Thursday, February 19, 2009

i could be in love with almost everyone, i think that people are the greatest fun

I've been tagged by the fantastic Daughters of Dawn Vintage to list for you my top five favourite albums of all time. Yeah, don't make it something tricky or anything, Tag. I've attempted this impossible feat before, but already a little over a year later, it's changed. It should be pointed out that I'm going for all over quality of an album itself, how much I'd want to listen to the entire thing, which is why some of my favourite artists (Parliament, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Sly & the Family Stone, etc.) are nowhere to be found.

Top 5 Favourite Albums of All Time
(subject to change)

1. Forever Changes by Love
I can hardly put my feelings toward this album into words. It's the most beautiful, stirring, breathtaking masterpiece I've ever heard. I haven't even listened to it in probably about a year because I react to it too emotionally. It really isn't for everyone, but if you "get it", it becomes vital.
If you only hear one song... "You Set the Scene"

2. Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
I bought this album pretty much because I felt like I should own it because it was such a "classic" -stupid I know, and I figured I'd probably listen to it once or twice then to the back of my record box it would head. My idiocy did not deserve to be rewarded with the agonizing gorgeousness and gorgeousity that is Let's Get It On. Like all good albums, this one grew on me. At first, I only listened to the title track...and then the title track and the next song...and then the first side...and so forth until I could listen to the entire album and just feel the soul wash over me, like a warm hug.
If you only hear one song... "Come Get To This"

3. After Bathing at Baxter's by Jefferson Airplane
I absolutely love Surrealistic Pillow but for me, After Bathing at Baxter's is a superior album. Much less radio-friendly than their previous album, it also features Marty Balin vocally more, which makes me happy as I adore his voice. However, my favourite song has Paul Kantner on lead vocals. Really, though, the whole album is phenomenal, definitely one of those LP's that you can put on a listen to from beginning to end.
If you only hear one song... "Watch Her Ride"

4. One Nation Under a Groove by Funkadelic
It was almost hard to choose one album to represent my P-Funk love, but then it wasn't, because this one is a clear favourite from beginning to end. One of the most brilliant tracks, frankly, I think is probably too avant-garde for most people, but "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad" has a very special place in my heart. Another song with personal meaning is "Cholly (Funk Gettin' Ready to Roll)", about a certain "Cholly" (rhymes with Molly?) who discovers the funk and it changes their life. Hmm, sounds kinda familiar. If you're clever like me and copped the bonus edition, you'll also be treated to the heavy metal/funk (believe it or not, it totally works) cut "Lunchmeataphobia (Think!...It Ain't Illegal Yet)".
If you only hear one song... "One Nation Under a Groove"

5. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast
It easy for an album to have a bunch of great songs when it has 40 tracks. It isn't easy for an album for have 40 songs and have most of them be great. Ya dig? The split album was a brilliant move: Big Boi brings the innovative hip-hop and Andre 3000 brings the most awesome un-categorizable music.
If you only hear one song... "Prototype"

I shall tag Libby, Allison, Maya, Crazy Eddie and Jill.

27 comments:

Sister Libby said...

I too love that Outkast album. Actually, it will forever remind me of Louisana because it was the only CD I brough with me when I was there in like, 2002. It's a great Louisana album, I think.

And I'm sorry for not posting. I've had one in the works for a while, but have been incredibly uninspired. But I'll happily do yours.

Jill said...

I may have to include Speakerboxx in my list! Summer of '05 (I think I have the year right), that was almost all we listened to.

this wheel's on fire said...

Yea that's Sienna in a new movie coming out (I think it's called Hippie Hippie Shake).
Such great choices!! I'm going to have trouble with mine....

Daughters of Dawn said...

That is a solid list honey, I would have to agree on all of them. I can't believe I forgot Love...

Keith said...

Hey Molly. Great choices. I really mean that. I'm not sure I could do a list like this. It would be hard to pick just five. Plus my favorites tend to change depending on my mood, etc.

Eddie said...

Oh my darling Molly. I shall get to work as fast as I can (tugboat).

Your list, as always is phenomenal. I remember my mom playing the LOVE album in the background while I played with my roller skates in the living room.

PS. I've "gotten it on" while playing Let's Get It On in the background. I know... cheeze city.

Besos para siempre.

Baybay Mama said...

i got so excited by parliament that I am listening to it on youtube right now.

Allison said...

Shiiit, my list is going to be so lame compared to this. Marvin Gaye = unbelievably sexy music. This is a great list, girl.

Bojana said...

Yay for outkast!! Hey ya cheers me up like no other song

Lexie said...

tonight's the night i finally work on my list of 20 women!

i love that you had to indicate subject to change ;)

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

I'm so with you on "Love Below." AMAZING!

Style Spot said...

Ohhh I can't proclaim my love for Marvin Gaye enough. Love that you include him so many time! I hope you're well, dear Molly, and that things are going your way xoxo

Mimi said...

I love the Outkast album, I am actually listening to them as I type!

xo

Anonymous said...

awesome tag!!! you've picked all great songs. thanks for the sweet comment, love. ha...frolicking in a field of daisies? glad to hear...
xoxo,
Micaela

Connie Hsiu said...

oh i love your five and i reaaalllly love your blog :D

Anonymous said...

some of my favorites. most definitely.

Sister Libby said...

Forgive my tardyness (eh, that looks wrong) on your weekend ultimatum (maybe wrong again?). I wrote the greates explinatons of my first three, then somehow deleted it. It's no excuse, but yeah...I'm workig on it.

And I never answered you about the headphones, I think. Well, I think I'll go with the big, becuase I listened to some music through them, and it sounds a billion times better.

WAT said...

I have never heard the entire OUTKAST album, but a few tracks off that CD are pretty darn good, and it most deservedly won all those Grammys a few years ago. PROTOTYPE was a damn good song! I remember the video! Didn't it have some UFO-type motif or something?

And where are these dudes now?

Eddie said...

Hey scrumptious, my list is ready...

Besos

Irene said...

I love this post. And by the way I will show you soon what I am going to do with the feathers.

Anonymous said...

Hi there Molly!

Great album list! I'll have to check out a few for myself! :)

Flavia Flanders said...

Jefferson Airplane rocks!.. and i love some of outkast songs.

Eddie said...

Where are you Molly love? I sweated and cramped over doing that post for ya and now you've fallen off the face of earth?

LOL

Nah, I kid. Hope you're doing just fine. Sometimes it's difficult to keep up (trust me I know).

Besos my darling.

jess said...

Lets get it on and the outkast album are great.

I can't seize my second pfunk oppurintiy as im broke and my mom no longer wants me go go to concerts with just firends because bad things can happen

Allison said...

Oh, honey I just adore you. You are too sweet for words, seriously. Thank you so much for saying some of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.

You're awesome, girl.

twenty.seven.cents said...

I've been meaning to download the Love Below for quite some time now, but have yet to do so. I may go out and buy it. nice list. :)

Unknown said...

I love it that you gave Love such a high ranking because it's one of those albums that is phenomenal, but not that many people know about. Yeah, it's always on critics lists, but average people know Hendrix, Doors, all kinds of other 60s psychedelia but don't know Love. I was so happy I picked it up around 2001 because I kept seeing it on all the critics album lists and I really had no clue.

It's such a haunting and emotional album. According to the liner notes, Arthur Lee had some sense of foreboding and was convinced that he'd be dead within a year at the time he was writing it. He died a year or two ago, so his foreboding was about 40 years too early.

Somehow the sense of purpose, sadness, disillusionment all come through. Truly inspired.

But yeah, lots of people probably won't get it especially if the style isn't their thing and they're not willing to listen deeply enough to see what's going on behind some of the 60s trappings and how brilliant it is.