Best Rock Albums of All Time (11-20)
Submitted by dcstar on Thu, 07/24/2003 - 10:44
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- 11)Live at Leeds/The Who________ This tour de force can be easily described by saying this: The Who tear through this set with a ferocity never seen before, or again for that matter, so as far as I’m concerned, this is the essential Who album-hands down. I challenge you to find better drumming on a rock album. With stuff that legends are made of, Keith Moon steals the show at times, keeping the magic alive at the right moments. The exploding rhythm of the opener “Heaven and Hell” is breathtaking, yet unforced. Leeds University was experiencing a historic sight from the first few seconds of this musical blitzkrieg of an evening. Yes, the band does stretch their legs and pour out the “entire” Tommy experience (at the time very new). The single CD version of this album dosen’t include the rather sluggish Tommy in entirety, just a sample of it. The editing is smart for that reason. “My Generation” is here too, ten plus minutes of it, and the beautiful three tune feature “Substitute”, “Happy Jack”, and the blistering “I’m a Boy” complimenting the record. All in all, The Who, a band almost inventing “punk” for a Britain needing something of the like in the ‘60’s, ushered in the 70’s with powerful, soaring guitar rhythm and chords and thrilling signature vocals, blazing a path for many to wander down, but never impress so deep.
- 12)IV/Led Zeppelin________ The album that defines Led Zeppelin and accurately introduces heavy sounding rhythm mixed with deep blues. This album is almost too good, it’s like every song could be a greatest hit standout. It’s considered by many to be called Zoso, and unlike the three previous releases from Zeppelin, it didn’t receive popular acclaim from the start. Their first three albums are among the greatest by any rock group, this, the fourth is certainly the zenith of a masterful run of records. Even Houses of the Holy is a five star follow up to this record. Led Zeppelin just had an arsenal of talent in the early seventies, their sound is very energetic at times, which is shown in tracks like the powerful opener, “Black Dog” and in the dance-hall flavored “Rock and Roll”, as well as the funky, timeless “Misty Mountain Hop”. From this colorful array of energy, goes a darker side. The elegant “Going to California” is certainly a favorite road trip ballad, “When the Levee Breaks” displays all the band members blues based talents in full force, and certainly there’s “Stairway to Heaven” Despite the sheer epic magnitude of the track, it’s considered to be the most popular (and overplayed) song of classic rock It was a springboard for the impact these guys would imprint on rock. Light as a feather, too heavy to carry.
- 13)Blood on the Tracks/Bob Dylan________ “People tell me that it’s a sin, to know and feel too much within. I still believe she was my twin, but I lost the ring. She was born in spring, but I was born too late, blame it all on a simple twist of fate.” Simple, yes. A plunge in the depths of this weathered pilgrim as well. First of all, this masterpiece is not only one of the greatest records ever recorded by an American artist, it may stand up against countless dead poets that one day Dylan may join far off in the heavens. The many faces of Bob Dylan in Blood on the Tracks brought the feeling back home finally, and it painted the picture that was well due concerning the artist himself. Dylan points the old acoustic and harmonica, his instruments of love and war, towards himself and examines a man who meant so much to others but who was now proving things to himself. Storytelling is an art, and the manner in which it’s told is the brush strokes, weaving and flailing if they may. “Idiot Wind”, Dylan’s abrasive attempt at venting frustration at the culture that swallows us all, is the standout emotional track on the album, while “You’re a Big Girl Now” strikes the perfect note to the heart time after time again. Lyrical, this album is above and beyond in countless ways. Even the mysterious Blonde on Blonde seems, from a lyrical standpoint, much less heart felt. As the title implies, the blood of Bob seems stained all over each tune. The album, yet so sad at times, is not at all depressing. It has not a single low point. “Tangled Up in Blue” is easily the finest rock song here. It’s a story of a simple man with nothing but a dream of a fine red headed woman that, in the chorus, reassures after the layout of a journey that his actual travel through life meant more than most anything else. Every song is really a masterful recording for Dylan, it would be unheard of to dislike this album from a true fan’s point of view. In rock, it’s the ultimate introspective biography-like collection of poetry. A man aging spilling blood and love, and songs of his matured enflamed experiences. The album that will prove Dylan as the best songwriter of his lifetime.
- 14)Revolver/The Beatles________ Pop bliss through and through. A utopia of a listen from start to end. No comparison to the melodies in every single track. Revolver is simply just a monument of importance for rock in the sixties. Revolver was the Beatles in their middle period, really at their apex. Each of the four’s songwriting was at full bloom and most importantly the balance that they portrayed as a “true” rock group was simply unbelievable in the midst of the surreal stardom. ”Eleanor Rigby” may be the most far reaching talented track on Revolver, but it’s really hard to judge the individual tracks on this because they are all just so contrasting and cutting edge precise. This album was undoubtedly heavily influenced by LSD among other mind enhancers. This is truly evident in “Tomorrow Never Knows”, Lennon’s finest collage on this album. This was the Beatles at their most pivotal point. It was their last album of just random tracks-things were about to get very interesting. True standouts are “Taxman”, “Here, There and Everywhere”, “She Said She Said”, “For No One”, and even “I’m Only Sleeping”. As ideal as pop music can sound. Bet on it.
- 15)Daydream Nation/Sonic Youth________ You must let go of the reigns for this one. There’s certainly no way to harness the force that’s going on here. This album is beautifully noisy, raucous, and almost purposely un-catchy. It’s a legendary garage rock experience. The only indy album to own, if you want just one. Now, as far as the actual band is concerned, Daydream is by no means the only essential Sonic Youth album, it just stands alone as an amazing piece altogether. Several songs rock (Teenage Riot, Candle, Cross the Breeze), but most importantly the most “dream-ish” of them all-the trilogy finale is marvelous. Included here because it’s just a solid record-not inspired by the unified grunge rock movement, not eighties hair rock, just sonically stimulating.
- 16)Born to Run/Bruce Springsteen________ “In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American Dream…”, a line forever remembered by a countless many workers that answer only to the Boss. It’s the opening to the title track from this blistering eight song Springsteen anthem. It was Bruce’s proclaimed promise to rock and roll to release the best record ever, and he wasn’t to far off that goal. The mesmerizing “Thunder Road” alone could have been enough to place this in high esteem. The second coming he ain’t, but next to Dylan (who he surely idolized), he is on a short list of the grand American storytellers.
- 17)Live at Fillmore East/Allman Brothers Band________ Simply put: a recording dear to my soul, a life changing listen. You can feel the sweat drip off the notes and chords. A night (or two) captured for the ages. Mr. Slide Master, also known as Duane Allman was never so on (the solos alone could bring tears to your eyes). Rock, soul and blues that screamed out of the stage like it was the last to come. The disc was later revised as The Fillmore Concerts, a more comprehensive span of the total Fillmore a la Allman experience. However, this single disc or the vinyl is easily the best starting point for any fan who dares to question the relevance of southern rock.
- 18)OK Computer/Radiohead________ Probably the best example of an album that can take you down to bare bone alienation from your life, then uplift you so high it’s hard to feel anymore. You definitely can’t take a half-ass attempt at listening to this opus. The songs instantly absorb themselves into you, delivering with ambience. Some of the buildups of the instrumentation are just mind boggling. This album is one of a select few of 90’s rock releases that really shine from the first song to the last. “The Bends” was quite impressive, but here, Radiohead take the tube one way to the elite of British rock musical artists.
- 19)Sticky Fingers/Rolling Stones________ Some say overrated, I say absolutely not. Now I couldn’t imagine in my lifetime a more pleasurable listen over and over than the first four or five songs from this record. This is by no means the Stones best hour, but hey, it was their absolute “true sound’ revealed. They definitely passed the audition. Any other band releases this album, (even today) and it is easily their stunning, ultimate achievement. I’ll never be sure what they were going for with “You Gotta Move”, but “Sister Morphine”, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”, “Dead Flowers”, and the irresistible “Brown Sugar” are the Stones in their full swaggering pinnacle. More technical than Exile, more cozy than Beggers Banquet, two other Stones requisites.
- 20)Astral Weeks/Van Morrison________ A vocal masterpiece. Emotional boundaries are built up, and then knocked back down. The instruments can sound dated, but I’m not convinced that any person that ever steps in front of a microphone can sound this sweet. This is definitely one of those moments in rock that just happened. From what I understand the band, the musicians didn’t even know each other. No real big message, just that jazzy feeling, just patient Mr. Morrison with volumes to spill out of his mouth. Innovative and dreamy, mysterious and forever giving.
Author Comments:
Here is the list of the top 25 albums that I hold in high esteem on a continuing basis. I believe these are mankind's greatest noises...
The list was the hardest project I have ever taken on.
It's been my labor of love for quite some time.
I hope everyone enjoys, and most importantly debates whole-heartedly.
Once again from the bottom up
Astral Weeks- Van Morrison holds little interest for me so, no reason to comment on something I haven't really listened to.
Sticky Fingers- Hmmm... no comment
Ok Computer- I would have put this one higher, one of my all time favorites
Live at Fillmore East- I wouldn't put this one on here, simply b/c its not a studio album, therefore it isn't really an 'album', I know this is semantics, but nonetheless I think a definition of what you consider an album is needed.
Daydream Nation- Doesn't sound like 80's rock or Indie music, its sound is unique therefore worthy of note, nice choice
Born to Run- Fine
Revolver- I prefer the White album to this one, but I do love Taxman.
Blood on the Tracks- I don't like Dylan, so to each their own
Led Zeppelin IV- I prefer the second album to this one, but nonetheless the IV album is probably the one they're most well known, a great record and choice all around.
Live at Leeds- Again this is a live album, not a studio album, I don't understand the boundaries of the word 'album' you've imposed upon yourself.
Well, grizham1, I am glad you took the time to reflect further in the list...
My thoughts on this comment are that man, you should really hear Astal Weeks, it really is quite wonderful.
I know how you feel about the Stones and Dylan, so that's that. The way those albums exist as a whole is just remarkable to me.
But, getting to this live album thing. The title of this list was "Best Rock Albums". Why in the world can't a live album be considered a rock album in every sense of the word?
Live at Leeds and At Fillmore East are very similar in that they are the most representative of their respected artists. They are also recorded in the absolute prime of live shows. So to take the idea of an album that offers the same format than a studio album, yet expanding the band's horizons, it's a special thing. An album is a concious representation of an artists music. These recordings aren't just concerts, they are albums, because they packaged them and released them the same way. By the way, Live at Leeds is not that much better than Fillmore, I just think The Who are more talented than Allman Brothers.
Hello (and goodbye), what a neat list with a Dylan overflow. Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, Fred Neil, Tim Hardin were so much more vibration than the pop-folker. But no one knows their albums. Your list is an ambitious project, but respect for the try. (Are you really that old to consider Bruce Springsteen rock?) Cheers, Marc
so dark side of the moon is not rock or what?