1. Today!
Mississippi John Hurt's 'Today!' from 1966, recorded late in his life, ain't some nostalgic echo. It's the real deal, a master picker still weaving those delicate, intricate blues patterns. And yeah, it’s got that gentle, conversational spirit, but don't mistake ease for lack of depth. This ain't flashy, just pure, unadulterated acoustic soul, a foundational truth delivered with quiet authority. It reminds you where so much rock and folk first found their melodic feet.
2. Father Of The Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions
Son House, back from the cotton field to the studio in '65, delivered a raw sermon with this. His voice, a primal howl, and that slide guitar, a wail of forgotten pains. This ain't some polite revival; it's the visceral, unvarnished gut-punch of the Delta blues, still hot and bothered after all those years. It’s the sound of the earth itself groaning, a fundamental, almost terrifying energy that fed the roots of every loud thing that followed.
3. Zoning
Cluster's 'Zoning' from '76, that's not just krautrock; it's minimalist electronic architecture. The rhythms churn, almost imperceptibly, building these vast, open soundscapes that don't so much progress as they just *are*. There’s a stark, almost industrial hum beneath the melodic drift, a quiet defiance of pop structures. And it sets a blueprint for ambient and techno that folks still haven't fully caught up with, a true sonic experiment.
4. Jazz in Silhouette (Expanded Edition)
Sonny Rollins in '59 on 'Jazz in Silhouette' is just... essential. This expanded edition lets you hear the man's horn blowing with an intellectual rigor that still swings like hell. It’s bebop's sharp edges smoothed by his melodic genius, a conversation between tradition and innovation. And his phrasing, man, it’s like liquid thought, effortlessly complex, proving that jazz could be both cerebral and deeply, undeniably cool.
5. The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators - 2008 Remaster
The 2008 remaster of 'Psychedelic Sounds' punches through the haze. You finally hear the jug, that wild, resonant thrumming, driving everything. Roky Erickson's yelp, man, it's pure garage-rock urgency amplified by lysergic visions. This isn't just early psychedelia; it’s a blueprint for raw, untamed rock 'n' roll pushed past the edge, a truly mind-bending sound that still feels dangerous, even now.
6. Odessey and Oracle (Mono Remastered)
The Zombies' 'Odessey and Oracle,' especially in that '68 mono remastered mix, is pure baroque-pop perfection. Every chime, every vocal harmony, it just glows. It’s got a melancholic beauty, sure, but also a sophisticated pop craftsmanship that few ever matched. And the mono mix, it compresses everything into this dense, vibrant jewel, proving that sometimes, less truly is more for maximum impact.
7. They Say I'm Different
Betty Davis on 'They Say I'm Different' from '74? Forget polite funk. This is primal, raw, and unapologetically sexual. Her voice is a snarl, a command, backed by a band that grooves with an almost industrial intensity. It’s got that gritty, P-Funk swagger mixed with a punk attitude years before punk broke. And yeah, it’s still provocative, still pushing boundaries, still making lesser acts sound tame.
8. Silver Apples
Silver Apples' self-titled debut from '68, that's proto-electronic wizardry. Simeon's homemade oscillators and those driving, almost tribal drums create a sound that’s both ancient and utterly futuristic. It's got a minimalist pulse, a hypnotic repetition that pulls you in. And yeah, it laid down a marker for electronic music that was raw, unpolished, and completely outside the mainstream, a true blueprint for rebellion.
9. Suicide (2019 - Remaster)
The 2019 remaster of Suicide’s '77 debut? It just sharpens the razor. This isn't music for comfort; it's a stark, confrontational electronic punk assault. Martin Rev’s droning synths and primitive drum machine, Vega’s sneering, shamanistic vocals. It's industrial minimalism, a blueprint for post-punk's darker corners, proving you could make powerful noise with next to nothing. And it still sounds utterly alien, utterly essential.
10. Musik von Harmonia
Harmonia’s 'Musik von Harmonia' from '74, that's krautrock at its most serene yet propulsive. It's got that motorik pulse, but it’s less about brute force and more about hypnotic, shimmering textures. The interplay between Cluster and Neu! members here creates something truly unique – a sound that’s both organic and synthetic, a pastoral electronic dreamscape. And it just glides, man, a perfect blend of rhythm and atmosphere.
11. 20 Jazz Funk Greats (Remastered)
Throbbing Gristle’s '20 Jazz Funk Greats,' especially in a good remaster, is a masterclass in confrontational art. The title's a sick joke, of course. What you get is abrasive, industrial noise, a brutal dissection of sound and expectation. It’s punk's nihilism taken to its logical, electronic extreme, a direct assault on comfort and convention. And yeah, it still sounds like the future eating itself, a truly unsettling, vital document.
