1. Harlem Street Singer
Reverend Gary Davis's raw, unvarnished gospel-blues guitar work here is foundational, a direct line from the spiritual to the earthly. And his voice, weathered by street corners and sanctified by faith, cuts through with an undeniable, gritty authenticity. This isn't just music; it's a field recording of a soul laid bare, a crucial document of an era where salvation and suffering intertwined on six strings. You hear the history of the blues in every finger-picked note.
2. Here Are the Sonics
Before punk even had a name, The Sonics were already ripping it apart. This record is pure, unadulterated garage rock fury, a primal scream from the American Northwest. And the raw production, that barely contained chaos, only amplifies their savage energy. It’s loud, it’s snotty, it’s gloriously unhinged rock and roll, a blueprint for every band that ever just wanted to play it hard and fast. No polish, just pure adrenaline.
3. The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators - 2008 Remaster
This 2008 remaster brings a fresh clarity to the lysergic haze of the Elevators' debut. Roky Erickson’s voice still rips through the Texas desert like a banshee, and that electric jug remains a bizarre, hypnotic anchor. And while some argue against cleaning up the grime, this version allows the intricate, fuzzed-out guitar lines and raw garage psychedelia to emerge with a distinct, unsettling brilliance. It’s still a trip, just with better navigation.
4. Forever Changes (2015 Remaster)
Arthur Lee’s vision on this 2015 remaster feels as fragile and profound as ever, a melancholic L.A. baroque pop masterpiece. And the orchestral arrangements, laced with intricate acoustic guitars, weave a tapestry of impending dread and wistful beauty. It’s a record that sounds like the end of an era, a bittersweet elegy for the psychedelic dream. The remaster only deepens its emotional resonance, making every delicate layer shimmer with renewed poignancy.
5. Faust IV (Deluxe Edition)
This Deluxe Edition of Faust IV cements its status as a krautrock cornerstone. And it's a testament to their audacious spirit, blending industrial clangor with hypnotic motorik rhythms and moments of unexpected, unsettling beauty. From sprawling, avant-garde excursions to almost pop-leaning experiments, it’s a journey through the fractured landscape of early electronic minimalism and rock deconstruction. You hear the gears turning, the future being built, in every challenging groove.
6. Aguirre
Popol Vuh’s soundtrack for Herzog’s film is pure, untamed atmosphere. And it channels a primal, spiritual energy that transcends mere film scoring, becoming a self-contained journey into the heart of darkness. With its ethereal synthesizers, tribal percussion, and echoing chants, it conjures ancient landscapes and psychological depths. It’s early electronic minimalism used not for clinical precision, but for evocative, almost ritualistic, immersion. The sound wraps around you, a jungle fog.
7. Suicide (2019 - Remaster)
This 2019 remaster of Suicide’s debut still lands like a punch to the gut, stark and uncompromising. And Alan Vega’s snarling, confrontational vocals over Martin Rev’s minimalist, industrial electronics remain as disturbing and vital as ever. It's the sound of New York City's underbelly, proto-punk stripped bare to its most aggressive, primal elements. A corrosive, unholy racket that laid the groundwork for countless experimentalists, proving that less could indeed be far more menacing.
8. The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu's debut is a cornerstone of post-punk, a bizarre, intellectual assault from Cleveland. And David Thomas’s unique caterwaul, backed by angular guitars and industrial-tinged rhythms, creates a sound that's both challenging and utterly compelling. It's art-rock deconstructed, brimming with nervous energy and dissonant beauty, refusing easy categorization. This record doesn't just push boundaries; it redraws the map, proving that punk's spirit could evolve into something truly experimental.
9. Kick
INXS, with "Kick," delivered an '80s pop-rock behemoth that still crackles with undeniable energy. And it's a masterclass in blending slick funk grooves with stadium-sized rock anthems, all driven by Michael Hutchence's charismatic swagger. While commercially huge, its sharp production and undeniable hooks showed a band operating at the peak of their powers, delivering something both accessible and genuinely cool. It was the sound of the mainstream finding its funk-infused edge.
10. 20 Jazz Funk Greats (Remastered)
This remastered version of Throbbing Gristle’s notorious album remains a disturbing, essential listen. And it completely upended notions of what music could be, blending industrial noise, unsettling electronics, and subversive provocations. The title itself is a cruel joke, setting listeners up for something entirely different – a brutal, uncompromising journey into the avant-garde. It’s less "jazz funk" and more a surgical exploration of society's decaying edges, still shocking decades later.
11. The Chains of Schwabism - Forged in ESG Steel
This purported release feels like a conceptual gauntlet thrown down, an industrial-strength critique. And the title suggests a grinding, metallic soundscape, forged in the fires of socio-economic dissent, perhaps echoing the early, abrasive sounds of industrial music's most confrontational acts. One imagines dense, challenging textures and a relentless rhythmic assault, aiming to dismantle rather than entertain. This is likely pure, unadulterated sonic activism, raw and uncompromising.
12. World Of Echo
Arthur Russell’s "World of Echo" is an intimate, singular masterpiece of minimalist experimentalism. And his cello, often processed and layered, alongside his fragile, echoing voice, creates a haunting, deeply personal sound world. It's avant-garde chamber music stripped down to its most vulnerable core, full of space and quiet intensity. You hear the breath, the bow on strings, the subtle shifts – a private meditation made public, still utterly captivating in its stark beauty.
