Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Release

42

Monster

REM

I could write so much in admiration about Michael Stripe and R.E.M, why because they were different. I won’t bore you as to why, so I will put it in a statement. “It is of my view that they paved the way to what we know of the Genre Alternative Rock” Grand Daddy Neil Young, wasn’t the only one who opened doors for the great Grunge bands that were to follow. The One I Love – you cannot get a better debuting song than that and it gave me a hell of reason to start following them back in 87. They have recorded so many daunting, breathtaking yet inspiring albums over the years and do I really need to mention any of the songs. Still it was this album that got me the most and with a little to my own amusement it was one of their most unsuccessful albums that they did (I think it may even be their worse commercially sale wise) I’m not sure why I gravitated to it because it was different to the normal REM album you could almost say experimental they put away the Mandolin and replaced it with a darker guitar sound throughout. For me it worked for the great masses it didn’t but there is little argument to just how good R.E.M are.

Crush with Eyeliner

What’s the frequency Kenneth

My Pick- Bang Blame

1994

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Release

43

Metallica – Black Album

Metallica

There are two Genres I never delve to much into “Heavy Metal and Country” though in my view I think Metallica danced on the fringes of Heavy Metal more of a combination of Alternative dirty grunge slash Soft Rock, my opinion which I have no doubt a lot of people would disagree. But if you think that out of all the Heavy Metal bands they would have enjoyed the most success commercially there must be reasoning behind this, this album debuted at No1 in the American Billboards and you don’t get that without normal radio station airplay. That’s not to say that they had their own sound because they did perhaps it was Hetfield’s voice that ensured this giving him some sort of separation from the typical lead singer of a heavy metal band. Still there is no doubting this album was a great farking album and I remember absolutely playing the shite out of it, “the swearing for emphasis”. Not only did the album have some great bass drum line beats and guitar work it was so enhanced and encased in meaningful lyrics a far cry from what you would expect from a normal heavy metal band. I’m not trying to convince myself that they were not Heavy Metal only different – A Great Album all the same.

Sad but True

Enter Sandman

My Pick-The Unforgiven

1991

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Release

44

But Seriously

Phil Collins

Not to long ago I had the pleasure of reading Phil Collins biography a book I enjoyed throughout. A very interesting story and it was great to get a good factual insight to an artist. Everything from his humble beginnings if you would call it that with Genesis (who I also like) to his marriage break ups to the basis of each of his songs lyrically. What I did take from his book he was a perfectionist at all costs and whilst a lot did come at a cost there is no doubting he went on to record some amazing music throughout the years. Another artist where I could have easily picked two or three albums, but I went with the one that gave him the most commercial success. He could have also been easily touted with being one of the best drummers of all time and not many people would know he has recorded on so many other artists albums as a session drummer my most popular being Frida’s (from Abba) Something Going On – in fact if you listen to the song Something’s going on you can easily tell its Collins, it has his signature all over it. Still as a singer song writer there is no doubting he is one of the best albeit one of all time.

Father and Son

Another Day in Paradise

My Pick-I wish it would rain down

1989

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Release

45

10-1

Midnight Oil

From one Aussie artist to another great Australian band. I often wonder had Garret not gone into politics would they have gone on to record greater  music but what’s more with substance. I always considered Midnight Oil were different and separated themselves from the saturated pub band era due to having something to say creating a voice through their lyrics basing a lot of their songs on traditional Australian taboo subjects. Also, another great Double J find because without them there is no way Midnight Oil would have never of gotten any commercial air play on radio. Over the years I have appreciated their music and what it stood for though I have to say that it didn’t I mean I agreed with Garret as a politician – I was guttered when he went on to join the ALP. Though there is no ignoring the music he has left as a legacy and they have produced some great albums with some pinnacle Australian historian songs over the years – this one being my favourite

Read About It

US Forces

My Pick- Short Memory

1982