One day I was listening to some music with my buddies and this song came on called “Out of Control”. I was like this sounds like U2 and it was. I loved the song so much I had to buy the album that it was from. Boy was released January 1st 1980. In my opinion this is the album where U2 became a great band. This is where they finally found their sound. Before, when you listen to their early recordings they sound like U2, but still transitioning from a Pub-Rock to Punk to a Post Punk band. This album solidifies their sound and you get some of the most agressive and dreamy rock and roll you will ever hear.

U2 – Boy

Released in 1969 Stand! prooves how damn good Sly and the Family Stone really are. Though they are typically listed as one of the top 20 bands of all time most people haven’t even heard them. This is the perfect mix of psychedelic funk, soul and rock. This album has a huge influence on all funk today. Put it this way these guys brought the funk to woodstock. You can’t say that about anyone else in music.


Sly and the Family Stone-Stand!

This weeks pick of the week is The Replacements – Let It Be. This is the first band to ever play SNL with the band completely drunk. Anyway Let It Be is an album that reflects perfectly what life is like for most kids in America. They don’t sing about anarchy and defying authority. Instead you get songs straight from the heart about the ups and downs of growning up. Even though the songs are simple most of them hit home. Everything from trying your luck with someone, having to talk to an answering machine, to the hardships of being 16. It is all very real and we can all relate. Give it a listen, I think most of you would love it.


The Replacements – Let It Be

Ok here is an album that has been overlooked since it’s release in 1987. Big Black’s-Songs About Fucking has been an instant classic in hard music since the day it was released. The album opens up with the song “The Power of Independent Trucking” which is one of the hardests songs drilled right at you. This album is Big Black’s finest. Hard to imagine that a drum machine, a guitar and bass can be this tough. This album has been a huge influence since it’s release. Such bands as NIN and Nirvana have taken this album as one of their greatest influences. This album is dry, raw, and it will kick your ass. If you want to understand hard music buy this album.

Big Black- Songs About Fucking

Ok here is an album most people have not heard, but should hear. Originally released in 1994 Drive Like Jehu’s Yank Crime is one of the loudest albums I ever heard. Written in the time when the air waves were plagued with grunge impersonators Yank Crime offered an aggressive, powerful, intense change to the typical “grunge” music that was popular at the time. The attitude on the album is very punk, no bullshit, no whining. This is definately one of the last great punk/indie records. A must in the collection.

Drive Like Jehu – Yank Crime

This weeks pick of the week is the one of the darkest, most beautiful, and romantic albums of all time. Enough said, if you haven’t heard Disintegration by The Cure you haven’t lived yet.

The Cure-Disintegration

This week’s pick of the week is Dinosaur Jr. ‘s You’re Living All Over Me . In my opinion this is Dinosaur Jr. at their finest moment. Recently remastered the new release has Just Like Heaven (a Cure cover on it) instead of Poledo. Personally I like it better that way. The album is gives a great mix of loud guitar driven melodic songs. Definately worth checking out.

Dinosaur Jr. – You’re Living All Over Me

Here is a CD that will express the true agression of 60s rock. Recorded in 1968 at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom, this CD is one of the best live CD’s I have heard and it truely expresses how ahead of their time MC5 were.

MC5- Kick out the Jams

This weeks pick of the week is The Stone Roses self titled. With this as their first mainstream release The Stone Roses revolutionized British Pop. The day this album was released, instantly the Stone Roses became one of the largest bands in the world at the time. Many bands have tried to imitate this band’s sound (example Oasis). Just give the album a listen and you will understand, this is Brit-Pop at it’s best.


The Stone Roses

A bit late but here is the pick of the week. When people think of The Jesus and Mary Chain they usually think the feedback and reverbed drenched sound of Physcocandy. That is a great album, but one of the most overlooked ones is Darklands. When you take away a lot of the feedback and reverb you get an amazing almost twee pop band. Give the album a good listen it has my 3 favorite Jesus and Mary Chain songs on it. A must in your collection.

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Darklands

Ok this is a very cliché pick of the week because everyone recommends this album. It’s almost as bad as hearing The Beatles are the best band of all time for the 172nd time in your life. Anyway this album London Calling by The Clash is a pop/rock and roll masterpiece. This album proved that bands could go from the garage to playing stadiums. U2 only wishes they could release an album like this.

The Clash- London Calling

By the time 1973 hit Brian Eno was fed up with Brian Ferry of Roxy Music and decided to embark on a solo career. The result is a modern masterpiece, Here Come the Warm Jets . Basically what this album is, is Roxy Music, but with Eno fronting it. Eno became the definition of english art rock after leaving Roxy Music. In my opinion this album (like almost every Brian Eno ablum) is still progressive to this day. If you haven’t ever heard Brian Eno or Roxy Music you don’t know what you are missing out on.

Brian Eno-Here Come the Warm Jets

Many people are not familiar with the greatness of The Jesus Lizard. The Jesus Lizard was formed in the late 80’s and still to this day in my opinion is one of the heaviest bands ever. The Jesus Lizard is a combination of ear piercing guitar, distorted growling bass, heavy crashing drum beats, and a mentally insane singer. It is an amazing sound like no other. The album Goat is The Jesus Lizard at it’s finest. This is definitely one of Steve Albini’s masterpieces. After listening to this album you will understand the definition of hard rock.

The Jesus Lizard Goat

We are starting a post called pick of the week as you can see. Pretty much these picks are albums that I am currently listening to that are at least 10 years old. Music I would definately recommend taking time to check out. Anyway the first pick of the week is an album I never have put away. My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless hands down is the best shoegaze album ever released. Nothing will ever come close to this master piece released in late 1991. If you haven’t given this album a good listen please do so. It will change your life.

-randall

Loveless