Top 5 Self Titled Albums

A musician (who exactly I can't recall) once said "Life's too short for self titled albums." I couldn't agree more. There are simply too many great options for album titles to go around using one's band name. But every now and again these eponymous albums turn out just ducky in spite of the lack of care in titles. Here's my top 5.


5. Paul Simon (1972) - Paul Simon would be more expansive in his solo career but he was rarely as melodicly satisfying as on his solo debut.



4. The Velvet Underground (1969) - The album that perhaps carries the imprint of the Velvet Underground's droney and downcast reputation more than any other also happens to be packed with Lou Reed's most emotive songs written for the band. The album finds the band finding the true balance of their clanging with the subdued sense of tone later copped by R.E.M. and millions of other bands.



3. Suicide (1977) - In the year of punk Suicide decided to take the next step. Rather than pumping songs like "Ghost Rider" and "Cheree" with punk distorted power chords and howls they created a burbling synth record. Some of the creepiest music of the generally creepy post punk genre.


2. Weezer (1994) - The most well crafted guitar pop album of the 90's (possibly ever) was also one of the most blandly packaged hits of that decade. It happens to remain one of the most listenable albums of the Alternative Nation and a perfect entry point for most pre-teens to the world of indie-geek chic.

1. The Modern Lovers (1976) - Maybe I just make lists to talk about how amazing this pre-punk album is. Not a spec of fat on this album that includes it's lack of a title. Jonathan Richman was one of the finest songwriters of all time if for only this albums 12 tracks.



Some Honorable mentions:
Ramones (1976), The Beatles (1968), They Might Be Giants (1986), The Clash (1977), Liars (2007), The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967), LCD Soundsystem (2005).

Top Five Album Openers

So first the chump over at BigAppleMusicBlog through a list of the best album openers ever. A bit of time lapse and the snoot at The Unblinking Ear decided to weigh in. Well, far be it for me to turn down a debate of the relative merits of my taste versus those of others. So here it is. (I was able to find YouTube videos for all but my number 5. They are linked in the titles.)

5. The Modern Lovers "Road Runner" from The Modern Lovers

Oh the count off. Is there a better way to start a song? With a quick and decisive "1!2!3!4!5!6!" Jonathan Richman launches his definitive single, his definitve album and his entire career on full throttle. The band is on fire pounding two chords into your head for the duration. Driving past the Stop and Shop with the radio on. You hear the ghosts of Rock radio past in each element of this song down to it's symbal crashes and Richman's ever reaching howls.

4. The Who "Baba O'Reilly" from Who's Next

Just the finest stadium rock song ever thats all. Just the best use of looped synth in rock history, nothing special there. Just the finest hop in your car with the broken transmition and do something irresponsible song ever, ho hum. The rock moves the windmills, the mic swings, the high kicks, you can actually hear them. The album can hardly keep pace past this point. It doesn't have to.

3. Spoon "Small Stakes" from Kill the Moonlight

There's two kinds of album openers; big bangs and slow builders. This is the later. It also works as a Spoon mission statement. Rather than coming out guns blazing Spoon whittle the song to it's most basic elements: vocal, heavy reverb, pulsing fuzzy keyboard riff, and some of Britt Daniell's finest lyrics. "Small Stakes" works as a theme song to Kill the Moon, it sets a template that is pulled to it's extremes and diced up for the next half hour and seems to leave you with that one chord still echoing in your head.


2. Guided By Voices "A Salty Salute" from Alien Lanes

The best set opening song ever? Yes. The best start to any rock and roll style celebration ever? Yes. Like much of the GBV cannon it's over so fast that you're tempted to go right back to the thudding opening bass line. It's Pollard's ralying cry, "The club is open!" You've been invited.

1. Metallica "Battery" from Master of Puppets

It's got all the tropes of a classic rock (ie: Zepplin not "Louie Louie") song with it's finger plucked acoustic opener and cascading drums as that intro seems to turn to song, then it haults just long enough for you to suck in some oxegen. For the next few minutes you are being pummeled by the greatest riff in metal played by it's most precise and skillful practitioners. The lyrics are of course silly with their shout along cadence and their seeming lack of any meaning. The statement is more about intent and sound than anything anyone might ever attempt to put into words.