Our Favorite Albums (41 – 50)
41. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) [1993]
Nominated by Big Bent of Dub Revolution (and many more!), DJ MTSPEN of Storytime/Motivation Nation and Rick Reaction.
DJ MTSPEN says: For me, this album changed how I listened to music and how I developed deeper connections with artists. All nine members stand out on the album, and its such a unique mix of sounds and display of raw creativity they show.
42. King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King [1969]
Nominated by DJ Cheshire Cat of Wonderland and Sir Jon of Pint O’ Comics.
Sir Jon says: Blows your mind, don’t it?
DJ Cheshire Cat says: By 1969, The Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, Gong, and others had hinted at the progressive rock genre. The cacophonous audio assault of “21st Century Schizoid Man”, this album’s opening track, was the howling birth cry of the newborn movement. The specificity and purpose of King Crimson’s arrangements on their debut is amazeballs. That they eschewed mining psychedelia and existing folk music for their inspiration and created a self-contained mythos in each song is simply astonishing.
43. Phoebe Bridgers – Stranger in the Alps [2017]
Nominated by DJ MTSPEN of Storytime/Motivation Nation, DJ Livor Mortis of Word on the Street and DJ Jagged Little Thrill of What the Funk & Word on the Street.
DJ MTSPEN says: Though just now hitting mainstream big, Bridgers’s first release grabbed me for a long time when I first heard it. Her songwriting is bold like few are in her genre today.
44. Albert King – Born Under a Bad Sign [1967]
Nominated by Richard Kamins of River Valley Rhythms and Sir Jon of Pint O’ Comics.
Richard Kamins says: Guitarist King meets Booker T & The MGs and joyous music is created!
Sir Jon says: Great late ’60s blues from a Chicago master, along with a backing band just as large.
45. Madvillain – Madvillainy [2004]
Nominated by DJ MTSPEN of Storytime/Motivation Nation, Fluccs Capacitor of Time Moves Slow, and DJ Lukey G of The Guest List.
DJ MTSPEN says: Seminal underground hip hop collab between Madlb and MF DOOM. Match made in heaven.
Fluccs Capacitor says: Peanut Butter and Jelly. Some producers and MCs find each other mid career because of opportunity and some kismet. I think the combo of two elusive beat heads with an appreciation for clever rhymes was never better paired. Doom’s love of words is so evident that you nod along to the pronunciation and then do a double take for what he just said. The glitchy production of Madlib is given more space and sonically has a theme but the whole album is a lovely melange sounds wrestling for notice while Doom rides the beat the whole time.
46. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters [2020]
Nominated by DJ Livor Mortis of Word on the Street and DJ Jagged Little Thrill of What the Funk & Word on the Street.
Rooted in experimentation, the album largely features unconventional percussion. While conventional instruments, such as pianos and drum sets, do appear, the album also features prominent use of non-musical found objects as percussion. Apple described the result as “percussion orchestras”. These industrial-like rhythms are contrasted against traditional melodies, and the upbeat songs often subvert traditional pop structures. (wikipedia.org)
47. Black Sabbath – Paranoid [1970]
Nominated by Johnny Ganache of Pint O’ Comcs, DJ Deni of Lovin’ the 70’s, and Andy Chatfield of Center for the Arts Radio Hour.
Johnny Ganache says: Early metal. So earthy and grungy sounding to me.
48. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit [2015]
Nominated by DJ TJ of Punkadelic and DJ AmorOso of WTF: What the Funk & Storytime.
Barnett had spent a year writing songs for her album but only showed them to her band a week before they were recorded in order to capture a “fresh” sound. The song “Pedestrian at Best” was written “at the last minute” and the recorded version was the first time that Barnett had sung the words out loud. (wikipedia.org)
49.The Kinks – The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society [1968]
Nominated by Richard Kamins of River Valley Rhythms, Sir Jon of Pint O’ Comics, and Leith of The Light Fandango.
Richard Kamins says: God Bless the Kinks––Ray Davies could really compose vignettes of British society.
Sir Jon says: The recent rerelease of this album reminded me how much I love the Kinks and how much I love this particular release from them.
50. Paul Simon – Graceland [1986]
Nominated by Karen Stein of Imagine, Michael Benson of 75% Folk, and Andy Chatfield of Center for the Arts Radio Hour
Karen Stein says: A daring album that almost didn’t happen, what with apartheid and all that. Simon took a huge risk in recording with Ladysmith Black Mambazo (which was illegal in South Africa) and suffered the disdain of many who believed he was exploiting them. In fact, he paid 3 times what he was required to pay. His career was deep in the doldrums and this daring album changed all that. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes! Yes, yes, yes! One of the best lines ever!
Michael Benson says: Ground breaking
