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LyricWiki:Album Of The Week/Archive/July - December 2007

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[edit] 2007

[edit] December

Released in 1975, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow is a prime example of American hard rock . Continuing what Ritchie Blackmore had showcased in Deep Purple, and what Ronnie James Dio would go on to showcase with Dio, the album contains some perennial fan favorites, including the cruncher "Man on the Silver Mountain." The album is also Ronnie Dio's favorite album in Rainbow's catalogue. In addition to the hard rockers, it also contains some popular traditional songs such as "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves," as well as covers of The Yardbirds' "Still I'm Sad" and Quartermass' "Black Sheep of the Family." While it was not a tremendous success on the charts, it is considered by many to be one of the finest moments in rock and roll.
The songs on this album are very catchy. It only takes a couple of days to really like the songs. This album is proof of how well this band can improve, considering this is only their 3rd album, and their rise to fame began when they were discovered by MTV for their album Elevator. From my personal favorite song from the album, "Happiness Ltd.", the opening quote "Happiness is limited,/but misery has no end." is very effective is setting the mood for the whole album. The whole album focuses on happiness and all the different aspects and complications it has.
Neko Case's haunting alt-country masterpiece blends beautiful, poetic imagery; sensuous, gut-wrenching vocals; and a mix of rhythms from goth rock to chamber folk. This album proves that Case is nothing less than a musical genius. Her songwriting prowess is shown to prevail even in the overtested waters of love, heartache, and turmoil. The most significant track on the album, "Star Witness"; is a melodic folk rock dirge that speaks from the points of view of, presumably, a mother and a sweetheart as they witness the death of a loved one on a neighborhood street. Other songs include "Hold On, Hold On", an echoing country rocker about feeling lost and used; "Dirty Knife", a somber and chilling folk ballad about a man going insane; and "Margaret Vs. Pauline", an ethereal tale of comparison featuring two women: one with an ideal life and one whose life is not so ideal.
Whether it's in the Pink Floyd-inspired opener "The End." or the manic Brit rock song it segues into "Dead!", My Chemical Romance shows off their ability to rock in glorious Technicolor. And of course who could forget the song that brought them to the height of their fame, the worldwide hit, "Welcome to the Black Parade". The album shows a stepping away from the band's former pop-punkish sound, and reveals a more ancient 80's Concept Album/Rock Opera sound. And of course, the tragic story of the Patient ties it all together, with the band realizing an unimaginable depth to the sound and the story behind it, and becoming another persona, a la Sgt Peppers. A wonderful album that's sure to be around for a while, spinning off singles until it's done.
Death Cab for Cutie made tons of albums as an indie band, pressing their own way to popularity and fame. Finally, the O.C. helped push them into the forefront of public attention and they took a deal from Atlantic Records to help distribute their most recent album, Plans. Just as an indie, this CD is chalked full of hits and emotion. The most notable hit to date is "Soul Meets Body", complete with video and audio.

[edit] November

Bruce's third album was a breakthrough hit and launched his career in the United States and around the world. Upon release, the album peaked at number 3 on the Billboard album chart and spent over two years in the top 100 best-selling albums. As of 2006 it has sold over 6 million copies in the U.S., and is Springsteen's second-best-selling studio album ever after Born in the U.S.A. Hits include, Thunder Road, Born to Run, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, She's the One, and Jungleland. The album peaked at number 18 in 2005 as the 30th Anniversary issue.
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Probably the most underrated Human League album, 1990's Romantic? found the group stripping down to the essentials that made Hysteria so well-received. Pared down to three singers and enlisting the help of old friend Martin Rushent, the League crafted an album that was by turns moody, playful, and at times even frenetic with energy.

The album kicks in with the monstrous blaze of "Kiss the Future", which is hands-down the most energetic and infectious song the group has ever created — just try to keep those sampled voices from sticking in your mind. An abrupt segue into the off-kilter rhythms of "A Doorway?" changes the mood via Susan Sulley's almost icy delivery, and sets the stage for the album's biggest single, "Heart Like a Wheel". The loved-and-lost song "Men Are Dreamers" follows to offer a sad refrain (punctuated by a very interesting sus2 harmony in the chorus) before turning to the topic of new love with "Mister Moon and Mister Sun".

The second side takes off with the other single from the album, "Soundtrack to a Generation", where Sulley's and Catherall's excited shouts play counterpoint to some of Oakey's better vocal work. But just when you think the album is going to remain light and airy, it descends back into darkness with the mind-bending vibe of "Rebound". And having set the mood, it follows with the cold void of "The Stars Are Going Out". But the sun shines again with the bright "Let's Get Together Again", before the album closes with the more-traditional League groove of "Get It Right This Time".

Probably the worst failure of Romantic? was timing. Four long years had passed since Crash, the longest space between albums to date for the group. And with lack of promotion from A&M, it would prove their last for the label. But it remains a gem in the group's catalog, and laid the groundwork for the modern League.
I would like to nominate this album because of two things. First, you listen to this album, and it's Quietdrive self-released several EPs earlier. The second reason is its singer. Kevin Truckenmiller's voice can be harsh at one moment in a song, then at the next be a soft whisper. Actually, no, I have a third reason. The band has three guitar players (one is Truckenmiller, one is Matt Kirby, and the other is Justin Bonhiver). These guitarists (though only three fifths of the band) give Quietdrive a certain sound you'll not soon forget.
Released in November of 1967, this album is considered Cream's defining effort. It showcased the band's movement away from the blues and into the psychedelic Summer of Love. The album was largely original material (only three songs were written by persons outside the band), and includes some perennial fan favorites including "Strange Brew," "Tales of Brave Ulysses," and "Sunshine of Your Love," which is also considered Cream's most famous song. And each member of the band took at least one lead vocal: Jack Bruce on most of the album; Eric Clapton on "Strange Brew"; and Ginger Baker on "Blue Condition." Rolling Stone ranked the album at #112 of it's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and I think it has stood the test of time, even after forty years.

[edit] October

In this album, The Fray give the good, the bad, and the painful truths behind relationships, such as in the opener, "She Is", where they illustrate the feelings of one that is in a long distance relationship. In their biggest hit, "How to Save a Life", Isaac Slade is singing of his experience with a troubled youth, and how he had explained to him how he just wanted someone to stand by him, instead of just abandom him, thereby creating instructions on "how to save a life." Though much of this album is consisted of ballad-type songs used to touch into those deep emotions, The Fray shows it can rock in the song Little House. This intense song goes hand in hand with the feelings of the cutter being explained. "Nearly works,/Never hurts." These songs can relate to anybody who has ever been in a relationship, whether it be one that ended in disaster, or one that ended in "happily ever after."
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Two Angels and a Dream is Depswa's first album and does not get appreciated unless attention is brought to it. By selling under 10,000 copies in three months, Depswa was shunted from Ozzfest and soon after dropped by Geffen Records. Since then, the lead singer's brother was killed by a drunk driver. Tears & Dreams is supposed to be the name of the only subsequent album in four years since Two Angels and a Dream and will be more characteristic of Depswa as a band. The songs that Depswa make are uplifting and encouraging while having you rock out.
This is the greatest white rapper of the world's all time classic album. Marshall Mathers LP is a sequel to his previous album, The Slim Shady LP. In this album, he made his personal life public, and that's why Eminem is different to other rappers. "Kill You" is a complete mysogyny, but its catchy and enjoyable rhyme will keep you listening to this. "Stan" is considered all time classic hip hop song. Dido's "Thank You" chorus is really one of the best chorus, and it's perfect with very tragic and dramatic story. I'm about to cry when first time watch the music video, it's a must have song. "The Way I Am" is a very personal song of Eminem. He's confused with the entertainment industry and being a superstar. Check it out, it'll hit your heart. "The Real Slim Shady" is the only upbeat song of the album (it was written for being an introductory single). Like other introductory singles of Eminem ("My Name Is", "Without Me", and "Just Lose It"), it's funny, catchy, and smart. As usual he insults other embarrassing artists, such as Fred Durst, Christina Aguilera, Will Smith, *NSync, etc. "Kim" is also a mysogyny but it's lyric is also a special one. You'll have a various emotions when hearing this album, it's funny, violent, melancholic, sad, all of the emotions is here. So, are you ready for the thrill?
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The 1967 self-titled debut album of The Doors emerges from the Los Angeles based group during a time when music in America was dominated British Invasion of the '60s. Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore manage to produce one of the most influential psychedelic rock albums first try. The Doors is a poetic experience through the wild mind of Morrison and musically monumental with its foundations on the fingertips of Manzarek on the organ. This album can also be considered an early ancestor of the punk music movement seen in Jim Morrison's explicit, brash lyrics and intense vocals. The musical trip starts with an appropriate opener which sets the mood, Break on Through (To the Other Side). It progresses to the wildly popular lyrics but underrated, exciting instrumentals of Light My Fire. The Doors moves through with an excellent version of Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) and Jim's mysterious voice in The Crystal Ship. The latter half of the album fully expands on Morrison's poetic genius up to the epic The End. Their album is a unique and revolutionary mixture of rock and blues mixed into the psychedelic world of the '60s.

[edit] September

Meteora is a great example of sadness and sorrow felt in my life, written into lyrics. An amazing person I knew died yesterday. Some of these songs describe how I feel. I am a social outcast who sold her soul to a horrible person in return got a horrible friendship, and then let go of all the pain by expressing my feeling. "Somewhere I Belong" and "A Place For My Head" (might be on previous nominee, HT) describe how I feel. A lot of people make me live up to their expectations. "Numb" describes how I feel. A lot of people feel better after listening to Linkin Park, and I think that they are an amazing band. Please nominate LP not just because they write amazing music, but because a lot of people's lives are embedded into lyrics, and it has prevented some people from committing suicide or harming themselves. Think about it.
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Any discussion about "album of the ________" has to include Pink Floyd's magnum opus. In my opinion, the word 'album' was coined just for The Wall. One man's descent into madness and despair, in musical form. For those of you that only know this amazing work through "Comfortably Numb" and/or "Another Brick In The Wall", do yourself a favor and get this album.
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I once walked into a record store, saw someone place this album on the counter, and the clerk said, "You are about to hear a masterpiece." I can't say it any better than that. It had incredible movements, ideas, vocals, and lyrics. Everyone should listen to this album once in their life.
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[edit] August

This album is just about Britney's life and feelings. It entirely shows the true side of her, and songs from this album really hit rock bottom... Some of the songs here are personally written or co-written by her. This album isn't just about having fun, it's about Britney Spears sharing all of her talents to us... This album also made a mark to people including the songs Toxic and the ballad Everytime.
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Serj Tankian, the lead singer for System of a Down, signed this band on his label Serjical Strike. It was the first band signed on his new label. Fair to Midland is gaining ranks all over the world, playing with bands like Linkin Park, Dir en grey, Flyleaf, As I Lay Dying, and Korn, and in the future Smashing Pumpkins. Their style of music is unique to their own, being different from any modern day rock band. Fables From a Mayfly is Fair to Midland's first national release, their previous two albums and one EP being a step towards what they are today. The LyricWiki entry for Fair to Midland is like nothing else on the Internet. You cannot find correct lyrics to Fables anywhere else but on LyricWiki; a great source, even said so by the band's drummer Brett Stowers.
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"And we'll love, and we'll hate, and we'll die, all to no avail, all to no avail." Those are the first lyrics we've known in middle-2003, before hearing footsteps, a productor's voice, to hear the catchy piano from "Apocalypse Please" (showing Muse are still waiting for a miracle, something biblical, after their anti-religious "Megalomania") fading into the quite well-known "Time Is Running Out", lyrically inspired by USA's politic. By the way, in the booklet a newspaper is visible. After some crazy guitar on "Stockholm Syndrome" and the "spacey" "Sing for Absolution" and the heart-touching "Falling Away with You", there is maybe the most special song Muse have ever made, "Hysteria", featuring groovy bass and simple but genius guitar parts, making it the center of the album. "Blackout" throws out the hysteric melody with melodic violins, "Butterflies & Hurricanes" kills anyone who loves piano with a Rachmaninov-style piano solo, and after the short but incredible "TSP" the breakthrough cold cyberpunk futuristic rock melodic "Endlessly" fades into "Thoughts of a Dying Atheist", such another very special song. The album ends perfectly with "Ruled by Secrecy", another piano masterpiece. What are you still doing here? Go and listen to it!
This is the first Linkin Park main album that makes them from a little band to become a stadium-sized-fans band. This one of debut albums that became a big hit, it peaked at #2 at Billboard. One Step Closer, the first single is a thrilling emotional song. Guitar riffs in Points of Authority is the signature sound of the band, wait until the last part of the song. Emotional paranoia song, Papercut, is also a unique and freaky one to be a song. In the End, that makes them a worldwide attention, is also enjoyable.
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[edit] July

Ben Folds is one of the best singer/songwriters working today. His music is dramatic, heartfelt and beautiful. Songs for Silverman is Folds at his best, a perfect example of his amazing talent for music, from the piano to vocals. His songs deal with situations that feel real and which everyone can relate to. From problems at work to problems in family, this music is real and relative to the listener.
Opeth have been one of my favorite metal bands for a long time. I've always loved their peculiar, unique sound. Before the release of this album Opeth already had 7 albums in their catalogue and I was ready to slate this album as a regurgitation of their previous work. However, happily, I found myself listening to this album over and over and over again. It's a magnificent example that music does not have to be stale, that new sounds CAN be found. Opeth are awesome, Ghost Reveries is brilliant. It's new, it's different and it sounds great. (The editor in me wants to point out that "It's new" in 2005 - there are now a lot of wanabes :( )
This is a very good album! It first came out when my mom was my age. She loved it A LOT! Then, she owned the record album. Over twenty-five years later, my mom still loves the album A LOT! I love it, too, a lot! It's very good: Lots of great music, easy to learn lyrics, and a singer that really can sing! Now my mom and I own it on CD because my dad and I gave it to her for Christmas 2005 and cassette tape because I made one for her Christmas 2006. (We only have a tape player in my mom's car.) So if you have never, ever heard this album (GASP!), then you should check it out. IT'S REALLY GOOD!
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Simply, because it's the best album of the 80's. Everything is perfect, Morrissey's strong vocals and lyrics, Johnny Marr's guitar playing, Andy Rourke's bass riffs and Mike Joyce's drum beats. The album has not a single bad track and the lyric work of Morrissey is genious. The Smiths were one of a small amount bands that were truly great in the 80's, because, come on, the 80's wasn't the best period for music was it? It's an album that I never grow tired of and therefore should definitely be Album of the Week.
Before I heard this album I thought that Interpol's first album, Turn on the Bright Lights, was hard to beat. In 2004 they proved me wrong when they released Antics. This album is amazing from beginning to end, it seems hard to find any flaws. Every track sticks in your head after you listen to it. Antics is upbeat and makes me feel good when I listen to it. The lyrics are so well written and the melodies on this record are superb. It's just a fantastic piece of post-punk that everyone should listen to.
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