This is my album square in its completed form. These are the albums I consider to be the best as a whole album to listen to. I have tried to be fair to genres by inserting a reflection of which ones I am into, but at the same time I have not placed something in there for the sake of doing so. They all have presence in the square down to their down-right awesomeness.
Codeseven - The Rescue
Perhaps the biggest unknown out of all nine, Codeseven are a group of lads from the States which started as a death metal outfit, but mellowed (a bit) into a 'screamo-emo' band in later albums. The Rescue is the album after this dramatic change and it sounds really good as a collective whole. Good to listen to when you're in a bad mood, but also great to listen to when you need to reflect on things.
Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
I heard 'Buddy Holly' for the first time in 1996 when I received my first PC. The music video was included in the Windows 95 package as one of those 'promo' videos to show the power and capability of what Windows's new offspring could do (makes you laugh now, don't you think?) and I loved it. But I never made the connection that it was Weezer. Then when we rolled into the 'noughties' I heard 'Hash Pipe' and then loved that too. I think I was advised to get the Blue Album soon after and I fell in love with an album with such raw, simplistic melodies. I was reunited with 'Buddy Holly' and got to know its better friends, such as 'My Name is Jonas' and 'Say it Ain't So', and I just knew that this was a very special album.
Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
At first, I preferred The Battle of Los Angeles. However it wasn't long before I began to appreciate their first, self-titled album. The melody of anarchy can be performed in many ways, but this is the nearest you will get. Im assure you that once you have listened to this you will want to do two things; (1) Bop your head up and down in a systematic mosh and (2) rise up and stick two fingers to the 'man'. This music is in a genre of its own - Rage.
Green Day - Nimrod
A remarkable record indeed. Nimrod is pre-political Green Day at their finest. A fine mix of punk for all occassions, this album is absolutely brilliant to listen to as a whole. Despite this fact, the album has so many well-known singles which stand out for own merits, i.e. 'Nice Guys Finish Last', 'Hitchin' a Ride' and the overplayed 'Good Riddance'. Perhaps my most favorite album of all time.
Muse - Origin of Symmetry
Wins a place for its sheer genius. Again a band I didn't like at first; on my first listening of Showbiz, I condemned it for being too 'slow and depressing'. My my, how shallow I was. I soon returned to Showbiz after listening the Origin of Symmetry, to understand the true nature of Muse's work. 'New Born' is a musical masterpiece, whilst 'Citizen Erased' is perhaps one of the beautiful songs ever made. Ever better live.
Mad Caddies - Rock The Plank
The only ska-punk album in the nine, but it is definitely not here to make up a genre fulfillment. Rock The Plank is a typical Caddies album, with catchy ska-punk-rock tunes loaded with brass, but it differs as the whole album has a 'pirate' theme to it. A great listen from start to finish, plus it is great if you fancy sailing the open seas anytime soon.
Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
Probably my fave band, The Manics recently celebrated The Holy Bible's 10 year anniversary with the re-release of the album with added extras. I've listened to Marilyn Manson and Cradle of Filth, and the other supposed 'satanist' bands which are portrayed as the spreaders of evil and hatred. But let me tell you, The Holy Bible sounds a helluva lot more evil in one sitting than any of those other bands combined. Thats the secret to it. 'The Intense Humming of Evil', a song about the Holocaust, as a title alone sends shivers down my spine.
Rammstein - Reise, Reise
The only non-English language album in the nine, Reise, Reise, is a powerful offering from the German industrial metallers. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I heard the introduction to 'Mein Teil' in my mind if the world was about to end, as it is perfect background music for the apocalypse.
Feeder - Echo Park
Yes another Welsh band, but I assure you it is not patriotic interests displayed here. Feeder know how to rock and have never forgotten. A great album from start to finish. Also the last album before the untimely death of drummer Jon Lee, which has changed the band evidently in their later work. But as stated as above, they never forgot how to rock.
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