Recommend an album. Tell us why you recommend it.

[LewsTherin]

Brave New World
Iron Maiden
2000
Heavy/power Metal
9/10
Architypical Maiden, IMHO a FAR better album than Number. My only gripe is that the songs are a touch too lengthy for regular listening, namely Dream of Mirrors and Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

Aqualung
Jethro Tull
1971
Progressive Rock
9/10
Aqualung is perhaps the best known Tull album, just ahead of Thick as a Brick. The album is mostly acoustic, with a mix of full length tracks as well as a few quick bridges, Cheap Day Return, Slipstream and Wondering Aloud being no more than 2 minutes. The first half/side of the album has the title track, with it's rough riffs sliding into something a bit faster as well as a few more laidback tracks, while the second delves into the idea of "Pro God, Anti-Church", notably with the songs My God and Wind up. It doesn't quite get into the prancing-in-the-forest folksy flute of Songs from the Wood and other albums. Be sure to check out their rendition of Bouree in G by Bach in a more blues/jazz mode.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

[/IMG]http://www.deanesmay.com/archives/superunknown.jpg

Superunkown
Soundgarden

Notable Songs
Black Hole Song
Spoonman (as seen in Rockband)

Grunge (the genre) started the modern day alternative and angsty rock, although grunge was created after the fission between rock and metal. Alot of people would atribute Nirvana to making grunge, but kick them in the balls because they actually killed it.

The powerhouse performance of Chris Cornell (singer also in AudioSlave and his individual project Euphoria Morning) is what brings it together although the guitarist is nice, the essence of grunge was to blend all the instruments together and not have the guitar to be the shining star of importance in the songs.

Other albums by Soundgarden include Down on the Upside, and BadMotorFinger

 

[Zetona]

PAIN
Psalms of Extinction
2007
Industrial Metal
9.25/10
It's unfortunate that Peter Tagtgren's side project PAIN is so unknown, because he consistently creates some fantastic industrial metal. Psalms of Extinction is perhaps the most consistent PAIN album yet; every song is great and there's a lot of variety in the sound. It's slower than the other PAIN albums, and it feels more electronic to boot. My favorite songs include Does it Really Matter, Bottle's Nest, and Computer God. If you're into heavy metal with a major infusion of electronic sound, Psalms of Extinction may just be the album for you.

 

[Asparagus Brown]

The popular consensus in this thread seems to suggest that all music can be lumped into the categories of Rock, Metal, Pop and Hip-Hop.

 

[Arsen]

Brave New World
Iron Maiden
2000
Heavy/power Metal
9/10
Architypical Maiden, IMHO a FAR better album than Number. My only gripe is that the songs are a touch too lengthy for regular listening, namely Dream of Mirrors and Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

Aqualung
Jethro Tull
1971
Progressive Rock
9/10
Aqualung is perhaps the best known Tull album, just ahead of Thick as a Brick. The album is mostly acoustic, with a mix of full length tracks as well as a few quick bridges, Cheap Day Return, Slipstream and Wondering Aloud being no more than 2 minutes. The first half/side of the album has the title track, with it's rough riffs sliding into something a bit faster as well as a few more laidback tracks, while the second delves into the idea of "Pro God, Anti-Church", notably with the songs My God and Wind up. It doesn't quite get into the prancing-in-the-forest folksy flute of Songs from the Wood and other albums. Be sure to check out their rendition of Bouree in G by Bach in a more blues/jazz mode.

The Mercendary got me into Maiden.

The rest is history...

 

[AuntyEthel]

Cake
Fashion Nugget
1996
Whatever fucking genre
10/10 (surely its a bit pointless, as its a recommendation?)

Great guitars, amazing bass playing, brilliant trumpet lines, and probably some of the best lyrics ever written, not absolutely pointless ones that are featured in metal. And a great cover of I will Survive.

 

[Ares Tyr]

Why all the hate on Mr. Timberlake? He's definetly not the worst thing about music today, in fact, he's probably one of the few mainstream artists who I don't want to lobatomize. You guys are crazt. Leave Eggo be, he's more badass than any of ye shall ever dream of being.

Anyways, a new installment.

Fall Out Boy
"Infinity On High"
2007
Pop-Punk/Indie Rock
10

Best work from a band who is hated by every metalhead, punk, and 'real' music fan because of their popularity. If you sit back, forget who they are, and listen to their music, you'll find they make better pop-rock than about any other band around. Catchy tunes, a soulful voice from Pat Stump, and fun songs are a staple. Also they have a very varied sound, and it you don't think so then you are simply stuck up your own ass. I'm not one of their droning fangirls which earn them such hate, but I'm definetly a fan of theirs regardless.

Outkast
"Stankonia"
2000
Hip Hop/R&B/Rap
10

Personally, I feel this is Outkast's best album. The one that sent them into the stratosphere of music, they became world famous after its release. Recorded back when Andre 3000 was still rapping and dressing like a drag-queen left alone in a costume shop, I feel they peaked here. Amazing production, timeless songs ("Bombs Over Baghdad", "Ms. Jackson", "So Fresh, So Clean") and some of the best rapping to ever come out of Atlanta, the south, and Hip Hop period. I love this album.

Suicide Silence
"The Cleansing"
2007
Deathcore/Death Metal
9

In the area of heavy bands, Suicide Silence is one of my definite favorites. Their vocalist is probably my favorite in the genre, their guitar work is, while sometimes uncreative, simply brutal. Thrashing riffs played at high speeds and low-tuned. Their drummer is a beast, and the overall atmosphere of the music is not the typical death metal depressing as it is furious and biting. Stand out songs are "Bludgeoned To Death", "No Pity For A Coward", "The Price of Beauty", and "Unanswered".

 

[jdog345]

http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/images/radiohead_in_rainbows2.jpg


Band:Radiohead
Released 07/08
Genre:Alternative
Rating:10/10
This is Radiohead's return to form. It is more conventional guitar-bass-drums-Piano(sometimes) rock music, the only exception being All I Need. It was Released last year, I I still can't get over how great it is.
Best Tracks:All I Need, Jigsaw Falling Into Place,Videotape

 

[LewsTherin]

Grunge (the genre) started the modern day alternative and angsty rock, although grunge was created after the fission between rock and metal. Alot of people would atribute Nirvana to making grunge, but kick them in the balls because they actually killed it.

Yes, because grunge was actually forged by none other than Neil Young.

 

[coldfrog]

Time for another of my favorites:

Band: Why?
Album: Alopecia
Release: 3/08
Genre: Hip hop? I guess, I don't know, wikipedia tells me this style doesn't really exist or something.
Rating: 9.5/10

I'm not sure what to classify this as, Amazon considers it "Experimental Rap" and that's not a bad name I suppose. Instead of the sound bytes that usually dominate the music, the musicians actually play instruments, and the singer will also sing at times, which he is pretty good at. As a comparison, imagine if Eminem used more subtle references to horrible things and had a voice that you could listen to for more than a few seconds. That's a little like this, but they also did some very out there experimental compositions, namely "Songs of the Sad Assassin," a song that gives me chills and is about the perfect example of lyrics that sound just plain musical. They're not meaningless per se but they are there more to complement the music with a voice than to tell the odd story that they tell. What I will say is if you don't like crude imagery then you probably won't like this, but even some of the things he says that are foul still jibe well with me when I'm just relaxing to the songs.

It's hard to recommend this to a single crowd but I think everyone should give it a shot. They are an amazingly talented group that has a unique and unclassifiable sound and aren't afraid to put out something that isn't safe and bland. I will say it's not for everyone, but I think almost everyone can find at least one thing they will like on this album.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

Yes, because grunge was actually forged by none other than Neil Young.

Correct I might as well break it down on why Nirvana gets the credit. Grunge Started in Canada (the best thing to come out of there since socialism) Then Seattle (which is next to Canada) caught it and the four big bands of grunge came out soon. These included NIN and SoundGarden but Nirvana's ugly head comes from the UK and shines out these four bands, then they take these grungy elements as a "tribute" (and completely ruining it with lengthy guitar solos by the way) and kill themselves leaving no one to carry on the legend. which is why I hate Nirvana.

Completely off topic, but its nice to know some history.

 

[Theophenes]

Band: Jimi Hendrix/ The Jimi Hendrix Experience (tracks from multiple parts of his career)
Album: The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Release date: Dunno. It's a compilation album made from recordings of him at woodstock, in studio, and a few other things.
Genre: Blues, Then psychedelic, then rock. Also, there's some old classic rock thrown in.
Rating: 10 outta 10
Reason: Most people fail to understand that Rock and blues are family, and that Blues is its older brother. This 20-track shows the interconnection between them really, really well. If you aren't at all stirred by "The wind Cries Mary" the first time you hear it, then you are immune to blues music and need to scrape out some calluses on your soul.


No one's mentioned game music yet? Well, I've got one:

Band: Nobuo Uematsu
Album: Final Fantasy 8 Soundtrack
Release date: A few years after the game, IDk much else.
Genre: Classical.
Rating: 9.1 outta ten.
Reason: Short version is that Nobuo Uematsu is easily on par with other classical composers. Say whatever you like about JRPGs and Square Enix, but Nobuo writes a killer score. Any game Has good music, but I'm immensely fond of 8's, and i'm not certain if the other games have commercially available soundtracks.

 

[DuncanRR]

Behemoth
Demigod
2004
Black Metal/Death Metal
5 out of 5

Why? 'Cause it's fuckin' brutal, that's why.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demigod_(album)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38j-i8jH7xk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oey85FGHOHc

 

[TheDoctorsCompanion.]

Band: Less Than Jake
Album: Anthem
Release: Hm, sometime in 2003 i believe
Genre: Ska
Rating: 9/10
i recommend this album because Ska is one of the most underrated forms of rock and Less Than Jake is one of the awesomest (is that a word?) Ska bands out there. Their bassist also sings and if you listen to the stuff he plays you wonder how he has the ability to concentrate on playing bass as well as sing a whole verse and half a chorus. It's not their best album, but it's pretty darm good if you ask me.

 

[Siegreich]

Band: Rammstein
Album: Sehnsucht
Genre: Industrial metal
Rating: 10/10

With tracks like Du Hast, Engel, Tier, Eifersucht, and Sehnsucht this album is genius whether you can understand the lyrics or not.

 

[TaborMallory]

Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects
"Sol Niger Within"
1997
Jazzy Trippy Scary Metal!
9/10
This album is truly one of a kind. This album might be considered Alternative, but I say otherwise. This album is a perfectly executed mix of metal and jazz. If you're into the heavy stuff, this album is a nice, shiny (black) gem. Too bad freddy only released one album...
If you like Sol Niger Within, check out Fredrik's band Meshuggah. They're awesome too.

IMPORTANT NOTE!
This album is very rare where I live. I couldn't find it in any stores, including iTunes and Sam Goodie. If you can't find it, he streams his entire album on myspace.