Anything goes

I came across this very interesting list on the Internet today. I must admit I have no idea who Robert Dimery is, but I figure anyone who can make a selection of 1001 albums from the ’50s through to the 2000s must know a thing or two about music.

I haven’t had the chance to go through the whole list yet, but because I don’t generally focus on buying and listening to full albums, I doubt I have listened to even a fraction of those listed there. You will notice, though, that Goldie’s Timeless is in there. Also, from the electronic scene, we can find:

• Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force: Planet Rock: The Album (interesting because it is considered as both a very good old school hip-hop album and as the first of the electronic genre known as electro, which is the initial style for breakdance - the sound is very distinct, but also very recognizable today, because some songs of this style have entered the mainstream)
• 808 State: 808:90
• Coldcut : What’s That Noise?
• Jungle Brothers: Done by the Forces of Nature
• Massive Attack: Blue Lines; Protection
• Shamen: En-Tact
• Aphex Twin (this one really is unexpected but totally justified, I think): Selected Ambient Works 85-92
• Orbital: Orbital [aka Brown Album]; Snivilisation
• William Orbit (hm… I feel like Water from a Vine Leaf…): Strange Cargo: III
• Chemical Brothers: Exit Planet Dust; Dig Your Own Hole
• Fatboy Slim: Better Living Through Chemistry; You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
• LTJ Bukem (again, very unexpected but totally justified): Logical Progression
• Prodigy: Music for the Jilted Generation; Fat of the Land
• Daft Punk: Homework
• Roni Size feat Reprazent: New Forms (Brown Paper Bag from this album is really great)
• Moby: Play
• Basement Jaxx: Remedy
• Röyksopp: Melody AM

Here’s an interesting thing: from the entries above, the first 4 artists are from the ’80s. Then, all the rest except the very last one are from the ’90s. So there is only one from the years 2000. I must say I agree with this and there has been little innovation during the past years. I am hoping things will change.

And why do I say about some of them they are unexpected? Well, simply because they are very far from the mainstream. Why do I think they are justified, though? Because they really innovate. LTJ’s Logical Progression is considered by some as the start of Intelligent DnB (although the artist himself doesn’t like the name because it brings the implication that other DnB styles are stupid - Atmospheric DnB is another name for this) and Aphex Twin… well, his style is difficult to name. All the more reason he should be on such a list.

Now, about 808state… remember acid? They are considered pioneers of acid house. This album was not quite there yet, but they certainly were on the right track. Here is an example:

You can hear what sounds like a TB303 in the background, although the characteristic squelching sounds of acid house are not present (yet). By the way: they offer many of their songs as well as demos and other stuff for free download on their web page.

Anyways, it is an interesting list and would make for a challenging project to try and listen to the albums listed there. I wonder if it is possible…

Who knows? Perhaps, some day…