Anyway if you like clever song-writing howabout Elvis Costello? I’m partial to his early stuff in particular This Year’s Model ( 1978 ) and Armed Forces ( 1979 ). Given that it is no surprise that of his more recent output I am most fond of the throwback When I Was Cruel ( 2002 ).
Also nobody has suggested any Talking Heads. Remain in Light ( 1980 ) I think is still their best studio album, but if I could have just one disc I’d probably stick with the remastered ( and expanded ) double live album Stop Making Sense ( 1984 - remaster 1999 ). I slightly prefer the more guitar pyrotechnic Adrian Belew era, but SMS is just the perfect live album.
Oh, hell yes for Budokan. And can I just say that in promoting Highway to Hell, I actually forgot to mention the song If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It). My god, what was I thinking?! Pretty much the best AC/DC song ever (yeah, I know - YMMV). This is the song I listened to before every test I took in college and grad school. No better way to get pumped. Seriously.
ETA: why yes, I actually got pumped before exams, as opposed to, say, a football game or something. Why do you ask?
I’ll third Lovelss by My Bloody Valentine (just saw them on Friday - good show!). I’ll also say, if you liked Nirvana, Green Day, etc., that you should listen to the American indie records from the '80s that influenced them:
Husker Du - New Day Rising or Flip Your Wig
The Replacements - Let It Be (or Tim or Pleased To Meet Me - you can’t really go wrong with any of these)
Pixies - Surfer Rosa or Doolittle
Well, until the Ramones thread, I would never have pegged you for a Flipper fan. If you know about both Bob Brozeman and Fipper, you have to see that. There’s more than one version out there, due to licensing, but I’d watch any of them.
However, I don’t know about it being a good recommendation here. The bands on it are lot more like the Clash than the Beatles. Ehh, take a chance on it, OP, I doubt you’ll want those two hours back.
I totally agree that Highway to Hell is a better record, I think their best was Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. I recommended Back in Black because I think it’s more accessible than their other records. Highway to Hell is pretty much AC/DC being the loudest, biggest, raunchiest version that Bon Scott could muster, Dirty Deeds was the most immature. Back in Black has elements of both, but it’s got it’s deeper moments, too. And hell, OP, go watch Monterrey Pop! All of it is absolutely great, even if it’s not all really pop music.
And hey, WordMan you were the one recommending Jet records! Don’t tell us that we’re the ones wasting the OP’s pocket money.
and on preview: yeah, I have to third My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless, hell pick up anything by them, it’s all gorgeous.
It’s one of those records which had so many hits it manages to read like a Greatest Hits - but it’s not. A lot of the songs will be familiar from getting used in other media.
For the Metallica, I would have thought Master of Puppets was their classic.
Pink Floyd- Dark side of the moon or Wish you were here?
Rush - 2112
Eagles - Hotel California
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Iron Maiden - Number of the beast
The Prodigy - Album for a jilted generation
Supertramp - Breakfast in america
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
And for Yes I would have put Classic as their big album, and Zappa, I would have not put Absolutely Free as their album (its very unrepresentative of his work), but more Apostrophe/Overnight sensation (two albums one cd).
Well, they were coming back from the death of Bon Scott, that’s what the title track is about. “Have a Drink on Me” is AC/DC actually warning you about the dangers of drinking. As far as meaning in AC/DC lyrics goes, it’s their Finnegan’s Wake.
But yeah, they’re usually about as deep as a bedsheet. Even in junior high we joked that their songs were all about having sex or killing people, and not much else. If junior high school kids think your music is is two-dimensionally macho, you might be in danger of lampooning yourself. This was when Back in Black was still their latest album.
And I don’t dislike Jet because they’re some sort of fakers or something. My anger with Jet is completely based around them my getting my hopes up for an instant that I’m gonna hear an Iggy Pop song that I love, on the radio!. Then, it quickly sinks in that nope, it’s Jet, instead. Of course, it makes even less sense that sometimes in commercials, they are actually using Lust for Life or The Passenger to sell their products. They’re great songs, but I don’t know what using them as a commercial theme says about your product at all. Maybe they hope to warn you that their product is addictive?
In fact, OP, if you’re feeling adventurous:
Iggy Pop - Lust for Life
I don’t think The Kinks have been mentioned yet in this thread. This is an omission that must be remedied, so I’ll just link to this old thread: Kinks albums–which should I get?
It (Urgh*!** A Music War*) is/was! If only Miles Copeland would give us the whole thing,
A lot of it is on YouTube.
Thank the gods (and my parents better cable subscription) for USA Network’s Night Flight which gave me; Urgh! A Music War, Rude Boy, Reggae Sunsplash, Fantastic Planet, and a whole lot more!
Wait: Have a Drink On Me is a cautionary tale? Coulda fooled me; the lyrics basically just say “let’s get totally bombed” - I just assumed it was them saying that they still wanted to be thought of as macho party guys regardless of how Bon died.
Jet sounds like Iggy? Oh, the Bup Bup bah, Bup Bup ba-da ba-da beat. Got it. I still really like the Jet tune.
And yeah, folks are throwing out suggestions that don’t seem to fit the OP’s guidance; I tossed out MBV because it fits the timeframe, but acknowledged it is off the main list. I suggested Britpop bands because they seem like right timeframe and sound…
Maybe I missed them, but really? No Steely Dan or Van Morrison? But Jet makes the list?
I’d recommend Aja by Steely Dan, and Moondance by Van Morrison. But all of the albums are fantastic.
And one other thing - never, EVER be ashamed of the music you enjoy. Even if it’s Whitney Houston and whoever else you named. The idea of a “guilty pleasure” makes me sick. I listen to everything I can get my hands on, from Blurred Lines to Willie Nelson, and I get something good from all of the music.
Pretty much the best AC/DC song ever (yeah, I know - YMMV). This is the song I listened to before every test I took in college and grad school. No better way to get pumped. Seriously.
Of course, it makes even less sense that sometimes in commercials, they are actually using Lust for Life or The Passenger to sell their products. They’re great songs, but I don’t know what using them as a commercial theme says about your product at all. Maybe they hope to warn you that their product is addictive?