1) Sieges Even – Sense Of Change
"Not only my favorite prog album, but my favorite music album ever. This is God for me. There's no album i have ever listened to that i like more than this one. And you know what's weird? i haven't even listened to it that many times...you'd expect me to listen to it twice per hour, everyday for years on straight. But i was very cautious with it: during the first spins i decided i can't just listen to it anytime, anywhere...i decided i will only listen to it on very special occasions, in places that awaken something in me. It's gonna be like a reward. Kind of like everytime i listened to it, i marked some strong feeling that i had...about whatever that may have been. It's usually in places where nature in its purest form is most exposed to my eyes. And i HAVE to be alone when i listen to it. I made an exception when i saw them for the first time in Wien, Austria in 2007 (where i also sang some on "These Empty Places" the closing track of the album) but that impact didn't go "unrewarded", hence now i have a "These Empty Places" tattoo. There's too much to say about it. There's not enough praise in the whole english language to explain why i put it so high up on the pedestal. This is the perfect album for me. Rush mixed with Watchtower, King Crimson, Julian Bream, Bill Evans...everything i need. Probably the most underrated album in history."
2) King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King
"I know it's only 5 songs long and doesn't portray the later genius of Robert Fripp's David Lynchian approach on music...but it was what marked King Crimson on the Prog map. The songs are so beautiful, yet at some moments, so grotesque. Sadness smothers this album. If you're in a bad mood, or on a bad trip, it can be the most suicidal album you've ever heard. If you're in love or have a strong personal satisfaction about a certain achievement/moment in your life...it'll be the album that gives even more value to that what you've felt before pressing play. It's an album SO strong that it can work both ways, yes. From the very classic cover to even the fonts on the booklet...everything about this album is divine. I guess that makes the whole album divine."
3) Dreamscape – Very
"OOOH talk about underrated, unfortunately Dreamscape are considered just 'one of those bands swimming in the sea of german progressive metal'. But this album is above them all. A soft voice that contrasts the heavy and melodic instrumental section so well, every songs sends chills down my spine, no matter how many times i listen to it. Like the two albums above, this one is not one that i listen to whenever i wish...but only when i find myself in some strong state of sad emotions. Nevertheless, it somehow lifts me up from the gutter."
4) Fates Warning – Inside Out
"This is an album i grew up with. It's right up my alley. Very expressive vocals, melodic yet unconventional guitar harmonies, a Yes/Genesis/80's King Crimson rhythm section...all of that on Metal Blade Records! Who would've thought? Each song is like a continuation of the one preceding it, it's a pleasure to listen to it. Everytime."
5) Rush – 2112 / Hemispheres
"Tony Choy also claims this is his favorite album but he kept trying to convince me it was done live. I still am not certain of it, but even if it wasn't done live, i think it's Rush at their finest. Just before this album "Caress of Steel" was offered to us by this fine Canadian trio, which to be honest, doesn't compare with '2112'. And to be just as honest, nothing they did ever since is quite of the same magnitude. Maybe i'm also considering the sudden change form 'Caress...' to this one...but since 2112, Rush had the same style...and it's not like any of them got better at their instruments since that album; they were already the best musicians in Canada at this point. I find it to be their peak. The Starman logo was born, it's also one of the best conceptual albums of all time...everything is so well thought out, Neil Peart's lyrics have a personality of their own...this album is like the Star Trek of prog with its own language...instead of Klingonian...it's the music. It's an album for musicians as well as an album for fans. It draws the two together...which is something that's rarely achieved. RUUUUSHHH!!!"
6) Camel – The Snow Goose
"Another very underestimated band. People usually have just heard of the eponymous cigarette brand (which has a direct link to Camel's 'Mirage' album but that's another story). This is a conceptual album in which you don't realize when the next track starts. It's one big track with no gaps almost. Aren't those the best?? It's pretty much a sonic journey where we join Rhayader as he wanders through the world. Oh boy was it hard for me to pick just one Camel album to place in the top 10...i think they're all genius. I picked this one because it has more tracks than the other, because it's conceptual, because it's mostly instrumental...but i love the other ones just as much. This one was the first i listened to, though. It drew me right in..."
7) Eloy – Ocean
"Space rock alert, space rock alert! Pink Floyd, Camel, Hawkwind, Can, Klaus Schulze...all mashed up into one album. Of course, it's a conceptual one as well and of course it only has a few tracks on it (4). By now i think you get what i'm into in terms of these classic albums. Just lay back and let Eloy tell you about the tales of Poseidon and his daughter, their worries, their empire...it's not even necessary to be on LSD or acid, the music itself does the trick for you. It's really trippy, really beautiful, the musicianship is amazing, but the whole atmosphere it creates is very strong. You won;t know what hit you after you're finished with it...and that's how addiction starts. This album is evidence of genius in an ensemble of music-inclined minds."
8) Enchant – Tug Of War
"Hmm...i'd dare to call this album a prog/emo album. I usually listen to it during the winter, at night, at the mountainside...when i'm thinking of a girl (not in that way, you schmucks). I mostly listen to this album when i wanna victimize myself, i'll admit. Mostly when i really like a girl (well there has been only one so far that i was with considering the circumstances i mentioned above...so this album won;t get played until another chance like that comes along...goddamnit!) and i play a scenario out in my mind, about how i would want it to be...and how it's actually gonna be. Personally, it's a good relationship brainstorming listen, but it can be used for other purposes as well. I tried to listen to it in other environments and it just feels weird. So to recap: winter, mountainside, night, someone special...basically, the closest you get to a tale. That sounded very homosexual, but for this album, i won;t even try to change that. It's just how it is for me..."
9) Watchtower – Control And Resistance
"Notice i didn't even place this album in the 'Fav Thrash albums' section...because it crossed the line between thrash metal and beyond even more than 'Energetic Disassembly' did. On this album we meet guitar mad scientist virtuoso Ron Jarzombek, while maintaining the same rhythm section (listed as my #2 favorite rhythm section), and the vocalist from Hades, Alan Tecchio, whose voice even though slightly different than Jason McMaster's, doesn't only NOT disappoint, but keeps the Watchtower vocal "bar" just as high...maybe lifts it up even a bit higher through some tricks he uses in such songs as the title track. So basically the only change on this album is the arrival of a better guitarist who brought a style of his own along with him, a style that has been imitated by numerous other amazing (and few/select) musicians ever since. He gave a fresh breath of originality to 'Tower (as if they didn't already have it..) and made this album, their second and last one so far, another classic in rock history. Still fresh after so many years. Still sounds unearthly and no one came close to their musicianship ever since. I don't see that happening very soon either..."
10) Aghora – Aghora
"What a pleasure it was to hear this album for the first time in 2000. Everyone was wondering what the Seans (Reinart and Malone) from Cynic were up to after the break-up of Cynic/Portal. Well the wait was so worth it, because Santiago Dobles, a new guitar virtuoso has contacted them for this debut album, heavy Progressive ORIENTAL metal at its best, with great female vocals. It's very distinct from most prog releases. Santiago started us strong with a style of his own on this album, and we get to see another side of what the Seans are capable of, different from what they did with Cynic/Death. It's an amazing album and the sound is just as prominent. The second and last Aghora album wasn't as good, but then again...few things will be."
11) Dan Swano – Moontower
12) Symphony X – The Odyssey
13) King Crimson – In The Wake Of Poseidon / Lizard
14) Dominici – Trilogy: Part 2 / Trilogy: Part 3
15) Adagio – Underworld
16) Dream Theater – Images And Words
17) Gordian Knot – Gordian Knot / Emergent
18) Rush – Grace Under Pressure
19) Voivod – Angel Rat
20) Spheric Universe Experience – Mental Torments
21) Ice Age – The Great Divide
22) Rush – Moving Pictures
23) King Crimson – Beat / Three Of A Perfect Pair
24) Sieges Even – Paramount / The Art Of Navigating By The Stars
25) Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Beethoven’s Last Night
26) Spastic Ink – Ink Complete / Ink Compatible
27) Anomaly – Anomaly
28) Spiral Architect – A Sceptic’s Universe
29) Linear Sphere – Reality Dysfunction
30) Mekong Delta – The Music Of Erich Zahn
31) King Crimson – Red / Starless and Bible Black
32) Psycho Symphony – Schizoid / Silent Fall
33) Gentle Giant – Acquiring The Taste
34) Sieges Even – Sophisticated / Uneven
35) Liquid Tension Experiment – I / II
36) Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor / Enemies Of Reality
37) Time Requiem – Time Requiem
38) Superior – Behind
39) Trivial Act – Mindscape
40) Mekong Delta – Dances Of Death
41) Garden Wall – Path Of Dreams
42) Ark – Burn The Sun
43) Chrome Shift – Ripples In Time
44) Alarum – Eventuality
45) Thought Chamber – Angular Perceptions
46) Peter Gabriel – So
47) Blind Illusion – The Sane Asylum
48) Control Denied – The Fragile Art Of Existence
49) Disharmonic Orchestra – Not To Be Undimensional Conscious
50) The Flower Kings – The Road Back Home
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