Ten albums to take to the grave
In my previous post I challenged you to come up with ten albums that you think would see you out. Ten CDs (or vinyl) that you have either always listened to, or you think will stay with you for the rest of your days. A collection you would own instead of renting forever.
It is only fair that I try the same exercise myself. The trouble is, I already have the CDs because I've been re-acquiring them for the past couple of years. Instead, I've been thinking about dipping my toes into vinyl collecting and often wondered which of my treasured albums I would go for first. So, here goes...
Paradise Lost - Draconian Times
This is an obvious one. I've been a little obsessed with this album since it came out in 1995. I even did a whole blog post about it not long ago. I can buy that on vinyl for ...£39.99 at HMV. Yikes.
Pearl Jam - Vs
Again, another obvious one. This one has never been far from my side since its release in the early 90s. It's the quintessential summer album --Pearl Jam has always been a good weather band for me anyway, but Vs is an album for the beach. £31.99 on HMV.
Whitechapel - Kin
This one knocked me for six back when it was released in 2021. It was largely dismissed by the deathcore crowd, because it has melody and clean vocals, but there's nothing that so perfectly encapsulates the tearing of one's soul that happens when we are depressed.
Phil Boseman's ongoing battle with his inner demon, which plays out over the course of the album I found to be very therapeutic. I'd buy this on vinyl if I could find it. £24.99, but it is sold out on HMV.
An Abstract Illusion - Woe
What is there to say about this album that I haven't already said? It's a masterpiece of progressive death metal and I think everyone should listen to it, a lot. Around £60 on Discogs.
Peter Gabriel - So
When you think of Peter Gabriel, you're probably going to think of many of the tracks on So. Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, In Your Eyes...
Not having this in my collection would be a huge mistake. £20 on Bandcamp.
Insomnium - Shadows of the Dying Sun
I only discovered Insomnium relatively recently, but I have already played this album a few hundred times and I'm still not bored of it. £39.99 on HMV.
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
There's a reason why most people have this album in their collection (or should), it's wonderful. I still can't stop hearing the clipping of the horns on So What, but maybe the vinyl will mask it a bit. £27.99 on HMV.
I’d actually love to hear Blue in Green on vinyl at least once in my life.
The Naked & Famous - Simple Forms
I have all of The Naked & Famous' albums on CD, but this one connected with me more than the others. It's a brilliant piece of indie pop that sits atop my most listened-to albums on Last.fm for a reason. £25-£30 on Discogs.
Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
I know there are a certain subsection of the Pink Floyd fanbase that doesn't like the post-Roger Waters Floyd, but I actually think they got better after he left.
I would take Momentary Lapse of Reason over The Wall or Dark Side of the Moon any day. The Division Bell is a complete album full of absolute bangers. £49.99 on HMV.
Rivers of Nihil - Where Owls Know My Name
This is the album that opened my eyes to progressive death metal and is a perfect album. No filler, just bangers all the way. 30 Euros on Bandcamp.
Some thoughts...
Obviously, vinyl is much more expensive than CD and they do wear out, so the economic argument for buying them doesn't quite work as well here, but strangely CD players are becoming a little hard to come by, unlike turntables which have been booming of late. We may need to consider the prospect of not being able to play a CD in the not too distant future.
Still, it is a fun exercise to think of the albums that would earn a spot in my (currently) fictitious collection.
