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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 20:58:29 GMT 1
I compiled a slightly vague list of my favourite ever albums earlier in the year but have now completed it and thought I may as well post it, any comments are welcomed.  The list is generally quite recent, but then as I'm only 19, didn't really get into music until about 1998 and didn't become what I'd call a 'music lover' until late 2004 when I first joined music forums. My album count has now reached almost 250 as well there being a few other albums that my parents own and I still listen to/have on my laptop/ipod. I have however discounted any Greatest Hits or Best Of compilations and I haven't included anything released so far this year. 3 albums are from the 80s, 13 from the 90s and a slightly shameful 36 from the 00s!  Two acts appear three times, although one person does appear on four albums. Neither of the acts appear in the top 10, though. |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:03:58 GMT 1
 50 Kings Of Leon 'Youth And Young Manhood' (2003) The debut album from US Rockers. I'd never really been able to appreciate anything other than a few of their singles however last years 'Because Of The Times' really started to get me into them. Currently one of my favourite bands, I do feel they've generally got better and not worse throughout their career and the songs from forthcoming 'Only By The Night' prove that. Red Morning Lightwww.youtube.com/watch?v=zYH_1kW7n8MWasted Timewww.youtube.com/watch?v=QUr5nbr0VXE |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:09:06 GMT 1
 49 Pulp 'Different Class' (1995) Although always an act I've liked a lot I've never really been able to get into them fully. I have both this and 'His N Hers' and feel that both have some filler on them. This scrapes into the top 50 due to containing five incredible songs. Like many acts and albums, I feel I'd appreciate more if I were around at the time. Common Peoplewww.youtube.com/watch?v=_EMd9zyJLgAI Spywww.youtube.com/watch?v=xxdgvpC3v0g |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:17:09 GMT 1
 48 Gorillaz 'Demon Days' (2005) Although I did like the stuff off their first album I never felt tempted to buy it. Their second album, however, was something a lot better. The singles were of a much higher standard and deservedly gave them a first number one and the quality and variation of guest only added to the albums quality. It's hard to pick two tracks as clear favourites. Feel Good Inc.www.youtube.com/watch?v=01C4RPEinM4All Alonewww.youtube.com/watch?v=zT6OeBeWT8g |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:23:38 GMT 1
 47 Chemical Brothers 'Surrender' (1999) The only Chemical Brothers album to appear in here even though they're one of my favourite acts of all time. The Klaxons duet on their last album is the only bad track of theirs I know. I haven't really delved far enough into their back catalogue yet and only own this and last years effort which although good, isn't great. I will certainly get more albums at some point though. The first dance album to feature, and depending on how loosely you define 'dance' as a genre, the first of anything between four and ten! The first of two albums to feature Noel Gallagher. Let Forever Bewww.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmpxsk3dHaAUnder The Influencewww.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Q5j9kXT_o |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:27:53 GMT 1
 46 Interpol 'Antics' (2004) The singles off this album were the first of theirs I properly heard and I thought were brilliant. I bought the album on the strenght but do find, although it's great, it's at times their least accessible album and can be quite hard to listen to. 'Evil' is one of my favourite songs of all time. Evilwww.youtube.com/watch?v=RNtGYdm2rOY[/b]Narc[/b] www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUaYsAHwnxc |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:36:35 GMT 1
 45 Richard Hawley 'Coles Corner' (2005) Formerly part of the Longpigs and performer in Pulp, he started releasing solo albums at the turn of the decade. This was his fourth and certainly most critically acclaimed, he was highly favoured to win the Mercury Prize but fell short in the end. I do think it'd have been an incredibly deserving winner, however the album it was beaten by is still to come.... Named after a place in Sheffield famed for being a spot where lovers meet, it's an incredibly gorgeous album and nothing moreso than the title track. Although kind of from the same genre as many more successful artists this century I'm glad he's not really mentioned with them. I don't think I could ever listen to this as background music, it's worthy of far more attention. Definitely an album for a certain time and place. Coles Cornerwww.youtube.com/watch?v=pR-MTZVppkAThe Oceanwww.youtube.com/watch?v=ynf0ERJVB9I |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:41:34 GMT 1
 44 Pendulum 'Hold Your Colour' (2005) And now for something completely different. From the moment I first heard 'Tarantula' in early 2005 I knew I would love these, drum & bass isn't a genre I can say I'm fond of or familiar with however when it's this accessible I love it! 'Slam' is the obvious song people know them for and has become something of a cult classic however it's completely deserving and is in a league of its own on the album, not that the rest isn't brilliant also. Slamwww.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqh9N-Mw5ETarantulawww.youtube.com/watch?v=5kJ09FpWoaM |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:46:34 GMT 1
 43 Primal Scream 'Screamadelica' (1991) A wonderful singles band, 'Dirty Hits' is my favourite Best Of I own, I've never really felt they quite cut it with the album tracks I know of. This is the only album I actually own as it was just £3 to buy and it is pretty excellent, though can drag on in places, though not on the 10 minute version of 'Come Together', which I'd call the standout. Come Togetherwww.youtube.com/watch?v=TEnjrJ_MQo8Movin On Upwww.youtube.com/watch?v=aKFYtUJFYVE |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:52:11 GMT 1
 42 System Of A Down 'Toxicity' (2001) Although not at all my genre of choice I've always for some reason loved System Of A Down, they have a certain something about them that I think seperates them from any similar type of act. I have three of their albums which I think are all very good although this is their best. I think 'Prison Song' is a wonderful message about drugs and the US prison system... Prison Songwww.youtube.com/watch?v=1JaMBEIM0kMChop Sueywww.youtube.com/watch?v=mdRd3k4CIAg |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 31, 2008 21:57:24 GMT 1
 41 Arcade Fire 'Neon Bible' (2007) The first of five albums which were released last year! It took me a while to get into Arcade Fire, however once I did I've always loved them to bits. Although I don't think this, their second album, was as strong as their debut, it does have some excellent songs on it. Their are six or seven I could pick as my favourite two, however I do feel it has weak points which their debut didn't have (I've never really thought much of 'Black Mirror', 'Ocean Of Noise' or 'My Body Is A Cage'). The Well And The Lighthousewww.youtube.com/watch?v=TECC-pheLPc(Antichrist Television Blues)www.youtube.com/watch?v=olk8feBYHeg |
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TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,614
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Post by TheThorne on Sept 1, 2008 7:40:15 GMT 1
Great Start Mark, those albums could feature in a lot of peoples top 10 not mind 50-41, think they are all great although never really got into Richard Hawley but appreciate what he does I think my favourite of yours so far has to be 'Screamadelica' |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Sept 1, 2008 17:53:37 GMT 1
Thanks, Screamdelica doesn't surprise me really. I'd love to have been at an age to appreciate that and the kind of music when it was out, instead I was still in nappies.  |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Sept 1, 2008 18:01:17 GMT 1
 40 Doves 'The Last Broadcast' (2002) I think Doves are an incredibly underrated band, all of their albums are, I think, excellent however they never seem to get the recognition they're worth. This is the only album that will appear although the other two wouldn't be too far off, their albums are all so different which I found surprising when buying them. 'There Goes The Fear' has become one of my favourite singles of the decade since buying the album, I'd only ever previously had a radio edit but it's so much better at almost 7 minutes! There Goes The Fearwww.youtube.com/watch?v=CRODW8Vh-MQWordswww.youtube.com/watch?v=tpo0JDdyM58 |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Sept 1, 2008 18:16:40 GMT 1
 39 Franz Ferdinand 'You Could Have It So Much Better' (2005) Although not an opinion shared by many I do think Franz Ferdinand's second album is stronger than their debut, however I can't blame people at all for not buying this, I think nine of the tracks are great and four are only ok. Of those four they released three as singles! I've never known a band make such bad single choices, there are so much better on this album. Outsiders (my favourite ever Jools Holland performance!  ) www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmuPT6xXq6EYou Could Have It So Much Betterwww.youtube.com/watch?v=aBa72UKCQBY |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Sept 1, 2008 18:22:39 GMT 1
 38 The Smiths 'The Queen Is Dead (1986) The oldest album in my top 50. Like many bands from before my era I feel I should like The Smiths more than I do. Many great singles but there's always been something stopping me from really loving them. Some fantastic songs on this album though. There Is A Light That Never Goes Outwww.youtube.com/watch?v=INgXzChwipYThe Boy With The Thorn In His Sidewww.youtube.com/watch?v=DYp2LGKOF_M |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Sept 1, 2008 18:26:41 GMT 1
 37 The Knife 'Deep Cuts' (2003) An act I discovered thanks to José González's cover of 'Heartbeats'. I checked out the original and was mesmerised (although not by tthe video...). I discovered them further and loved them almost instantly. On both of the albums of theirs I have there is a bit of filler on them but the quality of the great tracks more than makes up for it. Heartbeatswww.youtube.com/watch?v=zUGyFYUlquoPass This Onwww.youtube.com/watch?v=_VLnLs_-Ez4 |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Sept 1, 2008 18:31:32 GMT 1
 36 Manic Street Preachers 'The Holy Bible' (1994) I bought this album on the strength of what I'd read many others say. I wasn't disappointed, it's an incredibly good album, though the talking at the beginning of songs is a bit offputting. Still, excellent tunes throughout and certainly their best work. '4st 7lb' is becoming my favourite Manics song. 4st 7lbwww.youtube.com/watch?v=tysXhwEUyyUIf White America Told The Truth For One Day Its World Would Fall Apartwww.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ws5USgDraE |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Sept 5, 2008 14:24:50 GMT 1
 35 Super Furry Animals 'Fuzzy Logic' (1996) An album and band I've only got into relatively recently, I thought I'd first buy their debut and Greatest Hits, I think I actually prefer this album to their greatest hits, I'm not really so bothered with a lot of their recent singles. Something 4 The Weekendwww.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc0AUXUOmwcGod! Show Me Magicwww.youtube.com/watch?v=p4e_WYNEPqM |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Sept 5, 2008 14:30:50 GMT 1
 34 Arctic Monkeys 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' (2006) Although I had most of the songs off this album before its release I still couldn't wait for this album. It's not an album I love quite as much now as a few songs are a bit average but when they're good, they're absolutely fantastic! There aren't many albums in this countdown have 4 songs on as good as 'A Certain Romance', '...Dancefloor', 'Mardy Bum' and 'Still Take You Home'. With the way some of these songs are written and they deserved all the success they got. It's been said the album didn't sell that well considering it's debut weeks sales, but I think to get over a million sales without releasing any singles after it's released is a pretty fantastic achievement. A Certain Romance'www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJO1DxEWaD8 I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor'www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XTULcETGqk |
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