Snake's Encore: Exit Planet Dust - Figure 8

In Snake's Collection

Fever to Tell - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Here is one example where a compelling music video lead me on to discover a great album. I fell in love with the video for 'Maps' when it was getting heavy rotation on MTV and VH1 (as in 1 of the 8 videos they played each morning). This album is an awesome minimalist punk tirade for the 21st century. Karen O's vocals are as much an instrument as any guitar or drum ever played. Her shrills and shrieks somehow delight the ear and seem perfectly normal. The guitar playing takes a back seat, but has the power to be there when needed. The drums pound through the entire album serving as a back bone like no other. 'Rich', 'Man', 'Tick' and 'Black Tongue' start off the album with a fierceness that I find hard to find a peer to. The album mellows out at the end displaying the softer side of this coin with 'Maps', 'Y Control' and 'Modern Romance'. Listening to 'Maps', I can still see Karen singing in that music video, showing all the emotion of the song (even though she is lip syncing) with tears welling in her eyes. 'Modern Romance' puts a fine finish on the end of the album with a steady guitar strum and the soothing vocal that puts you in the state of mind that you are coming down off the bender that was this album. I've brought their newest album, "It's Blitz". While good, it still doesn't compare to "Fever to Tell". I doubt anything ever will.


Let's Dance!

Fat of the Land - The Prodigy

This album marked a great cross over success mixing the electronic world with hip-hop and metal. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails also helps on this album with 'Smack My Bitch Up' and 'Fuel My Fire'. His influence is pretty easily heard and leads to the mosh pit appeal of both tracks. Kool Keith knocks it out of the park on 'Diesel Power'.


Exit Planet Dust - The Chemical Brothers

Everyone loves the song 'One Too Many Mornings'. It does sound very beautiful for a techno song. This album is catchier than "Fat of the Land", but doesn't have the other influences that make the former a bigger hit.


For What It's Worth

Face to Face - The Kinks

This was the first Kinks album to feature only Ray Davies original compositions. It is also thought by some to be one of the first rock n roll concept albums with a common theme of social observation. Davies apparently wanted to link all the songs together using sound effects, but was shot down by the record label. So it sounds like this is a choice for the artistry and intent behind the album, rather than the success of the songs.


Snubs & Other Notables

Exit... Stage Left - Rush

Another classic rock live album snub. This represents the 2nd live album release from Rush taking inspiration on the title from Snagglepuss. The cover art is iconic like most Rush covers featuring objects from all their previous album covers. The music itself is great, like every other Rush live album.

Faceless - Godsmack

This album became a major success for the band debuting at #1 on the Billboard charts. It rocked hard, but was a little more well crafted and written than their successful debut album. The title comes from the feeling of the band that despite some of their success, they still were under the radar and unknown. This is my favorite from the group toeing the line between hard rock/metal and more of a mainstream rock. There is a little something for everybody here.


Fair Warning - Van Halen

Yes, this was the least commercially successful Van Halen album of the Roth years. 'Unchained' is the only hit off the album. But this is probably the heaviest/hardest album they ever put out. 'Mean Street' fires out the gate with an intro similar to 'Eruption', but the bass groove and the amazing guitar playing put plenty of mean into that song. Overall, Eddie's guitar sounds the most aggressive of any albums and Anthony's bass booms through every track. I think this album is a hidden gem in the Van Halen catalogue.

A Farewell To Kings - Rush

This album produced the classic 'Closer to the Heart' and spurned out some longer, deeper compositions that pack alot of progressive rock punch. 'Xanadu' is based off Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'Kubla Khan' checking in at 11 minutes. The album title and track likely take inspiration from Hemingway's 'A Farewell To Arms'.

Fear of the Dark - Iron Maiden

You know anytime we pass a Maiden album worth a damn I am gonna have to put it in here. This 1993 release was the last studio album with front man Bruce Dickinson, before he came back in 2000 with other original members. This is by far not the best Maiden album and kind of marks the end of a steady decline for the band. The title track remains a must for all their live performances with plenty of audience participation. It is required listening for any fan of live music. 'Wasting Love' (their only power ballad), 'Afraid to Shoot Strangers' (a powerful Iraq war political song), and 'Be Quick Or Be Dead' (a venture into speed metal) are quality songs from this OK album.