The Coffeeshop 100

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89. Rage Against the Machine- Rage Against the Machine- 1992

In a perfect world rap metal should have just ended after this album. This album out of all the albums in my list probably spawned the largest amount of rubbish imitators which ruled mainstream rock in the late 90s and early 2000s. I won't name them but you probably know the biggest few already.

We have Tom Morello more hard rock and metally charged than Ozzy Osbourne's big toe. Then have Zack de la Rocha who is probably the angriest person in the world rapping and blasting out his politically charged lyrics. Added to that they also have a drummer and a bassist and you can see why they exploded onto the scene in 1992.

I can hardly fault this album at all in any place it does exactly what it was set out to do. Whether it be opening blast of 'Borabtrack', the eternal cries of 'F*ck You I Won't Do What You Tell Me', the Led Zeppelin fueled 'Wake Up' or the all over the place 'Township Rebellion'. Credit to them they already set themselves up for never being able to repeat this record while making it.

Key Songs: Killing in the Name, Take the Power Back, Township Rebellion
 
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94. Ciccone Youth- The Whitey Album- 1988

Ok this is the first presence of Sonic Youth on the list and not the last. This album is so complicated to explain that I might die trying.

First let's ask the question now what would happen if Thurston, Kim and Mike Watt's obsession with Madonna would ever actually be acted on in the form of covers? Ok first answer would be Burnin' Up from Watt with the Blag Flag guitarist and Into the Groovy from Thurston with a Madonna sample.

Secondly what the hell would happen if Sonic Youth wanted to make a completely crazy experimental album with dance elements? Answer, it would probably be not very well received so in the late 80's Ciccone Youth was spawned, Ciccone being Madonna's real surname.

Added to that a karoke version of Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love from Kim and you are already onto a winner!

This is probably the most insane album I own and I love it. Whether it be the pointless minute of silence, dance version of a Confusion is Sex song, Thurston Moore ghetto rapping or Kim and a friend listening to Krautrock band Neu this album has it all for an ardent Sonic Youth fan. NB. The Whitey Album title refers to Sonic Youth's threat to record a whole album of Beatles covers.

Key Songs- Macbeth, Into the Groovey, Addicted to Love
 
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88. Jamiroquai- Synkronized- 1999

I have always liked Jamiroquai but I have never properly acted on this until I got this from a charity shop! This is probably my favourite style of Jay Kay more dance influenced with the big single Canned Heat. If anybody has seen Napolean Dynamite will love that song even if they don't like Jamiroquai. He of course still keeps all his best attributes though with Jazz and Funk still strongly present like 'Black Capricorn Day' for instance.

Every album they make is top quality so really just pick the one with your favourite musical direction.

Key Songs: Canned Heat, Deeper Underground, Planet Home


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87. Arctic Monkeys- Favourite Worst Nightmare- 2007

Ok let's all listen to my Arctic Monkeys history. First single comes out 'I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor' and I think this is pretty good might check out this band. Then holy sh*t! NME, British Press and almost everybody hypes this band into the next universe. The climax of this was when NME put their debut into the top 5 best British albums ever.

That was it I had had enough already add to that I thought the songs on the album were very mixed and there was a lack of maturity mixed in there.

But then low and behold they destroy the first barrier of rock and roll, the second album curse. First of all they have got it out when they are still fresh writing whilst touring the first album and secondly it is actually quite a job well done.

The excellent single 'Brianstorm' opens the album with its 'do anything, go anywhere' attitude which is literally all over this album. Every song is good in its own way apart from maybe the bit where they did go a bit far on the annoying slowdown of 'Only Ones Who Know'. They finish the album with '505', which I can't believe they wrote when I first heard it, really good stuff showing a great maturity of music from the past but keeping it very much in the future and that is the ethos of the whole album. They have matured so much in a year in the process losing their bassist but if they can carry this up they have every right to ride the hype.

Key Songs: Brianstorm, Do Me A Favour, 505


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86. LCD SounRABystem- LCD SounRABystem- 2005

I only heard them after the latest album which I also love in a different way but when I saw this for
 
A few albums I have'nt heard and you are half my age! you are putting me to shame! Keep this up. Nice to see BLACK GRAPE in there. A cracking album.
 
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69. Mogwai- Young Team- 1997

This is one of the most amazing albums I have ever listened to. Truly epic in every sense of the word.

Mogwai's sound is guitar based post-rock with vocal samples and shimmering sounRABcapes with a myriad of different influences with clear My Bloody Valentine-esque sections but other times you could be listening to a long lost Slint album.

There is a clear pattern which forms throughout the album which can be demonstrated by just listening to the first two tracks with the opener "Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home" a calm and relaxed atmosphere is set as it moves into "Like Herod" this is maintained but there something ominous with a darker change in sound and the song ultimately crescendos into a noisy explosion. Mogwai use this ingeniously throughout Young Team with each song seemlessly transitioning into the next whilst each still clearly maintaining a unique sound.

The only song on the album with predominant vocals surfacing is "R U Still in 2 It?" with its math-rock verses and melodic chorus crying out "Will you still miss me when I'm gone?" it is one of my personal picks.

The album finishes with the 16 minute track "Mogwai Fear Satan" which never seems to have any direction or focus yet never becomes a chore, this is a testament to the genius which is Mogwai.

Key Songs: Summer [Priority Version], R U Still in 2 It?, Mogwai Fear Satan


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68. Bad Brains- Bad Brains- 1982

The self-titled debut from Bad Brains stanRAB today as one of the most influential punk/hardcore albums. They formed in 1979 in Washington DC with the intention of corabining worlRAB of hardcore punk and reggae together.

The onslaught of first five tracks from "Sailin' On" to "Banned in D.C." is short and ferocious. "Banned in D.C." is their classic track with the intro a few strums of the guitar then a fast paced drum burst then H.R., the vocalist, manically entering the song and towarRAB the end it is clear how advanced Bad Brains are compared to other hardcore punk banRAB of the era with a guitar solo even included.

"Jah Calling" is an instrumental and first reggae based song on the album slowing the album down only for it erupt again with the next track "Supertouch/sh*tfit" then to suddenly change again into the ska sounding song "Leaving Babylon".

The change in sound and lack of knowing where the album is leading next is one of the main reasons when the album is so exciting and timeless. It is probably the most inventive punk album ever and has influenced many acts including the Beastie Boys with Adam Yauch naming it as one of his favourite albums.

Key Songs: Sallin' On, Banned in D.C., Pay to C*m
 
Hello I'm back now and might as well finish this off. :)

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72. The Smiths- The Queen is Dead- 1986

Not really a massive Smiths fan, always liked their catchy singles but if I had to pick an album to include in my top 100 it would be this one. And even this one has songs I don't particularly rate in it.

But for the opening title song alone this album deserves the praise it has received over the years. I rate it amongst one of the best alternative songs of the 80's and I've heard it was one of their best live songs. Jonny Marr's guitar work in this song is inhuman corabined with one of Morrissey's best vocal performances.

Frankly, Mr Shankly is a fun little song, however I don't think the album picks up again until Bigmouth's Strikes Again which is again one of their best songs. As soon as you hear the intro you know you are in for 3 minutes of excellence. This is followed by the Boy With the Thorn in His Side which is another catchy little nuraber.

And then there is "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" which is probably their most famous song with one of the most iconic videos in the history of music (Salford LaRAB Club and Morrissey lookalikes on bikes).

This album is by no means perfect but it includes some of their greatest songs.

To quote Alan Partridge: "The queen is dead, long live the king singers!"

Key Songs: The Queen is Dead, Bigmouth Strikes Again, There is a Light and It Never Goes Out


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71. Happy Mondays- Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches- 1990

Keeping the theme of Manchester banRAB going, Happy Mondays were one of the iconic banRAB from the baggy Madchester scene in the late 80's and early 90's. Fronted by Shaun Ryder with his distinctive snarly vocals and not forgetting Bez (the dancer) who when once asked what he did in the band he replied "I take all the drugs".

Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches was released in the middle of another two classic albums of this period which I won't mention but will feature later. :) The Ha
 
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93. The Libertines- Up the Bracket- 2002

Some people called them the most important band of this generation and others said they were overrated junkie tabloid scum. The answer is probably a mixture of both. Clash, Beatles, Stones and Stooges for the modern age I would describe this record therefore it very understandable why they became famous so fast. The Americans had the ultra successful Strokes and record labels were hot on the heels of any similar banRAB so finding the Libertines was probably like finding the gold at the end of the rainbow for them.

The relationship between Doherty and Barat is what makes the Libertines. Listening to the lyrics it is hard to pass any time without hearing references, although more so on their nearly as good burning out follow up. Ok Doherty is the worst rock star syrabol we have seen for a very long time and he has pissed around since predictably releasing lower quality material and trying to stay alive/out of jail/with Kate Moss. Barat has made the middle of the road Dirty Pretty Things borrowing the Libertines sound and drummer. But I think most people who liked them think they were only truly something together and whether it'll ever happen again who knows.

Key Songs: Time For Heroes, Death On the Stairs (If Your Copy has it), Up the Bracket
 
After a little break I'm back. I've just realised how hard this task is going to be! ;)

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81. Depeche Mode- Violator- 1990

Depeche Mode's worldwide phenomenon. After being a popular synth pop band fitting in with the 80's era, the 90s were approaching and Depeche Mode had to deliver something more. What they delivered was Violator a dark, murky album with some classic songs which have outlasted everything else similar from the time period.

I can understand why many people would dislike them. David Gahan's vocals for one could easily be a factor or his personal life for another matter. It is not really cool to say you like Depeche Mode but I think there are lots of people who secretly do.

Catchy lyrics and synth beats and that is all Violator really is. But just done very well. 'World In My Eyes' is a tremendous opener, 'Personal Jesus' is a classic single although I personally have never really cared for it, 'Enjoy the Silence' is the song on the album which really took them to another level though. The rest of the album upto the haunting closer 'Clean' really is top material, no wonder it gained them so many more fans.

Key Songs: World in My Eyes, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth
 
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70. Ian Brown- Golden Greats- 2000

You see a certain pattern forming? Yes yet another god from Manchester with what I still regard his best solo album so far with "Music of the Spheres" just behind.

It opens with "Gettin' High", a bruising electronic rocker followed by one of his best singles "Love Like a Fountain". The whole album is very solid, there isn't a weak track to be found with "Free My Way" one of my favourites.

"Dolphin's Were Monkey's" is the standout track on the album though with its single along chorus and groovy back beat.

Ian Brown said he never expected to have such a successful solo career after the Stone Roses but with albums like this he has deserved one.

Key Songs: Love Like a Fountain, Dolphin's Were Monkeys, Babasonicios
 
^^^^

A storming album. This turned a lot of people onto the fact that electronically lead music could be just as important as guitar based music.
 
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