Cactus Mouth Informer: September 2011

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

My Top Ten(ish) Albums

Walker started this off with his selection at the venerable Burning Aquarium.

Like him I've also struggled to narrow it down to 10 (plus 6 extra that didn't quite make it). So here they are in no particular order apart from the number 1 slot.

	1. Joy Division - Closer Quite simply the best album ever made. Millions will disagree but then that's the point of an opionated Top Ten isn't it? Makes me want to write lyrics like Ian Curtis but also makes me scared to put pen to paper secure in the knowledge that anything I came up with would sound trite by comparison. Add in the fledgling guitar/keyboard sound that would evolve into New Order and you have brilliance.
	2. The Jesus And Mary Chain - Psychocandy I saw the video for 'You Trip Me Up' on an obscure BBC Scotland music program that I had recorded and watched it over and over again. (The same program had the Shop Assistants on it -ground breaking at the time). Aged 15 (I think) it blew me away. And no, they were never lame Velvet Underground copyists.
	3. Echo And The Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here Calum had bought 'Songs To Learn & Sing' when it came out and he played it endlessly while we talked about school, music and girls while playing 'Elite' on his Acorn Electron. You said something will change.
	4. Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left Mrs H introduced me to Nick Drake so this one's for her. That and the fact it is a superb album.
	5. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead The soundtrack to my summer of 1986. Bought it the week it came out and took it back to HMV on Princes Street (twice) before I got a copy that didn't jump on the first track. I blame that shitty vinyl stuff. Will always make me think of summer. And being a miserable teenager.
	6. Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights Has there been a better debut album? Probably. But it's not on my list and that's the difference.
	7. The Sisters Of Mercy - First And Last And Always A sound often copied but never bettered. I was, and probably still am at heart, a Goth. I lost my virginity to a Goth girl. I would love to be able to say this was playing in the background. But it wasn't.
	8. The Cure - Faith Another choice born of the teen angst I seem to never have grown out of. Fat Bob's plaintive singing, I daresay some would call it a whine, and lyrics on 'The Holy Hour' capture my own endless yearning for some kind of meaning to everything. While all the while realising there is none.
	9. Pulp - His 'n' Hers Thank fuck you cry. At last! Some light relief. Full of intelligent, lyrical, well crafted POP songs. Reminds me of Mrs H and I living in our 2nd flat in Edinburgh (first one we bought together though).
	10. Rialto - Rialto I bought the single 'Untouchable' when it came out and then didn't think too much more about Rialto until long after they had split up. My mistake. Again, well crafted song writing that somehow manages to sound familiar and yet fresh at the same time. Only wish I had bought this earlier as I now play it to death.

Those that didn't make it. (But really did)

	Gang Of Four - Entertainment The Indian smiles. He thinks the Cowboy is his friend. The Cowboy smiles. He is glad the Indian is fooled. Now he can exploit him.
	Motown Gold I couldn't not have any Motown. So I thought I would make it a nice, big compilation. My sister's Mod revival influence shining through.
	Arcade Fire - The Neon Bible It was either this or 'The Suburbs'. The best band around at the moment for me.
	Nirvana - Nevermind I can play virtually all of the songs on this album on the guitar but I could never have written any of the songs on this album. As I've said elsewhere on this blog. Loved thrashing these songs out with Mark on drums on stoned, BT days off. (And no Walker, I wasn't listening to Guns 'n' Roses. I know there wouldn't have been a Nirvana without The Pixies.)
	Radiohead - The Bends OK. Back to the angsty, miserable stuff. But doesn't it sound good.
	Atlantic Gold Need to end on a high and I couldn't have a Motown compilation without Stax/Atlantic.