Numbers

Three Hundred Sixty-One

Artist - Rush
Album - 2112
Released - 1976
Label - Anthem/Atlantic/Epic
Genre - Progressive Rock

Tracks:
Side One
"2112"
I. Overture
II. The Temples of Syrinx
III.  Discovery
IV. Presentation
V. Oracle: The Dream
VI. Soliloquy
VII. Grande Finale
Side Two
A Passage to Bangkok
The Twilight Zone
Lessons
Tears
Something for Nothing

Enjoy!

Hymn to Rock

Three Hundred Fifty-Two

Artist - Jethro Tull
Album - Aqualung
Released - 1971
Label - Chrysalis/Reprise
Genre - Progressive Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Aqualung
Cross-Eyed Mary
Cheap Day Return
Mother Goose
Wond'ring Around
Up To Me
Side Two
My God
Hymn 43
Slipstream
Locomotive Breath
Wind Up

An interesting "concept album" as British rockers Jethro Tull would call this album, I believe it flows great together.  Maybe it is the different sounds, but the progressiveness of what is projected out of the speakers SPEAKS to me.  I always enjoy a rock band that has a flute  and as I read the back cover, I also see instruments such as descant recorder, mellotron and alto recorder. Ha, how interesting is that?

Enjoy!

No, No, No

Three Hundred Twenty-Seven

Artist - Yes
Album - The Yes Album
Released - 1971
Label - Atlantic
Genre - Progressive Rock

Tracks:
Side One
Yours is no disc
The Clap
Starship trooper;
  a. Life seeker
  b. Disillusion
  c. Wurm
Side Two
I've seen all good people:
  a. Your move
  b. All good people
A venture
Perpetual change

Enjoy!

Red Lips with Sunglasses

Three Hundred Twenty-Five

Artist - Saga
Album - Worlds Apart
Released - 1981
Label - Portrait
Genre - Progressive/New Wave Rock

Tracks:
Side 1
On The Loose
Wind Him Up
Amnesia
Framed
Time's Up
Side 2
The Interview
No Regrets (Chapter V)
Conversations
No Stranger (Chapter VII)

Enjoy!

Get Back

Three Hundred Three

Artist - Emerson Lake & Palmer
Album - Emerson Lake & Palmer
Released - 1970
Label - Island/Atlantic
Genre - Progressive Rock

Tracks:
Side One
The Barbarian
Take a Pebble
Knife Edge
Side Two
The Three Fates:
-Clotho
-Lachesis
-Atropos
Tank
Lucky Man

Enjoy!

Sticks

Two Hundred Ninety-Two

Artist - Styx
Album - Styx II
Released - 1973
Label - Wooden Nickel
Genre - Progressive/Hard Rock

Tracks:
Heads
You Need Love
Lady
A Day
You Better Ask
Tails
Little Fugue in "G"
Father O.S.A.
Earl of Roseland
I'm Gonna Make You Feel It

Enjoy!

A New Thing

One Hundred Eighty-Third

Artist - Rush
Album - A Farewell to Kings
Released - 1977
Label - Mercury
Genre - Progressive Rock/Hard Rock

Tracks:
A Farewell To Kings
Xanadu
Closer to the Heart
Cinderella Man
Madrigal
Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage

The fifth album by Rush, A Farewell to Kinds is a recommendation by a very special friend.  It's not often I come across these special people, but when I do, I like to keep them around for a while!  I couldn't necessarily say I'm a huge fan of Rush, but I've heard some of their albums throughout my illustrious years.  I did decide to feature them on my blog simply for the fact that my friend recommended it.  He mentioned to me that his favorite track was Xanadu, so why not make the man smile with a simple play of the record.  I could lie and type a bunch of words regarding my own opinion of this record, but I have to admit I was definitely distracted.  But from what I heard, I liked and it always amazes me that when I do listen to Rush, I always think of how HIGH PITCHED Geddy's voice it.  I guess that's one of the things I like most about this band, it's not like your usual prog rock, since the majority of the sounds are far out there, which I think put a specific touch what the band explores as far as style.  A Farewell to Kings would become Rush's first US Gold selling album.

Enjoy!

A Little Bit of an Obsession

One Hundred Eighty

Artist - My Morning Jacket
Album - Z
Released - 2005
Label - ATO
Genre - Psychedelic/Progressive/Indie Rock

Tracks:
Wordless Chorus
It Beats 4 U
Gideon
What a Wonderful Man
Off the Record
Into the Woods
Anytime
Lay Low
Knot Comes Loose
Dondante

Z is My Morning Jacket's fourth studio album and when doing a bit of research on their background, it lists them as psychedelic rock.  I don't think I, myself, would classify them as psychedelic, but I could understand where that genre label comes from.  More of a spacier sound using synthesizers and incorporating reggae/dub, I feel this album has a lot more depth, especially when listening to each track and seeing how different they sound.  It Beats 4U and Gideon are two of my favorite tracks on this record because the vocals just captivates throughout.  As of late, I've been on a MMJ kick and this album has been on heavy rotation. Off the Record is another great track even though I feel it has a Thievery Corporation sound to it.  Regardless of the fact, when I re-listen to this album as I write this, I love all these songs.  It's almost as if each song puts you in a different mood.  One to be happy to, one to dance to, one to be nostalgic to and one that makes you think of a special person in your life.  Yes, that is exactly why I've kept this album on heavy rotation!!

Enjoy!

Totally Natural

I've been wanting to play this album for a long time, but due to certain circumstances, I hesitated.  My one hundred twelfth pick.

Artist - ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead
Album - Madonna
Released - 1999
Label - Merge
Genre - Progressive Rock, Indie Rock, Post-Hardcore, Noise Rock

Tracks:
Side One
And You Will Know Them...
Mistakes & Regrets
Totally Natural
Blight Takes ALl
Clair de Lune
Flood of Red
Children of the Hydra's Teeth
Side Two
Mark David Chapman
Up From Redemption
Aged Dolls
The Day the Air Turned Blue
A Perfect Teenhood
Sigh You Children

I kid you not when I tell you that this album AND band changed my life in so many ways.  I met a lot of friends, traveled to a new city, MOVED to a new city and even live with one of these dudes BECAUSE of this band (not ENTIRELY because of the band, but many factors played in my decision).  Eleven years ago ,  I first heard this band and I was sure glad I did.  I rarely ever think about the paths I've chosen in life, but I honestly don't know where I would be if I didn't hear of this band and Austin, Texas.  I would probably be living in Seattle right now, since that was the first choice where I wanted to live in once I left Miami, but once I came to Austin, I was in love.  The scene here (even though I feel like it has changed a lot) was like love at first sight for me.  I was destined to be here and when I finally moved here, I was happy.  Austin is such a great, active city and that's what I love the most about it.

Back to ...Trail of Dead.  This four piece (at the time this record was released) from Austin, Texas are Kevin Allen, Neil Bush, Conrad Keely and Jason Reese.  I first saw them in concert in Atlanta, Georgia, 2002 when they toured with Queens of the Stone Age and Peaches.  What a f**king show!!  I knew they were notorious for destroying their equipment and tossing it into the crowd and I was so close to getting a snare drum....if only.  Madonna is their second debut album and it is, by far, their best album EVER.  I would have to say that their self-titled would be second.  But this one is definitely a TOP 10 on my list.  Songs like Mistakes & Regrets, Totally Natural, A Perfect Teenhood...shoot, this whole record is pretty amazing.  You cannot go wrong with this record because it has a mix of noise, progressive, loud sounds and then you have your few low, soft sounding songs.  Ending this record with Sigh Your Children is perfect, like the icing on the cake.

Enjoy!

From a Friend

A friend of mine recommended that I play this for my sixty-sixth pick.  For you my friend, for you have really helped me in so many ways become motivated.

Artist - The Moody Blues
Album - In Search of the Lost Chord
Released - 1968
Label - Deram Records
Genre - Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock


Tracks:
Side One
Departure
Ride My See-Saw
Dr. Livingstone, I Presume
House of Four Doors
Legend of a Mind
House of Four Doors
Side Two
Voices in the Sky
The Best Way to Travel
Visions of Paradise
The Actor
The Word
Om

Between the eyes and ears there lie,
The sounds of colour,
And the light of a sigh,
With thoughts of within
To exclude without
The ghost of a chord
Will expel all doubt
And to name this chord
Is important to some
So they give it a word
And the word is 'OM'


Just a little blurb of what is in the cover of this album, which is the third album by The Moody Blues.  The concept of this album is really an interesting one for me, since reading the sleeve, I feel that it touches more on searching for a sense of purpose and trying to find your inner self.  That's my perception of course, but after listening to this album, I can see that.  I think what I enjoyed the most from this album was the sound of the flute.  It's not everyday that albums have woodwind instruments and it took me back to when I was in high school, when I played in the band.

Enjoy!