My Top Ten+ Albums

A while ago (okay, maybe at the inception of Facebook) there was a ‘challenge’. Post your top ten albums and a few notes. I struggled to keep it to ten, so here is a longer list. A word of warning though, the list is somewhat dated!

Enjoy!

Alphaville — Forever Young

To some this may seem just like 80s synth pop — but it’s much more than that. I remember listening to this on vinyl and thinking this music was great. Then I found out they were German — even better!

Midnight Oil — Diesel and Dust

This is the album that ignited my awareness of politics and things that were wrong in the world. Initially banned in South Africa in the late 80s, ‘Beds are Burning’ was still rated the song of the decade on South African radio!

Live — Throwing Copper

Back when the band was not commercial, this album was everything that alternative should be. It was definitely the driver for my taste in music turning towards more alternative bands. ‘Lightning Crashes’ is honestly a song that words cannot describe — if that makes sense?

Dire Straits — Love over Gold

Some classic rock. ‘Telegraph Road’ and ‘Private Investigations’ emit a power that is not easily replicated by many bands, both then and now. Mark Knopfler in guitar — fantastic and in my opinion is on a tie with Chris Rea for best guitar player ever. Clapton? Clapton who?

Deacon Blue — Raintown

Everytime I listen to this album, it still blows my mind, especially when one considers it’s a debut. Lyrics that touch your social consciousness and humanity. Then to top it off, Chris Rea playing a cameo slide guitar on ‘Love’s Great Fears’.

Chris Rea — Shamrock Diaries

I think this is the pinnacle of Chris Rea’s musical achievements. An album that has not aged and still shines, lyrically and musically. A favourite for me during Uni exam times. It’s almost like a holiday on CD.

Pink Floyd — The Final Cut

What can I say. Love or hate Roger Waters this album describes a generations experience — something that I hope we will never have to live. ‘…and as the tear drops rise to meet the comfort of the band, You take her frail hand, And hold on to the dream…’

Marillion — Clutching at Straws

Written while on tour, each track is as diverse as the towns and cities where Marillion played, yet the album works together like a classic symphony. Awesome music and untouchable lyrics. And the empathy that ‘Sugar Mice’ evokes…wow!

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions — Rattlesnakes

Could you consider Cole the new Leonard Cohen? I am not sure, but the lyrics are certainly in a class of their own and the album has an almost indefinite lifespan. Lloyd Cole writes and sings from the heart and from true life experiences. You can’t make this stuff up. Seeing the man live was simply a privilege and just reinforced these opinions.

Bob Marley — Babylon by Bus

A collection of songs from a genius lyricist. Marley’s music is sometimes easy island beats and the next moment powerful political messages. This is the music that reflects everyday life, no matter where you live.

Icehouse — Man of Colours

Watching the music video for ‘Crazy’, one can see that this album is definitely 80s material. Not so when listening — these songs are timeless and I think that Icehouse is definitely one of the most undiscovered, underrated bands.

New Order — Substance

Okay, so technically this is a compilation. But in saying that, this is a fantastic collection of songs, from the best band ever. The melodies are catchy (who has ever heard too much of ‘Blue Monday’?) and the lyrics mysterious. Who knows if Joy Division would have been this good? Or better?

REM — Automatic for the People

This was a tough one. I initially had Automatic in second place to ‘Out of Time’. Artistically though, Automatic is the better album, and with the exception of ‘Losing my Religion’ contains more intellectual lyrics. This album taught me, that sometimes life is not always ‘Coming up roses’.

Leonard Cohen — I’m Your Man

No one could ever say that Cohen was mainstream, yet this is probably one of the easier albums to get into if you are not a fan. Cohen’s lyrics are incomparable to anything, and the brilliance of ‘Everybody Knows’ is astounding beyond belief. This man is truly a poet, and the tunes are an added benefit.

Radiohead — The Bends

The thinking mans band. The same can be said of Cold Play, but Radiohead were way ahead in the game here. The lyrics carry significant meaning and the music is different from anything you know. It’s a pity this band did not enjoy more popularity, but then again maybe that’s the attraction.