Onski's Top 20 Albums of All Time
Number 1
King for a day - Faith No More
1. Get Out
2. Ricochet
3. Evidence
4. The Gentle Art of Making Enemies
5. Star A.D.
6. Cuckoo for Caca
7. Caralho Voador
8. Ugly In The Morning
9. Digging The Grave
10. Take This Bottle
11. King For A Day
12. What A Day
13. The Last To Know
14. Just A Man
This album is as close to a perfect album for me as I have found. I love the speed of 'Diggin the Grave', the softness of 'Easy' & 'Evidence', the hardness of 'Get Out' and the song that consistently cheers me up, 'The Gentle Art of Making Enemies'.
Faith No More are able to get the most out of their instruments and vocals. The varying sounds keep you interested in the songs from go to whoa. Truly a great album for all rock fans.
Number 2
Judgement Night Soundtrack - Various Artists (1993)
1. Just Another Victim - Helmet/House Of Pain
2. Fallin' - Teenage Fanclub/ De La Soul
3. Me, Myself & My Microphone - Living Colour,/Run D.M.C.
4. Judgment Night - Biohazard/Onyx
5. Disorder - Slayer/Ice-T
6. Another Body Murdered - Faith No More/Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.
7. I Love You Mary Jane - Sonic Youth/Cypress Hill
8. Freak Momma - Mudhoney/Sir Mix-A-Lot
9. Missing Link - Dinosaur Jr./Del The Funky Homosapien
10. Come And Die - Therapy?/Fatal
11. Real Thing - Pearl Jam/Cypress Hill
A unique project mixing rock bands with rap. Bringing bands together like Cypress Hill/Pearl Jam, Living Colour/Run DMC, Slayer/Ice T and Faith No More/Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. It is rare to enjoy every track on an album but this one I do. Highlights for me are 'Me, Myself and My Microphone', 'Judgement Night', 'Disorder', 'Another body Murdered' and 'Fallin''
If you like hard rock with a mix of rap then this is the album for you.
Please Note: The movie was not too bad with Cuba Gooding Jr, Emilio Estevez, Denis Leary, Stephen Dorff and Jeremy Piven.
Number 3
Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers
1. Power of Equality
2. If You Have to Ask
3. Breaking the Girl
4. Funky Monks
5. Suck My Kiss
6. I Could Have Lied
7. Mellowship Slinky in B Major
8. Righteous & The Wicked
9. Give It Away
10. Blood Sugar Sex Magik
11. Under the Bridge
12. Naked in the Rain
13. Apache Rose Peacock
14. Greeting Song
15. My Lovely Man
16. Sir Psycho Sexy
17. They're Red Hot
The gem that got the Chili Peppers on the commercial map. Blood Sugar Sex Magik included the #1 hit 'Under the Bridge' which got me interested. But after buying the album I got hooked on 'Suck My Kiss', 'Give It Away', 'Funky Monks', 'Apache Rose Peacock', 'The Righteous & The Wicked' and the title track 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' This is an album I could listen to over and over again. I loved, I should state, I love it.
In a side note I was even lucky enough to win a signed album and framed poster by singing some of the lyrics to 'Give it Away' way back in the 90's.
Please Note: I love the start to Funky Monks so much it is my ring tone.
Number 4
Persona Non Grata - Urban Dance Squad
1. Demagogue
2. Good Grief!
3. No Honestly!
4. Alienated
5. Candy Strip Exp.
6. Self-sufficient Snake
7. (Some) Chitchat
8. Burnt Up Cigarette
9. Self-styled
10. Mugs hot
11. Hangout
12. Downer
Who the hell is Urban Dance Squad I hear you ask. Well they are one of the greatest exports of The Netherland. This Dutch band are hard, fast and ahead of their times. I first noticed them back in the 90's on Rage when I saw the video clip for 'Deeper Shade of Soul'. It was a slow paced, relaxing vibe song with a great beat and it got me slowly engrossed. First chance I went to find their album, which was kinda hard too. The album blew me away, their style was like no other rock with an industrial touch, and the vocals are just different.
Along with Deeper Shade of Soul I just love Hitchhike HD, Prayer for My Demo, No Kid, Big Apple and Fast Lane. I always enjoy listening to this album in the car, it is consistent in its quality which I love.
Number 5
Superunknown - Soundgarden
1. Let Me Drown
2. My Wave
3. Fell On Black Days
4. Mailman
5. Superunknown
6. Head Down
7. Black Hole Sun
8. Spoonman
9. Limo Wreck
10. The Day I Tried To Live
11. Kickstand
12. Fresh Tendrils
13. 4th Of July
14. Half
15. Like Suicide
I am a huge fan of Soundgarden and this album is the reason why. Yeah I jumped on the grunge thing with Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but I thought Soundgarden were greater musicians and it showed in their songs.
Black Hole Sun was the most remembered from this album by most people, but other quality tracks include My Wave, Spoonman, Fell on Black Days & Superunknown. The power from Chris Cornell in the lyrics is mind blowing, he is a master front man.
Number 6
Mental Floss for the Globe
1. Fast Lane
2. No Kid
3. Deeper Shade Of Soul
4. Prayer For My Demo
5. Big Apple
6. Piece Of Rock
7. Brainstorm On The U.D.S.
8. The Devil
9. Famous When You're Dead
10. Mental Floss For The Globe
11. God Blasts The Queen
Yep Urban Dance Squad (UDS) has hit the Top 10 twice. After their first album blew me away I had to get the 2nd, especially when I saw it was $4.95 at JB Hi Fi in Dandenong. I got to the counter only for them to tell me the price was wrong and subsequently charged me $24.95. That was about 13 years back JB I have never forgiven you.
Anyway this album was just as good (nearly) as the first. The harsh sounds of Demagogue, very slightly reggaeish Self-Styled along with Burnt Up Cigarette, (Some) Chit Chat all rock. Finally they performed Good Grief on stage in the film Hackers, which was a very pleasant surprise when you don’t expect it. A great follow up album to Mental Floss for the Globe.
Number 7
Bodycount - Bodycount
1. Smoked Pork
2. Body Count's In The House
3. Now Sports
4. Body Count
5. A Statistic
6. Bowels Of The Devil
7. The Real Problem
8. BKK Bitch
9. I Note
10. Voodoo
11. The Winner Loses
12. There Goes The Neighbourhood
13. Oprah
14. Evil Dick
15. Body Count Anthem
16. Momma's Gotta Die Tonight
17. Ice-T/Freedom Of Speech
Ice-T making a rock album, you gotta love it. No this wasn’t his first foray into the Rock Industry but it was his best. Along with his partners in crime Ernie C, Mooseman, Beatmaster V, the boys from South Central LA certainly kick it hard. Oh this is driving music and not for the faint hearted. It deserves all of the Explicit Lyrics sticker, but lets not forget the comical nature of some of their songs, you cant take things too seriously.
Starting off with the Bodycount's in the house, through to KKK B*tch, Voodoo and Evil D*ck the music is hard and id a great mix for driving. But nothing beats the classic 'There goes the neighbourhood' which its hard guitar and heavy lyrics.
Number 8
Present And Future - Rob Zombie
1. Thunder Kiss '65
2. Black Sunshine
3. Feed the Gods
4. More Human Than Human
5. Super Charger Heaven
6. I'm Your Boogieman
7. Hands of Death (Burn Baby Burn)
8. The Great American Nightmare (with Howard Stern)
9. Dragula
10. Living Dead Girl
11. Superbeast
12. Feel So Numb
13. Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)
14. Demon Speeding
15. Brickhouse 2003 (with Trina)
16. Pussy Liquor
17. Blitzkrieg Bop
18. Two-Lane Blacktop
19. Girl on Fire
Rob Zombie, the main man of the band White Zombie decided to make some solo albums in-between making horror movies. Most of these solo efforts are a bit weaker than the bands production, but with Rob the opposite is true. This album is a collection of his best work. It is hard rock at its best and the great part is that includes a number of hit White Zombie tracks. More Human that Human is a favourite of mine and luckily this White Zombie Classic makes the song list, along with 'I'm your Boogie Man'.
But some of his more recent solo tunes make the album with Dragula, Living Dead girl, Feel So Numb, P**** Liquor and the remake of Lionel Richies Brick House. So many songs to wake you up and get the blood pumping. (which if you cant tell by now is something I like in my music.)
Number 9
The Colour And The Shape - Foo Fighters
1. Doll
2. Monkey Wrench
3. Hey, Johnny Park!
4. My Poor Brain
5. Wind Up
6. Up In Arms
7. My Hero
8. See You
9. Enough Space
10. February Stars
11. Everlong
12. Walking After You
13. New Way Home
Oh the Foo Fighters. I always liked the Foo Fighters but never had any of their albums. But was going along to see them live and thought I should buy one or two. Instead I got them all. And The Colour and the Shape was my favourite of the bunch. I was scanning all the songs to find a good one on here, for which I had no problem, they all rock. I couldn’t find a bad song. Monkey Wrench and My Hero are the two well known songs but the supporting songs of Hey Jonny Park! and My Poor Brain are awesome.
Number 10
Stain - Living Colour
1. Go Away
2. Ignorance Is Bliss
3. Leave It Alone
4. Bi
5. Mind Your Own Business
6. Auslander
7. Never Satisfied
8. Nothingness
9. Postman
10. Wtff
11. This Little Pig
12. Hemp
13. Wall
14. TV News
15. Love Rears Its Ugly Head (Live)
Initially I had this album around 18th but after relooking at the track list it had to jump into the Top 10. Living Colour is the most musically talented band on the planet. Will on drums is a machine, Doug on bass is a freak, Vernon on Lead Guitar is a master of his craft and Corey is the best front man ever, that is why they are my joint favourite band with Fishbone. Much like other bands I had to choose the best Living Colour album from the bunch and this was a tight first.
Seriously from the get go with Go Away, to Ignorance Is Bliss, Leave It Alone, Mind Your Own Business, Auslander, Never Satisfied, Nothingness and a live version of the classic Love Rears Its Ugly Head. Man why don’t I just list all the songs as it rocks. Finally it also contains Bi which is the only film clip I have seen Rage give an individual R rating to.
Number 11
America's Least Wanted - Ugly Kid Joe
1. Neighbour
2. Goddamn Devil
3. Come Tomorrow
4. Panhandlin' Prince
5. Busy Bee
6. Don't Go
7. So Damn Cool
8. Same Side
9. Cats In The Cradle
10. I'll Keep Tryin'
11. Everything About You
12. Madman ('92 Re-Mix)
13. Mr. Recordman
I had this album on tape back in the day. I had this and Lenny Kravitz's 'Are you gonna go my way'. So what does that mean? I know all the words to each of those albums as it is all I listened to. It also means I love this Ugly Kid Joe album. Only recently I picked up the CD on eBay and after playing it a few times I know why I loved it. It is a simple album but great tunes with great riffs and very catchy.
They really got peoples attention back in the early 90's with their remake of 'Cats in the Cradle' but my favourites are 'Neighbour', 'Come Tomorrow', 'Same Side', 'Everything about you', 'Madman' and 'Mr Recordman'. In fact I love all the tracks. Great album.
Number 12
Mama Said - Lenny Kravitz
1. Fields Of Joy
2. Always On The Run
3. Stand By My Woman
4. It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over
5. More Than Anything In This World
6. What Goes Around Comes Around
7. The Difference Is Why
8. Stop Draggin' Around
9. Flowers For Zoë
10. Fields Of Joy (Reprise)
11. All I Ever Wanted
12. When The Morning Turns To Night
13. What The .... Are We Saying?
14. Butterfly
As mentioned earlier Lenny was high on the Sony Tape Walkman back in the early 90's and one of his albums had to make the Top 20. The album I chose was Mama Said. It was difficult to choose as I do love 'Are you Gonna go My way' and '5' but 'Mama Said' just pipped them as an all-rounder. Lenny shows he is the man of love in this album with tunes such as Always on the Run, Stand By My Woman, It Aint Over Til Its Over, More than Anything in this world, What goes around Comes Around and Stop Dragging Around. Like the previous I could say all the tracks are great on this album. Lenny is a gem and will always be in my top 10 artists.
Number 13
Injected - Phunk Junkeez
1. B-Boy Hard
2. I Love It Loud [Injected Mix]
3. Me 'N Yer Girl
4. People
5. Flippin' My Wig
6. Snapped
7. Devil Woman
8. Smooth Tip
9. Chuck
10. Liquid Aggression
11. Roach Clip
12. White Boy Day
Phunk Junkeez hit the charts in the 90's with this album and a couple of hard tracks, then left the building just as quick. Doesn’t mean I don’t love this album. I was thrown into the Phunk Junkeez world after seeing 'I Love It Loud' film clip on Rage with they guys from Tommy Boy being in it. Another song that got a lot of JJJ airplay was 'Chuck'. They play a slight rock-rap form of music which suits my tastes and push the bar to the limit with their hard sound as seen in 'People' & 'Liquid Aggression'. Finally they bring a mix of humour into some of their songs as seen in the song 'Me N Yer Girl' which is about a guy regretting picking up a great looking woman only to find out it was a man. This is a great car album.
Number 14
The Awesome Power Of A Fully Operational Mothership - George Clinton
1. If Anybody Gets Funked Up (It's Gonna Be You)
2. Summer Swim
3. Funky Kind (gonna Knock IT Down)
4. Mathematics
5. Hard As Steel
6. New Spaceship
7. Underground Angel
8. Let's Get Funky
9. Flatman & Bobbin
10. Sloppy Seconds
11. Rock The Party
12. Get Your Funk On
13. T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (Fly Away)
14. If Anybody Gets Funked Up (It's Gonna Be You) Collin Wolfe Mix
George Clinton, no not Bill, was the lead singer of the 70's funk outfit Funkadelic. He is seen as an inspiration for many R&B, Funk, Hip Hop, Rap and Rock stars since. I was intrigued by the man and had to check out some of his stuff, so I bought this album. It is as expected hardcore funk at its best. The album is like one big party and every song you picture people half naked partying around a pool in the Hollywood Hills.
'If anybody gets funked up (its gonna be you)' starts the album off in brilliant funk fashion, then 'Summer Swim' doesn’t let the funk end. 'Hard as Steel' is a classic as well as 'Lets Get Funky'. If your ever after a funk album start with this, no regrets to be had.
Number 15
Nevermind - Nirvana
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. In Bloom
3. Come as You Are
4. Breed
5. Lithium
6. Polly
7. Territorial Pissings
8. Drain You
9. Lounge Act
10. Stay Away
11. On a Plain
12. Something in the Way
This album makes a call up on many peoples greatest album lists. Why? It contains some of the best tracks Nirvana ever released and it hit a generation of people all at once with a huge smack. Smells Like Teen Spirit shot Nirvana from a decent band into the earphones of every teenager world wide. But the album had more with Come as You Are, Lithium and Territorial Pissings all making my ears surround the earphones to not let the sound escape.
Number 16
Living In The Present Future - Eagle Eye Cherry
1. Been Here Once Before
2. Are You Still Having Fun?
3. One Good Reason
4. Promises Made
5. Burning Up
6. Together
7. Long Way Around
8. Lonely Days (Miles Away)
9. First To Fall
10. Miss Fortune
11. She Didn't Believe
12. Shades Of Gray
Eagle Eye Cherry produced one of the greatest feel good relaxing summer albums of all time in my eyes with this album. Yes it is soft compared too all the other albums I have talked about but don’t get me wrong I think it is awesome. Not many people know of him, but they know of his songs thanks to many of them being turned into adverts.
Hits like 'Are we still having fun' and 'Lonely Days (Miles Away) are smooth and without flaws. I am also a fan of 'Been here once before' and 'One good reason' but to be honest the whole album is a pleasure to listen to.
Number 17
Chim Chim's Bad Ass Revenge - Fishbone
1. Intro
2. Chim Chim's Badass Revenge
3. In The Cube
4. Beergut
5. Interlude 1
6. Psychologically Overcast
7. Alcoholic
8. Love...Hate
9. Interlude 2
10. Riot
11. Monkey Dick
12. Sourpuss
13. Rock Star
14. Pre Nut
15. Nutmeg
Many would have expected Fishbone to be higher on my list of albums, in fact so would I, but the thing is in terms of albums I can just listen to over and over the others come higher. Fishbone are still my joint favourite band with Living Colour but their best album could only rank 16th. Chim Chim's is fun, funky, rocky and weird in a way that only Fishbone could be. Any album with Intro's and Interludes always makes it interesting. But as for the songs it has some quality tracks.
The title track, Chim Chim's Badass Revenge gets the album off to a great start with its mellow start and high speed tempo kicking in shortly after. Other favourites include Riot, Rock Star and a song that should make my Top 10 songs of all time, Psychologically Overcast featuring a great verse from Busta Rhymes.
Number 18
Audioslave - Audioslave
1. Cochise
2. Show Me How To Live
3. Gasoline
4. What You Are
5. Like A Stone
6. Set It Off
7. Shadow Of The Sun
8. I Am The Highway
9. Exploder
10. Hypnotize
11. Bring Em Back Alive
12. Light My Way
13. Getaway Car
14. The Last Remaining Light
As mentioned in my piece on Soundgarden, I think that Chris Cornell is a wonderful front man. And he makes Audioslave one of my favourite bands of today. (Although I did see the performance he did on the DVD in Cuba and he was shocking in it, looked like he had a gun pointed at him the whole time, probably did)
Anyway this album is a true rock album with a number of tracks that make it easy to listen to and enjoyable. Personal favourites include Cohcise, Like a Stone and Show Me How To Live. I am yet to hear their latest effort but I am hoping it is as good.
Number 19
Vs - Pearl Jam
1. Go
2. Animal
3. Daughter
4. Glorified G.
5. Dissident
6. W.M.A.
7. Blood
8. Rearviewmirror
9. Rats
10. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
11. Leash
12. Indifference
Like the Nevermind from Nirvana, Pearl Jams Vs is a classic that continued their excellence on from their previous album 'Ten'. 'Ten' set the ball in the right position for Pearl Jam to be great, Vs booted it through the sticks and out of the arena into an area beyond greatness. How can you go past the songs 'Go', 'Animal', 'Blood', 'Daughter' and 'Rearviewmirror'. Oh this album got a lot of airplay in my stereo back in the day. I even bought the album twice as I lost the first one I had. That’s the sign of a great album, and damn it only mad it to 19, imaging how good the other albums above this one are.
Number 20
The Ultimate Experience - Jimi Hendrix
1. All Along The Watchtower
2. Purple Haze
3. Hey Joe
4. The Wind Cries Mary
5. Angel
6. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
7. Foxy Lady
8. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp
9. Highway Chile
10. Crosstown Traffic
11. Castles Made Of Sand
12. Long Hot Summer Night
13. Red House
14. Manic Depression
15. Gypsy Eyes
16. Little Wing
17. Fire
18. Wait Until Tomorrow
19. Star Spangled Banner (Live)
20. Wild Thing (Live)
I had to have Jimi Hendrix in this list. The man was a freak on the axe, getting sounds out of his guitar way beyond his time. This album was a collection of some of his greatest songs, not all of them, but many of them.
I adore Voodoo Child for its wonderful intro, Fire for its pace, Red House for its Blues along with the known classics, All along the watchtower, purple haze, Hey Joe, Manic Depression and Foxy Lady. This album would never be far from the CD player along with the other magnificent 19 above it.
So that is my Top 20 albums of all time. What do you think? Love to hear your comments and even your Top 10 or 20. Thanks for reading.
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