Top 100 Greatest Albums (According to this guy)

“ Who shot that arrow in your throat, who  missed the crimson apple?  It hung heavy on the tree above your head;  This chaos, this calamity, this garden once was perfect;  Give your immortality to me …” The Hush Sound are one of my favourite discoveries from Spotify in the last few years. Although they are sometimes described as “Indie Pop”, they are more alternative with a swing influence and folky feel. This album would certainly cater for a varied audience! Take a dialled down Panic At The Disco, mix in Ben Folds with some early No Doubt and we’re getting close to the sound. They are very  piano driven, supported well with guitar  and even a healthy bit of brass. Melodies are excellent and the songs would sit very well in an old musical, such is their unique sound for a rock band.  These traits appear to come from the background of Greta Salpeter and Bob Morris; the former a classical pianist, and latter a rock guitarist.  It’s very refreshing ...

“ Everybody's going to the party have  a real good time;  Dancin' in the desert,  blowing up the sunshine;  Why don't presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor…” I remember first hearing the song ‘Toxicity’ on Kerrang TV and loving the interesting melodies and the excellent voice of Serj Tankian. But it was the ability to have such a vast range of mood and intensity, certainly within individual songs, that set System Of A Down apart from other metal bands in my mind. There is no-one like them. They have an incredible ability of putting serious world issues within their lyrics, to a soundtrack and melody that is almost satire. There are no boundaries, lyrically and musically. Laying soft poetic lines alongside totally over the top phrases and melodies scaling a vast genre influence from Middle Eastern Music to Thrash Metal. It’s impossible to compare this band with any other. Lyrics are political, and tend to call out atrocities in modern society (eg....

“If you let me I could;  I'd show you how to build your fences;  Set restrictions, separate from the world;  the constant battle that you hate to fight, just blame the limelight;  Don't look up, just let them think, there’s no place else you'd rather be…” From hearing the likes of ‘Misery Business’ on XFM, I’ve been a great admirer of Paramore. But, like a few other bands on this list, it took me a while before giving the album my full attention. Through many plays in the car by Mrs Temple, it became a firm favourite. This is alternative rock but full of punk energy. Emo without the whineyness and despair. Their songs are excellently crafted; catchy and brilliant. There is a mix of upbeat rock songs and slower ballads, the former definitely stronger.  Hayley Williams’ vocals are fantastic. Full of emotion, clarity, confidence and with a bite; one of my favourite female singers for sure. Her soaring vocals and the generally upbeat themes throughout truly set this...

“  Why do I feel so black and blue;  When all I did was loving you;  Why on earth, can't stand the pain;  Why did you do that thing again …” I originally discovered the downtempo/triphop sounds of Klaus Waldeck when listening to an electro-swing playlist on Spotify, which included his song ‘Memories’. But it was a few years later that my other half bought the full album and since then, it has been a regular go-to album in the car. I should mention that Downtempo is a laid back electro style of music, and triphop is an experimental fusion of hiphop and electronica which can be joined with almost any genre of music, with notable emphasis on the bass drum…mix these to swing, jazz, dub and a strong 1920s influence and we have something quite wonderful in ‘Ballroom Stories’. Any Jazz and swing fan should enjoy this album, especially if you are looking for something more relaxed but varied in energy. ‘Why Did You Fire That Gun’ contains a piano riff throughout not unlike t...

“ In a trail of fire I know we will be free again;  In the end we will be one;  In a trail of fire I'll burn before you bury me;  Set your sights for the sun …” I remember watching Glastonbury 2009 on the BBC, anticipating seeing the Specials play live, back together with Terry Hall on vocals! But, surprisingly, the best performance by far was a drum and bass band. Not just DJs or producers, but the drums, bass, guitar and an  incredible vocalist playing the coolest synth guitar I’ve ever seen.  This is probably the only drum and bass act to appear in this list. Although I respect the genre, the fact that most albums are digitally manufactured just doesn’t float my boat. Having already purchased ‘In Silico’ i was already a Pendulum liker, but the fact that live musicians, alongside production, were  playing this music made it all the better. They certainly have a unique sound. Closest to the Prodigy but far more melodic and rockier. In fact, the band finds ...

“We are fighting to survive;  I'll never break;  From the ashes we ignite;  Don't fade away;  We live, we die, we fall, we rise…” There is a lack of heavy metal albums in this list, partly due to the fact that some metal bands are way too screamy, not too melodic, or start to merge into the hair/cheese flamboyent metal that I have never fancied. But I have been enjoying the heavier, more emotional side of rock music in the recent years, especially in the Christian side of the rock industry. There were a few songs amongst the Christian heavy metal scene that I really like but most bands I’ve listened to fall short of producing truly great albums. But a couple have entered my ears, producing feelings of enjoyability and much excitedness. Enter the epic, cinematic, orchestral heavy metal sound  of Red, whom I stumbled upon through the wonderful tool of Spotify. This album brings together fantastic melodies with screams, heavy rock guitars and classical orchestral s...

“Understand I`m a man who  believes in the glory of love;  True love is the light shining bright from  the Heavens above;  I believe it is better to trust even when I`m wrong;  Than to let my fear drive me from  the home where I have belonged…” Back to the Lockup - the early morning punk rock show on Radio 1 as mentioned before, where I discovered the legends that are Fishbone! A live session on the show, playing with an energy and sound I’d never heard before, their 80s classic ‘Ma & Pa’ and the excellent ‘Where Did You Get Those Pants’; this was a unique mix of eclectic ska, soul, funk and punk.  I admit a struggle to fully enjoy their albums. Such is the wide range of styles, sometimes all smashed together in an incredibly manic fashion, from heavy metal, to reggae, rock and those mentioned previously. But a slight departure from others, this album is far more approachable. More of a pop feel, without losing their ska, funk and soul edge, ‘...