Underrated and often forgotten, the third and final Whiskeytown album was released almost two years after the band had broken up. It was released finally to help bolster sales for Ryan Adam's Gold album. There is true greatness here: "Jacksonville Skyline", "Don't Be Sad", and many more. Rumor has it that these are the best out of over 100 songs recorded for the album over a 3 year period. Whiskeytown was a great band. Pneumonia is a beautiful and forgotten classic.
This album is currently on 10 charts on BEA.
Sounds really good - will come back to it for a detailed listen.
NickVolos
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Theatrical and surreal vignettes ranging from dark to celebratory made up of piano and one of the most expressive, unrestrained voices I know of (and silly noises in abundance). Prisoners, Ne Me Quitte Pas (one of my favourite songs), Consequence of Sound (she raps, seriously, though I guess it is sort of singsong rapping), and Oedipus are highlights. Also, I think all of these songs were done in one take.
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Incredibly stream of consciousness album, I think. Feels like it came right off of the top of her head and I love every minute. Needs more appreciation for sure.
Like, this is way too long, just listen to it already.
Wow! Sounds beautiful and deserves a detailed listening.
...and there is a definite touch of Joni Mitchell in it.
NickVolos
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Why write about it when you can let the music speak for itself?
You got a point. But, I believe, they are really 2 different things: 1) to listen - a personal experience, and 2) to promote - to "sell" (in a way) your personal experience to other people.
Anyway, works best if your "promotion" is focused -like 1 album at a time, and if it brings out an emotional piece of yourself.
Thank you all - I am getting a good list of not so known gems.
NickVolos
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I know I've said what I thought about Snow Patrol's A Hundred Million Suns, so I'll just copy what I said on another thread similar to recommending albums. This is in 11 charts and it's sad because it should get more attention and the fact that this has a rating of 66/100 on BEA strikes me as confusing, how can such a soaring album garner that sort of rating. Anyway, here's what I said:
IrishMusichead wrote:
My Recommendation:
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Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns (2008)
I personally like Snow Patrol's music and I feel like this album is their most under-rated, despite mixed to positive reviews. This is their attempt to step out of their comfort zone a little from making ballads that can be summed up by their singles to, not only retaining that formula but, to expand upon it into an interesting experimentation for the band. The lyrics are about as emotional as poetry and has that scale that Snow Patrol didn't quite acheive on their previous releases and are having difficulty replicating now.
I know I've said what I thought about Snow Patrol's A Hundred Million Suns, so I'll just copy what I said on another thread similar to recommending albums. This is in 11 charts and it's sad because it should get more attention. Anyway, here's what I said:
This. I can go to people's charts to get lists. I want to hear about why it's so great, even if it's vague or personal.
Seems a fair request. With that in mind, here are albums from my overall chart that appear in ten charts or less. It probably doesn't need saying, but I recommend each of them as highly as I possibly can:
Gregory Isaacs - More Gregory (1981)
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Really strong lovers rock and roots reggae from The Cool Ruler. He has a voice like silk, and this is his strongest collection of songs, largely concerned with lost love or his struggles with authority. The playing is superb, and the whole set just bounces along joyously.
Various Artists - 5: Five Years of Hyperdub (2009)
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2CD compilation tracking the first five years of the fantastic Hyperdub label. It's full of intelligent dubstep that treads the line between the cerebral and the dancefloor-igniting functional perfectly. From the 8-bit dancehall of Zomby's 'Spliff Dub', to the sparse, percussion-driven wobbles of Mala's 'Level Nine', through to the soulful synth pop of 2000F & J Kamata's dancefloor-slaying 'You Don't Know What Love Is', 5 is a perfectly sequenced, all killer, no filler thrill-ride through some of the genre's most memorable hits.
Mr. Fingers - Ammnesia (1989)
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A compilation pulling together the first six singles and their B-sides released by Chicago producer Larry Heard under his Mr. Fingers banner. Expect soulful acid house that, like much of the stuff on the Hyperdub compilation, is as at home heard through headphones whilst lying in bed as it is through huge soundsystems in clubs.
Harald Grosskopf - Synthesist (1980)
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German synth experimentation. Pretty difficult to describe, so I'll leave it to this wonderful comment from ButterThumbz to sum things up: "Was this album born from an egg on a mountain top or what? Great stuff!"
Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man (1971)
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Of all the albums on this list, Pieces of a Man is the one that I was most surprised to see appears in less than ten charts. I always thought it was pretty widely regarded as a masterpiece. Accessible jazzy soul, featuring politically-charged lyrics that touch on a wide array of topics with style and class. I assume most people are familiar with the fantastic 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised', but equally great are the likes of 'Lady Day and John Coltrane', 'I Think I'll Call It Morning' and 'Home Is Where The Hatred Is', among others.
Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution (1978)
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Fantastic reggae from my hometown. Unlike More Gregory, this album is not remotely bothered about love songs, instead it's full of tight, urgent reggae that focuses on on society, politics and religion. It's also pretty poppy by reggae standards, in that it's probably more palatable for rock fans than the mysticism of The Congos or the muddied dub of King Tubby or even the realist roots skank of Culture. It positions itself musically somewhere between Burning Spear's Marcus Garvey and Rastaman Vibration-era Bob Marley, and will appeal to fans of either.
The Fall - The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004 (2005)
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I was asked by a friend what the best starting place is for trying to get into The Fall. I don't think he was too impressed when I told him that it's a six disc boxset of radio sessions spanning a quarter of a century.
Theo Parrish - Parallel Dimensions (2000)
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Minimal jazzy house music that relies heavily on building atmosphere through almost tortuous levels of repetition. A beautiful, delicate little record that deserves a much wider audience.
The Impressions - The Impressions (1963)
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Fantastic pop-soul. Every song is as catchy and immediately familiar as the last. Mayfield was just an awesome songwriter, and the vocal harmonies throughout are lovely.
Various Artists - Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes
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Four disc set packed with fantastic extended remixes of lush Philly soul and disco.
Prince Buster - Fabulous Greatest Hits (1968)
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Timeless ska. Just so fun and effortlessly cool.
UGK - Super Tight (1994)
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Warmer, funkier and more playful than its highly regarded follow up, Ridin' Dirty, Super Tight is relatively carefree Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. Pimp C's beats are dripping in funk, yet have a lightness about them which allows them to remain fresh even in the face of hip-hop's subsequent progression. The pair have a real chemistry and are as perfect a match as their much more famous contemporaries Andre 3000 and Big Boi.
Keith Hudson - Pick a Dub (1974)
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Really earthy dub reggae that still sounds unbelievably fresh today. It's lo-fi nature gives the album a timeless quality, and the music here is pretty skeletal compared to stuff by Scientist or even King Tubby. It still doesn't really sound like anything else. It was the first dub record and is arguably the best.
Mississippi John Hurt - 1928 Sessions (1979)
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Almost unbelievably high quality recordings of John Hurt from 1928(!), played in Hurt's trademark classy fingerpicking style, which I actually find much more pleasant than Robert Johnson's fast-paced playing (not to take anything away from Johnson, who was clearly a fantastic artist who has been as influential on Western popular music as anybody else).
Steve Reich - Sextet / Six Marimbas (1986)
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It's beautiful, but I'm bored of writing now. Maybe I'll complete this list another time. The other albums on my chart that appear in ten or less charts are, as follows:
Lil B - 6 Kiss (2009)
Various Artists - Bangs & Works Vol. 1: A Chicago Footwork Compilation (2010)
Scientist - Scientist Rids The World Of The Evil Curse Of The Vampires (1981)
Jay Electronica - Pre-Act II: Greatest Hits (2011)
Ragga Twins - Ragga Twins Step Out (2008)
William Basinski - The Disintegration Loops (2012)
Hope somebody finds something they enjoy among that lot, and I'll continue coming back to this thread to find some hidden gems.
Here's three of the albums on my top 100 that you've likely never heard but would totally blow you away while sounding like nothing you've heard before...
Moondog- H'art Songs
While in his 60s, one of the most unique jazz artists ever makes a vocal album of odd little political ditties. It's more minimal than his usual work but the instrumentation is brilliant and the songs have an incredible emotional impact.
Kaada - Thank You For Giving Me Your Valuable Time
Scandinavian, Morricone-worshipper cuts and pastes jazz drums, 60s pop, and funk into great upbeat pop record.
Secret Chiefs 3 - Second Grand Constitution And Bylaws: Hurqalya
Former members of Mr Bungle team up for eclectic mix of middle eastern, surf, metal. Seriously. this is some of the wildest, and most technically incredible music I've heard _________________ http://jonnyleather.com
Of all the albums on this list, Pieces of a Man is the one that I was most surprised to see appears in less than ten charts. I always thought it was pretty widely regarded as a masterpiece.
Shocking. I can't believe it's in so few charts. great album. _________________ http://jonnyleather.com
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- I am getting a good list of not so known gems.
