Martymankins over at Banal Leakage did his favorite 25 albums a couple weeks ago (here and here) and ever since then I've been mulling it over. After going through my CD's, I think I've come up with my top 25. It was a tough call for me and ranking them was even harder. I think that on some days I would put my #25 album at #2 and my #4 album in the teens. And eliminating some albums was very hard. In fact, as you will see later, I had to cheat a little bit.
Today I give you #21 to #25 plus a couple bonus soundtracks that I love that could break the top 25 at some point in the future. Keep in mind, these are my favorite albums, not necessarily the albums that I think are the best. There really is a big difference.
BONUS SOUNDTRACKS
Once - There are probably soundtracks that I listen to more than these two bonus soundtracks, but none featuring original music. Once is one of my favorite albums period and it only doesn't appear in the top 25 because it's only been out for a little while. It's such a beautifully written and performed album that even without the movie it might be one of my favorites. Although without the movie, I probably would've never listened to this album and never been exposed to Glen Hansard and Market Irglova.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - Box of Cox - Right now the only way the entire 30+ songs from the movie are available is through iTunes and if you are going to buy the Walk Hard soundtrack, you have to go big. The movie itself wasn't great, but the music was. It's a parody/comedy album, yes, but a lot of the songs are very sincere and very well written and could easily, accidentally pass as real songs. Like "Let's Duet". That could easily be a real country song. I love how he means well in each song but just doesn't quite get the point, like "Mr. President", "Billy Don't Be a Hero" and my personal favorite, "Mulatto". Mulatto!
25.
Weezer - Blue Album - Right in the middle of all things grunge (actually, more like near the end, but I was a little slow) - a genre I liked but never really identified with - came Weezer. Nerd rock is exactly what I was looking for at the time, my ears were never quite the same. This would actually be much higher up if it weren't for the fact that another Weezer album appears later and I was kind of trying not to double up on bands.
24.
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model - I have a hard time believing that I missed out on Elvis Costello until only recently. His music, at least his early music, is exactly what I like. Intelligent, poppy, a little punky and This Year's Model is packed full with a good portion of his best. "This Year's Model", "Pump It Up", "Little Triggers", the underrated "Lip Service" and of course "Radio, Radio". I'm so confused as to which version that I actually own since there are at least five different versions that have been released. Oh well, they're all good.
23.
Mos Def - Black On Both Sides - I always relate this album to Harlingen, Texas. Seriously, Mos Def reminds me of a crummy little border Texas town. But that's because we listened to Black On Both Sides almost nonstop all summer long. A great mix of poppy songs, furious political statements, a little punk rock all done with great intelligence and amazing flow, creativity and humor. Great from start to finish.
22.
Reverend Horton Heat - Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em - I love the swaggering hellfire psychobilly that is The Reverend. It's fast, it's furious and it's a ton of fun from start to finish. Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em was the Reverend's first and it's release on Sub Pop and it's inclusion with a lot of that period's grunge was a very striking contrast. "Eat Steak", "Marijuana" and "Psychobilly Freakout" are classics anthems.
21.
A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm - A Tribe Called Quest was the first hip-hop album that I really connected with on a level other than just being pop music. I liked other rappers and rap groups before this album, but it was very superficial and more along the trying to keep up with what the cool kids were listening to. I first picked up this album after hearing "Left My Wallet In El Segundo" and was then exposed to "Push It Along", "Bonita Applebaum", and "Can I Kick It" and my reasons to listen to rap were never the same.
Today I give you #21 to #25 plus a couple bonus soundtracks that I love that could break the top 25 at some point in the future. Keep in mind, these are my favorite albums, not necessarily the albums that I think are the best. There really is a big difference.
BONUS SOUNDTRACKS
Once - There are probably soundtracks that I listen to more than these two bonus soundtracks, but none featuring original music. Once is one of my favorite albums period and it only doesn't appear in the top 25 because it's only been out for a little while. It's such a beautifully written and performed album that even without the movie it might be one of my favorites. Although without the movie, I probably would've never listened to this album and never been exposed to Glen Hansard and Market Irglova.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - Box of Cox - Right now the only way the entire 30+ songs from the movie are available is through iTunes and if you are going to buy the Walk Hard soundtrack, you have to go big. The movie itself wasn't great, but the music was. It's a parody/comedy album, yes, but a lot of the songs are very sincere and very well written and could easily, accidentally pass as real songs. Like "Let's Duet". That could easily be a real country song. I love how he means well in each song but just doesn't quite get the point, like "Mr. President", "Billy Don't Be a Hero" and my personal favorite, "Mulatto". Mulatto!25.
Weezer - Blue Album - Right in the middle of all things grunge (actually, more like near the end, but I was a little slow) - a genre I liked but never really identified with - came Weezer. Nerd rock is exactly what I was looking for at the time, my ears were never quite the same. This would actually be much higher up if it weren't for the fact that another Weezer album appears later and I was kind of trying not to double up on bands. 24.
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model - I have a hard time believing that I missed out on Elvis Costello until only recently. His music, at least his early music, is exactly what I like. Intelligent, poppy, a little punky and This Year's Model is packed full with a good portion of his best. "This Year's Model", "Pump It Up", "Little Triggers", the underrated "Lip Service" and of course "Radio, Radio". I'm so confused as to which version that I actually own since there are at least five different versions that have been released. Oh well, they're all good.23.
Mos Def - Black On Both Sides - I always relate this album to Harlingen, Texas. Seriously, Mos Def reminds me of a crummy little border Texas town. But that's because we listened to Black On Both Sides almost nonstop all summer long. A great mix of poppy songs, furious political statements, a little punk rock all done with great intelligence and amazing flow, creativity and humor. Great from start to finish. 22.
Reverend Horton Heat - Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em - I love the swaggering hellfire psychobilly that is The Reverend. It's fast, it's furious and it's a ton of fun from start to finish. Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em was the Reverend's first and it's release on Sub Pop and it's inclusion with a lot of that period's grunge was a very striking contrast. "Eat Steak", "Marijuana" and "Psychobilly Freakout" are classics anthems. 21.
A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm - A Tribe Called Quest was the first hip-hop album that I really connected with on a level other than just being pop music. I liked other rappers and rap groups before this album, but it was very superficial and more along the trying to keep up with what the cool kids were listening to. I first picked up this album after hearing "Left My Wallet In El Segundo" and was then exposed to "Push It Along", "Bonita Applebaum", and "Can I Kick It" and my reasons to listen to rap were never the same.
3 comments:
Wow. I feel like I started something. Nice start to the list.
Weezer's first album was pretty big. I remember watching the "Buddy Holly" video a lot (with the Happy Days theme to it). Musically, I still like Weezer, even some of the newer stuff like "Pork and Beans"
Elvis Costello... been listening to him for years. I've always liked his work, but "Imperial Bedroom" ended up being my favorite album of his.
I've heard the Reverend and he does rock. I've not seen either movie of the soundtracks you list, but plan to.
Awesome list. Once is on constant repeat. I just don't get tired of it. And Elvis Costello is always a solid choice!
Marty - Thanks for the idea, it seriously has been rattling through my head since you posted it.
I still like Weezer more than a lot of groups, but their last album was bad. Beverly Hills was a good song and a couple others were solid, but overall it was really lackluster. Here's hoping the next will be better.
Sizzle - Such a great album. I find it will come on in the middle of some upbeat, happy, poppy songs and it won't ruin the mood like a lot of slower songs would. That's a testament to it's power.
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