AskSE: Fifteen Albums Forever | Sensible Endowment

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Wednesday, 9 September 2015

quote [ Take 15 minutes to list 15 albums you'll never forget and will always stick with you. List why the album will stick with you, because really, who wants to just read lists. ]

It's a stupid Facebook meme that's wound up hugely popular in my social circle - and it's genuinely fascinating to see what people love and why. This isn't a "list your top fifteen", any fifteen will do - so long as they were memorable and influenced you, and yes, that includes albums that negatively influenced you as well.

Reveal

My fifteen. Not in any particular order. I don't even want to try putting it in order of favorites.

Rush - 2112

The album that cemented my love for Rush forever. Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of the second half, but the title track is a brilliant masterpiece. I like the dystopian sci-fi feel, and Lifeson's guitar is perfect - especially during the "Discovery" section, where he goes from untuned open chords to his typical mastery. After the failure of the previous album, this was supposed to be the one that brought Rush into line and make them start churning out hard rock singles and sucking up to the record company - and instead, they decided to give the music industry the middle finger and go out with a bang. And they established their legacy, slipped the leash of the record company forever, and locked in a career of over forty years and eighteen albums.

Slayer - Reign in Blood

Thirty-five minutes of vicious, brutal metal onslaught. It brings rage and fury, and when it's done it carries my own away, and I feel shriven, like a new man. Also, Tom Araya's delivery of brilliant lyrics is perfect.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

I have an ongoing argument with virtually everyone I know, whether or not this album is better than Dark Side of the Moon - and I favor, ever so slightly, this one. There's something bleak and melancholic about the whole album, a paean of loss. A slow build with "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", then two scathing indictments of the music industry ("Welcome to the Machine" and "Have a Cigar"). The title track is a quiet tone poem to loneliness and despair, and then the slow letdown of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pt. II" completes the cycle. A mirror on my own mood all too often.

30 Seconds to Mars - 30 Seconds to Mars

Space rock. And yes, it gets a lot of flak for being an "emo" album, but I like the techy, ethereal sci-fi vibe it puts off. I can put this album on repeat, fire up the original Mass Effect, and spend hours fucking around with the planetary side quests - it's a perfect fit of music and game.

Metallica - Master of Puppets

Every single song on this album is a perfect gem of thrash metal. From an ode to rage ("Battery") to despair ("Welcome Home Sanitarium") to Cthulhu Mythos ("The Thing That Should Not Be") to almost downtempo funk ("Orion"), it's brilliant and perfect in every way - and I dig on that solo in the title track.

Two Steps from Hell - Invincible

You know that uplifting music from movie trailers, the stuff that makes you feel like you could kick ass and conquer the world and live victoriously forever? Here's a whole album of that. I can't listen to it and not start putting together the most awesome epic movie in my head.

Lamb of God - Sacrament

Randy Blythe, the lead singer, was widely known as an alcoholic douche - and the rest of the band wrote an entire album calling him out on it. And to his credit, he sang every bit of it with everything he had. It's their slickest and most heavily produced album, but it's also easily their best. The standouts are "Descending", a song dedicated to losing everything to alcohol, and "Walk With Me In Hell" - in an album full of "you're an asshole and we hate you", this is the song saying "but we still love you and we're not giving up on you, no matter how dark this road becomes."

Judas Priest - Painkiller

At a time when thrash metal was dying, being eaten alive by grunge, Judas Priest released one of the thrashiest metal albums ever. It's one of those untold wonders of the musical world, and proof that Judas Priest still had it in spades, even after two previous albums of metal-lite.

Led Zeppelin - IV

Again with the arguments - everyone else likes II better - but to my mind, this was the apex of Zeppelin. The Tolkien-inspired track "Battle of Evermore" is my personal favorite, followed closely by the bluesy "When The Levee Breaks". And of course the one Zeppelin song everyone knows, "Stairway to Heaven", which rightfully deserves it's status - catch that exact moment it goes from folk ballad to rock masterpiece, when Bonham brings in the drums.

Iron Maiden - Best of the Beast

Why yes, there is a "greatest hits" album on my list. But this is one of those perfect condensations of a band's output that captures them perfectly. Even at it's darkest it's still high-tempo and powerful. Note the live version of "Fear of the Dark", and the audience singing along to a guitar part. This is the album that got me into heavy metal.

The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed

This album started off as a record company asking a struggling blues band to record Antonin Dvorak's Symphony no. 9 as a demonstration album. It wound up as an orchestral rock masterpiece, a concept album of a day in the life of an average man. The album covers a lot of ground in it's playtime, bouncing for orchestral to hard rock to blues to pop to spoken-word poetry. We all know "Nights in White Satin" (although you might not know of the poem that ends it - the best part), but for me, the crowning song is "Tuesday Afternoon".

Guns n' Roses - Use Your Illusion (Walmart Special)

Apparently Walmart at some point commissioned a "greatest hits" version of the double album release of Use Your Illusion I & II, and I, as a young man buying his very first set of CDs (some of which were very poor choices), had no idea. Even so, it's a pretty solid selection of the albums.

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

The "Black Sabbath Sound" didn't premier until the next album, Masters of Reality, but this is Sabbath at their best. The title track is of special note - the band threw it together while driving to record the album as a filler track, and it turned out solid enough to name the album after.

Deep Purple - Machine Head

One of the early founding fathers of heavy metal. I always have to play "Space Truckin'" when I'm on a road trip, and "Highway Star" when I feel like flooring it. That super-technical guitar you hear isn't a guitar - it's Jon Lord passing a Hammond organ through a Marshal stack.

Gorillaz - Demon Days

Here's where I get a little weird - a cartoon band, blending hip-hop, rock, and pop. It's also an extended diss track aimed straight at the excesses of the modern world.

And my dishonorable mention:

Kid Rock - The History of Rock

This is the album that makes me want to build a time machine just so I can go back and bitchslap my eighteen-year-old self. There is nothing redeeming or acceptable about this album - Kid Cock rips off fucking everything, from rap to metal to country, to produce an album that can't even be so bad it's good - it just mediocre nu-metal bullshit. I consider the summer I spent listening to this album a complete waste of my life, and that even takes into consideration it was the summer I lost my virginity - thankfully not to this album.

[SFW] [ask SE]	[+10 Good]
[by rndmnmbr]

<-- Entry / Comment History

machpi said @ 4:09am GMT on 10th September
Not ordered, just 15 albums that never stay out of my rotation for very long.

1. Un-Led-Ed Dread Zeppelin
2. A Night at the Opera Queen
3. Dark Side Pink Floyd
4. Entertainment! Gang of Four
5. Fashion Nugget Cake
6. Hallowed Ground Violent Femmes
7. My Aim is True Elvis Costello
8. 151 Wire
9. Street Hassle Lou Reed
10. Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) Brian Eno
11. Tenacious D Tenacious D
12. Underwater Moonlight Soft Boys
13. Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
14. Hypnotised The Undertones
15. Revolver The Beatles

machpi said @ 7:05pm GMT on 10th September
Not ordered, just 15 albums that never stay out of my rotation for very long. Note: edited for more words

1. Un-Led-Ed Dread Zeppelin

2. A Night at the Opera Queen
3. Dark Side Pink Floyd
4. Entertainment! Gang of Four
5. Fashion Nugget Cake
6. Hallowed Ground Violent Femmes
7. My Aim is True Elvis Costello
8. 151 Wire
9. Street Hassle Lou Reed
10. Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) Brian Eno
11. Tenacious D Tenacious D
12. Underwater Moonlight Soft Boys
13. Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
14. Hypnotised The Undertones
15. Revolver The Beatles

machpi said @ 7:34pm GMT on 10th September
Not ordered, just 15 albums that never stay out of my rotation for very long. (Note: edited for more words)

1. Un-Led-Ed Dread Zeppelin
what's not to like? Lead Zep (and other) covers inna reggae style with a fat Elvis frontman.

2. A Night at the Opera Queen
you could not separate me from this album when I was a wee lad. Still works.

3. Dark Side Pink Floyd
This album always makes a depressing time worthwhile. Best with alcohol and a severe 'poor me' on.

4. Entertainment! Gang of Four
I like to sing in my car so I don't inflict it on others. I can hit all 6 notes Gang of Four inhabits like a champ.

5. Fashion Nugget Cake
This is my last pre-internet success story in tracking down a band given only a couple remembered cords and a line of verse. Found it in a record shop in Norway. Found out later I lived 15 miles down the road from them all the while without knowing it.
6. Hallowed Ground Violent Femmes
Remember when Gordon Gano was a guest star on Sabrina the Teenaged Witch? I do.

7. My Aim is True Elvis Costello
I still have no clue why Elvis was initially categorized as a Punk. "He doesn't fit anywhere on the board! Mash him up next to the Sex Pistols and let's move on!"

8. 151 Wire
for a particular mood, 151 has no peer. I have that mood a lot.

9. Street Hassle Lou Reed
It's best to hear about such things through the Reedomizer instead of actually living them. Squalor and nihilism, those are two of my favorite things for somebody else to experience on my behalf.

10. Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) Brian Eno
This album sounds like it could've been made yesterday. Or the day after tomorrow. The fact that it's from 1974 is evidence of time travel.

11. Tenacious D Tenacious D
You know what time it is? Tenacious D time, you muthafucka, go! Fuck yeah!

12. Underwater Moonlight Soft Boys
Robyn Hitchcock knows where it's at, and he's willing to share it with you.

13. Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
Another Pink Floyd album? Yes.

14. Hypnotised The Undertones
When you have just 3 minutes to spare, spare them listening to an Undertones song. Then spare some more.

15. Revolver The Beatles
Well, it's The Beatles, innit? I was a big Who and Rolling Stones fan way back when, and I still listen to them, but The Beatles... there's always something new I didn't hear the first thousand times I played them.

machpi said @ 7:35pm GMT on 10th September
Not ordered, just 15 albums that never stay out of my rotation for very long. (Note: edited for more words)

1. Un-Led-Ed Dread Zeppelin
what's not to like? Lead Zep (and other) covers inna reggae style with a fat Elvis frontman.

2. A Night at the Opera Queen
you could not separate me from this album when I was a wee lad. Still works.

3. Dark Side Pink Floyd
This album always makes a depressing time worthwhile. Best with alcohol and a severe 'poor me' on.

4. Entertainment! Gang of Four
I like to sing in my car so I don't inflict it on others. I can hit all 6 notes Gang of Four inhabits like a champ.

5. Fashion Nugget Cake
This is my last pre-internet success story in tracking down a band given only a couple remembered chords and a line of verse. Found it in a record shop in Norway. Found out later I lived 15 miles down the road from them all the while without knowing it.
6. Hallowed Ground Violent Femmes
Remember when Gordon Gano was a guest star on Sabrina the Teenaged Witch? I do.

7. My Aim is True Elvis Costello
I still have no clue why Elvis was initially categorized as a Punk. "He doesn't fit anywhere on the board! Mash him up next to the Sex Pistols and let's move on!"

8. 151 Wire
for a particular mood, 151 has no peer. I have that mood a lot.

9. Street Hassle Lou Reed
It's best to hear about such things through the Reedomizer instead of actually living them. Squalor and nihilism, those are two of my favorite things for somebody else to experience on my behalf.

10. Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) Brian Eno
This album sounds like it could've been made yesterday. Or the day after tomorrow. The fact that it's from 1974 is evidence of time travel.

11. Tenacious D Tenacious D
You know what time it is? Tenacious D time, you muthafucka, go! Fuck yeah!

12. Underwater Moonlight Soft Boys
Robyn Hitchcock knows where it's at, and he's willing to share it with you.

13. Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
Another Pink Floyd album? Yes.

14. Hypnotised The Undertones
When you have just 3 minutes to spare, spare them listening to an Undertones song. Then spare some more.

15. Revolver The Beatles
Well, it's The Beatles, innit? I was a big Who and Rolling Stones fan way back when, and I still listen to them, but The Beatles... there's always something new I didn't hear the first thousand times I played them.

machpi said @ 7:37pm GMT on 10th September
Not ordered, just 15 albums that never stay out of my rotation for very long. (Note: edited for more words)

1. Un-Led-Ed Dread Zeppelin
what's not to like? Lead Zep (and other) covers inna reggae style with a fat Elvis frontman.

2. A Night at the Opera Queen
you could not separate me from this album when I was a wee lad. Still works.

3. Dark Side Pink Floyd
This album always makes a depressing time worthwhile. Best with alcohol and a severe 'poor me' on.

4. Entertainment! Gang of Four
I like to sing in my car so I don't inflict it on others. I can hit all 6 notes Gang of Four inhabits like a champ.

5. Fashion Nugget Cake
This is my last pre-internet success story in tracking down a band given only a couple remembered chords and a line of verse. Found it in a record shop in Norway. Found out later I lived 15 miles down the road from them all the while without knowing it.

6. Hallowed Ground Violent Femmes
Remember when Gordon Gano was a guest star on Sabrina the Teenaged Witch? I do.

7. My Aim is True Elvis Costello
I still have no clue why Elvis was initially categorized as a Punk. "He doesn't fit anywhere on the board! Mash him up next to the Sex Pistols and let's move on!"

8. 151 Wire
for a particular mood, 151 has no peer. I have that mood a lot.

9. Street Hassle Lou Reed
It's best to hear about such things through the Reedomizer instead of actually living them. Squalor and nihilism, those are two of my favorite things for somebody else to experience on my behalf.

10. Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) Brian Eno
This album sounds like it could've been made yesterday. Or the day after tomorrow. The fact that it's from 1974 is evidence of time travel.

11. Tenacious D Tenacious D
You know what time it is? Tenacious D time, you muthafucka, go! Fuck yeah!

12. Underwater Moonlight Soft Boys
Robyn Hitchcock knows where it's at, and he's willing to share it with you.

13. Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
Another Pink Floyd album? Yes.

14. Hypnotised The Undertones
When you have just 3 minutes to spare, spare them listening to an Undertones song. Then spare some more.

15. Revolver The Beatles
Well, it's The Beatles, innit? I was a big Who and Rolling Stones fan way back when, and I still listen to them, but The Beatles... there's always something new I didn't hear the first thousand times I played them.

<-- Entry / Current Comment
machpi said @ 4:09am GMT on 10th September [Score:1 Good]
Not ordered, just 15 albums that never stay out of my rotation for very long. (Note: edited for more words)

1. Un-Led-Ed Dread Zeppelin
what's not to like? Lead Zep (and other) covers inna reggae style with a fat Elvis frontman.

2. A Night at the Opera Queen
you could not separate me from this album when I was a wee lad. Still works.

3. Dark Side Pink Floyd
This album always makes a depressing time worthwhile. Best with alcohol and a severe 'poor me' on.

4. Entertainment! Gang of Four
I like to sing in my car so I don't inflict it on others. I can hit all 6 notes Gang of Four inhabits like a champ.

5. Fashion Nugget Cake
This is my last pre-internet success story in tracking down a band given only a couple remembered chords and a line of verse. Found it in a record shop in Norway. Found out later I lived 15 miles down the road from them all the while without knowing it.

6. Hallowed Ground Violent Femmes
Remember when Gordon Gano was a guest star on Sabrina the Teenaged Witch? I do.

7. My Aim is True Elvis Costello
I still have no clue why Elvis was initially categorized as a Punk. "He doesn't fit anywhere on the board! Mash him up next to the Sex Pistols and let's move on!"

8. 151 Wire
for a particular mood, 151 has no peer. I have that mood a lot.

9. Street Hassle Lou Reed
It's best to hear about such things through the Reedomizer instead of actually living them. Squalor and nihilism, those are two of my favorite things for somebody else to experience on my behalf.

10. Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) Brian Eno
This album sounds like it could've been made yesterday. Or the day after tomorrow. The fact that it's from 1974 is evidence of time travel.

11. Tenacious D Tenacious D
You know what time it is? Tenacious D time, you muthafucka, go! Fuck yeah!

12. Underwater Moonlight Soft Boys
Robyn Hitchcock knows where it's at, and he's willing to share it with you.

13. Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
Another Pink Floyd album? Yes.

14. Hypnotised The Undertones
When you have just 3 minutes to spare, spare them listening to an Undertones song. Then spare some more.

15. Revolver The Beatles
Well, it's The Beatles, innit? I was a big Who and Rolling Stones fan way back when, and I still listen to them, but The Beatles... there's always something new I didn't hear the first thousand times I played them.

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