Top Ten Albums You Must Have!

10. Jeff Buckley – Grace

The only complete album by one of the greatest male vocalists of all time. Grace is a beautiful record. Songs such as the title track, ” Grace “,” Lover, You Should Have Come Over ” and ” Last Goodbye ” not only showcase Buckley's almost angelic voice but also his staggering musical talent. This album still receives almost constant positive praise since its release in 1994 and has been hugely influential among fellow songwriters and musicians.

9. The Beatles – Rubber Soul

The moment where the fab four began to experiment and change their sound. Hearing pop morph into rock as the wholesome, boy-girl love songs were nudged aside for complex metaphor and ambiguity. ” I'm Looking Through You ” and ” Girl ” are stand out tracks from the album. This was just a small taste of things to come from the four and was the sound of a truly great band evolving into something wholly different.

8. The Beta Band – The Three EP’s

A mish-mash of pop ideas and moments of twisted psychedelic folk and Trip-Hop. This is easily the Scottish bands greatest achievement. ” Dry the Rain ” is an anthem of the 90’s.

7. The Zombies – Odyssey and Oracle

A gorgeous sounding 60’s pop record, The Zombies are one of those bands that when you discover them and listen to this album you wonder where the hell they have been all of your life! This album has a lovely texture to it and the harmonies are simply amazing. A real talented group if lads. The songs are stylish and lyrically, full of substance.

6. The Smiths – Hatful of Hollow

A collection of BBC sessions, singles and B-sides no other Smiths album seems to capture the raw emotion of the bands sound. The version of ” Back to the Old House ” is a sublime showcase of Johnny Marr’s talents as a guitarist and ” Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want ” Is a fine example of how simplicity often works best when it comes to songwriting.

5. The 13th Floor Elevators – The Psychedelic Sounds Of..

Pioneers of garage rock, The 13th Floor Elevators chaotic, hallucinatory essence is captured brilliantly on this mid 60’s album. Their sound is unmistakable and this album still manages to bring the thrills some 43 years later.

4. The Libertines – Up The Bracket

Ahhh, such a glorious album. Full of nostalgia, romanticism and vitriol. The album that launched a thousand bands. So influential.

3. Love – Forever Changes

A classic 60’s album. Arthur Lee truly represents the counter-culture as he sings about the hippy dream and its inevitable paranoid comedown. The musicianship displayed here is outstanding.

2. J Dilla – Donuts

The final album from James Yancey before his untimely death three days after his 32nd birthday. The album is dense and urgent. Splurges of soul and weird juxtapositions. It really does show why Yancey was consistently remarked as being the hip-hop producers producer. A true legend and an amazing talent.

1. Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith

Arguably Elliott Smiths darkest album is also his most stark and beautiful. Honesty was the key to Smith’s success. He constantly showed to his audience that he wasn’t going to shy away from revealing everything to them through his music. This intimate, hushed recording includes arguably Smiths most well-known song, ‘ Needle in the Hay ‘ and it really is an essential addition to your collection. Flawless guitar playing and songwriting and Smith’s haunting, thinly delivered vocals are a joy to hear.