Top 100 Greatest Albums (According to this guy)

“Anti-gravitation keeps you high above ;  Like some comet speeding toward the sun ;  Communication's lost between the ones who love you ;  It's impossible to think that something loves you more than us…” From the likes of Shrek, to almost every teen comedy movie, Smash Mouth are one of the most soundtracked bands. Hearing the constant renditions of ‘All Star’,  it was a cover of War’s ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends’ that caught my attention…this pop band played ska punk? Having gone out and purchased their debut album, it was apparent that their roots were indeed in ska and punk music. Whilst this was prevalent, it was their psychedelic rock sound that seemed to lay the foundation for their next few albums with ska and reggae making a cameo here and there. And whilst never having the success of their first few records, it’s their fourth studio album that finds it’s way into my top 100. Probably the catchiest on the list; this mix of synth, pop and light rock makes an unlik...

“  The search parties with their razor lights  could never capture our wicked love;  They look for reason in their cold cathedrals;  It’s so far from where we have run … ” The origins of my  introduction to the Mad Caddies escapes me, their 1998 album ‘Duck And Cover’ pushed me to buy my first banjo and would arguably be the biggest influence on some of my songwriting over the following years. But it’s their 2014 release, ‘Dirty Rice’ that breaks into my top 100 albums, and what a fun album this is! A fantastic ‘pick me up’ that is far from your average ska album . A few decent uptempo punk rock songs are thrown in amongst a load of really catchy ska tunes. Highlights for me include ‘Shoot Out The Lights’, a lovely little modern reggae track with very tasteful brass arrangements. Compare that with some classic Mad Caddies in ‘Bring It Down’, combining thrashy melodic punk with their banjo-tinged ragtime, complete with bouncing trombone and muted trumpet.  T...

“It's two in the morning, I'm tired as hell;  What am I doing behind the wheel?   The lights have all blurred into a row;  How long I'll be up, I just don't know;  I'm falling asleep, asleep at the wheel; This  feels like a dream but this is real…” A shout out to one of the old forgotten CD compilations that helped me discover many ska and punk bands before online streaming. Whichever one it was, the Hippos were the stand out band and ‘Forget the World’ has remained one of my favourite ska punk albums.  Their sound is not unlike Reel Big Fish, but this album smashes them out the ball park.  It may not have the production values of the bigger bands, but the Hippos have a great sound.  The most notable unique feature comes from the percussionist. It creates a wonderful party atmosphere and helps form interesting rhythms throughout. The songs are very upbeat, super catchy and incredibly infectious. The horn section plays neat and simple pieces that c...

“A broken record plays the same old song ;  It's getting old, dirty needle getting worn ;  Now you're ready, take the demons head on ;  Look em in the eye and say they gotta go ;  Get on behind me …” As a punk CD collector in my late teens, I would buy CDs by bands I never even heard of. In my later years as a vinyl enthusiast, with a family (and overdraft), my purchases are far more strategic, and have to be albums that I absolutely adore. But ‘Fight The Good Fight’ was the only album to date that I took the chance on and was so glad that I did! Some may say they are a copy of punk band Rancid and I partly agree. But in this case, it’s not a bad thing. I’ve owned nearly all Rancid albums, but it was their unique ska sound that really drew me to them. The likes of ‘Timebomb’, ‘I Wanna Riot’ etc… Unfortunately, it was the odd song here and there, and sometimes not even present on particular albums, hence none of them even make it into this list. The Interrupters have ...

“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 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...

“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 ...

“ 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...

“  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...

“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, ‘...

“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...

“ 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...

“I'm tired of having to look good, pretend  that we feel good;  Never let it show that we could be  anything less than completely obsessed;  With the contents of our wallets and the way that we're dressed…” A band i always wanted to see live, but never had the opportunity, Capdown were probably the headliners of the UK ska punk scene in the early noughties. The genre generally stayed underground in the UK, and I was surprised to find their ‘New Revolutionaries’ CD single in HMV, back in 2003. Perhaps they broke out of the underground? I didn’t enjoy that single as much as their previous two albums, but the album that followed three years later, “Wind Up Toys” was excellent. The aptly named track ‘Surviving the Death of a Genre’ shows that ska punk in the UK had pretty much died out by that point and was to remain underground. Capdown have an ability that seems to escape other ska punk bands. The likes of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones or Less Than Jake, for example, hav...

“ As the pendulum is swinging, from side to side i often wonder; Why that the things that mean the most to me, can never be; I cut my losses and move forward … ”   I came into possession of ‘Mail Order Is Still Fun’, a CD compilation of bands on the Asian Man Records label. The first track was ‘Myself’ and the description read “10 piece ska punk band”.  Those words alone got me very interested in Big D And The Kids Table. This album reminds me of the early days of writing ska punk songs for my old band Blunt Skulls. We were ridiculing our old neighbour, a particular bus route that ran from Lewisham to Orpington and the pop music of the early 2000s. We were young and having fun.  And a lot of these songs have that same feel. A good load of hectic ska, mixed with punk and hardcore. Almost every song crams all 3 genres into one, which leaves a rather enjoyable experience. The vocals take a unique turn in being more spoken word than singing, which really sets them apart from ...

“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 want my reasons for just why I joined the war; Well I’ll tell you, I had to; ‘Cause when they tell you, “Son stand straight and take this gun”; Well they also point one at you… ” Brixton Academy, 2004 - Deconstruction Fest. Arrived looking forward to seeing MxPx, discovered Yellowcard (with their backflipping vilolinist) and left having thoroughly enjoyed a little known but highly regarded ska band; The Slackers. With a boat load of albums in their repertoire, The Slackers are, in my opinion, the world’s best modern era, traditional ska band. Whereas their previous albums include around 20 songs, ‘Peculiar’ actually feels like a fuller, stronger album, with just the thirteen strong. Long punk albums can tend to lose my attention (The Slackers being signed to Tim Armstrong’s punk Hellcat Records), and they’ve got the length just right with ‘Peculiar’ Very political songs, covering different styles, but mostly brilliant traditional ska and reggae. ‘International War Criminal’ hi...

“The City’s on fire; will burn to the ground; Man’s evil desire; Has brought himself down… ” Heading to the clear-out section at my local Wesley Owen and I’m drawn straight to this fauvist hyper colourful cityscape. For the album artwork alone, I purchased it. Later on in the day, I was very pleasantly surprised to be listening to a newly discovered ska punk band, and what a great album it is! It’s a mature sound. Not a hint of fromage, as you can so easily get with some ska albums. Really catchy songs with very complimentary horn arrangements. A good variety of ska, punk rock and reggae, in both the major and minor keys. And a mention for the superb clavinet on ‘Trial and Tribulation’. Lyrical content covers a little politics (as most punk bands do) but generally stick up for the little man, the outsider, the unfairly treated and against the greed of this world. Wholesome values run throughout the album. A couple of the more punky songs are not the greatest, but most of the album is s...

“Can’t fight corruption with con tricks; They use the law to commit crime; And I dread, dread to think what the future will bring; When we’re living in gangster time …” Surely one of the most influential British albums of all time, and certainly for me. From covering Specials songs in my first band, to being told that I’d, and i quote, done “Too Much Too Young” by my own Mother when I was 19. And the songs still depict so much of what we see in our times. The pioneers of the 2nd wave ska movement, and the first album to be released on the infamous Two-Tone label. Ska with mixes of reggae and dub, with a strong underlay of bass. A mix of old ska covers (Monkey Man, Too Hot, A Message to You Rudy) and original ska anthems. And a studio version of their no.1 single “Too Much Too Young”, the single being recorded live with a quicker tempo. Lyrics tend to focus on political and social issues. Do the lines quoted above remind us of a particular country’s government handlings of the current c...

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...