Albums

Carrying on from my post a few days ago on listening to albums, I have been thinking what albums in my life are the ones

a)I always listen all the way through and
b)that I have listened to the most.

It is funny how I don't need no iTunes counter thingy to tell me which it is, I love these albums so much that each listen is a special memory. So in noparticular order here are my most listened to (and loved albums). I have probably listened to these at least 85% more times than all the other albums in my collection

The Wall - Pink Floyd

So much more than 'Another brick in the wall', whilst this didn't have the chart staying power or record book status
of Dark Side of the moon, it is my favourite and one I have listened to with alarming regularity. To be honest I do
have a bit of trouble continuing after 'Comfortably numb', as this is my all time favourite song (see video of me
playing it here!) and it is my all time favourite guitar solo, I still get chills everytime I hear it. It is without
one of the most passionatly, evokative solos out there. David gilmour totally nails it with this one, it has
everything a guitar solo needs.

Back to the album, my other highlights include Mother (another damn fine solo), one of my turns and Hey You. But
they way that each song perfectly fits its place in the story is amazing. I could listen to this for ever, the Roger
Waters lyrics conjure up the most amazing visual images. I think that its message is even more relevant today as it
was when he wrote it. You only have to look at Celebrity culture today and see how many of the celebs have their own
walls!

...and Justice for all - Metallica

I first heard this at my firend Panu's house, it was late 1988. I was already a huge Metallica fan, but he had been
out of the country (Cyprus) and had been able to get a copy (Cyprus could be slow at getting new albums). We sat
there and cranked the volume and my life changed forever. This album brought me out of my Iron Maiden only phase
(see below), it was the album of 1989, and everytime I hear it, it takes me back to those great days, hanging out
with my best friend listening to music and just having a laugh....it didn't get better than that

I also think that this is the last great Metallica album. They hadn't made it to superstar status yet, they were still guys like us. James still wrote lyrics about things that made us angry or think about the world. Those guys were like your friends, you could relate to them....and how that all changed....but that is for another post!

Harvester of Sorrow, Shortest Straw, One, Dyers eve.....all of them, how could I pick a favourite, they just all work together so well each one building to the next. If I had to choose one, then it would be the title track ...and justice for all, still one of my favourite riffs to play.


Live after Death - Iron Maiden

The ultimate live album, forget your Made in Japan (Deep Purple..although Martin Birch was the engineer on both.),
Live at Leeds (the Who) etc....This is it..Iron Maiden at their all time best. There was a period of my teenage
life, where I was obsessed by Maiden....and not in a health way....I mean obseesed....there was a period of about 2
years (1987-1989) when I wouldn't listen to anything else (At this point they only had 7 albums + the Soundhouse
tapes and b-sides...which ofcourse I had everyone...on tape and LP!...and the limited editions etc etc). I knew
these songs inside out, I knew every inch of the awesome album covers (when that was a real art form....sadly
gone!). Every inch (my mum will confirm) of my walls was covered with IM posters and picture...after school instead
of watching TV I would watch my Iron Maiden videos. In particular the Live after Death video, which I had to get
another copy of as I wore the first one out. (I am over that phase now btw!)

Anyhow, there is just something about that concert, the power, Bruce Dickinson being on awesome form....screaming
the immortal words "Scream for me Long Beach.....Scream for me Long beach". Steve Harris' thundering bass, Nicko
McBrain's fantastic drumming (in particular one of my favourite drum fills is the one in the break in 'Run to the
hills', just after the bridge) and the awesome twin guitar work of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. All of them were
undoubtled on there best over the 4 nights of the recording (3 in LA, one in London), perhaps even of their careers.

From the opening introduction of Churchill's "We will fight them on the beaches...." speech, you just know you are
in for an amazing listening experience (The stage show is also pretty amazing,but the novelty of mummies and
monsters has worn off a bit now....but was totally awe inspring for a young teenage me!.....if you want good stage
shows these days I suggest Rammstein....what these boys can do with fire is amazing!)

Anyhow, this album is paced perfectly, with the only dip being the 13 minute Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which
although a great song, does drag a little. I have to say though that my favourite track on the album is on side 4
(yep kiddies....a double album....don't get many of those these days!) and is Children of the Dammed. I have
listened to this album so many times I sadly know every neuance of it, every drum hit, guitar note, vocal
inflection.....but I still love it!

Passion and Warfare - Steve Vai

Is this the ultimate guitar album ever? In my opinon yes (wars have been started for less I know!). Why? Is it better than albums by Satriani, Hendrix, Beck etc etc. I think so, why? Just for its shear attention to detail, the unbelievable compositions, the incredible instrumentations...and all this before I even mention the guitar playing. The album just works, it transports you to another place, it takes you on a sonic journey with Vai's guitar as your guide.

Most people can't get over the 'widdle widdle' factor associated with Vai, but in my experience most people have heard someone say 'That steve vai just widdles all the time' and never actually heard any of his stuff. Of course there widdling sections, but to focus on that is to miss the point. The guitar is his voice, reading his excellent Martin Love Secret Lessons, taught me so much about playing the guitar and also about life. What other musicians give you that?

Highlights? For me it has to be Erotic Nightmares, Answers, The Riddle and Blue powder (awesome bass solo in this). Of course I spent many a year daydreaming that it was me in 'The audience in listening'....."That's Neil Bruce...what a nice little boy"


Joe Satriani - Joe Satriani
Not the most popular of his albums, I guess Surfin with the Alien is the most well known (Almost made it into here,
but I haven't listened to it for a while....an album that changed my life...that is for another post!). So why this
one? Well the musicians and production, Joe got some of the finest session musicians in the world and one of the
greatest engineers/producers involved on this one and it sounds amazing. Manu Katche's drumming is world class on
this album, I can't get over his use of splash cymbals and tight snare drum sound. The guitars a laid back to the point of not being there, gritty but not distorted (nice valve amp sound...try match that with a Line 6!).


Little Earthquakes - Tori Amos
Don't know what to say about this....apart from perfection. I was/am heavily Tori, I love her voice...her piano playing, her querkyness....everything. Her lyrics are the most descriptive of anything I have ever heard. Pure perfection.....listen to China, Winter, Cucify....bliss.


Times Up - Living Color

This was my university album, i listened to it non stop through my second year. I had a copy of this on tape, but
lost it when I moved to England. I picked up a copy at Vynl exchance in Manchester and that was it, I was set, I
just started to listen to t non stop, especially sitting doing assignments in the Telford building, or late nights
in the 24 hour computer lab in the Maxwell building.

Images and Words - Dream Theater

The First DT album with James La Brie on vocals and perhaps still the best (although I am huge fan of Awake). But
there is just something about this one that calls for repeated listens. Pull me under is one of the best concert
singalongs ever and Take the time...well what can I say it is just awesome, particularly the intrumental section. It
maybe contravesial to say (but I will given what a huge DT fan I am) that I am not sure if they ever bettered this
album. A Change of seasons is awesome, but it isn't an album. The last couple (6 degrees of inner turbulence, Train
of thought and Octavian) are really good, but basically there are few good songs and the rest is pretty samey, not
as ground breaking as IAW. Listening to this takes me back to my first year at Salford and driving around in Sanj's
little Nissan micra....great days.

The Blues Brothers - Blues Brothers Soundtrack
I defy anyone to not like this album. The highlight for me has to be Think and Shake your Tailfeather. Both Aretha voice and Ray Charles have this out of world quality. There are just some great inflections and realism that let you know that these guys REALLY sing....and I mean REALLY sing. I don't think I have ever heard voices like theirs....well apart from Stevie!

Close but no cigar

All these deserve a mention as they were/are very close in the listening stakes to the ones above, but not quite there...yet!

Appetite for Destruction - Guns and Roses
State of Euphoria - Anthrax
Somewhere in time - Iron Maiden
Seventh son of a seventh Song - Iron Maiden
Van Halen - Van Halen
Themes - Vangelis
Superunknown - Soundgarden
Blade Runner Soundtrack - Vangelis
Pornographity - Extreme

Peace

Neil