| |
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| 101. | Antony And The Johnsons |
| I'm A Bird Now |
| 2005 |
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At first it's the voice that overwhelms. You will not find anything remotely resembling this.
That idiosyncratic outsiders like him still have a place in a cultural landscape of conformity and
superficiality is a miracle.
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| 102. | Pulp |
| His 'N' Hers |
| 1994 Review |
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Even more immediate and instantly likeable than their 'Different Class' opus.
Along with St.Etienne they embodied a renaissance for pure, perfect pop in the 90s.
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| 103. | Cowboy Junkies |
| The Trinity Session |
| 1989 |
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The atmosphere they create on this is incredible. Their interpretation of other people's songs
is astonishing, but after all it's the quality of their own compositions which makes this so great.
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| 104. | Avi Buffalo |
| Avi Buffalo |
| 2010 |
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| | |
As things look at the moment, the current decade will not yield that many classic albums.
And those few that will emerge will probably come from rather unexpected places. Like this one, which is
basically music for adults made by teenagers.
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| 105. | Aphex Twin |
| Selected Ambient Works 85-92 |
| 1992 Review |
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One of the most mystical and enigmatic solo artist ever delivers a cornerstone of electronic music
with a selection of tracks which sound dead simple and terribly complex at the same time.
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| 106. | The Specials |
| More Specials |
| 1980 |
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A record that might be easily dismissed as easy listening party music. But
if the party still ain't over after two and a half decades there must be
something more to it.
|
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| 107. | Mercury Rev |
| Deserter's Songs |
| 1998 Review |
|
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| |
When at the end of the 90s the music scene was dominated by US Hip hop and Lo-fi acts,
a band left over from the start of the decade resurfaced with a set of songs reaching far back
into the history of American music for inspiration but all done in their own distinctive style.
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| 108. | Pulp |
| Different Class |
| 1995 Review |
|
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| |
If the combination of razor-sharp lyrics and sparkling tunes wasn't enough to ensure major
success they released it at the crest of the Britpop wave. So even the common people got to
hear this.
|
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| 109. | Throwing Muses |
| Throwing Muses |
| 1986 |
|
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One of the strongest, most intense female forces in music. Their debut
shows a young band working totally devoid of external influences. A modern
day Bronte sisters if you like.
|
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| 110. | Tindersticks |
| Tindersticks |
| 1993 Review |
|
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| |
Only a band as strong as them can make a debut a double and can come up with an album
which never fails to entertain over its 77 minutes. Of course entertainment in the Tindersticks
world is a bit more reflective and sombre than one might be used to.
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| 111. | Van Morrison |
| Astral Weeks |
| 1968 |
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A strange record. Like a fairy tail come true, like a medieval song contest run out of control.
No wonder he couldn't repeat this.
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| 112. | Depeche Mode |
| Music For The Masses |
| 1987 |
|
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| |
By finally shaking off their synthi pop origins completely and by broadening their range of styles to
incorporate classical and rock influences (guitars at last!) they laid the foundation for their subsequent
massive world wide career.
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| 113. | Big Star |
| Radio City |
| 1974 |
|
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The dreariness of the musical landscape in
the early seventies made one wonder why they bothered inventing
rock'n'roll in the first place. But just listen to the opening
chords of "September Gurls" and be reassured that there was still
hope. |
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| 114. | Nirvana |
| Nevermind |
| 1991 |
|
| | |
Absolutely impossible to say something new about this album which is probably
the most important record of our generation. And of course everybody
still knows when and where he or she heard that first song for the first time.
|
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| 115. | The Langley Schools Music Project |
| Innocence & Despair |
| 1977 |
|
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A bunch of schoolkids singing songs by the Beach Boys, Bowie and other 60s and 70s artists.
Particularly fascinating is how they grasp the essence of these songs without being fully able to
understand the meaning of the lyrics.
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| 116. | Mojave 3 |
| Spoon And Rafter |
| 2003 |
|
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| |
It's been a long way from Slowdive's effect drenched guitar landscapes to the
simple modern folk music here. And don't forget most of their other albums are
overlooked gems too. |
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| 117. | Red House Painters |
| Down Colourful Hill |
| 1992 Review |
|
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| |
Recommencing where L.Cohen left off two decades ago, these songs sound rather bare and
simple at start but take your grip in the end. Desolate and sad, of course, but never hopeless.
|
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| 118. | Slowdive |
| Souvlaki |
| 1993 |
|
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| |
Surprising forays into ambient and folk amidst the usual dream pop.
And a welcome return to form for Mr. Brian Eno as well.
|
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| 119. | Galaxie 500 |
| Today |
| 1988 |
|
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| |
A charming debut but you wouldn't guess they'll follow this with a real classic
just a year later. If only contemporary bands could work at this pace.
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| 120. | Neutral Milk Hotel |
| In The Aeroplane Over The Sea |
| 1998 |
|
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| |
Largely overlooked at the time of release this proved to be a blueprint for many
of the celebrated artists of the 00s (Arcade Fire, Beirut, Bright Eyes, ...) .
Sadly still no follow up in sight.
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