Andrew Cotto has his ten albums. What are yours?
I recently wrote about the Bruce Springsteen album Born to Run. It was the death of Clarence Clemons that inspired me to reflect on all the specific memories brought about by that iconic cover. Thinking about the photo of Clarence and Bruce on Born to Run, and all that the album’s artwork meant to me as a kid, got me thinking about all those things the album itself meant. I thought about the songs. I loved how each sounded individually, but also how they blended into one another, even informed each other in a mysterious way—the slow ones and the fast ones and those that lasted a long time that were both slow and fast; and how, as a collection, they fit like pieces of a bigger puzzle I was trying to put together, trying to figure out, fully immersed in the process.
I remember sitting in my room with headphones on, lost in the lyrics and arrangements, picturing the album’s characters. Born to Run was a drive-in movie in my head with a full-blown soundtrack. My friends and the girls I liked were the stand-ins. And after enough time, I felt all of the characters’ emotions: their pleasure, their heartbreak, their longing, their escape. I absorbed them through my headphones and made them my own. It helped define me, at least to myself, for a little while.
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Isn’t that kind of what we are: songs trying to create an album? Pieces we put together, informing a narrative? We’re stories about family and friendship and love and sadness and loss and independence and escape and desire and regret and joy and a million other things. We are albums. Collections. That’s why we love records so. All of their melodies and characters and themes help define our experiences, not only shining on mercy and truth but also giving us a chance to rock out in our rooms.
I miss albums. I miss talking about them with my friends (naming the “Top Ten” I’d take to a deserted island). But albums are no longer a primary part of the music listening experience, no longer part of our narrative. Technology has nearly made the album obsolete. Why buy a whole album of 12 songs when the single song you want is 99 cents? I can see the logic in that, having bought a ton of records inspired by a song, only to be disappointed by the collection. But I also remember the magic of stumbling upon a single song, leading to a complete collection that transported me to places I’d have never imagined. It’s like a smile that leads to a kiss that leads to love. But how do we in the modern age find those artists and their records that can create that experience? Those moments in the iTunes age inspiring growth and reflection and an appreciation of what it’s like to be alive? Sadly, I find myself playing the same old albums again and again and again and again.
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Through word-of-mouth, I recently found a record that I love. A Brooklyn band named Chris Cubeta and the Liars Club just put out their second full length LP. It’s a punchy collection of timeless rock tunes, an assortment of hooks and grit and harmonies that remind me, at times, of bands I’d loved over the past 30 years, from Cheap Trick to Pearl Jam. I can imagine at least five of the songs being played on FM radio if FM radio still existed as a showcase for new music. The album has songs I want to read the lyrics to and sing out loud, solving the puzzle along the way. I can see imaginary kids in their rooms or at parties or driving in cars singing along too, with the volume cranked up and the windows down. I hope they have the chance.
For old times’ sake, here’s a list of ten albums I’d bring to a deserted island (in no particular order):
Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
Love and Theft, Bob Dylan
Tomorrow the Green Grass, The Jayhawks
Girlfriend, Matthew Sweet
August and Everything After, Counting Crows
They Call Me Muddy Waters, Muddy Waters
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Lucinda Williams
14 Songs, Paul Westerberg
Tell Mama, Etta James
And Out Come the Wolves, Rancid
What are your favorite albums?
—Photo edinthekitchen/Flickr
My fav of all time is Miles Davis Sketches of Spain.
Any Count Basie album makes the list.
Bill Evans has to be included.
As does, Bill Chase’s 1st album “Chase”
Brubeck is a definate, especially the time series.
The Sgt Pepper as well as the White album
anything with Ella
I guess I’m leaning toward the older jazz guys. It’s appropriate for an older jazz guy.
Thanks, Pop!
It’s good to have you old jazz guys around!
Love,
Andy
Thanks, Mark! I appreciate your feedback and contribution to this fun conversation (I also love that you gave me some Matthew Sweet validation). I’m glad Lisa is enjoying Domino – I’m gathering that it’s like a few people’s lives and I’m glad to have you in that company).
See you soon in GR.
Best,
Andrew
Great and very true stuff about music and albums. Bruce gave us a copy of the “Domino Effect.” Lisa is reading it now and very much enjoying it. Can’t wait to read it too, Though, from what she’s told me, you may have written it about my life…. 1. REM – Out of Time 2. Blondie- Parallel Lines 3. Sinatra – the very good years 4. Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits (Live in Central Park) 5. Nirvanna – MTV Unplugged 6. New Order – Substance 7. Petshop Boys – Please 8. Morrissey – Bona Drag 9. Matthew Sweet – Girlfriend… Read more »
Way to go, Chuck. You’ve added to the list of responses that have surpasssed the original article in depth. Nice job and thanks for the great suggestions. I’m psyched to have all these new albums to get.
Best,
Andrew
Obvious to most, and likely including your readers, a stranded-alone-on-a-desert-island (SAODI) playlist is most personal and must not resemble the makings of a dinner party playlist, a New Years Eve playlist, or Stranded-With-Others-On-a-Desert-Island (SWOODI) playlist. Each would contain its own distinctly individual selections. I use this disclaimer to segue into my ongoing frustration over the too-many events at which the host played his SAODI list while others wondered why. I might appreciate Alice Cooper, but don’t ever want to hear his greatest hits at a cocktail party. But I digress. Some selections here required for additional insight (see endnotes on… Read more »
Thanks, Dr. Dave! I’ll check out that Afghan Whigs album.
Best,
Andrew
There are a lot of great suggestions here. The one album I don’t see that I would personally consider indispensable is “Black Love” by the Afghan Whigs, which as a beginning-to-end ALBUM experience, I would put in any top ten list right alongside Exile on Main Street or Dark Side of the Moon or Zeppelin IV or Back in Black or any number of “greatest rock albums”.
Thanks, Joe. Great points about albums and great albums (though I’d never heard of Sigur Ros – I’ll be sure to look it up). Thanks, again.
Andrew
I do have to disagree on the death of the album – there still out there. Even in CD or MP3 form, the 13 tracks or so become something more when listened to completely and in order. Here’s mine, in no order. Sigur Ros – Takk (this is one of those “albums” I described) Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles Miles Davis – Kind of Blue Django Reinhardt – Jazz Masters 38 (yeah, its an anthology, but its really really good) Incubus – Morning View Bela Fleck – Throw Down Your Heart (Tales from an acoustic… Read more »
Thanks, SuperT. You give great responses, man. Really cool list, too. I’ve never even heard of Stephane Pompougnac. I’ll look for the album.
Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Best,
Andrew
I’ve had the privilege to have visited art museums and wonderful architectural sites around the globe and my favorite form of art work is still the mighty album cover. Andrew, our life experiences are songs that could in fact create an album. It may go something like this… Teething and need more brandy on my gums now!!! Lost lego blues Whoo hoo Betty Sue Graduation day Holy s*** I’ve gotten married Mommy had a baby The house is a money sucking sinkhole Anyhow…my top ten favorite albums change and fluctuate from one week to another. As of today, if I… Read more »
Thanks, Melissa! I’m not an authority either, though I love what I love and that’s all-right. Forget Cold Play – way to throw the Weird Al out there! Nice.
This will definitely elicit some disapproval–particularly the last album. Although I love music, I’m in no way, shape or form an authority (or as I like to call them, music snobs, though in an affectionate way).
David Bowie/Space Oddity
Otis Redding/ The Very Best of Otis Redding\
Fiona Apple/When the Pawn
Fleetwood Mac/ Rumors
Weird Al Yankovic/ Bad Hair Day
Red Hot Chili Peppers / Bloodsugarsexmagik
Aerosmith / Permanent Vacation
The Strokes/ This Is It
Cat Stevens / Tea for the Tillerman
COLDPLAY (yes, that’s right) / A Rush of Blood to the Head
I’m totally out of touch these days but it seems like vinyl is making a small comeback. I do miss the record album experience HOWEVER it’s nice to know, that with vinyl shops still kicking around, you can always relive it. I’ll never forget my first three record albums were YES (Fragile), Eagles (The Long Run) and Billy Joel (Glass House) – All tremendous albums. I would sneak into my older brother’s room to admire his extensive record collection, studying each album cover — Deep Purple (Machine Head), Jimi Hendrix (Are You Experienced?), RUSH (Live Exit Stage Left), Neil Young… Read more »
Ooohhh, B List. Now you’ve got me thinking…thanks for the insights and memories, full of immediate details. I think the comments are outdoing the article.
Thanks for contributing!
Best,
Andrew
Thanks, Kevin! I appreciate your feed back and contributions. That’s an eclectic list. Force MD’s? I remember that love song of theirs that used to kill me back in jr. high.
Great lists! Andrew you have wonderful taste in music. Here are my 10 albums:
Zenyatta Mondatta – The Police
The Many Facets of Roger – Roger Troutman & Zapp
BLACKstreet – Blackstreet
The Meters – The Meters
The Revival – Tony Toni Tone
The Chicago Transit Authority – Chicago
Born Into The 90’s – R.Kelly & Public Annoucement
Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
Touch & Go – Force MD’s
Fantastic Article Andy! Easily one of my favorite topics, as Hugh mentions my top 10 seems to change day to day too! Youngsters these days need to know what the album stands for and how it is such an integral part to what makes the artist who they are. Unfortunately most “artists” these days are not that, they are prefabricated media creations who spawn lame one hit wonders that will never stand the test of time, but that’s a whole ‘nother enchilada. Anyway, browsing thru a record store was one of the greatest moments of being kid, the artwork was… Read more »
Thanks for sharing, Todd! You (and others) are right: there’s a lot to miss about the record buying experience. And for that, we have our memories and killer lists, like yours, that can still change daily. I’m sitting here today wanting to rewrite mine. I can believe Ieft off G-n-R’s first! I know every riotous moment of that bad boy.
Andrew Great article. I think about this issue a lot – specifically, is my loyalty to the album as an art form just nostalgia for a vestige of the pre-information culture (when buying an album meant traveling to the record store AND made economic sense), or is there something about the album format that’s actually important? It’s undeniable that songs are made better (and have more emotional heft) when placed in context. “Le Freak” is not a remarkable song on its own, but insofar as it reminds you of that 8th grade dance at which you fought through palpitations to… Read more »
Thanks, Andrew, for that insightful (and detailed) response. Have you given this some thought before? Just curious. Your website is great. Thanks for sharing.
Great article. Go buy Chris Cubeta’s album, people. Here’s my list:
Pearl Jam–No Code
Bob Dylan–Time Out of Mind
Bruce Sprinsteen–Greetings from Asbury Park
Lucinda Williams–Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Eminem–The Eminem Show
Jay-Z–The Blueprint
Steve Earle–Transcendental Blues
Tom Waits–Rain Dogs
Ani Difranco–Little Plastic Castles
George Carlin–It’s Bad for Ya
Thanks, Danny. That’s the second Carlin inclusion and the first Ani difranco. Great album. Worked on it back in my old job – great people, too, at Righteous Babe.
Great list, except for Tom Waits. He kills me. He just kills me.
Andy,
Could not agree more, going to the record store and going thru albums and seeing what album covers catching your eye. As listed below are my 10, in no particular order, for today. Tomorrow could be a new lineup
The Wall – Pink Floyd
Legend – best of Bob Marley & the Wailers
BloodSugarSexmagic – Red Hot Chili Peppers
American Idiot – Green Day
Moving Pictures – Rush
King of Rock – Run DMC
Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking – Roger Waters
Led Zep IV – Led Zep
Appetite for Destruction – Guns N Roses
Joshua Tree – U2
Nice, Hugh. I’ve been getting teased by my high school friends for leaving Run DMC off my list. Good call.
Great article, Andrew. And great list. I agree that the new Chris Cubeta and the Liars Club release is great. Here’s the list you inspired me to write: Lucinda Williams –self titled Laura Nyro – Time and Love: The Essential Masters Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark Led Zeppelin – In Through the Out Door (I think critics hated it, but I love it) The Dixie Chicks – Taking the Long Way Steve Earle – Guitar Town Hole – Celebrity Skin The Smiths – The Very Best of the Smiths Nanci Griffith – Little Love Affairs The Velvet Underground and… Read more »
Nice list, Martin, though I may be with the critics on In Through the Out Door…regardless, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Kevin. Great album to include and great point about soundtracks. My feeling is that the right collection of songs, even from various artists, can be considered an album. So, yeah, throw a soundtrack or two on your list. Looking forward to seeing it.
Best,
Andrew
I enjoyed reading your article. I, too, lament the loss of the album as an art form even as I welcome many more artists into my life via singles and mixes I create. I like this top 10, a great collection. I will throw U2’s Joshua Tree into the mix. Do movie soundtracks count or is that a future article?