Subterranean Masquerade- Suspended Animation Dreams

Subterranean Masquerade- Suspended Animation Dreams Yontar o Meter: 94/100

More avant-gardeish stuff. This is closer to avant garde metal influenced stuff, pretty similar to maudlin of the well, if anyone has heard of them. But it's top notch stuff. Very well produced, very emotional artistic side of avant-garde. This is NOT mr bungle avant garde metal. This is purely expression based, and really genuine without being too extreme for most people (good thing I am not most people, cause then I wouldn't have bungle or anything similar). The musician ship is really good, and there is variety amongst the instrumentation (different percussion, horns, winds, strings etc.). Give this a try if you haven't yet. It surprised the crap out of me, hopefully it will spark something in you too.

Nile- Annihilation of the Wicked

Nile- Annihilation of the Wicked Yontar o meter 95/100

So, metal is what got me really into music, and out of the pack of brutal death metal bands nobody even comes close imo to nile or suffocation. This is my favorite Nile album because it's solid and has great production (unlike many of their old works). So, this brutal as crap. Their lyrics are based off of very deep studies in Egyptian mythology, and Egyptian mythology is brutal. Not brutal like grindcore or hxc brutal bull crap this is BRUTAL. This album will make you reconsider what heavy is. Yea, it's that heavy, and I freaking love it. Amazing musicianship, some of the fastest riffing out there, and slow sections that will make your brain go numb. Seriously if you like heavy stuff, check this crap out. NOW.

Pink Floyd- Animals

Pink floyd- Animals Yontar o meter: 91/100

When I am in the mood for spacey progressive rock, pink floyd and riverside hit the spot. Man, this album is just so classic, great soloing, great concepts. I can't say enough about. Truly beautiful alot of the time, and just so genuine. Plus, man what an awesome cover! Go check out all of their classics (the wall, wish you were, dark side). It's good. I believe it's good, and so do millions.

Frank Zappa- One size fits all

Frank Zappa- One size fits all Yontar o meter: 97/100 (holy crap this is good stuff!)

So, thanks to a friend I made here at school I delved in once again into the avant-garde and generally ridiculous world of Frank Zappa. This album in particular is freaking brilliant (many of his other albums are as well, but this one is more consistent than alot of his work, while still being completely un-commercial). From the get go there are three main influences in frank's work. Blues and Hard rock (usually together, sometimes separate), Jazz, and spastic classical music. It's like listening to Prokofiev mixed with a blues band, played by Jazz musicians inside of a giant sofa. I can't say enough about the musicianship and the arrangements, and his sense of humor is still fully intact as well. Just a blast of an album. Highly, highly reccomended.