top 5 non-metal albums of all time

[HamburgerBoy]

Synth-era Rush is just boring. The more I listen to synth-heavy music of the 80s and late 70s, the less I like those Rush albums. Signals is still good, and it's no wonder it's also the last Terry Brown would produce for them.

 

[Oblivious Maximus]

Power Windows is an underrated album. I never understood why the synth era Rush got so much hate. MUH KEYBORDES amirite?!

Hold Your Fire also has 'Force Ten' and 'Open Secrets'

'Jam bandy' is the only description I could think of for that album. Some of the passages just make me think of them just improvising in the studio and forgetting the 'Record' button was on. That is not necessarily bad but I think there are some disjointed parts on that record. Workin' Them Angels is a pretty good tune though.

If I were to rank Rush's discography, Power Windows would be very high on my list. Probably too high for a lot of folks. I really love that album. "Emotion Detector" is one of the best songs they ever wrote and Lifeson's solo is simply majestic. Right to the heart of the matter indeed.

Good call on "Open Secrets". Forgot about that one. I find a lot of their stuff from this era very relaxing in a way. Even the up-tempo songs have a nice "chill out" factor too them.

One of the reasons I've never though of Snakes and Arrows, and really Rush in general as "jam bandy" if that's the term we're going to keep using, is (and this might sound contradictory) despite their musical adventuress, I never thought of them as a very improvisational. Now obviously I've never been in a room with them writing so I could very well be talking out of my ass but knowing how meticulous all three guys are I've always assumed that they're songwriting process was just as thorough. They're certainty one of the most "composed" bands, if that makes any sense.

 

[The Ozzman]

If I were to rank Rush's discography, Power Windows would be very high on my list. Probably too high for a lot of folks. I really love that album. "Emotion Detector" is one of the best songs they ever wrote and Lifeson's solo is simply majestic. Right to the heart of the matter indeed.

Good call on "Open Secrets". Forgot about that one. I find a lot of their stuff from this era very relaxing in a way. Even the up-tempo songs have a nice "chill out" factor too them.

One of the reasons I've never though of Snakes and Arrows, and really Rush in general as "jam bandy" if that's the term we're going to keep using, is (and this might sound contradictory) despite their musical adventuress, I never thought of them as a very improvisational. Now obviously I've never been in a room with them writing so I could very well be talking out of my ass but knowing how meticulous all three guys are I've always assumed that they're songwriting process was just as thorough. They're certainty one of the most "composed" bands, if that makes any sense.

I'm sure it's thorough as fuck. Maybe the term I mean is 'laid back'? I don't think these guys release subpar shit and their songwriting is superb. I listened to all the albums I don't really listen to on a regular basis today and all got higher marks from me on RYM (Power Windows, Presto, Roll the Bones). Holy shit, Roll the Bones is a gem in itself. Some really underrated shit on that one. I'm not sure if there's a proper adjective for that album, but it seems more 'open' to me or 'laid back' as I said previously.

Synth-era Rush is just boring. The more I listen to synth-heavy music of the 80s and late 70s, the less I like those Rush albums. Signals is still good, and it's no wonder it's also the last Terry Brown would produce for them.

It's also one of the worst albums the band did. Probably makes sense considering it was his last album produced for the band. Grace Under Pressure is a way stronger effort and more deserving of being a Rush album. Subdivisions still kicks ass though.

 

[Nephilim96]

2112 through Moving Pictures is pretty much the only Rush you'll ever need.

 

[crimsonfloyd]

2112 through Moving Pictures is pretty much the only Rush you'll ever need.

Wrong

 

[crimsonfloyd]

This doesn't even approach possible.

Dead Can Dance- Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here (or Dark Side of the Moon)
King Crimson- In the Court of the Crimson King (or Red)
Fiona Apple- Tidal
Rush- Grace Under Pressure (or Hemispheres)
Marvin Gaye- Let's Get in On (or What's Going On)
Chelsea Wolfe- Apokolypsis

 

[Jimmy... Dead.]

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
The Jimi Hendrix Experience = Are You Experienced?
Joy Division = Unknown Pleasures
Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On
Run-D.M.C. - Run-D.M.C

All thx to Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Liszt, Dvorák, etc

 

[Mort Divine]

Carissa's Wierd - Songs About Leaving
Sera Cahoone - Only As the Day Is Long
Mount Moriah - s/t

I dunno. Hard to really say beyond those for me.

Still don't dig the classic and prog rock much and likely never will, even so most of my original list wouldn't return now.

 

[EspaDa]

Husker Du - Zen Arcade and New Day Rising

And of course Fugazi's debut

 

[crimsonfloyd]

I don't think classical counts. Classical recordings aren't really albums in the sense we're talking about here. For example, if Beethoven's 3rd and 4th symphonies are on the same CD, that's one "album" but two totally seperate works of art.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Magma - K.A.
Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
Boston - Boston
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole

Hah I was just thinking to list that Dan album before I realized this was a necro. Boston and ELP need to go though. Not sure about Magma.

Ok here's my new one:

Ween - The Mollusk
Gentle Giant - Acquiring the Taste
Cocteau Twins - Treasure
Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy
The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole

 

[The Ozzman]

Funny you say Countdown to Ecstasy and that's the only Dan album I haven't heard :-/

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Only A Fool Would Say That.

 

[The Ozzman]

Finally listened to Countdown to Ecstacy and I'd have to say it's one of the worst SD releases

 

[CiG]

1. Wishbone Ash - Argus
2. Bonnie Shaljean & Packie Byrne - Roundtower
3. Rush - Caress of Steel
4. Conan The Barbarian - OST
5. Clash of the Titans - 1981 OST

Unless we're not counting Rock that teeters on the verge of being Heavy Metal?

 

[Draehl]

Hmm...

Camel - The snow goose
Opeth - Damnation
Prodigy - Music for the jilted generation
Tool - Lateralus
Wardruna - Yggdrasil

Honorable mention:
Ott - Blumenkraft
Camel - moonmadness & mirage
Rush - moving pictures

 

[The Ozzman]

I would probably change Van Halen and The Offspring and put these in their places:

Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
Steely Dan - not sure what yet because all their shit is awesome

maybe:
Faith No More - Album of the Year
Deep Purple - Stormbringer

I don't consider Deep Purple to be a heavy metal band and I know I'm in the minority.

Going to change my list again:

Pink Floyd - The Wall
Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage
Steely Dan - ?
Rush - Grace Under Pressure
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak

 

[EspaDa]

Hmm...
Prodigy - Music for the jilted generation

That's right man, I'd also list The Fat of the Land of theirs.