songs are not on youtube yet. grrr)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cp27HL3tlM Make You Die, Your Brain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEjY1x7oU3A A Triple Role
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24B5AXDMHAI Giant Image of Buddha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki1bE30xjBw Koenji Sake Bar


Bonus video. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isn't anywhere near as good as this song (it's not bad at all, just not amazing like this).
Dark - Trilok
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9LJ1rPQSd4

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

ok, so Richard Lloyd played on Girlfriend, not Tom Verlaine. I don't remember Matthew Sweet sounding much like Television at all, but I can't say that I listened to a lot of it.

Marquee Moon was fabulous. Adventures was ok. Television's third album was pretty average except for a couple tracks too. (all IMHO)

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

I was actually replying to a comment from Yesspaz. I never head any of the other Television albums b/c I heard they weren't that good. That is why I just listed Marquee Moon as a top album.

Actually the guitar is quite good on the Matthew Sweet album "Girlfriend." There is the duel guitar attack of Richard Lloyd and Robert Quine ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Quine ). His other albums are not near as good ("Altered Beast" coming the closest), and that is why I didn't list them on my top 10 list.

Karl

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

right. and I was replying to that comment. you said that you couldn't believe he liked Marquee Moon, but not Girlfriend, and I said that I didn't remember them sounding alike.

yeah, I just figured I'd add the extra info, since I was already here. The other albums aren't terrible, but they aren't as good as Marquee Moon.

I haven't heard it since it came out. I just remember not being terribly impressed by it at the time. perhaps it's worth another spin...

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

I actually do like quite a bit electronica, and Orbital is good.

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

I never said that the two albums sounded alike, as they are from different genres (Punk vs. Power Pop). What I believe made Marquee Moon great, which is its angular guitar solos, is also present on "Girlfriend." There are some very unique guitar parts on "Girlfriend" which I would think that if someone liked Marque Moon they would like these (with the added benefit of sharing a guitarist). This is only my opinion and you may not agree. However, there are some ballads on "Girlfriend" (guitar played by Matthew Sweet) which I think are very well done, but others may hate them.

Girlfriend is kind of a concept album as it takes you through Matthew Sweet's first meeting his girfirend, dating, getting married and the slow deterioration of that marriage until finally a divorce (if I remember there are one or two non-related songs at the end that should have probably not been included. Not that they're not good, they just don't fit the concept). The album is a very emotional car ride that I believe is done very well.

Remember, these are non-prog albums and will not be liked by some/most progressive rock listeners. If you'll note, my list is very guitar centric (a few exceptions: Josh Joplin and Over the Rhine), as my favorite music has tended to have a harder edge. I do enjoy dynamics though, and the heavy/soft contrast in "Girlfriend" is something that I look for in music.

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Here is my trippy little shortlist:

ELUVIUM-Copia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copia_(album))
Brilliant symphonic ambient beauty...utterly breathtaking and melodic. This is easily at the top of my list for friends who appreciate amazing music.

PHISH-Live Phish Volume 4 Japan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Phish_Volume_4)
Not your usual Phish/jamband shite...more like psychedelic ambient excusions and minimal prog-funk. They partook in ceremonial psilosybin-tea before the second set according to legend....

OTT-Skylon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylon_(album))
Psychedelic electronic dub filtered through a Goa lens. Simply amazing...chill and funky at the same time. And stunningly laidback...

SLINT-Spiderland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiderland)
Magnificent "math rock" or "post rock" or whatever the critics call it. Melodic, epic, reflective, and triumphant. Simple yet orchestral by virtue of purpose.

UNDERWORLD-Dubnobasswithmyheadman(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubnobasswithmyheadman)
Original progressive House music. REALLY there. On ONE before that meant pants. Cerebral, cosmic, and totally strange. The first wave of ravemusic shares roots with psychedelia and prog actually.

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

I have a stack of Eluvium I'm planning to donate to AM, just haven't gotten around to it yet. I have Spiderland too, as well as the EP, and I've thought of donating it, but it's a tad punkish and raw in places, and haven't decided yet. Think I should?

Re: Ten Best Albums No One's Ever Heard (from the non-prog world)
 

Searching for something in the forums and came across this. Figured I'd bump it up.