2006: Fear Before the March of Flames- The Always Open Mouth

I didn't call yesterday's album "The best album ever written" because in my own little world, this is it. I don't really know what to say about it besides it's in this little special place nestled between screamo and post hardcore, and that, seriously, it's the best album ever written. My basement is flooded and I'm tired and won't feel like updating this tomorrow so I'm sorry if this feels half assed or shoving down your throat, but the best I can do right now is try to back up the lyrics thing, so bare with me as I get my mind off of the water filling my life. I'm going to post a couple songs of the raddest shit ever. And yes I just made up "raddest".

High As A Horse

If we give the horses blinders they won't see the approaching ledge

Too much time and effort spent on just another bridge

We trust the local doctor, we trust the medicine

Our child gets a scratch we get our child a brand new head

We eat what's on our plate, we drink what's in our cup

We like the shiny T.V. screen, it spits we lap it up

And so they push this product, and they know we'll buy it

They sing a song, we hum along

We sing, but we don't understand the words to the song

And they fill our heads with sugar coated shit

'Cause there's no need to talk when we have medicine

There's a pill for every fucked up thought

And a cure for every fucked up child

When the mind starts running be sure it won't cross the finish line

And if it wanders bring it back and cage it for some time

And if it stretches it will only one day rip

To prevent excessive thought

Just keep it up on the shelf

And when the shelves are full

And supplies are short, and quickly running out

You've got a thousand mindless zombies

And terrified horses on your hands

It was a damn good plan

It was a damn good plan

A Brief Tutorial In Bachanalia

Hey man, heard you're a real clean shot

When I got a couple drinks in me, and I got a couple drinks in me!

Hey man, heard you get the job done

When I got a couple drinks in me, I'm known to practice apathy!

When you see me stagger

Know I'm being antagonized by what you can't hear

And just moving with the current

Current state of self embalming

Where I don't involve myself with human affairs

Just leave me an address of where I live

I'll make it slow and painful

I don't ask for much

They will lead us out of town, straight out of town

We can dodge the freight cars, just passer-bys in the morning

A few bills, and the occasional, occasional, occasional human touch

I won't move if you won't move

Trade cigarettes for stories, you and I the Lords of the Rails

Straight out of town and that is why we follow the pennies lay for we have stories and smokes

Drink to take the edge off

I told you that I'd bring you my head

I told you I was better off dead

Have you heard the kind of shit that I've said?

'Cause I'm a mad, mad man... No, I'm not a mad man

I told you if you slipped me a drink

I told you not to speak when I'm thinking

I told you I was having a hard time sleeping

Yeah, I'm a sad, sad man

Yeah, I'm a real sad man!

There's empty bar stools to each of my sides

And empty glasses, so who the fuck's talking?

Just a lonely man with a death wish, and a head full of crossed wires

Making a deal with himself

He keeps talking

He keeps nodding

A sick son of a bitch

Will always end like this

Happy saturday everyone, have a good weekend.

2005: The Receiving End of Sirens- Between The Heart & The Synapse

This is probably my favorite album of all time. It's nothing groundbreaking, they didn't change the face of music with it, but to me everything about it is perfect. Packed to the gills with wordplay and a creative concept, Brendan Brown and Casey Crescenzo wrote such great lyrics to go along with the sequencing laden post hardcore music they perfected. I've listened to this album well over a hundred times, and for the first 75 or so I always took everything in the songs literally, but as time passed little hints and hidden meanings would always present themselves and give me a whole new appreciation for everything contained within. I've never actually seen Brendan and Casey explain all of the song's meanings, but one that will be with me for the rest of my life is the recurring lines throughout the album "This is the last night in my body/Somehow, for now, this skin will have to do." The latter line being sung either after or simultaneously with the first. But I always ignored the second line, and focused solely on the first. Telling myself I would eventually change from the rut I was stuck in, I would always repeat in my head "This is the last night in my body" before going to bed. Then I'd wake up the next day and repeat my same routine. One late night it all clicked for me, I heard the second line "Somehow, for now, this skin will have to do" and I realized, you can't change who you are over night. Be content with what you are and make the best of it. I know the whole "This album changed my life" thing is cliche and hard to believe, but over the past 2 years, 9 months and 18 days (Yeah, that's right I know the exact day I bought the album) this album has helped make me a better person more than anything else I've ever had.

Key Tracks: The Rival Cycle, This Armistice, Epilogue

Bonus: Maybe my favorite moment in music history, Casey returning for The Red Eye of Soromon Farewell Show.

The cannon's calling our name

I hear her singing to me

In morse code,

"This is our revolution!

To arms! To arms!

This is our revolution!"

We are the corps of corpses

We are up in arms and armed

2004: Madvillain- Madvillainy

Jonathan already did this album and the only other one I could think of is something I'm pretty sure Drew is going to do, so read Jonathan's post instead. 

Here's some Will E. Whitmore

2003: Coheed & Cambria- In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3

I still remember the day I bought this album. I took the day off from school and had one of DirecTV's music channels on all day and heard "Blood Red Summer" and thought it was a cool song. Five hours later I still had What did I do to deserve, what did I do to deserve stuck in my head. Later that night I went to Best Buy along with a friend who was going to pick up a new t.v. and I saw this album and figured what the hell it's only $9. Little did I know this album would basically reshape the way my life was, in the way it set up a lot of things, but that's another blog entirely. Filled with concepts, catchy prog pop songs and badass guitars, this album set up the success the band is seeing today. I made a lot of friends through this album, most of whom will hopefully read this, so for old time's sake give this album a listen and remember how awesome it was the first time you heard it.

Key Tracks: The Crowing, The Camper Volourium II: Backend of Forever, 2113

2002: Hot Rod Circuit- Sorry About Tomorrow

Hot Rod Circuit's front man, Andy Jackson, stated that when writing this album "This was the first record I can honestly say I wrote and took some time on lyrics and breaking it all down." and it becomes blatantly obvious that it was the recipe for the success this album had. I may have jumped the gun a little when I said Bleed American was the catchiest album I've heard, because this is right there with it. I've never been sure what to actually call the sound of this album, I usually settle on "blue collar pop" but not in a Bruce Springsteen kind of way. It's a perfect blend of pop punk and neo country, fused into a kind of superior version of both. 

Key Tracks: At Nature's Mercy, Consumed By Laziness, The Night They Blew Up the Moon

2001: Jimmy Eat World- Bleed American

This album is Bleed American, after 9/11 they had to change it to be a self titled album and I decided to post that cover just to show how fucking dumb of a change it was. The original cover had the JEW part in smaller font with Bleed American right next to it. SO OFFENSIVE! Anygay, this is like the quintessential American Rock record with singles up the ass and good music all around. Self recorded and platinum certified, this was such a significant album in the way that it showed artists that they didn't have to do whatever labels told them, even if some bands forgot that COUGHcoheedCOUGH. It very well may be the catchiest album of all time, as anyone from ages 8 to 50 can appreciate any song on the album.

Key Tracks: A Praise Chorus, Sweetness, The Authority Song

2000: Kind of Like Spitting- Nothing Makes Sense Without It

I actually just got this album in the past couple of months, but I like it a lot and I couldn't find anything else good from 2000 aka the time of nu metal and Eminem. Singer-songwriter Ben Barnett wrote an album of songs that could easily be confused for early Brand New demos as they do sound much alike. Wailing slow songs of cynicism and drawing comparisons to Elliot Smith and Billy Bragg, Barnett seemed to have bridged the gap between the early midwest emo sound with the newer label stamped on anything with feeling to it. I'm finding it hard to keep writing while trying to pay attention to the Bears so this one's a little short, but check it out if you like Brand New or just good heartfelt music in general.

Key Tracks: Short Story Long, Birds of a Feather, Out of Harm's Way... Finally

1999: 3- Paint By Number

The debut and my personal favorite album of 3, Paint By Number is a funky as fuck, fun-riff driven album by the now Prog Metal band. Every song is something you can nod your head or tap your foot too, with really no weak songs on the whole album. I actually made a cd for a friend recently with the song Old Grey Dog on it, since his dog who was probably my favorite pet in the entire world had died recently. He loved it, and when I listened to it after his dog dying it actually struck harder with me of how great of a song it is.

Down, boy

You're too old to be jumpin' for joy

Turn your eyes to me

So clouded they barely can see

That you've grown

Much older than dogs get to be

Come and take just one last walk with me

Key Tracks: Wrongside, Astroknot, Heart Attack

1998: Queens of the Stone Age- Self Titled

That's right I'm so committed to this blog I'm even posting on my birthday. And fuck imageshack for not giving direct links to images anymore, like I'm not going to just get it off the dumb fucking "show your friends" link. Hey, friend, look! I'm posting this image on the internet and I wanted to show you first! Alright, enough of that. This album rocks balls, it's that simple. The debut album and aftermath of Kyuss, QOTSA came out swinging with this post stoner rock album. Trading in boring, repeating riffs with monotone singing Josh Homme came back with awesome, repeating riffs with great vocals. I know their later album Songs for the Deaf is a concept about driving through the desert, but this album has the same feeling to me. It was basically Josh Homme and Alfredo Hernandez pounding out all of these songs, as Hernandez played drums and Homme played everything else, credited as himself and Carlo Von Sexron. At the end of the last track "I Was A Teenage Hand Model" a voicemail can be heard of future bass player and all around asshole Nick Oliveri saying he would love to join the band. So do yourself a favor and get one last gasp of summer by throwing this album on and drinking a couple beers while the sun's going down.

Key Tracks: Avon, If Only, Mexicola

1997: Mark Mulcahy- Fathering

When picking out my list I wanted to try not to have any bands or artists have more than one appearance through the years, but this is the exception. Previously appearing in the 1989 post with Miracle Legion, Mark Mulcahy later went solo after they and Polaris became defunct. His first solo album, Fathering is his best to date. I found this album at a very confusing and dark time of my life and it helped me get through my problems, so each song has a special meaning to me. From the moment I pressed play and opening track, Hey Self Deafeater, started, I knew I had found something special. At that moment in time the lyrics were exactly what I had needed to hear, and I'll forever be grateful for Mulcahy writing this music, "Never mind overjoyed, just start with happy, there's no more silent nights, and no more horrid fights, just got a new place and put a thousand miles between you and your wrong impressions... Hey self defeater, you're underrated by yourself so quit looking down, and look up." Most of the album tells tales of love lost and fictional men, but it's all beautifully arranged and shows how talented of a musician Mulcahy is. Proven by the fact that Thom Yorke has admitted to Mulcahy being a large influence of his and even went as far as to dedicate a song to him at a Radiohead show in Boston. With spacious, echoing guitar riffs the song Ciao, My Shining Star eerily resembles an unreleased Jeff Buckley song as Mulcahy showcases his falsetto. The album's not as upbeat as most of his other work, but it's easily his best.

Key Tracks: Hurry Please Hurry, In the Afternoon, Bill Jocko

1996: Alice In Chains- Unplugged

I believe this was the third CD I ever owned, after the aforementioned Kerplunk and Paul's Boutique. It was the first album I bought upon moving to Illinois after my parents separated, so understandably it holds a lot of memories and sentiment to me. When Alice In Chains recorded this, singer Layne Staley was going through a vicious bout with heroin addiction, and if you've seen the broadcast or DVD of this night you can see it had taken it's toll. With dark rings around his eyes the frail Layne, sporting pink hair, looked like he wouldn't had been able to lift a guitar had he needed to. But his voice, my favorite voice ever, that was still intact. At the time the original broadcast aired this was one of the most beautiful things I had seen in my young life, but now it's almost painful to watch. Layne's is just such a sad story. But this album was his swan song, his last gift to everyone who loved him. He and Jerry Cantell provided some of the best harmonizing to ever be shown on MTV, everything about the entire set was perfect. From the songs chosen to the performance to the visualization, it will always stand the test of time.

Key Tracks: Brother, Down In A Hole, Over Now

Bonus- Video of Down In A Hole from the broadcast.

1995: Dre Dog- I Hate You With A Passion

Quite possibly one of the grimiest albums made since the emergence of the Wu Tang Clan, this was the last album released by Andre Adams under the name Dre Dog, as he later changed it to Andre Nickatina. The staple of the Dre Dog era was gritty beats and rhymes about the darker side of the rap game, and this album exemplified it all. With production by TC among others, and features from Black C of RBL Posse, Cougnut of IMP, and Totally Insane, the Bay Area star power of this album is what makes it such a classic. But Dre Dog didn't need too much help from others, as the solo songs put so much emotion and despair into glorifying a lifestyle which seemed to be taking it's toll. It's like watching the conflict of Dre being so caught up in what he's doing that from song to song you see both sides of it all. From partying with drugs on "Powda 4 The Hoes" to the repercussions of his habits on "Situation Critical". You hear it all on this album, and it gives a great view into what was going on in San Francisco in the early to mid 90's.

Key Tracks: Muthafucka (Ft. Cougnut), Killa Whale, Mind Full of Hatred

1994: Weezer- Blue Album

There's not a lot to say about this one, everyone knows and loves it, but I never realized how fucking funny the cover is until right now. Look at a bigger version here. Patrick looks like a frog, Rivers looks like he just got out of 7th grade gym class, Matt looks like he dressed up for the annual big barn hay bail jamboree and is about to ask Cindy Lou if she wants to dance to Cotton Eye Joe and Brian looks like an extra from Swingers.

Key Tracks: Everything, but especially Only In Dreams

1993: Souls of Mischief- 93 'til Infinity

Another Bay Area album on the list, noticing the trend here? Souls of Mischief was an offshoot of the group Hieroglyphics from Oakland consisting of MCs A-Plus, Tajai, Phesto and Opio. At a time where everything coming out of California was either g-funk or straight up gangsta rap, Souls of Mischief went the other route and created a hip hop classic. Filled with jazzy bass lines and creative raps, this is one of the albums that created the mold for what hip hop was supposed to be.

Key Tracks: A Name I Call Myself, 93 'til Infinity, Make Your Mind Up

1992: Green Day- Kerplunk

This was the first CD I ever owned. And I didn't even own a CD player at the time, I couldn't find the tape at the store I went to when I was 8. My older cousin always played Dominated Love Slave and at my age anything that sounded that funny was a required album to own. So, regrettably, I listened to that one song over and over and over and neglected the rest of the serious, much better tracks. A couple of years later when Dookie came out and I began forming my actual good taste in music, I finally had a walkman and ended up playing this so many times and bringing it with me everywhere so much that the foil kind of stuff on the back of a CD wore off and I had to get a new one. This album really doesn't sound like anything else that was coming out at the time. It actually featured "Welcome to Paradise", probably the greatest song ever made about Oakland, which was later redone and put on Dookie. The CD version had 4 bonus tracks, my favorite being a cover of The Who's "My Generation".

Key Tracks: 2000 Light Years Away, Christie Road, One of My Lies

1991: Red Hot Chili Peppers- Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Another one that got in by default. Not really one of my favorite albums but my favorite of 1991 seeing as my first choice is by a band who's got 1992 locked up tomorrow. This is still a great record, solidified by the fact people still listen to it constantly to this day, with a few songs still played on the radio every week. Show me a person over the age of 23 who doesn't know all the words to "Under the Bridge"

Key Tracks: Breaking the Girl, Suck My Kiss, My Lovely Man

1990: Mark Lanegan- The Winding Sheet

Kicking off the 90's is an album by a man with one of the most distinctive voices in the history of music. Lanegan started off in the band Screaming Trees and went on to release 6 solo albums, as well as feature with other musicians such as Queens of the Stone Age, Isobel Campbell, Soulsavers and The Gutter Twins. The Winding Sheet was his solo debut and established that he didn't need to stay with his grunge/alternative roots to make a great record. Featuring mostly acoustic guitars this album has a very eerie and bittersweet feel to it, as Lanegan's voice bellows out tales of hangovers and despair, but still manages to keep your finger off the trigger as there's still a sort of beauty to it all. He was also the first to cover "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", originally written by Leadbelly, and later covered by Nirvana on their Unplugged performance. Kurt Cobain and Chris Novoselik also perform backup vocals and bass on the song "Down In the Dark". Not necessarily my favorite Lanegan record (I'll Take Care of You), but definitely my favorite album of 1990.

Key Tracks: Undertow, Wild Flowers, Woe

1989: Miracle Legion- Me & Mr. Ray

Miracle Legion was a "college rock" band, often compared to REM, although they never really sounded alike. If you haven't heard of them maybe you've heard of Polaris, the band who made all the theme music for The Adventures of Pete & Pete, which was Miracle Legion with another band member. After their first few releases the drummer and bass player of the band left, leaving singer Mark Mulcahy and guitarist Mr. Ray Neal, leading to the duo writing a more stripped down, acoustic album, Me & Mr. Ray. Mulcahy's voice is so versatile this album is all over the place, from upbeat toe tapping songs like "The Ladies From Town" to slower, heartfelt songs like "Sailors and Animals". Not limiting themselves, there is one song with an electric guitar, and "Cold Shoulder Balcony" consists solely of Mulcahy's voice and a flute. Closing out the 80's, this is without a doubt my favorite album of the decade.

Key Tracks: You're The One Lee, Cold Shoulder Balcony, Gigantic Transatlantic Trunk Call

1988: Danzig- Danzig

Backed by Rick Rubin, Danzig was what rose from the ashes of Samhain, Glenn Danzig's band after he left Misfits. Blending dark metal with blues, this is one of my favorite metal albums of all time. It almost went unnoticed until the Mother '93 video started getting airplay on MTV, after they released a live version of the song that first appeared on their debut album. Little known fact, James Hetfield of Metallica did backup vocals on the songs "Twist of Cain" and "Possession", but couldn't be credited on the album due to being signed to a different record label. This album effortlessly goes from heavier, balls to the wall songs like "Twist of Cain" and "Am I Demon", to bluesy and spacious tracks like "She Rides" (Now a stripper anthem) and "Soul On Fire". Packed with classic lyrics, such as this gem from "The Hunter", 

Don't use no love gun

Don't need no kissin'

When I get ahold of you, honey

Gonna' light you up like Christmas

I may like Danzig II: Lucifuge a little bit more than this one, but as far as 1988 went this is the best.

1987: INXS- Kick

I'll be honest, I don't love this album but I can't find anything else from 1987 and this is still good.

Key Tracks: Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart, Devil Inside