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 ...