My Top 10 Rock Albums: The 60's

This is the last part, but not the least, of my top 50 rock albums. This time my top 10 albums are from the 60's. Honestly, I thought that this list will be filled with Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, or any band with Eric Clapton on it. Because these were the people that were big that time, and the only ones that I can remember. So I did a little research, like going through my elephantine CD collection in my storage. But it was fun, even though I had to go an extra mile to write this post. I also had the chance to digitize my old collection and store it in my mp3 player.

10. Second Winter
by Johnny Winter
John Dawson Winter III, for some reason, is not as popular as other 60's guitarists like Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, or Eric Clapton. But me and my friend, who's also a guitarist, were astounded the first time we heard Second Winter. The lightning fast blues licks in this album will leave you disoriented, in a good way, for a while.


9. We're Only In It For The Money
by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
I don't know how We're Only In It For The Money fared during the 60's. Because this album satrizied the pop culture back then, mainly the hippies. Even its album cover is a parody of the most popular The Beatles album. But besides being humorous, Frank Zappa also displayed his eclectic guitar style, that is way advance during that time, in this album.


8. Truth
by Jeff Beck
Back when I was just a greenhorn guitarist, I keep stumbling on the name Jeff Beck while reading Guitar World. The magazine probably mentioned him as much as they did Hendrix or Clapton. So I thought I'd give him a listen. However, I only manage to find Truth. But that's fine. Because his blistering leads in this album gave me the blues.


7. The Doors
by The Doors
The debut, self-titled album of The Doors is probably one of the most entrancing and spellbinding album of all times. The fusion of blues and jazz sounds by Manzarek's keyboards and Krieger's guitars, enchanced by Morrison's poetic lyrics, creates this hypnotic psychedelia that will leave its listeners with a bewildered stare for hours.


6. The Velvet Underground & Nico
by The Velvet Underground & Nico
In We're Only In It For The Money, producer Gary Kellgren regarded The Velvet Underground as a shitty a group as Frank Zappa. Well, at least back in the 60's maybe. But both bands are now viewed as innovators. Especially The Velvet Underground. Without them, and this album, alternative rock would've not existed today.


5. Blind Faith
by Blind Faith
The first and last album of Eric Clapton's project, Blind Faith, is also one of his best works. Like many of my classic rock albums, I found this one in my uncle's dilapidated garage. While the naked girl on its cover intrigued and prompted me to listen to the album, it was the six tracks of heavy blues rock and the creamy guitars that made this my favorite.


4. The Beatles (White Album)
by The Beatles
I'm not into The Beatles. I respect and acknowledge them for what they did but I'm not into them. Probably because I got sick and tired of listening to them since the day I was born. Nevertheless, their self-titled album is an exception. As most of their "good" songs, such as "Helter Skelter" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", are all in here.


3. In The Court of King Crimson
by King Crimson
Most people will say that Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is the best progressive rock album. Honestly, I did too, for awhile. But that's only because I was 13 and too ill-equipped to comprehend and appreciate the sonic opera showcased In The Court of King Crimson. Now, however, I understand that this album is a cornerstone of rock music.


2. Disraeli Gears
by Cream
Disraeli Gears is my favorite work from Eric Clapton. Slowhand and his bandmates (Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker) did an exemplary job displaying their virtuosity on this psychedelic album. Especially in the colorful tracks "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love". Though it was the blues breaking solo of "Outside Woman Blues" that had me.


1. Electric Ladyland
by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
I discovered Jimi Hendrix a year after I picked up the guitar. After that, I had every Jimi Hendrix material I could get my hands on (music, videos, books) and covered my room with his posters. Why? Because it was him, after listening to Electric Ladyland, that inspired and catapulted my guitar playing, as well as many other guitarists, to the next level.


That's it. My top 50 Rock Albums list is finally done, and I'm a bit sad. But all good things must come to an end. So I hope you guys enjoyed this series because I certainly did.

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My Top 10 Rock Albums: The 70's

I've already posted my favorite albums from the new millennium, the 90's and the 80's. Now the fourth part is here, and we're going to explore the 70's. This is the decade where new sounds were forged and legends were made. The decade of classic rock. I'll come clean though, I hated classic rock when I was a kid. But when I reached my teens, I'd frequent my older cousins' and uncles' -their friends'- houses, rummage through their dusty bookcases and find their forgotten tape collection of rock music. Those were fun times.

10. Who's Next
by The Who
During my childhood, my dad tried to inculcate me with rock music by playing The Beatles, The Who and The "What-Nots" in our living room stereo, day in and out. I got sick and tired of it, of course. So I got myself a louder music, hoping to drown out his. But I guess he was successful, in a way, since the arena rock of The Who in Who's Next got stuck within me.


9. The Inner Mounting Flame
by The Mahavishnu Orchestra
I was getting into classic rock when my older cousin's friend introduced me to this band. He just handed me an old and tattered cassette tape and said "Listen to this". I did and, after an hour of listening to the album, it's jazz-rock fusion sound left me with the cannabis effect. The guitar and violin dual assaults, especially, will leave you naturally high.


8. Overkill
by Motorhead
Ace of Spades may be the album that turned Motorhead into legends of rock. But, to me, Overkill is still my personal favorite. The first time I heard this album, I was at awe. Especially at Lemmy's rusty and alcohol fueled vocals and Eddie Clarke's fast and creamy guitar solos. The song "Metropolis" is still the best head-nodding, beer song for me.


7. Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd
Music critics and musicians will probably hang me for putting this album here instead of Dark Side of the Moon. Objectively, I agree with them. I just chose this album because of its significance to me. But, sentimentality aside, Wish You Were Here rocks too. Especially Gilmoure's solos and jazzy riffs, and the mesmerizing soundscapes throughout the album.


6. Fragile
by Yes
Besides from The Who, Yes is another band from my dad's repertoire that I listen too. Back then, as a fledgling guitarist, who just formed an upstart band, I just can't help but marvel at the musicianship and the carnival of sounds Fragile presented. From the synths to the drums to the lyrics. But it was Steve Howe's guitarsmanship that did this album for me.


5. Abraxas
by Santana
Most people my age would probably tell you that they love Santana...and Rob Thomas when they did that song "Smooth". In fairness, it was a fun song. But before Santana became a pop icon in the late 90's, they were the kings of Latin Jam in the early 70's, and Abraxas was their jeweled crown. This album is just a dangerous fusion of jazz, blues, rock and latin.


4. Houses of the Holy
by Led Zeppelin
Besides albums I-IV, I've never head any other Led Zeppelin albums. So when I heard Houses of the Holy, eight years ago, I was tantalized by its musical diversity. From the dance rock sounds of the reggae-ish "D'Yer Mak'er" and the shuffle of "Dancing Days", the funky beats of "The Crunge" and "The Ocean", and to the doom and gloom of "No Quarter".


3. Paranoid
By Black Sabbath
There's only one thing I can say about this album: It started metal. With it's low-tuned and crunchy guitar riffs, out of this world bass lines, deranged vocal stylings, and dark themed lyrics, it earned the ire of music critics back then. But now, this sole album has created legions of followers, bands and fans a like. Oh, how I'd love to see the faces of those critics.


2. Led Zeppelin IV
by Led Zeppelin
This album is epic, majestic. If Lord of the Rings is the monolith of fantasy books, Led Zeppelin IV is its counterpart in rock albums. Hard rock, folk and blues coalesces together in this album, and gives more substance to Plant's sublime voice and fantastic lyrics. But if that doesn't get you sold. This is the album that contains the song "Stairway to Heaven".


1. Red
By King Crimson
Late 60's and early 70's was the time of heavy experimentation in music, and King Crimson was always at the forefront. While all the bands (mentioned above) during that era came up with great sounds, King Crimson's Red was just a different kind of monster. It was so different that its sound wasn't replicated until Tool made Aenima, 20 years later.


That's a total four decades now. One more to go! Wow, I can't believe this series is about to end. So stick around with me for the last decade.

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My Top 50 Rock Albums: The 80's

The part 3 of my top 50 albums list is here. On this list are my top 10 albums from the 80's. Writing this list really brought me back to my early to mid teenage years. Because most of the ones included on the list, I discovered when I was still in late grade school and in high school. Although, to be quite honest, I've only appreciated a couple of these albums just recently.

10. Vivid
by Living Colour
I was browsing through my friend's collection when I came across Vivid. I never knew anything about the band but when I played it, BOOM, it just took me back to the 80's. Nostalgia aside, Vivid is also important as it takes on social issues, such as racism. In addition, the fusion of funk, jazz and soul into hard rock is also an entertaining accomplishment.


9. How Can I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
by Suicidal Tendencies
I saw Suicidal Tendencies on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, and I was instantaneously piqued by their music. So when I finally got their album, How Can I Laugh..., I just slammed in my room like a mad kid for hours. Because their hardcore/trash metal sound was so energetic. I especially liked the rising and falling guitar tempos and Cyko Myko's vocals stylings.


8. The Number of the Beast
by Iron Maiden
I tried to get into Iron Maiden, during my high school years, but failed. That's only because I've been listening to the wrong albums. Seven years later, after I serendipitously heard the grandiose of the song "Hallowed Be Thy Name", I got The Number of the Beast and my history was altered as Iron Maiden became one of my favorite bands.


7. Disintegration
by The Cure
Like with Iron Maiden, I was also a late bloomer to The Cure's music. True that I've been listening to the band, and even enjoyed some of their songs. I just didn't hailed them as a terrific band. But after I heard Disintegration, 6 years ago, I realized I had missed a lot. Smith's gloomy voice, and the shimmering and eerie guitars just cut through me.


6. The Real Thing
by Faith No More
I borrowed The Real Thing from a friend when I saw him carrying it. I didn't know anything about Faith No More, or their music, back then. So when I finally played it at home, I was mesmerized by the cacophony of funk bass, metal riffs, insane wide-ranged vocals and doomy keyboards. I fell in love with the album so much that I didn't return it to my friend.


5. Ace of Spades
by Motorhead
Overkill will always be my favorite Motorhead album. But as a big fan of the band, it's just hard to discount Ace of Spades and the title track of the album, a legendary song, which made this three-man band a legend. Like every record made by Motorhead, Ace of Spades also packs raw and in-your-face music that swings really really hard.


4. Moving Pictures
by Rush
I'm a big fan of Rush and picking up a favorite from them is an arduous ordeal as all of their work are great. So it took me awhile to reach a decision, and pick Moving Pictures as my favorite. All of the songs in this album are just majestic -from the hard hitting "Tom Sawyer" to the synth epic of "The Camera Eye"- both in music and lyrics.


3. Back in Black
by AC/DC
Like Rush, AC/DC also have plenty of good albums. But choosing Back in Black was easy since this album is a testament that the band can't be brought down. Not even by death. While many bands struggle at the death of a lead vocalist, AC/DC just got another one for this album and continued to play anthems of sex, booze, and rock n' roll.


2. Appetite for Destruction
by Guns N' Roses
The band that started it all, and the album that opened my world to rock music. After hearing the memorable guitar intro from "Sweet Child O' Mine", I just decided to spend my 100 Php to get Appetite for Destruction. After that, I listened to this album for the following months, day in and day out, to the dismay of my parents.


1. Master of Puppets
by Metallica
Nowadays, it's easy to diss and dismiss Metallica. But to forget what they've done to expand metal is sacrilege. If you don't know what I'm talking about, get Master of Puppets as it sums up the band's accomplishments. This album, with its pile-driving guitar riffs and scorching solos, made me trade my G.I. Joe toys for a guitar.


Nice. Three decades down. Two more decades to go. So check back as soon as you can to see what 70's albums made it on my next list.

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My Top 50 Rock Albums:The 90's

This is the second part of my top 50 rock albums list. Last week, I tackled writing a list for my top 10 albums in 00's. This time, I'll be listing my top 10 rock albums from the 90's. The nineties, it was the time when I discovered rock music and, later on, learned to play the guitar. So, this list was a bit easier to make because most of the bands during that decade had a huge influence on me.

10. Slip
by Quicksand
I became familiar with Quicksand when Metallica introduced them on MTV's In Control back in '96. Their post-hardcore sound was so heavy it instantly hit me like a freight train. So I looked for their albums, and was even planning for my band to cover their songs. Sadly, I didn't find any of their stuff. But when I got Slip, four years later, I listened to it for months.


9. Dirt
by Alice In Chains
Back when I was a fledgling to rock music, a store clerk offered me a Firehouse album and Dirt. I chose the Firehouse album. A couple months later, I realized my mistake when I finally listened to Dirt. The album sounded so miserable and depressing that, to an angsty teenager, appealed to me right away.


8. The Shape of Punk to Come
by Refused
I'm not much into punk. But I do like some select bands, and Refused is amongst those few. Probably because on The Shape of Punk to Come they didn't sound like just a punk band and had more than three chords on their songs. It was a revolutionary album that delivered in-your-face music, seamlessly blended with jazz and electronica elements.


7. Rage Against The Machine
by Rage Against The Machine
I discovered RATM during the time when "Kill Hip-Hop" writings were on every wall, courtesy of metalheads. But I fell in love with RATM, their metal/rap music, their rebellious anthems, and Tom Morello's ingenious guitar playing, right away. So much that, as a metalhead myself, I even started listening to hip-hop.


6. Badmotorfinger
by Soundgarden
Soundgarden is one of my favorite bands. So it took me a real while to decide which of their albums should be on this list. But I finally capitulated and chose Badmotorfinger. Although I didn't like Cornell's vocals in this album as compared to Superunknown. It's just really hard to ignore the raw, hard rocking, creamy sound of this album.


5. Nevermind
by Nirvana
Every generation has an anthem, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was the nineties' anthem. I remember the first time I got Nevermind, I listened to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for hours before moving on to the other songs, which were equally good. Also, if not for this album, we'd still be listening to cheesy 80's hair metal bands.


4. Vulgar Display of Power
by Pantera
I wasn't into heavy metal, yet, when I bought Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power. So the album became a sort of my initiation into metal. Surprisingly, I liked it a lot, and thus I became a metalhead. The fast paced, hard hitting, in your face music it delivered was just the heaviest sound I had heard back then.



3. Korn
by Korn
The first time I heard of Korn, the world was still listening to alternative and grunge music. So after listening to their self-titled album I was in shock because it was so different. It was dark and heavy, all grove and no fillers. I wasn't prepared for its muddied riffs, and gangsta hip-hop styled bass lines, drum works and guitar squeals.


2. Angel Dust
by Faith No More
The Real Thing was the first album I had by Faith No More. Back then, I thought it was the best album recorded by the band. But after I got Angel Dust, my opinion changed. In this album, the band expanded their usual funk and metal music with bizarre and miscellaneous sounds, creating a more complex album. Mike Patton also did an admirable job in here.


1. Aenima
by Tool
To me, Tool is the perfect band, and they've clearly demonstrated that in Aenima. All members stand out in this album, as artists and musicians. From the explosive drum works, dynamic guitar and bass playing, to the honeyed and disgusted vocals. They've showcased their talents beyond limits to bring us an onslaught of progressive metal sound.


Well, that finishes up my list for the 90's. Next week, I'll list down my 10 favorite albums from the 80's.

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My Top 50 Rock Albums: The 00's

At long last, my top 50 rock albums list is finally here. I've been trying to write this list for some time now. But it was really hard for me because I have a lot of favorite albums, and so the list kept changing everyday. That's why I've decided to narrow it down by picking 10 of my favorite albums from each decade instead. Also, in that way, the list, in its entirety, will be a collection of great albums from different generations.

In the first salvo of this list, I'll be presenting my top 10 rock albums from this decade. So without further ado, here's my list

10. Everything You Wanted to Know About Silence
by Glassjaw
Everything You Wanted to Know About Silence changed the content of my play list, from NU metal to post-hardcore, right after the first time I listened to it. Its aggressive and relentless sound, and the overpowering vocals and guttural screams of Daryl Palumbo, had a raw appeal to me, making it an instant favorite of mine.


9. Relationship of Command
by At the Drive-In
Relationship of Command was the first album I stumbled upon when I started foraying into the new breed of post-hardcore, and I love every single track on it. The album showcases harmonious layered dual-vocals, heavy melodic guitar riffs, and the imaginative lyrics that leaves an impact to the listener. To me, this album has become a modern classic.


8. Leviathan
by Mastodon
Mastodon is probably the best metal band that has come out in recent years, and Leviathan is their monstrous album. Each band member, especially drummer Brann Dailor, displayed their skill mastery and technicality in this album. As a result, we get to listen to complex and sophisticated chops that'll make every musician drool with envy.


7. Wiretap Scars
by Sparta
When At the Drive-In split up, half of its members became Sparta. But instead of filling the gap of two lost members, and trying to emulate their former band, the group poured their efforts into Wiretap Scars, refining their old music and achieved a more melodic sound. No more distorted feedbacks and ear-breaking screams in this album. Just sonic goodness.


6. Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I
by Coheed and Cambria
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I is one of the few albums that have been stapled on my playlist ever since its release date. As a musician and a comic book enthusiast, I just can't stop listening to it. Every song in this album is sublime, musically and lyrically, as they deliver sterling guitar work, drum craft, and the epic story of The Amory Wars.


5. Toxicity
by System of a Down
System of a Down pioneered a music which is very hard to categorize. But it wasn't until Toxicity that I really got into them. Debuted at #1 during its release on 9/11, the album became memorable to me because it encapsulated a sad history, and gave direction to their cacophonic style, birthing a new rock sub-genre, now dubbed as, "Armenian Rock".


4. Absolution
by Muse
I became a fan of Muse after I listened to Absolution. The album was so highly orchestrated that I didn't even realize Muse was only a three-piece band. It's so pleasurable to listen to Bellamy's voice over a cascading piano, heavy guitar riffs and bass lines, and thundering drum work. Additionally, the apocalyptic and dystopian themed lyrics also drew me in.


3. White Pony
by Deftones
Of all the NU metal bands that surfaced during the late 90's, Deftones is amongst the only few that I still listen to up to now. That's mainly because of what they've done in White Pony. On their third album, they've experimented with their music and advanced it beyond the "seven string" assault, giving us a sound that resembles the louder brother of The Cure.


2. Mer De Noms
by A Perfect Circle
I was hungry for Tool when I learned that Maynard James Keenan (vocalist) has a side project called A Perfect Circle. So when they released their album, I jumped right in expecting a Tool rip-off. I was wrong. Mer de Noms, while Maynard sang beautifully in this album as he did in Tool, offers an entirely different experience with its theatrically melodic sounds.


1. De-Loused in the Comatorium
by The Mars Volta
Cedric Bixler-Zabala and Omar Rodriguez formed The Mars Volta after At the Drive-In disbanded. I was disappointed at first but after listening to De-Loused in the Comatorium, I stopped whining. This concept album is laced with various musical styles, such as latin jam, psychedelic rock, and free jazz, and lyrics that'll leave you seeing swirling rainbows.


That concludes my picks for this decade. So, stick around because there's four more decades to go. The next installment, I'll list down my favorite albums from the 90's.

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