Right, where were we...
68. The Celibate Rifles - Sideroxylon (1983)
Another example of the cream of the crop when it comes to Australian punk, the lads from Sydney (who's name is actually a reversal of the Sex Pistols - took me years to spot that one) have probably been the most consistent with their efforts too. The debut here is the one I'd put above the others though. Strutting, hard rocking tunes, disenchanted lyrics, consistent in its quality, it's one of the overlooked punk classics.
The best bits: Killing Time,
Tick Tock,
God Squad
67. Cibelle - Cibelle (2003)
This one's a bit hard to classify really. I've heard of her being called 'tropical punk', but that's pretty wide of the mark. I'd say she's something like a Brazilian incarnation of Bjork, and definitely my favourite singer-songwriter to emerge from Brazil. Both of her albums are worthwhile, but her debut makes for the best starting point, serving as something of a manifesto of her music to come, which seems to me like a cross between alternative folk and tropicalia.
The best bits: S'o Sei Viver No Samba,
Lusias,
Train
66. The Birthday Party - Junkyard (1982)
What kind of albums list would be complete without this? Having been a Nick Cave fan for quite a while, it's more or less a given for me as well. To some people I know it's just a cacophony of people yelling, thumping and twanging things. To me it's (of course) a work of art. Angry, totally nuts, abrasive, and about as left-of-field as a lot of music got in those days. I used to love pissing my flatmates in Scotland off with this. For those who haven't heard it, the album cover should give you a good idea of what it all sounds like.
The best bits: The Dim Locator,
Big-Jesus-Trash-Can,
Release the Bats
65. Lou Reed - Berlin (1973)
Lou Reed's finest album here, without a doubt (
Transformer's good, if slightly overrated in my eyes/ears). It's also a nice and ambitious rock opera about a doomed, drug-addled couple, and features beautifully dark and depressing rock-related soundscapes to compliment it. I'm no fan of his later so, barring his efforts with the Velvets, this is his best piece of work.
The best bits: Caroline Says 1,
the Kids,
Sad Song