When blogcritics.org first started, someone (I can't remember who) suggested reviewers listed their ten favourite albums, in Nick Hornby fashion.
I found it impossible to list just ten, so I ended up with twenty - and I've sorted them alphabetically rather than anorakishly trying to rank them in any sort of order. This is the first part - there are another ten to follow
Anathema - Judgement
Anathema began life as a standard death-metal act, all grinding riffs and death-grunt vocals. But once their original vocalist left, and rhythm guitarist Vincent Cavanagh took over vocals, things started to change. By the time they recorded "Judgement", a strong Pink Floyd influence had crept in and they were sounding as much progressive rock as metal. "Judgement" is an atmospheric and emotional work, musically balancing light and shade, metal riffs contrasting with delicate acoustic passages.
Asia - Asia
Most critics scoffed at the idea of this supergroup, consisting of ex-Yes men Steve Howe and Geoff Downes, ELP's Carl Palmer John Wetton of King Crimson, Uriah Heep and UK fame. While many expected a prog-muso chops-fest, what we got was a superb AOR pop-rock album, with the instrumental breaks cut back to fit the songs. Great combination of good playing, good songs, and powerful production, sadly they were never able to repeat the quality of this debut.
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
I know I'm probably a heretic for prefering Ronnie Dio's operatic melodrama to Ozzy's angst-ridden howl, but to me Dio's voice and Toni Iommi's guitar seemed a perfect match. As much the follow-up to Rainbow's "Long Live Rock and Roll" as to "Never Say Die", this is a great metal album when considered on it's own merits rather than in comparison to the Ozzy canon.
Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Treaties
Blue Öyster Cult have always been my favourite American band, with their multi-layered sound, high wierdness lyrics and Buck Dharma's wonderful guitar playing. All their albums are good, most of them are great, and this album, their third, is their best.
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