crickets. I thought that might be the reaction. I also thought I might get some comments on Florence + The Machine, since there's a thread devoted to her. You should really give her a chance, it's on it's own level relative to just about any other female artist. Oh well, back to more familiar territory.
23. Brother Cane - Seeds (1995)
One of the best pure rock albums of the 90's, period. I think Brother Cane could have made it really big if they hadn't been hitting their peak during the latter half of the grunge era. Singer/guitarist Damon Johnson has a great voice for this southern-tinged but mostly-straight-ahead group. They had an MTV hit "Got No Shame" ( which kicks serious ass) with their earlier album, but their overall songwriting improved for this follow up. The playing is also first rate. The first half of the album blows the barn doors off, and the second half cools down a bit, but the songs still have a great atmosphere, and are definitely not wimpy. Just the right kind of music for driving down the highway on a road trip. It's a shame they really only lasted one more album. It's good that Johnson has shown up in other places, including the supergroup project Slave to the System with some QR members, and you should check that one out too. Favorites: Horses and Needles, Hung on a Rope, Rise on Water, ah hell the whole thing is great.
22. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
So, there's this band, and they had a few hits in the late 60's and 70's, maybe you remember them. Everyone has their opinion about Led Zeppelin, but you can't deny how influential they remain. Talk about ahead of their time with the Lord of the Rings stuff... anyway. Not much else to say about this. I just crank it when I hear Rock and Roll (the song). Stairway to Heaven is a really great song with a friggin' awesome solo, once you get past it's overplayed-ness, and if you're able to avoid it enough so that it stays fresh. What a build up. And who doesn't love the drums in Levee? Four Sticks is an underrated gem if that's possible with this album. A great listen from start to finish. Favorites: Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven, When The Levee Breaks, Misty Mountain Hop
21. Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland (2009)
I didn't think Shpongle were going to put out another album after Nothing Lasts... they took a longer break than usual, and this has always been a project Posford has juggled with his other endeavors. But not only did they come out with a new one, in my opinion it is the best of their career. It starts off with a bang, possibly their most aggressive track with the combination of a great echoing bass drum beat, and a great exotic sound that transports you to southern Asia better than just about anything else they've done. Every track is great. There is increased use of female vocals on this album, which works really well, and then we get to Invisible Man in a Fluorescent Suit, which takes the main theme(s) from the masterpiece on their first album 10 years prior, and situates it in a whole new environment. Just awesome to hear the callback to one of the most amazing trance-inducing ambient/electronic pieces ever (...And The Day Turned To Night from their debut Are You Shpongled? if you want to check it out). I feel like I really am somewhere else when I listen to this album. The pinnacle of Shpongle to me. Favorites: Electroplasm, Nothing Is Something Worth Doing, I Am You, Invisible Man in a Fluorescent Suit.
Topic: Re: nicmos' Top 50 albums v. #1 that is why you fail (Read 22954 times)
