Top 100 Greatest Albums (According to this guy)

Couldn't find a way to you;  Seems that's all I ever do;  Turning up in black and blue;  Rewarded;  All the static we are left;  Wait until the time has come; Figure that's where time comes from; Leaving all my senses numb; Is heaven It is not often that the drummer of the biggest rock band in the world turns down opportunities to join other bands, for recording a 15 track demo from songs written in between gigs on tours, playing every instrument and vocal, creating arguably his best album to date, then forming a new band, who go on to become the greatest rock band for the next three decades… this is the phenomenon that is Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters. ‘Learn To Fly’, ‘Monkey Wrench’, ‘Everlong’, and ‘Breakout’ are among some of their biggest songs, but our focus is on the debut self-titled album. It often goes overlooked to the masses, with their huge songs appearing on the multiple albums that followed. Although the above are fantastic songs and bigger hits, no...

“ Please, leave all overcoats, canes and top hats with the doorman;  And from that moment, you'll be out of place and underdressed;  I'm wrecking this evening already and loving every minute of it;  Ruining this banquet for the mildly inspiring… ” The mid 00s saw a boom in the emo and punk pop genre, with new bands smashing into the UK charts. The likes of Paramore and Fallout Boy, among the more popular emo-pop bands, were joined by the ever intriguing Panic! At The Disco. With an ever-increasing popularity and widening audience, it is their debut album that enters my list at 44. Alongside the popular song from the album, ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’, we have a plethora of incredible songs, pulling in a vast array of musical styles. Mixing their upbeat rock with the likes of trance/techno, classical, bouncy beach boys pianoesque rock, disco, baroque, waltz and even big band; it certainly is one of the most unique rock albums you will ever come across. Singer Brendon Urie...

“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...

“ High tide,  summer in the city;  The kids are looking pretty, but  isn't it a pity that the sunshine  is followed by thunder;  With thoughts of going under, a nd is it any wonder why the sea is  calling out to me …” The date was 20th August 1995, and I was in my living room eagerly listening to the radio. Never can I remember a radio countdown as well as this one. Who would take the No.2 slot? ‘Roll with it’ came on and I gave a woop; Blur’s ‘Country House’ took the title. Growing up, Blur were the band for me, but I was a big fan of ‘Whats The Story Morning Glory’. Over time, Liam’s vocals ended up grating me more than a chunk of cheddar on a sanding machine; the lyrics didn’t really make sense and I was always drawn to songs like ‘Little by Little’ and ‘Half the World Away’. With the news of the end of Oasis, it was just another day, but on hearing Noel’s recent material, it was everything I wanted them to be, and more! Every song I was hearing on ...

“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...

“Illuminate the shadow, and  try to keep the light within;  Avoid another battle, and  forget what might have been;  How do I keep it? How do I keep it here…” ‘Evolver’ was the first 311 album I owned, and, whilst thoroughly enjoying it, it was much more a showcase of their mix of rap funk punk metal. The more I dived into their back catalogue, it was certain songs that I latched onto; ‘Beyond the Grey Sky’, ‘Amber’ and ‘Beautiful Disaster’, ie, their ska/reggae influenced songs. ‘Mosaic’ is almost fully ska inspired with mixes of the classic 311 sound, which I would describe as a relaxed Rage Against The Machine on a beach. It is probably their most poppy album to date, but the songs are incredibly infectious. The quality of production on this album is excellent also, and that’s mostly down to Goldfinger singer and producer Jon Feldmann’s handywork. The rap funk metal is still prevalent, in songs like ‘Too Late’ and ‘Perfect Mistake’ which have the classic 311 feel ...

“ 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 ...

“ Easy easy money baby, red wine from the well. He’s inspired , taste acquired, watch out mademoiselle” I honestly can’t remember where I heard of The Fat Cats, and why I bought this album, but my gosh was it one of my best discoveries! So much was my excitement for these songs that ‘Deadbeat’ went on to inspire a large variety of my writing with the band Little Blue Light. Take a pinch of Madness, a swig of the Stray Cats, even a small measure of Barenaked Ladies and some overdriven guitar and we are only part-way to describing the unique sound of this album. A mash up of boogie woogie, ska, swing, punk and rock; there is nothing quite like this out there. Very piano driven, with a strong sax throughout, and excellent vocals. The songs are super catchy and not one is alike, as they flow through various genres.  The piano right at the forefront of the compositions really set it apart from other punk albums. It gives the music a crispness, a swing, and an overall fantastic sound. Ha...

“  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...

“ Everything you love turns to dust;  You'd make more of it but you felt rushed,  By all that's periphery;  You held tight, but on the contrary;  The trick to life is not to get too attached to it … ” Whenever I mention The Hoosiers to colleagues, they haven’t a clue who I’m talking about. Even when singing ‘Worried About Ray’, I’m greeted by blank faces. When their debut album was released, two songs in particular were played all over popular radio. Then after a year or so  they faded a little into obscurity, apart from a  core fanbase. But the name has never escaped me and ‘The Trick To Life’ remains a favourite. There is so much joy in these songs. Musically, the big numbers are full of bounce, which give them an almost 1920s/30s vibe, and the so called “album fillers” are just as catchy, well crafted and brilliantly written songs. Adding a nice measure of background brass and keys to the band and we have a very pleasing sound. It’s rare that many bands ...

“I was judge, jury and witness in one;  I put myself on trial for the things I had done;  Forced to stare and look at now what I had become;  Cold and unforgiving like the face of a gun … ” Inside my Slick Shoes CD case was a record label catalogue. Turns out that Slick Shoes had recorded a split EP with a band called Autopilot Off. “Huh…” my mind thought, and then promptly forgot the name until sixteen years later. Although no Slick Shoes albums make it onto this list, ‘Make A Sound’ comes in at 86. I haven’t got loads to say, other than its a really solid punk rock album. A more mature punk rock than the likes of Blink 182 etc; Focusing more on minor keys, and more intellectual in lyrical content. Very catchy ‘Offspringesque’ melodies (and I’m not talking about the comedy parmesan they so often released). I’m not a big fan of “whiney” punk rock singers and Chris Hughes’ vocal tone is great. Once again they use more interesting chords and play an upbeat tempo style of P...

“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...

“ You're My beloved, l over I'm yours;  Death shall not part us,  It's you I died for;  For better or worse,  Forever we'll be;  My Love it unites us,  It binds you to Me … ” A band i discovered on Spotify; Tenth Avenue North have some really good tunes, but this album is filled with great, heart-felt christian songs. With a sound that crosses modern worship with the likes of Keane or Snow Patrol, this is one of the milder rock albums in the list. A lot of albums tend to position their strongest songs at the beginning of an album. But the first two songs aren't anything special. But track 3 onwards are fantastic. I do favour a band who are totally open about their faith and not afraid to make God apparent and at the forefront of their songs. They deal with the struggles of faith, the joys of a relationship with God, and understand grace. But the songs that really stand out for me are those sang from God’s perspective, to us; His loved creation. ‘Times’ remi...

“I’ve got a lot of bad things I wish that I had never done, because they’re coming back, coming back to me now … ” What do ex-England footballer Sol Campbell, the Millenium, and ska music have in common? Whatever that might be, it is a fact that this particular combo introduced me to ska punk favourites, Reel Big Fish. Although lyrical content seems to be full of adolescent comic immaturity, girlfriends and being total jackasses (and this being the case on every Reel Big Fish album) you cant overlook how catchy these songs are, and how very good the band are as musicians. Overall ‘Cheer Up’ is less ska than their previous albums, and more rock with strong brass, whilst mixing in a load of classic rock style electric guitar solos (mostly taking the p**s), not to mention the excellent a Capella version of Frank Sinatra’s ‘New York New York.’ And there are some good ska numbers on the album too. I tend to feel skapunk bands don't quite get the neat punk rock songs quite right, yet sma...

“ 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...

“I would walk through flood and fire; I’d push against the tide; There’s nothing I won’t do to get to You… ” Let’s take some Imagine Dragons, add a bit of Owl City, mixed together with a tablespoon of Phil Wickham… and you have The Digital Age. A rock rave that understands and delights in the grace of God. ‘Galaxies’ kicks off with one of my favourite openings. A very ominous piano introduction, almost Muse-esque. The following vocals pulled me right in. Superb harmonies, a great chord sequence and incredibly strong voice that is right up my street. This then smashes into the best song on the album, ‘One Pursuit’.   A slight downside is that the intensity drops a notch almost straight after. Still continuing to be upbeat, but a little more poppy, and less of me wanting to punch the air, crying out “WOOOOO YYYEEEAHHH”. But this is a praise album like no other. The cosmic/electro theme runs throughout and songs differ in style, which is a real breath of fresh air. From the almost Kra...

“But when you rely on a lie that’s true; And no-one believes in things you do; ‘Cause half the lies you tell ain’t true …” “Oh! A new British punk band…” were my thoughts when hearing ‘The Bartender and the Thief’ for the first time. Although those hopes weren’t fulfilled, ‘Performance and Cocktails’ was the first indie-rock album that I truly enjoyed. Kelly Jones has a great voice, and he really pushes it in this album. A very different feel to their following release (although Mr Writer is possibly my favourite Stereophonics song). The whole album is consistent with a good mix of up tempo songs, very well known and loved singles and some good downbeat tunes. In my opinion, the rockiest album they’ve released and probably one of the reasons I like it so much - the highlight for me being ‘Half the Lies You Tell Ain’t True’  The album received mixed reviews; Rolling Stone magazine describing them as “Oasis trying to be Radiohead.” Poppycock, I say! It ended the year as  the 5th...

To those who don’t know me, this top 100 albums wont be like any other you’ve seen.  To those who do know me, a lot of the albums may come as a surprise. But if anyone is expecting a list like those featured on popular radio stations or tv shows, then you will be disappointed, I am no-one special in the eyes of humans, so why should I take this on and publicise it?  Well, I am passionate about music, passionate about the bands I've discovered and love to introduce people to these bands. At the ripe old age of 35, I realise that the list isn't even a full compilation of what i will discover, both old, recent and future, but with 30 years of that time, being in and around music, and having listened to the greats of different genres alongside those left behind, I feel my palette is currently wonderfully coloured.  I also don't get to share with many people my musical tastes, and finding it awkward to spark up a conversation, this is a format that settles one’s heart. To pai...