Desert Island Music Draft Thread *** draft is over ***
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RUSH - Caress of Steel
I simply must have RUSH on my island, imo Niel Peart is a drumming god, plus he shares a birthday with me. And while I have several of theirs to choose from I would be remiss to not start with this one due in part to The Fountain of Lamneth which I have had serenaded to me by some very dear friends.
Caress of Steel is the third studio album by Rush, released in 1975. The album shows more of Rush's adherence to the standards of progressive rock. Long pieces, pieces broken up into parts, and solo passages of speed and agility are all included. The album is often considered notable for the inclusion of the band's first epic piece, "The Fountain Of Lamneth", which runs to nearly 20 minutes and comprised the whole of side two of the original vinyl release
I simply must have RUSH on my island, imo Niel Peart is a drumming god, plus he shares a birthday with me. And while I have several of theirs to choose from I would be remiss to not start with this one due in part to The Fountain of Lamneth which I have had serenaded to me by some very dear friends.
Caress of Steel is the third studio album by Rush, released in 1975. The album shows more of Rush's adherence to the standards of progressive rock. Long pieces, pieces broken up into parts, and solo passages of speed and agility are all included. The album is often considered notable for the inclusion of the band's first epic piece, "The Fountain Of Lamneth", which runs to nearly 20 minutes and comprised the whole of side two of the original vinyl release
My #3 choice was a difficult one to make from a strategy point of view, as I'm neglecting two picks that I'm almost certain won't last until my #4 and #5, but was the very first CD that popped into my head when I started planning:
Stray Cats -- Built for Speed (1982) -- I'll never forget the first time I learned of the Stray Cats; it was 1984-ish, I was about six years old, parked in front of MTV back when they still played videos (videos several years old, no less), and all of a sudden I hear Brian Setzer play the opening notes of "Stray Cat Strut" on that big bad 1959 Gretsch. I was hooked. The rockabilly sound, the mile high pompadours, the cars... I had discovered my personal definition of "cool." Many years later, that definition hasn't changed. This album is just ****ing cool.
Stray Cats -- Built for Speed (1982) -- I'll never forget the first time I learned of the Stray Cats; it was 1984-ish, I was about six years old, parked in front of MTV back when they still played videos (videos several years old, no less), and all of a sudden I hear Brian Setzer play the opening notes of "Stray Cat Strut" on that big bad 1959 Gretsch. I was hooked. The rockabilly sound, the mile high pompadours, the cars... I had discovered my personal definition of "cool." Many years later, that definition hasn't changed. This album is just ****ing cool.
Alright, after looking through my list at my assorted selection of great 90's rock albums, I decided to take my personal favorite rap album, for strategy's sake. I have a feeling this is on the minds of some of the draftees later this round and the next round and I wanted to get it before it was gone.
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP - 2000
This is the first rap album I ever purchased myself. It is my favorite Eminem album. It is filled with controversial lyrics and hate, mostly for his mother and wife, but the lyrical skills cannot be denied. Eminem is truly at his best with this album. Many hits came off this album, from the grossly overplayed "The Real Slim Shady", to "Stan", which truly shows off Em's ability to tell a story and draw the listener in, to "The Way I Am", which is my personal favorite.
"Stan" may be best remembered for the live performance with Elton John at the MTV awards.
My collection is well rounded, and I wanted to nab this one before it was gone.
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP - 2000
This is the first rap album I ever purchased myself. It is my favorite Eminem album. It is filled with controversial lyrics and hate, mostly for his mother and wife, but the lyrical skills cannot be denied. Eminem is truly at his best with this album. Many hits came off this album, from the grossly overplayed "The Real Slim Shady", to "Stan", which truly shows off Em's ability to tell a story and draw the listener in, to "The Way I Am", which is my personal favorite.
"Stan" may be best remembered for the live performance with Elton John at the MTV awards.
My collection is well rounded, and I wanted to nab this one before it was gone.
Of all the albums on my list there is precisely one that can't be easily replaced by the album that preceded it or followed it or an album by a similar group. And that album is:
Weezer - Pinkerton
I don't know what it is about this album - there are many Weezer "fans" who only like the Blue and Green self titled albums and then there are quite a few people who aren't huge fans that consider this one of the best albums of the 90s. I'm somewhere in between, but this is definitely one of my favorite albums from the era. Released in '96 it didn't go gold until 2001 and it continues to sell at a similar pace. Rolling Stone famously gave it a lukewarm review on release before bumping it up to 5 stars 8 years later when it had already become a staple on many greatest album lists.
Frankly, I never got the dichotomy, sure its a little rougher around the edges than the blue album and it didn't have a video with the Fonz, but its got equally quirky/humorous songs like "The Good Life" and the opener "Tired of Sex". The first single "El Scorcho" had me from the opening line "God damn you half japanese girls" even before throwing in an ECW reference out of nowhere and segueing it into Madame Butterfly - "Watching Grunge leg drop New Jack through a press table/and then my heart stopped/listening to Cio Cio San/Fall in love all over again". And certainly Rivers and I aren't the only ones to have crushed on a girl who plays for the other team, yet the third single "Pink Triangle" where Rivers laments "If everyone's a little queer, can't she be a little straight?" flopped so badly they didn't bother with a video.
There really isn't a bad track on this album and clocking in at roughly 35 minutes it doesn't take long to play through which in my house means many return visits.
Weezer - Pinkerton
I don't know what it is about this album - there are many Weezer "fans" who only like the Blue and Green self titled albums and then there are quite a few people who aren't huge fans that consider this one of the best albums of the 90s. I'm somewhere in between, but this is definitely one of my favorite albums from the era. Released in '96 it didn't go gold until 2001 and it continues to sell at a similar pace. Rolling Stone famously gave it a lukewarm review on release before bumping it up to 5 stars 8 years later when it had already become a staple on many greatest album lists.
Frankly, I never got the dichotomy, sure its a little rougher around the edges than the blue album and it didn't have a video with the Fonz, but its got equally quirky/humorous songs like "The Good Life" and the opener "Tired of Sex". The first single "El Scorcho" had me from the opening line "God damn you half japanese girls" even before throwing in an ECW reference out of nowhere and segueing it into Madame Butterfly - "Watching Grunge leg drop New Jack through a press table/and then my heart stopped/listening to Cio Cio San/Fall in love all over again". And certainly Rivers and I aren't the only ones to have crushed on a girl who plays for the other team, yet the third single "Pink Triangle" where Rivers laments "If everyone's a little queer, can't she be a little straight?" flopped so badly they didn't bother with a video.
There really isn't a bad track on this album and clocking in at roughly 35 minutes it doesn't take long to play through which in my house means many return visits.
nNOoooooononooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Dammit, just two picks before mine and its gets robbed....and it lasted so damn long. ****. Man I don't know what I'm gonna do on my island without my top favorite rap song, The Way I Am. Dammit to hell.
Okay, I'm done with the sniveling. To be truthful I was having trouble picking between the album you just stole from me C Diddy and the one I am about to pick. I decided on The Marshall Mathers LP last night, but, this album is just as good if not arguably better. It is at the very least, more influential:
Dr. Dre - (The Chronic) 2001 - 1999
Every song on this album is hot. From the live rendition of the Dre classic "**** You" to the awesome beats of Knockturnal, Bang Bang, Xxplosive, and the still extremely memorable Still D.R.E. Then theres 3 of the top rap songs ever (IMO of course) What's the Difference, The Next Episode, and the Dre anthem Forgot About Dre.
You can't go wrong with this album, with its guest appearances from all the greats like Snoop, Nate Dogg, and Eminem. Hopefully this record will give me enough Eminem to last on this forsaken island.
When you pop in records like this or the Mathers LP, you can see just how far rap and hip hop has fallen in the last 8 or so years. The good news is, both Eminem and Dre are releasing new albums at the end of this year. Maybe they can turn the crap state of rap around. Its really the only hope left. But for now, we can still listen to the old classics like this one.
Dammit, just two picks before mine and its gets robbed....and it lasted so damn long. ****. Man I don't know what I'm gonna do on my island without my top favorite rap song, The Way I Am. Dammit to hell.
Okay, I'm done with the sniveling. To be truthful I was having trouble picking between the album you just stole from me C Diddy and the one I am about to pick. I decided on The Marshall Mathers LP last night, but, this album is just as good if not arguably better. It is at the very least, more influential:
Dr. Dre - (The Chronic) 2001 - 1999
Every song on this album is hot. From the live rendition of the Dre classic "**** You" to the awesome beats of Knockturnal, Bang Bang, Xxplosive, and the still extremely memorable Still D.R.E. Then theres 3 of the top rap songs ever (IMO of course) What's the Difference, The Next Episode, and the Dre anthem Forgot About Dre.
You can't go wrong with this album, with its guest appearances from all the greats like Snoop, Nate Dogg, and Eminem. Hopefully this record will give me enough Eminem to last on this forsaken island.
When you pop in records like this or the Mathers LP, you can see just how far rap and hip hop has fallen in the last 8 or so years. The good news is, both Eminem and Dre are releasing new albums at the end of this year. Maybe they can turn the crap state of rap around. Its really the only hope left. But for now, we can still listen to the old classics like this one.
I'd have to really disagree with you here. First, I think rap and REAL hip hop are completely different. Now, as far as commercial rap/hip hop goes, I agree it has completely gone down the crapper. I mean, you turn on the radio and all you get is heavy rotations very low quality stuff. But I very much believe that hip hop is still very much alive. Huge rap stars like tupac/biggie/dre and eminem don't come by very often. But you got to realize that there is a whole other element to the genre, which represents alot of hip hop fundamentals and alot of artists are still releasing very good stuff. For proof of that, both of these albums were released this year and are excellent. If you have not heard em, I suggest you do:
Aesop Rock- None Shall Pass
Atmosphere- When life gives you lemons
Hip hop is far from dead. Seriously, give those albums a listen. Nice choice btw./end rant
Okay maybe my statement was too broad.
The thing is, 2Pac, Biggie, Eminem, Dre all in their prime WERE (extremely) popular. The good rap was the popular rap. Now its the other way around. So, the crap artists of today like Flo Rida and Soulja Boy are only encouraged to make more of their terrible songs.
And I will try to check those out, thanks for the recommendation. Hopefully someone doesn't mistake those for a draft pick though
The thing is, 2Pac, Biggie, Eminem, Dre all in their prime WERE (extremely) popular. The good rap was the popular rap. Now its the other way around. So, the crap artists of today like Flo Rida and Soulja Boy are only encouraged to make more of their terrible songs.
And I will try to check those out, thanks for the recommendation. Hopefully someone doesn't mistake those for a draft pick though
Okay maybe my statement was too broad.
The thing is, 2Pac, Biggie, Eminem, Dre all in their prime WERE (extremely) popular. The good rap was the popular rap. Now its the other way around. So, the crap artists of today like Flo Rida and Soulja Boy are only encouraged to make more of their terrible songs.
And I will try to check those out, thanks for the recommendation. Hopefully someone doesn't mistake those for a draft pick though
The thing is, 2Pac, Biggie, Eminem, Dre all in their prime WERE (extremely) popular. The good rap was the popular rap. Now its the other way around. So, the crap artists of today like Flo Rida and Soulja Boy are only encouraged to make more of their terrible songs.
And I will try to check those out, thanks for the recommendation. Hopefully someone doesn't mistake those for a draft pick though
I threw those out there knowing they are fair game, but I really doubt anyone in this contest has them on their list anyway.
And I agree, all those big name stars were huge and appealed to many fans that may not have been rap/hip hop fans in general. There really hasn't been a huge name since eminem took a break to step up. Soulja boy and the likes disguist me and need to go away. Just complete garbage.
Weezer - Weezer (a.k.a. The Blue Album) 1994
OK, maybe I am panicking a little bit here, but with so many of my favorite records already gone, I have to pick The Blue Album a little bit early. And pdx already picked one Weezer album so...
This is a disc and a band that I discovered years after they already broke out and this album in particular has gone on to triple platinum sales before I picked it up from music exchange store in London. In a much more subtle way it is as important 90's disc as anything from Nirvana, Peppers or Pumpkins (my favorite bands of the 90's) as it made geeky, poppy music and musicians kind of cool (I said "kind of"). Fantastic, hook filled disc that can be listened to on repeat or sprinkled around a much larger playlist and one of the few albums in last 20 years that is great as a whole and not just 1-3 singles and filler.
OK, maybe I am panicking a little bit here, but with so many of my favorite records already gone, I have to pick The Blue Album a little bit early. And pdx already picked one Weezer album so...
This is a disc and a band that I discovered years after they already broke out and this album in particular has gone on to triple platinum sales before I picked it up from music exchange store in London. In a much more subtle way it is as important 90's disc as anything from Nirvana, Peppers or Pumpkins (my favorite bands of the 90's) as it made geeky, poppy music and musicians kind of cool (I said "kind of"). Fantastic, hook filled disc that can be listened to on repeat or sprinkled around a much larger playlist and one of the few albums in last 20 years that is great as a whole and not just 1-3 singles and filler.
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What better time to link this brand new Weezer video featuring many of the past and present internet memes, enjoy:
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What better time to link this brand new Weezer video featuring many of the past and present internet memes, enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI
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