Controversial
19. Ice Cube: ‘Death Certificate’ Death Certificate is the second studio album by rapper Ice Cube, released October 31, 1991 on Priority Records. Highly anticipated with over a million advance orders, the album was certified platinum in sales on December 20, 1991. The album debuted on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at #1 and on the Billboard 200 chart at #2, while it went on to sell over two million copies to date. It is considered one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. It was also the source of much controversy due to some of its racially charged content, and Ice Cube's acerbic statements on drug dealing, racial profiling, and the right to keep and bear arms.
It didn't help to have ole Uncle Sam in the morgue which may have been an allusion to the death of the American dream, the album was nonetheless condemned Stateside and suffered severe retail boycotts. In fact, the state of Oregon declared any display of Ice Cube's image in retail stores throughout the state illegal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weirdest
19. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: 'Tarkus' - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) were an English progressive rock supergroup. In the 1970s, the band was extremely popular, selling over 35 million albums and headlining huge concerts. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (guitar, bass guitar, vocals) and Carl Palmer (drums, percussion).
Tarkus is the second album by the progressive rock bandand was released in 1971. The chief feature of the album is the "Tarkus" suite, originally forming the whole of Side one of the album. Greg Lake stated in an early interview that he viewed Tarkus as a representation of the military-industrial complex, and that his lyrics were about that, and about the futility of war and strife.
On the album cover, made after the music was created and recorded, Tarkus is depicted as a half armadillo/half tank creature, born from an egg erupted from a volcano. The inner gatefold sleeve features a sequence of pictures depicting battles between Tarkus and other half-mechanical creatures, until its eventual defeat by a manticore. "Tarkus" then becomes "Aquatarkus", an aquatic version of the land-bound original.
Carl Palmer later stated that he thought that the use of pictures depicting battles between Tarkus and other half-mechanical creatures on the inner gatefold was a mistake, and that only the outer cover painting of Tarkus should have been used. Greg Lake also made some similar statements. I kind of like the armadillo/half tank creature-reminds me of listening to the album and getting stoned.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worst
19. David Hasselhoff – ‘Night Rocker’ David Michael Hasselhoff (born July 17, 1952) is an American "actor and singer," who is best known for his lead roles on Knight Rider and Baywatch. He also crossed over to a music career, successful primarily in German-speaking Europe during the end of the 1980s and the early 1990s. Hasselhoff has had only one number-one hit in the German pop charts in 1989 ("Looking for Freedom") and two more top-ten hits in 1989 and 1993, respectively. Most other releases failed to enter the top forty.
In 1994, Hasselhoff was scheduled to perform a concert on pay-per-view from Atlantic City. The concert was expected to help reignite his singing career in the United States. On the night of his concert, O.J. Simpson was involved in a police chase in southern California. Viewership of the concert was significantly lower than expected, due to the live coverage of the chase. Since then, Hasselhoff has not attempted another concert.
Thank god for O.J., now where is KITT?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best
19. Dinosaur Jr: ‘Green Mind’ Who am I to question the staff at Gigwise...we all are entitled to our opinions, but this album cover making the 'best' list is beyond comprehension. Dinosaur Jr. is an American alternative rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984. Originally named Dinosaur prior to legal issues, the band disbanded in 1997 until reuniting in 2005. Guitarist J Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph were the band's founding members; however, Mascis has been the group's sole continual member.
Their distinct sound, characterized by high gain, extensive use of feedback and distortion, and frontman J Mascis's melodic guitar solos, were influential in the alternative rock movement of the 1990s, exemplified by the success of acknowledged fans Nirvana.
The cover photograph, "Priscilla, 1969", is by Joseph Szabo and taken from his book of photographs Almost Grown.
No comments:
Post a Comment