Top Albums

Something tells me this may be a long post and I have time to kill. Bear with me.

I’ve realized that with Vero, I’m not sure what music she has listened to. I have an idea of what she enjoys, but I have no idea if she knows the same music which has created a solid foundation of love.

I’ve given her a few albums when we first started dating…just trivial things such as Econoline Crush – Devil You Know, and Pearl Jam – Ten (pretty well they’re best commercial album.)

After hearing that she didn’t really know U2 at all, and didn’t even know THE U2 song; Where the Streets Have No Name, I decided I would take the next step in our relationship. We’re going to see what she thinks of my top albums.

How did I judge my top albums? Simply enough, I looked through my album collection and pulled out anything that either:

• touched a chord in my soul
• reminded me that there was not one bad song on the album

I have this theory that even though you may think the majority of the songs on an album are amazing, it can all go to hell with ONE song. That ONE song screws everything up for being the best album. Example: Master of Puppets – Metallica. It can be the killer album except for freakin’ Leper Messiah. Guh. I hate that song. The rest of the album is bliss.

I will be honest that I tried to create a Top 10 list, but there are way too many albums here.
(in no particular order)

• U2 – The Joshua Tree – My introduction to U2. The classic album. Ranked #26 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums list here. I cannot begin to describe my love for U2 from this album. Can I just say that Where the Streets Have No Name has more energy than the entire discography of the Rolling Stones (oooh…I can see the comments section flamed soon).
• Nirvana – Nevermind – No real explanation here. Actually, this album is ranked #17 on the Top 500. I’ll keep checking the site to see if my choices make it or not. What can I say about Nevermind that has never been said before? How about the fact that there is a naked baby on the cover? Nah…that’s been said.
• Lifehouse – No Name Face – A SOLID SOLID album. I’m not sure who introduced this to who, but Eric, Annie and I (and maybe Mike?) put this in our top 5 for sure. Every song evokes emotion. Everything is the greatest song put on this Earth. In fact, this is the song that Mike and I played at Eric and Annie’s wedding. And it kicked ass. Why? Not because we rocked the casbah…but because the song evokes emotion. Too bad Lifehouse sucks more and more with each new release. Stanley Climbfall…not bad. Self-titled album…gak!
• Sam Robert – We Were Born in a Flame – I have entered my rock n’ roll phase in the past few years. Sammy and the boys bring this feeling out in me. I would have to say this was my favourite album of 2003. I will follow this band to the grave.
• Mogwai – Happy Songs For Happy People – Lucy introduced me to Mogwai after I mentioned how I loved the guitar driven soundtrack of 28 Days Later. This album brings you to another place…all (or mostly) guitar-synth sounds all about. It creates an atmosphere.
• Matchbox 20 – Yourself or Someone Like You – Someone out there has borrowed this album and never returned it so I found it at a garage sale for $5. It’s worth another purchase. Good campfire songs here.
• Stabbing Westward – Darkest Days – I sense a theme here. I like albums that evoke emotions. What I love even more are albums that evoke ONE emotion. Ah, the classic theme album. This album is the greatest for after the breakups when you are full of rage. Industrial at its best.
• The Tea Party – The Edges of Twilight/Transmission – Where Edges take Eastern and Western…Transmission takes rock and electronics. These are such different albums, but so, so good. Edges got me into playing guitar. However, I don’t think I’ll ever pull off what Jeff Martin can pull off.
• Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here – Ah…the tribute album to Sid Barrett. From the bookend Crazy Diamond’s to the middle title track…there is nothing missing from this album. I love Floyd albums for the sole reason that they blend into one cohesive piece of music.
• Live – Throwing Copper – Memories of driving around in the car with Carol and Angele and belting out these tunes until we believed we were on stage. Probably their best album ever.
• I Mother Earth – Scenery and Fish – Same time period, but guitar goodness. Choice track – Earth, Sky and C (C is for Carlos ladies and gents)

At this point, heck, I’m tired of writing my thoughts on the albums, so I’ll come back to them tomorrow, but I’ll leave the list here:

• Theory of a Deadman – Gasoline
• The Arcade Fire – Funeral
• Silverchair – Neon Ballroom
• Pearl Jam – No Code
• The Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – here’s my comment. My all-time favourite album. Will be forever. Long live the Smashing Pumpkins.
• Collective Soul
• Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile
• Counting Crows – Recovering the Satellites

There you have it…my top albums.

If you’ve wondered how to get an idea of what I think and feel, listen to these albums. The answers are written right there.