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| Mercury Rev |
| Deserter's Songs |
| 1998 |
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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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Their much feted blockbuster indie album "Teen Dream" was so catchy you could hum its melodies
after only looking at its booklet photos. This one was much more subtle and therefore much more
long-lasting.
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The debate about him switching gender, name and instrumentation obscured the fact that
this was a fascinating work of art. Exactly what we had expected from this artist.
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The usual mix of pop perfection and subtle complexity. Unfortunately this was their last innovative
contribution to electronic music, a genre they helped to shape like few others.
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| Slowdive |
| Just For A Day |
| 1991 |
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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.
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| Embrace |
| Drawn From Memory |
| 2000 |
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It's unlikely this album will ever appear in any other best albums list. But don't let
that put you off, otherwise you will miss some very well crafted songs like the moving
"Liar's Tears".
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| Soap & Skin |
| Lovetune For Vacuum |
| 2009 |
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When Mozart lost his first place on the 'most talented piano-playing Austrian child prodigy' list to this girl everybody
was a bit surprised. Even the young lady herself looked quite puzzled on the cover.
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| The Auteurs |
| New Wave |
| 1993 |
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If this album had been released two years later during the heyday of Britpop, then, well,
it probably still wouldn't have been successful. It was just way too sophisticated and eccentric
to appeal to the masses.
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| David Bowie |
| Ziggy Stardust |
| 1972 |
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At the beginning of the 70's Bowie was not only changing styles as usual,
he was changing them pretty fast. So, how to buy glam-rock? A T-Rex best-of
first, of course. Then this one. |
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| My Bloody Valentine |
| mbv |
| 2013 |
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The giant expectations had always lead to an initial disappointment.
But we wouldn't want to live without this album, would we?
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| Ride |
| Going Blank Again |
| 1992 Review |
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Released during the height of the US Grunge invasion, this one got overlooked
completely. Yet it makes most of the celebrated Britpop stuff released a few years
later look pale and boring in comparison.
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| Even Dando |
| Baby I'm Bored |
| 2003 |
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From the depth of drug addiction came a very relaxed and laid-back set of songs.
But his chaotic interviews at that time offered a glimpse into his troubled personal life.
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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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| The Breeders |
| Mountain Battles |
| 2008 |
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Among the many unexpected great comebacks of the 00s (Kate Bush, Portishead) this was the must
pleasurable. Those who expected some more cannonballs might have been disappointed but the rest
appreciated what they got instead.
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| PJ Harvey |
| Let England Shake |
| 2011 |
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The dozen or so albums she made in her career displayed a wide range of styles and topics.
This one maybe turned out a bit too sophisticated but listening to it makes you feel very
intellectual.
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| Kraftwerk |
| Trans Europe Express |
| 1977 |
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The band that put Germany on the international music map. The sound that has been copied,
sampled and imitated extensively. The genius of two musicians.
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| Telstar Ponies |
| Voices From The New Music |
| 1996 |
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A completely overlooked band that came up with their own interpretation of the post-rock concept.
This, their second album, is at times meditatively quiet but also rocks in places.
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| Lloyd Cole And The Commotions |
| Rattlesnakes |
| 1984 |
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In the years 1982/83 the album as an art form seemed close to extinction. This was after all
prevented by the phenomenal rise of The Smiths. But this young man should also
be applauded for his service in the war against the so called New Music.
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| Cocteau Twins |
| Victorialand |
| 1986 |
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Reducing their instrumentation to an absolute minimum yielded surprisingly
rich results. And what strange and colourful song titles they coined for their songs.
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| Aztec Camera |
| High Land, Hard Rain |
| 1983 |
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It's a bit of tragedy if you reach your artistic peak as early as Roddy Frame who was only
19 when he put together this magical set of songs. Cause afterwards, of course,
the only way was down for him.
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