There and Back Again

It's been hard for I've let out groups that are so much a part of me but if I’m an honest this is how it looks:

1. - Genesis. All of it. From the first Gabriel album to Calling All Stations. Greatest rock band to have ever existed. I have many reasons but I won't discuss them here. Maybe some other time.
2.- Gentle Giant. So many things going that make so much sense. I marvel at each of their albums for their complexity and their honesty.
3.- Van Der Graaf Generator. Took me a while to understand (to like?) their sound but once I did I knew that I had found my third gem.
4.- Frank Zappa. So much about him. Hot Rats is enough to prove my point. But then again you can check out Burnt Weenie Sandwich, Waka/Jawaka or any of the "You can't do that on stage anymore" series.
5.- King Crimson. The fathers of prog rock even when Fripp despises the term? Not sure but what I'm sure is that Fripp's crew has not only explored landscapes but created them out of the nothing.
6.-Yes. Next to Genesis for me the biggest symphonic band out there. Just saw them live a week ago and I'm still not over it. Perfect moment save the fact that you weren't there.
7.-Sigur Rós. An angels voice against the backdrop of a Hammond Organ. That says it all.
8.-Dead Can Dance. The first time I heard The Arrival and The Reunion I was literally speechless. The album "Aion" was the soundtrack to the dreamiest part of my life.
9.-Porcupine Tree- Steven Wilson is for me the only musician out there who's on par with the 70's legends. His versatility is something to be amazed at and it proves that prog rock can and HAS to evolve.
10.- Led Zeppelin. A band that conflicts with my religious beliefs yet I still own their records and have all of their cd's (The only track I don't have in my iPod is "The Houses of the Holy"). Great Rock 'n Roll that plays the Mellotron on one of their tracks (The Rain Song) and for me that is ideal.

Runner-ups are:

Marillion- My first contact with prog rock and music where the whole album was good. Marillion has the distinctive feature that all of their records sound different, in terms of spirit and sound.
Anthony Phillips- Truth is I have about 12 records from Ant but I haven't really heard most of them however the ones I've heard blew me away completely. "The Geese and the Ghost" is on of my top 5 records ever. Need to listen to all of them and then see.
Magma- I just received all of their studio albums and I have to listen to them carefully but I have big feeling that they will rise to the top 10 soon.

This list is for me mostly. It proves that my time spent listenting to music has helped me know myself to the point of exactitude which I consider something essential in this life. This are my opinions and I do not state that this bands are better than others on the contrary I always say that there is no such thing as a good or a bad melody (I have to do some research on this though). Music is the sound of inner worlds. It should never be turned into a banality nor a fashion trend.