Mikael Akerfeldt's list of "very inspiring" albums

This list is from Rock Hard Magazine (Germany) and it's about as diverse as I expected.

Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny (1976)
Joni Mitchell - Court & Spark (1974)
Scott Walker - Scott 3 (1969)
Nick Drake - Bryter Later (1970)
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988)
Rainbow - Rising (1976)
Bathory - The Return (1985)
Miles Davis - In A Silent Way (1969)
Whitesnake - Whitesnake (1987)
Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream (1999)
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (1973)
Abba - Arrival (1976)

Quite an eclectic list!

Eclectic indeed! I really like that Nick Drake album.

Nice list, and quite an eclectic one. With one glaring exception though. Fucking abba. Inspiring? Pfffttttttttttt

DeathCult wrote:

Nice list, and quite an eclectic one. With one glaring exception though. Fucking abba. Inspiring? Pfffttttttttttt

That's the same damn thing that I was thinking. If the next Opeth album is in the style of Abba, I'll be majorly pissed off.

Metal-On-Metal wrote:

DeathCult wrote:

Nice list, and quite an eclectic one. With one glaring exception though. Fucking abba. Inspiring? Pfffttttttttttt

That's the same damn thing that I was thinking. If the next Opeth album is in the style of Abba, I'll be majorly pissed off.

I see alot of people mentioning them in "great" or "overlooked" albums threads all the time now. I could see the Bee Gee's, but abba is horrible. Christ, what's next Jesus Jones?

Abba was from Stockholm, yes? I can see why they would have been an influence, especially based on his age. Mikael probably grew up hearing them on the radio, even if you hated their music the vocal harmonies are interesting.

Mikael Åkerfeldt and Steven Wilson will release an album called 'Storm Corrosion' in 4/12. By the way Wilson desribes it it should be pretty interesting and not just an Opeth/Tree mash-up.

I fucking love Nick Drake, but I wouldn't call him inspiring. I think he's more closely associated with depression. The rest I can get behind though.

Nick Drake is hugely influential on the singer/songwriter scene, he wasn't appreciated during his lifetime but his stature has grown by leaps and bounds since his untimely death.

His guitar style is amazing, he played primarily in non-standard tunings some of which he made up himself. I've read this was one problem when he would perform live because he'd have to re-tune his guitar for every song he played.

Of course his depression does come through in the lyrics, but those melodies are timeless and he had an amazing voice.

Five Leaves Left would be on my desert island picks for "perfect albums".

Whitesnake? That album? Inspiring? Mikael just slipped down a notch in my book.