Today’s Albums 501-600

The 3rd Portishead album unsurprisingly titled Third is 10 years old today! The album was a comeback following a 11 year hiatus, and featured a change in direction, less trip-hop more soundtrack-cum-krautrock. A decade on I’m still undecided… portishead.co.uk

The Dave Matthews Band album Before These Crowded Streets is 20 years old tomorrow! The LP was produced by Steve Lillywhite, and includes guest spots by Alanis Morissette. An album that brought their great live performances into the studio. Amazing rhythms!  davematthewsband.com

The World Party album Bang! is 25 years old today! Includes Is It Like Today? What Is Love All About? Give It All Away and All I Gave. I listened to this album to death back in the day on surfing trips to Cornwall! Still love it! Karl Wallinger is a very underrated songwriter…agree?  worldparty.net

The recent album by Battleme, aka Matt Drenik, Cult Psychotica is an energetic and frenzied political journey. Apparently recorded in a week the LP has nods to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Don’t listen while driving, you may just get busted for speeding!  battleme.tv

The new Courtney Marie Andrews May Your Kindness Remain is a heavenly mix of Americana and new country. Andrews has an Emmylou Harris quality to her voice, while the expansive music is captivating. Love Long Road Back to You, a stunning finale.  courtneymarieandrews.com

The 2007 Radiohead album In Rainbows was initially released as a pay-what-you-want download. A beautiful and reflective LP, among their best work. I know many people who rank this as their finest work. Love House of Cards. Time to confess…what did you pay? radiohead.com

The recent Moby album Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt is a melancholic masterpiece. I remember listening to Play on loop on a beach in Cambodia all those years ago. Now with the new LP it might be time to book another flight! Anyone listened to it?  moby.com

The self-titled debut album by the metal outfit Soulfly is 20 years old today! Released in memory of the ex-Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera’s murdered stepson. Recorded at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, the LP is powerful, tribal and at times very Brazilian!  soulfly.com

The 3rd Massive Attack LP Mezzanine is 20 years old today! Includes Angel, Risingson, Teardrop and Inertia Creeps. A dark, brooding yet mesmerising LP by the Bristol collective at the top of their game! Played this to death back in the day.  massiveattack.co.uk

The Ry Cooder and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt LP A Meeting by The River highlights two masters of their respective instruments. Cooder on slide guitar and Bhatt on the Mohan veena creates a hypnotic blend of cultures. They received a Grammy for best World Music Album.  rycooder.com

The new Ben Harper album No Mercy In This Land, featuring harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite, is a tender traditional blues LP with a modern touch. Love Movin’ On and the title track. Always been a fan of Ben Harper…never disappoints!  benharper.com

The 1972 Curtis Mayfield LP Superfly was released as a soundtrack to the film of the same name. The soundtrack out-grossed the movie. Includes the hit singles Superfly and Freddie’s Dead. The LP ignited the blaxploitation genre. Are you a fan of Mayfield’s work?  curtismayfield.com

Saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington has reignited the cool jazz scene. His latest album Harmony of Difference is more of an EP compared to his 2015 tome The Epic. Love Perspective and the incredible Truth. An incredible artist, would love to see live… kamasiwashington.com

The debut The Last Shadow Puppets The Age of the Understatement is 10 years old today! The band features Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, Miles Kane of The Rascals and James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco. Brilliant instrumentation!  thelastshadowpuppets.com

The Grease Soundtrack is 40 years old today! Selling over 28 million copies, Grease is one of the bestselling soundtracks of all time. Includes the UK Number Ones You’re the One That I Want and Summer Nights. Admit it…you love it really? P.s I’ve never seen the film. Should I?

The debut Gomez album Bring It On was released 20 years ago today! The album won the Mercury Music Prize in 1998, and includes the singles 78 Stone Wobble, Get Myself Arrested and Whippin’ Piccadilly. Uni-blues at its best. “got some friends in my BMW / trying to get themselves arrested…”  gomeztheband.com

The latest from Daptone Records is a big band collective of Havana’s top musicians called Orquesta Akokán. Their self-titled debut was recorded at one of the oldest operating studios in the world, the state-run Estudios Areito. A new direction for the label…viva Cuba!  daptonerecords.com/artists/orquesta-akokan

The Iron Maiden LP Seventh Son of A Seventh Son is 30 years old today! The LP was the first to incorporate keyboards, and includes Can I Play with Madness and Only the Good Die Young. “Seven deadly sins, seven ways to win, seven holy paths to hell and your trip begins…” Love it! In your Maiden top 3?  ironmaiden.com

The Willie Nelson LP Stardust is 40 years old this month! Willie’s 23rd album is a collection of his favourite standards. In 10 days Willie recorded the album, which includes Georgia on My Mind, Unchained Melody and On the Sunny Side of the Street. Less country, more nostalgia.  willienelson.com

And now for something completely different from Jack White! Boarding House Reach, the latest release from White, unlocks the shackles of his blues-rock past. The LP is a genre busting experimental mash of whatever he fancied at the time. Still getting my head around it! Thoughts?  jackwhiteiii.com

The 2nd full length studio album by the Miami, Florida band Torche, Meanderthal is 10 years old today. Dense and epic are adjectives that came to mind listening to this LP. The album ends with the intense rhythmic title track…powerful stuff!  torchemusic.com

The debut Prince LP For You is 40 years old today! The album was produced, arranged, composed, and performed by Prince. The singles Soft and Wet and Just as Long as We’re Together were released from the LP. Seen as a promising start… officialprincemusic.com

The Bayou-born soul act Durand Jones & The Indications debut eponymous release is a blend of deep soul and heavy funk. As many do, Jones started his singing journey at church before joining the legendary Indiana University Soul Revue. Classic soul, classic album!  durandjonesandtheindications.com

The David Bowie album Black Tie White Noise is 25 years old today! The LP was his first solo release in 6 years, and featured Ziggy Stardust era guitarist Mick Ronson, who sadly died just 24 days after the release. Probably doesn’t make your Bowie Top 5, but a quality LP?  davidbowie.com

The 1970 debut eponymous Black Sabbath album is widely considered the first commercial heavy metal album. Upon release critics gave scathing reviews, but retrospectively acclaim the work of Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward. Great riffs!  blacksabbath.com

The Simon & Garfunkel album Bookends is 50 years old today! The LP explores a life journey from childhood to old age in a loose concept style. Includes Mrs. Robinson and A Hazy Shade of Winter. Where does Bookends rate in your S&G list?  simonandgarfunkel.com

The 2nd album by the Australian indie rock band Gang of Youths, Go Farther in Lightness, released in August 2017 is a phenomenal piece of work. From the anthem What Can I Do if the Fire Goes Out? to the late album tender tracks, complete with string arrangements. Love this LP!  gangofyouths.com

The Black Keys LP Attack & Release is 10 years old today! The album was their first recorded in a professional studio, and first using an outside producer, Danger Mouse. Some songs were originally intended for Ike Turner, who passed away, then became Attack & Release. Love I Got Mine.  theblackkeys.com

The 1982 debut eponymous album by the Bad Brains, known as The Yellow Tape because of the packaging, has been a big influence for many artists. The African-American Rastas helped grow the D.C. hardcore scene. Hard, fast, dub and punk!  badbrains.com

The 6th Pulp album, This is Hardcore is 20 years old today. Released 3 years after Different Class, the bleak lyrics and mundane melodies closed the door their Britpop party. Includes the singles Helped the Aged, A Little Soul, Party Hard and the title track. Fan of Pulp?

The debut eponymous Suede album is 25 years old today! Despite the endless comparison to The Smiths, the LP claimed 1993 Mercury Music Prize. Includes So Young, Animal Nitrate, The Drowners and Metal Mickey. Adored this album back in the day! Share your views…

The Denver-based Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats new LP Tearing at the Seams has been described as ‘roadhouse retro.’ There have also been comparisons of Sam Cooke with Rateliff’s vocals. Love You Worry Me.  nathanielrateliff.com

Seun Kuti is the modern sound of Afrobeat and the legendary Fela Kuti’s youngest son. Kuti’s new album Black Times features his father’s band Egypt 80, and also Carlos Santana. Black times highlights his social and political beliefs, powerful stuff!

The 1978 Funkadelic LP One Nation Under A Groove is the band’s most successful release, especially in the UK. Love the line-up nicknames… Banjo’d Muthaplucker… Funkadelic Blamgusta Vocaloids… Rotofunkie Drum & Percussionatin’ Thumpdans. Time to visit George Clinton’s funk-drenched alternative reality?  georgeclinton.com

The recent Rhye album Blood picks up where the debut, Woman, left off showcasing Mike Milosh’s incredible seductive voice. Love Phoenix and Sinful. An album for soft-lighting, a glass of wine and intimate company…if you know what I mean?  rhyemusic.com

The 2nd LP from the New York hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory, released in 1991, is seen as a hip-hop masterpiece. Low End is darker, harder yet more minimalist than their debut. Includes the singles Check the Rhime, Jazz (We’ve Got) and Scenario.  atribecalledquest.com

The 2nd album by Daniel Lanois, For The Beauty of Wynona, is 25 years old today! Lanois is best known for his work with U2 and Peter Gabriel, but his own work should not be overlooked. A dark haunting collection of songs, immaculately produced.  daniellanois.com

The Depeche Mode LP Songs of Faith and Devotion is 25 years old today! One of my favs, includes I Feel You, Walking In My Shoes, Condemnation and In Your Room. Where does SOFAD rate in your Depeche Mode list?  depechemode.com

The debut Pixies album Surfer Rosa is 30 years old today! The album was a strong influence for Nirvana’s Nevermind, being packed of melodic alternative rock. Includes the classic Where Is My Mind? Are you fan of the LP?  pixiesmusic.com

The new MGMT album Little Dark Age is a return to form. 10 years since Oracular Spectacular MGMT have found their catchy synth-pop melodies again, which is what they do best. Love Hand It Over and the joyful Me and Michael.  whoismgmt.com

The 1980 AC/DC album Back In Black was the first to feature vocalist Brian Johnson, who replaced Bon Scott following his death. The LP, recorded in the Bahamas, includes the classic title track and You Shook Me All Night Long. Another rock classic.  acdc.com

Always Ascending is the 5th LP by Scottish indie-rock band Franz Ferdinand. Since their debut they’ve only tweaked their formula, a formula that works. It’s punchy, with a splash of disco! Includes the singles Always Ascending, Feel the Love Go and Lazy Boy.  franzferdinand.com

The Elbow LP The Seldom Seen Kid is 10 years old today! The album won the illustrious Mercury Music Prize, and includes the popular tracks One Day Like This and Grounds for Divorce. Elbow’s debut will always be my highlight, but this LP clearly resonated with the wider audience.  elbow.co.uk

The 2nd Morcheeba album Big Calm is 20 years old today! I loved this album back in the day, with great tracks including The Sea, Part of the Process, Blindfold, Fear and Love and the title track Big Calm. Superb pop/trip-hop!  morcheeba.uk

The posthumous release Soul of a Woman by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings is in my opinion her finest work. Released around a year after her death, Soul of a Woman showcases her incredible voice and vintage soul sound. She will be missed!  sharonjonesandthedapkings.com

The latest album Open Here by Sunderland’s Field Music is a pop masterclass! In The Quietus album review they describe their sound as “the jerky riffs and refrains, the tightly-coiled songs, the unusual time signatures, the precise funk.” It’s everything a music fan will love.  field-music.co.uk

Has it really been 20 years since Nightmares on Wax released Carboot Soul? Well, Mr Evelyn is back with Shape the Future. His strength is combining the past with the future, which is evident on this LP. Deserves more than one listen.  nightmares-on-wax.bleepstores.com

Recorded at American Sound Studio in Memphis, Elvis Presley’s 1969 LP From Elvis in Memphis was his 35th album release! A mature, soulful and passionate album. The LP ends with the epic In The Ghetto. So much love for this LP!  elvis.com

The Eric Clapton album Pilgrim is 20 years old today! Clapton’s 13th studio album was the first in 9 years to feature all new material. The LP received mixed reviews, with complaints of over-production and schmaltzy ballads. It’s not his best work, but I actually enjoyed the listen. Your views?  ericclapton.com

The debut solo LP Jesus of Cool by Nick Lowe is 40 years old this month. Includes the classic single I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass. The LP is film-critic Mark Kermode’s favourite of all-time, and even includes a tribute to the Bay City Rollers. Love this LP!  nicklowe.com

The latest Car Seat Headrest release Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) is a complete re-working of his 2011 LP Twin Fantasy, and it’s sensational! The Guardian reviewer said of Toledo’s voice “he has a tendency to sing in a tone that suggests he’s been given pesto for dinner for the seventh day in a row.” Hilarious.  carseatheadrest.com

The eponymous album by The United States of America is 50 years old today. The psychedelic and experimental rock LP was the only release while the band were together. The album was produced by David Rubinson who produced Moby Grape, Herbie Hancock, and Taj Mahal to name a few.

The debut album, Oceanic, by 23-year-old Niklas Paschburg is a stunning piano-based ambient piece. The album was recorded in a makeshift studio looking across the Baltic Sea, and evokes a sense of isolation experienced whenworking on the project. Beautiful melodies!

The 3rd album, We’re Only In It For The Money, by Frank Zappa’s band The Mothers of Invention is 50 years old today! The satirical concept LP is every bit as whacky as you would expect from the world of Frank Zappa. Love What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body?  zappa.com

The debut release from Welsh singer Duffy, Rockferry, is 10 years old today. The album won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2009. Includes the singles Rockferry, Mercy, Warwick Avenue, Stepping Stone and Rain on Your Parade. Solid and soulful!  iamduffy.com

The 2nd LP by Scott Walker Scott 2 is 50 years old this month! Includes 3 interpretations of Jacques Brel songs, Next, The Girls and the Dogs and the sensational opener Jackie. The song caused controversy with drug references and the line “authentic queers and phony virgins.” Classic Walker!

The debut album by The Cranberries Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? is 25 years old today! The dreamy Irish pop tones melted the hearts of many a music fan back in the 90’s. Includes the singles Dreams and Linger. #RIPDolores

The recent collaboration Lotta Sea Lice between Aussie Courtney Barnett and the former lead guitarist of The War on Drugs, Kurt Vile is an interesting pairing. The opener Over Everything is probably the stand-out track, but an enjoyable LP.  courtneybarnettandkurtvile.com

The 2002 former J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf album Sleepless is a modern country-blues classic. Includes guest appearances from Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. I must admit I’d never heard of Wolf until I came across his name in a ‘greatest album’ list. Very enjoyable!  peterwolf.com

The 4th Erykah Badu album New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) is 10 years old today! Recorded mostly at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, an ambitious release demanding more than a casual listen.  erykah-badu.com

The latest Shannon and The Clams LP, Onion, was recorded in just 10 days in at Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Studio. Each track has catchy hooks, and Shannon Shaw’s vocals evoking another era of music history. The opener The Boy for me is the stand-out track.  shannonandtheclams.com

Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac eponymous debut album is 50 years old today! Apparently it’s the band’s only album not to feature Christine McVie in any capacity. A triumph for the British Blues, includes cover of Elmore James’s Shake Your Moneymaker.  fleetwoodmac.com

The Bob & Gene LP If This World Were Mine is a collection of sweet soul from upstate New York. Recorded during the late 1960’s and re-released by Daptone Records, features stunning vocals, and songs of teenage love. A brilliant listen.

The genius that is Radiohead released their debut album Pablo Honey 25 years ago today! Includes Anyone Can Play Guitar, Stop Whispering and of course Creep. When I saw them at Reading ’94 I knew they would go on to great things…  radiohead.com

The debut LP Child Is Father to The Man by Blood, Sweat & Tears is 50 years old today! The early contribution of Al Kooper on this album was huge, then he left shortly after the release. A classic post-Sgt Peppers album.

The 3rd album from London Art Rock band Django Django, Marble Skies, exhibits many electronic influences from yesteryear…Jan Hammer, Neu!…the list goes on! Love Sundial and Champagne.  djangodjango.co.uk

The Louisiana swamp-rocker Tony Joe White’s 2nd album …Continued is a forgotten gem! Recorded in at Monument Studios, Nashville and Lyn-Lou Studios, Memphis. Includes the original Rainy Night In Georgia.  tonyjoewhite.com

The latest Nils Frahm album All Melody was recorded at the vintage Saal 3 studio in East Berlin. The LP has been perfectly described, by NPR, as an “ambitious ambient-electro-acoustic creation.” A stunning piece of work.  nilsfrahm.com

The debut Kate Bush album The Kick Inside is 40 years old today. Bush was just 19 upon release, with some songs written when she was just 13…incredible. Includes the hit single Wuthering Heights and the mesmerising The Man with the Child in His Eyes.  katebush.com

The debut eponymous All About Eve album is 30 years old today! Includes the wonderful track Martha’s Harbour. Does anyone remember their Top of the Pops performance of the track? Waiting to mime, there was no backing track played to them, so they sat motionless!

The 1972 Todd Rundgren double-LP Something/Anything? revealed Rundgren’s prowess as a songwriter, musician, vocalist and producer. The album is pop-music at its best, with a twist of studio magic. Includes the single Hello It’s Me.

The debut eponymous LP by super group The Power Station includes the classic Some Like It Hot. The band were made up of singer Robert Palmer, Duran Duran’s John and Andy Taylor, and former Chic drummer Tony Thompson. 80’s gold!

The 1971 debut eponymous album by American country-folk singer-songwriter John Prine showed incredibly music maturity from such a young man. All these years later, his songwriting talents are still revered, with many of the tracks covered by other artists.  johnprine.com

The 4th album by the Swedish sisters known as First Aid Kit, Ruins, was worth the 4-year wait. The album is fraught with sorrow and expression from break-ups. Love Fireworks and It’s A Shame. Great harmonies as always.  firstaidkitband.com

The Rolling Stones 1971 LP Sticky Fingers is regarded as one their best. Full of Jagger’s swagger and Richards rock. Includes classics including Brown Sugar, Dead Flowers, Wild Horses and Can’t You Hear Me Knocking. In your Stones top 3?  rollingstones.com

The debut eponymous Van Halen album is 40 years old today! The LP is considered to be one of the great debut albums, mentioned with bands like Led Zeppelin, Ramones and Sex Pistols. Includes Runnin’ with the Devil, Eruption and Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.  van-halen.com

The debut studio album, Songs of Praise, by the South-London indie band Shame is a bucketful of influences. I hear early U2, Stone Roses, the Manics and the post-punk genre in their music. Shame are a band to keep an eye (and ear) on!  shame.world

The album Conscience by The Beloved is 25 years old today! The dreamy electronic band’s 3rd album included their biggest hit Sweet Harmony, as well as You’ve Got Me Thinking, Let the Music Take You and the hypnotic Dream On. Love The Beloved.  thebeloved.com

The 1982 Prince album 1999 is seen as the purple one commercial breakthrough LP. Includes in order, 1999, Little Red Corvette, Delirious…I could go on! I was 10 upon release, and changed music forever for me! What was your defining moment album?  officialprincemusic.com

The former busker Manu Chao struck gold with his second album Próxima Estación: Esperanza. The LP, named after a Madrid Metro station, contains tracks sang in a host of languages including Spanish, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese…. mesmerizing stuff!  manuchao.net

The 1972 LP Music of My Mind saw Stevie Wonder take his synthesiser experimentation to a new level. Apart from some trumpet and guitar, Wonder played all instruments, having complete artistic freedom. Love I Love Every Little Thing About You. How do you rate?  steviewonder.net

I don’t know how the 2017 LCD Soundsystem album american dream slipped through my listening net! What a gem of an album. Love How Do You Sleep? The critics loved american dream, and for once I agree with them!  lcdsoundsystem.com

The Pearl Jam album Yield is 20 years old today. The LP was a return to straightforward anthem rock, and includes Given to Fly, Wishlist and Do the Evolution. In your Pearl Jam top 3? Probably just outside mine, but a great listen after many years!  pearljam.com

The 2nd album by the Welsh band Catatonia, International Velvet is 20 years old today. Includes the hit singles Mulder and Scully and Road Rage, and was one of the biggest selling albums of the year, as well as nominated for the Mercury Prize (won by Gomez).

The prolific Neil Young keeps on truckin’ releasing his 39th album, The Visitor last month. Recorded as a collaboration with Promise of the Real (their 3rd together), The Visitor is political and angry, and worth a listen.  neilyoung.com

I’ve always loved the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club sound, and their new album Wrong Creatures is another using BRMC formula, dark grungy ponderous rock. Love Echo and King of Bones.  blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com

The Velvet Underground LP White Light / White Heat is 50 years old today! The album was the band’s last with John Cale, and continued with their avant-garde and experimental approach, which challenged conventional music. Includes the epic Sister Ray.  velvetundergroundmusic.com

The debut eponymous album from the Vampire Weekend is 10 years old today! The LP garnered much praise the music press and critics, and even a nod from Paul Simon. VW brought a world music approach to indie-rock. Lyrically baffling, but musically fascinating.  vampireweekend.com

The debut Adele album 19 was released 10 years ago today. She was labelled the new ‘Amy Winehouse’ but their lives took rather different paths! The LP included Chasing Pavements, a version of Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love and Hometown Glory. Winehouse or Adele?  adele.com

The 1970 Clarence Carter LP Patches was recorded at the now late Rick Hall’s FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. The album was titled and contains Carter’s best known hit Patches, which Rick Hall proclaimed related to his own story. A gem of an LP!

The Nick Lowe album Dig My Mood is 20 years old today. I hear so much influence in Dig My Mood from Johnny Cash, to Stax Records, to Bowie and country music. Lowe is an artist that listens, considers and interprets in his own unique way. Love You Inspire Me. A fan of Mr Lowe?  nicklowe.com

The debut Belly LP Star is 25 years old today. The ex-Throwing Muses member Tanya Donelly’s band became a surprise success. Includes the popular tracks Feed the Tree and Gepetto. Sweet sounding indie-pop!

The 1972 Neil Young LP Harvest had mixed reviews on release. Were the critics mad? It’s a masterpiece, includes Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama and a live version of The Needle and the Damage Done. One of his best?  neilyoung.com

I wouldn’t normally consider an album by a US X Factor runner-up. However, after reading reviews I thought I’d give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised! The ex-Fifth Harmony singer Camila Cabello has released a quality pop record with Camila. Honestly, try it! camilacabello.com

The debut Dr. John album Gris Gris was released 50 years ago today. Classic New Orleans meets psychedelic rock, includes the magical I Walk on Guilded Splinters. The Atlantic records president Ahmet Ertegun apparently exclaimed “How can we market this boogaloo crap?” nitetripper.com

The 1968 Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack to the movie The Graduate is 50 years old today. The LP includes instrumentals by Dave Grusin and The Sound of Silence, Scarborough Fair/Canticle and 2 versions of Mrs. Robinson. Timeless!  simonandgarfunkel.com

The 1978 debut XTC album White Music is 40 years old today. The LP contains the single Statue of Liberty, which was banned by the BBC due to the ‘obscene’ lyrics. The influence of Talking Heads is evident on White Music. Great stuff!

The 1978 Warren Zevon LP Excitable Boy was 40 years old yesterday. The 3rd LP from the American singer was his biggest seller and includes the tracks Excitable Boy and Werewolves of London. A diverse masterpiece?  warrenzevon.com