I like to listen to a lot of music, and as a result, I've developed what one might refer to as specific tastes, but I always try to stay open minded. I mostly listen to rock, but I do change it up every so often. More than anything, I love to share music with others. I guess that's just a quick summary of me, so onto the music then.
This is not a "Top 10 Best" list or anything like that. The albums listed below are merely some of those that came to mind off the the top of my head. I was thinking of adding in other stuff to add some variety, but it works more organically this way (Pantera, The Offspring, Weezer, 311 and Ice Cube will have to wait until next time). I also put some general suggestions so that you might figure out what you like better than the rest.
I chose these 10 albums (for now anyway), because they all are relatively solid all the way through. I think most avid music fans have that one CD they used to listen to where every song is just perfect. Whether it be Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" or Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp A Butterfly," there are plenty of great works that are good all the way through. Here are 10 that I love.
10. "(What's the Story) Morning Glory" by Oasis
The song you ought to know already: "Wonderwall"
Three more for ya: "Don't Look Back In Anger," "Champagne Supernova," "Some Might Say"
If you liked this check out: "Definitely Maybe"
Similar artists: Blur, The Verve, The Beatles, Radiohead, The Stone Roses
Oasis is simply one of the best bands to come out of Great Britain in the past 25 years and this album is their magnum opus. It is their sophomore album and came out in 1995, just a year after their first "Definitely Maybe" (which is also very good). They're probably the most successful Britpop band and rose up in the height of the genre's popularity. While their musical output is not entirely complex, I think their strength lies in the songwriting (something of which the Gallagher brothers were quite good at when they weren't busy doing all the drugs). If you like anything pop, rock, or in between, it's a good listen.
9. "Rage Against The Machine" by Rage Against The Machine
The song you ought to know already: "Killing In The Name"
Three more for ya: "Wake Up," "Take The Power Back," "Bombtrack"
If you liked this check out: "Evil Empire"
Similar artists: Faith No More, Public Enemy, System Of A Down, Living Colour, Audioslave
Alternative/funk metal pioneer Rage Against The Machine is always the first band that comes to mind when I think of music with a political agenda, and they were pissed when their debut album came out. Their views are focused strictly on the far left and, if you listen to the lyrics in each loud, aggravated and catchy song, you can't really blame them. There's a lot of disparity going on in the world and with every angry, rap infused verse RATM is here to tell you about it.
8. "Nevermind" by Nirvana
The song you outta know already: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Three more for ya: "Something In The Way," "Polly," "Come As You Are"
If you liked this check out: "In Utero"
Similar artists: Pixies, Sonic Youth, Melvins, Foo Fighters, Bush
Come on, you had to know this was probably gonna be on here. It's Nirvana, the band from a nowhere town that took a "I don't care" sound and got the world hooked on it. They're up there with The Beatles and N.W.A. in terms of changing the face of music forever. Now some of you may think they are overplayed or overrated and that's simply not true. Nirvana took punk, metal, alternative, and indie and made it accessible to everyone. I consider that revolutionary. If that's still not good enough for you, listen to "Bleach" (it's just as good). And for the small few who haven't heard this one yet, give it a listen, you might like it.
7. "Electriclarryland" by Butthole Surfers
The song you ought to know already: "Pepper"
Three more for ya: "Cough Syrup," "The Lord Is A Monkey," "Jingle Of A Dog's Collar"
If you liked this check out: "Independent Worm Saloon"
Similar artists: The Jesus Lizard, Big Black, Flipper, Melvins, Nirvana
There is really no good way to describe The Butthole Surfers, you kinda just have to listen to them. A strange garbled mix of trippy, experimental, noisy, and weird, "Electriclarryland" is probably the closest they've ever come to sounding poppy and it's still not very close. They did, however, gain a hit single in the song "Pepper". For me the album, along with their previous one "Independent Worm Saloon," is nothing if not addictive (and I love it). Give it a try if you're not afraid of something new.. and weird.
6. "Core" by Stone Temple Pilots
The song you ought to know already: "Plush"
Three more for ya: "Creep," "Wicked Garden," "Dead & Bloated"
If you liked this check out: "Purple"
Similar artists: Velvet Revolver, Soundgarden, Days Of The New, Tantric, Army Of Anyone
Stone Temple Pilots simply laid down some of the best straightforward alternative/hard rock the nineties had to offer, and it is thoroughly present on "Core." This a steadily paced gritty chunk of rock with the occasional western feel (as STP are sometimes wont to do). For some reason, when this came out in 1992, critics accused them of being a "rip-off" of Pearl Jam (which they did with seemingly every other band to come out for most of the '90s). I find this curious because I can hear very few, if any, similarities. Overall, this album is incredibly solid.
5. "Rubberneck" by Toadies
The song you outta know already: Possum Kingdom
Three more for ya: "Tyler," "Away," "I Burn"
If you liked this check out: "Feeler"
Similar artists: The Presidents Of The United States Of America, Nirvana, Local H, Sponge, Fuel
If there were a genre known as "creeper rock," Toadies would be it. That being said, they are so very good. Never have I heard the sounds of impending doom become so catchy; it's like watching a horror movie through a fish eye lens or joining a cult under the influence of sedatives. "Rubberneck" also has the perfect mix of punk and alternative, is by far their most successful album and is awesome all the way through. If any of this turns you off, just listen to "Tyler".
4. "Too High To Die" by Meat Puppets
The song you outta know already: "Backwater"
Three more for ya: Severed Goddess Hand, Roof With A Hole, Station
If you liked this check out: "Meat Puppets II"
Similar artists: Violent Femmes, Husker Du, Dinosaur Jr., Cracker, Nirvana
I love the The Meat Puppets, so did Kurt Cobain. If you look at all the bands Kurt Cobain liked, and there are a ton, there are a few that are not nearly as well known as Nirvana, but in my opinion might be better. The Meat Puppets started out in the '80s, a little known hardcore punk band who subsequently experimented with mind altering drugs and recorded a giant, beautiful mess of a first album, they then went on to record their undisputed masterpiece "Meat Puppets II." About a decade later, Nirvana is the most famous band in the world and The Meat Puppets finally gain some exposure. This was right when they released one of my favorite albums, "Too High To Die," in 1994. The album is great from front to finish and is one of their more harmonious ones. For those unfamiliar, most if not all of you if I were to venture a guess, Meat Puppets have a very distinct sound that can be hard to get into, but is well worth the effort. While this is mostly present on their earlier work, there are still some echoes resonating within this album. What's very interesting is their rerecording of the classic "Lake Of Fire" from their second album, which sounds like something of a cross between Nirvana's well known cover, their older sound, and the current sound they were going for. Here's a little fun fact: Nirvana covered a lot of Meat Puppets songs, but a few years back Meat Puppets put out their own cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
3. "Dirt" by Alice In Chains
The song you outta know already: "Rooster"
Three more for ya: "Would?," "Them Bones," "Down In A Hole"
Three extra - [Jar Of Flies]: "Rotten Apple," "I Stay Away," "No Excuses"
If you liked this check out: "Jar Of Flies," but really all of it
Similar artists: Mad Season, Jerry Cantrell, Soundgarden, Days Of The New, Mastodon
The first band that I truly became obsessed with was Led Zeppelin in about freshman year of high school, the second was Alice In Chains. Alice In Chains might be my favorite band; I honestly can't say they've ever recorded anything resembling a bad song. I even like the half tribute/half joke song "Iron Gland" of this album, a song they originally came up with as something to annoy people with. I was cautious of the resurrected incarnation of the band at first, but now I love them too. All that being said, if you like rock, metal, or "grunge" listen to Alice In Chains and probably start with "Dirt." Every single song on "Dirt" is great, some more than others, but it does not have any low points (aside from a sometimes depressing mood). It's a heavy, melodic wall of sound with notions of reality and regret. If "Dirt" is too heavy, I recommend "Jar Of Flies," "Dirt's" more soulful counterpart. "Jar Of Flies" is without question the best EP put out by anyone ever (in my humble opinion). Alice In Chains were/are a very smart band, they knew too release all their heavy stuff on their albums and put their beautiful, somber songs out on EPs. In many ways "Jar Of Flies" is better than "Dirt," it's pure and perfect. Personally, I would never be able to say which one is better, it just depends on the mood I'm in. Anyway, listen Alice In Chains, the're pretty good.
2. "As Good As Dead" by Local H
The song you outta know already: "Bound For The Floor"
Three more for ya: "Eddie Vedder," "No Problem," "Fritz's Corner"
Three extra - [random albums]: "All The Kids Are Right," "Hands On The Bible," Mayonnaise And Malaise"
If you liked this check out: "Local H's Awesome Mix-Tape," but literally anything they've done
Similar artists: The Presidents Of The United States Of America, Marcy Playground, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring
Local H has gradually risen in the ranks as far as all of what I listen to and to be honest, they're probably my favorite band right now. They are solid alternative, with some punk and metal sounds thrown in. What's pretty damned amazing is that it's just two guys: Scott Lucas (the main music genius) and a drummer (there's been three, but Joe Daniels sticks out among them for the classic material and Brian St. Clair on most of it since then). Apparently Scott Lucas and a techie friend rigged a system back in the day where Scott's guitar also puts out bass notes. So, it's Scott playing guitar/bass/singing and a drummer playing music that sounds like a full band. On top of that, Lucas is an amazing songwriter. If you've ever been depressed, ashamed, angry or excited you can connect to the music (as a side-note: this album helped me through some hard times). This is their sophomore effort, it's a great album by an awesome band and amazing throughout, give it a shot.
1. "Marcy Playground" by Marcy Playground
The song you outta know already: "Sex And Candy"
Three more for ya: "Opium," "Saint Joe On The School Bus," "The Vampires Of New York"
Three extra - [Marcy Playground]: "The Shadow Of Seattle," "A Cloak Of Elvenkind," "One More Suicide"
If you liked this check out: "MP3"
Similar artists: Harvey Danger, Local H, Modest Mouse, Smashing Pumpkins, Live
Listen to this album, listen to all of it, and then listen to it again. Congratulations, you may have a new favorite album/band (hopefully). It is so sad that the only song people know by this band is "Sex And Candy." This is one of my all-time favorite albums because I love every single song on it. It's amazing that this band wasn't/isn't more popular. If it's worth it to any local readers, John Wozniak (the primary songwriter/singer/guitarist) is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. "Marcy Playground" did incredibly well when it came out, but now you don't hear it on the radio, and no one I know has really listened to it. Why is this not up there with "Ten" and "Californication." If it's because it's too soft. then why haven't any hipsters dug it up yet. Perhaps, it's just well known enough that no one cares, being both over and under the radar. Maybe it's too personal or melancholy sounding, in the end I guess I'm just glad I know about it and I love it regardless.
So that's my list. Maybe you liked it or maybe you thought it was complete garbage, either way feel free to email/message me with suggestions.
