Laibach - opus dei (1987)
“it’s the best album ever written, period. It’s seamless, flawless-just completely over the top. You laugh your ass off as you’re slamming your head against the wall in the mosh pit”
Einstur-zende Neubauten - Halber Mensch (1985)
“It’s a bit smoother, but I really like listening to it as an album. I especially like the title track, one of the best songs ever written.”
Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979)
“An essential for any collection because, at the time, this just came out of left field. It was almost like a catalyst for me to get my ass in gear.”
Front 242 - Geography (1982)
“We heard it again at Play It Again Sam Records in Belgium, and it is the template for most fusions of industrial and dance.”
The Young Gods - L’eau Rouge (1989)
“Took industrial and dance and moved it into a mush harsher and faster direction. You know, just hit yourself over the head with a fucking mallet.”
I was almost expecting him to name some post-punk releases or something… Its good to know Al knows his industrial bands although using the words ‘moshpit’ and ‘Laibach’ in the same sentence is just wrong.
Wow. I was actually expecting some shit out of left field, but I have every one of these albums. Paid for all but one of them, too (you can’t find Throbbing Gristle in Kentucky). So, any other “must-have” suggestions since I’m not seeing anything new here? Besides Godflesh, of course. You guys turned me on to them (only thing I’d heard before was on Hideaway soundtrack) and I’ve since snatched all of it up. So, something similar?
OT: Christ, that’s the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen. I think it could be argued that it’s the ugliest dog anyone has ever seen… for three years in a row. And being dead probably doesn’t make him prettier.
If I were Al I’d have had the audacity to at least name one of MY own albums (Twitch? LORAH?)
20 Jazz Funk Greats is definitely tops on that list IMO. The others are…open to debate. Geography is criminally underrated and my favorite 242 work but I don’t think it’s anywhere near " top 5" material.
As much as I like Geography, there just aren’t any other albums like Official Version out there. That album, along with the Back Catalogue comp was my first exposure to 242, and still my favorites. I’m always surprised to see record reviews claiming Front By Front as 242’s best album. It’s good, but Official Version is LEAGUES better.
i pulled this out of the dec 05 issue of stuff magazine. there’s a little side note next to the article that says something like - make sure to pick up the new rantology album by ministry. there’s a picture of al too in one of his goofy hats.
As much as I like Geography, there just aren’t any other albums like Official Version out there. That album, along with the Back Catalogue comp was my first exposure to 242, and still my favorites. I’m always surprised to see record reviews claiming Front By Front as 242’s best album. It’s good, but Official Version is LEAGUES better.
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I don’t know about LEAGUES better, but Official Version is definitely under-rated. Anyone I talk to about 242 says that Front by Front is the best.
And I agree, it’s a damned solid album, however Official Version is also a very very tight work, and a lot of people really ignore it (including the band, unfortunately, on the recent tour - in Toronto, Official Version is the only album that didn’t have any representation in the setlist. Some of the other gigs got Quite Unusual but not all). I can listen to either one of them from start to finish and deeply enjoy both.
Edit: On a re-read (should have previewed before posting), this doesn’t quite express my feelings. I’m a big Front 242 fan, have nearly all of the albums (still haven’t picked up Pulse, but I’m getting to it). I dig Geography and Tyranny for you, absolutely love the No Comment stuff, and (to me) the pinnacles of their output are Official Version and Front By Front. The 1993 albums are good but didn’t grab me quite as much as their earlier work.
I seem to recall an interview with Al a few years back where he claimed he didn’t really listen to other music besides his own. When pressed, he stated he thought Godflesh and maybe another band were OK. In this interview he worked to distance himself from the label “industrial”. Anyone else recall this interview?
Thing about All i’ve noticed in his interviews, is a remarkable inconsistency in statements and proclamations. Maybe this reflects a dry sense of humor and “taking the piss” of the interviewer.
Einstur-zende Neubauten - Halber Mensch (1985)
“It’s a bit smoother, but I really like listening to it as an album. I especially like the title track, one of the best songs ever written.”
Title track and Yu Gung are first rate tracks. Rest of album is iffy.
Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979)
“An essential for any collection because, at the time, this just came out of left field. It was almost like a catalyst for me to get my ass in gear.”
Yep, but I still find after all these years that Jazz Funk is probably the least essential TG release. Flirts too much with pop. Lyrics often border on the ridiculous. DOA or Mission Of Dead Souls are more indicative of classic TG.
The Young Gods - L’eau Rouge (1989)
“Took industrial and dance and moved it into a mush harsher and faster direction. You know, just hit yourself over the head with a fucking mallet.”
Hit myself over the head with a mallet?? OK, but can I ask why??
