1. More of The Monkees (Deluxe Edition)
Sure, they were a made-for-TV pop phenomenon, but this "Deluxe Edition" peels back the layers. You find surprisingly sharp hooks and a genuine, if manufactured, energy that bit harder than critics let on. It’s early rock 'n' roll, polished but with a raw, almost garage-band undercurrent on certain tracks. This collection proves there was more than just television smiles; there was a genuine, albeit often overlooked, pop sensibility that subtly disrupted the saccharine mainstream.
2. Silver Apples
This wasn't just psychedelic rock; it was a blueprint for early electronic minimalism. Simeon Coxe’s homemade oscillators and wild, primal beats, paired with Danny Taylor’s propulsive drumming, created something truly singular. It was a bizarre, hypnotic racket, a raw industrial hum that predated krautrock's rhythmic explorations and punk's stripped-down ethos. A pure, unadulterated sonic experiment that still feels alien.
3. Journey in Satchidananda
Alice Coltrane didn't just play jazz; she channeled it. This album is a deep dive into spiritual realms, where modal structures meet Eastern mysticism and the harp becomes a vessel for transcendent soundscapes. It drifts, it drones, it builds. It pushed the boundaries of bebop's intellectualism into something profoundly atmospheric, a soulful, almost gospel-like journey that still resonates with an otherworldly calm.
4. Faust IV (Deluxe Edition)
Faust were never about easy listening. This "Deluxe Edition" of their krautrock masterpiece still feels like a deconstruction of rock music itself. From the motorik rhythms to the abrupt shifts and musique concrète interludes, it’s a chaotic, industrial-tinged journey. It’s the sound of rebellion made manifest, raw and unpolished, paving the way for post-punk's angularities and the very notion of experimental rock.
5. …For The Whole World To See
Before punk exploded, there was Death. This album, recorded in 1974 but largely unheard for decades, is a revelation. It’s raw, aggressive rock infused with a primal soul energy, brimming with a furious, almost prophetic intensity. The Hackneys were crafting proto-punk anthems with a bluesy swagger and metal’s formative power. It bites hard, a true forgotten powerhouse that finally found its audience.
6. Suicide (2019 - Remaster)
When this dropped in '77, it was a shock to the system. Alan Vega's primal screams over Martin Rev's stark, minimalist electronics and crude drum machines created something truly unsettling. The "2019 Remaster" cleans up the edges, but the raw, industrial grit and punk attitude remain. It’s a dark, confrontational work that paved the way for industrial music and electronic punk, still capable of raising hackles.
7. The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu weren't playing by anyone's rules. This record is a cornerstone of post-punk, a jagged, angular assault of sound that blends raw rock energy with industrial clatter and avant-garde sensibilities. David Thomas’s vocals are pure, unhinged genius, and the instrumentation is a masterclass in controlled chaos. It’s gritty, intellectual, and utterly distinctive, proving that punk’s real rebellion was just beginning.
8. Christmas Collection
And then there’s this. Most "Christmas Collections" were designed to be innocuous, but even within their commercial sheen, true sonic disruptions could be found. Think of the raw gospel shouts hidden among the carols, or the early blues laments that cut through the saccharine. It’s a reminder that primal, foundational sounds often found their way into the most unexpected, and sometimes most overlooked, corners.
