Slowdive, Just for a Day -- if I'm not in the mood for it when it starts, I'm in the mood for it by the time it's over -- it has a very relaxing effect on me. I would almost say it measurably lowers my heart rate and probably blood pressure, only I've never measured it.

Considering how not into the rest of that scene I am, I really really love The Deftones. Especially the first three albums, Adrenaline, Around the Fur, and White Pony. I don't really know anything else like that -- have you checked out Devin Townsend? That's the only thing that comes to mind.

What? No, I was saying that Achtung Baby was U2's last hoorah. I pretty much didn't like anything that came after it, neither (in addition to Rattle and Hum).

You should definitely check out Fear of a Blank Planet, Deadwing, and The Incident next -- those four albums are "of a kind", everything before that wasn't as hard. Unless, of course, you want to hear "not as hard", in which case you should listen to other suggestions in this thread. My...

Quote: Originally Posted by hardRAWKR Honestly, I think (hope) it's reached its peak. Because I doubt (hope) it could get much worse. (snicker) The loudness wars will continue. There will be many casualties. Unfortunately, it will be too many musicians, and not enough fat cat...

Quote: Originally Posted by kwitel Dusty-if its good for you, im gonna have to give it a couple more listens. Ive listened to it a good 5+ times and it just hasnt done it for me. No worries, it seems very few people have come around. My love for it has grown -- it's probably...

Me: Frost* -- Milliontown and Experiments in Mass Appeal are two of my most listened-to albums last year. Contemporary prog.

I would second Pelleas et Melisande. I am most familiar with the version from this disk: (with other works of the same name by different composers -- it's actually a really weird disk, and initially put me off from him by contrasting it against some really traditionally pretty music, but...

Schubert's 2nd Piano Trio in E flat by the Beaux Art Trio. I don't normally mind them, but I think based on this performance alone, they should stick to truly romantic music. This piece of chamber music plays itself -- it should be played stately and 'correct', and they try to put too much of...

I've got nuthin', but did you try Last.FM? You can skip the first couple -- people will always assume that another project with Emily Haines will sound like Metric, but personally, I like Metric, but don't 'get' at all Broken Social Scene, I just don't see it. I don't care if she was in both...

Amazon?

Three of those stand out to me -- Loveless, Laughing Stock, and Achtung Baby. Of the three, I go back to Laughing Stock the most -- not only was it genre-defining (with Spirit of Eden, of course), it's still one of the best examples of that genre as well. And I have waxed poetic many a time...

Praxis is kind of wonderful -- it's avant fusion with a world influence, but more of an ensemble project. I'd start with Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis), and see if that nips your buds. Death Cube K is what I've taken to calling "damnbient" -- dark ambient. The first one is still my...

Tango -- see Astor Piazzolla, you'll love him. Specifically, from the credits, it's probably "Romantic Tango", by Dan Radlauer. And yes, fun film. The visual androgyny (correct term?) section got a little redundant, but was still good.

I have the Akufen and the Metric (and love them both -- great choices), and I hate both choices for #1 (they bore the snot out of me). Sorry, no disrespect to those who like either of them, I will admit to just not "getting" them.

I wish I could consider Porcupine Tree "heavy metal", because then the decision would be easy -- Gavin Harrison. Has he worked with any metal people? He's amazing. He does this thing where the notes are played so rapidly that they become one holistic entity -- a "blur" of notes, for lack of a...

Reindeer Room -- chill/lounge (...though I have to admit to not having heard 3 yet.) ...And the Reindeer You Rode In On -- experimental I'm pretty much in the "bah humbug" category, so the only way I can take christmas carols is completely redone. Oh, except George Winston...

Notwist only have two albums proper (Sturm doesn't count, since it's a soundtrack, albeit very very good) in the oughts, so they're out, despite my love for them. I'd have a hard time coming up with anything better than Porcupine Tree, which would lead to Steven Wilson being artist -- what...

I dig it. Alas, it doesn't have Two Against Nature/Everything Must Go, but other than that, it has all the Steely Dan I need.

A lot of great recommendations in this thread. I would add: Shotgun Messiah, Violent New Breed (of the kinetic energy variety) Talk Talk, Spirit of Eden (of the potential energy variety)

I am definitely a latter-day Katatonia fan, and I have to admit that upon first listen, I wasn't as into this album as I was into previous albums (Tonight's Decision, Last Fair Deal Gone Down ("5 four-letter words"), Viva Emptiness, and Great Cold Distance). Especially the first couple tracks --...

Blue Oyster Cult, Flaming Telepaths, from Secret Treaties The The, This is the Day, from Soul Mining

Quote: Originally Posted by gilency Lucia Popp, Neville Mariner with The Academy of St Martin in the Fields with the Ambrosian Singers. This is probably my favorite as well, but I like this one a lot, too:

Bump -- I wouldn't mind knowing what the "mastering problem" is, either.

Stupid Dream is still my favorite, with Sky Moves Sideways being a close second. I just really really like space rock, and Stupid Dream is just in a class by itself.