Another 100 Albums List
 

Yep. Just doin' what I do best; making lists. I present to you fine folk, my 100 favorite albums, as of right now. This is in it's third iteration in the past 6 years. Enjoy.

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100. Put the "O" Back in Country - Shooter Jennings

It's always nice to hear a current country album that sounds like, well, country music. You won't find any "southern pop" here, as you can tell right away from the name of the album. Also, his dad would have beat his ass if he put out garbage and called it country. Anyways, whenever I start to lose faith in modern country music, I just spin this and I see the light.

Favorite Track: Sweet Savannah


Spotify: Put The O Back In Country by Shooter Jennings on Spotify

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99. Person Pitch - Panda Bear

Not much to say here other than this album is great. I decided to give this album a shot when it came out based on the cover, for I had not heard of Animal Collective at the time. Wise choice..

Favorite Track: Bro's


Spotify: Person Pitch by Panda Bear on Spotify

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98. Crazy Rhythms - The Feelies

I love the percussion work on this LP.

Favorite Track: Fa Cé-La


Spotify: Crazy Rhythms by The Feelies on Spotify

To keep things interesting, let's see 51 albums that missed the last cut whilst I was narrowing down the list to 100.

Aha Shake Heartbreak - Kings of Leon
As Tall As Lions - As Tall As Lions
Audioslave - Audioslave
Baduizm - Erykah Badu
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
Be - Common
Beyond the Blue Neon - George Strait
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Brighter Than Creation's Dark - Drive-By Truckers
The Budos Band - The Budos Band
By All Means Necessary - Boogie Down Productions
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Chronic - Dr. Dre
The Crane Wife - The Decemberists
Dummy - Portishead
Endtroducing.... - DJ Shadow
G.P. - Gram Parsons
Guero - Beck
Hunky Dory - David Bowie
Imagine - John Lennon
In Pieces - Garth Brooks
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
Jukebox - Cat Power
Let it Be - The Replacements
Let it Bleed - The Rolling Stones
Look Sharp! - Joe Jackson
Madvillainy - Madvillain
Mezzanine - Massive Attack
Moon Safari - Air
Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star - Black Star
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys
Permission to Land - The Darkness
Phrenology - The Roots
Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z
The Return of the Durutti Column - The Durutti Column
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
Sea Change - Beck
Shame, Shame - Dr. Dog
The Shepherd's Dog - Iron & Wine
Silver Pistol - Brinsley Schwarz
Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
Sleepless - Peter Wolf
Stardust - Willie Nelson
Sweetheart of the Rodeo - The Byrds
This is Happening - LCD Soundsystem
The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis
Wish I Had You - The Rounders
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix
3rd Eye Vision - Hieroglyphics

Now...on to number 97...

Excellent, just excellent. Like you say, there are so many artistes these days claiming to be country, as if wearing a cowboy hat or having a steel guitar in their band qualifies them. Nice to hear some REAL country. Must check this guy out further.

Wondering what you think of Steve Earle, one of my favourite and most honest country acts, even if he does lean more than a few times into basic rock territory? This is one of his best, from the excellent "Transcendental blues" album, a song written for a guy on death row. Very touching and poignant, I feel, and most of all, real.

I LOVE me some Steve Earle! That whole clan of singer-songwriters, Crowell, Van Zandt, Clark, etc. are some of my favorite artists! Stay tuned for more on this...

Gee, uh, maybe he prefers the 100 that did make the cut? ;)

How did you know!!?

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97. Seconds of Pleasure - Rockpile

Ahhh...the sweet sounds of rock & roll..and who better to be involved with this than Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, two of the greatest minds responsible for some of the catchiest hooks in pop music. If your foot does NOT start tapping at any point during this album, let alone the first note, you die now! Just kidding. But seriously, DIE NOW!!! For further investigation into this style of music, check out another Nick Lowe band, Brinsley Schwarz, specifically Silver Pistol (Spotify). Long live pub rock!!!

Favorite Track: A Knife and a Fork


Spotify: Seconds Of Pleasure by Rockpile on Spotify

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96. Loaded - The Velvet Underground

JackPat, this is why Nico wasn't included. I get their self-titled. I really do. But when you've listened to it as many times as I have, you get burned out. It's innovative, genius, classic, the whole thang. But genius be damned! Sometimes all you need is a damn catchy pop album to balance the genius..ness. From start to finish Loaded is loaded (hah, eh..) with well-crafted pop songs deep from the bowels of the VU brainchild. Wait until we get to Lulu on this list, though. HAH! I leave you with an excellent cover of my favorite track.



Favorite Track: Oh! Sweet Nuthin'


Spotify: Loaded: The Fully Loaded Edition by The Velvet Underground on Spotify

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95. Jesus of Cool - Nick Lowe

Hey! Nick Lowe again! This album is in the same vain as Seconds of Pleasure, featuring upbeat power pop / rock & roll. And that cover just plain rocks.

Favorite Track: I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass


Spotify: Jesus Of Cool by Nick Lowe on Spotify

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94. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys

Woah Arctic Monkeys! Why must you go all out on your debut and be one of the freshest sounding bands I had heard in a long time? I remember finding these blokes on PureVolume way back in the day, just sitting there listening to their demos on repeat, over and over again, counting down the days for this album to be released. I still think that most of the demo versions of some of these tracks are better but that's neither here nor there.

Favorite Track: A Certain Romance


Spotify: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not by Arctic Monkeys on Spotify

Let It Be easily makes it into my top 10. I'm excited to see what yours will be.

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93. Raw Power - Iggy & The Stooges

I just read on Wikipedia that this is one of the loudest albums of all time? Fuck yeah! Make sure to listen to Penetration, the baddest use of xylophone or whatever it is.

Favorite Track: Penetration


Spotify: Raw Power by Iggy & The Stooges on Spotify

Eff-star-star-kay! I'd forgotten how great that song was. Nick Lowe, underappreciated genius!
And let's not forget his mate, as you mentioned. Love this one from him...



Oh, and not to take over your journal, but going back to the country debate, one of my favourite female artistes, Nanci Griffith, who has bucked the trend and gone, instead of country to pop or even rock, from country to traditional. One lady who has never forgotten her roots. This is a great track from her album "Lone star state of mind", it's a live version of "Trouble in the fields".


And before you say, "The Eagles?? Don't tell me about the ****ing Eagles!" consider this track. Yes, "Hotel California" is a fantastic album, but no way a country one, and as Tom Waits once snarled "The Eagles aren't country! Those guys ain't got sh*t on their boots!" But this is from their first album, when they really seemed to know what they were about, before they went all West Coast cool. I like this album a lot, and this is one of the better tracks on it. You hear a little Neil Young in there? ;)

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92. Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind

An album of my childhood. Full of superb song-writing, catchy pop songs, and a great display of the better half of 90s radio. If you haven't already heard at least 2 songs off this, where have you been??? Take a trip down memory lane. Listen to this LP.

Favorite Track: Motorcycle Drive By


Spotify: Third Eye Blind by Third Eye Blind on Spotify

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91. Dandelion Gum - Black Moth Super Rainbow

I don't remember where I found out about this band but I'm pretty sure I was on mushrooms and this just fell into my lap from the neo-psychedelia gods. All praise them! Dandelion Gum oozes psychedelia from the name of the band to the title of the album all the way to the album cover. Oh, and the track titles. This trippiness along with the cheap indie pop synths and vocoder vocals, and you have yourself a good time waiting to be had. On mushrooms.

Favorite Track: Rollerdisco


Spotify: Dandelion Gum by Black Moth Super Rainbow on Spotify

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90. Dirty Mind - Prince

SEX.

Favorite Track: When You Were Mine


Spotify: Dirty Mind by Prince on Spotify

Woop woop. Love the last two picks. Best Psych LP of the era? I think so.

And Dirty Mind is probably my favourite prince album. Not an ounce of fat on it.

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89. Caetano Veloso (Tropicália)

The album that started the Tropicália movement. Also, the album that got him and Gilberto Gil exiled because it was so radical! This is a must-listen when it comes to any style of world music.

Favorite Track: Tropicália


Special Mention: Soy Loco por Tí, América


Spotify: Caetano Veloso - 1967 by Caetano Veloso on Spotify

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88. Up on the Sun - Meat Puppets

Great album, great instrumentation, great tunes. I would write more but I just got a copy of the new album from The Black Keys. See ya!

Favorite Track: Seal Whales


Spotify: Up on the Sun by Meat Puppets on Spotify

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87. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye

Considered to be the first ever soul-concept album, about a Vietnam vet returning home to see the country in shambles, Marvin Gaye is in top form here. Start to finish, everything here is simply beautiful. Arrangements, lyrics, vocals, instrumentation, message, everything. Do yourself a favor and check out this masterpiece.

Also, check out The Strokes B-side version, featuring Eddie Vedder, down below.

Favorite Track: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)




Spotify: What's Going On by Marvin Gaye on Spotify

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86. Is This It - The Strokes

A modern classic that needs no explanation. This was a game changer when released and a huge influence on my number 94 pick. No sleepers on this album.

Favorite Track: Soma


Spotify: Is This It by The Strokes on Spotify

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85. Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G.

You know very well, who you are. Don't let 'em hold you down. Reach for the stars.

Favorite Track: Suicidal Thoughts


Spotify: Ready To Die by The Notorious B.I.G. on Spotify

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83. The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle - Bruce Springsteen

Holy ****. First of all, I am drunk. Second of all, it doesn't matter how drunk I am when it comes down to discussing Bruce Springsteen. I LOVE THIS MAN. He is totally one of my man crushes, physically, mentally, spiritually, etc.. When I first started listening to Bruce, I started with his debut, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.. On my first version of this list, it was ranked significantly high. Second time around, this replaced it by a mile. The third time, this version you are reading, it placed right here. At this point in my life, I have dug so deep into his discography, that it ranks this high on the list (foreshadow.....). Musically, this album kicks so much ass. I get a very jazzy, loose feeling. Everything here is solid, even Wild Billy's Circus Story, which, in my opinion, isn't his best, musically. But lyrically, it is superb. Along with the rest of the tracks here. Standouts? Definitely The E Street Shuffle, musically, 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), duh, Kitty's Back, also duh, Incident on 57th Street, also also duh, Roalita (Come Out Tonight), uh....COME ON!, and New York City Serenade, holy ****. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, check out this LP. It is superb!!!

Favorite Track: The E Street Shuffle


Spotify: The Wild, The Innocent And The E Street Shuffle by Bruce Springsteen on Spotify

If you like catchiness what about their 3rd album The Velvet Underground?

Couldn't agree more. I think Springsteen's writing on "NYC serenade" comes about as close to Waits as is possible, and I consider that a huge compliment. For me, the second side (see how old I am?) of the album is without question the best, with "Incident", "Rosalita" and then the hammerblow, punch-to-the-heart and kick-in-the-crotch of the soul as you're lying there wondering WTF HAPPENED?? as "NYC" washes over you like a tsunami that you, well, yeah, saw, but thought at that distance it wasn't that big HOLY ****!

Totally underappreciated, true songwriting and an album that should be on the listening curriculum at every school (whaddya mean, there's no such thing? Establish one, immediately!)

X-Factor my hole! These kids don't know music, wasn't like this in my day, two and a half pence for a packet of crisps, no mobile phones etc etc zzzzzz :)

Did you woop woop at me? Are you a Juggalo?

Up on the Sun is great, good pick. I prefer Meat Puppets II personally, mainly because of how the hardcore punk style that was prevalent on their debut is blended with the slightly off-kilter alt-country sound they were developing. It's a little rawer and more musically diverse. Still, nice to see some Meat Puppets.

Hah! I skipped 84.