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My Top 25 Albums Of All Time

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Skibas_clavicle:
I fucking hate the Sex Pistols.  They brought in everything I hate about punk rock and became wash-up assholes before the 80s even got here. I know punk isn't renowned for its musicianship, but that doesn't give you the write to  make shit up on a bass. Bah. Enough, I just hate them, as for Jawbreaker, Dear You would be on my top 25 list for sure.

niatinari:
Because it's Friday the 13th, I give you my top 13.  (That and I'm terribly indecisive, and this was just too hard after a while!)

It's not what most would consider the top album of all times, but they're my current favorites.  I have to warn you all that I'm not very familiar with a lot of indie music, so I anticipate few will agree with my opinions.  Think my list is shameful and needs improvement?  Introduce me to something, and maybe it will make the next list.  I'll definitely give anything a try!  Curious about something you're unfamiliar with?  Let me know.

13. They Might Be Giants -- Flood
Still know every word.  Still makes me happy.  In exchange for introducing me to Rasputina, I shared with Jesse the joy of TMBG.  He still loves me for it.
Picks: "Birdhouse In Your Soul" and "Whistling In The Dark"

12. The Flaming Lips -- Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
This infectious happiness was given to me to keep me from dying while studying for finals, and I became hooked.  
Picks: "Ego Tripping At The Gates of Hell" and "Do You Realize?"

11. Rent Original Broadway Cast -- The Best of Rent
What?!  Another musical?  Yes indeed.  I love Rent.  It never ceases to make me smile and sing along.  And it was especially applicable for me a little while ago when I was hunting for a job and a place to live....
Picks: "Rent" and "La Vie Boheme"

10. Ani DiFranco -- Imperfectly
This took a while to grow on me, but now that is has, it's sticking.  Maybe it was all the gender inequality classes....  Seems to be pretty love or hate though....
Picks: "What If No One's Watching" and "If It Isn't Her"

9. Rasputina -- Cabin Fever!
Thanks go to Jesse for turning me on to Rasputina!  Prague would not have been the same without the great music exchange.  Good stuff, but I'm uncertain how to describe it.
Picks: "Rats" and "My Orphanage"

8. Frank Wildhorn -- Jekyl and Hyde
Nope.  Not kidding at all.  Better than the Broadway version, this two disc set contains some of the best stuff, which was cut from the show.  Maybe it's sentimental reasons that keep me listening because I've got some great memories to go with these, but I'm still listening, and I still love it.  Good vocals.
Picks: "The World Has Gone Insane" and "Girls of the Night"

7. Nightwish -- Over the Hills and Far Away
Again, it was an epic battle betwee this, Angels Fall First, and Once, but this one wins.  Perhaps I'm just not used to Once yet, but I've been listening to this longer and stuck with it faithfully.  Also, you have to admit, when it comes to music videos, "Over the Hills and Far Away" was an awesome video where the "Wish I Had an Angel" video on the cd made me cry.  In the bad way.
Picks: "Over the Hills and Far Away" and "10th Man Down"

6. Dir en grey -- Withering to Death
Kyo gets credit for being the first singer I could tolerate while he's screaming, and now I just scream along.  The lyrics are dense, like confessional poetry cut apart so that only the imagery and hints of the true story remain, and I appreciate that.  And for this one, it might be a plus if no one around you can understand the lyrics ^_~
Picks: "The Final" and "Itoshisa ha Fuhai ni Tsuki"

5. Alkaline Trio -- Goddammit
Too much fun was had with this album, and I still enjoy it, so it had to appear on the list as well.  Not much more to say here.
Picks: "Sorry About That" and "Enjoy Your Day"

4. Alkaline Trio -- Alkaline Trio
It was a toss up between this one, From Here to Infirmary, and Maybe I'll Catch Fire, and Goddammit, but this one has stayed in rotation on my playlist longer and stronger so it won out.  Fond memories of my freshmen year of college here.
Picks: "Cooking Wine" and "Sundials"

3. Gackt -- The Seventh Night
What?  Isn't this album just a compilation of songs from previous albums in their accoustic versions?  Yes, it is, and I adore it.  I am a sucker for accoustic versions to begin with, but here, every song is re-arranged to work in this entirely unplugged, highly intimate feeling album.  There's a sense of just sitting around a stage in a small joint listening to Gackt and JOB.  And somehow, Gackt's voice, which is already compelling and gorgeous, becomes its own instrument here.  I love that man, and this album has every one of my favorite songs.  Can't lose there, if you like Japanese ^_~
Picks: "Last Song" and "Kimi no Tame ni Dekiru Koto"

2. Athenaeum -- Radiance
This album was just the protective voice I needed after a serious romantic mauling.  But you know what?  Years later, I still love it.  It's no longer my emotional medicine; now it's just one of my favorites.  Not particularly musically complex or impressive, but I'm more into lyrics and the sense I get from songs anyway.
Picks: "Different Situation" and "Lifeline"

1. Frou Frou -- Details
I bought this album on impulse after hearing the song "Must Be Dreaming," and I have never regretted it.  In fact, other songs from the album quickly shot up higher on my list of favorites, which for me is always a good sign.  It's a rare thing for me to love every song on an album.  Also, Imogen is equipped with amazing vocals and the ability to make light of subject matter such as disillusionment and disappointment in love without ever sounding whiny.
Picks: "It's Good to Be in Love" and "Must Be Dreaming"

*edited because I was dead wrong about something.  meep.

Skibas_clavicle:

--- Quote from: niatinari ---5. Alkaline Trio -- Goddammit
Too much fun was had with this album, and I still enjoy it, so it had to appear on the list as well.  Not much more to say here.
Picks: "Sorry About That" and "Radio"
--- End quote ---


I don't mean to nitpick, but Radio wasn't on Goddamnit, great song though.  It first appeared on Maybe I'll Catch Fire, quite possibley the darkest record, proving to be my favourite. I think I'll go listen to it now!

niatinari:
Ack!  Well, can't call it nitpicking when I'm wrong.  That's what I get for burning everything to my computer and then not double checking the actual cd cases!

a pack of wolves:
This isn't in any order, and I'll probably change my mind about these right after I post it but it'll do. I've also limited myself to one album per band, since otherwise this would have been really dull.

1. Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters
I would go for Frankenchrist, but sadly 'Hellnation' makes it fall just below the mark of their second album. Jello's bitter, paranoid, world-weary and often very funny rants are in their prime here even stepping into the territory of his personal life ('Dead End') which he normally left alone.
2. Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come
When I first heard this it didn't sound like anything I'd ever come across. Not always successful but stupendous, intelligent hardcore which was unafraid to experiment. And it has such damn good style.
3. Submission Hold - Waiting For Another Monkey To Throw The First Brick
Flutes and folk mixing smoothly with politically-charged, angry hardcore. Worth inclusion for the epic statement 'Source Of Fuck', possibly the finest feminist song ever written.
4. Shellac - At Action Park
No-one does hate like Albini, and it drips from his stabbing guitar here while Trainer and Weston batter away behind him.
5. Fugazi - In On The Kill Taker
Not their greatest achievement, but my favourite album of theirs (today, anyway). 'Great Cop' sounds like Mackaye proving he can still front the best straight-up hardcore band in the world if he damn well feels like it and 'Returning The Screw' is a whole other kind of vicious.
6. Rites of Spring - Rites of Spring
Overwrought and maybe even cheesy. But I don't care, Picciotto becomes more and more distraught as the songs go on making them painfully honest emotional gasps. Also merits inclusion for the fact that in my opinion emo saved hardcore from becoming moronic and uninventive.
7. MC5 - Kick Out The Jams
The greatest live album of all time. Pure rock power and swaggering sexuality with fiery politics.
8. Orchid - Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow!
Some of the best guitars I've ever heard, excellent drumming and I love their lyrics.
9. Imbalance - Wreaks Havoc With The Inner Ear
Okay, Imbalance never really recorded anything to match up to their live shows and this feels somewhat like a stepping stone to somewhere else which they sadly didn't reach. But this is nevertheless a great piece of intelligent hardcore.
10. Black Flag - Damaged
Unlike some people I really like their later stuff, but this is just such a perfect hardcore album I had to go for it. Abrasive, bleak, excellent.
11. Captain Beefheart - Clear Spot
Trout Mask Replica is a better album, but much as I love it I don't love it as much as I do this. I couldn't even begin to try and describe the mighty Captain though.
12. The Delgados - Peloton
It's such a shame that they fell off after this album, since it's superb. Beautiful songs that make you want to fall in love with someone Scottish.
13. Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime
Sheer class, and contains 'History Lesson - Part II' which for my money is a contendor for the title of 'greatest song ever written'.
14. Minor Threat - Discography
I know a discography is cheating a bit, but this is all I have and when listening I've never thought about which release the track playing comes from. Copied by thousands, surpassed by none.
15. Dicks - 1980-1986
Bluesy, soulful hardcore and yet another collection rather than an album proper. This band deserve more mentions than they get.
16. Circle Jerks - Group Sex
Snotty as hell, the musical equivalent of flipping someone off.
17. Stalingrad - Stalingrad CD
Hate-filled and probably the most downright nasty record I own. Metalcore meets noise, with guest vocals from the late General Leigh of Doom and Ian Leck of Voorhees this is completely unrelenting and a staggering achievement.
18. Arab Strap - Mad For Sadness
Filthy melancholy. All that needs to be said really.
19. Melt-Banana - Cell-Scape
Japanese mentalists annihilate pop. I'll never really understand this record, and that's no bad thing.
20. Ramones - Leave Home
Bubblegum rock and roll supremacy.
21. Kerosene 454 - Race
Not really a proper album since it's a collection of material, but it works very well as a complete record. A dense, powerful sound there are numerous moments of tension and resolution, and the way the songs move from mood to mood several times within just a few minutes is superb.
22. Lucero - That Much Further West
A country record that punks like basically. Not massively innovative, this is just great songwriting.
23. Tom Waits - Bone Machine
The one record that can make me well up a little. Waits has a great sense of humour too when he's not trying to break your heart.
24. Leadbelly - In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down
The record from this list I've been listening to the longest. A blues classic.
25. The Velvet Underground - The Best of The Velvet Underground Featuring Nico
Yes, I know, 'best of' records suck and all that. But this is a fantastic double-vinyl collection and has a lot of sentimental value for me since it belonged to my Mum and my sister and I used to play it together. It really does have all their best songs on it and nothing from Loaded, which though good isn't in the same class as this stuff, and I'd much rather play this than any of their individual records.

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