The Best Albums You've Never Heard

[NeedMoreLike84]

Okay pretentious music snobs (me). Here is our chance to condescendingly name albums that are awesome and that we are proud of ourselves for being the only one of our friends to like.

I know it's true. You know it's true. Now. Let's have fun.


Picaresque - The Decemberists.



Go.

[Motor City Sonics]

If I haven't heard it, how can I know if it's the best?

[Shelton]

Interesting thread. I'd have to think about it.

[zimm]

didn't Wilco write an entire song about this?

[NeedMoreLike84]

If I haven't heard it, how can I know if it's the best?

Knock it off.

[NeedMoreLike84]

Another great one is "I Stand Alone" by Al Kooper. Heck his one album with Blood, Sweat and Tear called Child is Father to Man also qualifies.

[NeedMoreLike84]

didn't Wilco write an entire song about this?

The Late Greats?

[Motor City Sonics]

[tigerbomb13]

Always criminally underrated.

Overcome by Happiness - The Pernice Brothers | AllMusic

It's probably best, when it comes to this LP, that only ardent alt-country fans knew who the Scud Mountain Boys were, much less bought the band's three LPs. Singer/songwriter Joe Pernice split up the Scuds in order to trade in the whole genre for this new, semi-solo direction: aside from his continued ability to compose indelible tunes and thoughtful relationship lyrics, there's no Scud Mountain to be scaled in this new province of Pernice. Guess what? In gaining a new start, he blows away his back catalog. Though Pernice's voice seems drenched in melancholic syrup, and it could stand to be a little more powerful, it's got the well-worn sincerity of someone who's a tad tired of falling well short of romantic revelry -- or at least the kind that lasts. And when this self-professed loner reveals that he and close collaborator Thom Monahan wanted to make "a bit of a downer," one can only respond "mission accomplished," and well-done. For Pernice actually makes his minor despondency beautiful; burbling beds of background strings tug at the heart like a sleepy kitten does a ball of twine or a mouse toy. Bits of brass don't bark, but instead sing sweetly, and everywhere there is pretty piano plinking, adding sparkling dimension, depth, color, and shade. For all his lyrical disquiet, the puzzling Pernice is just as in love with undeniably up, contrarily catchy, harmonically developed pop, the kind the late '60s offered. The singer admits a love of the pre-disco Bee Gees, Zombies, Beach Boys, and Chris Bell, and he's up to penning songs as subtle, graceful, challenging, and hopeful-sounding as such giants, which casts the opposing emotions of his words in a superbly clever light. Moldy clichés like "there's something about you" (the bouncy "Clear Spot") and "don't ever leave" (the swaying "Dimmest Star") are actually expressions of vulnerable distaste and frustration in his context -- you can all but see him shake his head, frown, and wince! From the crystal melodies of "Crestfallen," "Monkey Suit," and "Wait to Stop" and the slower, somber, greenhouse-gorgeous "Overcome by Happiness" and "Chicken Wire," this shy man has made a near-perfect modern songsmith swoon album.

[NeedMoreLike84]

I haven't heard a ton of pernice brothers but I like everything I've heard.

[Shelton]

Ann arbor folks will recognize Saturday Looks Good To Me.

One of my favorite 1 dollar albums from flipping through vinyl in a Chicago record store:

"Every Night"

[tigerfanfromchicago]

If you haven't heard NRBQ At Yankee Stadium, and it seems most people haven't, that may be the best album you haven't heard.

[Zakk_Wylde]

Savatage: Steets: A Rock Opera

Members of Savatage of course went on to form Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

[jj04]

I haven't heard a ton of pernice brothers but I like everything I've heard.

I heard Yours, Mine & Ours from the Pernice Brothers. Fantastic record, and I hadn't heard of them (to my knowledge). Pop rock at its finest IMO.

This probably won't qualify, but the album below is pure awesome, and I don't hear many people talk about them.


And a personal favorite, I've seen these guys a couple of times and met the singer/songwriter/guitarist. Really cool band with some chill songs even if it's not critically acclaimed.

[zimm]

Savatage: Steets: A Rock Opera

Members of Savatage of course went on to form Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

man, you must have heard dam near every album ever!

[tigerbomb13]

Ann arbor folks will recognize Saturday Looks Good To Me.

One of my favorite 1 dollar albums from flipping through vinyl in a Chicago record store:

"Every Night"

Fantastic album. Their one before that ("All Your Summer Songs") is even better.

[Shelton]

Fantastic album. Their one before that ("All Your Summer Songs") is even better.

I knew you would be on board.

I disagree on summer songs though.

[pfife]

Ann arbor folks will recognize Saturday Looks Good To Me.

One of my favorite 1 dollar albums from flipping through vinyl in a Chicago record store:

"Every Night"

yeah, he's been in a few other bands but they're not at all like SLGTM. Flashpapr, Chore, and Lovesick. Look 'em up.

[hueytaxi]

I guess my post yesterday did not take:




Andy Kroph is lead and former Tigers catcher.

[CMRivdog]

Cotton Mather

Kontiki

[jj04]

Cotton Mather

Kontiki

Read NPR?

[CMRivdog]

Listen...

Morning Edition is my major news source....

I am also a big fan of Terry Gross

[sub rosa]

and

[tigerbomb13]

I go and see a lot of local bands, and I swear the Volebeats Matthew Smith is in attendance at almost every single show. If I don't see him, I feel like I'm in the wrong place! One of the countless bands I've been meaning to check out, but always slip by. Time to hit Spotify tomorrow.

[NeedMoreLike84]

The Volebeats rule.

[NeedMoreLike84]

Breaking rules cause this is a relatively known album in certain circles. But Trace by Son Volt is an album you should own if you love true country music.

[tigerbomb13]

Breaking rules cause this is a relatively known album in certain circles. But Trace by Son Volt is an album you should own if you love true country music.

This is probably my favorite thing that either Farrar or Tweety have ever done. Absolutely a classic.

[Blue Square Thing]

Almost certainly this album. Probably anyway.

[Zakk_Wylde]

man, you must have heard dam near every album ever!

Well not every album, but most of them :) Savatage has always been one of my favorite bands. It's always made me sad how relatively obscure Savatage has become. They got radio play on Z-Rock back about 20 years ago but faded away. The Streets album is epic. I may catch flack for saying this, but it's one of the few albums that I consider to be in the same league as Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. (I don't think any band could ever top DSOTM).

Another favorite album of mine is by my namesake on this board:



During one of Zakk's departures from Ozzy's band back in the mid 90s, this masterpiece was recorded. It's really not what you'd expect from Zakk and is a lot closer to folk than metal, but it's definitely a must listen for anyone who likes good music.

[Porcelain God]

I heard Yours, Mine & Ours from the Pernice Brothers. Fantastic record, and I hadn't heard of them (to my knowledge). Pop rock at its finest IMO.

This probably won't qualify, but the album below is pure awesome, and I don't hear many people talk about them.


And a personal favorite, I've seen these guys a couple of times and met the singer/songwriter/guitarist. Really cool band with some chill songs even if it's not critically acclaimed.

Love, love, love the Drive-By Truckers. My preference is Pizza Deliverance but all of their stuff is consistently excellent.

[jj04]

Love, love, love the Drive-By Truckers. My preference is Pizza Deliverance but all of their stuff is consistently excellent.

They are consistently good. Even Go Go Boots, which isn't on par with Decoration Day or Southern Rock Opera for me, is still good. In some ways I like Brighter than Creation is Dark the most. Either way, I don't think they get enough publicity, but I guess Southern rock is just not very popular anymore.

[sub rosa]

This is probably my favorite thing that either Farrar or Tweety have ever done. Absolutely a classic.

favorite uncle tupelo album is anodyne.

favorite son volt album is trace.

favorite wilco album is yankee hotel foxtrot.

of those three, which is my fave? anodyne.



all my daydreams are disasters...

[NeedMoreLike84]

No Sense in Loving is my favorite Tweedy Uncle Tupelo song.

[mtdman]

If I've never heard of them I probably don't care.

[NeedMoreLike84]

If I've never heard of them I probably don't care.

Wow. You're above the whole thing. That is super impressive. Thanks for coming in here to make us feel bad about ourselves.

[NeedMoreLike84]

Great news mtdman. I checked with a scientist friend of mine. And he told me that music stopped mattering in 1990! Everything has been done and anyone who listens to new or different music is wrong. Here is the strange thing. All of the music that matters in limited to the music you own.

Thanks for taking such an odd and insufferable stance about it. Or else none of us would know.

[NeedMoreLike84]

FYI mtdman: We all want to be musically correct. Can you give us a list? I'd hate to go against proven science. Plus you are such a rebel against hearing anything new you might enjoy (i.e.: being wrong) I think wea ll want to follow suit.

[NeedMoreLike84]

If I've never heard of them I probably don't care.

Also, in the enlightened world are periods and grammar out? I already listen to wrong music. I don't want my grammar to be wrong...