Hey kids, today I’m going to tell you about the all time top five greatest albums ever released. This is not up for debate, as it has been scientifically proven beyond any reasonable doubt that these five albums (records, CD’s, downloads—whichever you prefer) are in fact the best ones that have been released thus far in recorded history. Your opinions may differ-this is America after all-but you’re wrong. So without any further ado, here we go!
1. “Self Titled” by the Stooges – I know, surely there’re some of you saying, “Ahemm, “Funhouse”? But you know what? The Stooges’ debut is unbeatable in terms of ridiculously catchy, but still heavy and raw tuneage. Check it:
No fun my babe no fun
No fun my babe no fun
No fun to hang around
Feeling that same old way
No fun to hang around
Freaked out for another day
No fun my babe no fun
No fun my babe no fun
No fun to be around
Walking by myself
No fun to be alone
In love with nobody else
Well maybe go out maybe stay home
maybe call Mom on the telephone
Well come on, well come on,
well come on..........
Ok, “We Will Fall” is a bit on the hippie dippy Doors wannabe side but we all make mistakes right? Freaked out indeed.
2. “Walk Among Us” by the Misfits – Holy crap what an album! Not one weak moment to speak of. Let’s start with the album cover and insert: Goddamn, how fucking cool are these guys? They really walk around in public looking like that? What are you going to do about it if you don’t like it? Now onto the songs—every single one of them gets in, does their job and gets the fuck out. I don’t know, maybe this one should be the all time number one (but I ain’t about to admit I was wrong so I’ll go ahead and leave the Stooges). Plus, back in the day when there weren’t that many ladies who were into this punk rock shit the gals always liked the Misfits--and Black Flag for some reason, that is until “Slip it in” came out anyway.
3. “Exile on Main Street” by the Rolling Stones – Not too many albums actually sound like the precise place, time and atmosphere they were recorded in, but this one most certainly does. Look at the pictures inside. You know the one where Mick and Keith are probably doing back ups and holding a bottle of booze and a can of beer? That’s what the record sounds like to me. It sounds like living in tax exile in France and massive debauchery with a slight dose of violence thrown in for good measure. Yes it does. Not to mention the fact that “Torn & Frayed” is probably up there in the top five SONGS ever written.
4. “Rock For Light” by the Bad Brains – A lot of people will probably try and tell you that the ROIR cassette (or most likely CD these days) is their best, but again, they’re wrong. The production is just too muddy. Look, I’m a lo-fi kind of guy but that one just really loses too much of the impact because of the primitive recording. Obviously it should go without saying that the songs are still great but they sound so much better on the Ric Ocasek produced RFL record. And the reggae on the ROIR album is really pretty bad, whereas on RFL they’re up there with any Scratch Perry record (in my humble opinion). If there were any justice in the world these guys would be as rich as Bon Jovi. But of course there is not.
5. “Self Titled” by the Clash – Now, in all honesty this same spot could just as easily be filled by the Ramones’ first LP, the NY Dolls’ first one, or maybe even the Sex Pistols’ debut, but I’m picking this one because this is the very first punk rock record I ever bought. It was the summer after 7th grade and I was looking for something new. I didn’t want to copy my brother and snag the Pistols record so I actually asked him for advice as to what I should get if I wanted to check out some punk other than the Pistols or the Ramones. For some reason (even though he didn’t even like them) he told me I should check out the Clash. That record blew my mind. It came with a bonus 7” of “Gates of the West” and “Groovy Times” and the whole thing was just unbelievably good. How are you going to have a bonus 7” in 2008?
So there you have it kids. If you’re missing any one of these gems go and get ‘em right now! Preferably if you have a record store nearby go and grab ‘em there but if not I officially give you my OK on downloading them. I would also like to add that if Hank Williams had ever made an actual album (as we define them to be) he most definitely would be here--though I'm not even going to try and figure out which of my other choices would go! But I mean, c'mon, Lovesick Blues, Ramblin' Man, I'm so Lonesome I could Cry? Some of the best American songs EVER written.
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6 comments:
Of course you're leaving yourself open to dispute w/this one, as everybody has their personal favorites, and likes to make lists. But that's the fun of it. So my subjective response would be:
1- No question Fun House is the Stooges' greatest album, and the greatest rock album of all time. Obviously their first one is great too, and I can't say you're wrong for choosing it, just that Fun House is somewhat more organically complete so to speak. But a lot of people like that album now, so I understand the impulse to be original.
2-Yes, Walk Among Us is great, and the first Misfits record I heard, and so has an unshakable importance for me. But I find that I listen to Static Age somewhat more often now. Of course, it wasn't even released as an album until later, so maybe it doesn't count.
3-Similar situation w/ the Bad Brains. It was Rock for Light I actually had first, and so always liked better. But now I'm much more into the ROIR album. I agree the sound isn't the greatest, but the versions are far better in my opinion.
4-For the Stones, Exile is great, but some of it is too country for me. I don't listen to it all the way through. I skip a lot of songs. So for complete Stones albums I have to go with Sticky Fingers or Beggar's Banquet. Admittedly, I skip "Brown Sugar" when I play Sticky Fingers and start right in with "Sway".
5-I like that first Clash album much more now than I used to. There was something too "English" about before, I used to think, but now I see how great those songs really are.
So, if I was going to make my own list, based on yours and restricted to the same categories, it would be something like this:
1- The Stooges, Fun House
2- Black Flag, Damaged
3- New York Dolls, 1st album
4- Ramones, 1st album
5- Bad Brains, ROIR cassette
1. Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bullocks...
2. Ramones, Rocket To Russia
3. Meatmen, We're the Meatmen and You Suck
4. Dwarves, Blood, Guts & Pussy
5. Suicidal Tendencies, Suicidal Tendencies
I list these because I figure these are the most influential on me personally. I'd argue that a lot of yours are very great also and I count them among my favorite. I agree that The Clash's first album is its finest. Many Clashophiles are hung up on London Calling, which is excellent, but does not rock as much.
Black Sabbath "Paranoid" is the most effective album of all time. The other choices are up to you. Jerome
1. Stooges-Fun House
2. Germs-G.I.
3. Bowie-Man Who Sold The World
4. Stones-Beggar's Banquet
5. MC5-Back In the U.S.A.
P.S. The Clash annoy the shit outta me. (Too much pomp)Try Damned Damned Damned instead for early Brit punk.(Though I prefer Machine Gun Etiquette)
Next five Ha Ha! Couldn't stop.
1. Alice Cooper-Love It To Death
2. Red Cross-Born Innocent
3. Black Flag-Damaged
4. T.S.O.L.-Dance With Me
%. Dicharge-Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing(But I luv Grave New World)
Third installment. Ok I'm drunk and I promise I'll stop after this.
1. Joy Division-Closer
2. Kommunity Fuck-The Vision And The Voice
3. Christian Death-Only Theatre Of Pain
4. Super Heroines-Souls That Save
%. Damned-Black Album
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