Top 10 Albums you need to physically own...

I figured I'd get back to the music side of things this week.  Today, two of my favorite bands (Steel Panther and MegaDeth) had new albums come out.  This rarely happens since I am rather narrow-minded about music (to a fault that I'm trying to correct).  Since my computer crashed a few weeks ago and I havent gotten around to uploading my iTunes library back on, I decided to go galavanting around Chester County looking for places that sell CDs (remember those everybody???).  I used to go to Coconuts in Exton to buy all my CDs back in the day.  However, they went out of business along with FYE, SamGoody, and just about every other music store.  As a result, the music industry is dying a slow death.  That's why I'm in a cover band!!!  Remember when everyone wanted to kill Lars Ulrich for going after Napster???  Although I didnt feel bad at all for him and my favorite band, you gotta admit he saw it all coming.  But I cant really complain, because I myself have downloaded my share of songs from Limewire (Lars, dont sue me, I bought every one of your CDs legally, cross my heart).  But I gotta admit that I do miss walking through the record store and physically purchasing CDs.  But that time is long gone, as I witnessed firsthand today.  Instead of driving to Coconuts and buying both new CDs, I had to drive around for an hour and a half to Best Buy and Barnes n Noble because neither had both albums.  Best Buy had 2 copies of the new MegaDeth, and Barnes had 1 copy of Steel Panther.  I also had to search for these instead of walking right up to the NEW section.  Being as it may, I started thinking of the albums I have on CD and the ones of the bands that I would actually still go out and buy today despite the convenience of iTunes.  CDs still sound better quality-wise.  Here's my list of the top 10 albums that every Rock/Pop fan should physically own, IMO of course.  As I stated before, I'm a bit narrow-minded, but I'll try and diversify for you.  See if you agree:

10)   Pink Floyd - The Wall

I'm not the biggest Pink Floyd fanatic, but I have heard most of this album and it is a must to own.  I mean come on, it's The Wall!

9) Van Halen - Van Halen

This is more my style.  This was a ground-breaking album for rock, pop, catchy tunes, just about everything.  Classics like Running with the Devil, You Really Got Me, Jamie's Cryin, and Ain't Talkin Bout Love are revolutionary.  Also the entire album was recorded live in the studio, something that doesnt really exist anymore.  And even Jimi Hendrix woulda creamed his pants if he could've heard Eruption.

8)  Tom Petty - Greatest Hits

I cant name one Petty album in particular.  The dude has way too many good songs to simplify into one album.  Probably one of the catchiest song writers of all-time.  Blasting this on a sunny day in the car will make you smile, even if your girlfriend just left you for your bass player.

7)  Notorious BIG - Live After Death

Ok Ok, I dont like rap, but I did buy this album back in the day when I was a confused yoot, but I still pop it in once in awhile. Like every rap album, you probably only listen to 5 songs since the other 7 are usually random sounds and remixes of songs you already heard 10 minutes ago, but this album is pretty kick ass. Hypnotize is timeless and Back to Cali is another personal fave. And you know you got pumped when Mo Money hit the speakers at your middle school dance (College for Scott and Andy).

6) Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II

I was gonna go with LZ IV, but every musician knows the rules of the Guitar store... NO STAIRWAY!!! This one actually has more recognizable LZ tunes - Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, The Lemon Song, and Ramble On are straight FIRE!!!

5) Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run

This is one of my favorite albums of all-time. If you dont like the Boss, then you're clearly a Communist and need to get the hell out. Start to finish, you never need to hit the NEXT button. Thunder Road, Tenth Avenue, Night, Backstreets, the title track, and of course the epic ending Jungleland. Classic album and Sprinsteen's best ever, no question.

4) Metallica - Metallica (The Black Album)

I would personally put Master of Puppets on here, but The Black Album was a landmark album not only for metal, but hard rock music.  Metallica went with a new producer and turned from mid-level metalheads into arena-filling superstars.  The first track Enter Sandman is there most recognizable song to date and is played at every single sporting event in the world.  That combined with a more radio-friendly song writing structure took them to the next level.  Plus theres a cool bass solo in the second to last song!  It is also still the highest selling album in the soundscan era.

3) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication


I have to battle my own emotions by not putting Blood Sugar Sex Magik here, but I cant deny the complete package of Californication.  From the opening bass distortion riff of Around the World, to the ending acoustic ballad Road Trippin, There's about 8 number 1 singles in there.  It also marked the return of John Frusciante on guitar which threw them in a completely different direction musically.  High points are Scartissue, Otherside, the title track, Easily, and I Like Dirt... and the rest of the songs!

2) Michael Jackson - Thriller

The highest selling album of all time and when MJ was still cool. Nobody knew that he was a pedophile yet and he didnt creepily turn white yet. The title track, Beat It, and Billy Jean would probably still sell a gazillion copies if they were the only ones on the CD.

Again, as I mentioned before I am a hard rock fan.  Some folks may disagree with my #1, but in my opinion this is the greatest album every created in Rock music.  Start to finish there is not one mediocre or "decent" song.  It is all perfect, catchy, and contains a handful of songs still played regularly on radio, at sporting events, and on video games.  The guitar player is recognizable to even the most novice music-goers.  The singer is a nutjob asshole, but hes got the most recognizable voice in rock history and a octave range that makes Robert Plant jealous. And the rest of the band is pretty f*cking good too.  Without further ass-kissing on my part, I give you my greatest album of all-time and one that everyone who likes music (so EVERYONE) should own....


1) Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction

High points are the whole album.  Starts with the massive Welcome to the Jungle.  Then... It's So Easy, Nightrain, Out ta Get Me, Mr Brownstone, Paradise City, My Michelle, Think About You, Sweet Child of Mine, You're Crazy, Anything Goes, and my darkhorse favorite Rocket Queen.  It's just too bad we'll never see them play it live ever.

(ii/:-)