coz's Favorite 10 Albums of All Time
1.
The Beach Boys
Not first on my list just because every song is amazing, but Pet Sounds also made just about every great studio album after it possible. If you can't see why it's so special, try just breaking out the vocals from one song (http://youtube.com/watch?v=eEWcS9f4Ewo) It's no wonder Brian Wilson went batshit - if you had all this beauty swirling around in your head trying to get out, you'd go crazy too
2.
Radiohead
General rule on this list - I am only picking 1 album per artist. I know I am going to take some heat on this choice from the other Radiohead geeks, but of all their albums, and I love each one, I always come back to the Bends. It has everything that made them great later, but the guitar driven riffs of the band when they were still creating rock n roll music is still magic.
Overall Rank: 16
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3.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen
Ever want to hear the singular moment in which a rock and roller becomes a superstar? This is it.
Springsteen makes my list because his music has been in my life since I could work a record player, and I think that the definative mode in which to hear Springsteen is live with the E Street Band. After hearing this album, you'll know why Lester Bangs said "[Springsteen's] not the next Jon Prine."
Springsteen makes my list because his music has been in my life since I could work a record player, and I think that the definative mode in which to hear Springsteen is live with the E Street Band. After hearing this album, you'll know why Lester Bangs said "[Springsteen's] not the next Jon Prine."
Overall Rank: 177
This album only appears on this list
4.
Stevie Wonder
Talking Book or Songs in the Key of Life? One of life's true quandries. Although "As" is probably Stevie's best songs, if I could only have one album of his, it would be Talking Book.
Overall Rank: 217
This album only appears on this list
5.
Public Enemy
<i>"Bass! How low can you go? Death row, what a brotha know?"</i> Massive, massive album, absolutely mind exploding for a 13 year old white boy from the 'burbs. Hip hop hit a crossroads at about this time, and it chose LA Gangstas over Chuck D. Hard to listen to this now without without wondering "what if?"
Overall Rank: 43
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6.
Bob Dylan
I came into Dylan all at once going through my dad's LPs when I was a kid. This album probably is Dylan enjoying himself the most of all. Plus to me as a pre-pubescent, I was always intrigued by the dishy brunette he's hanging out with on the cover...Who is she? Why is the fallout shelter so posh? Why is she so calmly smoking a cigarette, while Bob strokes Mr. Bigglesworth? I remain intrigued
Overall Rank: 311
This album only appears on this list
7.
Beastie Boys
A true lightning in a bottle moment, an album that could never be made today (beacause of licensing rules). The beats and samples are so thick, you need a steaknife to get through them.
Overall Rank: 2
8.
The Flaming Lips
Another tough call to pick between Yoshimi or The Soft Bulletin, but in the end, I guess I'm a sucker for a concept album that hangs together for the full set. Through buzzes, clicks and hums, they create electronic music with a ton of soul. Also, "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell" may be the perfect Lips song.
Overall Rank: 128
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9.
The Roots
Again, another band that has to be experienced live to get the full experience, which is why I was looking for "The Roots Come Alive," but it doesn't seem to be in the database. One of the most amazing live shows I've seen started with ?uestlove tracing the roots of hip hop in one DJ set from James Brown and George Clinton through Jay-Z, followed by the Roots ripping into the Phrenology tour set.
Overall Rank: 451
This album only appears on this list
10.
The Figgs
I'm gonna add the Figgs @ # 10 'cause I think they got the rawest deal of all time. Low-Fi at Society High is best in breed of '90's punk / power pop, bar none, and still stands-up to repeated listening today. Of course, they signed with soon-to-be bankrupt Imago Records, the album got no airplay, Green Day got famous with a song about jerking off and the rest is history. A damn shame.
Overall Rank: 497
This album only appears on this list
Last updated by coz on Mar 13, 2008 08:33 PM
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Flash - Come on, you know that I'm good like that.
Vin - it took me years to get Citizen Dick out of my mind, and there you go - bringing it right back to the forefront. Thanks.
vfk - Solid background info. Still an awesome album cover, and it still gets my blood going, now maybe moreso, with the thought of Bob lording over the art designer with some grand vision.
Vin - it took me years to get Citizen Dick out of my mind, and there you go - bringing it right back to the forefront. Thanks.
vfk - Solid background info. Still an awesome album cover, and it still gets my blood going, now maybe moreso, with the thought of Bob lording over the art designer with some grand vision.
The woman on the BIABH cover with Dylan is Sally Grossman, the wife of Dylan's manager Albert Grossman.
The albums spread out around them highlight some of the influences on Dylan and right behind Sally's arm is Dylan's album cover for "Another Side of Bob Dylan" released the year before, but more symbolically that reference of course points to the new direction BIABH represents seeing as it is Dylan's first electric foray on record and another move in his transition from folk hero to a transcendent musician of all styles. This was confirmed later that year with the release of the fully electric Highway 61 Revisited.
The albums spread out around them highlight some of the influences on Dylan and right behind Sally's arm is Dylan's album cover for "Another Side of Bob Dylan" released the year before, but more symbolically that reference of course points to the new direction BIABH represents seeing as it is Dylan's first electric foray on record and another move in his transition from folk hero to a transcendent musician of all styles. This was confirmed later that year with the release of the fully electric Highway 61 Revisited.
f'ing Jeremy Piven. I can't listen to that line from PE without thinking someone is mixing it with Elvis Costello.
Pet Sounds, huh? I didn't expect that from you! Then again, I don't think I've ever listened to it from start to finish, so I probably shouldn't be running my mouth :)
As for the Lips, after The Soft Bulletin, I just found Yoshimi to be a complete disappointment. It feels like a tease - like it's going to rise to classic levels of TSB and somehow manages to get distracted along the way. Not to say that it isn't a damn good album but in comparison, it's coming up short for me.
As for the Lips, after The Soft Bulletin, I just found Yoshimi to be a complete disappointment. It feels like a tease - like it's going to rise to classic levels of TSB and somehow manages to get distracted along the way. Not to say that it isn't a damn good album but in comparison, it's coming up short for me.
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