Guest BLOG! Saba’s Favorite Albums (1 of 2)
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The largest truth about Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity is that guys love making lists. I’ve ranked things in my head my entire life, from “The coolest sneakers I’ve owned” to “Best songs that feature a number in it’s title” and even “Hottest animated TV moms.” So when I was asked in passing if I wanted to be a guest in this space for “Alltime Favorite Albums Week” I did what any guy would do; I swallowed my excitement and mumbled out a cool “yeah…sure.”
Below are the first 10 of my top 20 albums that are not just my favorite, but are ones I can critically defend as well (which, sadly, leaves out Stone Temple Pilot’s Purple). My criteria also included no live albums, compilations, and the album had to be released in 1994 or later, the year I bought my first CD and became musically active (so there’s no Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, The Smiths, or A Tribe Called Quest among others). In reverse order:
20. Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover (2007)
Describing this album is like explaining color to a blind person. Spencer Krug and company teeter on the line of dissonance both vocally and musically, but somehow manage to tie everything together into a well structured song. Random Spirit Lover is the band’s most complete album since it is more diversified in mood and sound. Also, they have the craziest song titles.
Key songs: The Taming of the Hands that Came Back to Life; The Mending of the Gown; Trumpet, Trumpet, Toot! Toot!; Up on Your Leopard, Upon the End of Your Feral Days
Barely beats out: Shut Up I Am Dreaming
19. Smog – Knock Knock (1999)
I came to Bill Callahan late, and I regret missing out. One part folk, one part rock, this low-fi affair trumps others in the “reflective dude w/guitar” genre because it’s appropriate on the sunniest day as well as the gloomy. Callahan’s driving rhythms and laidback voice are very accessible, which makes it a bit of a surprise that this album is not more widely hailed.
Key songs: Cold Blooded Old Times; Held; River Guard; Hit the Ground Running
Next best album: Red Apple Falls
18. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)
Believe the hype! The most recent release to make the list, there is little to add to all the glowing reviews this has received. The only worry I have is that this going to be masterpiece debut that Bon Iver can never suitably follow-up. The Blood Bank EP is a bit of a disappointment already.
Key songs: re: Stacks; Skinny Love; Blindsided; Flume
17. Beastie Boys – Ill Communication (1994)
The most sophisticated Beastie Boy album was the climax of their growth, not only as emcees, but as men. Because they were white and toed some punk lines “Sabotage” was in heavy rotation on my favorite rock radio station, which eventually led to me purchasing the album, which led to me accepting hip-hop. Oh, the suburbs…
Key songs: Get it Together; Root Down; Sabotage; Sure Shot
Also worth a listen: Paul’s Boutique
16. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver (2007)
The only album I’m featuring that can be described as ‘electronic’ to make the list. James Murphy not only proves he knows how to make you dance, but that he can break your heart while he’s at it. Not only a pivotal album for LCD Soundsystem but for electronic music as whole. The past decade has featured maturity on the genre’s part (thanks to acts like The Knife, Crystal Castles, MGMT) and this album is it’s standard-bearer.
Key songs: Someone Great; All My Friends; North American Scum; Us v Them
15. The Walkmen – Bows + Arrows (2004)
One of the most overlooked bands out there, The Walkmen, produce great records. Bows + Arrows, in particular, is an album that takes you through a range of emotion from angry desperation (“The Rat”), regret (“Little House of Savages”), and the worst emotion of the all – nostalgia (“138th Street”), while maintaining a gritty chip-on-your-shoulder feel throughout.
Key songs: Thinking of a Dream I Had; 138th Street; The Rat; Little House of Savages
More recently overlooked: You & Me
14. Sublime – Sublime (1996)
For a while as a teen, I would flip on “Burritos” every morning. The upbeat guitars clashed with the angsty, apathetic message of the vocals, which readied me for how I was going to approach my day. A better guitarist and a craftier lyricist than everyone else in his genre, Bradley Nowell never saw the payday for his efforts and robbed us of potential follow-ups. Don’t do drugs.
Key songs: Santeria; Caress Me Down; Seed; Burritos
13. Kanye West – College Dropout (2004)
Say what you will about the culture personality Kanye has created for himself (and I’ll probably agree), his debut is as (self?)important as any other hip-hop release. It changed the way hip-hop looked at itself, while achieving commercial success. The album features rap’s best (Talib Kweli, Common), rap’s richest (Jay-Z), and samples from soul’s finest (Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, etc.).
Key songs: Through the Wire; Never Let Me Down; Get ‘Em High; Spaceship
12. Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape (1997)
The best post-grunge alternative album of the 90’s (Radiohead be damned!). I bought the first Foo Fighters’ album because I “missed” Nirvana (sure I got my first Nirvana CD after Kurt Cobain offed himself, but barely). Instead of quelling my hunger for my grunge I instead was exposed to the melodic side of alternative rock (but still, Radiohead be damned!) and the Foo Fighter’s second album, The Colour and the Shape only solidified David Grohl as one of the 90’s best popular musicians.
Key songs: Everlong; Hey, Johnny Park!; Walking After You; Monkey Wrench
The debut: Foo Fighters
11. The Strokes – Is This It (2001)
From about 1998 to 2001 I was miserable. Rock music was dead. Radio waves were dominated by the likes of Korn, Creed, and even Limp Bizkit, and internet-only buzz was not yet powerful enough to propel independent rock bands forward. Critics began asking the question, “Who will save rock ‘n roll?” This was it. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, The Strokes.
Key songs: Hard to Explain; Last Nite; Barely Legal; Soma
Also, thanks for: Room on Fire
Tomorrow, Saba’s Top Ten Favorite Albums of Alltime!
