517. Duck Rock - Malcolm McLaren

Malcolm McLaren was the mogul behind the Sex Pistols - that I knew. I did not realise that he also created his own music, but was expecting something a bit PiL-esque when this album got picked.

It is hard to describe this album in terms of a specific genre - it is really a radio show curated by Malcolm McLaren, and heavily produced and directed by Trevor Horn (one half of the Bugles). The World Famous Supreme Team are the DJs that bring the collection together into something more cohesive.

The range of music influences is impressive, with Horn and McLaren travelling across parts of Africa to record elements, with songs like Obatala sitting firmly in the 'World' category. Other tracks, such as the fantastic Double Dutch have a much more Western influence, and are possibly more naturally catchy to my ears as a result.

McLaren offered a combination of spoken word (with Horn apparently hitting him in time to the music as he couldn't get the rhythm right) as well as the overall vision for the album. Whilst the former can be written off, the latter demonstrates his visionary nature. That it is this album that introduced scratching to the UK indicates how far ahead of his time he was. However, his choice not to credit many of the artists suggests that where he may have been ahead of the curve musically, he still had a way to go morally.

Chloe's album rating: 7

Chloe's favourite track: 3. Double Dutch

Olly's album rating: 6

Olly's favourite track: 3. Double Dutch

Next week's album is 961. Want Two by Rufus Wainwright.

746. Slanted and Enchanted - Pavement

This album was one I listened to a few times a number of years ago to try to expand my repertoire of "music I should know". That was back when I was try-hard enough to do that sort of thing, but not committed enough to devote 19 years of my life to that type of thing. Regardless, I am glad I made that commitment, because it meant I could enjoy this album even more than I otherwise would have done. And what an album it is.

From the opening squeals of Summer Babe - Winter Version to the divine hi-hat driven Our Singer, this is an album that is utterly captivating. Conduit For Sale! shows how simple distorted guitar, spoken word, and relentless drumming can make for a song that is hugely intense. Zurich is Stained shows Stephen Malkmus's ability to carry a song with his voice, despite him not being a classically brilliant singer. Two States distils everything great about Punk, adds a huge dash of pop to proceedings, and states its case in less than two minutes. Fame Throwa is a meandering, intricate mess of a song that shouldn't come close to working, yet I have a burning urge to see it live, where I can only imagine the visceral thrill of shouting along amongst a sweaty mob.

I don't fully understand why I like this album so much, to be honest. There is no single song that stands out as superb, and no particular instrument that grabs your attention. The lyrics are so oblique as to be irrelevant in and of themselves, and the production values are decidedly lo-fi. And yet, despite all this, I can't stop listening to it. It is similar to Guided by Voices in its lack of pomposity, yet better in terms of giving the songs space to breathe and grow.

Chloe's album rating: 7
Chloe's favourite track: 12. Fame Throwa
Olly's album rating: 9
Olly's favourite track: 1. Summer Babe - Winter Version

Next week's album is 517. Duck Rock by Malcolm Mclaren

763. G Love & Special Sauce - G Love & Special Sauce

A hip hop album for people who don't like hip hop? An interesting concept that ends up with me fearing the worst of both worlds.

It's a much more laid back album than most hip-hop, with a much greater focus on drums than bass in terms of driving the rhythm. Blues Music is lyrically interesting, and Baby's Got Sauce has an almost reggae feel to the rhythm, complete with a focus on the off-beat. However, songs like Cold Beverage sound like they could be so much more, but the chorus falls a bit flat, and the track just ends up being a bit too repetitive. Shooting Hoops should be much cooler than it actually is, complete with a banjo intro, but it ends up feeling more like a sitcom title track.

There is a slightly rambunctious, claustrophobic feel to the recording, which makes it feel like a party. Unfortunately, the quality of the music doesn't live up to this indication, and the promise of the strong opener fades away to a run of real mediocrity by the end of the album. I can't recall anything about the last few tracks at all, even though I listened to them at least eight times each, and that's pretty damning.

Chloe's album rating: 5
Chloe's favourite track: 5. Baby's Got Sauce
Olly's album rating: 5
Olly's favourite track: 1. The Things That I Used To Do

Next week's album is 746. Slanted and Enchanted by Pavement. 

882. Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros

This album was not really supposed to make it. An Icelandic duo, singing in a made-up language, names after one of their sisters, was never supposed to capture a global audience. The band's manager expected to sell about 1500 copies of the record; he was slightly out.

What stood out to me about this album was the complex simplicity of it all. The melody is almost lullaby-like in most songs, with a vocal delivery that is as much elf as human, yet the array of sounds produced by simple instrumentation is quite stunning. To take Svefn-g-englar as an example, the use of cello bow on guitar creates an utterly entrancing atmosphere. They sound like nothing else, which is particularly impressive given the sheer enormity of different musical genres that preceded them. 

Chloe wasn't sure about the album, as she felt it was a bit too "chillout". Whilst I see her point, I think the variety of soundscapes and textures take it far beyond that oft-lazy genre. It is an album I've enjoyed whilst concentrating on it, and simply as a pleasant background to my day. Tracks like Staralfur can drift away, before the strings cut through and grab your attention, before the acoustic guitar strips everything back.

Sigur Ros are a band I'd always thought I'd like, but had never bothered to invest the time to found out if I actually did. It turns out that I do, very much. They are much more than just a great band for adverts; they are an advert for great bands being different.

Chloe's album rating: 6
Chloe's favourite track: 2. Svefn-g-englar
Olly's album rating: 8
Olly's favourite track: 5. Ny batteri

Next week's album is 763. G Love & Special Sauce by G Love & Special Sauce.

111. Cheap Thrills - Big Brother and the Holding Company

I had never heard of this band, and couldn't believe that it was Janis Joplin's original group, and this was arguably her finest hour. Knowing the name more than her music, a couple of big numbers aside, it was a good excuse to hear her in her prime.

The closest word I think I can find to describe her vocal performance on the album is animalistic. There is something utterly unrefined and raw in her performances, which is quite refreshing in itself. Her back story indicates someone who from a young age didn't fully fit in with, or conform to, society's expectations depending on your political persuasion.

I need a man to love is a great example of Janis dominating a song, without appearing to even try to compete with the frankly outstanding guitar work. It is not about being note perfect, but using the voice to convey emotion through delivery rather than simply lyrics. When done this well, it reminds you just how much more important vocals are in a group - something that has often held back otherwise talented bands. You get the impression on this album that Janis would dominate any mid-sized venue without any mic, and could leave even full stadia awestruck. 

Ball and Chain is the song that exemplifies all that is great about this album - the guitars are fuzzy and dirty at times, yet can soar when needed, the drums sound superb without doing anything more than driving the song along, and then Janis goes and sings like it's her last chance at making it. It is an utterly superb piece of music, and I defy you to listen to it and not be moved. 

It is strange to review an album where the focus is so clearly on the vocals, yet their name is not on the cover. There is something pleasantly democratic about that approach, and whilst it may not have lasted, I salute the band, and particularly Janis, for creating that combined approach. However, it is her voice that brings everything together, and, when the voice is this captivating, I'm fine with that.

Chloe's album rating: 7
Chloe's favourite track: 2. I Need a Man to Love
Olly's album rating: 7
Olly's favourite track: 7. Ball and Chain

Next week's album is 882. Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros.