My Favorite Albums (The Final Ten)

By now, you should know the drill. If not, then go look at past posts.
Let's recap the previous 40 albums...

ACDC - Back In Black (1980)
Aerosmith - Get Your Wings (1974)
Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)
Black Keys - El Camino (2011)
Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me (2006)
The Cult - Sonic Temple (1989)
Dead Man's Bones - Dead Man's Bones (2009)
Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987)
Father John Misty - Fear Fun (2012)
Fleetwood Mac - Rumors (1974)
Foo Fighters - Wasted Light (2011)
Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten (2012)
Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales (2001)
Jack White - Blunderbuss (2012)
Jimmy Eat World - Invented (2010)
Kills - Blood Pressures (2011)
Kings of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood (2003)
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (1975)
Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)
Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antartica (2000)
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1970)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads (1996)
Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
NWA - Straight Outta of Compton (1988)
Outkast - Stankonia (2000)
Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)
Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R (2000)
Queensryche - Empire (1990)
Blood Sugar Sex Magic (1991)
Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971)
Run DMC - Raising Hell (1986)
Soundgarden - Down On the Upside (1996)
Stone Temple Pilots - Core (1992)
Tenacious D - Tenacious D (2001)
Toadies - Rubberneck (1994)
Tom Waits - Closing Time (1973)
White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
Who - Who's Next (1971)


And now, the final ten...


Guns and Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)

This classic album was a huge part of high school years. I remember hearing it about a year before it became popluar because at the time my Aunt was in college. I still jam out to "Rocket Queen" and "Paradise City", but the album boast one great song after another.



Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine (1992)

I was a freshman in college when this album exploded its heavy riffs and rap infused political lyrics on the airwaves. It left a deep impression on my young mind. And "Killing In The Name", "Freedom", and "Know Your Enemy" still gets me pumped up. Simply an amazing album.


Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dreams (1993)
 
This is the one Pumpkin album I can listen to over and over again. It's enchanting grooves always puts me in a calm and almost hypnotic state of mind. "Today" remains one of all time favorite songs.


Band of Horses - Infinite Arms (2010)


Band of Horses has become of my favorite bands of the last few years. The band's country-rock roots shine through on this album is one that hits all the right spots with songs like "Older", "Laredo", "Factory", and more.


Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest For the Wicked (1988)

I had to do a toss up between this album and Blizzard of Ozz. This album was the first with Zak Wyld at the lead guitar helm and it proves to be the strongest since the Ozzman's debut. Hard guitar riffs and Ozzy's trademark vocal ring in "Hero", "Fire In the Sky", and "Breaking All the Rules".


Candlebox - Candlebox (1993)

Yet another strong debut album from a group who hit it big during my college years. Maybe thats why I still enjoy this album so much. One of grunge rock unsung heroes go out on song "Far Behind", "Change", and every other song on the album. A fantastic effort from a great time in my life.


Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (1967)

If you want balls out guitar pulsating in your ear drums, then look no furter then the legendary Jimi Hendrix. He only three studio albums before his demise but the effect the man left on rock shall never be forgotten. Almost every song on this album is a hit with "Hey Joe", "Foxy Lady", "Purple Haze", "Fire", and "Manic Depression."


The National - High Violet (2010)

The National is a band I gotten into the couple of years and it was "Bloodbuzz, Ohio" which led me down that path. Matt Berninger's deep, haunting voice soothes my brain.



Saliva - Every Six Seconds (2001)

An album that clashes metal guitars with rap style singing. The catchy lyrics and songs helped it become a popular album of its time. For me it's more of a guilty pleasure, but damned if I still dont like "Click, Click Boom", "Superstar", and "My Goodbyes".



Audioslave - Audioslave (2002)
 
When you combine the amazing vocals of Chris Cornell with Rage Against the Machine band members you get an interesting combination. But it's one that kicks ass. From the opening helicopter sounds on "Cochise" to the soothing exit of "The Last Remaining Light" there is not a dud on the album. I have listened to it hundreds of times and it never gets old.





That's it...
maybe next year I'll do a top 100 songs. I think that list may be easier.




Observation of An Illogical mind by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at http://www.seankimmel.com.
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Favorite Albums (number four)

It's starting to get very tough deciding who makes the cut. Here are the next ten on list (find the other three posts in past threads).



The Who - Who's Next (1971)

I enjoy The Who a lot and dont believe they get quite the same recognition as some of their English counterparts from the same era. Daltry, Townsend, Moon, and Eitewistle made could be their best work and my personal favorite. But this album isn't just about the songs which became hits like "Wont Get Fooled Again", "Baba O'Riley", and "Behind Blue Eyes". The real power lines between those tracks with "Love Aint For Keeping", "Bargain", and others. For my money, this is a near perfect rock album.


Alice In Chains - Dirt (1992)
 
While Alice In Chains debut album blew me away, it was their sophomore effort Dirt which solidified them as one of my favorite bands. The moody guitars riffs of Jerry Cantrell combined with intense vocal stylings of Layne Staley crooning about addiction and death, both of which he and the band were going through. And you hear the pain comes through the speakers on the songs "Dirt", "Rain When I Die", and "Down In A Hole".


The Cult - Sonic Temple (1989)
 
Probably the band's best known and most successful album, it's the one which made me become of fan (and my friend Dave). The first six songs are as strong as any rock album of the era: "Sun King", "Fire Woman", "American Horse", "Edie (Ciao Baby)", "Sweet Soul Sister", and "Soul Asylum". Ian Astbury rarely gets the credit he deserves for vocals and lead guitarist Billy Duffy is also highly under rated.



Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads (1996)

Nick Cave possesses one of the coolest voices in all of music. He also writes some of most bad ass and interesting lyrics one can imagine. I like many of his albums but Murder Ballads is my favorite. I find it facsinating one can croon along with a sweet melody while pouring out such violent and disturbing lyrics. Make no mistake this album is all about death, murder, and violence. Songs like "Where the Wild Roses Grow" and "Stagger Lee". There is only one Nick Cave and if you have never listened to his music, then you are in for a ride.


Father John Misty - Fear Fun (2012)

Though this album came out in 2012, I didn't discover it until the spring of 2013 (shortly before I started this list) and since then I have listened to it over and over again. And I have yet to grow tired of even one song that tells sad and beautiful and strange tales. "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings", "Nancy From Now On", and "I'm Writing A Novel" are just a few of the great songs on this album which gets better after every play.


Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)

For pure, heavy, balls out, loud metal there is no album greater for me than Master of Puppets. The title song, "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "Damage Inc." got me pumped up for my share of football games in high school. At least during my sophomore year, which is when I discovered this little gem and dove head first into the world of Metallica.


White Stripes - Elephant (2003)

I've mentioned how much of a Jack White fan I am before, so to find a White Stripes album on this list should be no surprise. I could have truly put any of their albums on the list but I believe Elephant is their best one. "Seven Nation Army" never gets tiredsome (even though its turned into something of a sports anthem for many teams), "In the Cold, Cold, Night", "I Just Dont Knoe What To Do With Myself", "Ball and a Biscuit", and "Hardest Button To Button" are a few of the stripped down greatest one can find here.


Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)

It's no shock to find the "album which shaped a generation" on my list, since I am part of the generation. My senior year in high school, this album exploded onto the scene and I listened to it. A lot. While I liked the other dubbed Seattle grunge bands better than Nirvana, there is no denying the pure power and catchy rhymes found on timeless classics like "Lithium", "On A Plain", and the one that started it all "Smells Like Teen Spirit".


OutKast - Stankonia (2000)

Like many this is album which introduced me to Andre 3000 and Big Boi's unique mesh of hip hop. The two distinct and different vocals over kicking bass guitar and drums with a dash all sorts of funkiness makes"Sorry Miss Jackson", "B.O.B", and others still pack a powerful punch.


Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987)

During the late 80's after this albm came out, one would have hard pressed to find a more popular band than Def Leppard. It takes me back to early teens years just before entering high school which are mostly cloudy, obscure memories. Some of the songs have aged a tad and some of the lyrics are really out there. I mean have you ever really listened to the words in "Pour Some Sugar On Me". Still the songs "Hysteria", "Animal", and "Love and Affection" bring a smile to face and a bang to my heart. I guess that is why it made the list.


Only ten more to go....





Observation of An Illogical mind by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at http://www.seankimmel.com.
Please feel free to share the link but contact me for any other uses or publication. Thanks.

Favorite Albums (round three)

The ongoing series is at the midway point. Have you been interested by my selections? Well, here are some more....
And if you dont know the parameters I used, then go check the first entry.


Foo Fighters - Wasting Light (2011)

Since their first couple of albums the  band has really grown on me and personally, I think the group keeps getting better with each album. Their latest (from 2011) is one I have listened to over and over again while never getting old. "Alexandria" and "Dear Rosemary" may be my favorites but thier isn't a bad song on album.



Tom Waits - Closing Time (1973)

Tom Waits certainly has a style and sound all his own. Whether it's by his signature gravely voice or folk jazz style piano strokes. I may be a fan, but not all his tunes resonate with me. His debut album though is pure gold evne if the best songs are probably more famous for being sung by other artists. The drunken love ballad "I Hope I Dont Fall In Love With You" always pulls at my heartstrings. While "Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)" makes me yearn for a life on the road. And "Ol 55" is simply a wonderful tune. If you not familiar with Waits' work, this is a good place to start.


Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (1992)

The summer after I graduated high school this cassette tape rarely left car stereo. The songs on the album simply get me jacked up. Dime Bag's hard riff echo loudly in "Walk" but the songs "Hollow" and "This Love" will always remain my favorites.


Gaslight Anthem -  Handwritten (2012)

One would be hard pressed to choose a best album between the band's three releases. All are great and I darn near put The '59 Sound on here. But I think Handwritten is the slightly more complete album. Or perhaps I flipped a quarter. Trademark outstanding lyrics are present here and musically the band has never been tighter. "Mulholland Drive" is the cream of the crop here.


Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales (2001)
 

I use this album this album a lot in my professional career. It makes excellent walk in music for an event with it's laid back vibe, smooth guitar, and catchy lyrics. "Flake" and "Fortunate Fool" are the stand outs. 



Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic (1991)

This is sort of the quintessential Chili Peppers album and became their big, mainstream breakthrough, Coincidentally (or maybe not) it's also the first album guitarist John Frusiante and drummer Chad Smith were on. Catchy tunes like "Give It Away", "Under the Bridge", and "I Could Have Lied" run from start to finish. It's hard funky, rock, soulful greatness that can only be the Peppers.


The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)

A person could choose many different Beatles albums. What I love the most about album is how each song seamlessly and effortlessly flows to the next, starting with "Come Together" and ending with "Her Majesty". It's a perfect album.



Stone Temple Pilots - Core (1992)

STP certainly carved out a niche for themselves over the coarse of their careers (or at least the orginal line up). Their debut is a litlle heavier and the lyrics a tad darker than their other efforts. And that's probably why it sticks out as a whole for me. The DeLeo brothers screach through "Where the River Flows", "Dead & Bloated", and "Plush" while Wieland's vocals tie the whole thing together whether the song is heavy or more of a ballad, like "Creep".



The Kills - Blood Pressures

If you like stripped down garage rock, then you will like The Kills. On the band's fourth effort Allison Mosshart's vocals purr in the microphone with a solid command while Jamie Hince's guitar and drive the beats of the songs. Simply and beautiful rock and roll on songs like "DNA" "Pots and Pans", and "Nail In My Coffin".


Queensrÿche - Empire (1990)

One might only know Queensrÿche from the song "Silent Lucidity", which happens to be on this album, but the band constantly put out great material. Their hard progressive rock style often works in conjunction with concept albums. Not so much the case with Empire but othe great songs include "Another Rainy Night (Without You)" and "Best I Can". Did I mention that lead singer Geoff Tate possesses one of the greatest vocals in rock history.


Until next time



Observation of An Illogical mind by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at http://www.seankimmel.com.
Please feel free to share the link but contact me for any other uses or publication. Thanks.