Have to agree with that summation
Music Top albums
- Thread starter shambles925
- Start date
Ok so I have to post a Queen album. My list of favorite Queen albums changes from day to day, but the number one spot is almost always Sheer Heart Attack, their third album. Their first two were great and showed signs of what they could do, but were very grounded throughout in the progressive/glam/hard rock vein. Sheer Heart Attack kept a lot of that, but was the first time they started to branch out into other genres and sounds, and set the tone for Queen As We Know Them. Great opening with fairground noises blending into the kick-ass Brighton Rock, and their first big hit, Killer Queen
But it's Side B (tho I don't have it on vinyl lol) that really gets at their range and musical ability. Each song is so different: epic multi-track weirdness, fast no-brakes rock, quiet vocal and piano lullaby, happy pop love song (John Deacon's first song to appear on an album, an important new song-writing voice), zippy retro jazzy pastiche, moody atmospheric dirge, and classic sing-along anthem (linked below). Definitely a "get your money's worth" album
I like it a lot, is what I'm trying to say
But it's Side B (tho I don't have it on vinyl lol) that really gets at their range and musical ability. Each song is so different: epic multi-track weirdness, fast no-brakes rock, quiet vocal and piano lullaby, happy pop love song (John Deacon's first song to appear on an album, an important new song-writing voice), zippy retro jazzy pastiche, moody atmospheric dirge, and classic sing-along anthem (linked below). Definitely a "get your money's worth" album
I like it a lot, is what I'm trying to say
The Well-Tempered Clavier (BWV 846-869) - JS Bach performed Robert D. Levin
One of the single most important pieces of music ever written, it was this work by Bach that showed for the first time how a keyboard (harpsichord, clavier or organ) could be tuned to encompass the full range of notes without the need of retuning for works in differing keys. Even though his actual method of tuning was never fully detailed or documented, this is truly where our modern perception and practise of Western music begins.
One of the single most important pieces of music ever written, it was this work by Bach that showed for the first time how a keyboard (harpsichord, clavier or organ) could be tuned to encompass the full range of notes without the need of retuning for works in differing keys. Even though his actual method of tuning was never fully detailed or documented, this is truly where our modern perception and practise of Western music begins.
Shotgun Wedding - Lydia Lunch & Rowland S. Howard
Hard edged blues rock with Lydia teaming up with another aussie boy, ex The Birthday Party guitarist Rowland S. Howard.
Hard edged blues rock with Lydia teaming up with another aussie boy, ex The Birthday Party guitarist Rowland S. Howard.
Ambient 1: Music for Airports - Brian Eno
Not necessarily the first of the genre but certainly the album that lifted it from niche obscurity.
Not necessarily the first of the genre but certainly the album that lifted it from niche obscurity.
Dances From Terpsichore: Motets Passamezze (CCLXXXVI a 6) - Michael Praetorius performed David Munrow and The Early Music Consort of London
Now here's an era I imagine not a lot are familiar with music wise, the Renaissance. Taken from Praetorius's compendium "Terpsichore, Musarum Aoniarum" (Terpsichore, of the Aonian Muses, that is Terpsichore who was the Greek goddess and muse of dance and chorus) of more than 300 dances with (but not always) chorus published in 1612 and here played on original instruments. It gives a wonderful look into an entirely different world of music and a totally joyful and lively one at that.
Now here's an era I imagine not a lot are familiar with music wise, the Renaissance. Taken from Praetorius's compendium "Terpsichore, Musarum Aoniarum" (Terpsichore, of the Aonian Muses, that is Terpsichore who was the Greek goddess and muse of dance and chorus) of more than 300 dances with (but not always) chorus published in 1612 and here played on original instruments. It gives a wonderful look into an entirely different world of music and a totally joyful and lively one at that.
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OK Computer - Radiohead
- for me, this album captured feelings of the time period better than anything...the explosion of technology and the internet...human reliance and fear of it...and it's still relevant. This is the first album I ever purchased on vinyl.
My fav track off it...since 1997...Let Down....I went through trauma in 94/95 and this song hit perfectly.
Also, for those that are fans of Radiohead....if you haven't heard...they're doing a European tour in Nov/Dec and registration is now open through their website. Hope to see them in Berlin.
- for me, this album captured feelings of the time period better than anything...the explosion of technology and the internet...human reliance and fear of it...and it's still relevant. This is the first album I ever purchased on vinyl.
My fav track off it...since 1997...Let Down....I went through trauma in 94/95 and this song hit perfectly.
Also, for those that are fans of Radiohead....if you haven't heard...they're doing a European tour in Nov/Dec and registration is now open through their website. Hope to see them in Berlin.
I’m going to put forward an underrated album. When it comes to AC/DC most folk would probably plump for Back in Black which is a fantastic album but I’m going to go with For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)
Again there’s not a bad track on this album and the title track is just fantastic and gets a crowd going when played live
Again there’s not a bad track on this album and the title track is just fantastic and gets a crowd going when played live
The Unacceptable Face of Freedom - Test Dept.
Another of the great industrial era albums. Driving rhythmic structures, production quality that outmatches most of today's work and lyrics aimed straight at the sociopolitical actions of its day. The original vinyl release also features amongst the best ever album covers as the whole thing opens up and can be refolded to form a cube with different artwork on each face. The sculpture on the front is in fact made from small plastic cowboys and indians figurines.
Another of the great industrial era albums. Driving rhythmic structures, production quality that outmatches most of today's work and lyrics aimed straight at the sociopolitical actions of its day. The original vinyl release also features amongst the best ever album covers as the whole thing opens up and can be refolded to form a cube with different artwork on each face. The sculpture on the front is in fact made from small plastic cowboys and indians figurines.
Nail - Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel
Yes I finally put a Foetus album here. Next to the Mark Stewart + Maffia album "As the Veneer of Democracy Starts to Fade" and Test Dept's "The Unacceptable Face of Freedom", this stands as another high water mark of the industrial era. JG Thirlwell has a number of 'eras' within his Foetus project and this album was the final one of its first era. Highly layered and sophisticated production (before the advent of digital production so this is all good old multi tracking and cut and splice) with lyrics that bend and twist terms and phrases with the subtlety of a fist in an iron glove. All this with Jim doing everything himself, writing, playing, recording, engineering, artwork, production and publishing on his own label. It wasn't due to any social inhibitions, he just couldn't afford to pay others to do it at the time and to do it the way he wanted it done. A mighty talent still doing things his way.
Yes I finally put a Foetus album here. Next to the Mark Stewart + Maffia album "As the Veneer of Democracy Starts to Fade" and Test Dept's "The Unacceptable Face of Freedom", this stands as another high water mark of the industrial era. JG Thirlwell has a number of 'eras' within his Foetus project and this album was the final one of its first era. Highly layered and sophisticated production (before the advent of digital production so this is all good old multi tracking and cut and splice) with lyrics that bend and twist terms and phrases with the subtlety of a fist in an iron glove. All this with Jim doing everything himself, writing, playing, recording, engineering, artwork, production and publishing on his own label. It wasn't due to any social inhibitions, he just couldn't afford to pay others to do it at the time and to do it the way he wanted it done. A mighty talent still doing things his way.
L'italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers), Act I Scene 13: Pria di dividerci da voi, signore - Va sossopra il mio cervello (Before we part from you, sir - My brain is turning upside down) - Gioachino Rossini performed Agnes Baltsa mezzo soprano, Wiener Philharmoniker conductor Claudio Abbado
Just to break up the grinding brutality of industrial, one of my personal fave operas and recording. Never worry too much about the plot of operas, they are mostly ridiculously far fetched (though having a general idea of the action does always help to follow it) and even understanding the lyrics isn't necessary, its all about the voice. You may not know the words but emotion and intonation are universal. This is the madcap finale to Act I and the vocal acrobatics are just phenomenal.
Just to break up the grinding brutality of industrial, one of my personal fave operas and recording. Never worry too much about the plot of operas, they are mostly ridiculously far fetched (though having a general idea of the action does always help to follow it) and even understanding the lyrics isn't necessary, its all about the voice. You may not know the words but emotion and intonation are universal. This is the madcap finale to Act I and the vocal acrobatics are just phenomenal.
The Pace is Glacial - Seam
Listening to my favorite albums ordinarily has an autobiographical appeal (where and who I was when I first heard/purchased them) but I have no memory of where or how this one introduced itself to me. It feels like it's been with me, and surrounding me, for as long as I can remember, retroactively soundtracking my life. It's an ocean from the building swell of the opening track (posted above) to the loud/soft, fast/slow tides in between, to the hypnotic recession of the closing track. A start-to-finish winner for me, every time.
Listening to my favorite albums ordinarily has an autobiographical appeal (where and who I was when I first heard/purchased them) but I have no memory of where or how this one introduced itself to me. It feels like it's been with me, and surrounding me, for as long as I can remember, retroactively soundtracking my life. It's an ocean from the building swell of the opening track (posted above) to the loud/soft, fast/slow tides in between, to the hypnotic recession of the closing track. A start-to-finish winner for me, every time.
So often its the things in life that somehow, some when, find us and take up residence in our lives that provide a context that all our purposeful manoeuvres fail to achieve. A lovely album and a very well written descriptor.
Opus Dei - Laibach
Formed in Slovenia in 1980 as the collapse of Yugoslavia was starting to show its signs and foreshadow the Balkans War, this group sort to seek out and re-establish the Slovenian culture and identity that had been subsumed for so long. They were an integral part of the post punk industrial movement, confounding everyone who could only put neat things in neat boxes. This track from the album sums up so much of what their hopes and wishes were and still are all about.
Formed in Slovenia in 1980 as the collapse of Yugoslavia was starting to show its signs and foreshadow the Balkans War, this group sort to seek out and re-establish the Slovenian culture and identity that had been subsumed for so long. They were an integral part of the post punk industrial movement, confounding everyone who could only put neat things in neat boxes. This track from the album sums up so much of what their hopes and wishes were and still are all about.
Satie: Works for Piano - Aldo Ciccolini
Satie wrote some of the most enduring and beautiful piano pieces of the modern music era and Ciccolini's interpretation is spellbinding. This track "6 Gnossiennes: No. 1, Lent" is truly where Satie's talent shines and Ciccolini's playing achingly beautiful.
Satie wrote some of the most enduring and beautiful piano pieces of the modern music era and Ciccolini's interpretation is spellbinding. This track "6 Gnossiennes: No. 1, Lent" is truly where Satie's talent shines and Ciccolini's playing achingly beautiful.
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
The album is on my not-too-long list of albums where I like every song. And on the 16th of June 2007 I seen them live in the then brand new Wembley stadium. It's one of the best live concert experience I ever had. Even better, they filmed it all and released it on DVD
The album is on my not-too-long list of albums where I like every song. And on the 16th of June 2007 I seen them live in the then brand new Wembley stadium. It's one of the best live concert experience I ever had. Even better, they filmed it all and released it on DVD
NIN - The Downward Spiral
What really needs to be said about this album? 30+ years and counting. Is there a bottom?
What really needs to be said about this album? 30+ years and counting. Is there a bottom?
I well remember when a friend rang me at around 2.30am one Sunday morning many years ago to wake both myself and then girlfriend to inform us that they were showing the clip for "Head Like A Hole" for the first time on Rage, our all night (weekends only back then) music video program on the ABC. The album "Pretty Hate Machine" had only landed here a fortnight or so earlier and was already happily nestled in its spot in my vinyl collection (alphabetic with chronological sub ordering, the only way to find something in less than an hour) and he knew the importance of letting us know so we could see what this Trent fellow was like. Once it had finished we went back to bed discussing why they decided it was a good idea to dangle him upside down by a bunch of 1" video tape. Some art directors really do have a lot to answer for.
Fixed - Nine Inch Nails
I'll throw this one into the mix as my personal fave. We had all gotten pissed off with his continual EP releases of the same songs in slightly different mixes and this one stood out as totally different. Not just because it featured tracks reworked by JG Thirlwell, but it did also feature the wonderful typographic joke on its cover.
I sadly misplaced my copy of Fixed. Luckily I still have Broken, which was my intro to him.
Blue - Joni Mitchell
Just simply beautiful.
Just simply beautiful.