10 Records Worth To Die For: #255 mit Iain MacRae (Press Club)

Like many others, I’m sure, the story all begins with Rancid. I was eleven years old and the boys in my class were swapping CD’s all the time. I got my hands on a copy of … And Out Come The Wolves and was instantly bitten by one of the wolves. I’d been listening to a bunch of The Clash, The Ruts and The Sex Pistols, so Rancid totally set my world on fire. The stand out song for me is ‘Old Friend’. It is responsible for me listening to nothing but ska for almost two years in the 00’s.

Most people will familiar with the horn melody in ‘Move On Up’, whether they are aware of it or not. I remember hearing my dad playing it around the house when I was really young. That song is what led me to explore the rest of the album when I was about 14 years old. I think it is the most balanced record ever written. It has perfect melody, the highest IQ arrangements, flawless musicianship, delicate emotion at some moments and more balls than a raging bull in others.

I was staying up late one night towards the end of high school and there was this documentary about the making of this album on TV. I knew about Def Lep, the one armed drummer etc.. But I never really knew much else. They broke down the songs on Hysteria one by one. From the songwriting, demo versions, to the arrangement and recording. I’ve always really appreciated concise pop songwriting. I love Abba for the same reason, and Def Leppard had that sort of tidiness to their craft. I think the producer Mutt Lange is a bit of a pop song wizard. I still hear things I like on the radio and find out – ‘oh that’s Mutt again’.

One of the hardest things about collating this list was picking which Thin Lizzy album was going to make it. If I didn’t pick just one the article would need to be renamed ’10 Thin Lizzy Records Worth Dying For’ or something. They’re the best band ever. Their whole catalogue is in my library. I got so addicted to Lizzy that it became boring for everyone else in my life. I’m currently writing this on a laptop with ten Thin Lizzy Stickers on it.

I was late to the Bad Brains party. Considering I had already well and truly been through my snotty-punk-kid phase. I had just torn through the Suicidal Tendencies catalogue, particularly Lights… Camera.. Revolution and I think something about the thrashy, chorusing guitars on I Against I set a hook in me. The pure chaos of HR and the meticulous, almost jazz-fusion song writing is so rare and interesting a combination. Timeless insanity.

This is a magical record from the Japanese film composer. There’s something about the song ‘Bibo No Aozora’ that does things to my brain. It’s like the musical equivalent of eating a handful of valium. I’ll often end a night or start a sunny morning with this album. Special mention goes to ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence’ from the eponymous film starring David Bowie.

Seeing that half of my family are from Glasgow it would be improper of me to omit The Blue Nile. This is an incredible record, essentially a testing ground for musical equipment being made by Linn Products in Glasgow, the instrumentation is unlike much else. Paul Buchanan has some sort of special ability to convey more forlorn emotion through his vocal delivery than most other singers out there. This whole record is a real unique vibe.

This is a really well produced piece of work from the Beach Boy. Under-appreciated on release although in moments it had the ability to reduce his brother, Brian Wilson to tears. One really gets a feel for what sort of pain Dennis might have been in as a person. If he wasn’t he does a really good impersonation of somebody who is.

Isn’t this on everybody’s list? From top to bottom it glitters with perfect musicianship and songwriting. If you haven’t heard it it might be time to climb out of your cave.

I don’t know why, but I often find myself listening to this record on aeroplanes. It’s kind of become associated with flying around on tour, looking out the window, having a drink. Robyn Hitchcock is a gun songwriter and this album is laced with brilliant riffs and overflows with creativity. The vocal harmonies on ‘I Wanna Destroy You’ and ’Tonight‘, and the riff-work of ‘Kingdom of Love’ are all things I wish were written by me.

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