Top 100 Greatest Albums (According to this guy)

“Well how’s your view of things today;  Got up young to fade away;  The sinners sin but aren’t aware;  Our fables take us everywhere; I can’t keep up with you…I can’t keep up…” I first heard ‘Saturday Superhouse’ by Biffy Clyro back in 2007 and, I must admit, wrote them off as just another Foo Fighters copy. But the releases following were, in my opinion, the most creative and energetic rock songs being played on UK radio at the time. As a whole, the album is unpredictable as we are hit with a range of different sounding songs. There are no boundaries to their songwriting and riffs are surprising, yet pleasing to the ear. The Captain, Golden Rule, Bubbles, Born on A Horse and Mountains make up the first five songs and all are huge in sounds, beautiful in melody and unique to anything out there. With a good use of metaphor and hint of folklore to their lyrics, each song paints a different picture. Only Revolutions contains some of their most widely played and best loved so...

Burn away the pride;  Bring me to my weakness, until  everything I hide behind is gone;  And when I'm open wide  with nothing left to cling to;  Only you are there to lead me on;  'Cause honestly, I'm not that strong…” There are cons to music streaming; mostly the incredible lack of earnings that goes back to the artist. But as a consumer, I have Deezer and Spotify to thank for the plethora of new music they’ve both suggested. At a time when I was just discovering the vastness of Christian rock bands, mostly out of America, certain Sanctus Real songs stood out amongst the ocean of music I was piling through, and “The Face Of Love” is still my stand out album by this fantastic band.  If you’re a fan of Switchfoot, you probably know these guys. Heavier than your standard rock/indie albums, but just as melodic. Think Snow Patrol but a little rockier and more overdriven…more in the U2 category. The songs are excellent and the melodies are very catchy; anth...

“ Fighting for peace with no identity, I know  I speak for those around me;  Calling you out, all  of your plans will be washed away, washed  away;  Life is a sin, living  to win, and  we're all sinners after all…” I first came across the Living End from colleagues in my short lived career as a theatre technician. The thought of a punk rock band with upright bass player certainly did tickle the fancy parts of my ears. Roll On was the first album i owned by the band and has remained my pick of a good bunch. The Living End are punk rockabilly band . Think Green Day, The Stray Cats and The Clash placed in a beautiful blender of goodness; Welcome to Strut Paradise Calling. In fact the vocals are incredibly Billy Joe-esque in tone and melody, but the energy and bounce to these songs mark a notable difference between the bands, especially the wide use of rockabilly rhythms.  Each talented musician shines and the songwriting is most excellent.  The ...

“When I'm weak I draw strength from you;  And when you're lost I know how to change your mood ;  And when I'm down you breathe life over me ;   Even though we're miles apart we are each other's destiny…” I’d never heard of Zero 7 before 2011 but was introduced by a television advert, promoting the 10 year anniversary re-release of Simple Things. The song Destiny was playing and thought “Mrs Temple would love this album”. Since then, it has been treated to the scratched up, battered car CD player treatment. To those who know me or Zero 7, you may be very surprised to see them featured on my list of all time favourite albums. But relaxing music is sometimes needed and Simple Things is my go to chill out album. Easy listening, not in a repetitive ambient way, but with structure and food to keep the mind at work. A mix of laid back electronica, piano, synth , strings, wonderfully played acoustic guitars and incredible guest vocalists . Each song is soulful  and brillian...

“We go to practice almost every day;  And our conductor tells us how to play;  You blow the trumpet and I slap the bass;  We are a big ensemble called the human race…” Millencolin were one of those punk rock bands I had heard of, but never took the leap to buy an album. That was until I found a signed copy of ‘Kingwood’ in a charity shop in Petts Wood. It took me a while to really get into them, but safe to say, they are now one of my favourite Punk Rock bands. A far more hectic and angry style than the likes of the more commercial Punk bands, Millencolin tend to give us the gritty side of society and politics. Their sound is more toward the less cheesy side of the Offspring (eg.The Kids Aren’t Alright) yet a little more thrashy, and Nikola Sarcevic’s vocal tone fits so well. But they're not a shouty hardcore punk band. Songs tend to focus around the minor key and the melodies are excellent. There’s a lot of energy and heart in every song. They also use harmonies in a sub...

“I don't know what's worth fighting for, or  why I have to scream;  I don't know why I instigate  and say what I don't mean;  I don't know how I got this way,  I know it's not alright;  So I'm breaking the habit  tonight…” In my early teens, I would sneak into my oldest bro’s room and pull out Hybrid Theory to listen every now and then, specifically the song “Crawling”. Soon, he gave me the album saying “this is crap; it’s now yours…” or something along those lines. It was my first proper foray into heavy metal music and a very influential album for me, in more ways than just the music. Hybrid Theory almost took this spot, and not just because of the sentiment; it’s a fantastic album! But we look to their sophomore release, Meteora, which just pips it to my list. Whilst their debut gave us excellent songs and a new style in nu-metal, Meteora takes it to another level. There is more variety to the songs, the production is superb, and the vocals are far ...

“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 ...

“ It's me defending in suspense, it's me suspended in a defenceless test;  being tested by a ruthless examiner, that’s  represented best by my depressing thoughts; I  do not have writers block, my  writer just hates the clock…” Twenty One Pilots are one of the biggest breakthrough acts of the 2010s. My wonderful wife must take credit for getting this guy into them, with their album Blurryface; another CD wrecked in the car due to continuous usage. But the album that features here, at No.65, is their previous outing Vessel. Their main features would be a playful and lighthearted spoken word/rap poetry that features in nearly all their songs. But the vast array of genre in Vessel and their ability to cross multiple genres in songs is fantastic.  Take the opening track for example…starting with a heavy gangster rap style, switching instantaneously to a light hearted bouncy indie pop and then slowing down to an almost balladesque rock piano driven chorus…before hitt...

“ 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...

“I might be wrong,  it could be crucial but I think  we need some time to mend;  You might be right, it might  be a cruel joke;  Something I'd regret 'til the end…” My mind escapes me of the ska punk compilation which introduced me to The Planet Smashers, with their song ‘Wish I Were American’. But I went out and bought their latest CD, which  became my favourite album that year…until ‘Mighty’ was released. This is the sunniest ska album by far with incredibly catchy songs. The Planet Smashers have their own recognisable sound. It’s clean  and majors on the brass arrangements. They are at the forefront of the songs, are clear, well played and brilliantly structured. In fact, the mix of the whole band is superb. The songs themselves would fit well with any pop-punk band. Stories of relationships, gig experiences, partying and day to day life. The album is consistent in its infectious ska sound; it rarely crosses genre  into light indie rock, but wi...

“ I try to phone a friend, my credit’s in the red; I try to skip the fare, ticket inspector’s there; No no this can’t be right, I live an honest life; It seems sometimes you don’t cross the line, you don’t get by …” A wrecked CD is generally a good sign in the Temple household. It means it has a period of repeated play, normally in the car, with the case getting opened, lost, found, drink spilt, ripped etc; Essentially, they are held in high regard.  Having heard the singles on XFM and really enjoying them, the kudos goes to my wife again, who purchased the album, which soon became subject to much listening… One of my favourite indie albums, and true working class heroes of the UK music scene, Hard-Fi’s debut album is full of energy and narrates every day life for every day people. Songs about being strapped for cash, family breakdowns, making mistakes, unhappy employments…things that most of us can relate to. The upbeat songs are excellent and catchy. The slower songs are beautifu...

“ 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...

“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...

“Empty man lonely man,  I call myself depressed;  I'm finding ways to avoid you, at  the expense of sanity;  I'm hanging on your words, and I'd like to share a thought; I know that I can't be you now, but I'd like to stay a while…” The  first Goldfinger album i bought was ‘Stomping Ground’ , released in 2000, and it was great, but slightly disappointing due to the fact it was pure punk rock and devoid of any of the ska that I was expecting. Shortly after, I was introduced to the first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game, which featured their song ‘Superman’. I researched for the album and promptly bought it. To this day it remains as one of my favourite ska punk albums. I would describe Hang-Ups as one of the “sunnier” albums on this list and of Goldfinger’s repertoire;  Ironic as the lyrics seem to be mostly based on disappointment. But these are the  kind of vibes that would go down well on a Californian beach in Summer. Although there is a good mix of punk...

“ That which many strive to be,  It's the marble statue staring over me;  And nobody has the will to tear it down,  it determines wrong and right;  but to me it's just a stereotype,  and it makes us lose our sight….” One afternoon, at the age of 16,  a cardboard box appeared in our garden. Within the box, found at the waste tip in Bromley, sat a decent amount of 90s grunge, funk rock and punk CDs. The likes of Nirvana,  Rage Against The Machine and Red Hot Chilli Peppers? Someone had gone to the lengths of dividing each CD into eighths, with a razor blade.  Maybe they were the product of an angry spouse, wrecking their now ex’s CD collection. I like to believe they belonged to a born again christian, putting to the sword the music of his past, turning over a new leaf… the irony that they ended up in the CD player of the very same…and some actually worked!! And the only one that survived in my collection was ‘Recipe for Hate’ by punk rockers, Bad R...

“ Throw a coin in a fountain of dust, white  noise, her ears are ringing;  Got a ticket for a midnight hanging,  throw a bullet from a freight train leaving…” Beck; most famous for his mid-nighties hits such as ‘Where it’s at (I’ve got two turntables and a microphone), Devil’s haircut (in my mind), Loser (baby, so why don’t you kill me), and many more. ‘Odelay’ is arguably his most popular album to date, but ‘Guero’ knocks it right out of the park, in my opinion. This is one of those albums i go to when I dont want to be hit by a wall of noise (no matter how coherent and excellent that noise may be). It’s actually one of my chill-out albums. The two upbeat tracks, and probably the most well known on the album are ‘E-Pro’ and my favourite, ‘Girl’. Hearing both of these on XFM when released (but once again, lost to the ages) was always a joy. ‘Girl’ just flows so well as a song.  In fact this whole album flows, and thats why its so easy to chill to. There is an age to ...

“I don't know if you saw it coming or not; All I know is that I saw the end result; It can’t have been a pretty thing; You looked like your world caved in…” Have you ever had a geek moment that helped you discover new music? For example: I quite like airshows and military aircraft, so when I see a CD called 'Chocs Away', with a cover featuring members of a band wearing vintage pilot gear, fake handlebar moustaches and the band name coloured in army camouflage, its an obvious must buy!  Snuff were already on my radar; having heard of this UK punk band with trombone, they were an inquisitive notion for this ska fan.  After enjoying the Chocs Away single, I bought the accompanying album, ‘Disposable Income’. As a music lover more into his modern punk rock, this is the closest to raw UK punk that we will see in this list. But not all of the album is straight punk and the variety one reason I rate it so highly. Although it's sometimes hard to understand Duncan’s vocals easil...