After two albums recommended by Manky in a row (and there are a couple more to come), here's one from Taxman.





Title: #1 Record
Artist: Big Star
Year: 1972
Genre: Rock, power pop
Chronological position: Debut album
Previous experience: Slight annoyance when trying to search for the Jayhawks song, nothing else really
Why is this considered a classic? Don't know, I've barely even heard of these guys before

My thoughts(good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other?):
First minute: Good
One track in: Great
Halfway through: Good
Finished: Good

I think this sounds a bit like The Beatles; no wonder why Taxman likes these guys. That's definitely not a bad thing. I really like “Thirteen”, great ballad, and the rock-out following it, “Don't Lie to Me”, too. And I think I'll love the rest.

Yup, I did.


Favourite track(s): “Thirteen”
Least favourite track(s): Don't think anything was bad enough to place here

Final impression: Very good album. If I'm in the mood for some simple catchy rock music that sounds like The Beatles, I'll put this on.

Do I feel, at the end,
A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?


Probably A. If not fully a classic, it's not far away either.

Another recommendation from Taxman. I've actually owned this album, as a part of the 1990-2009 box set, for half a year now (actually, that'd be quite accurate), but I haven't listened to it yet. Yes, I do own the box set, because I like Green Day. Mostly their first three albums, though. Anyway...


Title: Warning
Artist: Green Day
Year: 2000
Chronological position: Sixth album
Previous experience of this artist: First three albums, American Idiot, and the hits
Why is this considered a classic? Not sure if it is, but I'm including it anyway

My thoughts (Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other?)
One minute in: Meh (I've heard this so many times, and the riff is clearly lifted from a song by the Kinks)
One track in: Still waiting
Halfway through: Okay
Finished: Okay

Having heard the singles from this album, I think I know what to expect. After the first couple of tracks, it's clear that the band had decided to implement some folk elements into their music, also the music is way more radio-friendly (in terms of loudness and lyrics) than their early albums. Halfway through, and I can tell this is not going to be a favourite of mine, but it's not really bad either. I think the word “alright” is a sufficient descriptor.

Favourite track(s): “Minority” and the gypsy-like “Misery”
Least favourite track(s) “Warning”, for being a boring Kinks copy

Final impression: Again, it's alright. Nothing special.

Do I feel, at the end,
A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?

I'll give this an E. I'm not in any way sorry I'm bothered, because now I have more to discuss about Green Day.


By the way, you should note that even though it's Classic Albums I Have Never Heard that I'm ripping off, I'll not limit this to albums that'd be considered classic. I'm trying to get through a written list of albums that I have not heard for whatever reason, some of which have been recommended to me by other members. Many of them can be considered classics in one way or another, but not this one, for instance.

Title: The Number of the Beast
Artist: Iron Maiden
Year: 1982
Chronological position: Third album
Previous experience of artist: All studio albums up until Somewhere in Time, except for this one of course
Why is this considered a classic? It was the band's first album to reach #1 on the UK Albums chart, and their first featuring Bruce Dickinson as their vocalist. It is one of the most influential metal albums of all time.

My thoughts (Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other?)
One minute in: Great
One track in: Great
Halfway through: Great
Finished: Great

Having heard the three most popular songs from this album (the singles and “Hallowed be Thy Name”), I did not expect the opening track to be so... I don't know, simple and NWOBHM-ish. Sounds surprisingly much like Killers to me. So far I've only heard Maiden's earliest albums, and the three following this one. Therefore it's exciting to see how the gap between sounds like. “22 Acacia Avenue” mentions Charlotte, sounds familiar..! Instead of being the standard sexist metal song, this is the contrary, living up to Iron Maidens reputation as the “thinking man's metal band”, as I've seen Trollheart call them.

Favourite track(s): Don't know, maybe “Hallowed be Thy Name”
Least favourite track(s) N/A

Do I feel, at the end,
A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?

Yup, this is definitely a classic. I loved it from start to finish, a straight A! No idea how Janszoon can NOT yell along with the chorus of the title track.

Title: Vol. 4
Artist: Black Sabbath
Year: 1972
Chronological position: Fourth album (obviously)
Previous experience of artist: First three albums
Why is this considered a classic? It's by Black Sabbath, and they took a new direction with it

My thoughts (Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other?)
One minute in: Good
One track in: Good
Halfway through: Still waiting
Finished: Okay

The guitars seem to be tuned down, they sound dark and sludgy. The fourth track, “FX”, seems to be nothing but pointless noises intended to haunt me in my dreams, so the beginning of track five, “Supernaut” is a moment of relief. Anyway, I don't think this album is going to be a favourite of mine. Maybe I'll grow on it, though.

Favourite track(s): “Changes”, probably
Least favourite track(s): No idea

Do I feel, at the end,
A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?


I'll have to say C. I didn't like this immediately, I think it might need a couple of more listens. It's not bad, but in my opinion, out of their first four albums, this is the worst.

I've been busy last days, but I appreciate you listened to those albums I recommended. Nice you liked them too.

And talking about Kinks, their albums from,Face To Face to Arthur are awesome. I started with Arthur, it's more rocking one and is easier to get into.

And if you considered Warning as a Kinks-rip-off, I'll tell a secret: Waiting is a bit rip off too, it sounds like Downtown, a very old pop song by some female whose name I cannot remember now.

Green Day have a thing with ripping people off. I'll write Arthur up on my list when I get home, and listen to it later.

Title: Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Artist: The Kinks
Year: 1969
Genre: Rock
Chronological position: Seventh album
Previous experience: A couple of hits
Why is this considered a classic? Ask Taxman

My thoughts (good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other?):
One minute in: Good
One track in: Still waiting
Halfway: Great
Finished: Great

At the very beginning the lyrics make it seem as if this album is going to be patriotic, but the two next songs are about military and war. The verses are catchy, and so are the choruses, but the vocals sound a bit... unpolished? I don't mind much, though, some people manage to pull that off and these guys seem to be among them. With that, and the lyrical themes, maybe if this was released in the late seventies, and played a bit louder, it could've been considered punk? :rolleyes:

Favourite track(s): “Some Mother's Son”, “Shangri-La”
Least favourite track(s): None

Do I feel, at the end,
A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?

This is an A, and thank you, Taxman, for recommending me this! ;)

Title: Let it Bleed
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Year: 1969
Genre: Rock
Chronological position: Eighth album
Previous experience: Greatest hits album (GRRR!)
Why is this considered a classic? It's said to be some of the best work by the Stones

My thoughts (good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other?):
One minute in: Great
One track in: Great
Halfway: Great
Finished: Great

That intro is kickin' awesome! Dope rad! Fecking amazing! “Gimme Shelter” is such a great song that I have a hard time believing that the rest of the album can be as good. But what do I know..? Okay, halfway through, and it's all been pretty great so far. You know what, the second half was good too.

Favourite track(s): "Gimme Shelter", "Country Honk", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "Let it Bleed"
Least favourite track(s): Really? Do I have to?

Do I feel, at the end,
A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?


I'll say A, and thank the person who recommended me this though I don't really remember who it was..!

Yeah Stones are awesome. those friggin Sixties were so fantastic. Have you tried The Who or The Byrds then?

I've tried the Byrds' debut, but The Who, not so much.

Artist: Mineral
Nationality: American
Album: EndSerenading
Year: 1998
Label: Crank!
Genre: Midwest emo
Tracks:
Lovelettertypewriter
Palisade
Gjs
Unfinished
ForIvadell
Wakingtowinter
Aletter
Soundslikesunday
&Serenading
Thelastwordisrejoice

Chronological position: Sophomore album
Familiarity: The Power of Failing
Interesting factoid: In the book Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers and Emo, these guys were called something along the lines of “the band who represented emo in the best way”. I don't fully remember, but something like that.
Initial impression: Starts off well, I think I'll like this
Best track(s): “&Serenading”, “LoveLetterTypeWriter”, “SoundsLikeSunday”
Comments: The first thing you notice is that this album is a lot more mellow and soft than the debut, The Power of Failing. I think that's part of what makes this album so good. I liked the debut too, for being so raw and honest, but this album shows that they can master the soft sound as well.
Overall impression: A very good, mellow emo album. It's not as raw as the debut, but they pull it off.
Intention: Sadly, this was the last album they released, so there's nothing left to hear. Hands down, I will not go out of my way to find their obscure split singles or whatever they have.

Album: 21st Century Breakdown
Artist: Green Day
Year: 2009
Genre: Alternative rock
Expectations: Low, I've heard that none of the Green Day albums released in the noughties go above “decent” (sorry, fans of American Idiot)

Before listening:

Since this album has gotten some hype in the review forum, I decided to dig it out and finally listen to it. The first thing I notice is that it's very LONG, over one hour, when punk albums tend to be really short (Descendents' debut is 22 minutes long). Is Green Day even punk? Let's just call them “alternative”. Anyway, I've heard that this is pretty bad. It's the 4th worst rated album of theirs on Rateyourmusic. But why is ¡Tré! at the bottom? I've only heard the first four tracks or so, but I thought they were just fine!

After listening:

I read some of the (negative) reviews on Rateyourmusic, and I mostly agree with them. What's wrong with this album? There are so many things. The music is what happens when Green Day tries to go progressive (SPOILER: it doesn't work), and the lyrics don't make much sense. This is supposed to be a concept album, but what's the concept? There's some rattle about not wanting to live in the “modern age”, and something about how we're slaves of the system (Green Day, shut up. You're on Reprise). The GOOD part is that this album can serve perfectly as a test in patience. Sitting through all the 18 tracks in one sitting is a pain. Though it's not terrible to the point of being comparable to gassing an orphanage, I don't think I'll sit through it voluntarily again.


2/5

Sometimes maturation does not work and sometimes you should not try something you're unable to do. Plus they destroyed Working Class Hero completely. And remember what I said about Ram, won't you?

Yes, I remember. Maybe it'll be my next entry ;)

Album: Believe
Artist: Justin Bieber
Year: 2012
Genre: Teen pop

Let me start off with saying this one thing: Justin Bieber and his music does not have a spot in my heart, and never will have. There. So, why am I doing this? Because it's JB Week, the one week when we try to persuade Trollheart into listening to, and review, a Justin Bieber album. Oh, and you'll have to listen to it yourself, too. It seems that both Dj and YorkeDaddy have accepted the dreadful challenge. Great! ;)

The album starts off with “All Around the World”. Repetitive and annoying. That synthetizer WILL melt my brain. It's follow-up, “Boyfriend” is softer, but just as vomitive. Also, it's very creepy, both in terms of lyrics and instrumentation.

You know what, let's just move on to listing some of the crimes committed in the making of this album, I'm lazy and don't want to run out of degrading words.

- Melting my brain
- Causing major ear damage
- Collaborating with Nicki Minaj
- Lyrically covering exactly one theme
- Repeating the word “swag” for no apparent reason on "Boyfriend"

I would include the non-musical crimes he's committed, but here in the Poseur Cave it's all about objective views. What do you mean “that's not objective at all"? Shut up!

Swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, on you.

Congrats on coming out with your masochism.

#litteringyrjournal
#thispostwillneverbeapproved

Swag - what a shortcut:

Secretly We Are Gay
Souvenirs, Wearables, And Gifts
Stuff We All Get
Stuff We Ain't Got
Stolen Without A Gun
Sold Without A Guarantee

Well anyway...
I guess you've been kinda brave? Congratz.
At any rate, I've got to point out a mistake!
Genre: Pop => Genre: teen pop

I wasn't really sure, so thanks. I'll change it

Reminds me of when I put myself through Britney Spears' entire discography as self-punishment. I as surprised as anyone when I loved every minute of it except for her first album. I don't have any desire to repeat the process with Justin Bieber though.

Album: Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Artist: Modest Mouse
Year: 2004
Genre: Ind... eh... alternative rock
Expectations: Medium to high

Before listening:

The Lonesome Crowded West is the only Modest Mouse album I've heard so far. I loved almost every song on it, and I hope that this one will be as good. But I have a feeling it won't. Seven years had gone, and that's enough time for both maturation and the loss of quality it sometimes brings, just like what happened to Green Day.

After listening:

The title is a perfect descriptor of the album's quality, in my opinion. It's like the band took all the elements I liked with The Lonesome Crowded West, and spat on them. The raw sound was polished to death while trying to keep the charm of the half-whiny vocals. Did that work? No. The songwriting smells of half-assedery (that's a word), and sometimes the songs are just plain annoying (see: "Dance Hall"). A few tracks that can pass as mediocre do not make up for all the fillers. I'm sure some hipsters might have been pleased when this came out, but the indie nerds surely facepalmed themselves to death. Excuse me, I'll just turn this off and put on The Lonesome Crowded West instead.


2/5

Sorry but I must correct you!
Genre: Teen pop => Genre: Liquid ****
And I listened to it! All the way through! You think HE's a masochist?? God help me, is there anywhere I can go for treatment now?
Don't check my review, don't check my review, don't ---arrrggh! I SAID DON'T!!!!

If you're referring to me, let me just tell you that I listened to it all the way through several months ago for a school-related review. Don't want to do it again, though.

I've said before, but I have never got into Modest Mouse. I think the production is lacking in what I've listened to and I don't dig the vocals. As for Coldplay, I still love A Rush of Blood To The Head, and I think The Scientist is one of the best love songs ever, but there's no way I can make it through another one of their albums. They are too slow and boring for me.

This is a new section, in which I'll listen to and review some essential emo albums I have never heard, loosely based on Trollheart's Classic Albums I Have Never Heard. Sorry, Trollheart, I know January's over, but this is a free cave!

The reason I'm starting this is because even though I'm the unofficial leader of an emo album club, I think my knowledge of the genre is pretty... limited. Therefore I shall hear the essential albums, and rip off Trollheart at the same time.

I want to start at the beginning, but since I'm mostly interested in the second wave, I'll kick this off with...

Artist: Jawbreaker
Album: Unfun
Year: 1990

Before listening:

I'm pretty sure this is a second wave emo album, even though it was Sunny Day Real Estate's Diary, which was released four years later, that defined the movement. What made Jawbreaker unique was how they took the expressive vocals and emotional subject matter from the first wave and folded it into a neat(-ish) pop punk package, and therefore they're second wave, I think. Manky, or some other expert, help me understand this.

Favourite track: “Want”

Final impression: Good, solid pop punk. I think the vocals are great, because of the hoarseness. I think I read that it was polyps that caused it, and that Blake had to get surgery to remove them. That's why his voice sounded softer when he started singing with Jets to Brazil. Anyway, this is not punk for worrying parents, this is an introverted, almost sensitive (especially on the opener, "Want") brand of punk.

Artist: Taking Back Sunday
Album: Tell All Your Friends
Year: 2002

Before listening:

I have a tiny bit of familiarity with Taking Back Sunday. A while ago, one and a half year ago I think, I was hooked on the song “MakeDamnSure”. That's about it, though, maybe a couple of other songs too, but nothing more. My problem with the song now is the vocals. They sound so... fake, I don't know. They reminds me of cheese like The Academy Is... and Jack's Mannequin. This album was released four years earlier, and Butthead praises the hell out of it, so I hope that this will be different.

After listening:

Butthead, I can certainly see why you like this. The songs are all catchy, and I like the double vocals. But this is not for me. The vocals bug me, I suspect that they're autotuned, and I think that sincere and heartfelt vocal delivery is the most important part of emo music.

I thought you didn't like them. But good on you for that. You're gonna make some neckbeard very happy someday.

Oh, I like them alright. Also, I finally got to hear Hail to England. Tons better than Fighting the World.

Now you just need their first two albums and Kings of Metal. That last is probably my fav Manowar album. It's where they jumped the shark and became the victim of their own ludicrousness. The self-aggrandizement, the dodgy spoken word bit that goes on for too long, the none-more-cheesy ballads. It's where they went off the deep end, but they did it so right that it's glorious. It's their quintessential album. They had a copy of it at the local record store forever, but back then I hadn't realized just how much I loved them so I never got it. And when I finally went back it was gone. Gone. And Manowar is ****ing hard to track down outside of the internet since they don't have a distribution deal in America.

Yeah, Kings of Metal is excellent, quality cheese. Haven't heard their second album, though.

Artist: Jawbreaker
Album: Bivouac
Year: 1992

Before listening:

Alright, so I'm continuing where I left off, with Jawbreaker's sophomore album (the CD version, of course). Hearing Unfun got me eager to check these guys out further, and that fits well because I don't think any other second wave emo was released during 1990-1992, thus I'm following the chronological order.

After listening:

I think this is a little less raw and speedy than the debut. I say “think”, because the tracks from the Chesterfield King EP are scattered across the tracklisting making it harder to tell what the album was originally supposed to sound like. I wish they did it the same way as with Unfun, placing the bonus tracks at the very end *sigh*. Anyway, maybe I'll grow on this album, but I think I prefer Unfun.

Artist: Cap'n Jazz
Album: Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over
Year: 1993

Before listening:

I was unsure of whether I should follow the chronological order completely or just keep going with Jawbreaker, maybe squeezing Jets to Brazil in there too, but then I decided to just move on as intended, to the year of 1993. Apparently Cap'n Jazz, Boy's Life, Christie Front Drive and a couple of other bands released some EPs before this (and of course there's Diary, but I already know and praise that one), but those are only minor releases and thus I wouldn't classify them as "essential albums". This one, however, is as essential as it gets, from what I've understood.

After listening:

The lyrics seem a bit nonsensical at moments, but from all the vocal intensity I'm sure they mean something to the guys in the band. Frankly, this is not for me. Sure, it must have been hugely influential, and it perfectly represents what "real emo" is and should be, but damn, if this album was a cake, and the "spirit of true emo" was sugar, then they used a bit too much sugar. Though the first three tracks all have their spots in my emo playlist, I'll mostly leave the rest alone. Expressive noise and actual melody should have a fine balance. For me, the popcore of Jawbreaker's debut is just perfect.

Into Glory Ride is probably their greatest musical achievement. Aside from the opener they basically took the heavier, more epic sound of "Battle Hymns" and "Dark Avenger" from the debut and expanded on it. It's to Bathory's Hammerheart what Conan the Barbarian is to Lord of the Rings. It's low rent and cheesy, but it's just about the only Manowar album that can almost be taken seriously. This right here is probably the best song to represent that album...

Is that seriously the title of one album??? I thought you were looking at a discography!

Now there I must check you. Totally agree, superb album, BUT come on! "Gates of Valhalla" man! "Gates of Valhalla"!!!! Oh, and "Revelation (Death's Angel)" ....

With the exception of "Hatred" that whole album is solid. But I'd take "Secret of Steel" over those any day. Not to mention "March for Revenge". And "Gloves of Steel" is the most epic ode to metal of all time.

They also have an EP named Sometimes If You Stand Further Away From Something, It Does Not Seem As Big. Sometimes You Can Stand So Close to Something You Can Not Tell What You Are Looking At.

Gee, listening to albums is a hard thing. First, you'll have to find the album on your preferred medium, in my case Spotify. Then you'll have to brace yourself for sitting still doing nothing but listen for up to about an hour. Then you'll need to get comfortable, maybe get a glass of water and a snack. If the lyrics are important in the type of music in question, you may want to find a lyric sheet to pay attention to, especially if you're not an experienced English listener (as is the case with me). Then you'll have to do the actual listening. JEEZ, I hate music.

In case you didn't understand just by reading it, I'll just clear up that the previous paragraph was sarcastic. Of course I don't hate music, I'm a member at Musicbanter. Anyhow, I think that concentrating on nothing but music for an extended period of time can get a bit tiring. Therefore, I need some motivation. Social listening, like album clubs, is great motivation. I'm part of two and a half album clubs, and I love it. The first one is the emo club, the second is a club I started with some IRL friends, and the third, the half one, is a project I started with one other friend. Take notice of the two last ones I mentioned, because chances are they will affect my future journal entries greatly. In the second one we listen to an album every week, and if it catches my interest, I'll write about it. Then there's the last one:

We wanted to focus on metal, as it is a genre we're both slowly getting into; my friend is stuck in power metal, and I haven't heard much except for the classic, essential albums. Therefore we started a kind of “pack” system. In each pack there will be seven albums, one from each of these subgenres: black, death, fusion (prog, groove, goth, nu etc.), glam, heavy, power and thrash metal. After we're both done listening to all of the seven albums, we will choose new ones, making a new pack. At the end of the year we'll see how many packs we have listened to.

Pack one:

Venom – Black Metal
Death – Scream Bloody Gore
Pantera – Far Beyond Driven
Mötley Crüe – Too Fast for Love
Van Halen – S/T
Helloween – Time of the Oath
Metallica – Ride the Lightning


As you can see, we're pushing the definitions a bit, but hey, we're not trying to box ourselves in either. I probably won't review all of these albums, but expect... many.