Saturday, September 5, 2009

My Album Trade

I have a friend who operates his own blog, and is a bit of a social media guru for what will remain an unnamed mega-corporation bent on world domination. I listen to metal, and he listens to sissy stuff like Radiohead and Death Cab for Cutie.

We realized the other day that neither of us had any exposure to the others favorite genre. I've never listened to "OK Computer", and he's never heard "Master of Puppets". Pretty wild, particularly the part about never hearing "Puppets". So we've decided to do an album trade. I'm giving him three metal albums for him to review, and he's going to give me three boy band albums (or whatever it is he listens to), and I will review them here on my blog. All joking aside... the rule is that we are both going to really listen to these albums and review them fairly.

But now I need to pick my albums. I've already chosen the first two, and I'm going to have to think more about the third. The first album I'm sending him will be "Crack the Skye" by Mastodon... not only because it is a fantastic modern metal album, but because I think your average pretentious indie musician might actually find something to love about it. The second album I will be sending him will be "Master of Puppets" by Metallica... purely because of it's insane overall quality. I figure if someone can't find something to love about Puppets, they will never appreciate metal at all.

I don't know yet what the third album will be. I'm considering "Powerslave" by Maiden, "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns n' Roses, and perhaps "Reign in Blood" by Slayer. Slayer would be an wild pick... but he is a musician, and he might appreciate seeing the extremes of the genre.

So this is where I need some reader help. What album should I send the man... and why? Please fill up the comment thread below.

Update: The other side of my album trading experiment can be found at b.radnelson.com. If you give him any feedback... please be nice. We may not see eye to eye on politics or music, but he's a nice enough gentleman and he deserves your respect.

15 comments:

Just_a_man said...

I think you should pick Iron Maiden "Live after Death" for the Maiden album, because it shows how awesome Iron Maiden (especially Bruce) are live. It also has a good spread of their early songs, including my favorite Maiden song "revelations".

Korax said...

I say "caught somewhere in time" works great to get people into metal. Just_a_man's pick does offer some more variation in songs, though.

Unknown said...

The three albums you should have sent him were Master, Symbolic (Death) and Powerslave.

Unknown said...

If you want to tickle his "music" funny bone I would send Death before Slayer for sure. I still think you should have your head examined for agreeing to birth control music.

Perpetual Cacophany said...

Powerslave. It's a perfect album for someone who doesn't know metal yet.

Shatner said...

Thanks guys... I am leaning towards Powerslave and trying suppress my love for Appetite.

But how can he never have heard Appetite for Destruction?

Unknown said...

He is not a man...that is how. If I were you I would pretend to listen to it and review it by simply saying..."Great album if you are suicidal 14 year old boy with dysfunctional parents or a woman who hates herself". End of review.

brad said...

I am the "man" to whom your friends are commenting about. Never did I think that I would be accused of being 14 or a female, neither of which are indicative of someone's musical taste. I've gotten into just about every other genre, but Lucas and I have different taste. His taste is a large whole in my collection & music listening knowledge. To have never heard OK Computer is a shame ...

Can't wait to hear what you say about Radiohead. I'm not sure what direction I'm going with this next. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Van Morrison, Morphine, Wilco, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Mahler, Bartok, another Radiohead album or someone else?

I'm not viewing this as a competition. There is plenty of good music to go around. I have plenty of very liberal friends, like myself, who like metal. No reason I can't give it a chance.

@Arthur - Hi, we've never met. Perhaps next time Lucas and his lady are over you can join us, we can drink. Maybe you'll be able to keep up, Lucas can't ;-).

@Shatner - We're not bent on world domination, we just want to make good coffee and people happy. Besides, I thought you liked capitalism?

Shatner said...

I'm going to be judging the music and the message on completely different levels. I'll be surprised if the music I end up reviewing has a message that appeals to me... but I can respect well written music... and I know I won't be completely let-down on that side of things.

I know that if I want metal to be treated fairly... I need to treat your 14-year old girl music fairly :-)

And yes Brad... I am a fan of capitalism, and world domination is awesome!

Shatner said...

Oh... you should know that my Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Mahler experience is extensive. You wouldn't be filling in any gaps there.

Shatner said...

One more thing...

Brad, you and Arthur in the same room would be the biggest disaster ever, and I hope it doesn't happen.

Also, Art couldn't keep up with you drinking because Art is a pussy and doesn't like good beer.

Anonymous said...

This is Liberal Slayer from the Hall.

I suggest Powerslave, Master of Puppets,and Blood Mountain.

Other 3 would be: Metallica ~ Kill em' All, Queensryche ~ Empire, Guns and Roses ~ Appitite for Destruction

Harry Paget Flashman said...

All music that is not Carl Orff's is weak sauce. O Fortuna!

Harry Paget Flashman said...

Here is the deal. All music that is not Carl Orff's is weak sauce. That should not have to be said twice. O Fortuna! Why was my first post put in the waste bin?

Jaktens Tid said...

I would go with the following:

1. "Epidemic of Violence" by Demolition Hammer
2. "Contradictions Collapse" - Meshuggah
3. "Human" - Death
4. "Watershed" - Opeth