Genesis - Nursery Cryme: 100%

This is the first album I have ever listened to by Genesis, and I must say; I am amazed! From the beginning to the end this is a masterpiece within itself. The Musical Box and the The Fountain Of Salmacis are the best songs on this album. I can not decide which is better. Both being very climatic and epic. This whole album is progressive, inspired, and done beautifully. The same can be said for the musicianship and musical composition. The only weak part that might bother some, but not the majority is the quality of the recordings. This album would sound breathtaking with today's audio technology. On with the album... The Musical Box and The Fountain Of Salmacis are the true epics of the album that need to be heard by all progressive ears. For Absent Friends and Harlequin are two mellow tracks that are beautiful and well inspired. Seven Stones is also more mellow, but a bit more on the epic side. The Return Of The Giant Hogweed is another amazing song that is upbeat and starts with a classical intro. Harold The Barrel being also on the upbeat side though I found the other songs to be better; still amazing. Though a progressive masterpiece, I'd say any listener would have to know a thing or two about music. I would not have enjoyed this album if I did not otherwise. As a whole album it is memorable, but for the life of me I don't really remember any specific musical passages that caught me except the intro to The Return Of The Giant Hogweed, and that's just because I like classical. One last thing I almost forgot to mention: the lyrics are amazing! (They are basically awesome poetry.) Each of the songs are a story as The Musical Box goes more on the conceptual side. Making this album thus forth more amazing!

Here's some awesome vintage Genesis: The Musical Box:

The Beatles - Let It Be: 48%

This album isn't that good as a whole. The best track on here by far is John Lennon's Across The Universe. All songs by Paul McCartney are dull, uninspired and simply made for the hit. These songs include Let It Be, The Long And Winding Road, and Get Back. I've Got A Feeling is just simply boring as it another repetitive McCartney song.  Some bearable tracks include: Two Of Us, Dig A Pony, I Me Mine, and For You Blue. George Harrison's songs I Me Mine and For You Blue are actually decent though repetitive, they don't have that feeling that it's begging to be some kind of hit as do McCartney's.  Also notable to McCartney's songs are the orchestra in the background; this just screams to you that it was made to be a hit. Well, at least in the fashion of the orchestra's use. The best rock song on this album is the first track: Two of Us. This track gives you false hope that it's going to be a good listen. On this track The Beatles go back to their rock n' roll roots which is not really achieved decently throughout this album. As for the rest of the material, it is subsequent fillers made to achieve the album length of the 35 minutes. It seems as if most of the songs were made to revolve around the "hits." Which in essence they were, since they are hits for the most part. If you are barely starting to get into The Beatles find another album, and to progressive ears turn elsewhere! The only song I'd recommend is Across The Universe as I found it highly inspired and flowing.  

Here's the best song of the album along with a nice slideshow of The Beatles: Across The Universe:

Death - Leprosy: 32% - Awesome Death Metal. Not Prog, only faint brief hints.

I have to give it to them, Death can make death metal! The title track Leprosy definetly shows progression from their first album. Here is 80's brutality at one of its finer points with awesome riffs and onslaughts...Wait? Wait just one second!! It's just metal, but they progressed...Throughout Death's career this factor is quiet evident as it could be made obvious if you compared Scream Bloody Gore! to Symbolic or The Sound of Perseverance. Sadly, Death did make their music better in the long run, but even till their last album they used the same formula of metal, just more shiny and technical. Which in essence makes Death one of the best metal bands ever, but not really one of the greatest prog metal bands as sometimes acclaimed. Don't get me wrong - Their career as a whole is progressive as they are the founders of Progresssive Death Metal...Anyways back on track! This album definetly has a shreddin' attitude while covering the morbid topics of death! How lovely and unexpected! The best tracks on this album are Leprosy and Pull The Plug as they both show hopes for progression. Most of the rest is just plain death metal though their formula in their music is shown to improve. The musicianship is fitting for what they were shooting for, though the dual guitars are quiet useless till the solos kick in. Chuck's vocals are low on this album as on later albums he changed them to be screechy and high pitched for a reason to me that is unknown...I honestly preferred his early vocals as they were more on the bearable side, but maybe changing his vocals was progress to Chuck? Born Dead, Forgotten Past, and Left To Die are fun death metal songs as they are nothing amazing, but have that overall "Throw me in the Mosh!" feeling...Now, Pull the Plug; this is defenitly my favorite from this album as one of my all time favorites by Death. Here on this track Death makes a death metal anthem! I can best describe its anathematic feel to Creep by Radiohead. With the refrain "Pull the plug" being as memorable as the line "I'm a creep". This song has to be one of the most creative original death metal songs I've heard though not totallly progressive, but maybe for its time? I'd say so. Well, here they show hope of going towards the right direction as a band. Also, the solos on this track are about the best on the album. After the amazing Pull The Plug the album turns back into what it was: fun death metal. This time being on the darker side with Open Casket, Primitive Ways, and Choke On It. Open Casket shows some good guitar solos though it is still mere death metal. The same goes for Primitive Ways and Choke on It. In conclusion, this album is not really that technical, in fact it's quite simple as it's just death metal; good death metal. If you're looking for progressive albums stay away! The only song I'd advise anyone to listen off of this album is Pull The Plug. So if you're looking for some fun death metal this is for you, but otherwise not much progression here as Death will later reach. This is early Death, they are still on their journey to being labeled "progressive". Check out Symbolic or The Sound of Perseverance if you want something more technical and shiny.  

One of Death's best: Pull The Plug:

Pink Floyd - More: 50%

This is early Pink Floyd not at their best, but working their way there. On this album Pink Floyd displays more of their psychedelic side as they no longer have Syd Barret. You can hear hints of what is to come in later albums through it.  As I listened to it I noticed that some of the music is highly inspired and also quite the opposite. Some songs seem to have hopes for progression, and some do, but others just find themselves in a repeat with subtle changes and redundant endings... A bit of this album are mere fillers with no direction, but within this there are some notable tracks such as Green Is The Colour which I found as the most inspired on the album.  The Main Theme being really solid as well. Other decent tracks include Up The Khyber as it is a decent experimental jazzy psychedelic song, and Ibiza Bar as it hints of what is to come in future albums: progression. All in all this is a great listen to any well rounded Pink Floyd fan, but if you are new to them check out Animals or Dark Side of the Moon. This album does the band no justice as they have no where nearly reached their prime yet.

Now here's some vintage Pink Floyd: Green is the Colour: