|
|
|
As the title suggests a set of Christmas songs, some self-penned, some traditional.
Anyone who owns this record will long for the first cold and snowy days so he has a reason to
listen to it again.
|
|
|
|
42. | Saint Etienne |
So Tough |
1993 |
|
|
The band that embodied the idea of a pop group like no other. Melodic bliss topped by the most
pleasing if not to say stimulating female voice ever.
|
|
|
|
43. | Starsailor |
Love is Here |
2001 |
|
|
Their first EP was a great start and this, their first full length release was even better. Travis
might have been more popular and Coldplay may have sold more records but they have nothing
to match the quality of these songs here.
|
|
|
|
44. | Simon & Garfunkel |
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme |
1966 |
|
|
An often overseen album in their cannon because of the lack of successful singles on it. In fact their
most consistent work combining two voice harmonies with some of P.Simon best compositions.
|
|
|
|
45. | Belle & Sebastian |
If You're Feeling Sinister |
1996 Review |
|
|
The band which embodies the spirit of independent music like no other. Of course heavily
influenced by the Smiths but with their own introverted charisma. Some criticise the lack of
proper production here but oversee that that's part of its charm.
|
|
|
|
46. | Hope Of The States |
The Last Riots |
2004 |
|
|
A well balanced mixture of pop sensibility, post rock soundscapes and the shadows of the Manic's
'Holy Bible', sharing its prediction of imminent personal tragedy.
|
|
|
|
47. | Yeah Yeah Yeahs |
Show Your Bones |
2006 |
|
|
The only band in the 00s who could follow a great debut with an even better sequel. They replaced
the weird and hectic bits with some melodic sing along parts which against all odds made perfect sense.
|
|
|
|
48. | The Verve |
Urban Hymns |
1997 Review |
|
|
After some promising early singles and two so-so albums the Verve seemed to be history.
But they returned with this album which finally fulfilled all their promises.
|
|
|
|
49. | Sigur Ros |
Agoetis Byrjun |
2000 |
|
|
A record so out of time and out of sync with the rest of the world and so immersed in its own
universe it could only come from a far away country. Iceland that is.
|
|
|
|
50. | Radiohead |
OK Computer |
1997 Review |
|
|
Sandwiched between their grunge mediocrity and their electronic indulgence phases they released
this, a historic moment for guitar music in the 90s and beyond.
|
|
|
|
51. | The Human League |
Dare |
1981 |
|
|
Electronic music in the 90s may have had the newest technology at hand but that couldn't
compensate the lack of inspiration. So this 80s artefact is still the unsurpassed king of synthetic pop.
|
|
|
|
52. | Slowdive |
Just For A Day |
1991 |
|
|
The various bands of the shoegazing scene created some of the most fascinating pieces of
music of the 90s. This one's an especially lovely example. Dive in and drown.
|
|
|
|
53. | Pet Shop Boys |
Behaviour |
1990 |
|
|
For their standards an unusually quiet and melancholic album. Not many killer singles but not
many weak tracks either.
|
|
|
|
54. | The Smiths |
Meat Is Murder |
1985 |
|
|
On this one Johnny Marr's guitar playing is the strongest with a range from soft lushness to
harder rock oriented stuff. Morrissey fits his lyrics in perfectly.
|
|
|
|
55. | David Bowie |
Hunky Dory |
1971 |
|
|
Maybe his most singer/songwriteresque album, a piano based affair with guitar riffs added at the
right places, preceding the Glam-rock excesses to come.
|
|
|
|
56. | The Vines |
Highly Evolved |
2002 |
|
|
One half energetic, grungy fast songs, the other half lazy, sun drenched slow ones. They
lost it completely after this, but for one season they were unbeatable.
|
|
|
|
57. | Tim Buckley |
Goodbye And Hello |
1967 |
|
|
This would have been just a regular folk album if not for that voice. A voice so rich in expression
and modulation you wouldn't need accompanying instruments at all. A voice with no equivalent
in rock music history.
|
|
|
|
58. | REM |
Automatic For The People |
1992 Review |
|
|
A rare case of a band where the most successful album is also the best. Bleak and
uncompromising but rewarding and comforting at the same time.
|
|
|
|
59. | My Bloody Valentine |
Isn't Anything |
1988 |
|
|
The album that started the whole shoegazing scene. The basic idea of a guitar wall of sound with
some unintelligible vocals mixed underneath has been copied extensively. Three years later they
returned to complete their mission.
|
|
|
|
60. | Pixies |
Trompe Le Monde |
1991 Review |
|
|
More diverse and chaotic than their previous stuff but also slightly less
flawless. If you play this next to the first Frank Black album you will
seriously doubt that he was the only creative force in the band.
|
|
|
|