It’s been slow around here lately so I thought I’d throw some musical food for thought out to the blog. After loading an insane amount of music to my iPod, I started thinking about the albums in my collection that have stood the test of time, and in a lot of cases they weren’t albums that I would have expected to have left such a lasting impression the first time I encountered them. It’s impossible to quantify the criteria I used to make this list, but it includes some combination of how influential an album was, and just flat-out how much I like to listen to it, weighed against my perception of its critical acclaim, both worldwide and within my group of peers. As an end result, I thought I would throw them out to the blog to see if there was agreement and to stimulate some conversation and hopefully get a few more suggestions added to the pile.
As usual, I got carried away and ended up with 20 albums. To keep this in digestible portions, I divided them into four rather forced categories and I’ll stagger their release to the blog. Today’s will be “Influential Alternative.†In the near future, “Classic,†“British 80s/90s†and “Punk, New Age and Drug-Soaked Rock Operas Featuring Giant Cheeseburgers†will hit the press.
I also have to cite bias for not including a few artists, most prominently Bob Marley, The Church and its derivatives, and Luna/Galaxie 500 on the list. I just find myself too biased toward a lot the work these artists have produced. I would probably call Galaxie 500’s “On Fire†the single most underrated album of all-time and I would find it hard to not put at least five albums by The Church or their derivatives. As a result, I decided to just leave these off the list completely and focus on albums that I can hopefully be at least a little more objective about.
Influential Alternative
The Velvet Underground – 1969 The Velvet Underground Live with Lou Reed
Rolling Stone magazine put The Velvet Underground into the mainstream consciousness when they named three of their studio albums to their Top 100 list of albums from 1967-1987. It is hard to find a band that was more influential to modern music and thanks in large part to Rolling Stone and the praise that was afforded them by bands like R.E.M., their efforts finally got the credit they deserve, but this much lesser known live release is also essential. This is, bar none, the best live album I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. There isn’t even a close second. VU’s studio albums (with the possible exception of “The Velvet Underground & Nicoâ€Â) don’t portray the impromptu grooves of a live show and this album manages to capture Lou Reed in an intimate club setting interacting with the crowd. The songs themselves embody everything that is on the studio albums and then some. The live venue allows Sterling Morrison the freedom to groove and jam into his long trademark solos. Even the crowd is perfect. The album lacks the random drunken frat-boy shouts that all but destroy some otherwise fine live albums like Ben Harper’s “Live From Mars.†The crowd talk and interaction that is heard does nothing but add to the album and helps the listener feel as though they were lucky enough to be in attendance.
The Feelies – Crazy Rhythms
Lost in the shuffle of a changing 80s underground movement that spawned bands like R.E.M. and Luna; The Feelies deserve props for some albums that helped change the face of rock. “Crazy Rhythms†is a release that reaches back into the rock n’ roll foundation of the 60s to help propel alternative music into the 90s. It includes covers of “Paint It Black†and “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey)†but the standouts are the originals that draw on a heavy Velvet Underground guitar influence. A notable downside to this release is that it has to be without a doubt the worst mixed album in my entire collection. At reasonable volume listening levels there are stretches that last a minute or more where almost nothing can be heard. This one could certainly be helped with a re-mastered release. In spite of this significant downfall, the songs do build nicely once they can actually be heard with tunes like “Moscow Nights†and “Original Love†capturing the jingly building guitar that would so effectively bridge the gap between 60s influences and modern alternative music.
Camper Van Beethoven – Vampire Can Mating Oven
Somewhere between the college radio hit “Take the Skinheads Bowling†and the release of “Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart†that permanently secured a place for Camper in the upper echelon of alternative music, David Lowry & Co. released a charming little EP called “Vampire Can Mating Oven.†With only six original songs plus a cover of George Harrison’s “Photograph†the inconspicuous little album laid the groundwork for their transition to greater critical acclaim. The song “Never Go Back†is actually recycled on “Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart†and is a fair representation of the EP’s other melodic tracks such as “Heart†and “Seven Languages.†Beyond the opening three tracks the remainder of the offerings drift into more of the campy old school sound before concluding with the accessible Harrison cover. While it is not nearly as complete as the two final studio albums the band would release before calling it quits for almost a decade, it is a succinct slice of what the band would become.
Pixies – Surfer Rosa
Some albums sneak up on the listener and take time to absorb. This isn’t one of them. “Surfer Rosa†is about as subtle as a brick to the head. To be honest, I don’t really have a grip on this album’s place in history, but if anything’s short of one of the two of three most important albums released in the past 20 years then I think it’s underappreciated. Kurt Cobain was likely the biggest benefactor. Nirvana released “Nevermind†just at the tipping point of the alternative/grunge movement. The album and its hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit†were simply the final piece placed on top of a strong foundation that began with “Surfer Rosa.†In fact, I believe Kurt Cobain even admitted in an interview that “Smells Like Teen Spirit†started as a cover of “Gouge Away.†(That song appears on “Doolittle†but it certainly sprung from the roots of “Surfer Rosa.â€Â) Numerous critics point to Sonic Youth’s “Daydream Nation†as the precursor of the grunge movement and I just don’t see it. It certainly deserves mention, but somehow Sonic Youth became the media’s darlings and their albums have become extremely overrated. In terms of impact, “Surfer Rosa†was such a leap into new territory that it lacks a peer. There have been cheap imitators and influences that have gone in every direction, but there’s still nothing like it. As far as pure listening enjoyment is concerned, I like “Doolittle†and the “Come On Pilgrim†EP that’s included on the “Surfer Rosa†cd as much or more than I enjoy “Surfer Rosa†but the impact of that album is so undeniable it has to make the list.
Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Everyone who knows me is undoubtedly tired of hearing me rave about how great this album is, but I won’t let that stop me from shouting its merits from the rooftop for all to hear one more time. Considering Wilco’s own record company set them free rather than release this album, I think it’s still safe to say that it’s underappreciated. It takes several listens to really appreciate this album and it may never be fully digested, but when it finally does get engrained in the subconscious it packs a punch. As Shrek would say, this album is like an onion, it has layers. I find myself discovering new things every time I hear it. At first it seems like a simple mix of mellow songs and pseudo-pop, but over time a complex mix of sounds and motifs reveal themselves. Jeff Tweedy manages to blend together things that sound like clocks, trash can lids, and who-knows-what-else into an actual melody. At times I’ve been unexpectedly hit with realizations that parts of songs remind me of a wide range of influences – everything from Camper Van Beethoven to The Cure. The recurring motifs and message of this album isn’t even apparent at first, but eventually it becomes clear that the album is about communication, and its limitations. This album is simply so good on so many levels that it has to round out the first installment of the list.
A few thoughts:
Velvet Underground: The bestest, most famous unknown band ever. The box set of VU is just excellent, but even the box set cannot compare to the 2-disc “Live w/ Lou Reed” compilation. Velvet Underground is the great big open secret. I tend to be judgemental when it comes to this band. If someone is speaking as if they have a good grasp of rock and roll and it turns out that they do not know VU or, worse, thinks that it is the band that put out “Walk on the Wild Side”, I tend to write that person off as an idiot.
Feelies: I am going to have to listen to this album again. The only impression I have really had of them before was that they were very good at picking up a VU vibe.
Camper: Why not Beloved or Key Lime Pie? Did Key Lime Pie come along too late in their discography to be considered influential?
Pixies: I think Sonic Youh got/gets more attention than the Pixies because 1) they are still around, and 2) their frontman is a woman. Sorry Kim, but I think it is true. As a whole, I think there is more to be had from the Pixies and Frank Black’s material than Sonic Youth’s. For me, Sonic Youth is mostly one big “I don’t get it”.
The first 3 other albums that popped in my head for consideration:
Sinead O’Connor: The Lion and the Cobra
Cowboy Junkies: Trinity Session
Mazzy Star: She Hangs Brightly
Those were the first 3. I would withdraw Mazzy if I could, but that is who popped in my mind. Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians’ “Shooting Rubberbands at the Moon” album was probably more influential.
Stellar topic gentlemen. There is the distinct element in each of your selections as being underrated or undervalued. Its an element I respond to since I use it liberally. I have to be cautious when using it, though, not to overstate my earnestness to the point of losing credibility or sincerity. Your summaries, however, dig right to the core of the topic, and you make compelling arguments for each selection.
I respect your’s and Danny’s musical interests and have been aware of the strong leaning towards the Velvet Underground for some time. And though I think I have handle on what I like about rock n roll, and I cannot stand “Walk on the Wildside,” I have avoided buying their music. One reason, rational or not, is I feel I have to invest some time researching, actually studying the band and their music, so that it feels as if I have liked them forever. The other reason, coattailing one the previous, is I do not feel I belong to their world. To elaborate: it is as if they know a secret that I am not not comfortable enough to know, or I am too scared, and they know it. However, I have read a thousand articles of the bands they have influenced, particularly REM, and have no problems recognizing their merits as an influential alternative band.
The Feelies: Not on my radar.
Pixies: Gigantic fan, and yours was a perfect summation of “Surfer Rosa.” As a fan of some of the heavier music, including Nirvana, I find myself exhilerated by each Pixies album. “Surfer Rosa” stakes a claim as an influential album solely for the fact that David Bowie has recently (past 5 years) done a cover of “Cactus.” I saw them last year at ODU; they were tight and powerful, barely taking a second between songs and saying maybe ten words to the crowd. The crowd, for their part, hung onto everyone of those words and went nuts with each one. They did this all with zero mobility, and there is no question who the lead singer of the band is.
Camper van Beethoven knows how to make great music. Lowry has a keen ear to the contributions of his predecessors and deftly blends his influences into Camper’s unique sound. I hear he is touring now with Camper/Cracker simultaneously.
Wilco: I still have not picked up this CD. You are not the only one to praise this album. Having not given it its due respect, I cannot comment with any credibility. Though, Wilco is derivative of Uncle Tupelo, which we’ve discussed before, and they were pioneers of the alt-country sound’ it just makes me hesitant to cite a Wilco album as influential.
Melissa wanted me to mention Concrete Blonde’s “Bloodletting” as a great influential album. I tend to agree; their music ranged from fun “L.A. Rock” to haunting, melancholic tear jerkers. And Jeanette Napolitano has one of the great female rock voices.
Not sure of my list yet; Look forward to the next categories and hope to hear some more on this one.
I gave heavy consideration to three of those four albums you list at the end. Trinty Sessions never really came to mind and I’m not sure I think that one is all that influential. I like it and all, but I’ve never really appreciated it much beyond that. The only reason “She Hangs Brightly” isn’t on the list is because of my impossible to define and convoluted criteria. Just about everyone I know loves that album and in some way I can’t hope to define I weighed my perception of my immediate peers’ opinions against those of the general masses when thinking about which albums were underappreciated. In other words, with just about anyone I know who is likely to read this blog would have looked at “She Hangs Brightly” and said “Duh.” It was too obvious. That’s probably the same reason I opted for “Vampire Can Mating Oven” over “Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart” and “Key Lime Pie.” That kind of contradicts VU Live W/Lou Reed, but beyond the owner of this blog I’m not sure how widespread the appreciation of that album goes.
Per Justin’s comments – Needless to say, I think you should definitely check out VU. It’s true that there’s a scary aspect to it. At a time when most bands were content to release 3-minute pop songs about holding hands and falling in love, Lou Reed & Co. were releasing 8-minute songs about heroin, S&M, and whatever else taboo comes to mind. There’s definitely a dark side to it, but putting that aside you should check it out just for the guitar work alone. It’s pretty easy to see how their style really did spawn a ton of modern alternative music.
Good point about Wilco and the alt-country. I probably don’t know enough about alt-country to comment but my guess is that “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” is different enough that it might not even fit in that box. On the surface it doesn’t sound like much more than mild pop/alternative, but I find the underlying complexity striking.
I might actually see the Pixies here in two weeks. They’re playing at Atlanta’s big musical festival “Music Midtown” and I have free tickets if I want to go down there. They don’t start until 10:00 or something like that, so it depends if I want to fight the traffic and crowds of drunk obnoxious teens. Lou Reed is playing on Friday night but only scheduled for 45 minutes. If they were playing back-to-back I’d definitely go, but I’m not sure it’s worth the overhead. David Lowry is indeed touring with Camper/Cracker, which is kind of cool. Camper has a relatively new album called “New Roman Times” that I have yet to check out that is getting a mixed bag of reviews. I think it’s a concept album that’s heavily anti-war/anti-US role in the war, but I’m not real clear on any of that. Camper is also opening for Modest Mouse in an upcoming Atlanta show. I was disappointed in the Modest Mouse cd I picked up, but I hear they’re fun to see live so that could be a good show.