A.A.'s HALL OF FAME: ALBUMS PT.1

This was collated at random - without any forethought, at the very least - and is only an initial installment. Because quantifying the order of greatness between 'There's a Riot Goin' On' and 'The Richard D. James Album' is a futile and thankless task, this list and every list that follows it will be unranked, or equally ranked if you so wish, with numbers provided merely to satisfy its compiler's inner nerd.

Following my new-found obsession with metal, you may notice a slight six-string bias in this debut list, but every single album comes with A.A.'s seal of utmost approval. As always, this is not about gaining cred or throwing a pose, but about celebrating the music I have discovered that seemed worth sharing, so far. For the time being a limit is set at one entry per artist/group, though an exception is made for those canny individuals who have lent their talents to several projects. These slabs of wax and digitised plastic have each withstood every aural test imaginable - from cheap boomboxes to home theatres - without losing an iota of their power, and they continue to astound and inspire the open-minded and uninitiated, regardless of their age.

1) SLEEP- Dopesmoker (Rec. 1995, Rel. 2003)>>>
2) CAN - Tago Mago (1971)
3) BRIAN ENO - Another Green World (1975)
4) MASTODON - Leviathan (2004)
5) DRIVE LIKE JEHU - Yank Crime (1994)
6) FUGAZI - The Argument (2001)
7) THE ROLLING STONES - Exile On Main Street (1972)
8) LED ZEPPELIN - III (1970)
9) QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - Songs For The Deaf (2002)
10) BORIS - Pink (2006)
11) THE STOOGES - Fun House (1970)>>>
12) YES - Close To The Edge (1972)
13) AC/DC - Powerage (1978)
14) TORTOISE - TNT (1998)
15) BARONESS - Blue Album (2009)>>>
16) MOGWAI - Come On Die Young (1999)
17) SLINT - Spiderland (1991)
18) NIRVANA - In Utero (1993)
19) CAPTAIN BEEFHEART & THE MAGIC BAND - Clear Spot (1972)
20) MY BLOODY VALENTINE - Loveless (1992)
21) SHELLAC - At Action Park (1994)
22) DEERHUNTER - Microcastle/Wierd Era Cont. (2008)
23) FUNKADELIC - Maggot Brain (1970)
24) CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - Cosmo's Factory (1970)
25) THE CURE - Pornography (1982)>>>
26) JOY DIVISION - Closer (1980)
27) PiL - Metal Box (1979)
28) SLAYER - Reign In Blood (1986)
29) CONVERGE - Axe To Fall (2009)>>>
30) THE JESUS LIZARD - Goat (1991)
31) NEUROSIS - Times Of Grace (1999)
32) ENTOMBED - Clandestine (1991)
33) MELVINS - Houdini (1993)
34) HIGH ON FIRE - Surrounded By Thieves (2002)
35) EARTHLESS - Rhythms From A Cosmic Sky (2007)
36) FUCKED UP - The Chemistry Of Common Life (2008)
37) CATHEDRAL - Forest Of Equilibrium (1991)>>>
38) BLACK SABBATH - Master Of Reality (1971)
39) FUTURE OF THE LEFT - Travels With Myself And Another (2009)
40) HARVEY MILK - Life....The Best Game In Town (2008)
41) JAWBOX - For Your Own Special Sweetheart (1994)
42) ELECTRIC WIZARD - Dopethrone (2000)
43) ALICE COOPER - Killer (1971)
44) HOT SNAKES - Automatic Midnight (2000)
45) REFUSED - The Shape Of Punk To Come (1998)
46) METALLICA - Master Of Puppets (1986)>>>
47) MC5 - High Time (1971)
48) THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE - Electric Ladyland (1968)
49) TAINT - Secrets & Lies (2007)
50) THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA - Inner Mounting Flame (1971)>>>
51) BURNING AIRLINES - Mission : Control! (1999)
52) THE WHO - Live At Leeds (1970)
53) THE STROKES - Is This It (2000)
54) MAGAZINE - Secondhand Daylight (1979)
55) WIRE - Chairs Missing (1978)
56) EYEHATEGOD - Dopesick (1996)
57) DINOSAUR JR. - You're Living All Over Me (1987)
58) PAVEMENT - Wowee Zowee (1995)
59) SONIC YOUTH - Sister (1987)>>>
60) BUILT TO SPILL - Perfect From Now On (1997)
61) SLEATER-KINNEY - The Woods (2005)
62) DEAD MEADOW - Shivering King And Others (2003)
63) COMETS ON FIRE - Avatar (2006)
64) BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING CO. - Cheap Thrills (1968)
65) KILLING JOKE - Killing Joke (1980)
66) THE GROUNDHOGS - Split (1971)
67) NEU! - Neu! '75 (1975)
68) THE GUN CLUB - Fire Of Love (1982)>>>
69) THE MINUTEMEN - Double Nickels On The Dime (1984)
70) BOLT THROWER - ...For Victory (1994)
71) BREACH - It's Me God (1997)
72) STEELY DAN - Countdown To Ecstasy (1973)
73) THE GRATEFUL DEAD - Live Dead (1969)>>>
74) 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS - Easter Everywhere (1967)
75) DAVID BOWIE -Low (1977)
76) THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - White Light/White Heat (1968)
77) LOVE - Forever Changes (1967)
78) THE FACES -A Nod Is As Good As A Wink....To A Blind Horse (1971)
79) PERE UBU - The Modern Dance (1978)>>>
80) THIN LIZZY - Greatest Hits (2004)
81) QUEEN - Greatest Hits (1981)
82) UNWOUND - Leaves Turn Inside You (2001)
83) PIXIES - Doolittle (1989)
84) BUTTHOLE SURFERS - Locust Abortion Technician (1987)
85) THE BEATLES - Revolver (1966)
86) THE BIRTHDAY PARTY - Junkyard (1982)>>>
87) MISSION OF BURMA - Vs. (1982)
88) XTC - Drums And Wires (1979)
89) V/A - Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era (1972)
90) B.B. KING - Live At The Regal (1965)
91) JAMES BROWN - Live At The Apollo, Volume II (1967)
92) HAWKWIND - Space Ritual Live (1973)
93) BOB DYLAN - Highway '61 Revisited (1965)
94) THE CLASH - London Calling (1979)
95) BAD BRAINS - Bad Brains [ROIR] (1982)>>>
96) ROXY MUSIC - For Your Pleasure (1973)
97) TELEVISION - Marquee Moon (1977)
98) DEEP PURPLE - In Rock (1970)
99) PART CHIMP - I Am Come (2005)
100) NEIL YOUNG - Tonight's The Night (1975)>>>
101) ...AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD - Source Tags And Codes (2002)
102) SPIRIT - 12 Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus (1970)
103) TALK TALK - Spirit Of Eden (1988)
104) RADIOHEAD - In Rainbows (2007)
105) LOVE AS LAUGHTER - Sea To Shining Sea (2001)
106) FRANK ZAPPA - Hot Rats (1969)
107) SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES - Ju Ju (1981)
108) MONSTER MAGNET - Spine Of God (1992)>>>
109) THE SONICS - Psycho-Sonic (1965?)
110) THE MONKS - Black Monk Time (1966)
111) PRIMAL SCREAM - XTRMNTR (2000)
112) THE MODERN LOVERS - The Modern Lovers (Rec. 1972, Rel. 1976)
113) THE STONE ROSES - The Stone Roses (1989)
114) GANG OF FOUR - Entertainment! (1979)
115) CREAM -Disraeli Gears (1967)>>>
116) THE SOFT MACHINE - Third (1970)
117) MILES DAVIS - In A Silent Way (1969)
118) YO LA TENGO - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One (1997)
119) JAPANDROIDS - Post-Nothing (2009)
120) TALKING HEADS - Remain In Light (1980)>>>
121) MESHUGGAH - Destroy Erase Improve (1995)
122) THE BAND - Music From Big Pink (1968)
123) BUZZCOCKS - Singles Going Steady (1979)
124) DEVO - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
125) THE DOORS - Strange Days (1967)
126) INTERPOL - Turn On The Bright Lights (2002)
127) GONG - Camenbert Electrique (1971)
128) THE FALL - Grotesque (After The Gramme) (1980)
129) KING CRIMSON - Red (1974)>>>
130) JOSEF K - Entomology (2006)
131) FIELD MUSIC - Tones Of Town (2007)
132) FAIRPORT CONVENTION - Liege & Lief (1969)
133) SMALL FACES - Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (1968)
134) COALESCE - Functioning On Impatience (1998)>>>
135) THE DIRTY PROJECTORS - Bitte Orca (2009)
136) PATTI SMITH - Horses (1975)
137) AT THE DRIVE-IN - Relationship Of Command (2000)
138) THE BYRDS - Younger Than Yesterday (1967)
139) KYUSS - Blues For The Red Sun (1992)
140) SERGE GAINSBOURG - Histoire De Melody Nelson (1971)
141) LIFT TO EXPERIENCE - The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads (2001)
142) LEONARD COHEN - New Skin For The Old Ceremony (1974)
143) OPETH - Blackwater Park (2001)
144) BLACK FLAG - Damaged (1981)>>>
145) SUPER FURRY ANIMALS - Guerilla (1999)
146) A TRIBE CALLED QUEST - Midnight Marauders (1993)
147) JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION - Orange (1994)
148) CANNIBAL OX - The Cold Vein (2001)
149) NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Ready To Die (1994)
150) THE METERS - Rejuvenation (1974)>>>

Links will be finished in the coming days....patience grasshopper

MISSION : STATEMENT!

Given the slightly random proposition that opens this page, it seems only appropriate that it should be immediately followed by some explanation....only some, mind.

Despite the first post, this site will be dedicated to doing one of the things that makes my life worth living: talking about, disseminating knowledge on, proselytising about, ordering and generally foaming at the mouth over music past, present and future.

As befits my character, the emphasis will be positive on the whole, but the universal need to express anger and frustration will also be reflected. The aim is neither to deify nor to denigrate, but instead to speak with a voice unfettered from cool, taste, prejudice, style, trend, gossip, fashion, and commerce; the music, and nothing but the music.

The great leap forward these blogs present is not the proliferation of 128 KB/s pre-release mp3s, but the opportunity to bypass the PR-choked mainstream music media and be rid of lowest common denominator, focus-grouped, demographic-led, marketing BS, and create a network of knowledge and news that is ground-sourced, owned not by a small coven of money counters, but by its participants and protagonists. The technology allows us to create our own systems of information and thought, liberated from locality and The Hidden Persuaders. This is my drop in the ocean, on that front.

Content will be scattershot to begin with, as I figure out what the hell I'm really trying to say and do with this forum, but I'll start with some easy, 'Music Writing 101', diary-type stuff - lists, rants, etc - over the coming days, which should give you a taste of what's in store. All I can promise is enthusiasm for the entire musical spectrum, an addiction to new sensations and maybe even a little dose of learning, for the neophytes.

DAY ONE

No news is coming in from Nowhere. Sources say that nothing took place anywhere at any time, and that no-one is currently investigating these non-events that occurred nowhere. As of this moment our picture of what didn't transpire is still a little hazy, but we can be sure than nobody was eviscerated and that there will never be anything to follow. Here's Tom with the weather....