Album: 1. The Mars Volta - Octahedron
Year: 2009
Genre: Progressive Rock
After hearing words from that band such as “acoustic,” to describe the album, I was very sceptical. I mean surely not TMV, crazy outbreaks, jazzy snippets everywhere, would this to be the beginning of the end for them?
On a personal note, I think that this album could come in at 2nd spot for my favourite of their albums, following Frances the Mute. Although I love the jazzy influences ever present on the previous albums and their extreme energy that they bring to the music, it was refreshing to hear them with a slightly different sound. The more chilled out, ambient sound was a real hit with me and allows you to embrace the quality of the musicianship yet not have to focus too hard on it.
Highlight: Since We’ve Been Wrong
Album: 2. Death – Scream Bloody Gore
Year: 1987
Genre: Death-Metal(surprise surprise)
This is probably quite a generic input as it has hailed to be the first of the Death Metal albums and the album/band that really kicked the genre off, but I cannot keep them off my top albums much longer. Led by the late Chuck Schuldiner, or the Godfather of Death Metal as he had been known to be named, they really were superb with this, their first release.
The reason why this album was such a hit with me is that it constituted of the heavy riffs, extreme percussion and all the necessities you would expect from a death-metal band, but the vocals are the influencing factor in my un-denied love for the band and this album. Unlike many of the bands that fall into the same genre, their vocals are more accessible and listenable, which I think is what pushes many people away from the genre as a whole.
I could have chosen any of their albums to list here as all of them are of superb quality but this one in particular carries more sentiment than the rest.
Highlight: Zombie Ritual
Album: 3. Dave Brubeck – Brubeck Plays Brubeck
Year: 1956
Genre: Jazz
I am not going to profess to know anything about jazz, which I don’t as it is a completely new genre to me and a very complex one it seems like.
What I do know is that you HAVE to listen to this album, not a maybe or a no, you have to. I bought it totally out on a whim for change in my pocket and what a great buy. The only previous stints I have had with jazz would be Miles Davis – ‘Round about Midnight and Mahavishnu Orchestra. I know the latter is jazz-fusion, which is probably why I found it so easy to listen to and enjoy, that I can’t say about Davis though.
As a pure jazz album, this was easy to get into and enjoy, throw it on to play on a Sunday afternoon and just chill. The simplicity and easiness of the sounds just entice you to listen, instead of being so distinct and sometimes even scary which I found with ‘Round about Midnight.
Highlight: The Duke
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulldog
Hey, good post this. Red is indeed an absolutely fantastic album (Sinsemilla runs it close though - you might wanna look out for that if you don't already have it), and that's one of my favourite tracks off it. It's just an end-to-end, brilliant album though and still among my all-time favourites. Great album to get any less reggae-literate people you know into the stuff too (it's worked with everyone I've lent it to myself anyway).
Interesting album picks lately as well. I always find it strange how I still haven't given Kate Bush a chance, because I do like the stuff of hers that I've heard. ATDR I appreciate and as for Melody Gardot, another top pick.
Keep these coming eh  |
I am on the look out for it, I think it was available at my new little gem of a shop I found the other day. I will be swinging past there next weekend to pick up a couple albums and the one you just mentioned is definitely on the list. Damian Marleys - Welcome To Jamrock and Wailing Souls - Firehouse Rock did the trick for a couple of my mates.
Well i would offer up a link but her album was on vinyl. Definitely worth picking up the album if you can though. Melody is amazing. Absolutely brilliant album, I agree. Cheers.