My Favourite Albums Ever #10-6
We begin the penultimate part of this series as we enter the top ten.
We’ve finally started the top ten! Numbers ten to six see a couple of modern classics, a soon to be modern classic, a stone cold classic and a cult classic. But first here are a few of your favourite albums:
Starting with my Aunt and Uncle. Fred, my uncle, gave a comprehensive list much like the longlist I created before starting this project. After a bit of persuasion he settled on a top five with number one being the 1973 release Space Ritual by Hawkwind. Technically ineligible for my list as it’s a live album. Most of you will be familiar with one member of Hawkwind, the infamous Lemmy Killmister. The album itself captures Hawkwinds prog/psyche rock live performance brilliantly, making the listen feel like one continuous performance.
My Aunt Edith, chose Solid Air by John Martyn. The 1973 release by the Scottish singer songwriter, flows wonderfully across his multiple influences of subtle psychedelia, jazz and folk. It’s hypnotic in the way Martyn sculpts his off kilter songs. For a modern comparison, anyone who finds themselves engrossed in the likes of Bon Iver should definitely give this a listen.
My mum, among many choices, put forward Hysteria by Sheffield band Def Leppard. The 1987 glam metal release was the follow up to the critical and commercial breakthrough of Pyromania and the first since their drummer lost his arm in a car accident. It’s also their best record. A hit factory. There’s a run of songs on Hysteria that is pretty much unmatched; Rocket, Animal, Love Bites, Pour Some Sugar On Me (the worlds greatest stripper song) and Armageddon it. A stone cold classic.
Finally I have one of my former colleagues Fleur who picked one of the most influential albums ever in Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park. The debut album signaled the start of the end for the nu metal era. But it’s huge commercial success meant that it was often the first alternative album many young people heard and lead them on a journey into the wonderful unknown of metal, punk, hardcore and everything in between. Chester Bennington forever.
Now onto the start of my top ten albums ever.
10: Marmozets - The Weird And Wonderful
As it’s name suggests this album is weird and wonderful. What were once Britain's brightest alternative act, this their debut, was a hell of a statement of intent. Bringing the off kilter timings of Dillinger Escape Plan, the rock spectacular of Muse combines with punk fuelled youthful abandon. We got one of this Islands greatest debuts ever. And what sits as my second favourite debut album ever.
My first year of uni, ten years ago, when this album dropped, a media furore. Everyone was talking about Marmozets. A sold out tour which included the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth. A show to remember. When a band lives up to the hype so much so that it only enhances their reputation. They even got tipped by the BBC to be potential Reading headliners.
As the group swing from mosh inducing ragers like Move, Shake, Hide to anthemic Choruses like Captivate You, Becca’s vocal performance takes centre stage. One of the greatest vocal performances ever, she commands every song. Demanding your attention. This band had the world at their feet and through bad luck and unfortunate decisions they didn’t achieve the success warranted. But they can always be proud of this debut.
“And I Will Captivate You, With Everything I’ve Got, To Bring The Best Out In You”
9: Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
The angriest album ever. The original fight music. When your debut album has Killing In The Name on it. And Killing In The Name isn’t even top 5 songs on the record. That’s when you know you’ve struck gold. De La Rocha spits his manifesto. With unflinching anger he picks apart every bit of politics and society he despises and throws it back in your face with ferocious revolution.
This is the album that turned me onto angry music. Much like Perseverance on the last part everytime I return to this self titled debut a fire is lit inside me. A fire to fight back against the worlds injustices and political downfalls. It’s an album built to start revolutions. A soundtrack that should be used to overthrow governments.
The bounce of Commerfords bass on Take The Power Back, the swing on Know Your Enemy, Morellos masterful guitar work throughout. And my personal fave the masterpiece that is Bullet In Your Head. The fact I’ll probably never see these songs live will always be a downer. That being said any listen to this album will never leave me feeling down. Anger and ferocity like no other.
“Some Of Those That Work Forces, Are The Same That Burn Crosses”
8: Converge - Jane Doe
Next up we have one of the most iconic albums in hardcore. Not just sonically but the cover itself can be seen at all hardcore shows plastered on t-shirts, hats, people’s skin. It left a legacy like no other. Pure chaotic ferocity. Conceptually it’s essentially a breakup album. Vocalist Jacob Bannon bares all. His screams inaudible, lyrics poetic, plastered over a visceral backdrop of frenetic metalcore.
I love this album so much that I sit here, writing this with the haunting artwork from the record tattooed on my ribs. Like so many I treat the image of Jane Doe like an idol. A deity that holds meaning to so many. She’s anonymous, yet instantly recognisable. Her eyes so empty yet so full of emotion, her abstract expression sullen yet captivating. A broken goddess.
Why is this one of three band tattoos I have? Well simply I wouldn’t hold my love for chaotic music in the same regard without it. It’s proof that even the noisiest records can be built upon pure artistry. To encapsulate the emotional fallout of a dissolving relationship so perfectly and unflinchingly is masterful. Jane Doe, the greatest breakup album of all time.
“Three Simple Words Bled Me Dry, I Love You, I Love You”
7: Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
The second album on this part to be celebrating its tenth birthday this year. And perhaps by far the most storied record on this list. Now I could give you the full lowdown on the lead up to this album but in all honesty, I’d recommend reading about it yourself in Laura Jane Grace’s (frontwoman for Against Me!) autobiography Tranny. The short version of it is, this record ultimately covers the topic of Laura Jane Grace’s struggles with gender dysphoria and her eventual coming out and transition.
So not only is this one of the greatest punk rock albums ever made but thematically it was incredibly necessary for its time and still is today. For a punk band to have achieved the success that Against Me! did, and then to move away from a major record label and release an album so personal is testament to their artistic integrity. As Laura Jane Grace speaks so openly about her struggles on songs like Fuckmylife666 and True Trans Soul Rebel, you can’t help but listen.
On Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Against Me! created an album that despite its candid nature, can be sung along to. Much like their previous work these are songs to put your shoulders back tilt your head up and scream the lyrics. This is a modern classic and should be held as such. That’s all before I mention that it closes with the greatest punk rock ballad ever in Black Me Out.
“You Should’ve Been A Mother, You Should’ve Been A Wife, You Should’ve Been Living A Different Life”
6: High Vis - Blending
One of the most recent releases on this list, and an album that has been on repeat since it’s release. One of the most important records of our time, Graham Sayle and co used High Vis as a vehicle to address the issues faced not just in their lives but by so many. Supported by a hardcore tinged dose of brit rock, they address the British male psyche, addiction, politics and the working class.
Heart on the sleeve anthems are sculpted. The true definition of authenticity. High Vis achieved something remarkable on Blending. Capturing a moment in time for what it’s like to live in the UK. Songs like Talk For Hours paint pictures of the male mental health crisis in the UK. 0151 is a defiant anthem for the northern working class in the face of years of neglect by the UK government.
It’s angry without being directionless spite. It’s sincere without getting caught up in its emotions. In years to come I feel we’ll look back on this record as a modern classic. An album that wasn’t afraid to speak the truth. An album that captured the struggles of a whole generation.
“All My Friends Keep Dying Through Their Authenticity”
The final part drops this Friday!!