In these dark days devoid of Starcraft 2's (legal) online services, I thought I'd head off to the off-topic forums to talk about some of my other interests: an action that I'm surprised more of my fellow posters haven't taken as well. Because I've been almost exclusively playing Starcraft, the fact that battle.net is down has had a proactive effect on both my schoolwork and appreciation of music. (As much as I'd like to listen to music while playing Starcraft, I can never seem to do it; once in a while I'll listen to some ambient or electronic, but that's about it.)

As such, it is by this RTS-less accord that I've decided to compile a list of some of my favorite albums to share with you SCLers. Whether the lists included in this topic will inspire people to listen to new music or simply find a fellow fan of a band or artist, I hope it's at least mildly successful. Ambitions aside, I'd like to say that I love hearing new things in just about every genre--I've been trying to gain a more thorough appreciation of classical--and I'd love to hear what everyone else considers their favorite albums.

I'll start with three of my favorite albums:


The Appleseed Cast -- Low Level Owl: Volumes I & II

Genre: Post-Rock, Indie, Rock, Ambient.

To say that this *album changed my life would be an understatement. To say that it inspired me to appreciate hundreds of new genres and styles would be a less general statement, but still not quite the justifiable descriptor.

Never before has any band--at least in my opinion--employed a more illustrious and dynamic sonic palate in post-rock or indie music. To be honest, this album isn't breaking any new ground; it is, however, a refined and pristine portrait of the beauty and passion involved in the aesthetic of studio recording. Every song is perfectly crafted, although not so intricately composed as to lose spontaneity and sound over-rehearsed; the album is indeed ornate, but it is not without blemish.

And it is precisely those blemishes that make this album so passionate, so immersing. Many who listen to Low Level Owl find the headphones-friendly fidelity and tumultuous sound levels a bit daunting and off-kilter, but it is precisely the depth-of-field and scope of the fidelity that allows the album to resonate beyond just "beautiful noise."

Every note, every layer is of a meticulous craft: an aural orgasm, a defening roar that will not be silenced by the mere movement of volume knobs.

Songs to check out: "Steps and Numbers": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQRBWN8RjyE
"Signal": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFozh7PsBC8
"Rooms and Gardens": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og1U0RD7t5g

* This isn't technically ONE album, but rather two volumes that are interconnected.



The Antlers -- Hospice

Description soon.



Mineral -- EndSerenading

Description soon.