1001 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear, pt 1
I know how music fans like their lists. Here, then, is the first of 20 parts of what will doubtless prove to be one of the definitive music lists of all time: 1001 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear. Prepare to be sickened.
Vote for your least favourite!
1. Kings Of Leon – Come Around Sundown
2. Zwan – Mary Star Of The Sea
3. Oasis – Be Here Now
4. Tin Machine – Tin Machine II
5. Chapterhouse – Blood Music
6. Mick Jagger – Primitive Cool
7. Pete Shelley – Sky Yen
8. Fanny – Charity Ball
9. The Very Best – Warm Heart Of Africa
10. The Style Council – Modernism: A New Decade
11. The Stereophonics – Just Enough Education To Perform
12. The Cranberries – Wake Up And Smell The Coffee
13. Kajagoogoo – White Feathers
14. Alanis Morissette – Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
15. The Vines – Highly Evolved
16. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
17. Silverchair – Young Modern
18. The Killers – Day & Age
19. Elbow – Cast Of Thousands
20. The Farm – Spartacus
21. Bloc Party – Intimacy
22. Tortoise – Standards
23. Hungary Kids Of Hungry – Escapades
24. Ugly Kid Joe – America’s Least Wanted
25. Jeff Buckley – Grace
26. Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head
27. British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?
28. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
29. Sunny Day Real Estate – Diary
30. Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
31. Pearl Jam – Ten
32. Pearl Jam – Vs.
33. Pearl Jam – Vitalogy
34. Pearl Jam – No Code
35. Pearl Jam – Yield
36. Pearl Jam – Binaural
37. Pearl Jam – Riot Act
38. Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam
39. Pearl Jam – Backspacer
40. Mother Love Bone – Apple
41. The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
42. Sleeper – The It Girl
43. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
44. Sting – Ten Summoner’s Tales
45. Richard Ashcroft – Alone With Everybody
46. The M People – Elegant Slumming
47. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
48. Radiohead – In Rainbows
49. Garbage – Version 2.0
50. Nomeansno – Wrong
Related posts: 1001 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear, parts 2-10
51 Responses to “1001 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear, pt 1”
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Radiohead – In Rainbows, finally, someone said it.
haha. pretty decent. I’m a big fan of number 25 and number 50 but no matter. having many pearl jams in there makes up for slagging nomeansno
so far so good, i’ve only actually heard two of these records. i like avoiding this shit in my day to day life.
also that kings of leon asshole is wearing girl jeans in that photo. what a douche.
Tortoise’s album is a gem, I’ve a soft spot for Nomeansno but the rest seems entirely reasonable.
I own four of these, though the only one I’d ‘go to bat for’ is Millions Now Living… – the other three being The Beatles, Jeff Buckley (I’d argue this is more of a current, rational, vogue to hate this record because of what it represents and what it has spawned rather than the subjective fact of the album’s badness), and Be Here Now – the latter which I can’t get rid of!
RE: Zwan. I hate(d) the Pumpkins but at the time I was a big fan of Slint & Chavez – I even checked out some of Paz Lenchantin’s solo work and it had a tenderness and simplicity that made me think that their collective talent might outweight Corgan’s monstrous ego. I even, on a crappy 56k connection, downloaded some of the bootlegs of early shows – and they were good! Tasteful covers and some fun original stuff – it wasn’t going to change the world, but it didn’t stray anywhere near Sucksville.
Hearing the gross turkey that was Mary Star of the Sea was the album that rendered me anti-supergroup and essentially unsurprisable when it comes to albums these days. It blew hard (though I think ‘Lyric’ is nice enough).
OK. Fair enough I might be confusing that Tortoise album with another Tortoise album. In my defence, though: easy to do!
Phil Collins. No Jacket Required.
(from Facebook)
Craig Spraggon, Richard Stacey and Simon Sweetman like this.
Richard Stacey
This idea is too good for a blog. It’s a book pitch.
about an hour ago · Like
Richard Sanderson
Oh dear, I’ve just ordered “Sky Yen”!
55 minutes ago · Like
Everett True
Um. Have fun with it, Richard!
16 minutes ago · Like
Richard Sanderson
Mind you, I did once help to compile a list of the “100 Least Influential Bands”… http://bagrec.livejournal.com/183013.html
9 minutes ago · Unlike · 1 person
Richard Stacey
Like that would work. Needs vintage True vitriol.
3 minutes ago · Like
Richard Stacey
Though I take the point it would be a pretty miserable writing experience I think the result would be worth it.
about a minute ago · Like
Everett True
that’s a great list Richard!
And yes Richard, I can’t help thinking that although the result would be awesome, it would be tiresome indeed to put together. maybe as a collaboration between a few like-minded critics though….
2 seconds ago · Like
Fantastic, and thanks for the warning. I have a couple of these, although – I’m interested to note – not many.
I’ll stick up for Sgt Pepper though. If we’re going to have a popular-music-canon-sacred-cow in there, I’d choose Pet Sounds.
Sgt Pepper’s is included by merit of the following: i) it’s over-produced to buggery, ii) it’s got a shit album sleeve, iii) it contains the weakest songs The Beatles ever wrote – so ineffectual and childish and slapdash it feels, 40 years on, that they were simply pissing in the faces of their fans and iv) because everyone has heard it. So we’re all fucked.
you have like the worst in music EVER, not even a 14-year old blonde slut could beat you
Of those listed, for me, it’s a very closes tie between the Cranberries and Grace.
However, surely you forgot REM’s Around The Sun?
Radiohead – OK Computer
Zwan was arse, but not nearly as much arse as all of the other corgan output post Siamese dream
Red hot chilli peppers- californication…in my opinion one of the most bland and dull albums ever made. Good to see it’s finally been recognised as a terrible album, I really don’t see why people rave about it so much.
J mascis and the fog – free so free
It’s fun when you’re not pissing on underdogs
Or shitting on sacred cows
Yeah, that Tortoise album is fantastic. Standards is the howler.
Sorry. My bad. I’ll change it.
Don’t agree with all the inclusions but support the intentions
Other contenders
Stone Roses – ‘Second Coming’
Deacon Fucking Blue
The Smiths – Anything really
bbkov says:
In Rainbows, finally, someone said it.
- You must have missed my Facebook query; does anybody really, in their heart of hearts like Radiohead? You will be reassured that many Facebookers expressed revulsion for them and only a Phish fan who was the self-described “odd-man out” liked them. Oh, and one friend who made up for it by posting some Merle Haggard.
Yes, John, in my heart of hearts I like Radiohead. I first saw them in 1991 (’92?) supporting the Frank and Walters and I thought they had a sort of primal energy to them – as well as exquisite beauty – that I’d never seen the like of. I saw them many times since, but lost interest in the Thom’s Navel Gazing Years that followed OK Computer (which I still think is one of the best albums I’ve heard).
In Rainbows had some great tracks and was an interesting experiment. I’m glad it was made – especially since it was so much better than most of the other stuff out there at the time. I don’t think In Rainbows belongs on this list at all, to be honest – it’s more innovative, memorable, moving and entertaining than, say, the first Grinderman album (which I don’t dislike). I’d call it a return to form, but OK Computer is still their best record.
No, if I have to pick a pet hate on that list, it would be Oasis. They were the only *offensively* shit band on there – their lazy, belligerent, thuggish celebration of petty crime and absolute lack of talent always irked me. It’s like elevator muzak that punches you in the face every time you press the down button.
Good to see Jeff Buckley – Grace in there. Most overrated album in the universe.
Also, every Red Hot Chili Peppers’ album since Blood Sugar…
What is this? A forum for try hard, bitter, resentful, “I wanna be so independent alternate” ~ lets suck up to ET and his misguided rantings?
Radiohead – oh how so “hardcore” to dis these guys – but any person with a skerrick of musical appreciation will acknowledge their importance and contribution to music in general.
And as for The Cure only releasing one worthy album ( their debut ) are you serious? Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography complete one of the most important and emotive trilogy of works to date – seriously if you pulled your heads out of “The Brisbane music scene is so hard done by” culo you may one day understand.
Having said all of this – I find myself agreeing with about 90% of the “1001 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear, pt 1″ to date … damn it!
D
Good to see the Cranberries getting a kicking. I’d prefer them doused in petrol and repeatedly set on fire but you can’t have everything I guess. That said, I’m curious as to why no one’s mentioned the unspeakable horror that is Toploader or do they rate a separate category all of their own, something like #bandsyoushouldattachtheelectrodestoyourgenitalstoandcrankupthevoltagebeforehearing ?
I wouldn’t die in anyone’s ditch defending those records. Perhaps Californication, In Rainbows and Sgt Pepper make a case for themselves, but each has been damaged irreparably by hype. Jeff Buckley is/was either a genius or full of shit; both views are arguable. Kings of Leon though, what a wretched commentary on popular 21st century rock music they are. Good list.
Good call on Toploader, Phil.
Why thank you. Think of it as my revenge for you mentioning the Cranberries. And alerting me to the existence of the Delores O’Riordan solo album, I’ve been listening to Fugazi’s ‘In On The Killtaker’ repeatedly ever since yet I still feel somehow… unclean. btw did you know that the Smashing Pumpkins reunion is viewed by certain US religious maniacs as a sign that the End Times will soon be upon us?*
cheers
Phil
*might be a lie. If you are an American religious fundamentalist maniac please don’t bomb my house or condemn my immortal soul to the fires of hell for eternity. I was forced to once go to a Sleeper gig, that’s suffering enough believe me.
Richard Blackwood – You’ll Love to Hate This
The Cure have never slotted easily into the cool indie guitar rock mold. But their (80s) repertoire is more impressive than most in the canon.
I don’t know if that’s true at all Simon. Pitchfork actually afforded the reissue of this album a ‘perfect 10′. (Something I didn’t discover until after nominating this abomination of an album.)
We’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.
I guess you have your right to an opinion but let’s be honest, some of these albums deserve a bit more credit than killing myself before they come on. Just because you, Mr. True, prefer underground indie music doesn’t make the mainstream bad. I feel you only compiled this list to stir the pot and get some responses. And I guess it worked because you got mine! But it is very clear what genre of music you do and don’t like. Not the most objective music critic I’ve seen.
All albums by Oasis (after the first 2);
All albums by RHCP after Blood Sugar Sex Magic-actually its the only good one;
Everything by Pulp…or Jarvis Cocker;
Almost anything with a female lead singer in it (sorry ET);
Most Radiohead after OK Computer;
Phil Collins-everything, obviously;
Elton John-ditto;
Bruce Springsteen-ditto;
Weezer-everything after the first 2 albums;
Hey, leave jeff Buckley alone, he’s dead anyway;
All Style Council, obviously;
Anything by The Living End;
Anything by Cold Chisel.
Tony, you’ve got just about the weirdest taste of anyone who reads me!
Wow!
The weirdest taste? I’ll take that as a compliment ET.
I say almost, as you’ve recently introduced me to Agent Ribbons-amazing melodies and harmonies that transcend all prejudices.
Last years’ debacle re Triple J’s best songs of all time not having many female singers in it forgot to mention that music is not about equality, it’s about quality.
Sebadoh-The Sebadoh
The songs themselves aren’t too bad, I have seen Lou perform them solo, I just think the production is way over the top.
Guided By Voices-do the collapse
Same problem with the Sebadoh, way over produced.
BTW I am a big fan of both bands.
SNOB POST.
Anything by Muse. Self absorbed, dull, Queen clones without the tongue in cheek understanding of what they are at.
Stumbled across this just today… still chuckling… keep up.
Queen – Queen I and Queen II albums.
These musicians do not have time to care what you think as they are busy making music and enjoying their lives. Art criticism is a parasitic pursuit without valor or value—please refrain from it.
The Internet makes poets of us all, eh Whipsmart? Was that a bit of art criticism criticism you indulged us in? Please refrain from doing so in future. For surely, if “art criticism is a parasitic pursuit without valor or value” then how much less “valor or value” does art criticism criticism contain?
where’s all of the albums by the smashing pumpkins?? does anyone REALLY like them? they look cool but they’re really awful…
oh ya, the fellow above was correct about the chili peppers too.. dreadful!
Elvis Costello-Goodbye Cruel World.
For an artist with a back-catalogue full of horrible, ugly albums this reigns supreme as one of the most disgusting creations in music history. I mean, how can a man who has written some of the worst lyrics imaginable have a reputation as a lyricist?
Where are parts II-IXX????
Personal additions
R.E.M. Anything in the post IRS era bar Automatic For The People
Beach Boys Pet Sounds
Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang and Shin. A Light live OST
Superheavy s/t
Lenny Kravitz Anything after the first two albums
Kula Shaker those reunion albums no one has ever actually listened to
Beck Anything since The Dust Brothers dropped him
Eddie Vedder Yukelele songs
Courntey Love that solo album the title of whom I couldn’t possibly remember and don’t even bother to google
Tim Burgess solo efforts
Paul Weller Stanley Road (I love u cappuccino kid,but…)
New order the Farewell album
Peter Gabriel Scratch My Back (nice concept but what happened to the original melodies?)
Dave Navarro Trust No One
yours truly
Look here, Hector. http://www.collapseboard.com/tag/1001-albums-you-should-die-before-you-hear/
41. The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
For a band that released a couple of very good albums that year and the year before, and one of the best albums of all time the following year this is the most steaming pile of unremmitting shit ever recorded. Horrid. If it was not for the existence of Radiohead this would be my No. 1.
Haha, love the way you completed positions from 31-39! And there’s finally Silverchair.