GOT challenged on Facebook over the weekend to post my 15 top albums.
It has taken a while as candidates were moved in and out of the final list and my own criteria for selection. Does longevity count or has an album from the last couple of years got enough miles under the belt? And is it just about the music or does the memories or time of my life each album represents count as much?
In the end, limiting each artist to just one entry – otherwise there would be several multiple albums – the shortlist came down to around 25. Eight of those were straight in, the albums which need to be listened to from start to finish and are saved for the right moments, while the remaining contenders were shuffled around for the final list.
Some of my favourite artists are missing, the likes of Billy Bragg because no one album really stands out although several entered the early debate, while others have failed to deliver more than the one classic album.
And so, with a little taster of each, here is the final list (until the inevitable change of mind, probably somewhere in the next 24 hours):
Relationship of Command – At The Drive-In
Ocean Rain – Echo & The Bunnymen
Psychocandy – Jesus & Mary Chain
It’s A Shame About Ray – The Lemonheads
Deserter’s Songs – Mercury Rev
Nevermind – Nirvana
Doolittle – Pixies
Steve McQueen – Prefab Sprout
Reckoning – REM
The Bends – Radiohead
Heartbreaker – Ryan Adams
The Queen Is Dead – The Smiths
Dirty – Sonic Youth
Copper Blue – Sugar
George Best – The Wedding Present
