Looking for new music and want to cut through the shit to find the diamonds amongst the stones? Before the internet you had to have a cool older sibling who took you to the record shop and showed you the bands you HAD to listen to. This is that, for 2015. In this week’s edition, legendary Melbourne music writer and connoisseur of great rock and roll Rod Whitfield shares with us some of his favourite albums of all time. At work and want to shut out the world, or want to get home and discover something new that will blow you away? Start here. Rod knows what’s up. Here’s an album for every mood.
1. Album: “Power Windows” by Rush (1985)
1. Album in six words: The most underrated album in history.
2. Perfect listening environment: In a room, by yourself, no distractions. Just let its flawless beauty flow over you.
3. This band sounds like no one else because: It’s Rush!
4. Listening mood: This album, once you’ve let its unique charms into your heart, mind, soul and psyche, goes with any mood.
5. Start with this song: Start anywhere, every single song is an individual masterpiece, a work of art.
6. Best enjoyed: Anywhere, anytime, with any people who enjoy artful rock music.
2. Album: “Epicloud” by Devin Townsend Project (2012)
1. Album in six words: Lives up to its name perfectly.
2. Perfect listening environment: Anywhere you can play it LOUD and thrust your fists to the sky in exultation.
3. This artist sounds like no one else because: Devin Townsend is the greatest musical genius of our time.
4. Listening mood: Listen when you’re feeling down, it can’t fail to lift your spirits. If you’re feeling good, it will make you feel even better.
5. Start with this song: If you like massive, uplifting choruses, start with Save our Now. If you like epic songs with massive, uplifting choruses, start with Grace.
6. Best enjoyed: In a live setting, like this:
3. Album: “City” By Strapping Young Lad (1997)
1. Album in six words: Most extreme album of all time.
2. Perfect listening environment: Somewhere you can thrash around and break shit.
3. This band sounds like no one else because: No one that I’m aware of in music history has managed to reach such insane levels of chaos. Devin’s genius unleashed in a cataclysm of sound.
4. Listening mood: This album is the most beautiful form of anger imaginable.
5. Start with this song: Start at the start, Velvet Kervorkian leading into the pure adrenaline rush that is All Hail The New Flesh.
6. Best enjoyed: When you need a shot of energy up your arse.
4. Album: “Themata” By Karnivool (2005)
1. Album in six words: Australia’s greatest ever progressive rock album.
2. Perfect listening environment: Through headphones, no distractions.
3. This band sounds like no one else because: These Perth boys took progressive rock, shook the shit out of it and gave it much their own, unique and very Australian slant.
4. Listening mood: Can be used to uplift or for quiet reflection, its that diverse.
5. Start with this song: My favourite track, Shutterspeed.
6. Best enjoyed: Anywhere, anytime.
5. Album: “Ghost Reveries” By Opeth (2005)
1. Album in six words: A true masterpiece of mythic proportions.
2. Perfect listening environment: In a coven, during black masses etc. Music to conjure the devil with.
3. This band sounds like no one else because: No one does the brutal/soothing tradeoff like Opeth.
4. Listening mood: When you’re feeling dark, doomy and evil.
5. Start with this song: The Grand Conjuration is simply magnificent.
6. Best enjoyed: With inverted crucifix in hand and six pointed star tattooed on your forehead.
6. Album: “Train Of Thought” By Dream Theatre (2003)
1. Album in six words: Heaviest album from the prog masters.
2. Perfect listening environment: Through headphones so you can focus on the intricacies, but make room for fist pumping as well.
3. This band sounds like no one else because: The define the term ‘progressive metal’ more than any other band in history.
4. Listening mood: When you need a muscular shot of energy and complexity.
5. Start with this song: Opener As I Am smacks you around the head almost from the word go, and the main groove is titanic.
6. Best enjoyed: When you need illustrious musicianship delivered to you with an iron fist to the face.
Written by: Rod Whitfield.
Website: rodwhitfield.com
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