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TOP 20 ALBUMS

I think everybody's got a list of their favourite albums that they can't understand why everybody else doesn't think are the best ever.Well here's mine.This list is not necessarily in any particular order because it depends on what mood I was in the day I compiled it.

  • Eurythmics-Sweat dreams (are made of this)

This is a great piece of keyboard pop.Recorded on an eight track mixer the songs are on the whole simple but with Annie Lennix fantastic voice the end result is quite hypnotic

  • The Pixies-Doolittle

pixies_doolittle2.jpg (58656 bytes)The fathers of grunge, yes before all those Seattle groups came along Boston's finest were thrashing out this masterpiece singing about dead, mutilation,tattoos and even the odd religious monkey.Anyone who likes grunge/punk and hasn't got this should, NOW.

  • Jesus and Mary Chain-Psychocandy

jesus & mary chain2.jpg (32338 bytes)Originally from East kilbride in Scotland the Mary Chain caused mayhem with their early (very short) live gigs.This album is full of that early arrogance which they never quite managed to achieve again.Like the name suggests some of it is nice guitar based pop songs but the rest has enough feed back on them to last the rest of your life.      

  • Nivarna-Nevermind

Nirvana_nevermind2.jpg (33153 bytes)I don't even know or think I should say anything about this, enough been said already

 

  • The Specials-The Specials

This came out in those late seventies early eighties British Ska movement times.After punk was officially laid to rest the Rude Boys hit the seen, there were other Ska bands but none quite as good as the Specials.This album is a mix of what was left of the punk era and what was happening in the big bad British heart lands.This type of reggae at the time was nearly always political and this is no exception.

  • The Triffids-Born sandy devotional

Triffids_born sandy devotional2.jpg (63404 bytes)Who bought Triffid albums? not that many people I think but I was one of those people.This is on a small Ausy label called      , they did eventually move to Britain and a major label but still know one really bought them.Born Sandy devotional is an extremely eerie record.Most of the songs are about lost love or death and have an empty lost in the outback sound.This is not to be listened to if your in the middle of winter with a knife in your hand.

  • OMD-Architect and morality

The two lads from OMD came from just down the road from me and some of the song titles reflect thing in this area

  • Portishead-Dummy

Back to the depressing stuff.This album mixes guitars with an awful lot of scratching and sampling.It really is very hard to explain but this is a very inspired and original record, the depressing bit comes when you add the vocals.Beths voice and delivery and the content of the songs themselves make this a truely remarkable if not unusual sound.

  • R.E.M.-Document

  • XTC-

  • Pulp-Different class

pulp_different class2.jpg (39099 bytes)This is, in my opinion the best pop album of the last ten years.With the singles Common People, Mis-Shapes, Disco 2000, Sorted for E's & Wizz and more there's no getting away from the fact that Garvis Cocker writes some extremely catchy songs with fantastic hooks and choruses. 

  • P.J.Harvey

pj.harvey2.jpg (30728 bytes)This album is brilliant because of it's simplicity and general under production.Songs have a haunting feeling with the use of violin and cello on some tracks and Polly's ability to sing with such feeling and sound like she means every word.     

  • Blur-Parklife

blur_parklife2.jpg (45863 bytes)This 1995 record by them cheeky lads from down south sort of captured a moment.I suppose you could say it's 60's retro taking insperation from the likes of the Small Faces but really it just sits there on it's own with very little to compair it to.

 

 

  • Dinosaur jr-Where you been

dinosaur_jr_where youbeen2.jpg (59054 bytes)I remember the first time I saw these was on MTV doing a live set for I think a program a the time called 120 minutes.What struck me was his, at times, slightly off key gravely voice.Luckily I'd videoed it and realised after a number of listens that this was bril.I then went and bought the album.

  • Blondie-Parallel lines

blondie2.jpg (43258 bytes)Blondie had a lot of very good hit singles from the latish 70's through the early 80's and this record came along just as the success was beginning.I think it boast four of those singles but the rest of the album is just as good.They were always classed as a punk band at the time but they were really just an excellent guitar pop band.There is a song called Get you which was recently on the Rug Rats movie, sung by Angelica although the words were slightly altered.My daughter thinks Angelica's version is best but there's no comparison.    

  • Echo and the Bunnymen-Porcupine

bunnymen_porcupine2.jpg (55066 bytes)This was the third album from the Liverpool group that never quite made it total big but believe me they should.Probably one of the least commercial of all the Bunnymen LP's and saw them drifting away from their predominantly guitar based sound but not with the orchestral instrument that were to follow.The first four albums were all worthy of being in this list and it was a very hard choice 

  • Manic Street Preachers-Everything must go

manicseverythingmustgo.JPG (12822 bytes)

 

 

  • Radiohead-Ok computer

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radiohead_ok computer2.jpg (44170 bytes)

 

 

  • The Pogues-Rum sodomy and the lash

pogues_rum sodomy2.jpg (72232 bytes)I remember being with my brother at a student party in Birmingham in this grotty three bedroom house with different music in each room.In one of those rooms was playing the Pogues first album, which to this day I haven't got but it did inspire me to go out and get the new album.The mix of traditional Irish songs and their own modern brand of Irish Foke added to the  unbelievable vocals of Shane McGowen makes this a great record.  

 

 

  • Sisters of Mercy-First last and always

sisters of mercy_first,last & always2.jpg (62072 bytes)

 

 

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