Top 10 Most Important Albums To You (lyrics, blues, country, dance)

Molecules · 02-12-2009, 09:08 PM

I've done this in in chronological order, which makes more sense I think. I 'got into' music comparatively late (15/16), not having the guiding influence of a 'rock dad' or especially musical parents even, just music magazines and those awful channels that show back-to-back video promos into eternity.

So this is early 2001 onwards really.

1. Stereophonics - Word Gets Around

I still rate this one, they got shit after this. Aside from silly pop cassettes and the odd soundtrack this was (probably) the first rock album I got. Just great songcraft that I could listen to all day and lyrics about boring old Wales. I was bored too. Either this or the Offspring's Americana which prompted my first gig.

2. Pixies - B-Sides

Q Magazine said it was worth a shot, I had some pocket money.
I didn't know what a B-side was, had to ask my dad. Before we had wikipedia so the Pixies were this mysterious wailing entity and the sleevenotes were by a bloke called Frank Black?... Cool!

3. Red Hot Chili Peppers - discography up to and including Californication

Oh yes, this band were straight on the CD walkman as soon as I got out of class, at lunch, wherever. Fratboy funk/cock rock, it had that essential energy that a sexually-frustrated, pubescent kid demands; and I thought all the band members were the best IN THE WORLD at their respective instruments. Obviously I've moved on, but Bloodsugar, Hot Minute and Californication endure.
I even had the Out In L.A. rarities disc, which I fucking loved and made me write pages of awful lyrics for a band I would never be in.

4. Various - Pop Art: Underground Sounds from the Warhol Era (soundtrack compilation to Channel 4 documentary I didn't see)

I am going to make my hellspawn kids listen to this as soon as they grow their first ears because it did me a world of good.

1. I'm Waiting for the Man - The Velvet Underground
2. Search and Destroy - Iggy & the Stooges
3. These Days - Nico
4. You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators
5. Kick Out the Jams - MC5
6. I Wanna Be Your Dog - The Stooges
7. Andy Warhol - David Bowie
8. Jet Boy - New York Dolls
9. Roadrunner - Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers
10. X Offender - Blondie
11. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend - The Ramones
12. Marquee Moon - Television
13. Hello It's Me - John Cale, Lou Reed

5. the Clash - the Clash

I was embarking on a punk/post-punk odyssey and this was everything to me; it was angry young man music and it was ENGLISH. 'London Calling' had a similar effect on me, these albums gave me hope and energy. That year Joe Strummer died, I read the NME articles and went out and got more albums.

6. Joy Division - Substance

Introduced me to desolate and desperate sounds that made me want to start a band more than anything. Unfortunately everybody else was listening to Led Zeppelin. Bastards.

It just went perfectly with where I was at the time, directionless, isolated. I could even play along to the songs on my starter-kit guitar!

7. Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty

The Eminem albums came before this but it no way got me into hip-hop.
This destroyed preconceptions. It was not massively representative of the hip-hop I'd come to love, but it was B-boy before I knew what that was and it was just energizing and a bit alien. I had a friend who decided he hated hip-hop and loved metal, he gave away all his classics to me - NWA, Wu-Tang, Dr. Dre.

8. Manic Street Preachers - the Holy Bible

There was worse to come but this album is responsible for nearly pushing me over the edge. Relentless and stone-cold f*cking sober.

9. Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove (cheapo best-of)

First album I got stoned to (I don't smoke anymore incidentally

)

10. the Beatles - Rubber Soul

Revolver got me into them and nudged the door but this one kicked it open at a low-point in my time on planet earth thus far. 2006, the long one

There are any number of shot-away 60's albums and dance mixes I could reel off here but you get the idea.

****
Post-'06 various postal-ordered grime mixtapes and CD-Rs from my DJ mate who educated me on electronic music of all kinds; these gave me the huge slap I needed.

Buying my own desktop in 2007 has rendered this kind of list almost pointless, it ends here!

Honourary mentions that I couldn't fit into the 10 (there were honestly real life-savers/eye-openers) chronological:

blur - modern life is rubbish
the strokes - is this it
jeff buckley - grace
love - forever changes

ProggyMan · 02-12-2009, 09:37 PM

10. Ga Ga Ga Ga-Spoon
9. Who's Next-The Who
8. Faust IV-Faust
7. Loveless-MBV
6. Proyecto A-Proyecto A
5. Transatlanticism-DCFC
Got me into surface Indie, a small but vital step in my musical evolution.
4. Wildhoney-Tiamat
Showed me what metal can be.
3. The Cold Vein-Cannibal Ox-
Got me into undeground Hip Hop.
2. Wind In The Wires-Patrick Wolf
I don't what it is about this album, but it's like a musical ligthhouse for me. No matter how far I stray off my own beaten path I'll always have this to come back to.
1. In The Court Of The Crimson King
Of all the records I own this one will always standout to me, even though I rarely listen to it anymore, as the one that kickstarted my love of the avante-garde, the obscure...I'm convinced that no matter how many thousands of albums I will listen to in the course of my life none will ever surpass the majesty King Crimson's debut.
The yellow jester does not play, but gently pulls the strings...smiles as the puppets dance in the court of the Crimson King...

Molecules · 02-12-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProggyMan

10. Ga Ga Ga Ga-Spoon
9. Who's Next-The Who
8. Faust IV-Faust
7. Loveless-MBV
6. Proyecto A-Proyecto A
5. Transatlanticism-DCFC
Got me into surface Indie, a small but vital step in my musical evolution.
4. Wildhoney-Tiamat
Showed me what can be.
3. The Cold Vein-Cannibal Ox-
Got me into undeground Hip Hop.
2. Wind In The Wires-Patrick Wolf
I don't what it is about this album, but it's like a musical ligthhouse for me. No matter how far I stray off my own beaten path I'll always have this to come back to.
1. In The Court Of The Crimson King
Of all the records I own this one will always standout to me, even though I rarely listen to it anymore, as the one that kickstarted my love of the avante-garde, the obscure...I'm convinced that no matter how many thousands of albums I will listen to in the course of my life none will ever surpass majesty King Crimson's debut.
The yellow jester does not play, but gently pulls the strings...smiles as the puppets dance in the court of the Crimson King...

good list, especially Cannibal Ox (for me it was Company Flow).

So what the hell is 'surface indie'? Like just under the mainstream but with enough clout to keep from being submerged into the underground?

ProggyMan · 02-12-2009, 09:49 PM

Yeh, where DCFC used to be, got some air time, sold plenty of records, but not really in the mainstream conscious.

Piss Me Off · 02-13-2009, 06:39 AM

I thought i'd done this but i didn't! In order of when i got them, ish.

1. RHCP - Californication
The first album i bought, and my favourite for a while as well. I don't think i've listened to this in about 4 years but i still have good memories of it.

2. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks
I got this in a 4 for £20 deal at HMV for the hell of it. On the first listen i have NEVER been blown away by an album as much as i had been with this. It was incredible, i was thinking "this is nearly 30 YEARS OLD and it sounds more exciting and fresh than anything i've ever heard before".

3. The Libertines - Up The Bracket
Me and my best mate at the time were enormous Libertines fans and i remember a load of great nights just drinking, singing along to this and playing Fifa. I still play it every now and again, both for nostalgia and it's great for a knees-up!

4. NME Compilation - Kurt's Choices
The NME had a CD for free full of some of Cobain's favourite artists and this was a huge inspiration for me. Bad Brains, MDC, Melvins, Gang Of Four and a certain PJ Harvey are all regulars for me now.

5. The Clash - London Calling
Because it's essential for anyone with even a remote interest in music. It's the first one i always reccommend when someone asks for a music tip.

6. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Well, you know the story here

7. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
I thought they were the coolest band ever, i used to play this to everyone but no-one liked it and it was around now i started using internet messageboards because i was frustrated with no-one listening to the same stuff i did, kind of a milestone. I also tried to look like Thurston Moore for a bit.

8. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
When you're a young indie kid it's easy to go by the stereotype that all hip-hop is guns and hoes but, and i think this is the same with a lot of people, this album blew that idea out of the water for me.

9. Slayer - Reign In Blood
My best mate now is a huge metal-head and we'd quarrel all the time about what music to listen to when hanging out because i hated metal (i blame this on him listening to mostly Trivium at this point). He introduced this to me one day though and it clicked. It's still one of the most aggressive albums ever, it's insane.

10. Melt-Banana - Cell-scape
I'm not an expert music-wise by any means because i flit around too much, but if there's one genre i would be nearly comfortable calling my own it's noise rock. You never know what you're going to get but you know it's always going to push you to your limits and i fucking love that. If music challenges you it's always going to reward you in the end. When i came across this album it was a mind-**** but i loved it and played it over and over and over. And now i'll listen to anything!

Alfred · 02-13-2009, 06:44 AM

I'll make a new list soon, my old one was ****, and a lot of those aren't even important to me.

Zarko · 02-13-2009, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred

I'll make a new list soon, my old one was ****, and a lot of those aren't even important to me.

Yeah same,... A lot were just faves...

dac · 02-13-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piss Me Off

3. The Libertines - Up The Bracket
Me and my best mate at the time were enormous Libertines fans and i remember a load of great nights just drinking, singing along to this and playing Fifa. I still play it every now and again, both for nostalgia and it's great for a knees-up!

I do love me some FIFA

Piss Me Off · 02-13-2009, 08:11 AM

Pro Evo's better, i was so naive!

Akira · 02-13-2009, 08:18 AM

Aye, Pro Evo is way better.

02-12-2009, 09:08 PM	#91 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	I've done this in in chronological order, which makes more sense I think. I 'got into' music comparatively late (15/16), not having the guiding influence of a 'rock dad' or especially musical parents even, just music magazines and those awful channels that show back-to-back video promos into eternity. So this is early 2001 onwards really. 1. Stereophonics - Word Gets Around I still rate this one, they got shit after this. Aside from silly pop cassettes and the odd soundtrack this was (probably) the first rock album I got. Just great songcraft that I could listen to all day and lyrics about boring old Wales. I was bored too. Either this or the Offspring's Americana which prompted my first gig. 2. Pixies - B-Sides Q Magazine said it was worth a shot, I had some pocket money. I didn't know what a B-side was, had to ask my dad. Before we had wikipedia so the Pixies were this mysterious wailing entity and the sleevenotes were by a bloke called Frank Black?... Cool! 3. Red Hot Chili Peppers - discography up to and including Californication Oh yes, this band were straight on the CD walkman as soon as I got out of class, at lunch, wherever. Fratboy funk/cock rock, it had that essential energy that a sexually-frustrated, pubescent kid demands; and I thought all the band members were the best IN THE WORLD at their respective instruments. Obviously I've moved on, but Bloodsugar, Hot Minute and Californication endure. I even had the Out In L.A. rarities disc, which I fucking loved and made me write pages of awful lyrics for a band I would never be in. 4. Various - Pop Art: Underground Sounds from the Warhol Era (soundtrack compilation to Channel 4 documentary I didn't see) I am going to make my hellspawn kids listen to this as soon as they grow their first ears because it did me a world of good. 1. I'm Waiting for the Man - The Velvet Underground 2. Search and Destroy - Iggy & the Stooges 3. These Days - Nico 4. You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators 5. Kick Out the Jams - MC5 6. I Wanna Be Your Dog - The Stooges 7. Andy Warhol - David Bowie 8. Jet Boy - New York Dolls 9. Roadrunner - Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers 10. X Offender - Blondie 11. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend - The Ramones 12. Marquee Moon - Television 13. Hello It's Me - John Cale, Lou Reed 5. the Clash - the Clash I was embarking on a punk/post-punk odyssey and this was everything to me; it was angry young man music and it was ENGLISH. 'London Calling' had a similar effect on me, these albums gave me hope and energy. That year Joe Strummer died, I read the NME articles and went out and got more albums. 6. Joy Division - Substance Introduced me to desolate and desperate sounds that made me want to start a band more than anything. Unfortunately everybody else was listening to Led Zeppelin. Bastards. It just went perfectly with where I was at the time, directionless, isolated. I could even play along to the songs on my starter-kit guitar! 7. Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty The Eminem albums came before this but it no way got me into hip-hop. This destroyed preconceptions. It was not massively representative of the hip-hop I'd come to love, but it was B-boy before I knew what that was and it was just energizing and a bit alien. I had a friend who decided he hated hip-hop and loved metal, he gave away all his classics to me - NWA, Wu-Tang, Dr. Dre. 8. Manic Street Preachers - the Holy Bible There was worse to come but this album is responsible for nearly pushing me over the edge. Relentless and stone-cold fcking sober. 9. Funkadelic* - One Nation Under A Groove (cheapo best-of) First album I got stoned to (I don't smoke anymore incidentally ) 10. the Beatles - Rubber Soul Revolver got me into them and nudged the door but this one kicked it open at a low-point in my time on planet earth thus far. 2006, the long one There are any number of shot-away 60's albums and dance mixes I could reel off here but you get the idea. **** Post-'06 various postal-ordered grime mixtapes and CD-Rs from my DJ mate who educated me on electronic music of all kinds; these gave me the huge slap I needed. Buying my own desktop in 2007 has rendered this kind of list almost pointless, it ends here! Honourary mentions that I couldn't fit into the 10 (there were honestly real life-savers/eye-openers) chronological: blur - modern life is rubbish the strokes - is this it jeff buckley - grace love - forever changes __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her Last edited by Molecules; 02-12-2009 at 09:25 PM.

02-12-2009, 09:37 PM	#92 (permalink)
ProggyMan Reformed Jackass Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,964	10. Ga Ga Ga Ga-Spoon 9. Who's Next-The Who 8. Faust IV-Faust 7. Loveless-MBV 6. Proyecto A-Proyecto A 5. Transatlanticism-DCFC Got me into surface Indie, a small but vital step in my musical evolution. 4. Wildhoney-Tiamat Showed me what metal can be. 3. The Cold Vein-Cannibal Ox- Got me into undeground Hip Hop. 2. Wind In The Wires-Patrick Wolf I don't what it is about this album, but it's like a musical ligthhouse for me. No matter how far I stray off my own beaten path I'll always have this to come back to. 1. In The Court Of The Crimson King Of all the records I own this one will always standout to me, even though I rarely listen to it anymore, as the one that kickstarted my love of the avante-garde, the obscure...I'm convinced that no matter how many thousands of albums I will listen to in the course of my life none will ever surpass the majesty King Crimson's debut. The yellow jester does not play, but gently pulls the strings...smiles as the puppets dance in the court of the Crimson King... Last edited by ProggyMan; 02-12-2009 at 09:50 PM.

02-13-2009, 06:39 AM	#95 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	I thought i'd done this but i didn't! In order of when i got them, ish. 1. RHCP - Californication The first album i bought, and my favourite for a while as well. I don't think i've listened to this in about 4 years but i still have good memories of it. 2. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks I got this in a 4 for £20 deal at HMV for the hell of it. On the first listen i have NEVER been blown away by an album as much as i had been with this. It was incredible, i was thinking "this is nearly 30 YEARS OLD and it sounds more exciting and fresh than anything i've ever heard before". 3. The Libertines - Up The Bracket Me and my best mate at the time were enormous Libertines fans and i remember a load of great nights just drinking, singing along to this and playing Fifa. I still play it every now and again, both for nostalgia and it's great for a knees-up! 4. NME Compilation - Kurt's Choices The NME had a CD for free full of some of Cobain's favourite artists and this was a huge inspiration for me. Bad Brains, MDC, Melvins, Gang Of Four and a certain PJ Harvey are all regulars for me now. 5. The Clash - London Calling Because it's essential for anyone with even a remote interest in music. It's the first one i always reccommend when someone asks for a music tip. 6. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead Well, you know the story here 7. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation I thought they were the coolest band ever, i used to play this to everyone but no-one liked it and it was around now i started using internet messageboards because i was frustrated with no-one listening to the same stuff i did, kind of a milestone. I also tried to look like Thurston Moore for a bit. 8. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising When you're a young indie kid it's easy to go by the stereotype that all hip-hop is guns and hoes but, and i think this is the same with a lot of people, this album blew that idea out of the water for me. 9. Slayer - Reign In Blood My best mate now is a huge metal-head and we'd quarrel all the time about what music to listen to when hanging out because i hated metal (i blame this on him listening to mostly Trivium at this point). He introduced this to me one day though and it clicked. It's still one of the most aggressive albums ever, it's insane. 10. Melt-Banana - Cell-scape I'm not an expert music-wise by any means because i flit around too much, but if there's one genre i would be nearly comfortable calling my own it's noise rock. You never know what you're going to get but you know it's always going to push you to your limits and i fucking love that. If music challenges you it's always going to reward you in the end. When i came across this album it was a mind-**** but i loved it and played it over and over and over. And now i'll listen to anything! __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

02-13-2009, 06:44 AM	#96 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	I'll make a new list soon, my old one was ***, and a lot of those aren't even important to me. __________________ LAST.FM* / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

02-13-2009, 08:11 AM	#99 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	Pro Evo's better, i was so naive! __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

02-12-2009, 09:49 PM	#94 (permalink)
ProggyMan Reformed Jackass Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,964	Yeh, where DCFC used to be, got some air time, sold plenty of records, but not really in the mainstream conscious.