Where to start with Opeth

[waif]

oh, you gotta explain that one...
~gR~

Well, you see, Blackwater Park is a poor man's My Arms Your Hearse.

Ghost Reveries is by no means crap and one of their best albums.

no. it's a shitty retread. If I decided to write an Opeth song it would sound like something off Ghost Reveries: a bunch of mediocre riffs in the Opeth style combined with directionless acoustic noodling and really really awkward transitions formed into tedious, meandering 10 minute songs and stretched out for over an hour.

Inserts Ozzman quote on how awesome adblock is.

lol i was thinking that too.

 

[mutantllama]

Well adblock is awesome. I mean, I fucking love it.

 

[J.]

I would actually say start at the beginning. Most will say to ignore the first two, and not surprisingly, those are the two best.

 

[Manic Ferocity]

My Arms, Your Hearse is my personal favorite. I don't listen to the band much anymore, though.

 

[MasterOLightning]

Morningrise is really awesome.

 

[The Ozzman]

Most will say to ignore the first two, and not surprisingly, those are the two best.

lol

 

[Omni]

Yeah, the truth can be pretty humorous sometimes.

 

[The Ozzman]

Especially when it isn't the truth

 

[CF87]

Orchid and Morningrise are good albums but musically immature compared to what the band has been writing in recent years. I also think Mikaels clean vocals a lot of times are not even decent on the first two and the albums are very directionless and the guitars are thin & weak which bother me in most cases. I'm glad the band got rid of the thin black metal sound they originally had going on and went for a more nice enjoyable and richer sound in terms of production and instrument tone.

Not a high point for the band. Opeth have improved in all ways after.

 

[Manic Ferocity]

My Arms, Your Hearse through Deliverance was their peak imo.

 

[Alteredmindeath]

the forest in the hills

 

[J.]

I'm not going to get into an old vs new Opeth debate. Truth is, I really don't care about this band anymore. I discovered the band after MAYH was released and worked my way backward and was blown away by the first two. I followed them up to Deliverance and gave up. I should have given up after BWP. I just found the formulaic acoustic/harsh/acoustic/harsh so.....formulaic after they followed that pattern with MAYH and SL.

The first two have such a free form and spontaneous feel to them that was entirely original and still is today. The "directionless" guitars is its charm. Nowadays, they just feel like "that death metal band with clean vocals and acoustics". The band has become a gateway band for newcomers (not totally the band's fault)and for a group of pseudo-intellectuals (not generalizing, but would a pseudo-intellectual actually know he/she is such? Probably not.)

It's no surprise that the later albums are praised more, simply because that is when the majority of the kiddies found them. The first two are also less accessible than the later stuff as evidenced by Death Delirium's post with the words "nice" and "richer sound" describing the latter material. I've never been a production snob, so the sound does not bother me, but for newer listeners I guess "thin and weak" guitars can be a distraction. It all needs to be taken into context, though.

All this being said, I only own the first two these days and rarely listen to them.I know this won't be popular with the fanboys, but I felt the OP needed some more insight into the "other" albums and a break from the misguided BWP worship.

 

[Ultimate_Symphony]

It's no surprise that the later albums are praised more, simply because that is when the majority of the kiddies found them. The first two are also less accessible than the later stuff as evidenced by Death Delirium's post with the words "nice" and "richer sound" describing the latter material. I've never been a production snob, so the sound does not bother me, but for newer listeners I guess "thin and weak" guitars can be a distraction. It all needs to be taken into context, though.

Funny thing is that I agree with this. I never enjoyed Opeth that much, the only albums that I enjoyed to some extent were the first 3, after that it all got too predictable.

 

[The Ozzman]

BWP is probably the most commercial record the band did without compromising elements present on the previous records (It's probably not what I'm trying to convey, but I am tired and I have been drinking). I still find Still Life to be boring as fuck and wouldn't recommend anyone to get that immediately. Blackwater Park is what got me into the band and it's what I would recommend to anyone who has interest in the band

 

[Belligerent]

To the threadstarter: BUY everything but Orchid and you'll be set.

I still find Still Life to be boring as fuck and wouldn't recommend anyone to get that immediately.

Shut your face already! Still Life owns you.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Thanks guys, judging by most reponses I'm guessing Blackwater park may be the best place to start. I think I'll pick it up tomorrow.

I'd like to 834th Blackwater Park, if it matters.

Also, the first two fucking rule. They're not as steeped in the progressive elements of the later albums, but they also have a far less generic sound, and a lot of depth to them. Ozzman just doesn't have enough patience to appreciate them.

 

[The Ozzman]

Ozzman just doesn't have enough patience to appreciate them.

You obviously missed the posts where I said that Morningrise is slowly growing on me. Fuck you.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Well you're still stupid.

 

[The Ozzman]

Stupid is as stupid does

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Whatever you say Forrest