Wednesday, March 14, 2007

It's best to be thorough...

I've been thinking a lot about music lately. Anyone who knows me knows I'm something of an obsessive when it comes to music - I've amassed a significant collection of stuff over the years, some of it that I still listen to to avidly, some not at all, and some (I guiltily admit) I haven't even heard yet. I'm constantly fucking with my Ipod and deleting/adding stuff, almost daily.

But what strikes me is that I will rarely listen to an album from start to finish. Frankly, even the best artists have filler on their albums, and it's hard to make it all the way through, especially when you're like me and have the attention span of a guppy. So I've decided to make a list - not of the best artists, not of the best albums, but of the most complete, consistent albums.

So without further ado (and in no order of preference), here are the albums that I will regularly listen to all the way through:


1. Moby - Everything is Wrong


2. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing


3. Jeff Buckley - Grace


4. The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God


5. Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar


6. Uncle Tupelo - No Depression


7. Uncle Tupelo - March 16-20, 1992


8. Seal - Seal I
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/28/Seal_-_Seal_(1991_first_album)_CD_album_cover.jpg/200px-Seal_-_Seal_(1991_first_album)_CD_album_cover.jpg

9. R.L. Burnside - Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down
http://fatpossum.com/images-php/covers/burnside-rl-wishiwere-cvr.jpg

10. The Postal Service - Give Up
http://betterpropaganda.com/images/artwork/Give_Up-Postal_ServiceX_The_480.jpg

11. Morcheeba - Big Calm



12. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

http://991.com/newgallery/The-Beatles-Sgt-Peppers-Lonel-298947.jpg

13. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

http://www.spinningwax.com/superfly.jpg

14. Elliott Smith - Figure 8
http://workers.labor.net.au/pictures/72eliottsmith.jpg

15. Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg, Edgar Meyer - Skip, Hop & Wobble

http://a1.vox.com/6a00c10e0f62ecd3b400c11413c519819d-320pi

16. Fugazi - 13 Songs



17. Dropkick Murphys - Do Or Die


18. Drive-By Truckers - Gangstabilly



19. Simon and Garfunkel - The Concert In Central Park


20. The Buena Vista Social Club - The Buena Vista Social Club



21. Lyrics Born - Same Shit Different Day


22. The Goats - Tricks of the Shade



23. Sinead O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got



24. Citizen Cope - The Clarence Greenwood Recordings


25. Sonic Youth - Dirty


26. Faith No More - Angel Dust


27. Bad Brains - Rock For Light



28. Metallica - Master of Puppets



29. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On


30. Rocket From The Crypt - Scream, Dracula, Scream!

3/26 edit: The late additions

The Clash - London Calling


32. Mule - Mule


So there you go, for those who care. Keep in mind, these are the current favorites. I'm sure I've left of several albums that I used to obsess over five years ago, or ten, or... gulp, 15 years ago. And some of them are recent discovery, some of them are re-discovery. But that's the list for now. Interestingly, I've noticed a shortage of rap/hip-hop albums on this list, which is odd since I listen to those genres a lot. But in truth, hip-hop albums have way too many skits, and that annoys me after a time. In fact, Tricks of the Shade is probably cheating, but I just love it too much to leave it off the list. Anyway, I'm always taking music recommendations, so... any ideas?

Be good, kids.


PS - yes, this took fucking forever
PPS - Numbers 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 26, 28 & 29 (and 31)make my top 50 all-time greatest albums ever list.
PPPS - I was going to write a little narrative bit on each album, but let's be honest, this post is long enough as is.

6 comments:

New Texan said...

No Aerosmith? I thought you lived in Boston!

Daphne said...

So.....to make such an observation such as, "You have quite the eclectic taste in music," would be a bit of an understatement, no?

New Texan said...

I was thinking Toys in the Attic or something in that genre... old Aerosmith, not MTV Aerosmith. But hey, it's your list. I didn't know half the bands on it!

TK said...

NT - Aerosmith? Which album? I've got the Dropkicks for local pride, I'm all set.

Daphne - I'm not sure. It's either that or I have no taste in music. It's a fine line.

Unknown said...

The Buena Vista Social Club album is great....good pick. You get major street cred for that one, yo'.

My level of gangsta-ness has reached new heights. Shoot me.

Anonymous said...

I came over here from Pajiba.
DBT love!