streetwaves

1972:

1. Roxy Music - Roxy Music

To me, this did for the 70s what The Velvet Underground & Nico did for the 60s, to a lesser extent. I think Andy Mackay put it best: "we certainly didn’t invent eclecticism but we did say and prove that rock 'n' roll could accommodate - well, anything really".

2. Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht

This is some of the most beautiful electronic music I have ever heard. The soundscapes Schulze is able to create (in 1972, no less) are absolutely mesmerizing. A must-listen.

3. Neu! - Neu!

This still has a lasting impact on music. Neu!'s debut was far beyond its time, and if the first track "Hallogallo" doesn't mesmerize you I don't know what to say.

4. Can - Ege Bamyasi

Says something about Can that my third favorite release of theirs is still nearly perfect in my eyes. Not quite as good as Future Days or Tago Mago, but absolutely brilliant nonetheless. There are few bands with so much good material.

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streetwaves

1973:

1. Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets

A masterfully eclectic blend of glam and art rock. Some of it sounds like the future. This is in my top three albums ever.

2. New York Dolls - New York Dolls

This might be one of the most influential albums of all time. I think Morrissey claims that seeing the New York Dolls on the Old Grey Whistle Test had the biggest influence on his music of anything, and I believe it. This laid the groundwork for the style that punks would later adopt.

3. ****ney Rebel - The Human Menagerie

One of the most underrated albums of the glam rock era. Steve Harley created a sound in 1974 that I think still sounds fresh today.

4. Can - Future Days

Perhaps Can's most beautiful recording. This is their "ambient record", which creates a peaceful and almost organic sound. "Moonshake" is also one of the greatest pop songs ever.

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WendyCal

It's too bad we can't do stuff like bartering in here ~ or can we?

Let me check, real quick, with a mod.

streetwaves

1974:

1. Faust - Faust IV

Totally accessible, fun, and at the same time innovative krautrock. A true masterpiece.

2. Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)

Not quite as adventurous as his debut, but lovely nonetheless. 'Burning Airlines Give You So Much More', 'Mother Whale Eyeless', and 'Third Uncle' are favorites.

3. Kraftwerk - Autobahn

Definitely one of the greatest electronic albums of all-time. To me, this is Kraftwerk's finest hour. If you listen to any one of their albums, have it be this one.

4. Sparks - Kimono My House

Nobody did powerpop better than Sparks, in my opinion. It's not just Russell Mael's operatic vocals - their lyrics are great, and the music perfectly complements the rest of their style. This or "Indiscreet" are their best records.

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streetwaves

1975:

1. Brian Eno - Another Green World

This actually is my second favorite Eno album after his debut, Here Come the Warm Jets. This is, though, perhaps the only album I own that I can actually call 100% perfect from start to finish.

2. Bernard Parmegiani - De natura sonorum (1975)

Perhaps the masterpiece of musique concrète. Forget Stockhausen, this is some of the most interesting and beautiful experimentation I've ever come across.

3. Neu! - Neu! '75

Possibly even better than their debut, I'm not sure. It's probably every bit as interesting now that I think of it. I'm listening now and it's making me feel wonderful!

4. Fela Kuti - Expensive ****

Maybe not his best record, but probably close. Great funky, laid back music from Nigeria.

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Double X

'Before and After Science' is probably my favorite Eno album. The debut is excellent though.

4ZZZ

Great thread

swim

Thread rules. I have a lot to check out =/ My musical knowledge is really lacking in comparison to members like you, Urban, RT, JackHammer, etc before 1990.

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streetwaves

1976:

1. The Residents - The Third Reich 'n Roll

Maybe their second best after "Not Available", although they've got plenty of good stuff to choose from. Great album.

2. The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers

A near-perfect rock 'n' roll album that seems to age astonishingly well. It's been called proto-punk for a good reason, as I think this is an almost perfect embodiment of the attitude that we'd later associate with punks. But who cares about that? It's a great record.

3. La Düsseldorf - La Düsseldorf

This may not be Neu!, but it's nearly as good! Still relevant today. Great sounds.

4. Charlemagne Palestine - Strumming Music

Wonderful, beautiful minimalism. Tested my patience until it finally hit me what a great thing I was listening to.

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streetwaves

1977:

1. David Bowie - Low

Low shows much less concern for its public reception for an album made by a man that was by now considered a superstar. This makes it perhaps *the* album of Bowie's that fans are most split on, but I assure you: Low is not an inaccessible album, and it is his masterpiece.

2. Suicide - Suicide

I can't believe I hated this for the longest time. It took a while to click, but I was so glad that it did. This album might sound like a boring dronefest when you first listen to it, but give it some time. Pure genius.

3. Television - Marquee Moon

While I didn't listen to 'Marquee Moon' for the first time and say "wow, that's the best album I've ever heard", I did think to myself, "wow, they really did pull that off perfectly". They really did. This is one of the most perfectly executed albums of all-time (certainly of the punk era), and it's also difficult to decide whether this is punk or post-punk. Truly a milestone. Oh, and this might be one of the best guitar albums ever.

4. Throbbing Gristle - Second Annual Report

This is an extreme record, probably one of the more disorienting (and maybe disgusting) ever. Worth hearing, although you probably won't want to turn this on for a road trip with your buddies.

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