EPTBut anyways I hope to, say about, once a month do one of these posts where I recommend a couple albums, each of different genres or moods. What I am aiming for is to be able to share some great albums with everyone on Teamliquid regardless of your musical interests.
In terms of my credibility and why you should care about my opinion. Well, in the end my opinion doesn't matter and you don't have to. But just to let you know that there are knowledgeable caring hands at work on this blog, I have been playing guitar for 10 years and have experience playing many others. I compose music and play in an improv band with my best friend and I listen to at least 3 or 4 albums a week.
Now that both hands are on the keyboard I can put away my e-weiner and start. OH also I'll put a youtube link to one of the best songs on the album for each one, but please do listen to the whole album if you enjoy it.
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
Released: 1972
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/NickDrakePinkMoon.jpg)
Genre: Folk, Fingerstyle Guitar
Listen to this album if you want: Ethereal, beautiful soft but gloomy music. Virtuoso guitar playing. Alternate tunings. A perfect album.
I figure I'll start this whole thing off with one of my favourite albums ever, and one that has been hugely influential in terms of my own guitar playing (subtle shameless plug). Nick Drake was a british acoustic guitar player who's introverted nature, social anxieties and depression led him to quit playing live shows and eventually completely seclude himself in his room until his death at the young age of 26. This was Drake's last album he recorded before his death. However even without that context, Drake's lyrics and phenomenal guitar playing haunt each track with such spider silk softness and beauty. There are no weak tracks on this record, and Nick Drake keeps you hooked the entire modest 28 minutes it runs for. The only thing playing in this record, are Drake's voice, his guitar, and a piano in the opening title track. It's a stunning masterpiece that makes for great winter music.
+ Show Spoiler +
Storm & Stress - Under Thunder and Fluorescent Lights
Released: 2000
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Storm_%26_Stress_-_Under_Thunder_and_Fluorescent_Lights.jpeg)
Genre: Experimental Rock, Post Math
Listen to this album if you want: Music that will get inside your head. Very different and strange. Oddly beautiful music.
Storm & Stress were an experimental rock band led by guitarist Ian Williams who would later play guitar in the critically acclaimed and influental math rock band "Don Caballero" as well as lead the hugely succesful band "Battles". Williams' unique approach to electric guitar, and Kevin Shea's incredibly tight but loose drumming guide you through a hypnotic and atmopsheric sound scape. Each song carrying so many different melodies and sounds, that at times it is almost overwhelming to your ears without the use of dynamics. The droopy riffage and cloudy imagery this album gives you is unforgettable and a must listen for any Math rock fans out there.
+ Show Spoiler +
The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
Released: 2004
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/72/The_Streets-A_Grand_Don%27t_Come_For_Free.jpg)
Genre: Hip Hop, UK Garage
Listen to this album if you want: A different take on hip hop. a good story. Or you like listening to British people rap things
Mike Skinner, the now retired British mastermind behind "The Streets" was really ahead of his time with this release. While concept albums have long been around in popular music, The Streets take a charmingly simple story for the concept of this album while layering it with unique and quirky hooks and earnestly endearing lyrics from Skinner. The story of the album follows a character named Mike, a young lower class man living in London who mysteriously loses $1000 in his flat, and his new relationship with a girl named Simone. Skinner's fast paced and neurotic lyrics achieve something magical by creating much more emotion and depth on each track than what is heard at first glance. The powerful closing of this album, the tracks "Dry your Eyes" and "Empty Cans" may still cause me to grab a tissue and dry my eyes.
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Esbjörn Svensson Trio - Tuesday Wonderland
Released: 2006
![[image loading]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZoIAtRxt31E/Rr-Lnnnfo1I/AAAAAAAAC1E/eHCHFJfPbLU/s320/est.jpg)
Genre: Jazz -> Piano Trio
Listen to this album if you want: Music to unwind to, atmospheric jazz, unique instrumentation
This was an album I heard last summer and was blown away by, and then was saddened to find that Esbjörn Svennson passed away in 2008 in a Scuba diving accident. Tragic stuff
But about the album, this record has some immaculate piano playing, and the rest of the band are no slouches, each track traverses different territory and contrast their moods quite well. However the strongest tracks on the album are the ones that find a beautiful riff but don't work it too hard, the result are some amazing laid back tracks.+ Show Spoiler +
SO THAT'S IT, that was actually more writing than I thought it would be. Hopefully I can keep this up on a monthly or bimonthly basis. See you next time!
If you are looking for classical music as in the specific time period of classical music, I would suggest Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.2 it's simply gorgeous and in my opinion fairly easy to get into. I often listen to baroque and classical music when I study and I highly recommend anything by Bach or Heinrich Biber, their music often falls in that connecting period between baroque and classical and you'll find some really beautiful and interesting pieces there. This section of Biber's 3rd Sonata is my personal fave 
