48 Essential Albums By Sirob
These are the albums that are essential to be Sirob. I left out many things and older obviously rclassic albums that were essential to my (and many rother peoples') youth because I didn't want rthe list to be too predictable. List is in alphabetical order (sort of), list is digs, list is 3700 words, retc. |
| 1 |  | Against Me!
Against Me!
I had known about Against Me! For a while before I heard this? from guitar hero. I was here on Sputnik one day when I came
across a review for their Acoustic EP. This was around the time I was getting into Andrew Jackson Jihad and folk-punk in
general so I checked it out. What I found was one of the most honest and emotion packed EP?s every recorded. I find that the
acoustic versions of these songs carry more emotion than the electric versions on Reinventing Axl Rose. Listen to ?Pints of
Guinness Make You Strong? and tell me it doesn?t make you fucking feel something. Do it. |
| 2 |  | All Time Low
Put Up Or Shut Up
Inb4 gay, inb4 grow up, inb4 u suck, etc. I love this album, no shame. All Time Low was one of my favorite bands for a long
time (and admittedly still is with their new release) and this is the band at their best. Coffee Shop Soundtrack and The Party
Scene are anthems of my youth and carry huge amounts of nostalgia for me. Hate all you want, this album rules. |
| 3 |  | Andrew Jackson Jihad
People Who Can Eat People Are The Luckiest People
At first I heard it and thought it was weird and unlistenable. That was three years ago. I came back to it a year and a half
later and immediately realized that I had been wrong. The crude honesty in the lyrics of each song pairs perfectly with Sean
Bonettes ?don?t give a fuck? singing and creates one of the most interesting, but likeable and relatable sounds I?ve ever
heard. AJJ gigs are fantastic as well. Every person there is just screaming their lungs out to the point where you can hardly
even hear the band (while they?re playing acoustic at least) and it makes for an awesome experience all around. ?There?s a
rapist and a nazi living in our tiny hearts? |
| 4 |  | Andy McKee
Art of Motion
Art of Motion is one of the greatest and most beautiful displays of instrumentation I have ever heard in my entire life. Andy?s
guitar playing abilities surpass just about everyone (in my opinion). His folk songs are incredibly well-written and tell a vivid
story without use of one word. Any fan of any kind of music can appreciate this record. |
| 5 |  | The Beatles
Revolver
There had to be one Beatles record on the list right? Right. Revolver is my personal favorite, with Sgt. Pepper?s in a close
second. Although it?s been a while since I?ve really been into the Beatles they have undoubtedly been on of my favorite bands
throughout my lifetime. |
| 6 |  | Bjork
Homogenic
Ahh, another album that Sputnik brought to me. Dreamy , interesting Icelandic pop goodness. Bjork?s voice is incredible and
brings pleasure to my ears. The first time I heard the song ?Joga? my jaw dropped. In real life. Homogenic is Bjork at her best
creating her unique brand of dreamy ?pop? music and everyone should take a listen (I know most of you have). |
| 7 |  | Boards of Canada
The Campfire Headphase
My first electronic album that came around my freshman year of high school (that wasn?t Basshunter). I know this kid who
had a pretty different taste in music than everyone else I knew and he was into stuff like Black Moth Super Rainbow, Tobacco
and other stuff like that. He?d recommend me stuff and sometimes I?d listen and sometimes I wouldn?t. I sure am glad I
listened to Boards of Canada. Their spacey, chill, and ominous sound was something I hadn?t heard before and was much
different than everything else I was listening to. So, in an iTunes library filled with Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, and Bullet
for My Valentine, you could find a collection of Boards of Canada tunes. |
| 8 | | Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin'
I actually didn?t listen to Dylan until my recent obsession with folk began. He never had much of a draw on me until I decided
that I wanted to find out who influenced many of my favorite musicians. Of course I loved it, there are really no other options |
| 9 |  | Bohren & Der Club of Gore
Sunset Mission
I discovered this less than a year ago actually. I was stumbling my way through sputnik late one rainy night when I found
Sunset Mission. Doomjazz sounded incredibly intriguing so I put it on. What I found was what I believe to be the music of
what rain sounds like. It sounds silly, but put it on late on a rainy night and you will know exactly what I?m talking about. As
the final track Dead End Angels fades out, there is a few minutes of rain to round out the album that blended in perfectly with
the rain that was actually falling outside of my house and I thought it was one of the coolest things I had ever heard. This
record definitely gave me a little prod to look into jazz as a genre more. |
| 10 |  | Boston
Boston
Boston was my favorite classic rock band throughout almost my whole childhood and their self-titled record was just packed full
of anthemic classic rock jams. Boston was always my feel-good music and always put me in a good mood. Try listening to
Peace of Mind and not being fucking happy. Do it. |
| 11 | | Bright Eyes
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Someone tried to recommend Bright Eyes to me about 4 years ago. I checked it out and hated it (with the exception of ?At The
Bottom Of Everything?); it wasn?t catchy enough. Like I did with quite a few albums, I came back to it later on and loved it.
Connor Oberst?s scared, sad, angry voice may take a little getting used to for some but once you can get past it you can fully
appreciate the fantastic album that is I?m Wide Awake, It?s Morning. |
| 12 |  | Catch 22
Keasbey Nights
Someone tried to recommend Bright Eyes to me about 4 years ago. I checked it out and hated it (with the exception of ?At The
Bottom Of Everything?); it wasn?t catchy enough. Like I did with quite a few albums, I came back to it later on and loved it.
Connor Oberst?s scared, sad, angry voice may take a little getting used to for some but once you can get past it you can fully
appreciate the fantastic album that is I?m Wide Awake, It?s Morning. |
| 13 |  | The Dangerous Summer
Reach For The Sun
So this one time I was real into shitty pop-punk and then out of nowhere the Dangerous Summer came along. A little bit
different than the other pop-punk I was listening to but there was something that I really liked about their music. A.J.
Perdomo?s voice is the perfect accompaniment to the most emotional music the genre has ever put out. I even met the band
in person and they were some of the most real musicians I?ve ever met. Reach For The Sun is a very uplifting and beautiful
record and I recommend that any fan of pop-punk or alt-rock take a listen. |
| 14 |  | The Dear Hunter
The Color Spectrum (Complete Collection)
One of the first bands/CD?s that Sputnik really got me into. I started with the Color spectrum not hearing any of the dear
hunter?s other work before, and I think it was the perfect place to start. The Record is so varied in style between the EP?s but
still comes together as a cohesive and incredible whole. The Color Spectrum is a true musical achievement. |
| 15 |  | Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030
This was one of the first hip-hop albums I was really able to appreciate (before I listened to Nujabes). Initially, this was
simply
because my stoner friend told me to listen to it and I could go on about how much better it was than the stupid fucking trap
music everyone else I knew listened to. After a while, I eventually began to listen closer to the storyline behind the album
and I
realized that Deltron 3030 was not just a collection of cool and different hip-hop beats and some fun rapping, but a fantastic
concept album that was produced by Dan the Automator and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien at their finest. |
| 16 |  | Frank Turner
Love, Ire & Song
Not much longer than a year ago, I was really into folk music. I went to see Andrew Jackson Jihad at a local venue and they
were opening for a man called Frank Turner. Neither my friend and I really knew where he was and we were pretty tired and
hungry after AJJ?s set so we took off before Frank took the stage. That turned out to be one of the bigger mistakes we?ve
ever made. A couple months after the show I finally looked into his music and I was instantly in love. Love, Ire & song is full
of soulful folk tunes that you have to sing along to in a British accent because you?ll just sound silly if you don?t. Frank
Turner
has been one of my favorite artists consistently for the past year. |
| 17 |  | The Gaslight Anthem
The 59 Sound
The best record of all time ever. It?s honestly perfect. Brian Fallon?s gritty voice paired with the punk-rock tinged American
folk-
rock creates the most incredible sound I?ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. Every song on the album just asks to be
screamed at the top of your lungs and sends shivers down my spine. I nearly lost it when I found out that I couldn?t be in
Detroit to see them when they came through because I?m away at school. I still haven?t seen them and I anxiously await the
heart attack that will accompany my first Gaslight Anthem gig. Thank you for being so fucking good. |
| 18 |  | Go Radio
Lucky Street
Yeah, yeah whatever. I love this album and I don?t really care that girls like this band. This record is seriously well written pop-
rock that drips with emotion from every song. Jason Lancaster is a fantastic vocalist and songwriter who consistently produces
great music. I may be a bit of a fanboy, but Lucky Street is one of my favorite records ever. |
| 19 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
F#A# (Infinity)
My very first post rock record about two years ago and arguably the best post-rock record of all time. I had never even
heard
of the genre before and I was immediately entranced. It was a new, different sound to me. The gigantic crescendos and
climaxes and the dark, apocalyptic sound of this record drew me in and resulted in many, many spins of F#A#(infinity) over
the
last two years. |
| 20 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada
My personal favorite GY!BE record and co-favorite post-rock record. Being an EP, it?s shorter run time made it much easier to
maintain focus all the way through (what I think to be) Godspeed?s two finest tracks. A post-rock must listen for sure. |
| 21 |  | Have A Nice Life
Deathconsciousness
Holy fucking shit 40,000 this record is amazing. It really is. And to make it all better, Deathconciousness was recorded in
garageband on a macbook. Dan Barrett has said that he doesn?t even think that it?s that great of a record but luckily for him
just about everyone else disagrees. |
| 22 |  | Jimi Hendrix
Electric Ladyland
One of those ?not much else to say besides it?s a classic? ones. I don?t listen to much Hendrix anymore but this album is
obviously a classic. |
| 23 |  | Incubus
S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
ZOMG incubus is terrible! Nope, they?re not. While their recent efforts were less than stellar, they produced some damn good
rock music back in the day and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is the pinnacle. It is a very eclectic an chaotic but well composed funk-metal
record that showcases a side of Incubus that many fans haven?t heard too much of before. The shining track is actually the
one
standout track on the album. ?Summer Romance (anti-gravity love song)? is a chill, jazzy masterpiece of a tune with an
awesome saxophone solo to boot. Please, if you?re going to hate on Incubus, at least give this a try before you do. |
| 24 |  | King Crimson
In The Court of the Crimson King
I had never heard of this album until I joined sputnik. Which seems odd because it?s been around for such a damn long time.
I
was really never that into prog-rock (with the exception of some occasional Coheed and Cambria), but I really connected to
this
record. The music seemed so ahead of it?s time and revolutionary and would eventually influence countless bands over the
years. |
| 25 |  | maudlin of the Well
Bath
This is the record that helped me stop listening to shitty metal. During my sophomore year of high school I was infatuated
with the chugging and squealing sounds of deathcore. Yeah Whitechapel and Job for A Cowboy were my favorite bands of all
time and I knew all the words. That all changed one day when I went to see JFAC and a band called The Ocean opened for
them. It was different. I talked to my friend (an expert on non-shitty metal) about them and he told me that I should give
maudlin of the Well a shot. I did, and at first I hated it. It was tedious, slow, not enough chugging, etc. But I kept listening to
it and eventually I came to really like it. Toby Driver?s progressive genius really shines through on Bath as the record moves
between quiet periods of ambience and incredibly heavy sections. This was one of the first records that I thought was more
?composed? than written. Bath is definitely worthy of more recognition that it gets |
| 26 |  | The Mountain Goats
Tallahassee
Although there are quite a few opinions on it, Tallahassee is my personal favorite mountain goats album. I think Darinelle?s
songwriting abilities are best showcased on this album and the result is an incredibly solid folk album worth a listen for any fan
of indie or folk. Also, theres is a Tallahassee turns 10 album being released this year with covers from BTMI! And Laura
Stevenson and Andrew Jackson Jihad so that should basically be amazing. |
| 27 |  | The National
Boxer
Boxer is my favorite Indie record of all time. Incredibly consistent throughout without one filler song. Matt?s dark baritone
perfectly compliments the subtle, depressing nature of Boxer. Truly a classic. |
| 28 |  | Neutral Milk Hotel
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
In The aeroplane Over The Sea is the quintessential indie record. If someone tells you that they like ITAOTS then you can
probably guess that they at least have a decent taste in music. Jeff Mangum?s distinctly different style makes ITAOTS a must-
listen for any fan of indie/folk/ just about anything. |
| 29 |  | Nujabes
Spiritual State
I discovered Nujabes last year on Sputnik through his posthumous release, Spiritual state. At the time, I basically hated all
hip-
hop and rap. I wasn?t very open to the genre and did not know of the many worthwhile arists out there. The heavy jazz
influence on Jeba Sun?s beats helped make the genre more accessible as a whole. Also, the emcees that he features on this
record and his others are fantastic. One of my favorite songs to this day is Yes featuring Pase Rock. Nujabes? music is a
thing of
beauty and it?s really a shame that he passed away so soon. RIP. |
| 30 |  | The Ocean
Precambrian
I Started to get into the Ocean shortly after I saw them blow Job For a Cowboy and BTBAM out of the water. I wasn?t familiar
with the genre of post-metal at the time but Precambrian intrigued me. It?s technical and complex while darkly beautiful at
serene the same time. That sounded stupid whatever tl;dr it?s an amazing album. |
| 31 |  | Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
In a time of Avenged Sevenfold, Three Days Grace and shitty Rise Against songs, there was one thing I listened to that was
actually good. I loved me some RATM. It was heavy, loud pump-up music that I could just shout at the top of my lungs when
I
was angry. Of course at the time I thought that Avenged Sevenfold was just as good and just as heavy but whatever, I came
to
respect the music a lot more later on. |
| 32 |  | Red Hot Chili Peppers
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Up until about my sophpmore year of high school, I had managed to basically avoid altogether the earlier part of the Red Hot
Chili Peppers discography. They had been my favorite band for a long while before I even heard Blood Sugar Sex Magik. In
fact, I didn?t even like they?re more funk-oriented sound up until this point. But, the first time I listened to BSSM, that all
changed. BSSM is the Red Hot Chili Peppers? crowning achievement and a funk-rock classic in every respect. Every single one
of the 17 songs on this record is worth a listen. |
| 33 |  | Rise Against
Siren Song of the Counter Culture
Rise Against was one of my favorite bands from my 8th-9th grade years. While they have achieved a lot of mainstream
success, they still have managed to put out at least decent punk/melodic hardcore albums throughout their career. Personally, I
found this to be their best record. The hooks on this thing! Rumors of My Demise Have Been? just fucking incredible. |
| 34 |  | Senses Fail
Let It Enfold You
The effect this album and Senses Fail as a band had on my life way back in 9th grade is huge. Their music helped me through
some real tough times and gave me something I felt that I could identify with. Looking back, Still Searching is their best album
but this one definitely had the greatest effect on me. |
| 35 |  | Shpongle
Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland
I near nothing about Shpongle when I went to see Simon Posford play a DJ set in Detroit in the Spring. I left the 3 hour nonstop
dance party knowing that it was one of the best shows I?ve ever attended. Since then I frequently listen to the intresting,
beautiful and psychedelic soundscapes that Shpongle creates. Easily some of my favorite electronic music out there. |
| 36 |  | The Smith Street Band
No One Gets Lost Anymore
6 short months ago, I somehow came across this band. They?re from Australia and they?re hardly known. On my first listen I
was hooked. Folk-punk sung in a really fucking awesome accent with great hooks that I could yell all over the place? What?s
not
to like? It was basically if I told someone every single thing I wanted in a band and they just made it happen. Seriously, this
band rules. Check them out. |
| 37 |  | (the) Slowest Runner (in all the world)
We, Burning Giraffes
I was browsing Sputnik one day when I came across slowest runner. We, Burning Giraffes is a breathtaking post-rock record
(with some awesome artwork) that is well worth the listen of any post-rock fan. Probably my 3rd favorite post-rock record of all
time. Not much else to say about this one other than it?s really, really good. |
| 38 |  | The Specials
Specials
Ah, the Specials. My very first favorite band if you will. Second wave ska masters at their best on this CD a classic no questions
asked. |
| 39 |  | Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf the Second
My mom used to play Steppenwolf all the time in the car when I was growing up and I loved it. Just honest to goodness psych-
rock. |
| 40 |  | Streetlight Manifesto
Everything Goes Numb
Ill never forget that day 2 and a half years ago when I got my first taste of streetlight manifesto. Basically I immediately
thought they were the best band on the entire planet and everything about every song on this CD was perfect. That is pretty
much true to date. |
| 41 |  | The Tallest Man On Earth
The Wild Hunt
Kristian Matsson (I think) is the closest thing were ever going to get to Bob Dylan anymore, and I have no problem with that. He
makes incredibly catchy folk tunes and is one of the most consistent artists out there to date. He also has a very unique but
very nice voice that really puts his music on another level than his folk playing peers. |
| 42 |  | Thrice
Vheissu
I first heard Thrice way back in 8th grade and kind of liked it. Back then it wasn?t mainstream enough for my tastes and didn?t
really connect with any song besides ?Image of the Invisible?. 3 years later I return and gave Thrice and Vheissu another
chance and was far from disappointed. |
| 43 |  | Trophy Scars
Never Born, Never Dead
What more can I even say about this EP other than it?s just fucking incredible. It has such a unique sound and so much emotion
to it that it makes me feel as if I?m right there in the story that they are telling. Easily my favorite EP of all time. |
| 44 |  | Venetian Snares
Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett
Right after Boards of Canada, this is the other record (surprisingly) that got me into electronic music. This was the farthest thing
I had ever heard from any of my music at the time. It was eclectic, crazy, violent, confusing, and peaceful all at the same time.
Liking this album also elevated my freshman year self to a whole other level of cool. I mean kinda? |
| 45 |  | William Elliott Whitmore
Animals In The Dark
William Elliott Whitmore has the absolute greatest voice ever possessed by a human being. He may barely be 30 but he sounds
like he?s been smoking and drinking whiskey for 50 years. That being said, Animals in the Dark is an album chock full of well
crafted country folk tunes sung by one of the most incredible voices you will ever hear. ?Hell Or High Water? is one of my
favorite songs of all time, take a listen why. |
| 46 | | The Wonder Years
Suburbia: I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing
The crowning achievement of the pop-punk genre and one of my favorite albums of all time. Now I don?t listen to pop-punk
nearly as much as I used to, but when I do, I make sure it?s quality. Suburbia exemplifies the best songwriting the genre of
pop-punk has ever seen. The lyrics are actually thoughtful and good, the instrumentation is actually impressive, and real
emotion can actually be felt when listening to this record. Not to mention they put on an insane live show. Even though my
obsession with pop-punk has passed, The Wonder Years are still one of my favorite bands. |
| 47 |  | Yndi Halda
Enjoy Eternal Bliss
My other favorite post-rock record and one of my all time favorite records period. That being said it is definitely a bit
different
of an experience from Slow Riot. Enjoy Eternal Bliss is a magnificent, peaceful and pleasant record that instantaneously
struck a
chord with me and left me eagerly awaiting whatever Yndi Halda puts out next. Also just ordered a vinyl copy of this so I?ll
probably cry when it comes. |
| 48 |  | Weezer
Pinkerton
for foxxxy. or mrmntyrnmfoxxxy. or ohfoxxxycole. |
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