Tag: 100Albums

24 posts

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  Album 23 / 100: Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden

  Timing felt right for this one. Start of the morning, getting the day going. Quiet but not boring, abstractly exploring without feeling like it was meandering. While Mark Hollis' vocals took a little getting used to, they were never off-putting. Glad to have heard this after feeling like I was seeing it making the rounds a lot.

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  Album 22 / 100: Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

  It’s immediately clear why this album transcends to the top of many greatest albums of all times lists. The way each song moves into the next makes the entire record one continuously amazing musical experience. I knew a few tracks, but listening all the way through showed me how political, spiritual, and deeply personal the whole album is. Marvin Gaye's voice moves seamlessly from shouting his message to bringing you intimately close in. A masterpiece.

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  Album 21 / 100: Interpol - Turn On the Bright Lights

  Turn on the Bright Lights sounds like a key unlocking the 2000s angular post punk revival. Listening front to back kicked out a bunch of surprises, including 'Roland.' Years ago I went through a phase where I obsessively listened to Snowden’s "Anti-Anti", and now I see where they got their sound. Between the sharp production and tight guitar off plays, this album definitely carved out a lane of its own. Enjoyed it, and I’ll be coming back for more Interpol, including their latest.

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  Album 20 / 100: Ray Charles - The Genius of Ray Charles

  Big band, big voice, big love. The arrangements and orchestration are incredible. When you listen to Ray Charles sing, it's transcending, and hearing him physically move as he's moved in singing Just for a Thrill is...well a thrill. What a gem.

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  Album 19 / 100: David Bowie - Heroes

  David Bowie's Heroes is a fantastic record that caught me completely off guard with its transition and balance of rock and ambient textures. That shift into ambient territory on side two is brilliant, and I could easily listen to a whole album of tracks like 'Moss Garden.' The split between driving art rock and quiet instrumentals was a total surprise, but grabbed me right away. Those ambient pieces never feel like an afterthought, clearly crafted with real care and purpose. Ready for more Bowie!

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  Album 18 / 100: The Velvet Underground & Nico

  A legendary art folk punk record with incredible highs, but it veers off track once it leaves song structure behind. When tracks erode into screeching noise and feedback like in 'European Son', it loses all momentum. I've noticed a clear pattern for my own taste: when structured songs turn free form, I start to lose interest. The exception for me is jazz, but even there I gravitate toward less all out free form. As crazy as it sounds, you can genuinely hear how many drugs they were on while making this. I mean, there is literally a song called 'Heroin' on the album.

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  Album 17 / 100: Al Green - Let's Stay Together

  This album is a masterpiece. Standout track for me is 'What Is This Feeling', which sounds like a Sunday stroll down a tree lined street head over heels in love. I've always loved Al Green's voice and know the hits, but listening to this front to back was total love.

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  Album 16 / 100: The Stooges - Fun House

  This album was exhausting for me. Between the chaos of screeching saxophone and the unstructured sounds of meltdown, it was a tiring listen. I usually see records through to the end, but this was one of the few that I stopped playing before it was completely over. No doubt that stripped down recording style was bold new territory in 1970, but the music sounded like free form avant punk jamming.

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  Album 15 / 100: Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

  This is certainly a much rawer, straightforward thrash version of the band while still reaching for their bigger operatic roots. It was a quick and fun listen, and I also learned that this and the next album were the only two with their original singer.

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  Album 14 / 100: Black Sabbath - Paranoid

  This is a bit of a cheat as I know a few of the songs well, but not the whole record. Listening through the rest of the track list, this is definitely a solid listen that stands the test of metal time.

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  Album 13 / 100: Black Flag - Damaged

  Besides some of the political and social statements, I had no idea how deeply emotional and personal the songwriting was. You get songs about depression and anxiety, while the very next one is about being a maniac or ripping a six pack of beer. Dealing with both the fun and challenges of being a human in punk form. Who knew? Not me until now.

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  Album 12 / 100: R.E.M. - Murmur

  The lyrics are often buried in the music, and when they aren't, they are abstractly poetic. It makes sense given how powerful their later albums are, especially one of my all time favorites, Automatic for the People. While this clocks in at a pretty quick pace, it sounds like a band getting their heartfelt selves together.

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  Album 11 / 100: Gang of Four - Entertainment!

  There is a real sense of purpose across this album, like a sharp angularity that was very intentional. It feels like an artist who had been honing their craft and decided to go against the system with a new way of song writing. Back then I imagine this was pretty remarkable, and even now you can hear how other bands were influenced by it. I dig it.

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  Album 10 / 100: fIREHOSE - fROMOHIO

  One of my least favorite records I’ve listened to so far. Sure Mike Watt is in it and he’s a legend, but I could barely stomach the lackadaisical, meandering jam punk borefest.

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  Album 9 / 100: Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet

  The production is so powerful, an intense non stop statement. There’s a lot of filler on the album that but that feels very emblematic of hip hop releases during the times. Each track is a political movement wrapped in incredible production. It feels genuinely important, and you really feel the weight of that message after listening.

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  Album 8 / 100: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland

  Jimi Hendrix is one of the most influential and iconic guitar players of all time. There is absolutely no doubt about that, and you can hear it in every note he plays. Overall, though, this album is a meandering haze of jam infused rock and psychedelic blues. While I'm sure that loose vibe is the main draw for a lot of listeners, it just doesn't work for me. At its tightest with songs like 'Crosstown Traffic,' 'All Along the Watchtower,' and 'House Burning Down,' it really rips. For me though, the wandering far outweighs the rest.

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  Album 7 / 100: Elvis Costello & The Attractions - This Year's Model

  This is a fantastic album. He's got such a distinctive and unique voice. Short but sweet power pop and it's a solid listen front to back. Would definitely come back for more of this record!

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  100 Albums Update: Week 1

  Last week I listened to 6 new to me albums, and posted little blurbs about each on my website (in bio). I have a work trip coming up this week, so either it's going to slow my progress down or supercharge it as I listen to albums on the flight. Otherwise, having fun making my way through it and sharing the journey! Thanks for following, and always let me know your must listen albums!

• Album 6 / 100: King Crimson - Red

  Definitely a prog journey and I do enjoy some proggy goodness. Red started out strong, but I felt like it started losing its steam mid way through. The tight arrangements turned into more meandering, but overall this was a pretty solid album.

• Album 5 / 100: Queen - Sheer Heart Attack

  This was a roaringly quick listen, and Killer Queen is such a classic track, love it. I had no idea that Stone Cold Crazy was originally a Queen song as I've only ever heard covers of it. The record is a wild ride, ranging from arena rock to power ballads to surprisingly thrashy, metal riffs. I really enjoyed it front to back. Hearing this more raw version of Queen before the bigger rock anthems, which are great in their own right, is very cool.

• Album 4 / 100: Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life

  Stevie Wonder is a master musician and singer, and this entire record is a stunning sonic journey. From the song arrangements to the production, everything is so tight and immaculate. Even clocking in at over 90 minutes, it's a deep listen that covers an incredible amount of musical ground. Absolutely loved it!

• Album 3 / 100: The Cars - The Cars

  Ok, so this one may not be entirely fair as I'm pretty certain I've listened to this album before, and most definitely the singles. Maybe it just feels that way because the singles are locked in my brain. It's a fantastic pop record. The production is immaculate and so tight, while still feeling like a band playing in a room and not overproduced. Beyond the big singles, 'Don't Cha Stop' and 'Bye Bye Love' were my standouts.

• Album 2 / 100: Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

  I can hear why this album matters and in the countless bands it influenced. Listening to it, I respect the mark it made, but it's just not for me. Still, I guarantee I'll love something new down the line, only to hear someone say, 'See? They wouldn't exist without Joy Division,' and I'll get it 100%

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  Album 1 / 100: Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair

  I know Tears for Fears but can't say I've ever sat down and really listened to a full album from them. Finally sitting down and listening to Songs from the Big Chair. While I know the hits, I don't know this record at all. Stand out so far is Mothers Talk and the production is tight and it's a throw back to my childhood. The radio hits were unavoidable!