Vu's Top Ten Albums

Vu's Radiohead Collection Read More Radiohead Radiohead was called On A Friday in 1995 because that's when they met to rehearse. Oasis originally named themselves after a Beatles song called "The Rain" …

Inspired by Emily's post about her top ten greatest album of all time, this is my own personal top ten.

I have to explain many of these albums, because they aren't automatically great to everyone, but they are important albums that shaped me. It's organized by year, and apology in advance for all the Britpop music. There should be a subcategory of top ten greatest Britpop...

Harry Chapin - Greatest Stories Live (1976)

Greatest Stories Live Elektra

Basically the closest thing to a greatest hits album, since I don't believe he ever approved a best of collection. Chapin died in 1981, so all of his albums never gracefully made their way to digital. If you wanted to legally buy his music online pre-2005, it was impossible. Fans enjoyed his music on vinyl and cassettes, and eventually on CD when the format became popular in the early 90s. I picked up Greatest Stories Live because it was one of the very few albums that was released on CD. Remember that the move from analog to digital didn't happen overnight.

Smiths - The Queen is Dead (1986)

The Queen is Dead Sire

NME called this album "Greatest Albums of All Time", and I can't say I disagree. This is such a great album, because it is one of those albums that I know all the words to. There are no bad songs on this album and it is the perfect blend between instrumental guitar work by Johnny Marr and the witty lyrics of Morrissey.

Information Society - Hack (1990)

Hack Tommy Boy

A few things why this album is important to me. It was my first compact disc ever so it spent a lot of time on my CD player (since I didn't really own a lot of other albums). This album was not on anyone's radar. It's such a great album as a whole, the whole theme of hacking and computers were really ahead of their time. They were originally from Minneapolis.

Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)

Definitely Maybe Creation

Possibly the greatest rock and roll album. Met and interview Liam Gallagher in 1995. Saw them at a tiny venue in Sacramento. Did they stand the test of time? Probably not, if you talk to young people today, they probably have no idea who Oasis is. But for a time, the brothers Gallagher were shining so bright that they claimed to be bigger than the Beatles (probably a joke referring to Beatles claiming they were bigger than Jesus) ...

Pulp - Different Class (1995)

Different Class Islands

So many great songs on this album, from their hit "Common People", to the revenge "I Spy", to the dance favorite "Disco 2000", to kinkiness "Underwear". Love Jarvis Cocker and his wonderful songwriting. I have bought this album three times. Lost to lending it to a friend, lost to car break in, but I'm never long without the album. Like an old friend.

New Order - Best of New Order (1995)

Best of New Order Qwest Records

New Order were one of those bands that broke up long before I got into music, so my introduction to their music was through their Best Of album. I liked them enough to track down their previous releases, up until Republic. And although that album was good, but there are some lows on that album that felt uneven for me. So picking a favorite New Order album, I have to go with the greatest hits album simply because it collects the best songs. Also, "Regret" is New Order's finest hour.

Sleeper - The It Girl (1996)

The It Girl Indolent

No one loves Sleeper as much as I do. I own all of Sleeper's singles and albums. Their second album was a slightly superior to their debut Smart album, even though all the singles leading up to the debut album was wonderful. The It Girl's US tracklisting order was different (and missing one track), so I own the UK and US version of this album ... plus the 12" and 10-inch vinyl. Sleeper broke up in 1997, glad I didn't get a Sleeper tattoo.

Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)

OK Computer Capitol

I actually forgotten about how much I love Radiohead in my original list. The reason why is that I am no longer such a massive fan. OK Computer and The Bends were the albums that I loved in this time period. During The Bends period, I got to interview Phil Selway live on air on KFSR 90.7. Wow, still can't believe it. Sadly to say, as much as I love Radiohead, I feel no need to rush out to get whatever new albums simply because their music style has changed over the years. Some people say evolved, I say regress!!

Belle & Sebastian - The Boy with the Arab Strap (1998)

The Boy with the Arab Strap Jeepster

Most people would pick If You're Feeling Sinister, but I prefer Arab Strap. B&S can do no wrong, up until Catastrophe Waitress and Life Pursuit, of course. I'm not happy with the "Christian" direction they're heading in, but they are still a great band.

Deltron 3030 (2001)

Deltron 3030 Ark

Del, Kid Koala, and Dan the Automator. What a great concept album, and I don't even like rap music! That is saying something, because it transcend music genre, and if a so-called 'rap' album can be on my favorite list, that is saying something to the quality of the music.

Obviously lots of bands that I left off my list: Lucksmiths, They Might Be Giants, Red Hot and Blues, Julee Cruise, Air Supply (don't ask), ABBA, Baxendale, Momus, Camera Obscura, Bikini Kill, Pogues, Franz Ferdinand, Flight of the Conchords, Pet Shop Boys, Elastica, Echobelly, The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder, Looper, Trainspotting, etc. There are a lot of bands albums so restricting it to 10 was hard.

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