Hello lovely people!
Now that I’ve discussed how broad my music taste is I thought I’d go a little deeper. As much as I love the personal approach to creating my own playlists I also love getting in artists’ heads. As a result I’m big on albums; I love seeing thematic progression, concept albums and development over the years. So I thought I’d choose my top 10 albums of all time, which may have been some of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made.
1. Courteeners – St. Jude (2008)
What a debut. From the moment I heard it this album was on repeat, as it’s filled with quick and catchy songs that I can’t help but adore. The references to places in Manchester and Liam Fray’s unashamedly Northern vocals also mean the album feels homely for me, as it always brings me back to my North Western roots. More than anything I love this album because it reminds me of my friends, feels somewhat coming of age, and has big Truck Festival memories.
Top lyric – “Can you play the guitar my boy? Can you fuck”
2. All Time Low – So Wrong, It’s Right (2008)
I am still bitter that I didn’t see this live when they played it in full last year, because this album truly means everything to me. It’s been in the background of every heartbreak, party, breakdown and celebration for the last 8 years, and for that I had to include it. Every song is the epitome of classic pop punk and I love that. Also, I have lyrics from Dear Maria, Count Me In inked on my arm forever (a song about a stripper, aka my favourite way to introduce my tattoo), so I guess it makes sense that I love it.
Top lyric – “Take a breath and let the rest come easy”
3. Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour (2012)
This had to be included for its lyrical content alone. From my own understanding the underlying theme of this album is that our society is being destroyed by the systems which govern it and it’s up to us to stand up to that. The mix of metal vocals and drum & bass is the perfect way to convey this – Shikari are angry and it’s very obvious. This album always fires me up and reminds me what I believe in.
Top lyric – “Fuck all borders and fuck all boundaries, fuck all flags and fuck nationalities” & “Money is made when bombs are dropping in Afghanistan, when white phosphorus falls in Palestine” (I just had to pick two)
4. Moose Blood – I’ll Keep You in Mind From Time to Time (2014)
Oh boy, here we go. I’ve touched on this before, but I’m going to be honest here. This album was what kept me alive in 2015, which sounds very dramatic, but it’s true. I went through a very dark time with my mental health and this album was on repeat throughout the whole thing, to the point where I really struggled to listen to it until this year. It has a very different meaning to me now, as I’ve recently bonded with a lot of people over the band and their music, but my initial connection still stands.
Top lyric – “Let me hold your hand, we can talk about our favourite bands and how nevermind still blows me away”
5. Twin Atlantic – The Great Divide (2015)
In the words of my friend Callum “every song is a banger”. This album has been a constant favourite for the last year especially, culminating in seeing the band live the day after I finished my exams. It’s a good old fashioned perfect rock album, with Twin’s personal Scottish twist.
Top lyric – “Music is my therapy, I could listen to it all night long”
6. We Are Scientists – With Love and Squalor (2005)
This is an album I first listened to in order to impress my ex-boyfriend, no shame. I’m so glad I did listen though, because I love every single track on this album. I think the songs perfectly represent the band’s fun (drunk) approach to life, and I love the heavier undertones that has been a little lost in their more recent albums. There’s some real crowd pleasers in there too, I don’t think I’ll ever tire of these songs live. I also associate a lot of them with the happier memories of that past relationship, which is always nice.
Top lyric – “I would really love to kiss you, but I guess I’m in no condition to”
7. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977)
3 words: Ultimate Breakup Album. It conveys perfectly every different side of falling in and out of love, along with some top quality musical style at the same time. Obviously you’ve got some really iconic songs on there too, that have been and will continue to be covered for many years to come. Also it reminds me of my college wife Oana so there’s the soppy meaning (ain’t never gonna stop loving you… biiiiiitch).
Top lyric – “Open your eyes and look at the day, you’ll see things in a different way”
8. Rent Original Broadway Cast Recording (1996)
I’ll admit that this doesn’t really count as a stand alone album, being that it’s essentially just the musical in CD form, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it. For the last year I’ve been absolutely obsessed with Rent, because I love everything from the characters to the way it portrays AIDS and it’s diversity. At the time of it’s release it was one of the first rock musicals, so the fact that Jonathan Larson took my favourite genre and incorporated it into broadway is probably the main reason I’m so into it.
Top lyric – “To faggots, lezzies, dykes, crossdressers too”
9. Alter Bridge – Fortress (2013)
Alter Bridge are arguably one of the most underrated bands in rock at the moment, and Fortress has to be my favourite of their pretty extensive back catalogue. It’s one of their heavier albums, and contains some of my favourite riffs of all time from the guitar God that is Mark Tremonti (Cry of Achilles, what an opener). I also love that we got vocals from Tremonti for the first time on Waters Rising, as he’s definitely shown through his solo stuff that he’s got a real talent there too.
Top lyric – “There’ll come a time you’ll look back and regret when it’s gone,
you’ll look back and regret when it’s gone”
10. My Chemical Romance – Welcome to the Black Parade (2006)
Absolute guilty pleasure and I’m not even afraid to admit it. Once you get past it being a complete emo classic, this is genuinely a very good concept album. That whole era of the band was really well designed and sustained, and of course you’ve got some classic songs to go along with it. And of course, it reminds me beautifully of being 14 and it “not being a phase” (I mean, it clearly wasn’t considering I’m still sat here 5 years later).
Top lyric – “And though you’re dead and gone, believe me your memory will carry on”
Now, I’m going to have to do an “honourable mentions” list too, because narrowing it down to just 10 was far too difficult. Most of these albums are oldies but goodies, stuff that doesn’t mean as much to me now but for a lot of my life really did.
AC/DC – The Razor’s Edge
Metallica – Ride The Lightning
Whitesnake – 1987
The Wombats – Proudly Present… A Guide to Love, Loss and Deperation
Stromae – Racine Caree
Guns n Roses – Appetite for Destruction
Halestorm – Halestorm
Panic! At The Disco – Death of a Bachelor
This may have been the hardest post to write so far, but has sparked quite the debate in my house, so that’s made us not die of boredom today. I’m tempted to get the housemates in on a post soon, so let me know if you’ve got any ideas for that!
Obviously my comment question of the day is what’s your favourite album?
-Megan, listening to Larkin Poe (who aren’t even on this list, but they’re a sick Southern rock duo)
Allow me to be a bit of a dick for a minute – it’s no I Write Sins… is it? I don’t even always long for the emo days; Death of a Bachelor was and still is a huge hit for me. I’m just not seeing the same strong voice and emotion in this album. I can still see the lyrical creativity we know and love in songs like Roaring 20s, and (Fuck a) Silver Lining will always be a bop, but in reality it’s an album made for the mainstream. Maybe I’m just being nostalgic and a little pompous, but god I miss the old days. Perhaps it’ll grow on me, perhaps it won’t, but for now at least Pray for the Wicked isn’t the album for me.
and feel-good, supported by a continually unique vocal. However much I hear these songs on the radio, they’re not getting old, something which pop is often tainted by. They’re the kind of songs that make you want to dance, fall in love, have adventures with your friends and party. I cannot wait to see some of these hits live at Truck Festival next weekend.
Marmozets are quite possibly my favourite modern metal band, and this album proves that. I’d argue it’s less heavy than the last, but considering it’s only their second album this kind of musical diversity is still to be expected, and definitely suits them. The album is the perfect balance of fast-paced energy in songs like Major System Error and quieter appraisals of the band’s ability to take it slow in songs like Me & You. I also really appreciate a move into the political with a dip into working-class culture in Like A Battery, something which I hope to see more of from Marmozets.
beginning to think this album is my favourite to date. It’s a concept album following a story, which gives the album a cohesiveness I’ve never seen before from the band. The breakdowns are tight, guitars big as always, and Mark Tremonti’s vocal development appears to have reached a new level. Along with their support spot for Iron Maiden, 2018 is looking like Tremonti’s year.
Here lies the reason why I bought a Thursday entry ticket for Truck Festival. This album confirms Peace’s place at the forefront of indie rock, taking a more guitar-filled approach to their music than ever before. Everything from the huge vocal of Power to the intricate intro of Angel confirms this as a huge album for this sphere of music. Peace’s development is fantastic to see, and I’m excited to see where they go next.
appearing at the forefront of my listening habits but never fully leaving them. Combat Sports has changed that. It builds upon their former releases, meaning it satisfies my need for a perfect balance between progression and keeping a similar sound. Filled with big festival-style songs like Nightclub and slower, sexier songs like Young American (which I think may be one of my favourite songs of all time), this album does not disappoint.
The Wombats have to win the award for most relatable title right? The band have come a long way since the very teenage approach to life featured in Proudly Present…, meaning for me this album represents a real maturity we didn’t see much of from the band until now. That said, we still get our fix of party lifestyle lyrics in Lethal Combination, along with their classic relatableness in I Don’t Know Why I Like You But I Do. It’s perhaps not as much of a festival album as their past music, but this is a welcome change for me.
Are Scientists have a special place in my heart and my past, meaning I couldn’t help but be a little bit disappointed with this album. My main issue is with the overuse of synths. I don’t think they particularly add anything to the band’s sound, and take away from some of the authenticity we know and love. But, if I’m honest, I’m being overly picky here, and lusting for the days of With Love and Squalor. I still think they’re one of the most underrated bands in rock, and wouldn’t hesitate to see them live again.