While collecting these titles I was trying to narrow down what criteria qualified an album to make the sophomore list… best album by a band? personal meaning? notable mention? In the end I found that while any of the reason could be valid for some, they were not for all. In conclusion, there is NO SPECIFIC REASON for any of the ten albums I listed, other than, well they are all worth picking up and listening to. I will talk briefly about each, but that doesn’t really mean anything.
Joanna Newsom – Ys – First exposure when immpressionable means a lot. Ys was my first encounter with Joanna Newsom. This album in timeless and brilliant and all of the above. Monkey and Bear
Die Kreuzen – October File. I purchased October File the day it was released on my lunch break at the grocery store I worked at. I was yearning and just way too eager for another release by Die Kreuzen. After the first and second listen and third listen, I was completely disappointed. What happened to these guys? One week later I sold the vinyl to a friend at work for a few dollars cheaper than I paid for it. That’s how bad I wanted to get rid of it. Much to my surprise, about three years later I heard the opening track Man In The Trees at a part and found myself interested. I heard this before – but what is it and why? I discovered it was the album I gave away. I had to get it again. It wasn’t until the revisit of this album that I realized how flawless and imperfect (yes I meant to write that) it actually was. Thus…. Man in the Trees
Superchunk – No Pocky For Kitty. I’ve referred to this band a lot, solid second album, probably their best. Throwing Things
Fugazi – Steady Diet of Nothing. – This was the first Fugazi album I got close to before going backward and then forward for the rest of their career. Stacks
Queens of the Stone Age – Rated R. Amazing release by an unpredictable band. The only place to start is at the beginning! Track one: Feel Good Hit of the Summer
Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention – Absolutely Free. Everything Zappa and the Mothers did for the first 5 albums was groundbreaking, serving as a catalyst for musical composers for life. Absolutely Free holds no weak spots – pure genius. Duke of Prunes
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure. It was their first album that progressed me to the second album, rather recently. Three words; Do the Strand. Do The Strand
Praxis – Sacrifist. – I was full swing into free jazz and experimental when this album came out, the draw was the John Zorn. It was through this album (1993) that I discovered Yamatsuka Eye, Buckethead, Bill Laswell, as well as the expanded careers of Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell. (And the film Tetsuo: The Iron Man which I do own a copy if anyone is interested). Each track on this album is an entity of it’s own hitting all spectrums and carving at each emotion. It’s best played loud. Cold Rolled/Iron Dub
Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros – Global a Go-Go. Bhindi Bhagee
Hüsker Dü – Zen Arcade. I have probably listened to this album 500X and will probably listen to it again 500X Something I Learned Today, Never Talking to You Again and Standing by the Sea
Music Corner w/ Archive 