50 (or so) Influential LP's
Here follows a selection of albums which, between them, have conspired to cast a shadow over el Shirokuma...
AFGHAN WHIGS - GENTLEMEN
Because they don't flinch
AKIKO YANO - JAPANESE GIRL
Amazing arrangements
APHEX TWIN - SELECTED AMBIENT WORKS VOL 1
Because he made it all with a spectrum when he was about 5
ASA CHANG & JUNN RAY - SONG CHANG
Effortlessly original and inventive tabla / jpop hybrid improvisations
BEASTIE BOYS - PAUL'S BOUTIQUE
For the bass on Shake Yr Rump… ah…
BOMB THE BASS - CLEAR
Will Self in Interzone with Simonon
BOO RADLEYS - GIANT STEPS
Like a comfort blanket
CAN - EGE BAMYASI
Rock n Roll as a looping waterfall in the moonlight ether
CORNELIUS - FANTASMA
Utterly inspirational Oyamada…
DEAD KENNEDYS - BEDTIME FOR DEMOCRACY
For Take This Job & Shove It! and Jello's hilarious lyrics
DEAD PREZ - LET'S GET FREE
Beautiful, passionate hip hop
DISPOSABLE HEROES OF HIPHOPRISY & WILLIAM BURROUGHS - SPARE ASS ANNIE
That voice and Mr Franti and Tse's inventive cut up made me a very happy Shirokuma
DIVINE COMEDY - PROMENADE
1920's seaside concept pop genius
FAUST - FAUST 4
For the track Krautrock
HUSKER DU - WAREHOUSE SONGS AND STORIES
This Mould grows inside out… pop genius, such sad, yearning lyrics
JOHN CALE - PARIS 1919
Title track & cover double whammy
KEVIN AYRES - JOY OF A TOY
A silly man hugely ahead of his time
LALI PUNA - SCARY WORLD THEORY
Throwing the towel in beautifully
LAURA NYRO - ELI AND THE 13TH CONFESSION
Laura…Laura…Laura…sigh.Sweet Blindness and the sweetest vocalist
LOVE - FOREVER CHANGES
The only "classic" album that really cuts the colonel mustard
LUKE HAINES - THE OLIVER TWIST MANIFESTO
Grade A sourpuss hatefulness from the greatest living English pop star
MAHER SHALAL HASH BAZ - BLUES DU JOUR
So slight, willowy and mysterious and 40 tracks of it!
MARK HOLLIS - MARK HOLLIS
Aural smack. Most depressing record ever made. Absolutely amazing
MAX TUNDRA - MASTERED BY THE GUY AT THE EXCHANGE
Lyrical and musical innovation abound on every track of this stunning LP
MC PAUL BARMAN - MC PAUL BARMAN
Hunter gatherer. Cunt-er latherer
MELT BANANA - CHARLIE
WAAA! AAAHHH! ICHIIIAAHH!
MOMUS - LITTLE RED SONG BOOK
Possible career best from utterly under-rated pervy synthpop genius
MY BLOODY VALENTINE - LOVELESS
D…d…d…d…WAHH WAH WAH WAHH…best album intro ever
NEW ORDER - TECHNIQUE
Electro masterpiece from the second best pop band of the 80's
NICK CAVE - MURDER BALLADS
King Ink at his hilarious peak…
NICK DRAKE - PINK MOON
Very popular, and rightly so. Makes you want to do absolutely nothing
NICO - DESERTSHORE
Amazing Cale production and strange, beautiful unique ambience
NOVAFASE - JOY
Natural heirs to Pizzicato 5's pop crown from Osaka. Breezy!
PET SHOP BOYS - INTROSPECTIVE
For Domino Dancing. Especially.
PINK LADY - BEST & BEST
Too brilliant for words 70's j-pop disco duo. "Monster!"
PIZZICATO 5 - RIP.
The very best band in the world ever. Soulful, funny, inventive, original, sad, sexy, crazed and pop as hell
RED HOUSE PAINTERS - UP COLOURFUL HILL
It’s another duvet and banging head against wall album
SCOTT WALKER - SCOTT 4
Theatrical existentialist 60's chamber pop masterpiece from Mr melancholy
SERGE GAINSBOURG - MELODY NELSON
Another popular classic, but one of the most intimate, sensuous recordings
SONIC YOUTH - GOO
Personal fave from celebrated art rockers
SPARKS - KIMONO IN MY HOUSE
Funny stylish oddball early synth pop
SQUAREPUSHER - BIG LOADA
Enter the drumkat
SYD BARRETT - BARRETT
Fragile, brittle end of the pier end of the tether end of the world
THE BREEDERS - POD
Perfect Albini production, sexy, dirty intimate songs
THE CANDIES GREATEST HITS
Another classic 70's j-pop outfit
THE CURE - KISS ME KISS ME KISS ME
Best 80's pop act double set sprawls like Mr Smith's hair…
THE MAKE UP - LIVE AT THE COLD RICE
Most astonishing live band I've ever seen… including Melt Banana
THE PIXIES - COME ON PILGRIM
Highly influential lyrics and guitar playing, hispanic punk rock mayhem
THE WICKER MAN - OST
Long time favourite folky sinisterness
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS - FLOOD
Because I like short songs
TOM WAITS - THE BLACK RIDER
It really is a gay old time on the farm
TRICKY - MAXINQUAYE
Still never bettered 90's classic
ULTRAMARINE - EVERY MAN AND WOMAN IS A STAR
Again, ahead old it's time warm folk and electronica hybrid. Still fresh…