Album: New Day Rising

Artist: Husker Du

Released: 1985, SST

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: Fantastic hardcore pop - there wouldn't be a Pixies or Nirvana without these guys.

Album: Zen Arcade

Artist: Husker Du

Released: 1984, SST

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: A double LP of power pop genius recorded in 85 hours straight - most songs are first-takes.

Album: 21 Singles

Artist: Jesus & Mary Chain

Released: 2002, Warners

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: Collects their singles (JAMC were definitely a singles band) in one nice handy package. Definitely seek out their first four albums - Psychocandy, Darklands, Automatic and Honeys Dead.

Album: Closer

Artist: Joy Division

Released: 1980, Factory

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: Joy Division achieve a chilling grace on their last proper album (this was preceeded by Unknown Pleasures).

Album: Engine Takes to the Water

Artist: June of 44

Released: 1995, Touch and Go

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: A Rodan spin off that combines oddly nautical atmosphere with a Slint/Rodan dynamic.

Album: Blues for the Red Sun

Artist: Kyuss

Released: 1992, Dali

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: Queens of the Stone Age peaked my curiosity for their earlier incarnation - Kyuss. Plus the Sabbath itch needed a scratch.

Album: Prazision

Artist: Labradford

Released: 1994, Flying Nun / Kranky

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: Chilly atmospherics are all - gentle hum and twang on these mostly instrumental pieces.

Album: Blue Lines

Artist: Massive Attack

Released: 1991, Wild Bunch / Virgin

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: A fantastic first album, quite possibly their best. Contains one of the greatest singles of all time - the godlike 'Unfinished Sympathy'. If you've never heard them this is the one band I'd recommend above all others (well, certainly for easy listening pleasure :-).

Album: Protection

Artist: Massive Attack

Released: 1994, Wild Bunch / Virgin

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: I guess the start of the end for Massive Attack started here. Even in decline they're pretty darn fantastic. This album was trumped by fellow Bristol-ians 'Portishead' and Trickys solo 'Maxinquaye'.

Album: Isn't Anything

Artist: My Bloody Valentine

Released: 1988, Creation

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: That patented glide guitar sound that launched a thousand wannabe shoegazers. Exceptional pop, noise fusion that was a precursor to greater things . . .

Album: Loveless

Artist: My Bloody Valentine

Released: 1991, Creation

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: A defining album of the 90's. Almost singlehandedly bankrupted Creation records due to the bands unique brand of studio prefectionism. Complete genius; play loud.

Album: All is Dream

Artist: Mercury Rev

Released: 2001, V2

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: A gentle continuation of 'Deserters Songs' - mining a rich vein of rural american indie oddness.

Album: Birth of Cool

Artist: Miles Davis

Released: 1949, Capitol Jazz

Links: Allmusic, Amazon

Brief Review: What can you say - incredible stuff. 'Kind of Blue' is great too. Not really a fan of his 70's/80's stuff but his early material is excellent. A lot of musicians could learn from his 'less is more' style (especially people that play endless solos no matter what the genre).

Album: EP + 6

Artist: Mogwai

Released: 2001, Chemikal Underground

Links: Allmusic, Amazon

Brief Review: Early EP's compiled together. Pretty cool mostly instrumental dynamic post-rock.

Album: Do You Like My Tight Sweater

Artist: Moloko

Released: 1996, Echo

Links: Allmusic, Amazon

Brief Review: Kind of bandwagon jumpers but they had enough originality (kind of a smokey jazz feel) to keep you interested. I quite like a couple of their singles on later albums.

Album: Superfuzzbigmuff

Artist: Mudhoney

Released: 1990, Sub Pop

Links: Allmusic, Amazon, Trouserpress

Brief Review: Stupid retardo rock done really really well :-)