Group G

[PaulHaddock]

Fleetwood Mac- Rumours (1977)

Nominated by: blade1889, TomPNE94, Look Out There Are Llamas

Known as one of the greatest albums ever recorded, Rumours was innovative and characterised by splits in the band, the process the band went through to record has been heralded. With the band a mixture of styles, from pop to blues-rock, the fact that the music/lyric writing process was kept separate from each other, and the fact that away from the studio the band were not talking, against all odds, Rumours triumphed

The song's lyrics focus around relationships, optimism and pessimism. Their musical counterparts were just as complex. The use of both acoustic and electric guitar in 'Go Your Own Way'; the several different sections of 'The Chain'; and the wonderful harmonies used throughout the album have been widely acclaimed since. The emotional power the album gives, as a culmination of many factors, means it is unparalleled in terms of a difficult album. One album that can stand alone by itself.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Black Sabbath- Paranoid (1970)

Nominated by: The Cards

A quintessential metal album, Paranoid contained several of Sabbath's biggest hits such as 'Iron Man', 'War Pigs' and the title track, which the highest ever placing song of theirs, reaching number 4 in the UK charts. The bands driving force were lead singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Toni Iommi, though Ozzy had little input on songwriting.

The album wasn't without controversy; the possibly Satanic lyrics were used to blame for the death of a nurse after she committed suicide with Paranoid on her turntable.

Iommi's riffs are rife throughout the album, along with Geezer Butler, who composed the lyrics. The Iron Man riff is one of the most well known in the world. 'War Pigs' is about Satanism and the true evil of the world. Paranoid, apparently, was written in around half an hour as an afterthought for the album.

A true heavy metal classic, even if you're not into metal (me).

 

[PaulHaddock]

Neil Young- Harvest (1972)

Nominated by: Craig

Harvest was Neil Youngs 4th album and the USA's top selling album of 1972. It was spawned after the split of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young in 1970. It came completely as a surprise to Young, who retreated from the limelight for several years.

Again, reviews at the time were not favourable, with one referring to the album as a rehash of his earlier works 'with added steel guitar'. Another called it 'embarrassing' but many were intrigued by the album's lyrics...

The song 'Alabama' was a pre-cursor to the Lynyrd Skynyrd song 'Sweet Home Alabama', with many suggesting the latter was a 'reply' to Young's original piece. The album's biggest hit, 'Heart of Gold', was written as a result of a back injury, meaning Young had to revert to playing acoustic.

 

[PaulHaddock]

R.E.M- Reckoning (1984)

Nominated by: eightiesrobin

R.E.M's second album came shortly after their critically acclaimed first. The recording time was short (between 11-20 days, no one is quite sure) and the aim of the recording was to try and give the album a better idea of R.E.M live. Though it was quick, it was very hard, due in part to Michael Stipe's vocals and the bands unwillingness to record certain parts/songs.

The album didn't chart well but reviews were very good. Stipe's intricate vocals gained mixed reviews but the freshness of the album gave critics the chance to label R.E.M as 'exciting' and well on their way to becoming a cult band.

One of the album's singles, '(Don't Go Back To) Rockville' was about Mike Mills' then girlfriend and the possibility of her moving away. According to her, it's littered with inaccuracy.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

Neil Young or Fleetwood Mac...

 

[appletablepenny]

That's a tough one. I nominated Reckoning, but I'm actually thinking of voting for Harvest here.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

This is actually a GOOD GROUP. I like all of these albums (and have gone and voted for them all too just for the lolz )

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

This is actually a GOOD GROUP. I like all of these albums (and have gone and voted for them all too just for the lolz )

Reckoning and Paranoid would have got my vote in most other groups, but Rumours is a class above.

 

[Stevencc]

Yeah, a class above poo poo. Just

Paranoid.

 

[Vanni]

Yep. It's no ''We Punk Einheit!'' that's for sure.

 

[Stevencc]

Yep. It's no ''We Punk Einheit!'' that's for sure.

Finally, he sees the light!

 

[PaulHaddock]

Joint Winners: Neil Young- Harvest and R.E.M- Reckoning.

 

[Aber gas]

 

[TomPNE94]

r u fucking serious