My 10 Favorite Albums
Submitted by jokow11 on Sat, 06/16/2001 - 11:14
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- The Figgs - Lo Fi at Society High - Great from start to finish. They open with a blast never let go. Grunge with a heart.
- Trashcan Sinatras - Cake - This album has some of the most finely crafted lyrics ever written. The sound quality can be a bit poor at times but I've listened to this album 100 times and never gotten tired of it. To rip off all those fake movie reviewers at Sony - You'll Laugh - You'll Cry.
- Leo Kottke - 6 & 12 String Guitar - An all acoustic, all music wonder. Even friends of mine who wouldn't listen 5 minutes to an instrumental album like this one. It's folk guitar that's turned up to 11. Blistering fast with a soul, you'll listen with you mouth open that anyone could play this fast.
- Big Star - #1 Record/Radio City - Ardent Records re-released their first two albums together on this one CD. They have seen a rise in interest lately when "That 70's Show" used "Down the Street" as their theme song. Both these albums deserved to be heard. "Thirteen" breaks my heart everytime I hear it. Great stuff.
- Jeff Buckely - Grace - This one might be a little better known, but it's here in case someone hasn't heard it yet. He can be pretentious at times, but this man had one of the greatest voices in rock history. They redid his "Hallelujah" for the Shrek movie. It's much better here.
- Crooked Fingers - Crooked Fingers - A voice, a guitar with no effects, and a sequencer. It might sound boring but it's not. Great songs that really make you think. So much substance that it take quite a few listenings to find everything that's hidden here.
- Blue Mountain - Dog Days - I have to admit, I really haven't liked their other albums much, but this one has a hold on me that it won't let go. A southern alterative-rock sound with a sleepy desperation this hooks you in. Soul Sister is as fine a song as I've heard.
- Billy Bragg - Workers Playtime - A Brit who sings with a strong accent, his protest songs about social injustice assured his obscurity in the US. Maybe he was big in the UK, but no one's heard of him here. While Talking with the Taxman probably had better songs, Workers Playtime is much better produced and features an entire backing band (instead of just Billy in an oil tanker as my friends have commented). Every song is great.
- The Gear Daddies - Billy's Live Bait / Let's Go Scare Al - A bar band out of Minnesota, these guys never really excelled as musicians. The songs are all simple and are almost always in the same key. But proving that it's not the complexity (Louie Louie was 3 chords) it's the sound, the songs here can be as cutting as they are funny. I cheated by including both their albums as one selection but I couldn't decide which was better. If you want to hear great songs about trailer park ladies that cry every year on the day Elvis died, look no further.
- Blue Rodeo - Casino - A perfect album from start to finish. With two great songwriters, the boys from Canada vary their sound enough to always keep it inteseting. Great songs about longing and heartbreak with others you can dance to at your Aunt Edna's wedding.
Billy Bragg is a genius.
I would say that Billy Bragg is fairly well-known here (in the UK) as a political and social activist and commentator (but only known amongst those that take any notice of political or social activism). He can sometimes be seen on TV commenting on topical subjects, campaigining for civil and human rights, equality, and charities. Of those that know (of) him, probably one third do not realise that he is also a musician, and a further third have never heard any of his music as he is not particularly popular (as a musician) or receives much airplay. (These are not official statistics - just my approximations.)
Thanks for the info. I always assumed he was popular but then again, the Spice Girls used to rule the country right? I've been getting some imports of old Humble Pie records that are unavailable in the USA. Just got Town and Country which I love. The internet has made getting imports a lot easier. Used to be a trip to the House of Guitars in Rochester to get any import. I also had to get some XTC over the internet as if it ain't rap, it's not in the mall.