See this is the problem you're going to face with a lot of albums here. For example if a prog album were to appear you would know of its reputation, why it's selected, the musical environment that it comes from and with that in mind even if you didn't know the album, you would still have the criteria in which to judge it correctly.

By randomly listening to albums that you have no cultural or musical knowledge of, along with no real interest in its musical genre, it's almost like watching a classic movie in Chinese and then saying I can't understand why people love this film.

I always remember on one of your other journals you reviewing Nirvana's Nevermind and stating that you couldn't see the importance of the album for its cultural impact on music. Sure a load of people don't like the album, but it might just be the single most important release in the history of music given how it attracted such a diverse musical following and its musical impact on cultural heritage was incredible. Point being that I think unless you take a few extra minutes to read why an album is on the list, you'll just end up selling yourself short on why you're doing the list in the first place.

40,000 volts? Shocking. Absolutely shocking.

This will be taking a very small hiatus for now, not because of anything said but because I've run out of albums listened to and need to build up a few more, and at the moment I'm in the middle of my Tom Waits discography for the Playlist, so need to concentrate on that.

No more than a few days, a week tops.

I will be back! Just in case anyone thinks I've been disheartened or jacked it in because of recent events. I haven't, just gathering more data as they say.

Thanks to everyone who's read and commented, positively, negatively or humourously. Glad you're enjoying it and it will be back soon. For now though...
http://lowres.cartoonstock.com/famil...nan163_low.jpg

I'm surprised Trollheart likes The Streets.

You should get Original Pirate Material, as it's the better album.

I prefer my house, to be honest... :rofl:

Oh don't misunderstand: I do read up on every album. It's seldom if ever I review any album (or even listen to one) without researching it. I just don't often see, even after reading up on them, why they're on the list while others aren't. I mean, Cee-Lo Green's debut may be a great hip-hop record, but why is it any better than others? What's so great about Liars? The hard truth is that, unless this were my only journal and I devoted much more time and energy to it I will never really be able to answer that question I was asking, nor probably properly appreciate some of these albums. But that's fine; I had never intended to do that anyway. My aim was just to listen to and rate them.

Also, don't just put me down as a prog head. I mean, there are tons of artistes I know about (as you know, from reading my journals) who aren't even vaguely prog. It's just that a lot of these early albums (early in my list I mean) are just not speaking to me and are largely unknown to me.

I'm not after all writing a huge treatise on this list; I just want to be able to say, at the end, yeah I listened to every album, and talk about them a little as I do. Hey, a man can dream, can't he? (Bonus points for anyone who gets the reference...) ;)

God one, dad.

Thanks, son...

Okay then, time to get this show back on the road again. I should point out that I have deleted the “Introduction” category, as it really didn't seem to be working. Also, as WWWP requested genres I'm now including those, but be advised that I am, in the case of those bands or artistes I don't know, just going by what the mighty W tells me they are. If I'm wrong, don't blame me. But you can tell me. So then, on we go!
989
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ines-album.jpg
Album title: The Libertines
Artiste: The Libertines
Year: 2004
Nationality: British
Genre Garage Rock
Chronology: Second album
Previous experience of this artiste, if any: I know of Pete Doherty (isn't he the one from Dead or Alive? Oh no, that's Pete Burns. Disregard the opening statement in that case)
Am I glad I heard this album before I died? Yeah it's okay, but I could have died without having heard it...
Tracklisting: Can't stand me now, Last post on the bugle, Don't be shy, The man who would be king, The music when the lights go out, Narcissist, The ha ha wall, Arbeit macht frei, Campaign of hate, What Katie did, Tomblands, The saga, Road to ruin, What became of the Likely Lads?
Comments: Decent enough rock album, good guitar work but nothing particularly grabs me till we get to The man who would be king, which really reminds me of It's Immaterial's Driving away from home. Odd. Touches of Knopfleresque guitar here too. The next one puts me in mind of something off “The final cut”, very Waters in the opening parts. Good song. This album seems to alternate between quite decent rock and then some energetic and frenetic almost punk. Then What Katie did recalls the Brotherhood of Man, lord save us! Eclectic certainly.
Favourite track(s): The man who would be king, Music when the lights go out, Road to ruin
Least favourite track(s): Arbeit macht frei, Narcissist
My impression: Decent enough. Something I could see myself perhaps getting into had I a few more listens. Not bad at all.
Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner3.png

988
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...treetsigns.jpg
Album title: Street signs
Artiste: Ozomati
Year: 2004
Nationality: American
Genre: Now there's a question! According to Wiki, Ozomatli combine elements of jazz, hip-hop, world music, fusion and latin funk!
Chronology: Third album
Previous experience of this artiste, if any: Zero
Am I glad I heard this album before I died? Oh hell yeah!
Tracklisting: Believe, Love and hope, Street signs, (Who discovered) America?, Who's to blame, Te estoy buscando, Saturday night, Dejame en paz, Santiago,Ya viene el sol, Dona Isabelle, Nadie te tiera, Cuando canto
Comments: I was interested on seeing this being up next, as it mentions latin funk, hip-hop, jazz and fusion and I was wondering how these guys would meld all these odd influences together. But I must say, I pretty much love this album. The energy and the optimism and the just overall sense of let's have a party is infectious. The music is upbeat and uplifting, and even the raps and scratching added to, rather than detracting (as would usually be the case with me) from the music. Excellent album. Very impressed. Never knew music like this existed.
Favourite track(s): Believe, Street signs, (Who discovered) America, Nadie te tiera, Te estoy buscando, Santiago, Dona Isabelle, Cuando canto
Least favourite track(s): Who's to blame, Saturday night
My impression: Definitely among the best I've heard off this list so far.
Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner4.png

987
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...eros.album.jpg
Album title: Heroes to zeroes
Artiste: The Beta Band
Year: 2004
Nationality: Scottish
Genre Folktronica?
Chronology: Third and final album
Previous experience of this artiste, if any: Zero
Am I glad I heard this album before I died? I could have lived without it, but it's ok
Tracklisting: Assessment, Space, Lion thief, Easy, Wonderful, Troubles, Out-side, Space beatle, Rhododendron, Liquid bird, Simple, Pure for
Comments: The first thing I hear when the album begins is U2 and Big Country, that big, wide guitar sound that we associate with both those bands. The vocal however is not as strong as either of those singers, more restrained but decent. Can't say I hear much of any folk here though, but then again this is only the first track. Some nice vocal harmonies on the second track, pleasant enough. I hear the folk influences now on Lion thief and the boppy bass on Easy is nice too. So is the string section in the next track, but Liquid bird seems to go all over the place.
Favourite track(s): Lion thief, Easy, Wonderful, Troubles, Rhododendron
Least favourite track(s): Space Beatle, Liquid bird
My impression: Decent album, but I'd hardly call it essential listening.
Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner3.png