Classic Albums I have never heard

Trollheart · 06-03-2013, 05:13 AM

Reading over Powerstars' review of Nirvana's "Nevermind" brought to my attention that there are many, many albums considered (probably rightly) total classics which I have never even listened to, and I probably really should. We're talking the likes of OK computer/Kid A, Close to the edge, Transformer, Reign in blood, all that sort of thing. I was going to just run another new section in the Playlist, but then I thought no, this needs its own journal in order to work properly, so here I am, making yet another.

I'm not going to be reviewing these albums: no point, as most of you more than likely know them inside out anyway. What I will do is give my impressions, both first and later. So I'll listen to an album once, write my sketchy impressions of it, then later (some time later) after I've had a chance to spin it a few more times and get more deeply into it, I'll come back with a "redux" of it, to see if my opinion has changed, for better or worse. Oh yeah: there will be no YouTubes, for the same reason as stated above. What would be the point?

The impressions will as I say be basic: things like how I felt one minute into the album, how I thought it sounded, how it developed if at all, and so on. I'm open to suggestions for albums, though generally I'm gong to tend to stay within my own preferred genres. So it's not likely I'll be listening to "Never mind the bollocks" anytime soon! Of course, if someone can make a persuasive argument for why I should listen to a particular album I'll be prepared to listen.

This will be the journal wherein I hope to see a decent amount of comments, as people either tell me I don't know what I'm talking about (what's new?)

or ask me how I avoided hearing THAT album for so long, whether I like it now and just general discussion about albums you guyses will knows a lots mores than mes.

Of course, with three other journals to keep going don't expect to see daily updates here; I'll be lucky if I can do one a week. But hopefully it may provide both some new listening pleasure for me and a fresh perspective perhaps on albums that most of you know intimately. New eyes, as they say. Or in this case, ears.

Anyhoo, I'll be back a little later with the beginnings of a list. I already know which one is going to be looked at first, but will hold off announcing that just yet. Oh yeah, even if I hate an album, even after repeated listens, can't understand why it's so highly rated, I'll still write about it.

Okay then, off I go to make my list! PM me if you have any ideas, or once the journal's approved drop in a comment.

Till later
Troll

Okay then, here's the first draft of my list. This is of course in no way complete or comprehensive, and has been put together basically by reference to the top 500 albums according to

"Rolling Stone" --- I know, I know! But I just wanted an idea! --- and that list of "1001 albums you must hear before you die." As I say, I'm open to suggestions and if I have an album here by an artiste that someone knows is not considered their most classic, let me know.

A quick word on ratings: later in the journal I decided to instigate a rating system. This has of necessity to be built around both how much I liked or did not like the album and its overall popularity as a classic album, so even if I didn't enjoy a particular album but recognise it as a bona fide classic, it would have to get a reasonably high rating. It wouldn't do, for instance, for me to go rating, say, The Joshua Tree low, even if I didn't like it personally. The rating will therefore be an amalgamation of the album's standing and my own reaction to it.

I've tried to limit the list to one per artist, otherwise I'll be at this till I die. Here's what I've come up with so far. These are in alphabetical order, though that does not in any way mean they will be processed in that order.

ABC - The Lexicon of Love
AC/DC - Back in Black
Antlers - Hospice
Arcade Fire --- Funeral
The Auteurs - New Wave
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica
Big Star - #1 Record
David Bowie – Low
Kate Bush - The Hounds of Love
Can- Tago Mago
The Cars - The Cars
Catherine Wheel - Chrome
The Clash - London Calling
Terence Trent D'Arby - Introducing the Hardline According to...
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Earth Wind and Fire - That's the Way of the World
Echo & the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain
ELP - Tarkus
Faith No More --- Angel dust
Funkadelic --- Maggot brain
Gang of Four – Entertainment!
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On?
The Go- Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane
Human League - Dare!
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814
Michael Jackson – Thriller
The Jam – All Mod Cons
The Jesus and Mary Chain --- Psychocandy
Judas Priest --- British Steel
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced...
Bob Marley - Exodus
Massive Attack – Mezzanine
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
Neutral Milk Hotel --- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Nirvana - Nevermind
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Orange Juice - Rip It Up
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
PIL - Metal box
Portishead - Dummy
Primal Scream - Screamadelica
Pulp - Different Class
REM - Automatic for the People
RHCP - Californication
Todd Rundgren - Something/Anything
Paul Simon – Graceland
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge over Troubled Water
Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours
Sisters of Mercy --- Floodlands
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Slowdive --- Souvlaki
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Talking Heads --- Remain in Light
Sonic Youth --- Daydream Nation
Peter Tosh - Wanted Dread and Alive
U2 - The Joshua Tree
Pere Ubu - Dub Housing
Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues
Weezer – Blue
The White Stripes - Elephant
Wilco --- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
Yes - Close to the edge
Neil Young - After the Gold Rush
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres

Neapolitan · 06-03-2013, 07:21 AM

The fact you haven't heard "Close to the Edge" knocked me out of my chair. I was under the impression you heard every album released in the 20th Century. That album had my favorite line up of Yes with Steve Howe, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire and Jon Anderson. Best heard on headphones

Unknown Soldier · 06-03-2013, 07:30 AM

I agree with Nepo and I'm shocked you haven't heard Close to the Edge the most famous prog album ever!' No Radiohead even though I find them pretentious and boring, I don't think Transformer would be your thing and hahaha you listening to Reign in Blood, now the thought of that brings a smile to my face. Now as for Never Mind the Bollocks that is the punk album for people not really into punk and you should listen to it, its angsty, fun and easy on the ear and an all time classic, an album for the family!

Urban Hat€monger ? · 06-03-2013, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I'm open to suggestions for albums, though generally I'm gong to tend to stay within my own preferred genres. So it's not likely I'll be listening to "Never mind the bollocks" anytime soon! Of course, if someone can make a persuasive argument for why I should listen to a particular album I'll be prepared to listen.

OK then

You've been here, what 5 years now and in all that time I've never really seen you pushed out of your comfort zone.
I just think the fact you're listening to stuff you've not heard before is an opportunity to look at stuff you wouldn't normally listen to.

Plus let's be honest, you write lots of reviews. Now I know you've not heard Close To The Edge and while that does surprise me given your tastes you pretty much know what to expect from that album. I'd much rather throw something like Funkadelic's Maggot Brain or Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica at you and say 'Now let's see what you make of this'. Obviously I'm not saying don't do Yes. I just think that this journal will be more interesting if you pushed the unknown a bit more.

Oh and if I was to write a list of 5 classic albums for you....

David Bowie - Low
Primal Scream - Screamadelica
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
P.I.L. - Metal Box / Second Edition
Black Flag - Damaged

Neapolitan · 06-03-2013, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Now as for Never Mind the Bollocks that is the punk album for people not really into punk and you should listen to it, its angsty, fun and easy on the ear and an all time classic, an album for the family!

I agree with UnSold, and another fun and easy on the ear and an all time classic Punk album for the family if you haven't heard them yet: Can't Stand the Rezillos by the Rezillos.

djchameleon · 06-03-2013, 08:19 AM

I really Urban's idea of you stepping outside of your comfort zone a tad bit more so my list is filled with albums that you normally wouldn't listen to. I don't mind if you decide that you'd rather not be bothered with my suggestions but it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on them.

Peter Tosh - Wanted Dread or Alive
Earth Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World
Janet Jackson - Control
KMFDM - Symbols
A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory

Trollheart · 06-03-2013, 10:38 AM

Thanks for all the replies guys. Few comments then:

Close to the edge: why are you guys so surprised I've never heard this? I've made it plain that I have only heard and enjoyed "later" Yes, from 90125 on, and that what I heard of "classic Yes" I thought overlong, boring and pretentious and I lost interest quickly in it. That said, yes I understand it's a classic prog album which is why it's on the list.

Sex Pistols: No. I don't care how classic it may be seen as, I bloody HATE the SP and everything they stood for. I have no intention of ever listening to them, and it's not because I'm scared, or they're outside my comfort zone: it's simply that I dislike them so much. No punk fan, I!

Urban: never stepped out of my comfort zone? You're talking to the guy who fearlessly went where other reviewers fear to tread, deep into the wilds of Boybandland. I still wake shivering every few nights about that! And have you not seen "The Meat Grinder"? Still, yes, I don't tend to push myself very much but you see I don't want to. I'm happy to listen to music for enjoyment, not to show how diverse a taste I have, like you, Jack or Goofle. Don't need that validation thanks. But I will take on your list. Let's see: was gonna do Mezzanine anyway, Low I heard once, once only as a very young lad (Eno's involved in that, isn't he?) and I may look at PIL, though I might go for BAD instead. Or both. Primal Scream? Don't know jack about them, will have to read up, unless you want to give me a clue.

As for Captain Beefheart: yeah I'll give him a go. I only ever heard "Ice cream for crow" (the song) once and thought it was hilarious, but a whole album might be interesting.

DJ: I'll take Peter Tosh, Janet and EWF thanks. I'll add them to the list.

See the thing is I know you all would like to see me explore albums I'd normally not touch, but that's not the point of this journal. If I did that then I'd miss getting to hear all those classic albums I have never heard, and this would become instead "Trollheart walks on the wild side" instead. Hmmm...

No, no! Four journals is more than any man should ever have to update. No more! No. More. Well, maybe just one. NO. Definitely not. Ever. Maybe.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Will be back with my list soon as.
And thanks for the interest already.
TH

Urban Hat€monger ? · 06-03-2013, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Urban: never stepped out of my comfort zone? You're talking to the guy who fearlessly went where other reviewers fear to tread, deep into the wilds of Boybandland. I still wake shivering every few nights about that! And have you not seen "The Meat Grinder"? Still, yes, I don't tend to push myself very much but you see I don't want to. I'm happy to listen to music for enjoyment, not to show how diverse a taste I have, like you, Jack or Goofle. Don't need that validation thanks. But I will take on your list. Let's see: was gonna do Mezzanine anyway, Low I heard once, once only as a very young lad (Eno's involved in that, isn't he?) and I may look at PIL, though I might go for BAD instead. Or both. Primal Scream? Don't know jack about them, will have to read up, unless you want to give me a clue.

I can turn on a TV or a radio and hear a boyband, that's not pushing someone out of their comfort zone that's self abuse.

Besides I wouldn't say I was pushing you to validate yourself, I know you don't want to do that which is why all 5 of the albums I carefully chose have their roots in rock music, even Mezzanine which I think of more as a rock album than an electronic one.

Well apart from the Black Flag one, that was just to **** with you

Primal Scream ... For that album think The Rolling Stones meets acid house

The Batlord · 06-03-2013, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Sex Pistols: No. I don't care how classic it may be seen as, I bloody HATE the SP and everything they stood for. I have no intention of ever listening to them, and it's not because I'm scared, or they're outside my comfort zone: it's simply that I dislike them so much. No punk fan, I!

What exactly is it that you think the Sex Pistols stand for? I never really thought they stood for much of anything.

Unknown Soldier · 06-03-2013, 12:48 PM

I agree with Urban in the albums that he's suggested to you, I know four of the five and they're albums to push your listening experience without giving you a coronary or making you scratch your head too much, but you might be best to avoid Damaged, you're not ready for that yet. But Low and Close to the Edge might be two great places to jump in and both are two of the best albums ever recorded.

06-03-2013, 05:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Classic Albums I have never heard Reading over Powerstars' review of Nirvana's "Nevermind" brought to my attention that there are many, many albums considered (probably rightly) total classics which I have never even listened to, and I probably really should. We're talking the likes of OK computer/Kid A, Close to the edge, Transformer, Reign in blood, all that sort of thing. I was going to just run another new section in the Playlist, but then I thought no, this needs its own journal in order to work properly, so here I am, making yet another. I'm not going to be reviewing these albums: no point, as most of you more than likely know them inside out anyway. What I will do is give my impressions, both first and later. So I'll listen to an album once, write my sketchy impressions of it, then later (some time later) after I've had a chance to spin it a few more times and get more deeply into it, I'll come back with a "redux" of it, to see if my opinion has changed, for better or worse. Oh yeah: there will be no YouTubes, for the same reason as stated above. What would be the point? The impressions will as I say be basic: things like how I felt one minute into the album, how I thought it sounded, how it developed if at all, and so on. I'm open to suggestions for albums, though generally I'm gong to tend to stay within my own preferred genres. So it's not likely I'll be listening to "Never mind the bollocks" anytime soon! Of course, if someone can make a persuasive argument for why I should listen to a particular album I'll be prepared to listen. This will be the journal wherein I hope to see a decent amount of comments, as people either tell me I don't know what I'm talking about (what's new?) or ask me how I avoided hearing THAT album for so long, whether I like it now and just general discussion about albums you guyses will knows a lots mores than mes. Of course, with three other journals to keep going don't expect to see daily updates here; I'll be lucky if I can do one a week. But hopefully it may provide both some new listening pleasure for me and a fresh perspective perhaps on albums that most of you know intimately. New eyes, as they say. Or in this case, ears. Anyhoo, I'll be back a little later with the beginnings of a list. I already know which one is going to be looked at first, but will hold off announcing that just yet. Oh yeah, even if I hate an album, even after repeated listens, can't understand why it's so highly rated, I'll still write about it. Okay then, off I go to make my list! PM me if you have any ideas, or once the journal's approved drop in a comment. Till later Troll Okay then, here's the first draft of my list. This is of course in no way complete or comprehensive, and has been put together basically by reference to the top 500 albums according to "Rolling Stone" --- I know, I know! But I just wanted an idea! --- and that list of "1001 albums you must hear before you die." As I say, I'm open to suggestions and if I have an album here by an artiste that someone knows is not considered their most classic, let me know. A quick word on ratings: later in the journal I decided to instigate a rating system. This has of necessity to be built around both how much I liked or did not like the album and its overall popularity as a classic album, so even if I didn't enjoy a particular album but recognise it as a bona fide classic, it would have to get a reasonably high rating. It wouldn't do, for instance, for me to go rating, say, The Joshua Tree low, even if I didn't like it personally. The rating will therefore be an amalgamation of the album's standing and my own reaction to it. I've tried to limit the list to one per artist, otherwise I'll be at this till I die. Here's what I've come up with so far. These are in alphabetical order, though that does not in any way mean they will be processed in that order. ABC - The Lexicon of Love AC/DC - Back in Black Antlers - Hospice Arcade Fire --- Funeral The Auteurs - New Wave The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica Big Star - #1 Record David Bowie – Low Kate Bush - The Hounds of Love Can- Tago Mago The Cars - The Cars Catherine Wheel - Chrome The Clash - London Calling Terence Trent D'Arby - Introducing the Hardline According to... Miles Davis - Bitches Brew Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks Earth Wind and Fire - That's the Way of the World Echo & the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain ELP - Tarkus Faith No More --- Angel dust Funkadelic --- Maggot brain Gang of Four – Entertainment! Marvin Gaye - What's Going On? The Go- Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane Human League - Dare! Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814 Michael Jackson – Thriller The Jam – All Mod Cons The Jesus and Mary Chain --- Psychocandy Judas Priest --- British Steel Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced... Bob Marley - Exodus Massive Attack – Mezzanine My Bloody Valentine – Loveless Neutral Milk Hotel --- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Nirvana - Nevermind Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? Orange Juice - Rip It Up Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes PIL - Metal box Portishead - Dummy Primal Scream - Screamadelica Pulp - Different Class REM - Automatic for the People RHCP - Californication Todd Rundgren - Something/Anything Paul Simon – Graceland Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge over Troubled Water Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours Sisters of Mercy --- Floodlands Slayer - Reign in Blood Slowdive --- Souvlaki The Smiths - The Queen is Dead Talking Heads --- Remain in Light Sonic Youth --- Daydream Nation Peter Tosh - Wanted Dread and Alive U2 - The Joshua Tree Pere Ubu - Dub Housing Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues Weezer – Blue The White Stripes - Elephant Wilco --- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life Yes - Close to the edge Neil Young - After the Gold Rush ZZ Top - Tres Hombres __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 08-06-2022 at 09:19 PM.

06-03-2013, 10:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Thanks for all the replies guys. Few comments then: Close to the edge: why are you guys so surprised I've never heard this? I've made it plain that I have only heard and enjoyed "later" Yes, from 90125 on, and that what I heard of "classic Yes" I thought overlong, boring and pretentious and I lost interest quickly in it. That said, yes I understand it's a classic prog album which is why it's on the list. Sex Pistols: No. I don't care how classic it may be seen as, I bloody HATE the SP and everything they stood for. I have no intention of ever listening to them, and it's not because I'm scared, or they're outside my comfort zone: it's simply that I dislike them so much. No punk fan, I! Urban: never stepped out of my comfort zone? You're talking to the guy who fearlessly went where other reviewers fear to tread, deep into the wilds of Boybandland. I still wake shivering every few nights about that! And have you not seen "The Meat Grinder"? Still, yes, I don't tend to push myself very much but you see I don't want to. I'm happy to listen to music for enjoyment, not to show how diverse a taste I have, like you, Jack or Goofle. Don't need that validation thanks. But I will take on your list. Let's see: was gonna do Mezzanine anyway, Low I heard once, once only as a very young lad (Eno's involved in that, isn't he?) and I may look at PIL, though I might go for BAD instead. Or both. Primal Scream? Don't know jack about them, will have to read up, unless you want to give me a clue. As for Captain Beefheart: yeah I'll give him a go. I only ever heard "Ice cream for crow" (the song) once and thought it was hilarious, but a whole album might be interesting. DJ: I'll take Peter Tosh, Janet and EWF thanks. I'll add them to the list. See the thing is I know you all would like to see me explore albums I'd normally not touch, but that's not the point of this journal. If I did that then I'd miss getting to hear all those classic albums I have never heard, and this would become instead "Trollheart walks on the wild side" instead. Hmmm... No, no! Four journals is more than any man should ever have to update. No more! No. More. Well, maybe just one. NO. Definitely not. Ever. Maybe. Thanks for the suggestions guys. Will be back with my list soon as. And thanks for the interest already. TH __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018