Thursday, April 21, 2005

Marvellous Matt makes his move!

There I was it was Sunday night and a hard weekend of relaxing was coming to an end. The TV was not good but The One hundred greatest Albums was due to start and as I’m a music fan it looked fun, all that reminiscing with the wife about music long forgotten. Well to cut a long story very short I was very disappointed, there was so much missing and their top album well I have it and it's not a seminal work. (Radiohead's - OK Computer)
The whole thing left me feeling cheated it was not the greatest albums of all time more like a reflection of the demographic of the channel four watcher. Anyway this got me thinking about my fave albums of all time, the ones that changed my view of music and got me, no kept me interested. It was much much harder than I thought mainly because I had put some rules in place to stop this little game turning into a monster Nic Hornsby moment. Rule one I was really ruthless and limited the list to only ten. Rule two there could be no multiple entries i.e. I could only have one album per band or artist. Otherwise I might just have had Ten Pink Floyd or Fleetwood Mac etc… Rule three the albums chosen simply had to have taken me on a journey and not just been one offs, they sound good, play it to death and never touch it again crap. I then also had to get myself into the mind set. Pretend that these chosen few were the only music I was ever going to be allowed to have for the rest of my life. After many hours thinking and soul searching I had my list, but the order was impossible. That’s when I came up with the last rule. Rule Four each of the ten are equally important not a list but my ten. So here goes in no particular order with a little commentary for each.
Making Movies by Dire Straits.1980. The third fantastic album sealed Mark Knopfler as the greatest lyricist of his generation.
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette. 1995. Poetry with angst set to music, sharp and very fresh. On as I’m writing.
Joan Armatrading. By the artist of the same name.1976. The sheer class and sophistication of this album along with the quality of Joan’s voice and the delicate production make it the perfect late night music. Try “love and affection” with a pair of head phones. It will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole and the commotion’s.1984. From the first bar of perfect skin to the end of the album people listen in silence. One of the most accomplished debut albums ever.
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.1977. What can I say if you don’t know it just listen to” Gold Dust Woman” and you will understand why it spent more time in the album charts than any other album so far.
Suzanne Vega by the same.1985. Fantastic debut solo album from the first of the modern day female singer songwriters. New York grit on vinyl.
The Lipstick conspiracies by Thea Gilmore.2000. My wild card I’m guessing that most of you has no idea who she is. English female singer songwriter. Records to an independent label fucking stunningly fantastic. Look her up on the net and get any of her albums. I promise you will wonder why she is not bigger than Joss Stone.
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel.1970. Sorry I grew up with it and I love it every track a classic. If you go to a party you will find it in the collection of most people of my generation. And they can also recall the entire track list in order. How many albums have had that effect.
The Hounds of Love by Kate Bush.1985. It’s like modern Art, Ballet, and Opera all rolled up. Where is the next album?
Last and by no means least The Division Bell by Pink Floyd.1994. Every body singes the praises of dark side of the moon. Yet I think this is more mature and somehow complete and a more thoughtful album.
Well that’s it; of course all these are my opinion. Feel free to disagree or post yours back in the comments. It’s a fun thing to do and quite cathartic.

Matt.

4 comments:

piddy77 said...

My 10 in no particular order, for what its worth!
1 Cocteau Twins - Treasure
2 Sex Pistols - Never mind the bollocks
3 The Cure - Pornography
4 David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
5 John Barry - Somewhere in Time (soundtrack)
6 Frank Sinatra - songs for young lovers
7 Pink Floyd - Division Bell
8 Prince - Parade
9 Marc Almond - Enchanted
10 Blondie - Autoamerican

Anonymous said...

my top 10 are:-
1 Damien Rice - o
2 Judas Priest-Unleashed in the East
3 Counting Crows-August and Everything After
4 Pink Floyd- Wish you were here
5 The Who- Quadrophenia
6 Black Sabbath- Sabotage
7 Gin Blossoms - New miserable experience
8 Whitesnake-Ready 'n' Willing
9 Thunder - Back street symphony
10 Del Amitri - Change Everything
11 Tracy Chapman - crossroads
yes i know its eleven, sorry,Sensual Steve.

Anonymous said...

oi!! matt less of the old!
steve

Anonymous said...

Led Zepplin - IV
The Joshua Tree - U2
Nevermind - Nirvana
The Bends - Radiohead
Portishead - Dummy
Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morrisette
Talking Heads - Stop making sense
David Bowie - The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars
Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
Damien rice - O
Del Amitri - Hatful of Rain

oops thats 11 lol
Lisa xx