Top 100 Greatest Albums (According to this guy)

“  If I could learn to act patiently, then I would see that my view of time is selfishly based around me;  I should run away, but I  can't; chasing dreams that are slowing down for me;  I should turn around, but I can't; It's within my reach …” Another round of applause  given to the pool of online streaming algorithms for showing me a plethora of new music. Not all stay within my listening world for long and some become firm favourites. The Bell And Hammer is one of the best albums ever  recommended to me and one that continues to grow on me with every listen. This Day & Age cross into indie from melodic rock. If you are a fan of Keane, Coldplay or Ben Folds, but fancy something a little heavier in the guitar department, you will absolutely enjoy this album. A strong piano/keys and soaring vocals with decent harmonies set the standard for most songs.  The tone of Jeff Martin’s voice has a sweetness that fans of the aforementioned bands will love. ...

“Sometimes I'm sure that I am crazy;  It's taking its toll, it 's making me old;  With half the winter still to go;  Maybe I'm afraid of love, maybe I'm afraid of pain; And maybe I'm afraid too much, maybe I'm afraid that I won't ever change…” It was August of 2006, and our first and only Reading Festival. Wanting to see the likes of Muse, Less Than Jake, Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly, Bedouin Soundclash and others around the Lockup Stage, we left the festival having discovered a new band, and one of our favourite acts of the weekend, Zox. They don’t really fit into the bracket of other bands. A mix of Sublime, The Pixies and Maximo Park; There is a ska influence, but mixed with indie rock. The  defining feature being an electric violin player, taking the role of lead guitar, producing an interesting and unique overdriven sound. Although this setup felt a little sparse to me in the studio recordings at first, I appreciate hearing the string nuances and ...

“ I've got stars in my great big sky;  I shall gaze upon without leaving small ones behind,  because they're harder to find;  Some were satellites, others planes;  Some were twinkling while others were fading away,  but they're all one of a kind …” I never latched onto the likes of Blink 182 or Sum 41. Surprising, as I spent most my teens listening to Punk Rock. The closest mainstream band of my desire, in the Pop Punk genre, would probably be Green Day. But another Spotify discovery brings us The Starting Line, at 66 in our 100 best albums countdown.  I don't tend to latch on to the popular bands, but to what my ears like (It’s what this list is all about). And ‘Direction’ takes a look at punk from the alternative rock angle; really good melodies, interesting rhythms and timings, and quite a range of dynamics. Its a far more mature sound than the likes of those bands previously mentioned. Although I’m not totally enamoured by Kenny Vasoli’s vocals, the mel...

“ 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 ...

“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...

“  It's whereabouts that won't cave in;  Scenes of violence protect this;  In aching heart that will begin to wrestle  with obstruction;  And I'd stay for ages, if i could;  To wake you …” Another UK alternative rock band left behind, when once adequately played on popular radio. You never hear a peep of Hundred Reasons on the likes of XFM or Absolute anymore. Hearing the likes of ‘If I Could’ blasting on my radio in the early 2000s, we fast forward a decade to finding the CD in charity shop for a couple of quid and thinking “I’m sure i’ve heard Hundred Reasons before and like them.”  Through that one simple moment, ‘Ideas Above Our Station’ has possibly  been one of the most defining albums for me personally.  This album hit my musical senses at a time where I had listened to a lot of ska punk; buying CDs just because of the genre, and was starting to get a little tired of poor quality bands and a lack of diversity.  My tastes were chan...

“To my family, my brothers and all of my friends;  Say goodbye, I am going off to war, and I am not coming home; I’ve given everything for someone else’s war; Tell me what we’re fighting for … ” More mature than pop punk; more life driven than punk rock; more ferocious than rock; more upbeat than Emo. As I’ve got older, these are some of the reasons that draw me to Alternative Rock. Another product of the ‘engine of discovery’ is ‘Let’s Build Something To Break’ by After Midnight Project. The melodies and chord structures of the songs are what I love most about this album. As mentioned before, I can be a sucker for non-standard chord sequences that make melodies more interesting. And some of these songs bring out the goosebumps when listening. In a turn of events, this is also one of those rare rock albums where my favourite songs are the slower paced ones. Plenty of great quick paced numbers, but the likes of ‘Gone Too Long’ and ‘Fighting My Way Back’ are truly beautiful songs. Th...

“ Solitary views of the other side of a plane we've yet to know;  Will we ever get the chance to walk alone;  In this life or when we find out that we're home;  What will we hear there … ” Alternative Rock is a genre that bloomed late for me, and so it was after years of CD purchases that music streaming was my engine of discovery, and most of the alternative bands would have been Spotify discoveries; Anberlin being up there as one of my first and one of my favourites. They are most well known for the song “Feel Good Drag”, which is a flippin’ excellent song and well worthy of a mention. But this later album is just fantastic. The same quality, catchiness, and ferocious sound that Anberlin are well known for. But what really stands out is the brilliant range of Stephen Christian’s vocals, and an unmistakeable tone like no other. Sometimes calm, sometimes raucous; never afraid to push his vocals if the melodies demand it. All in all, Anberlin have carved out a sound that i...

“ If you’re scared then walk away; ‘Cause there’s no need to be ashamed, yeah we all feel the same; I fell in love with rock and roll, until I found out it was false; It plastered on a face for me… ” Another musical aspect that grabs my attention is a strong Scottish voice. Im not sure why, but it just suits rock music so well! So when I heard the Glaswegian tone of alternative rockers Twin Atlantic, I was drawn right in.  Take the melodies of Biffy Clyro, and the raucousness of Hundred Reasons, then you pretty much have the sound of Twin Atlantic. Really catchy songs, superbly intricate and soaring melodies with excellent vocals to top it all off. A boatload of high energy songs and also some with a Highland folky feel. It escapes me where I first encountered the band but a memory of a one off play on Radio X comes to mind. Very unfortunate to never hear them played again, but was very glad to notice when I did. The song was “Free” - strong piano intro, building up verses and a ch...