Talking Book -Stevie Wonder Sweet Baby James- James Taylor Karma To Burn - The Waterboys Sounds Of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy - The Who
Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette Violator - Depeche Mode Dare - Human League Faith - George Michael The Joshua Tree - U2
That's an interesting one. Certainly one I considered. At the time, liking it felt a little like dumbing down. But unlike Duran Duran's Rio, (which many people at the time went for, also risking opprobrium) it does have an enduring quality. I went back to it after a local DJ whacked "Seconds" into a show that was otherwise modern dance stuff, and I was rivetted.
Really surprised how few nomination there were for Revolver which has often topped best album lists. Wouldn't that be a better album than Dare or Violator, or anything by U2? Only askin'.
As I said, only askin'. I didn't pick Revolver, although it's probably a more 'important' album than most on my list. But as you say it's about favourites. It'd make my top 10 faves list for sure.
Really surprised how few nomination there were for Revolver which has often topped best album lists. Wouldn't that be a better album than Dare or Violator, or anything by U2? Only askin'.
@SomervilleAddick The Sex Pistols were really a singles band. NMTB was really a padded singles collection. GSTQ is in my top five singles (don't start!)
Sounds like I ought to give Joni Mitchell a listen. I only know one of her songs. Is the album Blue really that good, or is it very much a time and a place thing... Like I suppose the first two Oasis albums or the Stone Roses possibly are? I guess its hard to separate
I'd argue The Stone Roses and Oasis come to that are probable more than just a time thing. I certainly have seen many people signing along at recent Stone Roses gigs who weren't even alive first time around.
I'm rethinking mine as well daily, should I have included one of The Sundays Albums.......
This is impossible so I'll just go off the cuff and then think of hundreds of others. Lowlife - New Order Levelling the Land - The Levellers Music for the Masses - Depeche Mode Achtung Baby - U2 The Hurting - Tears For Fears.
Then quick shouts to 0898 Beautiful South, 101 Damnations Carter USM, Disintegration The Cure, Everyone's Got One Echobelly, A Maximum High Shed Seven, The Holy Bible or Generation Terrorists, Manics.
Oh and Rock Spectacle, Barenaked Ladies.
There's always one who'll drag a CL thread in to the gutter.
Sounds like I ought to give Joni Mitchell a listen. I only know one of her songs. Is the album Blue really that good, or is it very much a time and a place thing... Like I suppose the first two Oasis albums or the Stone Roses possibly are? I guess its hard to separate
I'd argue The Stone Roses and Oasis come to that are probable more than just a time thing. I certainly have seen many people signing along at recent Stone Roses gigs who weren't even alive first time around.
I'm rethinking mine as well daily, should I have included one of The Sundays Albums.......
Couldn't agree more, the Stone Roses work in any era.
That was my top album. The rest I had to think about.
One of four easy choices for me, but it is a truly exceptional piece of work with only one slightly weak track.
I started to do this, decided that there were two absolute musts
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan
Then is started going through the 1000+ albums on the phone, thought these two may be in there
Highway to Hell - AC/DC Transgender Dysphoria Blues - Against Me
Then I realized this was impossible.
But to all those who put Never Mind the Bollocks in there I say, listen to it again. When it turns up on random play, I'm always amazed at how pedestrian and plodding it sounds. I remember when this was the end of western civilization. Important album, absolutely, but musically, not so much.
Never Mind the Bollocks was never really about how good the music was musically. I'd happily concede to there being only two or three great tracks on it, but it's in my top five for what it meant to me at the time and how it helped me formulate my outlook on life. As Rolling Stone journalist Charles M. Young put it, "Never Mind the Bollocks changed everything. There had never been anything like it before and really there's never been anything quite like it since. The closest was probably Nirvana, a band very heavily influenced by the Sex Pistols".
Similarly the Stardust soundtrack is there because it introduced me to a whole lot of music and bands, like White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, I'd missed growing up.
Sounds like I ought to give Joni Mitchell a listen. I only know one of her songs. Is the album Blue really that good, or is it very much a time and a place thing... Like I suppose the first two Oasis albums or the Stone Roses possibly are? I guess its hard to separate
I first heard it in 2003 when I was 17, so it's not a time and place thing for me. I reckon it's not an album for everyone, but I heard the first track and was captivated.
The first Mark Almond album. Beautiful jazzy relaxed music. Hawkwind by Hawkwind. The Doors by The Doors. Surfs up by The Beachboys. The White Album by the Beatles.
The first Mark Almond album. Beautiful jazzy relaxed music. Hawkwind by Hawkwind. The Doors by The Doors. Surfs up by The Beachboys. The White Album by the Beatles.
Tomorrow would probably be quite different.
I used to visit a friend in Blackheath in the middle '70s and he'd play me the two best Doors albums, Pearl by Janis, and First Base by Babe Ruth. Three great albums that don't quite make my top five and the last one has a few brilliant tracks but overall lacks something.
The first Mark Almond album. Beautiful jazzy relaxed music. Hawkwind by Hawkwind. The Doors by The Doors. Surfs up by The Beachboys. The White Album by the Beatles.
Tomorrow would probably be quite different.
Have every album that Hawkwind ever released. My favourite is probably In Search of Space. Seem them a few times since the 70's.
But as much as I love them, they didn't make my top five.
@SomervilleAddick The Sex Pistols were really a singles band. NMTB was really a padded singles collection. GSTQ is in my top five singles (don't start!)
I started to do this, decided that there were two absolute musts
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan
Then is started going through the 1000+ albums on the phone, thought these two may be in there
Highway to Hell - AC/DC Transgender Dysphoria Blues - Against Me
Then I realized this was impossible.
But to all those who put Never Mind the Bollocks in there I say, listen to it again. When it turns up on random play, I'm always amazed at how pedestrian and plodding it sounds. I remember when this was the end of western civilization. Important album, absolutely, but musically, not so much.
Never Mind the Bollocks was never really about how good the music was musically. I'd happily concede to there being only two or three great tracks on it, but it's in my top five for what it meant to me at the time and how it helped me formulate my outlook on life. As Rolling Stone journalist Charles M. Young put it, "Never Mind the Bollocks changed everything. There had never been anything like it before and really there's never been anything quite like it since. The closest was probably Nirvana, a band very heavily influenced by the Sex Pistols".
Similarly the Stardust soundtrack is there because it introduced me to a whole lot of music and bands, like White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, I'd missed growing up.
I started to do this, decided that there were two absolute musts
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan
Then is started going through the 1000+ albums on the phone, thought these two may be in there
Highway to Hell - AC/DC Transgender Dysphoria Blues - Against Me
Then I realized this was impossible.
But to all those who put Never Mind the Bollocks in there I say, listen to it again. When it turns up on random play, I'm always amazed at how pedestrian and plodding it sounds. I remember when this was the end of western civilization. Important album, absolutely, but musically, not so much.
Never Mind the Bollocks was never really about how good the music was musically. I'd happily concede to there being only two or three great tracks on it, but it's in my top five for what it meant to me at the time and how it helped me formulate my outlook on life. As Rolling Stone journalist Charles M. Young put it, "Never Mind the Bollocks changed everything. There had never been anything like it before and really there's never been anything quite like it since. The closest was probably Nirvana, a band very heavily influenced by the Sex Pistols".
Similarly the Stardust soundtrack is there because it introduced me to a whole lot of music and bands, like White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, I'd missed growing up.
Bollocks! By the time NMTB came out punk was almost all over. The first two, possibly three Pistols singles were waht it was all about. If anything changed everything, they did.
The Sex Pistols were not as revolutionary as some people think. They were influenced by the anarchic attitude of a semi Hippy band called the Pink Fairies (you too can play the guitar) who themselves were heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground. The first Sex Pistols single which was banned possibly, and let to their record company (A&M?) dumping them after the Bill Grundy incident, was engineered and produced by Dave 'boss' Goodman who was the Pink Fairies roadie/sound engineer. The Sex Pistols were iconic but not original, as the notion of a punk and an anarchic musical attitude was already out there.
The Sex Pistols were not as revolutionary as some people think. They were influenced by the anarchic attitude of a semi Hippy band called the Pink Fairies (you too can play the guitar) who themselves were heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground. The first Sex Pistols single which was banned possibly, and let to their record company (A&M?) dumping them after the Bill Grundy incident, was engineered and produced by Dave 'boss' Goodman who was the Pink Fairies roadie/sound engineer. The Sex Pistols were iconic but not original, as the notion of a punk and an anarchic musical attitude was already out there.
Don't agree Plummy. What set them apart from anarcho/hippy types was the lyrics. It was hugely exciting to hear Anarchy In The UK for the first time. There had literally been nothing like it before, at least in the charts and in public view. Anger was an energy that druggy band the Fairies and the Velvets (one of my favourite all time bands) never had. The latters fascination with downer drugs and junkie culture was rejected by early punk who had no time for the laid back hippy, stoner mentality (use of speed not withstanding - different music, different drugs). Of course Nancy Spungen and her pals messed that up when they introduced the likes of Viscious to heroin. The Pistols and the Clash spoke directly to young people about unemployment, deprivation and other political issues. Musically, the Ramones were a big influence of course. As were many other bands. But that's not really point. It was the attitude and lyrics that set punk apart. People like Goodman were around and played a small part - engineers/producers can improve the sound but have no other role to play in terms of influencing the ethos of a band. My mate produced the Clash's first album, and was their on the road sound engineer, but wouldn't claim to have played more than a minor part in the band's evolution. So the Pistols were iconic yes. Musically original? A bit - (what else sounded like Anarchy before they came along!?) Lyrically original. Yes, very. That's why so many self confessed imitators sprung up in their wake.
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses The Clash - London Calling Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea Paul Simon - Graceland Jeff Buckley- Grace
Great post @JamesSeed. The anger in lyrics were there in bands like the Velvets and the Who and others, and in songs from people like Dylan and in Black Civil Rights related stuff too. The pistols re packaged the attitude which has always bubbled under in teenage rebellion. I think what we witnessed was not just about lyrical content but about the exclusivity of rock with ace musicians playing 10 minute solos which frankly alienated folk who wanted to reclaim some of the music without having had to go to some kind of Royal Academy and Conservatoire of music. The story seems to be about self expression, which certainly continued into rap music subsequently. The story of anger and rebellion expressed through music is always there, even as far back as Jazz and Blues and some Country and Western. I have NMTB in my collection, but maybe it is the mellowing of age but I seldom play it now.
Today Sufjan Stevens - Come on feel the Illinois Sunhouse - Crazy on the Weekend John Martyn - Bless the Weather Bonnie Prince Billy - Master and Everyone Sun Kil Moon- Admiral Fell Promises
Nice little exchange on the Pistols there. After giving it some thought I am with James. I remember when I first came across the Pistols. I was living in Northampton, ironically, at the time, returned home to my folks and when they went to bed I idly turned on a Granada produced late night rock TV show. This turned out to be their first live TV appearance. I tell you, I sat there, absolutely gobsmacked, and vaguely terrified. I felt like in the 8 months I had been away urban youth must have gone feral, and nobody had told me.
No other new music act has had anything like that effect on me. Nowhere near it.
Comments
Talking Book -Stevie Wonder
Sweet Baby James- James Taylor
Karma To Burn - The Waterboys
Sounds Of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy - The Who
Violator - Depeche Mode
Dare - Human League
Faith - George Michael
The Joshua Tree - U2
I didn't pick Revolver, although it's probably a more 'important' album than most on my list. But as you say it's about favourites. It'd make my top 10 faves list for sure.
Shouldn't we compile a Top 5 'Best Album' list!?Cancel that.....
1. The Modern Lovers (Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers)
2. VU and Nico (The Velvet Underground)
3. Let It Be (The Replacements)
4. Candy Apple Grey (Husker Du)
5. The Blue Mask (Lou Reed)
Similarly the Stardust soundtrack is there because it introduced me to a whole lot of music and bands, like White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, I'd missed growing up.
Hawkwind by Hawkwind.
The Doors by The Doors.
Surfs up by The Beachboys.
The White Album by the Beatles.
Tomorrow would probably be quite different.
But as much as I love them, they didn't make my top five.
They were influenced by the anarchic attitude of a semi Hippy band called the Pink Fairies (you too can play the guitar) who themselves were heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground.
The first Sex Pistols single which was banned possibly, and let to their record company (A&M?) dumping them after the Bill Grundy incident, was engineered and produced by Dave 'boss' Goodman who was the Pink Fairies roadie/sound engineer.
The Sex Pistols were iconic but not original, as the notion of a punk and an anarchic musical attitude was already out there.
Anger was an energy that druggy band the Fairies and the Velvets (one of my favourite all time bands) never had. The latters fascination with downer drugs and junkie culture was rejected by early punk who had no time for the laid back hippy, stoner mentality (use of speed not withstanding - different music, different drugs). Of course Nancy Spungen and her pals messed that up when they introduced the likes of Viscious to heroin.
The Pistols and the Clash spoke directly to young people about unemployment, deprivation and other political issues.
Musically, the Ramones were a big influence of course. As were many other bands. But that's not really point. It was the attitude and lyrics that set punk apart.
People like Goodman were around and played a small part - engineers/producers can improve the sound but have no other role to play in terms of influencing the ethos of a band. My mate produced the Clash's first album, and was their on the road sound engineer, but wouldn't claim to have played more than a minor part in the band's evolution.
So the Pistols were iconic yes.
Musically original? A bit - (what else sounded like Anarchy before they came along!?)
Lyrically original. Yes, very. That's why so many self confessed imitators sprung up in their wake.
The Clash - London Calling
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Paul Simon - Graceland
Jeff Buckley- Grace
The anger in lyrics were there in bands like the Velvets and the Who and others, and in songs from people like Dylan and in Black Civil Rights related stuff too.
The pistols re packaged the attitude which has always bubbled under in teenage rebellion.
I think what we witnessed was not just about lyrical content but about the exclusivity of rock with ace musicians playing 10 minute solos which frankly alienated folk who wanted to reclaim some of the music without having had to go to some kind of Royal Academy and Conservatoire of music.
The story seems to be about self expression, which certainly continued into rap music subsequently. The story of anger and rebellion expressed through music is always there, even as far back as Jazz and Blues and some Country and Western.
I have NMTB in my collection, but maybe it is the mellowing of age but I seldom play it now.
Sufjan Stevens - Come on feel the Illinois
Sunhouse - Crazy on the Weekend
John Martyn - Bless the Weather
Bonnie Prince Billy - Master and Everyone
Sun Kil Moon- Admiral Fell Promises
Nice little exchange on the Pistols there. After giving it some thought I am with James. I remember when I first came across the Pistols. I was living in Northampton, ironically, at the time, returned home to my folks and when they went to bed I idly turned on a Granada produced late night rock TV show. This turned out to be their first live TV appearance. I tell you, I sat there, absolutely gobsmacked, and vaguely terrified. I felt like in the 8 months I had been away urban youth must have gone feral, and nobody had told me.
No other new music act has had anything like that effect on me. Nowhere near it.