Best Ever Album?

[VII]

One of my favourite more mainstream albums is 'Closer' by Joy Division. I like morose music, and some of the songs on this...just beyond words.

Lyrics from 'Decades' (I think): 'We knocked on the doors of hell's darkest chambers...pushed to the limit, we dragged ourselves in...'

Less mainstream, 'zrcadlení melancholie' by Trist, a Czech black metal project. If you want pure agony in musical form, listen to this...not for the faint hearted...

But of course, since I listen to so many different bands all of whom I love, it's next to impossible to pick one favourite...

Also, 'Steptacular' by Steps, legendary stuff...! (...yeah.)

I've never heard of them, I'll check them out. Thanks for sharing this, might find some new music to enjoy! Always open to listening to new things.

 

[Smoka90]

I've never heard of them, I'll check them out. Thanks for sharing this, might find some new music to enjoy! Always open to listening to new things.

If you're referring to Trist, be prepared, it's...beyond words. It's not enjoyable as such, as it's pain. There's a touch of beauty in it, the melodies are repetitive, but, they just build and build. His vocals are the best element. I've listened to so, so much Black Metal, but his vocals really sound like a man in sheer despair, out of this world sounds. The first song is the best, Posledni Cesta (The Last Journey). Clocks in at 23 minutes, but it flies by, believe me. I've listened to that song literally hundreds of times since the album was released (2008) and it still hits hard. The front cover is intense, it's the musician bleeding into a sink. Not for the faint hearted.

But you might have been referring to Joy Division, ah, if so...I'll slink off feeling like a wally.

"Reach for the stars
Climb every mountain higher
Reach for the stars
Follow your hearts desire
Reach for the stars
And when that rainbow's shining over you
That's when your dreams will all come true "

S Club 7 man, yeeeaaah. *vomits profusely*.

 

[ElectroNymph]

I wouldn't say Joy Division were "mainsream", that's more Miley Cyrus (yeeuuuggh). Can, The Fall, and Half Man Half Biscuit are a bit more obscure, so in that respect they are mainstream, I guess.

Clines of mainstream(ness)!

 

[Smoka90]

I wouldn't say Joy Division were "mainsream", that's more Miley Cyrus (yeeuuuggh). Can, The Fall, and Half Man Half Biscuit are a bit more obscure, so in that respect they are mainstream, I guess.

Clines of mainstream(ness)!

Agreed, Joy Division aren't that mainstream, but compared to the stuff I listen to, it easily is.

It's all subjective, I suppose.

 

[ElectroNymph]

Ladytron, Stereolab and The Fall are the most obscure I get. But then, you forget things sitting on v@lium hill...

 

[Smoka90]

I used to love some of the 80s post punk (style - I hate genre titles). Did you ever listen to The Cure - Pornography? Brilliant album, although I don't like the later stuff at all. Not enough bleakness.

 

[ElectroNymph]

I watched a Bowie/Smith duet from the mid 90s recently. Robert Smith is certainly one of a kind! I like Wire too.

 

[Smoka90]

Bowie/Smith sounds like quite a duet... not too clued up on the Wire. Before I got into Black Metal, that dark world, I liked a lot of the 'alternative' bands; Joy Division, Siouxie and the Banshees, New Order, Blur's later music (although Damon Albarn is a berk). Then when I was about 15 a friend played me 'Cradle of Filth', haha. So ashamed I used to like Cradle of Filth.

 

[ElectroNymph]

Try Pink Flag and Chairs Missing. Good intros.

I was a teen blur fan, Radiohead, Portishead etc

And P J Harvey who is currently no.1 in UK Charts! Something decent for once!

Also Kate Bush, adore her...

Blur's self titled album is very good. I could blab about music all day - and I do!

 

[Smoka90]

I listened to those Wire songs, and the instrumentation was okay, but the vocals put me off a tad if I'm honest.

I used to have a Portishead album years ago, 'Dummy' it was called. But now music like that doesn't seem 'full' enough. It needs to hit me with full force.

Still love Radiohead, though. Kid A and Amnesiac, perfect albums.

 

[ElectroNymph]

The Cockney accent's endure Wire to me more.

Portishead's second and third album's are darker. The second being my favourite. 

Like Radiohead, but my head screams "pretentious!" a little too often.

Beth Gibbons... ?

View attachment 1227

 

[PTFC]

Portishead gave me the glums. ? Always loved Blur though, up until The great escape, not so keen on their catalogue after that, but you have to evolve musically I suppose.

 

[javaman]

Wow, some good stuff mentioned already! For me personally, a few classics stand out:

Beatles - Revolver
Grateful Dead - Workingman's Dead
Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
Bob Marley - Uprising
Neutral Milk Hotel - Aeroplane Over the Sea
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

This is, of course, extremely subjective and I love hearing what other people consider "the best"!

 

[Smoka90]

If an album gives me the glums, that's definitely a thumbs up for me!

I like the occasional 'uplifting' music, but generally speaking, glum is good.

 

[aintnouse]

My best album ever for today and yesterday is Rush's 2112.   The first section of the disc weaves a magical tale of the discovery of a long lost musical instrument that will bring joy to the world.  I love how a the tale involves the suppression of art and expression and the eventual fall of the ruling class.  It is a combination of fantasy and sci-fi that allows the listener to construct mental images of a battle between the ruling elite and the simple man.   Alex Lifeson's guitar work is out of this world and Neal Peart's drum work is well Neal Peart's drum work.   

The tale itself is timeless and is very applicable to the climate we have in the country today......with just a few minor adjustments.  I freaking love this album and love a lot of Rush's work.  I saw them in Greensboro, Nc 2 times in the last 4 years and they were pretty damn good.   That is my best album ever for today....

I know it's most unusual
To come before you so
But I've found an ancient miracle
I thought that you should know
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There's something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you

Yes, we know, it's nothing new
It's just a waste of time
We have no need for ancient ways
The world is doing fine
Another toy that helped destroy
The elder race of man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn't fit the plan

 

[Hammerblow]

The Cockney accent's endure Wire to me more.

Portishead's second and third album's are darker. The second being my favourite. 

Like Radiohead, but my head screams "pretentious!" a little too often.

Beth Gibbons... ?

View attachment 1227

Then call me pretentious lady!

I think it's easier to go with the crowd and say something by The Beatles (you weren't there man!) but I suppose equally so Radiohead. HOWEVER!

1) Radiohead Ok Computer. It's genius at its heartbreaking best. To capture that pre millennia hysteria and the distopic foreboding is not an easy task. Also to then not to make it sound 'wanky' but accessible on an emotional level is breathtaking.Exit music is so simple yet I'm bubbling like a school girl. Paranoid android (multiple time sigs key changes) but gorgeous. So much could be said.

I do miss that version of Radiohead but Kid A was an evolution and I enjoy the EDM/semi guitar rock they produce. I miss seeing them live last time they visited my part of the world was a very rainy day on Glasgow green 6-7 years ago. That's a poor show.

I grew up on a staple diet (force fed) of The Beatles, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Dylan, led Zeppelin, The Doors all the greats I suppose. But then when I grew my own wings I was all about Jeff Buckley, Portishead, Muse, Rufus, Martha, good Blur. Damien Rice and then a plethora of Scottish Bands. Muse even though I'm starting to fall out the demographic judging by the audience last week at their gig are my band. We all have that band right?

So honourable mention if not already;

Jeff Buckley-Grace 

Damien Rice - O (haters gonna hate) 

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (so many legendary jazz musicians on one album. Flamenco Sketches still gives me the shivers) 

Frightened Rabbit - Midnight Organ Fight (go listen puuurlse it's beautiful)

All Portishead.x. 

Muse never have an all time great album but if you see them live they are an all time great live act with a back catalogue to die for. Matt Bellamy shouldn't exist, singer, songwriter, one of the great guitarists of my age, classical pianist. It's totally not fair! 

 

[Smoka90]

I remember Damien Rice's O album! I bought it as soon as it came out! Can't remember any song names (although I'll kick myself when I google it!), but just that it was beautiful music. My musical taste has changed massively in that time, but I'm going to look him up and listen to him again. I was a teenager when I first heard it, so it may feel a bit nostalgic.

Love it when forgotten bands come back into my head. =D

P.S...got a tiny voice in my head saying one of the songs was cannonball...I'll be happy if I'm right! =D

 

[Hammerblow]

Did you go on a Damien Rice nostalgia trip? You were right about Cannonball being on there although not the strongest of songs. I was a mere teenager too when it came out I remember going to king tuts in Glasgow watching him and Lisa hannigan on stage just having the most beautiful chemistry. Then that mediocre second album happened the subsequent break up with Lisa (who's thriving as a solo artist) and he disappeared for 7 years. Mostly to be found in a cave in Iceland "finding himself" we all know what that means. But the flip side his new album he released last year under Rick Rubin (my favourite faded fantasy) is a triumph. Very Coan with 8-16 multi layered songs with difined sections. It's a gorgeous listen and a heartbeark too. A personal top three of 2015. 

 

[Smoka90]

I did listen to cannonball, and it was indeed a bit of a nostalgia trip. Then I listened to Katatonia and got an even bigger melancholy drenched nostalgia trip. Yum.

But I used to love this sort of gentle music, I used to (and still do really) love the band 'Low'. Beautiful music.

 

[SheratonGibson]

No Way to pick.

Music From Big Pink-----The Band