The Year 2004 Albums Calendar and Rankings

2004, a year I historically remember for 3 records: Marillion's Marbles, Fates Warning's FWX and Pain of Salvation's Be.

But in retrospect and the residual discoveries since, this was an incredibly deep year. A lot of technical death metal and progressive college rock. A lot of EPs stood out as well as I think I have 9 in the list below me.

Comparing to 2005 may be unfair, and other years of the 2000's, but I'd say it measures up in a lot of ways, although possibly the depth is more a product of music in the 2000's, the amount of good new music that was coming out.

Blackfield and The Velvet Teen are not far behind..nor is Orphaned Land and some others. I'd say 2004 has become more of a revered year for music for me after now revisiting this.

1. Marillion - Marbles
2. Blackfield - Blackfield
3. The Velvet Teen - Elysium
4. Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
5. Fates Warning - FWX
6. Brian Wilson - Smile
7. Oceansize - Music for Nurses [EP]
8. 3 - Wakepig
9. The Dissociatives - The Dissociatives
10. Umphrey's McGee - Anchor Drops
11. Clann Zú - Black Coats and Bandages
12. Pain of Salvation - 12:5
13. Fair to Midland - inter.funda.stifle
14. The Decemberists - The Tain [EP]
15. Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor
16. Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit
17. Pain of Salvation - Be
18. The Dear Hunter - Dear Ms. Leading
19. Archive - Noise
20. Subterranean Masquerade - Temporary Psychotic State [EP]
21. Akphaezya - Anthology II: Links From the Dead Trinity
22. Meshuggah - I [EP]
23. Thurisaz - Scent of a Dream
24. Behemoth - Demigod
25. Superior - Ultra Live
26. The Apex Theory - Inthatskyissomethingwatching [EP]
27. Mastodon - Leviathan
28. Brazil - A Hostage and the Meaning of Life
29. Enchant - Live at Last
30 .Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori - Halo 2 Original Soundtrack
31. Cloud Cult - Aurora Borealis
32. Aereogramme - Seclusion
33. King's X - Live All Over the Place
34. sElf - Ornament and Crime
35. Best Friends Forever - Best Friends Forever
36. Porcupine Tree - Warszawa
37. Judgement Day - Dark Opus
38. Hope of the States - The Lost Riots
39. The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy
40. Malajube - Le compte complet
41. Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
42. Bloc Party - Bloc Party [EP]
43. Deerhoof - Milk Man
44. Time of Orchids - Early as Seen in Pace [EP]
45. Anathallo - Hymns [EP]
46. Janus - Armor



Archer Avenue - I was an Astronaut
rel January 2004


Time of Orchids - Early as Seen in Pace [EP]
rel January 1, 2004


Circles Takes the Square - As the Roots Undo
rel January 6, 2004


John Vanderslice - Cellar Door
rel January 20, 2004


Blackfield - Blackfield
rel January 2004


Porcupine Tree - Warszawa
rel January 2004


Pain of Salvation - 12:5
rel February 23, 2004


Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
rel February 23, 2004


Falling Up - Crashings
rel February 24, 2004


VAST - Nude
rel February 24, 2004


The Decemberists - The Tain [EP]
rel March 4, 2004


Decapitated - The Negation
rel March 9, 2004


Deerhoof - Milk Man
rel March 9, 2004


Archive - Noise
rel March 23, 2004


Subterranean Masquerade - Temporary Psychotic State [EP]
rel March 23, 2004


Arsis - A Celebration of Guilt
rel March 30, 2004


The Dissociatives - The Dissociatives
rel April 5, 2004


Proto-Kaw - Before Became After
rel April 5, 2004


Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor
rel April 6, 2004


of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic
rel April 6, 2004


Evergrey - The Inner Circle
rel April 27, 2004


Marillion - Marbles
rel April 27, 2004


Thurisaz - Scent of a Dream
rel May 3, 2004


Feist - Let it Die
rel May 17, 2004


Secret Machines - Now Here is Nowhere
rel May 18, 2004


Bloc Party - Bloc Party [EP]
rel May 24, 2004


Ayreon - The Human Equation
rel May 25, 2004


sElf - Ornament and Crime
rel May 2004


Clann Zú - Black Coats and Bandages
rel June 1, 2004


Fair to Midland - inter.funda.stifle
rel June 5, 2004


Midlake - Bamnan and Silverlake
rel June 8, 2004


Cloud Cult - Aurora Borealis
rel June 22, 2004


The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy
rel June 30, 2004


Umphrey's McGee - Anchor Drops
rel June 29, 2004


Meshuggah - I
rel July 13, 2004


Strata - Strata
rel July 27, 2004


Necrophagist - Epitaph
rel August 3, 2004


The Velvet Teen - Elysium
rel August 3, 2004


Laura Veirs - Carbon Glacier
rel August 24, 2004


Mastodon - Leviathan
rel August 31, 2004


The Felix Culpa - Commitment
rel September 1, 2004


Augury - Concealed
rel September 4, 2004


Kasabian - Kasabian
rel September 6, 2004


This Day and Age - Always Leave the Ground
rel September 7, 2004


Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
rel September 14, 2004


Aereogramme - Seclusion
rel September 23, 2004


White Willow - Storm Season
rel September 21, 2004


Sonata Arctica - Reckoning Night
rel September 22, 2004


Brazil - A Hostage and the Meaning of Life
rel September 26, 2004


Pain of Salvation - Be
rel September 27, 2004


Brian Wilson - Smile
rel September 28, 2004


Mutemath - Reset [EP]
rel September 28, 2004


Best Friends Forever - Best Friends Forever [EP]
rel September 2004


Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
rel October 4, 2004


Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit
rel October 5, 2004


Dream Theater - Live at Budokan
rel October 5, 2004


Fates Warning - FWX
rel October 5, 2004


Behemoth - Demigod
rel October 11, 2004


Oceansize - Music for Nurses {EP]
rel October 11, 2004


Superior - Ultra Live
rel October 23, 2004


Happy the Man - The Muse Awakens
rel October 25, 2004


Jon Oliva's Pain - 'Tage Mahal
rel October 25, 2004


Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Of Natural History
rel October 25, 2004


3 - Wakepig
rel October 26, 2004


Enchant - Live at Last
rel October 26, 2004


Courtney Yasmineh - Sufi Line
rel October 26, 2004


King's X - Live All Over the Place
rel November 2, 2004


Malajube - Le compte complet
rel November 2, 2004


Quo Vadis - Defiant Imagination
rel November 4, 2004


Wastefall - Soulrain 21
rel November 7, 2004


Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori - Halo 2 Original Soundtrack
rel November 9, 2004


Judgement Day - Dark Opus
rel November 23, 2004


Akphaezya - Anthology II: Links From the Dead Trinity
rel 2004


Anathallo - Hymns [EP]
rel 2004



The Apex Theory - Inthatskyissomethingwatching [EP]
rel 2004


Cavil at Rest - Cavil at Rest [EP]
rel 2004


The Dear Hunter - Dear Ms. Leading
rel 2004


Janus - Armor
rel 2004

Rest in Peace Allan Holdsworth

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/guitar-pioneer-allan-holdsworth-dies/

Natural causes.

Rest in Peace certainly as he was an influential and admired talent, namely on guitar.

His credits while nothing hugely commercial, are quite impressive, from Soft Machine, to Gong, to Jean-Luc Ponty, to Bruford to U.K.

He was one of the 1st guitarists, at least in Jazz and Rock that used the guitar almost like a synthesizer/keyboard.

Now, that being said, my good friend John said about him, that his technical ability is impressive, but he always struggled to be grabbed by his emotion.

And while I can't claim to feel exactly like that about the guy, I can just say I appreciate and maybe respect his influence more than loving his playing specifically.

The Bruford album Feels Good to Me is one I enjoy including his work on it.

And his work on the U.K.debut album I suppose as well.

But I suppose the style of synth-toned guitar I found Pat Metheny's approach and writing to work more for me. I dunno if Metheny and Holdsworth ever played together or at least commented on each other, but it might be interesting to see/hear.

Among the folks paying respects, Eddie Van Halen, Vernon Reid, Mike Portnoy, Neal Schon, Peter Frampton just on that link above.

THE TEA PARTY (the band) Special on: Geek U.S.A Podcast

Geek U.S.A. a relatively new podcast from 2 guys I have seen post on the Mike Portnoy forum for many years, recently did a special about the history of The Tea Party.

Quite a good discussion, much of which I knew, but also a lot of stuff I wasn't totally familiar with.

They talk about each album, which I don't think I've ever written in-depth about The Tea Party's career, but I have included some stuff about, especially a couple of years ago when The Ocean at the End came out.

My history, as briefly as I can about TTP. I enjoy the early albums quite a bit. Splendor Solis and especially The Edges of Twilight. When I got into The Tea Party, I want to say around 2002, 2003? maybe a year or 2 earlier.

edit: come to think of it, I think their name came up on the Rush newsgroup back in 1995 even. But I know it was years later when I saw some discussion on mp.com and some other places like the Colorado Art Rock Society, progressiveears.com and maybe the dreamtheater.net message board.

But what happened after I started checking them out, I tracked down some of the albums after
The Edges of Twilight: Transmission, Tryptych. from memory. I found digital versions of
The Interzone Mantras and Seven Circles I think.

edit: Per my rym, I actually did find a CD of The Interzone Mantras, which maybe I did, but it may take some work to track down.

And the S/T debut album/ep? also digital.

But the thing about this podcast is how in-depth they are, because I haven't listened to any of their albums other than The Edges of Twilight, Splendor Solis and The Ocean at the End in probably well over a decade. And this podcast makes me want to.

I just recall Transmission being electronic and industrial and not giving as much time to (and also I would frequently see it used at Cheapo, probably the CD I saw the most. And I guess it just came out on vinyl).

Tryptych, my memory is horrible about. I liked it I think, but I wish I could remember more about it.

Interzone: I liked more than the previous 2. More of their early sound.

Seven Circles: the podcast they took to shreds, and I don't remember hating it, but also maybe remember less about it than Tryptych.

I would have liked to have them added though, per how good The Ocean at the End is/was, hopefully they do another record at some point, especially per their anniversary tours and active time with TTP again. Although I also always wondered if the title "The Ocean at the End" was alluding it to be a 1-off ending to the band.

And among the news/gossip/state of the band, what happened with Jeff Martin and the copyright stuff from 2016, while not positive, still is something to be aware of. I mean the solo work and side projects from 2005, I only recall spending time with Crash Karma, and being somewhat underwhelmed. But I have also meant to check out some of Jeff Martin's solo stuff for awhile as I know many TTP fans really enjoy it. Maybe a bit like Mike Vennart and Oceansize, in some ways, etc.

Also about Geek U.S.A. they focus on maybe Scifi stuff most, but have done some other music like Dream Theater a couple of times. I also have checked out some of their Scifi stuff like Star Trek and movies/tv related. They praised Deep Space 9, which I was of course up to hear, but also wonder if they may eventually talk about Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and hell why not The Big Bang Theory or even Psych? among others So beyond their music podcasts, I do check out some of their other discussions.

89.3 The Current 893 "Essential Artists" BALLOT

89.3 Essential Artist Ballot page

I guess this was launched on April 4th or around that time which was about 10 days ago, and the deadline to submit a ballot is on Monday April 17th at 11:59 CST aka Tuesday April 18th at Midnight.

The winner receives a $300 Gift Card to The Electric Fetus.

Not that these things mean a ton to me, but I guess it would have been nice to have known when it launched. But, I don't follow 89.3 or listen of course very much for pretty good and obvious reasons that I've more or less posted in here many times.

But, so I found the email come to me yesterday afternoon and especially seeing the deadline, I submitted a ballot.

So, there's more to add in a minute, but here's 2 things to post right away.

My Ballot:

1. Marillion
2. Kevin Gilbert
3. Fates Warning
4. Rush
5. dredg
6. Genesis
7. Ours
8. The Dear Hunter
9. Dream Theater
10. King's X

And a recent post I made in a topic on dreamtheaterforums.org
"Who are you top 10 Bands as of right now"

1a. Marillion
1b. Kevin Gilbert (Solo, Toy Matinee, Giraffe, NRG)
Fates Warning
dredg
Genesis
Rush
Ours
King's X
The Dear Hunter
Dream Theater

edit: Pain of Salvation, Yes, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen........

Of course like many, getting a favorites list down to a top 10 is not easy and something I usually don't like to do, especially RANKING them, as I didn't do on that DTF topic.

But among the top 10 I put in my ballot, of course only 3 of them showed up in 89.3's database. The other 7 THEY HAVE NEVER PLAYED A SONG BY ON THEIR AIR. EVER. NOT ONCE IN THE 12+ YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN A RADIO STATION, ETC.

Which pretty much means

a) there's really no chance any of those 7 artists (Kevin Gilbert, Fates Warning, dredg, Ours, King's X, The Dear Hunter and Dream Theater) will end up on their 893 artist list because they don't even have any of their music to play in their library

b) even if they somehow did end up receiving enough votes, like the 2nd part of a)...they wouldn't play them because they don't have their music in the library to play.

My list, or the ballot I submitted, I guess I chose partially for that reason, because if I had voted for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen or even Yes, those artists have been played on their air. I mean if it were a Top 20 or 30, sure, I would have a hard time not including them as I included them as sort of honorable mentions on my DTF post.

But my prediction is the results will end up quite similar to the results of the 893 Essential Albums .List from May 2016 . And I'll likely follow it and transcribe and/or REACT TO it as I did last May to that, including maybe MY OWN list. Although I will admit, while I came up with well over 1000 albums, I am skeptical I could include even half that many artists that I actually am a reasonable good fan of.

Maybe 250? I guess I'll have to scan my rym and that 1000+ list of artists and see. At least given it's artists and not albums or songs, it shouldn't take nearly as long. In fact I could probably spend an hour 2 tops and come up with most of it which I may do, long before 89.3's list comes out.

But one other thing that crossed my mind about this, in thinking about the likely, pretty eye-rolling list that I anticipate, is that in 2016 it was 893 albums, 2017 893 Artists, so in 2018 it might be 893 songs, if they haven't already done one for Songs (I somehow think they did, but maybe it wasn't in this so called voting process? I can't remember).

But instead, they should do an 893 Minutes thing. And have I would think like 10 people either submit something to the station (and anyone would be eligible, a MPR/89.3 MEMBER or not, and that would have NO BEARING on whether they were selected).

Each of the 10 people selected would be allowed 89 minutes and 30 seconds or 1 hour, 29 minutes and 30 seconds approximately on their air to play DJ.

And the kicker would be, EACH PERSON SELECTED WOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHATEVER MUSIC THEY WANT. AS LONG AS THEY DON'T VIOLATE ANY FCC RULES, ETC OF COURSE.

All of the 10 people selected would have their music screened by 89.3's producers, and if any and/or all of it was not previously available in their playlist/database, those people selected would just bring it to their session to be on the air.

And each person selected would be on for those 89 minutes and 30 seconds once a day for 2 weeks, etc.

That would be  A LOT MORE INTRIGUING AND COOL to me.

But I think I have a better chance becoming the new 89.3 Program Director in the next 6 months, than that ever happening in the next 3 years, if ever. Which again, goes back to the broken record about 89.3 and why they could be a lot more appealing and cool of a station to me, but they likely never will. But I can't help but still pay attention and be proven right (or on very rare occasions) wrong about them and their playlists. And doing these listener driven special projects are more interesting than their normal playlists and programs anyway, that I can't avoid still paying attention to them.

And number 1, should be The Beatles,  but this is Minnesota and the Hipsters, so I suppose there's a decent chance Radiohead and Bob Dylan ends up as #1. Or Prince, which I can at least accept I suppose.

What I wish they would do though is include a comprehensive list of all of the thousands/10's of thousands of votes, just to see if any of those other 7 artists received votes besides mine.

allmediareviews.tumblr.com

https://allmediareviews.tumblr.com/

Yeah so there's another one, except this is actually on a blog site.

I never registered that exact name on there, but I did register http://allmrplaylist.tumblr.com/

which I intended to use, but never did, it looks like back in 2010.

But as far as this new blog, yeah well it may expedite or influence my decision I wrote about in the 10 years anniversary QandA a few months back about changing this blog;s name.

the name obviously is thought-of often and used since there have been 2 or 3 other instances, 1 on YouTube, another just a url that I think that may be based on wordpress.

Sucks it may come to it, but the last thing I need is to be mistaken for another blog especially.

But I'm riding this out for awhile until the 1 obvious goal/milestone, which my projection is the summer or fall of 2019, but it could be as early as sometime next year.

But, I suppose I'll try and check in with that tumblr blog of the same name to see if there's any staying power, unlike the allmediareviews.com one it seems,

The Year 1982 Albums Calendar and Rankings

Honestly, despite 1 of my higher ranked Rush albums and Pat Metheny. Along with both classics from both Michael Jackson and Prince, 1982, compared many/most other years, is rather thin/weak.

Certainly, there's some stuff on the calendar I haven't heard that could change that. But from my list, it's filled with mid-level stuff. I guess when I finish this project, I may rank each year, and at this point, 1982 I suspect won't be placing incredibly high.

1. Rush - Signals
2. Pat Metheny - Offramp
3. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Security)
4. Michael Jackson - Thriller
5. Van Halen - Diver Down
6. Prince - 1999
7. XTC - English Settlement
8. Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
9. Duran Duran - Rio
10. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
11. Genesis - Three Sides Live
12. Daryl Hall and John Oates - H2O
13. Toto - IV
14. Led Zeppelin - Coda
15. Al Di Meola - Tour de Force - "Live"
16. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
17. Huey Lewis and the News - Picture This
18. Al Di Meola - Electric Rendezvous
19. Asia - Asia
20. Phil Collins - Hello, I Must be Going!
21. Jethro Tull - Broadsword and the Beast
22. King Crimson - Beat
23. Jon Anderson - Animation





 
Jean-Luc Ponty - Mystical Adventures
rel January 18, 1982

 
Huey Lewis and the News - Picture This
rel January 29, 1982


XTC - English Settlement
rel February 12, 1982


Asia - Asia
rel March 15, 1982


Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
rel March 22, 1982


Talking Heads - The Name of the Band is Talking Heads
rel March 24, 1982


Toto - IV
rel April 8, 1982


Jethro Tull - Broadsword and the Beast
rel April 10, 1982


Van Halen - Diver Down
rel April 14, 1982


Duran Duran - Rio
rel May 10, 1982


Genesis - Three Sides Live
rel June 1, 1982


Roxy Music - Avalon
rel June 1, 1982


King Crimson - Beat
rel June 10, 1982


Robert Plant - Pictures at Eleven
rel June 28, 1982


Jon Anderson - Animation
rel June 1982


Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance
rel July 17, 1982


Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Security)
rel September 6, 1982


Rush - Signals
rel September 9, 1982


Kate Bush - The Dreaming
rel September 13, 1982


Utopia - Utopia
rel September 17, 1982


Al Di Meola - Tour de Force - "Live"
rel September 27, 1982


Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
rel September 30, 1982


Daryl Hall and John Oates - H2O
rel October 4, 1982


Prince - 1999
rel October 27, 1982


Andy Summers and Robert Fripp - I Advance Masked
rel October 1982


Venom - Black Metal
rel November 1, 1982


Phil Collins - Hello, I Must be Going!
rel November 5, 1982
 

 Led Zeppelin - Coda
rel November 19, 1982


Michael Jackson - Thriller
rel November 30, 1982


Twelfth Night - Face and Fiction
rel December 1982


Al Di Meola - Electric Rendezvous
rel 1982


The Dregs - Industry Standard
rel 1982


Pat Metheny - Offramp
rel 1982

Rolling Stone's ANDY GREENE take on YES

My wife just showed me this, a summary of the history of Yes, and while there's a number issues and disagreements with it from me, and even the fact he doesn't know how to pronounce Trevor Rabin's name (it's RAY-BIN by the way).

This is an interesting illustration of the Fraternity and story of Yes with the drama, backstabbing, and conflicts that happened regularly throughout most of their history.

I don't have the time to elaborate on this and others, but it does beg the desire for more details and even a list of some of the bands who have this kind of history. Why my wife hates BANDS for the most part and thinks solo artists work much better per the lack of arguments and EGOS.




http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/yes-an-animated-breakdown-of-the-band-over-19-iterations-w475371

Yes Rock Hall; Incl Geddy w/ Yes live!

Here's some clips, 2 of these videos may include some of the same speeches, etc.

Anyway, the Geddy filling in for Chris thing that was announced and then recanted, was true, although I wonder if the Yes guys wanted to keep it a secret, etc.

Wakeman kind of stole the spotlight.


With this year's Rock Hall class now done, I may want to go into another who should get in next entry, time allowing/permitting of course.

WatchMojo did a ROCK (and Metal) video of that very thing

JOHN ARCH!: Interviewed by That Drummer Guy

Very happy Josh got to interview the man himself, one of his and my own personal music heroes and favorite singers.

The interview is mostly about the upcoming Awaken the Guardian live DVD coming out from Fates Warning on April 28th.

I do like though how John did touch on new music towards the end. He's working on it, etc, which obviously has me grinning (on a day, where I'm struggling with that..medical issues and my supervisor stepping down).

Anyway, John is a really down to earth guy, humble and gracious to the fans. I know I couldn't afford it, but this interview only reminds me of how much I admire him and his approach to not only music but his lifestyle. I'd love to meet him of course some day, but if I never do, at least having my good friend Josh get to talk with John about music and his past present and future work feels a bit like that by extension (as many of Josh's interviews do, so happy for him and yet also incredibly jealous!).

Rest in Peace Paul O'Neill (Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra)

This came out of nowhere somewhat, although for some reason I thought I heard or read an interview a few years back about him having an illness. No specifics, but I wonder if it may be cancer (which seems to be the most common anyway).

This is quite sad, as he was a big part of Savatage and Trans Siberian Orchestra especially. The few times I saw both, I don't recall if he was with them.

None-the-less, he will definitely be missed. I guess he's jamming up in heaven with Criss Oliva.

Thanks for all the great music and everything you did for both 'Tage and TSO of course.

Rest in Peace Paul.


https://www.facebook.com/TSO/posts/10154193317561626

The entire Trans-Siberian Orchestra family, past and present, is heartbroken to share the devastating news that Paul O’Neill has passed away from chronic illness.

He was our friend and our leader -- a truly creative spirit and an altruistic soul. This is a profound and indescribable loss for us all.

We ask that you respect Paul’s family’s privacy now.

We will make additional announcements shortly.

Video: Vinyl Update 4/5/17 (22, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, King's X)

vinyl update.

I need to elaborate on some of these, in a new video soon hopefully.


22 - You Are Creating: Limb 1
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
Peter Gabriel - Up
Eddie Money - Nothing to Lose
Linda Rondstadt - Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind
Painted in Exile - The Ordeal (Vinyl)
Painted in Exile - The Ordeal - (CD)
King's X - Dogman
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - DejaVu
o'Brother - Garden Window

Video: Meeting Mike Vennart @ Biffy Clyro+o'Brother 4/4/17 @ Turf Club

Some comments and a review of Biffy Clyro and o'Brother from last night at The Turf Club.

Great show as I mentioned there.

And I was very happy to finally meet in person Mike Vennart of Vennart/British Theatre and formerly Oceansize.

He's a really cool, down-to-earth guy, and it seems he's happy/happier with this gig with Biffy while still being able to make his own music.

He mentioned Biffy may be coming back in the next few months too, which i hope to see them and him again.