1. Death From Above 1979's You're a Woman, I'm a Machine.
This is one of the most important albums I've ever listened to. It made me want to research and find new band. The band itself, if you are unaware, consisted of a heavily distorted bassist, Jesse Keeler, and a singing drummer, Sebastien Grainger. They released the Heads Up EP and shortly thereafter the full album pictured here. They toured relentlessly and even had the opportunity to open for Nine Inch Nails. Sadly, in August of 2006, less than 2 years after the album's release, Jesse announced on their website that the band would part ways. Since then, each member has had great side projects including MSTRKRFT, Femme Fetale, and Sebastian Grainger's solo album, but nothing comes close to the music they made together. It saddens me that no other album will ever sound like this. It is truely something unique. I am so glad I had the chance to see these guys in 2005 at my favorite venue in Columbus.
2. Explosions in the Sky's All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone.
Explosions in the Sky is one of my alltime favorite bands. They make the most wonderful atmospheric ambient music. Honestly, since listening to these Texans, I have not looked at music the same way. Their music is all instrumental and I suggest this album for 2 reasons: (1) the album as a whole flows flawlessly, and (2) "Catastrophe and the Cure" is one of my favorite songs of all time. I had the chance to see EitS in 2007 when they opened for the Smashing Pumpkins and damn, they are good. Also, this is one of the best albums to read to.
3. Saosin's Saosin.
When it comes to Saosin, I am not going to lie to you. I've seen them live 3 times and they are not the greatest live act I have ever seen. However, their album is one of the most solid debut albums I have ever heard. Every song on the album shows how talented each member of the band is, AND the songs themselves are just damn good. Again, I won't lie to you, Saosin is not for everyone. If you are not a fan of the alternative scene heard at Warped Tour, this band is not for you. But, if you are, you may rate this among your top 10 albums of all time (like I obviously have). On a side note, Anthony Green was the original lead singer for this band so that automatically gives them sweet points.
4. Silversun Pickups' Carnavas.
I first heard the song "Lazy Eye" on CD101, the independently owned Columbus radio station, and fell in love. That song is amazing. I got the CD and only listeded to that song (come on, you know you do it too). I then realized that every song on the album is not only listen-able but awesome. I now go through periods of falling in love with different songs on the album. Right now, I'm head over heels for "Dream at Tempo 119" because of its kickassness. I listen to that song while disobeying the maximum highway speed laws.
5. the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
What can I say about this album that already hasn't been said? Just like everyone else in recorded history, I went through a Beatles phase. I would buy an album, fall in love with it and listen to nothing else for months, then I would buy another one only to fall in love with it. The thing about Sgt. Peppers is the album is just flawless. There area few Beatles songs that I hate more than anything, but no such songs make an appearance on this album. And how can you honestly compete with a song like "A Day in the Life?" It just physically can't be done.
6. Incubus' Make Yourself.
This is the first album I've ever fallen in love with as an album. I first saw the music video for "Pardon Me" one morning before school on VH1's Jump Start. It was the only music video that mesmerized me when I was a kid. I wanted to be Brandon Boyd. He had cool tatoos and sang in the best band I've heard up to that point and he had the best voice I've ever heard and even sang in a way I've never heard and it was all exciting to find something new and original for the first time. It was the first time I begged my mother to take me to Border's to buy it. I later found out that Incubus had been around for a while. I picked up their earlier stuff and since then they've released several more albums. However, I still say Make Yourself is their most solid album.
7. Thom Yorke's the Eraser.
Radiohead is arguably the most influential and important contemporary act. However, in my opinion they have yet to release an album that is flawless. Every Radiohead album has at least 1 song that could be left out, resulting in a better overall album. I know that's a harsh thing to say, and to clarify, I do love Radiohead to death (they're my 3rd most listened to artist says my Last.fm account), but I haven't been 100% satisfied by an album yet. However, Yorke's solo debut is flawless. Every song is utterly amazing and fresh. It also has my favorite Yorke song, "Harrowdown Hill." Yorke was brilliant to branch off and do these songs himself.
8. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's Broom.
If you're a fan of mimalistic Indie music, this is just about as good as it gets. It is a back to the basics, innocent, sweet album that is both funny and beautiful. I find myself listening to this album and feeling privileged to be albe to have something this truely beautiful. I know it sounds corny, but, well, you just have to listen to it for yourself. I'm so glad a friend of a friend highly suggested this band, and as soon as i got the album I understood why.
9. the Used the Used.
I don't know what it is about this album, but I just can't get enough of it. I've had this album in my car for, well, since I've had this album and a car. I swear to you I don't know why I love this album BUT I DO. I've listened to other Used albums, and sure they have some good songs, but nothing comes close to touching this one. Every song is exciting, energetic, powerful, beautiful, creative, and amazingly enough simple. None of these songs have face-incinerating guitar solos or mind-blowing drum beats, but they are perfectly entertaining.
10. Joy Division's Unknown
Pleasures.
I don't want to tell you how upset I was after falling in love with this band and THEN finding out how Ian Curtis ended his own life after recording only 2 full-lengthed albums. My friends in high school started listening to them but I held off. I had a thing for Pink Floyd, but I considered all defunct bands to be too old for me. I only cared about current music. After all, I knew I would get disappointed if I fell in love with a band and wouldn't ever be able to see them in concert. However, once I finally broke down and got this album, I knew I was wrong and that this was one of the best bands of all time. Countless bands have cited Joy Division as a major influence, and now I understand why. Bands like the Cure, the Smiths, Interpol, She Wants Revenge have all borrowed singing styles from Curtis. It gives me chills to hear this album at night. It's like Ian still has no hope for the world and it's odd and special and unique.
Well that about wraps that up. Hope you were entertained. I love doing shit like this.
2. Explosions in the Sky's All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone.
Explosions in the Sky is one of my alltime favorite bands. They make the most wonderful atmospheric ambient music. Honestly, since listening to these Texans, I have not looked at music the same way. Their music is all instrumental and I suggest this album for 2 reasons: (1) the album as a whole flows flawlessly, and (2) "Catastrophe and the Cure" is one of my favorite songs of all time. I had the chance to see EitS in 2007 when they opened for the Smashing Pumpkins and damn, they are good. Also, this is one of the best albums to read to.3. Saosin's Saosin.
When it comes to Saosin, I am not going to lie to you. I've seen them live 3 times and they are not the greatest live act I have ever seen. However, their album is one of the most solid debut albums I have ever heard. Every song on the album shows how talented each member of the band is, AND the songs themselves are just damn good. Again, I won't lie to you, Saosin is not for everyone. If you are not a fan of the alternative scene heard at Warped Tour, this band is not for you. But, if you are, you may rate this among your top 10 albums of all time (like I obviously have). On a side note, Anthony Green was the original lead singer for this band so that automatically gives them sweet points.
4. Silversun Pickups' Carnavas.
5. the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
What can I say about this album that already hasn't been said? Just like everyone else in recorded history, I went through a Beatles phase. I would buy an album, fall in love with it and listen to nothing else for months, then I would buy another one only to fall in love with it. The thing about Sgt. Peppers is the album is just flawless. There area few Beatles songs that I hate more than anything, but no such songs make an appearance on this album. And how can you honestly compete with a song like "A Day in the Life?" It just physically can't be done.
6. Incubus' Make Yourself.
This is the first album I've ever fallen in love with as an album. I first saw the music video for "Pardon Me" one morning before school on VH1's Jump Start. It was the only music video that mesmerized me when I was a kid. I wanted to be Brandon Boyd. He had cool tatoos and sang in the best band I've heard up to that point and he had the best voice I've ever heard and even sang in a way I've never heard and it was all exciting to find something new and original for the first time. It was the first time I begged my mother to take me to Border's to buy it. I later found out that Incubus had been around for a while. I picked up their earlier stuff and since then they've released several more albums. However, I still say Make Yourself is their most solid album.
7. Thom Yorke's the Eraser.
Radiohead is arguably the most influential and important contemporary act. However, in my opinion they have yet to release an album that is flawless. Every Radiohead album has at least 1 song that could be left out, resulting in a better overall album. I know that's a harsh thing to say, and to clarify, I do love Radiohead to death (they're my 3rd most listened to artist says my Last.fm account), but I haven't been 100% satisfied by an album yet. However, Yorke's solo debut is flawless. Every song is utterly amazing and fresh. It also has my favorite Yorke song, "Harrowdown Hill." Yorke was brilliant to branch off and do these songs himself.
8. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's Broom.
If you're a fan of mimalistic Indie music, this is just about as good as it gets. It is a back to the basics, innocent, sweet album that is both funny and beautiful. I find myself listening to this album and feeling privileged to be albe to have something this truely beautiful. I know it sounds corny, but, well, you just have to listen to it for yourself. I'm so glad a friend of a friend highly suggested this band, and as soon as i got the album I understood why.
9. the Used the Used.
I don't know what it is about this album, but I just can't get enough of it. I've had this album in my car for, well, since I've had this album and a car. I swear to you I don't know why I love this album BUT I DO. I've listened to other Used albums, and sure they have some good songs, but nothing comes close to touching this one. Every song is exciting, energetic, powerful, beautiful, creative, and amazingly enough simple. None of these songs have face-incinerating guitar solos or mind-blowing drum beats, but they are perfectly entertaining.
10. Joy Division's Unknown
Pleasures.I don't want to tell you how upset I was after falling in love with this band and THEN finding out how Ian Curtis ended his own life after recording only 2 full-lengthed albums. My friends in high school started listening to them but I held off. I had a thing for Pink Floyd, but I considered all defunct bands to be too old for me. I only cared about current music. After all, I knew I would get disappointed if I fell in love with a band and wouldn't ever be able to see them in concert. However, once I finally broke down and got this album, I knew I was wrong and that this was one of the best bands of all time. Countless bands have cited Joy Division as a major influence, and now I understand why. Bands like the Cure, the Smiths, Interpol, She Wants Revenge have all borrowed singing styles from Curtis. It gives me chills to hear this album at night. It's like Ian still has no hope for the world and it's odd and special and unique.
Well that about wraps that up. Hope you were entertained. I love doing shit like this.
3 comments:
This list is great. I've been thinking about doing something like this for a while, but I know I wouldn't describe my picks nearly as well as you did.
You forgot to put Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends.
Actually, if there was an 11th, that would have definitely been it.
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