Warstub wrote: ^^see, this is why 'favourites' suck. It requires no thought, just 'oh I love these albums'.

Fair enough. At the end of the day, my top 6 plus #10 don't change, even if you bring skill into the picture. Regardless of how talented a band may be, you still have to like the music ...

marvthezombie wrote: Pardon my french, but why do you have to be an ass hat about something so simple?

I'm an ass hat about everything.

Bleh so I was wrong about when a bunch of them came out.  But you still have FOUR bad religion albums and TWO fugazi albums.  Reaallllly?  You must not listen to a lot of music.  I was trying to be a bit more critical in my selection....this was a TOP 10 thread not FAVOURITE 10 thread I had thought.

edit
Whenever these threads get made I get excited because I might be able to find some new music but hardly anyone personalizes them, they just make the same list you could find on genericpunksitea.com.  Or Rolling Stone.  Or whatever.


Edited by Gravel - 09/24/2011 at 02:14

Gravel wrote:  Whenever these threads get made I get excited because I might be able to find some new music but hardly anyone personalizes them, they just make the same list you could find on genericpunksitea.com.  Or Rolling Stone.  Or whatever.

Maybe we need to start a thread called 'introduce me to some music I have never heard before...'?

Gravel wrote: Bleh so I was wrong about when a bunch of them came out.  But you still have FOUR bad religion albums and TWO fugazi albums.  Reaallllly?  You must not listen to a lot of music.  I was trying to be a bit more critical in my selection....this was a TOP 10 thread not FAVOURITE 10 thread I had thought.

It was just 3 BR albums, 2 of which were a tie. Big deal, I'm a fan. Fugazi is my favorite band and I listened to both Repeater and Kill Taker countless times during high school, thus becoming a couple of my favorite albums.

It's a personal Top 10 thread, which would obviously be of a person's personal favorite 10. Sorry to disappoint, I'm just a major punk fan,  my favorites just happen to be of that very genre. Granted I'm enamored with The Best of Miles Davis & John Coltrane, but I couldn't find a space to squeeze it between the others that I love so much. Oops.

If you'd have asked me for a top 10 back in middle school, it would've been primarily '80s metal, with a tinge of Rush, that's just the kind of person I am--I stick with a genre that I love. Nobody's perfect, and frankly I don't dabble a lot with other genres like rap, techno, etc. But hey, it's just a forum.

As usual, this is a tough one since there are alot of albums that I would want to squeeze in. But let's give it a try...

1. Bad Religion - No Control
Cause it's the best goddamn album ever! Probably. It has everything I want from a melodic hardcore album- Speed, great melodies/hooks, great lyrics, and every single song is a killer.

2. X - Wild Gift
Most people would probably rank Los Angeles above this one. LA is a great album, but Wild Gift is pure perfection, with better songs.

3. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
A masterpiece among many when it comes to Bob Dylan. I don't know what to say about this one really, it's simply a masterpiece.

4. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
This came out when I was 10 years old, and everyone became a Wu-Tang fan. There was something about their dangerous approach and the dark atmosphere on this album that appealed to me, but I wouldn't say I became a "fan".
I didn't care about them for many years, and it was just a couple of years ago that I picked up on this again and realized just how awesome they were.

5. Wipers - Over the Edge
Gaaah, I can't decide which one is better; this one or "Is this real?". I chose this one, because it has "So Young" on it. The guitar work from Greg Sage is the most beautiful punk rock has ever seen, and he might just be the most underrated musician ever (and Wipers the most underrated band).
Wipers were one of Kurt Cobains favorite bands and it's not hard to see why. This is what Nirvana would sound like (or want to sound like) if they had formed 10 years earlier.

6. The Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic
Best punk album of the 2000's. They sound like the poppier side of the Clash, with a little more dist. Unfortunately three out of four band members died in a car crash after a show, just after the release of  this album (their debut lp).
So, I've put this one on nr 6 and still no album by The Clash. Does that mean I think Exploding Hearts is a better band? Not really, it just means that I love this record and wanted it on the list. As I said, there are ALOT of albums that deserves a place on this list...

7. The Observers - So What's Left Know
This might also be the best punk album of the 2000's... Just like the Exploding Hearts they were from Portland, a town that seems to be spitting out great punk rock these days. Wipers were from Portland also, and the Wipers have obviously influenced The Observers. Melancholic punkrock with great vocals that kind of reminds of Morrissey. A description that many have used before me, but it's very fitting.

8. The Misfits - Static Age
Noone has ever done '77 punk with horror themes better than the Misfits. Bullet, Hybrid Moments, Last Caress, We Are 138, Spinal Remains... An album full of catchy punk rock that is both entertaining and scary!

9. Poison Idea - Feel the Darkness
Not as much hardcore as the Pick Your King E.P., but just as bad ass.

10. Slayer - Reign In Blood
There's a tie between this and Dark Angel's "Darkness Descends" when it comes to the best thrash metal album. But I chose this one, cause it's SLAYER! The songs are fast and short, it's intense and it simply shreds. This is exactly how I want my thrash metal.


Some honorable mentions:
The Replacements - Let it Be/Tim
Bad Religion - Suffer/Against the Grain/Generator/How Could Hell Be Any Worse, etc
The Clash - The Clash/London Calling
Bad Brains - Bad Brains
Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore
Genius/GZA - Liquid Swords
The Misfits - Walk Among Us
Ebba Grön - We're Only In It for the Drugs
Appendix - Ei Raha Oo Mun Valuuttaa
Slayer - South of Heaven/Seasons in the Abyss/Hell Awaits
Bob Dylan - (Too many to print...)
Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen
Big Country - The Crossing

And a bunch of others. This is why I both love and hate these kind of lists...


Edited by Johan - 09/24/2011 at 11:51

I took SayYourPrayers advice and took the "Don't Think About It" approach, then compiled a list and tried to take 10 from there i couldn't see not wanting to listen to.  What's fun about these types of things is that you can see where you were in one point or another in your life with your selections.  I tried to exclude "Greatest Hits" albums but will reference them if needed, because some are worth mentioning. Also added are some recommendations and honorable mentions.  So here we goooooo!!  

In no real order:

Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)

• I associate this album with my early upbringing into the world of music.  Around the time of being introduced to punk and hardcore,  I remember spending most of my weekends at my cousin's house and watching Video Music Box on local TV. This thing dropped and that song "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like That)" came on and blew me away with its old-school positive vibe, socially relevant lyrics and use of real instruments (trumpets saxophones, real drummers) at a time when hip-hop was starting to be about coke & hoes (cross reference: Torbar's Vegas Trip).  They never got the credit they deserved due to their politics, but this is a great album to chill out to and I still listen to it from time to time, highly underrated.  I stopped listening to them once they got super political but I recommend this one if you can get yourself out of the punk box.  ( Also Recommended: Tribe Called Quest: Anthology)

Cash - Ultimate Gospel

• Yep I know maybe I will get some heat on here for this, but i like to think this is a pretty accepting bunch but yeah I like some Gospel music, and there are a few sprinkled in my collection.  The story goes Johnny Cash wanted to record a gospel record with Sun Records after getting big, but the label said no so he said F that and signed onto Columbia Records, and these were recorded from '58-'64. I don't really remember when i bought this (sometime after 2007 i guess)  or how i picked this one up along the way but to me, it's just a really great collection of songs.  (Also recommended: The Legend of Johnny Cash)

Green Jelly - Cereal Killer Soundtrack

• Everyone loved the Three Little Pigs video, Admit it.  Alot of fun songs mocking some of the big bands at the time (The song "Electric Harley House of Love" copies Metallica's Enter Sandman at some point and follows up with "I bet you thought this was Metallica!") Pretty funny as a teenager.  Other notables are Obey the Cowgod, Anarchy in Bedrock, and Rock & Roll Pumpkin. I didn't think this would make my list, but don't look at me funny. I love this friggin' record. Fun fact: The singer from Tool was part of their crew and a former member (known as "Billy Bob")

Pennywise – Unknown Road

• To me at least, this is better than their 1^st album, and maybe not as well-received as “About Time” and “Full Circle” (from there their records kind of sound all the same), but this is probably one of my favorite Cali Punk records aside from the BR releases et al. The piano intro to Unknown Road is a nice touch and the hidden track is also a good listen. Quoting Robert Frost was also a pleasant surprise when I opened up the cassette liner notes. This album had everything that made Pennywise great, and then some. I feel like once Jason passed away they got into the “we're gonna be a political punk band” trap. But Homesick still reminds me of how much I want to get out of this once great city I live in. The city used to be such a beautiful place, indeed.

Elvis Costello – This Year's Model

• I won't say I learned about Elvis Costello and the Attractions/Impostors from some musical Epiphany I had or by dusting off some old vinyl, but rather I learned about Elvis from listening to the Ron and Fez Radio Show here in NY a bunch of years ago. They would play intro/outro music between commercial spots and one fateful night played Radio Radio in the background while they came back on the air one night. Had heard of the big Saturday Night Live fallout in the late 70's/Early 80's? but didn't really think that he'd be any good. Any way, this is a great record to listen to. Pump it Up, Radio Radio, Lip Service, Living in Paradise, Lipstick Vogue, This Year's Girl, No Action – All great tracks. Give it a shot. (Also Recommended: Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel)

Bad Religion – Generator

(STF and The Gray Race were weighed heavily as a selection but I stood by the old standard)

• Since Marty likes to post anti-Pete quotes, he will be glad to see I selected this as one of my Top 10, being that it's Bobby's First BR debut album. This was the first BR record I bought and that's basically the main reason this is on the list. Everything about this record is gold, except for “Two Babies in the Dark” (sorry Robo). That's pretty much all I have to say about this wonderful, wonderful record. Perhaps some of the best mixed drums on a BR record, in my opinion. You all know the songs on here so, no need to discuss further. (Also recommended: not needed for the BR Page). I'm not including the holy trinity of BR albums as it's a given that they are great.

Grey Area – Self Titled

• Somewhat of a New York Hardcore Supergroup – Drummer and one of the -ex guitarists from Warzone, Singer from Token Entry and Black Train Jack, these guys blended the old hardcore with the newer hook-laden punk/hardcore sound. Standout songs: Dear God, For Real (dedicated to the passing of Raybeez of Warzone), and Take my Chances. It's a damn good record, and I had the honor of playing a show alongside these guys (even though they didn't even know we did since they showed up late lol) (Also Recommended: Warzone – Lower East Side Crew, Black Train Jack – No Reward)

Clutch – Robot Hive/Exodus

• Kinda was into Clutch when they broke out (Escape from the Prison Planet, etc), saw them with Pantera a few times, thought they were OK. Thought the Elephant Riders CD was ok. Stopped listening to them and a friend told me about this Clutch CD he just bought that was ridiculous. Completely blew me away. They sound 10 times better than they did back then, with the addition of an organ/keyboard player. You just have to listen and groove, friends. Listen to 10001110101 and the first track on this disc and enjoy. “Come a little closer honey, I won't Bite ya.... one more lager and I might learn to like ya”. Awesome stuff. Sometimes they make no sense but the music is THERE.

Faith No More – The Real Thing

• Chuck Mosley it was nice knowing you, now don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out. Make way for MIKE FUCKING PATTON. While there were two records before his joining the band, there really is no Faith No More without Mike Patton's vocal range. Not sure what his voice sounds like these days, but he's the real deal, folks. I really wanted to choose “This is it: The Very Best of Faith No More” but tried to stay away from compilations and best-ofs. This record should be on everyone's top 25 or top 50 at the very least.

Primus – Tales from the Punchbowl

• Had a hard time picking a last one. But I'm feeling nostalgic and thought to include this as my last pick, mainly because I remember cutting school with my friend and walking to the record store like 4 towns away just to get this. I also felt Primus had to be represented in this list since I was a huge Primus fan back in high school and there's always a song that pops up on the mp3 player or on shuffle.

\Albums That Were Given Consideration:

• Demonspeed – Swing is Hell
• Megadeth - Youthanasia
• Vandals – Hitler Bad, Vandals Good
• Face to Face – Laugh Now, Laugh Later, Self-Titled
• Bad Religion – The New America
• Four Brothers OST – Soundtrack Album
• Sick of It All – Blood Sweat & No Tears
• Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power (sorry Warstub!)
• Supertouch – The Earth is Flat
• CIV – Set Your Goals!
• Gorilla Biscuits – Start Today
• American Standard – Piss & Vinegar
• Inside Out – Self Titled
• Jimi Hendrix – Blues
• Rush – Counterparts, Test for Echo, Moving Pictures.
• Lungfish – Pass & Stow
• Lifetime – 25 Cent Giraffes
• Sam Cooke - The Best of Sam Cooke

Edited by frod79 - 09/24/2011 at 22:42

1. Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
2. Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First
3. Devo - Q: Are We Not Men?, A: We Are Devo!
4. Pink Floyd - The Wall
5. Minutemen - Double Nickles On The Dime
6. Beastie Boys - Check Your Head
7. Nirvana - Nevermind
8. Ramones - Ramones
9. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks
10. The Clash - London Calling

borby wrote: ...but I will generally listen to a few songs repeatedly and almost forget the rest of the album.

That to me is the reason you gotta think hard about your top ten albums - which ones are the ones you never skip songs, or, regardless of which songs are personal favourites and the most listened to (god, I never listen to the singles off Back in Black and Appetite for Destruction), contain other songs that you just love listening to whenever you hear them.

Warstub wrote: borby wrote: ...but I will generally listen to a few songs repeatedly and almost forget the rest of the album. That to me is the reason you gotta think hard about your top ten albums - which ones are the ones you never skip songs, or, regardless of which songs are personal favourites and the most listened to (god, I never listen to the singles off Back in Black and Appetite for Destruction), contain other songs that you just love listening to whenever you hear them.

Edited by Gravel - 09/25/2011 at 02:56

Apart from the first album there is no order about how they are put in, they are just alphabetical order by album title as that was how I sorted it in itunes.

1 Bad Religion – Tested

I know people are going to go the sound quality is awful and the recording is worse.  But to me it’s the feel of the songs and the way that a band so in tune with each other can make a song sound almost exactly like the album or at times very different.  It’s also the album that I was played that got me in to BR

2 Redgum – Caught in the Act

This is another live recording but it’s a more traditional one made of a folkish Australian band from around the Vietnam war era.  There is other recordings of them about but I haven’t come across them before.  I love them because of there ability to be completely inane and naïve, then all of a sudden to bring me to tears with moving lyrics or haunting music.

3 The Nixons – Foma

Nothing really all that special about this group but I really do like this album, just because it feels right to me.  I believe they actually are a christian band but they do actually talk about it with some thought and logic behind it.

4 Pennywise - Land of the Free?

This is the only Pennywise album I still listen to really.  I really love a few songs in particular on this album, but this really means a lot to me because it was the cd I put on before I went in to every exam to balance me out and calm me before I started.

5 The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Let’s Face It

I just love this album, I know they’ve got better, but the lively fun songs just do it for me.  Also being an old trumpet player it just works for me.

6 The Living End – The Living End

Not sure if many outside of Australia will know these guys.  Good fun rockabilly, I just love the way they’ve got the double bass to work so well in this first album.  I’m not such a fan of their later more polished stuff, but I’ve always preferred the earlier raw works of any band I listen too.

7 Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine

Pure aggression and one of the first times I ever heard social causes exposed in the music.  I just listened to this over and over.  If I feel like something harder on the stereo this is regularly the one I go for.

8 Everclear – So Much for the Afterglow

I’ve got to say that this is definitely not as good as their first album but it really does mean far more to me.  I got this album at a very dark time in my life.  I think while this took me further in to it for a while and made me think about it, what it did is make me think about it.  I tend to spend pretty much all of my time inside my own head, which was what was causing a lot of the dark times I had.  But this album helped me to think about it in terms that put it all in perspective and let me come out of those dark times

9 Live – Throwing Copper

I’m sure this needs no explanation for most people.  Just an album I love to listen to.

10 The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies – Zoot Suit Riot

Similar sort of thing to the bosstones, just really fun and enjoyable and once again talking as an old horn player, this just has great feel and flow and the music is played well.

Like everyone this is a personal list, but I suppose it doesn’t really reflect my musical tastes as this is only my top albums.  My taste is probably more punk/metal than this list really shows.  But these are the albums that mean something or I connected to or just hit at a time when I was in the right stage and I’ve kept listening to.