Great rock and pop albums

[PatrickOD]

So, how sensuous is it to you, to say, the word 'elbow'?

Elbow. EL-bow. Hmmm. Good woody sort of word. EL-bowww. ell-bboowww.

[MrGongGong]

Have you had a look at them? Sensuous is not a word I'd use in connection with them. Guy Garvey's beer belly almost constitues a fifth member.

I always judge music by the physical appearance of the performer or composer !
that's why i'm such a fan of Motorhead and Hawkwind

[burning dog]

Isn't Elbow is a Spanish Cockney?


Not sure about the midlife crises.
Warning racial and social stereotype alert.
Jazz funksters are supposed to have Ford Capris, furry dice and Pringle sweaters.

Dub fans 2VC's (the cars, not two resumes) or very old fashioned cycles, and dreads.... There was a Rasta in Clerkenwell who rode a Penny Farthing.

Jazz fans, trad or free-form, must sport beards and live in a lighthouse, Older boppers are called Bluesnik and live on the R3 Jazz board

Well I've had a beard at times, ridden a bike but not an old fashioned one and have 2CV's (not the car)

Heres a single (12" wasnt it?) I like. about 30 years old (Oh dear)

Some sort of extended play? not on a conventional 33 rpm album anyway

[hackneyvi]

Heres a single (12" wasnt it?) I like. about 30 years old (Oh dear)

Some sort of extended play? not on a conventional 33 rpm album anyway

My Life in the Bush of Ghosts - the first side of that LP is sensational. My favourite was always the track preceding this one, Help Me Somebody.

It was a 12". Here's the sleeve: http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=297043

I both remembered and had forgotten it. I see now why it always disturbed me; the 'whatever they are' are neither quite a coffin nor a cross but something of both and then also of angels; the colour and lighting gives it all a splendidly, funereally spiritual atmosphere.

Quite surprised that nobody's mentioned Queen.

http://www.youtube.com/fosters#p/c/2C9B43DD2CB7DA30/6/m5vXjCMeYfM

[MrGongGong]

My life in the Bush of Ghosts is also available as a set of files to download and make your own mixes with

http://bushofghosts.wmg.com/home.php

(I would recommend using Ableton ! but Audacity will work !)

[burning dog]

Yes

Thinking about it it was a 12" but one with more than two tracks. Fashionable at the time

[Panjandrum]

My life in the Bush of Ghosts is also available as a set of files to download and make your own mixes with

A little known fact: the track "Qu'ran" was withdrawn from all subsequent pressings of the album, without explanation. You can make your own mind up.

[Lateralthinking1]

Blimey!

[Richard Tarleton]

I must have had very simple tastes when it comes to rock (never pop) - nobody's mentioned Springsteen or ZZ Top - two of the most exciting and technically accomplished outfits of the last few decades. I noticed the E Street Band's sax player of nearly 40 years, Clarence Clemons, died recently. ZZ Top was the last outdoor arena gig I went to, in the '80s - sensational performers. Born in the USA and Eliminator two albums that have not departed my shelves, tho' they don't get played much I admit.

[MrGongGong]

Billy Gibbons...whose heavenly touch
Upon the lute doth ravish human sense

[Richard Tarleton]

[Tevot]

Another David Byrne collaboration worth exploring is Music for the Knee plays...

I wouldn't rate Eno's early stuff (where he tries to sing) but stuff like Ambient 4 "On Land" made an impression on me back in the 1980s and is still a piece I listen to.

Other things?

Pink Floyd ; Dark Side... / Wish you were here / The Final Cut

Sex Pistols : Never mind the bollocks...

Nirvana : Nevermind

OMD: Architecture and Morality

Laurie Anderson: Big Science, Mr Heartbreak, Home of the Brave,

Kate Bush : Hounds of Love / The Seventh Wave

Paul Simon: Graceland

Peter Gabriel : So

The The : Infected

Talk Talk : The Colour of Spring, Spirit of Eden, Laughing Stock

REM: Document

Pixies : Doolittle

Lou Reed / John Cale : Songs for Drella

[Three]

Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, The White Album and Abbey Road by The Beatles are all classics imho.

[Byas'd Opinion]

When thinking about this, it occurred to me that there are a lot of albums which are almost great, but are let down by one or two unsuccessful or simply uninspired tracks. Little Feat (when Lowell George was in them) are one of my favourite bands, but every one of their albums is a bit patchy. They've all got some great tracks on them, but they've all got their weak spots too. Sailing Shoes and Feats Don't Fail Me Now are probably the best of their recordings, but even these have their dodgy moments. Similarly, I love Tim Buckley's work, but I don't think he made a consistently great studio album. There are a couple of really fine live albums by him which were released posthumously, though.

Anyway, here's a few things I particularly enjoy. There's very little pop/rock made after the mid-90s that I find interesting: I don't know if that's simply because I've got old or if it genuinely is going through a spell in the doldrums.

Tim Buckley - Live at the Troubador
The Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady (if we're allowed compilations)
Captain Beefheart - Clear Spot
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
Man - Back Into the Future (a half-live, half-studio double album. It's in this list for the live tracks).
Massive Attack - Blue Lines
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
Mothers of Invention - Uncle Meat
Patti Smith - Horses
Richard Thompson - Mirror Blue
Parliament - The Clones of Doctor Funkenstein
Lee Perry - Arkology (another compilation)
Television - Marquee Moon
Velvet Underground - Live 1969

[Mandryka]

When thinking about this, it occurred to me that there are a lot of albums which are almost great, but are let down by one or two unsuccessful or simply uninspired tracks. Little Feat (when Lowell George was in them) are one of my favourite bands, but every one of their albums is a bit patchy. They've all got some great tracks on them, but they've all got their weak spots too. Sailing Shoes and Feats Don't Fail Me Now are probably the best of their recordings, but even these have their dodgy moments. Similarly, I love Tim Buckley's work, but I don't think he made a consistently great studio album. There are a couple of really fine live albums by him which were released posthumously, though.

Anyway, here's a few things I particularly enjoy. There's very little pop/rock made after the mid-90s that I find interesting: I don't know if that's simply because I've got old or if it genuinely is going through a spell in the doldrums.

Tim Buckley - Live at the Troubador
The Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady (if we're allowed compilations)
Captain Beefheart - Clear Spot
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
Man - Back Into the Future (a half-live, half-studio double album. It's in this list for the live tracks).
Massive Attack - Blue Lines
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
Mothers of Invention - Uncle Meat
Patti Smith - Horses
Richard Thompson - Mirror Blue
Parliament - The Clones of Doctor Funkenstein
Lee Perry - Arkology (another compilation)
Television - Marquee Moon
Velvet Underground - Live 1969

I'd agree with you about the Feat and Buckley, both of whom seemed happier in a live environment.

Waiting For Columbus and Dream Letter: Live in London 1968 would be respective choices for the best of both.