80. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Orange (1994)
My first reaction on hearing this was 'What the **** is this?????'
I still think that now.But then i`ve always had a soft spot for rough around the edges raw blues rock , even more so when you have a lead singer putting on a cod elvis voice.This is just pure fun with great riffs.
Favourite songs - Bellbottoms , Blues X Man , Greyhound
Today
This was a hugely influential album for me it just blew me away the first time I heard it and since then my love for manic dirty blues based rock has just grown & grown , all because of this album. I probably wouldn't go for this album now but I would have a Jon Spencer album on here , it's just it would be one of his albums with Pussy Galore rather than the Blues Explosion.
Original Position - 80
Position Now - Around this number , but replace it with Pussy Galore's Dial M For Muthafucker as much as I would love to have their Exile On Main Street album instead.
79. The High Llamas - Hawaii (1996)
77 minutes & 29 songs full of lush strings , beautiful melodies & rich orchestral arrangements.One of the most underrated bands of the 90s which is a shame but understandable really. They were just as good as other bands like them such as Mercury Rev & The Flaming Lips but they lacked direction & never really came out with that killer album. This is about as close as they got to one. I`d love to put it higher as they were such a great band but there`s a bit too much filler on it to do that.But it is a good record.
Favourite songs - Sparkle Up , Literature Is Fluff , Cuckoo's Out
Today
I still like this band but I very rarely listen to it and I do still think it's their best album , if it wasn't for this band I would have never got into Microdisney or Fatima Mansions whom I both prefer over The High Llamas. So consider this album a gateway to better stuff.
Original Position - 79
Position Now - Out , to be replaced by Microdisney's 39 Minutes album which would be around this area of the chart , and The Fatima Mansions Viva Dead Ponies which would be around 10 - 15 places higher.
78. Dinosaur Jr - You`re Living All Over Me (1987)
This album sounds like sh*t , but not even the awful production that sounds like it was recorded on a tape recorder in someones bedroom (A couple songs were).But the quality of the songs shine through,in fact the best the band ever recorded.They made one good album after this (Bug) but then Lou Barlow left & the major labels came , but to be honest to me they were never the same again & just became a bunch of also rans on the grunge scene.Which was a shame because on the strength of this they desereved much better.
Favourite songs - Little Fury Things , Kracked , Raisins
Today
I still love this album to death , if anything it should be a little higher , maybe around 20 to 30 places higher
Original Position - 78
Position Now - 50 - 60
77. Pavement - Wowee Zowee (1995)
Now i`m not the biggest Pavement fan by a long shot as i`ve always found them a bit hit & miss, but when they`re good they`re very good. And I just love this album because how the diversity on it.The great thing about this album is you never quite know whats coming up next. There`s pop , jazz , folk , country , but all of it recognisable as Pavement & none of it sounding out of place.
I remember reading an article in the Daily Mirror a few years ago , they listed this album as the coolest album ever made. It totally surprised me to see it included , let alone being named no. 1 , but having heard it I could see why someone would think that.
Favourite songs - Rattled By The Rush , Fight This Generation , Half A Canyon
Today
I barely listen to Pavement at all these days but there are still parts of this album I like ,in fact there's probably more stuff I like on this album than all of their other albums put together. Sorry I just don't get the Slanted & Enchanted hype at all. As for this album I still like it but think it would be just pushed out of the top 100 because despite all that I do like about it I do find moments of it a bit patchy.
Original Position - 77
Position Now - Just under the 100