bloggedy blog: the personal weblog of a music lover and aging punk wannabe

:: Monday, March 15, 2004 ::

Greatest Pop/Rock Albums, Vol. 7: 40-31
Let the Top 40 Countdown commence.

But first, a review:

Vol. 1 (100-91)
Vol. 2 (90-81)
Vol. 3 (80-71)
Vol. 4 (70-61)
Vol. 5 (60-51)
Vol. 6 (50-41)

40. Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols
Anarchy reigns in Bollocks, the definitive UK punk album from the definitive UK punk band. Glen Matlock's thumping bass and Paul Cook's driving drums made up arguably the best rhythm section in all of punkdom. And Steve Jones' powerful guitar licks mimicked perfectly the demented shrieking of Johnny Rotten. God Save the Punks.

39. Frampton Comes Alive, Peter Frampton
All the excesses of the '70s stadium rock show are here. Wah-wah pedal aficianados of the world, unite.

38. All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2
Everybody's favorite band of Irish rockers strikes again. It's a beautiful, smooth CD, but much less raw than the early stuff and at times less energetic.

37. Murmur, REM
It's hard to remember REM when they were so raw. When this album came out in 1983, REM was an unknown band from Athens, Georgia. But their unique sound carved a niche for one of the greatest rock bands of the next two decades. It all began with Murmur, a record that Ben Squires calls "the indie rock foundation."

36. Ritual de lo Habitual, Jane's Addiction
Ben Squires writes: "While containing instant radio favorites, opening the airwaves to a broader rock sound, this album also features 'Three Days,' a rock sound with near-perfect orchestration on many levels."

35. Little Earthquakes, Tori Amos
Registering high on Ganns' and KJo's Richter Scales, Little Earthquakes is, in Ganns' words, a "great album that featured inspired piano lines and a clever little song called 'Crucify.' However, 'Silent All These Years' remains my favorite Tori song."

34. Ill Communication, Beastie Boys
One of two Beastie Boys works on Mista Sinista's list. In this, their fourth album, "they've matured and in some ways turned back to their punk roots," writes Mista S. "Most of the tracks feature the Boys on instruments as well as flinging out their witty rhymes. This album makes excursions from straight-out old-school hip-hop into hardcore punk, instrumental funk and even Buddhist chant. Instead of fighting for their right to party, they're fighting for social awareness in our country and freedom for the Tibetan people."

33. Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen
Arguably one of Ronald Reagan's favorite Springsteen albums (he used the title track in campaign ads, mistaking the Boss' lamentation for for a Vietnam vet with patriotic jingoism), this record is a mixed bag. "Born in the U.S.A." is a classic, and "Darlington County" hearkens back to the days of Asbury Park. But other tracks fail to live up to Springsteen's previous work.

32. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys dropped their successful surfin' music for an experiment, but keep the harmonies for "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Sloop John B," etc. Critically acclaimed but commercially a bomb, Pet Sounds was as innovative as Sgt. Pepper's but from a less likely source.

31. Cracked Rear View, Hootie & The Blowfish
Remember Hootie & The Blowfish? Apparently some members of our distinguished panel do. Others of us are trying to forget.

*****
My Top 10
by Pastor Ben Squires, Musicspectrum

10. Raising Hell, Run-DMC.
The defining rap/hip hop album for a generation which also gained crossover appeal with the help of Aerosmith.

9. Stone Roses, Stone Roses.
Launched the English Rock sound which blossomed in the 1990s.

8. War, U2.
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" came to define the protest rock of a generation, but this is also when U2 still sounded like they came from the streets of Ireland, a recording that came with those qualities worked into the mix.

7. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan.
A folk singer who changed the rock world in terms of lyrics, melody, and style

6. Help!, The Beatles.
Gorgeous pop rock of harmony and melody.

5. London Calling, The Clash.
While certainly the Sex Pistols defined punk, London Calling continues to be noted as influential for so many bands and musicians.

4. Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin.
The great blend of blues and rock'n'roll which took Robert Johnson and others to the stadiums.

3. Nevermind, Nirvana.
Claimed as the anthem for a generation and a tremendous step forward in rock's creativity, claims which are actually ... true.

2. Murmur, REM.
The indie rock foundation, catchy songs, obscure lyrics, and a simple approach to the sound which made the album sound like it was recorded just down the block by some friends.

1. The Smiths, The Smiths.
There is no better combination of singer and guitarist than Morrissey and Marr, the combination that has inspired so many towards greater lyricism with guitar work which carries the weight of the lyrics.

:: Andrew 08:21 + ::
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