The Beatles - Revolver (1966)

The first LP I ever bought, it is their best group effort. Not heavily experimental like Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour, or individual like The White Album, Let It Be and Abbey Road, this album has the best of all worlds. Rock, psychedelica, love and drugs, you name it. Especially the production by George Martin is superb.

The cover illustration was created by Klaus Voormann, an old friend from their Hamburg days (before they were famous). He also played bass on several solo Beatle albums.

Main contributors:
John Lennon - Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics, Music
Paul McCartney - Vocals, Bass. Guitar, Piano, Lyrics, Music
George Harrison – Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics, Music
Ringo Star – Drums, Vocals
George Martin – Producer, Piano, Organ

My favorite Beatle albums:

1. Revolver
2. The Beatles (aka The White Album)
3. Magical Mystery Tour (actually a double EP)
4. Rubber Soul

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Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (2007)

Sky Blue Sky by Wilco (2007)

Wilco is: briljant drummer, thoughtful structures and chord schemes, good vocal handling, versatility, and a warm overall sound.

some favorite songs:

- Either Way (Sky Blue Sky, 2007)
- Born Alone (The Whole Love, 2011)
- Dawned On Me (The Whole Love, 2011)
- Hate It Here (Sky Blue Sky, 2007)
- I'm A Wheel (A Ghost Is Born, 2004)
- Sunloathe (The Whole Love, 2011)
- Walken (Sky Blue Sky, 2007)
- Ashes Of American Flags (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, 2002)
- I'm The Man Who Loves You (live) (org: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, 2002)

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Fiona Apple - When The Pawn ... (1999)

Fiona sings sarcastic confronting songs about depression and pain. Accompanied by piano and Jon Brions production this results in a very strong album. Main contributors:

Fiona Apple - Vocals, Piano, Lyrics, Music
Matt Chamberlain - Percussion, Drums
Jon Brion - Production

My favorite Fiona Apple Songs:

1. Get Gone - (When The Pawn ...)
2. Paper Bag - (When The Pawn ...)
3. To Your Love - (When The Pawn ...)
4. Limp - (When The Pawn ...)

The full title of the album:

When the pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king

What he knows throws the blows when he goes to the fight

And he'll win the whole thing 'fore he enters the ring

There's no body to batter when your mind is your might

So when you go solo, you hold your own hand

And remember that depth is the greatest of heights

And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land

And if you fall it won't matter, cause you'll know that you're right

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Michael Penn - MP4 (2000)

Catchy harmonies combined with satirical lyrics. Mainstream, well-crafted original pop songs with clever wordplay and haunting metaphors.

Main contributers:

Michael Penn - Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Music, Lyrics, Production
Patrick Warren - Keyboard
Victor Indrizzo - Drums

My Favorite Michael Penn songs:

1. LONG WAY DOWN - (free for all)
2. ME AROUND - (resigned)
3. LUCKY ONE - (mp4)
4. I CAN TELL - (resigned)
5. BEAUTIFUL - (mp4)
6. WALTER REED - (mr. Hollywood)
7. DON’T LET ME GO - (mp4)
8. BRAVE NEW WORLD - (march)
9. DRAINED - (free for all)
10. SEEN THE DOCTOR - (free for all)

Albums by Michael Penn:

March - 1989
Free For All - 1992

Resigned - 1997

MP4 - 2000

Mr. Hollywood - 2005

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Elliott Smith - XO (1998)

Indie singer-songwriter Elliott Smith folk-pop rocks with reflective and introspective songs. Carefully produced songs with vulnerable vocals and brilliant wordcraft.

Main contributer:

Elliott Smith - Guitar, Drums, Keyboard, Vocals, Music, Lyrics, Production

My favorite Elliott Smith songs:

• Pretty (Ugly Before) - [From a basement on the hill]
• A Question Mark - [XO]
• Son of Sam - [Figure 8]
• LA - [Figure 8]
• Bled White - [XO]
• Pictures of Me - [Either/Or]
• Independence Day - [XO]
• Stupidity Tries - [Figure 8]
• Happiness - [Figure 8]
• Miss Misery - [soundtrack Good Will Hunting]

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Nilsson - Schmillsson (1971)

Everything Harry Nilsson made was excellent, but this is his most accessible, pop-like album. Harry combined superb songwriter ship with beautiful lyrics. His albums are always full of humour and creativity.
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Main contributers:
Harry Nilsson – Piano, Vocals, Music, Lyrics
Jim Gordon – Drums
Klaus Voormann – Bass, Guitar
John Uribe - Guitar
Richard Perry – Production
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My favourite Nilsson songs:

• Bath
• Beehive State (written by Randy Newman)
• Down
• Gotta get up
• Joy (alternative version)
• Marchin’ down broadway
• One
• Remember (christmas)
• Think about your troubles

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Suzanne Vega - 99.9F° (1992)

Folk singer Suzanne goes experimental electronic with producer slash (ex-)husband to be Michell Froom (who also produced Temple Of Low Men by Crowded House). In 1996 she made the equal sounding Nine Objects Of Desire.

Main contributers:
Suzanne Vega - vocals, acoustic guitar, music, lyrics
David Hidalgo - electric guitar
Mitchell Froom – keyboards, production

My favorite Vega songs:

- Marlene on the Wall (Suzanne Vega, 1985)
- Blood makes Noise (99.9F°, 1992)
- Caramel (Nine Objects of Desire, 1996)
- Fat Man and Dancing Girl (99.9F°, 1992)
- Frank & Ava (Beauty & Crime, 2007)
- The Queen and the Soldier (Suzanne Vega, 1985)

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David Bowie - Hunky Dory (1971)

I have a soft spot for music made in my year of birth. I like this albums lyrics combined with the piano and (acoustic/electric) guitars.

David Bowie – Vocals, Guitar, Saxophones, Piano, Music, Lyrics, Producer

Mick Ronson – Guitar
Rick Wakeman - Piano
Mick Woodmansey – Drums
Ken Scott – Producer

Some of my favorite Bowie songs:

Life On Mars? - (Hunky Dory)
Always Crashing In The Same Car - (Low)

PS The older I get the more I prefer Low over Hunky Dory!

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Crowded House - Temple Of Low Men (1988)

In the 80s and 90s I was a fan of the group Crowded House. I especially like their live albums. Of their studio output, this album is my personal favorite.

Main contributors:

Neil Finn – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, Lyrics, Music
Paul Hester – Drums
Nick Seymour - Bass
Mitchell Froom – Producer

My favorite Crowded House songs:

• In My Command (live) - bside
• Into Temptation - Temple of low men
• Kill Eye - Temple of low men
• Not The Girl You Think You Are - Recurring dream
• Sister Madly - Temple of low men
• Weather With You - Woodface
• Whispers And Moans (live) - bside

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Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)

When I heard the first single ‘Give It Away’ I was intrigued, but the album that followed was a mind blowing experience. Super straight funk rhythms combined with beatlesque melodies, it was an overwhelming experience.

Main contributors:

Anthony Kiedis – Vocals
John Frusciante – Guitar
Michael "Flea" Balzary – Bass
Chad Smith – Drums
Rick Rubin – Producer

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The Cardigans - First Band On the Moon (1996)

It is hard to choose between ‘Life’ and ‘First Band On The Moon’. I choose the latter because it is a tiny bit more refined. The catchy melodies and ingenious arrangements combine happy-happy vintage pop music with dark lyrics.

Main contributors:

Nina Persson - Vocals, Lyrics
Peter Svensson - Guitar, Music
Lasse Johansson - Guitar, Keyboards
Bengt Lagerberg - Flute, Drums
Magnus Sveningsson - Bass, Music

My favorite Cardigans songs:

1. been it - first band on the moon
2. happy meal - first band on the moon
3. war - a life less ordinary (soundtrack)
4. travelling with charley - life
5. never recover - first band on the moon
6. please sister - long gone before daylight
7. the same old song - a camp (Nina’s solo album)

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Suede - Dog Man Star (1994)

Suede made two superb albums; Dog Man Star and Coming Up. Dog Man Star is their second album, made in 1994. It was made by Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler, although he latter left the band shortly before the album’s completion, due to growing tensions between him and singer Brett. The album cover features the photograph "Sad Dreams On Cold Mornings", from a 1971 book by American photographer Joanne Leonard.

Main contributors:

Brett Anderson – Lead Vocals
Bernard Butler - Guitars
Simon Gilbert - Drums
Mat Osman - Electric Bass

My favorite Suede songs:

• Beautiful Ones - coming up
• Filmstar - coming up
• Heroine - dog man star
• Lazy - coming up
• She - coming up
• Starcrazy - coming up
• The Asphalt World - dog man star
• The Hollywood Life - dog man star
• We Are The Pigs - dog man star

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Roxy Music - Siren (1975)

Roxy Music started very wild and extravagant , and ended extremely mellow (with Avalon). Siren has the right balance, the highlight is the song ‘She Sells’.

Main contributors:

Bryan Ferry – Vocals, Keyboard
Andy Mackay – Saxophone
Paul Thompson – Drums
Phil Manzanera – Guitar
Eddie Jobson – Violin, Synthesizer
John Gustafson – Bass

My favorite Roxy Music songs:

• Editions Of You (1973)
• In Every Dream Home A Heartache (1973)
• All I Want Is You (1974)
• Bitter-weet (1974)
• She Sells (1975)
• Manifesto (1979)
• Trash (1979)
• Angel Eyes (1979)
• Dance Away (1979)
• Avalon (1982)
• While My Heart Is Still Beating (1982)

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Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule (1989)

What a great retro, 70s like low-fi psychedelic album! Playing nearly all the instruments himself, it overshadows all his later works (although I like his collaboration with Vanessa Paradis).

Main contributers:

Lenny Kravitz – Vocals, Guitar, Organ, Bass, Drums, Music, Lyrics, Production
Henry Hirsch – Piano, Organ, Bass, Guitar


My favorite Lenny Kravitz songs:

• Always on the run - Mamma said (1991)
• Are you gonna go my way - Are you gonna go my way (1993)
• Circus - Circus (1995)
• Let love rule - Let love rule (1989)

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Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow (1996)

Sheryl at her creative peak. Retro like organ-guitar pop.

Main contributors:

Sheryl Crow - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Piano, Lyrics, Music, Production
Mitchell Froom - Harmonium, Keyboard
Jim Keltner - Drums
Jeff Trott - Guitar, Vocals
Michael Urbano - Drums

My favorite Sheryl Crow songs:

• A Change
• All I Wanna Do
• Am I Getting Through (part I and II)
• Everyday Is A Winding Road
• It Don’t Hurt
• Ordinary Morning
• Superstar
• Tomorrow Never Dies
• We Do What We Can

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Aerosmith - Get A Grip (1993)

An amazing line up of songs with melodious screaming rock songs, you gotta love it.

Main contributors:

Steven Tyler - Vocals, Harmonica, Mandolin, Keyboard
Joe Perry - Guitar, Vocals
Brad Whitford - Guitar
Tom Hamilton - Bass
Joey Kramer - Drums, Percussion
Bruce Fairbairn - Production

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Stevie Wonder - Music Of My Mind (1972)

It is hard to pick one of Stevie’s albums to be his best, but I prefer his earlier work like this album. Made in 1972 he plays as usual nearly all instruments himself.


Main contributors:

Stevie Wonder - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums, Talk Box, Lyrics, Music, Production

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Pet Shop Boys - Actually (1987)

This is the second album by the Pet Shop Boys. Happy electro-pop combined with catchy lyrics. No disco, just full of melodic, simple though effective, songs.

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XTC - Skylarking (1986)

This list should include an XTC album, but I had a hard time choosing between ‘Black Sea’, ‘The Big Express’ and ‘Skylarking.


Main contributors:

Andy Partridge - Vocals, Guitar, Electronic Drums
Colin Moulding - Vocals, Bass
David Gregory - Guitar, Piano, Mellotron, Synthesizer
Todd Rundgren - Producer

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Supergrass - In It For The Money (1997)

This album has a great opening, and it continues with high-energy songs with drama and humor. The album combines sophisticated structures with rich arrangements.

Main contributors:

Gaz Coombes - Vocals, Guitar
Mickey Quinn - Bass
Danny Goffey - Drums
Rob Coombes - Keyboard
(Sam Williams – Theremin)

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Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1995)

When I heard ‘You Oughta Know’ the first time I was astonished. This album has painful honest tracks with intensely personal lyrics.


Main contributors:

Alanis Morissette – Harmonica, Vocals, Lyrics, Music
Glen Ballard – Guitar, Keyboard, Production

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John Lennon - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)

Sparsely instrumented, most songs encompass drum-bass-guitar or drum-bass-piano, but still a very diverse album. Slow, silent songs are varied with heavy screamish rock songs. The biographical lyrics show pain and meaning.

Main contributers:

John Lennon - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Music, Lyrics, Production
Ringo Starr - Drums
Klaus Voorman - Bass

My favorite Lennon's solo efforts:

• Isolation
• Well well well
• Jealous guy
• Out of the blue
• Nobody loves you (when you’re down and out)
  
  

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Aimee Mann - I'm With Stupid (1995)

Brilliant title (like her previous album ‘Whatever’), great cover, and delightful sarcastic songs. Aimee mellowed out year by year, starting rough and ending tamed. I prefer this album over her latest work.

Main contributers:

Aimee Mann - Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Music, Lyrics
Jon Brion - Keyboard, Drums, Guitar, Production

My favorite Aimee Mann songs:

1. Momentum - (Magnolia)
2. Frankenstein - (I'm With Stupid)
3. It's Not Safe - (I'm With Stupid)
4. How Am I Different - (Bachelor No. 2)
5. All Over Now - (I'm With Stupid)
6. Nothing Is Good Enough - (Bachelor No. 2)
7. Amateur - (I'm With Stupid)
8. Jacob Marley's Chain - (Whatever)

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Sting - Ten Summoner's Tales (1993)

The songs included on this album are both immerse and expansive, serious and funny and packed with melodies.

Main contributors:

Sting: Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Hugh Padgham – Production

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Tim Christensen - Honeyburst (2003)

Danish singer-songwriter Tim Christensen produced this outstanding album Although a bit overdramatic, the songs are very catchy and superb melodious.


Main contributors:

Tim Christensen - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, Piano, Lyrics, Music, Production
Olaf Olsen - Drums

My favorite Tim Christensen songs:

1. Close The Door - (Honeyburst)
2. Jump The Gun - (Honeyburst)
3. Falling To Pieces - (Secrets On Parade)
4. Get The Fuck Out Of My Mind - (Secrets On Parade)
5. Time is The Space Between Us - (Secrets On Parade)
6. Watery Eyes - (Secrets On Parade)

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Prince - Black Album (1987)

Withdrawn in 1987 and officially released in 1994, this stands out to be his most dark funk album. Here he is at his creative experimental peak. From start to finish it is an evil psychedelic trip culminating in the end when his alter ego Camille closes the album with ‘Rockhard in a Funky Place’.

Main contributers:

Prince - Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals, Drums, Music, Lyrics, Production
Sheila E - Drums, Vocals

My favourite Prince songs:

• Anotherloverholenyohead
• Dolphin
• Papa
• Rock Hard in a Funky Place
• Strange Relationship
• The ballad of Dorothy Parker
• When Doves Cry

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The Beatles - The Beatles (1968) (aka The White Album)

The White Album includes the music of the four individual Beatles. They recorded their songs on their own, with help of the other three. This resulted in a highly diverse album, varying form 20s style music to hard rock. This mix of styles, made by the Beatles at the top of their creativity, makes it impossible to overestimate this record.

During the sessions Ringo left the band for a while due to the tensed atmosphere. The others continued recording, whereby Paul (and the others) took over the drums.


At the end Paul and John worked out the ordering of the tracks during a 24-hour session. The heavier rock songs mostly ended up on side C, George’s songs were spread out one per side, no composer had more than two songs in succession and, as a joke, most of the songs with an animal in the title were placed together on side B. Also small bits and pieces of sounds and songs were used to piece the album together.


Main contributors:

John Lennon - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Organ, Bass, Lyrics, Music
Paul McCartney - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Organ, Bass, Drums, Lyrics, Music
George Harrison – Vocals, Guitar, Organ, Bass, Lyrics, Music
Ringo Star – Drums, Piano, Vocals
George Martin – Producer, Piano

My favorite White Album songs:

• Back in the U.S.S.R.
• Dear Prudence
• Happiness Is a Warm Gun
• Honey Pie
• I'm So Tired
• Rocky Raccoon
• Savoy Truffle
• Yer Blues

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