Yes- it's my list of favourite albums thread (lyrics, blues)

jackhammer · 11-22-2008, 05:55 PM

Fugazi - Margin Walker (1988)

Not strictly an album, this was their 2nd E.P released in '88. I remember buying this in '88 because A) they shared the same name as one of my favourite albums B) the cover is just whacked out and C) the local independent shop recommended it. I bought it on cassette and still own it on the same cassette today.

As this was amidst my extreme metal phase, I found this album a perfect antidote. Songs about anger, frustration and alienation but from a completely different perspective to what I was used to.

Happily the music has held up brilliantly. The production is raw but beautifully crisp. The music is packed with an emotional punch and provided a juxtaposition to the more agressive Hardcore I was listening to. Still one of my favourite bands.

MySpace.com - Fugazi - Washington DC - Punk / Hardcore - www.myspace.com/fugazidischord

Barabajagal · 11-22-2008, 09:46 PM

Damn, I love Fugazi guitar.

Astronomer · 11-22-2008, 11:28 PM

You've inspired me to check out this EP and some more Fugazi.

Shawn of the Dead · 12-08-2008, 01:23 AM

This thread has been epic, with archive, clannad and fugazi being highlights among others.

errrrm, I know that I am teh forum newb and all, but can i request an update on this thread. It feels like forever since the fugazi post..... I apologise its just that....I neeeeeed this. lol....

jackhammer · 12-08-2008, 04:37 AM

Genesis - Foxtrot (1972)

Genesis get a bad wrap. Self indulgent, boring and of course Phil Collins but damn it, in the early 70's they were one of the very best Prog bands around. Mixing obtuse lyrics with Peter Gabriels theatrical leanings gave the band a larger than life appeal but what I really liked about early Genesis is that they were a band that used melody as a guiding force and did'nt rely on strange tempo's or whacked out sampling. They are virtually the perfect prog band. Musically very tight whilst still keeping hold of the themes in their music.

There is no one reliance on a particular instrument on Foxtrot. Nobody showboats. There is ambience as well as moments of technical expertise. The reason why I love Foxtrot so much is the contrasts. I love light and dark, highs and lows, peaks and troughs never more so highlighted on the superb 22 minute 'Supper's Ready'. If you want to get into Prog I can think of no better track to start with. Fuck the haters. This has been one of my favourite albums for over 20 years and the lack of cool attatched to it does'nt bother me one bit.

jackhammer · 12-08-2008, 05:02 AM

Gomez - Bring It On (1998)

Why is'nt this brilliant album held in higher reverence? Damn it beat Massive Attacks 'Mezzanine' to the Mercury Prize which was no mean feat yet I have rarely heard it mentioned on theses boards.

Gomez were always a little different. Arriving at the tail end of Brit Pop, gomez looked to America for inspiration. Dusty blues tinged ballads, wicked slide guitar and robust riffs are completely at odds with their almost geeky image and being British.

Don't mistake this for a run of the mill blues album. Far from it, the guitar sound hints at the blues but it certainly does'nt follow this template with snippets of sampling and brass scattered throughout. On top of this Ben Ottewell's brilliant gravelly voice adds a maturity that was far behind their years. Cross Tom Waits with Beck minus the hip beats and that could sum up Gomez up a little. The most un-British album you will hear.

Love Is Better Than A Warm Trombone:

Tijuana Lady:

Urban Hat€monger ? · 12-08-2008, 11:15 AM

You missed out the best song on that album

Mind you having said that there are a lot of good songs on that album to choose from.

jackhammer · 12-08-2008, 11:58 AM

I just went for two opposites musically. It's a pity the 'title' track is on Liquid Skin as that's a brilliant track.

Anteater · 12-08-2008, 03:18 PM

Nice call on Foxtrot: Genesis lost themselves as a group before the 70's were even over, but boy they were sharp on their first four albums. "Watcher of the Skies" is one of the best opening tracks of all time too.

And Gomez eh....I definitely gotta check them out. They seem interesting to say the least.

jackhammer · 12-09-2008, 02:24 PM

Grand National - Breaking The National Habit (2004)

This album is unashamedly out of sync. It is not fashionable or hip. It is musically unadventurous and probably won't win you any cool points. Thank christ I'm not interested in cool points. Instead I am interested in one of the best Pop albums of the last ten years.

Music can be a very serious business for me. Constantly searching for new music and peeling away the layers of a track reveals a sweet centre or a rotten core. With Grand National it is all sweet. Glorious layers of gentle Ska licks. Sun kissed harmonies that effortlessly fill you with joy. Synth beats that revel in their middle of the road leanings instead of rebelling against them.

Don't excuse this for mediocrity though. Not a chance. This is a finely crafted album that (if you like this sort of thing) will forever be in your collection whenever you need a reminder of the beautiful simplicity of music.

Drink To Moving On:

11-22-2008, 05:55 PM	#81 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Fugazi - Margin Walker (1988) Not strictly an album, this was their 2nd E.P released in '88. I remember buying this in '88 because A) they shared the same name as one of my favourite albums B) the cover is just whacked out and C) the local independent shop recommended it. I bought it on cassette and still own it on the same cassette today. As this was amidst my extreme metal phase, I found this album a perfect antidote. Songs about anger, frustration and alienation but from a completely different perspective to what I was used to. Happily the music has held up brilliantly. The production is raw but beautifully crisp. The music is packed with an emotional punch and provided a juxtaposition to the more agressive Hardcore I was listening to. Still one of my favourite bands. MySpace.com - Fugazi - Washington DC - Punk / Hardcore - www.myspace.com/fugazidischord __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

11-22-2008, 11:28 PM	#83 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	You've inspired me to check out this EP and some more Fugazi. __________________

12-08-2008, 01:23 AM	#84 (permalink)
Shawn of the Dead Groupie Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 7	This thread has been epic, with archive, clannad and fugazi being highlights among others. errrrm, I know that I am teh forum newb and all, but can i request an update on this thread. It feels like forever since the fugazi post..... I apologise its just that....I neeeeeed this. lol.... __________________ And there will your heart be also.

12-08-2008, 04:37 AM	#85 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Genesis - Foxtrot (1972) Genesis get a bad wrap. Self indulgent, boring and of course Phil Collins but damn it, in the early 70's they were one of the very best Prog bands around. Mixing obtuse lyrics with Peter Gabriels theatrical leanings gave the band a larger than life appeal but what I really liked about early Genesis is that they were a band that used melody as a guiding force and did'nt rely on strange tempo's or whacked out sampling. They are virtually the perfect prog band. Musically very tight whilst still keeping hold of the themes in their music. There is no one reliance on a particular instrument on Foxtrot. Nobody showboats. There is ambience as well as moments of technical expertise. The reason why I love Foxtrot so much is the contrasts. I love light and dark, highs and lows, peaks and troughs never more so highlighted on the superb 22 minute 'Supper's Ready'. If you want to get into Prog I can think of no better track to start with. Fuck the haters. This has been one of my favourite albums for over 20 years and the lack of cool attatched to it does'nt bother me one bit. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

12-08-2008, 05:02 AM	#86 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Gomez - Bring It On (1998) Why is'nt this brilliant album held in higher reverence? Damn it beat Massive Attacks 'Mezzanine' to the Mercury Prize which was no mean feat yet I have rarely heard it mentioned on theses boards. Gomez were always a little different. Arriving at the tail end of Brit Pop, gomez looked to America for inspiration. Dusty blues tinged ballads, wicked slide guitar and robust riffs are completely at odds with their almost geeky image and being British. Don't mistake this for a run of the mill blues album. Far from it, the guitar sound hints at the blues but it certainly does'nt follow this template with snippets of sampling and brass scattered throughout. On top of this Ben Ottewell's brilliant gravelly voice adds a maturity that was far behind their years. Cross Tom Waits with Beck minus the hip beats and that could sum up Gomez up a little. The most un-British album you will hear. Love Is Better Than A Warm Trombone: Tijuana Lady: __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

11-22-2008, 09:46 PM	#82 (permalink)
Barabajagal Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 88	Damn, I love Fugazi guitar.

12-08-2008, 11:15 AM	#87 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	You missed out the best song on that album Mind you having said that there are a lot of good songs on that album to choose from. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

12-08-2008, 11:58 AM	#88 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I just went for two opposites musically. It's a pity the 'title' track is on Liquid Skin as that's a brilliant track. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

12-09-2008, 02:24 PM	#90 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Grand National - Breaking The National Habit (2004) This album is unashamedly out of sync. It is not fashionable or hip. It is musically unadventurous and probably won't win you any cool points. Thank christ I'm not interested in cool points. Instead I am interested in one of the best Pop albums of the last ten years. Music can be a very serious business for me. Constantly searching for new music and peeling away the layers of a track reveals a sweet centre or a rotten core. With Grand National it is all sweet. Glorious layers of gentle Ska licks. Sun kissed harmonies that effortlessly fill you with joy. Synth beats that revel in their middle of the road leanings instead of rebelling against them. Don't excuse this for mediocrity though. Not a chance. This is a finely crafted album that (if you like this sort of thing) will forever be in your collection whenever you need a reminder of the beautiful simplicity of music. Drink To Moving On: __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”