Peter Bjorn and John are three guys from Sweden who make catchy indie rock. You've heard the song "Young Folks" everywhere. The rest of the album is good as well.
Favorite Tracks: Young Folks, Amsterdam, Let's Call it Off
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block (2006)
Fiona Apple - Tidal (1996)
Fiona Apple's sultry Tidal is a window into her soul. Deeply introspective, the album is an antidote to packaged pop the likes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Favorite Tracks: Criminal, Sleep to Dream
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Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)
Liam and Noel Gallagher are two pompous assholes. But, they did make a great album. Here it is.
Favorite Tracks: Wonderwall, Champagne Supernova
The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
The eleven songs on Is This It speed by in just slightly more than half an hour, each one so tightly constructed and urgently delivered that even the ballads seem fast. The Strokes are obsessed with rhythm, and at times their approach is more like that of a soul or funk band than a rock band.
Favorite Tracks: The Modern Age, Last Nite
The Cure - Disintegration (1989)
Robert Smith is the poster child of despair and gloom. This album is dark and moody. It features great grooves and wonderful melodies. It makes feeling sad sound good.
Favorite Tracks: Lovesong, Lullaby
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders (1993)
This album is a great fusion of jazzy rhythms and intellectual lyrics. Definitely an album to play at night.
Favorite Tracks: Award Tour, Electric Relaxation
De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
De La Soul's message of peace and harmony was somewhat unique in the late 80's hip hop scene. This breezy album is the antithesis of hardcore. This is a jazzy and fun album.
Favorite Tracks: Me Myself and I, Eye Know
Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)
The debut album from G N' R kicked so much ass because these were a couple of guys all about rock n roll in a era full of pretty boy hair bands. Axel's shrieking voice and Slash's monstrous guitar are in full effect on this album.
Favorite Tracks: Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, Sweet Child 'O Mine
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1977)
This album contains some of the best pop rock to ever be recorded. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks combine to create one of the 70's most ubiquitous albums. Nearly each track was a chart topping hit.
Favorite Tracks: You Can Go Your Own Way, The Chain
The Doors - LA Woman (1971)
Released just months before Jim Morrison's death, this album is in many ways the most mature of The Doors catalog. Featuring a hard-rock blues sound, this album is a testament to the great combination of Morrison's charismatic voice and Ray Manazerek's pounding keyboards.
Favorite Tracks: Love Her Madly, LA Woman
Dr. Dre - 2001 (1999)
This album really needs no description. It's just a tape full of dope beats to bump when you stroll through your hood.
Favorite Tracks: The Watcher, The Next Episode
Ghostland Observatory - Robotique Majestique (2007)
Robotique Majestique - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MBYK6DYH
Ghostland Observatory's energizing dance rock is like an audio laser light show. The duo from Austin, Texas have crafted a remarkably deep, intense, and unpretentious album that is a solid listen.
Favorite Tracks: Heavy Heart, Dancing On My Grave
She and Him - Volume One (2008)
You may recognize She and Him's singer Zoey Deschanel from movies like Will Ferrel's "Elf". Her deep and raspy voice is mesmerizing and soothing. Coupled with super producer M.Ward this album's distinctly retro vibe is relaxing as a cup of afternoon tea. Featuring mainly original music along with some solid cover songs, this album is not to be missed. Another great album from Merge Records. Plus, I think I am in love with Zoey...
Favorite Songs: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?, Change is Hard.
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991)
My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" is a masterpiece of indie rock. The album has a particular sound defined by the use of guitars strummed with a tremolo bar, sampled drum loops, and obscured vocals.
Favorite Tracks: When You Sleep, Come In Alone
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges (2008)
This album blew me away. Probably my favorite album of 2008 thus far. These guys are amazing live and this album catches that live magic. Jim Jones's voice is so strangely unique that it truly is majestic. I love the chilled out vibe that this album oozes.
Favorite Tracks: Highly Suspicious, Amazed, Smokin' From Shooting
Santogold - Santogold (2008)
This album is an instant classic. Produced by heavyweight producers like, Switch and Diplo, this album is infectious. The first song "L.E.S. Artistes" is so catchy that I have listened to it on repeat as of late. The rest of the tracks don't disappoint either.
Favorite Tracks: L.E.S. Artistes, You'll Find A Way (Switch and Sinden Remix)
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
Masters of the recording studio, The Flaming Lips use every trick the studio can offer to make this album unique. Featuring drum machines and synths this album is truly a 21st century rock album.
Favorite Tracks: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Part I), Do You Realize?
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975)
Pink Floyd is the master of psychedelica. This album contains one of the most trippy songs I have ever heard in "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". While it only has 5 songs each one is a journey into the soul and mind.
Favorite Tracks: Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Have a Cigar
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2007)
The Hipster kids love MGMT. I'm no hipster, but I love MGMT too. This album is chock full of good time electro-rock
Favorite Tracks: Time To Pretend, Kids
My Morning Jacket - Z (2005)
Jim James's falsetto pairs amazingly with the rough guitar. This album is hard rock with a soul.
Favorite Tracks: Gideon, Anytime
Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
This is probably my favorite album of all time. EVERY single song is perfect. Dealing with themes of isolationism and fear this album is definitely dark, but is amazingly beautiful. I could go on and on about this album...
Favorite Tracks: (all of them!) Exit Music (for a film), Climbing Up the Walls, No Surprises
Ratatat - Classics (2006)
Ratatat's guitar and synth driven sound is truly unique. The mainly instrumental album is powerful and a touch on the dark side.
Favorite Tracks: Lex, Wildcat
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)
Wolf Parade is great indie rock. These guys from Montreal are keeping rock fresh and alive. This album is great straight forward rock music.
The White Stripes - Icky Thump (2007)
It is amazing the amount of noise that Jack and Meg can produce. This album flat out rocks and really showcases Jack's guitar abilities. I enjoy putting on this album on loud and just taking in the noise.
Favorite Tracks: Icky Thump, You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What Your Told)
U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
This album is packed full of hits. You probably know almost every song on this album. It is the quintessential U2
Favorite Tracks: Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With or Without You
Trey Anastasio - Trey Anastasio (2001)
Trey's self-titled solo album is full of great latin rhythms, energetic horns and percussion, and a certain joie de vivre. Trey's guitar shreds on the uptempo songs and soars on the ballads. This is a great summertime album.
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Past (1966)
The Moody Blues's Justin Hayward has a magnificent voice. It shines on this album along side the orchestral arrangements. This album is deep psychedelica and is a masterpiece of the 60's
Favorite Tracks: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?), Nights in White Satin/Late Lament
Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed (1969)
This album was released at the end of the 1960s and has a noticeably dark undertone to it. It reflects on the dark side of the hippie decade and is probably the Stones greatest album.
Favorite Tracks: Gimme Shelter, You Can't Always Get What You Want
Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)
The Talking Heads were ahead of their time. This album came out in 1980 and sounds like nothing else from that era. David Byrne's scorching vocals and funky African polyrhythms send this album shooting into the stratosphere.
Favorite Tracks: Born Under Punches, Crosseyed and Painless, Once in a Lifetime
Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions (2005)
This album differs from the other albums on this blog in the fact that it contains an album of cover songs. But, Seu's soulfully stripped down interpretations of David Bowie's songs are amazing. Featuring Portuguese translations, simple guitar, and anchored by Seu's magical voice, this album is truly delicious.
Favorite Songs: Starman, Oh! You Pretty Things
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)
This is Brian Wilson's masterpiece. This album is a marvel of song writing. This is what a rock album should be: deep, melodic, and full of emotion.
Favorite Songs: Wouldn't it Be Nice, God Only Knows
Thom Yorke - The Eraser (2007)
This is not a Radiohead Album. This is the solo work of Thom Yorke. Although Thom's unmistakable vocals will draw some comparisons to the sound of Radiohead, this album is different. It has a stripped down electronic sound that really puts Thom's vocals to the forefront and is noticeably missing the sound of guitars.
Favorite Tracks: The Eraser, Black Swan
Led Zeppelin - IV (1971)
Led Zeppelin is probably the coolest rock band of all time. IV is probably their coolest album. This is the type of album that inspires people to want to become rock stars. This is the type of album that absolutely rocks.
Favorite Tracks - Black Dog, When the Levee Breaks
Radiohead - The Bends (1995)
Radiohead had something to prove with their sophomore release, The Bends. Overshadowed by the success of the song, "Creep", from their first album Pablo Honey, the guys from Oxford wanted to prove that they were more than a one hit wonder. They did that and more with The Bends. They proved that the were legitimate rockstars and artists. This album's three guitar attack hits you immediately with the opening song "Planet Telex" and shows no slowing down with the second track, the anthem "The Bends". Slower songs like "Fake Plastic Trees" and "High and Dry" give the album balance. This truly is a great album.
Favorite Tracks: The Bends, Fake Plastic Trees, Just, Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Outkast - Aquemini (1998)
Outkast is the epitome of hip-hop. This album features slick funky beats matched with socially conscious lyrics. Big Boi and Andre are at their pinnacle on this and it is no coincidence that they became hip-hops superstars in the aftermath of this album.
Favorite Tracks : Rosa Parks, Da Art of Story Tellin' (Part I), Spottieottieadogalicious
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