
25 albums that you COULD NOT live without if you were stranded on a desert island--assuming there was electricity on this island--and the reasons WHY you couldn't live without them. What are yours?
1.London Calling: The Clash--My all time favorite Clash album. It covers a lot of different musical genres, which I like, and showed, at the time it came out, that they could do other stuff besides punk music.
2.Tusk: Fleetwood Mac--When I was a kid, my Mother used to listen to this constantly. I've grown very fond of the Lyndsey Buckingham stuff. Thanks Mom!
3.The Stone Roses: The Stone Rose--One of my all time favorite Brit-rock albums. Hugely influential.
4.The Beatles: The White Album--I like how this album basically has each Beatle doing their own thing. I especially like John Lennon's contributions.
5. The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds--My Parents used to listen to this too when I was a kid. It's such a sad and sweet album that is still hugely influential today.
6.Big Star: #1 Record--A great hybrid of the best parts of The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks and Power Pop. I practically fell out of my chair the first time I heard this, plus I'm a sucker for most Alex Chilton stuff.
7.Big Star: Third/Sisters, Lovers--Their last album, and with only Alex Chilton plus the drummer remaining. A depressing album, which I hated when I first heard it, but it quickly grew on me.
8.A Clockwork Orange: Soundtrack--I love the synthesizer versions of ol' Ludwig Van by Wendy Carlos, plus I like the original music she did for the movie too. It also influenced a lot of 80s synth bands.
9.Husker Du: Zen Arcade--A concept album by Minneapolis' most melodic Hard-core punk band. I especially like the Grant Hart stuff.
10.Teenage Fanclub: Bandwagonesque--When I first bought this album I almost wore out the cd. I love how they were really influenced by Big Star but with a grungy edge also.
11.The Jam: All Mod Cons--Probably my favorite Jam album. It shows how Paul Weller had really grown as a song writer compared to their first two albums.
12.The La's: The La's--The only really good album from this band. A combination of Brit-pop, Beatles-sounding songs.
13.Neil Young: Everybody Knows this is Nowhere--I really loves me some "Cinammon Girl"!
14.Panda Bear: Person Pitch--A weird combination of the Beach Boys and trance-like dirges.
15.The Replacements: Let it Be--Probably my favorite Replacements album. It really shows Paul Westerberg stretching as a song writer.
16.The Shins: Chutes too Narrow-- I really hated this album when I first heard it, but it slowly grew on me.
17.The Smiths: The Queen is Dead--Probably my favorite Smiths album.
18.Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation--favorite song, "Teenage Riot".
19.The Specials: The Specials--I loves me some British Ska and this album is that at its best.
20.The Byrds: Sweetheart of the Rodeo--When the Byrds went country with Gram Parsons in the band. Anything he sings on this album is a highlight.
21.Spirtualized: Songs in A & E--Another really depressing album that I really like!
22.The Velvet Underground: Loaded--The album that launched a million bands. I wonder what the modern equivalent is to this?
23.The Who: Live at Leeds--The best live album EVER!!
24.XTC: Drums and Wires--I'm a sucker for most XTC. This is by far my favorite.
25. Pink Floyd: Wish you were Here--A love letter to Syd Barrett.
What about all of those Knack albums that were broken in your doorway by two alcohol enraged apes back in 1986?
ReplyDeleteI thought for sure they'd make the list. I like your list -- nothing on there that doesn't deserve to be heard by a wide audience.
Your mum liked Tusk? I always thought she was cool.
Let It Be is great. The 'Mats were lo-fi before it was fashionable to be that way. I always appreciated how they would do "Unsatisfied" live only if they were truly unsatisfied.
Here are my 10 desert island discs, with no cares about what looks cool or not. I have no pride, really. In case you want to know why I haven't posted 25, I am taking my other 15 picks in books. That's a different list.
In no order:
Al Stewart Year of the Cat [1976]
Derek and the Dominos Layla [1970]
Trash Can Sinatras Weightlifting [2004]
Joni Mitchell Hejira [1975]
Richard Thompson Rumour and Sigh [1991]
Big Star Radio City [1973]
Afghan Whigs Black Love [1996]
Crowded House Woodface [1991]
American Music Club Mercury [1993]
R.E.M. Reckoning [1984]
Ah, William…you and your Al Stewart!! Besides that, your list looks good. By the way, books are for mongoloid morons!! We should hang out soon.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Monkey