Before You Die

I need to pass on some knowledge to you good people. Things you need to know about and to have experienced before you die.

Yes, its time for Craigy's Top Ten Albums you need to hear before you die.


I'm not really one for top tens and the like, but I have noticed that some people don't know some really good bands. On this note everyone should go to Pandora and make your own channel, see what you get. You may be pleased with what you get, I always am.

Anyway, top tens are always bad news. How do you look at it? Is it going to be desert island top ten, the only ten albums you can listen to for the rest of your life? Perhaps your favourite albums? Or the completly different best albums? Or maybe you go with the best albums that you own that you actually think other people will like?


I have no idea where my top ten falls into. Really can't decide. These are brilliant, brilliant albums. I think I am leaning more to the "I own these albums and everyone should give them a go, cause they are golden."


In no particular order:-


Pearl Jam, Ten.

C'mon you knew that there was gonna be a Pearl Jam album here. Couldn't decide on which to go for so you may as well start at the beginning. Its great from the word go. I remember a long time ago the Col. turning to me and saying that his CD player was broken and the only CD it played was Ten, I think my responce was along the line of "Sorry, I'm not seeing the problem here", and we laughed the merry kind of laugh that friends do in jovial times. This before he consumed an entire bar and threw the player at me cause it wouldn't play the track he wanted to hear............ah good times Johnny good times......


Nirvana, Unplugged In New York.

Yeah this one wasn't easy. If I was gonna say best I would say Inutero. If I was gonna say fav then I would say Unplugged or Inutero. Its hard to call, but if you are a Nirvana virgin then its best to start with Unplugged as they can be a bit destructive, but in a good way. I'm reckoning if you don't know who Nirvana are then you are either dead or have been living on Pluto for the past 20 years. Seriously, one of the most important bands in music ever. Thats a scientific fact.

Fact I tells ya!


Tracy Bonham, The Burdens Of Being Upright

*lights pipe* Gather round and let me tell you a story. Back in the day, which by the way was a Thursday, we didn't have the internet. The only way you found out about new things coming out was by constantly watching TV, or having a cousin in America that told you everything. I constantly watchd MTV. They had mad little show on very late at night that played very odd and independant music. I remember a song about Fish heads. I shit you not. Anyway, with the help of this show I found out about Tracy Bonham, she is a very tasty lady that can sing, play the violin and also play the guitar. She has been described as the female Maynard James Keenan (by some geezer on youtube) I descrbe her as "Kinda like Alanis Morrisette, if Alanis wasn't whiny.........and was actually any good."


Tool, Aenima


Who the hell says that metal music can't be musical? Well who ever you are, listen to this album and you will see that you are wrong. I think Tool are a fantastic band, no-one ever tries to copy them cause it would be to obvious. They have such a unique sound. Maynard James Keenan has an amazing voice which would blow you right out of your pants. The thing that may put people off is the fact that most songs on this album are about 6 mins long. But trust me each song is brilliant in its own right. Eulogy alone makes this album an absolute must for anyone even thinking about getting into metal music.


Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams

Genuine feel good music. I like chilling out music as much as the next person (Portishead are amongst my fav albums) but this has an extra quality to it. Where as some people/bands will sit down and methodically work out the best way to exucute a song (and there's nothing wrong with that) it seems as if thats impossible for Jack Johnson. All of his music seems so natural, that to picture him taking time out to actually write songs seems absurd. I swear he just turned up and started playing, and the band started playing along with him and "hey presto" a magic album was born. So good is this album that even the mighty Jecka likes it and sings along.



I'm gonna leave it t these 5 for now, while I have a good long hard think about the next 5.


I just know I am gonna have issues.



I'm doing all of this for you, the good people.