A week ago, I committed my ears to a minimum of one album a day, start to finish, in its entirety – for every day of 2005. Most likely, I’ll be doing all the big albums – Pet Sounds and Sgt Pepper’s, Kind of Blue and A Love Supreme, OK Computer and Doolittle, Paul’s Boutique and Speakerboxxx… the usual suspects.
There are albums I’ve always meant to sit down and listen to but have never got around to. I’ve never sat through Aladdin Sane or Fat of the Land, for instance – even though both are considered fairly important.
There are also albums I return to time and time again – and I’m sure this year will be no exception. The Cinematic Orchestra’s Every Day would be by far my most played record of the past five years. I also play Dimmer’s You’ve Got To Hear The Music by default fairly regularly when I can’t think of anything else to put on. No matter what sort of mood I’m in, that seems to suit perfectly.
But I’d be really keen to keep it interesting – so if you can think of any albums you would consider to be an unmissable part of the exercise, I’d be keen to hear about it. Name me an album you think more people should sit down and listen to – and I’ll try and be that ‘more people’ for you.
For those keeping score at home, here’s the story so far:
1. Miles Davis – In A Silent Way Columbia (1969).
2. Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones Island (1983)
3. Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun Motown (2000)
4. Lobi Traore – Mali Blue Dixiefrog (2004)
5. Tegan and Sara – If It Was You Vapor (2002)
6. Sonny Clark Trio – Sonny Clark Trio Blue Note (1957)
7. Dizzee Rascal – Boy in da Corner XL Recordings (2003)
8. Gary Bartz Ntu Troop – Juju Street Songs Prestige (1973)
9. Son House – Delta Blues and Spirituals Capitol (1970)
10. Max Romeo and the Upsetters – War Ina Babylon Island (1976)
11. Gomez – Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline Virgin (2000)
12. Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On Motown (1973)
13. Chick Corea – Is Blue Note (1969)
14. King Kapisi – Second Round Testament FMR (2003)
15. Kings of Convenience – Quiet is the New Loud Astralwerks (2001)And today’s listening:
16. Ash – 1977 Astralwerks (2001)
17. The 3D’s – The Venus Trail Flying Nun (1993)
And to this article I stumbled upon this afternoon – all I can say is Hear! Hear!
I still get great satisfaction from the Stone Roses debut album.
Straitjacket Fits Melt is a winner from start to finish.
And a recent discovery which I’ve been struggling to not listen to on eternal-repeat as it’s ruining my appreciation of all other music in comparison: Animal Collective’s Sung Tongs
I still haven’t heard a more perfectly realised, complete album than The Nightfly by Donald Fagen. I’ve been listening to it for more than 20 years and keep upgrading the format (now DVD-Audio).
It’s about growing up in the 50’s and the fantasies you have as a kid. And the title track is about dreaming of being a late night DJ on a jazz station so you probably already know it pretty well…
Of course I only know about 10% of the records you are listing here but that’s probably because I went in a country/americana direction in about 1992 and have found great riches there.
DS
I’ve never been without a copy of The Nightfly since it first came out. For a time I had two copies – one to loan, because I knew that eventually somebody wouldn’t return it. Didn’t take long…
I haven’t gone down the DVD Audio path with it, but it’d be high on my list if I ever adopted the format.
My Americana touchstone is T-Bone Burnett. Favourite song title ever: ‘Having a Wonderful Time, Wish You Were Her’.
In fact, now that I think of it, I must track down a copy of The Talking Animals – that blew me away. Recommendations down that path warmly welcomed – and I’m already way ahead of you on Jane Siberry and Sam Phillips…
The list seems bit light on folk, country and women so I’d put Tori Amos’s first album “little Earthquakes” on your list, ideally Ani Di Franco’s “Living In Clip” if you are including double albums, otherwise “Dilate”, The Indigo Girls’ “Swamp Ophelia”, anything my Liz Phair, either the grungy early stuff or slicker albums like “Whitechocolatespaceegg” (or “…eggspace”, can’t remember) and if you haven’t listened to Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” for a while it’s worth remonding yourself how extraordinary it still sounds.
After that, Lamb’s first album was amazing, I’ve only recently discovered Nine Inch Nails and “The Fragile” is brilliant although it’s another double, and I still love 90s UK dance music like Dreadzone “Second Light” and Leftfield “Leftism”, but that’s just me.
Andrew.
hey dubber, check this…
http://www.medianstrip.com/2004charts/altchart.htm
look down to #14. Well done!
if any Miles Davis album is going to be included, then Bitches Brew has to be it. It’s my Desert Island disc, definitely.
i second the vote for lamb’s self titled album, and i want to say phelps & munro, slowpoke which i’ve been listening to almost non-stop over the past year, the most amazing blend of electronica & guitars with the most intriguing & strangely appropriate track titles.
if you haven’t heard neutral milk hotel’s in the aeroplane over the sea, or the microphones’ mount eerie or the glow pt. 2, check those out. also of montreal’s cherry peel.