1,001 Albums You Must Hear
Submitted by lbangs on Wed, 01/18/2006 - 12:46
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This site has so many fans of the film version, I must mention that early February sees the American release of 1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die; the complete list is here.
For the record, I think it is a good list but not as well done as the movie one...
The other day as a joke I typed "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" into google, to see if anything came up, not expecting anything. But it turns out that such a book is in the works, to be released in March. It might also be of interest to listologists.
The German publishing house Harenberg published such a book in 2001 (but with "only" 1000 books).
Wow! I will be very curious to see how this list/book turns out. Thanks!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
While I sadly have yet to hear "Trust" or "Get Happy!", "This Year's Model" is quite enough to convince me that you're both probably right. The last selection should be "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel which, to me, is by far the most glaring omission--its not like its out of print or anything. They should also add "Dig" by Adam Again and "Starsailor" by Tim Buckley, although their omissions are a bit more forgiveable since they're out of print. I don't think I saw "The Ascension" by Glenn Branca either, another obvious selection for such a comprehensive list.
There are a handful that could easily be taken out in favor of the ones I mentioned above. The one that stopped me in my tracks was "Follow the Leader" by Korn. I used to own the album. Its not bad, its got some good tracks, but I sold it to a used music store for a reason.
The Korn inclusion is definitely a head-scratcher...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I know...
was it groundbreaking in some way?
Did I miss something? Follow The Leader? If that made it then where's that lost Limp Bizkit masterwork, or the great Staind album only their hardcore fans have heard, or what about that one--you know, the one by 311?
Mudvayne anyone?
God no...
Limp Bizkit DID make it.
At the very least there are some questionable choices in the 2000's. I can't believe these sorts of bands are still even remembered, or that they've garnered enough collective sympathy to be voted into this thing. As far as I can tell, they did little if anything to separate themselves as great bands. They made a few solid, overplayed tunes. They sound like a conglomeration of just about anything and everything you can find on average rock radio, and nothing new. Oh thats right! They sold lots of records! Duh!
So did Vanilla Ice...
The English critics seem to have taken to Korn much stronger than their American counterparts. I won't pretend to understand how their love has grown quite so high.
But Limp Bizkit (a band unworthy of bolding)? Ugh...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
The funny thing is that while I was writing that post I didn't even think twice about Limp Bizkit NOT making it. There was just no way. It never entered my mind whatsoever as even a remote possiblity of the most impossible order.
And then I ran through it just to see if there was something else to comment on and there it was. I swear I looked at it, scrolled down (just to see if it would disappear in the meantime), then I scrolled back up and IT WAS STILL THERE.
That's impossible! You'd have to compile something like the 1,000,001 top albums ever to include that on the list! It couldn't possibly be better than a 3.5 or 4 out of 5 stars. There's just no way! I've heard their "best" songs, you know the ones one the radio!!
Anyway...I think I'm done with that list. On the bright side, most of the picks are worthy. It's just that the ones which aren't are so far behind the pack it's like putting Donovan ahead of Bob Dylan or something. Its crazy, loony, downright mad! It doesn't make mathematical sense!
Certainly, some sort of musical apocolypse is upon us........ (:
Branca's Ascension probably didn't make it because it's often (usually?) considered in the contemporary classical world, which this list doesn't cover at all. Far as I can tell, it's all pop/rock and jazz, perhaps with a few truly "world/folk" albums.
That makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up!
There's only 998 albums there!
From what I can tell, the most represented artists are:
7 albums:
The Beatles
David Bowie
Bob Dylan
Neil Young
6 albums:
Elvis Costello (one of the missing albums should be Get Happy!!, a pretty glaring omission)
The Rolling Stones
5 albums:
Brian Eno
Led Zeppelin
Radiohead
Sonic Youth
Bruce Springsteen
The Who
Many noticed that number, and the debate rages over whether the book miscounts or that particular list boo-boos. I'll bet on the later.
Trust could (should) join Get Happy!!. Then we just needs one! :)
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I should take this opportunity to thank you and your 100 greatest albums list for introducing me to "Dig" by Adam Again. A great, great lost 90's album. I also nabbed "Satellite Sky" by Mark Heard which is really good too (though I so far think "Dig" is a bit better.)
It is highly unlikely I would've heard of these without your list, which by the way, is excellent, especially for those looking for great albums that don't usually appear on greatest albums lists.
Thanks again!
I am so glad you posted here; not because I lap up thanks, but because it drew my attention to many of your lists which somehow have eluded me thus far. Terrific! Look for comments soon. You have some amazing pages here.
You are certainly welcome. I am thrilled any time somebody takes a chance on Dig and nearly ecstatic when somebody falls for it. Some albums we admire and some we like. I love that one. I still know no better album from the 90s...
Mark Heard is one of my favorite songwriter. I even have a large colletion of cover versions of his songs. He has more fans than albums sold, it would seem, especially among fellow singer/songwriters.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
It's funny. I happen to be listening to "This Year's Model" right now which I know is one of your very favorites. I love albums with not only NO FILLER, but also without a single wasted note. Are all his albums really this consistent?
And how in the "F-WORD" is he not legendary? I know he's famous, but I MEAN LEGENDARY. Why is "This Year's Model" not mentioned in the same breath as the other great 70's punk/new wave albums by most critics/so called experts? It seems impossible! Any theories?
I appreciate your compliments. If you're speaking of me "greatest albums list" you'll have to excuse it's current period of reconstruction. I just couldn't stand another look at my last one which, compared to the way I feel now, seems a bit outta whack in much of its order, and rather lazy in the time and content I put into most of its reviews from #50-#11. It's interesting how some albums can lose steam over time, even after seeming so great initially. I think this is the most difficult part about reviewing and rating an album-is determining its staying power.
I checked into some of your other entries and was blown away by your poetry. I never thought of posting poetry here! I really, really, achingly love poetry and have written much of my own, which you've now inspired me to post soon!
Regarding "Dig". It's really gross this album is still out of print. It's a masterpiece, especially "Dig", "Walk Between The Raindrops", "Hidden Hidden" and "Rain On Fire".
I haven't quite grasped the full brilliance of "Satellite Sky" yet, though I can immediately say that his lyrics are amazing. Of course, I've only listened to it a few times and wouldn't dare give a final review yet. Was it a grower for you or was it immediately one of your favorite albums ever?
I'm really curious: what do you think of "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel? Even if you don't like it, I'm perfectly alright with it. I am used to getting a split decision on this one, as Jeff Mangum and company can be an acquired taste.
Also, it is great to see someone who appreciates Dylan to the extent he deserves. I would probably agree with you that he is the greatest rock artist of all time (probably is the key word. For me, it's a tough call between Dylan and The Beatles).
And, one more thing: what happened to your 2002 edition update of your 100 best albums? Planning on finishing it anytime soon?
I think Trust is at least worthy to stare This Year's Model in the eye. Costello has a load of terrific albums, and I also have no idea why he is not seen as the legend he is. Yes, he should be up there with the very best rock artists ever to record a note. I'll take his body of work over The Beatles' any day, and I don't say that lightly. Maybe with a bit more time... He is hurt especially by many critics undervaluing his mid-80s work (Trust and Get Happy!! in particular).
Dig is a masterpiece waiting to be discovered. Time only makes this disc sound sweeter to me. Satellite Sky requires a bit more time; I loved it immediately, but I've listened to Mark Heard albums since I was ten, so I already grooved to his odd vibe.
I like NMH's work, although I've never actually owned any, and I suspect Aeroplane in particular would take some time to appreciate fully.
(Jim hates that I didn't split that infinitive. Let Kirk come after me! ; ) )
Life intruded and prevented me from finishing the reviews for the 2002 list, although the list is complete. I should simply post the list and start work on a 2006 update. If I can overcome all my life's current business and laziness, perhaps I will do just that.
I love your lists, and I will certainly comment on them soon. You're doing an incredible job. I salute you!
Thank you for the kind words about the poetry. I fear I enjoy writing it more than it actually merits, but I do like it. I'd love to read some of yours.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
For me, "Aeroplane" was an instantaneous favorite. For most, it is not. The initial reservations usually stem from his singing style, which is similar to early Dylan, such as "Girl From The North Country", "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "It's All Over, Baby Blue", and his lyrics which are at times surreal, yet vivid like "Mr. Tambourine Man" and also can be uncomfortable, wincing and kind of vulgar. I suspect if you borrowed or bought "Aeroplane" and listened to it all the way through you'd really like it a lot, given your heavy tendency towards Dylan. The easiest way to describe its sound is: early Dylan + adventurous Lennon + Nick Drake's breathtaking intimacy + Kurt Cobain's explosiveness. And it equals all of them simultaneously. If you think you'd like that combination give it a few spins. If you're like me you won't be able to stop and it will be largely the only thing you really want to listen to for some time.
Anyway, you've convinced me to check out "Trust". I would also like to check out "Imperial Bedroom". How's that one holding up for you?
It would be great to see you update that greatest albums list. I would be itching to see your choices and how they've changed or not.
I'll give Satellite Sky some industrious attention and get back to you on it. Maybe it will end up being good enough to slip into my top 50.
Later!
Obviously, I need to grab a copy of Aeroplane as much as you need to nab Trust! :)
Although its critical reputation has suffered a bit in the last few years, I still love Imperial Bedroom, even if I do think Trust is better.
Well, that's it; I guess I should look into updating my list. I'll be surprised to see how much does or doesn't change!
I hope you grow to love Satellite Sky, but if not, no harm done. Hey, you are one of the few people who dig Dig, so that makes me very happy. I am thrilled to realize the album has more fans on Listology than, no doubt, in most states, but that last bit is also a little sad.
I mean, heck, it should at least be in print, no?
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
:-) I read somewhere that the whole split-infinitive thing is because of Latin, so unless you're actually translating Latin the rule is a bunch of hooey.
Perhaps apocryphal.
In Latin isn't an infinitive one word?
I find it difficult to enjoy truly or understand fully this need to follow reflexively rules which seem to be actually designed to irritate generally.
:-)
Right. What I heard is in Latin it's literally impossible to split the infinitive because it's one word. I then also heard that some genius arbitrarily decided the same rule should apply to English. That's probably not true. What's more likely true is that somebody decided you shouldn't split infinitives in English when translating Latin, and somehow that practice got upgraded to a broader context.
I always assume the reason for avoiding split infinitives (not the album! :) ) has something to do with the formula "to x" being a complete grammatical unit (that yes, is indeed usually one word in many languages) that should be treated as a single unit not to be split up, especially as doing so enforces the idea that any adverb modifies the entire unit and not just the verb after the word to.
I have no idea if this is correct, but it is what I always thought was probably the case.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
"in Latin it's literally impossible to split the infinitive because it's one word."
Not quite. Most of the devices on this page originated in Latin, including tmesis. So maybe the guy who decided that was tmesiphobic.
Oy! Such a tsimmis over tmesis. What do you want me to get, tsooris, maybe?
I don't blink once, much less twice, if others split those infinitives, although I try to avoid doing it myself. Of course, trying and doing are not synonyms...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
In a way I almost think taste in music is more subjective even than taste in movies.
I wouldn't know how to begin to tackle such a list, without buying all the albums on iTunes, which would bankrupt me.
Try your local library, especially if they do interlibrary loan with a massive network of libraries, as in Minnesota.
It's a better list than I was expecting, but often puzzling. I think I actually like it better than the film list. The 2000s section is very bad, though.
I would blush to confess to how many of these I actually already own on CD or vinyl, but I certainly don't have them all!
I'm still absorbing the list, so I'll probably have more dumb comments about it down the line. I think I could have done better, but what sort of fan would I be if I didn't? :)
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs