Ok! Now that we have the first 50 out of the way it's time to get into my top 50 favorite albums of all time. This is where it gets good, so get ready!
Another CD from 1994! Don't worry, there's still more! I told you, 1994 was a magical year. Being an 11 year old kid was AWESOME in 1994. There was so much good music coming out in every genre, it was definitely amazing being alive and witnessing it first hand. Green Day's 1994 offering was no different. This was the album that put them on the map. Everyone had heard of Green Day, but they were one of those bands that only a few people liked. Then this album came out and shot them into mainstream success. Without this cd, many of the bands you love today wouldn't have existed. Call it "the butterfly effect" if you will. This cd was LOADED with hits but my favorite was always, "She". If you're young and haven't heard it yet for whatever reason, do it. This was, is and always will be, a GREAT album.
Silverchair was one of those bands I completely ignored as a child. I knew about them and a couple of their songs, but I just never had the urge to listen to them. When I finally came around and checked out a whole cd of theirs, it was this one. Immediately, I was floored. WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG??? Oh well, better late than never. I always liked, "Anthem For The Year 2000", but... "Emotion Sickness". Well, that song was them saying goodbye to their musical careers.
Here's one of those bands that you might know about, but probably not. They had a song on the American Pie soundtrack titled, "Stranger By The Day". It was always one of my favorites and when I saw this album on the shelf in West Virgina on a family outing, I was soooooooooooooooooooooo freaking happy! I must have listened to it 20 times that afternoon and it has remained in my head ever since. Great album! Although not as heavy as a lot of the albums on my list, it's spot is definitely deserved!
What can you say about Mike Patton that hasn't already been said a million times. If you don't know who he is then you have definitely been living under a rock. This guy does it all, he's been in countless bands and side projects, he even did all of the monster growls in the Will Smith movie, "I Am Legend". EASILY, the most versatile vocalist of our time, he's one of those people you either love or hate. At first listen you may turn this album off and dismiss it. It's easy to do. However, if you listen to it repeatedly it grows on you like that wart you don't want anyone to see. I suggest you check this out.
#46 - System Of A Down - Mezmerize / Hypnotize (2005)
These albums were both equally as good and often overlooked. If you actually sat down and listened to both of them however, you would know how good they were as a whole. As always, it featured music only Serj and company could come up with. It was like a carnival ride with Frank Zappa as the ringleader. The movie "Disturbia" with Shia Lebeauf even used their song, "Lonely Day" in their trailer. Start with track one on Mezmerize and listen all the way through. It's worth your time, I promise!
The Deftones were one of those bands that again, I was late to the bandwagon. My introduction to them came with this album. But I must say, I am happy it did! This was their best album in my opinion and the fact that it had Maynard from Tool on one track made it all the more amazing. If you haven't heard this album, you might as well do it right now. This may have been the album that ended the Deftones because after it, I never listened to another album of theirs again. Every song on this album was awesome and it was the kind of album, best listened to, driving down the freeway at night.
SUGGESTED LISTENING - (#9 - Passenger (Featuring Maynard James Keenan))
This is easily one of the best albums of the 90's. There were so many iconic songs on this album that it would be hard for any Alice In Chains fan to pinpoint a favorite. Another one of those bands I wasn't into until my late 20's, I wish I had listened to them wayyyyyy earlier. I always liked their hits and all, but some of the other album tracks were just dark. The band "Godsmack" even took their name from one of this albums tracks. It's a shame Layne had to die so young, but most of the truly great ones do. Isn't that the case with rock and roll though?
This was always my favorite STP album. It had a TON of great music and was the perfect debut album. I can remember being 9 or 10 and having the cassette in my walkman all of the time. I would always get to "Creep" and rewind it everytime. Then I would repeat this process for about an hour. I always loved this album and still do to this day. I'd even be willing to bet that another 23 years from now, I will still love it.
#42 - Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (1995)
"The World Is A Vampire"... might just be the most recognized song intro of all time. I can remember hearing it when I was little and thinking to myself, "What the hell does that even mean". Well, 20 years later, I think we all know what he was trying to say. This album had so many great songs layered throughout it. You didn't have to like them to like the songs on this album. Everyone is guilty of singing along to at least one of them. It's funny how people say, "I hate Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins". Only to hear that same person singing along to "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" when it comes on.
When "Faith No More", kicked vocalist "Chuck Mosely" out of the band, it may have been the greatest decision of their lives. In 1989 a song came out named "Epic". It hit MTV and the radio with so much fury that it's still being played today. EVERYONE has heard that song and was, to many of us, our introduction to Mike Patton. No one had any idea who he was to become but because of THAT song and THAT album, MOST of the bands you know and love today were formed. So much great music has been inspired because of this album that it would literally be a completely different world musically had it not been written. Mike Patton was decades in front of music. This album is still as relevant today ad it was in 1989. Amazing foresight into the future. Thank you Mike Patton. Thank you.
SUGGESTED LISTENING (#4 - Surprise! You're Dead!)
Well. We are 4 weeks away from the last of this countdown. It's been fun sharing all of this with the thousands of you now reading! Happy Thanksgiving and i'll see you next week!
Alright! Today we're going to reach the halfway point! This has been a very fun experience so far and now we're really getting into my absolute FAVORITE albums. We're going to focus on albums 51-60 and this is where it truly began to get difficult. So without further ado... Here we go again!!!
While this is by no means the greatest album ever recorded, it does contain what I truly believe to be the greatest song ever written... "Stairway To Heaven". There is something truly magical about "Stairway" that transcends time and musical genres. It is one of the first songs that many guitarists, including myself, set out to learn. Clocking in at 8 minutes in length, it's hard to tell what direction music would have went had they not written this song. The famous scene in Wayne's World would have never been, the drunken Dave Grohl performance of it would have never happened & who knows what else. It truly is that POWERFUL. Anytime anyone ever asks me what the greatest song ever written was, this is ALWAYS the first song that pops into my mind. No one has ever disagreed with me, ever. Overall this album, is very good. This song however makes it EPIC.
SUGGESTED LISTENING (#4 - Stairway To Heaven)
By the way, the Dave Grohl version I previously mentioned is below. You're welcome.
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#59 - The Doors - Strange Days (1967)
My introduction to The Doors came with a little movie from 1987 titled, "The Lost Boys". AND IT WASN'T EVEN THEM!!! It was a cover of "People Are Strange" by Echo And The Bunnymen. It had a profound impact on me and I have forever been in love with this song. This album is GREAT! It has inspired so many musical artists over the years and it is hard to think about a world without it. In my early 20's I got to a lonely time in my life where I would just sit in the dark, smoke a blunt and listen to albums from start to finish with my eyes closed taking in everything I was hearing. This was one of those albums. This album simply put, is best listened to from start to finish. DO IT, you won't regret it, I PROMISE!
SUGGESTED LISTENING (#2 - You're Lost Little Girl)
I had just turned 10 years old when "The Chronic" came out. I didn't know what to think of it. I was a little white kid from Columbus, Ohio. But I realized it was something truly special. Growing up in the era of MTV & The BOX, I was constantly exposed to this album. My brother bought it and as always I snuck it out of his room and would play it while I was playing Nintendo games. Hell, my mom even liked "Nothin But A G Thang". This was my introduction to Snoop & Dre. I never knew what gangsta rap was till this cd came out. To me, this is the second greatest rap album ever recorded.
SUGGESTED LISTENING (#5 - Nuthin' But A G Thang (Featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg))
There was just something about the music released in 1994. I can't stress that statement enough. It was a magical year. My introduction to Jeff Buckley came in 2004 when some friends of mine were always talking about him. I had heard the name, but never heard the music. Being the music lover I am, I went home and decided to look it up. I listened to "Grace" and was simply blown away. EASILY one of the 10 greatest vocalists of all time, it's a tragedy that he had to die so young. This album is everything a debut album should be. He commands your attention and every song on it is a MASTERPIECE. Though his life on this Earth was cut way too short, at least he was able to leave us with this album. I suggest you listen to it. You won't be sorry!
Any true Pink Floyd fan knows the story of Syd Barrett. They also know that following his departure they began to stray away from their psychedelic roots and go in a more progressive direction. This album contained 6 tracks. 5 on the first side and when you flipped it over, it contained the 24 minute long "Echoes". This song served as a taste of what was to come for them. It was a pre-cursor to Dark Side Of The Moon. Simply put, it was one of their most unique offerings and to this day, one of the greatest songs they wrote. Echoes isn't just a song, it's an adventure. This song has the power to take you on a journey to parts of your mind you didn't know existed. Don't believe me? Listen for yourself! Just hit play, close your eyes and really listen to it.
#55 - Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion 1 & 2 (1991)
Guns N' Roses were one of the most powerful bands in the late 80's, early 90's. Another one of those bands that were inescapable. Use Your Illusion was released as 2 separate albums, although it should have just been a double. Haha. Way to make extra money I guess. These albums came at the height of their career and turned them from great status to legendary status. November Rain, Civil War, You Could Be Mine & Knockin' On Heavens Door, just mentioning those songs should remind you how great they were. It's a shame what happened to them in the years following. It's another one of those classic feud stories that tore apart something great. We've heard that story too many times before. Thank GOD they released these albums though. Terminator 2 made great use of the song, "You Could Be Mine".
SUGGESTED LISTENING - Use Your Illusion I (#10 - November Rain)
SUGGESTED LISTENING - Use Your Illusion II (#12 - You Could Be Mine)
Since it's November and rainy, here's a bonus.
And just because this song is BAD ASS.
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#54 - Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue (1959)
Around 2003, I kept hearing Miles Davis this & Miles Davis that so I sat down and decided to listen to what all the fuss was about. Boy did I pick a GREAT album to start with! I believe this is the oldest and most random album on my list, but it is certainly well deserved. To those who don't know, Miles Davis was a jazz trumpet player. Although he could fit into other genres, especially later in his life, he mainly played jazz. Jazz has never been my forte. However, this album made me open my mind up and because of it, I am forever thankful to him and his wonderful music. "If peeing in your pants is cool, then consider me miles davis". Hahahaha.
Here is where I begin to make some enemies. The following statement I believe to be completely true. "The Beatles are the most over-rated band of all time". There... I said it. Go ahead and bash me. Come on, do it! But before you do, consider this. Early in their career they were under guidance from their record labels. Everything was poppy and "fake". Their early songs were ok, but it was albums like this and "The White Album" that truly showed their potential. With that being said, I LOVE ABBEY ROAD. This album is ICONIC. The album art is easily the most recognized cover in music history. EVERYONE has seen it. But a lot of people have only heard what the radio plays. Booooooooooooo! I say to those people. Listen to track #8, "Because". It is easily one of their best, non-single songs. Haunting and beautiful. Also, listen to track #1, "Come Together". Is John Lennon really saying, "Shoot Me"? If so, that's just creepy. Really creepy.
Well, ladies and gentleman, here it is. The last rap album on my countdown. This is the GREATEST rap album ever recorded. It was hard not to place it higher up cause it definitely deserves a spot in the top ten. But once again, this is my favorite list, not the definitive one. So why is this album so high up? If you were alive, you know why. This album is FILLED with conspiracy and GREAT, GREAT music. Loaded with hits, this is the best 2Pac had to offer and came at the end of his life? I put a question mark there because who knows! 2Pac was so powerful with his lyrics that he transcended the rap genre and crossed over and connected with anyone who listened to his music. He is not only the greatest rap artist of all time, but his music will live on for thousands of years. Do you think people in a thousand years will be listening to Jay-Z? Probably not, he's shit in comparison. 2Pac will forever be the GOAT. And this is the album why.
This is my last Beatles album included on my countdown. Although many would place this much, much higher. It clocks in at #51 on my list. This was a double album that represented the beginning of their experimental music. They started doing drugs and opened their minds to more possibilities musically. The Beatles were great, don't get me wrong. But this album was their peak. This album inspired Charles Manson (Helter Skelter) & Pink Floyd (Dear Prudence) and countless others. It is a GREAT album and will be remembered long after all of us have come and gone.
SUGGESTED LISTENING (Disc 1 - #11 - Blackbird)
So there you have it! Halfway done! I hope you have enjoyed our time together so far, cause I have a blast writing these out every week! With so many albums that most people would have listed in their top 10 already out of the way... who knows what I have left in store for you all! Same time next week! You know where to find me! Till then, thanks for checking it out again!
#70 - Bone Thugs N' Harmony - E. 1999 Eternal (1995)
Any rap album that begins with backmasking and a devilish voice has to be GOOD! After the intro is over this album does nothing but impress. In 1995 rap was really just starting to become mainstream and artists like Bone, Tupac & Biggie were bringing it out of the 80's and into the 90's. I can remember my brother having the cassette and this being on nonstop blast on MTV & THE BOX. Their breakout hits "Tha Crossroads & 1st Of The Month" are arguably 2 of the top rap songs from the 90's and if you were alive, inescapable. Everyone KNEW who Bone was and this is the album why. But to me it's the songs that weren't as mainstream that made me a fan. Songs such as "E. 1999, Me Killa & Mo Murda", are some of my favorites to this day.
This album is classic Van Halen at their best! Opening with one of the greatest album intros of all time, "Runnin With The Devil", you knew it was going to be BAD.. ASS. To be honest, this album may have the best 4 track opening sequence of all time. Immediately followed by "Eruption", that track set a standard for 80's guitarists everywhere. They literally took The Kinks song, "You Really Got Me" and completely made it their own. "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love", is the shining moment on this album and to this day is one of the songs that made me want to play the guitar in the first place. The guitar riff in that song alone is enough to make angels cry.
#68 - N.E.R.D. - In Search Of... (2001 & Re-Released In 2002)
Man. Who would have thought that Pharrell would come as far as he has? This album was AMAZING. Either version too. Yeah, they initially released this in 2001 in Europe using I believe Fruity Loops to record most of the music. Then, in 2002 hired the band "Spymob" to re-record the music live giving it a more rock & roll feel to it. I remember the song "Rock Star" and being completely amazed by it. Here was this guy literally rocking out to a rap song. It was like nothing I had ever seen. And the fact that he was running over cop cars in the process... well, it was AWESOME. Randy Quaid being in the music video didn't hurt at all either. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys twice back in the days of the "Sprite Liquid Mix Tour" for $5 bucks a ticket. I miss those concerts. But I revel in the memories of a young Pharrell rocking the fuck out!
SUGGESTED LISTENING (#13 or #11 - Bobby James) (Depends on which release.)
There was just something about the music released in 1994. That may have been the most magical year for music since the glory days of classic rock. This was STP's 1994 offering. 4 tracks stand out on this album as instant classics... "Vasoline, Lounge Fly, Interstate Love Song & Big Empty". Yeah, "Lounge Fly"... all I gotta say is, "MTV News". My favorite track is and always will be "Interstate". There was just something about that song that I always loved. To this day it is still my favorite STP song.
I can still remember hearing this album for the first time during my senior year of high school. The track "Polyamorus" was blowing the radio up and my friend Jimmy, yeah the Team Sleep guy, told me they had written a song about The Wizard Of Oz called, "Home". HOLY SHIT. That song is awesome on so many levels. This is going to be the first song I embed into my reviews because if you have never heard it, you need to. By far my favorite song of theres. This song showcased what this band was to become.
I listed both of these albums together because in essence, they are the same album. "Greatest Hits" was their unoffical debut, while "ANThology" was the official major label debut. My introduction to them was the same as everyone else's, "Smooth Criminal". While I LOVED their rendition of it, it was another song however that made me a fan. And that would be because of "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3" playing their song "Wish". It still takes me back to grinding rails everytime I hear that song, it's funny how music can take you back like that. A great album, it was only recently that I finally found the time to go back and relisten to it all over again. And I must say, "Universe" was to me, their finest moment.
#64 - Limp Bizkit - Three Dollar Bill, Yall (1997)
Man I loved the 90's. There was so much GREAT music coming out when I was in my teens. Limp Bizkit was one of those bands that you either loved or hated. And you did one or the other PASSIONATELY. This album though, this was the one that stood out from the rest. This was just... to put it simply, out of this world. Not many rock bands could take a George Michael song and make it a smash hit. And Wes Borland was Buckethead weird. He would just stare out of his cold black contacts and it would pierce your soul. It's a shame they went downhill so much, because this album showed so much potential. Oh well. At least they gave us this.
When "In Utero" came out, none of us were aware of how deep Kurt had went down the rabbit hole that was heroin. This was their final studio release and while it wasn't their most impressive work, it left us with one last glimpse of the late Kurt Cobains, dark, twisted mind. "I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black". I mean, wow. That's some dark shit. Filled with many, many, great songs... this album will go down as one of the greatest albums of all time. Even though Kurt would have probably disagreed. That was one of the great things about Kurt though, his modesty.
#62 - What About Frank? - March Of The Elephants (2005)
Hahahahah! This is one of those albums that i'm guessing NONE of you have ever heard. And that is sad, very sad. "What About Frank", went on to become "The Parlor Mob", but before that this was their debut release. I had the pleasure of hanging out with David from the band "Borealis". (Probably another band you've never heard of.) He told me about these guys about a year before this album came out and I was lucky enough to obtain a copy of it years later online. They were completely different from anything I had ever heard and to this day, remain one of my favorite unknown bands.
What else is left to say about Led Zeppelin that hasn't been said a billion times over already? One of the GREATEST ALL TIME BANDS EVER, this was one of their best, if not their best, album. The song "No Quarter" was easily one of their most hauntingly beautiful songs and was easily missed when album listeners just honed in on their hits. Songs on this album have been covered by TONS of bands ranging from "Tool" to the "Stone Temple Pilots".
Well, check back next week as we near the halfway point already! This has been fun so far and it's great to see this slowly building new followers and views. I have noticed a TON of people from Russia checking it out so for all of you, Здравствуйте! I hope that translated right and doesn't say, fuck you or something like that. Haha.
So it looks like everyone is stuck with me yet again! This will be my third week straight! Ok. So we've went through 81-100 and now we're really starting to get into my true favorites. It started to get really hard around here but i'm pretty sure i've got it mostly figured out now. It really is hard to come up with your favorite 100 list. Don't believe me? Try it for yourself! So here we go again! 71-80!
Not many people watched MTV as much as I did. At least, no one I knew did. At one point in 2000, they had a special called "MTV's Ultimate Cover Band Battle". There was a band I took notice to named, "Strangers With Candy". They did a cover of A-Ha's "Take On Me". It blew me away. I was an instant fan and waited for their cd to come out from that day forth. Well, it never came... or at least I thought. For 2 years I waited and waited. One day in the Napster era of music, I downloaded one of their songs from that show. Well. It brought back some other results with a new name... "Lifer". Oh my GOD, I thought to myself as I listened... IT WAS THEM!!! So that's why I didn't know. They changed their name. I wondered why everyone always thought I was talking about the lady on the Comedy Central show. Haha. So here we are, #80 on my list. Lifer has always been that band for me that I rediscover every 5 or so years and it makes me happy everytime! Check them out, maybe you'll like them too!
#79 - Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
Tears For Fears was quite possibly one of my top five favorite bands in the 80's growing up. They were always on the radio and some of their songs were the first songs I memorized every lyric to. This was the cd that really did it for them. It had so much great music and that music still follows me to this day. Anytime I hear, "Shout" or "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" I always still sing along. I'm willing to bet most of you do too. However... I never listened to the whole album until my friend Justin told me to watch "Donnie Darko". I heard this song playing and completely missed it in the 80's!!! Easily one of the best, overlooked 80's songs, if you don't know it, Youtube it immediately!
2006 was a weird, transitional year for me. I had just landed a new job, I released my debut personal album, "The Rise And Fall Of Jack Willowbee" and I finally started to embrace adulthood. I was 23 and social media was beginning to flourish. Around this time I started to search out new bands from all over the world. I stumbled onto this band accidentally looking for archived "Pink Floyd" concerts I had never heard. I sat down and checked them out. I was HUGE into songs that lasted 15 minutes plus and here I was presented with a brand new band to me from England. I was captivated by them. Their music was so hauntingly beautiful. They were almost like a medicine to me in 2006. Their cd "Lights" was just coming out and I may have been one of the first people in America to know about it. I love that about me. I have always been one to not dismiss someones music after first listens and because of that, I have been rewarded tenfold. If you have never heard of Archive... I suggest you check them out. They may change your life. Seriously. If you ever feel down and out, listen to "Lights". It always makes the day brighter for me.
#77 - The Butterfly Effect - Final Conversation Of Kings (2008)
I just found out about these guys last year! I was hanging out on Youtube, as usual... and BAM! Suggested videos on the right hand side pointed me the way! So I heard one song, liked it and decided to burn a cd of theirs. Me & my wife listened to it for a good month straight. This cd was easily likable and had us singing along in no time. It truly is a great album. It's just a shame that these guys broke up. This cd had a magical feel to it. I never realized these guys were Australian either! Besides "Men At Work", I couldn't tell you another Australian band. Very good album. I don't say this disrespectfully but it kind of gives you a Richard Marx rocking out kinda vibe.
SUGGESTED LISTENING - (#5 - Window And The Watcher)
With The Doors, it can be hard to narrow it down to a favorite cd of theirs, all were great, but this one really sticks out more to me than the others. It could be "The Lost Boys" fault for introducing them to me in 1987 with the song, "People Are Strange". But even though that is my favorite song of theirs, "The Doors" is by far my favorite album. After watching the Val Kilmer movie based on them, I have grown a huge love for the song "The End". Once again, a song clocking in at almost 12 minutes long! Songs like that have the power to take you to another world. All you have to do is close your eyes, relax and just clear your mind.
#75 - Rage Against The Machine - Evil Empire (1996)
Everyone who listens to rock music, likes at least ONE Rage song. For me that songs is, "Bulls On Parade". There was just something about Tom Morello's guitar playing style along with Zach's vocals that made them a band to remember. This album was EVERYWHERE in 1996. Produced by one of the greats, "Brendan O' Brien" and released on the Epic label. This album was destined to be GREAT from the start. Not to mention, "Bulls On Parade", turned out to be the first song I got 100% on expert in Guitar Hero. HAha.
In 1998, NO ONE, knew what to think of this band. They weren't even on the Frank Zappa weirdness level. But for some reason, "Sugar" hit and they became HUGE. One of my favorite bands to this day, System Of A Down are quite possibly the weirdest rock band in the history of rock. This album was their debut and was loaded with great, short masterpieces. "Spiders" was the sleeper track here and has always been my favorite song of theirs on this album. This however, is an album you have to have an open mind with while listening. It's different from everything else that came out in the mainstream 90's.
This was the prequel to their "Back To The Future" success. This was the album they released right before "Back To The Future" made them the success they are internationally today. "Heart & Soul" & "If This Is It" are easily 2 of the greatest 80's songs ever recorded and they just happened to be on the SAME CD! If you grew up in the 80's you know how inescapable this band was. They were in one of our favorite movies, they owned the radio & our parents liked them. This to me, is the album that catapulted their career. "Back To The Future" would not have been the same without this album being made first. Very important album.
When I heard about Muse in 2002, they were still virtually unknown. I happened along the song, "New Born" and saw the fire in their live performance and saw another "Nirvana" unfolding right before my eyes. Unfortunately as of late they have went more electronic, but this cd shined. It was a masterpiece and in my opinion their best work. "Feeling Good" was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the 1964 musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd" but made famous by the legendary jazz singer Nina Simone. Their version is by far better and on this cd, it shined. If you like Muse and have not heard this album, what are you doing with your life? Seriously?
In 1997, when MTV still played music videos, "Paranoid Android" was given to the world. The music video was as weird as Tool's and it made me a true Radiohead fan. "Karma Police" was equally as important and both remain in heavy rotation on radio stations around the world. Radiohead bust onto the scene in 1992 with their hit, "Creep" but this was the album that really showcased their talent. One of it's greatest praises came this year when it was declared to be, "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry". Pretty high honors if you ask me.
70 albums to go and it feels like were still just getting started. I'd love to know what everyone thinks so far! Don't be afraid to comment, like, share or follow me! I could use some more eyes and it all starts with all of you! So happy reading and until next time, i'm Jack Willowbee.
