Okay, so Noel Gallagher has had an interview where he talks about his 13 ('baker's dozen'.. get it?) so I thought, seeing as it's been a while, I decided to do my baker's dozen of favourite albums. Except I'm gonna say one album from one artist, otherwise I'd have 3 Oasis albums etc. etc.
1) Oasis - Definitely Maybe.
- I think I've wrote about this album before. It's a great album. Everything just sounds great on this, even Digsy's Dinner. It's one of the first albums that I listened to as I started to become an individual that pushed me towards that. The first lines of Supersonic and most of Cigarettes and Alcohol woke me up to the possibility of difference. As well as Rock n Roll Star. It's an album full of identity. It's massive. Sounds massive. Great guitar. Great drums. And Liam's voice, what else can you say?
2) The Beatles - Revolver.
- Wow. It encapsulates everything good about music, sort of. The drumming on this album goes the furthest to prove wrong all the "well Ringo wasn't a very good drummer". May not be technically brilliant but wow is it impressive. Just so constant, and cool. It's got loads of the Indian instrument the Sitar in it. Well I say loads, I think it's only two track. Tomorrow Never Knows and Love You To. I think it's a Sitar in Love You To. Anyway, it's just what I'd call a massive album. You cannot beat a bit of psychedelia can you?
3) Nirvana - Nevermind.
- The opening track of Nevermind was the first song that I ever listened too and just thought, wow. It was when I was at Roundwood actually. It was the first piece of music that started by long and difficult journey to becoming part of who I am today. I am of course, talking about Smells Like Teen Spirit. It's a colossal song, but oddly enough it's not my favourite on the album. In truth, I don't have a 'favourite' Nevermind song. They are all brilliant. Special mentions to the likes of Come As You Are, and Lithium. Kurt Cobain is one of my heroes, his simple use of the guitar use, and transforming it into something so stunning is a skill that isn't paraded a lot I don't think. Krist Novalestic (could have spelt that wrong) is also a great bass guitarist and the drummer, a certain Dave Grohl is fantastic. Put together and you get this incredible album.
4) The Prodigy - Fat Of The Land.
- The Prodigy where the first band I ever saw live. At Sheffield Hallam arena. It was immense the whole, going on a train, seeing the Prodigy, South Central and Dizzee Rascal, then coming home on a train, great! Anyway, Fat Of The Land is one of them album where you put it on and you sorta forget how many bloody good tracks there is on there. Honestly, the album is 'avin'it' from start to finish, love it. I no longer listen to it on the bus anymore as I'm rather worried about my actions. Who wants to see someone dancing on a bus, seriously? Fat Of The Land for me, doesn't do anything to enhance my identity or anything like that. Put simply, it's just a great album, full of lovely, peaceful and calm music. Wicked.
5) The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses.
- Like Fat Of The Land, you sorta forget how many good songs some people can stick on an album. It's a really great album, it's probably the best album that starts and finishes with two amazingly strong songs. I Wanna Be Adored and I Am The Resurrection are both very special songs. I say this, but the whole album is special. Everything about the Ian, John, Reni and Mani is just wow man. There's a rumour that tomorrow morning (Tuesday 18th October 2011) it will be announced that the Stone Roses will reform. Personally, I just think it'll be some really rubbish announcement about a deal with someone shit, hoping for everyone to focus on this press conference to just help get the name out. Anyway, The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses, it also has an absolute boss front cover. Go buy it, go buy it now.
6) The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
- The combination of two modern day miracle works, Alex Turner and Miles Kane, created this masterpiece a few years ago. It's great. It's a massive combination of Alex and Miles' guitar work, as well as a bass guitar, some drums, and a massive string section. It really does sound immense, all the way through. It shows the talent of both Turner and Kane. The Lyrics are great, a bit wacky but great. And the guitar and the strings go together in perfect harmony. Top notch effort, top notch album.
7) Miles Kane - Colour Of The Trap.
- Seeing as I mentioned Miles in the previous bit (Alex/Arctic Monkeys next) I thought I'd better add Colour Of The Trap. Well, well well well. I saw Miles Kane on Valentines Day of this year, he was absolutely immense live, if you ever get the chance to see him, just go. He's got massive energy on stage and that shows in this album. The 3 lead singles are songs of 2011 for sure, in Come Closer, Rearrange and Inhaler. There's a massive sense of whit in the album, just from Inhaler really, that you don't really get with many other bands anymore. That fact, as well as the awesomeness of the guitar and Miles' voice make this album a must have. If it was released twenty years ago, you would be saying "1991, Screamadelica, Nevermind and Colour Of The Trap", fact.
8) Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See.
- It was VERY difficult to decide on an album to write about. Arctic Monkeys' albums have just been immense so far, you really cannot argue with the fact that the 4 have been great. I chose Suck It And See because it's their most recent, that's it really, oh and the cover is my favourite. The cover is great for some reason, it's just beige with 'Suck It And See' on it, really small and in black. I love it and I don't know why. Anyway, it's a great album, every single song is strong and I can never find myself skipping one, whereas on other Arctic Monkeys' albums I can do that (another reason why I picked this obviously!). I'm going to be seeing Arctic Monkeys for a second time (first time at V in the summer) at the end of this month, I am looking forward to it a bit.
9) Primal Scream - Screamadelica.
- It's hard to find an album so weird. Everything is weird about it. The cover is weird as well. It's just a 'what-the-hell' album. It encompasses great guitar, with soul singing, with great bass, with a great rock n roll voice, with a great dance feel. What? Did you read that right? Yes, you did! It also features great features, I dunno what to call them, but... "We wanna get loaded, we wanna have a good time, that's what we're gonna do, we're gonna have a party"... yeah them things. I've probably got them words wrong, anyway. You've heard of Movin' On Up, as it's on most dodgy rabbit-food-like cereal adverts. One of the best Rock n Roll albums ever.
10) Led Zeppelin - Mothership.
- I know this is a greatest hits, but like in the Noel Gallagher interview I referenced (kinda) at the top, sometimes you can't afford everything, and I can afford Mothership. Jimmy Paige is just, wow. You have to wonder if he actually plays guitar, or whether an angel does it for him (cheesy or what?!). Mothership just shows how many bloody good songs Led Zep did. There's some awesome guitar, great drumming, great vocals. Whole Lotta Love is a personal favourite. Just for the guitar man!
11) The Jam - All Mod Cons.
- Got to be one of the best albums ever. Like some of the albums mentioned so far in this article, it's just full of massive songs. It's like an anthem I think, for great music, and great clothes. Oh, and about being a mod. Paul Weller is a genius, and this album shows his genius. The bass and the drums stuff is also massive in this album. The 3 of them that made up the Jam are all quality musicians as well as great song writers. This album also features a cover, which means that it's okay for bands to cover (the Beatles also did it, yes they did, check out Roll Over Beethoven on With the Beatles), it's called David Watts, originally by the Kinks.
12) Eminem - Recovery.
- Bit of a change of tack here. Eminem was my first proper man in music. He's a great, honest, and talented song writer who knows how to get the best out of himself in regards to music. He's a fantastic man, very courageous. Recovery is one of the most honest albums ever. Every song is strong, and powerful. Every song ranches from issues in Eminem's life and it gives the listener a great insight into his life. It's like a window to his life. I love it. He should be immensely proud.
13) The Smiths.
- I know your probably wondering why it's taken me 'til 13 to mention the Smiths. Truth be told, I don't really know which album to pick. So I decided to just say 'The Smiths'. They've not done enough to pick one great album. But they made so many great, influential, downright awesome songs that you just cannot leave them out. Morrissey's lyrics are awesome, but what I really like about the Smiths is Johnny Marr. How does he do it? The man is great on guitar, not great, but the best. He's mega. How Soon Is Now, What Difference Does It Make, This Charming Man. The guitar, the bass guitar, the drums, Morrissey. Amazing.
Well there's 13, it has took me ages.
You better appreciate it. I'm going to go away and chill out.
Peace out.
SJ.
