Trollheart takes on "1001 Albums you must hear before you die"
 

http://www.trollheart.com/1001bth.jpg
I announced this back in December and as it's such a huge undertaking I want to get it started as soon as possible. The source I'm going to use, as I don't actually have or particularly want to read the book, is this http://rateyourmusic.com/list/rtfm/1...onological/11/; I've looked at a few and though they all appear to be more or less the same albums, some have ones missing, some don't number them and some have them listed alphabetically. This, then, seems to be the most comprehensive and accurate link I've found, but if anyone knows of another I should be using let me know.

A word on reviews: I don't think anyone is expecting detailed synopses of these albums. Firstly, if they're in this list they're something less than obscure, and secondly there are over a thousand of them, so even if I manage my goal of listening to one a day (which is in no way certain) I could not afford to do long-winded reviews, or else what little black is left in my hair would be long turned to grey by the time I was finished. I have no illusions that even doing things this way, this will be anything other than an undertaking that spans several years, depending on how often I manage to listen to the albums, given all the other work I have to do. But to ensure it doesn't take the rest of my life, I'll be copying elements from the “Bitesize” format, though on the comments section I will be strictly restricting myself to a maximum of three lines per album. There'll also be a short (very short) introduction to the album and/or artiste, which will be separate from the three-line review. Any albums I already know will just be noted and then I'll move on.

In addition, I'll be awarding each album a rating (even those I've already heard) which will be strictly based on what I alone thought of the album, not its place in music history, its essential worth or its legacy. This is all based on my opinion, so even if say a Dean Martin or Bob Marley record is considered a classic and indispensable and one of those you should hear before you die, if I hate it or it doesn't impress me it will be rated accordingly. No slight or insult is intended as ever, and my rating system will follow usual format of 1 to 5, 5 being a total classic you have to hear and that I love, 1 being a turd on vinyl. To add a little humour and tie in to the theme, the ratings will all be represented by tombstones (geddit?)...

To do things a little differently, although these are not ranked, I'll be starting from number 1001 and working backwards, and as I see these are arranged in chronological order that means we'll be travelling backwards in time. Woo! Where's the TARDIS? :D It also means it'll be at least a year before I have to suffer boring albums from the forties or fifties! ;)

Number one thousand and one coming up shortly!

You really must be a nutcase to do this. Have you seen the type of albums you'll have to review at the beginning of this list? :laughing:

............ yes I'm sure you have.

Have fun! I'm subbing.

This is gonna be fun for everyone... except Trollheart.

I'm excited for 1965-1968. Especially the United States of America. That one should just about decapitate poor Trollheart.

Who gives a **** about that? Trollheart's gonna have to review hip hop. Lots and lots of hip hop. And punk rock. That's the real story.

The earliest album is Frank Sinata's In The Wee Small Hours from 1955 and that's the only album from that year so it basically starts at the Rock n Roll era.

One thing you might want to do is listen to the original track listings on the albums as they were intended rather than on the later re-issues on CD. Some of those early Jazz records are 3 or 4 times longer than the original albums these days and drag on for 2 plus hours.

I'll get around to uploading the PDF of the book if you still want it.

Yeah, you'd think I'd have to be insane (still not proven either way) to do this, but then what sort of a lunatic would then embark on yet ANOTHER journal with a scope almost as vast?

Stay tuned, and get the strait-jacket ready!
Meanwhile, let's get going with....

1001
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...d_Me_Satan.jpg
Album title: Get behind me Satan
Artiste: The White Stripes
Year: 2005
Nationality: American
Genre: Hard Rock/Blues
Chronology: Fifth album
Previous experience of this artiste, if any: Elephant
Why is this an album you should hear before you die? I have no idea (I have this feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot!)
Tracklisting: Blue orchid, The Nurse, My doorbell, Forever for her (Is over for me), Little ghost, The denial twist, White moon, Instinct blues, Passive manipulation, Take, take, take, As ugly as I seem, Red rain, I'm lonely (But I ain't that lonely yet)
Introduction: The only thing I've heard from The White Stripes is “Elephant”, and while it was a good rock album I've yet to understand the reason for the almost godlike status Jack White gets in most quarters. Sure, he's a great guitarist, composer and singer, and his wife is a great drummer, but aren't a lot of other bands too? I can't quite make out what's apparently so special about this husband-and-wife duo, but maybe this will help me see.
Comments: When this started I didn't like the stripped-down, non-rock format of the album (although I have only heard the one other WS recording), but as it went on I got into it and songs like “Forever for her”, “Little ghost” and “White moon” made more of an impression on me. It's still not really my sort of thing; I still don't quite get it, but I can certainly see that Jack White and his wife are talented and versatile. It's a very good album, but I doubt this would be among a list of albums I advised anyone to make sure they heard before they died.
Favourite track(s): Forever for her (Is over for me), Little ghost, White moon, Passive manipulation, As ugly as I seem, I'm lonely (But I ain't that lonely yet)
Least favourite track(s): The Nurse, My doorbell, Take, take, take, Blue orchid
My impression: Good, solid album. Well-written, well-composed and a little different.
Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner3.png

White Stripes are American and not British.

Noted. Thanks. Easy to get confused when you're listening to this many bands!

That's no excuse. Please stop whining.

But you've only listened to one.

Shan't! :)

1000
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...40px-Guero.jpg
Album title: Guero
Artiste: Beck
Year: 2005
Nationality: American
Genre: Alternative Rock/ Anti-Folk (?)/Beck
Chronology: Ninth album
Previous experience of this artiste, if any: Zero
Why is this an album you should hear before you die? I have no idea
Tracklisting: E-pro, Qué Onda Guero, Girl, Missing, Black tambourine, Earthquake weather, Hell yes, Scarecrow, Broken drum, Go it alone, Farewell ride, Rental car, Emergency Exit
Introduction: Next up we have Beck, of whom I know nothing beyond his guest slot on “Futurama”...
Comments: This album features a lot of what I would call latin influences, folk music, hip-hop and lo-fi indie-style music. I don't know if I like it but I sure don't hate it, and it evokes a certain party atmosphere from the start, so that can't be bad. I'd be prepared to listen to more of this.
Favourite track(s): E-pro, Girl, Missing, Farewell ride, Broken drum
Least favourite track(s): Nothing really
My impression: Decent album and for my first introduction to Beck's music not at all bad. May check more of this out.
Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner4.png

I don't think I've seen anyone call Meg White "a great drummer" before! Good luck, I'll be following.

I know what's coming next, can't wait to read this one.
:tramp:

Incorrect. I have only POSTED one. I'm currently on my sixth. Also, I'm doing tons of other stuff (well, some of it has been outsourced to various clones...)
Calm down, big guy! :)

Just checking the list and, at least for the most recent couple of decades, it's made up of almost entirely stuff that would appeal to indie nerds. The majority of the rest seems to be made up of mainstream albums that are notable either for actually not sucking or just being particularly well known. Hip hop, metal, punk, whatever passes for jazz or classical or whatever else these days, are all but ignored. Seems like a Rolling Stone "Best Albums of All Time" list for the modern, small-minded elitist.

How did Get Behind me Satan make the list, and not their eponymous album or something, though? GBMS is a good album, but it's weaker than almost every other album of theirs imo.
Looks like the writer to the list published too soon to include Icky Thump, which is too bad. Bit uneven, but a lotta great songs.

Not my favorite Beck album, but it's alright, I think there's probably another one in there somewhere.

I agree that this list sucks, although for me that's because a lot of it is just really random.

Probably because their debut album did fuck all.
If you're going to have a White Stripes album I would argue that it should either be White Blood Cells which was the first album of theirs to get any attention or Elephant which was their mainstream breakthrough album.

Looks like Elephant is on there as well.

Elephant's on the list. I love their debut, but I guess you're right in that White Blood Cells actually made waves.

The list is decent enough to me.

Whether the list is acceptable or not is not the issue. It's the only one, I assume based on the book (if not, someone tell me) --- if the MB one was done I would add the choices from that but at the moment I think it's up to like 200 or something? Maybe when I get down to that point I might also do the MB ones --- if I'm still alive and not carted off to the madhouse by then!

Lots of albums here already have me scratching my head, and I just wonder if more seminal albums like "Dark side", "Jailbreak" and "The Joshua Tree" are in there? I haven't gone through all of it...

Said the dude who wears button-down shirts.

What? :confused:

The only era I'd consider myself knowledgeable enough to comment on is 1965-68, and it looks fine there.

He was probably responding to me. It's strange how some people haven't yet figured out how journals work.

But like I said, it's a good list of albums. And pretty much every one I have seen could be looked at as "must listen" within their genre.

Nobody is ever going to make a perfect essential albums list, because there isn't one.

I was talking to Goofle. Your avatar is particularly fugly today BTW.

999
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...._-_Arular.png
Album title: Arular
Artiste: M.I.A
Year: 2005
Nationality: English
Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop/Urban
Chronology: Debut album
Previous experience of this artiste, if any: Uh, yeah... :rolleyes:
Why is this an album you should hear before you die? I have no idea
Tracklisting: Banana skit, Pull up the people, Bucky done gun, Fire fire, Freedom skit, Amazon, Bingo, Hombre, One for the head skit, 10 dollar, Sunshowers, Galang, MIA
Introduction: And so we come to the first of the albums I would probably rather not listen to, ie a hip-hop album. But everything here must be listened to, even if criticised to hell, so let's hit it.
Comments: Totally not my thing. Sort of jungle/world music mixed with hip-hop, and while it's done well I guess, it just makes no impression on me whatsoever and I'm just waiting for it to be over so I can move on. Almost like children's nursery rhymes in places; never will get this sort of music.
Favourite track(s): Nothing
Least favourite track(s): Everything
My impression: If all hip-hop were like this I would listen to none. Not that I do, but I intend to give it something of a chance (I'm sure there are plenty more hip-hop albums in this list) and just hope this isn't typical of the genre.
Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner2.png

50 Cent may well receive a Minus http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner1.png.

There's a 2013 version out there btw. No need to start as far back as 2005: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die | Listology

Now he tells me. :rolleyes: I know you under another name, don't I? I recognise the avatar.

Sorry, I thought you'd appreciate knowing of it's existence ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I do, thanks.
Tuna, wasn't it?
Took me a while to remember...

998
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...rtbreak_US.JPG
Album title: Aha shake heartbreak
Artiste: Kings of Leon
Year: 2004
Nationality: American
Genre: Rock
Chronology: Second album
Previous experience of this artiste, if any: Because of the times, Only by the night
Why is this an album you should hear before you die? I have (all together now) no idea
Tracklisting: Slow night, so long, King of the rodeo, Taper jean girl, Pistol of fire, Milk, The bucket, Soft, Razz, Day old blues, Four kicks, Velvet snow, Rememo, Where nobody knows
Introduction: When I listened to Kings of Leon the last two times I was amazed at how bad, to me, their singer was. I certainly didn't like their music and unless this is very different from those two albums listed above I doubt I'll change my mind anytime soon.
Comments: Yeah, as expected. When I don't like a singer it's very hard for me to get into the band, but occasionally I will try, if they seem worth it. These guys don't impress me that way.
Favourite track(s): The bucket, Rememo
Least favourite track(s): Everything else really.
My impression: Just bored really. Nothing special.
Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/tstoner2.png

The Bucket is a great song.