 |
#1-
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
The Beatles actually had 11 slots out of the 500
-- 2% of the entire list! Four of them were in the top ten. I'm just
gonna talk about it all right here. I actually don't like Sgt.
Pepper very much. At least not nearly as much as the white album
(which was number ten and should've been higher). Rolling Stone
got a bit of guff about this one. Everybody has a favorite Beatles
album they wanted at the top, and I guess the magazine had to put
The Beatles at the top as to not be musically blasphemous. That's
something to be said of the band. There isn't one record that vastly
outshines the other ones. If anybody thinks this one is it, at least
I disagree if nobody else does. They could've done without putting
them in ten more times though. For the record, the title track is
one of the most annoying songs in history. Also, "Revolution
9" on the white album is equally as annoying, but has a sort
of prophetic sampling hooky charm to it that I've come to love over
the years. |
 |
#8-
London Calling by The Clash
The Clash triumphantly emerged from the ashes of 70's
punk with this album. What I really like about The Clash is the fact
that they started out as a punk band, but experimented and progressed,
ultimately evolving into something beyond punk. One of my very favorites
appears on this album, "Lost in the Supermarket." Very,
very non-punk, but also very refreshing. My biggest complaint about
punk in general is how un-progressive it is. The Clash showed how
to maintain punk ideals and energy while moving in new directions. |
 |
#17- Nevermind by Nirvana
I remember "Smells Like Teen Spirit" very
well. I used to hear it on the radio once a day. The next week it
was all over the place. At the time, alternative music was involved
in a minor civil war. The eighties just finished and the synth revolution
was winding down. Even the British were plugging their guitars back
in. Groups like Blur were just getting started at this point. Nirvana
really broke it open though. The pop-sound of Britain didn't adjust
fast enough and the revolution against electronic music and hair
metal converged with Nirvana. As a result, music today still retains
some of the rust of grunge. I really like Nirvana. I think that
they were not only the first great grunge band, but they were also
the most original. Despite all this I've always been a bit mad at
how the early nineties musical revolution turned out. At the time,
I had just gotten into eighties music and was optimistic about the
future of modern music (what we called alternative back then). After
1991, most musical trends annoyed me. Nevermind is actually
Nirvana's second album, but their first with Dave Grohl. I've wondered
if the guy behind Foo Fighters helped Nirvana develop a more mainstream
sound with Nevermind. Although I like In Utero more,
this album yielded "Lithium," my favorite from the band.
The song really showcases Kurt Cobain's use of sonic contrast. The
quietness sounds more intimate and the loudness sounds more meaningful
when they're right next to each other.
|
 |
#41
Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols
Hey, isn't it funny that this one winds up right
below Nevermind? Anyway, here's an example of an album that
everyone goes on and on about how influential it is, but nobody actually
listens to. Hearing "Anarchy in the U.K." with a totally
objective mind results in disappointment. The Sex Pistols enjoyed
some really great timing (much like Nirvana). Disco and prog-rock
had to go by the time they hit the scene. They weren't the first to
revolt, but they made the biggest and loudest splash. Surprisingly,
many audience members from the pistols' live shows went on to form
some really really spectacular bands (The Clash, Joy Division, etc.).
Although to me, their sound is a joke, at the time, they were exactly
what a music scene and a nation needed. |
 |
#152
The B52's
One of my best friends from junior high adored
The B52's. When we were 15 we saw them live. This was right after
Cosmic Thing became huge, but surprisingly, they played two
songs from this album to end the show ("Planet Claire" and
"Rock Lobster"). The early classics really made the rest
of the band's repertoire pretty phony-sounding. By 1989, I think the
band was a little sick of Ricky Wilson as a songwriter. After his
death, they came together for Cosmic Thing, which made them
sort of mainstream-camp. Btw, Violent Femmes opened for The B52's
for this particular show. That was one of the only shows I've been
to where the opening band totally outshone the headliners. Hey, where
were the Violent Femmes on the Rolling Stone list? Their self-titled
not making it is a complete travesty. |
 |
#157- Closer by Joy Division
Joy Division's story fascinates me. I guess Ian Curtis
was smart in killing himself before the act became sort of pretentious.
Take note everybody: commit suicide before your band becomes popular.
That way, kids like me will be fascinated with your story (but not
quite fascinated enough to buy your albums). Also fascinating is
the reformation of the band as New Order and the new directions
they took.
|
 |
#193-
Dookie by Green Day
Every once in a while a band rides its own coattails.
Dookie was so good that the mediocre stuff they've released
since (and before) still became popular. Some of my friends say I
under-rate the non-Dookie stuff. I still maintain that not
one song by the band is near as good as the best six songs from this
cd. |
 |
#200- The Downward Spiral by Nine
Inch Nails
The most popular NIN album, but definately not the
one that belongs on the list. Trent Reznor is a lot more interesting
sounding like he's on the brink of self-destruction (as he sounded
before this album) rather than wallowing in it. I am glad "Hurt"
was written. I like the Johnny Cash version a lot more, but at least
Reznor had the decency to write it.
|
 |
#202-
Bad by Michael Jackson
I guess as successful as the guy's been I'm not supposed
to feel too sorry for him. I guess with all the crap people have given
him over the years, the fact that this album should have been way
higher on the list shouldn't be the reason I feel sorry for him. Thriller,
of course, sold more, but I think Bad had more hit singles.
The songs deserved to be hit singles too ("Dirty Diana"
is pretty over the top, but you still sing along to it). This was
when he really started to get into himself. I think Bad would
be classic today if Michael didn't promote himself so much and just
let everybody hear the music. The fake tough guy pose on the cover,
the 17-minute video of himself pretending to be a gangsta and the
self-inscribing himself as "bad" could only hurt in the
long run. |
 |
#207-
Ten by Pearl Jam
I grabbed the image of this cd and put it in this table
without knowing what to say about it. I guess I felt obligated since
Pearl Jam was so huge when I was a teen-ager. I will say this: I still
listen to "Alive" all the way through if I hear it on the
radio and I haven't already heard it on the radio that day. |
 |
#209-
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
The only thing I have to say about this one is that
Z-93 (a classic rock station that for some reason switched to country
music when I was in high school (I was sad to see it go, but it did
represent a victory against all my friends who loved classic rock
and would have nothing to do with my modern ways)) used to have a
greatest albums countdown every year. I guess every year, this album
was number one. |
 |
#216- The Queen
Is Dead by The Smiths
What a fabulous way to end the band known as The Smiths.
I love how the band chose the quirky "Some Girls Are Bigger Than
Others" as their closing song instead of the track before, my
personal favorite Smith's song of all time, "There Is a Light
That Never Goes Out." The pop of Marr and the gloom of Morrissey
come together so well, you don't even realize how big you're smiling
when you're depressed as you are. |
 |
#252- Metallica
I liked the black album the first time, when it was
called Smell the Glove. Hey! Speaking of, where's Spinal
Tap on the list? "Big Bottom" alone should've sealed it.
Anyways, Metallica is a very talented group, but I only like "Enter
Sandman." Yeah, I guess it's my problem. Oh well. Everyone
I know adores Metallica more than I do.
|
 |
#256- The Velvet
Rope by Janet Jackson
Huh? You guys at Rolling Stone get a bit lazy? Room
for this, but not for Violent Femmes or Spinal Tap? Did I say 'huh?'
already? |
 |
#261- Tracy Chapman
Okay, "Fast Car" is incredibly moving. I
love that song a lot. It honestly does get me... BUT has anyone heard
any other song from this album? |
 |
#268-
Psycho Candy by The Jesus and Mary Chain
Rolling Stone typoed the
title of this one. I love JMC. Not all eighties music was synth. These
guys put a lot of soulful energy into their muddy guitar sound. "Coast
to Coast," "Head On," "Far Gone and Out"
and "Sometimes Always" are true guitar classics. Unfortunately,
none of those songs are on Psycho Candy. The album actually
kinda sucks. |
 |
#286-
Los Angeles by X
Somehow X became a sort of spokesband for west coast
punk in the eightees. I don't know how. Must be their clever name.
I saw them once on a PBS special called "The History of Rock
'n Roll." John Doe said he was pretty disgusted with some of
their fans who sang along to "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene"
(an anti-rape song). I thought he was kind of stupid, since the song
sounds like any other chanting punk song. Had he really wanted to
make a good anti-rape song he should've at least stuck with some minor
chords to at least sound like he was being serious about the subject. |
 |
#297-
Weezer
This was in my cd player for a year when I borrowed
it from someone, I can't remember who. I hated them the first time
I heard "Undone (The Sweater Song)." "Buddy Holly"
charmed me, though, and I gave them a chance. The other songs are
even better. It feels good to be a nerd. One time I was listening
to KOHS and they played "Only In Dreams" twice in a half
hour time span. I love high school radio! "The World Has Turned
and Left Me Here" gets the award for the best Weezer song I've
never heard on the radio. |
 |
#310-
BloodSugarSexMagic by Red Hot Chili Peppers
They peaked here with their funk, but unfortunately,
after "Under the Bridge" everyone got a taste for their
ultra-lame emotional side. Now I hear "Soul to Squeeze"
every day on the radio since the band hit it big with a slow one.
Give me the days before this album, when RHCP were all about just
diggin' into some serious punk-funk. |
 |
#311-
MTV Unplugged in New York by Nirvana
Thanks Nirvana, for testifying that old farts like
Bowie are worth something to your fans. |
 |
#312-
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
I also borrowed this cd for a year. Mostly to listen
to the hook of "Everything is Everything" over and over.
I love that song so much, I title my web pages after it. The other
songs are okay too I guess, but the chatter between each song perpetuated
a really annoying trend in album production. |
 |
#322-
Ghost in the Machine by The Police
I pretty much included this one because it has my favorite
album cover. Reminds me of our first VCR. Digital was so big in the
early eighties and personifying it is just genius. Anyway, does anyone
think "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" belongs on
a different Police cd? It's one of their best, but it's out of place
with the apocalyptic-sounding "Spirits in the Material World,"
"Invisible Sun" and "Demoltion Man." |
 |
#336-
Superunknown by Soundgarden
Grunge at its height. On one of their other albums
they had a song called "Loud Love." This cd is "loud
lows." I adore "Fell on Black Days" and "Just
Like Suicide." "My Wave" is great too, when you aren't
in as bad a mood. |
 |
#341-
Play by Moby
You know what I love about Moby's sampling style? He
builds fabulous techno beats around a gospel song or something, then
during the course of the song he'll remove his own influence. By this
time we're so drawn into the music that the original sample sounds
fresh and soulful. He led us in when we would've tuned out without
his help. "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" is my favorite. |
 |
#399- Californication
by Red Hot Chili Peppers
The slow crapfest ignited by BloodSugarSexMagik comes
to full fruition. Thankfully they get funkier on their next one. |
 |
#447- Q: Are
We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! by Devo
I just found out that their name means de-evolution.
The philosophy is that mankind is actually evolving in reverse. I
guess the band is supposed to represent the de-evolution condition.
Besides all that, their version of "Satisfaction" is the
best cover ever. |
 |
#466- Live
Through This by Hole
My friend J.R. used to crack me up by randomly uttering
the phrase, "Jon, someday you will ache like I ache." |
 |
#473- A Rush
of Blood to the Head by Coldplay
Why don't I have this cd? It's wonderful. If you're
sick of "Clocks" go download "Politik" and "God
Put a Smile Upon Your Face." |
 |
#494- She's
So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper
I've always been so annoyed by Cyndi Lauper because
of the phrase "she's so unusual." I see absolutely no point
in being weird on purpose. If people are naturally weird, that's fine;
but if you have to tell people you're weird, you're only posing. |
 |
#496- Destroyer by
Kiss
My brother had the cover of Destroyer in his
room somewhere. I think it was a songbook or a poster or something.
It scared me to death. I would be afraid to even go near it. I thought
for sure if I went to Hell it would be the guys from Kiss who'd actually
grab me and take me there. It's kind of funny how I sort of think
Kiss are a bunch of pansies now. |
 |
#500- Touch by Eurythmics
Why don't I have more Eurythmics cds? Do I know a
bad Eurythmics song? Annie's voice is just beautiful, especially
on "Who's That Girl?" Another great example of bringing
soul to electronic music.
What a great way to end the list!
|
