Do you remember the time when Muse's instrumentation still sounded like real band instruments? If not, I suggest you listen to their debut album. All the features that made them big are already there, but the sounds are much more human and organic. The songs are also more interesting than on their later albums. Clean pianos and organic guitars accompany Matthew Bellamy's voice much better than overly produced synth sounds and effects. Showbiz features fresh space-rock band that sounded like nothing else at the time. The album cover is hideous and I can't understand what the artist has thought when making that. but the music is interesting and gives a better understanding of the band that has become bigger than Jesus. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Travis is usually connected to the brit pop movement of the 90's. Therefore it was surprising to me that their second, and best, album had not been published earlier in the decade. The Man Who is filled with calm and well written pop songs. Some of the songs on Travis' later albums are fairly good as well, but this album is their by far the best as a whole. My favorite songs are The Fear and Why Does It Always Rain on Me? Travis' music is very simple, but works perfectly for lazy days and mornings. All these songs sound really organic. These songs would sound as good with just an acoustic guitar played in the park. That is a sign of good song-writing. You don't need much production to make it sound good. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Swedish Weeping Willows' second album Endless Night is probably their most melancholic one. Songs are full of despair and grief. Some happier songs have found their way onto the album though. Scandinavia's Morrissey, Magnus Carlson, sings with an outstanding charisma. This dark album about love and heartache captures the melancholia of the Nordic Countries perfectly. Again one must wonder at the hit writing capabilities of the Swedes. These indie pop tunes could have been played in radios all over the world, had the band been promoted a bit more. Weeping Willows have many great albums but in my opinion Endless Night presents the best collection of individual songs. Listen to the album on Spotify.
many people nowadays remember The White Stripes as the band who gave the world Seven Nation Army. The band's debut album gives you rougher, louder and rockier music than anything you've heard from them. The singing is off tune and the sounds could have been recorded in your garage. This is basically what this band was all about. It's not as good as their third album, when it comes to amazing songs, but the atmosphere is unique. For those of you, who have gotten to know the band through radio hits, I suggest, you listen to this, since it's hard to even imagine how a band that sounded like this, could become one of the biggest acts in the world. This is what rock n' roll should sound like! Listen to the album on Spotify.
Stereophonics vocalist Kelly Jones has a voice like someone who has drunk booze for the last few months and smoke two packs of cigarettes a day. This voice gives a distinctive sound for guitar riff filled brit-pop. In later albums the songs have gone a bit dull, but this debut album serves excellent rock and pop melodies with a right attitude. The album cover works as a conversation piece. I'd love to have seen this band live after this first album, since all the songs sound like they would get the crowds jumping up and down song after song. Stereophonics may not be the most innovative band in the world, but what they lose in songwriting, they win in attitude and rocky and rowdy sounds. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a.k.a. Will Oldham is a baritone singer-songwriter, who makes heartbreaking, melancholic music. The dark album cover with a skull illustrates the dark atmosphere of this great but sad album. The songs are about death, grief and sorrow. This already probably tell you that you are not going to like the album if you can't handle melancholic music. But if this is what you enjoy, you're in for a treat! The album is mastered very low, so you need to listen to this album a lot louder than other albums. Even though Oldham has made some great songs on other albums as well, this album could be seen as his best of -collection, since it features the very best of his music! Unfortunately this album is not on Spotify, so here's a link to the title track on Youtube.
Soft Bulletin must be The Flaming Lips' most radio-friendly album. It has numerous great pop songs. The production is not high-tech, but that's just the way it's meant to be. The album kicks off with an amazing Race for the Prize, which in my opinion is one of the best songs by The Flaming Lips. The Flaming Lips zoomed to everyone's knowledge after Yoshimi Battles Pink Robots, but if you have not tried this album, you have missed some of the best moments by this great band. Space sounds and vibrating and unsure singing voice gives innovative songs a sound like nothing else. This is music for the space age children and proofs that you don't need amazing studio techniques to produce highly personal sounds. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Jimmy Eat World has played alternative pop-rock for two decades now. Some of their new albums have been a bit disappointing, which is a shame. Clarity is the absolute highlight of this band. It's full of amazing songs and sounds. I guess it's better to make one absolutely brilliant album than many indifferent ones. Arizona-based band express beautiful and ambitious feelings in terrifically produced and played album. This album requires more than one listening times to really open up, but once you get to know the songs you're in for a real treat! I found this album quite late, but I'm glad I did, since it's become one of my favourite albums from late 90's. Crank up the volume and enjoy! Listen to the album on Spotify.
Kula Shaker is rarely mentioned when thinking of the biggest brit-pop names. I guess it was never hugely popular, but in my opinion it deserves to be lifted up to the top ranks of English rock bands. In the golden years Kula Shaker put out only two albums, but they're both amazing. They made a comeback about ten years later but those albums do not compare to the first two ones. Funky rock n' roll with mystic India-influenced sounds. The first three tracks on this album portray the band's best melodies and sounds. The rest of the album is not bad either. If for some reason you haven't listened to this band you need to correct that wrong immediately. Absolutely brilliant music! Listen to the album on Spotify.
As I've noted earlier in this blog already, I really love Sigur Rós. This Icelandic wonder has made numerous amazing albums, but this one is their career's highlight. The atmosphere is like in nothing else and I can't think of an album, which would be as ambitious. The album cover illustrates the art of the band. This post-rock does not rely on heavy guitar walls, but in mystique and silent beauty. Electric guitars played with a bow sound otherworldly. Some people have said that people tend to like the Sigur Rós album they heard first the best. Well it's certainly true for me, but I think that this may be the best album even for those who found it later. This album is sheer beauty and does not rely on single tracks. The whole album is total bliss! Listen to the album on Spotify.
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