Music   

 

 

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g' rendition of 

Stupid Lists

Essential Albums

according to LouV

A local alternative radio station, WFUV, had an "essential album" subscription drive this year -- listeners shared their list of "essential albums" with their DJ's, and their DJ's shared their's with listeners, and played a song or two off the albums that people submitted, over a week's time period. 

Well they didn't play any of mine. I didn't give them any money for their subscription drive, so I guess we're even. 

Then they posted the list of 'essential albums' that each of their DJ's came up with, and the cumulative list of top 90 essential albums that fans submitted. None of mine made the top 90 either; you probably needed two votes on an album to have it listed. I should've voted twice. 

Oddly enough, the most interesting list was that of their webmaster; their DJ's listed the same old albums that have been played ad infinitum by radio stations through the decades. Not bad albums; but after listening to Abbey Road one billion fucking times, how many more times can you listen to it? It can't be that 'essential albums' for the most part stopped being made in 1976 can it? You would think so after seeing their lists.

Here's my list, as I submitted it to WFUV. Essential albums, according to me. You can send me your essential albums list and paperbacknovel.com will publish it. Swear to god. You don't have to send us any money either.

 

Lost in Space -- Aimee Mann

The quintessential Aimee Mann album. Spacy, great lyrics, love her intonations; the way she sings a song. Name me another female artist who writes an album about space! (even though her Lost in Space isn't quite the same as Pink Floyd's). I love all of Mann's albums, but I'd say I love this one the most.

 

Ghost of You -- MaryAnne Marino

Marino is the new breed of 'city folk' artists (even though she doesn't get played on your radio station). Her song "Conversation" is one of the best folk compositions of the last 30 years; "Subway" the quintessential city folk song. "Solitaire", It's Great", and "Goodbye My Love" other favorite songs. And then you have Marino's silky smooth, powerful voice. A lot of fun. I've listened to this album over 500 times probably; as much as any record in my record collection, or more.

 

Has Been -- William Shatner

A gem of our time, Shatner, writes down essentially his life story, his autobiography, and Ben Folds puts it to music. And they get some of the best artists in the industry today to duet with Bill. The album will make you laugh, make you cry, fill you with melancholy; it is wistful, silly, fun, and rockin. One of the best albums of the last 10 years. Joe Jackson is exceptional. Aimee Mann perfect (as the voice of one of his daughters). I've listened to this album over and over and over, even a year after first listening; it holds true.

 

SuperUnknown -- Soundgarden

First time I heard this album was on the radio as I was driving on the dark roads of Massachusetts one night -- the radio station played it through and through. The album BLEW ME AWAY. And still does today.  

 

Physical Graffiti -- Led Zeppelin

It all starts with Zeppelin for me. First time I heard Kashmir, I said to myself, that's a damn good song. Second time I heard it I said to myself, wow. Third time I heard it I ran out and bought this album. I was like 12. To me this may be the greatest album of all-time. Two record set of the 'definitive diz-buster heavy metal band'. The melodies! The folk! The rock! The rockin folky melodies! Page's guitar and Plant's canibal yell.

More

That was the list I submitted, and my reasoning for each one. I have many more essential albums -- I'll keep adding more as they come to me, so keep checking back. Or send me your list already.