Forget Rolling Stone, Wire, or what-have-you, here's my 25 albums I absolutely love and think everyone should hear before they die. Yes, everyone.
25 - Volume Two (1969) - The Soft Machine
Jazzy, dadaist psychedelia from one of the most unique bands of the 60's.
24 - Songs for the Deaf (2004) - Queens of the Stone Age
Very accessable, very catchy, very nice.
23 - Mosaic (1962) - Art Blakey
One of many great albums from the man who all rock 'n' roll drummers wanted to be.
22 - We're Only in it For The Money (1968) - Frank Zappa
Scathing satire and astounding production - Zappa was the master of his craft.
21 - Red (1974) - King Crimson
Progressive rock that actually fucking rocks.
20 - Whiskey for the Holy Ghost (1994) - Mark Lanegan
Soulful and simple. A great late-night album.
19 - Blue Train (1959) - John Coltrane
Classy jazz for everyone.
18 - Spiderland (1991) - Slint
This might as well be the album all post-rock is modeled after.
17 - The Velvet Underground (1969) - The Velvet Underground
Far more refined than their first two albums.
16 - Rubber Soul (1965) - The Beatles
The epitome of the late-60's sound everyone was trying to duplicate.
15 - A Tribute to Jack Johnson (1971) - Miles Davis
Miles' best. Much more a rock album than anything.
14 - Lick My Decals Off, Baby (1970) - Captain Beefheart
...it's like Trout Mask, only sharper.
13 - The Dealer (1966) - Chico Hamilton
A jazz album that knows no bounds - something for everyone on here.
12 - Elegant Gypsy (1977) - Al Di Meola
Beautiful Spanish-ish guitar work. Elegant indeed.
11 - Recorded Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival (1965) - John Handy
Jazz fusion a whole half-decade earlier than Bitches Brew. Wild performance.
10 - Saxophone Colossus (1957) - Sonny Rollins
Rollins is an absolute master of the Tenor... it makes me really jealous.
9 - Revolver (1966) - The Beatles
The production on here is amazing and the songs are terribly catchy.
8 - View (2003) - Bryan Beller
Usually the bass-man in the background, Beller shines with his own funky and original compositions here.
7 - Freak Out! (1966) - Frank Zappa
Way ahead of its time. Nothing even remotely sounded like this in 1966.
6 - The Universe Will Provide (2004) - Mike Keneally
I'd imagine if Stravinsky and Zappa ever met, it'd sound something like this.
5 - Far East Suite (1967) - Duke Ellington
Exotic Big Band sound. I mean, really big.
4 - Volume One (1968) - The Soft Machine
Humorous, unique, trippy, random...
3 - Safe As Milk (1967) - Captain Beefheart
Catchy bastardized blues. I quite like the name if you can't tell :)
2 - Hot Rats (1969) - Frank Zappa
Scalding hot jazz fusion as composed by the greatest guitarist ever. What more could you want?
1 - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1964) - Charles Mingus
Life in 40 minutes. The most powerful music you'll ever hear.
My Trusted MOGs
That's a good list. Very pleased to see The Black Saint in #1 slot ... my fav too :)
My Trusted MOGs
with you on the duke,mingus, miles, coltrane. but not those records or in that order. cheers to your very unique and different list.
also, i'm always partial to zappa - apostrophe.
My Trusted MOGs
Soft Machine...excellent. Hot Rats...awesome. I'd add One Size Fits All.
My Trusted MOGs
great list, difficult to pick a fav for Mingus, or Miles, Trane& Duke for that matter
I might go for _Pithecanthropus Erectus_ or _Blues and Roots_
My Trusted MOGs
17, 20 and 24 - holy shit yes! Those albums are all great. Have you heard Lanegan's Winding Sheet? Great album, just got it the other day.
My Trusted MOGs
thanks for the feedback everyone!
srharris: One Size Fits All is great, but I felt like I already had too much Zappa in my list as it is.
Thierry: Awhile back I purchased Pithecanthropus Erectus and found it a really odd listen (not bad, mind you). I'll give it another spin tonight.
lemontwist: Winding Sheet is great (as are most of Lanegan's solo albums). Didn't he collaborate with Cobain on that one?
My Trusted MOGs
Yesiree. It's fantastic, Where Did You Sleep Last Night is just epic. Of course, his new album Bubblegum is great as well. I can't wait for the Gutter Twins album, which is supposed to be released at some point next year.