The debut solo album from the only member of the Jackson Five people ever really cared about. It's hard to tell why they bothered, considering it sounds exactly like what he was doing with his brothers at the time, but Motown was always a strange label when it came to treating their artists like products. As with most of his early material, it showcases a voice that had no place being in the body of someone so young, and the potential that was already itching to get out and be fulfilled.
Best Songs: Got To Be There; Rockin' Robin
449) Robbie Williams - Swing When You're Winning (2002)
An album of swing covers that was more successful than anybody could have imagined, both musicially and financially. The duet with Nicole Kidmas is over-rated, but other duets with the likes of Rupert Everett and Jane Horrocks are fantastic. I'm not sure what the fuss was about when it comes to 'It Was A Very Good Year', though... he sings for half the track, and the original Sinatra track plays for the second half. Hardly as revolutionary as a lot of people think.
Best Songs: I Will Talk And Hollywood Will Listen; Beyond The Sea
448) Elton John - Honky Chateau (1972)
John's fifth album saw him begin his transition into a rock 'n' roll musician from the softer sound he had previously had. This may have something to do with being his first album in which his full backing band was used throughout instead of session musicians.
Best Songs: Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time); Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters
447) Stone Temple Pilots - Tiny Music... Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop (1996)
The third album from Stone Temple Pilots saw the band take a more 60's pop inspired turn than their previous recordings. It alienated some of the fanbase, and Scott Weiland's issues with drug use forced the band to cancel their tour, resulting in the album selling far fewer than anticipated. There are some real gems on here, though.
Best Songs: Tumble In The Rough; Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart
446) Dinosaur Jr. - Where You Been (1993)
Fifth album from Dinosaur Jr. and the last to feature performances from the full band. Features their biggest hit, 'Start Choppin'
Best Songs: Out There; Get Me
445) Blink-182 - Neighborhoods (2011)
A surprisingly good post-reunion album from Blink-182. And not a dick joke in sight.
Best Songs: Ghost On The Dance Floor; Up All Night
444) Manic Street Preachers - Send Away The Tigers (2007)
After 'Everything Must Go', the Manic Street Preachers albums started becoming increasingly poor, with 2004's 'Lifeblood' representing the band's absolute lowest point. Thankfully, for 'Send Away The Tigers', the band went back to basics, and released their best album in over a decade. 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' featuring Nina Persson of The Cardigans is as good as anything from their 90's peak.
Best Songs: Your Love Alone Is Not Enough; The Second Great Depression
443) Crosses - EP2 (2012)
Second EP from Chino Moreno's electronica sideproject.
Best Song: Telepathy
442) Silversun Pickups - Swoon (2009)
SIlversun Pickups continue their brand of multiple-layered 'dream pop'.
Best Songs: Panic Switch; Catch And Release
441) Eminem - The Eminem Show (2002)
The moment where Eminem began to show more range than just spouting controversy-baiting lyrics. On this album he goes introspective, and bares his soul like never before. Sure, there's still some controversial content in there, but this album will always be held up as the moment Marshall Mathers proved he had a heart.
Best Songs: Cleanin' Out My Closet; Sing For The Moment
440) John Frusciante - Inside Of Emptiness (2004)
The former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarists' solo work has generally been a dirge of random noises that he tells himself is good because it's "experimental". 'Inside Of Emptiness' is one of the few exceptions.
Best Songs: Inside A Break; 666
439) David Bowie - Hours... (1999)
Possibly David Bowie's most under-rated album. I'm generally not a fan of a lot of the music he did in the 80's and 90's, but this album is almost a return to the greatness he'd previously exhibited.
Best Songs: Thursday's Child; The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell
438) Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (1979)
The moment where all the potential that Jackson had previously proven he had finally came to the fore thanks to the production genius of Quincy Jones. The best was yet to come, but this proved that Michael was a solo artist to be reckoned with.
Best Songs: Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough; Workin' Day And Night
437) The Jane Austen Argument - The Birthing Pyre (2011)
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Tom Dickins and Jennifer Kingwell are an indie-cabaret duo. Their music tends to be reflective, piano-led ballads, as with the standout track 'Bad Wine And Lemon Cake' - a version of which appeared on the previously mentioned Amanda Palmer album, 'Goes Down Under'.
Best Song: Bad Wine And Lemon Cake
436) Screaming Trees - Last Words: The Final Recordings (2011)
Recorded in 1998 and 1999, the final Screaming Trees album finally saw the light of day thanks to drummer Barrett Martin's own Sunyata label.
Best Songs: Crawlspace; Last Words
435) Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists (1992)
The debut album from the Welsh rockers. This is far more of a punk record than anything they've released since.
Best Songs: Motorcycle Emptiness; Another Invented Disease
434) Bumblefoot - Hands (1998)
Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal is one of the best guitarists in the world today. This is technically his third album, but is his debut under the name of Bumblefoot. In it he flirts with hard rock, metal, funk and punk, but a showcase of his spectacular guitar skills is always on hand whatever the genre. Unlike the likes of Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai, Ron Thal a good songwriter, though... so the solo's are always at the service of the song instead of an excuse to show off.
Best Songs: What I Knew; Tuesday In Nancy
433) Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures (2009)
Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme, drummer Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin unite to create this album. It mainly sounds like QOTSA, but there are points where you can hear Jones and Grohl's influence with a funky bassline or Foo Fighters style chorus. The songs are great... unfortunately, when they performed at Download, they were quite boring live, though.
Best Songs: New Fang; Caligulove
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.