Top 10 Albums 271113

Soundtracks for the Blind/Swans: Because with its mix of FBI surveillance tapes and nightmarish imagery it had the power to scare me long after I considered music to be capable of that. And because no other band can smash at a single chord for so long and keep it compelling.

"Closed forever is the door to your room but inside there lives the sound" - The Sound.

Reminds me of weird after-work naps in 2001.

Dummy/Portishead: Because it still takes me to strange landscapes after almost a decade of hearing it.

"Can't make myself heard no matter how hard I scream" - Biscuit.

Reminds me of the heatwave of 2007 which it seemed to cool down.






 
Colossal Youth/Young Marble Giants: Because its sadness burns through the naivete of the arrangements like a nightlight.

"And when I hear the doorbell ring I can never let them into me" - Brand-New-Life.

Reminds me of nights at the North Melbourne place.

Pleasure/Girls at Our Best: Because its chirpiness has such a hard edge and Judy Evans was a weird mix of girl guide jollity and noirish sexiness it always makes me grin.

"Will you get to heaven with advance publicity?" - Heaven.

Reminds me of writing essays for Uni.

changesonebowie: Because it provided an education on how to develop as an artist and demanded that we all catch up.

"Look at that smile, he likes the gun, nights are warm and the days are yo-u-ung" - Golden Years.

Reminds me of Easter 1977.

Houses of the Holy/Led Zeppelin: Because it exceeded elder-sibling-informed low expectations by great leaps to become the funnest LZ LP.

"I used to sing to the ocean but the ocean washed away" - The Ocean.

Reminds me of mornings in Grade 10.

Reckoning/REM: Because in the rising tide of 60s revivalism happening around its release it kept the songs good and the schtick at the level of carrier.

"Stopped by your bed once. I didn't want to tell you" - Camera.

Reminds me of leaving Brisbane.






A Night at the Opera/Queen: Because they went from twee flapper ditties to biblical epics and still sounded like the same band and however briefly became the nonpareil of UK rock bands.

"Late, too late, all the wretches run. These kings of beasts now counting their days." - The Prophet's Song.

Reminds me stealing away from the Easter sunshine and listening on Nana's old mono player and hearing how greatness was assembled.


Replicas/Tubeway Army: Because sci fi concept albums didn't have to be the endless keyboard solos and grandstanding of prog rock but big, icy and spooky and because this album feels like the cinema that was to come.

"We are not lovers. We are not romantics. We are here to serve you" - Down in the Park

Reminds me of driving back in the rain from Schoolies Week, 1980.

 

Prayers on Fire/The Birthday Party: Because they got the avant gardism and the strength of the core material right this one time.

"He's a fat little insect!" - Nick the Stripper

Reminds me of parties 1st year Uni.