1000 Greatest Albums of all Time

 914a The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We (1993) Studio Album - Pop Rock About the Act: The Cranberries were an Irish Pop Rock band from 1989-2003, and again from 2009-2019. They are sometimes billed as Alternative Rock. They were fronted by Dolores O'Riordan, who sang and wrote most of the lyrics. They released 8 albums, and disbanded after Dolores died. About the Album: This was their debut album My History with this Album: None, although I know a couple of tracks which charted. Review: Somehow this got listed in my list as "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?/No Need to Argue", and I had assumed that this was because they had been released as a double album package.  I have not found any such release, so you are going to get a twofer for number 914. This is guitar-based pop-rock of a type that seems familiar to the late 80s/early 90s, especially being Irish, there is a feel of The Corrs, and others in this. It's very acces...

 915 Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (1973) Studio Album - Progressive Rock About the Act: Mike Oldfield didn’t quite spring out of nowhere, he was a jobbing musician before he came to massive prominence, but his album Tubular Bells was a huge success, both for him, and for the record label it launched, Virgin. Mike is a multi-instrumentalist, and the first prominent one to make whole albums himself. He started mostly instrumentally, and developed distinctive style and several signature sounds. Later, he branched out into songs, of particular success were Family Man and Moonlight Shadow. Later still he went back to his original schtick of long, evolving instrumental music. There is of course, more that can be said about his history. For me, his career was quite the inspiration for my own music project, Purple.  About the Album: This is the album that launched Mike's career, and also the Virgin record label. It was created by him overdubbing many, many times, and he played almost...

 916 The Drifters - The Drifters Golden Hits (1968)  Compilation Album - Soul About the Act: The Drifters are an American Doo-Wop and Soul band who have existed since 1953, and have gone through a ridiculous number of line-ups over the years, including splinter groups and different spin-offs. The claim to the name "Drifters" can be quiet tenuous, and they have featured at least 60 singers. They had some chart hits in the 50s, more in the 60s, and more in the 70s. About the Album: It's not clear whether this is a compilation on a studio album, it certainly contains songs which appear on earlier albums, and features 5 lead singers, including Ben E King. My History with this Album: None, directly. Review: In the early noughties (I think it was), my wife and I took a holiday in Majorca at Easter, a package at a resort. One night they laid on a coach to an event which was repeatedly claimed to be "the best night of your holiday". This featured a kind of cross between...

 917 Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists (1992) Studio Album - Heavy Rock About the Act: Manic Street Preachers, or "The Manics" are a rock band from Wales, who have been in existence since 1986. They are known for their critical social commentary and left-wing politics.  They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore. After their first single they were joined by Richey Edwards, who disappeared in 1995, and is now presumed dead. About the Album: This was the debut album by the band. Pre-released they claimed it would be "The best rock album ever", and that it would sell around sixteen million copies. It was received well, sold less than they claimed, and arguably is not the best rock album ever. My History with this Album: None, although I know the track "Motorcycle Emptiness" as it was a successful single. Review: From the second this album started it surprised me. The Manics are another of those bands that I have only really engaged ...

 918 R.E.M. - Document (1987) Studio Album - Alternative Rock About the Act: R.E.M. were one of the first bands to be thought of as "Alternative Rock", with an edgier style and sound, and songs with meaning and social commentary. At the start they were less accessible, but as their sound matured and became more accessible, they became radio-friendly, and had massive success. It helps that their singer, Michael Stipe, has a very distinctive voice, with a kind of nasal twang to it that lends itself well to pathos. They were from Georgia, USA, existed from 1980 to 2011 and created 15 studio albums. About the Album: This was the fifth studio album by the band, and came around the time when they were starting to be noticed internationally and being successful. My History with this Album: None, although I know two of the songs "The End Of The World as We Know It" and "The One I Love" pretty well. Review: I have mixed feelings about R.E.M., some of their songs I ...

919 Jethro Tull - Crest of a Knave (1987) Studio Album - Heavy Rock About the Act: Jethro Tull have been in existence since 1967, with a 5-year break recently. They were named after an 18th Century agriculturalist. They are a British band, and could be thought of as a curiosity, had they not been so successful. Folk in Britain comes in two main varieties, English Folk and Celtic Folk (mostly from Scotland and Ireland, but Northumberland and other places also join in). English Folk has developed a distinctive nasal style of singing. Jethro Tull have managed to successfully merge English Folk, Heavy Rock, and at times Classical and Progressive elements. They have managed to change styles with the times, while maintaining their Folk-Rock core sound. Their frontman, Ian Anderson is a charismatic, mad wizard, who sings lead vocals and plays the flute (famously on one leg). He took flute playing into some quite inventive sounds, and with Heavy Rock (and sometimes otherwise) backing, writes a...

 920 The Breeders - Pod (1990) Studio Album - Alternative Rock About the Act: The Breeders were formed as a side project by Kim Deal of the Pixies, and Tanya Donnelly of Throwing Muses, in 1989. It was designed as a vehicle for Kim Deal's songwriting and singing, a she was frustrated at not having enough presence in the Pixies. They have been active since then with some breaks. They currently are Kim and her twin sister Kelly, Josephine Wiggs and Jim Macpherson. They are based in Dayton, Ohio and can be seen as part of a wider music scene. They have released 5 studio albums so far. About the Album: This is the first album by the band, who at this stage were Kim Deal, Tanya Donelly, Britt Walford and Josephine Wiggs. My History with this Album: None Review: The music is very simple, and the arrangements are really stripped back, mostly to drums, bass, over-driver guitar and singing. It's all very deliberately raw and alternating between raucous and empty. It's like waves of ...

 921 Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses (1978) Studio Album - Folk Rock About the Act: Jethro Tull have been in existence since 1967, with a 5-year break recently. They were named after an 18th Century agriculturalist. They are a British band, and could be thought of as a curiosity, had they not been so successful. Folk in Britain comes in two main varieties, English Folk and Celtic Folk (mostly from Scotland and Ireland, but Northumberland and other places also join in). English Folk has developed a distinctive nasal style of singing. Jethro Tull have managed to successfully merge English Folk, Heavy Rock, and at times Classical and Progressive elements. They have managed to change styles with the times, while maintaining their Folk-Rock core sound. Their frontman, Ian Anderson is a charismatic, mad wizard, who sings lead vocals and plays the flute (famously on one leg). He took flute playing into some quite inventive sounds, and with Heavy Rock (and sometimes otherwise) backing, writes a...

 922 Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times (2007)  Studio Album - Rock About the Act: Kings of Leon are an American band, formed in Nashville in 1999, and made up of three brothers and a cousin. They have had significant success, it would seem more so in the UK than in the US, but certainly in both. Their best-known song in the UK is "Your Sex Is On Fire"  They have released seven studio albums to date. About the Album: This is their third album. It got some great reviews, and topped the UK album chart. My History with this Album: None, although I have been aware of Kings of Leon in the distance somewhat. Review: So up until today I have lumped Kings of Leon in with a load of other rock bands that emerged about the same time, in the naughties (or a bit earlier) like Artic Monkeys and Snow Patrol and Elbow and Kaiser Chiefs and even Coldplay and the Manics. I never really paid attention to them.  In some ways this album reminds me of early U2, or even early Simple Mind...

923 MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2008) Studio Album - Indie Rock About the Act: MGMT are an American Indie rock group/duo from Connecticut. They are multi-instrumentalists Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. They recruited more musicians for live performances and then started to use them for recording too. They have been active since 2002. About the Album: This is the debut album by the duo, which comes after the release of a successful EP. They re-recorded some of the songs from the EP for the album. My History with this Album: None Review: This has a kind of sound of American Indie rock, quite energetic and "dirty" in it's approach, but with some psychedelic elements (mostly sound processing and synth sounds reminiscent of earlier psychedelic stuff). It's quite a strong album and I enjoyed it, the music is at times quite catchy, and the lyrics have some heart and intelligence to them. I especially liked the opening track. You'd think after a couple of listen...

 924 Dire Straits - Dire Straits (1978) Studio Album - Blues Rock About the Act: Dire Straits were a British Blues/Rock band who are one of the most successful bands in the world. They existed from 1977-1988 and again from 1991-5. They are known for their musicality, and the strength of the guitar playing, storytelling songs, and the seemingly half-huttered, half-sung vocals. Front-man Mark Knopfler is from the North East of ENgland and references to the area appear in several of their songs. About the Album: This was the first album by Dire Straits. It went double-platinum in the UK and the US. My History with this Album: I've had a copy for years but don't play it that often. If I feel like some Dire Straits I usually go for one of their later albums. Review: This does not feel like a debut album. It's really together, and the music is really strong and confident. Musically this is blues-laden rock, with a prominent role for Mark Knopfler's guitar playing, especially ...

 925 The National - High Violet (2010) Studio album - Indie Rock About the Act: The National were formed in 1999 in Brooklyn, New York, although all the members are from Cincinnati Ohio. The band comprises 5 guys, four of whom are two sets of brothers, and the fifth (Matt Berninger) is the singer, front-man and lyricist. They have released 8 studio albums and have been compared to Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen. Critics like them.   About the Album: This is the 5th studio album by the band, and one of their best-regarded albums. My History with this Album: None Review: So I reviewed one of The National's other albums and was not very complimentary [ Trouble will find Me ]. I'm either in a better mood, or this is a better album. Musically it's washy, in that it's about textures rather than tunes. It's kind of medium rock, but quite evocative. I wouldn't say it excited me musically, but I can live with it. The textural quality is a suitable backing to the vocals. The...

 926 Neil Young - Neil Young (1969) Studio Album - Folk Rock About the Act: Neil Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter-musician, who has been musically active since 1963. After high school bands and other non-successful bands, he moved to the US and formed the band Buffalo Springfield in 1966. He was with the band until 1968, when he launched his solo career. After his first solo album he formed the backing band "Crazy Horse" so some albums are credited to "Neil Young and Crazy Horse". Crazy Horse also created albums without Neil. He also, in 1969, joined Crosby, Stills and Nash to form Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. That seemed to last a year until 1970. He has had several backing bands since then of several names. He has had reunions with Crosby Stills, Nash and Young. He has had 3 studio albums with Buffalo Springfield, 3 with CSN&Y, and 42 studio albums, some with Crazy Horse, and some with other backing bands (including one with Pearl Jam). He has sold a...

 927 The Wu-Tang Clan - The W (2000)  Studio album - Hip Hop About the Act: The Wu-Tang Clan, sometimes known as The Wu, are a hip-hop group, who could also be called a collective, of rappers. They have 9 members and one ex-member (deceased): RZA, GZA, Inspectah Dack, U-God, Gostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, and the late Ol' Dirty B*stard. They are an important East Coast rap band (they are from NY), and have been the launching pad for quite a few members as solo artists. They have been hugely influential and successful, having been hailed by Kris Ex of Rolling Stone as the best rap group ever. Or maybe that should be "eva".  They are named after a cheesy martial arts film, and deliberately bring martial arts mythology into their music. They have created 8 studio albums.  About the Album: This was the third studio album by the group. There are enough of them, you would think, but the album also has guest appearances by Isaac Hayes, Redman...

 928 Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love (1987) Studio Album - Rock About the Act: Bruce Springsteen, sometimes known as "The Boss" is an American singer/songwriter and musician, known for his songs about working class Americans. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists. He has been active since 1964, but his break came in the mid-70s, notably with the album "Born to Run". His style is mostly rock, but with elements of folk. He has been consistently highly regarded, and has released 20 studio albums. He is famed for the energy and length of his live shows. About the Album: This is Bruce's 8th studio album. Although it featured members of his regular band, the E Street Band, Bruce performed most of the parts himself. It sold really well in lots of countries around the world. My History with this Album: None Review: I'm not a huge Bruce fan, maybe he's too American for me, maybe I was put off by comments by female peers on the quality of his ...

 929 David Bowie - Black Tie White Noise (1993) Studio Album - Art Rock About the Act: David Bowie was a British Pop/Rock star from Bromley in Kent. He first started to come to prominence in the late 60s/early 70s, and was musically active up until his death in 2016.  Bowie was noted for his ever-shifting style, and constant reinvention of himself musically and adopting a variety of public personas. His popularity waxed and waned over his career, as the styles and personas he experimented with were more or less attractive. Some might accuse him of style over substance, but it is more true to say that the style was the substance. He released 27 studio albums, including two credited to the band Tin Machine.  He also had a career as an actor, and was an active artist and art collector. As one of the world's pop megastars, his history, public and private life have been endlessly picked over. About the Album: This album came after a rather less successful patch in Bowie's care...