What is a great album that the rest of us probably haven't heard?

[klw]

I nominate the Bluebells album "The Singles Collection"
It has a wonderful, very catchy folk rock sound. Great collection of songs mostly off of 1 album.
Here is a brief bio of this shortlived Scottish Band.
During their brief time together in the early '80s, the Bluebells (songwriter Robert "Bobby Bluebell" Hodgens [born on June 6, 1959] [guitar], Kenneth McClusky [born on February 8, 1962] [vocals/harmonica], Dave McCluskey [born on January 13, 1964] [drums], Russell Irvin [guitar] [replaced by Craig Gannon (born on July 30, 1966)], and Lawrence Donegan [bass] [replaced by Neil Baldwin]) made a small amount of music -- several singles, most of which showed up on one EP -- but that is not proportional to the quality of their music. Like fellow Scots Aztec Camera, the Bluebells crafted impeccable, jangly guitar pop, only with better melodies and stronger hooks. Two of their singles ("I'm Falling" and "Young at Heart") hovered around the lower reaches of the U.K. Top Ten in 1984, but they soon broke up, leaving a small, but impressive, body of work. David McCluskey and his brother, Ken, formed a folk duo. Robert Hodgens formed Up. Craig Gannon briefly filled in for bassist Andy Rourke in the Smiths on tour, then stayed as a second live guitarist; he joined Adult Net after being fired from the Smiths in 1986. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Here is probably the best known song, Cath, sound quality isn't the best but you get the idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs_OT526BB8&feature=related

[westofyou]

http://image.musicimport.biz/sdimages/upc01/725543841612.jpg

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/432d643d02f576163afd5a44d3880ead/7221.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KvYRm_0ip2E/SPIs-bFWgwI/AAAAAAAAARE/TwEIcLohj-s/s320/img109.jpg

[TRF]

http://image.musicimport.biz/sdimages/upc01/725543841612.jpg

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/432d643d02f576163afd5a44d3880ead/7221.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KvYRm_0ip2E/SPIs-bFWgwI/AAAAAAAAARE/TwEIcLohj-s/s320/img109.jpg

hippy.

[westofyou]

hippy.

Oddly enough none of them are even remotely hippy like. Big Star is Power Pop, Uncle Tupelo is Alt Country/CowPunk and Lindley is Americana at best.

[westofyou]

http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/phasesandstages.jpg

[RichRed]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K-ojKZhHPos/RkUy25shwaI/AAAAAAAAACc/6jsXUszMLng/s400/actual%2Btigers.jpg

[OldRightHander]

http://cover7.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/270/279195.jpg

Moving Cloud is a quintet of Irish musicians who face something of a quandary: they want to be regarded as concert performers rather than a dance band, but while it's true that their chops are more than sufficient to hold an audience's attention, they play in a style that owes far more to the ceilidh than to the concert hall. For one thing, they tend to take tunes at a brisk but moderate tempo (unlike some of their more flamboyant contemporaries who play everything at speeds no one could dance to even if they wanted to), and for another, they've got Carl Hession banging out the off-beats on his piano in a way that just begs you to spin around the floor with your fair colleen. And then there are the tunes themselves: Foxglove consists almost entirely of dance sets (there is one slow air), and the program even includes a waltz. So Moving Cloud should probably just accept its fate and let the rest of us dance gratefully. Highlights include flutist Kevin Crawford's gorgeous playing on "Mooney's Mazurka," and the perfect ensemble blend on the sprightly and lovely song air "Suil Suil a Ghra." ~ Rick Anderson

Moving Cloud: Maeve Donnelly, Manus McGuire (fiddle); Kevin Crawford (flute, whistle, bodhran); Paul Brock (button accordion, melodeon); Carl Hession (piano).

[TRF]

Oddly enough none of them are even remotely hippy like. Big Star is Power Pop, Uncle Tupelo is Alt Country/CowPunk and Lindley is Americana at best.

i have no derogatory terms for any of those...

[Kingspoint]

I was in a car repair place yesterday and I saw, "The Singing Nuns" album.

[macro]

http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/d/drivin-n-cryin/album-fly-me-courageous.jpg

Fly Me Courageous from Drivin' n Cryin' (1991)

[pedro]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EPKFWPQBL._SS500_.jpg

Fugu- Fugu 1

Amazon.com
Although Laetitia Sadier (of Stereolab) and John Cunningham (of High Lamas) certainly leave their mark on their contributions to Fugu, Vol.1, the debut from French pop maestro Fugu (and his 20-piece orchestra) has much more to offer. The beautifully composed piano and organ pieces here are embellished by harpsichord, strings, siren, and even a wailing baby, with much of the album sounding like fellow Brian Wilson obsessives Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. Indeed, the rural lyrics on "Baragan" sound spookily similar to that band's brand of gentle psychedelic folk-pop. But Fugu's romance isn't with a mythical folk heritage. The complex, polished harmonies of tracks like "Triple Bass" recall Pet Sounds, and "Pianolyre" is like an acid-driven trip to the fairground via Sgt. Pepper's. It's light yet intimate '60s pop all the way for Fugu, and thank God he decided to take us along. --Caroline Butler

[pedro]

http://cdbaby.name/j/o/joybang.jpg

Joybang - 1,000 mg

"The Velvet Underground thrashes Dinosaur Jr's pimply buttocks...featuring ex-members of
Mary My Hope, Mr. Crowe's Garden and Needle."

[savafan]

http://mediaportal.ru/uploads/posts/1176627708_cover.jpg

http://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/847/cover_478825122008.jpg

https://shop.rockhard.de/images/savatage_the_wake_of_g.jpg

If you like Trans Siberian Orchestra, I definitely recommend checking out the music of Savatage!

[redsmetz]

Here's the one I always say and it was absolutely true 40 years ago when I first bought it. I heard this record playing in the record department at Shillito's in Kenwood Mall, thought it was a new Iron Butterfly album and asked to see it. Man, it was a two record set and I knew I couldn't afford the $5 to $6 that would cost. But as luck would have it, it was a specially priced set, basically for the cost of a single LP, so I bought it. No one had heard of this band, and, in fact, they'd change their name after they were told they couldn't use the same name as this organization.

The album? Chicago's first album, the self-titled Chicago Transit Authority. It's a driving rock album, very different from their future "hit machine" productions (as one reviewer says). Even has an experimental piece. If you haven't had a chance to hear it, grab a copy. Very different from their later stuff. This is when they were a rock band.

http://www.munyie.com/picture/2305/1/chicago_transit_authority.jpg

[oneupper]

People on this board know everything.
But hey...these guys are canadian.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/Saga_-_Worlds_Apart.jpg

[Ravenlord]

http://www.metalpesado.com.br/GRAFICOS/wallpapers/wallpapersyahoo/images/gutterballet.jpg

http://mediaportal.ru/uploads/posts/1176627708_cover.jpg

http://www.metalpesado.com.br/GRAFICOS/wallpapers/wallpapersyahoo/images/edgeofthorns.jpg

http://www.metalkingdom.net/album/img/d25/724.jpg

http://www.metalkingdom.net/album/img/d45/144.jpg

http://mp3passion.net/uploads/posts/1245416288_savatage__the_wake_of_magellan_1998.jpg

http://www.truemetal.org/metalwallpaper/images/poetsandmadmen.jpg

respectively:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubmft9_LeE8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiHyP3wHae8

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TboNW5AiHA8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scuj81N1iyE

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

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn2yN9F3_TE

all respective to their albums. and FWIW, almost all of you know these guys as Trans-Siberian Orchestra these days. this is merely what they did in their progressive age from 89-01, ignoring their pioneering of death and thrash metal in 81-87. other projects:

Metallium (Chris Caffery)
Dr. Butcher (Jon Oliva, Chris Caffery)
Jon Oliva's Pain (Jon Oliva)
Al Pitrelli (Taylor Dane, Alice Cooper, Megadeth)
Circle II Circle (Zak Stevens, Jeff Plate)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Savatage + their producer + their engineer)

1981 City Beneath The Surface
1983 Sirens
1984 The Dungeons Are Calling
1985 Power of the Night
1986 Fight For the Rock
1987 The Hall of the Mountain King
1989 Gutter Ballet
1991 Streets: A Rock Opera
1993 Edge of Thorns
1994 Handful of Rain
1995 Dead Winter Dead
1997 The Wake of Magellan
2001 Poets and Madmen

i see Savafan beat me to it for the most part :D

[savafan]

i see Savafan beat me to it for the most part :D

:thumbup:

[BillDoran]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000008UQQ.jpg

The Gerbils - Are You Sleepy?

One of the best albums of the Elephant 6 era.

[marcshoe]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31TDE43T66L._SL600_.jpg

Cold Chisel--Circus Animals. Many criticize Jimmy Barnes for screaming instead of singing, but even if he's not to your taste, Ian Moss' guitar solos and former missile system designer Don Walker's literate songwriting might win you over. On this one, Moss, Barnes, and drummer Stephen Prestwich also contribute songs. Moss' "Bow River", about going back to "a place where no man's putting on the dog for me," is my favorite track. Barnes' playfully angry "You Got Nothing I Want", directed at US record execs who wanted to remold the band, leads off the album. It also made it difficult for Barnes to get a US solo deal when the band broke up. He did score a single with INXS on the Lost Boys soundtrack, though.

[marcshoe]

As long as I'm in that era and that part of the world, it's hard to choose, but this is probably my favorite Split Enz album:

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/7538344c4eac13fa8fdbbd93c96ec710/12843.jpg

And my favorite album from The Church, from before they hit in the U.S. This is also one of my all time favorite album covers.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uB-0D-gV8mY/R-m6aGhpjgI/AAAAAAAAHsI/7EQRtOXZlgk/s400/the+church

[Blimpie]

http://en.academic.ru/pictures/enwiki/69/ELO_Face_The_Music_album_cover.jpg

[marcshoe]

I forget there are kids on here that might now have heard such things. That one's on my ipod.

[The Operator]

http://www.picpanther.com/albums/userpics/10289/Desert_Sessions,_Vols__1___2.jpg

http://www.metalsucks.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/karmatoburn.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00026YO36.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[pedro]

As long as I'm in that era and that part of the world, it's hard to choose, but this is probably my favorite Split Enz album:

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/7538344c4eac13fa8fdbbd93c96ec710/12843.jpg

And my favorite album from The Church, from before they hit in the U.S. This is also one of my all time favorite album covers.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uB-0D-gV8mY/R-m6aGhpjgI/AAAAAAAAHsI/7EQRtOXZlgk/s400/the+church

They played our spring concert on campus at OU in 1987

[westofyou]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/Violent_Femmes.jpg

http://nothingfeelsgood.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/00_-_archers_of_loaf_-_1993_-_icky_mettle_front.jpeg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/613t8GF5uIL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

[edabbs44]

For Squirrels was an alternative rock band based out of Gainesville, Florida, active between the years of 1992–1996 prior to changing their name to Subrosa, eventually disbanding in 2001. Although their 1995 single "Mighty K.C." was a minor radio hit, the band is most remembered for the tragic touring van accident that claimed the lives of founding members Jack Vigliatura IV and Bill White, along with tour manager Tim Bender.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61PXcu3VKnL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

[pedro]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61PXcu3VKnL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

I have that album. Mighty KC is a great song.

[pedro]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/Violent_Femmes.jpg

http://nothingfeelsgood.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/00_-_archers_of_loaf_-_1993_-_icky_mettle_front.jpeg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/613t8GF5uIL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

I am so going to buy a copy of true zero hook on itunes right now.

[RichRed]

I have that album. Mighty KC is a great song.

Same here; I've got the CD.

[camisadelgolf]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/mudboots/BishopAllen-CharmSchool.jpg
This is one of the best pop albums ever made, hands down, and it's one of my all-time personal favorites (top-10).

Here's a sample of one of their songs: http://bishopallen.com/media/audio/Things_Are_What_You_Make_Of_Them.mp3

[Johnny Footstool]

I have that album. Mighty KC is a great song.

I have it as well. The band sounds like REM with a bit of testosterone. Mighty K.C. was about Kurt Cobain's suicide, and it is a very good song.

[pedro]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/drc500/c587/c587724070t.jpg

St. Johnny - Speed is dreaming

http://www.answers.com/topic/speed-is-dreaming
Review

When major labels began their post-Nirvana bidding wars over the pop side of indie-rock acts (with the Nova Scotia scene receiving particular attention), quite a few bands were ruined -- many found their sounds reduced to major-label rock cliches that simply didn't suit them. St. Johnny, however, almost benefited from the move -- their Geffen releases retain the Dinosaur Jr. guitar sounds of their independent work, but highlight the melodic composition that made their early work so appealing in the first place. Speed Is Dreaming cleans up some of the band's sound and tightens their songwriting, and winds up making a small step forward from High as a Kite (a collection of independent work) -- the band stands as one of those few indie acts snapped up by major labels whose sound can appeal to a pop audience without losing any of its integrity. ~ Nitsuh Abebe, All Music Guide

[BoxingRed]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4kbBtb1KHKQ/StsSkYniMDI/AAAAAAAAAI4/VXuU_gTCDms/s320/songs+from+northern+britain.jpg

A fantastic band reaches its full maturity. "Take the Long Way Around", "Ain't That Enough" and "I Don't Want Control of You" are my faves.

http://anos60.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/odessey_and_oracle.jpg


The Zombies had broken up by the the time that "Time of the Season" became a big hit, but their send-off album is pop perfection. "This Will Be Our Year", "Cell 44" and "A Rose for Emily" are stand out tracks.

[pedro]

A fantastic band reaches its full maturity. "Take the Long Way Around", "Ain't That Enough" and "I Don't Want Control of You" are my faves.


I love "Songs from North Britain"

[Spazzrico]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/mudboots/BishopAllen-CharmSchool.jpg
This is one of the best pop albums ever made, hands down, and it's one of my all-time personal favorites (top-10).

Here's a sample of one of their songs: http://bishopallen.com/media/audio/Things_Are_What_You_Make_Of_Them.mp3

Bishop Allen is simply fantabulous. Good Call.

Yeah you know what I mean. Yeah you know what I mean.

[pahster]

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/5493/41oyl5jrsxlzk2.jpg

I'm a big fan of Neverending White Lights. They're kind of hard to describe; it's more of a project than a band. Daniel Victor writes most of the songs and plays nearly all of the instruments. He occasionally sings, but usually other Canadian artists take lead vocal responsibilities. They tend to be on the mellow side, but given the musical diversity of the guest vocalists they stray quite a bit. I would say they're definitely rock with some hints of pop scattered throughout their albums. They're a ballad-centric band, to be sure. Act II: The Blood and the Life Eternal recently knocked Pink Floyd's The Wall down to my second favorite album.

This is "Black is the Colour of my True Love's Heart," probably my favorite song on the album. The video is one of those silly strung together montages that seem to infest Youtube, so if you listen to the song just ignore the visuals. Lexi Valentine from Magneta Lane is the guest vocalist.

XPQYzsy28Og

"Nothing I Can Save." Victor sings this one himself.

1w2dwxv_eF8

"I Hope Your Heart Runs Empty" from Act I: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies. Scott Anderson from Finger Eleven is the guest vocalist.

G2S7Ifvd7nA

[edabbs44]

Glad to see the For Squirrels listeners. Anyone have Baypath Rd as well? Flagboy is a great song.

http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/f/fo/forsquirrelsbaypathrd.jpg

[Joseph]

While I admit some of my favorite bands are 'commercial' I could just go nuts in a thread like this, but for now I'll start here.

http://img15.nnm.ru/e/8/b/8/6/811f5d6894a207aeb4a29ba9548.jpg

Those Poor Bastards - Hellfire Hymns

Gothic country in the spirit of misery and an all knowing Lord who punishes the wicked and unjust. I know there aren't a lot of country fans on the board and of those I'd say the majority of you listen to pop music disguised as country [no offense intended, just calling a spade a spade as they say]. So this little band may not excite all that many of you, but its something thats well different than most of whats going on out there today and it just an amazing listen.

This is their best album in my estimation, but all of them are solid contributions to the wretched, downtrodden, misery loving catalog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhq55-zWXQA

[cincinnati chili]

People on this board know everything.
But hey...these guys are canadian.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/Saga_-_Worlds_Apart.jpg

No one can stop me now. Tonight I'm on the loose.... [cue synth solo played with 2 fingers]. This song was in heavy rotation in what I would consider MTV's better years.

[cincinnati chili]

http://en.academic.ru/pictures/enwiki/69/ELO_Face_The_Music_album_cover.jpg

Everyone's heard certain tunes from this record, they just don't realize it. Oddly enough, Evil Woman (which probably gets the most radio play) is the song I'm most likely to skip over in my I-pod.

My favorites on the record:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxrSgM-8M84

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkdNzrG_5uk

[cincinnati chili]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/93/AcrosstheuniverseTS.jpg

Trip Shakespeare's Across The Universe

[BoxingRed]

[QUOTE=cincinnati chili;2023628]Everyone's heard certain tunes from this record, they just don't realize it. Oddly enough, Evil Woman (which probably gets the most radio play) is the song I'm most likely to skip over in my I-pod.

Jeff Lyne's solo album, "Armchair Theater" is a great record as well.

[Roy Tucker]

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/bestselling-music-2007/3425-1.jpg

"Nature's Way" was a minor hit, but the rest of the album is quite good.

[Roy Tucker]

Nice English folk rock ala Fairport Convention from the early 70's. I think they are still around....

http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/s/steeleye-span/album-parcel-of-rogues.jpg

[OldRightHander]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61XBXANT58L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

[919191]

The title says albums we haven't heard. We've all known of it's existance, but has anyone really heard it?

http://chris-barr.com/images/uploads/albumart/william-shatner-has-been.jpg

[sonny]

The Violent Femmes 2nd studio Album, Hallowed Ground. It's a dark, dark album but much better than than first.

[RichRed]

The title says albums we haven't heard. We've all known of it's existance, but has anyone really heard it?


I've heard the "That's Me Trying" track on XM. It's...interesting.

[RichRed]

Jellyfish's first of only two albums they released - "Bellybutton"

http://lvconfidential.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/bellybutton2.jpg

[pedro]

Nice English folk rock ala Fairport Convention from the early 70's. I think they are still around....

http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/s/steeleye-span/album-parcel-of-rogues.jpg

"Parcel of Rogues"?

Very Spinal Tap. :)

[marcshoe]

I heard Steeleye Span live at an outdoor Australia Day show in Canberra many years ago. I thought they were excellent.

[Falls City Beer]

The Violent Femmes 2nd studio Album, Hallowed Ground. It's a dark, dark album but much better than than first.

I agree; "Never Tell" is amazing. Though I wouldn't describe it as something folks haven't heard.

[Jack Burton]

Ill Bill - What's Wrong with Bill?

[cincinnati chili]

Jellyfish's first of only two albums they released - "Bellybutton"


good call

[Hap]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/86/See_the_Light.jpg

[Falls City Beer]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000005B4K.jpg

http://www.tful282.com/images/strangers.gif

[Roy Tucker]

Saw 'em play at a club and thought they were the next big thing...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K0K8CSD5L._SS500_.jpg

[frenetic wave]

Fever Ray self titled.

[thatcoolguy_22]

For the hip hop heads


Joe Budden- Padded Room



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSWo-tk2Z6Q&feature=fvst

[Kingspoint]

Al Hudson and the Soul Partners, "Happy Feet". (Kool and the Gang stole their music and put different lyrics to one of the songs on this album.)

http://ring.cdandlp.com/cdandlp/bdr/reference_image/photo_moyenne/1482.png

Excellent Funk in '79.

http://www.groovecollector.com/groove_guide_item/2/511/1/1482/al-hudson-the-soul-partners-happy-feet.html

Play #5, "You Can Do It" and #9, "In The Basement", from the 2nd link. It's "Funk" from 1979.

[Kingspoint]

This guy has a good list, if you want to check out some old funk....

http://www.groovecollector.com/grooveguide/?lng=2&n_ident=13

[westofyou]

http://www.beabetterproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/the_ojays_-_ship_ahoy_1973.jpg

[Kingspoint]

Album cover art is awesome.