TEN BEST PROG ALBUMS 2023

[@classicalbum]

Check out these albums using these links: Amazon UK: amzn.to/3TyPYZ7 or Amazon USA: amzn.to/3TyPYZ7

[@gregjacob83]

I'm really surprised that you did not include Crown Lands, 'Fearless". I was very impressed by this LP. This group harkens back to classic Rush. Very, very good.

[@leonydasdice]

Here´s the complete list in order... Cheers. -The Flower Kings - Look at you Now -Yes - Mirror to the Sky -Comedy of Errors - Threnody For A Dead Queen -Lars Fredrik Frøislie - Fire Fortellinger -Solstice - Light Up -Steven Wilson - Harmony Codex -Bruce Soord - Luminescence -Kite Parade - Retro -Seven Impale - Summit -Peter Gabriel - I/O Honorable Mention: Jethro Tull - RökFlöte Happy Holidays.

[@theskidmarkoforion4829]

Happy Christmas

[@markstevenson2897]

I enjoyed the Fire Fortellinger album but top 10 lists always seem to comprise a list of old farts whose best achievements are well behind them. I also enjoyed Dominion by the band Zopp. Very original with Canterbury elements, Jazz and prog, in a rich tapestry of diverse music.

[@DevastationMtrsports]

Thank you so much

[@DevastationMtrsports]

The Seven Impale album is fantastic.m8mhad no idea what to expect going in and I love it

[@stevechesney2498]

We can’t forget Riverside IDentity. Was my favorite album most of the year.

[@solsticeuk]

Thanks for the kind words and for including us on the excellent top ten!! 🙏

[@ScottAMedina]

You’re in my Top 10 as well! What an album, congrats and thanks!

[@solsticeuk]

@@ScottAMedina oh that’s great to hear, thank you Scott!! 🙏

[@lordslothrop365]

Steven Wilson's latest album is my favorite of the year. By far.

[@MoviesNStuff]

Surprised to see no Moon Safari or Chronicles of Father Robin on here, that new Haken album was alright as well

[@brucewilson3619]

I would add Trevor Rabin's latest too. Also, perhaps Tony Kaye's.

[@neiljukes5272]

Two words: Moon Safari. Apart from that omission, happy to see Comedy of Errors and Lars Fredrik Froislie included.

[@douglasstruthers8307]

I really enjoyed Steven Wilson's HARMONY CODEX. Great to see LIGHT UP from Solstice - Really enjoying their "Bulbul Tarang" and "Wongle No.9" tracks. Solstice has managed to create a sound that is wonderfully hard to peg into any neat category.

[@classicalbum]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TractorCountdown]

As someone else mentioned, The Chronicles of Father Robin, Books I & II on CD (I know the 3LP box set was out this year but probably sold out) featuring members of Wobbler, Jordsjø, and others. Also Jordsjø's album 'Salighet'.

[@gmnty13]

Nice list. I think IA does a reasonable job singing on RockFlote. given the struggles he has in his live performances, it sounds like Sinatra in comparison. Unexpectedly good.

[@itsdavew5766]

Very pleased to see the likes of Solstice, Comedy Of Errors, Kite Parade included. My own favourite of the year is Karmamoi 'Strings From The Edge Of Sound' such a thrilling listen. But also, Galahad, Retreat From Moscow, I Am The Manic Whale, Moon Safari and many more, its been such an amazing year.

[@OurFamilyInMotion]

Not just prog but here's out favorite albums of 2023 .... 1. The National - Frankenstein’s Laugh The National released two studio albums this year (First Two Pages of Frankenstein and Laugh Track) and I’m combining them calling this Frankenstein’s Laugh as the band has said that they intended them as a double album released in two separate batches. It’s The National returning a bit to their Boxer/Alligator roots without losing their brand of sophisticated songwriting that they’ve perfected in recent years. Very underrated by critics as the band's back catalogue has set such an outrageously strong standard. 2. Peter Gabriel - i/o The great Peter Gabriel released a song each month this year and finally released them all as a studio album to close the year. This may end up being his final studio album given how slowly he writes and records new material and this is one to savor for years to come. A few uptempo songs, but most of the album are slow to mid-tempo powerful ballads about mortality. 3. The Veils - And Out of The Void Came Love How wonderful is it when a great songwriter fulfills his potential and creates a triumph of an album. Finn Andrews did just that on this English/New Zealand band’s 6th studio album which is a cinematic tour-de-force inspired by the birth of his daughter. The music is influenced by Neil Finn, Nick Cave, and Automatic-era REM. My only beef is that two songs (The Day I Meet My Murderer and Between The Ocean and The Storm) don’t quite fit on the album to my ears. After I removed those songs from my playlist of the album, the album opened up and became a masterclass in melodic indie rock songwriting and performance; a sort of rock opera about finding love within one’s own heart through creating a family. 4. Nick Cave - Australian Carnage I usually don’t include live albums on my year-end lists, but there were several game-changing live albums in 2023 and Australian Carnage was one of them. It’s essentially Nick Cave’s last two albums (the amazing Ghosteen and Carnage albums) and a few of Nick’s classic songs recorded live with full band arrangements. The complete album is available on streaming services while the vinyl release only includes a few of the songs. Hoping we get the full album as a vinyl box-set. It’s such a powerful performance. 5. Manchester Orchestra - Valley of Vision How is Manchester Orchestra still a relatively unknown indie rock band? Valley of Vision is such an intense and wonderful album of beautiful and mysterious songs of life and death. 6. The Polyphonic Spree - Salvage Enterprise If you like Sufjan Stevens, you’ll probably enjoy the music of the Dallas art-rock band Polyphonic Spree. The band collective led by Tim DeLaughter combining psychedelic rock, symphonic rock, with indie-rock. Sort of Beach Boys meets Pink Floyd. The crowd-funded album Salvage Enterprise is their 8th studio album. 7. Harp - Albion It’s been about 10 years since Tim Smith left Texas folk-rock band Midlake, but he returned in 2023 with his wife Kathi Zung to release one of the best albums of the year. It’s a gorgeous piece of work that sounds like Robin Pecknold singing with Faith-era Cure. 8. RVG - Brain Worms If The Smiths and Echo & The Bunnymen combined forces, this may be what it would sound like. Just one great catchy song after another from this Australian band. 9. Lana Del Rey - Ocean Blvd Take out a few of the songs towards the end of the album (that simply don’t fit with this album in my opinion) and you’d have one of the best Lana albums. Sometimes less is more. 10. Sufjan Stevens - Javelin Sufjan seems to rotate between intimate folk albums and electronic pop albums. Javelin finds him returning to the former. If you liked Carrie & Lowell or Illinois, you’re in for a treat here. 11. Gord Downie - Lustre Parfait Gord Downie (RIP from The Tragically Hip) wrote and recorded this album with producer Bob Rock before he was diagnosed and ultimately succumbed to cancer. He made Bob Rock promise to finish the album and release it after his death and this year we finally got this legendary “lost album” and it was worth the wait. The song The North Shore is alone worth the price of admission. Rivals the best work of The Hip and becomes one of the best posthumous albums of all-time. 12. Jerry David DeCicca - New Shadows Former Black Swans lead singer Jerry David DeCicca’s released his 5th solo album this year called New Shadows. It is a huge step forward for this very talented singer-songwriter combining elements of art rock and Americana. Lindsey Buckingham meets Nick Cave. 13. Death Cab For Cutie - Asphalt Meadows Acoustic What happens when a legacy band re-records their 2022 album with acoustic instruments and makes it even better? 14. The Reds, Pinks and Purples - The Town That Cursed Your Name This is the 3rd album on my list that harkens back to the sound of bands like The Smiths and Echo & The Bunnyman. This is another great album in this artist’s catalogue. 15. Pretenders - Relentless Relentless is the best Pretenders album since Last of The Independents and maybe since Learning To Crawl. It’s that good. A classic Pretenders album. 16. Noah Kahan - Stick Season (We'll All Be Here Forever) The third solo album by Vermont’s Noah Kahan was a surprise hit this year appealing to fans of The Lumineers and great songwriting. 17. Glen Hansard - All That Was East Is West of Me Now Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard (from The Frames) quietly made a cameo in the movie Cyrano last year and here he seems to take that character (a soldier who knows he’s on his final mission) and creates an entire album of powerfully moving songs around him. 18. Cyan - Pictures From The Other Side Cyan is the brainchild of Robert Reed. This year he took an old album from about 30 years ago and completely re-wrote, re-arranged, and re-recorded the album with singer Peter Jones. If you enjoy Genesis and Yes and bands like that, you’ll probably love this album like I do. 19. Hamish Hawk - Angel Numbers I had never heard of Hamish Hawk before this year, but I’m so glad I found this album which, like the RVG album below, is a throwback to the sound of The Smiths. 20. Spanish Love Songs - No Joy California band Spanish Love Songs followed up their great album Brave Faces Everyone with this wonderful album that combines elements of The Clash, The National, and The Cure with more high-level production values. The lyrics are unique and specific, yet still ring with universal truths. 21. Big Big Train - Ingenius Devices Big Big Train is the long-standing English progressive rock band that recently suffered a terrible tragedy by their ultra-talented lead singer David Longdon died in a tragic accident in 2021. This year, the surviving members released new versions of some of their most beloved songs (using David’s vocals) and connected them together to form one incredibly moving musical suite. The band is moving ahead with a new lead singer, but this album is a great entry point for newbies who haven’t discovered their incredible catalogue. 22. Mark Erelli - Lay Your Darkness Down For those who don’t know him, Mark Erelli is one of the best songwriters working today. This album is a collection of songs about his recent health struggles. Very moving album. 23. The Menzingers - Some of It Was True This album is very similar to the Spanish Love Songs album above in that it finds a great indie-rock band upping its production values and finding a new creative high water mark. Great driving music. 24. James Blunt - Who We Used To Be For some reason, James Blunt has never gotten much critical respect. However, if you listen to this new album with an open mind, you’ll find tons of great songwriting and performances. I get the feeling this album would be a critical darling if it were released by an unknown artist. 25. The Died Pretty - Live The Died Pretty were a wonderful Australian band that never quite got their due. Their sound was similar in some ways to REM. This year, their label released this live album that is a recording of the band performing their masterpiece album Doughboy Hollow along with several other songs. 26. Guided By Voices - Nowhere To Go But Up This is the 39th studio album by Ohio band Guided By Voices and this is one of their best in years. Much higher production values than most of their albums and the songwriting, as always, is very strong. 27. Wednesday - Rat Saw God This band from North Carolina released their breakthrough album in 2023. Although I didn’t find it to be a masterpiece as many critics did, it’s a strong album that mixes 1990’s grunge power with a singer-songwriter heart. 28. Mountain Goats - Jenny From Thebes You gotta love a great concept album. Mountain Goats took a character from one of their old songs and made an entire story and album about that character. This is a very musical theater album, but I love it. 29. Lori McKenna - 1988 Massachusetts native Lori McKenna, like Mark Erelli mentioned above, is one of the best songwriters working today and this album finds her expanding her sound with more full band arrangements. 30. Josh Ritter - Spectral Lines Another great songwriter, Josh Ritter, expanded his musical palette this year releasing a sort of concept album of songs that flow together into one musical piece. More experimental and mystical than any of his prior works, this album has a powerful depth to it.

[@ScottAMedina]

Nice list in a great year for Prog. I’m glad to see Bruce Soord and Solstice in there up so high, too!

[@douglasstruthers8307]

Thanks for posting. Have a wonderful Christmas on your side of The Pond.

[@Amptronique]

1 Tu-ner - T1 Contact Information 2 Agusa -Prima Materia 3 Stick Men - Unmeda 4 Zopp - Dominion 5 Mondo Drag - Though the Hourglass Just my top 5 Prog albums of 2023

[@dennislind8411]

I'd have two Norwegian releases here. The Chronicles of Father Robin and Jordsjo's latest were outstanding efforts.

[@gerardfletcher1203]

i agree the peter gabriel is my best album for the year wishing u safe and happy christmas.

[@Marillion1978]

All the albums you have mentioned are in my list too.Your list is the same as mine.Magnificent review.

[@greenygreen5308]

Thanks for this. I had a listen to a few of these, particularly taken by The Comedy of Errors album. I am also checking out their back catalogue, I’ve tried “Fanfare and Fantasy” and it’s even better than their latest one reviewed here. Will definitely be checking all their albums out - excellent stuff.

[@stevedraper8849]

Twas a great year for Prog. It’s hard to fit more than 10 in your top 10 these days. It’s a taste thing in the end, but I have chronicals of father Robin pt 1 or 2 in my list. I also loved Agusa new music. All wonderful works of music. Great content still from you, thank you 🙏

[@TheProgCorner]

Here we go!!!

[@bbchronicles736]

Nice list and commentary! Totally agree with your #1, that was my pick and favorite album of the year as well, without question. Most of the rest of your choices were also among my top 20. A few others that were high on my list were: Moon Safari - Himlabaken Vol.2; Advent Horizon - A Cell to Call Home; This Winter Machine - The Clockwork Man; Motorpsycho - Yay!; I am the Manic Whale - Bumper Book of Mystery Stories; and K'Mono - Mind Out of Mind.

[@michellebell5092]

Seasons greeting CRR. Thanks for this list, lots of bands to check out . That I hadn’t heard already. See you next year. ❤

[@craig8542]

I wish you and yours a peaceful festive season Bruce and ring out those solstice bells!

[@rcpsammy7186]

I'm with you on i/o.... Absolutely remarkable work. Also, I notice you wear Miles Davis a lot. Won't get any argument from me! Would love to see you rank some jazz albums. Happy holidays 🤘

[@darinhaller6034]

I’m always searching for new music, I wish you would list them in the top pinned comments or somewhere to reference.

[@leonydasdice]

My wishlist for this Christmas... Thank You.

[@Pman-rm1nq]

I guess we don’t line up on lists My Top 1-Seven Chambers-Unitopia 2- Spooky Action at a Distance-Pattern Seeking Animals 3- The Dreamer pt 1- Neal Morse 4-Fauna-Haken 5-Making Shore-Damanek 6-Terror Management Theory- Temic 7-RokFlote- Jethro Tull 8-Another World- Southern Empire 9-Look at You Now- Flower Kings 10-Overlords- We Came From Space

[@robertmitchell9123]

Another excellent ranking list, a few here I’ll need to check out 😊

[@reginod2249]

The Gabriel album took a few listens to take hold, but I've come to really love it . . . . . . for me probably his most satisfying rekkid since Security.

[@uweborsch1946]

D'Virgilio, Morse & Jennings - Sophomore may be a non prog album by prog musicians. However it is one of the very best 2023.

[@hogweed1975]

Nice list! Here's a tip from me, and one you've missed: "I am proud of you" by the Australian band Mice On Stilts. Released only to streaming and download. It's beautiful. Acoustic, orchestral, melodic, beautifully sung.

[@classicalbum]

Cool, thanks!

[@markdavidllewellyn934]

Moon Safari?

[@SpaceOdditiesLive]

I think the highlight of Yes' "Mirror to the Sky" is not the opener but the title track. It's the best thing the band have recorded in years. The rest of the album is very good but a little bland, like their previous few albums. On "Mirror to the Sky" there's a much-needed and extremely welcome punch, and the string arrangements are exquisite.

[@ClassThrash]

Couldn’t agree more! I’ve not heard many pick up on this point.

[@patriddell1900]

Another wonderful piece..loving your work..as per.

[@classicalbum]

Many thanks!

[@ekenpad8482]

Heh, nice use of the old Best Products catalog showroom logo in the thumbnail ! (Not to be confused with Best Buy)

[@johndelavina3335]

Would really appreciate it if you would list your choices in order to track them down. I couldn’t quite catch some of the artists/titles. I would love to give them all a listen. Thanks and happy holidays!

[@SWATTECHNOLOGIES]

thanks Barry I'm grabbing Bruce Soord and Solstice I checked out a couple songs. Spectacular!

[@solsticeuk]

Great to hear! Thank you!!

[@renevw5812]

Hi, although these albums are great. Did you missed the new album of Arjen Lucassen (Star One project - Golden age of music album). Or the band Mystery with Redemption. Or Agusa with the album Prima Materia (Just listen to the song Lust Och Fagring) that will change your mind? And i can give you a couple more !

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

Most enjoyable rundown. Some great albums delivered with excellent aplomb as ever. Have a very merry Christmas Barry to you and your family. All the best. Dave✅✅

[@classicalbum]

Same to you!

[@garybuckley8871]

Thanks for introducing me to Kite Parade and Solstice (belatedly, obvs!)

[@paulmaurice3634]

Jeez, I wish I had your budget, you are a good salesman ! Merry Xmas and new year !

[@classicalbum]

Same to you!

[@roygoad2870]

Have you heard the new American band Squeaky Feet. Their debut album Cause For Alarm released November 2023. The music is certainly progressive and inventive, for young guys they sure have talent. The sound is fresh and awe inspiring 😊

[@luigidesimone8554]

Well done!!!! And by the way I totally agree with number one!!! Thank you

[@classicalbum]

Glad you liked it!

[@sjbang5764]

Smashing video! I enjoyed watching.

[@classicalbum]

Thanks for the visit

[@BoultonOKelly]

Moon Safari was head and shoulders my favorite of 2023

[@SEVENIMPALE]

Wow!! Thank You so much!!

[@wietzejohanneskrikke1910]

Two albums that really ought to be in the prog top ten: Visa Frän Inneröra by Mats Öberg and Life is but a Dream by Avenged Sevenfold.

[@Marillion1978]

I would propose another gem of Prog Residuos Mentales from my country Greece A temporary state of bliss.

[@paulcollins5586]

Monarch trail -- Four sides is superb.

[@kleberkshima]

Trevor Rabin - Rio is the best album of 2023 for me

[@johnpace5774]

Sisyphus is a bit of an uphill struggle. I see what you did there…….Merry Christmas, and thank you for all the great content!

[@classicalbum]

Thanks, you too!

[@dirkbag22]

What is number 4? I can't read it and I couldn't make it out when you said it. Thank you.

[@caseymcbridemusic8321]

I/O gets better with every listen.

[@shaunsmith3538]

Last video before Xmas Barry? Crikey, I was hoping we'd get a video of your favourite albums of 2023 before santa arrives. Let's hope we get one before the end of the year. 👍

[@classicalbum]

Coming soon!

[@LoudModeOn]

Interesting list. 'Life Is But A Dream' by Avenged Sevenfold should be on it.

[@nuclearbumrecords]

For me, Peter Gabriel's album is predictably Gabriel. It's great and does what it says on the tin, but he hasn't moved forward. Same team, same styles... The Flower Kings just ain't what they were either. Haken should be in there and Riverside, possibly both forgotten as they were earlier in the year

[@vallaindigital]

No Moon Safari love? Their new album is ASTOUNDING! (or one could say: no, their new album is Himlabacken vol. 2 😛)

[@ingemarbroberg6822]

Moon Safari Himlabacken vol 2 ?

[@marksink1652]

The flower Kings have out a new album? First I've heard. It's good no doubt. I have almost all them.... But seems Roine doesn't write 'em like he use to. Stardust We Are, Garden of Dreams, Church of Your Heart... Those things I liked FK best for, the spiritual lift, they're getting less and less evidence as time goes on.

[@silesianwalker507]

No Riverside's IDentity? Perhaps if they would be from USA or UK there would be on top if charts... 😢

[@NmDPlm31]

Not a bad list but damn, I can’t have a Top 2023 Prog list without Riverside’s ID Entity.

[@stephenjefferies5101]

Hear Hear

[@dav147]

yes pal totally crazy!!!!

[@ShinDSER]

It's their worst by far in my opinion. Would be on my top 10 most disappointing albums list.

[@emptysquares6863]

For me, I/O sounds like the overly sentimental musings from someone who hasn't written any music for 20 years and is easily his least inspired album to date. Steven Wilsons HARMONY CODEX is easily the most creative imo.

[@antfirmin]

Your 2023 list is far more interesting than Prog magazine’s highly predictable list.

[@ssocialdrummer]

Nice list, but Pete Gabriels album is about as proggy as the cup of tea I just made.

[@richardjames7905]

Sysiphus is a bit of an uphill struggle 😂. Very witty.

[@stigb56]

Moon Safari Himlabacken vol 2

[@seanwelch71]

L'Rain's " I Killed Your Dog" must be on this list.

[@samuelstephens6904]

I think this guy is too old school for that. This is a dad-prog list.

[@stuartwaby3081]

What! No mention of Camel's exquisite new box set! Steve Hackett's latest concert release Foxtrot At Fifty wipes the floor with anything else and you don't even mention this!!!!

[@classicalbum]

I mention Camel at the end.

[@stuartwaby3081]

@@classicalbum Sorry missed that.

[@paulgilliatt7829]

I had no idea Yes were still going. Extraordinary. I agree also about Andersons voice. You need to know when to stop. Look at McCartney, his voice is awful. Ray Davis is clever and picks his songs.

[@DavidLazarus]

IMO, the current band that labels themselves as Yes is not Yes. There isn't a single founding member in the band. To make matters worse, the heart and soul, original vocalist, and key composer and lyricist was ousted from the band during a time when he was recovering from being seriously ill. Save for the RnR Hall of Fame induction, Jon Anderson has never been invited back. That is quite simply criminal!

[@Anarchouettisme]

No DSOTM Redux?? I unsubscribe immediately, this is outrageous!!!

[@dav147]

lol, would deffo be worst of the year!!

[@Anarchouettisme]

@@dav147 sad but true

[@GlennPowell-ls3lg]

Oh god.I walked very late into your room and to my distress realised you were talking "prog" I have left quicker than a artilary round.

[@tchristianphoto]

I'm sorry I can't share your enthusiasm for Peter Gabriel's 'i/o.' After such a long wait I'm severely disappointed in it musically. Lyrically it's a powerhouse, dealing with themes of connectivity and mortality; but musically, it starts off good enough but then leads into an album too saturated by mid-tempo ballads. And having two (or three, in the case of the 2CD/Blu-Ray) similar mixes is too much of a waste and demonstrates a lack of artistic commitment. (My personal favorite Peter Gabriel album remains 'Up.')

[@caseytailfly]

TIL there were 10 prog albums released in 2023 😂

[@werners5191]

Um, hi dudes. You might not appreciate a minority report, but my personal opinion is that the title of “prog” as in “Progressive Rock and Roll”, should be retired. The artists you are talking about here do not hold a candle to 1970s progressive rock bands like Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, and Rush. So, let’s not compare forgettable mediocrity to greatness.

[@bjornjagerlund3793]

I guess that “Living in the past” is your favorite album?

[@werners5191]

@@bjornjagerlund3793 There is a consensus of opinion that defines greatness.

[@claudio130]

I just finished listening to I/O, it really didn’t do it for me…

[@BKastrosky]

Ok, after the album number 9 I stopped and clicked on dislike. "Classic Rock" calls this tribute band "Yes"? Really? This band has ZERO founding members of Yes (although 3 of them are still alive), and ONE member of "classic" Yes line-up. And who else there? Oh, good old poppy "Drama: Asia Killed Radio Kids" Downs! Drama indeed it was... And that laughable parrot that desperately try to look like Jon Anderson and even copy his gestures and attitude, LOL!

[@antoniogalianojerez9942]

I prefer the harmony codex to i/o, since both are rather good. Hand.cannot.erase was better, but that is not a reproach for any album, obviously.

[@dannypacini9820]

King Crimson ❤