Memorylane 4
Alexander Hoppe
1. The Mars Wolta - Wax Simulacra (2008)
One of my favorite bands ever and one of my favorite musicians ever plays onthis track and his name is Thomas Pridgen, he is just a powerhouse of a drummer. He has influenced me so much and I even got a chance to ask him how he arranged all the parts and he said "It was all improvised on the spot", I was baffled by that answer. All in all it got him a Grammy.
2. Queens of the Stone Age - Mexicola (1998)
This was the first song I heard from Queens of the Stone age and I was immediately hooked on their sound. Their songs are a mix of ambivalent groovy choruses and chaotic bridges. They will forever be my favorite band and the only band where I enjoy every single song on every album they have released, which is incredibly rare.
3. Jimi Hendrix - Manic Depression (1967)
What's been said about Jimi that hasn't already been said? An amazing guitarist who had an amazing drummer (Mitch Mitchell), this was probably one of the first songs that I considered "hard", that I learned how to play back in the day. Therefor will always have a special place in my heart.
4. Tool - The Pot (2006)
Super cool band that has a very unique sound, the song is a blend of heavy rock, prog, metal with a touch of funkiness. Danny Carey is also a big influence.
5. Frank Zappa - Nanook Rubs It (1974)
So many great albums, songs and musicians has played with this genius,
so it would be a shame to pick only one. Vinnie once said that playing with
Zappa was like "art school meets bootcamp" which is a good
description, it kind of encapsulates the music.
6. Porcupine Tree - Trains (2002)
Love Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilsons songwriting, starts off slowly and builds off to this sonic wave at the end, almost like a crescendo.
7. Jean-Luc Ponty - Cosmic Messenger (1978)
Just an amazing violinist who's played with so many great musicians! This was one of the first songs I heard by him and it will always be my favorite.
8. King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man (1969)
This pretty much started my journey into the world of progressive music, a cascade of jazz and an early example of heavy music with political statements.
9. Soundgarden - Spoonman (1994)
Probably one of my favorite bands from the grunge-era, was immediately hooked by how heavy it was and how powerful Chris Cornells voice was and his dynamic range. Many great songs from them, but from this album it has to be my favorite one because of its intensity.
10. Interpol - Pda (2002)
A great song from possibly the only post-punk band that I ever got into. There's something about the repetitveness in the songs that I really enjoy and the feeling of it being hysterical and a bit melodramatic.