Led Zeppelin - II: Incredible album, invented rock and roll as we know it. This album just needs to be listened to over and over again. Incredible blues sounds, alongside rock guitar and drum fills that will became the standard to be measured by.
Song Pick: Ramble On, lots of close seconds on this album.
Pearl Jam - Vs: I know, I know, Ten is the seminal album but Vs. has such an incredible sound and interesting songs. The record company gave Pearl Jam all the room they needed to make an album the way they wanted. So much so that it didn't get quite the commercial and critical success that they expected. Radio favorites "Daughter" and "Elder Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" can be found along side more raucous songs like "W.M.A", "Rear view Mirror" and "Leash." If you don't like the swears then stay away from "Leash" otherwise enjoy a bit of a teenage rebel song. A great guitar record, Stone and Mike are on top of it on this album.
Song Pick: Blood
White Stripes - Icky Thump: This was another tough call. De Stijl, Get Behind Me Satan, and White Blood Cells all have lots of incredible songs. Icky Thump just has an awesome variety. The songs are all interesting, vocally and instrumentally. Awesome blues sounds and even a song with bag pipes, you know I'm a sucker for bag pipes.
Song Pick: Little Cream Soda, Catch Hell Blues (I just couldn't decide between the two).
Blind Melon - Soup: This was the last album that Blind Melon made before Shannon Hoon died. It never got the attention the first album did, with No Rain, but Galaxie did get a good amount of airplay. Several of my all time favorite songs are on this album, Mouthful of Cavities and Toes Across the Floor. The sonic goodness contained in each of these songs is just mind blowing, especially on Mouthful of Cavities. Put on some headphones and listen to that song over and over until you reach nirvana. The energy contained in that snippet of audio history is mind blowing. There are multiple layered guitars, vocals, sounds; I get chills thinking about it.
Song Pick: Mouthful of Cavities
Cold War Kids - Robbers and Cowards: I cannot state that this is my favorite Cold War Kids album as it's the only one I've ever heard but I do not tire of listening to it. It's different, sort of a blues/jazz/rock sort of sound. Definitely not the normal rock song progression, it's filled with great lyrics, the music is filled with interesting subtleties that keep my attention.
Song Pick: Saint John
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: It's impossible to pick a favorite Beatles song, and nearly as impossible to pick a favorite Beatles album. Most big Beatles fans will pick the White Album, I suspect because it's a double album and is filled with a huge variety of music. I became a big Beatles fan in 2000 and Sgt. Pepper's was the second or third actual album that I purchased. Nothing has resonated with me quite like this album has. There was a great book I once read about the Summer of 1969(that may have even been the title). It mentioned that everywhere you went that this album was playing. Teens were playing it, adults were playing it, it was just heard everywhere. I believe this album was what changed me future music listening. Before this I had been an avid music listener but like most people I was mostly a passive listener. This album taught me to listen closer to the various layers of the songs, to listen to the artistry that the band used to create a particular song. Since then I listen to much more interesting music and the usual radio fare is rather boring. A well written hook is always catchy but beyond that many songs are somewhat blah. I will require my kids to listen to this album once a day for two weeks when they're old enough to begin their music education.
Song Pick: Obviously tough to choose so I'll go with "Lovely Rita"
Ben Harper - Diamonds on the Inside: Another tough one to choose from one of my favorite artists. Ben reinvents himself a bit on each album. A close second, aside from the "Live from Mars" - live album, is "The Will to Live". Diamonds on the Inside starts off with "My Own Two Hands." This may be my favorite Ben Harper song of all time. Like Ben Harper himself this song is full of life, it's genuine, and has a good message. It also has a great reggae sound. You'll also find some Funk on "Brown Eyed Blues" and "Bring the Funk." The intense rock sound with soaring vocals that Ben does so well on "So High So Low." He brings out traditional African and spiritual sounds on "Picture of Jesus" and "Blessed to Be a Witness." Just a great all around Ben Harper Album. If you like this one you'll find similar sounds on "The Will to Live."
Song Pick: My Own Two Hands
The Black Keys - Rubber Factory: From the opening drum sounds on "When the Lights Go Out" you know this album is different from your usual rock album. It has a decidedly lo-fi sound. It was recorded by this blues-rock duo in a vacant rubber factory. The sound is raw, hollow at times and in your face through the entire album. They sounded pretty much the same in concert, not in a bad "just like listening to the CD" kind of way. More like thick guitar and drums with incredible vocals that can't be contained by a simple plastic medium kind of way.
Song Pick: Aeroplane Blues(choosing this one is like choosing your favorite child, you listen to each one and really like it but in the end you know you have a favorite)
Dinosaur Jr - Beyond: Chock full of, if I might use the word, Grungie alt. rock. Somehow this masterpiece that sounds strait out of 1990 was released in 2007. It's as if they had 15 years to decide what they wanted a rock album to sound like then simply put in on wax. Great guitar tones, 90's feedback at the end of the songs, I'm a sucker for that stuff. I had to double check myself on the release date because I don't see how this could have been made in 2007. The sounds are thick and heavy with punchy guitars and drums and smoldering bass lines. Just pretend you're back in high school and you've just discovered a hidden treasure.
Song Pick: Almost Ready
Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold As Love: Psychedelic rock at it's best. Classic Hendrix stuff on "One Rainy Wish", "Little Wing" and "Spanish Castle Magic". Bluesy beats on "If 6 were 9" let you just sink back into your chair and take it in. "Bold As Love" just puts me at ease, an instant relaxing classic. Which isn't to mean it's lacking in Hendrix energy, it's there in spades. The tones, lyrics and overall composition lend itself to easing my mind into a mellow state that makes thing everything in the world will float on by.
Song Pick: Bold As Love
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream: I think this is Smashing Pumpkins seminal album, even more so than the double album Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness. I won't list all of the great songs on this album because, except for "Luna" and "Sweet Sweet," all of the songs are awesome. The last two aren't bad, just not that exceptional. Just great, classic mid 90's music. It's got Billy Corgan's usual somewhat whiny voice with that great guitar work by James. Thick and brooding at times and wailing in 90's crunch the rest of the time.
Song Pick: Mayonnaise
1 comment:
Excellent list, I'll have to do one of my own soon. I totally agree with you on Vs. By far Pearl Jam's best album. I love Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town. It's a brilliant song. Ben Harper's My Own Two Hands is also a fantastic tune. It's funny as soon as I read its title the tune popped into my head. That's the sign of a good song.
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