Anathema - The Optimist (2016-2017)

3/30/17 9:40AM
1st single "Springfield."I haven't heard it yet, but from some of the comments, it doesn't stray all that much from their past few records (which is still a good thing). 
 The rest of the record may though.



3/24/17 6:40AM
Facebook Announcement

June 9th, 2017 release date.

Certainly looking forward to this as espeically their last 3 records ( Distant Satellites, Weather Systems, We're Here Because We're Here) are somewhat Modern Classics (progressive college rock I suppose, as opposed to their older/earlier gothic doom/death metal).

Hopefully the 1st single will arrive relatively soon as that snippet below I don't know if it *teases* me enough as it's so brief.

I do recall reading that there is a Jazz and chamber element coming as some of the content on Social Media mentioned them using in the recording. Upright Bass among other instrumentation. Quite curious about that.



1. 32.63N 117.14W 1:18
2 Leaving It Behind 4:27
3 Endless Ways 5:49
4 The Optimist 5:37
5 San Francisco 4:59
6 Springfield 5:49
7 Ghosts 4:17
8 Can't Let Go 5:00
9 Close Your Eyes 3:39
10 Wildfires 5:40
11 Back to the Start 11:41

 

The Year 1987 Albums Calendar and Rankings

1987, a year I chose out of curiousity per Marillion, Rush and Giraffe had albums. Plus 1 of the 3 best U2 records in The Joshua Tree came out that year.

But in looking at the depth of the year, it's a pretty barren, thin year. Some of the 80's pop and Metal was okay (Helloween, Savatage). Prince, George Michael, Michael Jackson. Sting, REM, INXS. Some iconic names with some of their better records of course.

However on the grand scale of my taste, 1987 was also Top Heavy and I suppose somewhat nostalgia laden. Although I am wondering and suspicious the 1980's were a lot like this year. The most memorable and go-to's end up being a few at the top. Which supports my feeling about the 1980's strength largely being in Singles rather than Albums. Other decades though seem to have a larger chunk of albums, often underground albeit, but for many good reasons.

I do find it interesting though to have to choose between a Marillion album and a Kevin Gilbert album, which happens in other years as well. And Clutching takes this one, as it's my favorite Fish-period Marillion record, and 1 of 5 5-star albums from the band.


1. Marillion - Clutching at Straws
2. Giraffe - The Power of Suggestion
3. Rush - Hold Your Fire
4. U2 - The Joshua Tree
5. Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason 6. George Michael - Faith
7. Pat Metheny - Still Life (Talking)
8. Jane's Addiction - Jane's Addiction
9. Michael Jackson - Bad
10. INXS - Kick
11. Prince - Sign "☮" the Times
12. Sting - ...Nothing Like the Sun
13  Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part. 1
14. Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
15. The Dukes of Stratosphear - Psonic Psunspot
16. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Winterland
17. Def Leppard - Hysteria
18. Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
19. Jethro Tull - Krest of a Knave
20. Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien
21. Faith No More - Introduce Yourself
22. Bruce Spingsteen - Tunnel of Love
23. R.E.M. - Document
24. Roger Waters - Radio K.A.O.S.
25. Yes - Big Generator
26. TNT - Tell No Tales




U2 - The Joshua Tree
rel March 9, 1987


Prince - Sign "☮" the Times
rel March 31, 1987


TNT - Tell No Tales
rel April 13, 1987


Faith No More - Introduce Yourself
rel April 23, 1987



Voivod - Killing Technology
rel April 23, 1987


Jane's Addiction - Jane's Addiction
rel May 15, 1987



Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1
May 23, 1987



Marillion - Clutching at Straws
rel June 12, 1987


Roger Waters - Radio K.A.O.S.
rel June 15, 1987


Pat Metheny - Still Life Talking
rel July 7, 1987


Dio - Dream Evil
rel July 21, 1987


Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
rel July 21, 1987


Alexander O'Neal - Hearsay
rel July 29, 1987


The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Winterland
rel July 1987


Def Leppard - Hysteria
rel August 3, 1987


The Dukes of Stratosphear - Psonic Psunspot
rel August 3, 1987


R.E.M. - Document
rel August 23, 1987


Wendy and Lisa - Wendy and Lisa
rel August 24, 1987


Michael Jackson - Bad
rel August 25, 1987


Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason
rel September 7, 1987


Rush - Hold Your Fire
rel September 8, 1987


Jethro Tull - Krest of a Knave
rel September 11, 1987


Yes - Big Generator
rel September 17, 1987


Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
rel September 28, 1987


Bruce Spingsteen - Tunnel of Love
rel October 6, 1987


Sting - ...Nothing Like the Sun
rel October 13, 1987


Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien
rel October 15, 1987


INXS - Kick
rel October 19, 1987


George Michael - Faith
rel October 30, 1987


Bill Bruford's Earthworks - Earthworks
rel 1987



Giraffe - The Power of Suggestion
rel 1987


Jane Siberry - The Walking
rel 1987

The Year 1978 Albums Calendar and Rankings

1978, a year that saw many big names release albums, including many solo albums, but given it was in the late 70's, a lot of those artists either were just starting out, or following up a few years before, some of their best work.

Rush and Styx oddly, put out 2 of the best albums that year. Hemispheres, becoming my favorite Rush record among a catalog of 19 proper studio albums. Why that is? to me, it's their peak into doing progressive rock, and when they did it well, there's not many who did it better.

It came out in around Halloween, so it might have hit me like a ton of bricks after the rest of the year.

1978 was the age of Disco and Punk and even New Wave of British Heavy Metal I suppose was coming, so progressive rock and classic rock was fading a bit. A lot of good Jazz-Fusion as well, although not classics really, but still some decent stuff.

1. Rush - Hemispheres
2. Styx - Pieces of Eight
3. Alec R. Costandinos and The Syncophonic Orchestra - Romeo and Juliet
4. Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses
5. Kansas - Two for the Show
6. Renaissance - A Song for All Seasons
7. U.K. - U.K.
8. Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
9. Bruford - Feels Good to Me
10. Al Di Meola - Casino
11. Van Halen - Van Halen
12. The Who - Who Are You
13. Yes - Tormato
14. Happy the Man - Crafty Hands
15. The Police - Outlandos d'Amour
16. Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three...
17. Pat Metheny Group - Pat Metheny Group
18. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Scratch)
19. Chic - C'est Chic
20. Queen - Jazz
21. Boston - Don't Look Back
22. Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
23. Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
24. Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid
25. Steve Hackett - Please Don't Touch
26. Journey - Infinity
27. Dire Straits - Dire Straits
28. XTC - White Music
29. The Rutles - The Rutles





Bruford - Feels Good to Me
rel January 6, 1978



Alec R. Costandinos and The Syncophonic Orchestra - Romeo and Juliet
rel January 16, 1978


Journey - Infinity
rel January 20, 1978


XTC - White Music
rel January 20, 1978


Van Halen - Van Halen
rel February 10, 1978


The Rutles - The Rutles
rel February 24, 1978


Al Di Meola - Casino
rel February 25, 1978


Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three...
rel March 1, 1978


Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
rel March 17, 1978



Pat Metheny Group - Pat Metheny Group
rel March 1978


Renaissance - A Song for All Seasons
rel March 1978


U.K. - U.K.
rel March 1978


Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses
rel April 10, 1978


Max Webster - Mutiny Up My Sleeve
rel April 15, 1978


Steve Hackett - Please Don't Touch
rel May 1978


Kaipa - Solo
rel May 1978


Anthony Phillips - Wise After the Event
rel May 1978


Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid
rel June 1, 1978


Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Scratch)
rel June 2, 1978


Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
rel June 2, 1978


Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
rel July 7, 1978


Boston - Don't Look Back
rel August 2, 1978


Chic - C'est Chic
rel August 11, 1978


The Who - Who Are You
rel August 18, 1978


Styx - Pieces of Eight
rel September 1, 1978


Brand X - Masques
rel September 8, 1978

 
Happy the Man - Crafty Hands
rel September 21, 1978


Yes - Tormato
rel September 22, 1978


XTC - Go 2
rel October 6, 1978


Dire Straits - Dire Straits
rel October 7, 1978


Billy Joel - 52nd Street
rel October 13, 1978


Rush - Hemispheres
rel October 29, 1978


Kansas - Two for the Show
rel October 1978


The Police - Outlandos d'Amour
rel November 2, 1978


Queen - Jazz
rel November 10, 1978


Anthony Phillips - Private Parts and Pieces
rel November 30, 1978


The Doobie Brothers - Minute by Minute
rel December 1, 1978


Chick Corea - Friends
rel 1978



Paco de Lucía - Paco de Lucía interpreta a Manuel de Falla
rel 1978



Eric Johnson - Seven Worlds
rel 1978


John McLaughlin - Electric Guitarist
rel 1978


Annette Peacock - X-Dreams
rel 1978