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Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
To me it hardly matters that this was supposed to be an obscure list, for Dark Side of the Moon deserves every praise that it gets.
You know by now that this record is classic, and I would go as far as to say that without Dark Side, Pink Floyd wouldn't have been nearly as legendary as they are today. First, without Dark Side, there wouldn't have been anyone to listen to, or care about, their later, classic albums, such as Wish You Were Here and The Wall. Sure, they had The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which is apparently a great record, but what's the album that you see in every Pink Floyd fan's record collection? And why? Simple: It's almost a religious experience.
It's not just that the themes here are philosophical, but that the soundscapes are beautiful. This is definitely a listen-through-from-beginning-to-end kind of album, but there are some obvious singles like Time, Money, Us and Them, and I would even say Eclipse (which is good on its own but is aided by Brain Damage). I'm 100% sure that if you're reading this then you have already listened to Dark Side, but no-one can overstate the power of this record.
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Another album that pretty much defines a band.
This is the sort of record that works in the same way as U2's The Joshua Tree in that before that record, the band was rawer and more hard-hitting than since. Such is the case with Fleetwood Mac, once a known for their blues, yet, since Rumours, they were known mostly for the hits they put out.
Rumours, however, isn't a bad record. In fact, if it was any lesser than great then it wouldn't have made this list. What Fleetwood Mac does with this album is invite the listener to feel the rhythms, bob their bodies, feel relaxed and energized all at once. It's a record that's good for any occasion, is what I'm saying; Whether you are with friends at home, relaxing, or when you're out on a road-trip.
Even when you are alone and just feel like listening to some truly great music. It doesn't matter that you didn't like Don't Stop (...thinking about tomorrow/don't stop/it'll soon be here), you have to give this record a good listen-through. And if you do so happen to enjoy that song, then you already own this album. To get started, listen to: Second Hand News, Dreams, Never Going Back Again, and The Chain.
The Runner's Four by Deerhoof
Here's some weird, weird rock music for you. Actually, it's kind of hard to define Deerhoof's music.
They are not conventional in any shape or form; the drum-beats are often inconsistent, the guitars odd, the lyrics nonsensical (and sung in a cute Asian falsetto), and the overall impression on the listener is that the band members make the music up as they go.
The beauty of it all is that the listener never feels disengaged, and that the band members are having fun with their music. This isn't a selfish album, for you will enjoy what you are listening to; the powerful bass-lines, the loud guitars, the thundering drums, and the strange vocals all come together so perfectly in every song that the first listen-through will most certainly inspire you to listen to the whole thing again, even if the album is 20 tracks long.
Whatever you do, give this a listen. It may not be for everyone, but if you thought that modern rock has lost its thrill then this is the album that will change your mind. Listen to: Twin Killers, Running Thoughts, O'Malley Former Underdog, Spirit Ditties of No Tone, and Lightning Rod Run.
Thunder, Lightning, Strike by The Go! Team
This is a surprising record.
I went into it thinking that it was another power-pop ordeal, that I had, essentially, heard this record before. What I got instead was an honest, inspired work by a band that doesn't rely on being exceptionally loud to inspire the dance in listeners.
Though they are loud, it's the timing and choice of instruments that really deliver on the band's promise - to get you off your couch or bed, and into the world that surrounds you. There aren't even any real lyrics in this record - it's all in the compositions. You can come back to this record at different points in your life and never feel like it's letting you down. Heck, you might even notice some things you missed before, and as the music becomes more familiar to you, so grows your love for this record.
A must have if you are a fan of music, but for the love of whatever, don't listen to their sophomore record: Proof Of Youth. Listen to: Ladyflash, The Power is On, Get it Together, Friendship Update, and Everyone's a V.I.P to Someone.
Final update on Wednesday.
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