Comus' 1001 Albums you should listen to before you die

Spread the Camel! Always good

Album 978

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Bud Powell - The Amazing Bud Powell
Year: 1951

Ignore the CD re-issues with all the 12 extra tracks which are basically all unessecary extra takes. This is all about the 8 song, 1951 original release. And boy is it a wonderful release indeed. I love me some jazz, a lot of it really speaks to me, and while it's nice mixed with prog, it's so much more rewarding by itself with a nice glass of wine. This really is great, and way back then it showed a glimpse of the future of jazz. Every little bit here is just perfectly groovy, and it works so well. Bud's piano playing is absolutely masterful and it's a joy to listen to him work his stuff. As mentioned this is definitely one to listen to with a nice sofisticated drink and the company of good frienRAB.

3 Choice Tracks: Un Poco Loco, Wail, It Could Happen To You
 
Album 973

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Blackfoot - Strikes
Year: 1979

Delicious southern rock album here with all the makings of a classic, had it only been released earlier it would probably now enjoy classic status. From the hard rocking start to the epic Highway Song this has everything you'd ever want in a rock album. Straight to the point with great hooks, riRAB, solos and attitude. But by all means I don't feel that it sounRAB in anyway dated, it has a very timeless feel to it, and that's always a massive bonus. This is one to just rock out to.

3 Choice Tracks: Road Fever, Pay My Dues, Highway Song
 
K, since you lightweights can't even finish a 100 album thread, and since I'm greater and sexier than everyone, I'm going to try my hand at this. Albums are in no order, and only one album per band allowed, and no albums from the original 1001 list.

1951:
Bud Powell: The Amazing Bud Powell (978)
1956:
Charles Mingus: Pithecanthropus Erectus (969)
1957:
John Coltrane: Blue Train (957)
Miles Davis: 'Round About Midnight (967)
Thelonious Monk: Monk's Music (961)
1960:
Nat Adderley: Work Song (937)
1966:
The Sonics: Boom (983)
1967:
Donovan: Mellow Yellow (979)
1970:
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Lick My Decals Off, Baby (999)
King Crimson: Lizard (960)
1971:
Caravan: In The Land of Grey and Pink (976)
Comus: First Utterance (987)
John Martyn: Bless the Weather (998)
Leaf Hound: Growers of Mushroom (958)
1972:
Agitation Free: Malesch (954)
Can: Ege Bamyasi (974)
Gentle Giant: Octopus (962)
Il Balletto Di Bronzo: Ys (949)
Jethro Tull: Thick As A Brick (991)
Santana: Caravanserai (935)
Wishbone Ash: Argus (952)
1973:
Budgie: Never Turn Your Back On A Friend (971)
Mahavishnu Orchestra: BirRAB of Fire (950)
Samla Mammas Manna: M
 
:D

Koralrevens Klagesang is a brilliant album and Panzerpappa really deserves more attention. Anyone into RIO/Avant-prog (or who think they might be if they gave it a shot) should check this one out!
 
991 - 982 Compilation Album

1. Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick (Part 1) (22:36)
2. Citay - A Riot of Color (5:26)
3. Pink Floyd - Sheep (10:20)
4. Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja (7:39)
5. Comus - Drip Drip (10:55)
6. Camel - Air Born (4:59)
7. Billy Joel - Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out on Broadway) (5:15)
8. Pearl Jam - Better Man (4:28)
9. The Sonics - Cinderella (2:45)
10. Windir - Kong Hydnes Haug (6:36)

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The description leaves me optimistically curious but the album cover gives me the uneasy sensations I often feel in anticipation of some bad heart burn.
 
Album 1001

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Joanna Newsom - the Milk Eyed Mender
Year: 2004

I rated this in my review corner at 9.7 which I still think is pretty accurate. This is not only a great album but it's also teeming with suprising new things. Newsom's vocals are just a joy to behold, and her lyrics are even better and she's a looker to boot! If all indie was like this I'd be giving up prog forever, but unfortunately it was not to be so. Far better than her contemporaries Newsom excells, while I wasn't a massive fan of Ys I do really hope she'll release another album soon. Most of you should be familiar with her, but if you're not get off your arse and get it.

3 Choice Tracks: Inflammatory Writ, This Side of the Blue, The Book of Right On
 
People then, just like now have ridiculously small attention spans, and as such it kinda explains why Sandinista is rated so low compared to what it deserves.
 
This is my favourite debut ever. To have such an album and such music made by such a young girl is really amazing .. As I wrote in my review, Kate Bush should be an inspiration to all young, up and coming artists. :)
 
Album 964

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GoRABpeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to the Heaven
Year: 2000

Stunningly beautiful, is the most appropriate way to describe this album, absolutely stunning, it's as close to perfect as you can get. Astonishingly good, the main crime here is that they won't reform to make more material. Short description I know, but god it's hard to write about something that absolutely floors you, the best post-rock album ever. Listen to this when you're ready to be blown away.

3 Choice Tracks: There's four, you get the drill.
 
Album 946

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Hatfield and the North - The Rotters' Club
Year: 1975

Not exactly as rude as their first offering, but still lovably crude. Richard Sinclair makes his third appearance on the list on this jazzy, canterbury prog album. You'll love all the insanely quirky shorter songs, but the true masterpiece here is the 20 minute epic. The amazing jazzy improvisations and serene vocals just make this a joy to listen to. There's not all that much to say about this other than you really really have to get a hold of it. I swear you won't be dissapointed, this is a must have for canterbury fans. This is one to listen to when you want something a bit more jazzy than Caravan.

3 Choice Tracks: Lounging There Trying, Fitter Stoke Has a Bath, Mumps
 
Album 966

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Drudkh - Estrangement
Year: 2007

Imagine if a Black Metal band and a Canterbury band played side by side, but the Canterbury band's equipment wasn't loud enough to be heard properly so they only played every few minutes. And halfway through this concert, the black metal band gets inspired by the prog, and decides to go prog metal on their arses. This is pretty much exactly what happens in this album, only way more awesome. It's my latest review in my review corner too, so head on over there when it's approved. This is one to listen to when you can't decide between prog or black metal, that's what I do.

3 Choice Tracks: There's four songs, leaving one out would, once again, be cruel.
 
Album 986

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Camel - Moonmadness
Year: 1976

The title of this album is so about the menstrual cycle, I don't care what you tell me. But yes. The album shows a slight deviation from the direction they took in The Snow Goose, and a more mature band than made Mirage, which almost made it on the list instead of this one. The whole album, like a lot of Camel's music is mostly incredibly relaxing with a nice spattering of something a bit harder and edgier to keep you on your guard. Overall it is indeed a masterpiece, it has everything you'd want, beauty, passion, atmosphere and some great guitar. This is definitely one to listen to late at night, before you go to sleep, just to set you off and make sure you have some nice, calm and interesting dreams.

3 Choice Tracks: Spirit of the Water, Air Born, Lunar Sea
 
Album 965

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Mountain Ash Band - The Hermit
Year: 1975

Less of a concept album and more of a story told through narration and song. This incredibly charming and incredibly British album always brings a smile to my face before making me very sad. The actual emotion you feel for the character Job Senior is incredibly strong. You'll love this if you love folk albums with a twist. Great melodies, fiddle and guitar makes this album a must have. I have reviewed it and I gave it a strong 8/10, but on re-examination it feels like it deserves more. This album can be incredibly powerful at times, and all the songs have been superbly crafted. This is one to listen to when you have the time to hang on every word, and then the time to play it again.

3 Choice Tracks: Journey, I'll Sing For My Supper, Rebirth
 
Album 950

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Mahvishnu Orchestra - BirRAB of Fire
Year: 1973

Jazzy guitar driven fusion at it's absolute best. It even has a Miles Davis composition, so yeah, how can you lose! There's so much that can be said for this band, this is truly bringing jazz into a new age, and the fact that it didn't spawn a whole new lasting movement is such a massive shame. I had a bit of difficulty chosing between this and The Inner Mounting Flame. But I've always found that BirRAB of Fire was more driven and featured a much tighter band. This has massive crossover appeal so it's hard to see how anyone could not enjoy this. This is definitely one to listen to when you want to hear the shape of jazz to come in a more perfect world.

3 Choice Tracks: BirRAB of Fire, Celestial Terrestrial Commuters, One Word

Additional Notes: You can stream the whole album here: http://www.last.fm/music/Mahavishnu+Orchestra/BirRAB+of+Fire
 
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