Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

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silversurfer19
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Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by silversurfer19 »

Okay guys, it's taken a while, but we are finally at the precipice, the conclusion of a countdown that has inspired and revolted, evoked nostalgia and reminded us that some music isn't quite as bad as we recalled previously. This is the accumulation of over 7 months of listening to literally thousands of songs, as we all laid our souls to bear on some of the records that have captured our hearts over the years. Music that is catchy, inspiring, emotionally tumultuous, ingenius and heart breaking. We've all been leading up to our most favourite album of all time. Over the next couple of weeks we will begin to release each and every members favourite album, one by one, allowing us all to appreciate what captures our hearts in a way only music can.

The order we are hoping to proceed with is as follows, though we can amend and adjust where necessary.

25/04 - silversurfer
26/04 - JohnErle
27/04 - numbersix
28/05 - transformers

We will then take a break to accomodate the upcoming Draft Leagues, before re-commencing with the final members week commencing 13/05.

13/05 - Leestu

TBC
englishozzy
Ron Burgundy
Geezer
NSpan

So, needless to say, I will be commencing that No.1 rundown first. I will be proceeding with a particular format, feel free to either use a similar format or one of your own making. I'll comment on each and every one of your no.1s in turn, as well as providing an analysis of the records that I have been inspired to buy following this countdown.

Hopefully this has all been as rewarding for you as it has been for me. I thoroughly look forward to your no.1 picks, and no doubt I'll be revisiting many of the records that have been posted thus far. Thanks to everyone that has contributed, either those that began the countdown but for whatever reason couldn't continue, and those that started late. It's been a fantastic journey, one that has opened my ears to new sounds, and one that fills me with hope that music can still be discovered, as long as you are willing to look for it.

So anyway, on with the show!
Last edited by silversurfer19 on April 28th, 2013, 2:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by silversurfer19 »

Album 100-2 Recap

100. Grizzly Bear, "Veckatimest"
99. Throwing Muses, "University"
98. Mansun, "Attack Of The Grey Lantern"
97. Idlewild, "100 Broken Windows"
96. The Clash, "Give Em Enough Rope"
95. The Dears, "No Cities Left"
94. The Cooper Temple Clause, "See This Through And Leave"
93. The Jam, "All Mod Cons"
92. Modest Mouse, "Good news For People Who Love Bad news"
91. Gomez, "Bring It On"
90. Violent Femmes, "Violent Femmes", 1983
89. Interpol, "Turn On The Bright Lights", 2002
88. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Fever To Tell", 2003
87. Fugazi, "Repeater", 1990
86. Muse, "Origin Of Symmetry", 2003
85. Bob Dylan, "Blood On The Tracks", 1975
84. Neil Young, "After The Gold Rush", 1970
83. Nine Inch Nails, "The Downward Spiral", 1994
82. PJ Harvey, "Is This Desire", 1998
81. Rival Schools, "United By Fate", 2001
80. Mission Of Burma, "vs", 1982
79. Liars, "Drums Not Dead", 2006
78. Bob Dylan, "Blonde On Blonde", 1966
77. The Beach Boys, "Pet Sounds", 1966
76. Gang Of Four, "Entertainment", 1979
75. Bright Eyes, "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning", 2005
74. Echo And The Bunnymen, "Ocean Rain", 1984
73. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "BRMC", 2001
72. Teenage Fanclub, "Grand Prix", 1995
71. The Buzzcocks, "Singles Going Steady", 1979
70. Beck, " Odelay", 1996
69. Television, "Marquee Moon", 1977
68. The National, "Alligator", 2005
67. Husker Du, "Candy Apple Grey", 1986
66. Wilco, "A Ghost Is Born", 2004
65. The Kills, "Keep On Your Mean Side", 2003
64. R.E.M, "Document", 1987
63. The Mars Volta, "Frances The Mute", 2005
62. Meat Puppets, "II", 1984
61. The White Stripes, "De Stijl", 2005
60. The Secret Machines, "Ten Silver Drops", 2006
59. The Replacements, "Tim", 1985
58. The Libertines, "Up The Bracket", 2002
57. Queens Of The Stone Age, "Songs For The Deaf", 2002
56. Led Zeppelin, "IV", 1971
55. Radiohead, "In Rainbows", 2007
54. Mclusky, "Mclusky Do Dallas", 2001
53. Arcade fire, "Funeral", 2004
52. Sonic Youth, "Goo", 1990
51. Foo Fighters, "There Is Nothing Left To Lose", 1999
50. Echo And The Bunnymen, "Crocodiles", 1980
49. Pavement, "Slanted And Enchanted", 1992
48. Black Sabbath, "Paranoid", 1970
47. The Replacements, "Let It Be", 1984
46. Robert Johnson, "King Of The Delta Blues Singers", 1961
45. Suede, "Dog Man Star", 1994
44. Sonic Youth, "Daydream Nation", 1988
43. Nick Drake, Pink Moon, 1972
42. Jane's Addiction, "Ritual De Lo Habitual", 1990
41. The Velvet Underground, "The Velvet Underground & Nico", 1967
40. Howlin' Wolf, "Moanin' In The Moonlight", 1959
39. R.E.M, "Murmur", 1983
38. Weezer, "Pinkerton", 1996
37. The Strokes, "Is This It", 2001
36. My Bloody Valentine, "Loveless", 1991
35. Smashing Pumpkins, "Gish", 1991
34. The White Stripes, "The White Stripes", 1999
33. Bob Dylan, "Highway 61 Revisited", 1965
32. PJ Harvey, "Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea", 2000
31. Foo Fighters, "The Color And The Shape", 1997
30. Led Zeppelin, "Led Zeppelin", 1969
29. At The Drive-In, "Relationship Of Command", 2000
28. The Velvet Underground, "Loaded", 1970
27. Joy Division, "Closer", 1980
26. Queens Of The Stone Age, "Rated R", 2000
25. Slint, "Spiderland", 1991
24. The Smiths, “Meat Is Murder”, 1985
23, Mercury Rev, “Deserters Songs”, 1998
22. Manic Street Preachers, “Generation Terrorists”, 1992
21. Led Zeppelin, “Led Zeppelin III”, 1970
20. Iggy And The Stooges, "Raw Power", 1973
19. The Jesus And Mary Chain, "Psychocandy", 1985
18. Joy Divison, "Unknown Pleasures", 1979
17. Nirvana, "Nevermind", 1991
16. The Clash, "The Clash", 1977
15. REM, "Automatic For The People", 1992
14. R.E.M, "Lifes Rich Pageant", 1986
13. Manic Street Preachers, "Everything Must Go", 1996
12. Weezer, "Weezer (The Blue Album)", 1994
11. The Pixies, “Surfer Rosa”, 1988
10. The White Stripes, "White Blood Cells", 2001
9. The Smiths, "The Queen Is Dead", 1986
8. Radiohead, "OK Computer", 1997
7. Jeff Buckley, "Grace", 1994
6. Smashing Pumpkins, "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness", 1995
5. Radiohead, "The Bends", 1995
4. The Clash, "London Calling", 1979
3. Pixies, "Doolittle", 1989
2. Manic Street Preachers, "The Holy Bible", 1994


Album No.1

silversurfer
Smashing Pumpkins, “Siamese Dream”
, 1993

Image

Track Listing
Side 1
Cherub Rock
Quiet
Today
Hummer
Rocket
Disarm
Soma

Side 2
Geek U.S.A.
Mayonaise
Spaceboy
Silverfuck
Sweet Sweet
Luna

Siamese Dream, for me, is the perfect record. I can, and have, listened to this record for days on end, just constantly flipping it over and hitting play once again. In a world where people nowadays find it hard to listen to more than one song by a band in a row, instead preferring the horrid 'shuffle' button (which totally sticks a middle finger up to the effort to create a whole concept of a record, from it's track listing to it's overarching theme), I find this truly refreshing. A record can be just so good that it forces you to keep playing it over and over. Not many records can do that, but Siamese Dream is not just any record.

I can still recall first encountering the band on MTV, when Today, with it's sun drenched visuals and ice cream van playing the intro, was launched onto my ears. I was mesmerized, never had I heard rock music that captured my just like this before. I tracked down this record soon after, and was blown away by just how strong the record is. Marrying the psychedelia of Gish with the alt-rock transition the band had embarked upon with Pisces Iscariot, it's a sublime record from start to finish. It literally became the soundtrack to my teenage years, the record of the my alienated youth. I wasn't an unhappy child, nor an angry one. I was just kind of quiet, one of those kids happy to fade into the background hoping not to be noticed. I know it's hard to believe but I came across quite anti-social back then. I still hate the idea of having to talk to people right now, so sitting in my bedroom over endless nights doing my homework and listening to this record was absolutely my favourite thing to look forward to each day. Curtain's closed, headphones on, lie on bed. Man, it was literally heaven when I immersed myself within Siamese Dream.

I know many of the lyrics aren't quite what you would expect from a record that can give you so much joy, with Billy's lyrics all the more explicit than previously, with a desperate search for hope amongst a feeling depression and suicide being an overly familiar theme running throughout, but combined with some of the most majestic, subtle, thrilling, awe inspiring music, it just captured everything I could ever want to express through music. From the opening drumroll of Cherub Rock (seriously one of the most amazing intro's to an album you can ever hear), through the ascending/collapsing/cascading crescendos of the barrage of riffs in Quiet, Today, Hummer, Soma, Geek USA and Mayonaise, and the delicate beauty of Disarm, Spaceboy and Luna, it's a record that moves me, embraces me, excites me and shatters me. It's literally the musical equivalent of sex. Probably explains why I remained a virgin so long... How each song can build, build and build from something so tender into the most exhausting air guitar/head banging moment is genius, before settling down once more, allowing you to catch breath before immersing you within it all over again. This wave after wave of emotional outbursts just cannot be described without hearing the record.

I love this record with all my heart. No matter what direction Billy Corgan (and let's not deny, this is Billy's record through and through) or the Smashing Pumpkins went in following this record, I would always love them. They created a record I can adore from now until eternity. Is there a lot of nostalgia in my pick? Hell yeah, I think it'd be impossible not to love a record quite so much without a hint of nostalgia underpinning such adoration. But this is more than that. I've been anticipating doing this write up for a few weeks now, so have been listening to the record non-stop. It's sublime. I have literally been listening to it throughout the night, headphones on once again, allowing the record to consume me, like a tidal wave washing over me or like drifting through the clouds as if in a dream. It's just a magical record. One I could not imagine living without. It takes me back to that quiet, insecure 12 year old, and captivates the 31 year old I am today. Music has never been this good. I doubt it ever will be again. Best played LOUD, allow it to blow your ears off, and enjoy the best record I've ever heard.

"Mayonaise"

"Cherub Rock"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxfMB8WlmX0
"Today"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAZn_dxI9nA

I was going to post a few of their lesser known songs from the record that are my own personal favourites (Soma, Geek USA, Hummer) but Youtube is being a bitch and not providing any of these songs from the record. So I've got the entire record here for you to listen to. Do it, you owe it to yourself, either to introduce you to how awesome this record is, or just to refresh it's majesty. If you can only listen to a couple of songs, take the time to select Soma, Hummer and Geek USA to accompany the more familiar material.

"Siamese Dream" (Full Record)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HeGu6-Ji7E

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by JohnErle »

I also remember being blown away by that video for "Today". That was in the days when I would watch MuchMusic with my VCR ready to record anything at the push of a button, and "Today" is one of those videos that got lots and lots of repeat viewings in my apartment.

I never got the album because money was tight in those days and other than the incredible "Drown" from the Singles soundtrack the only other song I remember hearing on the radio was "Disarm" which was massively overplayed. I didn't like very much then and still don't. Now I love "Cherub Rock" and "Rocket" so if I'd heard those instead I probably would have picked up Siamese dream.

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by numbersix »

Kudos to you Surfer for organising and arranging this mammoth task.

I think out of everyone your taste was the most similar to mine, as we shared 23 albums on our lists. And there was a huge amount of your albums (from Neil Young, Pavement, Dylan, Weezer, Meat Puppets, etc)I have yet to get but certainly plan to do so.

One big surprise for me was the inclusion of Liars' Drums Not Dead. It's a really atmospheric album, and it's a brave choice to put it on your Top 100. I really wasn't expecting this to make an appearance from you, or anyone!

As for Siamese Dreams, I don't think I ever fully committed to the Pumpkins as a teenager. I bought Melon Collie on cassette, borrowed Adore from a friend, got Gish on cassette as a present, and bought Siamese Dream on CD. Yet I never upgraded the tapes and I think I even sold Siamese Dream. On retrospect that was probably a bit harsh, as there were some songs I really liked, such as Cherub Rock, Disarm, and Today. I think I'll give the whole album a listen to over the weekend to see how I feel.

Anyway, a great collection of albums!

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by JohnErle »

Six and I have made our comments, so that probably means no more comments are forthcoming, so I may as well post mine. But like Six said, thanks to Surfer for herding all these cats for so long. It can't have been easy.

I'll follow Surfer's lead and post my full list as a reminder of what came before. Like I said originally, this list in unfinished, and I can see several changes I would probably make if I wanted to take the time, so don't quote me on anything past #80.

2. Big Country - The Crossing
3. The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God
4. Steve Earle - I Feel Alright
5. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
6. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
7. The Clash - London Calling
8. Yaz - Upstairs At Eric's
9. Big Sugar - Hemi-Vision
10. Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy
11. Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!
12. Steve Earle - El Corazon
13. The Smithereens - Especially For You
14. Chris Isaak - Forever Blue
15. Led Zeppelin - III
16. Led Zeppelin - IV
17. AC/DC - Powerage
18. Crowded House - Woodface
19. Pure - Generation 6-Pack
20. Ashley MacIsaac - Hi, How Are You Today?
21. The Smithereens - Green Thoughts
22. The Police - Synchronicity
23. Big Country - Live Without A Safety Net
24. Big Sugar - 500 Pounds
25. The Smithereens - Blow Up
26. Everclear - Sparkle & Fade
27. Tom Waits - Bone Machine
28. Big Country - The Seer
29. Depeche Mode - Violator
30. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
31. Paul Simon - Graceland
32. The Tragically Hip - Fully Completely
35. Dire Straits - On Every Street
35. Wilco - Being There
35. Blur - Parklife
35. Cornershop - When I Was Born For The 7th Time
35. Crowded House - Crowded House
35. The Clash - The Clash (US Version)
38. The Smithereens - A Date With The Smithereens
39. Ben Folds Five - The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner
40. The Velvet Underground - Loaded
40. Crowded House - Temple Of Low Men
40. Steve Earle - Transcendental Blues
40. The Velvet Underground & Nico
45. Gang Of Four - Return The Gift
45. The Tragically Hip - Up To Here
45. Big Country - Driving To Damascus
50. The Tragically Hip - Road Apples
55. Paul Simon - Rhythm Of The Saints
55. The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy, And The Lash
55. Replacements - All Shook Down
55. U2 - Acthung Baby
55. Various - The Harder They Come OST
60. Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
60. The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
60. Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
70. Georgia Satellites - Georgia Satellites
70. U2 - The Joshua Tree
70. Wilco - Summerteeth
72. Teenage Fanclub - Man-Made
74. Against Me!- New Wave
75. Dire Straits - Dire Straits
75. The Lowest Of The Low - Shakespeare My Butt
75. Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac
75. U2 - War
80. The Beatles - Revolver
80. Big Sugar - Heated
80. Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
80. Ron Sexsmith - Whereabouts
80. Wilco - A.M.
82. AC/DC - Let There Be Rock
85. Everclear - So Much For The Afterglow
85. Ocean Blue - Cerulean
85. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
85. Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel Of Love
85. Calexico - Feast Of Wire
85. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
85. Camera Obscura - Underacvievers, Please Try Harder
85. Dead Can Dance - Spleen & Ideal
85. Gorillaz - Gorillaz
85. Ron Sexsmith - Blue Boy
90. The Clash - Sandinista!
90. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
90. Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold
90. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
90. Big Star - #1 Record
90. Handsome Furs - Face Control
90. Hem - Rabbit Songs
90. Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago
90. Sly And The Family Stone - Stand!
90. Old 97's - Fight Songs
90. Comsat Angels - Fiction
95. Mike Ness - Cheating At Solitaire
95. Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
95. British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
95. Big Star - Radio City
95. Santogold - Santogold
95. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
96. REM - Automatic For The People
98. Tea Party - Transmission
99. My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves
99. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
100. The Wonder Stuff - The Eight Legged Groove Machine
Bob Dylan -Highway 61 Revisited
Be Good Tanyas - Blue Horse
Beck - The Information
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
Mew - No More Stories...
Patty Griffin - Flaming Red
Slowdive - Souvlaki
The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come
Chris Isaak - San Francisco Days
Eurythmics - Savage/1984 Soundtrack
TV On The Radio - Dear Science
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
The Wailin's Jennys - Firecracker
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
White Stripes - Elephant/White Blood Cells
Be Good Tanyas - Hello Love
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
The Tragically Hip - Phantom Power
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
The Dandy Warhols - Welcome To The Monkey House
Kings Of Leon - Youth And Youung Manhood
Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
The Payolas - Hammer On A Drum

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by JohnErle »

#1: Big Country - Steeltown (1984)

Image

This dark, magnificent masterpiece has been my default #1 album almost since the first time I heard it in the early 90s.

After the worldwide success of The Crossing, Big Country had the freedom to do whatever they wanted, but instead of basking in the glory of their new-found fame, the music was heavier, the lyrics were darker, and the album separated their true fans from everyone who just thought In A Big Country sounded catchy on the radio.

Steeltown has lyrics full of death, decay, and despair, but also empathy, intelligence, and a sense of hope. You've got songs about the dangers of American Imperialism (“Flame Of The West”) the death of an industry town in Thatcher's Britain (“Steeltown”) and how people often fail to live up to their full potential (“Just A Shadow”).

Then you've got "Tall Ships Go" which kicks off side two with an epic, invigorating blast of soaring guitars and rolling drums, and you look at the title and think "This is a song about sailing so side two will probably be sunny, bouncy, and upbeat" and then Stuart Adamson hits you with the first line: "I dreamed I heard that you were dead."

And then there's the album's magnum opus, the devastating one-two punch of “Where The Rose Is Sown” and “Come Back To Me”. The first song is about the mixed emotions of a young soldier being sent to war, and the second is about a young woman who knows that the father of her unborn child will never come home from the battlefield.

But the thing about the album that makes it a masterpiece and prevents everyone who listens to it from slipping into a deep depression is the music. It's so invigorating and epic and exiting and soaring and menacing and grand and majestic that the experience of the album is ultimately cathartic. The lyrics remind you that you're not alone in thinking life can be overwhelming, but then the music gives you a jolt of adrenaline that keeps the darkness at bay. Music was what Stuart Adamson used to battle his own demons, and for me no album captures the way music can provide a lift in your darkest hours better than Steeltown.

Where The Rose Is Sown


Tall Ships Go
http://youtu.be/9sV5rb7h5LU

Steeltown
http://youtu.be/AX8JhGY3VJ8

Belief In The Small Man (b-side)
http://youtu.be/7DW8zhgjZ4c

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by numbersix »

Have yet to listen to your #1 album, John, but I'm looking forward to it.

In the meantime here's my Top 100:

100. Low & Spring Heel Jack, "Bombscare EP", 2000
99. Sigur Rós, "Ny Batteri EP", 2000
98. Aphex Twin, "Windowlicker EP", 1999
97. New Order, "1981-1982 EP", 1982
96.Godspeed You Black Emperor!, "Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada EP", 1999
95. Various Artists, "New York Noise, Volume 1", 2003
94. Various Artists, "20 Years of Dischord", 2002
93. Various Artists, "Warp 20", 2009
92. Jeff Buckley, "Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk)", 1998
91. Various Artists, "Rough Trade Shops, Post Punk Volume 1", 2003

90. Pulp, "This is Hardcore", 1998
89. David Bowie, "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars", 1972
88. Television, "Marquee Moon",1977
87. Swans, "My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope to the Sky", 2010
86. Devo, "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!", 1978
85. Mogwai, "Mr. Beast", 2006
84. Wilco, "A Ghost is Born", 2004
83. Neil Young, "Harvest", 1972
82. The Fall, "Hex Enduction Hour", 1982
81. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Fever To Tell", 2003

80. Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavillon", 2010
79. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, "Let Love In", 1994
78. DJ Shadow, "Endtroducing…", 1996
77. Fugazi, "Repeater", 1990
76. Low, "I Could Live in Hope", 1994
75. Fuck Buttons, "Tarot Sport", 2009
74. Boards of Canada, "Geogaddi", 2002
73. Elliott Smith, "XO", 1998
72. Bloc Party, "Silent Alarm", 2005
71. PJ Harvey, "Is This Desire?", 1998

70. Miles Davis, “Kind of Blue”, 1959
69. Death From Above 1979, “You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine”, 2004
68. Tom Waits, “Swordfishtrombones”, 1983
67. Super Furry Animals, “Rings Around the World”, 2001
66. Caribou, “Swim”, 2010
65. The Rolling Stones, “Sticky Fingers”, 1971
64. The National , “High Violet”, 2010
63. The Dirty Three, “Ocean Songs”, 1998
62. The Velvet Underground, “The Velvet Underground”, 1969
61. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Henry’s Dream”, 1992

60. Wolf Parade, “Apologies to the Queen Mary”, 2005eane, "Hopes and Fears", 2004
59. Bonnie Prince Billy, “Ease Down the Road”, 2001
58. Joanna Newsom, “Have One On Me”, 2001
57. Suicide, “Suicide”, 1977
56. Pixies, “Doolittle”, 1989
55. dEUS, “Worst Case Scenario”, 1994
54. Menomena, “Friend And Foe”, 2007
53. Bob Dylan, “Highway ’61 Revisited”, 1965
52. Arcade fire, "Funeral", 2004
51. Sonic Youth, “Murray Street”, 2002

50. James Brown, “The Payback”,, 1973
49. My Bloody Valentine, “Isn’t Anything”, 1988
48. PJ Harvey, “Let England Shake”, 2011
47. Stiff Little Fingers, “Inflammable Material”, 1979
46. Tom Waits, “Blue Valentine”, 1978
45. Tricky, “Maxinquaye”, 1995
44. Pere Ubu, “Dub Housing”, 1978
43. The Au Pairs, “Playing With A Different Sex”, 1981
42. Spiritualized, “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space”, 1997
41. Ryan Adams, “Heartbreaker”, 2001

40. The Rolling Stones, “Let it Bleed”, 1969
39. Manic Street Preachers, “Holy Bible”, 1994
38. Sigur Ros, "( )", 2002
37. Songs: Ohia, “Didn’t It Rain”, 2002
36. Van Morrison, “Astral Weeks”, 1968
35. Slint, “Spiderland”, 1991
34. Glenn Branca, “The Ascension”, 1981
33. Godspeed You Black Emperor!, “Raise Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven”, 2001
32. New Order, “Movement”, 1981
31. Leonard Cohen, “New Skin for the Old Ceremony”, 1974

30. The Beach Boys, “Pet Sounds”, 1966
29. Sun Kil Moon, “Ghosts of the Great Highway”, 2003
28. Tom Waits, “Bone Machine”, 1992
27. Low, “Secret Name”, 1999
26. Arvo Part, “Tabula Rasa”, 1977
25. Interpol, “Turn on the Bright Lights”, 2002
24. The Smiths, “Meat Is Murder”, 1985
23, Mogwai, “Come On Die Young”, 1998
22. Jeff Buckley, “Grace”, 1994
21. Red House Painters, “Red House Painters”, 1993

20. The Pixies, “Surfer Rosa”, 1988
19. Sufjan Stevens, “Ilinoise”, 2005
18. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “No More Shall We Part”, 2001
17. The Rapture, “Echoes”, 2003
16. The Velvet Underground, “The Velvet Underground & Nico”, 1967
15. PJ Harvey, “Rid of Me”, 1993
14. Radiohead, “OK Computer”, 1997
13. Nirvana, “In Utero”, 1994
12. Bob Dylan, “Blood on the Tracks”, 1975
11. Talking Heads, “Stop Making Sense”, 1984

10. A Silver Mt. Zion, “He Has Left Us…”, 2000
9. Henryk Gorecki, “Symphony 3: A Symphony of Sorrows”, 1976
8. Radiohead, “Kid A”, 2000
7. Joy Division, “Unknown Pleasures”, 1979
6. The Stooges, “Funhouse”, 1970
5. Tom Waits, “Rain Dogs”, 1985
4.The Clash, “London Calling”, 1979
3. Gang of Four, “Entertainment!”, 1979
2. Joy Division, “Closer”, 1980

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by numbersix »

Firstly, thank you Surfer for being responsible for this project. It can't have been easy to keep the enthusiasm up, especially when some had to drop-out. I'm glad most of us stuck it out, though, as it was a blast both writing about my own musical taste (and trying to understand it more) while also exploring the tastes of those both similar and different from me. The song countdown was fun but a list of favourite albums offers more depth and more focus, and ultimately can turn you on or off an act.

Anyway, on to my album. Firstly, it's not really my favourite album, no more than the previous 10 or 20, but having recently listened through it I just had to put it at the top.

1
Sonic Youth, “Daydream Nation”, 1988

Image


An album that just crawled its way up my list. I bought it on a whim about a decade ago, even though I was unimpressed by Dirty. At first I wasn't sure what to make of this once I got past the accessible opening track, but slowly I started falling in love with each track, one by one. I think these are the best kind of albums, the ones you gradually fall for after initially noticing something intriguing but superficial that draws you in.

This is perhaps the most perfect attempt to cross accessible rock moments with pure aural experimentation (they're noted for their strange guitar tunings, influenced by Glenn Branca who appeared earlier in my list). Kissability and Teenage Riot are both great tunes. Rain King and the 14-minute Trilogy push the boundaries of what guitar music is. They also balance hard, harsh music with softer, dreamier moments. You can hear both on display in the masterful 'Cross the Breeze.

The band are totally comfortable with each other, sharing vocal duties (even Lee Ranaldo sings on a few), each demonstrating their own blend of Beat-influenced lyrics with plenty of underground references, as if they were the Readers Digest of cool. This is an album I never tire of, one I always finding something new to fall for.

I managed to see Sonic Youth only once, sadly, but they did play some songs from this record. I've also seen Thurston Moore play solo twice, and those shows were magic in their ability to be both exciting, stimulating, but also surprisingly intimate. And that's a good description for this record.

Kissability


‘Cross The Breeze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEQkeL-G47g

Rain King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4moyVQFOvaQ



Again, thanks Surfer for arranging this massive task. Looking through my list, about 32 albums of my albums were picked (55 times) by others (mostly Surfer), which is a nice feeling. Since the list began I ended up being influenced enough to pick up Minor Threat's Out of Step (John L), Jesus and Mary Chain's Psychocandy (Leetsu and Surfer), and the Dead Kennedys' Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (Leetsu, Tranny, John L). But the one that really blew me away, in a where-have-you-been-all-my-life kind of way, was The Replacements' Tim, which should easily find a slot in my favourite albums of all time. And I will most certainly explore more of these guys.

Finally, here's a list of the 10 albums I most want to buy after hearing through your picks:

The Replacements - Let it Be (Thanks NSpan and Surfer)
The Meat Puppets - II (Cheers NSpan and Surfer )
Weezer - Weezer (Nice one NSpan, Ozzy, Surfer, and Geezer)
R.E.M. - Murmur (Gracias Surfer and Ozzy)
Led Zepplin - Physical Graffiti (Good job John E and NSpan)
Depeche Mode - Violator (Kudos to Ron B)
MF Doom - MMM...Food (Props to Tranny)
Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (Much obliged Surfer)
The Boys Next Door - The Birthday Party (I'm indebted to Leetsu)
Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove (Bless you NSpan)

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silversurfer19
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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by silversurfer19 »

John Erle: Big Country, "Steeltown", 1984 - For a while there you had me thinking what your no.1 may be. I didn't think you would have Big Country as your top 2 records, while Led Zep seemed all but recognised already. But here we have it, and I will certainly use this as impetus to look into the band that have been on my to look up list for so long. Wasn't sure if these songs would grab me quite as much as those on The Crossing, though When The Sun Comes Down built up fantastically and the solo is awesome, while Tall Ships Go may be my favourite of theirs yet. This will probably be the first of their records I pick up.

As for the rest of your countdown, it's been like a who's who of band and artists that have long been on my radar but haven't actively sought out yet. There's also been a few acts I'd choose to avoid (Crowded House, AC/DC, Dire Straits, The Pogues), but they were few and far in between, there were far more acts that excite me than not. Highlights of those I've heard, other than the 9 crossovers with my own list, and I will endeavour to seek out include:

Big Country, The Crossing
Steve Earle, I Feel Alright
Steve Earle, El Corazon
The Smithereens, Especially For You
Pure, Generation Six Pack
Wilco, Being There

Anyway, I've appreciated having you enter the fray, even at a later date, it gave a new dynamic to the countdown with records that had rarely correlated with other members, and lots of new stuff I've never heard before.

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by silversurfer19 »

numbersix: Sonic Youth, "Daydream Nation", 1988 - For some reason I thought this had already come up on your list. I must have been thinking about your responses to others who had already listed it. Great record, one of my own favourites, and certainly my favourite Sonic Youth record. I was lucky enough to see the band play the record in its entirety at Primavera back in 2005, probably my highlight of the festival (which included a set from Slint, Patti Smith, The White Stripes and Buzzcocks). There's just something about the mood, or atmosphere of this record that I love. Like you say, it's like a kind of dreamscape, merging their earlier punkier records (which I really need to look into more than I have as of now) with a kind of MBV soundscape. Brilliant record, and very worthy of being a no.1 in my book.

As regards to the rest of your countdown, there were as you say 23 crossovers between our countdowns, by far the most of any, while there were also many, many records that I have added to my wishlist. Top of that pile would be:


Low & Spring Heel Jack, "Bombscare EP", 2000
Sigur Rós, "Ny Batteri EP", 2000
Sonic Youth, “Murray Street”, 2002
Pere Ubu, “Dub Housing”, 1978
Ryan Adams, “Heartbreaker”, 2001
Sun Kil Moon, “Ghosts of the Great Highway”, 2003
Tom Waits, “Bone Machine”, 1992
Low, “Secret Name”, 1999
Red House Painters, “Red House Painters”, 1993
Talking Heads, “Stop Making Sense”, 1984
A Silver Mt. Zion, “He Has Left Us…”, 2000

I've also already picked up a number of records on your list since the countdown started. As well as getting the Swans record, a couple of Caribou albums and the Dirty Three record, I picked up The Velvet Underground's self titled album on vinyl. I remember not being that appreciative of the pick when you listed it, thinking it the worst of their records. But since that moment I decided to give it another spin, and fell in love with it. It's so much more delicate than any of their other albums, and in the right mood (which I found myself to be in at the time - perfect record for settling a baby down before bedtime) it just clicked for me. So I picked it up when we were in London, and it's received so much play time since. Great record, wish I hadn't dismissed it quite so easily years ago.

Anyway, your picks, alongside Leestu and NSpan's were always the records on the countdown I got excited to hear each day, as while others had many moments of their own, you three just had records that consistently clicked with my own tastes, and discovering so many records has been a joy. Really made what this countdown was all about seem worthwhile.

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by Leestu »

Thanks Surfer for running this show. An amazing effort and commitment!

I have always liked Smashing Pumpkins, enough to get some of their albums, but they have never been one of my favourites. I hadn't listened to Siamese Dream for a while so I played the whole album.It's a good solid album containing some of their best singles. Geek USA and Silverfuck are also highlights. But I probably prefer both Gish and Mellan Colie, although I don't really listen to either any more, just their compilation which works well for me with their great songs off each album.

Man your overall list was great!! As well as eighteen of them also being on my list (seven of which were in my top 10), there was a lot of albums I already own and like, mixed in with some great music I hadn't yet discovered. I like to get my new music in small batches every now and again and take the time to savour and explore them so I foresee me revisiting your list quite a bit in the future to fine tune my selections of what to get next out of Grizzly Bear, Idlewild, The Dears, Liars, The Kills, Nick Drake, Wilco, Bright Eyes, and a few others. So far though I've gotten four from your list:-

Mcclusky - Discovering this album alone has made this whole project worth it!Love this album and listen to it a lot.
The Secret Machines - This is good and has gotten repeat listening and will continue to do so for now.
Husker Du - I think I had forgotten that I, or one of my mates, once had this album. Whatever, I had definitely heard this before and not only forgotten about it, but obviously also how good it is. So glad for the reminder and that I now have this great album again.
Meat Puppets - Prefer Nirvana's versions. ;) I've only listened to it once so far. I enjoyed it and it's interesting but I'm not hooked yet.

P.S. Surfer - Let me know when you want me to post my number one. I'll fit in wherever.

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by silversurfer19 »

Glad you appreciated so much of my list, Leestu, and I look forward to hearing what you think of the other artists you want to look into. Highlight of my entire countdown was hearing your reaction to the Mclusky record, it's always great when a record can be completely new to you but inspire you so much.

In regards to when to post your top pick, I think tranny is down to submit today, but we'll take a break for a couple of weeks then to complete the drafts, so if 13th May is good with you, then you can kickstart the second half of no.1's.

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by JohnErle »

silversurfer19 wrote:John Erle: Big Country, "Steeltown", 1984 - For a while there you had me thinking what your no.1 may be. I didn't think you would have Big Country as your top 2 records, while Led Zep seemed all but recognised already. But here we have it, and I will certainly use this as impetus to look into the band that have been on my to look up list for so long. Wasn't sure if these songs would grab me quite as much as those on The Crossing, though When The Sun Comes Down built up fantastically and the solo is awesome, while Tall Ships Go may be my favourite of theirs yet. This will probably be the first of their records I pick up.
Glad to hear it. The one caveat I'll throw in about Steeltown is that the remastered version with bonus tracks like Belief In The Small Man, Winter Sky, and Prairie Rose sounds like garbage and should be avoided at all costs. Two things most Big Country fans can agree on is that Steeltown is their best album and the remaster sucks. I mean, Iggy Pop's own remaster of Raw Power levels of suck. I have no idea what went wrong there because the other remasters all sound really good, but someone was alseep at the switch when they remastered Steeltown. Such a pity. It sounds great on Rdio, so maybe that was fixed for the digital download versions.

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by numbersix »

John, I really enjoyed those Big Country songs. It's funny how little I hear about these guys in reviews yet how they seem to represent the best of 80s music, with thoughtful and emotive lyrics, great music and guitar play without being excessive, and awesome rhythm. Like SS I think The Crossing would suit me more, but having said that I thought the title track was stunning, and again deserved a relisten. I think by about now Springsteen was getting a bit repetitive (though he still had some great songs like Brilliant Disguise) and these guys seem to have managed to reinvigorate working-class sympathies with a great rock sound.

Overall, I enjoyed your list. I think it's fair to say that your musical tastes seem very much uninfluenced by trends and buzz, and so very much paint a picture of your past. Celtic elements in rock are just not my thing (the exceptions being Big Country and Mogwai - guess the Scots do it best), so that hampered my enjoyment a bit. It was great to hear 80s acts that have yet to make it into the rock annals yet deserve to be. I really enjoyed the Smithereens tracks you introduced me to.

It's only a shame you weren't part of the project earlier one, so I could force myself to hear your other picks. From your draft list there's some good crossover, such as your appreciation for Tom Waits Bone Machine, The Clash, The Velvet Underground, Whiskeytown, Wilco, etc. I'm definitely going to pick up Physical Graffiti and something by Big Country. But I'm glad you came on board to show us kids that good music did exist before Appetite for Destruction!

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Re: Fantaverse Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Thread #11) #1

Post by JohnErle »

numbersix wrote:John, I really enjoyed those Big Country songs. It's funny how little I hear about these guys in reviews yet how they seem to represent the best of 80s music ...
I officially forgive you for every nasty thing you've ever said about Crowded House, Dire Straits, or The Pogues.

I'm pretty sure that re-discovering The Crossing and hearing Steeltown for the first time nearly ten years after its release is the reason I don't trust hype to this day. I realized that there was a whole bunch of bullshit that went on behind the scenes that determined what gets played on the radio, who gets on the cover of Rolling Stone, and who gets glowing reviews, and much of it has nothing to do with the quality of the music.

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