This is a new monthly feature, which does exactly what it says on the tin! Name your Top 3, with reasons, pictures, anything you like.
This first month we'll start with Albums. Which have stood the test of time, can be listened to any time, any place, and should be a regular in any music library?
My 3. I would put up the album covers but my Luddite tendencies have prevented me.
1. 'Blue Valentine' - Tom Waits
My favourite singer song writer. an acquired taste for some, genius to others. From 1977, maybe not considered his best album but it was the first I heard. Stand out track 'Christmas Card form a Hooker in Minniapolis'. Stunning. His version of 'Somewhere' from West side Story is simply beautiful.
2. 'Blood on the Tracks' - An obvious choice for any Bob Dylan fan. Almost universally accepted to be his best album from around 1975. 10 straight forward songs, with not a weak one amongst them. Possibly the strongest opening three songs on any album 'Tangled up in Blue', 'Simple Twist of Fate' and 'Youre a Big Girl Now'.
3. 'The Queen is Dead' - The Smiths. For bedsit maudlin types like me in the late 80's this was escapism of the most sublime kind. Championed by the late great John Peel, the Smiths were my musical muse during a difficult time in my life. Again this album was the critics choice, strong from finish to end.
All three are amongst the most played on my Ipod.
All a very personal choice, but they float my boat :D
Hmmm....
Tough to pick just three.
1. Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon". My first album owned. Still listen to it quite a bit. Great miniature painting tunes.
2. Duran Duran "Greatest Hits". Their music always puts me in a good frame of mind. Plus I'm from California Dude.
3. Peter Gabriel "So". In your eyes, is our wedding song for me and the Missus. Red Rain and Don't give up very prominent memory prods for me Army days.
FWIW, Salagam I listen to Morrissy quite a bit. Brilliant song writer.
Mine are probably:
Dire Straights - Brothers In Arms - because it's just amazing.
Kate Walsh - Clocktower Park - quite unknown, but she played a nightclub I was working in, and was outstanding.
Metallica - S&M - a live album of them playing with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, which is a surprisingly impressive collaboration.
Difficult to narrow to 3 but here goes...
1: London Calling by The Clash is quite simply the best album ever released
2: Never Mind The Bollocks by the Sex Pistols, still clearly defines a a great moment in time - and is still the best album to 'dance' to 8)
3: Stones Roses first album still as sounds as fresh as the day it was released
But so many others are great in different ways, and are at times the only album that suits such as Script of the Bridge by The Chameleons, Aladdin Sane by David Bowie, The Stooges first album and countless others. Then there's Bauhaus, Joy Division, Hawkwind, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, The Stranglers, Symarip, Toots And The Maytals, King Tubby, Lee Perry, The Dead Pets, Nirvana, Killing Joke, Siouxsie & the Banshees....... So many - now off to annoy the neighbours with some music again :D
Or, lets all date ourselves ;D
Jetro Tull, Thick as a Brick
Al Stewart, Time Passages
The Who, Who Are You
Blimey - almost impossible this one....what I'll do is pick the first 3 albums I ever bought...still play these lots now...
AC/DC: Back in Black (released & bought 1980, aged 9)
Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run (released 1975, bought 1981, aged 10)
Metallica: Kill 'Em All (released & bought 1983, aged 12)
This is pretty difficult...
1: Kula Shaker - K
Excellent album from the midst of the Britpop era. Although not entirely original, every song is superb.
2: Queen - Queen II
Fantastic, every song flows into each other. Their early prog type stuff was so much better than the generic rock they put out in the 80s.
3: The Jam - Setting Sons
By far their best album, full of bittersweet observations of the world which are as relevant now as they were when it was released in 1979.
Well, if these albums are showing how old we are, try and guess my age :P
Quote from: nikharwood on 11 August 2010, 07:10:03 PM
AC/DC: Back in Black (released & bought 1980, aged 9)
I'm embarrassed to admit I don't have this one yet, I keep meaning to add it to my iTunes.
Quote from: Stuart on 11 August 2010, 07:49:05 PM
2: Queen - Queen II
Fantastic, every song flows into each other. Their early prog type stuff was so much better than the generic rock they put out in the 80s.
I wanted to put a Queen album in, but couldn't decide which one. I usually have the 3 greatest hits on repeat while I'm casting.
Quote from: Stuart on 11 August 2010, 07:49:05 PM
1: Kula Shaker - K
Excellent album from the midst of the Britpop era. Although not entirely original, every song is superb.
I got this when it came out, and I never managed to get into it. Apart from Govinda, the rest of the tracks didn't make much impression on me.
Almost impossible to answer but right now i'd have to say, all things considered...
Overall top 3 albums
War of the Worlds - Jeff Wayne
Five Leaves Left - Nick Drake
Free Wheelin' - Bob Dylan
That said, the three albums (oddly enough) currently on my player in the car are;
Sigh No More - Mumford and Sons
Songs that Won the War - Various (classic 1940's gems interspersed with Churchill's speechs)
New Maps of Hell - God's Little Monkeys
:)
Mumford and Sons are excellent 8)
That is difficult, I have lots, lets try:
1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Original sound track): you could hate it or love it but it doesn't makes you indifferent.
2. Metallica: Master of Puppets - A Masterpiece of the Thrash Metal
3. Gorefest: Soul Survivor - A great evolution of a Death Metal Band ( I listen it again and again while painting :) )