Recap Albums 100-2 100.Suffocation-Pireced from Within 99.Grieves-Irreversible 98.Foo Fighters-The Color and the Shape 97.Megadeth-Peace Sells....But Who's Buying? 96.Killswitch Engage-As Daylight Dies 95.Anthrax-Spreading the Disease 94.Soundgarden-Superunknown 93.Atmosphere-When Lives Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold 92.N.W.A-Straight Outta Compton 91.Descendants-Milo Goes to College 90.Emperor-In The Nightside Eclipse 89.Guns N'Roses-Appeite for Destruction 88.Stone Temple Pilots-Purple 87.Jimi Hendrix-Electric Ladyland 86.Kyuss-Welcome to Sky Valley 85.Wu-Tang Clan-Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) 84.The Clash-London Calling 83.Unearth-Darkness in the Light 82.Nirvana-In Utero 81.Machine Head-The Blackening 80.Protest the Hero-Scurrilous 79.System of a Down-Hypnotize 78.Revocation-Chaos of Forms 77.Mastodon-Remission 76.Madvillian-Madvilliany 75.The Smashing Pumpkins-Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness 74.Judas Priest-British Steel 73.Anthrax-Among the Living 72.Red Hot Chilli Peppers-Blood Sugar Sex Magick 71.Korn-Issues 70.Linkin Park-Meteora 69.Skeletonwitch-Beyond the Permafrost 68.Van Halen-Van Halen 67.Slayer-South of Heaven 66.Dead Kennedys-Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegatables 65.Beastie Boys-Licensed to Ill 64.Metallica-...And Justice For All 63.Killswitch Engage-Alive or Just Breathing 62.White Zombie-Astro-Creep 2000 61.The Mars Volta-Frances the Mute 60.Between The Buried and Me-Alaska 59.Eminem-The Slim Shady LP 58.Atmosphere-Seven's Travels 57.Queens of the Stone Age-Lullabies to Paralyze 56.2pac-Me Against the World 55.Behemoth-Demigod 54.2pac-All Eyez on Me 53.At the Gates-Slaughter of the Soul 52.The Dillinger Escape Plan-Miss Machine 51.Hatebreed-The Rise of Brutality 50.Outkast-ATLiens 49.Coheed and Cambria-In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 48.The Red Chord-Clients 47.MF Doom-MMM..Food 46.Coheed and Cambira-Good Apollo I'm Buring Star IV, From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness 45.The Black Dahlia Murder-Nocturnal 44.Jedi Mind Tricks-Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell 43.Children of Bodom-Hate Crew Deathroll 42.Atmosphere-God Loves Ugly 41.Mastodon-Crack the Skye 40.Muse-Black Holes and Revalations 39.Eminem-The Marshall Mathers LP 38.Rage Against the Machine-Evil Empire 37.Outkast-Stankonia 36.High on Fire-Blessed Black Wings 35.Queens of the Stone Age-Songs for the Deaf 34.Queens of the Stone Age-Rated R 33.Lamb of God-Ashes of the Wake 32.Led Zeppelin-IV 31.Linkin Park-Hybrid Theory 30.The Dillinger Escape Plan-Option Paralysis 29.Black Sabbath-Paranoid 28.Killswitch Engage-End of Heartache 27.The Doors-The Doors 26.Death-Scream Bloody Gore 25.Iron Maiden-Powerslave 24.Gojira-From Mars to Sirius 23.Rage Against the Machine-The Battle of Los Angeles 22.Death-Symbolic 21.In Flames-Clayman 20.Slayer-Reign in Blood 19.Children of Bodom-Follow the Reaper 18.Metallica-Master of Puppets 17.The Faceless-Planetary Duality 16.Iron Maiden-Number of the Beast 15.Pantera-Vulgar Display of Power 14.Alice in Chains-Dirt 13.The Black Dahlia Murder-Ritual 12..Morbid Angel-Altars of Madness 11.Iron Maiden-Piece of Mind 10.Megadeth-Rust in Peace 9.Pantera-Cowboys from Hell 8.Nas-Illmatic 7.Nirvana-Nevermind 6.Between the Buried and Me-Colors 5.System of a Down-Toxicity 4.Metallica-Ride the Lightning 3.Mastodon-Leviathan 2.Between the Buried and Me-The Great Misdirect
"Fuck You Miles Davis" Currently At Home from Netflix: Sunshine and The Naked Gun 2 1/2
1.Mastodon-Blood Mountain, 2006 Track Listing 1.The Wolf is Loose 2.Crystal Skull 3.Sleeping Giant 4.Capillarian Crest 5.Circle of Cysquatch 6.Bladecatcher 7.Colony of Birchmen 8.Hunters of the Sky 9.Hand of Stone 10.This Mortal Soil 11.Siberian Divide 12.Pendulous Skin
Around the time I first started getting into metal in 2006, I heard "Iron Tusk" by Mastodon (off my #3 record of all-time Leviathan) in Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. I didn't know at the time that this would start my love affair with Mastodon and that they would become my favorite band of all-time shortly after. I received their full-length Blood Mountain as a Christmas gift from my mom that year and no record has ever struck me like that in my life. The minute the thundering drum intro to album opener "The Wolf is Loose" kicked in, I was hooked. What makes this record so special to me is how perfect it blends the progressive and heavy sides of Mastodon's sound. Their versatility is on display throughout which lets their excellent, diverse musicianship shine. Tracks like "Sleeping Giant" is very much rooted in spacey, Pink Floyd-esque rock while heavier tracks like "Circe of Cysquatch" have the punch of 80's thrash.The many different sides of Mastodon's sound converging combined with the pristine production and the catchiness/power of every song is why this record stands out to me. I've never heard a record that is this perfect and I doubt that I will ever again. "The Wolf is Loose"
Thank you very much to Surfer for putting this whole thing on. You did a great job as always and it was awesome to see all the diversity in everyone's list. Looking forward to whatever lists we do in the future!
"Fuck You Miles Davis" Currently At Home from Netflix: Sunshine and The Naked Gun 2 1/2
The draft is occupying our attention, but I did listen to those songs from Mastodon. Okay, so it's no surprise that it's hardly my thing. However, if I liked metal I'm sure I'd dig these guys, as the songs did show some range, and you make a very strong case for why it's your favourite album. And kudos for being on time and never getting (vocally) offended for us ragging on your choices.
Overall, your list was a little too metallic for me, though it was good to hear some of the more classic acts, particularly Metallica. We didn't have a lot of crossover, just London Calling and In Utero from what I can tell, though I did buy Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables thanks to you (I remember you picked one of their iconic tracks in your Top Songs list). But what I valued most from your list was how it forced me to reassess hip-hop. I've never liked its aggression, particularly the cliches of mainstream acts, but there was some interesting underground stuff, such as Atmosphere, NWA, Madvillain, and particularly MF Doom, who I want to hear more of. You also introduced me to Kyuss, who I had never heard of before.
So there were some great surprises there, and thank you for helping turn me ever so gently on to a genre I never thought I'd like.
transformers: Mastodon, "Blood Mountain, 2006 - Your list has certainly been one of the most intriguing ones, in that I can find one song I really like, one song I hate, or even just a segment of a song. But it's always ensured I'm on the edge of my seat as to what to expect. These songs followed that same path, with elements really exciting me, such as the opening guitar work of Sleeping Giant, which I found quite beautiful, though the vocals at times, while not as bad as some of the other other acts, did grate on The Wolf Is Loose. In fact, I really enjoyed Sleeping Giant as a whole, it had some nice Sabbath undertones, and yes, a little Pink Floyd too I guess along with some Mars Volta. Probably one of the best songs you introduced me to on the countdown. This is the kind of metal I love that you have submitted. Metal that breaks boundaries, traverses genres and maybe isn't quite so reliant on ferocious vocals. When it is just all a bit angry though I do find myself switching off, and it's been hard sometimes as there can be so many things I admire about the music, but if it doesn't all come together I can find myself disconnected. This seems like a possible record to explore though, as I definitely liked both songs for very different reasons, I'll look into listening to a few more tracks, if you can recommend any I'd appreciate it.
From your list the records I do want to explore further are:
Mastodon, "Blood Mountain" Iron Maiden, "Number Of The Beast" The Dillinger Escape Plan, "Miss Machine" Coheed And Cambria, "Good Apollo I'm Buring Star IV, From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness" Kyuss, "Welcome To Sky Valley" Descendents, "Milo Goes To College"
I also had a surprising number of crossovers too, from Foo Fighters and Smashing Pumpkins to The Mars Volta and Queens of The Stone Age, and Led Zep to Nirvana, so 8 records was a decent amount. I look forward to discovering more of your music in the future.
Appreciate the kind from you both. I completely understand your gripes with metal and I admire that you guys gave it so many chances (many people don't ), it's an abrasive genre and it's certainly not for everyone. I'm glad you both found some stuff you enjoyed over the course of my list amidst the many evil atrocities I served up over the course of the list.
As for Mastodon surfer. You would honestly probably like their three most recent records as they went in a more progressive, less heavy direction. As for other tracks from Blood Mountain that I would recommend you check out Capillarian Crest, This Mortal Soil, Circle of Cysquatch and Colony of Birchmen.
"Fuck You Miles Davis" Currently At Home from Netflix: Sunshine and The Naked Gun 2 1/2
Ill go tommorow, but i cant comment yet on these No. 1s as im currently in the process of listening to the entire album from SS, jErle, six and tranny. I lie, actually listening to London Calling (album) at the moment, but Siamese Dream is next! I think i owe it to all of you to listen to the entire No. 1 album.
And just quickly i want to add a big thankyou to Surfer for organising this countdown, really good effort mate, you did an enormous job of running the show. And maybe in ten years or so, we can try this again, but you can take it easy, someone else can do the hard work. And i keep thinking, and hoping that someday we'll do another top 100 movies, but probably not this decade.
“One time I wrestled a giraffe to the ground with my bare hands.” — Dale
Appreciated, Ron. But We are actually taking a break for a couple of weeks now while the draft leagues are on. You are welcome to submit your list on either the 14,15 or 16th May though.
John: It was cool to see a list from someone else who started their musical appreciation in the 80’s – an underrated decade in my opinion, and it was an interesting list. Yazoo, as I know them, was a surprising choice. I got into Only You (I still think it's a great song actually and was used to great effect in The Office)and their other singles at the time but never heard the album. I lot of music from bands that I liked but not to a great extent. A Including your extended list there are five albums also on mine, and it was great to hear someone else appreciate The Pogues! As to Big Country I remember them and I liked what I heard but not enough to seek out more, and I got the same response to these songs. They were good and I liked hearing them but I can’t see myself choosing to listen to them. But you never know…I might get around to checking this album out and give it a chance to sell itself.
Most recently watched: Forgetting Sarah Marshall 6.5/10
I know I'm a day early but there is a good chance I won't get access to the computer at home tomorrow, and if it bothers you too much just don't look until tomorrow
100-2 Recap
100. Various Artists, "Music from the Motion Picture Juno" 99. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, "Your Funeral… My Trial" 98. Regurgitator, "Tu-Plang" 97. Mumford & Sons, “Sigh No More” 96. The Housemartins, “London 0 Hull 4” 95. Swervedriver, “Raise” 94. The Boys Next Door, “The Birthday Party” 93. Happy Mondays, “Bummed” 92. The Beastie Boys, “Check Your Head” 91. System of a Down, “Toxicity”
90. Grinderman, “Grinderman 2”, 2010 89. Greenday, “Dookie”, 1994 88. The Specials, “The Specials”, 1979 87. REM, “New Adventures in Hi-Fi”, 1996 86. Spiderbait, “Shashavaglava”, 1992 85. Depeche Mode, “Black Celebration”, 1986 84. The Pixies, “Bossanova”, 1990 83. Billy Bragg, “Talking with the Taxman about Poetry”, 1986 82. Hole, “Live Through This”, 1994 81. Spacemen 3, “Sound of Confusion”, 1986
80. Portishead, “Dummy”, 1994 79. Big Black, “Songs About Fucking”, 1987 78. PJ Harvey, "Dry", 1992 77. The Prodigy, "Fat of the Land", 1997 76. Various Artists, "Music from the Motion Picture The Crow", 1994 75. Pixies, "Trompe Le Monde", 1991 74. The Birthday Party, "Junkyard", 1982 73. Spacemen 3, "Playing With Fire", 1989 72. Rage Against The Machine, "Rage Against The Machine", 1992 71. Nine Inch Nails,"Pretty Hate Machine", 1989
70. Syd Barrett, "The Madcap Laughs", 1970 69. Ministry, "ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ", 1992 68. Suede, "Suede", 1993 67. Pearl Jam, "Ten", 1991 66. eels, "Beautiful Freak", 1996 65. Billy Bragg, "Brewing Up With Billy Bragg", 1984 64. Mudhoney, "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge", 1984 63. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, "The Good Son", 1990 62. Dead Kennedys, "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables", 1980 61. They Might Be Giants, "Flood", 1990
60. R.E.M., “Monster”, 1994 59. Beastie Boys, “Ill Communication”, 1994 58. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Tender Prey”, 1988 57. Stiff Little Fingers, "Inflamable Material", 1979 56. Pink Floyd, “The Dark Side of the Moon”, 1973 55. Silverchair, “Frogstomp”, 1995 54. Radiohead, “OK Computer”, 1997 53. The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Psychocandy”, 1985 52. Mudhoney, “Mudhoney”, 1989 51. Talking Heads, “Stop Making Sense”, 1984
50. Radiohead, “Pablo Honey”,, 1993 49. Placebo, “Without You I’m Nothing”,, 1998 48. Wolfmother, “Wolfmother”, 2005 47. Dead Kennedys, “Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death”, 1987 46. Modest Mouse, “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank”, 2007 45. The The, “Infected”, 1986 44. Grinspoon, “Guide to Better Living”, 1997 43. Lou Reed, “Transformer”, 1972 42. David Bowie, “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars”, 1972 41. Sex Pistols, “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols”, 1977
40. Beck, “Mellow Gold”, 1994 39. The Lemonheads, “It’s a Shame About Ray”, 1992 38. R.E.M., “Document”, 1987 37. Pop Will Eat Itself, “This Is the Day… This is the Hour… This is This!”, 1989 36. Mercury Rev, “Yerself Is Steam”, 1991 35. Pavement, “Slanted and Enchanted”, 1992 34. Jane’s Addiction, “Nothing’s Shocking”, 1988 33. Pink Floyd, “The Wall”, 1979 32. The Cure, “Head on the Door”, 1985 31. R.E.M., “Green”, 1988 30. The Velvet Underground, “The Velvet Underground”, 1969 29. The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Darklands”, 1987 28. The Lemonheads, “Come on Feel the Lemonheads”, 1993 27. Sonic Youth, “Dirty”, 1992 26. Dinosaur Jr., “Where You Been”, 1993 25. The Pogues., “If I Should Fall From Grace With God”, 1988 24. Joy Division, “Closer”, 1980 23, Nirvana, “In Utero”, 1993 22. Pink Floyd, “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”, 1967 21. The Smiths, “Strangeways, Here We Come”, 1987
20. Nirvana, “MTV Unplugged in New York”, 1994 19. Sonic Youth, “Daydream Nation”, 1988 18. Modest Mouse, “Good News for People Who Love Bad News”, 2004 17. Prince, “Purple Rain”, 1984 16. Joy Division, “Unknown Pleasures”, 1979 15. The Smiths, “The Queen Is Dead”, 1986 14. The Pogues, “Rum, Sodomy & the Lash”, 1985 13. Jane’s Addiction, “Ritual de lo habitual”, 1990 12. The Cure, “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me”, 1987 11. The Smiths, “Meat Is Murder”, 1985
10. Nirvana, “Bleach”, 1989 9. Primal Scream, “Screamadelica”, 1991 8. Sonic Youth, “Goo”, 1990 7. REM, “Automatic for the People”, 1992 6. Pixies, “Doolittle”, 1989 5. Violent Femmes, “Violent Femmes” 1983 4. The Velvet Underground, “The Velvet Underground & Nico”, 1967 3. The Smiths, “The Smiths”, 1984 2. Nirvana, “Nevermind”, 1991
Number One Album
1. Pixies, “Surfer Rosa”, 1988
It was about 1990 when a mate gave me a tape with Surfer Rosa on one side and Doolittle on the other. I was blown away and hooked first listen and for a long time I listened to nothing else but this tape over and over again. This album has everything I look for and appreciate in my music – catchy, edgy, punky, quirky pop elements, rough and raw, unique, noisy, melodic, etc. But most importantly it sounds great. Every song is awesome, and I never get bored of listening to it, in fact I still feel a sense of excitement every time, similar to that very first listen. I doubt I will ever stop playing this album regularly.
Wasn't expecting this to be your #1 song, but I'm damn glad it is. My favourite Pixies record. It's just so damn raw and urgent, with not a dull moment. I first got into the Pixies through Doolittle, when a friend recommended them to me on the basis that Nirvana were fans. Doolittle is amazing but Surfer was the record for me.
Leetsu, your list was great, and mine would have been incredibly similar if I was as ancient as you . REM, Sonic Youth, and The Smiths all featured heavily and they were most welcome. We also shared a good few records on both lists. From the records I don't have or know, I plan to check out Goo, Strangeways Here We come (can't believe I don't have it), Slanted and Enchanted, Songs About Fucking, The Birthday Party, and Ill communication. And I already picked up Psychocandy (a great record. You should check out A Place to Bury Strangers as they're very much influenced by JAMC)in anticipation of seeing them live this month, as well as Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables.
I've tried posting a few times, and had posted a lovely response to Leestu's picks earlier but I lost it when the site lost connection again. So better make do with this buddy!
Leestu: Pixies, "Surfer Rosa", 1988 - A fantastic record to end your countdown, one I also hold very dear to my heart, even if I slightly prefer the cleaner (though still very raw) Doolittle. There really is nothing to choose between those two records though. I was actually a little surprised that Nevermind wasn't your no.1, so I guess we can only guarantee one member of the group to pick that...
Anyway, a fantastic countdown, filled with acts I adore (seven of your top ten made my own list, while I think there were 18 crossovers in total), and you're love for 80s alt rock has also opened up my ears to new sounds or acts I just hadn't had the opportunity to track down. I think between us we have almost covered the entire R.E.M back catalogue (or at least the records worth listening to!). I look forward to discovering each and every one of them of the new records. Of the records I have explored since you posted, I have fell in love with the Big Black record, fantastic stuff, while the Beastie Boys one is growing on me.
From your countdown, here is a list of the records I've either already picked up or plan to do so soon:
The Boys Next Door, “The Birthday Party” Spacemen 3, “Sound of Confusion”, 1986 Big Black, “Songs About Fucking”, 1987 Spacemen 3, "Playing With Fire", 1989 Syd Barrett, "The Madcap Laughs", 1970 Billy Bragg, "Brewing Up With Billy Bragg", 1984 Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, "The Good Son", 1990 Beastie Boys, “Ill Communication”, 1994 The The, “Infected”, 1986 Jane’s Addiction, “Nothing’s Shocking”, 1988 The Cure, “Head on the Door”, 1985 The Smiths, “Strangeways, Here We Come”, 1987 The Cure, “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me”, 1987
Lots of new discoveries, I can't wait! Thanks buddy.