I like thinking about these lists and reading other people's choices, but always hate making them myself because I know I'm leaving out far too much good stuff. Here are the ten albums I'd load into the CD player for a long journey (or, indeed, which I've currently queued in Amarok to listen to for the rest of the night). In alphabetical order, because music is not the Olympics. :)
1. Alice in Chains, Dirt
When grunge was happening my favourite band was Soundgarden; but now I tend to listen to AiC most. The songs on Dirt are uniformly killer, and it gets the nod over their self-titled album because the balance between grinding riffs and vulnerable introspection is best on this one.
2. Cocteau Twins, Heaven or Las Vegas
I love Robin Guthrie's amazing array of unearthly guitar tones and layered effects, but the reason I never get tired of listening to the Cocteaus is Liz Fraser. Her voice is, to me, the most moving instrument that's ever been recorded. "Fifty-Fifty Clown" and "Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires" are perfect.
3. The Cure. Disintegration
My favourite album of all time, and I doubt anything will ever displace it. I can't bring myself to skip a single track on it, and the emotional journey this album takes me on is as powerful and personal every time I listen to it. Fun fact: most weeks my top ten would have included at least three other Cure albums, because it's not real music if it doesn't make your mascara run.
4. Kaki King, Until We Felt Red
This is my current favourite "guitar" album. "Gay Sons of Lesbian Mothers" is catchy as hell, but the whole album has a great mellow vibe and I could listen to it on repeat all night. I'm going to see Kaki King in London next month and I really can't wait.
5. Kyuss, Welcome to Sky Valley
Such a great album. Huge guitar riffs and earthshaking tones, ranging from bluesy garage rock grooves to huge psychedelic epics like "Whitewater".
6. Metallica, Master of Puppets
I feel a bit unoriginal for this one. But it's dead good. If it makes you feel better, pretend I said Rust in Peace by Megadeth.
7. Siouxsie and the Banshees, Juju
I love the edgy guitars on tracks like "Hallowe'en" and "Sin in my Heart", and Siouxsie is one of my favourite singers. Deftones later stole the riff to "Monitor" and recycled it as "Be Quiet and Drive", but the original is still the best.
8. Various artists, Take Me Home: a Tribute to John Denver
Some lovely songs here, being performed by some of my favourite indie rock artists like Rachel Goswell, Innocence Mission, Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Tarnation. The best thing on here is the Red House Painters' version of "I'm Sorry", which is a heartbreaker.
9. Weezer, Weezer/The Blue Album
I vacillated for a while, wondering whether to put Drums and Wires by XTC, but this one will do for a power pop/geeky rock experience. Great tunes, a real lesson in songcraft throughout, with some ace little licks and lovely guitar sounds in the mix as well. Mainly I just like the little touches I can identify with, like "In the Garage" which reminds me of my own suburban teenaged years.
10. Westside Connection, Bow Down
One of the hardest rap albums of all time - they call out everybody on this one. Angry political and social diatribes, gang warfare and violent West Coast/East Coast rivalry are blended with some dry wit from Ice Cube and WC. For me they could have left Mack-10 out of the group without any ill effect, but it's my token rap album anyway mainly because of "The Gangsta, the Killa and the Dope Dealer" which samples "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails.
