It had to be done some time or other folks !!

But you wouldn't have seen me starting the thread a few years back.

I've been gradually moving away from VGM and focusing more on '70s/'80s pop/rock and film music.

So aside my very prized FF6 OSV.... what else do I listen to lately ?

A Trick of the Tail

The album that got me hooked to Genesis. Also the first album to feature Phil Collins as vocalist of the band. He has a very dreamy/etheral voice is all I can say. Plus I love how every track features a synth solo somewhere For someone who eats up synth like popcorn, I can't think of anything negative here.

Cobra Motion Picture Soundtrack

This one can be a bit misleading. The almost contains mainly all of the vocal themes used in the film and a couple of score track. There's a whole slew of artists here, famous and not-so. Gary Wright, Gloria Estefan, Robert Tepper, John Cafferty and film composer Sylvester Levay to name a few. Basically, all the songs are motivational and enjoyable.

Conan The Barbarian Soundtrack

I have the 12 track Milan edition. So it doesn't contain some music... so what ? What's on here is nothing short of exquisite. Basil Poledouris did something really special here. Orchestral film music done right.

Dan Gibson's Solitudes - The Classics II

Take some of the best known classical pieces, perform them on synth and add a touch of nature with crashing waves and various bird calls. Surprisingly, it all works well together. It's a very relaxing album with works by Beethoven, Chopin, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, etc...

Dark Side of The Moon

Thus far, this is the only work I've heard of Pink Floyd. It has such a unique approach mixing various sound effects with guitars, synths and some trippy vocal work.

Le Romantisme Espagnol

This is a instrumental album by canadian guitarist Bruno Jacques Pelletier. It contains many Spanish themes played on a classical guitar. It's another relaxing album that changes the pace once in a while in my listening habits.

Musique Ancienne

Another classical guitar album by Pelletier. This time he performs classical pieces by reknown composers such as Bach, Downland and Valet.

Odyssey

Now for something quite diffrent. We have guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen alongside Joe Lynn Turner providing the vocals. Can we say "fun" ? Yes, we can !! "Rising Force" and "Riot in The Dungeon" are big favorites

Rising Force

Here is Malmsteen's first album release. It's mostly instrumental with a couple of vocals by Jeff Scott Soto. "Evil Eye" and "Far Beyond The Sun" really get my blood pumping

Rocky Motion Picture Soundtrack

First of the esteemed series and a work of genius by film composer Bill Conti. I feel this particular entry had the best music overall. "Philadelphia Morning" and "Gonna Fly Now" are so emotionally charged, it's insane.

Rocky IV Motion Picture Soundtrack

This one follows in the style of the Cobra soundtrack. Contains mostly songs a just a couple of score tracks. Robert Tepper and John Cafferty make a welcome appearance here, and Survivor's classic anthems are so ingrained into pop-culture, that it's hard to imagine Rocky without "Eye of The Tiger". Film composer Vince DiCola also joins the fun by providing "War" and "Training Montage" which are nothing short of inspiring.

Selling England by The Pound

Having been introduced to Genesis via A Trick of The Tail, I was curious to see how Genesis fared when Peter Gabriel was the main vocalist. He was just as good as Phil Collins, as tracks such as "Firth of Fifth" and "Dance with the Moonlit Knight" also have some dreamy/etheral vocal work, not to mention some seriously awesome keyboard and guitar solos.

Surfing With The Alien

I knew that Joe Satriani was one of the better guitarist alongside Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai. This album is completely instrumental and delivers in spades. I'd go as far as saying some of the tracks here remind me of VGM. *gasp*

The Speed of Sound

Thanks to VGM, I was introduced to Ronnie Montrose via Mr. Bones. Ever since I've been curious to hear him outside the VGM arena. I learned that this particular album showcases him at his very best. Crunchy guitars, spacey synths and some amazing drumwork. The best part.... it's all instrumental Most of these tracks could be placed in a shooting game and no one would bat an eye.

Whew. So there we have it, lots of variety from so many artists. What non-VGM have you folks been into lately ?

I recently discovered Rondo Veneziano.  Some great classical music here.  Check out Magica Melodia or La Serenissima.

A lot of classical. Brahms, Britten, Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Barber.

Some film music too, Jerry Goldsmith, Michael Giacchino.

The new Justin Timberlake album is amazing through and through.

Heh, I have been in the headphone market lately, so I've had to keep a decent variety of stuff playing. Amazing how some work well only certain genres.

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos and Orchestral Suites (Pinnock and the English Concert)
Mary Chapin Carpenter (one of the few country artists that doesn't annoy the crap out of me)
Peter Cetera solo works (I'm not a big Chicago fan, but love his solo work)
Amy Grant
Phil Collins - First 2 albums are kinda okay, then his mid to late 80's output is all excellent (including Invisible Touch with Genesis). A pleasant surprise.
Mike Oldfield (Moonlight Shadow <3)
Jimmy Buffet Greatest Hits
Celine Dion (first two albums are great, then I can pick and choose a couple good tracks from most of the follow-ups...they are way too ballad-happy)
Roxette - This is probably my favorite group at the moment and I don't think that will be changing anytime soon. Great pop hooks, great guitar, good lyrics, great vocals...Just kinda nailed it. I regret not hitting them up earlier.

And of course, the obligatory Metallica/Iron Maiden sessions. And Eruption (Van Halen) is a great track to use for headphone imaging. I'm at a standstill as far as metal goes, just content with the small pool of like 20 classic bands or so.

And Odyssey is my favorite Malmsteen album, while Rising Force has my two favorite Malmsteen tracks (Black Star and Far Beyond the Sun, the latter of which was ripped off hard on the Ys IV Perfect Collection Vol. 2, as "The Ordeal Becomes Great").

Whatever random.org tells me to...

so, I was going to mention this here...there is some really interesting keyboard/synth pop coming out of a young outfit going by the name of "Knower"

Check them out, I think it's definitely fitting in the VGM realm:

"What's in your heart" : http://youtu.be/UFe8M5Xh9-A

Time Traveler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itRWssMSuvw

PYT (Michael Jackson Cover): http://youtu.be/c7z1L8ZXoVA

Speaking of covers, with great jazzy arrangements ...of all things a Rihanna cover,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQn-CEK_kV0

Wow, you guys have some really eclectic tastes!

My listening habit is about 97% film scores, 2% VGM and 1% other stuff.

At this very moment I'm listening John Barry's gorgeous, majestic (no pun intended) score for Mary, Queen of Scots (1971):

Info/samples: http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=4782

Apart from the usual soundtrack material, KOKIA's new album where to go my love? is on heavy rotation in my player these days.

2nd track from the album

Jeff Mills - Where Light Ends

Jeff Mills - Sleeper Wakes

Drexciya - The Journey Home

Let me just post these and edit in commentary later before I continue the never post anything at all.

Been listening the hell out of these!  All 12'' vinyl records.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Two Tribes (Carnage)

DJ AC-DC – Never Ending Story

Billy Idol - Rebel Yell

Luca Turilli – Demonheart

Sonic Inc. - I Feel For You

Edguy,,,, holy crap how come i did not find out about this band 10 years ago

Edguy is awesome!  I have Hellfire Club and Rocket Ride albums both on vinyl.  Great to see another Edguy fan!

Ashley Winchester introduced me to Edguy awhile back. Hellfire Club is one of the few power metal albums I still keep in rotation (I largely lost my taste for the genre, mostly because it's so samey).

So many things, but mostly progressive/metal-ish kinds of music. As of late (all links are to full albums):

Coheed and Cambria, "The Afterman: Ascension" and The Afterman: Descension"
Foals, "Holy Fire"
Devin Townsend: Epicloud, Ziltoid The Omniscient, Deconstruction
Between the Buried and Me, "Parallax II: Future Sequence

Also, this video of a TED talk blew my mind right open and led me to Michael Hedges, Kaki King, and Preston Reed (the other dude in the video).

Glazunov has been one of my favorite to listen to of late. His Autumn from the Seasons is always uplifting!

Seriously. Not sure why I waited this long to dig into it, but 20/20 is so good.

damn its been a while,, last album i had was terria whn it first came out.

Just saw him (twice!) on the Legends of the Summer tour and it was incredible.  I can't wait for 20/20 #2!

I think Madonna may be one of the most obnoxious people who ever lived, but True Blue is one of those albums that is like crack.

Also found a copy of Pearls of Passion (Roxette) and it's happily up to snuff with Look Sharp and Joyride.

This is why I appreciate the people 'behind the scenes' of the music industry....You can definitely thank Patrick Leonard who produced most of Madonna's earlier material...when I hear "Open your Heart" or "Cherish", I think - I don't hate Madonna so much...haha...

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF9aysQ78w4

New Drake last week, new Justin Timberlake this week. Homeboy is happy right now.

It's so good. Again. Incoming Grammy.

Some recents:

Motley Crue - Girls Girls Girls (was never huge on this one, but might be my favorite Crue album now)
Frida - Shine
Agnetha - I Stand Alone (yes, hitting all of the post-Abba solo albums at once)
Sheena Easton - The Lover in Me, You Could Have Been With Me
Yes - 90125
Billy Joel - various
Extreme - Pornograffiti