Post by Shinobi-Iri (nick) on Sept 28, 2008 8:37:28 GMT -5
Just so you all know, this thread is not a 'my music is better than yours' thread; it serves to influence your own listening choices. I hope you'll all gain something form this, and maybe you'll have a new favorite artist by the time I'm done eh? These are my top 10 of all time...
Number 10: Nas - Illmatic (1994)
Naming a rapper Nas hasn't influenced is difficult, and this is the album that did it. Many people disliked 90's hip-hop, because the rampant commercialism totally killed the good time vibe that 80's rap had. But Illmatic is pure street, and East Coast Hip-Hop has
never had a better representative than Illmatic. Key tracks: Half-Time, N.Y State of Mind, The World is Yours, Represent
Number 9: Nine Inch Nails - Broken (1992)
Trent Reznor and his one-man project NIN started a revolution in alternative music when his brand of Industrial hit the scene in 1988. Broken isn't NIN's best work, nor is it the most influential. But it's a key release in defining NIN's signature style that would spawn such classics as The Downward Spiral and The Fragile. I would definately say this is one of my favorite NIN recordings. Key tracks: Wish, Gave Up, Happiness in Slavery
Number 8: Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
Most Pantera fans consider 1990's Cowboy's from Hell to be Pantera's best album. Indeed, my personal favorite Pantera song Cemetary Gates is on it, but VDoP has more instances of the group's aggressive and thrashy yet groove-orientated style. Groove metal is what these guys make; metal you can mosh to as much as you can dance to it, and I don't think I've heard it better than on this record. Key songs: Rise, Mouth for War, By Demons be Driven, Walk
Number 7: CKY - An Answer Can Be Found (2004)
One of my favorite groups did it again with this record, which was, in the words of Jess Margera a "total guitar record" as if it was a bad thing. Nearly every song on this record has a solo, and their experimental sound is built on brilliantly. I still do not tire of listening to this album, and I think anybody that wishes an introduction to CKY should listen to this first. Key tracks: Sniped, Tripled Manic State, Familiar Realm, All Power to Slaves
Number 6: Eminem - Slim Shady LP (1999)
You either love this man or hate him with a passion. But almost everybody I talk to cannot stand his more recent material. And that's true, Encore was fucking garbage, but SSLP is pure genius, and you can't deny Eminem has skills. They really shine on this record, and I found myself bouncing my head to the addictive beats, laughing at his hilarious rhymes and being astounded at his sheer skill as a word smith all in the space of an hour listening to it. Key tracks: Cum on Everybody, Bad Meets Evil, Brain Damage, Role Model
Number 5: Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
Don't get me wrong, Nirvana get pretty overplayed these days, and it always seems to be Teen Spirit. Nirvana were THE band of the 90's, and they led the Grunge movement into the mainstream; something I'm not saying was a good or a bad thing. But had they not, I probably wouldn't have discovered them, so I'm personally grateful. Nevermind has so many good songs aside from Teen Spirit though, it's not even funny. Key tracks: Lithium, Polly, Come as you Are
Number 4: Kill 'em All - Metallica (1983)
The album that practically started Thrash metal. It doesn't matter Metallica are the biggest sell-outs on the planet nowadays, Kill 'em All still lives on in the Thrash-head's minds for sure, and it's from this song that I've had to learn so many covers for my band. Regardless, this album has a great bass solo on it. Key tracks: Seek n Destroy, Anesthesia, Pulling Teeth
Number 3: Nine Inch Nails - And All That Could Have Been (2002)
I might get ripped apart for putting a live album on here, but buy this record and you'll see why. NIN are probably one of the best live acts we've seen for a while, not just for their on-stage antics, but their quality of performance and willingness to innovate. I've never heard March of the Pigs performed the same way in any of the eras of it's performance, since 1994. You'll also hear some of the group's most classic songs, and isn't that worth it? Key tracks: Suck, Sin, Starfuckers, Inc., The Wretched, March of the Pigs
Number 2: Fear Factory - Demanufacture (1995)
I love Industrial metal, but I wasn't sure whether to put this or Sehnsuht by Rammstein as my number 2 album. This album just breathes industrial, and still retains the Death influence that FF have. Key tracks: Replica
Number 1: Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
Come on, if you've been on the board for 5 minutes you must have noticed my love for these guys. The Fragile is such a diverse album, and has some of NIN's greatest instrumentals on there, as well as some tracks that are still played live regulary. This two-disc LP is considered by some to be NIN's magnum opus, at least those that are battling with the ones who believe it's The Downward Spiral. Either way, this is good stuff! Key tracks: Starfuckers, Inc., The Wretched, Where is Everybody?, Into the Void, La Mer
There you have it, I hope I've influenced some people, and I hope you'll take heed and check out some of these records.
Shinobi.
Number 10: Nas - Illmatic (1994)
Naming a rapper Nas hasn't influenced is difficult, and this is the album that did it. Many people disliked 90's hip-hop, because the rampant commercialism totally killed the good time vibe that 80's rap had. But Illmatic is pure street, and East Coast Hip-Hop has
never had a better representative than Illmatic. Key tracks: Half-Time, N.Y State of Mind, The World is Yours, Represent
Number 9: Nine Inch Nails - Broken (1992)
Trent Reznor and his one-man project NIN started a revolution in alternative music when his brand of Industrial hit the scene in 1988. Broken isn't NIN's best work, nor is it the most influential. But it's a key release in defining NIN's signature style that would spawn such classics as The Downward Spiral and The Fragile. I would definately say this is one of my favorite NIN recordings. Key tracks: Wish, Gave Up, Happiness in Slavery
Number 8: Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
Most Pantera fans consider 1990's Cowboy's from Hell to be Pantera's best album. Indeed, my personal favorite Pantera song Cemetary Gates is on it, but VDoP has more instances of the group's aggressive and thrashy yet groove-orientated style. Groove metal is what these guys make; metal you can mosh to as much as you can dance to it, and I don't think I've heard it better than on this record. Key songs: Rise, Mouth for War, By Demons be Driven, Walk
Number 7: CKY - An Answer Can Be Found (2004)
One of my favorite groups did it again with this record, which was, in the words of Jess Margera a "total guitar record" as if it was a bad thing. Nearly every song on this record has a solo, and their experimental sound is built on brilliantly. I still do not tire of listening to this album, and I think anybody that wishes an introduction to CKY should listen to this first. Key tracks: Sniped, Tripled Manic State, Familiar Realm, All Power to Slaves
Number 6: Eminem - Slim Shady LP (1999)
You either love this man or hate him with a passion. But almost everybody I talk to cannot stand his more recent material. And that's true, Encore was fucking garbage, but SSLP is pure genius, and you can't deny Eminem has skills. They really shine on this record, and I found myself bouncing my head to the addictive beats, laughing at his hilarious rhymes and being astounded at his sheer skill as a word smith all in the space of an hour listening to it. Key tracks: Cum on Everybody, Bad Meets Evil, Brain Damage, Role Model
Number 5: Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
Don't get me wrong, Nirvana get pretty overplayed these days, and it always seems to be Teen Spirit. Nirvana were THE band of the 90's, and they led the Grunge movement into the mainstream; something I'm not saying was a good or a bad thing. But had they not, I probably wouldn't have discovered them, so I'm personally grateful. Nevermind has so many good songs aside from Teen Spirit though, it's not even funny. Key tracks: Lithium, Polly, Come as you Are
Number 4: Kill 'em All - Metallica (1983)
The album that practically started Thrash metal. It doesn't matter Metallica are the biggest sell-outs on the planet nowadays, Kill 'em All still lives on in the Thrash-head's minds for sure, and it's from this song that I've had to learn so many covers for my band. Regardless, this album has a great bass solo on it. Key tracks: Seek n Destroy, Anesthesia, Pulling Teeth
Number 3: Nine Inch Nails - And All That Could Have Been (2002)
I might get ripped apart for putting a live album on here, but buy this record and you'll see why. NIN are probably one of the best live acts we've seen for a while, not just for their on-stage antics, but their quality of performance and willingness to innovate. I've never heard March of the Pigs performed the same way in any of the eras of it's performance, since 1994. You'll also hear some of the group's most classic songs, and isn't that worth it? Key tracks: Suck, Sin, Starfuckers, Inc., The Wretched, March of the Pigs
Number 2: Fear Factory - Demanufacture (1995)
I love Industrial metal, but I wasn't sure whether to put this or Sehnsuht by Rammstein as my number 2 album. This album just breathes industrial, and still retains the Death influence that FF have. Key tracks: Replica
Number 1: Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
Come on, if you've been on the board for 5 minutes you must have noticed my love for these guys. The Fragile is such a diverse album, and has some of NIN's greatest instrumentals on there, as well as some tracks that are still played live regulary. This two-disc LP is considered by some to be NIN's magnum opus, at least those that are battling with the ones who believe it's The Downward Spiral. Either way, this is good stuff! Key tracks: Starfuckers, Inc., The Wretched, Where is Everybody?, Into the Void, La Mer
There you have it, I hope I've influenced some people, and I hope you'll take heed and check out some of these records.
Shinobi.
