Glad to see you people enjoying the picks, and also being interested in checking them out! I was going to update this a few hours ago already, but some stuff came up and I've been busy up until now. But here are the next three!
23. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)
Genre: Post-PunkNext up we have a band that I discovered through Guitar Hero/Rock Band, so I had heard two songs before checking the album out. This is an album I had seen in a couple of places being mentioned as one of the very best albums in the 00's, and being interested in the music, and liking what I had heard, I just had to check it out. It's very rare that a band makes a perfect debut album that blows you off your feet, because normally it takes a couple of albums for the band to find their sound and identity, but Interpol is one of those exceptions where magic was made right away. I would say that the album falls under Post-Punk, but one could also argue that it has the kind of music you would also call Alternative or Indie Rock. The music is mostly focused on atmosphere and strong melodies rather than to be a rocking album, and the band creates an amazing dreamy atmosphere on this album. The opening-song "Untitled" and the song "NYC" both has these really dreamy guitars with some really haunting singing on top. Two of the better songs on the album without a doubt, and they both have a certain melodic aspect that I connect with Post-Rock actually. Paul Banks, the singer delivers some really great and memorable lines, and the way he sings: "
It is up to me now, turn on the bright lights" just sends shivers down my spine. The album also has a couple of faster songs, and two excellent examples are "PDA", which has this really upbeat tempo and a chorus that is so incredibly catchy that it has been stuck in my head ever since I first heard it in Rock Band 2. The other example would be "Say Hello to the Angels" which really builds up from the intro, and explodes into a guitar riff that is almost impossible to not dance along to. The album has a great mix of slower and more melodic songs, but also a few faster ones. The best part of the album for me is without a doubt the atmosphere, which is just incredible throughout. It's a perfect nighttime-headphones album, when it's dark outside, and all you can see is darkness and bright lights.
Favorite songs: NYC, PDA, Untitled, Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down, Say Hello to the Angels, Leif Erikson.22. Dir En Grey - Uroboros (2008)
Genre: Avant-Garde Metal/Progressive Death Metal/Experimental MetalAt number 22 we have the Japanese band, Dir En Grey. While they started out their career with a very different sound, the last two/three releases have been more towards Avant-Garde/Progressive Metal. One of the band's biggest strengths is having one of the most talented singers in the metal-scene, Kyo. He is basically a Japanese version of Mike Patton. He can sing normally, he can growl, scream, shriek and do weird grunts.. pretty much everything. I would best describe this album as a dark, experimental and pretty heavy album. It's not just metal, because there are a lot of other things going on. The song "Stuck Man" feels like a King Crimson song, but much darker, heavier and with harsh vocals thrown into the mix. "Vinushka" is one of their best songs, and clocks in at over 9 ˝ minutes. It has acoustic guitars, haunting and melodic verses, a really catchy chorus and some heavy parts that will blow you away. Don't feel too worried if your Japanese isn't very good, because like listening to Sigur Rós or Alcest, the language is something you will get used to. The music behind it is phenomenal, and the band delivers a lot of incredible music. While all the musicians are talented, the vocals are without a doubt what adds the extra dimension for me. Whenever I listen to Dir En Grey, I tend to just listen to what Kyo is doing with his voice, and the range is just incredible. He has one of the darkest growls I've heard, and it almost sounds like when you have something stuck in your kitchen sink, you get it removed and the water drains through.
Highly recommended if you enjoy experimental metal.
Favorite songs: Vinushka, Ware, Yami Tote, Stuck Man, Reiketsu Nariseba, Red Soil.21. Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites (2005)
Genre: Dream Pop/Indie Rock/ShoegazeIn short, "And the Glass Handed Kites" is everything I hoped that "The Incident" would have been. AtGHK is an album that is almost like a song-cycle. The songs flow into each other, and the first few times I heard the album, I was like "Am I already on track 7?!", because the songs truly flow together in the best way. It's an achievement to write music that flows together so perfectly, and the band really hit it come on this album. While many people would hold "Frengers" as the band's best album, or maybe even "No More Stories", AtGHK is my personal favorite. I feel like the flow/atmosphere and how well crafted the album is, takes it to a whole new album. It has some incredible songs as well obviously, but the overall craftsmanship is just stunning. Musically it's mostly a combination of indie rock and dream pop, but with some shoegaze as well. I've also always felt a bit of a progressive-vibe in their music, maybe it's the approach to the album itself that feels progressive, or maybe it's just the shoegazy-parts. I think Mew's biggest strengths are melodies, and I think if you are a fan of bands like Porcupine Tree and Anathema for gorgeous and catchy choruses, Mew will be right up your alley. They have some of my all time favorite melodies, and a lot of strong choruses. Mew as a band are from Denmark, and while I have never cared much for Danish music before, I would put Mew in my top15 bands without a doubt. In fact, I would even rank them higher than Porcupine Tree or Anathema at this point. I highly recommend checking them out, not just this album, but also "Frengers" and "No More Stories" if you haven't. This band is just incredible, and I can't wait for them to put out their next album, which will probably come out this year.
Favorite songs: The Zookeeper's Boy, White Lips Kissed, Chinaberry Tree, Special, Apocalypso, Louise Louisa.Since we're entering the top20 from the next update, I will probably only go 2 albums per update. But still 2 each update, so it won't change that much.
Topic: Zantera's Top 50 Albums v.2.0 (Finished) (Read 14399 times)
