Trollheart takes on "1001 Albums you must hear before you die"
 

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I announced this back in December and as it's such a huge undertaking I want to get it started as soon as possible. The source I'm going to use, as I don't actually have or particularly want to read the book, is this http://rateyourmusic.com/list/rtfm/1...onological/11/; I've looked at a few and though they all appear to be more or less the same albums, some have ones missing, some don't number them and some have them listed alphabetically. This, then, seems to be the most comprehensive and accurate link I've found, but if anyone knows of another I should be using let me know.

A word on reviews: I don't think anyone is expecting detailed synopses of these albums. Firstly, if they're in this list they're something less than obscure, and secondly there are over a thousand of them, so even if I manage my goal of listening to one a day (which is in no way certain) I could not afford to do long-winded reviews, or else what little black is left in my hair would be long turned to grey by the time I was finished. I have no illusions that even doing things this way, this will be anything other than an undertaking that spans several years, depending on how often I manage to listen to the albums, given all the other work I have to do. But to ensure it doesn't take the rest of my life, I'll be copying elements from the “Bitesize” format, though on the comments section I will be strictly restricting myself to a maximum of three lines per album. There'll also be a short (very short) introduction to the album and/or artiste, which will be separate from the three-line review. Any albums I already know will just be noted and then I'll move on.

In addition, I'll be awarding each album a rating (even those I've already heard) which will be strictly based on what I alone thought of the album, not its place in music history, its essential worth or its legacy. This is all based on my opinion, so even if say a Dean Martin or Bob Marley record is considered a classic and indispensable and one of those you should hear before you die, if I hate it or it doesn't impress me it will be rated accordingly. No slight or insult is intended as ever, and my rating system will follow usual format of 1 to 5, 5 being a total classic you have to hear and that I love, 1 being a turd on vinyl. To add a little humour and tie in to the theme, the ratings will all be represented by tombstones (geddit?)...

To do things a little differently, although these are not ranked, I'll be starting from number 1001 and working backwards, and as I see these are arranged in chronological order that means we'll be travelling backwards in time. Woo! Where's the TARDIS? :D It also means it'll be at least a year before I have to suffer boring albums from the forties or fifties! ;)

Number one thousand and one coming up shortly!

You really must be a nutcase to do this. Have you seen the type of albums you'll have to review at the beginning of this list? :laughing:

............ yes I'm sure you have.

Have fun! I'm subbing.

This is gonna be fun for everyone... except Trollheart.

I'm excited for 1965-1968. Especially the United States of America. That one should just about decapitate poor Trollheart.

Who gives a **** about that? Trollheart's gonna have to review hip hop. Lots and lots of hip hop. And punk rock. That's the real story.

The earliest album is Frank Sinata's In The Wee Small Hours from 1955 and that's the only album from that year so it basically starts at the Rock n Roll era.

One thing you might want to do is listen to the original track listings on the albums as they were intended rather than on the later re-issues on CD. Some of those early Jazz records are 3 or 4 times longer than the original albums these days and drag on for 2 plus hours.

I'll get around to uploading the PDF of the book if you still want it.

Yeah, you'd think I'd have to be insane (still not proven either way) to do this, but then what sort of a lunatic would then embark on yet ANOTHER journal with a scope almost as vast?

Stay tuned, and get the strait-jacket ready!
Meanwhile, let's get going with....

1001
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...d_Me_Satan.jpg
Album title: Get behind me Satan
Artiste: The White Stripes
Year: 2005
Nationality: American
Genre: Hard Rock/Blues
Chronology: Fifth album
Previous experience of this artiste, if any: Elephant
Why is this an album you should hear before you die? I have no idea (I have this feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot!)
Tracklisting: Blue orchid, The Nurse, My doorbell, Forever for her (Is over for me), Little ghost, The denial twist, White moon, Instinct blues, Passive manipulation, Take, take, take, As ugly as I seem, Red rain, I'm lonely (But I ain't that lonely yet)
Introduction: The only thing I've heard from The White Stripes is “Elephant”, and while it was a good rock album I've yet to understand the reason for the almost godlike status Jack White gets in most quarters. Sure, he's a great guitarist, composer and singer, and his wife is a great drummer, but aren't a lot of other bands too? I can't quite make out what's apparently so special about this husband-and-wife duo, but maybe this will help me see.
Comments: When this started I didn't like the stripped-down, non-rock format of the album (although I have only heard the one other WS recording), but as it went on I got into it and songs like “Forever for her”, “Little ghost” and “White moon” made more of an impression on me. It's still not really my sort of thing; I still don't quite get it, but I can certainly see that Jack White and his wife are talented and versatile. It's a very good album, but I doubt this would be among a list of albums I advised anyone to make sure they heard before they died.
Favourite track(s): Forever for her (Is over for me), Little ghost, White moon, Passive manipulation, As ugly as I seem, I'm lonely (But I ain't that lonely yet)
Least favourite track(s): The Nurse, My doorbell, Take, take, take, Blue orchid
My impression: Good, solid album. Well-written, well-composed and a little different.
Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner3.png

White Stripes are American and not British.