Music is a bit like wine: it seems to have its good years and its bad years. What will 2015 hold? Are we in for some truly great tunes? Or will the radio waves โ or, rather, our Spotify accounts โ be marked by mediocrity?
Let’s flash back to the past half century, ten years at a time, and put the spotlight on some indisputably great albums. And if thatโs not enough, weโve even thrown in a quiz!
1965
Our album of the year: Rubber Soul by The Beatles
Why we chose it: The sixth release by the most famous group in the history of contemporary music may not be their most acclaimed recording, but itโs still essential listening, and possibly marks the biggest artistic shift in their career. The use of sitar on โNorwegian Woodโ, for example, foreshadows much of the mind-blowing experimentation that would pepper (pardon the pun) their later albums.
Highest chart position, UK/US: 1/1
Best song: โIn My Lifeโ
Test your knowledge: Here are sample lyrics from two other classic albums of 1965. Can you name the song, album and artist? (answers at the bottom of the page)
– โHow does it feel, to be without a home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone?’
– โPeople try to put us d-down, just because we g-g-get aroundโ
1975
Our album of the year: Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Why we chose it: How do you follow the astonishing global success of Dark Side of the Moon? One thing Pink Floyd didnโt do is target chart success (though they got plenty of that anyway); patience is required for Wish You Were Here โ the opening track is nine minutes old before anyone sings a note. Soon though, you realise that the pacing, structure and tone of the album are things of greatness.
Highest chart position, UK/US: 1/1
Best song: โShine On You Crazy Diamondโ
Test your knowledge: Here are some sample lyrics from two other classic albums from 1975. Can you name the song, album and artist?
– โOh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream, I am a traveller of both time and space, to be where I have beenโ
– โJesus died for somebodyโs sins, but not mineโ
1985
Our album of the year: Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
Why we chose it: In the scheme of Billboard successes of 1985, Rain Dogs was a modest performer, yet we think it was the yearโs best โ after all, how can we overlook an album that begins with a song called โSingaporeโ? Bias aside, thereโs an extraordinary mรฉlange of sounds here, including everything from Waitsโ earlier piano-bar style to sea shanties, dirty blues and bizarre polkas. And lyrically heโs at the top of the tree.
Highest chart position, UK/US: 29/188
Best song: โTimeโ
Test your knowledge: Here are some sample lyrics from two other classic albums from 1985. Can you name the song, album and artist?
– โIโve waited hours for this, Iโve made myself so sick, I wished Iโd stayed โฆ asleep todayโ
– โYou shut your mouth, how can you say, I go about things the wrong way?
1995
Our album of the year: (Whatโs the Story) Morning Glory by Oasis
Why we chose it: โWhere were you while we were getting high?โ asks Liam Gallagher towards the end of this, Oasisโs biggest-selling album. Well, if you happened to be in the UK in the 90s, then youโll have first-hand knowledge of how this Manchester rock outfit massively affected the cultural landscape, thanks to storming hits like โWonderwallโ and โDonโt Look Back in Angerโ from Morning Glory. Not bad for a bunch of lager louts.
Highest chart position, UK/US: 1/4
Best song: โChampagne Supernovaโ
Test your knowledge: Here are some sample lyrics from two other classic albums from 1995. Can you name the song, album and artist?
–ย โThe world is a vampire, sent to drainโ
– โTwo jumps in a week, I bet you think thatโs pretty clever, donโt you boy?โ
2005
Our album of the year: Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
Why we chose it: If youโve not heard this album, itโs hard to sell it in a short blurb: a sprawling collection of low-fi songs about the various historical characters and landscapes of the American state of Illinois โ doesnโt sound too appealing, right? In fact, itโs incredible stuff: a mix of multi-instrumental pop songs, banjo-driven folk tunes and splashes of soul and even disco, with catchy hooks and memorable lyrics.
Highest chart position, US: 1 (and ranked 1 on Amazon.com for the year)
Best song: โChicagoโ
Test your knowledge: Here are some sample lyrics from two other classic albums from 2005. Can you name the song, album and artist?
– โI ainโt happy, Iโm feeling glad, I got sunshine in a bag, Iโm useless but not for long, the future is coming onโ
– โShe take my money when Iโm in need, yeah sheโs a trifling friend indeedโ
2015
Will this yearโs albums scale the heights of those weโve mentioned already? We hope so. To give you a glimpse of what weโre in for, hereโs a list of 10 artists who are rumoured to be releasing new music at some point over the next 12 months.
– Adele
– Death Cab For Cutie
– Bruno Mars
– Kanye West
– Bjรถrk
– Muse
– James Blake
– Radiohead
– Nas
– Frank Ocean
Quiz answers!
1965
– Bob Dylan, โLike A Rolling Stoneโ, Highway 61 Revisited
– The Who, โMy Generationโ, My Generation
1975
– Led Zeppelin, โKashmirโ, Physical Graffiti
– Patti Smith, โGloriaโ, Horses
1985
– The Cure, โClose to Meโ, The Head on the Door
– The Smiths, โHow Soon is Now?โ, Meat is Murder [bonus point if you knew this single was not on the original album but was included on most subsequent editions]
1995
– Smashing Pumpkins, โBullet with Butterfly Wingsโ, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
– Radiohead, โHigh and Dryโ, The Bends
2005
Gorillaz, โClint Eastwoodโ, Demon Days
Kanye West, โGold Diggerโ, Late Registration
