Another My Top 100 thread

71. Patrick & Eugene - Postcard from Summerisle (2004)


This album is a lot of fun. It's probably the poppiest album on the list, but it's pop with a twist. The track The Birds and the Bees will probably be familiar to most people in the US and UK because it was used in a VW ad in the US and Gordon Gin ad in the UK. The US add was the first I heard it. It took a lot of searching just to find what the music in the ad was and the album was already OOP. I spent a lot of money buying this, probably the most I've ever spent on a single CD. It's worth it.

The Birds and the Bees - official video


Crazy In Love - Beyonce cover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGKzZQFvI0Y

Can't Get You Out of My Head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Rylp9hr5E

Old Times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd0k1qAVNdc

The album is available for streaming on MOG

 

1. Frank Zappa - The Grand Wazoo (1973)
2. Steve Tibbets - YR (1980) also post 45
3. Pierre Moerlen's Gong - Gazeuze (1976)
4. John Zorn - O'o (2009)
5. Zero 7 - Simple Things (2001)
6. Céu - Céu (2005) also post 155
7. Gong - Angel's Egg (1973)
8. Colin Stetson - New History Warfare, Vol. 2: Judges (2011)
9. Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light, Vol. 1 (2011)
10. Portishead - Dummy (1994)
11. Frank Zappa - Imaginary Diseases (2007) recorded during the 72 Petit Wazoo tour
12. Ekova - Heaven's Dust (1998)
13. Massive Attack - Mezanine (1998)
14. alphadiabetic - zzyzx (2009)
15. Paul Jacobs - Debussy: Image & Estampes (1979)
16. Frank Zappa - One Size Fits All (1975)
17. Archipelago - Archipelago (2001)
18. Neneh Cherry & The Thing - The Cherry Thing (2012)
19. Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree (2008)
20. Mike Oldfield - Incantations (1978)
21. Kate Bush - The Dreaming (1982)
22. Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold as Love (1967)
23. Leo Kottke - 6 and 12 String Guitars (1971)
24. Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries (1985)
25. Morphine - Cure for Pain (1993)
26. Gong - Comembert Electrique (1971)
27. Kate Bush - The Sensual World (1989)
28. Massive Attack - Blue Lines (1991)
29. Cowboy Junkies - Open (2001)
30. Bob Marley - Natty Dread (1974)
31. Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating in Space (1997)
32. Jerry Garcia & David Grisman - Shady Grove (1996)
33. Steeleye Span - Parcel of Rogues (1973)
34. Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions (1988)
35. Air - Moon Safari (1998)
36. Tito Puente - Top Percussion (1957)
37. Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters (1973)
38. Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') (1974)
39. Lee "Scratch" Perry - Jamaican E.T. (2002)
40. Lounge Lizards - No Pain for Cakes (1987)
41. Planet Gong - Live Floating Anarchy (1977)
42. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
43. Various Artists - Putumayo Presents: Latin Lounge (2005)
44. Rashanim - Masada Rock (2005)
45. Oliver Nelson - Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961)
46. Thievery Corporation - The Cosmic Game (2005)
47. Ekova - Space Lullabies and Other Fantasmagore (2001)
48. Mouth Music - Mo-Di (1993)
49. Hawkwind - Space Ritual (1973)
50. Steeleye Span - Below the Salt (1972)
]51. John Fahey - Live in Tasmania (1981)
52. SmoKing After - Impasse (2006)
53. Paris Combo - Motifs (2005)
54. Portishead - Portishead (1997)
55. Hawkwind - Quark Strangeness & Charm (1977))
56. Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976)
57. Miles Davis - In A Silent Way (1969)
58. Thievery Corporation - Mirror Conspiracy (2000)
59. Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (1971)
60. King Crimson - Red (1974)
61. Tabla Beat Science - Tala Matrix (2000)
62. Mouth Music - Mouth Music (1991)
63. Cal Tjader - Montery Concerts (1959)
64. Céu - Vagarosa (2009)
65. Cibelle - Cibelle (2003)
66. Bonobo - Black Sands (2010)
67. Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto (1963)
68. Liquid Liquid - Liquid Liquid (1997) comp of EPs released between 81 and 83
69. Boozoo Bajou - Grains (2008)
70. Gary Burton & Chick Corea - Crystal Silence (1972)
71. Patrick & Eugene - Postcard from Summerisle (2004)
72. Ray Barretto - Acid (1968)
73. Galactic - Ruckus (2003)
74. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet (2007)
75. Morphine - Yes (1995)
76. Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light (2006)
77. Paris Combo - Attraction (2001)
78. Tosca - No Hassle (2009)
79. Konono No. 1 - Assume Crash Position (2010)
80. Grant Green - Green Street (1961)
81. Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares - Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares (1990)
82. King Sunny Ade - Juju Music (1982)
83. Leo Kottke, John Fahey & Peter Lang - Leo Kottke, John Fahey & Peter Lang (1974)
84. Monsoon - Third Eye (1983)
85. Galactic - Crazyhorse Mongoose (1998)
86. Thunderball - Scorpio Rising (2001)
87. Osibisa - Osibisa (1971)
88. The Who - Who's Next (1971)
89. Niyaz - Niyaz (2005)
90. Bjork - Vespertine (2001)
91. Steve Tibbets - Exploded View (1987)
92. Earth - The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull (2008)
93. Sleepy Sun - Embrace (2009)
94. The Raybeats - Guitar Beat (1981)
95. The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (1991)
96. Pink Floyd - Animals (1977)
97. Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Sky is Crying (1991) outtakes from the 80s
98. MIDIval PunditZ - MIDIval PunditZ (2002)
99. Terge Rypdal - Odyssey (1975)
100. Van Morrison - Moondance (1970)

 

Very similar story for me. I actually had three Zorn albums back in the 1980s when he was a critical darling (The Big Gundown, Naked City & Spillane) but it didn't bite and I didn't try again until late 2006. Since then he's been steadily outpacing Zappa, Jarrett and the Grateful Dead in my collection ... possibly put together. Like you, though, I'd be cautious of putting individual albums in a personal top 100.

 

It'll be awhile before he outpaces Zappa for me. I own all of Zappa's discography except for the Joe's Menage/Corsage/etc. I also have a lot of concerts. I can see Zorn eventually passing Zappa for me, at least in terms of number of albums owned.

I recently bought a couple of the Film Works albums and really enjoy them. By far the mellowest I've heard.

 

72. Ray Barretto - Acid (1968)

Contrary to the album's name and cover, this isn't psychedelic music. It's Afro/Cuban jazz, salsa, and a some Latin soul crossover. I bought this and a few other Fania albums when they were reissued in the mid 2000s. Every one of them I bought was great. I think I might be buying more soon. My own thread is causing me to buy more albums.

El Nuevo Barretto - great opening track


Mercy, Mercy Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sINMs-cDBtk

Acid - title track and my favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4iJCpBXMJQ

A Deeper Shade of Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44N6kDRCcTg

Soul Drummers - my favorite of the crossover tracks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Ahw_kZXrE

Sola Te Dejare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTZDFAB4bj0

The Teacher of Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt9wMBZvZKU

Espiritu Libre - closing track and another favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i59bb8yVjAI

 

73. Galactic - Ruckus (2003)



I first heard Galactic in the late 90s while putting on my ski boots at Steamboat. One of the workers in the locker area had put on a concert recording. I was hooked. The next week when I got home, I bought both albums they had out at the time.

They're a funk jazz jam band from New Orleans. Their biggest influence is The Meters and you can really hear it, especially in their earlier albums. They really keep a funky groove going.

Bittersweet


Bongo Joe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KwLcH3w6Ec

The Moil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv7tHNH8NkA

Paint
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc-yXc5zKVs

All Behind You Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLo_qbBZy_w

The Beast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kutBDtxStvY

Mercamon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcVbo-Nf9MU

Uptown Odyssey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2NcTdz5ej4

 

85. Galactic - Crazyhorse Mongoose (1998)


Their second album and the first one I bought along with their first album Coolin' Off. This is a bit funkier than Ruckus.

Tighten Your Wig


Denny's Village Rundown - great drum solo by Stanton Moore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK14r8HjGq0

Witch Doctor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtK0rndkIpg

Metermaid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKHWAkRaHf4

Crazyhorse Mongoose
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dFA3hoAwQ

Love on the Run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHL-gbpAu-A

 

Thanks for posting this list! I have only heard 7 of the albums on your list, and only one of them (Air's "Moon Safari") is on my own list of 100 favorites. I really like this list, however; listening to the embedded YouTube files, there seems to be a pretty cool theme running through the list.

I really enjoyed the Zero 7 and Goldfrapp tracks on page 3 of the thread, which makes me think I should be exploring the "downtempo" genre, too. I hadn't heard that term before used to describe a genre of music before.

Have you heard the rock band Low? They are from Duluth, Minnesota, and the term used to describe them is "slowcore" (a term I don't believe they actually like); they play slowly and quietly. It seems like an act with a musical style that dovetails nicely with the style of the "downtempo" tracks posted here. Here's a video for a song of theirs I particularly like, "Immune", from their 1999 album, "Secret Name":



If you like them, they released a couple of free-to-download live EPs, "Live at Eindhoven" and "Plays Nice Places", which are terrific. (I've put links on the EP titles).

 

"Sexy Boy" is kind of annoying on the "Moon Safari" album. I know what you mean about not skipping it--it's part of the album, and the album is great, and it fits with the theme and feel of the album. But I wouldn't listen to the track by itself.

However--here's a redeeming thing--the broken-down, reconstructed, and extended version of it that Air did with Phoenix on "Later With Jools Holland" back in 1999 is pretty great:

 

I do really like slow music in general, although not everything on the list is slow. In the 80s, my friends would rib me about not liking fast music. Of course, they were all into hardcore punk, which I hated.

I got the term downtempo from allmusic.com and I think it fits pretty well with slowcore. Downtempo is less rock and more electronic. To tell the truth, I don't understand why it's not more popular here in the US. It sounds very poppy to me. Then again, I don't listen to much pop music so maybe not.

I have Low's Secret Name. I only heard of them about a year ago on a thread here. I streamed a bunch of the artists mentioned on the thread and ended up buying Secret Name, Codeine's Frigid Starts LP and Spain's Blue Moods of Spain. I know I'll end up buying more of Low and Codeine and thanks for the link. While I love Blue Moods of Spain, nothing else I streamed by Spain really did anything for me. American Music Club and Galaxie 500 were also mentioned in the and really haven't clicked with me streaming them. Of all of those bands, Galaxie 500 was the only one I had heard of before, although I hadn't heard any of their music.

You might like Earth in post 8. They're a doom drone metal band whose last few albums are not quite as hard edged as the earlier ones. I've played their 2011 album, Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light, Vol. 1, more than any other albums since I bought it the day it came out. It's very slow and heavier than Low. It's also all instrumental.

 

I've seen that before. I can still live without the vocals but they're not nearly as bad. I love the section where the one guy's playing a theramin. The music backing it is great.

 

74. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet (2007)


This album came out right after I decided to check out Porcupine Tree. I've since bought all of Porcupine Tree's discography, but this is still my favorite. It's a great modern prog rock album. This is an album that puts paid the claim that there's nothing new and good in rock today. Actually all of Porcupine Tree's albums do that.

Fear of a Blank Planet - official video


My Ashes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfRdz9XY6Bs

Anesthetize - official video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7_xeGuLd48

Sentimental
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy7hh8I0yzY

Way Out of Here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v6g_Iv34I0

Sleep Together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsvCOeJLTC0

 

76. Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light (2006)

As was pointed out a few posts ago, I like slow music. I especially like slow music that is psychedelically tinged and this fits that bill. I don't care for the band's other albums, but this one really hits me.

Everybody Daylight - opening track and my favorite


All We Have Broken Shines - I hear a Cowboy Junkies influence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARCpMV02phM

A River Could Be Loved
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLTRqu6DkCE

We Share Our Blanket With the Owl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X46VvRYPcoc

Fry Bread
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niOyg_M467w

Star Blanket River Child
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZZkSDrIJ3M

Black Feather Wishes Rise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUpYW48lYdw

 

Thanks for pointing me back to the Earth post--I'm enjoying "Old Black" now.

 

78. Tosca - No Hassle (2009)

When this came out, I really liked what I heard on the 30 second samples so I took a chance on it. It was well worth it. No surprise, it's another downtempo album. A lot of web sites call this album trip hop but I don't see it. It's a lot more ambient. I think they're calling it trip hop just because it's Tosca. This is by far the mellowest album on my list and every bit of it's great. It's mostly instrumental with one CD of studio tracks and another of live tracks.

It's another album that probably should be higher on the list.

No Hassle - title track


My First
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GetVxGBlAMA

Joe Si Ha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDOHtml6Qhw

Birthday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrMYglE89ak

Oysters in May
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt2FVVBZKiE

Fondue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfml9f3suvs

Elitsa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DuORQd7Dc8

Springer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQWcqRLvPFs

Rosa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBnQLXGm5oM

Mrs. Bongo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MAtQqOr68w

 

79. Konono No. 1 - Assume Crash Position (2010)


I read about this band when this album came out. They're out of Kinshasa, Congo and they've been around for 40 years or so. They're a thumb piano band, but if you think you've heard thumb pianos before, you've never heard it like this. For years, most of their instruments and equipment are home made, including their amps and mics and they play out of megaphone style PA speakers. They distort like mad and it sounds great. As you can see from the live video, as they've received some attention from outside Africa, they can afford pro mics, but the instruments are still home made and I'd bet the amps are too.

The album Congotronics is really just as good. It was basically a coin flip to decide which one to include.

Guiyome - cut a minute before the end but to good not to include


Fula Fula
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbm_HPlFBxA

Wumbanzanga
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_cBQeU8TPY

Mama Na Bana - live at a train station in Spa, Belgium for the Francofolies de Spa 2012. This would have been amazing to happen upon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NWJKkE4xdE

Nakobala Lisusu Te
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e25cl6kQo20&list=TLvd0NNmGg_0Q

Konono Wa Wa Wa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOQyuAUFnYk

 

I've only gotten into Tosca's music within the past year or two, but I like it a lot.... so far I've got No Hassle, J.A.C., and Suzuki... I've been on the lookout for Opera and Delhi 9 next.

 

80. Grant Green - Green Street (1961)


I only own five Grant Green albums and this one is my favorite. He's my favorite jazz guitarist.

No. 1 Green Street


'Round About Midnight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-d_F7xzxEA

Grant's Dimensions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHfqketdwT4

Green with Envy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVU52YGgcE0

Alone Together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOeDdS7Ic1Q

 

81. Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares - Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares (1990)

The Bulgarian State Radio & Television Vocal Choir sings traditional Bulgarian folk songs. This was something of a hit in 1990. It made it into the Billboard Top 200, which is a miracle considering how odd and exotic the music sounds, . This won't appeal to everyone, but I love it and have all three albums in the series. This is the first and best.

Even though these are folk songs, these are professional singers and who knows how the communist government modified the songs and style of singing. This album was released less than a year after the governments fall.

Pritouritze Planinata


Pilentze Pee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a15Q1LLv0xo

Svatba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDO_rGqZeZw

Kalimankou Denkou (The Evening Gathering)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD83L4kI3qY

Messetschinko lio Greilivko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlxFjoDstZA

Erghen Diado
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khu4lg_Fdlk

Mir Stanke le
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXQ-eZqnVe0

 

82. King Sunny Ade - Juju Music (1982)



For a long time, this was the only non compilation album from Nigeria that I owned. It's a great album with excellent guitar playing and great talking drums.


Ja Funmi


Eje Nlo Gba Ara Mi - my favorite track
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKhQV4ahg9I

Mo Beru Agba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_4JRcvAu0I

Sunny Ti de Ariya - best track for the talking drums
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcaMeMYxuRE

Ma Jaiye Oni - great Hawaiian style guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GZV97VPXsE

365 Is My Number/The Message
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-uratquEIE

Samba/E Falaba Le
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR22AfTqHrk

 

I've streamed Suzuki and Delhi 9 once each and they didn't make much of an impression. I did listen to a few of tracks from those albums while looking for the videos for No Hassle and I like what I heard. My own thread is costing me money. So far, I've bought 6 albums by artists on the list because of tracks I've heard looking for videos to link.

Check out SmoKing After in post 143. It's similar music, and the price is right, free download, mp3 only though. It's a bit more upbeat than No Hassle, more genuine trip hop

 

You guys are crazy, Sexy Boy is one of the best tracks on Moon Safari!

I've checked out quite a few of the videos you've posted scompton and really dig your eclectic taste.

 

That one's great.

 

I wonder if you know and like the instrumentals by the Beastie Boys? They had a couple on some of their albums, which were also released on a compilation called "The In Sound From Way Out". Later on they relesed a whole album with new ones called "The Mix Up". Funky stuff.

From "Check Your Head" (included on the compilation): POW (I could only find some Disney commercial for this one)

http://vimeo.com/28179010

From "The Mix Up": Electric Worm

 

While were still at it, if the "K&D Sessions" aren't downtempo enough for you, this side project of the other half of the duo Peter Kruder might be more to your liking: Peace Orchestra



There are some pretty relaxed tracks on this one.



Double Drums

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGIoZR33cN8

The Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyYB4_D5f7U

Domination

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTjag7GczRU

Shining

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzE__HChEVc