Nitro Music

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

Innovative, cool, jangling, intelligent and timeless all wrapped up in 11 classic tunes. It's hard not to picture the band all flared up and unapproachable as another eloquent riff meets Ian Brown's lazily angled vocals. While some albums certainly bow to the law of diminishing returns, the Stone Roses merely reinvents itself. The final track on the album 'I Am The Resurrection' is surely the Stone Roses most appropriate epitaph. Spanning an intoxicating 8 plus minutes, it fulfils every dream you ever had of writing the best song ever. Reni hammers his instrument until it warps, Mani loops the loop on bass, Brown sings with a wicked intensity and the star of the show, John Squire surpasses most guitar legends in the furore that is the last 4 and half minutes. Phenomenal.

Screamadelica - Primal Scream

With enough good material to surpass most compilation albums Primal Scream were catapulted to major league status with the emergence of Screamadelica in 1991. With heavy-handed remixes from Andrew Weatherall, Denise Johnson's golden voice, Jah Wobble's pummelling bass guitar, Bobby Gillespie chose his collaborators well. Malcolm X even provides a guest appearance on 'Come Together' a dance shakedown that evolves over 9 beautiful minutes.

Giant Steps - The Boo Radleys

Released 10 years ago 'Giant Steps' represents the Boo Radleys at their imperious zenith and is undoubtedly one of the albums of the nineties. Forget 'Wake Up Boo', that was a red herring. Instead listen to 14 different coloured rainbows. At times the album shuttles about with abandon, scaring small creatures that are within listening distance. Some find it unkempt but a small amount of patience reveals a luxurious wealth of winning ideas. Martin Carr, much admired drinker and now steering the Brave Captain ship conjured melodies at will and provided the ammunition for Sice's magnetic choirboy vocals. Still remarkable a decade later.

Deserter Songs - Mercury Rev

And right out of the blue came Mercury Rev. Nearly men, who had crafted several flawed albums, until the magical opus that is 'Deserters Songs' reared its head. Add this album to their unforgettable intimate live performances and Mercury Rev rightfully hold pride of place on the a-list of innovative artists. 'Deserter Songs' is an album to dance to, an album to cry to, an album to make love to and most off all an album to live life by. Not the adventure of a lifetime then, more one you can take every three-quarters of an hour.

Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros

With a ragged beauty and grandiose formula suitably befitting a band from Iceland, Sigur Ros are a breath of fresh air in a sometimes-stale indie market. While many of their contemporaries' follow well-worn formulas, Sigur Ros have a sound that is uniquely theirs. Each song on Agaetis byrjun is an opera in itself. A ethereal voice that could cut through a glacier soars and swoops over arrangements that are so endearing they’d be wasted on an audience not willing to succumb to its charms. The lyrics are a melange of Icelandic, Hopelandic (Sigur Ros language) and some English but as such it doesn't matter. Remember how you watched 'Life Is Beautiful' and forgot there were subtitles, well it’s the same here.

Lazer Guided Melodies - Spiritualized

Never really understood why they went Gospel. Preferred their earlier incarnation when fluid guitar moods with just 3 breaks could fill an entire album. Jason Pierce was a spaceman back then, chemicals fuelled his imagination, slide guitars and wah wah's made his dreams come true. Lazer Guided Melodies is a comfy couch to cradle your brain.

Souvlaki - Slowdive

Sandwiched between their promising debut 'Just For A Day' and the slightly disappointing 'Pygmalion', 'Souvlaki' represents Slowdive at the peak of their powers. Here was a band that garnered huge amounts of coverage in the music press but sold precious few records. Souvlaki (which is a Greek dish!) is awash with dizzy guitars and timid vocals and provides a benchmark for many shoegazing wannabies. Floppy fringed and glorious 'When The Sun Hits' must have sounded incredible live with its twinkle/abrasive sound clashes. It is the albums most outstanding track combining riffs as gorgeous as those on 'There She Goes' with occasional powerful bursts of electric mania.

Nowhere - Ride

Ride had an incredibly cool persona and boasted 2 great songwriters. Mark Gardiner had the choirboy vocals, while Andy Bell on guitar provided the ammunition. Nowhere was their debut and saw them capitalise on their early e.p.'s. The album is certainly of its time, drenched in feedback and discordant vocals that leave a decidedly attractive vapour trail in their wake.

Lost Souls - Doves

From early nineties acid kids (Sub Sub) to millennium indie darlings in only 10 years. 'Lost Souls' abounds with enormous helpings of memorable guitar based melodies that have such powerful edges they will leave you searching for scorch marks. One to reach for when the decidedly cheap aeroplane you are passenger in begins to splutter. Why should you take this course of action I hear you say, well because no deserted island dweller deserves to be without 'Lost Souls'.

George Best - The Wedding Present

'George Best' surely boasts the most chords per minute ever recorded. It might be interesting to see what the album would sound like at half the speed. The band were to create more cohesive records (like the 1991 classic, Seamonsters) that ensured a wider audience but 'George Best' defined that unique Wedding Present sound. This is an album that is splendidly graced by innocence, energy, joie de vivre and above all else an assured sense of greatness.

Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain - Pavement

Their debut 'Slanted and Enchanted' was a genuine breath of fresh air but it had that Sonic Youth type disposition where earnest ramblings prove fruitless from time to time. But by 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain' Pavement had become as well oiled a pop machine that is feasibly possible with modern day instruments. I mean 'Cut Your Hair' and 'Gold Soundz' are like mints in an hangover induced mouth, all melodic chords and flushing vocals. It's hard not to smile when you hear them. Elsewhere there are so many hip shaking raptures you'll possibly be looking for a replacement by the end. Pavements only fault is their guilt of quality in the first degree.

The Sophtware Slump - Grandaddy

For those of the music over matter persuasion, The Sophtware Slump is a rare treat. It's the type record that creates that Christmas feeling all year round. Each track has it's own kaleidoscope approach that is hard to dislike. Maybe it's Jason Lytle's gorgeous vocal rasp or that the rest of the bands unearthly racket never sounds out of tune that reels you in until submission is the only alternative available. Whatever way you reach this album, whether it be through the glowing press they have received, their cathedral like live shows or their previous records nothing can prepare you for the grandeur of the Sophtware Slump

Bryter Layter - Nick Drake

Nick Drake's second album followed in the comet trail left by his wondrous debut 'Five Leaves Left'. Released in 1970 it shows little sign of ageing and despite being name dropped by all and sundry it largely remains an undiscovered classic. For students of the Belle & Sebastian school of melodic folk there is a seam of ripe material from this sadly underachieving (in his lifetime anyway) soul. The atmosphere is detached yet alluring, the playing is highly accomplished and the lyrics are intelligent and thoughtful. Little short of a classic then.

Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys

Pet Sounds is an indescribably happy record without any of the cheese of earlier Beach Boys records. Boy band material they certainly were not but this fact hardly matters as Pet Sounds is heaven sent. A record made for those times, these times and the times we've yet to experience. Watch it transport you to that dandelion field you dream of every night.

In Motion - The Language Of Everyday Life

The list of bands from Ireland who deserved better is long. Listen to Whipping Boy, the Brilliant Trees or A House and you'll discover how people's fickle preferences can be cruel. In Motion were one such band but unlike the aforementioned they didn't even make it in their native land. They only ever released one album, only ever released 1,000 copies but for those who heard this remarkable album there were enough emotions released to power a small village. It's quite short and at the end the listener is left at the cusp of the summit with nowhere to go. As cherishable as a newborn.

Source Tags & Codes - And You Will Find Us By The Trail Of Dead

'Source Tags & Codes' is essentially an album of 3 parts. The first section is a joyous representation of the bands ability to sound commercial while still abiding by their own scuzzy tenants. The middle gets decidedly uneven, perforating eardrums in the nicest possible way with a firm background cohesion holding the whole thing together. The final section paradoxically forms the centrepiece from where the album goes supernova. The melody comes to the fore and while the instrumentation retains a cavalier swagger the vocals become decidedly sang-froid.

Dubnobasswithmyheadman - Underworld

Perhaps it was good timing but this was the first time I realised how powerful dance music could be. The album has a dark edge, frightening almost but when 'Spoonman' and 'Cowgirl' hit full throttle leg propelling is an inevitable occurrence. Later Underworld efforts have their worthy moments but this consistently threw up beats that could turn your headphones into sugar cane.

Ok Computer - Radiohead

It might have Douglas Adams written all over it but this is nonetheless Radiohead's creation. 'The Bends' is perhaps more consistent but this album's highlights revealed several interstellar moments which Radiohead have yet to repeat. 'Ok Computer' is frightening hard to get a hold of, the rhythms are complex but repeated listens reveals a veritable treasure chest of ideas. The mark of true genius.

Ten Rapid - Mogwai

Mogwai's greatest gift has always been their ability to layer on the bombast without ever sounding bombastic. When a plethora of guitars play off each other like a knowing group of friends, the sound is too gorgeous to describe. Like an ocean that is too calm to be reassuring, Mogwai go about their business with the expressed intention of clearing out as many cobwebbed ears as possible. This is a collection of some their early ep's and is definitely worth every penny you pay for it. Rather than waiting around for something to happen, Stuart Braithwaite and Co. head straight for the jugular leaving you breathless but gasping for more.

Is This It? - The Strokes

So they wear their influences on their patched up sleeves. So what? When energetic melodies flow this freely its impossible to be critical. The Strokes offer a more accessible view of 'new' past than say the White Stripes. 'Is This it?' could still be viewed as an exercise in cut and paste. Garnering all the best ideas from a rich history of alternative pioneers, mixing it all up and then throwing a secret ingredient that sweetens the effect. Take 'The Modern Age' with its Lou Reedesque verbal volleys. At first it sounds so old hat, but then out of the blue it delivers a burst of pure melody from a guitar chord artery spiked with a vociferous yet engaging vocal. As an exercise in crafting seamless pop tunes 'Is This it?' is pretty close to perfect.

If You're Feeling Sinister - Belle & Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian's startling second album arrived at the perfect time. Britpop had taken the charts by storm and indie music was beginning to infiltrate the mainstream. IYFS sounded so completely different, full of folk fuelled moments, insightful lyrics and sleeve notes that tickle a funny bone you never thought you had. There's a lovely swing that runs right through the album that gives you the confidence to play it to your friends and feel proud that you discovered them first. Watch you're status in your circle of friends elevate as a result. Crack open the fake champagne to the celebratory strains of 'Mayfly' and get drunk on the closing track 'Judy and the Dream of Horses'.

Grand Prix - Teenage Fanclub

With a seemingly endless supply of sunny harmonies ready to pop from their collective minds at any time, this Glaswegian band seem a little hard done by. Instead of being tantalised by their beautiful vignettes, the world tosses cruel apathy in their general direction. Luckily the last thing Teenage Fanclub need is direction. It seems altogether neat that 'Grand Prix' was partially recorded in California owing as it does much to the sound that originated from that state. Harmony and melody blend so precociously together that one could almost expect little fluffy rabbits to emerge excitedly from your stereos speakers at any minute.

Loveless - My Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine sometimes get lumped in with the shoegazing pack and while that scene is fondly remembered by many, Loveless remains a peerless album that will persevere through this and many generations to come. It's 2 outstanding moments 'Soon' and 'I Only Said' rank among the best music evermade. If Beethoven was still around, this is the sort of stuff that he would have come up with. Both tracks are vaguely repetitive but are built around such resilient hooks they could raise the titanic. Loveless resembles a wild stallion, unfettered but still magnificent. It is only when you have tamed the sound that the true genius appears through the fog. The fact that songwriter Kevin Shields spent several months trying to perfect its lush sound, almost going mad in the process can only be for the world's benefit.

Trains, Boats & Planes - The Frank & Walters

In the week that Corkonians took over Top of the Pops, 'After All' beamed into millions of sitting rooms and we all shed a tear. Their time had come but alas that was the last time they stood on the hollowed turf. While this albums watershed single deserved its moment there was a lot more on offer to steal your heart. 'This Is Not A Song' will forever remain a lost classic; capable of turning Vinny Jones into a crybaby this is what the Beatles had intended it to be all about. Short, sweet and still capable of producing that same rush on the 100th listen. At this stage in their career the Franks were the king japers, cartoon characters who inhabited moo moo land. Perhaps it was this laissez faire attitude that held them back from attaining the pop crown.

The Great Eastern - The Delgados

The Great Eastern follows on from the delgados promising debut 'peleton' and is a staggering effort that will melt the hearts of all listeners. Just when you think things can't get better on a track, a lonesome string adds the final piece to the jigsaw that reveals the Delgados uncluttered, brilliant vision. Those who get it will forever be grateful. It is a pioneering piece of work. Not just your average, humdrum, ordinary, so-so,

diluted, bland indie album then. It's everything you ever wished for and more.