Favourite Albums/Album Recommendations

I can repost my post from "Best Albums"? Please? I don't think enough people saw it, and it took me a really long time, so I'd love for it to at least be acknowledged ;_;>

The Mars Volta's De-Loused in the Comatorium




Words alone cannot express how much I love this album. No matter whether you're into Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, At the Drive-In or even Radiohead, this album may appeal to you. I say 'may' because the Mars Volta are a very unique band -- their guitarist uses a gajillion different effects pedals and is very competent, their drummer has an impeccable sense of rythym and is amazingly creative, and their singer, who has a high pitched voice comparable to that of Robert Plant, except a bit more shriek and tone to it, is, in my opinion, the greatest vocalist at conveying the many emotions this album makes one go through, ever. While these guys are not for everyone, those who they are for can realise the power and raw, sheer emotion that this album goes through.

The album is based off of a short story that vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala wrote about a friend, Julio Venegas, who killed himself. The protagonist of the story is Cerpin Taxt, who puts himself into a chemical-induced coma, and upon waking from it, (Televators), deems that the real world is too much of a burden for him and kills himself. Understanding the premise can helpo one make sense of the lyrics and fully understand the emotion of the album.

Now to make sure EVERYBODY WHO GLANCES AT THIS knows how much I love this album, I'll do a write-up of each track. I apologize that most of the videos are amv's, damn weeaboos.


1. Son et Lumière [1:35]
The opener, isn't necessarily a full track in of itself (best paired up with the following track, Inertiatic ESP) is somewhat slow-paced, with drums and heavy guitar coming in to follow the beat (rather erratically) at about 1:15, whereas before a simple guitar accompanied some soft vocals. Son et Lumière is a French phrase meaning "sound and light."



2. Inertiatic ESP [4:23]
The first 'real track' of the album. Starts off with a chorus that is a perfect showcase of Cedric Bixler-Zavala's vocal ability, and turns into a downbeat verse powered by by chief guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (Rodriguez-Lopez and Bixler-Zavala are the cheif members of the Mars Volta, with other musicians contributing frequently [drummer Jon Theodore, keyboardist Ikey Owens] and others occasionally [Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea, who plays bass on all the songs of this album) 's wah-wah scales along with a somewhat panicked vocal delivery by Bixler-Zavala. The song codas into a soft, luscious (yes, I just used the word luscious to describe an outro) interlude-type thingy to end the song.



3. Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of) [7:30]
Starts off with a furious riff and some great vocals. Segues into this very beautiful piece with some of the best drumming I’ve ever heard. Not too over-the-top, but is unique and fits the song and setting perfectly. All in all a good combination of fury and soft verses that are very ballad-like. Almost romantic. Almost.



4. Tira Me a las Arañas [1:28]
An interlude-ish thing, in the vein of Son et Lumière. Starts off with an acoustic, folky guitar bit, and eventually segues into just a tone until it blends in to the next song, Drunkship of Lanterns. Not much to say about it, not too long so I can tolerate listening to it until the next song.



5. Drunkship of Lanterns [7:06]
Starts off with a funky salsa bass (or what I think is bass), with Flea’s fingers flying all over the place. It slowly builds in pressure during the first verse, only to erupt during the chorus. It repeats this, allowing the listener to bask in the genius of the songwriting and finesse of the musicians. The formula falls apart at the 4:00 mark, and the ensuing final jam of the song that follows is a dizzying array of effects, rising scales, emotional crescendos and musicianship. The final minute of the song is an experimental soundscape, slowly easing the listener back into neutral after the rollercoaster effect of the song.



6. Eriatarka [6:20]
The beginning of this song is simply beautiful. Minimal yet effective (in both senses, full of effects and helping the nature of the song) guitar is the backbone to Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s soothingly emotional vocals. At 1:22, the song breaks out into an intense refrain, with Rodriguez-Lopez’s axe-shredding skills in their full glory, only to fall apart for the verse again. After a 25-second break, a guitar solo (in the loosest sense of the word) moves the song back into the beautiful verses. The mini-solos (they could almost be riffs, I just can’t think of a better word to describe them) that this song is chock-full of are, as I think, to be taken almost metaphorically, as a mediator between the softness of the verses to the chaos of the chorus (alliteration, **** yeah). A changeup into a very experimental bride, onto the chorus again, but with a bit of extra oomph to the guitar and the background noise. Chaos ensues, and ends the song leaving the listener exhausted. The outro gives the listener time to recollect themselves, similar to the previous song’s.



7. Cicatriz ESP [12:28]

Perfect.

Art in its truest sense. Pure beauty embodied in a song.

Somewhat slow-paced, the song is simply divine. The musicians gel as one, with the driving drums, the backbone of the bass and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s guitar (which seems almost as if he’s jamming along to the song instead of being a structure, but still makes it feel as if he’s an integral part to it and adds a sense of uncertainty to the song itself.)

And then you get to the chorus. Again, there is no word to describe the emotion packed into it, the sheer power of just listening to this. I cried when I first heard the chorus, after all the emotion in Eriatarka and just having recovered from itself. My first listen of this song, I literally went from my jaw being about 3 inches to the ground in the verse to a bumbling incompetent during the chorus. Tears of joy. The song is simply something that must be heard, an immaculate piece that could have only be written by two people who truly know each other, as is the case of Bixler-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez.

The song doesn’t overstay its welcome, however. You almost wish there was more of the concoction at hand but the song erupts in a triple-guitar solo at the 3:26 mark, and stays that way for a while, eventually slowing down to one or two guitars and a keyboard. Still, it is one of the most electrifying and life-changing things you’ll ever hear. The guitars are eventually stripped for a bare soundscape around the 5:45 mark, and the song slowly and agonizingly (in a completely good way) builds back up into a guitar solo, which is flawless, and then the beginning part of the song. Now what I think is key to understanding the beauty of this song in general is that the (admittedly rather long) soundscape provides the listener time to think about the music so far, and the sounds provide just the mood.

And then the verse kicks in after the great solo (seriously the most taxing one and greatest one I’ve ever heard) and the guitar takes a primary part in the uniqueness of this verse, with a great riff to accompany the vocals. A final chorus kicks in, the tears are dried, and the listener is blended into the odd start of This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed.



8. This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed [4:58]
After an odd intro that bugs me for some reason (akin to nails scraping on a chalk board, pretty much just an annoying sound), the song bursts into a furious chorus that is sure to get the listener energized. Seriously, if you need something to pump you up for a sporting event or whatever, next to Refused’s ‘New Noise’, this is something that really works. Eases itself into a soft verse with some of the best lyrics on the album. At the 2:45 mark, the chorus breaks into some minor wah-wah wankery (again that’s just because my vocabulary isn’t big enough to properly describe it) and goes into a bride that slowly builds in intensity until Bixler-Zavala’s mindblowingly emotional vocals are singing ‘and now it won’t be long’ over a furious barrage of sound that gave me shivers the first time I heard it and still does to this day. If you’re going to listen to two songs on this album, make it ‘Cicatriz ESP’ and this song. The two blend together seamlessly and are both absolutely magnificent.



9. Televators [6:19]
Somewhat of a buzzkill to me. From what I know they released this as a single, which in my opinion was a bad choice, but oh well. A ballad, but not the introspective kind nor the kind that’s particularily emotional. Serves s a good slow down between This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed and Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt, however.



10. Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt [8:42]
Epic song, truly epic. Most straightforward rock song here, but that’s not really saying much. What I mean is, if you want to rock out and air guitar, this is your song, but don’t expect it to sound like it came straight out of the classic rock radio station. It has Zeppelin-esque undertones but only in the loosest sense of the term. Very diverse, it starts off with a metal groovish thing with Bixler-Zavala urgently relaying his vocals. Eventually, everything stops and Rodriguez-Lopez plays one of the best riffs riffs I’ve ever heard, and the song morphs into a jazzy jam, and with about a minute-twenty left, just turns into the most absolutely epic things I’ve ever heard.

Seriously though, this song is so diverse you need to hear it to know what I’m talking about.






Closing Words: Listen to this album. If it’s your taste, you will, I guarantee it you’ll love it, and if it isn’t for you, oh well, it’s only an hour of your life and you can at least appreciate the dexterity and skill of all the musicians involved.

As for my final opinion, this album completely changed my standards for music, what it encompasses, the meaning of the word ‘art’ and basically every way I go about my life.


Buy this album and love it.



The alternate cover, found on the back of the album inlay and occasionally on the front of the album (I bought my copy with this cover because I thought it was special)





(this took me 3 days to write, I wrote it in Word, that's how dedicated I am ;_; so READ IT)

Rancid - Indestructible





Listening to Indestructible, I got the impression that Rancid wanted to bring all their older albums together, put in a little new twist, and come out with a new record. Ever since "And Out Come the Wolves", the bar was set impossibly high for Rancid, and they didn't even come close to having an album as solid as that one on their next 2 releases. However, they are no longer playing gutter/thrash/punk like they did on their last cd. They are back to amazing melodic punk rock amazing harmonies that have you singing along with every song. With this album, Rancid proves that they are one of the best modern punk bands out there.

The problem with Rancid's last, untitled CD is that they were trying so hard to be "real punk" they stifled their own talent, resulting in a CD that sounded generic and one-dimensional. They had apparently forgotten that Rancid was never just another punk band and shouldn't try to sound like one.

Sure, the guys can still punk out on songs like "Out of Control" and the Black Flag-ish "Roadblock." But they've also rediscovered their ability to write strong hooks on songs like "Start Now," "Tropical London," and the (perhaps a tad too) radio friendly "Fall Back Down." Their forays into other musical styles no longer sound like forced experiments (as did some of the weaker tracks on "Life"), but as if they've fully incorporated the style into their songwriting and are making it their own (the infectious, ska-infused "Red Hot Moon"). They've even cooked up a bonafide rock 'n' roll anthem in "Spirit of '87," a song that even people who hate punk will find irresistible.

One advantage of the new songs is that the band's musicianship is far more evident than on their last CD. Listen carefully to the rollicking "Django" and tell me that Matt Freeman and Brett Reed aren't the greatest drummer/bassist combo in rock today.

Lyrically, the band has maintained their social consciousness (on songs like "Back Up Against the Wall," "Stand Your Ground," and "Arrested in Shanghai," the latter of which reminds me a bit of The Clash's "Straight to Hell"), but haven't forgotten how to have fun either ("Django," "Spirit of '87," "Roadblock"). Only their attitude towards violence seems a bit confused; one minute they're celebrating Travis Bickle and gangster David Courtney, the next they're pleading for nonviolence on "Start Now." Go figure.

Overall, this is one of Rancid's strongest releases to date. Let the purists argue over whether this is "real punk." But don't forget that the greatest old school punk bands--The Ramones, The Clash, even The Pistols--understand the value of good hooks and solid songwriting. This album proves that smart, furious, quality punk rock is still alive and kicking.

I've covered everything pretty well in the old best album thread, but I'll just re-hash the album that has become my favorite (and I already made Nolan get it <3)



Everytime I pick up a Waits album I have to reconsider this album's position as favorite, because each one impresses me in a different way. But this is an album that I could gush about forever. It has a really good balance between older, melodic classic Waits and later experimental Waits, probably leaning towards the former. It's got the ballads (Time is nonparial with its surprising tenderness and beautiful lyrics, and I can't listen to Blind Love without howling along), the humour (Cemetary Polka is so darkly funny, it just shows another element of brilliance in his songwriting), the groovy songs (Gun Street Girl and Big Black Mariah always get my feet tapping), and my two favorites Tango 'Til They're Sore and Anywhere I Lay My Head, which are absolute showstoppers. There's also a delicious creepiness to songs like Clap Hands and 9th and Hennepin, a sort of forboding.

The worst songs for me are Hang Down Your Head and Downtown Train, and their only crime is being slightly less interesting than the others. I recommend this album for anyone who is musically open-minded (because it is certainly an aqquired taste).

Also, I'm changing my favorite Radiohead album from OK Computer to Kid A

^ I owe you so much for rec'ing that album to me. Holy Wow. I wanted to get into Waits after seeing him in a movie, oddly enough, and that was certainly a great place to start. Wow. Seriously. Wow.

Now, onto something different.



I've mentioned songs by these guys in the 'Songs you are Obsessed with' thread more than a few times, but really the whole album is gorgeously beautiful. Ethereal indie rock, led by the honey-dripped vocals of Dan Nigro, As Tall As Lions perform songs that range from heavenly beauty to passionate love. Seamlessly transferring from floating in the clouds with your eyes closed to facing a storm in a wind tunnel, songs like "Song for Luna," "Stab City," "Milk and Honey," and "Be Here Now" are mindblowingly soothing. "Love, Love, Love (Love, Love)" "A Break, A Pause" and "I'm Kicking Myself" put you on a boat in the middle of the ocean and let the calm waves and salt air take you away.

This is one of the most gorgeous albums I have ever heard. Comforting and emphatic, well-crafted, musically unique, lyrically powerful, this album took a long time to sneak up on me, but it has burrowed into my mind and heart and won't get out.

Pink floyd

The Wall
Dark side of the moon
Wish you were here

Metallica

Black album
Load
And justice for all

Coldplay

Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

Journey

Escape

Three Days Grace

One-X
Three Days Grace

Apologies to the Queen Mary by Wolf Parade

I imagine most of the music nerds here have already heard it, I'd highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't.

Oh, and on the same note, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's debut album is great too. I was just listening to it again today and I really forgot how good it was. Except the opening track. It's a bit pretentious.

I guess I'll post the band, then their albums, then the stand out tracks.

OK Computer (Radiohead): Let Down, Air Bag, Paranoid Android, Lucky, Climbing Up The Walls, The Tourist, and No Surprises.

Seriously, the CD is that damn good.

S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (Incubus): Calgone, Summer Romance, Redefine, Certain Shade of Green

White Pony (Deftones): Knife Party, Korea, Change, Teenager, Digital Bath

I'll name more when I feel like it...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - This Year's Model




If there was ever an album that further proved an artist's expansion and durability, then this is it. Elvis Costello's 1978 album This Year's Model (his first with his complete backing band, dubbed the Attractions) was more than just a follow-up to his debut a year earlier. Instead, it was a testament to the fact that Costello was living proof of recording-art excellence.

The majority of second albums (or "follow-ups") by anyone, are all too often standard, simple echoes of the previous record, and prove instantly forgettable. But not This Year's Model. With this remarkable set, Costello and his Attractions breach into other areas of their art, from radio pop (The Beat, Pump it Up) to deliciously out of the ordinary romantic life (You Belong To Me, Hand in Hand, Lip Service), and glorious satires of pop culture (Lipstick Vogue, and the repeat-worthy This Year's Girl). There is even a perfectly-balanced amount of outside commentary on the state of our culture, exceptionally portrayed in 'Night Rally' and the centerpiece of the album, 'Radio, Radio.'

There is a magic to This Year's Model (and to anything ever done by Mr. Costello) that draws the listener to submission. The music is a portrait of many different emotions that all come together to form a masterpiece. An essential diamond in the legacy of Elvis Costello.

Perfection.

my top 5:
1. One-X by Three Days Grace - Simply because every song is kick ass and the lyrics are great!
2. Meteora by Linkin Park - The last album of theirs to be called Nu Metal, great way to leave the genre is to go out with a bang.
3. Bluesky Research by Taproot - Their Alt. Rock album, awesome, every song!
4. OK Computer by Radiohead - Whats not to love about Radiohead hahaha
5. Black Holes and Revalations by Muse - Great album with a great story to it!!!

A-bee: FLYING GO ROUND, calling, TO THE UNIVERSE




What artist could earn the most musical and most beautiful melody in song and most crisp sound quality in the techno industry and still simultaneously not be heard about by anyone?

A-bee, that's who. Wikipedia has nothing on them, iTunes only has a few albums by them, and the only way I got to download their album for free was through 3 hard months of waiting and searching. (No kidding, I counted the months as they went by.) I found when I first heard their song "Eden" ( YouTube - A-bee "EDEN" from FLYING-GO-MOVIE Version0.88 (C) VOOV Recs ) that they were top-of-the-line material. They caught my ear and nailed it to their music.

A-bee is a Japanese techno artist, which may make you think "JAPANESE TECHNO?! GOOD?! NO WAY MAN!!!" Well, think again. This is barely generic Japanese Techno, it barely even has voices that speak English. The only voices that can be heard are hums and noises made by a female singer, which are mixed together perfectly. (Actually, the only song they actually HAVE SINGING IN is A-bee himself, in his song Polaris: YouTube - A-bee POLARIS (C) VOOV Recs )

Now, how good are they? Well, just listen to EDEN, Sakura-Planet, Polaris and their most popular song: YouTube - A-bee MUSIC from FLYING-GO-MOVIE Version0.89 (C) VOOV Recs

They are good. Pretty damn good. They use hypnotizing tunes and beautiful melodies that would make most classical musicians cry their eyes out. This, my friends, is what techno should always be.

Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends



Standout Tracks

1. Viva La Vida
2. Violet Hill
3. Lost!
4. Death and All his Friends
5. Cemeteries of London

If you weren't a fan of Coldplay's previous work (for some reason) you should give this a shot. The songs often take a different turn then usual with Chris Martin using the lower tone of his voice and the occasional guitar riff.

The songs are inspirational, catchy and an all around joy to listen to. Go buy this album.

Bexaholic
Leinator
Laikra (for This Years Model)

^Karmapointz

Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (1985)


A scent of whisky through Waits' voice, and a sound embracing poor and drunken hobos of the fourties with its clang-clang-esque percussion, one of the most distinctive, harsh voices on the planet and the sound of old folk instruments. This album marks how Waits achieved perfection right after the album that formed the sound of one of the greatest songwriters in history.


Beirut - Gulag Orkestar (2006)


A title which cannot fail to reveal this albums folk-interests, Gulag Orkestar is a perfect attempt at capturing the essence of vodka-smelling trumpets and gypsy fiddling and whatever else that one may associate with eastern european folk music, together with a delightfully catchy pop-outfit containing countless of subtle details, which assures no song will bore you. Beirut's, or his actual name - Zach Condon's soft and warm ukulele-sound together with his amazingly fine voice for a young age like his gives this record even more uniqueness.


Television - Marquee Moon (1977)


Undoubtedly a milestone of the genre post-punk, and that even before the Sex Pistols found the time to mark their ground and define punk! A truly magnificent and amazing piece of music in every sense. With the display of Tom Verlaine's incredible guitar-skills, fronting a band of superb musicians, this album shows quality. It's amazing how far into sophistication Television could put punk with this album.


Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam (2007)


Some bands record their albums whilst tripping, some smoke reefers and some are drunk, but there are probably not many who have recorded an album in intense sugar-rush, as Animal Collective did with this. It's amazing how much it sounds like it, too. The avant-poppers finally reached long-awaited perfection with this album: a groundbreaking milestone of crazy avant-electropop. Not only is it a fresh breeze, but also a perfect album in so many ways.


Mew - A Triumph for Man (1997)


Not really a groundbreaking album, but with its dreamy, mezmerizing shoegaze it perfected this part of the underground-scene. Hitting perfectly My Bloody Valentines raw beauty and Dinosaur Jr.'s accessibillity, this album really should be worth mentioning in the history of underground music, although sadly, it probably will not.

Sorry for eventual pretentious wankery

Ten favourite albums(i guess)

Pole - Steingarten


Radiohead - Kid A


Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Vol 2


Beck - Odelay



Venetein Snares - Chocolate Wheelchair Album


Beach Boys - Pet Sounds


Today Is The Day - In The Eyes Of God


Kraftwerk - Autobahn


Igor Stravinsky - The Rite Of Spring


Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance

Top 10 Albums:

OK Computer by Radiohead


A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar and So Impossible by Dashboard Confessional



untitled by Blink 182


This Side by Nickel Creek


The Beautiful Letdown by Switchfoot


Riot! by Paramore


Exile on Mainstream by Matchbox 20


How to Save a Life by The Fray


Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard

I'm not entirely sure what to say about this album, but I enjoyed it IMMENSELY.

Also I'm with Pignoah, I can't recommend Odelay enough.

Originally Posted by Link

Now, how good are they? Well, just listen to EDEN, Sakura-Planet, Polaris and their most popular song: YouTube - A-bee MUSIC from FLYING-GO-MOVIE Version0.89 (C) VOOV Recs

that song's chord progression reminds me of "Never Gonna GiveYou Up"...

and the song makes me think of a super-gay-diva-fashion-designer dancing on top of a bar at a gay dance club to it >__>

Here's a few.



Caz Machina - The Secret Life of the Wife of the Captain of the Ship in a Bottle on the Mantle Piece

My friend Luke, randomly bought this album, and he brought to my house, and I listened to it, and it was beautiful. I can't stop listening too it. Check out the name.. it's something else; a little overwhelming.



The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama

A jazz twist on some good ole gospel songs, and some other jazzy tunes. These guys sure know how to lift up spirits.



Muse - Absolution

My good friend Gideon from Norway, suggested that I listen to some Muse, and I did. He sent me the entire album.. and I loved every single last song on it. All just caught my attention, and sparked some thought, or feeling that just made me love it. Go listen! Now!



Natalie Cole - With, Love

Every song on here, I find to be extremely catchy. They make me happy. When I listen to it, I'm reminded of Cameron Diaz dancing about in her underwear in one of the Charlie's Angels movies; even though the song and movie have no connection - mind you, the image doesn't exactly make me love it, but just the happy thought process, you know? I love her voice, and just how the lyrics are so.. different.

Highlight Tracks
Rock 'n' Roll Damnation
Down Payment Blues
Riff Raff
Sin City
Kicked in the Teeth

Another on the list of AC/DC's great albums. As it has Bon Scott, the entire album has a very Rock n' Roll feeling to it. My recommendation would be Riff Raff. As much as I love Rock 'N' Roll Damnation, best song on the album goes to Riff Raff. It's a nice, upbeat song, and sounds like it'd be a great opener to a concert (which coincidentally it was back in the tour).

System of a Down-Hypnotize

I Love system of a down!

Slipknot-Self-Titled
Slipknot's older material is awesome (their new stuff is good too!)


Tool-10,000 Days

Awesome band! Awesome album!


A7X-City of Evil

Say what you will, i like avenged sevenfold!

@Above poster: Dude, why would we even think of mentioning Avenged Sevenfold when you have f-cking Slipknot up there?

Speaking of Avenged Sevenfold.



If you liked City of Evil, try Waking the Fallen. It's just as good, if not a little bit better.

Pretty much every track is good if you can get past the screaming vocals. (Which I don't really like.)