# Critique my taste in music based on 20 CDs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792 "2005-07-09T23:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/21 "2005-07-10T04:23:57Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > **Lisa-go-Blind** - has by far my favorite collection so far in this thread. I’m going to have to check out the bands on her list that I haven’t heard of. > > What I don’t understand is why there’s an X-Ray Spex anthology. I thought they only had one album anyway, right? Thanks! Yeah, **The Anthology** is actually **Germ Free Adolescents** + “Oh Bondage! Up Yours”/“I Am a Cliche” + a crapload of demos + a live disc. In other words, all the X-Ray Spex you’ll ever need. Highly recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/22 "2005-07-10T04:29:00Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Lisa-go-Blind, remind me to never take a long car ride with you, or we’d only be able to agree on Kristen Hersh and the Pixies. Wire? The Magnetic Fields? Neutral Milk Hotel? The Decemberists? eesh Funny that you hate Wire but love Elastica. After all, [they’re pretty much the same songs](http://www.illegal-art.org/audio/historic.html) … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/23 "2005-07-10T04:29:20Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > Thanks! > > Yeah, **The Anthology** is actually **Germ Free Adolescents** + “Oh Bondage! Up Yours”/“I Am a Cliche” + a crapload of demos + a live disc. In other words, all the X-Ray Spex you’ll ever need. Highly recommended. Nice! _adds to wishlist_ ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/24 "2005-07-10T04:33:10Z")
**Lisa-go-Blind** : Check out the Stellastarr\* song _My Coco_. People keep accusing them of ripping off the Pixies, but I’m not sure I agree with that. And you should also definitely check out the Crooked Fingers _Red Devil Dawn_ album, but frankly you can safely skip their other albums. And I love Kristin Hersh and Throwing Muses (and the Magnetic Fields), but I’m still trying to decide whether I like the Decemberists–I still haven’t managed to see one of their live shows. I saw Luna on their farewell tour and thought they were a little bland. **Ultrafilter** : I’m not familiar with the bands you list other than the big-name ones. What kinds of music are the albums you recommend? **Snowboarder Bo** : If you listen to the rockabilly show on KEXP (Fridays from 6-9 pm Pacific time), Steve (the “rusty, trusty scribe” for the show) is Knut’s drummer. **Rufus Xavier** : I have a Linn Aktiv hi-fi system. I’m not gonna use my computer to play music. (No offense…) **elfkin477** : I like about half your selection and am unfamiliar with the other half. What do you think of Husky Rescue? I finally picked up their CD but haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/25 "2005-07-10T04:34:49Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > Funny that you hate Wire but love Elastica. After all, [they’re pretty much the same songs](http://www.illegal-art.org/audio/historic.html) … 😉 It’s the _vocals_ I dislike about Wire…that’s so distracting that I never paid attention to the lyrics or music, really 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/26 "2005-07-10T04:35:56Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Sweet Jesus, my wife’s collection blows…Damn Yankees?? Meat Loaf??? :smack: Homer: We don’t have anything in common. [opens the record cabinet, with “Marge” and “Homer” sections] Look at these records: Jim Nabors, Glen Campbell, the Doodletown Pipers. Now look at her records! They stink! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/27 "2005-07-10T04:43:11Z")
**Hunter** - Johhny Cash is the only one I’ve ever heard of. **elfkin** - nada. zilch. **ultra** - maybe every third one **Lisa** - about every 4th one. **Mungo** - just a couple **Fisher and JoeK** - now these are people I could hang with, if only to listen to music. Let’s see…my CD changer holds 300 CDs, and I have 2 of them. What the hell. Let’s just list every 15th one until we hit 20. \*\*Bruce Springsteen \*\* - The River **Richard Thompson** - Daring Adventures **Dave Brubeck** - Time In **Van Morrison w/Georgie Lane** - How Long Has This Been Going On? **Van Morrison** - Beautiful Vision **Dire Straights** - Communique **Steely Dan** - Katie Lied **Capercaillie** - Secret People **Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes** - Better Days **Renaissance** - Tuscany **Al DiMeola & World Sinphonia** - Heart of the Immigrants **Chieftans** - Long Black Veil **Renaissance** - Live at Carnegie Hall **Jethro Tull** - Heavy Horses **Suzy Bogguss** - Voices In The Wind \*\*Sarah McLaughlin \*\* - Afterglow **Maddy Prior** - Ravenchild **Steeleye Span** - Parcel of Rogues **Judy Collins** - Sanity and Grace **Fleetwood Mac** - Say You Will ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/28 "2005-07-10T04:51:29Z")
Hunter, I’m pretty sure KEXP doesn’t broadcast all the way down to Las Vegas, and in any event, I don’t have a radio… or a TV… heck, I just bought a toaster oven last year. But if I’m ever in Seattle, now I know a radio station to turn it to when someone else puts on the classic rock station :smack: ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/29 "2005-07-10T05:09:51Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > **Ultrafilter** : I’m not familiar with the bands you list other than the big-name ones. What kinds of music are the albums you recommend? _In Absentia_ is a good, fairly mellow proggish rock album. “Sound Of Muzak” could’ve been a radio hit, if only the band had the opportunity/exposure. _Deggial_ is a mix of 80s power metal and symphonic elements. While it does feature the rockingest oboe solo I’ve ever heard (and yes, I have heard more than one), I think _Vovin_ is a better choice for someone who’s interested in the band. _Individual Thought Patterns_ is death metal, but it’s the sort of album I’d play for someone who says that death metal sucks and all that. Given the choice, I would’ve put _The Sound of Perseverance_ up there–it’s at the top of my list of albums that everyone who loves music should hear. You should check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/30 "2005-07-10T05:14:04Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > Hunter, I’m pretty sure KEXP doesn’t broadcast all the way down to Las Vegas They broadcast over the net at [http://www.kexp.org](http://www.kexp.org), in case you have a broadband connection. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/31 "2005-07-10T05:20:55Z")
cool, thanks! of course I have a broadband connection! I’m suckin’ in 4gigs on the download… uploading at 3.5. It sukt back in the day when I had to upload my music at 56k… and don’t even get me started on my old cradle modems… OMFG! the first song I hear when I tune in is Gang Of Four’s _Paralysed_! I FUCKING love this band! They are my inspiration for angular guitar and rhythm work! WOOT! Score! You just made an extra 10 points in my book, Hunter 😃 thanks! OMFG OMFG OMFG! This station plays FEAR??!!!?!?!?!?! AWESOME! ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/32 "2005-07-10T05:45:05Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > OMFG! the first song I hear when I tune in is Gang Of Four’s _Paralysed_! I FUCKING love this band! They are my inspiration for angular guitar and rhythm work! WOOT! Score! > > You just made an extra 10 points in my book, Hunter 😃 thanks! > > OMFG OMFG OMFG! This station plays FEAR??!!!?!?!?!?! AWESOME! You’re welcome. Bear in mind that you tuned in to the weekly punk/hardcore show–their playlists vary quite a bit throughout the week. BTW, could you recommend any albums by Bill Laswell? I’ve only ever heard the occasional song by him (aside from the Hashisheen album), so I’d welcome any recommendations for full albums. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/33 "2005-07-10T05:46:03Z")
These are the first 20 CDs to come to hand… not all are mine and some aren’t lying around for any obvious reason (ie, no one has listened to them in a decade or more so it’s a mystery why they are near the top of the pile). Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule Live - Throwing Copper Green Day - Dookie Coldplay - X&Y Nickleback - Silver Side Up Aqua - Aquarius Radiohead - OK Computer Sleepless in Seattle Soundtrack Enigma - MCMXC A.D. Triple J Hottest 100 Vol. 6 Michael Buble - Totally Buble Radiohead - Hail To The Thief Shannon Noll - That’s What I’m Talking About Open Space - The Classic Chillout Album Disney Presents A Family Christmas Powderfinger - Vulture Street Meat Loaf - Welcome To The Neighbourhood REM - In Time, The Best Of Faith No More - King For A Day Metallica - Metallica (the black album) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/34 "2005-07-10T05:49:56Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > **Lisa-go-Blind** : Check out the Stellastarr\* song _My Coco_. People keep accusing them of ripping off the Pixies, but I’m not sure I agree with that. Stellastarr\* sounds like The Pixies?!? That’s a new one on me. Their music is a bit milquetoast for my tastes, but _My Coco_ is total earworm material. I still can’t figure out whether I like that song or not. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/35 "2005-07-10T06:04:53Z")
Bill Laswell’s output varies widely depending on who he’s working with. **Praxis** Transmutation is the best of the lot… After this one Buckethead tended to less structured sonic freakouts. **Material** Intonarumori is my personal fav, but Memory Serves and Seven Souls are also good. Intonarumori is very much hip hop, so if you don’t care for rap, especially Kool Keith-style rap, you might want to stick with Memory Serves (Sonny Sharrock and Fred Frith are on this album!) The stuff he did with Last Exit is also worth listening too, but those 2 above are my favorites. send me an email if you want more… don’t wanna hijack this thread too bad, even if it is yours lol 😛 ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/36 "2005-07-10T07:39:32Z")
Heh, it just so happened that the pile of CDs I picked up had every Alison Krauss album I possess in it. 😛 I do have a good portion of Greatest Hit-type CDs, too; I don’t know why exactly, maybe it’s a value standpoint. I do know there’s a precious few artists of whom I’ll actually buy released albums, with B-sides, etc. And, yeah, I don’t have much new country at all; maybe an album or two of artists who had a song I really liked once. The rarer stuff I have (maybe not _so_ rare) is in the rack. **Snowboarder Bo** …awesome, you’ve got Steve Miller, Joe Walsh, and Black Sabbath—their favorite album of mine by they, no less. I love it; very swingy. **FisherQueen** …a nice collection in general; all of it I find wholly agreeable, yet still with that pleasant mystique that draws from not listening to those songs on a regular basis. **vl\_mungo** …I havent heard of any of those, except for the B-52’s, Wanda \*\*Jackson, and Cash, all of whom I’d listen to agreeably. I wouldn’t mind giving a cursory listen to the rest, though. **Lisa-go-Blind** …the same, unfortunately, though I do have Past Masters II somewhere; _fine_ album. I never turn the channel if The WHite Stripes come on, though. **ultrafilter** …and you has well, heh, except for The Eagles (I have that too) and Supertramp. I need to investigate the latter more. **elfkin477** …recognized nothin’, sorry. **silenus** …here again, some more unfamiliar ones, but certainly stuff I’d love to try out. You do have Brubeck and—well, only my favorite Steely Dan album ever (which is in the rack). **cazzle** …I do like one song of radiohead’s (that one that goes “I jumped into the river”; the rest sort of depresses me too much). You’d catch me looking at the back of that Disney CD, for sure. Fun thread! ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/37 "2005-07-10T07:45:44Z")
It seems hardly anyone’s offering critiques, just putting up their own lists, so I’ll do both. Critique: Man, you guys are a bunch of hippies. List: **The Clash** - _The Clash_ **Husker Du** - _New Day Rising_ **Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians** - _Element of Light_ **The Replacements** - _Pleased To Meet Me_ **Yo La Tengo** - _I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One_ **The Beatles** - _Revolver_ **Sleater-Kinney** - _All Hands on The Bad One_ **The Go-Betweens** - _16 Lovers Lane_ **Cinerama** - _Disco Volante_ **Marshall Crenshaw** - _Marshall Crenshaw_ **The Feelies** - _Time for a Witness_ **Gang of Four** - _Entertainment!_ **The Jesus & Mary Chain** - _Psychocandy_ **The Pogues** - _If I Should Fall From Grace With God_ **The dB’s** - _Stands for Decibels/Repercussion_ **Violent Femmes** - _Violent Femmes_ **The Divine Comedy** - _A Secret History: The Best Of_ **The Magnetic Fields** - _69 Love Songs_ **Belle & Sebastian** - _If You’re Feeling Sinister_ **Bob Mould** - _Workbook_ ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/38 "2005-07-10T13:55:34Z")
I have very ‘white bread’ taste in music , so the majority of the CDs listed here , I have never hever heard of . Journey , Meatloaf , the Beatles Johnny Cash … it’s all good to me . My 20 should REALLY give you guys something to snicker about . 1. Goin’ South (Various artists , Southern Rock) 2. Robert Vavra’s Horses of the Wind (original classical with ‘horse sounds’ mixed in) 3. Train - Drops of Jupiter 4. Billy Idol - Vital Idol 5. Rod Stewart - It Had To Be You - Great American Songbook 6. The Best of Sweet 7. Los Lonely Boys 8. Pirates of the Mississippi - Walk the Plank 9. Melissa Etheridge - Yes I Am 10. The Essential Dan Fogelburg 11. Dixie Chicks - Fly 12 Carly Simon - Reflections (Greatest Hits) 1. Legendary Songs of Don McLean 2. Aerosmith - Big Ones 3. Poison - Crack a Smile 16 - Keith Urban - Golden Road 1. Ultimate Ronnie Milsap 2. Savage Garden 3. John Denver - An Evening With John Denver 4. Don Henley - Actual Miles (Greatest Hits) Go ahead . Laugh at me . I like 'em . 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/39 "2005-07-10T14:44:27Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > Go ahead . Laugh at me . I like 'em . 😃 They can laugh at me, too (20 chosen for variety)- 1. Out of the Blue - ELO 2. Every Time You Say Goodbye - Alison Krauss & Union Station 3. Abbey Road - The Beatles 4. The Man-Machine - Kraftwerk 5. Greatest Hits - Black Sabbath 6. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys 7. Arrival - ABBA 8. The Kick Inside - Kate Bush 9. Hello Darlin’ - Conway Twitty 10. Hello, I Must Be Going - Phil Collins 11. Trans - Neil Young 12. Little Earthquakes - Tori Amos 13. Pioneers Who Got Scalped - Devo 14. Apollo 18 - They Might Be Giants 15. …to be continued - Elton John 16. 52nd Street - Billy Hoel 17. Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix 18. Breakfast in America - Supertramp 19. They’re Playing Our Song - Original Cast Recording 20. Bare Trees - Fleetwood Mac ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792/40 "2005-07-10T15:10:14Z")
Great thread idea. Nice one, those of you who cited Husker Du, the Minutemen, the Fleshtones, the dB’s, the Violent Femmes, Marshall Crenshaw and the Go-Betweens. And a few others. My list, selected using an online random number generator: _I Won’t Cry_, Johnny Adams _Truth Decay_, T-Bone Burnett _Armed Forces_, Elvis Costello & the Attractions (expanded edition) _King of America_, the Costello Show (featuring Elvis Costello) _Repercussion_, the dB’s _Greatest Hits_, Al Green _Cantaloupe Island_, Herbie Hancock _Radio One_, Jimi Hendrix _Live 1980/86_, Joe Jackson (disc two) _Have Love, Will Travel_, Bill Kirchen _South (1926-1929)_, Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra _Wilson Pickett’s Greatest Hits_ _Classic Rare Groove Mastercuts vol. 1_ _Soul Spectrum vol. 2_ _Travels in the South_, Chris Stamey _It’s You or No One_, Sarah Vaughan _Tenderly_, Sarah Vaughan _Lucinda Williams_ _The John Coltrane Anthology_ _The Very Best of Marvin Gaye_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-my-taste-in-music-based-on-20-cds/311792.md?page=3)