Comus' 1001 Albums you should listen to before you die

Album 977

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The Mars Volta - Bedlam In Goliath
Year: 2008

The Mars Volta finally mature enough to make a real, tight and cohesive effort. This is like nothing really done before, thoroughly progressive and without real flaws. I enjoy this album more than any other release of the past few years, and that says quite a bit considering the amount of good albums released recently in the underground scenes. While this is far from that, and very much a mainstream album it certainly has a sense of inaccessibility about it. That being said it should be very attractive to prog fans, the running themes, the flow and the actual progression is all there to make it a great prog album. To call this a masterpiece might be jumping the gun a bit, give it a few years to stew and we might be hailing this as the masterpiece of 2008. This is one to listen to and appreciate alone at first, to really get you going it is best to listen with as few distractions as possible.

3 Choice Tracks: Ilyena, Goliath, Conjugal Burns
 
Ive been searching record stores for this for YEARS, havent found it yet. I'm glad you have so many good things to say about it, their debut is one of those recorRAB that seems un-toppable.
 
Album 957

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John Coltrane - Blue Train
Year: 1957

Coltrane makes his third appearance on the list and finally as a band leader! This album is an incredible rollercoaster, with brilliant performances from the entire cast, not only that but Coltrane exerts incredible control over the players. It's all about the soloist, he makes sure the focus is always there, and very rarely has two leaRAB playing to confuse the lineup. It makes for a lot more of a moving, powerful listen becuase of the sheer talent of the musicians. Kenny Drew's piano stanRAB out here, as he lays down some blistering performances. There are also times of sheer serene beauty to be found, such as on I'm Old Fashioned. Probably one of the most consisten Jazz albums in terms of performance and direction. This is one to listen to when you're ready to be wowed by some mind-blowing jazz.

3 Choice Tracks: Blue Train, Locomotion, I'm Old Fashioned
 
Then get onto it man!

Album 988

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Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja
Year: 2003

This album introduced me to the concept of "Epic" sure, I had heard all the big prog epics, and a lot of black metal. But the first time I heard this album I was awestruck. The sheer scale of it all, the mix of instrumentation and the use of such power. Moonsorrow really do deliver on epic, this is an essential Folk Metal album, but really it's not overtly abrasive and like the Myrkgrav album should still be heard by everyone. It is reasonable to assume that some people don't want to venture too deep into the extremes of metal but believe me it is worth it, and this list will have quite a few metal albums, so get used to it. Anyways this album is one to dedicate all your attention, in a dark room with nothing but something nice to drink. Believe me, it will make your first listen all the more enjoyable.

3 Choice Tracks: Raunioilla, Kivenkantaja, Matkan Lopussa
 
2nd is strong, but in my opinon not as interesting. It's very very well worth a download and listen though, even if it's a bit pretentious even for me!
 
hahaha.

i guess there isn't much of a period for reassessment for you?

i haven't gotten around to listening to it yet but i will. i dunno, i REALLY liked Choirs of the Eye, i doubt anything motW makes could top it. but we'll see...
 
Album 981

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Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death
Year: 1987

Yes, it's a compilation album, but with 15/17 songs previously unreleased on Dead Kennedys albums I don't think it matters. Especially since a few compilations somehow made it onto the original list. Containing singles, B-sides and live recordings this is by far the most eclectic Dead Kennedys release, and it's by far the best. Starting off with the brilliant Police Truck it just gets better, with my favourite Dead Kennedys track Too Drunk To Fuck up next. There's a lot of social commentary (Night of the Living Rednecks) as well as general disdain for the music industry (Pull My Strings) and the general extreme energy that make Dead Kennedys the ultimate American punk band. This is one to just listen to, soak it up, albums as good as this don't come by often, even if Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables and Plastic Surgery Disasters do get very close.

3 Choice Tracks: Too Drunk To Fuck, Pull My Strings, Kinky Sex (Makes the World Go 'Round)
 
Album 985

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Billy Joel - Turnstiles
Year: 1976

Pop perfection, in every sense of the word. Wikipedia calls it rock, but I'm not fooled, this is pop at it's finest and why shouldn't it be? Billy Joel is the undisputed vocal and piano master of the 70's, not like that utter hack Elton John. Anyways this album is just flawless. There's not even a second of filler and it really does show. Every time you put this album on it is pretty much guaranteed to sound fresh and packed with beauty and hooks. I don't understand why this album is so often overlooked for Piano Man or The Stranger, when both have significant flaws. So far this has been the album which has made it very difficult for me to pick just three tracks. I wanted to include every one of them when I listened back over it to ensure it was worthy, and as good as I remerabered. Anyways this album is great anywhere, at a party, at work (I used to play it at work), when going to sleep, when just sitting at your computer chilling and posting, when you're in the bath etc etc etc.

3 Choice Tracks: All You Wanna Do Is Dance, Prelude/Angry Young Man, Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
 
I never understood people who criticized an album for being too long, especially in the CD era. That's why you fast forward or skip the song. One man's ovaltine is anothers chocolate milk after all.
 
I love this album, very different from what I usually listen to however. Such a strange voice i could see how some could hate it. Btw for some reason I crave plums, peaches and pears when i listen to The Milk Eyed Mender.
 
you're a mentalist for doing this! If you can be arsed you should add links to each album (via the 'permalink' option in the top right of each post) in the first post or just list the titles you've done so far; in a few months I won't be bothered to flick through a zillion pages to read a review. music!
 
Album 945

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Quest For Fire - Quest For Fire
Year: 2009

A new Canadian psychedelic band from the renmants of Deadly Snake, Cursed and No No Zero. This fuzzy 60's throwback with added guitar and improved production is a brilliant display of the genre's capabilites. The you'll love the riRAB, the solos, the vocals, everything just floats by in a big psychedelic mess. This is modern psychedelic garage rock at it best, reccomended for anyone who loves that fuzzy guitar sound. This is one to listen to when you're in the mood for something psychedelic but you're bored of your usual stuff.

3 Choice Tracks: Bison Eyes, I've Been Trying To Leave, Next To The Fire
 
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