CD-Charts Position 121
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Singles Collected

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: R.E.M.

Release Date March 24, 2003
Well my answer to this is a big YES! Having owned all the newer albums I decided to delve into the older stuff they did and wow am I glad I did. Ok it doesnt quite come up to scratch with New Adventures in Hi-Fi that quirky sound and beautiful shiny finish, but this is where REM first started they sound great and its the sort of music you put in your car stereo and you just sing your heart out. Tracks like the cover King of the Road and of course So Central Rain along with the absolute classic Its the end of the world as we know it and the one I love. Ok so most of the others many will not know by looking but it soon becomes apparent how many REM song you actually know.

Oh and did I forget to mention The Best of REM is coming soon ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 122
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Up

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: REM

Release Date October 26, 1998
A more ironic album title it would be hard to imagine. 'Up' captures REM at a low ebb, reeling from the sudden departure of drummer Bill Berry after 17 years' service. A documentary made at the time shows the three remaining members tense and tetchy, admitting to "communication issues" with one another.

This fraught atmosphere spills over into the music. Edginess and paranoia prevail in this rootless, post-'OK Computer' world. Rarely have Michael Stipe's vocals sounded so dispirited and enervating. It all comes as a big shock after the bright, primary colours rock of 'New Adventures In Hi-Fi.'

This being REM though they still manage to mine some magic from the mess. Sonically, it's their most experimental record. The band ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 123
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Everything Is

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: Neutral Milk Hotel

Release Date September 10, 2007
Buzzing, staticky voices open the "Everything Is" EP, followed by a staticky, buzzing drum solo. Neutral Milk Hotel is in fine form here, with frontman Jeff Mangum providing his usual hallucinatory innocence to the offbeat songs and catchy, fuzzy music.

The "Everything Is" single is a solid, swirling song with a weird spoken intro. It's also insanely catchy by Neutral Milk Hotel's standards, enough to make you bounce in your seat. A slower, rippling song follows in "Snow Song Pt. 1" and the bouncy, unexceptional "Tuesday Night." Perhaps strangest and most striking is the eerie "Aunt Eggma Blowtorch" is basically an experimental collage of music and recorded sounds.

Neutral Milk Hotel is known for ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 124
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Ease Down the Road

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: Bonnie Prince Billy

Release Date March 12, 2001
In my mind I see Ease down the road as the greatest album of the twenty first yet. A work of chilling lyrical genius sung by the best voice(s) in todays music world. The album never misses a beat, it's dark, crooning, joyus and uplifting at the same time as it carelessly swings from tune to tune. From the swaggering majesty of A king at night to the darkly driven Grand dark feeling of emptiness this album just keeps on delivering. Some of the most lazy and wonderful harmonies appear backed by the full band, but they easily drift away to songs such as Carless love were Will Oldham literally hypnotises you with his voice alone. A true work of genius on par with anything he's done before. Perhaps the most instantly accsesible of his albums it's a great starting point for people ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 125
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Hot Rail

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: Calexico

Release Date May 08, 2000
Bought this purely because of the cover to find an unforgettable album. Full of luscious melodies with cool but slightly sugary vocals and odd bits of soundscapes that reminds you of Sunday mornings in the summer. I don't know much about the band but I can sing almost all of their songs for you. That's how good this is.

CD-Charts Position 126
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What Would the Community Think

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: Cat Power

Release Date September 09, 1996
Called the female Will Oldham by sexist critics and ridiculously underappreciated, CP effortlessly pack tonnes of pathos into every song without ever overdoing it--they never stray into AOR or gross sentiment. Not as good as the more recent "Moonpix" but still great.

CD-Charts Position 127
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Master and Everyone

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: Will Oldham

Release Date January 27, 2003
Writing in his Bonnie Prince Billy guise, Will Oldham's `Master and Everyone' is an album of 10 songs, just over 34 minutes long, but is an object lesson in how less is more.

The songs feature minimal accompaniment to Oldham's own voice and acoustic guitar in the shape of occasional female backing vocals and mellow guitars and strings. All that there really is to concentrate on is the quality of the writing, but what high quality it is.

There are no bad tracks here: each song shines with lyrical maturity and melodic beauty far beyond most of Oldham's peers. It is hard to pick out highlights, but the first five and the final track are truly outstanding. `Master and Everyone' seems so simple; Oldham makes it look so easy which is always the sign of talent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 128
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Kill City

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: Iggy Pop

Release Date November 28, 2005
Originally released in 1977, as I first assumed it was Iggy's first solo effort. Turns out to be a collaboration between Iggy and former Stooges guitarist James Williamson. Tracks here I personally thought made the grade were the wailing title cut "Kill City", "I Got Nothin' ", the classic "Johanna", "Consolation Prizes" and "Lucky Monkeys". Took me awhile to finally land down a copy of this proto-punk gem but it was WORTH the wait. Personnel: Iggy-vocals, James Williamson-guitar, Scott Thurston-bass, keyboards & harmonica and Brian Glascock (Motels)-drums. A definite should-have.

CD-Charts Position 129
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Everything in Time - B-sides, Rarities & Remixes

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: No Doubt

Release Date October 18, 2004
This CD is essentially a CD of three parts - the first half (tracks 1 to 9) are b-sides and out-takes from the Return of Saturn album, 10-14 a collection of other bits-n-bobs from throughout the years, and tracks 15-17 are a disappointing collection of remixes.

This odd bunching together of three different groups of songs leads to a somewhat disjointed collection, but there are so many great songs here that it still merits a five-star rating. The tracks from the RoS sessions show quite how much talent was streaming out of the band during that era. There are some great fun fast numbers like "Under Construction", "Big Distraction" and "Full Circle", alongside some slower material ("Beauty Contest", "Cellophane Boy"). "Leftovers" is one of the most sublimely wonderful songs that ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 130
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Smash

CD-Charts > Music > American
by: Offspring

Release Date April 15, 1994
This album was the 3rd album from the offspring. Ignition was great but didn't get as popular. But as soon as the videos for 'Come Out and Play(Keep 'Em Seperated)' 'Self Esteem' and 'Gotta Get Away' were released they hit big time.
Then Ixnay was amazing. The First 4 Albums were the best and i can't choose between them.
I love the later albums too but they could have done so much better on Conspiracy Of One. Which if i had to choose would be my worst album.
But anything by the offspring is first class and i love them all.