Selfmade Musts - a top 20
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Selfmade Musts - a top 20
Alrighty, here we go. These are not the best records in the world, but they're my favorites, or among them. I didn't even venture any Dylan, Springsteen or Elton John (and there other massive holes as well) cuz I wanted to leave room for a few that I thought other people wouldn't mention. Lloyd Cole and Ron Sexsmith should be on here but they're new-ish to me and have a hard time beating out old faves even if they're better records; likewise, though super recent, both Elbow and Arcade Fire deserve billing and might be on a version of this list another time.
In no order:
Jeff Buckley, GRACE
Yes, it's on all the lists, but even apart from being a genius record, it holds very, very intense associations for me.
Joni Mitchell, SHADOWS AND LIGHT
I've gone on and on about this one before. Amazing group of performers, with Joni at her peak. Takes heavily from Hejira but give you loads of other great stuff as well, such as a corker rendition of "Free Man In Paris"
Bjork, HOMOGENIC
Hard to pick among her records, but this one's it in the end.
Beatles, LET IT BE
Despite all critical arguments I could make to justify otherwise, this is still my fave Beatles record.
Electric Light Orchestra, A NEW WORLD RECORD
What can I say?
Various, UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD soundtrack
Fantastic start-to-finish mix of stuff. I never ever skip a track on this (not even Elvis's "Days"!).
Kate Bush, HOUNDS OF LOVE
As with Bjork, hard to pick just one.
Genesis, FOXTROT
I could almost as easily have picked its brother record, NURSEY CRYME.
Billy Bragg, THE PEEL SESSIONS
Everything I love about him is here.
Shawn Colvin, A FEW SMALL REPAIRS
Soundtrack to the dissolution of my marriage. Also, a great record to sing along to, and the closest I can come to contemporary American folk without puking.
David Bowie, HEATHEN
No, not his VERY best, but so, so important to me. Engraved on my heart.
Nirvana, UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK
Does anyone not love this record??
Morrissey, VIVA HATE
Again, of all the Moz and Smiths stuff, this ain't the best, but it means the most to me.
Frank Black, TEENAGER OF THE YEAR
Another one that was hard to pick. About 4 other FB albums were vying very competitively for this slot.
Evis Costello, TRUST
Overall, the one that sums it all up for me. Today, anyway.
Old And In the Way, [self-titled]
A nod to Bluegrass and to my days as a Deadhead Wife. Though I loved this record long before I met my ex. You can't argue with the musicianship, the songs, or the vibe of the live performance.
Lee Wiley, SINGS THE SONGS OF IRA GERSHWIN AND COLE PORTER
About as good as standards get, IMO. Could just as easily have chosen her one of Harold Arlen and Rogers & Hart, and on another day, I will.
Nat King Cole, LOVE IS THE THING
My entry for the Sinatra slot.
Stravinsky, RITE OF SPRING
Monumentally great, can't live without it.
J.S. Bach, MAGNIFICAT
First piece of classical music I ever loved. Still can't get enough of it.
In no order:
Jeff Buckley, GRACE
Yes, it's on all the lists, but even apart from being a genius record, it holds very, very intense associations for me.
Joni Mitchell, SHADOWS AND LIGHT
I've gone on and on about this one before. Amazing group of performers, with Joni at her peak. Takes heavily from Hejira but give you loads of other great stuff as well, such as a corker rendition of "Free Man In Paris"
Bjork, HOMOGENIC
Hard to pick among her records, but this one's it in the end.
Beatles, LET IT BE
Despite all critical arguments I could make to justify otherwise, this is still my fave Beatles record.
Electric Light Orchestra, A NEW WORLD RECORD
What can I say?
Various, UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD soundtrack
Fantastic start-to-finish mix of stuff. I never ever skip a track on this (not even Elvis's "Days"!).
Kate Bush, HOUNDS OF LOVE
As with Bjork, hard to pick just one.
Genesis, FOXTROT
I could almost as easily have picked its brother record, NURSEY CRYME.
Billy Bragg, THE PEEL SESSIONS
Everything I love about him is here.
Shawn Colvin, A FEW SMALL REPAIRS
Soundtrack to the dissolution of my marriage. Also, a great record to sing along to, and the closest I can come to contemporary American folk without puking.
David Bowie, HEATHEN
No, not his VERY best, but so, so important to me. Engraved on my heart.
Nirvana, UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK
Does anyone not love this record??
Morrissey, VIVA HATE
Again, of all the Moz and Smiths stuff, this ain't the best, but it means the most to me.
Frank Black, TEENAGER OF THE YEAR
Another one that was hard to pick. About 4 other FB albums were vying very competitively for this slot.
Evis Costello, TRUST
Overall, the one that sums it all up for me. Today, anyway.
Old And In the Way, [self-titled]
A nod to Bluegrass and to my days as a Deadhead Wife. Though I loved this record long before I met my ex. You can't argue with the musicianship, the songs, or the vibe of the live performance.
Lee Wiley, SINGS THE SONGS OF IRA GERSHWIN AND COLE PORTER
About as good as standards get, IMO. Could just as easily have chosen her one of Harold Arlen and Rogers & Hart, and on another day, I will.
Nat King Cole, LOVE IS THE THING
My entry for the Sinatra slot.
Stravinsky, RITE OF SPRING
Monumentally great, can't live without it.
J.S. Bach, MAGNIFICAT
First piece of classical music I ever loved. Still can't get enough of it.
Nice one Mug , err, I mean MG.
Nice to see some love for the early Genesis - Foxtrot is great, I nearly included Selling England By The Pound but good to see it on Chrilles list.
Hounds of Love is definitely up there for me too as are ELO but its Eldorado for me. Jeff Buckley too, I was lucky enough to see him in Auckland , and he and his fine band were just exhillirating. Never heard Heathen - was it produced by Visconti or am I imagining that?
Nice to see some love for the early Genesis - Foxtrot is great, I nearly included Selling England By The Pound but good to see it on Chrilles list.
Hounds of Love is definitely up there for me too as are ELO but its Eldorado for me. Jeff Buckley too, I was lucky enough to see him in Auckland , and he and his fine band were just exhillirating. Never heard Heathen - was it produced by Visconti or am I imagining that?
echos myron like a siren
with endurance like the liberty bell
and he tells you of the dreamers
but he's cracked up like the road
and he'd like to lift us up, but we're a very heavy load
with endurance like the liberty bell
and he tells you of the dreamers
but he's cracked up like the road
and he'd like to lift us up, but we're a very heavy load
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- Otis Westinghouse
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Was arguing with a Bowiefan about it only this week who's firmly in the camp that all verdicts that 'it's his best since Scary Monsters' or even 'it's as good as ...' were desperate attempts to relive the glory days. He even said he had it and couldn't be bothered with it so gave it away. His loss. Agreed - a great record. Like the diversity including Strav and Bach (with a nice of a local church to boot), but no Lloyd or Ron? Shame on you!!! there was a fun drama recreating the premiere of the Rite of Spring on BBC recently. It was utterly hilarious and all rather camp, but gave you a sense of the utter shocking newness of the music and corresponding dance. Many hilarious moments of Stravinsky shouting 'Not like that' at the piano accompanist during rehearsals and showing him how it should be done with insane aplomb.
There's more to life than books, you know, but not much more
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Knew I'd catch heck from you for that! Truth is, especially with Lloyd, I absorbed nearly the entire catalog-- some 9 records-- over two years, and as a result, I don't have a great sense of them as individual records. I tend to think of the songs I love, and sometimes I couldn't tell you which ones were on which record...Otis Westinghouse wrote:no Lloyd or Ron? Shame on you!!!
That said, I could easily see another day's list including these as I probably play them the most:
- noiseradio
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I agree completely, obviously. Wim Wenders knows his musical shit. The film itself gets panned by most people, but it's a favorite of mine.pophead2k wrote:I'm thrilled at your inclusion of the soundtrack to Until the End of the World. That thing works on a level no other soundtrack I own works. Absolutely seamless and just superior stuff all the way through.
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