Whenever someone asks “What kind of music do you like?” Most people answer “Ohhh, you know me, I like a bit of everything.” Now…that’s all well and good, but for me, my music taste usually boils down to these two things…

1. I need a filthy groove
2. I need a dirty riff

* Bonus point if you can throw in some gravelly vocals.

So, with that said, I thought I’d put together a post talking about the 5 albums that have had the most impact on me. I’d like to stress that these are in no particular order. I don’t think it’s possible for me to really choose a favourite among these, so I’m going to list them in alphabetical order by album title.

GOMEZ – BRING IT ON

I have an extremely deep love for this album. I vividly remember being handed a copy by my mate Raddish while sitting in the computer room at school on the Isle of Wight. I recall saying “Gomez? Never ‘eard of em,” and Raddish quietly assuring me that it was worth a listen. 

I don’t actually remember listening to it for the first time, but I do know that I barely listened to anything else literally for YEARS after I heard it. You know when something really clicks with you deep down? This album did that to me by the bucketload. From that day, I listened to Bring It On over and over and over again. From the second you hear the baseline kick in at the beginning of Get Miles and the amazing throaty rasp of Ben Ottewell, to the more tender tunes like Free To Run and Here Comes The Breeze, every song on this album is absolutely killer.

Highlights include: Get Miles, 78 Stone Wobble, Love is Better Than a Warm Trombone and Rie’s Wagon.

REEF – GLOW

These guys rock my world. Now, when I say that these guys are up there with the likes of Zeppelin, the Stones and AC/DC for me, I would imagine that I’d hear a healthy amount of scoffing, but hear me out. Put all your pre-conceptions aside and most importantly don’t think that Place Your Hands is the be all and end all of this band. 

With most bands, you could switch out the drummer, the bass player or the guitarist and you’d barely know any difference. You take Bonham out of Zeppelin and it’s not the same, you take Angus out of AC/DC and it’s just not right. Each member of Reef bring something magical to the table. Whether it’s Dom’s drums, Jack’s filthy bass, Kenwyn’s top drawer riffs or Gary’s raspy vocals.

This is another album where every single track is amazing. It went to number 1 in the UK back in ’97 and it’s the best place to start for newcomers (their first album Replenish is also right up there). 

Highlights include: I Would Have Left You, Summers in Bloom (FILTHY GROOVE) and Don’t You Like It?

THE DOORS – LA WOMAN

When I was a kid I couldn’t stand this band. Then, after many, many repeated prompts from my brother, something clicked and I went full-on apeshit for The Doors. 

It’s weird, on paper this band sound like the polar opposite of something I’d be into. A singer who loves to launch into long sections of spoken word poetry, backed up by 3 jazz playing musos who love nothing more than to wedge 7 minute solos into the middle of your normal 3 minute pop tune. 
 There’s just something about The Doors where they can do all that stuff and instead of me pulling a lemon face and hating it, I adore every single second.

LA Woman, is their blues album. You’ve got dirty grooves (The Changeling), filthy riffs (Crawling King Snake) and one of the best driving songs of all time (LA Woman).

If all you really know is Light My Fire, give this record a spin. It’s an all-time classic.

Highlights include: The Changeling, LA Woman, Riders on the Storm and Love Her Madly.

JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION – PLASTIC FANG

I randomly stumbled upon these guys while watching MTV2 back in my grubby old student house in 2002. I used to spend hours watching that channel, always thinking “I’ll turn it off after the next track, I just wanna see what the next song is.” 
 Out of the blue, a rough and ready video shot at the 100 Club in London came onscreen with the JSBX busting out the lead single ‘She Said.’ Dirty production, filthy guitars and dirty riffs left right and centre!

This band are an odd one for me. Listening through their back catalogue I find there’s a lot of stuff that just isn’t my cuppa tea. Their older material can get a bit too noisy and shouty for my delicate ears…though this album absolutely nails it for me (I also love the follow up ‘Damage’).

Highlights include: She Said, Tore Up & Broke, Over and Over, and Mean Heart.

THE BLACK KEYS – RUBBER FACTORY

I love this album. I first heard The Black Keys when John Peel gave them a spin on Radio 2. I think it was their cover of ‘Have Love Will Travel,’ though I can’t quite remember. 

For me, this is Dan and Pat at their best. Literally recorded in an old tyre factory with no producer, just the two of them kicking out the jams. Great, dirty production backing up some truly awesome songs. Crazy to think that these two were making such good music years before they broke through big time. 

When you look at the history of The Black Keys, you see a band that really paid their dues and did it the old fashioned way. Putting out great record after great record and doing it on their own terms. Exceptionally rare in this day and age! When was the last time you heard of a band breaking through into the mainstream on their 6th album?

I’d love to see The Black Keys make another super raw blues record. Sadly, I think they’re probably too big to go down that route these days…but hey, the deserve every moment of their big time success.

Highlights include: Just Couldn’t Tie Me Down, Till I Get My Way, The Lengths and Grown So Ugly.