A is for Apple
I’ve decided to listen through my iPod’s collection in order by album title. This came about because I realised I was still listening to the same handful of albums repeatedly despite the fact I have a lot more to choose from these days. It’ll be a useful way of weeding out things I’m not interested in anymore or even, as I’ve done a couple of times, remove duplicates.
So, here’s the first batch.
#1 Reasons To Move To Gainesvill
A compilation from No Idea. There are some reasonable tracks on here but, to be honest, I’m struggling to remember what they are from looking at the track list.
Fugazi – 13 Songs
I’ve taken a long time to come around to listening to Fugazi which is a fairly criminal offense. I’m still warming to them slowly and I need need need to listen to this more often than I do. I think the problem is that I need to listen to it, rather than simply having it on in the background at work.
Bad Religion – 30 Years Live
Without doubt, Bad Religion are still one of my favourite bands of all time. I came to them in a slightly odd way, made all the more odd for the fact that it’s also the way I discovered Sparks. While holidaying in Germany many years ago, BR’s song 20th Century Digital Boy was on heavy rotation on their music channels and it stuck in my head. Several years later I met Mish, he knew the songs, lent me the album Stranger Than Fiction and the rest was history.
I’ve seen them live only once, but they’re touring again this year and I’ll be there. They’re often accused of churning out the same sound for every album. There’s definitely a BR sound, but if it ain’t broke…
Groovy Ghoulies – 99 Lives
The Groovy’s last album and the only one I have. They’re a name I’ve heard around a fair bit and eventually grabbed this from emusic. I couldn’t hum a single tune from it. It’ll get a few more spins and then probably deleted.
Drive-By Truckers – A Blessing And A Curse
Aaahhh, DBT! DBT! DBT! I love the Truckers, I really do. First gig I ever wore ear plugs at and I’ve never looked back. This is one of their more recent efforts and, as with about the last five years worth of albums, initially felt like a letdown. Then it creeped into the back of my mind and squatted there, refusing to move until I acknowledge its awesomeness. Which I did and we’re now friends.
Alisha’s Attica – Alisha Rules The World
The first album from Brian Poole’s daughters and, I think, the first album I ever owned on CD. Apparently it came out on my birthday as well, which doesn’t fit with my memories, but never mind. It’s still a great piece of pop and I remain helpless for harmonies. I’ve got pretty much everything AA ever put out though I’ve given up hope of the second volume of the Vaults ever appearing.
Meursault – All Creatures Will Make Merry
I’ve not listened to this as much as I hoped I would as I find it a bit disappointing when compared to Meursault’s debut. There’s something wrong with the production to my ears and it doesn’t have the punch of a live show. Ho hum.
The Hold Steady – Almost Killed Me
Another debut album, this time from one of Brooklyn’s best exports. With this band I followed the trend by joining the bandwagon with Boys and Girls In America. If I was ever in a band that put out a debut as assured as this I could retire after that one album.
The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
I just wrote about TGA the other day so I won’t repeat myself. This is a good album so far, I simply haven’t listened to it enough yet to bump it up in the greatness stakes. However, I’m confident it’ll get there.
Yo La Tengo – And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
I doubt this will ever be one of my favourite YLT album. Mind you, I’m saying that as someone who still struggles to ping down what it is about YLT that keeps them coming back for more. I may simply stop listening to the albums and just attend concerts.
Anticon Label Sampler, 1999-2004
I think this was one of those albums that never made it out onto the shop floor. I don’t own nearly enough Anticon music, but I do come back to this reasonably often. It’s a great example to use when people say that hip-hop all sounds the same. Does it fuck and that’s coming from someone who had to have that message hammered home with extreme prejudice. However, I can now say I’ve bounced along to some great show with my hand in the air.
Lau – Arc Light
If Anticon’s what you use to show people that hip-hop has more to offer than the charts, Lau is what you’d use to show that Scottish folk music isn’t all beards and fingers in the ear. Then you’d take them to a gig and nudge them in the ribs just before Horizontigo saying “you’ll like this, a lot”.
Barenaked Ladies – Are Me
Part of a duo put out with the album below, or close together, or not. I’m not sure as I stopped paying much attention to BNL a few years ago. I’m still a fan of the early stuff and even these two albums have something to offer, it’s just not the same as before. Now that Stephen’s gone it’s also never going to be the same.
Barenaked Ladies – Are Men
Of the two albums I’d say this is the weaker. That’s based on the fact that I can’t think how any of the songs go when looking down the tracklist.
Against Me! – As The Eternal Cowboy
I could listen to this album until the end of time. There are some who abandoned the band at this band but I had to work my way back to it. So good they then released the demo sessions as an album in its own right, though that was when the band had abandoned their roots and turned to the filthy dollar and horrible production of Butch Vig.
