5. The Black Angels – Passover
Very dark and ominous sloshing through the muddy fields of deep psychedelic tones, a field littered with mushrooms and sugar cubes. Throw all those other wanky clichés in there too if you like “reverb drenched” etc. This album sparked many a new adventure for me on the fret board and changed my whole approach to making music, and brought making music heavier without being heavy.
4. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Thank God for Mental Illness
One of Anton’s finest, maybe because he basically recorded the whole thing himself, or maybe because he was actually losing his mind to make it happen. Regardless it is a gold mine of BJM hits with Sound of Confusion tacked on the end there and hiding five songs in its depths. Fuck You for Fucking Me is recorded super shitty and it’s probably on purpose, just Anton saying “this song is super good but I can’t be bothered recording it well as you don’t deserve to hear it any better anyhow.”
3. Wu-Tang – 36 Chambers
Raw, gritty and straight to the point. Simplicity with rawness in full effect. Some songs only have percussion and vocals, which is “all that I need!” GZA’s love for the tape machine rings true in this whole production, the first time I heard this album I was hooked, my longest standing favorite and will be forever.
2. The Clean – Boodle Boodle Boodle EP
By far the best band to EVER come out of New Zealand, no questions asked, and if you disagree we would have to fight you. This EP is just a speck of sand in their extensive discography but as it’s home to hits like Anything Could Happen and Thumbs Off, it’s a standout for us Schlagers. There is no one box to put this band in, they span many genres and do it seamlessly and to the point where you even doubt it can be the same band.
1. Neu! – Neu! ST/LP
An integral part of Kraut rock, Neu! broke off from Kraftwerk to record this and many great albums. This album is a real journey, clean, crisp and wacky, so many noises that are hard to distinguish with some of the best drum tones ever. As far as Schlager Music is concerned this album is number one by a long shot and inspires many a 30-minute-and-over jam.
SCHLAGER MUSIC will play at The Grace Darling on Friday July 25 with Shifters and Exek.
