Here is the last installment of my Top 100 Record Albums of all-time. Sorry for those of you waiting for Sergeant Pepper or Astral Weeks, but I am not auditioning for Rolling Stone, but listing MY favorite 100 as I outlined long ago. I hope the more common albums are reminders of how important some of these bands are and that the more obscure ones remind everyone how much great music there is to discover, whether it is in a record store or fair, or an on-line store or catalog.
10. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK) 1967: This of course is the Syd Barrett led Pink Floyd which has groundbreaking psychedelic space rock mixed in with Syd's whimsical acid drenched children's songs. I wish Jugband Blues from the second album was on this, but it still has some of the finest songs this band could ever come up with. There were some good moments in the Gilmour years to be sure, and Barrett's solo records attract a rabid following (although I find them rather sad), but this is the record where it all came together.
9. Blue Oyster Cult - Blue Oyster Cult (USA) 1972: Although the third album, Secret Treaties, was my gateway to this band and is perhaps the most steady listen of all their albums, it is the debut that makes my list these days. They cover a wide range of territory here with some slow and spacey psychedelic numbers like "Screams" and "She's as Beautiful as a Foot". And it took me at least twenty listens to "Workshop of the Telescopes" before I realized what a great song that was. The playing is solid, the Melzer lyrics are cryptic. It was the perfect listen for high school kids looking to challenge themselves before punk came around or before they were old enough and sharp enough to dig deeper underground.
8. Bad Brains - Attitude (USA) 1982: This was the first full length Bad Brains release and it was on cassette. I got it as quickly as I could and went nuts listening to it on my car stereo while driving over to some punk rock party in Dayton. I ended up taking people for drives a few times that night so we could listen to it over and over. I normally don't want to play things non-stop like that, but this was so addictive and important, it was the only way to go. Blistering punk rock with monster hooks. I saw them on their first tour in Detroit and it only got better live. Glad they finally got the accolades they deserved, but sorry they could never keep a rhythm going in their band business like they could in their songs.
7. Black Sabbath - Paranoid (UK) 1970: Sabbath was another essential band of my youth and is still an essential listen to metal heads and hard rockers everywhere. They created a distinct time and I have little time for the many rock music fans who turn there noses up at this. It is brilliant music which is surprisingly creative and intricate. No one quite sounds like these guys which is true of many of the top bands on this list. There are great moments among the first six albums, but this was the big one for me with lots of hits and cool songs like "Hand of Doom". I still listen to this multiple times every year now in the fifth decade since I first heard it.
6. Wire - Pink Flag (UK) 1977: This was one of the most fascinating documents of the early punk years. I loved the dark, serious nature of their approach and the 21 fully realized short songs crammed onto one LP. I played this on every radio show that I hosted from 1979 to 1980 and I had so many songs and song combinations to play. When Wire reunited and did a 1986 tour of the US to play (only) their new material, they had a New York band open for them who played this album in order, long before All Tomorrow's Parties was around. This is pop music, punk music, and experimentally simple. They are headed back to DC this spring and I am anxious to hear them again as they are smart, distant and accessible all at once. They obviously had a huge impact here with Minor Threat's cover of "12XU" being evident of their influence. Get the second and third albums, too.
5. The Saints - Eternally Yours (Australia) 1978: We loved the Saints back in the early punk days, but it was the first album that did it at that time since it had blistering pace and heavy guitars like few other bands. The second album had horns and more complexity that was more difficult to entirely grasp in the days of 1234 let it rip music. It rocked hard, so there was a lot to like. But it took many years before I fully appreciated the full effect and the timeless nature of the music. The Saints never bonded with the punks and the punk scene. Along with fellow Aussies Radio Birdman (who they also did not bond with), they brought the Stooges/MC5 sound to punk far better than anyone had in the UK or the USA despite almost everyone trying to do so. The Saints box set is an essential collection of songs from the early albums and live shows. The live sound is stunning and there is a nice full version of this album recorded earlier at another studio.
4. Pentangle - Basket of Light (UK) 1969: I have nearly 100 records featuring Pentangle or its five versatile and excellent solo musicians. This is their third record and is generally thought to be their best. The band was a supergroup merging two outstanding fingerstyle guitarists (Bert Jansch and John Renbourn) with a couple of sought after versatile jazz-blues-folk session men (Danny Thompson and Terry Cox) on rhythm section (with stand-up bass). They grabbed a great female singer (Jacquie McShee) who was doing some blues-folk numbers and away they went into uncharted territory. They combined all of their styles into a mystical mix which still mystifies people today. I was fortunate enough to attend their reunion in London a couple years ago and also saw Bert Jansch at the Jammin Java a few weeks back. This album just crackles with masterful playing as it moves from the swinging London pop sounds of "Light Flight" to the dark folk of "Hunting Song". This is the place to start for creative reworking of folk music from the classic era.
3. The Wipers - Over the Edge (USA) 1983: I was pleased to be one of the earliest Wipers fans outside of Portland as I ordered their album right as it came out based on a couple of sentences from some magazine ad. I immediately tried to turn everyone on to them, but it was not as easy as I thought. They had a strong guitar song with speed and hooks that fit nicely in the punk/new wave/power pop scene, but they were not an obvious fit. They were developing a bit of a cult following and did end up making much more sense to people in Europe. When this third album came out, I bought it immediately and practically fell over when I heard the first twenty seconds of the title cut. It was going to be THE Wipers album then and there. Fortunately, the rest of it was brilliant as well. Greg Sage had a perfect touch in incorporating psychedelic rock, punk rock, and dark folk and blues into busy, yet simple songs. He was a very strange and difficult individual from everything I have heard and we have Kurt Cobain to thank for bringing his brilliance a bit more out in the open, but the Wipers still deserved a lot better. This has been number one on my list at different times.
2. Comus - First Utterance (UK) 1971: Tough call between this and Number One below. As I was collecting psychedelic folk records about 25 years ago, a friend asked Byron Coley to play him something from that era that blow him away. He grabbed this record and my friend sent me a tape. I have now bought about six versions of it, flew to Sweden to see the band's reunion show, hired on as their road manager for an aborted US tour, and have gotten to be good friends with a couple of them. And it was refreshing (but not surprising) that Bobbie Watson (the female vocalist/percussionist) is one of the nicest people I have met, yet she is a part of one of the scariest and darkest folk bands of all time. It has been fascinating to see how many death metal fans love this record even though a bass is the only electric instrument. The themes are terrifying and the music is theatrical, but terrifyingly real. They were able to capture the feel of a secret Druidic sect breaking out of the unknown and unleashing their ancient music into the modern world. This is not for the faint of heart and if you want to explore psychedelic folk music, I recommend you start with other bands on the list. Then try this band. You will need the prerequisites to make any sense out of this. I am not sure I fully do, but I will forever enjoy they strange shifts in the songs and how they can go from ugly depraved themes to sheer beauty on one album. No one has ever sounded like this, and few are even in the vicinity.
1. The Stooges - Fun House (USA) 1970: Well, if this isn't the perfect rock album, then I will never hear perfection. The first five songs are note perfect raging protopunk rock songs. The last two add Detroit funk and freakout free jazz into the mix and by the last note, it is easy to determine that nothing has ever sounded like this, not will again. There have been many people have been converted to this since it sold next to nothing in the day (like the Velvet Underground and some others). It is such an important album, that there have been two six-disc releases that document the entire studio sessions including all 28 takes of "Loose". I still love the manic moments of "TV Eye" and the crazed closing of "1970". These are rock moments that sound as good on record as they do when you see the powerful stage moves of Iggy Pop at the live shows. I am so thankful that they reunited and I have seen both the Ron Asheton version and the James Williamson version twice. But if that had not happened and I was stuck with this as my "deserted island disc", I would be almost as happy. I could dissect the component parts, but that is not important. I would say to run and listen to this, but I would guess most of my readers have heard it a few hundred times. But if it is been a while, give it another dozen spins or so. Don't ever let it get too far away from you.
Showing posts with label More Top 100. Show all posts
Showing posts with label More Top 100. Show all posts
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (11-20)
Back after some holiday traveling with the second-to-last installment of my Top 100 list. These are the ones I go back to frequently...
20. Donovan - Sunshine Superman (UK) 1966: I prefer Donovan over Dylan for sheer listenability, although he would also be the more engaging dinner guest which is one of my lesser ranking factors. This album has some magical psychedelic folk songs which predate a lot of the classics of that style. There is good sixties rock and folk present as well. The songs are more varied than that of most albums, yet everything flows together wonderfully. There is a lot of great Donovan material elsewhere but this one puts it all on display from start to finish.
19. The Who - Live at Leeds (UK) 1970: The Who are difficult to get a finger on album-wise which makes them a great debate topic among your classic rock friends. A friend and I have fully decided that we would indoctrinate people with this album if they wanted to hear the Who. All the great playing is clear in the production, the song mix is excellent with the great old singles and the thematic album material. The bonus material CD releases are even better than the vinyl with a more comprehensive collection of songs. I guess this and Hawkwind are the only live albums I would recommend in lieu of the studio work.
18. Meic Stevens - Ghost Town (UK) 1970: This actually was released in 1997 although the material is from the late sixties through 1970 or thereabouts. I could have listed "Outlander" as the album to get as the material is similar and there are some shared songs, but I really like this album's material. It is sung in English vs. the Welsh language albums Stevens did more of. That helps the accessibility a bit, but it is the haunting voice along with the distant psyche vibes in the arrangements and guitar playing that make it a universally brilliant album. Stevens got a little less interesting as he went on, but was a major figure in his early career and really deserved a larger audience. But he stuck to singing in Wales and not chasing popularity, so he remains an important cult figure. Well worth checking out if you want to expand beyond Dylan and Donovan.
17. Robbie Basho - Zarthus (USA) 1974: I am stunned that I have an album this high on the list which has never had a CD release. It looks like there is only one song on Youtube even. There is vinyl out there and this is worth hunting down. Even if you have heard and enjoyed Basho's guitar playing on fellow guitar genius, John Fahey's Takoma label, you may not be ready for this meditative monster. Side One is filled with his spacey guitar playing and strange meditative crooning. Side Two is an amazing piano piece where he cuts loose on the keyboard with the damper pedal down the whole time in a percussive dynamic drone (the kind of which I badly played in my youth). There is some pretty cool Basho out there and absolutely dazzling songs, but this album really puts it all together.
16. Book of AM - Book of AM (Spain) 1979: This is an intriguing album that Daevid Allen of Gong produced and plays on with a communal band on an island off of Spain. The album is a deep song cycle that is a classic in the psyche-folk field. It is tricky to find, but there was an incredible re-release with the full two albums of material and huge thick book or art which was originally supposed to come out. This was quite a welcome addition for me in lieu of my bootleg copy of this great album. This will appeal to Gong fans, fans of classic UK folk, or psychedelic music fans.
15. Incredible String Band - The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (UK) 1968: I recall that America liked the fourth Dr. Who better than the third which was preferred by the UK. For ISB albums, it is the same thing although in this case, the US goes with the third. I have to go along with this here as this album is just so much wilder and varied than the equally great 4th album "The Wee Tam and Big Huge". ISB were innovators and were in full force here with folk, psyche-folk, psyche, chidren's songs, Monty Python like singalongs, and a thirteen minute song about an amoeba. Robin Williamson and Mike Heron are the ISB at this point with only a little help and they are at their height of creative song writing and use of varied, unique instruments. They lost the formula a few years later, but they were at the height of their shamanistic, magical powers here. And I can listen to Robin Williams sing and tell stories all day long.
14. Tim Buckley - Goodbye and Hello (USA) 1967: Any Jeff Buckley fan that has not gone back to listen to his father's work is missing the real genius at work. Jeff might have been good, but aside from a brilliant Leonard Cohen cover, he has nothing on daddy. And he was fortunate to inherit some of what was one of the most stunning vocal ranges ever displayed. The shame of it all was that Buckley could not continually find that happy median between singer/songwriter material and the wildly experimental free form jazz-folk he created. This second album is the perfect bridge and would be the best place to start. I go to it most frequently as I like the creativity, but also the accessibility. I have linked "Pleasant Street" as I find it one of the most emotionally powerful songs that any vocalist could ever put on record. And with driving rock music keeping it moving, it is amazing, but only the best of a strong group of songs.
13. Love - Forever Changes (USA) 1967: Yes, the rediscovery of this neglected album has brought a whole lot of new fans and converted fans into overblown discussions that never happened when this was released. Is this over-hyped? No. It lives up to the hype and then some. The first two Love albums have moments of equal brilliance, but they have some wrong choices or mediocre songs as well. This one has the magical flow from beginning to end. I also like the CD versions with the last single that has two more mind-blowing songs which fit perfectly within this work. Arthur Lee was a genius and I am happy he got to experience some of his renaissance during his last few years on this planet. Seeing him live a few years back and having him coming over to shake my hand was a highlight for me. He was and continues to be of major importance in rock music history.
12. Roy Harper - Stormcock (UK) 1971: Jimmy Page and company tried their best to tell the world how good Roy Harper was, but not enough people listened. Joanna Newsome refuses to let him retire and makes him open shows for her in the UK, so she knows something, too. I hope most of my readers know how brilliant this guy is, although we know that much of the rest of the world is not trying hard enough to find out. Harper's early work is all great and his latter work is at worst, good. Stormcock usually wins out as the favorite and I concur. It's four songs show a bit of variety and there is even some Jimmy Page guitar in there. "Me and my Woman" is an amazing work full with simple moments of voice and guitar to full orchestral moments. Harper sounds huge even with just voice and guitar, but also makes great arrangement decisions here as well. Brilliant.
11. Midwinter - The Waters of Sweet Sorrow (UK) 1973: The UK label Kissing Spell was hunting down lost psyche-folk classics to release and wanted some work from a great band called Stone Angel. While digging through an attic, a Stone Angel member found the tapes from his first band which had not been released. The result was one of the finest psyche-folk albums in history. This was primarily to guitarists and a female vocalist although a couple musicians augment them here. I have described many albums as moody, contemplative psyche-folk classics, but this one may be the finest. There are more famous, but this one has the magical formula that is only known in the deepest ancestral dreams and cannot be put down in tablature. Dig in and find your spiritual past.
20. Donovan - Sunshine Superman (UK) 1966: I prefer Donovan over Dylan for sheer listenability, although he would also be the more engaging dinner guest which is one of my lesser ranking factors. This album has some magical psychedelic folk songs which predate a lot of the classics of that style. There is good sixties rock and folk present as well. The songs are more varied than that of most albums, yet everything flows together wonderfully. There is a lot of great Donovan material elsewhere but this one puts it all on display from start to finish.
19. The Who - Live at Leeds (UK) 1970: The Who are difficult to get a finger on album-wise which makes them a great debate topic among your classic rock friends. A friend and I have fully decided that we would indoctrinate people with this album if they wanted to hear the Who. All the great playing is clear in the production, the song mix is excellent with the great old singles and the thematic album material. The bonus material CD releases are even better than the vinyl with a more comprehensive collection of songs. I guess this and Hawkwind are the only live albums I would recommend in lieu of the studio work.
18. Meic Stevens - Ghost Town (UK) 1970: This actually was released in 1997 although the material is from the late sixties through 1970 or thereabouts. I could have listed "Outlander" as the album to get as the material is similar and there are some shared songs, but I really like this album's material. It is sung in English vs. the Welsh language albums Stevens did more of. That helps the accessibility a bit, but it is the haunting voice along with the distant psyche vibes in the arrangements and guitar playing that make it a universally brilliant album. Stevens got a little less interesting as he went on, but was a major figure in his early career and really deserved a larger audience. But he stuck to singing in Wales and not chasing popularity, so he remains an important cult figure. Well worth checking out if you want to expand beyond Dylan and Donovan.
17. Robbie Basho - Zarthus (USA) 1974: I am stunned that I have an album this high on the list which has never had a CD release. It looks like there is only one song on Youtube even. There is vinyl out there and this is worth hunting down. Even if you have heard and enjoyed Basho's guitar playing on fellow guitar genius, John Fahey's Takoma label, you may not be ready for this meditative monster. Side One is filled with his spacey guitar playing and strange meditative crooning. Side Two is an amazing piano piece where he cuts loose on the keyboard with the damper pedal down the whole time in a percussive dynamic drone (the kind of which I badly played in my youth). There is some pretty cool Basho out there and absolutely dazzling songs, but this album really puts it all together.
16. Book of AM - Book of AM (Spain) 1979: This is an intriguing album that Daevid Allen of Gong produced and plays on with a communal band on an island off of Spain. The album is a deep song cycle that is a classic in the psyche-folk field. It is tricky to find, but there was an incredible re-release with the full two albums of material and huge thick book or art which was originally supposed to come out. This was quite a welcome addition for me in lieu of my bootleg copy of this great album. This will appeal to Gong fans, fans of classic UK folk, or psychedelic music fans.
15. Incredible String Band - The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (UK) 1968: I recall that America liked the fourth Dr. Who better than the third which was preferred by the UK. For ISB albums, it is the same thing although in this case, the US goes with the third. I have to go along with this here as this album is just so much wilder and varied than the equally great 4th album "The Wee Tam and Big Huge". ISB were innovators and were in full force here with folk, psyche-folk, psyche, chidren's songs, Monty Python like singalongs, and a thirteen minute song about an amoeba. Robin Williamson and Mike Heron are the ISB at this point with only a little help and they are at their height of creative song writing and use of varied, unique instruments. They lost the formula a few years later, but they were at the height of their shamanistic, magical powers here. And I can listen to Robin Williams sing and tell stories all day long.
14. Tim Buckley - Goodbye and Hello (USA) 1967: Any Jeff Buckley fan that has not gone back to listen to his father's work is missing the real genius at work. Jeff might have been good, but aside from a brilliant Leonard Cohen cover, he has nothing on daddy. And he was fortunate to inherit some of what was one of the most stunning vocal ranges ever displayed. The shame of it all was that Buckley could not continually find that happy median between singer/songwriter material and the wildly experimental free form jazz-folk he created. This second album is the perfect bridge and would be the best place to start. I go to it most frequently as I like the creativity, but also the accessibility. I have linked "Pleasant Street" as I find it one of the most emotionally powerful songs that any vocalist could ever put on record. And with driving rock music keeping it moving, it is amazing, but only the best of a strong group of songs.
13. Love - Forever Changes (USA) 1967: Yes, the rediscovery of this neglected album has brought a whole lot of new fans and converted fans into overblown discussions that never happened when this was released. Is this over-hyped? No. It lives up to the hype and then some. The first two Love albums have moments of equal brilliance, but they have some wrong choices or mediocre songs as well. This one has the magical flow from beginning to end. I also like the CD versions with the last single that has two more mind-blowing songs which fit perfectly within this work. Arthur Lee was a genius and I am happy he got to experience some of his renaissance during his last few years on this planet. Seeing him live a few years back and having him coming over to shake my hand was a highlight for me. He was and continues to be of major importance in rock music history.
12. Roy Harper - Stormcock (UK) 1971: Jimmy Page and company tried their best to tell the world how good Roy Harper was, but not enough people listened. Joanna Newsome refuses to let him retire and makes him open shows for her in the UK, so she knows something, too. I hope most of my readers know how brilliant this guy is, although we know that much of the rest of the world is not trying hard enough to find out. Harper's early work is all great and his latter work is at worst, good. Stormcock usually wins out as the favorite and I concur. It's four songs show a bit of variety and there is even some Jimmy Page guitar in there. "Me and my Woman" is an amazing work full with simple moments of voice and guitar to full orchestral moments. Harper sounds huge even with just voice and guitar, but also makes great arrangement decisions here as well. Brilliant.
11. Midwinter - The Waters of Sweet Sorrow (UK) 1973: The UK label Kissing Spell was hunting down lost psyche-folk classics to release and wanted some work from a great band called Stone Angel. While digging through an attic, a Stone Angel member found the tapes from his first band which had not been released. The result was one of the finest psyche-folk albums in history. This was primarily to guitarists and a female vocalist although a couple musicians augment them here. I have described many albums as moody, contemplative psyche-folk classics, but this one may be the finest. There are more famous, but this one has the magical formula that is only known in the deepest ancestral dreams and cannot be put down in tablature. Dig in and find your spiritual past.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (21-30)
30. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (UK) 1972: This was my starting point with Bowie (aside from songs on the radio) and the concept worked on me. The band is solid, a few of the songs are magical such as my favorite "Moonage Daydream". There are certainly some other Bowie classics in radically different styles to get into (and I do), but this one nails a great sound for 1972 and is still a great listen these days.
29. 13th Floor Elevators - Easter Everywhere (USA) 1967: Tough call choosing between the first album and the second. Even the third is not as far of as some would think, just inconsistent. I went with the second as the first cut "Slip inside this House" is an eight minute masterpiece of flowing psychedelic rock music. There is some nice variety with the lower key "Dust" and plenty of memorable songs all reaching the climax where we are all to leave our bodies behind--a prospect that sounds more enticing as I age.
28. Zombies - Odessey & Oracle (UK) 1968: The Zombies are an interesting band. I've read that they are one of those bands that people forget about and don't associate with the hit songs that are buried in their memory. I have tested that on a few people and found that to be completely accurate. And this final album also had this band getting little respect from their record label who pretty much wanted to bury them. "Time of the Season" became a hit in spite of the label and well after the group had called it quits due to their own internal problems. The enduring legacy is their ability to create such intricate harmonies and accompaniment to very catchy songs. They still have sounded good on recent tours that I have seen--Rod Argent looks like a 39 year old power lifter. This album really covers both sixties pop music and psychedelia in a more balanced way than even the Beatles did.
27. Subway - Subway (France) 1972: This really obscure acid folk album is by a folk duo that also recorded under their names of Mowrey & Watson. This finally was rereleased to much acclaim as the classic it is. Strong haunting acoustic songs with guitars and violins carrying the way along with powerful vocals. There is a delicate touch within and this eventually goes on every psyche-folk record collector's Top Ten list. Irv Mowrey was American and he and his partner live in America now performing separately off and on.
26. Woven Hand - Woven Hand (USA) 2001: When Denver's brilliant 16 Horsepower split up with some musical differences, main songwriter and voice David Eugene Edwards started this loose band which was mostly a solo project with guests. It has solidified into an amazing band with 16Hp's bassist and the drummer from Slim Cessna's Auto Club. I am a massive fan of everything they do, but will put down their first record for this list. There is a great variety of musical styles--Eastern vs. Western, heavy vs. light, etc. The lyrics and singing hit such powerful depths of emotion, that you really have to prepare to listen. I get all tingly just putting a CD into the player which does not happen too often. Their live show is even more intense than their records, but I am using the word intense more as it relates to volume and rock principles. Even Edwards' most quiet songs have the intensity that many associate with Dylan and Tom Waits and the like. At the end of the day, I'll go with Edwards is my favorite living songwriter right now in December 2010.
25. Jethro Tull - Stand Up (UK) 1969: Alright, I have nothing to apologize for here, as I have long given up on the pretentious rock critics that have slammed this band over the decades. Yes, there are some issues with many of their albums and if their style is grating, well too bad. Perhaps a sober front man who just wants to put music out for the fans is a concept lost on all the critics that fawn over the oddballs in rock'n'roll. I liked Jethro Tull when I was young and still listen to them regularly. There are a few good albums to choose from, but I will take their second with some of the obvious hits like "Nothing is Easy" and "Bouree" and lots of great lesser known songs as well. It plays through wonderfully and has a great line-up with Barre, Cornick and Bunker joining Ian Anderson that only did one other album together. As someone asked once while going through my wall of CDs "why do you have so many Jethro Tull albums?" Ummm, cuz they're good?
24. Trees - On the Shore (UK) 1970: Trees was another crucial band for those of us that wanted to uncover all the great folk acts that embraced rock and/or psychedelic music back in the late sixties and seventies. Trees formed at a key moment when there were great things happening, but they helped influence even more that was to come. They had bass, drums and two guitarists that were opposites but loved playing together. One did acoustic 12-string and the other electric leads. They just play and play and play on all songs. There are tons of things happening in a similar manner with that of Mellow Candle, but exclusively guitar driven here. Celia Humphries' magical voice sends the material skyward. This second record is my favorite as it starts so strongly. I particularly love the second song "Murdoch" which seems to come to an ending, when they break into more wailing vocals and guitars to add another half minute of intensity.
23. Haizea - Hontz Gaua (Spain) 1979: Only two records came out of this fantastic Basque band, although their male singer had a few solo records. This one is almost krautrock in style with lots of wild psychedelic work very smoothly integrated to the folk songs. Deep powerful material that is an absolute classic in the psyche-folk world. I still am fully enchanted by the fourteen minute closer on this record.
22. Gwydion - Songs for the Old Religion (USA) 1975: This is a highly debated record in the psyche-folk world. Obviously, I am in the pro camp as I think it is a great realistic example of minimalist pagan music by real people. There is not a lot of instrumental power or psychedelic intricacy, yet the ancient beliefs and powerful songwriting create a great psyche-folk songs here. Gwydion was a key American figure in Pagan circles and died young in 1982. His second record is not as good, but this one still has a huge following, even if some people find it twee.
21. Bob Theil - So Far (UK) 1982: Some consider this the pinnacle of psychedelic folk music. And although, it comes along a bit late, the songs are from the 1970s. Theil really hits emotional highs and lows like few singers with strong guitars going on in the foreground as well. As I continue to age, this record keeps climbing higher on my list as each additional listen surprises me with how strong everything sounds. It is certainly an essential place to go early on in your psyche-folk explorations.
29. 13th Floor Elevators - Easter Everywhere (USA) 1967: Tough call choosing between the first album and the second. Even the third is not as far of as some would think, just inconsistent. I went with the second as the first cut "Slip inside this House" is an eight minute masterpiece of flowing psychedelic rock music. There is some nice variety with the lower key "Dust" and plenty of memorable songs all reaching the climax where we are all to leave our bodies behind--a prospect that sounds more enticing as I age.
28. Zombies - Odessey & Oracle (UK) 1968: The Zombies are an interesting band. I've read that they are one of those bands that people forget about and don't associate with the hit songs that are buried in their memory. I have tested that on a few people and found that to be completely accurate. And this final album also had this band getting little respect from their record label who pretty much wanted to bury them. "Time of the Season" became a hit in spite of the label and well after the group had called it quits due to their own internal problems. The enduring legacy is their ability to create such intricate harmonies and accompaniment to very catchy songs. They still have sounded good on recent tours that I have seen--Rod Argent looks like a 39 year old power lifter. This album really covers both sixties pop music and psychedelia in a more balanced way than even the Beatles did.
27. Subway - Subway (France) 1972: This really obscure acid folk album is by a folk duo that also recorded under their names of Mowrey & Watson. This finally was rereleased to much acclaim as the classic it is. Strong haunting acoustic songs with guitars and violins carrying the way along with powerful vocals. There is a delicate touch within and this eventually goes on every psyche-folk record collector's Top Ten list. Irv Mowrey was American and he and his partner live in America now performing separately off and on.
26. Woven Hand - Woven Hand (USA) 2001: When Denver's brilliant 16 Horsepower split up with some musical differences, main songwriter and voice David Eugene Edwards started this loose band which was mostly a solo project with guests. It has solidified into an amazing band with 16Hp's bassist and the drummer from Slim Cessna's Auto Club. I am a massive fan of everything they do, but will put down their first record for this list. There is a great variety of musical styles--Eastern vs. Western, heavy vs. light, etc. The lyrics and singing hit such powerful depths of emotion, that you really have to prepare to listen. I get all tingly just putting a CD into the player which does not happen too often. Their live show is even more intense than their records, but I am using the word intense more as it relates to volume and rock principles. Even Edwards' most quiet songs have the intensity that many associate with Dylan and Tom Waits and the like. At the end of the day, I'll go with Edwards is my favorite living songwriter right now in December 2010.
25. Jethro Tull - Stand Up (UK) 1969: Alright, I have nothing to apologize for here, as I have long given up on the pretentious rock critics that have slammed this band over the decades. Yes, there are some issues with many of their albums and if their style is grating, well too bad. Perhaps a sober front man who just wants to put music out for the fans is a concept lost on all the critics that fawn over the oddballs in rock'n'roll. I liked Jethro Tull when I was young and still listen to them regularly. There are a few good albums to choose from, but I will take their second with some of the obvious hits like "Nothing is Easy" and "Bouree" and lots of great lesser known songs as well. It plays through wonderfully and has a great line-up with Barre, Cornick and Bunker joining Ian Anderson that only did one other album together. As someone asked once while going through my wall of CDs "why do you have so many Jethro Tull albums?" Ummm, cuz they're good?
24. Trees - On the Shore (UK) 1970: Trees was another crucial band for those of us that wanted to uncover all the great folk acts that embraced rock and/or psychedelic music back in the late sixties and seventies. Trees formed at a key moment when there were great things happening, but they helped influence even more that was to come. They had bass, drums and two guitarists that were opposites but loved playing together. One did acoustic 12-string and the other electric leads. They just play and play and play on all songs. There are tons of things happening in a similar manner with that of Mellow Candle, but exclusively guitar driven here. Celia Humphries' magical voice sends the material skyward. This second record is my favorite as it starts so strongly. I particularly love the second song "Murdoch" which seems to come to an ending, when they break into more wailing vocals and guitars to add another half minute of intensity.
23. Haizea - Hontz Gaua (Spain) 1979: Only two records came out of this fantastic Basque band, although their male singer had a few solo records. This one is almost krautrock in style with lots of wild psychedelic work very smoothly integrated to the folk songs. Deep powerful material that is an absolute classic in the psyche-folk world. I still am fully enchanted by the fourteen minute closer on this record.
22. Gwydion - Songs for the Old Religion (USA) 1975: This is a highly debated record in the psyche-folk world. Obviously, I am in the pro camp as I think it is a great realistic example of minimalist pagan music by real people. There is not a lot of instrumental power or psychedelic intricacy, yet the ancient beliefs and powerful songwriting create a great psyche-folk songs here. Gwydion was a key American figure in Pagan circles and died young in 1982. His second record is not as good, but this one still has a huge following, even if some people find it twee.
21. Bob Theil - So Far (UK) 1982: Some consider this the pinnacle of psychedelic folk music. And although, it comes along a bit late, the songs are from the 1970s. Theil really hits emotional highs and lows like few singers with strong guitars going on in the foreground as well. As I continue to age, this record keeps climbing higher on my list as each additional listen surprises me with how strong everything sounds. It is certainly an essential place to go early on in your psyche-folk explorations.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (31-40)
40. Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (USA) 1970: George Clinton was truly a crazed genius and yes, crazy like a fox. By combining bands and musical forms, he confounded the music business as much as he confounded music fans with the cross genre music he presented. Loads of R&B and soul mixed with metal and hard rock in brilliant ways that are even more unique than Hendrix, let alone Rare Earth or Joe Cocker. "Super Stupid" is masterful and "Maggot Brain" is one of the best guitar passages by the late great Eddie Hazel.
39. Steeleye Span - Pleased to Meet the King (UK) 1969: Ashley Hutchings contributed much of what came to become folkrock with his efforts in Fairport Convention (See entry #37 below). When he wanted to go further he formed this band before heading off to various Albion Band incarnations. Steeleye went through many different versions but this one was the most fun for me. It features Martin Carthy playing electric guitar in a very odd manner. It has the great voices of Prior and Hart and fabulous haunting traditional folk tunes arranged in a great modern style. Any of the early albums are worth a listen, but this is the steadiest. And the closing notes are impossible to forget.
38. Stiff Little Fingers - The Peel Sessions (Northern Ireland) 1989: One of the finest punk bands from the UK scene and has only slowly gotten their due. Jake Burns is a fabulous songwriter and front man with gutsy guitar and an intense voice. The early albums are good with "Inflammable Material" being the one to grab. However, I like this Peel set as it has some of the fine songs from the first couple of years. Peel Sessions were studio works with limited overdubbing, so it was quality, vibrant live like recordings. SLF does great with this format and really delivers the heartfelt music as good as they have done, short of their brilliant live sets I have seen. A hugely influential band for our little Dayton, Ohio punk scene.
37. Fairport Convention - Liege Lief (UK): As mentioned above, Ashley Hutchings wanted to do a fully themed folk rock album. Fairport had certainly done that at times on previous albums, but this was successful in its design and as the stand alone great album of their long career. They did fantastic versions of old poems and songs like "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin". Also, they wrote songs that fit this style with Richard Thompson's "Crazy Man Michael" being a classic for all ages. Add Sandy Denny's glorious voice, and you have an album that still gets critical plaudits from many continents.
36. Amon Duul II - Yeti (Germany) 1970: Krautrock is loosely defined genre, perhaps even lazy, but do not ignore the bands lumped there. This one is perhaps my favorite. Really, you can call them a psychedelic rock band that have experimental moves, but a great rock structure. They have exotic instruments like violins, male and female vocals, long and short songs, and lots of variety. Exciting music that is surprisingly accessible, yet with lots going on to explore in subsequent listening. I think this is the point of my list where this album and all subsequent albums are 100% interesting to me from the beginning note until the end.
35. The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (USA) 1967: I really don't need to say much about this album as it started as slowly as any album on this list and has already risen to massive heights. Just when I think it is overrated, I listen to it again, remind myself what else was going on at this time and regain respect for Lou Reed and company. What was cool about this for me was how a song like "Sunday Morning" was completely unimportant to me when I listened to it in the seventies, but now is one of my favorites. And if you ever get a chance to see Richie Unterberger's mixed media lecture on this band, go. Your respect and pleasure with this music will only be enhanced.
34. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (UK) 1979: Another essential piece of post punk arrived from Manchester in 1979. This band helped create a label which lead to a major scene and morphed into other varieties of music. But I will always put this one at the top of anything from Manchester (along with the Buzzcocks). Ian Curtis and company had some of the quietest most intense songs out there and Martin Hannett was amazing with his production techniques that created so much space in the music. There is always so much to listen to on this album and all the cuts are amazing and best heard in the dark, late at night.
33. The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette (UK) 1979: It was a tough call for me on whether to include the Damned's first album with Brian James on guitar or the reconstituted Damned with Captain Sensible on guitar for this third album. I went with this as the songs are really catchy and timeless. Clearly, they are out of punk, but fit in mainstream rock as well. Great energy and sense of humor prevail throughout. And instead of Stooges cover on the first, we get the MC5 this time around. You really can't go wrong with either album (but do not start with the second or you will wonder what I am talking about).
32. Dead Can Dance - Aion (Australia) 1990: I mentioned in the Boiled in Lead review that I wished I had been able to harness by visions into concrete musical forms either into their band or one other band. Well, this is the other band. This duo combined classical music, ancient music and gothic rock forms into a haunting and powerful soaring music. This one is my favorite as it goes back deep into pre-Renaissance forms. It's no surprise that you can hear Lisa Gerrard on many soundtracks including her music on "Black Swan".
31. Pererin - Haul ar yr Eira (Wales) 1980: This Welsh band made a few magical progressive folk rock albums with this being the classic. The male/female vocals are pure and ethereal while the electric guitar has a delicate bite as it moves above the rapid rhythm section. This music moves and is extremely moving. The light touch they employ is really unique for something that has so much inner strength apparent.
39. Steeleye Span - Pleased to Meet the King (UK) 1969: Ashley Hutchings contributed much of what came to become folkrock with his efforts in Fairport Convention (See entry #37 below). When he wanted to go further he formed this band before heading off to various Albion Band incarnations. Steeleye went through many different versions but this one was the most fun for me. It features Martin Carthy playing electric guitar in a very odd manner. It has the great voices of Prior and Hart and fabulous haunting traditional folk tunes arranged in a great modern style. Any of the early albums are worth a listen, but this is the steadiest. And the closing notes are impossible to forget.
38. Stiff Little Fingers - The Peel Sessions (Northern Ireland) 1989: One of the finest punk bands from the UK scene and has only slowly gotten their due. Jake Burns is a fabulous songwriter and front man with gutsy guitar and an intense voice. The early albums are good with "Inflammable Material" being the one to grab. However, I like this Peel set as it has some of the fine songs from the first couple of years. Peel Sessions were studio works with limited overdubbing, so it was quality, vibrant live like recordings. SLF does great with this format and really delivers the heartfelt music as good as they have done, short of their brilliant live sets I have seen. A hugely influential band for our little Dayton, Ohio punk scene.
37. Fairport Convention - Liege Lief (UK): As mentioned above, Ashley Hutchings wanted to do a fully themed folk rock album. Fairport had certainly done that at times on previous albums, but this was successful in its design and as the stand alone great album of their long career. They did fantastic versions of old poems and songs like "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin". Also, they wrote songs that fit this style with Richard Thompson's "Crazy Man Michael" being a classic for all ages. Add Sandy Denny's glorious voice, and you have an album that still gets critical plaudits from many continents.
36. Amon Duul II - Yeti (Germany) 1970: Krautrock is loosely defined genre, perhaps even lazy, but do not ignore the bands lumped there. This one is perhaps my favorite. Really, you can call them a psychedelic rock band that have experimental moves, but a great rock structure. They have exotic instruments like violins, male and female vocals, long and short songs, and lots of variety. Exciting music that is surprisingly accessible, yet with lots going on to explore in subsequent listening. I think this is the point of my list where this album and all subsequent albums are 100% interesting to me from the beginning note until the end.
35. The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (USA) 1967: I really don't need to say much about this album as it started as slowly as any album on this list and has already risen to massive heights. Just when I think it is overrated, I listen to it again, remind myself what else was going on at this time and regain respect for Lou Reed and company. What was cool about this for me was how a song like "Sunday Morning" was completely unimportant to me when I listened to it in the seventies, but now is one of my favorites. And if you ever get a chance to see Richie Unterberger's mixed media lecture on this band, go. Your respect and pleasure with this music will only be enhanced.
34. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (UK) 1979: Another essential piece of post punk arrived from Manchester in 1979. This band helped create a label which lead to a major scene and morphed into other varieties of music. But I will always put this one at the top of anything from Manchester (along with the Buzzcocks). Ian Curtis and company had some of the quietest most intense songs out there and Martin Hannett was amazing with his production techniques that created so much space in the music. There is always so much to listen to on this album and all the cuts are amazing and best heard in the dark, late at night.
33. The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette (UK) 1979: It was a tough call for me on whether to include the Damned's first album with Brian James on guitar or the reconstituted Damned with Captain Sensible on guitar for this third album. I went with this as the songs are really catchy and timeless. Clearly, they are out of punk, but fit in mainstream rock as well. Great energy and sense of humor prevail throughout. And instead of Stooges cover on the first, we get the MC5 this time around. You really can't go wrong with either album (but do not start with the second or you will wonder what I am talking about).
32. Dead Can Dance - Aion (Australia) 1990: I mentioned in the Boiled in Lead review that I wished I had been able to harness by visions into concrete musical forms either into their band or one other band. Well, this is the other band. This duo combined classical music, ancient music and gothic rock forms into a haunting and powerful soaring music. This one is my favorite as it goes back deep into pre-Renaissance forms. It's no surprise that you can hear Lisa Gerrard on many soundtracks including her music on "Black Swan".
31. Pererin - Haul ar yr Eira (Wales) 1980: This Welsh band made a few magical progressive folk rock albums with this being the classic. The male/female vocals are pure and ethereal while the electric guitar has a delicate bite as it moves above the rapid rhythm section. This music moves and is extremely moving. The light touch they employ is really unique for something that has so much inner strength apparent.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (41-50)
50. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King (UK) 1969: I have always used King Crimson as the band to recommend to people who think they don't like progressive rock. Crimson had a great variety of styles from album to album and sometimes within. There is a lot of variety here from the chaos of 21st Century Schizoid Man to the quiet of I Talk to the Wind with the rest in between somewhere. And there early use of the mellotron makes this a progressive must. "Red" is considered the other classic, but start here at the beginning and go as far as you want.
49. Voice of the Seven Woods - Voice of the Seven Woods (UK) 2007: Rick Tomlinson came out with this beauty a few years back and now calls his band Voice of Seven Thunders whose album is also excellent. It is a bit heavier than this debut which has a wonderful psychedelic mix of rockers, mood pieces and folk. I choose this one because of the haunting "Silver Morning Branches" which is one of my favorite psyche-folk cuts of all-time, and not too many people can do them like this in the 21st century.
48. Chimera - Obstakel (Netherlands) 1981: This Netherlands folk-rock band had two lovely albums that are reasonably well known there, but have not even excited the record collectors as much as some other fine acts like Deirdre. Still, no CD releases, there are some copies floating around that are not ridiculously pricey. If you like Kong Lavring, Steeleye Span, Folque, Spriguns and the rest, you owe yourself a treat with this record.
47. Sixteen Horsepower - Sackcloth 'n' Ashes (USA) 1995: I lived in Colorado for roughly 18 years (and yes those mountain snows were rough). There were always a few good bands around but David Eugene Edwards and company hit on a style that became known as the Denver Sound. It was pretty much Appalachian tunes rocked up a bit with failed fire and brimstone lyrics which dug deep and hung darkly. Chilling, hypnotic power evident in so many of these songs. Like a few of my other favorites coming up later on the list, Europe understood this band in far greater numbers than did America. Such a shame, because these guys should have been grabbing top chart positions.
46. Emtidi - Emtidi (Germany) 1970: A male/female German and Canadian duo put out two albums that had significant differences. Most people rave about the second album, "Saat" with its long dreamy psyche-progressive songs. It is excellent and worthy of listen but I prefer the more psyche-folk debut with shorter songs that are powerfully sung with strong resonating acoustic guitar and even the occasional psyche jam. Fit & Limo and many more recent artists certainly have taken note of this magical band.
45. Ramones - Road to Ruin (USA) 1978: Well, it is pretty hard to leave out the Ramones considering how important punk rock was to me. I first remember taping their Don Kirshner Rock Concert tv appearance (!) with my brother and a cheap tape recorder trying to wake up our parents. It was great stuff and we eventually squirreled away money to get the albums. The live tours through Dayton and Cincinnati were the real prize as they were amazing back when music needed their mighty kick in the ass. People have written books about this, so I will just head to this fourth album which had a great mix of songs and a bit more sophistication in the production. The first four are all essential and there's plenty of good work scattered about after that.
44. Mark Fry - Dreaming of Alice (UK) 1972: I may have this a bit high in terms of importance to the psyche-folk scene, but I just never stop playing it. Pretty much the classic acoustic sounds with loads of sitar, flute, spacey vocals, psyche themes and embellishments. And there is only this album from Mark Fry, which has thankfully been re-released.
43. Radiohead - OK, Computer (UK) 1997: I did not pick up on this one early and then when critics proclaimed this as one of the most important albums of all time, I kind of felt I better give it a listen. As usual, when something is hyped, my initial listens were filled with "what's the big deal?" in my thoughts. It took several listens to break down the walls I build against the hype. I now see the amazing pop construction of some of the songs on this album. "Karma Police" is still one of the most stunning songs in my huge record collection. So listen to the hype, the critics got this one right.
42. Bread Love and Dreams - Amaryllis (UK) 1972: The third and final album of this male/female folk duo named after a Gina Lollabrigida comedy. The first two albums were nice enough, but they went crazy on this finale with cool psyche cover art and more importantly, the addition of Pentangle's rhythm section. Side A is a continuous song cycle which is the pinnacle of their work and one of the classics of the psyche-folk genre (with a progressive pacing at times).
41. The Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord (UK) 1968: My live review of this band including my defense of their truly essential early work was one of my most read entries. There are a number of us who while listening to punk rock, never gave up our Moody Blues moments. There was no question of them making the list, it was only whether to do this album or the underrated "To Our Children's Children's Children". This one gets the edge, but it really does not matter to me. The amazing "House of Four Doors" is here and the video which I linked was mesmerizing enough that I played it twice through before writing this. There are tons of psyche moves amidst the progressive in their early works and they really should be given a re-listen for open minded music fanatics. And of course, the mellotron is all over the record.
49. Voice of the Seven Woods - Voice of the Seven Woods (UK) 2007: Rick Tomlinson came out with this beauty a few years back and now calls his band Voice of Seven Thunders whose album is also excellent. It is a bit heavier than this debut which has a wonderful psychedelic mix of rockers, mood pieces and folk. I choose this one because of the haunting "Silver Morning Branches" which is one of my favorite psyche-folk cuts of all-time, and not too many people can do them like this in the 21st century.
48. Chimera - Obstakel (Netherlands) 1981: This Netherlands folk-rock band had two lovely albums that are reasonably well known there, but have not even excited the record collectors as much as some other fine acts like Deirdre. Still, no CD releases, there are some copies floating around that are not ridiculously pricey. If you like Kong Lavring, Steeleye Span, Folque, Spriguns and the rest, you owe yourself a treat with this record.
47. Sixteen Horsepower - Sackcloth 'n' Ashes (USA) 1995: I lived in Colorado for roughly 18 years (and yes those mountain snows were rough). There were always a few good bands around but David Eugene Edwards and company hit on a style that became known as the Denver Sound. It was pretty much Appalachian tunes rocked up a bit with failed fire and brimstone lyrics which dug deep and hung darkly. Chilling, hypnotic power evident in so many of these songs. Like a few of my other favorites coming up later on the list, Europe understood this band in far greater numbers than did America. Such a shame, because these guys should have been grabbing top chart positions.
46. Emtidi - Emtidi (Germany) 1970: A male/female German and Canadian duo put out two albums that had significant differences. Most people rave about the second album, "Saat" with its long dreamy psyche-progressive songs. It is excellent and worthy of listen but I prefer the more psyche-folk debut with shorter songs that are powerfully sung with strong resonating acoustic guitar and even the occasional psyche jam. Fit & Limo and many more recent artists certainly have taken note of this magical band.
45. Ramones - Road to Ruin (USA) 1978: Well, it is pretty hard to leave out the Ramones considering how important punk rock was to me. I first remember taping their Don Kirshner Rock Concert tv appearance (!) with my brother and a cheap tape recorder trying to wake up our parents. It was great stuff and we eventually squirreled away money to get the albums. The live tours through Dayton and Cincinnati were the real prize as they were amazing back when music needed their mighty kick in the ass. People have written books about this, so I will just head to this fourth album which had a great mix of songs and a bit more sophistication in the production. The first four are all essential and there's plenty of good work scattered about after that.
44. Mark Fry - Dreaming of Alice (UK) 1972: I may have this a bit high in terms of importance to the psyche-folk scene, but I just never stop playing it. Pretty much the classic acoustic sounds with loads of sitar, flute, spacey vocals, psyche themes and embellishments. And there is only this album from Mark Fry, which has thankfully been re-released.
43. Radiohead - OK, Computer (UK) 1997: I did not pick up on this one early and then when critics proclaimed this as one of the most important albums of all time, I kind of felt I better give it a listen. As usual, when something is hyped, my initial listens were filled with "what's the big deal?" in my thoughts. It took several listens to break down the walls I build against the hype. I now see the amazing pop construction of some of the songs on this album. "Karma Police" is still one of the most stunning songs in my huge record collection. So listen to the hype, the critics got this one right.
42. Bread Love and Dreams - Amaryllis (UK) 1972: The third and final album of this male/female folk duo named after a Gina Lollabrigida comedy. The first two albums were nice enough, but they went crazy on this finale with cool psyche cover art and more importantly, the addition of Pentangle's rhythm section. Side A is a continuous song cycle which is the pinnacle of their work and one of the classics of the psyche-folk genre (with a progressive pacing at times).
41. The Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord (UK) 1968: My live review of this band including my defense of their truly essential early work was one of my most read entries. There are a number of us who while listening to punk rock, never gave up our Moody Blues moments. There was no question of them making the list, it was only whether to do this album or the underrated "To Our Children's Children's Children". This one gets the edge, but it really does not matter to me. The amazing "House of Four Doors" is here and the video which I linked was mesmerizing enough that I played it twice through before writing this. There are tons of psyche moves amidst the progressive in their early works and they really should be given a re-listen for open minded music fanatics. And of course, the mellotron is all over the record.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (51-60)
60. Hawkwind - Space Ritual (UK) 1973: It is not often a live album will become my favorite album of a band (although it will happen again on this list), but this one is the classic way to experience Hawkwind. Some of the studio work is good, but this is the audacious tour with all the wild components in play such as the carefully designed stage (shown in detail in the booklet) along with spacey Robert Calvert verbage between songs. The songs are long spaced out proto punk jams that still inspire countless garage psyche bands. Futuristic? Timeless.
59. Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed (UK) 1969: In past lists, I had Aftermath here due to Paint it Black, but this record plays through a bit better. I am not in the large "Exile" camp and instead find myself mesmerized by the guitar work in Gimme Shelter. I find it amazing that the great interplay is Keith Richards playing both parts which really shows his songwriting talents. Some of the classic bands don't have albums that I really like to play all the way through, but this is one I often go back to.
58. Thomas Mapfumo - Chamunorwa (Zimbabwe) 1991: When I was living on a mountain in Colorado, I had a big satellite dish that had some oddball channels. One was the Caribbean Satellite Network which was the MTV of reggae, salsa, dancehall, etc. They played one incredible video of Thomas Mapfumo playing the title cut to this album. The guitar work is so unique with great passion amongst all the vocalists all on top of infectious percussion. Mapfumo's music of Zimbabwe is my favorite of all the African varieties and he also is an important historical figure for the area as well. I don't see the video on Youtube, so my link is to the song.
57. Igra Staklenih Perli - Igra Staklenih Perli (Yugoslavia) 1976: There was some surprisingly excellent psychedelic and psyche-folk music from Belgrade in this former Soviet country (now Serbia). This band has the biggest reputation and this album will show you why. They have a great understanding of psychedelic music and make some excellent unique moves, yet have accessible songs. Exotic, but the album stands tall with any of the world's best psychedelic rock music.
56. Aigues Vives - Water of Seasons (Germany) 1981: Maybe if I do this list again in five years, this record will fall hard. But for now, it is one of my favorites from the prog-psyche-folk-rock scene. I had it for years, but didn't give it much listen until putting it on my IPOD last year. Whenever there was some great song that shuffled out and I did not know it, invariably it would be this band. The album balances all the sounds of the seventies (and late sixties) perfectly into very catchy music.
55. Bob Dylan - The Times They are a Changin' (USA) 1965: I certainly place Dylan at or near the top of the true genius songwriters of the 20th Century, but I do find Dylan the performer a bit below the pantheon. And the albums are pretty varied for me. I prefer the folkier Dylan and this one is my favorite for now, although sometimes it is "the Freewheelin'...". This one really began opening things up and was profound for its era, although most of his 1960s albums were. Not much more I can add about Dylan, aside from the fact that we were both born in Duluth, Minnesota.
54. Erkin Koray - Elektronik Turkuler (Turkey) 1974: This guitar wizard is credited with brining rock music to Turkey. He did it all, but really hit a great dreamy psyche vibe combining western and eastern music on this second album. This is one album where I almost always want to hear from beginning to end. Although the songs are varied enough, the hypnotic groove is too powerful for me to want to break up. Another great Turkish artist that I could not find room for on this list is Baris Manco. There was some brilliant music being made in Turkey back in the day.
53. Carol of Harvest - Carol of Harvest (Germany) 1978: More intriguing prog-folk from Germany with the emphasis on prog of the dreamy variety. Soothing female vocals atop a great rock band that uses acoustic sounds well. A real underground hit that has gotten more than one reissue thankfully.
52. The Pogues - If I Should Fall from Grace with God (Ireland) 1988: It was bound to happen. Someone would figure out that punk rock spirit would easily integrate with Irish folk music. It took a nobody singer from the Nips (Shane MacGowan) to hook up with some great musicians and figure out the path. MacGowan is the force and a brillian lyricist. The musicians are great and even Terry Woods from Sweeney's Men/Steeleye Span becomes a member for most of the way. This album really covers a wide range of sounds, styles and pace. It also includes "Fairytale of New York" which should make many lists of 100 best songs.
51. The Trees Community - The Christ Tree (USA) 1975: Thankfully, I was able to save $1,000 or more when Timothy Renner reissued this Christian psyche-folk classic a few years back in a massive four-CD set that unfolded into a cross. The bonus material was excellent, but the album is still the place to start. This was a New York Christian commune that somehow came up with this great album comprised of as diverse a set of musicians as I could imagine. There is some amazing Christian psyche-folk out there like Mystery Maker, John Ylvisaker and Sounds of Salvation. But start here, as this one will amaze you.
59. Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed (UK) 1969: In past lists, I had Aftermath here due to Paint it Black, but this record plays through a bit better. I am not in the large "Exile" camp and instead find myself mesmerized by the guitar work in Gimme Shelter. I find it amazing that the great interplay is Keith Richards playing both parts which really shows his songwriting talents. Some of the classic bands don't have albums that I really like to play all the way through, but this is one I often go back to.
58. Thomas Mapfumo - Chamunorwa (Zimbabwe) 1991: When I was living on a mountain in Colorado, I had a big satellite dish that had some oddball channels. One was the Caribbean Satellite Network which was the MTV of reggae, salsa, dancehall, etc. They played one incredible video of Thomas Mapfumo playing the title cut to this album. The guitar work is so unique with great passion amongst all the vocalists all on top of infectious percussion. Mapfumo's music of Zimbabwe is my favorite of all the African varieties and he also is an important historical figure for the area as well. I don't see the video on Youtube, so my link is to the song.
57. Igra Staklenih Perli - Igra Staklenih Perli (Yugoslavia) 1976: There was some surprisingly excellent psychedelic and psyche-folk music from Belgrade in this former Soviet country (now Serbia). This band has the biggest reputation and this album will show you why. They have a great understanding of psychedelic music and make some excellent unique moves, yet have accessible songs. Exotic, but the album stands tall with any of the world's best psychedelic rock music.
56. Aigues Vives - Water of Seasons (Germany) 1981: Maybe if I do this list again in five years, this record will fall hard. But for now, it is one of my favorites from the prog-psyche-folk-rock scene. I had it for years, but didn't give it much listen until putting it on my IPOD last year. Whenever there was some great song that shuffled out and I did not know it, invariably it would be this band. The album balances all the sounds of the seventies (and late sixties) perfectly into very catchy music.
55. Bob Dylan - The Times They are a Changin' (USA) 1965: I certainly place Dylan at or near the top of the true genius songwriters of the 20th Century, but I do find Dylan the performer a bit below the pantheon. And the albums are pretty varied for me. I prefer the folkier Dylan and this one is my favorite for now, although sometimes it is "the Freewheelin'...". This one really began opening things up and was profound for its era, although most of his 1960s albums were. Not much more I can add about Dylan, aside from the fact that we were both born in Duluth, Minnesota.
54. Erkin Koray - Elektronik Turkuler (Turkey) 1974: This guitar wizard is credited with brining rock music to Turkey. He did it all, but really hit a great dreamy psyche vibe combining western and eastern music on this second album. This is one album where I almost always want to hear from beginning to end. Although the songs are varied enough, the hypnotic groove is too powerful for me to want to break up. Another great Turkish artist that I could not find room for on this list is Baris Manco. There was some brilliant music being made in Turkey back in the day.
53. Carol of Harvest - Carol of Harvest (Germany) 1978: More intriguing prog-folk from Germany with the emphasis on prog of the dreamy variety. Soothing female vocals atop a great rock band that uses acoustic sounds well. A real underground hit that has gotten more than one reissue thankfully.
52. The Pogues - If I Should Fall from Grace with God (Ireland) 1988: It was bound to happen. Someone would figure out that punk rock spirit would easily integrate with Irish folk music. It took a nobody singer from the Nips (Shane MacGowan) to hook up with some great musicians and figure out the path. MacGowan is the force and a brillian lyricist. The musicians are great and even Terry Woods from Sweeney's Men/Steeleye Span becomes a member for most of the way. This album really covers a wide range of sounds, styles and pace. It also includes "Fairytale of New York" which should make many lists of 100 best songs.
51. The Trees Community - The Christ Tree (USA) 1975: Thankfully, I was able to save $1,000 or more when Timothy Renner reissued this Christian psyche-folk classic a few years back in a massive four-CD set that unfolded into a cross. The bonus material was excellent, but the album is still the place to start. This was a New York Christian commune that somehow came up with this great album comprised of as diverse a set of musicians as I could imagine. There is some amazing Christian psyche-folk out there like Mystery Maker, John Ylvisaker and Sounds of Salvation. But start here, as this one will amaze you.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (61-70)
70. Folque - Folque (Norway) 1974: Sweden and Norway had some of the finest folk artists that took their cues from what was happening in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, but drawing on the fine folk music up north as well. This band was the most prolific and one of the finest Scandinavian bands. They had female vocals, violins, electric guitars, bass and drums and a cool, rich stinging sound. This album had Norwegian translations of Allison Gross, Cruel Sister and Twa Corbies made famous by Steeleye Span, Pentangle, and many artists respectively. Their Twa Corbies, called Ravenne, is my favorite version of this classic.
69. The Jam - In the City (UK) 1977: In the UK, All Mod Cons usually gets the nod as the classic Jam album. I am not sure if there is an American consensus, but this sharper punk debut does it for me and is the most universal album they did. Ferocious punk attitude combined with an early Who-mod sound made for some exciting listening when my friends and I were devouring everything punk we could find. There is a lot of excellent Jam material after this, but start here to hear how young artists are excited by the local scene and thrilled to have their say in it.
68. Eclection - Eclection (UK) 1968: This was a strong folk-rock band who had the fullest sound of any of the bands in the genre. It had members from Australia, the UK and Norway in it with strong female and male vocals. Sandy Denny's husband Trevor Lucas actually played bass and veteran Gerry Conway was on drums. There was just this one album and it occupies a nice sonic space between Fairport Convention and Mellow Candle with an extra dose of San Francisco psyche-folk-rock in the mix.
67. Spriguns - Revel Weird and Wild (UK) 1976: Initially called Spriguns of Tolgus, this band featured the pure vocals of Mandy Morton. Her delivery was straight forward, yet from far off in some surreal netherworld. Most singers had some intensity in some interesting direction, but Morton captures the mysterious nature of British folk music perhaps best of any of them. The band plays a mixture of electric and acoustic and made some excellent music across several albums. This one is the steadiest.
66. Arzachel - Arzachel (UK) 1969: A posthumous release by four musicians who were calling themselves Uriel at the time, but by release date, had success in the bands Gong and Egg. So out comes this early recording which I enjoy far more than anything they did subsequently. Steve Hillage's guitar is heavy, Dave Stewart's organ is big and spacey and the rhythm section moves things along with strength. Some songs sound of the era, with others from the psychedelic beyond. Amazing, and they really do have a sound that stands out from their future work.
65. Public Image Ltd. - Metal Box (UK) 1979: I gave this a sarcastic review in my college fanzine, but I was impressed with some of it instantly and all of it over time. The film canister was the most obviously audacious part of the release, until one actually listened to the invention or at least expansion of post-punk music. Swan Lake (Death Disco) is still one of the more dark and moving songs I have. When you can hear something 100 times or more and still be deeply moved tells me all I need to know.
64. Ougenweide - Eulenspiegel (Germany) 1976: Germany has the great krautrock bands (some on this list), but they had some nice folk artists as well. I still can't believe I could not fit Gurnemanz on this list, but I did find room for the better known and more prolific Ougenweide. They had many strong albums, but this one seems to move better from song to song, especially on Side One. Many albums still not on CD as far as I know, but this one was one of the early CD releases on the really cool Korean label, Si Wan. They are in the Steeleye Span style of sound with more of a Pentangle creativity I would say.
63. Spirogyra - St. Radiguns (UK) 1972: No, this is not Spyro Gyra, the USA fusion band that has been around forever. This was a folk collective that brought in Canterbury progressive sound to their three 1970s albums. They have a great contrast in the vocals with the harsh (and very cool) sound of Martin Cocherham (also on guitar) and the lovely range of Barbara Gaskin (who went on to work with Dave Stewart). Add a bass, violin, keyboards and Fairport's Dave Mattacks to help with some drums, and you have a great cross-genre sound that is out of Canterbury but far more unique. This was their first album and is the steadiest with great cuts all the way through.
62. Mudhoney - Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (USA) 1991: I suppose most people would put Superfuzz Bigmuff here, but I like the variety on this third album with its heavy psyche moves and even pop hooks. Green River Really got things rolling in Seattle with some great records but splintered into the very frustrating Pearl Jam and the very brilliant Mudhoney. Try as Eddie Vedder might, he could not match the sincerity and originality of Mudhoney which would be true even if they sold less records. Sadly Mudhoney did not sell as many records as Pearl Jam or Nirvana, but did acquire a strong cult of fans and respect of other musicians around the world. Grunge was just another great variation of post punk and these guys did it the best.
61. Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (UK) 1972: One of the rarest records and most talked about records of the psyche-folk-rock scene in the UK. This featured two young women (vocals, keyboards/songwriting), an electric guitarist and two ace session men on bass and drums. At first listen, I found some wildly creative music like Boulders on My Grave. The rest was interesting, but I had to go back to it many times before its real power got to me. My favorite moment is in Sheep Season where after a few minutes of the song, the band cuts into an instrumental passage for another three minutes until the fade-out. The weaving sounds that the four members put out are so intricate and wonderful, that I really wish I had a 30 minute version. Thankfully, lots of CDs and on-line sources are available, so you can use that $1,500 for other purchases.
69. The Jam - In the City (UK) 1977: In the UK, All Mod Cons usually gets the nod as the classic Jam album. I am not sure if there is an American consensus, but this sharper punk debut does it for me and is the most universal album they did. Ferocious punk attitude combined with an early Who-mod sound made for some exciting listening when my friends and I were devouring everything punk we could find. There is a lot of excellent Jam material after this, but start here to hear how young artists are excited by the local scene and thrilled to have their say in it.
68. Eclection - Eclection (UK) 1968: This was a strong folk-rock band who had the fullest sound of any of the bands in the genre. It had members from Australia, the UK and Norway in it with strong female and male vocals. Sandy Denny's husband Trevor Lucas actually played bass and veteran Gerry Conway was on drums. There was just this one album and it occupies a nice sonic space between Fairport Convention and Mellow Candle with an extra dose of San Francisco psyche-folk-rock in the mix.
67. Spriguns - Revel Weird and Wild (UK) 1976: Initially called Spriguns of Tolgus, this band featured the pure vocals of Mandy Morton. Her delivery was straight forward, yet from far off in some surreal netherworld. Most singers had some intensity in some interesting direction, but Morton captures the mysterious nature of British folk music perhaps best of any of them. The band plays a mixture of electric and acoustic and made some excellent music across several albums. This one is the steadiest.
66. Arzachel - Arzachel (UK) 1969: A posthumous release by four musicians who were calling themselves Uriel at the time, but by release date, had success in the bands Gong and Egg. So out comes this early recording which I enjoy far more than anything they did subsequently. Steve Hillage's guitar is heavy, Dave Stewart's organ is big and spacey and the rhythm section moves things along with strength. Some songs sound of the era, with others from the psychedelic beyond. Amazing, and they really do have a sound that stands out from their future work.
65. Public Image Ltd. - Metal Box (UK) 1979: I gave this a sarcastic review in my college fanzine, but I was impressed with some of it instantly and all of it over time. The film canister was the most obviously audacious part of the release, until one actually listened to the invention or at least expansion of post-punk music. Swan Lake (Death Disco) is still one of the more dark and moving songs I have. When you can hear something 100 times or more and still be deeply moved tells me all I need to know.
64. Ougenweide - Eulenspiegel (Germany) 1976: Germany has the great krautrock bands (some on this list), but they had some nice folk artists as well. I still can't believe I could not fit Gurnemanz on this list, but I did find room for the better known and more prolific Ougenweide. They had many strong albums, but this one seems to move better from song to song, especially on Side One. Many albums still not on CD as far as I know, but this one was one of the early CD releases on the really cool Korean label, Si Wan. They are in the Steeleye Span style of sound with more of a Pentangle creativity I would say.
63. Spirogyra - St. Radiguns (UK) 1972: No, this is not Spyro Gyra, the USA fusion band that has been around forever. This was a folk collective that brought in Canterbury progressive sound to their three 1970s albums. They have a great contrast in the vocals with the harsh (and very cool) sound of Martin Cocherham (also on guitar) and the lovely range of Barbara Gaskin (who went on to work with Dave Stewart). Add a bass, violin, keyboards and Fairport's Dave Mattacks to help with some drums, and you have a great cross-genre sound that is out of Canterbury but far more unique. This was their first album and is the steadiest with great cuts all the way through.
62. Mudhoney - Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (USA) 1991: I suppose most people would put Superfuzz Bigmuff here, but I like the variety on this third album with its heavy psyche moves and even pop hooks. Green River Really got things rolling in Seattle with some great records but splintered into the very frustrating Pearl Jam and the very brilliant Mudhoney. Try as Eddie Vedder might, he could not match the sincerity and originality of Mudhoney which would be true even if they sold less records. Sadly Mudhoney did not sell as many records as Pearl Jam or Nirvana, but did acquire a strong cult of fans and respect of other musicians around the world. Grunge was just another great variation of post punk and these guys did it the best.
61. Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (UK) 1972: One of the rarest records and most talked about records of the psyche-folk-rock scene in the UK. This featured two young women (vocals, keyboards/songwriting), an electric guitarist and two ace session men on bass and drums. At first listen, I found some wildly creative music like Boulders on My Grave. The rest was interesting, but I had to go back to it many times before its real power got to me. My favorite moment is in Sheep Season where after a few minutes of the song, the band cuts into an instrumental passage for another three minutes until the fade-out. The weaving sounds that the four members put out are so intricate and wonderful, that I really wish I had a 30 minute version. Thankfully, lots of CDs and on-line sources are available, so you can use that $1,500 for other purchases.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (71-80)
80. MIJ - Yodelling Astrologer (USA) 1969: ESP was a really cool sixties label that brought us Pearls Before Swine, Fugs, Holy Modal Rounders and others. But if you think those bands are odd, well you may have missed MIJ. Apparently, Jim Holmberg (MIJ) suffered a skull fracture in an auto accident and upon waking, found he had an extra couple of octaves in his voice and new musical perceptions. He went and recording this crazed psychedelic folk album with singing, whistling, yodelling and banshee screams over acoustic guitars. If this sounds like complete nonsense, one listen to Grok (Martian Love Call) should have you believing anything.
79. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (USA) 2002: I came to this band rather late and have been exploring the back catalog. I am enjoying Josh Homme's first band, Kyuss, the more I listen to them, but this one still is the one to get. Homme got Mark Lanegan and Dave Grohl to join Nick Oliveri and himself and put out this heavy riffing powerhouse with loads of pop hooks mingling with raucous noisy rock music. Smart powerful music that is well above that of its many imitators.
78. Michael Raven & Joan Mills - Can y Mellinydd (The Miller Song) (UK) 1976: The three albums this duo recorded are all equally excellent, but I rather enjoy this one as it never got a proper release. It was on the Dutch label, Stoof, but got held up for various reasons and plain sleeve copies are available only in the collectors market (fortunately I paid less than the $1,200 I saw recently). Mills hits emotional depths much more than most singers of that era and Raven's guitar work is world class. Quite simply, some of the loveliest UK folk in the classic era.
77. Group 1850 - Agemo's Trip to Mother Earth (Netherlands) 1968: It's a toss up between this record and 1969's Paradise Now. This one is a tad more experimental in the psychedelic rock department. The cover was in 3-D like the Captain Beyond debut. Musically, they avoided cliched heavy psyche and brought in a lot of style shifts and dynamics. Often, I am expecting them to explode and they never quite do creating a lot of dramatic tension. Music that still intrigues me.
76. Genesis - Yakta Mama (Colombia) 1975: No, this is not that Genesis, but a band from Colombia who released three albums. South American rock, folk and psychedelic music from the sixties and seventies is very popular--especially in Europe. Record collectors have scoured out of the way shops for vinyl pressings that were pretty flimsy even when released. While many gems have been mined, the three albums by this band have some of the snappiest psyche rock songs with plenty of hooks, great vocals and local folk moves. Short, but sweet songs here.
75. Pearls Before Swine - One Nation Underground (USA) 1967: This "band" is pretty much Tom Rapp and friends. Rapp released many excellent records with a mix of great songs. A greatest hits record may be the best way to start, but this opening record is my favorite. Rapp is pretty much a folk artist who works with a band and comes up with fuller arrangements. His songs are really spacey with his mysterious lisp of a voice appearing to come from a different plane. Rapp quit the business and became an activist and attorney in Florida before being lured out of retirement in recent years to record again and play sporadically. He is a class act.
74. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (USA/UK) 1967: Well, I don't really have to say much about this one, do I? Quite simply, Hendrix was and is amazing and although I think a lot of people graduate to his subsequent works, I'll put the first one on my list with the great hits that got me into him in the first place.
73. Faraway Folk - Seasonal Man (UK) 1975: Superior folk-rock that is fairly hard to find with most likely bootleg CD issues and expensive vinyl originals out there in the marketplace. Clicking this link will give you an example of the jarring rock sounds on top of the folk heart of their music. This genre will make my list a lot as it is a bias, but this record (and others here) are pretty likable for everyone.
72. Caedmon - Caedmon (UK) 1978: This would have made my list even if I had not seen them recently and got to see what a nice group of people they are. The reunion shows in Edinburgh were great fun and they have a new album coming out in a month or so. This first obscure release was salvaged by the great Kissing Spell label, bringing in a hungry audience looking for great psyche-folk type records. This one fits between a lot of categories (and the band themselves play around with at least seven genres). They are acoustic based with electric bass and a really interesting electric guitar. There are cellos popping in and scrumptious male and female vocals. The album is up for free listening at their site and check out their new material as well.
71. Nirvana - Nevermind (USA) 1991: Here's another one that won't need much comment, so I'll pass on a story. I was a fan of theirs prior to this and went out of my way to see them when they were opening for Dinosaur Jr. They were excellent, but there was this fantastic song that I had not heard before. It really stuck, so I quickly bought the one single I had not owned at this point. Turned out "Sliver" was the other song I liked that I did not know. But what was that other song and why the hell wasn't that out there. A couple of months went by and I kept trying to find this song. Then while on travel, I went into a record store in Salt Lake City and while browsing suddenly realized they were playing that lost Nirvana song. I went to the counter and learned it was an advance copy of their new album on Geffen and the song was called "Smells Like Teen Spirit". And you know what happens next.
79. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (USA) 2002: I came to this band rather late and have been exploring the back catalog. I am enjoying Josh Homme's first band, Kyuss, the more I listen to them, but this one still is the one to get. Homme got Mark Lanegan and Dave Grohl to join Nick Oliveri and himself and put out this heavy riffing powerhouse with loads of pop hooks mingling with raucous noisy rock music. Smart powerful music that is well above that of its many imitators.
78. Michael Raven & Joan Mills - Can y Mellinydd (The Miller Song) (UK) 1976: The three albums this duo recorded are all equally excellent, but I rather enjoy this one as it never got a proper release. It was on the Dutch label, Stoof, but got held up for various reasons and plain sleeve copies are available only in the collectors market (fortunately I paid less than the $1,200 I saw recently). Mills hits emotional depths much more than most singers of that era and Raven's guitar work is world class. Quite simply, some of the loveliest UK folk in the classic era.
77. Group 1850 - Agemo's Trip to Mother Earth (Netherlands) 1968: It's a toss up between this record and 1969's Paradise Now. This one is a tad more experimental in the psychedelic rock department. The cover was in 3-D like the Captain Beyond debut. Musically, they avoided cliched heavy psyche and brought in a lot of style shifts and dynamics. Often, I am expecting them to explode and they never quite do creating a lot of dramatic tension. Music that still intrigues me.
76. Genesis - Yakta Mama (Colombia) 1975: No, this is not that Genesis, but a band from Colombia who released three albums. South American rock, folk and psychedelic music from the sixties and seventies is very popular--especially in Europe. Record collectors have scoured out of the way shops for vinyl pressings that were pretty flimsy even when released. While many gems have been mined, the three albums by this band have some of the snappiest psyche rock songs with plenty of hooks, great vocals and local folk moves. Short, but sweet songs here.
75. Pearls Before Swine - One Nation Underground (USA) 1967: This "band" is pretty much Tom Rapp and friends. Rapp released many excellent records with a mix of great songs. A greatest hits record may be the best way to start, but this opening record is my favorite. Rapp is pretty much a folk artist who works with a band and comes up with fuller arrangements. His songs are really spacey with his mysterious lisp of a voice appearing to come from a different plane. Rapp quit the business and became an activist and attorney in Florida before being lured out of retirement in recent years to record again and play sporadically. He is a class act.
74. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (USA/UK) 1967: Well, I don't really have to say much about this one, do I? Quite simply, Hendrix was and is amazing and although I think a lot of people graduate to his subsequent works, I'll put the first one on my list with the great hits that got me into him in the first place.
73. Faraway Folk - Seasonal Man (UK) 1975: Superior folk-rock that is fairly hard to find with most likely bootleg CD issues and expensive vinyl originals out there in the marketplace. Clicking this link will give you an example of the jarring rock sounds on top of the folk heart of their music. This genre will make my list a lot as it is a bias, but this record (and others here) are pretty likable for everyone.
72. Caedmon - Caedmon (UK) 1978: This would have made my list even if I had not seen them recently and got to see what a nice group of people they are. The reunion shows in Edinburgh were great fun and they have a new album coming out in a month or so. This first obscure release was salvaged by the great Kissing Spell label, bringing in a hungry audience looking for great psyche-folk type records. This one fits between a lot of categories (and the band themselves play around with at least seven genres). They are acoustic based with electric bass and a really interesting electric guitar. There are cellos popping in and scrumptious male and female vocals. The album is up for free listening at their site and check out their new material as well.
71. Nirvana - Nevermind (USA) 1991: Here's another one that won't need much comment, so I'll pass on a story. I was a fan of theirs prior to this and went out of my way to see them when they were opening for Dinosaur Jr. They were excellent, but there was this fantastic song that I had not heard before. It really stuck, so I quickly bought the one single I had not owned at this point. Turned out "Sliver" was the other song I liked that I did not know. But what was that other song and why the hell wasn't that out there. A couple of months went by and I kept trying to find this song. Then while on travel, I went into a record store in Salt Lake City and while browsing suddenly realized they were playing that lost Nirvana song. I went to the counter and learned it was an advance copy of their new album on Geffen and the song was called "Smells Like Teen Spirit". And you know what happens next.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (81-90)
90. Dead Meadow - Old Growth (USA) 2008: I am still amazed how neglected this LA band (with DC roots) is. Musicians know how good they are, as do many critics, but the audience is still in the cult numbers. They play amazingly good songs with a psychedelic style that should be cliched, but for their tremendous skill at finding their own sound. I particularly like the songs on this one, although some fans like the earlier works. It is all really good.
89. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (USA) 1988: Well this one is on the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, so it is hard to argue against this choice. Clearly, most people accept this as the pinnacle of Sonic Youth's career and a lightning bolt in indie rock in general. They strike a perfect balance of wild and crazy sonic moves with powerfully written songs. And that combination when blended with the care that a master chef would take with your favorite dish, always will get you on my list.
88. Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - Folk Routes, New Routes (UK) 1964: Davy Graham was a phenomenal talent whose albums have moments of brilliance, but are a bit erratic (although not as erratic as he was personally). Shirley Collins did great vocal work with her sister Dolly and the Albion Band and helped Alan Lomax collect field recordings in America. In 1964 they put together this landmark album that helped knock down walls for thousands of musicians to combine forms and styles in the UK folk world.
87. Strawbs - Strawbs (UK) 1969: Primarily known as a progressive group, the Strawbs played folk, bluegrass, rock, classical rock and even calypso. It did not always work, but there are great moments in the earlier years. This album really connects best for me and they still play songs from this one today, whether in full band form or in acoustic mode.
86. The Doors - The Doors (USA) 1967: Strange Days indeed surrounded this band which people have pretty varied opinions on. I always liked them and liked them best on their first two albums. This is another combination of styles that works with blues, classical, jazz, flamenco and psychedelic rock all coming together nicely. Yes, you can call Jim Morrison a pretentious alcoholic if you like, but these four guys made some great music.
85. Ton Vlasman - White Room with Disintegrating Walls (Netherlands) 1970: This one also belongs on the Top 100 album titles of all time and maybe album cover art as well. The album cover promises a lot and the music delivers. Great psychedelic songs with some folk moves. There are some odd CD reissues floating around but the album will cost you, but it was worth it for me.
84. Buzzcocks - Love Bites (UK) 1978: As the Buzzcocks albums have been reissued recently, many people have dismissed this second album as the weakest of the first three. Some have come around in appreciation, but it was always high on my list. It may be a bit dark, but the songs are strong and really flow nicely throughout. The Buzzcocks singles were all great and frankly, all of the early stuff is essential, but this one has both the highlights and the flow.
83. Boiled in Lead - Orb (USA) 1990: When I was young with far less musical talent than I wanted, I thought of two ideas for interesting crossover bands. I eventually found these bands with this Minneapolis outfit being one of them (stay tuned for the other). These guys combined Irish music, world music and rock'n'roll in ways that few others come close to. Super talented musicians combine with a great vision and archival ability made for each Boiled in Lead album being an exciting event for me. It was hard to pick my favorite, but this one had a great line-up and super mix of songs, be they original, traditional, or non-traditionally arranged.
82. Hoelderlin - Hoelderlin's Traum (Germany) 1970: This band devolved into a rather ordinary progressive band, but this debut album is a classic of psychedelic, progressive folk music. I often get this one confused with Broselmaschine which almost made my list, but this one is a bit stronger end to end. German bands did folk music very well with a progressive and intense undercurrent.
81. Renaissance - Turn of the Cards (UK) 1974: I have always enjoyed classical music and did not go into the spasms that most rock critics did as they sharpened their pencils to attack all the prog bands that combined classical music and rock. I liked the early version with Keith Relf, but most people know the Annie Haslam version represented here. The songs here really move and have everything from exotic landscapes to urban London vibes. The band may agree with me as this album was the most featured in their live set.
89. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (USA) 1988: Well this one is on the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, so it is hard to argue against this choice. Clearly, most people accept this as the pinnacle of Sonic Youth's career and a lightning bolt in indie rock in general. They strike a perfect balance of wild and crazy sonic moves with powerfully written songs. And that combination when blended with the care that a master chef would take with your favorite dish, always will get you on my list.
88. Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - Folk Routes, New Routes (UK) 1964: Davy Graham was a phenomenal talent whose albums have moments of brilliance, but are a bit erratic (although not as erratic as he was personally). Shirley Collins did great vocal work with her sister Dolly and the Albion Band and helped Alan Lomax collect field recordings in America. In 1964 they put together this landmark album that helped knock down walls for thousands of musicians to combine forms and styles in the UK folk world.
87. Strawbs - Strawbs (UK) 1969: Primarily known as a progressive group, the Strawbs played folk, bluegrass, rock, classical rock and even calypso. It did not always work, but there are great moments in the earlier years. This album really connects best for me and they still play songs from this one today, whether in full band form or in acoustic mode.
86. The Doors - The Doors (USA) 1967: Strange Days indeed surrounded this band which people have pretty varied opinions on. I always liked them and liked them best on their first two albums. This is another combination of styles that works with blues, classical, jazz, flamenco and psychedelic rock all coming together nicely. Yes, you can call Jim Morrison a pretentious alcoholic if you like, but these four guys made some great music.
85. Ton Vlasman - White Room with Disintegrating Walls (Netherlands) 1970: This one also belongs on the Top 100 album titles of all time and maybe album cover art as well. The album cover promises a lot and the music delivers. Great psychedelic songs with some folk moves. There are some odd CD reissues floating around but the album will cost you, but it was worth it for me.
84. Buzzcocks - Love Bites (UK) 1978: As the Buzzcocks albums have been reissued recently, many people have dismissed this second album as the weakest of the first three. Some have come around in appreciation, but it was always high on my list. It may be a bit dark, but the songs are strong and really flow nicely throughout. The Buzzcocks singles were all great and frankly, all of the early stuff is essential, but this one has both the highlights and the flow.
83. Boiled in Lead - Orb (USA) 1990: When I was young with far less musical talent than I wanted, I thought of two ideas for interesting crossover bands. I eventually found these bands with this Minneapolis outfit being one of them (stay tuned for the other). These guys combined Irish music, world music and rock'n'roll in ways that few others come close to. Super talented musicians combine with a great vision and archival ability made for each Boiled in Lead album being an exciting event for me. It was hard to pick my favorite, but this one had a great line-up and super mix of songs, be they original, traditional, or non-traditionally arranged.
82. Hoelderlin - Hoelderlin's Traum (Germany) 1970: This band devolved into a rather ordinary progressive band, but this debut album is a classic of psychedelic, progressive folk music. I often get this one confused with Broselmaschine which almost made my list, but this one is a bit stronger end to end. German bands did folk music very well with a progressive and intense undercurrent.
81. Renaissance - Turn of the Cards (UK) 1974: I have always enjoyed classical music and did not go into the spasms that most rock critics did as they sharpened their pencils to attack all the prog bands that combined classical music and rock. I liked the early version with Keith Relf, but most people know the Annie Haslam version represented here. The songs here really move and have everything from exotic landscapes to urban London vibes. The band may agree with me as this album was the most featured in their live set.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
DC ROCK LIVE - TOP 100 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (91-100)
To celebrate two years of blogging, I will publish my favorite 100 albums as of now in a series of roughly weekly installments taking us to 2011. These are solely my choices as I feel right now with a mixture of entrenched favorites and newer discoveries. There is bias aplenty and this is mostly designed to give you an idea of where I come from and hopefully a few ideas for new listening. My first cut was to about 400, so there is a lot of good material that didn't make it. I often cut out good albums with brilliant songs and bands I love, but who spread out their music so a greatest hits album would be the better choice. And I tried to avoid those and compilations like Nuggets which also would have made the list. I limited myself to one album per band, as I hate those lists where the top 50 is split among 20 artists. Anyway, here goes from the bottom up.
100. Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II (USA) 1982: Early Puppets were too harsh even for my hardcore tastes, while latter work maybe a little too twangy (but still pretty tasty). This one captured the edge best and has a few killer cuts. A good mind opener for the punk scenes as things were getting too compartmentalized.
99. Armando Piazza -Suan (Italy) 1972: This Italian acid-folk-psyche singer songwriter had a couple of albums that have been reissued. He had American guitar whiz Shawn Phillips playing with him and these songs really stay with me and offer a nice southern Europe perspective to this style.
98. Siena Root - Different Realities (Sweden) 2009: A rare recent album on my list, but I just listen to this one so much more than the rest in my many stacks of new music. They really have a great prog-psychedelic style with a mix of long and short songs. Great music from a country always worth keeping your eye on.
97. Pan & Regaliz - Pan & Regaliz (Spain) 1971: The flute makes one think of Jethro Tull, but there is more psychedelic rock going on in this, there only album. Great mixture of styles from a band that got lost in the shuffle, but is known by record collectors and psyche fans everywhere.
96. Veronique Chalot - J Ai Vu Le Loup (Italy) 1977: French artist with medieval feel and classic folk touches which does have just enough of a psyche vibe to create a lot of interest for people like me.
95. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (USA) 1969: Jazz is a nice diversion for me at times, but this monster is well known for its crossover into the rock arena. Still powerful today and a really exciting record that only a few had the skill (and fewer the vision) to bring forward.
94. John Renbourn - The Black Balloon (UK) 1989: Renbourn is one of my favorite pure finger style guitarists with his work in Pentangle and on his solo records. I wanted to put Bert Jansch, Wizz Jones, and the immortal Davy Graham on the list, but Renbourn's album here is the one I play most as it works from first note to last and is very involving with only an acoustic guitar or two throughout. Well, ok there is a touch of flute and tabor.
93. Third Ear Band - The Magus (UK) 1972: This posthumous release has some of their most accessible music (used in Polanski's "Macbeth"). I suppose real fans prefer "Alchemy", but I think this one has more striking songs in addition to the psyche jams which comprise their earlier work. Purists may disagree, but I would start right here at the end of their career.
92. Quintessence - In Blissful Company (UK) 1969: Krishna rock band that did wonderful psyche chants in between some great rock music of that period. They captured both American, UK and far East styles as well as anyone did back then.
91. Elly & Rikkert - Parsifal (Netherlands) 1971: A great psychedelic folk duo from a country that had more than a few artists that are must haves in this field. Their first three albums are great and a fourth is good, but they transformed into a rather dull Christian straight-folk act that every record collector from Europe warns me away from.
100. Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II (USA) 1982: Early Puppets were too harsh even for my hardcore tastes, while latter work maybe a little too twangy (but still pretty tasty). This one captured the edge best and has a few killer cuts. A good mind opener for the punk scenes as things were getting too compartmentalized.
99. Armando Piazza -Suan (Italy) 1972: This Italian acid-folk-psyche singer songwriter had a couple of albums that have been reissued. He had American guitar whiz Shawn Phillips playing with him and these songs really stay with me and offer a nice southern Europe perspective to this style.
98. Siena Root - Different Realities (Sweden) 2009: A rare recent album on my list, but I just listen to this one so much more than the rest in my many stacks of new music. They really have a great prog-psychedelic style with a mix of long and short songs. Great music from a country always worth keeping your eye on.
97. Pan & Regaliz - Pan & Regaliz (Spain) 1971: The flute makes one think of Jethro Tull, but there is more psychedelic rock going on in this, there only album. Great mixture of styles from a band that got lost in the shuffle, but is known by record collectors and psyche fans everywhere.
96. Veronique Chalot - J Ai Vu Le Loup (Italy) 1977: French artist with medieval feel and classic folk touches which does have just enough of a psyche vibe to create a lot of interest for people like me.
95. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (USA) 1969: Jazz is a nice diversion for me at times, but this monster is well known for its crossover into the rock arena. Still powerful today and a really exciting record that only a few had the skill (and fewer the vision) to bring forward.
94. John Renbourn - The Black Balloon (UK) 1989: Renbourn is one of my favorite pure finger style guitarists with his work in Pentangle and on his solo records. I wanted to put Bert Jansch, Wizz Jones, and the immortal Davy Graham on the list, but Renbourn's album here is the one I play most as it works from first note to last and is very involving with only an acoustic guitar or two throughout. Well, ok there is a touch of flute and tabor.
93. Third Ear Band - The Magus (UK) 1972: This posthumous release has some of their most accessible music (used in Polanski's "Macbeth"). I suppose real fans prefer "Alchemy", but I think this one has more striking songs in addition to the psyche jams which comprise their earlier work. Purists may disagree, but I would start right here at the end of their career.
92. Quintessence - In Blissful Company (UK) 1969: Krishna rock band that did wonderful psyche chants in between some great rock music of that period. They captured both American, UK and far East styles as well as anyone did back then.
91. Elly & Rikkert - Parsifal (Netherlands) 1971: A great psychedelic folk duo from a country that had more than a few artists that are must haves in this field. Their first three albums are great and a fourth is good, but they transformed into a rather dull Christian straight-folk act that every record collector from Europe warns me away from.
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