My Top 5 Desert Island Albums
1. Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries
Supposedly, when Michael Hedges first heard what a huge sound engineer/producer Steve Miller had created for the recording, he flipped out and dissappeared into the woods for hours. He finally came back, smoked a huge joint, then proceeded to finish the album.
Michael Hedges pretty much invented a new style of playing guitar which culminated with this album. It went on to inspire a whole generation of wannabes (including yours truly).
2. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
This album has two of my favorite things: Ozzy Osbourne and metal. If I could only listen to one metal album, it might as well be the progenitor of all that is dark and heavy.
3. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
Before there was Regina Spektor there was Tori Amos, and before her there was Kate Bush. What can I say, it took a lot of balls to put out a concept album in the 80's.
4. Jeff Buckley - Grace
He only finished this one album before he died, but it still has a lasting impact almost two decades later. For better or worse, we probably owe the prevalence of modern male sopranos like James Blunt, Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Chis Martin and really just about every male pop singer today to Jeff Buckley and this album.
Jeff Buckley made it cool to sound like a eunuch again.
5. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand the Weather
Steve Ray Vaughan: The last guitar hero. This dude had guitar tone so thick you could cut it with a sawzall. Just try not to get chills whille listening to his cover of Vodoo Chile. Plus it has a picture of a tornado on the front, so, you know...
R.I.P. S.R.V.
Runners Up
The Cure - Disintegration
P.J. Harvey - Stories From the City Stories From the Sea
Prince - Purple Rain
and many more...
