Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, Dan Briggs (pictured left), bassist of the prog-metal band Between the Buried and Me, selects his faves.
5. Spiritualized, Sweet Heart Sweet Light
“I was criminally late to hearing this band, and when I discovered Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space, I instantly went out and bought their whole catalog. ‘Hey Jane’ is a perfect example of how well this band balances melody and brilliant song writing with space-rock freakouts.”
4. Astra, The Black Chord
“One of my favorite modern bands, probably because they sound like they just time traveled here from the ’70s. The Weirding floored me when I discovered it in 2009, and they went even further on this one developing their own sound while retaining influence from the powerhouse progressive rock bands of the ’70s. Goddammit, Astra are amazing!”
3. Anglagard, Viljans Oga
“I was introduced to this band in high school and their song ‘Jordok’ is one of my favorite symphonic prog songs to date. I was quite beside myself to see they had a new record out, their first since 1996. The composition and arranging skills they have are amazing. They definitely sound like a small chamber orchestra at times.”
2. Field Music, Plumb
“These guys have been my favorite modern British band since the first time Between The Buried and Me went overseas in December 2006. I read a review of their record Tones of Town which likened it to the Genesis classic The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, and I was sold! Progressive pop rock written by the smartest and most talented men.”
1. Ulver, Childhood’s End
“Ulver is a band I love for always coming out of left field with their releases, and this one is no different. Brilliant renditions of psychedelic pop songs from the ’60s, turned me on to a whole bunch of new (old) bands.”
