Introduction To Rock Music

[LemonMelon]

I did some thinking last night about what records represent rock the best, and inadvertently came up with the idea to make this thread.

Imagine this. Your son or daughter (of 10 years of age), fresh out of their bubblegum pop/top 40 phase, gets into your record collection and is curious. They've never heard anything you own, and is not knowledgeable in the slightest about rock music. You decide to give them 5 albums to listen to; which do you choose? You can have more than one album, or even all five, by one artist, but bear in mind that this is a 10 year old kid who may not be ready to hear everything you own. Also, no compilations allowed. You can choose based on your own passion for the album, how it represents the genre to you, or, as a parent, based on content.

My list:

Beatles - Abbey Road
The Who - The Who Sell Out
Led Zeppelin - IV
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
T. Rex - Electric Warrior

The Beatles are a must, with Abbey Road being their best album, The Who Sell Out is one of the most fun rock records you'll ever come across, IV is just essential listening, Stardust is incredibly fun and theatrical, and Electric Warrior is possibly one of the catchiest albums ever, with lots of great, fun riffs and a short running time of 39 minutes.

 

[Screwtape2]

Genesis- Selling England By The Pound
Utopia- Ra
The Cure- Disintegration
The Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness
The Doors- The Doors

It would be a good mix of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s as well as an introduction in the creativity and passion of rock. Selling England By The Pound and Ra would be a nice intro into prog rock and two great guitarists, Todd Rundgren and Steve Hackett. Disintegration and Mellon Collie would be perfect in illustrating the emotional depth and complexity that an album can have. The Doors is a must for any young rock fan.

 

[LMP]

The Who Sell Out?

I'd give my kid Who's Next, because I would love them better than to give them The Who Sell Out.

 

[LemonMelon]

The Who Sell Out?

I'd give my kid Who's Next, because I would love them better than to give them The Who Sell Out.

Well, I originally had Live At Leeds deluxe up there, but damn, it's just way too much music. I never would have had the attention span for that when I was 10. Who's Next is great, but Sell Out is one of the most fun concept albums ever. My dad played Who's Next for me when I was 10...I hated it. I found it later at 13 and latched onto it then.

 

[LMP]

Hm, I've never been a fan of The Who Sell Out. My favorite early Who album is A Quick One.

I'm not sure if the kid will appreciate Dark Side of the Moon when they first hear it, but it'll subliminally program to like awesome music

 

[LemonMelon]

Also, this one would be a good choice:

 

[LMP]

 

[Axver]

Crowded House: Crowded House
Split Enz: Frenzy (2006 remaster)
U2: The Unforgettable Fire
Porcupine Tree: Stupid Dream
Dream Theater: Images And Words

And if the rules permtted it:
The Shadows: The Final Collection

I largely went by my own experience here, and what I think would be appropriate for a child just getting into good music. Crowded House is essential - intelligent and extremely catchy pop-rock with gorgeous vocals. Perfect. I was hesitant about using Split Enz (and they're who I'd cut if The Shadows were permitted) due to their close relation to Crowded House, but I wanted to show off more quirky and unique musical aspects without going too far. And come on, what kid isn't going to love Hermit McDermitt?

Then I'd move on to The Unforgettable Fire to introduce the child to beautiful, sweeping soundscapes. At the age of 11, Bad was my favourite song in the world, so I don't think it'd be inappropriate at all. Follow that with Porcupine Tree's Stupid Dream, an album that takes threads from the three previous albums and puts them into the prog machine without going too crazy. Now with the prog groundwork laid, head onto Dream Theater's masterpiece Images And Words, the album that has defined the third wave of prog.

I would have dearly loved to include an album by The Shadows, a fantastic instrumental rock band who ruled by musical world from when I was a toddler until I was 11 (and are still one of my favourites). I wore out multiple Shadows cassettes. However, their creative peak was in the early 1960s, their best work in that period was on their singles, and the way to hear that material now is via compilations. So I can't include them under the rules.

 

[LemonMelon]

Seriously, for a ten year old? No way, man. This isn't your doped up dorm buddy asking to borrow a record, after all.

 

[LMP]

My 10-year-old will be awesome. Like I said, I'm going to subliminally program him/her to like awesome stuff.

We will watch Walker, Texas Ranger together.

 

[LemonMelon]

My 10-year-old will be awesome. Like I said, I'm going to subliminally program him/her to like awesome stuff.

We will watch Walker, Texas Ranger together.

That sounds fun. I wish mine would have prodigiously talented ears for good music at an early age (dude, a ten year old that likes Loveless and OK Computer would be awesome )

 

[LMP]

as for modern rock albums, I'd give the kid "Elephant" or "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes, "Ten" or "Vs." by Pearl Jam, and some early R.E.M., but that's more college rock than modern.

 

[Axver]

My ten year old will be able to snobbishly tell you about how your non-prog music is inferior.

 

[LemonMelon]

My ten year old will be able to snobbishly tell you about how your non-prog music is inferior.

25 year interference reunion FTW.

 

[LMP]

'Lil Axver will throw kiwis at 'Lil LMP while he roundhouse kicks him in the kidney.

And he'll be a big Springsteen fan, too

 

[LemonMelon]

Lil' LemonMelon will be an obsessive Simpsons nerd with a ridiculous vocabulary (he can insult your intelligence in 5 different languages), and face-melting musical skills. He'd probably get his ass kicked by 'Lil LMP though.

 

[Axver]

I sincerely hope little Axver is not throwing poor, endangered flightless kiwi birds at anyone, despite the fact that their beaks could probably seriously mess up someone's face. Rugby balls, however, can be arranged.

Also, I didn't notice at the time that my first post on this thread was my 29,000th overall. I hope this thread feels privileged. At least I got to praise quality prog.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

Lil' LemonMelon will be an obsessive Simpsons nerd with a ridiculous vocabulary (he can insult your intelligence in 5 different languages), and face-melting musical skills. He'd probably get his ass kicked by 'Lil LMP though.

uh, no... I don't think so, I only know 4 languages thank you very much.

 

[LemonMelon]

uh, no... I don't think so, I only know 4 languages thank you very much.

Why did you drop out then?

 

[LMP]

Lil' LemonMelon will be an obsessive Simpsons nerd with a ridiculous vocabulary (he can insult your intelligence in 5 different languages), and face-melting musical skills. He'd probably get his ass kicked by 'Lil LMP though.

'Lil LMP will harness his power for good.

With great power, comes great responsibility.

But what do you expect, Mother. He'll be half machine!

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

Why did you drop out then?

My teacher was a Beach Boys fan

 

[LemonMelon]

This thread is unintentionally hilarious. I did not foresee this.

 

[Axver]

Little Axver will be able to give you an intricate analysis of why little LMP and LemonMelon are wrong about everything using political and sociological theory. Go nerdy little Axver, go!

 

[LemonMelon]

Little Axver will be able to give you an intricate analysis of why little LMP and LemonMelon are wrong about everything using political and sociological theory. Go nerdy little Axver, go!

When will you introduce him to U2 bootlegs and start him on his absorption of numerous U2 setlists?

 

[LMP]

This thread is unintentionally hilarious. I did not foresee this.

Hey, I didn't expect the Die Hard thread to go where it went and what do you know.

"Read of the Day" status.

'Lil LMP will get every hot girl in town, you'll see.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

well son_of_elevated_u2_fan will kick all your kids asses...

 

[Axver]

When will you introduce him to U2 bootlegs and start him on his absorption of numerous U2 setlists?

Right after he can tell me every class of locomotive to operate on New Zealand's railways and over which lines they had running rights.

 

[LMP]

'Lil LMP will own a puppet replica of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and will insult all who dare oppose him.

 

[LemonMelon]

well son_of_elevated_u2_fan will kick all your kids asses...

I weep for this generation. So obessed with violence.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

I weep for this generation. So obessed with violence.

it's how I was raised...


please don't beat me again father!