#record recommendations

[ieatchildren1683]

MY RECORD COLLECTION HAS STARTED

i got all these plus a record player for chrimas :)

i’m going to see if they have HH season 1 on record

i would also like recommendations for records i should buy and listen to if you have any :D

[listentothisshitrightnow]

I used to love Kings of Leon, then I sort of lost interest, but after seeing them at MSG the other night I've been won back over. I look at them the same way I look at Foo Fighters. Nothing extraordinary, but they know how to write catchy as fuck rock songs that don't just feel like complete pandering (even if they are). And they are a fantastic live band. 'Mechanical Bull' is a great mix of the grit of their early records with the made-for-arenas of their last two.

MUST LISTEN TRACK: I have a soft spot for 'Family Tree' for some reason

Spotify: Kings Of Leon – Mechanical Bull (Deluxe Version)

[listentothisshitrightnow]

After seeing their performance on the Grammy's, I realized I've somehow never posted about Chicago. In 1969, known as The Chicago Transit Authority, they released their debut, eponymous, double album. Before eventually turning into everyone's favorite dad rock band, Chicago was an early prog band, hence the four sides on this record, and a pretty badass one at that. So if you've only ever heard their hits, be prepared for some extensive instrumental sections.

MUST LISTEN TRACK: It's a cool record, listen to it all.

Spotify: Chicago – Chicago Transit Authority

[listentothisshitrightnow]

As a perfect example of what I love about picking a band/genre and jumping into the rabbit hole, my newfound interest in new wave eventually brought me to Talk Talk's 'Laughing Stock" (which is not new wave at all). Apparently this record is widely cited as an influential masterpiece and was rated the 11th best album of the 90s by Pitchfork, but I'd never heard of it. So yea, if you like expansive artsy rock that Pitchfork would name the 11th best album of the 90s, this bud's for you.

MUST LISTEN TRACK: 'Ascension Day'

Spotify: Talk Talk – Laughing Stock

[listentothisshitrightnow]

David Gray originally paid for and released 'White Ladder' himself in 1998 to little fanfare. In 2000 it was re-released as the first record on Dave Matthews' ATO Records and shit got real. A few successful singles pushed sales into the millions and his mix of acoustic folk and electronic elements was, and still is, imitated by countless dudes with acoustic guitars and a looping pedal.

MUST LISTEN TRACK: "Babylon"

Spotify: David Gray – White Ladder

[listentothisshitrightnow]

I tend not to be a huge fan of metal, but as a fan of people who take the time to be really great instrumentalists, there's usually something I can pull out. Fans of the genre still expect a high level of musicianship so if people aren't up to Dave Mustaine levels of guitar shredding, they'll be booed off the stage. And while I enjoy some of Metallica's later material more, their debut album, 'Kill 'Em All,' is still a badass headbanger. Plus, it's 1983, so we hadn't hit Norwegian death metal levels of ridiculousness yet.

MUST LISTEN TRACK: 'Motorbreath'

Spotify: Metallica – Kill 'Em All

[listentothisshitrightnow]

My avoidance of 80s music often makes me forget about certain bands' significance, and after listening to a bunch of The Cars over the weekend, I realized they are a big one. You (or maybe only I) tend to forget just how many hit/well-known songs they have. 'Heartbeat City' alone has five, and this was their fifth album. It also came out in 1984, earlier than I thought, so I never realized how instrumental they were in forming the new wave, 80s sound. So despite my low threshold for goofy synths, this is a great record.

MUST LISTEN TRACK: 'You Might Think'

Spotify: The Cars – Heartbeat City

[listentothisshitrightnow]

Apologies for going so long without any posts, but if you're mad at me just listen to Otis Redding's 'Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul' and we'll be cool again. Backed by Booker T. and the M.G.s as well as Isaac Hayes on the keys, Redding released his third LP in 1965 and set a new high bar for soul music. That voice, man. It's so heartbreaking and so joyous at the same time. There's only three Otis originals on the record, but they were all instant classics. He also crushes the covers they might as well have been his songs. (Except 'Change..,' that will always be Sam's song).

MUST LISTEN TRACK: 'Ole Man Trouble'

Spotify: Otis Redding – Otis Blue