Albums to hear before you die

[cabal]

Basically, this thread is intended for people who have heard a specific artist who they really like and want to recommend to the other forum users.

Got the idea for this thread from a book btw

If you are in to loads of different types of music and appreciate an artist's talent even if you don't like the sound, this thread is for you. Alot of this stuff is like marmite: love it or hate it. I am mainly a rocker, but, I listen to everything and I will definately be trawling through this thread making a point of listening to all of the recommended artists rock, rap, trance or otherwise.

Rules:

1) Only one album per post, if one artist has more than one album that is brilliant, post it seperately (don't double post either, wait for a bit before recommending two albums by the same artist basically).

2) No "Greatest Hits" or "Compilation" albums. This thread is about outstanding albums and compilations of the best of an artist's material or several artists' stuff jammed together isn't what this is about.

3) No flaming artists you don't like. People are going to inevitably like something you dislike. If this is the case, why even comment? Only say something if its positive. This thread is genre independant, I'm a rocker, Pico is a rap fan. As long as the artists are outstanding in their genre and deserve this title, they are fine in this thread.


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First Recommendation for Albums to hear before you die:

Van Halen - 5150:


Tags: Hair Metal, Power Ballads, Guitar Virtuoso
Time Era: 1980s

Tracks:
1. "Good Enough" – 4:00
2. "Why Can't This Be Love" – 3:45 ***
3. "Get Up" – 4:35
4. "Dreams" – 4:54 *****
5. "Summer Nights" – 5:04 ***
6. "Best of Both Worlds" – 4:49 ***
7. "Love Walks In" – 5:09 ***
8. "5150" – 5:44 *****
9. "Inside" – 5:02


5150 has several outstanding tracks on it and my all time favourite song "Dreams". This classic 80s anthem is guarenteed to get you headbanging. "5150" has a brilliant riff and "Why Can't This Be Love" has a classic EddieVan Halen Guitar Solo in it.

[PicoDeath]

(Let's remember, pico doesn't only appreciate rap )

Akala - Freedom Lasso - 2008 Release



Tracks
1. Electro Livin'
2. Freedom Lasso
3. Love In My Eyes
4. Comedy Tragedy History
5. You Put A Spell On Me
6. Where I'm From
7. Defeated
8. Bit By Bit
9. Something Inside My Head
10. I Don't Know

This is one of those albums you can enjoy from start to finish imo, even if you're not into the hiphop/rap culture, why? Because it takes different elements from all genres and combines them in with good lyrics, such as electro, rock, techno etc. It's a lively and energetic album too, with a 1 or 2 slow thought provoking tracks.

If you do decide to download his album and you do really enjoy it, then remember to support it because UK hiphop is not backed by major labels or sponsors.

Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freedom-Lass.../dp/B000VLJHFW

[KnFC]

Good topic.

Gorillaz - Demon Days



Tracks
1. Intro
2. Last Living Souls
3. Kids With Guns
4. O Green World
5. Dirty Harry
6. Feel Good Inc.
7. El Mañana
8. Every Planet We Reach Is Dead
9. November Has Come
10. All Alone
11. White Light
12. DARE
13. Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head
14. Don't Get Lost In Heaven
15. Demon Days

I really like this album mostly because of how it mixes genres so smoothly. Many of the songs have rap added into the electronica melodies which I think ends up sounding brilliant, while the "Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head" track is genre defying, at least musically. Most of the songs have catchy lyrics or jingles, especially "Feel Good Inc.", "DARE", and "Kids With Guns". It's a fun and easy album to listen to!

[HotFish]

Global Communication - 76:14





Track Listing:

1. "4 02" – 4:02
2. "14 31" – 14:31
3. "9 25" – 9:25
4. "9 39" – 9:39
5. "7 39" – 7:39
6. "0 54" – 0:54
7. "8 07" – 8:07
8. "5 23" – 5:23
9. "4 14" – 4:14
10. "12 18" – 12:18

1994 was a good year....this ablum come out! Stunning...an audial orgasm (IMO) Stressed about anything? Darken a room, put on and you realise there must be a God. Track no 10 titled 12:18 is my funeral song.

[cabal]

<3 Demon Days. I was considering adding that to the list myself.

Cake - Comfort Eagle



Tracks
1. "Opera Singer" – 4:06
2. "Meanwhile, Rick James..." – 3:57
3. "Shadow Stabbing" – 3:07
4. "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" – 3:24
5. "Commissioning a Symphony in C" – 2:59
6. "Arco Arena" – 1:31
7. "Comfort Eagle" – 3:40
8. "Long Line of Cars" – 3:24
9. "Love You Madly" – 3:58
10. "Pretty Pink Ribbon" – 3:08
11. "World of Two" – 3:41

Cake's Comfort Eagle Album is brilliantly relaxing. It is easy listening and I love to play it in the background while I'm working. The song "Short Skirt Long Jacket" is the best on the album and is used as the theme tune for the TV Series "Chuck". "Long Line of Cars" is a melodic yet melancholy tune. All of the music on the album is great and blends modern american rock with Brass and trumpets etc.

[PicoDeath]

(I might checkout hotfishs recommendation, btw are we allowed to discuss them?)

OPM - Menace to Sobriety



Track Listing:
1. Stash Up
2. Interlude: Punanny
3. Heaven Is A Halfpipe
4. El Capitan
5. Undercover Freak
6. Brighter Side
7. Better Daze
8. Trucha
9. Dealerman
10. Reality Check
11. Interlude: Rage Against The Coke Machine
12. Unda
13. Interlude: 15 Minutes
14. Fish Out Of Water

I think many might've missed this album and I'm not sure what happend to them afterwards. They come around when I was about 14 I think and the song 'Heaven is a halfpipe' was everywhere and I'm sure you've heard it but it doesn't stop there, the album is non-stop amazing with energetic songs and a skit many have heard I'm sure (Rage against the coke machine lol).

[Jaejae]

Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come


Track Listing:
1. Worms of the Senses/Faculties of the Skull
2. Liberation Frequency
3. The Deadly Rhythm
4. Summerholidays Vs. Punkroutine
5. Bruitist Pome #5
6. New Noise
7. The Refused Party Program
8. Protest Song '68
9. Refused Are Fucking Dead
10. The Shape of Punk to Come
11. Tannhäuser / Derivè
12. The Apollo Programme Was a Hoax

This is one of those albums that I can't ever see myself getting sick of, I love every track on it.
I would love the title track as my funeral song, don't know how well that would go down at a funeral though.



Oh, and cabal, you heard of Less Than Jake? I've never heard any Cake, but Less Than Jake has a lot of brass, trumpet etc blended with rock.

[cabal]

Yeh, lets discuss them.

Can't say I have Jaejae. I like the Cat Empire but they are more brass than rock. Never tried akala. Might give him a go.

[HotFish]

Craig Armstrong - The Space Between Us






1. "Weather Storm" – 6:03
2. "This Love" – 6:26
3. "Sly II" – 5:17
4. "After the Storm" – 5:08
5. "Laura's Theme" – 5:26
6. "My Father" – 2:03
7. "Balcony Scene (Romeo and Juliet)" – 5:17
8. "Rise" – 4:24
9. "Glasgow" – 5:19
10. "Let's go out Tonight" – 5:58
11. "Childhood" – 5:42
12. "Hymn" – 1:20


Everyone would have heard at least one of these/his tracks. The man is a genius. A lot of his work is done for films, tv and alike. Adverts love his music aswell. This was his first independent album and it is great. Worth a listen at least.

His other works range from Elizabeth to Plunket & Macceane to Chanel!

Check out his myspace page via his site: http://www.craigarmstrong.com/

[teh mauler]

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

1. Speak To Me / Breathe In The Air
2. On the Run
3. Time
4. The Great Gig in the Sky
5. Money
6. Us and Them
7. Any Colour You Like
8. Brain Damage
9. Eclipse