The Crowe 100

[Vito Corleone]

That quote from the RYM guy is a cut and paste job from somewhere else. Don't know exactly where but i have read it elsewhere. I'm pretty sure it's a journo's review.

 

[Libra]

48. Coheed and Carabria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth (2003)
As if to reiterate my previous note. This is going to be the part where some of you start to lose faith in the list. "Has Crowe really just put this C&C album above such classics like 'Horses', 'Pearl', '1984', Ray f'n Charles??" That's right. And if you think you're surprised now, wait until you get to my nuraber 1. So, what is it that earns this long titled album it's place in the top 50? Simply this. C&C plays with two of my favorite things - the concept album, and an epic sci-fi story and sets it to some pretty excellent progressive music. Some people have called CC emo, which was just them being in the wrong place at the wrong time - when emo started to become a household word their singles (Blood Red Summer, Favor House Atlantic) were on the cusp of that sound, that lyrical content - and so they were put under the urabrella of that word, and the fools who rely on genre description to guide their love or hate used this to feast on our CC boys. I love the story line - albeit confusing - of the Amory Wars and I love reading the lyrics - and it made me think of the story outside of the medium of music and really captured my imagination when these guys came around. Match that up with some pretty cool vocals which are a source of much disdain and love, and some great technical playing and you have a pretty sweet band. This album specifically due to Light and the Glass, one of my favorite C&C songs.

Check out: Light and the Glass, The Crowing, 21:13

47. Sam Cooke - The Man and His Music (1986, compilation)
Note: This is not the cover for "The Man and His Music" released in 1986. I was moved to love Sam Cooke when I took a Rock and Soul on the Radio class early in my college career and I heard the song "A Change Is Gonna Come". Before this event, I rarely took music as a political commentary very seriously at all. Sure, I was aware of its use as such - I could cite you artists, songs, eras etc... but I never really felt it like I did when I first listened to this particular song. Well, great Crowe - you are using an entire song to bring this album to 47? No. After hearing "A Change is Gonna Come", and realizing later that it would turn into one of my favorite songs of all time, I would go on to listen to the critically acclaimed "Night Beat" - but realized that I DID miss the poppy hits of Mr. Cooke. I hate using compilations on my list - but hey, this has it all from the so-called inventor of soul. While this won't be the Milestone Album that will be coming up - it certainly was THE precursor to the album that would draw me out of my rock/subgenres of rock world, you'll read about that album soon. I imagine if there was a full blown Sam Cooke album that I loved that wasn't a compilation (blasphemous to some, call me a shallow pop whore) then it might have been a little higher.

Check out: Twistin' the Night Away, A Change is Gonna Come, Only Sixteen, Cupid, Chain Gang

46. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life(1976)
Um. I don't really know what to say about one of the most celebrated albums in music history that hasn't been said before by people exponentially more eloquent. Personally, this was one of those albums on constant spin at my grandparents' house as a child and I never fully appreciated it, again after that class, until now. The singles are well known and of course the cultural importance of reaching audiences of all races is well documented... I just can't add anything new to the mix. I had a hard time picking between this and Innervisions. The music moves me in a way that can only be done by these soul singers coming out of the 60s-70s. Like many - I feel the downfall of this album is the double disc, the second disc faltering a little behind the first one - however a reissue recently trimmed this sucker down.

Check out: Village Ghetto Land, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Sir Duke

45. Love - Forever Changes(1967)
Hey - finally here. What can you say about Forever Changes that is somehow more insightful than one of the thousanRAB of rave reviews about it online? Not much I suppose... but I will attempt to describe this full, full beauty that Forever Changes IS. You start off with Alone Again Or - which, as far as I can tell, is one of the most complete recordings that have ever graced this young man's ears. Layered vocals? Check. "flamenco" style guitar playing? You got it... it's a soft song that will not have you (well, not me anyway) drooling on the first listen, hell - maybe even not the second listen. You gotta go back and listen to it! But then again you can't go looking for the beauty - ack, I am ruining it for you! Go! The second track A House is Not a Motel - is well psychedelic to be sure (and yeah, many call this the quintessential psychedelic album - I'd say it's one of them - and maybe just for this track alone!) - you have some absolutely crazy guitar/drum breakdowns, think 60's version Mars Volta if I had to make a very crude, probably ineffective comparison. Andmoreagain, the next track, is a pretty haunting track - the warbling vocals of Arthur Lee slow the album down a little. And on and on - album highlights are hard to pick. You sin by picking one and not the other, and you sin by not picking any at all. This would have been much higher on my list had I found it earlier in my life, I imagine. I can't say how this might or might not have affected me growing up...

Check out: Alone Again Or, The Red Telephone, A House is Not a Motel, Bummer in the Summer

 

[Audrie....♥]

Excellent album. I find that I enjoy it more than Nevermind (probably because it's so overrated). Good choice!

 

[mishelly]

I tried the 20x5 and it was too much work and didn't feel natural.

I am working on a top albums thread of an indeterminant nuraber on my database right now. Once I am happy with all the reviews and albums included then I will rank them. Otherwise it's too hard to feel like your picks reflect your feelings. I put London Calling somewhere in the 60s only to discover it's a top 25 favorite as worst now.

 

[Mannat Bhatia]

Dirt In The Ground is the best song on Bone Machine imo...What do you think of it?

 

[Laurennn_Ox]

80. Carl Orff - Carmina Burana (~1935)
"What's this? A neo-classical piece stuck into a list with predominately alternative rock albums from the 80s and 90s? What say you, Crowe?" As some of you old timers may know, I use to be very into the choral program in my pre-college schooling (where it was the "cool" thing to do). Carmina Burana was the first "Masterworks" piece I had ever done. As a Tenor I ( a voice part for those of you not in the know) I got to sing a bunch of really cool parts in this epic 59 minute piece. All of you have heard the opening track - even if you are not aware of it. O Fortuna is a haunting, powerful track that is used in a lot of advertisements nowadays. It is the theme song for the movie "Excalibur" if that helps at all. My personal favorite song from Carmina Burana is "Ecce Gratum"

Check out: ... as a classical album it works better as a whole, but... for the sake of continuity; O Fortuna, Ecce Gratum, Veni - Veni - Venias

79. Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill (1986)
I almost put "Hello Nasty" here - Intergalactic was the song that got me into the Beastie Boys, but really it is the hits from Licensed to Ill that really kept the Beastie Boys around in my life. While the songs have never had impact on my personal life as much as some of these other albums so far have... I really, really have a lot of fun listening to it... and how can you blame me? Tracks like Brass Monkey, Paul Revere, She's Crafty.... Fight For Your Right for f's sake. Incredible.

Check out: Paul Revere, Girls, No Sleep Til Brooklyn

78. Tripping Daisy - Jesus Hits Like an Atom Borab (1998)
With Sonic Bloom receiving some airplay in the late 90's, I always had Tripping Daisy's one major hit in my head as a kiddo going to school. It wouldn't be until years later watching some "I Love the 90's" thing on Vh1 that I would even remeraber Tripping Daisy. Using my internet powers, I went and downloaded Jesus Hits Like an Atom Borab. Unlike most albums on my list - I almost never listen to this album and it's not because I don't like it... I mean, I like it a lot - I just always seem to forget about it. I call it the Tripping Daisy Phenomena and it's awful because whenever I hear it - I'm like "OHHHH yeeeahhhhh!" I'm sure you all have your own version of the "Holy hell I forgot about this!" noise. Mine manifests as the "oh yeaah". Singer Tom DeLaughter, Bassist Mark Pirro and old drummer Dryan Wakeland would go on to form the Polyphonic Spree and drummer for this album, would go on to drum for the Secret Machines

Check out: Sonic Bloom, Field Day Jitters, Tiny Men

77. Walt Mink - El Producto (1996)
I am a well known Pitchfork basher, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that they've lead me to some great music. The reviewers piss me off though with their pretentiousness. But whatever. I found Walt Mink with a coveted Pitchfork "10" score. Later I would find out that PF would blame this rating on a writer they fired. Walt Mink, if anything, is just good indie rock coming out of grunge era of the early 90s. There isn't really a weak track on the album - but there is nothing spectacular as it were. I got everyone at my old job hooked on this group - and every time I had a shift - I'd hear, "Crowe, did you bring your iPod... think we could put on some Minkage?" - really a great album to make Sub sandwiches to. I've read that they sound like a poor man's Matthew Sweet, which I can see - but don't necessarily agree with.

Check out: Stood Up, Settled, Sunshine M.

 

[AsIaN~WoLf LoVeR]

Jay! Where'd you hear Bi-Level at?? They must be getting around - they were just a local act when I was into them! That's awesome. Lead singer is a great guy, got to talk to him after a church show one time (dunno why they play(ed) at churches).

Thanks for all of the encouragement fellas. I haven't been around rab a lot after mid 06, early 07 - so I don't know a few of you. Let's change that, eh?

This is going to be very different than Urban's. I think I am a bit younger than Urban and grew up with the music of the early and mid 90s really governing my musical tastes. If anything I hope to introduce some of you to some of those great banRAB that flew/are flying under the radar, and also inspiring you to re-discover some of the groups that had some kind of profound effect on your own lives. If you aren't familiar with something on my list, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with it! You'll start seeing some familiar artists soon enough! Hang in there if you've found my list isn't really accessible to you yet!

 

[janierenel]

Fats Domino is outstanding, it's too bad most folks never even get to hear it.

Because there was no emphasis on it at the time he never released a real "great" album but any collection of his hits is very much recommended, even his best albums have filler because he was release so many so fast due to demand of the record company.

 

[robm425]

Try to get ahold oh that Monks album!

lucifer - I fought with myself over the American recordings too. But, I love the back/forth in the live prison setting.

 

[♥i have an answer♥]

28. Toadies - Rubberneck (1994)
I did not catch this entire album in the 90's, which may be a good thing. As most people might comment - this is just a 90's rock album with nothing in particular that defines it as original or pin points in sort of unique quality. I don't agree but I can't give a good argument against the point. I went through a little "new indie" overload phase a few years ago and got tired of the multi-layer digifest of some of the stuff we listen to now (Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky) and went back to the music I grew up with. I only remerabered "I Come from the Water" when I discovered this album, but hey I gotta say I fell in love with Rubberneck. "Possum Kingdom" was apparently THE hit at the time and as most people might also say, without that single this album would have not made a blip on the commercial level... but it should have. I like every song on this album - it's fun grunge - the lead singer has a distinct cadence and intonation and there is nothing wrong with fuzzy, driving guitars and a loping drum beat that keeps this album going.

Check out: I Come from the Water, Possum Kingdom, I Burn

27. Warren Zevon - Stand in the Fire (1980)

This list is sparse with live albums but I love Zevon's "Stand in the Fire" and could not imagine this list without it. While this live performance includes most of Zevon's classic fan favorites - what I like is Zevon's interaction with the crowd and the ad-libbing that he works in to his songs. Normally, and I bet I'll find a few of agree with me here, this bothers the hell out of me. I like the song to sound like it does in the damn studio. That's why I pay for stuff (well, I don't really...) if I wanted to see this I'd rather see it in person. Obviously, with some artists, this will never happen because... wellll they are dead! So! Concert DVRAB and Live Albums are the closest experience you'll get (foregoing a ****e tribute band - except Badfish). Aaahooooooooooo Werewolves o' London!

Check out: Werewolves of London, Poor Poor Pitiful Me, Bo Diddley

26. Rage Against the Machine - S/T (1992)
Sheeeeeee-iiiit. At the time I had no idea what this guy was talking about. I knew the worRAB, I knew the album like the back of my hand. But when someone handed me a Rage CD (sometime in middle school) my mouth dropped open and I took a metaphysical dump on my Limp Bizket CRAB (shiver, the horrible, awkward and short period of youth when I loved Limp). This was one of the albums that I include in my own personal musical renaissance, and would be higher if it got more spin time - but I just know it so well that I don't really enjoy listening to it that much anymore. Sad but true. Killing in the Name Of get plenty of play on my workout playlist.

Check out: Killing In the Name Of, Bullet In the Head, Wake Up, Know Your Enemy

25. Mother Love Bone - Apple (1990)

And you wonder how the 80's transitioned into the 90's? This is it. Mother Love Bone is half of Pearl Jam before the other half of Pearl Jam was Temple of the Dog. The lead singer died and sadly we have only one album to which we can listen. Pick this up asap. ASAP! I can't explain this to you because I'm afraid my hyping will ruin the album for you. Think GnR collided with Mudhoney at the speed of light - and the being that resulted of their reconstituted atomic structure = Mother Love Bone

Check out: Stardog Champion, Heartshine, This is Shangrila

 

[rollergirl515]

This album has always been a favorite of mine. I think it's in my top 25. Best song on the album has to be Band-AiRAB For Hire. First time ever I've seen this album on someone else's top 100 list.

 

[Classy Clarissa]

Figure it all out then do the reviews. Top 100 is haaard, I go back and already regret some of the placements in the 60-100 range... for example... I would put Hum a little higher now, I'd move Tribe back a little, but that's just how I feel SOMETIMES. I feel like I have to give myself some trust... sometimes I look at my already created 100 and have to stop myself from changing it... it's ... not easy. And it's going to be weird for my top ten, my #1 is going to blow you all away, but I fear like it won't be in the good way. It is easily not better in terms of music quality than most of these albums you've seen. Just hard... you don't wanna disappoint after all of this work.

 

[Hudsta]

I have been meaning to check out the Monks album for ages. A timely reminder. Big up on A Tribe Called Quest too. Can't stand Antony and The Johnsons but this is still a great and eclectic one hundred.

 

[La Min]

haha, I don't know what to make of this comment :O.

GravitySlips - which is your favorite album of Motorpsycho? You think Black Canvas is overrated?

 

[nat think]

I swear I will finish this soon.

 

[topher7qb]

About bloody time too. WB

 

[<---Click my Question]

24. Okkervil River - The Stage Names (2007)

This is one of the albums that I associate most with rabroad - specifically to Crowquill (whatever his name is now) who introduced me to OR (except to the album Black Sheep Boy). I prefer this album and it currently receives constant play and has a representative song on almost all of my playlists from my party playlist to my sleep playlist. This album has really come through for me in some situations and I go to it as sort of a defacto "I dunno what mood I'm in, I guess I'll do The Stage Names". More importantly, I listen to this album enough that various songs represent important events that have happened to me recently - Savannah Smiles specifically reminRAB me of the section of road that passes by the Chicago Aquarium as I was moving from there back home. John Allyn Smith Sails reminRAB me of sitting at my job watching my (at the time) new girlfriend listen to it for the first time. That kind of album really sticks to you - and is one of the reasons I'm doing this list at all.

Check out: Savannah Smiles, Unless It's Kicks, A Girl in Port

23. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (1973)

It's better than IV. Sue me.

Check out: IV and then Houses of the Holy.

22. Weezer - Blue Album (1994)

Believe me... I wanted to be really trendy and awesome and put up Pinkerton because that's the cool thing to do - especially for fanbois. F that. My generation grew up with the Blue Album and all of its gorgeous singles and for the fatty mcfat nerRAB like me... it spoke to my heart and mind. In 94 I was not aware of this album, but you can bet as soon as I picked it up somewhere in my early-teens, I knew all of the worRAB almost immediately and still do. Doesn't breach top 20 because... well, that'd be too lame for Weezer. Also because Rivers in real life is a piece of **** apparently. And I believe everything I read on the internet.

Check out: You know the whole thing already.

21. System of a Down - S/T (1998)

I could not believe what I was hearing when I first heard this. I actually am proud to say I caught on to SOAD before most people did (that I knew) but I really didn't know what to think about it. My uncle, who I don't see very much, took me out to his truck one day and was like, we can't listen to this around your grandparents (whose house we were at for some family event) and he turned on "Sugar" - and this was some cassette mind you, it was maybe even the EP - because when he made me a copy - I don't remeraber the rest of the songs. Serj's voice is absolutely mesmerizing of course and the metal was maybe a bit too much for a 12 year old... I think at this time I was really just hearing metal (not 80s or classic metal) for the first time... and I can't say it was something I liked. It grew on me... and was one of the albums that broadened my auditory horizons as it were. My uncle also explained to me the importance of the lyrics which was something I to which I had never paid attention before. Remeraber... I was 12.

Check out: Spiders, Sugar, War?

 

[*shawty*]

Really brilliant falsetto job on that, it's one of those songs which would probably be nothing without his voice.

 

[Blessed!!]

Nice picks. Never heard of the KLF, will have to check them out. I forgot about Suicidal Tendencies. Didn't they practically invent the hardcore genre? Great list so far.

 

[Spider-manf4n4t1c]

like "jesus gone be here"