Friday, September 02, 2011

Four albums.

Jellyfish, always the height of fashion
Were you to scroll though any given music player of mine -- be it tankPHONE, tankPOD, computer, record player or what have you -- I'm sure you would see plenty of what you would expect. You might see a lot you don't recognize immediately, but there would be plenty of what you expect. However, there are four albums I have on me at all times that might surprise people. They are:
  • Jellyfish - Bellybutton
  • Jesus Jones - Liquidizer
  • Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Godfodder
  • World Party - Goodbye Jumbo
Why those four? I honestly don't know. While in my head they've all stood the test of time I'm not so delusional as to think they are not from a specific time. But the funny thing is that in the times they each spring from they were what I would categorize as mainstream underground. They were all on major labels but none of them rally belonged there so they were largely shunned by the record buying public and written off as pretty uncool by the indie kids. If anythin I view this quartet as perhaps the beginning of my honestly critical phase. They mark the moment I started saying "I don't care what you like or what is cool, there is something of value here and I am certain of that and I am certain that what I'm hearing hits me deeply." None of the four albums are high art but each it perfect for what it's trying to accomplish.

What four albums do you always have on you?

4 comments:

Gage1 said...

Honestly I don't cart around many full albums of anything. Grateful Dead - American Beauty is one that I have in full on all my devices though, also Air - Virgin Suicides score and the soundtrack to Requiem for a Dream.

$in said...

I heart Jellyfish. Listened to that album this morning as a matter of fact.

Shoeshine Boy said...

Wilco Summerteeth
Police Synchronicity
Jeff Buckley Grace
Ryan Adams Heartbreaker

Love the Neds Atomic reference!

Tankboy said...

TC - Those are some interesting choices. That Requiem soundtrack is amazing though.

$in - That's really odd, considering I was listening to Jellyfish yesterday and that's what spurred this whole thing!

Paul - Excellent albums. I'm actually suprised to see Buckley's Grace isn't on me at all times!