Average Rating: 3.45 Rating Variance: 0.55 Objectivity Score: 78% (Well Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicAgalloch The MantleAlcest Écailles De LuneEcailles de Lune is an ocean blue wonder, and words to describe it are hard to come by. The duo of title tracks is a journey in itself and one of the best things this decade of music has produced. One could complain about Solar Song being too long, too undynamic - and sometimes I do -, but how much weight does that have if three fourths of the album - the first half and the closer - are nothing short of perfect? Basically, almost none. Brilliant album, one of the best. - 9.5 to 10American Football American FootballVersatile rhythms and glistening guitar harmonies are the main reasons for why this album is so exciting to listen to (the drum work definitely also being worth a mention). That said, the actual nerdy magic of this album is mainly shaped by the grounded, rather untidy production and Kinsellas overzealous, infectiously unrestrained vocals. It is an album that, while being meticulously crafted, profits from its little imperfections. A perfect soundtrack to half-awake moments on mornings after all-night gaming parties. - 9.5Anathema JudgementAn untouchable, brilliant album that not only achieves an astonishing atmosphere of somber melancholy, but also maintains it throughout the course of one hell of a streak of amazing songs: A journey through what I feel is one of the most emotionally rich albums of all time. That said, despite the astonishing consistency, it's still bewilderingly uncontestable how obviously One Last Goodbye is the best on this. A song for the ages, and one of my favorites of all time. - 10Bjork VespertineVespertine uncloses one frosty dream world's room after the other - magical, sometimes alien, but always intimate, even intimidatingly intimate. It strips away all the glamour and shows a person on a broken day, a person in bed, a person confused, a person unsure, and a person in love. - 10Cocteau Twins Heaven or Las VegasThe warm kindness of this record has been a life-affirming companion of mine for years now. It holds a special place in my heart. Undoubtedly the most beautiful album I've heard and remains my favorite album of all time. - 10Depeche Mode ViolatorDir En Grey UroborosDir En Grey ArcheDir En Grey Dum Spiro SperoDeciding on the best album of DEG's unbelievable run from Uroboros to Arche is a hard task and my answer tended to change over years, but lately I've settled on Dum Spiro Spero and it has remained on that position for a long time. It's uncompromisingly gloomy and insane, their most atmospheric and most daring all at once. The best metal album? Definitely a contender. - 10Kamelot EpicaKamelot The Black HaloLydia IlluminateAn album for the life stages where everything changes drastically, Illuminate not only carries an autumnal beauty in its sugary guitar arrangements and melancholic melodies, but also a feeling of somber nostalgia. It's one of the rare cases where every sound on an album seems to be on the right place to channel a feeling. Sadly, no other Lydia album is even halfway where this one got. - 9.5Opeth Blackwater ParkOpeth Ghost ReveriesRadiohead Kid AStephen Sondheim Sweeney Todd - Original Broadway CastThe Cure DisintegrationRobert Smith's masterpiece is primarily defined by an unmatched rainy-day magic. It's mostly established via sweeping keyboard hooks and reverb-heavy guitar sounds. An emotional, introspective album that, as it progresses, moves further away from its pop beginnings and reaches its climax in a dark wave epic of bombastic proportions. As close to perfection as it gets, and an album of a kind that even the best will only ever be able to produce once in a lifetime. - 10Tool LateralusWolfgang Amadeus Mozart Requiem in D minor, K. 626X Japan Art of Life4.5 superbA Perfect Circle Thirteenth StepAgalloch Ashes Against the GrainAgalloch Marrow of the SpiritAlcest Les Voyages De L'ÂmeBy the measures of Alcest, this is an almost inconsistent release; it has two of my favorite songs of all time (the title track and Faiseurs du Monde) with some of my favorite moments in music, but then again, Beings of Light is easily one of Alcests least noteworthy tracks and doesn't add much to the album. The other tracks range from very good to extremely strong, making this another convincing effort, yet at the same time not quite top tier Alcest. The bright, comforting atmosphere is flawlessly conveyed though, making it lean ever so slightly more towards a 9. - 8.5Alcest KodamaConstantly evolving songs, beautifully airy, minor pentatonic melodies and breath-taking dynamics from mesmerizing elegance to brutal outbursts - Kodama is one of a kind and yet fits perfectly into Alcest's discography. It is also one of those albums that are a tad too short to be thoroughly satisfying, always leaving me wanting more (which is added to by the drone-y closer). Has a heavy leaning towards the 9.5. - 9.0Alice in Chains Jar Of FliesAmorphis Silent WatersAmorphis Under the Red CloudAnathema Weather SystemsWeather Systems sees Anathema pick up where WHBWH left off, adding some extra drama with lofty orchestrations and more of a driving force behind the songs. It's more powerful and also proves more versatile, even containing a call-back to good old moody turn of the millennium Anathema in the form of The Beginning And the End. The closing act is where this album excels in comparison to its predecessor. One of their very finest albums. - 9.0Anathema A Natural DisasterAnathema We're Here Because We're HereThe first half of WHBWH remains up there with the best things Anathema have released. The easygoing, bright and optimistic atmosphere, being at odds with what the band was previously known for, proves to be intoxicating and comforting. Only in the last three tracks, the albums consistency drops, ending with an unfitting rock song, an uber-dramatic climac that the laid-back album never called for (although I love Universal as a stand-alone track), and an instrumental outro that goes on for far too long. Except for those? One of my favorites. - 8.5Anathema Distant SatellitesGathering some of Anathema's finest tracks, Distant Satellites continues the band's astonishing run of masterpieces. The electronica-influenced last streak of songs, while irritating to some, functions as a small EP within the album and rounds it off well, with the title track proving to be a career highlight. The other two songs of that section, however, represent its only weakness: Their electronic aspects sound phoned in, and You're Not Alone, as a song, lacks ideas. Despite that, their most underappreciated release. - 9.0Bjork HomogenicA landmark in electronic music, but I don't have to tell you that, do I. Homogenic is creative, intoxicating, catchy, an album that has everything you'd want from an eccentric art pop icon, and although I prefer Vespertine by quite a bit, I recognize that Homogenic is generally easier to get into due to its extroverted feel and wide open sound. - 9.0 to 9.5Bjork BiophiliaBlind Guardian Imaginations From The Other SideBlind Guardian Nightfall In Middle-EarthBruce Springsteen Born to RunCamel The Snow GooseCasualties of Cool Casualties of CoolCrimson Glory Transcendence Cynic Traced in AirDanny Elfman The Nightmare Before ChristmasDavid Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From MarsDavid Bowie Station to StationDavid Sylvian Secrets of the BeehiveDavid Sylvian Gone to EarthDevin Townsend TerriaEdge of Sanity CrimsonEdge of Sanity Crimson IIElectric Light Orchestra Eldorado Franz Schubert Winterreise, D. 911Genesis Selling England by the PoundGenesis FoxtrotGentle Giant OctopusGodspeed You! Black Emperor F♯ A♯ ∞Gorguts Colored SandsHoward Shore The Fellowship of the RingHoward Shore The Return of the KingJacob Collier Djesse Vol. 1A colorful album full of ideas and musical brilliance, yet never shy to be minimalistic at the right time. It's full of life and there's much to discover. There are a few tracks in the back half that I don't like as much. - 8.5Jeff Buckley GraceJethro Tull A Passion PlayJethro Tull Minstrel in the GalleryJoy Division CloserJulee Cruise Floating into the NightFITN breathes the air of the most beautifully eerie moments in David Lynch's cinematography. Its dreamy tone is comparable to later Cocteau Twins releases, yet at the same time, the album makes use of jazzy laid-back instrumentation, with the breathy vocals hauntingly soaring above it all. Not only recommended to fans of Twin Peaks, but also to fans of dream pop and any kind of music that unfurls a moony night-time atmosphere. - 9.0 to 9.5Kamelot KarmaKamelot One Cold Winter's NightKamijo Symphony of the VampireKanno Yoshihiro Tenshi no Tamago OSTAn eerie classical work that utilizes piano, an ethereal choir and other instruments like cembalos, bells and a cautiously used string section to create a depressing atmosphere, Kanno Yoshihiro's score to the monumental animation masterpiece Tenshi no Tamago feels more like a symphony than a soundtrack: subdued, elegant, always able to stand on its own as a sublime musical experience, constantly shifting between moments of beauty and unsettling dissonance, ending up being just as awe-inspiringly brilliant as the film it was made to accompany. - 9.5 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYfOFUZZX2o)Kate Bush Hounds of LoveKate Bush The DreamingKing Crimson In the Court of the Crimson KingLantlos .neonNeige's shrieking, painful vocals (one of his best performances) add perfectly to the frosty urban atmosphere of this album, stylistically ranging from post rock-tinted black metal to chilled, jazzy moments. Herbst's most accomplished work as of yet. - 8.5 to 9.0Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92Ludwig van Beethoven "Pastoral" Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68M83 Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost GhostsDead Cities... feels like a coat of mist. It's hypnotizing and atmospheric, yet always striking and, in a way, catchy. Of course, it isn't comparable to the later M83 works, given that everything after this works as a solo project rather than as a duo like the first two albums. There are good reasons to identify the two eras as separate projects entirely, but regardless of where the line is drawn, this remains one of the best and the single most accomplished album of that discography. - 9.0M83 Hurry Up, We're DreamingCuddled in a cozy atmosphere that is created by characteristics of dreamy rock and synth-wave in almost equal measures, HUWD always manages to have an optimistic, enthusiastic energy to it. The first disc is packed to the brim with catchy hooks and awe-inspiring moments. There is a drought in the middle of disc 2, dragging it down by a bit, although the last quarter manages to pick up on quality again. Still, that and a general feel of bloatedness are the reasons why this release misses the highest region of ratings. - 9.0Meshuggah Catch ThirtythreeNick Cave and The Bad Seeds Let Love InOpeth DamnationOpeth Still LifeOpeth My Arms, Your HearseOrphaned Land Mabool (The Story of the Three Sons...)Pain of Salvation Remedy LanePink Floyd Wish You Were HerePorcupine Tree In AbsentiaPortishead DummyQueensryche Operation: MindcrimeRadiohead OK ComputerRadiohead In RainbowsRefused The Shape Of Punk To ComeRiverside Out Of MyselfSavatage Gutter BalletShiina Ringo Shouso StripShiina Ringo Kalk Samen Kuri no HanaSigur Ros Agætis byrjunSigur Ros ( )Music does not need a name. Or lyrics, for that matter. - 9.5Sigur Ros Takk...Soundtrack (Film) OldboySoundtrack (Film) Sympathy for Lady VengeanceStephen Sondheim Sunday in the Park With George - BroadwaySteven Wilson The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)Steven Wilson Grace for DrowningStrapping Young Lad CitySufjan Stevens IllinoisA brilliant showcase of grandeur, ambition and inspiration. Over a dozen of the instruments played by the man himself, the sweeping arrangements are a joy to listen to, the versatility in feel and tone is delightful, and yet Illinois always manages to maintain a certain night-time air that, helped by a slick track order, makes it feel complete. An entertaining, moving, stupendous listen form front to back (well, except for Man of Metropolis which feels flat compared to the rest). - 9.5Sufjan Stevens The Age of AdzSufjan Stevens Carrie and LowellIt's hard not to be captured by the rainy summer day nostalgia Sufjan indulges in on C&L. It's like flipping through an old photo book of his while he tells you his life story. Deeply personal, albeit musically one-sided, leading to me feeling a slight oversaturation of breathy indie pop before the album is over. While that does keep it from being from one of my favorites, it's definitely not enough to hinder it as one of the most personal and compelling albums of the decade and also a top 3 Stevens effort. - 8.5Sukekiyo AdoratioSusumu Hirasawa AuroraA perfect showcase of Hirasawa's abilities and stylistic range. While I believe that Kyuusai no Gisou is more consistent and complete as an album, this has some of his most legendary tracks, the most amazing being Island Door, an extensive, dark ambient piece that constantly builds up energy like the best, most intense soundtrack to a sci-fi beauty that never was. - 9.0Susumu Hirasawa Kyuusai no GihouHirasawa at the top of his game: Melodies of unmatched grandeur, his vocals as passionate as ever, his sound design as outlandish as one would hope. How could one not be hooked by Mother or enchanted by Ghost Bridge? A masterpiece of electronic music. - 9.0 to 9.5Susumu Hirasawa ByakkoyaSymphony X V: The New Mythology SuiteTalk Talk Laughing StockTangerine Dream RubyconRubycon is what I wished more ambient albums would be (or even aim at being): Hypnotically atmospheric, never cheesy, always on point, and - in spite of its general subtlety - rich of enchanting moments that will stay with me for a long time. A landmark of its variety. - 9.0The Beach Boys Pet SoundsThe Birthday Massacre VioletThe Smiths The Queen Is DeadTom Waits Bone MachineTool 10,000 DaysTool ÆnimaTori Amos Little EarthquakesUlver Bergtatt - Et eeventyr i 5 capitlerVersailles NobleWolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Jupiter" Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551X Japan Blue BloodYes Close to the EdgeYes Relayer4.0 excellentA Perfect Circle Mer de NomsAereogramme Sleep and ReleaseAgalloch Pale FolkloreAlcest Souvenirs D'Un Autre MondeIn an attempt to create the brightest black metal album ever, Neige crafted a white, glistening work of screechy shoegaze with a raw, nostalgic tone and some early career highlights. It feels a bit underdeveloped in places (Sur l'Autre Rive... being the main contender, complete with Audrey's unenthusiastic guest vox), but I see why someone would see that as its strength, as in adding to its charm. - 8.0Alcest ShelterA versatile album that sits comfortably between dream pop, shoegaze, post-rock and whatever dreamy genres of guitar-based music you can think of, Shelter creates a bright, laid-back atmosphere and keeps it throughout (albeit drifting into more of a melancholy mindset in two or three tracks) while still maintaining a sense of grandeur. One might call it tame, but it is full of tasteful, dreamy tracks. - 7.5Alcest Spiritual InstinctAlice in Chains DirtAmanda Palmer Who Killed Amanda Palmer?American Football American Football (LP3)Beautiful album, masterfully done. They weave catchy, concise and straight-up enchanting songs out of pretty insane rhythmic stuff (the 15/8 in Silhouettes, polymetres in I Can't Feel You, etc etc etc) - an impressive effort in terms of atmosphere and composition alike. - 8.5American Football American Football EPAmorphis SkyforgerAmorphis Magic & MayhemAnathema Alternative 4Anathema A Fine Day to ExitDue to its slow start, this album has always had a hard time drawing me in. Fortunately, it picks up, starting with Leave No Trace, which would not have been out of place on Judgement in terms of atmosphere, sound and quality alike. The rest is mostly good while not being amazing - with one exception: Temporary Peace, an indescribably touching closer that remains a contender for my favorite song ever, if only it wasn't for the 10 minutes of hidden track garbage tacked onto it. - 7.5Anathema HindsightAndrew Lloyd Webber Cats: Original Broadway CastAndrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera - Royal Albert HallAngra RebirthAngra Temple of ShadowsAngra Holy LandAngra Angels CryAntimatter Planetary ConfinementAntonio Vivaldi The Four SeasonsAvantasia The Metal OperaAvantasia GhostlightsAyreon The Human EquationAyreon The Theory of EverythingBark Psychosis HexBent Knee Land AnimalBetween the Buried and Me The Parallax II: Future SequenceBjork DebutBjork PostBjork VulnicuraBjork SelmasongsBlind Guardian A Night At The OperaBlind Guardian At The Edge Of TimeBlind Guardian Somewhere Far BeyondBlind Guardian Beyond The Red MirrorBreaking Benjamin PhobiaBruce Springsteen NebraskaBUCK-TICK 13-kai wa GekkouBUCK-TICK Kurutta TaiyouBurzum FilosofemCamel MirageCandy Claws Ceres And Calypso In The Deep TimeFans of shoegaze will adore the fuzzy guitar sound and the breathy, drowned-out vocals. Dreamy indeed, although it also has its own distinct flavor thanks to its tango-like melodies. It's also beautifully consistent in its rainy atmosphere and warm feeling. - 8.0Caravan In the Land of Grey and PinkCardiacs Sing to God Circa Survive Blue Sky NoiseCircus Maximus NineCocteau Twins TreasureCocteau Twins VictorialandCT's mid-80s releases have a dusty, mystical magic to them, and this is the most accomplished of those. Following the comparable EPs Tiny Dynamine and Echoes, this Antarctica-themed album is the most eerie work they ever released. Lazy Calm is also the best song of that period - a glistening dream pop classic that is as haunting as it is beautiful and showcases all the magic of this band's work. A few cases of uninspired writing in the album's second half drag it down a bit. (Also: Everyone who likes this, please check the Moon & the Melodies album they did with Harold Budd! It's worth it.) - 8.0Cocteau Twins Tiny DynamineCocteau Twins Echoes in a Shallow BayCocteau Twins and Harold Budd The Moon and the MelodiesConception FlowConception In Your MultitudeConception My Dark SymphonyControl Denied The Fragile Art Of ExistenceCrimson Glory Crimson GloryCynic FocusCynic Carbon-Based AnatomyDan Swano MoontowerDanny Elfman The Corpse BrideDanny Elfman Serenada SchizophranaDavid Bowie BlackstarDavid Bowie "Heroes"David Bowie LowDavid Bowie Hunky DoryDavid Bowie OutsideDavid Sylvian Brilliant TreesDeadsoul Tribe The January TreeDeafheaven SunbatherDeath SymbolicDeath HumanDeath Individual Thought PatternsDeath The Sound of PerseveranceDeathspell Omega The Synarchy of Molten BonesDeftones White PonyDepeche Mode Music for the MassesDepeche Mode Black CelebrationDepeche Mode Songs of Faith and DevotionDevin Townsend Ziltoid the OmniscientDevin Townsend Ocean Machine: BiomechDevin Townsend Project DeconstructionDevin Townsend Project KiDevin Townsend Project GhostDifference Engine BreadmakerCertainly not more versatile than other shoegaze/dream pop efforts, but a pleasure to listen to from start to finish, nonetheless. That's mostly on the instrumentation: The drums are pleasantly noticeable, the guitars have a sweet tone and weave a thick, fulfilling sound. I'm not the biggest shoegaze fan around, but if you are, there's no way around this album. - 7.5Dir En Grey GauzeDir En Grey The UnravelingDismember Like An Ever Flowing StreamDissection Storm of the Light's BaneDream Theater Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a MemoryDream Theater Images And WordsDream Theater A Change Of Seasonsdredg El CieloDrudkh Autumn AuroraDrudkh Blood In Our WellsEcho and The Bunnymen Ocean RainEmperor In the Nightside EclipseEpica Design Your UniverseEpica The Quantum EnigmaEvergrey Recreation DayEvergrey In Search Of TruthEvergrey The Inner CircleFair to Midland Arrows and AnchorsFallujah The Flesh PrevailsFishmans Long SeasonThis one-track album wallows in airy melodies for its first half and then delves into experimental, psychedelical terrains in its second half, including a (kinda aimless) noisy drum solo, all leading up to a stunning finale that remains the album's highlight. The vocals can be a bit grating and nasal in parts, but it's not a very vocal-centric album, so that's forgivable. Beautiful work all around! - 8.5Fishmans Uchuu Nippon SetagayaBeautiful, airy sound. The 8+ minute tracks are especially great, with Daydream in particular being a fantastic closer. As a whole, I don't find this as convincing as Long Season due to some weaker tracks in the first half, but a great effort nonetheless. - 7.5Frou Frou DetailsGabor Szabo DreamsGackt MizerableGenesis Nursery CrymeGenesis The Lamb Lies Down on BroadwayGentle Giant The Power and the GloryGentle Giant Three FriendsGentle Giant Free HandGentle Giant Gentle GiantGodspeed You! Black Emperor Slow Riot For New Zero KanadaGodspeed You! Black Emperor Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenGorguts ObscuraGorguts From Wisdom to HateGrouper RuinsHave a Nice Life DeathconsciousnessHibria Defying the RulesHiroshi Yoshimura GreenA subtle beauty. No sound is wasted. Green is a pristine ambient piece that soothes its listener into a river landscape. I tend to be very picky with ambient, but this is special and wonderful to listen to. - 8.5Janelle Monae The ArchAndroidMoving through the genres with consistent confidence, Monae crafts an astonishing pop album with a wide palette of styles and emotions. Sadly, the second half doesn't live up to the first, with some of the songs lashing out of the album's unifying feel (like the horrendous Make the Bus) and others just feeling uninspired (like Wondaland). Luckily, it ends on a very high note with an amazing closer. All things considered, one of the finest pop albums of the decade. - 8.0Jethro Tull Heavy HorsesJethro Tull Thick as a BrickJethro Tull AqualungJoanna Newsom YsJohn Williams Star Wars, Episode IV: A New HopeJustin Hurwitz La La Land OSTKamelot Ghost OperaKamelot Poetry for the PoisonedKamelot The Fourth LegacyKamelot The ExpeditionKamelot SilverthornKatatonia Last Fair Deal Gone DownKatatonia The Fall of HeartsKate Bush Never for EverKate Bush The Kick InsideKate Bush AerialKing Crimson LizardKing Crimson Larks' Tongues in AspicKing Crimson RedKing Diamond AbigailLe Orme Felona e SoronaLeprous BilateralLeprous CoalLeprous The CongregationLeprous MalinaLes Discrets Septembre Et Ses Dernières PenséesLowCityRain LowCityRainLucid Planet Lucid PlanetLudwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67Lunatic Soul Walking on a Flashlight BeamM83 Before The Dawn Heals UsIndulging in what can best be described as "synthgaze" (in this case with an emphasis on the gaze part, contrary to HUWD), BTDHU unleashes a dreamy, shimmering night-time wonder that oozes euphoria. It is a bit long though, losing a fair share of momentum over its course before, luckily, successfully rounding it off with an astonishing closer. A lovely album that's a highly recommended listening for night-time drives. - 8.0Malice Mizer MerveillesMark Hollis Mark HollisMassive Attack MezzanineMassive Attack 100th Windowmaudlin of the Well Leaving Your Body MapMeshuggah IMeshuggah KolossMeshuggah NothingMetallica Master Of PuppetsMiles Davis Kind of BlueMuseo Rosenbach ZarathustraNeurosis Times Of GraceNick Cave and The Bad Seeds Henry's DreamNightingale INightingale RetributionNightingale Alive AgainNightwish Dark Passion PlayNightwish OceanbornNik Bartsch's Ronin AwaseNine Inch Nails The Downward SpiralNine Inch Nails The FragileOneohtrix Point Never R Plus SevenOpeth DeliveranceOpeth WatershedOpeth MorningriseOwen No Good for No One NowPain of Salvation The Perfect Element, Part 1Perturbator The Uncanny ValleyGreat sound design and well-executed suspense curves within each track make The Uncanny Valley a thrilling listen, painting dark futuristic imagery. The concept, however, runs its course over the bloated 68-minute runtime. It soon becomes apparent that the two-way variation between more ambient-leaning passages and aggressive boosts is not going to loosen up. The ending streak of the album, however, surprises with a sequence of very strong and climatic tracks and rounds it off rather well. - 7.5Peter Gabriel CarPink Floyd The WallPink Floyd The Dark Side Of The MoonPink Floyd AnimalsPoets of the Fall Carnival of RustPorcupine Tree Fear of a Blank PlanetPorcupine Tree The IncidentPortishead PortisheadQueensryche The WarningQueensryche Rage For OrderQueensryche EmpireQueensryche Promised LandRadiohead The King of LimbsRadiohead AmnesiacRed (USA) Innocence and InstinctRenaissance Scheherazade and Other StoriesRhapsody of Fire Symphony Of Enchanted Lands IIRide NowhereRide FallRise Against The Sufferer and the WitnessRiverside Second Life SyndromeRiverside Love, Fear And The Time MachineRush A Farewell To KingsRush HemispheresSavatage Dead Winter DeadSavatage The Wake of MagellanSavatage Streets: A Rock OperaScott Walker TiltScott Walker The DriftSerj Tankian Elect The Dead SymphonySeventh Wonder Mercy FallsShiina Ringo Muzai MoratoriumShiina Ringo Heisei FuuzokuShiina Ringo Sanmon GossipShiina Ringo Reimport Vol. 2: Civil Aviation BureauShinedown The Sound of MadnessSigur Ros KveikurSilverchair DioramaSiouxsie and the Banshees HyænaSlowdive SlowdiveSoen LykaiaSoilwork The Ride MajesticSonata Arctica Reckoning NightSonata Arctica UniaSonata Arctica SilenceSons of Seasons MagnisphyriconStephen Sondheim A Little Night Music - Original Broadway CastStephen Sondheim Passion - Original Cast RecordingStephen Sondheim Into the WoodsSteven Wilson Hand. Cannot. Erase.Storm Corrosion Storm CorrosionSufjan Stevens MichiganSufjan Stevens The Avalanche: Outtakes and ExtrasEven though it's not a consistent album experience in itself, The Avalanche still has its fair share of memorable moments and shows a great attention to detail - both of which would have been completely fine for a regular release instead of a collection of b-sides. For a more thorough elaboration, check my review. - 7.5Sufjan Stevens The BQESungazer Sungazer Vol. ISusumu Hirasawa SirenSymphony X The Divine Wings of TragedySymphony X The OdysseyTalk Talk The Colour of SpringTalk Talk Spirit of EdenTeam Sleep Team SleepTears for Fears The Seeds of LoveThe Birthday Massacre Hide and SeekThe Birthday Massacre Walking With StrangersThe Birthday Massacre Under Your SpellThe Cure PornographyThe Cure BloodflowersThe Cure Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss MeThe Dear Hunter Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. LeadingThe Dear Hunter Act IV: Rebirth in RepriseThe Dear Hunter Act V: Hymns with the Devil in ConfessionalThe Dillinger Escape Plan One of Us Is the KillerThe Dresden Dolls Yes, Virginia...The Microphones The Glow Pt. 2The Smiths Hatful of HollowThis Mortal Coil It'll End in TearsThree Days Grace One-XTim Buckley StarsailorTom Waits AliceTom Waits Rain DogsTool UndertowTori Amos From the Choirgirl HotelTrans-Siberian Orchestra Beethoven's Last NightUlver Shadows of the SunUlver The Assassination of Julius CaesarVan der Graaf Generator Still LifeVektor Terminal ReduxVersailles JubileeW.A.S.P. The Crimson IdolWeyes Blood Titanic RisingPretty old-school in an oddly refreshing way. The arrangements are versatile, the instrumentation has a beautiful, broad feel to it, and the vocals are a lot of fun to listen to. The album as a whole flies by, and Movies is nothing short of amazing. Beautiful album! - 8.5Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Don Giovanni K. 527X Japan Vanishing VisionX Japan JealousyX Japan DahliaX Japan The Last SongYes FragileYoshiki Eternal Melody3.5 greatA Perfect Circle Eat the Elephanta-ha Hunting High and LowAgalloch Faustian EchoesAgalloch The Serpent and the SphereAgalloch The WhiteAlter Bridge BlackbirdAmorphis EclipseAmorphis The Beginning of TimesAmorphis CircleAmorphis Tales From The Thousand LakesAmorphis Queen of TimeAnathema EternityAnathema The Silent EnigmaAnathema The OptimistWhile The Optimist in parts showcases Anathema as a band that has mastered their style, it also has a bewilderingly high quotient of rather underdeveloped songs. This is especially apparent with the closing duo of the cobbled Wildfires and Back To the Start, a closer that is persistent enough in how upbeat and concluding it wants to be to become straight-up annoying in the process. All this aside, they still nail the atmosphere, they still nail the production, the vocals, the arrangements, and - albeit not as regularly as usual - the songwriting. A good album overall, not a notably good Anathema album by any stretch. - 7.0Angra Secret GardenArca ArcaAsia AsiaAtoms for Peace AmokAvantasia The ScarecrowAvantasia The Metal Opera Pt. IIAvenged Sevenfold City Of EvilAvenged Sevenfold NightmareAvenged Sevenfold Avenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold Waking The FallenBauhaus Bela Lugosi's DeadBauhaus In The Flat FieldBeach House Teen DreamBeardfish Sleeping in Traffic: Part OneBeardfish Sleeping in Traffic: Part TwoBen Levin Group Freak MachineBetween the Buried and Me The Parallax: Hypersleep DialoguesBjork MedullaBjork UtopiaBlank Banshee MetamorphosisBlind Guardian A Twist In The MythBlind Guardian Tales From The Twilight WorldBon Iver Bon Iver, Bon IverBrand New The Devil and God Are Raging Inside MeBrand New DaisyCamel MoonmadnessCamel CamelCap'n Jazz Shmap'n ShmazzCasey Crescenzo Amour and AttritionCHVRCHES Every Open EyeCircus Maximus The 1st ChapterCircus Maximus IsolateCocteau Twins Head Over HeelsCocteau Twins Blue Bell KnollCocteau Twins Sunburst and SnowblindCocteau Twins Aikea-GuineaCocteau Twins Love's Easy TearsConception Parallel MindsConception The Last SunsetCradle of Filth MidianCryptopsy None So VileD Vampire SagaDaft Punk Random Access MemoriesDaughters You Won't Get What You WantDavid Bowie Aladdin SaneDavid Bowie Diamond DogsDavid Bowie Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)David Bowie Young AmericansDavid Sylvian BlemishDavid Sylvian Dead Bees on a CakeDeath Spiritual HealingDeftones Diamond EyesDeftones Koi No YokanDepeche Mode UltraDevin Townsend InfinityDevin Townsend Project EpicloudDevin Townsend Project Z2Devin Townsend Project TranscendenceDiablo Swing Orchestra The Butcher's BallroomDir En Grey VulgarDir En Grey Withering to DeathDissection The SomberlainDream Theater Six Degrees of Inner TurbulenceDream Theater AwakeDrudkh Forgotten LegendsDrudkh Songs of Grief and SolitudeEdge of Sanity Purgatory AfterglowEdge of Sanity Until Eternity EndsEluveitie HelvetiosElvenking EraEmerson, Lake and Palmer TarkusEnslaved IsaEpica The Divine ConspiracyEvanescence The Open DoorEvelyn Evelyn Evelyn EvelynEvergrey Monday Morning ApocalypseGamma Ray Land of the FreeGamma Ray Somewhere Out in SpaceGenesis TrespassGenesis DukeGenesis Wind & WutheringGenesis A Trick of the TailGentle Giant In a Glass HouseGodspeed You! Black Emperor Yanqui U.X.O.Gorguts The Erosion of SanityGorguts Pleiades' DustGrimes VisionsGrouper Dragging a Dead Deer Up a HillGrouper Grid of PointsGustav Holst The Planets, Op. 32Haken AffinityHelloween Walls Of JerichoHelloween Helloween EPHiroshi Yoshimura Music For Nine Post CardsThe epitome of tea sipping music. Very melancholic and peaceful, not quite as light-flooded as some of his later releases. Blink is a masterpiece of subtle, beautiful ambient, but you probably already know that - it's his only track available on Spotify. - 7.5Howard Shore The Two TowersIced Earth Something Wicked This Way ComesIn Flames The Jester RaceIron Maiden Iron MaidenJacob Collier In My RoomJapan Quiet LifeJethro Tull War ChildJethro Tull Songs from the WoodJohn Williams Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackJoseph Haydn Die Schopfung (The Creation)Joy Division Unknown PleasuresJulee Cruise The Voice of LoveKamelot HavenKamelot The Shadow TheoryKatatonia Night Is the New DayKatatonia Brave Murder DayKatatonia Dead End KingsKate Bush 50 Words for SnowKate Bush The Sensual WorldKayo Dot Choirs of the EyeKing Crimson In the Wake of PoseidonKing Crimson IslandsKing Crimson Starless and Bible BlackKorn Live and RareKorn KornKRAAN WintrupKraftwerk AutobahnLantlos Melting SunLantlos AgapeLe Orme Uomo di pezzaLeonard Cohen Songs of Leonard CohenI have a fondness for Cohen's charismatic voice. It carries the songs a long way, along with the melancholic melodies. Suzanne is a classic. The rest of the album is good enough, a bit one-note (No Way to Say Goodbye for example sounds like a poor man's Suzanne), but it's hard to deny that there are still very good tracks in the second half. - 7.5Leonard Cohen Various PositionsLeprous Tall Poppy SyndromeLes Discrets Ariettes Oubliees...Les Discrets PrédateursLingua Mortis Orchestra Lingua Mortis Orchestra feat. RageMachine Head Unto The LocustMagma K.A. (Köhntarkösz Anteria) Magma Mekanïk Destruktïẁ KommandöhMalice Mizer Bara no SeidouMarillion Misplaced ChildhoodMarilyn Manson Antichrist SuperstarMassive Attack ProtectionMassive Attack HeligolandMastodon LeviathanMastodon Crack the Skyemaudlin of the Well BathMeshuggah obZenMeshuggah ChaosphereMetallica MetallicaMetallica Ride The LightningMidori Takada Through the Looking GlassMogwai Young TeamMoving Gelatine Plates The World of Genius HansMr. Bungle CaliforniaMy Chemical Romance The Black ParadeNecrophagist EpitaphNew Order Power, Corruption and LiesNightingale The Closing ChroniclesNightwish Century ChildNightwish ImaginaerumNine Inch Nails Pretty Hate MachineNine Inch Nails BrokenNine Inch Nails Year ZeroNine Inch Nails Hesitation MarksOliva Raise The CurtainOpeth HeritageOpeth OrchidOrphaned Land All Is OneOwen At Home With OwenOwen OwenPain of Salvation In the Passing Light of DayParadox HeresyPaysage d'Hiver Paysage d'HiverPerturbator Dangerous DaysPerturbator New ModelDark, aggressive synth-wave album that goes by fast and has a lot of thrilling drops. It's always on the verge of feeling one-sided, but it doesn't drag it down significantly due to its short length. What does, however, hinder its quality is the inclusion of an obligatory feature, Vantablack, which is by far the worst, suffering from an atrocious vocal performance in particular. - 7.0Peter Gabriel ScratchPeter Gabriel MeltPeter Gabriel SecurityPeter Gabriel SoPillorian Obsidian ArcPJ Harvey Stories From The City, Stories From The SeaPoets of the Fall Revolution RoulettePorcupine Tree Nil RecurringPorcupine Tree DeadwingPsychotic Waltz A Social GracePyramaze Legend of the Bone CarverQueen Queen IIQueen A Day at the RacesQueensryche Queensryche Radiohead In Rainbows Disk 2Radiohead A Moon Shaped PoolRed (USA) End of SilenceRed (USA) Of Beauty and RageRed House Painters Down Colorful HillRev Theory Light It UpRhapsody of Fire From Chaos to EternityRhapsody of Fire The Frozen Tears Of AngelsRhapsody of Fire Power Of The DragonflameRhapsody of Fire Dawn Of VictoryRichard Strauss Tone Poem: Also sprach ZarathustraRiverside Rapid Eye MovementRiverside Anno Domini High DefinitionRyuichi Sakamoto AsyncThe most beautiful moments on async are the perfect soundtrack to a peaceful death. Life, Life - narrated by the beautiful voice of David Sylvian - is definitely a highlight, although working through the winners of the async short film contest that Sakamoto hosted has had me slightly burnt on it since it was used by 6 out of 10 directors *sigh*. Apart from those, much of the album feels like a compilation of sound experiments. One has to be eager to wallow in those for lengthy durations, which I'm sometimes still reluctant to do. Still, it's beautifully crafted. - 7.0Samsas Traum A. Ura Und Das Schnecken.HausSavatage Hall of the Mountain KingSavatage Edge of ThornsScarling. Sweet Heart DealerScott Walker Scott 3Seether Finding Beauty In Negative SpacesSeether Karma And EffectSerenity Fallen SanctuarySerj Tankian Imperfect HarmoniesSerj Tankian Elect the DeadSevdaliza IsonSeventh Wonder The Great EscapeShaman RitualShiina Ringo Watashi to HōdenSilverchair Neon BallroomSiouxsie and the Banshees A Kiss in the DreamhouseSkillet ComatoseSkyharbor Guiding LightsSlipknot Vol. 3: The Subliminal VersesSoen TellurianSonata Arctica The Days Of GraysSonata Arctica Winterheart's GuildSpiritualized Lazer Guided MelodiesSpock's Beard VSt. Vincent St. VincentSteven Wilson 4 1/2Stone Sour Come What(ever) MayStratovarius ElysiumStream Of Passion A War of Our OwnSufjan Stevens Seven SwansSufjan Stevens All Delighted PeopleSungazer Sungazer Vol. IISusumu Hirasawa BerserkA beautifully atmospheric soundtrack to what will presumably remain the only good Berserk adaption we will ever get. It captures the horrors, the brutal intensity and the heartfelt beauty of the story perfectly - while being largely electronic. Who would have thought? It's a strictly medieval setting after all. Hirasawa pulls it off like the genius he is. Why not a higher rating, considering this has Murder, Guts Theme and, above all, the iconic, catchy Forces? It's just Tell Me Why, not even by Hirasawa but by some Japanese garage band. Gah, how I hate that song. An album with that track can't be more than this, sadly. - 7.5Susumu Hirasawa Sim CitySusumu Hirasawa Kenja no PropellerSome of these songs might be familiar to those who have seen Satoshi Kon's Millennium Actress. Although treading familiar ground, Hirasawa delivers the usual fix of well put-together electronic songs with broad soundscapes and exceptional hooks that stuck forever (Rubedo being the best example, that song is pure euphoria!). There's a few too many songs on the inoffensive side of things, placing this on a comparatively low level - by Hirasawa's standards, obviously -, but it's still competent at worst, while being amazing at best. - 6.5Sweet Trip Velocity : Design : ComfortSylvaine WistfulFans of Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde will appreciate this one's similarities with Alcest's earlier, rawer sound. There's a bunch too many generic riffs for it to completely unfold, but the atmosphere and general feel are lovely and her vocals are beautiful (cleans and screams alike). There's still a lot of potential to unpack once she finds a way to write more inspiring riffs, but this is a step in the right direction. - 6.5Sylvaine Atoms Aligned, Coming UndoneSymphony X Paradise LostSymphony X Twilight in OlympusSystem of a Down ToxicitySystem of a Down MezmerizeTears for Fears Songs from the Big ChairTears for Fears The HurtingThe Agonist PrisonersThe Birthday Massacre Pins and NeedlesThe Birthday Massacre SuperstitionThe Birthday Massacre Nothing and NowhereThe Cure Seventeen SecondsThe Cure FaithThe Dear Hunter Act I: The Lake South, the River NorthThe Dear Hunter Act III: Life and DeathThe Devin Townsend Band Accelerated EvolutionThe Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink RobotsThe Flower Kings Banks of EdenThe Glove Blue SunshineThe National High VioletThe National Trouble Will Find MeThe Offspring Greatest HitsThe Smiths Strangeways, Here We ComeThe Used Lies for the LiarsThirty Seconds to Mars A Beautiful LieThirty Seconds to Mars 30 Seconds To MarsThis Mortal Coil Filigree & ShadowThom Yorke The EraserThousand Foot Krutch Welcome to the MasqueradeThousand Foot Krutch The Flame in All of UsThree Days Grace Life Starts NowThree Days Grace Three Days GraceTokyo Jihen KyoikuTokyo Jihen AdultTokyo Jihen DaihakkenTom Waits Blood MoneyTom Waits SwordfishtrombonesTool OpiateTool Fear InoculumAfter 13 years, Tool still have the most amazing rhythm section imaginable. But not everything aged quite as well: Maynard's vocals range from mumbling to mumbling slightly more angrily, and the song-writing is not as top-notch as usual either, with songs - especially in the first half - having Tool just toying around with one riff for extended durations rather than taking it on a journey with a goal in mind. Still, the brooding, rhythmically complex quality of their sound remains fully intact, and while it's lacking the tension for the most part, it's still engaging, and at the very least 7empest lives up to everything I hoped for. - 7.5Tori Amos Under the PinkTTNG AnimalsType O Negative Bloody KissesUlcerate Everything Is FireUlver KveldssangerUlver Perdition CityVan der Graaf Generator Pawn HeartsVersailles Lyrical SympathyVOLA Applause of a Distant CrowdVolcano Choir RepaveWithin Temptation The Heart of EverythingWolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die Zauberflote, 'The Magic Flute', K. 620Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183/173dBWoods of Ypres Woods 5: Grey Skies And Electric LightYes The Yes AlbumYes Going for the One3.0 good3 Doors Down Seventeen DaysAlcest Le Secret (2011 Version)Obviously still a project in fledgling stages, the first two Alcest songs are genre-defining blackgaze, but far from exciting, nor do they justify their opulent length. Despite that, they already have that air of springy bliss to them and it's easy to see how this band would soon deliver some of the most beautiful, euphoric music of the following decade. - 6.5Alter Bridge One Day RemainsAmerican Football American Football (LP2)Amesoeurs Ruines HumainesAngra FireworksAngra Hunters and PreyAngra Aurora ConsurgensAngra ØmniAphex Twin Richard D. James AlbumApocalyptica Worlds CollideArcade Fire ReflektorAu Revoir Simone Move in SpectrumsPretty and soothing, albeit inoffensive and a bit one-note. Melting Point is a fantastic song. - 6.0Avantasia The Wicked SymphonyAvantasia Angel Of BabylonAvantasia The Mystery Of TimeBjork VoltaHer only album that lacks any artistic urgency. It's the only "just another Bjork album" of her discography. Most of the tracks are nice, but not really inspired either. - 6.0Blind Guardian Follow The BlindBlind Guardian Battalions Of FearBlind Guardian The Forgotten TalesBon Iver For Emma, Forever AgoBreaking Benjamin Dear AgonyBreaking Benjamin We Are Not AloneBreaking Benjamin SaturateCamel I Can See Your House From HereChinese Football Chinese FootballCHVRCHES The Bones of What You BelieveCocteau Twins Milk and KissesCradle of Filth Damnation and a DayCradle of Filth NymphetamineCradle of Filth Cruelty and the BeastDaft Punk DiscoveryWhile it has a few annoying tracks, the magical atmosphere this album inhibits cannot be denied. I see its appeal, although it doesn?t engage me for long due to a general lack of high points. That said, Face to Face is a great song that I keep returning to. - 6.0Daniel Cavanagh MonochromeThe Exorcist remains one of the songs of the year and is up on par with Anathema's Endless Ways. The rest of the album is mostly very different in style, focusing on post rock aesthetics of simple, repetitive melodies that are always eager to sound pretty, but seldom interesting enough to keep my attention for a long time. Monochrome seems to set out for an impact comparable to the calm, somber stillness of Sigur Ros ( ), but, in contrast to that one, seldomly succeeds in being enchanting instead of just nice. - 6.0Dark Moor Ars MusicaDaughtry Leave This Town: The B-SidesDavid Bowie Let's DanceDavid Bowie Space OddityDavid Sylvian Alchemy - An Index of PossibilitiesDead Can Dance Within the Realm of a Dying SunDead Can Dance AnastasisDeafheaven New BermudaDeath Scream Bloody GoreDeath LeprosyDeftones DeftonesDeftones Saturday Night WristDeftones Around the FurDepeche Mode SpiritDevin Townsend EmpathDevin Townsend Project AddictedDir En Grey The Insulated WorldDisturbed IndestructibleDream Theater OctavariumDrudkh The Swan RoadDuncan Patterson the Eternity SuiteEdge of Sanity The Spectral SorrowsEdge of Sanity InfernalEdge of Sanity UnorthodoxElectric Light Orchestra Out of the BlueEmilie Autumn Fight Like A GirlEpica Consign to OblivionEpysode ObsessionsEvanescence EvanescenceEvanescence OriginFates Warning Awaken the GuardianFates Warning No ExitFaye Wong RestlessFennesz VeniceFishmans OrangeKibun and Wasurechau Hitotoki are everything I hope to find in this dreamy style of rock: Catchy, beautifully arranged and full of life. The songs after the first third are mostly decent but rather uneventful and miss momentum. Very cool bass lines all around though. - 6.0Five Finger Death Punch War Is The AnswerGorguts Considered DeadGrimes Art AngelsGrouper The Man Who Died in His BoatHaken The MountainHaken VectorHelloween Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part IIHelloween Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part IHiroshi Yoshimura Soundscape 1: SurroundHiroshi Yoshimura A・I・R (Air In Resort)Howard Shore The Hobbit - An Unexpected JourneyIced Earth Horror ShowIhsahn Das SeelenbrechenJacob Collier Djesse Vol. 2Over the course of the album, I notice an oversaturation of JC's signature "warm cozy" sound. There is not as much versatility as I would have hoped and a lot of the more complex compositions sound like little more than exercises (Dun Dun's rhythm, for example). It's still mostly a pleasure to listen to and his talent is obvious, but I can't help but notice a certain blandness that I hope the next two Volumes will manage to avoid. - 6.0Janelle Monae Metropolis: The Chase SuiteJanelle Monae The Electric LadyThere are several great songs on this, particularly the title track and Queen, yet the album has too many uninspired tracks (especially the ballads) and, as a whole, feels tacked together, which is further worsened by the unnecessary interludes (although I appreciate the "world-building" aspect they have to them). While it's never terrible (now I'm looking at you, Dirty Computer), it's still an underwhelming follow-up to the amazing ArchAndroid. - 6.0Japan Tin DrumJethro Tull StormwatchJethro Tull The Jethro Tull Christmas AlbumKamelot Siege PerilousKamijo SangKatatonia Sounds Of DecayKorn UntitledKorn UntouchablesLantlos LantlosLifelover PulverLisel Angels on the SlopeCombining an electronic sound, dream pop aesthetics and some woodwind instruments sprinkled here and there, AOTS sure is a sonically interesting release, but a lot of the songs lack momentum and the thin, monotonous vocals have a hard time drawing me in. I do adore some of the instrumentation - Hunker Down in particular is brilliant mainly for that reason and I wished more of the album sounded as imaginative as that one. - 5.5 to 6.0Luca Turilli Prophet of the Last EclipseLudwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 3 in E♭ “Eroica” Op. 55Lydia This December; It's One More and I'm FreeLydia Paint it GoldenM83 Saturdays=YouthAs convincing as the upbeat feel and dreamy atmosphere are, this album suffers from being same-y and drawn-out. There are some beautiful songs, but also some stuff that is trite and unjustifiable in length, most notably Up!, which ranks among the worst tracks in M83's catalogue. That said, it's notable for doing something well that often bothers me: Ending with an extended 10-minute ambient outro makes so much sense as a last, nostalgic goodbye to being young and fits the album?s concept well. - 6.0M83 Digital Shades Vol. 1Marillion Script For A Jester's TearMarilyn Manson Mechanical AnimalsMassive Attack Blue LinesMatmos Plastic AnniversaryMaYaN QuarterpastMichael Jackson ThrillerMichael Romeo War of the Worlds / Pt. 1Moron Police Boat on the SeaGoofy, overblown rock, which I'm principally not averse to. It lacks a certain something though - a lot of the stuff isn't quite as catchy as I'd like it to be (not quite as catchy as Undersea, that is). The arrangements are full of life though and there's certainly a lot of potential for future releases. - 6.0Muse The ResistanceNick Cave and The Bad Seeds Murder BalladsNightwish OnceNightwish WishmasterNocturnus ThresholdsOpeth Pale CommunionOwen Ghost TownOwls OwlsPain of Salvation ScarsickPapa Roach The Paramour SessionsParadise Lost Symbol Of LifePaysage d'Hiver SchattengangPaysage d'Hiver SteineichePenguin Cafe Orchestra Music from the Penguin CafePink Floyd MeddlePyramaze Melancholy BeastQueen A Night at the OperaQueensryche Operation: Mindcrime IIRadiohead The BendsRage 21Rain Tree Crow Rain Tree CrowRed (USA) Until We Have FacesRhapsody of Fire Triumph Or AgonyRhapsody of Fire Symphony Of Enchanted LandsRhapsody of Fire Legendary TalesRise Against EndgameRise Against Appeal to ReasonRiverside Shrine Of New Generation SlavesRush 2112Rush Fly By NightSabaton Carolus RexSamsas Traum Anleitung zum TotseinSamsas Traum Asen'kaSamsas Traum Wenn Schwarzer RegenSavatage Handful of RainSavatage Poets and MadmenSeether Disclaimer IISeether DisclaimerShiina Ringo Hi Izuru TokoroShiina Ringo Gyakuyunyū: KōwankyokuSigur Ros ValtariSilverchair FrogstompSiouxsie and the Banshees PeepshowSisyphus Beak & ClawSkillet CollideSlowdive SouvlakiSoen CognitiveSonata Arctica Stones Grow Her NameSonata Arctica Pariah's ChildSt. Vincent MasseductionStaind Break The CycleSteven Wilson To the BoneStevens/Dessner/Muhly/McAlister PlanetariumStone Sour Audio SecrecySufjan Stevens A Sun CameSufjan Stevens Silver & GoldRatings for the individual EPs: 7.5 / 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.0 / 6.5.Sukekiyo ImmortalisSukekiyo InfinitumSunny Day Real Estate DiarySusumu Hirasawa Blue LimboA weird little album. Not as convincing as most of his other works but its sound has all the ingredients. Some of the songs are oddly repetitive, some downright annoying, although he has a way to even sell stuff like Hansen 108. Overall, one of his weakest, but still worth a listen and highly recommended if you're a fan of his distinct sound. - 6.0Sylvaine Silent Chamber, Noisy HeartSymphony X IconoclastSymphony X UnderworldSystem of a Down HypnotizeTalk Talk It's My LifeTangerine Dream Underwater SunlightThe insanely 80s approach (especially on the drums) is jarring, but that's part of the cheesy charm. There is some good atmospheric stuff on this recording, although it doesn't always succeed at being the deep blue ocean soundtrack it seems to aim at - the Songs of the Whale don't sound like they have much to do with whales (part 2 is outstanding nonetheless), and the Dolphin Dance is basically a clumsy disco banger. In the end, it's hit and miss; the ingredients are there but muddled in 80s cliches that hinder its impact. - 5.5The Alan Parsons Project Tales of Mystery and Imagination The Cure WishThe Cure The Head on the DoorThe Cure The TopThe Microphones Mount EerieThe Offspring Rise and Fall, Rage and GraceThe Receiving End of Sirens Between the Heart and the SynapseThe Smiths The SmithsThe Smiths Meat Is MurderThe Sugarcubes Life's Too GoodThe World Is a Beautiful Place... Whenever, If EverThirty Seconds to Mars This Is WarThom Yorke AnimaThought Gang Thought GangThousand Foot Krutch The Art of BreakingThree Days Grace Transit of VenusToby Driver They Are the ShieldToby Driver In the L..L..Library LoftTokyo Jihen SportsTom Waits The Black RiderTom Waits Mule VariationsTropical Fuck Storm A Laughing Death in MeatspaceThe album cover is spot-on, amazing. The music, I don't like quite as much. The sound is interesting, like a slower, more aggressive Joy Division at times while also utilizing some insanely noisy guitar sound settings. The instrumentation is simplistic, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the drums in particular are some of the most boring I've heard. The vocals range from energetic to annoying and I can't really decide which overweighs the other. A good and somewhat fascinating listen overall, but nothing I'm expecting to return to anytime soon. - 5.5Ulcerate VermisUlver Nattens MadrigalUNKLE War StoriesVersailles Holy GrailVersailles VersaillesVince Staples Big Fish TheoryVision Divine The Perfect MachineVision Divine Stream of ConciousnessVision Divine Destination Set to NowhereVolcano Choir UnmapWeyes Blood Front Row Seat to EarthWhile Mering's charismatic vocal performance helps carry the greater part of the album, most of the songs are rather inoffensive and feel stagnant. Some songs (like Seven Words) show some greater potential though. - 5.5Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Prague" Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Yes Tales from Topographic Oceans2.5 average3 Doors Down 3 Doors Down3 Doors Down Away from the Sun3 Doors Down The Better LifeAmanda Palmer I Can Spin a RainbowAmesoeurs AmesoeursAs much as the list of the names involved allows hoping, Amesoeurs never lived up to the comparisons with Alcest and Les Discrets, disproportionately undermatching them on all accounts, most prominently due to the unimpressive songwriting and the terrible vocal performances of Audrey. You would think that the songs performed and written by Neige would work as well as his Alcest material, but not even those live up to the name of their writer. At the end of the day, the bunch of enjoyable songs (Recueillement comes to mind) fails to outweigh the albums weaknesses. - 4.5Andrew Huang InterplanetaryAndrew Lloyd Webber Music and Songs From Starlight ExpressAngra AquaBruce Springsteen Devils & DustBullet For My Valentine Scream Aim FireBullet For My Valentine The PoisonChildish Gambino "Awaken, My Love!"Chromatics Night DriveMost songs don't go anywhere and the vocals, particularly those in the superfluous cover of Running Up That Hill, sound like they were recorded during a karaoke night. Feels lacking overall, but is atmospheric enough to be mildly entertaining to listen to. Only during the last few tracks, as it moves away from pop songs and pronounces its ambient leanings, does it pick up, ending with that great track everyone knows from Drive's fantastic opening scene. - 4.5Cocteau Twins Four-Calendar CafeSounds dated and not as interesting as previous releases. Evangeline is the only song I keep returning to (well, sometimes Pur), although that one is sincerely amazing. Its last chorus probably has my favorite whole step modulation ever. - 5.5Cocteau Twins GarlandsCocteau Twins LullabiesColdplay Ghost StoriesCrimson Glory Strange And BeautifulCrossfade CrossfadeDaft Punk Human After AllDamnation Angels Bringer of LightDance Gavin Dance Whatever I Say Is Royal OceanDaughtry DaughtryDavid Bowie EarthlingDavid Bowie LodgerDavid Lynch The Big DreamDavid Lynch Crazy Clown TimeDavid Sylvian ManafonDavid Sylvian and Robert Fripp The First DayDeathspell Omega Si Monvmentvm Reqvires CircvmspiceDepeche Mode Some Great RewardDir En Grey MISSADir En Grey The Marrow of a BoneDir En Grey six UglyElvenking Two Tragedy PoetsElvenking The Winter WakeEscape the Fate This War Is OursFKA Twigs LP1Freddie Mercury BarcelonaHaken AquariusJoanna Newsom The Milk-Eyed MenderKamelot DominionKate Bush LionheartKavinsky OutrunNice to listen to synth-wave, although generally inoffensive and uninventive. Nightcall is a great song, but you all know that, don't you. - 5.0Korn See You on the Other SideKraftwerk The Man-MachineLuca Turilli's Rhapsody Ascending to InfinityLush SpookyM83 JunkThere's a couple of great tracks to be found on Junk (particularly Solitude, which utilizes a sweeping string section), but the number of songs that are forgettable or downright annoying (mostly the latter) is way too high to be justified. It's one of those inconsistent albums that deliver a handful of songs that I'll gladly listen to every now and then and a lot of waste (or, you know, "junk") that I don't feel is worth returning to at all. Still better than the debut. - 5.0Michael Romeo The Dark ChapterMort Garson Mother Earth's PlantasiaThe most curious thing about this: the hilarity of it being an attempt to make music specifically for plants to enjoy. Looking beyond the gimmick, it's basically an early full-synthesizer album with very pretty compositions. The jangling simplicity can be annoying at times, but there are several moments of surprising vitality (Spider Plant, for example). While it can't be denied that it's foremost a piece of music trivia, at least it's a mildly enjoyable one, for the most part. - 5.5My Bloody Valentine LovelessNegativa NegativaOliver Wakeman and Clive Nolan JabberwockyOpeth SorceressOwls TwoP-Model PerspectivePain of Salvation BePapa Roach Getting Away With MurderPaysage d'Hiver Die FestungPinkly Smooth Unfortunate SnortPortishead ThirdQueensryche Hear In The Now FrontierRadiohead Hail to the ThiefRadiohead Pablo HoneyRadiohead 8 Outtakes From AmnesiacRhapsody of Fire The Cold Embrace Of FearRhapsody of Fire Rain Of A Thousand FlamesRhapsody of Fire Into The LegendRush Caress Of SteelSaint Asonia Saint AsoniaSavatage SirensSeether Holding Onto Strings Better Left To FraySisyphus SisyphusSlint SpiderlandSnowbird MoonSonata Arctica The Ninth HourSons of Seasons Gods of VerminStory of the Year The Black SwanSufjan Stevens Songs For ChristmasRatings for the individual EPs: 3.5 / 4.0 / 4.0 / 6.0 / 8.5.Symphony X The Damnation GameTalk Talk The Party's OverThe Flower Kings Adam & EveThe Microphones It Was Hot, We Stayed In The WaterThom Yorke Spitting FeathersThornley Come AgainTom Waits Franks Wild YearsTuomas Holopainen Music Inspired by the Life and Times of ScroogeUlver Metamorphosis2.0 poorAgalloch The GreyAlternative 4 The ObscurantsWhile delivering its fair share of decent melodies, The Obscurants lacks any standouts and, besides its stale instrumentation, is especially dragged down by the more lyrics-based tracks - Dina being the worst offender, both weak and enforcedly self-serious in lyrics and vocal performance to equal measures. - 4.0Arca MutantAuri AuriBjork Drawing Restraint 9Brian Eno Thursday AfternoonThursday Afternoon sounds like a ridiculously extended intro to something else. Not because it's ambient and not because it's subtle, but because its persistent keyboard soup and subdued noodling lack personality. Some of the little piano melodies are low-key interesting. Barring those, I could cut it short by a half and not lose sleep over it. You might see it differently if you don't want to interrupt your one-hour meditation session to press replay, I guess. - 4.0Bruce Springsteen The Ghost Of Tom JoadBTS Love Yourself: 轉 'Tear'Crimson Glory AstronomicaDaughtry Leave This TownDavid Bowie The Man Who Sold the WorldDeath Grips Bottomless PitDepeche Mode Speak & SpellDepeche Mode Construction Time AgainDir En Grey MacabreDir En Grey KisouDirty Projectors/Bjork Mount Wittenberg OrcaEmilie Autumn OpheliacEvanescence SynthesisFennesz Endless SummerFuel Angels and DevilsGenesis ...And Then There Were Three...Grave Digger ExcaliburGrave Digger Knights Of The CrossJupiter (JPN) Classical ElementJustice †It has a strong, energetic start (and end) but quickly dives deep into an endless circle of the same sounds and tricks that get annoying and grating very fast; and at worst, it's fucking embarrassing to listen to. There is no trashcan in the world that's deep enough for The Party. - 3.5Kamelot EternityKate Bush The Red ShoesLaurie Anderson Big ScienceM83 M83Overloaded with repetitive samples and short on interesting moments, M83 remains their weakest full-length to this day. There are a few pieces that work well atmospherically, giving a hint of what was to come with the masterpiece that's the sophomore, but they are scattered over a length bloated beyond what's justifiable. - 4.0M83 DSVIIMy Bloody Valentine Isn't AnythingA buzzy bee guitar cacophony that is supposed to sound dreamy I guess. The vocals are ridiculously inconsistent, but there are some very cool riffs scattered through the album, especially in the songs that dip their feet into more aggressive territory (like Nothing Much To Lose - very good song!). Fans of Loveless must not miss this. Me, on the other hand - I guess by now it's safe to say that the noisy MBV brand annoys me more than it enchants me. - 4.0Nickelback All the Right ReasonsOld Silver Key Tales of WanderingsPapa Roach MetamorphosisPowerwolf Blood of the SaintsRammstein SehnsuchtRev Theory JusticeRhapsody of Fire Dark Wings Of SteelSavatage Power of the NightShiina Ringo SandokushiSigh In SomniphobiaSimple Plan Still Not Getting Any...Soundtrack (Film) The Greatest ShowmanSt. Vincent Strange MercySufjan Stevens Enjoy Your RabbitSymphony X Symphony XTheory of a Deadman Scars and SouvenirsTokyo Jihen VarietyTrans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas Eve and Other StoriesTribes of Neurot GraceVirginia Astley Hope in a Darkened HeartWeezer Weezer1.5 very poorA Perfect Circle eMOTIVeAndrew Lloyd Webber Love Never Dies: Original Concept AlbumAntimatter SaviourWeak vocal performances and uninteresting songwriting make this a tedious listen. This is worsened by the atrocious drum computer that is taken use of frequently throughout the album. The only sincerely good track: Going Nowhere, an atmospheric ambient closer that would not have felt out of place on the Eternity album. - 3.0Blind Guardian Legacy Of The Dark LandsYou can get away with awkward interludes if the music is emotional enough to sell the atmosphere, as happened on Nightfall. There is nothing to back them up this time. The melodies are disastrously unevocative, the arrangements are uninspired, the vocals the least motivated they've ever sounded. It's hard to even feel anything when listening to this. The bottom line being, there's nothing that makes this album worth listening to except for the novelty, and even that's a sham: It's not a symphony. It's a symphonic metal album without the metal. - 3.0Bon Iver 22, A MillionBon Iver i,iThis is mostly just terribly inoffensive. While that can be regarded as a step forward after the rather obnoxious 22 A Million, that doesn't account for much. There's hardly anything memorable about it, safe for Naeem and maybe Jelmore (both with interesting instrumentation), two songs that have their immense faults as well (Naeem's trite, dumb chorus and Jelmore not going anywhere). After two listens, there's nothing that genuinely makes me want to return to this. Moreover, the lack of personality downright annoys me. Not necessarily his worst, but the most redundant. - 3.5Grave Digger Tunes Of WarJanelle Monae Dirty ComputerI understand that Monae felt that the political situation demanded a bold massage, an unambiguous statement. Sadly, to achieve that, she dumbs herself down from a lyrical and musical perspective alike. What once was multilayer is now "power is sex!!1!" (huh?). What once was well-crafted art pop is now dull radio music. While I agree with the album's general sentiment, it remains artistically ill-conceived and one of the most needlessly weak releases of the decade. - 3.0Luca Turilli's Rhapsody Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis DivinusMalice Mizer Voyage ~Sans Retour~New Order TechniquePaysage d'Hiver KerkerSamsas Traum Tineoidea Oder: Die Folgen Einer NachtSamsas Traum Heiliges Herz - Das Schwert Deiner SonneSamsas Traum Poesie: Friedrichs GeschichteSavatage Fight for the RockSimple Plan Simple PlanSkillet AwakeSonata Arctica TalviyöIt's one of those albums. The worst kind: The one that avoids being terrible well enough for those who want to like it to find excuses why it would be more than a lazy load of nothing. A few nice enough melodies here, a bit of piano over the riff there, and it sounds acceptable. Is there anything to gain by an album like this? No, honestly. There will be fans that give it an average rating or higher, but in the end, it seems fair to be harsh when a band sounds this worn out. You could say, "a little less understanding". - 3.5The Mothers of Invention We're Only in It for the MoneyTime has given this a savage treatment. This sure was adventurous and relevant when it came out. Well, not anymore. Now it's mostly aimless noise fuckery, jokes that get old at the second spin and endless brabbling that must have been just as annoying in the 60s as it is now. I bet, if every rating backed with the notion of "well it was ground-breaking at the time" (which doesn't really affect anyone's enjoyment of it, honestly) would be removed, this album would fall in the mid-3 area at most. And even then, I would call it overrated. - 3.0Thom Yorke Tomorrow's Modern BoxesThom Yorke makes music with his pocket calculator. Annoying, lifeless - basically Fast Track, The Album. The Motherlode is a pretty cool song though. - 3.0Three Days Grace HumanThree Days Grace Outsider1.0 awfulDaft Punk HomeworkThere's one thing Daft Punk got right: Homework indeed feels like homework. It's a chore to listen to. 73 minutes of mind-numbing beats in endless loops - my metronome makes more engaging music. I paused listening a few times in the middle to watch some cat videos I stumbled across because they seemed more interesting. Garbage album. - 0.5Nickelback Dark HorseSachiko M Bar SachikoSamsas Traum Die Liebe GottesUlver Vargnatt
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