Listmania!
ALL CDS 1!
High VoltageHigh Voltage by AC/DC
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.40
In an ambitious move, I'm going to chronicle ALL my CDs. First up, my first AC/DC album, and their first (international) LP. It's effect has worn off on me, somewhat.
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt CheapDirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.19
Features no production, and a couple of decent songs, but still striving for that classic album they had yet to achieve.
Let There Be RockLet There Be Rock by AC/DC
Buy new: £8.48 / Used from: £5.30
YES! A classic. Production is still rubbish, but the songs are there, and that's what matters. The title track is one of those rock standards you can't dislike.
PoweragePowerage by AC
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.00
In my opinion, the band's peak. Perfect sound, and the best selection of DC songs ever put on one record. Plus, it's not overshadowed by one or two huge songs: all quality.
If You Want Blood, You've Got ItIf You Want Blood, You've Got It by AC/DC
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.10
A decent live album, though I'm not a big fan of such outings. Mind you, these days, that's all DC are good for anyway!
Highway to HellHighway to Hell by AC/DC
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £6.95
Another classic outing, full of great songs you know (Highway..., If You Want Blood) and some you might not (Beating Around the Bush, Love Hungry Man). Indispensible.
BonfireBonfire by AC
Buy new: £28.08 / Used from: £26.57
Two live albums (on three discs) and a couple of rarities. A nice idea ruined. Only worth having for Back in Black.
For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) by AC/DC
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.33
The third Mutt-produced album, and Johnson's second outing. Starting to sound A BIT tired. His vocals would never be as good again.
Flick of the SwitchFlick of the Switch by AC
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.29
Very raw album, with some great lost gems (the title track, Bedlam in Belgium, Brain Shake). Worth a listen if you haven't already.
Fly on the WallFly on the Wall by AC/DC
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.00
God, I love Fly On The Wall. Probably their least popular album, I can't get enough of how fun it is. Production is very 80s, but the band would never be as silly again.
The Razor's EdgeThe Razor's Edge by AC/DC
Buy new: £5.08 / Used from: £3.50
Razor's Edge sounds IMMENSE, but suffers from the only-half-good problem which plagues all new DC albums. Still, the first two tracks and the title track rank among the band's best.
BallbreakerBallbreaker by AC
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.47
GREAT Rick Rubin production, and a couple of great tracks, chiefly the full-on-metal of Hail Caesar. Good stuff.
AmenAmen by Amen
Buy used from: £0.94
Some great songs marred by a dry, punishing mix. Very hard to listen to all the way through.
We Have Come for Your ParentsWe Have Come for Your Parents by Amen
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £0.24
Ah, much better. Rivals Rage Against The Machine as some of the angriest music ever recorded, albeit without the political motives.
I Care Because You DoI Care Because You Do by Aphex Twin
Buy used from: £4.87
Aphex Twin music is not the easiest to listen to at times, though I find this album quite manageable. Mixes some sheer beauty with moments of terror. Great stuff.
Slaughter of the SoulSlaughter of the Soul by At the Gates
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £5.60
I'm happy enough to only like one ATG album, because it's the only one that's any good.
Starfire Burning Upon The Ice Veiled Throne Of Ultima ThuleStarfire Burning Upon The Ice Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule by Bal-Sagoth
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £6.49
To be honest, I've barely listened to it since I was given it years ago.
Battle MagicBattle Magic by Bal-Sagoth
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £7.49
This one, on the other hand, is one of my favourite albums. Great music, great lyrics. Keyboards are off the page.
Mellow GoldMellow Gold by Beck
Buy used from: £2.99
Not much love for this album. All the songs sound the same; garbled nonsense and weak guitars. Sorry.
Odelay [UK Limited Edition]Odelay [UK Limited Edition] by Beck
Buy used from: £1.29
WHERE THE HELL DID THIS COME FROM? From an uninspired debut to a genre-smashing classic in just a few years. Must have.
MutationsMutations by Beck
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £1.27
Mutations is great too; stripped back, like Mellow Gold, but with some actual inspiration and some great additional instrumentation.
Midnite VulturesMidnite Vultures by Beck
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £0.34
Then down again. This album, and the way in which it is presented, is a travesty. I maintain that this is NOT representitive of Beck, and should be completely avoided at all costs.
Sea ChangeSea Change by Beck
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.00
Then up again. Thankfully MV would be the last poor Beck album: Sea Change is an often-melancholic, always gorgeous (I would dare to even call it 'lush') masterpiece.
GueroGuero by Beck
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £1.85
Guero is also excellent, if a tad overlong. Still, plenty of great singles and just as many tracks filling out the rest of the CD. But I don't mean filler...ah, you know...
GueroGuero by Beck
Buy used from: £3.00
Another version of Guero with some crap remixes and a pontless DVD, but in a gorgeous Digibook package. Bought on a whim and listened to once.