The Coffeeshop 100
 

Ok this could be the single biggest disaster on the internet but this website needs a bit of excitement again.

Anybody who has been here long enough surely knows the Urban 100 thread where he posted his top 100 albums and reviewed them as well. I have nowhere near the experience of music and writing ability of that thread but over the last year or so I have compiled my own list.

I will hopefully post mine in a similar fashion and they are my current favourite albums as of August 2007 so it may have changed in a year if you are reading back on this thread when it is completed. :)

Wish me luck.

Writing ability?

I just listened to the album & typed out whatever came into my head while I was listening to it & then jumbled it around so it had some sort of order to it.

Good luck :)

I wish you luck, I tried this I still have a rough draft I may re-try it, its hard I commend you. And good luck again, i'll be interested in it.

Ok I might as well start this then. I will post one hundred different artists and post album art too so basically an indentical thread with my choices.

I will also let you down with the information there isn't a Beatles, The Who or Rolling Stones album here to found. The very reason for this this isn't that I don't like or respect these bands, it is just I have not enough experience of them and I feel I would be a bit pretentious to post my favourite album by each otherwise.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...37769a8kv3.jpg

100. Thom Yorke- The Eraser- 2006

Ok this was a pleasant suprise. After listening to Kid A I was still missing something, a stripped down electronica album with thom yorkes vocals on it. And this is exactly what I got. Whether it be the piano on the title track, scattered beats everywhere, recurring vocals or strange lyrics and I would expect no less from Thom.

Key Songs: The Eraser, Harrowdown Hill, And It Rained All Night


http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...327872mfni.jpg

99. Wishbone Ash- Argus- 1972

Ok I am 17, I am not supposed to like Wishbone Ash a forgotten prog rock band from the 70's. But my cousin got me into them and I actually saw them live in Leicester! This album is probally the most catchy work by them and most famous so that's why it is here.

Key Songs- Throw Down the Sword, Sometime World, The King Will Come


http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...28008hxdrb.jpg

98. Deerhoof- Friend Opportunity- 2007

Oh my lord what a band. Every album they release is great so I had to pick the most recent one. Basically the singer is a female and japanese and has the cutest vocals you'll ever hear. The music is influenced by experimental and alternative music of the 80's and 90's. The combination is either amazing or unlistenable you decide.

Key Songs- The Perfect Me, +81, Matchbook Seeks Maniac

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...79625o4cjt.jpg

97. The Strokes- Is This It- 2001

I absolutely loved the Strokes when they first appeared. Probably one of the first alternative rock bands I actually got into properly. This album when I listen to it still sounds as fresh as when it first came out and since this album they seem to have not really regained this level of quality. The singles will remain in my mind forever. (NB. The album art is the US version)

Key Songs- The Modern Age, Someday, Last Nite


http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...904448364o.jpg

96. The Charlatans- Tellin' Stories- 1997

The first of many great albums which came out in 1997. Let's face it The Charlatans have never been as prolific as some of their peers but this is probably the closest they came to making a definitive album. While it was being completed the keyboardist Rob Collins was killed in a car crash so Martin Duffy of Primal Scream fame helped complete the album. There are many great songs here so if you like 90's indie it is essential.

Key Songs- With No Shoes, North Country Boy, One to Another


http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...07880059u1.jpg

95. Black Grape- It’s Great When You're Straight...Yeah- 1995

Haha this album makes me laugh. Who the hell had thought it after the Happy Mondays Ryder and Bez would be back and even with a rapper called Kermit. I heard Kelly's Heroes first and then bought the album for about £3. If you want Happy Mondays + More Fun + A Rapper buy this.

Key Songs- In the Name of the Father, Kelly's Heroes, Yeah Yeah Brother

Cheers for taking up this project. A few stuff I've never even heard of and I'll definitely check out.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...6002501b1v.jpg

94. Ciccone Youth- The Whitey Album- 1988

Ok this is the first presence of Sonic Youth on the list and not the last. This album is so complicated to explain that I might die trying.

First let's ask the question now what would happen if Thurston, Kim and Mike Watt's obsession with Madonna would ever actually be acted on in the form of covers? Ok first answer would be Burnin' Up from Watt with the Blag Flag guitarist and Into the Groovy from Thurston with a Madonna sample.

Secondly what the hell would happen if Sonic Youth wanted to make a completely crazy experimental album with dance elements? Answer, it would probably be not very well received so in the late 80's Ciccone Youth was spawned, Ciccone being Madonna's real surname.

Added to that a karoke version of Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love from Kim and you are already onto a winner!

This is probably the most insane album I own and I love it. Whether it be the pointless minute of silence, dance version of a Confusion is Sex song, Thurston Moore ghetto rapping or Kim and a friend listening to Krautrock band Neu this album has it all for an ardent Sonic Youth fan. NB. The Whitey Album title refers to Sonic Youth's threat to record a whole album of Beatles covers.

Key Songs- Macbeth, Into the Groovey, Addicted to Love

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...85278wfiaq.jpg

93. The Libertines- Up the Bracket- 2002

Some people called them the most important band of this generation and others said they were overrated junkie tabloid scum. The answer is probably a mixture of both. Clash, Beatles, Stones and Stooges for the modern age I would describe this record therefore it very understandable why they became famous so fast. The Americans had the ultra successful Strokes and record labels were hot on the heels of any similar bands so finding the Libertines was probably like finding the gold at the end of the rainbow for them.

The relationship between Doherty and Barat is what makes the Libertines. Listening to the lyrics it is hard to pass any time without hearing references, although more so on their nearly as good burning out follow up. Ok Doherty is the worst rock star symbol we have seen for a very long time and he has pissed around since predictably releasing lower quality material and trying to stay alive/out of jail/with Kate Moss. Barat has made the middle of the road Dirty Pretty Things borrowing the Libertines sound and drummer. But I think most people who liked them think they were only truly something together and whether it'll ever happen again who knows.

Key Songs: Time For Heroes, Death On the Stairs (If Your Copy has it), Up the Bracket

Every time I see this as top thread I always think "hey an adult contemporary list!" Good luck and hand in there. i've told myself I'd do one of these but I'm lazy as hell. I'll be watching with interest as we approach numero uno.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...31884ron0b.jpg

92. Be Your Own Pet- Be Your Own Pet- 2006

Thurston Moore liked this band so much he signed them to his own record label Estatic Peace. It is quite easy to see why with the slightly insane Jemina Pearl singing and shouting away and the noise pop sound of the music. While recording this album they were all still in high school and they all look very fresh faced and ready to rock. The evidence of this can be shown at none other than at the All Tomorrow's Parties Nightmare Before Christmas 2006 curated by Sonic Youth were they were joined by Thurston himself more interested in helping them completely trash the set than helping with the music side of things.

Be Your Own Pet are definitely not for everyone with vocal schizophrenia from Jemina blasting out of your speakers only interupted by a couple of high quality slower songs and these are probably the picks of the album. If they expand on this album next time and slightly refine their sound then my top 100 will be different.

Key Songs- Adventure, October, First Account, Ouch


http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...43474eq0c9.jpg

91. Interpol- Turn on the Bright Lights- 2002

So what Interpol are Joy Division in the new millennium they have enough about them to still be a very good band. The similar case is for Editors and the Bunnymen although the former were less lucky about being included in the list.

This is a sweaping debut of solid songs from the New Yorkers from Untitled to Leif Erikson this is a dreary listen but if you are prepared to take it then you might find it quite rewarding.

Key Songs: NYC, the Obstacles, PDA


http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...73339heog3.jpg

90. AC/DC- Highway to Hell- 1979

There just had to be an AC/DC album here somewhere. The greatest band ever to have all of its songs somehow connected to sex and women (look at the track list on this album for proof if you need it). Although die hard fans might know better albums by them in my mind Highway to Hell is the only one I could put into the list.

Last album with the alcoholic genius that is Bon Scott before the predictable happened and they were lucky to find a somewhat suitable replacement in Brian Johnson. Whether they are a Scottish or Austrialian hard rock band who cares they are most fun you are going to have in this genre in my opinion. There are so many good songs on Highway to Hell no wonder it made them legends and mainstream all at once. Angus Young is unstoppable and if you try to resist you are sure to be crushed.

Key Songs: Highway to Hell, Walk All over You, Night Prowler