Pretend, just for a second, that modern technology forced you to downsize your music collection into 5 albums that you would be able to listen to for, let's say, the foreseeable future (just for argument's sake, let's say for the next year). What five albums would you choose as your "5 Albums You Can't Live Without?"
As with any list or conversation like this, let's lay down a few rules:
1. You have to choose albums, not entire catalogs by bands. You may have the same band listed multiple times with different albums.
2. As long as the music is marketed as an "album"it counts. Therefore, for instance, you could choose a greatest hits compilation, a live record, or even an anthology, just as long as it is marketed as an album and not a box-set or "complete works" collection.
3. Throw convention aside... don't think about albums that are dubbed by critics as necessarily the 'most influential' in terms of modern music, but rather the ones that really resonated with you as a listener. (Ex. Like most music fans and critics, you cannot help but tip your hat to the Beatles and the Stones, however, I cannot tell you the last time I spun Sgt. Pepper, or any other Beatles work for that matter).
4. Have fun!
I'd love to hear your "Five Albums You Can't Live Without" Here are mine:
5. The Flaming LipsThe Soft Bulletin 1999.
A concept album about the whole concept of being human... leave it to the Flaming Lips to construct this gem. Before their elaborate live shows with front man Wayne Coyne running about the stage in a hamster wheel and the side-stage dancers, there was this record, The Soft Bulletin, which the Lips toured in support of by hosting a series of "headphones shows" (I was fortunate to catch them in Madison at the Barrymore during this run). During these shows, the audience was given headphones and a closed-circuit station to tune in to so that you could (supposedly) hear the nuanced, layered tracks in the live renditions. To this day, I don't think I can listen to this disc and not notice something new or interesting. The tracks here all coincide with one another and provide the listener a beautiful sonic disposition between poppy melodies and electronic dissonance.
4. Radiohead The Bends 1995.
A rock album for people who like rock 'n roll, Radiohead delivers a classic in their sophomore effort that I find personally their most enjoyable work. In its truest sense, The Bends captures the raw power of Radiohead's sound in their earlier years. Clever guitar hooks, Thom Yorke's almost ethereal vocals, and steady percussion makes this a solid album from front to back. Like The Soft Bulletin, The Bends is timeless and it feels like it could have been released last year (or 18 years ago).
3. The Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique 1989
Is there a more fun album to listen to than Paul's Boutique? I seriously challenge anyone to listen to it all the way through and say that they did not smile. From the opening drum sample of "Shake Your Rump" to the sonically contagious bass loop of "Egg Man," to the funky guitar sample of "Hey Ladies," this album is packed full of well-sampled goodies. While not much of a hip-hop fan, I can't think of a time when I haven't had this record on my iPad.
2. Paul Simon Graceland 1986.
Arguably the greatest narrative record, told by one of rock's greatest storytellers, Graceland is one of those rare albums that never gets old. Arguably dated sounding at times (note the synthesizer in "Call Me Al" for instance), Graceland doesn't necessarily come off as timeless, but rather an album that marks a time and place that you want to revisit over and over again. Like the other albums on this list, Graceland is one of those rare pieces of music that you can listen to endlessly and constantly find new things that are intriguing. The world music influences on this record make it even the more enjoyable. Seeing Paul Simon perform at the height of the "Graceland tour" might be worth a trip in a time machine (but we can save that idea for another post).
1. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 2001
I was hooked the moment I heard the opening drum riff of "I'm Trying To Break Your Heart," and I haven't been able to let go since. Beautiful narrative, albeit often cryptic, lyrics, poured over a smorgasbord of nuanced, intricate sounds, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is both beautiful and challenging. Each song stands alone well, and also fits into the piece as a whole perfectly. This is the "granddaddy of them all" for me. If I had just one album to listen to, this would be it, and I doubt I'd get bored.
