1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die- Music Banter Edition
 

Here's a project that I thought would be fun. I have no doubt that some of you have read or at least heard of the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Now, it is an enjoyable book, but it still has it's flaws. After all, no albums have appeared from the likes of Chuck Berry, Weezer, or Sunny Day Real Estate, but the likes of Britney Spears and Limp Bizkit have appeared.

I think we can do better. Music Banter as a whole has an incredibly eclectic and varied taste in music, and I have no doubt that we could do a far better job than the actual book.

Now, this won't be a numbered countdown of the all time greatest albums, but rather a general, unordered list of 1001 great albums worth listening to.

How it works is, you post an album, and you must explain why you feel it deserves the inclusion. You must also provide the year it was released. Also, it's not required, but an image of the album is preferred. Then the poster after you posts their album.

I figured this would be a great way to get all of us collaborating together and participating on a project together, and maybe provide us with some new music to listen to.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...bum-index.html

Since I created this thread, I'll start.

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1. Nirvana- In Utero (1993)

It's true that Nevermind is the Nirvana album that everyone talks about, and rightfully so. And yes, Nevermind is perhaps the more important album as well. But, In Utero, Nirvana's third and final studio album, is perhaps their finest work.

Musically, it combines the rawness and noisiness of Bleach with the Pop stylings of Nevermind. You have songs that are noisy and generally about as non commercial as any platinum selling album has the right to be (Scentless Apprentice, Milk It, Tourettes), as well as more radio friendly, glossy, and more accessible songs (Dumb, Heart Shaped Box, Apologies). You even have songs that offer a mix of both styles (Serve The Servants). And amazingly, all of those styles mesh well together. The noisy songs pummel you with their rawness and aggression, while the poppier efforts provide sweet relief from the onslaught of noise. The songs that fuse both styles give you that perfect mix of tension and calm.

The songwriting was also improved. The songs this time were more personal, and contained lyrics about anything from inner pain to boredom. Rape Me was a very blunt anti rape song that received quite a bit of controversy in its day. Serve The Servants, on the other hand, with it's opening lyric "Teenage angst has paid off well, now I'm bored and old" forces you to feel Kurt's disillusionment with the music industry. Nirvana has never sounded as potent as they do on this album.

Simply put, Nevermind IS the album that gets all the attention. And Nevermind IS a great album. But In Utero is superior in every way. Though it doesn't receive the same hype and glory, In Utero is Nirvana's true masterpiece.

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2. Sunny Day Real Estate- Diary (1994)

One can not talk about this album without stating it's importance in Emo music. And indeed, this is a landmark Emo album. You know, back when Emo was a legitimate genre of music with heartfelt, emotional songs rather than commercialized Mall Punk about high school crushes. More importantly, it's a great album.

I don't know too much about music composition aside from playing cool riffs with power chords, but since Emo was at that time a subgenre of Post-Hardcore, I'm sure the music on hand is technical and complex. It's also beautiful. You can feel the emotion coming through their instrument and in the singing. They're songs that stay inside your head because even if it didn't have any lyrics, the music drips emotion. It's truly powerful stuff.

Admittedly, you can't always understand what the singer is saying, and the lyrics are fairly abstract. Still, that doesn't mean it has bad songwriting. In fact, it's quite the opposite. These are songs about heartbreak, about loss, about pain, about sadness. And you can really feel that on this album, as it burns into your very soul. It's also easily relatable to a lot of people, which is why Emo had a dedicated following in the '80s and '90s.

Though the band swears up and down that they're not an Emo band, it's hard to overstate their influence and impact on the genre. This is truly a groundbreaking album, and one that spoke to an entire generation of disenfranchised youth. Moreover, it's a truly great album to listen to. It's no wonder I selected it for Music Banter's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

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3. Heartless Bastards - Arrow (2012)

Often compared to the Black Keys only because they hail from the same state, Ohio. The Heartless Bastards borrow a lot of the favouable qualities from the 70's rock and roll which can be heard throughout this album. Tinges of T. Rex, Steely Dan and Black Sabbath can be heard on certain songs but the real hilight is the powerful and raspy voice of Erika Wennerstrom. The album Arrow is laid back but pulls you in.

Woah, long time no see Zombeels!

I'm currently listening to this album. I have a feeling this will also double as The Thread In Which The Sane Psycho Greatly Expands His Musical Taste With The Help Of His Fellow Forumers. I'll post an album sometime today.

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4. Nico - Chelsea Girl

i'm sure the VU and Nico will end up here at some point....and it should be on a list like this....but i think Nico's first solo effort is as important and in many ways better

this entire album is oozing with emotion and despair.....in many ways this is the first lofi indie rock album while at the same time being a true gothic rock album and a pure musical experiment

ironically Nico herself hated this album.....the production team completely ruined her original concept by adding flute and string arrangements....it has been said that she wanted a simple rock album

but me personally?....fuck that....these arrangements are a huge part of the appeal of this album.....the contrast between her cold as ice voice and these almost flowery arrangements often works....especially when put next to her despondent rock songs....

in my opinion this is an album that should be heard at least once by everyone

I have not heard this album. I will be listening to it later today.

Yes, it's been awhile.

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5. WAR-The World is a Ghetto (1972)

WAR is one of my all time favorite bands who I feel are very underappreciated. For this album, they fused many genres that reflected the bands multicultural backgrounds such as latin music, salsa, funk,jazz, folk, progressive rock and many more.

By the early 1970s, urban communities and the urban experience in America was at its darkest. The culture of minorities (African Americans, Latinos, Hispanics etc) were deeply affected by racial tensions, socioeconomic status, class and discrimination. However, this period also sparked great inspiration and music material for bands during this period who dare to showcase these experiences in their music. WAR was without a doubt a very important band that discussed social issues, racism and poverty that minorities experienced.

Many of the songs are just long jam sessions that are beautiful instrumentals of eclectic genres and music.

The lyricism of the overall album is very daring for its time. It discusses many social issues that greatly affected minorities in America during this period. I love the poetic nature of the lyrics and the abtract meaning behind the way certain phrases were made. It allows listeners to not only be mesmerized by the great production but also the lyrics that really make you critically think about social problems others have to endure.

The band really captures the essence of urban life with their instrumentals even the ones without lyrics which I thought was pretty interesting and creative.

Some of the highlights on the album are "The World is a Ghetto", City, Country, City and Cisco Kid.

I thought it was pretty cool that the concept behind "The Cisco Kid" was influenced by a Latino TV show from the 50's that was "The Cisco Kid"


My personal favorite is "The World is a Ghetto". I think its one of the greatest songs ever created. Its a very eerie sober reflection of inner city life and what the "ghetto" expereince may "look like" and feel like for certain minorities. The lead singer's voice really captures the emotion behind the meaning of the song. The album is important because it would go on to inspire other jam session type of albums. It also covers a wide range of genres and covers political social issues. I think the album is ahead of its time.

Some of the lyrics:
Walkin' down the street, smoggy-eyed
Looking at the sky, starry-eyed
Searchin' for the place, weary-eyed
Crying in the night, teary-eyed

Classic album, must listen for sure

Thanks for posting! I'll be sure to check that album out. First, I want to listen to The Velvet Underground And Nico. Anyway, here's another album.

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6. Pearl Jam- Ten (1991)

Along with Nevermind, this is the album crediting with popularizing Grunge. This was an album of a generation of youth. Aside from being mega successful, it was also mega good (forgive me for that).

Musically speaking, this doesn't have much in common with the raw, Punky Grunge of the likes of Nirvana or Mudhoney. Rather, Pearl Jam is far more influenced by Classic Rock than their contemporaries. With bluesy licks, a polished sound, and melodic, anthemic songs, this is Arena Rock through and through.

This album is also a showcase for Pearl Jam's great songwriting. Alive is a semi-autobiographical song about a son who learns that who he thought was his father really wasn't, and his mother, in her grief, becomes attracted to her son who looks like his real father. It forms a trilogy with Once (another song on the album) and Footsteps, and involves him snapping and going on a killing spree and ending up in prison. Jeremy is a heartfelt song inspired by a kid who committed suicide in front of his classmates.

This truly was a landmark Grunge album. It managed to sell platinum multiple times over, and it provided the soundtrack to many a teenager in the early '90s. Outliving their Grunge contemporaries and still going strong today, Ten is still a showcase for a band coming out of nowhere and blowing everyone away with their debut.

By the way, this is the real number 6.

You know, I really want to listen to this album. I have heard it's one of the all time great Funk albums.

It is! What are you waiting for? Go listen to it lol The band is very underrated. I still can not believe the RHOF let the Beastie Boys in over them.

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7. Faith No More - Angel Dust (1992)

You're welcome, SOAD, Deftones, whatever else. Having been mostly written before Mike Patton joined the band, The Real Thing remained an off-kilter heavy metal album, with some funk and alternative thrown in, but when he spilled his musical genius all over the song writing of Angel Dust, it really made something wonderful. Obviously a landmark in the world of alternative music, it pushed the envelope to some extreme degree and remains highly influential due to it's experimentation and delivery. Maybe you're not the biggest fan of the movements that this helped get going, all those alternative and later nu-metal bands, or even all those experimental bands i.e. Dog Fashion Disco, or this album/band itself, but you can't deny it's influence, and how god damn awesome it is.

Ah, finally an album I agreed with! :)

I'm going to throw an album on here that I bet nobody saw coming.

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8. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica

Take extremely raw delta blues, give it ten tabs of acid, put Max Roach on drums, and let it be fronted by a mad painter, and you have this album. This is where Captain Beefheart solidified his unique approach that he only hinted at in Safe As Milk. The sound is hard to describe since it's very much in its own field, but the best label I could come up with is avant-garde psychedelic blues.

The melodies that the instruments play are forever changing, and on the first couple of listens it almost sounds like they're just ****ing around. But that's just the shock at the unique approach speaking, because these men know exactly what they're doing. The overall cacophonous sound makes more sense with repeated listens as they expose what the different instruments are playing and you get a better understanding of what the **** Captain Beefheart's howled lyrics mean. My favourite element of it all is how perfectly the group's individual efforts mesh together to create a surreal and initially disconcerting but ultimately beautiful song. Everything about this album is great to me, from the fat bass to the twangy guitars to the tribal jazz drums and lastly to Captain Beefheart's incredible voice (similar to Howlin' Wolf but with nuances borrowed from other blues singers) and brilliant lyrics.

This is my favourite album, mainly because whenever I return to it it's a joy to listen to and I'm still uncovering little nuances within the big picture.

I'm gonna have a hell of a lot of new music to listen to. :)

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9. Weezer- The Blue Album (1994)

Yet another in a long line of fantastic albums from 1994 (it really was one of the best years for music), The Blue Album ended up being one of the greatest debut albums of all time. Alternative Pop has never sounded better.

Simply put, this album is poppy as all hell. The songs are insanely catchy and melodic. With many albums, you can tell which songs are the singles and which ones aren't. With this album, literally any song on here sounds like it could be a single. The guitars are heavy and beefy, yet also melodic. The singing is awesome, and the vocal harmonies are simply sublime. This is Power-Pop at it's finest.

Rivers Cuomo sings about love, girls, and heartbreak. It's nothing new, but they do it well. And don't think for one moment that that's all he sings about. No One Else, for example is a song about a misogynist, controlling a-hole of a boyfriend. In The Garage is about that happy place that everyone has, where no one bothers them and they can be themselves. It's some pretty good stuff.

When this album was released, it blew everyone away with it's sheer catchiness and it's songs were very relatable to the youth of the time. Unlike some albums from that time, it's not dated and is truly timeless. This is one of the greatest Alternative Pop albums of all time, if not the greatest.

And if anyone doesn't know just how good they were, especially as a live act, check out this stellar performance with Eric Burdon...


Eric Burdon & War (Full version,Beat club 1970) - YouTube

lol

:(

I'll just talk about an album I've never talked about before

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10. The Antlers - Hospice (2009)

Still my favorite album unquestionably. It's a visceral, raw experience more than it is just music, it really is an auditory representation of sheer sadness. It's executed flawlessly in every soul-draining track and at points is just overwhelmingly beautiful. I can't say it's some landmark, influential work like some of the other albums on here. Instead I can say that this is one of the finest depictions of depression ever recorded and that alone makes it a masterpiece.

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11. - NoMeansNo- Wrong. 1989
One of the most unique punk albums I've listened to. I guess you could describe it as post-punk or post-hardcore, but it's not your typical post hardcore album. It really has a sound of it's own. The closest description would be the minutemen on crack, but that's still not it. The bass on this is used to it's fullest potential, the length of the songs is perfect, the songs are varied, the vocals are unique, it's full of energy and the song writing overall is just great. It's full of distortion, it's loud, it's aggresive and it's energetic. I love this album, and I think it deserves to be here.

(btw: The two bonus tracks are also great, you should check them out as well.)

I think I phrased that poorly. I've never listened to the Nico album you mentioned. I just meant that Angel Dust was the only album I've seen on here so far that I might myself have nominated.

12. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible (1994)

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Considered one of the darkest albums in rock and an actual bible to many Manics fanboys and fangirls, it's an incredible piece of work and I haven't heard anything that delves into the human condition quite as much as this. With lyrics written mainly by Richey Edwards, the Manics resident uber-intelligent depressive who went on to disappear and never be found, it definitely gets you thinking, if you can make it all the way through the album without going out and jumping off the top of a tall building. This album is the first album that made me realise that music is so much more than just the songs.

13. The breeders - Last splash

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If you like alternative music you'll probably like this album.
If you grew up during the 90's you probably heard their single 'cannonbal' at one point and though that was the only major hit from that album all the other songs from that album are just great alternative tracks.

it's a well balanced and varied alternative album that for me really captures what the 90's alternative sounded like.

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14. Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner (2003)

Landmark album in Hip-Hop and UK electronic music. And entirely self produced between the ages of 16-17. It's completely unique from the production to the slang to the rhymes. Nobody was doing this in 2003. Timeless album.

Doesn't matter what he has made since or will make in the future he's secured his legend status with this.

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15. The Gris Gris - The Gris Gris

When I think of albums I want to listen to in my final moments, this is the first to spring to mind. The blend of Garage Rock and Neo-Psychedelia reaches perfect proportions on several of these tracks. The contrast of melancholic guitar chords and fuzzed out noise is just sublime. This is the kind of album you close your eyes to, create your own narrative, and enjoy the ride. It's simply a masterpiece as far as I am concerned.

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16. Peter Skellern - Astaire (1979)

If you`re going to listen to 1001 albums before you die, you may want to sample a little bit of many different styles, and in that spirit I`d like to recommend an album that showcases some of music`s less spectacular charms. Instead of breaking new ground with original compositions (which several of the albums posted so far do) Skellern is concerned with looking backwards and covering someone else`s material, but I still feel he deserves a place here because this is such an exemplar of the art of covering songs. On Astaire he strips away the period dross and lets the quality of the original compositions shine through by adopting a modest, sincere approach which imo surpasses the slick crooning of earlier versions.

In many ways, this is a two-for-one album:-
- you get a taste of 1930's songwriting, plus a taste of 1970`s confessional singer/songwriter style
- you get some unashamedly romantic songs plus you get brass band workouts tagged on
- you get a compendium of essential old time classics...

...but you get them in simple arrangements without all that old-fashioned orchestral schmooze.

The cover suggests the intention of the album; conjuring up a ghost from a era of lost elegance, and that`s how Skellern seems to tackle the project; so as not to scare the ghost away he plays quiet, calm, almost tentative versions of the songs that Fred Astaire danced to. His soft voice and piano accompaniment makes this an intimate and romantic listening experience, although a couple of times he has fun with the past style and lets the Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band blast out a crescendo.

So, for some beautiful lyrics and tunes, for an example of one era looking back at another, for a demonstration of how covers can surpass originals - or just for a rest after Trout Mask Replica - this is a good album to try before you die.

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17. Meat Beat Manifesto - Satyricon (1992)
I think it was 93 or 94 when I discovered MBM, but they've been a favorite ever since. Jack Dangers is an EDM genius. After releasing a few mind-fucking albums of plunderphonic industrial hip-hop dubby breakbeat, MBM started incorporating more danceable beats (and less of the industrial harshness) on 99% and then created what to me is the perfect blend with the release of this album. It (and prior works, of course) influenced a slew of hugely popular 90s EDM acts like The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Crystal Method, etc. without getting near the recognition of those groups. And that's likely because those acts polished the sound for mainstream consumption. This may be one of MBM's most accessible albums, but aside from a few cuts maybe, it still has quite an underground sound. This is MBM's most vocal album, and Jack Dangers' vocals work perfectly with the style of vocal samples/snippets that are still very prominent - the samples being something that really drew me into industrial and related acts to begin with. The samples from this album have been ingrained in my brain (oh here's one popping in my head from 99%...it's in my brain now...) since I discovered the album. One pops into my head at least once a week.

If I had to make a comparison, I'd say this is the Paul's Boutique of EDM. But it's a relaxing and brain-stimulating album. It may sound dated to someone who's never heard it, even if you like other 90s EDM, but it's quite an amazing and influential album.

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18. Alice In Chains- Dirt (1992)

Considered one of the "big four" of Grunge along with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden (don't worry, you'll be seeing them soon), Alice In Chains burst onto the scene in 1990 with their debut album, Facelift. This album, released in 1992, is considered by most Alice In Chains fans to be their masterpiece, and solidified them as one of the heaviest bands in Alternative music.

I always laugh when people say that Alice In Chains isn't a Metal band. Have they ever listened to this album? Dirt is heavy as ****. Skull crushing riffs and dark, sludgy songs put them firmly on the Metal side of Grunge. The album opens with Them Bones, with it's face melting riff that would make any Metal band proud to be in the same genre as them. Sickman is frantic, manic, and makes you feel anxious. And almost the whole album is heavy, due to the heavy riffs of guitar god Jerry Cantrell, the pounding drums of Sean Kinny, the tight rhythm of bassist of Mike Starr, and of course, Layne Staley's distinct vocals.

Dirt is notorious for being a really dark album, even for Grunge. A lot of Grunge albums contain a lot of angst and inner pain, but this album can actually make one depressed after listening to it. This album is full of songs about drug addiction, depression, anger, suicide, and battling personal demons. It's as if the band members put their personal diaries into song. But not all songs are so dark. Would? is a tribute to Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, and Rooster is about Jerry Cantrell's father, who was a Vietnam vet. They certainly provide some relief for the heavier and darker songs on the album.

Dirt was yet another landmark album in the Grunge genre. Filled with brutally heavy songs, as well as brutally personal songs, this album may not be the most pleasant album to listen to, but if you want pure honesty and reality, this is the album for you.

I love most of these albums, Sam Lachow just came out with Huckleberry for all you rap fans

Just heard this album. I really liked it. Found it to be sweet and haunting. Thanks for the recommendation. :thumb:

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19. Klaatu - Hope (1977)


Most people know the Moody Blues album Days Of Future Passed where Rock music fuses with classical. Klaatu goes even further to create a whole new sound combining both genres. Hope is a concept album about an advanced ancient civilization that destroys itself. Klaatu was recording this album right around the time that there were rumours about Klaatu being secretly the Beatles. This rumour both helped and hindered them. Their first album 3:47 EST gets most of the attention but this album pulls you along on a journey.

Hell yeah, Diary! It's goddamn perfect.

Some of the albums here look very interesting and I particularly plan to investigate:-
Zombeel`s choice by Heartless Bastards and Klaatù , Soulflower`s choice by War, YorkeDaddy`s by The Antlers and Goofle`s by The Gris Gris. Many thanks for those recommendations, guys.

However, I have to accuse this list of being way too anglophonic, as such lists often tend to be. So here`s an album from a continent that hasn`t been represented so far, with vocals that transcend linguistic boundaries :-

My apologies for repeating a recommendation that I`ve made elsewhere, but this really is something you should hear before you die - or perhaps as you are dying, in order to set the mood for that cosmic voyage.
( As you`ll see in this poll, it was voted "Excellent" by everyone who took the trouble to vote. According to my arithmatic, that`s 100% :-
http://www.musicbanter.com/country-f...n-huur-tu.html )

^Very nice pick Lisnaholic. I was considering adding it to th list at one point as well because it's one of my favorites

20. Life Without Buildings - Any Other City (2001)

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The vocal style is unlike anything else I've ever heard, and seems to be the product of having an artist as your singer. I really can't think of the words to describe this album, but if you're into stuff that's a little more abstract you may like this!

Thanks, Frownland. You did a great job yourself on the description of Trout Mask Replica:-
LOL but true.

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21. Linda Perhacs - Parallelograms (1970)

This album is a nearly forgotten psych/folk audio gem that was given new life after being rediscovered and reissued in 2003. A wonderful debut album that, unfortunately, (partly due to being badly pressed by the record label) sank with hardly a trace shortly after being released. This album probably should have made her a star, but she stopped recording music after the album's disastrous debut and wound up continuing her career as a dental hygienist, instead.

If Joni Mitchell had decided to record an album, under the influence of a pleasant acid trip, with the members of Tim Buckley's band circa 1969 (minus Tim) I imagine it would have sounded similar to this. Mellow, trippy, folk/psych/jazz with some avant-garde touches. If I was to whittle my music collection down to 1001 albums (or less) this album would definitely be a keeper.