ShayLaB's 101 best albums (101 - 1).

by **ShayLaB** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:14 pm

101 Albums.

Go...

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Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Album: Born in the USA
Year: 1984
Genre: Rock & Roll, Pop/Rock, Heartland Rock, Hard Rock
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k9fyxqu5ldde

Tracks:
Born In The U.S.A.
Cover Me
Darlington County
Working On The Highway
Downbound Train
I'm On Fire
No Surrender
Bobby Jean
I'm Goin' Down
Glory Days
Dancing In The Dark
My Hometown

Notes: His most successful album…huge sales, loads of singles and the release that made him a star in the rest of the world. The bombastic title track that kicks it off is probably the least attractive entry. The rest makes for a fantastic, sing-along rock album.

Clip: Glory Days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOpIfbneeHg[url][/url]

by **NothingFails** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:15 pm

looking forward, you have a very eclectic and good taste in music.

Born In The U.S.A. is class. Great rock and roll music from start to finish.

by **Marius** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:37 pm

Yay for the "just missed"!
I still have the original tape (yes), bought in 1984 and, at least 2 years ago, when I tried it on an old walkman, it still worked! Got the CD in the meantime, obviously.

I seem to remember you are a Beatles fan, so I'll be following this.

by **Plym** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:33 am

Looking forward to this! 8-)

by **ShayLaB** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:19 pm

Rank: 100
Artist: Morrissey
Title: Your Arsenal
Year: 1992
Genre/Style: Pop/Rock, College Rock, Alternative Pop/ Rock
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dvfwxq95ldhe

Tracks:
You're gonna need someone on your side
Glamorous glue
We'll let you know
National front disco
Certain people I know
We hate it when our friends become successful
You're the one for me fatty
Seasick yet still docked
I know it's gonna happen someday
Tomorrow

Notes: From the sneering rockabilly of the opening track you just knew he'd found his muse again. For all his lyrical dexterity there were times on his other albums when things began to sag somewhat. This swaggers from start to finish.

Clip: You're gonna need someone on your side

by **ShayLaB** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:26 pm

potojr wrote:Yay for the "just missed"!
I still have the original tape (yes), bought in 1984 and, at least 2 years ago, when I tried it on an old walkman, it still worked! Got the CD in the meantime, obviously.

I seem to remember you are a Beatles fan, so I'll be following this.

I do like The Beatles but not so much that there will be a dozen entries or anything like. The Beatles were actually about the first group I was really introduced to. When I was a kid my dad made me a tape with A Hard Days Night on one side and With the Beatles on the other (the vinyl copies were out of reach for the under 10s). My liking for the group probably flowed from, and grew from, that point.

by **NothingFails** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:50 pm

I'm not a major Moz fan, but I do love "Tomorrow" and "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"

by **ShayLaB** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:26 pm

NothingFails wrote:I'm not a major Moz fan, but I do love "Tomorrow" and "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"

I do believe he can be hard to take in album size doses. You hear the odd tune on the wireless and think it's a great track but the albums can be more of a chore.

The last album of his that I actually bought was the follow-up to this (Vauxhall & I). I don't think that has strayed far from a certain palate in a long time so for me there is a feeling of 'been there, done that'.

I like this one but if I ever buy another of his albums it'll be a compilation.

by **ShayLaB** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:29 am

Rank: 99
Artist: theaudience
Title: theaudience
Year: 1998
Genre/Style: Pop/Rock
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jpfyxqlrld0e

Tracks:
A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed
Now That You Are 18
Mr Doasyouwouldbedoneby
I Know Enough (I Don't Get Enough)
Keep In Touch
I Got The Wherewithal
Harry Don't Fetch The Water
If You Can't Do It When You're Young When Can You Do It
Running Out Of Space
You Get What You Deserve
More There Is To Do
Bells For David Keenan
Shoebox Song
How's That

Notes: Ms S. Ellis-Bextor: "…and here's one I made earlier (when I was an indie babe)." Their only album and better than anything she has released under her own steam. One of the best indie albums from a time when there seemed to be nothing else.

Clip: A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed

by **ShayLaB** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:32 am

Rank: 98
Artist: Moby
Title: Play
Year: 1999
Genre/Style: Electronica, House, Alternative Pop/ Rock, Techno, Club/Dance, Trance, Ambient Techno
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k9fwxqykldje

Tracks:
Honey
Find My Baby
Porcelain
Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
South Side
Rushing
Bodyrock
Natural Blues
Machete
7
Run On
Down Slow
If Things Were Perfect
Everloving
Inside
Guitar Flute & String
The Sky Is Broken
My Weakness

Notes: Electronica diluted to be acceptable to the masses - and none the worse for it. He can't sing but the tunes and production disguise this to be barely noticeable. Porcelain and Natural Blues are the best tracks. The follow-up album (18) is good too.

Clip: Natural Blues

by **Marius** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:44 pm

Never heard #99, but Play and Mozza are ace!

by **NothingFails** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:58 pm

Play was brilliant, although Moby never could touch that again

by **JordinFan** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:05 pm

Porcelain is great track, like it :wink:

by **matthew_dixon** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:10 pm

A fascinating mix so far. I love all I've heard of "Play" - they said at the time that every single track featured on at least one advert for something!

Morrissey is generally cool, though that's an era I don't know well... and got to love someone putting in theaudience! Sophie Ellis-Bextor was recently featured in a "female soloists" survivor and when one person asked "What band did Sophie Ellis-Bextor used to be in", someone else gave the rather painful answer "Spiller".

by **CrazyCrazy** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:27 pm

'Play' is brilliant! 8-)

by **ShayLaB** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:08 am

Rank: 97
Artist: Geneva
Title: Further
Year: 1997
Genre/Style: Pop/Rock, Britpop, Indie Pop
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k9fpxq9jld0e

Tracks:
Temporary Wings
Into The Blue
God Of Sleep
Best Regrets
Tranquilizer
Further
No One Speaks
Worry Beads
Fall Apart Button
Wearing Off
Nature's Whore
In The Years Remaining

Notes: With singles of such quality it is baffling how they didn't become successful. Lead singer Montgomery has a fantastic soaring voice. Second album wasn't as good and didn't even chart. File in the drawer marked 'best kept secrets'.

Clip: Into The Blue

by **ShayLaB** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:13 am

Rank: 95
Artist: Belinda Carlisle
Title: A Woman and a Man
Year: 1996
Genre/Style: Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Pop/Rock
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jvfyxq9hldke

Tracks:
In Too Deep
California
A Woman And A Man
Remember September
Listen To Love
Always Breaking My Heart
Love Doesn't Live Here
He Goes On
Kneel At Your Feet
Love In The Key Of C
My Heart Goes Out To You

Notes: Guilty secret alert: I have always had a thing for Belinda Carlisle. Her voice isn't the best but it's better here than ever before. The production is polished, the songs are good and she always comes across as awfully likeable. Taken apart bit by bit there is nothing special here but as a package it is adds up to a highly enjoyable pop album. Also, she looks great...it shouldn't matter but when you have your heard phones in and you hear songs of love, I prefer to have them delivered by a classy pop damsel than a 6' 4'' Yorkshire man with a beard like a rhododendron bush.*

It seems like I am struggling to justify this on the grounds of any great artistic merit but that's not what my list is about. I like it and that's that.

Clip: In Too Deep

*Sound familiar? Mr E. Blackadder

by **android** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:42 pm

some really nice choices and great variety of albums. Do love Springsteen and always had a soft spot for Belinda.

by **Plym** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:30 pm

Play is a fantastic album!
The pinnacle of Moby's career!
I'm a sucker for Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad.

by **Tiger** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:08 pm

Belinda Carlisle is awesome! She's so underrated.

by **ShayLaB** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:57 am

Rank: 96
Artist: Cowboy Junkies
Title: Black Eyed Man
Year: 1992
Genre/Style: Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/ Rock,, Alternative Country-Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/ Rock, College Rock
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wifrxqe5ldse

Tracks:
Southern Rain
Oregon Hill
This Street, That Man, This Life
A Horse In The Country
If You Were The Woman And I Was The Man
Murder, Tonight, In The Trailer Park
Black Eyed Man
Winter's Song
The Last Spike
Cowboys Junkies Lament
Townes' Blues
To Live Is To Fly

Notes: Hmmm…can't even find a clip from this album. This clip is a cover version from the previous effort and gves you some idea of the style. There is nothing terribly original about it all but it is a lovely sounding album and Margo Timmins is an enchanting singer. Of course, the 'niceness' is spoiled somewhat when you come across lyrics like...

""Murder tonight in the trailer park
Mrs. Annabelle Evans found
with her throat cut after dark
Her pockets turned inside out
her dresser drawers turned upside down
Anna's neighbour, Peg, identifies the body
lets out a hollow kind of sound

Homicide is tying yellow ribbons
around her silver Airstream
Red cherries slashing up the night
cutting through that cordoned crime scene
There's been a murder
in the trailer park tonight""

Clip: Sweet Jane

by **ShayLaB** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:00 am

Rank: 94
Artist: No Doubt
Title: The Return of Saturn
Year: 2000
Genre/Style: Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/ Rock, Post-Grunge, Ska-Punk, Alternative Pop/ Rock
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wbfixqlkld6e

Tracks:
Ex-Girlfriend
Simple Kind Of Life
Bathwater
Six Feet Under
Magic's In The Makeup
Artificial Sweetener
Marry Me
New
Too Late
Comforting Lie
Suspension Without Suspense
Staring Problem
Home Now
Dark Blue

Notes: Although sandwiched between two more commercially successful albums Return of Saturn eclipses them both. A quartet of fine singles (Ex-Girlfriend, New, Simple Kind of Life and Bathwater) saw Stefani don a fetching pink hairdo and the band move away from the ska/reggae vibe that they had been famous for. Stefani makes a great pop star but it is as part of the group that she has made her best albums.

Clip: New

by **Tiger** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:05 am

First off, Gwen with pink hair rocks! And I really like Bathwater.

by **ShayLaB** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:03 am

Rank: 93
Artist: ZZ Top
Title: Eliminator
Year: 1983
Genre/Style: Pop/Rock, Rock & Roll, Blues-Rock, Hard Rock, Boogie Rock, Southern Rock
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kpfexqq5ldde

Tracks:
Gimme All Your Lovin
Got Me Under Pressure
Sharp Dressed Man
I Need You Tonight
I Got The Six
Legs
Thug
Tv Dinners
Dirty Dog
If I Could Only Flag Her Down
Bad Girl

Notes: Seriously, what's not to like? Their earlier incarnation as a blues infused rock band gives way to upbeat synth flavoured boogies about girls, cars and guitars. The videos gave them exposure to a wider audience than ever before and the album sold millions. Followed up with Afterburner and Recycler which both tried the same formula with less than spectacular results. You have to look before Eliminator to find anything worthy but it's really not the same style at all. Get this and Rancho Texicano (a good two disc compilation) and you've got all the best bits.

Clip: Gimme All Your Lovin'

by **ShayLaB** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:08 am

Rank: 92
Artist: Martin Solveig
Title: C'est La Vie
Year: 2008
Genre/Style: Electronica, House, Club/Dance, Dance-Pop, Euro-Dance
Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gvfwxqukldhe~T0

Tracks:
C'est la Vie
I Want You
Butterfly
Beauty False
Poptimistic
One 2.3 Four
Touch Me
Bottom Line
Give It to Me
Superficial
Some Other Time

Notes: A French DJ with a fantastically eclectic mixture of fun filled, dance/pop tunes. I had never really heard much of him until I saw the video for the splendid Boys and Girls single...one of the best song/video pairings in years.

In the absence of an accompanying album for Boys & Girls, I started getting a few of his past albums. Thanks to Amazon new & used I managed to get two albums for buttons (the postage cost less than the albums and the whole lot was less than 5 pounds). This album was only on import and I wasn't paying more than twenty five pounds. I resorted to other avenues to get results which is a shame because at a sensible price I would have bought it. (Remember kids: home taping is killing music...or something like that.)

Clip: I Want You