| Title |
Cover |
Artist |
Any other brilliant albums by same artist? |
My personal history |
| Low |
 |
David Bowie |
Station to Station, Lodger,1:
Outside |
I used to borrow tapes from Cudworth library's paltry selection (I could never be bothered to get my stylus checked, but my Mam must have done in the past because I remember her borrowing West Life Story and The Kick Inside when I where a lad). I thought I'd give Low a try even though I only recognised one song on it (Sound and Vision). I expected at most it would contain a couple of other great Bowie pop tracks that were never released if I was lucky. I was heavily surprised that the second side consisted purely of instrumental recordings and I was very impressed. I thought I'd made some kind of discovery (how many other people realised that he'd written such great stuff, to be hidden on an album?). I taped a couple of the instrumental tracks like Warzawa and Art Decade, which suggests I wasn't really mature enough to appreciate all the other brilliant songs.
About 5 years later I rediscovered the album. Housemate Piers kindly lent me his computer over the Easter period to type up my final year Eiffel project. I had the house to myself, the sun was shining so I had his bedroom window permanently open and listened to the album again and again (alongside the Old Melody from Genesis's Live-Vol. 2-The Way We Walk). It was all a beautiful moment in my life.
And again, the album provided absorbing background music to relieve the boredom of one of me and Mike's many trips down south (this time to Cambridge).
I believe this is without doubt the best album ever recorded, you just have to listen to it a few times to believe me.
|
| California |  |
Mr Bungle |
"Mr Bungle", Disco Volante |
All credit to Sav for introducing me to what is probably my favourite current band of the moment, it's a shame Mr. Bungle are only part time. Their varied songs are very experimental and contain lots of changes, but for me they musically hit the right spot all the time. The first album is rather puerile(who wants to hear the recording of a man having a dump?) and the second one difficult to listen to initially, with all the musical interludes. I grew to love them. They've only released three albums but have been consistently amazing on each one. I chose California when I initially compiled this list, just because it was the newest one and I was surprised at how good it was and that they'd kept up the good work. Lead singer Mike Patton has many different projects, but I hope he finds time to rejoin his original band and make some more eclectic music. |
| Surfing on Sine Waves |  |
Polygon Window |
|
Aphex Twin produces a lot of groundbreaking material of varying quality. This is my favourite studio album by his, probably because it's consistently good from beginning to end and the tunes are quite subtle, it's pleasant to hear the album on a quiet evening. You can listen to track samples on the compressive Internet music store Amazon, and I am reminded of how rich the whole album is. Have a listen to the beautiful final track Portreath Harbour. Electronic music doesn't get any better than this. |
| Abbey Road |
 |
Beatles |
White Album |
The Beatles are the greatest band ever to have existed. You don't need me to tell you that. Just think of their prolific output and how they managed to maintain such quality and variety whilst constantly pushing at the boundaries. Abbey Road is my favourite Beatles album, top quality songs on side one followed by them at their musical peak on the second side "medley". There's not a lot for me to say that hasn't already been said. |
|
Nothingface |
 |
Voivod |
Dimension Hatross |
Obscure Canadian band with interesting different way of playing music, sort of stop-start. Slightly progressive rock songs about nonsense sci-fi subjects. The concept thrash album Dimension Hatross is probably considered their finest, but I personally have got the most pleasure from the milder Nothingface. It's probably one of my most played vinyl albums, containing interesting songs that I can her repeatedly. Music quality and ideas slowly started to decline after this album. |
| Incesticide (Jack Endino produced songs) |  |
Nirvana |
Bleach, Nevermind, In Utero |
When Kurt Cobain shot himself I felt sad for personal reasons. I felt we had been deprived of a lifetime of more great music from the excellent songwriter. Nevermind came out at a time of really mediocre pop music, and the consistency of this brilliant album re-established my belief that there were lots of great pop songs waiting to be written (i.e. fantastic pop songs didn't end when the Beatles split up). If it wasn't for Nevermind, I wouldn't have been aware of the darker Bleach record. It amazes me how someone could come up with something as good as Negative Creep, the way the bass and vocals are totally different in the chorus ("Daddy's little girl ain't a girl no more…") yet complement each other so well. My personal favourite songs are the Jack Endino produced songs on the Incesticide compilation. I like that low production dirty sound to what I consider cracking songs, but I'm sure most of the public would disagree (I got told the music was shit by housemate Rob - I used to play these songs whilst doing the washing up). I think these are the kinds of songs Kurt would have liked to have made for In Utero release, but was under pressure to polish the songs to more verse-chorus-verse unit shifting variety.
With my favourite bands I'm in a dilemma. Do I want them to crossover to the mass public? There's part of me that wants to see their success appreciated, radio airplay and TOTP appearances. At the time I wanted Nirvana's singles and albums to go to No.1. But usually with success there is a downturn in quality and quantity of material, as happened briefly with David Bowie when he was super famous. In Nirvana's extreme case it was death, so I'm probably glad that artists such as the Fall and Mr Bungle will never have their own "Smells like Teen Spirit".
|
| Fragile |  |
Yes |
The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, Relayer |
I was not exposed to any progressive rock as a kid, apart from perhaps Strawb's Grave New World. When I went to university I heard some "complicated" music emanate from (Keyham Hall upstairs) Tim's room, and thought I like the sound of that but not sure what it was. He lent me Fragile, and I was immediately hooked on the beginning part of Heart Of The Sunrise. And so my phase with Yes began. I thought that music couldn't get better than this, and couldn't understand why the prog rock scene was so criticised, when music was this unbelievably good? Well, obviously this was the cream and there was a lot of pretentious rubbish out there, and punk had to come along to save the music scene becoming anal. Wish I was part of this music scene though! Whilst listening to the beginning of Close to the Edge, under my blankets in a cold student house (414 Narborough Road) I wondered if music could be any better than this. Yes albums provided the soundtrack to many of the long walks between that house and Leicester Poly.
|
| Arise |  |
Sepultura |
Chaos AD |
I loved Metallica and possibly wanted to be part of some kind of heavy metal scene at university. At the time Sepultura where highly regarded, and a Top 40 placing for the album Arise was celebrated. I think I borrowed a tape copy off the album off Chris Dixon and couldn't get into it at all. Whilst working in Skegness I saw a lovely vinyl picture disk of the album in an Our Price sale and thought I'd give it another try. It took a lot of perseverance, but I started to love the album eventually. Casual listeners would not be able to appreciate the depth and quality of songwriting on the album, and I can understand that because I remember wondering how anyone could like Motorhead's Ace of Spades (when they played on The Young Ones).
I'd say the follow up album Chaos Ad is a little more accessible and obvious, whilst they deserve full credit for their experimental tribal album Roots (I love the little played Endangered Species), even if it didn't quite hit the spot musically.
|
| OK Computer |  |
Radiohead |
|
Who'd have thought a half decent indie band would produce a classic like this!? I remember buying their singles on tape for the knock down price of 20p from Manchester indoor shopping centre. The songs were OK, I didn't even think CREEP (I got the original version) was that special, perhaps the swearing hyped it up a bit? But the songs on this album are marvellous. I admire a band like Radiohead who do exactly what they want to do musically despite their massive popularity. Their later music appears to have been influenced by Aphex Twin, another artist I admire greatly. |
| Cause of Death |  |
Obituary |
|
Why is this album so special? All I can say is that it seemed to be the only album on my walkman during my indigestion giving walks up and down the hill between Hanover Square and the Geography department of Leeds University. Juliette lent me the album and I didn't give it back to her for a very long time, because I was constantly listening to it. She moaned that I may have worn it down. World Demise has a great album cover and more fantastic songs. |
| Live at the Witch Trials |
 |
The Fall |
A-sides, B-sides, Extricate,
Shiftwork |
Like John Peel, no band has ever given me as much pleasure as this band. Not just the listening pleasure, the conversations me and Sav have had about the band, albums and lead singer Mark E Smith are innumerable. Obviously I must have heard them on some early John Peel show, I do remember him going through a phase of playing all their old sessions and excitedly saying "I think these are even better than the recordings!". In 1990 I was blown away by 3 tracks Peel played in a row: Telephone Thing, Hilary and Chicago, Now! Then I heard they were playing locally and bought the brilliant 458489 A Sides to familiarise myself with their most popular songs (notice that every title on the album forms the chorus to each respective song). There is a wealth of more fantastic songs on the companion 458489 B Sides, including a full length version of my favourite No Bulbs. I introduced Sav to The Fall by playing him the interesting Auto Tech Pilot, though I could have chosen from any number of tracks. But I suppose what I was trying to say was - that was one of many B-sides, just think how good the rest of the material is!
I suppose I got into them at a popular time for the Fall. I bought the experimental (but very good) Extricate and lovely Shiftwork albums. The quality of their material started to wane at this point, especially most of the material they released on the Permanent record label. (Special mention for the funny standout track in this period Secession Man).
So I was familiar with the flavour of their 80s and 90s material, and those songs gave me great pleasure. I never imagined that their 1st releases could reach those heights, but when I heard their first ever album Live At The Witch Trials I couldn't believe how good it was! The first six tracks, especially No Xmas for John Quays, are absolutely brilliant, and I love the low production and the drumming sound. |
| Ride the Lightening |  |
Metallica |
And Justice for All |
Metallica are the first band I really got excited about. I'd heard the Harvester of Sorrow single enter the charts and it was a lot heavier than anything else there at the time. Hearing the classic One on commercial radio and TV was the most exciting musical experience of my life. The songs from the album from which these singles where released …And Justice for All are too long and relentless, but at the time me and my sister loved them. Singing along to them on our holiday trip in the car until my dad couldn't take anymore and had to stop the tape. I don't blame him now.
For the first four albums, they were consistently brilliant. Owning them all on vinyl, with their great covers, was a source of pride. Ride the Lightening is my personal favourite, having the best collection of songs. My sister bought it me for Christmas, and I loved to sing along. One criticism I have of old Metallica is that there is not enough variety in the songs, usually repeating the chorus in exactly the same way each time (listen to the horrendously long track …And Justice for All for the worst example).
After the crowd pleasing Metallica album, their music took a nosedive as their families became more important, like many bands do.
|
| Rust in Peace |  |
Megadeth |
|
This album came out in my period of listening to "heavy metal" bands. I was taken aback by the complex 6 minute 1st single Holy Wars, even though I only heard it on my clock radio in Keyham Hall. The follow up Hangar 18 was a cool sci-fi subject for a single accompanied with a great pop video. The rest of the album contained more cleanly produced songs of the highest quality, and artwork that appealed to me at that age. |
| Slayer |
 |
Reign in Blood |
|
I went through a phase of printing out lyrics from the internet, and then singing along with my favourite songs. Angel Of Death is a song I was at one point addicted to singing along to, and used to play it at a high volume every evening after university, but only if the house was free. This is probably the thrash metal anthem. One of the best feelings I ever had was dancing to this like a lunatic at the back room of Leeds University Stomp, the only time anywhere have ever played it in my presence. The whole album is in fact brilliant, it is rightfully regarded as a classic, and was recorded in less than 30 minutes. It is the kind of music you have to give your entire attention to though, as it would probably give you a headache if you were trying to concentrate on something else. |
| Foxtrot |  |
Genesis |
Trespass |
I own the Virgin "2 albums on 1 tape" Foxtrot and Trespass. A cheap, naff idea with little artwork or inner sleeve material and so long that some of my Walkmen are not powerful enough to play it! |
| Radiator |  |
Super Furry Animals |
|
Their songs were of such a high quality, that I just had to buy this, their most consistent album so far. There's a nagging doubt about featuring this album here though. Why am I struggling to talk about it? Why do I not feel the need to play it more often than I do? I suppose I should just let the songs within do the talking, they are great to hear live. |
| Loveless |  |
My Bloody Valentine |
|
There were a crop of My Bloody Valentine influenced bands in the early 90s, such as Lush (who I also initially liked). The single Soon is the most uncommercial record to have ever graced the Top 40. This album was a commercial flop (it got to No 29 for one week) but rightfully regarded as a classic. I'm not very good at describing music itself so won't bother trying. All I know is that I get an emotional feeling of warmth when I see this album cover, and thank my lucky stars that Creation had just about enough money to let them record and release it. |
| Safari EP |
 |
Breeders |
|
Thought I'd include this EP on the list because the first three tracks are amongst the finest songs I've ever heard. I love the idea of bringing in and dropping out instruments of a song, one by one, like they do on Don't Call Home. Wish they maintained this highest of quality throughout their album releases. I first saw The Breeders on rare underground music BBC2 programme Snub TV. |
I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I've failed to list a lot
of artists who have given me much pleasure, and just because they didn't record
perfect albums, such as Joni Mitchell, Air, Aphex Twin, Orbital, Fatima
Mansions, Blur...
And there's definately a loada stuff I'm missing out on (I'm so glad my mate Sav introduced me to Mr Bungle
and Voivod), so if yer think there's owt similar I might like then
let me know what I should be listening to.