Anyway. I always start it by listing the “10 Best Albums of All Time”. We discuss that for a while, then Dan points out, and it’s obviously true, that you can’t really identify the 10 “best” albums in any genre, much less rock and roll.
OK, that may be the case. But you sure as hell can generate a list of albums everybody should own. Without exception. Of course, such a list eventually runs to 100s, if not 1000s. But we have to start somewhere.
Here goes.
The Velvet Underground and Nico. This album was, and is, so far ahead of anything else on the planet in terms of sound, songcraft, musicianship, and sheer balls-to-the-wall creativity that it is unique among works of art of all fields, not just music. Still the most amazing music there’s ever been. And, likely, ever will be. Plus a violin, for crap’s sake.
Drugstore. The first album—with the dark, stellar cover. Isabel Montero piloted them away from British hardcore and to a unique form of low-fi, high-intellect, drone. Again, so original as to be almost unprecedented.
Peter Case. First album—the one with Steel Strings and Small Town Spree. Awesome singer-songwriter storytelling. Nicely underproduced. Just gorgeous. After you get this, go ahead back and find everything the Plimsouls—his earlier band did. Almost as good.
Stones—Beggar’s Banquet. You know, for all the great music the Beatles, Stones, Faces, Kinks, etc. did, there were very few entire stone classic albums. And then, it was mostly the Stones. This slot could’ve been filled by Let It Bleed, Exile, or even more so, Sticky Fingers. But Beggar’s Banquet came out of nowhere and there’s not an uneven, inconsistent, or dishonest note on it. I make it a point to listen to it at least a couple times a year. It’s a wonder every frickin’ time.
Mekons—Rock and Roll. Just one of the best rock albums of all time. Ever. By anybody. At any time. Pounding. Melodic. Great lyrics. Hooks. Plus a violin. For crap’s sake (see Velvet Underground).
The Clash—Give ‘Em Enough Rope. I don’t care what your older brother, the critics, the punk fanzines, or the Clash themselves have said about their discography. This album is among the finest pure pop metal items on any planet. It kicks more ass than most albums, including those by the Clash.
Pogues—Hell’s Ditch. Speaking of production by Joe Strummer. This is another one to ignore all the bitching at allmusic.com and at Amazon and every where else small time reviewers feel compelled to mouth off. This is the darkest, darkest album ever. If you ever want to sleep again, do NOT read the lyric sheet. Trust me. I’ve read it. I’ve got awful insomnia.
Sisters of Mercy—Vision Thing. I know, this is starting to sound like a…uh…broken record (for those of you too young to remember “records”, think a big scratch in your nutcase friend’s collection of thrash on vinyl), but ignore the bitching at allmusic.com. This is a classic. A classic. “…on Detonation Boulevard…see the flowers on the razor wire…I was thinking about her…skin…”… .
The Who—Live at Leeds. A classic BEFORE they added the entire Tommy to the 2 disk set. The best live album—and one of the best of any albums—ever. The John Coltrane-ish instrumental breakdown at the end of Magic Bus and My Generation is worth the price of admission. Then you get definitive versions of their stage show, plus all of Tommy at its finest.
Nirvana—Never Mind. I know, you haven’t played this in years. Go thou now and do so. Thou will be amazed at what thou hast been missing. Trusteth me.
New material up around the horn. I’ve been sick, I apologize for being a day late with this stuff. Check http://endoftheworldpartdeux.blogspot.com/ for the cancer diary, http://docviper.livejournal.com/ for photos and a little ecology, http://sustainablebiospheredotnet.blogspot.com/ for the best in sustainability and the environmental consequences of war. And thanks again for stoppin’ by—every time you guys read this stuff, I feel a little more life come back to my battered frame!
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