21 Essential Albums
We asked some of the finest gems in Sheffield’s musical crown to tell us about their favourite records.
Dean Honer One half of renowned electronic duo I Monster, Dean is currently working alongside members of The Fat White Family with recent project The Eccentronic Research Council.
Silver Apples – Silver Apples (1968)
"My impossible choice for a favourite album goes to Silver Apples by Silver Apples. I thought I would pick something slightly obscure, plus they are playing in Sheffield on 21st September. I was introduced to this record in the ‘90s by Add N to (X), and I couldn’t believe it was from the ‘60s. It’s just an extraordinary album for 1968; the music is a mix of unique drums and rhythms by Danny Taylor and avant-garde electronics by Simeon Cox played on his unique set up of oscillators and pedals. With the addition of delicate psych/folk vocals they created a hypnotic sound like nothing else. It’s an album that still sounds contemporary today. And Simeon also jammed with Hendrix…"
Mark Herbert Head of Sheffield’s Warp Films and producer of Four Lions, Dead Man’s Shoes and Phoenix Nights
John Grant – Queen of Denmark (2010)
"Ten years ago this would have been an electronic album, but as middle age has taken hold my current favourite album is John Grant’s debut Queen of Denmark. I love the angst of the lyrics mixed with the amazing arrangement of the music. Grant sings as an outsider and I’m a fan of the outsider in culture. I play this loud and have developed a skill for the air piano since."
Toddla T The Boom DJ from the Steel City.
Protoje – Ancient Future (2015)
"The trailblazer of the modern reggae sound and scene straight from Kingston, Jamaica – this is the real deal. Watch out for his forthcoming collaboration with the Steel City’s very own Coco dropping this summer."
Toddla plays Mint Festival on the 24th September – more info and tickets at www.mintfestival.co.uk
Andy Nicholson Ex-Arctic Monkey now a member of production duo Sticky Blood.
The Streets – Original Pirate Material (2002)
"For me, this is simply the best debut album ever made by a British artist."
Coco Big and Serious MC flying the flag for the northern urban scene.
50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Trying (2003)
"A powerful, timeless album. Everyone big at the time was on it – Eminem, Tony Yayo, Nate Dogg, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck – and the story from start to finish is sick. 50 Cent’s best."
The Crookes Inspired peddlers of dreamy guitar pop. Roman Candle, the third single from the Crookes' new album Lucky Ones, is now out on Modern Outsider and Anywhere Records.
Rilo Kiley – More Adventurous (2004)
“It's impossible to narrow it down to just one album but this is the first one to spring to mind. I found out about them when they supported Bright Eyes in 2005 and I've loved them – and Jenny Lewis – since. It's a great album, full of amazing melodies and arrangements and it always reminds me of being 17, which is helpful now I'm getting on a bit... The Absence of God is a definite highlight.”
Daniel Hopewell (guitarist): Tom Waits – Small Change (1976)
“The man is a genius. Like Bukowski set to jazz. You listen and can’t help but imagine being in some candlelit bar, all black and white, cigarettes and bourbon and maybe an all-night diner after. At times it’s depressing as hell, but always beautiful. There’s a sense of fragility in the stories which gets me every time.”
Tom Dakin (guitarist): Wilco – Yanke Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
“The tracks are all incredible, but I love how the band temper the traditionalism of the songs with atonal noises and crazy sounding stuff in the production. I’ve listened to this album a thousand times but I still discover something new about it every time I put it on; it’s so detailed and varied, without ever sounding cluttered or confusing. The story about Warner's refusing to release the album and then having it essentially sold back to them through Nonesuch is an inspiration, too.”
Shinobi Veteran Sheffield MC and ¼ of local hip-hop outfit Clubs & Spades.
Eminem – Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
"For me, this record showcased the best rapper ever in his prime – plus it was the first album I bought with my first ever wage packet."
Kate Jackson Former lead singer of Sheffield-based indie outfit The Long Blondes; recently made a welcome return to scene fronting new band Kate Jackson & The Wrong Moves.
John Grant – Pale Green Ghosts (2013)
"He’s by far my favourite songwriter at the moment. When I heard his first album, Queen of Denmark, it completely blew me away. It’s so reminiscent of a lot of ‘70s records that I love – Elton John, David Bowie, Big Star, The Carpenters, etc. Then Pale Green Ghosts took his writing to another level. His voice is phenomenal and the lyrics are so honest and funny. His music was totally refreshing and new but at the same time comforting, like it had always existed in my world."
Rob Graham Former guitarist in Wet Nuns and bassist in Drenge.
Black Sabbath Vol.4 (1972)
"Vol.4 finds Sabbath at their pharmaceutical-grade cocaine-fuelled zenith. Their first three efforts are responsible for the invention of ‘metal’ but over Vol.4’s 43 minutes they perfect it. They never reached these monolithic heights again…"
Tom Hogg Lead singer of The Hosts.
Wolf Songs for Lambs – Jonathan Fire*Eater (1997)
"As raw as it is brilliantly awkward, this is a fantastic piece of writing from ‘90s New York and unfortunately a debut LP that was to be their last. A must-listen!''
Steve ‘Papa’ Edwards Sheffield soul man who over the years has teamed up with the likes of Basement Jaxx, Bob Sinclar, Chicane and Cassius.
The The – Infected (1986)
"In 1986 I was an angry, politicised teen, and Matt Johnson’s claustrophobic lyrics about love in a world devouring itself touched a nerve. Thirty years on we can see he was right – cos now we’re f*cked. Great sound too."
There are no comments
Add yours