Blurrhead listens to the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time"

Ahh college... I have begun my freshman year this past week and am about to start what may be the most important four years of my life. I haven't experienced it yet, but I have been told that over these next four years, my mind will expand and flourish a lot and I will change drastically in both intelligence and character.

With those statements left in the air, I began thinking today about how for the past six years, I've been into music. I began buying CD's, listening to the radio, downloading iTunes...and before you know it, I started listening to the music on the school bus, at the gym, in the mall, etc. with music eventually becoming part of my everyday life.

I realized today that there is one problem with the music I've been listening to: Most of the music in my collection has been released within the past 15 years. This excludes a few CD's that don't fit that criteria, but the oldest CD in my collection is "Bleach" by Nirvana, and that's dated to 1989. The past few years of my life have been dedicated to the music of today and yesterday's era, but not before. I honestly cannot name one Bob Dylan song, and from what people tell me, I'm missing out. I have been aware for awhile that there is a whole other universe to music out there that I haven't experienced. I don't know whether I find the music boring or I just feel comfortable with today's era, but I have decided to suck it up and do something different.

I will listen to all 500 albums from this list: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. I will do this primarily for the sake of broadening my horizons and experiencing a different side of music I've never heard before. I will begin at number 500 and move my way down the list, listening to a maximum of one album per day. After listening, I will record my opinions and criticisms in this thread, hoping to see improvement in my ability to criticize over time. I hope that in the process of doing this, I will become better at judgement when it comes to music and I hope to learn more that I ever had, watching my progress throughout the list.

With this in mind, many of these albums are very old (if you consider the 60's to be old) and will probably be hard to find. I will try my best to listen through them, but don't be surprised if I'm gone for days between albums. It probably means I'm either busy looking for them or busy doing other things in life.

With this said, I will begin looking for #500 (Touch - Eurythmics) tomorrow. God speed.

Good luck man, I've thought about doing stuff like this before, but have never actually managed to work myself up for it. Though I do look forwards to reading your thoughts and commenting on them.

I'll enjoy seeing where this'll go. G' Luck, man.

*subscribes*

Hmm.

I don't really listen to *albums* that often, the exception being Pink Floyd and other similar bands, but I've heard a lot of if not most of this stuff, mostly because it's all classic rock that gets played everywhere.

In my opinion... honestly, a lot of the stuff on there really isn't very good. I mean U2, Micheal Jackson, and Elvis in the top 30? Really?

I honestly cannot name one Bob Dylan song, and from what people tell me, I'm missing out.

You are. He's really great, and actually deserves to be on that list.


Anyway, good luck. I hope you do find some stuff you like, though I do recommend, perhaps digging a big deeper and listening to some of the lesser known [better] music.

Sweet Dreams is made of thissssss. Who am I to disagreeeee?

Good luck.

Just glanced at that list and its kinda goofy, but it should still be good. Just don't go into thinking each one is better than the previous one you listened too. E.G. I'll take the Dark Side of the Moon anyday over almost any album but its ranked number 43

Originally Posted by Bradapalooza

Sweet Dreams is made of thissssss. Who am I to disagreeeee?

Good luck.

Just glanced at that list and its kinda goofy, but it should still be good. Just don't go into thinking each one is better than the previous one you listened too. E.G. I'll take the Dark Side of the Moon anyday over almost any album but its ranked number 43

Thanks. And I won't be expecting every album to be better than the previous one. For example: as someone who listened to Smashing Pumpkins in the past, I hold a strict belief that Mellon Collie is superior to Siamese Dream, but according to this list, it's not. I'm doing this primarily to expand my knowledge of music and to learn more from the experience as most people have. (to listen more towards the lyrics rather than the overall sound.) I felt like this list would be a good one to work from because, even though I don't listen to many of the artists on here, I'm still aware of their talent and ability as well as the impact they've made throughout the years

Anyway, moving on...




500. Touch - Eurythmics (1983)

Today, September 17, 2009, I began my embarkment on a long journey. I was very anxious to listen to this album for two reasons: It is completely different from anything I've ever listened to before and it is the oldest album I've ever listened all the way through by six years. But with the facts about the album thrown aside, I gave the album a good listen and realized something: I have poor criticism of music. With most music, I usually focus more on an overall sound and usually only understand the lyrics if they're directly stated. I was happy when I figured this out. I realized I was right. That I do need to expand more, because I was more impressed with the sound of this album rather than what Annie Lennox was singing. For all I know, Eurythmics may be more about the sound than it is the lyrics, but that's something I'll have to find out for myself in what's yet to come.

In criticism of the album, it's very "80's". I'm never really listened to an "80's album", but I've heard various 80's songs, so you can say I have some understanding. The album itself is somewhat diverse, you've got your 80's retro songs, you have your pop songs, but one song that really caught my attention was track 3: "Right By Your Side". It was personally my favorite track from the album as well as the most unique, with it's happy tropical sound, it was definitely the gem from the album. However, Touch starts to get old around track 7: "Aqua" and it becomes very bland and repetitive. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this album and glad that I tried something different.

Pardons for the double post, but this is an easier way to keep this thread updated. If you feel indifferent towards that, tell me. I have no problem with re-editing the post in order to add new editions. I just feel that this is better by means that the thread won't die if I do it like this.



499. Born Under A Bad Sign - Albert King (1967)

Hmmm...the blues. As somebody who took lessons to play guitar, I know one thing about the blues: that it was the foundation for rock n roll. While learning how to play, I realized that learning to play the blues was a good stepping stone for learning how to play.

On September 18, 2009, I listened to "Born Under A Bad Sign" by Albert King, and was almost put to sleep. (not gonna lie.) I don't like to listen to the blues, but what I DO like to do is play the blues. So, I decided halfway through the album that it might be a good idea to imagine myself playing the songs rather than listening to them, and it really made the album more enjoyable for me. Now, the problem with listening to this album was that I listened to it from multiple sources. I had to search Myspace, Youtube, etc. just to find recordings of the songs that might not even be from this album. (They are the same songs though, so I don't think it makes a drastic difference which recording I heard.) All I have to say is that Albert King is a great blues guitarist. While most guitar in blues usually puts me to sleep and I can't really listen to it, King really puts you in the mood. Overall, I thought the album lacked substance, but this is a novice claim coming from someone that only played the blues, and never really took the time to listen to it.

498. Tres Hombres - ZZ Top (1973)

After listening to "Born Under A Bad Sign" I took a little two day break. I left the university and spent some time with my friends. I needed a break from the harsh reality of the school, and from this list, because if I listened to a different album EVERY SINGLE DAY, I'd get bored. But, after 2.5 days absence, I finally decided to listen to "Tres Hombres" by ZZ Top: the next album on my journey.

I was aware of who ZZ Top were prior to listening to the album. I had heard a few songs before, one of which was on this album (La Grange). Let me tell you, this was exactly what I expected. I expected an old-school straight from the south country-rock album and it's what I got. A collection of good-old fashioned highway songs from the south. In the comfort of my dorm room, it's really not that fitting, but this album would be great if you blasted it going 90mph down the highway. Except, one song, for me, stood out, and that was: "Hot, Blue and Righteous", which makes an appearance at track 5; about halfway through the album. It's more slow-paced from any of the other songs, and it's the gem of the album. I believe it's about an angel (or a love rather) watching over the storyteller, and this is his song of appreciation towards that angel.

As a whole, Tres Hombres is the kind of album that you can only listen to when you're in the mood or at the right moment (like driving on the highway.) and it definitely sparked my interest to listen to some more music like this.

497. Yo! Bum Rush The Show - Public Enemy (1987)

They sure don't make hip-hop like they used to. I mean that too. This album blows Lil' Wayne out of the water. Public Enemy wanted to get one thing straight with this CD: They were number one. I'm not saying this because there's a song called "Public Enemy Number 1" but rather because more of their songs talk about how they could rhyme better than anybody else. For all I know, this album could've been the beginning of the whole "I'm tha best there is" theme in a lot of rap songs. (If I'm wrong about this, correct me.)

This album has a dark, political side. Public Enemy appears to be one of those bands that believe that the white man has put the black man down and has been reduced to nothing. (Timebomb, Sophisticated *****.) This album is by no means revolutionary, but it is "ill". The rhymes in this album are really clever, unlike most hip-hop albums today where artists just try to rhyme random words in order to make sense. (I'm a young money millionaire. Tougher than Nigerian hair?) To sum "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" up: It is a raw, ill political album that shows defining characteristics of both classic and present day hip-hop. It is a must-have if you're a classic hip-hop fan.

I'm just kinda going to butt in here and say something about that list.

Now, I won't say that anyone who doesn't place Superunknown, Dirt/AiC/Jar of Flies, In Utero and Ten all in the top 50 is an idiot, but doing so AND placing Nevermind in the top 20 is just something that REALLY ticks me off D:

anyway, carry on

Originally Posted by True Sorrow

I'm just kinda going to butt in here and say something about that list.

Now, I won't say that anyone who doesn't place Superunknown, Dirt/AiC/Jar of Flies, In Utero and Ten all in the top 50 is an idiot, but doing so AND placing Nevermind in the top 20 is just something that REALLY ticks me off D:

anyway, carry on

do you like grunge

There is a book by a guy named Tom Moon called "1,000 recordings to hear before you die". I got to interview him on my radio show. You could check that out. It also has recommendations.

They could have omitted a Beatles album or two.

yeah, 1001 albums to hear before you die > Rolling Stones best 500 albums.

Blurrhead, i hope you like the 60s, a lot.

Originally Posted by True Sorrow

I'm just kinda going to butt in here and say something about that list.

Now, I won't say that anyone who doesn't place Superunknown, Dirt/AiC/Jar of Flies, In Utero and Ten all in the top 50 is an idiot, but doing so AND placing Nevermind in the top 20 is just something that REALLY ticks me off D:

anyway, carry on

Yeah, that is beyond retarded. Superunknown is so much better than Nevermind.

Originally Posted by Asci

do you like grunge

yes i like grunge

And Nevermind isn't really that good : \

I mean, sure, it did have a huge influence, but in terms of actual music it's very lacking compared to almost anything the Seattle four pumped out during that era.

Sorry, I was trying to destroy your credibility.

"HOW DARE THEY NOT PUT THE BEST ALBUMS FROM THIS SPECIFIC GENRE EXCLUSIVELY IN THE TOP TEN" is kind of a ridiculous statement to make. Quit it.

you've been cranky lately asci

Although I do agree that this list is kind of predictable, this is still a really cool idea for a thread.

I can't believe that you think the Eurythmics are dated though! If you were to remaster those recordings and release them tomorrow, I doubt anybody would suspect that they were from yesteryear.

The likes of Lady GagHer would kill for the likes of Here Comes the Rain Again.

Even Annie's look is current and entirely relevant. Again, compare the photos in the booklet with some of the crap people put out today. There was somebody who understood that androgyny is not synonymous with 'desperate'.

The videos still hold up as well.

LOVE THEM!

Originally Posted by Asci

Sorry, I was trying to destroy your credibility.

"HOW DARE THEY NOT PUT THE BEST ALBUMS FROM THIS SPECIFIC GENRE EXCLUSIVELY IN THE TOP TEN" is kind of a ridiculous statement to make. Quit it.

Not to mention that Nirvana tends to be musically unremarkable. They have a catchy tune every now and then, but it's nothing to freak out and release documentaries about.