Beardfish are one of the most distinctive bands of the modern progressive rock revival — a Swedish group whose eclectic, vintage-flavoured prog wore its 1970s heart with joy while always sounding like nobody else. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their albums.

The short version

For the heart of Beardfish, start with The Sane Day, Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two and Sleeping in Traffic: Part One. Between them they hold the sprawling early classic and the twin peaks that made their name. The full ranking is below.

Sweden’s retro-prog magicians

Formed in Gävle, Sweden in 2001 and led by the prodigiously gifted Rikard Sjöblom, Beardfish made progressive rock that drew openly on Gentle Giant, Frank Zappa, Yes and King Crimson — quirky, complex, melodic and genuinely fun. They became favourites of the prog underground before splitting in 2016, only to reunite, unexpectedly, in 2024. A note on the catalogue: the seven albums here are a selection of their classic 2005–2015 run.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing songwriting, invention and sheer character. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate — and with a run this consistent, the lower placements are no slight.

The essential three

At the top sits The Sane Day (2005), the sprawling double album many fans simply call ‘the’ Beardfish record — ambitious, melodic and bursting with ideas. Close behind is Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two (2008), home to the magnificent thirty-five-minute title epic and widely held as one of the finest prog albums of its decade, and its companion Sleeping in Traffic: Part One (2007), darker and more acoustic but every bit as rewarding.

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Reliably great

The next tier is strong too. +4626-Comfortzone (2015), their swan song before the split, is a punchy, hook-filled highlight that won them new admirers, and Destined Solitaire (2009) is among their most musically complex and rewarding records.

For completists

Two albums round out the seven. Mammoth (2011) is a heavier, more concise outing with plenty to enjoy, and The Void (2012) takes a little while to open up before revealing some of their boldest writing. On a lesser band, both would be highlights.

A selection, in order

The albums covered here, in chronological order — a selection of their classic run rather than their complete output. Click through to the full write-up on any record.

Where to start

Begin with The Sane Day — the album most fans point newcomers towards, a generous showcase of everything they do well. From there, the two Sleeping in Traffic albums are their acclaimed peak.

The players

Beardfish was the vehicle for the prodigious talent of Rikard Sjöblom — singer, guitarist, Hammond-organ wizard and the band’s principal songwriter — alongside guitarist David Zackrisson, bassist Robert Hansen and drummer Magnus Östgren. After the band split in 2016, Sjöblom went on to join Big Big Train and to record under his own name as Gungfly; in 2024, to fans’ delight, Beardfish returned with a new album.

Why they still matter

Beardfish proved that progressive rock could honour its 1970s roots and still feel alive, playful and new. Alongside fellow Swedes The Flower Kings and Anekdoten, they were among the brightest lights of modern prog — and in Rikard Sjöblom they introduced the wider scene to one of its most gifted musicians.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: read about the best Beardfish songs. You can also place them in the bigger picture with our list of the best progressive rock albums of all time.

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