Controversial
21. Black Flag: ‘Family Man’ What a pleasant album cover, even family oriented. And a man pointing a gun to his head causing a controversy? Say it ain't so.
Family Man is an album released by Black Flag in 1984. It is unique in that one side features Rollins spoken-word tracks and the other side mainly features instrumental tracks. "Armageddon Man" is the only track on the album in which Rollins and the instruments are together.
What is now considered the best Flag lineup (Ginn on guitar, Rollins on vocals, Bill Stevenson on drums and the great Kira Roessler on bass) they released Family Man. It opens three points of interest: Rollins as the Beat Poet—sort of—the stoned dirge influence of Black Sabbath, and the instrumental jazz driven metal/punk that Ginn would utilize after dissolving Black Flag. The first side is comprised primarily of Rollins' juvenile attempts at poetry, which sound more like stoned ramblings. It ends with the riff-driven thrash piece "Armageddon Man," loaded with Rollins' bitter and pissed off lyrics and running almost nine minutes. Side two is of great interest to jazz fans. After wallowing in the insipid foolishness of "Salt on a Slug," Ginn, Roessler and Stevenson work some amazing improv jams.
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Weird
21. Van Der Graaf Generator: 'H To He, Who Am The Only One'
What a man's testicles are doing floating in space makes me think that there had do be some great drugs available when the band decided on cover art- strange for sure. The third album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, the album was released in 1970. The mid-priced "Charisma Classics" re-issue from the early 1980s had a blue cover. The first U.S. issue of the album was on the Dunhill Records division of ABC Records. It featured a revised cover with a white background instead of purple.
During the recording of the album, Nic Potter quit the band. Organist Hugh Banton offered to play bass guitar on the two tracks that had not yet been finished. In concert, Banton would play bass pedals to substitute for the lack of a bassist. H to He, Who Am the Only One also featured Robert Fripp of King Crimson playing lead guitar on one track.
The album contains several references to modern physics: "H to He" in the title refers to "the fusion of hydrogen nuclei to form helium nuclei"; c in 'Pioneers over c.' refers to the speed of light.
A re-mastered version of this album added bonus tracks and was released in 2005. One of the additions is a rough studio version of "Squid / Octopus", a song that had been a staple of early Van der Graaf Generator concerts.
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Worst
21. A Flock of Seagulls – ‘Dream Come True’ Wow, put some shades on, lots of beautiful color! And I thought the 80's hair only applied to metal bands! Dream Come True is the fourth album by A Flock of Seagulls, released in 1986 by Jive Records. A Flock of Seagulls was started by Mike Score and his brother Ali in 1979 in Liverpool. Mike, who was previously a hairdresser, played keyboards, guitar, and Vocals, Ali played drums and their friend Frank Maudsley played bass. The band took their name from a line in the song "Toiler on the Sea" by The Stranglers, which appears on their album Black and White. The band added guitarist Willie Woo and Mark Edmondson joined briefly when Ali and Mike had a fall out with Ali re joining when Mark took ill. They then began writing songs. Soon later Willie left allowing Paul Reynolds to join. They then started playing clubs, and soon enough, they got a contract.
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Best
21. The Libertines: ‘The Libertines’ The Libertines were an English indie rock band. Formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Pete Doherty (vocals/rhythm guitar) and Carl Barât (vocals/lead guitar), the band also included John Hassall (bass) and Gary Powell (drums) for most of its recording career. Part of what was described as the garage rock revival movement of that time, the band was centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty.
The band gained some notoriety in the early 2000s. Although initially their mainstream success was limited, their profile grew culminating in a #2 single and #1 album in the UK Charts. In December 2004, their self-titled second album was voted the second best album of the year by NME. Both of their full-length LPs were produced by Mick Jones, of the British punk band The Clash.
However, the band's music was often eclipsed by its internal conflicts, many of which stemmed from Doherty's addictions to crack cocaine and heroin, ultimately resulting in the breakup of the band. Doherty has since claimed that the breakup of the band has been due to relationship difficulties between Barat and himself, not relating to his drug addictions. The members of The Libertines have gone on to new bands, with varying degrees of commercial and critical success.
The band has been compared to many classic British rock bands, as their angle on rock is uniquely English. The resemblance to The Beatles, both in their mop-top appearance and their wild yet melodic music, is striking. Their sound is often likened to that of The Jam and The Kinks' early records as well as The Clash's first album and early singles. They are perhaps most similar to pioneer rockers, Buzzcocks. Morrissey is another strong influence cited by the band members. Many of their lyrics refer to elements of British life, use English/cockney slang and are sung in a near-drunken sounding slur. In their attitude they are sometimes compared to the Sex Pistols due to their chaotic and energetic live performances.
The Libertines is the second, self-titled and final album by the British punk rock band. Released on August 30, 2004, it is particularly biographical of the relationship between frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty. The album instantly reached #1 in the UK and is on its way to achieving platinum certification. It sold 72,189 copies in its first week. The album cover was taken by Roger Sargent during the emotional "Freedom Gig" at the Tap 'N' Tin, Chatham, Kent, on October 8, 2003, when Pete Doherty reunited with the Libertines for a gig just hours after being released from jail.
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