What are your favourite albums of all time?
Ok, I'm dating myself by even calling them albums but I'm curious as to what people's favourite music of all time is. Previous reading on the subject has shown that GWJers have a very diverse taste in music. I know this has probably been done to death in the past (and I'm sure someone is going to *cough* me) but I was too lazy to find a link and besides, we have some new blood here.
First, my biases: I am a singer/guitar player in a hard rock band and most of my choices will reflect accordingly. I've liked my music hard and heavy ever since I can remember. I'll try to only have one album per artist (to keep the list under 1000 entries) but there's no reason anyone should have to follow my template. Also, my list is only in rough order as actually ranking some of these albums over another is virtually impossible for me. I just know they're on my list.
1. The Beatles – White album This is a total copout as I could literally have my whole list consist of The Beatles. White Album gets the nod because it's a double album. Best. Band. Ever.
2. Metallica – Master of Puppets This blew my head off in 1986, when Metallica were already my favourite band with Ride The Lightning, Master just sealed the deal. No other guitar player has had more influence on me than James Hetfield (with the possible exception of Jimmy Page or Tony Iommi). My how the mighty have fallen though.
3. Queen – Night at the Opera Sheer perfection. The standard by which I measure a band's diversity and talent. I've probably owned at least 6 copies of this.
4. Jane's Addiction – Nothing's Shocking Good God, Jane's Addiction were a fantastic band, and this was my introduction to them. This was the beginning of my musical tastes altering from my teen "Metal or Death" years. The Chilis seem to get more respect these days but Jane's ate them for breakfast in my opinion (althought RHCP are great).
5. Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power Now I was a pretty hardcore metalhead but even I was completely unprepared for the brutal power of this album. It completely redefined how I view music and to this day, Pantera is the heaviest music I can listen to and still call it music. Sonically, this is where Metallica should have gone after the Black Album.
6. Tool – Aenima Half of this album is the most brilliant music I've ever heard in my life, ever. The other half is annoying short interludes between the brilliance. Songs like Aenema utterly humble me, for I am not worthy.
7. Faith No More – The Real Thing Another album by which I judge a band's diversity. Way ahead of its time, this record was so influential on the vastly inferior Nu Metal it's not even funny. Seriously, it's not.
8. Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine Another hugely influential band, their first album is still their greatest. The tightest rhythm section in rock n roll (well, maybe tied with Pantera) coupled with out of this world guitar and Zack De La Rocha's revolutionary poetry made for unique groundbreaking music.
9. Alice in Chains – Facelift Other than Lennon/McCartney, Layne Staley was my favourite singer. Dirt is also a phenomenal album but Facelift probably best showcases Staley's amazing talent as well as Jerry Cantrell's riff writing and vocal harmonies.
10. Nirvana – Bleach Nevermind is probably a better album but I'm giving the nod to Bleach because it's almost as good and cost $600 to make. Additionally I actually owned Bleach before Nirvana broke bigtime in 91. Kurt Cobain had such an amazing presence in his vocals it couldn't help but reach you. In retrospect that presence was probably pain.
11. Soundgarden – Superunknown Yeah, I liked the grunge folks. I was a Soundgarden fan since Louder than Love and while many of my picks have been a band's debut album, the superior songwriting on Superunknown makes it their best album. There may be better songs on BadMotorFinger but Superunknown is more consistent. Chris Cornell is such a good singer it hurts my pride to listen to sometimes.
12. Marilyn Manson – AntiChrist Superstar OK, I was completely unprepared for how brilliant this album is. I, like many, wrote Manson off as a no talent shock rock Alice Cooper wannabe. This Trent Reznor produced (and influenced) album is ironically, even better than NiN's best work (IMHO of course) and unquestionably Manson's masterpiece.
13. Motley Crue – Shout at the Devil To this day I have never listened to an album as much as I did Shout at the Devil. When I was 15, I listened to this 10 times a day easy, for a year or more. Ever since then Motley has proclaimed that their next album is going to be like Shout at the Devil. This just goes to show you, drug addicts lie.
14. System of a Down – Toxicity The newest of my favourites and the only one post Y2K, System of a Down have perfected a Rage Against the Machine meets Faith No More sound that I just love. One of the only shining lights in "modern" music.
15. Radiohead – OK Computer I'm very tempted to list Radiohead's The Bends instead but Paranoid Android pulls this album over the top and into my all time favourites. I must confess, Radiohead kinda lost me on their following albums though. Their previous stuff is so good it almost makes me feel like it's my fault.
Ok I was going to go to 20 but this is ridiculously long already. Zeppelin and Sabbath aren't even in my list yet though! I see 7 of my top 15 albums were released in the 90's so that was really "my decade" as far as music goes. (The fact that my band started in 1990 probably has something to do with it too.)
So what are your favourite albums? I'll wager most people's list is different than mine.
I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
I would agree with some of yours... and I could write a top 10 list of many musical genres. I''ll start with pure 80''s metal.
I like powerful vocals and I think my list with show that. Guitars help...
Yeah I''m dating myself... and no my hair isnt long. Never has been.
1. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
I''m not a huge fan of Ozzy, but I am a Dio lover. Yeah yeah, call me crazy. There is not a bad cut on this album. I mean... come on! ""Neon Knights""? ""Heaven and Hell?"" The imagery in the lyrics woven in with the guitar licks is pure magic.
2. Dio - Holy Diver
In the career arc of Ronnie James Dio this album stands alone as his best work. ""Holy Diver"" and ""Stand Up and Shout"" are notable tracks here. The raw power in the crunch of the guitars, his distinctive vocal styling and the strong lyrics make this a hallmark album of 1980''s metal... and for metal in general.
3. Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
Easily in the Top 5 of ""headphone albums"". Lush audio, stunning vocals and vibrant backgrounds make this a powerful driven album. Geoff Tate easily ranks in the Top 5 in terms of metal vocals (well was trained as an opera singer as a kid)... backed by a band of solid musicians makes this easy to have in the list.
4. Tesla - Mechanical Resonance
I''m not sure if there are any Tesla fans out there, but I''m a die hard fan. I always regret never having the chance to see them live (chance and circumstance kept me from getting to them when they were in town...) - and I''m always puzzled at their relative lack of success. In the era of 80''s metal and even into 90''s metal Tesla was one of the first bands to meld the power of electric guitars with the organic sound of acoustic. ""Modern Day Cowboy"", ""Little Suzi"", and ""Gettin'' Better"" are still tunes that I listen to regularly even today. Jeff Keith easily ranks as a Top 10 vocal talent. NO MACHINES!
5. Slayer - South of Heaven
A truly ground breaking album in terms of taking speed metal out of the shadows and into the spotlight. I''m not sure why, but Tommy Araya has a voice that just works... the mind numbing speed of the riffs and the skull crushing lyrics are a trademark that Slayer has taken on into 2004.
6. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
Bruce Dickinson is easily one the best voices in rock history. From the lowest of the low, to the highest scream - he can nail the notes to your forehead. The Number of the Beast marks the beginning of a long line of albums from Iron Maiden that have heavy riffs, soaring vocals and intelligent lyrics. Easily the best, it is an essential look into the heart of 80''s metal.
7. Metallica - Master of Puppets
I remember listening to this album for the first time. I can vividly recall knowing that a switch had been flipped and nothing would ever be the same. The right combination of crunch and speed with a lyrical quality that made for one of the best albums of all time. There is not a but cut on this record for sure.
8. Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
If not the best... cleary one of the best voices in rock comes from Rob Halford. Halford is in the prime of his vocal talent here with a powerful disc that delivers many memorable hits... ""Screaming for Vengeance"", ""You''ve Got Another Thing Coming"", ""Electric Eye"" are just a few that I can think of.
Oh crumbs, I'm all thumbs laying here with you. You're beautiful and busty and I'm a little rusty - I've forgotten what to do...
Wow Spleen, you and I have strikingly similar taste in music. Here is my top five:
1. Tool''s Aenima: Songs like Push*t, Eulogy and the title track really show what is possible when four phenomenal musical talents get together and work towards a common goal. A year after this album was released it still felt fresh. However, I definitely had to burn myself a version free of those silly interludes.
2. Israel Vibration''s Pay the Piper: I am a huge fan of reggae, but I have no doubt that those whose knowledge goes no further than Bob Marley will appreciate these superb roots rockers upon the first listen.
3. Metallica''s Master of Puppets: While I cherish Kill ''em All and Ride the Lightning, Master was their most polished thrash album. Cliff Burton''s death in 1986 was, in my opinion, the greatest loss suffered by rock music during the ''80''s.
4. Pearl Jam''s Versus: Great band, and one that has survived and thrived long past those grunge years. I think that this was their finest effort, though certainly plenty of great work throughout the past 15 years.
5. Fear Factory Obsolete: While probably not actually in my top 5, this album gets special mention for it is quite a daring. Fear Factory is known for offering a very intense brand of metal, and while this album certainly fits that bill, it is much more melodic and refined than their previous outings. Furthermore, this album is tied together by an overarching story which is pulled off brilliantly. I am sure other bands have done things like this before, but the story that is woven through the ten tracks that comprise this album is truly engaging and make it far better than the sum of its individual parts.
"I like to hear people talking when they're not talking to me," I said. "It's soothing to know that I don't have to listen." -- Bill Harris describing a truism.
I can''t put them in order, so in no particular order (except for #1)
1.) Miles Davis - Kind of Blue - I can put it on anytime, anywhere, and noone will get angry. Not a bad song, absolute perfection.
2.) A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory - What I tell people when they ask me why I listen to Rap.
3.) AC/DC - Back in Black - My favorite Hard Rock album ever. From ""Hells Bells"" to ""Rock n'' Roll Ain''t Noise Pollution"" it just doesn''t get old.
4.) Talib Kweli - Reflection Eternal - I really want to say Quality here, but RE was just a stunning Album. Although honestly, it''s hard to choose between that, Black Star and Mos Def''s Black on Both Sides. All are stunning albums.
5.) The Verve - Urban Hymns - Once you get past Bittersweet Symphony you realize the rest of the album is great as well. But Bittersweet Symphony is so unbeliveably good that it made this a must-have album for me.
6.) The Beatles - Revolver - I used to think the Beatles were overhyped crap. A friend introduced me to Revolver, and, while I may not be into the ""BEST BAND EVER"" status they have achieved, this is definetly a favorite album, although ""Hey Jude"" is my favorite song by far.
7.) Foo Fighters - There Is Nothing Left To Lose - This CD didn''t come out of my CD player for about two years after it was released. ""Learn To Fly"" is and will remain one of my alltime favorite songs.
8.) Tupac - Me Against The World - I''d be a filthy liar if I didn''t say that I was one of many, many young black men who was influenced by Tupac. I never really felt much for his ""Gangsta"" side, but songs like ""Dear Mama"" and ""Me Against The World"" had a huge effect on me as a teenager.
9.) Bill Evans - Escape - There are two Bill Evans'' to me. The legendary piano player, and the Sax player who hides in his shadow. A fun, inventive, utterly satysfying Jazz album.
10.) Daft Punk - Discovery - The apex of my Techno phase, Discovery of course has the four powerhouse tracks to start it off but I still have a lot of love for ""Superheroes"", ""High Life"" and ""Voyager"".
Quote:
XBL Tag: Prederick
I had the extreme honour of seeing Dio live twice, once in an arena and once in a club. The man is a class act all the way, treating his audience with complete respect. Ozzy freely admits Dio can sing rings around him. A world class talent. I like some of his Rainbow stuff too.
I loved Tesla! Mechanical Resonance is great! In 1986 my favourite releases were, Master of Puppets, Mechanical Resonance, Rage For Order, and Cinderella''s Night Songs. Tesla''s new album is pretty good too.
I 100% agree with everything you''ve said here. A truly classic album.
I own all 8 albums on your list and have listened to them all many many times.
I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
XBLive: Thin J
PSN: Thin_J
I don't imagine master craftsmen leaping away from completed projects and shouting "Done, motherf*ckers! - 1Dgaf
How can anyone hate ""Circles""? Great band, great song, great album. That album just barely misses out on my top 10.
Quote:
XBL Tag: Prederick
My desert island discs, in the order they occur to me, and limited to one per artist to prevent me throwing every Radiohead album in there:
Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
Richey James'' suicide letter. A dark, gritty album that grabs you by the balls and doesn''t let go. Every song (well, Revol is a bit pap) until This Is Yesterday is unrelenting, filled with evil, loathing or pain, and then Wire steps in and quietly longs for the good old days when Richey wasn''t desintegrating and then he''s back in full force going all SCRATCH MY LEG WITH A RUSTY NAIL SADLY IT HEALS and oh god I''m rambling here. I do so love it.
Radiohead - OK Computer
Can''t say much that hasn''t been said before. One of the best album''s of the nineties by one of the best bands. Even if No Surprises is a bit sh*t.
The Clash - London Calling
The Only Band That Mattered. You''ve I''ll heard the adolations before, I won''t bore you by repeating them. I''ll just sit here nodding sagely in agreement instead.
Beastie Boys - Paul''s Boutique
Beastie Boys more like Dust Brothers am I rite? But never mind that the real architects behind the mad samples don''t get the credit they should, this is one excellent album noone should go without.
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Dark, smoky jazz. Just the way I like it. It and a bottle of whisky is all you need for an evening''s entertainment.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Let Love In
Still the best thing Nick Cave has done. He''s paying more attention to craftmanship from Boatsman''s Call and onwards, but the menace left when the songs ceased to obsess over menstrual blood and warm arterial spray. I don''t know about you, but I *like* my songs filled with dark alleyways and horrible things involving knives.
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Ah, that Morrisey. Where would we be without him? Critically deprieved of sadly humourous lyrics, that''s where.
Faith No More - Angel Dust
The Real Thing''s more the more even album, but this is the album that was playing more or less constantly throughout my high school years. It''s my precioussss.
Tool - Aenima
I even like the interludes.
Depeche Mode - Violator
Couldn''y have picked a more obvious Depeche Mode album, but what can you do with songs like Enjoy the Silence, Halo, Personal Jesus, Policy of Truth on it? Pure excelllence.
Kent - Isola
Swedish indie pop/rock band Kent''s third is the best of the lot, and considering how good the rest are, that''s saying something. Not a weak song on the entire album.
Fun Lovin'' Criminals - 100% Colombian
Another favourite from my wasted youth. I can never resist the tongue-in-cheek gangster chicanery of the criminals, and this one''s the best of the lot. Smoother, jazzier and bordering on lounge lizardry.
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang(36 Chambers)
Because the Wu-Tang-Clan ain''t nuthin tha f*ck with.
Portishead - Roseland NYC Live
This is the only Portishead album I own, otherwise I''d list one of the ''proper'' ones. Because greatest hits and other collections don''t really count in my warped little head. But Portishead needed to be here, so here it is. Not that this isn''t excellent in it''s own right, of course. The heartbreaking rendition of Roads has me in tears every time.
"The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all."
In no particular order.
Sandy Denny - Solo
Former singer of Fairport convention with Richard Thompson on guitar and Dave Pegg on bass. Haunting Lyrics and angelic voice.
Sigor Ros - Untitiled
Not only the answer to a trivia question (name a group from Iceland that''s not Bjork) but a damn fine grp bending the atmosphere of music.
Brian Eno - Apollo
Speaking of atmosphere. love quite a bit of Eno''s stuff but this is my favorite.
Jethro Tull - Stormwatch
Tull''s actually my alltime favorite band. Had a Lebaron in high school all duded out with Ian Anderson gear, Twas the Tullmobile. Not their strongest album by far, just like the marine them of it, plus Requim is a gem.
The Waterboys - Fisherman Blues
Great mixture of folk and rock.
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
Wall of Sound. But an intricate, complex wall.
The Residents - Stars and Hank forever
Ummmm, not sure any description of the Residents would fit. Giant Eyeballs, tuxedos, Fisher Price instuments, ...it works though.
Vangelis - Blade Runner
close one between this and his Antartica album
The Beautiful South - Painting it Red
Everyone needs a band that plays depressing songs with happy music, others have The Smiths, I prefer these guys. They''re pretty good at making fun of themselves.
James McMurtry - Too Long In The Wasteland
Saw him on Austin City Limits one time and was instantly sold.
Great talent evoking the emptiness of Texas.
I''ll stop now
Great topic Spleen!
Before my list, I want to ask all you OK Computer fans what it is about that album that draws you in. I have similar tastes in music to many of you and I picked up that CD after hearing so many good things about it. I found that it wasn''t very accessible to me. If you think its one of those albums you need to listen to five or six times before you ''get it'', please advise and I''ll give it another shot. I dunno, maybe Radiohead just isn''t my style.
1. Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime.
Easily the single greatest piece of music ever created. I can''t go more than a few months without listening to it. Did you know they are working on Operation: Mindcrime II right now? I have mixed feelings on this since their recent work has been total crap.
2. Savatage - Streets
Progressive metal at its best. This 1991 CD was critically aclaimed but never caught on with the masses. Savatage is my favorite band of all time. They are also the muscle behind Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
3. Def Leppard - Hysteria
Yah, its cheese metal but its so good you can''t ignore it. This CD hooked me like no other CD before or since. I swear when I was a senior in high school Hysteria was the only thing I listened to for over 6 months.
4. Bruce Dickinson - Chemical Wedding
OK, Maiden fans, if you haven''t picked this up, do yourself a favor. IMO, this tops anything Maiden has ever done. I remember being absolutely stunned by how good it was the first time I heard this CD. This is not Maiden though; it is darker and harder so be warned.
5. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
This CD is a modern day Hysteria to me. The music is just flat out addictive. I couldn''t put it down. I''ve never been a rap fan before but this is hard rock and rap at its very best.
Other stuff that makes my list ...
AC/DC - Back in Black
Kelly Willis - What I deserve (country music at its best)
Martina McBride - Emotion
Tesla - Mechanical Resonance
Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Grey (progressive metal)
Scorpions - Love at First Sting
Savatage - pretty much all their CD''s
Les Miserables (best. musical. ever.)
My favorite music hails from my own place of origin, New Orleans. A number of my very favorite albums are compilation pieces, since a lot of this stuff was released back in the singles era. I list the following in no particular order.
Champion Jack Dupree - Blues From the Gutter This is the very cornerstone of New Orleans barrelhouse piano. Sometimes blues, sometimes jazz, and always a labor of love from The Man Himself, Champion Jack. Professor Longhair may have been great, but Jack Dupree was a god among men.
Champion Jack Dupree - A Portrait of Champion Jack Dupree This posthumous compilation of Dupree''s later work is matched only by the earlier music on which Dupree cut his teeth. The impassioned ""Freedom"" brings tears to my eyes, and ""Skit Skat"" has me jumping off the walls.
Fats Domino Well, you gotta have some R&B. R&B=Fats Domino, if you ask me. Pick any of the large compilation releases, since so many of Fats'' hits were singles.
The Meters Some people like the classic album Rejuvenation, but I prefer Rhino''s The Very Best of The Meters. The Meters were the apex of New Orleans funk, and they feel just as fresh today as they did in the ''70s. Frankly, I think most New Orleanians would rather sing ""They All Ask''d For You"" than the National Anthem.
The Neville Brothers - Treacherous Forty years of the Nevilles captured on a 2-disc set. It doesn''t get much better. Everything from R&B to funk to gospel is included herein.
Louis Armstrong - Hot Fives and Sevens, vols. 1-4 This is my favorite of Armstrong''s early work. By listening to these you really get a sense of Armstrong''s growth over time... and therefore, the growth of jazz as a whole. These tracks are simply seminal in import.
Jelly Roll Morton - The Pearls Louis Armstrong wasn''t by any means the only one to show us the light. Sidney Bechet and Jelly Roll Morton were right there beside him. The Pearls is often regarded as Jelly''s finest work, and I find it tough to disagree.
Clifton Chenier - Bogalusa Boogie Simply the single best Cajun zydeco album of all time. I shall brook no discussion on this matter.
Sesame Street - Hot Hot Hot Dance Songs Nobody on this planet can best Ernie''s guitar licks, and Big Bird''s soprano voice reaches new heights here. HAHA, just kidding... wanted to make sure you''re still paying attention. This stuff is important! If you don''t know any of this music, track it down for your own edification!
Johnny Adams - I Won''t Cry Johnny Adams has maybe my favorite male voice of all time. The man could sing anything. This is probably his most representative album, as well as being the one that launched his career. Think blues/soul with gospel roots. Dr. John plays the piano, here, too, which is pretty cool. For a great compilation of many of Johnny Adams'' later successes, try There Is Always One More Time.
Dirty Dozen Brass Band - The New Orleans Album In more recent times, an important force has emerged in New Orleans music: the urban brass band. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is my favorite of these, and The New Orleans album is probably their best work (though I also enjoy their tribute to Jelly Roll Morton, entitled Jelly). The first time you listen to track 4, ""Don''t You Feel My Leg,"" you''ll be smiling for hours afterward. (It was written by Danny Barker, a New Orleans musical icon in his own right. Track down his CD Save the Bones for some simple, New Orleans folk guitar.)
Edit: forgot to mention Ella Fitzgerald. She is rightly famous for having pretty much the only voice ever to sing alongside Louis Armstrong without being overshadowed. Once again, a compilation is probably the best way to go at first. Pure Ella is excellent.
I do listen to plenty of stuff outside of New Orleans / Louisiana music... but then, Spleen asked for my favorites.
The market has much to answer for as to why gaming is NOT an art. -- illum
Wow, Pred and I have some similar tastes. Also, nice to see some love for the Pixies, Cabbot. One of the albums I learned to play guitar to was ''Come On, Pilgrim.''
1) Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot A record that was simply a religious experience for me the first time I heard it. I didn''t listen to anything else for almost a month.
2) The Roots - Phrenology I put ?uestlove right up there with McCartney and Lennon in terms of musical genius. The guy just knows what the hell he''s doing. This is a record that I use to convert non-hip hop fans.
3) Tom Waits - Blue Valentines I like Tom Waits'' new stuff, too, but his 70''s stuff is unbeatable. ''Romeo Is Bleeding'' is just the tops of tough-guy cool. Tom Waits is what Humprey Bogart would have listened to if he had been born 20 years later.
4) Uncle Tupelo - March 16-20, 1992 Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco) and Jay Farrar (of Son Volt) in their early 20''s, banging away on pawnshop guitars and singing their hearts out on raw, idealistic, unpolished original songs, or digging up turn-of-the-century bluegrass tunes about coal mining and making them speak to today. Nothing else like it.
5) Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals - Live From Mars Kind of a catch-all double album that encompasses the width and breadth of Ben Harper''s work up until that point. This guy is my single favorite contemporary musician. If I could get a gig in his band, I''d die happy.
6) Common - Electric Circus Hip hop music''s avant garde. Nobody else like him, strange and experimental but truly infectious. Only two albums out in like, 10 years though.
7) Bill Evans - Conversations With Myself The consumate jazz pianist. Sorry, Herbie Hancock.
8) The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers Not only does this album have ''Bitch'', ''Wild Horses'', and ''Brown Sugar'' on it, but true Stones fans will remember this as the record with ''Sister Morphine'' (maybe the best Stones song EVER) and ''Dead Flowers'', which is a staple of my acoustic set.
9) Mos Def/Talib Kweli - Black Star Mos Def is tremendously talented, but on his solo albums his work is very uneven (mostly because of his desire to make rock''n''roll tracks, but I won''t get into that). This collaboration with Kweli is where he really shines, and together they''re better than either one solo.
10) Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving Apologies to George Clinton, but this is the best party album ever made. Any party, any crowd, doesn''t matter. Induces much ass-shaking.
Modest Mouse''s The Moon and Antarctica and Coltrane''s A Love Supreme would probably make the top ten on some other days, depending on my mood.
Morrolan wrote:
This is so hard because I always forget about albums I loved 15+ years ago and stick with recent classics, but here it goes.
1. Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead is my favorite band of all time and OK Computer is my favorite album. The Bends is just as good as this album and maybe even better but OK Computer is more personal to me. The thing I love about this album and Radiohead in general is how they perfectly describe the angst and disappointment you feel in everyday life. Lines like ''a job that slowly kills you'', ''the yuppies networking'' and ''disappointed people, clinging on to bottles.'' to name a few all relate to what most people I think start to feel in their mid to late 20s and especially in later life. The pure emotion in Thom Yorke''s voice during the line ''For a minute there I lost myself'' in Karma Police brings a tear to my eye the first time I heard it and still does today. I could go on and on about this album so I will stop here.
2. Weezer - Pinkerton
It''s easy to write off Weezer as just a generic rock band (especially now) but this introspective and honest look at the insecurities and general feelings of their lead singer blows me away every time. Whether he''s talking about feeling guilty about having sex with groupies, stating his preference for half-japanese girls or wondering what kind of underwear a japanese girl who writes him a letter is wearing may be disturbing, is totally honest. ''El Scorcho'' is one of the best sing along songs ever, ''The Good Life'' perfectly describes how your best days are behind you and how you need to go back to those days. Again I could go on and on analyzing this album so I will stop again.
3. Rage Against the Machine - Self-Titled
While extremely political (big surprise) this album rocks so, so hard. Tom Morello ranks in my top 3 of greatest guitar players ever. Zach''s voice perfectly fit with the music and speaks very powerful lyrics. I think RATM could sing about fluffy bunnies and they would still rock harder than anyone else.
4. RHCP - Blood, Sugar, Sex Magic
This is one of the first ''alternative'' albums I ever listened to and really got me started on my love for music. I have so many fond memories from this album every time I hear it I can think of specific situations I was in when I first heard any number of songs on this album. This album got me thru the last year of high school alone.
5. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnite Marauders
Is there anyone who does NOT like this album? This is one of the first rap albums I ever heard and really kicked hiphop off as being one of my favorite types of music. The lyrics and beats work together so well with Q-Tip''s smooth voice and delivery. This is another album where I could relate a specific memory to any song on this album. For instance ''Award Tour'' was playing in my car when I drove up into my soon-to-be girlfriends house for our first date. I can remember sitting in the car all nervous and using the the end of the song to be my cue for getting out of the car.
I''m going to stop there. I''m sure there is an album in there I am forgetting about which again is why I don''t usually like Top 10 lists. There is just so much good music out there it is impossible to pigenhole into numbers. I picked these five because I have some kind of emotional attachment or specific memory associated with these bands and albums.
Excellent thread topic. Here are some of my picks (in no particular order)
The Tea Party - The Edges of Twilight, Triptych and The Interzone Mantras
The Tea Party is my all time favourite band and always will be. These are my three favourite albums out of all their releases, all of which I love. The Tea Party have never made the same album twice in their career. Every record is always something different and headed in a new direction than their last one.
Tool - Lateralus
3 and half years after this was released it is still in heavy rotation among my CDs. Every song on the album is amazing and the song ""Lateralus"" will always be one of my favourite of all time.
Fuel - Natural Selection
At first I did not think very highly of this album, but after a few listens I realized my mistake. One particular song on this album, ""Die Like This"", helped me make sense of a paticular sh**ty situation I was in. After listening to the album, and that song specifically, it helped me have a new perspective on things and brought about a sense of clairity.
Those are just three that come to mind right now and I am sure there any many more I have forgotten about too
A Mind Without Purpose Will Walk In Dark Places
"I may be out of ammo but I ain't out of chainsaw B*TCHES!" - Sinister's warcry for Gears of War
Impossible to really make a true top 5 or top 10 for me, but here''s some all time favorites, unordered:
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Let Love In - I fully agree with ALG, this is Cave''s best work. He''s done great stuff since then as well, but I keep waiting for him to make another album like this. I think I''ll be waiting forever.
Bad Religion - No Control - the pinnacle album of one of punk''s greatest bands
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless - this album single handedly launched countless shoegazer copycats. It also provided the soundtrack for many fun weekend nights that for some reason I can only hazily recall now...
Pixies - Doolittle - Tame has probably the most blood-curdling vocal work I''ve ever heard. Not a single weak track.
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation - Alot of double albums are a disappointment. Not this one. Sonic Youth and the Pixies together defined a sound that bands still emulate.
Throwing Muses - University - Really underrated band that always seemed to be on the cusp of making it big, but never did. I could pick almost any of their albums here. Also one of the very few bands to have their reunion album actually be one of the best they ever recorded instead of some rehashed money grab.
and just so I have something recent on the list ...
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand - Best new band in years, as far as I''m concerned.
To chime in and join the crowd:
(1) U2 - Achtung Baby
Start to finish, a fantastic album and evolution of a great band. The way they can put songs together like Zoo Station outweigh Bono''s monstrous ego (and mullet at the time)
(2) Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Mentioned above. Mope rock can be quite enjoyable. At least your life isnt as miserable as Morrissey''s.
(3) Radiohead - OK Computer
Again, mentioned above, but deserves mention in every list.
(4) Stone Temple Pilots - Plush
Derivative Alternative Grunge rock. Or as my brother would call them, Stone Temple Pearl Chairs in Chains of Nirvana. Still an excellent album start to finish, just a shame that the radio overplayed and made them into what they became....
(5) New Order - Get Ready
Showing they still know how to put out a fantastic record, New Order has been around for 20 years and still have the same excellent sound.
(6) Prodigy - Fat of the Land
Techno had its'' moment in the sun, and this was the prime example of how to do it right.
(7) The Cure - Wish
More mope rock, but with a better backing band.
"When will then be now?"
GWJ FF 2004 CHAMPION!
Pearl Jam - Ten
As Thin_J said a perfect album all the way through
Soundgarden - Superunknown
Chris Cornell was the 90''s Robert Plant imho.
Singles Soundtrack
Yes I was into grundge, also freshman in college in ''91, but this album is worth it alone for the Mother Love Bone track (Became Pearl Jam, after lead singer ODed and Eddie Vedder joined)
Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
The Pumpkins got a little worse with each following album, to the point that I dont really listen to them anymore, but Gish remains a great album.
Live - Mental Jewelry
Throwing Copper is probably the better CD, but like I said 1991 was big for me.
Belly - Star
I have a real weakness for female lead singers, heck even female voaclist, other goodies, Cranberries, Poe, even Sarah McLachlan.
Drivin'' n'' Cryin'' - Mystery Road
They never achieved national fame, but if you like southern rock, check em out.
Big Head Todd & The Monsters - Sister Sweetly
Just a great album, think it would be good break up music, so maybe Demo could give it a spin.
Posting on the boards is easy. The trick is to kick someone's ass the first day, or become someone's bitch. Chiggie Von Richthofen on how to transition from lurker to poster.
Of all time, several are already covered:
Queensryche: Rage for Order
Metallica: Master of Puppets
Tribe Called Quest: Low End Theory
To which I will add:
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme.
Truly a wonder. I don''t care what he was on at the time. Gorgeous, heartfelt, challenging.
Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings
Listen to it straight thorough, and you almost beleve in the devil, and his deal with him.
Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter: I''m a Man
I don''t recall if that was the name of the CD or not. Sometime in the late 70''s/early 80''s, Johnny coaxed Muddy back into the studio and released this. All the swagger comes right through the speakers: raw and live.
ZZ Top: Duegello & Fabulous Thunderbirds
When I was a young and impressionable yankee transplant in Dallas, I was introduced to the wonders of texas blues rock. ZZ Top just released Duegello, and some time after that, Jimmy Vaughan and the T-Birds dropped their first.
Duegello was anchored by La Grange, among others, a updated texas boogie that grabs you and doesn''t let go.
The T-Birds first was everything their later CDs were not: raw, real, traditional. I still get a smile on my face when I think about ""Walkin Shoes"".
Hybrid: Wide Angle
I''ve been on a techno kick for quite some time, but this is one of the finest. Cinematic, loud, and definitely funky. ""Sinequannon"" is one of the great rap tracks of all time, and its burried on a techno/trance album.
Public Enemy: Fear of A Black Planet
I didn''t catch on to PE until the controversy started breaking out over ""Fight The Power."" Listening to the CD the first time, man, its like someone turned on the lights. A pinnacle of rap/hip hop, to be sure.
Jimi Hendrix: Axis: Bolds As Love
Lot of people put ""Are you Experienced"" or his 3rd album on their lists, but for me, Axis is the crystallation of Hendrix. Bold and beautiful, cosmic and earthy, all at once. Castles made of Sand remains one of my favorite songs, ever.
Amen. PE made me a rap fan.
Morrolan wrote:
Everything Badferret listed looks great to me. Ditto on Female singer/songwriters... hell I even bought Tanya Donelly''s solo album!
Of course, that''s only one genre.
Psychotic Foreign Teenage Chicks are so hot. - Legion
...they can also come bathe in the glorious, healing light of my Johnson. - Prederick
Damn so many albums already listed so I''ll just throw out some of my more eccentric selections and give nods to some others already listed.
Don''t feel bad Cope, I still think Radiohead - The Bends is the quintessential RH album. While I can listen to OK Computer I think The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is a better play on Human vs Machine vs Human full length album theme.
Elliott Smith - Kill Rock Stars his wife killed him before more people could know the magic that is the man.
Hayden - Everything I Long For If you''ve survived into your late 20''s you should give this one a listen.
I can''t believe no one has said Frank Zappa yet. While Apostrophe may be his easist album to access, the double disc Joe''s Garage is the way to go. Anyone who sings about the Central Scrutinizer and loose Catholic girls is an alright person by me.
The Beatles as mentioned you can''t go wrong with these guys, they are the Shakespeares of modern rock. I''ll pick Sgt. Pepper just because it''s the album that most people say they don''t like but really is one of their best.
Bob Marley - Legend also surprises me in its lack of support.
Traveling Wilburys, both of these albums are must owns but I''ll say Volume 1 just because it''s a good place to start provided you can even find them anymore. When some of the best people in the business get together to write songs and perform you should pay attention.
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds made while Brian was still on drugs but before he went over the edge. All of these are classics.
David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust rounds out the what I would consider ''essential'' in a collection starting with something from FZ.
Leonard Cohen - The Future. His voice, his words and his minimalism are just three of the reasons. The fact that he''s seen the future and it''s murder is the clincher.
I''ll throw some nods to Belly and Throwing Muses, I''d like to get my hands on some Tanya Donnelly solo stuff but just haven''t made the time or shopped for tunes lately.
The flip side of the Tanya is Juliana Hatfield, especially her first two albums before she wrote ''My Sister''. Hey Babe is the album you want.
Transvision Vamp - Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble rounds out my chick rock. Although early Liz Phair should get an honorable mention.
Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump guys that are in it for the music, they''d be happy going back to farmers and truck drivers.
Dead Kennedys - In God We Trust INC. besides being the first Dead Kennedys album I ever heard (way back in 8th grade) it has a nice mockery of Disney in track 2. Besides they left side two of the tape blank so you could help destroy the music industry.
Melvins - Stoner Witch just because the name of the album makes parents cringe and they''re all over the map musically.
The Damned - The Light at the End of the Tunnel is probably the best way to get all their hits. New Rose and Neat, Neat, Neat were instant classics.
The Dead Milkmen - Beelzabubbu severly underrated band.
Boris The Sprinkler should be sought out just for their opening monologues to their albums. If I had to just one, it would be 8 Testicled Pogo Machine with Mega Anal! a close second.
If you want comedy and kick ass satan worshipping rock and roll as it should be look no further than Tenacious D and their self titled album.
When I''m pining for my Washington DC roots I''m an Ian McKay whore and either throw in the Minor Threat - Full Discography or Fugazi - Steady Diet of Nothing.
I''ll end on VAST - Music For People as I''ll just keep adding people if I keep going through my albums.
EDITs - Spelling errors...
Addendum - I can''t believe I didn''t put down Sonic Youth - Goo but if you can''t get that one then pick up Thurston''s solo Thurston Moore - Psychic Hearts
Oh and any Type O Negative album for sex but we''ll go with the obvious Slow Deep and Hard.
Do you ever walk alone like a drifter in the dark?
Nice choices, Eezy_Bordone. If I hadn''t stuck to my New Orleans theme, I''d have posted a number of your top albums, including Zappa and Marley. Pink Floyd''s Dark Side of The Moon and Wish You Were Here would make my non-Louisiana list, too.
The market has much to answer for as to why gaming is NOT an art. -- illum
Hmmm... this is kinda tough. I agree with most of the posts other poeple have, and I like just about everything that''s been listed. I don''t think Rush has gotten enough love though. They write amazing songs, and are incredibly talented musicians. I started playing bass because of Geddy Lee. Of course, I haven''t played for years, but I still had to pick it up because of him. Here''s some of their best work:
Hold Your Fire
Power Windows
2112
A Farewell to Kings
Permanent Waves
Counterparts
They''ve also got piles of live CDs and compilations out.
"Anakin, as embodied by [Hayden] Christensen, is the kind of needlessly moody kid you might see getting punched out in a Dairy Queen parking lot."
"”Paul Tatara on SW:Episode II
Man, so many good albums listed here. It really makes me realize the impossibility of what I asked people to do as when I see other people''s lists I''m going ""Ooh, that''s my favourite too!"" I thought of a few more too.
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream I love their first 3 albums but I''ll split the difference with Siamese Dream which is more even than the still very brilliant Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
Guns n'' Roses - Appetite for Destruction An album so good that even the bloated double album (and Axl''s ensuing mental decline) that followed it doesn''t tarnish its memory.
David Bowie - ChangesBowie A copout for sure because it''s a compilation but it''s brilliant front to back and I can''t believe I forgot Bowie.
I''d add in a Zeppelin album or a Sabbath album but I''m having a hard time singling one out as so many are great.
I''m definitely going to be checking out some of the music listed here. A Tribe Called Quest, for example, I''ve never really heard.
I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
Much of what I would list has already been listed. I''ll just throw in few more that I didn''t see in my skimming. My criteria was that I have to like almost every song on the album.
Suicidal Tendencies - Self Titled In high school, this was The Punk Album.
Offspring - Smash High energy.
Keb Mo - Slow Down Ya baby, that''s right.
Beck - Mellow Gold Insert cd, skip first song and continue.
Dead Can Dance - Toward The Within Difficult to pick a single album. Spiritchaser should get a mention.
Oasis - Morning Glory Shut up.
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger This one gets my vote. Maybe just because it was first.
Rusted Root - When I Woke Hippy music.
Alice in Chains - Unplugged Hey this is great folk rock. I put Unplugged because I''m just adding to those already mentioned. Facelift was awesome. The free B+W video tape that came with it was one of the best concert videos I''ve ever seen. Anyone know if it''s available on DVD?
Some of the already mentions that would be on my list:
Bob Marley - Legend
Live - Throwing Copper
The Verve - Urban Hymns
Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon. I don''t care if I ever hear Money again.
Tesla - Mechanical Resonance. I saw them in concert with Def Leopard.
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
BF2
BF2142
I''m with you on alot of your choices, Eezy. Minor quibble though, Kill Rock Stars is actually the label that he was on for his second and third albums, Elliott Smith, and Either/Or. KRS is also the former home of another favorite of mine which I should''ve put somewhere on my list, Sleater-Kinney. Anyone who likes angry chick music should check them out. Their album Call the Doctor is one of riot grrrl''s finest examples, and their later stuff transcends the genre.
Hmm, real surprised there is no love for Bob Mould or Husker Du, given all the punk rockers that appear to be here!
Oh, and all you punk maggots that haven''t had the experience of Bad Brains-(I Against I), march to the record store right now.
""Almighty watching/almighty screaming/I against I against I against I""
Hmm ok I don''t feel like making a big list but I''m happy to see other somewhat sane people enjoying System of a Down''s music. Have you guys heard Cigaro? Pure genius! I can''t wait for their new album.
Xbox Live: MrGreen
PSN: MrGreenPSN
Wii: 4859 2... oh f*ck it.
I can listen to Bob Marley - Legends all week long.
I don't think I've ever said this sentence before, but man would I love to hump that butterfly.-- KrazyTaco
One phone call and you're melting like butter over my kettle pop. -- Edwin to Mex
2005 GWJFFL2 Champion
I actually met them once. Worked bumbershoot and signed up their t shirts for consignment.
There goes 2 minutes of my fame....
Tori Amos - Boys for Pele. Some would say (rightly so) that Little earthquakes is a better album, but come on she plays a harpsichord on 2 tracks. And I''ve found that me and a gun off of little earthquakes seems unnerve a lot of my male friends even though it really is a great song.
Portishead and Garbage also get a lot of listen time.
Sublime- I don''t care which album, I hear start to hear any of their songs and I have to listen to the whole thing.
Oh and a personal small time favorite. Goldfinger. Great representatives of the whole so-cal punk ska scene of the mid to late nineties.[/b]
SteamId = RevenantKel
I have their first three, and I can''t wait for the new one either.
They''re the only band that can get away with songs like ""Bounce"", ""Chic ''N Stew"", or even ""Psycho"" and not make me want to throw the disc out the window.
XBLive: Thin J
PSN: Thin_J
I don't imagine master craftsmen leaping away from completed projects and shouting "Done, motherf*ckers! - 1Dgaf