MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Well, Ladies & Gentleman... this is it! We have reached the end of my top 100 favorite albums of all time list! But, don't think of this as the end... think of this as the beginning!!! Starting January 1st I will be doing weekly reviews every Friday on new albums! Most will be rock, but I will be open to listening and reviewing anything. We will have some surprises along the way and it will be fun to watch this blog grow as the year progresses! It will be interesting to see how many new faces I will know come this time next year. Well, without further review I present you with my top ten favorite albums of all time!!!
This was Dredg's SPECTACULAR debut release! The songs on this album helped pave the way for what would become a very successful underground music career. Though they have enjoyed a degree of mainstream success, they never quite broke it big like many of the other bands from their era did. But that's fine with me. They have became one of my favorite bands over the years and this was the album that made it happen. Their instrumentation and Gavin's vocals make for beautiful, wonderful music that needs to be listened to, over and over and over and over again.
The Foo Fighters have become one of the best, most iconic bands of our era. When this album came out in 2011 it felt like 1997 all over again. It had the same iconic power as their, "The Colour And The Shape" album. It was the return of the great PAT SMEAR! For those of you who don't know who he was... look up Nirvana towards the end of their career. He was their "unoffical" 4th member. He would have found a permanent spot with them, had it not been for the untimely death of Kurt. This album was FANTASTIC from start till finish. It brought the raw energy back that they so desperately needed and in some sense, brought the Foos storming into a new decade. This album is simply put, a MASTERPIECE.
In the spring of 2000, I had just moved and started school in a new city, with a bunch of new kids I had never met before. It was weird at first but it's something you get used to. Anyways, as the summer approached I got a job at a lazer tag place and it was AWESOME. I had heard, "Pardon Me" and wasn't extremely impressed, I was still pretty big into Limp Bizkit and Incubus never really caught on to me. Now, one day while playing lazer tag with my friends after hours, a guy I worked with, Adam, decided that I NEEDED to hear this album. We could play cds while we played lazer tag so we popped it in and began what would become one of the most important moments in my life. As we played, I listened and as the album got to track 4, "The Warmth" something inside of me clicked. I finally realized I wanted to be a musician. I wanted to write music and it was because of THIS album, that I pursued it. This is one of those albums that is life-changing. It should be listened to by every human being born on Earth.
This album came at what I consider to be the end of my childhood. After this album came out I grew up pretty quick. My dad died the following year and that's life-changing for anyone. That may be the reason I liked this album so much, but nevertheless... it was AMAZING! 3EB was huge as soon as this album came out! With "Semi-Charmed Life" being the anthem of 1997, it was one of those songs that was and still is inescapable. If you've never listened to the album, do so. Most of the songs that received no air play, are the ones that were the best!
#06 - Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape (1997)
With the Foo's coming off of the success of Dave Grohls recorded demo album of 1995, the follow up was nothing short of SPECTACULAR. "TCATS" has become one of their most iconic works and to many, including myself, considered to be their greatest achievement. This is one of those infectious albums that can get stuck in your head for weeks, with just one listen. The songs on this album have been used in countless mediums, in everything from football games, to tv shows and movies. This is easily one of the best rock albums ever written.
Any true Incubus fan will tell you why this is their best album. This was the album that set them up for the mainstream success they've achieved nowadays. The musicianship and vocal ability of Brandon Boyd blended together magically to form one of the best musical works of the 1900's. The sad part about it, is how underrated this album is. Brandons quirky, well thought out lyrics, not only make you think deeply, they seduce and rape you. But in the most gentle, subtle way possible.
In 1991, Nirvana made themselves a household name. MTV played, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" non-stop, as well as the radio. From the opening riffs of that song, we knew something big was about to happen. The sheer power of Daves drum intro to that song, crushed our puny minds. It was devastating and it forever changed the way we listen to rock music today. Countless people have tried to create a song that powerful and EVERYONE has failed. This wasn't simply a song, this was a song written by the gods themselves and handed to Nirvana to perform. IT was that powerful. Shit... it's STILL that powerful.
This album is LITERALLY the best selling album of ALL TIME. It just hit 30 times platinum in the US. That's 30,000,000 copies sold in the US alone. With those numbers in mind, that's roughly 1 in every 10 Americans owning a copy of it. This album is ICONIC. I mean, 7 out of the 9 songs on it became chart topping singles. That is UNHEARD of. The video for Thriller was like a mini movie. And EDDIE VAN FREAKING HALEN played the guitar on "Beat It". This album WAS the 80's. Pretty cool for an album that came out the same year I was born! Below, I leave you with the "Thriller" video in it's entirety!
#02 - Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
"Dark Side Of The Moon" has become one of the most well known, most treasured albums of all time. Pink Floyd became instant LEGENDS and catapulted themselves into a household name. This album and it's lyrics are just as relevant now more than ever. If you have never heard it, you're probably under 13 and you should do so immediately. This album spent 741 weeks on the Billboard charts from 1973 to 1988. That is insane.
"Ahhhhhh, it's time to relax and you know what that means." At this point it should come as no surprise that my favorite album ever came from 1994. "Smash" was something special. There was just something about it that made me get all ADHD every time I heard it. I wanted to throw things and mosh with the couch in our living room. I can remember being home alone and putting our stereo speakers up to our screen door and blaring "Bad Habit" as long as it would go so all of my neighbors who were outside could hear, "You stupid, dumbshit, god damn, mother fucker" as loud as stereoly possible. =0) If you were one of said neighbors, i'm not sorry. That album ROCKED and 21 years later it's still MY FAVORITE ALBUM EVER.
Thanks for reading and keeping up every week as I shared with you my favorite albums of all time. Now the reviews will begin! Get ready for some shitty and awesome music being fed to you! Who knows, maybe some new favorites will emerge from this blog. Expect new things such as a layout and links to where you can find these great and shitty albums for cheap! Thanks for reading and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Now you can go spend some time with the relatives you HATE!!! Or just click share and share this page with everyone you know!!! Till next year, i'm Jack Willowbee and this has been AWESOME! Remember to check back every FRIDAY in 2016 for a new review!
So like I said before, we all know what a great album is and what it takes to make it one. With that in mind, remember... This is not necessarily what I think is the definitive top 100 list of all time, but rather what my personal favorite 100 albums are. Feel free to comment on what you like, what you didn't like and what you would change. But just remember... MY list. You can tell a lot about a person by the music they associate themselves with. So without further ado, I present you with my top favorite 100 albums of all time. So if you wanna be the cool kid in school that listens to tons of cool ass, off the wall music... Check back every Friday from now till Christmas day for the next 10 on my list!
While this album didn't quite bring the same fire that "Ænima" did, it was still destined to become an instant classic. It also brought with it the most memorable bass line from the 2000's and possibly of all-time in "Schism". You couldn't walk into a music store without hearing someone attempting to play it. It was just one of those lines that played over and over in your head. My favorite track on Lateralus however was definitely the title track, "Lateralus". There's just something about the guitar line in the beginning of the song that makes me happy every time I hear it. Overall this album was pretty good. Not as groundbreaking as "Ænima", but pretty good.
Third Eye Blind was one of those guilty pleasures for me. There in the span from 1997-1999 they were truly an awesome band. It was hard to go anywhere without hearing one of their songs playing somewhere you were at. When this cd came out in 1999 I was working at Media Play. The internet was coming ahead full speed and a new millenium coming sure was exciting. Around this time I became obsessed with trying to find rare tracks from artists I loved. Upon my search I came across the song, "Slow Motion" with lyrics. "With lyrics???", I thought to myself. If any of you reading know this song with the lyrics, you'll know how dark of a song it truly is. Out of all of Third Eye Blinds songs, this one will stick in your head the most. It's nothing like anything else you've heard from them. If you're not lucky enough to find the album with that song, then don't fret... you're still in for an hour of great music! Obviously "Slow Motion" is my favorite, but the first track, "Anything" has become one of my favorites as well. All of the tracks are pretty good and just like the album before this, you will be humming these songs before you know it!
I must say I was torn between this and "Master Of Puppets". Overall though, I think there was just something a little more special about "Ride The Lightning". The first time I ever heard "For Whom The Bell Tolls" was in my brothers room around 1988. I was 5. Heavy stuff for a 5 year old. But I loved the shit out of it. I can remember running down the hall going, "DUH NUH DUH NUH DUHHHHHHHHHH!" Haha. It's funny how some memories never fade. Then they used it in Zombieland and I was happy about it all over again. It would also feature one of my favorite all time Metallica songs... "Fade To Black". Words can't express how much I love that song. Overall, "Ride The Lightning" is another classic album from a band just hitting their stride. 31 years later, it's just as relevant then, as it is now. "DUH NUH DUH NUH DUHHHHHHHHHH!" Yep. Still funny.
SUGGESTED LISTENING (#3 - For Whom The Bell Tolls)
"We Will Rock You & We Are The Champions" is possibly the greatest back to back songs on an album in rock & roll history. You can't play one without the other immediately following. It's become a staple for any and all arenas to play these songs on a daily basis. Not only were most of the songs excellent, but the albums art taken from an issue of "Astounding Science Fiction" was a great choice for the listener to look at while listening to this awesome record. I can only imagine what it was like to be growing up in the late 60's and early 70's with all of this great music coming out. But hey, I had the 90's so "I Ain't Mad At Cha".
SUGGESTED LISTENING - (#1 & 2 - We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions)
To me "The Carter III" was a great album. Not only did it usher in a new generations rap music but it set a standard for which I measure all modern rap albums too. Nothing will ever come close to rap in the 90's. But this album sure was a nice break from everything else that was coming out. I truly believe this was Lil Wayne's shining moment. This was the album where he discovered his own style and owned it. 2008 was a weird year for me. I can remember my friend, Anthony liking this album so much that he decided to put it on repeat all day while we were working so I heard it like 8 times straight. That's when I fell in love with it.
The guitar solo in "Hotel California" is by far the greatest guitar solo in history. Period. It's hard to deny that. If you do, sit down, smoke a doob & listen. It's magical. It will take you to faraway lands. Joe Walsh really outdid himself on this track. Literally. Nothing he has recorded since has come even close to how great his solo is in this song. Add that song, along with "New Kid In Town & Life In The Fast Lane" and you can see why this album makes alot of peoples lists! Definitely a great album to drive around to on a cool October night.
When this cd came out in 1998, we had just gotten a Circuit City in my neighborhood. For awhile they had awesome deals on cds and some were around $7.99. I remember this being one of them. I bought it cause of the song, "Whatever". But after listening to it, I realized how much better they were than that song. "Bad Religion" was my favorite track on this cd. Something about that intro man. That's something you'll learn about me in the coming years... I am a SUCKER for intros. I'll be honest though. I HATE "Voodoo". There was just always something about that song that irked me. Overall though it was a great album that I don't think they ever touched again through any of their other 6 or so albums. "DUN DUN DUNDUN DUN DUNDUN GET BACK!!!" Seeing a pattern yet? Haha.
My introduction to Radiohead, was the same as most of yours with the song "Creep". However, being the MTV fiend that I was, I remember seeing the video for "High & Dry" one day. I loved it instantly but it wasn't until years later when my friend Rob played me the song "Just" that I truly sat down and listened to it in it's entirety and realized how great this album is. I also didn't realize that the guitar breakdown in "Just" was one of the songs used on MTV promos back in the day. See, when I was a kid, I loved everything on tv. There were some cds I listened to all the way through, but not many. I wish I had listened to this one though. And like I said, the guitar break down in "Just"... WOW.
When this came out in 1994 I was 11. I can honestly pinpoint this being the cd that made me want to sing. I can remember sitting alone in my room trying to harmonize and learn every lyric from every song. There was just something about how smooth they sounded that made me want to do what they were doing. Still to this day I listen to it every now and then. Their cover of "Yesterday" by The Beatles is still almost as haunting as the original. Definitely one of the greatest R&B / Pop / Overall albums of all time.
One of the first full songs I ever learned how to play on guitar was "My Own Summer (Shove It)". To this day if i'm ever in Drop D tuning, it's always a go to jam that's always fun to play. It was a hard band to escape in the late 90's and every high school had that one girl who was always OBSESSED with Chino. You can find a neat video of the song "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" on Youtube from a Little Nicky promo. It also featured a young Brandon Boyd & Mike Einziger from Incubus & Adam Sandler. That video was one of the main reasons I checked this album out in the first place. I was always late to finding cool bands when I was younger.
SUGGESTED LISTENING (#3 - My Own Summer (Shove It))
Well there you have it, the first of a many weekly installments leading up to my music review blog in 2016! Once again check back every Friday as more of my top 100 albums of all time are revealed!
