Album of the week

Hey everyone! I have to say, Roy has been my big discovery of the week—mostly because that specific tone in his voice just blends so perfectly with everything else in the music.

Also, super stoked about the RS pick. It’s going to be awesome having a total rock classic on the playlist next week.

Lisa Davis46 said:Honestly, I just listened to it for the first time, and man, I’m torn—the music itself blew me away, but the actual content? It drove me absolutely insane. When you have a singer-songwriter this highly regarded, having to sit through these incredibly sappy, over-the-top melodramatic lyrics just hits a nerve with me. I don't know why... and besides the fact that female vocals rarely do it for me, that's pretty much my biggest gripe with most modern female artists and singers. What am I supposed to do, huh? 😢 🙂

Trish Keenan was the absolute gold standard for female vocals—none of that forced affectation or constantly chasing high notes that people stereotypically associate with women's singing. I'm guessing that's exactly what's bugging you about the others

Charles Ramos4 said:I actually liked this album. 👍

Then why didn't you guys vote for Candy Claws if you liked it so much?

Sure, they still wouldn't have won, but they would've at least pulled in a decent amount of votes.
Plus, the cover art is one of the most impressive things I've seen, and it fits that dreamy sound perfectly.

quietbison86 said:Trish Keenan was really something else when it came to female vocals—she just had this way about her. She didn't go overboard with all that extra drama or constantly try to hit those impossible high notes, you know? It was just... effortless. It’s pretty obvious how many tired stereotypes get tied to female vocals—and I guess it's probably why that whole thing bothers you so much about them.

If you actually liked Candy Claws, why didn't you guys vote for them? I guess I just don't get it—maybe I'm missing something, but it seems weird.

I mean, sure—he’d still be pretty far from winning, but he’d probably pull in a much bigger number of votes regardless.
The cover art is honestly one of the most impressive things I've seen—it just fits that dreamy sound perfectly.

I mean, I went ahead and gave him my vote—even though, by that point, he was pretty much out of the running for the win anyway... I guess.

Edit: I guess could someone explain what the bolded part means? 🙂

Charles Ramos4 said:Look, I gave him my vote even though, let's be real, he was already way out of the running for the win by then...

Edit: can someone explain what they meant by the bolded part? 🙂

I'm talking about hitting those high notes—just shredding, absolutely crushing it.

Basically, singers like Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, and stuff like that—or maybe a rapper like Cardi B.

Glad took the win—honestly, it was my top pick anyway, even though I didn't think would pull in over five votes. I mostly suggested that one just so people who haven't heard it could check it out, but the definitely earned this victory.

I was actually planning on getting this thread started today, but things just didn't go my way... I’ll get it up tomorrow (which is basically still today, technically)...

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away

Tracklist

1. We No Who U R 4:04
2. Wide Lovely Eyes 3:40
3. Water's Edge 3:49
4. Jubilee Street 6:36
5. Mermaids 3:49
6. We Real Cool 4:19
7. Finishing Jubilee Street 4:29
8. Higgs Boson Blues 7:50
9. Push The Sky Away 4:08

Elton John - Madman Across the Water (1971)



1. Tiny Dancer
2. Levon
3. Razor Face
4. Madman Across the Water
5. Indian Sunset
6. Holiday Inn
7. Rotten Peaches
8. All the Nasties
9. Goodbye
__________________

Mötley Crüe - Too Fast for Love (1981)



Tracklist

1. Live Wire 3:16
2. Public Enemy #1 4:23
3. Take Me To The Top 3:46
4. Merry-Go-Round 3:27
5. Piece Of Your Action 4:40
6. Starry Eyes 4:30
7. Stick To Your Guns 4:20
8. Come On And Dance 3:11
9. Too Fast For Love 4:11
10. On With The Show 4:04

Nick Cave put out an absolute masterpiece; I’ve known this record inside and out for years.

System of a Down - System of a Down (1998)



1 Suite-Pee 2:32
2 Know 2:57
3 Sugar 2:34
4 Suggestions 2:45
5 Spiders 3:35
6 Ddevil 1:43
7 Soil 3:26
8 War? 2:41
9 Mind 6:16
10 Peephole 4:04
11 CUBErt 1:49
12 Darts 2:43
13 P.L.U.C.K. (Politically Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers.) 3:38

I love System, and honestly, this is their best work, hands down. Everything else they've done just feels like garbage compared to this.

Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians (1978)

Minimalism

Četrdesettri
Forty-three years.
Forty-three years since this started.
Forty-three years since this landmark masterpiece was released.
Forty-three years of this epochal album.

Stanley Cowell - Kind of Blue (1981)



Tracklist

A1 Come Sunday 8:39
A2 Ask Him 4:46
A3 Island Of Haitoo 4:14
B1 I'm Trying To Find A Way 7:27
B2 el Space-O 8:20
B3 Kind of Blue 2:43

Gang of Youths - go Farther in Lightness (2017)



Tracklist

1. "Fear and Trembling" 6:03
2. "What Can i do if The Fire goes out" 4:56
3. "atlas Drowned" 4:31
4. "Keep me in The open" 5:57
5. "L'imaginaire" 1:30
6. "do not let Your Spirit Wane" 7:33
7. "go Farther in Lightness" 1:48
8. "Achilles Come down" 7:02
9. "Persevere" 4:33
10. "Le symbolique" 3:51
11. "let me down Easy" 5:19
12. "The Heart is a Muscle" 5:24
13. "Le réel" 2:22
14. "The Deepest Sighs, Frankest Shadows" 5:52
15. "Our time is Short" 5:17
16. "say Yes to Life" 5:13

So, what kind of killer albums are we vibing with this week?

Golden Boy & miss Kittin - or ( 2001)



Rippin Kittin is such a massive hit—honestly, it deserves a spot on everyone's radar here—though I’m sure most of you have already 🙂...

Tracklist

1. intro
2. autopilot
3. It's Good for you to meet People like US
4. 1234
5. Nix
6. Rippin Kittin
7. Kuckucksuhr
8. Campar soda
9. after 8
10. Kopfstand

Le Concert Spirituel/Hervé Niquet-Alessandro Striggio
Niquet-Alessandro Striggio Mass for 40 and 60 voices ( 2012)

Pure sacred extravagance here.

Genre: Colossal baroque, Venetian school



01 Plainchant (anon.): Beata viscera
02 Orazio Benevoli (1605-1672): Laetatus sum
03 Orazio Benevoli: Miserere
04 Francesco Corteccia (1502-1571): Bonum
est confiteri
05 Francesco Corteccia: Gloria Patri
06 Alessandro Striggio: Kyrie from Missa sopra
Ecco sì beato giorno
07 Alessandro Striggio: Gloria from Missa sopra
Ecco sì beato giorno
08 Francesco Corteccia: Alleluia
09 Alessandro Striggio: Credo from Missa sopra
Ecco sì beato giorno
10 Orazio Benevoli: Magnificat
11 Alessandro Striggio: Sanctus from Missa
sopra Ecco sì beato giorno
12 Alessandro Striggio: Benedictus from Missa
sopra Ecco sì beato giorno
13-15 Alessandro Striggio: Agnus Dei from
Missa sopra Ecco sì beato giorno
16 Francesco Corteccia: Tu puer propheta
Altissimi
17 Alessandro Striggio: Ecce beatam lucem

The Residents ‎– not Available (1978)

album

Nathan Murphy said:+1

Alright, let me weigh in on this...

They have no voice.
Gavin Bryars - The Sinking of The Titanic
Two songs here have some pretty intriguing concepts, but honestly? Neither of them is actually that good. There’s just way too much melodrama and cheap sentimentality for my taste. It's a bit of a letdown.

Ciccone Youth ‎– The Whitey album (1988)
I get what they were aiming for. I really do. But honestly? It’s just weak. Maybe it works as some fun little EP for the die-hard Sonic Youth fans, but as an actual album worth sitting down and enjoying? Simply no.

Ministry - The mind is a terrible thing to taste (1989)
I love this band, but man, the recording and production on this album was a total mess, and it really shows. Even though the quality stays pretty consistent, the whole thing just fails to land as a cohesive project. Don't get me wrong—the heavy experimenting with different styles isn't a bad thing, but it just doesn't click the way it should.

Bajaga i Instruktori - Prodavnica Tajni (1988)
Yeah, Bajaga Tori Amos. 🤣

Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes (1992)
I think she’s an incredibly talented musician, but I’m struggling to fully "get" it. I can't quite put my finger on why, though maybe it's because there's this sense of conscious coldness in her work. To me, Kate Bush is just untouchable—for her and for everyone else.

MonoNeon - my Feelings be Peeling
It’s kind of low-key and unpredictable, but honestly? It’s totally fine in a weird way.

Alice Cooper - Trash ( 1989 ) sorry
Look, ali Kooper, I’ll be real—I'm just not into anything that leans too hard into glam rock or metal. To me, those glam guys are honestly the biggest embarrassment to the whole rock and metal scene.

Candy Claws - Ceres & Calypso in The Deep time
This album is surprisingly killer. Almost every single track has a melody that just sticks with you—it’s honestly a blast. My only gripe is that things get a little cluttered at times, which occasionally drowns out the actual music. That being said, the cover art is absolutely stunning.

Mark Lanegan & Duke Garwood - Black Pudding (2013)
Solid acoustic stuff here. It ranges from those slower instrumentals to some acoustic rock vibes with a bit of blues mixed in. The guitar work is technically top-tier and the vocals are pretty smooth, which keeps the whole atmosphere feeling chill and laid back. It gets a little repetitive at times, though—especially when a few tracks in a row sound way too similar. Honestly, they probably should have shuffled the tracklist around to keep things interesting.

Roy Harper - Stormcock (1971)
Roy Harper is the man. This album is dark, and honestly, some of the lyrics feel a little unhinged at times, but it’s not depressing. He plays the guitar incredibly well. It’s raw, though—not overproduced by any means. Plus, he has that killer voice that just fits this kind of acoustic stuff perfectly.

Broadcast - The Noise made by People (2000)
I honestly don't even know what to think about this album. Most of the melodies start heading in the right direction, only to get hit by some random, pointless chord that just kills the whole vibe. Total mood killer.

They've got a voice.
Rolling Stones - Exile on Main street
When it comes to the Rolling Stones, let IT Bleed and Exile on Main street are easily my top two. You really have to give credit where it's due—the session players on those records were absolute legends. We're talking heavy hitters like Ry Cooder, Ian Stewart, Leon Russell, ali Kooper, and Nicky Hopkins all chipping in. But honestly? That moment when Merry Clayton kicks in on Gimme Shelter is just legendary. It’s hands down one of the greatest peaks in all of 1960s music. Period.

GZA - Liquid Swords (1995)
For me, Tupac's Me Against the World/All Eyez on Me, A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders, and Mobb Deep's The Infamous are hands down the best hip hop albums of the 90s. Period. The guy they called Genius was just on another level—pure technical mastery combined with insane lyrical weight. And then you look at Liquid Swords; it wipes away any doubt. It’s this dark, gritty masterpiece about human decay that features some of the most legendary prose ever written in rap history.

I’ve got plenty of arguments ready, but there's no point when these two albums are clearly leagues above the third and fourth picks on this list—and they’re practically in a different universe compared to the rest. They totally blow those bottom-tier albums out of the water.

Bravo! 👍

Hopefully you guys tackle all the albums this week. I'm dying to see how you handle my suggestion 😁

What an interesting week! 🙂

And what can I actually say about Chris Isaak, besides... 😒



the whole album + allmusic